Learning To Love

Chapter 9: Quiet Before the Storm

Harry followed his Potions Professor down the stairs to the Kitchen. All the while his mind going around in circles in the darkness that was slowly taking over his mind more and more as time went by. He couldn't let anyone know what had taken place only moments ago. He was supposed to be the Wizarding World's "Golden Boy". He is suppose to save everyone from a Evil Dark Lord that very few even believe Harry's word that he was once again alive and terrorizing the Wizarding World and moving into the Muggle World.

The young savior let out a mental sigh taking in the house as the pair made their way to dinner. As his green eyes took in his surroundings, Harry found that the house was very elaborate, almost certainly done by Snape's parents or ancestors, with elegant and rich rugs covering the cherry hard wood floors. He doubted that if he were to tell anyone that this is actually how the Dungeon Bat's house was, large and sophisticated, no one would believe him. All the students believed that their greasy Potions Professor lived in a "house" much like his Potions classroom- dark, damp, and dreary- like a Vampire many speculated Snape actually was.

Harry took a seat at the table indicated by Severus when they entered the Kitchen. The student watched as his Professor walked over to one of the counters, grab a couple items off said counter and rind them over to the table in front of him. Harry stared at the items that were placed in front of him; there was a couple potion bottles and a wrist brace.

"How are your injuries?" Severus asked sitting down in the chair next to him. "Truthfully, I need to know what's bothering you so we can treat it."

"Uh..." Harry thought, his brain going through a mental check list of his body and what was still bothering him, while trying not to think of how he got the injuries. "My ribs hurt a little along with my left shoulder. It's my right wrist that is bothering me the most." He answered truthfully.

"Thank you for answering truthfully. This potion will help with pain and discomfort and the second one will help with the slight nerve damage that was done to your shoulder and wrist." The older wizard said handing the two said potions to his guest to take. Harry grabbed a container and downed it then downed the second one, showing his distaste by scrunching his nose. "Give me your right wrist. If you wear the brace it will help your wrist." Harry hesitantly moved his right arm to Snape.

Severus tenderly took the thin wrist in his left hand, agile fingers feeling the tendons mentally going through his healer checklist to verify it was healing. He then took the brace and started to strap in on the injured wrist. "I know it feels a little uncomfortable but it's meant to keep you from moving your wrist around too much and will help it heal. For now I want you to wear at least most of the day. Once it starts to heal more you will only wear it at night." The Potions Master let go of Harry's wrist, now incased in a constricted cloth, and called the House Elves for their dinner.

As the House Elves set dishes of chicken, mash potatoes, and green beans on the table in front of them, Severus thanked the creatures of servitude. Plates with silverware and cups appeared before them along with a pitcher of water before the House Elves disappeared with a light 'crack'. Harry stared at the food covering the oak table.

"Go ahead and help yourself." Severus said, in hopes that the young man would feel comfortable and learn that food would never be kept from him or used in punishment, but rather he'll have no choice but eat three square meals a day and more. Potter hesitated as Snape stared to pile food on his plate and filled his glass. Black eyes glanced at the boy as he timidly gathered some of the food onto his own plate. After filling his own glass with water from the pitcher he grabbed his guests and filled his as well.

"Thank You." Harry whispered as Severus set his glass down in front of him. He silently waited to start eating till after his Professor started, the habit that he had learned from living with the Dursleys had not faded from his instincts. The "teachings" that the Dursleys had beaten into him were engraved into his every movement. Not being able to touch that little food he did get a times until his "Family" has started eating first was something that Harry even followed when he was away at Hogwarts, though none realized that he secretly waited till those around him in the Great Hall would eat before he could even think of touching any of the food.

Severus watched as Potter took very little food and put it on his plate. He knew that the boy would never take the amount that he should be eating for the reasons of his stomach not being able to handle the amount of food a normal teenager eats and also because of the "rules" he knew the boy's muggle family laid down for their nephew. The wizard watched and kept track of all the savior's behavior and habits to the situations that he was thrown into, taking mental notes on how he'll be able to help Harry overcome what has become natural over time.

Knowing the young man wouldn't start eating till he did, he dug into his dinner- all a while glancing at Harry out of the corner of his dark eyes making sure that he'd eat. Snape watched as the young man took small bites of food at a time, all awhile his head bowed down his jeweled eyes never leaving his plate and his left arm curled around the plate. Once the Professor finished his plate of food he looked over to his guest, who was sitting back in the chair looking apologetically down while his plate which was still filled with food.

"Are you done eating?" Severus asked.

"Yes." Harry replied, looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault Harry. Just eat as much as you can without making yourself sick. By the end of the summer with the help of regular meals and nutritional potions you'll be asking for seconds." Harry gave the man a light smile. "Why don't you go get a couple of your summer assignments, maybe History of Magic to start with, and I'll meet you in the Library's first floor. I'll leave the door open for you and I'll set some books that should help you complete your History of Magic summer work on a desk for you." Harry nodded, waited till Severus stood up, then stood up from his seat and headed out of the Kitchen and made his way back to his room.

Severus got out his seat, knowing that Potter would not stand till after he would. He watched as his student leave and made his way upstairs. He called for a House Elf to take care of the leftover food and dishes.

"Thank you Les. Dinner was fantastic as always." Severus said to the small childlike creature.

"You's welcome Master Sev. Les and other Elves are happy to serve such a wonderful Master like you's." Les replied, large ears flopping in happiness and softball sized eyes widened with pride towards her magnificent Master. She grabbed the dirty dishes and disappeared with a 'crack' to take care of them.

Severus made his way out of the Kitchen and towards the first floor Library, his long legs making the distance in a short amount of time. He entered the Library, making sure to leave the door open behind him for Potter, and headed over to one of the hundreds of large book shelves packed with all different kinds of books. His onyx eyes scanning the books, looking for a couple of History of Magic books that would help his student learn the information needed to know to complete his summer work.

Long fingers pulled out several books he knew would help Potter then walked over to one of the desks that sat by a couple high backed chairs located by the fireplace and set the books down on the desk along with some parchment, a quill and ink bottle. Snape let out a sigh as he grabbed a book off the end table in between the two chairs then sat down in the one that had the desk in view.

After Harry left his Potions Professor in the kitchen, he made his way back up to his room. His mind trying to remember what History of Magic summer work he had, though as hard as he tired to remember he could not recall what assignment was given. Though given what happened toward the end of the school year and what had happened throughout the year with the Toad Umbridge and visions sent by Old Moldy Shorts, it wasn't surprising that he could not remember. Harry thankfully had Hermione who created a list of the summer work for all his classes. When he came to his room he quickly grabbed his History of Magic books and notes, along with the list of assignments, and started for the first floor Library- not wanting to keep Snape waiting.

When Harry found himself in front of the Library he hesitantly walked into the doorway and cautiously entered the room. Snape's head turned towards him as he entered.

"The desk over there is for you to use. I set out some parchment and an ink bottle for you with a quill. Also I selected some books that should be able to help you complete you work. I selected the ones that are a little easier to understand then the books needed for class and won't put you to sleep like in Professor Binns does. I suggest first figuring our what your assignment is then start reading the books, jotting down a few notes where the best information is before starting the writing portion. That way you can understand the information first and won't hurt your wrist." Severus informed the young man.

"Thank you Professor." Harry said as he walked over to the desk Severus set up for him and set his books and notes down. He sat himself down at the desk and started looking through his assignment list for History of Magic. After finding the list his emerald eyes scanned the paper reading the task he was set to conquer for the summer. With his mind noting the assignment he went to work on reading through the books stacked in front of him. Eyes scanning the text trying to take in the words while his brain put together the information he was learning in a way to complete his paper.

Severus's onyx eyes flickered from his book over to his guest every so often to check on the "chosen one's" progress. He was slightly surprised to find that the young wizard was focused intently on reading through the stack of books and was quickly making his way through the tomes. Before they knew it, it was time for bed.

"I think it's time for you to go to bed. You can continue with you homework tomorrow." Severus commented when Harry let out a jaw popping yawn.

"Okay Professor. Thank you again for gathering those books to help me with my work."

"No problem Harry. It's my job. You can leave your books and notes here for the night. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Professor." Harry said, standing up and making his way out of the Library then up to his room.

Severus watched as Harry left to go to his room, closing his eyes as soon as the young man left the room. He sat there for twenty minutes, his mind trying to come up with a schedule for Potter. He knew that psychical training would have to wait a while till the boy's body was healed, which left learning spells, book work and potions. Learning Occlumency and Legilimency would have to wait a while along with weapons and dueling, both Harry's mind and body needed to heal before Severus could even think about how to go about teaching those.

'I guess for now, at least till his body heals a little more, it'll mostly be book work.' Severus thought as he heaved his weary body out of the chair and started upstairs for bed.

'I can't believe I actually enjoyed reading and working on History of Magic work.' Harry thought as he made his way to his room. His mind going over the information that he learned, trying to figure out the best way to use the information to write his paper. Once he entered his room he made work of shedding out of his clothes and grabbing his night clothes on his way to the bath to take care of his nightly needs. After exiting the bathroom he crawled into bed and burrowed under the soft blankets. His eyes drooping and his mind surprisingly quiet. Soon drifting off to what he hoped would be a restful sleep.

I know I'm bad. Sorry it took almost a year for me to update. Believe it or not I actually was ready to put this chapter up in the beginning of December, but I had typed it on my new laptop and I don't have the internet for it- cause I'm currently stuck with crappy dial-up internet- and wasn't able to transfer it to my computer with internet cause it's so old every time I tried to it would come up on the old one.

By the time I re-typed the chapter on my old computer I felt that I should add to the chapter. So I did, and it took a while because I'm stuck on what I should have happen. I know what direction I want this story to go in- kind of- but it the little things to put in between.

So again, Sorry for taking so long. I could really use some ideas for what I should have happen, might inspire me to write more. So if any of you have any ideas put them in a review. Thank you for being patient with me loyal readers and for all the reviews.

^_^ Moonluna (3-31-10)