Chapter one
It was a week after the death of Voldemort, Harry Potter had remained in the hospital at Hogwarts for that week. Now though, the strict matron finally allowed him to leave. Ginny, Molly, Ron and Hermione had not been happy that Poppy refused to let Harry stay at the Burrow and heal. Molly kept going on about how she could take care of Harry and he also had his best friends and girlfriend there to make sure he didn't over do it. But Poppy never gave in and threatened to keep them from stepping into her hospital if they kept bringing it up.
Harry was glad in one way, he knew Mrs. Weasley would fuss and mother him, try to treat him as a kid. After the year Harry had, he knew he would not put up with that anymore and eventually he would need to tell Mrs. Weasley that she was not his mother and he was not a kid. Saying something like that would caused problems but this was Harry's life, he decided what he wanted now, no one else. He was an adult and he needed to work out what he was going to do with his life now, a life he didn't expect to have.
The other thing Harry knew was he would have to talk to Ginny. Yes they were dating again but again because of what Harry had been doing over the last year, all he wanted was to rest and he also needed some time to himself, something Ginny would not like at all.
If Harry was truthful, she was a bit clingy, something Harry didn't like, before he had put up with it as he didn't want to cause problems. But as so many people have said, a war can change you and Harry knew he was different. He was not that quiet unsure boy he used to be. After facing death so often and survive, Harry knew who he was and knew it was time he took control of his own life. Mrs Weasley and Ginny would just have to get used to the new Harry Potter. If they didn't like it or try to cause trouble, Harry just wouldn't see them again.
The first thing he did when he was released from the hospital was head to the dungeons. Minerva McGonagall had explained that no one had been able to enter Severus Snape's private chambers. Even though he spent the year as headmaster he kept his chambers down in the dungeons. Minerva had explained that she found a letter that said only Harry Potter could enter the rooms. Once he had removed the items Severus left for Harry, the enchantments would fall.
Harry walked through the destroyed castle. He was careful were he walked due to all the damage and debris but he also saw blood, a lot of blood so he tried to avoid stepping in it or touching it in anyway.
Harry wasn't sure what to feel about Snape now he knew the truth. Yes Snape did hate his father and godfather, but he loved his mother. He also risked his own life time and again for Harry without anyone knowing. At the time, Harry had no idea how far Severus Snape had willing to go to keep him safe, but he finally heard it all. Now though, another person who knew his parents was gone, there was no one else left that could shed light on Lily and James Potter.
Harry wanted to know things about his parents, personal things, not what is written in books. Sirius died before he could tell Harry anything, Remus was infiltrating the werewolf packs so Harry never got time with him. Harry never admitted it, but he was disappointed in Remus and Sirius, more Remus.
When he found out what his godfather had done the night his parents died, he realised how angry Sirius was, then he got arrested and sent to Azkaban. Harry couldn't hate him for that, it was out of his control, but he was disappointed that he didn't think of Harry before running off after Peter Pettigrew. But Harry also realised that he would probably have done the same thing. He had rushed into dangerous situations before, without thinking of the consequences. Sirius lost the people he considered family and he wanted revenge on the person who brought it about. So yes, Harry could understand even if he was still disappointed in Sirius' actions.
With Remus it was different, he just left, not thinking about Harry at all and never once tried to contact him, yet he was supposed to have cared about Harry as a child. From what Sirius said, Remus was made an honorary uncle and Harry used to call him Moon when he first started to talk, as he couldn't say Moony or Remus. But he left after Lily and James died and Sirius was sent to Azkaban. He never once thought about Harry, not until he turned up in Harry's third year and that was only because Sirius escaped so Dumbledore wanted someone at Hogwarts that knew Sirius. Harry also thought of that situation. Sirius and Remus had been friends, yet Remus believed what everyone said about Sirius. He did not support his friend, any of his friends.
All these thoughts went through Harry's mind as he stood staring at the door to Severus Snape's private chambers. According to Minerva McGonagall, all Harry had to do was touch the door and it would open, it would sense Harry's magical signature.
He wasn't sure how Snape had connected Harry's signature to his own door, but he could worry about that later. Staring at the door for another minute before slowly lifted his hand, placing it against the old wood. Harry felt the warmth spread through his hands, up his arms and through his entire body before the door opened.
Harry hadn't been surprised to find it almost empty, from what Minerva said Severus had very few personal items, apart from all his potions equipment which he left to Hogwarts and his books. So all Harry found were three boxes, all sealed but with a piece of parchment on top.
"Potter, within this boxes are items that will greatly benefit you, but there also some personal items that will probably make you more like a Gryffindor than you already are. There is a pensieve along with vials of memories, mostly of my time with your mother and even though I did despise your father and godfather, I placed memories of what I witnessed of them during my Hogwarts days into other vials, they are in the box as well. Those memories are not just of how they hexed me, or others, they are just memories of when they spent time together. One thing and this is very serious, read the journals and if you are as outraged as I believe you will be, then there is one very special potion in there for you.
"It's true I loved your mother, she was my best friend. What you saw that day was planned, I meant to call her that disgusting name, I needed her to hate me. I was ordered to take her to the Dark Lord, not to be marked, but to be killed as she was a muggleborn. Once Lucius Malfoy explained to the Dark Lord that Lily Evans was no longer my friend, he never brought it up again.
"I don't tell you this in hope you will forgive me for revealing the first part of the prophecy to the Dark Lord. I do not deserve your forgiveness. I just need you to understand that all was not what it seemed and if you read my journals and watch my memories, so much more will come to light. I will say this, I am sorry that you will be hurt by the things you are about to find out, but I promised your mother I would protect you, which means explaining things that you need to know no matter how painful, you need to know the truth.
"One last thing, the address written at the bottom is my home, not the one in Spinners End. This one is in the country and I left it for you. It's secluded and hidden along with having very powerful wards placed around it. Once you read through what I have left you and see the memories, you will need this home. Again like the door, it will sense your magical signature which will allow you entry. If you shrink the boxes and place them in your pocket, know they will be safe as I enchanted so nothing can break or be damaged in anyway. Do not tell anyone about this and please read everything and see the memories before speaking with anyone. Severus Snape."
Harry stared down at the letter, 'What am I going to find out? Blimey, I hope there isn't another prophecy about me, I can't go through this shit again. But why would Snape leave me his home, surely he could have left it for someone else, someone he liked, why me? Maybe he didn't like anyone and since I am the son of his best friend, he gave it to me because of his feelings for my mother.'
Harry sighed, he shrunk the boxes then placed them in his pocket. He did check the rooms to make sure nothing was left. When he never found anything he stepped through the door, closing it behind him.
Harry wasn't ready to share all this with anyone, not even Ron and Hermione. Since Snape had been protecting him, he would do what he said and not talk to anyone until he saw what this was all about. He slipped the invisibility cloak over himself and headed outside. Harry looked at the castle and saw how badly damaged it was and he was saddened by what he saw. He also knew that if the fight had taken place in a place like Hogsmeade or Diagon alley, there would have been a lot more injuries and a lot more deaths. So even though they did lose many, the numbers were fairly low considering how big Voldemort's army had been. Harry looked once more at the damaged castle before apparating away.
He looked around and saw a beautiful stone house, one story, but big, really big, it was nestled in between a lot of trees. As Harry glanced around he realised the house was in the middle of nowhere.
'As least I will have some privacy, having it warded to my signature can be a great excuse for keeping others away,' Even though Harry cared about his friends, he really did need time alone. So even though he might lie to his friends, let them think he was going to live at Grimmauld place, Harry would be here and no one would find him. He just wanted to sort out his feelings, especially how he felt about Voldemort, the death of friends and people like Remus. he wasn't sure how he felt about anything right now, so having this place is just what he needed.
Harry decided to settle in first, so he did, then relaxed for the rest of the day. He figured he would watch the memories over the next few days, he would do the same with the journal.