Title: Reluctant Savior (Chapter 6)

Author name: venus4280

Category: Drama

Rating: Pg-13 for language/intensity- subject to change

Spoilers: all five books

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended, and I get nothing from borrowing them except the pleasure of trying to write a good story.

Archive: If you want, just email me to let me know

A/N: This chapter, I hope, is a bit more light-hearted and amusing than its predecessors or some of the ones that will follow. I giggled hysterically at some of these lines while I was writing them, so I hope you enjoy them too. The decidedly different tone of this section is also the reason why I decided to split it from Chapter 5. Once again, thank you to all of my reviewers. First, Dragonero, Emma, and Pleione thank you for your kind words- it is very encouraging and I quite appreciate that you take time out to write a little note. Again, thanks to one small instrument- you are as always, quite the astute reader. I do wish JK would shake things up a bit regarding those two…why have mutual enmity when you can have mutual respect? That's what I say anyway. Much more shifting in the future, but hopefully no one will get dreadfully out of character in the process. Hello again, chubby redburn, I do try- though unfortunately awkward phrasing creeps up on me when I least expect it- damn the writing Gods!!! And Finally, Mione5, I am thrilled that you took the time to give this one a look, as you know, I am a huge fan of yours. Yes, there were so many ways to take this- and in fact I had originally intended for it to go a different way, but upon review decided this type of relationship was the best option for the characters in this particular story. Now, on with the story!!

-------------------------

"Mr. Harry Potter," the receptionist called out.

"Yes," Harry answered, not quite able to discern where the voice was coming from. Snape rolled his eyes and went up to the reception area to see what was needed.

The woman behind the desk handed the Potions Master a clipboard and a pen, explaining the process, "if you would, Mr. Potter, just fill out the form and sign the bottom, okay?" She gave him a strange look- thinking to herself, 'the way the bloke is acting, like he's never seen a ball point pen before… too bad too. Ah well, the attractive ones are always mentally disturbed.'

"Just a moment," he gave the woman a forced smile.

Snape went back to the waiting area and escorted Harry back to the front desk. "I am not Mr. Potter- he is. I am Severus Snape," he stated this as if that fact should be blatantly obvious to anyone.

"Then why'd you come… oh, are you the boy's father, then?"

'Muggles' he thought, annoyed. "Not hardly," he couldn't help but vocalize. "I am Professor Severus Snape, one of the boy's teachers. You see," he began, not quite sure what he was going to say, "Harry attends a boarding school, um.. St. Brutus'" Harry just looked at him, how in the world had he known? "Yes," he nudged Harry with his elbow, subtly. "A premier learning institution, specializing in year-round education."

"Okay," the woman said, skeptical as to what the story had to do with an eye appointment.

'Lovely,' Snape thought, 'I am going to have to perform a memory charm before we leave.' He continued, "Well, there was an unfortunately incident with a broo…"

"Uh, Basketball," interjected Harry quickly.

"Right," Snape covered, "A basketball, and seeing as how Mr. Potter's parents are indisposed at the moment"- 'you don't know the half of it, lady' he added, mentally- "I was wondering if it would be alright for me to, um, fill this in," he gestured awkwardly to the clipboard.

"Do you have some form of identification?" she asked, officially, though all she really wanted was his address.

"Certainly," he answered, reasonably, "doesn't everyone?- It must be in my bag, hold on." He walked back over to the area with the plastic chairs and magazines, shooting Harry looks that quite clearly stated, 'I am going to kill you when we get out of here.'

"Stand in front of me, while I try and conjure some Muggle Identification." Snape ordered, the hostility in his voice and bearing strong.

"It would have been easier if you had just told her you were my father."

Snape merely raised an eyebrow at Harry, who flushed at his own temerity, muttering "Quite," before offering a small, laminated card for the boy's approval. At Harry's nod, the pair traveled back to the desk. When Snape had satisfied the woman's curiosity, the optometrist called Harry into the examining room. "May I? Snape requested quietly, confiding "Muggle technology amuses me."

"Um, sure," answered Harry, uncertainly, "You don't by chance have a plug collection, do you?" Harry asked, grinning, unable to control himself.

"No." It was Snape's turn to be baffled.

At Harry's shrug, Severus put his hand on Harry's back and gently guided him to the appointed chair.

----------------------

After the exam was completed and the doctor had made it clear to both Snape and Harry numerous times how extremely poor Harry's eyesight was, they were presented with the task of choosing appropriate frames.

A sales woman grabbed the unsuspecting Harry and drug him over to one of the many display cases. Plucking a pair of glasses from the center of the column and placing them on his face, she gestured to a nearby mirror, "What do you think of these, young man?"

"Um…" Harry found that he couldn't really see well enough to pass judgement. "They seem okay…" he turned to Snape, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed defiantly.

Upon being asked his opinion, Snape strode purposefully to the saleswoman and Harry, shaking his head.

"Absolutely not! These…" he paused, scowling, as Harry handed him the thick rimmed glasses, searching for an appropriate term "… monstrosities would practically guarantee that any copulatory activities he might perchance to engage in would be conducted alone." Both Harry and the clerk looked questioningly at Snape, who sighed and muttered about appalling vocabulary, "I believe the more mundane term is 'BCGs'- Birth Control Glasses- spectacles that ensure that anyone foolish enough to wear them will never be propositioned."

Harry burst out laughing, Snape cared about his sex life?! Unbelievable! "But Sir," the clerk objected, "The boy is only what, twelve?"

Now it was Harry's turn to be affronted, "I am 16," or very nearly, anyway, he added silently.

"Oh, well, when you find a pair that suits you, let me know."

Snape was now laughing at him too, "So, I am short, what do you want me to do about it?" Harry asked hotly.

"Just pick out a pair so we can go!"

"I actually have no preferences in the matter at all, I can't see a bloody thing." He was still annoyed that the saleswoman thought he was so young, though he had been told he looked quite youthful without his glasses.

"Fine, stay right here." Snape then perused the shelves, selecting several frames.

"Try these on," the Professor instructed. After he had modeled each pair for Severus, the Potions Master made him try on the thin, slightly bronzed, wire frames again. "Yes, I think these are just the thing"

"Thank you," Harry said, sincerely. Snape merely nodded, as they presented their choice to the sales associate.

--------------

Later that night

Snape emerged from the portrait hole and ambled purposefully through the Gryffindor common room, attired quite uncharacteristically in a pair of flannel pajama pants and a tee-shirt that said, "Stop! I have a wand and I know how to use it!"

Harry stared. Where was his greasy, uptight potions master, and who in the name of Circe was this?

Noticing Harry's startled expression, Snape responded rather innocently by asking, "Surely you didn't think that I slept in my black robes too?"

Harry found himself nodding, that was exactly what he had believed.

Snape rolled his eyes and walked over to one of the chairs by the fireplace. He looked up and noticed Harry smiling at him.

"What are you so bloody happy about?" Snape couldn't help but retort- not at all pleased with his new living situation and especially not with his new roommate.

"Nothing," Harry answered, conversationally, "Just your shirt, it's pretty funny."

At this, Severus' face took on a configuration that looked at once bizarre and frightening. He grinned, teeth and all, his voice was almost friendly when he said, "Yes, isn't it great? There is this shop, 'Where the Sun Doesn't Shine'"

Harry raised an eyebrow. Catching the boy's incredulity, Snape explained, "Oh, they named it in honor of their very first tee-shirt slogan: 'You know where you can stick your wand!' They have..."He stopped, suddenly, the mischievous glint that had animated his coal black eyes only seconds before was replaced by the characteristic aloofness and cruelty. The lines on his face resumed their grim set before he continued, "I mean, the shirt was a gift from a friend, not a real friend, mind you, but someone my parents paid to play with me as a child- not that I was ever really a child- oh, and by 'play,' of course, I mean that I tormented him until he cried. However, being the utilitarian, fascist, bastard that I am, I do not believe that anything should go to waste. Thus, I wear this tee-shirt when I haven't tortured the house elves into cleaning my clothes for a while.

At first, Harry just looked shocked, but then he broke out into an actual laugh. His sounds of amusement possessed an almost lyrical quality, brightening his entire face and returning the sparkle to his astonishingly green eyes. When Harry regained a semblance of control, he spoke to the Potions Master, "You have a sense of humor, Professor. I think Hell must have frozen over."

Severus paused, glaring at Harry before replying, "No, I do believe it is still rather warm in here." With that, he flopped onto the chair facing the fire and ignored the petite Gryffindor.

Harry shook his head in disbelief before making his way up the steps to the bedchambers in the tower, resigning to tell Ron and Hermione of his whereabouts and about the Potions Master's unexpected behavior. He was certainly seeing a side to Severus Snape that he had never dreamed existed. Just maybe, this summer wouldn't be so bad.

TBC