Yeah, short chapter...but I haven't updated sooner than I wanted, and so I just want to put something up! Yay! I don't own and enjoyyyy :)

Chapter Six-Home Sweet Home

Snarling, Snape made his way towards me.

"Hurry up, I haven't got all day." He snapped. I glared at him, but kept silent.

Turning to the Weasleys and Harry, I promised, "I'll see what I can do about the shopping trip."

Mr. Weasley stood and extended a hand. "Severus."

Snape ignored the hand. "Arthur." He exchanged curtly.

Mr. Weasley lowered his hand and smiled at me. "If there's any trouble at all, write to Molly and I. The Owlery is bound to have owls at the ready."

I nodded, smiling faintly. "I will."

"If we're quite done," Snape snarled. He extended his arm jerkily, and I stared at it in confusion.

He wants me to take it?

Growling with impatience, Snape shook his elbow. I slowly reached out and placed a light hand on his.

CRACK!

The world spun jarringly, my insides squelching with protest, and blurrily, my vision crashed into a grassy ground. I sunk to my knees, holding in bile.

I had done this, once, with Mr. Weasley. The familiar sickening feeling was even worse this time.

"If you're quite done," Snape glowered above me. "Perhaps we will actually make it to the castle some time this week."

I couldn't find the energy at the point to glare, so I got to my feet unsteadily instead. Taking a deep breath, I told myself I wasn't allowed to hate someone I'd literally met only twice.

"Perfect," he said sarcastically, lip curling. This time I really did glare. He spun on his heel and headed for Hogwarts.

O-O

"Hurry up," Snape snapped as I yelped, clutching the staircase as it moved with a sudden swerve. He glided up the stairs as it moved, and I tried to follow.

"Yeah, okay." I muttered under my breath.

Snape turned as the staircase stopped moving, and his black eyes regarded mine coldly. After a pause, he said, "Sir."

"Huh?"

"You will address me as sir," Snape said, glowering. He gestured with his hand for me to hurry up. I was about to retort, but the tip of his wand sliding forward, peeking out of his robe sleeve stopped me. He was armed, I was not. And who knew what he was capable of-so far, I'd seen nothing good about him.

I settled for a frown. "Yes, sir."

I followed him to a gargoyle I'd seen before. We were at Dumbledore's office. Uttering "Lemon Drops", Snape strode to the office, me following.

Dumbledore sat behind the big desk I had seen him sitting behind last time. As usual, he sat with his fingers laced together gently, the blue in his eyes twinkling. I relaxed slightly; I could trust Dumbledore more.

"Well," Snape said impatiently. "I retrieved her."

"Very well," Dumbledore smiled slightly and tilted his head. "But what have you brought her here for, my boy?"

I kicked the ground slightly, hands shoved in my pocket. He doesn't want me, duh.

"What am I to do with her? I merely retrieved her. She may sleep and have her lessons in a House dormitory and Common Room." Snape narrowed his eyes.

Dumbledore looked delighted. He stroked his beard. "Ah, I may have forgotten to tell you. Rowan will be sleeping in your quarters."
"What?" Snape and I said, both horrified. We shot each other identical glares, then looked away furiously. Or, at least, I did.

"Headmaster, I-" Snape spluttered for a moment, then seemed to calm down. "I'm afraid I don't have a guest room."

Dumbledore smiled. "Ah, my boy, I have arranged one for you. It is right next to your sleeping quarters."

Snape looked murderous. He glared at the twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes, and they seemed to have a silent debate. Finally, Snape sat back on his heels, resigned.

"Come," he said curtly to me. Feeling like a dog on a leash not for the first time in the day, I dragged my heels and followed.

O-O

"Is this your office?" I asked curiously.

"Do you ever stop asking questions?"

"Maybe when you answer them," I mumbled moodily.

Snape whipped around, greasy hair hanging off the sides of his hair. He glared at me, eyes so cold I shivered slightly. "Watch. I will not be responsible if you forget how to enter my quarters."

My quarters too, now. I watched him turn to a door next to a bookshelf, black and hidden. "Pickled leeches." The door cracked open and Snape gave it a push, opening it all the way. He held the door open for me impatiently.

Gross. Who had pickled leeches as their password out of all other possible combinations?! Nevertheless I followed.

Inside was walls a dark green, and a big desk in front of a bookshelf lined with bottled vials and books.

It was bigger than I thought. If I craned my neck, I could see a hallway. There were three doors: One mahogany, wooden one that obviously led to a bedroom. Another, with a white door, cracked open to reveal bathroom tiles. One door, facing the mahogany-doored bedroom, sat in a fresh purple, out of place. I heard Snape's sound of disgust as he noticed it. Next to the purple door was another hallway-one with stairs.

"It's bigger than it looks," I looked up at Snape, curiosity getting the better of me. "How?"

"Well," Snape drawled, and I instantly regretted the question. "Perhaps in your years at Hogwarts, something deep will delve into your mind, and you will discover a topic extremely difficult for many-it's called magic."

I huffed. "I was just asking…"

Arching his finger at the door, Snape nodded. "To your room." The purple one, of course. The out-of-place one.

I fingered the strap of my bookbag. "Will I be let out for food and water, sir?" My sarcasm rivaled his, and judging by his narrowed eyes, he knew it.

"Not with that impertinence," he snarled, the nostrils of his hooked nose flaring. Jerking a finger at the door, he glared. "To your room."

I took two deep breaths and obeyed. But as I shut the door, I met his eyes evenly and muttered,"I feel bad for your students."

O-O

It turned out that Dumbledore had been creative enough to put a color pad next to my door. It had a color palette, with a variety of colors-I lifted my finger and tapped the blue. The walls of my room turned blue. I stared.

The walls turned pink. Then it turned green. Then a light golden.

But I couldn't help wanting to fit into this place, just a little. I didn't want to fit out. Slowly, I reached up to the palette, and turned the walls dark green, like the walls in the hallway outside.

I raked my eyes across the room, taking in the furniture. There was a moderately sized bed on it, with a drawer and a lamp sitting next to it like a stereotypical bedroom. On the other side of the wall stood a bookshelf, stretching out across the entire wall. There was one section that had an armchair and a taller lamp. I scraped at the empty air of the bookshelves, but no book magically appeared. There were only two books on the shelf: A Simple Guide to The Magical World and Hogwarts, a History. There was also a chess set, but I scoffed at the thought of Snape playing with me.

The ground was soft. I slid off my boots and let my sock-covered feet sink into the white carpet. Pulling off my backpack, I sat down and opened the flap.

Clothes. Dunkin Donuts receipt. Rope. More clothes. Picture-

Frame.

I traced the edge of the picture. You miss them, don't you? The voice in my head taunted. You want to go back to how it was. At least there you had a sort of home. A little sense of belonging.

Stop! I scrambled over to the drawer and set the picture frame there. The little girl toothily grinned at me. I swallowed.

"Clothes," I murmured. Grappling for the clothes, I folded them neatly and placed them in the drawer by color order. I hadn't brought any dresses Mrs. Mason had gotten for me-everything I brought had been an essential, something durable and needed.

I emptied out the bag, tucked the receipt under the clothes in the drawer, and hooked the bag strap on one of the drawer handles.

Casting a look at the bookshelf, I considered the books.

O-O

There was an impatient knock on the door. Without waiting, it opened. I looked up from the armchair, book in my lap.

Snape raised his eyebrows. "Haven't destroyed the room yet?"

I shut the book, checking the page number before I did. "Not yet," I said cautiously. His tone was calmer, more composed. And I preferred to keep it that way right now.

"Dinner at Hogwarts is normally held in the Great Hall, a place for feasting and school meetings. Tables are divided by House-Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. However, a house elf can be called to bring you food. Twinkie!" Snape raised his voice.

There was a pop, and a creature appeared. A house elf. Twinkie looked like Dobby, but with an apron and a more feministic aura about her. Her floppy ears were tinier and pointed upwards more. She bowed low, nose touching the ground. "Is Professor Snape needing something?"

"Prepare dinner for me. I will be eating on my desk." Snape said curtly.

Twinkie turned her wide eyes at me. "And young Mistress?"

I blinked, unused to the respected title. "I-uh-I'll have the same as him, then." I jerked my head at Snape. He frowned. "In-in my room."

Twinkie bowed again, ears flopping. I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Twinkie is preparing right away! Twinkie will send house-elf for Miss Snape, yes?"

I didn't realize she was speaking to me until a moment later. I started. "Me? Oh-yeah, sure, thanks."

Gasping slightly, Twinkie's eyes grew. "Oh, no, it is Twinkie's job! You is no needing to thanking Twinkie!"
"Er-okay."

There was a pop, and Twinkie vanished. Snape nodded curtly again at the empty space where Twinkie once stood, and turned to me. "I trust you will be able to eat without wreaking havoc. Stay in your room, and leave only when you need the restroom. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," I mumbled, giving a mock salute halfheartedly. He left the room without a backwards glance, and shut the door behind him.

A moment later, a house elf popped up. She was much tinier, but her eyes were huge. With a bow, her skirts touched the ground. "I is prepared Miss Snape's food! Where is Miss wanting her food eat?"

I sighed, and rubbed my temples. "Just call me Rowan, please. And-er-on the drawer, please."

"Yes, Miss Rowan ma'am," The house elf said rapidly. She snapped her fingers quickly, and a tray of steaming food appeared. She set it down on my drawer. "Is there anything Miss Rowan is not liking, she is can calling Minkie and Minkie is changing it right away!"

I smiled slightly. "Thanks, Minkie. But I think I'm good now." I shifted under the covers on my bed She was so eager to please, Minkie. I cast a long look at the door.

"Minkie," I said slowly. "Do you have any urgent work you need to do?"

"No, Miss Rowan ma'am," Minkie answered instantly, but looked a little puzzled.

I nodded, and turned my head to the bookshelf, eyes lighting up at the chess set. "Then...do you want to stay for a while?"

O-O

"Blimey, you're rubbish at this!" My black knight glared up at me furiously, shaking his horse's reins and going nowhere.

I watched the knight buck furiously on the horse amusedly. "Alright, Minkie, lets not play anymore-my chessmen hate me."

"You lost your king in the first five steps!" The queen called up at me furiously. "He's my husband!"

I watched the broken king off the board. "Sorry."

"You should be!" A chorus of broken heads and remaining chess pieces retorted.

Minkie glared at my chessmen. "Miss Snape is trying her bests! And you is not to insulting her!" She snapped her fingers angrily, and suddenly the chessmen were silent. They made a ruckus with their plastic mouths, but no sound came out. I laughed.

"Thanks, Minkie. But you might as well checkmate me." I grinned and motioned to her triumphant queen. "Also, call me Rowan."

Minkie looked unsure as she checkmated me. "Minkie is should be going now. The other house-elves will not approves of Minkie staying with Miss Rowan to play chess."

"Oh, alright," I said, disappointed. I had been feeling quite lonely. Standing, I grabbed the empty tray of food as Minkie snapped her fingers and put the chess back in place. The broken pieces instantly fixed themselves as the chessboard folded.

Minkie took the tray and I watched the chessboard box float over to the bookshelf. She gave a sweeping bow, and brightened. "Minkie must insist that Miss Rowan come to visit us in the kitchens!"

"How?" I said, lighting up.

"Miss Rowan can simply call for a house elf and ask them to bring her to the kitchens! But is you allowed?" Minkie cast a look at the door, as if worried about Snape overhearing.

I shrugged. "I don't really know. I can always sneak out."

Minkie looked frightened at the thought of that. "Oh, but I don't want yous to getting in trouble!"

I smiled. "Don't worry about that. See you soon, then, Minkie."

As Minkie popped away, I headed for the door to use the bathroom. Opening the door, I stepped out into the hall quietly.

The bathroom door opened. Snape raised his eyebrow and shook his head. "Trying to sneak out, are we?" He sneered greasily.

"I just needed the-"

"Is your room not sufficient enough?" Snape continued. "Have you been spending too much time with the Potter brat?"

"I just really need the bathroom, so if you could please move your big greasy nose out of the way, that'd be great!" I exclaimed furiously. Without waiting for an answer, I slid past him to the bathroom and locked the door behind me, heaving breaths.

It was only after I'd closed the door and leaned against it, panting, that I realized I was the world's biggest idiot.

I'd just told him to move his big greasy nose out of the way.

I'd told Snape that.

"You better start planning your funeral, Rowan." I muttered to myself, wringing my hands and opening the tap to run them under refreshing cold water. "You-you'll invite the Masons, Dumbledore, the Weasleys, Harry, and Snape. I'll get a Hogwarts shaped coffin just to humor myself."

I was such an idiot. How was I supposed to calmly go through my years at Hogwarts with this hook-nosed, greasy-haired man breathing down my neck? And after what I'd just told him? He'd probably slaughter me as soon as I stepped outside.

Stupid need to pee. I should have just stayed in my room, after all.

After using the bathroom, I opened the door slowly, relieved to find nobody there. Quickly, I made my way to my bedroom. I was regretting saying that to Snape, but there was no way I'd apologize for it.

There wasn't a clock in my room, but I decided against asking Snape for the time. I read until I felt tired, and slept, curled up in the bed, feeling oddly homesick.

Yeah, short chapter. Sorry!

Sanbeegoldiewhitey-Sorry you're not satisfied :) and yeah, it was pretty weird that Mr. Weasley didn't just beat up Greyback, but it was how I imagined it soooo yeah. Snape's going to make mistakes, like all the other characters. Thanks for reviewing!

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