Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Potter Universe. It all belongs to the amazing J.K. Rowling, who, I might add, is a genius! I only like to force the characters to do things they would never do without the assistance of chemical substances!!!!
Pairing: Harry/Severus …. If this freaks you out, then PLEASE don't read any further, I don't really appreciate reviews telling me how sick I am, okay? P.S. Harry is underage, even in the U.K. okay? He's in his 5th year in this fic, but don't worry, it doesn't get really heavy for a while…maybe not ever, because I don't have much confidence in writing naughty scenes like that. -
Summary: Harry tries a blood magic potion to better understand his summer potions homework, but mixes up the name with another potion that binds the drinker to his or her most compatible match in ability(not necessarily romantic, for instance, siblings are often bonded). Guess who Harry gets bonded with?
Spoilers: All the books, especially the 4th one, so if you haven't read it, well, you'll find out what happens.
Author's Note: Yes, I know there are several fics out there just like this one, but I just wanted to write my own and maybe get a few nice reviews, so give me a break okay?
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Chapter 2: Journey to Hogwarts & Some Answers
Harry's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe it! Well, maybe he could believe the fact that Snape was standing on his doorstep; after all, he had predicted it. What he couldn't believe was that Snape was wearing muggle clothes. And he looked…well, better than Harry thought he would. Not that he had been wondering what Snape would look like in muggle clothes…his professor was wearing black slacks with a black shiny belt and a button up black shirt with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows. An expensive looking silver watch adorned his wrist, and Harry couldn't help but notice that the top three buttons of his shirt were undone. He looked…well, classy.
"Potter, when you've finished treating us to your highly accurate impression of a goldfish, would you kindly get yourself in the car?"
Harry flushed and clenched his jaw to stop a response. He turned around and retrieved his trunk and Hedwig's cage from the hall and trudged back to the door. He found Snape surveying Uncle Vernon, and almost laughed at the familiar curl of Snape's upper lip.
"You –you drive a car, do you?" Uncle Vernon had said, showing a tremendous amount of resistance to the look that made 7th years tremble.
Snape stared, then sneered and said slowly, "Yes, it would appear that way, wouldn't it?
Uncle Vernon fidgeted a bit at this, not taking well to being thought of as daft. "Well, what model is it?" he asked gruffly.
Snape stared again, and then said, "I honestly don't care, and nor should you." Then he aimed his sharp glare at Harry. He smirked at seeing Harry grunt with effort to drag his trunk.
"Allow me, Potter," he drawled lazily. He then bent down, grasped the handle, and easily pulled it out the door. Harry glared. He wasn't stupid. He had seen Snape mutter an anti-weight spell. Obviously, like Dumbledore, he didn't need a wand. Show off.
Harry turned to Uncle Vernon, who was looking livid at being put in his place by a wizard.
"Well, bye then. Thanks for, um, understanding and all." Harry muttered awkwardly.
Uncle Vernon grunted in response, and, looking furious at the sight of them, slammed the door in Harry's face. Well, Harry hadn't really been expecting anything but –it would have been nice if just once –
"Potter! Come!" Snape barked.
Harry sighed, then carried Hedwig's cage down to the car. He gasped.
It was a sleek black convertible, with tan leather seats and a highly advanced sound system. Harry whistled, and then remembered Snape was there. He looked up at the man, whose eyebrow was raised, giving him a look that said quite plainly, 'You are odd.'
Harry decided not to comment; the less they talked the better. He opened the door and slid in. Snape did the same beside him, and shut his door. Harry did the same, then stared at his lap. He waited for a few seconds, then wondered why they weren't going anywhere. He looked up, and his mouth dropped for the second time that day.
Snape was running his fingers through his hair, gathering it into a ponytail at the base of his neck. His long fingers were running through it without a hitch, and his shirt was tightening around his chest from his raised arms. Harry gulped and quickly looked away. This was not going well. Why, why did Harry suddenly feel like he was watching the handsome Leo removing his shirt?
"I hate this damn car," Snape muttered next to him as he twisted a black hair band around the finished ponytail. "Can't drive without getting hair in my mouth –
"Has it always been that long, sir?" Harry blurted, before he could stop himself. Snape's hair was now past his shoulders.
Snape turned and looked at him, the right side of his mouth curving upward in what looked like a smile slash smirk.
"No," he answered as he put the key in the ignition. The car revved to life. "I started to let it grow last year."
"It's –Harry paused, but he had already started, so what was the point? "It's, erm, nice."
Snape smirked, pushed down the brake, and slammed his foot on the gas pedal.
"Ack!" Harry's back slammed against the seat and he hastily put his seatbelt on. Great. Snape just had to be one of those aggressive driver types.
Snape let out an amused snicker and sped up even more. The wind was blowing through his hair, and Harry shut his eyes tight. He could see the headlines now: Boy Who Lived Dies in Car Crashed by Maniacal Driver.
Snape made a sharp right at the end of the block and the tires squealed against the pavement. Harry made a squeak-like noise and clutched the sides of the seat. If there's one down side to leather, it's that it's hard to cling to.
"Sir!" Harry said loudly, as they narrowly avoided a passing cat. "Shouldn't we slow down?"
"Au contraire, Potter!" Snape shouted over the noise of the wind. "Where's that Gryffindor sense of adventure?" he asked with a mocking tone.
Harry started at that, and went back to clutching his seat. He missed the smile the graced Snape's lips. Suddenly, Harry heard the sound of traffic. Oh God. They'd reached the main road.
Screech
"Imbecile! What's the rush, it's only Saturday!" Snape roared at the offending car. Harry peaked out of one eye just as the other driver, an acne-ridden teenager, made an obscene gesture with his hand. He heard Snape growl next to him, and knew that Snape was itching to place an obscure hex on the teen. 'Why? Why me?'
Snape had somehow managed to get to the front of a teeming line of traffic. He glared at the red light and began to flex his long fingers around the wheel. A red convertible filled with teenagers blaring loud music pulled up next to them on Harry's side. Snape slowly turned his head to the left and his upper lip twitched in disgust. He revved the car.
The driver of the convertible, a blonde, tan, shirtless teenager looked over at him. "What's up old man?" he called as the bikini clad girls in the back giggled. "You wanna do this?"
Snape smirked and shouted, "I'd rather not, seeing as I don't prefer to have sex with other men while in different cars." Harry reddened then paled. Oh God. Snape had just said the word 'sex'!
The boy sputtered and his eyes bugged out of his head. Snape was still laughing after they had left the boy behind. It was a grown man's laugh, a deep, throaty sort of chuckle. Harry sat dumbfounded.
"Professor… are you, um, okay?"
"Of course Potter! I like driving." He said this rather waspishly, as though the matter was closed. Harry looked back at the road, then groaned in pain as his head hit the back of the seat again. God, this was going to be a long ride.
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Several hours later, after the horrific car ride and sitting on the very empty Hogwarts Express, Harry followed along behind Snape, who was currently leading him to the Headmaster's office. The shadow of a smile had totally disappeared from Snape's expression, leaving Harry baffled. It was like he had two personalities, a work one and a fun one. Or at least, more stress-free than normal. Snape had actually laughed! Harry had never heard him laugh!
Harry trotted after Snape's long strides. Honestly, he felt anxious. He had no idea why he had been taken from the Dursleys and he couldn't suppress the feeling that it had something to do with Voldemort. He remembered that Hagrid had mentioned something about a job he had to do over the summer. Was he all right? This thought made Harry walk faster. Oh God, if something had happened to him…it would be all his fault. Just like everything else.
"Amok!" Snape barked. Harry jumped, startled. He hadn't realized that they had reached Dumbledore's office. The stone gargoyle leapt aside and the wall split open behind him. Harry followed Snape through the opening and stepped onto the spiral staircase. Snape crossed his arms and glared straight ahead, as though the air in front of him was offensive. Harry noticed that Snape's fingers were curling and un-curling around his elbow. He seemed to flex his fingers when he was impatient. Harry filed this away for future reference. The silence was rather awkward as the stairs took their slow time spiraling upwards, but Harry didn't dare say anything; the few words they had exchanged in the car and on the train had been short and snappish. Obviously, Snape had no desire to converse. Well that was okay, Harry didn't really want to converse with Snape either.
The top landing came into view and Harry stood up straight. He was practically bursting with curiosity. Snape seemed to sense this because he looked down at him and smirked.
"Curiosity killed the cat, remember Potter," he muttered dryly as he turned his gaze to the door.
Harry's eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything. Bastard. Convertible-driving bastard.
The door opened on its own accord and Snape strode in, Harry following close behind.
"Ah, Severus! Back safely?" Albus Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, sorting through papers and sucking on a sugar quill with gusto.
"Yes Albus, we are still in one piece." He said scathingly as he sank into a chair. Harry paused before sitting in the other one.
"You'll have to excuse me, Harry," Albus said cheerily. "Severus has a worrying habit of driving rather recklessly." The headmaster's eyes twinkled.
"Yes sir, I," Harry cleared his throat. "Noticed."
Albus let out an amused chuckle before setting down the quill and folding his hands over his papers. 'Here it comes...' Harry thought.
"Harry," The headmaster began. "As you know, Voldemort has indeed risen again. After assessing the situation – the Ministry not cooperating, several resourceful Death Eaters by his side – we, the staff, felt that you would be safer inside the walls of Hogwarts."
Harry nodded, letting out the breath he had been holding. He had been sure he would be told that Sirius had been caught, or that Hagrid had been hurt on his mission, or something else just as horrible.
"I understand sir."
"Good!" the old wizard clapped his hands together. "Now, all that's left is the arrangement of your accommodations." Harry nodded.
"We would like you to take a room on the lower level of the castle Harry, we don't want you in the Gryffindor Tower all by yourself." Harry bristled a little at that. It wasn't like he needed anyone to hold his hand! He heard Snape tut next to him and he blushed a bit. Great, now he thinks I'm even more of a little boy.
"Now, we have picked out a room near the kitchens, so if you need anything, I'm sure that Dobby will be delighted to help you." The headmaster smiled at this, and Harry tried to smile back. He was still sore from the baby comment.
"You may go anywhere you like, except of course, the teachers offices and classrooms. The library will be free to you. Madam Pince may even ask you to help her with re-helving some books. You will eat meals with the staff remaining at Hogwarts. Dinner is at 6 o'clock. I believe I have covered everything, haven't I Severus?"
'Severus' grunted.
"So, Harry, do you have any questions?"
Harry thought hard, looking for something casual to say. He didn't feel like prying into Voldemort issues, but he couldn't help it.
"How are things going with, er, June's events?"
Dumbledore sighed, and his shoulders sagged. Harry felt instantly guilty for destroying the cheerful atmosphere.
"Well, Cornelius is still in a state of denial, I'm afraid. Mr. Weasley is rallying as many people as possible to believe the truth, but that has been proven to be difficult. Hagrid left with Madame Maxime last week. They are going to try and contact some giants that are still living in the mountains and attempt to persuade them to join our side. Sirius and Remus are congregating with many who fought bravely the last time Voldemort was a threat." Harry nodded, remembering Dumbledore mentioning 'the old crowd' in the infirmary. "Other than that, not much will happen until school has started, I'm afraid, which gives us little time."
"Yes," Harry said softly.
"Anything else then?"
Harry paused.
"Why was the code word 'sour milk'?"
Dumbledore laughed. "When I told Severus that he had to go and collect you, he choked on his tea. I asked him if the milk was sour. He didn't seem to appreciate that comment." Albus had a secret sort of smile on his face. Harry nodded and looked over at Snape. He was flexing his fingers again and looked increasingly annoyed by the second.
"Any more questions? Ask now Harry, the stupidest question is the one left unasked." Was there really anything else? He glanced over at Snape again. Hmmm, well, why not?
"Sir, I was wondering if I could have access to the Potions classroom. The summer assignment sheet said we could experiment for extra credit on the blood potions…"
"Why don't you use your own ingredients, Potter?" Snape spat. "Surely you have some left over from last year?"
"Erm, well no, and I haven't been to Diagon Alley yet…" Snape opened his mouth, no doubt to say something cutting, but Dumbledore stepped in.
"Don't worry Harry; we will get your school supplies. I'm afraid it's up to Severus as to whether or not you can use the Potions classroom."
Harry looked over at Snape. Well, there goes that thought.
"I see enough of you in my classroom during school Potter." Snape sneered. "That is all I can handle." Harry exhaled heavily. The man would never change.
"Severus, I'm sure that you can find time for Harry to make use of-
"As you said yourself, Albus," Snape said shortly. "It is my decision. I see I'm not needed any longer, and I bid you good day. Stay out of my way Potter." With that said he got up from his chair and stalked out of the room.
Harry sighed. "Does he always have to have a dramatic exit?"
Dumbledore laughed. "Yes Harry, he does."
TBC
Hey, I'm sorry about the link! I think its . Anyway, thank you so much for all the reviews, I loved them! You all make me feel so inspired! Hee hee, I hope you all liked the insanedriver!Severus. I can just see him, cursing out random cars and honking his horn if someone doesn't move fast enough! Review, tell me what you thought and I'll try to have the next chapter up by March 2, it's so hard to update during the week. Again, thank you so much for your kind words!