~Chapter 12~ Say what now? – Feb 14 to Dec 1993~

Harry stared in horror at the monstrosity that the Great Hall has become before taking one step back, turning around, and then fleeing to the Chamber of Secrets. He really didn't want to relive the Valentines fiasco that happened during his original second year, and although he didn't blame this Ginny for the misdeeds of her counterpart… he still avoided her like the plague.

He wasn't surprised when a snake Patronus sought him out hours later, but he was surprised that it carried Severus' voice and not Salazar's. "I guess the study about one's Patronus changing when you meet your soulmate just got proven…" He sat up to hear what his godfather had to say, but it seems the man had merely used it to track him down as the Patronus hovered for a moment after greeting him before disappearing and a few seconds later, Severus entered the study.

Harry was surprised when he didn't see Salazar, but the man merely pointed to a runed leather band around his wrist. The band held a metal snake that seemed to be dormant and Harry was sure that it was charmed to speak the phrase that opened the Chamber of Secrets. "Salazar decided that I needed a safe place that I could escape to if something happened, so he gave me this."

The man lowered his sleeve before sinking down into the couch next to Harry, resting his head back, and closing his eyes. "I take it that you're hiding here because of some strange type of PTSD connected to this particular day…?"

Harry gave a snort of laughter, "You could say that…"

Severus opened his eyes and turned his head towards him, "Does it have anything to do with a certain redhead that has been prowling around the castle and dragging a dwarf around behind her?"

Harry winced before suppressing a full-body shudder, "It might."

Severus grinned slightly, "Are you going to tell me what happened, or do I have to confiscate the letter she is carrying."

Harry grimaced, "And maybe give some of the other students a chance to see the letter in the process? Hell no…the letter contains a very, very, very badly written poem comparing my eyes to a pickled-toad and my hair to a blackboard before it indirectly asks me to be her boyfriend because I conquered the Dark Lord."

Silence filled the study and the poem almost made up for the embarrassment it caused him as he caught his godfather trying to keep in his laughter before failing miserably and Harry decided that, even if he did nothing else, he would at least make sure that his godfather had more opportunities to just relax and enjoy himself.

The man was already happier, and Harry could see that Salazar used everything he could to make up for Severus' hellish past.

The man finally calmed down, and the smile lingered on his face before disappearing. "I guess I can see why you'd rather skip the day, but I doubt that she would stop unless you outright tell her to, and I have noticed that she'd been called into Dumbledore's office a few times so I doubt it was originally her idea…given her age and how shy she usually is."

Severus reached into his pocket before taking out a leather band, quite similar yet different to his own. "Salazar and I made this. I know your rings protect you but we don't exactly know the extent of the protections. This band will protect against most minor spells and hexes, just like your rings, but it will also heat up if it detects a questionable substance in your vicinity."

Harry carefully allowed the man to fasten the band around his wrist, "You think that she might use love potions?"

Severus gave him a pointed look, "We both know that Dumbledore would do anything to further his schemes and I would rather be overthinking things than having to drag you away as you are making kissy-faces at someone that closely resembled your mother."

Harry looked at the man in horror, "I guess I never really thought of it like that before…ewww."

Severus released another chuckle before he stood, "You might also want to know that your friends took down your homework for you. I told the other teachers that you weren't feeling well and they asked me to tell you to get well soon. You have a few more hours before curfew though so I suggest either finding a way to get to your room undetected…or waiting until just before curfew."

Harry laughed, "I never imagined you helping a student to break the rules…even if I am your godson."

Severus smirked, "You might be a student and my godson, but I also know that you can currently work through your classes in your sleep. Besides, I'd be hiding as well if I were in your shoes."

With that, the man turned to walk away, but he paused with a frown and turned around once more. "I spoke to Lucius earlier today. He found out that you were appointed as my godson and he had an interesting bit of information to tell me. The Dark Lord apparently asked him to look out for you… to make sure that you were cared for."

Harry frowned and rose from the couch, "But if he knows then Voldemort might also know that I am your godson. Won't he punish you for not handing me over?"

Severus seemed to freeze for a moment, "If he were still insane he would have taken my life without a second thought, now though, well, I believe we will have to wait and see. A meeting has been called for tonight and Salazar has warned me that, as a Shadow Lord, the Dark Lord obtained a few abilities that came with the title. One such ability is a heightened sense of smell…"

Harry's eyes widened as his mind caught up to what Severus was trying to say, "Damn it! The items I sent him… probably have my scent all over them!" He froze then looked towards Severus and stepped closer to the man and lightly grabbed onto his sleeve, "It also means that you have my scent all over you as well with the amount of time we spend together and he might even realize that Ghost is someone at this school."

Severus nodded but he shook his head when Harry took out his wand. "Salazar said that a normal spell wouldn't work, even with the Elder Wand. Death magic might help, but it would carry the signature of Death and that would make him even more suspicious, so I made a potion from one of his old potion diaries. He said that it would mask any scents found on a person without removing it completely, and hopefully, hide your particular scent in the process."

Harry nodded before hesitating, "Severus…if he questions you about me…I permit you to mention my past. Not in detail, mind you, but enough to explain why you stayed silent. He of all people should understand…"

Severus gave a grim nod before lightly squeezing Harry's shoulder and exiting the study, leaving Harry alone with his heavy thoughts.

~~~…Voldemort…~~~

He watched as his inner circle took their places around the room. They all looked quite nervous, despite his more human appearance, but that was to be expected due to the rapid fall in their numbers. He almost didn't want to believe how many moles Dumbledore had planted, but the heaps of evidence said otherwise.

He walked between them, unconsciously trying to capture a whisper of a specific scent that now permanently haunted him, but received nothing. Even Severus, whom he'd recently learned was the Potter boy's godfather, didn't carry traces of the familiar scent, and Voldemort was left to wonder whether his mate hadn't simply stolen the Diary from the boy after he had taken it.

It wasn't such a strange idea… surely his mate would want to protect something that was his?

The meeting continued until he finally called it to an end, but not before he asked Severus to stay behind. The man didn't hesitate, and Voldemort found that he quite admired the man's conviction. Most of his followers would have been on their knees begging for their lives right about now.

"I understand that you became Potter's godfather…care to explain why you didn't immediately inform me? When exactly did this happen?", Voldemort moved to his chair as he spoke.

"It happened during his first-year my Lord. When he was sorted as a snake I noticed a few things that were out of place. I believe his words to Dumbledore were, 'Sorry Headmaster, I don't want to disobey my guardian, he took me away from the bad people.' After that, I paid even closer attention and noticed he showed familiar signs of abuse."

Voldemort ignored the anger that flared in his chest, abuse was not something he condoned, not even towards his enemies, "Why did you choose to stay silent about it even after my return? You of all people should know that I have seldomly discarded your advice and if you told me about the boy I would have done anything I could to find an alternative, as I have."

Severus lowered his head slightly before raising it once more, "He refused to explain his situation unless I made an oath, my Lord."

Something in Voldemort's chest relaxed at that and he dismissed the other man, but before Severus reached the door, he stopped him, "I expect to see the boy during the holidays so that we can discuss the oaths that will negate the prophecy…"

The man nodded before turning the handle and Voldemort frowned as something occurred to him as he stopped the man once more, "If you are under oath, why were you able to reveal some of the boy's secrets?"

Severus seemed to hesitate before he turned around and looked Voldemort straight in the eye, and Voldemort was strangely reminded of a panther, one that would do anything to protect their cub, "Harry told me before the meeting that I was free to inform you of anything that might ensure that both of you can reach a middle ground against Dumbledore."

Voldemort inwardly smirked before allowing the man to finally leave. It seemed that he had one less thing to worry about. Sure he knew he should have punished the man for not revealing important information, but this was currently working in his favor so he left it.

(IMPORTANT: The chapters I have typed up have now all been uploaded and the updates will occur between 1 to 3 days after one another.)