Well, here's chapter four…don't really have anything to say. As always, tell me what you think, and if something's not clear, feel free to ask. Also…Dumbledore lovers…I'm sorry for this, it just fits! Don't kill me!
Severus POV
Closing Harry's bedroom door softly, I twisted my head to either side, hearing it crack with satisfaction. Casting a spell on the door that would alert me if it was opened, I turned and walked away.
Silently I went down the stairs, making my way to my study. After closing the door softly behind me, I collapsed into one of the chairs, resting the space between my thumb and pointer finger on the bridge of my nose so that my eyes were held closed.
My mental to-do list was growing meters longer by the second. Moving to my desk chair, I pulled out some parchment and began my letter to Narcissa about what I would need if a six year old came onto my care hypothetically. Annoyance filled me as I thought about how Narcissa would drag Lucius and Draco over here not minutes after replying to me to see if I did in fact have a child living with me. But my other option was Molly Weasley, and there was no way I was going to write to that woman for help. My wards would keep the Malfoy's out for as long as I could avoid actually talking to them, thankfully.
Finishing and sealing Narcissa's letter, I reached for another sheet of parchment for my letter to Gringotts. I needed to get the Potter will unsealed, so I could study the guardian plans for Harry. Lily would never leave her child with her sister, which made it Dumbledore's doing. But even James Potter would not leave his son with someone as unemotionally invested with his family as Albus Dumbledore. A mentor and a friend, perhaps, but it would be like making their favorite teacher their boy's guardian. Very unlikely.
If I could get the Potter will unsealed, then I could figure out who would have legal jurisdiction over Harry. If I could do that, then even when Albus found out Harry had been removed from his relatives where there was blood wards he would be unable to send Harry back.
Finally finishing having finished both lettered, I stood up to find my owls and send them, both needing to be viewed by their intended recipients as soon as possible.
Before I could leave the room, my floo began to chime, signaling that someone was attempting to call me. I did not have to look at the frame that would display the name to know that it was Albus. In a brief moment of foolish hope, I did look at the frame, hoping I wasn't right. I was.
Stashing the letters in the top drawer of my desk, I muttered a charm that made my hair look even more greasy then normal and then pointed my wand at the fire place. Instantly it flared green, and the head of the Headmaster of Hogwarts appeared.
"Ah, Severus!" he said cheerfully. "Brewing I assume?" I held in my smirk.
"Yes Albus, so this better be important." I sneered, scowling down at the head in the fire place. Albus was unaffected.
"I was thinking about what you said to me at the last meeting Severus." He informed me. I kept my expression in a look of distain, but my heart sunk. "I should have someone stop by to check on young Mr. Potter at his relative's house. Do you think that we are giving them enough to support him as well as their own son? With two children at home I doubt that Petunia works..."
"I wouldn't know nor would I care." I drawled. "What is this about Albus? I am in the middle of something that needs my full attention."
"Have you finished Remus's wolfsbane?" the headmaster asked instead, obviously taking the long away about giving me instructions on what it was he wanted.
"Do you think me stupid Albus? Of course I finished the wolfsbane for that mongrel; the full moon is in a week! He will receive it tomorrow." I snapped. "Is that all?"
"I'm afraid not my boy." Albus said, still cheerful. 'Of course it wasn't' I thought to myself bitterly. 'There is always something more, isn't there?'
"You are wasting my time Albus, get on with it or I am going to turn off my floo." I threatened.
"Patience my boy." The old man said happily, beaming at me. It made me want to kick him, but as always I refrained. "Tomorrow I want you to go down to Number 4 Privet Drive and check on young Harry. Ask them if their finances are ok, check that his accidental magic is not to hard for them to handle, you know the drill."
"No Albus." I growled. "Send someone else. I am too busy to play baby sitter with you Wonder Boy." I called myself a rude name in my mind for referring to Harry as such, but the Headmaster couldn't find out that I had Harry. He was not one for the personal welfare, but the bigger picture. This would not be the first child left in an abusive household for one reason or another.
"Severus, it was your idea-" Albus tried to convince me.
"No." I snarled, cutting him off. "I will not take the time out of my day to go check on the Potter brat, to survey that his pampering is being done correctly! I am a Potions Master, not an errand boy, and you would do well to remember that Albus!"
"He's still Lily's son as well Severus, not just James." The old man played dirty. Normally, this would have gotten me to do anything he said, pulling out the Lily card. But because I in fact had Lily's son upstairs in my manor, I was unaffected. Surprise was evident in Albus's face when I simply scowled at his jab.
"What does it matter Albus?" I said coldly. "Lily and Potter are dead, and Harry is being taken care of; at least, that is was you have assured me."
"He is." Albus said quickly.
"Then I must get back to my potion. Good night, Headmaster." I turned, itching to run from the room.
"Severus, I really must insist that you key me into your wards." Dumbledore yelled after me, obviously no where close to done with his conversation with me. I hissed a curse under my breath then turned back to him.
"We have spoken of this Albus. I will not key my wards to allow anyone but myself through them." I forced through gritted teeth.
"But Severus my boy, what if you have a potions accident, if something explodes? We won't be able to get to you, to potentially save your life!"
"If I blow up a potion Albus, it will be with such stupidity that I would deserve to die alone on my lab floor." I sneered. I hadn't blown up a potion without having a containment spell on in since third year at Hogwarts; he was getting desperate for me to open the wards to him.
"Must you always shut yourself into that lab of yours?" he asked, switching subjects. I bit back a growl.
"Albus, I honestly don't have time for your ridiculous games. If I didn't 'shut my self in my lab' as you put it, then wolfsbane and countless other potions that I have invented or corrected to make for efficient would not exist. Goodnight Albus." My wards reacted to my wishes and shoved Albus out of my fire, the flames turning orange again. Satisfaction at the shocked look that was surely on his face filled me.
Opening my desk I grabbed both letters, and successfully left the room to send them.
"Willow, watch Harry. When he wakes up, tell him that I had a few errands to run. If he tries to clean anything or do anything of the sort, you are not to allow him. Read with him perhaps." I instructed my faithful house elf. The creature nodded, and I turned, forcing myself to walk out the front door.
Gringotts had owled me back very early this morning, but for good reason; I was qualified to unseal the Potter will. Which was a tad bit odd, seeing as that meant I was in the will. Wonder if Lily cursed me.
Straightening to my full height I apperated straight to the bank, not pausing in my steps as I went from the grass of my lawn to the marble steps of the wizarding world bank.
"May I help you?" a goblin teller sneered at me as I walked through the door. I sneered back.
"My name is Severus Snape, I owled about the Potter will and was replied to that I can in fact unseal it." Merlin I hated Goblins. They were more stuck up then pureblood wizards with blood complexes. The Goblin curled its lip, but stood.
"This way Mr. Snape." He growled, leading the way back to one of the meeting rooms of the bank. "The Potters account manager will be with you shortly."
Sitting stiffly in the only chair in the room, I glowered at the small door behind the desk until it opened.
"Mr. Snape, I was wondering when you would show up." The goblin that entered said, its eyes narrowed at me. "It would seem that Mr. Dumbledore's hold on all of you is finally loosening, yes?" I just stared, not knowing what to say for myself. The goblin sighed as if exasperated, and opened his desk, pulling out a file. "This is the Potter will. Minutes before it was to be read Albus Dumbledore came to my office and sealed it, but not before reading it himself. I dislike wizards that attempt to play God Mr. Snape."
"I assume that is your way of telling me that Albus Dumbledore is not someone you like. Currently, I agree with that, so shall we continue?" I drawled. The goblin smirked at me in satisfaction and broke the seal on the will of Lily and James Potter. Taking out a neatly folded parchment, he stood on his chair and began reading.
"The last will and testament of James Potter. To Sirius Black, I name you Godfather to my son, Harry James Potter. Take care of him Padfoot. To Remus Lupin, I name you second Godfather to my son, Harry James Potter, and leave you will two million gallons. Hopefully those damn werewolf laws are lifted by the time I am dead. To Alice and Frank Longbottom…" I tuned out the rest of James will, not really knowing any of the people he was listing until it got to Harry, when I finally tuned in. "And to Harry James Potter, my wonderful son. I leave you everything else in the vaults and our home. The Potter family is worth more then seven billon gallons-" my mouth almost dropped open. "-so along with that I leave you my title as Lord Potter, and the privileges that come with it, as soon as you come of age. I love you very much son."
My breath was caught in my throat and I found myself wishing for the first time since James Potter had died that he had not. Harry may have turned out just like him, being just as insufferable, but anything was better then the scared child currently in my manor.
The goblin folded the parchment and laid it on the desk, picking up a second parchment and unfolding it, clearing his throat.
"The last will and testament of Lily Potter nee Evans. First off, under no circumstances is Harry James Potter to be left in the care of my muggle sister Petunia Dursley, or her foul oaf of a husband." My jaw clenched. Albus had read this and still placed Harry with that despicable family? What right did he have to do so? "To Sirius Black; you put my son in danger and I am going to kill you. The only reason you are Godfather is because James wouldn't let me include the third Godfather if I didn't allow you to be the first. Hopefully by the time I die you will have grown up a bit Padfoot." I smirked. That sounded like Lily. "To Remus Lupin; keep Padfoot in line would you? I don't want my son to be a complete hooligan. To you Remy, I leave my entire book collection; if it all burns, then I leave you one million gallons to replace it all with. To Severus Snape-" my heart froze.
Lily included me in her will? Why? We hadn't talked since fifth year at Hogwarts, when I got sucked into the death eaters. She was probably cursing me, telling me what a horrid prick I am.
"To Severus Snape; stop beating yourself up Sev." My brow crinkled in confusion. "I forgive you for what you said in school. I know you didn't mean it, I've always known. And even though you won't agree that you will be good, I want you in Harry's life. I have named you third Godfather of my son, Harry James Potter. Take care of him Sev; I know that if anyone can keep him safe it will be you."
Third Godfather. Of Harry Potter. What?
Soooooooooo?