NOTE: CHAPTER ONE HAS BEEN MODIFIED 02-19-04
Severus stared from the fire, to the baby in his arms, and back into the fire.
How dare she?
You know that you would've said yes to her anyway.
I would not! And this is Potter's son for the Merlin's sake!
You're right; Albus is an old manipulative bastard.
I thought you'd come to your senses.
"Well then Severus, I guess that that is settled then. It's too bad really, I was hoping that you would take the Potions Master's job, but since you are taking care of a child now…" Dumbledore broke off.
"NO! This little…human will not interfere with my job. I will take the job and we can both stay in the castle," Severus glared, and turned to leave. "Though I do think that I will need a bigger chamber to reside in. I expect all the necessary supplies to be in my possession as soon as possible. Good day."
With that, the Potions-Master-to-be turned on his heel, with the boy clutched ungracefully in his grasp, and slammed the door on his way out of the office. Several pictures voiced their disapproval.
"Yes, I know that Severus is impossible, but I did get him to take the child, and I think that he can get the supplies himself. A bit of shopping will do him good." Dumbledore smiles to himself, and busied himself with paperwork.
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Severus strode towards the Great Hall, not knowing where else to go.
"Idiot Headmaster. Can't even tell me where I'm to stay." Snape really was in a foul mood. Down in his arms Harry looked around curiously.
"Ga!" he said, happily bouncing up and down.
"Ga indeed," Severus snarled.
The two proceeded into the Great Hall, where the elder placed the baby on the end of the Slytherin table, sitting down as far away as consciousness would allow. Through the window, Professor McGonnagall was taking off on a broomstick, heading home for the week-long break the school had received from the Ministry of Magic. Voldemort had held a massive raid in Diagon Alley which had left many casualties in it's midst, many of which were friends and family of the students.
"Kidditch," said Harry instantly. "What are you going on about?" Severus snapped back. "Kidditch," he repeated. "Kidditch is pwayed on bwooms. 'an it has tee chasews, 'an dey pway wit a kaffle, 'an too betahs, 'an dey pway wit budgers. Bugers hurt lots when dey hit yous. 'an dere's a keeper, 'an a seeka, 'an a gold 'nitch that you gots to catch. Giffdor is da bestest team at 'ogwars." Harry looked immensely proud of himself.
"I see that you have already been brainwashed by that father of yours and his gang. I'll have you know, that you will keep both of your feet firmly on the ground until I say otherwise. Also, for you information, Slytherin happens to be the best Quidditch team, not Gryffindor."
I'm explaining things to a child who will grow to be the vain of my existence. This has got to stop!
You know you want to take care of the kid Severus. Don't deny it.
Look here, voice-in-head, I am not in the mood at the moment to deal with you, I have to keep both eyes on the little brat…Where is he any—
"POTTER LET GO OF THAT CAT!!"
"No! Kitty come here." Harry then giggled loudly and kept a very firm grip on one frantic Mrs. Norris.
While Snape was still in a daze from seeing his new responsibility torture the cat, Argus Filtch chose that precise moment to stride into the chamber. He too watched the little kid "play" with his cat. Mrs. Norris yowled helplessly, and continues trying to claw her captor.
"Well no wonder you parents gave you up so easily. You're a monster." Severus instantly regretted his words.
Harry's brilliantly green eyes went wide, and he loosened his grip, allowing the cat escape. He turned his head toward Snape, then at Filtch's retreating back, then back at Severus. His eyes glistened with unshed tears.
"Mummy, Daddy," he mumbled before curling into a little ball and crying softly to himself.
Severus sighed. He did not intend to make the little one cry, but he had nothing to apologize for either. He made his way to Harry, and picked him up, noting that the baby fell asleep as soon as he was off the floor. Cursing Albus, the Potters, and his life in general, he walked back up the many staircases, to the stone gargoyle guardian of Dumbledore's office.
"Candy apple." The gargoyle stayed still. Severus sighed. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately.
"So he changed the password. Figures. Um, let's see. Chocolate Frog? Butterbeer? Ice Mice? Drooble's Best Blowing Gum? Cockroach Cluster? Every Flavor Beans? Oh will you just open already?" Still the stone statue was lifeless.
"Skittles," Harry said, awoken by the noise.
"What are you.."
Before Snape had a chance to say anything, the doorway was open, and the staircase started to move. He was amazed that Harry had managed to guess on his first try, but pushed it away from his thoughts. There were more important things to worry about.
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Frisha, llinfields, Mortanius
Thank you for being my first reviewers. I don't know yet if I want it to be a Dark Harry fic, but we'll see. If you have any ideas, please tell me, and I'll give you credit if I use them. If you lot encourage me with reviews, I'll try writing at least every other day. I'm planning to make this story only about Harry's life before Hogwarts, but if you make me happy, I'll make sequels for every book in the series. I'll try to make the chapters longer as well.
Next Chapter: Harry and Sev go shopping
