You Can Live: Chapter 7
Please don't hate me...but I just found out I will not be able to update next Saturday...And with that, enjoy the chapter! :)
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!
Instinct
Harry got dressed quickly, opting for an old baggy shirt and worn jeans, hand-me-downs from Dudley. Snape might have changed his mind and wanted Harry to do some chores after breakfast. He found the man already seated with tea in hand. Snippy was padding to and fro across the kitchen, setting plates out; she even pulled a chair out for Harry, which to be honest made him a bit uncomfortable. However, he nodded his thanks, and sat across from Severus. The man kept his gaze locked on the paper set out next to him, and didn't even look up when Harry sat down.
The only time Snape looked up was to give Harry a very pointed glare when he tried to refuse all of the food Snippy was heaping onto his plate. Even the house elf froze, spoon halfway between his plate and the scrambled eggs and gave him a look that dared him to argue. Harry had no doubt that Mrs. Weasley would love her. When Snippy had finished serving them, she took her leave, and even then Severus did not look up.
Harry was starting to squirm in his seat. He had sat down without asking, but...he knew Snape would want him to clean his plate, but did that mean he should start eating? It probably did, but still. What if-?
"Are you not hungry, Mr. Potter? I could always call Snippy back in to take your plate away, and save it for later." Harry, now entirely unsure of the man's intentions, almost said yes just to see what he would do, but then his stomach growled. So he just picked up his fork without answering, biting his tongue when he saw the corner of Severus's mouth twitch.
They ate in silence for a few minutes, but when Harry was full (he had only finished half the plate) he set his fork down and stared at the potions professor. His uncle always had him wait for his list of chores until it was sure to be too late for Harry to finish them all. Harry hoped, that if that was Snape's intention, he would grow annoyed by his staring and just tell him what he wanted Harry to do.
"Despite what you may be thinking, your staring will not make things go any faster." Harry huffed and picked up his fork to play with it. As soon as it scraped across the ceramic, a hand whipped out and grabbed his wrist. The fork clattered to the floor, and Harry wrenched back violently. This caused him to fall off of his chair and bang his knee on the floor. He hissed and winced as he slowly stood back up.
"I'm sorry, Sir. I didn't mean to pull away. I promise I won't-"
"Harry." The boy bit his tongue and very hesitantly brought his gaze up. He had expected to see anger, rage, or even a little indignation; what he found, however, was a bit of sadness, guilt and...a whole lot of nothing being thrown up in front of it. Harry tensed as Snape stood and slowly walked over to him. He kept his hands in plain view as he brought them to rest on Harry's shoulders. They were meant to be a comfort, a grounding of sorts, not a threat or confinement.
"I want you to understand something. Look at me, please." It wasn't a barked command, but it held enough authority for Harry to understand that it wasn't a suggestion. He allowed his green eyes to meet with the older man's darker ones. Once he had the boy's full attention, the man continued.
"I will never hurt you. What your relatives did to you was beyond wrong, and you did not deserve it. However, I will discipline you if I deem it necessary, but it will in no way resemble what the Dursleys did to you. It will be like a detention at Hogwarts, cleaning cauldrons and the like. Never will there will physical punishment of any sort. You have no reason to fear such a thing from me, understand." Harry nodded. He knew Severus was nothing like his uncle. The man had proven that just by the simple act of smiling at him, no matter how small, and protecting him. Harry just had to get his instinctual reactions to subside, so as not to offend the man he had such a strong respect for.
"I do understand, Sir. I just...I don't mean to...react that way. I'm sorry." Snape rolled his eyes and patted his shoulders gently.
"Harry, if you keep apologizing I might sick Snippy on you." Harry chuckled at the thought of a house elf wielding a wooden spoon and the tension of the previous moments drained away.
"Now, there was something I wanted to discuss with you." Snape guided him back to the table, and they sat back down.
"You have to start thinking about what field of study you are interested in and who you wish to apprentice under this upcoming fall. You do not need to give me a definitive answer now, but I will not have you trying to decide the night before summer ends." Harry nodded. He had been thinking about it for a few weeks now, before school even ended, and had already come to a decision.
"I have a feeling you will have your pick of masters, for who would turn down teaching the Boy Who Lived. But I must know with enough time, so I can supply you with what you will need." Harry was wondering if he should just ask Severus now. That way if he said no, he would have the rest of the summer to make a new decision.
"Well, Severus, I was kind of thinking I might want to apprentice under you." The room was silent for a few moments, as Severus sat temporarily shocked and Harry fretted that he had been presumptuous. However, Severus was quick to break the quiet.
"I...must say I am a bit surprised. I was sure you would choose to go the Auror route instead." Harry wasn't surprised that Snape thought that. Everyone else probably assumed the same thing, but he had had enough of blood shed.
"I'm sure a lot of people think that, but I've had enough of chasing evil wizards to last a life time. You actually taught me something different that could be used to help people without me hurling hexes at people. I want to learn more from you. If that's okay, I mean. You don't have to. I just- you know. It seemed cool, but-"
"Yes." Harry cut of his rambling and gave Snape a tentative smile.
"Really? I can apprentice under you?" Snape liked seeing the childish joy that spread across Harry's face, and nodded. The boy beamed then, seemingly overjoyed at the prospect of apprenticing under the Bat of the Dungeons.
"And as you are staying with me this summer, you might as well start early. I made a promise to myself that if I survived the war, I would give up my position as Potions Master at Hogwarts and open my own shop. I recently bought a building in a nearby wizarding community, and I would like your help getting it set up, so it can be opened in the fall. Is this acceptable to you?" Harry nodded enthusiastically. It actually did sound great.
Snape once again smiled at the boy's enthusiasm and nodded.
"Very well. We can start next week. This week we can just spend getting you used to the house and nearby town. But I don't want to here any whining when I put you to work next week." His stern tone wasn't enough to completely conceal his own happiness at having Harry eager to help him and learn from him.
"No, Sir. Was there anything you wanted me to do for you today, Sir?" Snape raised a brow at the direction the conversation had taken.
"No, Harry. I actually thought we could instead go out on a trip to the town. I like to go to the farmer's market, and I was wondering if you would like to accompany me?" Again the boy's face lit up, and Snape stood.
"Well, then get out of those work clothes and put something decent on. I will not have the locals think I took in a homeless boy. Nothing too nice though. It is a nice day and I wish to walk." Harry nodded and went to change into something more appropriate. The Dursley's usually never let him out of the house unless it was to do yard work, so the baggy clothing was typical for him.
Once he returned down stairs and Severus deemed him appropriately dressed, they headed out into a warm, sunny day.
Snape snapped for a moment when Harry scraped the fork across the plate like he had the night previous, that's why he grabbed Harry's wrist. He was stupid and wasn't thinking...thought I should clear that up...
See you in two weeks! :)
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