Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Harry Potter.
Note: Thanks for the reviews. Let's begin. The village in Surrey does not belong to me nor have I ever been there. I found it on the internet.
Long after the time for dinner had come round and even the smell that lingered in the chair Potter had occupied earlier was gone, Severus sat in his office, lost in thoughts. His hand was curled around his long since cold cup of tea but it was nothing compared to the coldness in his heart.
For so long he had justified his anger, rage and hatred towards Potter by telling himself that the younger wizard had received an upbringing that Severus even in his wildest dreams could not even comprehend and he had turned a blind eye to the signs of abuse the young male displayed.
Every summer Potter returned to school thin and dull eyed his movements shaky and sometimes even sluggish. Every time Severus had assumed that it was because Potter didn't want to return to school and was therefore resorting to unhealthy eating or perhaps even refusing to eat to get his way but he could not have been further from the truth.
What he had believed to be signs of arrogance had been carefully hidden signs of abuse. All the times he had been angry when Potter had flaunted his disregard for the rules and thus his disrespect to those who set them had been nothing more than the resourcefulness of a child who knew he couldn't depend on adults. Who had learned at a too young age to fend for himself and who didn't trust anybody else because they would let him down.
And the most astonishing thing was, Dumbledore had allowed this and even encouraged it. He had never once taken care of Potter, not even when the young male had been so distressed after Black's death. No, he sent him back to his abusive family and left the boy alone to suffer the grief and the depression alone.
His hand curled around the tea cup and the next moment it flew through the room, the noise of the china shattering against the wall startling Severus from his thoughts. He looked down at his empty hand and looked back up at the tea that dribbled down the wall and the shattered remains of the cup that was lying on the stone floor.
He closed his eyes, running a weary hand over his face before pushing it through his hair. How was he going to deal with this? It had happened so many years ago that taking the appropriate steps now, requesting an examination with a qualified mediwitch, contacting child services to notify them of the muggles behavior, notify the Ministry to never send a child to that place again, place Potter someplace else, was not going to make any difference.
It wouldn't help Potter, the younger male was struggling enough without having to be forced to relive the whole terrible ordeal of what he had gone through at the hands of his family. Severus sighed.
There was not a doubt in his head that Potter was telling the truth. He had known the younger male could explode on occasion but Potter had never lied regarding his family and the images that Severus had seen in their Occlumency lesson, they suddenly made sense.
But right now he needed a plan to deal with his apprentice. He needed to change his tactics in dealing with Potter. He needed to rebuild a trusting relationship with his apprentice, not one based on force but one based on equality. It would take time but Potter already trusted him that Severus would never lie to him but now Severus needed to take it further.
He was unaware that he was stroking the bracelet soothingly, feeling Potter's magic echo against his skin. His hands clenched because he had seen how upset Potter still was when Severus had sent him away to go to his afternoon classes. A part of him, long forgotten and buried had wanted to write Potter a pass to excuse him from his classes but he knew that it would only fuel the rumors and could quite easily damage Potter's reputation further.
He looked up when the floo flared green. He raised an eyebrow when he saw Minerva spinning into view. Please, she better not start pestering me why I didn't attend dinner, I have had other things to worry about.
But her expression wasn't amused when she stepped into his office. Severus sat up straight; her expression was serious and nearly deadly as she said. "Could you come up to my office, Severus? There are some things that have come to my attention which need immediate addressing."
Had Potter gone to her to complain? That little noisy sot…or had it been a different student? Severus found himself agreeing as he rose from his desk and followed Minerva through the floo and into her office, wondering the whole way what the hell was going on.
Hp
"Harry?" Harry glanced around the crowded common room to find the person who was calling his name. The Gryffindors were all chattering rather loudly so Harry narrowed his eyes, and shrugged. If it was important enough the person would surely call his name again.
He focused back on his Charms book. He had missed the lesson, thanks to Snape. But Harry knew he couldn't really be that annoyed with his master anymore. The day may have started out rather unwell but after his lunch time chat with his master, or more like crying bout, Harry did have to admit that his heart didn't feel so heavy anymore. It was just like a huge weight had been lifted off his chest.
"Harry?" A hand touched his shoulder and Harry turned in his chair, his face blank. Hermione was standing behind him and even as the customary smile came to his face before he remembered what had happened a couple of days ago at dinner and it slid ride off.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him but she bit her lip before she looked away. Harry sighed and closed his book. It seemed that he wouldn't get much work done and he focused on his oldest female friend, wondering what was going to happen now.
Would she accuse him of new things or would she like to talk about something else now? Harry supposed it would be nice to talk to Hermione; it was so very different from talking to Ron. Hermione always knew what was going on in his head sometimes even before he did.
"Harry, can we talk?" Harry raised an eyebrow and looked around the noisy common room. He nodded and gestured to the empty chair across from him. Ron was at the Quidditch field, Harry had declined. He knew that he couldn't join the team anymore, even when he wanted to but he was going to be too busy with his normal classes and his apprenticeship to Snape to worry about Quidditch matches.
It had been so long since he had gone flying but he couldn't even find the time to simply focus upon the simple pleasure of taking his broom with him for a ride. It always seemed that somebody needed him these days.
"Uhm, in private." Hermione glanced towards the stairs that led to the boys' dormitory but Harry immediately shook his head. He knew where this was going to lead if people saw him walking up the steps alone with Hermione Granger and the last thing he needed was more rumors.
He gestured towards the seat across from him and said. "Come and sit down, I'll cast the privacy spells."
"But Harry…"
"No, Hermione, it will only bring about more rumors and those are the last things that I need so either way here or we can go outside if you want to go for a walk around the lake." Harry thought it was pretty generous of him to even talk to Hermione when she hadn't once said she was sorry.
Her eyes narrowed and finally she sat down. Harry added the privacy spells around the two of them and Hermione seemed to relax a little, sitting calmly in her chair as she looked around before straightening up and looking at Harry, who got a funny feeling in his stomach at her determent look.
"You broke up with Ginny!" The way it sounded made the hackles rise and Harry had to put in a good effort not to snap at her. He merely raised a cool eyebrow at her before he said; opening the book he was holding.
"If you're going to lecture me about personal stuff, such as breaking up with Ginny without even knowing the circumstances, then I'm going to go back to my Charms homework! I've a lot of catching up to do and I had a day from hell so I really don't need another lecture, Hermione! You're not my mother! You're supposed to be my friend and I could use some support, not lecture after lecture!"
Harry shot a glare her way and then went back to his book, not reading a letter but not taking down the privacy spells either. Hermione was silent beside him before she fidgeted a little while and finally said in a small voice. "Harry?"
Harry looked up, one eyebrow raised as he waited for Hermione to speak. His friend had tears in her eyes but Harry told himself to remain steadfast. He knew Hermione and she could waltz over a person.
"I'm sorry, Harry! I know that this hasn't been fair on you but if you could just see how much Ginny is suffering and how much she cares about you…"
Harry closed the book with a snap and hissed. "Oh, she cares so much for me that she is off with another bloke within a day! She has moved on, Hermione! I mean what does that say about our relationship! If she really cared as much as you say she did then she wouldn't be licking Dean Thomas' tonsils in the corridors."
He was breathing heavily, the rage hadn't quite died down yet but Harry looked away. It didn't upset him that he had broken up with Ginny but it did upset him that she didn't think he was worth more.
He sighed and looked down when Hermione's hand touched his own in what was supposed to be a consolation gesture. He looked up to meet her eyes. Hermione's eyes were compassionate and Harry realized how much he had missed her.
"Harry, did you want to break up with her?" Harry looked away before he nodded to the book in his lap.
"But why?"
"I…I can't love her. It doesn't feel right. I'm struggling too much with myself to deal with her as well. Snape was right…he made me see…."
Hermione seemed to stiffen and the hand touching his own grew tense and firm, nearly painful as Hermione whispered. "What do you mean with Snape was right, Harry?"
Harry looked up and finally said. "When I blew up in the Great Hall at Ginny and then at you well Snape came to collect me to ask me what has gotten me so upset. He asked me if I was alright with my relationship with Ginny because he knows how much I need to sort myself out. It is just that in the apprenticeship document there is something about not having a relationship while serving the apprenticeship but Snape said that he wouldn't make a point out of it unless I wasn't comfortable with it. So I confessed to him that I would rather have some time alone to focus on my apprenticeship and my studies and he sent a letter, well, I'm quite sure that you read it…"
"Actually I didn't but Snape stepped up as your master?"
Harry could only nod and Hermione grinned and suddenly threw her arms around him in an unexpected hug. "Oh Harry that is wonderful."
"What do you mean?" He choked out, petting her upon the shoulder awkwardly.
"It is wonderful that there is somebody who is looking out for your needs and who takes care of you. You really deserve that, Harry!" Hermione beamed and Harry couldn't help but smile, yes it was wonderful indeed.
"So, is this because you're lovers?" Harry gaped at her and as Hermione laughed, Harry couldn't help but join in, his hand stroking his bracelet and as he felt the powerful magic respond against his skin, he couldn't help but sigh a little and wonder, would he ever be somebody's lover?
Hp
"Well, Minerva, what is this about?" Severus sat down, carefully arranging his robes about him so they fell gracefully as he extended his long legs. He looked up at the elderly witch who was looking at him with narrowed eyes. He frowned, had he done something that bad?
"It has come to my attention that there are certain rumors going on about you and Mr. Potter…"
Oh, so that was what this had been about.
Severus allowed himself a smirk and said. "Oh come now, Minerva, you know just as well as me the students' ability to overexhegerate everything."
"I've had three students with me today, Severus that told me that they saw you hitting Potter with a spell in Defense that knocked him back and nearly killed him."
"It was nothing. Potter just knocked his head against a tile and blacked out for a moment but if it makes you feel better, I'll apologize to the brat."
"See that you do, Severus. I will not have you abusing your apprentice." Her voice was strict and Severus fought the urge to roll his eyes.
"I did not abuse him. I lost my temper with him that is all."
"You seem to lose your temper a lot where Potter is concerned, Severus…"
He veered up from his chair, too agitate to remain seated as he paced the length of the office and said, gesturing wildly with his hands. "It is always about Potter! I know how to handle my apprentice; Minerva and I really do not need a lecture about that. My apprentice is my own business! I know my behavior towards Potter in the past has been childish and petty and I thought that you would have more faith in me, even when I know that it is a lot to ask for, to work through my grudges and to treat Potter like an equal and my apprentice and not as some snotty brat. If you're so keen to place blame then I ask you, as the boy's former Head of House, why you never once looked into Potter's home life!"
"What are you talking about, Severus?"
"The boy has been abused by his relatives, Minerva!" Severus snarled as he watched the Headmistress go pale. She collapsed back against her chair, clutching her chest and Severus found his own anger fading quickly.
"No!" Her voice was strangled and Severus was suddenly reminded of how much she cared for Potter. About how much she seemed to care for all those lost students, about how much she had once cared about him.
He sank back in his chair, bowing his head as he whispered. "Yes, Potter, the Chosen One, the Golden Boy has been abused by his muggle relatives. He was beaten, starved and made to work to earn his keep. The boy was thought to be worth less than the dust covering the floor."
He took a deep breath and then confessed. "I can't do this, Minerva. Every time that I think that I'm making some progress with Potter some new layer opens up and there is a new hurt. What if I cannot heal him? He has to want it himself but the only thing that he seems to want is somebody to take care of him. I'm not that kind of person."
"But it is the kind of person your apprentice needs, Severus." Yet despite the warm tone and the hand on his shoulder, Severus knew it may just be an impossible task that was laid out before him. "You can do this, I know you can. I know you, Severus!"
"Then if you say you know me, how can you say in good conscience that I'm what is best for Potter?" Severus sounded more weary than annoyed or angry. Minerva gazed down at him with a tiny smile and said.
"Because despite all the things you've done, you've always been brave and have never shrunk away from a challenge. I know that I'm asking you to do something nearly impossible and unheard of, to show compassion to a Potter but if you can show Harry in this year that he is worthy of your attention, time and perhaps even friendship it will benefit him far more and I think that he may even find the strength to carry on. Right now, he is like a lost child, a child who has lost everything. I know that while you would never admit it, you feel the same but you know how to carry on, even when things seem at their darkest and I'm sure that you can show this to Harry as well."
"Potter has never reacted well to role models."
"That is because he never had any reason to trust any and the roles models set before him may not have been right for Harry."
"I agree wholeheartedly with you on that, Minerva." Severus hid a snort when he thought of Black and how unfit he had been for his young apprentice. He sobered when he thought that Potter would have probably had a better life if he had been living with Black than with the muggle family.
He took a deep breath and said. "Then why are you so sure that I can do this?"
"Because, despite everything that has happened between you two, Harry knows that he can trust you not to lie to him and at the moment, that is more than any of us had."
"I'll give it a try, Minerva. You know that I do intend to honor the apprenticeship document and look after my apprentice in all regards." Minerva smirked at him, the smirk of a certain tabby cat who had gotten into the cream as she purred.
"Oh, in all regards, Severus? Also the areas the rumors have been spreading about?" And as Minerva laughed softly, Severus felt the color stain his cheeks and he choked on the sip of tea he had been about to drink.
Hp
"Good grief, Minerva, never say such things again!" He scolded at her, finally managed to catch his breath even though his throat was a bit scorched.
Minerva handed him a glass of cold water and Severus took a grateful sip. She waited until he had swallowed and had set the glass down before she remarked, sitting down in the chair opposite him. "Severus, I know how close the relationship can become between apprentice and master, it wouldn't really be surprising if you did end up teaching Mr. Potter in other areas."
Severus fixed her with a glare and hissed. "He is my student."
"He is your apprentice before he is your student, Severus."
"I would never sleep with a student."
"I'm not asking you to, Severus! I'm merely saying that I know of the closeness of a master/apprenticeship bond and I'll not stand in your way should it evolve naturally. There are many apprentices and masters who ended up married to one another or had a thing during the apprenticeship." Minerva looked away with a small smile and Severus wondered for a moment who she was thinking about.
He had kept himself detached in his apprenticeship. Normally it was only proper that master and apprentice shared as much as they could in order to have a good relationship and so the master could help the apprentice but Severus had been forced to keep certain things hidden.
But despite the Dark Lord, Severus remembered his apprenticeships fondly. He could clearly recall that there had been things he could not wait to teach his own apprentice one day. And now Potter was his apprentice.
Severus took a sip of his now nearly cold tea, grimaced and cast a charm on it. Yes, he would show Potter what it was like to brew all his night with his master, to harvest ingredients in the Forbidden Forest on a full moon with nothing to fear and more things, yes, Severus smiled; he would make Potter realize that Potions was fun.
Hp
The next morning dawned far too early for Harry's sake and he pulled his pillow over his head. He groaned at the sound of giggle and hushing in the common room. He closed his eyes for a mere second…
"Hush, you'll wake up the others. You're not supposed to be here!" Dean's voice broke through Harry's sleep clouded mind and he opened one eye. Who in the hell was Dean talking to?
There was more giggling and then Ginny purred. "You didn't complain last night!"
Harry was suddenly wide awake as he shot up in the bed. He counted himself lucky that he had drawn the curtains around his bed yesterday as he added his usual silence spells to ensure nobody woke up when he had a nightmare. Several groans sounded from around the dormitory and then Ron snarled.
"What the hell are you doing here, Ginny?" Harry fumbled for his glasses on the nightstand as he took his wand in his hand to cancel the spells he had done on the curtains.
He looked around the room, Ginny was curled up against Dean underneath the covers while the boy in questioning stood in his dressing gown besides the bed, looking sheepishly and guilty. Dean shot a glance towards Harry that was nearly an apology but Harry ignored the other boy, he really had no taste for this early in the morning.
He pulled the covers back, glad that he had decided to wear a shirt and sleeping trousers to bed. Ginny looked at him, daring him to make a comment but Harry merely raised an eyebrow. What would it be to him if she wanted to whore herself around?
Without any comment except a soft good morning to Ron who looked ready to explode as he faced his sister and dorm mate, Harry disappeared into the showers, he really didn't need to see this.
The hot water that ran through his hair and down his face, dripping down his nose woke him up and allowed Harry to relax. He sighed, closing his eyes as he braced his hands against the walls, bowing his head against the warm sprays of water against his skin. This felt amazing.
The bracelet slid down his wrist a little and warmed against his skin. Harry glanced towards it, wondering if the striking snake was turning color but it was just the same color steel as it always was. I don't put it past Snape to come and fetch me out of the shower to give me a lesson on how to properly prepare for a potions class…
Harry snorted, inhaling water as he coughed, shaking his head in amusement. He could almost imagine the screams and shouts that Snape would attract when he came stalking in. The slender hand that would curl around the shower curtain would be the only warning Harry would've before his master yanked it away and stepped in, clothes turning wet underneath the hot spray and Harry would surely stare at the older wizard.
Would Snape's dark eyes smolder or would they rake over Harry's body mockingly before Snape made a joke about how Harry looked? Or would he climb in and….
The door banged open and two voices called out to one another and Harry stumbled in the shower. He flushed bright red, even when he knew that nobody could see him since he was all alone in the shower. He groaned as he ran a hand over his face. What had he been thinking?
Well it was clear what or rather who he had been thinking about but why should he be thinking about Snape while being in the shower? Harry shook his head at himself; he really was a freak if he thought these things just because somebody showed him some kindness.
But he was really glad that nobody could see him when he noticed just what his line of thinking had achieved and with a bemused grin, Harry set out to take care of his healthy morning erection, trying hard not to imagine pale hands roaming over his chest doing unspeakable things to him and failing quite badly.
Hp
Severus eyed the empty Great Hall as he seated himself for breakfast. He poured himself a cup of coffee and took a sip, closing his eyes in enjoyment. Bollocks to those who say that tea is as good as coffee. Tea can never wake one up the way coffee does. Perhaps I'm not a proper Englishman but I could care less. I enjoy my coffee in the morning, anybody would with my schedule.
He had spent most of the night tossing and turning in his bed worrying about Potter, the lessons, Potter, the apprenticeship, Potter and Draco's warning. He wasn't too worried about Draco's prediction; he knew that the Ministry would've a hard time to catch every Death Eater that was on the loose, especially in such a short time.
He swirled his coffee in the cup before draining it and pouring another one. Bleary eyed students entered the Great Hall, whispering to one another the moment they caught sight of Severus sitting at the Staff Table on his own. Severus sent a sneer their way.
"Ah, good morning, Severus." Severus inclined his head in a nod as the tiny Charms Teacher Fillius Flitwick sat himself down beside him. The tiny master duelist helped himself to some bacon and eggs that had appeared on the table as Severus reached out for a slice of toast.
On normal mornings, well as normal as mornings were at an enchanted magic school, Severus usually only stared at his empty plate and considered his third cups of coffee in the morning a suitable breakfast but ever since Poppy had lectured him about that, he had made an effort to eat more.
"Severus, I've a question regarding your apprentice. Mr. Potter failed to show up for his class yesterday and I was wondering if you perhaps knew what kept him. I expected him to be here for lunch so I could ask him but I haven't seen him since…."
"Mr. Potter was helping me with my defense class. I called for him. I expected him to come in for lunch but there was a problem that needed attending immediately. I'll send a message next time this happens." Severus wasn't normally this polite but it did mean a lot to him that Flitwick was at least trying to put the past year behind him and respected Severus decisions regarding his apprentice.
"No, it is fine. It is your right as a master to call your apprentice whenever you've need of him. I was just asking to make sure Mr. Potter was alright and not skipping class."
"Oh, the brat won't dare to skip class with me on his back." Severus muttered before he took a bite of his toast. Flitwick cleared his throat beside him and Severus' eyes widen as he realized what he had said.
"That isn't what I meant the way it sounded…." He began to stammer as the tiny Professor held up a hand, miraculously not managing to smile or to laugh as he answered.
"I know, Severus, I know." And as Severus stared down at his plate he shook his head. Spending too much time with Potter made him think things he hadn't thought in a long time but as he searched his feelings, he realized that he should feel more annoyed than he currently was feeling.
Hp
Harry was glad that Ginny had disappeared to her own dorm when he came back to the seventh year dormitory. He busied himself with dressing and straightening out his bed, ignoring Ron's grumbling before a small cough called for his attention. He turned to find Dean standing at the end of his bed, looking guilty as the older boy fidgeted with his hands before he asked. "Harry, can I have a quick word?"
Harry gave a nod, continuing on with packing his bag. "In private?"
"I'm sure that you can say whatever you want to say right here, Dean. I can almost imagine what this is about."
"You can?" Dean looked a little bit frightened but Harry didn't press his point. "Yeah well, I mean are you alright with me and Ginny and all?"
Harry had known it. He had known it the moment Dean had looked at him this morning. Contemplating his answer he sat down on his bed, ran a hand through his hair, cleaned his glasses before he said, knowing he wasn't making Dean any more comfortable. He didn't care. "What do you want me to say, Dean? Do you want me to smile at you and congratulate you on being with my ex girlfriend? Do you think I'm pleased that a mere day after we broke up, she is practically hopping into the bed of another? Do you know how that makes me feel? I don't care about Ginny anymore, really and I can't lay a claim on her so she can do whatever she wants though it would be nice if she didn't flaunt it so much in my face. I still prefer some rooms to be a Ginny free zone."
Dean looked away for a moment and then asked. "But you've got Snape?"
Harry raised an eyebrow and said. "Snape is my mentor and I'm his apprentice. He is my Professor but not my lover!"
"Oh…so the rumor?"
"Is just that, a rumor. Ginny started it because of Snape's letter that he sent as my master but I'm not his lover nor is he mine."
"Okay good and well about the other stuff. I'll talk to Ginny about that, alright. She seems really keen on doing it in places where you may catch us, strange as it is."
"You don't say." Harry muttered as Dean grinned at him and said.
"Thanks, Harry, you're the best."
"Yeah, you would imagine that somebody who is the best actually had somebody to care about." He said as soft as possible but as he looked up and saw the look Ron gave him, he knew that he hadn't been quiet enough.
Hp
Harry balled his fist as he heard Ginny's laugh in front of him. She was hanging on Dean's arm, practically licking him every chance she got. Dean tried to pull away but Ginny wouldn't let him and she looked back at Harry with a smug smirk now and again.
Hermione made a disgusted noise beside him and Harry turned to her as she whispered. "And when did you break up exactly?"
Ron was walking next to her, hands intertwined loosely beside them and his best friend's glare was focused on Ginny and his year mate. The dark scowl made Harry glad that Ron was no longer mad at him but he answered Hermione's question. "We broke up three days ago."
Harry fingered the bracelet again, rotating his wrist so that the bracelet slipped from underneath his sleeve and partly over his hand. "That is a lovely bracelet you've there, Harry. Who gave that to you?"
Harry smiled to himself; he had forgotten how perceptive Hermione usually was. She was looking down at the apprenticeship bracelet and for a moment Harry fingered the pin that Snape had given him to proclaim his apprenticeship to the older wizard.
For perhaps the first time ever he felt proud to wear that badge and so he raised his hand to show Hermione the striking snake as it transformed into a flowing S. She reached out to touch the bracelet and Harry gasped at the strange sensation of Snape's magic intensifying as her fingers touched the leather.
Hermione gasped as well and pulled her hand back, looking Harry in the eye. They had stopped in the middle of the corridor and Hermione's lips set in a thin line as she asked. "Whose magic did I feel?'
Ron was looking at Harry as the younger male finally stammered. "It is Snape's magic. He gave me the bracelet by means of communicating with me whenever he has need of me. He is wearing one similar to mine and the snake changes color whenever he has need of me. Red is for an emergency where he has need of me right this instance, yellow is for an emergency that may take a bit longer but is still rather pressing and well green means that I can take my time and finish what I'm doing before I go to help him. The snake changes to an S whenever we're in the vicinity of Muggles. It is quite crafty."
"It looks beautiful. So he has a similar bracelet only infused with your magic?" Hermione was all ears and Harry was sure that soon she would start to do research on these types of things.
"Yeah, it is slightly similar." Harry tried to evade the question. He couldn't help but grin when he remembered what he had done. Hermione raised an eyebrow at him and then placed her hands on her hips in a poor resemblance of Mrs. Weasley as she said.
"Harry James Potter, what've you done?"
And laughing, Harry told them.
Hp
Severus maintained his glare steadily as the students entered. Many were whispering behind their hands to each other as they stared at him. He merely raised an eyebrow and pretended that he didn't know what they were whispering about.
Potter entered, chatting and laughing with Weasley and Granger. The younger male looked so different from yesterday that Severus felt relief well up within him. His apprentice needed somebody to talk to and to laugh with.
Potter looked up at him and gave him a small smile, taking his seat before he reached for the food that stood before him. Severus gave his apprentice a quick nod before he went back to his own meal. He ignored Minerva's pattering beside him as he ate his scrambled eggs.
The chattering of the students wasn't that much of a distraction as Severus focused on his breakfast. He looked for the owls that would appear soon every few minutes until finally they came, the fluttering of wings and excited cries from the students alerting him to the arrival of the Daily Prophet.
He gave the owl the money it needed and offered it a piece of bacon as he opened the paper. His eyes widen in shock when he stared at the front page and he didn't need Minerva's elbow in his ribs or the sudden uproar from the students to be shocked.
Attack by Death Eaters in Surrey Leave Magical Family of Five Dead!
Early last night the quiet wizarding community of Rowley was shocked by the discovery of the lifeless bodies of two adults and three children in their home in town. The bodies of the victims bear no marks of being harmed and aurors are therefore thinking the cause of death was the Killing Curse.
Above the house the Dark Mark had been seen floating by some of the neighbors who reported the crime. Inside the house, in which nothing seems to be missing, the bodies of the two adults and their three children, the youngest being 5 and the oldest 11, who was scheduled to go to Hogwarts to begin the new year on November first.
The community has expressed shock and grief for the tragic loss….
Aurors have no idea who is behind this attack but Minister for Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt has stated that not all loyal Death Eaters to Voldemort, who has been killed by Harry Potter on May the second of this year, have been captured. There are rumors of Death Eaters that have escaped to the safety of continental Europe…
Severus' eyes scanned the article, picking out certain facts and disregarding others. It hadn't escaped his notice that they had killed a child who was about to enter Hogwarts and begin his magical training. Surely it was just a coincidence. He looked up to catch Draco Malfoy's eyes and remembered his warning.
His lips curled in a grim line as he looked at Potter, discussing the article with his friends. Regardless of what feelings may exist between him and Potter, he would protect his apprentice with his life; it was a vow he intended to honor.
I hope you liked it. Review please and send me some reviews for the next chapter.
The next chapter: Now as the rumors about Snape and him are spreading, how will Harry cope with the whispers that the students can't help but whisper at him? How will Harry cope when he has to aid Snape in Potions and can a possible violent encounter with an angry student show Snape that Harry may be in danger? That and more in: Potions Class.
