kbinnz - Harry's New Home

"It sounds as if you've made that clear to Harry as well," the older man commented neutrally.

Harry and Molly returned at that moment with the drinks, and conversation resumed, mostly about the elder Weasleys' memories of Hogwarts and their adventures there. Harry listened happily, delighted to learn more about his new school, while Severus glared at his butterbeer and longed for the evening to end.

When they moved to the dinner table, groaning beneath enough food to feed an army тАУ or the entire Weasley clan тАУ Harry hung back.

Snape glared at him, but when the boy didn't join them at the table, he stepped over to him. "Whatever is the matter?" he demanded impatiently, keeping his voice down. "Do you need the loo?"

Harry shook his head. "Where should I go?" he whispered.

Snape frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Do I go into the kitchen? I could start washing the pots if I do, or do the Weasleys want me to wait in the living room? Or maybe Ron's room?"

"What are you talking about?"

Harry sighed. Sometimes grownups, even Professor Snape, could be really slow. "While you're eating. What do I do? Back at the Dursleys, I always was sent to my cupboard when there were guests over for dinner, but I don't know where to go here. Should I go to Ron's room to wait, or do you think I should start cleaning the kitchen?"

"You are to join us at the table," Snape said, too taken aback even to insult the child. "You were invited to dinner, not to watch the adults eat while you act like a house elf."

"ButтАж You mean, I get to eat with you? Together?" Harry's jaw dropped. He'd been surprised and pleased when he'd been allowed to join the adults for butterbeer and nibbles. He'd never imagined that he'd actually get to sit at the table for the meal.

By now, their whispered t├кte-├а-t├кte had captured the Weasleys' attention. "Everything all right, Severus?" Arthur asked, while Molly eyed Snape distrustfully. Harry's offhanded comment about the spanking had rekindled all her doubts.

"Yes," Severus replied in a tone that dared them to challenge him. He dropped a hand to Harry's shoulder and pulled him along, speaking quietly. "You are to sit at the table and comport yourself like a gentleman. Watch me or the Weasleys if you are uncertain how to hold your utensils, and do not bolt your food like a ravenous beast." Snape added that last, having remembered what Ron looked like at the Gryffindor table.

Harry dazedly took the indicated chair. This was unprecedented. He cast an uncertain look at the Weasleys, more than half-convinced that Severus had made a mistake and they would send him from the table. But Arthur was smiling at him, and Molly was already passing him the basket of rolls. Harry took one and his resulting radiant smile brought tears to Molly's eyes.

Harry did quite well, all things considered. He watched Snape carefully, and the professor slowed down his movements, making it easy for the child to mimic him. The Weasleys immediately spotted what was going on, and even Molly began to think she'd been mistaken about Snape. Then Harry tried to lift the platter of roast beef and winced.

"Are you all right, love?" Molly asked worriedly. "That's too heavy. Arthur, help him with it."

"Thank you," Harry said politely, spearing a piece of meat as he'd seen Professor Snape do.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah," Harry said cheerfully. At his side, Snape stifled a groan, knowing what was coming next. "I'm just still a little sore from this afternoon."

"Sore!" Molly repeated with a rising inflection, her eyes fixed furiously on Severus. Naturally enough, having heard that Harry had been smacked earlier in the day, she leapt to the conclusion that he was referring to the aftermath of that punishment. "You're still sore?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed, completely oblivious to the currents swirling around him. "Professor Snape says it'll take a while until I'm used to it. He gave me some balm for my backside though. That hurts even more than my back and arms."

Arthur took one look at his wife's face and was on his feet, pulling her into the kitchen. "Er, Severus, would you give us a hand. Just keep eating, Harry," he instructed calmly, "we'll be right back."

TBCтАж

*Chapter 8*: Chapter 8

"Yeah," Harry said cheerfully. At his side, Snape stifled a groan, knowing what was coming next. "I'm just still a little sore."

"Sore!" Molly repeated with a rising inflection, her eyes fixed furiously on Severus. Naturally enough, having heard that Harry had been punished earlier in the day, she leapt to the conclusion that he was referring to the aftermath of that punishment. "You're still sore?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed, completely oblivious to the currents swirling around him. "Professor Snape says it'll take a while until I'm used to it. He gave me some balm for my backside though. That hurts even more than my back and arms."

Arthur took one look at his wife's face and was on his feet, pulling her into the kitchen. "Er, Severus, would you give us a hand. Just keep eating, Harry," he instructed calmly, "we'll be right back."

The instant the kitchen door closed behind the adults, Arthur cast a silencing spell over the room. He was just in time. "USED TO IT? YOU EXPECT HIM TO GET USED TO IT? THAT'S IT! I'M CALLING DUMBLEDORE RIGHT NOW!"

Snape rubbed his forehead. Theoretically, if this were happening to someone else, it would be quite amusing. Given his role in the drama, however, he found it more than a little annoying. "You have misunderstood the situation," he told Molly, not really expecting her to listen.

To his surprise, she paused. "How so?" she demanded. "Are you saying you didn't strike that child? That poor, defenseless child?"

"That poor, defenseless child nearly dashed his miniscule brains out against the castle walls! He deserved to be punished."

"Then let his Head of House punish him with lines or points or detention! What do you mean by intervening and then punishing him so that he is still sore hours later? What in Merlin's name did you do to him? His back, his arms, his bum тАУ if Albus doesn't call the Aurors, I will!"

"He's not sore from my punishment, you silly witch!" Snape snarled. "He's sore from Quidditch. Minerva McGonagall saw his flying and promptly claimed him for her House team! She subjected him to a two hour tryout, and that is why he is in pain."

"That is the most ridiculous excuse I have ever heard!" Molly retorted. "Have you forgotten that I have seven тАУ SEVEN! тАУ Quidditch obsessed children? I know perfectly well that first years don't play on House teams. Do you have any idea how many complaints about that rule I have heard over the years? Including this year?"

"Madame, you may think me capable of brutalizing a child, but do you really imagine I would be stupid enough to beat the boy and then bring him here to tell you about it?"

To his mingled gratification and offense, that made her pause. "Well, no. Actually, that doesn't make any sense," Molly admitted. "And your behavior when you arrivedтАж But I am not taking any more chances with that child's well-being. You told me yourself that Dumbledore placed him with abusive Muggles for the last ten years, so why should I believe that he's done better this time?"

Snape was annoyed to realize that he actually had common ground with a Weasley. Worse, she was a formidable opponent and one that could come in very handy in his future battles with Dumbledore (and McGonagall) over the boy's upbringing. His Slytherin instincts kicked in. Obviously he had to co-opt her to his side.

"Answer a question for me," he said abruptly, startling both Weasleys by the change in subject. "If Ronald had disobeyed Madam Hooch and engaged in life-threatening aerobatics, but also displayed remarkable flying ability, what would you have done?"