It was late into the night when Harry woke up again, he knew that he had missed dinner, so he most likely won't be getting anything in the morning. So he decided to look around his new room. It was a bit bigger than Dudley's second bedroom, there was no bars on the window, no cat flap or locks on the door.
The bed he was in was soft and comfortable, the green blanket he was on was hand sewn and well worn, the white sheets and pillow case was also soft and well worn, there was an old radiator heater under the window, a wardrobe, that was in better shape than the broken one he had back at the Dursley's, an old desk in the corner opposite of the wardrobe and near the radiator.
A small bookcase was in front of the bed behind the desk. The books in it were paperbacks, muggle books. Some of the titles he recognized, others he was unfamiliar with, he was surprised to see Watership Down (do not own). He remembered watching it once in elementary but didn't check the book out of the library because Dudley would've destroyed it, so he read it at school whenever he could, usually during recess so that he could avoid Dudley and his friends.
The librarian was kind enough to let him read the books there, she knew he was smart, but couldn't understand why he was doing poorly in his classes, he wanted to tell her that he was made to be like that because he couldn't do better than his cousin.
He continued to do so even after he had gone to Hogwarts, he didn't want to be better than his cousin for fear of what would happen to him if he got better grades, even f it was in a magical school. But now that he didn't have to be dumber than Dudley, he could finally do his work as he wanted and may even be better than Hermione or right up there with her.
He was still tired but knew he shouldn't go outside of his room until it was time for breakfast, Snape didn't say when breakfast was, and he didn't know when he should go down, Breakfast for the Dursley's started at 6 because Vernon needed to be out the door at or by 7.
Or maybe Snape did and just doesn't remember. But he does remember how angry Snape had been yesterday, he also knew that he wasn't angry with him, but he still stayed out of his way. He hoped that he had calmed down.
So he got up and tiptoed over to the bookcase, he had forgotten to turn off the light so he was able to see the titles, he zeroed in on the Watership Down book and took it with him to read on the bed.
He opened the cover and saw a written note,
" Happy 13th Birthday Sev! Love, Lily. "
His mum had given Snape this book? And why did she call him 'Sev'?
Harry was then reminded of his aunt and Snape's interactions, they knew each other, from childhood it seemed, if Snape knew his aunt, he had to have known his mum. The times he and Snape argued about how he behaved came to mind, he always compared him to his dad, but he never brought up his mum, never insulted her. It was always his dad or godfather the most, he merely glared and snipped at Remus and Harry knew he loathed Pettigrew, was it because Pettigrew got Lily killed?
From this, Harry gathered that they had to have been friends, close enough at least to know each other's birthdays for sure, his friends knew his birthday, and he knew theirs. But how did his mum and Snape become friends?
The man Harry knows is bitter, cold, and strict. His mum was always smiling and seemed to just radiate warmth and kindness, Remus said she was unnaturally kind and saw a light in others they themselves couldn't see. At the time, Harry thought that he was talking about himself, what if he was talking about someone else? Like Snape?
But why hadn't Snape mentioned this before? Then again, the man made him look like a fool on the first day of class when he had actually looked forward to do learn potions, they had sounded very interesting, but Snape ruined it by acting like a Git.
But then he turned around and tried to save him! Either the man hated him, or he didn't. Another case of the man's contradicting emotions was just recently when he had been about to give him the lecture of his life when he saw Remus in werewolf form, he quickly forgot what had happened back at the shack and put himself between the werewolf and him, Ron, and Hermione.
Rather Gryffindor of him. Not to mention he actually took a hit from Remus, but he got back up to protect him and his friends. Harry wondered how he had gotten back to the castle. It must've been Snape who had brought him and Sirius back.
Harry snorted, his godfather mocked the man just minutes earlier and Snape brought him back to the castle instead of leaving him to his fate of the Dementors like he had wanted to see. It seemed that Snape wanted it done the right way instead of.
But there was still Dementors around, Snape had to have used a patronus charm to keep them away. And to do that you need a happy memory, what was Snape's happy memory?
Harry shook his head, what was the point in asking these questions? Snape's not going to answer them because it's him, but then again, maybe he would answer them.
Harry continued on to read the book, falling asleep halfway through, the book falling onto his chest.
---
Severus knocked on his old bedroom door, but got no response, he opened the door and found that at some point the boy had gotten up as he was now laying with a book on his chest, he had come in last night to tell him that dinner was ready but the boy did not move, he was too far deep in sleep, so Severus let him sleep, he clearly needed it.
He himself hardly slept if at all. The boy had been abused and neglected for years and no one knew. He should've known that he wouldn't be treated right by Petunia, but he didn't think she'd stoop so low as to turn the boy into a house elf! It's a wonder they hadn't had him hurting himself like a house elf.
And then there was the matter of the Dursley's keeping the boy only because of the money. What money indeed. Someone had been paying them to keep Harry, they had to be pretty rich, it would've taken a great sum of money for Petunia to keep the boy and not give him to an orphanage the second she found him on her doorstep.
And to keep paying her to house the boy. Now the money could've also had been for the boy's care, but they used it for themselves instead, but since Vernon's so called 'promotion' he found an excuse to get rid of boy.
The question was who. He suspected that he had to have been Albus. He really hoped that the old man didn't know about Potter's abuse and neglect. And now new questions rose up; how far did the abuse and neglect go? How long were they treating him like their personal slave?
His own father was cruel and abusive, whether he was drunk or sober, but he hadn't made Severus or his mother his own slaves. He hadn't even shoved Severus or his mother in a closet, he did throw Severus down the stairs into the cellar once, but he had forgotten about the window that Severus could squeeze through and the cellar doors, he enlarged the window since he was now grown and not a skinny kid or young teenager.
Coming closer, he saw that the boy was reading his old copy of Watership Down. Curious.
" Potter. " He gently shook the boy and he jolted awake, he looked around in a panic, Severus' heart twisted at the sight, it was too much like how he used to be, he watched as the boy calmed down once he realized where he was, at least he knows that he's safe.
" It's time for breakfast. Go wash up and come downstairs to the kitchen. "
" Yes sir. " He replied, slowly getting up, being careful with the book.
" I see you found your mother's birthday gift for me. "
" Yes sir, sorry. "
" Your allowed to read Potter. Though if you find a book refusing to budge, let it be, it's not meant for young minds. Most of the book's downstairs are like that. " He gestured to the door and followed after him once he got up and moved.
They were both soon seated at the small round table with plates of breakfast of eggs, toast, and bacon, with a glass of cold milk and coffee respectfully.
" Sir, " Harry began, waiting for Snape to look his way before continuing, " How did you know my mother? "
Snape paused in his eating and for a moment Harry thought he wouldn't answer him, like he thought he wouldn't then,
" Your mother and I met when we were 9. She didn't understand what she was doing was magic and your aunt called her a Freak. I stepped out of my hiding spot and defended her saying that she wasn't a Freak but a witch. Your mother mistook what I said until I showed her my magic and explained it better. "
" What was she doing? When you did that. "
Snape's lips twitched, " Swinging, she jumped out of them, but she floated down instead of falling, Petunia was mortified, but Lily did defend herself a little and showed her a dead flower that she brought back to life, Petunia smacked it out of her hand was what had me coming out from the bushes. "
" You told my mum about magic? " Harry guessed.
" Indeed. Your aunt believed me to be making her worse. "
" Sounds about right. So you two became friends then? "
" Almost instantly. "
" What happened? "
" What do you mean? "
" You know what I mean Professor, something happened to the two of you to not be friends anymore. I can understand a row and not speaking for a while, Ron and me have those sometimes, but I can't see my mum who Remus told me was kind stop being friends with you over an argument. "
" It was more than argument Potter. And you can thank your father and godfather for ruining our friendship. "
" Is that why you hate my dad and Sirius so much? "
" There are other reasons why I hate them. But that is for another time, finish your breakfast before it goes completely cold. Afterwards, you will do your homework, I suspect that your relatives wouldn't let you do any of it because of, other more important matters. "
" Are we going to talk about that while I'm here? "
" Yes, though if you are more comfortable writing it down, you may do that, but we still must discuss it verbally. "
" Yes sir. "
" Good. Now go do your homework, once you finish an assignment, bring it to me to go over. "
" Yes sir. " Harry went to take the dishes to the sink, but Snape stopped him, " Leave them Potter. "
" But..."
" You are a guest here, not a house elf. "
" Yes sir. " Harry reluctantly left the dishes on the table and went to go do his homework, like he's been wanting to.
When he brought it to Snape he thought that somehow he cheated and asked him to bring his homework down to the lounge and to redo the assignment again with him watching. He checked it again and found it to be right again.
" Where was this intelligence before? "
" Habit...I had to be dumber than Dudley. "
" Oh, for the love of...You were made to be dumber than your cousin?! What the hell is wrong with those muggles? "
" I've been asking that since the day I realized they weren't like the other muggles at elementary. "
" Alright, let's put this new found freedom to the test then. " Severus said, handing the parchment back to him.
" Yes sir! " Harry grinned, happy to finally being able to show that he can be smart and not a dunderhead.
The only subject that Harry didn't excel at, was potions and Snape knew it was mostly due to him.
" We will continue on this subject later. For now, it is time for lunch. " Severus said, standing up, Harry placed his parchment on the coffee table and followed after him, he was surprised to find the table already set with two bowls of steaming stew and spoons, he hadn't seen or heard anything in the kitchen, magic truly was a wonderous thing.
" Eat slow, I don't need you getting sick. "
" Yes sir...Sir, "
" Yes? "
" Thank you. For getting me away from there. "
" You're welcome. Now eat. "
" Yes sir...Sir? " Harry asked again.
" Yes? " Severus replied again.
" What did my uncle mean yesterday? About the money? "
" I'm uncertain of that myself. I was unaware of it until yesterday myself. "
" Who do you think was doing it?...It wasn't with my parent's money was it? "
" I do not know Potter. If it was with your parent's money, then you should be able to get it back as they hadn't used it for you. But if it was someone else they too would owe it to you because they had no right to do so. As you know, your legal guardian was in prison and is now currently on the run and in hiding, so he has no right to the money, he would have had nothing happened until you were of age...You were managing your school money, correct? "
" Still am sir. I thought that was all I had. "
" Hardly. That's pocket change compared to the wealth of your father. They had that set aside for your school years to spend however you wanted, whether it be for supplies, clothes, or sweets. "
" Then, if Sirius was unable to oversee the money, would Remus? He was my dad's friend too. "
" No. Being a werewolf gives him limited access to such funds, even with your parents' permission if Black would be unavailable or unable to care for you or oversee the Potter fortune. "
" What of my mum? Is there anyone she would trust if either Remus or Sirius couldn't oversee the money or me? Other than my aunt? "
" Your mother wouldn't have left you with Petunia, she didn't trust her with you. Outside your grandparents, the Longbottom's, the only other people I know her to trust after them would be either McGonagall or Albus. And I don't see McGonagall paying Petunia anything to keep you in that house. "
" I take it my head of house isn't fond of my relatives either? "
" No. But that leaves Albus. But I can't really see him doing this either. I'll have to have a word with him about this. "
" Your not going to tell him what you saw back at the Dursley's are you? "
" Do you want me to? "
" No. "
" Then I will not tell him of what I saw only that it has come to light that you are no longer safe there. "
" Thank you. "
" But you and I will be talking about what happened, starting tomorrow. Now there is a book in my study that should be able to help you understand your potions a bit better. "
---
The book Snape offered him had turned out to be his mum's old potions book, to which Harry was surprised to learn that his mother excelled in potions, she and Snape were top of the class. Charms was another one of her specialties.
Snape acquired it and several other items of his mum's because his aunt didn't want anything of hers and even some things that his grandparents owned that Petunia didn't want when they passed away, though there was a pocket watch she wanted from his grandfather, but he had given it to Severus, it had been his great grandfather's.
Severus asked if Harry wanted it, but Harry declined saying that his grandfather gave it to him because he wanted him to have it, therefore it was his.
Afterwards, Snape sent Harry off to bed. Once he was certain that the teen was asleep, he floo called Albus to get answers to both his and Harry's questions.