Serpent's Prince

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Summery: Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived. After the downfall of the Dark Lord Voldemort, Harry vanished from the world, found years later in the center of the magical world only to disappear again.

Notes: This story is an Alternate-Universe story, which means things are going to happen that would never happen in the actual books. And after a very long break from fan fiction, I'm back again. As always the offer is open that if you would like to be notified of updates to this story, please tell me in a review or email me at snapeslilangelathotmaildotcom. Enjoy the latest chapter of Serpent's Prince!

Chapter 1

Harry, Snookems & Damien


The small and spotless sitting room was in a state of panic as Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of Number 4 Privet Drive, sat before a small bundle of blankets on the sofa. The Dursleys had a secret that they would never admit too. They had freaks in the family; Petunia Dursley's own sister. Her sister was a witch, a witch who could perform actual magic. Her witch of a sister married a wizard and together they had one child, a son by the name of Harry. Harry was currently slumbering in his nest of blankets on the Dursley sofa.

"Petunia, he will not stay here," Vernon Dursley declared to his wife, talking about the small boy, his nephew, bundled on the sofa. The sun was slowly rising on that gloomy November day.

"Vernon, they'll know if we get rid of him," Petunia Dursley whispered. "They always know."

"They won't. I will not have him influencing our Dudley; he is leaving," Vernon said with authority, closing the argument.

After the brief argument early that morning, Vernon Dursley left his wife and infant son for London with his small nephew, who was wrapped in blankets with only a small scrap of paper bearing his name. A letter had originally been placed with him, but was burned not long before Vernon left his home.

For several hours, Dursley went from orphanage to orphanage, but none would take the boy. Finally, in the dirty back streets of the slums, little Harry Potter was left on the stoop of a very rundown, filthy building of an orphanage. Unknown to Mr. Dursley, this building was connected to another in a dark and magical place. A place known as Knockturn Alley.

Harry Potter ran as fast as his small legs would carry him through the bustling London streets. For three months, Harry had been a pickpocket for his wizard caretaker and he had been caught. Being caught meant beatings and for the four year old, it would be bad. Since he could remember, the tip of his caretaker's wand had abused Harry, though few scars remained. Caretaker had always told Harry who he was and what he had done in the past. He had also made it clear to the child that he was no supporter of the light.

With speed, Harry ducked through knees and into the Leaky Cauldron, maybe caretaker wouldn't find out he'd been caught and besides he had –oomph!

Little Harry was thrown from his simple, yet troubled, thoughts as he fell onto the ground of the busy pub and he slowly looked at the man he collided with. He was tall and pale with black hair hanging around his face; slightly scary looking, but not as scary as caretaker though.

"Boy is sorry, sir. Reawy, I is," Harry apologized quickly.

The man frowned. "Boy? What is your name?" He asked, kneeling down closer, his black robes billowing around him.

Harry looked around cautiously; more trouble would come if people knew whom he was. "Boy is Harry, Harry Potter," he whispered.

The man seemed surprised, though his frown deepened and he looked almost angry as he took in Harry's dirty, thin and ragged appearance.

"My name is Severus, Harry. Severus Snape."

"Hi, Severus," Harry said simply, though he had difficulty with the man's name.

"Where do you live, Harry?"

"Knockturn Alley with Caretaker."

"How about we get you something to eat, Harry?" Severus said slowly.

Harry nodded his head yes without thinking twice. He took hold of Severus' hand and was led quietly to the fireplace before they disappeared in a swirl of emerald flames.

Contrary to belief, Severus Snape did have a heart, and now, it was bleeding as he watched a four year old eat, heartedly, what may had been his first decent meal in years. When Harry told him he lived in Knockturn Alley's orphanage, Severus knew he had to take him home. There was only one orphanage in that area and it wasn't even an official orphanage, which explained why Harry hadn't been found before now.

After disappearing from his mother's family, Harry had reappeared to the man that hated his father the most after living in the worst place for a child, next to a dragon's nest of course.

Severus hated James, everyone knew that, but he didn't hate Lily. No, nothing in his body could hate her and, though he looked like James, Severus could see Lily deep inside the boy. Severus wouldn't allow harm to bestow Lily's son again.

"Severus?" Harry whispered cautiously.

"Yes?" He responded, pulled from his musings.

"I tired."

"Okay Harry, lets get you cleaned up."

Severus took the child upstairs to the spare bathroom and placed him in a full tub of warm water and bubbles. It took time, but the sleepy child was eventually spotless with the aid of different soaps, shampoos, several potions and his wand, for a quick trim, and now the small child was sleeping peacefully in the spare bedroom.

Three weeks had passed since Severus took little Harry home. At first, Harry had feared that Severus would return him to caretaker, but he never did. Slowly, Harry adapted to his new surrounding, yummy food, clean clothes, actual baths and even a few toys! For the first time he could remember, Harry was truly happy.

Severus peaked into the kitchen to check on Harry as he colored intently. A quick rapping at the front door stole his attention and he walked through the drab sitting room; the entire house had an unlived-in air and wasn't entirely appropriate for a small child. Opening the door just a crack, Severus looked out before opening it fully.

"Marcus, thank you for coming," Severus greeted the thin, well-kept man. He stepped aside to allow him inside.

"Your letter caught my complete attention, Severus. I am quite curious," the man told him, walking to the book filled sitting room. "You wish to adopt a child?"

"Yes, Marcus. The son of someone I cared for deeply," Severus explained, sitting across from the lawyer.

"Who, Severus, who? Don't keep me in suspense," the man chuckled.

Severus narrowed his eyes seriously. "Let me first remind you of the oath of secrecy you took when you became a lawyer, Marcus. Nothing you hear or say can ever be repeated."

"I am quite aware of that; you know I would never repeat anything."

"Either way. Do you have the documents?"

"Of course," Marcus said, now seeming very professional as he pulled out rolls of heavy parchment. "Everything is in order, I just need the name of the child, Severus."

"Harry James Potter."

"Yes, thank you. Harry James Potter," Marcus repeated as realization slowly crept along his face. "Harry Potter!"

"I would like it if you didn't shout his name out, Marcus. He is in the kitchen coloring right now," Severus smirked.

"But how? When? Where was he?"

"Knockturn Alley, though he quite literally ran into me at the Leaky Cauldron."

"Knockturn Alley? My god, he lived there?" Marcus whispered, flabbergasted. Marcus took a deep breath and regained his thoughts. "Severus, everything is in order to adopt Harry and give him a proper home. As you might know, the Ministry does not regulate adoptions, so you do not have to worry about your past interfering with the process."

Severus nodded. "Before I sign, there is one thing I want to do," he said, before standing and walking towards the kitchen.

Harry sat humming to himself as he colored a picture for Severus. It had a snitch, a snake, a cauldron and Harry; he was quite proud of his drawing.

"Harry," Severus called as he walked into the kitchen.

"Yes, Sebe-Sebi…yes, Sev?" He responded, still having extreme difficulties with his name.

"I want to ask you something important, Harry," Severus said, kneeling to Harry's level. "How would you feel if I were to adopt you?"

Harry's eyes widened in surprise. Someone wanted to actually adopt him?

"You…you want to adopt boy…me?" Harry asked very slowly.

"Yes, Harry."

Harry lurched forward and squeezed Severus' neck tightly. "Thank you! Thank you!"

Severus hugged the boy tightly and a new thought entered his mind. He was Severus Snape and the child was Harry Potter; it wasn't safe for either of them to have a connection with each other.

"Harry, we're going to play a little game," Severus said as he carried the child into the sitting room. "I want you to think of a name for yourself."

"What about you? You too?"

"You can think of a name for me as well."

Harry thought a moment. "Snookems!" He finally exclaimed; his face was lit up with excitement.

Severus scowled and groaned inwardly. "Fine, I'll be Mister…Snookems," he said flatly. "Now, pick one for yourself."

Harry sat quietly again as he thought on Severus' request. "Damien," he finally.

"Damien it is then. Your new name will be Damien Snape, little one."

The necessary documents had been signed and sealed for the adoption of Harry James Potter, renamed Damien Alexander Snape, and only one step remained; the magic spells binding them as father and son.

Severus held his adoptive son in his arms while his lawyer performed the magic. With the prick of their fingers, Severus' blood combined with little Damien's making him his son in both legal ties and blood ties. However, the blood adoption would also change his appearance to reflect that of his new father as well.

Quietly, Severus watched as the once unruly black hair smoothed out somewhat, also hanging down around his eyes. His skin became paler and his features less James like and defined. To his astonishment, the emerald green eyes remained only somewhat darker, unique against his pale skin. The lightening bolt scar was still there, but the color had faded so it was almost the same shade as the rest of his face. If you looked hard enough you would still see it, but his hair was hiding a portion of it.

Damien smiled at his father, his pale lips like his mother's. Damien Alexander Snape had been born.

Well, that is chapter one for you. Again, if you would like me to email you when I update, feel free to contact me. Thank you for your patience and your reviews (which are always appreciated)!

Saturday, September 30, 2006