Beta: FlyingLovegood123
Snape cursed under his breath as he made his way toward the headmaster's office. He had already established this school term as well as the next six as some of his worst ones before any of them even begun because of a simple reason, spoken in two words: Harry Potter. When he caught a glimpse of the boy at the opening ceremony and saw the splitting image of James Potter staring back at him, he lamented the fact that he was going to have the son of his worst enemy sitting in his class for seven years straight. Or maybe five, if Snape was lucky. He had just had the first double class with Potter's spawn, and he seriously doubt that the abysmally level of skill performed by the-boy-who-lived (heavy sarcasm) could permit that arrogant brat to attend NEWT-level Potions. If the boy did fail, he would count that as a blessing, since at the moment the very sight of the boy managed to rouse his ire and his temper, which was already terribly short. Then, as if to add to his foul mood, Dumbledore just had to summon him. Sometimes, he suspected that the old man deliberately provoke him just to see his reaction. It wasn't the summoning that was the problem. Teachers were called by the Headmaster every now and then, after all; it was a common thing. No, it was the content of the incoming talk that didn't sit well with Snape. Ah yes, Snape knew exactly for what reason Dumbledore had instructed him to be present in his office tonight. It could again be summed up in two words, previously mentioned: Harry Potter. Snape had the feeling that those cursed words would continue to plague him in years to come.
Finally found himself facing the two gargoyles that stood in front of the staircase leading to Dumbledore's office, Snape, the Potions master, let out a defeated sigh.
"Lemon drop."
Dumbledore lifted his head slowly from his study and his piercing blue gaze fell on Severus Snape, who just stepped into the room.
"You called, Headmaster?" the younger man stated the words in a low voice.
"Indeed, Severus. Please have a seat."
Snape settled himself in the wooden chair positioned in front of the desk and fixed Dumbledore with a questioning stare, waiting for the old wizard to start. Around them, the portraits hung on the wall were all snoring loudly, but Snape could feel their gazes following him.
"You've already met him, I assume?"
Snape gave a nearly imperceptible nod.
"So, what's your opinion?"
Thoughts about the subject of their conversation irritated him and Snape abruptly rose to his feet and started pacing around.
"The child's mediocre, arrogant as his father, a determined rule breaker, delighted to find himself famous, attention-seeking and impertinent…"
"You see what you expect to see, Severus." Dumbledore had turned his eyes back to a book he had been reading previously on his desk. Snape's reaction was no surprise to him. Dumbledore would have actually been astonished had the Potions master reacted in anything pleasant. "Other teachers report that the boys is modest, likeable and reasonably talented. Personally, I find him an engaging child."
Snape stopped mid-stride and turned to Dumbledore, his face betrayed a hint of annoyance.
"You summoned me here to praise the boy?" he asked the Headmaster in a mocking tone.
"I need you to keep an eye on Quirrell." Dumbledore replied calmly, completely unaffected by Snape's attitude.
Snape sat down in his seat again.
"You think he's up to something?"
"I can't be certain, but we can't take any chance. Too much is at stake. Harry must be safe at all cost."
"I understand." Snape said somberly. No matter how much he might loathe that boy, he was his responsibility now and it fell to him to keep Potter safe.
Dumbledore opened his mouth again to speak, and Snape expected a dismissal, having assumed the old man was finished with his order, so he was mildly surprised at the sentence that came out.
"There's another matter that I must discuss with you, Severus. Are you, perhaps, familiar with the name Edward Thompson?" Dumbledore looked up from the book pages and gave Snape his full attention.
Snape frowned. As a matter of fact, he did know that name. He mulled the words over in his mind. Who was it? A governor? A former Death Eater? No. He was sure he heard the name somewhere recently. Somewhere in the castle…
Finally, it came to him. Of course-his Potions Classes.
"Isn't he a Hufflepuff first year?"
"You're correct. What do you think of him?"
Snape searched the other man's face, looking for some sort of explanation. Why would Dumbledore be interested in a normal student?
"He's…a regular first year. Quite attentive, but he doesn't stand out from others in class. He has no really distinguishable features." And indeed he didn't. Snape was already having trouble recalling the boy's face. Black hair, blue eyes and… oh yes, a pair of ridiculously large ears. "Why do you wish to know?"
"You see, Severus, that boy has quite a special circumstance."
"Meaning?"
"The first thing you must know, is that his name isn't Edward Thompson at all." Dumbledore continued with his story, his face showed no emotion at all.
"What…?" Snape was startled by the statement.
"On August 4, the Ministry registered an unknown source of underage sorcery in a muggle town, and asked me to investigate." Dumbledore said slowly. "On arriving there, I found a boy who was losing control of his magic in his panic. When he had calmed down, it turned out that he had no recollection of his memory or even his own name."
Snape listened to Dumbledore curiously though not without a sense of foreboding. Events like this never promised anything good. Then, he noticed something amiss.
"Unknown source? I thought the Ministry always keep a close tab on underage witches and wizards?"
"They do." Dumbledore nodded. "There was a problem. Even though those in charge of underage sorcery there have continued to do research since the boy's appearance, no hint that he had ever even existed before can be found. I personally investigated myself, but the result was the same. It was like he just appeared out of thin air."
Snape raised an eyebrow.
"And I guess that boy is our Mr. Thompson?" he asked.
"Indeed. I gave him that name myself." the Headmaster confirmed Snape's theory "I had assigned him to live temporarily in number four, Privet Drive prior to his arrival at Hogwarts.
Dumbledore's words took a few seconds for Snape to register.
"But…that's…" Snape spluttered
"Harry's place, yes." Dumbledore said evenly.
Snape slammed his hands on the surface of the wooden desk and leaned forward, his face was that of disbelief.
"Are you out of your mind?" he hissed
"Not at all. I had told Mr. Thompson that it was the only place available due to the short time notice."
Snape narrowed his eyes.
"There's actually someone who would believe that excuse?" Surely, Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, the greatest wizard in the magic world would be able to find any accommodation suitable for the boy should he desire?
"I need to keep tabs on him, Severus. I placed him together with Harry because I wish for them to become close. That way, it'll be easier for you check on both of them. It was a shame that Edward ended up in Hufflepuff, though."
Snape put his face in his hand. Sure, why not give all the babysitting jobs to the grumpy Potions master? He was such a splendid children caretaker, after all.
"You do realize that, if what you said is true, then we know next to nothing about this Edward Thompson, or whatever his real name is?" inquired Snape.
"I do." Dumbledore admitted.
"Yet you're ready to endanger Potter by putting that boy close to him? What if he's a threat?"
"He's only a boy, Severus. Besides, had he sought to harm Harry, he would never have been able to enter that house."
Snape gave a sigh.
"What do you want me to do with him?"
"Just observe him and report anything unusual to me. Although I don't believe that he's any cause for concern for now."
Snape exited Dumbledore office later, feeling ten times worse than he had before he entered it. So now he was in charge of two brats instead of one. He needed to extract any possible information he could get about his new burden as soon as possible. Perhaps a detention for the boy was in order.
