Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or the likes; it all belongs to J.K. Rowling

A/N: I'm working on another story at the moment; I hope to get it out before Thanksgiving, because I won't be here for a few days. It'll be a little one-shot story; it's just something I thought I should write. And it is another fic with Harry and Snape; I suggest you read it once it is up.

And thank you to all who have reviewed! You make me want to get these chapters out faster!

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Manners, Chapter 3-

Harry woke up with a slight ache in the side. He tried to remember why, and then remembered the scene at the Dursleys. Fearing he might still be there, he looked around the room, and relaxed when he saw the green walls. He was safe. Unfortunately, he was in Snape's house, and he wasn't particularly fond of Snape.

The door opened, causing Harry to jump.

Speak of the devil. Snape appeared, carrying what looked like a potion. When he saw Harry, something unrecognizable flashed across his face.

"I see you're awake. How are you feeling?" Harry became annoyed. Snape's moods changed so often nowadays.

"I'm fine." He replied, with an unintentional curtness in his voice.

"I'm sure. Drink this, it'll make you sleep."

"I don't want to sleep. I'm fine."

"Fine, don't drink it. Do you want anything to eat?" Harry was surprised that Snape would give up an argument that fast.

Why is he being so nice to me?

"Why are you being so nice?" Harry covered his mouth. He hadn't meant to actually say that. Snape sighed.

"Mr. Potter, how long has it been going on?"

"What?" Harry asked, confused.

"The…beatings. How long have you been getting beaten?" Harry looked down and mumbled something incoherent. "What was that, Mr. Potter?"

"Since I was a kid." Harry said, a little louder, still looking down.

"Why have you never confided this in someone? Anyone at the school would be willing to help you." It was true; any of the teachers that knew Harry would certainly do all that they could to help him.

"It's fine. It doesn't matter."

"I'm afraid, Potter, that it does matter, a great deal," Harry's head shot up, "You are important, whether you care to admit it or not. You don't realize that if those Muggles kill you, there is no hope for the wizarding world. How can you be that stupid?" He finished angrily and stormed out, leaving Harry stunned by another abrupt mood change.

What is with him? One minute he's acting nice, the next he's yelling at me. If I'm that much of a problem he should have left me with the Dursleys. He couldn't understand why Snape was acting like this.

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Snape had just walked out of Potter's room. He knew he shouldn't have been so harsh, but he couldn't help it. He should have seen it. He knew all the signs that a child was being abused, why hadn't he noticed Potter before? Because he always acted like he was happy when he was at Hogwarts. No one suspected this. Even Dumbledore probably didn't know, or else he wouldn't have let Potter stay there. He stopped.

That was it. He had to write to Dumbledore about this. Sure, the old man was mad sometimes, but this was important. Snape rushed into his rooms and pulled out onto his desk a piece of parchment and a quill.

Dear Dumbledore,

Yesterday I received a surprise at my door. My cousin had brought Harry Potter to me, saying he was to stay with me for the summer. You are well aware of this, I'm sure, as it was you who told me to check on his home on Privet Drive. I did just that, bringing the boy with me, so if his family was there, I could find out why they hadn't been at the station, and leave him with his family. This was not what happened. His family was home, but I have deemed it unhealthy for the boy to live there any longer. When we arrived at his home, Harry was promptly beaten for something he had no control over. After apparating us back to my house, I discussed this with Potter. This was not the first time he had been beaten by his family. He says that it has been happening ever since he was a child. I think it is time the boy stops going to his relative's house, it is no safer there than it is anywhere else. If the Dark Lord does not kill Potter, those relatives he lives with surely will. I plan to keep him with me until I hear from you.

S.S.

He folded the parchment and tied it to the owl that had been perched in the corner of the room.

"Take this to that old fool Dumbledore, and come back with an answer from him." He told the owl, who flew out of the open window as soon as Snape was done.

Merlin, what am I going to do? I'll be leaving soon, and I have to take the boy with me. A Gryffindor!

He decided he should talk to Potter again, to make sure he was okay.

Snape came to the room Potter was staying in, but couldn't see him anywhere.

Where is that brat?

Then he heard it. A crash that sounded like it was coming from the kitchen. Snape hurried down in that direction, hoping that he'd find Potter. When he turned into the kitchen, he was relieved to see that Potter was indeed in the kitchen, trying to clean up what looked like a shattered plate. He didn't seem to have noticed Snape enter the room.

"I thought I told you not to leave your room, Potter." Potter jumped at the sound of Snape's voice, dropping the plate shards. One of the shards had cut his hand. Potter ignored it.

"I-I'm sorry. I know I wasn't supposed to leave, but I haven't eaten in a while, and I didn't want to bother you, you seemed angry, so I thought I could-"

"Wander around my house without permission? Really, Potter, I thought you had more courtesy than that." Snape cut it.

"Really, sir, I didn't mean for it to be like that. I just didn't want to bother you…" Potter trailed off.

"I didn't mean to get angry at you like that Potter. Now, you've gotten yourself injured again-"

"Oh, I'm sorry sir, I-"

"Stop apologizing for stupid things!" He glared at Potter. Even though he knew he was being unfair, yelling at the boy for no reason, glaring at him, it was really all just out of habit now, and habits are hard to break. He tried to go for a kinder tone. "Please, Pot…Harry, if you need something, just ask me. I won't get mad. I understand what you've gone through, and I want to help you." Oh, what am I saying? Am I going to have to spill out my life story for the boy now"

"Wh-what? How can you know?" I guess I will.

"Before we get into that Po…Harry, we should really fix up your hand…and get you some food, since you seemed so intent on getting some yourself." Harry looked at his feet.

"I'm sorry for-" He started, but Snape cut him off again.

"Didn't I tell you to stop apologizing?"

"Well, yes, but it's just…I've probably ruined your summer, and I'm causing more trouble than I'm worth, and I'm sorry for all of it." He was still looking down.

"Apology accepted. Now let me see that hand of yours." He took Po…Harry's hand and used a healing charm on it. "Now, what would you like to eat?"

"Erm…I guess maybe some toast? Oh, and if that's too much trouble, plain bread is fine." Snape looked at him, appalled at what the boy had just said.

"That is not nearly enough food for you to eat. Have your relatives been feeding you properly?" When Snape got no answer he assumed they had not. "Well, we'll just have to make sure you eat enough from now on, understand?" Harry nodded. "Good. Now, I think you should have the toast, but also some soup. Does that sound okay, Harry?" He nodded again. "Excellent. If you'd like, you can go back to your room, and I'll bring it up to you when it's finished."

"You mean I don't have to make it, sir?" Harry looked surprised.

"Of course not Potter, you are my guest, and for some reason, I don't trust you with my plates." Snape smirked at Harry. This obviously surprised the boy, but then he laughed.

"Alright, sir, I'll be up in my room." Harry disappeared from the kitchen. Snape started making the meal for Harry, disregarding the fact that his house elf could have made it all the same.

About half an hour later, Snape had brought the soup and toast up to Harry's room. Harry hungrily ate the food. Snape inwardly smiled as he watched the boy.

"Professor…is it really okay if I stay with you for the summer? Didn't you have any plans?" Snape frowned. He knew he'd have to tell Harry eventually where they would be going.

"Actually, Harry, there were some plans I had. Unfortunately, your unexpected arrival just means that you will be coming with me."

"What do you mean? Where are we going?" Harry looked confused.

"This year, my aunt invited me to spend a week with her and her children." Harry's eyes widened.

"Is your aunt a…Death Eater?" Harry asked cautiously. He knew Snape had once been a Death Eater himself, and thought his family might be, too.

"Use your head, Harry. If my aunt, or any of her children, was a Death Eater, I wouldn't take you, the Dark Lord's greatest enemy, to her house." Snape smirked at a sheepish-looking Harry again.

"Oh…right. So, when are we going?"

"Tomorrow. And, Harry, I suggest you be on your best behavior, my aunt is very old-fashioned and won't take kindly to ill-mannered young men." Snape warned.

"O-of course, sir. I'll try my best."

"Good. For now, though, I suggest you get some sleep. I'm sure tomorrow you'll need all of the energy you can get. Do you need a Dreamless Sleep potion?"

"No, sir. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Harry." And with that, Snape walked out of Harry's room, and into his own, intending to get a good night's sleep himself.

So how was it? Good? Bad? Review, please!

AllisonSlytherin