Chapter 19! Praise! I have to say right now i do not believe Hufflepuffs get enough love in this fandom. I mean I love Hufflepuffs and get bothered when people don't get why they are just so awesome. Review and tell me what you thought about this chapter.
Snape decided he had had enough surprises, enough changes in his world view, enough strange happenings. He could only hope that going back to Hogwarts would help. Nothing too crazy could happen there right? Nothing too earth shattering. I mean what more could Harry possibly have that could surprise him. The Parseltongue was surprising, the long list of names unexpected, the dark mark business was earth shattering and it was just too much. He needed to brew.
So he apparated right near the wards of the castle. He knew Harry had wanted to go to other places in Diagon Alley but it was just too much. Harry seemed to sense that it had been a long day so he did not mention that they had had other places to visit. Snape was grateful he just didn't have the mental strength for any more Potter surprises today. I mean how much was the boy really capable of?
"Harry. I need to relax today. I am going to brew. Please be here for dinner but you can do whatever you like for the rest of the afternoon."
"I understand Severus. If you like you can invite anyone who has been asking about me to dinner. I think the staff has been avoiding me since they don't want to make things worse. I've seen Flitwick rush out of the library whenever I enter." Harry said. "I think they might be embarrassed."
"Are you really ready to speak to the staff? I asked them to avoid you so you could heal without outside pressure." Severus asked.
"Yeah I'm ready. The longer I put this off the more difficult it is going to be." Harry said with a sigh.
"In that case go to the Great Hall at 6 pm and we can eat with the entire staff." Severus said. "The headmaster requires that we eat our evening meal together every day so everyone will be there."
"Great." Harry said as the approached the doors. "Who knows about your tattoo?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I realized something today while putting on all of these rings." Harry said. "I need to stop hiding. Before I was just me, just Harry it didn't matter if I was an idiot but now it's different."
"Different?"
"These rings were worn by men and women for hundreds of years. They represent a stream of important and strong people that lived and died. A stream that ends with me. I have four families who throughout history have made differences and now I am here to represent them." Harry said in a tone that made it seem like he was just having these thoughts for the first time. "I mean I don't just represent my parents anymore. I represent two founders of Hogwarts and another ancient line that's been nearly forgotten to time. I can't ignore that and so I can't hide anymore. I need to do my best even if it's just to do these names proud."
"I think that is an admirable way to look at it." Snape said secretly happy that he didn't have to convince the boy to stop hiding his skills. "What does this have to do with my 'tattoo'?"
"The first move I need to make is to show off my gifts in a way the exhibits pride. I want people to find out about my Parseltongue ability from me in a way that shows that I'm proud of it and that I'm going to use it for the betterment of people. Telling the teachers here about my ability to change your mark is a good way to start."
"How very Slytherin of you." Snape complimented.
"You forget. I am The Slytherin. Now how many people know?"
"They all know I have the mark. It isn't a big secret among survivors of the first war."
"Alright. I'll see you at dinner. If you would do me a favor and wear short sleeves or at least ones that aren't so tight. I imagine plenty of people will want to look at your arm."
"I agree."
So they split off. Harry went heavens knows where in the castle and Snape went to his personal potions lab. There was a portrait of an old potions master that Snape could easily remember, her name was Ariana Knutson and she was one of the major female potioneers in history. This portrait of her was of her in her old age and she was often found sleeping this time however she gone. She probably left to visit some other portrait.
It didn't bother Snape he merely went to his list of potions needed for the next year and started brewing a bruise salve. Time passed and in about thirty minutes Snape didn't notice when a new person strolled into the portrait frame. If Snape had looked up he would've seen a strange man. The man was wearing anciently styled robes that were a deep green with silver trimmings. The man had black hair that was graying and a finely trimmed beard.
The man in question was watching Severus brew with extreme interest. Once Severus had finished brewing the man cleared his throat and spoke.
"That was well brewed. It has been some time since I've seen or spoken to another master of the art. I so rarely leave my own portrait."
Severus started and looked up at the man now inhabiting Ariana's portrait. He was sitting down in her chair and staring at him hard as if he was studying him.
"Who are you?"
"That hardly matters. You are Severus Snape correct? Harry told me that I would have to come here if I wanted to meet you." The strange man said.
"You know Harry? Is he who he goes to meet when he leaves?"
"Yes me and a few other portraits. I see he hasn't told you a thing then."
"He only told me that the person he was speaking with was entirely trustworthy and that even I would trust you." Severus said now studying the man in the painting.
"Harry told me you were the head of the Slytherin house and the potions master?" The man asked and continued at Severus' nod. "I was the potions master and the head of the Slytherin House during my time. Granted Hogwarts was much smaller when I was alive. She really has grown quite bit. It took me a while to find the dungeons."
"How long ago was that?" Severus asked intrigued.
"If I told you that you could figure out my identity." The man said with a smirk. "I just came here to get a good idea of what kind of person you were. I've only known Harry for a short time but I feel extremely attached to him. I don't want anyone to hurt him more than he has already been hurt. He seems to be warming up to you though."
Severus was confused about plenty of things. It had already been a long day one full of surprises. However speaking to this unnamed man did not confuse him. He saw the look of protectiveness and care that came into his eyes when talking about Harry. The man cared about him and so did Severus. He could trust this man at least when it came to Harry. Severus summoned a chair and sat down.
"I admit that when I first met Harry I was angry and bitter. I took that out on him for the mistakes of his father. However this summer I was forced to look past my anger, bitterness and regret and see the real Harry. Not the carbon copy of his father I had assumed him to be. Once I saw who the boy truly was I resolved myself to help him." Severus said after a moment of thought.
"When I first met Harry I was surprised that someone from the house of Gryffindor could be like that." The man admitted. "I had him sit down in a chair right in front of my portrait and talk. I told him that I wouldn't help him until I was sure he was worthy of the help. The things he admitted too were horrific. If I had been alive I would've left the castle immediately to murder the muggles who did it to him."
"He told you? All of it?" Severus said with a look of shock.
"He came to me looking for information. I could give it but I would only give it to someone who would not use it for nefarious purposes. Someone who was Slytherin enough but had the honor of a Gryffindor." The man mused. "He knew that he had to prove it and I assume since I was a portrait he felt comfortable enough to talk about it. He did it in an odd way though."
"Odd?"
"He spoke like he was an automaton, a lack of emotion or empathy. He sounded more like he was reading a boring textbook than recalling awful events of abuse." The man said. "I assume that actually admitted it to someone alive who he knew personally would not have that reaction. As it is his confession to me hardly helps him any. I'm dead I can offer no comfort. I can merely advise him and teach him."
"I still can't believe he told you everything. I've been trying to get him to open up for weeks." Snape moaned.
"I imagine now that he has decided to hide no longer he will be more open."
"What do you mean?"
"I wanted him to get his heir rings so that he would have a reason to stand proud. His relatives gave him many many reasons to be ashamed. He found no reason to talk about his life because he finds it the most depressing and unimportant thing in the world. But now hopefully that he has something to be proud of representing he will talk, he will be himself, he will push himself instead of holding back." The man said. "I want you to help him with that."
"I was planning on doing just that."
"Good. He told me about the removal of your mark and a quick summary of where you received it. If we had met when you were a child. I would've taught you as well. You are the kind of student I look for. It's just as well. I need to return Harry and the others are waiting for me."
"Before you go could you at least tell me your name?"
"I suppose but don't go spouting it around. I'm supposed to be quite missing. Salazar Slytherin Founder of Hogwarts at your service." The man said in the same tone Harry had used at lunch.
Before Snape could say anything the man had slipped away and disappeared. Snape collapsed on himself. There was no way he had just had a conversation with the Salazar Slytherin. There was just no way. There was no way that Salazar Slytherin was acting as an advisor to Harry Potter. There was just no way. There was no possible way that Harry could make something like happen.
Then again the boy had survived the killing curse. And managed to defeat a troll as an 11 year old. Harry Bloody Potter had managed to do many impossible things already. I wonder if he wrote down a list of impossible and improbable things he wanted to accomplish just to see how many he could complete. What's next is he also secretly the minister of magic? Did Harry just decided to run for office yesterday and was magically able to win?
Snape looked at the clock on the wall and realized he only had thirty minutes before dinner. He walked over and for the first time in his adult life thought hard about what he would wear. He decided to forgo his heavy black teaching robes. Most teachers over the summer wore did not bother with their robes and instead wore more mugglish clothing. It was introduced by one of the older and more decent DADA teachers and everyone liked the freedom of movement. So Snape wore charcoal colored trousers and a thin black cardigan over his normal white dress shirt. Over all it wasn't too much of change but it was very different. Snape in the history of his adult life had never not worn his teaching robes.
Well if Harry was going to stop hiding then so should he. He had nothing to be ashamed of anymore. The Mark the thing that had kept him from being truly free was gone. With it left the shame and regret. He could truly smile if he wanted to. Once he was dressed with made his way to the great hall. He only hoped Harry would actually be there. He came up to the doors and took a deep breath. He opened them to find that half the staff was already seated and waiting. They looked up at his entrance. Then they stared.
Snape did not fight the sneer or the eye roll that came to him. He merely seated himself down. It seemed his new appearance had shocked them so much that they had nothing to say until at 5:59 pm Harry burst into the great hall looking out of breath.
"So good of you to join us Mr. Potter." Severus drawled. "You do have enough brain power to know that when I say 6pm I do mean it."
His colleges were about to interrupt when Harry answered right back.
"Well you see sir when you were talking I was hardly listening because I was too busy trying to figure out how you get your robes to billow behind you whenever you walk out of a room." Harry answered seriously.
"Potter do you honestly think that trying to figure out such asinine things is more important than listening to my instructions?" Snape demanded.
"Of course sir. As a Gryffindor I make it my mission to focus on the stupidest things possible. I find it a good Slytherin deterrent."
Flitwick couldn't help it. The entire staff was trying not to laugh but he hadn't seen anyone speak to Severus like that in years. The only one who dared was Albus and he didn't have that kind of sharp wit. Flitwick giggled. With his light laugh came an eruption of the entire staff. Severus say Harry smile at him lightly as he sat down right across from him. A few moments later after the staff had quieted Albus entered the Hall. When he saw Harry and Snape he smiled brightly.
"Severus and Harry. It is a delight to see you." Albus said.
Severus looked over when he felt someone touch his arm. He saw Harry look at him with a serious air. Severus nodded and knew he would let Harry lead this conversation. Dumbledore sat down so that he was next to Severus and facing Harry. Hagrid came next and sat down right next to Harry on Harry's other side was Minerva. The other professors were craning their necks to see the boy. Dumbledore wave his hand and the food appeared. Severus saw a dangerous look in Harry's eye and knew it was going to start. Harry was watching until Dumbledore was taking a big gulp of his tea.
"Headmaster. Did you know that Professor Snape has a tattoo on his left arm?"
Harry's well timed question was rewarded with half of the table choking on their food or drink. Albus had a hard time not spitting out his tea in surprise. Everyone knew that you did not ask Severus Snape about his Dark Mark. They all knew he had been forced into it by his father and so they avoided bringing it up ever. Now however Harry Potter was bringing it up as if it was something innocuous.
"Well yes Harry I was aware that he had suck a mark." Albus began.
"Yeah." Harry said cutting off the headmaster. "I really didn't like it though. It was really nasty like it made you feel bad just being around it and it made my scar hurt."
"Well you see my boy that Mark…" Albus said trying to save the situation.
"I mean I really did not like it. So I got rid of it."
Albus stopped talking and stared at Harry as if he had said the sky was now a violent purple. The entire table had been listening to the conversation and they had all reared back.
"Harry?" Hagrid asked. "Did ya really get rid of the mark?"
"Yes I did Hagrid." Harry said. "Professor Snape show them."
Snape who had been watching entertained snorted while rolling up his sleeve. The entire staff stared at his now bare arm and then at the green snake tattoo around his wrist. Albus reached out and touched the arm. When he didn't feel any dark energies he looked at Severus with tears in his eyes.
"I'm free Albus. I am no longer connected to the Dark Lord. That being said, I'm afraid I can no longer spy."
"My boy. I don't care about that. I am only happy that you are free." Albus said. "Harry how did you do it?"
"Magic sir." Harry said with a grin.
Severus groaned.
"If you don't tell them I will." He threatened.
Harry nodded at him.
"Well first you should know what the Dark Mark was. I mean it wasn't just a normal tattoo that had magic in it. I think that's why no could remove it because they were trying to remove it like they would any other type of magical mark." Harry said.
"Well if it wasn't a tattoo what kind of charm was it?" Flitwick asked.
"Well I'm not sure if it was a transfiguration or a charm to be honest." Harry said after a moment of thought. "Moldyshorts created a very intricate mark. I mean like it was awful and nasty but it was so complex I can't help but be impressed by his genius."
"What was so complicated?" Minerva asked.
The teachers could tell that it was hard for Harry to say it out loud so they asked questions to help ease him into it.
"He created a sentient snake that would live on the arms of his followers." Harry explained. "He would create a different snake for each follower."
"How would he do that?"
"I honestly have no idea how he created a sentient snake like that. I do know what it meant though. Parselmouths, you know people who can speak to snakes garner a bit of respect among snakes." Harry said. "When a snake meets one more often than not the snake will pledge its loyalty to the speaker. When Moldyshorts created these marks he was the only known Parselmouths in the country. Every snake he would create would swear its loyalty to him. That means it would resist any tampering done by someone that wasn't him. It also allowed him to do some more things than just mark the followers."
"Harry if only a Parselmouth could tamper with the snake then…" Albus said.
"Yeah I can talk to snakes too." Harry admitted quietly and then burst out. "It's not an evil gift I promise! I did a lot of research and it only in Britain that it has such a bad reputation. In fact in India Parselmouths are heralded as great healers! I promise I'm not evil just cause I can do some of the same things He could do."
The staff was silent. In another world many of them would wonder if Harry was really the next Dark Lord in training. There was one professor who spoke up out of the crowd.
"Well of course you're not evil." Sprout shouted. "Anyone who thinks that Harry is the next Dark Lord is a pretty ridiculous person."
With the head of Hufflepuff's pronouncement a spell seemed to have been broken. Instantly everyone was reminded of the real details of the situation and began talking at once to reassure Harry that none of them thought he was evil. Once it calmed down Harry smiled at them and continued.
"Well on to how I removed the Dark Mark. Snakes can change their loyalty if they meet another Parselmouth who is stronger. In the unlikely event during Moldyshorts reign that there was another Parselmouth that was willing to stand against him and was more powerful than him then the mark could be broken." Harry said. "That was pretty much impossible so the Marks were perfect. However now that he just a cloud of dark smoke floating around somewhere in the world, I am more powerful. That means that any person with a Dark Mark well I can free them."
"But how did you remove it?"
"I just talked to it. I mean it isn't super difficult to convince snakes to turn away from the egg breaker." Harry said.
"The egg breaker?" Severus asked speaking up for the first time.
"That's what snakes call Voldemort." Harry said bitterly. "The monster has no respect among the snakes. He murdered defenseless children and in the snake world that is unforgivable. Snakes eat each other. It's not a big deal if you kill each other if you're going to eat them later. Voldemort killed young hatchlings for nothing other than his own entertainment."
"So my boy is that why Severus has a new green tattoo on his wrist? You merely changed the snake instead of banishing it." Albus asked.
"Yeah. If I had banished it then it would've killed professor Snape. Now he just has a nice male green snake living on his wrist." Harry said. "I thought it was the better option."
"I quite agree." Severus drawled.
"You mentioned that the snake could do other things?" Flitwick pushed.
"Well it could call Professor Snape to wherever Moldyshorts was. It could also cause him tremendous amounts of pain. The snake also was directed to attach himself to Severus' magical core. It acted as a drain taking the Professor's magic and funneling it to Him." Harry said. "The more followers he got the more powerful he got. By the time he cast that killing curse at me he had the ability to drain every single one of his followers of their magic to save himself."
"And he can't do that to Severus anymore?" Albus asked.
"Unless he walked up and spoke to the snake again and did the same thing I did." Harry said.
"That's wonderful my boy!" Albus said. "Congratulations on your freedom Severus."
The other staff did the same. It was just the kind of news that made really anyone happy. A colleague was free of something that could have killed him. The meal went on and the conversations centered around Harry's Parseltongue and the mark itself. Flitwick was trying to figure out how exactly one would charm a sentient snake. McGonagall was sure first you would transfigure the ink into a snake and then charm it. Harry listened while they argued. Sprout and Hagrid were both discussing the benefits of having a Parselmouth at the school. Snakes apparently posed a problem for both the grounds keeper and the herbologist.
Albus and Severus discussed the other followers of the dark lord who would want to be freed. Severus mentioned that Harry had removed Lucius' mark as well. This proved the action was repeatable. Professor Vector and Professor Bubbling, the runes and arthimacy teachers were discussing the amount of possible magic the wizard could've drained. Harry didn't say much he just listened as a new more interesting subject came up.
"Fellow staff. I have been searching hard for a new Defense Instructor. I have a few ideas but I was wondering if you had any suggestions?" Albus asked.
Severus had an idea that he didn't honestly enjoy. He had been thinking about what Harry had told him earlier. Harry had told him that he wanted to represent the rings he had on his finger. One of those unfortunately was Potter. Severus could provide stories about Harry's mother but he only knew Harry's father as the bully he had been in school.
There was however one person alive who could speak about James Potter in an accurate way. Remus Lupin, sufferer of Lycanthropy and former best friend of James and Lily Potter. The man had a masters in Defense and it was unlikely that he would try and murder Harry like the last defense professor had tried to do. Besides it's always nice to have a werewolf on hand when he wanted to experiment on his Wolfsbane potion. Harry also had expressed interest in trying to cure the disease.
Before Severus could consider his own feelings of bitterness about the group of bullying friends he had opened his mouth to give a suggestion.
"Albus." Severus said. "Remus Lupin recently gained his mastery in defense. He would be well qualified and I could brew the potion needed to help him with his health problem. He is at least unlikely to try and attack Harry."
"I think Remus Lupin would be a great addition to the staff." Minerva added. "He was a good student and tutored while he was here. I am sure he would make a fine educator."
"I recall he was quite skilled in defense." Flitwick mused. "Would we have any place for him to go during his time of sickness?"
"If we warded his private quarters then there should be no problem." Albus answered. "Very well. I will contact the man and ask him about the position. Now as dinner is over I suggest you all make your way out of here so the house elves can clean up."
Severus stood and Harry followed him out of the great hall. Severus was very proud of Harry he had handled himself well. The other professors had also been very good. If any of them had even made mention of the possibility of him being evil it probably would've pushed Harry into silence. Thank the heavens for Pomona Sprout Hufflepuff loyalty always made things better. When they got back to Snape's private chambers he smiled lightly as he saw Harry dutifully sit down for one of their evening chats.
"Why did you look so pained when you mentioned that guy? What was his name Remus Lupin? It sounded like you didn't like him at all? And what was the illness people kept referencing?" Harry asked.
"You notice too much for your own good." Severus answered.
"Do you recall when I told you this morning about how my time at Hogwarts was not the best in my life?" Severus continued after a moment. "I told you I only had one friend and there were people who liked to bully me."
"Yes. You told me that." Harry said.
"Well. There was a group of four boys in the Gryffindor House. They were very close to each other about as close as you are with your two friends. They however did not like the Slytherin house. War time emotions were high and both that group of boys and I were on supposedly opposing sides. In that group was Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, Remus Lupin, and your father James Potter." Severus explained. "They bullied me, they played pranks often and never got into trouble for it. As a teenager with few friends it seemed incredibly unfair. I've been very bitter about it."
"My dad was a bully?"
"When he was boy yes. Don't forget I gave just as good as I received. Your father and his friends would prank me and then I would prank them back. At first it was harmless but it escalated as we got older." Severus said. "Looking back it was clear that your father was very jealous of my friendship with your mother. Your mother and I were childhood friends and despite being sorted into different houses we remained close."
"You knew my mother?"
"I knew her very well. Now stop interrupting so I can answer your first questions." Severus said.
"Sorry. It's just that no one talks about her."
"Remind me to give you some stories about her later." Severus remarked. "Your father had a gigantic crush on your mother that started when we were in our third year. She thought him a bully and wouldn't give him the time of day. Instead she spent her time with me and a few other Gryffindor girls. Your father thought I was sweet on your mother and escalated the violence between us."
"Were you?"
"Was I what?"
"Sweet on my mother? Did you like her too?" Harry asked his eyes wide.
"I was. I loved your mother. I did all the way up to the day of her wedding to your father. She invited me to the wedding. I came and saw the look of absolute joy on her face as they were married." Severus said. "At first I was envious. I thought I could've made your mother very happy. Then at the end of their wedding when I saw your parents dancing looking completely and utterly in love I realized that Lily did not belong to me. She did not owe me anything and that I really only desired friendship from her. Your mother was one of the few people who was kind to me during my life and I thought that kindness meant love instead of just kindness."
"You saw my parents wedding? Aunt Petunia always told me that they never got married and that she just eloped. Then she would call her some words I won't repeat."
"Your aunt is a liar. She was invited to their wedding but declined to go to an event that would be filled with freaks." Severus said.
"I figured. It's just that I didn't have any proof. I just kind of hoped that they had had a really happy life before everything."
"Back to the original story. Your father and I hated each other. His friends were not too fond of me either. The reason I seemed so unwilling to invite Remus Lupin to teach here is because he was part of that group."
"What about his illness? Does he have some kind of magic disease?"
"I do not think the headmaster would want me to tell you this but I feel you should know." Severus said. "Lupin is a werewolf. He has been since he was four years old. Your father and mother knew and supported him."
"Oh. Should I pretend that I don't know when I meet him?"
"I don't see why not. From what I recall Lupin was always nervous people would reject him when they found out. If you make it clear that Lycanthropy doesn't bother you then he will likely tell you himself soon enough." Severus said. "The reason I did suggest him is because the man was very good friends with your father. I think he would be a good man for you to get to know."
"You went out of your way to invite someone who could tell me about my dad even though it would bother you?" Harry asked. "Why would you do that?"
This was it an opening. Severus could feel it. If he did this correctly he could get Harry to open up. He just had to word it correctly.
"Harry. Any adult who cared for you would do the same." Severus said.
Severus had hoped Harry would see that what his relatives had done was wrong from that sentence but that wasn't what Harry got at all. Severus watched as his face grew solemn and serious. Severus wondered what he had said wrong.
"You- you care about me?" He stuttered out after a moment.
This was what he was so serious about.
"Of course I care about you, you dunderhead. I'm buying you clothing to replace your atrocious ones, I allowed you to embarrass me all day today because you wanted to, I've stayed up late at night to help you with your nightmares. I sit here every evening with you so you can talk if you need too." Severus said. "Harry what gave you the impression that I didn't?"
"No adult." He said. "No adult has ever told me that ever."
A few things happened at once and very quickly. Severus opened up to his mouth to reply but all of the air in his body was pushed out as Harry's head and body catapulted right into him. Harry's rather hard head had hit him right in the solar plexus and his thin arms were around him making it hard to take air back in. Instinctively He leaned in and wrapped his arms around the boy who was still too small for his age.
He heard Harry talking into his clothing but it didn't make much sense as he struggled to catch his breath. Once he was breathing normally he realized that not only was Harry hugging him as if he was afraid he would disappear and was sobbing. He began rubbing circles into the boys back and waited. After a long good cry session Harry calmed. He tried to pull away but Snape held on. There was a couch that would hold them both comfortably. He held Harry and slid from his chair and onto the couch. He allowed Harry to situate himself so that they were comfortable. He knew that he could not push Harry away.