"Why does everyone keep staring at me?" Harry asked Remus a few days later in the Great Hall. "Someone called me the Great Harry Potter and it makes me uncomfortable. I'm not all that great and I don't do anything special." Harry noticed Severus and Remus had shared a strange look before glancing back to Harry.
"It's because of your... Terrific potion abilities," Remus said quietly. Harry crossed his arms and gave Remus a glare that he clearly picked up from Severus. Severus snorted towards his breakfast and earned himself a glare from Remus.
"You do realise I'm four, right? They've been acting like this before they knew I was good at potions! And they've been asking to see the scar on my forehead! What does that have to do with potions!" Harry said, noticing that the staff were squirming uncomfortably in their seats. "I didn't get this scar in a car accident, did I?"
When Harry said the part about a car accident, Severus choked on his pumpkin juice and stared at Harry with a bewildered expression. Remus turned to face Harry with a look of shock and sadness.
"Who told you your parents died in a car accident?" Severus asked sounding as shocked and Remus looked. The idea of Lily and James Potter dying in a car accident was absurd.
"My uncle; he said they were drunk and crashed their car. He once said that he regretted that I didn't die with them," Harry said. "But people look at my scar and they call me a hero? You're not a hero when you get into a car accident. Why does everyone know my name?"
Severus stared at Remus for a second, his expression was unreadable but Harry could tell he wasn't happy. This was the first time Severus had heard about Harry's past life with the Dursleys'. He'd figured Harry had been neglected but he didn't know about the emotional abuse like this. Harry had never brought it up while they worked on potions. But for Harry not to have been told the truth about his parents was simply wrong.
"I think we should talk about this somewhere else, Harry. Come with me," Severus said, leading Harry and Remus to an empty classroom. Harry knew something was wrong and he wondered what it was. He got a sinking feeling in his gut that whatever had happened, was bigger than a car accident. Harry looked at both men in front of him and neither one looked too excited to tell Harry what was going on.
Between both Severus and Remus, Harry learnt what really happened to his parents and why everyone seemed to know his name.
"I am famous because I lived and my parents didn't? I'm famous because when someone tried to kill me and failed?" Harry said sadly. "I don't want to be famous. I'm Harry... Just Harry!"
Later that evening, Harry ran off to be alone for a few minutes. He just wanted some time to think to himself when he ran into a Gryffindor boy from potions. Harry knew right away he was the boy who messed up both potions because he wasn't patient enough to do them right. At that moment, he was looking at Harry the same way Dudley used to when he was ready to beat him up.
The boy reminded him a lot of Dudley. He was fat, mean-looking and about as intelligent looking as a thumbnail. But at least with Dudley, Harry had the advantage of being faster while Dudley but this boy was seven years older than Harry so that meant his legs were longer. Harry would never be able to get away.
"So, you think you can get away with making me look bad in potions, eh, Potter! I'm going to teach you a lesson in respecting your elders!"
When the boy's fist flew forward to hit Harry's face, he closed his eyes and shielded his face with his arms. After a few seconds when there was no impact, Harry risked taking a glance past his arm to find Duncan pushing the fat boy away from Harry while Bill was promising to go to McGonagall about hitting a child.
"What kind of coward picks on a child younger than them? You are not worthy of Gryffindor, Paul!" Bill hollered, dragging Paul down the corridor. The boy was now pleading with Bill not to tell on him because he couldn't afford any more detention. He couldn't hear Bill's return but Paul's groan of frustration told him it wasn't the answer he wanted to hear.
"Alright, Harry?" Duncan asked, clearly checking Harry for signs of injury. "Paul is an idiot; he likes to blame others when he's not successful... He doesn't like it when things aren't handed to him. I'd say that was typical of a Gryffindor but Gryffindors hate cowards like him."
"Thank you," Harry said to Duncan.
"Anytime; let me take you back. Professor Lupin and Professor Snape have been looking for you for the past half hour!" Duncan said. "Besides, we've got to stick together. Snape has already taken you in as an honorary Slytherin. I'd never live it down if I let anything happen to you."
When Duncan guided Harry back to Remus' quarters, he found both Severus and Remus sitting practically huddled together in worry. They were whispering to each other in fast tones. If you looked closely enough, you could see that their hands were intertwined.
When Duncan cleared his throat, both Professors glanced towards them and their faces were flooded with relief. Remus rushed over and scooped Harry into his arms and hugged the boy tightly to his chest. Severus, who was trying not to show too much emotion, seemed to relax when he saw that Harry was actually okay. He walked over to Remus and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Where have you been, Harry?" Remus asked.
Duncan explained what had happened and was awarded twenty points for Slytherin.
"I'll see you in class tomorrow, Harry," Duncan said before heading towards the Slytherin common room.
When Harry saw that Severus' hand was still resting on Remus' shoulder, he studied the pair with a raised eyebrow. Severus stared back, trying to figure why such a calculating look had appeared on Harry's face.
"You two seem close," Harry informed, pointing to Severus' hand on Remus' shoulder, causing the two men to blush. "This wouldn't have anything to do with why professor Dumbledore hired you suddenly?"
"No, he hired me because I'm good for the job... This was more of a bonus," Remus said quietly smiling at Severus who smirked back. "You don't have a problem with this, do you?"
Harry just shrugged and sat down on the couch.
"Hey, who am I to complain when I have one more person who will read to me," Harry said smiling sneakily.
"You know, I'm starting to see why you've been calling him Hogwarts' littlest Slytherin," Remus laughed as he hugged Severus. Severus laughed; his Slytherin students had already claimed Harry as one of their own. "The first years have been trying to convince me to let Harry stay over once in a while in the common rooms."
Remus smiled happily at Severus at the thought. "I think that can be arranged... Once in a while."
Harry rolled his eyes and dragged a book over to the coupling couple.
"That's nice! How about someone reads to me once in a while," Harry laughed, thrusting a book into Remus' hand resulting in laughter from the two professors.
I decided to pair up Remus and Severus. I've been toying with the idea since I started the story and it fits the plot best. Trust me, it's going to be worth it.