Summary: Harry James Potter has always been anything but normal. Why should Hogwarts be any different? The Sorting Hat brings back an age-old tradition for the special little boy: Apprenticeship. AU Year One- mentor-father/son relationship
Warnings: mentions of past verbal abuse and neglect, and mild use of corporal punishment
Rating: T/PG13- some content may not be suitable for younger kiddies.
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, objects, places, etc. belong to the wonderful J.K Rowling. I'm simply borrowing them for my own evil deeds and will return them later.
A/N: Oh my goodness- I cannot BELIEVE all the reviews and hits and alerts this fic has gotten. WOW! A HUGE shout out to everybody who reviewed- especially to Padawan Jan-AQ for clearing up lactose intolerance (which is NOT an allergy- my mistake) and the first reviewer for this fic: slashslut.
Also: if Harry seems much younger than he does in the books, that is done for a reason. Harry is a recently-turned eleven-year-old, still a child in elementary school in America. He is a small child both mentally and physically thanks to the Dursley's neglect, and will act accordingly around Severus.
The red meat allergy is also very real- my best friend is lactose intolerant and allergic to red meat, which gave me the idea to saddle Harry with this.
The "Introduction to Magic" class is one of my own invention, which all Muggleborns, Muggle-raised, and half-bloods are required to take to get integrated into the Magical World.
Enjoy!
Apprentice
Chapter Two: Explanations
Previously: "Well, Mister Potter, you have your new mentor." Severus said, standing before Harry with his arms crossed. Harry gazed up at the professor, his bottle-green eyes trusting. For the first time he could remember, he knew he could trust this adult. After all, the Sorting Hat was never wrong.
~*~
Severus gazed down at Harry, the boy reaching for his teacup. He cleared his throat, retaking his seat. "Do you have any questions about the apprenticeship, Mister Potter?" He queried, crossing his ankles and retaking his tea.
"Yes, sir. Er, Draco Malfoy explained it a little bit, but I'm still confused. How long does it last? Where will I stay? Do I have a House? Will I take classes with the rest of my year? What am I Apprenticing in? Are you my guardian now? What are the rules? Why are there so few Apprentices?" Harry shot off, taking his new mentor off guard.
Severus stared at the boy, trying to take in the rapid-fire questions just shot his way. His kept his jaw from dropping- he didn't expect so many questions, let alone said so quickly. Holding in a chuckle, he sipped his tea, trying to decide where to start. "It will last as long as it takes you to learn all that you can or reach a Mastery in the subjects of your mentor. You will attend classes with the rest of the year, probably with my Slytherin's, but you will reside in my quarters and not be associated with a singular House. I am now your magical guardian, and depending on what you're relatives want, you will either spend holiday's with them or me. If they are deemed unfit or protest the apprenticeship, then custody will be transferred to me. You will be studying Potions, Mind Magics, Wandless and Wordless Magic, and Defense in addition to your normal classes. We will go over the rules once you have gotten a full physical from Madame Pomfrey, and determine them in our quarters. As for why there are so few Apprentices, Mister Potter, I have no idea." He explained, the little boy next to him gazing at him with wide, eager eyes.
"I- I get to learn all that?!" He exclaimed breathlessly. Severus chuckled, shaking his head lightly.
"Don't get too excited, Mister Potter. You have a full first-year class load, which includes Herbology, Transfiguration, Astronomy, History of Magic, Charms, Potions, Flying, An and An Introduction to Magic. Add on addition Defense and Potions classes, as well as Mind Magics, which will be simple meditation at this point, and an introduction to wandless and wordless magic. You, Mister Potter, are going to be a very busy little boy." Severus said, quirking his lips as Harry's eyes grew round.
"Brilliant, sir!" He exclaimed, dunking a biscotti into his tea.
Severus snorted behind his teacup as the office door opened, Dumbledore and the other Heads of House entering the office.
"Hello, m'boys!" Dumbledore exclaimed, taking his seat behind his desk and conjuring extra chairs with a flick of his wand. Severus conjured more teacups, passing them around as the other teachers took their seats. Harry nibbled nervously on his biscotti, edging back in his chair.
"Lemon drop?" He asked jovially, holding a crystal dish out. Flitwick took one, grinning his thanks. Harry shook his head, declining with a polite "no, thank you". Years of cleaning with lemon-scented cleaning products had turned him off of anything lemon-y.
"So, Mister Potter- did the Hat make a decision?" Flitwick squeaking to the boy, Harry turning to the small man.
"Yes, sir. It named Professor Snape as my mentor." Harry said softly, swirling his biscotti in the teacup.
"What?! Albus, you cannot let this go on! Severus hates the Potters!" McGonagall butted in, leaping to her feet. Harry jerked back at the outburst, spilling his tea on his lap.
"I- I'm sorry!" He whispered, turning scared, green eyes up to Severus. Sensing the child's fear, Severus cleaned up the tea with a twitch of his finger, gently settling a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"It's alright, nobody's mad you've spilt the tea. Professor McGonagall isn't mad at you, Mister Potter." Severus soothed, ignoring McGonagall's outburst. Knowing that they weren't going to be needed anymore, Severus gently took Harry's teacup, setting it alongside his on the table. He stood, smoothing his robes, beckoning Harry up with him. He set his hand softly on Harry's tense shoulder, catching Albus' eye and getting a nod. "If all you're going to do is frighten Mister Potter, Minerva, then we'll take our leave now." He said coolly, catching her attention. She spun around, her eyes flashing. She opened her mouth to speak when she glanced down, spotting Harry.
The little boy was clearly scared. His green eyes were wide behind huge, Coke-bottle glasses, and he was half-hidden in Severus' robes. As Minerva turned to them, he cringed, burying his face is Severus' side, his hands clinging to his robes. Her jaw dropped, forming an "o" as Severus sneered. With a curt good-bye, he turned, mindful of the child clinging to him before sweeping from the office, leaving a speechless Minerva McGonagall behind him.
~*~
Harry kept a tight hold on his mentors robes as the stairs slowly spun downwards. Severus stepped off, gently trying to disentangle Harry's hands from his robes. "Let go, child. We have to walk and you can't be all tangled in my robes." He said, gently squatting down to Harry's level. Blushing and stammering apologies, Harry let go of his fistfuls of black robes, stumbling backwards as if burned. Strong hands gently caught the front of his robes, pulling him forward.
"I'm not mad at you, child. Neither of us will be able to walk if you're in my robes. Now, you need a physical. Would you like it in the Hospital Wing with Madame Pomfrey or with me in our quarters?" Severus said gently, settling his hands on Harry's shoulders.
Harry bit his lip- was there a wrong answer? Nervously, he looked up at Severus. The man seemed harsh, but he'd been nothing but gentle towards Harry. For a child who was used to only angry words, an adult focusing all of their kind, caring, attention on him was unfathomable. An eleven-year-old with the psyche of a young child, yearning for someone kind, was incredibly impressionable. Between a woman he didn't know and the professor in front of him, the answer was clear cut.
"You, sir." He murmured, green eyes meeting ebony.
Severus gently squeezed his shoulders before straightening up. "Come then, Mister Potter." He said, offering his hand to the wary eleven year old. Harry eyed his hand, cautiously reaching out to take it. Severus offered him a small smile before beginning a soft, sedate walk to his quarters.
~*~
Contrary to public opinion, Severus was not a dungeon-dwelling bat. Yes, his office and labs were down there, but he'd prefer somewhere with sun and other people. The dank and dreary dungeons did not meet that criteria. He went down the main staircases, turning at the second floor to a painting of a string quartet playing. He leaned forward, Harry's small hand still clasped in his, gently pushing on the small harpsichord in the painting. The portrait sung forward, the quartet still merrily playing as Severus gently pushed Harry into the rooms ahead of him. As the crossed the threshold, the portrait swinging closed softly behind them, scones in the wall and candle-light floor candelabras flared to life. With a gentle flick of his wrist, the fireplace roared up casting away the rest of the shadows. Severus gently steered toward the fireplace and the couch in front of it.
"All right, Mister Potter, go ahead and sit down." Severus directed, sitting Harry in the middle of the cushions. "Now, I'm going to cast a diagnosis spell on you. That will tell me if you have any injuries or illnesses. After that I'm going to do a full scan- that will tell me of all your past injuries, illnesses, and allergies. All right?" Severus asked, kneeling in front of the child.
Harry looked at him nervously, biting his lip. "Will it hurt?" He asked softly, fiddling with the edge of the cushion.
Severus shook his head, trying to reassure the child. "No, Harry. All I have to do is have my wand over you, and then it'll record the details on a piece of parchment. You might feel the magic tingling and dancing over you, but that's it." He said, drawing his wand and Summoning a scroll of parchment.
"O- okay." Harry stammered, pressing back into the cushions as Severus slowly raised his wand, gently murmuring the basic diagnostic spell. The child gave a light gasp, feeling the magic swirl over his skin, warming him. He let out a light giggle, green eyes dancing.
Severus held in a chuckle as Harry giggled- he hadn't heard the little boy laugh. He turned serious as he turned to the parchment, his mood darkening as he read it.
Name: Potter, Harry James
Age: Eleven years, one month
Height: 4'8"
Weight: 7 stone 3 pounds
Current injuries: Mild bruises on upper arms
Current illness: Mild anemia, remnants of pneumonia, malnutrition
Severus looked back up at Harry as the scan finished, taking in the little boy. The height and weight alone were enough proof of neglect, and added in the untreated anemia and pneumonia with that and the malnutrition, well any sane Wizarding Child Social Worker would take the boy out of his relatives custody. The bruises on his upper arms were definitely from an angry adult treating him roughly.
"Well done, Harry. Now I just need to run a full scan, alright? It's better if you lay down for this." He explained, Harry nodding and stretching out on the long couch. Severus realized just how little Harry was when the child lied down- he was practically dwarfed in the cushions.
Once again, Severus raised his wand, murmuring the longer scan as he ran his wand along his apprentice's body from head to toe and back again, letting the scan do it's job.
It took a good three minutes for the scan to finish, and Severus couldn't help but shake his head as he read it. Harry was indeed lactose intolerant (though he had to clear up his misconception that it was an allergy), as well as having an allergy to red meat. His lungs were delicate- evidence of too many chest colds left untreated- and he needed a potion on hand in case he had an asthma attack. Thankfully, it seemed the Dursley had rarely hit Harry- he had no broken bones or unexplained injuries, but he did have bruises on his arms and ribs. But knowing Petunia as he did (oh, and he knew her very well. Even when they were children Petunia loved to screech and cut other people down), Severus knew that Harry would suffer from self-confidence issues. His eyesight was very poor, but Severus knew he could brew a potion to correct it, and then they'd be rid of those horrible spectacles for good.
"Is, is it done, sir?" Harry asked nervously, eyeing his mentor.
Severus shook himself out of it, gazing down at the boy. "Yes, Harry. You did very well. I need to fetch a few potions and balms for you. But first I'll show you to your room." He said, straightening up.
Harry scrambled to his feet, his eyes wide as he stared up at Severus. "I- I get my own room? A whole room, just for me?" He gasped, disbelief in his eyes.
"Of course, child. You're a growing boy, you need your own space. Come along, now." Severus said gently, holding out his hand for Harry again. A nervous, small hand gripped his own as Harry trailed after Severus down the small hall.
"This door is my room. You're allowed in, but please knock before entering. Here is the library, which you are always allowed in. The door at the end leads to my Potions lab, which you are not allowed in without me, and this is the bathroom. And this, young Mister Potter, is your room." Severus said, giving a quick tour. He swung the door open, stepping in and gently pulling Harry in with him. He light the wall scones with a wrist flick, Harry gasping as he took in the room.
In the brief, whispered conversation he'd had with the house-elf in the Headmaster's office, Severus had requested a room for Harry be added to his quarters. The elves had certainly outdone themselves.
A medium-sized four-posted was tucked against the wall, a nightstand next to it. A small table and two chairs were under the window, bookcases next to the chairs. A wardrobe was against the far wall, next to a fireplace. A desk took up the last wall, below a wide window overlooking the lake and Quidditch pitch. A wooden perch with dishes was next to it, Harry's snowy owl dozing on it.
Severus smirked lightly as Harry let go of his hand, cautiously walking farther into the room. "This is all mine?" He asked breathlessly, turning to face Severus.
"Yes, child. If you don't like something or want something else, we can change it. Now- how do you want the colors?" Severus asked, standing next to Harry.
Lost, the little boy looked up at him. It was clearly a lot for the child.
"What is your favorite color, Harry?" Severus asked gently, squatting next to the boy.
"Blue, sir." Harry said softly, wringing his hands in his robes.
With a swish of his wand, Severus had the bedroom walls painted a deep blue the color of the sea by his cottage. The carpet, bed hangings, and curtains were a rich cream, which the bed coverings took the same color as the walls.
"Brilliant, sir!" Harry breather, gazing at Severus with a shy grin.
Severus chuckled, straightening up. "Unpack, child. I'll check your things in case you're missing anything, and we can make a trip to Hogsmade for them. Change into your pajamas- it's straight to bed for you after I give you the potions, understand?" Severus said, mock serious.
"Yes, sir!" Harry exclaimed, scrambling for his trunk as Severus left.
~*~
Harry couldn't believe it. He had an entire room all to himself! For a little boy he grew up in a cupboard for ten years, and then a room full of broken toys for a month, having an entire room to himself was a novelty. The room was amazing- even if the bookcases and desk and wardrobe were empty. Harry knelt next to his trunk, gently opening the heavy lid. His robes and school uniform were hung up in the wardrobe, the hand-me-downs from Dudley going in the drawers. Shiny black shoes, along with scruffy trainers were set neatly next to the door. He kept his schoolbooks and shrunk cauldron in a rucksack, hanging neatly over the desk chair. The rest of the candy from the train was put in a desk drawer, Harry keeping some parchment, quills, and ink on the desk. The supplemental books were put on the very empty bookcase, along with Muggle books Harry had nicked from Dudley's second room. After setting a zipped bag of his toiletries on his nightstand, Harry double-checked his trunk before closing it and sliding it under his bed.
Unpacked, Harry undressed, carefully hanging up his uniform. Dressed in an old pair of boxers and a worn tee-shirt, Harry gently stroked Hedwig as he waited for Severus to come back.
"Harry? Are you ready?" Severus called from the doorway, startling Harry. He spun, jerking around as he heard the man's voice. "I'm sorry I startled you, Harry." He apologized, sitting on the edge of Harry's bed. Still slightly jumpy, Harry nervously sat next to the man.
"Now, there are a few potions you need to take. There are two you'll need to take with breakfast, so you'll get those tomorrow. This one is for your anemia." Severus explained, handing Harry a dark red vial. Once again, Harry took it without complaint. "Good Harry. Now, go clean your teeth and then I have some balm for the bruises on your arms." Severus said, standing and taking the vial back. Harry obeyed, reached for his bag and making his way to the bathroom.
Once his teeth were brushed and his face washed, Harry dropped his toothbrush and paste into a cup that Severus had given him, leaving it on the bathroom counter. His washcloth was hung over a rod, and Harry made his way back to his room with the empty bag.
Harry paused when he entered his room. Severus had taken off his robes, and was now clad in a white button-up shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, and black trousers. He held a vial of white paste in his hands, and beckoned Harry over when he saw him. "Hop up, Harry." He invited, patting the bed. Harry obliged, keeping from swinging his bare feet back and forth as Severus uncapped the jar.
"Alright, Harry. I need you to take your shirt off." Severus said softly, Harry tensing. "It's alright, Harry. I need to put the balm on your arms and ribs." He reassured, Harry slowly obeying.
Severus thanked him softly as he gently scooped some of the thick paste onto his fingers, murmuring a warming charm. Gently, soft fingers rubbed the balm onto the purple bruises on Harry's arms. Next, the gentle fingers turned to the angry bruises along his ribs. Harry kept his eyes shut as he sat still during the gentle ministrations, they flew open.
As the first few fingers brushed feather-light touches along his ribs, Harry let out a giggle- that had tickled! His mentor froze, before returning his fingers to the bruises. Just when Harry thought he could control his laughter, Severus brushed his fingers down his ribs, prompting mad laughter from the child.
"T-that tickles!" Harry protested, surprising himself and Severus with his openness. The man chuckled, screwing the lid back on and wiping his fingers on a cloth as Harry pulled his shirt back on.
"Yes, brat. Most children are ticklish." Severus said with a chuckle as he set the jar down. Harry giggled again as he tugged at his shirt collar, remembering the gentle touches.
"All right, lay down." Severus instructed, pulling Harry's covers back and gesturing for the child to get under.
Harry gazed at Severus, his eyes wide. He was going to get tucked in? Nobody had ever healed Harry's injuries, let alone tucked him into bed! It was a novelty most children took for granted, but Harry had never experienced it.
Overwhelmed, Harry crawled under the covers, Severus' strong hands pulling the sheets and comforter up and tucking them in firmly around Harry. Suddenly, a hand was coming at his face and Harry jerked back, eyes wide. "Hush, child. I'm just going to put your glasses on the table." Severus soothed, gently taking the ugly frames off the child's face. Harry blushed, burrowing into his bed.
"Would you like the curtains closed? I can light the fire for you, or conjure a night-light." Severus offered, sitting on the bed next to Harry.
Harry squinted up at the man. He'd never slept in a room this big, but the curtains would make it feel too much like his cupboard. The fire would be nice, it would keep the chill away. But a night-light? Harry had never had a problem with the dark, but at the Dursley's his cupboard had been close enough to the kitchen to let the appliance light in.
"A fire please, sir. And a night light?" Harry asked softly, his mentor obliging.
A fire roared to life, casting gentle shadows around the room. With a twist of his wrist, Severus had a clear globe in his hand.
"This globe will change into whatever color you want it to, Harry. And it'll last as long as you like. I'll leave it here, in case you close your hangings." Severus said gently, settling the globe onto the pillow next to Harry.
Green eyes focused on the globe, reaching a gentle finger to the globe. As soon as he touched it, a soft blue glow emitted, startling Harry.
"Well, done. Sleep well, Harry. I'll wake you in the morning." Severus said softly, brushing a hand through Harry's messy locks as he stood and crossed Harry's room. At the doorway, he turned, focusing on his charge.
"Harry, I'm going to leave your door open, as well as mine. If you have a bad dream or are frightened, feel free to come wake me, alright?" He called, hand on the doorknob.
"Kay." Harry called softly, already giving into sleep.
Severus' lips quirked up in a smile as he turned the lights off with a wrist flick, before he
gently made got made his way to his room, casting a spell to alert him if Harry woke up or had a nightmare as he got ready for bed. Exhausted, he collapsed into bed, quickly giving into his own need for sleep.
He was awoken four hours later to a silent alarm going off, alerting him something was wrong with Harry.
~*~
Please review?!
Next chapter: Severus lays down a few rules for Harry, classes start, and Harry makes a few new friends.