~Chapter Four~
"Daddy, what's a Death Eater?" Harry asked one day at breakfast, causing Severus to nearly spit his coffee half way across the table. Taking a breath Severus looked up at the now, six year old child.
"May I inquire as to where that question came from?" Harry shrugged.
"That mean man that was against you during the hearing for you to adopt me…he called you a death eater."
"Well…ah, Harry, it's….it's really hard to explain, and I'd prefer you were older when I did explain it," 'much older' Severus thought to himself, 'like in your eighties when I'm dead and gone,' he finished thinking.
"Okay," Harry said shrugging again. Severus was thankful that the boy was willing to simply leave it at that.
"You finished?" Severus asked, the child nodded.
"Good, get dressed, I've got a meeting with Grandpa Albus and Minerva, and I was supposed to be there an hour ago," stated Severus. The boy smiled and jumped out of his chair and ran upstairs.
"Master Severus?" Came the soft voice of Pinky, she was quite an elf she had been the one to take care of Severus after the death of his mother.
"Pinky, I've told you many times, I'm not your master, you're a free elf, and I'm a man in need of help."
"I understand Severus, but may I interject something sir?" The elf asked again, Severus simply nodded.
"You may want to tell that child about the truth before someone else tells him, there are many bad people in the world, and he's bound to run into at least one who knows the truth," Pinky stated in clear English. Unlike most house elves, while Pinky taught Severus, he taught her, and helped her speak very well.
"Thank you Pinky, I appreciate your concern, however, I'm not ready to disclose my past to anyone, much less a child who is bound to be deeply affected by it if he finds out that the Death Eaters were the followers of the man who murdered his parents," Suddenly Severus laughed a little evilly.
"Ironic isn't it," Snape began looking at her, "the man his father loathes, a follower of the man who killed his dad, ends up taking care of him. Lucius is right, I don't deserve this little boy."
"Sir?"
"No worries Pinky, I won't ever get rid of the boy, he is my son after all, but I must admit I sure do pick 'em," With a sigh Severus got up and headed up to his own rooms to get dressed.
Diagon Alley was bursting with witches and wizards was Severus lead Harry by hand through the crowds towards Floreans Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, where Albus and Minerva were waiting calmly, Albus working on what looked like an ice cream Sundae.
"Remind me why we chose this place to have a meeting," Stated Severus as he sat Harry down in a chair next to Albus, then had a seat himself.
"Because, it's prefect," Albus stated smiling, Severus rolled his eyes and looked at a bemused Minerva.
"Prefect for what?"
"For children for starters, Harry you can have whatever you want," Albus said then looked back at Severus, "Perfect weather, cheer up Severus, it's good for you to be out, now onto business,"
"Papa, papa," came a gentle tug on his sleeve, as Severus looked down at Harry about thirty minutes later, the boy had finished all his food, and seemed considerably bored. Severus looked at Minerva and Albus with a soft smile.
"Yeah buddy?"
"Can I go over there and look at the owls?" Harry asked, Severus looked across the alley to where the boy was pointing, the pet shop with all kind of animals.
"I'd rather you didn't, what if you get lost?"
"I yell for you and stay put. If anyone tries to hurt you I scream and make a fuss so someone will notice," Albus smiled while Minerva covered her mouth trying to hide the smile. Obviously this boy had his lessons down, as Severus was a very careful man. With a sigh and a look into those huge green eyes, Severus quickly knew he wouldn't win this fight.
"All right, but stay there, we're going to be done soon, and I'll come get you all right?" The boy nodded and hurried off, waving goodbye to Minerva and Albus.
"He's got enough energy to power Hogwarts for three years or so," stated Severus.
"I must admit, you look considerably worn out, are you all right?" Severus shrugged and smiled.
"You know how it is, I'm just tired, working at school every day, taking him at night, watching him when he's in my class room, or in the dungeons. I feel bad, I wish he could find a friend to play with more often, so he wasn't stuck in school forever, I mean the poor boy spends all his time in the class room or at home," Snape stated.
"Careful what you wish for Severus, Lei grew up far too quickly for me, with or without friends. Harry will be off to Hogwarts before you know it," Severus stated.
"Yes well, at least then I'd know he wasn't being bad, I wouldn't have people babysitting him when I'm not with him. He doesn't have anyone to play with," Severus finally stated.
"As I recall neither did you Severus," Minerva stated softly.
"That's exactly my point, I don't want him turning out like me, some bitter old git with greasy hair." Minerva and Albus chuckled.
"Stop listening to those children who say that Severus, you are no such thing," Minerva said gently holding his hand tightly and smiling.
Harry was looking at a snowy owl when suddenly a boy around his age came barreling in, he had red hair and freckles. Right behind him chased a boy also his age with blond hair. They collided with Harry, all ending up on the floor in a heap.
"Sorry bout that," whispered the red head.
"Well I'm not, Weasel stole my cookie!" Yelled the blond child.
"Ronald!" Came a strong voice, a man with red hair came in, he smiled at the three boys.
"Ronnie, your mother and I are about to go over to the Quality Quidditch Supplies shop, your mother thought you'd like to come and look, say goodbye to your friends and come on," The boy nodded and glared at the blond boy, then looked at Harry.
"I'm Ronnie Weasley,"
"Harry P…Snape," Harry knew he was famous and didn't really feel like attracting attention at the moment.
"Nice to meet you, maybe we can talk again sometime," Harry nodded and watched the boy leave.
"Your dad is really Severus Snape?" The blond boy asked once Ron and his father had left.
"Yeah, he's my adopted father."
"He's my God-father, I've known him since I was born, but I haven't seen him lately, I'm Draco Malfoy," Harry smiled.
"Harry Potter…Snape," the boy smiled softly. Draco chuckled.
"Guess we'll be referring to you as Harry Potter Snape from now on. I'd better go before…."
"Draco!" Another booming voice came in, a tall man with bleach blond hair stood before them…it was the man from Harry's hearing, the man who had called his father a Death Eater.
"Ah, Mr. Potter I see. Where's your daddy?" Harry stood quietly. The man stared at his son.
"Go find your mother, we're going to leave," the boy nodded frightened slightly, and left quickly. Lucius looked at Harry and smiled.
"Dear old Daddy ever tell you about his past. He's a Death Eater, did you know that, those are followers of the Dark Lord, same man who gave you that scar on your head, made you famous. I promise it's the truth, check his left arm sometime, you'll find a scar there, in the crook of his elbow, of a skull and a snake. He's not who you think he is, and he's not who anyone else thinks he is. The Dark Lord will be back Potter, then you'll die!" Lucius whispered harshly and stalked off.
Harry stood, now white, in fear, what if the man was right…what if his papa really was a bad man.
"Harry, Har…son, what's wrong?" Severus asked kneeling down in front of his son.
"I…" Harry stopped he was to scared to speak as he stared at Severus with huge eyes, fear behind them, a look Severus hadn't seen for four years.
AN: Layce74, Can You See, Rosaleen, headncloud, Jaximillion, LE, Heather Snape
Mystic, Dragonsfire, athenakitty, Makalani, Astral, Mikee, I know more reviewed, and I appericate everyone, thank you for all the wonderful reviews, and all I can continue to say is all of your questions will be answer over time. Please continue to review, and reading. I have just started the sorting chapter, and shall be starting on the sorting within moments, I have decided what house Harry will be in, but I'm not giving it away.