Disclaimer: I don't own any part of the HP series - just burrowing. The plot is mine though

Chapter Three. Never Trust a Slimy Slytherin

Harry felt himself floating in limbo for what only seemed like a millisecond of time. Nevertheless in the next second he found himself standing in a wood.

The trees around Harry seemed to have grown twisted and deformed. Harry wrapped his arms around his chest, watching as his breath come out in small white clouds. The woods seemed so much colder than 'Olde London' - and so much more eerie. He shuddered as he looked closer at a white trunk close to him. For the briefest of moments he thought he could see a face screaming in anguish, but when he looked back it was gone.

Harry chanced a sideways glance at the stranger, whom was smoothing imaginary creases from his robes, with long elegant hands. As if sensing Harry's scrutiny the stranger glanced up meeting Harry's eyes.

"Where are we?" Harry demanded, the sound of his voice echoed about him.
The stranger sniffed huffily and gestured around the woods. "A place you would not recognise…" The stranger took a few steps away – but Harry did not follow…
"I wouldn't have asked if knew where here was…"

The stranger turned slowly and deliberately on his heel and glared at Harry darkly. Harry shifted uneasily the man had the uncanny ability of reminding him of Professor Snape's hateful stare.

"You're just as unhappy as I am with this most unfortunate arrangement," the stranger stated dryly, and turned once more and continued on his path with purposeful strides.

For a moment Harry contemplated not following the stranger but then thoughts of what might happen if he was alone in an unfamiliar woods caught up with him. (Not that he was afraid of the woods).

"Well, can I least have your name?" Harry asked hopefully as he stumbled over a trunk. The stranger stopped abruptly nearly causing Harry to run straight into his back.

"I don't remember inviting conversation, boy," the stranger hissed, without turning around and then he started striding off again.

"Shesh…sorry to be such an inconvenience," Harry murmured to himself. He didn't see the stranger's almost bemused smirk. Of course he hadn't intended the stranger to here his reply.

"But since you must call me something Magister Slytherin will do…or just lord…"

'Slytherin…?'

Harry stopped in his tracks, staring in disbelief and wonder at his companion's back. This man was one of them…? His enemy…

"Hah, I see the great, noble name of Slytherin means something to you…so you must have some sort of intelligence despite the lack of quality in your blood…"

Harry ground his teeth at Slytherin's gibe… "Yes…it means you go your way and I'll go mine…"
"Don't be a stubborn fool boy…" Harry didn't missed the amusement in Slytherin's steely voice.
"I would be a fool to trust you a…a...Slytherin…"

For a moment, Slytherin gazed at Harry looking at him as if some great revelation just hit him. "So, he said slowly – this is what the lady meant by opposition…," Slytherin scratched his beard thoughtfully while keeping poor Harry under close scrutiny. Without warning he turned on his heel again… "Now come, boy…"

Harry wrinkled his nose in disgust at the Slytherin's command and planted his feet firmly… "Draco dormiens nunquam titllandus – and never trust a slimly Slytherin…"

In the instant those words escaped his mouth Harry knew that he had pushed his luck too far. Slytherin spun on his heel glaring at him with wide furious dark eyes. For a moment Harry thought the man was going to strangle him to death, confirming his suspicions of the Slytherin.

A great force slapped Harry's cheek, so that he had been thrown over sideways by the mere power of it. Gritting his teeth Harry was determined that he was not going to cry out. Looking through his fringe he saw with a start the stranger standing over him, his eyes still gleaming furiously and his lips curled in disdain.

Instinct told Harry that the unseen force was magic and had come from his angry companion. Wince Harry got to his feet and glared at Slytherin…

"Now," Slytherin boomed, "I think you may have got it through your incredibly think Gryffindor mind – I don't appreciate rude youngsters. Understand ?"

Harry didn't answer but clamped his jaw tightly – something told him that Slytherin had enjoyed punishing him like that…

"Understand?"

Harry sighed and not wishing to be on the receiving end again of Slytherin's power. Who knew what the wizard was capable of? And Slytherin was eying him again harshly...

"I understand…" Slytherin raised an elegant eyebrow so that Harry was obliged to add with a whisper of defeat, "Lord."

"Good," Slytherin said jovially, but something was in his expression that told Harry he had something else up his sleeve, "Now that we have sorted out our differences…and now that I have managed to show you your place…come – you have a lot of work to do…"

Resigned to his fate, Harry followed Slytherin through the forest, relishing thoughts on how he could outwit his new 'master.' But these thoughts did not give him much comfort, for how could he have stepped through the hall cupboard and end up here – with a Slytherin?

"Welcome, to my humble abode…" Slytherin said with a flourished gesture. Harry looked around Slytherin's robes and suppressed a snicker. Slytherin's elaborate hand movements had told Harry to expect some great mansion but before he lay a little cottage that reminded Harry of Hagrid's hut.

"Now, once we get settled you have the wood to chop, the pans to clean, the hens to feed, water to be fetched, tending to the garden…"
Harry listened to the list with dismay…this Slytherin was going to be like living with magical Dursleys.

Slytherin must have seen Harry's annoyance with his list for he crowed, "Of course boy, I'll be flicking through scrolls and scrolls of parchment trying to find a better spell of hiding my abode from the stupid muggles… but of course I cannot let you do that, you're only my apprentice after all!"

The rest of Harry's miserable day was spent following Slytherins orders, completing his chores – without magic!

"You have a pair of arms lad!" Slytherin had boomed when Harry thought to use magic when he thought Slytherin was not watching, "If you use your arms only to hold up your wand – what use would you be in this world!"

So Harry had put away his wand and completed his chores manual under the strict supervision of Slytherin. Often the older wizard made Harry go back and complete the chore again – nothing he did was good enough…

When night fell Harry was relieved that Slytherin conjured a meal out of thin air… "You've done enough exercise today."

But of course once they had finished eating Harry still had to scrub the plates clean and Slytherin watched on with obvious enjoyment. "You missed a bit!"
Harry growled and turned his head slightly to see Slytherin sitting in his comfortable chair, with a goblet of something potent chuckling to himself.
"Done…" Harry said drying his hands on his pants…
"Hmmm…" Slytherin murmured, his eyes half closed as he sniffed at the goblet.
"What do you want me to do now, Magister Slytherin?" Harry really didn't want to know the answer…

"Now," Slytherin murmured still nodding off over his goblet, "Now is time for you to sleep, young apprentice…" Slytherin lifted his index finger to point at a small straw bed in the corner. "I have some plans for you on the morrow…"

Harry stifled a groan and wandered what diabolical plans awaited him in the morning.