The Chronicles of the Black Unicorn

Book 1: Restoration

Chapter Four: A Broken Hero, A Red Lion, and a Baka

Pardon any misspellings...-Li Cruz

Harry pushed the food around his plate, not quite wanting to eat. He had been having feeling for his 'family' that he didn't want. He had caught himself wanting to see Sev-Snape proud of him again and sometimes seeing Lazarus made him want to be with his 'cousin'. He didn't want to let anyone any closer. He was afraid to lose them like... Sirius.

Lazarus was suddenly sitting next to him. He wore the thinnest smile Harry ever saw before he dug into his own plate of food. They ate in comfortable silence. Everyone else was in classes so the main dining hall was empty.

Harry glanced over occasionally. Lazarus ignored him as he was eating, lost in thoughts unknown Lazarus nodded slowly at something as he stood up. His eyes were clear but a grayish color. He trudged out of the room. Harry looked at Snape.

"Why are you trying to be friendly?" Harry snapped out, his anger igniting.

Snape looked wearily at Harry. "Because I was wrong."

Harry felt like someone hit him over the head with a troll's club. Snape continued, his eyes now closed.

"About you. About your life. I didn't see because I didn't want to. Because I saw myself in you."

Snape didn't say anything else as Harry turned away. Harry knew Snape was listening to him walk away, but the man didn't make a move to stop him.

Harry snarled as he slammed the doors closed as he made his way to the servant house. Several house elves looked up from their tasks as Harry stalked by. Lazarus crossed his path just as he was at the door. Lazarus was cradling something in his arms as he ran past.

Harry finally reached his room and locked himself in. He threw himself on the bed, trying to keep the snake from escaping. His exhaustion finally claimed him.

He woke screaming and sobbing. Small hands pulled his fingers from clawing his face. He was tired of it all, the pain, grief, anger, and loneliness. Someone muttered reassurance that he wasn't alone. Never alone.

He let go and clung to the person's shirt. He wept until he fell back to sleep, listening to the person's voice. When Harry woke again, he saw a lot of white hair. Sitting up, Harry was startled to be looking down at Lazarus. Last time he checked Lazarus had red hair. Lazarus was blinking up at him, expecting him to say something.

"Er, hair." Harry pointed to his own.

Lazarus pulled one of his snowy locks down and scowled instantly. He rolled to Harry's bedside table and fished out of the small pouch a vial. Drinking it with seconds, his hair became the deep red Harry had become familiar with. A long silence filled the room as Lazarus rolled out of the bed and readjusted his clothes.

"Sorry." Harry muttered.

"For what?" Lazarus said, his words sharp but his tone and voice gentle. "For having a breakdown? For what, Harry-san? You are first and foremost human. Is it not human to have emotions, needs, and wants?"

Harry stared down as his cousin turned to face him. Lazarus' eyes were ancient and wise. Lazarus' lips twitched in a weary smile similar to Snape's.

"We are human, Harry-san. You shouldn't forget that. It is your heart that makes you human. As long as you can find the capability to love, you will find someone who will care. Not for that inconsequential scar, but for who you truly are."

Harry held back his tears. He wanted so much just cry into Lazarus's shirt and tell him everything. He wasn't aware when Lazarus wrapped his arms around his shoulders.

"It's okay to let it go, Harry-san. It's okay." Lazarus repeated this over and over as he rocked Harry gently.

Harry leaned into the small yet strong arms, turning to lean his head against Lazarus' chest. He began talking about his 'family'. By time he finished talking the sun had began to set. Lazarus' silence was merely thoughtful. Harry sighed, half-tired, waiting for something to happen.

Harry heard Lazarus taking a deep breath and watched a vial floated over but he was interrupted by the slamming of Harry's door. He heard Ron and Hermione screaming something. Lazarus' presence was torn away and a grunt of pain. Harry was instantly off the bed, wand in hand. He pointed it on Ron who had Lazarus pinned to the wall. Lazarus's legs were off the floor by a foot or more. Lazarus was struggling against the hand around his neck.

"Ron, put Lazarus down. Now." Harry hissed out in English, his eyes narrowed in anger.

"But Harry, he was." Ron stuttered, quailing under his gaze.

"NOW!" Harry roared.

Lazarus fell on all fours wheezing and gulping air. Harry lowered his wand a fraction of an inch. Lazarus crawled slowly towards Harry.

"Explain." Harry grounded out.

"He was going to poison you!" Hermione said incredulous.

"Hardly." Harry said, watching Lazarus gulp down the vial. "I recognize that vial. There is no poison in it."

Lazarus gave Harry a look which clearly stated he'd be back. He glanced sadly at Harry's friends as he rubbed his throat a bit. Harry watched his progress out of the room.

Harry turned his gaze to his friends and steeled himself for the ensuring fight as he put away his wand.

Lazarus sighed as he rummaged through his father's potion stores for a light healing potion. He swallowed again, feeling blood ooze down his throat. Kami, Ron's angry and malice had been strong enough to cut up his throat magically. A perfect way to silence someone, Lazarus mused. He hated the fact he was so prone to have bodily damage from other's emotions. It couldn't kill him, but it severely hinders him.

Double-checking the potion label, Lazarus cautiously drank it down. He felt the relief from the burns and cuts in his throat. Sighing he made a note on the clipboard on what potion he took and why. His father was currently at the airport, picking up his aunt and would be back in an hour or so.

Lazarus winced as Ron's voice shook the house. Dobby, coming in, looked fearful around. Lazarus nodded as the house elf pointed upstairs. Dobby sighed deeply.

"And Dobby...er...I just finished cleaning too." Dobby corrected himself. "Winky will becoming to help fix dinner, Lazarus."

Lazarus smiled, nodding. He had been so glad when Dobby finally dropped the Master off his name. Too bad, Winky didn't do that. Well, than again Lazarus was slightly taller than the house elves, much to his father's humor which also may have help Dobby drop the Master.

By time Winky made her appearance, Lazarus had prepared half of the dinner and the house had quieted. Harry had dragged his friends out of the house a while ago. Dobby was straightening up everything that had been disturbed by the shouting match.

"Winky-kun." Lazarus greeted, wondering where Harry was.

Winky frowned. "Why is Master Harry fighting with Master Wheezy?"

Lazarus dropped the knife in the sink and ran outside. Winky called Dobby and followed after. Harry was slowly losing the fight with Ron. Lazarus knew Ron had more strength than Harry had not to mention about twice his weight. Lazarus, steeling himself, summoned up enough magical energy to throw Ron across the yard and pin him to a tree.

Hermione seemed to be paralyzed and did nothing as Lazarus rushed to see if Harry was alright. Harry grinned rather madly up at Lazarus. Lazarus's scan revealed nothing more than a badly bruise ribcage and bruising on his arms. Harry winced as Lazarus pulled him to his feet. Muttering a weak healing spell, Lazarus watched as Harry shook off the lighter one. Lazarus turned to Ron with a even expression.

"Weasley-san. I apologize for pinning you to a tree, but I had to separate you and Harry-san."

Ron glared furiously down at the smaller boy and spat. Lazarus frowned slightly at the insult.

"Come on, you bloody bastard." Ron yelled. "How can you be so bloody calm?"

"Experience." Lazarus said blandly with a shrug.

"If I ever get my hands again around your scrawny neck, you'll wish you were never born, Snape!" Ron yelled at Lazarus's expressionless face.

"I doubt you'll get very far with that, Mr. Wealsey." A familiar silky voice said. "I'd make quite certain of that."

The restraining spell ended as Ron blanched. Elder Snape was standing there with curious onlookers except for the old woman. The Potion Master's wand was being twirled between his long fingers. Ron shuddered. His mind was racing. Harry does the same thing when he was bored or irritated. Guilt started to eat Ron's inside. He just assaulted both Mini Snape and Harry. And Snape's relatives appeared. He was in such deep shit.

Harry looked away from the angered glares of Hermione and Ginny. Who knew his uncle or was it cousin was going to make Ron serve detention with Filch? He sighed raggedly. He kinda wished he didn't wake up Lazarus last night. But it had been nice talking to someone. He watched Lazarus deal with vampires, werewolves, and others as he sat in the corner.

Lazarus had a way with those considered non human. Harry spotted Fudge, weaving through the crowds toward Lazarus. Harry quickly stood up and leaned against Lazarus's head. Lazarus muttered something incomprehensible as the guests laughed.

"Fudge." Harry said lowly.

Lazarus's nod dislodged Harry's arm. Harry straightened as Fudge appeared.

Harry watched as Fudge's brow furrowed slightly as he spoke.

"Mr. Snape, I'm happy to see you up and about."

"Minister Fudge, I must ask you to leave." Lazarus's voice rang out over a now silent room. "I have no wish to have anything to do with you or your lackeys."

Fudge went a deep purple. "Why you-"

"Minister, you have not once but twice overstepped your boundaries. You have taken advantage of the Spirit of Hogwart's hospitality and compassion one too many. I unlike my late companion am not as merciful." Lazarus's voice was laced with raw power."

Fudge puffed up. "I'm the Minister of Magic, boy. Who do you think you are? Some muggle pretending to be a wizard?"

Harry shuddered at Lazarus's calm face. The power rolled off him in waves. Can't anyone felt it? Lazarus looked at Harry and the power subsided. Harry caught the sheepish look in his eyes before Lazarus turned back to the Minister.

"You are only a minister, someone who can be removed. All your power came from Hogwarts and it shall return to Hogwarts because it is where everything begins and it shall be where everything ends." Lazarus's words rang out as some sort of demented prophecy.

Harry stood in front of Lazarus when Fudge took a step forward. "Minister, please leave."

The Minister snorted. "So the Wizarding Savior is protecting a Snape. But it should be of no surprise. Boy, your hero complex isn't going to save your mad little friend there."

Harry felt something burn at hearing it. Yet it was one of Severus's companions that reacted. Fudge found cold steel under his neck. A boy almost as tall as Harry held the sword in a way that suggested he knew exactly what he was doing.

Fudge realized that he was probably in over his head as he looked around, careful not to cut himself. A good number of the room seemed still, uncertain. Very few of the rest looked sympathetic outside his own Aurors. Harry snickered as Fudge quickly backed away and fleed.