Family Ties

Seventeen year old Harry Potter stood up and cheered with his friends when Albus Dumbledore congratulated the seventh years for graduating. Harry turned and looked down at the end of the Great hall and saw his godfather Sirius Black, his other godfather Remus Lupin stood there along with his dad James Potter cheering and whistling. Harry laughed. The war had ended at the end of his sixth year and Harry finally had a normal year at Hogwarts which was his last year. He stumbled forwards when someone jumped on his back

"We did it scar head."

Harry laughed and dropped Draco and turned to give him a brief hug. "We did ferret."

Draco turned to see James Potter making his way over. He turned back to look at Harry. "You told your dad what you'll be doing once you've left?"

"Not yet, I sent off a few and got acceptance on them all thanks to my N.E.W.Ts and dad thinks I'm still picking aurors but I don't want it."

Draco nodded, "still planning to be a mediwizard specialising in potions?"

"Yeah, your godfather accepted me. Dad and Sirius weren't happy when I sent off an application to work under him, they have yet to find out I have accepted to work under Severus, they hate it as they don't like him, don't know why, you said he's a good and clever man. And I've seen it myself, all the times I've met him."

"He is… Mr Potter." Draco smiled, nodding at James who came to a stop. He looked at Harry, "I'm going to say hello to my mum and dad." He said before walking away.

James looked at his son and clapped him on the shoulder, "well done son, finally no more Slytherin robes."

"You may not see my robes anymore dad but I'll still be a Slytherin."

It was two weeks later and Harry was stood in his apprentice robes, standing next to Draco who was dressed in the same, looking around, he saw there were twelve new apprentices, his eyes turned to the front when a door opened and a man walked in and looked at them all before stopping at the front of them.

"Welcome new apprentices. My name is Alex Thompson and you all have a busy next few years. I will tell you all now, yes you are apprentices, yes you are all now learning and working under Britain's top potions master Severus Snape but that doesn't mean you will be seeing him every day. I have been working directly under him for two years and I can count on one hand how many times I have seen him. 

Severus Snape is a man who does here what he is paid to do. Work, unless he talks about work or gives you something to do that involves work he won't interact with you so don't expect him to invite you to his office and ask how your week has been. Anything you have trouble with or need help with that you think only he can answer to or help, you come to me and I will sort it for you. So if any of you are here in hopes to see him and be his assistant then leave now."

Severus Snape sat at his desk in his office and picked up the document that had the list of new apprentices on, he looked down the list and saw his godson's name and paused when he saw the name under Draco. 

Harry Potter.

Severus put the document down and sighed as he sat back in his chair and ran his hand over his face, he closed his eyes as his mind went back to that certain night, all those years ago. Sighing, he opened his eyes and pulled out a bottle of whiskey from his top drawer and a tumbler and poured himself two fingers of whiskey, ignoring the clock that chimed it was only nine in the morning. It didn't matter it was only nine in the morning, Harry Potter was now one of his apprentices. He needed this drink.

Harry dropped down onto the settee. "What a day! And today is only the first. I can't wait until tomorrow when we really start."

Draco came out of one of the bedrooms, "that's me all unpacked, have you told your dad yet that you decided to live in the apartments next to the hospital that are for apprentices instead of going home?"

Harry sighed. "No. I suppose I better tell him, I know he won't be happy and I don't get why, I mean when he did auror training he lived nearby and moved out, why is what I'm doing any different."

Draco sat down, "I don't think your dad likes that Severus is your boss now, I know they were school rivalries."

"But you heard Alex, I won't even see him. I mean I've only seen him when I've stayed at the manor with you sometimes during school holidays. And he's been nice to me and he knows who my dad is."

Harry waved his wand and sent his patronus off and looked at Draco. "What?"

"You tell your dad you've moved out by patronus?" Draco laughed. "That's sneaky."

Harry smirked. "Slytherin."

Severus Snape looked up from his desk when his door slammed open and James Potter came storming in. 

"Not me or my staff called for the aurors."

"Don't try to be funny Snape. I want you to fail Harry, let him know there are too many people in the program, he has to be let go. This job is dangerous."

Severus stood up. "He won't fail and even if there are too many people in the program the one with least scores goes, Harry has the highest scores I have seen in years. He clearly takes after Lily."

"Don't you dare mention her name, you haven't got the right. You as good as killed her."

Severus walked around his desk and waved his wand.

James backed back. "What did you do?"

"I'm checking to see if you are suffering from memory loss."

"I didn't kill Lily,"

"Neither did I. I do admit I told Voldemort of the prophecy but it's your fault. You trusted Peter, the slimiest pathetic excuse of a man, he'd sell his mother for rat food and you put your family's life in his hands."

"How do you know it was Peter we trusted?" 

"The night Lily died I walked away from it all, went abroad and studied hard. I worked eighteen hour days to get to where I am now. You have no idea who I have come across and learned in that time, I know things that would surprise you."

"You are a coward Severus, you didn't fight when the war was on again."

"You have no idea what I did, just because I wasn't on the battlefield that night doesn't mean I didn't fight. And me a coward? You ought to be careful, you need to take a long look at yourself and think back before you call me a coward. You Potter are the biggest one going."

"Me a coward? I'm an auror, I risk my life all the time."

Severus moved closer and only stopped when he was nearly nose to nose with James. "You're full of shit Potter, coming in here, hating that out of all the people your son wants to work for, all the people who could be his boss, it's me. And then you come in here calling me and demanding I let Harry go. Harry stays, he will study, he will learn and he will go far. And dangerous? Harry knows full well what he is doing, the only thing he is in danger from is passing out through lack of sleep with too much studying." Severus smirked. "Lily would be proud of him."

"I've warned you snivillus, you do not mention her name, you don't know what she would be thinking."

"Lily was second in our year with potions and Harry her son was top in his year, he is thankfully more like her than you, I could just imagine your face when you found out your son was in Slytherin. I know I was smiling when I heard. James Potter's son is a Slytherin and he is still braver than you, he would have done just what Lily did."

"You know nothing."

"I know more than you believe. I feared that night, I went to see Lily and found the house destroyed."

James backed back looking pale.

"Yes Potter. I saw everything. You'd think I'd be shocked by what I saw the next day but you know what, it didn't surprise me at all."

"No one will believe you."

"You want to test that? You push me and see. You don't come here again, you back off Harry and be proud of him like Lily would be."

"Snape-"

"Get. Out." Severus whispered.