Harry came out of his room to see Snape seated at the kitchen table with his shirt off and bandages littering the table. The man seemed so frustrated with the wrappings that he didn't even acknowledge Harry's presence. Harry stood in the doorway trying to decide exactly what he should be doing in this situation.

Snape's back was still bruised but it was slowly fading and the cuts on his chest were less angry looking than they had been, though Harry could see that they still needed to be bandaged. He could hear Snape swearing under his breath as he twisted in his seat to wrap the bandage around his torso.

When Snape twisted the last of the bandage around himself, he caught sight of Potter standing in the door of his room watching him. He scowled at the boy, hoping that Potter would go away until dinner was ready. No such luck. Instead the boy moved into the room and towards the counter.

Harry shifted his weight from one foot to the other when he got to the counter. By now, Snape had crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair. Now he was just watching him with something like curiosity.

"Potter," Snape snapped. Harry went still and watched the professor watching him. "What are you doing?"

"I um..." Harry cast around in his head for something to say. What had he been doing? He should have just gone back to his room. Instead he had briefly entertained the idea of offering to help Snape with his bandages, but had not gotten up the courage before Snape had finished himself. "I was going to offer to make dinner," he said in a rush.

Snape blinked, then stood in one smooth motion. "Very well, you know where everything is."

He started walking to his own room when Harry asked, "What would you like to eat sir?"

Without stopping Snape said, "Just make sure whatever it is, it is edible Potter."

He got to his door and started to open it when Harry remembered Remus was coming down. "Wait! Professor." Snape stopped with his hand on the doorknob and sighed irritably before turning back around and fixing Harry with a mild glare.

"What Potter?"

"I saw Remus a little bit ago. He said he was going to be stopping by later."

Yep, Harry knew that look. It was a cross between I'm going to kill something and why me? "And did he say why he was stopping by?" Snape managed to ask in a deceptively calm voice.

"I think it was about the Wolfsbane sir," Harry answered, hoping that Remus wouldn't get hexed. He knew now, or at least had an idea, why Snape hated Remus and his friends so much, but it was always something to see the look on Snape's face at the mention of them. It reminded Harry of how Sirius and Snape had argued last year and how cold and cruel Snape had been. Sirius would just get angrier and angrier, but Snape had always just sneered cruelly.

Harry didn't really have time to think more on the subject because before Snape could turn and stalk back into his room, there was a knock on the door. Harry made to walk to the door and answer it but stopped when Snape snapped at him to stay put and get his wand out. Then Snape was pulling his own wand out and stalking to the door. When he got closer, he waved his wand and part of the door became clear. Harry could see that along with Remus, Albus Dumbledore was standing behind the door smiling. Snape scowled, pocketed his wand and wrenched the door open.

"Yes," he snapped. The Headmaster seemed unconcerned by his tone but Remus flinched just the slightest bit.

"Ah Severus, may we come in?" Snape moved away and let them enter, then slammed the door shut behind them. Harry smiled and waved at the two men before Snape snapped at him to get busy on dinner. Then Snape crossed his arms and stared at the two men.

"May we sit Severus?" Albus asked politely.

"Be my guest," Snape said with a sneer, watching Remus the whole time.

Remus, meanwhile, was watching Harry get the cooking supplies out but turned his attention back to Snape when the Headmaster spoke again.

"I see your wounds are healing Severus. I hope you're feeling better." Remus' eyes landed on Snape and he realized for the first time that Snape was only wearing pants, boots and a white bandage around his torso. He drew in a breath at the number of scars that crisscrossed Severus' body. They rivaled the number on his own!

Snape crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "They are improving. To what do I owe the pleasure Headmaster?" Snape had slipped back into what for him passed as polite it seemed and Harry turned his attention fully back to the cooking, but kept an ear out for their conversation anyway.

"Remus and I were just discussing the new wards on the Order safe houses before we came down here," Albus answered. Snape finally pushed off the wall and settled himself in a chair facing the other two. He took his wand out and flicked it and a shirt flew from his room and into his hands. After he had put it over his head, he leaned back in his chair, put his fingertips together and raised an eyebrow.

"And I assume that that is going well?" he asked.

It was Remus that answered. "It was Molly and Arthur that were most concerned. They moved their two youngest into Grimmauld Place while they were fixing the wards."

Albus chuckled. "I have to say, Molly was in a state of shock when you brought her wards down. She's been going on and on about how you could have managed it."

"How did you bring them down so quickly Severus?" Remus asked.

Harry turned his head slightly to get a better view of Snape as he cut the potatoes into slices.

"Ah that. It is something the death eaters will surely know how to do."

"Blood sacrifice?" Albus asked.

Snape nodded curtly and Harry's knife slipped. "OW!"

Remus' head shot up to see Harry clutching his hand where he had sliced deeply into his finger. Snape jumped up and stalked over to him. Harry didn't move away as Snape grabbed his hand from him roughly and examined the wound. With a wave of his wand, Harry's wound closed and then Snape stalked to the table and threw the bandages at him. Harry's skills as a seeker were the only things that kept him from being smacked in the face by the bandages.

"Thanks," Harry called.

Snape only grunted as he sat back down and resumed his position. Remus, he noticed, was frowning at Snape, but if Snape noticed, he completely ignored it. Albus was smiling at Harry.

"I gave up using knives to cook a long time ago. Nearly cut off my thumb once." The Headmaster held up this thumb and Harry saw a thin scar wrapping around it.

"Right," Harry said, but he was frowning in Snape's direction and hardly paying attention. Blood sacrifice? Just to prove a point? What did it mean?

Albus gave one last look to Harry, cleared his throat and spoke to Snape. "So you spilled your own blood to drop the wards?" Harry's shoulders slumped. The Headmaster must have known what he was thinking. He was relieved to have it clarified all the same.

Snape looked back and forth between the Headmaster and Harry for a moment and then with a sneer said, "I don't know what you're talking about. I sacrificed a virgin, of course."

Harry gaped, the Headmaster burst out laughing and Remus chuckled behind his hand. Snape was completely deadpan. And then Harry got it. It was a joke. He shook his head and finished bandaging his finger before going back to the potatoes.

"Of course, of course. Far more clever of you," Albus said, smiling widely. "So, how are you and Harry getting along down here Severus?" Albus changed the subject. Snape just blinked at him in astonishment.

"What do you mean Headmaster?" he asked.

"Oh I was just wondering if you were both settling in well. It's been an exciting start to the summer after all." Harry snorted from the kitchen counter. Exciting didn't even come close. Terrifying was closer. Snape must have been thinking the same thing.

"Yes, very exciting Headmaster. Like an amusement park."

"And you Harry? You're feeling well?"

"I'm fine Headmaster."

"Remus was telling me that Severus was showing you the wards today." Snape scowled and stood up.

"Go sit down Potter. I'll finish this up." Harry narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew that Snape was just using it as an excuse to escape the conversation but he couldn't blame him. Harry moved over to the seat he had just vacated and sat down.

"Yeah. It was real interesting," Harry answered when he had sat down.

"Good. Very good."

Harry and the two visitors chatted amicably until dinner was finished. Snape looked beyond pissed when he set the table and invited the other two to stay for dinner since the Headmaster didn't look like he was going anywhere. At least Remus looked just as uncomfortable as Snape as Harry started serving up the plates. The Headmaster continued to chat throughout dinner, dragging everyone into the conversation except Snape, who sat stonily, chewing his food until it was done. Then he crossed his arms, leaned back and stared at a knot in the table.

It wasn't until a lull in the conversation that Snape spoke. "I will have your Wolfsbane ready by late tomorrow evening Lupin."

Remus startled and looked up. "Thank you Severus. I'm very grateful for it. If there is anything I can do for you..."

Snape waved away Remus' words. "Then I shall let you know."

Remus nodded and Dumbledore struck up a conversation with Remus and Harry about how the Weasleys were doing.

"Sir? Have you heard from Hermione? I was going to write her but I haven't gotten around to it yet."

"Oh yes. Ms. Granger is quite all right now. She and her parents are still on vacation in Southern Italy but I believe she's planning on going to the Weasley's at the end of the month when she gets back for a few weeks."

Snape interrupted again. "Headmaster, is Hagrid back yet?"

"He wrote me just this morning. I expect he'll be back sometime in the next few days. Did you want to see him?"

"I'll stop by when he gets back in," Snape said, putting his napkin down by his plate and rising from the table.

"If you'll all excuse me, I have some work to start." He didn't wait for them to say anything and stalked off for the door.

After he had left, the Headmaster sighed and rose from his seat. "I should be off as well. No matter how many stars I wish on, the work never does do itself." Harry and Remus laughed and waved goodbye. When it was just they two, Remus became serious again and Harry was starting to become concerned that it was becoming a permanent thing.

"Harry? How are things really? He's not putting you to work like a house elf is he?" Harry just stared at him. What the hell was this about? Remus took his silence for agreement. "Damn it. He's too harsh. Albus promised me that he would treat you well, but this is ridiculous!"

Harry realized that he'd have to put a stop to this. He had to admit to himself that he was starting to get angry with Remus as well. If he thought that Snape was so bad, why wasn't he taking Harry out of here?

"He's fine! I'm fine too. Is this about me making dinner?"

Remus looked taken aback. "I thought..."

"You thought Snape was beating me?" Harry said between clenched teeth. "Well in case you haven't noticed, Snape just saved me from a really painful death."

"Yes Harry, but that's no reason to excuse bad treatment."

"What bad treatment?"

"Forcing you to cook. Throwing bandages at your face."

"He didn't force me to cook. I offered. He's hurt if you didn't notice."

Remus took a deep breath and looked down for a second. When he looked back up, he looked very apologetic. "I'm sorry Harry. I was wrong to assume the worst. I've just been worried about you."

Harry took a deep breath too. "It's ok Remus. I'm sorry for yelling." He was sorry, for yelling, but he was still angry.

It was then that the door opened up and Snape stood in the doorway looking furious. "Out!" he hissed, pointing at the door and staring at Remus. Harry knew it was ridiculous to think that Snape hadn't heard what had just happened. Now he knew how Snape dealt with accusations of child abuse, he supposed.

"Severus," Remus said in a placating way. "I apologize. I just wanted to make sure Harry was ok."

Snape's eyes flicked to Harry's then back. "Now that you know, get out," he said in a quiet but dangerous voice.

Remus moved toward the door shakily. "I'll see you tomorrow then," he said in a placating voice.

Snape said nothing but slammed the door when he had gone through. For several seconds, Harry watched Snape clench and unclench his fists. Finally, he snapped, "Dishes Potter!" Harry jumped toward the table and started gathering the dishes immediately. When he looked back, Snape seemed much calmer.

"Just leave them on the counter. I'll take care of them later." Harry nodded and when he finished moving the dishes, got out a rag to wipe the table. Snape stalked over to his bedroom door, yanked it open and disappeared inside.

When Harry finished with the table, he sat on the couch and rested his head in his hands. Tonight had been a disaster. He knew why Remus had acted like that. Snape had never made it a secret that he disliked him. And as the last of his father's best friends, Remus must be feeling like it was his responsibility to watch over him. But, Harry thought with growing anger, if he was so worried about him, why didn't he just take him with?

He got up to pace the floor, an inner rant running through his head. I mean it's not like I wouldn't want to stay with Remus! And why did he have to talk so loud? Now Snape is going to be pissed! We had been getting along all right until that. And if he actually thought I was being abused, why didn't he just take me straight away? Snape wouldn't have stood for that!"

Harry stopped his pacing with a gasp and sat down in shock. Where the hell had that come from? Was it even true?

Just then, Snape's bedroom door flew open again and Snape marched out with a clipboard and one dragon hide vest on and another, smaller one in his hands. "Here, put this on," he said, thrusting the vest at Harry, who took it without a word. Snape seemed to be back to normal, which was to say, he was mildly irritated at the world and impatient.

"Come with me. You're going to help me with the Wolfsbane." Harry's jaw dropped as he donned the vest and followed Snape out the door.

When they made it to a door several meters away, Snape waved his wand and Harry heard a lock click and the door opened. Inside was a huge laboratory that Harry had never seen before. "Wow," Harry breathed.

Snape ignored him and started setting up a chopping board. Then he moved to a cauldron sitting over low heat and said, "Grab the bicorn and nightshade. Put those gloves on and follow the instructions on page 406 of that book there for preparation."

When Harry had gotten the ingredients, he opened the book. He had been expecting to see instructions for the Wolfsbane potion, but instead, the book was just a compendium of preparation techniques for various ingredients. He flipped a few pages either way and noticed that there were various ways to prepare each ingredient. Snape cleared his throat and Harry flipped back to page 406 and put the gloves on, and then started to prepare the ingredients as it said.

An hour later, Harry took his gloves off and stood back to see his handiwork. He had been extra careful to make good work of it. Snape was just setting the ladle aside. When he came over to see Harry's work, Harry shoved his hands in his pockets and waited for his judgment. Snape said nothing about the ingredients though. He scooped them up with his gloves and put them into two containers and then said over his shoulder, "Go wash up and then you can go. Remember to be back in the rooms by nine."

"Yes sir," Harry said. As he washed up, he watched Snape put the nightshade into the potion and stir it for several seconds. Nightshade? That was a poison wasn't it? Although it was used in several innocuous potions that Harry knew of. Still, a bit of doubt and worry wormed its way into Harry's head. Snape wouldn't poison Remus would he? It wasn't the first time Harry had thought this and he had been wrong then. Just before he walked out of the room, he got up the courage to say something.

"Sir?"

"Hmm?" Snape said, attention completely on the simmering potion.

"About Remus sir. I'm sorry about all that. I'm sure he didn't mean that about you. He's probably just under a lot of stress."

Snape looked up at him, but there was nothing in his expression that gave his thoughts away. "Don't worry Potter. I'm not going to poison your precious werewolf."

Harry bristled at that. "I didn't think you would," he said indignantly, but his cheeks were flushed.

"If you say so Potter." Snape went back to stirring the potion.

Harry stood in the doorway unmoving and after a moment, Snape looked back up. "Is there a reason you haven't done as I've told you Potter?" Snape said quietly.

"No sir. I just wanted to say that...um, really professor, I know Remus thinks well of you. He must just be upset about something. He didn't really think that, I'm sure."

Snape set his ladle down and walked forward until Harry had to crane his neck up to see his eyes. "You believe that Potter, if it makes you feel better."

"But I'm sure it's true sir. I mean you're a teacher. No one would think you would do that."

Snape barked out an unpleasant laugh. "No Mr. Potter. I'm sure no one would think that a death eater and a spy would ever hurt a child. Why, it could never even occur to them."

"But you're not a death eater!" Harry protested.

"Am I not?" Snape said with a glare. "Why don't you go ask your friends in the Order their opinion on the matter then Potter. Now get out and let me work."

Snape turned back to his cauldron and after a moment more, Harry sighed and returned to his room. He kicked his trunk as he sat down on the bed and once more buried his head in his hands. Ask the Order. Well Dumbledore certainly wouldn't agree. But the rest of them? Harry was sure Remus didn't hate Snape. Even if he was angry with Remus, he knew that the man only had his best interests at heart. And Remus had said that Snape was good and brave. He just didn't think Snape should be watching over Harry. Harry had to admit that there were a few reasons to think that. But hadn't the man just risked his life to rescue him? Harry was grateful for more than just his life. The worst part about having been caught hadn't been the pain. It had been the fear and the loss of hope. Snape hadn't just saved his life; he had saved his hope.

Harry stayed in his room when he heard Snape coming in to the apartment. After a few minutes, he heard Snape's bedroom door close. It was nine thirty already.

Harry decided he'd write to Ron and Hermione tomorrow morning and got himself ready for bed. His last thought before he fell asleep was to remind himself to say hi when Hagrid got back.