Pretty Boy

Chapter 9

An Owl & Spells

Harry had spooned himself further against Severus during the night, the Potions Master's arms were wrapped around him in a chokehold. The bed was warm and cosy, Harry didn't want to wake up at all. He didn't get much of a choice; he choked and tried to get out of the secure arms around him. Terrified by the likes which he'd never known. Severus had woken immediately, as always alert to his surroundings. He was also startled by how gorgeous the owl was, so white and pure. He'd seen the ones at school; they were nothing on her beauty. That's if he was right and it was a girl, but something inside of him was telling him it was.

"Let me go," choked Harry staring at the owl clearly bloody scared stiff.

"Calm down," said Severus tightening his hold on Harry, he'd never seen Harry like this, not that he'd known him long. Yet to see him lose his composure like that, made him feel very angsty, for reasons he couldn't pinpoint. "She's your familiar. When one sees their familiar they know, they can feel a pull on their magic. That's if they are powerful enough, she must have been able to sense you. That's how powerful you are; she took off on her own and found you."

"I thought you had to pay for…" started Harry.

"She had an owner, Ginny Weasley if I am correct." stated Severus, and he was never wrong. At least he made sure to never be wrong or be proven wrong anyway. "Familiar bondings cannot be disputed, even if she were to fight you to get Snowy back."

"Snowy?" scoffed Harry in derision a sneer painted on his face.

"Indeed," smirked Severus wryly, "Such a proud beast reduced to such a childish, juvenile name."

"I don't suppose I could change it?" asked Harry staring at the amber eyes of the owl, as if sensing his words, she hooted loudly, flapping her wings.

"They are also extremely smart, I do not think she'd be apposed to the name change." replied Severus in amusement. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," said Harry simply.

"Fine as in I'm hurting like blazes or fine as in you feel better. There's no need to lie, I have plenty potions that can cure any ailment you feel." said Severus sternly.

"Ailment?" asked Harry a grin appearing on his face. "What old fashion novel did you jump out of?"

"That's definitely a new one, most just accuse me of swallowing a dictionary." said Severus a smirk gracing his features.

"I can see why," laughed Harry amused. "I'll need to think of a name for her, if she's a her, can't see someone calling a male owl snowy."

"You'd be surprised," said Severus, children were so idiotic he could barely stand them. Unfortunately he had the displeasure of teaching them, and could do nothing while Dumbledore held his own fate in his wrinkled old hands. One word from him he'd be in Azkaban within a few hours. Its why, despite the fact it disgusted him, and his very nature, he played along with Dumbledore. If the opportunity arose, he'd have no problem killing the old man. It admittedly, made him insufferably smug that he had Harry Potter within his grasp. One that wanted revenge on the old fool, and he would ensure Harry got it; he deserved it after what the bastard had done. Twenty years nearly Harry had gone without his magic; such a gift should never be bound. Whoever had created those spells should have been killed, and the spells destroyed. Unfortunately, like all magic, it did have a good use for it. Those mentally instable, without control of their magic, it would kill them or worse others. Those in St. Mungo's for instance, they had their magic bound since they couldn't control their magic, use it or understand what they were doing. It would be removed of course should they regain their health, but so far only a handful in the history of the medical practise has been successful. Even in the magical world there was no cure for instability or mentally handicapped. Magic despite its wonderful presence - wasn't any means a miracle worker.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, but unfortunately they couldn't remain that way. Severus had much to do and not a lot of available or free time in which to accomplish it. Soon the summer holidays would be over, and he'd be at Hogwarts full time teaching dunderheads. "How much of your books did you read before and when you joined Hogwarts?" judging by the questions Harry hadn't been able to answer he suspected not many.

"My Uncle," sneered Harry, an ugly look crossing his features. "Locked my trunk away, I didn't get the chance to read any of them until the night before classes."

"I see," said Severus, feeling a lurch of guilt, at his actions when the young man had been but eleven years old. "And now?"

"I've read Hogwarts a history, and Transfiguration, I'm half way through Charms." said Harry.

"Have you tried any spells?" asked Severus.

"Risk being found? I think not." scoffed Harry.

"As long as it's performed it here you will be fine, I have a shield upon this room, keep the door closed and never let magic leave the dome or they will find out. Your magic has been recorded, but considering you've been doing magic…I find it odd that they've been unable to find you. Perhaps Wandless magic cannot be traced, or the magic you've used were too small to be picked up."

"Helping you wasn't the first time, but until my sixteenth birthday I wasn't able to cast much magic at all." admitted Harry.

"I'm surprised you were able to at any time." said Severus. Ten percent of magic, that of course was only judging on Harry's scale of magic, not magic on a whole. He was surprised Harry had been given a letter to attend Hogwarts, with all that was bound before he was eleven. Had Dumbledore planned it all? Binding his magic, making him feel like a failure as a wizard and running? No Dumbledore wouldn't allow that. He'd never let Harry two steps away from him, out of his sphere of influence.

Harry just shrugged, he was used to life being unfair, and to have his magic back was a bonus he hadn't counted on. He took what life threw at him, embraced it and continued on. Not having magic all his life, he wasn't dependant on it like others, especially a man like Severus or even Dumbledore come to that.

"Learn what you can, the next time I come I'll bring more books." said Severus. "I'll also find out more about your inheritance."

"Find out about it?" asked Harry, his suspicion creeping up.

"Dumbledore may be the executor of your estate, if he is, it might be impossible to remove anything from your vaults until you wish to be revealed." said Severus, "It's within law that the person managing the estate be notified, when the heir steps forward or claims it. Relinquishing them of their need to be an executor of the estate."

Harry lip curled nastily, how he stopped himself growling like a wounded bear he did not know. The thought of Dumbledore anywhere near his new found wealth disturbed him greatly. "Can he take money?" he asked his horror showing, he may not have known about it. Yet he did now, and the fact Dumbledore might have got his greedy paws on his money irritated and infuriated him.

"He is paid to be the executor of the estate. He also, does have the ability to remove money, but only so much a month and he would need to confirm what it's for. The old ways, those that came up with the law governing Gringotts weren't stupid. They were adamant about protecting gold. Protecting their client's money and enriching them further than needed. To the goblins there's no such thing as too much gold. If Dumbledore tried anything untoward the Goblins would have him on his arse outside Gringotts. Thievery isn't tolerated; you do not have to fear he has left the Potter fortune drained. Plus he cannot any longer remove money; it will have stopped upon your seventeenth birthday."

"Well that's some relief then," said Harry his voice filled with rancour. "Did you not say Black was my Godfather? Shouldn't that right fall to him? Isn't he my…guardian? Magical guardian?"

"He would have been, but you must remember he was locked in Azkaban, he cannot take care of himself never mind anyone's money. I hate to admit it but the fact Dumbledore told the mutt you rejected him and wanted to remove him as godfather it broke him." said Severus grudgingly, he hadn't even been able to get a rise out of Black since. He'd given up trying actually feeling pity for the arsehole that made his school years living hell.

"He's weak?" grimaced Harry, as much as it made him feel happy that someone missed him, the fact he'd given up disgusted him. He couldn't help it; it's just the way he felt. He'd had a hard life, and he hated the 'pity me' crap people spouted as if their hearts were being cut out.

"Depends on who you ask," said Severus impassively, "I've always hated him so you could say I am prejudice."

"Go on then, tell me." said Harry, it was so weird lying here talking to someone, usually when he was in bed with someone they were doing something entirely different. He certainly wasn't going to push himself on Severus again; he'd made his feelings perfectly clear. It was oddly humbling for someone to reject his advances.

"He's a conceded, immature, juvenile little prick who couldn't even grow up after being thrust in Azkaban." said Severus immediately.

Harry snorted, "That sounds like someone who's used to getting their way, why would that make them weak?" asked Harry.

"Emotions, that's what makes him weak, he lets them control him instead of controlling them." said Severus, "He doesn't know how to survive in the real world, he hides himself away in his townhouse and sulks." he couldn't say Grimmauld Place since he wasn't the secret keeper. Despite Dumbledore was the Secret Keeper, Black could speak about it, it was his house despite all the wards against talking of it.

"Sounds awful, as much as I'd be curious enough to meet him…I cannot stand overly emotional people." admitted Harry, "Especially pity, it would turn my stomach and make me say things they'd rather me not."

Severus smirked wryly, "Sounds like someone I know." him in fact, which wasn't exactly a good thing not in any world. It made them sceptical, easy to anger and they didn't suffer fools needlessly. On the upside, at least they were never disappointed or hurt by those around them. They were too similar, both in attitude and the life they'd led. One could say it was a match made in heaven or fight like cats and dogs.

"I'll bet." said Harry a known look in his eyes; he knew to whom Severus was referring.

"I do have to go," said Severus, if he didn't appear for breakfast they would get curious. The last thing he needed was anyone following him or digging deeper.

"Of course," said Harry, feeling once again strangely bereft but refused to let it show. Why was Severus affecting him so much? He'd gone his entire life without someone; he was nineteen years old for god sake. He'd never depended on anyone, as nice as the thought was he knew better. Those you depend on just let you down constantly, he should know, everyone he had, had indeed just abused it and him.

"I'll be back." said Severus before he Apparated out once again.

"Severus, as always promptly on time." said Albus Dumbledore, from where he sat at the Headmaster's chair in the Great Hall, Minerva McGonagall was noticeably absent. All Severus wanted to do was throw himself against Dumbledore and choke the life out of him. He could almost see it, taste it, but with iron clad control, seemingly unbothered he took his seat.

"Headmaster," he replied nodding curtly, suddenly not very hungry. He was almost tempted to check his own magic, to ensure it hadn't been tampered with also. He didn't trust the Headmaster as far as he could throw him. "Am I to assume since he'd not here that you weren't successful?"

"Unfortunately, but there is still time." said Albus, his eyes shadowed with knowledge that he spoke false truth. "You must alert me right away if you are called, just in case Voldemort succeeds in finding Harry. He's our number one fighter in this war, if you must show your true colours to get him out alive - do it."

"I will not risk my position for Potter!" said Severus angry.

"You must." said Albus demandingly, he knew how irrational Severus got when Potter, Black or Lupin's name was mentioned. He was going to have a fight on his hands that's for sure.

"I refuse Headmaster, that boy is nothing on the grand scale of things, the only person I'd risk my duties for is you." said Severus, lying through his teeth, his mantra running through his head. 'Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.' his favourite quote. "He is not more powerful than you."

"While I appreciate the sentiment we both know that's not true," said Albus, "Harry will be the one to strike the killing blow, he will kill Voldemort. Soon after a new threat will arise, no doubt from the Death Eater ranks and he too will be dealt with by Harry."

"What are you talking about?" asked Severus staring at Dumbledore as if he had two heads, appearing both angry and horrified.

"The Prophecy Severus, he will be the one to defeat the Dark Lord's." said Dumbledore after erecting a silencing spell around them, stopping them from being overheard.

"Lords?" asked Severus, his lungs seizing fearfully.

"Indeed, which means the moment Voldemort is taken care of, another will try and create another war." said Dumbledore his twinkle missing as he regarded Severus. He knew he had to explain the direness of the situation to Severus. He had to make sure Snape knew just how important Potter was to the survival of their world. Which was useless of course, if he did not find the boy within a year. He'd been searching for eight years, to no avail, he wasn't so optimistic like Alastor about Potter suddenly reappearing.

"That makes no sense," said Severus feigning stupidity, digging for more information.

"The one with the power to defeat the dark lord approaches, born to those who have thrice defied him…born as the seventh month dies." said Dumbledore quietly, "That you heard what you didn't hear was the rest of it. And the dark lord shall mark him his equal, and he will have the power the dark lord's know not. They must die at the hand of the other for none can live while the others survive."

"Potter," grimaced Severus, "He's responsible for the end of the war?"

"Yes, now you see why he's so important." said Albus. "Save him if you must."

"Then we are doomed." said Severus looking sick, as he should be, Dumbledore thought he hated the Potters and his life now hung in the hands of one. Everyone's life hung in Harry's hands. It truly was important to teach him everything he could, and keep him safe and hidden from both of them. The Lord's, it must mean Voldemort and Dumbledore, since both of them considered themselves the Lord of 'light' and the 'dark' lord. "I of course, shall do what I must…no matter how distasteful the task may seem."

"I know you will Severus," said Dumbledore imperiously, thinking he had control over Severus. Boy how wrong was he, how wrong were they all, and soon Harry Potter would come home and Hogwarts would rejoice again.

"Excuse me, Headmaster, I have Potions I need to brew." said Severus, making his hasty exit, without being obvious about it.

There we go, the prophecy is revealled :P dumbledore's arrogance will lead to his downfall...nobody mentioned Moody in my previous chapter...would you like to see Sirius and Moody fight or just what happened after? R&R PLEASE!