Snape inclined his head, seeing no reason to withhold this information from the boy. "That is… correct, at this moment in time."
"But Dumbledore said they can get stronger?" he asked, almost hopefully.
"Professor Dumbledore to you. And yes, that is also true."
"What should I do? To make them stronger?" Harry whispered, in earnest.
For a moment, Severus hesitated.
"Nothing," he said eventually, putting a hand to Harry's shoulder to guide him the last few steps towards the Fat Lady's portrait. He saw no reason to burden the boy further, and knew all too well that feelings of connection – love, even – could not be forced. "It is not for you to concern yourself with. It is for the headmaster and I to resolve."
"But you will won't you?" Harry asked, turning to face him again. "I can stay with you?"
Snape hesitated again – he loathed lying to the boy, and so he responded with the only thing he knew to be absolutely true in that moment.
"I will not allow you to return to your relatives."
For Harry, that was enough, and he nodded, letting go of the breath he had clearly been holding for several moments.
"There is no need for you to dwell on it further. Your focus now should be solely on your academic feats. Ensure you retire for the evening shortly, and get a good night's rest. What is your first class?" he asked.
"Defence with Professor Lockhart," Harry said. "I hope he doesn't talk about himself all class."
Severus Snape resisted the urge to snort. "Am I to assume you have already met?"
"He was in Flourish and Blotts, when I went with Ron," he nodded, wrinkling his nose. "He's written all these books you know? About all of the things he's done. He gave me a stack of them. Signed."