Harry narrowed his eyes as he gnawed on the end of a pen. He had opted to use the muggle version instead of a quill after he kept spilling the inkpot over the lines he was supposed to be writing. He had tried to concentrate on his task at hand but out of the corner of his eye, one of the book's in Snape's vast library had distracted him from that task at hand and Harry Potter, the boy who loathed the subject of Potions found himself mesmerized by a book on potions. He jotted down a list of Potions he intended to actually research after he finished reading. So intent on what he was reading he didn't hear anyone open the door nor a voice calling out his name.

"That doesn't look like the lines, or the essay I assigned you Potter," a voice sneered.

Harry was so startled that he yelped, falling halfway out of the cushioned chair. He blinked owlishly and suddenly Snape was standing directly in front of him, one bushy eyebrow (seriously the man ought to do what Muggle women do and have the dahm thing waxed) was raised as he stared down at the teen. Harry sent his Potions Professor a glare as he struggled to right himself. He would be damned if he asked for help from the greasy git....though that name really wasn't holding up as Snape seemed to actually be washing his hair.

After a minute of watching the teen's struggles, Snape leaned forward and with a single hand pulled Harry safely back onto the seat. He wondered how the boy had managed to wedge his entire body, brace and all, on one chair, and observed that the boy sat sideways with his legs dangling. Why children insisted on sitting improperly on chairs, was beyond his understanding.

"Sorry sir, I got...distracted," Harry said, trying to tuck the book out of Snape's sight. But a bony hand snatched the book from his grasp and Snape blinked at the title.

"A Healer's Guide to Useful Potions?" he read and stared at Harry whose face was turning bright red. He looked away and mumbled something. "Potter, speak up!" Snape sneered, and Harry glared at him his embarrassment was plain.

"It sounded interesting sir." He growled. The older man sighed and dropped the book back onto Harry's lap.

"Next time, ask before you go rummageing through my personal belongings in other words Potter, speak up." Snape said, then he eyed Harry for a moment, an idea forming. He walked over to the book shelves and narrowed his eyes.

"Look, I'm sorry sir; I'll get right to the work you assigned right now." Harry said, moving to stand.

"Stay put Potter." Snape barked out, startling the teen into instantly obeying. Harry spent the next few minutes glaring daggers at Snape, but looked away as Snape returned with a rather large, old book in his hands. He walked over to Harry and held it out. Harry stared dumbly at it and then looked up at his Professor.

"Take it Potter it isn't like that infernal book Hagrid had you lot get your third year." He said, in a tone that set Harry's back straight. Harry glared at him and took the book from him. "I think you will find this more useful than that one that you discovered on your own Potter." He said.

Harry blinked, reading the title: Healer's Concepts. "Sir, I..." Harry began, but Snape silenced him with a look.

"You would do well not to argue with me Potter. It is obvious that you have other things on your mind besides revenge for your parents." He stated.

Harry growled. "I don't want to go after Voldemort because he killed my parents, despite what you so obviously feel you know. I want to stop him before he kills even more people. And reading things like these isn't going to help me." Harry said. He moved to set the book on the ground, but Snape grabbed his hand forcing him to continue to hold onto it.

"Have you forgotten I am your guardian Potter? Do you honestly think I am going to allow you to go on as you have these past five years?" He demanded. Harry stared at Snape completely dumbfounded.

"Gone on!?" Harry yelled, yanking at his hand but Snape merely tightened his grip.

"Yes gone on! You have year after year, foolishly endangered your life and for what reason? For that stupid Gryffindor Bravery! And I will not tolerate it any longer. You are not going to be running off into dangerous situations or I swear you will find yourself living with me in my rooms at Hogwarts! So that all of your little friends know who it is you spent and will continue to spend your summers with!" Snape threatened.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Fine whatever," he huffed. Snape could tell that the war was yet to be over with, but at least he had won the battle. He released Harry's hand as the teen muttered underneath his breath. "Why don't you go pester Draco, I haven't seen him lurking around in the shadows." Harry said bad-temperedly. Snape smirked.

"That's because he is in the basement cleaning out cauldrons." He said, turning and heading for the door. Harry blinked as his mind registered what Snape had said.

"Wait! What? Why is he doing that?" Harry called out over the top of his chair.

Snape paused sneering. "Because he was to busy practicing on how he intended to ‘woo' the ladies at Hogwarts, when he should have been keeping an eye on you." Snape said, his voice showing his disgust.

"Maybe you should take some lessons then." Harry said to himself.

"What was that Potter?" Snape called out, and Harry swore quietly.

"Nothing sir, I said thank you for the book." He said hastily and breathed a sigh of relief as he heard the door open and then close. Once he peered around the chair to make sure that Snape had indeed left he began to flip through the book.

"What's the git thinking, I would be better off with a book on Dar...." Harry began but soon he had lost himself in reading. What healers could do was nothing short of amazing. He was so completely lost in reading again that he didn't notice the time pass or a very tired looking Draco stumble into the room, collapsing on the couch. The blonde watched as Harry hungrily read the book, barely even a third of the way through.

"If you ever sneak out again, I'm going to kill you and bury your body in Snape's herb garden." Draco declared, but all he received from Harry was a grunt. Rolling his eyes Draco glanced around the room sneering at the books, trust Potter to actually be a book worm.

"I presume the cauldrons are sparkling clean Mr. Malfoy." Snape demanded, as he strode into the room walking over to the desk that sat in the corner of the room.

"Yes." Draco replied, his voice dripping with venom. Snape paused and turned to look at Draco who glared at him.

"That doesn't look like what HE is supposed to be doing." Draco bravely said. Snape raised an eyebrow.

"He, at least, isn't making trouble." Snape pointed out, folding his arms to survey his godson. He still needed to find the proper outlet for this teen; at least Potter seemed to have solved the problem on his own. Draco grumbled and pouted, as Harry looked up from the book, finally realizing he wasn't alone.

"When did you..." Harry said blinking at the two as felt his cheeks go hot.

Snape smirked at him, obviously amused. "I take it that you are finding the book useful Potter?" he questioned. Harry glared at him.

"Better than staring at a book on Potions," he sneered. He wasn't about to admit that he hadn't wanted to stop reading, nor that he had memorized the page he stopped at so he could go back to it when he was alone again. Snape shook his head and walked over to Harry plucking the potions book that Harry had originally been reading.

"Interesting considering when I came in here early, you were actually reading this one." Snape said looking at the book then lowered his eyes to meet Harry's. Best to deal with this problem before it became too large. "There are other things you can do besides be used as weapon Harry. Are you going to stand on your own...or let your godfather's death be in vain?" He asked, setting the book by Harry's chair, noting how pale he had gotten. Harry took a couple of deep breaths, struggling to control his emotions. Snape and Draco were not the people to break down in front of, not anymore than he had already done so. Snape watched Harry with narrowed eyes, the idiot boy wasn't going to cooperate it seemed. Well two could play that game.

"You do realize that he is not going to come back, even when you defeat the Dark Lord. And he would also not want you to rush into anything, or even put yourself in harms way. He died protecting you, and you should pay mind to what it was that he protected. Your life, P-Harry, so you should guard it as well." Snape said and watched as the book thudded to the ground from Harry's loose fingers. The teen's shoulders were shaking and he glared at Snape, though his eyes begged Snape to leave it be. Snape shook his head.

"You are going to have to come to terms with this before you return to Hogwarts..." he began and watched as Harry's shuddering increased. "However we will discuss it at a later date." He finished leaving Harry looking relieved. Snape bent forward retrieving the book and placing it gently on Harry's stomach meeting the teen's eyes. "We all have things that leave scars, that are not visible to any but ourselves, but it is how we overcome them that makes us who we are." He said, then he turned and walked over to Draco grabbing the teen by the arm.

"Hey, what the hell! I didn't do anything!" Draco yelled. Snape grabbed him by his ear.

"You gave me cheek, and for that I think I have a nice bowl of Newt's eyes that need to be peeled." Snape said, dragging the blonde from the room. He didn't need the two teens to jump at each other's throats the minute he left the room, and with Draco's current mood that would be exactly what they would do.

Harry closed his eyes and concentrated on calming down. What the hell was the matter with Snape? It was one thing for him to take guardianship; he could understand that, Snape wanted to make his life miserable. But why was he insisting on talking about...Harry's breath hitched and he closed his eyes tightly. He was not going to break down. He had already dealt with the fact that...Harry felt tears slide down his cheeks he rubbed at them angrily, this was not happening! He thought angrily and took a deep calming breath. After several more he was able to open his eyes. He was calm again, suppressing the dull ache that thinking about Sirius brought on. He hated Snape...[what? What's snape's fault] was all the git's fault. Harry decided to open the book again, muttering under his breath. He sighed and closed it, he was restless. He set the book on the ground by the potions book and grabbed the crutches he had placed under the chair. Hoisting himself up he stood blinking trying to figure out what he could possibly do without Snape getting on his arse about getting into what he deemed "trouble". He blinked as he felt his forehead begin to throb. Reaching up he rubbed at his scar then his eyes widened.

"Sna--!" he began, right before he blacked out-the pain taking over his mind...

"How good to see you Mr. Potter." A snake like voice hissed. Harry opened his eyes to find himself staring at the dark lord himself.

"Oh shiiit..." Harry said and silently vowed he would learn Occlumency if it killed him.