Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Chapter 6: Unwelcome Visit

Harry didn't know how long he worked on his homework before Tina came for him. He was working on his Herbology essay when she came to tell him that Snape wanted to see him in the study. He wondered for a moment what would happen if he refused to go down, but thought better of it when he noticed how nervous Tina was. No since in scaring the poor house elf any more by having her tell Snape that he wasn't coming.

Harry stood in the doorway trying to decide if he should knock or just go in when suddenly Snape spoke up.

"Get in here and sit down, Potter." Snape said coldly, not looking up from the parchment he was reading and occasionally marking.

Harry slowly made his way to the chair in front of the desk, trying to figure out what he had done wrong now. It was obvious that Snape was mad at someone. Harry decided that furious was a better word after looking at Snape's face as he looked up at Harry.

"We are to have a guest later tonight." Severus said with a sneer. "Professor Dumbledore will be coming to check on you. As if I didn't have enough to put up with having you here, now I have to deal with him. You will be civil to him while he is here and not give him reason to worry. Neither of us wants you here, but we all must tolerate unpleasant things during this war. He has enough to worry about without you adding to it. Is that understood, Potter?"

Harry was to angry about what Snape had said, plus finding out he has to face Dumbledore when he was still mad at him for making him come stay with Snape, that he could only nod his head. That wasn't enough for Snape though.

"Answer me, Potter." Severus said in a low, dangerous voice.

"Yes, sir." Harry snapped, giving him a mutinous glare.

"I'll send Tina for you when he gets here. Now, get out." Severus said coldly, going back to the papers on his desk.

Harry got up and left as quickly as he could, fuming the entire way back to the room he was staying in. He threw himself onto the bed and glared at the wall.

Why do I have to stay here? It is much worse here then at the Dursley's. If that were possible. At least at the Dursley's they left me alone for the most part. Harry thought.

Deciding to try and get his mind off of thoughts of Snape, Harry got up and went back to working on his essay for Herbology. He didn't know how long he worked on it before Tina came back to get him. He was reading it through when she came in.

"Master Snape is wanting you in the study now, Master Potter." Tina said softly, not wanting to disturb him but not having much choice.

"I'll be down in a minute, Tina." Harry said, still reading his essay.

"Please be hurrying, Master Potter." Tina said anxiously.

"Alright, I'm going!" Harry snapped, scaring the house elf so that she fled from him. Sighing, he decided he better apologize to her later. He got up and slowly went downstairs. He really wasn't ready for this. He still blamed Snape for Sirius's death. Even if what Dumbledore told him was true, he couldn't bring himself to think Snape capable of helping anyone. Especially Sirius. Even if he was part of the Order, that didn't mean he was on their side. He could be spying for Voldemort. Except that Dumbledore trusted him. Even if he wouldn't say why. And he was still upset at Dumbledore too. He never tells him anything about what was going on. Even though it has to do with Harry most of the time. Dumbledore was always defending Snape. Even when he had been taunting Sirius. Thinking about all of that on his way down hadn't helped. Now he was even madder then he had been before.

As he got closer to the door of the study he knew why Tina had been so worried. Snape was arguing in his most lethal voice. The one that made any student want to run as far and fast from him as they could. Harry decided to hang back and wait for him to calm down before venturing in. He could here them arguing.

"There has to be somewhere else the boy can stay. It doesn't have to be here." Severus growled. Harry could here the sneer in his voice.

"You know my reason's for this, Severus. You are the only one, beside myself, that can teach him. I can only take him so far in it. It wouldn't be enough. You are the better choice for this." Dumbledore said in a quiet, reassuring voice.

"And what am I supposed to do when Lucius stops over to check up on me? You know that the Dark Lord sends him to check up on me every once in a while. You also know he's not happy about the wards on the house. If he finds out that Potter is here he will expect me to bring him to him. You know what happens when I refuse him anything. It would be much worse if I was to refuse him the one thing he has been trying to get for years now." Severus said savagely.

"You can handle this. I have every faith in you. I trust you to keep Harry safe. I regret sending you into that situation. It can't be helped and I can only hope that you make it back safely and alive. Severus, you know I wouldn't ask it of you if there was anyone else." Dumbledore said calmly.

They were quite for sometime and Harry couldn't decide if he should go in or not. Before he could decide, it was decided for him.

"Potter, quit lurking out there and get in here." Severus snapped.

Harry reluctantly walked in keeping his eyes on the floor. He was still mad at Dumbledore for making him stay with Snape. And he never liked being in the presence of Snape for any reason.

"Ahh…Harry my boy! How are you?" Dumbledore said with a slight twinkle in his eyes.

"Hello, Professor Dumbledore. I'm alright I guess." Harry said without looking up.

"Good. I'm sure you'll be fine here. I just wanted to make sure you were settling in alright before I leave on a little trip." Dumbledore said, smiling at Harry.

Harry didn't know what to do. One part of him wanted to start yelling at him for making him stay here, but another part wanted to ask what was happening in the Order. He settled on looking at the floor and trying not to say anything. He could feel Snape's watching him and it wasn't helping him feel any better. He shifted uneasily on his feet waiting for someone to say something. Unfortunately, it was Snape that was the first to say anything.

"Speak up, Potter." Severus snapped.

Harry glanced up at him. He could see that Snape was still mad by the cold look on his face. He quickly looked back at the floor before speaking to Dumbledore. He was still to upset at him and couldn't bring himself to look at him.

"Well…Professor Dumbledore. I was wondering why I have to stay here and not at the Dursley's. I thought I had to stay with them for the protection over the summer." Harry said, glancing uneasily at Snape who just glared back at him.

"Ah, well, yes Harry. You do have to learn Occlumency. It would be best if you learned it before the new school year. There are enough wards on this house to be safe for you. I have added a few, plus the ones that Professor Snape added. You are safe enough here, I assure you. You must do what Professor Snape tells you though." Dumbledore said.

This only made Harry angrier. How could Dumbledore stand so calmly when he knew that Snape and himself hated eachother so much? He couldn't take it anymore. Everyone kept telling him what to do; thinking it was best for him, but never asked what he thought. Harry finally looked up at Dumbledore, glaring angrily at him.

"I don't want to stay here, Professor! I would rather stay at the Dursley's! How could you make me stay here with Snape! I can't stand it here with him! I want to go back to the Dursley's!" Harry said angrily, his voice raising as he spoke.

Severus, already mad, wasn't gonna listen to Harry yell at the only one that seemed to care what actually happened to him. Dumbledore grabbed his arm so he couldn't go towards Harry. Harry, noticing the slight movement, glared at Snape.

"Potter, you will show respect in my house. I won't tolerate any of your insolence. Professor Dumbledore is the only one at the moment willing to help you." Severus said savagely, pulling his arm from Dumbledore's grip.

"It's alright, Severus. He has a right to be angry. Don't be so harsh with him. He has been through a lot recently." Dumbledore said quietly.

"I will not baby him while he is here. He gets enough of that at school. I won't tolerate any childish displays." Severus said angrily.

"It's alright, Severus." Dumbledore said softly. "Harry, I know you are upset. I know blame Professor Snape and myself what happened at the Ministry. You also know that Professor Snape did what he could to stop it. Noone could have kept Sirius from going. He wouldn't leave you there on your own. He had to go help you. It was too much for him to think about losing you after he lost your father. I know it seemed cruel to keep Sirius locked in his house, but it was the only way I could think of keeping him safe. He knew this and accepted it. Nothing that Professor Snape said made go. He wouldn't let that get to him. I am sorry, Harry. I know how hard it is on you to have lost your Godfather after just finding him." Dumbledore said sadly, looking directly at Harry.

Harry knew that what Dumbledore said was true, but he was still mad. More at himself then anyone else, but he wasn't gonna let them know that.

"I won't stay here, sir! I can't stay here! I want to go back! I'll find a way back if you won't take me!" Harry said heatedly.

Severus took a step closer to Harry and glared at him. There was such a look of fury on his face that Harry involuntarily took a step back. He remember that look all too well from when he been caught looking in the Pensieve.

"I assure you, Potter, I like the idea even less then you do. I also assure you that if I catch you trying to run off there will be…. dire consequences. I will not allow you to ruin everything what we have all worked so hard to accomplish this far. The rules were set for your own protection, even if you don't like them. I know how hard it is for you to follow rules and have no problem with helping you learn how to. If you have a problem you will let me know about it, even though I know it isn't in you to ask for help. You think you can fix everything yourself without regard or care of the results. You will learn how to curb these tendencies while you are here. If you can't I'll find away to…. help you learn. Do I make myself clear, Potter?" Severus said coldly, his lips barely moving.

Harry knew Snape was furious, but he didn't care. He was to full of rage to answer and just glared at him.

"Answer me, Potter." Severus said a deadly quit voice.

"Severus, that is enough." Dumbledore said in a warning voice.

Severus turned on Dumbledore; "You are the one that forced this on us both. If he is to stay here he will learn to obey the rules or suffer the consequences. He will learn to control his emotions or there will be consequences. He has to learn or he'll never learn Occlumency. You know that. You knew before you forced him on me that I wouldn't tolerate any of his foolishness. He will follow the rules until he leaves. I assure you I am very much looking forward to that day. If you can't handle knowing that, I suggest you find somewhere else for him to stay. I would not object." Severus said softly.

"Alright Severus. But you must not be too harsh with him. Remember what he has been through in the last few years. Promise me this and it will be enough." Dumbledore said sadly, looking at Harry.

With a slight nod, Severus turned back to Harry.

"I'm still waiting for an answer, Potter." Severus said coldly.

"Yes, sir." Harry said through clenched teeth. He could tell that Dumbledore wasn't happy with the way that Snape was treating him, but he was still making him stay here. This only made him madder. He was to upset and in his own thoughts that he didn't hear what Dumledore said.

"Potter!" Severus said sharply, pulling Harry from his thoughts.

"Harry, I must be going. I'll stop by again to see how you are doing." Dumbledore said, giving him a searching look. "You'll be okay, Harry."

"Yes, sir." Harry said softly, just wanting to get away.

"Potter, you will wait here." Severus said, then went out the door without waiting for an answer.

"I truly am sorry, Harry." Dumbledore said softly then followed Severus out the door.

A few minutes later Severus came back in. He went over to the desk and sat down without even looking at Harry. He picked up a paper from the pile on the desk and started writing. Harry, not sure of what to do, stood nervously were he was. He wanted to leave but wasn't sure if Snape would let him. After a few minutes of silence, Harry decided to see if he could leave.

"Professor?" Harry said quietly.

"You may go. You will be down for dinner and I expect you to have gotten your emotions in check." Severus said without looking up.

"Yes, sir." Harry said turning to leave.

That night at dinner, Harry just picked at his food. He wasn't hungry and he was still a little upset about earlier. He wouldn't let it show though so that Snape wouldn't have a reason to yell at him anymore. He couldn't handle anymore of that tonight. After a while, Severus got tired of the way that Potter kept playing with the food on his plate.

"Potter, if your not gonna eat kindly remove yourself from my presence." Severus snapped at him.

"Yes, sir." Harry said, getting up to leave. At the door Snape stopped him.

"Potter." He said.

"Yes, sir?" Harry said, stopping but not turning.

"Make sure you clear your mind before going to sleep. I shall know if you don't." Severus said silkily.

"Yes, sir." Harry said, then continued on his way out.

Severus watched him leave, then sighing, he got up and started for his lab. Tina stopped him at the door of the study.

"Are you okay, Master Snape?" she inquired.

"I'm alright, Tina." Severus said, trying to ease the little house elf's mind. She worried about him too much as it was without adding more for her to worry about.

"He's really not like his father, sir. He reminds me a little of you when you where younger. Angry at the whole world. Not that you both don't have your reason's. I know how much your brother's betrayal hurt you, but I don't think you should take it out on his son. You'll have to forgive him sometime. It isn't good for you to always be angry, Master Snape. It isn't healthy." Tina said, looking at Severus sadly.

"I know, Tina. I'm sorry, I know it is hard on you too. You're the only one that has always been there. I guess the least I can do is try for you. I'm not guaranteeing anything though." Severus said with a small smile. He really hated upsetting Tina. She was the only one that kept him sane at times. She was also the only one that could get away with talking to him like that. Tina smiled at him, then left to go clean up the dining room. Severus watched her leave, then went to his lab to work on his potions. He needed to relax before going to bed.

Harry went upstairs and layed down on the bed. He kept running what he had heard Snape and Dumbledore talking about before he went in. He couldn't figure out why Dumbledore said that Snape was the only other one that he could stay with. He wouldn't let him stay with the Weasley's because he had to have the protection from his mother's sacrifice. Why was it he could stay here without messing up that protection and not at the Weasley's? He didn't know how long he laid there, but it was dark before he even realized it. Deciding to try and get to sleep, he tried to clear his mind. It was hard because he couldn't get the questions from running through his mind. He finally fell asleep with images of Snape and Dumbledore's argument running through his mind.

Xoxoxo

I'm sorry this took longer to get out then I had planned. I hope you like it. I have finally told you the relationship between Severus and James. I'll tell you how Petunia knows him soon. Harry will find out soon. I'll let you know the betrayal that Tina was talking about too. And I'll explain why Severus and James have different last names too. I know that Tina seems to be very familiar with Severus, the way she talks to him. She is sort of motherly to him. She was the one that always helped after everything his father did to him. Never fear, all will be revealed. Well, I better go so that I can post this.

Thanx for all the reviews. Keep them coming. They are a great help. I'll try to update again soon.

Rhi