DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own anything from the original Harry Potter Universe. It is owned by J.K. and Warner Bros. End of story. Get over it.
WARNING: This like all of my fics may contain material that may or may not offend you. You do not need to read this. It is not a requirement. If at any time you feel the need to stop reading I know of a shiny red button on the upper right hand corner that would love to have you click it. While you are at it, find a red rover book; because that may be better suited for your tastes.
A/N I feel excited… I mean I have energy… I guess that's why I'm writing so much today. But be happy. UPDATES. Yay! *confetti* Allons-y
"What is it you require of me?"
Harry smile down at the man as they shook hands. He liked how the long slender fingers curled around his. He like the way the ebony eyes seemed to look right through him. It was surreal in a way that the man had agreed. He had expected him to rant, to yell. To say to hell with what you want. But here the man was and he was willing.
So are you. He immediately snatched his hand back and shook his head. None of those thoughts now. Not when we are this close.
He looked at the man again and smiled. "Snape all I require of you is to get an item."
"What sort of item."
He looked back at the paper and burned it. He did not need him to be snooping. He placed both hands on the table and though for a moment.
"It needs t be something of Toms. Something from before his souls was split. Before he lost his daughter and wife. Something that has his magical energy in it." They both sat in silence for a minute.
"Would a locket do?"
Harry straightened. "A locket would be perfect. Why do you sound worried?"
Severus turned his head to the side and looked back at the potion. "Would the potion ruin the object?"
Harry thought of the process for a moment. He would need to soak the item in phoenix tears. They would absorb the essence from the object and he would then add them to the potion with the last ingredient at winter's solstice. The item should be fine.
"No I do not believe anything will happen to the item."
"Tom has a locket that he keeps with him. He does not know why though. And he cannot access what is inside of it. We have often caught him looking at it trying to open it. But he never has been able to. Would this item work?"
"That item would be perfect but I wonder why he is unable to open it. Would you be able to get it for me?"
"How soon would you need it?"
Harry walked over to the cabinet and pulled out the pitcher of phoenix tears he had. The potions master had moved with him held his breath.
"How were you able to collect so much?"
"Fawkes seems to love me. He has been popping in to donate some every couple days. We have finally gotten enough for what the potion needs. The locket will need to sit in the tears for a month. The potion cannot be finished until winter solstice. My belief is that the longer the item soaks the more of the person's essence the tears will absorb. So anytime between now and the start of school." He turned to the other man. Not noticing that he was so close. He stopped for a second starting at the black shoulder. He slowly let his eyes drift up to the intense dark eyes. A sudden heat seemed to permeate the room as he swiftly took a step back.
"That is the other part of the help I need. This potion will be finished at school. We cannot allow Dumbledore or anybody mess with it. The potion will be stored in your private labs. I will also need your help harvesting ingredients from the basilisk." He turned his head towards the shelves and noticed the smirking blonde standing there. Draco winked and his smirked widened as he felt heat creep up his face.
"The basilisk? You mean to tell me that the beast from the chamber of secrets was a basilisk?"
Harry nodded. "There seems to be a preservation charm on the chamber so the body has not decomposed. Also sharla is down there. I need to check n her the second we get back to the school."
"Sharla?" This question was voiced by both Draco and Snape.
"Yes it seems that there is a nest down there. She hatched shortly after Semei was killed. I have been taking care of her since."
Snape grabbed a hold of his shoulders and turned him around and looked him in the eyes. The skin under the man's hands tingled and the smoldering gaze burned straight to his soul. But he wouldn't tell anyone that.
"You are telling me there is another basilisk in the castle and instead of telling an adult you have been taking care of not only this rare but deadly creature by yourself since you were twelve?"Harry shrugged the burning hands of and pushed the man away.
"Yes! I was not going to let you harm an innocent creature. She has not hurt anyone. She is perfectly safe."
"Until she gets out potter! What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that this was the one life I was not going to kill needlessly!" They were both breathing deeply. "That this would be the one life I knew I could save. That I was confident would survive even my passing. I saved someone who has stood by me even when my friends did not. I protected someone from being slaughtered for potions ingredients. I did what I thought was right. She is my familiar. She would never hurt anyone unless she felt that they would hurt me." He turned away. He could feel the eyes of the other two staring at him. He didn't care he would not undo what he did.
A hand landed on his shoulder. "Okay Potter. So you need my help harvesting ingredients from the dead basilisk while another breathes down my back." The teasing tone was not lost on him. He took a deep breath.
"Yes and we need to ensure that Dumbledore does not interfere." He could feel the man nod.
"Shit!" they both turned to look at Draco who looked at the pocket watch. "I was supposed to help mum with the ball!" he ran towards the floo. "Sorry scar head. Ill catch up with you later." And the commotion was over in a flash of green flames.
"What are you going to do about Minerva?"
The stood for a moment, harry thought of the past few minutes. But he settled with the feeling of the hand on his shoulder. The one that had been there for the last couple minutes. He pulled away and put the tears into a case. He avidly avoided the potion masters look as her also put the cauldron and other needed supplies into the case.
It was this reason he missed the potion master stare at his hand as if it was a foreign object to him. Then transfer his stare to him. He was currently bent over the case.
Both thought the same thing: what the fuck?
When he straightened he wiped his hands on his jeans. "I want to see if she still ahs her memories. If she does I want to know what happened to have her abandon her family, if she doesn't I want to help her get them back."
They both avoided the others gaze.
Snape nodded and picked up the case. "I will get the locket and help you retrieve the other ingredients." And he too disappeared in a green flame.
"Thank you Severus." Shaking his head he walking downstairs and picked up the empty carton of Lime Rickey. And he pouted.
~Riddle Manor~
"Severus what is it young Potter wanted of you?"
Severus stood in front of the desk and sat in the offered chair, sipping the fire whiskey that was handed to him. Even he did not know how the meeting had gone. What was he to tell Tom? Yes tom it seems that young Mr. Black. Yes you heard right. Well he is your grandson. Seems you're married to Minerva had a daughter who you thought later died. Well seems as if your daughter was Lily Evens and you killed her and you son-in-law. Also he was blood adopted by the mutt, has the solution to your problem and by the way I need to take the locket that doesn't leave your sight, that no one is supposed to know of and give it to your grandson. Who doesn't look like a Potter. In fact I want to bend your grandson over this desk. Yes this one right here.
The fire whiskey was ejected from his mouth. Flew across the table and into the face of one Tom Riddle. Said man slowly wiped his face off and looked at him.
"Now I'm sure that the whiskey is not that bad. "Red started to creep into the other mans eyes and Severus froze.
"No the whiskey is divine."
"Then tell me Severus." The man hissed. "Why I was just drenched in it."
He would go with half truth. "Potter has asked for my help. He asked that I help with a potion that he believes will be beneficial to you." Tom sat in thought, calming down. One thing Severus could not wait for was the potion to be finished. When his lord was whole once more it would be better.
"Do you believe this potion will benefit me?"
"Yes my lord."
The man waved at the title and sat back. "What is it he needs your help with?"
"He has asked me to get an item. This item needs to have your magical energy. Preferably from before your soul was split. He believes that the essence from the item is what his potion needs."
The older man sat in though, his hand skimming the top of his robes and the concealed chain underneath it. "What is it this potion is supposed to accomplish?"
"This potion will give you back your soul and body. It is what you asked me to accomplish." Tom looked at him as he looked into the glass.
"How the boy is came by this knowledge."
"He insinuated that he dreamed about it."
"Hmmm I have an item in mind. Will the item be destroyed?"
"No."
He watched as the older man reached behind his neck and pulled off a long golden chain. On this chain was a soft gold locket with intricate Scottish design. He handed the locket over to him.
"This will be returned to me will it not Severus?"
"It will Tom."
"Good my friend. Now tell me why you felt it was necessary to cover me with the whiskey."
Severus did what Severus did best, he buried deep inside and covered it up with another story. He did not plan to let that though out anytime soon. Why would he?
Harry would never.
A/N so another chapter. I don't know why but I feel like writing today. Yesterday it was Dr. Mario. Well you get the idea. So I hope you enjoy this chapter. My plan is that Tom does not have his memories from that time. Once he has his body back harry will tell him about his family and they will open the locket which has a picture of his family and his memories locked inside. Dumbledore erased them and took Minerva who remembers little also so yes. Dogsby. There will be some skinning later. Maybe figuratively but we all get the idea. Sorry all that thought this would be a Harry/Tom. I'm going to have to disappoint you.