Chapter 3
Severus went back to Hogwarts, not even letting on that anything had happened. All he could think was 'Thank god for Occlumency,' he really did not want people to know what he had heard, and it could put Harry in a lot more trouble. He was glad he had been the one to here it in some way, that way Harry wouldn't be manipulated or moulded into a perfect pawn or warrior, and will have his innocence a lot longer. He knew the headmaster; if he knew that prophecy he would bring Harry to the Wizarding world and get him trained, making it sound like it was his job to save them all.
Yes, he knew the headmaster all too well, he knew what he would do, he loved the old man like the father he did not have. Nevertheless, for the sake of the Wizarding world he would do all he could, that would include manipulating a child to do it, the headmaster probably feels it is his job to save them all. In a way, they all are looking at him to save them all.
Severus himself wanted to be the one to help train him, but swore he would only do that after he came to Hogwarts; train him in all he knew. He also wanted to take the child into his arms and made sure nothing hurt him, a part of him was longing to take care of him, to be a father to a child. Not like his father though, to show affection to someone who understood him and wanted to be around him, someone who loved him unconditionally, who called him dad, someone to buy presents for and spoil and show him all about how life should be.
Harry and Dudley waited quietly for their mother, meanwhile Harry read a magical book and Dudley played with his emerald stone that he had gotten. Soon he got bored and decided to go to M&M, magic and muggle shop, he got a load of muggle and magical sweets putting them in two different bags, knowing if their friends saw them they would get into trouble with the magical authorities.
Putting them in different parts of his trunk for them both to share, their mother came back a few minutes after that, they talked about their trip to the magical world a bit on the way home, before they began talking about other things. Much to Petunia's relief, as much as she loved them she was still jealous of them. She did however notice how subdued and quiet Harry was being and wondered why.
Harry was quite because he was thinking what the prophecy could mean and asking himself, 'Who is this dark lord? Why would he be after me? How will I survive him if others have not How bad can he be if a child can defeat him?' Questions and questions but no answers and if he hated anything it was not having answers and being lied to.
The next two years went by extremely fast for boys, being top of their classes, doing homework, and practising their magic. Reading their books and playing with their friends when they could, but they would rather practise their magic than play around with their friends.
To Vernon and Petunia the years had gone too fast, she could still remember the day Harry was brought to the doorstep, and when Dudley was born, she would protect her children to her very last breath.
Tonight they were having dinner; they were both eight years old coming up for nine years old. They had read many of their books and both attended karate lessons as well as judo at school, they liked to fight, they were the best, the teacher liked them. He taught them everything he could and still was doing. Harry swore one day he would wield a sword even if it killed him.
He had seen two people sword fighting and he had bugged his teacher and bugged him till he was blue in the face, but he still said no. He kept telling Harry that he would "Teach you when you are old enough." he would insist. Harry had tried but still the answer was no. It annoyed him, he knew he would be good at it, he just shrugged his shoulders.
They were happily talking when they heard the distinct sound of popping all over the place; there were black hooded figures, everywhere. All of them made a fast dash for the exit of the house only to be surrounded by black figures, he looked into one of the hoods and saw familiar eyes staring back at him, he shook his head now was not the time for that.
Harry and Dudley looked at each other and counted to three before they attacked, Harry using wandless magic and using his fire elemental, he set the Death Eaters on fire. Harry gave the Death Eater that was hurting his aunt a big right hook and broke his jaw, magic making his hand much stronger than usual.
They took out half of the Death Eaters before they were caught, his dad or his uncle Vernon was already dead, and his aunt was down with a dagger wound thanks to Avery. All Harry and Dudley could do was yelling.
"Noooooo Muuummm!" Yelled Harry,
"Noooooo Mum, Dad!" Yelled Dudley, Dudley got mad and kicked the hell out of the Death Eater holding him, Harry physically and emotionally exhausted by using that much magic could not move.
He could only watch in horrified realisation as the sickly green curse came towards him, Dudley was once again held back. All Harry could see was the sickly green light and the gleeful look the Dark Lord supported, as well as a black clad figure started to move forward, he didn't know why but he put a barrier up to stop him coming. He did not know why but he knew he would survive and he had always trusted his instincts.
Moreover, he was right, bright gold and white light enveloped him and the curse flew itself back on the originator, killing Voldemort. All Harry could do was fall to his feet. He soon realised what had happened, he crawled over to the person he thought of as a mother and Dudley did the same. All the Death Eaters had been stunned, the Order having finally showed up.
"Mum please hold on, someone will help you," said Harry hoarsely as he tried to stop the blood, but he knew it was a waste of time his mum started talking.
"I'm proud of you boys. Always remember that, this was not your fault Harry don't blame yourself, it was up to us if we wanted to die for you, we chose too, we could have ran, but that would make us cowards. I love you both my sons," as she rubbed their cheeks one last time but before she died, she looked at the man who had gave her the child that she did not blame and said.
"Look after my babies," with that, her final breath and she died.
Dudley and Harry sat there in shock, Harry having blood running freely down his forehead, and he was covered in blood, his and his mother's, shaking like a leaf. Dudley was a bit ruffled and had bruises and was a bit worse for wear.
Severus heard what the woman said; he looked at Harry and did what he had wanted to do for so long, not that Harry seemed to notice. Cradling the boys face in the crook of his arm he poured the potion down Harry's throat and rubbed it to help him swallow it. His eyes when they became focused showed raw agony and pain a little recognition as tears spilled down his eyes, then his eyes started drooping closed. He snuggled in not anymore aware of his surroundings he fell into a drugged deep sleep, very emotionally physically and magically drained.
The same happened to Dudley as Alice Longbottom poured the potion down his throat having children herself, Frank and Alice had two children Neville and Emily Longbottom, one was the same age as Harry nearly nine and the other was just five.
Severus and Alice realised the Order members had everything under control, they portkey'd out; they found themselves near the entrance to the school, at the gates. They walked up to the school; Dudley had an invisible stretcher taking him thanks to Alice's wand. Severus was carrying Harry, Severus himself feeling better than he had ever felt in his life; the war had ended for now, no more acting, no more hurting people. He had never been gladder in his life, looking down he saw that the first half of the prophecy had come true. There was a mark of lighting on him. He felt something stir in him that had never been there, a feeling he knew as love.
They walked into the Entrance Hall all the way to the Hospital Wing, Alice getting there first put Dudley down and Madam Pomfrey started on him. Severus started on Harry, being experienced in the area he did what he could, first he summoned what he needed.
"Accio bowl and cleaning solution," not needing to say anything else.
"Aguamenti." And the bowl was filled with warm water he added the cleaning solution and then got a new cloth and started wiping the blood away from Harry's face, using care that Poppy or Alice had never seen him use. They were in awe, this was the man who took amusement out of scaring children, it was then they realised that they were being stupid and that even Severus Snape had a heart and also that he was prone to emotions like everyone else.
They silently watched as he took care of Harry's injuries tenderly, almost fatherly, healing the open wounds and then getting a healing salve and putting it on his wounds, burns and bruises, letting it seep in the busies, stopping the swelling and healing a bit of the colours in them. Bandaging the worst of them up and putting plasters on the smaller ones, he put the hospital clothes on him, a Slytherin pair, they both know it was because he was a Slytherin but once he had them on they had to agree Harry looked good in them.
Severus sat down with a tired sigh after getting Harry patched up, he was a lot worse then he had thought at first. Thinking back to what happened he could barely believe it himself 'They took out more than half of the Death Eaters by themselves; mind you they thought they were muggles.'
Severus took a pepper up potion to help keep him awake, it was a good while before the Order was in the Infirmary, usually after a raid they gathered in the Infirmary. Use silencing spells to stop anyone listening to their conversations.
Lily went right over to the son she had never got the chance to know, gently pushing her hand through his hair and sitting down at the other side of Harry's bed, Severus being the one on the other side, James following Lily and sitting beside her.
"What happened Severus?" asked the headmaster as he sat down on a chair the rest of the Order leaned in to hear what he had to see, more interested than they had ever been.