"Excuse me… my Lord, you have another seeking audience."
Harry turned in curiosity, "How very interesting, I did not expect to see you here professor."
Severus Snape bowed slightly, before glancing around at the other assembled Death Eaters. He had been informed that it was the official day that many would be dedicating themselves to the boy. "I wish to pledge my loyalty."
A soft chuckle escaped the boy's lips, "How interesting, I assume you will be retaking your role as double agent for Albus Dumbledore then? It seemed to work quite well against Voldemort after all."
Half the room growled at the Potion master, while Lucius only smirked, "I knew it would come out someday old friend."
"Y-you knew!?" one of Voldemort's former minions accused, almost hysterically, at the Malfoy Lord, who merely rolled his eyes.
"Of course I did, Severus and I are close friends. Frankly I am surprised his lies held up this long." The man's comments drew in further Death Eaters, who began to argue and shout, ignoring the fact that two in the room remained silent.
Snape and Harry, staring at one another, as if in mental debate.
"Everyone else leave." the teen suddenly called out, earning silence from the remaining adults, and students. Draco immediately nodded, before being followed out by those closest to the boy-who-lived. The other adults, however, made no sign of movement, earning a twitch of annoyance from their Lord.
"Unless your name is Severus Snape… get out! " This prompted a mass exodus, with the Death Eaters practically falling over in their efforts to run from the room, the door sealing behind them leaving only the boy and his teacher. "I assume that you would want a more private audience to explain yourself."
The man nodded in agreement, and thanks, before clearing his throat. "I owe you an apology Po… Harry. I have been unnecessarily cruel and suspicious towards you since your arrival at Hogwarts."
"Funny, since you are the only one to actually be correct about me."
The man's mouth quirked upwards in a smile. "Perhaps… but you are not the Dark Lord. You do not torture or kill your followers, you have been improving Magical England…"
"But I won't forever. Eventually I am going to kill, I already have. And my actions might not always lead to a better society."
Snape thought for a moment, before shrugging, "No leader is correct in every action. Sacrifices must be made for anything to be accomplished. Even Dumbledore has taken lives."
"Quite, but I wonder why you chose to join me. Why not just stay neutral, or keep with your previous master?"
"Because of your mother. She and I were… friends a very long time ago, back before I made some very foolish decisions and she fell in love with your father. After she died I swore to myself that I would avenge her death and did everything I could to further that goal. Somewhere along my path I began to hate James Potter, and you by extension, for taking her from me. I am sorry, and I wish to make amends for my actions. If I cannot avenge her death I wish to at least try and help the only thing she left behind."
The teen nodded,
A small box was pulled from the man's cloak, and gently handed to the teen. "It is customary to present a gift upon acceptance into a Lord's graces, although Lucius will undoubtedly be required to give more than one after his betrayal… I hope you will accept this as mine."
Nodding once again, Harry gently opened the container, expecting vials of some rare Potion or artifact. Instead it was filled with photographs, curious the boy took one out and froze. It was a young redheaded girl, laughing happily as the animated picture moved about.
His mother
Minutes ticked by as Harry stared at the photo of his parent, holding in and dealing with the emotions as they roared about in his chest. How many years had he longed to simply know what they looked like? To know that they cared for him, to know about them. Even when he had entered their world he was met with folktales and exaggerations. But recently so much had happened, so much had changed in his relationship with them and their memories. This was just another piece of the puzzle.
Finally, he broke the silence, "She looks… happy."
"She is, that was the summer going into her third year, she would have just turned thirteen."
"She is beautiful."
Snape nodded, even from a young age Lily Evans had been a lovely individual, both physically and spiritually.
A single tear passed down Harry's face, before he gently put the picture back into its container. "Accepted…"
A faint smile crossed the Slytherin's face, before he rose once more, to unlock the door and invite the others back in. "Professor…"
Halting, the man turned back towards the teen, "You need not call me that my Lord, especially not during the summer."
The boy continued undeterred, before a twist of his hand brought forth a small red stone from the darkness cloaking him, one that caused the older individual to go wide-eyed. "What is it you desire most?"
....
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