I'd like to thank all my reviewers and readers, as well as apologize for the abrupt end to the first summer holiday but I'm planning on continuing with the following years so don't worry!
After Petunia had left, Severus finished his brewing and went upstairs. Upon stepping in the sitting room, he froze momentarily. He couldn't remember ever having seen the room so clean. In fact, it didn't even look like it was the same room he had left a few hours ago. There was no longer any sign of dust, the floor was clean, and the spider webs had disappeared. The dark haired teen stepped in the room hesitantly. He hadn't realized how much a little cleaning could change a room. Not only was it clean, but the windows had been opened letting fresh air in for the first time in ages.
Severus suddenly felt a surge of respect for the blond girl. It was then that he remembered what she had said. She would be cleaning the rooms upstairs the next day! Suddenly worried, the dark haired boy ran up the stairs into his room and started going through his belongings. It wouldn't do to leave important things in his room where they could easily be stolen. Of course, he didn't think she would steal anything, but one could never be too careful.
After much deliberation he decided his books would be fine. He dumped everything else in his suitcase and brought it down to the cellar. Once that his things were safely put away, the boy started feeling hungry. He remembered the curry and sighed. Obviously he wouldn't be getting such a good meal but he could at least find something to satisfy his hunger. He went to the kitchen and was surprised to see a plate of curry on the table. Next to it was a note, written in neat letters.
"This is the left-overs from the curry. You can heat it up and eat it for your dinner if you like.
See you tomorrow, Petunia"
An unknown warmth spread in his chest, though he would have rather died on the spot that admitted it.
The next day, Petunia went back to the Snape household and cleaned the rooms while Severus occupied himself in the cellar. She cooked lunch for him and they ate together. When she left in the afternoon, a plate with the lunch's left-overs was left on the kitchen table. The day after that she did the laundry. And soon they fell in a kind of routine. Petunia arrived in the morning and did some housework. She would then cook and they would eat lunch. In the afternoon, Petunia would either continue what she was doing previously or she would join Severus downstairs or watch him work.
She had discovered on the fifth day that she quite liked watching the younger boy brewing potions. She could see, despite the mask he always seemed to wear, that he was very passionate about Potions. He would have that small frown of concentration when he measured ingredients and his lips would twitch upwards ever so slightly when he completed the brewing successfully. After watching the boy a few times Petunia started to feel interested in Potions.
The way she saw it, it was a lot like cooking. She had told Severus that and he had briefly looked extremely offended. He appeared to accept her explanations though and without looking at her, he had told her that she could read the books on the cellar's shelf if she was interested. She had smiled and thanked him warmly. He had mumbled something in reply, blushing slightly.
Their routine had continued all through summer. By the last few weeks of holidays, Petunia and Severus were having long conversations about Potions and the boy spend more time in the sitting room, reading or working and sometimes engaging into conversations with Petunia.
And then the last day came…
"Did you pack already?" asked Petunia placing the curry dish carefully on the table.
"I hadn't really unpacked…" muttered Severus kind of knowing where this was going to lead.
As expected, Petunia sighed and gave him a disapproving look.
"Really, living like you do it's a wonder you managed to survive to this day!"
Wisely, the dark haired boy kept his mouth shut.
"Oh well, when you come back next time, do take the time to unpack. I bet you have some dirty clothes at the bottom of your suitcase that haven't seen the light of day in months." continued the blond girl.
Well, that was actually possible…
The blue eyed girl carefully served him a plate of his favourite dish and he thanked her quietly. He waited for her to sit down in front of him. He didn't start eating immediately.
"Don't your parents wonder where you go every day?" he asked at last, he had actually been meaning to ask for a long while.
She looked up, appearing surprised by the sudden inquiry.
"Not really, I told them I went at a friend's who spent summer alone." she shrugged. "They don't mind. Plus they have Lily anyway."
If there was one thing Severus knew about the girl was that she didn't like her sister that much. Something to do with the amount of attention their parents gave to the green eyed witch.
He decided to drop the subject and started eating.
When it was time for Petunia to leave, Severus grabbed her hand and placed a key inside.
"In case you need it." he said simply.
The girl smiled fondly and took the key delicately; as if afraid she would break it. She looked at it a few moments before pocketing it. She took a step forward and kissed the boy's cheek.
"Have a nice year at school." she said before falling into her usual motherly tone. "Be good, keep in touch."
The boy could only nod, slightly taken aback by the affectionate gesture. The door slammed shut and he was alone again, this time for a long while.