That night Harry lay in an undisturbed sleep. Snape did not. He did not sleep at all but remained seated, fully dressed at the foot of his bed with his eyes fixed, unblinking on the door. His wand was held in his hand and grasped so tightly that his knuckles stood out against the sallow skin that surrounded them. Each noise from behind the door, each hoot from an owl or mew from a cat from the street below was magnified. The wardrobe was a black hole in the wall, the mirror a night time lake. The dark feeling of foreboding stayed with Snape all night but despite the anticipation nothing came. No one came to the door. No masked intruders attempted to attack Lily's son, but still Snape stayed on guard.
There was no disturbance from Harry, only light regular breathing. Snape thought darkly, even Potter was innocent when he dreamt.
It was not until five o'clock that Snape found some relief from his midnight vigil. The curtains were back lit by the early summer sun and there was a sea change in the room's atmosphere. The furniture was no longer threatening but homely, the noises from the inn comforting. Snape loosened his grip on his wand but maintained his post. It was only when the businesslike noises from the pub had reached a noticeable level and the slamming of doors suggested other guests had woken that he got up and readied himself for the day. They still had shopping to do.
"Potter," said Snape. There was no reaction. Again, slightly more forcefully Snape said, "Potter!"
"Wuzzit," groaned Harry rolling over in bed.
"Potter, get up," said Snape threatening.
"Err…" Harry buried his head under the blankets.
"Now!"
Harry pushed himself up from under the covers and looked at Snape, "What time is it?"
"It is eight o'clock and you have had more than enough sleep."
"No I haven't," moaned Harry.
"Yes you have," said Snape, but his harsh, snide tone was absent being replaced by a lighter tone. "Get up and get dressed. I'm going to settle the bill and order breakfast. The shops will be open soon and I want to get his over with as quickly as possible."
"Can I have bacon?"
"You'll have what you are given," said Snape leaving the room with his face turned away from Potter a hidden smile on his lips, though Harry caught a glimpse of it in the mirror
After breakfast Harry and Snape broke out of the Leaky Cauldron into Diagon Alley. They spent the morning walking up and down the street frequenting the necessary shops for Harry's school list and some new clothes, wizarding and muggle. Snape paid. They spent an age in the Apothecary not only to replenish Harry's potion's kit, which Snape did not fail to criticise, but also for Snape to buy things. Harry asked if he could go outside to wait but was told no, so he had to endure the sulphurous smell of the shop while Snape examined the quality of the different ingredients in minute detail. The Professor purchased a variety of disgusting items (no doubt students were unable to prepare them) including regurgitated cat hair pelts, dung beetle casings and yeti nails. Harry was especially curious about the unicorn horn but Snape pulled him away as he extended his hand to touch.
"Can we go in?" asked Harry as they approached Quality Quidditching Supplies weighed down by the smelly shopping. Snape looked at him, so tempted to deny Jam- Harry this pleasure. So like his father. He merely held the door open for Harry to walk through. Snape scanned the street behind him for all too familiar faces before entering himself. Still no one.
Harry ogled all of the displays. He gazed at the Nimbus 2001 (though more than satisfied with his Nimbus 2000, of course). He examined the cases of Quidditch balls and repair kits and broom accessories and books (fiction and non-fiction). He was totally absorbed in the league rankings trying to commit all the positions to memory to rival Ron's knowledge. Snape continued to look at the other customers but also looked at the shelves. They spent a comparable amount of time in Quality Quidditching Supplies as they had done in the Apothecary.
"Potter, were leaving," said Snape in impatient undertones for the third time. He was holding a additional bag in his hand. Reluctantly Harry turned from the door. He had little gold on him and there was nothing he could readily afford.
"Can we go to Gringott's, sir?" inquired Harry. He knew he would have to pay Snape and probably, he reflected sardonically, with interest. He might be able to come back to Quality Quidditching Supplies later.
"No. Its time to go home," said Snape.
"But I have to pay you back."
"You're not paying for your school things. Did I not say that?"
"Yes sir."
That evening they took the Knight Bus home. Snape was slightly resentful of this, mainly because he suffered from travel sickness and had not had the opportunity to take his potion to correct this. Harry loved it. When they finally re entered Spinner's End it was late afternoon and Snape was a mild Slytherine green.
"Go and put you things away," said Snape before locking the door and going to the kitchen to prepare supper. Snape took a knife out of a draw and chopped an onion on the work surface before depositing them into a frying pan. They sizzled in the hot oil. Snape added some bacon to the pan which spat in the oil.
"Hello, sir," Harry said entering the kitchen twenty minutes later, enticed down the stairs by the warm smell of food. He was still dressed in his two day old shirt. It was not looking its best.
"Hmm…," said Snape over his shoulder. Harry stood behind him awkwardly holding his arm to himself unsure of what he was meant to do. Snape had said he was spoilt, he wasn't. It wasn't fair. He did not want Snape to think he was spoilt.
"Sir, is there anything I can do?"
"No," said Snape shortly, though he reconsidered. "If you feel you have to do something… Lay the table."
Harry looked around the dark kitchen. "Where is the cutlery?"
"In there," said Snape indicating a lower draw not looking at Harry.
Harry removed two knives and forks placing them on the table opposite each other while Snape plated up the food.
"Sit down," said Snape as he put a plate in front of Harry. They ate in silence for a time. "Tomorrow I shall begin instructing you on how to use a wand. Do you understand?"
Harry nodded mutely.
"Speak when you are spoken to."
"Yes sir," said Harry despondently, nothing seemed to have changed. Harry finished his meal, which had been surprisingly tasty. He tapped his hands on the table top, yawning slightly.
"Cover your mouth when you yawn. Do you have no manners?"
"Yes, sir."
"What, yes you have no manners or yes you have manners?"
"No, sir. I do have manners."
"Then please will you show it." This really was not fair. Why did Snape focus on the miniscule things like his yawn but not his laying the table? Snape stood up.
"May I leave the table, sir?"
"Hmm…" said Snape, Potter seemed to be picking up. Snape glanced down at his watch: it was only six o'clock. He would have to do something with Potter. "Do you have anything to read?"
"Err, what do you mean sir?"
"Books, Potter."
"Yes I know you mean books, but read for fun or read for school."
"Read to relax, Potter."
"No sir."
"You mean that you have nothing to read."
"No sir,"
"Are you an absolute cretin or just devoid of any drive to explore intellectually," said Snape smiling.
"Well actually, my cousin doesn't like reading so I don't have any books," said Harry petulantly.
"You mean to say you have no books of your own?"
Harry didn't reply but merely looked down.
"Well… I suppose I can find you a book you can read. Bed in an hour."
"At seven," Harry said incredulously. A look from Snape made him repeat, "at seven," though in a far more positive, definite tone. Snape left the room. In his absence Harry used his initiative and began to wash up, finding soap and a tea towel for the purpose in the cupboard below the sink. Finishing, Harry went to the living room where he found Snape already seated in the armchair. He had two books resting on his lap.
"Here," said Snape extending one of the books to Harry. Harry took it in his hand before walking back to the sofa. He examined the cover of the book he had been given. Oversized and bound in ribbed maroon leather a moving picture of a broom, which Harry noted to be a Nimbus 2001, dominated the front cover of the shiny new book. The Nimbus had Quidditch balls circling it: the two iron Bludgers, the red Quaffle and the Golden Snitch. The pressed white sheets of paper were pristine. Harry gazed at the title: it was Quidditch Through The Ages.
"Thank you, sir," said Harry staring wide eyed at the pages as he flicked them over and over and over, smiling in pleasure before starting at the beginning of the book and embarking on his first full reading of the text in those three weeks.
"It is seven Potter," said Snape looking down at his watch.
"One more chapter," implored Harry, scanning his eyes over Quidditich tactics, trying to imagine how he would do a Woollongong Shimmy the next time he was on the pitch.
"No Potter. Bed," said Snape firmly. Harry gave him back the book. "No Potter that is for you to keep.
The following day magic lessons started in Spinner's End.
"Today I shall be teaching you a defensive spell and an offensive spell. We shall be taking turns." Harry gulped. He didn't think that he really liked the sound of Snape coming at him with a wand. Ron had already said that it was the dark arts job that Snape was really after, so Harry knew he was in knowledgeable company. He dreaded to think what Ron would say when Harry told him about this. "The spells are Protego and the Furnunculus Curse. Can you tell be what they are?"
"No, sir"
Falling into old habits, Snape said exasperatedly, "I thought not. Protego is a shielding charm, the beginning of a series of protection charms each of which grows in strength. This particular one will, when cast correctly, repel minor hexes and curses onto the castor. The second, the Furnunculus Curse, causes boils to the skin. It is relatively weak in the great scheme of Hexes but is suitable for testing your Shielding abilities. I shall be cursing first and you shall be shielding."
"What if I can't do the spell?"
"Then you will get boils," the look on Harry's face made Snape say, "Do not worry, Potter, they are easily healed. Now raise you wand. Protego is cast by raising the wand above the head," Snape demonstrated, "and as you draw it down you say Protego."
"Prot – a – go," said Harry.
"No. Pro-TAY-goh," corrected Snape demonstrating the spell causing a white-blue light to discharge from the tip of his wand making an oval screen hang in the air between the two of them. "Now it is you turn."
Harry took up his wand and imitated Snape. It was a poor imitation. Nothing happened.
"You are saying it wrong. It is AY as in pay not A as in apple. Do it again."
Harry did it again but still nothing happened.
"Better. But the movement is wrong. Your arm must be higher. Again."
Harry made a third attempt. Nothing.
"No. Focus. Again"
"I can't do it," said Harry dropping his wand. Snape lifted his.
"Furnuncular," there was a flash of yellow light and Harry felt a sharp sting on his arm, "Never. Drop your wand," said Snape, he was livid. Harry grasped his forearm feeling a blister lifting up beneath his fingers. As he gripped down he could feel the liquid run about inside the callous. Snape calmed himself and grabbed Harry's arm.
"Episkey," said Snape. Harry felt the boil burn hot and then cold, before it receded below the skin leaving no visible mark. In a softer voice he said, "If I didn't think you could do it I wouldn't be asking you to try. Again."
Harry closed his eyes and focused on the incantation and the movements. He opened his eyes and stared in a clear detached manner at Snape. He raised his wand.
"Protego," said Harry. Out of Harry's wand shot a dim white and blue shield. It was not as bright or distinct as Snape's and it left his shins and head unprotected, but it was there.
"Much better," said Snape in a voice which sounded distinctly like Hermione when she was telling you she had been right all along. "Now do that again when I attempt to Hex you."
This time Harry's shield was perfect.
Author's Note:
I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed and story alerted. You are all really wonderful motivators. I will endeavor to continue (I have 6 essays in 6 weeks about which I don't know anything (YET))