A/N: Slow and short chapter.
He knew this would of happened. He gave in far to easily to Dumbledore's request. Petunia already revealed to much about his past. He wouldn't be able to put off Potter's questions much longer. Severus knew if the boy didn't get answers soon he would go meddling around in his belongings. He didn't want or need Potter to know of his adolescence. He wanted more than anything to keep those memories to himself. Even though he felt the boy had a right to know about his mother. Nevertheless, he didn't want to be the one to tell him about Lily.
The stories of Lily would drag up memories of his own home life. None of which he felt ready to deal with. It was obvious that he and Potter shared a similar childhood. He found that every time one of the Dursley's would belittle the boy, he would be there to defend him. Normally he would enjoy watching such events. But something inside him felt the need to shield Potter from his relatives words.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a frustrated sigh. He sat in silence for hours. His eyes fixated one the rows of empty cauldrons. His mind struggling to sort through the events of the day.
He was only awoken from his thoughts by the thudding of feet from the floor above. Swiftly his eyes fell on the clock. A small sigh escaped him. He took to the steps dreading his encounter with the persons above.
"Potter, where's dinner?" A voice shouted from the living room.
Snape strode through the kitchen and into the living room only to spot Potter's cousin standing beside the hearth. "I'm sure you are more than capable of fixing your own dinner Mr. Dursley." He drawled taking a step further into the room. "Where is Potter?" He asked, watching the boy pale before him.
"I-I don't know. He was upstairs after lunch… But left a few minutes later." The large boy stammered as he inched his way closer to the stairs.
Snape raised his brow and flicked his wand towards the table where a steaming meal emerged. "Eat," was all he said as he made his way toward the bookshelf that opened with a tap of his wand. "Potter!" His voice rang out. Causing the boy to jump and spill the inkwell over some of the nearby parchment as well as some books.
"Professor!" Potter said, frantically trying to clean up the mess that he just made. His hands soaked in emerald ink.
"Potter!" Snape barked as he flicked his wand at the mess. The ink vanished from the tabletop the parchment however was stained a light shade of green. "Scourgify." He muttered as white suds attacked the boy's hands. "Why are you in here?"
"…you said I could do my homework in here…" Potter frowned and started organizing his notes and books.
"Yes, but I was under the impression that you were in your room with your cousin." Snape said as he sat down and held out his hand. At Potter's confused look Snape stated. "Your homework. I want to see what you've done."
"Oh." He mumbled and pulled some loose parchment from his Transfiguration book. "Transfiguration essay is done. I'm about halfway through my Defense Against the Dark Arts essay…"
"Fine." Snape said as he snatched the papers from the boy's hand. He summoned a self-inking quill and started in on the essay. "Your handwriting is appalling. After four years one would assume that you would of mastered the art of using a quill."
"Quills are difficult! The ink splatters everywhere and it takes forever for it to dry. I don't understand why we can't just use ballpoints."
"Potter, you are a wizard. Not a very good one, but surely you can master a simple drying charm. I'm quite certain that it is in the first year lesson book." Snape looked up to see Potter's face turn a deep shade of red. "However," he started as he looked back over the pages of parchment. He crossed out several words, and wrote several suggestions in the margins. "This is well written compared to the essays I've seen you hand in for my lessons. Clean it up and I will look over it again. But otherwise it's decent." He handed the paper back to it's owner. "Put your things away, and we will eat."
Snape watched the puzzled expression on Potter's face as the boy put his things away. "Sit." Snape motioned to the seat across from him. With another flick of his wand the tableware emerged along with several dishes of food.
"Should I get the Dursley's, Sir?" Potter asked as he stood by one of the chairs.
"No. They will be eating out in the kitchen. Sit, eat and drink your potion." He said as he piled some food on his own plate. He summoned the nutrient potion and set it across from him.
"Sir?" Harry asked as he downed the potion. Setting the empty vial to the side. "I thought that the first law of Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration was that food can't be conjured out of nothing."
"Of course it can't. I merely summoned some from the kitchen. The potion was summoned from my lab. Now be quiet and eat."
For several minutes the only sound that could be heard was the scrapping of the silverware on porcelain.
"Professor, were you really friends with my mum?" Potter asked as he lazily pushed around the food on his plate.
"Yes." Snape stated as he sipped at his Elf-made wine. "I am quite certain that your Aunt made that clear this morning." He droned as he focused back on his meal.
"Yeah, well they tend to lie to me about these kind of things. I thought my mum and dad died in a car accident until my 11th birthday." The boy said as he set his elbows on the table. "My grandparents…did you know them well?"
Snape could tell that the boy was genuinely curious. He however wasn't sure if he was ready to answer these questions. It seemed wrong to keep such information from him. Nevertheless, he didn't think it was proper for him to inform the boy.
Snape's ebony eyes watched Potter for a few minutes before he sighed. "I wouldn't say I knew them well. I had several encounters with them." He acknowledged, setting his fork aside. "Remove your elbows from the table immediately. I'm amazed that your Aunt hasn't schooled you in regards to proper table manners."
Potter gave a sigh and sat straight in his chair.
"I wasn't exactly allowed to eat with them." He garbled and ran a hand through his jet black hair.
Snape cringed at the act. It was far to reminiscent to that of James Potter. Why did the brat have to be so much like him? "Yes, well-" he stopped as a searing pain shot through his left forearm. His hand clenched and his eyes closed. "I must leave. I should be back within a few hours. You are not to leave this house! Do you understand?"
"Yes, but Professor where are you going?" Harry asked. Though it was obvious to Snape that the boy was confused.
"It doesn't matter." Snape said, summoning a heap of black material. "Do not leave the house." He dashed out of the house and into a nearby alley before dressing in his Death Eater garb and apparating away.