-1Chapter 8 - Harry Is That You Or The House Elf?

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Harry was in his bedroom working on a letter to Sirius, asking him to leave things as they were. He tried to word the letter so that his Godfather would understand how important he still was to him. He hadn't seen him for a day and a half and missed him. He ended the note with a plea to give Severus a chance. He didn't want to tell Severus anything about this until he felt Sirius was better. The last thing he needed to deal with was those two fighting.

Just as he finished his letter he heard a knock on his bedroom door. He used his wand to open it from across the room and saw both Draco and Charlet standing at the threshold. Neither walked in any further and Harry suddenly remembered that his father had placed that extra security ward on his door.

"Harry, let us in!" Charlet complained.

It had only been a few days since Charlet had arrived but she already seemed quite at home. Harry remembered the conversation he had with Severus regarding the girls extended stay. in a rush Severus had mentioned that Charlet might be coming to stay as Harry was heading down the hall. The man seemed utterly undone so Harry went along as if it were no big deal. That morning Harry barely said anything to his father because he was so lost in all the problems with Sirius.

Charlet had spent most of her time alone in her room. Once when he was walking past her room he caught her talking to herself in the mirror. He laughed to himself at how someone could be so vain that they would actually talk to themselves in a mirror. She was probably telling herself how pretty she looked that day.

"Come on in guys," he said releasing the ward. He turned back around and finished addressing his letter.

Charlet slowly entered as she looked around. "Are the house elves back?" she asked with excitement.

Draco stood in the doorway and looked around.

Harry shook his head, "I haven't seen either of them yet. Why do you think they're back?" He tied his letter to Hedwig's leg and pushed his window open.

Charlet spread her hands out, "Well, they must be back, just look how clean your room is."

Harry rolled his eyes at the spoiled girl, "Yeah, I cleaned it this morning. You've probably never made a bed in your life, right?"

"Of course I haven't!" Charlet said in a tone that clearly conveyed the horror over doing such demeaning work.

"Yeah, figures. What did you guys want anyway?" Harry asked as he spun his chair around to look at the two most spoiled people he had ever met.

"We want you to talk Severus into taking us to Chandon for supper," Draco commanded snappishly. "I already asked him but he said we could make due with the food in the kitchens. I for one do not want his horrendous biscuits for supper."

"They were horrible! I refuse to eat those nasty things again," chimed in Charlet. "Chandon is the nicest restaurant in town and I just know everyone will be there tonight since all the house elves are gone."

"What makes you think he's going to listen to me?" Harry asked.

Draco rolled his eyes, "Come on Potter, he does whatever you ask."

"No he doesn't. I don't feel like going out to dinner in a crowded restaurant anyway."

Draco saw the incensed look on Charlet's face so he pushed Harry further, "What the bloody hell are we supposed to eat then?"

"Well, I guess I could cook supper," Harry offered, feeling like it was the least he could do for his dad.

"Please, please tell me you do not know how to cook!" Charlet asked in disbelief.

"I used to cook all the time," Harry admitted with a shrug.

"Oh Merlin, please do not let my friends know that you do such debasing manual labor when they come next week. I swear Harry James Potter if you embarrass me I will kill you! I can't even imagine what they would say if they knew my, my …almost relation knew how to clean and cook!" said the pompous girl in a fit.

Harry had to stop himself from complaining about her stuck up friends coming to stay. Merlin, it was bad enough to have to deal with her but to add a few more just like her was down right torturous.

"Don't worry, I don't plan on hanging out with you and your friends. Maybe I'll go stay with Ron while they're here," Harry said as he walked towards the door, hoping they would take a hint and leave.

"I don't care what you do, just be sure to act like a wizard and not the bloody house elf," Charlet lectured. She gave one final look of disgust around Harry's room before sweeping out the door.

Draco followed like a love sick puppy.

Harry shook his head, wondering how he got to this point in his life. He never thought he'd see the day that he'd be living with Snape and cooking a dinner for Malfoy and Charlet!

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Harry stood back to admire his handy work. The table didn't look nearly as nice as it normally did when Kinzi set it but the Everbloom flowers helped to give it a special feel. He had to look up in a book on how to set the silverware properly since he had never used so many different utensils before. He poured water into the glasses then added a slice of lemon into each glass. Aunt Petunia had relied on him to help out on all her fancy parties. Of course he had never been allowed to eat the food he cooked or sit at the tables he had set but still … he had the general idea of what to do.

The magical timer went off and Harry rushed to the kitchen to lower the flame on his pot roast. Dinner was ready, now all he had to do was check on the dessert. He really hoped his father liked this. Every time Aunt Petunia had a dinner party and served his pot roast she was flooded with compliments.

He brought the beef to the table before walking into the living room to announce dinner.

Severus sat by the fire playing a game of chess with Draco. Narcissa sauntered over and placed a hand on Severus' shoulder as she sat on the arm of the chair. Harry's stomach did a little flip when he saw the arrogant lady acting so familiar with his dad. He had no idea she was coming tonight. He quickly turned around and set one more place at the table before heading back into the living room once again.

"Dinner's on," Harry announced feeling more nervous than Neville in a room full of glass beakers.

Everyone stopped talking and looked at him. Severus finally spoke up first, "Come, let us see what Mr. Potter has prepared." He wasn't expecting more than a bowl of noodles and maybe a loaf of bread so when the Potion Master stepped into the dining room he stopped in shock. The table was quite presentable, perhaps even well turned-out.

Narcissa followed behind, she also stopped in the doorway, "Are the house elves back?"

Draco was pulling out a chair for Charlet, "No, who needs house elves when we've got Potter? He's a man of many talents," the Slytherin snidely commented.

"Oh my," Narcissa said in embarrassment for Severus. Imagine having a son who acted like a house elf?

The salad was crisp and the dressing perfectly blended. Charlet actually helped herself to seconds. Once the salad was gone Harry took his wand out and the lid came off a steaming pot of butternut squash soup. He heard Narcissa gasp.

When no one complimented the creamy soup, Harry wondered if they didn't like it. That seemed rather odd since everyone was eating it.

Once that was finished Severus cleared the soup bowls with a swish of his wand before Harry took his own wand out. The lids came off the main course platters and he heard gasps from everyone when the roast beef was displayed.

Severus coughed into his fist as Narcissa held her napkin to her mouth. Draco's mouth fell open but Charlet had plenty to say.

"Oh my gosh, please tell me you ordered this from a restaurant? That … that," she pointed to the asparagus wrapped in procetta, "that looks like something I would find at Chandon. And that looks like roast beef!"

Her voice revealed none of the delight Harry had thought he would hear. Far from it even, she sounded more put out than anything else.

Draco sliced the roast beef using a spell from his wand. He hovered pieces to each person's plate before tasting his own. "Potter, if you ever fall short on money you could get a job as a chef."

Normally Harry would take that as a compliment but the way Malfoy said it made it sound like a cutting remark. He knew it was a jab once Charlet started to snigger. What the bloody hell was wrong with these people? He looked towards his father and saw that he wore a look of discomfort. Regardless, everyone filled their plates and ate as if this was the only meal they had in a week.

"Harry, I must say that this beef is cooked to perfection," Severus stated flatly.

Charlet, Draco and Narcissa covered their mouths to hide their amusement.

Severus shot a dark look around the table, "The entire meal is delicious."

"Yeah, better than any of our house elves ever made," Draco said under his breath.

Charlet covered her mouth as another snicker erupted.

"Um, am I missing something? I thought you guys would like this? I mean it looks like you like it from the way you ate everything but…" Harry trailed off not getting the joke.

Severus reached over from the head of the table and gave his son a pat on the shoulder, "Wizards from old families find cooking to be the exclusive job of a house elf." Severus tried to explain then took another deep sip of wine.

"Let me explain," Narcissa said then turned to Harry and spoke as if he was six, "Most pure bl … most wizards from proper families do not consider cooking to be something they would proudly exhibit. Especially such a spectacular display of food like you have prepared. Rest assured we will not let anyone know about this evening but perhaps you should … hide this little talent from anyone else?"

Oh, now he got it. His face flushed with humiliation as he realized they were all making fun of him. He swallowed his wounded pride and decided that they were wrong. The whole lot of them, including his father was dead wrong!

Mrs. Wesley cooked and everyone in the Order always complimented her. If cooking was respectable enough for Mrs. Weasley then it was good enough for him too. To hell with these snobby people, he almost laughed out loud when he realized how ridiculous they were.

"How do you expect Wizards without piles of money to eat? Someone has to do the cooking," Harry shot back at the snooty woman.

Narcissa narrowed her eyes and looked as if she wanted to yell at him. "That is correct dear but I did say Wizards from proper families," came Narcissa's syrupy sweet voice.

"That's a load of rubbish. The Weasley's are a proper family. They may not have a house elf but that doesn't make them any less proper," Harry said with anger.

Draco opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it when he saw the look on Severus' face.

"This discussion has run it's course," Severus stated firmly. "The meal is delicious Harry."

"Yeah, my compliments to the chef," Charlet added mockingly.

Draco couldn't help himself, "At least I know what to get Harry for Christmas now. Mum do we have any extra tea cozies?"

Charlet and Draco were in hysterics over that last taunt.

Harry decided to take every backhanded compliment in stride and have fun with the evening. These people had the audacity to make fun of him all the while stuffing their faces full of the food he had made.

"Well then I guess you guys don't want to taste my world famous chocolate cake? Too bad you can't get over the fact that the-boy-who-lived actually knows how to fend for himself in the kitchen," Harry teased as he cleared away the dishes with a swish of his wand.

The piece of beef on the end of Narcissa's fork disappeared.

Severus raised an eyebrow over the title Harry gave himself, he had never called himself that infamous name before.

"I never said there was anything wrong with your amazing cooking abilities Potter!" Draco back peddled with a pleading tone.

"Nor did I," Severus added with amusement over his son's good humor. "As a matter of fact I was the one who said your pot roast was cooked to perfection!"

"Yeah, but it didn't really sound like it was meant to be a compliment. It sounded more like a reproach," Harry taunted with a smirk.

"Perhaps, but I distinctly remember saying that the entire meal was delicious," Severus stated firmly.

"Okay, I guess you deserve to try my incredible, chocolate cake," relented Harry. He pointed his wand at the spot before his father and a large piece of the triple layer confection appeared.

Severus took a bite then made an exaggerated sound of pleasure, "Mmm, excellent. Best I've ever tasted."

Charlet looked at the cake longingly as did Draco.

"Harry, I'm the one who said you should be a chef," announced Draco. "I was just kidding about the tea cozy."

"I said the food looks like it came from Chandon!" Charlet added.

Harry took pity on them and spelled forth their own pieces of cake along with one for himself. He purposely ignored Narcissa since he just didn't like her.

Before he had a chance to take his first bite his father said, "I think you forgot someone."

Harry begrudgingly spelled forth another piece of cake. He ignored Narcissa's compliment and focused on his chocolate creation. If there was one thing he knew he did well; it was cooking. How could he not be a master chef with all the practice he had in his past with the Dursley's?

Draco took a break from shoveling the treat into his mouth, "Potter, I have to admit … this is the best damn cake I've ever had. To hell with those house elves, who needs em!"

"You're going to need them," Harry informed the Slytherin. "This is the last meal I cook for you ungrateful bunch of …" at his father's sharp look he let the sentence hang in the air.

"Maybe we could come up with a compromise?" Draco offered.

"Yeah, like what; I do all the cooking and you do all the eating?"

"Tsk, tsk, Harry. Try not to sound so cynical," Charlet chimed in. "If you'll do the cooking I would be willing to help you with your deplorable manners and maybe even help you to dress a little more fashionably. I hate to tell you this but your starting to dress like Severus."

Harry almost choked on his piece of cake over hearing that.

He looked up and saw Draco nodding, "It's true Potter. You have been dressing in those expensive black slacks and black collared shirts far too often lately."

Harry ran a hand down the front of his black button down shirt. Maybe he was starting to wear a lot of black but it was a far cry better than Dudley's second hand clothes.

Severus cleared his throat, "I am sitting right here. It would be wise for the two of you to curtail your insults whilst I am in your presence."

"Besides I don't mind dressing like my dad," Harry said just to see Draco's reaction. In reality he vowed to pick up a few more pairs of jeans in Diagon Alley tomorrow.

"Suit yourself Potter but you're the one living in Gryffindor Tower dressing like a black bat," Draco said under his breath.

"I heard that," Severus said from across the table. "Perhaps a report on respect would help you to curb your tongue."

Draco shook his head, "Sorry sir."

"Mm, nevertheless a report will be due by tomorrow afternoon," Severus stated then looked towards Charlet, "Perhaps you should write a report on gratitude?"

Charlet looked towards Narcissa for help.

Narcissa smiled most charmingly at the Potion Master and placed a delicate hand on his sleeve, "Severus dear, the children were just having fun. No harm done, I'm sure Harry enjoys their clever wit. They are on holiday after all."

Severus narrowed his eyes but relented, "I suppose washing the dishes this evening will suffice. After all it is only fair since Harry did all the cooking." At the looks of utter horror he received from Charlet and Draco, not to mention the gasp he heard from Narcissa, he raised his hand up and said, "Not one word."

Draco and Charlet stared back at Severus with open mouths in complete disbelief.

Harry looked down but could hardly hide his laugh. He had to witness this, it was going to be so funny! He looked up in time to catch the sinister glare Narcissa gave him before her face turned towards Severus with a serene smile.

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Half hour later found Harry at the kitchen sink with Draco and Charlet sitting at the kitchen table complaining about his father and drinking tea. Harry had made the mistake of going into the kitchen to watch them, only to find himself having to teach the pair of spoiled prats how to wash the dishes. At some point during the lesson he ended up being the only one still at the sink while the two of them sat to whine about the whole event.

"I don't know how you can live with the man Harry? He seems bent on taking revenge," Charlet complained with a whine. "It's just plain cruel to make me suffer so."

"I can see the pain you are in," Harry said sarcastically as he finished washing the last of the pots and pans. He would never admit to the fact that he liked doing dishes. There was something comforting about putting his hands in warm sudsy water.

Doing the dishes gave him time to contemplate what he was going to say to his father tonight. He was almost sure Severus had not forgotten about the threat of making him talk about his feelings of guilt. He just had no idea how to explain the way he felt. He was brought out of his revelry by Charlet's shrill voice.

"I hope he doesn't make us do dishes again tomorrow. Severus should be used to hearing insults on how he dresses. Those house elves better get back tomorrow or I'm going to kill them!"

Harry was certain Charlet's house elf wouldn't return if given the choice. He couldn't fathom how he was going to get through an entire two weeks with the spoiled brat.

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Later that night after the Malfoy's went home, Harry was in his bed under the warm covers, when Hedwig came flying in with a note. The snowy owl jumped on his chest and pecked his fingers looking for a treat.

Harry untied the note then accioed owl treats to him from across the room. After eating, Hedwig hooted in delight and flew around the room a few times before retiring to her cage. Harry smiled over the bird's antics, the owl seemed happy.

He slowly opened the letter, dreading what he might read. There was no doubt in his mind that Sirius would be upset. The letter turned out to be more of a command than a letter:

Come for breakfast, Sirius

Harry hoped that Remus would be there too just in case Sirius was in one of his darker moods. The man had truly been tormented during his time on the other side of the veil. Where the hell had he gone to? The idea of the veil still confused him.

Severus knocked on his son's door, hoping the teen had not fallen asleep. In his opinion he had been given another chance to try and rectify the mistakes he had made as a father. There were far too many to count at this point.

"Come in," a tired voice called out from behind the closed door.

"Were you sleeping already?" Severus asked as he shut the door behind him then walked towards the bed.

Harry sat up, leaning against the pillows, "Nope, I was just waiting for you. I was hoping you'd forget."

Severus raised an eyebrow, "I never forget. Needless to say, you do not seem very open to talking."

Harry shrugged, "I don't like talking about that stuff. It just ends up making me feel worse in the end."

The statement forced Severus to pause and reconsider the benefit of this talk. He had thought to alleviate some of Harry's guilt by offering reassurance. Now he second guessed his strategy. Perhaps it was not a good idea to force the boy into reliving those haunting memories. But no, that was the rationale that had brought him to this point. He ended up doing what came most naturally to him.

Severus sat on the edge of the bed, staring into his son's eyes. Harry quickly occluded and looked down before angrily stating, "Don't do that. It's not fair. I'll tell you what I want you to hear without Legilimens."

"Yes, you are always so forthcoming with your fears," sarcasm prominent in the Potion Master's voice.

Harry shrugged, "I'm okay. you don't have to worry so much. Sometimes you act as if I'm so screwed up that I belong in Saint Mungo's. Am I really that bad?"

"No, you are far from 'screwed up'," Severus said the last words with disdain. "However, I feel that I am not qualified to help you feel less culpable in the deaths that occurred. I have made an appointment for you to see Healer Fairchild tomorrow."

"Oh bloody hell!"

Severus held his anger in check over his son's sudden outburst but firmly pushed Harry back against his pillows, "Calm yourself. "

Harry took a deep breath and let himself lean back, "I'm not crazy Severus."

"I never said you were but let's be direct; you are sixteen and have been through horrors a grown man would need help recovering from."

"So you do think I'm crazy."

Severus was surprised at the fear he saw in his son's eyes, "Would you feel more comfortable if Ms. Fairchild came here to talk?"

"I don't want to talk to a mind healer, I don't want to talk to anyone. You don't understand, it's not something that anyone can just heal with words," Harry said strongly.

"You are right, I do not understand. That is precisely the reason I want …"

"No! I'm not going to talk to anyone. It's just something I have to work through on my own!"

Severus shook his head, "Not this time Harry. I will not bend on this."

Harry rolled onto his side facing away from his father. His head started hurting just thinking about opening up those doors he had bolted closed in his mind. He had to get out of this, he had to make his dad see how bad this would turn out in the end. Maybe the reason Severus was acting so anxious was more about what he had said last night, all those horrible words.

"I knew you were still angry about what I said last night. I didn't mean any of it though, really I didn't. You believe me, right?" Harry said as he stared at the wall with his back still to his father, hoping the man would change his mind.

"I believe I already told you that I forgive you. This is not just about last night, this is about the guilt you insist on claiming."

Harry saw the note from Sirius on his covers and clutched at it, "I can't go tomorrow anyway. I have to see Sirius in the morning." He turned around and handed Severus the note.

Severus eyed the paltry note before snidely commenting, "Touching."

Harry ripped the note from his father's hand, "I don't care what he writes. I'm just glad he's back."

"As am I," Severus said forcing his voice to sound sincere. "It is one less thing for you to feel guilty about."

"Is that all you care about. Don't you see what I did to him? His mind was tortured, he doesn't remember anything that happened to him! He's all fucked up and I did that to him. Just don't talk about him anymore."

Severus couldn't help but feel stung, "You forget your place, Harry. Mind your tongue."

Harry flopped back against the pillows and refused to get into this with his father any further than he already had.

Severus sat facing away from the teen. He didn't know what else to say to help the situation. He already felt as if the boy were keeping secrets due to the adoption case. After a few uncomfortable minutes he stood up and spelled the sconces off. He didn't turn around but said goodnight as he shut the door on his way out.

Harry lie in his bed staring up at the ceiling, feeling miserable for treating his father that way. He wished he had said things differently, after all the man was only trying to help.

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Next Chapter:

Sirius does the unthinkable.

Vespa returns.