A/N: I know I said I wouldn't update for awhile, but I've managed to sit down and write this after all the lovely reviews I got and the fact I felt bad because I won't update for a while (i.e. two weeks)

So here is a nice long (longer than others) chapter, which is mostly in Snape's view (which by the way is hard to write). It has a little bit of interaction with other characters, but that will be more extensive later.

I hope you enjoy this!

The first thing Harry did when he woke was reach for his glasses.

The second was to open his eyes and search for them.

The third unfortunately for him was to come face to face with a very clear and sour looking Harry Potter.

"I hope you slept well?" The distained dripped from the voice. "You snore like a rhino." Harry blinked before he failed to keep control of the other mans lips and they spread into a smirk.

"Well Mister Potter," He enjoyed letting his own name roll of his tongue with distain. "As I have been asleep for the night I wouldn't know, nor control what this body does."

The emerald eyes narrowed.

"Are you insinuating I snore?"

"Not last night obviously." Before Snape could pin him down with a scathing retort, the hospital door was flung open and the headmaster drifted in with an air of important mischief about him. The twinkle in his eyes was so bright Harry was sure it had started the migraine that was slowly spreading through his skull.

"My boys! How are you feeling this glorious morning?" His hands were clasped in front of him, almost saintly, as he smiled at both of them.

"I would have been feeling better had I woken up as myself and as far away from the brat as possible." Severus sneered, and received a reproachful look from the headmaster.

"Now Severus, today is an important day for both of you, you will have to act the part. You are going to have to deal with both Harry's friends and Dolores." All of which were currently clamouring at the other side of the door, punctuated by Madame Pomfrey's calm instructions. "You will have to act like each other to keep this from falling through."

Snape winced and Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose, a little surprised at the different shape. He hadn't really explored this body yet, the sudden train of thought ambushing and dragging his mind down the gutter. He shook his head, the blush staining his cheeks.

"Um, sir do you really think it's wise?"

"Of course it isn't. The man has finally devoured too many of those lemon drops." The comment drew an unimpressed look from Dumbledore. No one insulted his sweets.

"What is your concern Harry?" He would get his small revenge on Severus later, there were plenty of opportunities.

"Um, well, it's… you see…"

"Spit it out boy!" Another look from the older man and Severus looked away to glare holes in his bed spread.

"I'm not entirely used to this body, shouldn't I… er, we, get used to it first?" Snape paled as what Harry was trying to say struck him.

"You stay away from my body Potter!" Harry blinked.

"er… with all due respect sir… how?" He gestured to his current form as Dumbledore chuckled.

"Now boys, all you have to do is lie still, answer a few questions, and after that you'll have the whole day to explore." The two stared at him in horror. "Madame Pomfrey has limited the visit, and as she is in charge of those who grace her halls, you'll be safe."

Harry doubted the headmasters sanity at that point in time. Perhaps too much sugar really did rot the brain.

"Besides you won't learn properly if you aren't thrown into the deep end. You retain much more knowledge by actual practical experience then by bickering between yourselves." He nodded as if his wisdom would somehow save the two from this predicament. "Now how about it?"

Before either could protest the door was pulled open and Hermione and Ron practically fell into the room, followed by the hulking form of Umbridge who cleared her throat in the way that made Harry want to throttle her.

"Harry!" Hermione launched herself at Snape and Harry blinked in surprise, everything finally falling into place, it felt awkward watching Severus play his part so well. He was mostly ignored letting him watch the others.

He watched as the other man smiled and nodded, looking a little sheepish, while sending half hidden glares at Harry. Harry sunk into the sheets, glowering at them, his potions professor made a better Harry Potter than he did. He saw the gleam in the emerald eyes directed at him and sneered.

So the competition was on.

Severus hadn't expected the heavy weight of the girl in his arms when Dumbledore had first opened the door. Nor had he expected the look of concern from the red head and the strong clasp of his hand on his shoulder.

"You alright mate?" Snape blinked before his mind kicked in. He spied for a living, or lived due to his excellent spying skills, it couldn't be that hard to pull off the brat's mannerisms. He'd been watching over the boy for the last few years now, trying to pay off the life debt that hung over him, so he had a few advantages.

"I'm fine." He grinned trying not to stretch the mask too far, not sure if he was to hug the bushy haired witch back. He felt a little awkward as his arms closed around her waist, it had been long years since he'd embraced someone, let alone female in a tender way.

He felt like throwing up.

"You didn't get in trouble did you Harry?" The young witch's tone reproachful and she threw glance at Snape's body.

"Yeah." Ron's voice lowered. "The greasy git didn't give you too hard a time did he?" Snape usually let the insult slide off him, he'd experienced it too many times to really give it any real meaning. But having had it said to his face was a little suprising, most often people were too afraid to even think anything near him.

He grumbled in his mind, he'd have to get used to the names that he was called behind his back, he was after all going to be spending the next few weeks in a Gryffindor rooms. Although, he fought to keep the smirk from his face, he could catch people red handed, and he'd punish them as soon as he got his body back.

"Nah, he was just being a prat." It felt awkward using Harry's voice to insult himself, but shrugged it off. Now that he had an objective, he could treat this like a mission. A quick glance in Potters direction, found the other watching him, a glare fixed onto his features, but the small nod of his head indicated he had accepted the unspoken challenge.

"A prat Mr Potter?" The voice held cold distain and Severus felt himself almost smirk as the red head jumped. Instead he glared at his own face. "I see your vocabulary hasn't surpassed first year standards. Ten points from Gryffindor for insulting a teacher, another ten for Mr Weasley's comment."

Severus gapped, the brat had just taken twenty points off from his own house.

"And a seven o-clock detention with myself Mr Potter, Weasley you may assist Filch on lavatory duty. And perhaps you would wish to explain the reasons for such disrespect to the headmaster or professor Umbridge."

Severus's eyes were wide as he regarded the boy in his body. This twist of events intrigued him. The woman standing beside the headmaster coughed to gain attention to herself and Severus felt like throttling her.

"You're injured. I will take Potter and deal out a fitting punishment." Her small pig eyes seemed to gleam and Severus bit his tongue hoping he wouldn't get stuck with her. Merlin knew what kind of punishment the depraved woman would deal out.

"Madam." The dark haired man purred, shooting a glance over to the emerald eye boy. Severus looked up, hating the fact that Harry's eyes could be read so easily, and the fact that Harry had read his apprehension easily. "Although it may seem as though I have the incapacity to deal with the situation at the moment, I assure you I am more than well enough to deal out a punishment that I see fit."

Severus hadn't realised Potter had even known what half those words were, let alone use them. He had insulted the boy more than once on his vocabulary, which was where the previous sneer had come from.

"This is unreasonable." She demanded, and Severus watched as Harry stared her down, causing her to lose her steam and splutter instead.

"As the insult was directed at my person I believe I have the right of judgement." The sneer was directed at him and Severus stared back in retaliation before looking away quickly, playing the fearful student.

"As you just said Madam." Albus interrupted. "Severus is injured, as is Mr Potter, it would be best for them both if we were to leave them to rest." Both Hermione and Ron looked about to protest, but Umbridge beat them to it.

"This is illegal! It must be! You can't force me from these rooms and I want questions answered. How were they injured? How badly? Potter looks to be in fine health."

"I see nothing illegal, but I do see something I will not tolerate. I will not have you forcing a patient in my ward to answer questions. They are both exhausted from the healing they have been going through, I will not have you excite them and endanger their health. Now out. All of you." Madame Pomfrey's tone was final and Ron and Hermione scurried out. Snape caught the smirk before it spread on his lips. They had probably been caught in Poppy's wrath before, knowing the amount of time Potter seemed to spend in the hospital ward.

He waved at them before disappearing out the door and they sent him looks of comfort. It felt odd having people care for him, after the years of trying to remove anyone close to him he had been dumped into a situation where everyone seemed to dote on him. He wasn't sure if he should push them away, making Potter's life a living hell, or if he should sit back, relax and enjoy this so called ride.

He rubbed his forehead, feeling the uneven skin, tracing his finger along the thunderbolt shape. His sleeve fell away to reveal an unscarred forearm, no dark form branded his skin and he ran his fingertips over the smooth unblemished skin. Only then did it occur to him, he was no longer Severus Snape, he could go out unrecognised, he wouldn't be branded by his dark mark, no dark stares, whispers behind his back, attempts on his life. He could have a normal life, an untarnished life.

He looked at his arm and decided he would keep the boy as innocent as he could while he resided in this body. Hadn't that been his mission since the boy had entered school, keep him away from the death that haunted his step, etched into his forehead. Keep him safe.

He shot a look at his body currently being prodded and poked by Poppy.

"Are you feeling alright Harry?" Severus watched as his body twitched when she prodded his ribs.

"I'm fine, mmph." Damn it, now the boy knew he was ticklish. "But I'd like to go to the bathroom." Severus growled in protest and dark eyes turned to regard him.

"Mr Potter, I advise you to keep your eyes and hands to yourself."

"But sir." Severus noticed his voice came out in a whine and he glared at the boy in his body for abusing his vocal cords. "I really really need to go. I haven't been this morning."

Severus winced, he had tried to push the need away as well, but he knew he'd have to give into it. Gnawing his bottom lip he regarded himself, could almost see the pleading in the obsidian eyes.

"Fine." He humped, crossing his arms to glare at the far wall as Poppy moved to him and started pocking around, fussing over him. Out of the corner of his eyes he watched as the boy practically leapt out of the bed, and not being used to such height promptly tripped over his own feet.

"This is weird." Severus merely rolled his eyes at the boys statement, it took him this long to figure it out? He didn't say anything as he only wanted the boy to hurry, so he could go next.

Poppy tutted as he moved away from her cold prodding fingers.

"I'm fine Poppy."

"Now Mr Potter, Severus, don't use that tone of voice with me." but her hands disappeared,

"Whoa!" Was heard from the bathroom before a deathly silence. There was a long pause and Severus's voice floated again through the door "Er, I mean, you've done an excellent job with cleaning the toilet Madame Pomfrey… very shiny."

Severus could almost here the boy mentally cursing himself. Poppy merely chuckled as she let herself out to tend to her other patients.

"Have fun boys." She crooned, and Severus resisted the urge to throw a pillow at her. She was one of the only people in this castle that had gained what little was left of his trust. She had become in an essence an older sister, well what he had believed an older sister should have been like.

Potter exited the bathroom a little while later, long straight hair hung in front of his face, but Severus managed to catch the curious look he was shot from behind the curtain.

"Um." Harry had started to say something, but paused.

"Eloquent as ever Mr Potter." Severus couldn't resist drawling, annoyed that the untrained voice of the boy's couldn't hold its shape. He didn't even want to try a sneer, and quiet evidently the voice wouldn't be able to shape the low dangerous purr he was notorious for. He took great pride in his voice and the trained malevolence he could produce with only a single word dropped from his lips.

He threw off the covers and stepped onto the cold floor, almost stumbling at the height he dropped. Merlin the boy was short. Shuffling over to the bathroom he noticed Harry's apprehensive look, which travelled to his crotch. Severus couldn't resist smirking.

"Intimidated Potter?" The obsidian eyes jerked up to meet his own, before a blush covered the normally pale cheeks.

"Would it lower what you thought of me if I told you yes."

"I don't think you can sink any lower in my eyes Potter." He smirked as he entered the bathroom, the boys embarrassed look still in his mind. This was going to be awkward, he'd have to touch himself, touch Potter. See more than he wished to see, although the voice in the back of his mind congratulated him on getting a feel of someone as good looking as Potter, it sadly lacked the snark of sarcasm and Snape winced at the perverted thought.

It had been years since he'd allowed himself to stray. He'd had plenty of partners during his early years in the Dark Lords service as he moved steadily up the ranks. The night of his first kill he stopped bedding anyone. When he had gone to Dumbledor for salvation, he had kept himself away from the others. Once the monster had been destroyed by the Potter brat, he had hidden in the shadows away from the accusations, away from the light that was spreading back over Britain, hadn't wanted to stain it with his impurities.

Now he was in the body of the pure boy, the boy of light, thinking about things he should have kept far from the innocent body he had been thrust into.

"Hey you aren't doing… improper things in there with my body are you?" The voice sounded worried, disgusted and humorous at the same time. Severus shuddered, he was disgusting, the boy had every right to worry.

"Or maybe you're having stage fright." Potter added and Snape snarled.

"I didn't realise this was a performance, or do you make a habit of listening to people in the bathroom Potter?" There was silence and Snap grit his teeth as he went to the toilet, finishing as fast as he could. Washing his hands thoroughly, as if the soap could scrub away his thoughts.

He hadn't known the boy would grow from the gangly boy into the gorgeous creature he was now. Severus had first watched him to keep him safe, even after the years of pulling the boy out of trouble, when he had believed the life debt was payed. He still kept a watch over the boy. He had seen him change from the young eleven year old, into a resemblance of his father, but with the grace and hidden strength of his mother, her smooth skin and delicate features. And most importantly her eyes.

The eyes that stared back at him from the mirror. Lips pouting as he thought. He stepped out of the bathroom, fingers running along his cheek bone.

"Has anyone ever told you, you look like your mother?"

Severus noticed he had caught the boy off guard and he blinked owlishly.

"Really? I thought I looked a lot like you right now." Severus noticed the flicker in the dark eyes before the quick jibe had been blurted out, masking the emotion he couldn't quiet identify.

"Very observant Potter."

There was an awkward silence, before his own voice caught him off guard.

"So what do we do now? I don't think I can teach." Severus snorted.

"There isn't that much too it. Although I can see with you limited capacity and ability to understand potions may cause a few problems."

"So what am I suppose to do?"

"It's quiet simple Potter. You put up the instructions, look intimidating, reward or deduct points and hope nothing blows up."

"But…"

"Potter." Severus rubbed his forehead, his fingers running over the scar, it was starting to ache a little. "It's simple enough for you to understand. You will be there just to make sure they don't skip class. "

"I guess sir."

"And all I have to do is pretend I don't have two brain cells to rub together, a hero complex, and an ego that competes with your fathers."

"Um, there's a few things you might need to know if Hermione gets suspicious."

"Suspicious?" Severus sneered, the female of the golden trio was going to be meddlesome.

"Well, you know just in case." The boy shrugged in the man's body.

"I don't need to know any details, we only have to survive a few days before the holidays start."

"But sir…"

"Harry!" Severus felt the wind knocked out of him as two large arms wrapped around his waist and he was pulled against a firm chest. "I heard something had happened and I had to come and see you right away. I hope Snivellus didn't give you too much trouble."

He tensed with the urge to escape the arms or to go down kicking and screaming.

"Have the fleas addled your brain mutt!" The voice was a furious hiss. "The ministry is practically crawling over the whole place and you bring your flea covered behind here, into the this room which is being watched by Dolores herself."

"Shut your beak Snivellus. You wouldn't know what it's like to care for someone." Severus tried to escape the arms as they squeezed him tighter to the man's chest. His scent enveloped him and Severus had the largest urge to throw up.

"He's right." He managed to gasp out and was almost dropped.

"Harry?"

"I don't want to get you into trouble." He tried to look worried, only wanting the man to leave, he could taste the bile building in his throat. "Please… Sirius." He managed to gag out the name without too much hate behind it.

"Why don't you follow the brats command. Home." Severus watched as his body gave a small dismissive wave with his hand. "Go on you mangy mutt. Or are you too stupid to follow even the simplest command?"

The man growled, but Severus directed the pleading emerald eyes at the man and he huffed before placing a kiss on Severus' forehead, just below the lightening scar before changing back into the four legged flea bag and slinking from the room with a goodbye bark.

Severus rushed to the bathroom and threw up. The feel of the lips on his forehead burning, as was the touch the man had granted him. He hated the dog so much. He re-entered the room to find Harry curled, shaking, whispering apologies.

"You seemed to enjoy tormenting your dogfather." He watched the boy unfold, surprised to see there were tears welling in his eyes.

"I hate you!" Severus watched in shock, he didn't think his comment had warranted that kind of reaction. "I love him, his the only family I have left and I had to say all those things to him! Just because he was cruel to you! That's no reason to hate anyone."

"And don't you hate me?" Severus smirked, it wasn't the only reason for his hatred but he ignored that for now. The boy really was innocent, he could see it in the way his eyes widened in realization.

"No."

Severus's smirk fell from his lips.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed that. No update again for a while! But reviews make me write longer chapters! grin