Chapter Text
Severus Snape stared at the letter before him, eyes so wide it was beginning to hurt. At first, when the snow white owl he knew belonged to the Potter boy flew through his window Severus thought he was seeing things. Never in all the world did he think that he would receive a letter from Harry Potter, and he certainly didn’t expect a letter if the official seal of House Potter sealing it. He blinked and read over the words again.
Dear Professor Snape
I know it may seem odd to receive a letter from me but I need your help.
I recently came into an inheritance and Remus thinks that you might be more equipped to help me than him. I know you won’t believe me, but I took the test to confirm it. I am the Dark Master and I need the help of someone who knows more about this than me.
Please Professor Snape, write back soon.
Harry James Potter, Master of the Dark Circle.
Lord of the Noble and Ancient House of Potter.
There was no way. No possible way that Harry James Potter was the Master of the Dark Circle. He couldn’t be, he just couldn’t. Lady Magic was a fickle mistress but she was not so cruel as to make the golden boy of Gryffindor, the Light’s perfect prince, Master of the Dark.
Severus had, of course, felt magic shift three days ago, felt the change in the bond that bound him to the Circle. He never imagined that he would be contacted by the newly recognized Master or that that master would be Harry bloody Potter. Harry Potter. He repeated in his head, trying his hardest to process the information.
When the letter had first arrived and Severus had read it, he had originally thought it to be a joke or a trap. But he knew Potter's owl and, after thinking about it for a few more moments, Severus realised that no one in their right mind would believe a letter from Potter would draw him out. Which meant that this letter was from Harry Potter himself, that didn't exclude it being a prank of course but Potter did not truly seem the type to send a full letter like this as a prank. The exclusion of those two options left only one, the letter was real and Potter was telling the truth.
Severus read over the words again. His brain still faltered and struggled to process that information. Harry Potter was the Master of the Dark Circle. Harry Potter was his Master. Severus placed his head in his hands, letting out a loud sigh.
There was a screeching sound as Potter's owl reminded him of her presence. Severus glared at the white bird. "You want a reply?" He guessed. The bird squawked in response. Severus sighed again. He should send a reply, he had received a summons not only from his Master but also a Lord of a higher ranked house and he needed to respond. He glanced out the window, the sun had set already. Severus needed to sleep on this, he decided. Yes, sleep on it and respond in the morning.
That blasted white owl had stayed the night and perched right on his kitchen counter. The thing had refused to move while Severus made his morning coffee and had instead began making loud squawk and kicking out its leg for a letter. "Alright, alright you bloody bird," Severus snapped after half-an-hour of listening to the birds squawking. He stood with a purpose and marched to his study, sitting behind the desk and opening the draw where his parchment was with a snap. The moment the parchment was actually laid before him though Severus had no idea what to write.
If Potter really was the Master of the Dark then he should be polite and subservient in his reply. It would feel insincere and wrong though, if he was too nice to Potter after years of not doing so. Perhaps Potter would interpret his letter as a trap if he responded too much like he would to a summons from anyone else. Severus clicked his tongue, tapping his inkless quill against the desk. Perhaps polite but not subservient? That might work.
Mr. Potter.
I will be in Diagon Alley tomorrow. Meet me there.
Professor Snape.
Yes, that would work. Polite but not too different from how Severus would usually interact with the Potter boy. Severus took his wax seal from its holder on the desk, taking out his wand to melt the accompanying purple wax before pouring it onto the letter and pressing the seal into it. He looked at his personalised seal, perhaps he should have used the official Prince seal to seal a response to a higher ranking member of society but he had never liked it. Two wolves rampant, black on purple. Not a symbol that Severus associated with himself or others with him. His own sigil, a single wolf with a snake wrapped around it's leg and head raised to strike at the wolf's throat. The snake attacking the wolf was most certainly something he did associate with himself.
There was a fluttering sound and the white owl landed before him, leg already outstretched for the letter. "Alright here you go." The bird chirped again, shook herself and took flight. It was a good thing Severus did need some potion ingredients from the apothecary and had an excuse to be in Diagon if anyone asked.
He cracked his neck as he stood. He would put this whole thing out of his mind until tomorrow, Severus decided. He would not think about this, not stress himself out. Severus let out a shuddering breath, maybe he should think about it for a while longer and remind himself of the proper protocols when meeting the Master of the Dark.