Chapter 18

Severus barely felt the words slip through his lips as he felt for a nearby chair. He sat, stunned by the news, by what he saw. He could scarcely believe it, but there stood the boy who lived before him, just as he'd remembered...well, almost. The boy was older of course and also there was a...wise... understanding of the world beneath those emerald eyes.

Those now, desolate eyes. Severus didn't know what to say. For years he had felt the guilt of talking the boy off a cliff, of tormenting a child. And here, the boy was, in healthy condition.

As the shock began to diminish, a sea of anger replaced it quickly. That imbecile actually made him feel for Potter. Made him think he'd done the boy wrong and yet again, there he was standing before him in all his bloody glory! Was it a prank! Severus' heart stung.

He had never admitted it before but he had begun to feel something for Simon. He enjoyed the wit the man had and even the company they shared when shopping. He enjoyed watching the man work to become something, and now he felt like he lost something. Like he gained a friend or even the possibility of more and now before him stood the perpetrator that caused any pain he'd felt in the last three years.

"Just like your bloody father!" Severus gritted his teeth.

"Please, Severus...I-"

"NO! YOU DON'T GET TO USE THAT NAME!" Severus spat in return.

The notion of that traitor using Severus' name was enough to make the man wild.

"Give me ONE bloody good reason not to call your precious family in here and tell them they've all been betrayed. Thrown aside like dogs not worthy to work aside the Famous FUCKING HARRY POTTER!"

Harry's stomach turned. He thought of asking Snape to quiet down if he weren't sure the silencing wards were in place. And the fact that he was sure he'd be obliviated into ashes. Harry's heart sank. He understood...he too felt like he and Severus had chemistry and now he would never be able to say the man's name again.

"Please...let me explain...I promise I had never meant to hurt you...Not you...not ever..." Harry began to cry.

For the first time in three years he felt completely lost. Like his mission had destroyed everything he'd worked for. Harry looked into the tall figure before him and hoped the man could see, feel what he did himself.

But Severus Snape was not a forgiving man. There was quite possibly never a moment in his life that he'd ever forgiven someone. In that there was solace for Harry, since he didn't believe he deserved any forgiveness.

"Tell me, the truth...now."

The words slipped from Severus' lips like poison. He didn't show any sign of reconciliation and there was probably never going to be.

Harry began his story where Nymphadora Tonks had died. After what felt like an hour of sitting in that cold, moist room, Harry was to the end of the story. He had told it as truthfully as he could, even went as far to admit his feelings about Severus and explained that he had no idea the potions master would ever be in a muggle cafe. Harry explained that he'd had no choice of whether he went to the man's house or not because Severus' had very much dragged him there to clean his clothes.

Harry explained how he never thought he'd see him again after running away and was just as surprised to find himself here at Sirius' home. Harry told him how he'd never intended to ever come to this house again except for the fact that he couldn't escape without setting off alarms in everyone's heads. In the end, he had decided to train and become even stronger, and then he would fight Voldemort alone.

"...There you are...always rushing off doing things alone, half arsed...just like your father...always the center of attention…" Severus sighed annoyingly

He understood Harry's reasoning, but he was tired of that child causing chaos everywhere the boy went. Boy...Severus mused, he had always called Potter a boy. Even now, after everything that had happened, even with his age...Potter was still a boy. Making decisions that could harm others because of his damned Gryffindor pride.

"Please…" Severus trailing mind broke. "Please don't tell the other's. I need to finish my mission."

"Have you learned nothing! You are the reason so many have died! In your absence, the dark lord has hunted all he could despite your supposed "death". Haven't you learned anything?"

Severus held the bridge of his nose. There was a headache brewing in the back of his cranium and this numbskull was the cause.

"PLEASE! I-I'll do anything. I need to do this! I can't be distracted by love. Not after all I've lost…" and with those words, a very slytherin grin appeared on his potions masters face.

"Anything? Anything you say?" Severus grinned wryly.

Harry noted the darkened eyes of his previous professor and only a handful of times has he seen it before. This wouldn't be pleasant in the least.

"To start you will begin with the lab…"

Harry's eyebrows rose, but as if to answer his question, Snape added "cleaning."

Harry spent the next few hours scrubbing cauldrons and sweeping all of Snape's rooms with the exception of his bedroom. Harry was always amazed how magic could make rooms larger than the house they were held in.

Incidentally, that was only the beginning of his torment. After Severus had left the room and assured Remus they would discuss things later and all was well, Harry then spent the next few weeks doing odds and ends things that would please his "tormentor". He had cleaned rooms, cooked meals and done the daily shopping for supplies. Harry was forced to practice magic at night and work for Snape by day.

Before he knew it, people were beginning to whisper about the amount of time he was spending, but Harry didn't mind so long as it was Simon they believed was spending time with the daunting man.

On a Friday morning, Harry was finishing up his chores while his professor worked tirelessly over a cauldron. Harry was beyond exhausted. All of the nights and days of working made it so Harry's eyes began to cross.

"Potter, I need you to run an errand for me. I am in need of some supplies. Here is the list of what I require. If you are to go now, I believe you could be back by sundown." Severus barely even noticed Harry. Harry felt so alone. This isn't what he remembered Simon feeling. There was a spark and now it felt like it was gone. Harry looked down at the list:

Supplies:

5 Shrivelfig's

2 dozen porcupine quills

Half a dozen sprigs of peppermint

Sopophorous beans

Wormwood

Harry stared at the contents of the list knowing exactly which potion it was for. But it didn't matter. Then a thought popped into his head and he knew he was going to sound ridiculous.

"Professor, perhaps you'd...like to take the trip with me…"

Harry nearly regretted the request just after it hit his lips. Instead of being angry however, Harry could see curiosity in the man's eyes even if he was trying to hide it.

"And why...Mr. Potter would I need to leave, if I have you here to do it for me?"

Although it came out sarcastically, Harry could almost see the man asking this as a serious question. Harry smirked.

"Why professor, could you really trust a dunderheaded Gryffindor, such as myself, to conduct the purchase of such important and extremely rare items. As luck would have it, I myself am all for the wear these days and just don't have enough energy to do it on my own...Although, with the help of a such an intellectual individual, I could perhaps hope to just bask in your glorious triumph as you enter the doors of the potions shops and demand their utmost attention! They'd be mad to not help you immediately and I for one know I would just be ignored as a simple wizard that I am. I should fear that I am just not strong enough for the task!" Harry feigned insignificance and threw his arm over his head, holding back a smirk.

Harry half expected to be scolded for being such an idiot when to his surprise, the man's corner of his lip twitched. Amusement, he supposed.

"Well, I for one am finally at peace with the knowledge that you have finally given in to your pride and understood your place in my presence. Come! Let us go shopping!"

And with that Severus put his books away with a wave of his wand.

They left the house just after one and promised Molly they'd be home before supper as they grabbed their coats. They chose to walk since it was such a lovely day. Severus could see Harry basking in the sun, although now the once infuriating boy was a handsome, sandy haired man. Severus pushed those thoughts at bay.

Those memories were faked. Forced on him by lies and deceit and had he'd know it were Potter, he'd never have even thought it for a second. And yet, here he was...arguing with himself over false feelings of the man before him. Potter had worked hard for him. Kept to his studies and scarcely argued, unless of course he made him clean one of the old cauldron's Longbottom previously used.

He would never admit it, but the presence was soothing. He had hated Potter, but he couldn't help caring about Simon. In the back of his mind, there was always the presence of Albus saying "Be careful of your actions."

He was sure it would not apply in this case..

They walked along a park path ridden with candied wrappers and soda bottle caps. Severus sneered. Muggles were always so messy. To his surprise, Harry bent down and began collecting the trash and put it into a nearby receptacle with the exception of the bottle cap.

"Since when did you become a house-elf" Severus mused.

"Since you'd been treating me like one." Harry blurted out.

He did not however apologize. Severus quirked his brow in thought. He hadn't realized how he had made him feel. He'd never thought of the feelings of others unless he planned on squashing their dreams, much like Longbottom.

They continued by the parks lake until they found a quiet place in a hidden alley where they could apparate. They swirled in a vortex just before landing near a small pub with the words "The Leaky Cauldron" placed atop the door. They made their way to the passage to the back and with a few well placed taps on brick, Diagon Alley appeared. Severus headed straight to the potions shop.

"Slug and Jiggers Apothecary." Harry mused.

"They nearly always have what I need." Severus stated.

There was silence as they walked into the eerie shop. Spleens of newt and eyes from all sorts of creatures decorated the walls and ceilings. Harry's stomach turned slightly as he was sure he'd seen owl toes dangle from a nearby net. Severus sauntered to the counter letting his robe barely kiss the floor. It was a statement for the man at the counter that he was of great importance.

"How may I help you today, sir" The old, crooked man spoke.

Severus handed him the parchment with the list. After the man studied it for a bit, he grunted then got to work. He quickly moved from one side of the room to the other, grabbing odds and ends things and placing them in what looked like shoe boxes. After the man placed everything into a bag, Severus paid him, then mumbled "reducio" under his breathe. Before Harry knew it, the bag was pocket sized and easy for travel.

After leaving the shop there were several others nearby that they had gone to for small vials and cauldrons. Harry even visited "Broomstix" but felt it was pointless since he had left his inheritance behind. All he carried now were muggle currency.

Severus eyed him as he noted the boy quickly lost interest in their trip.

"What seems to be the problem. Wasn't it your idea to drag me out of that house for "quality time"? I see, time spent with a surly potions master not good enough for you?" Severus eyed him.

"That's not it." Harry looked at Severus.

"It's been three years since I've been here and…" Harry felt sheepish. He wasn't poor in the least. In fact, he had been doing very well in the muggle world till he was torn away from it. "I haven't been here and I have no reason to be. I don't belong here." Harry had stated it quickly. But he felt it true. With forcing that world out of his life with the exception of battle training, Harry had felt he wasn't "apart" of it anymore. With that, Severus smirked.

"Simon..." Severus rolled his eyes at the name.

"You can ask me for what you need. I won't stop you from purchases. If you need a transfer of currency, I will go with you to Gringotts and setup an account."

Harry looked like he'd been hit with a bludger. It hadn't occurred to him Gringotts would have any other currency but wizard but now that Snape had mentioned it.

"You really are...unique. In your own right, of course.." Severus grinned at the idiot before him.

They went to Gringotts and placed an account for Simon Dursley. After a few suspicious moments with the goblins and Severus' word on the matter, Harry had a small fortune in his vault. It would last him some time before he would need a job. Nonetheless, he would eventually need a new one now that he was sure he'd been fired for lack of attendance.

The day was nearly ending and it was far past 6. They knew Mrs. Weasley would be furious. They headed back toward the house and followed the path of the park back. Severus stopped walking. Harry turned to see what had caused the man to stop.

"I...owe you an apology, Simon. I see now, you are who you said you are and you are not the same person I remember. Perhaps you never were…" Severus began to walk again, hoping to not need repeating it since his pride had felt a pang.

"Thank you, sir." Harry said with a small smile playing at the corner of his lips.

"Severus...You may call me Severus…" Severus nearly regretted that once he saw the glow in the man's eyes.

"I won't allow you to call me that if you persist to look like an imbecile!" Severus spat. But it wasn't enough to get Harry's soul back on the ground.