The Differences Between Us

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CHAPTER 2: Snape's House

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Harry went flying past other fireplaces. He could tell Snape must live very far away judging by how many fireplaces he was passing. Finally when Harry was beginning to feel nauseous, he was jolted sideways, and stumbled out of a fireplace. He moved out of the fireplace and a few seconds later Snape appeared with a faint pop. Harry looked around the room. It was obviously a sitting room. But what Harry found a bit odd was that it was an exact replica of the Slytherin common room. Harry remembered when he and Ron had used Polyjuice Potion in second year and had gotten into the Slytherin common room.

Snape broke the silence by saying "Well Potter, I suppose I should show you your room.

All Harry could do was nod. Then as Snape was leaving, Harry snapped out of it and grabbed his trunk and followed Snape down a corridor.

They passed about two or three doors but Harry was more afraid of being alone with Snape in a dark corridor let alone in Snape's house!

Finally they stopped at the last door at the end of the corridor. Snape threw the door open in his usual fashion and walked in with Harry dragging his trunk behind him.

Harry looked around. It was a small room but larger than his room at the Dursley's. There was a four-poster bed with dark blood red sheets against the wall opposite of the door. Next to it was a chest of drawers. And to one side of the room there was a desk already supplied with a quill, ink, and parchment.

Harry turned around to look at Snape but was shocked to see he was already gone. So he grabbed his trunk and heaved it over to the chest of drawers and unpacked its contents into the various drawers.

This done, he walked over to the desk and decided to write to Ron. He hoped that the Dursley's hadn't caught Hedwig. Maybe he could ask Snape later, although he doubted that Snape would care. So he just sat down and began writing to Ron, with any luck Snape might just be human enough to let Harry use his owl. So he wrote:

Ron,

Believe it or not I am writing to you from Snape's house! He came to the Dursley's and said that I wasn't safe there so Dumbledore wants me to stay with Snape for the entire summer! I haven't been able to really talk to Snape about what's going on (although I'd never want to talk to Snape voluntarily) I just arrived so there's not much to say. If Hedwig is still at the Burrow, make sure she comes here. Talk to you soon, and pass this on to Hermione.

Harry

P.S. Aunt Petunia slugged Snape!

Harry smiled and rolled up the parchment and left to find Snape.

He walked back down the corridor and stopped at the first door. He Opened the door slightly to find a large library. There were titles like: Poisonous Potions and Their Potency" and "Dark Magic of the Middle Ages and How to Use It". Harry shut the door quickly and kept walking. He came to the second door. He knocked on it. No answer. So he opened the door and crept into the room. It looked like an office. There was a huge desk in the center of the room with an open ink bottle and what looked like a half finished letter. he looked around. No sign of Snape, so he leaned over and read the letter. It read:

Albus,

Got Potter over to my house safely. (damn) I still do not understand why he couldn't just come to Hogwarts or the Weasleys. Why on earth here of all places? If this is another one of your attempts to make me like the little-

That was all that was written. Harry looked around the room. Besides the desk, there were books shelves lining the walls. But these books didn't appear to be dark arts.

Then Harry noticed another door off the left of the desk. This door was open so he just stood in the doorway looking around.

This was obviously Snape's bedroom. There was almost nothing in the room just a bed across from the door in dark green, with the Slytherin emblem hanging on the stone wall above the bed.

Harry's eyes continued to move around the room until they fell on Snape, himself. Harry jumped but didn't make any noise. Snape had his back to Harry and was looking through yet another book shelf. Hermione should come spend the summer with Snape sometime. He also noted that Snape had changed into his normal black wizard robes. The same as Harry always saw him in at Hogwarts.

Harry decided that he should probably not bother a particularly angry Snape judging by the letter. Harry turned to go but "Something wanted Potter? Or are you just being nosy and looking into other peoples business...again?"

Harry turned to look at him. His back was still turned. Harry confirmed the thought that Snape had a sixth sense. "Professor. I was wondering if I could use your owl."

Snape turned to look a him. "Come on Potter!" he snapped then stormed out of the room with Harry following.

He led Harry back into the corridor and through the last door. It led to some stairs that Harry had to jog to keep up with Snape as they climbed the short stair case. When they finally reached the landing there was nothing there except for one door.

Snape opened it. It was about the size of a closet with nothing in it except for a perch in the center, with an owl feeder attached. There was a brown eagle owl sitting there looking at them. When Snape entered, it jumped onto his arm.

Harry handed his letter and a piece of string to Snape who tied it to the owl's leg and then turned and led Harry back onto the landing. There Snape pulled out his wand and pointed it up.

For the first time Harry noticed that there was a trap door above them. Snape mumbled something and in a split second a ladder appeared and the trap door opened to outside. The light made Harry squint as he climbed the ladder to join Snape outside.

Harry scrambled out to see Snape throwing to owl into the air. Harry looked around obviously Snape's house was under ground. There wasn't anything around them. The trap door appeared to be a tree stump from out side.

That would explain why it was so cold and why all of the walls were made of stone. Then Harry climbed back down the ladder. And was joined by Snape a few seconds later.

"Err... Professor," Harry said as they went back down the stairs, ''Thanks for letting me use your owl."

Snape just nodded curtly and sped up with his robes wiping out behind him, leaving Harry alone on the stairs. 'This is going to be a long summer' Harry thought as he slowly climbed down the rest of the stairs.

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