Searching My Soul

Searching My Soul by snapesgirl1981 Chapter 3 Several hours later Harry still sat on his bed trying to ignore his belly's rumbling and resist to go downstairs and have some dinner. He was awfully hungry and felt like he could have wolfed down a huge pot of the deliciously smelling stew which waited in the kitchen for him. Tonks had been upstairs and informed him that she had cooked and if he wanted to he could come downstairs to have lunch with the three other inhabitants but the sheer thought of having to face Snape after their encounter during the morning brought an intense feeling of unease. So far he was no longer sure if he had imagined things with the potions Master and if he had not misinterpreted events. The possibility that he had been seen by Snape and that the man had made out his shape behind glass over at least 10 feet distance was minimal. Maybe his guilty consciousness had played a trick on him? After another second Harry got up and marched to the door peering out into the deserted corridor and deciding that it was safe to go downstairs. Maybepe hpe had left to wherever he had to go and maybe he could talk with Lupin or Tonks about Voldemort at last. Inhaling deeply the boy stepped down the stairs into the darkened hallway and one look into the kitchen proved that it was currently empty. Relieved Harry stepped inside and looked around trying to find the pot with the stew but for the life of him he couldn't. Peering inside some cupboards informed him where the glasses and plates were stored but the stew was nowhere to be seen. Being momentarily frustrated he banged his fist against one of the cupboards rattling whatever was inside there. "Potter!" The sharp voice of Snape made him spin around and instantly he was faced with the sour face of the potions Master standing inside the door frame. "What are you trying to accomplish with destroying the furniture? If we were in Hogwarts I wouldn't hesitate to deduct points for this foolish behaviour but as we are not I am forco leo let you demolish your godfather's house. Still I am curious as to what has raised your temper this time." His eyes were cold and filled with malice. For a second Harry wanted to rise to the occasion and continue the started fight but instead he sighed and slunk down into a wooden chair. "Hunger." Snape sneered. "Have you tried to eat something or is your brain currently on holidays?" "I wanted to but I couldn't find the stew Tonks told me about." Harry stared at the table anticipating another harsh remark but was surprised when he heard Snape sigh. Looking up he found the man conjuring up a pan, some eggs and potatoes and to his astonishment Snape began to heat the stove. "Sir, what are you doing?" Harry wasn't even trying to hide his wonder. At a wave of Snape's wand the potatoes began to peel themselves and he turned around staring into the boys disbelieving eyes. "What does it look like, Potter? Like I am brewing Veritaserum? I am preparing some dinner since Lupin finished the stew an hour ago." He leaned against the cupboard and for the first time Harry noticed that his teacher wasn't wearing any robes but black pants and a black shirt. Somehow this unusual attire combined with the fact that the man who usually insulted him with glee was instead preparing dinner for him made Harry speechless. Snape shook his head. "What is your problem Potter? You are currently behaving like an infant unable to speak. You don't like fried potatoes and eggs?" Harry shook his head as well and gulped. "I do." For the life of him he couldn't avert his eyes from the enticing way in which Snape's long graceful fingers gripped his wand. He barely held back the groan that wanted to escape his mouth and was glad that his almost knee-long t-shirt covered his erection completely. Silently he cursed his raging hormones that gave him the second erection in one day- that was if you didn't count the night. Snape raised one brow but didn't say another word, instead he turned around and with another wave the potatoes sliced themselves and fell into the pan to fry there. After ten minutes that felt like an eternity he was apparently finished and handed Harry a plate which smelled deliciously. "Thank you, Sir," Harry said and instantly n ton to stuff his mouth with the food. Snape stared at him for a second and then slowly sat down across from him at the table. "Why do you stuff your face like this, Potter? Didn't your family teach you any manners?" he said but it somehow lacked the common malice. Harry looked up and blushed slightly. "I am hungry," he said quietly staring at his hand which gripped the fork tightly. "You already said that but quite frankly you eat like you starved for three months." Still staring at his skinny knees Harry sighed softly. "More like four weeks." "Pardon me?" Snape leaned forward slightly over the table. "I couldn't make out your mumbling. Really, one would think that the hero of the wizarding world had better manners. Your family probably felt like you are too divine to be bothered with simple manners." Harry shrugged. "Or maybe they simply didn't care enough?" He placed his fork next to his plate and looked up into his teacher's blank eyes. "I don't think you understand how living with the Dursleys can be?" Snape shrugged as well carelessly. "I am sure it is bearable." "They are muggles and the sort who don't even want to acknowledge that magic exists. For them I am a reminder of my mother's failure, she is the only witch in the family. I can assure you that they never cared about whether I defeated Voldemort or that I am famous in the magic world. Until two years ago I slept under the stairs in a cupboard and I am only getting things second-hand from my cousin Dudley." Harry inhaled deeply silently wondering why he was telling Snape all that. He surely wasn't interested but somehow he felt that the man held a misconception of his life in the muggle world. "You are right it is bearable, but only because I know I can return to Hogwarts each year after the summer." The silence was almost deafening until Snape leaned back against his chair. "Does the headmaster know about the way in which the Dursleys treat you?" Harry nodded glumly. "Yes he does but I have to return there once a year to be protected." Snape nodded shortly. "I know. It is your mother's blood that is protecting you." He held Harry's defiant gaze for a while until he stood up abruptly. "I think I rather retire for the night." His back was rigid as usual but something in his demeanour had changed. Harry stared at his hands feeling a sense of loss when Snape retreated into the hallway and wondering about that. All in a sudden he jumped up and quickly stepped to the door. "Professor?" Snape stopped and slowly turned around raising one brow. "What's wrong Potter?" Harry had his hands deep in the pockets of his much too large jeans making him look even skinnier than usual. "Good night, Sir." The expression in the man's face didn't change and his position was still very stiff but he visibly relaxed and a short smile appeared on his features. "Good night Potter. And don't forget to be quiet when you go upstairs, Tonks and Lupin are already sleeping." Harry nodded and smiled. "I will, Sir. And thank your for dinner, it was very much appreciated." For a moment Snape paused and then nodded slowly. "You are welcome Potter." With that he turned around and moved up the stairs into the darkness. Thank you so much for your encouraging words and I am so glad that people actually like this. Don't expect pure porn here because this story has a plot and I plan to move slowly with the two. I hope Snape and Harry are in character and you enjoy the story. Please review and tell me what you think.