His eyes widened in fear and he scrambled back to his refuge-bed. In one impossibly smooth movement, he ducked under it to hide, signing frantically.

He had wrapped his wings around him subconsciously, using them as a shield.

Sickened by this vulnerable display, Severus whirled around and scowled at the three onlookers.

"Now do you believe me?" He spat. "That boy has obviously been abused, and for a very long time by the looks of it."

He approached the boy again, opening his mouth to ask him to come out. Surprisingly, the boy got out even before he had drawn breath. Obedient, eyes downcast, he was signing the same word over and over.

Severus shot a questioning look at Poppy, who replied miserably. "Sorry."

He sighed and slowly put his hands out, catching the boy's and stopping his silent words. "There is nothing to be sorry for." Severus stated firmly.

Albus, watching this display, came up behind him, intending to talk to the both of them. The boy, catching his sudden movement, clutched Severus, pulling him close and putting him in front of him, before Albus.

Dumbledore sighed, stopping where he was and speaking from there.

"Don't worry boy, I've no cause to harm you." He stated calmly. "Seeing as the boy is most attached to you, would you look after him? Your quarters are the most isolated, and the boy obviously trusts you more than the rest of us."

"Whatever." Severus grumbled.

"Good." Dumbledore replied. "Funds will be transferred into your Gringotts account for whatever you may need to purchase."

"Presumptuous old fool." Severus mumbled under his breath.

Severus turned to stalk out of the Infirmary, but was stopped in his tracks as Minerva, forgotten until then, spoke up.
"Don't you think you ought to do something about his… err… wings? I mean, they're not really inconspicuous."

Reminded of them, Severus turned back to the boy, taking out his wand. "Don't worry, this won't hurt at all." He assured the boy.

Quivering like a leaf, the boy stood in place, watching Severus walk around behind him and tap each wing with his wand, Disillusioning them. Awed by the seemingly unfamiliar magic, the boy reached behind to touch them, even though he couldn't see them.

Severus stepped forward, intending to warn him of the sharp edges, but quickly shut his mouth as the boy stroked each wing without apparent injury.

"Come on!" He said gruffly once the boy had finished.

The boy sighed softly and followed Severus through the empty corridors.

"Is your name Severus, sir?" The boy asked in a soft, husky voice.

Unnerved, Severus stopped and looked at the boy before turning back towards the dungeons. "Yes." He replied. So the boy really isn't deaf. Interesting.

The two walked the rest of the way in silence.

--

Severus stopped in front of the portrait of Salazar Slytherin that guarded his chambers.

"Lord Slytherin," Severus began. "I request that you let the boy in when he approaches you. As there is no indication that he will speak willingly in the presence of others, he cannot give a password."

The regal portrait nodded in understanding.

"I also respectfully request that no one but myself, the boy and Albus Dumbledore be allowed in without the password, which from this moment I am changing to 'Snape Legacy' "

Again, the picture nodded.

With that Severus entered his rooms.

-- --

The portrait swung open to reveal a large common room. It was made of dark grey slabs and surprisingly the floor was heated underfoot.

Two of the walls were lined with bookshelves, packed from top to bottom with books. There were four velvet armchairs and a sofa around the room, and a mahogany desk sat in one corner.

In the wall opposite the portrait entrance, there were two doors, both with a plaque set at about eye-height. On one was inscribed 'SAVS' and the other was blank.

The boy guessed the blank one was his, and the other was for Severus.

On the left wall was an open doorway to a kitchen, featuring a small breakfast bar down one side.

On the right wall he saw another closed door, labelled 'Study'.

Severus paused in the middle of the room, turning to the boy.

"You have free reign of these quarters, however there are a few exceptions. Under no circumstances are you allowed in the study. Not at all. Also, you are only permitted in my bedroom in the event of a dire emergency."

Finished his speech, Severus whirled and left for his room, robes billowing out behind him.

--

He's so… nastily nice. The boy thought. Does that even make sense? – He shrugged. – I've never had a room to call my own. Well, not that I remember.

--

He didn't think that he needed to go into his room just yet. He only had the clothes he appeared in, and he was wearing them, having changed before leaving the Infirmary.

There wasn't much point.

Staying in the common room, he sat tentatively on one of the armchairs by the fire, curling up to rest his chin on his knees. He wrapped his arms around his shins, holding them close as he stared into the flames.

He didn't really know how long he sat there before Severus came in, halting in the doorway, watching him. Severus had a small smile on his face and the boy knew he wasn't aware that the boy had seen him.

He turned his head and looked at Severus, resting his cheek on his knees. By this time the smile was gone, replaced by a careful neutral expression.

Severus nodded at him, stepping forward into the room and taking a seat in the armchair opposite him.

They both sat there for a while, staring into the fire, before Severus spoke up.

"I can't keep calling you 'boy', you know." He said quietly, but only got a shrug in reply.

"You need a name."

The boy shot him a look that said 'no, really?'

"Since I am, for most intents and purposes, your guardian and caregiver, would you think it out of place if I named you?" Severus asked softly.

For the first time since he had set eyes on the boy, he genuinely looked somewhat happy. He was nodding even before he had finished the sentence. Severus then informed the boy that he would think on it, and present him with a name at breakfast.

-- --

The boy turned back to the fire after Severus left, thinking over all that had happened to him.

Why are they doing this? He thought. They don't even know who I am. I don't even know who I am. I could be a mass murderer for all they know.

What do I have that they want? His more paranoid voice spoke up.

Shaking his head to clear it, he got up and entered his room.

It was al lavish as the common room.

The walls and floor were the same dark grey slab, and the windows were edged in a dark brown wood, curtained with a sky blue fabric.

Between the two windows there was a four poster bed and a small side-table with three drawers. The table and bedposts matched the wood that edged the windows.

The quilt was the same shade as the curtains, adding a bit of colour to the room. On the wall to the left of the bed was another portrait of Salazar Slytherin. The boy bowed gracefully thinking, What is it with this guy?

On the wall to the right of the bed there was a bookshelf. It covered most of the wall from ceiling to floor, and was stuffed with books.

It was a grand room, but the boy thought that darker colour would suit it much better.

He walked up to the window, pulling aside the now dark-red curtains. The boy noted the change absently but was more interested in the view.

He peered out the window, and was surprised by the large yellow eye peering in.

Black-green eyes met yellow. They stared at one another for a while, before the yellow eye blinked and moved, replaced by ice-white skin and then deep blue water.

The boy wondered what happened, but in the water he saw a large form. A single glowing eye blinked – winked – at him, and with a jolt he realised it must have been a squid. I giant squid! He thought to himself.

Daunted by the meeting, he turned back to his room, only to find it different from when he left it.

Light blue curtains and quilt had changed to a dark red. Light coloured wood on the bed, bookshelf and side-table had darkened to almost black.

He gasped, panicked. I changed it! What are they going to do?! I messed with it!

He had backed up to the crevice between wall and bookshelf. Whimpering, he rocked back and forth as fearful thoughts plagued his mind.