I OWN NOTHING

Chapter 1

XxX

"Slytherin!"

Silence, the usual cheering from the houses, the looks had changed, the silence seemed to be deafening, the boy walked away from the stool with no expression on his face, no cares, no feelings.

He had seen many masks before but this, this was no mask this was someone who had killed their emotions hidden them in the far corners of his mind.

Snape watched as the boy walked down the table and sat alone, no one near him, through his choice and theirs. The boy was pale his black hair pulled back by a red band, he sat still, unwavering and yet it was almost like he was completely relaxed, the stares seemed to do nothing to the boy as he sat and looked back at the stool waiting for the sorting to continue. Slowly, as the sorting continued the stares pulled away and yet there was no visible signs of relaxing, so as Snape stared he was shocked to find his gaze met by ice cold emerald eyes, the lack of emotions scary, but as he stared at them he could not help but see the eyes of the girl he once loved, void of emotions almost lifeless. He slowly sent out a legilimens probe to try and see what made the boy so emotionally dead and then he saw a smirk light up the boy's face, the eyes looked like they were glowing but he felt his probe hit a wall, he looked down the link just in time to see it wrapped up and pulled in the mind of the young boy, he saw scenes of torture the boy had been through, the beatings, the starving and the abuse from the adults around him, his teachers, neighbours and especially his Aunt and Uncle. The children around him were no better, the kids at school ostracized him made sure he had no friends, no one to talk to. Then there was his cousin and his gang, they chased him where ever he went, he only had a few safe places, and he could never stay long so as to stop them from finding his stuff that he hid. Snape was shocked to find out the amount of money he stole, in his eyes if adults didn't offer him help he took it instead. He became a pick pocket to get money, bought and sold things from the older kids, he made a network of sellers and worked with a larger group of buyers he easily made money and bartered better than any market seller easily selling what he bought for double he spent. He was not stupid or arrogant, he down played his achievements and over sold his weakness, those who bought from him felt pity and were willing to spend more on what he was selling, and what he bought he hid how much he was making by always having exactly how much they wanted. Making it seem like he scraped by, while he made money he spent it on things to help himself. He bought his ways into gyms to train, bought swimming trunks and lessons and started to swim, he started to make running fun, even if he wasn't running for bullies he ran for training. He was forced to cook so he learnt what he wanted to cook, he was beat so took up kick-boxing before he went swimming. His relatives were mad at first that they had lost their slave, but while he grew stronger they saw the better side of it. He cooked better food, worked more on the garden and disappeared most of the time, out of sight out of mind.

He saw the smirk all over again, the glowing green eyes, he never needed glasses so those eye would be more pronounced but when he heard his father wore them he did as well, another way to make his opponents downplay him. He knew that blood purity was stupid but not because of the impossibility of breeding strong magic but because it lost money and profit, he cared not for race or looks. He simply ripped them off no matter who they were.

Suddenly he was ejected from the boys mind. He looked around at the eating students, all of them stealing glances and the mastermind of Slytherin, Harry Potter, and yet he sat as if he was in a room by himself, completely settled and unnerved. As the feast came to a close Albus started his speech closing off on the dangers he had brought to the school and hid on the 3rd floor. He watched as Potter grew bored throughout the speech, for the first time glancing around at other students, for the first time showing emotion, interest, interest in those who can help get him where he wants.

As he was let out of the hall following the prefect, Snape had to think to himself that the next few hours are going to set the tone for the next 7 years and so he started the long walk down to the dungeons to give his speech.

Snape watched as the prefect lined the first years up in the front row and filed in with their own year. The 7 rows of each year stood still, a lot of them glaring with hatred at Potter, the fact that he was in their house was an insult, the rest stared with interest wondering would happen with the boy.

"I expect that each of you will show respect to me as I am your head of house." He started staring pointedly at the first years. "In side of the common room we all stand by ourselves but whatever petty squabbles you have with each other are meaningless outside of our room, I expect that you will present a united front, to the rest of the school. We are seen as evil, by most of the school so we will support each other. You each get your own room and it is the room you will stay for all of your time in this school. Your room will be bare, bare minimal furniture, no protection and you will be expected to work for everything you need. You will protect your room from others, you will protect your stuff from others but you will never take it out of hand, permeant damage is not acceptable we are a united front. Anyone who causes permanent damage will deal with me, and believe me that is not something you want. Is that clear?" Snape finished, his voice never changing volume but the effect of his voice was clear, you will suffer.

He glanced at everyone and found potter looking bored as he was at Dumbledore's speech. This was not surprising looking back on his past and the fact that he had shown no reason that he would help. Snape turned and walked away and as he entered his room disillusioned himself before slowly re-entering the common room to find the new quidditich captain, Flint, on his knees with Potter's hand wrapped around his neck, holding him down, while his head was next to his. His lips an inch away from Flint's ear, whispering something that made the boy slowly pale, before he was let go of. Potter stood tall before pulling out his wand and flicked it lifting Flint of the ground by his ankles, shocking everyone at the silent incantation but more so Snape seeing the spell that was so often used on him by the boy's own father.

In a cold whisper that sounded louder than it should of Potter spoke "You are a Gryffindor, you act without thinking and rushed into a situation with no grace nor prior thoughts, you may as well go to the Fat Lady and ask to be let in, or better yet here is the pass word 'Caput Draconis', it was not hard to listen to the ginger prefect tell his year mates." Every one stared in shock at the knowledge given to them all silenced by what they had been told. They were broken from their stunned state by the Flints skin and hair changing red and gold respectively. So another silent spell had been used by the boy. "This one, yeah?" he shouted over his shoulder to the house as he stalked away from the group drawing their eyes, he stopped at the door way to where his new dorm would be, pointed his wand at Snape and twisted it while looking him directly in the eyes stating clearly, "Revelio" before winking at the now present head of house and sauntering to his new room, every one glancing from his retreating form to their now visible head of house.

At the staff meeting everyone was talking animatedly about how there summer was, and the new students before Dumbledore entered and sat in his throne, he looked at each over his moon shaped glasses and finally spoke, "So how is everyone" and with a cluster of good responses he continued "And how are the new students? Any problems? Fillius?" And so the usual responses began, with only a few complaints such as the 6th Weasley boy seemed upset that he was not 'The-Boy-Who-Lived' best friend and that he should not be a 'Slimy Snake' but then Albus turned to face Snape who just stared back after already giving his report, "So Severus, how goes the power standing in 'the Snake Pit' as it has been eloquently called?"

"It has sifted…"

"To young Malfoy then?"

"No…" At this point all of the other staff stared at him, all had expect Draco to throw around his wealth and his father's name, but now…

"So?" Sinistra asked expectantly.

"Potter." Was his curt answer.

"WHAT!" the shocked exclaims from the staff members rung out. Dumbledore's twinkling eyes were at full blast watching the reactions.

"Well?" he questioned.

"As I left I disillusioned myself and turned back to see Flint on his knees, wand a few meters from himself, and it was obvious that he had tried to improve his standing but choose the wrong person as Potter had his hand around his throat and whispered something in his ear. After Flint paled he spoke in a cold whisper, easily grabbing everyone's attention, and called him a Gryffindor for his lack of tact and forethought, and cast 3 silent spells, 'Levicorpus, Mutare Cute*, and Crinus Muto' floating him onto display, chainging his skin red and hair gold before leaving for his dorm. As he reached the door way he used 'Revelio' on myself and took away my disillusionment and winked at me before he left."

All the staff stared at him before a snicker broke out. Before a giggle and then laughter broke out in the staff as they were glared at by the Potions Master. After the laughter died out, they finally noticed the look and realised that Snape wasn't joking but a 1st had handled them self against a 5th was difficult to believe, even after taking in to account the fact that Potter had done silent casting.

"So he is safe?" Questioned Dumbledore.

"For now. I only hope he can defend his room properly as the show he made tonight will only last so long."

"Ok the thank you for your time. You may leave but can I have a word before you leave?"

All the staff were able to see the dismissal and left the room, "You tried legilimency?"

"Yes he pulled me through his memories effortlessly, all though not trained the boy is obviously a natural at the mind arts. He seemed to know about my probe before it reached his mind so easily took control."

"Interesting, we must watch young Harry."

"We shall indeed"

"I shall see you at breakfast Severus, have a good night."

"And you Headmaster." And with that he left for his room needing to think upon the events that happened in the last few hours."

*Skin Colour Change Spell