Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or any of the publishing rights here. The all belong to Raincoast books and JK Rowling. However, I do own the plot, and that, in itself, is mine.

A/N: I will do personal thank you's to all who review in the next chapter. Thanks very much.

NOTE: I am looking for a beta; so if anyone is up to the job, please e-mail me(my address is in my profile).Thanks!

Chapter Three: Life Becoming a Landslide

Severus waited outside the door for a minute or two, trying in vain to catch the conversation going on inside. After establishing that, in fact, he could not hear it at all, he sighed and turned around, meaning to go back up to his temporary room However, as he set one foot before the other, a stern voice rang out from behind the door he had previously been standing before.

"Severus, I know you are there. Come in, I have matters I wish to discuss with you."

Severus cringed at the sound of Dumbledore, and turned back around, hesitantly twisting open the now unlocked door, and stepped inside. The Wolf glanced at him, a slight flush gracing his cheeks, and Severus frowned.

Dumbledore waved his hand towards an armchair by the fire next to his. Reluctantly, he walked over, and gingerly sat down on the end of the overstuffed cushion. The old school master laced his finger together on his lap, and gave a bit of a tired smile.

"What I am going to ask of you Severus, I know you will not like, but you must know that I believe it to be extremely necessary." He drew in a deep breath, and Severus froze, his eyebrows knitted together in doubt. The Wolf cringed and turned away, plunking himself down exhaustedly on the couch, and vehemently refusing to look at Severus.

"I am afraid to tell you that Mr. Potter will be assigned to your care for the next two weeks, at your manor home."

Snape blinked, his face continuously developing into a rather nasty shade of red, his fists clenched. He opened his mouth in a half-snarl, making to speak, but the Wolf cut him off.

"Severus, I'm sorry. I was the one who thought of this idea, and I know that it doesn't abide well with you, judging by Harry and yours relationship. But you must understand…This is what's best for Harry, and the rest of us."

Severus' eyebrows shot up, and he sneered, glaring at the Wolf. "And what of his muggle relatives? Mr. Potter's exact instructions were that he must stay with them for protection, were they not? I am afraid to tell you, but I am, in fact, not Potter's Aunt! Or his Nanny, for that matter. I do not see why he should have to come and live with me…"

Dumbledore sighed, seeming very tired all of a sudden, and turned pleadingly to Remus, who nodded in response. "Well…" The Wolf looked uncertainly at Severus, and unconsciously drew Harry's letter from his pocket, fingering it in slight guilt. "Harry sent a letter, asking if he could come here for his birthday, so he could spend it with his friends. I knew Albus would disagree to him coming here, as he believes it not to be safe enough." Albus shook his head at that, but The Wolf never noticed. "I didn't know what to do, but…" Here he had the dignity to blush, and he sighed. "He'd be safe with you."

Severus looked at the Wolf as though he had suddenly sprouted feathers, and stood up abruptly. "You've got to be kidding! How could he possibly be safe with me-"

"The wards surrounding your manor home are even stronger than the ones at Hogwarts, you know that. And you yourself are definitely…equipped…to protect the boy."

"Yes, Albus, I know all this, but you must see reason!" The Potions Master held out his hands in exasperation. "You know very well that Voldemort suspects where my true loyalties lie, and with me having not been summoned for such an extended period of time, it could only indicate the worst. Besides, after I begin to supposedly 'sway' my kind to our side, it will have been proven considerably! It's a damned fact that most will deny, and I'll be lucky if I can get away from the ones who are truly loyal to the Dark Lord without them bleeding me dry! How am I supposed to protect him like this!" His teeth were bared, and the deep obsidian of his eyes glinted red in frustration. His knuckles were aching, and he needed to remind himself to stay in check.

Dumbledore stood up as he saw Severus begin to lose his control. He raised both hands in an attempt to calm him. "Severus, relax. If Voldemort were going to kill you, he would have done so by now. Tell me though; are you the only one of his inner ring that has not been called? No, you are not. The Dark Lord will not be able to sense Harry being there, thanks to the ancient wards surrounding your family home. It would most likely be the last place he would think of to look for him, and even if he did land an attack, I am sure you would be able to find some sort of unknown room in that labyrinth to hide Mr. Potter in, would you not?"

Severus fell back down into the armchair, his arms splayed across the sides, his face a mask of dismay. He was losing this battle, and he knew it. Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes and took the plunge.

"When will I have to go fetch him?"

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By the time Harry had stopped crying, his eyes were red and swollen, beginning to itch, and his arm was stiff from having been held underneath the pillow for so long. His throat was very sore, and raw. Sniffling a slight bit, he straightened up and scratched at his eyelids, before swinging of the bed and heading for his wardrobe. He stripped down to just his boxers, then reached in and pulled out a pair of dark gray flannel pyjama pants. Slipping them on, he glared at the waistband that hung low on his hips, even after being tightened as far as it could go. He tried to walk, but stumbled on the too long legs, ending up face first on the floor.

He moaned in pain, and tried to right himself again. "Why can't Dudley get any thinner?" He spoke to the empty room, before standing up, and heading down the stairs, holding his pant-legs up. Entering the kitchen, he opened up one of the many drawers, and fished around before pulling out a pair of scissors. He sat down on a kitchen chair, and began hacking away at his left pant leg.

Smiling, he picked up the long strip of cloth, and tested the new length, before proceeding to cut off the other leg. He stood, and rubbed his arms, hugging his bare torso, realizing just how cold it was down there. He shivered, but proceeded to the fridge, in hopes of finding something to eat before the Dursley's arrived home. However, as he reached for the handle, a noise from outside made him freeze and whisk around, eyes wide.

It sounded almost like a car backfiring…right in front of the back door.

"Oh shit." Was all he could say before someone rapped against the back door. He stood frozen to the spot, listening as three hard knocks sounded out, before a harsh sigh sounded. A deep voice muttered something, and he heard the lock click, the chain slipping out of the hole on it's own.

Harry smiled, his first thought was that it must be Moody, here to take him to Grimmauld place, but as the door banged open, he stumbled back in shock. Obsidian eyes looked on at him in aggravation.

"P-Professor Snape!"

'No Potter, the Pope'. "Get your things, you're coming with me."

Harry stared at him. "B-but…I…Where's Remus!"

Snape raised a cynical eyebrow. "I imagine he is at Headquarters, most likely reading a book, or arguing with McGonnagal again. Now get packed." He ran his eyes up and down the nearly-seventeen-year-old. "And perhaps some decent clothing."

Harry blushed profusely, and tried in vain to cover his bare chest with his arms, suddenly feeling very self-conscious under the scrutinizing stare of his Potions Master. Frowning slightly, he backed up a few steps. "Uh…O-okay then. Right."

Severus sighed and rolled his eyes, walking past Harry into the living room. He glanced at the staircase, and headed towards it. "Your room is upstairs, I presume?"

Harry nodded, and then shook his head to himself, hurrying to catch up with the Professor's long strides as he headed up the stairs.

Sidling past Severus on the landing, he headed into his room first and dragged his trunk out from underneath his bed. Dumping it on his bed, he unlatched it, and peered inside. Most of his school stuff was already in there, having not been taken out at all since the summer began. He glanced nervously at Snape, who was standing stiffly by the doorway, looking at him strangely. He swallowed and looked at his wardrobe, then his nightstand.

"There isn't much else for me to pack in there, just some homework, a couple books, and things. It wont take me long." He glanced back at the doorway, past Snape. "Excuse me, I need to get some stuff from the bathroom." He walked past the taller man, ignoring the steady glare sent his way, and entered the bathroom down the hall.

Severus slowly walked into the room, and took in his surroundings. His eyes settled on the window frame, and his eyes widened in unabashed shock as he saw areas where metal bars were obviously present at one time. Looking down, he noticed a cat-flap near the bottom of the door. He didn't have to guess what it was used for. He felt a deep swelling of anger spoon in the pit of his stomach when he saw the words 'FUCKING FREAK' etched on the wooden door, and a stuck on notepad, carrying the details for about a months worth of chores.

Dumbledore let the child leave with these people? Fuck. Again, his knuckles began to ache, and he needed to take deep, calming breaths in order to calm himself down. Stupid fucking meddling muggles.

Shaking his head, he turned, then immediately froze. Taking a step closer to the desk, he gasped, staring in awe and bewilderment at the drawing lying there innocently. His thoughts were running a mile a minute, as he reached out and traced his hand along the black ink image.

'He drew me? Potter drew a picture of me…Why? What on earth was the brat thinking?' He scrunched up is nose, and quickly drew back, moving to stand outside the room as he heard the bathroom door opening again.

Harry walked out, carrying a plastic bag with his toiletries, and gave a hesitant smile at the dark man, who simply gave him a very odd, calculating look. Shrinking away a little, he mentally cursed himself for being such a coward, but walked quickly past him into his room. After packing up everything, he locked Hedwig in her cage (she gave an aggravated hoot at this and ruffled her feathers at him in annoyance), before hastily folding his drawing of Snape, and shoving it into his trunk, a deep blush tinting his cheeks.

He had laid out a pair of faded jeans, and a too large red shirt on his bed. Hauling his luggage into the hall, he looked at the man, his cheeks still slightly pink. "Umm…I'm just going to get dressed now, I guess."

Severus rolled his eyes at him. "I'll be in the back yard." He drew his wand and levitated the trunk and cage, walking back down the steps.

Harry closed his bedroom door, and sunk down against it.

"What am I going to do?" He moaned.

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Albus Dumbledore smiled across at Minerva McGonnagal, his grin reaching to the sides of his face. He looked just like the cat that got the canary.

Minerva glared at him heftily, but he just continued to grin cheekily, his hand drumming against the desk. "Albus, they are going to rip each other to pieces, and I would much rather if my student and colleague returned next year fully in tact."

Albus laughed at her loftily, and leaned forward, his bushy eyebrows raised high on his head. One of the objects on his desk began to emit a low whirring sound. Ignoring her comment, he continued airily, as though he was merely thinking out loud, and had forgotten that Minerva was even there at all. "I do believe that this is just the chance I have been looking for. I can play on this perfectly, and kill two birds with one stone."

Minerva sighed and laid her hand across his. "This isn't going to work. They hate each other."

Albus shook his head at her, but his smile fading a little. "They both deserve happiness, you know this. I believe that they will be able to find it in each other." He chuckled slightly. "Even if it takes a bit of persuasion."

"But Albus, Severus…he's…well…" She looked at him exasperated. "He could be dangerous to Harry! What if he loses control of himself, and does something rash?" Her face darkened considerably. "I will not see Harry Potter either taken, or dead by his hand, for as long as I live."

He sighed at her, as though she was but a child who simply didn't understand. "I have a theory Minerva, that I have been curious over for some time." He grinned hugely. "Haven't you ever wondered why Severus is always so sour?"

This time, it was her turn to laugh. "I would say that that's obvious. I mean, besides the fact that he had a horrible childhood, suffers ridicule because of what he is, and carries the guilt of the Potter's death as well as dealing with Voldemort…Well…You know how they can get if they don't find their mate."

Albus nodded slowly. "Exactly."

She looked at him in confusion for a second, before her eyes became wide. "Albus, no! That will never happen, and you know it! Are you daft? They hate each other! It's one thing to expect them to live with each other for a couple of weeks, but something else entirely to even suggest that…they…" She trailed off, flabbergasted. Albus just continued to smile, and gazed at his fingernails distractedly.

"Love is very strange, isn't Minerva? Comes from very odd places. I mean, just look at Hagrid. You never would have thought that it was possible!" He frowned. "Actually, I must say that I am not entirely sure how it was possible…"

"Albus!" She threw her hands up into the air. "Severus is twenty years Harry's senior! Besides, he is his teacher, and that is against the law!"

"That never stopped us, now did it?"

She sighed. 'This will never work…'

A/N: Thanks for reading, and please review. Also, again, anyone want to be my beta?XoXo, Crowley.

PS: Any ideas for how you guys want things to go in the plot? I'm open to suggestions! Thanks!