kbinnz - Harry's New Home

"I went to fetch Potter and your students instantly assumed I was up to no good. Are they always this prone to paranoid fantasies? I had thought such ideation was largely confined to my House."

She smirked back at him. "Only where you are involved, Severus. I shall reassure them as to Mr Potter's continued good health."

"You had also best award points to them for whatever euphemism you use to refer to mindless bravado masquerading as overprotectiveness, or Mr Potter may be criticized for his part in bringing me to your doorstep," Snape added reluctantly. It hurt тАУ oh, how it hurt! тАУ to even contemplate awarding points to Gryffindor, but he did not want the brat to get off to a bad start with his Housemates. He knew too well what it was like to have to make it through seven years at Hogwarts without the friendship and support of your House.

Minerva was obviously taken aback, but then her gaze shifted to over his shoulder and her expression softened. "You are a good man, Severus Snape," she said unexpectedly. Before Severus could comment acidly upon this new habit of spouting non sequitars, she returned her gaze to him. "I think twenty points for protecting a Housemate should do it."

"Fifteen would be more than sufficient!" Snape retorted. "Ten, even, considering the rude comments that were made about my personal hygiene."

That prompted another giggle behind him, quickly converted to a cough.

"Thank you for the suggestion, Severus. You'll see that Mr Potter is returned safely?"

"No, Minerva," he snapped. "I will turn him loose to wander the corridors until he is either captured by Filch or eaten by Fluffy."

"Sarcasm is most unnecessary," she sniffed and, with a final nod to Harry, withdrew.

Harry kept his eyes firmly focused on his tea. Maybe he would get away with the snickers. Maybe Professor Snape hadn't actually heard him. MaybeтАж

"Did you find that amusing, Potter?"

He looked up, scared. "Sorry, sir!" But looking closely at the man, Harry realized Snape wasn't that upset. Oh, he was still scowling, but he was always scowling. His eyes weren't snapping, though. If anything, they almost looked a little, well, resigned. But that couldn't be right, could it? "I'm sorry, sir."

Snape rolled his eyes. "Now what are you apologizing for, Potter?"

"Um, for being here?"

"I brought you here, Potter. Did you forget that little fact?"

"No, I meant for being here when Professor McGonagall said that stuff. She, erm, she kinda treats you like a student sometimes, doesn't she?"

Snape growled, but Harry didn't think it was aimed at him. "Never take a teaching position at your alma mater, Potter. Not unless there has been a complete staff changeover."

"Um, yes, sir," Harry agreed obediently. Poor Professor Snape, no wonder he had to be so snarky all the time. It wasn't just that students were likely to blow up half the castle if they didn't listen to him, it was that the other teachers didn't show him much respect either. Harry knew what it was like to be the odd man out. He gave Snape a sympathetic look.

Snape frowned. What was that for? The brat's expression was almost friendly. How could this urchin feel anything for Snape but dread and loathing?

"Potter, we need to talk about your future," he announced sternly.

Harry felt his stomach lurch. He trusted Snape that he wouldn't have to return to the Dursleys, but then where would he go? An orphanage? Could he still attend Hogwarts and just return to the orphanage during hols? He bit his lip anxiously.

Snape frowned in thought as he sat down opposite the brat. He had had a brilliant idea after talking to the Weasleys. If Harry objected to Snape's nomination as his guardian, surely Dumbledore wouldn't insist. The old coot seemed genuinely distraught at the boy's past treatment, so if Harry threw a fit at the notion of Severus being his guardian, the Headmaster couldn't possibly force yet another hated adult upon the boy.

So all Severus had to do was to present the plan to Potter, wait for the brat to start screaming, and then summon Albus. Snape could hardly be blamed if the young Gryffindor didn't want the Greasy Git to be his guardian, and Albus would just have to reopen his search for an appropriate parent. He nearly smirked. Perhaps the Headmaster would pick on Minerva. He could just see the old witch's expression the first time Potter hid under the bed. Or maybe Dumbledore would take the boy on himself? But no, Severus remembered with more than a hint of gratification, Harry had made it abundantly clear he didn't trust the Headmaster.

"Potter, as I said before, you will not be returning to your Muggle relatives," Snape began, passing the boy the biscuits. Might as well start off slow and easy and let Dumbledore see that he had tried to ingratiate himself. It wasn't his fault if Harry was a Gryffindor through and through and would never accept a Slytherin's supervision.

"Thank you, sir!" From the joy in the boy's eyes, Severus assumed he wasn't merely expressing appreciation for the food.

"Their treatment of you was unacceptable, and тАУ" The brat started to speak but then obviously thought better of it. Snape sighed. This timidity would get old very quickly. Not that he wanted the boy to inherit his father's arrogant ways, but to see a Potter cringe was strangely upsetting. "What is it, Potter? Ask your question."

"Well, I was just wondering what it was that they did that was wrong. Not that I want to go back!" he added hastily. "ButтАж why am I being taken away now? Was it because of the letter?"

Snape frowned. "What letter?"

"The Hogwarts letter. Was it because they wouldn't let me answer it? Is interfering with the owl mail a really bad thing?"

Snape frowned at the boy's innocence. This was rather alarming. What was next? Excuse me, sir, but how do you know Death Eaters are evil? I mean, they don't actually wear signs that say so. Are we sure they mean to kill me? Maybe I should strike up a conversation with them when we meet, rather than put up a shield, just to be sure. Potter would have the life expectancy of a housefly if someone didn't teach him some simple facts of life.

"No, you absurd child. What they did wrong was to beat you and starve you and call you names and lie to you. They are disgusting, evil creatures who took out their own inadequacies on an innocent and helpless child."

Harry blinked. "ButтАж"

"What?" This half-starting a comment then biting it back would drive Snape mad. Good thing he wouldn't be dealing with the brat much longer.

"But they've been doing all that for forever!" Harry burst out. "So why didn't I get taken away sooner?"

Ah. Maybe he wasn't such an idiot after all. Severus considered. What should he say? He did feel a loyalty to Dumbledore, and he knew that Potter's mistrust hurt the old man deeply. On the other hand, he found it hard to believe that the ancient wizard's decision to place Potter with the Dursleys had been quite as innocent an error as it appeared. What if Dumbledore had known exactly what kind of home life Potter would have and yet still went ahead and placed him there for reasons of his own? If Snape knew one thing from his spying activities, it was that Dumbledore would put people in harm's way if he felt it was for the greater good. If he were convinced that having Harry grow up in an abusive, unloving home would make him a better weapon against Voldemort, would Albus have hesitated? Snape honestly didn't know.

In the end, he said the only thing he knew to be true. "As soon as I learned of your situation, Potter, I took steps to end it."

Harry's eyes widened, and then he nodded. There was a look in his eye that Severus didn't recognize, but he dismissed it as unimportant and continued.

"As I have said, you will not be returning to the Muggles. However, you are obviously too young to be on your own, so a new home and guardian must be found for you."