Disclaimer: I own nothing. All J.K.R
"You really aren't good at that are you Potter?" Severus said snidely as Harry tumbled head first out of his fireplace scattering soot on the marble entryway. As in most pureblood houses of good esteem, Severus possessed a large fireplace especially designed for floo use set in the main entryway to his estate. He had always thought the black marble was a tad ostentatious, but his great-great-grandmother had liked to put on airs of grandeur and had been fond of oppressing decor. Thank god the heavy drapes and dark hunting lodge style wood paneling had been more easily replaced. The remainder of the house was an ode to what Severus wanted most in life, simplicity. Clean lines and rich colors enhanced a bright open manor. Over all, as long as you didn't enter through the monolithic Grand Entrance, the house was beautiful and Severus was proud of it. He could understand Potters shock, however, when he entered the yellow dining room.
'Shit' Harry thought as he inspected the gleaming mahogany furnishings and vase of daffodils almost perfectly matching the walls on the center of the table 'either Snape has really dedicated house elves or the man actually has taste.. Hardly would have thought so from his drab wardrobe'
Snape continued to escort him through bright halls decorated with colorful art until they stopped in front of a portrait of what, no doubt, was a deceased family member. "Welcome to the Severus Snape house for the hopelessly inept and thickheaded. No doubt you will want to partake in the many activities we have to offer, Encroaching on my personal space, Devouring my food, Wasting my time, and Creating more work for my house elves. My my, I do believe you've gotten a bit of a head start with your floo escapades. The password is 'Conium maculatum' no you may not change it."
"Then how am I to keep you out of my rooms?"
"You aren't, this is my house. I might conceed to knock before I enter myroom. However if a burgalur or agressor enters the property you may rest assured that I will not give them the password" he told Potter as he turned away "at least not until they promise not to damage my belongings."
'Well isn't that comforting' Harry thought as he struggled to lift his trunk through the portrait hole 'what the fuck am I doing? I can just levitate the damn thing. What's the use of turning seventeen if I'm not going to use my magic?' laughing at himself he levitated the trunk through the portrait. At this point he probably should have expected a nicely furnished room. That hadn't stopped him from expecting something much less, so he was once again caught by surprise at the sheer beauty of his surroundings. The room was a rich forrest green with white accents, his favorite part being the gargantuan bay window offering a view of the heavely wooded grounds. It even had a deep and comfortable looking window seat 'Perfect for finishing up the last of my homework, it's not as if I'll have anything else to do.'
Which is exactly what Harry did after he put away his belongings. That's how he spent his whole morning, and it was working on consuming his afternoon when a house elf popped up next to him. 'Squeaky is to escort Master Potter to the dining room' the elf said in an alarmingly, well, squeaky voice. Harry was then led dutifully back towards the center of the house and into the yellow dining room that had so appealed to him earlier.
"And I was so hoping you'd trip and break something to keep you from gracing my company" Snape told him in mock sorrow " we will be having sandwhiches and crisps, I know they will not measure up to you previous dining standards, but I am fond of them."
"My previous dining standards consisted of stale crusts thrown into my room through a slot in the door, and then liquids so not to intefere with my healing potions, I'm quite looking forward to actual food" noting Snapes lifted eyebrow he felt compelled to add "oh I'm sorry, are we playing the hostility game again? In that case I'll be sure to insult the man who no doubt was inflicted with my presence nonconcensually and make my stay as unpleasant as possible. Come on Professor, you can surely credit me with some intellegence. I did, after all, make it by my own right into your NEWT level potions class."
"I had meant to ask you about that, what finally pierced through your thick skull and motivated you to take potions seriously last year?"
"I'd like to say it was the realization that academics were important, however it was not so logical. I knew that I was going to have to train with you throughout the year. It would have hardly been beneficial to the experience if I was failing your class. Plus, it was largly motivated by the desire to prove to myself that I could." He replied honestly.
Snape was surprised to hear that any sort of curtesy towards him took place within Potters decision making process. Granted he had noticed a change, he had just figured it was to be attributed to the death of the Mutt. It was almost pathetic that a seventeen year old boy displayed a greater level of maturity then he himself did. Oh well, the boy is still ridiculous.
"Thank you by the way." At Snapes questioning glance he was forced to expand " for allowing me to stay here, for training me last year, for saving my life on numerous occasions" Harry swiped at his hair in frustration " just.. thanks for being the one person who helped me be ready for Voldermort instead of just expecting it of me"
"At the end of last year I hardly would have called you ready to face Voldermort, you never mastered occlumency, tripped over your feet routinely while dueling, and had developed no resistance to Veritaserum". Snape stated over his growing protestations "However during the final battle you more then proved your merit so my effort was not totally for waste"
"I wonder if you could even give a compliment that wasn't backhanded"
"Most likely not. Thank Merlin I've never felt the need to try."