AN-Short Starter Chapter coming up! Its not my best work, but I'm still getting into this. If anyone has any good suggestions, feel free to email me.

Hope yu enjoy it :)

-August 1995-

15 years old

Not much had changed since Xavier's appearance in the alters world, though there had been drastic changes in the real world. The last year had been hard on them all, with Alex working hard to research all they could for Alias as fight dragons and merpeople. He wanted back up plans incase Harry's fragile plans collapsed, many of which did in the third task.

Daniel had spent the majority of his time balanced equally between mooning over Cedric whilst Harry had been going for the more socially correct Cho Chang, and working with Alias on how to act around the other students and to the officials and champions. They had to come across as strong but modest and each person could read them differently.

Cobra helped them with that, but was mainly focused on working out Voldemort's plot. It was no longer a game while Harry was tested, he needed to know how it was going to lay out. He's known about Barty since the man tried to break into Snape's stores, but he couldn't do anything about it because they needed to know the whole thing.

Unfortunately, none of them had predicted the cup and when Harry was whisked off to see Voldemort's rebirth, there was little they could do. When Harry's scar had burned Alias had been slammed back into the room, knocking him out temporarily. The more the scar burned, the more they were blocked so Cobra couldn't get out either.

Alex quickly sent Missy to hold Freak's door open so he couldn't shut it and slip out, whilst he and Xavier held Boy's. Cobra was busy trying to force his own door shut and switch out while Dan was reviving Alias. Eventually when Voldemort stopped focusing on causing Harry pain through the scar and started to duel Cobra could leap out and dodge a few Cruciatus' and get hit by several.

Finally Alias woke and leapt out to take over with the duel, getting hit by the first two Unforgivables before the wands connected. It took 4 days for Cobra to wake up, as he had never felt pain before and the 6 times under Voldemort's wand was a harsh way to get used to it. Alias was up in 2 days, but they were all tired.

The final month passed with them all (Cobra, Xavier, Alias, Alex, Dan and Missy) spends huge amounts of time out because Harry struggled to cope. Luckily, most people put his lack of words and fluctuating mood down to trauma.

Summer had continued much the same way, with Xavier slipping out every few days when the guilt over Cedric got two much, Boy and Freak keeping Vernon busy nightly- this time in punishment for the Weasleys visit, and the others trying as hard as possible to keep Harry sane and functional. This was a hard task.

Harry was running out of emotions but anger and helplessness when his happy innocent side was hiding away because of all his alters. He'd become a sort of blank mask for all of them to hide behind and didn't seem to have much left in him any real feelings. Shouting and screaming was his only real release left.

When he arrived at Grimmauld Place that was what he did. Bellowing about everything he remembered happening and how selfish his friends were helped a lot, and for a moment he could think again. It was that night in the kitchen that things went wrong.

Daniel, Cobra, Alex and Alias had been arguing solidly for 30 mins over whether they should tell someone anything. It had been a big meeting that night and both Professors Snape and McGonagall had stayed for dinner. This had prompted Cobra to suggest they tell someone about his to make it easier so that people stopped looking at them suspiciously.

Daniel had tentatively agreed it might be a good idea but Alex and Alias had actually agreed on something- that they should definitely keep this to themselves. Finally Cobra had told Daniel to distract them while he ran for his room and forced his way out.

He could feel the others talking at the same time so ignored them and finished Harry's meal. Things were noticeably awkward. Sirius and Snape were glaring at each other with Lupin trying to distract the dog father and McGonagall the Potions Professor.

Molly was scolding the twins, Kingsley was talking to Arthur, and Tonks was giving the girls nose changing but everyone else was keeping quiet, glancing at each other and trying not to laugh, cry or roll their eyes. Cobra wasn't so considerate, throwing in a condescending snort and leaning back in his chair with his legs crossed at the ankles, elbows on the chairs arms, fingers steepled. It was this action - so unlike Harry - that caught everyone's attention.

At there looks he raised an eyebrow at them, before turning back to Snape with a look of being unimpressed. The Professor sneered in disgust before snarling, "Is there something that thing you call a brain cannot understand, Potter?"

Cobra smirked coldly, before replying. "Only the fact that you're about as unsubtle as Gryffindor running across shattered glass and getting his feet cut. Ever heard of a mask Professor?"

The occupants of the room seemed to simultaneously frown at his actions whilst staring at the boy as though he'd grown several heads, one of which was that of a Chinese Fireball. Cobra watched confusion cross his opponents face, pleased to see a reaction, before it slid back into its customary sneer.

"And you are the epitome of subtlety" Snape drawled sarcastically.

"Of course" Cobra replied coldly, "I'm surprised you cannot work it out, dear sir"

Lupin's excellent hearing picked up on the change in the boys breathing and heart rate, but was confused by the fact he still had the same scent. Both he and Moody had their wands close to hand however, the latter pointing it directly at his back. McGonagall could see there was something wrong, but knew Snape could handle himself, so she only watched closely.

The Weasleys looked out of their depth, with the kids looking scared at their friends apparent behaviour. Sirius was also looking confusedly at his godson. Snape looked the boy up and down noticing the changes instantly. The hairs on the back of his neck rose indicating this wasn't someone he should overlook.

"What are you playing at Potter?" he asked, testing the waters. He knew this was Harry Potter due to his earlier behaviour, but the changes were so sudden and drastic it gave him pause for thought. Snape had a greater understanding of muggle mental health than anyone else in the British Wizarding Community and this was sending up alarm bells. He had several theories, but started with the least likely.

Sirius leapt to his feet instantly, "What are you accusing my godson of Snape?" but dropped back to his from the look Cobra gave him.

"Sit down you useless mutt, and stay away from what you can't begin to understand."

Sirius flinched as though physically hit but silenced immediately. The other kids were looking decidedly worried, but Molly looked angry at his rudeness. She was about to speak up but Arthur put a hand on her arm to silence her.

Cobra smirked, hearing the emphasis on his name, Snape was asking a different question. He raised his eyebrows and shook his head. Snape's face seemed to fall a little. He might not care for the boy, and there was every chance the attention seeking prat was faking this (as was often seen) but there was definitely enough trauma to lead to it, and the war was to important to overlook any mental health condition.

"Your not Potter, are you?" he said, with a completely blank face. Most of the room looked at him like he was mad, but Lupin and Kingsley raised their eyebrows as though they understood the possibilities.

"Give the man a medal!" Cobra drawled. "You know the game, dear sir, I'm not going to tell you anything unless you get me something in return.

"Who are you?" Snape started.

"My name is Cobra" the boy said whilst glancing at his nails. 'Original' the Professor muttered. Cobra smirked. "I'd thought so. Why did you save Harry in our first year?"

"I knew his mother." Snape snapped with a closed expression. The students all looked over shocked, while most looked confused. Lupin smiled slightly- a good thing he wasn't seen or he'd have he killed by Snape- whilst Sirius still hadn't gotten over the Slytherinesque-Harry thing. "How were you born?"

"Little Harry didn't like the fact that the hat thought he was a snake so he threw all of me out. I got all the interesting bits like power plays and manipulations and even Parseltongue after second year, but admittedly split to fast so I am missing some key emotions like true happiness and the ability to give a fuck about people who aren't us, but I know my faults. Do you know yours? What was your biggest mistake?"

Snape paused and looked visibly stressed. Slytherins do not like being in positions they cant predict and this definitely was one. Someone who had watched him which he hadn't watched himself around, in front of people he hid himself from and playing the Slytherin-Truth-Game with a being designed to do it that also had some conveniently warped morals.

He persevered, diplomatically replying with, "Joining the Death Eaters" and hoping that he'd imagined the pleasurable gleam in Cobra's eye which meant he'd found the lever. " Describe your least favourite alter."

Cobra snorted disdainfully. "Daniel, easily. Born from the fact Potter can't handle that he's gay." Ron actually chocked at this point. "He smiles and makes friends. Admittedly he's rather good at reading and consoling people but just because he's more socially developed does not make me want to spend more than the bare minimum time in his presence."

He wiped the expressions off his face- one point to Snape he managed to get a reaction out of him. But Snape had already lost he just didn't see it yet. "Why did you hate James Potter?" Snape stiffened and seemed to be doing some fast thinking.

By the 'rules' of the game you could ask any question and they had to answer truthfully or their opponent could also lie. The game itself was like a spell that locked the two players together whilst the game was in play. You could give a part answer, but the other could also reply with one if they noticed it and wanted to.

The only answer that had to be given fully was a yes/no. At that point they could end or play on but end at any time after the first yes/no. A good player would wait till they found a reaction, and then ask around to find the true 'lever'.

Snape hedged and gave a part answer. "He was an arrogant swine that made my childhood hell." Giving a longer answer gave the impression it was full, but Cobra already knew the answer, so he knew it was part. "Which is the most emotionally damaged alter and why?"

Cobra smirked. "That would be Xavier." Snape tensed again, knowing he'd lost. But by how far? "Why do you hate Harry Potter?" the boy looked downright demonic with the glint in his eye and sly smirk on his face. If Dumbledore were there he'd compare the boy to Tom Riddle.

Snape hesitantly went for another part answer whilst the others were currently wondering when they'd find out what was going on. "He's as arrogant as his father and thinks he can get away with anything because he was a pampered little prince at home." he sneered, putting on a good act. "How many of there are you, and what are your names?"

"There are 8 of us and Harry." Cobra smiled coldly. "But forgive me if I'm wrong but I don't quite believe that's the reason is it? You hate Harry because he has Lily's eyes, and sometimes he acts like her enough that for a minute you freeze. Its like having a constant reminder of all you lost right there, isn't it?

Snape froze like prey that was desperately hoping it hadn't been spotted.

"And then you see the face of your rival and all your life's mistakes come flooding back and suddenly you can't breathe because your raging at yourself and life and the fact that your rival got to fuck your best friend when damn it, it should have been you! And ultimately Harry is the epitome of your failures in the fact that if you hadn't fucked up somehow, he'd be your son.

"But you can't bare the fact that she died and you have to protect the only thing that's left in some bizarre hunt for redemption, because you feel guilty. So you have the horror of looking after a child that you hate because you hate its father and ultimately he won. Yes or no, dear Professor?"

The room had gone deadly silent. There was something cloying hanging in the air that nobody could seem to fight as a pale Severus Snape stared at the horrible, creepy child in front of him that had just read him like a book faster than he could even get the basic facts. The first time in his life he prayed for Harry Potter, because he didn't want to answer this child.

Cobra smirked once more, feeling no remorse for this and actually feeling pleasantly thrilled with his success. Who said he couldn't psychoanalyse like Alex could? "Answer the question sir and I'll let you ask me the rest free of charge. I suppose I'll even let someone else deal with someone else if you can't face looking at me…" he let out a cold chuckle.

Snape looked conflicted. Finally he pulled it together enough to say, "Lupin takes over with the one you dislike that you mentioned earlier. And Yes." In a twirl of robes and flash of green flame the man disappeared faster in less than 10 seconds.

"I guess that means he really is on our side?" Cobra said with a delighted laugh. "Very Gryffindor for Slytherin isn't he?"

Chapter End.

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