Beta'd by: Bombadilo Baby. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. . . . and, sorry for interrupting your My Hero Academia binge watching ;-)

Also, I'd like to apologies for my last chapter folks (I really didn't like it, but if any of you thought it was okay, just dismiss this apology).

In any case, I'm hoping that this one will make up for it somewhat :-D Let me know!

Like many writers I know, any/all reviews, favourites, and follows are viewed with the highest regards.

A Ensnaring Weekend to You All!

-G

No I do not (in any way) own anything to do with Harry Potter. Though, Merlin, wouldn't it be nice if I did? shrug. Who knows, maybe, one day I'll write something that amazing too. Can only hope, right? :-D

"If you ever need anything at" George smiled

"all, mini-Maraurder, just" Fred went on

"Give us a shout." They finished, before disappearing with a cackle back around the corner.

There was a pregnant pause, as both Slytherin's eyed the empty corridor.

"I'm almost afraid to ask, but pray tell, why were you brought to my office by those two red-haired devils?" Severus asked eventually, turning to Harry.

Harry's reply was interrupted by the loud arrival of the six Slytherin first years Harry had recently run from, as they barrelled round the corner, breaths puffing, and hair and uniforms in varied states of disarray.

Severus pinched his nose with a sigh.

"Great Merlin, it's going to be a long year" the potions master muttered.

Chapter 17: Just Harry

Flash Back to Draco's, POV:

Draco's grey eyes widened as a paper crane fluttered through the group, settling down smoothly on Daphne's outstretched hand. He looked back towards Harry in stunned awe, but froze when he saw the raven flinch away moments after their gazes met. He watched, concern building as Harry's gaze flittered around the group, the smaller boys shoulders tensing further, his green eyes shuttering. Harry took a stumbling step back, away from the others.

Confused, Draco glanced around. One look at all of the others expressions, a myriad of surprise, envy, shock, and awe made comprehension drop like a stone in Draco's stomach.

His mind flashed back to a conversation he'd had with Harry the night before boarding the Hogwarts Express, as he watched the Raven back away with dismay.

"Don't worry, Harry" Draco reassured the smaller boy "My friends are great. I'm sure you'll get along."

The dark haired boy shrugged, not meeting Draco's eyes as his fingers played with a button on his shirt.

"Besides, I bet they're loads better than those muggles you were with!" Draco exclaimed, but then had to watch in concern as Harry's shoulders visibly tensed.

"I-I didn't mean. I'm sure some of them were oka-" Draco fumbled, realising that he might of inadvertently offended his friend.

His words were cut off by Harry's quiet reply. "I didn't have any friends."

Draco looked at Harry in surprise, unsure how to respond.

"My cousin and his gang threatened anyone who started to hang out with me. But then – when I -" Harry's breaths became slightly uneven, and his gaze was still fixed on his shirt.

His voice was trembling when he continued. "Dudley and a group of boys were chasing me. I was just trying to get away!" he whispered, fingers clutching his shirt tightly now. "But I jumped and, I, I was up on the school roof. I don't even know how I -! Most of my whole class saw – and after that, they-" Harry's voice cut off.

The Raven drew in a shaky breath, before seeming to force the words from his lungs. "When they got me down, they just stood there. Looking at me like- " Tears budded in Harry's eyes, which he tried to wipe away without Draco noticing. "I wasn't H-Harry anymore."

"I was a Freak." Tears dripped down Harry's face despite his best efforts.

Draco was scowling furiously by the end of the story. "You're not a freak!" Draco cried, outraged that those stupid muggles had made Harry upset.

"I wanted to be Harry. Just Harry!" the small boy said, barely even talking to Draco anymore as he curled up and started to cry.

Draco rushed over to hug his friend, wrapping his arms tightly around the smaller boy. "Muggles are idiots." He muttered as he rubbed Harry's shaking back. "Don't worry about them. You'll always be just Harry to me." Draco promised.

Draco quickly turned back from his friends towards Harry, mouth opening to diffuse the situation.

"Wait! Harry!" he said, arm out as though to grab the raven haired boy. But the movement of Draco stepping forwards seemed to trigger Harry's fear because before Draco could react the smaller boy had whipped around, darting away from the group.

Draco watched with dismay as his friend ran, knowing that he'd stuffed up already. That their response had hurt Harry, reminded him to closely of those blasted muggles!

A couple of the others were calling after Harry in concern, but by then the Raven had already disappeared down the corridor.

I need to go find him. Draco thought, stepping hastily to follow after Harry. Someone grabbed his arm, stopping his progress.

"I don't know what's going on" Blaise started as Draco whirled to face the person stopping him from catching up to Harry. "But I think Harry wants to be alone." He told Draco quietly.

The rest of the group quietened down, but Draco scowled fiercely, wrenching his arm from Blaise's.

"Because he believes we all think he's some kind of freak!" Draco snarled, not angry at Blaise as much as intensely worried about Harry. "He grew up with Muggles, and from what he's told me, I'm pretty sure they were all either scared and angry whenever he did accidental magic!"

"What?!" Pansy demanded, concerned, her eyes darting back to the corridor Harry had disappeared down.

"What does that have to do with-?" Daphne started, confused, before she was interrupted by Greg's matter of fact voice.

"Harry wants to be normal. So he became upset when we acted like he wasn't." he said simply.

Everyone turned to face Greg, the rest of the faces clearing in comprehension, before they all pelted rapidly after Harry.

It quickly became clear that they would never find Harry just randomly searching through the castle, as the raven was long gone. Draco paused as an idea on where to find Harry popped into his head.

"Sev's office." He murmured, before calling after the others.

They made their way breathlessly back through the dungeons, and finally tumbling round the corner.

Relief shone in their eyes as they saw both Harry and Severus outside the Head of House's office.

"Harry!" they cried, relieved, not noticing the Potion's Master's incredulous stare at their unkept appearance and (admittedly loud) entrance.

Harry turned to look at them in shock, green eyes rimmed with red. "Guy's?" he asked, surprised.

They all turned as they heard the teacher's weary sigh as the Potions Master pinched the bridge of his nose. "And what, pray tell, brings you all cluttering so loudly into my office?" Severus demanded. "If I'm not mistaken, you have less than half an hour until you are all due at Professor Sprout's greenhouses." He stated, eying them firmly.

The group of first year Slytherin's shuffled under his dark penetrating gaze sheepishly.

It was Harry's quiet voice that broke the silence. "Sorry, sir." He said, not looking at the other first years. "It's my fault. I didn't mean to get them into trouble." He said, green eyes earnest.

"We unintentionally upset Harry, Sir." Vince interrupted Severus' reply.

Daphne nodded "We were all very surprised when we saw him do wandless, wordless magic." she added. "We didn't mean to upset you Harry."

Blaise wandered closer to Harry and Severus "Though, it is bloody cool that you can perform it." he added, winking at Harry, causing the small boy to blushed, eyes wide.

Draco wasn't paying much attention to the rest of the conversation as he walked up to Harry, clasping his hand hesitantly. Harry's green eyes flickered across to Draco, apprehensively.

"Alright, Harry?" he asked quietly, grey eyes concerned beneath drawn pale brows.

Draco held his breath as he waited for the Raven to respond, hoping that his friend wouldn't hold anything against them. When Harry hesitated, Draco quickly went on. "You just surprised us a bit back there" he admitted. "But I hope you're prepared now," he joked, nudging Harry's shoulder. Harry looked up in alarm until Draco continued. "Cause I can pretty much guarantee we'll all be asking you for tips on how you did it." He laughed.

Harry looked up in shock, before blushing bright red.

"Ohh!" Pansy cried, excitedly bouncing on her toes. "Count me in!" she agreed, and was quickly followed by the others until Severus' low voice interrupted their scheming.

"For your own sake, I'm going to forget I ever heard this conversation." He drawled, exasperated and slightly humoured. "You all have approximately one minute before I dock points for being late to class." He announced, before conjuring a Patronus charm. A silver doe stood patiently beside the group of first years. "Follow the Patronus and it will lead you directly to class" he instructed firmly. "Harry, if I could speak to you briefly?" he requested as the others started to depart.

Harry nodded and walked over to Severus, encouraging Draco to follow the others, which he eventually did reluctantly.

Severus looked down at Harry with dark eyes, a flicker of concern passing through them "I trust you will tell me if there is anything . . . concerning you, Harry?" he requested slowly.

Harry nodded in confirmation, shyly. "I'm alright, Godfather." He said quietly.

Severus observed him closely for a moment before nodding approvingly. "Very well" he conceded. "I shall see both you and Draco this afternoon upon the conclusion of your classes." He instructed, reminding Harry of their deal.

Harry nodded, then conversation complete, he hurried to catch up with the others.

Severus watched his Godson depart, dark eyes unfathomable, before turning to re-enter his office to prepare for his second class.

….

It was sometime later, during his break between the third and fourth periods, that his peace was once again interrupted.

"Alright, Severus!" a voice cried from the entrance to his office as the door slammed open "I've had enough!" McGonagall said, walking briskly into his office and practically collapsing on the chair opposite his desk.

She speared the man with sharp eyes "What on earth is going on?!" she questioned or, more accurately in Severus' opinion, demanded.

Severus raised a brow at her unusual entrance, easily taking note of the frazzled hair and anxious posture of his old friend.

The potions master sighed, wondering if the day would only continue with this theme. He tapped his index finger against the desk a couple of times before answering.

"How much have you been told, Minnie?" He queried, with genuine interest.

McGonagall huffed, affronted. "Bloomin' cat whiskers!" she cried, frowning darkly. "The Prophet's useless! And the Ministry's sealed up tighter than Gringott's! I went into the holding cells at the DMLE yesterday and Albus, as usual, spoke a whole lot of nothing! Whilst trying to weasel information out of me." She grumbled, distractedly.

She shot a look at Severus "I don't know what you lot have gotten yourselves into, but it had better not cause trouble here at Hogwarts Severus, or you'll find all those black cloaks of yours transfigured into frilly nightgowns!" she warned, voice tinged with anxiety, but a steely look in her eyes.

Severus sighed, looking weary. "Lucius Malfoy came across Harry Potter in Diagon over the summer. It quickly became apparent that Albus' choice of primary guardians," the potions master spat out, eyes darkening "left much to be desired."

Severus' shoulder slumped as he looked across at his friend. Minerva was startled to see the devastated dark eyes and a bitter flicker at the corner of the man's lips. "Naturally the matter was investigated." The man went on hollowly, his eyes averted now and focused off to the left. "Harry was abused physically and mentally whilst under the care of his Aunt and Uncle, with full awareness of the Headmaster. Gringott's account managers have also confirmed illegal use of the Potter wealth under Albus' authorisation."

Minerva gasped, her face turning grey, though her eyes flickered with fury. Severus went on.

"Harry's full health check revealed countless injuries. All with either absent or substandard medical assistance. . . since the age of one." Severus looked up to Minerva, with haunted dark eyes "He received no treatment whatsoever following his encounter with the Dark Lord, Minnie." He whispered, in a rough voice as he shakily conjured a bottle of whiskey and two tumblers.

Minerva fairly vibrated with fury, dark eyes blazing, her back ram-rod straight. "That lying, manipulative, interfering old bastard!" she hissed tightly. "He told me that he'd sent for one of the Order's healers! That they'd be arriving within the hour to do a full physical! Some rot about St Mungo's not being safe.." her eyes flashed with outrage and pain at the man who'd betrayed them. "Do you know he made us leave him there?" she asked him, reaching forwards for a glass of whiskey with shaking hands, not noticing the tears starting to tremble on her eyelashes. "J-just leave Harry on the porch! Wouldn't let us even go in, only left a bleedin' letter! He was so tiny Severus, only wrapped in that blanket. Course I cast a warming charm when he wasn't looking. I'd been watching those muggles all day, and I told that old coot they seemed like the worst kind." She recalled, horrified at her own involvement in Harry's fate "All Albus' would go one about was blood wards, and Harry" she choked "being better off with his only remaining relatives."

Severus' head shot up "Blood wards?" he spat, murderously. "That was his reasoning for leaving Harry there?" Severus questioned demandingly, bristling with fury, hand clenched tightly around his glass. "Those so called wards wouldn't have help up against a sixth year, let alone the Dark Lord. They fell, Minnie. When we went to go get him out, there were no wards. No protection whatsoever. He was a sitting duck in that house, Minnie."

Minerva looked as though every year weighed heavily upon her at that moment "And the Headmaster knew. Albus knew?" she murmured, stunned and horrified.

Severus knocked back his glass of whiskey "As magical guardian, he was provided with the usual monitoring crystals. They were directly linked to Harry's wellbeing. Checked daily." He said flatly. "He was also the one to put up the wards. He knew."

Minerva hesitated, almost reluctant to ask. "Did he know about you?"

Severus froze, shoulders tense as he stared at the desk. "As Harry's magical guardian, I've been informed he had full access to Lily's will."

". . . Severus."

"Gringott's accountants have also confirmed that he was responsible for refusing the reading of the will to all other parties." The potion's master informed her, face blank, even as two tears trickles down his pale cheeks.

". . . Severus."

A broken, wild laugh burst abruptly from Severus. "Did you know that her will stated their last secret keeper?" he asked, heedlessly, changing the subject from his Godfatherhood.

Minerva tensed "Wha-?"

"It was Peter." Severus interrupted, swiftly downing another glass of whiskey.

Minerva was frozen in shock, unable to speak as the ramifications of what he'd just spoken set in.

"That snivelling lump of a coward sold out his only friends to the Dark Lord." Severus said voice shaking, more tears slipping down his face, dripping slowly from his chin onto the hands in his lap. "He was the one who sentenced Lily to death." He said roughly, in a tear clogged throat. Though his voice was still laden with those old feelings of self-castigation and guilt.

"Morgana's ghost!" Minerva whispered, eyes wide ". . . Sirius."

Severus nodded, hair swinging across his face. "Is more than likely innocent." Severus confirmed blithely, uninterested.

"He knew. . . he knew all along." Minerva said quietly, her brain felt like a huge blank slate, unable to comprehend their conversation any longer.

"The Headmaster is a tosser, Minnie." Severus said with dignity. Minerva spared a moment to glance at her obviously drunk friend, who had (in the last ten minutes) managed to down nearly the entire bottle an whiskey alone. "I believe, for once, I would like to prove the ridiculous rumours at Hogwarts true and cook him in my large cast iron cauldron." the dark haired said darkly.

"That is ill advised, Severus." Minerva said, with slight amusement at her friend, despite the horror of their situation.

"True." Severus conceded. He stared down at his desk. "I'm his Godfather, Minnie." He said, as though he still couldn't believe it. "She made me his, Godfather."

Minerva laughed briefly, reaching forward to pat the man's shoulder a few times. "Of course she did Severus." She said, frankly. "You were her only close friend with an actual head on their shoulders when Harry was born. How James convinced her to have Sirius as his other Godfather is beyond me." Minerva snorted.

Severus' lips twitched slightly.

"She left a letter addressed to myself in Gringotts, in the event of their death." Severus admitted, finger tracing the rim of his empty glass. "I have it in my possession now, unread of course." He went on.

Minerva shot her friend a concerned look, knowing how heavily all these revelations were weighing on his shoulders.

"Aye. And I'm sure Lily wouldn't begrudge you whatever time you need to read it, Severus." Minerva said frankly.

Severus nodded, dark eyes glazed over. "Perhaps later, when time permits." He murmured. A smile twitched marginally at his lips as a recent memory sprung up in his mind. "Harry came down to see me this morning, closely followed by almost the entirety of my Slytherin first years, not to mention your two Weasley twins. He seemed quite shocked by the entourage. As was I when the informed me that my charge had performed some form of wandless, wordless magic." Severus informed his friend, with no little amusement. "I feel I should warn you now, if I know my Slytherin's, this will not be the only instance made apparent."

Minerva's eyes widened, before she groaned in dismay, chuckling reluctantly. "Dear Merlin, we'll have an epidemic on our hands!" she croaked, shoulder shaking with laughter. "First years will be running around performing wordless magic before you can say blast ended skrewt!"

"Nothing you can't handle I'm sure, Headmistress." Severus smirked, glad that he wasn't in her position.

Minerva scowled, peering suspiciously at her friend. "That wouldn't be sass I hear, would it Severus? Don't test me now, or I'll be assigned all their detentions with you." She warned, an wicked glint in her eyes.

Severus' back shot up straight, a look of pure horror crossing his face. "Don't you dare!" he hissed.

Minerva chuckled. "Hmm. I don't know, Severus . . . " he mused slowly, sitting comfortably back in her chair. "Two of the most likely culprits are your Godsons. It seems only fair that you would be responsible for their actions. . . " the Headmistress considered with mock seriousness, barely concealing the pure evil smirk on her lips.

Severus rubbed his temples, feeling a headache brewing there already. "I fear we have enough to worry about this year, Minerva, even without the next generation of Marauder's to consider." Severus admitted. "Are all the protections in place?" he queried.

Minerva's face instantly turned serious. "The final one's went up two days ago." She stated. "You were right by the way." She said, confirming Severus' suspicion. "I did an overall assessment of the obstacles that Albus' was so insistent upon. They wouldn't have stopped third years!" she said, a deep scowl on her face. "If you wouldn't be opposed, I was hoping you could alter your own section? I've already administered the necessary changed to mine and discussed Pomona and Filius' contributions." She said grimly.

"Of course." Severus nodded. "It should have been done in the first instance." He scowled, once more tapping his finger against the desk agitatedly.

"The mark is growing stronger, Minnie." He confided to his old friend. "I believe it may be necessary to look re-fresh Hogwarts wards. The sooner the better."

Minerva looked startled and increasingly frazzled, her dark hair slipping slightly from the tight bun atop her head. "You think He would be able to enter at their current strengths?" she asked, somewhat fearfully before a steely resolution settled about her shoulder. She nodded definitively. "I'll look into the matter immediately. I assume you would be available to hold position for the Western side once more, Severus?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Certainly." Severus agreed.

Minerva stood. "If that's all, my old friend" she said "I had best be on my way". Severus rose to see her out.

Before crossing the privacy barriers Severus had instilled Minerva pierced him with a sharp look. "I understand that there are certain restrictions that prevent your open communication. But if there is anything that I can assist you with Severus, I expect to hear immediate notification." She warned, scowling fiercely at the potions master.

Severus looked at her, a brief flash of shock passing through dark eyes, before he smiled slightly at his friend. "Yes." He hummed considering "I suppose, though you are a Gryffindor, that you might be of assistance." He mused, jokingly.

Minerva's scowl darkened, and she rolled her eyes exasperatingly. "Slytherin's" she muttered under her breath and she swept back down the corridor away from the dungeons.

In the doorway to his office, Severus Snape barked in laughter.