Chapter 13:
The pair walked silently down Privet Drive, Severus's hand clamped firmly, gently, on Harry's shoulder while Harry stumbled slightly beside him, sneaking calculating glances at his future Professor.
Finally, Sev had enough, "What, Harry, do you find so very interesting?" He stopped and turned towards the boy, both hands on his shoulders, smiling slightly down at him. He watched as Harry stared directly back at him, not blinking at all. Finally, the boy spoke,
"I'm trying to figure you out."
Severus snorted softly and steered him forward, continuing down the road, "Young Mr. Potter, many a wizard have tried to, how do you put it, 'figure me out,' and have hardly succeeded."
"Hardly?" Harry inquired.
Sev nodded solemnly, "One witch wormed her way into my mind and discovered all my secrets, and she was brilliant. I highly doubt you, an eleven year old child, could do it." Then again, you are her son, his mind whispered knowingly. He shook it off and listened to the boys answer.
"I'll have to work on it but I've got a few theories. I'd tell you them but my powers of perception are, as my teachers at Muggle school would call it, disturbing."
Severus was intrigued, "Do tell."
The twin green orbs looked up at him, amused, "About you or my skills?"
That elicited a pause. "Both," Sev finally decided. Harry nodded, his eyes still dancing with glee,
"Alright, I'll tell." He cleared his throat before beginning.
"I have always been abnormal. Whether it is my magical abilities or just me by myself. I am incredibly quick, abnormally so, as well as incredibly intelligent. I was previously forced to relegate my intelligence because of the constant danger I was to 'precious Dudder's' future. How would it look if the freak were smarter than precious, little, Dudley?"
His voice was bitter, "So I became smart to the genius level, but at the same time I was the stupidest person you could find at the school. As I lay locked in the second bedroom I read and re-read the dictionary I'd stolen, gaining knowledge. As I blended into the background of school I studied the people that I came in contact with, their habits, their personas, the way they looked when they lied…people lie a lot."
Severus started at that last sentence, whispered so quietly he wasn't even sure If it wasn't just a figment of his own imagination. But he didn't have time to wonder, the boy was speaking again.
"I unnerved my fellow peers and respective superiors. I'd play mind games on them, tricking them into doing what I pleased. I was called to the school physiatrist under the pretext of getting a routine evaluation. Apparently it was mandatory for every orphaned ward."
Harry laughed darkly, but not morbidly so, "The psychiatrist was terrified of me, I was never called on again."
He looked over at Sev and shook his head sharply, taking in the man's wary expression and correctly assessing it. "Don't get me wrong, sir. I'm not evil like I make myself out to be, I swear! The man was annoying me; I had good right to what I did!"
Sev was curious, "What exactly did you do Harry?"
"I told him that he was pathetic and weak, his two worst fears. It was quite appalling how he took that. He actually ran out of the office. You'd think he'd be competent enough to evaluate me and give me at least a little feedback. I would've appreciated it."
Sev shook his head, "Alright, I understand. Now, tell me what you think of me."
Harry smiled ruefully.
"You've been through a lot in your life, from a young age. You feel bad for me, but not like other people. Not like pity. You wonder what you're doing with your life a lot - That isn't healthy you know - and you want to be happy but you feel guilty. About what, I have no idea. You shouldn't feel guilty, you know. What ever is stressing you probably wasn't your fault."
Severus had stopped in his tracks, staring at the boy. "I've decided something, and I would like to know if you'd accept."
Harry looked up at him, a mixture of emotions playing on his face, predominantly wariness, "I'd gladly accept anything you have to offer me, sir."
Sev smiled, "Well, it's more of two things, if you'll permit." Harry nodded, Sev continued, "The first is simple, I believe, for you to comply with. I would like you to stop downplaying your brain power. No one should ever fake stupidity, especially someone with your caliber."
He wasn't prepared for the wide smile and beaming face of the boy, obvious pleasure emanating from him. Sev's lips twitched as a slight bounce was added to his step as they continued walking. "The second is more trying on you, I'm sure."
"What is it?"
"How would you like to come under my guardianship?"
Harry's resounding gasp would've been dramatic had it not been so sincere. They stopped once again as Sev watched the boy's reaction.
Intense joy lit up the child's face before thought took over, then curiosity, then emptiness and pain.
"I don't want your pity, sir, if that's what you're offering. I don't want to be a burden."
Severus looked him over, "I'm not trying to instill upon you my pit nor am I taking in a stray puppy. A child is not a burden and those who believe so are sorely mistaken." He cast a derisive glance in the direction of the Dursley's. "What you've just told me has only strengthened my resolve further. You and Lyra are coming with me, and you're going to stay there."
Harry's eyes were wide and for once in his life he felt like his own age. He stared up at the Potions Master he had met in a magic market while he had been avoiding a half-giant. His eyes stung suddenly and he ducked his head, ashamed to be brought to tears.
He distantly felt a hand rest gently on his shoulder and then they were pulled through a tube, flying at a hundred miles an hour.