A/N: Thanks as always to witherwings1972 my friend and beta, ithout whom this story would not be what it is.

Chapter ten

Snape's demand

Severus snape had been working all afternoon on the Wolfsbane potion. It was almost full moon and Lupin needed a fresh supply. Dumbledore had asked him

to continue making it, as if I didnt' have enough to do, snape thought.

He was putting his things away when his mind again returned to Harry.

Snape had always thought of him as a spoiled, pampered brat, indulged by his relatives as

well as by Dumbledore, but there were clearly things in the boy's past he didn't want disclosed. Snape knew what it was to have horrible things in your

past that you didn't want anyone to see. Clearly Harry didn't trust him and that wasn't going to help things when it came to Occlumency. He knew that he hadn't made it easy for the boy to trust him, having gone out of his way to make Potter's life miserable since he arrived at Hogwarts. Severus wasn't sure if this was something he wanted to get involved in, wasn't sure even if he could help Harry. He had hated James after all, could he put all that aside? If he was going to be honest with himself, he just didn't know. Did the boy even need help? Severus had to do something about this. He wasn't going to let this boy open old wounds or play with his head.

Coming to a decision he hurried out of his potions lab and into his sittingroom. Taking some powder he threw it into the flames and flooed to Dumbledore's office.

"Severus, this is a surprise," Dumbledore said, looking up from the parchment he was reading, "Sit down my boy. Have a drink with me." Dumbledore conjured

two glasses and a bottle of rich red wine. The bottle filled the glasses before floating over to a shelf and settling itself. The glasses went into Snape

and Dumbledore's hands and they each took a sip.

"I imagine there's a reason for you arriving in my office in this unexpected way," Dumbledore asked curiously, "It's not every day I see you here." Snape

shook his head, uncertain how to say what was on his mind. Rising to his feet, he went over to the window and stared out for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

When he came up here he hadn't been sure what he was going to do but he knew that something had to be done. He saw yet again Harry Potter's distressed expression

and the nervousness in his eyes when he had asked him about the cupboard. Severus wondered fleetingly why the look on the boy's face should bother him that much. He knew wy deep down however, but he wasn't going to think about it now. He didn't even know if he was thinking logically or if he was finally losing the plot.Snape turned and looked at Dumbledore.

"You have to find another occlumency teacher for Potter," he said harshly.

"Ah I thought it might have been that," Dumbledore said calmly, "Is Harry giving you trouble? He said he would try and get along better with you."

"You're an Occlumens, you know that without trust progress is difficult. He doesn't trust me and the idea of working with me makes him nervous." Snape asked himself yet again why he was so concerned about the Potter brat, but the vulnerability he had seen in the boy's eyes had touched him. He had been foolish to treat Harry as if

he were James, suddenly that was all too clear to him. He had to convince Dumbledore, because if he spent too much more time with the boy he would have to find out, he would have to know, and he really didn't want to.

"You must overcome that, both of you must overcome it. You can help each other and work together. Neither of you know the other as well as you think you

do," Dumbledore said quietly but firmly, "No Severus I won't find someone else, you must continue as you have begun. There are more similarities between

you and Harry than either of you know and you must learn to trust each other and work together, to strengthen our side. Each of you has a vital part to

play." Severus staired at the headmaster. He wanted to ask what Dumbledore knew, but figured he wasn't going to tell him anything. Snape realised the sense of what the headmaster was saying, however, he knew that both of them were important to the Order and it was probably advisable

for them to work more closely together, but snape didn't like it and he thought Harry wouldn't either. The truth was, he didn't want to get close to this boy, didn't want old memories dredged up. He could see by the look in the old man's eyes, that he wasn't going to give an inch.

"How on earth am I to win his trust?" he asked exasperatedly, "We have hated each other from the moment he entered Hogwarts."

Dumbledore adjusted his half moon specticles. He looked at the younger man kindly.

"Time, Severus," Dumbledore said, and took a sip of his drink, "Time and patience."

"We don't have time, old man," Snape said exasperatedly, "The Dark Lord could look into that boy's mind at any time and discover things we don't want him to know. Do you want him to know the prophecy and the fact I'm teaching Potter? Do you want him to question my loyalties again, now that I have finally gained my former place in the Inner Circle? What are you thinking of, old man?"

"Don't fret yourself Severus, Harry is protected where he is, both myself and another have put spells on the boy and the place they are staying. Despite my age I do have a firm grasp of m y sanity dear boy. You have the Summer to work with Harry and hopefully he will know how to protect his mind in that time. I know if you work together it can be accomplished."

Snape thought Dumbledore was asking a hell of a lot from both himself

and Potter, but he resolved to try. It seemed he had no other choice. His questioning mind wasn't going to leave him alone and neither was this annoying old man. Oh Severus he chided himself. You spy for the dark Lord and you're letting a 16 year old boy work you in to a state? Surely you can face this, it's nothing like you've faced in the past.

"Fine albus." Snape snapped after a few moments, "I'll try to get on with the boy, try to teach himwhat I can, since you leave me no choice in the matter." Dumbledore stood up and shook the other man's hand.

"I think it will be good for both of you Severus." Snape just shrugged and helped himself to some flu powder.

Dumbledore smiled to himself as he watched the professor floo away.

A/N: Thanks for sticking with this story so far and I promise not to take so long to update it again, I know it can be hugely frustrating when you like a story and the author takes an eternity to update.