Chapter 2

Harry woke up the next morning and dressed with racing thoughts as to how he was going to approach Snape since their last encounter. He was determined to get Snape's permission to go to the Burrow. Even if it meant sucking up to the old grease ball. Harry rushed down to the dungeons where his demon father dwelled.

Harry knocked on the door. A cold sneer beckoned him in.

Harry opened the door and shuffled in.

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to ask you a question."

"What then."

"Can I go-"

"No."

"But you don't even know what I was going to say."

"You want to go to Mr. Weasley's house for the holidays," Snape said coldly still looking down at his work, his nose almost touching the paper, " you're trying to get out of Occlumency lessons and I won't have it, the Dark Lord will be working hard in order to penetrate your mind and I will not let my only son become a mind puppet. So you'll be coming to my house, we leave tomorrow, 3 in the morning and if I have to, I will drag you from your bed."

"Damn it," Harry said quietly.

"Watch your language; I will not tolerate any foul mouth in my house."

"Fine." Harry mumbled and left slamming the door behind him, rattling the windows. He ran back up to the great hall for breakfast. Ron and Hermione were arguing over something obviously stupid.

"S.P.E.W will be an honorary club here at Hogwarts," Hermione argued. Harry could tell he had arrived just in time.

"Yea, right, and I'm the queen of England," Ron teased her, knowing he was just getting her worked up.

"I don't think the dress will do much for flattery," Harry said.

Ron turned from his breakfast, mouth full of sausage. "OH ha-ha. Where's your bag?! Did you ask -?"

"Yeah, ain't gonna happen mate. I'm going to be spending Christmas in the crypt."

"Oh, Harry, don't be so over-dramatic. You've lost anyone else that you could possibly call a father figure or family in general. This may be good a chance for you. And it may even be good for him," Hermione reasoned.

"Yeah, maybe you'll have a great time getting to know ol' Snapey. And what am I really saying, RUN MAN RUN!" Ron exclaimed.

"I'll live, hopefully. When are you guys leaving?" Harry asked.

"After we finish eating, we have a 1:00 ride by Knight Bus," Hermione said, giving Ron a look that said 'put down that third helping of sausages'.

Harry noticed that she had her bag by her side. Ron's was on the seat beside him.

"We should probably go now, it's 12:45," Hermione said.

"Right," Ron said, shoving more eggs into his mouth and grabbing more bacon for the road. He and Hermione hugged Harry good-bye and left. He was alone. He finished his breakfast and then went upstairs to pack what he needed. A Snape-Survival Kit? Did he have one?

The Gryffindor Common room was empty, everyone had left for somewhere cheerful for holidays, except him. Harry found a nice chair and curled up in it, hoping that by falling asleep, he would wake up and find that this was a nightmare.