A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for the reviews! I was so surprised! I made a little bit of a mistake in the last chapter and I hope to go back and fix it. Somewhere it said something and then after it said "O CRAP!!" I have no clue how it got there, maybe my brother or sisters!! I had no school today! I am so happy because we got like a foot of snow. I went sledding this morning but brrrrr...it was cold! Please enjoy,and pleasereview!!!!

Anonymous: Thanks for being my first reviewer, even though I don't know who you are! I'm glad you like the beginning, I hope I'll keep writing, so keep reading and reviewing!

Sharivari: Thanks for reviewing! No, I'm not one of those update-once-a-year people, thank goodness. I hope to update once a week. Enjoy!

Chapter 2: A Dream and Snape

"Ahh, Severus, my lad, good to see you! Hope you are well? Excellent!" The old headmaster of Hogwarts said as he entered the house of Potions Master Severus Snape.

"Headmaster," Snape said, bowing his head slightly as he welcomed Albus Dumbledore into his house. "What do you wish to talk to me about?"

"Right to the point are we Severus? Very well, I am here to ask you a very big favor which I think you will find hard to do. It's about Harry," Dumbledore said seriously as he selected a yellow candy from a tin he took from his pocket. "Lemon drop?" he asked.

"No, thank you, muggle sweets are a bit to my dislike," Snape said. He sounded like he would rather take care of a Blast-Ended Skrewt than eat a muggle sweet. "And what has sweet little angel Potter done now, that needs to be discussed with me? Surely your not having me try to teach the boy Occlumency again? Or do I have to refresh your memory at what happened the last time I did that?"

"No, you will not be teaching Harry Occlumency. I think he has no need for it now because I don't expect Voldemort to try to get into his mind for a while. I also predict that Harry will have protection without Occlumency by the time he tries to enter his mind again. No, I have come to see you about having Harry come to stay for a few weeks." Dumbledore told him, looking down the bridge of his nose into Snape's face.

"Stay at Hogwarts for a few extra weeks in the summer before going back to Headquarters? I don't see why it would matter to me but I see no problem in it," Snape said.

"No, Severus, not at Hogwarts, but here, with you," Dumbledore sighed at the look on Snape's face. "It would only be for a few weeks, because I have sensed a weakening of the wards around his aunt and uncle's house these past few months. We have also not heard from him for three days, and I have ordered the aurors not to enter the house unless they have my approval and someone from the Order accompanies them. As for sending him back to Hogwarts, there are not enough teachers there for Harry to be properly watched over and taken care of, and I don't want to rush him back to headquarters after what happened in June. Frankly, that leaves me nowhere else to go. Please, Severus, do this as a favor to an old graying man?"

"I don't have to do anything but put him up in my house for a few weeks, is that correct?" Snape asked quickly. "There's nothing else I have to do is there?"

"Well," Dumbledore said quietly. "I was hoping maybe you could befriend Harry and be there for him if he needs someone. Be his mentor. Severus, I know this will be hard, but Harry needs an adult to talk to. Sadly, he doesn't trust me enough anymore to confide in me. Remus is dealing with his own grief and his monthly transformations, and the Weasley's have enough children and troubles of their own." He took another lemon drop from the tin before dropping it back into his pocket.

"I hate him, and he hates me." Severus said quietly, apparently deep in thought.

"He does not hate you Severus, I think Harry is incapable of hating. You only hate his father, and how he reminds you of him. Put aside your hate and reach out and help a troubled mind. One, mind you, that has the potential to save the world." Dumbledore said wisely.

"Well I have very good reason to hate his father and him!" Snape said angrily. "Do I not? Every time at look at him I am reminded. How do you think I can live with that? And now you want him to live in MY house. What about when I'm called, then what? What if they come here, and find the boy? Have you thought of that Dumbledore?" Snape roared on, oblivious to Dumbledore's apparent deafness as he stared into the fireplace and twiddled his thumbs.

"I have everything figured out, Severus. No one can enter within 20 yards of the house without your permission, I have made your house unplottable so no one can apparate to it, and the fires are being controlled by a very trusting man at the Floo Department. I will also make Harry a place to go where you can be assured no one will find him if someone does show up. I will leave you to think about this. Tell me your decision by tonight," said Dumbledore.

"No," Snape said hurriedly, "I will take him, when do you want me to be ready?" He didn't want to keep Dumbledore waiting for his answer as action needed to be taken as soon as possible.

"As soon as possible, probably late tonight or early morning. I will be by later to make the necessary arrangements." Dumbledore said, a look of gratefulness passed over his face as Snape said he would take Harry. "Thank you Severus, this means a lot. Until later!" And with that he disapparated, leaving and very humbled and shocked man in his wake.

Harry was chasing Bellatrix Lestrange into the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic. "Aaaaah...did you love him little baby Potter?"

Hatred rose in Harry such as he had never known before. He flung himself out from behind the fountain and bellowed, "Crucio!"

Bellatrix screamed and was knocked off her feet. But she was up again and sent a counter-spell that hit the golden fountain.

"Never used an Unforgivable Curse before have you boy?" she yelled. "You need to mean them, Potter! You need to really want to cause pain—to enjoy it. Righteous anger won't hurt me for long—I'll show you how it is done, shall I? I'll give you a lesson—"

"Crucio!" she screamed.

"NOOOOO...SIRIUS!!!"

Harry woke to find a fuzzy Albus Dumbledore leaning over him. "Prof...Pro...Professor!" He sat up, wiping his eyes which were streaming with tears and grabbed his glasses.

"Hello, Harry," he asked gently. "Are you alright?"

"I'm uh...ok." Harry said, trying not stutter. The dream about the DoM had shaken him, and then to find his headmaster leering over him when he had woken up had been a bit startling.

"Do you wish to tell me what you were dreaming?" he asked. This was more of an order then a request.

"The DoM, when I cursed Bellatrix," Harry muttered quietly, staring at his hands which were twisted into the bedcovers.

"It is likely you will be dreaming about that night for a while, Harry. I'm sorry you did what you did, as I'm sure you are," Dumbledore said quietly. Harry tensed up as the headmaster put his arms around the troubled boy in what he knew was supposed to be a fatherly hug. Harry withstood it for a minute before gently disengaging from his headmaster's grip.

"I'm ok," Harry said, resolutely shaking his head and climbing out of bed. "Can I get dressed? Then we can talk."

"Yes, of course, Harry," Dumbledore said as he walked over to the door of Harry's room. "I'll be in the kitchen."

Harry watched as Dumbledore opened the door and walked into the hallway, a little smile of glee on his face as he slid down the banister to get to the floor below. Harry shook his head in wonderment, but soon the wonderment turned into questions as to why Dumbledore was here, and why did he hug him?

In previous years he probably would have liked to get a hug from someone, but now he was older and didn't need comfort like a small child when woken up by a nightmare. He shrugged it off and went into the bathroom across the hall to take a quick shower.

As he went down the stairs, Harry smelled coffee brewing and bacon frying. Wondering if the Dursley's were home, or if Dumbledore knew how to cook like a muggle, Harry entered the kitchen to see his Potion's Professor, Severus Snape sitting at the table reading a muggle newspaper as Dumbledore was happily trying out the ice maker in the freezer.

"YOU! What are you doing here?" Harry asked furiously. How did Snape dare to come to his house when he knew how much he hated him!

"I am here on orders of the headmaster," Snape replied silkily. "Otherwise, I don't expect I would wish to come to some...muggle's house, just for fun. He looked around in disgust at the many muggle appliances distributed around the kitchen.

"Harry," Dumbledore said gently, "Please respect Professor Snape, he is doing you no harm and I requested he be here."

"Alright, but only if he respects me!" Harry said angrily, glaring at Snape as he said it.

"He will, he will and you, I trust, will do the same," Dumbledore said. "Now, Harry, we've been very worried about you. No letters for three days, no sound or sight from the house either. What happened? Where are the Dursleys?"

"I told the Dursleys I could do magic and that there were wizards guarding the house," said Harry sullenly. "And I sort of lost track of time, eating, sleeping and laying in bed the whole time. I'm sorry."

"You very well better be!" Snape angrily said to him. "Sleeping, eating and laying in bed. What do you expect to accomplish by doing that? Get over it and do something about it! At least quit your moping and do your potion's homework!" He turned to Dumbledore and hissed, "Do you still think this is the boy who's going to save the world?" He turned on his heel and fled out of the room, muttering curses and oaths.

Harry was dumb stricken. "Uh, Professor, what was that all about?" Had he just heard what he thought he had? Snape caring about what he did? His suspicions were confirmed by the headmaster's response.

"Professor Snape is very worried about you, Harry, and I'll admit he has a point. You have not shown a willingness to do anything other than eat, sleep and wile away your time brooding on Sirius. It's time to start thinking about what the prophecy means and put forth all your efforts into it. That is why you are going to live with him."

Harry stood mouth agape at those last words. "I'M WHAT????"

"You're coming to live with me, so get packing, Potter."

Harry spun around, looking at Snape standing in the doorway of the kitchen in shock. "But, you hate me!" he said desperately.

"I do not hate you, Potter, we just have our little—let's say—disagreements," Snape said smoothly. "Now, why don't you go up to your room and pack?"

Harry looked from Dumbledore to Snape, then back to Dumbledore. "Why?"

"I told you why, Harry. You need to start getting ready for your part in the prophecy. It will only be for a few weeks, and then you can go back to Grimmauld Place."

"What about Ron, and Hermione?" Harry paused a moment, then added, "And Ginny?"

"You will have a means of communication with them and can talk everyday," Dumbledore told him. "And you will see them soon enough."

"I understand having to get ready for Voldemort," Harry said as Snape flinched awkwardly at the sound of the Dark Lord's name, "but why do I have to stay with Professor Snape?"

"A just question Harry. I considered every other option, as I know how much you and Severus don't get along. Remus Lupin would have been an obvious choice, but, I'm sad to say, he's not very well right now. He is, of course, grieving for one of his best friends. He is doing better as of late, but he still has his transformations to go through and I don't think it would right to place another burden on him. The Weasley's have their own problems and children of their own, I'm sure they would have been glad to have you, but right now you need more attention. No one else worked out either, Harry. It's you and Professor Snape," Dumbledore explained quickly, ignoring the look of frustration on the teen's face.

Harry resignedly walked out of the kitchen, up the stairs, and into his room. He quickly packed his precious few belongings and turned to Hedwig, his snowy owl. "Maybe it won't be so bad, Hedwig," he said softly, stroking the birds beak as she crooned and leaned against his hand. "Snape seemed to actually care a bit, but maybe he's a little different today and tomorrow he will be back to his old ornery self."

Severus Snape backed up away from the door quietly, not wishing Harry to notice he was there. I hope I'm the same as today, Harry, I really do.

He reflected back to last year, when Harry had looked into his pensieve. When he came back and found him there, he had been outraged. Since then, he had had no sympathy for the boy who lived. Now, however...Harry seemed different. He actually felt sorry for Potter, for losing his godfather, even though he himself and Sirius had not gotten along at all.

Snape walked down the stairs slowly, lost in thought, unaware of the headmaster standing in the shadows watching him.

"Hedwig, you've got to fly to Snape's ok? I will be there soon," with that, Harry spelled the window open and released Hedwig, who nipped at his finger in a reassuring way and flew off into the bright, morning sunlight.

Harry sighed and leaned out of the window, enjoying the cool, fresh morning breeze. Next door Mrs. Number 3 Privet Drive was making breakfast as Mr. Number 3 Privet Drive was reading the morning newspaper. Their children were playing in the yard. Seeing the paper reminded Harry that he still didn't know what was going on with Voldemort! He had meant to ask Dumbledore as soon as he saw him, but it had slipped his mind, what with the dream and Snape arriving at Number 4 Privet Drive.

Across the street Harry could see Mrs. Figg wave to a tall, dark, man walking down the street as she was watering her flowers. "Harry, are you ready to go?" Dumbledore asked from behind him.

"Yes," Harry said, not turning from the window, "But, Professor, can you first tell me what has been happening? Has there been any attacks?"

"Harry, I don't think is the best time to be asking. Wait until you get to Professor Snape's, and ask him," Dumbledore said, a catch in his voice.

"Professor, I need to know!" Harry said exasperatedly, "Don't leave me in the dark again!" He turned to see Professor Dumbledore fleeing from the room. "What the? Professor! Are you alright?"

Harry could hear words being exchanged in the hall, and then Snape came in. He sighed and looked at Harry. "Potter, how could you have been so rash?"

"What's wrong? What did I do?" Harry asked worriedly.

"You shouldn't have asked about any attacks!" Snape yelled at him. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled, you wouldn't know."

"What don't I know?" Harry asked quickly.

"This is hard, as I knew him well, too," Snape said sadly. "A good friend and member of the order was attacked a few days ago."

"Who?" Harry asked, dreading the answer.

Snape was quiet for a few moments. "I'm not the one to tell you," he said.

"I need someone to tell me!" Harry said, now fearing the worst. Images of various people flashed through his head. Thoughts of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, Bill and Charlie Weasley, Remus Lupin, Tonks, McGonagall and Mad-Eye Moody went through his head.

"He was at headquarters quite a bit last year," Snape said quietly as he went to the window and looked out. "It was the crazy old cauldron pot Mu..." He stopped short and yelled, "GET DOWN HARRY!"

Harry dropped and grabbed his wand out of his back pocket. All of a sudden there was a huge blast from outside the window and Harry had something heavy fall on top of him and hit him hard in the back of the head. The only thing Harry registered before everything went black was that Snape was gone.

A/N: Hoped you enjoyed my little cliff hangers!!! Two this chapter, lucky you! House points to anyone who guesses who died and where Snape disappeared to! Also next chapter will be a bit longer, I've got a lot happeneing. Please REVIEW!!!