At the edge of the World
By: Despondent
-
Chapter 2
On blood
"He cannot stay with me- and that's final."
-
Severus Snape, Potions Master, winner of countless potions-related awards including the prestigious 'Young Budding Potions Master Award' smiled. There was a hint of amusement in his face. "Albus, surely you don't expect me to believe that? Surely you don't believe that!"
"For once, I agree with Professor," Harry sneered, so that he sounded very much like his professor did, "Snape. It is impossible… absurd… how can I be his son? Everyone tells me I look like James Potter."
"You act like him too. You are equally as arrogant, spoilt, rash, foolish..."
Professor Dumbledore ignored their petulant argument. Instead, he looked carefully at the parchment, and then finally, walking towards the one window in the room, he lifted the parchment towards the sun and stared at it careful, his eyes screwed up in concentration. He was searching for something- and then, he found it. Sighing, he walked back.
"I had my doubts too. There were too many holes, too many. Lily was quite evidently, in a hurry," Professor Dumbledore smiled sadly, "for she left out some details. One detail that she left out is how she made you look like James."
Professor Snape snorted. "Lily was good in charms, Albus, nothing was too difficult for her to achieve. All she needed was access to a couple of restricted books."
"Yes, I agree. It is not hard. There are a few charms you can cast, and even a few potions you can take. But there is one problem- how did she make the charm last?"
There was silence for a moment. Only the ticking of the wizarding clock, hung on the plastered wall, could be heard.
"That settles it, doesn't it, Albus? So may I leave? Since we seem to have found the loophole is this bizarre and utterly unbelievable letter, that is no doubt the result of some prankster, I shall take me leave. I have a potion to brew and it requires maximum concentration and precise timing," Severus said, as he stood up.
"Wait. Sit," Professor Dumbledore ordered, quietly. "But the letter- it's genuine. I know for sure that it was sent by James and Lily Potter, about seventeen years ago."
"That's impossible!" Harry snapped, "He cannot be my father!"
"But it is. There is a creed."
There was another stunned silence this time. Harry turned to look at Professor Snape, who was staring at Professor Dumbledore with incredulous eyes. He looked beyond stunned, he looked flabbergasted- horrified, and his mouth was agape in a very unlike him manner. His hands were paused in mid-air, and he seemed to have forgotten about them. For a moment, Harry saw his fingers- thin, spindly, elegant fingers, curved slightly- and he looked away.
Professor Snape seemed to understand what was going on, but Harry did not. He hated it when people talked about things he did not understand; it made him feel inadequate. What the heck is a creed? There seemed to be an obvious implication because Professor Snape looked aghast while Professor Dumbledore just looked somber.
"What, in Merlin's name, is a creed?" Harry broke the silence.
"The creed, Potter," Professor Snape said, "is a symbol that has just ruined my life and has just darkened the bleak visages of it."
"Harry, each noble and pureblooded family, like the Potters, the Blacks, the Snapes, they have their own creed, a motif if you like. It is used to engrave their stationary, especially their letters, and it can only be used by someone of the Potter blood, either by birth or by marriage and there is a creed on this letter. It's a watermark," Professor Dumbledore said sadly.
"No," Harry breathed heavily, his body starting to shake and his eyes alit with anger, disbelief, "NO! That's… that's…. impossible," he breathed once more.
"But it's true, and there's nothing we can do about it. There are several changes we need to make immediately," Professor Dumbledore said, in a sudden authoritative manner, "you can't stay at the Dursley's anymore."
"Because I finally have another living blood relative?" Harry said coldly. He had not forgiven Dumbledore for placing him under the loveless care of Vernon and Petunia Dursley. His lump of a cousin, whose bullying antics left Harry scarred, did not help either.
"Partly, but mainly because the wards have fallen," Dumbledore said.
"WHAT?" Harry yelled.
"They fell exactly on the stroke of minute on the 31st of July on your seventeenth birthday. I have several theories behind this and I can almost certain the accuracy of one of them," Dumbledore said cryptically.
"Albus, I am a little curious. Why did the wards fall? I thought that the wards were controlled by the blood bond between Harry and his," Severus Snape sneered, "muggle relatives? That is, assuming that his relatives are alive…"
"Yes, that is true. Lily's sacrifice ensured that as long as Harry considered Privet Drive his home, he would be given protection- as long as he considered it his home."
Severus Snape and Harry registered Professor Dumbledore's statement.
"And as of today, when Harry came of age, he no longer considered Privet Drive his home and the wards subsequently collapsed. That was the reason why I sent Remus to pick you up, that rather than talk to you, but I have to admit, the news was rather pressing and still is."
There was that silence again, the unnerving silence. This time, two things could be heard- the ticking of the clock, and the slight thumping of feet running up the stairs.
"I hated them," Harry said hollowly. "I hated them so fucking much and you made me stay there. I will never forgive you for putting me there, Professor- never."
There was more silence.
Finally, Albus Dumbledore spoke up. "I had to do what I had to do, Harry, it was all for your own good."
Harry did not reply. Instead, he stared out of the solitary window. There was a clear picture of the top of a tree. The green foliage was rustling slightly, it was a windy day, and the branches with the leaves swayed with the breeze.
Albus Dumbledore, seeing that he was not going to get a reply from Harry, turned to face Severus Snape instead. "We need to find suitable housing for Harry. He cannot stay at Hogwarts, I'm afraid, and the Headquarters is out of the question, ever since Kreacher left."
"Why can't I stay at Hogwarts?" Harry asked finally.
"There's no one there," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling slightly, "although the wards could hold you. I believe that the teachers are on holiday. Minerva is visiting her relatives, Filius is taking a short break at a beach and-"
"I get the picture," Harry cut in.
"You have to stay here, at Snape Manor," Dumbledore said with finality.
"No," Severus Snape said flatly. "He cannot stay with me- and that's final."
"I don't want to stay with him!" Harry shouted, nearly simultaneously.
"Professor, there is no way I am going to allow him to stay here! He will ruin the house! Do you know how many generations of Snapes have resided here? He will defile this place!" Severus Snape continued, ignoring Harry.
"I have no intention of staying with him! Why can't I stay with someone I like for once? Why can't I stay with… Professor Lupin?" Harry asked, speaking furiously and rapidly.
"Yes, why can't he stay with that mangy werewolf?" Professor Snape asked.
"SILENCE!" Professor Dumbledore roared suddenly. His eyes were glinting furiously, not with amusement but anger, and his lips were turned downwards in a frown.
Professor Snape and Harry shut up instantly, Professor Dumbledore's outburst stunning them into silence.
"You think I like this arrangement better than you do? It is unsafe, but there is no choice, you understand!" Professor Dumbledore snapped. "There is no other place, in London, that is safer than Hogwarts, but the one place that comes close is Snape Manor! I do not have the patience to listen to your childishness!" Professor Dumbledore sounded furious. For the first time, Harry realised the toll that the war had on Professor Dumbledore.
"But Albus," Severus dared, "Draco and Narcissa… they are coming here within the next few days, to stay."
"There is nothing that can be done about it. We have to hasten his changes. I believe that Harry's appearance would start to change. I can already see the slight changes in his demeanor. We have to cast some spells on him to ensure that the rapidness of his changes is heightened to the point of its climax."
"Harry, do you understand what this means? There is no other choice. You cannot return to Hogwarts as Harry James Potter, no charm in this world, nor any potion at that matter, will be strong enough to conceal you with sufficiency. You will have to return to Hogwarts for your sixth year as a different person- as Severus's son."
-
Harry did not know what to think. There was a small envelope in his hand. Professor Dumbledore had thrust it between his fingers before he even had a chance to think and had told him, in a kind firm voice, to stay in the room until Professor Snape calmed down.
Snape had just stomped of the room after that, his fury emanating from him in tangible waves, and he had slammed the door so hard it rattled. He too had something within his palm, his letter, the one written to him. Snape had not bothered to reply to Dumbledore's statement. Instead, he had just left, wordless, and Dumbledore had followed after him, but not after he told Harry to stay and be a good boy.
Eek, Harry thought.
Harry was in a current state of disbelief, bothering on apathy. He did not know what to feel. He did not really believe what the letter said, creed or not, or maybe he was just deluding himself to believe that way. Perhaps he should be rolling over in anger by now, or at least stomping around the room yelling obscene vulgarities, but the truth was, he just felt hollow. He simply did not react because he did not know how.
Unless there was such a book of course- 'How to react when you find that your entire life has been one entire lie.'
He could even see the bloody options in the book.
One, you could become so angry, you commit some form of accidental magic that shatters every single glass ornament or window within the vicinity, and your mentors will come rushing to find you, only to see your body slumped on the floor with glass smithereens sticking out of it. (This option is preferable for those with a healthy supply of power because accidental magic, especially those governed by emotions, does not come easily.)
Two, you could become so sad, you'll cry for days at the end. You will lock the door and refuse to eat, drink or sleep, or let anyone in for that matter. Your friends/teachers/everyone will stand for hours outside your door, knocking on it and begging you to come out. You will ignore them. (This method is preferable for angst ridden teenagers with the affinity for dramatics.)
Three, you could be happy. Dance around the room and skip through the corridors for the next few days, singing at the top of your lungs. Ensure that everyone can hear you and that the next-door neighbours bang on your door that night to ask you to shut up. Keep smiling the whole day and spread your happiness. (This is perfect for those who possess the irritating ability to be perpetually optimistic, happy and cheery. Not good for you if you're moody, angst-ridden or hormonal.)
Harry snorted.
He sat down on the chair. His mind was whirling too furiously for him to think, and all he could hear was the words of Professor Dumbledore, and the echoing chant, a mantra in his head- 'He's your father, he's your father.'
He took the envelope and ripped it open without care. He knew that he should be careful, Professor Dumbledore had provided him with a letter opener, (a letter opener for Merlin's sake!) but Harry did not have the patience. His fingers shaking, he unfolded the parchment. The text was like little ants that rolled across the material, small, tiny and concise. It was his father's script, he realised.
My dearest Harry,
You must know the truth by now. Our darkest secret, Lily and I- your heritage, your true father… and we dreaded the day that it would be discovered, I more than you, for I know, the day that you find out the truth, you will no longer be mine, and Severus will claim part of you.
Please do not blame Severus. Severus is a death eater, I'm sure you should know that, but he is a spy for Dumbledore, and has done the Order numerous services, all of which have aided us greatly, and he has saved our lives countless times. It was Severus who warned us of the danger that we were in, and it was Severus to which we owe our lives- and yours.
He does not know. Lily never told him, she feared that he would take you away from her, and loathe as she is to admit it, I know she fears Severus.
Severus is not a man to trifle with, Harry, and you have to be careful of him. He is a very powerful wizard and when he entered Hogwarts in his first year, he already knew more Dark Arts spells than all of the seventh year students combined. He is a professional dueler, and is dangerous with a wand. Worse still, Severus is a man who is governed by his emotions. He tries badly to hide this, but he cannot. It is a part of him and it makes him who he is.
Everything he has done in life has been based on his strongest emotions- hatred, jealousy and his search for vengeance.
Don't hate him, but try and get to know him. Severus, for all his flaws, is a good person essentially, and his conversion from dark to light have proven this. He does not take to Gryffindors very well, and he is biased, but to those he cares about he is protective. He is also a brilliant Potions master. I don't know if you know this, but he recently joined the Mastery Potions League, which is a league for the world's top Potion brewers. This makes him the youngest person ever to join. He is also the creator of a few potions- Wolfsbane is one of them. I am sure you have heard of it.
I must sound like I'm trying to sell him to you. In truth, this is not the case, all I am trying to tell you is that you must look at him from a different light. I heard that he is going to be teaching at Hogwarts, and I know that he must hate you for being my son, but all I can say is- give him a chance. Get to know him better.
I'm writing this now, staring at you, and Merlin Harry, you are such were such a cute baby. You must have all the girls falling over you- and I won't be there to see it.
The war has taken away nearly everything from me, but Voldemort will never take Lily and you from me while there is breath in my body.
There is a limit to letters- I sound so dead somber, Sirius will be laugh till he pee in his pants- I have to stop, but before I do, I need to ask you of a favour.
A few years ago, I did something unforgivable to Severus. I know he will never forgive me because of this. It was after Lily broke up with Severus. I was so angry, I took something from him. It was not very expensive, but I know it means a lot to him. I took a necklace, a silver chained necklace that Lily gave to him. There is a pendant- a matching silver lily- on the chain. I gave it to Sirius for safe-keeping, and a few months ago, I tried to get it back, to return it.
Sirius is a stubborn and reckless person and not very forgiving either. He would not give it to me, and no matter how hard I tried, all he would say is that he was keeping it safe.
If I die without returning the necklace to Severus, it would be a guilt I will carry into my grave. I regret taking it away; I know that it caused unimaginable hurt to Severus.
If you can, get the necklace back and return it to Severus. I know that Sirius would not have thrown it away.
I end here.
Before I do go, I will tell you one last thing, Harry.
I love you, with all my heart, as a father loves a child, and nothing, nothing, not even your blood, will change that.
Your father,
James Potter
Harry put down the letter and began to cry.
-
Severus Snape was currently sitting in his favourite arm chair. Contrary to popular belief, his own private rooms were not in the dungeons, but rather in a spacious loft area in the higher levels of the Manor. He did enjoy the sun, occasionally, and at that point in time, he was swallowed by the cream chair with green trimmings.
The letter cannot be true. I cannot be Potter's father. This is some cruel twist of fate, some merciless joke.
Yet, his better senses told him that it was true, and that it was not a joke.
Severus Snape was a logical person. He was not an idealist, and he was not a person to sit around and moon over uncovered secrets. Usually, he would more likely start jotting down ways to make himself feel better (like taking points of Gryffindor House, for instance) and he would definitely seize the situation and attempt to make it favourable, to him at least.
However, this time…
This is ridiculous. I am sitting here like some Gryffindor. I am overly emotional.
I refuse to believe that inane rubbish that Albus just told me. I could not have fathered Potter.
Wait, he is not a Potter. He's a Snape.
What am I saying? He's not a Snape! He's too Potter-ish to be a Snape!
Severus Snape decided to stop his internal dialogue. Instead, he opened his envelope. Lily's letter… Dear Lily…
And he started to read it.
-
Professor Dumbledore stared at the pieces of paper before him. He was seeing them, but not really looking at them. The letter had taken him by surprise, and this was such an unlikely turn of events… He did not know what to do.
He rubbed his temples wearily. The war had just started, but he could already feel its toll. He felt old, he looked old, and frankly, he was old. However, there was so much more to be done, and Tom… Tom would not be easily combated.
He sighed.
How did things go so wrong?
This war was never supposed to happen. Tom Riddle was never supposed to turn dark. Tom Riddle had been his most brilliant student, the most intelligent one to ever grace the Hogwarts Halls. He was unsurpassed in terms of magic, in terms of brains, in terms of charisma, and he had been for so many years. Until now- now that Harry was here…
Harry could give Tom a good run for his money. Professor Dumbledore laughed. He loved muggle expressions.
Oh Tom, what happened to you?
For a few moments, Professor Dumbledore's eyes flickered towards his pensieve in a corner. He had recently added in new memories- his memories of Tom Riddle.
For those few moments, Professor Dumbledore was tempted to walk towards that corner, pick up the pensieve, and indulge in his memories but he stopped himself. There was no use going through the past like that, it would only sadden him. What had gone by had gone by, and there was no real use in feeling morose over it. Tom Riddle was lost and now, forever gone, and only Voldemort remained.
Professor Dumbledore rubbed his eyes wearily. There were Order reports to sort through. More importantly, there were the documents that Lily sent him to go through.
The top sheet was the Potter's will. Professor Dumbledore breezed through it. He smiled. At least Harry would get the money, if that was some consolation. That would also, most likely, make him heir to three powerful families.
Professor Dumbledore tried to concentrate, but he could not. He found himself continuously staring at the pensieve.
Tom Riddle had been his protégé. Not just any protégé, but his, and for those few years, Tom had been apprenticed to him. He was the one who had thought Tom everything he knew, and inadvertently, he was the one who had sent Tom down the black path. He had been close to Tom, very close.
Professor Dumbledore, once again, had to stifle the urge to look into the pensieve.
Finally, he walked out of the room. However, one thought remained on his mind.
Harry, you once asked me why I couldn't kill Voldemort. The truth is, Harry, even if I could, I wouldn't.
I can't kill him, Harry. I can't.
-
End of Chapter 2
-
Next up:
Chapter 3
On homes
"This is my home. Please do not defile it."
-
Please review!
