Currently sitting at the table, the two wizards sat there eating their breakfast in quiet.... well, Severus sat there eating in quiet as he read the latest news in the Wizarding world, in the Daily Prophet, while his ward, was playing with the rest of his porridge he couldn't yet stomach.

Severus's hand clenched tightly on the newspaper. How hard is it to....

His thoughts were shortly interrupted by the Potter boy.

“Uh...sir,”

It took a few moments for Severus to respond back. After reading the wizarding news, he had to calm himself least he snapped at the boy.

“What is it Pott....Mr Potter?” he let out a sigh. Glad that he hadn't lost control and snapped or forgotten to not call the boy ‘Potter.’

“I uh.... I've finished. Could I uh be excused, sir?”

As he folded his newspaper up, Severus looked over at the boy sitting across from him on the other side of the dining table. He looked at the boy's bowl of porridge, satisfied with the amount Potter had ate, he was about to nod, then an idea came to mind.

“Actually, Mr Potter, since you did a good job with assisting me with the calming draught potion, I thought you could assist myself again today, with the avian potion. Hagrid floo called yesterday to let me know that he has ran out of the potion for your bird and will....”

“Hedwig?” Potter piped up, “how is she? Is she okay? When can I see her? Will she be allowed to come...”

Severus raised a hand, to silence the boy.

“Here? Yes, when she's well and rested your bird is allowed to come here. If Hagrid continues to follow my instructions with taking care of the bird, then she should be here sometime next week, in fact, if you are up to it, we can go and collect her, say.... next Tuesday, perhaps?”

The boy furrowed his eyebrows. “Next Tuesday?” the boy repeated, Severus nodded. A small smile slowly appeared on Potter's face. “That's in seven days' time.... that's great sir, and yeah, I uh want to go and collect Hedwig,”

“Very well. Now, while that's out of the way, will you be up to assisting me with the avian potion? Or do you plan on doing something else?”

Potter shrugged.

“Well, I was going to read...” he said slowly, “but I guess I could help, since it's for Hedwig and she’s my owl.”

Severus nodded, as he stood up. “Shall we?”

The two wizards were back down in the lab again and after washing and drying their hands, Severus had the Potter boy prepare a few ingredients again, while he did the brewing and prepared the rest of the ingredients for the potion.

When they had finished by sometime after lunch, which Lucy had bought down to them, Severus, like yesterday had been impressed with the boy and how he prepared the ingredients.

The following day, it continued raining, and again the two wizards were back in the lab, brewing.

This time, Severus decided to have the boy brew a potion that Potter would have brewed back in first year. Draught of living death.

He didn't tell the boy the real reason why he was having him brew, just told him that he had a client in Spain that was in need of the potion, which was partly true, the other part, it was to see if the boy might brew well in this lab better compared to when he's in a classroom. Afterwards, if the boy manages to brew the potion excellently then Severus would question the boy until he found the problem. If he didn't brew the potion excellently and manages to fail like before, then Severus....

“Uh...sir, I’ve finished” Potter said, an hour and a half later, interrupting Severus's thoughts.

“This is....” Severus started, unable to think of the right words. "This is acceptable Pott...Mr Potter." He decided on saying, noticing the blush in the boy's cheeks. Severus felt a small pang of guilt in his chest for thinking that the boy in front of him was a spoilt brat. He should have known.

Silence entered as Severus left a still blushing Potter, standing there by the brewed potion while he himself went over to his potions storage cupboard to collect some vials to brew the potion into. Walking back over, Severus started to cautiously pour the potion evenly into the several empty uncorked vials.

"How come you never brew like this in classes, Pott....Mr Potter? If you did, then you'd currently be competing with Malfoy, and your friend, the Granger girl for the top place in your year group." Severus told the boy.

Shock appeared all over his ward's face, but Severus was busy concentrating on pouring the potion into the vials without any mess to even notice. For the first few minutes anyway, until he realised the child had been, a little too silent.

“I...I don't....” Potter paused, shrugging his shoulders. An unsure look crossing his face.

Pausing in screwing a cork onto one of the filled vials, the potions master looked at his ward, pinning him with a warning glare. “What did I say about lying to me Pott....Mr Potter? You know exactly why you never brew like this in class and I would like to know the reason.”

Potter bit his bottom lip, looking down at the stone tiled floor of the potions lab. Severus was about to reprimand the boy for biting his bottom lip and was about to tell the child to look at him, but the child, as if reading his thoughts, looked back up at him and stopped biting his lip.

Instead, the boy let out a small sigh. One that Severus guessed was a dejected sigh.

Knowing that the boy was going to talk, Severus turned his focus back onto the vials of potions, deciding to screw a few more corks back onto their designated vials, while the Potter child gathered the right words.

“I uh guess....it's easier to read and uh follow the recipe....” Harry started,

Snape looked at him, with a raised eyebrow.

“Easier to read?”

Harry shrugged his shoulders, nodding his head slowly. That was partly true. Snape usually writes the recipe on the board and he couldn't see it at all. The other reason why he could never brew a decent potion is mainly because of Malfoy and his goons were constantly throwing stuff into his cauldron....but he would in no way be telling Snape that, the man never takes points from his own house, has never given Malfoy and his gang detention before and....

“Pott....Mr Potter, how many fingers am I holding up?” Snape unexpectedly asked, frowning in concentration.

Startled, Harry looked up at Snape.

“Uh, what sir?”

Snape repeated his question.

“Oh uh....four.” Harry slowly but confidently said.

Snape nodded then asked Harry to read the label on one of the cupboard doors that were on the other side of the room.

Harry squinted his eyes in the direction Snape had pointed at. He shook his head, not able to process the word/words on the label.

“When was the last time you had your eyes checked Mr Potter?” Snape questioned, the professor had his full attention on Harry, something that Harry didn't like, not one bit.

Thinking about Snape's question, Harry remembered the last time when he had his eyes check was when he was still in primary school. “Uh, when I was still in Primary school sir.... year 4....the first time I had my eyes checked was when I was in reception. Both times the teacher noticed that I couldn't see clearly and...."

“How long ago was that, Mr Potter? What age were you when you last had your eyes last checked?”

“I think I was eight, sir”

Snape was quiet. Processing what Harry had just told him, as he walked over to the other side of the room, over to one of the labelled potions cupboards where he opened the cupboard door, and carefully placed a few vials on the shelf, alongside some other full vials of brewed potions. If Harry was able to see better, he would have been able to read the labels from where he was standing.

The potions master made his way back over to Harry, once he had levitated the rest of the vials over to the cupboard, placing them in and shutting the cupboard door again.

“Have you always had those glasses Pott....Mr Potter or....”

Knowing exactly what Snape was going to ask, Harry nodded, interrupting the potions master. “Uh...yeah sir, the uh...Dursleys said that glasses are too expensive and that I uh have to pay them back for making them spend their money on me when they could have used it for my cousin, Dudley, and I...." Harry paused, noticing Snape frowning.

"They.....your relatives told you that?" Snape asked,

Harry slowly nodded, a little unsure of what Snape was going to do or say.

The potions master's lips thinned and Harry assumed that Snape was going to yell at him or at least call him a liar or possibly both. However, for the second time that day, Harry was shocked with Snape's unexpected response.

“As your guardian for the summer....I shall make sure to book you an appointment with the oculist for when we go to Diagon Alley,”

Hearing that they were going to Diagon Alley, Harry couldn't help but smile. Maybe he could meet up with Ron and Hermione?

As if reading his thoughts, Snape raised an eyebrow, speaking, just as Harry was about ask.

“Let me guess. You wish to meet up with your friends, the Granger girl and the Weasley boy?”

Harry stared up at Snape, shocked that the man knew. “How did....can you uh....read minds, sir?”

Snape snorted. “No Mr Potter, as much as I'd like that, I cannot read minds.....I am-I only knew what you were thinking Mr Potter, because it was practically written all over your face,”

It was silent for a moment or two as Harry stood there biting his bottom lip. “when will....when will we be going to Diagon Alley, sir?”

Snape shook his head.“ No idea, but it will be once your list of books for third year arrive.....so possibly the first week of August. Is that acceptable?”

Harry nodded, as he helped Snape clean up the lab. A small smile spread across his face. He was looking forward to going to Diagon Alley and possibly going to meet up with his two friends.

*****

Night had fallen over the manor and all was quiet-apart from the light rain falling outside- both wizards and house elf slept soundly asleep.

“No, uncle don't, I'm sorry, I....”

Harry gasped awake once more, panting and sweating, he quickly, without hesitation switched on the bedside lamp on, followed by grabbing his glasses and putting them on. He sat there nervously breathing in and out, as he glanced around the room, expecting to see his uncle in the flesh.

He would have let out a sigh of relief, but instead, he flinched when he heard a popping sound.

“Young master Harry Potter sir, Lucy heard young master be having a nightmare, so Lucy bought up a mug of hot chocolate drink for young master,”

Harry held back a sigh. He really didn't like it when Dobby or Lucy call him ‘Harry Potter sir' as if he was some kind of saint. He wasn't.

If he had enough energy to remind Lucy not to call him anything but ‘Harry' then he would have, but he didn't, so instead he just thanked the elf.

“Uh, thanks Lucy. But you really didn't….”

Lucy shook her head in the negative. “Lucy knows what her masters need and Lucy knows yous be needing hot chocolate young master,”

Though he didn't feel like drinking hot chocolate, the Gryffindor, not wanting to be ungrateful accepted the steaming mug that Lucy handed to him. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion when he noticed for the first time since waking up from his nightmare that Snape wasn't in the room and nor had he come. Something the professor has been doing ever since he found out that Harry was suffering from nightmares.

Tonight would be the first time since then, that Snape wasn't in the room, nor did it sound as if the man was going to come running into the room with his wand lit into a lumos charm, a spell the man said he would teach Harry sometime this summer, any time soon.

A squeaky familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Did young master Harry Potter sir be needing anything else?” Lucy asked, recognising the look on the young master's face. It was a similar look she'd seen often on her master Severus's face when he was younger and just a young master himself.

Harry hesitated before shaking his head.

“I'm fine Lucy.” He said, shortly sighing in response. “You uh…wouldn't happen to know where Snape is, would you?”

In response Lucy told him to drink his hot chocolate, purposely ignoring the question and popped out of the room, leaving a twelve year old Harry sitting there in bed, not wanting to go back to sleep just yet.

Harry arrived to the dining room, later than usual, the following morning, having been too caught up in the book that he had been in the middle of reading up in the library, he didn't know that it was time to be down in the dining room until Snape came looking for him.

Snape had not been too happy about that and it didn't take rocket science to figure that out. One look at the professor that morning during breakfast would no doubt send Harry to an early grave.

Other than that, breakfast had been alright.

“Pott…Mr Potter, do you plan to be up in the library for the rest of the morning or would you like to join me with some more brewing?”

There was a moment or more as Harry thought about his response to Snape and what he'd like to do. After last night, he was shocked at first when Snape had asked him, but once the shock left, he thought about it.

He hesitantly nodded, “okay sir, but uh….what are we,”

“Brewing?” Snape finished for Harry who nodded.

A thoughtful look crossed the professor's face.

“I was thinking of brewing the calming draught. The wizarding hospital, St. Mungos has ran out of their stock of calming draughts for patients, and have asked me the other day if I could possibly brew them a batch.”

“Calming draught, sir?”

“It is a potion that calms the drinker. Madam Pomfrey usually has a stock of it in her Hospital wing, usually, it is given to students around exam time as most of them are too worried about their exams. You'll brew the potion in your fourth year.”

Down in the lab again, Severus, with the help of his ward, collected the stuff they would need to brew a decent calming draught.

As Potter was slicing up the lavender roots, Severus stirred the potion clockwise. He was on his third stir, when, Potter, decided to ask him a question.

“Sir,” the boy started,

Severus noted a hint of hesitation in the boy's voice.

“Yes, Mr Potter, what is it?” he asked, not taking his eyes off of the potion.

“Uh….wh-where were you last night, sir?”

Finishing up with brewing the potion four times, and was now starting to brew the potion anti-clockwise three times, after Potter added the sliced lavender roots, Severus, turned his head, his eyebrows raised in a questioning manner as he thought about Potter's question.

“Exactly what time last night?” the potions master asked his ward, noticing a thoughtful look cross the boy's face.

Seeing the boy was going to take some time to respond back, Severus resumed focusing on the clear potion. Stirring it one more time, anti-clockwise.

“Um…don't know.” Potter shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe sometime after midnight,” the boy guessed as he crushed the butterfly wings and daisy roots.

There was a moment or two of silence as Severus stood there, wondering what to say to the boy. He surely didn't want to tell the boy the truth. For one good reason. Potter would see him as weak, and if there was one thing he hated being called, it was weak….as well as a coward, cause he most certainly wasn't weak…or a coward.

On the other hand, he couldn't lie to the boy, because, well, he’d be a complete hypocrite. Something Severus very much despised.

The potions master held in a sigh. Stirring once more. This time the potion was now a soft, baby blue colour, which had changed once Potter added the crushed butterfly wings and daisy roots.

“Sir?”

“It is….not your business Pott…Mr Potter.” He finally told the boy, as they carefully poured the potion into the several glass vials.

Severus noticed the disappointed look on the child's face.

“Why did you want to know?” he decided to ask, recalling the time Potter mentioned. He also recalled that Potter had been sound asleep, last time he had checked anyway, which had been right before he went to bed himself. “Did something happen? Another nightmare, perhaps?” Severus questioned, a little concerned and a little guilty. How could I have been so….

From the corner of his eye, the potions master noticed the boy hesitating before shaking his head in response as they capped the potion filled vials.

“Uh…I-no, I….”

Severus stood there, arms folded against his chest, his eyes narrowed warningly at his ward, knowing the child planned to lie to him.

“I didn't have any nightmares sir. Just….”

Before Potter could continue lying to Severus, Lucy popped into the lab, startling them both.

“Master Severus sir, young master Harry Potter sir, Lucy has lunch ready” the elf squeaked

Severus told the elf that they'd be up shortly. Lucy popped back out, leaving Severus to deal with the-boy-who-continues-lying-to-his-guardian.

*****

*Crunch!* *Crunch!*

Severus winced, from across the….

*Crunch!* *Crunch!*

…..the dining table. His ward sitting opposite him, happily eating his slices of apple that Lucy had sliced and put on top of Potter's bowl of porridge, Friday morning.

Trying his best to ignore the boy's loud eat, which, in Severus's opinion was a little too loud for his liking, the potions master picked up his mug of morning herbal tea, wincing again.

He sent the boy a glare. Praying to whoever was listening that Potter would….

*Crunch!* *Crunch!*

…..that Potter would hopefully understand his….

“Pott….Mr Potter, could you chew those slices of apple any louder than you already are!” he couldn't help but snap at the-boy-who-eats-too-loud.

Potter startled, his cheeks turned a shade of red.

"Uh, s-sorry sir," he gave a small nod of his head, telling Severus that he would try to eat quietly. Severus sent a warning glare to the boy,

He better.

Severus took a sip of his tea, taking in the calming herbal tea, which started to....

*Crunch!* Crunch!*

The potions master winced, as he placed the mug back down on the dining table. Instinctively, he bought a hand up to his forehead, massaging the left of his forehead.

*Crunch!* *Cru....

"If you will not eat that apple quietly, then I shall leave you to eat it while I go do some work!" Severus hissed, getting up from his chair, he picked up his herbal tea, carrying the steaming mug, he turned around and stalked out the room.

The rest of the day, apart from meals, Severus didn't see his ward until Potter was sitting in bed. Severus was glad that the twelve year old boy followed the rule of what time he was to be in bed, since that evening when Severus had told Potter the rules for his stay at the manor. Even when the boy had been feigning sleep, he had at least been sitting in bed. If Severus didn't know the boy, he would have said the boy was Slytherin, feigning sleep like that.

Like every night, Severus made sure to tell the boy a new story about Lily, until he fell sound asleep. Then he would go back downstairs to do some more work or go to bed himself.

Usually, people, when out in their gardens on hot summer's day would find it relaxing while hearing the nearby birds chirping and tweeting away, however, Severus did not.

A few chirps later, disturbing the peacefulness of his manor gardens, found Severus wanting to curse the wretched birds Saturday late morning. And since it was Lucy's fault that he was….

“Uh, sir?”

Severus snapped out of his thoughts, pausing in picking some nightshade.

“Yes Pott…(Potter flinched) Mr Potter?”

Potter showed the picked asphodel that was currently in his hand.

When he had decided to go collect some potions ingredients that morning, Severus had decided to invite the boy with him, realizing that Potter had not been out in the sunshine yet. As soon as the boy nodded in response and hurried upstairs to go and get some things from hi-the guest bedroom-surprisingly coming down with a drawing pad and drawing equipment. (Pencil, Pen, rubber & ruler) Severus showed the boy the way to the gardens, leading Potter over to a huge oak tree, where there was a couple of deck chairs, an outdoor table and chairs to sit at.

Leaving Potter there and going towards the greenhouses, where his mother, Eileen Snape, had planted many potions ingredients right by the two greenhouses. Severus had gone over to the Asphodel area, to pick them for the potion he had planned to make sometime soon, just as soon as he had all the ingredients, did Potter come up to him to ask what plants they were, genuinely showing an interest. Being a potions master, Severus was happy...proud, to show the boy the plant, and inform the child of it's uses in the wizarding world, bringing up the draught of the living death and the calming draught.

Potter being there had asked if he could help. Severus, not one to refuse teaching students about potions and hopefully find a student that has a genuine interest in the subject, decided that Potter could help. He told the boy what he wanted and how much, and instructed him to pick the asphodel, while he, Severus went over to the nightshade area and picked that plant.

“Is uh…is this enough, sir?”

Severus eyed the potions ingredient.

He was about to speak when, the blasted birds started chirping again.

Bloody pests!

Why can't they just be quiet for once?

“Sir?”

Severus turned back to face his ward. He looked down at the asphodel in the boy's hand. He gave a curt nod.

“Yes Mr Potter, that is enough. Well done,” he said, pleased with the boy.

Potter let a small smile appear on his face as he took out a glass potions container from his pocket, one that Severus had given to him to put the asphodel in. While Potter unscrewed the lid and placed the freshly picked asphodel, Severus went back to picking some more nightshade. When he had enough. A handful. He also took out another glass container, one from his worn brown leather satchel he had shouldered over his shoulders.

When they had the two ingredients separately contained, Severus took out his wand, banishing the container he held in his other hand, sending it to his potions lab. He called Potter over who was currently interested in the belladonna. A poisonous plant, used for potions. Mainly poisons. Those plants, he had been the one to plant, a few years before the Dark Lord's downfall, when he was the potions master for the Dark Lord, he would be requested to make potions. Poisonous potions for the Dark Lord's victims. Using the belladonna plant, sometimes he'd make an antidote to give to the victims and free them when he got the chance to.

Other times, he toughened up and accepted the victim's fate, knowing full well he couldn't do anything least he ruined his chances of spying for the light.

“Sir?” Harry asked, he watched the professor closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. Having seen the man throughout the past few days look as if he's about to snap, Harry guessed that Snape must be trying to calm himself down.

He swallowed thickly, nervous at the thought of Snape losing his temper with him. There was no one here apart from him and Snape, and should something happen, he knew it would be just like the Dursleys all over again. No one would believe him. Not that I wouldn't believe myself either.

"Pott...." Harry flinched, "We don't have all day Mr Potter, we have a potion to brew!" Snape snapped, startling Harry. Now kindly do me the favor and finish your question!"

Sorely tempted to bite his bottom lip-out of habit-but he didn't, because, well, he didn't want to risk Snape snapping even more at him, Harry shakily nodded, and finished asking the professor what he had been intended to ask.

"Could I...." Harry sighed, not really sure how to word his question, nor was he sure how Snape was going to respond. The man has so far been very short with him throughout the week, he had even heard Snape yelling at Lucy a few times as well, mostly about some kind of potion, that Harry had no clue what it was or why Snape wanted it. I don't see why he can't just brew another batch instead? On top of that, Harry wondered why he had been excited to help Snape brew today, Monday afternoon, earlier on at lunchtime when Snape had asked if he'd be interested in assisting him with whatever potion they had yet to brew.

"Well boy, spit it out!" Harry flinched again, both at the tone and being called 'boy.' That was way too close to home for him.

Swallowing thickly again, Harry nervously asked the potions master if he could be the one to brew the potion. Seeing the potions master's face, he took a few steps back, so that he was closer to the door, just in case. However, Snape's words surprised him.

"I suppose, since you managed to brew the last potion well, you can brew this potion, while I prepare most of the ingredients Pott...Mr Potter,"

Assuming Snape was finished, Harry was about to ask the professor what they would be brewing. Turns out Snape wasn't done talking and just before Harry could get one word out, Snape beat him to it.

Snape’s tone changed to a low, warning hiss. One that Harry knew was a threatening one and should you do anything that the potions master warned you not to do….you better run screaming for the hills, "however, should you mess this potion up.....I will not hold back with snapping that broom of yours."

Harry made to protest, but one look at the professor's face, told him to just keep his mouth shut for now....or at least not argue back, unless he had a death wish. He slowly nodded his head in dejection. "Yes sir. I...I understand, sir"

*****

"Good, now, we have wasted enough time standing here and talking....go wash up Potter and then come assist with collecting the ingredients for the potion and bring them over here to this bench." Snape instructed in a tone he usually used in his classroom, when teaching. He indicated with his pointer finger to the workbench they'd be brewing at. "As you can see, the equipment is already over at the workbench. I shall go and collect the nightshade and two strands of unicorn hair, while you go and collect the asphodel and lavender, which should be over there in my ingredients cupboard.” Harry followed Snape's finger to a familiar looking steel cupboard door in the back right corner of the lab, over by the sink.

He nodded, about to go over to the sink and wash his hands, but he stopped in his tracks, turned to look at the professor who was not in the place where they had been standing moments ago.

Searching for the potions master, it didn't take long to find the professor. Harry bit his lip, seeing Snape over by the opposite workbench, collecting the other two potions ingredients from the old steel shelf, that was lined with many different glass jars and containers, with many types of potions ingredients in. Eyes focused back on Snape's back, Harry wondered whether or not to di….

“Potter!”

As if reading his thoughts Snape had turned round, spotting Harry standing there, not doing anything.

Startled, Harry glanced up at Snape. Wishing the ground would open up and swallow him hole. Two years of having the professor, Harry knows that Snape hates it when students slack off in class and not do what they’re meant to do. He swallowed thickly, knowing Snape's going to most likely kick him out of the lab, after yelling at him….hell, he probably knows now how much of a disgusting freak I am and send me back….

“Ye-yes sir?”

“Have you….washed your hands yet?”

Tempted to lie, saying that he had indeed washed his hands-and he very well would have if it wasn't for the fact that Snape had told him one of the rules was not to lie-along with the fact that Snape was currently looking at him with narrowed eyes, instead, Harry averted his eyes to the potions lab floor. He slowly shook his head in the negative.

“No sir,” he instinctively took a couple of steps back away from the man, seeing Snape's tense stature. He flinched, hearing the man sigh.

Looking up at the potions master, Harry flinched at the look on Snape's face. He was about to re-avert his eyes back to the ground, however, Snape just told him to go and wash his hands.

Confused that he wasn't being yelled at like he normally would have been in a potions lesson or at ho-or at Privet Drive, Harry couldn't help but want to ask why he wasn't being yelled at.

“Sir,”

Snape, as he made his way over to the potions cupboard, interrupted. No doubt, barely holding in his temper, which Harry felt was also odd. Never stopped him before.

“I think we have wasted enough time talking Potter, when we could probably be finished brewing this potion by now.” Snape said in an even tone. Before silently, with his wand, opened his potions storage cupboard and disappeared inside for a moment or two and coming back out, with two glass containers. One containing lavender, while the other contained asphodel.

As the potions master made his way back over to the designated workbench, he continued. “Go and wash your hands Potter. Later, when we have started brewing, if you don't mess up the potion that is, you can ask your question.”

Harry did as he was told.

Half way through the potion with Harry currently stirring, clockwise, did Harry decide to break the long, slow passing silence.

“Sir, wha-what potion are we uh making right now?” he asked, recalling Snape had not yet told him the name of the potion.

The potions master unexpectedly snorted. Harry flinched.

“That is correct Pott…Mr Potter, I didn't yet tell you the potion we're currently brewing….I thought it would be better if you guess, and I shall tell you whether or not you are right.” Snape said

Harry frowned in confusion at that. How am I meant to know what potion we're brewing? He looked a the colour of the potion in the cauldron.

Oh.

“Are we….”

“Potter!” Snape interrupted, Harry flinched, reminded of his uncle.

Why's there a smell of….oh bloody hell!

“Move!” Snape yelled, startling Harry, who was turning to look at Snape, just as he felt himself being yanked back, away from the cauldron.

Confused and wondering why Snape had yanked him back by the collar of his t-shirt, Harry turned his head so he could see the cauldron just as the potion inside exploded in seconds.

With Snape covering him with his upper body, unknowingly making Harry feel uncomfortable at the touch and closeness, Harry frowned once more in confusion when he saw bits of the potion, stopping just a few meters away from them, mid-air, as if there was some sort of….

“A shield…one, protects from being covered in any exploding potion experiment. One that I had managed to invent years ago, as a Hogwarts student….sixth year. I haven't used it for quite a long time. The last time was during my second year of teaching, 1982.” Snape explained, as he removed the shield and stepped away from Harry.

Harry felt relieved the minute Snape stepped away from him. Gone was the uncomfortable, sickening feeling that had been bubbling inside his stomach, that had made him want to vomit, something he was sure would have happened if Snape had held him any longer.

“How'd you….” Harry started to ask, but paused when he saw the professor over on the other side, busy, inspecting the remains of the potion inside the cauldron. “Sir?” he started, after a few moments of silence.

Curious. Harry, made his way over as well, joining the professor when he didn't receive any response from the man.

As if sensing he was close, Snape slowly turned round, a glare on his face. His eyes narrowed at Harry.

Harry swallowed thickly, his heart hammering so fast against his cheat, that he was sure his heart was going to explode like the potion had done a few minutes ago.

In a low tone, barely above a whisper, Snape said, “you, Potter….” He was now fully facing Harry, “you stirred the cauldron too many times,”

‘You're a freak boy! Everything will always be your fault'

“Sir, did I….” Harry paused, unsure of what to ask. He felt bad, knowing he had been the one to cause the potion to explode. If only I had….

Harry was jerked out of his thoughts when he felt himself being grabbed by the arm in a vice-like grip. He swallowed thickly, fearfully glancing up at the professor. Snape's onyx eyes continued glaring at him. Too caught up in the pain on his arm where Snape was currently holding him, Harry didn't hear Snape angrily hissing words at him.

"I told....-ou Potter....-w many –mes to....potion and you....-dn't listen,"

He heard some words the professor hissed at him, enough to know what the professor was trying to say.

‘my fault, my fault, my f….'

Suddenly feeling himself roughly jerked back, Harry looked up at Snape, just in time to see Snape's hand coming his direction.

Instinctively flinching back, Harry made to raise his arms up to protect his face. “Please don't uncle, I didn't meant to. I'm sorry,” he apologized, thinking he was back with the Dursleys.

His uncle's hand didn't come, nor did his raised angry voice come either. For what felt like forever, Harry continued standing there, his arms raised in front of his face.

“Out!”

Snape's unexpected deadly, quiet tone came through to Harry, causing him to flinch. Heart still hammering against his chest, he slowly lowered his arms, away from his eyes, so he could get a better look at what was happening and possibly his surr…..

“Get out!”

This time, Harry wasted no time in turning around and running for the potions lab exit. He hurriedly yanked the door open, ran out and never looked back as he ran up the stone steps. If he did, he would have seen the professor's look of anguish.