Chapter: What's Past is Prolougue
Harry and Sam stood right outside the doors of one of the clothing shops on the strip. The gave each other determined looks before pushing open the doors. The young boy was overwhelmed by the many racks, but his now uncle pulled him along, asking several workers for help. Harry made faces as they passed several types of clothing that he could never see himself wearing. Sam gave him a giant grin as they finally reached the section he had been looking for. The boy lifted the sleevs of one of the shirts, deciding that it definitely seemed very American.
"Pick out a ton of things. You need a whole new wardrobe. Harry Winchester is going to make a scene!" Sam exaggerated, spreading his arms wide. Harry gave a small laugh before moving through the clothes on his own, picking out a few things here and there. Sam watched the boy tenderly, feeling that he would be very good at this Uncle thing. He could tell Harry was a sweet child, and he hoped that keeping himself preoccupied with him would stave off his blood cravings. The bell from the door dinged and Sam waved his brother and Cas over.
"Man this place is dull." Dean said as he reached his brother. "How is he doing?"
"Alright. This may be the first time he ever picked out clothes for himself though. So be supportive." Sam warned, noticing as Harry picked out a girl's top.
"Why don't you help him then?"
"Uh dude, that's your job." Sam told him. Dean gulped. Sam gave him a shove towards Harry, who was questioning if the numbers on the clothes meant anything. "This is going to be great. You should pick something out for him too." Cas nodded and walked away from the section they were in. Sam nodded his head along to the teenish music playing in the background, when a shirt nearby caught his eye. He grabbed it, estimating Harry's size. On his way over to the duo he grabbed a few more things, placing in them in the pile that Harry had accumulated without him noticing. Cas placed another outfit on top, and Dean dumped what he was carrying.
"Try everything on. See if you like it." Dean said, pulling back the changing curtain nearby. Harry lifted all of his clothes, huffing slightly. There was a rustling as they waited, Dean jumping in surprise as Harry ran out shirtless to give Cas a hug. The boy noticed the female worker walking past and gave a squeak of horror rushing back behind the curtain. "What was that?"
"I'm assuming that was thanks for healing his body of all bruises and scars. There was a great multitude of them." Cas said. Sam held his stomach, feeling that empty pit again, and regretting not being the one who had pulled the trigger. He was saved from any episodes of rage when Harry came out dressed in a new outfit.
"Uhhh." Dean grinned, giving thumbs up. Sam slapped his hand down.
"Whaaaat? It looks good." Harry was wearing an outfit extremely similar to the one that Dean was currently wearing. The boy stuck out his tongue, and Dean became offended. Harry went back behind the curtain, and the trio appluaded each thing that he had chosen. The attention had a positive affect on the boy and he became more confident when walking out. He pushed his hair back in exasperation when he came out in an outfit exactly like that of Cas. Dean told Harry to stand next to the angel and snapped a picture of the two of them. Cas was peering at the phone in confusion, and Harry doing his best to imitate the angel's serious figure. Harry rushed back to the changing booth, coming out in the outfit from earlier. Dean tossed his phone to Sam. "Alright, Harry. This is called a blue steel." Dean and Harry posed back to back, Harry's childish blue steel making his uncle laugh. Harry spent a few more minutes in the booth, a lot of rustling heard. Finally he stepped out in what Sam recognized as one of the outfits he had chosen for the boy. Dean took his phone back, and this time Cas watched over his shoulder. Harry and Sam placed their hands on their heads, pretending to be a pair of moose. Harry went through the rest of the clothes, and the trio decided that the girls top wasn't too girly, merely a different cut for a band congratuladed himself for being thoughtful as he grabbed several packs of socks and underwear for the boy. The four of them carried the large quantity of clothes to the register, getting a horrified look from the teen worker. Luckily an older associate was nearby and offered to ring them up.
"Your total will be 1,138 pounds then." Dean didn't even bat an eye, handing over a credit card. Harry watched intently as the salesman swiped the card, the ding of approval coming out of the small computer. They hauled the various bags to the car, Sam struggling to fit them all in the trunk. Harry grabbed the Rolling Stones tee and a pair of dark blue jeans and changed in the car with the others keeping gaurd. Harry stepped out and the elder Winchesters looked at each other.
"Shoes." They said in unison.
"You and Cas take him. I need to take care of a few things." Dean said.
"Like what?" Sam asked.
"Don't worry about it. It's gonna be great."
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice." Albus said to the group of people in his office. "Harry Potter has been seperated from his Aunt and his home destroyed." Minervra McGonagal, the aging Transfiguration teacher, gave a gasp. "I had thought it to be an accident, and the seperation to be a mistake, but this is not the case. Vernon Dursley had been shot through the head. Instant death. There was no witnesses as our incompetent Minister had everyone on the street obliviated because he thought it to be a magical act. Mrs Figg states that the rain obscured any details, but knows that there was a spectacular glow from the house, a red orange and blinding blue. After the rain had stopped shortly after she went out to investigate what she could. She is positive that there was no magic used in that household, at least not any magic of our making. I will ask one of you to go retrieve him." Albus lifted the mirror from his desk.
"This will show us where he is?" Severus asked. Albus nodded, saying the activating words. The mirror rippled before going black. Albus repeated the words. The mirror caught an image of the boy for a second before it began to glitch and returned to black.
"Albus? What does this mean?" Minervra asked.
"I don't understand. This mirror is keyed to the boy's magical signature. As long as Harry Potter exists, this mirror should be able to find him." Albus set the mirror down.
"Do you think he could be dead?" Molly Weasley, the mother of seven redhaired children, whispered.
"No. I am most confident that he is out there. The mirror would have shattered if he had passed on."
"Then, perhaps...a new identity." Severus suggested in his usual indifferent drawl.
"Highly unlikely Severus my boy. This mirror would not be deterred by a boy's decision to call himself something other than what he is not. It would take the complete acceptance of another family, and Harry's agreement for the mirror to recognize the boy as someone new. This fortunately discounts any Death Eater families having adopted the boy, thinking it would be enough. However, this still leaves us with the mystery of where the boy has gone. He has no family left to speak of." Severus kept silent, knowing of the Headmaster's ordered obliviation of Lily's godfather, John Winchester.
"So we search." Severus said. Albus inclined his head.
"So we search."
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
Harry loved the sound of his new sneakers on the pavement. They had bought a few pairs for different activities, including a pair of sturdy boots. The trio rested against the car, waiting for Dean to return. Harry looked at his reflection in one of the many puddles, amazed at how different he looked without his glasses. He decided he rather liked the way he looked, especially with clothes that fit him properly. The sign for the Leaky Cauldron creaked, causing Harry to look up. A few people exited, mingling witht he crowds without a second thought.
"Alright. Here Harry this is for you." Dean said, handing Harry a wallet. Harry unfolded it to look inside. There was various IDs within, all matching the aliases that Dean and Sam had. Each used a cropped photo of Harry when he was posing as Cas. The one on top was his real identity as Harry Winchester, the address one from the Americas. "Also this." Harry grabbed the cellular phone with confusion, titling it various ways to find out how to work it. "It's one of the newest ones. The black market is way better here than over back in America." He told Sam. "So, I also got all of this!" He announced, waving two bags in front of Sam's face.
"Dude, you're gonna max all our cards." Sam said. "Wait is this a new laptop?" Dean grinned, knowing that he would win over his brother with the new gadget.
"We should get going. It will be dark soon." Cas recommended, ever the voice of reason.
"You're right. We need to get into this place Petunia told us about. Find out some info." Dean outlined.
"Well, if only Harry can see it, we can work with that. Say we knew Harry was special, but don't know what he is. They will want to help, because he is one of them and we are his family." Dean snapped and pointed at his brother, approving the plan. They grabbed their stuff from the car, weapons hidden under their clothes. Dean found an old backpack in the trunk that he gave to Harry, who filled it with a few pairs of clothes.
"Let's do this." Harry held onto Dean's hand, the others grabbing on to him, and they walked into the Leaky Cauldron. The brothers felt their jaws drop when they saw the inside of the pub. All around at the tables were people dressed in strange robes, staring at the family that had just entered.
"See Dad! I told you there was something here!" Harry said loudly.
"Wow." Cas said.
"You guys new around these parts then?" The bartender asked, setting down the mug he had been drying. The group moved closer to the man. "The name's Tom."
"Hi there Tom." Harry said cheerfully, causing the man to smile kindly at him. "Is this a magic place?"
"One of the most. You must be the little wizard then. Muggleborn?"
"What is Muggle? I am adopted, these two are my Dads, and that is my Uncle. I am different from them, I think. They could not see the pub like I could."
"Muggle refers to non magic folk. These here must be a surprise for you."
"We knew Harry was different, since we got him. We just thought he was like a medium or something. Magic is real?" Sam asked in feigned surprise.
"Aye. You lot foriegn too?"
"Yes, we just moved." Cas answered. "I would like to learn more of your society. I think Harry would be very happy if he could be a part of it." The notion was stiff, but Tom didn't seem to notice.
"Give me a moment here." Tom ducked down to search behind the bar, coming up with several panflets. "We get Muggleborns coming round here so often that I asked Dumbledore to lend me a few."
"Thank you. Could we procure shelter from you as well?" Cas asked, grabbing the papers and handing them to Harry
"One room for you? 'm afraid we don't take credit cards." Dean and Sam dug through their pockets, Harry looking at the cash they came up with.
"That is not British." He whispered loudly.
"No matter! All cash can be converted to wizard money. Let me just get the exchange rate for ya." Tom ran his finger down the chart on the wall behind him. "Eighty dollars will do ya." Dean placed the correct amount of money on the counter and Tom handed hima key in exchange. "Top floor, on the left." Dean gave a nod of thanks, leading the way. Once they were in the room Harry turned to Cas.
"You speak too stiffly. I get that everyone thinks England to be prim and proper, but you need to loosen up."
"I will attempt to work on it." Harry nodded and sat on one of the beds, laying out the pamphlets.
"This one first I think." Harry said, selecting the one that read Your Child Is Magical.
"Wait, I need to get a journal to take notes." Sam interrupted, leaning back to grab one from his bag.
"Nerd."
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
Severus still sat in the back corners of the Leaky Cauldron, having watched the family leave upstairs. He was debating his next move. Runnig his finger around the rim of his glass, he weighed his options. It was obvious that the boy was Harry Potter, son of the love of his life and James Potter. The only thing that he had seemd to inherit from James had been the unruly hair, his face and eyes being that of Lily. He was fully aware that his employer most likely had alternate plans for the boy. Voldemort would at least quickly dispose of the boy, whereas Albus would relentlessly manipulate him, just as he had all of them. Soldiers by age 18, dead by 21, various lives ruined for the sake of a greater good. As such, the decision came down to helping the boy, or leaving the pub, pretending to have never seen him. The boy would be completely unprotected with the Muggles he was with, unless they were merely pretending to be ordinary. With a sigh he downed the rest of his Firewhiskey, heading upstairs.
"Have you done any accidental magic Harry?" Sam asked, reviewing his notes. Harry thought about it before nodding.
"I turned my teacher's hair blue, showed up on the roof when running away from my cousin, shrunk a hideoues sweater that Petunia tried to get me to wear. I've also grown my hair back after a horrible hair cut. Oh! I let the snake out at the zoo." Harry listed, ticking them off on his fingers.
"That was you?!" Sam exclaimed. Dean gave his brother a light smack on the back.
"Hey, case solved." Sam rolled his eyes, reaching for the next fold out. He paused, hearing the creak of the loose floorboard right outside their door. He placed his hand on the hilt of his blade, jerking his head towards the door. Dean got up, gun ready and hidden behind his leg. He stood on the hinge side of the door, placing his hand on the doorknob. Cas moved himself and Harry behind Sam, blocking the boy from view. Dean swung the door open quickly to reveal a sharp nosed man with impossibly dark eyes. The figure drew a stick quickly in response.
"I'm looking for Potter." The man said gruffly, his voice extremely unique. Sam moved his head back in confusion, casting a quick glance at his brother. "The boy, Harry." He added, saying the name as if it left a sour taste in his mouth.
"It's Winchester." Harry said boldly, stepping into view. The man let his arm fall, and the elder Winchesters let their guard drop just the slightest fraction. The man stepped into the room, his black robes billowing behind him dramatically. Cas kept a hand on Harry's shoulder in silent warning.
"So the little preformance the four of you put on was not entirely an act." The man assumed. He noticed the pamphlets and gave a scoff of disgust, setting them aflame with a quick motion. "These are useless to you."
"Look man, who the hell are you, and why shouldn't I shoot you?" Dean growled, revealing his gun.
"My name is Severus Snape and-"
"You knew my mum." Harry whispered, tears in his eyes. Suddenly, Severus was thrown back to one of the most horrible days of his life. The same green eyes, framed by flowing orange hair. The laughter of his tormentors cutting off as they realized what he had just said. Severus blinked a few times, the expectant faces in the room crowding him.
"Once, a very long time ago."
"Sammy, the tests." Dean ordered, not lowering his gun. Sam nodded, grabbing a flask from his bag and tossing it to his brother. Dean splashed the holy water over the man, recieving a death glare in return. Sam grabbed the man's arm and cut it with a silver blade. He was blasted back by a red spell, falling unconcious.
"Clearly helping you imbeciles was the wrong decision." He muttered, waving his wand over his arm to heal the cut.
"They have reason for their suspicion. We have just exited our own war filled with beasts whom can easily imitate or possess any person." Cas explained, causing the man to pause in his exit. The man inclined his head in acceptance. "Your assistance would be appreciated."
"Please Mr. Snape?" Harry begged. Severus mentally reviewed the advantages of helping the boy before waking Sam as a sign of goodwill.
"Very well."
"Wait, so is he on our side then?" Sam asked, holding his head. Cas nodded, and Sam let himself lean back against the wall in exhaustion. He reached out to Harry who rushed over. He hugged the boy close in what everyone else thought was relief to find the boy unharmed. Sam kept a tight grip on the boy to hide his shaking form. Whatever had been done to him seemed to have reignited the power of the demon blood within him, if only by a small bit.
"Formal introductions should be made at this time." Severus said.
"Dean Winchester, that's Sam, my brother. Castiel."
"No surname?" Severus questioned.
"I am a celestial being inhabiting the body of one James Novak. I have no use for a surname. You are familiar with the name Winchester." Cas said, staring intently at the man.
"You presume this on what grounds?" Severus countered.
"You lowered your guard. You trust the name." Cas responded.
"It's like a compitition for most monotone." Dean joked. Both looked at him with glares, making him put his hands up in surrender. "So since you burned all our info, care to give some up?"
"I met your father only once, breifly. He is Lily's godfather, and had come looking for Harry after her death. Albus got to him before he could reach him, erasing all memory he had of the boy." Cas frowed at this information, sitting down on the bed. Dean gave him a questioning look, but the angel pointed to Severus to show it was not important at the moment. "Though, I suppose I should start before that. There was a boy named Tom Riddle, who much like you Harry, grew without parents or knowledge of what he was. He had developed his powers at a very youg age, exhibiting control that nearly no child can achieve before recieving their wands."
"Control how?" Harry asked nervously. Severus regarded him with a searching look.
"What can you do Harry?" Sam asked.
"I made Ms Mayberry disappear, and then brought her back. I can sometimes get things to happen on purpose, if I think really hard about it. Like getting the locks on the outside of the cupboard door open." Harry said. Severus conjured himself a chair, sitting in in contemplatively.
"Stealing candy you rascal?" Dean joked, sensing the growing tension. Harry looked up at Dean.
"No. I was trying to get out." He said softly. Harry buried his face into Sam's shoulder, not wanting to the hisnew family's reaction to the news. He was worried that overtime they would see what his aunt and uncle had and do what Vernon had suggested. The grip that Sam had on him was starting to hurt and Harry was still to naive to know that he was not the cause of it. There was a flutter of wings and when Harry looked up Cas had gone. Dean felt himself tear up as Harry began to cry, unsure of what the problem was, but finding it torture to see him that way. His brother had a death grip on the boy, looking murderous, tears slipping down his face. Severus was at most, uncomfortable, refusing to look at the family. He dug through the pocket inside his robe, coming out with a light blue substance in a glass vial. He hesitated only a moment before pulling out another.
"Have them drink this. It is a calming draught." Dean took the vials from the man, kneeling beside his brother and son. Dean paused for a moment, knowing that he was only acting as the boy's father, young enough to be brothers. It just felt right somehow, but he would be damned if he somehow married Cas. In fact, he was so sure of the impossibility he bet himself the Impala. With a nod, he went back to calming his family. Sam was hesitant to take it, wondering if it would have the same effect that the spell had. Another flutter of wings and Cas was in the room, holding a small puppy.
"Crying is now unnecessary." He said, dumping the small husky into Harry's lap.
"Cas, what are you doing?" Dean asked him, pulling him away from Harry.
"Do not worry. I am learning the way of man. There was a little boy crying in the supermarket, where I was going to buy candy. His mother got him a stuffed animal. I did not think Harry would appreciate a dead animal considering his circumstances. Also he is older, so I got him this small dog." Cas grinned, amazed with himself for his clever deduction skills. "I thought he would be more excited." Dean turned to look at Harry who was staring at the puppy as it licked his hand.
"Yeah. I gave him something to calm him down. You can't just buy him a dog. What are you going to do the next time he gets upset?" Dean ranted.
"I did not buy him a dog. I stole it."
"I-" Dean tapped his foot a few times. "I am proud of you. BUT, maybe don't do things on your own."
"Oh. So now I need the permission of man to take action." Cas said, eyes narrowing slightly. Dean mentally pegged Cas as the wife, before telling his head to stop thinking they were actually together.
"Just, we can't stick out." Dean compromised. "Did you bring things for it to eat?" Cas nodded, pulling a kitten out of his pocket.
"Return it now."
"Is that a cat?" Harry asked before Cas could disappear again. Dean gave Cas a glare, taking the kitten and turning around with a giant smile on his face. Severus gave him a look as he passed.
"Shut up, I know I'm a sell out." he hissed. "Here ya go Harry!" The small white kitten crawled onto the boy's shoulder.
"Now the kitten will need food. I will go-"
"Don't you fucking dare."
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LIME BREAK
"I don't understand why I can't get a crup." Draco whined for the fifth time that day. He was a spoiled child, by both his mother and father. Nacrissa Malfoy was a gorgeous woman, and sat regally at her vanity, brushing her long blond locks. Normally she would have broken down by now and given her son what he wanted, but he was set to start at Hogwarts in a few months and they did not allow dogs.
"Wouldn't you rather have an owl, Dragon? Then the entire school would see it when it delivers mail to you." She asked,, apealling to the proud side he had inherited from his father. The blond boy thought about it for a moment, pacing the room.
"That is acceptable." He said at last.
"Very well. I will inform your father when he returns from the board meeting." Draco nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Your godfather has told us that Harry Potter has gone missing."
"Drat." Draco sulked. He knew that his family had a reputation for working under Voldemort, even though it had only offically been his father, but he still thought Harry Potter was amazing. Draco did not think he would have ever wanted to work for Voldemort, because he was far above that. He did not know that this was perciselythe behavior that his parents were attemping to instill in him by spoiling him rotten. "Do you reckon he's dead?"
"Maybe. With him gone, I'm sure you'll be the most popular boy at school."
"As if he would trump me. Do you know if Severus will come to visit anytime soon? He always has such interesting stories about the Muggles." Draco asked, laying back to stare at the ceiling. Nacrissa paused in her brushing.
"You don't find them, worthy of any respect do you?"
"Of course not, they are backwards apes. It is why they are so amusing. But I suppose they can't all be bad. Severus' father was one, and Sev is great. That is the reason he is a master of potions and not spellwork like a proper wizard." Nacrissa gave a sigh of relief. "However, Harry Potter's mum was a Mudblood, and he defeated Voldemort as a stupid baby." Draco sat up. "He is technically a pureblood though. Just not the purest, like us."
"That is right. Sweetheart, would you like to go visit Severus for dinner?"
"Yes, but I would like to go alone." Draco specified, his thoughts on blood purity forgotten in an instant.
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
"Harry is most likely malnourished, the draught should not have had such an affect on him." Severus muttered, watching as Harry repeatedly placed his kitten on the husky's back without emotion, catching it each time it fell. Harry suddenly frowned and brought the puppy's face closer to his own, looking deeply into the mix matched eyes.
"I think I remember something." He said. "Mr. Snape, do you know what Padfoot is?"
"No idea." Severus answered, subtly beginning to probe at the boy's mind. He found that he had been unable to do so with either of the Muggles, and had dared not try with the angel.
"I can feel you doing that." Harry said. "I don't think I ever want to take this potion again. I feel...strange."
"It will not have this affect on you once you are of proper nutrition. You are in a state of near meditation." Severus pulled a red, bubbling vial out. "This is a Pepper Up potion, I suggest you drink half." Harry nodded, grabbing the vial from Severus.
"Let's not focus so much on the history this time, yeah? Right now we got eyes to the future." Dean said.
"This is important information." Severus countered. Dean placed a hand ont he man's shoulder, green eyes hard.
"Not for an eleven year old. It's not fair to him."
"I'm apologize to have to be the one to inform you, but life isn't fair." Severus retorted. "Tom Riddle became the biggest threat to the wizarding and Muggle world in only a decade. If he comes back, he will need only a few days to reignite the war." His voice had gone from a low rumble to an aggravated yell, and Harry stared up at him in fear. Severus took a calming breath. "I am not asking you to put the child on the front line. He needs to be aware of what is out there, and the danger he is in."
"But, Voldemort is dead...isn't he?" Harry asked.
"He is, for now at least. His most loyal followers are searching for a way to return him to his former glory. These are the people you need to look out for." Severus warned. "As I was saying before, Tom came to study at Hogwarts, all the while becoming more powerful. He began his recruitment there, apealling to the pureblooded. He promised them a way to purify the wizarding world again, and to become the dominant species on earth. I was one of the ones he recruited, despite my halfblood status." Severus rolled up his sleeve, showing his snake and skull marking.
"You worked for the man who killed my mum?" Harry asked accusingly.
"I was weaker then, seduced by the promise of power and admiration. You must understand that I loved your mother. I begged for her life to be spared." Severus responded. "Tom wished to kill you because of a prophecy that I overheard. The moment I found out his intentions, I defected. I told Albus to hide you all away."
"Tell the truth." Harry said. Severus felt his hand twitch towards his wand. He was a double agent. He was positive that his expressions had not given away anything, meaning that Harry was entering his mind, something that reminded him much of Tom.
"Are you reading my mind?" Severus asked calmly, subtly shifting his hand closer to his wand.
"No. I can see it in your eyes. I know what a liar looks like." Harry answered. It was the truth, after living so many years with the Dursley's, he knew what a lie looked like.
"If we are all going to trust each other, there can be no lies between us, no matter how painful, no matter how incriminating, alright?" Dean ordered.
"I begged Albus to hide your mother. I had no reason to wish for the safety of you and your father." Severus spat out. "If you want the truth, words cannot begin to express it. The war was a game of chess played on the pinipece of a mountian. Do you know the definition of war?"
"Yeah, it means ganking the bad guys before they take over." Dean said. "War means losing the people you car about."
"War is fighting for what is right." Severus corrected.
"Isn't that what he just said?" Sam asked, interested by the topic of discussion.
"There is no good or bad in war. Merely factions of soldiers risking their lives for what is right. Albus feels that the mixing of blood is right, Tom believes that purity is what is right. None of us can decide which is correct."
"Like if my favorite colour is blue and yours is red. We both think it is the best colour, but there really is no best colour."Harry reasoned. Severus inclined his head in approval.
"Tom murdered both your father and mother. He broke a magical oath by killing your mother, and ancient magics used you as a vessel to punish him for this. Anyone who bears this mark is a former Death Eater, that is not to say that a person who is free of one is not a loyal follower. Inversely, all those who bear the mark are not loyal. Among these is the Malfoy family. I have over time convinced Lucius of his error, and he is insuring that his son will not want to join should Tom return."
"Why should we trust you then?" Sam asked.
"I am a double agent. You should not trust me."
"Don't use that psychological crap on us. Why do you want to help Harry, you didn't have a problem with him dying before." Dean argued.
"We all must pay our debts in one way or another. Albus is greatly concerend that Harry could turn into another Tom. He will hinder the boy at each turn. The tactical advantage of having Harry reside in the Muggle world was for him to be grateful once entering the Magical one. If Harry can be powerful, I will allow him to get there. There are those who will follow the boy, simply due to who he is. Albus does not wish to lose his position as leader, hence the reason to keep the boy underfoot."
"I want to be powerful." Harry said. "If they want to count on me, I need to be a good example."
"No one can know you are alive." Severus said. "You will remain Harry Winchester until Harry Potter is needed once more. Harry Potter will return as powerful as the folk stories say you are, and that is when the war will truly come to an end."
"Won't people recognize me?" Harry asked.
"Only those who knew your parents well. All others will be searching for the bolt of lightning that is meant to be adorning your forehead. I can attempt to create a potion to alter you apperance..." Severus trailed off, thinking of some changes he could make to polyjuice.
"We can get him colored contacts, cut his hair." Sam suggested, shrugging with one shoulder.
"I am not cutting my hair." Harry said. "What if I dye it. Can I get blue?"
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
Griphook, the goblin that managed several accounts at Gringotts, was surprised to find a change in his books when he went to review them. They had been chiming for most of the night, but it was not uncomon for families to have had a child that would be given their own savings account. However, this was not what greeted him. Instead the name of one Harry James Potter had changed to Harry Winchester. Griphook waddled over to his filing cabinet, searching for the files of the late Lily and James Potter. Naturally the boy would get a new key sent to him right away, the old one deactivated. Pulling the thick file out, he began to leaf through it. Most of it was the same standard policy, half to each spouse in case of mutual divorce, 90 - 10 split if a party was found guilty of breaking marriage vows, but he knew that Lily and James had requested an alteration to the orphan clause. He finally found it, staring almost sadly at the pair's signatures, dated a mere week before their death. The alterations stated that no one who took Harry in would be allowed access to his vaults unless they accepted him in such a way that it would reconfigure his magical configuration. In addition Lily requested that all donations be kept in a seperate vault that only Harry could enter, and which he could only use in an emergency.
Griphook thought this wording to be vauge, as the magic would conform to what the user believed to be an emergency. He sincerly hoped that Harry was like his parents had been, butif he were not a pair of new trainers could be considered an emergency. Lily had certainly put a lot of trust in her ran a nail down the clause, and a new key began to rise from the paper.
"Good luck, Harry Winchester."
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
Severus strode down the halls of Hogwarts, leaving the new family alone to do their shopping after teaching them how to use floo to contact him. His plan was to tell Albus that he had found nothing in his search, other than a pair of new trainees for the school. Entering the office, he found the rest of the search team already there, and they all looked up at him hopefully.
"I did not locate Mr. Potter." he said. "Loathe as I am to admit it, I feel that the children need formal training. While on my search I came across a family with a boy I had mistaken for our golden boy. They are worried for their son and wish to obtain positions here at the school. Normally I would have ignored such a request, however they have proven their worth and I feel it would benefit our side."
"All our positions have been filled Severus. What ever could they do for us?" Minervra asked.
"Create a positive image of Muggles. They refer to themselves as Hunters, and have encountered magical beasts before. They can provide Muggle alternatives to fighting dark creatures, which could be beneficial if one was ever to be found without a wand."
"We cannot simply replace Quirrell." Albus said. Severus could tell Albus was nervous. The man knew of Hunters, John Winchester had been one after all.
"That man is on the verge of a nervous collapse. I am sure one apprentice could do him good." The others mumbled their agreement, and Severus smirked internally. "As for the other two, I could benefit from one to help stock our stores so that I may focus more on teaching the children. Merlin knows they need all the help they can get." Pamola half raised her hand to gain everyones attention.
"I could give work to the last one. Between my greenhouses and helping Hagrid around the grounds." She offered. She gave Severus a knowing look. As great as the Gryffindor Slytherin house rivalry was, Slytherin Hufflepuff friendships were not known. Surprisingly Pamola was one of the few coworkers he could stand to have a conversation with. The fact that he vast knowledge of plants correlated with his potion making was one of the reasons. Albus smiled at the small section of people, but Severus could see the tension in his eyes.
"Very well. However, should they cause any issues, or begin to be targetted by the students, I feel it would be best if they returned home and entrusted their child to us." Everyone silently nodded their agreement. Albus turned cold blue eyes to Severus and the potions master met his challenge. The others began to file out, and as Severus rose he allowed a victorious smirk to grace his features just long enough for the Headmaster to see.
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LIME BREAK
"I still thnk blue would have been a good colour." Harry complained, tugging at his shorter hair. Surprisingly Cas was the one who had convinced him. The angel reminded him of what Severus had said regarding his scar. His short hair, which was styled similar to Dean's, would leave no one wondering if he was hiding a scar underneath his bangs.
"We got you blue eyes, didn't we?" Sam said, trying to cheer the boy up.
"Well yes, but then it would have matched." Harry countered. Sam rolled his eyes goodnaturedly, hefting the bags of animal food a bit higher. Cas and Dean had run off to do another errand, saying it wouldn't take long.
"I'm going to put these in the car. We'll come out a bit later to grab some." Harry nodded, going to look into a shop window while Sam struggled with the bags. The sweets shop bell dinged, a couple boys exiting.
"Oi. Ain't that Big D's cousin?" A rat looking boy said to the other. Harry turned, eyes widening in alarm. The two boy walked over to him. "What's up with your eyes freak? Thunk we won't recognize ya?"
"Where's your wonky scar?" The other asked.
";And your glasses? Bet Big D busted em right up and proper." The boy picked up a rock, tossing it up and down. "Just like we about to do to ya face here in a mo." The rock was launched, Harry ducking down to avoid it. Sam was still a few shops away, trying to fit the food in the car. He waited until the boys stooped down to grab stones before bolting. A duo of angry shouts from behind him made him pick up the pace. He felt a rock strike his back and unintentionally cried out, gaining his new uncle's attention. Sam threw his hand out, both assilants falling face forward. Harry grabbed onto Sam's jacket. The two boys got up,eyes murderous until they saw Sam. They immediately became sheepish.
"Get lost." The boys turned tail and ran. Harry looked up at Sam.
"How do you do that? Are you an angel like Cas?" Sam swallowed thickly.
"I'm human. At times I can be psyhcic, but let's not tell Dean or Cas about what I did. They worry." Harry gave Sam a dubious look but nodded, owing the man for saving him. Sam gave quick, forced smile, clapping a hand onto the boy's shoulder. Both turned their gazes skyward upon hearing a flutter of wings. A tawny brown owl landed on the roof of the Impala, a letter clamped tightly in it's beak. Harry reached up to take it, jumping slightly as the bird departed. "What is it?"
"To Harry Winchester, Room 231 the Leaky Cauldron, London. It's a letter, but how did they find us?" Harry flipped the letter over, snapping the red emblem to open it. "It's my letter to Hogwarts. It says someone will be sent to explain things since I am Muggleborn. I hope it is Severus."
"Really? He doesn't scare you?" Sam asked, knowing that he found the man intimidating.
"I like him. He doesn't sweeten the facts because I am only ten." Harry stuffed the letter into his pocket. "And I think it's funny when him and Cas talk to each other, Dean was right it is like a competition of rmost monotone." Harry gave an umph of surprise as another owl crashed into his chest. It scambled to perch on the boy's arm. "Well hello."
"He's got something tied to his leg there." Sam said. Harry lifted his arm higher to untie the key from the bird. It glowed briefly in his hand. "We need to talk to Snape."
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
Severus was back in his home in Spinner's end, preparing himself dinner the Muggle way. He found the activity to be relaxing as it was similar to Potions. It was here in the kitchen of cracked tiles and peeling cupboards that he asked himself what he was doing. Was he so desperate for Lily's approval that he would open himself up to anyone who was remotely involved in her life? Helping Harry and the Winchester boys was certainly the right thing to do, but was it the smart thing? He heard his floo roar to life and an instant later his godson was calling out to him.
"There is no need to shout like an inbred ape." He announced. Draco came into the kitchen, taking a seat at the table. "How are you today Draco?"
"I heard Harry Potter is missing. Is this true?" Severus dumped the carrots into the soup.
"I assume your mother told you this?" Draco nodded. Severus crossed his arms, leaning against the counter. "Potter is gone yes. Not for good, but you needn't worry anout it."
"I can keep a secret Sev." Draco said.
"No you can't." Draco pouted, making Severus smirk. "I will tell you something else. There will be Muggles at Hogwarts this year." Draco's grey eyes widened in amazement.
"Are you being serious Sev? How will they learn without magic?" he exclaimed.
"They will be helping the teachers. Would you like to meet them before school starts this year?" Severus asked. In reality the Muggles only threat was Draco. There were of course many pureblooded students in the school, but the most malicious were in Slytherin. It was almost a blessing that Draco would be joining them this year, as his family name would gain him much influence over the house, despite him only being a first year. That coupled with the fact that he, his godfather, was head of house practically garaunteed they would follow the example that the boy set.
"Are they friends of yours?" Draco inquired as he moved to grab the bowls from the cabinet. He would never do such a thing at home where there was house elves to do all the work. Plus he can only imagine what his parents would say. Draco liked being at Sev's house because he could do things for himself when he felt like it. He was of course one of the most purest wizards in the world, and shouldn't need to ever do things on his own, but he was perfectly capable of doing it himself. He was after all eleven years old now.
"One of them will be working for me. They are a family, a couple with a son and the boy's uncle." Severus ladled some soup into Draco's bowl. "The uncle is the one who will be working for me."
"How old is their son? Will he be staying at Hogwarts too?" Draco asked.
"He will be turning eleven in exactly a week, and yes, the boy is a wizard." Severus said, calmly eating his meal. He was deliberately leaving out many details in order to enhance his godson's deduction skills. Draco had a small frown on his face, stirring at his soup.
"So he's a Muggleborn then."
"No." Draco bit his lip briefly, eating a few bites as he thought about the information he did know. He knew that Sev was testing him, and he hated to dissapoint the man..
"The couple adopted him then. Why would Muggles adopt a wizard?"
"Should difference in races prevent people from adopting?" Draco shook his head. His friend Blaise was black and had been adopted by an Italian family. "Adoption means opening your heart to someone who deserves it. Adoption takes time and money, it would be a shame to give it all up simply because the boy happened to be a wizard."
"So he is a halfblood at least, otherwise the boy could not have been found by Muggles. What is his name?"
"His name is Harry Winchester." Severus said. He was purposely misleading Draco to fully believe the story of adoption, and would accept any deduction he made based on the false story.
"Wait..." Draco picked as his bread. If Harry Potter had gone to live with Muggles after becoming an orphan he could have been placed in a Muggle orphanage. Then he cold have been adopted by an unsuspecting Muggle family. But Sev had been the one to say that Harry Potter was gone, which technically was true since he was now Winchester. Sev also said he couldn't keep a secret, and he doubted he would tell him such important information. Severus on the other hand could sense that Draco was on the path to the truth, and was extremely proud of him. He was also testing if Draco would be able to keep this information to himself. "This proves he must be a halfblood at the very least. There is bound to be hundreds of Harrys around since he became famous. I would like to meet them. I want to be Harry's first friend so he knows how a true wizard acts. Can we celebrate his birthday? Do Muggles celebrate with cake and presents?"
"Yes. I'll ask his fathers if it will be alright to have the celebration here."
"Fathers? The couple is a gay one?" Draco asked.
"Is this a problem?" Severus asked. Draco shrugged.
"I suppose not Dad is gay on the weekends." he said as if this were common knowledge. Severus slowly put his spoon down.
"This is precisely why I don't tell you things."
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
"It's about time you've shown up." Harry sighed as he saw Cas and Dean walking towards them. "It's very annoying that you two can't get in yourselves."
"You'll forgive me once you see this." Dean said, handing over a shopping bag.
"You went shopping again?" Sam asked. "Who are you and what have you done to my brother?" Dean waved off the critisism. Harry looked into the bag, and his heart rate increased. His eyesight became spotted as he stumbled towards Sam. The bag fell to the ground , the pitter patter of crushed glass filling the air. "We got to get him inside." Dean and Sam lifted the boy, Cas scooping up the bag and placing a hand on Dean's shoulder. Harry was rushed upstairs, his new pets nervously getting onto the bed with him. Sam grabbed a handful of powder and tossed it into the fireplace. He stuck his head into the green flames, calling out Snape's name. He scrambled back as the Potions Master came through, a small blond boy behind him.
"What happened?" He snapped. Dean explained that the boy had fainted at the sight of his new gift.
"He has broken it, but I assume you can repair it?" Cas said. Severus took out his wand, casting a wordless spell. The gift had been a glass figurine of a stag. "Dean thought it would be...witty...considering they are Hunters. He planned to reveal that he would begin training."
"The Pepper Up must have worn off. Calming druaghts normally wear off in an hour, but in his condition it is entirely possible it is still sabotaging his mental state."
"Mandrake leaf." The blond said suddenly. Severus nodded and the boy disappeared back through the fire. The boy returned after a few minutes and Severus held his hand out for the leaf. His hand was ignored, the boy heading straight to the bed and placing the leaf under Harry's tongue. Fingers slowly curled in towards his palm before Severus let his hand fall.
"Your kid?" Dean asked.
"This is my godson Draco. We were in the middle of a visit." Harry gave a small groan and all the attention was turned to him. "Space Draco." Harry opened his eyes, slightly startled to find another child's face so close to his. Eys the color of ,molten steel were peering at his inquisitivally.
"Erm. Hello?" Harry tried. The boy moved back, allowing Harry to sit up. He extended a hand, which Harry took.
"I am Draco Malfoy. It is a pleasure to meet you Harry Winchester." Harry nodded dumbly, amazed that another kid was being nice to him. His gaze shifted to the adults in the room and he figured that Draco was only being nice because of this. He allowed his hand to slip back to his side.
"What did you see?" Severus asked, not needing to explain what he meant.
"It was like what happened with Danny. I was here, but also not. Like things were overlapping. The other place was quite blurry, but I could hear it whispering to me." Harry's eyes flicked over to Draco, inwhat Severus took as a suggestion of subtlety, but was in actuality fear of the boy thinking he was completely off his rocker. Draco frowned.
"Is Danny another friend of yours?"
"Danny is my dog." Harry assured, feeling slightly warmed at the fact that Draco seemed to genuinely want to be his friend. "The kitten is Kit Kat."
"The children seem entertained, shall we?" Severus motioned to the table at the other end of the room. "A stag was the Patronus that Harry's father could produce. Draco showed a lot of intuition by suggesting the leaf, Harry should not experience any more episodes."
"That's good to hear. Your godson, he's the one from the Death Munchers family?" Dean asked, keeping the boys in sight.
"Yes." Severus looked over at the boys as well. They were sitting side by side, looking at a journal that Harry had pulled out. "Draco wishes for me to extend an invitationon his behalf. He was hoping you would celebrate Harry's birthday in my home so that he may attend."
"Oh fuck his birthday. When is that?"; Dean asked.
"The last of the month."
"We would love that actually." Sam answered, since Dean had begun to freak out over his fatherly duty to make the perfect celebration. "But, I uh needed to call you for another reason. Harry recieved a key today, and it glowed a bit when he touched it."
"The key to his vaults I presume. We will make a trip tommorow to Diagon Alley."
"Sev! Harry says he hasn't yet eaten! So I courtouesly invited him and his family to dinner at your house." Snape felt his eye twitch just the slightest bit.
"Oh, no. It's alright. I was going to ask my Dad if we could go get fast food." Harry said hurriedly, blushing pink.
"Nevermind then Sev."
"Draco has an issue with space." Severus told the others. "His mother is constantly coddling him."
"I find it sweet." Cas said. "It was God's plan to have all his creations live as if they were a single being. Close, caring, considerate. To hurt another was to hurt yourself, an err you would immediately correct. I do not know if God made you witches and wizards, but I am truly blessed to be among you." Severus gave a smalll accpeting nod at the sentiment, hoping that his visit would end soon. "I would like to discuss something. Perhaps you can offer insight."
"Proceed."
"In the war from which we came, Dean and Sam were meant to be vessels to angels. This plan was terminated as soon as Harry interferred. However, you did mention that John Winchester had come to retrieve Harry ten years ago. I am concerned that it was in fact Albus Dumbledore that made the plan go askew. I am concerned that the plan was not really terminated, and our adoption of Harry is not happenstance."
"I understand your situation all too well. Would the Potters have died if Tom had not heard the phrophecy? Would the phrophecy been spoken if not searching for a way to stop Tom?There is no way to know. We can only be cautious."
"Your society seems to be an excellent void for us to reside in. Thankfully in years to come we will be able to return, once Harry is no longer a viable vessel."
"Wait, if there's a way to not be a vessel, why don't we just do that too?" Dean asked. "What is special about Harry?"
"He is absorbing my lost angel grace."
Does that count as a cliffhanger? I love all the attention this is getting. Reviews always welcome.