Chapter 6

Unsurprisingly the kitchen was bare.

"There's no food!" Ron complained.

Harry snorted and sarcastically muttered, "Merlin Ron. It's like you're a seer or something."

Snape glared down at the two boys.

"I will go to the market. In the meantime…"

Snape paused, his appearance turning dangerous.

"...you will not touch anything. You will not snoop. You both are here, in my house, under my protection, as a privilege. I can take that away. I can send you both back to Dumbledore, and work on all this Horcrux mess on my own. Against my better judgment I allow you to be here. Do you both understand?"

Ron and Harry shared a glance.

Both nodded.

"I require verbal answers."

Ron released a large sigh, and Harry could see his friend barely refraining from rolling his eyes.

"Yes sir."

Harry, used to similar speeches at the Dursley's, simply muttered a respectful, "yes professor."

At Hogwarts he knew what to expect. It was a school, which held special behavioral requirements of its teachers. Harry could sass off with little fear of any repercussion other than detention.

On Snape's home turf…Harry played it safe.

The professor looked long and hard at the teenagers, then with a swish of his cloak left through the front door.

Ron and Harry both looked at each other, unsure what to do now that they were alone.

Harry sat down at the kitchen table and twiddled his thumbs.

Ron's chair screeched as he pulled it out and sat down.

"I wish we were at the Burrow."

Harry chuckled a little bit.

"I bet your mum is going spare right now."

Ron shuddered. "Glad I didn't have a vision of that!"

Both laughed lightly before the awkward silence returned.

"I thought of something that might be scarier than your mum," Harry said hesitantly.

Ron's head dipped forward.

"Yeah, I thought of that as well."

"She's going to be really hurt that we didn't say anything."

Ron looked at his hands.

"She will. But it might be better that she's there."

Harry nodded his thoughts painfully drifting to Cedric. "One less person in danger because of me."

Ron reached over and whacked the back of Harry's head.

"Ouch! Ron! Bloody Hell! What was that for?"

Ron gave him a server look.

"That was for being a dolt. It's good Hermione isn't here, you idiot, so that she can send us research material."

Harry rubbed his head. He didn't think about that.

"Oh."

The redhead frowned at him. "We better send her a letter soon or she'll really hate us."

Harry gave him a long look.

"Sooo...Hermione?"

Ron's eartips flushed at Harry's tone.

"Shut up Harry. Don't make me hit you again."

Harry flashed him a grin.

"I knew it."

"You did not!"

"The Yule Ball mate."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Harry gave him a knowing look.

"She's got a thing for you as well."

Silence.

"You really think so?"

Harry shrugged.

"The Yule Ball."

Ron leaned back in his chair.

"Huh," he muttered.

Harry ran a hand through his hair.

"Can't you just...you know...see it?"

Ron shook his head.

"No. I don't think it works like that. I see bits and pieces and feelings. I can see that things happen, but I can't see how they come to be. It's like a puzzle without all the pieces."

"Oh," Harry said not really knowing what to say after that.

They sat in silence, both lost in their own thoughts.

Suddenly the door opened, Harry leaped up automatically, taking several steps back away from the door.

Snape appeared with several bags in his hands. His eyes surveying the scene, resting momentarily on Harry.

Slowly the man set the bags on the table.

"Calm down Potter. I'm the only one that knows where this house is.

Harry swallowed.

"Right. Of course, sorry."

Snape sent him a strange look before flicking his wand, sending all the groceries into their respective places.

The only things remaining on the table were ingredients for sandwiches.

The boys stared at the food.

Snape glared. "I'm not your mother. Make your own food."

And with that the temperamental man stormed out of the room.

…

The rest of the day was spent in the Potion Master's library.

The man flipped through old tomes at a rate that even Hermione would be envious of.

Ron had a stack of books that referenced seers that he was researching. His mouth turning deeper and deeper into a frown as he read.

Harry watched his friend with concern, ignoring his own pile of books.

He was pretty sure the old bat gave him Obscure Potions that One Day Might Save Your Life as a joke.

But then again, Snape didn't joke.

Harry looked out the window. It was well into the evening.

Apparently Snape was thinking the same thing.

"Time for bed I think."

Harry opened his mouth to protest, but seeing Snape's don't fight me look, he just swallowed.

He didn't want to sleep. Sleep meant being alone. Alone with his thoughts and he was scared.

Scared he would think of Voldemort. Of Cedric. Of being a Horcrux.

Scared of dreaming.

Harry would just rather work until he passed out. That seemed safer.

Harry looked at the older man and wondered if he could hear his thoughts because the man's expression changed slightly.

The messy haired boy could've sworn the man looked sympathetic for just a second before returning to its natural state, frowning.

"Bed. Now. It's midnight."

Harry sighed and heaved himself out of the comfy library chair.

"Weasley," the Potion Master said quietly. "You sleep in the same room as Potter, I'll move the bed. That room has a leak in the ceiling."

Ron just nodded numbly, either too tired or too filled with knowledge to really understand.

Harry sighed with relief.

Together they made their way to the room Harry was staying in. It just barely fit both beds, but Harry didn't care.

Ron didn't either apparently as he walked straight into the room, flopped on a bed, and passed out.

Harry hesitated near the doorway.

"Potter."

Harry looked up to see Snape walking towards him.

He held out a Potion.

"Poppy's orders."

Harry looked at the skeptically, but shrugged and took the Potion in one go.

He immediately recognized the taste of Dreamless Sleep potion.

His eyes shot up to Snape's, feeling very vulnerable all of a sudden.

He knew this wasn't Madam Pomphrey's orders.

This was 100% Snape.

The man himself looked highly uncomfortable.

They held eye contact for several seconds before Snape looked away.

"Goodnight Mr. Potter."

And with that Snape disappeared into the shadows of the house.