Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or anything else to do with Harry
Potter. Just the warped storyline added. No profit, no gain, and all that
jazz.
Warning: This will turn into HP/SS slash in the next chapter or so and the rating may very well be changed to R.
Chapter 2:
As Harry neared the dungeons he could feel his nerves sending signals to the pit of his stomach, which in return, sent up waves of nausea to his brain. "This can't be a good sign", he thought as he noticed his hands getting clammy.
He mustered up all the determination he could find and willed the nerves away. He was going to go through with this or he knew he'd always regret it!
At that point he reached the entrance to Snape's quarters. The large wooden door looked as forbidding as the tenant that dwelled within. Harry took a deep breath and knocked hesitantly on the door.
No answer.
He knocked again, more assertively (it's easier to be assertive when you think no one's there to hear you knock), he thought to himself sarcastically.
Within a few seconds the door opened and Severus Snape was standing in front of him, glaring menacingly.
Harry flinched at the sight and gawked at his ex-professor rather stupidly.
"Can I help you?" Snape asked dryly.
"Erm...*cough* I just wa..." Harry began to stutter as his eyes dropped from the Potions Master to the dungeon floor.
"Out with it, Potter. I happen to know that even [b]you[/b] are capable of a tad more eloquence than this sorry display" Snape snapped.
The older wizard's nasty remark managed to bring Harry out of his stupor. He raised his head, glared defiantly at Snape, and tried again:
"May I come in, Sir?" he asked.
If Snape was the least bit surprised by the request, he hid it well. His expression did not change as he opened the door wider and gestured for his ex-student to enter.
Harry walked into what he realized was the sitting room. He stood in place, taking in the décor. The room was large and spacious, furnished with a deep blue sofa and love seat with mustard colored cushions decorating them. In the center of the room stood a beautiful, sturdy looking, dark cherry wood coffee table, stacked with Potions periodicals. One of the walls was stacked with bookshelves, which held copious amounts of books. There was a roaring fire in the hearth, which emanated warmth, making the room appear homey, much to Harry's surprise.
He had always pictured Snape's quarters as being cold, stern, and forbidding, just like the man himself.
Snape watched as Harry studied the room. After a few minutes he cleared his throat in an attempt to get the boy's attention. Harry jumped up and turned to face the Potions Master immediately.
"Well then, Potter, I will ask again. Can I help you?" Snape hissed.
Harry seated himself on the couch and motioned for Snape to sit as well. The man seemed dismayed by the boy's impertinence, but was curious to hear what he wanted. He sat on the love seat and glanced at Harry, waiting for him to reply.
"I've come to say goodbye, Sir", Harry said, as he fixed his gaze on Snape's.
"Have you now?" drawled the Professor.
"Yes. You see, over the past few months I've realized some things about myself, and they led me to look at you differently from the way I had until then" Harry explained.
"Do continue" smirked the older wizard "this is enthralling".
Harry decided to ignore the man's sarcasm and to cut to the chase. He'd only get one opportunity to tell Snape how he felt, he was sure of that.
"I respect you, sir. I no longer think of you as a slimey git who gets his kicks out of harassing me. I just wanted you to know that." Harry said quietly, studying his ex-professor's reaction intently.
Snape seemed unmoved. He sat motionless on the loveseat, still looking directly at Harry. His expression appeared to be unchanged, but Harry could have sworn his gaze was softer, not quite as menacing as before.
An uncomfortable silence ensued, as Harry waited for the older wizard's response.
"I appreciate you coming to tell me this, Potter" Snape finally offered. "I didn't think you could ever surprise me, but that is precisely what you've achieved."
Harry took this reply as a green light and continued to the next step of his plan.
"I'd like to get to know you, sir" Harry added.
"I'm not a child anymore. I've outgrown my childish conceptions of good and evil, black and white. I'd like to re-identify myself, and the world I live in. Of all the people I know, I believe you are the only one who might understand what I'm talking about.
You must know what it feels like to be forced into a persona that has nothing to do with who you really are. I am not Harry Potter, the-bloody- boy-who-lived. I am not the savior of the Wizarding world.
I am just Harry. I want to start over as 'just Harry'."
As he finished his little speech, Harry looked nervously at Snape, hoping the man will understand. Hoping he will see past the scar and into Harry's soul. He [b]needed[/b] Snape to understand.
Several months ago, as the realization that he would be graduating from Hogwarts at the end of the year sank in, Harry had decided that his Potions Master was the only person, aside from Ron and Hermione, who'd ever seen through the Gryffindor Golden Boy façade. He was the only one who treated Harry as Harry. That was what Harry knew he needed. At that moment he decided he'd try and do everything he could to have to older wizard be a part of his new life, after he left Hogwarts.
Snape appeared to be deep in thought after hearing Harry's monolog. He was caught off guard by the young man's confessions and was wondering if he had actually underestimated Potter all these years.
No, he was certain the boy hadn't been this mature and sincere when he was younger. Perhaps Potter had finally grown up. Merlin knows his father took his sweet time maturing, but by the time they'd graduated, he was nothing like the ruthless bully he'd been earlier. It seems the apple did not fall far from the tree, in this case.
Snape looked at Harry Potter for what seemed to be the first time. He allowed the formation of a half a smile and said:
"I can indeed understand your need to search for your true identity, Harry. I admit your situation in life has not been the easiest, but it is time to shed your childish notions and to re-evaluate your beliefs. "Harry smiled back and nodded.
"And of course I am pleased to see you are finally maturing" Snape added with a smirk.
"Thanks Professor. For all you've done for me over the years." Harry said, offering his hand to the man in front of him. Snape shook the younger man's hand and they both stood up and walked towards the door.
"May I owl you, Sir?" Harry asked, hopefully.
"Yes, you may" Snape answered.
"Oh, and Harry?"
"Yes, Sir?"
"You may call me Severus from now on"
And with that comment Harry left Snape's quarters and hurried back to join the festivities at Gryffindor Tower.
TBC
Please review!
Warning: This will turn into HP/SS slash in the next chapter or so and the rating may very well be changed to R.
Chapter 2:
As Harry neared the dungeons he could feel his nerves sending signals to the pit of his stomach, which in return, sent up waves of nausea to his brain. "This can't be a good sign", he thought as he noticed his hands getting clammy.
He mustered up all the determination he could find and willed the nerves away. He was going to go through with this or he knew he'd always regret it!
At that point he reached the entrance to Snape's quarters. The large wooden door looked as forbidding as the tenant that dwelled within. Harry took a deep breath and knocked hesitantly on the door.
No answer.
He knocked again, more assertively (it's easier to be assertive when you think no one's there to hear you knock), he thought to himself sarcastically.
Within a few seconds the door opened and Severus Snape was standing in front of him, glaring menacingly.
Harry flinched at the sight and gawked at his ex-professor rather stupidly.
"Can I help you?" Snape asked dryly.
"Erm...*cough* I just wa..." Harry began to stutter as his eyes dropped from the Potions Master to the dungeon floor.
"Out with it, Potter. I happen to know that even [b]you[/b] are capable of a tad more eloquence than this sorry display" Snape snapped.
The older wizard's nasty remark managed to bring Harry out of his stupor. He raised his head, glared defiantly at Snape, and tried again:
"May I come in, Sir?" he asked.
If Snape was the least bit surprised by the request, he hid it well. His expression did not change as he opened the door wider and gestured for his ex-student to enter.
Harry walked into what he realized was the sitting room. He stood in place, taking in the décor. The room was large and spacious, furnished with a deep blue sofa and love seat with mustard colored cushions decorating them. In the center of the room stood a beautiful, sturdy looking, dark cherry wood coffee table, stacked with Potions periodicals. One of the walls was stacked with bookshelves, which held copious amounts of books. There was a roaring fire in the hearth, which emanated warmth, making the room appear homey, much to Harry's surprise.
He had always pictured Snape's quarters as being cold, stern, and forbidding, just like the man himself.
Snape watched as Harry studied the room. After a few minutes he cleared his throat in an attempt to get the boy's attention. Harry jumped up and turned to face the Potions Master immediately.
"Well then, Potter, I will ask again. Can I help you?" Snape hissed.
Harry seated himself on the couch and motioned for Snape to sit as well. The man seemed dismayed by the boy's impertinence, but was curious to hear what he wanted. He sat on the love seat and glanced at Harry, waiting for him to reply.
"I've come to say goodbye, Sir", Harry said, as he fixed his gaze on Snape's.
"Have you now?" drawled the Professor.
"Yes. You see, over the past few months I've realized some things about myself, and they led me to look at you differently from the way I had until then" Harry explained.
"Do continue" smirked the older wizard "this is enthralling".
Harry decided to ignore the man's sarcasm and to cut to the chase. He'd only get one opportunity to tell Snape how he felt, he was sure of that.
"I respect you, sir. I no longer think of you as a slimey git who gets his kicks out of harassing me. I just wanted you to know that." Harry said quietly, studying his ex-professor's reaction intently.
Snape seemed unmoved. He sat motionless on the loveseat, still looking directly at Harry. His expression appeared to be unchanged, but Harry could have sworn his gaze was softer, not quite as menacing as before.
An uncomfortable silence ensued, as Harry waited for the older wizard's response.
"I appreciate you coming to tell me this, Potter" Snape finally offered. "I didn't think you could ever surprise me, but that is precisely what you've achieved."
Harry took this reply as a green light and continued to the next step of his plan.
"I'd like to get to know you, sir" Harry added.
"I'm not a child anymore. I've outgrown my childish conceptions of good and evil, black and white. I'd like to re-identify myself, and the world I live in. Of all the people I know, I believe you are the only one who might understand what I'm talking about.
You must know what it feels like to be forced into a persona that has nothing to do with who you really are. I am not Harry Potter, the-bloody- boy-who-lived. I am not the savior of the Wizarding world.
I am just Harry. I want to start over as 'just Harry'."
As he finished his little speech, Harry looked nervously at Snape, hoping the man will understand. Hoping he will see past the scar and into Harry's soul. He [b]needed[/b] Snape to understand.
Several months ago, as the realization that he would be graduating from Hogwarts at the end of the year sank in, Harry had decided that his Potions Master was the only person, aside from Ron and Hermione, who'd ever seen through the Gryffindor Golden Boy façade. He was the only one who treated Harry as Harry. That was what Harry knew he needed. At that moment he decided he'd try and do everything he could to have to older wizard be a part of his new life, after he left Hogwarts.
Snape appeared to be deep in thought after hearing Harry's monolog. He was caught off guard by the young man's confessions and was wondering if he had actually underestimated Potter all these years.
No, he was certain the boy hadn't been this mature and sincere when he was younger. Perhaps Potter had finally grown up. Merlin knows his father took his sweet time maturing, but by the time they'd graduated, he was nothing like the ruthless bully he'd been earlier. It seems the apple did not fall far from the tree, in this case.
Snape looked at Harry Potter for what seemed to be the first time. He allowed the formation of a half a smile and said:
"I can indeed understand your need to search for your true identity, Harry. I admit your situation in life has not been the easiest, but it is time to shed your childish notions and to re-evaluate your beliefs. "Harry smiled back and nodded.
"And of course I am pleased to see you are finally maturing" Snape added with a smirk.
"Thanks Professor. For all you've done for me over the years." Harry said, offering his hand to the man in front of him. Snape shook the younger man's hand and they both stood up and walked towards the door.
"May I owl you, Sir?" Harry asked, hopefully.
"Yes, you may" Snape answered.
"Oh, and Harry?"
"Yes, Sir?"
"You may call me Severus from now on"
And with that comment Harry left Snape's quarters and hurried back to join the festivities at Gryffindor Tower.
TBC
Please review!
