Chapter 5.
What had Severus gotten himself into? The boy was still under the influence of the calming draught, and happily eating the unsweetened porridge that Severus had given him with very strict instructions to eat it slowly, and not to eat more than ten bites. Severus had seen the boy who he had once been, reflected in H-Potter's eyes, and couldn't just leave the boy back with his relatives. Severus was drawn from his musing's, by a spoon nearly hitting his right ear, and whizzing out the window. Severus ducked and then turned his wrath how dare he? On Potter.
"Potter! Why did you believe in your miniscule brain that it would be a good idea to throw a family heirloom out my window?" The boy's chest was heaving heavily and his eyes were red and puffy. It was rather impressive that he had been able to get the effects of a rather powerful- if he did say so himself- calming draught so quickly.
"You did something to me!" Potter answered defiantly, now standing up from his chair. Severus's first reaction was to force the boy to clean out a particularly nasty cauldron, however, he noticed with some growing alarm that his hands were trembling, although Potter had tried to hide them in the overly large shirt, yet clean shirt Severus had given him. He hadn't shrunk the shirt in case of Potter's wounds reopening.
"Sit down Potter." He told the boy firmly.
"No! Why would I? You'll just drug me up with a potion again!" Potters voice was trembling. Severus sighed. Why did the most ironic things always have to occur to him?
"Sit down Potter. You are obviously suffering from malnutrition and in pain. I will not, as you said previously, 'drug you' again, nor will I harm you while you reside in my house. Now sit!" Potter stayed standing for another moment, looking so very lost and small before him, before sitting stiffly in the firm wooden chair.
…..
Harry felt so very lost. He didn't know what to do. He had just thrown a spoon at Snape of all people, and immediately after doing so, his hands started shaking. Not in anger, like they normally would when Snape had upset him, but in uncontrolled fear. Harry knew that this reaction wasn't normal, not normal at all. Although, what in his life was ever normal? Harry blinked back tears that were threatening to escape. That was the reason everyone hated him, he was too different, even in the wizarding world, no, especially, in the wizarding world, all because he did something he didn't remember doing.
"Potter, We need to talk about the remainder of your stay here." Snape told him, sitting in the chair across the table from him. Harry tensed and stared down at his hands. Was Snape going to send him back to the Dursleys? Could he ask Professor Snape to drop him off at the Weasleys or the Grangers? Could he just go to Hogwarts early?
"I have decided that you should stay with me for the rest of the summer holidays." Harry looked up at this. He wasn't sure how he felt about this. It was probably better than the Dursleys, but who knew when it came to Snape?
"Alright." He said quietly.
"We will need to discuss the rules while you reside here." Snape continued after a nod to Harry. Harry looked at Professor Snape nervously. What if Harry broke the rules?
"Firstly, you will eat three meals a day and any potions that I determine are needed to increase your weight." What? This was something Harry hadn't expected. Professor Snape continued.
"Secondly, you will finish your summer schoolwork, as I assume you have been limited to doing very little. After you have finished your schoolwork, I will check it over. If only to spare the other professors suffering from your idiocy." Harry felt a dual sparks of anger and shame. Harry wasn't an idiot. He just never really worked up to his true potential and he knew it. At first it was Dudley, who told Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon that Harry cheated or stole his homework from him whenever Harry did better than him. Even though it was pretty obvious that Harry was the victim of Dudley, they always believed him, no matter what. Then it was Ron. For the first time in his life, he could have friends, do well in school, with no repercussions from anyone, except after his first transfiguration essay was handed back in, Harry had gotten very close to a perfect score. Ron had become very stiff towards him, and as Harry never had another friend before, he didn't want to ruin the first friendship he'd ever had. Harry once again dumbed down his homework, and once again felt like the only chance in his world to do something with himself, was gone. Harry viciously stamped down the need to explain, the need to snap back at Snape.
"Thirdly, you are to listen to what I say, and follow my instruction. If you fail to follow me or these guidelines, there will be consequences." Harry shivered at that ominous warning. He didn't think that Snape would hurt him, but he had no illusions to the kinds of punishment Snape would give him. All in all, the rules weren't horrible. Yes, Harry was worried about what sort of things Snape would ask him to do, but there was only three weeks left of summer, and Snape couldn't possibly be worse than the Dursley's. Harry took a deep breath.
"Alright."