Life continued pretty much as before. Harry went to school. Greg went to work. Greg stayed at work Harry went to Mrs. Sprout's. Greg and Severus went out. Mrs. Sprout babysat at the House home. Greg did try to make a more concerted effort to spend more time with Harry. When he discovered that Harry wanted to learn to play the guitar, he went out and bought a mini black Stratocaster for him. Harry was a quick study and he and his Dad enjoyed jamming on Saturday afternoons.

Greg's relationship with Severus began as being mostly physical, although Greg insisted on the lights being out. He didn't want Severus to see his leg. What he didn't know was that Severus had a tattoo that he wanted to hide. However, they eventually became more intimate. It turned out that they both had abusive fathers. Greg shared his fear that he wasn't a good parent for Harry, but Severus disagreed.

Mr. Snape was always punctual, while Dr. House tended to run on his own schedule. It wasn't that he didn't want to be on time, but he wasn't concerned if something came up that made him late. He just figured Severus would wait for him. However, Severus felt that Greg was taking advantage of him was frustrated. He hated sitting at a bar all by himself waiting for Greg to show up. Although he had explained how he felt to Greg several times, Greg didn't seem to care. It was finally too much for Severus when Greg didn't show up for the hospital Christmas party. Neither man had wanted to go, but Greg pretty much had to attend for at least dinner and had talked Severus into joining him.

On the night of the big party Severus showed up, on time, in his tuxedo. Greg was not there. All of Greg's team was there. One of them informed him that Dr. House was dealing with a patient. Severus slipped out and strode to Greg's office where he saw him lying on the couch throwing a tennis ball up and down. Greg was still in a t-shirt and jeans. Severus walked in and informed Greg that if he couldn't be bothered to show up for their dates and had his team make excuses for him then their relationship was over. Greg didn't get a chance to say anything before Severus walked out slamming the door behind him. Although Dr. House started to get up and go after Severus, he changed his mind. If Snape couldn't at least find out what had happened then Snape wasn't worth his time.

Harry had spent much of his winter break writing and was looking forward to conferencing with his teacher. As soon as he arrived in the classroom, Harry signed up for a meeting with Mr. Snape. After the morning routine Harry and his peers settled in to work. Mr. Snape went to his desk and looked at the list of students who wanted to conference, "Mr. Weasley, please join me." Harry was surprised. He knew that he had been first on the list. After about five minutes Ron returned to his seat and Mr. Snape called another student, but not Harry. When Mr. Snape sent the second student back to her seat, Harry jumped up and walked toward Mr. Snape. "Mr. Potter, go back to your seat."

"But I requested a conference."

"Go back to your seat."

"Yes, sir." Harry stared at his feet as he returned to his desk. Harry spent some time looking over his writing making some edits and revisions. Then he made a list of questions about his work that he wanted to ask Mr. Snape. Next he started the next chapter of his story, but his mind wasn't on his work. Every time Mr. Snape called another student, Harry looked up. After the fourth student, Harry sighed deeply.

"Mr. Potter, if you can't work quietly, go stand in the corner."

Harry didn't respond but he could feel his ears turning hot. He just couldn't understand what was going on. Why was Mr. Snape picking on him?

"Mr. Potter, I told you to stand in the corner."

"But, but, I wasn't…"

Mr. Snape pointed toward the corner, "NOW." Harry got up and dragged his feet to the corner. He heard Mr. Snape call several more students before it was lunch time.

When the class lined up for lunch, Mr. Snape left Harry in the corner. Harry heard his friend, Ron, ask, "What about Harry?"

The response was "Mind your own business, Mr. Weasley." That's when tears began to stream down Harry's face. The room was silent and Harry assumed he was alone, but he was afraid to turn around. After what seemed like forever he heard his teacher's footsteps and then a desk dragging across the floor. "Mr. Potter, you need to learn that your needs aren't more important than others'. Until you do, you will sit in this corner. Go get your lunch and you may eat at your desk."

Harry, red-faced, turned away from the corner and walked to his cubby where he grabbed his lunch. When Harry turned he saw that Mr. Snape had placed Harry's desk directly in the corner. "Mr. Snape?"

"Sit down, Mr. Potter."

"But sir, may I please use the restroom."

"Sit down and raise your hand."

Harry did so, but Mr. Snape didn't call on him. Harry had to go and didn't want to eat without washing his hands so he just kept his hand up. After a few minutes his arm grew tired. Harry switched arms. Feeling desperate, Harry worked up enough courage to turn around. Mr. Snape wasn't even in the room. "What should I do?" thought Harry. He really didn't want to wet his pants. Finally he just got up and ran to the bathroom hoping that he wouldn't meet Mr. Snape in the hallway, but he wasn't that lucky. When he came out of the restroom, Mr. Snape was waiting for him.

"Return to your corner."

"I'm sorry, sir, I just didn't want to wet my pants."

"I'm not interested in your excuses, go sit down."

Harry followed directions. Although he hadn't even begun to each lunch, Harry wasn't hungry so he put his head on his desk while tears slid miserably his face. After the puddle of his tears was large enough to threaten getting his writing notebook wet, Harry heard the unmistakable sounds of his classmates returning. Mr. Snape called the other students to the front carpet and began reading to them. Harry couldn't hear much and wondered what story he was missing, but he didn't even try to move. By the time the rest of the class began math, Harry had his tears under control, but he just kept his head down on his desk. Mr. Snape said nothing to him until after the rest of the class had been dismissed. "Come here, Mr. Potter."

Harry walked dejectedly to Mr. Snape's desk. "I see you still can't keep your emotions in control," commented harshly. Harry stared at his shoes. "Look at me, Mr. Potter." Harry raised his gaze to his teacher's face. "Since you couldn't be bothered to do your work this afternoon, I have developed a new schedule for you." A paper was thrust into Harry's hand. "Read it." Harry read.

7:45-8:15 Unpack and sit at your desk.

8:15-10:15 Work in your language arts folder.

10:15-12:15 Work in your math folder.

12:15-12:20 After the other students have gone to lunch, go to the restroom.

12:20-12:50 Sit at your desk and eat lunch.

12:50-1:30 While the other students are at recess, put your head down..

1:30-2:15 Slide your desk out of the way and stand in the corner.

2:15 After the other students are dismissed, pack up and leave.

"Do you have any questions, Mr. Potter?"

"What did I do?"

"Do you have any questions about your new schedule?"

Harry bit his lip and looked up, "How long will I be following this?"

"Until further notice. Be sure to wear a watch." At that Mr. Snape removed the schedule from Harry's hand. "You are dismissed." Harry packed his bag as quickly as possible and rushed out of the room. Then he ran all the way to Mrs. Sprout's house.

"You look like you've had a hard day, sweetie. Would you like to help me in the garden before you start your homework?" Mrs. Sprout asked kindly.

"Yes, ma'am." Harry followed Mrs. Sprout to the garden where she gave Harry a pair of gardening gloves and showed him how to pull weeds. Harry enjoyed pretending the weeds were Mr. Snape and then ripping them out of the ground and throwing them in the bin.

"Let's go in the house and have some cookies, honey." Harry trailed Mrs. Sprout into the kitchen and sat at the table drinking cold milk and eating fresh chocolate chip cookies. "Harry, is there anything you'd like to talk about?" Harry just shook his head. "Well, I'm here if you need me. You know that, don't you?" Harry nodded his head as a rebellious tear slid down his face.

After his snack, Harry sat in the living room and got out his homework. Mr. Snape assigned the same homework every night. Read, write, and do math, for at least twenty minutes each. Harry usually worked zealously, but today he just couldn't bring himself to care so he stretched out on the couch and went to sleep. When Dr. House came to get Harry he was surprised that the boy was asleep, but Mrs. Sprout explained that it seemed that Harry had a rough day at school. As they walked across the lawn, Greg asked Harry what had happened, but Harry just said that he was tired.

After dinner Harry went straight to bed. As he lay trying to go to sleep, he tried to figure out what he had done wrong. How could he explain his problems to his father when he didn't even know why Mr. Snape was so angry? He was sure that his Dad would think he was making it up if Harry tried to explain that he didn't know why Mr. Snape was punishing him.

On the way to school the next morning Harry met Ron at the corner. "Harry, what did you do to get Mr. Snape in such a snit?"

"I don't know."

"Well, whatever it is, you better fix it. He seems really mad."

"I know, I know." Neither boy suspected that Snape was actually angry with Harry's father.

The day progressed much as the day before except that Mr. Snape didn't speak to Harry at all except to inform him that his new schedule was taped to the wall by the desk. On Wednesday, Harry felt too sick to go to school so Dr. House let him stay with Mrs. Sprout for the day. Harry stayed with Mrs. Sprout again on Thursday and Friday, but on Monday, House forced him to go to school.

When Harry arrived at school, Mr. Snape didn't even acknowledge that Harry had been missing for three days so Harry decided that this would be his last day of school. On Tuesday, he would find a way to skip. All day, Harry sat at his desk and plotted. He finally decided that he would unlock the back door before leaving on the next morning. Then he would walk around the block and hide in the backyard until his dad left for work. With the back door unlocked Harry would be able to slip inside and have the run of the house for the rest of the day. At about 2:45 he would go to Mrs. Sprout's as if he was coming home from school. Harry realized the there were many things that could go wrong with his plan but he felt that avoiding Mr. Snape was worth the risk.

On Tuesday morning Harry got dressed, as usual, and ate a bowl of cereal. After cleaning up from breakfast, he slipped to the back door and made sure that is was unlocked. Then he grabbed his backpack and walked to the front door. Dr. House was sitting on the couch in a t-shirt and boxers. For the first time Harry realized that he had no idea what time his Dad left for work. "Hey, Dad, do you think you could give me a ride to school today. My backpack is extra heavy." (This was true. Harry had prepared for the eventuality that he wouldn't be able to get into the house. He had packed several books and some food.)

"Oh, I'm sorry, Harry. I'm not leaving for another hour. You'd be late."

"Okay, Dad. Thanks anyway. Bye." With that, Harry rushed out the door. He turned left at the sidewalk as he would if he were going to school. Then he walked to the next corner. Normally he would turn right and meet Ron at the next corner, but instead he turned left. Harry didn't worry about Ron waiting for him. He and Ron had agreed not to wait more than five minutes. He continued for one block and then made another left. As Harry walked he thought about what he could do while he was home alone. First he was going to have another bowl of cereal. Then he was going to plant himself in front of the television for a couple of hours. Next he would have lunch. He wouldn't have to worry about his Dad noticing that more food was missing because Harry had a packed lunch. Just as Harry was considering whether or not to eat in the living room he heard a voice that sounded familiar. It was Hannah calling good-bye to her family. "Uh oh," he thought, "I didn't know Hannah lived nearby." Harry dived under a bush and waited for Hannah to pass by. He stayed under the prickly bush until he saw her turn the corner. Then he jumped up and continued to the end of the block. Harry looked up and down the street to assure himself that nobody was around. Then he raced down the block and turned the final corner toward home. That's when he slowed down and studied his house. His Dad's car was still in the driveway so he tried to stay hidden behind bushes just in case his Dad walked out to the car while Harry was still on the street. The scariest part was sneaking into the backyard and climbing the pine tree. That's when Harry realized the fault with his plan. How was he to know when his Dad left? He couldn't even see the car from here. Harry shivered as he considered his options. Although he hadn't felt cold when he was walking, sitting in this tree was freezing. Harry leaned his head against the tree and listened. Perhaps he would hear the door slam.

After what seemed forever, Harry heard a car door close, but he couldn't be sure it was his Dad's car. He waited several more agonizing minutes and then slowly climbed down the tree and crept around the corner to see if his Dad's car was gone. It was, so Harry walked into the house through the back door.

After carefully looking around the living room to commit it to memory so he could set it up just as it was, Harry plunked down on the couch and turned on the television. He normally didn't watch much television as he was usually busy with other things, but Harry didn't want to entertain himself as usual. He just wanted to be a couch potato. At lunchtime Harry ate his packed lunch and cleaned up carefully. He had tossed his trash in kitchen can before he realized that he usually brought it home in his lunch box. He carefully retrieved his baggies and wrappers and stuffed them into his lunch box which he then stuffed into his book bag.

Harry decided that he wanted a nap so he went in his room and set his alarm for 2:15. That's when school ended so he would have time to make sure that house looked like nobody had been there and get to Mrs. Sprout's on time.

Tuesday's plan had worked just about perfectly so Harry followed the same schedule on Wednesday except for a couple of minor changes. First he walked a couple of extra blocks out of the way to avoid meeting Hannah. That also meant he had to wait less time for his Dad to leave. Second, he waited on the back porch rather than in the tree. It was more comfortable and his Dad never came out there. Finally, he set his alarm for 2:35 rather than 2:15. Yesterday he had to wait around too long and he got nervous.

Harry continued to skip school for the rest of the week and the next. Nobody seemed to be the wiser, and Harry felt better. Why should he waste his time going to school just to sit in the corner when he could relax at home?