Rat

Disclaimer: I sadly will never own HP

In a normal house in the overly boring Privet Drive, a small boy crawled out of his cupboard. Small little five-year-old Harry had woken up in the early hours of the morn, the sun hadn't risen and not a soul awake at this time. His aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon, would be fast asleep. His cousin, their son, Dudley's snores could be heard all the way from downstairs. He crept over to the pantry in the kitchen which his aunt kept locked. He glanced over to the clock. 4 am in the morning. One hour until Uncle Vernon's alarm would for him to get up.

Using a chair from a nearby table to help reach the pantry which was above the sink, Harry brandished a paper clip and a hair clip that Petunia thought to have lost, beginning to pick the lock in record time. The lock opened with a click, louder than Harry wanted it to be. Bags of lollies in plastic packets, juice boxes, dried fruit and other types of ong-lasting food that made his stomach growl. He took two packets of boxed raisins as well as two juice boxes. He didn't count on his cousin watching him from behind the wall.

. . . .

"Dear, dear," a voice drew him from his sleep. "Dear, wake up."

Rat's eyes snapped wide open, his hand reached out for the nearest weapon which happened to be glass potion that smashed, jumped on the nurse, throwing her to the ground and holding the knife to her neck. A surprised squeal came from the nurse. Rat's eyes glared fiercely at her with his teeth bared like an animal.

"Mr. Potter!" she gasped. Rat suddenly realized what he doing. He jumped off of the nurse, still breathing heavily, the bottle still in his hands. He set it down on the bed.

"S-Sorry."

"I-It's fine." She said, rubbing her neck.

"I didn't cut you, did I?"

"No you didn't." she shook her head.

"Wh-Where?" he snapped his head around right and left. He was in a big all white room with several beds, arched windows with curtains draped over them and a single nurse running it.

"You're in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts." She answered.

"Hospital Wing? Hogwarts? H-How?"

"Do you remember anything Mr. Potter?" Rat remembered steal a pouch…and a ring? A man in black robes running after him and then falling.

"I got hit with a spell. I fell from a roof. The guy that hit me was a professor. I don't know anything more than that. Oh wait, I drank someone didn't I?"

"Sleeping Draught."

"Oh…" Rat glanced over to the bedside desk. A piece of parchment was there, folded, next to a glowing purple potion. "What's that?"

"Oh nothing dear." She picked up the potion and the parchment, scurrying off. The world soon slowed. At times, for Rat, everything seemed to be moving much slower than they should be and Rat was the only moving at normal speed. The nurse stood frozen, her foot about to touch down on the ground. His hand darted out towards the parchment, pulling it soon back in. The world moved back to its normal speed, Rat hid the parchment in the pockets of his rugged dirty pants.

"Are you hungry dear?" she called out, moving towards the doors.

"I guess so." The nurse opened the doors for a man in slivery grey robes, a long beard tucked into his belt and twinkling eyes to walk in.

"Hello Poppy." He spoke.

"Headmaster." She bowed her head. Must be the guy who owns the place, Rat thought.

"I need to speak with the boy. Please have some food ready for when I leave."

"Yes Headmaster." She obediently replied. Rat swallowed his bile, mostly his disgust with her obedience at the man. He was reminded of the poor house-elves that spirits were constantly broken in Knockturn Alley. The nurse walked out of the Wing, leaving Rat and the old man alone.

"Hello Mr. Potter." He strode up to Rat in ghost-like manner.

"Mr. Potter?"

"Take a look at the parchment in your pockets." He pointed to Rat's pants, the parchment sticking out. How?

"Go on," he said. "Take a look."

Rat pulled out the parchment, reading:

Henry Evans-Alice Evans Eileen Snape-Tobias Snape

Lily Evans-Severus Snape

Harry Snape

"You're a Potter by legality but a Snape by blood." He told Rat.

"Snape?" he said the words out loud.

I am Professor Severus Snape.

"Severus Sna- He was that man that I stole his stuff from!"

"Indeed so. Sit my boy. Be careful of the glass. Don't want to sit on it, do we?" He pointed towards the broken glass on the bed. Rat sat on the end, eying him cautiously.

"You were out for a week at most Mr. Potter. It seems all of your bones are set properly now. Though there was nothing Madam Pomfrey our school nurse could about your scars though. Nor about your tattoos. Care to tell me about them?" The old man summoned a chair to sit on.

"Why should I tell you when I don't know your name?" Rat snarled at him, putting up his walls. A stab of pain seared through his head. The after-effects of Rat's little time-slowing-down trick. He would have a sharp intense sensation of pain cutting through his head soon after. Rat suppressed a groan but could help the sour look on his face.

The old man looked questionably at the boy's sudden change in expression. He stared at the boy curiously before going back to his calm collected demeanor. "Oh yes. Sorry about that. I am Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He introduced himself.

"Rat. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Oh but you are so much more, Mr. Potter."

"Potter," he looked down to the parchment reading Harry Snape. "That's my name. Harry Potter? That's impossible."

"I'm afraid…" The old man's voice became drowned out by Rat's thoughts.

He heard the names from behind walls and under crates, eavesdropping on other people's conversations. Harry Potter, the legendary Boy-Who-Lived who banished You-Know-Who. Now that he thought about it, the name did sound familiar. But bullshit. Rat could never be as someone as famous and as appreciated as Harry bloody Potter!

"Mr. Potter? Are you listening?" Dumbledore's voice drew him out of his reverie.

"I'm sorry. Wasn't. Can you say it again?"

"As I said before," Rat kept his focus trained on the old man. "Your father Severus Snape is an important person to both you and our cause-''

"Our cause. We have nothing we both want." Rat interrupted him.

"Voldemort, we both want him gone."

"I thought he was dead."

"I'm afraid not. He is still alive but weak." The old man told him, no hint of a lie in those words.

"Great." Rat mumbled sarcastically.

"One day, he shall rise again. Your father is a Death Eater and the only chance of having a spy on their side. Knowing that you're his son will only make his decisions limited. If the entire Wizarding community knew this then his position will be compromised and he will be killed…"

"So my dad can never know I exist?" Rat asked.

"Yes."

"And he's also a spy?"

"Yes."

"Every ten-year-old boy's dream. Why don't I look like him or do I just look a lot my mom?"

"A glamour charm has been placed on you to make you mostly look like your stepfather, James Potter."

"Another security measure?"

"Yes. Do you care that Professor Snape is your father?" he asked with more seriousness in his voice. Rat only smiled.

"It doesn't make any difference. I'll grow up with any parents. I'll just pay more attention to him now that I know." Rat continued casually, not betraying any emotion coming onto his face.

"Good then. I'll let Madam Pomfrey tend to you now." Dumbledore rose from his seat, walking to the door.

"And Headmaster?" Rat called out just as the old man reached the door.

"You need to put some anti-thief wards on yourself." Said Rat triumphantly, holding up a lighter in his hand.

"You're as light fingered as they say," Dumbledore grinned, bringing his hand up. His lighter was back in his hand along with the strip of parchment. A surprised gasp came from Rat. How? "Thievery is not tolerated at Hogwarts." He said turning to the door and leaving. Madam Pomfrey was now back in the Wing, a tray full of food in her hands along with a colorless potion and right behind her…a man in black robes…his father.

. . . .

Rat had been asleep for ten days straight. Snape was in his office, grading the abhorrent papers called reports by those ignorant idiotic students. His mind should've been on grading the papers but it just wandered over to the boy. Dumbledore had already confirmed that the boy was indeed Harry Potter. Potter Sr. and Lily must be rolling over in their graves for this. Their child a common thief. How he came to be is quite curious but alas it was none of his business.

He went back to grading his reports.

Rose balsam is important in Calming Potions because (This sounds like something a five-year-old would use, Severus thought) it's propities (It is properties you dunderhead, he wrote the proper spelling in red ink, I wonder how the boy is doing. No Severus. Get back to work) are used to calm the red ginger and dittany (It couldn't hurt to just look, he thought) in the potion.

Severus commented rather rudely at the top of the page on the student's spelling and detail before getting going over to the Hospital Wing. On the way, he bumped into Poppy, holding a tray of food.

"Hello Severus." She smiled.

"Poppy." Was all she said.

"Mr. Potter's awake. I had quite a shock when he did. The poor thing was tossing and turning in his sleep. When I tried to wake him up, he smashed the Skele-Gro bottle and held it at my throat! The last couple of years must've been tough on the poor dear." She sighed.

"He attacked you?"

"Children who have been through a tough time have a sort of reflex."

"But children don't attack others."

"Severus, he was a thief. I wouldn't be surprised if he was sleeping with one eye."

"But still…it's vermin like that bring chaos what order this world has."

"Are you calling Mr. Potter vermin?" she sounded more irritated and angry at this.

"And if I am?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Trust me Professor Snape," she used his name bitingly, 'one day you will regret those words."

Severus merely gave the nurse his trademark scowl. They continued walking in silence. When reaching the Hospital Wing, they came to face with Dumbledore who was just conveniently leaving.

"Albus." Said Severus.

"Severus. Mr. Potter is ready for visitors."

"Not that he would have any."

"Severus!" Poppy glared at him.

"What? He's right!" they heard Potter shout from his bed.

"See even the boy agrees."

"You," she pointed to Severus. "Don't say anything rude," he scoffed at this. "You," she pointed to Potter. "Don't raise your voice and don't move about too much."

"Aye aye cap'n!"

"See he's just like his father." Severus added with biting tone.

"He can still hear you." Dumbledore said.

"Good then, he's not deaf."

Poppy rolled her eyes at him. She walked over to Potter. He had his mouth wide which could almost be drooling at the food on the tray. Severus could his stomach growling all the way from the door. Calmly, he made his way over to Potter.

"Close your mouth Potter. You look feral. It's disgusting." He heard Potter's mouth click shut before the boy looked at him curiously; his green eyes that were the same eyes as Lily but not quite the same watching him. He moved his stare to the food in front of him.

"This is all…for me?" he asked.

"Yes. After you've eaten all of this, I want you to drink these three potions. Do not mix them with the food." Poppy added.

"Will do. Thank you. I mean I haven't seen so much food in a long time!" his stomach growled yet again.

"Oh your relatives were pampering you then." Severus sneered. Potter's reaction was strange. He turned ghostly pale, his bottom lip quivering, his knuckles turning pale white from his hold on the bed and his pupils dilating. The boy quickly regained his composure, taking in a deep breath and breathing.

"No. No it wasn't them," he whispered, his neck scar beginning to throb. "It was someone else."

"After you've eaten and drunk your potions," Poppy changed the topic. "I want you to walk over to my desk and I'll ask you a few questions. Is that okay dear?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Good then," she smiled, turning to Severus. "Severus" she enunciated.

"What is it?" his lips curled in annoyance.

"Be. Nice." She warned.

"I'll be on my best behavior." The nurse looked at him skeptically.

"Don't worry," the boy spoke this time. "Haven't you heard of the Muggle saying: Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can't hurt me?"

"I'm sure Severus will behave."

"Well given what he was saying about Mr. James Potter over there, I don't think so."

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" snapped Severus.

"Just watch out for his…temper." Poppy told him.

"Poppy…" he scowled. Poppy hopped off to her desk over at the other end of the Wing, leaving him alone with the child who was eying his food.

"Well eat already!" Severus shouted at the child. He jumped dropping the tray before catching it. The child was still shirtless showing his many scars and his tattoo showing, the phoenix resting on his shoulder. He could've sworn it was sitting on his stomach the last time he saw it. The boy set the desk on the bed, shifting to eat more comfortably. He yelped when his backside dug into a broken bottle of Skele-Gro. So he did attack the nurse. He picked the shards with hands, the smaller pieces going inside the larger piece. He looked around a bin, dropping the pieces in the bin.

"I hope it wasn't your last bottle." He said.

"I'm sure it wasn't. You need to eat now." Severus told him impatiently. The boy nodded, picking up the spoon like he hadn't for a long time (well he was a thief) and placed it inside the chicken soup. He swallowed very slowly at first, tasting it before lighting up saying, "Oh my bloody god!" he began to eat more quickly.

"Slow down Potter. You'll make yourself sick. And language."

"I've been eating scraps for the last couple of years. What do you expect?" the boy glared at him. Well it is understandable, Severus agreed. The boy finished his chicken soup, moving onto the pasta Bolognese and devouring it three minutes.

"Jaysus, this is so bloody good." He mumbled under his breath.

"Language! You have a mouth worse than a sailor." Severus scolded him. The boy didn't so much look his way but gave a little hidden smile. He moved onto an apple, eating much more slowly. Severus hoped that there would be more food. His ribs were so skinny and he looked so malnourished. He finished the apple, drinking the glass of milk. There were bits of food around his mouth.

"Wipe your mouth." He produced a napkin for the boy. He took it graciously, doing as told.

"Thank you."

"At least you have manners. Your tattoo was on your stomach the last time I saw it, it's on your shoulder now." Severus looked at the tribal phoenix tattoo taking a different pose which showed it was in flight.

"Oh, it's magical. It moves around my body at will. See?" the tattoo began to move again, moving to his arm, wrapping its wings around his flesh.

"It's very distasteful."

"It's not my only one. I have another on my wrist," he held up his left wrist to reveal a blue rose with its thorn enfolded around it. It was in full bloom. "It's blooms and withers with the seasons. It's sentimental," He said the sentence with the green in his eyes looking sorrowful. "I'm supposed to take these potions right?"

"And I thought you weren't deaf."

"I'm not." He snarled, baring his teeth. Oh look, he has canine teeth. He sniffed the first potion giving a cringing look to it before plugging his nose and drinking it straight-up. He did the same with the others as well.

"Does the taste get better with time sir?" he asked, washing out the taste with his tongue.

"Perhaps."

"My memory's a bit fuzzy but you're Severus Snape right?"

"I am. Forgetful as well, I see."

"I hit my head on concrete," He said plainly. He jumped off the bed, dropping to his knees at first with Severus catching him. "Thanks." The boy moved out of his hold, a few spots of pink on his cheeks.

"Is it that hard to walk?" Severus sighed unimpressively. Potter sent a dirty look back to him, taking more steps with longer strides. He then picked up the tray and potions, walking over Poppy with Severus following the boy.

. . . .

The meal Rat had just received was the best he had in ages! It was so effing good! His father commented on his language! What was he expecting? He practically grew up on the streets! Of course he pick the slang and a few bad words. He had eaten nothing but the scraps of garbage bins in Diagon Alley. He made sure to stay from the Jokes store garbage. No telling what was in there.

When he looked up to Severus Snape his father he could see very clearly that the man held no love for him. He harbored feeling that of intense hatred to his stepdad. But his behavior towards Rat that weren't that of hatred like his relatives did but those of a very subtle care towards him. He was at least glad for that. The man looked nothing like Rat did now.

When he asked about the tattoos, it was obvious he didn't like them. The phoenix tattoo was there for show. What? It was cool! But the one of his wrist, they were there for memory. Rat began to walk out of his bed. He staggered which his father caught him but he moved away, blushing that Daddy (wow, that sounds really weird) at least cared for him. He walked over to Madam Pomfrey who waiting for him.

"Hello Mr. Potter," She gestured to the chair besides her desk. "Severus you can go now."

Rat saw Severus leave with much reluctance, he noted.

"You know don't you?" he said plainly looking at her with knowing eyes. "I know you looked at the parchment."

"How-"

"Well you can guess." He shrugged.

"You stole it? How?"

"Don't ask. It's hard to explain."

"Okay then. I'm going to be asking you a few questions and I expect you to answer them honestly."

"Yes ma'am." He nodded.

"Your name? Before you found it out." She asked a notepad at the ready.

"Rat." He said casually.

"Are you sure you didn't go by any other names? Not David or Jimmy?"

"No," he shook his head. "Just Rat."

"How did you become a thief?"

"I-uh- kind of noticed the Three Broomsticks and snuck inside. I was following a couple of guys that were wearing robes."

"I hear your relatives died in a house fire, is that true?" Fire flashed through Rat's eyes when she asked that. He took in another breath, reliving the memory. He clasped his hands together, trying to ignore the neck scar which throbbed even more.

"Yes." He gritted out through his teeth.

"Why weren't you there when the authorities arrived at the scene?"

Rat stayed silent at first, wondering how to answer. "I was scared. That's all."

The nurse seemed unsatisfied with his answer but leaving the question. "Why did you do at Diagon Alley?"

"Steal mostly. Just to survive and all." He took in a deep breath, looking at his pale white hands.

"This might sound a little idiotic at best but do you have any friends?"

"Just the one. Drake. Taught me a few respectable things. He's my age. Can't tell you more than that though." He told her with much well hidden reluctance. The nurse gave a pointed look at that.

"What did you eat?"

"Scraps," He said before adding. "and sometimes actual food with the money I stole."

"What did you steal?"

"Money mostly but I rarely spent it. Just if I was really desperate. The day Snape found me was the day I was actually on a roll. Sometimes I would steal jewelry and steal it to the pawnbroker."

"Good then. Just wait here. I'll get you some proper clothes. I'll speak to the Headmaster to discuss what we're going to do with you."

"Yes ma'am." He nodded. The nurse left, leaving Rat on his own. He gave out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, looking out the arched window to see Hogwarts.

Maybe things would get better from here on out? Perhaps he would get a normal life?

Normal? Since when was anything normal?

AN: Hello. Just so you know. Rat will be a little feral and tough. Remember he was a thief living in Diagon Alley. He learnt how to survive all by himself. He will also be a bit mature as well. Thank Jordan Cross for being my Beta.

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