Chapter 5
By Corgi
Severus regretted the moment he spilled his old lover's name. He braced himself for the look of disgust that Potter was bound to have. He could remember the look James had on his face when he found out about his little crush on him. He wasn't looking forward to seeing it again on the brats face. He steeled himself and looked pointedly at the younger wizard and was surprised. The boy didn't show any of the scorn Severus expected. There was a calm acceptance of the statement and no negative comments were directed his way. That truly did surprise him and slowly Albus' litany of 'Harry isn't James' started to sink in. His father wouldn't have let the opportunity pass, though the man would have preferred a more public arena for ridicule.
Severus saw a myriad of emotions swirling in the boy's eyes, most of which he couldn't identify. The few he could consisted of jealousy, want, need, and resignation. He didn't have a clue as to why Potter felt jealous; the brat had anything he could ever want handed to him. His fame alone could get him any witch or wizard he desired. He'd never suffer a night without a partner warming his bed. Yes, Potter had no reason to be jealous. Why the other emotions were present, Severus had no idea nor did he care. He downed his fire whiskey in one gulp and looked at the boy wonder again. Well not a boy any longer, on the outside that is.
"So, Potter, where's the look of disgust? The rude remarks?" Severus hissed as Potter poured another shot of whiskey for him.
"What look and what remarks, Professor?" Potter asked with a completely straight face after placing the bottle on the table between them.
"You've just found out your most hated teacher is gay and you're not going to say anything?" Severus snarled in exasperation and downed his drink in one gulp again, only to have it refilled by Potter.
"The pot shouldn't call the kettle black, sir, unless being gay is frowned upon in the Wizarding world?" Potter paled slightly as the thought spilt out.
"No, we're more tolerant of the alternate lifestyles than the Muggles are." He replied quietly. After a moment's thought he asked, "So you're no going to comment on how anyone would stoop so low as to touch me?"
"Why are you acting this way? It sounds like you want me to act nasty."
"I've come to expect it, especially from your father."
"I AM NOT MY FATHER!" Potter shouted, looking Severus straight in the eye as he did so. "Why would I disparage someone who got to see who you really are? The wistfulness of the tone surprised Severus, but he attributed it to the alcohol.
They sat there in silence, watching the fire flicker and drinking the whiskey. Every time Severus finished his drink, Potter refilled it immediately. By the time they finished the bottle, Severus didn't have a clue as to how much the brat had drunk and knew he had much too much, but still he was now sporting a pleasant buzz. 'Good thing the brat didn't know of my inability to keep my mouth shut when inebriated,' he thought. He hoped that his luck will hold out and that the pest would be to drunk to speak. Severus knew he was in trouble the moment Potter opened his mouth.
"Tell me about, Stephen. Where did you meet him?"
Severus mentally cursed the fact that his mouth automatically spilled the information without any control or input from his intellect. At least the brat didn't ask about any order business.
"I met him here when I was in Hogwarts. He was two years ahead of me. When I was in my fifth year, not long after your godfather's infamous prank, I was forced to tutor him in potions by my Head of House. Up to then I didn't know who he was nor even spoken a word to him. Then again, no body bothered with me in my house unless they needed a potion." Severus paused to sip at his whiskey and to access the next memory.
"He wasn't at all happy being tutored by a fifth year. He made it very difficult for me during the first few weeks. He eventually stopped giving me a hard time. I guess I started to intrigue him after a while. By spring he talked to me as if I were a person, not a minion to be ordered about." Severus sighed at the memory, finished his drink and prevented Potter from refilling the glass. He vaguely wondered when Potter had gotten the new bottle.
"What happened after Stephen left school?" Potter asked, ignoring the glare Severus leveled at him.
"He began owling me ever other day that summer. I answered back; it was rather nice having someone that wanted to talk to me. It took my mind off my other troubles. When I returned to school, Stephen would be waiting for me at the school gates on Hogsmeade weekends. With one kiss he made me fall in love with him. When my father found out he was pleased. For the first time in my life I did something that gained my fathers approval. Stephen was from a prominent and rich pure-blooded family. They didn't stray from the light through the centuries, while the other Slytherin families slowly made the descent into the Dark Arts. Stephen took the mark not long after he graduated and was disowned the next summer, but that didn't matter to me, though it did to my father. I received the worst beating ever from my father when I refused to break off my relationship with Stephen." Severus paused to collect his thoughts, watching Potters eyes as he did so, for some clue to what the boy was thinking.
"I crawled, literally, broken and bleeding to Stephen, who healed me and gave me shelter. It was through him that I learned of the benefits of serving the Dark Lord and what the bastard's goals were. I followed Stephen straight to the Dark Lord." Severus paused once again to gather his thoughts and to attempt to control what he told the brat. "To make a long story short, Potter, I began to see the horrors and the madness that being in the Dark Lord's service brought and came crawling to Dumbledore in order to make the pain end. Instead of sending me to Azkaban he gave me a second chance. I became a spy and reported the Dark Lord's plans to Dumbledore. I wanted to bring Stephen along, to try and convince him to spy, but I couldn't bring myself to trust him. Especially after one of the raids we were sent on. His mask was ripped off during a struggle and I saw his face. He was enjoying every moment, every ounce of pain given and every scream. He liked to torture people. I was afraid to trust him after that day. If he enjoyed doing that to complete strangers, what would he do to me? It was at that moment that I believed he didn't love me as much as he did torture. I left him to his fate and concentrated on keeping myself alive. Two years after you and your mother took out the Dark Lord he was given the Dementor's Kiss." Severus finished his tale and stared into the fire.
Potter sat silently nursing the drink in his hand. Severus glanced at him as his silence continued and he noticed the young man's eyes were focused on nothing, his thoughts turned inward. Tired of being the only one who spoke, Severus broke the silence by asking the brat some questions of his own.
"So, Potter, if you were in my situation, what would you have done?" He asked with a sneer. His thoughts were still a little muddled and his control was falling even more to the alcohol in his system.
"I don't think I'd be able to make a different choice, Professor." Potter answered in a quiet voice, his thoughts still turned inward.
Severus made a soft noise of disbelief, which drew Potter out of the few thoughts he possessed. The boy turned those startlingly green eyes in his direction, a questioning look in them and Severus could still see a hint of the jealousy in the depths of those eyes. He still couldn't figure out why the boy was in that state.
"Why so jealous, boy?" Severus sneered, while a part of him wondered why the boy flinched.
"I have loads of reasons to be jealous, Professor." Potter said with no inflection at all in his voice.
"What would you be jealous of, Potter? You've gotten everything handed to you on a platter. You can have any wizard you want without batting an eye. Every you want is handed to you."
"Shows how observant you are, Professor. I'm jealous of Ron for having parents, brothers and a sister. It's the same with Hermione. She's got her parents and she can absorb everything with barely an effort while I have to struggle to learn some things. She's got people in her family that encourages her to succeed and I guess you can say I'm basically jealous of the majority of the wizarding world." Potter replied in a bitter tone. "No one can bring my parents and godfather back, so your assumption that I get what ever I want handed to me is incorrect. That's what I want most in the world and no one can bring them back." Potter paused a moment before continuing. "I wouldn't want to date any of those people who throw themselves at me. They want my fame, not me. I don't think there's anyone out there that wants me, not the person they think I am, not even the person I've got feelings for." Potter concluded still with a bitter voice. "Not that I'd ever be good enough for him anyway."
"I doubt that, Potter."
"I'll prove it then." The brat countered and before Severus could react the nuisance skipped up to him, grasped his head and kissed him.
Severus stiffened in shocked surprise and then his alcohol fogged brain took control and responded to the kiss. His eyes closed involuntarily as Potter nibbled on his lower lip begging for them to part. The brat's kiss was clumsy and showed his inexperience. Severus took control of the kiss with a huff of annoyance. Potter willingly submitted to his domination and opened his mouth to allow Severus entrance without any prompting. Potter tasted like the fire whiskey and as he mapped the willing mouth completely he forgot who he was kissing. Severus' world narrowed to him and the pleasant lips he was kissing. He had his left hand on the other's shoulder and his right ran down the firm chest of the man in front of him.
They remained that way for several moments longer until Severus moved his left hand from his partner's shoulder upwards. His hand brushed against the ear piece of a pair of glasses, which he wasn't expecting, his eyes popped open in surprise. He noticed who he was locking lips with and his mind processed 'James' causing him to shove the person way. He fled towards his bedroom, staggered would be the truer term, and barely registered hearing the person in the living room stumble into the coffee table and the sound of something snapping. Whether it was bone or wood he couldn't tell as he closed the door behind him.
Severus threw himself onto his bed as the room spun around and let the oblivion caused by the liquor take hold. He didn't know what to think nor did he wish to until morning. As darkness claimed him he gave no further thought to the person in the other room. For a change his sleep wasn't interrupted by nightmares of his service to the Dark Lord or his childhood. Despite the hangover induced headache he was surprisingly refreshed when he awoke the next morning. Dimly he heard voices in the other room and was confused and a little alarmed. Severus fumbled in his nightstand for a vial of hangover relief while his other hand searched under his pillow for his wand. He found the potion first and quickly swallowed the dose. Seconds later his headache was gone and his senses were clear. He noticed that his wand was still holstered on his arm, since he fell into his bed fully clothed.
He turned his attention to the voices in the other room and identified one of them as Dumbledore's. As he moved to the door he decided that there two others with Albus. The closer he got to his door the more distinct the other voices became and he was able to determine that one of the two unknowns was a house-elf.
When Severus cautiously opened the poor and peered out he saw a curious scene and exited his bedroom quietly. The third person was Potter and he sat hunched in a corner on the floor cradling his left arm. The house-elf was upset and fussing over Potter's injury while Albus scanned the damaged limb. Severus could see the results from where he stood and he winced when the memories from the night before presented themselves to his now clear mind. He was shocked when he remembered Potter's actions the night before. The brat actually wanted him? Nothing in recent years has surprised him more than that revelation. As he listened to Albus murmuring the charm to heal Potter's broken arm, Severus sorted through his responses to the kiss they shared. He'd have to admit, to himself at least, that he truly enjoyed the kiss, but he knew at the end he mistook the younger Potter for the older hence his knee-jerk reaction. He didn't think that the younger wizard would be too thrilled to know that little fact.
While he was analyzing his thoughts and reactions, the house-elf was fussing over Potter noticed his presence and if looks could kill, Severus would be six feet under several times over. It was while he was glaring back at the elf that he noticed the clothes and realized that this creature could do him some serious hard if it wanted to.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir, Professor Snape's awake." The house-elf told the elderly wizard.
"Thank you, Dobby. Would you bring up some breakfast for Harry and Severus?"
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore, Dobby will get." With a last glare at Severus the house-elf disappeared to do the headmaster's bidding.
Potter didn't say anything after thanking the headmaster. Instead he leaned back into the corner he was propped up in and turned his face back into the wall. Before he hid his face Severus could see the bags under his eyes, indicating that he didn't sleep at all last night and that the younger wizard was fighting to hold back the tears shimmering in his eyes. They, more than anything, gouged Severus' conscience. The boy never batted an eye lash when Severus insulted him, smashed his potions and did various other injustices to him over the years. To find a weakness and rip it wide open, to do that to someone, who he was forced to live with, who he expected to save them all, was inexcusable and Severus knew Albus will have him on the floor later for his actions, though they were unintentional.
Severus looked on while Albus murmured something to Harry before turning to face Severus. When he saw what Albus held in his hand, his blood drained from his faced. The broken pieces of Potter's wand were clutched in the older wizard's hand. Severus could see the broken shaft of the phoenix feather core and knew that it couldn't be repaired. The loss of one's wand was traumatic since the user put quite a bit of themselves into their wands once they first start to use it.
"Severus, Harry had an accident last night. He says he tripped over your table last night and broke his arm and wand. I'm going to return to my office and contact Ollivander and see if he can bring some of his stock here. We need to find Harry a temporary wand until he can craft another for him." Severus could tell by the look in Albus' eyes that he knew there was more to the story than Harry was telling.
He knew the old man would try and pry his version of last night's events out of him. A look over Albus' shoulder showed Potter still in the corner, but this time he had his arms wrapped around his knees and had turned to face the wall completely. Severus thought briefly and decided to answer Albus' unspoken question rather than let him weasel it out of him at a later date.
"Potter and I were talking after the brat managed to get me drunk." Severus gave a suspicious glance. He couldn't help wondering if the old man gave Potter that little bit of advice.
"I've not told a soul anything about your tendencies when drunk, Severus." Albus responded to his look. "What did the two of you talk about?"
"Stephen." Albus' eyes softened before encouraging Severus to continue with a look. "The brat insisted that I wanted to talk about him, hence the reason he fed most of a bottle of fire whiskey to me. At one point I got lost in my memories and forgot who I was with. When I became startle I shoved him not realizing who he was and passed out in my room. I didn't wake until I heard you lot storming about in here." Albus gave him a look that stated the old man knew he left something out, but there was no chance in hell that he was going to tell him that the two were kissing on his couch.
"Ah… Thank you, Severus. That fills in the gaps in Harry's narrative." There was a hint of rebuke in Albus' eyes, but Severus ignored it as he watched the older wizard turn and head back to his office via the floo.
Once Albus left, Severus let loose a sigh of relief. He didn't need another of Albus' 'be kind to Potter' speeches. Now if he could figure out why Potter would want anything to do with him he'd be on an even keel for the first time since this mess started. Potter's infatuation was something he couldn't understand. After all Severus took out all the anger at James and his friends out on Harry for the whole time the boy's been at Hogwarts. He slowly approached Harry's immobile form. The boy didn't acknowledge his presence though Severus could tell by the way he stiffened that Potter knew that he was near.
"Potter." Severus spoke in a mild tone, but didn't get a response from the boy. Opting to drop the formality for the chance at a response, he spoke again. "Harry."
"Why would you want to talk to a freak, Professor?" Harry replied in a strained voice.
"You are not a freak. Why would you think that?" Severus couldn't help but be concerned at the way the young man was referring to himself. He wondered who had been calling him that, because he was sure someone else was.
"You certainly did last night. You couldn't get away from me fast enough." Harry's voice had a slight hitch to it. "I told you no one wants anything to do with me."
Severus shook his head in disbelief and he knew there was more to this "freak" thing then Harry was letting on. He couldn't believe the lack of self-esteem the younger wizard had. He was beginning to see the similarities between them and slowly the beliefs Severus had about the young man before him crumbled. Once that fact established itself in his mind his subconscious joined in and emphasized the need to call the younger man Harry instead of Potter. He reached out and gently cupped the younger man's chin, lifting his head up so he could get him to look up at him.
"Harry, I was drunk, thanks to you, and I didn't remember where I was and who I was with. I opened my eyes and thought you were James." Severus internally cringed when he thought about the younger man's possible reaction.
That comment made Harry turn and face Severus. Harry's confusion was evident in his eyes as he stared at Severus. Obviously he was going to ask the question Severus would dread having to answer. He wasn't disappointed with the young man's predictability.
"Why would you have thought it was my father?" Harry looked at him in curiosity.
"Well, I really hate to admit this to anyone," Severus stated before revealing what he promised no other living being would ever learn. "Once upon a time I foolishly had a crush on James. Needless to say I found out the hard way that they had the less than tolerant attitude against those who didn't follow the norm. I made sure he never learned about it so he and his friends never had any additional ammunition to use against me."
"And he would have attacked harder than before because he was straight?"
"As an arrow, though your godfather left some doubts in my mind."
"Sirius definitely played a very wide field." Harry replied with a small smile that vanished as quickly as it arrived. "I still don't understand how you could have mistaken me for my father."
"It's hard for me to picture you doing what you did. The reality of what happened to us still hasn't sunk in yet and, as you already know, I'm too willing to believe you're your father."
"I see…" Harry's voice had a defeated quality to it. "As I said, no one wants anything to do with me." The green-eyed man began to turn into the wall again before Severus stopped him and prevented him from completing the action.
Severus took a good hard look at Harry. If the boy didn't wear those thick round glasses he wouldn't resemble his father as much as he did. Now that he was truly looking at the young man without the prejudices of the past he can see more and more of his mother in his features, other than those green eyes. He wondered how much of his outer behavior was truly him and how much was him playing a role, because people expected him to act in a manner like his father's. Most of all he noticed how attractive Harry was now that the potion was finished aging him, even more now that the stronger images of James were softened with his acknowledgement of Lily's features on the younger man. A quick shuffled through his memories revealed evidence of some of Lily-like behavior and ideals, which Severus willfully ignored, than those of his arrogant father. As he continued his examination of both Harry and his memories he came to the conclusion that Harry was definitely someone he wanted to know better and perhaps allow a permanent place in his heart. All he had to do now was convince the younger man that his views concerning him had changed.
"Harry, I didn't reject you. I only spurned your father. I don't know you, I've never bothered to and I usually don't bother with any of the students other than my Slytherins and those few outside my house that have the talent to master potions." Severus looked Harry straight in the eyes before continuing. "Will you give me the chance to know you?" Harry's expression brightened and he nodded in agreement. "Now all I have to figure out is why you want me of all people."
"Did you know I witnessed that night you blew your cover in order to save Millicent, Blaze and those other Slytherins who didn't want to be marked like their parents?"
"No I didn't. I'm rather embarrassed that you've seen me at my worst."
"I actually thought you were at your best that night. You ploughed through a huge swath of Death Eaters before they caught you. You made the bloody bastard work for any sound he drove out of you. I figured out then that you've got everything I've every wanted in a partner. When I saw you being tortured I realized that my feelings went very deep and was paralyzed thinking I lost you before I could mend anything between us." Severus gave Harry a snort of disbelief. "It's true whether you believe it or not." Harry smiled at the dumbfounded man kneeling before him. "You've got a nice blend of all four houses in you. I've seen you demonstrate the primary trait of all of them though the Slytherin ones dominate." Harry gave a small laugh that Severus couldn't help but smile at. He supposed the shocked and utterly dismayed look on his face elicited the burst of humour.
Not one to let someone else get the upper hand, Severus cut off any possible additional comments by capturing Harry's lips before he could add anything else. The spark that formed at the contact of his lips to the green-eyed wizard's surprised him and he couldn't recall it happening last night; then again he was probably drunker than he thought. He could still taste the fire whiskey as he slowly mapped Harry's mouth and this time he was conscious of his actions. He pulled away long before oxygen could become and issue. Harry's eyes were brighter than they were a few moments earlier. Severus snorted in amusement when Harry jumped in surprise when the tell tale sound of a house-elf's arrival echoed in the room. Severus ignored the heated look the little creature was giving him and kept his eyes firmly on Harry's face. He found the younger wizard's flush of embarrassment endearing and decided hurriedly to cut off that train of thought before the angry house-elf acted on its feelings.
"Come, Harry, let's eat our breakfast before that deranged house-elf does something damaging to my person." Severus suggested with a small smile as he held his hand out to help Harry to his feet.
The two ate breakfast in silence under the watchful gaze of the oddly dressed house-elf, who on occasion shook its finger at Severus in warning. Severus couldn't help feeling like a four year old being scolded by Wishy, the elderly house-elf in charge of the nursery at Snape Manor. He'd never thought he would encounter another being, besides Albus and Wishy that made him feel like an unruly child. Once they finished eating the house-elf whisked the plates away and after another angry look at Severus and a few whispered words to Harry took itself back to the kitchens, leaving Harry and he alone. Severus gathered himself to begin another potentially painful, to Harry, conversation only to be interrupted before he could begin by Albus stepping out of the fireplace. Albus barely took a step into the sitting room before the form of Ollivander stepped out carrying several cases that may actually contain the shrunken entirety of his shop.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter, Professor Snape." Ollivander greeted the two men and promptly began removing and resizing the contents of the cases he brought.
"Harry, my boy, come here and have a seat. I'm sure it'll take a few tries before Mr. Ollivander finds a wand that accepts you." Albus gestured at a chair in the sitting room and Severus wondered why the old man's eyes were twinkling madly.
Severus moved into the shadows by the fireplace and watched as Harry gingerly took a seat with his facial features ridged. Severus figured the younger man was worried about not finding a wand and Severus was totally prepared to commiserate with the younger man. After all he knew Harry's fears first hand since he went though this procedure after the Dark Lord snapped his wand in punishment for some imagined failure. Ollivander wasted no time and started handing Harry wands the moment he sat and was quickly snatching them back. Slowly the pile of discarded wands grew and after an hour and a half Ollivander went through almost all of his wands. Harry's distress increased as he too noted the dwindling pile of wands he hadn't tried. Much to Severus' surprise and Harry's dismay they finished the pile and still hadn't found one that accepted Harry. Ollivander was equally perturbed about his failure to find a match for Harry and turned to Albus as if seeking a explanation.
"Albus, short of making more wands I cannot do anymore. Do you have his parent's wands somewhere? He should be compatible with one of them."
"Yes I have Lily's and James' wands, as well as a number of my own family's wands and those of a few students that have passed on. I'll bring them down for Harry to try while you're packing up." Albus exited through the fireplace in search of the promised wands.
Severus longed to go to Harry and comfort him as he watched the messy-haired wizard get up and pace in front of the fire. He wouldn't do anything to break the façade he painstakingly developed over the years. He'd rather keep anything developing between Harry and himself between them. Albus returned before Harry could work himself into a frenzy and before Severus pulled out his wand to stun Ollivander so he could comfort the young man that snuck through his defenses. Slowly Albus began opening the ornate boxes housing the dozens of wands given to him from family and treasured students. Severus could see Harry getting more and more depressed as each wand rejected him. Finally Albus arrived at the wands he was holding for Harry and both he and Severus were dismayed to find that both Lily's and James' wands rejected the son of their owners. Hating seeing Harry so upset Severus walked to the other side of the room and moved the portrait on the wall revealing a wizard wall safe. Quietly he muttered the password and placed his hand within the glowing space the password activated. The safe door swung open and he began to unload his spare wands and those of various family members he never met.
Carefully he brought the collection out of his safe and hesitated before bringing out the last box that was set apart from the rest. As he turned back towards Harry's seat he noticed Minerva had arrived with more wands, which Harry was trying and becoming more depressed as each one didn't respond. Once Minerva's collection was exhausted Severus took her place and handed Harry the first wand on his pile. He winced each time a wand rejected Harry, sometimes violently. Eventually all but one of Severus' wands were tried and put aside. He hesitated a moment before opening the last box. He didn't want to part with this wand, but it was doing nothing except gathering dust in his safe so he lifted it out and handed it to Harry. The younger wizard took it after staring at it a moment and the minute his hand touched the birch wood wand gold, silver, red and green sparks flew out of the tip. At the sight of those sparks everyone in the room let out a sigh of relief.
"Professor Snape, I do not recall selling you that wand and considering that everyone in your family has had a mahogany wand I know that it isn't yours." Ollivander stated in a bland voice while Severus gave the old wand maker a 'mind your own business' glare.
"If you must pry, it was Stephen Llywellyn's. It was given to me because I was the only one who would accept it before he was given the kiss." Severus replied in a barely audible voice.
He looked up at Harry and saw several emotions flash across his face. There were a couple he couldn't identify along with awe and understanding. Obviously the boy was listening to his drunken babble enough to understand he reluctance to part with the wand and Severus could see the silent promise to take care of the wand. As he watched the younger man he saw his eyes flicker away and a moment later exasperation and a touch of dread crossed his features. Severus followed his glance and saw the Headmaster watching them with that infernal twinkle burning brightly. He could understand Harry's feeling of dread. That twinkle didn't bode well for whom ever it was aimed at. Severus suppressed the urge to throttle the man and fervently wished that he and Ollivander would vacate his quarters.
In an effort to control his temper he looked back at Harry and the pile of wands that the younger man was placing the wands back into. Harry didn't release Stephens's wand the entire time, as if he was afraid it would be taken away or lost, and Severus drew his own in order to levitate the wands back to the safe. The moment his wand was firmly in his hand a steam of dark coloured magic leapt from his wand to the one Harry now called his and the younger man jumped in shock. Harry didn't look like he was able to release the wand after the midnight blue stream connected. Severus was equally unprepared for the answering spark of gold that leapt back across the distance separating them. The room was silent as the four men looked at the wands in shock.
"What just happened?" Harry asked in a shaky voice and Severus turned to the elderly men as he waited for the answer to the other's question.
"Well?" Severus snapped while rubbing his arm when the other two didn't answer promptly. The magic that leapt into his wand left his arm slightly numb.
"I don't know." Albus replied looking to his long time acquaintance for his imput.
"I'm not sure. Since I didn't make Mr. Llywellyn's wand I do not know where the source of the core came from. I won't be able to answer until I look at the records my father and uncle left, which I'll do the moment I return to my shop." Severus watched the old man with distrust. He had the nagging suspicion the man knew exactly what happened.
"I'll escort you back to my office then. Please let us know what you find." Albus told the other man as he turned to the fireplace.
"Good day, Mr. Potter, Professor Snape. I'll be in contact soon. After you, Professor Dumbledore." The old wand maker gestured at the fireplace and a few moments after the Headmaster left he followed.
Severus stood and put the boxes away as like he intended before another mystery intervened in his life. Once his safe was securely locked and hidden he turned his attention to Harry. The younger man had relocated to the sofa and was examining his new acquisition with care. Severus decided that now would be a good time to start learning who Harry was. He moved to the sofa and sat next to the green-eyed man. Harry smiled when he looked up and Severus' heart skipped a beat. He began to think that letting this man into his life wouldn't be as bad as he thought.
"Thank you for this." Harry said while holding the wand up. "I promise that I'll take good care of it and I'll return it once Ollivander makes a new one for me."
"Keep it. It was doing nothing but gathering dust. I couldn't use it at all." Severus replied with a wave of his hand. "I think now would be a good time to get to know each other better, especially before that deranged house-elf returns to glare holes in me. Since you got me to spill some choice bits of my life you can do the talking this time."
"I wouldn't know where to start." Harry replied in a quiet voice.
"Try at the beginning. What is the first thing you remember about living with your relatives?"
"Are you sure you want to hear about the Dursleys?"
"Yes. They did shape who you are for better or worse."
"If you insist." Harry closed his eyes to gather his thoughts and Severus braced himself for some distasteful information since his instincts were telling him he was going to hear something unpleasant. Harry opened his eyes and stared into the fire as he began speaking. "The first thing I remember was…"