Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter-verse.
Also, i have been reading fanfiction for many years, i apologise in advance if i have stolen your ideas, if you do not like it tell me, i will remove it/ give credit where credit is due. So thankyou all other writers of fanfiction!
° ®CHAPTER 1®°
Harry Potter had just been 'allowed' to stay at a house he owned, as he was now Lord black, although he was not supposed to know this, there was a lot Dumbledore had decided Harry was not supposed to know, but harry knew anyway because he did not enter the wizarding world for the first time at the age of 11 which everyone assumed, but at age 8, when he was running from the Dursleys. He had noticed the leaky cauldron earlier in the day, and remembered it from the descriptions in his mums diaries, he had been practicing his magic ever since he found them and decided then was as good a time as any to discover this world for himself especially because the Dursleys could not find him where he could not be seen.
Currently he was sitting in the kitchen of Grimmauld place trying not to let his anger and hurt at the words Mrs. Weasley was saying show.
"You know dear, perhaps if you just tried going out with a girl you would stop this unnatural nonsense? I know Ginny wouldn't mind…"
"Mrs Weasley, I appreciate your concern but I am what I am I cannot simply like girls because you consider it unnatural and Ginny thinks that I am "the one" for her, or I just need to find the "right" girl"
"Well fine. Here have a hot chocolate dear, you must have had a big day, perhaps you will change your mind when your thoughts are clearer in the morning."
Suddenly he leapt back from the chair as he caught a whiff of the hot chocolate that had been placed in front of him.
"You will leave this room Mrs. Weasley" he began icily "And if you, or any of your brood try to make me ingest a love potion you will not like the consequences"
Molly Weasley was startled, a few seconds ago sat the awkward young man she had known for 5 years, now here he stood with angry eyes, blank expression and deadly stance, this was the man that had survived all those encounters with You- Know Who. She scurried as quickly as she could towards the door, vanishing the contents of the mug as she went, wondering how Dumbledore will solve this latest problem with the Potter boy.
Harry Potter was furious, he could not believe they would try to take his free will like that, though when what he thought or wanted ever mattered in the past he did not know. As he could not make potions to calm himself, he did the next best thing, he cooked.
"Would you like to sit down and eat, or are you going to stand there all evening?" This question was directed to the dark man standing in the shadows of the room, who had escaped the notice of Mrs. Weasley earlier.
"I cannot, the mutt set the wards so I could only enter to report, I could not eat the food from this house, nor sleep in a bed here."
Harry looked at his professor in shock and made a quick decision.
"Well, I Lord Harrisson James Potter Black give Potions Master Severus Snape the hospitality and protection I am able to give when he is within all wards of house Potter and house Black. Now you may sit and eat, then I will find you a room, no offence, but you look like you would not make it to your bed. You will sleep here the night, eat breakfast in the morning then leave when you are in better shape to protect yourself throughout your journey."
And there it was, a glimpse of his best friend in her son. That temper, that determination to do what was right by him, Severus was so shocked that he automatically sat down and ate the food in front of him, it never did any good to argue with lily when she took that tone, he doubted it would be any different in her son. As he ate he wondered how Harry had known the words to say, indeed that he was lord of anything, as far as he was aware Dumbledore's orders were to keep Harry Potter in the dark about all things of his inheritance. Maybe he had not given this boy enough credit, before he could continue this train of thought he was interrupted by a shout from the youngest male Weasley.
"What are you doing, I thought you were not allowed to eat here" he sneered
Severus Snape looked to Potter to see how he would react, what he saw shocked him. Potter had a bewildered look plastered across his face, if it wasn't for the brief glimpse of anger, and that he knew better, he may have believed Potter had no idea what young Weasley meant, indeed he thought, there had been many times he had seen that face, and he wondered if it was ever a true reflection of this young Gryffindors feelings.
"Sorry Ron, he looked hungry and I was cooking so I invited him to eat, then I invited him to stay the night, I mean he's a member of the order, I thought it might be allowed, I mean I see no reason as to why he can't" Potter had lost that determination, instead was an unsure boy, thinking he had done wrong, but in that sentence he made sure no adult in the room who had followed Ron could stop him, he was their beacon of light, a person whom they aspire to be, they could not refuse his 'innocent' logic.
Many of the adults had traded looks, 'did Potter know what he had just done?' were the main thoughts. Severus saw these looks and sneered, he looked towards Harry and saw he looked like he agreed with Severus.
"Where did you learn to cook Potter?" Asked Snape as neutrally as he could, aware at what potter had just done.
"My relatives couldn't, they had to eat didn't they?" Harry answered as if this was the most natural thing to occur. "I trust you enjoyed it then?" he added slyly, with a very mischievous smile on his face.
He made a non-committal grunt as he pondered why a child would be asked to cook for his relatives to such a point where he could cook as well as Potter, there were many reasons, none he liked, and all he dismissed, until he thought that he really knew nothing of Potter judging by the display earlier.
"Before I go to bed you will be resuming your occlumency lessons with me, you will find a suitable room." Said Snape, it was not a question.
"Yes sir." Replied Harry neutrally.
There was silence between Harry and Severus during the rest of the meal, both preferred it that way, or would have was it not for the loud conversations going on, most referring to how Snape shouldn't be eating at the table, how Sirius was right to ban him, he stiffened and tightened his indifferent mask, this was why he chose not to be offended when Sirius had banned him in the first place, glad in fact.
Harry had heard these conversations too, felt his professor stiffen and withdraw, he reached out for his hand under the table and gave it a squeeze. He felt the body beside him stiffen further until it finally relaxed and gave a slight squeeze back. Severus's pride would normally reject pity, but looking to Potter he saw it to be understanding, not pity, until Potters own body stiffened slightly and face turned interested in the food in front of him. Severus wondered why until words of a whispered conversation drifted down to him.
"It's disgusting, I've been sharing the same room with a poof for 4 years." Spat Ron
"I know, it's not right, unnatural." Hermione added spitefully
"freak"
"He was supposed to be mine!" this last whine came from the youngest Weasley
Snape gave Potter what he hoped was a reassuring look before he squeezed his hand again.
"You know, that's exactly what my relatives thought of magic. Have you finished sir? We can start the occlumency lessons now."
Severus and Harry put their dishes in the sink before they left the room, as they shut the door they heard the volume in conversations rise as the occupants of the room further discussed the unnaturalness of Harry Potter and the snarkiness of Severus Snape.
As they reached the room Harry turned to Snape and told him of the wards on the room "only a Black heir has access to this room, you will not be able to find it without me, and since no one can find it, they cannot hear what goes on inside it"
"I'm curious to know why you didn't tell them about the protection when you mentioned I could now eat and sleep here?" In that question was a thankyou to Potter, but Snape would never out right thank him for it, if he didn't understand, well too bad. The smile he received in return told him it had. He felt his heart jolt at that smile.
"I am curious as to what the wards will do, I'm hoping they will kick them out after a few well placed hexes if they try anything, it will also be quite amusing don't you think?" Replied Harry with a smirk any slytherin would be proud of.
They had entered through a door that appeared in front of them as Harry spoke. A huge traditional library opened up, wooden panels lined the walls which were filled with books from floor to ceiling, the room was filled with light streaming through the north facing windows and the carpet their feet sunk into was a deep blue.
"Indeed. Now I hope you've been studying the books Albus gave you." Severus asked as they sat in the armchairs arranged for such conversations.
"What books would those be?" Harry replied neutrally, though he thought he had some idea about what Albus had done, it would explain much.
"The books Albus gave you during his lessons on occlumency that were to prepare you for mine you fool."
"he never gave me lessons or books sir"
"what? No, your lying, of course he did!"
"He didn't even look at me for the whole year! For my own good he said! Let alone give me lessons on occlumency, the only occlumency lessons I received this year were from you, if they were even that." Harry's anger flared, so close to the surface it had been all day, he stared down Snape, and was shocked to see him pale.
"he…. he let me rape your mind! No wonder, but he assured me... Over and over again! oh god lily!"
"Sir, Sir! Are you alright?" Asked harry, quite worried for his always composed professor.
Snape was pale and shaking as he sat in the chair thinking over Harry's words.
"look at me, sir, look at me" Harry was knelt in front of his professor, staring into his panicked eyes.
"you didn't rape my mind sir, I had already mastered occlumency, sir? You didnt rape my mind" each word was said slowly as he looked straight into Snapes coal black eyes.
"how?" he asked quite skeptically.
"How? How do I know I'm a lord? How do I know of my inheritance from black? How do I know that Hermione and Ron were paid out of MY vaults to be my friends, to spy on me? How do I know about wards? Potions? Arithmacy and so many other things? I can't answer these questions for you today Professor because of your loyalty to Dumbledore, but I will one day." As Harry had said this last bit he had placed his hand on Snapes shoulder, right on the spot where Dumbledore's loyalty spells had left their own mark.
Severus swallowed hard as he looked down at Harry, so much had had happened to this lad, yet here he stood, a promise to help him in his eyes.
"I have a gift for you. When I was 6 I found these." Harry pulled 3 leather bound books from a shelf in the library.
Snape recognized them straight away, the memories they drew forth were painful in their happiness. He held them with awe.
"From what I've read, she would have been honoured for you to read them…" Harry said, then added slyly on the end " ..sevvy"
"Oi brat, only cute babies can get away with calling me that!" 'Sevvy' said.
Harry laughed. "sevvy" had been Harry's first word, and had been the name he had called Severus by as a baby.
"Thankyou sir, for been her friend, her brother, her family, and for the many, many times you have saved my life."
"I thought you didn't notice, made me quite bitter actually."
"I noticed, only the boy-who-lived was supposed to be blinded by his hate for his most greasy professor lest he find a decent ally and potentially ruin all Dumbledore's work for the greater good."
"It appears I've greatly underestimated you brat."
"Don't worry, you have not been the only one. The twins learnt that the hard way. They tried to prank me in my first year, and failed, quite spectacularly."
"What did they do afterwards?"
"Promised to make me their successor, that was until they found out I was the son of a marauder, they were quite in awe of the marauders. I've been a silent brother ever since."
"really" was Snapes dry response.
"The twins aren't bullies, and they had no idea that the marauders were, I have not corrected them, that would mean revealing too many of your secrets, although I doubt it will change their opinion of you much, you are probably the only person they have any respect for."
Snape had no answer to that, instead he cleared his throat and searched for a way to break the silence.
"if you have mastered occlumency how come I was allowed in your mind?"
"because I wasn't supposed to know you were there or how to block you from my memories, you only had access to the happier memories of the Dursleys and the Hogwarts memories you expected to see."
"Happier memories? They weren't happy!" He exclaimed, as the weeks drew on he searched and searched for "happy" memories of the Harry's childhood, not finding any.
The shrug Severus received in response was not quite natural, he went over memories of Harry at the start of term, end of term and those he saw in Harry mind. Looking at Harry carefully now he saw his image shiver slightly.
"Drop the glamour's Harry."
Harry flinched.
"Can't sir"
"why not?"
"They're connected with my metamorph abilities sir, I can't drop the glamour's unless I drop the spell that holds these changes in place."
"So this is not what you really look like?"
"No. Sirius could not father an heir, so he and James Potter decided I shall be it, they did not tell my mother, she found out when I started to develop my metamorph abilities, they cast a spell to hold the changes as I was imitating my father, except for my eyes, my mothers eyes."
"And why can't you show me what you look like?"
"Because if Dumbledore orders you to search for me for any reason, and you don't know what I look like, how can you find me?"
"Indeed" Such a neutral reply, but inside he was raging against Dumbledore, Harry was right, he could not go against any direct order of Dumbledore's, thanks to his 'loyalty' spells.
"I can tell you we have met before."
"How?"
"ah, those 'how' questions again Professor Snape. I found those diaries when I was 6, entered the wizarding world when I was 8, after reading much about the war and my role in it, as well as those of others, I found that a certain headmaster had all too much of an influence over this world, from the outside it looks much to much like a dictatorship. I created a separate identity, so that if I ever needed to escape I could, right under his nose. Keep in mind sir, that Harry Potter is only an image, a symbol, and if that symbol is to disappear, that man is no longer Harry Potter."
Severus smiled a bit at this, here was lily's son, such logic applied to humanity. Even with the knowledge that Harry Potter has another identity, he still could not find him if he chose to.
"How are you not a slytherin Mr Potter I do not know"
"Begged the hat like any self respecting Gryffindor would."
"Yes, I believe your mother applied logic to the issue, which is how she ended up in Ravenclaw."
"Which house did the hat want her in?"
"Slytherin, but she had met Malfoy on the train she said, bragging about how he was going to be in Slytherin like the rest of his family."
This statement elicited a laugh from Harry
"As had I, only it was Malfoy Jnr" Said Harry. "Before that I had considered shocking the entire wizarding world, despite how much difficult my life would be because of it"
"Perhaps you still can" Severus mused with a raised eyebrow aimed at Harry.
"Perhaps I could, I think it's time to talk to the Weasley twins, they know more of me than any one at Hogwarts. Perhaps you could get a message to them see if they could not visit their favourite silent brother?"
"Indeed, but I believe it is time for bed at this moment, I will be fine getting home."
"No no Professor Snape, I would be quite offended if you did not take up my earlier offer, I shall find you a bed, just give me a moment, people have expected us to have an occlumency lesson." Harry replied, determination once again coloured his tone.
With this he proceeded to adjust his glamour's so as to look like he had been crying, as well as exhausted, mussed up he's hair and clothes, spelled dirt on his clothes so that it looked like he had fallen on the floor and hunched over so as to look defeated.
Quite the Slytherin Severus mused. He decided that the next few visits to Grimmauld place may be a lot more interesting.
Over the next 3 weeks Harry slowly removed the many loyalty spells placed on Professor Snape, they took time and magic because they were so intricate, but 3 days before Harry was scheduled to return to the Dursley's it was finally done. Severus Snape was a free man, well a man who could choose to be a fool and disobey Dumbledore if he wanted, and at any time he could simply not return to him. But as long as Harry Potter stood within his sites he would stay.
Severus stood in the hallway of Grimmauld place watching as Harry Potter left for the Dursley's, every fiber in him screamed that it was wrong that he should never return there again, and if it wasn't for the reassuring smile and very Weasley twin wink that Harry shot at him before he left he may have protested. But as it was, his now red hair reassured him that Harry Potter, symbol of the light, might just be disappearing.