Severus Snape surveyed his class with a sneer, third year Hufflpuffs and Ravenclaws he honestly wondered how the crew of brainless twats got into the school. He watched with a groan as two moody Hufflpuffs avoided each other, probably because of some melodramatic break-up...and there go the lacewings. His wand was out in a flash saving the two from a dangerous explosion, he mentally sighed as amazed looks were sent his way. Honestly, did they think that after all these years of teaching he wouldn't see the warning signs? He noticed with vague amusement that the one Hufflpuff had foolishly thrown himself in front of his partner as if his pathetic form could save her from the wrath of a cauldron explosion. Yet all the same the girl turned all goo-goo over his apparent valiant attempt at saving her life.
"Enough!" he hollered, frightening his students into silence, though not before the girl could smother her rescuer in a rather sloppy kiss. The students shivered in anticipation waiting for him to explode, which he did, letting anyone on the first three floors know of his displeasure. Thank Merlin it was his last class of the day he groused as he swiftly gathered his things and like a ghost slid strait through the stone wall and into his chambers. It was well known that he allowed no one into his suite, not even Albus Dumbledore much to his displeasure knew where they were and how to get into them of course Severus was a private man, so it was to be expected.
"Hello, son." The soothing voice of his mother greeted from where her portrait (the only surviving one thanks to his mudblood father) hung over the fire place. His face relaxed as he turned his eyes on her, no matter what anyone said he thought her beautiful. Long silky black hair cascaded over her petite shoulders contrasting brilliantly with her pale skin; she was wearing the green silky dress he had bought her when he was twelve. He remembered working hard selling potions by owl so that he could buy it for her the summer of his fourth year at Hogwarts.
"Hello, mother I trust you are well?" He smiled gently at her, as she chuckled her entire face lighting up.
"As well as a portrait can be, my son." She was in fact the only one he let his guard down around, the only portrait he trusted in his rooms, he moved closer to her portrait allowing the warm flames in his fire place to sooth his aches. "Any news on the Potter boy?" She questioned softly, ignoring his sneer of disgust. Truly, he was surrounded by fools; both of his supposed masters were utter fools.
"From what I know he has escaped the Dark Lord's clutches, and has yet to return to Hogwarts-though I don't see why he would." It was well known that the Potter boy had left what was now the golden duo it seemed that while he matured from the weights placed on his shoulders by the wizarding world, they stayed the same. Fight after fight between Ron Weasly and the Granger girl had finally taken its toll on the boy-who-lived who got tired of being the go-between. It was the final straw when he found out that they were both using him against each other sending him in a terrible rage. There were still scorch marks on the walls of the great hall and some of the tables had to be replaced because his wrath enabled anyone to repair them magically. He chuckled slightly, he knew well where the boy got his temper; Lily was just the same at his age.
"Perhaps he's finally realized that he has the potential to be more than an asset in this war." His mother intoned as he set his things down on the low coffee table sighing in contentment as the spicy aroma of his favored brand of tea wafted up to his nose. Severus was a very paranoid man, he trusted no one but himself, being a spy for both sides of the war he had a good reason to be paranoid, this was why he had no house elves. It was why no one knew where his rooms were or what they looked like, he trusted no one but himself which was also why his quarters were charmed to suit his needs, much like the room of requirements with the acceptation that his furniture was and atmosphere was never changed. The elegantly carved furniture was created by him and for him, a hobby he picked up when he was still young. Even the floors had more use than to simply walk on them- but no one knew what for.
"Indeed, the boy is powerful despite that confounded Potter blood running through his veins." A delicate cup was lifted to his lips, part of a set he had ordered strait from India, it would keep the contents heated no matter how long the tea sat untouched-it would also poison any one who dared try to use them without his permission.
"Now Severus I know that the boy bullied you," Severus snorted before taking another sip. "-but he is dead, you can't hate the dead, its bad class." She said snidely his sneer marring her own features. He sighed in contentment as with a thought his shoes were turned into comfortable slippers and his cloak disappeared to be cleaned. The brilliantly designed carpet below his coffee table shimmered slightly almost purring as he stretched his weary body out, the rug would glue any ones feet still if danger towards its owner was detected, but it also warmed up heating his feet through the slippers.
"The man had no class, therefore he deserved no class." Snape retorted letting his favored chair massage his aching back just as easily as it would trap an enemy should he wish it. His mother tisked at him from where she hung, but he simply smirked, he knew that she hated Potter just as much as he did simply because he did, such was their bond.
"How long is this tug-of-war going to last do you think? It seems that it has been going on forever." She note nonchalantly, though she narrowed her eyes on her son a smirk playing at her lips. "Though you seem to be reaping the benefits happily." It was true, he had to admit that he was a bit of a comfort whore, every move he made in this war was for his own benefit, he supposed though that he could blame it on the fact that he had little comfort as a child. When his mother died at the hand of his father, his grandfather had refused to take in his half-blooded grandchild. He was seventeen, of age and therefore did not need help any longer was his grandfather's reasoning. Severus, knowing well before his mother died that he would have to fend for himself had created an alternate identity for himself as the half-blood prince, known around the world for his potions, sold only through owls. He shrugged nonchalantly at the veiled jibe, the potions business made him rich.
"And why shouldn't I benefit? Fools produce fool's gold, Slytherins who are smart enough- take that gold." His mother chuckled in her frame. In all truth his Grandfathers rejection of him had only solidified his idea of self-sufficiency, if he wanted something he had to get it himself. And so he had, every life that was lost in this war was a gain to him; he had a deal with the greedy goblins who respected him because he respected them. Many looked down at them, not truly seeing their power, but he had at an early age seen their craftiness, and with a few transactions had charmed them to his side. Every goblin-made item he found was returned to them and every time a life was lost to the war without any heir, the money was transferred half to his banks and half to theirs. The wizarding world was none-the-wiser since it was hinted at that the money was considered null after a family line ended, though why no one bothered to ask where all the gold went was beyond him, probably some goblin trick. He truly no longer needed the money, but it had become a sport to him almost a treasure hunt if you will.
"Mistress Snape? May I have a word with you?" Albus Dumbledore's overly cheery voice called. Severus sent her an apologetic look as she stood to leave. She was the only link to Severus' rooms that the paranoid man would allow the aging headmaster; he was not after all blind to his manipulations. The man would have long since disposed of him if he knew all of his secrets it was that very same curiosity that kept Severus alive all those years. Curiosity after all, killed the cat- the pun was very much intended towards the sly old Gryffindor.
"The cat that chased the snake was in the end bitten and never again did wake." He murmured to himself over the lip of his cup, smiling at his own rhyme, as his slippers turned back to shoes and his cloak returned to him smelling fresh and clean.
"He wishes to speak to you, said it was rather urgent though I did give him a good tongue-lashing for interrupting our conversation." She huffed daintily returning to the chair in the portrait. He smirked, no matter what she said she would have been a Slytherin if she had attended Hogwarts instead of Durmstong. With ease he strode to where his floo powder sat innocently within a bowl that could easily slice any hand but his off if they dared reach inside. With a curt bow towards his mother he threw the powder in and entered with a shout of "Old cat's office" a name that never ceased to amuse his mother.
"Lucius Malfoy has gone missing." The headmaster said as soon as Severus entered. One sculpted eyebrow rose at the accusing gazes that surrounded him, it seemed that the Order would never fully trust in him which in all truth worked to his benefit.
"Well he hasn't shown up at my floo grate if that's what your implying" he snarked, watching as immediately the headmaster's face became remorseful.
"I was not implying that my dear boy, I know very well how much you enjoy your...privacy. We were just wondering if you might know anything about his rather abrupt disappearance. It seems that, just before his flight he had divorcé papers drawn up against Narcissa leaving her and his son penniless." Severus did his best not to snarl. Great that meant that he would be expected to take them on! Dumbledore's face softened seeing the rage in Severus's eyes and mistaking it for anger at his one-time friend for leaving his godson penniless. "My dear boy, I know that this has to be hard on you, but these are dark times approaching and-" he frowned as a new initiate fresh from the Gryffindor crop spoke up.
"and the bastard is a bloody Slytherin! Of course he would slip out on his family, the lot of you would given half the chance!" Dumbledore cleared his throat as Severus was about to curse the boy into oblivion. Severus sneered and returned his wand to its place glaring at the boy who dared speak ill of his house.
"Forgive me headmaster, but I have not seen nor heard of him since my last meeting and that was," he winced for emphasis "the evening that Potter was brought before us." An entirely real look of disgust crossed his features; he honestly wished he hadn't been there for that particular meeting. A depressed atmosphere seemed to seep into the room at the mention of the boy-who-lived, though with occlumancy Severus could tell that the only thing they were sad about was loosing their only potential weapon. He sneered as her realized that none of them truly cared for the boy himself.
"If I may be so forward headmaster- why exactly is it that you never sent out a rescue team for him? I told you of many opportunities when they arose yet you never acted." He narrowed his eyes knowing exactly why the headmaster hadn't rescued the boy, he simply didn't matter. As long as the headmaster was sure that the boy was alive enough to gather information and be his weapon it didn't mater that he was raped and beaten and starved. Even the small amount of information the boy might have had on the Order was unimportant if found, and the prophesy was a fake not that the dark lord knew this of course. Although the stores of gifted rare potions ingredients told differently not that Dumbledore would ever learn of them seeing as they were in his rooms, he smirked.
"It would risk too many lives Severus, besides from what you've told me he's escaped and is probably well on his way to returning." The old coot said his face lighting up enthusiastically along with every other face in the room. Severus if permitted would have rolled his eyes, but instead he made his face solemn his eyes flat almost dead.
"Headmaster." The room quieted instantly at his expression. "If you had witnessed what I have you would not be smiling so brightly." He sighed deeply and shook his head forbidding the images that wished to replay in his mind. "Harry Potter is undoubtedly gone." And with that warning he swept through the floo.
"Sir?" A voice questioned in the back of the room breaking the heavy silence. Dumbledore could have cursed his spy at the moment. He nodded his head gravely at the boy.
"Yes?" He asked sounding wise and old.
"What did he mean?" The headmaster sighed heavily for effect, but before he could answer a voice interrupted him.
"What my dear professor Snape means," The room gasped as Harry Potter stepped from the shadows; a rather content Fawks perched on his forearm. "Is that I am no longer your, boy-who-lived." The room watched as Albus Dumbledore stood with a benign smile on his old face his arms open to hold Harry.
"Harry, my boy! We're so glad to see you safe! We-" He froze quickly loosing his smile as none other than Lucius Malfoy stepped from the shadows his wand trained on the old headmaster. Harry let out a hearty laugh at the confused expressions the Order was giving him as he stepped back and into Lucius' firm chest loving how a protective arm was immediately draped about his torso. The headmaster watched as Fawks flew to her perch squawking angrily at him while Harry smiled fondly at her before his eyes gleamed wickedly. He threaded his fingers with his pets before pulling the man down for a hungry kiss. The room gasped and Dumbledore fell back into his chair. After a moment Harry pulled away though all in the room could tell that he was reluctant to.
"You know headmaster, all this time I was so sure that you would rescue me, I put my trust in you and waited for help even as they whipped me," Those in the room flinched "cursed me," Molly Weasly let out a sob "raped me!" His voice became frantic green eyes glowed with suppressed rage, Lucius tightened his hold around the boy offering him comfort while protecting him with his wand. Harry breathed harshly but clamed slightly; his voice though came out as nothing more than a bitter whisper. "Until finally one of Voldemorts' spies let slip that you weren't even trying to save me." He laughed humorlessly as his free hand reached up to stroke Lucius' silky hair.
"Harry child-" Dumbledore tried but was cut of with an angry hiss.
"Not so much a child any more!" Harry spat, though his features showed him grinning as he tugged Lucius' hair causing the man to groan. Dumbledore winced but he made no move, he decided to try a different approach to the boy.
"Harry" He said condescendingly watching as the boy tensed and sneered at him. "You know that we are already short on members." He tried to look old and weary. "Sometimes, though I'm not proud of it I am forced to make sacrifices-" Harry snorted and moved closer to Lucius. "I knew that you would be strong my boy, I knew that you would escape. Which was why I chose not to risk another life, it is a cruel world Harry and I am sorry you seem to be bearing the brunt of it." He did his best, and could see the boy falling for though his hold on Lucius had not relaxed at all.
"Headmaster, you are a fool." He whispered and just as silently as he appeared he disappeared. Albus slumped down into his chair, what had he done!? No one noticed mistress Snape slide out of her portrait a grin on her face.