The next few days passed in a strange blur. Hogwarts, without its usual flood of students, felt almost unreal, like an ancient ruin rather than the vibrant, living castle Harry had come to know.
The corridors, once filled with chattering voices and hurried footsteps, were now eerily silent, the portraits watching him with quiet curiosity as he moved through the empty halls.
He spent most of his time in the library, flipping through old tomes, trying to focus on his studies.
He told himself it was to stay ahead, to make sure he wouldn't fall behind over the summer, but in truth, it was a distraction. A distraction from the unease curling in his stomach every time he thought about what came next.
Snape still hadn't told him where they were going.
Occlumency lessons continued in the evenings, just as grueling as before. Snape never gave any warning before attempting to invade his mind, and while the frequency of Harry's failures had begun to dwindle, the moments when Snape managed to break through still left him shaken.
But each time he pushed back, even slightly, Snape would give the smallest nod of acknowledgment before continuing without a word.
It wasn't praise. But it was something.
On the last night, Harry stood by the Black Lake, watching moonlight ripple over the water. The castle behind him was nearly dark, save for the glow of scattered torchlight in the towers.
He had spent so much time preparing himself for the idea of going back to the Dursleys that now, standing on the edge of something entirely unknown, he wasn't sure what to feel.
And yet Snape had given him no information on where he would be going instead.
He had asked, twice actually, but each time, Snape had dismissed the question with a pointed look, making it clear he would get answers when Snape deemed it necessary.
The sound of approaching footsteps broke his thoughts.
"You should be asleep, Potter."
Harry turned to see Snape standing a few feet away, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
"I couldn't," Harry admitted.
Snape studied him for a moment before exhaling through his nose. "Come. We leave early."
Harry hesitated, then followed him back inside.
Morning arrived too quickly.
Harry met Snape near the castle entrance, his trunk beside him. His other belongings had already been sent ahead, wherever that was.
The air outside was crisp, the sky a pale gray as dawn stretched over the grounds.
Snape handed him an old, worn-looking book without explanation.
"What's this for?" Harry asked, frowning at the heavy tome in his hands.
"Reading material," Snape said shortly. "I expect you to be productive during our travel."
Harry sighed but tucked the book under his arm. He had a feeling that arguing wouldn't get him anywhere.
Snape pulled a pocket watch from his robes and tapped it with his wand. The air around them shimmered.
"Portkey," he said. "Hold on."
Harry barely had time to grip the edge of the watch before he felt the familiar tug at his navel. The world twisted and Hogwarts vanished, in the blink of an eye they were gone.
The ground beneath Harry's feet was solid again, but his stomach churned from the abrupt stop. He staggered slightly, catching himself before he could fall.
They had landed on a narrow cobblestone street, flanked by tall, old buildings with ivy-covered facades.
The air smelled of damp stone, a hint of potions, and something metallic, like heated iron. The sky was overcast, casting a dull, gray light over everything.
Harry adjusted his grip on his trunk and turned to Snape. "Where are we?"
Snape glanced at him before stepping forward. "Follow me."
Harry bit back his irritation at the lack of an answer and hurried to keep up. The street was nearly empty, save for a few cloaked figures moving in the early morning light. The buildings, though smaller than Hogwarts, carried a similar sense of age. The signs above the doors were written in elegant script.
Some in English, others in Latin or languages Harry didn't recognize.
They passed what looked like an old apothecary, its windows dark but filled with rows of glass vials, and a shop with a faded sign reading Libri et Artefacta, the interior packed with towering shelves of books.
After a few turns through the winding streets, they stopped in front of a tall, narrow house with dark wooden shutters. It looked much like the others on the street. old but well-kept, with ivy creeping up the stone walls.
Snape flicked his wand, and the door unlocked with a faint click. He stepped inside without a word, leaving Harry to follow.
The moment he crossed the threshold, Harry was hit with a mix of scents.
Aged parchment, potions, and something faintly smokey, burnt wood lingering in the air. The entryway was dimly lit, the wooden floor polished but creaky underfoot.
Snape led him through a sitting room lined with towering bookshelves, the walls packed with leather-bound tomes. A worn but well-kept armchair sat by the fireplace, and a small writing desk occupied the corner, stacked with neatly arranged parchment and ink bottles.
"You are in a small wizarding town outside of York," Snape finally said, as if sensing Harry's unspoken questions. "Few people know of it, and fewer have reason to come here. You will not wander."
Harry nodded, taking in the space as Snape gestured to a narrow hallway.
"You will be staying here for the remainder of the summer," Snape said, finally turning to face him fully.
Harry straightened. "And what exactly am I supposed to do all summer?"
Snape arched an eyebrow. "I should think that would be obvious. You will continue your studies, your Occlumency training, and you will not make a nuisance of yourself."
Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Right. Got it."
Snape studied him for a moment longer, as if assessing something, before gesturing to a narrow hallway.
"This will be your room."
Harry pushed the door open and stepped inside. It was small but comfortable. Plain walls, a four-poster bed, a modest wardrobe, and a wooden desk beside the window. The view overlooked a quiet alley, the rooftops of other buildings visible in the distance.
It wasn't Hogwarts. It wasn't Privet Drive.
But it's where he found himself for now.
"You will follow the rules I set," Snape continued from the doorway. "Meals are at set times. If you are late, you do not eat. You will maintain your studies, and Occlumency lessons will continue every three days."
Harry turned to face him. "And if I have questions?"
Snape's expression was unreadable. "You will find me downstairs."
With that, he left.
Harry sat on the edge of the bed, exhaling slowly.
It was strange...
Knowing that for the first time in his life, he wasn't going to be locked in a cupboard, wasn't going to be forced to do chores, wasn't going to be ignored unless he was being yelled at.
And yet he wasn't sure what to expect here, either.
Snape was still Snape.
And whatever this arrangement was, it was temporary.
Still, temporary or not, it was the closest thing to stability Harry had ever known.
And that, more than anything, left him feeling completely unmoored.
This was his reality for the summer. Not Privet Drive. Not Hogwarts.