*walks in with a warm mug of coffee, takes up usual seat in front of the fireplace, Snape charms it to have a lovely warm blaze* Weather's more manageable, but the cold is simply wicked. hee hee.

*Snape breathes in the aroma from his mystery coffee* *pouts* he won't tell me what he put inside! *waaahs*

Anyhow, let's start and see what happens today, eh?

Ch8, *hits play*

________________

"Stop scowling, Potter, and instead put that energy into your rather unsatisfactory hearing efforts," Snape growled, his mind in the same time racing as to how he could facilitate this task for the boy somewhat more. Much as he hated making anything easy for Harry Potter, he was well aware that what he was asking of the teenager was far from easy. He had been rather surprised to see Harry able to dodge the two rubber balls so soon.

But time was flying. He needed the boy to have his wand back within the week, if not today. But now he had told Potter that this would not happen unless all three balls were dodged-- which would be in Snape's opinion sufficient proof of the boy's awareness and ability not to freeze solid should he find himself with nothing but his 4 senses to help him in a situation. Harry groaned, then took two or three deep breaths, muttering to himself 'let my senses guide me... relax... god, relax already...'.

Snape nodded to himself and clicked his tongue, his usual signal to get Harry's attention during sessions.

"Right, Potter, if you are done with the self-admonishing, listen to this for a while. I am not going to throw the balls at you for a few seconds. Just stand where you are and listen to all three of them. Or is that too much to ask?" he drawled, to ensure the boy's stubborness would also kick in and help the concentration. The determined clench of teeth satisfied the Potions Master enough.

"Alright. Listen up." he said and started to throw the balls across and back, letting them ring in the silence, allowing the sound to soak into the boy's awareness as well as get some of the tension that the werewolf had spoken to him about out. Of course he'd never admit to Lupin that he had taken his pointer seriously...

Harry listened to the sound the three balls were making, to the three almost identical, yet somewhat sublty different rings they were making, and pictured their trajectories from Snape's hands and back in his mind, all the time breathing evenly, and relaxing as much as he could muster it. 4 days after Remus' walk with him, he had made little progress, managing to dodge the third ball only once or twice.

When one ball moved towards him as he was thinking and listening, Harry stepped to the side, instinctively ducking to let the second one's sound pass him by, then turning to the left for the third one, then jump again forward to avoid the returning one...

... it took Potter about 5 minutes to realise that he had finally done it. It was one of the rare times that Snape felt like hopping to the sound of the victory dance and saying 'Yes!'. That much was his satisfaction at seeing Potter's fluidity and insticts now that the boy was not given the heads up when he suddenly started to throw the balls at him again.

The bloody werewolf had been correct!

Harry's whoops of delight brought the Potions Master to proper levels of guarded approval again, and he banished the balls, patiently waiting out for about a minute of Potter's antics at his realisation that he had conquered one of the hardest milestones he'd ever have to conquer in his training.

"Are you done cheering, Potter?"

The boy turned to face the tall dark man, and grinning he approached, following the sound of the Potion Master's voice, hand out as if waiting to receive. Snape arched an eyebrow. He knew that this was about the wand, but he felt still reluctant to relinquish it to the boy. Not because he particularly liked witholding it from him, but because he still felt slightly not reassured about whether Harry was ready to handle magic to the full extend that he had had before. Snape was a man that always doublechecked.

He snorted to Harry's face, and said lazily at the boy's quickly fading smile:

"Are you groping for something in particular, perhaps?"

Harry frowned and said in a very controlled and guarded voice:

"My wand, Snape. I want it. I dodged the balls; I did whatever you wanted all this time. Now I want my wand back."

"Whatever happened to 'Professor' Snape? Do you think you will attain your goal with rudeness?" Snape drawled and crossed his arms as Harry approached even more, the realisation that perhaps Snape would not give him back his wand after all creeping in and clutching at his heart like a cold, wraithish hand.

He took in a deep breath, his eyes darkening with the witheld anger, and said in the voice he had always used in class when he was burning to tell Snape off and didn't in fear of him deducting points:

"Please, Professor Snape, I would like my wand back."

Snape grinned in murthless amusement. The experiment had taken form in his mind and was already taking place.

"No." he purred, playfully almost. Harry's fist clenched.

"You promised."

"I never recall pledging anything to you." Snape watched the boy with interest, wondering how the young Gryffindor would possibly convince him to relinquish something he was not sure he was ready for yet.

"You must give it to me." Harry's unmoving eyes stared through the potions master's chest, sparkling with the formation of a plan as well as seething anger. Snape stood his ground and tapped his fingers on his other arm as they were crossed.

"There is nothing I 'must' do for you, Potter."

"Oh, but there is, Professor Snape. You really must give me back my wand..." Harry smiled snakishly, his green eyes like a cobra's, losing in their mesmerising capabilities only because they could not focus on the target.

Snape smirked to himself.

"Kindly explain to m--"

He noticed how close Harry had suddenly, soundlessly come up to him too late. The boy's hands snaked at the hand that was tapping on his other arm, and lightning fast had found the wand holster up Snape's sleeve--

-- and the Potion Master's wand was in Harry's hands.

Harry grinned to himself, tilting his head as he jumped backwards, pointing the wand at Snape and putting him in a body bind before he had a chance to move away. The whole thing had taken place in less that 5 seconds.

Snape was enormously angry but in the same time enormously pleased, and barely caught Harry's words through his thoughts of how accomplished Harry had become, and how this warmed his usually cold heart-- or perhaps it was the white hot anger at being thus treated by a student that was contributing to the tingly feeling.

"... do you see my point now, professor Snape?" Harry was saying in much the same drawl as Snape himself.

Snape gritted his teeth and growled for Harry's satisfaction more than his own externalisation of feelings.

"You are enormously lucky even for a Gryffindor that it is summer, Potter, or your house would not make it to last place in the next decade from the points I would take off. How monstrously despicable to attack a professor! Your cheek has gone too far!" he shouted at Harry, safely feeling that his voice did not imply his face's real expression. Harry was almost scowling by the end of his words, whereupon Snape stopped shouting as suddenly as he had begun and said in his matter-of-fact voice:

"And you will find your wand waiting for you on your bed in your room, of course. How idiotic to believe that I would be keeping it on me. Now release me or I -will- assign detention on you regardess the summer break."

***

Harry found that he loved his wand more than he did his broom, and he still worshipped his broom. But his wand gave him what he had been afraid he would never re-gain.

Freedom.

It was much more than just holding it so it would lead him to places, allowing him not to count the steps, to pay attention to details, to sounds, to enjoy the subtle changes in the wind without being afraid he was about to go splat into a wall. He felt protected-- his success with Snape had given him back more of his confidence than dodging the three balls did. He was so glad that he had achieved this unexpected level of skill that he wasn't sure he hated the grumpy, greasy git anymore-- of course he could expect nothing than chides and rudeness from him, but -- he had trained him, after all. He had prodded him to go on and on and on beyond what he thought were his limits, and indeed the one moment Harry recalled he was really about to shatter to pieces that would forever be lost, hadn't the man picked him up and tried to support him, even in his crude, unpracticed manners?

Harry smiled to himself. It was with that smile that Minerva McGonagall saw Harry enter in Dumbledore's office, sure-footed and (merlin!) confident as he had always been. The Head of Gryffindor house allowed her glance to trail down to Harry's right hand, the wand hand, that was bandaged still, implying the scarred, fragile tissue beneath. She marvelled at the strength the boy displayed. And in the same time she felt ashamed that her eyes were red-rimmed and that her heart had up to now burned with sorrow and dispair.

"Hello, Harry." she said in her uptight manner and Harry turned his slightly upturned face towards her. His eyes looked off a little to the right, but they were bright and charming as ever. The boy was leaner, she noticed, much more exercised than she expected his thin frame to be able to become, and he had grown somewhat taller-- or perhaps he just didn't hunch anymore. His face had the stamp of strain and pain and all the emotions that, like hammer and anvil on metal, shape the soul into a masterpiece.

She marvelled.

Harry smiled and nodded to her once, lowering his wand.

"Professor McGonagall. I'm glad to meet you."

Dumbledore was bursting with pride and did not dare think what this year would yield. He said happily, eyes twinkling:

"Harry, Professor McGonagall has returned somewhat earlier to Hogwarts-- she will help you with the parameters of studying and writing and being able to cope in classes. Although professor Flitwick is the Charms professor, I do think that you and Minerva will have more fun."

Dumbledore nodded to McGonagall who cleared her throat and picked up a couple of letters.

"We will start promptly, Harry, with ways to read from letters and books; and none too soon, for you have mail, from Miss Granger and Mr Weasley, as I see here."

Harry blanched and his colour left him. He had forgotten about his friends and the fact that they were oblivious to his new status and predicament. What was he supposed to do, what was he supposed to say? Would Ron treat him like an invalid, would Hermione burst into tears? Would they regard him as someone dangerous or weak, would they forget Harry and treat him as someone completely different?

Dumbledore went over to Harry and touched his shoulder again. Again the soothing effect helped Harry straighten up.

"As of yet, Mr Weasley and Miss Granger do not know anything else than the fact you are now staying in Hogwarts instead of Surrey. I felt it was up to your discretion to let them know and in which way to let them know."

Harry bit his lip and shifted his weight. Passing his hand through his hair, he said softly:

"I... am not sure what I should tell them... and what... will happen."

Dumbledore nodded to himself and thought for a while. Then he smiled.

"I do believe that your birthday is coming up in a week or so. It is only fitting to have a small party. Of course professor McGonagall is going to help you keep up your correspondence until you are free to do it on your own. It will be up to you to let your friends know on your birthday, or before that."

***

"What do I do, Remus? I mean, I... would hate to hear pity in their voice. I don't want them to mourn as if I am dead, and I know that they will." Harry was pacing in his room, unheeded, as if sighted-- he knew his quarters so well by now there was no need to focus on where his subconscious would direct his body.

"You can't avoid their initial reactions, Harry. They will be sad, and they will be angry as you had been, but then they will see that it is not any kind of end, just like you did." Remus said, shivering inwardly thinking about Sirius. He wondered if Harry had yet thought about his fugitive godfather and his countenance towards anyone that even thought of harming Harry.

"I guess...," Harry swallowed and took a deep breath as he went to the writing desk and sat there. He pulled out a piece of parchment and felt around until he was certain it was smooth and open on the page. He took out his wand and elegantly flicked it over.

"Scribulus." he ordered and started to dictate as ink seeped into words on the surface:

"Dear Ron,

I did not answer immediately because I had to think about what I have to tell you, and how to tell you. I have good news and bad news. I'll start off with the bad. I beg you to finish the letter and also get to the good ones, alright?

You will probably see that this letter is not in my handwriting. That is because I am dictating it with a charm McGonagall taught me. There is no gentle way I can think of putting this, so I'll just say it right out: I am blind, Ron. I don't want to tell you how, so don't bother asking, but I am blind. These are the bad news.

Now for the good news: I get never to go back to the Dursleys. I am already getting a lot of help from everyone -- even Snape! You wouldn't believe this, but rude git that he is, he is the one that trained me to be able to move freely around and be aware of stuff and all. Dumbledore never lets me lose hope, either, and McGonagall is teaching me how to cope in class, which is kid's stuff compared to Snape's sessions, believe me.

More good news: Our DADA professor will be professor Lupin! He has been here with me from the start and he will stay to teach this year, too. I hear him swallow and sniffle as I am dictating this to you. I bet he's all mushy right now." Harry smiled softly, warmly as he paused a little to hear Remus better, who indeed was doing his best not to let his emotions get the best of him, while hearing Harry compose his letter. He didn't know if he felt pride, or sorrow, or anger or all three in the same time. Harry continued.

"Even more good news: I get to have a real birthday party here in Hogwarts for my birthday, and you are all invited. Dumbledore wouldn't have it otherwise, and I miss you too. Please come, and please don't be sad about me. I am not.

see you soon,

Harry"

Harry terminated the charm of the ink writing, duplicated and folded the two identical letters. He adressed one to Ron and another to Hermione. He swallowed and sighed, thinking.

"I miss Hedwig, Remus. Do you think they might have sent the letters off with her?" he asked, still not entirely happy that he had not been the one receiving the letters first hand.

"She is in the owlery, waiting to be called." Remus smiled softly as he saw the way Harry's expression lit up and he got up, pointed his wand to the door and said: "Directa Owlery."

Remus smiled softly, to himself, sitting in the now empty room of Harry's. He shut his eyes and leaned back, and found that truly, in this room, there was peace along with the pain he was helping his friend's son fight against.

He only hoped that in the end, there would only be peace left.

__________________

One more chapter to go before September 1, Sirius Black and Rita Skeeter! Wooohooo!

*Snape bristles and prepares deadly means*

*shrieks* TWO HUNDRED REVIEWS! I love you! I love you all! You are so wonderful and so encouraging! The delicious long reviews help my finetuning, the short ones egg me on and don't let me go until I have updated! You are the best! Even Snape is tempted to smile, imagine that! *laughs*

white owl: That is rather good! However, summoning is wandless magic, so I think it is safe for Harry to depend on that. Also, I think the whole thing with the balls has probably taught him about distance somewhat. We'll see. If this becomes too fast too soon, tell me.

Angel Baby: hee hee. I hope we all get a taste of 'stealth Harry' in this one. I hope you enjoyed.

candledot: I am hoping to show that. I mean, Voldie smiles a LOT more than Severus. heh.

spacecatdet: VERY good question! And good point! I won't answer, though. heh.

venus4280: I think that the visions are cruel, especially for someone as inherently good as Harry. It doesn't help much unless he sees it as what Snape said it is: leverage against Voldie. I hope you like the characters as they evolve-- they are almost down to what they will more or less be for a while. They can't be identical to canon of course because there is a new variable involved-- Harry's blindness. But it will be very close to that, I am hoping. Hope you liked the chapter.

Kaat Shadow Lover: *shudders at the delicious review in delight* I have seen fanart of sandman's death, but that's all I've seen and know of her. As for Severus, he doesn't want to tell Voldie Harry can see him, no. But he wants to have some nformation that he can't have known to leak, so that suspicious as to who is the spy will be drawn away from his person. More or less. :) Of course, Harry will have to -want- to do that, and at the moment he doesn't even want to discuss it. He acts as if it never happened. He is not sure if he LIKES watching the visions or if he hates it. In short, he's messed up abou tthat. But he'll cope, of course. *grins* trust me. As for more chapters, I will if you are so enthusiastic-- I won't be able to help it! *chuckles*

Melissa Lupin: I have to act as Harry would, and considering, I think he'd tell them now, give them time to roll it around in their heads until his bday, then dread September 1 when all the wizarding world will know. *grins* As for Malfoy, *Snape clamps her mouth* *writes a note: I am not allowed to say yet*

Darkhorse8100: Wait till chapter 9. It will be there, promise. Inquiring Minds can advertise it. hehe.

Tinuviel: I am glad you liked my Marauders little flashback there! *grins* I was fearing that nobody really paid attention to that part. *grins like mad at the review number* I never thought I would be so fueled-- I mean it. I update faster than I thought I could. Ah, the joys of conditioning. hehe.

Koneko Tenshi:*gets cookies, hands you a Snape 'hundred flavour milkshake' it's tested, it's safe, and it's dellllicious. *heh* I am sorry for misspelling your name. I hope I did it right this time.