4. Determining Options
"What?"
The loud exclamation was immediately followed by a painful sounding coughing fit. The boy lying in the bed was staring trough the tears that had appeared in his green eyes due to the pain caused by the coughing at the man sitting in front of him. Severus was shaking his head in disapproval as he watched the coughing and squirming boy with a stern look over his hooked nose. What he saw was clearly not what he wished to see as his lips turned into a thin line.
"Potter, use that brain of yours and get a grip of yourself." Severus demanded harshly. "The more you act rash and foolish the more you will damage your already poor state of health. I thought you wanted to live? Then you should act like you want to!"
The harsh and reproving voice of his teacher caused Harry to rethink his actions. Slowly the boy was able to control his breathing and finally he managed to suppress the coughing. The tears now more due to the pain and not due to the grief were starting to cease and his former blurry vision was slowly clearing again.
Ever so carefully Harry tried to lean back into the cushions without causing another wave of hot, searing pain to wash over his fragile and hurting body, especially his tender lungs. Although he was still breathing rather raggedly Harry managed to look up from the blankets covering his body to direct his gaze at Snape.
"So, you want me to turn into Voldemort's son?" Harry asked sounding understandably doubtful.
His voice was badly laboured. While he had been speaking searing and itching pain in his lungs had caused him to close his eyes against the torture and grip his blankets tightly. Well, why should he even be surprised?
He had been brought to Slytherin Manor, after all, Voldemort's rightful and undetectable home. Snape had told him that he had even been kidnapped by the madman's followers calling themselves Death Eaters. And obviously the man had wanted him to regenerate and be safe as Snape was ordered to act as his private magical Healer and was to solely attend to his wishes and needs.
Now that he thought about his situation at hand and the bigger context of had happened, countless pieces of information still running around wild in the back of his mind, the idea of having been kidnapped so that he could become Voldemort's son suddenly didn't seem so far-fetched any more.
But that didn't mean he had to like it.
Snape sighed and pinched the bridge of his hooked nose. "Yes, Potter, you shall become the Dark Lord's heir. And no, Potter, not only I wish for this happen but the Dark Lord wishes for it, too." Snape tried to emphasize.
Harry wasn't any more convinced by those words and he knew quite well that Snape would know this, too. It was clear in the way Snape currently was looking at him and groaning in annoyance when his gaze fell on Harry's face.
However, who could blame Harry? It was Voldemort they were talking about, after all! What did they expect from him?
First Snape tells him he was going to die within the next week, probably even sooner if he didn't take care of his body. How very comforting and thoughtful of the Professor. Then Snape tells him that Harry is a horcrux, a living human horcrux – a piece of Voldemort's soul had latched onto his and wasn't that just plain revolting – but even worse the horcrux's dark magic was slowly taking over his light magic. Another ever-so-comforting thought. And finally Snape tells him that there is only one way to survive all of this – by becoming Voldemort's son.
No, that wasn't shocking, life-toppling and identity-crisis-ensuing.
It was a piece of cake.
Harry tried to glare, though he probably only managed a weak frown at best. He refrained from trying to cross his arms indignantly over his chest.
"How exactly are you imaging this to turn out?" Harry asked and thankfully his voice carried the incredulous tone he didn't currently manage to portray through his actions. "Voldemort hates me. He wishes to see me dead. He wishes to see all of my friends dead and to see me absolutely miserable if he has to see me alive. How do you imagine me to become his son, Sir?"
Harry was slowly but surely becoming desperate. He wanted to live, honestly, he really wanted to. But what use would it be to be alive only to having to live with a mad-man who hated him and who would hurt, embarrass or torture him and do whatever his crazy mind came up with.
He wanted a life that was worth to live. He wanted to have fun, be normal, finish school, start to work, go dating, find himself a nice, lovely girl, marry her, start a family with her, have two to three beautiful and amazing children and then live happily on. How was this going to happen if he was to be the son of Voldemort and live in his unplottable Manor with him?
The man would make his life a living hell.
Making up his mind Harry's face turned to steel. If Voldemort was truly his only opinion and Snape didn't have some damn good reasons that would explain to him why living as the Dark Lord's son was going to be so much better than being dead then Harry would outright decline.
Better dead and happy than alive and miserable, Harry thought darkly.
Severus meanwhile who was watching the boy carefully and was quite able to read his emotions and understand his reasoning was growing equally desperate, too.
"Potter" Severus' voice was imploring him to just listen and believe him. "As I told you before, the Dark Lord was the one who organized your kidnapping. He was the one who gave you this room and ordered me to keep you safe and in a state of health as good as possible."
Severus sighed and shook his head. "He knows a part of his soul has latched onto yours. He knows this quite well and therefore wants to keep you safe. You are one of his horcruxes and being the man he is he has tried to keep them safe, all of them."
A grimace briefly crossed Snape's features and even though the man tried to hide it, Harry caught it. "I know this is not a very comforting thought, to be kept safe because you are one of his horcruxes. But the Dark Lord would never do something to endanger your safety, your health or even your life. The Dark Lord is fiercely protective of his soul pieces."
Severus had only last argument and it was his trump card. "Potter, the Dark Lord was the one who came up with the idea of blood adopting you and make you his heir. He wouldn't have suggested it, if he was averse to having you live with him."
In the ensuing silence Harry grudgingly had to admit that Snape certainly did have a point. It didn't feel good at all to know that Voldemort wasn't going to kill him but only because Harry was unfortunate enough to be his horcruxes.
Although this at least had a tiny fortunate aspect. Voldemort would let him live and wouldn't dare torture him out of fear that he might damage him beyond repair. This was at least something. He would be able to live, perhaps he would not be too happy with his situation, but Voldemort might give him enough room to actually be able to live his life semi-happily.
Still, Harry needed more information to be convinced. "So Voldemort would actually let me live. But what would I do?" Harry asked his voice laced with scepticism. "He wouldn't let me out of his sight. Instead he would keep me inside this Manor. What could I do with my life here so I wouldn't die because of boredom, Sir?"
Severus openly groaned in annoyance. The boy did seem to have a brain and obviously he was able to use it quite well. Sadly Potter had to start using this grey matter between his ears when the time was pressing.
Severus didn't wish for him to question each and everything he said, but the way Potter was acting he certainly seemed to plan to do so. However, if those were the most pressing matters on Potter's mind then he would, of course, try to ease them. They were, after all, relatively easy to answer and probably even to the boy's satisfaction.
"Potter, the Dark Lord wants you to be his heir. He does not wish for you to be locked away in some cell and stay there rotting until you die." Severus shook his head. This would be so much easier to accomplish, the Dark Lord wouldn't need to blood adopt Potter for that.
"He wishes for you to complete your studies, especially Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Dark Arts, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Runes and Arithmancy." Severus listed the possible subjects making and-so-on gestures with his long fingers. "He wishes for you to excel in them."
Severus sighed inwardly and almost rolled his eyes. If wishes were horses. Oh, how often he had wished that those dunderheads calling themselves his students might excel in something besides rule-breaking and causing trouble.
"Then The Dark Lord would want you to find yourself a job, most probably something you can do while being inside this castle. He would want you to attend social gatherings, learn how to behave, speak and walk properly in public and finally, after all of this has been accomplished, he would wish for you to find a partner, marry, settle down and have some children so that his line will exist further." Well, that should be enough to satisfy Potter.
Severus could see the stunned look on the boy's face and had to forcefully quell the need to roll his eyes.
In all honestly, Potter really truly wish for much in his life, however, the Dark Lord could offer that much to him and even more. Finishing school, getting a job, marrying and having some children of his own were the most basic human needs of all. Yet they would make the boy happy and the Dark Lord was already approving of providing him with those needs.
He wanted his heir to stay by his side and not having to fear that his heir might leave him and find happiness elsewhere. Severus as a member of the Inner Circle and one of the most trusted Death Eaters knew for sure that the Dark Lord would do nearly everything in his might just to keep Potter by his side.
But Potter didn't need to know that, did he?
"Well, that does sound acceptable, I think." Potter's soft voice broke through his thoughts.
Hearing the boy utter this sentence in absolutely uncertainty almost caused Severus to grin in joy at himself. Indeed, Potter, he thought quite sardonically, this does sound acceptable. It truly does. The Dark Lord has caught you and now that he has you, he will never let you get away from him.
Potter wasn't a bad choice, Severus decided, not a bad choice at all. When the Dark Lord had first told him that he wished for an heir to continue his line but didn't wish to delve into human actions such as procreating Severus had been the one to look for a suitable boy to sway to their side so that the Dark Lord could blood-adopt him. It had been a hell of a work and more often than not had Severus been the one to suffer under his Lord's wrath but now that he had Potter everything would turn out perfectly.
Hopefully.
Even though the boy wasn't as averse to the idea as he had been, Severus felt some further motivation and convincing couldn't hurt. "You should know, Potter, that even if you had to stay inside this castle for all your life I could assure you that it would be quite difficult to get bored." Severus drawled smoothly and made a show of inspecting his fingernails.
"There is a huge library, a sea, a forest, several gardens, a Quidditch pitch, training rooms, an art room, a gym, dancing rooms and so much more." Severus listed and made a typical and-so-on gesture as he trailed his wand between his fingers. "The Dark Lord knows how to live so believe me, Potter, when I tell you there are things much, much worse than being the Dark Lord's son and heir."
Potter, though grudgingly, seemed to come to the same conclusion. Severus could see how his face contorted in obvious concentration and thought.
Several thoughts seemed to flash through the boy's mind, only to be all solved or put aside by Potter's consciousness. The boy had started to nibble his lip and his brows were furrowed in consideration. At the moment the boy's face was calm and his lips untouched.
Severus knew without having to delve into the boy's mind that he was starting to imagine his life as the Dark Lord's son. A sly smirk crossed Severus features. He had Potter where he wanted him and now that he had him Severus wouldn't let him get away.
A sudden dry and harsh laughter caused Severus to almost jump out of his skin. Narrowing his eyes at the boy who thankfully seemed to manage to control laughter so that he wouldn't suffer another coughing fit Severus' eyes bore into Potter's.
"Why are you laughing, Potter?" Severus asked dangerously low.
The boy still needed some more moments until he finally stopped laughing and could breathe easier again. His eyes, suddenly Severus noticed with a jolt of surprise, were bright and happy nearly radiating happiness. His features were calm and his skin had taken over a slightly more human tone. If one didn't know that the boy was currently lethally ill one might have thought he was almost fine.
Potter chuckled softly and hadn't he been so weak, Severus would bet that he would have wiped his eyes. "I just tried to image Dumbledore's face. He might have died suffering a heart attack had he known that I won't kill Voldemort only let myself instead be adopted by him. It would have been so awesome to witness."
The thought, random as it had been, gave Severus an idea. Severus knew that the relationship between Potter and Dumbledore hadn't been the best when the Headmaster had been killed. Dumbledore had withheld too much information from the boy to be able to ever trust him completely again.
This could be Severus' chance, their chance to show Potter that Dumbledore might have acted as the grandfatherly one but that in reality he was no better than the Dark Lord himself and even worse in Severus' eyes.
"You know that Dumbledore wasn't the one you thought him to be." Severus informed Potter by way of stating eyeing the boy out of the corner of his dark eyes.
"You remember him as the great, powerful, wise, trusting and understanding grandfatherly wizard he acted around you." It took all of Severus' willpower not to outright sneer at that description "You remember the twinkle in his eyes, the way he always offered you sweets and how he magically always appeared when you needed him. That is the Dumbledore you and most of the light side remember. But know this, Potter." Severus eyes and voice grew hard as long suppressed memories threatened to resurface. "Every story has two ways to be told."
He looked sternly at Potter who was in return watching him with great interest and something akin to trepidation and fear seeping into his eyes. The boy would be correct in his assumption that Severus' view of Dumbledore might clash greatly with his.
Severus leaned back into his armchair, stored his wand in the pocket of his robes and regarded Potter intently. "I will tell you something most people don't know and will never find out." Severus promised.
"Dumbledore was indeed powerful, nearly as powerful as the Dark Lord is. And, of course, Dumbledore was a wise wizard who knew more about magic, the wizarding world and its population than most people did. And yet he expected you to face the Dark Lord." Severus paused and watched Potter. When the boy sucked in a sharp breath, Severus almost grinned.
Caught you.
He continued as if he hadn't witnessed Potter's struggle. "Dumbledore was the powerful and wise one, Potter, but he wanted you to be the one to kill the darkest wizards of all centuries. A boy who was not even off age, without any experience, without any special knowledge, without any additional tutoring." Severus regarded Potter over the crook of his nose, his face a mockery of pity.
"Be honest, Potter, but not even you could have been deluded enough to believe that you would be powerful enough to be able to kill the Dark Lord. You never really stood a chance, not when he resided in Quirrell's body and even less after he had been reborn with your blood." Severus wasn't lying, there was no need to and this open honesty was going put the final nail into the coffin.
Potter would see Dumbledore for who the man truly had been. It would be Severus' pleasure and delight to enlighten Dumbledore's precious boy to the plans and schemes Dumbledore had prepared for his pawn.
His dark eyes shone innocently as he watched the boy's inner struggle. "So, tell me, Potter." Severus asked almost softly. "Why did the powerful and wise wizard Dumbledore not kill the Dark Lord himself?"
Severus paused slightly to be able to witness the boy's reaction and indeed, he must have hit a soft spot. Harry's eyes were thoughtful, his brows were furrowed and his hand was absently playing with the hem of the covers. It was good to see the boy had been thinking along the lines, too. He wasn't as dumb as Severus had thought him to obviously be.
Severus smiled inwardly. "Because that is what Dumbledore was, Potter. Wise, powerful and calculating, a deadly mixture." Severus scowled heavily, his dark eyes suddenly filled with rage. "Instead of thinking about how he could prepare you best or how he could kill the Dark Lord himself, Dumbledore thought it more prudent and sufficient to listen to this fraud of woman calling herself a seer tell him how you had the power the Dark Lord knew not and how you would be the one to kill him." Severus all but snarled.
"Remember, Potter, Divination is one of the most obscure branches of magic." Severus tried to regain his control. "Some seers are able to see into the future, although most of them can't. And that what those few who can see is not bound to happen."
A soft look appeared on Severus' face as he remembered a lesson he had been taught years ago. "What they see is a mere possibility. Everyone knows this. And yet Dumbledore choose to believe her. It was easier this way for him. He would let you face the Dark Lord and enjoy the rest of his life while he could. It was intelligent, Potter, cruel but intelligent."
The boy still had not uttered a single word even though Severus knew for sure that he was listening to him intently and that he was bursting with questions. He saw it in the boy's eyes, the way his head was titled to the side and how his hands started to clench around the blankets. Potter wanted him to continue, to explain and Severus was going to do as the boy wished.
Severus sighed and shook his head sadly. "You know, Potter, the prophecy was actually right in one aspect." At the boy's startled look, Severus merely shook his head softly again. "Neither of you can survive whilst the other lives. However, it seems that the prophecy meant this in a completely different way than Dumbledore surely explained it to you."
Severus leaned forward, the sudden need to get this important information across to the boy resting on the boy almost too much for Severus to bear. "The prophecy seems to refer to the horcrux residing inside your soul." Severus dropped the bomb. "If you remain Harry Potter then the prophecy will fulfilled as you will die within the next week while the Dark Lord will survive."
Shrugging softly Severus observed the boy's reaction. "If you will become the Dark Lord's heir, however, then the prophecy will be fulfilled as well seeing as thanks to the blood-adoption you will become someone else. Harry Potter will cease to exist, an equivalent to dying, while a new human being and the Dark Lord will live on. You see either way the prophecy will be fulfilled."
Severus sighed and let his head rest against the armchair. It was difficult to tell someone about the prophecy that had caused him so much misery. He had been stupid enough to believe Dumbledore, and, of course, Potter had, too. Dumbledore had just been such a cunning and manipulating bastard who should have been in Slytherin rather than in Gryffindor.
Thankfully he was dead now. It made everything easier.
"Dumbledore believed in the prophecy or rather he believed in it as long as there was reason to do so. Dumbledore would have been able to oppose and perhaps even kill the Dark Lord but he choose not to as he thought you would be able to do it." Severus scoffed. It still amazed him how most wizards and witches of Great Britain would throw common sense and years of education out of the window just because Dumbledore did. Someone should have had the guts and question why they felt it prudent to rest their expectations on the shoulders of a mere child.
Merlin knew he had done it. Not that it had changed much.
"So why get dirt on his hands when Dumbledore could easily let you do all the dirty jobs? And unfortunately you seemed to prove the prophecy correct." Severus surmised softly.
"You were able to face the Lord five times and came out alive each and every time. For Dumbledore it must have been clear that you would one day vanquish the Dark Lord. That was why he placed the fate of the wizarding world onto your shoulders and didn't think about training you. In his eyes you must have been the one to rid the world of the evil solely with your wand and current knowledge. Training you would be unnecessary."
Looking at the still quiet and thinking boy Severus waited before he would play his last trump. This would finally break the boy's trust in the light side and especially Dumbledore. Though the man may be dead, his influence on the boy was still enormous and quiet troubling. It was vital for them to break this trust so that Potter might succumb to the dark side complete.
Severing fetched his wand and twirled it mindlessly between his fingers. "You know that you and your friends were sent on several suicide missions, Potter." Severus informed the boy in way of stating, his eyes observing the boy as he rested in the bed.
"No properly trained wizard would have been able to fulfil them completely and neither did you. You came back from every single one, but you returned with great losses. Dumbledore would have been able to solve those problems, but he chose not to." Severus knew it was cruel, especially only hours after his friends' untimely demises, but it needed to be done.
"Instead of helping you and your friends, Dumbledore chose to stay behind and live a peaceful life. He placed his health and safety above that of yours and all your friends'." Severus sighed wearily and shook his head sadly. "Dumbledore wasn't grandfather to you; he was a manipulating bastard, ordering his pawns and puppets around as he pleased. He is no better than the Dark Lord, no, Potter, he is even worse." Severus' voice was nothing more than a deadly whisper.
"With the Dark Lord you know what to expect."
A jerky nod showed him that the boy had finally understood. The way his eyes were fixed on the wardrobe on the other side of the room, the way his jaw was clenched and his hands firmly gripping into the blankets, told Severus that the boy believed him. There was no way the boy could do any different after all Severus had said. Now they only had to wait and let the doubt and anger fester. The necessary seeds had been planted. It might take some time but sooner rather than later the boy would accepted Severus' words for the wisdom they were.
Severus prepared himself for a longer time of silence. The boy wasn't stupid; the way he had acted after he had been brought into this room had proved him to be quite intelligent and cunning. He would understand the consequences of the Headmaster's actions. But at the same time the boy was a fiercely loyal and trusting Gryffindor. It would take a lot of time until his head would finally win over his heart.
"I will need some time to think this over, Sir. But, may I ask a question, Sir?" Potter asked hesitatingly. When Severus inclined his head in invitation, the boy rushed to ask the question burning on his mind. "What would be the consequences of the blood-adoption?"
A small smile crossed Severus' features. Potter was correct. It was best to leave the boy alone and let him make the decision on his own. He would make the right decision; Severus had made sure of it. Now it was to ease the boy's worries concerning the blood-adoption. The sooner the boy made up his mind the better.
"Well, Potter, of course your appearance would change. At the moment your parents' genes make you who you are. With the blood-adoption you would take over the genes of the Dark Lord and some minor aspects from another trusted female Death Eater. If you would only take over the Dark Lord's genes, you would be an exact replica of him and that wouldn't work out." Severus made a show of shrugging uncaringly, masterfully playing down any major problems or consequences the blood-adoption might cause.
"This is the reason for the other genetic material." Severus tried to explain as vaguely as possible. "It helps to keep your body healthy and your mind sane. And no, Potter, you won't be bald, red eyed and have a forked tongue." From Potter's wide, concerned eyes it was embarrassingly easy to predict the boy's next question.
"Those are the results of the Dark Lord's various experiments concerning his life span and health. They will have no effect of the blood-adoption. Therefore you will look like the Dark Lord before his transformation began."
That, Harry mused, should be no problem then. He wasn't too fond of his looks, anyway. Indeed, he had his mother's beautiful eyes. But that was it.
Besides his emerald green eyes there wasn't much he liked about his body or appearance. He was short, had his father's knobby knees, his hair was untameable, he had to wear glasses and would be blind without them, a lightning bolt scar was branded on his forehead and his face was that of a young boy not that of a seventeen year old adolescence.
So whatever he would look like after the blood-adoption it could only be better than his actual appearance. After all, had he been told that Voldemort had once been quite good looking and charming. And for once in his life people might look at him and not immediately associate him with his deceased parents.
That would be an absolute plus
Severus regarded him thoughtfully. "It might even be that your curse mark could disappear." Severus admitted after a moment of indecision. "After all, your blood, magic and magical signature would disappear and therefore the connection forged with the Dark Lord through your mother's sacrifice in your blood would vanish, though the horcrux inside you would remain."
Leaning back in his chair, Severus was smirking lightly at the boy. "Then, of course, you would have to change your name. Well, more like the Dark Lord will change your name and decide on how to name you." Severus cocked his head to the side, genuinely looking as if he was about to solve a fascinating puzzle.
"You should know that in pureblood families, and after your adoption you will be considered a pureblood, special names are a symbol of status. The name must be original, with some positive meaning and even more important it should not have been used before by another family." Those traditions had been a pain, Severus knew for sure. 'Nymphadora' was a prime example for a family tradition gone wrong.
"Most pureblood families tend to bestow their children with a middle name. With your second given-name it would be different. Normally they are the father's or mother's first given name." Severus lazily informed the boy even though he with absolute assuredness that Potter would receive neither. The Dark Lord abhorred his given name and would never think naming any heir of his 'Tom'.
"As for your last name you would go either by the name Slytherin or Riddle. The Dark Lord keeps both names; therefore, it would be his decision to decide on your surname, as well."
A sad look appeared on the boy's face. As he noticed the look, Severus decided to make a pause and let the boy think everything through. It wasn't every day that you had to give up your parents' heritage, name and appearance to be able to live. It surely would be a painful process, especially if the bond and relationship to the parents was a deep and strong one. And even though Potter's parents were not alive, the boy still loved them dearly and his affectionate feelings towards them were rather strong.
The thought of giving up his parents name almost made Harry want to cry. He didn't care too much about his appearance, this may be true, but only because every time he met someone, he or she would tell him that he looked like an exact replica of his father.
At first this connection had filled him with pride. He didn't have the chance to get to know his parents, so it had been a very comforting thought to know that he at least looked like his father. But with the years it had started to annoy him.
People only saw him as James, the brave Gryffindor, super talented wizard, ladies' man and prankster. But Harry was different. Sadly only a few people seemed to notice and when they did, they looked disappointed as if they had expected better of him.
That had been when Harry had started to hate his appearance and his resemblance to his father. He wanted to be seen as Harry, be his own person but with this appearance it would never work.
His name, though, was an entire different aspect. His parents had chosen this name for him. They had decided upon it when they had first seen him after his birth. It held a strong affectionate importance for Harry.
It had been his parents' wish that he was to be called Harry James Potter. It was as if they were proclaiming their love to him this way. As long as he was Harry, the memory of his parents would live on.
On the other hand with Voldemort's blood running through his veins there would be nothing left of his parents' memory. Moreover it would be most strange and even dangerous should Voldemort's son go by the name of Harry Potter. It was like carrying around a sign "Please, attack on sight."
No, Harry finally had to grudgingly admit, it would be more prudent to change his name and let Voldemort decide about it. After all, the man knew better than Harry ever could how to create a fancy and fitting pureblood name.
Seeing the boy finally nod his reluctant approval, Severus went to discuss the last important aspect. "Least of all, your magic will change as well. The Dark Lord's dark magic will run through your body. But this is not all." Severus heralded.
"Your special abilities will accommodate to your new magic as well. At the moment you possess your father's talent for Quidditch and your mother's trusting and friendly nature. After the blood-adoption aspects such as those may change." Severus forced himself to keep his face impassive and neutral when he had to speak about Lily. Broaching the subject was still painful to him.
"I don't know in which subjects the Dark Lord excelled. He is a genius and had superb grades in any single subject. Nothing is known about his parents or other relatives, so I couldn't make an educated guess. We will explore your strengths and weakness in due time." Severus played down the issues. Personally he was looking rather forward to finding out what Potter's now abilities would entail. But he wouldn't tell the boy, else he put a bee in Potter's bonnet.
Picking up his lost train of thought, Severs continued with his lecture. "This is the very reason why the Dark Lord wishes for your education to start as soon as possible. It will be easier for all of us but especially you this way."
The boy stayed quiet, but Severus had expected nothing else of him. He would surely need some time to fully understand what gaining a new magic and magical signature truly meant, but sadly they didn't have the time to wait for Potter to figure it out. They would have to stay the course and hope that everything would turn out for the best.
After all, once Potter was blood-adopted he would never be able to change back to his former self again. It was a decision for life and Severus sincerely hoped that Potter knew this.
Focussing again on the boy, Severus expected him to look shaken, undecided or even thoughtful. What he didn't expect Potter to do was to sit there smiling contentedly, his eyes closed in bliss and his hands resting loosely on the blankets. Severus blinked.
No, this behaviour was a little bit shocking to him to say at least. With a grudging feeling Severus had to admit that Potter had surprised him several times since his arrival at Slytherin Manor and each and every time in a positive way.
Potter must have sensed his Professor's watchful gaze on him, as he opened the eyes slowly and focussed his attention back on the man sitting next to his bed. "You know, Sir, I'm almost looking forward to being blood-adopted." Potter confessed thoughtfully yet strongly.
"This way I will be able to start a new life. Perhaps my family will not be the nicest and Voldemort will probably never love me as a son nor will I ever really love him as a father, but at least I will be alive. And this time I will decide what to do with my life."
A light chuckle escaped the Potions Master's lips causing Harry to look up at him in surprise. A small sardonic glint appeared in the dark orbs making Harry shiver lightly in fear.
"Well, Potter, if you wish for a new start so dearly there is an even more radical way." Severus drawled twirling his wand between his fingers. "And this way you would be truly able to start anew."