Pretty Boy

Chapter 27

Harry's Inheritance

Dinner was far from a quiet one, Sirius and Remus both asking Harry a lot of questions. They started of simple enough, his favourite colour, how his magic was going, how he was finding the magical world. Even what he thought of most of the order, Harry was very opinionated, especially about those his own age. He remembered Hermione Granger, and that had set Severus off. Regaling Harry with everything Granger had done over the years. Severus absolutely loathed the girl; to make matters worse she had a sister. A little sister and he seemed to hate her even more. Both were self righteous as they came, both thinking themselves better than everyone. Even Remus had to admit they were a bit much, having taught for a year six nearing seven years ago.

"When did you start having to work on the streets?" asked Remus, changing the tone of the conversation. Sirius stiffened beside him, he looked as if he wanted to reach over and strangle his lover.

"Does it matter?" asked Harry bluntly, staring Remus down.

"No, we don't blame you either." said Remus in a rush to reassure him.

"Well that's a weight of," said Harry dryly, his sarcasm obvious.

Severus smirked he loved sarcasm, it was like an art.

"Have you been to Gringotts then yet?" asked Sirius changing the subject onto safer matters. Honestly, what had Remus been thinking asking such a question? He didn't want to know! Merlin it was hard enough living with the knowledge that his poor Godson had to do it out of sheer desperation without knowing his age. He knew he wouldn't like the answer so he refused to ask it. As soon as they were in private he was going to go to flipping nuts at Remus.

"No," said Harry staring at Sirius blankly. "I can't, Dumbledore will know…won't he?"

"Goblins value secrecy above all else, you are the heir, if you tell them not to alert Dumbledore they won't. Just threaten to take your money and business elsewhere, and they will comply. To lose the Potter and Black estate would be a huge loss for Gringotts. Especially if word got out, they risk loosing everything." explained Sirius.

"Potter and Black?" asked Harry frowning, why would he have any of the Black estate? It made no sense whatsoever.

"You have a few vaults from me," said Sirius trying to keep himself from becoming emotional. He didn't want Harry to leave so soon, and if he did start crying or being sentimental he'd drive him away. So he continued on succeeding in his quest to keep calm. "I gave you two when you were born, not that you needed it of course. Then I gave you two more when you were thirteen. There's a letter in there, I wrote it just after Dumbledore told me you hated the thought of me going near you. I just wanted you to know I did care, I had hoped you'd read it and be willing to give me a chance. More fool me for believing him, but that's over with now."

"It is," said Harry smirking sadistically, all the things he wanted to do to Dumbledore showing on his face.

"Drink?" asked Sirius handing over fire whiskeys after pouring them.

Severus said nothing, but he had a feeling that the whiskey was a bit strong for Harry. It was amusing to say the least, the faces Harry made upon throwing it back. He had to give him some credit; he didn't start coughing and spluttering. He had the first time he'd tasted this particular drink. Sixth year in the Slytherin dorms, he'd stolen a bottle from Madam Rosmerta. Who worked and owned the three broomsticks pub, where the teachers liked to go during Hogsmeade.

"Where did you go after that night?" asked Harry, staring at Remus. He hadn't had the chance to ask before, but he wanted answers. If he used Dumbledore as an excuse he was going to throttle the wizard.

Remus stiffened in his seat, his eyes meeting Severus and Sirius' but found no help or pity in their gazes. Sirius certainly wouldn't help, he'd been furious when he found out Remus had never seen Harry. When he'd gotten better and before Dumbledore told them about Harry, and Sirius going catatonic on him. He'd been so very angry that Harry didn't even know who he was. To Sirius if he had known Remus, it would have been easier for Harry to accept Sirius. He'd left Harry alone and Sirius had made his disgust known. He'd slept on the couch for weeks afterwards, never talking to him other than short curt words.

It was a sense of déjà vu for Severus right now. The first conversation had been cursory, but now…he was demanding answers, proper answers. He knew Harry wasn't going to be happy with the excuses given. Lupin might be lucky to get out of this intact.

"You have to understand," said Remus choking, his eyes tearing up at the thought of the rejection that was sure to come "In one night I had lost absolutely everything precious to me…my two best friends were dead, you survived, only to be told within a few hours that Sirius had killed Peter Pettigrew and thirteen Muggles and was on his way to Azkaban prison. My world had been spun on its axis and I didn't know what to do." he ended in a whisper.

"SO HAD MINE!" yelled Harry, causing Remus to jump three foot in the air.

"I know, I know Harry, I know." repeated Remus looking utterly wretched. "I'm sorry, it's all I can say…I am so sorry. If I could go back…I'd change it." he prayed to Merlin Harry wouldn't reject him. If someone was to place a Boggart in front of him in that second, for the first time since he was a child it wouldn't be a moon. No it would be Harry dishing out the most horrendous words.

"Did you even think about me?" asked Harry disgusted.

"Every single day," said Remus a single tear falling from his eye. "I thought about going to see you, just to look at you once but I knew I'd face this. The questions, why I hadn't come sooner. I took the cowards way out and stayed away. Then when Dumbledore offered me the Defence position, I realized I wanted it, to see you…how you'd grown. That's when I found out, I didn't eat for weeks, I mean why would Dumbledore have you being educated in private? I didn't question it too deeply trusting him…like a bloody idiot. Then I got Sirius back…I had to march on for him…but my decision just kept on coming back to haunt me."

Harry continued to stare impassively, twirling the empty shot glass around with his fingers.

"That must have been the worst year for me…finding out you weren't there. Then finding Pettigrew on the map. I asked for Severus' help no one knew the Dark arts like him. I knew I would have killed him before Sirius was proven innocent. Pettigrew already tricked Sirius I wasn't taking that chance." continued Remus his haunted amber eyes never leaving Harry's.

"Which was ironic because I detested you both. He wasn't at work for one month and two weeks. Recovering from the fact he refused to eat…the Wolfsbane had a particular side affect that no one realized before." explained Severus. He had to teach Potions and Defence Against The Dark Arts, and brew the Wolfsbane potion; Remus had been right what a year it had been. He certainly had been glad when it was over, considering he liked teaching defence classes it was saying a lot.

"You captured Pettigrew?" asked Harry, Severus hadn't mentioned that.

"Indeed," smirked Severus, the rat had tired to flee, but quicker than lightening Severus had the man permanently unable to change. Only until his spell wore off, he was no weak wizard either so it would have been a while. The bracelets on Pettigrew's wrists now stopped it permanently. He was currently serving a life sentence in Azkaban Prison. Sirius Black had been awarded compensation; they both avoided each other constantly until now that is. Fudge, Dumbledore, Remus, Severus and a few Auror's had been there, and he, Severus Snape had reacted first to capture Pettigrew.

"So it's his turn to owe you everything." said Harry, oh he could imagine the satisfaction that would bring.

"Yes," agreed Severus smirking full blast. "Black here practically went catatonic when the years past and he couldn't see you. He gave up hope when Dumbledore told him you didn't want anything to do with him. Go figure that you would find and help a Wizard." said Severus softly, his black eyes glowing intently for his feelings for the young wizard.

"Dumbledore will pay for that!" snarled Sirius. Making him think his Godson hated him. The lies Dumbledore had spewed had nearly killed him, they didn't realize how close he'd been to taking his own life. Harry had been his sole reason for surviving Azkaban. So it was little wonder he'd ended up … slightly catatonic towards the end.

"He will," said Severus darkly, Merlin if Harry hadn't helped him when he did he'd still be lost. He would have died upon his twentieth birthday not understanding what was happening. Not only that Harry would have been in agony, in which the likes they could only imagine.

"So are you going to take your money? It would be a good idea to see if Dumbledore took any." said Sirius frowning in contemplation. "Or to see if he's still managing to get money out." That's assuming he has taken anything, but from what they new about Dumbledore…it wouldn't surprise any of them.

"Even if Dumbledore became the Potter executor he won't get anything now…all money stops getting put out unless it's into Wizarding business or something like that by Goblins when the heir turns seventeen. Whether they've been seen or not doesn't matter. Not even the executor of the estate gets paid after that." said Remus.

"Won't he have just covered his tracks? "Asked Harry blankly, Dumbledore surely wouldn't risk being caught.

"Oh no Harry, Gringotts keep track of everything every single, little piece of paper, related to someone's vaults." said Severus, even James Potter's transactions will be somewhere recorded in those vaults. Every little withdrawal, or bank transfer will still be there. Sirius and Remus nodded in agreement to Severus' statement.

"Doesn't matter does it? It's not incriminating if he's the executor - he's within his right to take anything out." said Harry a sneer curling his lip at the thought.

"True," said Remus grudgingly.

"We will bring him down regardless, just not legally." said Severus viciously.

"Sorry Sev, I just can't stand him." said Harry through gritted teeth. The anger he felt at Dumbledore had built and built up over the years. More so now that he was confronted with his past. He knew just how badly he'd been screwed over by Dumbledore, especially in regards to his magic.

"I know…We know how you feel" said Severus in understanding.

"You might," he said to Severus before turning to Sirius and Remus. "You two can't possibly…he's destroyed my life." said Harry angrily. Severus squeezed his hand under the table, comforting him.

Sirius and Remus remained quiet, truth be told, he had a point. They couldn't imagine what Harry had been through because of Dumbledore. His magic, Merlin they couldn't comprehend that. They'd always had it, to go a day without it made them shudder.

"Come, let's go home," said Severus tugging at Harry softly; pulling out a potion with a regretful sigh Harry swallowed it. He liked being able to fit in Severus' arms, like a piece of puzzle. He then grew, standing just as tall as Severus, Sirius and Remus now.

"Night," said Remus and Sirius quietly, tonight had been intense to say the least.

Home? Harry didn't have a home he had left his flat then he'd realized…home is where the heart is. His heart irrevocably belonged to Severus. As cheesy as it sounded, it was also very true. Harry wasn't one to give his heart lightly, before Severus he hadn't at all.

So yes, Severus was his home.

No matter where they were, what house they lived in, be it Hogwarts or even his old flat - he would always have Severus.

With that thought the world spiralled out and arranged itself - he was back in Severus' quarters.

There we go thats the next one :D