Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to review and/or add this story to their alerts. Based on the reviews from Chapter 3, I hope you continue to read and be entertained.
The Thing About Contracts Is …
Chapter 4 – Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
December 31, 1994 – Gringotts
Albus waited patiently for a moment while Harry and his entourage just stared at him.
It looked like Harry started to speak a few times, but stopped. Finally he spoke, "Headmaster, what is it you lace those lemon drops with? They seem to be affecting your higher cognitive powers. Either that or my hearing is going. Did you really suggest Severus Snape as my magical guardian for the next two and a half years?"
Dumbledore nodded.
"OK, I may end up regretting this next question but what makes you think that he would ever be a suitable guardian?"
"Severus has made major mistakes in his life and he has learned from them and truly repented. His knowledge of magic and potions is up with a select few at the top of the wizarding world. His muggle father raised him so he understands the world you come from. Your mother and him were friends at one point as well."
Silence.
More silence.
Albus coughed. Harry was still staring at the old man's nose –never his eyes – blankly.
Harry finally responded, "Hello? You're forgetting that he hates me? How he's made my life miserable for the past three and a half years?"
"I've spoken to Severus about that and he gave me his word you would be treated fairly."
"Um … yeah. The word of a Death Eater."
"Severus has repented and redeemed himself in my eyes. I trust him completely."
Harry sat back and took off his glasses with one hand. Scrunching up his eyes, he squeezed the bridge of his nose with the other hand. He wasn't sure what this was supposed to do. But for the first time in his life he felt the compelling need to do so.
"OK, let's take a step back. Why do I need a magical guardian?"
"You are not yet of age."
"Legally I am."
Albus cringed inside, the 'L' word again. He put on the grandfatherly face again, "Harry, you are not yet ready to take your place as an adult wizard. There is still so much more you need to learn."
"And whose fault is that Headmaster? You kept me from the magical world and isolated me from it outside of school."
"I was looking out for your best interests Harry. It was for the greater good."
"And that is why you are not my magical guardian and my relatives are looking at alternative, government-sponsored housing for the next several years." Harry shook his head. Sighing loudly, "We're not here to debate the past. Let's get back to the point at hand. What if I feel I don't need a Magical Guardian?"
"That point of view as well as your intention to leave your magical education shows exactly why you do need a Magical Guardian."
Harry's head was definitely aching now. Pinching the bridge of his nose again alleviated the pain a bit and he finally figured out why people did it. 'OK count to 10," he thought.
… 20 …
… 30 …
… 50 …
'OK maybe it doesn't always work,' he thought – giving up. He looked at the smirking old bastard in front of him. Sighing, he tried starting a reasonable conversation again, "Have you ever heard of a circular argument?"
Albus simply raised an eyebrow.
"You are telling me the fact I don't want a Magical Guardian is exactly why I need a Magical Guardian."
"Yes, it shows a lack of maturity."
It was time to pinch the bridge of his nose again.
"Aaaaand you want my Magical Guardian to be Severus Snape."
"Yes."
"And he would see that I was raised properly to act maturely."
"Yes."
Harry looked at his lawyer with a smirk.
"OK."
Now it was Albus' turn to be stunned. He thought Harry would put up more of a fight. He had actually started with Severus to wear Harry down so that he would accept another guardian like Arthur Weasley.
"You will accept Severus as your guardian?"
"Yes, but I have some conditions."
Albus didn't like Harry's smile. It was a bit too innocent. "Conditions Harry?"
"Yes, you could say I've found that contracts can be a very helpful thing."
"What kind of contracts Harry?"
"For me to accept Severus Snape or any other Magical Guardian, my legal counsel and I have drafted a magical contract governing the terms of guardianship."
"There is no need for that Harry. There are laws governing the roles and responsibilities of a Magical Guardian."
"Yes, I've heard there are Headmaster but you'll have to excuse me if I don't trust those laws. They haven't really been applied to me before. No, anyone who wants to be a Magical Guardian of mine will have to sign a magical contract. That way their own magic will enforce the contract."
Albus sighed, "And this would be a condition for any magical guardian?"
"Yes."
"And if I refused that condition?"
"Then I would fight any attempt to reverse my emancipation. My legal counsel has assured me that he can bury the court in legal motions to keep this case tied up until it becomes a moot point. But that would cost me a lot of Galleons and waste everyone's time. So, as long as my two conditions are met and the contracts signed, I'll agree to having a magical guardian."
"You mentioned two conditions Harry. What is the second?"
"I happen to have a contract for you to sign."
Albus paled again. "Why would you need a contract for me?"
"Like I mentioned Headmaster, I've found that contracts can be helpful, and Magical Contracts can be extremely useful when the laws don't provide enough protection. So, I've drawn up a Magical Contract for you to sign."
Al pulled a parchment out of the pile in front of him and slid it toward Albus.
Harry continued, "You can, of course, read it over Headmaster. In short, I will agree to accept the guardian of your choice provided the guardian signs their associated guardianship contract. I also agree to finish my formal magical instruction at Hogwarts."
Albus smiled at that and then asked, "And what is it that you ask of me?"
"That when I am once again considered of age in the magical world you will accept it and not try to overturn it in any way or assign me a new magical guardian. You will at that time only deal with me directly with my formal magical instruction at Hogwarts and once that is completed you will not try to contact me unless I contact you first."
Albus thought about this and was inclined to accept it. If Voldemort came back Harry probably wouldn't live to see seventeen let alone his graduation from Hogwarts.
"I will sign the contract Harry."
"Very well. Let's sign it now. It will only come into effect when the guardian contract is signed."
Albus nodded once.
Both men rolled up their sleeves and signed using blood quills. Harry allowed himself a smirk when Albus signed the contract.
"Now all we need is Severus to sign his contract. Do you know when you will be able to get him here?"
"I will Floo him right now. Can we take a 30 minute break?"
Harry looked at Griphook. The goblin nodded, "I have the room booked all day."
"We'll see you in 30 minutes Headmaster."
Albus stood up and left.
Harry smiled and looked at his smiling lawyer, "Now you are absolutely sure the contract is solid?"
"Harry, you wound me with that question," Al placed his hand over his heart in a melodramatic way, "you've paid good money for these contracts and they are rock solid. Are you sure you want Snape?"
Harry smiled broadly and nodded, "Absolutely. The man has been a right bastard to me and he's one of those death eaters who got off without even a wrist slap while my godfather was in Azkaban without a trial."
Al asked Harry, "Do you want me to pull the contract now?"
"No, let's make a show of it."
"I like your style."
"I can learn Al. One thing I've learned is to get as much joy out of the smallest things."
The three of them chuckled.
December 31, 1994 – Gringotts – 25 minutes later
Severus Snape swept into the conference room with his robes billowing behind him blown by some unseen breeze. Harry shuddered at the thought of what the source of that breeze might be. However as is often the case, Harry's mind refused to let go of the topic until the thought, "Well, I know he's got a big set of pipes from the way he can yell in class. It makes sense the other end's pipes are big too" crossed his mind. He looked at the billowing robes again and experienced a full-body shudder.
Albus followed Severus in and they two of them sat across from the others.
Harry – desperately mentally 'bleaching' his brain of the previous image – started, "Professor Snape, nice of you to come today. I'm sure the Headmaster has explained why we asked you hear."
Snape sneered, "You're agreeing to my being your new Guardian. Now what is it about this contract?"
"Ah, yes. Based on my history, my legal counsel advised that if I were to consider giving up my adult status I should have a magical contract to protect me. Here let me pull it out. We had several made up since we didn't know whom Albus was going to suggest so we created ones for the most likely. Please bear with me."
Harry started going through the pile of contracts in front of him, "Let's see, Bulstrode, Carrow, Crabbe, Crouch, Dumbledore, Figg, Filch, Flitwick, Fudge, Goyle, Greengrass, Grindlewald, Lestrange, Malfoy, McGonagall, Parkinson, Pettigrew, Quirrel – Powdered Toast Man?, wait he's no longer eligible – Riddle, Rookwood, – ah, here it is – Snape."
Albus spoke up, "You had one for me? I thought you were not going to accept me as a guardian."
"I originally wanted one but Al informed me that a piece of parchment with the words, 'OH HELL NO' was not considered a contract. No, the one in there is for your brother Aberforth."
Albus heard the venom in Harry's voice and decided at this time not to ask why Harry had contracts made up for several old Death Eaters. Did he really think so much of Albus that he thought Albus would suggest one of those people as a guardian?
Harry noticed the look in Albus face as he went through the pile of contracts making up names as he went. This was an idea of Griphook's to unbalance the Headmaster.
Harry passed the thick contract over to Snape. Snape sneered once again, "What is the meaning of this Potter?"
Al spoke up, "It's just a standard magical contract for guardianship. It just ensures that Harry will be well cared for and that his guardian – in this case yourself – will provide a certain minimum standard of care. It also details your access to the Potter Vaults and properties in your capacity as his guardian. It also requires Harry disclose any new contracts he may have entered into that are not publicly disclosed since becoming of age. As you know all in-force contracts will be assumed by the guardian."
"And what contracts have you entered into Potter?"
"I've just set up a retainer contract for my legal counsel and my account manager to draw fees for their services from. It's a separate fund from the Potter vaults held in escrow and currently has a balance of three thousand galleons."
"Three thousand Galleons?" Snape was apoplectic.
Harry remained calm, "Yes, I needed to make sure there was enough in the retainer to ensure they are paid for their services until my seventeenth birthday."
Both Albus and Severus looked at each other. Severus turned to Harry and said, "As your guardian, I am cancelling the retainer and firing your legal counsel. Your account manager will maintain the Potter accounts at my direction."
Both Albus and Severus looked smug.
Harry just smirked. He tilted his head slightly to the side and said, "You are not my guardian until you sign the Guardian Contract and I countersign and we both sign the Ministry documents."
Albus nodded to Severus and the greasy man signed the Guardian Contract and also the Ministry Change of Guardianship form. He passed them across to Harry who countersigned both. Albus was overjoyed.
Severus smirked and said, "Let's start with the retainer."
Griphook spoke up, "Ah yes. The retainer is in place and only Harry can collapse it."
Severus then looked at Harry, "You will collapse and close the retainer account."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I have to be considered of age to collapse it."
Severus was apoplectic once again, "Why you little bra…"
Severus keeled over in pain. Albus looked over worried at his friend and colleague. "What's the matter Severus?"
"I felt this pain deep inside me."
Harry coughed, they both looked over at him. "Um, yeah. I can explain that. You see, the contract stipulates a number of things my new guardian must provide. One of them is that the guardian cannot abuse me. It covers all kinds of abuse that are prohibited. You know – physical, emotional, sexual, psychological and even verbal."
Snape glared at him, "So, I have to be nice to you?"
Harry grinned what could only be termed a big-ass grin, "It's that or lose your magic. You know, you really should have read the contract if you find the terms disagreeable. But, sometimes magic contracts are not all we are told they are." He finished grinning at Albus.
"What other terms are in this blasted contract?"
Harry shrugged, "Oh this and that. I'm sure you'll find out. Hey, can I call you Severus when we aren't in class or the around other students. I think you'll understand if I'm uncomfortable calling you Dad." Harry had an innocent look on his face. It took everything for Al and Griphook not to laugh.
Albus pulled himself together and straightened up. "Harry, I'm sure you can be more mature about this. Perhaps we can reopen the contract and negotiate some of the terms."
Harry looked straight at the Headmaster's nose again, "Absolutely. All Severus has to do is fill out the proper forms to renounce his guardianship. That will cancel the contract he signed."
Snape was about to agree until Harry continued, "But then, there's the contract Albus signed. Its terms would mean that I would once again be considered of age and that he would not interfere. Hmm. I guess it's really up to you Sev." Seeing the glare he added, "You don't mind if I call you Sev do you?"
Al spoke up at this point, "Are there any other points of business we need to cover?"
Albus paused for a moment and shook his head. "No, I think not." He thought to himself, 'Once Harry is back at Hogwarts we can make him see reason."
Snape got up and said, "Potter!", he waited for the pain but it didn't come, "I'm taking you back to Hogwarts with me now. Where is your school trunk?"
"My school trunk is still in my dorm."
"Very well. Let's head back to Hogwarts. I will take this contract …" both of the contracts and the Ministry documentation were snatched out of his hands by Al.
"I'm terribly sorry Mr. Snape. I will file these original contracts at Gringotts as specified in the contracts. Gringotts will set up the spells and wards to monitor the terms of the contracts – as specified in the contracts, of course – and will be the arbitrators both parties agreed to who will determine when the Guardian contract is no longer in force. Mr. Dumbledore," Al enjoyed the cringe from Albus as he was referred to as 'Mr.', "your contract will be in force until either you or Mr. Potter die."
Severus and Albus were flustered. Albus asked, "Is there no way we can get a copy of the contracts for ourselves? How will we get an opportunity to read them?"
Griphook answered at this point, "You had as much time as you needed before you signed them but you waived that right by signing them first. As specified in the now executed contracts, you can fill out the request form and after the 90 day waiting period we will provide you with a certified copy."
Severus was more than incensed, "90 DAYS!"
Griphook shrugged, "You signed the contracts."
Severus shook his head and went to grab Harry. The pain returned so he used his occlumency to calm himself. "Harry, let's go back to school now."
"OK Sev." Harry was enjoying himself.
Severus and Harry went to the public floo to go back to Hogsmeade. Albus stayed behind to fill out the proper request forms. He paled when Griphook put a three-inch stack of parchment in front of him and said, "We will, of course, require this in triplicate."
January 2, 1995 – Hogwarts
Harry greeted Severus as he walked into the Great Hall for breakfast with a big smile shocking everyone with his greeting, "Hi Professor Sev? How's my guardian this morning."
Severus subdued his anger with almost superhuman ability even though it looked like one of the veins in his forehead was about to double as a fire hose. "I'm fine Harry."
Harry walked up and his smile turned into the same big-ass grin he had in the Bank. As he came up to the table he said, "I was wondering what I should do about school robes Sev."
Severus hated being called 'Sev' but he had to keep his anger in check. Taking a deep breath he said, "What is wrong with your school robes?"
Big-ass grin, "Nothing."
Severus noticed something, "Why are you wearing the same clothes you had on in Gringotts? In fact, why are you wearing the same clothes for a third day in a row."
Bigger-ass grin, "They're the only ones I have."
"What about your trunk?"
Face-splitting big ass grin, "Which one?"
"Your school trunk."
"It's empty."
"Empty?" Severus' vein was threatening to give him a unibrow look.
"Yes, my school trunk is empty." There was a twinkle to match the grin.
"Then where are your clothes and school supplies."
"Oh, they're in my other trunk."
"Then get that trunk."
"It's at Gringotts."
Severus stood up, "Well, then I will go to Gringotts and retrieve it. I assume Griphook has it?"
"No, I visited the Potter vault that morning and kind of 'forgot' it there."
"Very well, I will be back shortly." He got up and left the Great Hall with his robes billowing.
Harry smacked down the image again and went to get some breakfast at the Gryffindor table.
The big-ass grin and twinkling eyes never left his face.
January 2, 1995 – Hogwarts – 27 minutes later
"POTTER" boomed a voice as the Great Hall doors swung open.
Harry waved at the figure with the billowing robes, "Hiya Professor Sev! Did the goblins let you know you couldn't access my family vault?"
The students nearest the doors swore they heard growling – very feral growling – before it suddenly stopped. "Yes! Why didn't you tell me before I left."
"You didn't ask."
Severus just glared at him – one of the few things that was not expressly forbidden by the damned magical contract. "You will accompany me to Gringotts right now and retrieve your trunk from the vault."
"I can't Sev. Actually can I call you Uncle Sev?"
More glaring and another vein experienced a certain increase in hydraulic pressure. "What do you mean you can't?"
"I mean, that since I am no longer considered an adult in the magical world, the Potter vaults were locked down again until a Potter who is of age can reopen them." Seeing the glare he shrugged his shoulders and said, "What can I say? Oops?"
Harry watched Severus pinch the bridge of his nose just like he had in Gringotts.
"Well, I guess you will have to purchase a new wardrobe and school supplies."
"Can't."
"Why?"
"No money."
"We'll have to visit your Trust vault then."
"What Trust vault."
"Don't play stupid," he felt a slight twinge, "the Headmaster told me about the Trust vault your parents set up. Your tuition is automatically paid for it and money from it has purchased all your supplies over the years."
"I know I had a Trust vault."
"What do you mean had?"
"Well, when I became of age, I collapsed the Trust vault into the Family vault and closed it."
There was silence throughout the Hall as everyone held their breath – although the students near the doors could swear they heard growling again.
Severus forced himself calm again – which continued to surprise everyone in the Great Hall – and spoke to the grinning idiot, "So how do you expect to purchase everything."
"I don't." He paused for effect and just as the Potions Master looked like he was going to speak he started again, "You are. As my magical guardian you are also financially responsible for me. It was in the contract."
He watched with great mirth as Severus stood there and seethed in silence. Both ignored the gasps at the revelation that the most hated teacher in the school was the Boy-Who-Lived's guardian. What made it more unbelievable was that the BWL himself seemed pleased with it.
"So, when are we going shopping Uncle Sev?"
Severus croaked out "noon" and quickly left the hall. He had to see the Headmaster.
Harry sat back and grinned at the rest of the Hall. He looked down the table to where Hermione and Victor were sitting together and winked at her. She just rolled her eyes and smiled back at him. Harry had filled her in on everything on New Year's Eve before she left to spend the celebrate the New Year in the Great Hall with Victor.
Harry glanced across the hall at Draco Malfoy. Harry knew Severus was close with the Malfoys and would not be surprised if he found out that Sev was Draco's godfather – but he had no proof of that.
Across the Hall, Draco looked back at Harry. He was confused. Surely Snape would berate Potter for that tone of voice. But he did nothing.
No yelling.
No berating.
No belittling.
Not even detentions.
And now Snape was taking Potter shopping and paying for everything?
And worst of all, Uncle Sev was Potter's guardian? When did that happen? Why didn't he tell me?
Draco felt the agony of a headache come on. This was a special type of headache that only occurred when someone as closed-minded as a Malfoy had to shift paradigms without a clutch.
Through the haze of pain he looked back up and saw the big-ass grin was back and pointed at him.
January 2, 1995 – Hogwarts – Headmaster's Office
Severus burst through the doors. Describing his mood as merely angry would be akin to saying the Draco was only slightly interested in 'dominating' Crabbe and Goyle (read into that whatever you want).
"Albus, that blasted Potter and his contract are going to be the end of me. Are you sure I have to remain his guardian?"
Albus got up painfully from his desk – he had spent the majority of the past 48 hours completing the blasted request for access built into those contracts. He wasn't even sure why all those procedures were written into the contract as part of the request, but the cavity search was completely unexpected.
"Severus, you know how important Harry is in the fight against Voldemort. We must keep him at Hogwarts under our control until it is time for them to face each other. I fear Voldemort is getting stronger and may be behind Harry's participation in the TriWizard Tournament. The time may be very close indeed."
"Mark my words Albus. You may have him at Hogwarts but he is not under either yours or my control. Those blasted contracts ensure that. I even have to take him shopping at noon for a whole new wardrobe and school supplies."
"Whatever for?"
Severus growled out loud this time and proceed to tell the Headmaster all about his interesting morning.
January 2, 1995 – The Leaky Cauldron
Harry and Severus walked into the tavern having just finished a whirlwind tour of Diagon Alley. Harry had brand new clothes that fit him for the first time in his life. He also had a whole new set of premium school robes and all the supplies necessary to continue with his studies.
Severus had started to take him to the second-hand stores when the twinge in his chest told him something was up. Harry politely informed him that the contract stipulated that Harry was to get new premium clothing whenever the guardian had to purchase clothing for him.
Now, several hundred Galleons lighter the two came into the tavern and Severus made his way to the Floo. He just wanted to get this day over with.
He turned around to see his charge being seated at a table with two menus. Harry beckoned him over. "Let's have dinner here."
"No."
"It will give us time to bond."
"I don't intend to bond with you Potter." Severus knew he was walking a fine line.
"Sure you do Uncle Sev. Aren't you supposed to be a father figure for me."
"…" Severus said nothing but just glared at him.
Harry had that damned grin again, "Come on it will be fun."
"No."
"We can talk about our lives and get to know each other better."
"Not interested."
"Pleeeease?"
"No"
"Pretty Please?"
"No."
"I'll do bad on my Potions OWL next year and you can kick me out of your NEWT class."
"I highly doubt you could meet my criteria if you tried."
Harry smirked, "Professor, do you think that if the potions based for Wolfsbane was boiled for 5 minutes before simmering it would take the edge off the lacewing dew and create a more stable effect on the transformed werewolf?"
Severus looked at Harry. He was stunned.
The twinkle joined the big-ass grin. "What can I say? I've been studying."
Severus was still stunned as he sat down and Harry ordered for the two of them. "I've never had Surf'n'Turf. I hope it's good."
Severus never heard a word. He was still trying to think about the effects of Harry's question and decided they had merit.
Needless to say it was a very interesting dinner.
January 2, 1995 – Hogwarts.
Harry walked into the Gryffindor Common room. Ignoring the look of desperation from Ron (or was it Hunger, Harry thought before he realized he didn't care anymore) he went over to the table where Hermione was studying.
She looked up at him and smiled, "Did it work?"
"Hook, line and sinker." Harry replied using the muggle saying.
Across the room, Ron was looking at his former best friends. Harry had sent him a letter over the holidays basically calling him a selfish, thickheaded git. Ron reacted by sending Harry a howler – OK he got his Mum to do it for her Ronniekins but at least it was his idea.
Now, seeing them over there brought some realization of what he was missing. He even had to repress his natural urge to ask Harry if he had any food the minute he came through the portrait.
Back at the table Hermione was getting the details of the day, "And you actually got along at dinner?"
"Yep, I just asked the question we came up with and he sat and talked about the possibilities the whole time."
With a bit of melancholy she asked, "So, your plan is started then."
He nodded to her sadly. "Thanks for your help. You ready for the next bit?"
She nodded and raised her voice enough for the people (and portraits) around her to hear, "So you're actually getting along with Professor Snape?"
"Yeah, surprising isn't it with all of the history between us. But, I'm really enjoying the time with him. Especially the time we spent discussing potions over dinner. Just the two of us like we were family or something."
"You're kidding me. This is Professor Snape we are talking about right?"
"Uh huh."
Up in his office, Albus was listening to the conversation with glee. This was the best possible scenario. Maybe they could even get Harry to relax some of the restrictions on the contracts if his relationship with Severus continued to improve. Then Albus heard the magic words …
"You know Hermione, you're my best friend, but I think after the dinner discussion I had, when I leave Hogwarts, Uncle Sev is the one I'm going to miss the most."
A/N – I have absolutely no idea how this chapter is going to be received based upon the variety of mixed opinions I got on the end of the last chapter. Remember the theme of this story is around contracts and I wanted to get back to it. I had originally planned a much darker route for Severus and Harry, but I realized that the Harry in the first three chapters was not the type to willingly submit himself to Snape's tender mercies without ironclad backup.
If you've decided to stop reading this because of the turn the story took in this chapter you have my thanks for at least reading this far. Next Chapter gets back to school and I want to get to the second task as soon as I can.