You Can Live: Chapter 4
So what was Harry doing? Guess you'll just have to read and find out!
No slash here, only guardian/ward psuedo-parent/child relationship and friendships.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, except for the plot. I would be able to afford school if that were the case.
Warnings: SEE CHAPTER 1 FOR WARNINGS AND OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES!
Not Necessary
Snape had all of his things put away and was reading, giving Harry plenty of time to settle in on his own. With the war being over, he found he had a lot of free time on his hands, as he was no longer playing the double agent twenty-four seven. Therefor, Severus went about reading the immense pile of books he had set aside throughout the years. So engrossed was he in his book that the time had just slipped by, and he was abruptly pulled from the discovery of the usefulness of mandrake powder mixed with fruit bat teeth and extract of pine sap by a loud crack a foot from him.
"Snippy has prepared dinner for Master Snape and Harry Potter." The elf gave him a look that spoke volumes of her determination to see him at the table with food on his plate. Snape nodded and set his book aside.
"Thank you, Snippy. I will be down momentarily." Snippy bowed low and popped out and presumably to the dining room.
When Snape entered the dining room, he was surprised to find Harry standing by his chair stock still. He did not even look up when Snape came in.
"Harry, what are you doing? Sit down. Snippy will be in to serve us shortly." Harry looked up at him then and nodded.
"Yes, Sir." Snape sighed and gave the young man a look. His former student merely settled in and looked down at the table, instead of at him.
"Potter, how many times have I told you to call me Severus or Snape? Countless, I assure you. And why did you not simply sit at the table? Why stand next to it until I had to give you express permission, like one would a dog? For Merlin's sake, look at me when I am speaking to you." Harry's brow furrowed at the harsh tone and looked up to meet the man's eyes.
"I'm sorry, Si-" Another sharp look cut him off, before he could finish the word. "I'm sorry, Severus. I was unsure how I was to conduct myself in your home. You'll have to forgive me, as I'm sure I will mess up again." Snippy popped in to serve the two men, cutting off anything Snape might have said. To be honest, he had only opened his mouth to respond, but in a moment for the history books, he really didn't know what to say.
They sat in pseudo-companionable silence. Harry's mind was calculating his every move and action, making sure he didn't mess anything up in front of his new guardian. Snape was trying to think of some way to assure Potter that he was safe from any supposed wrath. They had grown close during the year, and Harry had on more than one occasion run to him after a vicious nightmare, but that had been at Hogwarts- Harry's safe place. Now they were in a strange, new house, and were living together. Severus figured, that in Harry's mind, he didn't know the 'rules'. He had seen Snape mad before, plenty of times, but this was a different situation with a completely different setting. There was no one else around for him to run to if Snape did anything to him (the most of which would only ever be shouting or chores, and if he must, grounding).
Snippy popped back into the room, interrupting his thoughts. Snape raised a brow at the jingling bag she carried and the sealed letter that accompanied it. The house elf bowed and laid the objects next to his plate.
"Snippy has collected these from strange owl at the wards, Master Snape." Snape, still surprised at the sudden influx in mail, (never before had he received more than a letter from Dumbledor, ensuring he still lived) nodded and waved the house elf away, who then promptly popped out of the room.
Harry did not even lift his head in curiosity as to what Snape now held, which the potions master found a bit odd. Then again, the boy was not as he had once thought, and given his recent strong of odd behaviors, perhaps the boy was trying to be polite and give Snape his privacy.
Severus recognized the seal of Gringotts immediately, and he was once again puzzled.
"Regards to Master Severus Snape, Order of Merlin First Class,
This afternoon, the exact amount of five hundred galleons has been transferred from the Potter vault into the Snape Vault. Per Master Potter's instructions, some of the funds were sent directly to you for you to use at your leisure. Please visit us here at Gringotts, if you instead wish to deposit the coins into your vault.
-Boris Shingleton, Head of Platinum Branch 11"
Snape continued to stare at the letter for a long time, wondering when it was going to vanish and Potter was going to jump up laughing at him. He glanced at the boy across from him and determined that he was not trying to hold in laughter, only pushing his food around on his plate. Severus looked at the bag next to him and, after gingerly laying the letter down, slowly took hold of the drawstrings. As soon as he caught a glimpse of the shining gold he drew it shut.
"Mr. Potter, what is this?" Harry looked up for the first time that evening. His expression was one of sincerity that even Snape could not deny.
"I just guessed on the amount, Sir. If that's not enough then I'll simply write to them again and-" Snape held up a hand to silence him.
"Not enough for what, Harry? Why would you ever think to give me such a...generous amount of your own money?" Harry bit the inside of his cheek, and pushed his food around a bit more. He didn't quite meet Snape's eyes when he finally answered him.
"Well, for all of the clothes, Sir. I mean...I just assumed they were for me. I didn't mean to be presumptuous. They all looked to be my size, and I just figured- I'm sorry. I wasn't sure how much that all cost, so I just guessed. Like I said, if that's not enough I can write to Gringotts again and have them transfer more." Severus had sat completely silent as Harry babbled across from him. Once the stream of words stopped tumbling from his mouth, the boy turned bright red and went back to his favorite game of playing with his food. Snape got his mind fixed back in place and set out to disabuse Harry of this notion.
"Harry, I asked Snippy to pick out a variety of clothes for you, as your own wardrobe was terribly lacking. You are my ward now, and such necessities as clothes, food, shelter and supplies for whomever you decide to apprentice under are my responsibility. Think of them as gifts if you will. In short," Snape picked up the heavy bag and placed it beside Potter very pointedly. "You do not need to reimburse me for them."
Harry still looked confused, but nodded. Turning back to his still half covered plate, he found that his appetite was still not enough to finish the absurd amount given to him. His fork scratched against the plate again, and Snape gritted his teeth.
"Snippy will tie you to your chair until you finish all that is on your plate, and I will allow her to do it, if you do not stop with that incessant scraping." Harry nearly dropped the fork in his swiftness to obey. He stared at his food for a few more moments, contemplating the possibility of him actually eating all of it, and then set about at least trying to follow orders.
Some Snarky Snape for ya' :) I like his bite :) Makes the contrast to his great care and gentleness that much better. :)
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