Harry Potter and the Misunderstanding

CHAPTER 5

"Wake up, Potter! I do not have all morning!"

Harry cracked one eye open.

A tall and darkly clothed man was shouting at him, his voice shaking with anger as he furiously shook Harry with each word.

"Didn't I tell you I have to go to work this morning? If you want breakfast, Potter, you'd better be downstairs inside of five minutes!" Snape let go of Harry and stormed out of the bedroom door. The staircase rattled as he headed downstairs.

Harry's heart eventually slowed down and he sat up in his twisted sheets, trying to collect his thoughts. Scenes from yesterday's journey still flashed before his eyes. It hit Harry in an oddly sharp way this morning that Dudley was not around to beat him to the bathroom anymore.

Snape had said five minutes, and he'd already wasted plenty. Grabbing his glasses off the bedside table, Harry slid off the edge of the bed, trying not to lose his grip on the slick sheets as his feet felt around for the floor. Who makes a bed this high? he thought. He scampered for the wardrobe where he'd stored his few clothes and dressed in the same trousers he'd worn the day before. Harry retrieved his shoes and fumbled with them for an awkward moment, stumbling into the wardrobe while trying to get them on. He bruised his hip on the corner of the chest of draws next to his bed. Harry gave one final yank on the left shoe before rushing downstairs with it flapping away on his heel.

Snape was sitting at the table, tensely eating a bowl of porridge. His eyes narrowed when he saw Harry come through the door.

"Couldn't you at least try to comb your hair?" he demanded.

"Yes, Sir." Harry said meekly, climbing onto the same chair he'd sat upon the night before. There was a glass of milk at his place, and he took a gulp.

"And that's another matter," Snape retorted, "I won't be getting you up every morning, and you won't be sleeping in 'til noon, either. I expect you to be dressed and at this table by eight."

"I'm sorry," Harry offered contritely, "I always woke up early at the Dursley's because I'd hear everyone coming downstairs."
Harry chanced a look at Snape. "Do you think I could have an alarm clock?" He asked timidly.

Dudley had had one. Although why, Harry couldn't imagine, because Dudley had never moved until Aunt Petunia lured him out with a strip of bacon. Dudley's alarm had been set to a pop music station too. Harry had always thought that it would be nice to wake up to that. Uncle Vernon's alarm was one of the old-fashioned kind that rang with a loud enough shrill to shatter glass.

Whatever Snape gave him would be fine though, just so long as it was loud enough to wake him.

Harry looked up at Snape and hoped that he had not come across as sounding demanding.

But Snape looked like he didn't know what to say.

"Yes, you can have a clock, Potter. I reckon you can't be expected to know it's time to get up." The man replied stiffly. "Just so long as you understand that I'm on a schedule and you will be, too." He added.

Just then, Noddy came in with Harry's porridge and set it in front of him.

"Eat quickly, now. I have to show you the lessons you'll be doing today, before I leave," said Snape.

Harry nodded and tucked into the food in front of him. It was no problem to hurry, he often had to eat fast in order to save his food from Dudley's appetite. Soon enough, the bowl was empty, as was his milk glass.

"I did not mean that you should stuff your face like a pig." Snape said. "Come."

Harry, his face burning, followed the man into the library. Once inside, he looked around in amazement. The room, which had been so dusty and forlorn the day before, was now, though still rather forlorn, no longer covered in a layer of dust. He would not get dirty sitting on the sofa now. The dark, heavy curtains were tied back too, although they were so high off the ground that Harry could only see blue sky beyond.