Chapter 1
It had been Halloween, nine years after Harry had originally been placed with the Dursley family, that he had gone missing. Last sighted on his walk home on a Friday evening. It was not until three weeks later, when the school Harry attended could no longer excuse his absence anymore, that the news broke of his sudden disappearance.
As soon as missing posters were up, the wizarding community caught on. The British Wizarding world had frozen the moment the news broke into the newspapers. The wizarding community were quick to wreak havoc on the case. Rumours ranged from death eaters kidnapping the child all the way to him being killed by a muggle dog. All of these were circling around before Aurors had even had a chance to interview the Dursleys on their, seemingly, lack of concern on the nephew's disappearance.
As soon as the two aurora's had stepped on to the property, it was said, they had known something was wrong there. Two weeks of investigation later and the official press release was given to the wizarding community. It was the first time that Dumbledore's authority over the next generation of wizards had came into question.
'Well cared for'
'Raised by loving family'
'Extremely magically talented'
'An extremely charismatic child for his age'
'Top of his class'
All things that Dumbledore had told over the nine years to the public. Things that had built up the character of Harry Potter to the world. Books, figurines, even custom shoes. So to find out that these had seemingly all been lies, from the person that had left him alone with muggles, well, it was a shock. The initial investigation had found multiple signs that the Dursleys were anything but 'extremely loving and generous'. The child had learning difficulties and was behind the other children his age, he kept to himself and seemed distant towards teachers. Neighbors noted how he was a 'freakish' boy who never seemed to do anything right. However, when asked of an instance of this 'freakishness', they were unable to state one.
The boy's Aunt had been hysterical at the boy being missing, but muggle police had hinted towards that breaking once pressured during the interrogation, they withheld her words from the public much to the irritation of everyone. The wizarding community called for the Dursleys to face wizarding punishment, but the Ministry denied, since they could not risk the uncovering of magic. The Daily Prophet had become the main source of news and their sales rose by fifty percent over the first few weeks.
During the end of the Aurors' investigation, it was revealed that Harry had most likely endured physical harm while he was with his Aunt and Uncle. Teachers revealed that there had been past concern over the boy. Bruises under sleeves, constant head pains and limps. As well as that, there had been reports made in concern for Harry's eyesight. Many teachers had mutually agreed that the boy needed glasses and had phoned his aunt about the matter. She has assured them that they would get some, but even after asking continuously for five months, he was never seen with them. His year four teacher had even mentioned that it seemed his eye sight had been getting worse, he seemed unable to point out details and she had doubts about him being able to see out of the corner of his eyes. As they had before, The Daily Prophet's titles changed to fit the new news.
'Heavy physical abuse by his muggle guardians'
'Hellish Torture'
'Lack of love'
'Possible murderous guardians'
'Muggles abuse Harry Potter because of his magic'
'Dumbledore left The Heir of the Potter house to be abused'
'Headmaster or Neglector?'
After a few years of the newspapers speculating, the news died down with many unanswered questions. The Ministry kept quiet and many became furious at how the Ministry seemed to want to do anything besides look more into the case. If an ancient house such as Potter is left without answers, then what did that mean for other children left in this situation? Would they not get answers for them two? After a resurgence of interest in the case however, thanks to the Daily Prophet writing further articles about the failures of the case. Five years after the initial investigation, more spells were run on the Dursleys house in hopes of finding out what happened to the ten year old boy (Who would have been fifteen by this time). People had been sure that the Dursleys were at fault for the boy's death. The case was so widespread, by this time, within the wizarding community that the Minister himself stepped forward to announce the findings. Wizarding news outlets from all over the world appeared to listen in. The case was no longer a national issue, but a worldwide one.
"Enough blood to account for three quarters of the boy's total blood was found sunk into the floorboards of the cupboard under the stairs. We are sorry to say that this information had evaded us during the first round of investigations due to the assumption that the area was of no concern. Looking further, and from linking Potter's posture and actions in school, we presume that the cupboard was where Harry Potter was situated in the home. This would explain his hunched and small form. His speech problems were also highly likely to be from lack of socialisation. He was kept from school for two years longer than a muggle raised child should and with a hostile and neglectful household, it explains his lack of skills in both communication and his studies. There were near to no possessions in his presumed room, only a few broken figures and a blood soaked, old blanket. We decided to go much further than our initial investigations as we found that it was rushed and neglectful. The media had a large sway in where the investigators looked and how they reported. So, we did a magical sweep of the house along with using different magics to try and find any signs of dying magic within the home.
I will now tell you the results from those tests, all of this is new information, everything we have found in the past still stands.
There was no magical interference with the wards that were placed on the house. No signs of magic within the local area, though some could have faded over the last five years. However, the spell we used within the house would show all traces of magic within the last twenty years. We found no traces of protection magic within the house. So Mr Potter's magical guardian, Albus Dumbledore, had not placed anything within the house to protect Mr Potter from harm. The only other types of magic found were accidental magic spikes along with large traces of natural healing magics in the cupboard under the stairs.
Traces of young dying magic were also found in the cupboard but were not found anywhere else in the house.
From the magical evidence we have found, this is what we presume to have happened:
Harry had got home and had sustained injuries from his family, mainly his uncle. Once his uncle had finished his violent attack, Harry had been left in his cupboard.There, his magic could not heal him enough, so he died within those walls. What happened to his body, we do not know." The Daily prophet recited, going on to note a few details about the case and the news, before leaving the article with one last sentence
'We all hoped that this had been a runaway case, but it appears not. There is substantial evidence that Harry Potter... Is dead."
The newspaper was snatched out of frail hands within an instant, quickly being thrown in the bin at the end of the counter.
"Refrain from reading that rubbish." The sharp tone shot through the room, accompanied by the swishing of a wand. A ladle slowly set to stirring a casserole on the oven.
"Why? Am I being banned from reading articles?" The messy haired teen asked before sipping water from his cup.
"No, only ones that pertain to you. I am trying to lessen the risk of a nightmare tonight." The man leaned back against the counter top and faced the teen with a glare. The teen was quick to return it however, though the pupils did not dilate at all.
"Oh, Severus, I think you are more likely to give him a nightmare these days." Another man chimed in, closing an old fridge before walking over to the boy and ruffling his hair. The boy smiled up at him gratefully. Snape did not comment further, instead distracting himself with the preparation of dinner.
"There was something new there. I am now dead. What a shame, truly." Harry said as he leaned back in his chair, lifting one leg to cross onto it.
"Truly." Severus said with a roll of his eyes, turning to retrieve three plates from the cupboard. "Though, now that you're dead, can you take Lupin with you?" Remus gave a light chuckle as he took a seat next to Harry.
"Are you sure you're not hallucinating Severus? Since you are talking to a dead person. Maybe you actually enjoy my company and made up a hallucination just to deal with it."
Sometimes, Snape thinks that's quite possible. The whole situation was beyond him. Five years ago he was preparing to have Harry enter Hogwarts, only to have the news that he was nowhere to be found sent his way. A month later, Lupin turns up at his muggle residence begging for his help. He still remembers the sack of skin on bones that had met his eyes once entering Lupin's apartment. The boy had been standing, just barely, leaning heavily against the wall and looking at him with a look of pure, agonizing fear. For the first year, neither had thought the boy would pull through. He got illness on top of illness, his mental health was in shambles and his body refused to heal to a stable state. But, after moving Harry to Severus' magical residence, they noticed a change. They had instantly realized that magic made Harry feel safer. His mental health was still terrible, but it eased enough for his body to focus on his healing instead of protecting him from every moving thing.
It had been a tiring five years, but just seeing the boy in front of him, able to stand and speak, was worth every second. Lupin had become a constant in the house. At first out of necessity, Harry could not be left alone, but after a few months of back and forths, Severus told him to just stay. The mansion had more than enough room. After two years, Harry was able to begin studies and luckily he thrived. Struggle was guaranteed but once he got speech and learnt reading spells, it was all flying and no walking.
Once the bowls were filled and placed down for everyone, Severus noted a slight tenseness in Harry's features. His lungs squeezed as they always did at that motion. His jaw was clenched, drawing focus to the large gash that would never heal there. It ran all the way from his mid cheek to his mid neck.
"What is it, Harry?" The boy looked up, eyes wide. Remus also turned to look at Harry, instantly placing a light hand on his lower back. Harry's eyebrows tightened and they were left in a tense silence for a while. The child would not make it in far in a pureblood society, he was far too easy to read. Severus dreaded the day that Harry would be introduced into those circles. He silenced his thoughts as Harry's lips parted.
"Should we delay entering my name for youngest potioneer?" Severus sighed as he took his seat across from the two.
"After you were so excited to beat my record, it hardly seems reasonable." Harry had been ready to let everyone know he was alive. He finally felt stable enough to take that step, which made both Severus and Remus overjoyed, though Snape would never admit it aloud. But the recent revival of the case had sent Harry back. Seeing his name splashed around in every newspaper had raised his anxiety about any subject revolving the public eye.
"Well, everyone thinks I'm dead." He says like that would explain everything. It was time for the Potions Teacher to scrunch his eyebrows. Luckily, Remus seems to understand the matter and instantly turns to face Harry.
"You owe nothing to the wizarding world Harry, nor the muggle. When the news of your accomplishment is published, it will not talk about what happened to you. Yes, people will know you're alive, but that doesn't mean they will find us. You are safe and even with them trying, you control the narrative. You give them what you want, you can give them nothing at all if you wish. I say you let the news do what they do best and gossip. You worked hard for this and you only have two months to submit it before you no longer have a chance to beat Severus." Lupin looks at Snape with a barely hidden smirk. He knows how much Severus had prided himself on being the youngest to have a potions mastery. Severus has the sudden urge to hex the wolf into oblivion. Luckily, Harry could not see the glare Severus sent his pseudo father.
Harry has not looked up from his food and is instead just pushing his food around his plate, his other hand coming up to push his glasses up his nose, a nervous habit. "Are we sure that it's applicable, with me being home schooled."
"Even with you being homeschooled, you were taught by me. A verified teacher at a verified school. They could doubt a mastery in Defence Against The Dark Arts or Runes, but not this. That's why you are going to take your mastery exams at Durmstrang or Hogwarts next year." Harry finally glances up, meeting Severus' gaze.
"And Dumbledore will know you have been in contact with me. Teaching me." The normally dour man is suddenly filled with a spark of appreciation. Harry had always been aware that the two men guiding him had put themselves in a difficult situation. Severus more than Remus due to his position as a teacher being led by the person who had abandoned him to a childhood of abuse and continuous neglect.
"If that concerned me then you would not have your mastery until next year under a school's guidance. I know what I signed up for five years ago Harry, do not worry for me." Harry took a spoonful of his food, more liquid than anything.
"Easier said than done." One of Harry's favourite phrases as of recently. "Can you submit it tomorrow, I want to get it over with." His voice is quiet yet breathy. Exhaustion, Severus notes. He had been sleeping more then usual. Another thing to note when making his batch of potions for the month.
"Are you sure, Harry?" Remus inquired as he raised a hand to tuck a stray hair behind the boy's ear.
"Yes. Let all hell break loose." The boy consumed more of his meal before pushing it away and heading to his room. The two adults sat in silence until the boy was out of sight.
"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Remus asked immediately, running his hand through his bronzed hair. It's growing longer than he usually lets it.
"The world thinks he is dead, Lupin. I believe it best they know now before it is seen as fact that Harry is dead. It will be an even bigger uproar the longer Harry lets it settle on everyone." He gestures to Harry's left food, bowl only half empty.
"I'll have it," Lupin slides the bowl next to his, one that had not been filled as much as the others. He eagerly consumes the meal. "I don't want it to go wrong. What if Dumbledore does manage to find us. We hoped to slowly introduce Harry to children his age before the news slipped that he was alive. I feel we are rushing ahead."
"Yes, we may have wanted that, but it was Harry's choice in the end. We can guide him to the best of our capabilities, but we cannot continuously hold his hand. It is best to encourage his choices, rather than convince him that it's not the time. Will it ever be the perfect time?" They sit in silence for a few minutes, chewing away at their food. Severus notices the clench in Remus' jaw as soon as it comes. With a sigh, he collects the wolf's bowl along with Harry's now empty one. "You should head out, the moon isn't going to wait for eternity." Lupin looks up and lets out a huff before nodding and heading out of the room. A few seconds later, the door to the mansion slams shut.
Severus is left alone in the kitchen with only the faint sounds of wind outside for accompany. He sits there for a bit before getting up to clean away the dishes. Before he can think twice, he whistle-calls his owl. Within seconds, the brown owl is waiting at the window. Once they were sorted, he ties Harry's potions results to the owl's leg and tells him where to go. He also adds a few Galleons to a pouch, requesting the first edition of The Potioneer Achievements newspaper for the next day, anticipating that Harry's achievement will be rushed out. Severus then heads up the stairs to his room, before swiftly passing out in his bed, knowing that tomorrow, he will be summoned by Albus.