CHAPTER 3
Realisations and Confessions
Ignoring the still silenced Dursleys and the snake that slithered around their couch he moved his chair so he was facing Harry and turned his attention to his leg.
"What is the matter with your leg?"
Harry hesitated.
"It can't take his weight, sir." Ethan said. "He can't walk or stand without that leg brace."
"Has it been checked with a Muggle Healer?"
"Er, what is a, Muggle Healer, Sir?"
Severus forced down a smirk. How were those kids supposed to learn about the finer points of the Wizarding World if he didn't speak to them in the Wizarding way?
Severus momentarily considered telling them the difference between a Muggle and a Squib, but there was no reason to overwhelm them with too much of information for now. Maybe later when they were on their way, he would bring Arabella Figg into the picture.
"A Muggle, is a non-magical being, just like the relatives you live with. A Healer is a Wizarding Doctor."
Silence.
"So," Severus said, "Have you shown your leg to a Doctor, Mr. Potter?"
"No, Professor. The school nurse checked it out once but that was it."
"Hmmm..." Severus didn't want to know the history of that 'check up'.
He looked at that worn out, dirty green brace with a sneer. "Cannot you wear that contraption under your trousers, Mr. Potter?"
Harry flushed and looked down at the support and spoke in a small voice, "It irritates my skin."
Severus eyed it critically...it did look like the cheapest of its kind.
Severus settled down on the chair opposite Harry. Using his wand, he took off the 'support' and rolled up both the legs of the boys trousers.
Ethan, Blaire and Harry were watching him intently and Severus couldn't help the strange feeling of nervousness that settled through him as he asked Harry to place his other leg on the stool. It was the same feeling he would experience every time he did something and was unsure if Lily would approve.
Severus saw nothing wrong with the right leg and it didn't look any different from the left... There was no sign of a swelling or any other form of unhealthiness.
Wracking his brain to find an internal injury that incapacitated the leg but gave no outer evidence, he ran a general diagnostic charm on Harry.
The quill that wrote on the floating parchment, much to the triplets' delight, indicated that Harry was suffering from very mild undernourishment, but that too would be sorted out with balanced meals.
What Severus noticed just below the pronouncement of poor nutrition was a fine red line, the Indicatory Line, across the parchment signifying that there was a problem, but Severus's charm wasn't able to identify it.
With a frown, he cast another diagnostic charm, this time, one specifically meant for the leg.
The parchment had nothing new written on it... not even another Indicatory Line. Severus shook his head in bemusement. There had to be something wrong and Severus was proud of his diagnostics, so he wasn't at fault. What could be the matter?
He looked at Harry who was watching him carefully almost suspiciously.
The Potions Master was just wondering what was going on in the boys head when realisation hit him...If Harry had a problem with his leg and it's cause didn't have anything to do with any part of his leg, then the problem would have to lie in the only other place connected to it.
Severus pointed his wand at Harry's head and taking a deep breath cast a diagnostic charm on his brain. If that didn't work then he would have to ascertain the proper functioning of the path through which messages were sent from the brain to the leg.
This time, the spell worked. However, the parchment showed another but thicker and prominent Indicatory Line.
Severus's heart began pounding. This spell never failed him. It could identify any problem...unless... Unless the injury itself was magical.
Severus resisted the urge to look at any of the children and cast a simple magical detection charm on Harry's head.
The quill vanished after writing a string of words on the parchment. Severus's heart sank as he realized the entire problem was because of the presence of the residue of dark magic, just a little of it, contained in the tiny part of the primary motor system on the left side of Harry's brain, the part that controlled the movements of the body's right side, specifically the tiny part that controlled the movement of his right hip and knee.
Severus hid the horror he felt as the entire situation hit him with full force. So the killing curse had affected Harry after all. To his fortune, though, it looked like Lily's love had contained it before it spread to the rest of his brain.
The presence of that residue was the reason why Harry's leg was in such a state. This wasn't good, but most mercifully, other than his leg, Harry suffered from no other problems.
Harry's life depended on those containment walls and if they collapsed Harry would definitely not see the day after they did. Five minutes later, Severus had tested the walls and was satisfied that the containment was permanent and resilient.
Severus looked down at the boy and studied him for a few seconds. He didn't trust as easily as his siblings. Severus could tell by simply observing his posture.
Telling the boy a lie would only spoil his image of Severus when he found out the whole truth, but worrying him over the presence of something so evil wasn't necessary either.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, but I cannot heal your leg... I do not know if there truly is a cure, but I will find out."
By the looks on their faces, Harry took the news better than his siblings, but they said nothing.
"I do not want to lie to you, neither do I want to elaborate on what your problem is...for two reasons. One -" Severus held out his index finger and looked at the boy straight in his eye, "- If I do tell you, your mind will pick on it unconsciously, even if you aren't actually worried, and it may worsen the situation. And two I don't think you want to see your siblings in any more distress than they are now."
Harry looked at his siblings and Severus gave him a half smile as his eyes widened at the look on their faces.
"I-Is is it that bad, Sir?" Blaire asked falteringly.
Severus looked at her and Ethan sitting on either side of their brother and said, "Not at the moment or for a long time for that matter." He turned to look at Harry in his eye again, "But I can prevent it from worsening, if you will allow me. I merely need you to trust me."
Harry looked up at him as though studying him for a few seconds, then he looked at his siblings who nodded vigorously. Harry looked back at Severus and nodded.
Severus pointed his wand and began muttering a string of Latin as he cast a complicated charm to strengthen Lily's already strong barrier. Then he placed a powerful one of his own. It was twenty minutes later that Severus stowed away his wand, satisfied with his work.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Lily's ability to love, he just wanted to be extra careful.
"This will last for only a year. Hence on your next birthday, I will come to put the protection up again. As for your leg brace, if I may be honest with you, it is useless.
"I will conjure a crutch to help you walk until we reach Diagon Alley from where we will purchase a magical support that will act as a true support and not just a wooden leg. However, if I send an order to the shop ahead in time we should have it ready when we reach there..."
Severus took out a parchment and a quill dipped in ink from his trouser pockets and wrote:
Minerva,
Don't jump to conclusions or get worried. Without wasting time head out to Diagon Alley and ask the Magical Limb Workshop to create a brace for a leg with a non-working hip and knee ready.
Tell Mr. Stump, the owner, to make certain that the leg brace resizes itself on the wearer, that it isn't noticeable to prying eyes once it's on the wearer's leg, and that it provides sufficient comfort and can be put on and taken off with ease.
Tell him to see to it that the support fits the leg at all times and most importantly, helps the wearer move without any other aid. Tell him to owl it to me with the instructions on how to don it and the bill.
Regards,
Severus.
Severus folded the letter and, taking out his wand, vanished the parchment so that it would appear again in Arabella's house, right on Minerva's lap.
Then he leaned back in his chair and faced the triplets.
"What do you know about your parents deaths?"
Ethan said almost immediately, "They died in a car crash...We were there too. Blaire and I were unharmed, but Harry got a deep cut on his head which is only a scar now."
And before Severus could recover from his shock, Harry pushed aside his bangs to show him his scar.
"Lies!" Severus roared and the triplets jumped in their seats.
Severus nodded his apology.
He spoke in a softer tone.
"Your relatives have lied to you." Severus sighed. "I suppose, I will have to tell you the truth. It will be overwhelming, but lying is the only way I can make it easier.
"You see, there was an evil wizard called Lord Voldemort. He had an influence on the Wizarding World so powerful that to this day many are afraid to even call him by his name. The afraid call him He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, his followers call him the Dark Lord...He murdered a great number of wizards and witches and Muggles for the sake of power...He was already too powerful to be captured and too terrifying to be confronted. Albus Dumbledore is the only person Voldemort's afraid of.
"On the Halloween after your first birthday, Voldemort came to Godric's Hollow, the Village in which your parents were hiding. He had been after your family for a while. It was he who killed your parents and not some fabricated car crash."
Severus waited for a few minutes, surveying the walls of the living room while the triplets let the information sink in.
"How are we alive, Sir?"
Severus looked at each of them in the eye.
"Your mother died for you. Her love for you...was what kept you alive."
Now Severus patiently waited for them to recover from their shocks and compose themselves, and then, he continued.
"When Voldemort tried to kill you, Harry Potter, Lily's love created a barrier, that made the curse rebound on him. It was that dark curse that left it's mark on your head and..." Severus hesitated, "injured your leg. I will appreciate if you kept the news of your injured leg to yourselves.
"Lord Voldemort is not dead... You mustn't misunderstand me... The curse which rebounded on him merely weakened him. He was powerful enough to make certain his attachment to the living world.
"He his hiding currently, bidding his time, waiting for an appropriate opportunity to act. He's too weak to do anything else without depending on someone. One day, however, he will return to power. When he does, please pay mind, he will come after you, all three of you, especially you, Harry. Additionally there are his followers still running amok who will want to avenge their Lord.
"Nobody thought of these dangers back then, except Professor Dumbledore, the current Headmaster of Hogwarts. Therefore while the world was celebrating Voldemort's demise, he, using your mother's sacrifice as a base, built a powerful protection around you. The catch, however, was that the protection could only be activated if you shared a home with someone who had your mother's blood running in their veins...and your aunt was his only option.
"As long as you call this place your home and, when you go to Hogwarts, return to this place at least once a year, the protection will be kept alive and you will be safe from all kinds of danger until you come of age. That is until the three of you turn seventeen...
"Now, as I said Voldemort instilled a great fear amongst the Wizarding folk in our world. What do you think happened when he suddenly lost his power?"
"The people were, er, relieved." Ethan stated.
Severus closed his eyes in exasperation and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Overjoyed?" Harry tried his luck.
Severus sighed. "The Potter family became famous...both your parents and you. That scar on your head, Mr. Potter, is a legend...Every child knows about you and it is saddening that you weren't told about yourselves."
Severus shot an ugly glare at the Dursleys and turned back to the Potters, "Do you even know what your middle names are?"
"James." Ethan and Harry said.
"Lily." said Blaire.
Severus nodded.
"And it is because of this fame, Mr. Potter, that word of your injured leg will spread around like wildfire, if you are not careful. This will not only invade your privacy, but it will also be used against you by your enemies. Keep it to yourselves and maybe only those you trust implicitly.
"Let's get this over with...you will have to return to this place for your summer vacation...There's nothing to worry about. A couple of colleagues of mine will come and make your living arrangements a little more comfortable while we're out at Diagon Alley. I can assure you that you will no longer be hounded by your relatives...Your aunt's atrocious behaviour towards you is the cause of the jealousy she holds against your mother's and now your magical abilities."
Severus turned to see Petunia, who was squashed between her husband and son, red to her roots. It gave him a sense of great propitiation.
He smirked at her discomfort and turned to the triplets. They were staring at their aunt in surprise.
"I've known your mother and your aunt before I attended Hogwarts. I was their neighbour and believe me, your aunt treated her sister just as she treats you. The only difference is the absence of parents to keep her in line. But, you will do well to remember to never hate a jealous person...You must pity them instead, for they are jealous because they think you are better than them."
"Professor Snape?"
Severus looked at Ethan.
"Why did Voldemort hunt us down in the first place?"
Why now? Severus wasn't ready to answer that now! Should Severus tell them the truth? Could he tell them the truth? Two voices in his head, both equally reasonable began giving him their opinion.
No, definitely not, the first voice said. They are too young.
But if you told them now, they wouldn't hate you later when came across the truth. said the second voice.
How were they going to find the truth?
Who knows?
"There was some incomplete information - refrain from asking me what this information was - that made Voldemort go after your family. When Albus Dumbledore realised this, he sent your whole family into hiding, but unfortunately..."
Severus sighed and stood up.
"I will explain everything else that is in need of an explanation when we come to it. For now I suggest that we make a move."
Severus conjured a crutch for Harry to move around with on one leg.
"Until we get the new support." he said handing it to Harry who took it with a grateful smile.
Then he stood up and Ethan and Blaire followed suit. Harry manually pushed his leg off the stool, and it hung limp from the knee down. Then he pushed himself towards the edge of his seat and stood on one leg. Wordlessly, Ethan went to his side and adjusted the crutch under his right arm.
Together walked around the room until Harry could manage on his own.
They stopped and looked at Severus expectantly.
He nodded in satisfaction.
As if on cue ten thick wads of notes bound separately by rubber bands appeared on the coffee table followed by three anonymous cards wishing the triplets a Happy Birthday.
Severus announced, "This is the money that you earned for temporarily saving our world from Voldemort. This money was given to the Dursleys to raise you, however, I do not think it was spent on you. Hence, we shall do all the shopping using this money and the rest will be deposited in your vault at Gringotts."
Severus conjured a wallet and cast the undetectable expansion and the anti-theft charms on it. Then he leviated the bills to fly into the wallet and handed it to Blaire who put it in her pocket.
He surveyed the triplets critically.
"A very Happy Birthday to you three. Have you had any breakfast?"
"No, Sir."
Severus shot another glare in the Dursleys' direction and said, "We'll stop for breakfast at the nearest cafeteria. Now go on and get dressed and we will be on our way."
Blaire scrambled back into that wretched cupboard and returned with three pairs of old trainers.
Severus watched as Harry sat back on his chair and put his trainers on and he and his siblings looked at him optimistically.
The clothes they were made to wear were so large, they made the children look smaller than what they were. Another thing that he was going to remedy.
Severus charmed the cupboard to keep out the Dursleys and vanished the snake guarding the them. Then took off the silencing charm he had placed on them and the house.
Dursley immediately charged at the children, his hands fisted. Severus magically flung him onto the couch.
He walked up to him and pointing his wand at his chest, hissed, "If you dare try this again, Dursley, you are going to wish that you were never born. You will receive your comeuppance in a few minutes from now. And fortunately for you, I will not be the one who delivers it."
He turned away with undisguised disgust and discreetly charmed the doors and the windows of the house to prevent the Dursleys from running away. Then he strode out through the front door followed by the triplets.
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Ethan, Blaire and Harry had never been so awestruck in their lives. This for sure had been their best birthday so far and the day had just begun! No doubt, they had been told many disturbing truths, and they still had many more questions, but their day hadn't been ruined yet.
Professor Snape was brilliant and the triplets couldn't help but trust him. It had taken a small mental debate. Harry had always been suspicious of an adult, but Blaire just knew that the Professor was safe. It was on her cajoling that they stepped out of the safety of their cupboard.
"If we don't take the risk how will we know?" She reasoned.
"What if it's all an act?" Harry said.
"I don't think it is." Ethan said. "You're worrying too much, Harry."
And now they were following the tall, pale man, the man who had done so much for them.
Though his thin face wore a scowl, Professor Snape not unkind if a little stern. One only had to take a look at his posture as he walked to realize that he was walking slower than usual so Harry could keep up.
And speaking of Harry, he just wanted to know what the matter was with him.
"How can he do that?" he demanded. "If something is wrong with me, shouldn't I know?"
"What would you do if you did know, Harry?" Ethan asked. "You heard him. If you knew what the problem was, you would unconsciously make it worse."
"It's true, you know." Blaire said matter-of-factly. "The mind is a dangerous thing."
"We are just as worried about it as you are, Harry." Ethan said soothingly. "Just trust him. He wouldn't have taken so much care to heal you if he was going to hurt you all over again."
"Ethan is right, Harry." Blaire said. "And besides, he was Mum's friend."
"He used the same thing on Dudley." Harry pointed out.
"Of course not." Blaire said. "He said he knew the Evans' not Aunt Petunia in particular... He knew the family and especially Mum. And they went to school together!"
"I can't believe Aunt Petunia did all that because she was jealous!" Ethan said. "Geez, we didn't even know about magic then, I mean, it's just stupid."
"I'm sure that problem has done something to my head." Harry declared. "Did you see how he kept training his magic wand at my head! Will I go mad if the problem worsens? Will I get amnesia? Oh! No! I will forget about you and about the mental chat if I get amnesia! Will -"
"Ignorance is bliss, Harry." Blaire interrupted him and that was the end of their conversation.
Professor Snape led them to the nearest cafe from where he ordered three plates of bacon and eggs and four cups of tea.
As the triplets ate, the Professor began telling them about Hogwarts after casting a spell that kept every nosy being away. They had to stop mind-chatting with each other to listen to him.
"It is a magnificent castle, a very magical place indeed...What you learn there, will take you far ahead. Hogwarts teaches you to deal with life and you will do well to remember every lesson you learn there, be it academics or otherwise.
"Regarding academics, you will study at Hogwarts for seven years. You answer your OWLs, that is, the Ordinary Wizarding Levels in your fifth year, followed by the NEWTs in the seventh year. NEWTs stands for Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests. I expect you to do well not only in those, but throughout your years at Hogwarts. I expect you to read through your books during the rest of your vacation. Do not disappoint me as I do not take disappointments lightly."
The Professor down his hooked nose at them sternly and they nodded nervously.
"At Hogwarts you will be sorted into houses, during the sorting ceremony at the starting feast. Your house will be your family...you will sleep in the dormitory with your respective house mates...you will attend your classes together with the yearmates of your house.
"These houses are, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. The Slytherin house takes the clever quick-thinkers. Most unfortunately, Slytherin house's name has been marred since Voldemort and most of his followers had been sorted into the house."
The Professor suddenly looked tired, "I was a Slytherin too and currently, I am the Head of Slytherin house. I, to be honest with you, used to follow Voldemort..."
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Severus hesitated, should he tell them the rest, or should they find out later. He thought of the trust they had in him already inspite of him being a total stranger.
Since you've already opened your big mouth, Snape, you might as well tell 'em...you've dug your grave, now lie down in it.
"I was the one who gave him the information that made him go after your family."
Severus looked up at them for a second, they didn't flinch away from him or look at him with disgust. Severus was most surprised to see them simply studying him with serenity, their bacon and eggs forgotten.
Severus looked down at his cup as they all remained silent for a while.
Ethan cleared his throat, "When did you leave him, sir?"
Severus looked up at him in surprise. Sir? Sir? Severus had just stated that he was indirectly responsible for the deaths of his parents and this boy refers to him as Sir?
He looked down at his tea again, "I turned away, the moment I realized he was after your family." He hesitated, "As I told you earlier, your mother and I were close friends. I didn't want to see her hurt in anyway."
Harry said, "Did you know that he'd go after us when you gave him this information, Sir?"
Severus stiffled an exasperated sigh. That ruddy Sir again! What was wrong with them? Did they not understand?
"No, I didn't."
"Why did you give it to him, Sir?"
Severus shook his head. "I wanted to get into better books with him, to go higher in his ranks. I was foolish."
Severus didn't think, he barged on as though pouring his misery to three eleven year olds, still new to the idea of being magical, would help him feel better.
"Your mother asked me not to join him, but I didn't listen to her. I insulted her once and we stopped talking for a few years. That moment became my undoing. I regret that moment to this day. All I wanted was a little power and there, I got her killed!"
Why was he telling them this. And now of all times! Severus's insides were screaming at him, telling him to shut up, and it was with a monumental effort that he managed to obey that voice.
Severus hung his head in shame.
"I - I want to apologize to you. I am very sorry for all the misery I've caused you. I shouldn't have told you all this, I do not know what made me do so."
Severus Snape waited through the ominous silence that followed, he awaited their judgement... should they declare they want nothing to do with him, he'd just patronus Minerva and get her to take them to Diagon Alley... he'd take her place and lighten the children's living condition and get them new clothes...their rejection, would tear him apart, he knew, but they were his responsibility...he had to fulfill his duty as godfather, with or without their consent.
tbc...