Getting to know the Devil Inside
Harry followed Snape down to his quarters. He was surprised to find he
could keep up with Snape's massive strides without having to run. Ah, So
height does have its advantages.
As they walked down the stone steps into the dungeons, Snape stopped abruptly in front of a portrait of Salazar Slytherin.
"Severus! How good it is to see you!" He sounded extremely drunk. "Oh and who is this? He looks a lot like you old chap! Oh, I can see he's a Slytherin at heart! Good for you, young speaker!" Severus looked puzzled at Harry after Slytherin mentioned his own house.
"Er... well... the hat kind of wanted to put me into Slytherin, but all I'd heard about it was bad, so I told it to put me anywhere but there, and. I guess it did." Harry explained. He was shocked to see a look of pride cross his father's eyes, before hiding behind the mask.
Severus looked back to the portrait and muttered the password, surprising Harry that he'd say it in front of him, without whispering so he couldn't hear. "Belladonna" "Belladonna..." Harry repeated "Isn't that the plant that dilates the pupils, and also that they use in muggle eye drops?" Severus looked surprised at Harry's knowledge of potions, before nodding and entering his quarters. What Harry saw, was definitely a surprise.
The room was painted in an assortment of black and dark red, near purple. A black leather couch was settled near a grand fireplace that was flickering merrily, flames dancing in the grate, sparks leaping through the air. A rug was laid out on the floor and a large bookshelf was against the wall. This was no doubt a bookcase that even Hermione's book collection could not rival.
Severus noted the look on his son's face, and commented. "What, were you expecting green and silver, or maybe just a cave with a pedestal for me to sleep upside down on?" He smirked. Harry just glared up at him, looking a little too much like his father. "The bathroom is over there" Severus pointed to a door on the left side. "Oh, and by the way, there is some shampoo in there, and not because I have never used it." Harry was shocked that Snape would say this, or even that the man could say it without his usual hints of malice.
Then, he walked toward a door, and pushed it open, leading into a room decorated in...blue. Very dark blue. "This" He said, gesturing toward the room, "will be your room. I decided not to be so cruel and decorate it in green and silver. I also wanted to keep my head. I will not have a room in my quarters decorated in red and gold, either. So, blue, of course, is neutral. I'll leave you to unpack here first, then we should talk." Without another word, he swept from the room.
**************************************************************************** *************************************** After Harry had finished unpacking everything from his trunk, which was already in his room, he left to talk to his father. My father... I have a family. He found Snape sitting on a very comfy looking leather armchair, reading a potions book. When he noticed Harry enter the room, he motioned for Harry to sit on the couch, opposite him. Harry obliged, then he watched his father intently, waiting for what he wanted to talk about.
"First of all, Harry... do you have any questions that you want to ask me?" Harry thought for a moment, then blurted out before he could stop himself, "Did you love her?" You didn't need to be a genius to know he was talking about Lily. "More than my life" Severus replied with a lot of emotion in his voice. "I was heartbroken when I found out she'd had a child with Potter, which is why... why I've been like I have to you for the past four years. I am sorry, Harry. I never hated you. I never disliked you really; I just treated you as if you were him. You looked so much like him; you were a living reminder of where my life went downhill. You were the son I never had, but now you are my son. I am proud of you, Harry."
Harry listened to his potions master talk, and at once knew that he meant every word. He nodded his understanding after he finished, trying desperately to stop the tears welling up in his eyes. Suddenly, there was a change of subject. "Harry, why didn't you tell anyone about the Dursleys?" Severus asked, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. "I...I...I thought if any one knew, I'd be taken to live in an orphanage, and I suppose, I was...ashamed." He looked toward the ground as he said this, head hung low. Severus had a sudden urge to hold his son, to protect him from all he fears. To be his father. "Harry, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's those muggles that should be ashamed for what they've done. They should suffer for it." He bared his teeth angrily.
"We need to think of a new name for Me." said Harry, trying to change the subject, and succeeding. "Well, what name do you like?" He retorted, sitting back in his chair. "Hmmm.well, it has to fit with Snape. What about...Sebastian, or Alexander, or Salem, or-" "Harry, slow down!" Severus said, surprised at how much his son had obviously thought about this.
Harry and Severus talked well into the night about things; His name, new house (They decided they didn't mind if he was sorted into Gryffindor), new lessons, and Quidditch. Harry was surprised to learn that his father had played seeker for Slytherin, and that his skills had rivaled those of James Potter. Harry went to bed at about ten o' clock, having his first night of peaceful sleep in a very long time.
**************************************************************************** *************************************** The next morning, Harry had woken up bright and early to join his father in the kitchen for breakfast. He picked up the Daily Prophet and was surprised to see the headline. HARRY POTTER TO GO TO ADTS: ADVANCED DEFENCE TRAINING SCHOOL "Surprising how fast news gets around, isn't it?" Severus said, not looking up from his plate, but guessing the look of surprise his son wore. All Harry could do was grunt in reply.
Soon, father and son were on their way down to the headmaster's office. Severus muttered the password to the gargoyle, and rapped on the door. The headmaster ushered them in, and they each took a seat. Dumbledore was holding some sheets of parchment in his old, wrinkled hands. "First of all, have you decided on a name?" He asked Harry. Harry looked to his father, receiving an encouraging nod in reply. "Sebastian Alexander Snape" He informed the headmaster, watching as the aged professor wrote the name down on the parchment. He looked back up at Harry. "Good name. It fits. Now, er... Sebastian, you have been attending the Cornelius' School of Advanced Magic for the past four years. As you know, it was attacked by death eaters during the holidays-which the ministry succeded in covering up. After the attack, your father decided it was safer for you to attend Hogwarts, where he could keep a closer eye on you. You cannot tell your friends though, I'm afraid Sebastian, because it will be too dangerous. I am sorry about that. We'll let you try the sorting hat on again and you will continue the classes you had last year. Understood?"
Harry gave a brief nod before going back to his thoughts. He wasn't allowed to tell Ron or Hermione about himself. Would they be his friends though? He was a Snape, Ron certainly wouldn't make friends with him would he? He'd have to try and get sorted into Gryffindor again, that would be his only hope. HA! Draco Malfoy would surely be disappointed if his head of house' son was sorted into Gryffindor.
**************************************************************************** *************************************** The rest of the holidays passed by fairly quickly for Harry and Severus, who were quickly growing closer, and now Harry had even started calling him 'father', which Severus was very pleased about. The end of the holidays came almost too soon, and it was now time for the start of school and Sebastian's first day at Hogwarts. Things were going to be very different this year...oh, yes...
As they walked down the stone steps into the dungeons, Snape stopped abruptly in front of a portrait of Salazar Slytherin.
"Severus! How good it is to see you!" He sounded extremely drunk. "Oh and who is this? He looks a lot like you old chap! Oh, I can see he's a Slytherin at heart! Good for you, young speaker!" Severus looked puzzled at Harry after Slytherin mentioned his own house.
"Er... well... the hat kind of wanted to put me into Slytherin, but all I'd heard about it was bad, so I told it to put me anywhere but there, and. I guess it did." Harry explained. He was shocked to see a look of pride cross his father's eyes, before hiding behind the mask.
Severus looked back to the portrait and muttered the password, surprising Harry that he'd say it in front of him, without whispering so he couldn't hear. "Belladonna" "Belladonna..." Harry repeated "Isn't that the plant that dilates the pupils, and also that they use in muggle eye drops?" Severus looked surprised at Harry's knowledge of potions, before nodding and entering his quarters. What Harry saw, was definitely a surprise.
The room was painted in an assortment of black and dark red, near purple. A black leather couch was settled near a grand fireplace that was flickering merrily, flames dancing in the grate, sparks leaping through the air. A rug was laid out on the floor and a large bookshelf was against the wall. This was no doubt a bookcase that even Hermione's book collection could not rival.
Severus noted the look on his son's face, and commented. "What, were you expecting green and silver, or maybe just a cave with a pedestal for me to sleep upside down on?" He smirked. Harry just glared up at him, looking a little too much like his father. "The bathroom is over there" Severus pointed to a door on the left side. "Oh, and by the way, there is some shampoo in there, and not because I have never used it." Harry was shocked that Snape would say this, or even that the man could say it without his usual hints of malice.
Then, he walked toward a door, and pushed it open, leading into a room decorated in...blue. Very dark blue. "This" He said, gesturing toward the room, "will be your room. I decided not to be so cruel and decorate it in green and silver. I also wanted to keep my head. I will not have a room in my quarters decorated in red and gold, either. So, blue, of course, is neutral. I'll leave you to unpack here first, then we should talk." Without another word, he swept from the room.
**************************************************************************** *************************************** After Harry had finished unpacking everything from his trunk, which was already in his room, he left to talk to his father. My father... I have a family. He found Snape sitting on a very comfy looking leather armchair, reading a potions book. When he noticed Harry enter the room, he motioned for Harry to sit on the couch, opposite him. Harry obliged, then he watched his father intently, waiting for what he wanted to talk about.
"First of all, Harry... do you have any questions that you want to ask me?" Harry thought for a moment, then blurted out before he could stop himself, "Did you love her?" You didn't need to be a genius to know he was talking about Lily. "More than my life" Severus replied with a lot of emotion in his voice. "I was heartbroken when I found out she'd had a child with Potter, which is why... why I've been like I have to you for the past four years. I am sorry, Harry. I never hated you. I never disliked you really; I just treated you as if you were him. You looked so much like him; you were a living reminder of where my life went downhill. You were the son I never had, but now you are my son. I am proud of you, Harry."
Harry listened to his potions master talk, and at once knew that he meant every word. He nodded his understanding after he finished, trying desperately to stop the tears welling up in his eyes. Suddenly, there was a change of subject. "Harry, why didn't you tell anyone about the Dursleys?" Severus asked, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. "I...I...I thought if any one knew, I'd be taken to live in an orphanage, and I suppose, I was...ashamed." He looked toward the ground as he said this, head hung low. Severus had a sudden urge to hold his son, to protect him from all he fears. To be his father. "Harry, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's those muggles that should be ashamed for what they've done. They should suffer for it." He bared his teeth angrily.
"We need to think of a new name for Me." said Harry, trying to change the subject, and succeeding. "Well, what name do you like?" He retorted, sitting back in his chair. "Hmmm.well, it has to fit with Snape. What about...Sebastian, or Alexander, or Salem, or-" "Harry, slow down!" Severus said, surprised at how much his son had obviously thought about this.
Harry and Severus talked well into the night about things; His name, new house (They decided they didn't mind if he was sorted into Gryffindor), new lessons, and Quidditch. Harry was surprised to learn that his father had played seeker for Slytherin, and that his skills had rivaled those of James Potter. Harry went to bed at about ten o' clock, having his first night of peaceful sleep in a very long time.
**************************************************************************** *************************************** The next morning, Harry had woken up bright and early to join his father in the kitchen for breakfast. He picked up the Daily Prophet and was surprised to see the headline. HARRY POTTER TO GO TO ADTS: ADVANCED DEFENCE TRAINING SCHOOL "Surprising how fast news gets around, isn't it?" Severus said, not looking up from his plate, but guessing the look of surprise his son wore. All Harry could do was grunt in reply.
Soon, father and son were on their way down to the headmaster's office. Severus muttered the password to the gargoyle, and rapped on the door. The headmaster ushered them in, and they each took a seat. Dumbledore was holding some sheets of parchment in his old, wrinkled hands. "First of all, have you decided on a name?" He asked Harry. Harry looked to his father, receiving an encouraging nod in reply. "Sebastian Alexander Snape" He informed the headmaster, watching as the aged professor wrote the name down on the parchment. He looked back up at Harry. "Good name. It fits. Now, er... Sebastian, you have been attending the Cornelius' School of Advanced Magic for the past four years. As you know, it was attacked by death eaters during the holidays-which the ministry succeded in covering up. After the attack, your father decided it was safer for you to attend Hogwarts, where he could keep a closer eye on you. You cannot tell your friends though, I'm afraid Sebastian, because it will be too dangerous. I am sorry about that. We'll let you try the sorting hat on again and you will continue the classes you had last year. Understood?"
Harry gave a brief nod before going back to his thoughts. He wasn't allowed to tell Ron or Hermione about himself. Would they be his friends though? He was a Snape, Ron certainly wouldn't make friends with him would he? He'd have to try and get sorted into Gryffindor again, that would be his only hope. HA! Draco Malfoy would surely be disappointed if his head of house' son was sorted into Gryffindor.
**************************************************************************** *************************************** The rest of the holidays passed by fairly quickly for Harry and Severus, who were quickly growing closer, and now Harry had even started calling him 'father', which Severus was very pleased about. The end of the holidays came almost too soon, and it was now time for the start of school and Sebastian's first day at Hogwarts. Things were going to be very different this year...oh, yes...