Tough Love, and Gentle Cruelty

The large man that was Vernon Dursley stood almost snorting steam like a bull. he was infuriated, and insulted. The two men beside him practically ignored him. They had arrived only a moment ago, the greasey haired one had threatened to blast the door in loudly if it were not opened to them.

Now both men stood outside the smallest bedroom in #4 Privet Drive, one trying to gently coax the occupent out, the other trying to control his anger at having been given this assignment. "Harry," called Remus Lupin, a thin, sickly looking man. one who appeared far older than he truly was. "Please, this isn't healthy... you need to talk to someone."

"Go away," said the boy's voice from within.

"Remus," Snape growled testily.

"Fine," Remus relented, standing aside, gesturing for Snape to try his hand.

Snape pointed his wand at the door sharply and with a loud "BANG!" it blew off its hinges. Vernon Dursley made a strange sound in his meaty throat. Harry whipped around, and now wore a nasty expression at seeing who'd been sent to collect him.

"Go to hell," the boy croaked. Harry's eyes were rimmed with tears. there was a plate by the door with a decsent portion of food, proving Vernon's claim to have been feeding the boy properly.

"Accio Cuerpis!" Snape called, and Harry flew out of his bed. Severus stepped to the side just as Harry wizzed past, slamming into the railing of the banister. Severus grabbed the boy by his collar and drug him to the bathroom, where he shoved him uncerimoniously into the Shower wich was somehow, already running.

"What the HELL!" Harry yelled, spluttering and staggering. "We're not at school Snivillus," Harry said, wanting to take a swing at the teacher.

"Lets set a few things straight Potter," Severus growled, ignoring the boy's outburst. "You are not the cause and effect of everything in this world. You are not to blame for Your mutt of a god-father's death. if you need someone to blame, you can blame me, I'd love to think that I had a hand in it." Snape smiled a twisted smile.

"For reasons beyond my reckoning, Dumbledore has put enormous amounts of fait in you. He believes you will save the wizarding world. I myself think you couldn't save a bag of puffleskiens, and you prove that everyday."

"Up yours," Harry said, rising to stand almost nose to nose with his hated teacher.

"You are so selfcentered that you think you should roll over and die everytime someone around you is hurt. poor pity Potter, cry himself to sleep because someone got hurt. You act like your pathetic actions affect the world, well let me tell you that they won't. You are one boy in a tapestry of events that you can't even begin to imagine. You aren't the cause of your friends pain anymore than I'm your father."

Harry fumed, but slowly the anger flowed away, as if it were following the water down the drain. Snape was right... he hated it when that happened.

Severus turned on his heel, angrier than when he'd arrived. he past Remus, who was mending the railing that Harry'd broken when he came flying out of the room. "I'm going back home Lupin. don't call me again unless the boy is dying. and even then, just make sure I can see the good parts." with that Severus stormed out and dissaparated.

Lupin went into the bathroom to see Harry sitting in the shower, still dressed in his pajamas, still being showered by the warm water. Remus turned off the water and put a towel around Harry. "I know," Remus said softly. "I miss him too."