kbinnz - Harry's New Home

Snape struggled to breathe. If Potter kept doing this, he would have a permanent bruise in his midriff. Perhaps some sort of body armor might be prudent тАУ he would have to ask Charlie Weasley at dinner tonight. Surely those who worked with dragons would have some kind of personal protective equipment to protect themselves from blunt force trauma.

Dear Dragon Handlers Monthly, Careful research has proven that the pointy forehead of an underfed eleven year old human can deliver a blow with the same force as the talon of a full-grown Horntail. What protective gear would you recommend, given that preemptive stunning is frowned upon in the scholastic environment?

"Potter!" he managed to wheeze. "Kindly desist from this undignified squawking at once! A simple expression of gratitude and description of how you will use the gift will more than suffice."

Harry grinned. Poor Professor Snape! He always got so pink around the ears when Harry thanked him. He had noticed how, even during the detention, the professor hadn't liked Harry to call attention to the nice things he did, like giving Harry a snack or helping him with his handwriting. Professor Snape was like one of those people that Harry had seen on the telly тАУ well, heard about from the confines of his cupboard, anyway тАУ who preferred to do things quietly rather than getting a lot of attention. They were called something like 'nonymous benefactors' and the telly had talked about how one such person had just donated a lot of money to a hospital that needed a new piece of equipment and another had given some computers to a school in a poor section of London. Professor Snape was like that. He couldn't be completely unknown, of course, but he didn't like Harry to make a fuss. Especially since he was still trying to get Harry to think that he deserved to be treated so well.

Harry might be slowly coming to terms with the understanding that the Dursleys hadn't treated him properly, but he wasn't foolish enough to imagine that Professor Snape's kindness to him wasn't equally exceptional. Didn't his own Housemates exclaim in awe and envy when he'd told them about his room? Harry knew the Professor was one of the nicest, kindest men he'd ever met, and he wasn't about to forget that. Not again.

"Thank you, sir. I really, really like the broom. It'll make me the best Seeker ever!" Harry exclaimed, running his hand along the broomstick. It even felt fast!

"Hmf," Snape sniffed, rather pleased with himself. The boy was obviously thrilled with the present, and if he was foolish enough to link his Quidditch performance to the broomstick, then when Snape confiscated it as punishment for some misdeed, it would be an even more devastating blow. Ha! It was worth every Galleon he'd spent on the broom to know that he at last had a highly effective punishment to use on the little monster. "Well? What are you waiting for?" he demanded. "You have Quidditch practice in less than an hour! Go spend some time on your new broom."

Harry's face lit up. "Yessir!"

"And be here by 5:30 this evening so that we can go to the Burrow!" Snape yelled after the boy as he pelted away. Really! Such appalling manners! Snape straightened his robe around his shoulders and headed to his desk to correct three additional essays.

Harry was early that evening, a good thing since it allowed Severus to insist that he change into some of his new clothes. Unfortunately, their timeliness didn't last, because Severus found that between his new desire to fix his hair, and Harry's fascination with his sartorially resplendent reflection, it took them rather longer to get ready than he had planned.

"Potter, get in here, or else!" Snape finally shouted, a handful of Floo powder trickling through his fingers.

"I'm right here," Harry protested, hurrying into the living room. He tugged at his new robes one last time.

"Do you think you can manage the floo on your own this time, or would you like me to carry you again?" Snape smirked.

"I can do it!" Harry replied hastily. Knowing that the Weasley children would all be there eradicated any desire for the professor to carry him.

"Very well. Keep your eyes and mouth shut. Do not inhale, and move briskly away from the fireplace as soon as you arrive, as I will be right behind you."

"Yessir." Harry gulped and squeezed his eyes shut as Snape flung the powder into the grate and shouted "The Burrow!" He felt the professor's firm hand pushing him forward, and then he was through the cool flames and emerging into the Weasley's living room. Molly caught him as he stumbled and pulled him to the side, brushing off a few stray flakes of soot.

Harry cracked one eyelid open, and seeing he had safely arrived, he opened his eyes and took a deep breath. "Was that your first time flooing on your own, love?" Molly asked incredulously. "You did wonderfully!"

Harry grinned, just in time to see Severus stride majestically out of the fireplace. "Severus, how nice to тАж" Molly's voice trailed off as she got her first good look at Snape.

After the morning's reactions, Snape merely smirked. "Good evening, Molly," he replied.

TBC...

*Chapter 12*: Chapter 12

After the morning's reactions, Snape merely smirked. "Good evening, Molly," he replied.

"Kids! They're here!" Arthur shouted over his shoulder, as he entered the living room. He came forward, hand extended to Severus. "Hello, Sev-" A flood of redheads shoved through the doorway, knocking him aside.

"Harry! You're here!" Ron yelled, leading the pack. "Why didn't you tell us the news, mate?"

"Yeah, Harry тАУ " The twins had arrived.

"- what were you тАУ "

"- thinking not to share the plans тАУ"

"- with us? And Professor тАУ"

"- now that you'll be one of us тАУ"

" тАУ does this mean we can ask you for help тАУ"

" тАУ with our potions?"

"I hardly imagine a Hogwarts professor will help you with your unauthorized experiments," Percy scoffed, pushing into the room.

"Ah, c'mon, Perce," a huge redhead with a dragon's tooth around his neck ruffled the Prefect's hair, much to Percy's annoyance. "Professor Snape might see supervising the twins as a necessary health and safety measure."

Yet another tall redheaded man entered the living room, this one with a girl riding piggy back on him. Harry began to feel a little claustrophobic, and he backed up a pace, getting nearer to Snape.

An instant later he felt the professor's hand upon his shoulder. "If you are trying to drive us back to Hogwarts," Snape said silkily, "kindly permit us to take some floo powder before you push us into the fireplace."

"Honestly, such manners! What will Harry and Professor Snape think of us!" Molly exclaimed, shooing everyone back. "They haven't even had a chance to say hello to your father yet!"

Arthur finally managed to shake Snape's hand and ruffle Harry's hair. "How are you, Harry?"

"Fine, sir. Thank you," Harry said politely, careful to avoid the appearance of an "illiterate baboon".

"Severus, I know you need no introductions to our sons, but Harry, while you know our four youngest boys, these are our oldest two: Bill тАУ" the tall redhead grinned at him, and Harry noticed the man's earring "- and Charlie."

"Hullo, Harry!" The muscular young man engulfed Harry's hand with his own large, calloused one, but his grip was gentle. Harry smiled up at him, liking him immediately.

"And I don't believe either of you have met our daughter, Ginny." Bill pivoted so that the girl on his back could be seen. She colored under their regard and squeaked out a "H'lo."

Ron rolled his eyes and whispered to Harry, "I dunno if she's being shy 'cause she's heard so many stories about Snape or 'cause she's got a crush on you тАУ well, on The Boy Who Lived," he amended, as he saw Harry's eyebrows soar. "Either way, don't be fooled. Normally Ginny's like Mum, only louder!"