Chapter 6: A whole new life
When Harry next awoke, he wished he hadn't. Despite being able to feel the potions that had clearly been administered to him, his side was still alight with pain. He could acknowledge that it wasn't as bad as it likely would be without the potions, but it was still incredibly uncomfortable. Trying to push that aside for the time being, emerald eyes surveyed the room around him.
He was currently laying upon a large four poster bed similar to the ones in the Hogwarts' dorms, covered with a light green blanket. The walls of the room were a nice cream color and the carpet was a lovely light brown, it reminded Harry a lot of the forest. To one corner of the room, he saw a writing desk and a chest of drawers and a closed door he assumed led to a private bathroom. He wondered how long he had been out for and tried to piece together the last things he could remember.
The raven could clearly remember Cedric having been under the Imperious and attacking him in the maze. He could remember having raced for the cup and getting hit by that last curse as he had activated it. He remembered landing in Riddle Manor's entryway and upon looking down seeing blood pouring from his slashed side, but that is where things began growing fuzzy for the boy. He could vaguely remember Tom had come to his side and asked him to stay awake and being carried somewhere shortly after. He remembered the other had given him some potion, what it was he couldn't say for sure, but his memories faded to black past that.
Just as he was beginning to wonder if he should try moving, one of the doors within the room was pushed open. Harry locked eyes with obsidian ones as Severus Snape strode further into the room. "Potter, another near-death experience to add to the pile." The dour man scowled at the Gryffindor, setting a number of vials down on the nightstand. "I would like to say this one was not my fault, not that most of the others have been either." The raven huffed; he really did wish he could get away from these occurrences but maybe the universe really did hate him. "Are you feeling any pain?" The older wizard asked instead, ignoring the remark. "A little but remembering the amount of blood I suppose I should be grateful that's all I'm feeling." He remarked dryly, earning a snort from the potions professor.
"You did suffer an extremely deep wound, amazingly no internal damage, but the blood loss did leave you in very critical condition. We are very fortunate that the grand stunt you two pulled during the final task created enough chaos to allow me to slip away rather quickly with few questions." Harry could hear the clear disapproval in the older wizard's tone. "Imagine my surprise when after seeing a dead potter land in the maze, I show up here to see another potter on the verge of death instead." He quipped, crossing his arms over his chest and fixing the young Gryffindor with an unimpressed look.
Harry sighed, "I suppose you want an explanation, yes?" He raised an eyebrow at the man, already mentally preparing himself on where to begin. The dark-haired man nodded once, taking up a seated position in a chair near the bed the Gryffindor currently rested on. "What do you know of my life outside of Hogwarts professor?" This question served two purposes for Harry. First, he wanted to know if the other knew of the abuse he had endured at the Dursley's and second it would make his distaste for Dumbledore more understandable. He saw a puzzled look flash briefly across the normally stoic face before the other recovered, "I can't say that I know specifics, I know from Dumbledore that he placed you with your aunt and her husband and that they had supposedly spoiled you until the time you came to Hogwarts."
A bitter, hollow laugh escaped from the younger wizard. Of course, Dumbledore would have lied to everyone about what he was really being forced to endure. "Spoiled? That's what he told you? Abused would be a much more fitting term for what I endured when living with them." Harry growled as his hands clenched tightly around the blanket, "I hardly think being told no constitutes child abuse Potter." The man rolled his eyes shaking his head. "You're correct professor being told no would not. Being beaten until I had broken bones, starved to the point of malnutrition, and nearly raped a number of times would though." Harry answered in a dangerously soft voice. His professor regarded him for a few moments with uncertainty on his face. "If you don't believe my words then take a look at my memories. I can assure you that they don't lie." Harry dropped all of his mental shields and after a moment felt the other man enter his head to ascertain whether the boy spoke the truth.
(Trigger Warning: The following memory's will contain very sensitive content including child abuse, attempted rape, suicidal thoughts/actions, etc. I will add line breaks so that you can skip this section if you wish, you will not miss anything just know that Harry had a very rough childhood and this is how other's will begin understanding why he is against Dumbledore.)
Snape's P.O.V.
The normally collected potions master was unsure what to expect when he dove into the Gryffindor's memories but decided to start with some of his earliest. He was skeptical of the boy's claims of abuse, while he could admit Dumbledore was often a manipulative man, he didn't think the old wizard would be so callous as to leave a child somewhere they would be harmed.
A young Harry was currently standing at the stove in a fairly normal looking kitchen. The boy's head just barely reached the top of the stove to where he could just see the pan that was currently on the burner and he seemed to be making eggs. The little arms coming up with a spatula to flip an egg while the other held the pan, but due to his short stature the raven ended up placing his hand too close to the burner and as he jerked from the pain, dropped the pan onto the floor sending egg yolk running across the white tile floor.
"Boy what was that noise?!" A thundering voice yelled before a heavyset man with a ratty mustache came barreling into the kitchen, face a deep purple. "S..sorry Uncle Vernon I burned my hand… and….dropped the pan" The small boy stuttered out, quickly picking the pan up only to have the older man grab him by the collar and haul him up. "What have I told you about wasting food?!" The large man growled delivering a harsh slap to the boy's face, snapping his head to the side. Tears were falling from the green eyes wide with fear, but no sound left the boy.
The heavy-set man began carrying the boy from the kitchen and opened a door under the stairs, throwing the boy carelessly inside and slamming the door, leaving the small Gryffindor in pitch black. "You can forget eating anything until you learn not to waste them you bloody brat!" The heavy footsteps faded away soon after and the young boy curled up on a small mattress that rested on the floor, tears now falling faster as he muffled his cries into a ratty blanket.
The memory finished and Snape found himself in disbelief. Surely this hadn't continued right? He moved to a memory that seemed to be a few years later and began watching.
The raven-haired boy now appeared to be around nine or ten and he was curled up on the same small mattress from the first memory. He was breathing rather shallowly, trying not to agitate the injuries on his body. Dudley and his gang had run the small boy down earlier and cornered him with the intention of beating up the green-eyed boy. In his panic he had curled in on himself and been prepared for the beating to follow but as the boy's had closed in, they were suddenly thrown from their feet as if by some invisible force.
Harry had used this as an escape and had managed to make it back to the house but not before Dudley had. He didn't know what the boy had told his father, but upon entering the door his uncle had immediately delivered a swift backhand to his face, knocking him backward against the wall. As he lay on the ground the man had delivered a vicious kick to the younger boy's stomach and he was certain a few of his ribs had broken. The entire time his uncle was hitting him the raven heard him talking about Harry being a freak and how dare he bring his freakishness around Dudley.
When the man had grown tired of hitting him, he had drug Harry up by his collar and again carelessly shoved the boy into the small cupboard beneath the stairs where the boy had managed to crawl into a ball on the tiny mattress that he was currently still in. He eventually passed out as his magic tried it's best to mend the worst of his injuries without the boy's knowledge.
Sometime later he was pulled from his restless sleep by the sound of the door to the cupboard being jerked open and the overwhelming stench of alcohol. His uncle had grabbed him by the collar again and began dragging the small boy out and up the stairs. He had slammed open the door to his own room and thrown the raven onto the bed, all the while mumbling half coherent sentences about teaching the boy a lesson and how this is the only thing he would ever be good for. The young boy had quickly pieced together what was happening when his uncle had begun reaching for his pant zip and had tried to struggle and get away. His efforts had earned him another blow to his already injured face. The older man had used his weight to pin the young boy down and just as Harry began panicking and trying to struggle again, that same invisible force that had thrown Dudley earlier that day had thrown his uncle from him too causing the man to hit his head against the wall and fall unconscious.
The young raven had managed to limp himself back downstairs and shut himself back into his cupboard facing the locked door and shaking from the encounter. He did not sleep that night. The next day his uncle acted as though nothing had happened but anytime the man drank from then on, he would try to force himself on the boy. Thankfully the same invisible force would save Harry when he began to panic and later, he would learn it had been his magic reacting to his distress.
Another memory began immediately following the previous before Snape could pull himself back from the Gryffindor's mind. This one of him speaking to Dumbledore.
"Professor, I wondered if I could have a word." A timid Harry was currently standing in the center of the old man's office as the other stared at him over those annoying half moon spectacles. "Of course, my boy, what is on your mind?" The elderly wizard steepled his fingers in front of him as he regarded the boy kindly. The boy quickly launched into his story of how he was being treated at his relative's house, sparing no details as he did so. At the end of his tale the raven was visibly shaking but the older wizard seemed unaffected in the slightest.
"These are quite serious accusations my boy, we must be careful about telling stories like these as they can be quite damaging to people's reputations." The old man began, "I know the media attention since you came to Hogwarts has been nice and I suspected that you would begin to seek more, but you can not go around telling stories like these." He chided the young Gryffindor, a look of disbelief crossing the boy's face. "But Sir, I'm telling the truth! Look at my memories if you don't trust my word alone!" he exclaimed, the trembling in his form becoming more apparent.
"That's enough now Harry, I will do no such thing. I know fame can be thrilling to the young and I am willing to overlook this incident this time, but now it is time for you to return to classes and I do not wish to speak of this again." The aged professor spoke sternly, leaving the boy blinking in astonishment. A few more moments passed before the Gryffindor spun on his heel and briskly left the office. The distrust and hatred for the old man beginning to take root in his heart.
( End of Triggering Memories, Harry's P.O.V.)
Harry was able to feel the moment when Snape pulled back from his mind and could see that the man looked as if he would be sick. "I knew the old man was manipulative and often ignored common sense for what he thought to be the greater good, but to think he would hear this and not take it seriously." The potions master finally breathed out in disbelief, "Why did you never go to any of the other professors?" Harry barked out a harsh laugh, "And why would I assume any of them would listen or believe me? You yourself called me a liar until I offered to show you firsthand." The Slytherin flinched a bit at the laugh and looked slightly ashamed, "You are correct, and I apologize for that."
Harry shook his head, bringing it to rest on his knees with his arms wrapped around them. "I'm used to being called a liar at this point. My point in showing you this was to explain why I no longer trust Dumbledore. The man has never been honest with me about anything and has withheld so much information until after it would have been useful. I came to Tom to see what the goals of the dark actually are. Mind you I had expected the insane blood thirsty monster that everyone kept telling me about, only to find a very sane and surprisingly reasonable man who actually made a lot of sense when talking about his ideas."
The older man smirked a bit at the last sentence, "Yes well, had you met him sometime earlier you would have gotten your original expectation." Harry frowned a little, "I assume you had something to do with helping him repair the damage caused by the horcruxes?" He questioned, ignoring the look of surprise when he mentioned them. "Yes, I know about them, I figured it out from a book and my encounter with his diary. Yes, he knows I know about them. Any other questions?" Harry raised an eyebrow hoping to skip any needless ones, Snape shook his head. "I did assist him in finding the ritual that was able to repair his soul." He replied a bit hesitantly, "So then are you truly loyal to him? Or are you still a spy for Dumbledore?" The raven refused to beat around the bush, he may not dislike the man anymore but he couldn't risk his still being alive getting back to Dumbledore either.
The potions professor regarded him warily, "I am loyal to the dark lord." Harry hummed, still a bit suspicious. "Would you be willing to give a magical oath on that?" The raven held up a hand, tilting his head in challenge. Snape sighed heavily but interlocked their hands and pulled his wand from his robe. "I, Severus Snape, swear I am loyal to the dark lord and his goals." The raven nodded once accepting that he was being truthful. "I, Harry James Potter, swear I am being truthful and fighting for who I believe is morally in the right. So mote it be." The light settled around their hands and Harry breathed a sigh of relief at the reassurance that the man could be trusted.
"So, Potter, what is it that you plan to do now that you're assumed to be dead?" Snape questioned after a few moments of silence. Harry pondered on that for a few seconds, "I'm not sure yet. I suppose I'll need to change my appearance and assume a new name for the time being but I should likely speak to Tom first. Also, professor as we are no longer at school and I am no longer your student, I'd appreciate if you would call me Harry." The dour man raised an eyebrow, "That depends on if you expect me to allow you to call me Severus." Harry laughed genuinely this time, "Not if you don't want me to, but I will simply call you Snape instead of Professor Snape." The Gryffindor admitted with a shrug, making the older wizard glare at him. "Severus it is then I suppose." He sighed in annoyance, grabbing one of the vials he had brought in with him earlier. "Here, this should take care of any lingering pain in your side. I will inform the dark lord that you are awake." The potions master rose from the chair and after watching the boy drink the liquid began to walk towards the door. "By the way Harry you gave the dark lord quite a scare. He sat in that chair beside your bed while you were unconscious for a number of hours waiting for you to wake up. I believe that was the closest I had seen to concern or worry from him in a while. Don't tell him I told you that though." The raven was shocked himself to hear that the dark lord had been worried for him, only nodding to show he had heard the man's words.
Severus left then, pulling the door shut behind him and leaving Harry alone to ponder on those words. He may trust Tom and he thinks that Tom trusts him remembering the man's words in the diary on the day of his final task. The man had said he wanted Harry to feel comfortable confiding in him and talking to him, but nothing about if he would do the same in return. The raven shook his head slightly, he doubted the other would do anything of the sort. Tom had simply been concerned that he would lose a valuable ally in his war against Dumbledore, it wasn't concern for Harry himself surely. He couldn't let himself start believing that he and Tom were friends or anything of that nature, it would surely only lead to trouble.
(Tom's P.O.V. )
The dark lord had been sitting in his study attempting to get some work done, but his mind had continued drifting back to the currently unconscious Gryffindor that had nearly died on him. He had managed to stabilize the boy until Severus had arrived, thankfully their plan had made for an excellent cover for the man to slip away unnoticed and he had been able to treat the young wizard rather quickly. The potions master had assured him that the Gryffindor would be fine, but he would likely sleep for a few days after the ordeal.
Presently the boy was entering his third day of sleep. The older wizard had sat by his bedside for most of the first day in case he needed anything since Severus had needed to return to the castle before someone noticed his absence. He had done the same on the second day after speaking with Severus about whether he showed any signs of waking. On the third he had finally decided to try and get something productive done as he doubted sitting in silence and reading by his bed would wake the other wizard any faster.
Severus, of course, had pointed out his unusual behavior. He'd made sure to comment on his presence in the sleeping boy's room. Tom had brushed him off, so he felt a bit of concern at the boy's brush with death. He found the boy interesting and he was intelligent, making him valuable to Tom's plans. Nothing more, nothing less. He believed the boy could be a strong wizard with proper training, given his aptitude for magic so far and the Gryffindor's obvious eagerness to learn. So yes, he believed the boy to be more valuable alive than dead now but that didn't mean he felt anything more towards him.
A knock on his study door drew the man from his thoughts and he called out for whomever to enter, pushing his thoughts regarding The Boy Who Lived to the side. Severus walked in and came to a stop before his desk, "He's finally awake my lord." Tom ignored the small pang of relief he felt when those words registered, shoving it down as he nodded silently at the man's words. "He is in a bit of pain, but I gave him something that should relieve it provided he does not move around too much or too quickly. He should probably remain in bed for the remainder of today, but he should be able to walk around beginning tomorrow without issue." The dour man reported, eyes locked onto the dark lord.
"You obviously have something else to say Severus so what is it?" Tom hissed in annoyance; he may not be as quick to anger as when his sanity was failing but the man before he did try his patience at times. In the man's defense, only he and Lucius were brave enough to risk Tom's ire when it came to discussing his newly returned emotions and he was grateful for their help even if he would sooner toss himself from the Hogwarts Astronomy Tower than admit it out loud. The man in question was regarding him with a neutral face, "I think having Harry around will be good for you, but he showed me some things that have me concerned. I'm sure he will show you in time as well, but until he does, I'd like to ask that if you notice strange behavior from him to exercise patience with him."
He regarded the other man with a raised eyebrow at the request, "Strange behavior?" he questioned slowly, leaning his head onto his hands. "It is not my place to explain my lord, but I have a feeling you'll understand sooner rather than later." Severus remarked, "If you have no further need of me then I must return to the castle." Tom nodded and waved him away with a hand, standing from his desk to go and check on the young Gryffindor. He had filed Severus' words away for another time, planning to examine them further once he had checked in on the other wizard.
(Harry's P.O.V. )
It was not long after Severus had left that he heard a knock at his door. "Come in." Harry called out, wiggling himself into a semi-sitting position as the dark lord entered his room. Tom approached the bed, looking every bit calm and collected as Harry expected. "Hello Harry, how are you feeling?" He questioned politely, taking up position in the seat by the raven's bedside. "Better than I expected after nearly dying. Again." He huffed out humorlessly, Tom hummed noncommittally. "Severus has said that you should remain in bed for the remainder of today, but that you should be able to move around freely tomorrow without any pain so long as there are no quick movements." Harry sighed a breath of relief, "So what happens now that we have faked my death?" He questioned softly, briefly wondering how his friends had taken the news. "I assume we will need to change my appearance and devise an alias for me to go by for the time being until Dumbledore is dealt with." Tom smirked with what seemed to be approval, "That would likely be a good first step yes. I have already found a potion that should be able to conceal your scar for the time being, which is the biggest giveaway of your identity. Aside from that I believe if we change your hair and fix your eyesight it should be enough to keep most from recognizing you." Tom explained, "That being said I'll let you think of what you wish to be called."
The raven pondered on that for a few moments, "I think I'd like to go by Harrison." He finally settled on the name, it would be close enough to his own that he wouldn't feel like he had completely given up his previous identity, but different enough that it wouldn't raise suspicion of him. "Can you still call me Harry when we aren't around others?" he asked sheepishly, his fingers fiddling with the blanket as he stared down at them. "That is acceptable on both requests."
The dark lord stood from the chair, "Rest up for the day as we will have a rather long day tomorrow. We will need to go to Gringotts and secure your vaults before that meddlesome goat lays claim to them." Harry nodded in understanding, the dark lord turned back around briefly reaching into his robes and pulling a familiar black book from them. He handed it to the Gryffindor, "I'll be in my study, if you need anything then simply write to me through the diary or call for one of the house elves. They have been informed to listen for your calls now as well." With that the dark lord turned from him and strode from the bedroom, pulling the door shut behind him.
Harry relaxed back into the bed, feeling a sudden wave of exhaustion wash over him as his thoughts turned about the next steps they would need to take. Deciding that could wait until the following day, he pulled the blankets up more snuggly around him and closed his eyes to try and sleep a bit more. Tomorrow, whether he was ready or not, his new life would begin.
(A/N: This is likely going to be a very slow burn relationship for our boys, but I promise it'll be worth the wait! As always reviews fuel my writing desire and I'd love to hear any thoughts or suggestions on what you'd like to see happen for our lovely pair! See you next time!)