Broken Wheels and Mended Fences
Chapter 2
Harry sighed softly as he tossed one of his few ragged shirts into a rucksack. It would only be so long until he was packing again anyway, he thought sadly.
He knew that he was an inconvenience for Dumbledore to look after, and that he would keep moving homes until he turned eighteen and could move off by himself. Resigning himself to his fate, Harry threw his journal on top of the bag.
He didn't know anything about the new place he was being shipped off to; just that it was a single man who lived on the outskirts of town who was taking him in. He was slightly relieved when Dumbledore told him that bit on information.
It was harder when he was screwing up the lives of a whole family. One of the first families he lived with had three younger perfectly happy and healthy kids. The husband and wife were cheery and idealistic, and they didn't understand that people like Harry's relatives actually existed. Harry had lived in their home for four months before they had sent him back.
Apparently, he didn't fit into their little picture of perfection. Snorting in cynical disgust at the thought, he roughly pushed aside the memory of their youngest child, Marnie, crawling into his lap for a hug and goodnight kiss. Those kinds of thoughts made their absence all the more painful.
Throwing the last few items that belonged to him into his bag; he hefted it and twisted awkwardly around to hang it on the back of his chair. He saw himself as lucky that he didn't have much, or he would have had a hard time carrying it anywhere.
Rolling out into the rowdy common room – many of the other orphans just got back from school – he expertly dodged a pair of running seven year olds to head toward the elevator.
"Harry!" He heard a voice call from behind him. Turning his head, he caught a glimpse of Maxwell, a thin eight year old, who had been a charge of the orphanage for as long as Harry himself. With a soft and sad smile, Harry ruffled the boy's already rumpled brown locks.
"Hey Maxwell." He said softly, but still able to heard over the ruckus.
"You leaving again Harry?" Maxwell questioned with a sad look crossing his face. Harry was his best friend at Hogwarts, and he often looked up to the handicapped boy as an older brother. Not that he would ever have to courage to tell him that.
"Yeah." Harry answered simply, and gave the small boy an encouraging smile. "You gotta stand for law and order around here in my place, all right? I'm not gonna be here to keep everyone in line."
Maxwell's lips trembled into a smile.
"O-Okay."
No more words were said and Harry simply pulled the boy into a short hug, placing a fond kiss on the boy's forehead.
"Harry,"
Both boys turned their heads to look at a smiling Dumbledore, who stood beside a tall, stern looking man dressed all in black.
Face blank, Harry took a minute to evaluate who he assumed was going to be his guardian. Neatly pressed clothes, even with the morbid color, and his shoes were polished. He stood at an intimidating height, Harry guessed a few inches over six feet. When he reached his face, Harry realized it was the man who had been blocking the hallway several days ago. Visitors were rare at Hogwarts, so he remembered him clearly.
Dark brows slashed across a pale face, which seemed settled into a permanent frown. His nose was slightly large and hooked, but it added more to his character than it took. His mouth was slim and narrowed into a thin line. His hair was jet black and pulled into a tail at the base of his neck.
The most shocking part of his aristocratic face was the inky black eyes that seemed to penetrate everything. Biting the inside of his cheek nervously, Harry listened as Dumbledore continued to speak.
"This is Severus Snape, the man who has graciously agreed to take you into his home. Severus, this is Harry."
Snape nodded, before speaking.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Harry." His voice was cool, but not remote. Harry thought it had a soothing and collected feeling to it.
Harry took the offered hand with a slight hesitation, feeling a slight bout of nerves when the other man's hand dwarfed his in size.
"Same to you." He said quietly, not meeting the man's eyes as he pulled his hand away a little too quickly. Looking at his lap, he missed the understanding look pass across Severus' face.
"Hi!" Maxwell popped in with a grin. "I'm Maxwell, and Harry is my best friend."
"Hello, Maxwell." Severus' lips twitched slightly as he took the small, bony hand. "I promise to look after Harry with the best of my ability."
"I'm afraid it is time for Harry and Severus to go, Maxwell." Dumbledore said kindly. "But before you know it, Harry will be calling to talk to you. Won't you Harry?"
Harry nodded, and ruffled the boy's hair one more time.
"Later." He mumbled. Maxwell gave him a sad smiled and wandered back towards the Connect Four game he had abandoned.
"Well," Dumbledore began in an overly cheery voice, heading to the elevator and pushing the call button. They could hear the elevator groan and creak as it seemed to struggle to get to the second floor.
"I'm sure that you two will have a splendid time getting to know each other these first few days. Severus does his work at home, Harry. So if you ever need help with schoolwork, he can help you. He was a straight A student."
Dumbledore beamed with pride while Severus scowled at him, making Harry grin slightly.
"Fortunately for you, Severus here is still in the same school district and so you shouldn't have any problems with getting your work sent to the house."
Harry felt relieved at that. It was always a hassle to get the schools to agree who would send what and when. He worked with a correspondence program. A teacher or a fellow student would deliver his work for a week or two, which he would complete then send back when the next was delivered.
Severus didn't seem confused or surprised at the statement, so Harry assumed that Dumbledore had already told his everything.
The elevator finally opened, Dumbledore chattering away while it moaned its way back down. Severus clenched his eyes shut, praying that the blasted machine would make it the fifteen feet it took to get to the next floor.
"Well, I'll talk to you to later." Dumbledore said when they reached the door. "I'll stop by sometime, just to see how the two of you are doing."
Dumbledore and Severus shook hands while Harry simply nodded. Almost too quickly for Harry's liking, they were outside in the parking lot, heading toward the only unfamiliar car there.
It was a simple, black, comfortable looking sedan. Sleek, smooth and clean, it fit the owner perfectly. A little more tension left Harry when he realized it was easily large enough to fold his wheelchair into the back.
One of his previous families had to buy a whole new car to accommodate him. It was the first of setbacks that ended him back at the orphanage six months later.
There was an awkward silence as Severus opened the passenger door for him. Feeling self-conscious and embarrassed, Harry took hold of the seat in front of him and levered himself out of his chair and into the car.
He could feel his new guardian watching him, and forced himself not to squirm. He always hated it when people saw him like this. He hated pity and being treated like an invalid, which usually followed in some form of hollow, supposedly comforting words.
Severus quickly folded up the wheelchair and placed into the spacious trunk before getting into the car and starting it. As he was pulling out of the parking lot, he opened his mouth to speak.
Here it comes. Harry braced himself for the awkward conversation which never quite gone anywhere.
"I'm warning you," Severus started, surprising Harry into looking at the stoic man. "Ahead of time… I'm not very good with people or conversation. I can be mean, sarcastic, and cynical. Just…" He paused for a minute, collecting his words.
"Don't let it get to you. If you can put up with me, you can put up with anything."
Harry was shocked into silence. Nobody had spoken to him like that. Nobody before had warned him of their unpleasant personality. Oddly comforted, he shrugged.
"I can take it." He said after a long pause. The rest of the ride was spent in a comfortable silence.
Harry watched out the window at the passing scenery. He rarely got to go outside of town, and he liked watching the trees pass by. It was early October, and the tips of the leaves were starting to change color. The air was a little cool, but comfortable, and he could see squirrels dashing around gathering for their winter store.
Harry's attention was snapped forward as Severus turned onto a long, paved driveway. Just ahead, he could make out a house. Well, more like a large log cabin. It was outsized and beautifully made.
From what he could see, the house had two levels as well as an attic area. The lower level was large and spread out though, so it wouldn't be too hard to get around.
As Severus stopped the car and got out, Harry gazed around him. Wood on one side and a good sized hill on the other, the place was definitely secluded. There was a short, new looking ramp that led up onto a long porch.
He was taken out of his observation when his door was opened to Severus, who was waiting with his chair ready.
"Thanks." He mumbled, not looking at him. Quickly, he levered himself back into the chair. Severus immediately let go of the chair and let the dark-haired boy take control. With seemingly no effort, Harry turned himself around and headed toward the house.
"I don't have a key for you right now." Severus said as he unlocked the front door, holding it open for Harry to pass through. "But I'll go to the locksmith tomorrow and have one made for you, so you don't have to depend on me always being home."
"All right…" Harry said softly, taking in the house as he entered. The halls were wide and painted in soft, natural colors. The living room, directly to his right, was large and spacious. He could see a kitchen straight ahead down the hall.
"Here is the living room," Severus said, pointing, and made his way past Harry towards the kitchen. Harry followed him slowly.
"I do most of my work in here, but I do my research in my office and den." He pointed to a door to left of the kitchen. "They're over there. I just ask you don't enter without knocking or permission, and never go in when I am not home. Understood?"
Harry nodded, gulping a little. This Snape guy could be a little intimidating when he tried to be. Severus's lips twitched slightly before walking over to a door across the open kitchen and dining room, which had sliding glass doors across one wall. Harry stopped and stared.
"Wow…" He murmured. On the other side of the glass doors were pathways that lead through a vast, colorful garden. Different plants, flowers, and herbs sprung up in brightly colored patches, creating a dazzling sight.
"My pride and joy." Snape said, from right behind Harry, making the teen jump. Looking back, Harry was surprised to see a small smile across the man's face.
"It's beautiful." He said honestly, looking back at the garden.
"I use it for my work, mostly. But also for some… personal satisfaction." Severus turned away from the windows and walked over to the door.
"This will be your room." He said, swinging the door open and steeping inside, allowing Harry to enter behind him.
It was spacious, but simple. A double sized, but comfortable looking bed was against the far wall. A small bedside table sat right next to that. The dresser was three drawers and a plain white, and it sat against the opposite wall to the bed.
"That door," Severus continued, pointing to the door on the far side of the room, near the foot of the bed. "is your closet. The one to your right leads to your own personal bathroom."
"T-thank you." Harry stuttered out. The room was much larger and nicer than anything he had ever had. Crossing the room slowly, as if expecting it to not be real, he reached the bed and fingered the dark green bedding. It was as soft and thick as it seemed.
"Would… you like any help settling in?" Severus asked, feeling uncertain. He didn't know how to deal with traumatized orphans, or any other type of child for that matter. But, he did sense that Harry might need a moment or two to adjust.
Harry just shook his head, unconsciously running his hand over the soft, wool blanket. He was surprised to find a matching comforter underneath that. Apparently, Dumbledore had explained how he was often prone to being cold and catching ill.
"All right then. Dinner is in an hour or two. I'll call for you." Severus stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him. Once shut, he allowed himself to take a deep breath. Well, whatever he was getting himself into, it was too late to back out now.
Hope you liked it! Really sorry for the long wait. School has been awful lately, and other family issues. I'll try to update sooner next time.
I had some questions in the reviews and in some emails, so I'll answer them now.
Harry is 16 years old. Sorry if you didn't catch that. He was taken into the orphanage at age 11, and had been there for 5 years. :-P Sorry that I actually made you do math to get it. Hehe.
Harry is not going to 'magically get better'. This is a NONMAGICAL Alternate Universe. Magic doesn't exist, so Harry is basically stuck as is. :-P But who knows what Snape could have up his sleeve… that might help other areas of Harry's life?
Any input is appreciated! PLEASE REVIEW! I love getting ideas that I can use and the encouragement from telling what you think.