Shattered Illusions Chapter Fourteen: Getting Guardianship
Severus stepped through the floo into Lucius' study. There wasn't anybody in there, not even a house elf. Severus felt a bit awkward standing there, he wasn't sure if he wanted to talk to Lucius. Ever since the Dark Lord disappeared they sort of had a falling out. Up until then Severus and Lucius had been as close as brothers; they would talk about everything and anything, until Severus became a spy for the light.
They were still like brothers, but they were more secretive around each other. Severus had to watch what he said to make sure that he wasn't revealed. They may have been close, but Severus felt that Lucius would turn him in, in a heartbeat.
Now more recently they didn't really visit each other much; about once a month the Malfoy's would invite him over for supper and they would discuss things, mostly the Dark Lord related. Lucius had been loyal to the Dark Lord up until the end, and as far and Severus knew, hoped every day that his Lord would return.
So coming to Lucius was extremely risky, it meant that he might be exposed as a spy. Severus didn't know what that would mean. Would Lucius accept it? Or would it mean Lucius would grow to hate Severus?
Severus was snapped out of his thoughts as a pop sounded in the room. He turned around to find a house elf standing there wringing his hands.
"Can Dobby help sir?" the elf asked.
"I am here to see your master." Severus said, "go tell him Severus Snape is here to see him." Dobby nodded and popped away. Severus used the time to look around the study. There wasn't much in it, it was so clean and orderly that Severus wanted to be sick. He liked things orderly, but the Malfoy's were over the top.
There was a big window and in front of it was a desk. The desk had a stack of parchment on one side, and fancy quills and ink on the other. In front of the desk was a plush looking arm chair, and along the far wall was a massive book case with hundreds of books on it. The carpet was white, and the walls were white; there was so much white that he was almost afraid to touch anything.
"Severus!" Lucius exclaimed coming into the room, "How good to see you!" He strode forward and wrapped Severus into a hug.
"Hello Lucius." Severus said, stepping away from the hug. "How have you been? It's been three months since we last talked."
"Oh I've been well, and yourself?" Lucius asked, "How is Draco doing in school?"
"I am well." Severus said, "Draco has been…well, you know how he is. His grades are very good, but he can be a bit mean to other students."
"Hm…What other student? Not other Slytherins I hope?"
"No, not other Slytherins." Severus agreed.
"Well, no hard done then." Lucius said, the pulled his wand out and conjured a couple of chairs. "Sit down!" Severus gracefully sat down and turned to Lucius.
"Now, your hardly one to come visit willingly, what's this about?" Lucius questioned. Severus cleared his throat and tried to hide his nervousness.
"I actually need a bit of a…favor." Severus said carefully.
"Oh, what kind of favor?" Lucius asked curiously. "You're not one to come for favors, is something wrong?"
"Well, there is a small problem." Severus said, "I have reason to believe that one of my students is being horribly abused at his home."
"Oh? What happened?" Lucius probed. Severus shifted uncomfortably in his chair and began telling him everything, only leaving out Harry's name. At the end of the story, Lucius had a thoughtful look on his face.
"I'd like you to help me get guardianship over the boy." Severus said, causing Lucius to startle.
"You want guardianship over him?" Lucius questioned, "You must care a great deal if you're willing to do that.
"It's not a matter of caring," said Severus. "You know how I feel about abused children." Lucius nodded, he did know.
"So who is the lad?" Severus froze. He knew it would come eventually, but he was still worried.
"He's Harry." Severus said. He didn't say 'Harry Potter' in hopes Lucius wouldn't ask.
"Harry who?"
"Potter." Lucius practically fell out of his chair.
"Harry Potter? The Boy Who Lived?" Lucius asked in shock. "I can't believe Dumbledore would allow him to be abused. And you want to take guardianship?" Severus nodded.
"If you take over guardianship of the boy though, when the Dark Lord returns he will know that you are a traitor."
"I'll- wait, excuse me?"
"Oh come off it, Severus." Lucius laughed, "I know you're not a true death eater."
"And you don't mind?" Severus asked in shock.
"Of course not, we may have different views but you're still my brother." Severus almost smiled, but then frowned.
"Does anybody else know?"
"No, you're very good at hiding it." Lucius said, "I only know because I know you almost as well as the back of my hand."
"So you'll help me then?" Severus asked. "I know you have some very nice connections in the ministry…"
"Yes, yes I'll help you," said Lucius. "But you must know the consequences of raising the Boy Who Lived."
"What do you mean?" Severus frowned.
"Well he'll be dead as soon as the Dark Lord returns." Lucius said gently.
"No, I won't allow it to happen." Severus said anger blazing in his eyes.
"You can hardly stop the Dark Lord." Lucius scoffed.
"I'll do what I have to." Severus said the stood. "I thank you for your help, but I must go. Awhile before I left I tested one of the headmasters lemon drops and the results should be done by now."
"Oh, I heard that he laces them with calming droughts, I wonder if it's true." Lucius said.
"I was wondering the same thing, you should have seen his face when I agreed to have one." Severus said with a small smile. "I'll have to pensive it for you, it was too good to miss."
"Alright Severus, I'll send you the paperwork in a week." Lucius said, "All you will have to do is sign it and have Potter sign it as well." Severus nodded and turned to floo back to his quarters.
When he got back he immediately went to his lab to read the result. The parchment was sitting on the counter so he picked it up and read it. His eyes narrowed and his lips were pressed. The lemon drop was laced with not only a calming drought, but a truth serum as well. Severus decided to keep the parchment, he might need it again someday.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exactly a week later Severus was sitting at the head table during breakfast waiting impatiently for the post; he knew that the paper work would be coming that day. Lucius never went against his word, and he had said in a week it should arrive.
He discreetly glanced over at Potter, who was talking animatedly with his friends. He hadn't talked to the child yet about the guardianship, he never really didn't know how to bring it up. He would have to do it after breakfast, Snape decided. Suddenly owls filled the room and for a few moments Snape thought he wasn't going to get one, but then one dove headfirst into his plate.
Severus sneered at the animal and untied the scroll, he opened it and glanced it over. It was the guardianship paperwork, but glancing over it he noticed something. Petunia and Vernon Dursley's signatures were already on there. He looked at the owl who was pigging out on his bacon and told it to stay.
Severus was searching his pockets for a piece of paper or something but only found a muggle pen. He sighed and picked up a napkin and wrote, 'How did you get the Dursley's to sign?' He looked up to make sure nobody was watching him and tied it to the owls let, then told it to get it to Lucius.
He was finished with his breakfast so he stood and strode over to Potter, who looked to be finishing as well.
"Potter, I need to speak with you in my office." Severus snarled and walked away. He could hear Harry's feet hurrying to catch up but he didn't slow. They didn't say anything the whole way to the dungeons.
When they made it there he pushed Harry gently inside and closed the door, making sure it was locked and silenced before telling Harry to take a seat, then doing so himself.
"I have something I need to talk to you about." Severus said quietly, "You cannot speak a word of it to anybody, not even your friends." Harry nodded enthusiastically.
"How would you like to leave the Dursley's?" Severus asked. Harry's face lit up a bit.
"H-how l-l-lo..long?" Harry asked.
"Until you're of age I suppose." Severus said.
"I w-w-would l-like it v-very m-m-much, s-s-sir!" Harry grinned, "W-who w-w-will it b-be?"
"Well I was thinking I would be your guardian." Severus said, and added uncomfortably. "If you'll have me."
"Y-you w-w-want m-me?" Harry asked. Without thinking Severus answered,
"No." He almost slapped his hand over his mouth in shock when he saw Harry's face fall. "I mean…I just…" He let out a frustrating sigh. That was not how it was supposed to go.
"Harry, look at me." Severus commanded. "Alright, It's not that I don't want you. I just…You have to understand; I know nothing about…parenting and that such thing. I want you, but I'm…concerned…about my guardian abilities." By the time Severus was done he looked deeply uncomfortable. His face was flushed and he was fidgeting, something he almost never did.
"Oh, w-w-well th-that's a-al…alright th-then." Harry said looking up, "W-we c-can l-l-learn t-to-together."
"What do you mean?" Severus asked.
"W-w-well, I d-don't w-weally k-k-know h-how to b-be a…well, w-what w-will I be to y-you?"
"You will be my ward." Severus informed.
"Y-y-yeah. I d-don't kn…know h-how to be a w-w-ward." Harry said, "W-we c-can l-learn o-our p-parts t…to…together." Severus almost smiled, but kept it under check.
"I guess we will." Severus said. He pulled the parchment out of his pocket and set it front of Harry. "Are you sure you want me as a guardian?" Harry nodded so Severus told him to sign on the line. When Harry was done nearly printing his name Severus turned it around and did the same. With a puff of smoke the parchment vanished to the ministry.
"There, you are my ward now." Severus informed. "Now, don't tell anybody, especially the Headmaster. He wants you to go back to your relatives, but I don't like how they treated you so I did this behind his back."
"A-Alright s-s-sir." Harry said.
"Good, now go get ready for class." Severus said, "Oh and don't forget that you have speech lessons tonight at eight!" He heard a stuttered "Yes, sir!" as he watched the retreating form of Harry Potter. Only when Harry was gone did Severus allow himself a smile.