H.P.

The Quidditch World Cup was in two days and Snape still hadn't said if he could go or not. What was he supposed to write to Ron?

Ron,

I'll probably see you in a couple of days but I actually might not fancy seeing the Quidditch World Cup final.

Best,

Harry

There was no way the Weasleys would even care if the Dursleys said no… Maybe he could tell Snape that he had to go because the Weasleys just wouldn't believe that he couldn't go, or that he wouldn't want to. Then again, Snape did ban him from saying the words `quidditch`, `world` and `cup` yesterday and that was a massive over-reaction considering he'd only mentioned it in passing twice during dinner.

Harry sucked on the end of his quill and sighed in frustration. Why wasn't Snape telling him anything? He couldn't send his letter without knowing and he couldn't not write to Ron. Snape was the one who wanted him to keep the fact that he was living with him a secret but in two days time Ron and his parents would come to collect him from the Dursleys and they were going to wonder why he wasn't there.

"I'm writing to Ron, sir," Harry called out, craning his neck to see behind him as Snape walked through the living room towards the kitchen.

"Subtle, Harry. And you need not 'sir' me every time you address me," Snape said, barely stopping to pay him any attention.

"So…?" Harry asked, his quill poised theatrically on the parchment.

"After dinner. There are a few things I'd like to discuss with you."

"You've decided? You can just tell me then–" Harry said excitedly, leaning over the back of the sofa.

"I'm not getting into it now; I'd like to eat at some point this evening. Have some patience," he added, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

Harry's heart sank. That just meant Snape wanted to eat before getting into an argument. "So it's a no, then?"

Snape shot him a glare before continuing into the kitchen but remained silent.

"Fine, I'll help," Harry offered, getting up to follow Snape into the kitchen. The quicker dinner was over, the sooner he'd know.

"It would take twice as long with you in the way so I believe that would be counter-productive for the both of us."

"I can cook," Harry insisted.

"Not by magic you can't."

"Fine, I'll just sit and wait here then," Harry said, dropping heavily back onto the sofa.

Snape disappeared into the kitchen but reappeared abruptly after a few moments. "Get in here then, and not a word about this blasted World Cup."

S.S.

"I trust you've been able to keep yourself entertained today?"

"I guess so. I built a tower with my exploding snap cards," Harry replied, making a grab for the spinach before he could cut it up.

"I put your school books for next year on your desk this morning," he said, raising an eyebrow and snatching the spinach back.

"Yeah, uh, thanks for that. Do you want me to…" Severus sent him a frustrated look. The child was going to ask if he had to pay rent one of these days. "No, right… you want to pay," Harry said, looking rather put out.

Severus had no intention of getting into a conversation about money with the boy again so made no comment and let him continue uninterrupted. "I started my letter to Ron but I couldn't finish it..."

"Massively productive day you've had," Severus remarked dryly, refusing to acknowledge the hint about the World Cup.

"I've probably done more work than Hermione this summer with all those extra classes and you checking my homework."

"I doubt that, Harry. I take it you'd like to go flying again?"

Severus inwardly commended himself on his patience. He was adamant that he would not snap at the boy before he got a chance to have a sensible talk with him and he was not unaware that Harry was making some effort not to mention the World Cup.

"What, tomorrow?" 

"This evening," Severus clarified. At least this way he wouldn't have to worry about the boy flying in the heat or getting dehydrated or sunburnt and all the other ridiculous things he had to consider.

"Really? Yeah, great!" Harry replied, obviously somewhat cheered by the prospect.

"I won't be taking you there every day. I don't want people taking too much of an interest in either of us," Severus warned sternly. The last thing he wanted was people asking them questions. Harry could much too easily forget himself and then the glamour would be worse than useless.

Severus had considered the headmaster's point. It would be beneficial in terms of his spying to put the possibility of Harry having been moved into the minds of his enemy. It certainly would give him an advantage, which he would desperately need. Not only was he now in a position where his years of employ under Albus at Hogwarts made him look like a traitor, but having taken Potter in… It would be incredibly difficult to explain it all away and resume his position as a spy, and it was necessary, imperative even, that he spy on the Dark Lord the moment he returns. They needed any and every advantage they could get, especially if Harry's dream was accurate and he was plotting to get his hands on the child.

The problem would of course be Harry's reaction. The very idea of following through with the plan and not telling the boy was ludicrous. He certainly would know where the information came from and he would not betray Harry like that, not behind his back.

It was clear that Harry had reached the end of his patience halfway through dinner but by that time Severus believed that he had in fact had enough time to consider both topics of conversation fully, so decided to put the child out of his misery.

"There is no need to inform Mr. Weasley that any of your plans have changed," he began, putting his fork down and giving Harry his full attention. "You will be going to see the World Cup, but for one night only. I don't care how long the match goes on for or how long you've been invited for."

He could tell that Harry was irritated by the restriction but wisely knew not to bother fighting him on that particular point, being far too thrilled that he was in fact going to see the match.

"Yes! You're actually letting me go?" Harry said, almost leaping out of his seat in his excitement. "So what, am I going to the Dursleys to be picked up?" Harry asked, displaying some of the poorest logical reasoning that Severus had seen in some time.

"Of course not. The headmaster has informed the Weasleys that he will be arranging your transportation so they will not be picking you up at all," Severus replied tactfully, only finishing with `you imbecile` in his head.

"Right. So, how am I getting there then?" Harry asked grinning widely, clearly more relaxed knowing that he was allowed to go.

"I'm going to take you, acting as if on the headmaster's request."

"That's going to look a bit weird."

"You have a problem with the arrangement?"

"No, I'm just saying it'll look odd having you bring me to the Weasleys."

"It will be as if on request from the headmaster and I will not perform the task with good grace. As for why me, as you had to live with me in the castle, presumably I'm the only teacher with enough spare time to run errands for the Boy-Who-Lived."

"All right…" Harry replied giving him a mild glare for the use of the title. "So, that's it then, I'm going to the World Cup!"

H.P.

"There is something else I'd like to discuss with you."

"I've not done something have I? This isn't about me not reading those books is it?"

Snape scowled and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'ridiculous child' under his breath before fixing him with a firm stare. "I'm going to make this very clear for you, what I do or will do in my role as a spy does not concern you. I will tell you nothing and you will not ask. However, in the interests of… trust, what little we may have, there is something I'd like to mention." Snape seemed to be considering his words carefully and Harry, interest piqued, leaned forward.

"I believe you're somewhat acquainted with Lucius Malfoy?"

"That's one way of putting it," Harry commented, remembering somewhat fondly the moment he freed Dobby from his employ, and then even more fondly when Malfoy realised he was holding his dirty sock.

"He has taken an interest in your whereabouts this summer. Your presence at the school was not unnoticed at the ministry and, as you may know, the Malfoys are a well-connected family."

"Yeah, they're rich and powerful. It's all Malfoy goes on about when he's not spewing that pureblood rubbish–"

"Enough," Snape interrupted before he could get a decent tirade against the younger Malfoy going. "Lucius has come to me regarding information about you, why you were at the castle and anything I may have learned during your stay."

"Isn't that going to look suspicious if he's going round asking people about me?"

"He's not 'going round asking people', Harry. I'm no stranger to the Malfoys."

"You're mates with the Malfoys?" Harry asked screwing his face up in disgust. It wouldn't have surprised him before this summer but seeing what Snape was really like… he couldn't see it. He'd bet anything Snape had never invited the Malfoys round here!

"Eloquently put."

"Give it a rest with that–"

"Watch your tone."

Harry ignored the admonishment. "So you're just going to have a chat with your mate Malfoy? What are you going to say about me, then?" Harry asked, not caring that he sounded rude.

Snape was obviously going out of his way not to react. "I intend to give him an idea of your home life–"

"What!" Harry unconsciously shoved himself back from the table.

"I am well aware that–"

"NO. You're not telling anyone about that, especially not the Malfoys. What are you going to do, sit around in his big, expensive mansion and laugh at the fact that I used to live in a cupboard? No."

What was Snape thinking? Harry was suddenly aware that at some point during his rant he'd stood up, but Snape, unusually, remained seated, and other than a look of mild frustration seemed quite calm, which only served to make him angrier. That's right, it was nothing to Snape if he was completely humiliated just because Snape needed something to tell Malfoy of all people.

"Yes, in general terms," Snape answered and Harry felt a swoop of sickness in his stomach. "I'm going to choose to ignore that phrase you just uttered. Say it again and you're grounded."

"I can't believe you're doing this. I can't believe I didn't think you'd do this." Did he have any idea what would happen, how people would look at him?

"Stop being hysterical. For a young man who believes he wasn't mistreated you're taking this fairly badly."

"Oh, right, so you want me to what, say I was mistreated? Tell you everything just so you can go and tell it all to the Malfoys?" Harry shouted, feeling rage bubbling in the pit of his stomach.

"You would have spoken to me otherwise?" Snape questioned harshly.

"I don't know. I'm not going to now, am I?"

"You would have considered confiding in me as opposed to Lupin or your godfather?" Snape said, his cool demeanour dissolving.

"Well, yeah, I suppose if I had to talk to someone I would have. Remus can be really– what?" Harry asked, catching sight of Snape's somewhat perturbed expression.

"I was not aware that you considered it an option," Snape said, regarding him thoughtfully.

"I wasn't actually planning on it. There's not a lot to say," Harry said, backtracking.

"Living in a cupboard until you're eleven is something that it is acceptable to have feelings about."

"I've already said I'm not talking about this with you," Harry stated loudly, fully remembering why he was arguing with Snape. "Not if you're just going to go and tell the Malfoys."

"Then I will not."

"What?"

"If you feel most willing to speak to me about your mistreatment by your relatives then I will not do anything that would make you feel…uncomfortable. Not if it is not absolutely necessary," Snape was speaking slowly as if the words or the decision were only just forming in his mind.

"So, what? I have to talk to you about the Dursleys or you'll go and tell Malfoy everything you know already?" Harry asked suspiciously.

"No, I am simply saying that I did not know that you would have considered confiding in me and I will not choose my role as a spy as a priority at this stage."

S.S.

He wasn't sure how well that statement had gone down. Trust this to be the moment that Harry keeps his opinion to himself.

Harry cleared his throat awkwardly. "And, uh, what if I don't have anything to say?"

"You've never let that stop you from opening your mouth before now." Harry rolled his eyes but said nothing, waiting expectantly for an answer. "I cannot force you to speak to me but I… encourage…you to do so."

Harry visibly relaxed at his answer and dropped back into his seat at the table.

"So what are you going to do instead of telling them about the Dursleys?" he asked, fiddling with his fork. Severus resisted the urge to snap at him to stop.

"It will not be impossible for me to come up with something else to interest Lucius." No, it would be difficult and it would require a lot of thought but it would not be impossible.

"If it's that easy to act like you're still best mates then why were you going to tell him about the Dursleys?" Snape inwardly winced at the hurt that was evident in his tone, clearly that conversation was a terrible idea. The whole idea of betraying Harry's trust and privacy was a terrible idea. He wouldn't hesitate to trade them both for the child's protection in the future… but now? With minimal danger?

"It is not a case of merely fitting in. The headmaster believes that it is inevitable that when the Dark Lord returns he will find out that you have been moved and are no longer under your mother's protection. It would work in my favour as a spy to give him information that would draw him to that conclusion." He tried to keep his explanation simple to avoid Harry's persistent questioning.

"So Dumbledore told you to do it?" Harry said acting as if he'd solved some great mystery.

"Professor Dumbledore and do not be juvenile, Harry."

"I'm not being–"

"You wanted to go flying?"

"Yeah, but–"

"Come then, while there's still light." Harry didn't look impressed, and he was certainly stubborn enough to refuse. "We can continue this pointless discussion or you can go flying. It's up to you." Harry still looked mutinous. "You can still sulk while you're in the air."

"I'm not sulking."

"It was a mistake for me to suggest it," Snape conceded uncomfortably. Admitting he was wrong was unfamiliar territory but he did not want to lose whatever trust he had previously gained. Damn the headmaster and his plots.

Severus took great satisfaction at four o'clock in the morning on the day of the Quidditch World Cup in waking Harry up at that ungodly hour.

"Up!" Severus commanded banging loudly on Harry's door, receiving nothing but a mumbled groan from the other side.

Severus swung the door open, strode in and flicked on the lights causing Harry to groan and roll over in an effort to shield his eyes. "'s too light."

"Get up. I'm taking you in half an hour or you aren't going at all."

"Five min'ts…"

Severus sent a cascade of ice cold water onto Harry's head from the tip of his wand.

"Aaargh. What was that for?" Harry demanded, trying to dry his face and reach for his glasses at the same time. "It's not funny," he insisted when he got his glasses on and saw Severus' smirk.

"Breakfast in five minutes. Where's your bag?" Harry pointed across the room and then made to slump back on to his pillow but Severus yanked it out from under him before he made it and he landed with a heavy thump on the mattress.

"I'm up already!"

"Downstairs in five minutes," Severus repeated, throwing the pillow back at Harry who caught it before it hit him full in the face.

H.P.

Harry dressed at top speed and made it down to the kitchen in record time.

He nabbed a bit of toast while Snape cooked breakfast on the hob. "What are you going to do while I'm gone?"

"I imagine I'll find something to fill my time with in your absence."

"You're not going to talk to Malfoy, then?" Harry asked in between bites, hoping he didn't sound as worried as he felt.

"No, I won't be speaking to Lucius for a few days yet. What do you think are the chances of the Malfoys missing an event like the Quidditch World Cup?"

"Oh yeah, pretty unlikely, I guess."

"On that note," Snape said sternly, placing his plate in front of him. "Should you see Draco, do not speak to him."

"As if I would talk to Malfoy," Harry scoffed, stuffing a large piece of bacon in his mouth.

"Do not be difficult. It's likely that Lucius has told Draco about you living at the castle this summer, so if you come across him say nothing."

"What did you think I was going to do, wave him over and have a chat about how you like your eggs in the morning?" Harry asked after swallowing his mouthful. Snape really did take him for a complete idiot sometimes.

"Harry, look at me. I'm being entirely serious. Should he provoke you, and if he gets the chance do not doubt that he would goad you, say nothing. Do not retaliate, do not respond. Do not force me into a position where I need to cover up your errors."

"I won't say anything," Harry assured him.

S.S.

Severus handed Harry his bag but held the floo powder back for a moment. This was his last chance to impress upon Harry how important it was that he not slip up.

"Stay out of trouble. Do not draw any more attention to yourself."

"I haven't drawn attention to myself. Not since school finished at least; that was you drawing attention to me this summer," Harry said grinning.

"Try and keep a low profile. I'm not asking you to hide but there's no need to announce your presence," Severus continued as if Harry hadn't spoken.

"I'm just going to watch the quidditch with the Weasleys, Professor."

"And should they ask about your summer?"

"I'm with the Dursleys now," Harry answered promptly.

"And earlier, why were you with me?"

"Um… I don't know?" Harry said, hazarding a guess.

"Exactly, the headmaster didn't confide any more information to you, nor did he tell you his reasons. What was it like living with me?"

"Pretty up and down," Harry said with a shrug.

"And what was good about it?" Snape pressed.

"Uh…nothing."

"You spent some time with Lupin."

"Yeah, that."

"You had better take this seriously, or you won't be going anywhere, Potter! Do you want to stay here or do you want to go back to your relatives?" Severus hissed, losing his temper and seriously considering forbidding Harry from leaving.

"I get it, all right? I'm at the Dursleys now, I stayed with you before but it was as bad as it looked and you were horrible the whole time. I never found out anything more about why I was with you but I thought it was better with you because I could see Remus. I'm not stupid. I'll try not to talk about it."

"Your friends can be persistent and Miss Granger is sharp."

"I know. I won't tell them anything about what a delight you are, just try not to look like you like me too much when we get to the Weasleys," Harry said drily. If Severus wasn't so worried that he'd mess this up he would have been proud.

"Hilarious, Harry." Severus regarded him silently for a moment trying to convince himself that the child would take this as seriously as he'd hoped. "Floo to the headmaster's office. I'll be five minutes."

"You didn't have to 'Potter' me," Harry said, throwing the floo powder into the fire.

"Get used to it."

H.P.

"Ah, Harry, good morning." Dumbledore was looking as awake as ever for half four in the morning, putting his quill down and welcoming him. Harry was certain that on your average day he wasn't in his office this early but struggled to care that he'd put him out. Not after what he'd almost made Snape do.

"Sir," he replied formally, trying to look as if he wasn't embarrassed at having landed face first on the floor.

"I trust that you're looking forward to the quidditch this evening? I've heard it should be a spectacular event."

"I hope so, sir," Harry replied shortly, glancing towards the fire. He had no desire to speak to Dumbledore. He wanted him back with the Dursleys and he wanted Snape to tell the Malfoys all about his life with them. He was still angry at Snape for even bringing it up; how could he possibly have thought that he'd be okay with that?

"Professor Snape will be along directly. He's coming up from his quarters. You can sit, my boy."

"Sir," Harry repeated, just for something to say.

Harry spent an awkward three minutes trying not to stare at the door. He usually felt fairly relaxed in the headmaster's presence but now he couldn't imagine how that was possible. How could he trust him when he was always ruining things for him? He definitely didn't have his best interest in mind. Snape was much more on his side than Dumbledore.

Finally, there was a knock on the door and Harry stood up eagerly.

"Enter, Severus."

"Headmaster," Severus nodded, greeting the headmaster formally and holding the door open for Harry.

"Well, off you go, Harry," Dumbledore said kindly, as if he needed telling.

"What's Dumbledore doing up this early anyway?" Harry commented as soon as the door shut behind him.

"The habits of the headmaster are none of your concern, Potter. Get moving. Believe me, I've got better things to do with my time than act the personal bodyguard for the boy-who-lived."

"All right." Snape wasn't hesitating to get into character then…

"All right, rir! Watch yourself, Potter or Gryffindor will be in minus numbers at the start of term."

They walked in silence out of the castle, with Snape keeping two feet in front. It was obvious that Snape didn't want him to say anything and it probably was safer overall just to keep quiet. He began to wonder how he was getting to the Weasley's anyway.

Snape shoved an old hanger into Harry's hand before leaning towards him and speaking quietly. "Try not to pull that kicked puppy face when I insult you in front of your friends."

"I don't–" Harry began to hiss back before he felt a peculiar and unpleasant sensation like a cord pulling from his stomach. He tumbled spectacularly onto a familiar kitchen floor, very much aware that he was no better at this than floo travel.

"You could have warned me," Harry said, with more than a touch of annoyance, getting unsteadily to his feet. Snape sneered in return but was saved replying by Mrs. Weasley who immediately trapped Harry in a hug.

"Harry, dear, it's lovely to see you! Sit down, we're just having breakfast…"

"Thank you for bringing him," Mr. Weasley offered politely.

"I'll be here for him at the agreed time tomorrow." He sent a menacing glare to Harry. "Be ready, Potter."