Hello, Sorry for the (yet again) long wait... I've been trying I just have a lot on my plate right now.. But we won't get into all that, you have a chapter to read don't you? Leave a review!

Chapter 8

Severus strode purposefully to the door, but left his hand lingering on the door handle. He took a deep breath in, glanced around and spotted Harry standing in the door way of the kitchen, tugging nervously at his clothes. Letting out a loud sigh, Severus turned the handle and was greeted heartily by Albus.

"Severus!" Albus' voice boomed as he grabbed the Potions Master in a hug. Severus stood there stiffly and saw Harry flinch back out of the corner of his eyes. He wanted to tell the child that there was nothing to fear when Albus marched on in and sat in his favorite chair.

"Right on schedule," Albus said, mostly to himself when the tea and cakes appeared on the coffee table. Harry gave a hard flinch and screwed his eyes shut.

"Albus," Severus said, hesitantly. He wanted to go about this topic nonchalantly but Albus was immediately alerted.

"Yes, Severus?" His smile was gone and his tone was grave. It always unnerved Severus how easily someone could switch emotions like that.

"When I went to Muggle London yesterday, I didn't only come back with Punticle Root," Severus trailed off and he cursed his nervousness. He had nothing to be nervous about. If anything, it was Albus who should be nervous!

"Go on," Albus prompted softly.

"It appears that a child was being neglected and I felt it my duty to take him back with me." Albus' expression, if at all possible, grew even graver.

"That's awful Severus," Albus said and anger burned in his stomach. "Are they here? In your quarters?" Severus looked over at Harry, who trembled into the wall. Severus beckoned him over. Clumsily he hurried over and stood a few feet away from Severus, just out of reach. Harry could feel Albus stare at him and he clasped his hands behind his back and stared at the floor.

"Severus… Is that…?" Albus stood and Severus saw Harry begin to tremble.

"Harry, come over here," Severus said softly. He reached down and lifted Harry up from his armpits and sat him on the couch and took a seat next to him.

"Severus," Albus' voice held a warning that demanded no funny-business. "Why do you have Harry Potter?"

"Why do I have Harry Potter? Because you left him with inadequate muggles that treated him like dirt." Severus' voice jumped in anger and Harry shrunk against the back of the couch.

'Why was he telling?' Harry wondered as fear clenched his heart. 'Doesn't he know what will happen if Uncle finds out?'

"Do not use that tone with me Severus," Albus said sternly, which only resulted it Harry flinching, he'd heard that tone directed at him more than he could count, causing Severus to bristle.

"I am not a child. You cannot order me around!"

"I am your employer and I demand to be respected!"

It was getting hard for Harry to breathe now. His breaths came in short spurts and his limbs trembled. Yelling, whether it was at him or not, made him nervous. He just wanted them to stop.

Severus stood, pointing a finger at Albus, leaving Harry frozen on the couch. Albus, too, stood with a hard look in his eyes.

"Enough!" Albus shouted and Severus obeyed, face red with anger. "Harry has to go back. You may treat his wounds, but you cannot keep him. The blood wards must stay intact."

Severus glared at Albus until the old wizard walked out the door. Rage overcame him and he picked up the china that was still on the table and threw it against the wall. One by one the dishes were smashed into thousands of pieces. Severus spun to look for something else to throw when he saw Harry, cowering into the couch, looking up at him with wide eyes. How could he have been so stupid to have forgotten about the whelp?

Harry shivered when Severus turned to look at him. The man was so angry; Harry knew he was the cause of it. Knew he was going to be punished for it. Oh he hoped it wouldn't be too bad, though he knew he deserved it. Severus took a step toward him and suddenly urine soaked his through his trousers and puddle on the leather of the couch. Tears sprang to Harry's eyes as he trembled in his own mess. He wanted to scoot, to run, far away from the angry man but that would only cause more trouble and if Harry wanted to see his next birthday, he couldn't afford to cause any more trouble.

"I'm sorry, sir," He mumbled and rubbed the tears out of his eyes then tried to dry his seat with his shirt sleeves.

"Harry, don't do that," Severus said softly, startling Harry into confusion. Where was the yelling? The throwing? The hitting? Severus took out his wand and Vanished the mess off the couch. Harry flinched so Severus put the wand back in his sleeve.

"Come on," Severus said, leading Harry back to the bathroom.

'Another bath?' Harry wondered in confusion. Usually when he messed himself he had to sit in his cupboard until it dried.

'Look around, stupid,' his brain called out, 'do you see any cupboards around here?'

Severus ran the bath water, oblivious to the internal conflict residing inside of Harry's mind. When the water was warm, Severus turned to Harry and removed the soiled clothes before putting him in the bath. Severus washed Harry in silence; both had their minds brimming with thoughts. When Severus was finished and wrapping Harry in a towel to dry, Harry got the courage to speak.

"Sir?" Severus looked up sharply, as if he was startled Harry even knew how to speak. "Er- Can I… Can I s-stay with you, please sir?" Severus looked at Harry for a moment more than necessary.

"Harry," He started, and then paused, struggling with the words.

"Harry," He said, starting over, "I won't let those muggles lay a finger on you."

Harry nodded, looking away from the older man's intense stare. It wasn't exactly a yes, 'but it wasn't a no, either,' his brain supplied and Harry hung onto that small shred of hope with all his might as Severus dried him off.

Alrighty, I think I have found an unusual inspiration (peanutbutter sandwiches with capri-suns) and all my creative juices are flowing:) Again, sorry for the long wait