Hey, sorry for the long wait, but here is the next update!

Chapter 6.

Severus had finally gotten Potter settled in. It had taken a while to clean up the old spare bedroom, but Potter had seemed quite amenable to sleeping on the couch until the room was better. Severus had given the boy a chore list of fairly simple chores, as he didn't want the boy to strain himself while still recovering, and Potter kept up with the chores fairly well.

In the last two days of living with Potter, Severus had seen a pattern. Potter had been tiptoeing around him and flinching at every little thing. Severus knew that Potter wasn't one to flinch and it was almost depressing to watch the light leaving Potter's eyes every time the boy flinched. Severus almost shouted at the boy when he flinched at a bloody fucking fly, although he was proud to note that he had suppressed that particular urge. The other pattern was that Severus woke at least three times during the night's during Potter's night terrors. Severus was unsure how to help the boy though. He could always introduce a mind healer to the boy, however, it would take a very long time, if not impossible to find one that was not interested in the boy's famous status. During Potters night terrors, Severus always had no other way to wake the boy up other than calling out his name. This was absolutely true in every possible way. Severus had tried to dump a bucket of freezing water, the reviving spell rennervate hadn't even worked. The first night Severus had given the boy a dreamless sleep potion and Potter still had nightmares, it was ridiculous how awful the boy's nightmares were. Severus sighed and wondered what he would do about Potter.

…..

Harry was lying on his new bed right before Snape's appointed bedtime, in a modest but clean bedroom in Snape's old house, hating that Vernon had messed him up so much. Harry realized that he flinched. A lot. He flinched at loud noises. He flinched at unexpected motions. One day he flinched at a bloody fly passing by him unexpectedly. The worst part wasn't even that he knew that it wasn't normal, knowing that it hadn't happened before this summer, it was that Snape knew. Harry knew that it sounded really trivial and whiny, but it sucked that Snape, who, granted was not evil and wasn't responsible for trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone, but who had the entire previous school year, been consistently cruel to Harry. Snape had noticed that Harry flinched and had said snide comments to him, every single time. Flinching at the fly had been the worst part. Harry genuinely thought that Snape was going to yell at him or hit him. Harry didn't know how he was going to survive the rest of this horrible summer. Another problem was the nightmares. They were so vivid that every one he had, he screamed, and Snape got up and woke him up every single time. It was almost strange how Snape woke him up and was almost gentle with him for the aftermath. Harry sighed and sent away the rest of his dower thoughts about this summer. Harry got dressed into his pyjamas and slid under the warm sheets, preparing for a new bout of nightmares. Harry wondered if he could just stay awake forever, but he knew that was impossible as he slipped into a deep sleep.

Uncle Vernon with a nasty smile and a belt in his left hand, piggy eyes glittering maliciously suddenly turned into his Dad

"You betrayed us!" James's voice sounded exactly like Uncle Vernon's had. Harry felt his throat closing up and tried to say something as fear enclosed his heart with a tight fist. This was different from the other nightmares. He never had dreams about his parents, only Uncle Vernon.

"No, I didn't, Dad, you have to believe me!"

James Potter raised the belt in his hand, with a hateful grin on his face

You killed your Mother and I!" Harry gulped and tried to scramble back in the dream. He hadn't killed his parents, he hadn't! It had been Voldemort!

"No! I didn't, I swear, Dad!"

"Harry!" Harry gulped, that hadn't sounded like Uncle Vernon or this strange version of his Dad. Would this new character become his mum?

"Please don't!" Harry shouted, and to his great relief, the dream dissipated as someone called his name again and Harry snapped from his dream and sat up in his bed abruptly. Snape had been shaking his shoulders, Harry flinched, scrambled back and promptly fell off the bed. Harry groaned as his injuries on his back were strained.

"Ouch" Harry muttered and sat up, gingerly rubbing his shoulder. Harry looked up at Snape to apologize, and stared. Snape was wearing muggle pyjamas. It was strange to see his stern potions master wearing anything but wizarding gear. Snape raised a sardonic eyebrow.

"Awake now, Potter?" Harry flinched and nodded. To his great horror, he felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes, he was NOT going to cry in front of Snape, he was not going to be more pathetic than he already was.

"He turned into my Dad this time." Harry said quietly. He didn't know what made him say it, but he did. At Snapes sharp intake of breath, Harry continued.

"I dunno why though, I don't even have any real memories of him, I only know him by sight because of the pictures Hagrid gave me of my Mum and Dad at the end of school last year." Harry decided to leave out seeing his parents in the Mirror of Erised.

"You have pictures of Lily?" Snape's voice surprised him, Harry looked up.

"Yeah, I have a book of pictures that Hagrid gave to me." A question popped up into his mind. "Hey, did you know my parents? Were you one of their teachers?" As Harry finished asking this last part, Snape choked.

…..

Early apology: Sorry, school is starting up again for me, so the updates might end up being a bit scarce for a while.