Sorry for a long time between the updates, as many of you have probably noticed as well, the script release of Harry Potter and the cursed child was Sunday. Of course I wanted the script as soon as possible, and was able to get my hands on it Monday evening, besides the book I have a holiday job, which keeps me busy till 5 PM, so it took me quite a while to finish this book (finished it about 2 hours ago) and now my head is full of thoughts about the book. I won't give any spoiler, so everyone has the chance to read it for him/herself, but it's so different than I imagined! Not in a bad way or so. Well, I will stop this authors, note, and give you the chapter, but if anyone wants to talk about the script, feel free to messages me!
P.s Thanks to everyone who took the time to review it! It's amazing that I reached the ten reviews! Also thanks to the people who corrected my grammar or miss used words.
When Harry came back with two plates, he saw a large man with purple robes standing in the living room. He started to panic, who was this man? Was this man going to take him back to the Dursleys?
Before Albus had even a chance to say anything, Harry ran in his state of panic to his room and dropped the plates on the floor.
Snape sighed, the child had more troubles than he had initially thought when he picked Harry up from the Dursleys. " Excuse me, Albus; I am going to have a look why my ward just dropped everything and ran to his room."
"Of course, my boy, do remind that the boy most likely isn't used to strangers and was just scared from my sudden appearance."
With that in mind Snape walked to Harry his room.
When he entered the room he saw Harry packing a plastic bag with clothes while softly crying.
"And what do you think that you are doing Mr. Potter?"
Harry hadn't realised that the Professor had entered his room and tried to control his tears. Why was he even so upset, he had known from the start that his stay here wouldn't last long since he was only a burden, but one way or another he quite liked the stay at the professor his quarters even though he had only been here for half a day. "I am sorry for breaking the plates sir; I am packing my things and then I will leave."
Snape sighed, how was he going to convince the boy that he was not going to send him back to his horrible relatives. He decided to start using his first name, which would hopefully make him more relaxed. " I am not going to send you back Harry, I have promised to give you a home and I do certainly not mind you staying here." He saw Harry relax a bit at the use of his first name and was happy he had decided to change the way he called him.
"Yes we are going to have to get used to each other, but it doesn't mean every time I speak to someone else or every time that I have to help you with something I want to send you back to your relatives."
"Really sir?"
"Really Harry."
Harry smiled a bit at this, A few minutes ago he was sure he was going to be sent back to his relatives, and that he was allowed to stay for now made him feel more relaxed. "Sorry for running away sir."
"That's not a problem Harry, you have barely been here for a day and still have to adjust, however next time you have a problem with something or feel scared just talk to me, instead of running to your room. If you had come to me with your concerns, I would have explained to you that Professor Dumbledore is the headmaster of this school and wanted to meet you. He is just here for lunch so he can get to know you."
"Are you ready to come for lunch with us and meet him, Harry?"
"Yes sir, I am ready," Harry said while rubbing the last tears from his face aways.
Albus had repaired the plates and had set the table; he also had the house elves bring some lunch, so when Snape and Harry entered the room, they could immediately join Albus at the dinner table.
"Ah young Harry, I see that I frightened you with my arrival? I am sorry for that boy; I didn't mean to do that."
"That's okay sir; I am sorry that I ran away. I drew to soon a conclusion" Harry said with one eye at Professor Snape, who gave an approving nod.
"Well let's start lunch then," Snape said
And so the three of them had lunch together. Albus made some small talk with Snape, and tried to ask Harry some questions. However Harry did not respond with much more than the shortest answer possible.
Albus decided to give it up and just continue mainly talking to Snape.
When lunch was over, Albus and Snape wanted some privacy to talk, and Snape told Harry to go and have a look around Hogwarts.
"Be however home in one and a half hour. "
He gave Harry a small watch that used to be his when he was a kid; he also gave Harry a basic map of Hogwarts that he always gave his Slytherin first years at the beginning of the year.
When Harry left Albus and Snape took a seat in the living room.
"How is it going Severus. No major troubles yet so far?"
"Well Albus, I have only had him for a little bit less than a day, but have already discovered some small struggles. Starting off with, the child can barely read. I asked him to read a part of the introduction to the wizard world out loud, and he had the biggest struggles to read the first part of the paragraph.
"And you are sure he wasn't just nervous to read it out loud?" Albus asked.
"Yes I am sure, when I asked him why he was struggling, he told me that nobody ever wanted to help him, because his uncle was too intimidating."
"Ah, well that's then indeed a problem, but problems are there to solve. Have you thought yet of what you are going to do with Harry once you have to start teaching again?" Albus asked, with the usual twinkle in his eyes.
"That's another problem I wanted to discuss, but can I assume you have a solution for both problems? Severus asked. He was quite curious what his (former) mentor had come up with.
"Well an old friend of mine, he owns a school in the north of Scotland, for children with a special needs. The friend I am talking about is a squib, so there should be no problems with explaining the situation our young Harry is in. The school I am talking about has classes with a few people; Harry can be with some children his same age, while catching up and completing muggle primary school.
"But Albus, as far as I am concerned Harry does not have special needs, besides his struggle with reading?"
"The school is just meant for children, who for one or another reason aren't able to keep up with a normal muggle school, pupils at this school are taught more intensive, through smaller classrooms and more lesson hours a day. Some students will only be here for 1 or 2 years, which would be most likely the amount of time Harry would have spent at the school, had he not been a wizard. These kids are kids, who have fallen behind at school for one reason or another like students who have trouble keeping up all the time will start at this school in class 1 and finish primary school at this school. Another reason why I suggest that you sent him there is, because the principal is a squib. That gives you the advantages of explaining the situation Harry is in and gives you the opportunity to have a spot to apparate in.
"I see what you mean Albus, and how would I be able to enrol Harry in this school?"
"I will send the principle a message, and he will probably make an appointment with you."
"Thanks, Albus, this seems indeed like a good idea, and a good opportunity for Harry to meet some people of his same age as well."
"If you wouldn't mind, I have to go to a meeting with someone from the Daily Prophet."
"Thanks, Albus, I will see you later."
When Albus was gone, Snape decided to make some tea and ask for some fruit from the house elves, so that he could have tea with Harry in more or less 15 minutes, when Harry would come home.
About 10 minutes later Harry stepped through the door.
"Ah Harry, I assume your trip through Hogwarts was fine."
Harry tried to control his excitement; magic really was amazing, "Yes sir; It was helpful in learning more about the wizard world."
"Why don't you join me for a cup of tea and a nice snack and tell me what you have explored so far."
Harry wasn't used to anyone being interested about his day and so wasn't sure where to start.
Not being too comfortable around a new guardian Harry wanted to say as little as possible, even though he was actually quite excited.
"Well, I discovered that paintings can actually talk and not only move. I even had a conversation with one, the fat lady I think she called herself; she said I might join the house whose dorms she protects. I am not sure what they are called anymore however"
Gryffindor is the house you are looking for, but I am glad to hear that you enjoyed your time exploring, you will have the next two weeks more than enough time to explore the grounds of Hogwarts even more, I might even join you one day so I can give you a better idea of the history of Hogwarts." And to make sure you don't talk to that painting again... Trying to get him in sorted into Gryffindor before he even starts school.
"I would like to discuss another matter with you." He saw the panic rise behind the eyes of Harry. "No Harry, not every time I want to discuss something with you I am going to tell you that you have to go back to your relatives because I am your guardian and I will stay your guardian, at least till you are of age." He saw the boy relax a little at this. " I did, however, wish to discuss how you are going to spend your time during the day after the holidays.
You remember the headmaster who came over for lunch?" Harry nodded and Snap continued.
"Well he suggested that you go back to Muggle school." Leaving the word special out on purpose, so Harry would feel more comfortable with this idea "since it's another year until you can join Hogwarts and it would be good to have you learn to read better and do other muggle activities. How do you think about this idea?" Snape asked curiously
"That sounds like a fine idea, Sir" Harry said.
However Snape had been teaching for quite some time know and even if Harry wasn't an open book, he could quite easily tell when children were lying.
"I will add to the list of rules that lying is forbidden when we are done with this conversation Mr. Potter," Snape said in a stern voice.
"And now tell me what you really think about it."
Harry swallowed, he had tried to sound convincing, but that clearly didn't work with his new guardian.
"I am scared, Sir. I have always been bullied and never had any friends at my old muggle school."
Snape could see the reasoning behind this, but thought the reason was unfounded.
"And what do you think that the reason was for that Harry?" Snape asked, in the hope that Harry saw it was not his fault.
"Because I am a freak" Harry said in a small voice.
Snape sighed, raising this child was not going to be easy. "Harry if you say one more time that you are a freak you can give me 100 lines with: 'I am not a freak, but a normal boy.' However, Snape continued with his questions. Who was the main bully at your school?"
Harry thought about that for a minute, but the question wasn't too hard.
"My cousin sir."
"And who prevented you from having friends Harry?
"My cousin," Harry repeated.
"And who is not going to be at your new school Harry?"
"My cousin sir?" Harry repeated for the third time.
"10 points for team Potter, that was the answer I was looking for, your cousin will indeed not be at your new school Harry."
Harry grinned at this, who would have thought this stern man could be funny sometimes as well.
"Any other unfounded reasons to not go back to school Harry?"
"No sir, I don't think so."
"Shall I make an appointment with the principal of the school then?"
"That would be nice, sir" Harry said not fully confident, but certainly not as scared as before.
I hope you enjoyed it Reviews are appreciated!