A/N: Hello again! School is school with a book list as long as my leg.
Seriously. At least not all of them are hard backs. I would die if they
were. Class is calling. I've got to go! Here's another part for all you
wonderful reviewers. ~Sylvia
Snape Apparated into the little town and looked around. This was where Seamus Finnegan had said he had seen Potter. Snape looked at the alias given and sighed. He adjusted his Muggle suit and moved forward towards some Muggles who were standing in front of a store and talking. "Excuse me." He said, stopping in front of them. "Yeah?" One answered. "I'm a bit lost. I'm looking for the Riddle residence." He told the curious Muggles. "The Riddle Home? Up there, on top of the hill. They keep to themselves, but the boys are nice enough. We don't see the old man much, but he's sane enough." Snape managed not to gape at the Muggle and thanked him, moving towards the house that the Muggle indicated. A postbox was on the gate, bearing the name Riddle. Snape entered the gate and went up the walk. He wondered briefly what he would say if he did not see any evidence of magic on the premises. He couldn't help but feel that he had been here before. He went up to the porch and turned around. How in the world did he know that view? He shrugged it off and knocked on the door.
Harry had glanced out his window, bored with the exercises in his Charms book and nearly fell over in shock. Snape was walking up the path to the house. He grabbed some Playful Pantomimes from the section labeled blue eyes and "s" scar and swallowed them. "Tom! Snape's coming!" he said, feeling the candy work. Tom stuck his head out of his study, surprise clearly etched on his face. "Why would he be here?" He questioned Harry. Harry thought for a few minutes and found his answer.
"Seamus, from the game. He probably contacted Dumbledore about me." Tom grew pale.
"Nice work with the disguise, Harry. Perhaps we can talk him out of his suspicions." Harry nodded and heard a knock at the door. He clambered down the stairs and opened the door before Nellie could, allowing the house elf to tell him exactly what she thought of him and his Muggle ways. Harry chuckled before addressing Snape.
"Mr. Snape?" Severus looked up at the voice and saw Voldemort's nephew staring back at him, a look of shock on his face. "What are you doing here?" The boy asked. Snape was surprised to see this boy. He had thought, perhaps, that Harry Potter would have opened the door, not Michael Riddle.
"Is your uncle at home?" Snape asked, recovering from his surprise.
"Yeah, he's in the lab making a potion." Michael said, motioning Snape into the house. "Come on." Michael led the way down the hall, pulling open the door. "Uncle Tom?" Snape heard some equipment crashing and several swear words. Michael's eyes grew wide and he shut the door. "He's told me not to do that!" He informed Snape.
"Michael, how many times have I told you not to disturb me during a potion."
"if it's not important." The boy finished. "Yeah, I know, but Mr. Snape is here." He said, gesturing towards Snape with one hand. Tom looked up to Snape and smiled.
"Ah, Severus. A surprise to say the least. May I ask why you are here?" Tom said politely, leading him into the sitting room.
"Professor Dumbledore asked me to check on you all." He answered diplomatically. Tom smiled and nodded, accepting a drink from Nellie. Severus took one as well. Snape could see Michael leaning near the doorjamb, listening to their conversation.
"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer, eh, Severus." Snape nodded.
"I'm afraid so. He's also asked me to check up on your nephew and his skills." Tom's face grew dark.
"Why would he want to know of Michael's skills? He's not one of the Hogwarts students." Tom said testily. "He's doing just fine under my tutelage. He's almost ready for his N.E.W.T.s. He is at least two years ahead of other students his age." Tom told Snape proudly. "He's making potions that I didn't master until my seventh year and beyond." Tom noticed Harry's arm against the doorjamb and smiled. "He's also rather good at eavesdropping." He commented. Harry drew back. "Come in, Michael, you little sneak." The boy came in with a sheepish smile and took a seat next to his uncle. The two smiled at each other and turned back to Snape. "His spying technique needs work." Tom commented in a false whisper. Michael played his part and looked indignant at the suggestion that he couldn't even listen in on a conversation without being seen. Snape chuckled at the pair.
"He's just interested in the boy." Snape told him. "Curious, if you would. You know how Dumbledore is." Tom nodded in understanding. "That, and we received a letter from a Hogwarts student about Harry Potter being Michael Riddle." Tom looked up at that. Michael looked perplexed. Snape pulled out his wand. "If I may?" He leveled the wand at the boy. "Revelo!" The spell hit Michael, but nothing happened.
"What did you just do?" Michael said, getting out his own wand and pointing it at Snape.
"Nothing that harmed you. If you had been using a magical disguise, that spell would have dissipated it. It appears that our student was mistaken and you are who your uncle says you are." Michael lowered his wand and eyed his curiously.
"This headmaster person thinks that I am Harry Potter?" he said to Snape. Snape eyed him curiously. He had not said that a headmaster had sent him, he was sure of it.
"Professor Dumbledore had suspicions of you being Harry Potter, but not that appears to not be the case. I am sorry to have disturbed you both." Snape told them. Michael nodded while Tom took up the conversation with Severus about the recent Qudditch game in the news. Harry allowed his mind to drift as he watched Snape idly play with his wand in his hand, allowing it to roll back and forth across him palm. He mouth was not moving, so Harry decided that he could not cast a spell like that. Even with his wandless talent, Harry needed words to make the spells work.
"Yes, even with the disappearance of Potter, Dumbledore is as relentless as ever. He had all of the teachers roaming about England, saying 'Point me, Harry Potter!' several times a day." The wand flipped around and pointed straight at Michael. Snape looked down at it, a bewildered expression on his face. "Odd." He said slowly. He looked up at Michael. "Point me, Harry Potter." The wand continued to point in Michael's direction. "Michael, get up and move. Perhaps Potter is in that direction." When Michael stood up, the wand moved with him, following him towards the door. The child's face became more and more agitated the farther away he moved from the wand and the closer to the door he got. "Potter?" Snape asked. Tom stood up as Harry bolted up the stairs. Severus turned his wand around and threw out a body-binding spell. Tom fell to the ground, fighting against his bonds.
Severus went up the stairs silently, looking for Harry. He found several empty rooms before he found the right door. It was the only one that was locked. He knocked on the door. "Harry?" He said, hearing nothing on the other side. "It's okay. He's in restraints." Severus growled to himself and pointed his wand at the door. "Alohamora!" The door opened to reveal a teenager's bedroom. There were books everywhere, as well as team photos of a Muggle football team, football equipment, and clothes on a chair. It appeared that the house elf hadn't made it this far. "Harry?" He checked the bed, closet and underneath the furniture until he saw the bathroom door. He went over and tried the knob. Locked. "Alohamora!" The door swung open, revealing a hyperventilating Harry Potter still in disguise. "Harry?" he said, coming towards Harry. Harry shrunk back against the wall.
"You can't make me go back!" He said, gasping out his words. Snape looked him over.
"You're confunded!" Snape said, raising his wand.
"No, I'm not." Harry said, sinking to the ground. "I'm not going back." He said without much conviction. He shut his eyes against Snape and tired to slow his breathing.
Snape grew alarmed when Harry continued to hyperventilate. "Potter, what's wrong?" He asked, getting down on one knee. A hand from behind pushed Snape aside and gathered Harry up.
"Leave home one afternoon and have crazy professors scaring the wits out of a little boy." Matthew said, gathering Harry to him and carrying the boy to the bed.
"Not little." Harry commented between gasps.
"Course not, Harry." Matthew told him, brushing Harry's long hair back from his face. "Just like we talked about, deep breaths, focus on my voice and forget everything else. You are safe and we will keep you that way." Matthew continued to drone on to Harry. Snape watched in amazement as the boy's breathing gradually slowed and returned to normal. His paleness did not leave him, and Matthew pulled out a potion. "Pepper-up." Matthew commented, pouring some potion down Harry's throat. Harry eagerly accepted and glared at Snape afterward.
"I'm not going back to Hogwarts." Harry told the professor as Michael fought him into bed. Michael smiled at Harry and pushed hair out of his eyes.
"We know, Harry. You take a few minutes of sleep. We will be downstairs." Snape watched as Michael whispered a word to Harry, causing the boy's eyelids to droop.
"That's not fair." Harry said before dropping into sleep.
"If you would." Matthew said, motioning for Snape to go down the stairs. Snape brought his wand up. "Expelliarmus!" Snape's wand was out of his hand faster than he could react. Matthew motioned Snape down the stairs and followed him down. They re-entered the sitting room where Tom was still trying to free himself. "Most powerful wizard in the world?" Matthew asked with a sly grin. He released Tom and gave him a hand up.
"I taught you everything you know." Tom returned. He brushed himself off and glared at Snape. "How is Harry?" He asked.
"Resting, though he had flipped out a bit." Tom glared at Snape with some of his old personality. Matthew grinned. "Said he's not little and he's not going back to Hogwarts." Tom smiled.
"Still stubborn then." Tom said. Matthew nodded his head. Tom regained his seat and stared at Snape. "Why would you want to come in and ruin his happiness?" Tom asked. No one needed to know exactly whose happiness had been ruined.
"Headmaster Dumbledore has been very concerned for his welfare." Snape said. Tom's eyebrow rose in spite of himself. Snape wondered what this could mean. This was Voldemort, albeit a transformed Voldemort, but still the man who killed Muggles and half bloods for fun.
"Is this the same headmaster who sent Harry to live with those Muggles?" Tom asked. Snape nodded.
"There was some ancient magic that protected him." Snape answered.
"Ah, so that was how it was done." Tom said to himself. He sat back and thought about it. Interesting. "Well, Severus, you may have not known it, but Harry's relatives did not care for him at all, and allowed his cousin to beat him physically." Tom told him. "When Harry was first brought to me, he had a concussion, bruises all over his body, hurt ribs and wrist. He was unconscious from the pain. It took him three days to recover with medical potions." Tom told Snape. "I couldn't let him stay there. I had, in fact, offered him a way out earlier than his worst injuries, but he declined because he only remembered Voldemort, and not who I am now. As a matter of fact, he still holds his breath when he sees my wand." Tom told Snape. "But he is starting to trust me and feel safe here, and that is what I wanted." He sighed. "He has been learning quickly and well. He is almost ready for his N.E.W.T.s. I'm surprised that no one noticed how advanced he is for his age. We covered almost a whole year of material in just these few weeks." Tom told Snape. "Though I suppose that this is not convincing you of anything." Snape's face said it all.
"Do you expect me to believe that one of the most evil wizards in history just suddenly had a change in heart towards his most hated enemy?" Snape asked caustically.
"No, what he is expecting you to believe is that he is not Voldemort, but Tom." Matthew said, standing up and coming forward. "Professor Snape, you obviously do not remember me. My name is Matthew Wellen. I am Mr. Riddle's therapist. You have heard of the Muggle affliction split personalities?" Snape appeared to think it over.
"Yes, I have." He answered. Matthew smiled. Good, this was going to make it a lot easier.
"Well, Voldemort was Tom's other personality. Tom is the good personality and was suppressed through some stress when Tom was still young. Voldemort became the dominant personality, and Tom was kept locked away. Last summer, when Voldemort attacked Harry in the graveyard out there, Tom was released and slowly took over. I have been with him the entire time." Matthew sighed and looked over at Snape. "Tom is now firmly established in the mind, and it does not appear that Voldemort will be back without a fight." Tom chuckled.
"I like it here." Tom answered, smiling. Matthew looked over at Tom and shook his head.
"Child." Matthew chided. "That's what you are. I've been living with two kids the last few weeks. A nightmare, let me tell you." Matthew commented to no one in particular. Tom chuckled. Both men jumped up as a scream erupted from upstairs. Matthew took the stairs two at a time and Tom was right behind him. Snape sat where he was for just a second before getting up and following the two men. He entered the bedroom and saw Harry still on his bed, Tom sitting with his back against the headboard, Harry's head leaned back against him. Matthew was in front of him and talking the boy through breathing again. Tom looked up and motioned Snape away from the door. He didn't want Harry seeing the professor.
"It's okay, Harry. Just a nightmare." Snape heard Matthew say to the child. He shook his head and took a seat on the stairs. What should he do? Ten minutes passed and the two men finally came out of the room. "I thought we had a handle on those nightmares." Matthew said quietly.
"So had I." Both men looked to Snape as though the nightmares were his fault. Snape couldn't say that he blamed them. Matthew motioned for Snape to return downstairs.
"What was that?" Snape asked when they had all gotten out of earshot.
"A nightmare. One of his less violent ones." Snape stared at Tom. "It appears that he has had nightmares since his fifth year. Violent ones that were connected to Voldemort. He said that he used to use silencing charms around his bed so no one would hear him." Tom's face grew stony. "Dumbledore must have known about those." He growled.
"The headmaster mentioned something about dreams, but nothing about nightmares." Tom glanced at Matthew.
"The headmaster wouldn't notice if the castle fell down around him if he didn't want to notice." Snape's mouth twitched, but he avoided smiling. He thought about what he had seen. The condition of the house elf that popped up next to him, wondering what everyone would prefer for dinner, convinced him that this was a nice house. She looked happy and no fear existed in her large eyes. The house elf was in good condition, meaning that no one in the house was hurt regularly.
"I understand what you are saying." Snape said, standing up. "Well, I hope to see Harry Potter back at Hogwarts this fall, and if someone should happen to pick him up at the train station at Christmas and his summer break, well, his uncle sent someone and that's all we need to know." Snape started towards the door.
"That's it? We send him to school and he gets to come home for breaks and things?" Snape turned and looked at the two.
"You don't want him back?" Snape asked. Both men jumped to their feet in denial. "Well, then, it appears that Harry Potter has found a permanent residence with one Tom Riddle and his personal physician." Snape told them. "I'll tell Dumbledore that I found no one here but Michael Riddle, his older brother Matthew, and their Uncle Tom. But, Harry must return to Hogwarts to finish out his education. I have a feeling that if the boy knows he can call this home, you won't have too much of an argument to get him on the train."
"I would say that you are right, professor!" Harry said from the stairs. "I can really stay with them?" He asked, moving towards Tom and Matthew, eyeing Snape for any tricks.
"I won't tell you if you don't tell." Snape said. "If what your friends say is true, your Potions grades had better be stellar this term." Harry hugged Matthew and Tom.
"They'll be perfect, as long as you don't take frivolous points from Gryffindor." Harry warned him. Snape glared and stared down the boy. "My grades will be perfect." Harry told him. "Thank you, professor. See you in September." Snape smiled slightly and nodded.
"September, Potter." With those words, Snape left the house and Apparated back to the gates of Hogwarts. Tom looked down at Harry and smiled.
"Are you okay with this arrangement?" He asked. Harry nodded.
"More than okay. I have someone to come home to, who actually wants me. This is perfect." Harry told the two men.
"Nellie! We need a party." Matthew said. As the house elf popped in, Harry and Tom rolled their eyes. Matthew felt everything was a cause for celebration. Harry smiled to himself. He had a home. Not just relatives. A home.
"Severus, was Seamus correct?" Albus asked as Snape returned to his office. Snape shook his head.
"No, Headmaster, I am afraid not. I found no evidence of disguise or potions. It appears that Michael Riddle is in fact Michael Riddle. He has a scar on his forehead very close to Harry's, but not the same shape at all. I'm afraid that Seamus just grew excited." Snape answered. He watched Dumbledore deflate a little, but the bounce came back as Dumbledore walked away. Snape shook his head. The man was incorrigible.
Reviews:
Hello! For everyone who reviewed, thank you! I loved getting them. Now for individual.
HoshiHikari: Thanks for your constant reviews. Just wait and see what happens.
Dumbledore: Thank you. Again, wait and see.
Muggle-in-sirius-denial: Thank you! I love being called creative. Hope you like!
Eriee: Thanks! Glad you understand.
PrphtssP: Thanks. It was written when I couldn't sleep the other night. Took around an hour, I want to say. Just shows what you can do when you can't sleep.
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To everyone else who reviewed: You like me! You really like me! Honestly though, I have gotten so many I wish I could respond to everyone individually, but my professors would never see me in the classroom. Thanks again for your kind words and encouragement. Your reviews keep me going.
Snape Apparated into the little town and looked around. This was where Seamus Finnegan had said he had seen Potter. Snape looked at the alias given and sighed. He adjusted his Muggle suit and moved forward towards some Muggles who were standing in front of a store and talking. "Excuse me." He said, stopping in front of them. "Yeah?" One answered. "I'm a bit lost. I'm looking for the Riddle residence." He told the curious Muggles. "The Riddle Home? Up there, on top of the hill. They keep to themselves, but the boys are nice enough. We don't see the old man much, but he's sane enough." Snape managed not to gape at the Muggle and thanked him, moving towards the house that the Muggle indicated. A postbox was on the gate, bearing the name Riddle. Snape entered the gate and went up the walk. He wondered briefly what he would say if he did not see any evidence of magic on the premises. He couldn't help but feel that he had been here before. He went up to the porch and turned around. How in the world did he know that view? He shrugged it off and knocked on the door.
Harry had glanced out his window, bored with the exercises in his Charms book and nearly fell over in shock. Snape was walking up the path to the house. He grabbed some Playful Pantomimes from the section labeled blue eyes and "s" scar and swallowed them. "Tom! Snape's coming!" he said, feeling the candy work. Tom stuck his head out of his study, surprise clearly etched on his face. "Why would he be here?" He questioned Harry. Harry thought for a few minutes and found his answer.
"Seamus, from the game. He probably contacted Dumbledore about me." Tom grew pale.
"Nice work with the disguise, Harry. Perhaps we can talk him out of his suspicions." Harry nodded and heard a knock at the door. He clambered down the stairs and opened the door before Nellie could, allowing the house elf to tell him exactly what she thought of him and his Muggle ways. Harry chuckled before addressing Snape.
"Mr. Snape?" Severus looked up at the voice and saw Voldemort's nephew staring back at him, a look of shock on his face. "What are you doing here?" The boy asked. Snape was surprised to see this boy. He had thought, perhaps, that Harry Potter would have opened the door, not Michael Riddle.
"Is your uncle at home?" Snape asked, recovering from his surprise.
"Yeah, he's in the lab making a potion." Michael said, motioning Snape into the house. "Come on." Michael led the way down the hall, pulling open the door. "Uncle Tom?" Snape heard some equipment crashing and several swear words. Michael's eyes grew wide and he shut the door. "He's told me not to do that!" He informed Snape.
"Michael, how many times have I told you not to disturb me during a potion."
"if it's not important." The boy finished. "Yeah, I know, but Mr. Snape is here." He said, gesturing towards Snape with one hand. Tom looked up to Snape and smiled.
"Ah, Severus. A surprise to say the least. May I ask why you are here?" Tom said politely, leading him into the sitting room.
"Professor Dumbledore asked me to check on you all." He answered diplomatically. Tom smiled and nodded, accepting a drink from Nellie. Severus took one as well. Snape could see Michael leaning near the doorjamb, listening to their conversation.
"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer, eh, Severus." Snape nodded.
"I'm afraid so. He's also asked me to check up on your nephew and his skills." Tom's face grew dark.
"Why would he want to know of Michael's skills? He's not one of the Hogwarts students." Tom said testily. "He's doing just fine under my tutelage. He's almost ready for his N.E.W.T.s. He is at least two years ahead of other students his age." Tom told Snape proudly. "He's making potions that I didn't master until my seventh year and beyond." Tom noticed Harry's arm against the doorjamb and smiled. "He's also rather good at eavesdropping." He commented. Harry drew back. "Come in, Michael, you little sneak." The boy came in with a sheepish smile and took a seat next to his uncle. The two smiled at each other and turned back to Snape. "His spying technique needs work." Tom commented in a false whisper. Michael played his part and looked indignant at the suggestion that he couldn't even listen in on a conversation without being seen. Snape chuckled at the pair.
"He's just interested in the boy." Snape told him. "Curious, if you would. You know how Dumbledore is." Tom nodded in understanding. "That, and we received a letter from a Hogwarts student about Harry Potter being Michael Riddle." Tom looked up at that. Michael looked perplexed. Snape pulled out his wand. "If I may?" He leveled the wand at the boy. "Revelo!" The spell hit Michael, but nothing happened.
"What did you just do?" Michael said, getting out his own wand and pointing it at Snape.
"Nothing that harmed you. If you had been using a magical disguise, that spell would have dissipated it. It appears that our student was mistaken and you are who your uncle says you are." Michael lowered his wand and eyed his curiously.
"This headmaster person thinks that I am Harry Potter?" he said to Snape. Snape eyed him curiously. He had not said that a headmaster had sent him, he was sure of it.
"Professor Dumbledore had suspicions of you being Harry Potter, but not that appears to not be the case. I am sorry to have disturbed you both." Snape told them. Michael nodded while Tom took up the conversation with Severus about the recent Qudditch game in the news. Harry allowed his mind to drift as he watched Snape idly play with his wand in his hand, allowing it to roll back and forth across him palm. He mouth was not moving, so Harry decided that he could not cast a spell like that. Even with his wandless talent, Harry needed words to make the spells work.
"Yes, even with the disappearance of Potter, Dumbledore is as relentless as ever. He had all of the teachers roaming about England, saying 'Point me, Harry Potter!' several times a day." The wand flipped around and pointed straight at Michael. Snape looked down at it, a bewildered expression on his face. "Odd." He said slowly. He looked up at Michael. "Point me, Harry Potter." The wand continued to point in Michael's direction. "Michael, get up and move. Perhaps Potter is in that direction." When Michael stood up, the wand moved with him, following him towards the door. The child's face became more and more agitated the farther away he moved from the wand and the closer to the door he got. "Potter?" Snape asked. Tom stood up as Harry bolted up the stairs. Severus turned his wand around and threw out a body-binding spell. Tom fell to the ground, fighting against his bonds.
Severus went up the stairs silently, looking for Harry. He found several empty rooms before he found the right door. It was the only one that was locked. He knocked on the door. "Harry?" He said, hearing nothing on the other side. "It's okay. He's in restraints." Severus growled to himself and pointed his wand at the door. "Alohamora!" The door opened to reveal a teenager's bedroom. There were books everywhere, as well as team photos of a Muggle football team, football equipment, and clothes on a chair. It appeared that the house elf hadn't made it this far. "Harry?" He checked the bed, closet and underneath the furniture until he saw the bathroom door. He went over and tried the knob. Locked. "Alohamora!" The door swung open, revealing a hyperventilating Harry Potter still in disguise. "Harry?" he said, coming towards Harry. Harry shrunk back against the wall.
"You can't make me go back!" He said, gasping out his words. Snape looked him over.
"You're confunded!" Snape said, raising his wand.
"No, I'm not." Harry said, sinking to the ground. "I'm not going back." He said without much conviction. He shut his eyes against Snape and tired to slow his breathing.
Snape grew alarmed when Harry continued to hyperventilate. "Potter, what's wrong?" He asked, getting down on one knee. A hand from behind pushed Snape aside and gathered Harry up.
"Leave home one afternoon and have crazy professors scaring the wits out of a little boy." Matthew said, gathering Harry to him and carrying the boy to the bed.
"Not little." Harry commented between gasps.
"Course not, Harry." Matthew told him, brushing Harry's long hair back from his face. "Just like we talked about, deep breaths, focus on my voice and forget everything else. You are safe and we will keep you that way." Matthew continued to drone on to Harry. Snape watched in amazement as the boy's breathing gradually slowed and returned to normal. His paleness did not leave him, and Matthew pulled out a potion. "Pepper-up." Matthew commented, pouring some potion down Harry's throat. Harry eagerly accepted and glared at Snape afterward.
"I'm not going back to Hogwarts." Harry told the professor as Michael fought him into bed. Michael smiled at Harry and pushed hair out of his eyes.
"We know, Harry. You take a few minutes of sleep. We will be downstairs." Snape watched as Michael whispered a word to Harry, causing the boy's eyelids to droop.
"That's not fair." Harry said before dropping into sleep.
"If you would." Matthew said, motioning for Snape to go down the stairs. Snape brought his wand up. "Expelliarmus!" Snape's wand was out of his hand faster than he could react. Matthew motioned Snape down the stairs and followed him down. They re-entered the sitting room where Tom was still trying to free himself. "Most powerful wizard in the world?" Matthew asked with a sly grin. He released Tom and gave him a hand up.
"I taught you everything you know." Tom returned. He brushed himself off and glared at Snape. "How is Harry?" He asked.
"Resting, though he had flipped out a bit." Tom glared at Snape with some of his old personality. Matthew grinned. "Said he's not little and he's not going back to Hogwarts." Tom smiled.
"Still stubborn then." Tom said. Matthew nodded his head. Tom regained his seat and stared at Snape. "Why would you want to come in and ruin his happiness?" Tom asked. No one needed to know exactly whose happiness had been ruined.
"Headmaster Dumbledore has been very concerned for his welfare." Snape said. Tom's eyebrow rose in spite of himself. Snape wondered what this could mean. This was Voldemort, albeit a transformed Voldemort, but still the man who killed Muggles and half bloods for fun.
"Is this the same headmaster who sent Harry to live with those Muggles?" Tom asked. Snape nodded.
"There was some ancient magic that protected him." Snape answered.
"Ah, so that was how it was done." Tom said to himself. He sat back and thought about it. Interesting. "Well, Severus, you may have not known it, but Harry's relatives did not care for him at all, and allowed his cousin to beat him physically." Tom told him. "When Harry was first brought to me, he had a concussion, bruises all over his body, hurt ribs and wrist. He was unconscious from the pain. It took him three days to recover with medical potions." Tom told Snape. "I couldn't let him stay there. I had, in fact, offered him a way out earlier than his worst injuries, but he declined because he only remembered Voldemort, and not who I am now. As a matter of fact, he still holds his breath when he sees my wand." Tom told Snape. "But he is starting to trust me and feel safe here, and that is what I wanted." He sighed. "He has been learning quickly and well. He is almost ready for his N.E.W.T.s. I'm surprised that no one noticed how advanced he is for his age. We covered almost a whole year of material in just these few weeks." Tom told Snape. "Though I suppose that this is not convincing you of anything." Snape's face said it all.
"Do you expect me to believe that one of the most evil wizards in history just suddenly had a change in heart towards his most hated enemy?" Snape asked caustically.
"No, what he is expecting you to believe is that he is not Voldemort, but Tom." Matthew said, standing up and coming forward. "Professor Snape, you obviously do not remember me. My name is Matthew Wellen. I am Mr. Riddle's therapist. You have heard of the Muggle affliction split personalities?" Snape appeared to think it over.
"Yes, I have." He answered. Matthew smiled. Good, this was going to make it a lot easier.
"Well, Voldemort was Tom's other personality. Tom is the good personality and was suppressed through some stress when Tom was still young. Voldemort became the dominant personality, and Tom was kept locked away. Last summer, when Voldemort attacked Harry in the graveyard out there, Tom was released and slowly took over. I have been with him the entire time." Matthew sighed and looked over at Snape. "Tom is now firmly established in the mind, and it does not appear that Voldemort will be back without a fight." Tom chuckled.
"I like it here." Tom answered, smiling. Matthew looked over at Tom and shook his head.
"Child." Matthew chided. "That's what you are. I've been living with two kids the last few weeks. A nightmare, let me tell you." Matthew commented to no one in particular. Tom chuckled. Both men jumped up as a scream erupted from upstairs. Matthew took the stairs two at a time and Tom was right behind him. Snape sat where he was for just a second before getting up and following the two men. He entered the bedroom and saw Harry still on his bed, Tom sitting with his back against the headboard, Harry's head leaned back against him. Matthew was in front of him and talking the boy through breathing again. Tom looked up and motioned Snape away from the door. He didn't want Harry seeing the professor.
"It's okay, Harry. Just a nightmare." Snape heard Matthew say to the child. He shook his head and took a seat on the stairs. What should he do? Ten minutes passed and the two men finally came out of the room. "I thought we had a handle on those nightmares." Matthew said quietly.
"So had I." Both men looked to Snape as though the nightmares were his fault. Snape couldn't say that he blamed them. Matthew motioned for Snape to return downstairs.
"What was that?" Snape asked when they had all gotten out of earshot.
"A nightmare. One of his less violent ones." Snape stared at Tom. "It appears that he has had nightmares since his fifth year. Violent ones that were connected to Voldemort. He said that he used to use silencing charms around his bed so no one would hear him." Tom's face grew stony. "Dumbledore must have known about those." He growled.
"The headmaster mentioned something about dreams, but nothing about nightmares." Tom glanced at Matthew.
"The headmaster wouldn't notice if the castle fell down around him if he didn't want to notice." Snape's mouth twitched, but he avoided smiling. He thought about what he had seen. The condition of the house elf that popped up next to him, wondering what everyone would prefer for dinner, convinced him that this was a nice house. She looked happy and no fear existed in her large eyes. The house elf was in good condition, meaning that no one in the house was hurt regularly.
"I understand what you are saying." Snape said, standing up. "Well, I hope to see Harry Potter back at Hogwarts this fall, and if someone should happen to pick him up at the train station at Christmas and his summer break, well, his uncle sent someone and that's all we need to know." Snape started towards the door.
"That's it? We send him to school and he gets to come home for breaks and things?" Snape turned and looked at the two.
"You don't want him back?" Snape asked. Both men jumped to their feet in denial. "Well, then, it appears that Harry Potter has found a permanent residence with one Tom Riddle and his personal physician." Snape told them. "I'll tell Dumbledore that I found no one here but Michael Riddle, his older brother Matthew, and their Uncle Tom. But, Harry must return to Hogwarts to finish out his education. I have a feeling that if the boy knows he can call this home, you won't have too much of an argument to get him on the train."
"I would say that you are right, professor!" Harry said from the stairs. "I can really stay with them?" He asked, moving towards Tom and Matthew, eyeing Snape for any tricks.
"I won't tell you if you don't tell." Snape said. "If what your friends say is true, your Potions grades had better be stellar this term." Harry hugged Matthew and Tom.
"They'll be perfect, as long as you don't take frivolous points from Gryffindor." Harry warned him. Snape glared and stared down the boy. "My grades will be perfect." Harry told him. "Thank you, professor. See you in September." Snape smiled slightly and nodded.
"September, Potter." With those words, Snape left the house and Apparated back to the gates of Hogwarts. Tom looked down at Harry and smiled.
"Are you okay with this arrangement?" He asked. Harry nodded.
"More than okay. I have someone to come home to, who actually wants me. This is perfect." Harry told the two men.
"Nellie! We need a party." Matthew said. As the house elf popped in, Harry and Tom rolled their eyes. Matthew felt everything was a cause for celebration. Harry smiled to himself. He had a home. Not just relatives. A home.
"Severus, was Seamus correct?" Albus asked as Snape returned to his office. Snape shook his head.
"No, Headmaster, I am afraid not. I found no evidence of disguise or potions. It appears that Michael Riddle is in fact Michael Riddle. He has a scar on his forehead very close to Harry's, but not the same shape at all. I'm afraid that Seamus just grew excited." Snape answered. He watched Dumbledore deflate a little, but the bounce came back as Dumbledore walked away. Snape shook his head. The man was incorrigible.
Reviews:
Hello! For everyone who reviewed, thank you! I loved getting them. Now for individual.
HoshiHikari: Thanks for your constant reviews. Just wait and see what happens.
Dumbledore: Thank you. Again, wait and see.
Muggle-in-sirius-denial: Thank you! I love being called creative. Hope you like!
Eriee: Thanks! Glad you understand.
PrphtssP: Thanks. It was written when I couldn't sleep the other night. Took around an hour, I want to say. Just shows what you can do when you can't sleep.
Hermionegreen: Loved hearing from you, as always. Don't worry, things are going to get better, but no hints here!
Xikum: Thank you thank you thank you! You made my day! Wait and see.
Death-TheOnlyTrueFreedom: First of all, nice name. Also, thank you so much! I love being called original. And the fact that you used the word genius.well.*breaks down in tears of joy*. Thank you!
To everyone else who reviewed: You like me! You really like me! Honestly though, I have gotten so many I wish I could respond to everyone individually, but my professors would never see me in the classroom. Thanks again for your kind words and encouragement. Your reviews keep me going.