Snape frowned. What was that for? The brat's expression was almost friendly. How could this urchin feel anything for Snape but dread and loathing?
"Potter, we need to talk about your future," he announced sternly.
Harry felt his stomach lurch. He trusted Snape that he wouldn't have to return to the Dursleys, but then where would he go? An orphanage? Could he still attend Hogwarts and just return to the orphanage during hols? He bit his lip anxiously.
Snape frowned in thought as he sat down opposite the brat. He had had a brilliant idea after talking to the Weasleys. If Harry objected to Snape's nomination as his guardian, surely Dumbledore wouldn't insist. The old coot seemed genuinely distraught at the boy's past treatment, so if Harry threw a fit at the notion of Severus being his guardian, the Headmaster couldn't possibly force yet another hated adult upon the boy.
So all Severus had to do was to present the plan to Potter, wait for the brat to start screaming, and then summon Albus. Snape could hardly be blamed if the young Gryffindor didn't want the Greasy Git to be his guardian, and Albus would just have to reopen his search for an appropriate parent. He nearly smirked. Perhaps the Headmaster would pick on Minerva. He could just see the old witch's expression the first time Potter hid under the bed. Or maybe Dumbledore would take the boy on himself? But no, Severus remembered with more than a hint of gratification, Harry had made it abundantly clear he didn't trust the Headmaster.
"Potter, as I said before, you will not be returning to your Muggle relatives," Snape began, passing the boy the biscuits. Might as well start off slow and easy and let Dumbledore see that he had tried to ingratiate himself. It wasn't his fault if Harry was a Gryffindor through and through and would never accept a Slytherin's supervision.
"Thank you, sir!" From the joy in the boy's eyes, Severus assumed he wasn't merely expressing appreciation for the food.
"Their treatment of you was unacceptable, and тАУ" The brat started to speak but then obviously thought better of it. Snape sighed. This timidity would get old very quickly. Not that he wanted the boy to inherit his father's arrogant ways, but to see a Potter cringe was strangely upsetting. "What is it, Potter? Ask your question."
"Well, I was just wondering what it was that they did that was wrong. Not that I want to go back!" he added hastily. "ButтАж why am I being taken away now? Was it because of the letter?"
Snape frowned. "What letter?"
"The Hogwarts letter. Was it because they wouldn't let me answer it? Is interfering with the owl mail a really bad thing?"
Snape frowned at the boy's innocence. This was rather alarming. What was next? Excuse me, sir, but how do you know Death Eaters are evil? I mean, they don't actually wear signs that say so. Are we sure they mean to kill me? Maybe I should strike up a conversation with them when we meet, rather than put up a shield, just to be sure. Potter would have the life expectancy of a housefly if someone didn't teach him some simple facts of life.
"No, you absurd child. What they did wrong was to beat you and starve you and call you names and lie to you. They are disgusting, evil creatures who took out their own inadequacies on an innocent and helpless child."
Harry blinked. "ButтАж"
"What?" This half-starting a comment then biting it back would drive Snape mad. Good thing he wouldn't be dealing with the brat much longer.
"But they've been doing all that for forever!" Harry burst out. "So why didn't I get taken away sooner?"
Ah. Maybe he wasn't such an idiot after all. Severus considered. What should he say? He did feel a loyalty to Dumbledore, and he knew that Potter's mistrust hurt the old man deeply. On the other hand, he found it hard to believe that the ancient wizard's decision to place Potter with the Dursleys had been quite as innocent an error as it appeared. What if Dumbledore had known exactly what kind of home life Potter would have and yet still went ahead and placed him there for reasons of his own? If Snape knew one thing from his spying activities, it was that Dumbledore would put people in harm's way if he felt it was for the greater good. If he were convinced that having Harry grow up in an abusive, unloving home would make him a better weapon against Voldemort, would Albus have hesitated? Snape honestly didn't know.
In the end, he said the only thing he knew to be true. "As soon as I learned of your situation, Potter, I took steps to end it."
Harry's eyes widened, and then he nodded. There was a look in his eye that Severus didn't recognize, but he dismissed it as unimportant and continued.
"As I have said, you will not be returning to the Muggles. However, you are obviously too young to be on your own, so a new home and guardian must be found for you."
"Could I go live with Ron?" Harry asked, then quickly clapped his hand over his mouth. He knew better than to interrupt.
Snape ignored the gesture. "I have already spoken with Mr Weasley's parents. They have invited us to dinner tomorrow to discuss your spending some time with them every holiday." Harry's eyes were shining with delight. "I would suggest you not speak of this to your schoolmates yet, as it is not settled. You must first meet Mr and Mrs Weasley and see how you get along."
"Yes, sir."
"But even if all goes well, the Weasleys will not be adopting you." Snape felt a twinge as he watched Harry's face crumple. He was oddly compelled to explain quickly, almost as if he cared about the boy's distress, but that could hardly be the case. After all, he was the horrible, nasty, Death Eating Potion Master. He didn't care if a student was in tears. But he still went on rapidly. "The Weasleys have a large family and are happy to extend it to encompass you. But you require more than a seat at a dinner table. You also need a family of your own. One that will not be distracted by the competing needs of other children. So you will have a guardian who will be focused on you, and you will also have the opportunity to spend time in a family setting with the Weasleys. Do you understand?"
Harry's sadness had magically evaporated. "You mean I get two families?"
Snape considered. "I suppose you could phrase it that way."
"Wow!"
"Yes, wellтАж" Snape cleared his throat. "With regards to who your guardian will be тАУ" Here it came. He mentally prepared himself for the tantrum and made sure the floo powder was handy. He would need to contact Dumbledore while the brat was in full hysterics.
"Could it be you?" Harry's voice was so soft Snape wasn't sure he had really spoken.
"What!"
Harry ducked his head. Stupid! He was so stupid! How could he have just blurted it out? He should have known better than to ask something like that. Now Professor Snape would be furious with him. Why would someone like Snape want a freak like Harry? It wasn't like Harry was a member of his House, even. He was just one of the professor's Potions students, along with practically every other kid at Hogwarts.
Harry peeked through his fringe and hurriedly dropped his gaze. Oh yeah, Snape was mad all right. He had that wide eyed, maniacal expression that he'd had just before he'd clouted Harry last time. Harry surreptitiously curled his fingers around his seat cushion, hoping that it would help to anchor him if he got hit again.
"What did you say?"
Harry gulped. "I'm sorry. It was really rude of me to ask that."
"What did you say?"
"I asked if you could be my guardian," Harry said in the lowest voice he could manage and braced himself. He stared at the floor, preferring to be surprised by the blow rather than have to see the look of revulsion he was certain the professor wore.