Disclaimer: I wish I owned the characters. Harry would have relatives who cared for him and Snape would have some closure. Alas, they are not mine. They belong to JKR, Scholastic, WB, etc.

sighs

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Harry Potter and the Pillars of Truth

Chapter Three

It was, Harry thought, oddly melancholic to watch the mini-reunions of his friends with their families -- even Neville's, as he was introducing the shyly blushing Luna to his formidable Gran. Luna's father looked on with fondly approving eyes, and Harry strongly suspected that the two would be officially engaged by the end of summer. Molly Weasley was, as her norm, enthusiastically hugging her children and just about anyone else in her range. Arthur, it seemed, was busy at the Ministry -- spying for Dumbledore, no doubt, although Harry knew that was an unworthy thought -- and the twins had sent their apologies along, because business was brisk and they had a number of experiments waiting to explode upon them at any moment.

The Doctors Granger were typically more reserved than their Weasley counterpart. Harry saw the sharp glance Hermione's mother gave her when she saw the ring upon her daughter's finger. Hermione leaned in close; her manner reassuring and she unobtrusively moved the ring from her ring finger to her middle finger. No point in getting Molly Weasley's hopes up too soon, Harry supposed, as the two families merged together.

"You all right, Harry?" Dr. Granger -- Hermione's father, in this case, asked.

"I'm fine, sir." Harry smiled up at him. The Dursley's had not yet arrived, which came as no real surprise to Harry. "I'm sure that Aunt Petunia will be along soon."

"Those terrible Muggles," Molly muttered, flushing slightly when Dr. Granger turned to her. "Well, they are!"

"Mum!" Ron was as scarlet as his hair.

Dr. Granger shrugged. "I'd say that they do seem to be -- ah, I believe that's your aunt now. Are you sure you'll be okay, Harry?"

"Quite." Dr. Granger's eyes were much like Hermione's, and he could see the man's genuine concern. "I'll be fine sir."

Dr. Granger dug around in his pocket for a moment. "Harry, if you have any problems, call us, will you? We're not sure that my cell phone will work at the Weasley's, but if you call the office number, they'll be able to contact us immediately."

For a moment, tears actually pricked at Harry's eyes before he willed them away. He'd never considered that Hermione's parents could be a resource for him in the Muggle world -- probably because they always seemed to be going abroad on vacation, although that was never for the whole of the summer months.

"Thank you, Dr. Granger."

"There you are, you --" Aunt Petunia stopped her tirade when she saw the Grangers, quite respectably dressed in casual, if somewhat expensive, Muggle clothing. "Nephew."

"Aunt Petunia." Harry didn't smile at his aunt's pretension, but it was a near run thing. "I'm ready to go --"

With a wave of his wand and a whispered word, he shrank his luggage down to the size of a deck of cards and put it in his pocket.

"You -- you're not allowed to do magic outside of school."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "I'm sixteen, Aunt Petunia. And I passed my OWLs. There are limits on what I'm allowed to do, but the Ministry isn't going to put me on trial for shrinking my luggage."

His aunt paled. Good. She understood his message.

Harry Potter was not helpless anymore.

He smiled cheerfully. "So, Aunt Petunia, is Dudley back yet? How was his year at Smeltings?"

"Dudley's fine." She nodded curtly to Molly and the Grangers. "Follow me."

"Of course, Aunt Petunia."

He followed her out of King's Cross and to the car.

She rounded on him. "What the devil was that all about?"

"Nothing." Harry looked her straight in the eye, realizing for the first time that he was of a height with her. For some reason that startled him, since in his mind's eye she was always so tall, her stick-thin arms wielding a skillet or iron or other heavy object aimed at his head. She'd have to make a real effort for that now, he thought. The cheerful smile slid off of his face. "Nothing more than letting you know that I can defend myself now. And that I will."

"You horrid --"

"Horrid little monster?" Harry could have invaded her personal space, forced her to step back; but she seemed so pathetic in her insipid blondness, her petty, bland vitriol, that it seemed pointless. "Not so little now, Aunt Petunia. And it won't be for long. I have a proposition for you."

"Proposition?"

"Yes, though it's best if Uncle Vernon were to hear it too."

Her mouth tightened. "Vernon is in no condition to speak to you."

Harry stared at her. "What happened to Uncle Vernon?"

"Get into the car, Harry."

"Yes, Aunt Petunia."

Harry noted that it was rather less of a hassle to do so when he could store his trunk and Hedwig's cage in his pocket. Aunt Petunia's lips pursed. "Where is that dratted owl of yours?"

"Hogwarts. I told her to come tomorrow, so she wouldn't have to deal with the train."

He returned her narrow-eyed glance with an expression of perfect innocence -- he'd been practicing it in the mirror.

"It's just as well, then."

"What's wrong, Aunt Petunia?"

"What do you care?"

"Aunt Petunia --" Harry paused, finding words difficult. "-- you're my family."

She sneered. It was an odd expression on her face, very like Snape, as a matter of fact. His eyes narrowed. Too like Snape, in fact. The car came to a stop at a light, and she glanced toward him.

"Legilimens," Harry whispered, just loud enough for her to hear. Her eyes widened for a second before the mind behind them shoved him out with excessive force. The light turned green. Harry scowled. The car moved forward.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Snape?"

"Congratulations on spotting me, Mr. Potter. Five points -- oh, wait. We're not in school are we? There can be no points to Gryffindor."

"Much I care, you greasy bastard." Harry smirked. "Since we're not in school I don't owe you the respect you think you deserve."

"I am your professor, Potter."

"Right now, you're a blond woman who doesn't seem to realize that she needs to be in the next lane over."

Snape swore.

"Stupid Muggle conveyance."

"Better than brooms for multiple people." Harry stared at him. "So what are you doing, impersonating my Aunt."

"The Headmaster thought it best that we make sure that you made it home safely."

"Did he now?" Harry turned his head away to watch the city going by. "And where did he get the idea that I wouldn't be able to make it to the domicile of my beloved family?"

"It seems that your uncle was injured in some kind of accident. He was touring some facility or other when a piece of machinery attacked him. Or so I am given to understand."

Harry choked, then laughed. "A piece of machinery attacked him?"

"Oh, not literally, Potter. So far as I know it wasn't enchanted to assault your uncle."

"Pity. He loves his drills so much --" Harry's laughter sputtered to a stop. Actually, that was true. Vernon Dursley did, indeed, love his drills. Had the man lacked a Harry Potter in his life, Uncle Vernon would have been cheerfully middle-class, taking joy in his perfect garden and gossiping wife. "That was unkind of me."

"Why in the world would you care if you were unkind to that… Muggle."

"He's a person, you know." Harry didn't look at Snape, just at the scenery going by. "Him and his sister, Cousin Dudley, Aunt Petunia. They're all people. Petty people with small lives and smaller hearts, but they'd be content enough with their lot if not for me. Just like I'd be happy enough if not for them… but it isn't the magic that makes us different, Snape."

"Oh? And what, pray tell, does your infinite teenaged wisdom say it is?"

"Kindness. Love. Generosity. All the traits that you so despise in Neville Longbottom, really." Harry sighed. "They've not got much room in their hearts, my relatives. Enough for their own offspring, for their regimented lives, but not for me. They're sad, really."

"They've abused and neglected you since Dumbledore placed you with them and you call them sad?" Snape's expression was clear through the layer of Petunia's face. "Are you mad?"

"No." Harry wanted to laugh at the odd cross of sneering and bewilderment on Snape's face. "Just… resigned. They are what they are. Kind of like you, really. Petty, resentful and mean… only without the positive traits."

Snape glanced at him. "Positive traits?"

"I'm a Gryffindor, Snape. I admire bravery, dedication, and determination. Even when the person exhibiting them is you."

Snape apparently had nothing to say to that.

The rest of the drive passed in almost-companionable silence. Absorbed as he was in his ruminations, Harry didn't even notice when the polyjuice wore off.

"It seems that we have arrived, Mr. Potter."

"Yeah." Harry stared at 4 Privet Drive. "Damn. Now I'll have to do something magical when I enter the house. They do know I'm coming?"

After all, it did not bode well that Aunt Petunia had not come herself to pick him up.

"They are aware that they will be forced to endure your company for the summer, Mr. Potter. The Headmaster asked that I ensure your… welcome." Snape smiled nastily.

"You didn't harm them?"

"Mr. Potter, I have quite forsworn the abuse of undeserving Muggles."

"Which doesn't rule out deserving ones. Never mind. Is Uncle Vernon still in hospital?"

"No, your Aunt brought him home this morning. I am sure that you will find him in good temper."

Harry winced. "Thanks for the warning."

"Get out of the car, Mr. Potter."

Harry exited the vehicle. Snape apparated away with a small pop.

Shrugging, Harry went to the door and opened it.

"I'm back."