Hidden Memories
By
Darkchakram
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of J. K. Rowling's characters that appear in the story. Written for fun!
Author's Note: I am a newcomer to the Wizarding World. I am sure there will be mistakes and perhaps inconsistencies. I apologize beforehand. As I am a sucker for unrequited love, I have fallen fabulously in love with the Snape/Lily storyline. Thus, this is a tale of young love.
Rated: M for violence and sexual situations.
Timeline: Post-Deathly Hallows
Summary: As Harry uncovers more of Snape's memories a tale of young love unfolds. Snape/Lily.
Chapter One
Summer had not yet arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place but Harry Potter wiped the sweat from his brow nonetheless. As he stuffed the white handkerchief back into his pocket, he considered the heat. He supposed it felt so hot because the preceding months had been so brutally cold. He'd spent more nights than he cared to remember sleeping in the cold woods. And to make matters worse, the dementors had been roaming all over England. As he flipped the page of the Daily Prophet he decided that it wasn't really that hot after all. It was only the absence of those hideous monsters who'd fled England upon Tom Riddle's final destruction.
"Does Master require a new hanky?" Kreacher shuffled into the room and presented Harry with a freshly pressed, pristinely white handkerchief.
"No, Kreacher. But thank you," Harry smiled. He wasn't exactly sure what to do with Kreacher. He knew that Hermione would be beyond pleased if he freed the elf but Harry worried that Kreacher would be devastated if he was offered clothes. He'd tried to broach the subject with the elf on more than one occasion but the look of utter terror and the way he'd nervously gnawed at the tips of his fingers each time had caused Harry to drop the subject.
"Would Master prefer the roast beef or chicken for dinner this evening?" the elf asked as he cleared up Harry's breakfast tray.
"Umm, I won't be eating in tonight, Kreacher. Ginny and I are going on a date," Harry didn't even bother to contain his excitement.
"Well, at least she is a pure-blood, even if she is a child of blood traitors."
"Kreacher what have I told you?" Harry gently reprimanded.
"Sorry, sorry, Master. Kreacher forgets that Master's friends. . ." Kreacher whacked himself in the head with the breakfast tray before Harry could take it from him.
"There's no need for punishment, Kreacher. Just try to remember. . ."
"Yes, Mudbloods and blood traitors are our friends," Kreacher choked out.
Harry winced at the derogatory term but didn't correct the elf a second time. He couldn't stand to see him try to punish himself again.
"Sir," Kreacher turned before heading out of the sitting room. "Good luck, today."
"Thank you," Harry nodded. He looked down at his watch. In two hours, he had his first job interview. He couldn't help but think that it was ridiculous for him to be nervous. After all, he'd faced down the darkest wizard in history. How hard could it really be to get through a job interview at the Ministry of Magic? Still, the butterflies in his stomach were flapping wildly.
A little voice inside his head told him it wasn't the interview that had the butterflies jittering but his date with Ginny. He didn't understand why he felt so silly. He had seen Ginny plenty of times in the past month. They'd even locked lips on more than one occasion. He guessed that it was the fact that this was going to be their first date in the Muggle world. His first date as a man. Plus, he was picking her up at the Burrow and it would be the first time he would be showing up on Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's doorstep as a suitor to their only daughter. Harry's stomach churned anew.
Harry tossed the Prophet aside. He needed to get dressed. He had a long day ahead of him. After his interview he needed to pick up some flowers for Ginny. He also needed to make a much needed trip to Diagon Alley to buy another owl. He hadn't been since he, Ron, and Hermione had left on the back of a blind dragon. The Ministry had worked hard to get them cleared of bank robbery charges. He had been avoiding Diagon Alley until the situation had been cleared up. He had word from Kingsley Shaklebolt two days earlier that he was free to access his vault at Gringotts. The thought of buying a new owl saddened him but he needed a way to communicate with the rest of the wizarding world, especially since Ginny would be returning to Hogwart's in the fall.
Harry went through the mental checklist of all the things he needed to do at Diagon Alley. An owl, new robes, visit George, pick up floo powder. As he was going over his list, he noticed the grate in front of his fireplace vibrate. It was warm so there were no flames flickering in the hearth. But suddenly a burst of green shot down from the chimney and Kingsley Shaklebolt stood in his sitting room, towering over Harry.
"Sir," Harry jumped. "I thought my interview was later this morning."
"It is," Kingsley reassured, then looked around the room secretly. Harry hoped it was habit and not worry that prompted the caution.
"Is everything alright?" Harry subconsciously rubbed his forehead.
"Yes, of course, may I sit?"
"Absolutely," Harry pointed to a chair and tried not to be embarrassed that he hadn't offered his guest a seat. He was new at the whole adult with your own place thing.
As Kingsley made himself comfortable, Kreacher popped into the room and looked at Harry expectantly.
Kingsley also looked to the elf. Then back to Harry.
Harry looked to Kreacher who Harry noticed was standing with perfect posture and had a cloth napkin draped over his left forearm. His right arm was tucked behind his back.
"Oh," Realization dawned on Harry. "Kreacher, could you bring the Minister a cup of tea?"
"Right away, Sir." Kreacher bowed and turned. "So well connected, my master is," Harry heard the elf mumbling pridefully as he walked away.
"So, how are you settling in, my boy?" Kingsley asked out of both curiosity and concern. It couldn't be easy. Harry had been through a great deal in the past year. And now, he was living alone. Solitude could be one's greatest friend and most dreaded enemy.
"This place does take some getting used to. But, anything beats going back to the Dursley's," Harry reminded.
"Ah, yes," Kingsley smiled.
Kreacher returned with the tea tray and poured both men a cup of tea before backing out of the room again.
Kingsley poured a little cream into his cup and then sat back in his seat. He studied Harry for a moment before he began speaking. "You know we all detested Snape for what we thought he'd done to Dumbledore and, of course, betraying us all."
Harry nodded. He wasn't sure where this was going.
Kingsley continued, "It took us all aback, I think, when you revealed the truth of the matter. Having that monument built for him at Hogwarts was a fine tribute. He spent most of his time there."
"Probably the only place that felt like home," Harry answered and thought of the black marble tomb he'd had built next to Dumbledore's. Compatriots to the end.
"I had never thought that you two were particularly close," Shaklebolt took a sip of tea.
"We just didn't understand each other for a long time. I wish I could've known things before. . . when I could've said something. But I suppose things happened the way they had to."
"Had to?"
"Well, in order to defeat Tom Riddle."
"Ah, yes, Voldemort."
"Yes," Harry had taken to calling the dark wizard by his birth name. No need to give him power he didn't deserve.
"Anyway," The Minister reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope. "I was surprised by this, at first. But then, I remembered his great sacrifice."
Harry eyed the envelope and wondered what it had to do with Snape. With him and Snape.
"Harry, this is the last will and testament of Severus Snape." He handed it to Harry. "I debated just giving it to you when you came into the office today. But since your interview is a preliminary one, it won't be with me. I didn't want to miss you by accident, so I brought it myself. Oh, and here," He pulled a ring with several keys out of his jacket and gave them off to Harry as well.
"Keys. I don't understand," Harry took the proffered items.
"You, Harry, were named as Severus's sole heir."
"But," Harry stammered.
"No buts about it. You're the only name mentioned. It's all yours. His place in Spinner's End and all of his personal effects."
Harry looked at the key ring. Why so many keys, if he only had one house? Harry shook his head and then looked up at the Minister.
"Well, good luck today, son!" Shaklebolt drained the rest of his tea then stood and walked to the fireplace.
The light from the green flames danced across the papers as Harry pulled them from the envelope.
SSSSSSS
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this, then you have become aware of things which necessity had forced me to hide from you. I also hope that if you are holding these leaves it means that you were successful in your efforts against the Dark Lord. That you truly were the Chosen One. That Lily. . .that your mother did not die in vain.
You are probably wondering why you are my heir. You never guessed you'd one day be an heir to a Slytherin, did you? Ha. Permit me one moment of mirth, even if posthumously.
You, my boy, are the closest thing I ever had to a child. It will not be comfortable for you to hear, but I loved your mother. Yes, loved her with every fiber of my being. I made terrible choices. For many years, I blamed your father for my choices. And the truth remains that I loathe him as I write this. But my choices were my own, even if they were made, in part, in response to his repeated bullying. And while you inherited his complete and utter disregard for rules and regulations, you inherited her kindness and generosity. Had I made different choices I might have called you, Son. Alas, I went down a dark path, a road that Lily could not follow. One could even argue that I pushed her into his arms. Even though you are not the blood of my blood, the bone of my bone, you are Lily's. And for that, I bequeath everything to you.
You'll find soon enough, that I have little in the way of material possession but what I have must be left to someone and so they go to you. Do with the house as you see fit. As for my copy of Advanced Potion-Making that you so carelessly left in the Room of Requirement, you will find it waiting for you in my office at Hogwarts. The dungeon office, Potter, not the Headmaster's office.
Do try and stay out of trouble,
Severus
SSSSSSS
No sooner had Harry closed the letter than an owl arrived from Hogwarts.
Harry took the envelope with the familiar seal. He quickly tore it open.
MMMMMMM
Dear Mr. Potter,
It has recently been brought to our attention that you are Professor Snape's heir. Please come to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry no later than August 31st to claim Professor Snape's personal effects.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Interim Headmistress
P.S. I do hope this letter finds you well.
Harry sat stunned for a few minutes. The grandfather clock chiming in the hallway followed by Mrs. Black wailing about Mudbloods and blood-traitors reminded him that he had only an hour to get ready and get to his interview.