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Chapter 2: A Power the Dark Lord knows Not

Life at headquarters was never dull. There were always people coming and going. Within days of their arrival everyone in the order had found out that Harry Potter was a father. Because of the baby Harry moved to a room on the third floor. There was a small nursery that was attached to the room which Sirius decorated as a surprise for Harry. It was done up in all pink, lavender, and white. The day after arriving at headquarters Mrs. Weasley had taken Harry and Lyneah out to Diagon Alley to purchase baby furniture and other magical necessities for the baby. Harry's favorites were the ever-clean-nappy, and the never-ending-bottle. The ever-clean-nappy made it so that Harry never had to change her nappy, it was always clean and dry. The never-ending-bottle was a life saver because Harry never had to worry about running out, and it was always fresh, and at the proper temperature. Harry also bought his daughter a small fairy mobile for over her crib, the fairy's would sprinkle fairy dust over the child protecting them from any bad dreams, and promoting peaceful sleep.

Time passed quickly, and Harry was astounded at the number of people staying at headquarters. In addition to the Weasleys Sirius, and Remus were always there, Snape stayed there also unless he was called by Voldemort, Harry was surprised that even the Malfoy family stayed unless called away for spying duties. Harry settled in to life as a father. Everyone was amazed how quickly he had taken to it, almost as if it were natural for him. Something odd happened over the weeks while Harry was at headquarters. Snape and he developed a relationship of sorts. It had started after Harry had found out about Hannah. Snape seemed less bitter towards him, and they called a truce. As time passed the truce developed into a friendship. Snape truly became Harry's mentor.

A week after Harry arrived at headquarters he approached Snape.

"Um, Professor Snape Sir."

"What is it Potter."

"I just wanted to say, I am sorry about looking in your pensive last year. It was wrong of me. It was rude and arrogant, and all those things you always call me. I was appalled at what I saw, not you, but my father, and Sirius. Everyone talks about what a wonderful person my father was, but all I saw there was a bully. What he did was horrible. I know what it's like to be bullied, and I in no way shape or form condone it. And for what it's worth, I never told anyone what I saw in there, except for Sirius and Remus, when I asked them about it." Harry said looking at Snape, then down at Lyneah. Snape eyed Harry, as if looking for the joke behind the little speech. Then nodded.

"You are forgiven, and if you would like, I will agree to resume your Occlumency lessons as long as you promise that you will never knowingly invade my memories again." Snape said. Harry nodded.

"Thank you sir. I really need to master it now, I have my daughter depending on me, I can't just run off and leave her."

"We'll begin tomorrow. I'll meet you in the library at 8:00 a.m. sharp."

"Yes sir." Harry said then quickly left the room.

The next morning at 6:30 Harry heard Lyneah begin to cry indicating it was time for him to get up. Harry crawled out of bed and stumbled into the nursery.

"Hey 'Neah, is it time to get up?" He asked quietly taking the baby from her crib. After Lyneah was securely in his arms he went downstairs to the kitchen to get her a bottle, and himself a cup of tea. Molly and Arthur, Snape, and Remus were all in the kitchen when he came in.

"Good morning." He said tiredly picking up the bottle and sitting down at the kitchen table. He brushed the bottle over the small rose bud lips until Lyneah latched onto the nipple and began to happily suck away.

"Would you like some tea dear?" Molly asked. Harry nodded. After Lyneah was fed and burped Harry happily enjoyed his tea while talking to Remus and Molly. At five till eight Harry handed Lyneah over to Mrs. Weasley and followed Snape into the library.

"Professor, before we begin I would like you to really know me. I want you to know Harry, not James Potter's son, not the boy-who-lived, but Harry, just Harry."

"You actually want me to root through your mind, find out your secrets?"

"Yes, it would help me trust you in this endeavor." Harry said. Harry sat down on the couch across from Snape.

"Legilimens." Snape said quietly.

A woman was screaming, there was a flash of green light and cold cruel laughter. There was a blonde horse faced woman standing over him screaming. Harry was three it was Christmas day. Harry sat watching his cousin open his large stack of presents while Harry received a ragged old blanket with numerous holes. Harry was six running from Dudley's gang, he already had a black eye, and broken glasses. Harry being pushed down the stairs by his cousin, his uncle laughing as he hit the landing at the bottom, Harry was seven he was sitting on a hospital bed with a cast on his small leg, and also on his arm. Harry was eight cleaning the house, tending the lawn, preparing food, Harry being thrown into his cupboard locked in with no food or water. Harry being starved for days on end, Harry being belittled, verbally, emotionally, and physically abused at the hands of his aunt and uncle. The next scene made Severus want to vomit. Harry eight grabbed by an unknown young man forced into one of the bedrooms at the Dursley home. Clothes ripped from his tiny body. The larger boy threw him on the bed, and proceeded to rape him. Harry receiving his Hogwarts letters. Harry watched as letter after letter was burned . Hagrid coming, and taking Harry away from the hut on the rock out at sea. Harry seeing Diagon alley for the first time. The Halloween feast first year, rescuing the sorcerers stone. Summer between first and second year, Dobby, hearing the voices in the walls the writing on the wall, finding out he could speak Parseltoungue, the chamber of secrets, Ron, Fred, and George breaking the bars off his window, the dementors, the final task, nightmares about Cedric's death, real visions of Voldemort's revels, the dreams of Sirius, detentions with Umbridge, finding out his girlfriends was pregnant, the two months that followed, the birth of his daughter.

Snape slowly pulled out shocked by what all he saw. Potter was not the spoiled prince he always believed he was. He was treated worse than a house elf. He was for the most part an abused boy who somehow despite it all had managed to grow into an amazing young man. He looked at the young man. Harry's arms were wrapped around himself. He was rocking back and forth slightly eyes shining with unshed tears.

"I'm sorry Harry, so sorry."

"It's ok, you didn't know." Harry said softly looking into his professors eyes.

"Damn!" Snape suddenly hissed grabbing his left forearm. He stood up abruptly and swept out of the room. Harry stood up and went back into the kitchen. He took Lyneah back from Mrs. Weasley.

Three weeks later Harry had mastered Occlumency and through his lessons had become friends with Snape. At 6:30 a.m. like clock work Lyneah started to cry. He scooped his small daughter out of her crib and went downstairs to feed her. After a quick breakfast Harry decided to go take a shower and get dressed.

"Come on baby girl, lets go get ready for the day." Harry cooed to his daughter. He went slowly upstairs and into the bathroom. He got her baby bath chair and set in on the floor of the large shower, then undressed Lyneah, and himself and stepped into the warm water. He made quick work of washing his tiny daughter, then placed her in the bath chair with a warming charm over her while he washed himself. After their shower He quickly stole back to their room where he dried her off and put her in a tiny white sundress with little cherries all over it. After she was dressed for the day he lay her on the bed surrounded by pillows before getting dressed himself. After dressing he placed Lyneah back in her crib since she had fallen back asleep then went over to his desk and finished his transfiguration essay. After he finished his homework he went back into Lyneah's room to check on her. Since she was stirring he picked her up and carried her downstairs to feed her again.

"Harry dear, we are going to Diagon alley today for your school things, would you like to come?" Molly asked when he came into the kitchen.

"Er..Sure. That sounds like fun, when are we going?" He asked.

"Just as soon as Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, get back downstairs." She answered. Harry stood up still feeding Lyneah and went upstairs to his room. He grabbed her sling, and a white lacy bonnet, then went downstairs. Since she was finished with her bottle he burped her quickly, then place the small bonnet on her head and placed her in the sling.

"I never imagined I'd ever see you wearing something like that." Ron said laughing.

"Shut up Ron." Harry said adjusting Lyneah so she was snuggly placed in the sling and against him so he could reach her easily.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." He said quietly smiling down at his tiny sleeping daughter.

"I know mate." Ron said smiling. He grabbed a pinch of floo powder and left. Harry grabbed a pinch next and flooed into the leaky cauldron.

After everyone arrived they made their way into the alley behind to begin their shopping. They first went to Gringotts, where for some reason unbeknownst to Harry he felt compelled to take out quiet a large sum, much large than he normally would have for one term, or even one year. As they walked out of Gringotts and into the bright sunlight there was a loud explosion two store fronts down from the large bank. As people started to run the small group noticed a mass of black hooded figures making their way down the alley.

"Death Eaters!" Ginny shouted pointing. Harry pulled out his wand, and making sure Lyneah was secure in the sling hidden from sight he started firing hexes at the death eaters. Harry's scar exploded with pain.

"VOLDEMORT! VOLDEMORT'S HERE!" Harry yelled. Suddenly there was a tall robed figure standing in front of him.

"Well well well, what do we have here. Potter. I think it's time for you to die." He hissed in parceltounge.

"I don't think so Tom."

"Don't call me by that filthy name!" He nearly screamed.

"Say good bye Tom." Harry said calmly pointing his wand at the monster.

"AVADA KEDAVERA!" He screamed. Suddenly Harry saw a green light heading for him. One though flashed through his mind Lyneah I need to save Lyneah. He spun around cradling her close to him in the sling. He felt the curse hit the back of his head and spread downwards. Then the darkness consumed him.

Snape watched as Harry cast the deadly curse at his former master and was surprised at the force of the spell. He watched as the curse Harry shot hit his former master. Surprise grew to alarm as the spell shot back at Harry. He saw Harry turn to and pull Lyneah closer to his body before he was hit with the curse. He fell to the ground unconscious. He saw the black cloud rise out of Voldemort's body. It shot straight at Harry's fallen body. Suddenly a bright white light surrounded Harry and Lyneah then shot straight at the black cloud. The cloud exploded with a noise that sounded like the shriek of a thousand tortured souls. People all over covered their ears, some fainted dead on the spot. When the wailing was over all hell broke loose. Death eaters began firing curses with no mercy people were running all over the place, flashes of red, green, and yellow were flying all over. Aurors poured into the alley. Snape ran over to the fallen Harry Potter, pulled the baby out of her sling, grabbed Harry's wrist then apparated away. The trio landed in the hallway of Grimmauld place with several other Order members. Snape handed Lyneah to the nearest person then knelt down next to Harry and felt around for a pulse. Locating one he sucked in his breath.

"Lucky boy. Two killing curses." He said pulling a small pouch out of one of the pockets in his robes. He started pouring potions down his throat one by one. After they were all administer he sat holding Harry's head in his lap.

"Come on Potter, wake up. Wake up, think of Lyneah Harry, she needs her daddy." He said quietly.

"Come on wake up." Slowly Harry's eyes opened. They searched out his daughter. Finding her in Kingsley Shacklebolt's arms.

"Is she alright? They sent the killing curse at us, is she ok?" Harry asked. Suddenly his eyes grew wide and he started to breath heavily.

"I can't hear, why can't I hear?" Harry asked panic clearly evident in his eyes. Snape pulled out his wand he waved it around Harry's head.

"Damn, he's lost his hearing. The killing curse he took this afternoon destroyed it." Snape said quietly. Harry's eyes rolled back into his head, and he fainted. Snape scooped Harry up into his arms and carried him up to his room. He laid the boy down on his bed and pulled the covers up around his shoulders. Turning to Kingsley he took Lyneah into his arms.

"You have a very brave daddy young lady, and a whole heck of a lot of blood protection now, you grandmother Lily's, and your fathers. There was a commotion downstairs.

Snape stood up and left the room. Downstairs the Weasley's and Sirius were demanding to know what had become of Harry and Lyneah.

"Mr. Potter is upstairs sleeping, I assure you he is fine, before he fell asleep he was perfectly coherent." Snape said loudly over the frantic talking. Everyone stopped talking immediately.

"Harry's ok, what about Lyneah?"

"She's fine as you can see, sleeping also. She is now probably one of the most protected children on this planet. She has Lily's protection from Harry's blood, and now she has protection from Harry taking the full brunt of the curse." He said. Lyneah started to fuss so Snape swept past everyone robes billowing into the kitchen where her bottle was sitting on the counter. He brushed the bottle over her lips until she started to suck, then returned to Harry's room to wait for him to wake. Harry woke up a short time latter and watched as Severus sat holding Lyneah rocking her and singing to her.

Harry the reason you can't hear is because the second killing curse took your hearing, you're deaf. Severus signed. Harry started to laugh

Well, it's a good thing I learned sign language when I found out about 'Neah huh? Harry signed back. He watched Severus with Lyneah for a while longer before he finally came to a decision.

Severus?

Yes Harry? He asked looking up.

Would you be Lyneah's Godfather? He asked watching the dour Potions master. Snape looked up at Harry.

It's just, I have watched everyone with her looking for a suitable Godfather for her, and other than Arthur, Molly, and Sirius, she doesn't like to be with anyone else but you. Arthur, Molly, and Sirius are her honorary grandparents, so would you be her Godfather? Harry asked again. Severus looked at Harry, then back down at Lyneah.

I would be honored to be her Godfather Harry. Thank you. You've given me back something that was taken from me too soon. I'll help protect her like I couldn't protect my Hannah. Severus said. A smile, the first true genuine smile Harry had ever seen from his potions professor spread over his face. Harry was surprised, it made him look ten years younger.