Snape worked in his basement-turned-lab, attentively watching the cauldrons around him. He needed to get a head start this summer replenishing the schools supplies, and of course working on potions for the Dark Lord.
He heaved a sigh as he added three precise drops of Re'em blood to the Pepperup Potion and was about to add a cup of grated ginger root when muffled yelling could be heard from the floors above. He pinched the bridge of his nose as the bellowing intensified. The thudding on the staircase pushed him over the edge. Why couldn't these people just be quiet? Frustrated, he took to the steps to see what was going on. Mentally cursing the Headmaster for putting him in this situation.
"What is wrong with you? I needed that for school!" He heard Harry grumble from the living room.
"I told you that you're not allowed to do that nonsense around us! I don't need you infecting our Dudley." Vernon yelled.
"It's not a disease! You're not going to get contaminated by it!"
He heard Harry shout as he rounded into the living room and saw the lot of them around the fireplace, a charred book engulfed in flames. "What is going on here?" He asked, though he could already assume what had happened.
"I was doing my Charms essay in the bedroom, and Dudley came in and saw it. Then he went and told Uncle Vernon who felt it necessary to burn it!" Harry growled, as he looked from Snape back to his Uncle. "How am I suppose to do my homework now?"
"I don't care if it's done or not. I wont have you brandishing that stick around Dudley." Vernon shouted as Dudley and Petunia went and hid themselves behind his massive frame.
"I wasn't using my wand!" Harry shouted, then turned to look at Snape. "I was just doing the essay that Professor Flitwick assigned. It didn't require any magic. Honestly Professor, I wasn't using my wand." Harry's face was now red with irritation. His green orbs turned fiercely back on to his Uncle.
"Potter, go get your school books and put them in my office. Any homework you do, do in there." Snape stated as his eyes fell on the large man before him. He felt Potter's eyes on him, but didn't acknowledge the look. "Go Potter. Now!" He commanded, as the boy took off up the stairs. "Do you really care so little about your nephew that you want to hinder his education?" He asked, looking between the pair.
"That boy needs the freakiness stomped out of him!" Petunia argued from behind Vernon. "My parents should of done the same thing to Lily, but no! They were so excited to have a witch in the family. No one could see her for the freak that she was."
"You can't 'stomp' magic out of someone. It's there and it will remain there. You're not letting Potter live up to his full potential by preventing him from doing his coursework. I should of known better when the Headmaster said he left Potter with you. You were always jealous of her, and now you're taking it out on her son." Snape said, but silently cringed because he was doing the something. Except his jealousy stemmed from James Potter.
"You don't know what kind of burden he is! What he's put our family through. I thought I had finally escaped from Lily and her abnormalities, but then I wake up to find that boy on our doorstep!" Petunia said, as she stepped around Vernon. Her face burning out of frustration.
"Potter didn't ask for this life. He comes with a lot of baggage. None of which he asked for. None of which he had any control over. I'm sure he'd be much happier if he led a normal life." Snape said, disbelieving that he was actually standing up for Potter. But Petunia's words cut through him, and he remembered all the personal attacks she made on him as a child. He was about to continue, but a crash from the stairs caught his attention. Books tumbled down the steps, and seconds later a guilty Potter emerged looking sheepish.
"Sorry, Sir." He muttered and went to pick up the dozens of books that littered the floor.
"No matter Potter. Just take care of them." He stated, and watched as the Monster Book of Monsters escaped from it's bindings and made it's way towards the Dursley's.
Chaos erupted in the quaint living room. Petunia's screams filled the room as she tried to escape from the menacing tome that was fast on her heels. Vernon had pulled a floor lamp from it's socket and waddled as fast as he could behind Petunia, trying to hit the book with his chosen weapon. Dudley took refuge on the sofa, as he watched his mother run from the snapping book while his father wielded the lamp at it.
Snape looked over to Potter, who seemed highly flabbergasted and amused all at once. So he decided to let it play out for a few minutes longer, before pointing his wand at the book and shouting Incarcerous. The book shook as it struggled against the bindings. Petunia and Vernon breathing heavily as they quickly made their way to the other side of the room, away from the book. Snape looked around his living room, noting the books that had fallen of the shelf, the end tables that had been overturned and the little gadgets that had been on the mantelpiece shattered on the wooden floor.
With a few flicks of his wand most of the items righted themselves. And he turned his attention back to the family that had cornered themselves as far away from the book as was humanly possibly. Dudley seemed to have found his way back to them and was hiding himself behind his mothers small frame.
"You boy!" Vernon said his sausage like fingers pointing at Potter. "How dare you set that thing on us! After all we've done for you."
"I didn't set anything on you!" Harry said, ignoring the books that were still laying on the floor. "It's not my fault it escaped. And you haven't done anything for me!"
"You appreciate nothing! We give you a roof over your head, feed you and put clothes on your back. You're nothing but ungrateful." Vernon shouted as he took a step closer to Potter. His beady black eyes boring into him.
"You locked me in the cupboard under the stairs for ten years!" Harry shouted, as he focused in on his Uncle. Clearly forgetting the Snape was a mere few feet away. "I didn't even get the bedroom upstairs until after I got my Hogwarts letter. And that was only because you didn't want 'my lot' knowing that's where you kept me. "And you hardly ever fed me! The food I got was the food I had to sneak out of the kitchen and the food that my friends sent me over the summer. And I hardly think you can call Dudley's old hand-me-downs clothes." Harry shouted, his eyes focused only on his Uncle.
Snape doubted that Potter even realized that he was doing accidental magic. The bulbs burst in their sockets and some books were swirling around overhead. Dudley and Petunia gasped, and backed into the wall. Vernon's eyes were large and he too took a cautionary step away from his nephew. Snape had a feeling that this was something Potter wanted to get off his shoulders for a long time. And even though many of the recent revelations surprised him, he needed to be the one to keep a level head.
Snape took quick steps toward the boy, until he was standing behind him. "Potter." He said, dodging an incoming book. "Harry!" He shouted, which brought the boy to turn and look at him. The books fell to the floor with a thud.
"Professor?" Harry said, and anxiously ran a hand through his mop of black hair.
Snape flicked his wand, and the books sorted themselves into piles. He levitated half into his outstretched hand, then levitated the rest to Potter. "You were putting your books into my office. Tap the bookshelf with your wand so you know it works." He said pointing to one of the bookshelves that was only a couple feet away from the muggles.
He watched Potter do as he was told and the shelf swung forward. Snape ignored the Dursley's disapproving grunts, and pushed Potter through the opening. The lights on the wall came to life illuminating the circular room. It vaguely looked like the office he kept at Hogwarts. But instead the built in shelving units held books instead of potion ingredients. A large round mahogany table sat at the center of the room, with four black wingback chairs seated around it.
"Potter," Snape said as he strode across the room and knelt down in front of the cupboard. He pulled out stacks of old leather journals and tattered parchment that was colored with age. "You can keep your books in this cupboard. Don't leave my office a mess, and put your things away when your done. I will permit you to use my books, however you are forbidden to use any of the ones on the top two shelves." Snape said as he picked up his things and placed them in another cupboard.
"Sir, what am I suppose to do about my Charms book?" Harry asked, as he started to fill his alcove.
"I have my old Charms book somewhere. If I can't find it I'm sure if you look hard enough you'll be able to find the information you need in one of my other books. And if all else fails we can order one by owl post." Snape said as he rose to his feet again. His knees cracking under the strain. "Until then you can work on your other homework." He said as he pulled out a stack of parchment and some inkwells and set them on the table. "Stay in here and work until lunch. I have potions to attend too. Many of which I'm sure have already spoiled."
"Sorry Professor." Potter said, sitting down at the table and grabbing a piece of parchment.
Snape however didn't reply and left his study, letting the shelf close itself behind him. The Dursley's still huddled together in the corner. He quirked a brow, "if I find out that you've burned anymore books, whether they be Potter's or mine I'll make sure you regret it. We'll discuss the cupboard under the stairs later. I'm sure it is a… fascinating story." He gave them one last glare before turning on his heels. His cloak billowing behind him as he headed back towards his lab.
A/N: Again this story doesn't have a beta. I am however actively searching for one. So I'm sorry if this isn't everything you want it to be.