A/N: Hello, welcome to my eigth fan fiction. If you are not familiar with me or my fiction stories, I'd like to say a few things. I appreciate constructive criticism in the reviews and ideas are welcome, I will credit you if I use an idea you've approached me with. If I don't, please let me know because it was probably a mistake. Enjoy!

Snape's Smile

A scrawny, bespectacled teenage boy with an odd scar on his forehead that looked like a lightning bolt stared at his ceiling as he heard Dudley complaining downstairs in the kitchen.

Probably complaining that there's not enough food in the refrigerator, he thought, sighing.

Dudley had gotten so enormous over the school year that he had barely recognized him when he met his aunt and uncle at the train station. The doctor had told Vernon and Petunia that if Dudley didn't lose weight he was in serious danger of a heart attack, which Harry wished would have been the case earlier in life.

"MUM THERE'S NO CREAM CHEESE! WHERE'D IT ALL GO?" he heard Dudley storm.

"Now now, popkins," he heard his aunt nervously answer, "You ate it all up yesterday, remember?"

"BUT I WANT CREAM CHEESE ON MY BAGEL!" he yelled.

"Well, how about some margarine? Wouldn't that be better?"

He turned around in his bed, trying to drown out their voices. He hadn't left his bed except to shower since he had gotten to his aunt and uncle's house three days ago. The only two motivations that could actually get him out of his bed was to stay clean and to return to his real home; Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You see, Harry Potter wasn't any ordinary person. On his eleventh birthday he had found out that he was a wizard. And so for the past five years Harry had been boarding the Hogwarts Express at King's Cross station every September to get to Hogwarts.

Hedwig's wings banged against his cage, demanding that she be let out.

"No, Hedwig," Harry muttered, glad he wasn't getting in trouble for this. Two years ago would have been a different story. But now that Mad-eye had threatened his aunt and uncle, he rarely got into trouble for anything.

Harry reluctantly got up and let Hedwig out anyway, "There, you happy?" he tiredly asked.

Hedwig happily flew to Harry's desk chair.

"Yeah, I suppose so," he said as if the owl had asked a question.

He sat down in the chair and pulled a piece of parchment and a quill toward him.

"Dear Mad-eye," he started, not sure what to write, "I'm doing well at my aunt and uncle's house. They aren't mistreating me; in fact I don't see them very often. Aunt Petunia gives me fair amounts of food whenever I do go down to eat, which isn't very often, and Uncle Vernon lets me do my homework whenever I want. So you don't have to worry about me."

Harry thought a moment, wondering if he should mention his scar.

No, he thought, they won't think it's very significant.

"With best wishes, Harry Potter," he finished off, rolled it up and tied it.

"Here," he told Hedwig, tying it to her leg, "Go find Mad-eye and come back as soon as possible," he said as she lifted off of the chair and flew out the window.

Suddenly, with Hedwig gone, Harry felt lonelier than ever. He had always counted on Hedwig to be there, but when she was gone…

Harry sat on his bed with a sigh as his aunt called, "Supper's ready, Harry!", but he didn't budge. He didn't want to eat. Not right now even though his stomach was groaning with hunger. Why should he deserve to eat when he was the one that killed his godfather?

Suddenly what looked like a tennis-ball with wings flew in through his window and collided with his door.

"What the…" Harry quietly began as he looked at the object, "Pig!" he quietly exclaimed, his heart beating quicker. He ran over to the collapsed owl and picked it up, untying the letter from Ron's owl's leg and it flew around the room.

He hurried over to his desk and flattened the letter out so he could read it.

"Harry, how are you? Things here are normal, I guess. Percy is being a jerk as usual, even though Fudge has confessed to everything he didn't think was true. Mum and dad are getting along alright. Fudge gave him a raise and mum was really happy. Ginny's alright. I think she's taken up with you again, Harry, so watch it when you come over next week…"

Harry's heart stopped, I'm going over to the Burrow next week? he asked himself. He hadn't known about this. Maybe that was why his aunt and uncle had been so courteous to him…

He continued reading, "Bill and Charlie are staying the summer, so we'll have a great time practicing Quidditch for next year. Anyway, have a great week, see you soon. Ronald Weasly."

Harry quickly turned the piece of parchment over and scribbled his reply; "I'm going to your house next week? It would be nice if someone could inform me of these things! Alright, I suppose we'll have fun practicing Quidditch, but I'll have to borrow somebody's broom, remember Umbridge took mine. Anyway, see you soon."

He rolled it up and tied it to Pig's leg, "Get this to Ron quick," he told it and it flew out of the window like a bullet.

Harry laid back on his bed feeling a bit better than he had moment before. If only he could see Sirius again, or talk to him in the least…

Not seconds later he drifted off to sleep, thinking only of his deceased godfather.

Harry was now running down the corridor in the Ministry of Magic. He opened the door to the Department of Mysteries, no problem. But this time he didn't go into the room with the orbs; he instead went into the room with the archway. He looked around and no one was there. Only the fluttering vale in which Sirius had passed through not even a week ago. He slowly descended the steps into the bottom of the room, then climbed the steps up to the archway and examined it. He first looked at the front of it, then behind it, half expecting Sirius to be there.

"Where are you?" Harry whispered. He touched the vale, but then quickly drew back. What if it took him as well?

"I wouldn't care," he muttered, answering his own question. He touched it again, feeling its cool, metallic material. He slowly lifted the vale so he could see the contents of the archway. Harry looked inside and saw two red, snake-like eyes…

Harry yelled out in fear and felt himself hit the ground. He grabbed his pulsing scar as he felt tears of pain well up in his eyes.

His scar gave another horrible stab of pain and Harry tightly closed his eyes, whispering, "No no no."

Hermione was right, he realized, I should've kept on with the Occlumency lessons.

Harry now didn't care if Snape wanted to kill him, as long as it stopped the pain in his scar.

"Harry Potter!" he heard his uncle yell.

"What now?" he asked, turning around and standing up as his uncle banged the door open.

"You will come down here and eat your supper!" he yelled, turning red in the face.

"I'm not hungry," he muttered, turning toward the window.

"I will not be taken as a fool!"

"What?" asked Harry, turning back toward his uncle, utterly confused.

Vernon gave an ugly smile, "Oh, I know what you're up to, oh yes! You are going to starve your self so…so…those…things can come here and take you away!" he spit, pieces of his dinner flying toward Harry.

Harry rolled his eyes and looked out his window, "I'm going away next week anyway."

"WHAT!" his uncle loudly asked.

"I'm going to Ron's house until the school year starts," Harry calmly explained.

"You'll do no such thing!" his uncle threatened, spitting when he said "thing".

"Oh yes I will," Harry said, looking coolly at his uncle, "And if you try to stop me Mad-eye will know."

"So that's his name, is it?" Vernon stormed.

"Well, not really," Harry sarcastically responded, "His real name is Alastor Moody, but Mad-eye is his nick-name because he lost his eye, but he's got a new one that can see through anything."

"Really?" his uncle breathed, a hint of fear in his voice.

"Yep."

"And how will…Ron pick you up?" he demanded.

"I don't know. I don't suppose floo again because last time…just didn't work," Harry explained even though he didn't need to. He knew his uncle could remember as well as he could what had happened last time the Weasly's had tried to pick him up for the Quidditch finals.

"Those are the people?" his uncle asked, infuriated.

"Yeah, that's them," said Harry in an off-hand voice.

Uncle Vernon left in a huff and Harry sighed.

Just a few more days, he reminded himself. Then he could be with Ron, and presumably Hermione.

Harry laid on his bed again and was about to drift off to a nice, peaceful sleep, of which he had not gotten for several weeks when…

" I WILL HAVE NO MORE HOCUS-POKUS!"

Harry's eyes snapped open. Clearly some one from the magical world had just entered the house. Could Ron have come to pick him up early?

"I am here to…" began a greasy voice.

"POTTER GET DOWN HERE RIGHT THIS INSTANT!" his uncle stormed.

No, not here, Harry inwardly groaned, slowly closing his eyes. Why would Snape, of all people, be here?

Harry took a large breath before he stood up and headed down the stairs where he found Snape standing in the open door way and Uncle Vernon facing him, scarlet-faced.

"Yes, uncle Vernon?" Harry lightly asked, not looking at Snape.

Maybe if I don't see him he'll disappear, Harry ludicrously told himself.

"WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?" he rounded on Harry.

Harry looked at Snape who was wearing a bored expression.

"I don't know," Harry honestly replied.

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT, BOY! HE'S ONE OF YOU! YOU KNOW PERFECTLY WELL WHY HE'S HERE!"

"Oh really?" Harry asked him, looking at the wall opposite which was covered with pictures of Dudley, "Would you care to inform me?" he asked, making Vernon sputter everywhere.

"If I may intrude," Snape coolly cut in.

"NO YOU MAY NOT!" Harry's uncle yelled at him. Snape, never having been yelled at by an adult during his own adult years, stared at Vernon and continued.

"Harry should have received an owl explaining when and why I was to arrive here," he said, looking at Harry.

Harry glared at him, "I haven't received any owls except from Ron," he replied.

"I highly doubt…" Snape began, glaring back.

Harry interrupted, "It's the truth, want to look into my mind for proof?" he shot at him.

"You haven't gotten Dumbledore's owl?" he asked as if Harry hadn't said anything.

Uncle Vernon was watching them like a tennis match, mouth wide open.

"No, I haven't. Not unless it's arrived since I've come down here."

"I suggest you go look, Potter," hissed Snape.

Uncle Vernon gave Snape a sort of gratified expression as Harry went up to check his room.

Sure enough, a proud looking owl had dropped a letter on Harry's bed and was now drinking water out of Hedwig's cage.

"Harry, I have asked Professor Snape to continue giving you Occlumency lessons. He is to arrive at your house precisely at six o clock in the evening on July the fourth, and will leave exactly at six o clock in the evening on July the ninth. That will give you six days to practice Occlumency, and they will continue once you get to the Burrow. I have pulled some strings and jumped through some loops to make sure you are not charged for underage sorcery. Good luck, Harry. Albus Dumbledore."

"Six days?" Harry repeated to himself, astounded. Harry didn't think he'd be able to live that long if Snape was staying at his aunt and uncle's house. The last thing he wanted on this earth was to be with Petunia, Vernon, Dudley and Snape all at once.

"This is a NIGHTmare!" he yelled, then lumbered down the stairs.

"I found it, professor," he told Snape once he had joined them in the kitchen. Harry's uncle was sitting across the table from Snape, glaring at him. This reminded Harry, with a pang of guilt, of the time during Christmas when he found that he had to take Occlumency with Snape in the first place, only it was in Sirius kitchen with Sirius, not Vernon Dursley.

"Oh, he's your professor, Harry?" Vernon asked, "Does he teach you how to pull rabbits out of hats, then?" he sarcastically asked, not taking his eyes off of Snape.

"I suggest that you keep your filthy mouth shut or I'll be pulling rabbits out of places you didn't even knew existed," Harry threatened, feeling himself tense up and gripping his wand which was in his pocket.

"Oh ho!" Vernon shouted, "Listen to this, Petunia! He's learned how to pull rabbits out of hats!"

Snape looked a bit infuriated, "I am to stay for six days to teach Potter Occlumency…" he began, then stopped at the expression on Vernon's face.

"Six…six days?" he breathed.

"Yes, six days…"

"What's Occ…occlumi-thingy?" he asked.

Harry saw Snape roll his eyes, "I give lessons to teach Potter how to shield his mind from the Dark Lord…" he quickly began.

"You people can read minds, then?"

Snape's eyes widened at this comment, "You can't simply read minds, Mr. Potter, you must master an art called Legimacy."

BIG mistake, Harry thought, watching his uncle's face grow even redder by the second.

"MY NAME IS NOT POTTER!" Vernon spit, outraged.

"I am quite sorry, sir," said Snape, catching Harry by surprise. Harry had never heard Snape call anyone "sir" much less apologize to anybody.

"YOU ARE NOT WELCOME UNDER THIS ROOF! LEAVE NOW BEFORE I CALL THE BOBBIES!" he yelled.

Snape hesitated before answering, "Fine, I will leave if that is what you wish, but just beware that if I cannot stay here, Potter will become more vulnerable to the Dark Lord and then He will have access to your house," he said as aunt Petunia stood behind Vernon.

Snape glanced at her as she said, "Vernon, dear, let him stay. I'm sure Harry needs the help…"

"Harry needs all the help he can get," Snape muttered, again catching Harry by surprise by using his first name.

"The Dark Lord," said Vernon, "Are you talking about Voldemort?" he asked.

Snape tensed up, then slowly looked at Harry, giving him a look that clearly said, "You're dead," and looked back at Vernon, "That name is a name all…most," he corrected, glancing at Harry, "wizards and witches fear to speak and hear. Potter doesn't fear it because he didn't grow up knowing it," he said, glaring at Harry's aunt and uncle as if they were to blame, "That name will not be spoken whilst I am here," he said.

"Or what?" chided Vernon, "You'll pull a rabbit out of my hat?" he said, giving a revolting laugh.

Snape took out his wand and examined it, finally pointing it at the two. Both of their eyes grew wide, "Or I'll curse you into oblivion," he said, smirking. "Now," he said, standing up, "Where shall I sleep? Surely not in Potter's room; I doubt either one of us could survive that…"

"No, no of course not. We've got a hide-a-bed in the sofa, or you can sleep in Dudley's room…" Petunia spoke up as Mr. Dursley also stood up.

"Dudley?" Snape asked, clearly interested.

Harry knew the only reason Snape was interested was because he had seen Dudley in Harry's mind the last time they had practiced Occlumency together.

Petunia nervously nodded.

"I suppose the sofa will have to do…"

"No, Potter can give up his bed and he can sleep on the sofa," said Vernon, the redness fading from his face.

Snape gave them a smirk, Harry supposed, because he couldn't smile.

"And where can Potter and I practice?" he asked, "Not in the yard, we don't want muggles seeing us. Perhaps we can…clear this room out?" he suggested.

"Of course, of course," said Petunia as she and Vernon moved the table to the wall. Snape looked at them as if they were the stupidest people alive and muttered, "Locomotor Television," and the T.V. moved to where Snape wanted it. All three Dursleys stood transfixed at the act of magic. Dudley looked more terrified than anything, but once that expression had worn off he looked dismayed that they were moving his sanctuary.

"Mum!" he complained, "What are they doing?"

"Hush, now, popkins…one of Harry's professors is here and they need to room to practice some magic!" she told him as Snape looked up to see Dudley.

"P…practice…magic?" he asked, covering his over-large bottom.

"Dear, Severus will be doing the magic to Harry, not to you. You have nothing to worry about," she reassured him.

Harry wished she hadn't, that way he would be afraid of Snape as long as he was here.

Snape looked up at the sound of his name and Petunia had noticed.

"My…my sister went to school with you," she said, a disgusted expression coming over her face.

"And who, may I ask, was your sister?" he quietly asked.

"Lily…Lily Evans," she replied, the expression becoming more pronounced.

"Yes," said Snape, pointing his wand another chair and moving it into the sitting room, "I remember her well. Quite like Hermione Granger if I may say so," he said.

"You keep quiet about my mum and Hermione," Harry said, anger boiling up inside of him.

"Now now, Potter, mind your attitude," he scolded, taking his wand out of his robes again and standing across the room from Harry.

Harry took his own out of his pocket and pointed it at Snape. He was barely aware of all three of his relatives staring at them; he was emptying his mind.

"On the count of three," Snape said, concentrating, "One…two…three…"

Harry could see Snape for a moment before his thoughts took over.

Dementors were gliding toward him as he was yelling at Dudley, Wormtail was slicing his arm open, Cedric was lying with his eyes wide-open, Voldemort was looking at him from the other side of the vale…

He heard Dudley whimpering as he opened his eyes. He was on the ground and Dudley was standing petrified behind his mother.

"Stop it, Dudley, you're distracting me," he said, shakily standing up.

Snape was looking at him.

"What?" he asked.

"You've had another dream," he stated.

"Yeah, that's just what it was," said Harry, getting himself a glass of water, "I don't see how Vol…You-Know-Who could have been on the other side of that thing because Sirius…" he stopped.

"Sirius is gone, Potter. Dwelling on the past doesn't help your matter…"

Harry interrupted him, "Well, it's a little hard not to!" he yelled, "When your parents have died because of Voldemort, and you've fought him off five times, and you've been possessed by him, and you've seen him come back, and you've lost some one close to you because you were so damn stupid, then tell me not to dwell on the past!" he spit, "I've managed to get two people killed in one year alone!"

The kitchen was silent, Harry knew, because all of this was news to three out of the five of them.

"Potter," Snape finally said, "I realize what you've been through, but try being a follower of Voldemort, and try enduring Crucio from him," Snape quietly said.

Harry was speechless. Not only had Snape spoken to him in a civil tone, but he had also said Voldemort's name.

"After I watched Wormtail kill Cedric with the Avada Kadavra curse, the same curse he used on my parents, he tied me to a headstone and when he had restored Voldemort, Voldemort used Crucio on me. While I was tied to the headstone. I wanted to die," he said, watching Snape's expression.

"Let's try again," he said, raising his wand. All three of the others recoiled and Snape smirked, "One…two…three…"

Harry was trying to solve the riddle in the maze, inches away from catching the snitch at the last Quidditch match he had played in, Cho was crying, Ron was covered with memories from the brain, Hermione was hit with a spell that knocked her cold, Harry was watching Voldemort return, he was watching helplessly as Cedric was hit with a green jet of light, Sirius was falling through the archway…

"NO!" Harry yelled, once again on the ground.

"Clear your mind, Potter!" Snape ordered, his tone no longer civil.

"I'm trying!" he yelled, grabbing his scar, which had begun to prickle.

"Again, Potter," said Snape.

Harry tried as quickly as possible to rid his mind of all thoughts, but now he was yelling at Umbridge in the middle of class, he was throwing Dumbledore's possessions around his office, he was talking to a portrait on Sirius's wall, he was ridding his house of doxies, and then something he'd never seen before, nor remembered…a man in a dark cloak, in a room he didn't know…the woman was screaming, the man was laughing, and then the room filled with green light and the lady's voice faltered, then stopped, and the man pointed his wand toward Harry…

"POTTER!" Snape was yelling, but Harry paid no attention. He was replaying in his mind what he'd just seen. He'd heard that moment of time before when dementors were near him, but he'd never actually seen it, watched it play out…

"POTTER!" he heard both his uncle and Snape yell.

He looked up at them, "Wha?" he asked, fazed.

"I think that's enough for tonight," said Snape, eyeing him skeptically.

"No, no I have to get this down," said Harry, standing up. He certainly didn't want to see that again, and the only way he could stop that from happening was to continue practicing Occlumency.

Snape studied him, "That was…"

"I KNOW WHAT IT WAS!" Harry yelled, not wanting to even think about it, "I KNOW WHAT IT WAS!" he repeated, feeling tears dampen his face, "IF YOU MUST KNOW IT WAS MY MUM, RIGHT BEFORE SHE DIED!" he yelled, falling to the ground again.

Everyone was silent, watching him.

Harry took a large breath and calmly said, "Do it again," then stood up and wiped his tears, ready.

Snape seemed reluctant, but obeyed him, "One…two…three…"

Harry concentrated on Snape, and Snape only. He studied everything from his greasy hair to his over-shined shoes. The room went out of focus a few times, and he could see only glimpses of his own memories, but finally yelled, "Expelliarmus!" and Snape's wand flew out of his hand to the ground before Harry.

Snape had a content expression settle on his face as Harry said, "Wingardium Leviosa," and aimed it toward Snape who caught it.

Harry glanced at his relatives who were all standing fascinated at the scene. Dudley had even forgotten to defend his corpulent bottom, not that it would have done any good anyway.

"Very good, Potter," Snape complimented, "It seems as if we're finally getting somewhere."

"I don't have Umbridge taking everything away from me," he muttered.

"As true as that may be, Potter, it didn't have to stop you from clearing your mind," said Snape, raising his wand yet again.

Harry glared at him, "Ready," he muttered.

"One…" Snape began, but Harry was already prepared, using one of the spells he had learned in the D.A. meetings, blasted Snape backward into the wall, leaving a huge dent and a crack across the ceiling.

Aunt Petunia screamed, unsuccessfully trying to cover Dudley, and Uncle Vernon very successfully covered Petunia, but not Dudley.

Snape quickly recovered from the explosion, and Harry was sure he was in for it, but Snape only flicked his wand, muttered, "Reparo," and everything went back to normal, stunning all three relatives into silence.

Harry and Snape simultaneously looked at them, then at each other.

"Very, very good, Potter, I am not aware that such a spell had been taught to anyone under the sixth year…" his sentence trailed off.

"Again," said Harry.

"I can assure you, Potter, that when the Dark Lord tries to break into your mind, you will have no warning, as you have already experienced, so I suggest you do not disarm me or curse me before I try to break into your mind."

"Yes sir," Harry replied, raising his wand.

"One…two…three…" he said.

Harry had more of a struggle this time, but managed to stay conscious.

"Potter, do something to stop me," Snape ordered.

Harry was on the verge of losing his mind to Snape and no curses or spells came to mind.

"Potter!" Snape yelled.

"I…I don't…can't…IMPEDIMENTA!" he yelled, a stream of light striking Snape.

All action stopped and Snape only stood there.

"Whoa," said Harry, admiring his work.

Look at my aunt, he thought, and Snape obediently looked at Petunia who took a step back.

Snape suddenly snapped out of it, "Potter…" Snape breathlessly said as if he'd just run a mile.

"Yes?" he asked, "I'm…sorry, it's the first one that…"

"No," he interrupted, "That was very good, very very good," he said, clutching his wand tightly, "But unfortunately I don't think a curse like that from a boy like you will have much of an impact on the Dark Lord. It barely worked on me, and the Dark Lord is much…much more powerful. Potter, if you could master that curse…and use it successfully on the Dark Lord…" Snape trailed off.

There's something wrong here, Harry thought. There was something terribly, terribly wrong.

"Professor?" Harry asked, taking a step toward him.

"Enough for tonight, Potter. We'll pick this up in the morning," he said, looking very tired.

"Uh, right…" Harry nervously replied.

"Potter, you're sleeping on the sofa," Vernon suddenly said, making Snape and Harry both jump. Harry had quite forgotten he was there.

"Yeah, alright," he said.

"No," Snape said, looking at Harry, the Vernon.

"Pardon me?" Vernon asked.

"In the next few days Harry will be weakened and weary from practicing Occlumency. It's pertinent that he gets enough comfortable rest so that he can do this to his full potential every day. I'll take the sofa…"

Petunia interrupted him, "Oh no, Severus, that's not necessary. Duddykins here will take the sofa and you can take his bed," she said.

"Mum!" Dudley whined. Harry didn't need Trelawny's help to know that there was going to be a yelling match between Dudley and Petunia that night.

"Here, I'll show you where his room is," Harry tiredly muttered, heading toward the hall. Snape followed him all the way up the stairs to Dudley's room.

"Don't mind the mess," he said, not looking at his professor, "just so you know we might be up for a little longer. Dudley doesn't exactly like it when he doesn't get his way."

"Well, we'll have to fix that, won't we, Potter?" Snape asked.

As Harry dressed and got into bed, he almost fell asleep instantly, quite accustomed to Dudley's furies. But in that moment just before he fell into worlds of dreams and terrors, he could have sworn that he had seen Snape smile.