Harry was laying tensely on his bed, attempting to get a hold on himself. Snape had really looked like….

Taking a deep breath, he tried to relax. Snape wasn't there. It was just him. Just me…. he told himself. He felt nervous about what Snape would do the next time he saw him. Harry honestly hadn't realized the time. I'm so stupid. It's the first time he allowed me to do something…and I don't even follow the ONE rule he had…And Snape wasn't even thinking about himself, he was thinking about Harry's safety. It may have been on Dumbledore's orders, but that fact that he had done something like that only influenced Harry's guilt.

Harry felt his cheeks burn at the thought of seeing Dylan and the others again. But at the moment none of that mattered. Harry had gotten nothing done out there and now he didn't know what he would do. It was with this thought Harry fell asleep. The next day Harry was the first to wake up. He was about to go downstairs when he noticed the weight room. He decided to use it after thinking about how long it had been since he had done any real exercise.

He passed all sorts of machines before he came to a door in the back. Opening it, he was surprised to see an open field…or at least what looked like one. There was a huge path with marks showing how long you've walked. So this place is meant for running, Harry thought.

Walking back to the door, Harry started running. When he finally stopped, his heart was beating rapidly and his legs felt as though they were on fire. But he never felt better. Only after regaining his breath did he realize that he would have to walk ALL the way back to the door. Walking back, Harry started thinking about what Snape had said to him the other day. It had hurt him more then he wanted to admit. It was one thing to know Snape didn't want him, but it was another to hear it directly from the Professor. It isn't Harry's fault that Snape had pulled him from the Dursley's. But maybe I could've kept him from it. I should've tried harder… then so many things wouldn't have changed….

By the time Harry was back to the bedroom, his mood had dimmed considerably. Checking the time, he felt his stomach plummet as he saw how late it was. Casting a refreshing charm on himself, Harry debated on whether he should go down to eat or not. He was late, so maybe Snape wouldn't allow him to eat. Deciding that it would look worse to stay in the room, Harry made his way downstairs.

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Waking up, Snape finally allowed himself to think of the events of the day before. He refused to admit it, but he actually felt slightly bad for telling the boy he wasn't wanted. Snape knew from experience that it hurt more when its actually been said. Reaching Potter's room, all previous feelings were thrown out of the window.

The boy had left.

He left! He probably knew Snape would refuse to let him go out and simply left on his own. Snape began to pace. Either he should wait for the boy to get back, or he should go look for him. Looking for the brat probably isn't worth the effort and someone should be here for when the boy came back.

Angrily Snape made his way to the kitchen, where he continued to pace. Some time later Potter walked in, playing with his hands and refusing to look up. He knew how Snape would react and yet he had done it anyways! Seeing the boy just standing there. Snape lost it.

Grabbing the boy by the collar, and slamming him against the wall, Snape yelled, eyes flashing. On Harry's part, he wasn't able to register anything Snape said. His head hurt from hitting the wall unexpectedly. He didn't know Snape would react so strongly to him being late. Snape, seeing that Harry wasn't listening to him, lifted and threw the boy to the floor.

After that nothing could be heard but the occasional harsh breath from Harry. It hadn't taken Snape more then two seconds to leave the room…and the apartment. Silently Harry tried to calm himself down. It took every ounce of willpower he had as he continued to remember his Uncle's actions.

Ok…Professor Snape didn't hit me….he just shoved me…I shouldn't have been late. It's my fault. Breath Harry.

He silently told himself. Shakily Harry pulled himself up and to the bedroom. Resolving to do anything in order to keep Snape from getting angry.

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Snape was currently in the magic half of the house, reaching for the floo powder. The boy would have to leave. Snape was unfit to parent him. He doubted Potter would leave the house again, so, calling out the Headmaster's office, Snape stepped into the floo.

"I can't do this headmaster. The boy must leave. He's better off at Hogwarts."

Snape looked around only to find that the headmaster wasn't there. Right then the Headmaster apparated in.

"Severus, is there a problem?"

Severus then repeated himself.

"I'm not cut out for this sir. I can't. You leave him there and I guarantee something will go wrong."

Dumbledore easily replied to this.

"Severus, the fact that you came here alone shows that you can do this. Learn from your mistakes. I'm sure you and Harry can works things out, it just might take some time. Show him that you will be a constant in his life whether he wants it or not. He needs that, my boy."

Snape was looking down. His heart ached at his mentor's referral. He remembered that day like it was yesterday. It was about two months after he destroyed his life…by taking the dark mark. Something had told him to go speak to the headmaster.

He had been sitting in the office, not uttering a word. Yet Dumbledore had waited patiently. Only when he was about to leave the office did Albus act.

"Severus…" his hand had frozen on the door knob from the unfamiliar emotion in which Albus Dumbledore had spoken his name.

"I believe you have something to say?"

Severus continued to debate with himself. He knew that this was his only option for survival. It was either this or death. He had nothing to lose….so he went back and sat down, head in hands.

The words he needed refused to form. He barely concealed a jump as he felt a hand on his back. Shaking his head, he rolled up the sleeve of his left arm. He had expected to be kicked out of the office or petrified and taken to the ministry. What he didn't expect was for Dumbledore to pull him up and into a hug.

When it happened he had attempted with all he had to push himself away, but the Headmaster strength wasn't in magic alone. Finally after what seemed like forever, Snape just broke down….and cried. It was his first time since he was nine….and his last up until that very moment in time.

Snape understood what Dumbledore was pointing at, but he had doubt that he would ever be that person…. for Potter especially. Sighing, Snape admitted to himself that he had always seen the Headmaster as a constant since then but he still had times where he was afraid that Albus would turn his back on him.

"I will try…sir… but please don't be disappointed at my failure."

"I'm sure I will not have to worry about that my boy." With that said, Dumbledore apparated.

Apparently he had something important to do. So Snape returned home, reluctant at seeing the face of his charge. He would have to say something about what had happened, but he was completely new to this and just wanted to lock himself up in his lab. He opened the door of the muggle apartment to find it empty. Doubting the boy was stupid enough to leave the house like that again, he made his way upstairs. Looking in the room, he saw the boy writing, but the second he noticed Snape's presence, he hurried to get up.

"Sir….earlier…I…" Snape interrupted him, however.

"While your deeds do merit punishment, Mr. Potter, I should not have done what I did….and for that….I…apologize." Harry nodded dumbly at the Potion Master's unexpected apology.

Finding his voice again, he replied.

"I….it's ok sir. I shouldn't have been late. It was my fault."

Snape was momentarily confused at what the boy was implying, but shrugged it off.

"Regardless, I shouldn't have reacted like that."

Knowing that he should do something, he offered something that wouldn't have even crossed his mind an hour ago.

"I will be going to a shop at the corner of the street, if you would like to come, you may pick anything within reason…"

Harry was rather reluctant to go anywhere with the potions master at that moment, but he knew if he said no it would not only offend Snape but also cause him to lose his chance to go outside. For all he knew Snape would plan to keep him in for the rest of the summer. He would take what he could get. Standing on the steps, Harry looked about and was somewhat relieved that those guys were nowhere in sight. He doubted he'd be ready to face them yet, and with Snape by his side too.

Reaching the front of the store Harry felt his chest tighten when he realized it was the same store with the owner that didn't trust him. Who knows what he would tell Snape. Maybe I should just do the opposite of what I think I should do from now on, Harry thought. Walking into the store, Harry refused to look up from his shoes, and ended up walking straight into someone.

Looking up he found that it was just his luck he that the ran into the shopkeeper.

"You! Back so soon? What of the rest of your…pack?"

Harry was annoyed that they were being talked about as though they were animals, but he said nothing.

"He was here before, you said?" So this is where the brat went yesterday, Snape silently thought.

The manager nodded and, with a sneer, told Snape he didn't wish for a second experience. Harry knew he had done nothing wrong, but wisely decided to keep his mouth closed. As Snape moved around getting all the he needed, the shopkeeper followed, attempting a start of conversation.

He seemed closer to Snape then to anyone else Harry had ever seen the man speak to .

"So, Snape, where did you get the boy?"

Snape didn't even hesitate as he replied,

"I'm sorry to say that the boys relatives did not wish to have him home for the summer, thus it was required of me to take him in."

"I can see why they wouldn't." Said the man, eying Harry up and down.

"Planning to straighten him out I hope." It was scary how alike the gleam in this man's eye was to his Uncle's.

Snape tensed slightly."Of course, they wanted him with me specifically for that reason."

Snape felt rather bad after saying that. He had a feeling the boy would take his words to heart. He would have to fix that later, but for now it was vital to keep up appearances. Harry still hadn't moved from his spot, stiff as a board and staring at his shoes.

The boy nearly sighed in relief when the subject of their speech was no longer on him. Shortly after the topic was changed, Snape paid and called Potter to leave. When the boy seemed to not hear, Snape was forced to pull him out of the store by the collar. And with Harry's rotten luck, it was no surprise that Dylan was coming down the street on his skateboard at that same moment. Snape abruptly let go of Harry and scowled at Dylan, causing him to hesitate.

After a second thought though, he continued on his way towards Harry.

"Hey…Nate…err.. Do you think you could come out tonight at five?"

Harry gave a nervous glance at Snape before replying.

"Sorry, I'm rather… busy…maybe another time."

"Right…..ok…I'll see you around then I guess", was all he said before he took off past them.

Neither Harry nor Snape said a thing to the other for the rest of the way. Snape on his part was surprised that the boy had told his friend no. The second he heard the question he expected to have to intervene. Another thing he hadn't expected was for Potter to give them a false name. Perhaps the boy had some brains after all.

As they continued walking, Snape suddenly realized that the attack on Hogsmeade was the next day. There was no use worrying about it however, since it was only to be new recruits. Reaching the house, Snape turned around.

"Potter, though I must admit that you do have a brain somewhere in that head of yours, it was unwise of you to make up a story without advising me first. I could have told them otherwise."

"Sorry sir, but he had asked and…." was all Harry said before Snape cut him off.

"Yes I understand that, but you should have told me afterwards."

Silently Harry was thinking he probably would have if it wasn't for an irate Snape coming at him for being late.

"Well sir, your explanation for me being here matched mine rather well."

The only reaction to the explanation on Snape's part was raised eyebrows. After telling Snape everything he had told the guys, Snape told him that he should become accustomed to the new name. Harry was about to go up to the bedroom, when a flash of white passing him caught his attention. Looking back he saw a Phoenix…. the headmaster's patronus, relaying a message to Snape.

That second, his scar started to burn horribly, and Snape reached to grab his left arm.

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Right when the boy was about to go do who knows what upstairs, Snape noticed a Patronus coming at him. That almost always meant something bad. When the Patronus stopped in front of him, he realized it was the headmasters. Carefully he listened to the message.

"Severus, there are about fifteen death eaters at Hogwarts. They have gotten in through to floo network and the Order is on there way. If you are called, you are to tell Voldemort that I believe that you gave me false information." Snape knew he would be punished as though it were his own fault, but it was a thought out plan. That same second his mark started to burn. After returning a Patronus to Dumbledore, Snape left.

After kneeling to kiss the hem of the Dark Lord's robe, Snape took his place in the inner circle. Angrily looking from one mask to another, Voldemort began to speak.

"I ssee that our new recruits were too eager to WAIT. It appearsss….that they have broken into Hogwartss."

Several of the more stupid death eaters in the back started to whisper at that.

"SILENCE!" All whispers immediately stopped.

"Had they informed us of this before, this may have been the day where I began my reign."

"Severus. What hass the fool told you of the attack?"

"I apologize, my lord, but I believe Dumbledore found my false information to be a diversion."

Snape was unable to say much as he stoically took the cruciatus curse that was thrown at him. As through nothing had occurred, the dark lord continued,

"I truly hope the fool doesn't catch them all. I need them here to destroy by myself… Tell Dumbledore that the invasion was unknown by me, or the recruits would have been a greater force and much less foolish. And Severus, you are to continue to fight alongside them. Dismissed."

No one needed to be told twice, for only Bellatrix would be stupid enough to attempt to speak to the Dark Lord in his present condition, and perhaps the rat as well. Most were shocked that the Dark Lord had made so little use of his torture methods, but then he was too buzy harboring his anger towards the foolish amateurs.

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