Chapter 2

Secrets Unveiled

Harry's eyes widened in shock, here, sitting before him, was Hogwarts Potion's Master Severus Snape. Of all the people to find him, it had to be the one person who hated everything Harry. Inwardly panicking Harry took a deep breath, hoping he didn't look as shocked as he felt and strode over to the Potion's Master. When he finally reached the sitting man, Harry looked him over. He had never seen Snape wear anything but teaching his robes.

Before him the Professor was dressed in a pair of black loose fitting trousers and a white button up shirt, he didn't wear a tie, but rather, allowed the top few buttons to come loose revealing a little of his collar bone. His hair was what shocked Harry the most: it looked clean, tied back in a low ponytail so that it didnÕt cover his eyes.

He almost looks presentable, Harry thought amusedly; I wonder why he never bothered in school.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Harry asked, keeping his voice soft and low, it was his 'Esmeralda voice', raising the glass in his hand he added, "Thank you for the drink by the way."

Snape nodded and gestured to the seat before him, he even stood up when Harry sat, before seating again himself. Harry was shocked into remembering that Snape was a pureblood and was probably schooled in these manners. Yet, all the while Snape's eyes were observing, searching.

"Please, drink" Snape urged, "I know you must be thirsty after singing."

Urging himself to act calm and collected and every part of a professional singer who should be used to attention from individual fans, Harry smiled and lifted the glass in a silent toast. Inwardly he worried about the possibility of his disguise being seen through, he had taken a lot of care to make sure he appeared as a female to anyone and everyone. His dress was a spin off from Chinese designed gowns with a high collar and slanted row of buttons, to hide any evidence of an Adam's apple; it was cut so that it slimmed at the waist, creating the illusion of small breasts. It was also a gift from Antoinette, who was another one for the bar's singers.

Severus watched the woman before him, now that he could see her in detail; he noted the familiar face and eyes. He watched several more moments as the person before him drank; trying to place a thumb on what bothered him so much about this singer.

"How long have you been singing here?" he asked once she finished the drink and placed it down, "You sing very well by the way."

She smiled, "Thank you, I've been a singer here for almost a year now, I sing here three days a week, depending on what day the manager wants but I always sing Fridays."

"I see, then I must come down more often as I will be here for the next three weeks," he said, and added, "I'm on holiday." At her puzzled look.

She nodded in understanding, and asked curiously, "What do you do then?"

"I teach." Was the short reply.

She was about to say something else when a smartly dressed man came over to their table, "So, Em, you found yourself another beau?" He asked, sitting down without being invited; Severus could tell he was slightly if not already drunk.

'Em' frowned at him, "Mathew." She said, distaste colouring her tone, refusing to look at the man.

"Come now, Esmeralda!" The drunken man drawled, "You could have much more fun with me. Why waste your time with an ugly thing like him?"

Severus's anger flared for a second, but he looked at Esmeralda to see how she would react. Her eyes sparkled with anger and she finally turned her head to look at Mathew and glared heatedly at him. Severus was instantly struck a thought that had been nagging him the whole evening.

Potter?!

It couldn't be. Could it?

Yet there was no denying the resemblance, Severus himself had been the receiving end of that glare enough times to recognize it. Realizing that he needed to talk to the youth, although he was curious as to how he would deal with the situation, Severus stood up and looked down at the drunken fool coldly.

"I believe the lady wanted you to leave." He hissed dangerously, "I suggest you do."

The man may be drunk, but he was not completely stupid, the man before him was dangerous; he stood up shakily and growled at Severus, "This isn't over." Then left to find his friends again.

"Thanks," Esmeralda, or Harry Potter said as he watched Mathew disappear behind a group of people, "He's been bothering me for a while."

Severus turned his glare towards the singer, "Do not thank me, I wanted him to leave so I could speak with you." He growled, eyes hard and unforgiving, "what in the name of Merlin are you doing here, Mr. Potter?"

Harry froze, his eyes wide and he looked at Snape with something akin to horror on his face. He had been found out.

"Yes, Mr. Potter" The Professor drawled, "Did you think that I would not find out who you were? I have to admit, I am curious as to why you are dressed as a woman and singing in a bar of all things."

"I –" Harry gulped, before regaining his composure again "I can explain that."

"You had better Potter," Snape snarled, "before I feel fit to inform the Headmaster why you disobeyed his orders to stay with your relatives."

Harry's face heated in anger and he glared at Snape, "Don't you dare threaten me when you understand nothing Snape."

"Oh?" Snape said tauntingly, he leaned back on his chair, arms crossed, "What don't I understand? That you don't have fame enough in the Wizarding World? That you want more, so you're here singing in a muggle bar?"

"No! This has nothing to do with fame."

"Then what is it Potter? I'm waiting for an explanation."

"Don't say anything until I've finished, or else I won't continue." Harry threw a last glare before reclining back in the soft chair. "It was the end of Fifth Year, when I arrived back from Hogwarts on the Express, the Dursleys picked me up as usual."

Harry looked at the Professor in interest, "Did you know that you are legally allowed to work in the muggle world at the age of fifteen, Professor?"

Snape's glare told him to stop dithering or face the consequences, so Harry continued, "Vernon, my uncle, told me when we got back from the station that I was to pay rent for the lodging and food in Private Drive, he said that since I'm able to work he won't waste another penny on me."

Harry shrugged nonchalantly, "apparently, it was the least I could do after all their years of putting up with my unnaturalness. I could have told them that they never did put up with it, but that would be digging my own grave."

"Anyways," he continued, "That was how I found myself working as a part time attendant here in The Silver Meadow, Uncle Vernon wanted me to work here not only because of the pay but if I worked here, he would get a discount at everything, since I'm a worker. He brings his clients to the Meadow very often, to show off, I think, so that he could look sophisticated in front of his would be business partners. Personally, I think anyone wanting to partner Vernon Dursley is touched in the head, but that's just my opinion."

"I started out as an attendant, as I've said, but the manager found me singing one evening while cleaning one of the tables before the bar opened." Grinning, Harry crossed his legs at the ankle, looking every bit the diva in his charade.

"It just happened that one of the other singers has taken sick that evening and so, he dragged me to Antoinette and told her that I would be the other singer. He took a great risk that night, but he was desperate, since it was a Friday evening, and Fridays are usually very full, I think he had an important client coming that evening too."

"As to why I dress like a girl, no doubt you're wondering." Harry said cheekily, and Severus just glared, "I told Antoinette that I couldn't walk on stage as, well, me. That gives me too much exposure, there was always a chance that a Wizard would walk in and recognize the Boy-Who-Lived and told the rest of the Wizarding World. Then I would have to deal with Dumbledore, not to mention my Uncle would kick me out of the house since I wouldn't be able to pay rent."

"Of course I didn't tell Antoinette that, my Uncle's displeasure was enough reason. She was the one that came up with the idea of dressing me as female, I object at first, but it turned out very well didn't it? Since it took you this long to figure it out."

Harry grinned mockingly.

TBC

Author: Dark Illusions

Date: February 2, 2007 (6:02 am)

Word Count: 1525