Checkup Visit

It had taken him no more than two minutes to change his usual cloak for some shorter but equally black travelling robes and then make his way down into the entrance hall where Dumbledore was already waiting for him.

Don't you think that Muggle clothing might be more appropriate? The headmaster asked after giving him a scrutinizing look.

Severus replied. It's way past midnight, I don't expect to meet anyone.

Very well. This whole action should take place preferably unnoticed, I don't want to alarm Harry in any way or disturb the peace in the family.

Snape nodded and fought the urge to once again ask if there really wasn't someone, anyone else to do this job.

I'll walk you down to the gates. Dumbledore said and they set off across the hall. They walked the whole way in silence and Severus was quite thankful that the headmaster spared him his assembled instructions on how to survive one hour in the Muggle world - he knew that, he had already spend enough of his time in the Muggle world after all.

We will give you at least half an hour from now on to get into the house and replace the spells. Dumbledore said when they came to a halt at the gates of Hogwarts. You will be sent a signal as soon as you're clear to leave again. You know that although the Ministry now finally believes me, they still don't quite trust me; I don't believe they are keeping an eye on you yet so let's try and keep it this way.


Severus apparated in a dark narrow side street. He glanced around and stuffed his wand into his sleeve to keep it from view in case there should still be some Muggles wandering around here that late before he set off towards the next street that seemed to be flooded with the neon light of streetlamps. Trying to stay in the shadows he quickly made his way along Privet Drive until he reached the dark front yard of number four. After looking around once more he sneaked up to the window next to the front door to peer into the dark house. Preferably unnoticed. He would have tried to even if Dumbledore hadn't told him, simply because a meeting with Potter or one of those Muggles living here seemed not at all desirable to him.

It was as dark and quiet inside of the house as it was out here on the street; everyone seemed to be asleep. No surprise really, after all it was already nearly one o'clock in the morning. He let his wand slip out of his sleeve and into his hand, stepped up in front of the door, took a deep breath and started whispering the litany of spells needed to unlock it. A moment later the lock clicked and the door silently swung open to allow him inside.

After closing the door behind him he cast his first spell at the entrance. Slowly and carefully he walked along the corridor, through the kitchen and into the living room, looking around to find the other spots where he would have to renew the barrier spell. For a moment he let his gaze travel across Petunia Dursley's collection of blue and white china plates and the numerous photographs of Dudley Dursley one of the walls had been plastered with before he crossed the room and cast a spell at the glass door leading into the garden. He turned around again and cast the third one at the kitchen window. Three more now, upstairs; he went back out into the corridor and silently climbed the stairs. Once he had reached the first floor he hesitated for a moment to prepare for the trickier part of his task: casting the other spells without waking those Muggles. Unfortunately Dumbledore hadn't agreed with him when he had suggested that putting a little stunning spell on them would be the most convenient way to handle this situation so now he would have to try a different approach. He walked over to the door through which he could hear someone snoring loudly and from what the headmaster had told him about the house this someone should be Dudley Dursley. Carefully he opened the door a little, peered inside, saw a big boy sleeping peacefully in his bed, made a few steps across the room to the window and cast the spell without waking the kid. The second spell had to be placed in a room that looked like a study that hadn't been used in ages and only existed for the good impression it would make on anyone visiting the house. Now the only room left was Potter's. Severus sighed inaudibly and walked across the corridor to the wooden door. He found Harry sleeping in his bed, the bedside lamp still burning, shot a vicious glare at the teenager and walked across the room to cast his last spell. Just when he had muttered the words he saw movement from the corner of his eyes, whirled around and saw Harry waking up with a jerk. Severus took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for an encounter with Potter.

Harry stared at him for a second and blinked a few times before he half fell, half jumped out of his bed, landed on his knees and began to frantically search his bedside table for his wand, his glasses or at least something big and heavy enough to throw at that man standing in the middle of his room.

Constant vigilance, Potter! Does that sound familiar? Snape sneered. You should always know where your wand is at least.

What the hell do you want! Harry yelled and, having at least found his glasses by now, jumped to his feet.

Mind your language, Potter. Snape muttered.

Harry found his wand, grabbed it and raised his hand in front of him, ready to strike. What do you want!

I'm here following the headmaster's order to renew one of the protection spells. And you should rather put that wand away unless you want to get yourself into serious trouble for attacking a teacher, Mr. Potter. Severus hissed.

But I... you... why... no. Harry stammered, still pointing his wand at Snape.

If you expect any sort of reaction from me it would be advisable to form a coherent sentence first.

Why exactly you? Harry barked. Why doesn't he do it himself or send someone else, Lupin or Tonks or Moody?

Because I had the misfortune to be the only one available.

What sort of spell is that after all!

That's none of your concern, Potter.

Oh, none of my business, right? This is just where I live and that spell's just put up here because of me but of course I don't have to know what any of this is about, right! Harry yelled, waving around his wand while he was speaking.

Severus replied calmly, just about to turn away and leave.

Stop right there, don't move! You're not going anywhere before I know what you did! Harry stretched out his arm so that his wand was pointing straight between Snape's eyes. I mean it.

As I just told you...

I don't believe one word you tell me! Harry barked. And I don't care if Dumbledore says he trusts you, I don't! Not one bit!

Severus glared at him out of narrowed eyes. Who do you think you are, believing you had a right to doubt my loyalties, Potter. He hissed.

It's your fault that Sirius is dead! Harry yelled, glaring back at him. His heart was beating fast now that he had finally uttered what he had been thinking all the time.

Snape just smirked at him. If you want to find someone to blame other than Black himself I'd suggest you should consider starting with yourself. He said in a low voice.

Don't you speak about him like that!

Black's irredeemable recklessness and stubbornness got him killed, nothing and nobody else.

Harry felt his hands trembling with rage. I wish he would have gotten you, I wish Voldemort would have killed you! He saw Snape wince when he spoke the name and at that moment he just wanted to shout Voldemort at him again and again, just to see if like that he could get to him.

I hate to disappoint you, Potter, but the Dark Lord has no desire to see me dead. Snape sneered.

Oh yes, he does! Harry replied with a triumphant smile. He said so! Last year, when he returned. He said there were three of you missing, one was Crouch, serving him at Hogwarts; another one too much a coward to return and....

And one who I believe has left me forever - he will be killed, of course. Severus said softly. He wasn't referring to me, Potter.

Of course he... hang on. Harry stopped speaking and stared at him blankly for a moment. How can you know? How can you know what he said!

Severus snorted and shook his head. Use your brain, Potter. I know it because I was there.

You were there?

Snape looked as indifferent as ever.

You were there! You were standing there among them and just watching everything and you didn't do a thing!

Severus neither thought it was necessary nor did he want to defend himself in front of that insolent and ignorant kid and when the door to Harry's room opened any decision about this was made unnecessary anyway; both of them whirled around and saw the whole Dursley family standing in the doorway and staring at them.

How dare you! Vernon Dursley barked, his eyes darting from Harry to Snape and back again.

So much for preferably unnoticed.

One of these people! Here in my house! Vernon continued, gesturing wildly with his hands, his face growing constantly redder.

Now I definitely didn't invite him! Harry yelled back at him.

I told you a million times! Vernon hissed. I don't want to have anything to do with those weird people and I won't allow any of them inside my house!

I have nothing to do with it! Harry shouted while Snape silently watched the scene, contemplating whether or not he should feel insulted by what that agitated oversized Muggle had just said.

Vernon Dursley couldn't have been convinced by whatever Harry could have said. Those people are your friends, they're coming here for you! Not enough that last year there...

May I interrupt you for a moment. Snape said softly and took a step out of the shadows and towards Harry's uncle.

Vernon stopped speaking and stared at him for a moment. You may not! He barked. How dare you just break into this house and now-

Very suddenly he fell silent and Dudley, who had been standing next to his father, took a careful step back onto the corridor and towards his mother. Snape was standing right in front of Harry's uncle now and, taking advantage of the fact that he was quite a little taller than him, glaring down at him, looking as dangerous as Harry had ever seen him. You'd better mind your manners now and keep your nose out of things that are none of your business. Severus hissed, barely audible.

Vernon Dursley swallowed hard and involuntarily took a step backwards while Harry was still holding his wand towards Snape in his outstretched hand. He definitely wasn't very fond of his uncle and he would have loved seeing Snape going to Azkaban for doing something to him but he wasn't too sure what exactly Snape might be capable of doing once he was provoked.

Dudley, Petunia, go back to bed. Vernon whispered. This concerns only the boy, it's none of our business.

Harry let his hand sink as he watched the Dursleys slowly retreating to their rooms, never taking their eyes off the uninvited visitor. He was surprised to see his uncle giving in so easily but he also had to admit that Snape had looked pretty intimidating, probably even more so if one wasn't used to his always grumpy and a little scary appearance. Although anyone who knew a little more about him probably had even more reason to be afraid of him.

Severus remained standing motionless until he heard the doors fall closed and then, without even looking at Harry once more, strode out of the room and slammed the door shut behind him, leaving Harry standing next to his bed and staring after him.




AN: Thank you for reading, I hope you liked it. Tell me if you did, makes me soooo happy ;)

Ronnie: Thank you! I'm glad to see you back :) I didn't get all my questions answered in book 5 as well, I'll try to make up some answers now...

Ice Lupus: Thank you, I'm glad you liked it, I hope you'll continue to enjoy it.

shadowycat: Thank you! So glad you like it this far :)

zippy zany: Thank you, also for your review of my other story, I'm glad you enjoyed that one :)

n snape: Thank you, I hope you liked this chapter!

Jocelyn: Thank you =)

sparkle-2oo3: Thank you, I hope you liked this!

carpathia: Thank you! I'm glad you think I managed to keep them in character; sorry, just normal robes ;)