Chapter 7- Christmas
*****Harry*****
"Oi, presents!" Ron's voice came, waking Harry from some pleasant dream that he immediately couldn't remember. Ron and Harry now had their room to themselves, and Hermione had also left with the other students more than a week ago. Harry and the Weasleys were the only students left in Gryffindor Tower.
Harry twisted in his bed and opened his curtains. His throat caught as he saw the sizable pile near his feet on the ground. It wasn't as big as Ron's pile, he saw, but much larger than he would have ever expected. Ron had a large family that cared about him. Who would give Harry Christmas presents? Harry shook his head, trying to remind himself that at least a few people actually cared about him now.
Harry momentarily thought of his gloomy Christmases before, preparing Christmas meals the last few years that he would barely get to eat any of. When Marge was there, it had been even worse. After a quick look through his presents, Harry wasn't surprised to not receive anything from them. He wondered how much the Dursleys had been told. He would never go back to them… Professor Snape had promised him that. The Dursleys would be happier for that too, except when they had to do their own chores instead of making Harry do them. They had probably had to hire someone else to take care of the lawn by now, because he couldn't see Aunt Petunia or Uncle Vernon putting forth the effort after years of not having to.
Harry snapped himself away from unhappy memories and focused on the presents in front of him. He first grabbed a package that looked identical to the one that Ron was ripping open. He ran his hands over the soft, green knitted fabric inside.
"Weasley jumpers," Ron explained. Harry looked up to see his friend red faced but smiling. "I was always embarrassed by them, you know. But Mum means well, and they're warm. Even if mine always is maroon. She won't listen when I say I don't like the colour. She likes to keep us colour-coded, I suppose," Ron whined slightly, though the boy was already tearing into a bag of what looked to be Bertie Bott's beans.
"It's great, mate!" Harry said, running his fingers over the golden 'H' in the middle of his new green jumper." He almost missed the homemade fudge underneath, which meant just as much. Harry was still surprised sometimes that he never went hungry, that there were actually people around him trying to get him to eat more. That he'd not have to hide food so that he wouldn't be hungry later if his relatives' moods changed.
Wanting to think of happier things, Harry's eyes landed on a cylindrical, messily wrapped package that he knew immediately was Hagrid's. Inside, he was surprised to find a very skillfully carved wooden flute, and tried it experimentally. He was rubbish at it, of course, but it did have clear notes. Harry felt bad, knowing that he hadn't visited his first friend much since his life had changed. He was relieved that Hagrid still thought of him and resolved to see his large friend more often.
Harry grabbed a package that was clearly a book next, knowing that it would be from Hermione. He was surprised when opening it that it was from Tonks instead. The Inner and Outer You: Meditation and Transformation, Beginner's Edition. She also enclosed a deck of exploding snap cards. There was a note that said "The cards are because I thought you might not have a pack, and because I can't be the one that gives you the most boring gift."
Harry smiled again when the next package he unwrapped was a box of chocolate frogs from Hermione. With dentist parents, sweets were a special treat to her, and a very nice gift, Harry thought. People, even his friends, could be unpredictable sometimes.
The final, lumpy package, didn't have a card on the outside, but Harry rifled through the silky silvery fabric until a note fell out.
"James Potter left this in my care, and I am sure that he would still want you to have it. Remember always that he loved you very much and that children are blameless in the feuding of adults. Enjoy this and use it well. P.S. Perhaps this would not be something to show your father."
Harry didn't recognize the handwriting, but thought the note was very strange. Harry didn't try to think much about what James Potter, the man who raised him as his son for a little more than a year, would have thought of him. It was strange to care so much about an oddly colored cloak anyway, Harry thought as he let the silky material flow over his fingers. Why would a new cloak would be something to hide from his- from Professor Snape, even if it was a strange color? Harry put it around his shoulders to look at the mirror. Harry's squeal as he dropped the cloak was more than enough to get Ron's attention.
"Blimey, Harry. That's an invisibility cloak," Ron gasped.
"I- yeah, that makes sense. It was just surprising you know. Seeing my head floating there."
"Put it on again," Ron urged.
Harry stared at his body-less head as Ron continued encouragements. It was much less unsettling as he covered his head as well. His excitement rose. What would he even do with such a cloak? Would James Potter really still want him to have it, he wondered. Harry neatly folded the cloak and placed it aside. With a sudden smile, Harry grabbed an envelope with handwriting that he recognized from class. He had almost missed the letter under the presents, and he had been a little disappointed when he hadn't seen something that he was expecting. Professor Snape sending a card at least was nice, and more than he should expect, really.
"Harry," the outside of the letter read. Inside it said, "Your presents are in your room. You may join me for a morning meal when you are ready."
Harry packed away all of his new things as quickly as he can. He was excited than he could explain to go down to his very own room to see what the professor had gotten him. Presents, more than one present! He threw on his new jumper over the pajamas he still wore, jammed his feet into his shoes, and ran out the door, barely telling Ron where he was going. He dashed back a moment later to grab a small package that he hadn't left out for the elves, preferring to deliver it himself, if he felt he should.
*****Severus*****
The boy arrived, red-faced and smiling, either from running or from the cold. The child hadn't even put socks on with his trainers. "Go to your room and put on your dressing gown and slippers, and then come back, child," Severus Snape instructed.
"Dressing gown and slippers?" the boy asked before smiling again, an adorable little smile with only slightly crooked teeth. They could have his teeth fixed if the boy wished, though Severus had never done so for his own. Wasn't much use when the boy probably didn't even have all of his adult teeth yet. "Are those my Christmas presents?" the boy asked. Presents? A robe and slippers were simple necessities of a Scotland winter, especially in the dungeons, not to be revered as presents by the boy.
"No. They are simply another thing that you needed. Now put them on before you get a chill," Severus instructed in what he thought was a kind manner. The child scampered to follow his instructions, immerging back into the room as he was fastening the dressing gown around himself over the jumper that Severus thought was new. "The jumper was a Christmas present, I presume?"
"Yes, from Ron's mum, Mrs. Weasley. And fudge. And I got a flute from Hagrid, and sweets from Hermione, even though she almost never has sweets because her parents are dentists. And a book from Tonks, and a deck of exploding snap cards," the child rattled off his gifts as if the trinkets were the greatest things he had ever received, which was sadly not far off from truth, Severus considered.
Severus could hardly comment because he was not one who garnered many meaningful gifts from associates. He was not a man who had many friends. He would receive gifts from many students or their parents, but that was closer to a bribe than a sign of friendship. The Malfoys had always sent something, but that was a difficult- relationship. Albus would send something as well, more often than not some horrible socks. The heads of houses exchanged gifts. Severus always gave the others their alcohol of choice, and he usually received something similar in return. Severus generally thought that it would be more convenient to stop the gift exchanging altogether. That way he would just be glad that most of his charges were away for the break and purchase his own alcohol and assorted trinkets.
This year, however, there was an unexpected addition, a gift from Miss Tonks. Severus had unwrapped the package that morning almost reverently. The Inner and Outer You: Occlumency and Application in Legilimency, Animagi, and Metamorphmagi, Advanced Edition. The damned witch wouldn't give up. Perhaps he would humour her enough to try again at some point. The connection to meditation and Legilimency or Occlumency could be interesting. The gift also included was a bottle of red wine and a note, "An entirely selfish gift, I admit. It is my favorite, and I intend to drink half of it with you." Gifts of alcohol generally seemed impersonal and meaningless, encouraging an overindulgence that he was realizing he should engage in less often than he had previously. This gift, however, touched him more than he was willing to admit.
For Merlin's sake, it shouldn't be touching. The witch was admitting that she was giving him a gift that she planned on consuming half of herself. But he had to admit, if only to himself that he found it flattering each time the young woman sought out his company, when she doubtless could be spending her time with someone more- her own age. Someone more- pleasant. Severus hadn't even gotten her a gift. He had considered it, because he thought the sentimental witch would get something for the boy, but he hadn't even considered that she would get something for him.
Severus took a deep breath, shaking himself from his thoughts and focusing on Harry again. It had also not escaped his notice that the boy brought a small package with him that he had left on a table near the door of Severus's chambers. A gift for him, perhaps. "On the sofa," Severus directed, "Go ahead and open them as you like," he said, telling himself that he most certainly wasn't nervous about what the child would think about his gifts. The child had better be grateful for whatever he was given, and Severus was by now familiar enough with the boy to know that the child would be polite and genuinely enjoy almost anything.
Harry went first for the bag of sweets that Severus hadn't even bothered taking out of the Honeydukes bag. It was an assortment of the most popular varieties and some classic chocolate frogs as well. Severus wondered if the child had started collecting the cards, as Severus did as a child. "Thank you," the child repeatedly gushed, examining each and every sweet from the bag as if he hadn't already been given too many sweets this morning, and as if there wouldn't be meals full of yet more sweets that evening. The child was depressingly grateful for such trivial gifts.
"They are just sweets, child. Open a different one," Severus instructed, growing uncomfortable with the child's appreciation of what amounted to a few handfuls of chocolate.
The child promptly complied and was soon tearing into the largest properly wrapped gift. "A wizard's chess set- wow," the boy said quickly, starting a running commentary of the presents he was tearing into, "I know I'm not very good yet, but Ron's set never trusts me. I swear they try to tell me things that makes Ron win sometimes," the boy chattered.
"These aren't very talkative, though their charms haven't worn off. It was my grandfather's- your great- grandfather's," Severus broke in, "Possibly generations before that as well, though I am not sure." Severus studied the boy, quickly sure that he was right to give the child something with a bit of history. He thought the boy had stopped even blinking as he gingerly touched the old set. Severus had only ever kept the old thing because he admired a good chess set.
"I- what if I break it?" the child asked, voice squeakier than usual.
"You can't break wizard's chess pieces, child. They break and mend themselves in moments. And I highly doubt you could manage to break the board either."
"What was he like?" the child asked quietly.
Severus held back a sigh, "I cannot tell you much first hand, because I never met the man. He disapproved of my mother's choice to marry a muggle, but my father was a vile man, so I can hardly hold that against him," Severus admitted bluntly, noting the concern in the small boy's eyes. Concern for him, when the child was still undersized for his age despite his genetics. "He never actually disowned his daughter, but they parted ways. He did pay for my attendance to Hogwarts and left me as his heir when he died while I was in my sixth year," Severus explained, knowing that his history lecture was about as heart-felt as Binns's were, but the child seemed to hang on his every word regardless. "I was able to pursue research and live comfortably," Severus finished, not including all of the trouble his seventeen-year-old self committed himself to. But he was out of that now, finally. And beyond that he was the guardian, the parent, of the Boy-Who-Lived. "Open another present then," Severus urged, ready for a distraction.
"And your… parents?" the boy asked timidly.
"Both dead," what all Severus said. "I have no other living relatives," he said.
The child looked lost for a moment but nodded, placing his inherited chess set carefully on the table before excitedly but carefully opening the next present. Selecting gifts for the child had been difficult, as he felt that he barely knew the boy. What did the child like beside quidditch? And he had already given Harry a broom.
"A snitch?" the child asked, clearly delighted.
"They are like the ones you use in training, so that it can be caught and released multiple times, as opposed to the in-game snitch that is nearly useless after its first catching. This does have a case that will summon the snitch back to it with a touch of the wand, to use if you are unable to find the snitch and you have not yet mastered the summoning charm." This was a real training device, Severus told himself, not like the little toy that James Potter used to flaunt around, a snitch that never would go far from him, making catches look effortless because they were easy catches. Potter wasn't even a seeker, so it was beyond him why the boy would practice a useless skill. Severus had almost not been able to bring himself to buy anything similar for the child, but he was at a loss for what Harry would enjoy, and it would be helpful at least. Though not as important as academics, there was some value in quidditch prowess.
"Thank you, sir—it's great, really great. I'm sure I'll be so much better before the next game thanks to this. I'll practice more often too," the child assured him.
"School work first," Severus instructed. "And you needn't be overly grateful for everything given to you. Gifts should and will be a common occurrence of your childhood," said, thinking about how it must have been no such thing for the child before coming to Hogwarts. Severus caught his breath as Harry turned to the last, small parcel, one that he was least sure that the boy would appreciate.
"From the Magical Menagerie?" the boy questioned. "You put a credit there for me?" the boy asked. "That was very nice," he said, the boy did look a little confused.
"Older students beyond first year are permitted a second pet if one is a delivery owl. I thought you might enjoy a snake because of your ability to converse with them, and that you might want to pick out your own. You could not officially own a second pet until this summer, because first years are only allowed one pet." This was… difficult.
"Whether you purchase a serpent or not, I still advise not mentioning that particular ability to anyone whom you do not trust absolutely. You may wish to keep it in your quarters here. And it would be perfectly alright for you to instead select items suitable for your owl with the credit. And so you know, there are more clothes for you in your room as well, but I did not consider those worthy of being Christmas presents, strictly speaking, as they are necessities that you were still lacking. Any clothes that you dislike can be exchanged if you tell me before school is back in session," Severus said quickly, not wanting to focus on the idea of a snake. For all that the boy seemed to like Salazar, the child was a Gryffindor, not a Slytherin, and might even be insulted by the suggestion.
"Thank you, sir. For the clothes too. But if Salazar wouldn't be insulted, I would really like to get a snake," the child said smiling before turning timid again, "I- have something for you. Ron helped me owl order for it. I hope you like it," the boy said nervously.
Severus reminded himself to be polite regardless, as the child had been regarding the snake. Severus wasn't yet sure if the child would really want such a thing. He wasn't a man that dealt with these social niceties often. Severus opened the lumpy package handed to him, half-way watching the child in front of him as he did so. Harry sort of hovered next to him rather than sitting back down on the sofa.
"It's a book about snakes," the child needlessly explained the moment Severus had the present unwrapped, "I thought maybe we could talk about what's in it, and I could ask Salazar if the things in the book were really true. I guess that's silly. And there's treats for Salazar that I think he's supposed to like. They're mostly made of insects, I think, and they are supposed to be okay for him. I was explaining to him about Christmas, mostly about gifts and a break from school, and he didn't say, but I think he wanted a gift. I didn't know what to get you, and I thought about something related to potions, and I heard about self-stirring rods, but I thought you'd have one or not like them. I mean, I think they are really cool, but maybe not good enough for your high level stuff."
"Harry," Severus said to get his attention. "Thank you for the gift. It was very thoughtful of you," Severus said, watching the fidgeting boy smile at him, depressingly below eye-level despite Severus being seated. "Now, I assume that you would like to spend some time with your Weasley friends, yes? You may come and go as you please, of course" Severus said awkwardly.
"Yeah, Ron will love these. Maybe I'll even have a chance to beat him with my new chess set, the boy said, gathering up his gifts and hurrying out the door with only a few more needless mutterings of appreciation. Severus leaned back in his chair, looking at the book the child had gotten for him, a reasonably legitimate looking volume. Severus found himself wondering what Salazar would say and why he hadn't taken the opportunity to ask Harry to speak to the snake for him earlier. He was a bit jealous of the ability, he supposed, and yet it still seemed so strange and off-putting.
Severus sighed, relieved that he did not have to be on his best behavior around the child for a moment, now that the boy had left his quarters. He knew that the boy would be back around often, at least to gather new clothes that he hadn't seen yet.
Harry had come and gone from their rooms more frequently during the holidays, perhaps due to the lack of Slytherin students in the halls, or perhaps just because his schedule was significantly emptier. Severus knew that the boy had been speaking to Salazar, because he still asked every time before going into that room because it was also Severus's lab. The child had even convinced him to let Salazar roam their quarters at times, which had not ever occurred to Severus previously.
Sometimes Severus and Harry talked briefly when the boy visited, and sometimes the boy spent more time in his room. At times, Harry would sit on the couch as Severus sat in his chair, both doing various work or reading in near silence. Severus couldn't help thinking that the rooms felt unnaturally quiet whenever Harry- or Miss Tonks weren't around.
*****Harry*****
After leaving the dungeons, Harry returned to Gryffindor tower, thoughts returning to the mysterious invisibility cloak and the desire to test it out. He didn't know where it came from really. From the note, he suspected Dumbledore, because he wasn't sure who else would write all of that. He could probably manage to see some of Professor Dumbledore's writing to confirm- or he could ask his- Professor Snape, but Harry wasn't sure what the professor would do.
Harry walked briskly through the common room as Ron was distracted talking to the twins. Running just would have caught their attention, and Harry didn't want to have to answer any questions. As much has he liked Ron, Harry wanted this first test to be just his, especially if he might turn in the cloak to the professor and likely get it confiscated anyway. Harry almost stuffed the cloak in his pockets to walk out of the common room again, but instead decided to throw it on, making sure that all of him was covered. He was actually small enough that the cloak was dragging quite a bit, which he would have to be careful of. He could probably fit Ron, and maybe Hermione too under here with him, but not this time. If Ron came up to their dormitory before he was back, he would figure out that Harry was trying out the cloak, and he probably would understand. Harry would make it up to him later. It was still the middle of the day, so Harry didn't really need to use the new cloak to sneak around, but the desire to test it out was almost irresistible.
Harry started wandering from the Gryffindor common room, down a few hallways and less used stairs. He knew he had heard Hermione talk about another route to the library and wondered if this would take him there. He looked into several classrooms that didn't seem to be filled with anything but dust and some old books. Hermione would be shocked to see any books just left out for years. Harry was wondering why the castle even had so many unused rooms that seemed to be set up as classrooms, when he opened the door into a room that was entirely empty except for a large, ornate looking mirror.
Shrugging to himself, Harry walked up to the mirror, still excited to see his lack of reflection because of the cloak. When he actually stood in front of it, Harry barely glanced at it before spinning around looking for Professor Snape. No one was there. Harry threw his hands out, feeling around to make sure that nothing was there, invisible like he was. It would be just like Hogwarts to have a mirror that just showed invisible people. No one was there. Unsettled but curious, Harry turned back to the mirror. He could see himself there, even though he shouldn't have been visible at all under the cloak. His reflection moved just like he did, as if it was a normal mirror. But there was his professor, just behind him. When Harry looked closer, he saw the attention and affection in the man's eyes that he didn't think anyone ever saw in real live on the very private professor.
There were two other people there too, a man and a woman. The woman stood behind Harry, opposite Professor Snape, and the man stood on her other side. Harry couldn't help but recognize the man first, because the face was so like the one that he wore for eleven years. James Potter. And then- yes, the woman had his eyes, so she had to be his mother, Lily Potter. And all three of the adults were looking at him and smiling. Harry backed away from the strange mirror, bolting from the room. He threw off the cloak and shoved it in his pockets, because it wasn't like it really mattered in the middle of the day, and he didn't want to trip.
Harry dashed up to his room, glad to see Ron there. This was too weird for one muggle-raised wizard to understand.
"Where were you? I could have sworn I'd seen you come up here-" Ron started.
"I need to show you something," Harry panted, turning and hurrying back out the door. Showing the mirror was the only way, because he wasn't sure how he would describe it anyway.
Harry was pleased in how easily he found the correct room again, and led Ron right up to the strange mirror, avoiding looking at it himself. "What do you see Ron?"
Ron's mouth dropped open. "I- I'm holding the House Cup! And I've got badges like Bill and Charlie. I guess I'm Head Boy and Quidditch captain!" his friend exclaimed. And Bill and Charlie are shaking my hands, and the rest of my family is there too. Everyone's older- oh except Ginny, and I guess Mum and Dad. I don't know how the mirror fits them all. And my favorite uncle Bilius, well great uncle really. Oh, and you and Hermione are there too! I- It's a great mirror, Harry," the boy said, turning to face his friend. "But it's weird. I thought at first- but I guess it can't be the future because my Uncle Bilius is dead," the child said, looking more solemn. "So- I guess it's what we want to see? What do you see? Er- if you don't mind," he asked, stepping away from the mirror to let his friend stand there.
Harry stepped back up to the mirror, seeing the same images he had seen before, but still not sure what to say. "I see me. I'm my own age, maybe a little taller I guess. But my mum's there. And - Professor Snape. My other- um, James Potter is next to my mum too. And everyone's smiling," Harry described.
"I saw him smile," Ron said, "After you were okay in the quidditch game. And he'd been watching you the whole time, protecting you. He is your dad, you know. He cares- he has to. I think maybe he's just not very good at showing it. I mean, you probably don't have to keep calling him Professor Snape. I reckon you could just start calling him Dad or something, and he wouldn't yell or anything about it."
Harry nodded but said nothing, pondering over his friend's thoughts as the two boys wandered the halls, Ron trying on the cloak as well. If Harry was quieter than usual for the rest of the day, even during the fabulous Christmas dinner, Ron didn't comment.
*****Severus*****
Severus hadn't realized that he had been dozing in his armchair until wards alerted him that someone was at his portrait door. He was momentarily reaching panic, wand in hand when the boy walked into his chambers. Severus forced himself to not react, to unobtrusively slide his wand back up his sleeve unto it's holder on his right forearm.
"Yes?" Severus prompted Harry, still trying to slow down his heart after his frantic awakening. One did not simply relax after living the life of a Death Eater and then a spy. The child looked unusually nervous as if he had done something wrong. He was not making eye contact, though that was not unusual for the boy.
"I got something for Christmas that I'm not sure if I should get to keep," the child rushed out.
Was this some other idiosyncrasy that the muggles had instilled? Thinking he wasn't deserving of certain possessions? "I do not intend to revoke privileges to any items you are given unless they are dangerous or otherwise significantly against the interest of your development, or for shorter periods of time for punishment if it is suitable from your actions. Did someone give you something dangerous?" Severus finished slowly, now hoping that it was as simple as some childish joke products that were on Filch's banned list. Of course, as a responsible professor, he would be forced to confiscate such an item… he supposed… at least until the end of term. Severus did occasionally enjoy the aggravation of the unpleasant old man.
"Not dangerous," the boy said, thrusting into Severus's hands what seemed to be fabric messily crammed back into its wrapping with a note on top. As the fabric slipped through his fingers out of the destroyed wrapping, Severus quickly surmised what it was and even its origin. After all, Severus was a quick-thinking man who had suspected this cloak's existence for nearly two decades. It explained some of their trouble-making
Severus haven't been sure which one of them had owned it, and he had suspected Black, but Severus now supposed it was Potter after all. An invisibility cloak, highly expensive due to its rarity. And this one had held up remarkable well for being at least a few decades old. After years of use at the hands of children, Severus couldn't find a single snag in the fabric.
Severus ruthlessly beat down the anger threatening to rise at the previous owner. His thoughts led him to all the times that this cloak must have been used as part of tormenting him, all of the times his teenage self was left with no proof of the injustice or witnesses of the misdeeds. But the man was dead, and if Severus were honest, he very much did not wish his own character to be judged based on his actions of more than a decade ago. Severus had done worse than a few pranks.
At reading the note, however, Severus's ire rose again. Albus Dumbledore. What kind of 'wise old man' gives a priceless magical article to an eleven-year-old with the instructions to have fun and don't tell his- father?
Severus realized that the boy was talking as he was in his own musings. "-know that you didn't get along with him, and it's not like he's a relative, so I'm sure he wouldn't really want me to have it, no matter what the note said. And I know I shouldn't have used it without knowing where it came from, but Ron knew what it was, and it was interesting. Everything magical is so interesting and I'm so behind everyone raised in the magical world, and behind Hermione too because she reads so much…" the boy trailed off, perhaps finally out of words. "Are you mad?" the child even asked.
Mad? He certainly was angry at Albus, but he didn't believe that he was at the boy, which would have been a surprising state of affairs for anyone to know, seeing as he was Severus Snape, the dread of all Hogwarts students. He was frankly surprised that the boy would even bring him such a thing, knowing there was a chance that it would be taken away. "You are correct to say that you shouldn't use or even touch mysterious gifts that you do not know the origin of. I did ask for your Christmas gifts to be monitored, to make sure that nothing sinister was given to you by a nefarious source under the guise of a holiday present. But I admit, I did not want to frighten you needlessly by bringing that necessity to your attention. I see now that it was ill-advised not to alert you of possible danger, a mistake I will endeavor not to make again." There, those were some very controlled statements, caring even, he thought to himself.
Severus contemplated the cloak in his hands before holding it back out to the boy. Hell must be freezing over, he thought wryly. "This can be a very powerful defensive tool, better than disillusionment charms in many ways, and you won't learn those for a few years still. You should not feel invulnerable in it, because you can still be smelled, say by a troll or detected with magic. But, as you have such a propensity for danger, I would be remiss if I confiscated such a valuable resource. You will now keep it with you at all times, ready to use it should a need arise," Severus spoke slowly. The child tentatively reached out and accepted the cloak. "I also would not want to be perceived as punishing you for bringing this to me, which was very much the right thing to do, understood?" The boy nodded eagerly.
"Seeing as this came from the Headmaster, the meddling man, I am assured that it was untampered with, but that cannot be said for most mysterious packages. Perhaps your gifts should be opened in these quarters in the future for added security," Severus said. And because he enjoyed watching Harry open them. "However, if I hear of you using this for some prank or unkind act, provoked or not, you will not like whatever consequences we agree on, perhaps suspension of flying privileges. Understood?"
"Yes sir," the child chimed, not meeting his eyes but running hands over the perfect fabric.
"I take it that you have already tested the cloak?" Severus asked. The child nodded, still looking nervous again. "I will assume that you did not already use it for some missdeed, so I will ask instead what you found in your wanderings around the castle." Severus asked pointedly, knowing that there was something more that the child wasn't saying and thinking that he just needed to prod a bit further. He hoped that the child hadn't been around pranking after all. But it was probably just a trip to the kitchens for more sweets.
"I-found a mirror. I guess it shows you what you want to happen, or what you wish could happen but know it can't," the child rambled. Severus immediately thought of the Mirror of Erised, which Dumbledore had so conveniently mentioned to Severus that he would be bringing into the castle for some plan of his, which Severus suspected was connected to the stone. What the hell was he thinking leaving it where an eleven-year-old could stumble upon?
Harry was still speaking, "I- I think I saw my mum, but I guess I'm not sure that she looked like that. I mean, I don't think I could possibly remember, so maybe it's just what I think she would look like," the child rambled, unknowing that Severus then felt like a stake had been shoved into his heart. The child didn't even know what Lily, what his mother looked like. Severus supposed he really shouldn't be surprised, since the boy was raised by bitter old Petunia.
"I have some pictures," Severus managed, rising from his seat quickly and walking to his bedroom, rifling through a bottom desk drawer before pulling out a worn envelope. "She was younger in them, but you can get an idea," he said, reentering the room and thrusting the pictures in the boy's direction. "I am sure there are later pictures of her somewhere, perhaps Professor McGonagall would be able to find some for you," Severus told the child.
Harry opened the small package, arms visibly shaking. The child looked at the first picture, one of Lilly and Severus at just about Harry's age, each holding their first Hogwarts letters. It was a muggle photograph taken by Mr. Evans, another person who Harry probably knew little about. The picture included a rare smile for young Severus Snape, crooked teeth and all, happy with his letter and hopeful for his life. The child stared at the photo, slowly bringing it closer to his nose, Severus supposed to see better, to subconsciously be closer.
"There is more than just the one in there. You can have them," Severus said, hardly cognizant of what he was saying. That statement brought Harry's bright green eyes up to meet Severus's darker ones. Severus could see that the boy was close to tears, but there was a large smile on the child's face. Severus was very unfamiliar with happy tears, if that was even what those were. Relief, happiness, sadness, they were all occasionally the same.
Severus would have never thought that he could give those pictures away, but the child was so transfixed. It wasn't like he didn't have more pictures, perhaps even copies of some of the ones the child held, and other trinkets of his time with Lily in his vault at Gringotts. And in truth, Severus didn't look at them very often these days. He had purged everything from his living space years ago except for that envelope of pictures from younger, happier times, because it did not do to dwell on what never could have been. Even if the very existence of the child in front of him seemed to scream what could have been.
*****Harry*****
Pictures? Harry thought. He wasn't sure why he hadn't thought to ask around for pictures of his mother earlier, but he probably wouldn't have had the nerve to ask Professor Snape about them anyway. And then they were in his hand, and he was opening the worn, apparently old or often opened envelope very carefully, not wanting to touch the pictures themselves except for the very edges, careful not to damage anything. There she was, only about his age, but still looking the same as the woman in the mirror. And the boy, so similar to himself except for the eyes. Harry had gotten used to the way he looked now pretty quickly. It felt right, after all. But seeing his- his professor look so similar was still surprising. He stared at young Severus Snape just as much as his young mother.
"There is more than just the one in there. You can have them," Have them? For himself? This was more precious even than any of the gifts he had been given for Christmas, and he was given them that easily.
"Really?" Harry asked, almost not believing it. "I'll keep them really nice, I promise," Harry assured him.
"I'm sure you will," his professor said in what Harry thought was reassurance.
Those pictures must have been what gave him the confidence to ask, "I- what should I call you? I mean, I know you're Professor Snape, especially in class. And you're always 'Sir'. But I- er Ron was saying- and Tonks was saying that I should ask. But 'Sir' is fine, really," Harry rambled, wondering if he should just run to the door while he was ahead today. Professor Snape could even be mad enough at the question that he would want to take the pictures away. To ask a question like that when the professor was being so nice and hadn't even taken away the cloak… But even as Harry worried, he didn't actually think his professor would take anything away from him or punish him over the question, even if he was mad on the inside.
"Father," Professor Snape said after a very long pause. "I think calling me Father would be appropriate if you wish. If you would like."
"Okay," Harry said, smiling in his relief. He thought he might have caught a twitch of the lip on his professor- on his father's face as well. "Thank you- for everything, and the pictures," Harry said again, lifting the bundle of cloak and pictures in his arms. "I guess I'm going to- go," He said, backing away to the door, feeling uncomfortable even though he was happier than he had been in a while. His father only nodded. "Thank you again," Harry called as he escaped out the portrait door.
*****Severus*****
Severus Snape stared at the door that had swung closed minutes ago now, and he still hadn't moved. The child wanted to call him something. Harry wanted to recognize him as a- parent, and he had agreed. It really said something about Severus's own mental state if the stunted and emotionally abused eleven-year-old was better at dealing with their new relationship than he was. How was that even possible?
Father.
His own father had been 'Father' on good days and simply 'Sir' on the bad ones. 'Please Sir, don't-" was more like what the man had really been called.
But there was nothing wrong with the names itself, and there were not many other suitable substitutes. He didn't foresee either of them being comfortable with "Dad." Severus found himself wondering if he should already be opening some of his Christmas scotch. Minerva had sent a nice bottle.
But Severus found himself thinking instead about the bottle of wine and the promise from Tonks that she would drink half of it herself, and wondered when their next meeting would be. He would need to be sure to have a Christmas gift for her before then.
A/N: Ah, this chapter was so easy to plan but very difficult to actually write and edit. My favorite piece was re-imagining what the boys would see in the Mirror of Erised. I liked Ron still seeing himself being praised, but now also seeing his friends and family around him (and how little sisters never grow up in their big brother's minds). And Harry, I think would still be a curious about James Potter, especially after receiving the invisibility cloak from him. The child just wants everything and everyone in his life to be happy. Let me know if you liked it! Please Review! Maybe you'll see what Severus would see in the mirror one day- hmm?
