Apparating on the front walk of Snape manor, Severus took his time walking up the garden path to the front entrance of his manor, so that he could cool down before meeting with Lucy or checking on Harr...Potter.

Once his anger that was aimed at Potter's muggle uncle, vanished, Severus finally entered through the front doors and into the foyer. His stomach grumbled at the scent of Lucy's cooking, letting him know that it must be lunch, or nearing lunch. Either one, Severus decided to go search for his ward, remembering that they were meant to pick up his owl from Hagrid.

Before he could, Lucy popped into the foyer. Telling him that she has his lunch ready and waiting for him. Severus was about to protest, but the damned house elf, told him off in a similar fashion his cousin, Colleen has done many times before. Sighing, Severus told Lucy that he shall be in the dining room shortly. He didn't waste any time, unless he wanted to get on the elf's bad side, again.

After lunch, Severus, had been a bit disappointed the boy hadn't shown up. Then, recalling that the boy was meant to eat all three meals, Severus scowled, stood up, and went out into the foyer to search for his ward. How dare that blasted boy miss a meal, less than a month after Poppy and I had told him he wasn't supposed to skip any. Severus halted in the foyer, realizing he had absolutely no idea where the boy was.

With that in mind, Severus decided to call Lucy, which would save some time of having to look for the boy in the manor. He knew, without a doubt that it would be, like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Lucy apparated shortly to the foyer, just before him.

Severus wasted no time asking the elf where his ward was, he also asked her if Potter had eaten any lunch, she nodded, then she told him the boy was probably upstairs in the library, reading. Thanking the elf, then dismissing her, Severus headed up to the library to look for his ward. Finding the room empty, along with the balcony, Severus sighed, thinking of where the boy would most likely go. He decided to try the boy's....to try the guestroom.

The door to the guestroom was open, unfortunately Potter wasn't there, he turned round, deciding to check outside, however, he had barely made it a few steps from the room when his eyes widened, recalling the state of the room. Spinning on his heels, his black robes billowing, the stoic potions master retreated back to the guestroom, stopping in the doorway. His stomach dropped.

Not only was Potter not in the room, but also the boy's trunk and broom.

Calm down Severus, breathe, I'm certain the boy hasn't gotten far.

If he has, Potter better pray I don't get my hands on him. Blasted child, I'll…..Severus, focus.

Whipping out his wand, Severus casted the two different spells. The first was, “homenum revelio” which told him that the foolish boy was still inside the manor. Thank Merlin for that.

The next was, “point me, Harry Potter” his wand spun, coming to a halt when he was facing the direction of the staircase that would lead him downstairs to the foyer.

Hoping he could catch the blasted boy before he did something he would surely regret, the potions master sprinted in the direction his wand pointed and as he neared the stairs, the temptation to wring the boy's neck grew.

“When I catch my hands on that blasted boy, I will have him scrubbing cauldrons until his grandchildren have grandchildren!” Severus hissed out loud to himself.

Reaching the staircase, Severus began his descent. Pausing halfway down the steps when he spots his foolish ward.

"Stop right there, Mr Potter." He silkily said to the boy. Canceling the tracking spell and instead, he points his wand at the front door, and flicks his wrist. The front door slams shut, before the boy could even step a foot out the doorway.

Potter jumps, turns to look at him with fear. Severus holds back a snort. He should be scared. Of all the idiot things he could do...

Breathe Severus, breathe.

Severus called for Lucy, to return the boy's trunk back up to the guest room. Lucy, with a glance towards Potter with sympathy, nods her head when she looks back up at the potions master. Lucy asks Snape and Harry if they want anything, before she leaves with Potter's trunk. Potter shakes his head.

"No th...actually, Lucy, I would like a steaming mug of chamomile tea, please." Severus glanced over at Potter, before continuing. "And a hot chocolate. Dismissed" He told the elf,

Lucy nodded, taking Potter's trunk then disapparated away with a pop.

Severus, motioned his head towards his study. "Come, Pott...Mr Potter, we will have a serious discussion in my study." Then I shall discuss your punishment. Severus added to himself, as he placed a firm guiding hand on the back of the boy's shoulders. Leading him towards his study.

With Potter, sitting nervously down, while the potions master paced back and forth across his study to calm himself down while he thought about the right words to say and how to say it, Severus stopped, swirled on his heels and looked at the boy with a scowl.

"Explain yourself!" He snapped at the boy.

Potter flinched. Severus refused to feel guilty. The boy should have thought about the consequences before trying to leave the safety of the manor, where there's a killer on the loose. Severus continued his pacing, as he was reminded of the escaped convict from Azkaban, he couldn't believe, the most high security wizarding prison in the wizarding world had managed to lose a criminal, and not just any criminal, a dangerous criminal, one that was...Severus stopped his pacing again. This time he closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths in then breathed out. When that didn't work, he started counting back from one hundred.

'One hundred…ninety-nine …ninety-eight
….ninety-seven…ninety-six....'

"I don't....I don't understand sir," Potter finally said, after a long silence.

Severus opened his eyes, looked down at Potter, who sat fearfully on the edge of the sofa, his eyes kept darting to the door. Severus almost took pity on the boy. Almost.

"What? What don't you understand, Pott...Mr Potter?" Severus questioned, harshly, the scowl back in place. "I caught you planning to leave the manor. The safety of this manor, Pott...Mr Potter, after having a scare when I saw that you were not in your....in the guestroom, and neither were your belongings. Now, kindly tell me, what was going through that Gryffindor brain of yours when you decided to leave the manor, your home for the summer?"

"I thought that after...." Potter started, pausing shortly afterwards, a confused frown appearing on his face. The boy looked back up at him, his emerald eyes laced with confusion. "My....home for the summer?"

Severus held back from rolling his eyes. "Yes Pott...Mr Potter, your home for the summer, until the headmaster and I have found a suitable permanent guardian for you." Severus frowned, "I thought I had told you that before."

Potter nodded, after a moment or two.

"You uh...did sir, but I uh, after yesterday with the whole incident with the potion, I uh kind of," the boy averted his eyes back down to his lap. "I thought that..."

"You thought that I would kick you out." Severus finished for the boy, his tone changed to a soft one.

The boy, without looking up at Severus, slowly nodded. "Yes sir."

"Foolish, foolish, absolutely foolish boy!" Severus couldn't help but harshly say. He continued his pacing.

Potter's eyes followed his every move. No doubt, judging by the boy's look, he was wondering what he, Severus would say as his punishment, or do even.

Severus' lips thinned, knowing scrubbing cauldrons wouldn't really be a good punishment for this situation. He sighed, stopping in his pace. Lily, what do I do?

As if answering him, the potions master thought back to what his own uncle; uncle Des had done when he, being a little older than the boy, had tried to leave, thinking he wasn't wanted anymore, his uncle hadn't punished him, no, the man had reassured him, told him that he was still wanted and even though he made mistakes or had the Dark mark, he would always be wanted.

Severus glanced down at the boy, thinking back to what had happened yesterday down in the lab. He knew the boy deserved an apology from him. But that would be later. Right now, he needed to let the boy know that, no matter how many mistakes he made, he wasn't going to be kicked out or sent back to his relatives' home.

Hesitating, Severus sat down on the sofa, next to the boy. This caused the boy to startle, shortly the boy looked up at him. Back to wearing a confused frown on his face.

"Po....Har...."

Lucy shortly popped in with two steaming mugs, she placed them both on the coffee table in front of the wizards. The hot chocolate in front of the young master, and the chamomile tea in front of the older master. She received a thank you from both wizards. Nodding, she asked the masters if they wanted anything else. They both shook their heads, with Severus telling her no thanks, then dismissing her. She disapparated back out of the room, knowing her two masters needed to talk.

Severus gently told Potter that he could drink some hot chocolate. The boy hesitantly nodded, taking the mug from the coffee table, flinching, as if expecting to get hit. Severus felt sorely tempted to go back and torture the muggle some more. However, he did not. Instead, he continued with what he was going to say, using a gentle tone.

"I understand why you were leaving Harry, but that is not a good way to go about it. The world is a dangerous place out there, and you deciding to leave this manor, thinking I would kick you out, which I certainly wasn't,"

Harry couldn't help but frown. I had messed up. I had been a freak. He remembered the amount of times when he would always end up doing freaky stuff, his relatives would always end up threatening him that the next time he messes up and does something freaky, he'd be out on the street.

"But I messed up the potion, causing an explosion. Y-you were angry, so angry sir, I shoulda been...."

Snape interrupted, his tone firm, but gentle. "It was a mistake, Mr Potter....the potion exploding was a mistake. You didn't mean to cause an explosion, unlike your second year when you threw that Weasley firecracker into a cauldron,"

Holding back a gasp, Harry dropped his mouth in shock, and fear. I'm dead.

"How'd you..."

The potions master shook his head in the negative. "I have my ways." Snape said, then changed the conversation back to the one they had been having a moment ago. "Now, the way I had acted yesterday after the potion exploded, I....shouldn't have reacted like that towards you, I shouldn't have raised my hand, when I had told you that I wouldn't hit you, and for that I am....I am sorry Mr Potter, and I...."

*****

Harry sat there, shocked at hearing the potions master apologize. Then he was confused again. Sorry? Why was Snape sorry? It should be...

"Sir, why are you sorry? I should be the one apologizing, I exploded the potion. I,"

'I'm a freak, a burden.'

"Uncle Vernon said that freaks are always...."

The look that Snape gave him caused him to flinch. "Don't you even think about finishing that sentence, Pott...Mr Potter."

Harry, though confused, knew well enough not to cross that tone of Snape's. "Sorr-sorry sir" he just said, apologizing for the potion he had exploded yesterday. He took another sip of the hot chocolate, feeling comforted by the drink. From the corner of his eye, he saw Snape, sipping his tea, before looking at him and saying,

"Though I have already said, Mr Potter, that it was a mistake and that you do not need to apologize.... apology accepted,"

The two wizards continued sitting there for some time, drinking the drinks. It wasn't until Snape broke the silence, asking Harry about his nightmare last night. Harry put the mug back down on the coffee table and drew his knees up to his chest. He wrapped his arms tightly around his legs, and just stared unblinkingly at the opposite wall, shaking at the reminder of his previous dream.

He swallowed thickly, remembering how real his dream had felt. How real the image his uncle had felt, how real the punishments for being a freak had felt.

"Pott...Mr Pott...." He shook. The last time his uncle had called him Potter, that had been when.... "Harry," Snape's unexpected gentle tone called, relaxing Harry just a little. "Tell me about your nig.... your dream, Harry."

Harry shook his head, not wanting to talk about it. As he sat there, Harry remembered that Snape had said they could go and pick up Hedwig today. He turned, and looked at the man, unknowingly looking at him with pleading emerald eyes.

"Sir, you uh...you said that we could uh pick up my owl, Hedwig....today. Could we..."

Snape nodded,

Harry was about to jump up from the sofa, but the professor stopped him with a gentle hand. He flinched at the unexpected touch.

Confused, he looked at the man. "Sir?"

"We shall go pick up your Owl today Mr Potter, but not right now." Harry made to protest, but stopped short when the potions master shot him a warning glare. The man's face softened, "did your....did your relatives ever...."

Harry frowned, unsure of what the man was going to ask. Nervous, he drew his knees back up to his chest again and once again he had his arms tightly wrapped around his legs as he waited for the potions master to finish his question. Shaking at the thought of his dream.

"…..restrain you in that fashion, Pott...Mr Pott...Harry?" Snape finished asking,

Harry shook his head without hesitation.

"N-no sir, never."

Snape eyed him. "Are you sure?"

The young Gryffindor nodded, positive that his relatives never restrained him like what happened in that dream of his.

"Did they.... threaten to do that to you?"

Harry bit his lip. There was a very vague memory at the back of his mind, that he didn't know if it was true or not. But, while he had been finishing his chores. He remembered seeing his aunt and uncle watching some type of horror movie. Dudley was sleeping over at a friend's house.


He shuddered at the memory of the scene from the film he had seen them watch, while cleaning the dining table. He had trouble sleeping for a week after that one scene.



"No sir, they never threatened to do that to me." He told Snape.



Snape gave him a look. "Are you...."



The sound of someone flooing in at that moment, startled the two wizards on the sofa. Harry, seeing a strange man appear, flinched.

Beside him, Snape stood up, wand out in a flash, the professor was no longer anywhere near the sofa, no, he was now by the man that had entered. Harry saw that the professor had his wand pointing at the strange old man, who looked to be about McGonagall's age.

"Come now Severus, are ye really going to kill your own uncle?" The stranger asked in a tone that sounded hurt.

Harry looked at the stranger, that stood there smirking while Snape had his wand trained dangerously on him. Harry had never seen the man duel, the dueling club last year with Lockhart didn't count, but he was sure that Snape must be good at dueling if need be.

"If you are really my uncle," Harry heard Snape say in a silky tone. "Then tell me 'uncle,' what did my mother call you?"

The stranger smirked. "Looks like I have trained ye well, Severus. Eileen, used to call me Dessy. She couldn't pronounce my full name, Desmond."

Harry watched with uncertainty from his spot on the sofa as Snape slowly lowered his wand. Harry frowned, confused as to why the professor pulled the stranger, that says he's Snape's uncle, into an embrace.

"Uncle Des," Harry heard Snape say.

From his spot in the room, Harry could see the features on Snape's uncle and he did kind of look like the professor. Hooked nose, though smaller than Snape's, thin lips and a similar smirk. The only difference was the eyes, Snape's uncle had blue eyes, while Snape had onyx eyes. Snape's uncle, compared to Snape was paler in comparison and he had grey hair with ink black streaks, in a crew cut hair. He also had a beard.

"Severus, it's good to see you son. How are ye? Albus told me today what happened when I joined him for some hot chocolate."

Snape snorted.

"It's no wonder the two of you are such great friends, uncle....you're practically twins separated at birth."

Harry raised an eyebrow. So, Snape's uncle is good friends with Dumbledore?

A familiar hoot, caught Harry off guard. Confused, Harry looked around the room in the direction of the hoot. Snape had parted away from his uncle, and Harry saw her. Tears welled up again in his eyes.

"Hedwig!"

Severus, who had stepped back after hearing the hoot, which had caught him by surprise, just noticed that his uncle was carrying Potter's owl in her cage. He took a few steps back, folded his arms and raised an eyebrow at his uncle, just as Potter came over to them. Potter stopped short, and though he had stopped right in front of Severus, the potions master sensed his ward's fear.

He placed a calming hand atop of one of the boy's shoulders. Ignoring the flinch, he comfortingly squeezed the shoulder. "It is alright Mr Potter. This is my uncle Des, my cousin, Colleen's father. You remember, Colleen Beaumont, don't you Mr Potter?" Potter nodded his head after a moment's hesitation. "Good, then rest assured Mr Potter, my uncle will not hurt you...or your bird. And if he did, I would not allow him to come anywhere near you Mr Potter. Family or not." Severus explained, letting the boy know that he meant it. If any of his family members, whether that was his uncle, or Colleen or his cousins in Ireland, tried to hurt the boy, he would not hesitate to hex them into next week.

Severus felt the boy relax. "Now, why don't you bring your bird upstairs to your...to the guestroom Mr Potter." He told the boy, giving him a gentle push towards his snowy owl. Potter, glancing back at him, then glanced back at the owl still in her cage, nodded and went over to uncle Des, who greeted him with a warm smile.

"Afternoon Mr Potter, how are ye?" Uncle Des greeted in a soft tone.

Severus was just about to admonish the boy for being rude, but the boy quietly responded, " 'lo sir, thanks for uh, bringing Hedwig"

"No problem son...Hedwig's an amazing owl, ye know." Uncle Des said,

From where he was standing, Severus noticed the boy giving a small uncertain smile in response.

"I know sir" Potter said, giving a small nod.

Severus stood there for a minute or two, maybe more, listening to his uncle doing his best to talk to Potter. Eventually, the potions master, wanting to talk to his uncle in private, managed to convince the boy to take his bird up to the guestroom. Once the boy left the study, Severus turned to face his uncle again. He offered the older wizard a seat. When his uncle sat on the sofa, Severus joined him, ordering two mugs. Another chamomile tea for him, and a cup of coffee for his uncle.

Lucy arrived shortly with their drinks and then left after being dismissed by Severus, who then focused his attention on his uncle.

"So, uncle....how long will you be staying and what is your reason for this time?" Severus suspiciously questioned, though he loved his uncle deeply, and sure the man always visited him as often as he could, Severus knew his uncle never came without a good reason.

The potions master sat there listening to his uncle explaining why he came. By the end of his explanation, Severus was sorely tempted to floo right over to the headmaster's quarters and hex the man into next century for daring to tell his uncle his business. It was his life, not the headmaster's, and unfortunately, the man has yet to learn that.

*****

Nor did the headmaster know that he was a thirty three year old man, not a five year old boy that needed to be coddled every time something happens.

Severus sighed, he was glad that his uncle would be staying here for the week. It's been a long while since he brewed with his uncle. Perhaps they could find some time to do so.

The first half of the week went as well as can be.

For the first two days. Potter avoided Severus's uncle like a plague, but when he was in the same room as them, say the dining room for all three meals, the boy, instead of sitting in his usual seat at the dining table, sat closer to the potions master.

Tuesday evening, the boy had a nightmare, and Severus, this time, was able to bring the boy out of it. Severus, when Potter was calm enough, asked him what his nightmare had been about. The boy bit his bottom lip, hesitating, before shaking his head in the negative.

Severus noticed a flicker of fear in the boy's eyes. He turned to look in the direction of his gaze, only to see his uncle, coming to stand in the doorway.

"Severus, is everything fine."

The potions master nodded, knowing why his uncle had appeared. He was grateful the man was there, but this was not the time. So instead he gave a curt nod in response to the older wizard.

"Yes uncle, everything is fine...." He paused, glancing back at his ward before looking at his uncle again. "Pott...Harry just had a dream, is all. You may go back to bed uncle."

"Are ye sure, Severus?"

Severus nodded,

"Well okay, I'll see you in the morning." Uncle Des made to go back to the guestroom he was currently occupying for the week.

Severus about to turn back to focus his attention back on his ward, instead, he was interrupted again, by his uncle.

"Let me know if ye need anything Severus, won't ye?" Uncle Des asked,

Severus nodded, "yes uncle, but we really are fine."

The potions master turned back to look at his ward, taking a seat in the armchair as he did. He asked the boy again what his nightmare was about, after reassuring the boy that he was safe around uncle Des. Potter, with a shaky breath eventually told him a little bit about his nightmare, before closing in on himself. In return, like the many nights before, Severus told the boy another short story about Lily, during their time as students at Hogwarts.

Heavy rain continued to pour down from the sky, and with nothing to brew for now, Severus asked the boy if he wanted to play a game of chess right after breakfast. The boy, hesitantly nodded. Severus found himself giving the boy a small reassuring smile, then he turned to ask his uncle if he wanted to join them for a game of chess.

"You do remember who taught you to play, don't ye son?"

Severus smirked, responding to his uncle, with a nod. "Of course I do...I believe it was my colleague, Minerva McGonagall."

From two seats beside him, Severus heard a small gasp of surprise. Both older wizards turned to look at the boy who quickly ducked his head, apologising. Severus, without thinking, placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, squeezing it gently.

"You did nothing wrong Mr Potter, therefore you shouldn't be apologizing." He firmly said,

The boy blushed, before nodding. Then asked, "McGon...." At Severus's warning look, Potter corrected himself. "Sorry sir....but, uh, professor McGonagall taught you to uh, play chess?" The boy asked,

Severus' smirk returned, from seeing his uncle's look. Responding to his ward, he gave a curt nod. "You do remember the giant wizarding chess set she had transfigured back in your first year, don't you, Mr Potter?" Potter nodded, "then yes, of course she...."

"Give it a rest, will ye Severus." Uncle Des cut in. He then turned his blue eyes onto Potter who ended up flinching. Severus, with his traitorous hand that had remained on the boy's shoulder, he gave the same shoulder another reassuring squeeze. "It was I that taught him, as well as McGonagall, how to play chess."

Potter looked back and forth between both wizards with an uncertain look.

In the living room where they were playing chess. So far, it was Severus against his ward, Potter, while his uncle sat there watching the game.

“Uh, Knight to….hm, G5.” The boy instructed his chess piece.

The white knight was just about to move, but,

“No son not there…he'll take your knight if ye do that move.” Severus shot a mild glare at his uncle. This was...well he didn't know how many times it was, but it was certainly more than once, that his uncle had given the boy another helpful tip.

“Thanks sir” the boy said, giving a small smile to the old wizard.

“Sir? Who the hell….”

“Language uncle” Severus admonished, shooting him another glare. “Not in front of my ward.”

This received a shocked look from Potter, who soon looked as if he wanted to protest, but didn't. Along with that, Severus also received a glare back from his uncle.

“Shut up Severus. You've said worse than that around me.” The potions master rolled his eyes. Here we go again.

“Besides, I’m you're uncle. Not one of your students….or in this case, ward. Anyway, Harry here will be thirteen soon, I've heard kids his age say worse than that.”

Severus sighed, giving his uncle an incredulous look.

“Be that as it may uncle, I do not want to have to give…..my ward here a punishment after telling him that he's not to use such language.”

Des raised an eyebrow. Never once had he given any of his kids a punishment for bad language. He would just tell them off and that was it. “Punishment? What kind of punishment would you….”

It wasn't Severus that answered.

“Mouth washing, sir” the boy quietly said

“Mouth washing?” Des rolled his eyes knowing Severus had got that idea from Eileen, who had been rather tough on her son.

“Yes uncle, mouth washing.” Severus smirked looking at his uncle. “I am sure you remember the foul taste it gave when Grandmother Prince gave you a mouth washing after such foul language….”

Des glared at his nephew, knowing just what the young wizard was going to say.

“….in front of myself and my cousins when we were small children?”

The Potter boy looked stunned. He looked up at Des, “You got a mouth washing when you were an adult sir?”

Des sighed, nodding his head. his cheeks blushed red, that's his most embarrassing moment ever, after Potter's next question, though, he couldn't help but smirk back at his nephew who was giving him a warning glare.

“Yeah, I might've said fe…”

“I am sure you and Grandmother Prince's mouth washing recipe uncle, have much to catch up on. Wouldn't you agree?”

“What the….I mean, you…I….you can't give me a mouth washing Sev, I'm your uncle.”

“Then start acting like it. Now, can we get back to the game, these chess pieces are getting bored.” he motioned to the chess pieces who were fidgeting about on their current squares, huffing and well, getting a little impatient at not being told to do something.

By the end of the forth game, Severus scowled. Not able to believe he had managed to lose….four times in a row against his own ward.

Severus’ scowl disappeared, when he saw how happy the boy looked, and instead his lip twitched upwards. The boy has been improving with chess.

“Well done, Mr Potter. You have managed to do what none of my Slytherins have yet been able to do when they play a game of chess against me,”

The boy shot him a shocked look. Severus couldn't tell what the boy was shocked about.

“thank you sir,” the boy said giving him an uncertain smile.

Severus inclined his head.

“You play chess with your students?” Potter finally asked the question that had no doubt been playing in the boy's mind.

Severus nodded, "yes, and I have not yet played against anyone who has managed to beat me. You are the first...whether it was with the help of my uncle, your chess skills, I have noticed, have certainly improved."

The next day with two well rested young wizards who had taken a doze of dreamless sleep the night before, were in a good mood.

Severus, though he wanted to do something more productive, had a potion to brew, due to be delivered to a client of his by the end of the next day. So, Severus decided he was going to brew. Asking his uncle if he wanted to help, and not surprised the man said yes. A Prince by blood tended to be lovers of potions. Severus mused, before turning to ask his ward what he was going to do. Potter mentioned that he was going to go outside and draw.

The potions master had a thoughtful look on his face, before suggesting to the boy that he may join them down in his lab later on in the morning if he gets bored or if he gets lonely and wants someone to talk to, since they'll be down there most of the morning. He had said that there's a chaise lounge and a small side table where the boy could sit and draw or read or just relax if he wanted to.

Potter, nodded after a few moments of silence. Followed by, "Okay sir, I'll uh...think about it"

A few hours later, that's where all three wizards were. Severus and his uncle were brewing the requested potion while Potter was sitting in the chaise lounge at the far end of the potions lab, sketching, away from the bench Severus and his uncle were working at, just in case the two older wizards managed to cause the potion to explode.

Des, who had finished his part of the potion went over to see what his nephew's ward was sketching, and since this was his first time seeing the boy's drawings, he gasped in shock, never seen anything like it before.

"That is a really good sketch you've done of us, Harry" Des complimented,

The boy startled, looking up at him.

"Sir?"

"Call me Des, son. I am neither me nephew, nor am I your professor." He told the young Gryffindor. He had been meaning to tell the boy that earlier, but they had all been distracted with other things.

"Des?"

Des nodded, "yea, it's short for Desmond."

*****

Des stood there watching the boy finish the sketch. Still amazed at the talent the boy had, the older wizard asked if he could have a look.

"Uh....o-okay sir...I mean," Harry's cheeks blushed red.

Des shook his head, and like usually does with his grandkids, he automatically reached out and ruffled the boy's hair in a grandfatherly way.

"That's alright son, you'll get used to it." He gently told the boy,

Gently taking the offered sketch pad from the boy's hand and, using both his hands, he looked at the sketch the boy had obviously just done down here. He looked at all the details and work the boy had put into the sketch.

"Sev," he called to his nephew, who was carefully pouring the potion equally into several glass vials. "Did you see this ward of yours drawings....they're,"

"Yes, uncle I have, and I have to agree, they are rather good." Severus said, coming over, once he had stocked the vials of the potion into his potions cupboard.

Severus shortly joined them.

Des showed him the sketch when he noticed his nephew had stopped not too far from them. His nephew took the pad from him and studied the drawing.

"My uncle is right Mr Potter, this is a brilliant sketch of yours...like your other ones." Des watched the boy duck his head, blushing more.

"Thank you sirs" Harry nervously said. Sounding very much like a house elf.

Des was just about to remind the boy, but his nephew, who he noticed had winced, interrupted.

"Severus"

Des looked at his nephew, shooting him an encouraging smile. He glanced down at the boy still sitting on the chaise lounge, who had a confused frown.

“Sir?”

Severus awkwardly cleared his throat.

“Severus. Call me Severus….but only outside of class, otherwise I'll take points from Gryffindor and it'll be a detention added to that as well…Pott…Mr Pott…Harry,”

A small, uncertain smile appeared on Harry's face.

Des, was about to ask the boy something, noticing how well kept the sketch book was, but the boy spoke.

“Severus.” Harry tried the name out. He frowned. “Where does the name come from sir….Severus?” the boy asked, ducking his head, nervously,

Des noticed. He had yet to ask his nephew why he had the young orphaned Potter boy as his ward for the summer, Albus had virtually told him nothing. Just said that he should stay with his nephew for awhile, maybe see if he can help him out with anything. Since his sister died, back when Severus had been fourteen, or nearing fourteen, Des had, had his nephew in his custody up until he had finished Hogwarts and got a job, and having not seen his nephew for a while now, Des took up Albus' suggestion, but decided to just stay until the week ended, so as not to impose on his nephew.

When Albus had told him what Severus had told him during their last talk with each other, he had been shocked that Severus had nearly hit a child in his care, knowing full well that his nephew would rather Avada Kedavra himself than hurt a child. Another reason why he decided to take up Albus' suggestion and stay with his nephew for awhile. Perhaps he could convince the young wizard to wind down and relax.

“It is an ancient Roman name, meaning stern/severe. There were a few Roman emperors with the name Severus as their name. Septimus Severus, for instance or Severus Caracalla, were both Roman emperors.”

After some silence, Harry finally said, “it suits you, sir….I mean, Severus. Your name, it suits you. Every school needs at least one severe teacher who threatens to use students for potions.” the boy cheekily finished

Des snorted, having heard from his own grandson, Emmet, how strict Severus was when teaching. In fact, the man was strict even when not teaching. From what Emmet had told him, Severus is the only Hogwarts professor to give him and his friends more than one detention if caught by the young wizard dressed in black.

“Cheeky brat.” Severus lightheartedly said, a scowl on his face.

Harry ducked his head, expecting to be hit. The smile disappeared.

Des decided to ask the boy about his sketch book.

“Where'd you get it Harry?” Des said, as Severus handed the boy back his sketch pad, then went to clean up the potions equipment that they had used to brew. “It seems to be in very good condition. Is it new, by any chance or….”

The young Gryffindor shook his head.

“No sir, it's not new….it was a birthday present my cousin Dudley received two years ago….he didn't want it so aunt Petunia put it in the bin….I uh, well, when they had uh, all gone to get ready to go to the zoo, I saved it and hid it in my cupboard under the stairs,” Harry gasped, turning to look up at him and Severus with a look, that Des was certain was hope and fear.

“Your cupboard Mr Potter?” Severus asked, stopping what he was doing, the thirty-three year old wizard turned to look at Harry, who had averted his eyes to the ground at this point.

Des was also curious, but not knowing much about the boy's home life, he thought that maybe it was just a harmless thing…a play cupboard or something like that. But, from the look on his nephew's face, he gathered he was most likely wrong.

“This wouldn't happen to be the same cupboard under the stairs I had found you in, would it, Mr Potter?” Severus asked silkily,

Des knew that tone. His brother-in-law, Tobias Snape had used that same tone with Severus and Eileen, when he was in one of his abusive moods and would use it when he was suspicious of them. However, Severus tended to use it for catching people out, and finding out the answers he wanted/needed to find out.

“Yes sir, it was my uh room up until I got my Hogwarts letters, summer before first year.” Harry answered, falling into Severus' trap.

“Letters?” Des asked, frowning, confused. “I thought they only send one letter to every student.”

The boy shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, my relatives kept stopping me from opening mine, even going so far as to…”

“Go on” Severus pushed, joining them once more.

“-to-to locking me in Dudley's second bedroom for at least a day, while they-” Harry, revealed.

“They did what?!"

Both Des and Harry jumped in surprise when they heard Severus' unexpected raised voice. The two turned round in time to see the potions master stalking out the potions lab, banging the potions lab open with a flick of his wand.