Pretty Boy

Chapter 3

Severus Muses

"Severus!" cried Dumbledore, his entire face lightening up in relief as he caught sight of his Potions Master. Even more so when he saw that he was uninjured, what had kept him away? Why hadn't he gotten in touch? The school was starting up pretty soon, just a fortnight away. He'd been dreading the thought of having to get a new Potions teacher. Minerva looked extremely relieved, a small smile playing on her face, her eyes clouded with worry regardless. "Are you well? Shall I summon Poppy?" he needed his spy in top notch condition to continue his spying duties.

"I am fine Albus," said Severus dismissively, "Nothing I cannot heal on my own."

"Are you sure Severus?" asked Minerva quietly, still watching him with her keen cat like eyes.

"I am." said Severus giving her a small twitch of his lips, his version of a smile and a brief nod. She always worried about him, it was nice to see, and especially when he knew Dumbledore was more worried about his spying duties than his well being. He knew all too well the masks Dumbledore portrayed to the world. He wasn't a Slytherin for nothing, but he did what he had to in order to survive…just like Harrison, the young man he'd just been healed by.

"I feared you had been found out as spy." said Albus, fishing for information. He didn't like waiting for reports, so always made sure he was around whenever Severus entered Hogwarts after being called. His information was by far the most informative than anything anyone in the Order could give him.

"No, I did not complete a task the Dark Lord assigned to his specifications, I was punished for it. I was hurt and unconscious when I was left in the Muggle world, they also took my wand." said Severus his anger genuine, that was his wand! By Merlin he wanted it back. If anything happened to it…he'd kill whoever did it - even if it was the Dark Lord.

"I see, I am sorry my boy, we shall have to go to Ollivander's and get a replacement wand." said Dumbledore as if it was an every day occurrence that people lost their wands. A wand chooses the wizard, for their magic, and to lose it was to lose a part of oneself. "Do you have any news?"

"I was feigning unconsciousness when I heard them discussing an attack on a Muggle town called Little Hangelton and the Great Hangelton which I assume is nearby." said Severus feigning ignorance. He knew exactly where it was, he had researched everything to do with the Dark Lord. Know the enemy, one of his favourite Muggle books had quoted that and he agreed. There was a few of them actually but this one more so than the rest.

'It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperilled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperilled in every single battle.'

'If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.'

Of course there was also this one that applied directly to him, he'd read the book so often he knew it word for word. He could utter the entire phrase in his sleep.

'All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.'

'Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.'

This one actually referred to both of his 'Master's' who believed they owned him. 'Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.' Sun Tzu, he was a very wise man. His written work had helped Severus through the harshest nights.

"This is where Voldemort stayed; I must do what I can for them. Please excuse me Severus, Minerva please contact as many Order members as you can, I shall speak to Tonks and Shacklebolt." said Albus who was swiftly leaving his office. Minerva of course, eager to do as Dumbledore bid left immediately behind him.

Severus held his breath for a few seconds, before he quickly made his way around the desk. Removing the book from its sitting place, he began to flick through the pages. All of them seemed to be crossed out as 'graduated' few had black dots indicating death. There was only one there that didn't have graduated, in fact their name was ominously there, not crossed out.

Harry Potter.

Impossible, the boy hadn't been Harry Potter he was sure of it. Snapping the book closed, replacing it he sat back down abruptly when he heard the gargoyle moving once again. A bored mask displaying on his face, as he drummed his fingers on the chair he was sitting in.

Suddenly the room filled with people, Severus closed his eyes, and he was too tired to deal with this. "If it's all the same to you Albus, I do not need to be here for this, I'd much rather take my leave."

"Of course Severus," said Albus giving him a concerned look as the man without another word up and left.

Severus smiled genuinely once he was in his own quarters, sighing in contentment, he went straight through to his bathroom. The bath filled up within seconds, Severus added a muscle relaxant to the bath and lavender. Sliding in, his thoughts returned to the mystery. It was no coincidence that 'Harrison Edwards' wasn't in the book, even more so that 'Harry Potter' wasn't crossed off. Dumbledore had told everyone in the order that he'd been taken for private training. The school though simply through he was getting private lessons elsewhere. If this was Harry Potter, then he'd been lied to, which in retrospect shouldn't surprise him. Yet it did, if he'd left, why? And also why had Dumbledore lied about it? And did the Order know? Was he the only one not in on this secret? Why would he be living like that? And the scars? He was sure Harry would have been spoiled…he wasn't getting the complete picture just odd jigsaw puzzle pieces.

Harry Potter was supposed to be powerful, powerful enough to be the Dark Lord's equal. The young man he'd met had also been very powerful. He'd seen no indication of any hatred surely the boy would have left him knowing it was him? He had not treated the boy right - he couldn't he had a job to do and nothing could stop him…not even Lily's son.

He continued to sit in his bath and think about everything from the Wizarding World traditions dwindling down, there being less pureblood wizards and traditions being lost. There used to be Yule balls every year, people used to gather around and light candles and use their magic to get in touch with the dead, bring solace at Halloween or the less used term all hallows eve, the most magically powerful day in their world. There were many traditions that were being ripped and torn until they were no longer used or understood.

Potion Masters was becoming none existent, when that happened there will be no potions. There were only at least about twenty potions masters in the United Kingdom. There were fewer wizards in the United Kingdom Wizarding community, not just purebloods but Muggle born's as well. If Voldemort was not killed soon there would be no one left at all. The world he knew and loved would cease to exist.

Not to forget if the Order (and thus the Ministry) wins, dark magic, black magic, and all grey magic will be banned. Only what they call light magic will be allowed, that was not right it was stupid, he had always wished there was something he could do. It should never have been put into those categories; it was the INTENT that made magic good or evil.

His thoughts trailed back to 'Harrison' could he persuade the young man to actually come back? He could not force him into coming into the Wizarding world when he had left for a reason. Perhaps if he could find the reason, and try and talk to him and make him see reason that a world of magic should not be abandoned because of it. First he had to win the young man's trust so he would talk. Maybe then he could have someone to share all his information with, an apprentice. If he was wrong and it wasn't Harry Potter it didn't matter, he was still powerful and deserved to harness his power.

Sighing softly, time was all he had these days; he got out of the cooling bath and dried himself off with a towel. Dressing himself in more comfortable clothes, instead of his stiff teaching robes. He went over to his cabinet, he could feel the wand humming to him, opening it, he caressed it reverently. It wasn't his first wand, it didnt feel the same. Yet compared to not having a wand, well he would rather the wand. Magic filled the room as he took it out, Dumbledore would assume he went to Ollivanders for it. Considering he'd ensured the old man couldnt speak about the wand, he wasn't too worried. Spelling his hair dry, he threw the towel into the magical hamper, and it disappeared immediately. The old clothes he placed in the bin, even with magically repairing them - they wouldn't be the same. Plus the magic in them was probably well and truly gone, spells that stopped him being caught on fire, explosions sinking into the clothes and inevitably onto him and others spells such as that. Putting his wand into its holster, he sat down feeling very hungry.

"Rizzy," called Severus.

"Yes sir?" asked the house elf.

"I would like some food please." said Severus; his stomach was still rumbling the small bowl of chicken soup had not been enough. Harrison hadn't had anything to eat; he was rather worried he had eaten food from Harrison that he couldn't afford.

"Right away," said Rizzy popping knowing better to bow and scrape.

Uncorking a bottle of rare wine, he poured it with a flourish and sat down. Not two second later a tray of food was on the table. Flicking his hand, he cursed, no wand. Rolling his eyes he used his arm and pulled the table towards him. Gratefully digging into the food, it went with his wine. He didn't drink it very often, but always made sure to have a bottle of the good stuff.

Half an hour later he was still sitting there, his third glass of wine swirling around in the glass. He was deeply conflicted, it was wrong to drag someone into this mess, but he really didn't like the thought of him wasting his life doing what he was. Merlin that much power…and not using it? It was utter madness. Fine, he'd come out right and offer him it, telling him everything if it worked great. If not he'd give Harrison money, enough that he could move and live comfortably as repayment of the debt - saving his life. Although if he was Harry Potter, he'd have to tell him about his vaults. Which would actually be an incentive for him to come, assuming he wasn't wrong about who he truly was. Severus wasn't being smug when he thought he was hardly ever wrong…well not completely smug anyway.

His mind made up, he drank the remains of his glass, drank another pain reliever and left the glass and vial lying for the elves to clear away. They could use the extra work; with no students around they were bored out of their little minds.

He Floo'ed to the Leaky Cauldron and made his way up Diagon Alley, into Gringotts and made a sizable withdrawal in Muggle money. It was already getting dark, he'd been back at Hogwarts longer than he suspected. Hopefully he would still be in and not out in the streets. He had much to do and not a lot of time to do it, not without Dumbledore getting suspicious. Then no doubt the Dark Lord would be summoning him in the next few days.

He Apparated to the flat, something he wouldn't have envisioned himself doing when he first woke up. He was still there, apparently just getting dressed, and boy, he truly was absolutely stunning. Not caring that it might be Harry Potter, he leapt forward and kissed him passionately, holding him steady against the wall, his body stopping Harry from moving.

He drew back, his smouldering gaze on those dark emerald ones, waiting…the next move would be 'Harrison's'. The emerald eyes regarded him suspiciously, and then with resignation before turning calculating as if sensing this wasn't a proposition, just two men…deciding upon having a night of wild hot sex.

It wasn't often Harry had that opportunity, so he growled and kissed him back.