Thank you to all my sweet and wonderful reviewers. For your ideas, support, and corrections, I am most in your debt.

Neori- Thanks for sticking with me! Yes, the quality of that relationship might leave something to be desired, but works for them. I did want you to feel a bit sorry for both of them.
Hambares- I love you. Your refrigerator magnets sound quite stylish to me.
DestinyEntwinements- Yes! You will see a couple more familiar faces pop up.
TheWingedWhispered- Honestly, I don't imagine Harry has a very good handle on what sleeping in the same bed might entail beyond body heat and company. I do think he'd be curious if he did. I think Severus recognizes his innocence too.
Faithful Feather- Glad you like the pace. I'm afraid it might be too slow for most peoples' tastes. As you can probably gather, to me action is lifting a fork.
MarbleGlove- The plot is a bit slow to join us. I think there is one, sort of. I think.
miki- I'm glad you find it fresh, well, by fan-fiction standards.
ASemipotentAuthor- Happy you like the Earth Magic aspects. I'll be combining that with other magical traditions through Harry's profession. I hope that is a tease that will keep you reading!

Thank you all so much for taking the time. I write for you.

The Potter's Tale

Chapter Six

A Plan for Harry's Future

The next morning before first light, Snape shook Harry awake. Snape was wearing only his shirt, trousers, and boots. Harry had never seen Snape look so- nude.

"Good morning."

"If you want breakfast, hurry," said Snape leaving Harry to dress. Harry dressed to leave and met Snape and Hermione, who were already eating.

"We didn't wait in case you wanted to sleep in, Harry. We did save you some, though." Hermione had not slept at all but had finished the book Severus had brought. They finished breakfast quickly with little conversation. Snape went back to his room immediately after. While Winky packed and shrank them food and drink to take with them, Harry sat with Hermione holding her hands. They didn't speak for a while.

"Harry, I feel like we were supposed to meet somehow. Here, I have something for you."

Hermione drew a rusty iron circle out of the pocket in her robe. It was too small for Harry to wear as a bracelet. It didn't matter that it seemed to have no use at all. Harry was grateful that Hermione wanted to give him a gift.

"Thank you!"

Hermione laughed. "It's a portkey, silly. It's magic. If anything happens, both you and Severus should hold it. Say my name three times. That will bring you both straight here. It's for emergencies. Put it on a string and wear it about your neck under your shirt. Wear it always, Harry. Don't tell Severus about it though. He's the one who gave it to me. He'll just worry if he knows that I'm without it. Why do I need it? I'm already here."

Harry slipped the ring into his pocket, then took Hermione's hands again.

Severus returned completely dressed carrying a bag that Winky had packed for them.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Hermione. We are leaving."

"When will you two be back to visit?"

"We will return when we can."

"More books next time, if Albus isn't chasing Harry."

"Your will is my command," Snape said through clenched teeth.

"That would be the day. When he's almost polite, he's already in a terrible mood, Harry. Don't break a leg what ever you do. "

"Excellent advice."

"See you, Harry! Well not really."

"Thank you for everything, Hermione."

"It is first light. Come," said Snape taking Harry's hand to lead him though to the entrance.

"How can you tell?"

But Snape was right. The sun was just beginning to rise as they exited Hermione's cave. Their climb down the mountain was nothing compared to climbing up it while bone tired as they had done yesterday. Ocassionally Harry would glance up to take in the changes in the sunrise. Severus seemed deep in concentration and oblivious to the sky. Harry grabbed his sleeve. Severus looked at Harry and raised an eyebrow.

"Look up."

"Hmm, very pretty."

Snape was about to turn away. Harry grabbed his sleeve again and studied his expression, while those dark eyes questioned the delay.

"You're worried about something."

"Yes."

"You're worried about Albus."

Snape looked down. His shoulders sagged slightly. "Harry, I do not know what I am doing. I can not protect you alone. I know no one."

"You know Hermione, Dobby, Winky, and me."

Snape took a deep breath and sat on the rock he had been standing on. Harry sat next to him. Both stared straight ahead at blooming greens and golds on the horizon. "Harry, one wizard, two House-Elves, a blind witch, and a potter can not hope to defeat Albus of Dumbledore. We shall all die trying. Albus will announce that he defeated two Dark Lords, a Dark Lady, and their two Dark minions, about the nature of which he'll be charmingly unclear. It will all sound terribly heroic however."

"I'm putting you all at risk. I should leave."

"Where would you go?"

Harry turned to look at Snape.

"I don't know. I can't go back to my village. There are other places though, right? Maybe I should just go to Dumbledore Castle. Do whatever he wants."

"There is another solution. You could stay with me. I will hide you and train you as best I can in preparation for both of us to face Albus when that is the only course that is left to us."

"Do you think you can train me enough for us to beat him?"

"No."

Honesty was good, Harry thought. Hoping for the best was good too, though.

"Well, we might be lucky, right?"

Harry saw a slight smile curl Snape's lips for the very first time.

"I suppose that luck is within the realm of possibility."

"I don't want to leave."

"Stay then. Come, let us go home."

As they stood to finish the descent down the mountain, Harry realized that whatever darkness and weight that had clung to Snape had dissipated. The mood seemed lighter. Perhaps just sharing the worry had made their futures look a bit brighter like the very beginning of a sunrise.

Going back was not the hardship that coming was. Harry found he remembered certain aspects of the way much better than he thought he might. They did not bother to stop at the smelly stream as neither was tired or thirsty. They traveled with more supplies this time and ate and drank as needed along the way. Still they passed most of the trip in silence, except for Snape's commands on where to step and what to avoid.

At about noon, they were very deep into the woods again. Very little here seemed familiar, as every tree looked pretty much like a hundred others they just passed to Harry. Because of the darkness, details and landmarks, such as there may have been seemed hard to pick out. Of course Harry had no idea for what he was looking. He tried to watch Severus instead to see what Severus was looking for, when Harry wasn't looking at where next to put his foot. Harry just couldn't tell what Severus used as landmarks. There was never any hesitation or confusion on his part. Harry wondered how many times Severus had made this trip and how he had ever made it the first time. Unlike Harry, Severus would have had no one to show him the way.

It was late afternoon before they made it back to the cabin, which really wasn't a cabin anymore. While it looked the same on the outside, Harry gasped as they entered the door. For one thing, the house now seemed huge. The floor that had looked about to rot through was solid, even, deeply stained, and highly polished. Harry could see his reflection in it. The formerly rickety table shone too, and now had six chairs around it and was set with silver and porcelain. Six chairs! Apparently Harry was not the only optimist in the house. Harry's fruit bowl filled with pears was the centerpiece.

"Dobby!"

"Dobby is so glad you and Harry Potter are back, Master Snape!"

"You did well. I take it the upstair is ready?"

"Dobby is not a lazy House-Elf, sir, had everything ready last night."

"I'm going to bathe and rest. Harry, you should do the same. We will have an early dinner at six."

Dobby led them upstairs showing Harry to the first door. Harry was pleased that his room was very much like the one he had at the other house, but would have been happy with the cot and wash basin Snape ordered for himself in the cave. It wasn't so long ago he had slept on his Uncle's floor. It did seem a terribly long time ago, another life ago. Harry didn't quite know how it had happened but he felt like he had known Snape his whole life.

Harry fished the ring that Hermione had given him out of his pocket. He didn't have a piece of string. Perhaps he could ask Dobby for some. For the meantime, he decided to slip in into the pocket of the dress robes he intended to wear for dinner.

Harry spent far too much time in the bath. He couldn't quite drag himself out until his fingertips and feet were wrinkled. When he finally did climb out, his body felt heavy but not so achy. He thought he might be able to fall onto the bed and sleep until tomorrow night, not that he ever would. After all, he didn't know how many days he might have here or anywhere else and did not want to waste one. With that in mind, Harry avoided even glancing at the bed with its down comforter, plump pillows, soft sheets, and thick feathery mattress. He dressed as Snape had showed him to dress for dinner, and wandered out of his room to take in the rest of Dobby's astounding accomplishment. He did not open doors on the second floor because he did not know which room was Snape's and did not want to disturb him. He did kneel down to touch the long runner rug in the hall, tracing its beautiful, colorful, ornate designs woven into the soft wool. What a world walked on something so beautiful, but then Harry had thought the same about the wildflowers that grew in his village.

"I thought you would be napping. I know Hermione didn't let you sleep much."

Harry felt embarrassed that Snape had caught him crawling around on his rug. He stood as quickly as he could, feeling himself blush. "I was just-"

"I know what you were doing."

"I'm sorry."

"I like that carpet too, Harry," Snape said in not much more than a whisper.

Harry looked up then and smiled. "You do? People- Muggles- they thought I was odd when I did things like that."

"Some Muggles do things like that too."

"Do they? I never met one. Well, there was the Widow Figg, but I don't think she was a Muggle, exactly."

"The Widow Figg?"

"I can't believe I've never told you about her!"

"You have only known me a couple of days, Harry."

"I can't believe that either."

"As I said, we have much in common. Keep in mind that Hermione and are the first of our kind you have met."

"And Albus."

"Yes. Come. You can tell me all about the Widow Figg over dinner."

Dinner was a feast of roast beef gravy and mustard sauce, a starchy pudding, roast carrots and parsnips, peas and dandilion greens. Harry ate more than he ever had at one sitting. Snape too had quite an apetite. Harry did tell Snape about the Widow Figg, her knowledge of witches and witch-hunters, and her kindnesses to him. Severus told Harry about Squibs and how they often ended up blending into the Muggle world.

"So Squibs have no magic at all then?"

"Some wizards have such small amounts of magic that they are considered Squibs. That magic can manifest in various ways. They may have heightened senses or unusually good luck. Some can manage simple potions and elementary spells. There was one case of a Squib Animagus, someone who can transform into an animal. That is considered very advanced magic. However that was all he could do. Typically though, Squibs have no magic at all."

"Maybe that's what I am, then."

"No Harry. You are a very powerful wizard."

"How do you know that?"

"I can feel it. I can feel the magic in you. So can Albus of Dumbledore."

"Can we start my lessons tomorrow?"

"That was my intention."

"Hermione said I needed a wand."

"You said you fished."

"Yes."

"Did you use a net?"

"No, I used my hands. It takes a bit of practice; but it's fairer to the fish."

"A wand is like a net, Harry."

"Oh!"

Snape placed his napkin on the table and stood. Harry did the same.

"Would you like a sleeping draught?"

"No thank you. I won't need one."

"Goodnight then, we start at first light."

"Goodnight, Master Snape."

That night Harry found out that Snape's room was right next to his own. For some reason, it gave him a warm content feeling to know that Snape slept just on the other side of his bedroom wall. He took the ring out of his pocket and slipped it under his pillow. As he settled himself in bed, Harry realized that he had no idea of what magical training consisted. Perhaps he should have asked?

-Thank you just for reading! All comments are welcome and most appreciated. Yes, even flames, though having finally received one for another story, the glamour of flames has warn off a bit. Serious though, self-expression is precious to me, mine or anyone else's. If you feel so inclined, let me have your worst.