AN: It did become Saturday, I am sorry. I finally got the change to go a little bit more of the stuff that I had to go through and can start slowly with what I have in my head to write. I hope you will enjoy it!
A shootout to KittyKatwithasword09 , who edited the last chapter for grammar and idiom mistakes without me even having to ask it. You are amazing!
-Dutch Writer-
While walking to Snape's quarters both Snape and Harry were deep in thought, Harry about what Professor Snape had just told him and Snape about how he could make Harry comfortable around his house. He decided that he should probably purchase a book about taking care of abused children. He also decided that he should probably not use too much magic in his quarters for now. The child had already so much to get used to, and if he would use magic the boy might go crazy.
Snape entered the quarters and let the boy in. Harry looked with wide eyes around the room. The professor had quite a spacious house for someone who lived in a dungeon. From where he was standing he could see a kitchen with a dinner table and a fireplace with a cosy looking couch next to it. He could also see a hallway with a closed door.
" Come in Mr. Potter. I will give you a tour through the house and show you your bedroom".
"Yes, sir." Harry still wasn't sure how much to say and kept quiet so the professor wouldn't get annoyed with him right from the start.
Snape showed him the kitchen, living room, and a large library. "And this Mr. Potter is my bedroom, if the door is closed you can knock on the door and I will call you in, or I will come outside. The door next to mine is your bedroom. Go and have a look".
Harry opened the door, What had the professor just said? His bedroom? Was this real? Something in his mind told Harry that he was dreaming, but when he pinched himself he didn't wake up. He walked into the room and looked around. The room had a nice soft green colour, with a four poster bed. The curtains on the bed were silver and matched the green. Next to one of the walls was a large closet, which was probably meant for clothes. His room also contained a desk, a chair and an empty bookcase.
"Do you like it Mr. Potter?" Snape asked after he had given Harry some time to look around.
" Yes, Sir. I really do like it , but is this really my bedroom?" Harry still couldn't believe that the professor had told him he did not have to live with his relatives anymore, let alone believe that he was going to have his own bedroom.
"Of course, it's important for children to have a space where they can be alone. Your room will also be a place where you can study."
"That's amazing Sir, thank a lot."
"No problem child, no problem".
"However it's almost ten a clock, and you still haven't had breakfast, I can't have you only here for a day and let you already starve, so you will have breakfast now."
Normally Snape would call one of the house elves to bring him some food, but it seemed better to him if Snape did not shock the boy by having his breakfast delivered by house elves.
Harry couldn't be happier; he was used to getting one meal, two meals if he was lucky, a day, so he was quite happy to get some food. Especially since it had been a day since the last time he ate.
"Have a seat on the table, while I will make you some breakfast."
Harry did what he was told and had another look around the room. He was sure he would be able to live here. Although he probably wouldn't be living here for very long, since the professor would get annoyed with Harry soon enough, even though the professor had explained that his 'freakiness' was just accidental magic.
Not even 5 minutes later Snape came back with porridge and French toast for Harry, making sure not to make something too heavy for Harry' stomach which still had to get used to proper feeding.
Harry gratefully took the food from Snape and started eating.
After 10 minutes of silence Harry was halfway through his breakfast, but couldn't have anymore.
"I am sorry, Sir. I really can't have any more" Harry carefully said.
He was quite disappointed with himself, he was really hungry when he had started breakfast, but now he had barely eaten half of it. He wanted more, since he wasn't quite sure he was going to get more today, but was quite afraid that he would throw up if he had any more.
Snape wasn't that happy either with the amount Harry had eaten, since he had already given him only a small portion, he didn't think the child was lying however and brought the remaining food to the kitchen.
Walking back from the kitchen he motioned Harry to the couch and put on the fire with his wand. That he wasn't performing magic for breakfast didn't mean he wouldn't use it for small tasks. Otherwise, the boy would never get used to magic. Harry looked fascinated while Snape performed the spell and wondered if he would be able to do that himself one day as well.
"Well Mr. Potter, I hope you understand that there will be rules, while you live with me".
Harry glanced at the stern looking Professor and only hoped the rules wouldn't be as bad as the rules at the Dursleys.
"I will write them out and leave them in your room so that you can remind them."
Snape grabbed a paper and started writing "The first rule is to always let me know where you are, you may explore the building the two weeks that there are no students, but I always want to know where you plan on going, so that I know where to find you if I need you. The second rule is to go to bed at a reasonable time, we will set bedtime at nine o'clock, but that may change in 2 weeks time when I have to start teaching again. The third rule and last rule, for now, is that I want you to study at least one and a half hour every day, I will show you this afternoon where the library is and get you a book on introduction to the magic world. I will also get you some proper books that will prepare you for your first year at Hogwarts. Do you understand these rules?"
"Yes sir, I understand them" Harry said, he was relieved that the rules weren't bad at all. He was actually quite touched that someone cared to know where he was or what he learned.
"Okay then you may start to unpack your bag in your room and when you are finished we will walk to the library."
"Yes, sir"
Harry walked to his room; he was quite excited to see it again. When he entered he walked to his bed and went to lay on it. It was perfect; he still couldn't believe it. He had wished so many times that someone would rescue him from the Dursley, and now someone had!
Harry jumped off the bed and took the bag with clothes and stuff he had taken from the Dursleys. It wasn't much, but he still was happy to give it a place in his room.
After 10 minutes Harry was done and walked back to the living room.
"Ah, Mr. Potter I see you are ready? We can walk to the library then." Snape had just through owl delivery ordered two books on how to raise an abused child and hoped that they would arrive this afternoon.
"Follow me Mr. Potter" and so Snape and Harry walked to the massive library. Harry looked with big eyes around the castle, from the moving stair to the moving paintings. Magic really was amazing!
When they entered the library, Snape walked straight to the books that were mainly used for muggle studies. He didn't have to look long for the book he needed, introduction to the magical world, the book was called. "This Mr. Potter should explain quite a bit about our world."
Harry took the book gratefully, he was quite excited to learn about the world about the world where his parents had lived in and the world he was going to live in.
With the book in Harry's hand they walked with a different route back to Snape's quarters.
They walked past a big door which had a massive room behind it, with four really large tables. "This is the Great Hall, normally when there are students here they sit at one of the four tables and at the end of the hall is where all the staff of Hogwarts sits. From tomorrow on we will have dinner here, because it's holiday only the staff will be there." "Okay, Sir" Harry had quite some questions, but didn't dare to ask them, since he was taught not to ask questions.
When they arrived back to the quarters Snape announced he had to go work on his lesson plan and would do that at the dinner table, but that Harry could start on reading the book. "And don't forget if you have any questions just ask them."
"Yes, sir" and so Harry started reading. The next half hour was spent in silence; Snape sometimes looked up at the child how he was going. He thought it was quite remarkable that Harry had so far only read three pages, while he had had more than enough time to read at least 10 of them, but decided not to ask now why he didn't read any faster, hoping that it was not because of a lack of interest.
Not much later Harry spoke up: "Professor Snape?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter?"
"I have a question about something on this page."
"And what may that be?"
"Well it says here that purebloods have two magical parents, but you told me that I was a half-blood even though both my parents were wizards."
Snape was quite sure there was more information in that paragraph that would explain his question, so he decided to let Harry figure that himself out. "Can you read the paragraph about half-bloods for me out loud please Mr. Potter?"
Harry got nervous, he wasn't used to reading out loud but decided to better do what Snape had told him. Halfbloods: If a per- personne has one mag- mag- magic- magical par- parent.
"Why Mr. Potter are you stuttering like this?" Snape asked annoyed
Harry's face became red and felt tears starting behind his eyes "Sorry, sir. Nevermind my question."
"No, you know how I think about questions and I am happy you asked it, but first I want an aswer on my last question Mr. Potter."
Harry swallowed another time, hoping his voice wouldn't sound too bad. "I really try my best sir, it's just my aunt and uncle didn't think I was worth the practice and my uncle can be quite intimidating, and so teachers didn't want to help me either, afraid that my uncle would so something that would get them fired."
They never taught the boy to proper read? The boy must have learned to read at school, but he knew that without sufficient practice you never become great at something. Snape sighed "Okay Mr. Potter, it's not your fault, however at Hogwarts we expect that every child has had a proper education, and so we have a year to make sure you can read well enough. "
Harry smiled a bit; he had always liked to learn new things, but even if he tried to read a book in class, he was never a fast enough reader to finish it before he had to hand the book back in. Maybe if he learned to read faster he was able to go to the massive library and borrow a book some day, Harry thought excited.
Snape didn't miss the small smile on Harry's face and was happy that the child was at least happy to learn to read better. It must have been annoying for himself as well, he assumed that the boy never had a chance to read a book at home, but at least at school he should have been able to read a book now and then, but if the boy wasn't a fast reader, he probably never had the chance to finish it.
Snape wasn't excited at the prospect that he probably had to help Harry to read better, when he had been in muggle school he hadn't liked reading much, he liked writing and maths better.
You know what, I will invite Albus for lunch and then he can help me think of how to teach the child to read properly. He might also have an idea what he could do with the boy when Snape himself had to go back to teaching.
"Harry, can you set the table please, so we can have lunch?"
"Yes, sir."
While Harry, excited that he would get a second meal, grabbed some plates from the kitchen, Snape floo called Albus.
"Ah Albus good to see that you are there, would you care to join use for lunch."
"That would be nice.I will finally be able to meet young Harry. If you would allow me to step through Albus."
AN: Next up: How will Harry react to Albus? And with what idea will Albus come for Harry to spend his time during the day in 2 weeks time?
As always reviews would be appreciated! If you have something that you think would be a great idea to have in the story as well, just sent me a message and I will see how it fits!