kbinnz - Harry's New Home

"Could I go live with Ron?" Harry asked, then quickly clapped his hand over his mouth. He knew better than to interrupt.

Snape ignored the gesture. "I have already spoken with Mr Weasley's parents. They have invited us to dinner tomorrow to discuss your spending some time with them every holiday." Harry's eyes were shining with delight. "I would suggest you not speak of this to your schoolmates yet, as it is not settled. You must first meet Mr and Mrs Weasley and see how you get along."

"Yes, sir."

"But even if all goes well, the Weasleys will not be adopting you." Snape felt a twinge as he watched Harry's face crumple. He was oddly compelled to explain quickly, almost as if he cared about the boy's distress, but that could hardly be the case. After all, he was the horrible, nasty, Death Eating Potion Master. He didn't care if a student was in tears. But he still went on rapidly. "The Weasleys have a large family and are happy to extend it to encompass you. But you require more than a seat at a dinner table. You also need a family of your own. One that will not be distracted by the competing needs of other children. So you will have a guardian who will be focused on you, and you will also have the opportunity to spend time in a family setting with the Weasleys. Do you understand?"

Harry's sadness had magically evaporated. "You mean I get two families?"

Snape considered. "I suppose you could phrase it that way."

"Wow!"

"Yes, wellтАж" Snape cleared his throat. "With regards to who your guardian will be тАУ" Here it came. He mentally prepared himself for the tantrum and made sure the floo powder was handy. He would need to contact Dumbledore while the brat was in full hysterics.

"Could it be you?" Harry's voice was so soft Snape wasn't sure he had really spoken.

"What!"

Harry ducked his head. Stupid! He was so stupid! How could he have just blurted it out? He should have known better than to ask something like that. Now Professor Snape would be furious with him. Why would someone like Snape want a freak like Harry? It wasn't like Harry was a member of his House, even. He was just one of the professor's Potions students, along with practically every other kid at Hogwarts.

Harry peeked through his fringe and hurriedly dropped his gaze. Oh yeah, Snape was mad all right. He had that wide eyed, maniacal expression that he'd had just before he'd clouted Harry last time. Harry surreptitiously curled his fingers around his seat cushion, hoping that it would help to anchor him if he got hit again.

"What did you say?"

Harry gulped. "I'm sorry. It was really rude of me to ask that."

"What did you say?"

"I asked if you could be my guardian," Harry said in the lowest voice he could manage and braced himself. He stared at the floor, preferring to be surprised by the blow rather than have to see the look of revulsion he was certain the professor wore.

Snape blinked in utter shock. He couldn't remember the last time he had been this taken by surprise. Well, except for the night he'd learned about Harry's home life. Why was it that this annoying brat kept shocking him? He was supposed to be unshockable, unmovable, unfeeling. Yet this irritating child kept sneaking through his shields.

"Why would you want me to be your guardian?" he demanded. He was pleased to note that the bewilderment came out sounding like anger.

Harry wouldn't raise his gaze. He raised one shoulder in a half-shrug.

"Answer my question," Snape commanded sharply.

Harry wasn't sure if his not yet being hit or sneered at was a good sign or a bad one. He knew Snape wouldn't agree to his request тАУ when was the last time Harry ever got something he had asked for? тАУ but he thought that maybe, just maybe, he could explain so that the man would at least feel a bit flattered, rather than repulsed. "Y-you're nice."

"Potter! I am not nice!" It was as if he had accused the man of some truly vile practice.

"You were nice to me," Harry said stubbornly. "No one else is. Well, except for Hagrid or Ron. And you already said I'm going to spend time with the Weasleys, and Hagrid, well, I don't think he'd be a good guardian. He's a great friend an' all, but I don't think he's really, y'knowтАж"

Snape smothered a snort of amusement. Well, the boy wasn't a complete dunce. He obviously had Hagrid figured out.

"Go on."

"And you haven't lied to me. And everyone says you're really smart. And no one ever picks on you, so maybe if you were my guardian, no one would pick on me, either." Harry's voice trailed off and he slumped in despair. Good one, Harry. Of all the things you could have said, you had to pick one that shows how needy and desperate you are. Of course he'll choose you now. Who wouldn't want such a useless, whiny little freak?

Snape suddenly found it hard to swallow. The scrawny, dark haired child, huddled so forlornly in the corner of the sofa, had brought back an unexpected surge of memories. Wanting desperately to belong, needing someone's protection or even just a scrap of concern, craving someone's тАУ anyone's тАУ affectionтАж And of course, receiving nothing but violence from all sides: his father, the Marauders, his Housemates. So much for Hogwarts being a sanctuary. Yes, it had spared him the worst of his father's excesses, but it hadn't exactly offered safety, not when he was constantly ambushed and mocked. Little wonder he had fallen prey to the blandishments of the Dark Lord. Though of course, in the end, he turned out to be just another sadistic, violent tormentor.

Snape forced down his emotions with brutal efficiency. This wasn't about him. It was about the Potter spawnтАж Though he didn't really look like a spawn all huddled over like that. More like some pathetic, brokenтАж Stop. Stop right there. You are getting ridiculously sentimental, he told himself firmly. What difference is it to you if James Potter's son has had as awful a childhood as you did? Why should you care if тАУ and then the child looked up, and Lily's eyes begged him.

"Yes." He nearly looked around to see who had spoken. That couldn't have been him, could it?

FIN?? Or TBC?? You tell me...

*Chapter 4*: Chapter 4

"Yes." He nearly looked around to see who had spoken. That couldn't have been him, could it?

The boy's shining eyes told him that yes, it had been him. Before he could curse himself or obliviate the brat, Harry's body had rocketed into his, grabbing him about the waist. The entirely unexpected force of the boy's small but solid body knocked the wind out of Snape, and it was a moment before he could actually speakтАж Or at least that's what he fiercely told himself.

"Yes, all right, all right," he said testily, patting the brat gingerly on the shoulder. Were all children thisтАж childish?

"Do you really mean it?" Harry looked up at him, but maintained his tight hold around Snape's middle. This had the effect of digging the brat's pointy little chin into his solar plexus, and made Severus' words come out a tinge more breathlessly than usual тАУ well, that's how he explained it to himself.

"I said it, didn't I?" he snapped. "Are you accusing me of mere insincerity or outright deceit?"

"No, no!" Harry protested, eyes widening with horror. "I just meant тАУ I didn't think тАУ"

"Obviously." Snape glared down at him. Somehow his hands were still around the little monster's shoulders, despite his very clear intention to have pushed him away well before now.

Harry ducked his head and buried his head in Snape's robes, further jolting the man's midriff and forcing out a grunt.

"Thank you," the brat mumbled into his robes.

"You're welcome," he replied gruffly. Merlin тАУ what have I done? Now how will I get rid of the brat?

"Am I doing this right?" Harry asked uncertainly, still holding onto Snape as if he were never going to let go.