Author's Note:
Thank you SO much to everyone who has taken a moment to review and let me know what you think about the story! I hope you enjoy this new chapter!
The last two days had gone by without incident. Harry and Snape were falling into a comfortable pattern. They spent the mornings in Snape's study, painstakingly going through his 2nd year coursework, and in the afternoons they spent time working on potion's concepts, preparing ingredients, and working in the lab. Snape had shown Harry how he organized his stores and took inventory and reviewed some of the tools they would use for creating potions.
Today Harry would be brewing his first potion with Snape, and he was both excited and nervous. Snape had taken Master Barclay's advice and was trying to set Harry up for success. They'd spent the previous day harvesting and preparing some of the ingredients, and he had helped Harry set up his own small space in the lab where he'd put away his new tools and organized things the way he liked it. Snape had also presented him with his very first lab notebook, which Snape explained was important for him to use to document each step as he went along, as well as any results.
"Now, Mr. Potter, the most important step before you begin brewing is to review your protocol, make sure you have each and every one of your ingredients—as well as making sure you have the right amount—and to get all of your tools ready. You don't want to start brewing and realize that you don't have enough of something you need. Look through the protocol now and make sure."
Snape knew that they had everything- they'd spent the entire afternoon yesterday collecting and preparing things for today. But he wanted Harry to get in the habit of checking everything more than once. Brewing potions was an exact science, and anything less than a painstaking attention to detail was setting oneself up for failure.
Harry beamed. He was wearing his new work robes and had his lab notebook in front of him. He couldn't wait to brew this potion.
"It says we need 3 diced flobberworms, 0.5 grams of crushed oyster shell, 3 drops of essence of thyme, 4 ground stag beetles, 0.1 g of bee pollen, 3mL of morning dew (collected at the spring equinox), and 1 shredded cocoon of a lunar moth. I have them all here."
Harry had lined up each of his ingredients in front of him as Snape had instructed. The dry ingredients were weighed and measured on small pieces of thin parchment paper, and the wet ingredients were measured out in glass vials. As a person who thrived on control and order, Snape was extremely organized in everything he did, but when it came to his potions and his lab, he was bordering on obsessive-compulsive. If there was one thing he would pass on to Harry, it would be this. He would never tolerate any disorganization or mess when it came to the potion's lab.
Snape nodded in approval. "Very good, Mr. Potter. Now I want you to scan the protocol to make sure that you do everything in the correct order, and that you do not begin any step without knowing that you have completed all of the previous steps and are prepared for the next several steps."
It was a fairly simple potion to brew, but that was the point. He wanted to train Harry, first and foremost, in good habits and proper technique.
Snape stood behind Harry, looking over his shoulder but holding himself back from getting too involved. As difficult as it was for him, a complete control freak, he knew it was important not to interfere. If Harry made a mistake, it was an opportunity to learn. He wanted Harry to do this on his own. It was important.
"Now, I want you to review your protocol again and mention outloud to yourself about any steps that might make things difficult. For example, if you need to change the light on the cauldron, or if you need to add an ingredient slowly or while stirring. Make note to yourself verbally about anything tricky."
Harry looked through the outline he'd made in his notebook and mentally read through each step, checking and double checking that he had everything in front of him in the right order.
"Out loud, Mr. Potter. When you speak the words, you'll remember hearing them and not just reading them."
Harry blushed slightly, feeling a bit silly talking out loud to himself. "Yes, sir. In this potion, I know that I need to let the flobberworms boil for 3 minutes before I add in the oyster shell. Then I need to wait until I see a violet colored smoke before I turn it down to a simmer and add in the next ingredient. Also, the potion needs to simmer for 5 minutes before I add in the morning dew, and at that point I need to be ready to stir immediately. At the end, I have to let the cocoon sit on the top and wait for it to begin to shimmer before I stir it 14 times."
Harry looked back at Snape for approval. He really wanted this to go well so that Snape would know he was taking it all very seriously.
"That's correct, Mr. Potter. When you are ready, you may go ahead and begin to brew. I want you to keep your lab journal open and follow along with the protocol, but if you notice something, you should note it down. For example, if it takes 30 seconds for the color to change, or if you notice that the solution becomes thick or gives off a smell. Write down all of your observations. This is a good habit to get into, it can be very important later to determine where something went wrong or to aid you as you make adjustments and begin creating your own potions."
Harry set up his cauldron and reviewed his protocol one more time. He could feel his heart rate increasing and his hands were shaking slightly as he reached for his wand to light the cauldron.
Noticing he was a bit shaky and clearly anxious, Snape reassured him. "Take a deep breath, there's no rush. You may begin when you feel ready. Focus your mind on your task and block out everything else."
Harry took a breath as instructed and closed his eyes for a moment. When he felt ready, he lit the cauldron and began adding his ingredients, following the protocol to the letter.
Over the next hour, Snape stood silently as he watched Harry brew. He could tell that Harry was extremely focused and was trying his best not to get anything wrong. He wanted the boy to feel empowered by this activity, so he sat back and refrained from offering any commentary other than the occasional safety reminder.
Harry continued to look back at Snape throughout the process. In usual Snape fashion, he kept his face neutral and offered neither advice nor admonition. He was merely a bystander, he wanted Harry to know that he was doing this on his own.
In the last step of the potion, Harry was supposed to add the shredded moth cocoon gently to the surface of the potion and wait for it to shimmer a bright silver before he stirred it in. He slightly overshot, Snape had seen the silver glow for at least 3 seconds before Harry began to stir, but he kept his mouth shut. After completing the final 14 stirs and leaving it on a low flame for 8 minutes, the potion was complete.
Harry turned the flame off and attempted to remove the cauldron from the heat before staring down into it and waiting expectedly for Snape to give his approval.
Harry looked up in anticipation. "Did I do it?"
Snape walked over to the bench to look into the cauldron, again keeping his face neutral and impossible to read. He paused for a moment and picked up a small ladle, dipping it into the potion and taking a closer look at the thickness and color.
"Let's see, Mr. Potter. It appears to be the right color, and as far as I could see you followed the protocol very well. I think you could have started to stir a bit earlier on the last step-you don't have to wait for the shredded cocoon to glow brightly, just begin to shimmer-but the outcome seems adequate. Shall we try it out?"
When it came to potions, 'adequate' was quite a compliment coming from Snape, he wasn't one to ever shower students with words of praise. Nonetheless, Harry was pleased. His shoulders went back slightly as he stood up straight, and a smile formed on his face. They had spent the last two days reviewing the protocol, harvesting the ingredients, and preparing for the brew. He felt like he understood every component of the potion, and he'd brewed it exactly right.
"Are we actually going to try it out?" Harry asked, unsure if he was ready to test his own potion.
Snape looked down at him and raised an eyebrow. "Of course, Mr. Potter. If one doesn't have enough confidence in one's own creation, there can be no expectation for anyone else to try it."
Snape would have never allowed Harry to take something that wasn't safe. He had overseen every step of the ingredient harvesting and preparation, as well as the brew. There was nothing in this potion that could harm him, even if it didn't work-although he was certain it would.
"Now then, I want you to take your dropper and administer three drops of the potion to yourself."
Harry dipped the dropper into the cauldron, pulling out a shimmering silver purple liquid. He hesitated a moment before opening his mouth and placing 3 drops onto his tongue.
Snape waited a few moments after Harry had taken the potion, and then flicked his wand, putting a darkening spell on the room.
The potion was called "Occulus Purpura" and it enhanced the activities of the visual purple, allowing for increased night vision. A few drops of this potion would allow a person to see the world with the same acuity and clarity of a nocturnal animal.
Harry swallowed the drops of his potion and waited as the dark lab was suddenly illuminated.
"This is brilliant! I can see almost everything." Harry moved his head around the lab, his mouth open and smiling.
Snape held out three fingers and asked, "Can you see how many fingers I'm holding up?"
"Three, sir," he replied, taking a few steps and soaking in the bizarre experience of seeing the lab glowing like dusk, while still feeling the darkness all around him.
Harry continued to look around the room in amazement. He immediately imagined all of the cool ways he could use this potion, few of which he figured Snape would be pleased with. He chuckled to himself softly.
"Well done, Mr. Potter. Now I want you to note down everything in your lab journal so you can describe the effects of what you've brewed."
After a few minutes in the dark, Snape returned the lab to visibility with a flick of his wand. Harry was sitting on a stool now, writing in his lab book.
When the lights came on, Harry squinted his eyes and brought his hand to his face. "Ow, now the light feels too bright. It's giving me a bit of a headache."
"Note that down, Mr. Potter. What else are you feeling?"
Harry squinted at his lab book. He took off his glasses but he was still having a difficult time seeing his words on paper.
He looked up at Snape and replied "It's a bit harder to focus my eyes, I'm having trouble reading and writing in my book."
"A very keen and important observation. This is a wonderful potion for carrying out activities in the dark. Unlike a lumos spell, which casts light that others can see, this potion will allow you to see in the dark without giving away your location or giving others around you the same benefit of light. I'm sure you can imagine many instances when this might be helpful."
Snape paused for a moment to make sure that Harry was listening before he continued. "However, as with any potion, there will be side-effects and risks. In this case, if the light returns, you might find yourself at a visual disadvantage."
Snape pulled an antidote out of his robes, "We won't work on this today, but here's an antidote. It is important to always keep one with you anytime you use a potion that could put you at risk or that you may need to reverse quickly. Go ahead and take some."
He offered the vial to Harry who sipped it and grimaced. "Thanks."
"Now let's turn off the lights again and see if it worked." Snape cast a quick Nox and the lab went dark again.
"I can't see a thing!" Harry exclaimed.
Snape restored the light once more. "Has your normal vision returned? How does it look when you try to read and write up close."
Harry hunched over his notebook and he watched as the words became immediately clearer. "It's fine now," Harry said as he stared down at the notebook. He looked up at Snape and smiled. "That was pretty wicked."
Snape nodded at him with approval. "Good preparation and focus is the key to successful brewing. Now I want you to bottle and label your potion and clean-up your area. You don't want any ingredients laying around in a dirty lab space, they could interfere negatively the next time you begin to brew. Even the smallest amount of an ingredient left on your bench could contaminate your tools or your workspace enough to interfere disastrously with your next brew. Do you remember how to label?"
"Yes sir, I put the name of the potion, the date, and my initials."
"Correct. If you bottle more than one vial, make sure you put a number on it so you know which batch they belong to in case you find out later that something isn't right. You can reference it with a page to your lab notebook if you like."
Harry collected the potion into a vial and labeled it just as instructed and began cleaning his lab area. Snape retreated to his desk as Harry finished cleaning all of his tools and wiping down the table.
A few minutes later, Harry walked over to his desk. "I'm finished, Professor." He presented him with the labeled vial and looked at Snape expectantly.
Snape put down his quill and took the vial, ensuring it was labeled exactly as he instructed. After determining it was acceptable, he stood up from his desk and motioned with his head for Harry to follow him. "Very well, let's go ahead and put this in your store. You will now begin to create your own collection of potions Mr. Potter."
Snape walked into the small room where he kept his own potion's store and sat the vial in an area of his he had cleared out for Harry. There were now three empty shelves where he wanted Harry to put his things.
He turned around and looked at Harry. "Once you begin to amass more potions, you will consider how you would like to organize and inventory your stock. Congratulations, Mr. Potter, this is the first potion of your personal store. Very well done, today."
Harry was over the moon hearing these words of praise. Even if it was a relatively simple potion, he had felt like he'd been a part of each step, from harvesting the ingredients, preparing them, brewing them, and testing the potion. He was proud of himself, and it showed in the look on his face and the way he held himself as they walked out of the lab.
Snape closed and locked the door to the store room before turning around to Harry. "I shouldn't need to remind you, but just so we're clear, Mr. Potter"-Snape paused for dramatic effect with his back against the door and narrowed his eyes on Harry-"this store room, and all of the potions within it, including your own, are completely off-limits to you unless I am with you. May Merlin have mercy on you should I ever find out you've ever stepped foot into that room without my permission." He glared at Harry with a look that sent shivers down Harry's spine.
Harry could feel himself getting nervous as he looked into Snape's eyes. Somehow the man could still terrify him with a few words and a look, even when he hadn't done anything wrong. Not that the idea hadn't crossed his mind. "I won't, sir. I promise"
Snape let his eyes continue to seer into Harry's for emphasis. "It would be in your best interest if you kept that promise, Mr. Potter."
Harry nodded and followed Snape as he walked back into the lab.
Before leaving, Snape returned to Harry's bench and inspected his lab area carefully, the way a military officer might do a white glove inspection of his soldier's bunk. Harry stood nervously behind him as he inspected every inch of the area where he'd brewed, ensuring that each ingredient was put away neatly and caps were on tightly. He cast a small lumos with his wand and scrutinized every square inch of the bench to make sure there were no spilled ingredients or even the tiniest fleck of crushed oyster or bee pollen. He wanted the lab space immaculate, and he would not hesitate to make Harry clean it again if he found one tiny thing out of place. He was determined to instill good habits of organization and cleanliness in the lab above all else.
Finding everything surprisingly to his satisfaction, he put his wand away and turned back to Harry. In a stern voice to emphasize its importance he said "I want you to make sure you clean this space well every time you finish brewing, and then again before you begin your next brew. This is acceptable, but don't get lazy with it. I will inspect your bench each time we brew and I better always find it this clean." He gave Harry a pointed look.
Even though Harry knew he hadn't done anything wrong, he swallowed nervously. "Yes, sir. I will." Clearly the man was a bit of a freak when it came to a clean lab space, and he would have to remember to be extra careful.
Satisfied that Harry understood the importance of his words, his face softened slightly. "Very well. I'd say you've earned some tea and biscuits, so come along."
Even though Snape had ended things on a somewhat ominous note, Harry was still feeling pretty good about his potion. He knew Snape had been pleased and he felt a boost of confidence. He also liked knowing that Snape had made space for him in the lab, giving him his own workbench and his own little potion's store. It made him feel like he was wanted, and that Snape was planning to keep him around.
"Take off your work robes and hang them in the lab before you return to the parlor. I don't want stray pieces of stag beetle and flobberworms all over my floor and sofa."
Snape directed him to a hook near the door of the lab. "Hang them here. Putting on your robe should be the first thing you do when you come in, and taking it off should be the last."
Harry removed his robes and hung them as instructed. Snape motioned him through the door before closing and locking it behind them with his wand.
Back in the parlor, Snape and Harry enjoyed a cup of tea and some biscuits in relative silence. Snape was reading through some manuscripts while Harry sat on the floor working on the puzzle.
Since deciding that Harry needed more help getting through his schoolwork in the mornings, Snape had had very little time to get his own work done.
They were sitting there peacefully when there was a knock on the door. Harry jumped up excitedly to get it before he heard Snape's voice and felt a hand grip his arm tightly. "Sit down and stay quiet, Potter. You are not to answer the door."
Snape walked briskly across the parlor before opening the door slightly, carefully using his body to block the view of the parlor.
He was surprised to see Dumbledore there with Master Barclay. The three had been in frequent communication over the last few days, but Snape was not expecting them to stop by this evening.
"Headmaster, Master Barclay, how...unexpected." Snape attempted to stay polite although his displeasure was evident in his tone. He was a very private person and rarely invited anyone to his private quarters. He was absolutely not a fan of unannounced visits.
Snape opened the door and extended his arm, inviting them in with a gesture rather than words.
"Thank you, Severus. I apologize for catching you off-guard, we've just had some news that we wanted to discuss with you urgently," Dumbledore said. He flashed him a quick smile but his eyes revealed that his mind was heavy with worry. Seeing Harry in the parlor, he walked over and put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Ah, Harry, my boy. How are you?"
Dumbledore and Harry exchanged a few words of greeting while Master Barclay and Snape stood at the door.
"Good to see you, Severus. I hope we're not interrupting. I obviously wouldn't be here if this wasn't quite important. I apologize for barging in without an invitation." Master Barclay gave him a firm pat on his arm.
"Of course, you are always welcome. We were just having tea. Please have a seat in the parlor." Snape walked them to the sofa and flicked his wand. Two more teacups appeared on the table.
Harry sat frozen on the ground with a puzzle piece in his hand, unsure of what Snape wanted him to do.
"Mr. Potter, it is good to see you again. Aren't you going to say hello? It's customary to stand when your superiors enter or leave a room." Master Barclay gave him a gentle smile, but then flashed a quick look to Snape as if to say Aren't you teaching this boy any manners?
Snape got the hint and turned to Harry. "Mr. Potter, please say hello to our guests and then go to your room. I will call you when we're done."
Harry stood up and walked over to Master Barclay and extended his hand awkwardly. "It's good to see you Master Barclay. I hope you're doing well."
Barclay shook his hand and then patted his shoulder. "I'm doing quite well, Mr. Potter. I hope you are settling in. How are you doing? I hope Professor Snape isn't working you too hard. How are your studies going?" The man smiled gently, knowing quite well about everything that he'd been up to, he and Snape had spoken nearly every night for the past several days.
"It's going well, sir. Snape taught me how to make the Occulus Purpura potion today, it was brilliant!" Harry smiled excitedly, hoping Master Barclay would also be proud to know that he'd brewed his first potion today with success.
"That's Professor Snape to you, young man. But I'm so glad to hear it. That's a very useful potion indeed." His tone was gentle, but Harry instantly regretted his mistake and he felt his face flush slightly. He'd forgotten that Master Barclay was such a stickler for formalities, he would have to remember to try extra hard not to make dumb mistakes like that in the future.
"You may excuse yourself, Mr. Potter, the three of us need to speak privately. Find something quiet to do in your room. It might be a good time to make some corrections to your Charms homework." Snape said calmly as he reached for his tea.
Harry suddenly turned around to Snape, "But why can't I stay? If you're talking about me, shouldn't I be here too?"
Snape put his cup down loudly and glared at Harry. Before he could say anything, Dumbledore chimed in. "Let us talk first, Harry. We need to discuss some things as adults first, and then we'll all talk together." He smiled at the boy kindly, understanding that this was probably difficult for him.
Snape kept quiet, hoping Dumbledore's words had been enough for Harry. He glared at the boy giving him a non-verbal warning to do as he was told.
Harry saw the look, but it just made him more frustrated. "But I want to stay. I'll be quiet! It's not fair for you to talk about me without me here. It's my life too and I'm not leaving!" Harry's voice got louder as his emotions raised up in his chest.
Seeing that Harry was starting to lose control of himself, Snape stood up from his chair. "Please excuse us, gentlemen, while I escort Mr. Potter to his room."
Snape walked over to Harry and put both of his hands down on his shoulders. He whispered in his ear as he turned him around and firmly guided him toward his room. "Keep your mouth shut, Potter. Let's go."
Harry knew he shouldn't push it, he could feel Snape's anger in his tone and in the tight grasp he had on his shoulders. He closed his mouth and allowed himself to be propelled toward his room without another word.
Snape opened his door and pushed him inside, closing the door behind them. He grabbed Harry by one arm and turned him around to look at him. "When I tell you to do something, Potter, you do it. You do not argue with me and you do not throw a tantrum. Especially not in front of other people. If you ever embarrass me with your insolence again, I will return the favor and embarrass you."
Harry knew exactly what he meant by that and he could feel his ears and face becoming red.
"But it's not fair! If this is about me, I should be there too! You're treating me like a child." Harry complained, jerking himself to the side, attempting to free himself from Snape's grip.
"You are a child. And it doesn't matter what you think is fair or unfair, when I tell you to do something, you listen and obey. Now I've had enough of this nonsense. You will sit at your desk and work on Charms, and I will come and get you when we're ready to include you. And I swear to you Potter, if you're not on your best behavior, you and I will have a very uncomfortable discussion when they leave."
Snape walked Harry to his desk and sat him down in the chair. "I will review your work after dinner, and I hope for your sake it looks much better than what you did this morning."
Harry was frustrated and annoyed, but he also knew that Snape was not in a mood to be messed with. The last thing he wanted was to be punished with Master Barclay and Dumbledore sitting in the next room. "Fine," he said as he stared down at his desk.
"Excuse me?" Snape grabbed his chin and pulled his face up so he could look at him in the eyes.
"I mean, yes, sir." Harry desperately wanted to roll his eyes, but one look at Snape's face and he controlled himself. He didn't have a death wish.
"Get your act together, Potter. When I come to get you later you better be the most polite, well-mannered boy I've ever seen or you will sorely regret it."
"Yes, sir." Harry said, trying to sound sincere.
Snape let go of him and walked to the door. He paused before he walked out and added, "I mean it, Potter. Do not test me."
He closed the door behind him firmly to punctuate his veiled threat.
Harry sat at his desk feeling sorry for himself. He hated when Snape turned on him like that, especially after they'd had such a good day working in the lab. He fumed to himself about what a tyrant he was while he pulled out his Charms assignment. Stupid git.
Snape took a breath and returned to the parlor as calmly as possible. He hated looking like he had no control over the boy, especially in front of Master Barclay.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting." Snape sat back down in his armchair, dreading whatever conversation the two wizards had come to have with him.
"Nothing to worry about, Severus. We were just settling in and pouring ourselves some tea." Dumbledore flashed him a smile as he reached for a biscuit.
Master Barclay didn't say anything but gave him a slightly disappointed look. Snape knew what he was thinking, he was a man who had very little tolerance for poor manners and disrespectful behavior and he was clearly less than impressed with Harry's little outburst.
Snape sat down in his armchair and took a deep breath.
"We're here, Severus, because Headmaster Dumbledore and I are concerned that things aren't going exactly as planned. We think it would be prudent for you to take Harry away from Hogwarts as soon as possible." Master Barclay crossed his legs and sat back on the couch, looking at Snape with some concern on his face.
Snape had guessed this was the reason for the visit. "I see. Have there been other developments I'm unaware of?"
"I've tried to gather the support from the APM without going into details about the fact that the boy in question was Harry Potter, however, people are talking and there have been speculations. One of the board members approached me about it today, having heard rumors that it is Mr. Potter we're doing this for. We are close, I've secured five votes that I'm confident in, and another two that I think we will have shortly, but I'm afraid that I may need to explain everything to get them. The Headmaster and I worry that this could leak quickly and the Ministry will attempt to come find him here."
Dumbledore nodded before interjecting. "Severus, if the Ministry finds him here before we complete the bond, they will no doubt try to take custody of him. He's technically not allowed to be on school grounds right now. It would be safer for Harry if you take him away while Master Barclay continues to work with the APM."
Snape took a sip of his tea and replaced the cup and saucer on his lap. "I see. And what if they come looking for him here and find me gone as well? I don't want to be accused of kidnapping the Boy Who Lived."
"We will have to arrange things carefully. Technically no one knows he's here besides you, me, Minerva, and Poppy. With the help of Master Barclay, we can explain your absence as an important trip away for professional reasons. We will say you've been summoned to collect ingredients and brew a special healing potion for a concerning new strain of Dragon Pox that has had outbreaks in Asia. Master Barclay can provide relevant paperwork as needed."
"I have colleagues in Shanghai who do have evidence of a few small outbreaks. It will not be difficult to arrange a written request for your assistance," Master Barclay added. "The key is to make sure that you and Harry are somewhere safe where you will not be discovered."
"And where, exactly, might that be?" Snape asked, with a slightly indignant tone in his voice.
Silence hung in the air for a few moments before Dumbledore set his cup down. He reached out to put his hand on Snape's arm. "We have a trusted colleague who has a cottage in Wales where you and Harry can stay safely. We considered several places outside of the UK, but there were too many complexities to international travel if we wished to hide Harry. Even with alternate forms of identification, there would be a paper trail."
Snape exhaled loudly. He still hated the idea of leaving the safety of Hogwarts, not to mention the inconvenience of leaving his classes in the hands of someone else. "And what, exactly, would Potter and I be doing in Wales? How long do we think this is for?" He looked at Barclay.
"Two weeks, maximum, Severus. I'm nearly there. I just need to convince two more people and we'll have the votes we need. I may have to find some creative ways to persuade them, but I know it can be done. One of them has been looking for a book deal, and the other has been trying to secure funding for a sabbatical project in Kenya. If I can secure these arrangements for them with the promise of their vote, we'll have what we need. I just need a bit more time."
Master Barclay was a very-well connected wizard, and Snape had no doubts that he would do whatever it took to get the votes they needed from the APM. But he also knew that some of the wizards on the board recognized this, and would expect favors to be granted in return. He imagined that once this got out amongst the others on the APM board, he would probably have to start fielding other requests as well.
Dumbledore spoke up, "I'm hopeful that, while less than ideal, this will give you more one-on-one time with Harry without the distraction of teaching and having to care for other students. You can continue to work with him on schoolwork and potions, but you will have more freedoms than you do here. He will have space to go out and play, and you'll be able to move about in the village."
Great, just what I need. More quality time with the brat. What does he think, I'm going to take the boy on picnics and teach him how to ride a bike? Snape imagined being locked up in some Welsh cottage with the boy for two weeks without seeing or speaking to another adult. He was already feeling restless.
"This cottage is in a small Welsh village, far from any known magical communities. You will be staying there under the guise of being a cousin of the owner of the cottage, bringing your son to experience some fresh air after a long illness."
"When do we need to go?" Snape asked. The students wouldn't be back for another three days, and he hoped he'd have time to get some things organized.
"We'd like you to leave as soon as possible. Preferably tomorrow morning. We've made all of the arrangements, so the cottage is ready for you. It belongs to Potion Master Llewlyn, so he actually has quite a nice set-up there for brewing. From what I understand, he also has quite a beautiful garden where he grows many unique ingredients. I believe there's a caretaker and gardener who comes by to check on things and keep an eye on his plants, but we'll make sure that won't be a problem for you."
Snape had met Master Llewlyn a few times, briefly, but he didn't know the man well. He had seen him give a talk on a lucid dream potion once. If he remembered correctly, the man's specialty was potions related to alternative consciousness. He dabbled in potions and spells that had previously been considered only for recreational use, but were now being used to treat mental health conditions such as trauma, anxiety and depression. It was rather ground-breaking work, but there were still many skeptics who didn't yet recognize their potential and were convinced it was just a bunch of hippies abusing the potions to get high and trip.
"Does Master Llewlyn know we're going to be there?" Snape asked, glancing between Dumbledore and Barclay.
"He's away at the moment harvesting ingredients and working with a shaman in the Amazon for the next few months. I asked him for the favor and he happily agreed. I did not tell him yours or Harry's name," Master Barclay responded. "He's a good man, a bit of a free-spirit himself. He said that the members of the Shipibo tribe had been kind enough to share their homes with him, and that he would only be equally happy to share his home with another wizard in need."
"Very generous, indeed." Snape agreed. He hoped at some point he'd get to know Master Llewlyn, he was very curious to know more about the healing properties of some of these hallucinogenic plants. Although Snape was the last person anyone would describe as a "free-spirit," he had a great appreciation for those who could think outside of the box. He valued creativity and innovation greatly, and had great respect for a Potion Master who was willing to challenge the establishment when it came to finding ways to heal and bring relief to those who are suffering. It was something he strived for in his own potion making.
"As for your classes, I was thinking we'd bring in Professor Slughorn. He has experience, not only teaching potions, but also running Slytherin House, so I figured it would be the easiest for him to cover for you, if you agree," Dumbledore said, hoping that Snape would accept.
Knowing he didn't have much of a choice, Snape agreed. "That would be fine, Albus. I will write up the lesson plans and leave them all on my desk."
Barclay looked at Snape and nodded in agreement. "I will take you and Mr. Potter to the cottage tomorrow. I think it would be best if you could floo to my home in London early in the morning, and then I will drive us the rest of the way so that we don't raise suspicion when you come into the village. It will take us about four hours by car."
"Let's bring Harry in, shall we? I'm sure he'll have some questions." Dumbledore glanced in the direction of Harry's room.
Snape stood up, "I'll go get him, excuse me a moment."
Snape did his customary knock on the door before he opened it to find Harry sitting at his desk, his Charm's book open in front of him. Good, at least he knows how to follow some directions.
Harry didn't look up when the door opened. He was still kind of mad at Snape and he wanted to make a point.
"Come, Mr. Potter, we want to discuss a few things with you." Snape stood in the doorway and waited for Harry to get up.
Harry didn't say a word but scooted his chair back and walked toward the door without making eye contact or acknowledging Snape.
Snape reached out and grabbed Harry's arm before he walked through the door. He could sense that Harry was giving him the cold shoulder. "Drop the attitude right now, Mr. Potter. I want you on your best behavior. Am I clear?"
Harry nodded, still refusing to look up at Snape.
"Look at me and give me a verbal answer, please," Snape said, trying to keep his voice calm, not wanting to rile the boy up.
Begrudgingly, Harry looked up and said "Yes, sir." He flashed him a fake smile for half a second as a small act of rebellion.
Snape ignored his petulant little display and smiled back "That's a good boy." He let go of his arm and patted him patronizingly on the head. He wouldn't give Harry the satisfaction of being annoyed.
When they walked back into the living room, Snape brought a kitchen chair into the parlor and transfigured it into a small ottoman for Harry to sit, figuring he wouldn't want to squeeze himself between Dumbledore and Barclay on the couch. This way he could see all three of them as they talked.
Harry waited for Snape to take his seat and then sat down on the ottoman, trying his best to look patient and polite.
Snape nodded at Dumbledore to go ahead.
"Harry, my boy, thank you for being patient and giving us a few moments to talk. We were just discussing our plans for the next few weeks. I'm sure you are eager to go ahead with your apprenticeship bond, but it is taking us a bit longer to arrange everything. As you know, keeping you safe is our greatest priority, and we've decided it would be best if you and Professor Snape left Hogwarts for a little while until we can finalize everything."
Dumbledore spoke slowly and gently, unsure of how Harry would react. He knew the boy well enough to know that he was prone to emotional outbursts, and he just hoped he would stay calm.
Thankfully, Snape had prepared him for this possibility and Harry didn't seem too upset.
"Where are we going to go, sir?" Harry asked, keeping his voice calm and polite. Harry was still refusing to look at Snape but he was sure the man was giving him a look that said You better behave.
Master Barclay interjected, "I'll be taking you and Professor Snape to Wales tomorrow. A friend of ours has leant you his cottage for the next few weeks. It is in a lovely village near the coast, I think you will enjoy it there."
Even if he was a little irritated with Snape at the moment, he was excited about this adventure. He couldn't help it, his eyes lit up and he smiled. "Can I bring my broom? Can I go flying there?"
Harry hadn't been flying in almost a year and he missed it. He'd felt so cooped up this past week, he was dying to get out of the castle and get a change of scenery.
"We'll see. It's a muggle community, I don't know yet what our arrangements will be exactly, so we will have to make an assessment when we get there. You can bring your broom, but I'm not making any promises," Snape said, hoping they would have the space for Harry to let loose a little bit with the proper wards in place.
"I think the fresh air will be good for you, Harry. But this isn't a vacation, my boy. You still have a lot of work to catch up on and Professor Snape will continue to prepare you for your apprenticeship," Dumbledore added. "But I do hope that you'll feel better having some space to move around in, not locked up here in the castle."
"When are we going? Can I bring Hedwig?" Harry was already imagining himself spending his days outside, relaxing and flying and being free again.
"We'll leave early in the morning. You'll floo to my home in London and we'll drive from there." Master Barclay responded.
"Do you have any questions, Harry," Dumbledore asked, giving the boy a kind look.
"No, sir. Not really." Harry paused for a moment before adding, "Well, I mean, is everything OK with my apprenticeship? It's still going to happen, right? This thing in Wales is just temporary? You're not going to change your mind or anything."
Harry was legitimately worried that somehow things would fall through. Even if Snape did frustrate him sometimes, he had actually been really happy with the arrangement so far. He was starting to feel comfortable with Snape and was looking forward to being his apprentice. There was no way he wanted to be taken by the Ministry and shoved into a children's home or foster family. He would definitely run away again if it came to that.
Master Barclay smiled at Harry and tried to reassure him. "I give you my word, Mr. Potter, I am doing everything I can to get your apprenticeship approved. I'm sorry that it is taking longer than I hoped, but I am confident we will have it all resolved in the next few weeks. We are all very committed to seeing you get settled in your apprenticeship, so please leave that to us. You have nothing to be concerned about."
Harry nodded. Even though he didn't know him well, he trusted Master Barclay. He didn't seem like the kind of person who would lie to him just to make him feel better. He would still feel anxious until it was a done deal, but the man's words did ease his mind a little bit.
"Well, gentlemen, I am sure that you have plenty to do to prepare for your trip, so unless you have any further questions for me, I will take your leave." Never a man for wasting time, Master Barclay attempted to wrap things up. He set his cup down on the table and stood up.
Dumbledore stood as well, walking over to Harry and putting his hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about a thing, Harry, we're taking care of everything. This will hopefully be a nice change of pace for you. Just continue to work hard and listen to Professor Snape. We'll hopefully have you back here very soon." He smiled down at the boy and squeezed his shoulder affectionately.
Snape stood and glanced over at Harry. "Stand up and say goodbye to our guests, Mr. Potter."
Harry stood up and walked with Dumbledore to the door.
Master Barclay turned to Snape and said quietly, "He's a nice boy, Severus, but it would do him well if you taught him some manners. It's like he's been raised by wolves."
Snape wanted to roll his eyes. Barclay was being very melodramatic. Harry was generally a fairly polite 12 year-old boy, but Snape knew if they were going to be around the old wizard, he'd have to make sure he was well-versed in all of the 18th century etiquettes that Barclay insisted upon.
"Yes, Master Barclay, we're still working on it." Snape said, hoping that would be the last time he had to hear about it.
They walked to the door. Harry extended his hand and said, "Thank you for coming, Master Barclay. Have a nice evening, we'll see you in the morning."
Snape smirked as Master Barclay glanced back at him and smiled. He shook the boy's hand and said, "It was wonderful to see you as always, Mr. Potter. Get to sleep early tonight, I will see you and Professor Snape in my parlor at 6:00am."
After they walked out the door, Snape closed it behind them. Harry had already thrown himself onto the sofa and let out an exasperated sigh.
Snape glanced at the clock on the mantle, it was nearly time for dinner. He had a lot to do tonight to prepare and he wanted to get Harry to bed early. The last thing he needed was to be stuck in a car for four hours with a cranky pre-teen.
"Let's eat, Potter. There's a lot we need to prepare before tomorrow. I want you in bed by 8:00 tonight with everything packed." Snape walked to the kitchen and tapped the table. A place setting appeared immediately and a minute later, the food popped up.
Harry whined as he pushed himself off the couch. "8:00? Why do I have to go to bed so early? I'm never going to fall asleep then. That's not fair."
"Don't start. We have to get up very early tomorrow and I don't want to hear you whining the entire way to Wales. You can also consider it punishment for your rude little display in front of our guests. If I were you I'd consider myself lucky that's your only consequence." Snape glared at him and raised an eyebrow, hoping that would end the discussion.
Harry took the hint and sat down at the table. He waited for Snape to serve himself before putting some roast chicken on his plate. He took a rather large helping of mashed potatoes before taking a small scoop of peas and carrots. He looked up at Snape to see if he'd comment, but he didn't, so he figured that it was enough vegetables to satisfy the man.
After dinner, Snape cleared the plates with a tap of his wand and turned to Harry to discuss their plans.
"I want you to pack all of your clothes, all of your school books, and anything you want to do for leisure. I will come in to check everything before you go to bed. I want you to shower tonight before you sleep so that you don't have to get up even earlier tomorrow. You may be excused."
Harry got up from the table and walked to his room. He didn't really have much to pack. "What about Hedwig?"
"Hedwig will be fine here at the owlery. It might look odd showing up to a village in Wales with an owl in tow. Not to mention we will not be communicating with anyone via owl. We're supposed to be laying low, so let's not draw attention to ourselves."
Harry thought about arguing, but the man had a valid point. He missed Hedwig, and he'd like to have her around for his own company, but she was probably better off with the other owls.
"I'll be in the potion's lab packing up supplies to take with us. If you finish packing, you may read or do whatever you'd like to relax before bed. Don't forget to take a shower. When I come in at 8 o'clock, I expect to find you showered, packed, and in bed." He gave Harry a strong look.
"Yes, sir." Harry replied, and made his way to his room to pack.
Harry laid out his clothes for the next day and then packed everything else up in his trunk. He left his dress robes hanging in his wardrobe, figuring they wouldn't need them if they were going to be living amongst Muggles. He put his books, his art supplies, and his card games into the trunk along with all of his school books, quills, and parchment. He hoped that Snape would pack up his potions supplies and work robes for him.
Not wanting to incur the wrath of Snape, Harry took a shower and put on his pajamas. He sat down at his desk and pulled out his journal. He had never kept a diary or a journal before, but he thought he would give it a try. He wrote about brewing his potion and then about the meeting with Barclay and Dumbledore. He wrote about how excited he was to be going to Wales and some of the things he worried about. I hope Snape lets me fly, and doesn't make me do too much work...And I hope nothing bad happens with the apprenticeship. I don't want to be alone again. It's nice having someone look after me, even if he is a git sometimes.
Harry drew a little picture of the potion he made, pulling his colored pencils out of the trunk to color the silvery-purple liquid into the cauldron.
He was still making small doodles in his journal when Snape knocked on the door and came in.
Snape smiled to himself when he saw that Harry was using his journal. He wanted him to have a place to express his thoughts and feelings in the hope it would help him start to recognize and process the emotions he was having.
"Finish up, Mr. Potter." He waited patiently for Harry to close his journal and put it, and his colored pencils, back in his trunk. Harry jumped into bed and pulled the covers up.
In what was becoming a nightly ritual, Snape brought the desk chair over and sat next to Harry's bed. "Did you pack everything?"
"Yes, sir. I packed all of my clothes except my dress robes. I have all of my books and my other stuff. What about my potions things? And my work robes?"
"I'll take care of packing those up when I pack up all of the supplies from the lab. Now I just want to go over a few things with you about tomorrow," Snape said as he put his hand out, waiting for Harry to hand him his glasses. He cast a quick cleaning spell on them and folded them carefully onto the nightstand.
Without thinking, he pulled the covers up gently over Harry's shoulders, just under his chin. Harry smiled to himself, he had never had anyone tuck him in. He didn't say anything, not wanting to jinx it by making a big deal about it, but he enjoyed it when Snape took the time to put him to bed. He had only read to him that one night when he'd had a nightmare, but he secretly hoped he'd do it again. He kept the book by his bed just in case.
"Master Barclay will be driving us tomorrow, Harry. It will be quite a long trip. I want you to be on your very best behavior. You know he's very strict about manners and being polite, so I expect you to make an effort with that. When we're with him, you will greet him appropriately, and then you will only speak when you're spoken to. If he asks you a question you respond politely with 'Yes sir' or 'No, sir.' If he sits down, you sit down. If he stands up or leaves a room, you stand up. If we're eating together, you let him serve himself first and you do not eat or drink until he begins."
Harry nodded. "OK, I got it."
"I know some of these things seem silly, but Master Barclay is very old-fashioned and it is important for him. Since we respect him, we will show it by making an effort with these things. They are good habits for life, in general." He paused wondering how much he needed to belabor the point. "It's almost a four hour drive, so don't forget to keep some books or cards with you to entertain yourself."
"Yes, sir." Harry said, yawning.
"I want you to know that the rules will be the same, Harry, nothing changes just because we're going outside of Hogwarts. If I ask you to do anything tomorrow, I expect you to listen and obey without any argument. It reflects poorly on both of us when you disobey me and argue like you did today, especially in front of Master Barclay. I meant it when I said that if you embarrass me like that again, you will not enjoy the consequences." He gave Harry a stern look, but Harry was looking up at him with a rather relaxed look on his face.
"Yes, sir."
"Good, I hope we won't have to discuss it again. I will wake you up at 5:15, then you'll get dressed and we'll eat a quick breakfast before we take the floo to Master Barclay's house. Now get some sleep, Mr. Potter, it will be a long day tomorrow."
Harry wavered for a moment before he finally got enough courage to ask,"Will you read to me a little bit? I don't know if I can sleep yet, it helps me relax."
Snape had a lot to do to pack and prepare his lesson plans for Slughorn, but he wanted Harry to sleep well. "I'll read you one chapter, but that's it. I want you to lay down and close your eyes. Take a few deep relaxing breaths first."
Snape reached for the book on Harry's nightstand. He dimmed the lights and waited for Harry to finish his breathing exercises before he opened up and began reading. In his most calm and relaxing reading voice, he continued the story of the Pharaohs and the wizards who had helped them with their magic. Before he finished the chapter, Harry was already drifting off to sleep. Snape closed the book and put it in Harry's trunk before extinguishing the lights with a non-verbal spell.
Snape spent the next several hours organizing his stores and carefully packing up and shrinking the potions and supplies he wanted to take. He did a quick inventory of both his personal stores and the student supply cabinet. He trusted Slughorn to take over his teaching duties, but he hated the idea of anyone else being in his supplies. He was sure he'd return to find everything a disorganized mess.
He wrote out detailed lesson plans for each of his classes, with special attention for the NEWT and OWL preparation. He'd be damned if Slughorn was going to ruin his perfect record when it came to pass rates.
He did a quick sweep of his office to make sure that anything personal was locked away before returning to his own room to pack. He didn't have very much in the way of Muggle clothing, but he hoped it would be sufficient for two weeks. He would rather miss wearing his frock coats and teaching robes.
It was after midnight by the time he'd finished everything up and gone to bed. He said a silent prayer that everything would go smoothly tomorrow. He hated to admit it, but it made him nervous to be around Harry with Master Barclay. He desperately wanted the man's approval, especially when it came to this apprenticeship, and he hoped Harry would behave.
The morning came quickly for Snape who woke up before 5am to shower and dress himself before waking Harry. He went over his own checklist at least twice before he felt comfortable that he had everything. He'd shrunk it all down and arranged it in a small charmed leather duffle bag that had compartments where he could separate his clothes from his potions supplies. He would shrink Harry's trunk into that.
He woke Harry out of a dead sleep and it took him a moment to get his bearings. Snape cast a dim light over his room that would slowly brighten over the next few minutes, hoping that would give Harry a gentle wake-up.
"Get dressed then go and wash your face and brush your hair. Be in the kitchen in fifteen minutes."
Snape was exhausted but had a burst of nervous energy. He wanted to make sure they were on time getting in the floo, he knew Master Barclay would not be pleased if they were even a minute late.
Harry practically sleep-walked to the table. "It's so early."
"An astute observation, Potter, however does the rest of the world keep up with you," Snape replied sarcastically but with a small smirk.
They ate breakfast quietly. At 5:45am, Snape sent Harry to the washroom to brush his teeth, fix his hair, and use the loo one more time before they left. While he was in there, Snape shrunk one of the boy's pillows and put it in his bag.
At exactly 5:56, Snape stood Harry in front of the floo for the last rundown of the checklist. Harry rolled his eyes while Snape fussed nervously for the twentieth time. "Come onnnnn, we've got everything, stop worrying."
Snape was tired and a bit on edge, so he snapped back at Harry, "Watch your cheek. The next time I have to remind you it will be with my hand across your backside." As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted sounding so harsh. He just wanted everything to go smoothly. He took a deep breath and picked up the duffle bag.
Finally satisfied that he hadn't forgotten anything too important, he threw the floo powder into the fire, grabbed Harry's arm and stepped into the fireplace.
Author's End Note:
PLEASE REVIEW!
What did you think of Harry's first session brewing with Snape as an apprentice?
Do you think Snape and Harry will survive a 4-hour car ride with Master Barclay?
I know a few of you have been worried that Master Barclay is being unreasonable- but actually, I think this is not so much that he's unreasonable (he's been pretty kind with Harry) as much as it is Snape being panicky about what he THINKS Barclay is thinking. I think Barclay totally recognizes that Harry is a kid, but he wants Snape to teach him to be more than just a good student/potioneer/wizard — he wants Snape to teach him all of the other things that a parent should teach a kid. His expectations might be a little bit high (and old-fashioned), but I don't think the idea is to crush Harry's spirit at all. Give him a little bit of credit :) We'll see more of him in the next chapter!
If you read and enjoyed or you have any thoughts or feedback or ideas— please review! I love hearing from all of you, and it keeps me excited to write when I know there are people reading and enjoying :)