Chapter Text
“Legilimens!”
Harry winced, his head throbbing hard as Snape invaded his mind.
Sirius Black. Dying. Fear. Malfoy taunting me. Christmas coming. Dudley getting a whole lot of presents. Harry getting nothing. Pain. Hunger. His uncle stricking him on the face. Freak! Cupboard. Darkness. NO!
Harry pushed Snape off his mind forcefully, panting hard as tears sprung to his eyes. He looked down, not wanting to meet the stern professor’s eyes.
“Again, concentrate Mr.Potter, think about your endless desert.” Snape ordered, his voice firm.
“Yes sir.” Harry answered, out of breath.
“Legilimens!” Snape shouted.
His charm essay. Dreadful in Potion. Idiot. Lack of adults in his life. No one caring enough to protect him. Dying. Walking to his death towards Voldemort. Pain. Fear. His Aunt burning him with a hot pan. Suffering. Freak. Darkness. Cupboard! NO!!
“Mr. Potter.” The man drawled, his voice more soft than Harry never heard.
“Clear your mind, one last time.” Snape demanded.
Harry nodded, sighing in relief at the lack of comment from his potions professor.
“Legilimens!” Snape barked as he pointed his wand towards Harry.
An endless desert, cactus, cactus sting. His uncle stinging him with the needle he got for his birthday; no toys, his only toy, Theodore.
“No, please! Uncle!” Harry begged, his uncle was holding a dear plush, looking worn out and missing an eye.
“Your freakiness ends now boy!” Vernon screamed, his face red in anger.
“I’ll be good! i’ll be good Uncle Vernon! Pl-please! Don’t hurt Theodore!” Harry cried, his little body shaking with sobs, before he could protest any further, Vernon threw his plushie in the fire.
Snape watched the little deer burn in the fire, Harry sobbing with all his hearth. NO!
Harry coughed, forcing Snape out of his mind another time, he fell down on his chair, his face sweaty and pale. The boy looked like he was going to be sick or like he just saw a ghost passing by.
“Mr. Potter, try to compose yourself. Here.” The potion professor said as he handed the boy a glass of water. Harry chugged it down, breathing heavily.
“I know this exercise is somewhat difficult, but you have to be ready before winter, if Voldemort can invade your mind before our plan takes place, everything will go out of control.” Snape said, exesperated.
“I know..” Harry answered softly.
#
“You must stay under an adult’s supervision until you are of age, Mr. Potter.” McGonagall explained in a firm manner, her tone still gentle despite her clear agacement at Harry’s never ending protestations.
Harry scoffed, slouching down in his chair. “I will not come back to the Dursley’s, Voldemort is defeated and I don’t need those damn blood wards anymore.” He said, his tone on the border of disrespectful, but the headmistress could hear under-laced tremble of fear in his voice.
“No, you will not. We understand that their care for you has been— lacking.” McGonagall winced.
“That’s quite the understatement, Minerva.” A dark voice answered.
“Severus,” Minerva sighed in relief, giving her friend a small smile of recognition.
“Headmistress, I apologize for my tardiness,” Snape said softly, his voice calmer that Harry had ever heard in all of his years at Hogwarts.
Snape gave a quick look at Harry and raised his eyebrow. “I conclude by Mr. Potter’s slouched posture that you already started talking about the… agreement?”
“Hey!” Harry straightened his posture, looking offended.
“We have yet to talk about where Mr. Potter will reside for the rest of his teenage years.” McGonagall said subtly, her eyes twinkling in a manner that reminded Severus of Dumbledore.
He shook away the through as he sat down next to Potter, facing the headmistress.
“We discussed the matter at length with every possible guardians for you my boy, and decided that it would be best for you to stay with..“
“Sirius?!“ Harry interrupted, beaming.
“Do not— interrupt the headmistress, Potter. It is highly disrespectful.“
“Sorry Professor Mcgonagall.“ Harry sais sheepishly, eyes downcast.
“As for staying with Sirius, it is unfortunately impossible; you are well aware of his— mental state, twelve years in Azkaban left him incapable of giving you the proper care you need, I am sure you understand Mr. Potter.“ The older woman explained, her expression unsure like she wasn’t sure how to explain the situation without getting her hands full of a crying potter.
The boy visibly deflated, his expression becoming blank and his eyes cloudy; like he was lost in deep, deep throughts that no one could understand.
“Rem— Professor Lupin then?“ Harry smiled, still looking quite disappointed.
“No Mr. Potter, we decided that it would be best if you were to stay under Professor Snape’s care.“ Mcgonagall stated, holding her breath for the boy’s reaction, waiting for him to explode; like a kettle left boiling for too long.
“What?“ Harry shouted, looking like someone had stricken him right in the face. He stood up abruptly looking between the two professors his expression dumbstrucken. Snape through distantly that the boy looked like an angry puppy, he suppressed a smile, covering it by clearing his throat loudly; getting Harry’s attention at the same time.
“Please cease the hysterics Mr. Potter, do start by seating down.” McGonagall asked, her stern scottish demander taking over.
Harry sat down grumpily, resisting the urge to stomp his foot like a toddler. They were ordering him around like it wasn’t his life they were toying with!
“I know this arrangement isn’t what you wished for, but I am afraid you are left with no choice Mr. Potter. Professor Snape knows his way around dealing with children, and his house has unbrakable wards. You will be safe with him.” McGonagall explained sternly.
“Safe?! Snape hates me! Bet he’ll kill me before I can even reach the door of his house!” Harry cried offended, looking at the headmistress with distress.
“I am still present Mr.Potter, and I can assure you that if I had wanted to kill you, it would done already.” Severus smirked at Minerva’s scolding tut.
“See!” Harry pointed out, affronted.
“You are not helping Severus,” Minerva sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Right, Needless to say that I will not kill you Mr. Potter, the dramatics are endless with you aren’t they?” Snape said, his tone saracastic.
Harry hummed moodily, pouting.
“Cease your sulking.” Professor Snape ordered, fixing Harry to his chair with a mighty glare.
“So I have no say in this?” Harry asked tersely.
“I am afraid not.” The headmistress gave him an apologetic smile, her eyes gentle.
“Your mother would have wished for you to stay with Severus,” She added, in a whisper.
The potion master hummed, looking at the window, you could see the moist in his eyes if you looked closely enough.
Harry had blanched, sickily white. His hands trembled on his lap and he looked down. Thinking the time he invaded Snape’s mind during Occulmency lessons, his mother had seemed to love him dearly before the accident...
“Well, no need to dwell on the past.” Snape murmured awkwardly, his gaze returning to Minerva; hating to see the pitied look she gave him on her face.
“Harry. You understand our decision, yes?” McGongall asked.
“Yes ma’am.” Harry relented, sighing softly.
“Very well!” The woman smiled briefly. “I think you can settle in for Summer’s break, yes?”
“Tomorrow?!” Harry questioned, his eyes widening comically.
“Well you cannot stay at the castle alone, nor do you wish to come back to those relatives of yours— who are horrid people if I might add. So you will settle in my house tomorrow.” Snape explained mildly.
“Oh, i guess, since i’m left with no choice.” Harry sassed, rolling his eyes.
“You would do well to curb your temper Mr. Potter.” Snape sneered.
Harry rolled his eyes again.
“I believe the answer you are looking for is ‘yes sir’” Snape glared at his newly ward.
“Whatever” Harry answered, crossing his arms over his thin chest. The man was already ordering him around before they had even set a foot in his house.
“Hard way it is.” Snape sighed and stood up, looming over Harry. He heard McGonagall sigh at her turn behind the desk.
“Up you get Mr. Potter.”
“What? why?” Harry protested, frowning.
Snape inspired through his nose, trying to stay calm. He took Harry by his upper arm and stood him up, before delivering five harsh smack with his wand to his bottom.
He made sure to flick his wrist correctly to leave surely what would be a mighty sting.
“Ow! ow! owww! Professor!” Harry cried out, squirming in the man’s grip.
“Was that enough incentive to start behaving or do you need more Mr. Potter?” Snape growled dangerously, his voice low and menacing.
“Yes sir, I mean, that was enough sir.” Harry sputtered out, looking at the man with wide eyes.
“Good. Now sit down please.” Snape prompted.
Harry sat, wincing, blushing when he saw that McGonagall was looking at him with a studying look.
“You hit me..” He muttered, his cheeks turning redder when both professors’ heads turned towards him.
Snape scoffed. “I merely smacked you Potter, now stop the dramatics.” The silence stretched out awkwardly after Snape’s small chiding, before McGonagall finally spoke up.
“The papers are already signed, I am glad to tell you that you are now Professor Snape’s temporary ward and he is your temporary legal guardian.”
“You signed the papers before even consulting me! Does my opinion even counts for something? At this point, just ship me off in a stranger’s house in my sleep!” Harry raged, his hands tightening in fists at his side.
“Harry, we trust Professor Snape. And you are a fifteen years old boy. I understand that it may be frustrating for you to have no say in the decision but you need to be safe and taken care of. If anything is going wrong, you can send me an owl and we will work it out. But for now, you will go to Professor Snape’s house tomorrow and you will behave for the week, I will check on you every Sundays. If I find you are causing Professor Snape too much trouble, I may ship you to Drumstang in your sleep.” McGonagall threatened, her tone stern.
“Oh, I’ll behave Ma’am.” Harry shuddered, suddenly very silent.
McGonagall continued. “If you would kindly step outside mister Potter, I need to have a few words with Professor Snape, in private.” She smiled at him.
“About me?” Harry asked.
“That is none of your concern, step outside and wait for Professor Snape to retrieve you.” McGonagall demanded, her tone indicating that she would take no more nonsense from him.
Harry nodded, but at Snape’s glare, he precautionary added a small “yes ma’am.”
He felt warm all over at Snape approving nod and went out of the room before he could dwell on the weird feeling.
He waited in front of the wooden door for some seconds, before silently putting his ear against it, after all he had the right to know what they were talking about! It was his life, not theirs.
“You spanked him Severus?” he heard McGonagall says, her tone puzzled.
“I’m sure he already have been on the receiving end of this punishement from you before, since trouble seems to follow the boy everywhere he goes.” Snape raised an inquiring eyebrow at McGonagall.
“I only paddle students for serious offense, you know it Severus.” She retorted.
“Ah so sneaking after curfew to Hagrid’s hut in first year was not a serious offense? What about crashing in the whomping willow and almost exposing our whole world to the muggles? Using an invisibility cloak to wander around at night in forbidden areas? Hmm?” Snape prompted softly.
Harry blushed as he listened Snape list some of his misdeeds, and it wasn’t even half of it.
“Yes well, Harry had an… aggravating situation.” McGonagall replied.
Snape scoffed, “It was a great disservice to him to not give him the discipline he so richly deserved only because he had an imposing doom looming over his head. A grave error if you ask me.”
Harry listened, and it angered him to think that Snape was saying the truth. He had always wanted someone to care enough about him so that they could keep him out of dangerous situations. He thought in first year after facing Voldemort, that he would have a kind of reprimand for putting his life at risk, but none came. They were just like the Dursleys. Pretending he didn’t exist when he wasn’t saving the world.
“Maybe..but you will do the job I couldn’t do at the time.” She said softly.
“I will, the boy is in desesperate need of boundaries, he keeps pushing but no one answers him, it’s only normal that he keeps finding trouble.” Snape said gravely.
“We let him down.” She smiled sadly.
“Yes, And I was the first person who did Minerva. As much as I like to tell myself I had to treat him harshly at Hogwarts to keep my couverture, It didn’t break my heart to do so. He looks so much like his father..” Snape winced, his voice cracking.
“And so much more like his mother.” McGonagall added, very softly.
Harry felt a tear roll down his cheek, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to stay with Snape after all, the man seemed to understand. This Snape was so different from the man he knew. The Snape who bullied him and humiliated him in class..
“I will keep him safe for her, always.” The potion professor answered after some time.
“I know, I trust you to take care of him.” McGonagall replied, her voice almost taking a motherly note to it.
“Very well, I indulged enough emotional discussion for one day I think.” Snape said, his usual icy tone returning.
“I wouldn’t want to make the cold, emotionless potions professor cry..” Minerva joked, a playful smirk on her lips.
“Hilarious.” Snape deadpanned.
Harry heard steps towards the door, but before he could get away from it, it opened and he fell forward, Snape catching him before he collapsed on the hard ground.
“Ah, Evasdroping, really Mr. Potter?” Snape asked, his eyebrows raised.
Harry felt his heart stop, and the room temperature seemed to drop a few degrees as he saw his professor’s deadly expression.