Chapter Text
“Ah, good evening Severus,” Albus Dumbledore greeted the Potion’s Master as he let himself into the latters office.
Severus Snape closed his eyes, still partially leaning over the shelf of ingredients that he had been sorting through.
“To what do I owe this pleasure, headmaster?” Snape asked silkily as he opened his eyes and turned to face the other man. Dumbledore continued to smile pleasantly, and Snape grew steadily more suspiciously the longer it took for the Headmaster to state his business.
“I had hoped, Severus, that you would assist me with some school business.”
Snape arched a brow, he crossed his arms now his dark eyes following Dumbledore’s every movement, however small they were. He seemed pleased about something, amused even.
“Oh? And what sort of business would that be?”
Dumbledore’s cheeriness was beginning to grate on his nerves, especially with how he continued to delay and delay.
“It has been brought back to my attention that a letter has not yet been delivered to a student.” Dumbledore began and almost immediately held up his hand to silence Snape who had opened his mouth to speak, “I had been meaning to send Hagrid to deliver it, to ensure that it was delivered this time, but as you know he is on other business for me.”
Snape nodded slowly, he knew very well what kept the Hogwarts Gamekeeper away, that Dumbledore would have entrusted that task to no one else.
“I do.”
“Which is why I have come to speak with you, I cannot trust just anyone else with this.”
“Oh I am touched that you think so highly of me, Headmaster, that you trust me with your errands.”
Dumbledore’s face to his credit didn’t betray his great amusement, his eyes twinkled as Snape crossed his arms.
“Now,” Dumbledore began as he took Snape’s reply as acceptance, “It’s Harry’s birthday tomorrow and I-” He stopped as Snape hissed at the name.
“Potter?” He spat and Dumbledore watched him carefully now, his easy smile falling from his face.
“Yes,” Dumbledore replied as he drew the letter from his robes, “He hasn’t received any of our correspondence and I am beginning to grow worried.”
“What do you mean he hasn’t received any correspondence?” Snape asked in spite of himself, not that he cared about the Potter boy. Dumbledore had once explained the various protective charms and enchantments that had been put in place to keep the boy safe at the home of his only living relatives.
“I believe someone has been intercepting his letters.”
Dumbledore’s tone was no longer jovial and light, and Snape nodded slowly, he understood the headmaster’s unspoken worries.
“I see, and is that why you wish for someone to hand deliver it?”
“Yes, I feel that that would be for the best.”
Snape thought it over, and the whole time he felt Dumbledore’s gaze on him as he waited for an answer.
“Severus,” Dumbledore began as he took a step towards him, “Please, I am asking you to do this for me.”
The Headmaster watched as Snape’s expression soured, the corner of his mouth twitching. There were many things he would rather do to keep himself busy than play errand boy for Dumbledore. He knew he had preparations to make for the start of term, and spending any measure of time in the company of James Potter’s son was not how he wanted to spend any part of his holiday.
“He has Lily’s eyes.”
Snape flinched, he knew exactly what Dumbledore was doing. The Headmaster stood there serenely, all innocence as though he had only been making an offhand comment.
“Fine.”
Snape spat as Dumbledore held out the letter. He snatched it moodily, looking at the address written across the envelope.
Mr. H. Potter
The Floor
Hut-on-the-Rock
The Sea
Snape felt something in his stomach knot up as he read the address over and over. He looked up at the Headmaster that was now frowning at him,
“Is this a joke?”
Dumbledore shook his head, as he came to stand beside him and both men looked down at the envelope.
“I’m afraid not, Severus. This is the most current address we have, which is why I wish for you to deliver it.”
Snape nodded slowly as he turned and crossed to where he had his traveling cloak hung. He did not speak as he pulled it on and fastened it. He slipped the letter away into an inner pocket and turned to look at the Headmaster. Dumbledore then held out a small golden key, explaining it was for the Potter’s vault and they headed out from the dungeons.
Dumbledore had accompanied him all the way to the boundaries of the castle, they did not speak and Snape merely nodded to Dumbledore as he walked through the gates and through the barrier of the protective enchantments.
Dumbledore watched as Snape disapparated before he turned and headed back up to the castle to send along a school owl to meet him.
Snape started as he appeared upon the small rocky shore of the island. His cloak billowed around him in the gale as he looked up at the rickety house perched at the top of the rock.
Gravel crunched beneath his boots as he approached the door. He reached out a closed fist, and held it up, staring at the door before he knocked.
He wasn’t at all surprised when there was no reply.
Snape knocked again, harder this time, and he waited this time he could hear movement behind the door. He frowned as he knocked with more force, and this time, this time he could hear voices.
“I’m warning you! I’m armed!”
His lip curled as he reached a hand into his cloak and drew out his wand. The door was blasted off its hinges and fell forward into the room. He looked on in a measure of satisfaction before he crossed over the threshold and stared around the room.
“You!”
Snape turned towards the voice, at the woman that stood behind her husband. She was pointing a bony finger at him as he gave a small flick of his wand and the shotgun in the man’s hands fell apart.
Aware of the gale blowing in behind him, he turned away from the Dursley’s momentarily to repair it, before once more facing them and stowing his wand away.
“I am just as pleased to be here,” Snape sneered, staring down Petunia with a look of contempt, “As you are to see me.”
Snape glowered as Petunia pursed her lips, still flushed with anger as another reminder of the childhood she wanted to forget and let himself into the shack without another word.
Snape turned away from her, glancing around the empty room, taking it all in before he finally spotted him. He fixed his cold gaze on the small, scrawny, bespectacled boy dressed in too big clothes.
Harry shrank back a bit, unsure of why his aunt was so angry and why the man looked at him with such loathing.
It wasn’t loathing, however, that Severus Snape felt as he looked at the boy who was shivering beneath his threadbare blanket, trying to put on a brave face. The boy could have been James in miniature except for his eyes…for it was Lily’s eyes following each of his steps from behind glasses.
Harry flinched as the man reached back into his cloak. He closed his eyes and waited for whatever it was he was going to do.
Snape's lips did not move as he drew out his wand, the blanket around Harry began to fill out, plumping up into something far more substantial. With that done, he slipped his wand away once more and watched Harry.
It took a moment for Harry to realize that nothing was happening, that he even felt warmer now, and he tentatively opened his eyes to look up at the man.
“T-thank you.” Harry said softly, and Snape, Snape tried to maintain a more neutral expression.
He was just fixing the Dursleys with one more poisonous glare when he heard Harry speak up behind him.
“Excuse me sir, but,” Harry said as Snape turned around to look down at him again, “Who are you?”
“Professor Severus Snape, I am the Potion’s Master of Hogwarts school.”
“Hogwarts?”
Snape was momentarily caught off guard by Harry’s question, as he had expected the boy to at least know what Hogwarts was.
“Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,” Snape said softly and when there was no recognition in Harry’s face he turned immediately on his heel and faced the Dursleys again.
“You did not tell him.” He hissed and while Petunia seemed to wither under his cold glare Vernon gathered himself and stared Snape down.
“We swore when we took him in we would put a stop to this rubbish!”
“Put a stop to what?” Harry had hurried forward to look at his aunt and uncle as Snape glowered at them.
“That you are a wizard.” Snape said icily and Vernon and Petunia both flinched at the mere sound of the word.
“I’m a what?”
“A wizard, Potter.” Snape continued as he did not look away from Vernon and Petunia, he had reached into his cloak again and this time drew out a letter of which he handed to Harry.
“For you.”
Snape’s words lacked the venom it had seconds before, Harry reached out and took the letter with numb fingers, staring at his name written across the envelope in emerald ink. Harry fumbled with the envelope and opened it, finally able to read what was written inside it.
“He will not be going!”
“That is not for you to decide.” Snape answered silkily, “That decision was made the moment he was born.”
As Harry read the letter questions began to pop up in his mind, and he looked up to see Snape still locked in a staredown with Uncle Vernon.
“Did you know?” he asked his Aunt and Uncle, and both glanced at him before back to Snape.
“Of course we knew, how could we not? My perfect little sister being what she was,” Petunia spat as she finally seemed to find her courage, “I was the only one to see her for what she was, a… a freak. Then, she met that Potter boy and had you and I knew you would be the same, just as strange, just as abnormal, and then she went and got herself blown up and we got landed with you.”
“Blown up? You told me my parents died in a car crash!”
The temperature of the shack seemed to drop several degrees as Petunia and Vernon looked from Harry to Snape who was looking at them with his eyes so full of hatred.
“I advise you to hold your tongue. Potter,” Snape said dangerously, barely able to contain his fury at how nonchalant they were about Lily’s murder. “Gather your things, we’re off.”
The Dursleys were wise enough to say nothing as Harry hurried back to the spot of the floor he had been occupying and picked up the overshirt he had bundled up for a pillow and returned to Snape’s side.
For a split second Vernon looked as though he would move, would go to block the door in some last attempt to prevent Harry from learning anything more about the world of which he and his parents came from.
“Unless you wish for me to curse your son,” Snape said softly, his words carrying over the force of the gale outside, “I would advise you to stay where you are.”
Snape glanced at Harry quickly before throwing one last contemptuous look at the Dursleys and striding towards the door, throwing it open with far more force than was necessary and stepping back out into the storm. Harry followed close behind, looking back at the Dursleys before he followed.
Snape briefly contemplated the storm and the rickety boat tied to the dock, no, they did not have the time for this. He glanced at Harry and reached out, his hand hovered briefly over his shoulder before he spoke,
“We will apparate to London, I will now take hold of your shoulder and we will go.”
Harry nodded and felt Snape’s hand grip tightly to his shoulder, he had been about to ask what apparition was but the sound died in his throat as he felt the world squeeze in around him and they disappeared with a loud bang.
It was all a dream.
Harry kept his eyes closed, pulling the blankets tighter around himself.
It was all a dream and he was back at the Dursley’s locked in his cupboard. He could hear footsteps coming up the hall, here was Aunt Petunia coming to wake him up for breakfast.
Harry squeezed his eyes shut even tighter as the footsteps stopped and there came a knock on the door.
“Potter.”
Hang on, Harry thought as he opened his eyes as sat up in bed, that wasn’t Aunt Petunia’s voice.
The room was blurred around him, he could see the rays of sunlight coming through the still drawn curtains as he reached out for his glasses and pulled them on.
Everything came back to him in a rush and he threw the blankets aside as he slid off the bed and fished around for his trainers. He pulled them on as the knock came again and he hurried over to the door and flung it open.
Harry looked up into Snape’s face still grinning as this further confirmed that he had not been dreaming.
“Good morning Professor.” Harry said as Snape stepped aside and allowed for Harry to step out into the hall and close the door behind him.
“Good morning.” Snape replied as he turned and started towards the stairs, he did not need to tell Harry to follow, he could hear the boy hurrying along behind him.
The pub was deserted this time of the morning, which Snape vastly preferred to the night before when they had arrived. It had been absolute madness once they realized who was accompanying him, the various witches and wizards having rushed forward to try and talk to and shake hands with the boy.
Snape had been able to tell when Harry had started to become overwhelmed with the attention and with the same dangerous tone he used with the Dursleys he finally chased them off.
From there Tom had given them a booth in a corner, and Snape had purposely put himself between Harry and the room at large so that the boy could have some proper food without interruption.
In the time it took Harry to eat Snape had sent out the owl to Hogwarts to notify Dumbledore of Harry’s acceptance for term, and that he would be staying the night at the Leaky Cauldron to take Harry to buy his school things the following day before returning him to his Aunt and Uncle’s.
Harry swung his legs as he sat waiting for Tom to bring them breakfast, he was excited, he was told that he could have anything on the menu and it would be on the house!
He had ordered everything that sounded good, bacon, eggs, sausage, toast, beans. He had even asked Tom if there was a chance he could have a slice of cake and had been ecstatic when the barman smiled and nodded.
Snape could feel the excitement radiating off of Harry from across the table. Even as he flipped through this morning’s edition of the Daily Prophet he could hear Harry humming to himself, before hearing a quiet gasp as Tom reappeared with a tray laden with everything Harry had asked him for.
“Thank you.” Harry smiled as he looked at everything and tried to sort out where he wanted to begin. But it was the cake that held his attention, Tom hadn’t just given him a slice, but a cake in miniature, just large enough for one person to enjoy.
“Happy Birthday Harry.”
Snape paused as he heard what it was Harry was saying quietly beneath his breath and he lowered the paper enough to see Harry gazing at the tiny cake.
He hated feeling the way he did, he hated it so very much.
Snape closed the paper and set it aside, ignoring his own breakfast for the moment as he drew out his wand.
Harry’s eyes widened as some candles appeared on the cake, and in small cramped writing a messy Happy Birthday written in the icing. He looked up at Snape, who was not smiling, before looking back at his cake and for the first time in his life Harry blew out his candles.
It was difficult for Harry to contain himself and to stick close to Snape as they walked through the already bustling Diagon Alley. He wanted to stop and look at everything, and for the most part Snape humored him. It wasn’t until Harry stopped to look at the display of Nimbus 2000 brooms that Snape cleared his throat and said they had a schedule to keep.
Harry nodded as he walked back to Snape, casting one more look over his shoulder at the Nimbus as they continued down the road towards Gringotts.
This was already the best Birthday Harry had ever had, that he was sure of. They had run into Hagrid on their way into Gringotts, Harry had liked him, he was happy to tell him all about Hogwarts, Dumbledore, all but ignoring the fact that Snape was standing there with him.
Snape had eventually had enough when Hagrid started talking about Harry’s parents and said that they still needed to head inside to visit the Potter’s vault and Hagrid smiled and told them that he would accompany them as he was there on Hogwarts business as well.
They had parted once they returned to the lobby, Hagrid left still beaming down at Harry before making him promise to come down for tea once the school term started. Harry of course readily agreed as he was wanting to ask him more about the strange grubby little package he had gotten for Professor Dumbledore.
Snape kept trying to divert his attention from the package, asking Harry instead what supplies he needed and directing him to the first of many stores they would be visiting today.
Snape had decided against waiting around in Madam Malkin’s while Harry was being fitted for school robes, finding the process dull and disinteresting.
That and he had his own business to take care of. He had been going through the list of what he needed to replenish in his own private stores when a soft hooting from next door to the apothecary caught his attention.
Snape stared at the storefront for Eeylops Owl Emporium, shifting one of the many parcels he carried beneath his arm. The door had been propped open, and he could see the outlines of cages in the cool darkness.
He couldn’t help but think back to the conversation that he and Harry had had over breakfast. Already Harry was saying that this was the best birthday he had ever had. That had, well, it hadn’t exactly caught Snape off guard, given the state of Harry when he had arrived at the hut to deliver the letter.
But he listened patiently as Harry talked between mouthfuls of food how he never got to eat what he wanted on his birthday, never got a cake, never had candles, or a card! Snape didn’t need to ask to know that Harry had never received a gift either.
A gift.
He shifted uncomfortably as he continued to stare into the shop, hearing another soft hoot from inside. Snape scowled as he stepped into the shop, waiting as his eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness and then began to have a look around.
Students were allowed the choice between an owl, a cat, or a toad to bring along with them to school. In his opinion, owl’s were far more useful, the others had uses as well, but it was better to have something that could do more than provide companionship.
Snape looked from cage to cage, tawny, screech, eagle… all native varieties, all watching him with a measure of interest. He supposed any of these would do, and he turned to address the shopkeeper and stopped.
A snowy white owl was perched in a cage behind the counter, head tucked beneath its wing. Dimly, he recalled a conversation from long long ago… how Lily Evans spoke in a hushed voice as they sat at one of the tables in the Hogwarts library. She had been showing him a book that had the different species of owl from around the world.
“Isn’t the snowy owl beautiful?” she had said with a soft sigh, “I would get one if I could, but they’re not native to this part of England.”
Snape continued to look at the owl, only looking away when he heard a small cough. The shopkeeper smiled pleasantly at him, “We just got her in last night, beautiful isn’t she?”
Snape nodded slowly, not that he cared either way as an owl was an owl.
“She’s fifteen galleons.” The shopkeeper continued as Snape turned his attention back to the owl still sleeping away.
How he loathed this feeling. He knew all too well what neglect felt like, what it was like to not receive so much as a note for his birthday. Lily had been the only one who ever gave him a card or a gift. At least, she had until…
Snape set the wrapped package of books down on the counter before he reached into his cloak to draw out his money bag. He took out the fifteen galleons, paused, then added a small box of owl treats to his purchases.
It took some rearranging for him to be able to carry all that he had with him now, the books and treats at least fit into the cauldron which left him with a free hand to take hold of the cage. The snowy owl hooted indignantly to have been disturbed, ruffling her feathers as he stepped back into the sunlit streets and back towards Madam Malkins.
“Severus,” Snape turned as he heard the voice call from behind him, “What a pleasant surprise, had we known you were coming I’m sure we could have made arrangements to come together.”
“Narcissa.” Snape greeted with a polite nod, “I was not at all expecting to be here. I’m on business at the Headmaster’s request.”
“Running errands for Dumbledore?” She asked incredulously, arching an elegant brow.
“Unfortunately.” was his reply as Narcissa Malfoy came to stand before him. She glanced discreetly at the packages he was holding, then to the owl before meeting his eyes again.
“What an odd assortment of things Dumbledore has sent you for.” She commented as much of what Snape carried was similar of course to what she and Lucius were currently shopping for for Draco. “He has his reasons I’m sure.”
Snape’s mouth thinned as he nodded slowly, he had hoped that this day would have passed without incident. He had hoped it would pass without him running into anyone that would be far too curious to know why exactly he was escorting Harry Potter to do his shopping.
“He does.” Was all that he said back to her. Narcissa smiled politely before glancing over her shoulder towards Flourish and Blotts, “You will have to say hello to Lucius before you go, he’s buying Draco his books and I was just on my way to collect Draco from Madam Malkin’s. I’m certain that he will be pleased to see you as well.”
Snape was clenching his teeth so tightly he felt his jaw click and his expression was something of an odd sort of grimace as Narcissa turned back to look at him.
“If I have the time.”
Narcissa inclined her head with a small smile, “I’m sure that the Headmaster would not mind if you were to take a few moments to visit.”
“Professor Snape, I got my robes. The list says a wand is next, then ingredients for potions.”
Of course now would be the moment that Harry would rejoin him. He stood stock still and stony faced as the boy hurried over to him carrying the wrapped bundle of school robes. Snape could see the surprise in Narcissa’s face before she carefully set her features and clasped her hands together.
“My apologies,” Snape said as Harry stopped beside him, “But I will have to call on Lucius at another time.”
“Of course.” Narcissa said cooly as she looked from Harry and back to Snape, “Have a pleasant afternoon, Severus.”
With that Narcissa departed and Snape, wanting to avoid running into Lucius, gave Harry a nudge towards the storefront for Ollivanders.
The boy obeyed and hurried forward, glancing over his own shoulder to watch Narcissa’s figure as she disappeared into Madam Malkin’s.
He had even forgotten to ask why Snape had an owl.
Snape set the parcels and cage down, crossing his arms as he sat down on the small rickety chair to wait. Harry tentatively moved forward, looking around at all the shelves and the long thin boxes stored upon them.
Harry very nearly jumped when Mr Ollivander appeared as he moved so quietly and appeared just as though it had been out of thin air.
Snape saw the almost curious glance Ollivander had cast him but he ignored him, drawing a roll of parchment out from his cloak to read so that he did not have to entertain any comments or questions from the wandmaker.
He did occasionally glance up at a particularly loud bang, or flash of colour. Snape thought back to the time when he himself had come for his wand, either it was an instant match or… he turned his attention back to the parchment he held as more sparks shot overhead it took a bit more time.
It had taken him a moment to notice that there was someone standing directly in front of him. Snape glanced up to see Harry standing there looking tense and worried.
“Sir,” Harry said quietly as from deeper in the shop came tumbling boxes and muttering, “What if he can't find a wand for me?”
“Unlikely, there will be something here for you.” Snape replied and it seemed to do little to soothe Harry's fears, “It may just take more time.”
Harry nodded slowly, he still seemed ill at ease as he looked back over his shoulder again at the place where Mr. Ollivander had disappeared between the shelves.
“Mr. Potter.” The wandmaker called and Harry swallowed as he turned fully and walked back to the counter where Ollivander stood with another box in his hands.
“Try this one.”
He said as he opened the box and hesitantly Harry reached out a hand already worried of what this one would do the second he picked it up. But nothing happened, nothing except a warm tingle that began at his fingers and traveled slowly up the length of his forearm.
Harry held the wand out before him, not even waiting for Ollivander to speak as he gave it a little wave. Red and gold sparks shot from the end and Harry, who was no longer afraid, beamed as finally a wand chose him.
“Curious,” Ollivander murmured as he watched Harry, took in the sight of him and the wand he held in his hand, “Very curious.”
“What’s curious sir?” Harry asked as now he felt a slight bit of apprehension at the way Ollivander looked at him.
“I remember every wand that I have ever sold, and it just so happens that the Phoenix whose tail feather resides in your wand gave another. Just one other. It’s curious that this wand chose you, when its brother gave you that scar.”
Snape looked up from his parchment at Ollivander’s words. He felt as though his skin was prickling, felt as if his left forearm was burning.
“What if it made a mistake?” Harry said suddenly as he hurriedly put the wand back into the box and stepped away.
“The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter.” Ollivander said softly as he closed the box and much to Harry’s horror, began to wrap it in brown paper. “I expect we will see a great many things from you. After all, he who must not be named did great things. Terrible, but great.”
Harry looked considerably paler as Ollivander held the wrapped package to him, “Seven galleons.”
Harry took the package before he took out his money bag, counting out the coins and putting them into Ollivander’s outstretched hand.
“That wand will serve you well, I promise you that.”
Harry nodded slowly as he turned and walked back to Snape. He said nothing to Snape as they gathered his things and stepped back out onto the street.
A soft hoot brought Harry out of the sullen mood that had come over him and he stopped to actually look at the owl in the cage.
“Sir,” He asked and Snape stopped and looked towards him, “Why do you have an owl?”
Snape was quiet for a moment. He felt awkward, uncomfortable at the thought of what he would need to say, what he would be doing. He shifted slightly before he lifted his arm and held the cage out towards Harry.
“She is your birthday gift.” Snape said simply as Harry looked from him to the owl before back to him. Harry was smiling now, he felt the swell of happiness building in his chest as he took the top of the cage carefully in hand.
“R-really? Thank you, professor!” Harry’s face hurt from how wide he was smiling as he looked down at the beautiful snowy owl. What feeling that came over him at Ollivanders was all but forgotten and Harry felt for the first time ever, happy that it was his birthday.
“Professor,” Harry began as he looked across the table at Snape, “Can I ask you something?”
Snape grunted but instead of ignoring him, he set down his fork and looked at Harry. They had finished Harry’s shopping, and Harry had packed everything away into his trunk which was tucked in beside their table. His owl had her head tucked beneath her wing, and Harry watched her for a moment before he looked back at Snape.
Snape had decided they would have dinner at the Leaky Cauldron before he returned Harry to the Dursleys to ensure Harry had at least once more proper meal before then.
“If I’m really a wizard… how come the Dursleys have been able to treat me so poorly. How come I couldn’t have turned them all into a toad or something?”
Snape couldn’t help the small twitch of a smile, he admitted the thought in itself was amusing and it would honestly serve them right.
“Before I answer, let me ask you something. Have you ever made things happen, when you were frightened or angry?”
Harry pondered this, there were many odd instances that he could recall from his childhood, and most recently from their trip to the zoo on Dudley’s birthday. Eventually he smiled and nodded, “I set a python on my cousin once. The glass just disappeared and… well it left.”
Snape nodded as he watched Harry, who was looking at him expectantly now.
“To answer your question,” Snape began as Harry shifted a bit in his chair and gave Snape his full attention, “Young witches and wizards don’t have total control over their abilities, hence why you were able to make the glass disappear when you were angry. You haven’t turned them into toads simply because you haven’t learned how to.”
“So I could?”
“Possibly, with some schooling of course.”
“Brilliant.” Harry breathed all the more excited now to go school and learn how exactly to turn the Dursley’s into toads, or something else.
“However, you should know that under age witches and wizards are not allowed to do magic outside of school.” Snape continued and could all but see the happiness wilting away from Harry’s face.
Harry nodded sullenly, as he had hoped that the threat of him being able to do some magic would stop the Dursleys from treating him poorly.
The corner of Snape’s mouth twitched as he recognized the disappointment in Harry’s expression. There had been many times when he had been a boy where he had fantasized about doing something, anything, to his father when the man got particularly violent. Or, more importantly, hoping that his mother would have done something. Instead she didn’t, and Snape recalled all those times he had stolen away when they were fighting, not stopping until he could no longer hear them shouting.
For the briefest of seconds he saw a smiling face flash before his eyes. A girl with deep red hair, and green, almond shaped eyes…
“Sir,” Snape was snapped out of his reverie as Harry spoke again. With a small sigh he closed his eyes for just a moment before he opened them again and looked at the boy, “Did… did you know my parents?”
“I did.” Snape answered as he had been honest with Harry thus far. Again he saw Lily’s face flash to the forefront of his mind.
Harry’s eyes brightened and he leaned forward in his chair eagerly, “Did you know them well? Were you friends?”
Snape was very careful to not allow what he truly thought of James Potter to show on his face. He took a few moments to just think over how he would answer this question, because he had no happy memories of James in particular, but Lily…
“No,” He said after a moment, “I knew them in passing, we were not friends.”
Harry’s hopeful smile started to fall and he nodded, “Oh, okay.”
He didn’t press, as much as he wanted to ask more about them, he understood that he couldn’t get answers from someone that didn’t know them.
When Snape felt that Harry wasn’t about to ask any more questions he returned to his dinner. Harry was looking down at his own food, he didn’t feel nearly as hungry as he had before, but he also knew that this could be his last good meal for a while.
Somewhat reluctantly he picked up his fork again and took a few more bites of his steak and kidney pie. It didn’t taste as good as it had before and he pushed it aside in favour of the treacle tart he had gotten for dessert.
Snape continued to glance at him, making sure that Harry was at least eating. He supposed that he should have Tom pack up what was left for Harry to take with him.
He didn’t trust the muggles to feed him properly.
Tom had been pleased to wrap up some extras, handing Snape a rather large, and rather heavy parcel.
Snape set it down on the trunk beside the cage where the owl slept, he would send those ahead of them as he doubted they could use the floo network to get back to Privet Drive.
Harry was apprehensive about apparating again, he looked up at Snape who gave a little shrug before he and Harry stepped out into the alley behind the little pub. Harry squeezed his eyes shut tight as Snape grabbed hold of his shoulder again.
He felt the pull right behind his navel and the world spun around them.
He stumbled when they appeared with a quiet pop at the end of the garden path. Harry stood still for a moment waiting for his stomach to settle before he trusted himself to follow in Snape’s wake.
Snape approached the door and knocked, behind it he could hear Vernon’s voice calling who in the blazes is calling at this hour.
Snape took some pleasure in the way all colour drained from Vernon’s face as he opened the door to find both Snape and Harry standing there.
“I’ve come to return your nephew.” Snape said as he held Vernon’s gaze, Harry stepped out from behind Snape and saw his uncle was less than thrilled to see him standing there. He stepped forward and saw how Uncle Vernon recoiled almost instantly and Harry was able to slip past him and into the hall.
“One more thing,” Snape began, holding his hand up to stop Vernon from closing the door in his face, “Potter, I expect you to maintain regular correspondence. If I do not receive regular updates from you, and that stretches for more than three days I will then be obligated to come and call on you. It will be most unfortunate if I do need to take time from my busy schedule to do so.”
His cold black eyes narrowed slightly as he looked fixedly at Vernon, Harry who was looking at him from around his Uncle’s bulk nodded.
“Yes sir.” Harry answered as Snape removed his hand from the door and straightened up. He fixed his cloak and spoke,
“Remember, September first at Kings Cross station, the train leaves at exactly 11 o’clock. Your ticket is with your letter. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.”
With that he turned and swept from the step and heard the door close behind him with a snap.
Harry said nothing to his uncle as he tore up the stairs to his bedroom, smiling to his owl as he passed her and got to the window to look down at the garden path. He expected to see Snape still there, but where the man had been just seconds before, he had gone.