I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER
He had all the love in the world and, why wouldn't he? He was the Boy-Who-Lived after all. He had the love of his parents and the entire wizarding world, Daniel James Potter had stolen all their hearts. He had auburn hair like his mother but unkempt like his father and caramel brown eyes like his father but sharpen and slanted like his mother. Everyone had failed to remember that he wasn't the only one in his crib but also Harry James Potter as well, his twin. Yet, it was the world's greatest wizard since Merlin that proclaimed him as the Boy-Who-Lived, Albus Dumbledore. Baby Harry was left unwatched hereon for servants of Potter Manor to look over. A couple of times his brother would go looking for him only to be scolded by their father that Harry was deemed unworthy for Daniel to play with. His brother had the friendship of the youngest Weasley clan, Ronald Weasley, to play with while Harry had only his solitude.
Now as Harry grew up and at the age of nine, he wondered over how his brother became famous because of a scar on cheek left behind by an evil wizard, supposedly. From what he read from history books, it was told that his brother rebounded the dark killing curse back at the evil wizard and destroyed him but before he died he left a scar on his brother's cheek of an initial V on his cheek, marking him as his equal.
No one bothered to look under unkempt black hair of Harry to notice there was a lightning shape scar in the center of his forehead. The servants who watched him had noticed it but pushed it off as him falling and scratching himself. Young Harry looked from a peek opening into the ballroom to see everyone celebrate Daniel's birthday while he stayed hidden. For being only nine, young Harry's mind was vast, he was intelligent, for the books in the Potter Manor was his only company and comfort.
"Blast this woman, I know we made our apologies but why in the bloody hell did she decide on inviting me to the brat's birthday? It's a waste of time, I could be prepping for new potions" Harry heard from down the hall in a man's baritone voice.
Harry didn't know whether to hide or not, he knew better than to be seen and then have the person tell his father to scold him later. Harry hid behind a mass vase next to the entrance ballroom to notice a man in flowing black robes, pale skin, a long nose, and stringy black hair approach and stopped to just stare in at the little opening Harry was watching through before.
"I should leave, it's not like the brat would appreciate the book on the Herbology behind Potion Brewing. He wouldn't even comprehend it after the title page" this had piqued Harry's interest.
The man turned away from the entrance to leave but for some reason Harry decided to speak up, "Please, sir. The boy may not understand but I would. I have studied extensively on Potions from the Potter library" Harry said slightly gripping the man's robe.
The man turned to look down at him for Harry to notice dark blue eyes that darkened even more to look like beady black eyes, "Is this some kind of prank by that James Potter, a miniature version? Only good thing about you would be the eyes" commented the man.
"I'm his other son, Daniel's twin, sir, I am Harry James Potter. Not many know of me since Daniel is the Boy-Who-Lived" Harry looked downtrodden, for not many people believed him twin of his brother.
"I see, so, you think you would understand this book, is that right?" the man eyed him oddly.
"Yes, ask me some questions, if you like" Harry encouraged the man.
"What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" the man eyed him curiously.
"Draught of Living Death, sir, it is a sleeping potion" Harry answered confidently.
"Where would you look if I tell you to find me a Bezoar?" he continued to the next question.
"It is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat, sir" Harry again responded in kind.
"What is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?" the man hoped his last question would prove to be difficult.
"They are the same plant and it even has a third name, Aconite, sir" Harry looked in hope he would receive the book.
"Are you sure you are James Potter kin? You seem far too smart to be his son" the man commented.
"Thank you, sir, you have to be the first who has complimented me but yes I am his son" Harry again looked upset.
"Here, take the book, I better not find out it has been ruined" the man said making his move to turn away again.
"Wait, I know you don't want to go to the party but how about to the kitchens. It is my way of saying thanking you" Harry held at the bottom of his robe.
"Fine, show me the way then" the man turned to face him and Harry's spirits lifted.
Harry showed him to the kitchen where it was deserted since they were in the ballroom serving the people. Harry made his way to make a plate for the man then himself and slowly walked to the servants table to set it down to eat.
"There you go, would you like anything to drink? I could even sneak you some of dad's good whiskey if you like" Harry offered.
The man raised an eyebrow at the offer, "I'll take you up on that, along with some pumpkin juice if you don't mind" he told the boy.
Harry nodded his head and quickly went about the kitchen to serve the older man his drinks first before getting some pumpkin juice for himself. He sat across from the older man, he didn't dig in to his food right away but rather watch the man.
"Aren't you going to eat?" the man asked.
"Only after you take the first bite, sir" he gave the man a smile.
"It's Snape, Severus Snape but seeing as you'll be my student in a few years' time, just call me Professor" Severus told him and then took a bit of his roast.
"Oh, Professor Snape then, even though I won't be a student of yours, I'll still refer to you as Professor" Harry said cheerily.
"Why wouldn't you be a student of mine?" Severus asked curiously.
"The little my parents do talk about me was that they were going to send me either somewhere else to school or not at all. They don't want people to associate me with Daniel" Harry said just poking at his food.
"You don't play with your food, you eat it. Also, that's quite a shame, I see some potential in you compared to the dunderheads I usually get" Severus told him then taking a sip of the whiskey.
"Well I should hope so Professor, even if they don't send me, I have been studying the books in the library and when I can, I sneak off with some ingredients to do potions" Harry admitted before taking a bite of his own food.
"You should be careful, if there is no one around to watch you, what will you do if you get hurt?" Severus asked annoyed.
"I have only had little accident and I take care of myself. I don't need to waste time running to servants" Harry admonished.
"You, foolish child" Severus scolded.
"Sorry, Professor, I will do my best to be more careful" Harry said looking down at his plate.
Severus just sighed and together they continued eating in silence.
Once they were finished and Harry cleared the dishes, Severus stood up, "I should take my leave before anyone notices me" the Professor said.
"Would you like to take some food with you?" Harry offered.
"No, I'll be fine. As for you, you should head to bed, it's getting late" the Professor pointed out.
"Yes, sir" Harry bowed in respect to him.
Before they parted ways though, something made Severus do something he never thought he would do.
"On the weekends, my godson visits me, while there I go over potions with him. If you wish to join, just floo over, say 'Severus Snape, Spinners End'. This is only if you are serious about Potions" Severus held his stare with the boy.
"Thank you, sir. This probably is the first and best gift I have ever been given. I'll make sure to study the book you have given me as well over the week" Harry said happily.
"You do that" with that the Professor left walking down the hall to outside so he could apparate home.
Harry quickly ran upstairs to the smallest room at the end of the hall to the left. He settled his new book on his bed-stand before changing into his sleeping wear to get some sleep while the party went on downstairs.
~Ballroom~
James Potter stood next to his wife Lily with his son Daniel standing front and center as they greeted everyone. Daniel had asked his dad if he could go play with his best mate, Ron. James let him go as his two old best mates approached him.
"Why look at this old codger! He has got the dame and the family, how do you feel?" joked Sirius Black the best mate of James.
"Oy! I am not that old!" he said gripping Sirius in a neck hold.
"You're almost thirty mate, I think that qualifies as old" Sirius commented through James's grip.
"We're the same age Padfoot" Remus the other best mate of James Potter commented.
"Speak for yourself Moony, don't you know that us Blacks' never age" Sirius said getting out of James hold and doing a pose he considered sexy.
"Hey, you two be quiet, Bones is here somewhere and you don't want her figuring out about you-know-what" James said to his two best mates.
"They're just nicknames, no one is going to find out anything, you're over-thinking Potter" Sirius said now putting James in a neck hold while messing up his already unkempt hair.
"I swear it's like we never left Hogwarts" Remus said looking at his two friends rough-housing with each other.
"Which reminds me, I heard Lils forgave the old bat and invited him, is that true?" Sirius asked finally letting go of James since he couldn't unfree himself.
"It's true, I couldn't believe it myself either" James said while making a lame attempt of fixing his hair.
"You think he'll actually come?" Remus asked.
"Who knows? Snivellus would deem us unworthy of his presence" Sirius said using a nickname for the man that they all held disdain for.
"Do I need to put you on a short leash?" Lily now joined the conversation after ending a conversation with Molly Weasley.
"You can tie me up and call me Scooby as long as it is you Lils" joked Sirius giving her a one-arm hug.
"You should have never introduced him to television or cartoons for that matter" Remus said running a hand over his face.
"Well at least he is coming up with something new rather than the same old crap" Lily commented.
"So, tell me Lily flower, is it true you invited the bat?" Sirius asked.
"Don't call him that and I did. You three better be nice or all of you will be in the dog house and I'll make sure to miniaturize it" threatened Lily.
"You hurt me Lils, really you do" Sirius feign hurt.
"I'm not even a dog" James said abashed.
"I've been meaning to practice my transfiguration, how about a yorkie?" she asked with a smirk.
"I'll be good" James said with his hands raised.
"Lily, where is Harry?" Remus asked looking around for Daniel's twin.
"Probably in bed, he doesn't like this sort of thing" she said with shifty eyes.
"I think any kid would like to celebrate their birthday" Remus pointed out.
"Oh, drop it Moony, it's like she said, the boy doesn't do this kind of stuff" James backed Lily up.
"Well maybe me and Sirius could go at least have a quick visit" Remus said eyeing the exit.
"He'll be asleep, you don't want to wake him, do you?" Lily said in a scolding manner.
"Oh, alright. Just make sure to give him our gift" Remus said.
"I swear with the way you and Sirius always are, you would think the two of you are married or something" James pointed out.
"Don't be ridiculous, I am too much in love with you" Sirius said kissing him on the cheek jokingly but gave Remus a side apologetic glance.
The night continued with celebration, laughter, drinks, loud noise. The next day you wouldn't even know there was a party if the servants weren't bustling about cleaning up.