AN: On chapter 84, fortheloveofimaginaryworlds asked about the name changes that happened, or didn't happen, in the story. I thought a bit about where it might fit in the story, but I noticed it really is already too late to fit it in. So I decided to add a little bit here to explain what is going on there.
This part happens soon after Severus Snape has taken on the Prince Lordship officially in chapter 61.
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All in a Name
As was routine by now, and no longer laden with anxiety and dread, Harry walked down to the Potions Master's office for his lessons in Occlumency. Since the man had taken up his seat on the Wizengamot and Harry had read the article in the Prophet proclaiming him Lord Prince, a question had been circling in his head. Why was the man still Professor Snape and not Professor Prince? In the end, Marvolo's last name had changed from Riddle to Slytherin the moment he had claimed the Slytherin Lordship.
Knocking on the office door Harry pondered the possibility of simply asking the Professor for answers. Since all the changes that had happened during the summer the Professor had been a lot more reasonable about questions and answering them. And Mrs. Goyle had encouraged Harry to actually ask the questions that came to his mind instead of either dismissing them or going off on his own to get answers by himself.
The door opened – as usual by magic and not because Snape had opened it by hand – and Harry was called in.
"Professor," Harry greeted, giving a small nod which, as he had learned during the summer, conveyed his respect for the teacher standing next to his desk, setting down a cup of what probably had been coffee.
"Mr. Slytherin. I hope you have managed to keep doing your meditation exercises." The tone of the Professor's voice was as dry and scathing as it usually was. But Harry had found that he didn't mind that much anymore.
"I have, sir," Harry simply answered, trying to concentrate even as the question lingered in the back of his mind. Should he ask?
"Good," Snape said in his usual severe tone, waving at the two chairs set up in their usual place, facing each other. They had moved on to the stage where Harry had to detect if Professor Snape did enter his mind or not. The Professor only ever moved to the surface and waited there, casting the spell needed silently. It was a frustrating task.
They sat down and started with their usual routine, but Harry was unusually distracted. Something that Professor Snape did notice rather quickly.
"Mr. Slytherin, you seem preoccupied. Do we need to postpone this meeting?" There was a hint of a sneer on the Professor's face, but Harry no longer felt the need to defend himself against the little barbs. Especially when they were accurate, which they had been every time since he had been adopted by Marvolo.
"Sorry, sir. It's true, I am distracted." Harry took a deep breath. "There is a question I don't know the answer to, and I think you're the only one who might be able to explain it to me." Honesty mixed with a little flattery worked surprisingly well on a lot of people.
Snape leaned back, slinging one leg over the other knee. He seemed intrigued. "And what question might that be, Mr. Slytherin? Surely nothing related to Potions? Such a question could be asked during class just as easily." A brow winged up. "Ask away, Mr. Slytherin."
Working hard not to fiddle with his sleeves, Harry took a deep breath and quickly gathered his thoughts.
"I'm confused how names change. You see, when I was adopted, my name on my birth certificate changed. First to Potter-Riddle, then, as father claimed the title of Lord Slytherin, to Slytherin-Potter. All the Lords and Ladies I've met and heard about only have one Surname. But you're now Lord Prince, and at the same time Professor Snape. I simply don't know why that is. What the rules are. And as you're the one exception to all that I have learned so far about family names, and how they are passed down… Can you explain, sir?" That had been rather long, making Harry uncomfortable. While he waited for Professor Snape to decide if he wanted to explain, Harry moved on the hard chair in an attempt to find a better position.
Folding his long hands in his lap, Professor Snape started to talk in his usual lecture voice. "As in many things connected to magic, intend is most likely the reason for the discrepancies you have noticed, Mr. Slytherin." For a moment there was silence, leaving time for Harry to ponder how intent might influence the name of a person in situations where magic and inheritance were involved. He didn't get very far before Professor Snape continued to speak. "You're a minor, so your intent didn't play any role in a matter of adoption. But Lord Slytherin didn't want to claim his father's family or his mother's, for that matter. But he very much wanted to claim his connection to Salazar Slytherin." Knowing what Harry did about the story of how Marvolo had been born and lived, he understood why he had preferred the Slytherin family over either Riddle or Gaunt, so he nodded. "I, on the other hand..." Snape was speaking in a lower voice now, no longer lecturing. "I have achieved a lot under the name of Snape. I got my Mastery with this name, I published under this name. That alone would be reason enough to keep it. Don't you think?"
They didn't continue the lesson after that, and Harry went back to his common room deep in thought. Professor Snape had answered some questions, but had also opened new ones. But there was no immediate need to get an answer to any of them. Why did his own intent not influence the name? Or had it actually influenced the process? After all, he still had the Potter name. Had magic something to do with it? And why would it?
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AN: It's short but I hope it explains how I see the names and how and why they change when magic is involved.
Thanks to Jordre and Jake for helping to improve my spelling!
First published on the 2nd November 2018