Bound Freedom

Chapter 5: Home

A/N: erg. Well I broke my promise. Sorry. I just seem to have some pretty bad luck a lot. I'll be updating Just Let Me Die in the next couple of days, I'm just finishing the last part of it. So enjoy.

Disclaimer: Not mine, so don't make a huge deal out of it.

Severus and I waited in Hogsmade for Ron and Hermione. I looked up at the tall man whose still looked emotionless. I couldn't believe we were going to his house. It took a lot of convincing to get Ron to come with it. His mum couldn't believe it.

Finally my friends got their belongings, and met up with us. The four of us started to walk to a building where we would floo to Severus' house.

"Professor where is your house anyway?" Hermionie curiously asked.

"It's in the country." He seemed to say the words through clenched teeth.

"I figured you lived in the country!" I looked at Ron whose face was beaming with amusement.

Severus got rid of his scowl, and looked to me.

"Are you ready Master?"

I nodded. "So what do we call your place?''

"Spinner's End. " The tall man said in monotone.

Ron instantly grabbed his bag and a handful of powder and rushed into the fireplace. He was always so spontaneous.

"Spinner's End!" He yelled, and in instant he was gone.

Hermione rushed forward. "I need to make sure he's not destroying your place."

She took some of the powder and said in a sure voice

"Spinner's End."

Then she was gone.

"Before we go Master could I use Floo Powder?" Severus said automatically.

Harry not thinking about that said in a bewildered voice. "Sure "

I stepped forward to get the poweder when I heard him say. "Also when we get to my place...try not to be too harsh."

"What do you mean?" Severus always got more and more mysterious.

"You'll see, past memories often come back in that place." He almost sounded pleading. It was so unnatural.

"Spinner's End!" I yelled.

"Now it's my turn" I took the powder in my hands and clumsily said "S...Spinner's End"

I landed in a fireplace in an all too familiar room.

Ronald rushed at me, not noticing I was still a bit dizzy from the floo powder.

"Great now you can show us around" He said enthusiastically.

"It would be my pleasure" I did a superfluous bow toward Ronald, who seemed embarrassed by my display, and I led the teenagers down the dark hallway.

"We need light." Harry said, almost tripping over Mr. Weasly.

I snapped my fingers and all the candles lit up.

"Yup this is defiantly Snape Manor." Ronald said.

I looked down the stone hall. Cobwebs adored the ceilings, and the wooden doors seemed to creak.

"Not your taste Mr. Weasly? We are on the second floor this is where my lab, storage, and library..."

Hermione's face brightened up.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you can't finish all the books in two weeks Miss Granger."

I led them to a large door.

"My father hated books, but when I started teaching at Hogwarts I spent all my money on building this collection."

I opened the door showing the rows and rows of books, they were the only things that kept me from going insane in my house.

I looked down and saw her anticipation.

I smirked.

"Let's look around first Miss Granger, I'm sure you won't be able to finish all these books before the break is over."

I led Harry, Ronald and Hermione downstairs. Downstairs it was actually livable. There walls were still stone, but there was a large fireplace in the center of the room.

Leading the three teenagers to two doors I said "

This room can be Mr. Weasly's if you allow Master." I looked down at my young Master. He nodded at me.

"Master can Miss Granger sleep in that room?" I pointed at a door directly across the room. He nodded again.

"Right you two could put down your things, it may be a little dusty, but a little magic could cure that."

After setting down their items I led them to the largest door. I opened it and inside was the master bedroom adored with cobwebs, but that could be easily fixed with magic.

"Does this room please you master?" Harry just stood there. "Master?"

He looked quickly up at me.

"It's fine, the rooms great!"

I set the luggage down and realized how dark this room seemed to me.

"Do you want the windows open Master?" Hoping some sun would make this room less dreary.

"Yeah, that would be good''

I opened the window and the gold coating all over the room that was hidden in the darkness glimmered.

"This is where the Snape fortune went." I said in an impassive voice. Hoping to get out of that room quickly I said to Harry.

"Would you like to see outside?"

"Is this a muggle town?" Why would he want to know?

"No Master."

I quickly replied.

The two boys rushed to a bag and grabbed a broomstick. . I stared apparently jealous of there lightheartedness in life, and Potter looked at me.

"Hey Severus, could you make a snow fort."

I got out my wand. At least he was occupied with something, I was half afraid he would come here to try to find out about my past.

After I went outside and gathered the snow using what magic that was permitted to me, I went inside house, that was uncharacteristically warm.

Miss. Granger was there taking a good look around the room.

"I believe you want to see the library then?" Her face beamed…such an odd look…nobody…especially students smiled at me.

As I lead her I explained " Many of my books are about…the dark arts, and potions, but there might be a few that are more…widely accepted."

"Did you read them all Professor?"

I half sneered. "You think I spend my vaction partying Miss Granger?"

She quickly said "No, sorry."

"It's fine Miss Granger." I took out my wand about to light the fireplace, but then the bond caused my arm to cramp. I gritted my teeth, but hid my pain from the girl.

"Seems like you will have to go without a fire for right now, I'll get permission in a couple of minutes."

I looked at the girl. She looked at me sadly.

"I'm used to it, I don't need pity. I'll call when dinner is ready."

I couldn't say it any faster? I swept out of the room, and went to the kitchen.

I actually enjoyed cooking the muggle way. It was like potions, you needed exact measurements, concentration, and time to make something perfect. I made plenty of delicacies and even made three deserts, then I set everything up on a large table, putting spoons, knives, and forks in exact order. Satisfied I opened the door to find both forts full of holes and the two friends chasing each other around.

"Begging your pardon, dinner is served."

The dinner was great. If I had more food like that maybe I wouldn't be as scrawny. I patted my stomach, then looked at Severus who was busy in the kitchen.

"Are you going to eat?" He quickly looked at me.

"I'll eat when you are asleep."

Well at least he was going to eat, I didn't want to control his life completely.

I looked in Ron's bag which contained a set of Wizard's Chess. It seemed like a magical night. I laid down on a rug with Ron, playing chess, and Hermione was seated next to us, using the fire to read her book.

Then I heard Severus.

"It's starting to get late now master, surely you wish to go to sleep?" I looked at my watch. It was almost midnight.

"Wow the time passed by fast." I ended the game, and stood up and stretched.

"See you in the morning Ron." I waved at Ron and Hermione.

I went into the Master bedroom, and then waited a couple of minutes to make sure everyone was asleep. After silence I took out the letter that Sirus gave me.

Harry,

You know I don't like the idea of not knowing where you are, but if A.D. trusts them, it's fine by me. Have a good vacation, and if you want to talk to me remember that powder I gave you? Use it on a fireplace and you'll be able to talk to me, like at Hogwarts. I'll be waiting. Be safe.

Snuffles

I read the letter twice then went up to the large fireplace in the master bedroom.

It was a good thing there are so many fireplaces here.

After a minute I saw Sirius' face.

"Harry?"

I looked at my godfather, who seemed tired.

"Yeah, it's me. I'm really safe don't worry."

Sirius sighed in relief.

"That's great Harry. Can I ask-"

I heard a knock at the door and jumped.

"Whose that Harry?" I heard my godfather whisper.

"Probably just Ron, he hates new places."

I looked at the door.

"Come in."

The shadowy man walked into the room…this couldn't be good...

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