The twinkling candlelight of the great hall was always too bright for Severus Snape after the cool and dark of the dungeons and after all these years he almost preferred that. Having spent his summer holiday working in his potion's lab the man was needing to adjust to the light. The castle was drastically louder to now that the students had returned for the new term.
Severus Snape was not a congenial man by most people's standards. The shallow skinned, hooked-nosed man with greasy black hair was attending yet another welcome feast. The man observed the sorting with only a passive interest having sat through such ceremonies throughout not only his own time at Hogwarts as a student, but also since becoming a professor back 1985. It was now 1991 and he struggled to pay attention until, "Draco Malfoy", Minerva's sharp crispy Scottish Broque cut through Severus's fog of tiredness. He watched as his godson walked up to the stool, and the old sorting hat barley touched his head when it shouted, "Slytherin." Severus clapped and small smile of approval as he watched the boy saunter over the table and sit next to Crabbe and Goyal. Unfortunately, the bloody baron decided that the best spot to sit to introduce himself to the first years was next to the young Malfoy, which only served to make the boy's displeasure more apparent.
The Potions Master watched as his colleague called, "Harry Potter." The boy walked up to the stool and it surprised Severus at the abnormally long time that the hat sat on the Potter heir's head. It had placed generations of Potters into the house of lions much as it had with the Malfoys in the house of snakes. Still, it took an abnormally long time before finally the hat said "Gryffindor." He watched as the Potter boy walked over to the table of lions. As the boy sat down, he caught Snape looking at him. Emerald eyes practically begging to be accepted. Snape recognized the look as well as the nature of the boy's posture as he began to dish up from the platters on the table. It reminded him of himself as a child. That can not be Severus chided himself, the boy's childhood could not have been anything like Severus's own childhood in Cokeworth.
Potter's face was so like that of his nemesis was not filled out as Jame's had been. Lily's eyes peered out at Severus under the fringe of the boy's messy hair. The boy was small and scrawny, Neither James nor Lily had been so thin. The boy's father had been trim and athletic and on the taller side more like the Weasley twins. Lily had been slender but not overly thin like her sister.
Severus noted that Potter was sitting down next to the Weasley twins who were dancing and chanting loudly, "We got Potter!" Deciding that a word with Albus was necessary once the meal was over and his new first years given his normal beginning of term instructions that he gave every year. "Ugh…" Severus groaned as he realized his nightly routine of a nightcap and reading before going to sleep would have wait longer than initially thought. He turned to his left and began speaking to Quirrell. The nervous looking man was not thrilled to sitting next to him, Severus played to this and scowled at the man, "How was your trip to Albania." Quinarius stuttered, "very fine thank you, Severus." Albus stood and rambled at his usual remarks and announced that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side was out of bounds. Then dismissed them to go to the dormitory.
Severus finished what was left of his roasted chicken. Then, excusing himself followed as he signaled to Flint to lead the first years back to the dungeons. As he followed Snape collected his thoughts. The walk back to the dungeons was refreshingly silent as the first years were quite tired after a long day. As they approached the hidden doorway Flint said, "this is the entry to the house common room. The password changes every two weeks so keep your eyes posted on notices in the common room bulletin board." He then went ahead and demonstrated whispering the password and the section that appeared to be a rock wall opened.
Once the students settled into the common room Severus began, " A moment more of your time if you please. It is of the utmost importance that you understand that the other houses despise Slytherin House. For this reason, do not go anywhere alone, and make sure to make me aware if anything does happen to you at the hands of other students." That said he turned and left the common room leaving the students to determine their own room arrangements.
That night Severus entered his quarters and took a hand full of powder and tossed it into the flue intoning, "Albus Dumbledore's office." Soon the grandfatherly face of the headmaster appeared. The old man quipped, "Ah Severus my boy, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Snape scowled at being referred to as "my boy." It reminded him too much of his own childhood. That had been his father's term for him when he was not drunk and beating him and his mother. Severus took a deep calming breath before responding, "May I come through there are several things both of which are sensitive in nature." At the headmaster's nod, Severus stepped through and was standing in the headmaster's office. Snape dusted off the soot from his long black robes and slowly began, "It is coming to my attention that we have a problem in the castle, more than one in fact. The first of course has to do with the stone. Are you aware of where Quirrell spent his summer?" The headmaster frowned. "What are you insinuating Severus.?" The shallow skinned, hooked nosed professor pinched the bridge of his nose. I am not thrilled to report, that he was in the east of the continent close to where the dark lord was once said to be hiding." The headmaster nodded, "That is disturbing indeed it would explain why Quirrell seems quite different.
Severus took another deep calming breath, "The other problem is Potter." The old man stared at the potions master before saying, "Now Severus I know that you did not get along with the boy's father but." Albus was cut by a wave of Snape's hand, "This is not about that. He is too scrawny and too short and seemed to be almost guarding his food at the feast." Albus looked at his potions master and considered this, "very well Severus I see your concern and will have Poppy look into it in the morning." Severus snapped, "No you will have her take care of it now. You told me you took care of everything that Lily's boy was safe and taken care of. Do not lie to me Albus I will know." Dumbledore nodded and sent a patronus off to both Minerva and Poppy,
The pair made short work of coming to his office, Minerva brings young Harry with her. The boy looks up at him, "excuse me sir but why am I here" Albus smiled his eyes twinkling as he explains, "Have you ever had a checkup, my boy?" Harry shook his head no. Shock showed on Minerva's face she had bought Albus's assurance lock, stock, and barrel that the boy would be fine. How she convinced herself she would never know. She had watched the family herself that day. They really were the worst sort of muggles."
Poppy Pomfrey began waving her wand in a series of intricate movement the incantation silent. So, Harry was not sure what was going on. Soon though Poppy began to go over a list that had appeared on a piece of parchment in her hands. Turning to Harry she explained, "this is a diagnostic Potter, it allows us to see how your health is fairing. I can see I have my work cut out for me. We will have reset your bones a bit and start you on potions to restore your body." Harry nodded, and cried, someone finally said they would do something to take care of him. Tears made their way down Harry's cheek, "Thank you Mam. No one ever cared. I told my first-grade teacher about not eating and the beatings, but, then she disappeared." Poppy shook her head, "Well that will not be happening this time Potter, you have my word." The elderly matron sent a glare at the headmaster. Why the elderly mediwitch was glaring at the headmaster Harry did not know, but he was glad to finally have the treatment that he had received being addressed and someone at least prepared to listen.
Minerva sagged in relief that at least the damage may be able to be repaired. She turned to her student, "Potter head back to the dorms and join the other boys it seems that a few of need to have words with the headmaster." Under Minerva's thick Scottish accent there was a growl.
Once Harry had left Minerva started, "How dare you Albus I told you that they were the worst sort of muggles. Did you think I was exaggerating? Then there is the matter of James and Lily's will surely, they had someone in mind to take care of Harry." Albus sighed, "Indeed Minerva but given the circumstances." The old man trailed off. Poppy jumped in, "Circumstances be damned Albus. The boys need a home and a proper one. One where he is fed and cared for properly." Dumbledore looked at Severus and seeing no help from that corner either, he conceded. Albus looked at Minerva, "I will contact Gringotts to see if they have Potter will in the morning." The two witches nodded and turned leaving the office without another word.
Albus settled back in his desk and began to write a missive which he hoped would lead to resolution as to what to do about Harry's unfortunate situation.
To Whom It May Concern,
It is with great sorrow and trepidation that I reach to request the will of James and Lily Potter. There is concern as to custody of young Harry and the order of presence for his guardianship. Please send the document at the quickest possible convenience.
Sincerely,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Dumbledore gave the missive to his phoenix, a beautiful bird with red plumage. The bird sped off and Albus turned to go to his sleeping quarters although he very much doubted that he would be getting any sleep at all. The old headmaster made a point of laying down anyways and finding no respite began to toss and turn his nightmares of what might happen if the boy turned out anything like Tom seemed to be more real of possibility than Albus had hoped. Finding no hope for sleep and unwilling to wake any others picked up an old book sitting on his bedside table he began to read. He may need to reconsider the situation and how to try and build Harry into the leader that he would need to be. The old man knew that there would be backlash when word got out that not only had Harry Potter been muggle raised, but that James and Lily's will had been ignored in the process. Albus dreaded the unified front that might create. Traditionals would scoff and be appalled about his placement with muggles, neutrals would be upset purely on the legal precedent. Moderns would be appalled that Harry had been mistreated by muggles and the will ignored. Albus grimaced at the thought. He could almost hear Augusta Longbottom, Lucius Malfoy and Cyrus Greengrass yelling at him at the same time. This was bound to give Dumbledore a migraine.
Sure enough the following day would come and prove that not even a headache potion of the strongest type would be able to help spare Albus.