So Many Secrets.

Living With Snape

"This is your room," Snape says, opening a door.

It's a real bedroom. 

"If you would like, you may decorate it as long as there is nothing inappropriate. Your trunk and things are already here," he says. "You may either put away anything you would like to, or you may come out to the kitchen and get something to eat."

"What are my chores?" I ask quietly. Snape of all people isn't just going to give me a bedroom. I'm going to have things to do.

"We'll get to that after you've eaten something."

I look around. I don't have anything to put away.

"Should I make lunch?" I ask quietly.

"No."

"But I-"

"None of that, Harry," he says. "I am not going to treat you worse than a House Elf like your blasted relatives did, understand?" I nod. "Come. I'll make you lunch."

I follow him to the kitchen. He has me sit at a small, circle table. 

"You were never taught to read..." he says, probably to himself. "I'll get you a tutor unless you'd rather I teach you."

I shrug. "I don't want anyone new."

"Then I'll teach you for now." 

He sets a plate in front of me. "We'll go over rules now, chores when you're finished eating," he says. He flicks his wand, and a piece of parchment, a quill, and an inkpot come to him. "You are allowed to make rules. There will be rules for me as well as you. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"S...Severus," he says. "Now, rules for you; One, you will never purposefully endanger yourself or others. Two, you will do your schoolwork to the best of your ability. Three- Do you have a question?"

"What does two mean?" I ask quietly. I put my sandwich down, only halfway done, and I'm already finished this time. 

"It means you won't purposefully slack off. When you are sick, mentally unwell, or not in a class because a professor has taken you out of class, those are times when you do not have to do schoolwork."

"What if I'm with Dumbledore?"

"Well, that would fall into the mentally unwell category. Do not go to Dumbledore to get out of classes, Harry. The privilege can be taken away."

"Okay."

He's writing all of this down. "Three, you will never purposefully cause harm to yourself or others."

I look down at my thighs. Damn. Already breaking rules, because of course I am.

"Is something wrong with that rule?"

I shrug.

"Are you sure?"

"I-I broke it..."

He puts the quill down. "How?"

"I don't wanna tell you..."

"Look at me." I do. "Did you hurt someone else on purpose?" I shake my head. "Did you hurt someone else on accident?" I shake my head again. "Did you hurt yourself on accident?" I shake my head for the third time. "Did you hurt yourself on purpose?"

I don't answer.

"Where?"

I shake my head.

"Harry... I want to help. Where?"

"No."

"Harry-"

"No! No, it... I..." He raises an eyebrow. He knows. "M-My... thighs... maybe..."