Title: Soul Purpose of Living
Author: Wensday
Archived: Want to read more? Check out my FF.net account. ^^
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Severus Snape/ Harry Potter
Warnings: Slash, AU (Marjory) Dark.
Spoilers: all books
Feedback: Yes please!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine; I'm making no money from this.
Author's notes: This use to be an old story of mine, and was completely different to what it is now. I ended up having to start from scratch. I deleted all 49 pages, and started to write it on paper. I'm going to write a chapter at a time on paper, and then type it up after I'm half way through the next chapter, so it'll be awhile between chapters. Anyway, I hope you all like the new and improved "Soul Purpose of Living."
Summery of Chapter one: Harry has gotten a letter from Dumbledore, and Severus has received an order. For the rest of the summer they are to be living together, and neither are happy.
This chapter is just basically about Severus going to get Harry, and a few important bits thrown in which I have no clue how to write a summery for.
Soul Purpose Of Living
Chapter 1: At Snape's?! For summer?!
Harry stared at the letter, his mind not grasping what he had read three times already. Snape? Coming here? The Headmaster must have hit his head before he wrote the letter, there could just be no other explanation for it. But yet, the Headmaster had never lied to him. Reframed from telling him something, yes. But lie? No, not once had Albus Dumbledore lied to him, which gave him little choice but to believe the words written on the page.
A soft sigh escaped his lips as he put down the letter and started to gently stroke Hedwig's breast. From what Dumbledore had said, he had a day to tie up the loose ends with his relatives and pack. The latter would be the easiest to do, but the first presented more problems than he wanted to think about.
Sighing a second time, Harry once again picked up the letter and let his eyes travel over the flowing script. He needed away to let his relatives know what was going to happen. Something that he hoped wouldn't lead to a beating.
Harry stopped stroking Hedwig and pinched the bridge of his nose in thought. A minute pasted before he grabbed a piece of parchment, a quill and a bottle of black ink. What he needed was a list of ways he could tie up loose ends with his relatives, as Dumbledore had put it, that way he would be able to hopefully think of something useful.
He was about half way through the list when stopped writing and started to reread over what he had written. Giving them the letter to read wouldn't help. If anything it would only result in the letter being burnt and him being beaten for thinking that they cared, regardless whether they did or not. Telling them was out of the question too since he was pretty much banned from saying every word he'd have to use to get the message across. Giving a copy of the letter to them wouldn't work either. They'd just think he wrote it as a joke to get their hopes up for nothing.
All in all it was a hopeless case. But at least he could tell Dumbledore he had tried, even if he hadn't actually confronted his relatives about the matter. Now, all there was left to do was pack, but having thought it through, even that simple task would pose a slight problem. Especially if he was caught, for it would lead to questioning, followed by a beating, even if he only informed them that he tidying up his room. The whole scenario now seem like a lose-lose situation, but there was little Harry could do. It had to be done after all.
Another sigh worked its way past Harry's lips as he sat back in his chair and began to survey his room. Most of what he owned was already in his trunk, or hidden under the loose floor board, so those items would be the easiest to pack because no one but him knew that they were out of the trunk. The rest of his possessions would have to remain unpacked until the last moment, for his relatives would soon notice their absence, and that was something Harry did not want to happen.
Harry pushed his chair back from the desk before getting to his feet and walked over to his bed. He then knelt down beside his bed before reaching out and praying open the floor board. After making sure there were no loose items in the small area, he pulled the pillow case out of the hole and replaced the floor board before getting back to his feet and heading over to his trunk. Once they were in his trunk he took a seat at his desk again and started to stroke Hedwig's breast once more.
Now all he could do was wait.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
"I am absolutely not going to go through with this!" Severus snapped, while his eyes narrowed at Albus. "How dear you go behind my back like that, Albus! You know how much I despise that Potter brat, yet you want me to go and pick him up?! Have you lost your mind?"
"I'm well aware of your feelings toward young Harry, Severus; however you have little choice in the matter. I've already sent a letter to Harry telling him that you will be looking after him over the summer," Albus replied with a twinkle in his eyes.
"And when exactly were you going to inform me that you had written that letter? And don't you dare tell me 'Now', Albus, or I will find a way to add poison to your meals!"
The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes increased, showing that the old man was more amused by the threat than actually feeling threatened. "I'm afraid that 'Now' is the only answer I can give you, Severus. For if I had told you earlier, as you wish I had, you would have acted even worse than how you are now, and more than likely have burned the letter. However, since I waited to tell you, you now have no choice but to complete the task, no matter how much you complain."
"I do not have to do anything I don't agree to," Severus argued, his eyes narrowing a little more. There was no way in hell he was going to let Albus win this time.
Albus gave a soft sigh before lacing his fingers together in front of his chest and dropping his mask, showing the face of a tired old man. "I know you don't, Severus, but you are the only one left who I can trust this task to."
A growl actually left Severus's lips. "Damn it, Albus, do not pull the guilt trip on me like that! What about the Weasleys? Or that Granger girl? Not only do you trust them, but both would be more then willing to look after Mr. Potter."
"But I did not ask them to do this task, I asked you," Albus replied, ignoring Severus's 'You didn't ask me at all!' comment. "And therefore I wish for you to carry out this task. Call it a..." he paused for a moment, as if searching for the right thing to say. "Call it a 'Learning to get along with Harry Experience,'" he finished.
Severus stared at the Headmaster for a moment before growling once again. Not only did the old man deliberately ignore his questions, but he seemed to be mooching him. What was worse was that he knew that Albus had won, and that infuriated him to no end. "It's not as if I really have a choice in this," Severus finally hissed, a scold appearing on his face as soon as he saw Albus smiling. "Know this, Albus. I am never going to forgive you for this," he said, his voice still a hiss. He then turned on his heels, his robe billowing out behind him, and left.
Albus watched him go, the twinkle brightening in his eyes. Over to his left, Fawkes let out a soft trill. "I know, Fawkes, he may yet forgive me, and I'll gladly wait for that day."
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Harry cradled one of his arms to his chest while he used the other to finish packing. Tonight was the night that Snape would be coming to take him away from this horrible place; and as much as loathed the Snape, he couldn't help but to feel grateful towards his Potions Master, as well as a little sorry for him. Not only because he had probably been forced to take care of him over the summer, but also because he was going to have to face his confused, and somewhat agitated, Uncle.
Harry held his arm closer to his chest. He had planned to tell his relatives about Snape that morning, but the beating he had received after having accidentally burned breakfast had gotten him out of the mood of talking to them. Not only that, but it had also seemed to have caused him slight brain damage; why else would he be feeling sorry for Snape?
A creak of the floor board was the first thing that had alerted Harry that someone was coming. Quickly he closed the lid of his trunk and grabbed a book before taking a seat on his bed and pretending to read, just in case the person decided to check in on him.
The second warning he got was his hair prickling at the back of his neck. That could only mean one thing; it was his Uncle Vernon coming up the stairs, or even down the small hall. He could tell by the forbidding presence which seemed to fill the area around his Uncle.
The third and final warning he got was another creak of a floor board, this time it was right outside his door. A soft whimper left his lips, while his eyes dulled slightly as his bedroom door opened.
That last thing Harry saw was his smiling Uncle before his mind and world went black.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Severus glared at the house as he walked along the path towards the front door. So this was where the Potter brat lived. If anything, it was somewhat of a let down. Ever since Potter's first year at school he had thought the boy had lived in a big house and was spoiled to death. But this was just an average looking house, probably filled with average people. This seemed to annoy Severus even more. For if they were just average people... well, Muggles in this case... then it would have proven him wrong about that part of Potter's life. And he hated being proven wrong.
A sigh left his lips and he stopped in front of the door moments before taking a deep breath and knocking. There was no turning back now, and even if there was, he knew Albus Dumbledore would just find a way to manipulate him into taking the task again.
There was a muffled yell on the other side of the door, followed by the sound of someone's feet on carpet. A moment later the door opened, reviling a boy Severus knew all to well.
"Professor," Potter greeted softly before stepping aside, allowing Severus to enter if he wished to do so.
"Mr. Potter, I am sure that you are aware as to why I am here," Severus said calmly, making no move to enter the house. A sneer did appear on his face, however, when he surveyed the small entry way over Potter's head. He had indeed been proven wrong; these people were just average Muggles, not only that, but judging by the fact that there were no pictures of Potter in any of the Muggle photos he had seen; Potter had probably not been spoiled. This pissed him off even more for it meant he had been wrong about two things concerning the Potter brat's life.
"I am," Potter replied, his voice still soft.
"Then why are you inviting me inside? I am a very busy man Potter, and if the Headmaster hadn't made me do this, or if I had my way, you'd be stuck here for the rest of your life. Now, go get your things so that we can leave before I change my mind about going through with Albus's little game," he hissed, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Potter seemed to be slightly taken aback by the harsh tone, a reaction Severus enjoyed immensely. The boy then opened his mouth to reply, only to freeze mid motion before shaking his head slightly and lowering his gaze to the ground. "Sorry, Professor," he muttered, the still soft voice was now beginning to get on Severus's nerves.
"Don't be sorry Potter, just hurry up. I haven't all night to wait for you."
Potter nodded, but hadn't even taken a step when a voice boomed from the living room. "What's taking so long boy?!" It demanded, moments before the owner of the voice walked into view and caught sight of Severus. "Good evening Sir, and how may we help you?" he asked, his manner changing into that of a business man in seconds.
Severus's eyebrows shoot up into his hair line in surprise. "Hasn't Mr. Potter informed you that I would be coming tonight?" he questioned, while studying the man in front of him and ignoring the soft groan that came from the boy next to him.
"No. The boy didn't seem to mention anything of the sort," the man replied, as his pig-like eyes seemed to seek out Potter, who tensed slightly in response.
Potter swallowed, while one of his arms seemed to get pressed tightly to his chest. "Uncle Vernon, this is Severus Snape, he's a Professor at... at my school."
Severus glanced at Potter out of the corner of his eyes. It was a shock to hear his first name coming from the brat's mouth. But being the man he was, he kept a mask over his face, and didn't show it.
The man, Vernon, nodded. "And why is he here?" he asked calmly, though Severus had a feeling the man was doing his best to hide some sort of rage.
Potter seemed to sense it also, but he stood his ground. "Professor Dumbledore sent him a letter asking him to look after me for the rest of the rest of summer," he explained, becoming slightly more confident, though his voice was still soft.
Vernon once again nodded. "I see. And when exactly were you going to inform us of this?"
Severus's full attention was now focused on Potter. He wanted to know that answer too; after all, the boy had had a day to tell them everything they needed to know. However, he didn't expect Potter to suddenly go white and lose whatever confidence he had. There was something different about this boy than the one he knew at Hogwarts, and it was starting to get on his nerves because he didn't know what that difference was.
"Some... sometime today, when you weren't busy," was Potter's soft reply. "But the appropriate time never seemed to come up," he added, while moving into the shadows slightly.
"I see," Vernon said again before his eyes finally left Potter and looked at Severus. "Does the boy have to come back here next year, sir?" he asked, his voice still calm, but Severus was able to detect a small amount of fear, as if the man was afraid of him.
"Albus did not inform me; however, he did give me a letter which will most likely tell you all you need to know." Severus replied, while reaching into his pocket and pulling out an envelope which read, 'The Dursleys,' on the front in flowing, green, script. "I suggest you read it at least three times. Albus's letters are known to have a variety of hidden messages in them."
A look of horror appeared on Vernon's face for a split second before he reached out and took the letter. "I'll keep that in mind," he said before looking over at Potter again. "Well? Have you packed?"
Potter blinked, but slowly began to nod. "Yes sir," he replied.
"Well then hurry up boy! It's rude keep people waiting." Vernon snapped, which in turn made Potter flinch slightly.
"I was just about to go and get my things when you came into the hall," he replied without thinking. "But, thank you for reminding me, I shall go and get my things now," he added quickly when he saw his uncle's eyes darken slightly. He then started up the stairs before either adult could say anything.
Vernon watched Potter go before looking at Severus. "I don't know what your lot does when a child shows disrespect to his elders, but when it comes to the boy there, a good beating does the trick," he said.
Severus had to do a double-take on what Vernon had just said. Beat the boy? Surely the man hadn't, even if there were times when Potter had probably deserved one. It was illegal in both worlds to harm a child in any way, and although he had done his fair share of illegal things, he had never harmed a child; he had left that job to the more ruthless killers.
Before Severus could voice anything though, Potter came back down the stairs, one hand pulling his trunk and the other loosely holding onto an empty bird cage. The snowy owl that was normally in it was nowhere to be seen. "I'm ready to leave now Professor," he said after having come to a stop at the bottom of the stairs.
"So I can see," Severus replied before nodding once in Vernon's direction. "I will keep your advice in mind," he added.
Potter turned to look back at Vernon, and bowed his head slightly. "Thank you for looking after me these past few weeks," he said politely, even though it was evident in his voice that he didn't mean it. He then walked past Severus and into the yard.
Vernon walked up to the door and started to close it. "It was a pleasure meeting you," was the last thing he said before closing the door completely, allowing Severus no time to answer.
Severus arched an eyebrow, but decided that it would be pointless to complain to a closed door. Taking a deep breath, he smoothed his features and turned around to look at Potter, a scold now set firmly in place. "Mr. Potter, what part of 'I didn't have all night' didn't you understand?" he asked, noting that the boy had let go of his trunk and the bird cage, and that the arm that had been holding onto the bird cage was once again held in front on his chest, as if it had been broken.
"I'm sorry Professor. I had hoped to get away without my relatives being none-the-wiser, but it didn't seem to work out that way," the boy replied softly.
"And why, Potter, would you want to leave without telling them?" Severus questioned, noting that the boy's body tensed at the question.
"That's none of your business," he snapped before turning slightly red with embarrassment when he had obviously realized what he had just said, and who he had said it to.
Severus, on the other hand, didn't know what to be surprised of more; Potter tensing, or the snapped response. "Potter; had we been at school, not only would you have lost house points, but you would have also landed yourself in detention for a week," he hissed, deciding to mentally file away Potter's tense response for another time. "However, since we are not at school, I shall have to decide a suitable punishment later." he added, and Potter only nodded. Severus silently studied the boy for a moment. There was definitely something different about this Potter and the one Hogwarts, and Merlin help him; he was going to find out what it was.
Pushing all thoughts aside, he reached into another pocket before taking out a Stirring Rod, and the Put-Outer he had borrowed from Albus. He then clicked the Put-Outer a number of times, making the whole street go dark. "Now, since you can't Apparate, I had a Portkey made so that you and your belongs can be transported to my house. Once you are there, you are to stay in the room you appear in, which is where you'll be sleeping, for the summer until I tell you otherwise," he said while handing Potter the Stirring Rod. "To activate the Portkey, just say 'Spinner's End.' I'm sure even a brain dead moron like you can get that right."
Potter nodded slightly, while his eyes traveled over the Stirring Rod before they moved to meet Severus's eyes. "You're not going to go back there straight after you leave here Professor?" he asked, his voice somewhat childish, as if he didn't really want to be left alone.
"No. I have a few more things I need to do, and what they are is none of your concern," Severus replied calmly, though his eyes narrowed, warning the boy not to press the matter.
"Then I guess I shall see you when you get back," Potter said before taking a seat on his trunk and touching it with one end of the Stirring Rod, while his free hand once again took a hold of the empty bird cage.
Severus watched him for a moment, slightly startled by the comment. He then shook his head and started off down the street after having heard the boy activate the Portkey.
When the street lamps flickered back to life, both boy and Potion Master had already disappeared.
TBC
Well, I hope you guys all liked it. I've gotten the first Four chapters typed up, and up to the start of the fifth being typed up and the sixth being hand written, so hopefully you'll be able to get to read some more soon. ^^
And sorry if this wasn't meant to be posted here, but I want some oppions on it cause I've goten none so far from anywhere else I've sent it.
Once again, hopped you all liked it.
