Disclaimer – Isn't mine.

Chapter 3 – Release

'Good god, that's disgusting.' Harry gasped, his stomach rebelling and threatening to heave as the Polyjuice potion slid down his throat. His eyes watered as the change began to take place but it only lasted a few seconds and wasn't as painful as Harry remembered.

'You have a higher threshold now.' Snape told him, reading his expression correctly.

'I'm going to have to learn how to stop that.' Harry grumbled.

Snape's eyebrow rose in question.

'Showing every expression on my face.' Harry explained.

'I can help you there, if you're willing.'

There seemed to be a hidden question but Harry was unable to decipher it. The thought of spending more time with the complicated potions master was nothing if not intriguing. 'When can we start?'

'Today will be a good test for you. There will be many people in Diagon Alley that you will know but Blaise Zabini will not. You will have to work very hard to keep them from thinking you are anyone but Blaise. Your face will have to show no recognition when you see people and if you see your friends you will have to pretend to be a Slytherin. Can you do that, Mr Potter?'

Harry couldn't help the wicked grin that covered his face. 'I don't need to pretend at that.' He snickered. 'I am a Slytherin. I only went into Gryffindor because I told the Hat to put me there.'

Snape raised an eyebrow. 'You had an argument about placement with the Sorting Hat?'

Harry shrugged and nodded. 'Yes, Dumbledore didn't tell you?'

Snape eyed him. 'No, that is something he would have kept to himself. I gather you won this argument?'

Harry nodded again, a little more slowly this time.

'Well, congratulations, Mr Potter. That is almost unheard of.' Snape drawled.

'Of course it is.' Harry scowled.

'Are we going, or are we going to stand here discussing just how odd Harry really is? Cause if we are, that will take all day and I'm hungry.'

'Draco, your grasp of the English language never ceases to amaze me. The word is be-cause and you do not start a sentence with it.' The potions master said snidely.

'Well at last I don't massacre it like Harry does.' Draco retorted.

'Hey, do you mind. I'm standing right here.' Harry said indignantly.

'Exactly. He can then turn the focus of my displeasure on you.' Snape glanced between the two boys sharply.

'Oh, that's alright then, your displeasure is something I've gotten used to.' Harry smirked at the older man causing him to snort softly.

'Well then, shall we depart, lest Draco succumb to his hunger and fall to the floor in a dead faint like some damsel in distress.'

'Merlin forbid.' Harry giggled.

'You're ganging up on me.' Draco grumbled.

'Don't be ridiculous.' Snape grasped his godson's shoulder and pushed him firmly towards the floo.

'Diagon Alley.' Draco called out and disappeared in a whirl of green flame as Snape turned to Harry.

'You have the Portkey Lucius gave you?' he asked and Harry nodded. 'Good, don't be afraid to use it. The potion will last four hours but if at any time you feel unsafe come straight back here, understand?'

Harry nodded again and stepped into the floo. 'Diagon Alley.' He yelled, coughing on the soot as he flew through the fireplace and shot out the grate at the other end, almost falling flat on his face until a set of arms caught him and placed him on his feet.

'Graceful, Blaise. Very graceful.' Malfoy drawled.

It seemed the Slytherin was already in character. 'Sod off.' Harry growled brushing the soot off his robes as Snape stepped with immeasurable poise from the fireplace behind him.

Without a word the potions master clapped a hand on each of their shoulders and steered them out the back of the Leaky Cauldron. 'Keep your wand out of sight, Potter.' He whispered. 'It's too recognisable to those that know you.'

Harry just nodded. It wasn't as if he actually needed it very often anymore. Snape tapped the bricks to open the archway and Harry felt a smile cross his face and quickly smothered it. The sight of Diagon Alley never failed to lift Harry's spirits, particularly after not having seen it for almost two years.

Three hours later they were sitting at Florean Fortesques Ice Cream Parlour, Draco and Harry eating enormous sundaes as Snape lowered his standards enough to deign to lick a simple vanilla cone. They had gotten all of their equipment and books for their last school year and were happily chatting about Quidditch, leaving Snape to roll his eyes dramatically every few minutes.

'I tell you Blaise, the Magpies are the best. 'Draco said firmly.

'Like you'd really know, Ferret.' Came the unwelcome voice of Ron Weasley from the next table. Harry, with his back to them hadn't even seen them come in, although it did explain the expression that had crossed Snape's face moments ago as he sat opposite them.

Harry froze, his eyes widening as Draco turned around to retort. 'I'd know better than you Weasel, my family can actually afford to go to all the games.' He sneered at the table of Harry's friends. Harry swallowed, his eyes darting nervously until he happened to glance at Snape who gave him a pointed look accompanied by a raised eyebrow. Harry stared at the beetle black eyes and knew what he had to do. He turned around and faced the table filled with those who had been his closest friends.

'Do you really want to continue this Weasley?' he said effecting the drawl he had heard Draco use so efficiently over the years. 'Surely by now you've realised that you never win.'

Draco snorted and Harry gave him a smirk as Ginny and Hermione tried to hold Ron into his seat.

'Shut up, Zabini.' Ron spat. 'You're just lucky Harry isn't here, we'd beat the crap out of the both of you.'

Harry swallowed , knowing he'd have to make this convincing, and raised an eyebrow. 'Can't do anything without the golden boy, Weasley? Do you get him to fight all your battles for you? Maybe tuck you in at night and read you a bedtime story?'

Draco laughed and Ron's face became a rather unattractive shade of puce that reminded Harry of Vernon Dursley.

'I can do anything Harry can.' Ron yelled indignantly. 'He thinks he's so special with that bloody scar. The only thing he's good at is flying. He's just a lucky bastard that gets everything handed to him and manages to get everyone else around him killed.'

Harry stiffened and he struggled to remain poker faced. 'A moment ago you were saying Potter would beat the crap out of us and now you're calling him a bastard. I sincerely hope he is more loyal to you then you are to him or the Dark Lord will have no trouble dividing the masses.' He said curtly before standing up and storming off back towards the Leaky Cauldron.

'That was odd.' Hermione commented.

Draco sprinted after him as Snape stood, glaring down at the Gryffindors with a look that promised punishment upon their return to Hogwarts before sweeping off up the street after his charges.

When Snape stepped through the fireplace in the library of Malfoy Manor after finding no sign of either boy at the Leaky Cauldron it was to find Harry, still in Blaise' form staring out the window and Draco standing beside him trying to get him to respond.

'Draco, leave us.' He commanded sharply. The Slytherin, who hadn't even heard the fire flare, quickly spun around, taking one look at his godfather's face before scurrying quickly from the room.

Snape hesitated a moment when he saw the Polyjuice wear off, even though Harry didn't seem to notice in spite of the pain, before silently crossing the room and placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.

He watched as Harry closed his eyes and the slight trembling ceased, whether it was from anger or sorrow Snape wasn't sure. Harry took a deep breath and let out a sigh but didn't speak.

'He didn't mean it, Mr Potter. The Weasley boy is just a jealous immature child.' Snape said quietly.

Harry just shook his head. 'Please stop calling me that.' He whispered.

Snape stayed silent for several minutes. 'Why do you not like it? It is a sign of respect, using your last name, at least with a title before it.'

Harry shook his head again and Snape watched his expression change in the reflection on the window. 'I don't want to be Mr Potter, or Harry Potter, or the Boy-Who-Lived. I want to be Harry, just Harry. Please, I only have a couple of months before I have to go back to being the poster child for everyone in the wizarding world. Please don't make me be Harry Potter here too.' He pleaded softly his now open eyes never leaving the window.

'Alright Harry.' Snape said finally and Harry sighed again but didn't move.

How long they stayed like that Snape couldn't say but the calm that Harry seemed to draw from the hand on his shoulder kept the potions master in place and eventually, as the sun disappeared over the horizon, Harry turned and looked up at the older man.

'Thank you.' He whispered, gratitude shining brightly in his eyes.

Snape smiled. 'Come on, Harry. Dinner will have begun and you shouldn't skip meals.' He added mock sternly.

Harry snorted but allowed himself to be guided out of the room towards the dining room. It wasn't a large step but it was certainly a beginning. Harry couldn't believe that the one person who could just stand beside him and let his thoughts run their course without insisting he talk, was Snape. It was ironic if nothing else.

He glanced up once more at the man as he walked beside him and received a small smile in return.

'Take it one day at a time, Harry.' Snape said softly as he pushed open the door to the dining room.

'I will.' Harry whispered in reply

The next week passed quickly, Harry spent time with Draco, exploring Diagon Alley under the guise of Blaise Zabini. He quickly realised that once you got past the snotty pureblood exterior, the Slytherin was a barrel of laughs if not a little dense at times.

He spent time with Snape keeping up his studies so that Dumbledore would have no comeback when he returned to school. After the first few lessons Snape bought Lucius Malfoy in and eventually Tom Riddle joined as well although still Harry found it hard to have the Dark Lord pointing his wand in his direction, even though he knew the older wizard was no longer a threat to him.

Eventually, after an aborted practice when Harry struggled not to let his anger get the better of him, Riddle called a halt. Lucius and Snape standing quietly as Tom moved across the room towards Harry. The Boy-Who-Lived was standing rigidly, his fists clenched and his eyes closed as his sucked in great lungfuls of air.

Tom Riddle eyed the young man before him. He could see the anger still burning brightly as the eyes opened and he bent down placing his wand at Harry's feet.

'Curse me.' He said quietly, ignoring the gasps of shock from the two Death Eaters in the room with them.

Harry's green eyes flared. 'What?' he breathed.

'You will not be able to move past your anger without letting it out. Curse me, Harry.'

'I...I can't.' Harry stammered. 'You're unarmed.'

'Yes, curse me.'

'No.'

'Do you hate me, Harry?' Riddle asked slowly.

'No...yes...I don't know.' Harry said truthfully.

'Are you afraid of me?'

'No.'

'Tell me, Harry. When you look at me what do you see.'

'I see the man who killed my parents.' Harry whispered.

'Harry I want you to close your eyes and picture something for me.' Harry closed his eyes as Riddle took a few steps back. 'Picture the night your parents died. Picture me standing over your mother, my wand raised in her direction. She's screaming at me to spare you, to take her life instead. I tell her to stand aside but she won't. So I kill her.'

Snape and Lucius could see the anger building in the young man as the Dark Lord baited him.

'You're crying in your cot. Calling for your mother. But she won't respond, can't respond. Show me Harry, what would you have done if you had been older. If you had been old enough to protect her. What would you have done to the man who killed your mother?'

Harry's eyes snapped open and Riddle stiffened in preparation as the Boy-Who-Lived let fly with a string of curses some of which even Snape had never heard of. The Dark Lord let out a strangled scream and fell to the ground as Harry kept the string of curses coming.

His jaw was clenched tightly and his eyes never left Riddle's form as it writhed on the stones in front of him. Lucius moved to step forward and stop him but Snape held him back.

'Leave them.' He said firmly.

'Potter will kill him.' Lucius hissed.

'No he won't.'

Sure enough, moments later, Harry ripped his hand away and cradled it to his chest. 'Oh my god.' He breathed, his heart pounding and chest heaving. Tears stung at his eyes as the Dark Lord groaned and rolled onto his side before sitting up. Harry's eyes were riveted to the shredded robes revealing the blood rolling down the Dark Lord's body. 'What have I done? Oh god, what have I done?' He stumbled backwards as Tom Riddle reached a hand out towards him.

'Harry, stop.' Riddle said hoarsely. 'Calm down.'

Harry was just shaking his head frantically as he continued to back away from the older wizard. Lucius walked slowly towards his master and helped him off the ground as Snape moved to catch Harry before he could flee the room. Harry felt the potions master's arms come around him and turned to bury his head in the man's chest as his trembling increased and tears poured down his face.

'Shhh, Harry. It's alright. You did nothing wrong.' Snape said quietly.

'I cursed an unarmed wizard.' Harry sobbed. 'I let my anger get away from me.'

'You did what was needed.'

'Cursing someone into oblivion was needed?' Harry cried incredulously, his voice muffled by Snape's robes.

Snape loosened one arm from around the young man and grasped his chin, tilting his head up until he could look into the green eyes. 'Harry, how do you feel about the Dark Lord now?'

Harry turned slightly and took in the bruised and battered form of Tom Riddle and he lowered his eyes sheepishly. 'I'm sorry.' He whispered.

'Are you angry?'

Harry shook his head.

'Not even a little bit?'

Another shake of the head.

'He killed your parents.' Snape prompted, earning himself a glare from the aforementioned dark wizard.

Harry glanced once more at Tom before shrugging. 'I know, but he's given me some semblance of a normal life, even if it is only for the holidays. He's tried, which is more than most have ever done. I can sort of, in a twisted sort of way, understand why he did it. My parents I mean, even if part of me says I'm completely out of my mind. It will take some time to forgive him completely but I think, in time, I will.' He finished softly, resting his head back on Snape's shoulder and closing his eyes.

The three adults in the room exchanged glances, all realising that this was a turning point for their side. Snape, at a nod from the Dark Lord, steered Harry from the room.

Once the door had closed behind them Malfoy spoke. 'I'm not sure that was prudent, My Lord.' He said carefully, unwilling to risk the Dark Lords wrath even in his current state.

'And why do you think that, Lucius?'

'Is it wise to have the boy know exactly how powerful he is in comparison to you?' he questioned.

Riddle raised an eyebrow as he sat down in a chair and took the proffered vial Snape had tossed to Lucius on the way out. 'That young man.' He said stressing the title. 'already knows exactly how powerful he is Lucius, and it's only going to get worse. Why do you think I made sure to do this before he comes of age in three weeks?'

'But he could have killed you.'

Riddle nodded slowly. 'He could.' He said in agreement. 'But he wouldn't have. You cannot even begin to realise the amount of power that scrawny little body holds, Lucius. Every time we duel he holds back and still manages to comfortably duel all three of us. Merlin knows how strong he will be when he comes of age.'

Lucius looked closely at his master's face, an expression on it he had seen only once before. 'You're concerned for him.' he said finally.

Riddle glared at his right hand man. 'I do not do concern, Lucius. You would do well to remember that.'

'Yes, My Lord.' Malfoy said quickly.

Riddle didn't speak further and Lucius stood silently, watching as the Dark Lord's expression became distant. Riddle may not admit to being concerned for the boy but Lucius would have bet Malfoy Manor the Dark Lord was just that. It seemed the small bit of the Boy-Who-Lived that resided within the dark wizard since he possessed the boy just over a year ago might be a little bigger than they first thought.

The episode between Harry and Tom Riddle was not mentioned by any of the four people that had been in the room but it certainly had been an ice breaker of sorts. Each evening dinner became a progressively more relaxed meal until soon more of the inner circle began joining them.

Each of them had a spell placed on them that would make them unable to reveal Harry's sudden appearance at Malfoy Manor to anyone but those who already knew. Harry and Snape had devised the spell but Harry and Tom had built it as part of it was in Parseltongue.

Each morning Harry and Draco would fly around the Quidditch pitch, spending the afternoons at Diagon Alley or Vue Renaise, which was the French equivalent. Draco had insisted on outfitting Harry with a complete new wardrobe on their second visit. Harry had tried to protest saying he could pay for it himself but Lucius, who happen to be escorting them that day, had shaken his head.

'Dumbledore will be watching your vault.' He explained and after a flare of anger Harry had nodded in resignation.

The evenings were spent training. No one wanted Harry to be pulled from the school and hidden away and they all knew would happen if Dumbledore wasn't happy with Harry's progress come September first. The nights Harry began to spend in the study with Lucius, Snape, Draco and Tom discussing their world, their plans, and the difficulties they and most particularly Harry would face over the coming year.

It was that discussion, a few days before Harry's birthday that became one of the most painful. He released the potions master from his Oath and with his help preceded to tell the others in the room what had happened since his godfather had fallen through the veil over twelve months before.

The palpable anger rolling from the Dark Lord when told of Harry's "training" was almost corporeal in its thickness and the older wizard stood and walked quickly to the desk, unlocking a drawer and reaching inside. Pulling out a gold chain with a green pendant on it he crossed to Harry and sat beside him.

'If it gets too bad, if you can't take it anymore, this will bring you straight to me.' He hissed in Parseltongue. 'You just have to get outside of the wards and say "Release" and you will Portkeyed to where ever I am.'

Harry looked down at the pendant in silence. He wondered just how many times in the next year he would have to stop himself from using it. Eventually he looked up at the red eyes studying him intently. 'Thank you.' Harry hissed back. Tom nodded and stood squeezing Harry's shoulder before bidding them all goodnight and sweeping from the room, although only after Snape, Lucius and Draco all stood and bowed in response.

Harry sat silently, idly turning the pendant over in his hands and after several abortive starts at conversation the two Malfoys also retired. Snape sat quietly sipping his brandy and eventually Harry looked up.

'Why does he care so much?' he asked quietly.

Snape drained the glass and banished it to the kitchen before standing. 'Merlin knows I have no idea.' He smirked. Harry scowled at him but his eyes glinted in amusement as he allowed the older man to haul him off the sofa and push him out into the hall. Their soft murmuring continued as they climbed the three staircases and stopped outside Harry's rooms.

Black eyes watched him intently. 'Will you be alright?' Snape asked hesitantly.

Harry nodded and gave him a small smile. 'I'll be fine, Professor.' He said softly.

'Harry, please, would you call me Severus?' this question was even more tentative than the first.

Harry's eyes widened. 'Are you sure?' He knew how possessively the older man guarded the use of his first name.

Snape nodded and Harry's smile grew wider. 'I'd be honoured.' He whispered. 'Thank you, Severus.'

Snape gave him one of those rare smiles he seemed to reserve just for Harry before nodding his head and stepping across the hall and into his own room. Harry leant against his door and sighed. 'This summer is certainly different from the others.' He murmured before slipping into his own room and closing the door, missing the solemn red eyes watching him from the shadows at the end of the hall.