Hello again! and thanks to everyone who reviewed. You all surprised me I had so many people tell me how much they loved the last chapter even though I thought it could have been better myself. You guys are great! I love you guys! So since you were so wonderful about the last chapter I have worked day and night to bring you this one. In this one you will find out a little bit more about why the title is what it is! I hope you enjoy!
This chapter has not been beta'd yet so please excuse any errors, I will go back and post the edited file once it is back in my possession! Thanks to my beta almightyswot and my new helper (when she has the chance) the-dreamer4!
Disclaimer: As always I own nothing...yes..it's a sad sad thing.
What was that?
Harry woke the next morning feeling more refreshed than ever. He gathered his things and stepped into his prefect sized bathroom to indulge in yet another warm bath. He stepped into the tub after disrobing, also turned on the tap for the bubbles, and then the light pine scent he liked, and this morning just to be different, he added a tad bit of the lilac as well. After his bath he reached behind him to grab a towel, and got a very funny scare.
As he reached over for a towel he grabbed something very leathery, then it moved! "AAHHHHH!" Harry yelled and slipped and fell in the tub as he tried to get away and turn to see what it was at the same time. With a loud crash and bang, Harry hit the bottom of the tub.
Snape who had just finished dressing and had come out of the room, heard the boy scream. He quickly ran into Harry's room but didn't see the boy. He ran into the boys bathroom "HARRY!" he yelled with his wand drawn. He stopped dead in his tracks to find the boy scrambling around trying to get out of the tub, his eyes were closed from where he obviously had fallen and gotten soap in them. He saw the Malfoy's old house elf, Dobby, pulling on his ears and banging his head on the floor.
"Oh no, Dobby is a bad elf!" he wailed. "Dobby has scared and hurt great wizard Master Harry Potter sir! Dobby will have to iron his hands and ears for this. Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!" The elf repeated while banging his head on the floor.
Snape reached over and handed Harry a towel "Here Potter."
"Thank you sir." he said. "Dobby? Is that really you?" He asked while trying to wipe the soap from his eyes.
"Oh yes Master Harry sir, Dobby is so very sorry! I's did not mean to frighten you. Master Harry's dog wanted me to bring him a message. Dobby was just going to be a good little elf and wait for Master Harry to finish his bath, but Master Harry reached for a towel and grabbed Dobby's ear. When I's tried to get you a towel you screamed and fell. I's so sorry Master Harry Potter Sir, please forgive Dobby!" The elf continued to wail.
By the time Dobby finished telling what happened, Harry could have sworn he heard Snape chuckle. He finished getting the soap out of his eyes and stood wrapping the towel around himself. He turned to see the Potions Master turned to the side with his shoulders shaking lightly from laughter.
Harry smiled and stared with big eyes, how funny it was to see this man laughing, then he remembered what he was laughing about. "Hey you reach for a towel and grab something leathery and moving!" he retorted. That just made the stern hateful man laugh harder. Snape was now outright consumed in rich, smooth, deep, laughter.
Seeing this just made Harry laugh. They stood there laughing like that for about a good five minutes. With Harry doubled over on the the side of the tub holding his stomach, red in the face with tears from laughing so hard. While Severus stood leaning over against the wall holding his stomach while red in the face with tears from laughing. If someone had walked in right about now, they would have thought that they were seeing things, and had themselves admitted to St. Mungo's mental ward.
Harry stopped laughing abruptly "Hey! You called me Harry! Not 'Potter' but Harry!" he smirked towards the man.
"You must have been hearing things, for I did no such thing" Snape replied. He hoped that the boy wouldn't have noticed.
"It's all right sir. I actually prefer for you to call me Harry. 'Potter' makes me think I'm in trouble, even when I'm not. I was wondering how much longer you would last. How much longer before you completely slipped up and said my whole first name, without correcting yourself first that is." Harry grinned slyly at the Potions Master.
Snape paled. He had no clue the boy had heard all of his slip ups. He wasn't even sure where they came from himself. He bowed his head and responded "I shall call you as you wish...Harry. However when you are in trouble, which I'm sure will still happen often, I will call you what I wish. Understood?"
"Yes sir," Harry grinned.
"Very well, in return, whilst we are in these quarters, in private, I will allow you to call me Severus." NO NO NO NO NO Why did I just do that!? "In public you must continue to call me 'sir' or 'Professor'." He told the boy, who was now definitely shocked. So was Snape to be honest he had no clue where that had just come from.
Harry grinned "Sure thing Sev." he stated to Severus' back as he left the loo.
"Call me that again and you'll find yourself on the receiving end of a very nasty hex." Snape threatened. Harry quickly nodded his head in reply.
Snape left and Harry turned to the little elf who still had tears running down his face. "It's all right Dobby, you did kind of scare me, but it all worked out in the end see? You even gave us a good laugh over it." he told the little creature. "You said that you had a message from Sirius for me?"
"Yes Master Harry Sir. Master Harry's Dog wanted Dobby to tell Harry Potter to meet him on the quidditch pitch an hour after breakfast. He told Dobby this last night and asked Dobby to bring hims breakfast in his rooms. I's told hims that I's do anything to help Harry Potter sir." Squeaked the now excited house elf.
"Thanks Dobby, you did great." He praised the elf. Dobby threw himself forward to hug Harry's legs and then disappeared. Harry went into his room and changed clothes. Today he decided to wear a pair of the blue jeans, and his white t-shirt.
After changing his clothes, Harry went into the dining area where Snape...no Severus, was standing. Since they always woke so early, the two of them often had breakfast in their quarters. Today though, they had decided to have breakfast in the Great Hall. Severus was standing over to the corner of the room passing a small silver box back and forth between his hands.
Harry walked over and sat down at the table and Severus called for Belkin, his usual house elf, and requested coffee and pumpkin juice. When the beverages arrived he walked over to the table where Harry was seated. He took a sip of his coffee, and sat the box on the table in front of Harry.
"What is this sir...Severus?" he inquired. He looked at the small box it was square with a domed top, much like a ring box, but why would Severus give him a ring?
"I am aware that you do not have anything that belonged to your mother. I have come to know that you have your fathers cloak, and that infernal map they invented. Yes I know about the map. I was a victim of it more times than I care to count. I assumed that's what it was the night I stopped you in the corridor last year. I was not sure, and thought it could be a Zonko's product, that is until Lupin came along."
"This is something that belonged to your mother once. I will tell you about it but do not ask any questions. I am not prepared to tell you everything." He told the boy.
Harry opened the box and found an exquisite ring. It was the perfect size to be a man or a womans ring, it appeared to be yellow gold and white gold intertwined for the band. The set was a brilliant shade of green, and it matched Harry's eyes perfectly. Around the set were 4 lilies...two met at the top and two met at the bottom. On one side of the band next to the set was a lion and on the other side of the set was a snake. Harry noticed there was an inscription inside the ring that read 'To Lily, I'll always be with you'.
Harry felt his eyes start to burn, and his throat tighten, no, he would not allow himself to cry. Not now, not in front of Severus. He couldn't believe that this ring, this one right here in his hands, once belonged to his mother. "Th..Thank you Severus. It means a lot to me." He said to the man. He tried his best but couldn't hold back any more tears. Two tears silently ran down his cheeks.
"That was an eternal friendship promise ring that I gave your mother once. It was intended to be for more than friendship, but I never got up the courage to tell her how I felt. By the time I had gotten up the courage she was dating your father. We were still very good friends so I gave her that ring as a promise of our friendship. She wore it every second of every day for over a year. Until the day after I was marked. She found out that I was marked to serve a mad man bent on destroying everything she stood for, and gave it back. I've kept it ever since. I would like for you to have it now. It will mean more to you than it will to me." He disclosed. "I have had Albus place a tracking and alerting charm on it, that is linked to both Albus and myself, so if anything should ever happen to you we will know and be able to track your where abouts." he finished.
Harry still couldn't believe that this ring...this ring...once belonged to his mother. He slipped it onto his finger and it magically adjusted to fit. He also couldn't believe that Severus had intended on this being an engagement ring for his mum. How odd was that? Silent tears still ran down his cheeks as he admired the ring. It was beautiful. "Thank you Severus. Really, thank you, it's brilliant." he kept thanking the man.
"You are welcome Harry. Take care of it. Happy Birthday." With that Severus got up and left the table. Harry sat there and stared at the ring for a good while. Just thinking of what his mum must have been like. Of how wonderful and beautiful she must have been to catch the heart and attention of a future death eater and to befriend him. He knew just from this that his mum was every bit as great as he had always been told she was.
He would be able to know this for himself if that bastard Wormtail hadn't of betrayed them. He felt a wave of fury pass through him. He closed his eyes. He would deal with that rat in due time. He knew he would. He thought about all he had lost all because of one little coward that wouldn't even save his friends. Harry suddenly felt the room shaking, and a wind blowing across his face.
He snapped his eyes open to find the table shaking, along with everything else. Severus came running when he felt the room shaking and the magical call from Harry's ring. He found Harry standing up by the table wide eyed and breathing heavy. "What in Merlin's name was that?" Harry asked.
"It seems that you had some magical energy that wished to be released. Were you angry about something?" He asked, trying to figure out what could cause the boy to almost release such a powerful burst of raw magic.
"I was just thinking of what life might be like if that coward hadn't of betrayed my mum and dad. I guess I got a little angry." Harry tried to justify.
"Yes well, It seems I must speak to the Headmaster. Wild magic that powerful is not classified as accidental magic. Neither is it common in someone so young, nor is it ever that powerful when it does occur. I will speak to the Albus on this issue. Do not worry yourself it is not that big of a deal." He stated at the teens concerned look. "Now, I believe it is almost time for breakfast."
Harry nodded and went to his room and gathered his quidditch gloves, broom and snitches. He walked back into the sitting room with his things and at Severus' odd look explained, "Sirius sent Dobby this morning to ask me to meet him on the quidditch pitch after breakfast."
Severus nodded and the two of them left for breakfast. Snape had wondered at first if he should even give the boy the ring, 'Would he even appreciate it or take care of it?', he had thought. He knew that he had made the right choice when the boy admired the ring the whole time. At way he held it reverently, and thanked him profusely, as well as the way he teared up at the sight of the ring, Severus knew he had made the right choice. It was best to get rid of his demons, so to say, anyways, and what better and safer place than with her son?
Harry entered the great hall, as he sat he was greeted and wished happy birthday by everyone present. "That really is a lovely ring you have there my boy." Dumbledore commented to Harry with a glance at Severus. "Is that another birthday present?" he asked his eyes twinkling madly.
Snape shot a look at Harry, then a glare the headmaster. "Thank you sir. Um, yeah an old friend of my mums gave it to me, said that it used to belong to her and that they wanted me to have it now." He carefully explained. Severus gave him a curt nod, and Harry gave him a nervous smile back.
"Ah yes my dear boy! I do seem to remember her wearing it now. She used to never even take it off if I remember correctly, then one day all of a sudden she never wore it again. Sad that, It really is a fantastic piece of work." Dumbledore stated.
After everyone had finished eating and began talking, Harry excused himself. He headed out for the pitch after picking up his things from one of the house tables where he had left them while he ate. He wanted to get a bit of practice flying in. He walked onto the pitch and drew in a big breath of fresh air. It was a perfect day. The sun was shining from behind the clouds, it was warm, and everything was just beautiful.
He placed the snitches on the stands and put on his gloves. He grabbed his Firebolt and kicked off as hard as he could and shot straight up in the air. He flew as fast as he could to the other end of the pitch. What a brilliant feeling. Oh how he had missed this. The wind blowing through his hair and on his face. The feel of his broom underneath, the thrill of flight. Flying always made him forget his troubles. It made him feel free. When flying it was like he was no longer 'Harry Potter', but rather just a normal boy flying on his Firebolt, having fun.
He circled the pitch a few times, and started doing loops in the air. He dove, and turned, and rolled, and looped. He had just started wondering when Sirius was going to get there, when he saw his godfather still yawning enter the pitch carrying a Nimbus 2000. Harry dove down and landed just in front of him.
"Wow kiddo, your every bit as good as James was. I'd even wager that you could probably have out flown him. No wonder you made the team your first year, and Happy Birthday too by the way!" Sirius praised.
"Thanks" Harry smiled. "Where'd you get that?" He asked, pointing to the Nimbus 2000 in his godfathers hand.
"Oh, This? Madam Hooch let me borrow it. She's a doll that one" he said with a wink at Harry. He then laughed at the look on Harry's face.
"Bloody hell Sirius! I don't need to know what you think about her, she's my professor for Merlin's sake!" Harry replied. "Anyways, so are you ready to play or you need me to teach you how to fly again?" He smirked.
The only answer Harry received was Sirius taking off in the air before he could even mount his broom. Harry jumped on his Firebolt and took off after Sirius. He caught up to his godfather and yelled out "Race you!" and took off. Leaving Sirius trailing after him. Sirius soon caught up with him when he was nearing the rings. They were neck and neck, until Harry laid down flat on his broom and urged it to go faster. He was no match for his godfather after that. He was smaller and lighter and had the faster broom.
They race around for a few more minutes then Harry landed and grabbed one of the practice snitches and flew back up. "Watch out for this one, it occasionally turns into a bludger and comes back at you, all you have to do is dodge it." he called out. Sirius nodded and Harry released the snitch with a 'go!'
So far they were doing pretty well, Sirius had caught it twice, and Harry 5 times. Sirius had gotten a pretty hard hit on the jaw once when he was about to catch it and it turned into a bludger and nailed him in the jaw. Harry himself had been hit once in the shoulder for the same reason. The bludger didn't have a whole lot of power behind it since it was designed where it could be used by a single person. It still smarted enough to let you know you'd been too slow though.
They played like this for a while, sometimes trying out the other snitches. Harry thought he would die laughing when Sirius picked up the rain practice snitch and told it to go and was promptly sprayed with a face full of water.
After a couple of hours Harry started getting hungry. He looked down at his new watch and saw that it said 'time to eat'. He landed and motioned for his godfather to do the same. "I think it's time for lunch." He said.
Just then both his and Sirius' stomachs growled with hunger. "I couldn't agree more!" Sirius laughed.
As they were walking back to the castle for lunch, Harry noticed a slight bruise from the 'snitch turned bludger' on his godfathers jaw. "Hold still a moment Sirius, I want to try something." He proposed. "Don't worry, at the worst nothing will happen" he added at his godfather's worried look.
Harry placed his hand lightly on the animagus' jaw. He closed is eyes tight and willed Sirius to be healed. He felt a tingle in his stomach and it grew until it reached his hand, he opened his eyes and noticed the bruise was gone. "What did you do? My jaw feels great! Blimey, my neck feels better too!" He acknowledged in astonishment.
Harry grinned. "Well you see," he started shyly "when I was having to heal in the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey discovered that I have healing powers. I don't think they're strong yet, but I can do some healing. I've only done it to myself before now though, and mostly by accident." he educated the man. He was a bit more drained after that though. "Ok well I'm even hungrier now. Come on!" he said leaving his still shocked godfather to follow in his wake.
The two entered the Great Hall and sat at the head table and enjoyed a quick lunch. They talked a little here and there between bites, and Sirius told Harry that Remus was going to try to stop by for a hour or two after lunch.
Just as the two headed out of the Great Hall, they met Remus entering the castle. "Happy Birthday Harry! See I told you I would try to make it!" he greeted jovially.
"Remus! You made it!" Harry chimed happily as he ran over and hugged the man. "Hey lets go walk around the lake!" he suggested. The dog animagus, the werewolf, and the young boy made their way out of the Entrance Hall, out onto the grounds, and over to the lake.
Meanwhile in the Headmaster's office, Severus Snape was pacing in frustration just before the Headmaster's desk. "I'm telling you Albus, something is going on with that boy! He is beginning to show powers that most adults can only dream of possessing! So far at only 14 he has shown evidence of healing powers and did you feel that little earthquake this morning?" He questioned "Yes, that was you blessed 'golden boy' almost destroying the castle with minimally released raw magic!Something must be done Albus!! Who knows what other powers that boy possesses? If he doesn't learn to control this he will destroy us all accidentally!" He ranted.
Dumbledore sat for a moment with his hands steepled under his chin, deep in thought. That had to be some very strong magic to shake the castle and it's whole foundation that way, and from the feel and description, that was only a small taste of it. The boy definitely needed to be trained on controlling his magic. Albus could have swore that he saw the boys hand glowing the other day when he cast a simple levitating charm on one of his birthday gifts. That indeed, if it was what he saw, was the tale-tell sign of a very powerful wizard indeed, possibly even the coming of mage powers. If young Harry indeed was a mage, he would need even more training that the old man thought. Now what to do about it?
"I agree fully Severus, however without knowing the full extent of his powers and abilities... I'm afraid that the most we can do is provide power level tests and training on controlling his emotions and the amount of power that he puts into spells. I suspect he may be even more powerful than Voldemort or myself if what we suppose is true. I am going to share my speculations with you my dear boy, I must gravely ask, that you first make a wizards oath to me, that you will not tell a soul unless I approve of it." The old man requested.
"I swear by all powers in me as a wizard that I shall not utter a word of this information entrusted to me, unless informed to do so by you, Albus Dumbledore Headmaster of Hogwarts, at the cost of my magic and freedom of voice." He complied without hesitation. The headmaster was a barmy old fool at times, but Severus trusted him with his life. He had been his only mentor, father figure, and friend for as long as he could remember. "Will that suffice Headmaster?" he inquired.
Albus was touched, his former student and now colleague, the man he thought of and loved as a son, did not even hesitate to make this oath. Next to an unbreakable vow, a wizards oath was the most powerful promise a witch or wizard could make. He regretted having to ask the man to make it, however he would even have requested one of Merlin himself in this case. It was not information to be taken lightly, it could be the cost of Harry and the wizarding world as it was. "Yes my boy, I am sorry but you shall see why. Thank you." he accepted gravely.
"I noticed at Mr. Potter's party the other day, and I am still not one hundreb percent sure, but I would bet all of my statuses, that when Mr. Potter cast a simple levitation charm on one of his gifts, I saw his hand radiating a white glow of power. This can only indicate one of two things, however I suspect the latter. Mr. Potter is either one of the most powerful wizards that ever lived, or he is indeed a very rare and powerful mage." he explained.
"If he is indeed a mage, then this is just the beginning of the powers that he will display over the next several months. Even the weakest mages come into their full powers by age 17. The fact that Harry is showing these powers at age 14 suggests that he is one of the most powerful in centuries. I'd wager if true that he would even give Merlin himself a run for his money." Albus speculated.
"And what if he is not a mage? How will that differ?" Severus wondered hesitantly. How could one child hold so much power?
"Maybe it's best if I start from the beginning" Albus said as he rose from behind his desk. "You see my boy, many centuries ago, even before the time of the founders, Merlin himself told of a extremely terrible and powerful dark wizard that would arise centuries ahead of his own time. He stated that this wizard would have to be defeated twice. He mentioned of a child that would be of his own bloodline, a 'boy with all the power'. This child would be one of the most powerful of all time. This child would rival many, face many challenges and obtain the ability to remain pure of heart." The old man recounted. "It was not told of who this child was or when or where he would come about however. Merlin foretold that this mere child would have powers that had not surfaced in hundreds of years. Many would fear him, many would look up to him. All in all this would be the child to defeat the dark wizard. He would be guided by a shadow man and several other that were mentioned without name. He did not mention if the child would be of mage powers or not, but in order for some of the powers not to have arisen in hundreds of years, I suspect so."
He paused for a moment and unstuck a lemon drop before placing it in his mouth and continuing. "You see my dear Severus, ever since the fall of Grindelwald and the beginning rise of Tom Riddle, I have been positive this was the time Merlin spoke of. When Sybill's prophecy came along I knew this was the time. I believe that Harry is the child of Merlin's line spoken of, and that you my boy, are the shadow man." He finished.
"How could I possibly be this Shadow man? And how can you be sure that Potter is this child? I am to understand that the prophecy Sybill made could also refer to the Longbottom boy, Merlin forbid, we could all be doomed if that is the case." he ranted.
"Yes indeed Severus, it could have been Mr. Longbottom, however it is not. You remember the beginning of the prophecy perfectly, however I shall now allow you to hear the completion of it. Then I shall explain further." He walked over to his bookcase and with a wave of his wand, one of the shelves sprang open. The Headmaster retrieved a very old looking pensieve, with runes all around the outside. He placed it on his desk and touched the tip of his wand to his temple drawing a silver thread of substance and placing it into the stone basin. He then prodded it with his wand.
Out of the pensieve rose a younger image of Sybill Trelawney...
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."
The image drifted back down into the basin when finished. Snape stood stock still where he was. He had heard the beginning already, unfortunately, it was he who informed the Dark Lord of this information as well. "So it's true, the fate of the wizarding world does lie on the boys shoulders" he almost whispered. He sat in the chair and placed his head in his hands. A very un-snape-like gesture that he would never allow anyone but Albus to see.
"As I stated my boy, It could not have been Mr. Longbottom, the Longbottoms were fighting longer and had defied Tom a few more than three times. The Potter's however, had only defied him three times." He paused a moment and conjured a tea set. He fixed himself a cup and offered a gladly accepted cup to Severus as well.
"Tom chose to mark Harry himself. Neville is unmarked. I believe at the time and even now, Harry's power, is and was equal to Voldemorts. However at the time, I suspect that the sacrifice that his parents made for him, mixed with Harry's own powers, placed a protection on him that destroyed Voldemorts body along with his power at the time, while only leaving a curse scar on the boys forehead. However when he comes into his full power, Harry shall be even extremely more powerful than Tom." He explained to his Potions Master.
"I do not see how Potter could be of Merlin's line though Headmaster. We know that the Potters were descendants of Gryffindor, but not of Merlin, that we know of. Lilly was a muggleborn. I do not see how it could be possible." Stated Severus.
"Ah yes, I too wonder about that. It is possible that the Potters are somewhere in the bloodline of Merlin, however it would be a very distant relation. Not a direct descendant as Merlin spoke of. We will need to preform some sort of ancestry test on Harry." Albus speculated.
"Fine, I understand why it seems to be Potter, but why me? What makes you think that I am this 'Shadow Man' that Merlin spoke of?" The potions master responded.
"When you were a boy, did you not keep to yourself, away from everyone. 'Keep to the shadows' so to say? And when you took the mark and joined Tom, did you not remain on the sidelines in the 'shadows' as much as possible to avoid the events and punishments? When you returned to us on the light side, did you not ride the shadows to search for information to stop the destruction? Also to this day are you not haunted by the shadow of your past even though you have atoned for your sins?" he finished.
"I concede your point Albus. What am I to do though? How on earth am I supposed to guide the boy?" he pleaded. He did not bring up the fact that he felt he would never be able to atone for his sins. He had done some foul things as a Death Eater, even if none of it was by his own choice.
"We first must wait and see what powers develop. The rest should not be a problem, you will have help. I am not sure his power is completely what you will be guiding him in. He needs caring for Severus. He needs to know that people will be there for him. This will be a difficult time in his life and he will need all of the love, care, and support he can get. You saw from his home life, he has never had any kind of love or affection ever shown towards him. I believe this shall be good for the both of you." The headmaster replied with twinkling eyes.
Damn him! Thought Snape, that was his whole point for putting the brat in his care to begin with. Manipulative old fool. Damn those twinkling eyes too! "And how exactly am I to care for the brat when I don't even like him, and he probably down right hates me and doesn't even trust me!" he sneered at the man.
"Ah Severus my boy, you forget, I know you too well. I know that you care for the boy. If for no other reason than that he is Lily's son and you feel responsible for him. I know there is more though. I saw the look in your eyes when you brought him to Poppy that night. You cared, you were worried. You loved Lily, you always will, and you never wanted anything more in life than someone to love you. You know what it's like to be in Harry's place, you were there my boy, and I take blame for the both of you going through that. If you allow him to, Harry has a whole lot of love to give. He wants nothing more than to be wanted and loved, just like you when you were his age. We must not allow him to lock himself away and become bitter. His heart is too big and full of love. I know you can do it my boy. I believe in you, always have, always will. I am proud of you my child. I know that you will do the right thing." Albus expertly tried to convince.
The nerve of that man! He always new how to get Snape to do just whatever he wanted. All he had to do was start praising him and showing pride and confidence and Severus was helpless. He would go to the ends of the earth and even die for this man. Yet those are two things he would gladly do instead of admitting he cared for the boy. He wasn't sure why he cared himself, he just knew he did. He had always tried to look out for the boy, and was constantly attempting to save his life...the instance with Quirrell and the broomstick, then when Quirrell was trying to get to the stone. Then when Black was lose and still thought to be a murderer.
Why was he mean to the boy? Oh several reasons:
He looked like his wretched father.
He just couldn't stay out of trouble.
Everyone else worshiped him and thats the last thing he needed.
He did have a reputation and image to keep up.
Severus sighed, he knew there would be no getting out of this one. However he would not coddle, or hug the boy. Nor care for him any more than was was required. He would attempt to listen to the boys school and power related problems and find a solution or someone else to help. He would assure the boy that his friends and others would be there and help him.
"Fine headmaster I will attempt to support the boy, and guide him but I make no promises of how it will turn out." He sneered,
"That is all I can ask Severus" the headmaster thanked as he walked over and put a hand on Snape's shoulder. "Well I am sure that you have other things to attend to today. So if there is nothing else..." he let the sentence hang.
"No Albus, that is all" Severus declined as he stood to leave.
"Very well then my boy. Just think about all we talked about and remember Harry has a lot more of his mothers personality and your past than you may realize." Severus left the office scowling while Dumbledore was smiling cheerfully with those damned eyes twinkling again.
Realization hit Severus as he exited the corridor to the headmaster's office. Potter did grow up a bit like him. He thought over the past few days and realized maybe things wouldn't be as hard as he thought. As much as he hated to admit it, even to himself, deep down he really did care for the boy. They seemed to get along well in the last couple of days.
Severus hadn't laughed in years, like he did this morning with the boy. A smile briefly graced his lips at the memory. He quickly schooled his expression though. What in the world is happening to me? I am smiling and about laughing with Potter!! He thought, as he made his way back to his lab to work on some of his potions for the hospital wing.
Harry and Sirius were just walking back from the lake, Sirius had his arm draped over Harry's shoulder and Harry had his arm around Sirius' waist. They were still laughing at some of the things that his mother had inflicted on the Marauders for their 'immatureness'. Remus had just left to attend to some business he had later that day.
Sirius and Remus had taken the time with Harry to tell him all kinds of stories about his mum and dad and the Marauders back in the day. They had once thoroughly embarrassed Harry with one of their stories, but he was laughing as well about it.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Harry was about 8 months old. His mum had just left to go do a bit of shopping. Sirius and Remus were left to mind Harry until James returned home in a few hours time. Harry was napping at the time, however they had already known, and Lily had warned them, that Harry always cried and wanted her when we woke. They had assured her that everything would be fine.
Baby Harry woke about thirty minutes later, crying for his mummy. Remus went up to his room and picked him up. He grabbed the stuffed gold snitch that Sirius had given him as a present for Christmas. He tried to give it to Harry to hold but he just threw it and continued to cry.
Sirius after hearing Harry cry for several minutes went up to see if he could make the tyke calm down. He took Harry from Remus and began to bounce him in his arms, but he still cried.
They continued to make faces, coo, play games, anything they could think of to try to calm the baby Harry down, to no avail. Finally after about an hour and a half, who knew this kid had lungs that strong?, Padfoot had an idea."Maybe he's hungry" Sirius suggested.
They took baby Harry down to the kitchen and Sirius handed him to Remus to hold, still crying. Sirius went over to where he figured the bottles were and opened the cabinet door. Upon opening it, he learned that it was not the correct place, when a bag of flour toppled down hitting him on the head and spilling flour all over the kitchen as well as Sirius himself. Harry started laughing.
Sirius sighed with relief, he may be a mess but at least Harry was no longer screaming. As he turned to look at Harry the boy started crying again full blast. He continued to look for a bottle for some time until he finally found some in another cabinet. He took the bottle and washed it again to make sure it was clean. He knew Lily usually kept a jar of baby milk in the fridge for Harry. He looked but he didn't see any. "Hey Moony! Where does Lily keep the extra cans of baby milk?" he asked over a loudly wailing baby Harry.
"Try one of the other cabinets!" Remus called back. Sirius looked around rummaging through cabinets looking for the milk while Harry continued to cry. He had just opened a cabinet and was feeling around (knocking over jars) when Harry stopped crying for a moment. Sirius turned around and was looking at a broadly grinning Harry when he felt something sticky pouring on his head, he stepped back and noticed that he had knocked the honey over and the lid had come loose and had littered the sickly sweet goo, all over his head, the counter, and the floor.
Harry,...he had started to cry yet again. After finally locating a can of milk on one of the shelves and opening it, James came home, to a kitchen, and best mate, covered in flour and honey. His son was screaming, James could tell he had just woken up, he was probably hungry and wanting his mummy. He walked over to the kitchen to help Sirius. "It's ok I found the milk!" Sirius stated, and started walking back over to the bottle with the can of open milk.
Suddenly everything went haywire! Sirius stepped in a patch of flour and honey mixed, and slipped, throwing baby milk all over himself, James, and the rest of the kitchen. Sirius had grabbed a hold of James and ended up taking him down on the way. Both tried to stand for several minutes before finally gaining their balance on the slippery messy floor.
Harry was still sitting with Remus and crying, with Remus rubbing small circles on his back trying to calm the tyke.
Lily walked in and stopped dead in her tracks, her house was a disaster, it looked as if her husband and son's godfather had gotten into a food fight in the kitchen. Everything was a mess.
Just then Harry stopped crying, when he hadn't even seen his mum yet.
Every one in the house could smell why little Harry had stopped crying. "I think some one needs their nappy changed!" She told Harry as she walked over to the grinning baby and picked him up. Lily suddenly burst out laughing and held Harry away from her. "Wha.." Remus started before looking down.
Harry had over filled his nappy and decided he wasn't finished, Uncle Remus looked down to find his lap full of mushy baby poop. Sirius and James immediately burst into laughter as well, which in turned caused them to lose their footing again and fall down into a heap again on the messy kitchen floor.
Lily never did let them forget that incident.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
By the time the two Marauders had finished telling Harry about this event, the boy was on the ground. He was red from embarrassment and laughing so hard, holding his stomach with tears running down his face.
As they reached the entrance hall of the castle, Sirius suggested, "Why don't you put your quidditch stuff away and meet me here when you get back?"
Harry nodded his head and took off at a run for his room in the dungeons. He entered but didn't see Snape anywhere. He hurriedly went and put his items in his room and took off back out of the quarters. He raced down the corridors until he was back in the entrance hall with Sirius.
Harry paused for a moment leaning against the wall panting, trying to catch his breath. Sirius had a mischievous look on his face. "What are you planning?" Harry asked cautiously after catching his breath.
"Not much" he replied, "just a little fun." he said with a wink. Harry wasn't too sure about this, he had learned over the past day or 2, that his godfather's idea of fun, often involved playing pranks. Harry knew that the only people here at the castle were professors...Harry didn't even want to think about pranking one of his professors. He got in enough trouble during the school term, he didn't need it during the summer holidays too.
"I don't know about this" He cautiously told Sirius "I have to live here and go to class with them too, you don't" he moaned.
"Fine, fine, I'll do it alone, but you can not spoil my fun!" he pouted.
"It's a deal" Harry replied "but you have to tell me what you're going to do so I can make sure I don't get blamed for it." he covered for himself.
"Actually Harry..." He smiled "It's only an hour until dinner, why don't you go ahead down to your quarters and see about engaging dear Snape into a game or two of chess until dinner, you may want to arrive earlier than him though." He told his godson with a wink.
Harry looked at Sirius and paled. "You're right I do not, want to know!" he stated as he headed for the dungeons, hearing his godfather laughing loudly behind him.
When Harry returned to their quarters he found Severus sitting in the study reading. He knew he had to stay with Snape in order for him to know that Harry was not involved in this. "Sir do you mind if I borrow a book to read?" he asked
"Do be careful with it, do not forget my promise I made the first day you were here" he nodded sternly to the boy.
"I won't, thank you Prof...Severus" he replied. Harry scanned the shelves looking until he found a book he liked on broom charms. He thought maybe he could use this for an excuse to leave a couple of minutes early to speak with Professor Flitwick.
Harry sat reading his book for a while. Then about 10 minutes until dinner, Severus stood and went to his lab. 'Oh no' Harry thought. Just as he thought that, Snape came back in the room carrying a box of potions.
"I need to deliver these to the hospital wing before dinner, I will meet you in the Great Hall." He informed Harry. Harry couldn't believe his luck. He had 5 minutes to get to dinner and Snape would be leaving early too!
He waited until his guardian made his way out, then he quickly replaced the book on the shelf and headed for dinner. Just as he reached the door to the Great Hall, he saw McGonagall coming up behind him and Sirius waiting over in the shadows unnoticed by anyone. He entered in front of McGonagall and walked to the head table and took a seat. He sat as still as he could and tried to act normal. He had no clue what Sirius was going to do, but he knew it involved Snape and Harry wanted no part in it, and no chance of being blamed.
After almost everyone had entered. Harry looked up and saw the Sirius holding the door open for Professor Sprout. They entered and took their seats and then the door opened once more to permit none other than Severus Snape. He openly wore a scowl on his face and was trying to clean some orange goo off his hand with a handkerchief.
Harry noticed that every time he would wipe the goo off it would reappear again. He approached the table and demanded "Who had the audacity to paint the handle of the door orange? And just before I entered!" He looked dead at Harry first.
"It wasn't me Professor, I entered before Professor McGonagall, and I've been sitting here the whole time." Harry told them man, completely innocently, and highly affronted.
"Leave the boy alone Severus, It couldn't have been him. My hands are not orange and I entered right behind him." McGonagall took up for Harry.
"Well then that only leaves one other person with the nerve!" He whispered almost menacingly as he rounded on Sirius.
"Hey don't look at me Snape, Professor Sprout, did you see me do anything to the door before we entered?" He inquired of the professor sweetly, a little too sweetly in Harry's opinion.
"No, Severus, I entered at the same time as Sirius, I saw him do nothing" She replied with a unnoticeable wink to Sirius. Snape was furious, he sat down glaring harshly around the table. He wrapped the handkerchief around his painted hand and joined everyone in filling his plate.
Harry looked over out of the corner of his eye, to notice his godfather wink at him and discretely take his wand and point it at Snape and then at every female at the table. Harry wondered what he had done.
Harry enjoyed his meal of roast chicken, mashed potatoes, broccoli and cheddar, and rolls. The headmaster had asked earlier in the day after lunch if there was something special Harry would like for dinner on his birthday. Harry responded by telling the man that whatever Dobby and the other elves felt like fixing was fine with him. Harry wasn't aware that Dobby had already figured out some of Harry's favorite foods until the food appeared.
After everyone was finished eating and talking, Sirius winked at Harry. Professor McGonagall was one of the first to get up to leave and Harry thought his eyes would bug out of his head. He had to stuff his hand in his mouth to keep from laughing. There was a big bright orange hand print, probably the size of Snape's hand, right on the bum of Professor McGonagall's robes. "Minerva!! I had no idea!" Sirius said. Then he turned to Snape and said "Why you sly dog you!" Most of the occupants of the table burst out laughing, most coughing trying to cover it, some choking in the process.
Professor McGonagall stood there a moment trying to figure out what was going on when all of a sudden Professor Trelawney who had decided to join the table for once stood and went to her side. On her bum was also an orange hand print. McGonagall had seen it as soon as Trelawney turned the corner to the table, but Trelawney was oblivious to her own mark.
Professor McGonagall turned and looked at her own hand print and turned and flashed a stern look at Sirius. Harry noticed that that while her look was stern her eyes were dancing with mirth. "Come Sybill, let us get cleaned up. Ladies, I suggest you follow, it seems Professor Snape may not have been able to resist any of us!" With that she turned quickly but not before Harry and Sirius noticed a wide grin on her face.
Snape stood up with his face red as a the Weasley's hair and said "I'll get you for this Black!" with a nasty glare before quickly leaving the hall with his robes billowing behind him.
As soon as the double doors shut, each and every person at the table collapsed in a fit of laughter. Harry was laughing so hard his face hurt and he had tears streaming down his cheeks. Harry looked at Sirius who was also convulsing with laughter. "That.. was..brilliant Sirius" He said between bouts of laughter.
Harry also noticed that Dumbledore also was crying with laughter. "Well played my boy! Well played! However I must warn you, I can not stop him from retaliating." He laughed.
"I think I can handle it" Sirius smiled back. "Well I believe nightfall is approaching, unfortunately I must be on my way." Harry and Sirius stood. Harry stepped forward and was embraced in a bone crushing hug from his Godfather.
"Be careful Sirius, and please write me when you get chance, to let me know you are ok" Harry said to him.
"You bet kiddo! I'll write every chance I get. Try to keep out of trouble, but remember to have fun. You are the son and godson of a Marauder after all! Professors, please make sure that Snape knows Harry had nothing to do with this, so don't let him take it out on him!" he replied. Dumbledore nodded his head in acceptance.
"Bye Kiddo, I'll see you soon...and don't forget I'm always with you!" he told Harry as he hugged him one last time. Harry nodded, he didn't trust himself to speak at the moment. Sirius walked out of the room to a round of applause, even the women in the room were clapping.
Thanks for reading! Please remember to review! The more reviews I get the sooner I am likely to post, all because you guys rock!