A new beginning

Strange Events

Breakfast was a much more silent affair compared to a few days before. There was no spell learning this time. Instead, they were cooped in Snape's study.

Harry let his breath out in misery one more time, sliding down some more on the chair. The top of the book poked his forehead.

"One more sigh out of you Potter," said Snape, looking up from the parchment he was writing in, "and I will never allow you to read anything from my library again."

"I'm just tired." Harry closed and lowered the book.

"Sit up," ordered Snape, momentarily ignoring the child's comment. He briefly glanced at Potter. "There is no reason for you to be tired. You slept a good number of hours." Snape dipped his quill in the ink bottle. "Unless of course you did not obey me and failed to go to sleep the moment I instructed you."

"No. I did." Harry adjusted himself in the chair, fighting yet another sigh with all his might. "I mean I'm tired of reading."

"Must I remind you that you are the one that insisted on reading this morning?" Snape stared at the child.

"I know." Harry threw his head back a bit, letting some of the boredom he was feeling seep through the movement.

"Stop whining then," countered Snape, continuing to jot down some ideas he had for the following term.

"I am not whining," said Harry in what most definitely was not a whine. "I'm just tired."

"So you've said." Snape let out one short breath. It seemed he would not be able to continue planning the following year if he did not find something else for Potter to do.

"Because I am." Harry closed his eyes. He would take anything else. Do anything else.

And then Harry's ear was snatched in a tight pinch.

"I told you to sit up," said Snape, releasing Potter's ear. The child made a face, his own hand traveling to rub the sting out as he sat straight. "You may go find your school books and entertain yourself with your summer assignments instead if you cannot continue to read in silence."

"Why?" asked an astonished Harry, dropping his hands on the armrests. "It's still too soon to do them."

"It is not," corrected Snape. "Getting ahead on your work will mean that you will not have to scramble to complete it and produce mediocre results at the end of the break."

"But," argued Harry, as he extended his arm toward the book sitting on the side table. "I rather keep reading."

"Allow me to rephrase," said Snape, holding the book down with one hand. "You will go find your books and begin your summer assignments." A stern glare. "Now."

Harry stared at the black eyes. He wanted to argue some more, but something told him it was a battle not worth fighting. Instead, he stood up and headed in search of the books after a soft "Yes, sir."

...

Harry walked into the room Snape was letting, if not forcing, him to stay in. He allowed a pout to form on his face. He did not want to do homework. It was summer. His first summer without the Dursleys.

He sat down on the bed, dropping his body with a bit of a bounce and a sigh. Eyes scanning the desk, he found the pile of school books. Poking out of the cover of the top book, was the list of assignments he had to complete.

He had read it a few days ago. Most Items were not too complicated. And then there was Potions. Not only was the potion difficult, but the amount of work was ridiculous. A long reading, questions and an essay on the reading, a potion, and an essay on the potion. It was completely and absolutely mean.