The rest of July was exceedingly tense inside the Potter residence. That comment, which from Harry's point of view had been minuscule and unimportant, had caused his family to tread on eggshells around him. Even Brian, who didn't understand all the fuss – Harry had never been important to his parents or Sirius, after all – now found it seemed like everyone wanted to be by Harry's side.
To say that the situation was unsustainable was an understatement. There were times when someone would let out an involuntary sigh of relief when the teenager in question finally left the room. Surely things would have escalated into something ugly, had it not been for the fact that Harry was scheduled to leave for Hogwarts again at the beginning of August. As such, it was merely exhausting.
The departure to Hogwarts was scheduled for the morning of August 1st. Although his Master's letter indicated that it would be advisable for him to take his personal belongings, it also stated that everything truly necessary would be provided to him upon arrival, and he wouldn't have to procure it on his own.
So, on the night of July 31st, Harry was caught preparing his trunk, careful not to forget anything he deemed appropriate to take with him. To his surprise, while he was considering whether to pack his books, his brother entered his room, causing Night to hiss angrily, always on guard in case the youngest of the Potters tried to do something to him.
"Can I talk to you?" Brian asked politely, under Harry's questioning gaze.
"Go on. I'm not going to force you to shut up. What do you want?"
"I want to ask you why you behave like this with Mum and Dad. You hurt them."
"And that concerns me as—?"
"You hurt them! Haven't you heard it? Whenever they want to talk to you, you say something hurtful to them, whenever they want to do something with you, you leave them standing there… Do you not care about them at all?"
"Exactly," Harry cut short Brian's speech.
"What?"
"I don't care about them, I don't want them around. There's your answer."
"But… they are our parents. How can you say something like that?"
"No, Brian, they're not my parents, they're yours. Look, Brian, let me explain: all our lives, I've been nothing more than a zero to the left for them; it was only you that mattered. They always ignored me or forgot me, and when they remembered me, it was to recriminate things that were not in my control or to say hurtful words to me. I was never their son; I was just a nuisance. Now, things have changed, and they have remembered that 'success,' and they want to make up for lost time… Sorry, it's too late."
"But you said it yourself, they have changed."
"Yes, but it is not for the reasons you think."
"Then?"
"Look, I didn't want to tell you, but since you insist, I'll tell you. It's because of a prophecy. The reason they favoured you is because they believed you were prophesied to destroy the Dark Lord, but now they know that's not the case, and they remember my existence. If they hadn't found out that it wasn't you, things would stay the same."
Brian looked at him with an incredulous expression, only to turn angry a few seconds later. Obviously, he was unable to reconcile the idea his brother had just planted in his head with his previous understanding. Harry already knew things were going to be like this, but at least he had to try.
The farewell the next morning was just as tense as the previous month's cohabitation had been, with the added bonus that Brian now showed an expression of anger and contempt that he hadn't directed at his brother for months. Harry didn't say much, just a few slight gestures before the Floo network was activated, whisking him away from his living room and depositing him on the school grounds, where his already official teacher was waiting for him.
"Welcome, apprentice."
"Master Snape… Thank you so much for accepting this humble student into your art."
After the formal greeting, both went to what were Snape's private rooms to deposit Harry's things and to see where the castle decided he would stay during his apprenticeship. During the journey, the two had a calm and sociable conversation, setting aside the different formalisms that had separated them during Harry's school years.
Ignoring what was obviously a subtle attempt by the Headmaster to get both of them to stop at his office, the two found themselves in Snape's office, waiting to see where Harry's quarters would be. Although, seeing that the castle gave no sign of where it might be, Snape turned to his apprentice to see if he had a better solution.
For his part, Harry knew exactly where the castle wanted his rooms to be. That was one of the misconceptions the general public had about Hogwarts. Everyone still thought that it was the Headmaster who assigned rooms to those who were going to reside in the school, but in reality, it was Hogwarts itself who usually indicated where she wanted that person to reside. So the boy wasn't surprised when he went to the rooms he'd been in for so long in his spare time, and Snape, though he felt a pang of envy, didn't object either.
"Well, the House-Elves will take care of taking your things to your quarters," Snape commented as he gestured for them to leave. "Right now, we'd better go to Diagon Alley before it fills up with students."
"To the Alley? Shall we go to the Alley?"
"Of course. You need apprentice robes, and what better place to procure them than in the Alley? Let's go."
After that, they left the castle and its grounds, and the Potions Master Apparated them both all the way to the entrance of the Alley. Once there, he began to walk without looking back and without waiting for his apprentice, for he had a reputation to maintain.
To Harry's surprise, they didn't stop at the well-known Madam Malkin's, but walked on until they came to a small shop that one would normally pass by. It was a rather small place, also dark, and Harry would have wondered why they were there if it hadn't been for the sheer amount of magic in the air, so he wisely kept quiet.
"Ah, Master Snape. What can I do for you today?"
"Good morning, Mr. Quinus. I have accepted a new apprentice, and I need you to provide him with the corresponding suits."
"An apprentice, Master Snape? It's the first one he has…"
"Have you finally found someone with the necessary skills? I need him here to take his measurements."
"He's right here," Snape replied, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder.
The man blinked in surprise but didn't ask any questions. With a gesture of his head, he motioned for Harry to climb onto the small stool to be measured. While the process was unfolding, both the tailor and Snape had a pleasant conversation about various current issues, from the latest potion developed to cure colds to the current political environment. Twenty minutes later, there was a series of dark-coloured robes waiting for him at the counter, all bearing what appeared to be Snape's emblem of mastery: a simmering cauldron with a large capital 'S' wrapping around it.
After paying for the tunics, the Master and his apprentice left the small tailor's shop to go to the pub. They had already spent several hours shopping, and it was time to eat, so they both ordered a small lunch before returning to Hogwarts. The boy felt slightly self-conscious about the fact that his new teacher was paying for all the things they had bought, as well as lunch, but when he mentioned it, the man gently brushed him off.
"You are my apprentice," the man began calmly, and seeing the boy's expression, he added, "It is my duty as a Master to take care of your expenses until you are able to take care of yourself. Since you are also a minor, this obligation is even greater."
"But my parents," the boy began, feeling bad because, after all, he knew that with the money that was in his personal vault, he could live more than comfortably, but since it was totally illegal, he could not tell Snape about his constant income.
"Your parents, Harry, do not appreciate or accept you being my apprentice. That is why they would not bear the expenses in the hypothetical case that I should not and would want to take care of them myself. Now, eat your lunch."
The subject was not discussed again, and they continued the conversation about how they were going to carry out the apprenticeship. The man explained that a normal apprenticeship could last from five to ten years, depending on the ability and dedication of the apprentice, but that he was convinced that Harry would be able to finish it in a maximum of three years.
Over the next few days, they developed a comfortable routine. During the day, the man would brew potions with the additional help of the boy, or the adolescent would act as an observer of the potion, and the man would ask him different things related to the potion he was developing at that moment.
In general, the days were much more interesting than even Harry had imagined, but it was not for nothing that the man was considered one of the best Potions Masters in the last century.
The routine could have continued in this way for the rest of the summer, without any interruption, if it had not been for the letter the boy received a week and a half later after starting his apprenticeship.
That morning, during breakfast, an owl interrupted their usual conversations about the capabilities of the different types of ingredients and left a sealed envelope in front of the boy, bearing the symbol of the Ministry. With trembling hands, he opened the envelope, already knowing what it was: the answer to his request for emancipation.
"Dear Mr. Potter,
After receiving your request, we have carefully studied your case and can now provide you with an answer.
While it is true that in all our laws there are a series of minimum requirements, it is also true that the legislation you indicated would allow you to be considered a legal adult.
Therefore, we are pleased to announce that your application has been accepted by our department, and from this moment on, you are considered a legal adult with all your benefits and also your obligations.
Receive our warmest greetings.
A. Glunstrang."
As he read the letter, the boy smiled more and more until finally he had to restrain the irresistible urge to start shouting a loud "Yes!" at the same time he jumped for joy. But he finally settled for a satisfied smile full of joy.
Curious, Snape picked up the letter and read it quickly before looking at his apprentice in surprise and asking.
"Did you apply for emancipation?"
"Yes."
"And they have granted it to you?"
"Yes."
Harry smiled even more at his mentor's surprised gaze, ignoring the Headmaster's slightly alarmed expression. He already had it. Now, he would no longer be a pawn in anyone's chess game… he was the master of his own life.