UNDER A GUARDIAN'S WINGS
A/N
I've realized that two bunnies had interfered while writing this story, so I've stopped and developed the plots as separated fictions, then I've revised this story and I'll repost it with the corrections.
I still have no reliable beta so I'm using MS Office Word's dictionary, feel free to help me.
Chapter 1 – he is just a boy
The Order of the Phoenix's Headquarters
"Remus how is Harry?"
"Not well, he is grieving for Sirius and has no-one to speak to. Those Muggles do not love him, not in the least … "
" Harry must stay with his family, the protection wards are based on his mother's blood, if he leaves it would be an easy target for Voldemort "
" I know, I know … but he is falling in depression and I'm really worried for him … "
"Albus the boy needs to get stronger not to lose himself in self-pity! He needs to grown a backbone, not to weep and whining around ! "
"Severus !"
" Bloody git ! He is just a boy !"
" Yes, yes my boy, Harry needs to be brave and determinate but he is still young and has lost his godfather, be kind Severus. We need to help Harry in any possible way, any idea? "
"There is only a way Albus, you know it as well as I do. Harry needs to learn of the Darkest Paths of the Deads , there is no other way to safely spy the Dark Lord and his minions …"
"Those paths are not only dangerous Snape, they are also forbidden to us, only the Guardians can safely travel on them … or are you suggesting that Harry may use them? "
"Oh shut up Moody! Of course Harry Bloody Potter will need a Guardian! Even the Golden Boy of Gryffindor cannot safely walk alone in those paths! His luck is not enough for such a task !"
"And how in hell are we going to find a Guardian to help him? Or are you planning to put an ad on muggle and magic newspapers? Or perhaps to ask a Seer to find one of them? "
"Bloody Hell Moody, keep quiet ! No need of ads, nor of seers … I … I know a Guardian …"
"My dear boy, are you sure you are willing to do this? You are not obliged Severus, we may find another way … "
"What are you saying Albus? NO ONE could be better than a Guardian !"
"Headmaster, if Severus knows a Guardian … Harry would be trained by a Master … and will have some chances … "
"Alastor, Remus … we have no rights to ask Severus this … you cannot understand what it means … "
"WHAT? We have NO rights? We have ALL rights ! Or your dear boy has changed sides again? A Guardian may be the best ally for the Light ! we CANNOT discard such an opportunity ! Mark my words: WE . NEED . ANY . HELP we can find !"
"Headmaster, Severus … if there is a way to have a Guardian at our side, willing to help Harry … I would do anything in my power to help the boy, I care for him and he is slowly giving up, drowning in his sorrow … he needs help, and needs it now … please Severus, if you have a way, help him … I'll do anything to repay you for this … anything … "
"No need to tempt me Lupin . I've already volunteered to contact a Guardian … but beware, if is willing to help I need to be able to offer something valuable in exchange …"
" Whatever we may provide … feel free to offer all you may think we can manage to give, money is not an issue nor are charmed items, jewels, a manor … would any of those be valuable in your opinion? "
" No, not really … once money was but now it is no more, I'll have to ask … just be prepared to pay for this, if - and I repeat IF - we manage to have this help we will be obliged to fulfil any request, any price … and it may be higher then what you are thinking of … but this is a one-way route, no retreat and no banter, once we start we cannot turn back, understood ? "
" You have my word Severus, and my Oath as a wizard … I ask for help and I will pay the price it comes with, this I swear "
" You have my Oath too Severus "
" Mine too Snape, just do your best to get that Guardian to help us"
later, at the mysterious Guardian's house
" Severus ! Welcome my dear, it's so good to see you again, let me hold you … I've missed you my darling "
" Me too, me too "
a warm embrace and a peaceful silence lulled two people in bliss for a long time, then they separated just enough to sit comfortably on the couch in front of the fireplace
" My visit is not just out of kindness, nor only because I missed you … I came here to ask you the favour of a whole life … not for me as you've already granted it to me before I was able to realize I needed it, but for a young man who needs it to save us all … I may offer you the Oath of three wizard in exchange, their life-binding promise to fulfil your requests in exchange for your assistance … "
" Slow down Severus … what are you asking ? and why are you so eager to offer me a compensation? … explain yourself my darling …"
" I … We … He … well, it's a bit complex and it's a long story …"
" Then start it at the beginning, and do not ward your words … plain English will be better too "
a soft chuckle was all what Severus was able to manage, nothing like being here, in front of the best ever friend of his, the strange friend met in the darkest hour of his life, the one who managed to restore hope in his broken heart … saviour, anchor, lighthouse, safe harbour from the tempest, food for his soul, warmth for his body, respite from the battle … his friend … the most precious person in his whole life after his mother, the only one who could manage to protect the life of that bloody young man who had slowly cut a path in his life and had made a nest in his lonesome heart …
" The war between Light and Darkness has not ended, the Dark Lord had managed to get a body and is now strong again, and getting stronger … the side of Light needs help both in gathering information and in sheltering the young man who is destined to defeat him … "
"Nonsense! You better then anybody else should know that there is not such a thing as destiny … especially if a madman speaks of a glorious destiny or of a higher need or of the side of the Light … we both know that there may be no Light without Darkness as well as Darkness do exists only as long as it is weaved with Light … so stop blabbing about this crap and just tell me the facts"
" In our world all is simplified in Light and Darkness and Voldemort is now embodying Darkness and through his actions had delivered the role of saviour on the shoulders of a young man, now just turning sixteen … a prophecy had laid upon this young man the chance to defeat this Dark Wizard and to grant peace at the whole wizard world … "
" Humph … same old crap … a poor young man has to do all the dirty work his elders had not the strength nor the balls to deal with … "
" May be you are right, may be we are just too stupid to see what has to be dealt with at the right time .. anyway, now we need help … this young man needs your help or he will not survive … "
" Answer a question Severus, and please do not play with words … are you asking my help for the welfare of the wizard world or for the safety of this young man? What's his name by the way? And why do you care so much for his well-being? "
" His name is Harry James Potter, his parents were at school with me … he had already faced Voldemort and scorned him six times … he is the one marked by Voldemort as the only one who could defeat him once and forever … "
" … and ? … "
" … and … and … he is the man I've fallen in love with … even if he is still my student and I should be ashamed of myself at only thinking of him in such a way … "
" Are you ashamed of being in love? "
" Yes, he is a young beautiful man, a very strong and powerful wizard, a pure soul … and twenty years younger then me … "
" Love is nothing to be ashamed of Severus, I thought we had this conversation some years ago …
and if you find pleasure in a person of your same sex that is nobody's business … as long as your partner is consensual and willing no one has the right to bad-mouthing you and your choices … "
"Same sex relationship are not despised in wizard world, in fact they are quite common … I know it is not this way in muggle world but that's not important … what matters is that my role in this war had fixed me in a hateful model of evil bad mannered nasty figure of a git … and that is all that he will ever able to see, so I fear … "
" I guess you have not spoken to him of your feelings, uhmmm ? "
" No … never … but now my feelings are of no importance, Harry has problems in blocking the interfering presence of Voldemort in his nights and days, he scares the shit out of him each bloody day and allows him no rest at night, he shows him the hell … rapes, tortures, killings … and Harry had not managed to learn Occlumency in the proper way to forbid him access to his mind … "
" Are you still working as a spy ? "
" Yes, but my position in the Inner Circle is neither so sure nor so useful as was once, I've managed to gain very few information in the last times so a new strategy is required … and soon … "
" And I suppose you are thinking of showing young Harry the Paths of the Deads … are you sure he would be willing of walk on those dark ways? A pure soul is not enough, he will need a strong will and a blinding courage as well … "
" He was sorted in Gryffindor … so he is qualified for the work … "
" Quit belittling the boy … he could not be so bad if you had fallen in love with him … I know you Severus Salazar Snape, you are not easy to be pleased so he surely has lots of good qualities … "
" He has … he is a strange mixture of innocence, cunning intelligence and boyish foolishness … the Golden Gryffindor Boy Who Lived … "
" Nicknames Severus? I thought you hate those … by the way you too could fit that one, except for the reference to your school house of course … "
"He survived a killing course before being 2 years old, I never did anything nearly as dangerous … "
" You did, you walked on the Path of the Deads while still alive and not just once … you dared to step on those dark paths without proper protections, without any guide, without the help granted to and by a Guardian … it's your faultless soul that had protected you and had called for me when you were in need, and it was your soul, spilling out you fearless eyes, that had called out for me and bribed me to help you, to teach you, to be there for you ever since … "
" Now is Harry who needs your help, I'm not able to pass him my experience or knowledge as you do well know … the wizard world will give you what you will ask for your tutorage …"
" Teaching those ways is not a matter of price, nothing can trick me into this and you know it, don't you? Nobody can offer me something valuable enough to betray my whole Rede and discover the hidden ways to a wizard … if your race was meant to learn them then a Guardian would have been appointed to that not-at-all pleasant task … and believe me I do not know of any Guardian who had been asked of - "
" Voldemort must be stopped, I am no longer able to spy on his Hinner Circle and somebody else must find a way to gather information about the mad man's intentions … Harry is the one named in the prophecies, the one who could manage to put an end to all this mad bloody war and we are not able to teach him how … I'm not able to help him … please … I .. I need to find a way, any way to help him to survive … I will do all you will ask me in order to keep him safe and sound, alive and happy … all …"
" Have you heard your own word my friend ? are you sure what you are asking for ? "
" I do … I Severus Salazar Snape offer you my life, my body, my soul and anything I own to you and the Guild of the Guardian as payment for your help in granting Harry James Potter survival, happiness and a safe harbour from the Darkness for the rest of his life … Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Spirit be my witnesses in this Oath "
a thunder broke the silence and this signed the oath, granting Severus the right to ask that favour and the opportunity to see the Guardian tutoring and helping the man he loved more then himself
" Witnessed … the Gods have heard and answered … I will help him Severus and will keep him safe till he will be truly happy for the rest of his life, no matter what will be required from me or from you to realize what you have asked for, we both are bonded to make this young man happy, I really hope he will be worth all what you have offered for … lead the way to your place … "
The face of Severus was happy and sad at the same moment, he took the few steps who allowed him to embrace his beloved friend and embraced the smaller figure of the Guardian apparating them both first on firm ground outside the isle, then at the door of the Order's Headquarters, distance was not a problem for a powerful wizard as he was, not even with a muggle in his harms …