Severus returned to Hogwarts late that night, utterly exhausted.
Assisting Potter in breaking his barriers had been no easy task, and the legilimency involved had been both mentally and emotionally taxing. Potter had surprisingly handled it well... too well.
He remained wide eyed, pale, but remarkably stoic. Severus suspected that it had been a complete facade and was then unwilling to leave the child alone until he had fallen asleep.
Thankfully, at the end of it, Potter was able to summon himself a dreamless sleep after the barriers had been shattered. Severus left him in his potion induced sleep and received a solemn vow from Mavis that he would summon Severus immediately if the child awoke before he arrived the next morning before his first class. He stressed the importance of Potter being supervised during the night and Mavis had agreed quickly. The elf had seemed as worried about Potter as he himself was.
Trust Potter to create an ally and friend out of a house elf.
And now Severus was exhausted. He checked the time and saw it was not yet curfew. He quickly decided he may as well track down one of Potter's friends now before they ambushed him while he was occupied with other matters.
He swiftly made his way to the Slytherin common room in search of one of the second year boys. He paused and sighed heavily once he entered the Year Two dorm.
"Miss Bones, Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood, and Mister Longbottom- I am beginning to believe that you do indeed require a resort. I was not aware we allowed students of other houses in our rooms." He raised his brows at the Slytherin boys, "Nor was I aware that we allowed female students in the boys dormitory."
Ronald Weasley turned a deep shade of red but Theodore Nott scoffed.
"Not against the rules," he muttered.
"I will be petitioning for a rewrite of the rules over the summer," Snape said drily, exhausted by these students' exacting knowledge of the rule book.
"That's okay sir, we'd still be grandfathered in for most things according to rule 326 subsection eleven," Hermione Granger said with a smug smile.
A Muggleborn with an eidetic memory, a Ravenclaw thirst for knowledge, and a newly obtained Slytherin cunning is quite the combination, Severus thought. It reminded him sadly of a similar student, though pure blooded, that he used to consider a friend.
Of course, Barty had been dead for years now and hopefully Miss Granger would live a long, free, healthy life.
"Did you find Harry yet?" Bones asked quickly, ignoring the banter around her. "Because if not then I swear to Merlin-"
"Save your threats," Severus drawled, holding his hand up for quiet. "I have found Potter and he is safe."
The students all cheered and Bones jumped immediately to her feet with a bright smile on her face.
"Let's go!" she said, attempting to actually bypass Severus at the doorway. "I want to see him."
Severus stuck his arm out- blocking her from leaving the room.
"Potter is ill, he is exhausted, and he is currently sleeping off a Dreamless Sleep. You have classes in the morning and your Aunt would arrest me if I absconded from the school with you."
Bones looked up at him furiously, her mouth opening, no doubt to argue with him, when he continued quickly.
"Write to Potter and your Aunt. I will deliver Potter's letter in the morning if you bring it to me before six o'clock. If they both agree- I am willing to take you to him Friday after your final class."
Severus saw the other students beginning to look mutinous and he sighed, "I cannot easily sneak all of you out without being caught and having to answer many questions. Miss Bones is the most irritating so she will go first. You may all write to Potter and I will ensure he receives the letters."
"Thank you sir," Longbottom said respectfully. "We know you've been working hard to find Harry and even if we haven't been so great about it, we do appreciate you."
The rest of the students agreed quickly with Longbottom. Severus inclined his head at them all in gratitude.
"If there is nothing else- I am retiring for the night. Any letters left under my office door before six o'clock will be delivered tomorrow. Goodnight."
Severus quickly returned to his classroom and checked it over for his first day of classes for the new year. He had been neglecting his duties as a Professor and he now had a large stack of papers to grade, detentions to log, and potion supplies to check.
A couple of hours later, after a significant portion of his paperwork and prep work had been completed, Severus fell in to his own bed and began slowly counting his breaths to lull himself to sleep.
In... one... two...
Potter was alone for weeks thinking his friends had all abandoned him...
No. Do not think of that.
Out... two... three...
Alone... cold... hungry...
He clenched his jaw and inhaled sharply.
One... two...
Potter attempted to end his own life.
"God damnit," he growled, rolling on to his side.
Severus stared across his room, unseeing, and resigned himself to a sleepless few hours.
***
Severus rose early the next morning to allow himself more time to collect Potter's belongings. He was unsure how late Potter would sleep and, after breaking down his barriers the night before, he wanted to be available as soon as he awoke.
He trekked down to the Quidditch shed to retrieve his broomstick. Then up to the owlery for his familiar. Then back to his office for his trunk and any letters from his friends.
Which, predictably, there were an entire stack of. He snorted lightly as he counted and found there were eight letters in all. Apparently each of the odd little group had decided to write to Potter last night.
He grasped the owl and other belongings tightly before stepping in to his floo, "Spinners End: Sevvie," he called clearly.
Potter was a brat for choosing that as his password. Truly the child had no decorum. He'd laughed as he'd said it, knowing Severus despised the ridiculous name.
As soon as he stepped out of the fireplace, Potter's elf came up to him.
"Master Potter is still sleeping," he squeaked. "Mavis is making breakfast for Master Potter."
"Excellent, thank you Mavis," he said politely.
If Potter insisted on revolutionizing the care of house elves starting with this one, who was Severus to argue against such a pure ideal? "Did Potter sleep throughout the night?"
Mavis twisted one of his ears lightly as he hesitated, "Master Potter said many bad things in his sleep. But Mavis is not getting Mister Snoop because Master stayed sleeping."
Potter clearly needed a stronger dose of the Dreamless Sleep if the pediatric dosage was still causing him to suffer nightmares.
"Thank you Mavis, I will bring his things to his room and check on him."
Mavis nodded before scurrying off to the kitchen. Severus wasn't entirely sure where he received any ingredients for breakfast, as Severus' kitchen had been quite bare the night before, but he hoped it was all stolen from Hogwarts.
After all, Potter had paid tuition for the year. He should eat their supplies.
Severus quietly ascended the stairs, intending to place Potter's belongings in his room and possibly cast a diagnostic charm on the child, when he was startled to see Potter awake, wide eyed, and standing the corner of his room.
"Oh," Potter blinked owlishly at him a few times, "Professor, it's you."
Severus tried to casually ignore the defensive stance Potter had taken up in the corner, he saw a glint of metal in his right hand and believed it was his infamous pocket knife.
"I confess to not being alone," he said lightly before immediately brandishing the tiny owl out towards Potter. "I have brought your owl."
"Sevvie!" Potter cried, quickly going from defensive to joyful as he grabbed his now hooting owl. "I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry," he crooned frantically. "Did Blaise feed you okay? You weren't hungry were you buddy?"
Severus felt a bittersweet feeling of pride as Potter carefully ran his fingers over the owls body, checking for injuries or diminished weight.
'The Heir of Slytherin, the Next Dark Lord: Champion of Muggleborns and Tender Hearted Lover of Owls.'
Albus was a blind fool.
"I also have your trunk, your broom, and a copious amount of letters from your friends."
Potter glanced up from his owl and Severus took the opportunity to study his unguarded face. He appeared to have a touch more color in his cheeks and the purple bags under his eyes had receded slightly.
"Thank you sir," he said earnestly.
Severus waved off his needless gratitude. At some point he'd hammer it in Potter's head that he needn't be so grateful to be treated with common courtesy and respect. He was pleased that Potter's first day without his mental barriers seemed to have the child more alive than he had been since Halloween night.
He wondered how much of Potter's personality had been masked behind his occluded mind.
"I would like to make you an offer. And, regardless of your response, I am still willing to uphold my end of it," he said, thinking quickly of how to rebuild the child's physical health with the least amount of pushback.
Potter briefly bit down on his lower lip and flicked his gaze to the doorway behind Severus. Severus subtly shifted out of the way so that Potter would not feel as if his only exit was being blocked.
"Okay," the child said hesitantly, "let's hear it."
"I can erect a ward around the field behind my house that would prevent Muggles from seeing you, if you would like to fly. I can also charm it to remain warm so you do not exacerbate your illness."
He mentally crossed his fingers that the excited light in Potter's eyes would smooth over his next request.
"All I would ask in return, which is merely a request, is that you take the daily potions I will leave with Mavis and eat regular meals."
Potter cocked his head to the side and stared at Severus for several moments.
"All you want, in return for basically making me my own warm quidditch pitch that I can use anytime, is for me to take potions and eat food?" he asked slowly.
Severus nodded, "Yes. Is that reasonable?"
Potter looked up at him and blinked quickly before he began laughing. Severus watched him as he laughed so hard that the owl flew off his shoulder in indignation.
"Y-yeah," he gasped, choking back another laugh. "That's reasonable. Bloody Hell."
Severus felt himself smiling slightly at the sight of the child acting more like a child and less like a shell-shocked war veteran.
"Excellent. Then I will go create the space for you and you will eat breakfast." He checked the time and scowled, he'd hoped to remain behind with Potter during breakfast but his first class was beginning soon. "Then I must return to the castle for my classes. If you need to reach me during the day simply send Mavis with a note. Instruct him to be discreet unless it is an emergency. I will floo you tonight to check on things?"
Potter agreed and wished him a good day as he tried to get his owl off the bedpost where it had perched out of his reach.
Severus caught himself smiling as he warded the field. Though he knew that Potter had more trauma and mental illness than any fully grown adult should have, the image of him laughing freely was a pleasant one.
Upon his return to Hogwarts, Severus was markedly less pleased to find a flock of birds perched on his desk.
He recognized the Malfoy's eagle and read the letter from Lucius first.
'Severus,The Minister would like to meet with Potter. Can you facilitate
this? Write me immediately.-Lucius'
Severus rubbed his eyes wearily. Of course the Minister of Magic wanted to meet with Potter. He'd likely want to champion the child to improve his own standing within the community.
He grabbed the next letter, a charming one from the Contessa.
'Severus,I would like to speak with my Meraviglia. I believe he may be
safely placed with you, no? If you are unprepared to protect my darling then I must insist
upon him traveling to Italy with me. He would be much cherished in our community and would have the opportunity to study Magic's long forgotten in British culture. Inform my darling that where he stays, my heart goes with him.
I hope that he is unharmed and currently well protected, the
Italian Embassy would undoubtedly take a great offense if my powerful ally was injured in your care. We shall speak soon, I am certain of it.
-The Contessa of Italy, Juliana Rosalind Zabini, Lady of the Great
and Noble International House of Zabini.'
Severus was slightly amused to read both a direct threat to his own person and such soft sentiments towards Potter. He'd been personally threatened many times, never by a foreign Embassy.
Delightful.
He quickly read the final letter, a request from the Daily Prophet for an interview regarding 'his student The Boy-Who-Lived'. He quickly tossed that one in the fireplace and hoped Potter agreed to setup an interview so there would be no further attempts at Severus giving one.
He quilled out similar replies to Lucius and the Contessa, informing them both of Potter's floo address for calls and then sent one off to Potter as well so he was not caught unaware by the calls.
It would do the child no favors if he were to curse at the Minister in an act of surprise.
He put the matter to rest and focused on his first day of classes for the year. He had hopes that now he had spent the last two weeks doing nothing but thinking of Potter, perhaps he could return to some semblance of normalcy without the child present.
He scoffed that evening at his own naive optimism. Potter was the constant topic of conversation now that the students had returned.
The Slytherin students were outraged.
'Unfair!' 'No proof!' 'Potter didn't even get caught!'
Most students from other houses were relieved at his expulsion.
'He was going to kill someone next!' 'Knew he was dangerous!' 'Thank Merlin he's gone.'
There were a handful of students in mixed houses who seemed torn on the situation.
'But he's friends with Granger?' 'I read he's missing.' 'I read his relatives are really cruel.' 'D'you think he's okay?'
By Wednesday Severus was prepared to pull his hair out. The topic of Potter's expulsion had yet to die out, and was being fanned by his entourage. Someone had made a habit of leaving parchments with obscenities written on it pinned to Albus' office door multiple times a day. 'BRING BACK HARRY YOU MERLIN DAMNED IDIOT' was personally Severus' favorite. None of the teachers claimed to know the identity of who wrote the parchments, but they had all graded Susan Bones' essays for two years- the girl had more gumption than any other student Severus had met.
Neville Longbottom had been given multiple detentions for starting brawls in the corridors with any student who dared express their relief of Potter's expulsion in front of him.
And the Slytherin Quidditch Team refused to find a replacement seeker.
Potter, of course, found it all terribly amusing.
"Serves everyone right," he sneered during their nightly floo call on Wednesday night. "When someone else gets attacked, I don't want to hear anyone crying over it. I'll be in Italy."
Potter, in his many conversations with the Contessa, had decided that he would be accepting her offer to sponsor his entrance at the Italian School of Magic.
He had been zealously scouted by multiple schools who heard of his expulsion. Beauxtabons had offered him a private suite if he would attend their school. Ilvermony sent Potter pamphlets highlighting the 'wandless American culture' and mailed him images of their quaint school. Durmstrang offered him private Quidditch lessons with a popular seeker who attended their school. Scuola Magíca in Italy told Potter they had a Portkey program that would allow him to attend courses during the day and maintain a permanent residence in the off hours.
Apparently, this offer was what was most well received by Potter. The Contessa confided to Severus that the schools Headmaster, Lady Marina Messa, created the offer solely for Potter to incentivize him to attend.
'She could see what we do, Severus. My Meraviglia does not enjoy being crowded, no? He would be happiest if his privacy was maintained.'
Potter had seemed... suspiciously upbeat... about the transfer. In fact, Potter had been uncharacteristically optimistic and cheerful in general since his first morning at Severus' home on Monday. Severus checked on Potter frequently and made regular calls to Mavis in between his floo calls with Potter. He stressed the importance to the elf that Potter not be left alone for long periods of time. He had set multiple wards on his home to alert him of any sudden illness, injury, or disappearance, but the child was cunning, sly, and rampant with mental illness. He could not have too many safety measures in place.
So far none of his measures had been needed. According to both Mavis and Potter himself, the child had been spending his days flying, reading, and, according to the elf, redecorating Severus' home. Severus tried very hard not to imagine what sort of interior designs the child may be making and told himself that as long as it kept Potter occupied and calm that he could likely fix it once the brat left for Italy.
"Has the Contessa and Headmaster Messa determined a start date for you?" he asked Potter.
He could only see the child's head within his fire but he could imagine the shrug that accompanied his casual tone.
"Lady Messa said I can start whenever I want, but Mister Malfoy and I have a lot to do the next couple of weeks so I'm going to wait I think."
Which was yet another delightful thing Severus had discovered; Lucius had taken Potter under his political wing. He had been introducing the child to important members of the Ministry and Wizengamot in an effort to build possible future political alliances. Last Severus heard, Lucius was also coaching Potter on media relations. He thought his old friend was enjoying himself too much in this regard. Yesterday they had dined with Minister Fudge, which all of Magical Britain was aware of because the photos were plastered on the front page of the Daily Prophet this morning.
"Well you are already quite ahead of your peers magically," Severus assured him. "I am confident you will need little assistance to catch up with research and theories."
Potter seemed to preen slightly at his praise.
"I should go Professor, I have to meet with Madam Bones soon."
Amelia had been meeting with Potter multiple times a day the past few days. She told Severus they were discussing the best way to absolve Petunia Dursley's guardianship and she was encouraging Potter to give her his input regarding his wishes for a future guardian.
"Ever since the Daily Prophet speculated that Harry had an abusive childhood, we've been buried in letters from families, both domestic and foreign, asking to take him in."
Potter assured Severus that he had formed a plan with Lucius on absolving his Aunt's legal claim on him and was pursuing the options Amelia presented him.
Severus told him that he was welcome to remain at Spinner's End for as long as he wished until the matter of his guardianship was established.
He ended his floo call and made his customary call for Mavis.
"Master Potter is working hard on Mister Snoops house and is following the potions Mister Snoop left him," Mavis squeaked. "Master Potter is being a perfect houseguest and is not being a burden to Mister Snoop."
Severus waved off the elf's queer phrasing, "I am aware that Potter is not a burden. I am wanting to know how he is emotionally and mentally?"
"Master Potter is happy at Mister Snoop's house and is not bothering Mister Snoop with any problems."
Severus stared at the elf, whose large yellow eyes were not quite meeting Severus'.
"Is Potter having problems?" he asked slowly.
Mavis shook his head, his ears flapping wildly. "No Master Potter is having no problems. Master is happy and..." the elf trailed off and squinted his eyes. "Content!" he yelled, his eyes widening excitedly. "Master Potter is happy and content and is not being a burden to Mister Snoop."
Severus recalled a sentiment Potter once shared with him; "I know 'm a burden but I 'preciate you helpin' me."
"And is Master Potter telling you these things to say to me?" Severus asked casually.
"Mavis is not being tricked in to betraying Master Potter's trust," Mavis said, waggling his long finger in Severus' direction. "Mavis is keeping his Master's secrets."
Which was as clear of a confirmation as Severus was likely to get.
He sighed as he regarded the elf carefully.
"Is Potter at least taking his potions and flying a small amount daily?"
Mavis bobbed his head.
"Very well. Inform Mister Potter that telling his house elf to lie to me is both unbecoming and unappreciated. Also kindly advise him that if he is not 'happy and content' he would still not be a burden to me and is welcomed in my home. Understood?"
Mavis gave him a guilty look as he disappeared back to Spinner's End.
Merlin.
First, Potter attempted to bury his emotions in occlumency shields, then, when those shields cracked, he made an attempt on his own life. Then he rebuilt his walls, much stronger than before, and blocked his emotions to the point that he was unable to access his magic. And now that Severus had assisted him in breaking those barriers- the child was attempting to wear a 'happy and content' mask. Likely in order to appease Severus.
Some days he wondered who exactly Harry Potter was.
***
Thursday morning, Hogwarts was rocked by what Severus assumed was the brain child of Lucius and Potter.
DAILY PROPHET BREAKING NEWS:Exclusive Interview with the Boy-Who-Lived!
After weeks of speculation- our beloved hero, Harry Potter, has
agreed to sit down with award winning, Daily Prophet reporter, Rita Skeeter. Harry, a delightfully humble and sweet boy, talked about his
recent expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry by Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. "Someone hurt a cat, a ghost, and two kids," he said softly, his
emerald eyes shimmering with his grief at the thought of classmates being injured. "I told the Headmaster it wasn't me but he wouldn't listen. I even offered to let him Legilimize me, since he'd been trying to do it for weeks anyway, but he still expelled me. I didn't do anything wrong. I had good grades, I was on the quidditch team, I had a lot of friends, then out of no where I was kicked out."I asked Harry if he was sure that Albus Dumbledore, the famed
defeater of Dark Wizard Grindelwald, had really attempted to illegally legilimize a twelve year old child?Harry looked sad and confessed that it was true, that the
Headmaster had tried multiple times to break in to his mind. "I don't think he likes me much," Harry said sadly. "He liked me
last year when I almost died trying to save Flamel's Stone, but this year I think he hates me."Harry confided his actions at the end of his first year to me, as
his close friend (see page 3 for details) before I asked him the question we were all dying to know more about. "Where have you been since your expulsion?"
Harry's enchanting orbs shimmered with unshed tears that he
struggled to hold back as he answered. "The Headmaster took my wand, then had the Groundskeeper
drop me off at my Aunt and Uncle's house. And they..." Our young hero had to take a few deep breaths before he was able to continue. "They hate magic. They hate Wixen. And they hate me. They threw me out immediately. I didn't have anywhere to go for a long time."I gasped when he told me this. Harry Potter, homeless?
I handed Harry, my close friend, a handkerchief and gave him a
moment before I continued my questions. "Did your Aunt and Uncle always hate you?"
Harry bravely nodded his head before he asked me, very politely,
if we could talk about something else. "Where are you staying now?"
Harry gave me a smile, a wonderfully charming smile, and told
me that he was in a safe place with a close friend. "I don't want to say their name though because I don't want the
Hogwarts Headmaster to try and take it away from me again. I just finally feel safe, you know?"I told him that I would respect his privacy and assured him that
the love of the Witches and Wizards of the United Kingdom were with him no matter what. I asked Harry what was next for the Boy-Who-Lived and he gave
me an adorably shy grin, "I'm going to go to school in Italy, I guess, since I can't go to Hogwarts with my friends. I just want to play Quidditch and learn magic. I want to be normal kid."Though it seems that Albus Dumbledore has made a grave error
in expelling the Boy-Who-Lived, the Italian Embassy was all too pleased to accept Harry in to their ranks. "I am hoping Harry will accept a placement within our Junior
Counsel next year," the famously beautiful Italian Contessa Juliana Zabini shared. "He is a powerful asset to us."Has Britain lost our young hero due to Albus Dumbledore's
mistake? It seems as if we have. Which raises the question, what else will we lose because of an old man's mistakes? -Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet Reporter
For more information on the Ministers response to abuse
allegations regarding Harry Potter's home life: see page 2. For more information on Harry Potter's Heroic Rescue of
Nicholas Flamel's Stone from a demented defense teacher: see page 3. For a recap of Harry Potter's defeat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-
Named: see page 4.
Severus read the article three times, his jaw on his desk.
Holy Merlin.
Although he was confident that Rita Skeeter had taken many creative liberties, 'Harry's enchanting orbs shimmered with unshed tears', it did seem as if Potter had collaborated with Lucius and had played his hand exactly right.
There would not be a witch or wizard in their world who would not be screaming for Potter's immediate reinstatement, Albus' resignation, and Petunia's end to Potter's guardianship. If the United Kingdom did not already love Harry Potter, they certainly did now.
Severus was as eager as he was terrified to attend breakfast. He doubted whether the Headmaster would be in attendance, but certainly the other Professors would be up in arms on Potter's behalf.
Once Severus arrived, he saw that his guess on Albus' disappearance was accurate. The student tables were overflowing with harsh whispers and shocked faces. The Head Table did not have a single Professor who did not have thin lips and angry eyes.
"I am going to kill that man," Minerva hissed. "I told him that those Muggles were the worst sort of people!"
"The son of Lily and James Potter attending a foreign school of Magic? Preposterous!" Filius scoffed.
"Poor Harry, he just wants to be a normal kid," Pomona sighed sadly.
Severus was unsurprised when an immediate meeting was called during lunch.
"ATTENTION!" Albus yelled over the frenzied conversations.
The attending professor's fell immediately silent at the Headmasters uncharacteristic shout.
"If anyone has any concerns, I will hear them now and at the end of this meeting the topic will be closed!" he said.
Minerva immediately spoke up, "How could you? How could you leave James' son with abusive Muggles?"
"It was the safest choice," Albus said calmly.
"And now?" she asked harshly. "Where is he at now?"
Severus cleared his mind and checked his barriers while studying his fingernails with an expression of utter boredom.
Do not let him know I am harboring Harry Potter.
Albus gave a disappointed sigh and shook his head, "I believe he is with Amelia Bones. She has been successfully avoiding my attempts to speak with her and the boy is close to her niece."
Severus very carefully did not smirk in amusement.
"Why would you attempt to legilimize a minor?" Filius stood on his chair to shout.
Albus, even when faced with a violation of the law, remained unflappable. "The child is lying. I doubt whether a boy as young as he could even sense if he were being legilimized."
Severus sorely wanted to praise Potter's impeccable Occlumency skills but knew it would be best to keep it a secret.
Albus was already aware of them regardless.
"Of course, I told you all that I would be more than happy to speak with the prophet myself," Gilderoy said. "I know quite a few reporters who wouldn't turn down an interview with me about the truth at Hogwarts." He winked jauntily at Albus who gave him a weak smile in return.
"Thank you Gilderoy, that will be quite unnecessary. The attacks have stopped, and the involvement of the newspaper or the Ministry within my castle is the last thing any of us need."
"Will you be allowing Harry to re-enroll?" Aurora asked.
"I will not," Albus said firmly. "The fact that the attacks have ended since the child has left validates his expulsion. This media cry is a scare tactic to be readmitted and I will not allow our halls to be terrorized and children attacked because of public outcry. The safety of our students remains my top priority."
Severus was exasperated as he left the meeting. Albus was still making as many attempts as he could to control the uncontrollable chaotic regime that Potter was creating.
Severus floo'd Potter after dinner that night.
"Professor!" the child immediately cried. "Did you read the paper? Did I do it right?"
"I did and you did," Severus assured him. "It was horribly tragic, very brave, very in character, and has possibly irreparably damaged Albus' public image. Have you heard from the Minister?"
Potter nodded quickly, "He called earlier and said I need to come in and talk with him and Madam Bones tomorrow about ending my Aunt's guardianship and deciding on a 'long term living situation'." Potter hesitated and Severus couldn't be sure, floo calls were difficult to interpret, but he appeared suddenly nervous. "I, er, I told them they could come here if that's okay with you?"
"It is," Severus told him. "Madam Bones has assisted me in finding suitable guardians for students since I began my career here. She will be a great asset to you."
Potter gnawed on his bottom lip for a moment before he nodded silently.
"I will be there tomorrow after dinner, if that is still acceptable?"
Potter nodded again before quickly asking, "Is Susan still coming tomorrow too?"
Snape frowned, he had forgotten to explain to Potter. "She will not. She has detention tomorrow. She will be there Saturday."
Instead of looking upset or angry at this, Potter just smiled. "What for, sir?"
"I believe she skipped her first period class today to pelt the Headmasters gargoyle statues with stink bombs with Peeves," Severus told him with the slightest twitch to his own lips.
He, personally, would not have assigned her detention but apparently Pomona felt as if it was behavior that reflected poorly on her house.
Potter laughed, apparently pleased with the image Severus' words painted for him.
"Brill, sir," he said. "Alright... well... I'll see you tomorrow then? In person?"
Severus briefly worried that Potter was suffering from a lack of personal connection, he was acting oddly.
"Is everything quite alright?" he asked carefully.
"Yeah, just, er, tired I guess. I'll see you tomorrow."
Potter abruptly pulled his head from his fireplace and Severus was rudely left with an empty fire and confusion clouding his thoughts.
"Mavis," he called lightly.
'Crack!'
"Mister Snoop is calling for Mavis?"
Severus nodded at the cheerful little elf.
"Will you keep a close eye on Potter tonight? Ensure he takes his vial of Dreamless Sleep and is safely asleep in his room afterwards?"
The elf bobbed it's head, happy at being given a task that did not involve 'breaking his Master's trust'.
"Mavis can be doing that! Can Mavis be doing anything else for Mister Snoop?"
"No," he dismissed him. "Thank you. Just ensure that Potter is doing well."
He again considered the child's possible lack of companionship, alone in Severus' home. "Wait, perhaps engage with him, if you would? Keep him company until he goes to sleep?"
Mavis agreed happily and Severus tried to console himself that Potter was likely just bored and on edge with the upcoming changes.
Surely the child had no further surprises in store.
***
The next morning after breakfast, Severus received an owl in his office with a short missive from Amelia Bones.
Severus,
Floo me at your immediate convenience as long as that convenience is before four o'clock.
-A. Bones.
Severus checked the time and saw that he still had twenty minutes before he had to begin preparing his classroom for his first class.
He begrudgingly moved to his floo. He swore that after Potter was enrolled officially in Italy and had found a residence, Severus was going to board his floo up for a year.
"Madame Bones, how can I help you?"
Amelia gave him a wry look, "I have a meeting with Harry at four o'clock. Did he tell you?"
Severus inclined his head, "He did. He told me that the Minister would be accompanying you, I presume that is due to the public interest in Potter's case?"
Amelia's expression quickly morphed into one of amusement as she shook her head at him, "It is due to the great amount of legal difficulties that Harry's request will require. The Ministry is willing to bend over backwards for him, but the Minister himself is the only person who will be able to grant it."
"Oh?" Severus raised his brows in interest. "What odd request has Potter made?"
"Harry adamantly stated that he wishes to reside with you, as your ward."
What the fuck?
Severus gaped at Amelia, quite forgetting himself in the surprise.
"When did he make this request?"
The witch smiled warmly at him, her eyes sparkled in a way that reminded him much of Albus' prior to the Potter scandals. "Yesterday. I told him I'd be coming today to go over his options and he asked if you were an option. I briefly discussed your... history," she grimaced apologetically, "and he told me 'I wonder if Minister Fudge would help? He did say he'd do anything to make it up to me.'"
She laughed, as if the thought of a twelve year old emotionally blackmailing the Minister of Magic was delightful instead of dangerously manipulative. "I contacted Fudge right after and told him what Potter said and he immediately cleared his schedule to meet with us today."
"Potter may react poorly when he is told it is not possible," Severus said slowly.
He was touched that Potter had asked for him, it made sense that the child would once again see him as trustworthy. Severus himself had worked Potter through multiple high stress situations, which surely built this feeling of attachment Potter apparently had. He provided Potter with a temporary residence, his familiar, and was enabling his continued contact with his friends. He hoped that the Ministry's refusal to grant him this wish would not impact his view of Severus.
"Not possible?" Amelia said, her brows raised above her spectacles. "On the contrary Severus, I believe Harry could ask Fudge for any guardian in the world and would see it be granted. I simply wanted to know your view on the matter before we met with him."
"Amelia... I was a marked Death Eater," Severus said quietly. "The Minister of Magic will not grant me guardianship of 'The Boy-Who-Lived', and Albus would never allow it."
Amelia's eyes flashed dangerously at the mention of Albus' name. "Albus Dumbledore does not dictate guardianships and this case will be closed as quickly as possible. The Ministry is receiving daily letters from enraged Witches and Wizards who are wondering how the Headmaster of a boarding school was able to originally determine the home for an orphaned infant." She gave Severus a suddenly mischievous smile before she continued, "And besides, you were legally exonerated as a spy. It's all very heroic of you Severus Snape. A brilliant wizard who dedicated his life to bringing down the Darkest Wizard known to man. After his defeat, you were determined to protect the child of your closest childhood friend." She sighed dramatically and wiped a faux-tear from her eye, "The single witches of the United Kingdom will be beating down your doors."
Severus grimaced, both at her dramatics and her ill-conceived declaration of his romantic appeal.
"Albus would be furious. He intends for me to return to the Dark Lords side once again if he returns."
Amelia heavily rolled her eyes, "Let's pretend Albus Dumbledore and his many varied opinions are of no consequence, shall we? Because, in the opinion of the Ministry of Magic, they are less than nullified in this case. If it can be approved, would you accept guardianship of Harry Potter until he turns 17?"
Severus hesitated for the briefest of moments. On the one hand, Potter had a lot of... issues. He had seemed better as of late, but Severus was not naive enough to believe it would last. He was the most beloved magical child in the United Kingdom, Heir to the Potter Line, the prophesied vanquisher of the Dark Lord, and currently was holding a personal hit list with Albus Dumbledore's name on the top.
Although, on the other hand, it was Potter, Lily's son. And while there was an undeniable perk to having the most powerful Grey aligned Wizard in his care, there was more to it than that.
It was Potter.
"I would," he said.
Amelia gave him a warm smile of approval, "I knew you would. We'll talk soon, the Minister wants this dealt with as quickly as possible and kept absolutely need to know until it is finished."
And in the second time in two days, Severus left a floo call with a mind full of questions and concerns.
The remainder of the day Severus taught his classes, attended meals in the Great Hall, graded papers, and considered the situation with Potter.
It was flattering that the child wished to reside with him in the summers. It was also deeply ironic considering James Potter would be rolling in his grave.
It was also slightly tragic that the most consistent adult in Potter's life was his previous potions Professor.
He had decided to speak with Potter about it when he arrived at Spinners End that evening.
Severus almost immediately forgot his intentions when he entered his sitting room and saw the changes Potter had made.
"Surprise?" the little demon called weakly from the sofa on the side of the room.
Potter, likely with design advice from the Malfoy's, had entirely refurbished and redecorated Severus' home. It no longer looked like the barren and impoverished Muggle home he was raised in. The grey walls were now a freshly painted shade of light green that balanced well with the darkly polished wooden bookcases and shelves that lined the walls. The sofa and matching recliners were no longer a beaten and dull floral pattern, but were replaced with slick black leather seats.
"Potter..." Severus said slowly, gazing around at the multitude of changes that were done just in this room. "Tell me that you did not use your parents' vault to purchase furnishings for my home."
"Of course not," Potter scoffed. "I got most of it from the Black vault."
Severus thought he likely cricked his neck with as quickly as he turnt towards Potter.
"I will need you to start from the beginning apparently." He thought about what kind of events led Potter to taking money from the ancient Black vaults and made towards his (apparently newly upgraded) liquor cabinet. "I will also need a drink before you cause me to put my head through these freshly painted walls," he muttered as he sank down in to one of the recliners with a drink in hand.
Potter ignored Severus' unflattering mutterings and airily explained how this came to be.
"Okay so you know how I went to Gringotts when I thought I didn't have money to go to Hogwarts, like you told me to?" Severus nodded and gestured for Potter to continue.
"Right, so you didn't give me my key, did you? So the Goblins did an inheritance test that summer and I got my Potter Heir ring. Which is bloody brilliant, isn't it? But Mister Malfoy told me I should have had another Heir ring, because I guess I have a godfather who doesn't have any kids. My dad's mate, Sirius Black, that one you told us was a Muggle murderer?" Severus grimaced at the mention of Black and gave Potter a sharp nod. "Well hes my godfather. But thankfully that bastard is in Azkaban because I heard what he did and he's lucky I can't get him. But anyway, I told Mister Malfoy that the Goblins didn't give me that Heirship and that I didn't get those accounts when I did my test so he looked in to it and guess what?"
"What?" Severus asked, when it was apparent that Potter was waiting for a response to his rant.
"Fucking Dumbledore had his name on those accounts! Apparently Sirius Black let Dumbledore co-sign as my magical guardian for the accounts and that's why it didn't show up! Because I wasn't the sole heir!"
Severus raised his brows. He knew Black was a fool to the worst extreme but to allow Albus to co-sign on his godsons Heirship? Madness.
"If you were unable to gain the Heirship, how did you access the vaults?" he asked Potter.
The child raised his right hand and scrunched his nose at it before two rings appeared, one on his ring finger and one on his middle.
"Mister Malfoy and I made a deal," Potter said smugly. "Mrs Malfoy is a Black, but I'm the sole Heir for the line. He said if I would name Draco the Heir to the Black line once I become the Lord, after Sirius Black dies and I'm at least 17, that he would help me get Dumbledore removed from the line since he isn't my magical guardian and has no claim on me now that I'm no longer a Hogwarts student. And he did," Potter wiggled his middle finger where a silver ring with an obsidian stone rested. "So I signed a magical agreement that once I'm Lord Black that I'll name Draco Malfoy my heir. And if he dies before me, his kids will get it. But if he dies before me and doesn't have kids, then I keep the line and it goes to my secondary Black heir."
Severus swallowed his whiskey and summoned the bottle for a second glass.
"Are- are you mad?" Potter asked quietly after Severus remained silent. "I thought it was fair if Black's vaults paid to make your house look more like how you'd probably like it since he almost killed you when you were students. That's what you call ironic, right?"
Severus saw Potter looked nervous and hopeful and, against his better judgement, smirked at the child.
"I believe you meant karmic," he said drily. "And I am not mad, but you should not have spent your inheritance on furniture for my home. You owed me nothing for staying here."
"Well," Potter hesitated. "It wasn't about just staying here..." The child clenched his fists and rolled his shoulders tensely. "I talked to Madame Bones and Minister Fudge today about picking a guardian..."
Aaah, of course.
Potter was either attempting to subtly bribe Severus in to accepting him as his ward or, much more likely, believed that he would need to offer something in order to be allowed to live there.
"I also spoke with Madame Bones this morning," he told Potter evenly. "She informed me of your request and I accepted. What did the Minister say to you?"
Potter gave him such a wide eyed look of surprise that Severus smirked. It was nice to be able to surprise the child who continued to drag chaos in to Severus' own life.
"That's it?" he asked hoarsely. "You just accepted? No deals or questions or nothing? That's it?"
"That's it." Severus repeated calmly, maintaining his casual tone. "And no. I did not require any deals in order to accept guardianship of you. Now, what did the Minister say?"
Potter blinked rapidly at him for a few silent moments. Severus held eye contact and gave him a polite look of interest.
"He said... he said that he'd start the paperwork once he got your official acceptance," he said quietly.
"Excellent." Severus finished his drink and rose to his feet. "Then I will examine the rest of our house to see what other changes Sirius Black has unknowingly funded, shall I?"
Potter just nodded silently at him, his mouth still open in shock.
Severus smirked at Potter again as he began his inspection of their home. Which, Potter had indeed lavishly furnished and updated. He had laughed aloud at the silver espresso machine that now occupied his kitchen counter.
The child was an absolute menace, but Severus had hopes that they would cohabitate peacefully enough if his request was granted.
He thought perhaps if he maintained a casually easy acceptance of the proposed guardianship that Potter would begin to see himself as something more than a burden who must earn his right to reside in a safe and stable environment.
Severus left after dinner, during which Potter had remained quiet but watched Severus suspiciously. They talked lightly of Potter taking a course in Italian from a tutor recommended by the Contessa. Severus described some of the potions his NEWT class was taking. Potter hesitantly described a new trick he had taught himself on his broomstick. Severus carefully maintained an uninhibited tone to his voice and did not bring up the guardianship.
Before he floo'd to return to the castle he checked the supply of potions he had left with Mavis. He had not trusted Potter with his crumpled mental barriers to have unsupervised access to potions that could be lethal in large doses. He was pleased to see it appeared as if Potter had taken them, as his count indicated.
"I will see you tomorrow," he told Potter before stepping in the floo. "I will bring Miss Bones if that is still acceptable?"
Potter nodded and lifted a hand in farewell.
When Severus landed in his office he was immediately confronted by the awaiting group of Potter's friends.
"Professor!" Draco cried, his cheeks flushed with excitement. "You have to go to Dumbledore's office immediately!"
Miss Bones unexpectedly wrapped her arms around Severus and joyfully explained;
"There's been another attack!"