Harry tilted his head as he considered it. "Okay, but promise me you won't follow me in. I don't want anything happening to you."
"I promise."
~
Meanwhile
Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire
Lucius sat in his office and considered all he knew about the mystery that was Harrison James Potter-Black. The boy was truly an enigma; how he managed to keep such power contained and hidden he would never know. It had been pure chance that he had looked up and seen Harrison's magical outburst before Sirius had shielded them. Had he not, he would have never realised the power the small and delicate looking boy could wield.
Thinking back, Lucius recalled how Harrison's emerald eyes had actually glowed, illuminated by his power, and how his hair had been stirred by the magic currents he had been giving off. Such a display should have been impossible for a child. Lucius had wondered when Harrison had admitted to masking some of his magic, but he had never thought it would be such a shocking amount. The boy was truly impressive. Lucius hadn't felt power like that since the glory days of the Dark and even then his Lord's power was tinged with weakness, brought on by his own insanity. How anybody could believe that Harrison was the saviour of the Light he wouldn't know; even from a distance Lucius had recognised the Darkness in his magic. The boy had the makings of a Dark Lord.
He would have to watch him, be there for him. Lucius was suddenly very grateful to his son. When he had first read Draco's letters, he had been torn—his son had expressed a desire to befriend the Boy-Who-Lived, a boy who Lucius had assumed incorrectly would be a Light pawn. Now, instead, his son was friends with a great potential ally.
~
Hogwarts
School
of
Witchcraft
and Wizardry, Scotland
Albus paced his office as he waited for Severus to join him. How dare his spy give evidence to support that little brat! The man is supposed to hate him, hate him for being the child of his school bully, of living when Lily died!
"Stupid child, ruining my plans," Albus muttered to himself, not noticing how one portrait in particular was actually paying attention.
Hearing his wards beep, letting him know Severus was on his way up, Albus quickly gripped his wand and straightened out his office. It wouldn't do for Severus to see how out of place everything was. Sitting behind his desk, Albus carefully constructed his facial expression right before Severus strode inside.
"Severus, my dear boy, thank you for joining me," he said, before holding out a bag of familiar yellow candies. "Lemon drop?"
Severus sneered at the offered sweet and took a seat. "You asked to see me, Headmaster?" he said more than asked in his usual drawl. He suspected it was because the old coot had found out about his involvement in the Potter boy's life.
"Yes, yes, if you're quite sure," Albus said, putting the sweets down but not before putting one in his mouth. "I've just come from Harry Potter's custody trial."
Severus allowed an eyebrow to rise. "Oh?" he inquired.
"Yes, I'm surprised you yourself were not there, considering the evidence you gave. Evidence which, might I just say, not only allowed for myself to be removed as Harry's magical guardian, but also weakens your own status as a spy for when the Dark Lord returns."
Severus withheld a sneer—how dare Albus blame him. He had helped the boy, his best friend's only child, to escape from his abusive family and to be reunited with people he loved and would look after him - albeit people Severus hated. "I gave records of my actions. I'm surprised you felt the need to challenge the court; surely the boy is better off with the mutt and monster then where he was. However, had I known of your involvement, I would have warned you," Severus lied, he had known and kept silent.
He didn't know what the old man had planned, but he doubted he would like it. Albus was far too interested in the boy and his actions so far - nevermind what he had planned never had been in Harry's interest. He had lied about him and his life growing up and it seemed that he wanted Harry to continue living in an abusive home. Severus couldn't work out his reasoning yet, but he would be damned if he let this old fool harm Lily's child anymore.
Albus, thankfully ignorant to Severus' thoughts, was relieved - at least Severus was still in his pocket. He had feared he had lost the man when he heard he had given evidence to support Harry.
"Yes, I wished to remain Harry's guardian. Your evidence, however, made it look like the boy was abused. Sure, he may have had a firm hand growing up, but all young boys need that," Albus said. He needed Snape - he knew Tom would be back, he had made sure of it.
The words made Severus want to lash out; his own father had been an abusive drunk and the fact Albus was making light of it and making excuses sickened him. "Indeed," he said.
"You will have to be careful this coming year, last year you were almost nice to the boy. If this continues when the Dark Lord returns you will be unable to rejoin him."
"I shall have to try and rectify the situation."
"Indeed, my dear boy - I would hate for you to be in danger. It really shouldn't be so hard; I'm surprised, really. I mean, Harry really is just like James was as a child."
Severus was thankful for his mastery of occlumency—how the old man could say such a thing with a straight face he didn't know. If it wasn't for the fact he knew Lily would never cheat on her husband, Severus wouldn't have been surprised if Harry had been somebody else's son with how opposite he was from a young James Potter. James had been arrogant, cruel, a bully while Harry was quiet, soft spoken, intelligent.
"If the Dark Lord returns I'm sure I shall be able to regain any position."
"Good man," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling. Now he just had to find a way to get Filius and Poppy on his side. His plans for Harry would be so much simpler if he was in Gryffindor….
August 9th 1992, Gaunt Shack, Little Hangleton Harry apparated himself and Sirius to Little Hangleton, as the animagus had never been before and was therefore unable to apparate. It was a novel experience for Harry as he had not apparated in over a year as being a child had made it next to impossible to get away with. Landing, Harry closed his eyes and took a breath. Although he hated magical transport, he pref erred to be the one in control as it didn't leave him feeling quite nauseous.
"It's weird seeing you do magic like that so easily. You look like a kid," Sirius said after straightening himself.
Harry shrugged. "It's weird being in such a young body, but I've got used to it." Looking around, Harry spotted the path which lead to the rundown shack and made his way towards it.
"So you've still got all you powers from when you were an adult?"
"Yes, however I'm still limited in what I can do. I've been working my magical stamina but still, this body is that of a child's. I find I tire more easily than that of my adult body. It also doesn't help that when I'm at school I have to revert to only using age appropriate magic, so any progress I make while at home is usually null and void," Harry said.
"There's nowhere you can practice?" Sirius asked, just as the shack came into view.
"I've got a few places that I will check out this year," Harry said, thinking about the Room of Requirement and even the Chamber of Secrets.
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