Chapter 3: I'm Staying where?

Harry stared at the door as he heard the slow footsteps draw closer. He really did not want to talk to the Headmaster, especially after what had happened in his office last year. He felt guilty, angry, and just plain tired. He hated the prophecy and wished it would not have been him chosen. Instantly though, Harry regretted that thought. If it hadn't been him, it would've been Neville and he would not want that.

"Harry?" came the soft voice of Albus. He sounded concerned, sad, and was that guilt? Harry turned and looked into the man's weary eyes.

"Headmaster," he said solemnly.

"Harry, I know it will be a hard thing to do, but I need you to tell me what happened this summer." Harry sighed. He really did not want to do this, but he had to.

Just as Harry was about to nod his agreement, the door opened and Severus strode in, black robes billowing. He glared at Albus before taking a seat in one of the chairs next to Harry's bed.

"I will not tell it with him here," Harry said in a matter of fact way. Both men looked toward him.

"Being that it was Severus who took you out of there, saw how you lived, I believe that he has a right to know how it happened," said Albus. Harry sighed and looked at the man in question. He simply stared back, expressionless.

"Fine, I'll tell you," Harry said, bowing his head in resignation.

Severus sat, waiting for the boy to tell his story. He hated the feeling that gripped him when Potter had looked at him with that look of hate. Shouldn't the boy be grateful that he... No, he shouldn't expect Potter to just forgive him after the last five years. This would be a hard summer for both of them, but Severus vowed that he would try his best to keep his temper in check.

"It started out as any summer would. I came home and was told to stay in my room. The only thing different was that I sensed a lot of anger coming from my uncle. My aunt and cousin were the same, ignoring anything my uncle said, just going along with it.

It stayed like that for two days. I was locked in my room, fed small amounts of food through the cat flap on my door. Then, on the third day, it all began.

I was sitting in my room, thinking about things, when I heard my uncle stomp into the house. He sounded angry, and I resolved that I wouldn't do anything to upset him. He started ranting about his company and how he was so angry that it was going to fail or something like that. I knew that he would find a way to blame this on me so I stayed quiet. Then, he stopped talking and told me to get down stairs.

I did and he started ranting about how it was my fault that his company was going to fail and how I would pay. Ever since then, he has been starving me, hitting me and… stuff like that."

After his long speech, Harry sagged against his pillows. He couldn't believe that he had told. Vernon had said that if he told, he would pay. Dumbledore cleared his throat and Harry looked up at his face.

"I am sorry my boy. I must ask you, how long has the abuse been going on?"

"It has been going on ever since I can remember. The beatings stopped when I got my Hogwarts letter… until this summer," he said softly.

"So you've been hit before?" Harry nodded and found his eyes drawn to Snape.

Snape sat, with no expression on his face. Harry could tell though, that he was angry. It made him cringe back away from him. Then he suddenly stood up and headed for the door, slamming it in his wake.

"Headmaster, did I do something?" Harry asked fearfully.

"No Harry. He is not angry with you. I do have something to tell you though." Harry looked up at him and waited expectantly.

"You will not be returning to the Dursleys, but you will have to stay here…"

"In Gryffindor tower?" asked Harry, not daring to hope.

"I was going to finish with here with someone. I will be leaving shortly and the other professors are leaving as well. Except for one." Harry furrowed his eyebrows. He thought he knew what was coming.

"Yes Harry, you need to stay with Professor Snape."

"Snape! Why do I have to stay with Snape?" Harry burst out, then cringed back, realizing just who he had yelled at.

"Professor Snape," he corrected calmly. "I believe that you too can get along. It will take effort on your part as well as his." Harry only scowled, but did not have the will to say more. His summer was going to be miserable, but at least he wouldn't get hit. He hoped anyway.

Severus sat on his bed glaring at the wall. He was angry with himself. He had been treating Potter so bad these past five years, and now he found that he had been abused. Not only that, but he should have recognized the signs. After all, he had been through the same thing.

As he sat on his bed, he thought about what he should do, how he should act. He couldn't treat the boy as he had before, it would break his spirit. He decided that he would compromise. He would be nice, until Potter showed his arrogant self once more.

"Thank you Harry. I know that was a hard thing to tell," said Albus softly, laying a hand on his shoulder. Harry flinched back a bit.

"Yes sir. How long will I be here?" Albus smiled.

"Madam Pomfrey has said that you will receive a last checkup and then Severus will be here to take you to his chambers." Harry nodded as the headmaster stood up. Poppy entered the room and swooped down on Harry, muttering.

"…with those injuries and Severus wants you out of here right now... I'll never understand that boy." She made sure his bandages were clean and checked his vital signs.

"You're ok Potter, but any pain or dizziness and you come straight back here, understand?" Harry nodded.

"Severus will be here in a few minutes Harry," Albus said softly. Harry bowed his head in resignation to his miserable summer.

"Thanks sir," Harry said. He didn't want to seem ungrateful for the help that had been given. 'At least I'm not with the Dursleys.'

"Harry, Severus does have a heart. It will just take a while for that fact to be known to you. Don't take what he says personally. I can assure you that he will try and hold his temper in check, but I want you to do the same thing. It was a hard thing for Severus to admit that he had been wrong about you for five years. So please Harry, try and be civil to Professor Snape." Harry stared into the eyes of his headmaster, the most powerful wizard in the world as far as he was concerned. He could see the warmth in them and the love that he harbored for both him and Severus.

"I will watch how I act sir," Harry promised.

"Thank you my boy. Who knows, a friendship could come of this experience." Harry just shook his head and sat waiting for Snape to arrive.

A/N:

Hi readers. I hope you enjoyed it. I'm sorry if my chapters are short, but maybe they'll get longer. I don't really know as I plan what will happen as I write.

Thank you to my reviewers!