Chapter Text
Chapter 1
So far, Harry’s summer at the Dursleys had been much better than his last summer. For one thing, he hadn't been locked in his room for months, as long as he had done his chores, they had mostly ignored him. But that had changed when Aunt Mage came to visit; she had insulted his mother, and that had made his magic explode. He had blown up Aunt Marge. This was how Harry found himself standing in the middle of the living room, the ministry had just left after they fixed and obliterated Aunt Marge. Uncle Vernon had quickly ushered Aunt Marge home, telling her that he had remembered how he had a really important meeting right this moment.
As the front door slammed shut, Uncle Vernon stormed into the living room. He didn't think that his uncle's face could get anymore redder, and Harry knew it would be a long night.
“How dare you, boy? We gave you a home, and this is how you repay us, useless and ungrateful freak,” he shouted at him, clinching his fists at the side, slowly coming closer to Harry. He stepped back, which angered his uncle more. His uncle grabbed him by his cuffs and threw him on the floor. He landed face-first on the floor before he could get up, and his uncle repeatedly slammed into his back with his fists. His uncle didn't stop there; he continued attacking him with a cane. After what felt like hours, he stopped.
Harry lay there on the floor curled into a fetal position. Vernon loomed over him, his back felt like someone ran him over with a steamroller, he took shallow breaths to prevent himself from crying, crying always made things so much worse, and besides, Aunt Petunia always told him freaks weren't allowed to cry. This was the worst birthday he ever had by a long shot. He wished he were with Ron and Hermenioe. It was then Vermont spoke again, “Boy, u have one hour to get the hell out of this house with all your belongings to never return “ his every word was filled with venom. The cane fell with a thunderous sound before Harry.
He heard large steps going upstairs. It was then that Aunt Petuina came out of the kitchen and grabbed the collar of his shirt and threw him at the cupboard under the stairs, which had been locked previously was now open.
“Freak, get your stuff and get out, good riddance, “.
***
Harry found himself standing outside the leaky cauldron. He had taken that strange bus that had appeared from nowhere; his back was already on fire, the ride made it much worse, and it hurt to walk. He took a deep breath. Now that he was in Diagon Alley, he would find something to help his back. He quickly entered inside, not wanting to attract any more attention than necessary, he entered. The man at the reception greeted him. Harry booked a room and quickly went to his room.
It was small but comfortable, he hadn't had anything to eat that day, but he found that he lacked any appetite, so instead he got ready for bed
***
When Harry woke up, he could see the sunlight slowly peaking in through the window. Harry didn't get much sleep the night before; he kept turning in his sleep.
He showered and went down to the pub. It was then that Tom, the man from the reception, came over to him “Sir, someone wants to meet you he said as Harry was just about to sit at a spot. Who could want to meet with Harry now? Did the government change their mind? He was definitely going to get expelled now, no, this wasn't happening.
He quickly got up, he was shaking, and he started to follow as Tom led him to a separate, closed-off room. He couldn't believe it, he was getting expelled, he wouldn't have anywhere to go, he would be homeless and an outcast from the muggle and magical world both.
The room was similar to the rest of the leaky cauldron. There was a small circular table in the centre. On the table, there was a variety of different breakfast foods, bacon, porridge and a plate of different kinds of fruit on it, which confused Harry.
Tom turned to him and spoke “I will leave u to it, I will see u later” he he turned to leave the way they came from the room was empty was this someind of a joke Harry moved toward the table and just starred at it contemplating weather he should have something or not, when suddenly he heard someone call “do help your self” the voice was coming from his right side he turned towards the voice, there in the doorway that he hadnt noticed before stood the headmaster in a bright blue gown with little spirals on it.
Harry was starting to panic now, he knew it wasn't true when the accidentally magic resveratrol group had told him that he wouldn't be expelled. There was no other reason the headmaster himself would come here, this was no good they were going to snap his wand like they did to Hagrid, he would become an outcast to the magical world, and he would be homeless as wel this cant be happing right now Harry could feel his breathing increase looking at the floor with all his strength he muttered “ hello headmaster” in a barley audible voice
“Harry, my boy, it's good to see u again. Have a seat, and have something. I know u haven't had the chance to have breakfast yet. Tom does like to overdo it whenever I am here,” he said as he smiled softly
Any appetite he had disappeared completely. He felt like throwing up “I am fine, headmaster, am I going to be expelled?”.
Dumbledore picked up a pastry and bit in with a twinkle in his eye, “Not at all my boy, what whatever gave you that impression? ” he spoke in a soft tone. Now Harry was truly confused.
“Because I did magic when I wasn't supposed to “.
Dumbledore gave a small chuckle, “Ah, my boy, accidentally magic happens to the best of us, worry not, you aren't in trouble”.
“But why are you here then?”.
“Well, my boy, it is my responsibility to make sure u are safe. A 13-year-old living alone in Diagon Alley for a month is not safe, I am here to bring you to the place you will be staying till term starts,”
Safety, the man hadn't cared when he had dumped him at the Dursleys. Harry thought sourly but he didn't say a word to the man; he just nodded. It made sense that it wouldn't be safe here alone but where would he go to stay? The Weasleys were in Egypt, and Hermione was in France with her family, “where would I be staying at”.
“You will know soon, we must get going soon, is all your stuff in your room?”.
Harry nodded. Dumbledore flicked his wand after a moment, and all his stuff came floating through the room. Dumbledore shrank and pocketed all his stuff. He offered Harry his hand “Harry, have u ever apparated before?”. Harry shook his head, “It gets bumpy the first time”.
*****
Harry landed on the ground. He felt like someone had twisted him through a tube; he bent over and vomited. Dumbledore offered him a hand to Harry, he accepted it and got to his feet “first time is always tough, you get used to it” Harry looked around they were in a Muggle neighbourhood, there were old, broken-down brick buildings in the distance he could see smoke rising just to whom was bring him to Harry was so lost in thought he didnt notice dumbledor start to move “come we are already late”.
They had walked a few blocks when they came to a stop in front of a very shabby-looking house. Dumbledore knocked, and the door immediately opened inward. Harry's heart almost stopped beating. In the entrance stood none other than Harry’s most hated professor, Severus Snape. This couldn't be happening, surely Dumbledore won't leave him with someone like Snape.
But then again Dumbledore was the one to leave him at the dursuly in the first place Snape just moved to let them enter he didn't acknowledge him he just scorned at Harry they entered into a living room fill to the brim with book in the center was a sofa and an arm chair in front of a fire place.
“Harry, have a sit while I talk with Severus, it won't take us long”, Dumbledore said to him. Harry sat down on the sofa
“If I find you have touched anything Potter, you will regret it”, Snape said to him before turning to Dumbledore, he pointed to a door on their right, “after u, headmaster”
He pulled his knees close to him and put his arms around them, then rested his head on top. He went from one extreme of Harry hating to another. Harry wondered what Snape would think of the Dursleys; he would get on so well with Uncle Vernon. Harry felt a sharp pain in his back he shifted forward to avoid aggravating it. He had planned to get something to help his back, but that was out of the question now; Snape would never let him leave. And if he asked Snape for a potion, he would just laugh at him. he sighed, he had hoped to spend the rest of his summer in peace, but it was looking like it was going to be a long month.
At that moment, the door opened and Dumbledore and Snape stepped out. Dumbledore started to head towards the main door before exiting. He turned towards Harry, “I will see you come September, and Harry, I am sure your relatives will come around and u will be right home” With that, he left the house, and Harry was all alone with Snape.
Snape turned to the doorway next to where Snape and Dumbledore had gone in previously he stopped just before the door and turned to Harry and motioned for him to follow, Harry immediately got up and started to follow behind, all he could think of was that he was completely alone with Snape, with no one too stop him, Harry didnt think any would care what Snape did to him as long as he was alive come september. Snape showed him where everything was downstairs, the kitchen, the living room and Snape's office, which the men stressed that Harry wasn't allowed in. After that, Snape led him upstairs “This is your room, the room at the end of the hallway, is my room, you are not .
Snape led him inside. The room was bigger than his room at the Dursleys. On the far end, under the window, was a wooden bed pushed to the wall. Adjacent to the bed was a side table and a desk. On the opposite wall near the entrance was a wardrobe and bookshelf, between the bookshelf and the wardrobe was a gap that Harry lingered on it before moving on, Snape stood in the entrance “ get your stuff settled down” with that snape truned but he stoped and turned to Harry once again and held out his hand “wand”
Harry hesitated before giving him, Snape just raised an eyebrow before pokecting his wand “I will see down for lunch in an hour “Snape said as he turned and left, if it wasn't for him to be wearing muggle clothes Harry could almost imagine the cape that he wore during school bellowing behind the potion master as he made his dramatic exit.
Harry lost any sense of security he had felt, having his wand within hand's reach had always made him feel secure at the Dursleys the times his uncle had locked away his wand along with the other magic related stuff had been pure agony, he knew that was stupid, he couldn't even use his wand lest he actually get expelled, not to mention he didn't even stand a chance against Snape.
Harry sighed and sat down on the bed. It was surprisingly comfortable, nothing like the beds in the Griffendor dormitories, but better than his worn mattress at Dursley. He set his trunk by the foot of the bed; he didn't make any attempts to unpack besides his school stuff that he placed on the small desk at least, he didn't have to worry about not being able to do his summer assignment, that was the only good thing about staying with Snape.
***
Harry made his way down for lunch. Snape hadn't said whether or not he wanted Harry to make lunch. It would be just like Snape to punish him for not cooking lunch while never telling him to. Harry slowly made his way to the kitchen. I the centre was a small round table set for two people.
Snape entered from the living room, he took out his wand and pointed it towards him. Harry couldn't help but flinch, but nothing happened. Snape just raised an eyebrow at Harry before levitating a dish from the oven to the table. Harry waited for Snape to sit before sitting down, moving forward so as not to aggravate his back further. Snape served him self and started eating. Harry wasn't sure if he was allowed to eat. His relatives had never allowed him to eat with them, and he ate what little was given to him if his aunt was in a good mood or if he didn't mess up his chores up which was rare. His relatives had always found some fault in his work.
“Is my cooking not up to the golden boy's liking?” Snape said mockingly, Harry looked up. Snape had stopped eating and was staring at him with his usual cold expression At him, he so often had during potions.
“The food is fine, sir,” he added as an afterthought. Harry took this as a sign and started to serve himself.
“Potter really blowing up your aunt for attention, but alas, what could one expect from the son of Potter”, he said while continuing his meal. Harry bit his lip and kept his eyes on his plate,
“But don't u worry, you will learn your lesson, their is no one here to pamper and spoil you as I have no doubt you are so used to, since we have the pleasure of being in each other's company till term starts” Snape said with a scorn, “under this roof you will follow my rules“.
Rules Harry was used to managing, he just had to follow them to the t and not let Snape have any chance to punish him and should be able to get through this, it was no different than being at his relatives, he comforted himself.
“Under no circumstances are you do enter my bedroom, the office or the potions lab in the cellar, u will do your chores, you will not touch anything of mine without my permison, breakfast is at 8 am, lunch at 2 and dinner at 8 pm if you are late for any of it you will not be eating, Is that understood”.
Was that all he had expected? More rules similar to what he had at the Dursleys, he nodded without looking up.
“You are capable of speech, Potter, a verbal answer “.
“Yes,”.
“Yes, what potter?” Snape said. By now, both of them had finished their meals.
“Yes, sir”, he croaked out.
“Not so hard after all, now for today, you are going to go write an apology to your aunt and your relatives, apologising for your appalling behaviour, bring it to me to read once you're done,”.