Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything else for that matter.

Harry Potter sat in the great hall; it was the beginning of term and the welcome feast for new and returning students. Harry was going into 6th year. He wondered vaguely what incompetent fool Dumbledore might have hired as defence teacher this year, as he chatted idly to his best friends Ron and Hermione.

Harry had been stuck at the Dursley's all summer, mainly due to the fact that after his Godfathers death, the property at Grimmaund Place had become less secure.

The particulars of who the house belonged to were still undecided, and the order members no longer actually resided there much, just held meetings there. Everyone was worried that the Malfoy's or the Lestrange's might stroll in and demand they leave, else bring Voldemort with them and not let anyone leave.

Of course this could only happen if they had the legal right, the fidelus charm was still in effect. Sirius had written a will, and Harry had no idea what it contained. Everyone kept watching him oddly though. According to Dumbledore the order was working to its fullest capacity to try and get Sirius' will legalised, but due to Sirius being a convicted murderer that was no easy task.

His eyes made their customary sweep of the great hall and the head table, where Dumbledore sat with the teachers. His eyes came across the only unfamiliar form, he looked more closely and startled, it was Snape.

Snape's hair had been actually washed and cut, properly styled, the mans skin was glowing and his teeth were small, neat and white. Snape's robes were less formal too; he wore a green turtleneck and black trousers, with a well-fitted black robe over the top.

'What's up mate' Ron asked, after turning away from a short conversation with Dean.

'Snape Ron, look at him' Harry hissed still rather distressed, Snape wasn't meant to look like this.

'Bloody hell' Ron whispered, his eyes growing as large as saucers.

Harry, after some quick thinking came up with three possibilities, one, Snape had found love, and his efforts were for his new partner. Two, voldie had ordered his death eaters to look like smart, handsome, young men, instead of evil and menacing. Three, Snape had stopped spying.

Given all the factors, Harry was going with option three.

All around the great hall, people were now openly staring at Snape, who somehow had retained his patented death glare, and was using it fully.

This still left the Defence question. As if in reply to his idle thought. Dumbledore stood to make his announcements.

'Welcome back to Hogwarts, the sorting of 1st years is about to begin.'

Dumbledore sat back down and Professor Mcgonagall led in the very small looking 1st years. The hat sang its song, which sounded more like the one Harry remembered from his own sorting, than the strange one from last year.

When all the new students were sat among them, Dumbledore started again.

'Welcome to Hogwarts, all of you, now I have a few announcements to make. As many of you will realise, there is no defence against the dark arts teacher among us. In light of this, your tutors for this subject will be myself, professor Snape, and two of the ministries finest aurors, Miss Tonks and Mr Moody, who insist on not being known as Professor. Also helping them out we will welcome back one of our former defence teachers, Professor Lupin. Now these fine people are not among us today as they all will be carrying on their other jobs and flooing in to join us for lessons. The tutor you have for your lessons will depend upon your age and skills. I would also like to mention that the forbidden forest is as always, forbidden. Thank you for your time, now enjoy the feast.' Dumbledore clapped his hands and food appeared.

Ron tucked in, Harry sat there slightly stunned at Dumbledore's words, he knew what this meant. The Order of Phoenix was moving closer to Hogwarts, the school and its pupils were at greater risk now than any of the previous years Harry had been there.

'Hey, eat something Harry, what's wrong with you?' Ron elbowed Harry harshly and asked through a mouthful of peas.

Harry hummed in response and idly picked at a bread role, Hermione gave him the oddest look, but turned back to her own meal.

Harry was analysing Snape again, and Snape was watching him very closely and discreetly in the way that only a slytherin can. Harry noticed though, and was curious, the expression on his face was still one of dislike, but it was tinged with something else, something Harry thought he recognised as guilt, why would Snape feel guilty. Sure Harry had blamed him last year, but over the summer that blame had been apportioned to the appropriate people and forgotten about.

Grief still tinged Harry's persona, and self-blame refused to go away as quickly as the blame he gave to Dumbledore or Remus, for holding him back.

Ron and the others seemed happy to have Lupin, Tonks and Moody in the castle. Harry wasn't so sure, they seemed to serve as a painful reminder of his godfathers death, of the prophecy, of his trial last year, of Umbridge, of the summer and Christmas he spend with Sirius, only for Sirius to be so caught up in his own misery that the closeness Harry wished for had almost disappeared.

Harry remembered how close he had felt to Sirius while he was on the run. That had changed in a heartbeat at Grimmaund Place; Sirius hadn't even greeted him when he arrived. Harry had understood, and been relieved when the old Sirius came through a little over Christmas, but now Sirius was dead, and now all that dead time spent together really hurt.

Hermione had turned her funny look into a glare now, she stared pointedly at his plate once she had his attention, and Harry half hearted scooped some potatoes and beef on to his plate and begin to nibble through them and chat idly to his classmates again. Hermione smiled at him in a way that made him feel like a dog that had performed a trick. Obviously he was ok now, she had told him off and now he was behaving as his should. Hermione was so patronising sometimes. He ate his way through what was on his plate, his appetite had been diminished in his grief and he found himself less hungry than ever before. He ate what the Dursley's had given him without complaint though. He knew he had to keep some strength up for the war ahead.

With the feast over, Harry was heading up to the common room alone; Ron and Hermione had gone to do prefect duties, when he was stopped by Snape.

'Potter, come along, I need to speak with you' Snape snapped and began to turn the opposite direction.

Harry was in two minds, he really could do without this, but along came that voice again.

'Now Potter, I would like to sleep at some point you know?'

Harry sighed and followed Snape away to a nearby classroom; Snape gave him a cup of Coffee and took one for himself. Snape lit a cigarette and relaxed into a chair sighing loudly.

Harry looked on confused.

'Sit down Potter, I won't bite you boy.' Snape snarled but without the usual menace.

Harry looked doubtful but sat down with a bump, and sipped his coffee to fill the silence. He could tell Snape was searching for words to begin this conversation, whatever it was about, and he found this disconcerting as Snape was never lost for words.

'I thought you should know, I have stopped spying for the order, and left His service' Snape paused; both of them knew who He was.

'That means you are in more danger now than ever, why do you think the Order is practically moving in? You must learn to close your mind too, I will no longer be able to warn the headmaster of the plans he has for you, do you understand.' Suddenly Snape was looming over him looking dangerous, he had become more and more passionate throughout his speech. Harry met his eyes and nodded his head in ascent.

Snape sat back down again. 'Good, I will no longer be protecting you and your whereabouts, he will already have someone else in place to watch you, and that person will not be feeding him false reports, you must watch yourself, stay in bounds and follow the rules that are in place for your safety'.

'Yes Sir' Harry nodded again.

Snape nodded too, before taking another long drag on his cigarette.

'Will you be teaching me again Sir?' Harry asked quietly after a little time had passed.

Snape laughed, he actually laughed softly, a rich, deep, purr. 'Tell me Harry, did you learn anything under my tuition?'

'Err, yes sir, I learned that it is possible to read peoples minds, I learned what occulemency is.' Harry stumbled over the clumsy words.

'No, No Potter, I mean did you actually learn how to close your mind at all?' Snape asked with an air of relaxed impatience.

'Err, no Sir, my mind opened further if anything.' Harry blushed and looked away, why had he just told that to Snape, was he crazy.

Snape chuckled again 'Did you know Mr. Potter that you should never accept anything from a foe, least of all drinks?'

Harry glared at him accusingly 'What the hell is in this?' he demanded, lifting his coffee of the desk and visibly tipping the remains into a plant pot.

'A very mild truth serum Mr. Potter, it stops you from actually lying, but it doesn't make you answer, or answer properly, you dodged my first question quite nicely, almost Slytherinesque of you, wouldn't you say?'

Harry thought very carefully before answering a simple, aloof, 'Perhaps' and wishing he had one of Snape's cigarettes so he to could have that relaxed air about him that they seemed to give Snape.

Snape seemed to have caught Harry's glance. He gave him an odd look.

'Do you smoke, Potter?'

'No sir, the muggles think I'm bad enough already, I can just imagine what my aunt would say if I smoked in her house.' He said musingly.

'What would she say Potter?' Snape asked in some amusement.

'Isn't it enough that you bring your freakishness upon us, without trying to kill us all with your smoke, oh my poor Duddkins.' Harry laughed and Snape looked at him incredulously.

'Have a cigarette Harry, you seem to want one.' Snape lit another and offered it to him.

Harry took the cigarette, thinking that there must have been a relaxant in that coffee to, and why was Snape being almost nice.

'Thanks' Harry said awkwardly.

'S'ok, so tell me, what is this freakishness your aunt refers too?' Snape asked curiously.

Harry blushed and ducked, mumbling his answer.

'Come again Potter?' Snape asked with a Malfoy like sneer.

'They don't like magic' Harry said out loud.

'Ah, I see, I dislike them already Potter.' Snape said in disgust.

'Yeah well, you have to get in the queue. It forms behind me' Harry informed him bitterly, taking a drag from the cigarette, managing not to cough. 'You don't like them, and they don't like you, why do you live there?' Snape asked bemused.

'Dumbledore, sorry Professor Dumbledore says I have to, ancient blood magic is at work' He said in a misty Professor Trealawney voice, he giggled and Snape smiled indulgently at his joke.

He was still puzzled as to his newfound courage where this man was concerned, how was he having this conversation with Snape, when he would find it awkward with Ron?

'The potion is a relaxant Mr Potter, as is nicotine, the main ingredient in these things. He waved the cigarette lazily in the air. I needed one encase you turned out as bad as I imagined you were.'

'What do you mean?' Harry asked puzzled.

'Well, I don't know who you are, what you are really like, if you are like your father or totally different, I wanted to give you fair chance to show me you tonight.' Snape answered leaning further back into his chair.

'Oh, and what did you discover?' Harry asked curiously before slapping a hand firmly over his mouth.

'You would make a wonderful Slytherin with some training' Snape said dryly.

'So I've been told' Harry said just as dryly.

Snape perked up, 'By who?' Harry wasn't friendly with any of his students and the other houses would consider that an insult on the boy who lived's character.

'The sorting Hat' Harry said taking another puff of the addictive smoke, 'You would have done well in slytherin'. Harry mimicked the hat perfectly.

'Ok, so the boy who lived, poster child of the light, argued with the sorting hat over placement. Do you follow no rule boy?'

'No Sir, I make my own.' Harry smirked.

'So, why on earth, with your temperament would you want to play act as a gryfinndor of all things?' Snape asked.

'Ah, you see when I was young and innocent.' Snape snorted.

Taking a line from Fred and George, Harry continued 'Well more innocent than I am now, Hagrid fetched me from my relatives, told me I was a wizard, took me into this world and said all Slytherins were evil, and that a slytherin had killed my parents, then I met Ron, who confirmed this, then I met Malfoy, who did nothing to change my assumption. What would you have done?'

'Very well, I like to think I wouldn't have listened to those feeble gryfinndors in the first place, but if I had I might have believed them I suppose.' Snape said reflectively.

'What about now?' Snape asked.

'I don't know, I mean I know your not all evil, but I am wary of a few members of your house, and in a way I'm glad not to be rooming with them, especially with Voldemort back.'

'They are not death eaters yet' Snape chastised lightly.

'No, I know, but you can not deny that they may pose a risk to my safety.' Harry argued.

'I suppose so, I just like to think that perhaps they might see sense before its too late, or they will end up, dead, in prison or holed up in a draughty castle so the dark lord can't find them.' Snape said bitterly.

'You have to hide from him now then?' Harry asked softly.

'Yes, I had to crawl away from him, severely injured, he does not let you leave you know, he will kill me if he gets to me.' Snape said in a patronising tone.

'How did he find out?' Harry asked.

'I don't know, all that matters is that he did, luckily the Order saved me in time, he had wanted me to die slowly.'

'What will you do now?'

'Teach you lot, and new order members how to defend themselves against him, and his death eaters especially. No one can really defend against him, except perhaps you and Dumbledore.' Snape sighed.

'I can't' Harry looked sad, 'Everyone thinks I can, but last time we met, he could have killed me easily if Dumbledore hadn't saved me. He was controlling my mind to an extent that I was unable to move, let alone fight back, he flung A.K. at me; I only lived because Dumbledore sent something to block it. I'm supposed to kill him, but compared to him I'm about as useful as a muggle, not even top of my class, by a long way.' Harry looked depressed.

Snape suddenly looked stern again 'Well then fool boy, you better concentrate a bit harder on closing your mind, and start paying some attention in your classes, you have potential, but that's all it will ever be unless you start working harder. This is one of the key reasons you annoy me Potter, a bloody body full of magical power, more than I or any of your school friends could ever imagine, and you don't use it, you don't bother to learn spells, or push the barriers of your mind.' Snape was shouting at him now, and Harry was sure he might be shaken by the shoulders soon.

'I don't know how to use it, I didn't even want to until this year, I thought using it would be like opening Pandora's Box, and everyone would see me as more of a freak than I am already. I shut it away, safe where it couldn't hurt me, and I lost the key.'

'You must try to access it, I'll have your teachers push you, see if we can't find the trigger, I cannot believe that you locked away your own power at a level that only rivals Ron Weasleys. That in itself shows the true strength of your power and the control you have over it.' Snape said pensively. 'It seemed the most natural thing, I didn't want to be different, and so I pegged my level at that of my dorm mates.' Harry said, a bit more relaxed now Snape had stopped shouting at him.

Snape suddenly looked decisive. 'Right, time to stop being lazy and scared, and show some gryfinndor courage which I know you have, up on your feet.'

'I prefer the Slytherin ability to run and hide right now.' Harry said softly.

'Get up, we are going to duel Potter, a real duel, the only promise I'll make is that I won't use the killing curse, now get up and over there before I make you' Snape growled pointing at the other side of the room.

Harry knew that his potions master was far from joking, and he got up and moved quickly, pulling out his wand as he went, Snape was inclining his head as Harry turned, and quickly followed suit, a warning shot burnt his hair as he straightened up, the next spell hit is mark, and as quickly as it was dispersed more came, Harry tried to fight back, but this was not a fair duel, Snape was playing dirtier than Voldemort had at the third task, and these curses, whatever they were hurt, not one of them was childish. Crucio and Imperio were flung, the crucio missed him by a centimetre, the imperio was true, but Harry flung it off quickly. After 20 minutes of pure pain, another Crucio, this time Harry blew up, and sent all the pain and negative energy back at Snape, not even using his wand. Snape sailed back through the air; his back arched gracefully, and hit the wall, sliding down it unconscious.

Harry ran forward, worried that his teacher might be really hurt, or God forbid dead, and as he did, he felt several new sensations run through him. His body was singing with power, power he had only imagined, it seemed to run through his blood to his fingertips, and without further thought, he knew he could use it now, Professor Snape, ex greasy git, most hated teacher had showed him the way to unblock it.

He also felt his body jar in pain, from the curses and knew he would need a potion or trip to the hospital wing.

He ignored this for a moment and ran to his Professor. 'Enervate' he whispered his palm stretched over Snape's head. Snape awoke. Harry didn't know why he hadn't used his wand, except that he hadn't even thought too.

Snape got up wincing a little, but smiling a true smile at him.

'You did it' Snape said in wonderment, sinking back into his chair.

'Yes, I feel very different now' Harry said still examining his hands in wonderment 'We both need to go the hospital wing though, I can't believe you threw Crucio on me.' Harry scowled.

'You will live Mr. Potter, and I believe I was the one that was helping you, and you threw me against a wall and knocked me out. I will send you along to the hospital wing with a note shortly, I will sort myself out, and avoid Madame Pomfrey all together.' Snape said efficiently.

'That is so unfair' Harry sulked.

Snape laughed, then offered 'Well if you trust me enough I can patch you up, I have plenty of healing potions and a potion to combat the effects of the unforgivables, even though your exposure was so minimal you don't need it, the headmaster would have my head if something happened, like you sneezing for example.'

Harry laughed and nodded his ascent. Snape led Harry to his office and gave him the potion while tending to some of the larger bruises on Harry's torso and legs.

'Thank you' Harry said softly, 'For everything'

'Your welcome, some time soon, I will be calling you in for a demonstration of you new powers, goodnight Mr. Potter.' Snape said silkily.

'Goodnight Sir' Harry replied as he left the room to go to bed and contemplate what a strangle evening he had had.

Nothing stayed hidden from Albus Dumbledore very long, not within Hogwarts at least. The first thing Snape did when Harry had left was contact Dumbledore and tell him that someone had finally been brave enough to trigger Potter's power. Dumbledore had disapproved of his methods on moral grounds but overlooked them as he learned of the results.

'Tell me Severus, how did you get along with the boy?' Albus asked curiously.

Severus groaned internally, Albus was plotting again. 'Fine, he is after all not up here demanding I am fired for use of the unforgivables.'

Albus knew this was Severus' was of telling him everything had gone well, he liked the boy, Albus had hoped he might be the one to understand and get through to Harry, and it seemed to be the case.

'Good then I want you to train him, apprentice him if you will, he can stay with you in your quarters, you can teach him, and in return he can help with your classes. That's settled, you can tell him tomorrow.' Albus smiled.

'Do you not think we should ask him first, before we take him out of school, away from his house and friends?' Severus asked incredulously.

'Goodness no, we need the boy trained as soon as possible, and while he may not recognise it, you will be a good influence in his life, help him step out of his grief and depression.' Albus continued to smile.

Severus couldn't help but think Albus saw the Potter child as a weapon, and was manipulating him far too much.

'Will you tell Potter of his aunts and cousins soon Albus?' Severus asked.

'Goodness no, it would upset the poor child, he is settled in his lifestyle now, I don't want you to mention the five of them to Harry, I would be most displeased if you did, do you understand Severus?' Dumbledore asked sternly.

'Yes Sir' Severus answered as evenly as possible. He hated the threat Dumbledore had over him, disobeying that sort of direct order would likely lose him his job, home and by association, his life. He felt guilty about not telling Harry of his family, family that desperately wanted custody of him, but were kept a good distance away by Dumbledore. Harry's cousin had even been denied entrance to Hogwarts because he might connect with her and find the truth.

The real reason Harry was kept in the dark was because if Harry had a real loving guardian he would be removed from Dumbledores control, Dumbledore had allowed Sirius because while he was on the run, Albus still had control over Harry. Snape in no way believed that dumbledore couldn't have cleared the mans name, or at least hidden him at hogwarts close to Harry, but no, Albus let Sirius see Harry on occasion, so as Sirius couldn't interfere in Harry's life. In his heart of hearts, Snape knew that Black had known this too.

Snape would sort it out, but he would have to be careful, he felt very guilty about the information he held, particularly now he knew what Harry's 'family' were really like. He vowed he would find a way to make it up the boy, no man that was sat in his office only moments ago. Somehow he would reunite Rose Evans, Daisy Evans and Bodaecia Potter, with their nephew, and Isabella Evans and Grace Potter with their cousin, if it was the last thing he did. The twins had always maintained a wish of legal custody, even before they finished Hogwarts. The twins, Lily's younger sisters, had been only 17 and in their seventh year when tragedy struck, and despite being in the limelight then, they had managed to stay out of the public's eye since. Now Rose had her own daughter, Isabella was a carbon copy of her aunt Lily, a vivacious red head with a temper to match. The child harboured a desire to attend Hogwarts like the rest of the family, and to meet her only cousin, Harry Potter.

Bodaecia was another matter, Severus had been her lover at the time of the Potter's demise, and by association, she was mistrusted in society. Bodaecia wanted Potter for her own, even more than the Evans twins. A slytherin she may have been, but she was every inch the lioness when it came to her cubs, little Grace, a black haired cherub, with the Potter blue eyes. Harry came into that category for her too. 'Cia's relationship with James was rocky, he was her twin in looks, but in personality they were opposites. Until they came to Hogwarts they loved each other dearly, things started to change when 'Cia was made a slytherin, things fell apart when she dated, then moved in with Severus. Despite everything 'Cia and James still loved each other dearly, even if they didn't speak. Harry was 'Cia's last link to her estranged twin brother, and she wanted to make a go of it.

From that day Severus put a plan into action, a plan of unspeakable consequences for him, Harry, the three sisters and their children. If it worked Harry would have a family, so would he, and they would both escape Dumbledore's clutches for a while, perhaps forever.