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Mistress Slytherin

WARNINGS:

VIOLENCE

LANGUAGE

HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP

QUESTIONABLE MORALS

Let me know if I missed anything.

Chapter 12

It was a week before the man entered his shop again. Harry almost regretted having to follow the prearranged time in the request the man had written; unfortunately owls didn't deliver to anonymous people. The potion that was required was far darker than what most denizens of even Knockturne were willing to risk buying. Somehow his reputation for discretion had proceeded him.

Harry stared at the small silver box that held the large vial of potion. He had thought for a moment that he was being bamboozled, a small amount of the potion was worth a fortune in its self, a large amount like the one requested would add a pretty Gallon to his accounts. Of course the potion had been expensive to produce but Harry had his own green houses that he grew in on private property and contacts in shady places to help him out, he'd been doing this for twenty years after all.

He drummed his fingers on the counter and glanced at the clock.

Once, when he was a boy and the world was still a great big and innocent place, he wouldn't have brewed this potion even if he was being tortured. Now he hardly thought twice about it, his innocence was gone and he recognized himself as a cold hearted killer, he supposed he'd always been this way, ever since the day he'd stood on the battlefield and realized that there were no heroes. There were just people killing each other, doing whatever it took to survive. So as he stared down at the case containing the potion that would no doubt be used to torture someone he felt no remorse, just pity, for the boy who had been lost on the battlefield.

The door chimed open and Harry gazed at the man with newfound wariness.

"Ah the beautiful shop keep." The man said his lips twitching upwards slightly. Harry frowned.

"I hope you're able to afford this." He said raising his eyebrows.

"Check your ledger, I paid before I came." The man said smirking lightly. Harry raised both eyebrows and reached for his ledger, just as the man had stated the automatic update showed that a vast amount of money had been added to his account. He nodded slowly.

"You show a nearly frightening amount of trust in me sir." He said softly. The man smiled a thin smile.

"I find myself rather enamored with you actually, isn't that why most people do questionable things?" He boasted. Harry snorted and reached for the case before settling it onto the counter.

"One hundred and sixty doses, one drop each. Taken with elf wine and the dose can last for approximately one hour longer than the promised time." He said drumming his fingers on the case. "This case is unbreakable and indestructible but due to the properties of the potion the vial is made of pure crystal which means that it can be destroyed quite easily." He said a small smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Do be gentle." He said silkily before pushing the case towards the man. Hazel eyes darkened a bit before the man reached out and took the case slipping it into his pocket.

"If your potions are as good as I am informed that they are then you will be seeing me within the next two weeks. If this works better than I anticipate then I will send an extra gift along within the week." The man said with a wink. Harry smirked.

"I suppose then that I will be seeing you soon." He said inclining his head. "Good day sir." He said softly before reaching for his book.

"I suppose you wouldn't agree to sharing a meal with me?" The man said smirking. Harry snorted.

"Good day sir." He said softly though he was admittedly flattered. What was it about this man? He made Harry tetchy and wary yet at the same time it made his blood rush pleasantly.

"I won't give up." The man said idly as he moved for the door. Harry snorted.

"Neither will I." He said smirking as the door tinkled behind the man. He smirked down at his ledger, he now had enough to begin cultivating some of the rarer of magical creatures that he would need for potions ingredients.

#$% #$% #$%

Harry rarely closed his shop, most days all he did it seemed was sit in his shop and await customers. But he had to admit as he looked over the paperwork involved in his newest project; it was looking as though he would need to close for a few days, maybe even a week, something he didn't particularly want to do, not when business had suddenly picked up as it had. So it had come to him a complete surprise when two people he had all but forgotten arrived in his shop, Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy.

They were of course completely different from the men he had known so long ago. Snape was small, scrawny as though he wasn't fed enough and his dark eyes were shifty nervous, he was afraid Harry realized, and desperate. Harry could see the desperation in his eyes, there was something he needed. Harry winced. He wasn't a squishy squashy fluffy person, but he had been there once, at that low place of desperation. It didn't help that he had known Snape once, the man for all his bastard qualities had been one of the most courageous and loyal men Harry had ever had the privilege of meeting.

And as for Malfoy…the boy was actually not far from the man he would be some day, already he cut an impressive figure. He was neatly kept, visibly proud and bore a glint of cruelty in his eyes that matched perfectly with the sharp attention he gave everything. Malfoy had potential anyone could see that. But he wasn't the Lucius Malfoy he'd known, this boy was just that, a boy, he was like wine that was still juice, it had yet to age and culture and become potent.

"Well?" He said softly. Malfoy strode forward without hesitation.

"My name is Lucius Malfoy, this here is Severus Snape." The boy said expectantly.

"Lovely." Harry said dryly. The boy frowned slightly.

"I was told that you would be expecting us, Severus is to be your apprentice?" Harry rose both eyebrows at that.

"Oh? He is?" Harry said bemused. "Are you certain you have the right shop?" He said crossing his arms.

"This is Hadrian Black's shop yes?" Malfoy said as though insulted. Of course Harry had been wearing his hood, a habit of his recently, people seemed to pay him too much attention when he was behind the counter. "I was told to give you this." He said handing him a familiar envelope Harry nearly groaned. Of course, he'd nearly forgotten- the man had said that he would be sending a gift. Apparently Snape was that gift. With a sigh he opened the note and scanned it. At the bottom there was a request for another potion, one even darker than the last and in large doses. He shook his head. Well at least he was getting paid for taking Snape in.

"Very well Malfoy I suppose we don't need you here any more, tell your father that I will take the boy in." He said shaking his head. Taking Snape in…Merlin what was this world coming to? Well at least he would have someone competent to mind the shop when he was gone. But really Abraxis Malfoy paying for a half blood's tutelage boasted that Snape must be good.

"Just so that we are clear, Severus is a good friend to my family, we would be most displeased if anything were to happen to him." Malfoy warned softly. Harry glanced up at him and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He liked this Malfoy; this Malfoy had a distinct protective streak to him. Harry hoped it wasn't robbed from him too soon.

"If he keeps his head down and does his work then there will be no reason for anything to happen to him Malfoy, I won't seek to hurt him if that's what your asking, I will owl your father my terms within the week." He said dismissively. Malfoy and Snape shared a hesitant look and Harry smirked slightly when Snape pulled his shoulders back and nodded assuring his friend. Harry had never seen this in his time; Snape and Malfoy were all but cold to each other then. Maybe…well he was already written into this timeline wasn't he? And he did owe Snape at least half a dozen life debts. Harry waited until Malfoy was out of sight before turning back to Snape who was standing there nervously.

"So." Harry began. "How much of you actually wants to learn from me and how much of you is just desperate to get away from whatever it is that keeps you from wanting to go home over the summer holidays?" Harry drawled. He had always thought Snape a bastard and it was hard not to tease him now that he had the upper hand. When the boy said nothing Harry nodded slowly and folded up the letter placing it with his order forms.

"We will be doing this the legal way and in order to do that I will need parental consent." Oh but didn't that get the boy's attention.

"Is that really necessary?" The boy asked sharply. Harry nodded slowly.

"I will not mollycoddle you Snape, however, I will be there for you when you need me do you understand that?" he said softly.

"Why?" The boy demanded immediately. Harry smiled faintly.

"Because once upon a time I needed someone just as desperately as you seem to." Harry said sadly. "And I would be dishonoring their memory by not being here for you." He said before standing. "Now, first thing is first, a vow of secrecy, my secrets are mine and yours are yours." He said simply.

This was going to be fun.

#$% #$% #%

Snape grew more shifty by the second as they approached the run down house. Litter surrounded the area and Harry looked at the thin wide eyed children grimly. These children were the lingering effects of the poverty that had spread across the world, grandchildren and great grandchildren of World War two. They suffered for a war they weren't even alive to understand. He strode forward confidently though to the small two story house and decided to ignore what he couldn't help. War was war it came and went and destroyed everything in its path. Mangy dogs barked and yapped and yowled the closer they grew to the house and Harry wrinkled his nose as the smell of sewage reached his nose. He stepped up to the uneven stoop and rapped on the cheap dented aluminum door staring down at the scrap of filthy rug that he supposed had once been pink or perhaps even white. A crash sounded inside and Harry's hand went to his gun, he glanced back at Snape to find him white lipped and horrified, the horrors of an unhappy childhood.

"Stay behind me Snape do you understand?" Harry demanded. He still wore his hood so Snape wouldn't be able to see his expression, but the boy nodded anyway. Harry whispered a spell at the door and pushed it open. The sounds of a violent struggle reached him almost immediately, a woman's strangled sob, the sound of flesh slamming against flesh followed by a dull thump. Harry was in the room immediately pulling the drunk man away and slamming him bodily against the wall. Bleary eyes looked at him in wild anger for a moment and Harry wrinkled his nose at the smell of alcohol on the man's breath. He could kill this man, end the pain for everyone involved, he knew this type of man, he was beyond redemption. He breathed heavily for several long moments as he tried to get a hold on his fury.

"Kill him." Snape said behind him, his face pinched and angry and sad. It was the trigger Harry needed, because he knew, he knew that if he didn't kill this man than Snape would. And that would be the beginning of a very long painful road. Harry pulled out his gun and Snape inhaled sharply. The man seemed to understand then because his eyes turned to Harry with such wildness that even Harry understood that he was no longer killing a man, he was putting down a dangerous animal, a wild thing that had lost its mind long ago. His lips became a thin grim line as he pulled out his gun and pressed it against the man's scull casting a silencing charm around them.

Bang

Click

Merlin he had missed that, it was like a drug.

The flowered wallpaper behind the man's head bore a horrid mark of the explosion and he could hear both Snape and his mother weeping behind him. Letting out a slow breath he flicked his wand at the mess and then chanted over the man's body until it faded into nothingness.

"Mrs. Snape, you will be coming with us." He said decisively as he slipped his gun back into its holster. Snape get her things together would you?" He said frowning at her faded ruined dress. Snape stared at him with wide eyes his face thin and pale. "Go on, I'll look after her." Harry said sharply. Snape nodded once before taking off nearly skidding across the linoleum floor. Harry sighed and reached down to the trembling woman carefully slipping an arm under her and lifting her settling her on the ancient flat and stained old orange couch. Slowly he ran his wand over her healing her injuries.

"You killed him." She said softly. Harry nodded. "But you can't-I can't, I've been disowned I have nothing I am nothing-"

"Correction madam, you are Severus Snape's mother and nothing your husband did can change that. You will come with me to my shop and forget this world of poverty and decay, you will heal and help me where you can, I will not make you a slave, I will not hurt you so there is no need to worry about that. And when you are better, when you can stand on your own and by your own merits then I will help you start over." He said softly before handing her a nutrition potion. Dark sharp eyes stared up at him despite the tears and he understood immediately that this was where Snape had gotten his ability to freeze a person with just a look.

"Why?" She demanded. Unfortunately for her Harry was all but immune to that look.

"Because your son needs you to be strong, he needs to see that come what may he can get back up and hold his head high and I can't show him that you can." Harry said as the sounds of footfalls thundered through the room. Snape's face was slightly red and Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes, so Snape had seen his mother's knickers- he would have to break that bit of shyness. Carefully Harry turned towards Snape's mother and gave her a significant look. Her expression was pinched, hard, and she was staring at the spot where her husband's brain had just been. Slowly she nodded and without asking for help she stood.

"I would appreciate it if you would call me Madam Prince from now on." She said straightening her shoulders. Harry smiled.

"Of course, now if you would allow it I would like to apparate us?" He said politely treating her as a lady from a pure blood family aught to be treated. She nodded at him slowly and held out her hand. "Snape?" He said holding his arm out to Snape. They linked arms and Harry flicked his wand at the stove causing a gas leak before apparating. No one would know what really happened at Spinners end that day.

Harry arrived beside Snape and his mother wondering how on earth he'd ended up in this position. But he knew he couldn't have just left Snape and his mother that way, so with a slight sigh he welcomed them into his shop and helped them up the stairs. Lord Black had made an entire floor for his personal use, Harry however had only needed two of the four rooms, one as a bedroom and one as a study or rather a place he kept his growing mountain of books. The other two had been empty and he had assumed that they would remain empty. Instead he was harboring Snapes. He rolled his eyes and entered the first room.

"Unfortunately I was not expecting guests; the two of you are surprises. I have only just ordered Severus' furniture before we went to your home. I'll write to them immediately, so please look through this catalogue and let me know what you would like." He said handing her a large book. "As for costs of food, clothing etcetera I'm certain we can find something for you to help me with I am currently branching out my potions business so there are several available positions." He said setting her bag down by the wall before calling the house elf to clean the room. "As for rules of the house, my secrets are mine, share them and I will kill you." He said grimly. The lady looked at him startled and Harry smiled grimly at her before lowering his hood. "Do we have an understanding?" He asked taking in her shocked look.

"That's impossible…" Snape said quietly. "Hadrian Black is in his forties…"

"You're friend, the one that sent you to me in the first place is a very nosy man." Harry said annoyed. "No doubt he sent you to spy on me which was why I demanded a vow of secrecy. I show you this because I refuse to hide myself while you are living here. The circumstances behind my inability to age are my secrets and I hope that you will respect that because if you don't then I will have to kill you." He said firmly. "I am not a nice man, however I will keep the two of you safe for as long as I am able. However, if you threaten me then I will react." He said grimly. Snape nodded and turned to his mother who was watching Harry with pursed lips and shrewd eyes.

"That is a fair enough exchange." She said slowly. "However if my son is placed in danger I won't hesitate to tell that man whatever he wants to know." She said with a lift of her chin. Harry nodded.

"Are you warning me then?" He said smirking slightly.

"In a way, you deserve that much for doing what you have done for my son and I." She said nodding. Harry inclined his head.

"There really are no other house rules, I eat when I like, I sleep when I like and I welcome you to do the same. If you need me and I am not down stairs then I suggest you tell the elf." He said before reaching into his pocket and pulling out the paperwork he'd intended to get signed earlier. "If your son is going to be my apprentice than I need you to sign this, I do things as cleanly and legally as I can it helps cover some of the not so legal things I do." He said smirking slightly. Madam Prince accepted the forms and looked them over slowly her eyes reading with the same shrewd attention that she paid everything else. Eventually her gaze flickered up and landed on him.

"You won't take him away from me will you?" She all but whispered. Harry shook his head.

"That is not my intent; I wrote that because I had suspicions about your son's family life, however the problem has been dealt with. I only wanted to ensure that your late husband couldn't demand his son back." He said leaning against the doorframe. She nodded slowly.

"Take care of my son." She said at last before summoning a quill and signing her name. Harry nodded and accepted the documents slipping them back into his pocket.

"Now, unfortunately for you Severus I'm a bit of a traditionalist, you will wear the robes of an apprentice and I expect you to act with the understanding that what you do reflects me. That means keep that notorious temper in check." He said smirking as dark eyes flashed towards him defensively. "However what it also means is that I will be responsible for your wellbeing, which includes and is not limited to your time at Hogwarts." He said knowingly. Snape's face paled considerably and his hand reached for his chest.

"I don't want to go back there." He said softly. Harry frowned; he hadn't known that things were this bad.

"I will need to have a word with Dumbledore." He said softly.

"I became an apprentice so that I wouldn't have to go back!" Snape said his eyes wide and frantic. Harry stared at the boy across from him grimly.

"Malfoy is graduating this year, you think that with his protection gone Potter might actually kill you. But Severus, do not forget, Hogwarts is your home." Harry said knowingly. Snape's face froze and a look of longing crossed over it.

"You will protect me?" He whispered.

"Like no one has before." Harry said firmly. Snape nodded and looked down his expression twisted and angry.

"I have no choice." He said softly.

"Oh but you do, however, there comes a time in every child's life when the adult must make the decision for them." He said wryly.

"That makes absolutely no sense." Snape griped.

"To bad." Harry said smirking. "Now, I'll owl a tailor and have the two of you fitted for proper wizarding robes. Severus, there is a book on top of my kitchen table I want you to read it and memorize it. Tomorrow the real learning will begin." Harry said before turning sharply and slipping out of the room. It took him until he had already owled the tailor to notice something very important- it felt good to take care of someone again. He'd been alone for so long, without Lord Black or Hester around he'd secluded himself and mourned in absolute silence. Yet now, with this strange handsome man doing odd things he felt alive again and it made him think that he just might accept that next invitation.