My Father's Shadow

A/N: Here it is, and don't expect another update for two weeks or so, I'll be away.

Chapter Eleven

Don't Count Your Chickens

Albus Dumbledore regarded the two young people in front of him with what seemed like cool indifference. In truth, he was deep in thought. Around them the staff members relaxed, or in the case of Severus Snape, sat tense in their chairs. All gazed at the Headmaster and the boys settled in front of them intently.

"What is this about an apprenticeship?" Harry finally asked. Draco shifted uncomfortably in the seat beside him, but his gaze on the Headmaster did not flicker.

"Apprenticeship was first introduced in this school a thousand years ago," Dumbledore began. "It was a device used to create more well-rounded students, capable of overcoming tremendous obstacles. In the event of an apprenticeship, the apprentice relinquished all rights to their master for a period of five years. In return, the Master was in charge of his apprentice's welfare for that period.

"An apprentice during those years learns specialized skills he would not normally learn in public education. Their Master would also retain the right to punish when they ordain it."

Draco looked at the Headmaster in awe, while Harry regarded him with something akin to horror. The Headmaster seemed oblivious to both.

"Now, of course, we will have to determine an able master for the two of you. It will have to be someone who will be able to deal with any changes you may go through magically and someone who possesses the means and skills to help you finish your apprenticeship."

Harry sprang up, glaring at Dumbledore and the room in general.

"Do we get a choice in this? Or is this just another one of those decisions that are being made 'for - my - own - good'? Because I have to tell you, the last decision made int hat category very nearly cost me my life."

"Harry," Dumbledore interrupted before he could relinquish to much information. "This is not the time."

"Not the time?! I'm so god damned sick of people controlling my life. I will not just let you force me into this apprenticeship thing. I don't want to leave Gryffindor..."

"Potter, cut the melodramatics," Draco interrupted excitedly. "Can't you see what an opportunity this is? I can count on my fingers the number of apprentices in the past centuries. We could be of the elite."

"Unlike some people," Harry sneered. "I don't have a superiority complex."

"You just can't stand the though of being deprived of your fame for a couple of years..."

"Boys," Dumbledore cut in. "Harry no one is trying to control your life. However, Gryffindor is no longer suitable for you, even the Sorting Hat agrees. And the other houses would be dangerous for you. This truly is the only option."

"Ah, I see. So not directly controlling my life. But ensnaring me in a web so tangled your suggestion becomes my only option."

Draco and Severus both blinked in surprise and shot a glance at each other at this very Slytherin comment. Both had just been thinking the same thing.

"Harry, I don't want to make you feel trapped. If you wish to talk to me about the consequences of some of my mistakes in the past you are welcome to. But in private."

Angry, but with nothing left to say, Harry stood up. "I will not become an apprentice sir, if it is the only option left for me to remain in this school, then I will be leaving the school." And with that Harry stormed out the door.

Severus glanced at the staff and Dumbledore, then with a gesture to Draco, the two Slytherins hurried out the door after him. Dumbledore sighed and looked at his remaining staff.

"Please consider the specifications I have just talked about. I need a Master for both Draco and Harry. We will have another meeting tomorrow. I hope someone will be ready to step forward."

And with that the Headmaster exited as well.

Harry had slammed his way into his rooms in Severus' quarters and was stuffing his belongings in his trunk when his father stormed in after him, Draco had obviously gone into his own room. Harry froze at the sound of the door slamming open and backed away quickly from the irate Potions Master who growled and ran a had through his greasy hair.

"I'm not going to hurt you Harry. But what the hell were you thinking? Refusing and apprenticeship? Don't you think boy? Or does nothing get through that thick head of yours?"

Harry flinched at the words coming out of his father's mouth, distinctly reminded of his Uncle.

"I'm sorry," he said in a voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm just so sick of never being able to take control of my life. I'm afraid...." he cut himself off.

"What are you afraid of?" asked Severus, quieter now, the boy looked away.

"Nothing," he replied quietly. "Nothing."

Severus sighed, knowing by now that he would not be able to pry into his son's thoughts. Instead he started on a different train of thought.

"You don't even have your magic back Harry, you can't start into the world alone."

This caught Harry's attention. The boy growled, then sneered. "If you would just take the damn things off that wouldn't be a problem."

"I will not take them off until I am sure of your control Harry."

"Of course not, because I'm no judge of that, not at all," Harry replied sarcastically.

"What about Voldemort, and the curse?"

"What about it?"

"If you are an apprentice, your master will be able to anchor you to him. There wouldn't be such a risk of you going off to the Dark Lord."

"I'd rather take that risk then knowingly be tethered to someone else."

"You are a fool."

"You are a greasy git," Harry replied easily.

"Shut up Potter," he snapped. "I'm looking out for your best interests."

"You shut up Snivellus."

"You know, I have the right to make you stay here."

"What right?" Harry snapped angrily.

"I am your father. If I stay you have to stay then you would have no choice."

"Oh really?"

"Yes really."

With a snap, the band around Harry's arm broke and magic flooded through the room, so tangible Snape could almost touch it. An evil grin lit Harry's face.

"You know, I was really hoping you would do it yourself, but hey, if this is the only way..."

Lazily he waved his hand, "Petrificus Totalis." His father's body became rigid and fell to the floor.

Harry prowled around him. "Now you know how I felt when you did this to me, revealing all the secrets I worked so hard to keep. How do you feel being helpless?"

Suddenly Harry backed up, shaking his head. He took one look at Severus and his eyes grew as round as saucers. "Finite Incantatem," he muttered. Severus got himself off the floor.

"How did you do that Harry?"

"I don't know," he whispered, "I don't know."

Hermione and Ron conferred in hushed voices as they made their way up to Gryffindor Common Room.

"I don't understand what's going on 'Mione. Why would Harry want to be re-sorted."

"I don't think he did Ron, did you see how Snape stopped him from coming to sit down next to us?"

"You think Snape forced him? But why?"

"I don't know Ron, but we have to find Harry. He looked so sad, so lost."

The two friends entered the common room and sat down on the plush sofas eyeing each other with worry. In seconds they were joined by Ginny and then by Neville.

"What should we do?" asked Neville.

And together the four worked out a plan.

While Severus and harry were having their talk, Draco sat down at the desk in his room and began to dictate a letter.

To Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley:

I know we have not always been the best of friends, in fact we have been far from it but I have information and I would like some information in turn. I am willing to work out a truce in mutual concern of one Harry Potter.

I know Potter's whereabouts as well as another piece of information not safe to write in a letter. In return for this information I would like knowledge of Potter's home life, who he lives with, how they treat him, that sort of thing.

If you are interested, meet me in the Astronomy Tower at midnight. Bring no one.

With best regards,

Draco (no last name as of yet)

Draco sent the letter off with his eagle owl and glanced at the clock sitting beside his bed. Nine o'clock. He could get three hours of sleep before his meeting with two of the Golden Trio. Briefly he considered bringing Potter before his eyes drooped and he was asleep.

Harry lay staring at the wall in his room, as that was quite frankly, the only thing he could do. Alarmed by his magical outburst, Snape had Petrified him and lay him down in his bed as he went off to fetch Dumbledore.

Unfortunately the Potion's Master hadn't considered what being bound would do to Harry. It reminded him of his time with the Dursley's and with a shutter that was not even apparent outwardly, he was thrown into his memories.

Flashback

Harry lay shivering on his thin mattress, arms laying immobile above his head by the handcuffs his uncle had somehow managed to get. He was alone, utterly alone. And it was dark.

And that in itself was the worst part of all that Harry had endured. Laying on his bed, bound and unable to protect himself, Harry felt utterly helpless.

And when his Uncle barged into his room the next morning, allowing his eyes to glance over Harry's body with lust, there was absolutely nothing he could do.

End Flashback

Ok, that's it. As you will notice I have changed the rating. Sorry, didn't want to take a chance of someone reporting me.

39 Reviews! You beat it again. Let's keep it up.