Harry Potter and the slytherin Prince

Harry feels his feet hit the floor and if Snape hadn't been holding his arm tightly he would have fallen over. Looking around at his new surroundings he sees a large dark coloured house in front of him with a black tiled roof with 5 large chimneys raising high into the sky. The garden surrounding them was wild and Harry could make out a very tall wall covered in ivy around the perimeter. Snape sets off walking up a gravel pathway, hovering Harry's trunk in front of him, up to the large oak front door. Harry picks up Hedwig's cage and follows him. There is no handle on the door except a large snake motif knocker which Snape taps with his wand muttering 'Detention' which causes the large door to swing open. The hall is dark and lit by candles burning in holders along the walls and runs from the front door of the house to another door Harry assumes leads out into the back garden. On the right hand side is a large fireplace set in an alcove in the wall over which is a large black wooden beam with a snake decoration, this sits directly at the bottom of the stairs. Snape seemingly oblivious to Harry's look of disgust at more snake motifs over one of the five doors that lead off the hallway, hovers Harry's trunk in front of him and heads up the stairs.

'Follow me.' He says curtly.

Harry slowly follows Snape up the stairs glancing around him trying to take all of the decoration in. Snape leads him down a corridor that runs across the front of the house that is lit only by whatever light can be let inside by 4 very small windows. Harry suppresses a shudder at the thought that light isn't welcome in this house. Harry catches a glimpse of the front garden they apparated into and realises he cannot see beyond the wall as large trees block the view. At the end of the corridor Snape opens a door and leads Harry inside. Inside there are two fireplaces, which Snape lights, a double bed in the centre of the room and some wardrobes, the room has bigger windows then the hallway Harry is relieved to see, but the view is still of a wild garden and an imposing wall.

'You will be sleeping in here.' States Snape.

The bed linen is green and the room is white washed with oak beams running through the ceiling. Harry slowly looks at the bookshelves, which contain a few books on dark arts a few very old story books. Harry assumes this was Snapes room when he was younger.

'Bathroom is down the corridor. I will leave you to get settled. Dinner will be ready in half an hour.'

Snape goes to leave

'Where are we?' Harry asks timidly.

Snape smiles 'My home.' He enjoyed the shocked look on Harry's face as he stalks out shutting the door behind him. Harry sits down on his new bed and lies back. Never in his wild imaginings did he ever expect to find himself inside Snapes house let alone been allocated a room to sleep in.

Half an hour later, Harry makes his way back down the stairs and sees Snape sitting at a table through a door in front of him. Snape looks up.

'You got rid of the yellow fur.' This causes Harry to roll his eyes.

'Leo was tired.'

He goes in and sits down. Snape goes back to reading his copy of the Daily Prophet ignoring Harry, whilst turning a page. This gives Harry a chance to look around this was another large fireplace with cabinets set in alcoves either side with potion bottles in.

Typical, thought Harry, but he is the potions master i suppose.

There was the dinning table with 10 chairs surrounding it again with snake decoration.

I'm living with the Slytherin Head of House what did I expect his decoration to be, Kittens, thought Harry.

Harry sighs causing Snape to look up from his paper.

'There is a piece in here about you. Would you like me to cut it out for your scrap book?' Snape asks acidly

'Didn't realise you cared so much.' Harry retorted. This causes Snapes lip to curl as he adds.

'I wouldn't want you to fall behind with you press releases. Or are there too many and your scrap book is already full?'

'Jealous?' From the look Snape gives Harry, he realises he was right on target and smiles. 'I'm sure if you actually did anything other then terrorise students you might actually earn that Order of Merlin you so dearly want.' Harry says referring to when in third year Snapes opportunity of getting this medal was snatched away as Harry helped Sirius to escape. Snapes expression turns dark. Luckily the door to the dinning room swings open more and a house-elf comes in, stopping when it sees Harry. Snape turns his glare from Harry to the unfortunate house-elf who cowers under it.

'This is master Harry. He will be here for a while. You will obey him.'

The house-elf nods, its ears flapping and puts the tray of food it was carrying on the table.

'Semut go get another tray for Master Harry.' The house-elf bows and leaves quickly. Snape picks up a plate off the tray already put on the table and starts eating. The house-elf soon returns and puts an identical meal in front of Harry and backs away carefully watching Harry with its large bulbous eyes.

'Thanks' Harry says. Snape sneers but doesn't comment. The house-elf looks shocked but quickly leaves.

Harry picks up his fork as he stomach grumbles remembering he hadn't eaten any proper food since he left Hogwarts a month ago. There was chicken, new potatoes and runner beans on his plate. After a few minutes of eating he looks at Snape and clears his throat. Snape looks up at him.

'Something you want Potter?'

'Why here?' Harry asks confused

'I could not stand to see the-boy-who-lived beaten up by mere muggles. Pathetic really that you could not defend yourself.' Snape comments

'You could of taken me to Grimmald Place.'

'No I could not. Dumbledore wanted to leave you with your aunt and uncle.'

'He wanted to leave me with them. Even after this.' Harry is shocked.

'Apparently it isn't safe to remove you from there.' Snape appears confused.

Harry mumbles something under his breath. Snape eyes him curiously. He can tell Harry is hiding something.

'Isn't save to leave me with them either is it?' Harry comments.

Harry pushes his food around on his plate with his fork, his appetite leaving him. Finding out that the man who Harry looked up to almost as a grandfather had wanted to leave him to his fate with his aunt and uncle made him feel sick.

'Snap out of it Potter. With the Dark Lord obviously looking for you, nowhere is safe.' Snape says angrily.

'Hogwarts is.' Harry informs him. Snape looks at Harry oddly

'Are you forgetting that you have had to battle the Dark Lord twice at Hogwarts when he managed to get past the Headmasters defences?' Snape says acidly. Harry shrugs. Snape looks at Harry, who is looking down at his plate.

'You are not telling me you'd rather stay at Hogwarts all summer then go home.' Snape asks

'Hogwarts is my home.'

Snape sneers at this.

'Home! Home! The damn place is a prison!'

'Just because you have a home to go too doesn't mean everybody ha.s' Harry points out. He stands up clenching his fist and unclenching them to try and control the fury that is now coursing through him. Why did Snape have to remind Harry that he had no real home,. No real place to have a family. 'You, with your large house in the country, your freedom to go to Grimmald Place and the ability walk around outside. You have no idea what it's like to be trapped in one place. I can now understand how Sirius felt last year.'

Snape stands up too sneering at Harry.

'My freedom comes at the price of having to defy the Dark Lord. If he ever found out….'

Harry looks at Snapes face and watches fear flicker in his eyes before they return to their usual hard stare. Harry's anger suddenly leaves him leaving him feeling drained and raw.

'Sorry. I forgot you had to watch out for him too. I'm just so tired of having to fight to survive.' Harry starts pacing the dinning room. 'I am 15 years old I should be going to parties and worrying about girls. I shouldn't be dodging illegal curses every few months. I just want to be normal. I want a family who don't die because some maniac is trying to kill me.' Harry's voice gets louder and louder as he gets angry again. He stops pacing and turns to face Snape. 'I don't want to have to become a murderer just so the wizarding world can get rid of Voldemort!'

Snape shudders at the mention of Voldemorts name. Snape watches as Harry tries to get his breathing under control again. The candle light flickers and the fire goes out plunging them into almost darkness. Snape looks at the empty fireplace and then back at Harry clearly wondering how to handle this angry boy.

'Have you learnt no self control Potter. Occlude your mind now. I do not fancy you destroying my house to prove how angry you can get.' Snape says levelly. Trying to keep anger and fear out of his voice.

If Potter's raw emotions can cause this much power, damn it the boy could be powerful. Even more powerful then Albus, Snape thought.

Harry runs from the room and the candles light stops flickering. Snape listens to him running along the corridor upstairs and slamming his bedroom door. Snape slowly sits down and goes back to eating his dinner, thoughts running through his head.

Why does Potter seem to think that he has to kill the Dark Lord? What had Dumbledore mentioned to Potter that he had failed to mention to the order? Dumbledore was seriously missing off a few pieces of information. Snape leaned back in his chair leaving his dinner. At least I have time to get it out of Potter. Whenever he calms down enough to talk to.

Snape casually waves his wand at the fireplace and a roaring fire lights up. Another flick of his wand and the dinning room door closes. He turns his chair so he is facing the fire and quietly contemplates the flames.

Next morning Snape and Harry were again sitting at the Dinning Room table, whilst a warm breeze comes through the open windows. Snape was reading his correspondence and Harry was slowly reading his book on 'Quidditch Through the Ages'. Hedwig flies in through an open window and lands on top of Harry's book startling Harry.

'Hedwig. I wondered when you would get here.' Harry strokes her feathers. Snape looks in disgust at the bird.

'Owl's are not supposed to be able to find this place.' Snape states

'She's very clever.' Harry fondly pulls out a wing and rubs her shoulder joint, which causes Hedwig to hoot loudly. Harry laughs. Hedwig sticks out her leg and pulls her wing back in. Harry unattaches a letter from the leg, Hedwig picks up a piece of bacon off Harry's plate and flies over to the back of an empty chair and proceeds to eat it.

'Naughty bird.' Harry mumbles. He flicks over the envelope and stops. The envelope is addressed to Severus Snape. 'Here this is for you'

Snape looks surprised but takes the letter off Harry. Harry watches Snapes expression turn from one of bewilderment to one of fury.

'He cannot possibly mean that. I have a life too.' He mutters angrily.

'What does it say?' Harry asks

'The Headmaster seems fit to inform me that since I abducted you from your aunt and uncle breaking the protections he set up there, it is my responsibility to keep you safe, where ever we might be, for the rest of the bloody summer! He says that Tonks is taking your place disguised as you so nobody will know what is going on. He does not want the ministry to know he has misplaced you.'

'I thought Dumbledore would know where you lived.' Harry seems confused.

'Nobody knows where this house is. Not even Lucius Malfoy.'

'Oh.'

Snape looks up from the letter and glares at Harry

'I do not like people interfering in my life. That was why when my parents died and I had my inheritance I brought this place.' Harry mentally notes that the room he is staying in is not Snapes old room however the old story books make it look. 'It is unplottable and I am the secret keeper for it. Even owls are supposed to have difficulty in finding the place.'

'Oh.' Harry glances at Hedwig. Snape follows his eyes. Then turns back and glares at Harry.

'My original intention was to take you to Grimmauld place in a few days when Dumbledore had calmed down and agreed to take you in. That's not available now. So you'll have to stay here until school starts in a months time.' Snape looks sick at the thought. Harry looks horrified.

'Here. With you!'

'I am not happy at the prospect either'

'I have to put up with you in Potions. That's bad enough.' Harry says candidly.

'I could say the same thing!' They both stare at each other. 'You can do your school work'

'Haven't had any yet. I only just chose my options.' Harry grins smugly.

'I'll set you some.' Snape smirks at Harry

'That's unfair.' Harry says pulling a face.

'When have I ever been fair Potter.' Snape sneers at Harry. Harry doesn't look amused.

'I can safely say that you have never been fair to me!' Snape stands up.

'A few rules. 1) Do not disturb me I have work to do, 2) Do not go into the bottom of the garden there's some very valuable plants down there and if your Herbology is anything like your potions you'll kill them all, 3) keep noise to the minimum I like peace and quiet, I have enough of the brats at school to put up with it during the holidays, 4) you may not under any circumstances use the floo network it requires passwords and 5) stay out of the back study and my bedroom. Severe punishment will be given for breaking these rules.'

'Fine.' Harry says standing up to match Snape 'Here's my rules. 1) I like three meals a day, 2) I do not like to be beaten up, 3) knock before you enter my bedroom and lastly no sneering or insulting me. I put up with enough of that at school. I do not need it during the holidays!'

Snape leans closer towards Harry who holds his position determined not to be intimidated.

'This is my house. I have enough with you thinking you know best in my lessons. Thank god I'll be rid of you this year.' Harry grins.

'Actually you wont be. I got an O in my Potions O.W.L.' Snapes mouth drops in disbelief and then he stand up straight and composes himself. This causes Harry to laugh.

'In that case, if you have nothing else to do you can start studying for your sixth year.' Snape sweeps from the room only to return a few seconds later holding a book out to Harry. Harry takes it hesitantly and reads the title. 'Advanced Potions by Libatius Borage'.

'What do you want me to do with this?' Harry looks bewildered.

'Read up on the potions in the medicinal section at the back. You seem to be the student most prone to ending up in the hospital wing. It's about time you helped replenish the stocks.'

'What! You want me to mix these potions.' Harry's bewilderment turns to alarm.

'Yes. I have to go to an Order meeting. Pick one and have it done by the time I get back. You will find the ingredients in the back study along with a cauldron and knives. I will be back this evening.'

'I thought you said I wasn't allowed in the back study.'

'I changed my mind.' Snape sneers

Snape picks up his cloak that was lying over the back of one of the spare chairs and goes into the hall. Harry follows him.

'These are advanced potions. I've never done anything like this before.'

'If it goes wrong you will be writing a 3 foot essay on why you went wrong.'

Snape stands before the fire and takes a handful of floo powder from a pot on a hook. He enters the fireplace.

'Enjoy your day. Grimmauld Place. Lemon Drops.'

Snape throws down the powder and disappears. Harry opens the book to the medicinal section and looks quickly over the potions.

'The shortest one will take 5 hours!' Cursing Harry opens the door to his right and finds the potions room. He slowly enters and looks around. In front of him is a large fireplace with a cauldron hanging over it with no fire lit. There are 2 large desks with knives in holders all along them and stirrers hanging on a hook next to the fireplace. The cabinet is set in the large alcove and is black. There is a large desk and chair to his left and there are bookshelves containing more potion books covering every free wall face. Harry goes over and opens the cabinet and whistles at the sight of so many ingredients in one place.

'Wow. His stores at school are nowhere near this good.'

Harry goes over and puts the book on a bookstand and opens up to a page for Burn Salve. He quickly reads over the ingredients and instructions.

'Okay. This should take 5 hours and then it has to set over night.'

He looks around at the cabinet and goes over. He fetches down the ingredients from the higher shelves and taking over all of the bottles he can carry puts them in holes in the desk to stand them up. He reads the first line again and takes some ginger out of a jar and cuts it into small square pieces using a silver knife from the selection in front of him. Once he his done cutting up the ginger he re-reads the next line of the method.

'Add ginger to break boiling water.' Harry nods and turns to the cauldron and raises his eyebrows. 'How on earth am I meant to light a fire?'

After standing in thought for a few moments he turns and leaves the room and goes to the kitchen. Entering the kitchen he sees the house-elf from last night.

'Hello.' Harry says gently.

The house-elf jumps and drops the pan it is holding. It quickly bows.

'Master Harry wanting something?' Squeaks Semut

'I need some water for a cauldron and a fire lit in the fireplace in the back study please.'

'I will bring water up to you Master Harry.' Semut whispers, clearly over awed at being asked politely to do a chore.

'Thank you.'

Harry turns and leaves returning to the study and his table. He runs a finger along the instructions.

'Once water turns pale gold add the Murdock leaves and stir 10 times anti-clockwise followed by 4 clockwise until turns deep blue. If it does it will be a miracle' Harry sighs.

The house-elf comes in carrying a large pail of water and pours it in the cauldron then lights a fire beneath it. The room is flooded with heat making Harry feel more relaxed.

'Is that all you is wanting Master Harry.' Semut asks.

'Yes, thank you.'

The house-elf bows and leaves carrying the empty pail with it. Harry places his cut ginger on the other table and pulls out a bronze knife and shreds the Murdock leaves into long thin pieces. Soon the water is boiling and Harry is beginning to sweat with the heat in the room.

'How on earth can Snape deal with this every day!' Harry asks himself. 'No wonder his hair is always so greasy!'

The sound of bubbling water turns Harry attention to his cauldron. Noticing that water bubbles are breaking the surface he adds the ginger and miraculously the water turns pale gold. Sighing with relief Harry picks up his shredded Murdock leaves and adds them to the solution.

Dumbledore, Mad-eye Moody, Lupin, Arthur, Molly, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Kingsley and Mundungus are sitting around the kitchen table in Grimmauld Place. Snape walks in and takes a seat on the right hand side of Dumbledore.

'You're late.' Lupin states.

'I do have a life other then the Order.' Snape sneers

'Really.' Lupin asks sounding shocked.

'Imagine that Gred'

'Snivellus has a life…'

'Other then torturing..'

'Students' Fred and George laugh. Bill and Charlie smile into their cups of tea. Snape takes a cup off Molly, that she has brought over from the stove, and slowly sips it.

'We were discussing how quiet Voldemort has been lately and wondering what he is up to, Severus' Dumbledore says quietly pulling everybodies attention back to the meeting.

'Planning something he is.' Mundungus puts in.

'Thank you Mundungus.' Dumbledore says calmly

'Have you heard anything Severus?' Moody asks

'No. I haven't been summoned lately. After the fiasco in the ministry where he lost a few of the inner circle he has been keeping everything secret. Not even Bellatrix Lestrange is being told any of his plans.'

'We need to know anything you can find Severus.' Dumbledore states. Snape scowls.

'I'll try talking to Bella. But it will probably be a waste of time.'

'We need any information you can find out.' Snape nods at Dumbledore and unconsciously rubs his arm where the mark is beneath his robes.

'Shame she got away from the ministry' Moody puts in. 'Voldemort must have been pleased with her.' He adds nastily.

There is silence. Dumbledore calmly sips his tea and leans back in his chair.

'There isn't much we can do until we have some more information. We will keep up the patrols and Kingsley you need to see what the Death Eaters are doing inside the Ministry' Dumbledore waits for Kingsley to nod his head before continuing 'We also need somebody trailing Narcissa Malfoy.'

'Why?' Moody interrupts

'With Lucius in Azkaban and with Bellatrix the main ally to Voldemort she will be in a very good position to lead us to where they are hiding, or if there are any plans to free the others from Azkaban.' Everybody nods at this. Moody nods his head volunteering for the job. 'I will want daily reports Alastor.' Moody nods again. Molly Weasley stands up.

'If that's everything for tonight, I need to make sure Ron, Ginny and Hermione have finished painting the lounge.' Molly leaves the kitchen.

'Yeah. I can't wait to see the mess they have made.' Fred and George stand up smiling at each other. 'Especially with those paintbrushes we gave them earlier.' Everyone sitting at the table smiles appreciatively. Snape sneers at them and turns back to his cup of tea.

'Well we must be off. Our inventions won't make themselves Fred says as they say goodbye and leave. Moody and Shacklebolt are the next to leave stating auror reports to fill in. Mundungus quickly follows them. Charlie and Bill stand up smiling.

'We're going to see what mess the twins have made.' Bill says. The others smile at them as they leave.

'Severus I need to talk to you privately.' Dumbledore looks directly at Snape. Arthur and Lupin stand up looking between the two.

'I'll just go see if Molly has sorted out Ron and the others yet.' Arthur says quickly

'I have reading I want to do.' Lupin states both making a quick exit shutting the kitchen door behind them. Snape drinks some more tea before looking at Dumbledore.

'How is he?' Dumbledore enquires.

'I assume he is still okay. I left him attempting a potion from this years textbook.' Snape sounds uninterested.

'Severus don't push him too hard.' Dumbledore's eyes are twinkling

'If he has to live with me for the next month he is going to be using his time wisely.'

'You didn't have to take him you know.'

'I was not leaving him with those muggles. I assumed you would take him in after a few days away. I was wrong.' Snape appears baffled by this. 'He is your golden boy.' This causes Dumbledore to smile.

'Not many people know me well.'

'Albus, why does he need to be protected? Why can he just not come here? Molly seems to be dying to get her hands on him to force him to eat.' Snape is almost whining. 'He'll tear my house to pieces or blow it up first.'

'That is not wise. We cannot afford Voldemort to get his hands on him again before we have had chance to train him enough to survive. With this spy in the Order I do not know whom to trust. Harry cannot be put in more danger then his life already contains.'

'Are you saying you can trust me?' Snape seems surprised

'You have never let me down, Severus. You are the only person here I have not even considered to be the spy.' Dumbledore looks directly at Snape and he sees the sadness in Dumbledore's eyes. He sighs.

'What you want me to do?'

'I want you to teach the boy.'

'What?'

'Anything. Everything. Just teach him until he can take no more. You could also start Occlumency again.' Snape raises an eyebrow but refuses to comment.

'It will not take long before he can take no more as you so wisely put it.' Snape sneers

'You underestimate Harry, Severus. He will not easily be put off. He has survived your potion lessons for 5 years already.' This causes Dumbledore to chuckle and Snape to scowl.

'He's an arrogant Gryffindor, he will not want to learn anything from me.'

'He's already learning. I suppose if he hasn't managed to get the potion right he will try again until he does. Gryffindors hate not being masters of anything.'

Snape snorts and stands up putting his empty cup in the sink where the washing up is being done.

'I'll go see if I can get any information. I will report to you soon.' Snape heads for the door.

'Send me an owl if it becomes to much trouble Severus.'

'Do you mean you'll take him away?' Snape asks interested.

'No. But I will enjoy hearing how you two are faring.' Snape looks disgusted and leaves. Dumbledore laughs at his retreating back.

Harry is sweating profusely over the hot cauldron. The solution inside is a bright green colour and is very thick. Harry snaps the book shut he is holding and looks at it.

'Well at least it looks like the book says it should.'

Harry douses the flames causing steam to rise from the ashes. He goes over to the desk and picks up some containers and vials already sorted there and using a potion scoop, takes the potion out of the cauldron and carefully puts it into the containers. Into the vials he places a funnel in before pouring in the remaining potion. Finally finishing he puts down the scoop and puts the vials in a round wooden block so they don't fall over. After putting the stoppers in the full potion containers he looks around the room at the mess. There are empty potion ingredient bottles, knives and utensils lying around. The floor is covered in stains from the cauldron and the ash from the fire has turned part of the floor black.

'He's not going to be happy. Damn I hate cleaning without magic.' Harry groans. He takes one step towards one of the desks as Snape walks in, who looks around amazed at the mess.

'This place is a mess.' Snape states simply.

'Sorry. I have just finished. If you give me an hour I'll have it cleaned.'

Snape waves his wand and the room clears up. Knives jump back into their correct holders after cleaning themselves and potion bottles left out go back to their places in the cabinets.

'Did you finish it?' Snape looks over Harry who is sweating and covered in green slime. He has a black smudge on his left cheek from ash and his glasses are half steamed up. He follows the direction of Harry's finger.

'Yes. It's there.'

Snape walks over and picks one up. He opens the lid and peers inside then taps the side of the container with his wand causing it to glow.

'Mmm. It will do.'

Harry lets out the breath he didn't realise he was holding and smiles. Snape puts the container back down and turns to face Harry.

'You need a shower. Go take one then meet me in the front study.' Harry nods and leaves. Snape looks back at the burn plaster in the containers and shakes his head.

'Well well Potter, who would have thought you would actually be good at this?'

Snape is sitting at the desk when Harry knocks and enters. Harry quickly takes a seat opposite Snape who is looking through a large book and making notes on a piece of paper. After a few short minutes Snape puts down his quill and leans back in his chair looking over at Harry. Harry is now wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Both of which are too large for him.

'At the Order meeting this morning Dumbledore mentioned giving you extra classes through this next month to help prepare you for fighting the Dark Lord. I am going to regret saying this but it there anything you wish to learn?'

Harry looks at Snape shocked clearly not expecting to be asked his opinion.

'Like what?'

'Pick a topic Mr Potter.' He looks at Harry as he frowns.

'I suppose I should practise Occlumency.' Snape hearing the resigned tone in Harry's voice looks at him more shrewdly.

'Dumbledore did suggest that. Would you be any better then last time?'

'I have to be. I cannot allow Voldemort to continue using me.' Harry replies and Snape nods.

'We can of course continue. But as dinner will be ready soon is there anything now you would wish to learn?' Harry smiles at him widely causing Snape to groan inwardly. Harry smiles fades and he frowns.'What is it Potter?'

'I cannot use magic outside of school. I'm not 17 yet.'

'That's not really a sticking point. I am the only person who resides at this address. They will just assume it is me.' Harry smiles returns as Snape looks disgusted with himself for giving this away.

'Okay then. I want to learn duelling.'

'You can already do that' Scoffs Snape. Harry looks disgusted

'Do you really think that basic duelling we are taught at school will help me survive in a duel with Voldemort. I need to be quicker on my feet.' Snape nods and stands up.

'Do you know enough spells to duel me?' Snape asks. Harry shrugs.

'Don't know. There's no harm in trying.'

Snape nods and leads the way into the hall with Harry jumping up to follow him. He walks close to the front door and indicates for Harry to walk to the other end of the corridor.

'This should be enough room. Just be careful how much power you put in your spells.'

'We haven't learnt power attenuation yet.'

'Potter, I've seen you use powerful spells nobody else your age can achieve.' Potter looks shocked at the compliment. Snape holds up his wand. Harry follows quickly. They bow, each never taking their eyes of their opponent. Snape sneers.

'Expelliarmus' Snape yells

'Protego' The spell is deflected off the shield Harry conjures. Harry smiles

'You'll have to do better then that Professor.'

'Inflamaria.' A string of fire shoots out of Snapes wand.

'Glacia.' A shot of ice blue shoots out of Harry's wand and the spells meet cancelling each other out. Snape raises an eyebrow clearly impressed he knows that one.

'I do not remember any Defence teacher teaching that yet.'

'Lupin and Sirius brought me some Defence books a year ago for my birthday. I've read them all' Snape smiles thinly.

'Okay. We'll step this up a bit then.' Snape slashes his wand down shouting 'Inopis Sectum'. Harry takes a step back put raises his hands his wand hooked under his thumb and both palms facing towards Snape, one hand on top of the other. The spell deflects off before Snape cancels the spell.

'Good Potter, but concentrate harder on what it is blocking. If you are not concentrating hard enough the shield will fail.' Harry nods then points at Snape saying 'Petrificus Totalus' but Snape easily blocks this.

'Come, come Potter. You can do better then that. Give me a blasting curse.' Harry nods and complies, but Snapes blocks this easily too.

'Put some power behind it. If you can.' Snape sneers the last bit. Harry yells the blasting curse and pours energy behind it, the lights in the hallway dims and a very bright red streak of light races towards Snape. He blocks it with a gong sound but has to take a couple of steps back to regain his balance. He drops his shield and looks at Harry.

'Better. My turn' Snape shouts the same spell and pours so much behind it the lights go out and the hallway is only illuminated by the red of the spell. Harry takes a step back instinctively and raises his wand.

'Protego magnia' A large pale white circle covers Harry as it expands out from his body. The spell bounces off it and hits the wall causing plaster to go flying which also bounces off the shield. Harry releases the shield as Snape slowly walks over to him, waving the lights back on, with an odd look on his face.

'How did you do that? I do not remember seeing that before.'

'Um…. Well protego is the shield charm…. And the magnia means large in Latin…. I got it from a spell we did in charms. It was just an idea.' Harry says quickly afraid he is in trouble.

'Do it again.'

Harry nods and quickly complies. The shield comes up and surrounds Harry. Snape touches it and tries to put his hand through it. His hand bounces off.

'That is very interesting. I think Potter, you have just invented a new spell. Not many wizards can do that.'

'I didn't mean to.'

Harry lowers his wand letting the shield go. Snape holds up his wand and Harry takes an automatic step backwards.

'I am not going to spell you Mr Potter. I want to try this.' Harry steps back sheepishly.

'Protego magnia' Snape casts. Nothing happens.

'You have to want it to protect you. I imagined what would happen if I didn't get it up in time for your blasting curse.' Snape nods.

'Protego magnum' Nothing happens this time either. Snape lowers his wand. Harry looks at his feet. There is a long silence. The house-elf oblivious to the large hole in the wall where the plaster is missing comes up the stairs from the kitchen and upon seeing them announces dinner.

'Good I'm starved.' Harry goes into the dinning room leaving Snape watching him with a thoughtful expression on his face.