Chapter 12

Harry came running into their quarters after spending some hours with Hagrid and Black, and immediately blurted out that they had him to the village to amuse him, Severus wasn`t too bothered by this. Who in their right mind would attack a half giant and a mass murderer (the fact that Black was innocent hadn`t filtered into most people`s minds). He did however later give the two a talking to on the subject of informing people before taking their kids out.

All the joke merchandize, candy and top of the line racing broom with accessories were thoroughly checked. He earned a few moans from Harry when he confiscated some banned items and forbade any and all pranks on himself, the staff and the house elves. In a perverted way he was glad Harry was complaining, when he`d been fetched from the Dursleys it would not have happened. It was a hopeful sign that he was going to be OK in the long run.

"You know when Sirius and Hagrid took me to Hogsmeade? Harry asked later as he sat relaxing a bit before bedtime.

"Yes"? Severus answered.

"Well, I hadn`t realized something before I came there"

"What son?"

"I didn`t know about me and that boy who lived business, stupid title by the way. I`d prefer not to be known as Harry Potter; the boy who lived and I thought I`d ask why I don`t have your name by now?"

Severus looked at his son thoughtfully, maybe he should have talked about the boy who lived matter before, but there had been so many other things…

"I never thought you might want that and I never liked my name; it is a reminder of my father whom I didn`t like much. I`d have taken my mother`s name, but I doubt I can. I`m only a half-blood, and my mother`s family were pure-blood fanatics. Are you really sure you would have preferred not to be a Potter?"

"Well seeing as he`s not my real father, but loved me like one I think I`d like to keep it as a middle name. But I realized that being famous as the boy who lived is a like a nightmare to me. I`d prefer to be a bit less visible. So I wanted to talk about the possibility of taking your name as my last name".

Feeling extremely charitable (and a bit wrong-footed) Severus told him "there is another possibility actually. Black has made you his heir, and as such you can use his last name if you wish. "

Harry laughed at that, "I think that would turn heads; Harry Black son of Severus Snape. No I think Snape or Prince if you change your name would be better. Harry Potter Snape or maybe Prince seems good enough, and then I`d use only the first and last."

As Harry went to bed, Severus sat alone in a thoughtful mood. Maybe he should check into the possibility of changing his name to Prince. It was way better than the hated Snape, and would be another step towards breaking ties with his old life.

The next day Severus flooed to the ministry after leaving Harry with hagrid again, and went to find the departement that handeled issues of that sort. The old wizard that welcomed him seemed a bit unsure of the rules himself though, and in the end a goblin from Gringotts had to be called in to assist.

The goblin in turn magicked forth a big folder, which he proceeded to check before saying "The house of Prince has always been pureblood oriented that is correct, but the last head actually opened for the possibility of a half-blood inheriting the estate and name if nobody else could. There are nobody else that can inherit now, and so you may adopt the name and claim the inheritance if you are indeed related to a Prince". The goblin then proceeded to copy the folder and gave this to Severus. Please read this and if you decide to adopt the name you will have to present yourself to head goblin Grrarg at a convenient time so he can test your claim to the name and inheritance.

Note to chapter: Few people will know Harry is the boy who lived. Mostly he will tell only his closest friends (and the extended "family" of trusted people such as the staff will know of course) others will know him as Harrison (nickname `Harry`) Prince. I know Harrison is a name others have used before me, but I cannot think of another version og Harry so sorry about that!