Snape gets de-aged, temporarily
By: CSI-Panther
Summary: As title says, Snape gets de-aged in potions by Harry. But he also doesn't keep his memories of his older life, meaning only what he's been through so far to the age he turned to, though it'll be temp, it'll be enough for Harry to know that his most hated Prof knew his mother just like Prof Lupin. There's more, but I want to see how it goes first.
A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or it's characters
And it also starts I also didn't know what else to call it.
" Look out! " Ron shouted as his and Harry's cauldron bubbled over rapid and looked ready to explode.
Both Harry and Ron froze for just a second but in that time, Snape had moved to push them out of the way and cast a shield on the cauldron, but he was too late and the potion erupted and splashed him, it missed everyone else though.
Harry and Ron both froze again as Snape turned to them, an angry look in his dark eyes, but before he could say or do anything to them, he gasped and buckled down to his knees as the potion took affect.
The potion was supposed to be a simple boil potion, but Snape was shrinking instead, the two boys and their peers thought for sure that he was going to keep shrinking until he was gone but the strange thing was, his clothes were shrinking with him until he finally stopped and looked to be 8 or 9 years old now.
Everyone began to crowd around the three to get a better look at the now de-aged Professor, but that seemed to upset him as he looked around at the older kids and began to shake.
" Awe! He's actually kinda cute like that! " he heard one of the older girls say; she didn't notice him shaking, and though he was scared of them, hearing a girl call someone like him cute was a bit embarrassing and he couldn't stop his blush, which got a kick out of some of the older boys and caused the girls to go all 'awe' and gush. Not knowing what was going on or where his friend Lily was, he shot under the table and crouched down, covering his ears to block out their voices until he felt, rather than saw someone join him as he had shut his eyes once he covered his ears.
Harry couldn't believe what he was seeing. Professor Snape, the most hated and feared teacher of Hogwarts, was afraid of what was going on around him. He had never, in all three years of knowing the man, seen him show any emotion but hate and anger, most of which was directed at him or any other student that wasn't a Slytherin.
But here he is, turned into a child and showing that he wasn't always so scary or intimidating. So what could have happened for him to be so hatful, vengeful, and angry as an adult? It was probably the way he was acting that compelled Harry to go and try and help him. After all, Harry knew that pose all too well as he used to do that when he was this age hiding from Dudley, his aunt, his uncle, or any of Dudley's friends.
" Harry, what are you doing? " Hermione asked out of nowhere, causing Ron to jump and ask how she got there, to which she replied that she had always been there and that he wasn't just paying attention like always.
" Quiet you two. Professor Snape got hit with our potion and he turned into a kid instead of what the potion was supposed to be. " Harry spoke quietly to her.
" You two made a de-aging potion by accident? " she replied in disbelief.
" It looks like it. But it also looks like it may have reduced his memories too as he doesn't recognized anyone here. I'm going to try and get him to the Hospital Wing. Do you think that you and Ron can get everyone else out of here? " Harry replied back in the same tone as he didn't want the Professor to bolt in the state he's in, at least not without another Professor present to stop him.
" Yeah. Good thing we don't have potions with Slytherin today or it would've been a lot worse. " she said and added that she would also go and inform their head of house of the matter.
Harry waited until everyone was out before he went under the table to join his de-aged Professor to try and coax him out from there and to the Hospital Wing. He may not like the man, but he wouldn't let a child be alone in some place he didn't know and people that he didn't recognize. And the man also saved him and Ron from getting hurt or turned into little kids too. Harry shuddered to think what would've happened if he had been turned back into a kid and his memories regressed to that time in his life that, like everything else in his life while living with the Dursley's was awful.
He sat down, crossed his legs, placed his hands in his lap and waited until Snape noticed that he was there with him. While he waited, he took in his new features, he was wearing a smaller version of his usual outfit minus his teaching robes, his hair was a bit wavy and not oily at all or even greasy. There was no potion stains on his hands, his nose was more of a button shape rather than hooked, he looked to be on the thin side, not as thin as Harry was at that age and he was the size of a normal 8 or 9 year old kid, maybe a little on the short side, but Harry knew that his older self was a good 6 foot something man who was slightly more fit than Professor Lupin, who looked to be the same as age as Snape, which meant that they probably went to school along with Harry's mum and dad.
Harry knew that Snape hated his dad with a white hot passion, but he never once mentioned his mum. That confused Harry. Why would the man hate his dad and let everyone know about it who would listen to him. Professor Lupin had mentioned his mother to him once, he said that she was unnaturally kind and could see a light in others that they themselves couldn't see. Had his mother been nice to Snape as well?
He saw Snape slowly relax until he was able to look up at him, Harry had to stop himself from gasping as he saw tears welling up in Snape's eyes, but they didn't fall, it looked like Snape was trying his hardest to not let them fall, not because he trying to be tough, but because he wouldn't let Harry see them because he didn't know what Harry would do to him if he did.
Harry kept his distance and spoke quietly, " Hi. I'm Harry. What's your name? "
Snape slowly moved to copy the way Harry was sitting and he had to now stop himself from chuckling at the sight of his Professor sitting like he was as though he had done it a thousand times. He remained quiet as he took in Harry's appearance, Harry knew that look too. Snape was judging him like a frightened animal would a would-be predator, trying to decide if he should come closer or bolt until he locked eyes with Harry and Harry saw recognition in his dark eyes and his whole face changed, but only for a moment.
But in that moment, Harry saw a bit of happiness there and even a twitch of his mouth for a smile. Harry that Snape was about to speak so he paid attention to him,
" Ar-Are you. " he paused then seemed to gather his courage and continued, " Are you related to my friend Lily? " he finally asked, looking almost hopeful.
Harry blinked and asked back, " What does your friend Lily look like? " if Snape described his mother than that would mean that Snape knew his mum before he knew his dad and that would mean that they met before school. But if that's the case than, what blood status does that make Snape if his mum was a muggle-born like Hermione? Surely a pure blooded family wouldn't be in a muggle neighborhood, they would stand out in a crowd like a pink horse in a herd of black horses. So that would mean that Snape was a half-blood like him, yet something else the two seem to have in common, which was a little unsettling to Harry.
" She's my height. Has auburn hair, and has green eyes like yours. "
Harry decided to play along with this until he was able to get to the Hospital Wing or until another teacher came to take over,
" Then yes. I am related to Lily...In a way. "
Snape's head turned to the side in a curious way, making Harry want to chuckle again as he tried to picture the older version do this.
" How does that work? You either are related to her or your not. "
' At least he still has that attitude, though it's not as prominent. ' Harry thought before replying, " Your right I'm sorry. It's just that I haven't been able to visit her like I'd like to. "
" Are you her older brother than? Can you do magic like us too? "
Harry just now realized that this was the most he had heard his Professor say to him at least and quickly came up with a lie that would ease him. Besides, he couldn't tell his 8 or 9 year old Professor that he was Lily's son that would be all kinds of wrong.
" Yes to both. But I have to live with my aunt and uncle. "
" Is it because of Tuney? Did she call you a freak too like she does Lily and me? "
Harry guessed that ' Tuney ' was his aunt Petunia and that was a nickname his mum must've had for her as kids. " Yeah. Among other things. We just don't get along well. "
" Tell me about it! She's always upsetting Lily when she's being mean to her and hurting her feelings too. And all Lily wants is for her to be like she was before she found out about her being a witch. I keep telling Lily that she's just jealous of her and that's why she's so mean to her all the time. Tuney just can't accept the fact that Lily is special and she isn't! I swear I think Tuney's adopted. There's just no way that skinny, pencil-necked, horse-faced hag is related to Lily...or you for that matter. "
Curious about how much Snape was defending his mum he asked, " How you mean? "
" Lily's the complete opposite of Tuney. For one, she's far more prettier. She's also nicer and kinder and gentler. She doesn't judge others because of their appearances..."
' Now I know where I got that from. ' Harry thought as he listened to Snape talk about his mother.
" And your just like her. Though I only just met you. It's just that, well, I feel comfortable around you like I do with her. " Snape continued as he pulled his legs back up and wrapped his arms around his legs.
" She's the only one who wants to be friends with me. No one else wanted to be friends with me. " Snape finished so quietly that if Harry had not been near him, he wouldn't have heard it and Harry felt a pang in his chest as he remembered the day that he made a friend for the first time and how that felt after being alone for so long growing up with the Dursley's.
Harry saw this as a chance to get to understand Snape a bit more and to know more about his mum, asked, " How come no one wants to be friends with you? "
When Harry saw Snape tense up, he thought that he had gone a little fast with the question but he was just curious.
" Promise you won't tell anyone? Lily knows some of why no one wants to be my friend. " Harry could tell that there was something else hidden by that, he could hear that Snape wanted to tell someone about what was going on, but he was too afraid to and again, Harry knew that all too well.
" How about you tell me only what Lily knows and that way if you want say more and I'm with you two, you won't have to repeat yourself. " Harry wanted to smack himself for how that sounded it was better in his head.
Snape seemed to think about it and finally replied, " No one wants to be friends with me because of my father. "
" Why your father? Is he a bad person or something? "
" He's both. Only when he drinks though. "
Harry was getting a bad feeling already about what was...had gone on in Snape's home when he was growing up, but he had at least had a friend that he could confide in and one that seemed to have stayed by his side no matter what others kept saying about him. Which meant that if his mum was as beautiful, wonderful, kind, caring, sweet, and understanding as Snape thought of and described her to be was and was friends with him, does that mean that he wasn't as bad or awful as everyone seemed to think him to be?
If Snape was than Harry was sure that his mum wouldn't have been friends with him in the first place or for as long. Were they still friends all the way up until his parents were killed? Is that why Snape hated his dad so much? He took his friend away from him? And is that why he hates Harry now? Because he is a reminder of what happened to his friend and that his dad was the reason?
" What about your mum? How does she handle it? "
Snape looked crest fallen at that those questions and Harry was about to apologize when Snape answered, " She doesn't really do much of anything. Not when he gets like that. Except the one time I accidently set the telly on fire during one of his stupid Rugby matches and he wanted to know what happened. Mum told him that I had done it by accident and that was when he found out about me and mum being able to do magic. I had never seen him so angry. Or mum for that matter. "
" Your dad's a muggle? " Harry asked with a bit of shock, after all the man...kid in front of him was the head of Slytherin house and that house was mostly filled with pure-bloods...right?
" Father. Not dad. He stopped being my dad the same day he found out about me and mum being magical and struck us with his belt until we bled! " gasp! Snape quickly covered his mouth when he realized what he said in his anger.
" You didn't hear that! " he exclaimed hurriedly and Harry feared that he would bolt. " You didn't hear that! " he repeated again, " Not even Lily knows that! Please don't tell her! She'll stop being my friend if she knows! Please don't tell her! I don't want to lose her! She's my only friend! " Snape was full on crying now and Harry felt nothing but sympathy for him as he imagined that he would most likely be like this too if he had accidently let slip what had been going on at his home.
Harry didn't know what had come over him then but he reached out and pulled Snape to him and hugged him to him and tried to sooth him as he cried,
" Calm down now, it's alright. I'm not going to tell her I promise. " Harry laughed bitterly on the inside at that. " And if by some chance she does find out. I'm confident that she wouldn't stop being your friend. You don't get to choose your parents and you don't get to choose who you live with. But you do get to choose how you live and I can see that your a nice kid. And I know that if you weren't, Lily wouldn't be friends with you right? Like how you said? "
" Yeah, but she doesn't know what goes on at my house. If she did, I know she'll leave and never speak to me again. "
' Merlin, what had Snape gone through growing up? Was it the same for school? He had been giving Lupin the same hateful glances that he was always giving me, but I can't imagine Lupin being the bully type...oh wait, never mind, that day in Defense makes a bit more sense now...Why didn't I see it as what it was? Could he have done something similar in school? Did mum defend Snape during their school days? ' Harry thought as he thought of something to say to Snape in either to comfort him or to get his mind off of what he was thinking.
" Well I still think she'll be your friend. " was all he could say.
" Really? " Snape asked looking up at him.
" Yeah. Defiantly. " and Harry believed that, " Hey, you never did tell me your name. I told you mine. " he smiled and actually poked him in the side, to his surprise, Snape laughed out.
' So he's ticklish huh? ' Harry thought cheekily as he stored that for later.
" Sorry. I'm Severus. Severus Snape. But only you and Lily are allowed to call me Sev because that's what Lily calls me and since you're like her, you can call me that too, okay? " Snape replied with a grin.
' Sev?! Bloody hell, just how close were they? ' Harry thought as he tried to keep a gentle smile without it cracking.
" Is that so? Well do you have a nickname for Lily? "
" I tried once. But she thought I was weird for it. " Snape blush a bit and rubbed the back of his head.
" You have to tell me now! I might use it on her later. " Harry teased.
Harry watched as Snape looked around as though his mother would show up if he did before he answering, " Lilum. "
" Lilum? Oh I get it! That's the scientific term for Lily. " Harry laughed.
" That's what she said before she called me a weird dork. So I called her geek. " Snape huffed.
" Bet she didn't like that. "
" Nope. We wound up wrestling and ended up in a mud hole in her yard! Tuney tried to break us up but she only got mud on her 'new' dress and was about to throw a rock from the flowerbed at us when your parents stopped her and sent her to her room, which only made her more angry. "
" What happened after that? "
" Mr. and Mrs. Evans laughed at us and told us to wash up and change clothes before having dinner. We made up after that. "
Harry looked at the far off look Snape had in his eyes as he was remembered that day with Lily before he blinked and the hateful look he was more familiar with locked onto him and with a growl, well if it could be called that with his child-like voice, he asked,
" Potter? Why are we under a table? And why are you holding me like this?! "
' Guess it was only temporary. But it was enough for me. Hmmm...this might not end well, but, ' " You were upset and needed a hug...Sev! "
Snape froze at hearing that name. " W-Where did you hear that from?! " he demanded darkly.
" From you Sev. You said I could. " Harry knew that he was really pushing it and despite Snape's recovery of memory, he seemed to have forgotten about what had transpired between them and being like this age means that he probably won't have a good control of his magic and he'd act out before he could stop it.
But Snape surprised him by saying, well more screamed, " Get out! " at him. And Harry wasn't taking anymore chances and got out of there just as Minerva came in past him, she was about to stop him, but Snape stopped her and told her to let him go.
" Severus? Ms. Granger informed me that you had been de-aged in an accident. " Minerva said as she bent down to look at him and had to stop herself from gushing at how adorable he looked in his mini outfit and looking like he didn't get the sweetie he wanted.
" Indeed. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to fix this. And then I need to go and deal with your wayward cub. "
" Now Severus. Mr. Potter stayed here with you instead of leaving you on your own as Ms. Granger and he suspected that you might've regressed your memories and didn't seem to reconize anyone here. The least you can do is thank the lad. "
" I regressed my memories? That would explain why I was confused by Potter holding me like a two year old. Minerva, how old do I look to you? "
" About 8 or 9. Why? "
Severus groaned and rubbed his head, " I think that I might've let some things slip while my body caught up with what happened. "
" Such as? "
" Such as the fact that Lily and I were friends as children and telling Potter what she used to call me. "
" Ah, I see. Well if that's the case. It seems that more than that had transpired between you two. I can see that you had been crying and that might explain why Mr. Potter was holding you. You had been acting like a scared little boy and Mr. Potter comforted you. "
Severus glared at her.
" Don't give me that look Severus. You and I both know that you weren't born intimidating. Nor were you born tough or mean. I remember how you were when you came here with Lily. Now I think that you owe Potter a thank you and perhaps an explanation. "
" I'd sooner move back into my childhood home and live with my father than tell Potter anything of my relationship with Lily! " it would've been believable if he hadn't stomped his foot while crossing his arms.
" You may already have some what. I see no harm in telling him. After all Lily and you were only friends. " Minerva caught Snape's eye twitch at the word friends and a sad look entered his eyes before he schooled his features again and he was back to being cold. But it was enough for her to see and know that Snape had felt more than just friendship for the auburn-haired woman.
" Yes. Just friends. " she heard him mutter sadly before turning away and going into his office, the door opening as he approached it as he couldn't reach the handle for the time being.
Scene change/Time skip
Harry sat outside under a large oak that was a good distance away from the school, he was sitting between the roots that acted like a barrier around him. It had been a few days now, Snape was back to normal the following day after he had been de-aged and he was doing his damnest to not look at Harry or even go near him for that matter.
Normally that would've a dream for him, but Harry was curious now, so much so that he had went and tried to find any old pictures of students from the 1970's. He knew what years to get because he went and asked Lupin what year he started school. When Lupin answered and asked why, Harry only replied that he was curious since he knew his parents and guessed that they might've started school together.
Harry went to the school's library and asked Madame Pince if they had any books that were like a Muggles school year book. He explained that it was a book that held pictures of students that had been in school previous years before the current students came in. And to his surprise after he explained this, she replied that they did and asked him what years he wanted, Harry suspected that she thought that he was curious about his parents, in a way he was, but he was more curious about his mum and Snape.
And that is what Harry was doing now, looking through the Hogwarts version of a muggle school year book. He was looking through them, from '70-'77, though they were in black and whit. He found house photos of the houses with their heads of house. He easily found both his parents and even found Lupin, who was next to his father and two other boys, one of which reminded him of Dudley with how pudgy he was.
He then looked for the Slytherin house and found Snape, he didn't look happy here. He was still as could be while the others were at least moving somewhat. The head of house then was a man named Slughorn and he looked far too cheerful for someone who was the head of the Slytherin. The next set of pictures were individual ones and what he guessed was like class projects and in these, the students moved from their single frames to their neighbors or even in other pages. He saw that his father, Lupin and the other two boys were together and rough housing a bit.
His mother's picture was blank, so he went to look for Snape's. And there he found his mother there with Snape and they were smiling at each other, Snape was happier too. He found them in some of the project pictures through out the books watching how they grew up together and how close they were until he got to their fifth year. They weren't together in any of the pictures that whole year or the last two, in fact, Harry saw the change in both, his mum didn't look as happy any more until she began hanging out with his father and his friends, Snape was starting to look like he does now and more withdrawn.
He went over the fifth year again and again, trying to see what had gone wrong between them, after all, wizarding pictures were different than muggle ones. But he just didn't see it and even as he went through the last two years of their school days to try and figure it out.
" My, this is a rare sight. A Potter studying. " a deep voice said next to him, he knew that voice.
" Not studying Professor. " Harry replied quietly, not looking at him, and wondering why the man decided to come to him.
Snape took a peek at what Harry was doing and frowned when he saw that he was looking through some old year books of the school, more specifically, the years of which he was looking through. Mentally sighing, Snape waved his hand and the books moved away from Harry and neatly stacked themselves at the boy's feet. He saw the same awed look in Harry's eyes that Lily had when he or she or anyone else did magic.
'Hmph.' " Your, mother had that same look in her eyes when she saw magic being done. No matter how old we got she still had that look. " he said in a seldom tone as he walked over and sat down in front of Harry, similar to how they sat just days prior, only Harry's leg were straight out and Snape sat with his legs crossed and hands in his lap.
Harry's head tilted to the side this time, " How old were you when you and my mum met? "
" 8. " Snape answered shortly.
Harry did the math in his head from then to their fifth year and it came to the same number as how old they were when they met, which was kinda freaky. ' They'd known each other for 8 years! '
" Did you live in the same neighborhood? Where did you meet? Where did you guys live at? "
" Slow down Potter! One at a time! " Snape exclaimed before taking a deep breath and continued, " This isn't easy for me to talk about. "
Harry stayed quiet, wondering what had prompted him to talk and suspected that he would like to know what he had been saying or doing before his body caught up with being de-aged.
" To answer your first question, yes, we did live in the same neighborhood, on opposite ends of it. She and her sister were from the 'nice' side of the neighborhood. I, on the other hand, came from the 'wrong side of the tracks' of the neighborhood. That answers two of your questions so far. And to answer your other question, we met in the only playground in the neighborhood. "
Harry nodded and then surprised Snape with another question, or would it be more of a statement?
" You want to know what happened the other day when you got de-aged, right? "
" How very Slytherin of you. " Snape replied, impressed, though he wouldn't show or admit it.
" Well the Hat did want to put me in Slytherin. " Harry replied in a slightly cheeky tone.
" Your joking. "
" Nope. And said he still stood by what he said when I came into the Headmaster's office last year. "
" And what did the Hat say it stood by? "
" That I would've done well in Slytherin. " Harry repeated what the hat had said last year. The dumbfounded look crossing Snape's face was a bit funny, but Harry didn't dare laugh, he knew that this man was a powerful wizard and more capable of more spells, hexes, jinxes, potions, curses and who knows what else than Lockhart, who was a fraud and a coward along with being spineless. Well anyone was more capable than Lockhart really.
Plus, this man hated him and his father. But since he knew his mum...no, that didn't seem to matter, he still hated him.
" And yet, you still wound up in Gryffindor. "
" Because I asked it to. I didn't want to be in the same house as Malfoy, who I met before the sorting and I didn't want to be in the same house as someone who reminded me of my cousin Dudley. Professor McGonagall said that our houses would be like our families and I didn't want to be in a house like the one I just left. Or to be in the house that was once my parents murderer's either. "
" Is that so? And what, pre-tell, is your house like? "
" A bit like how yours was. " Harry muttered, but Snape heard him because of his sharp hearing and he tensed.
" You didn't say much of what your home life was like. But it was enough for me to understand. "
" Not even half of it I'm sure. " Snape growled.
" Wanna try me? " Harry replied back, a fierce look in his eyes.
Snape looked into his eyes for what felt like a long time, but Harry noticed that he wasn't looking into his eyes, he was looking at his hair, not locking eyes with him.
" Why won't you look me in the eye? "
" Because I can't stand to see those eyes on that face! " Snape admitted with a growl.
" Because my mum was your friend and my dad stole her from you? " Harry asked and saw Snape flinch slightly and Harry came to a realization, his eyes widened and he asked,
" You fancied my mum didn't you? "
Snape didn't answer him and didn't look at him.
" You loved her. " Harry corrected, " Didn't you? That's why you hate my dad and me. "
" I don't hate you. "
Harry paused and then replied, " You hate what I represent. But why hate my dad? I can understand a little of why you do. But wouldn't you have wanted my mum to be happy? Even if it wasn't with you? "
" Yes. And I would've been fine with it if it wasn't Potter! Anyone but him or any of his friends if they had wanted to go pursue her. But no, it just had to be him of all people! " Snape huffed.
" But, " he said after he calmed down a bit, " I suppose I deserved that. Given what I did to her our fifth year. But I also wasn't the only one at fault that day. Potter and Black were to blame as well. "
" Black? As in Sirius Black? The man who escaped Azkaban? "
" Yes. " Snape answered, reaching out to the book, " Potter. Black, " he pointed to the boy with shoulder length curly hair next to his father, " Lupin, no need to point him out. He already stands out. " Snape then pointed to the pudgy kid, " And Peter Pettigrew, or Wormtail as they called him. They called Lupin Moony, while Potter was called Prongs and Black was called Padfoot. All but one are Animagus', Lupin. He's, different. "
" He's a werewolf. "
" Color me surprised. You actually can be taught. "
" I can learn if given the chance. "
" I'll try to keep that in mind. "
" Is, was my father really like how you described him? " Harry asked after a moment.
" Yes. At least he was in school and when I'd run into him on the street, though rare as it was. Black was worse. He was always looking for fight when we'd cross paths. Wormtail was the one egging it on, while Lupin only stood by and watched, not doing anything to stop it. "
" They bullied you. Why though? "
" Just because it was me. According to your father and because I was in Slytherin. A house that Black's family had been apart of for generations and he was placed in Gryffindor. "
" I'm guessing mum didn't like him at all then? "
" No. In fact, she called him an arrogant toe rag and a jackass. Black was a jerk. Wormtail was a creep. And Lupin was just a nice boy in the wrong crowd. " Snape smirked a bit at hearing Harry laugh of how his mother had handled his father and his friends.
" I'm guessing mum had a temper too then? "
" You have no idea. She can be quite terrifying when angered. I was the only one brave enough to go anywhere near when she was. Well according to her friends I was. In fact I'd say your temper is similar to hers. "
Harry hummed at that. " Sir? What happened in your fifth year? "
" I called your mother something I shouldn't have. Because I was angry and embarrassed. Potter and Black had cornered me in this very spot after our O.W.L.S, a test you'll do in fifth year. " Snape explained at Harry's confused look.
" What did they do? "
Snape was quiet, unsure if he should answer that or find a way around it without really telling him what happened.
" Was it that bad? Did they hurt you? "
" After what I did to Lily, I wouldn't have cared if they had killed me. The pain and hurt in her eyes hurt me more than anything they or anyone else could've done. "
" That bad then. "
" Given the times, yes and being teenagers with crazy hormones and drama. But back then, I was an angry kid with no outlet. "
Harry could understand that, he had anger too, this year seemed to be the worst as far as emotions go, but he knew that it was most likely going to get even more worse in the coming years.
" You know how over the summer I spent the remaining days in the Leaky Cauldron because I blew up my aunt Marge? "
" Yes. But I was unaware that you had another aunt. I thought it was Petunia you blew up. And to be honest I had wanted to see that. Just to see the look on her face. I absolutely hate that woman. "
Harry laughed at that, " Because she's a skinny, mean, pencil-necked, horse-face hag? I always saw her that way too. I just didn't think anyone else would either. "
" Don't I know it. So I must've mentioned that as well? "
" Yeah. And to be honest, it was nice to talk to someone who was like me. "
" And in a way, your behavior over these past two years makes a bit more sense. Petunia never taught you any common sense. "
" The only thing she taught me was that she and Uncle Vernon hate me along with Marge. And had taught Dudley to do the same and that he was the best thing that ever graced the earth. While was the worst thing to walk it. " Harry grumbled.
" I see. So you got treated like a house elf while your cousin got treated like the prince himself. I take it that this Marge is related to your uncle? "
" Yeah. And she's actually worse than the three combined. She set her bulldog Ripper on me once when I was 8. He bit my pant leg and tried to pull me out of the tree I climbed to get away from him. " Harry was half tempted to show him his scarred leg but didn't.
" What kind of adult seeks a bulldog on a child? Oh wait, never mind, I can think of a few that would just for the pleasure of it. "
" Yeah and this year was the worst one because she was comparing me and mum to dogs, dad too, but it was more directed at me and mum. That's why I lost control of my magic and blew her up like a balloon. "
" Do I even want to know what was said? "
" I think you get the idea of it if I lost control. And I have a feeling if I told you, you'd go and do something. "
" And you'd be right. But I have other ways of finding out. "
" I don't doubt it. "
The two were quiet again.
Snape sighed out loud this time, " You asked me how bad it was. What your father and Black did to me that is. I'm not willing to talk about it fully, but I can give you an example of how it had happened. "
Harry turned to him and listened.
" You know how in elementary an older kid that likes to bully a kid he thinks is weaker than him? "
Harry nodded.
" And to make the weaker kid look bad in front of the other kids the bully taunts him and then pulls the kids underwear out and gives him a wedgy and they all point and laugh? "
" It was like that? "
" Something like that. But then the kid's friend steps in to help. But that friend happens to be a girl and the kid being bullied was another boy. "
" Oh, now I get it. "
" Yes. But instead of thanking his friend, the kid says something that upsets the girl so much that she quits being his friend, he also refuses to accept the boy's apology and doesn't talk to him anymore nor does she want to see him. "
" That's kinda petty if you ask me. "
" Perhaps in a muggle standpoint. But in this case, it was a wizarding one and the word being used was one that I believe Mr. Malfoy has used on your friend Ms. Granger a few times now. "
" You called her a mu-! "
" Do not say that word in my presence. I despise that word so much so that I have not dared utter it since that day I lost her friendship. " Snape had covered his mouth as he talked.
" However, I suppose I also can blame Lupin as well for what happened. He was a Perfect that could've stopped the whole thing before it got any worse. But refused to say anything because he wanted to keep his friendship with the other three. He got what he wanted in the end. His silence kept his friendship, but it cost me mine. " he let Harry go.
" Have you talked with Professor Lupin about it? "
" And why should I? After that stunt he pulled, it's clear that he's just like them. And if Lily had been alive and heard of it she most certainly would've cursed him...if we had remained friends that is. Not to say that I have my own way of getting him back. "
" Like the essay? "
" Among others. "
" Is...is my mum the reason why you've kept me safe while I'm here at school, Professor? " Harry asked after another quiet moment between them and letting what Snape said sink in.
" She is the only reason. " Snape admitted, looking out over the lake as the wind blew around them.
" I've noticed that you and the wolf have been spending time together lately. " Snape said off handedly.
" Yeah. He's teaching me the Patronus Charm. Because of the Dementors. I seem to attract them. "
" It's only if you get too close them or they get close to you. But you are not the only one they do that too. I too have my share of misery. "
" So you can do the charm as well? "
" I can. But unlike Lupin, whose Patronus is not fully formed, mine is and therefore more powerful. "
" What's your Patronus? I know they take the shape of an animal suited for the castor. "
Snape was quiet before he slid his wand from his sleeve and said with a wave of it, " Expecto Patronum. "
A white light came from his wand and took the shape of a beautiful and graceful ghost-like doe.
" Wow. She's beautiful. " Harry commented and watched as the doe came over to him. Harry reached his hand out to her and shivered as she bumped her head to his hand, her ears folding back so that he could pet her better.
" Your mother's Patronus was a doe as well. " Snape informed as he watched them.
Hearing someone approach, he canceled the charm quickly and hide his wand again. Harry looked to him in question but it was answered when a quiet voice called out to him,
" Harry. " Lupin said, looking between the two and Harry wondered if the man was thinking if Harry was alright and wasn't being forced to stay there with Snape, that kinda made Harry upset with the man.
" Everything okay here? " he asked the young teen, keeping an eye on Snape.
" Yes sir. Everything's fine. Just having a chat with Professor Snape about the potion that came up in the essay he gave out and I wanted to know more about it. "
Snape had to fight not to smirk at the lie and fighting back the feeling of how the boy was secretly defending him, the same thought that Harry had when seeing Lupin, also went through him when saw how Lupin was acting.
" I was under the impression that you two didn't get along all that well. " Lupin commented.
" Doesn't stop me from asking about a lesson Professor. If you'll excuse me Professor's I'll be going to lunch now and thank you for your help with the wolfsbane Professor. " Harry said, gathering his books and left, smirking as soon as he was away from them.
Snape's lips twitched as well when he saw the panicked look on Lupin's face.
" Wolfsbane? " Lupin asked worriedly.
" What's the matter wolf. Afraid your best friend's son will discover your secret? He'll find out eventually what you are. After all, it's not long before he's an adult in the wizarding world. And it's becoming clear to me how smart he is when he puts his mind to something. I dare say he might just be on par with Ms. Granger. But that would be too nice of me. He's only just slightly better than the young Weasley boy. " Snape did smirk this time, though it was for a different reason than what Lupin was thinking.
" Are you ever going to let that grudge of yours go Severus? "
" Are you ever going to grow a spine? " Severus blocked the punch that came his way, surprising Lupin and Severus surprised him further by grabbing his arm, twisting it and him around with his arm pinned behind him.
" You'll find Lupin that I am no longer that weak kid that I was in school. " Snape tighten his grip, causing Lupin to gasp in pain from the force.
" And I know that your going to find a way to help your friend in here. So do me a favor and tell him the same thing when you see him. And if he or you hurt that boy, you'll both have more than just a Dementor's Kiss to worry about. " he finished and pushed Lupin away from him.
Lupin didn't say a word as he watched Severus leave. He rubbed his now sore shoulder and arm,
" Even if I did tell him and showed him my memory of this, he wouldn't believe it. " Lupin muttered as he too left and went in the opposite direction that Snape went to go to the Great Hall.
I'll leave it like this and see what happens. I hope ya'll like it!