Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Enjoy!
"What's a muggle?"
Severus glanced at Harry as he put a box of cereal in his cart. They were at their last stop, the market, and Harry had been fairly quiet since they left Diagon Alley. "A muggle is a person who has no magical ability."
"Like my relative's?"
"Yes," Severus picked out some apples. "I am guessing Draco mentioned it?"
"Yeah," Harry said as picked up a bag of crisps and looked it over. "I don't think he believes I'm a wizard." He looked up at Severus. "Are you really sure I am?"
"Yes, Potter," Severus insisted. "Do you remember telling me that you sometimes made things happen without knowing how you did?"
Harry nodded. "Aunt Petunia cut all my hair off once and the next day it growed all back...was that magic?" He asked excitedly.
"It was," Severus nodded. "Accidental magic, very common in children. So you see? You are indeed a wizard."
HP
"Narcissa."
Narcissa stiffened slightly as her husband entered their sitting area. She concentrated on the flowers she was arranging in the new vase she had bought that day. "Lucius."
"Draco was just telling me a most interesting story," Lucius drawled lazily, taking a seat and crossing his legs. "He mentioned meeting a boy who has a guardian that will be teaching at Hogwarts. Potions. Now, I have heard that Severus Snape has taken the title of Potions Master at Hogwarts."
"Yes, we saw Severus today," Narcissa confirmed.
"He is guardian to a boy named Harry?"
Narcissa turned to her husband, an even expression on her face. "Yes, and it is the Harry you are thinking of."
"Harry Potter," Lucius sneered. "So the traitor has taken in the brat. Why?"
Narcissa raised one shoulder in a slight shrug. "We did not talk long, he mentioned Harry's home life not being acceptable."
"Interesting," Lucius murmured. He gave a thin lipped smile. "If I had known the boy needed a home, I would have offered for us to take him in." He gave a low chuckle.
"Is that so?" Narcissa gave him an innocent smile. "I did not know you wanted another child."
Lucius scowled at her. "Don't be stupid, Narcissa. I don't. But that brat deserves to pay for the downfall of our master."
"He wasn't my master," Narcissa snapped before she could stop herself.
Lucius glared at her, standing up and crossing the room. "Careful, my dear. You do not want to make me angry, do you?" He grabbed her arm, squeezing hard enough to make her wince. "He was a great wizard, one who knew that half-bloods and mud-bloods needed to be put in their place. Now we are stuck with wizards in power like Dumbledore, who cares not for the purity of blood. The worst Headmaster Hogwarts has ever seen."
Narcissa resisted the urge to rub her sore arm after Lucius let her go. She did not want to show weakness in front of him.
"The void our master left is meant to be filled," Lucius said in a smug voice.
"By you?" Narcissa asked quietly.
"Yes," Lucius said. "It will take time but I can be patient. Destroying the boy-who-lived would be a good way to start. Perhaps Draco would like a play date with the boy?"
Narcissa felt a moment of fear for the Potter child, though she made sure not let it show. "I doubt Severus would allow it. And I do not think Potter cared for our Draco." She lied.
Lucius's face darkened. "And why is that?"
"Draco noticed that Potter didn't know much about the wizarding world. I think he was jealous of our son, who is so knowledgeable about the wizarding world." Narcissa said smoothly. There was no way she would put that poor child in danger by risking Lucius getting close to him.
"Not surprising, especially if he was raised by muggles," Lucius grimaced at the thought. "Our Draco is superior to that Potter boy in every way. He will make a fine death eater one day."
Narcissa froze. "There are no more death eaters, with the dark lord gone."
"Ah, my simple Narcissa," Lucius said in a mocking voice. "I told you I had plans to pick up where the dark lord left off. Draco will serve me well. He will be taught what really matters, the purity of blood and the joy of torturing muggles and muggle supporters." Lucius smiled cruelly.
"No he won't!" Narcissa hissed. "I do not want that for our son."
Before Narcissa could even blink, Lucius disarmed her, cast a silencing spell and cast the Cruciatus Curse on her. She fell to the floor, screaming though no sound came out.
"Do not ever defy me, my dear wife," Lucius hissed. "I will raise my son as I see fit and you will be the perfect wife and support me. Otherwise, I will kill you." He lifted the curse and spell. "And I will kill Draco in front of you if you ever try to leave me, do you understand?"
Narcissa nodded, tears burning in her eyes.
Lucius tossed her wand at her and left the room.
Narcissa gasped and whimpered a bit before shakily standing up. A pop distracted her from her pain.
"Is Mistress okay?" The house elf Dobby asked anxiously.
"Yes Dobby, I am fine," Narcissa took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart.
"Mistress should sit and have some tea?"
Narcissa gave Dobby a rare smile. "That would be lovely."
Dobby beamed and popped back into the kitchens.
Narcissa sank into the sofa chair, her legs still too shaky to hold her. She had suspected that Lucius wanted to take over the dark lord's role but now she knew for sure. And if he succeeded he would include Draco in his plans. Her precious son. Lucius was already trying to influence him into believing that pure-blooded wizards were better than everyone else. Lucius was a monster and he would try to turn her son into one as well. And if she took Draco and left, he would come after them. And she had no doubt that he would kill her and Draco.
HP
A few days after Severus and Harry's shopping trip, the Headmaster visited Spinner's End. "Harry is settling in well?" Dumbledore asked after he flooed in.
"He appears to be," Severus said. "He was good when I took him out on errands. We ran into Narcissa Malfoy and her son, Draco in Diagon Alley."
"I see," Dumbledore said. "The truth that Harry will be adopted by you will soon be public anyway. You have warded your home very well."
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Yes, but you are welcome to go over them and add more if believe they are needed." He was confident that his wards were sufficient but he had no problem for the Headmaster to look them over.
After Dumbledore had added an extra layer of protection to the house, he joined Severus for a cup of tea in the kitchen. "The adoption will take place tomorrow. I have the papers for you to fill out."
"So soon?"
"With Lucius knowing about Harry, he or someone else may try to get custody of the child." Dumbledore said seriously. "I have already spoken with child welfare and Cornelius Fudge."
"I doubt they thought I would make a good guardian for the boy," Severus said dryly.
"I told them that you were friends with Lily and that you would be working at Hogwarts, where Harry will be spending most of his time. They know Hogwarts is safe and that he will be very well looked after." Dumbledore said. "I also reminded them that you were a spy for me, that you gave helpful information of Voldemort's plans."
"Did you remind them that I joined the dark lord willingly?" Severus asked bitterly. Such a foolish thing to do...
"No, I didn't see the need for that," Dumbledore looked amused. "As far as they know, the reason you joined was to spy."
Severus made a face.
"My boy, you were a death eater for only a short time before you came to me and agreed to spy," Dumbledore said gently.
"It doesn't change the fact that I was a fool," Severus muttered.
"You were young and you made a mistake," Dumbledore said calmly. "Unlike some others, you saw the error of your ways and did your best to make them right. You aren't trying to take Voldemort's place."
Severus took a deep breath. "Is that happening? Have you heard anything?"
"I have heard that Lucius Malfoy is slowly starting to gain some followers," Dumbledore said slowly.
"No surprise there," Severus said with a sigh. "I believe Narcissa tried to give me a warning, that there would be those who would want to hurt Potter. She didn't mention Lucius but it was implied."
"Ah, Narcissa," Dumbledore eyes took on a saddened look. "I know her parents were very much in favor of her marrying Lucius."
"From what I heard, it had been arranged for some time," Severus said.
Harry entered the kitchen. "Perfessor, can I have -" He paused when he saw Dumbledore. "Hi," He said a little shyly.
"Hello Harry," Dumbledore said. "You remember me? I'm Professor Dumbledore."
"You're on my card from the chocolate frog!" Harry said, pulling the card out of his pocket that had Dumbledore's picture on it.
Dumbledore beamed. "My greatest achievement."
"Being on a collectors card?" Severus rolled his eyes and then focused on Harry. "Every chocolate frog comes with a card and if you collect them and save them, when you start Hogwarts you may find other students who collect and are willing to trade."
Harry's eyes brightened. "That sounds fun! I'll save this one forever, cause it was my first." He assured the Headmaster.
Dumbledore's eyes warmed. "Thank you, Harry."
"What did you need, Potter?"
"A snack?" Harry asked hopefully. He grinned when his guardian nodded.
"What are houses?" Harry asked as he took a seat at the table. He wrinkled his nose at the tea and then grinned when his guardian summoned pumpkin juice for him.
"What do you mean?"
"The boy I met...Draco? He said there were houses at Hogwarts and he would be in Slthrin." Harry took a deep gulp of juice.
"Slytherin," Severus corrected him as he set a plate of biscuits on the table. "There are four houses at Hogwarts, and first year students are sorted at the welcoming feast. The students in the house you are sorted into will be the ones you share a dormitory with and share classes with. You can gain points for your house by behaving and doing well in your classes while misbehavior will cause you to lose points for your house. At the end of the year the house with the most points will win the House Cup. Each house has their own Quidditch team that compete throughout the year for the Inter-House Quidditch Cup."
"Quidditch," Harry remembered. "Like the store we saw that sold brooms?"
"Indeed," Severus said. "You will see some games at Hogwarts, I'm sure. Now, the four houses are Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff."
Harry giggled. "Those are funny names."
"I suppose they are, Harry," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "Each house has their own traits that they are known for, and their own animal that represents them, and their own colors."
"What house were you in?" Harry asked Severus.
"Slytherin," Severus said. "Known for being cunning and ambitious. Our animal is a snake and our colors green and silver."
"I was in Gryffindor," Dumbledore said. "Our colors are red and gold, our animal is a lion and our traits are bravery and - "
"And arrogance and recklessness," Severus finished with a smirk.
"I was going to say chivalry," Dumbledore said, looking amused. "Ravenclaws are known for being wise and clever. Their animal is an eagle and their colors blue and bronze. Hufflepuffs are known for being loyal and friendly, their colors are yellow and black and their animal is a badger."
"They are also known for crying at the drop of a hat and having no backbone," Severus said a touch snidely.
Dumbledore tilted his head to the side and smiled at him. "I'll have to let Minerva and Pomona know how you describe their houses to future students." He looked back at Harry while Severus scowled at him. "Each house has a professor responsible for them, they are called the Head of House. Severus here will be Head of House for Slytherin."
"Can't wait," Severus sighed.
"It would be cool if I was in your house," Harry said happily.
Severus exchanged a look with Dumbledore. "A lot of times, you end up in the same house that your parents were in." He said slowly.
"But not always," Dumbledore added.
"What houses were my parents in?"
"Gryffindor," Severus answered flatly.
"Oh," Harry bit his lip. It would be cool to be in the same house as his parents but he wanted to be with his guardian too.
"You have plenty of time before you need to think about where you are sorted," Dumbledore told him. "Each house has its good traits and I'm sure you will enjoy wherever you are sorted." He leaned back in his chair. "Now, I've been thinking about your schooling. One of the Professor's at Hogwarts teaches a class about Muggles for students who are interested in learning about them and she went to a muggle primary when she was a child. Her class load isn't as heavy as most of the other professor's so she is willing to tutor you in your schooling. A couple of the other professors may be able to help teach you as well. And on Fridays a friend of your mother's will be having daycare where you can get to know other children."
Severus relaxed, thinking this could work out. He could teach Harry as well, he had gone to muggle primary. He was slightly concerned about Harry getting to know the Weasleys, as the last thing he needed was that large family infringing on their life but one day a week wouldn't be so bad. And Harry did need friends his own age.
Harry smiled back a little uncertainly, not knowing who all these people were that they were talking about. But his guardian looked pleased so it must be okay. And it would be cool to meet other children who were wizards, although he wondered if they would be like Draco, who seemed to look down on him for his lack of magical knowledge.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Now, as Molly will be having Harry over to the Burrow one day week, she wanted to meet him beforehand. I told her that perhaps you two could stop by there one evening soon so that Harry could meet her and her children."
Severus's eyes widened. "You told her what?"
"She said she would make dessert," Dumbledore grinned at Harry. "She makes very good desserts. He son Ron is your age, and her twins are just a couple of years older, then of course, Percy is two years older than the twins and Charlie is -"
"Uh, sir? How many children does she have?" Harry asked, feeling a little alarmed. He had thought he would only meet one or two kids, not a whole bunch.
"Seven."
Harry's mouth dropped open. Seven? He couldn't imagine being in a family that big!
"I do not want him overwhelmed," Severus said.
"You will be with him, and the Weasley's are very friendly," Dumbledore said, looking at Harry. "You don't have to stay long." He said kindly. "It will just be easier to meet them before you are left at their house for a day."
Harry bit his lip, a worried expression taking over his face.
Severus bit back a sigh. "All right. I'll arrange for us to visit them soon."
Dumbledore beamed. "Wonderful! Now, we should talk about making the adoption final. There is a meeting at the Ministry with child services to finalize everything tomorrow evening."
Harry's eyes lit up and he looked at Severus shyly. He would really be adopted? Have a family of his own? Never have to worry about the Dursley's again? Have a father of his own?
Severus still felt apprehensive about adopting Potter, it was happening so fast... but it was best to get it done before someone underhanded tried to interfere and get Potter in their grasp. Besides, it wasn't that bad, the boy was rather well behaved. He met Potter's hopeful eyes and gave him a nod. "That's sounds just fine to me."
Harry grinned broadly.
HP
Molly Weasley smiled as Harry and Severus flooed through and landed in her kitchen. She beamed when she saw Harry, a spitting image of James yet with Lily's lovely eyes. She had been shocked when Dumbledore had told her about Harry's relatives and that Severus Snape was adopting little Harry Potter. She and her husband Arthur would have been more than happy to take the child in as one of their own, but Dumbledore had insisted that the arrangement was working and that Severus was doing a fine job. Well, she would be keeping her eye on the situation. It was the least she could do for Lily and James.
"Hello dear," Molly said gently. "I am very pleased that you will be in my daycare."
"Thank you, Ma'am," Harry said shyly.
"You may call me Mrs. Weasley," Molly smiled. Her eyes shifted to Severus. "Hello Severus. I'm happy you two were able to come over."
"Molly," Severus said evenly.
"Arthur is in the sitting room with the children. Let me introduce you," Molly said with a bright smile.
Severus entered the room and worked hard to not let his mouth drop open in horror. All the Weasleys. All the red-headed Weasleys staring at him and Potter.
"Severus!" Arthur Weasley got up and shook his hand. "Long time no see. I hear you will be teaching at Hogwarts this coming year."
"Yes, I will be." Severus said.
"Well, then you will get to know our oldest, Bill. He will be entering his fourth year," Arthur said, gesturing to the tallest. "And Charlie will be starting his second year." He pointed to one of the boys who had a very freckled face.
"Ah, well, I'm sure it will be a pleasure to have you in Potions," Severus drawled. "I certainly hope you have gotten a head start on your studying."
Both boys nodded, yet also paled so much their freckles seemed to pop out of their faces.
"Percy will be next to start Hogwarts but he has a few years yet," Arthur continued, patting a skinny boy on the shoulder who peered over his book at them. "Then the twins."
Severus pursed his lips together at the matching mischievous looks on the two boys faces. Trouble, he thought dryly.
"This one is Fred and that one is George," Molly said as she gave each boy a fond pat on the head.
"Mum!" One of the boys whined. "I'm not Fred, he is."
"Oh, sorry dear," Molly said absently.
"You'd think she would know which son is which by now," The other twin huffed.
"I said I was sorry," Molly sighed.
"You don't have to be mum, I am Fred!"
"Boys!"
Severus wondered if it would be rude to summon a headache potion in front of them. At least he had several years before the twins entered Hogwarts.
"This is Ronnie, he is five like you Harry," Molly said.
"Mum! It's Ron!"
"Right, sorry love," Molly rolled her eyes.
"And this is our youngest, Ginny," Arthur said as he picked up the little girl who had been clinging to his leg.
"She's the baby," George smirked.
"I am not a baby!" Ginny shrieked.
Percy closed his book and sniffed. "Don't pick on her just because she's the baby of the family."
"Don't tell me what to do!"
"I'm not a baby!"
"Children! That's enough!" Molly snapped.
Severus rubbed his temples.
"Severus, would you like some tea?" Molly asked sweetly.
Firewhiskey might get me through the evening better, Severus thought as he politely nodded. "Yes, thank you."
The three adults went into the kitchen after Severus was fairly sure that Harry would be all right with the Weasley children.
Molly began boiling the water. "He's little for his age." She remarked.
"He is," Severus said. "Malnutrition and neglect will do that to a child."
Molly's face darkened. "I could not believe it when I heard he had been mistreated. Who could do that to a child?" She shook her head and then looked at Severus a little suspiciously. "He will need a lot of love and assurance from you. A lot of care. Are you able to do that?"
"Molly," Arthur chided gently.
"It's just a question."
"Is this an interview?" Severus asked a little sarcastically. "You're too late as the adoption has been already finalized."
"Severus, she didn't mean it like that," Arthur frowned.
Molly flushed. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound like I'm interrogating you. I just worry for the poor dear."
"I admit I know nothing about parenting, but I am doing the best I can," Severus said stiffly.
Molly broke into a smile. "Of course you are. You'll be fine," She patted his arm and finished making the tea. "Especially since I have many books on child rearing that you can borrow. And my own experiences raising children, of course. I could likely write a book myself just on raising the twins alone! In fact, I -"
As Molly happily prattled on, Severus sighed. It was going to be a long evening.
TBC: If you get a chance, please review! =)