kbinnz - Harry's New Home

Better not to think about it at all, and much better to avoid the boy in question as much as possible.

"No such bond exists," he said firmly, frowning at Dumbledore. "The boy confided in me because I tricked him. As usual, Gryffindor na├пvet├й proved no match for Slytherin cunning."

"If you say so, my dear boy," the Headmaster's tone made it clear he was humoring the Potion Master.

Snape scowled more fiercely, but Dumbledore just twinkled back. "As I was saying," Snape decided it was better to continue with the task he had come to discharge, rather than get immured in an argument he suspected he would not win, "I am here to discuss where Potter is to be placed."

"Yes?" Albus invited.

"Following extensive research into child psychology, proper child-rearing practices, and best treatments for the victims of child abuse тАУ" Dumbledore briefly closed his eyes, the pain on his face making even Snape feel a twinge of pity "- I have determined that Potter would be best served by a combination of environments. Having no experience with normal families, he requires exposure to typical family life. By immersing himself in a family, he will be able to observe a healthy parent-child dynamic as well as observing how siblings normally interact with each other. While he may have been raised alongside his Muggle cousin, it is clear that their relationship was anything but brotherly. Potter needs to learn about normal sibling rivalry as well as the closeness that тАУ I am told тАУ is possible. This will serve him well later in life, should he have children of his own, as well as assisting him in his interactions with classmates."

"This sounds very reasonable, Severus. Do you have any potential candidates for such a family?"

"Potter has already befriended the latest Weasley, and since the parents were both Order members in the War, I assume they would be all too pleased to foster The Boy Who Lived. What is more, with the size of their litter, an extra child will hardly be noticed." Noticing Dumbledore's frown, Snape lifted a defiant eyebrow. "Besides, the always-impecunious Weasleys could doubtless use the allowance which you had provided to the Muggles. There is no doubt in my mind but that despite their greater need, they would be infinitely more likely to actually use it for things that would benefit Potter as well as the Weasley whelps, rather than, as the Dursleys did, reserving it for the exclusive advantage of that walrus of a son of theirs."

Dumbledore nodded gently. "I quite like your idea, Severus. I have noticed how Ron and Harry have become close friends quite quickly, and I think Ron will benefit from Harry's presence in the family as well. He is a bit too tempting a target for the twins, being without a twin of his own for backup, and while his younger sister might ally with him, Ginny's status as the only Weasley girl in seven generations tends to result in her being protected from the twins' more excessive pranks as well as causing her to overshadow Ron in her own right. I think having an ally his own age might be very good for him."

"I hardly consider the Weasley child's welfare to be an important factor in the decision," Snape objected forbiddingly.

"Yes, Severus, I know," Dumbledore's tone was reproving. "That is why I had to consider it. Harry will hardly experience a harmonious and helpful family experience if his presence negatively impacts members of the family, particularly the one member with whom he is likely to bond most closely."

"IтАж had not considered the matter in that light," Snape admitted reluctantly. "Perhaps it was my own experience as an only child that made me less attuned to the complexities of inter-Weasley relationships."

"No matter," Dumbledore's beaming smile reappeared. "After all, we are agreed that it will in fact be a good thing for both boys, and I also think that Molly and Arthur are very likely to agree to the arrangement. But I believe you mentioned something about a combination of environments? Does that mean you do not want the Weasleys to be named Harry's guardians?"

Snape shuddered at the thought of consigning anyone тАУ even a Potter тАУ to the exclusive mercies of the redheaded clan. "Hardly, Headmaster. I envision the Weasleys to be a frequent destination for the boy but not, under any circumstance, his guardians. While it is important for Harry to experience normal family life, it is even more imperative that he have a guardian with whom he can develop a close, trusting relationship. Given his history, this will be difficult. He has been told for years now that he is worthless and freakish; he will require guardians who can work to overturn this conditioning. They will have to be dedicated to assisting him in this by focusing on his unique needs. The books make it clear that Potter may not himself know what he needs, let alone be able to request it. For this reason, his guardians will have to be able to give him their undivided attention. The Weasleys can hardly do that."

"Hmm. I see your point. Perhaps some young couple тАУ"

Snape frowned. "Young couples breed, Headmaster. Did I not make myself clear? Potter must be their sole concern; I will not have his guardians distracted with their own mewling brats. Besides, Potter will likely require a firm hand тАУ " Snape colored at Dumbledore's sharp look. "I do not mean that literally, Headmaster," he protested defensively. "I meant simply that even under the best circumstance Potter must be considered a troubled child, and as such he will require his guardians to establish a clear structure for his life with appropriate consequences for misbehavior." Snape cleared his throat. He hadn't come up with a way to say this next bit without sounding all touchy-feely. "They will also be required to provide Potter with something called 'positive reinforcement' which seems to refer to copious amounts of support, encouragement, and reassurance. In short, l-l-love."

Dumbledore's eyes gleamed with amusement, but he merely nodded sagely. "So you think an older couple, with some parenting experience?"

"That would of course be ideal, but we must be careful that they have done a good job in their past child rearing. And of course, the risk of grandchildren requiring attention would then be present. I am given to understand that grandchildren can be even more of a distraction than children. I am also concerned that an older couple might not have the energy to keep up with a small child, let alone understand the current concerns of adolescents."

"Hmmmmm. I do see what you mean."

"Perhaps the most important aspect тАУ beyond the willingness to devote their efforts to Potter's behalf тАУ is an understanding of what the boy has been through. It can be difficult for those with no personal experience of abuse to understand the behavior of survivors. That said, they must not pity the boy or excuse current misbehavior out of a misplaced desire to make up for the excessive discipline of the past. They will require great strength of character to stand up to Potter when he makes the sad puppy dog expressions that those manipulative little creatures employ."

Dumbledore seemed to be fighting back a smile as he politely inquired, "Has Harry tried such tactics with you, Severus?"

"Hardly, Headmaster," Snape retorted. "In fact, you have just proven my point about the need for Potter's guardians to be familiar with abusive situations. Har тАУ Potter has been trained, no doubt brutally, to accept any sort of treatment, no matter how vicious, as his due. In his current condition, he is incapable of trying to weasel out of a justly deserved punishment or even an unfair one, for that matter." He couldn't help but remember how instantly accepting Harry had been when he thought Snape planned to cane him for poor handwriting. He shivered; that was a little too close to some of his own memories of brutal childhood punishments. For some reason, such thoughts had been uncomfortably close to the surface of late.