Hambares (lots more witch-finder for you) Carol J (glad you like this AU) Flurry (Hope the rest is fun to read too) Wolfawaken ( will do my best) the-dreamer4 (haven't read the Deryni stories. Guess they are on my list now! Glad you like it so far.)

Hambares! Carol J! Flurry! wolfawaken! The-dreamer4! Thanks for taking the time and all your kind words. This one is for you!

The Potter's Tale

Chapter Three

Starting Over

Harry gave the witch-finder his hand and closed his eyes instinctively. He felt a very strange sensation. For a moment he was anchored to the soft suede-gloved hand and nothing else, not the forest around them, not the clay or the ground, and not even the world. Then Harry knew that he was somewhere else entirely. He opened his eyes. The witch-finder let go of Harry's hand. They were standing inside by the front door of what was only a humble cottage by wizarding standards but was the grandest house that Harry had seen. For one thing the floor was not packed earth with rushes scattered around. It was smooth, dark, lustrous wood.

"You live here?"

"Sometimes. My name is Snape. Come. You need to bathe and rest."

Snape showed Harry a room with a large tub in one corner and a huge bed in the middle. The bed was big enough for five of Harry or possibly ten if everyone scrunched up a bit. There was a small lit fireplace too. Snape waved his hand and filled the tub with water, placed a spell to keep the water warm, and another to keep the water clean.

"Thank you."

"Everything in this room is yours to use as you wish. There are clean clothes that will fit you in those drawers and in that wardrobe. I'll leave you to it. If you wish to find me later I have no doubt you will."

By the wash tub, Harry found very fine soap- not that he knew much about soap. This was certainly nicer than the soap Uncle Vernon used. The water was a nice temperature too. Harry took his time because the water felt so wonderful. The soap smelled good, fresh and green like grass after the rain. Harry washed every inch of himself and then decided to do it again for good measure. He loved this soap! The soap didn't even make the water soapy! In fact Harry hadn't made the water dirty either. He wondered about that. He hadn't been covered in clay of course but knew he was dirty enough to make the water dirty before he bathed. When he felt that if he stayed in another minute that he'd never get out Harry ducked down, made sure all the soap was out of his hair, and climbed out of the wash tub.

He noticed the dirty clothes he had taken off and left in a pile on the floor by the tub were gone now. He looked for a rag to dry himself. The thing nearest to him was too impossibly fine to be meant for such a purpose. It was the color of fresh cream and large enough to get lost in and so impossibly soft that one would think it would only rub the water around, not absorb it. It did absorb the water and was not the least bit damp when Harry was dry. Harry thought he should wipe up the puddle he had made but found no water on the wood floor to wipe.

Harry went to the drawers the witch-finder had indicated, but stopped dead in his tracks, and whirled when he saw movement at his periphery. It was his own reflection as he had never seen it before. Looking at this was like looking at another person. The detail was that sharp. There was no distortion as one always has looking at a lake or a piece of polished metal. Harry had never seen anything like it. He moved forward and touched it then snatched his hand back. It was cooler than he expected. He touched it again. It was glass, very fine glass! He did not know what made it reflect as it did. When he backed away Harry stared at himself for a moment and grinned. Vernon was right. He was an ugly boy. Perhaps he might look better dressed.

Harry opened the drawers one by one. He didn't know what he was supposed to do with some of the items he found there or with so many clothes in general. The widow once had given him two sets of clothes that she had sewed for Harry. Vernon sold the nicer set.

Harry pulled on very soft and finely made light colored trousers that fit very snug to his skin and a shirt made of the same material. He would have prefered a larger shirt, one that did not cling so; but this one was quite comfortable. He didn't bother looking at his reflection again because he knew these clothes wouldn't help much. He didn't care really.

Harry set off to find the witch-finder. He found him sitting in a plush chair in a room with a large fire and lots of books. Harry noticed the witch-finder had changed his clothes as well. He was now dressed even more like Father Malfoy.

"Witch-finder Snape?"

Snape glanced up, then quickly stood drawing a stick out of his clothes. He left the book behind him on the chair.

"What happened?"

"Er- I took a bath?"

"Is everything all right?"

"Yes."

"Why are you in your smalls?"

"What do you mean?"

"What you are wearing are small clothes generally worn under proper clothing."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I couldn't figure out what a lot of it was for."

Snape put his stick away and walked toward Harry's room. Harry wasn't sure whether he should follow the witch-finder. So he just stood there. Snape walked into the room again a few seconds later. Harry thought the man looked agitated but did not know why.

"Harry. What you are wearing is a good start. If you will come with me I will show you the rest."

An hour later Harry was properly dressed according to the witch-finder. He wore black robes like the witch-finder's. He even had on black boots which did not pinch like the shoes he had to wear for church. These were so comfortable it was almost like being barefoot maybe better in some ways. Also Harry knew now where all the clothes he owned went, how to get them there, and when to wear them.

"Thank you. I'm sorry I'm so stupid."

"You are not stupid."

"Sure I am! I'm the stupidest boy in the whole village! You can ask anyone," Harry was smiling at him as if he thought being the most stupid boy were some kind of honor.

"Just who told you this?"

"My uncle- but lots of the villagers call me Dim Harry or Thick Harry or Brainless Harry."

"I see. How many of the other village boys know half as much as you know, Harry?"

Harry had never contemplated that sort of a question before. Harry didn't know the other village boys very well. He knew their names to say hello of course.

"I don't know."

"I do. None of them."

"Are you certain? How-"

"Father Malfoy told me in a matter of speaking. Draco is the only one among them who can read owing to the fact that his mother was seduced by a priest. You and Draco both know the Muggle Bible though you seem to have taken it more to heart than he. However Draco is not a master craftsman whose work is acclaimed at least as far as London."

"What's london?"

"Clearly there are gaps in your education. We'll see what we can do about closing those starting tomorrow. Tonight you will familiarize yourself with the house, eat, and sleep in that order. I will show you the rest of the house." Snape started to walk away then thought better of it. "Come, Harry."

The man took Harry room by room answering Harry's questions as they went. When they approached the kitchen, he stopped.

"We are not alone in this house. I am about to introduce you to someone- who is not like us. He looks different. Do not be alarmed. There is no reason to fear him. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Witch-finder Snape." The man started to say something then thought the better of it.

When they walked into the kitchen Harry's senses reeled with all the delicious scents. No one else was in there, though.

"Dobby!" the witch-finder barked in a very commanding voice making Harry start.

The next thing Harry knew he was looking at slight, intelligent-looking creature with large pointed ears and huge eyes.

"Hello. I'm Harry. Pleased to meet you."

The being bowed deeply and said reverently "Dobby is very glad to meet the famous Harry Potter, sir."

"Famous?"

"Yes! Harry Potter very famous! Harry Potter make fruits bowl, soups bowls, and afters bowls in this very house, sir, and even Dobby's friend the teapot!" Dobby said making a sweeping gesture toward it with his hand as anyone might to indicate a precious object. "Harry Potter is a genius!"

"Few of our kind favorably impress House-elves. You on the hand are something of a legend among them. Dobby informed me of your circumstance. He is the reason you are here now."

"My thanks to you, to both of you. Did the clay tell you what happened to me, Dobby?"

"Dobby never met a teapot half so nice as Harry Potter's teapot, sir. Dobby's friend Harry Potter's teapot woke up upset and tell what happened to Harry Potter. Dobby very worried about Harry Potter and tell Master Snape, sir."

Harry smiled shyly. No one but the Widow Figg had ever complimented a piece of his work knowing that he had made it.

"I'm so glad you like my teapot, Dobby."

The House-elf smiled showing every single tooth in his head.

"Harry, would you prefer to eat here in the kitchen?"

"Yes please!"

Snape was proud of how well Harry was adjusting. He was also glad the boy seemed to have made a friend. Perhaps if Harry grew fond of the House-elf when he left Harry might choose to visit from time to time if only to see Dobby.

Dinner was relatively bland, simple fare, designed to be highly nutritious and easily digestible. Harry did not eat much. Snape did not expect him to eat as much as he did. After, Snape handed him a potion and told him to drink it. Harry did and fell asleep in his chair.

Snape levitated Harry to the boy's room. He set him down on one side of the bed, spelled him into a nightshirt, performed a teeth cleaning spell, drew the covers back on the other, then levitated the boy and nestled him down on the feather bed. Snape drew his wand and checked the damage that the Muggles had inflicted. Several healing spells later, Snape was satisfied that he had taken care of the worst of it. Snape tucked the covers around him, extinguished all but the fire and one dim wizard light, closed the door behind him, and headed to his study to plan tomorrow's lesson for Harry.

-Next up- Sorting of Wizards. Reviews welcome and most appreciated. Thanks just for reading!