Okay, so some of you believe that the title is for the purpose of Harry ending up with nothing.

That's not it at all.

It's just that Harry will not choose a side in anything but his own (very powerful) side and that he will manipulate all sides to his advantage.

He's the Master of making people who are good, evil, and/or grey turn to his side of things. He came up knowing and having NOTHING, and so he'll give back NOTHING. He'll manipulate anyone and everyone he can in order to have a comfortable life (for both himself and his followers). Though he still has morals and a positive spin on things, but he finds everything light, dark, or grey to be highly amusing in the sense that they'll end up with nothing (or near to nothing) in the end. He's the Nothing that they'll end up with. The real Harry Potter is a NO one, and so only those who have known NOTHING can relate to him or even hope to gain his attention.

He'll play both Dumbledore and Voldemort like fools, all the while being exactly what they both want to see; a know NOTHING boy who is quick to anger and Light-sided.

Do you understand what I'm trying to do with the title and story now? It's not that he'll lose everything, or die, or something terrible happening. It's that he came from nothing and so that is what he calls himself.

Sort of like Kingdom Hearts Organization XIII. They were Nobodies and their leader called himself "Nothing" in the sense that Nothing wasn't Light, Dark, or Grey, but truly a force of itself with no defining themes, stigmas, or actions. It takes the actions you want it to, or the ones you see in it by those who use it.

I really hope this explanation helped some, because I would really hate to lose any readers over a misconception.

Now, with that crap done, onto the show!

Chapter 3: Ever Faithful Severus


"But I still don't understand; why me? Why would all of you people want to serve me?" Harry said in sheer disbelief as the people he had met not even a full day ago were bowed before him.

Just hours ago he was sitting in a classroom with Draco, who was now amongst the kneeling people. Then Narcissa, Draco's mother, had come and taken both Draco and him to a beautiful house he had seen at the end of Privet Drive. Soon after they arrived Narcissa had a "helper", which he later learned was a house-elf, prepare dinner while he and Draco watched television in the sitting room.

After about two hours of that, Harry and Draco were called into the main room where six adults were standing. Draco had been walking in before Harry, so by the time Harry had walked in Draco was already by the adults, and when Harry stepped through the doorway they all dropped to their knees and kneel before him like knights of the King or something.

It was then Harry started spouting out questions like a fire hose, and each of them repeated the same thing over and over; "because you are our Lord and Master, Lord Potter", and while Harry found it all quite amusing, it still didn't answer his questions. Though at least now, twenty minutes after the initial shock is gone, he was able to regain his senses and looked at each of the bowing people.

The first and most upfront was Draco. The adult directly behind him was their summer school teacher, Professor Severus Snape? To the man's left were Narcissa and a crazy and insane looking woman in a gothic black dress. To Severus's right was… Lord Malfoy? And Professor Dolohov? Then there was some woman in black robes who looked slightly like an unusual officer.

Harry was now even more shocked than anything, so he did the one thing he had been holding back for the last twenty minutes.

He fainted.

He collapsed in a heap onto the floor beside the doorway as his faithful followers looked up to see him.


Draco went to him with Bellatrix hot on his heels. She and Draco fought a bit over who would check him over, but Draco won out by saying that Harry would rather see his nice new friend than some crazy goth lady if he woke up. Bellatrix may have been insane, but she was still smart and knew that Draco's logic was sound.

"He's down, and out. It looks like he wouldn't be waking up anytime soon." Draco said as he gently touched Harry's face. Severus got up from his kneeling position and walked over while the others got up as well.

"He'll awaken soon enough, and from there we shall see how things go." Snape said as he gave his wand a wave and Harry's unconscious body floated away and up the stairs into the master bedroom of the house.

"As for now we should get everything ready for him." Snape said as he looked to the person on the furthest right, who was nodding as she thought to herself.

This woman was Madam Amelia Susan Bones, the celebrated Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She was a completely unbiased person with very stern views on the world. So it stood to question why she was willingly kneeling to a six year-old boy. The answer to said question: Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy showed her everything of the boy's life and exactly who sent Harry Potter, her new Lord and Master, to said life. They told her that Dumbledore may not have known, or that he never knew it was so bad, but she knew for a fact that some things needed changing. If the savoir of the Wizarding world was living with Muggles and abused by them, then she wanted to help put a stop to it. She knew all about Dumbledore and his Order of te Phoenix, just like she knew all about Voldemort and his Death Eater. She had not been in the Order, and she had an intense hatred for Death Eaters, so she decided that aligning with Lord Harry Potter would be the best solution. True, she could have jus stayed with the Ministry and not done anything, but with Fudge as Minister and the Wizarding world's hero being abused and hated for no damn reason tell me; what would you have done?

"Any news from the Ministry, Amelia?" Snape asked as they all gathered at the kitchen table.

"No, nothing too big… except that Fudge is being his campaign for Minister." Amelia said with a frown as the others followed. Draco fidgeted in his seat as he knew next to nothing of what they were talking about. Lucius and Snape caught the action and told him that he could go upstairs to alert them to when Harry awoke.

"Why in the name of Merlin is that man running?" Narcissa said as she leaned back into her chair, too exasperated to even groan.

"I don't know, but I do know one thing; the man's an idiot, so he won't win. Not when old Barty and Dumbledore is his competition." Amelia said as Snape shook his head.

"Dumbledore will never accept the job. I do not know why, but he has been quite clear in his refusal of the position." Snape said as Lucius nodded while Bella got up and began moving around the kitchen, curious of all the muggle devices within it.

"I know that, but Fudge just may have a shot at it with that capture of Sirius Black five years ago." Amelia said as Snape and Lucius exchanged looks.

"About that, Madam Bones." Lucius began as he laced his hands together and leaned forward, "The capture of Sirius Black was not at all a true victory, but a disgrace to our very government."

"How so, Lucius?" Amelia asked with a raised brow.

"Sirius Black was framed, and Peter Pettigrew, whom our system gave an Order of Merlin First Class to, is still alive and in hiding… somewhere." Snape said as Amelia's eyebrow rose higher to convey her surprise.

"Well then… why did you not say this five years ago? If the man is innocent as you state, then why is he still in Azkaban?" Amelia asked as Lucius nodded gravely.

"Sad to say, but he was sentenced without trial. Even my influence has it's limits and Minister Bagnold will not here of poor Sirius's release. She insists that he is guilty without evidence and that any means of a trial is a slap in the face of the poor dead Peter Pettigrew and the 12 muggles he killed." Lucius drawled smoothly as Bella continued to look about the kitchen, paying no attention to the stupid subject when they could be making her Lord Harry Potter stronger.

"Well then, we'll have to-"

"Our Lord is awake, and he's asking for you, Professor Snape." Draco said as burst into the kitchen, his face a small tint of pink on his cheeks as he smiled to everyone in the room. Lucius and Narcissa raised their brows at the blush and smile. They didn't know what went on upstairs, but whatever it was caused Draco either great embarrassment or-

"I'll be going then. And Bella put that down; we mustn't touch what isn't ours." Snape said as he swept from the room, robes billowing out as he did. He moved up the stairs, Draco at his heels as he reached the doors to their Master's room. He raised a brow as Draco straightened himself up, but did the same himself before he pushed up the doors.

There, inside the room, sitting up in the large and comfortable bed, with many pillows about him that made him look a procelain doll, was Harry James Potter, their Lord and Master until their last breath. He was blinking at Snape as the man came to the side of the bed and knelt down like a knight in service to his king. Briefly Harry was reminded of King Arthur, especially when Draco came up beside Snape and did the same.

"You summoned me, my Lord." Snape drawled out in a toneless voice as he kept his head bowed.

"Um… yes, I suppose. I guess Draco was right, and it all really wasn't a dream…" Harry said, more to himself than Snape. Harry blinked owlishly as he really tried to understand just what the bloody hell was going on. Finally deciding that it was best to simple play along until he got answers, he cleared his throat while he thought up a way to get those answers.

"Um… right… well… umm… Draco, leave us for just a moment. I'd like a word with Professor Snape alone." Harry finally said, since it would be best to get the adult to give him answers. Draco looked just a bit hurt, but he nodded his head and began toward the door.

"Thank you, Draco." Harry said serenely as he saw the slight hurt expression and hesitation. Draco legs looked like they nearly gave out as he stumbled slightly in one of his steps. Just before the door closed, Harry thought for a moment that he saw a red blush on Draco's face, but that was probably his glasses playing tricks on him. They did have to be fixed again, after all.

"My Lord…" Snape said, just to remind Harry that he was still there and to get his Master from staring after Draco. He waved his hand at Harry, but was secretly putting up silencing charms. He didn't need Bella or Lucius being nosy when it was he who had been called for a private talk.

"Oh, um… right. Umm… let's see… um, rise, Professor Snape, and please have… um… a seat." Harry said, trying to seem as into the role as Snape must have wanted him to be. Before Harry could pat the side of the large bed, Snape had a wooden stick out. The Professor waved it at the air beside him once and a beautifully hand-crafted chair appeared out of nowhere.

Harry tried very hard not to gape at it, but his mouth seemed to not want to obey him as Snape was, because it dropped low as he stared at the chair that Snape had sat in; which he made out of thin air if you needed a reminder.

"Umm… right. So, Professor Snape-"

"Call me Severus, my Lord. It is only befitting." Severus said as Harry flustered, but nodded.

"Right, then… Severus. Please tell me why you're calling me your Lord." Harry said, trying to make it come out as a command rather than the bewildered and stumbled mess it did.

"That is, because from the time that you were one year-old, I and a few others have chosen you as our Lord and Master." Severus replied as Harry nodded meekly, the information taking time to process, but eventually he took it all it with some graceful and complete confusion.

From the time he was one? It wasn't surprising considering that there were royals who were always placed in these situations, but him? Never! His father was a drunk, lazy man and his mother was a… t-tramp. How could he be anyone's Lord and Master? He couldn't even get Dudley to put down his tenth piece of the Cake of the Day.

"Umm… not to sound rude, Severus, but I think you've got the wrong guy. I'm not someone's, anyone's, your, Lord. I simply can't be." Harry said as Snape raised a brow at the hint of hysteria in Harry's voice.

"Trust me when I say my Lord that you are my one and only Master. I would gladly die for you." Snape said without a hint of emotion in his tone as he silently added that it and everything he did, would, and shall do would be all in the glorious name of Lily Evans and her child; Harry Potter.

"I really think that you're confusing me with someone else. Was all this the reason that Lord Malfoy came to our home? Did he confuse me with Dudley or something? Is that the reason that you keep calling your Lord, because you're confusing me with him?" Harry said as Snape's face nearly contorted in full anger, but he suppressed it to only show in his eyes.

"My Lord, we could never confuse you with that mountain troll of a boy. No my Lord, we are not confusing you with your… cousin." Severus said as he practically hissed out his last word.

"So it's really me then? I'm really your… Lord and Master then?" Harry asked as he was sure that Severus looked ready to kill something.

"Yes, my Lord." Severus said simply as Harry lay back in the bed, closing his eyes briefly. He needed to know why, and what was going to happen. He opted for the second since it seemed more of what a real Lord would ask.

"What's going to happen then? What does this mean for me now?" Harry asked as he reopened his eyes and gazed at Severus.

"Nothing as of right now. When we're done here you shall rest for the night, and then we shall begin plans tomorrow." Severus answered as Harry nodded, choosing to just go with the flow of things for now.


Suddenly the first question popped back into Harry's head. He really wanted to know why a group of people decided that, at the time, a one year-old should be their Lord and Master. He was seemly wondering if they were alright in the head. It wouldn't do to have loony and stupid servants now, would it?

"Severus… why, if you don't mind me asking, are you and all these others willingly serving me? I mean, I just don't understand. I can't quite grasp why you would. I'm just a kid, maybe a bit smarter than the average, but even then I'm nothing special." Harry said, basically pleading that it was a mistake. Snape took it all in stride though, only allowing his raised brow to convey all the emotions he was going through and all the looks he was using.

"I guess that it would be best to start at the beginning then, my Lord." Snape said as Harry nodded.

"It all began the night of the Dark Lord, Voldemort killed your parents. Yes! I know what you've been told, but rest assured my Lord that everything I say is true, and that everything up until now shall be made clear. Now, as I was saying, it all began the night your parents were killed and you survived; killing Voldemort as an infant. When I found out I immediately when to see if the tales were true. I went to Voldemort's lair and could not gain entrance, which meant that everything that was said was true. In my… grief for your mother, I pledged to an old man named Dumbledore that I would protect you. I later began to think that the old man's way of protecting you wasn't enough and that, in the memory and honor of your mother, I should take it upon myself to help you more. As I thought more and more onto I began to realize just everything that you, a single child, would be up against, so I wanted to help even more. That was when it came to me. I could train you, guide you, and mentor you. I became so entranced in my thoughts that I began to have thoughts of servicing and following you." Severus said as Harry sat up straighter, trying to seem like Snape's choices weren't for the worst.

"It occurred to me that that one thought was right. You are your mother's child, and that in its self would make you extremely powerful. And, as much as I really detest having to admit, Potter's genes would guarantee that power and perhaps much more of it. Fortunately, I was right… though still grudgingly." Snape said as Harry raised a brow, trying to seem casual about it. He realized that if he paid attention enough, then he could hear the soft, endearing, and loving tone that Snape used when he spoke of his mother. Though it didn't take any attention at all to hear the causal venom Snape had when he spoke of his father. Harry briefly wondered what it was all about, but pushed the thoughts away for later.

"It all made me realize that you would become just what I would want in a leader. With my guidance and training, you would become an ideal leader. But, I knew you couldn't be just a leader. No, you would need to become a Master, a Lord to rival and crush all others. Leaders are questioned, but Lords and Masters are not unless the individual wishes to meet a horrible fate, especially in the case of Voldemort. That's was when I had my second stroke of intelligent that day. You would need many more people than just myself, even if I am powerful force to content with all my own, if I should speak so arrogantly. No, you would need more than me, and I thought at the time that the three people around me at the time would be a perfect start." Snape said as he began to grin. Harry's mind was so boggled that the only thing he could do was just as he was always trained to do by the Dursleys; just nod and smile. He shook his head, he needed to be more tactful than that.

"Who were near you, Severus?" Harry asked, trying so hard to seem casual in his new found role that his voice came a bit higher making him sound like a perfect girl. If Snape had noticed, then he didn't show it.

"Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy, and Bellatrix Lestrange, my Lord. They were the most ideal people to have as your followers. I couldn't have picked better servants to you than them. I wanted you to have Bella, but I had a doubled or maybe even tripled reason for it. The first and foremost was because she is a powerful witch and with her at your beck and call many people would simply roll-over at the very sight of her. The second was to cripple Voldemort should he actually still be alive as some speculate. She is extremely loyal to whoever her master as at the time, and she would sooner suffer fates worse than death rather than displease, or fail her lord. The third reason, I think was simply to keep her from being a threat later on should Voldemort come back. She was very loyal to him, and it would not do to have her as an enemy." Snape said, but then paused as Harry remembered the two women from before he fainted. If he had to pick, he figured that Bellatrix Lestrange was the crazy, insane looking one that practically lay at the floor when he entered the foyer.

"Then there was Lucius. He was all too easy to have follow my lead. He and I have been good friends since my first school day, even though he's five years older than I. He has always found my judgment best and so when I went to Voldemort, so did he. During the panic and celebration in Voldemort's fall Lucius waited to see what I would do, and when I declared you my Lord he, unhesitatingly, did the same. He knows that I would never follow anyone that was not worth following. To be completely honest though my Lord, I think he only follows my decisions because they are never ones without… a certain degree of amusement." Snape paused again as Harry's eyes widened, not for the first or even tenth time since they began talking. Lord Malfoy was his servant? The irony alone was just too much for Harry to comprehend without his head hurting.

"The last of the first three was Narcissa Malfoy, wife of Lucius and mother of young Draco. Normally, Narcissa is a very proud woman, yet when it comes to the safety and well-being of her family, she'll do anything to ensure that they are protected. She cares deeply about her husband and son, displaying a fierce and protective temper on their behalf as well as ruthless determination to keep them safe. She cares so fondly for them that she has lied in the face of Voldemort, the most powerful dark wizard in history, more than once. I knew that if I could hook the others in, then she would have no choice but to do the same to keep them safe. Though I must admit that if one of the three didn't agree with me, then the other two won't follow, so that in itself a cycle work." Severus said as Harry nodded, getting more and more comfortable as he listened to Snape.

"So… you're telling me that for some reason you wanted to serve me, because of my mother and a promise you made. Then you manipulated three more people into doing so." Harry said as Snape nodded. Harry didn't feel like thinking over just how many questions he had, or even why four fully grown adults thought it a good idea of following a one year at the time. However, he was wondering just how many more people had "come into his serve", and along with questions about who Voldemort was, why he had killed his parents, and tried to kill him as well. He was also wondering why he had survived said killing, and what he'd be doing to be sure that he wasn't killed indefinitely. Then he remembered that Severus had said something about training, but he could always ask about that later.

"Severus…" Harry started as Snape looked up at him.

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Please tell me of everyone in my service." Harry commanded softly as Severus nodded. Thank goodness that he was getting better at that...

"As I said before, there is myself, Lucius, Bellatrix, Narcissa, Draco though he's not taken the Unbreakable Vow like the rest of us. There is also Antonin Dolohov, your godfather Sirius Black, the goblin Griphook, Amelia Bones a higher-up in the Ministry of Magic, and Bella's husband Rodolphus Lestrange. There are others, but they have not taken the vow and they only know that we all serve a new master that is not "light or dark" as we said. They expressed their willingness and readiness to serve one who is not as… unhealthy for one's life as Voldemort, or as… disenchanted as Dumbledore. Should you see fit for them to join, I shall take you to them when you are ready." Snape said as Harry nodded attentively. He could hear about this Dumbledore character later, but he wanted to know something else now.

"Tell me, Severus; why are you really so interested in having me protected, and having me surrounded by servants and followers?" Harry asked as he could tell that the real reason had something to do with his mother. Severus wished he could lie to his Lord, but the damn vow would never let him lie to Harry.

"It is all because of your mother, my Lord. Upon overhearing a prophecy which involved you, my Lord, I immediately informed my then-master of its contents. I had no idea that it would lead to the murder of your mother, Lily, and your father, Potter. I will never forgive myself for that stupid and foolish decision. I can only tell you that it was the biggest mistake I ever made within my whole life, and probably always will be. I was completely devastated by Lily's death. Before her death, I had asked Dumbledore, the leader of the Light and the Order of the Phoenix, to hide her, you, and Potter. He did, but that fool Pettigrew was a coward who told Voldemort where they were hiding. After her death, Dumbledore used my depression over it to convince me of my decision to protect you. Around the time before I decided to serve, I swore the rest of my life to protecting her son, Harry Potter, from any and all dangers that I could, in her memory." Snape said as Harry raised an eyebrow. Both for the undertone of deep-seeded depression in Snape's tone, and at just how similar that sounded to a book he had read while hiding from Dudley in the library at school.

"You… loved my mother, didn't you Severus?" Harry said quietly as Snape's face turned from a cold, emotionless mask only to shatter into complete surprise and shock. Had he really been that transparent in his words? He must have, because a six year-old had figured him out! Oh well… no sense in hiding anything now…

"Yes, yes I did, my Lord. She was everything a beautiful person could be and more. She was kind-hearted, caring, selfless, beautiful, intelligent, brave, gifted, beautiful, short-tempered, creative, fun-loving, beautiful, and incredibly sweet. She was the most wonderful person I had ever had the pleasure of knowing! And your wretched father didn't deserve her love and attention!" Severus said, his voice growing louder and more furious after he described Lily in which he used a peaceful and loving tone. He slapped a hand over his mouth as he saw Harry look at him with wide eyes and a slack jaw.

Snape, for the most part, couldn't remember the immediate last time he had ever lost his temper like he had when he remembered Lily marrying of Potter. The last time he could remember, which was his second worst memory and mistake, was when he had called Lily a Mudblood in a fit of anger and humiliation after Potter had caused said humiliation. After that day, he took it upon himself to learn Occlumency that very year, simply to keep him from ever making such a mistake ever again. When Lily wouldn't forgive him, he studied mind-magic even more, learning Legilimency and other mental magic as well. After Hogwarts and when he became a true Death Eater, he finalized his skills as an Occulmens. He had been so good at the skill of shielding his mind that neither Dumbledore nor Voldemort fully trusted him because he could quite easily hide his thoughts, feelings, and emotions from either one or both at the same time.

Severus sighed, knowing that he had, as Muggles would say, "opened up a can of worms". Harry deserved to know exactly how he felt. So, Severus thought over his choices for a few moments before coming to one decision. He approached the bed, and then went on bended knee before taking Harry's hand in his own. He kissed it as a faithful servant would do the feet of their master's robes, and then spoke.

"Permission to speak honestly, my Lord." Severus asked as Harry raised a brow at the man's actions, but nodded all the same.

"My Lord, I know that you do not understand the loyalty that so many of your followers will now feel towards you, but know this; I and they all, with the exception of Draco, have sworn an oath, an Unbreakable Vow, before you and magic that I would serve you in any capacity that you may require of me. Your word is my law to follow, and it is my duty and privilege to follow it. I would lay down my life for you in an instant, and if you ordered it I would strike down your enemies with great pleasure. I am your faithful servant, and though you do not know all my duties nor abilities, know that I will follow and fulfill each one of your requests and needs to the best of those abilities. It matters not to me, the name of your family only that you are my Lord and Master. Though my Lord, I hope that you will forgive me, if my thoughts of your father, does not match my esteem and loyalty for you." Severus said as he ended with a smirk, before quickly bowing his head. Harry took his other hand and patted Severus's hand as he smiled at the hook-nosed man. If this guy truly loved his mother, then why shouldn't he feel bitter toward his father? Though Harry knew he wasn't getting the full story, he knew that he'd be finding it out quickly enough.

"Anything else you would like to add before I take away your candid speech?" harry asked so that Severus could let it all out.

"Other than the fact that your mother was the world's greatest gift and your father was a swine of a man? No, my Lord." Snape said as Harry chuckled. Bitter people were always so funny to him.

"Well then Severus, I think this is the beginning of a very great master-servant relationship." Harry said with a kind smile as Severus nodded, a ghost of a smile dawning his face.

This Harry Potter may have looked like Potter, but he was truly and beautifully, the son of Lily Demeter Evans. Yes, this truly would be a great turn in his life. Maybe with this, Lily would finally be smiling down at him from heaven while Potter did the same from hell…