Hope you are enjoying this story so far! A little note in case you didn't know, I have begun posting chapters for that Death Note Harry Potter crossover I promised you all you can find it under the title That Which is Precious

Happy reading!

Mistress Slytherin

Chapter 9

Hogwarts

Lucius Malfoy was waiting for them when they arrived his features sharp and cold his eyes pinning Harry darkly. Severus stepped out behind him and snorted slightly before shaking his head dismissively. Harry was released from the frozen gaze as Malfoy lifted his eyes and narrowed them at his long time friend. Severus shook his head and summoned a tea set his feet already leading him to the door before the knock rang through the room. Malfoy's lips thinned and turned down in irritation and Harry tensed as Snape opened the door revealing none other than Hogwarts' headmaster Albus Dumbledore. The man smiled genially and Harry, having known Malfoy long enough by now could feel his ire.

"Ah Harry! I see you've made it though traveling by floo is a tad bit unconventional!" He said cheerfully. Harry noticed two things at once- the first being that the headmaster truly thought him a trusting young boy, the second being that the man wasn't really looking at him but rather through him. He realized quite suddenly that the headmaster thought him inconsequential, a pawn, and therefor harmless.

How wrong the man was.

Even after their altercation last year with the Mirror of Erised- wait a moment...the man had called him by his name again. He had no right. Inwardly he understood that making this man his enemy was a bad idea, he was too powerful, but Harry also knew that some day he too would be powerful. He twisted his expression into the wide-eyed innocence that he'd used in Flourish and Blotts while the headmaster wasn't actively looking at him and saw Severus' lips twitch slightly out of the corner of his eye.

"There was a spot of trouble getting him here headmaster- the floo wasn't functioning properly." Severus said smoothly. Harry dropped his eyes the moment he felt his ring heat against his skin and then rapidly cool. Blue eyes were surveying him and he couldn't help himself.

"I'm not in trouble am I sir?" His said his features awash with slight fear and guilt as he looked away. "It's just that the floo wouldn't work and even Professor Snape couldn't get through! I would have gone by myself but I didn't really know where to go." He said scratching the back of his head sheepishly. Blue eyes moved away and when Harry glanced up he knew that the man had been fooled.

"Of course not Harry!" He said eyes twinkling as he turned his gaze back to Severus. Harry struggled not to wince when his name was spoken. "I'm just glad that you were able to arrive safely, I must thank you as well Severus-" Harry saw the man's lip twitch and knew that he wasn't the only one who's name the man used without permission. "It's a good thing that you were able to fix the problem though I'm not quite sure it is appropriate that young Harry should be living with his head of house, people might begin to point fingers and call it favoritism." He said nodding his head gravely. Harry met dark eyes over the headmaster's head in a moment of shock.

"Oh he wasn't living with Severus headmaster, I was appointed guardian until mister Potter's case is pushed through." He said. Harry noted that he never directly said where Harry was living and that he'd used past tense when referring to his guardianship. Harry marveled at the man's ability to twist the truth. The headmaster frowned.

"Really? I'm quite sure that young Draco arrived on the train with the others." He said tilting his head to the side. Harry saw Malfoy twitch and knew immediately just who it was that had set up the raid that morning.

"The Aurors-" He winced visibly and dropped his eyes falling into his role easily. "They frightened me...reminded me of-" He choked on his voice convincingly and tensed his whole body. "Mister Malfoy sent me to professor Snape because I was scared and he didn't have any more calming drought." He said forcing his body to tremble. He didn't need to glance up to see the headmaster' countenance soften.

"Oh my dear boy..." The man murmured sadly.

"If that is all headmaster?" Snape said tightly. "After all while the media might have cleared you I still need some convincing." He bit out real coldness creeping into his accusing voice.

"Now Severus-" The headmaster chided gently. But Harry felt the flash of magic that symbolized Severus' true rage- he would not be so easily placated.

"Don't you 'now Severus' me Albus Dumbledore." Severus said his voice dangerously silken again. "This is Lily's child we are speaking about, you'd better have a damn good reason for not checking in on him!" He snarled suddenly his voice heated. Harry blinked up in shock. How many times now had the man mentioned his mother's name? Was she the reason the man did these things for him?

Why?

"Because Lily is dead!" Severus hissed his eyes glinting with repressed pain. "Because no one loved you when you should have been loved!" He growled before huffing slightly and crossing his arms. "And because I choose to."

No...his mother wasn't the only reason- and neither was pity, he knew the man well enough to understand that Severus Snape would never pity him. But that still left him without a reason.

"What happened was a great tragedy Severus." The headmaster said gravely, patiently as if he were speaking to a child. "I had no way of knowing that Petunia would-"

"Of course you didn't!" Severus hissed heatedly cutting the headmaster off. Harry looked up at the man in shock. Snape's pale skin was drawn tightly and his lips were thin with rage...Harry was reminded of the day at the reserve, the look the man had given Malfoy. There was fire in the man's eyes, glittering burning dangerous fire that was frightening as he spoke. "Of course, you didn't." Severus repeated his eyes narrowed. "Because not once in ten years of Harry's life did you take the time to check on him." He bit out. Harry glanced at the headmaster and watched the man's expression shutter closed.

"What would you have done Severus?" He whispered. "Henry Potter and his wife were some of my dearest friends. James- James was my godson." He managed his voice pained. "I practically raised the boy myself after his parents were murdered." He shot a look at Malfoy that Harry knew he would never forget, a knowing accusing look that spoke volumes between unwritten lines. "And then-" Harry could just see the man balling his hand into a fist his face twisted in grief. "And then I failed him too." He whispered harshly. "I could not look into the face of my beloved friends and godson any more than you could meet Lily Potter's eyes in James Potter's face! I could not bear it!" He admitted and Harry was startled to see tears forming in the man's eyes. He reeled from the information he had just been given.

The headmaster had been his father's godfather?

He'd been friends with his grandparents?

Had- had the Malfoys had something to do with his grandparent's murder?

Why was it so hard for Severus to see his mother's eyes in his father's face?

Silence filled the air, a heavy tense silence that sent shivers down his spine. It was thick in the air, and frightening, so very frightening.

"Harry." Severus' voice broke through the silence like a thunder clap though it was barely above a whisper. Harry stiffened slightly. "Look at me?" Severus' voice betrayed him. It was raw, sad, and Harry was almost frightened to meet the man's gaze. But Severus had used his name...and he didn't regret giving it to the man. So he looked up and caught dark fathomless eyes. For a moment they simply stared at each other and Harry could only watch as the man's hardened features softened.

"Albus." He said quietly. Harry found that while he sorely wanted to guide his eyes towards the headmaster he couldn't budge them. He knew that the headmaster was listening though. "These aren't Lily's eyes." He said sadly. "These eyes are far older than her's ever were, far more suspicious and frightened." He said his features falling slightly in torment. "The only resemblance they bear is that they are at times flat and lifeless...the way her's were the night she died." His voice trembled at the end and finally dark eyes darted away from his, still he couldn't turn his gaze away. Severus seemed to hunch in on himself slightly.

"Severus..." The headmaster said wearily. Severus' eyes hardened slightly and Harry swallowed thickly at the heavy terrible sorrow he could see swimming in a normally impassive gaze.

"I will never forgive myself for seeing that look in her eyes Albus, just as I will never forgive you for putting that look into the eyes of a young boy who never did a thing to deserve the things that happened to him." he swore softly his magic rising like a cloud. "But know this-" He said turning his gaze back to Harry's. "These eyes are not Lily's, no, these eyes belong to Harry and Harry alone and I'll be damned if I watch you take the light back out of them." He said forcefully flickering his eyes back up to meet the headmasters. Harry glanced at the older man and saw a hallow sadness in the man's gaze.

Slowly, without a word, the headmaster turned and slipped out of the room.

What was left be hind was a sort of stunned silence that Harry didn't even know how to begin to fix. Slowly he dragged his gaze up and met dark eyes, Severus was impassive yet open. There were more questions than answers. Neither of them were about to break the spell though. It registered in his mind that Snape had been honest in words and emotion- no small feat for the man he was sure. It made him feel oddly grateful. More so than usual. And...with the barest of hesitance he knew that he could trust the man.

This startled him.

Never trust adults.

That had been his motto for as long as he could remember. It had rung true time and time again. But Severus Snape...

Severus Snape was an anomaly.

He smiled slightly, warily at this and knew that there was no turning back now.

He trusted Severus Snape.

Malfoy cleared his throat. The spell was broken. Harry darted his gaze away self consciously.

"Now, Mister Potter. Would you care to enlighten me as to why Draco returned home this morning in tears?" Malfoy said quirking an eyebrow. Harry blinked at him in shock. Draco was crying? Malfoy frowned for a moment at his apparent shock before leaning forward his expression hard. "I'm listening." He said pursing his lips. Tiredly Harry explained what happened. When he'd finished Severus was frowning.

"Merlin he was a pompous brat." He muttered to himself. Malfoy shot him a glare and he shrugged unrepentantly.

"No more than usual." Harry said with a shrug. Silver eyes darted towards his.

"Then why did you cut him off? What did he say that you aren't telling us?" He said narrowing his gaze. Harry's eyes dropped shut whether to hide his exhaustion or to hide the pain that shot through him he didn't know.

"I believe his exact words went something like this: 'What's the matter Potter? Don't have any parents of your own so you're going about stealing other people's families? Mummy's screams ringing in your ears?'- yes, that was it, I doubt I'll be forgetting it any time soon either." He said a sharp edge to his voice that he refused to acknowledge was more than anger. When he finally cracked his eyes open both men were staring at him in shock and in Lucius Malfoy's case, white-faced fury.

"That...idiot boy!" He growled before standing stiffly and looking down on him. "I apologize on behalf of my son and hope that you won't hold this grudge against my name." He said tightly. Harry was mildly amused. Malfoy really was old fashioned. It went far beyond simply following social guidelines, this was proof of his bloodline.

"Of course not Lord Malfoy, my quarrel is with Draco, you and Lady Malfoy still hold my highest regards." He said with a tilt of his head. Malfoy's gaze widened in surprise and then humor before the man swept through the floo.

"I don't think he realized that you were aware of that particular bit of decorum." Severus said sitting down as he finally poured the tea and handed him a cup. Harry hummed.

"I spent most of my summer in the Malfoy library, there is an entire wall devoted to the necessities of wizarding decorum." He drawled right back musing that he was beginning to sound a bit like Severus.

"Hmmm? So it wasn't just chess that you studied?" He asked his lips quirking upwards slightly. Harry smirked feeling much like a satisfied cat. So Snape had heard about that hmm? For some reason the man's obvious pride in his accomplishment made him feel lighter. A heavy thump caused him to open his eyes. He winced slightly at the sight of the large tome sitting on the small table next to the elegant Chinese tea set and sighed when he raised his gaze to find the man looking at him expectantly. He took a long draw of his tea before settling his cup and saucer onto the tray.

"The A. Aarrin, classified as a C rated product by the Ministry in 1907 belongs to a creature south east of Asia-"

And so, his new year began.

$%^$%^$%^$%^$%

The moment the welcoming feast had been completed Harry made his way down to the Dungeons and began working on the store rooms. Draco who had been staring at him with wide sad eyes seemed to realize that Harry no longer actively needed him and fell into a deep depression which left many Slytherins unsure of how to treat the two. Harry worked in silence his hands and mind occupied with his task as he cleaned bottles, jars and vials, sorted through stinking ingredients testing them for freshness and neatly recorded his findings. The work was arduous and complicated yet he easily lost himself to it. He didn't want to think really, he wanted to learn but he didn't want to let his mind stray. He knew where it would go. There were too many questions that he didn't have the answers to, there were too many emotions he didn't want to examine too many fears that he refused to acknowledge. So he worked long and hard into the night until he was exhausted enough to simply fall into bed and sleep.

The next day he very nearly had to crawl to breakfast. Sleep had not come easy to him lately, not just because of his overwhelmed mind but because of a certain dead man who haunted him even beyond the grave. It was ridiculous that the man's actions should hold even more of his fear than all of what the Dursley's had ever done to him. It was stupid that he couldn't stand the touch of his sleeves cuffs or really anything touching his wrists- or really him at all. He had never been one for touch, the only touches he'd ever received were ones filled with violence, but even then he could handle casual brushes against his arm or casual pats on the back. But now...now it hurt to be touched at all. Even Severus who he knew he could trust had terrified him the instant their fingers accidentally brushed over the tea tray the night before.

It was maddening.

Of course Severus had noted the dark circles under his eyes and gave him a long worried look that made him feel even weaker than before. He ignored it and made his way to the Slytherin table slipping a drop of pepper up potion into his goblet of juice before drinking it down. It was store bought and not half as good as Severus' but it worked well enough and allowed him to sit up a bit straighter before taking the potions Snape did make for him. He didn't notice the silence that shadowed the Slytherin table, not at first any way and it was only after the loud flapping wings announced the arrival of mail that Harry noticed the subtle glances and shifting gazes. He was distracted though by the presence that nagged at the corner of his mind. he smiled slightly as Circe glided into the room impressively letting out a loud beautiful trill as her plumage glinted a fiery red in the morning sunlight. Gasps rang through out the hall as she swooped down settling on his shoulder with an affectionate trill and a warble before nudging her face against his cheek. The soft feathers tickled and the sudden rush of happiness at being reunited with her caused a low chuckle to spill from his lips. She trilled happily and held out a leg allowing him to gently unwind the thread that attached his mail before nuzzling his cheek once more and taking off. Harry stared after her for a moment before turning to his letters.

Gringotts had sent him something- probably on the investments he'd made through Severus' guidance, the ministry had sent him a letter- Lady Malfoy had told him they would be contacting him eventually about the case...his hand froze at the sight of the Malfoy crest. Carefully he lifted the blue wax seal and unfolded the thick expensive parchment. It was an official letter of apology from one Lord Malfoy to the heir of the Potter house on behalf of Draco Malfoy. Slowly Harry lifted his gaze. Draco held a letter of his own, gripped tightly in his white knuckled hands.

Harry was startled by the pang he felt for the boy.

He knew without a doubt that Draco worshiped the ground his father walked on, to be this severely punished- he shook his head. Draco was a child. He had known that from the first time he'd met Draco. And Draco was entitled to making mistakes, because he was a child. Harry sighed and shook his head attracting Draco's teary-eyed gaze. Oh Merlin the boy was about to cry.

"Draco." He said stiffly before standing. He wasn't hungry any more. "A word?" The boy nodded soundlessly and gathered up his things following him out of the hall and to a small empty classroom. Harry sighed as he cast a few silencing charms on the door and turned to the blond. Grey eyes looked up at him sadly- it was the puppy dog look- Merilin he hated the puppy dog look. He huffed silently. "Don't ever make your father have to send me one of these again." He said quietly showing the boy the letter, Draco knew what it was and ducked his head in shame for it. "My quarrel was never towards him but he takes responsibility for it any way- that is the mark of a great man." He said smiling fondly as he folded the letter and slipped it away before holding out his hand decisively. "Friends?" He said lifting his chin. Draco hiccuped ungracefully before reaching out his hand and nodding.

"Yeah, friends." He said with a watery smile. Harry snorted and ruffled Draco's hair affectionately. Draco sneered at him weakly before his face dropped into a contemplative expression. "I am sorry Harry." He said softly ducking his head. "I was a real prat." He admitted. Harry knew that the words had cost Draco, after all Malfoy's didn't apologize lightly. He clutched the letter in his hand tightly.

"Just...watch what you say to people Draco, pissing off the Weasley's is one thing, but there are people out there who could and would kill you for saying the wrong thing." He said quietly. Draco nodded and held up his letter.

"That's what father said...more or less." he said wincing slightly. Harry nodded slowly.

"You can't always hide behind his back Draco." He warned. Draco looked down at the letter thoughtfully before nodding slowly. A knock sounded on the door and Harry jumped before cautiously answering it. Severus rose an eyebrow at him before handing him a slip of paper.

"Your time table." He said before looking at Harry pointedly. Harry rolled his eyes.

"See you later Draco." He said waving at the boy who paled slightly. Harry slipped the door closed quietly behind him before making his way to the dungeons. He had a few minuets before class so he could look over the rest of his mail and write an appropriate response to Lord Malfoy...

$%^%$%^$%^$%^$%^$

Harry was thoroughly annoyed- of course so was nearly every other professor at school but Harry had a bit of a temper and his patience was wearing thin.

Gilderoy Lockhart

From the man's baby blue eyes- which he hadn't really noticed until it had been a question on the test (really?)- to his perfect blond hair- that he'd apparently won an award for- to the too white, too sparkling grin, which he'd apparently won several awards for.

Harry found the fraud detestable.

It seemed as if the man sought to make his life hell.

On the first day of classes he'd followed around nearly every professor giving them 'helpful' hints and generally making an arse of himself.

On the second day of classes- when Harry actually had to take the man's class, he proved just how stupid and self absorbed he really was.

Of course Harry had known the moment he'd cracked one of the man's books open in flourish and Blotts that the man was a total fake with no credentials whatsoever- but it didn't excuse the fact that the man used up an entire period to teach the class about himself. He was useless, pompous, and really not even as handsome as everyone kept pointing out! Merlin even Draco was fawning over the man! Of course it didn't help that the man apparently had a crush on Lord Malfoy- and in turn Lord Malfoy's only beloved son, which apparently extended to Harry as well. The man was bloody stalking him- for Merlin's sake!

And this!

This!

The man had chased him to the point where all he could to was climb onto a school broom in hopes of getting away- how was he supposed to know the Ravenclaws were having practice? How was he supposed to know that quaffles dearly wanted to hurt people- and apparently had targeted him? And who the bloody hell thought it was a good idea to make a snitch look so bloody curious? Harry had only wanted to catch it so that he could examine the spellwork around the golden sphere- and all at once he was being chased by a Quaffle- and then another Quaffle! He'd resolved of course to simply blast the things to smithereens the moment he caught the sly little golden ball, he hadn't accounted for the apparently rather brutal nature of the quaffels which simply wouldn't leave him be.

By the time the Ravenclaw beaters were able to catch the blasted things Harry was doing things on his broom to get away from them that he never would have tried otherwise. And by the time he'd finally landed nearly all of Hogwarts was awaiting him- including Gilderoy Lockhart and the headmaster. Lockhart, of course was the first to mention that Harry should be a seeker.

The decision was made in an instant.

Dumbledore had taken one look at his windblown hair and eschew glasses (which he still wore mainly for habit's sake) and a wistful look entered his eyes that Harry couldn't miss. Which had led him to where he was now.

His footsteps were fast paced as he rushed down the stairs towards the dungeons scattering students who knew better than to piss him off when he was in this type of mood. It was only the last dregs of patience and the knowledge that he'd probably be killed if he didn't that allowed him to stop at the heavy wooden door and knock. Snape opened it immediately and allowed him to stalk by and settle himself tensely on the couch. Severus heaved a sigh and moved to his chair before summoning tea.

"Quidditch." Harry hissed eventually. Snape hummed and leaned back his eyes glittering in rage.

"Apparently." he bit out. Harry huffed.

"I'm not my father!" He snarled. Severus took a sip and nodded.

"No you are not." he agreed.

"I don't want fame!" Harry sneered in disgust. Severus nodded his head with a sharp jerk.

"Quite, it makes it impossible to get away with anything." He said in a truly Slytherin fashion. Harry's ire was momentarily distracted and he smirked.

"Indeed." He agreed. They smirked at each other rather darkly.

"Revenge?" Severus offered lightly. Harry's eyes glittered.

"Most certainly."