to write again.

He nips playfully at people’s feet as he slithers along the cold, concrete ground. He himself felt cold, yet that didn’t stop the sense of relief and excitement that swelled in his armless body, and instead warmed by the freedom. The smell of wet and disinfectant was strong and unkind, but did nothing to stop the playful rampage. The feeling of the new, rough ground did not stop the high of escape either, more like elevating it further. More nips at more people’s feet before he felt a tug at the navel of his small head.

Now, he lays in a body with arms and legs, his bum cold and bruised from falling. Glasses on his nose are worn askew, hands behind himself to sit upwards. The front of his forehead burned, where he knew somehow that a scar in the shape of stretched out lightening glowed with flashy red flesh and long, angled strikes coming down. How it traveled down his upper back and just touching his right shoulder. Sometimes, on emotional days, Harry could almost feel the scar moving, striking like a drum with pain and growing across his skin. It grows whenever weird things happened down along the edges, just slightly, the discoloring a sign of that.

He felt the glare of eyes he was so afraid of and full body flinched to the thought of what came after that look, that glare. The red looking skin with a busy, bushy mustache that made him hate the style. The mean pointy nose that aimed at him like a rifle ready to fire, the safety only on until they get home.

Then it’s fire at will.

Harry woke with a gasp, hitting his head against a wood shelf. It’s dark, but Harry could still make out some of his closed in surroundings.

The room is small, inadequately so. White with dust laid claim to the walls, and his blanket looked like an old quilt that came with a familiarity. It wasn’t a familiarity he’d wanted. The white roof is slanted down the further Harry looked, until it hit a small wall no taller than Harry’s small foot peaking out from the blanket.

Speaking of body parts, Harry’s body itself felt odd, including the small foot he now sported. He didn’t feel quite like a spell he effected him, but more like something old yet newer. It felt off to Harry. Like Deja Vu, but it really was something happening again.

So, when Harry Potter, supposed 39 year old Harry Potter, looked down to see his tiny, skinny body of his childhood years, he paused quite suddenly. Once he took another look around, now frantic, he realized exactly where he was. His throat closed up, and he almost screamed.

Instead, a small whimper came out in his rush of emotion. The sound made something like a chain reaction go off, and soon Harry was shaking, quiet sobs coming out in huffs of air and small whimpers through his closing throat. Rough, quiet sobs kept coming out, like Harry was a little boy again and wasn’t allowed to be aloud. After years of living with the Dursleys before, Harry had learnt that crying loudly was not a good idea, and had never gotten rid of the habit of hiding his sobs whenever they surfaced.

The crying made his already blurry vision so messy he barely knew where he was. In the moment, it was a sort of blessing. To forget. The cupboard, the darkness. The suffocation. But he couldn’t forever, and eventually, after what felt like and was most probably not, hours later, Harry calmed down enough for something like a switch to flip in his head.

Almost immediately, Harry went from little, miserable kid, to Auror Potter who had business to get to and was wiping his tears. All seriousness settling in. Harry put on his glasses from the shelf behind him, and got to work.

He looked around again, this time with a much more keen eye, even with his slightly still watery eyes. His clothes are ragged and big, the space, not room, he stayed still as small and wrong as of always is, and the old toys that Dudley forgot about sat behind him with the one other outfit he sported in his childhood. It made him sick to see just how miserable the place was again. His throat swelled a bit more as he swallowed his saliva.

After a bit of analyzing, Harry noticed a small bit of sunlight seeping in through the door and into his closet. Harry had no clock, and his wrist watch gone, so the sun helped in telling him of the morning. If it’s morning in his cupboard, that means it’s morning for the Dursleys.

That means Petunia and Vernon will be up soon, along with Dudley as well. It made Harry’s insides churn with anxiety even at the thought. The Dursleys.

What was he going to do? Harry thought to himself, his emotion trembling back into his bones before he locked it back out and got to work in his mind, heart speeding. If he tried hard enough, Harry could remember the last thing he knew from his adulthood, but not clearly enough to make out just how he’d gotten there.

He was at work, getting through the stacks of paper crowding his desk, then nothing. Everything was just not there. It frustrated Harry, but as he tried harder to remember, the only thing he got in return was a headache and his scar feeling tingly.

It was all for not though, as he would’ve been interrupted by the loud steps that came from above him. Loud thudding feet that Harry distinctly remembered as Vernon Dursley came stomping down the stairs in an uneven pace, like he didn’t know where exactly to step. Even as the sound went from above to beside Harry’s cupboard, it was still as threatening as it has always been to little Harry Potter.

Harry didn’t want this. He didn’t want to go back, but he knows it isn’t a dream or a vision or some curse of any kind. Harry knows what those feel like, after dealing with them for arguably the most of his life. Well, his adult life at least. This isn’t a prank, or some spell; he’d be able to feel the magic that made it happen if it was.

No, this is real. Which means that Petunia will come down from her room soon to bang on his cupboard door. The door will rattle and shake under her firm, boney hand, and Harry will be forced to come out of the darkness and officially face his new reality. He’ll be forced to face his own childhood again.

And all while Harry sat there, thinking, waiting, Petunia had made it downstairs a moment later.

“Up! Get up! Now!” She yelled before her loudly clacking heels sped off into the kitchen. Harry flinched in his spot, but did as told and put on his too large socks, leaving the too small shoes to whatever spider wants them. When he started to stand up and open his door, Harry felt Dudley’s stomps above him and quickly got out so Dudley couldn’t push him back in. The short, little, boyish Dudley surprised Harry when he came laughing down the hall. Enough so for Dudley to be able to push Harry back into the cupboard anyways.

Once he made it to the kitchen, Harry was tasked, as always, with helping make breakfast and clean up. As always, Petunia loaded him with chores, including tidying the garden and cleaning the house and such. But Harry needed to know what day he ended up in, his serious adult self needed to start planning, and he needs to plan according to the day it is and what happens. Harry needs to know what to change, needs to do something to get out of the Dursleys for good.

The smell from the sink gave him a hint of what day it was, and his eyes lit up in curiosity at the thought. It would be the first piece of good luck he’d need to get everything started.

Still, he needed a bit more confirmation, so he looked around the house until he found what he wanted, sitting innocently on the wall.

When Harry looked at the calendar, he almost burst into laughter with excitement from the knowledge. Key word almost, since he knew how to keep his emotions in and just kept his straight face on instead. This day is something Harry had wanted to go back and change ever since it had happened, a mistake he won’t make again.

It’s the perfect day for his plans, the perfect day to start the change and make sure everything could be avoided as much as possible.

It’s the day he got his first letter from Hogwarts. A day Harry would never forget, and this time he’s ready for it.

After everyone was almost finished with their breakfast, Vernon predictably asked Dudley to go get the mail, then the task was dumped on Harry. This time, though, he didn’t argue. He got up slowly, trying to hide away his eager attention on something as trivial as mail, and made his way to the front door entrance with enthusiasm.

Harry finally got to the door, and the stack of papers sitting so innocently on the floor finally made his smile fight out onto his face and Harry found himself grinning wildly. His Hogwarts letter was there, right underneath the other muggle papers of bills and the letter from aunt Marge.

Not wanting to be suspiciously late with the mail, Harry picked up the letters quickly and went back towards the dining room. Before he entered, however, he slid his letter to Hogwarts into his cupboard through one of the cracks in the side of the door.

No Dursley ever suspected a thing, and they wouldn’t until Harry was gone.

***

That night was when everything started to become something for little Harry.

Reading his Hogwarts letter, he found a note attached that explained that someone would be coming to pick him up two weeks before school to get him set up for the year. He supposed that person is Hagrid, and the date that the escort would come and explain things Harry would need to know.

Harry knows the special circumstances, so he skipped over the explanation and read the supplies suggested and needed for school. He’d need to get them in Diagonal Alley soon.

What Harry needed to do now, though, was start making a plan. In all of Harry’s life, his plans never really worked, and he usually relied on Hermione or Rom for those kinds of things. Ron being an amazing strategist and Hermione with her advanced knowledge. Harry was always the pure force behind them, with his fame and his mass amount of magic.

But now, with his knowledge of what will happen, and his experience as an Auror in the Ministry, he could do so with more precise calculations. This time, he can do things with much more precaution and maybe get some things out of the way early. Like the horcruxes.

Harry made a list in his head of some events he knew about. Then thought about what he could prevent.

1. Quirell is being possessed by Voldemort and wants the sorcerer stone - maybe get the stone first?
2. Ginny gets possessed in second year by Tom Riddle because of a book Lucious Malfoy gave her in the book shop - get the book away from Ginny first and get the Basilisk on Harry’s side first?
3. Sirius is in Azkaban and escapes-

Sirius. He must still be alive.

“Then that means…” Harry let his mind wander rapidly, his thoughts completely out of his own control. Sirius is alive. That means so is Remus, and Fred, and Snape, and- and everyone else too!

He sat there, body frozen while his mind whirled through possibilities too fast. He sat, staring at his little feet in front of him, off in his own space of mind. A warm, fuzzy feeling came to his heart, so vivid and full of life. He didn’t even notice the crying until his tears stung his face in the cold air and he was wiping them away with his old battered quilt.

Then that switch again, and Harry was back into the plotting world again, pushing the death away in his head to focus. It’s no longer death, he thought, smiling. He didn’t bother with the tears that kept flowing, but slowing down quickly. He’s too dehydrated to cry for long. His smile faded slowly as he went back to his seriousness.

4. Madeye is Barty Crouch Jr. and puts his name in the Goblet of Fire and Voldemort comes back - get to the cup first, no, kill Peter Pettigrew as soon as he sees that cowardly rat.
5. The Order of the Phoenix comes back and they-

“Oh wait.” Harry muttered to himself, putting a hand to his chin and looking seriously down at his legs. His face was getting hot from all the emotions he quickly displayed and changed. Relaxing then tending his body.

What about the Dursleys? Was he going to stay with them? Harry can access his vault at Gringotts so he could- he could stay somewhere else? But no, who’s gonna let a kid stay in an Inn or apartment alone? Would he lie? Maybe he could get a squib to take him? Would Miss Fig go tell Dumbledore when Harry didn’t come back? Would she take him in? Was there any other option? What about a glamour-.

Grimmauld Place. Harry remembers where it is.

He almost laughed out loud before biting his tongue hard to stop the sound from escaping, tasting hot iron. A high pitched squeak came from his lips instead, which only made him want to laugh harder. Oh, this is perfect! Harry could stay at Grimmauld Place for the summer and he’d be perfectly fine! No Death Eater knows where that place is, and it’s much safer than the Dursley’s ever could be! Even Dumbledore didn’t know! It’s perfect!

“Alright, plan for your first year first, then think about summer.” Oh, but Harry did have a plan. The only problem, however, is, well… actually a lot of problems. He knows too much. How is he gonna hide that? Especially from Ron and Hermione?

How is he going to hide that he knows Snape’s true intentions, that he knows Dumbledore’s true intentions? Or how he knows that Quirrell is Voldemort, or Tom Riddle? Or Lucius Malfoy? What would he do?

Play dumb? How long would that last when Barty Crouch comes around and puts his name in the Goblet of Fire? When he has Moody’s all seeing eye? And Moody himself when he comes around? Should he change the future at all-.

No, he should. There can be a better ending than people dying, a better future for people in the Wizarding world. A better chance for his friends, his family. Harry can’t lose, not again.

That’s what he needs to do, what he will do. Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, the wizard who killed Lord Voldemort, will make the future better.

He will make it right. For Sirius. For Fred. For Remus and Tonks. For his parents. And… maybe a bit for Snape, for trying so hard to protect him over the years.

***

The next chance Harry gets to enact part one of his plan is after he’d done his chores for the weekend and sat alone in a corner of Dudley’s second room, the sun just setting.

The small space Harry sat was under a tall desk, behind a twin bed. Away from the door and stacked with broken video games and crashed remote control toy cars. Harry simply pushed out the chair from under the desk, and got under it himself to hide while he worked on his plan.

Harry had grabbed a few sheets of paper from a desk and a pen to write with, and used the inside of the desk for a hard surface to write on.

Step 1 is a simple goodbye to the Dursleys, a letter for each occupant other than Harry in the house, and a solid goodbye to Ms. Figg. He made sure to reassure Ms. Figg of where he was going for school, and that he wouldn’t be back for the summer. That he couldn’t.

Harry combined Petunia’s and Vernon’s letter into one and made it quick, getting to the point as to make sure they didn’t misunderstand. They seemed to like doing that.

Dear Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon,

I am pleased to inform you that I will be leaving for Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and won’t be coming back. Don’t worry, you won’t have a wizard living in your house after I leave. I have a different place I’ll be staying for summers and have no need to come back to 4 Privet Drive.

Please take care and have a good rest of your lives,

Harry J. Potter

Even if the Dursley’s did nothing to help Harry much, or appreciate him, or do anything other than hate him, he still did not feel anyone deserves the same treatment. If it not they deserved it. Harry knows from experience that how the Dursleys act and treat him is bad, but he won’t stoop down to their level in his goodbye. No one deserves that, especially not their son.

Dudley was a bit more difficult to write for, since everything Harry wanted to take account for, and the knowledge that Dudley only acts as he doesn’t because of his parents. Still, the boy did not deserve what might come for him. What would happen when the dementor came for Harry? Would it try to go after Dudley instead? Would it even come? Would Dudley even read his letter? What if Dudley got magic like Harry did and his parents rejected him? There had been times where Harry had thought Dudley had magic, but did the boy really? Harry never knew, but there is always a chance for everything.

Just to be safe, Harry included his worries into the note.

With careful thought and no scrap paper to brainstorm besides what he saw in his head, Harry tried his damned hardest with his chicken scratch handwriting to inform Dudley of everything Harry thought he might need to know.

Dear Dudley,

I know you hate me; your parents hate me, so I’ll try and make this brief. I am leaving for Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I won’t be coming back. I won’t be able to be reached by regular mail, but I will send you a letter and an owl will carry it to you when I get to Hogwarts. I’ll send them on holidays and birthdays and such, too. Please reach out if you ever get an invitation to something that says ‘wizard’ or ‘witch’ or ‘magic’, I can help you if you do. Your parents do not like magic and wizards, so if you ever get a letter inviting you to a school that teaches something like that, please contact me first. You may not be a wizard, which is good for you, but if you are it would be bad to go to your parents. It’s the reason they treat me as they do, because my parents were wizards, and I am one too.

If we need to be in contact more often, I will get you your own owl to write me with. Stay safe.

Sincerely,

Harry

(P.S. if you are a wizard, I hope you get Hogwarts)

Dudley is a little brat, but if he ever turned out to be a wizard, Harry would do whatever he could for him. And hopefully, he wouldn’t get and ideas from younger Malfoy.

Once every word was checked over twice to make sure everything he wanted to cover was covered and guaranteed, Harry folded Dudley’s paper in half to hide the words, and left Petunia’s and Vernon’s the way it was. The date in Harry’s Hogwarts letter is three days away from the time he is writing the letters. So until then, Harry waits. And waits. And waits, until there was a knock on the front door of number 4 Privet Drive.

It wasn’t as loud and boisterous as Harry was expecting from Hagrid, but Harry assumed it was just orders for the Gamekeeper to keep quiet in a muggle neighborhood. Either way, Harry sat up excitedly in his cupboard, ready to leave and never come back.

Harry grabbed his small bag of the things he wanted to keep, all stuffed tightly and neatly, and was soon prepared to come out of his closet at any moment. Anxious to, even. He had his hand on the door, expectant.

Of course, there is little Harry would want to keep from the Dursley house, so the bag was light, but little didn’t mean nothing. He’d wanted the things he forgot at the house, and had never thought to come back for. Two fairytale books, and one book that was for young adults that he only read once and didn’t quite remember fully. A few old, baggy pants and shirts that would never fit Harry properly, a few soldier figurines from Dudley’s old board game he only opened once, the old quilt that was so thin it fit perfectly in the even older bag, and lastly, one small stuffed animal in the shape of a black dog.

He stole that last one from Dudley just last night. Oh to see Sirius’ face when Harry appeared to have a stuffed animal the same as his animagus form.

Finally, as Harry looked through the small opening in the cupboard door, Vernon came around from the stairs to the door, stomping furiously and muttering about how late it is. Petunia was right behind him, peering with her long neck out of the window to see who was there. In her hand, the letter Harry had left her.

When she seemed to have spotted the visitor though, she stopped dead in her tracks, going as pale as Harry had seen ghosts in Hogwarts get. The letter fell, floating down like a leaf as she stared. It scared Harry to see her so white, and almost thought she had died right on the spot. Harry looked back and forth between Petunia and Vernon, carefully watching their reactions.

It seemed as Petunia had not died on the spot when she proceeded to blink repeatedly at the figure. Vernon opened the door, grumbling. Petunia looked like she was fighting back tears, which Harry thought odd. Which, he only thought it odd, though, until he himself saw who had come to stand on the doorsteps of number 4 Privet Drive.

Severus Snape, secret double agent for Dumbledore against Voldemort, Potions Master and Professor at Hogwarts, The Half Blood Prince, was standing stiffly in front of Vernon Dursley, who looked upset at the taller man. Vernon was already tomato red, pure opposite of his wife, who didn’t move an inch since she stopped on the second to last stair. Petunia now sported a Slytherin shade or green.

“Who are you and what are you doing up so late bothering us?!” Vernon whisper-yelled at Snape, who just gave Vernon an unimpressed look, then scowled. “Are you mad?” Vernon continued, ranting for a bit until he was out of breath about this and that.

Hagrid would’ve given Vernon an immediate scare with how big he is, but this time, Vernon would learn his lesson from Snape. Harry’s heart thrummed with excitement to see Vernon get what’s coming to him, and continued to watch.

Snape seemed to have had enough of Vernon, since he took his signature stride forward, making the shorter man cower into his own home. Snape’s robes flowed as they always did, reminding Harry of smoke and water whenever the Potions teacher moved. “Always so dramatic.” Harry murmured to himself and rolled his eyes.

“I am here for young mister Harry Potter as an escort to Hogwarts of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is time for the boy to start his journey in learning magic. The boy received a letter of invitation exactly two weeks ago on this very subject, if I’m not mistaken.” Snape’s monotone voice was easy to hear, as he was not quite loud but not quite quiet either. Harry almost missed it.

“You are certainly mistaken! We received no such thing! And we will not have some crackhead old man who speaks of magic and nonsense take him away to teach him magic tricks!” This time, Vernon was much louder. But Harry knew from his own experience that raising your voice at Snape was definitely the last thing you wanted to do.

Of course, Vernon didn’t know that, so lucky for him, Petunia did. She finally seemed to take a breath and sigh at Vernon’s ignorance, then snapped at her husband. “Vernon! Would you think for once! Do you know who this man is?!” She whisper-yelled, so stern that her tone shocked Vernon into submission. Snape turned to Petunia, who mirrored his movement.

“Petunia.” He drawled, very clearly annoyed with the situation. Harry remembered how Snape hated his aunt, and whole heartedly understood from his own experience. Well, that’s one thing they could relate to, at least.

“You.” She responded, her voice so obviously trying to hide her nervousness. Petunia didn’t dare speak Snape’s name. “Why would we let you of all people take the boy? You’ve already cost me a sister, now you come into my family again, to take another child to die? Will you teach him, just to bring him back and use his abilities on us?” She stopped, looking over to her husband for anything, but she didn’t seem to find courage with Vernon, so she let her words sit in the cold autumn, still and thick.

The Potions Master just stood, still stiff. But now Harry could see from his small window that Snape looked even more on edge than ever now. Harry remembered the time he looked into Snape’s memories of his parents, and Harry too, felt tense from Petunia’s hatred stained words.

But Snape was stronger than Harry, so he spoke up easily. “No need for worry, students are not aloud to use magic outside of school, so he will not be able to use any magic against you unless certain circumstances are met.” He pauses for a second, then looked around. Snape looked up at the top of the stairs for that second, but didn’t seem to find what he’d been looking for, and kept searching. “Where is the boy? We must be leaving now. I am in a hurry tonight.” There is haste in Snape’s words, so Harry grabbed his bag with a firmer grip, and opened his cupboard slowly. He’d already undone the lock, and left the letters under the correct doors. Petunia’s still sat on the floor by her feet.

Harry was ready to leave Number 4 Privet Drive tonight. His eleventh birthday is the birthday of the day Harry gets free of the Dursleys, forever. Even with the surprise of Snape, Harry couldn’t help feeling a buzzing, giddy feeling in his chest at leaving. The potions professor is much better than the Dursleys, and hopefully he wasn’t as mean to Harry if only Harry knew how to get on his good side.

Snape’s eyes instantly tied themselves to the boyish small form as Harry stood, and Harry now understood why his younger self was so scared of his potions professor. Even taller now that Harry’s so small, Snape loomed over everyone in the entrance hall, even being as tall as Petunia while she still stood on the second to last stair.

“Harry Potter, I am your escort to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Have you your things ready?” Harry nodded, holding tighter to his bag until his knuckles were white. “Good. We’ll be off now.” Snape turned to Petunia, not even acknowledging Vernon who tried to intervene again, but failed in vain. “Mr. Potter may come back for summer vacations, and if he may desire, for holidays in between the school year. Please resume your night.”

Snape walked out of the door, and Harry knew to follow, and easily dodged Vernon’s hand when he tried to stop Harry. He’s too excited to be worrying about Vernon, Harry knew he wasn’t coming back any time soon.

The two wizards walked down the street, with Snape completely ignoring the sidewalk and going straight down the middle of the street and towards the park at the end of the road. Harry followed obediently, jogging and almost running to keep up with his professor. When they got to the park, where trees littered along the area to hide them, Snape put his arm out to Harry, then thought better and put it back down, turning to the young boy. Harry suspected there was no flying motorcycle tonight.

Now that Harry knew Snape after being his student for his years of Hogwarts before, he could see the concern in the man’s eyes, the worry creases on his forehead making themselves clearer. Snape’s worried, worried about Harry. It made a little warmth light up in Harry’s heart. Not a lot of people worried about him.

“I assume you hid the letter from your aunt and uncle and waited for me?” Snape asked, and wow, even his tone couldn’t hide the worry he had for Harry’s situation. Ouch, Snape really couldn’t hide from Harry now, and Harry didn’t feel one bit bad about it. It’s better if he could read his professor better, especially for someone like Snape.

But Harry had to play at least somewhat dumb, so he nodded sheepishly, holding his head downward but still looking up at Snape, innocently. He hoped Snape would understand his situation. “They,” Harry muttered. “They don’t like magic.”

“Then I believe you made the correct choice.” Now Snape turned fully to Harry, looking down at the little eleven year old boy. “You realize what you need?” Harry nodded again. “I will take you to get anything you need in Diagonal Alley, and we will set up other new things for you as well.” Snape put his arm out again to Harry. “Now, you will take my arm, and we will apparate where we need to go for the night.”

Harry gave a confused look, but none the less took Snape’s arm and clenched his stomach for what came next. The pulling sensation and the constriction was always terrible, but now, as a little kid, the apparatus felt absolutely dreadful. The pull at his naval made the whole world spin, then his feet left the ground. Harry had to bite his tongue to keep what little food he had in him inside as it swirled uncomfortably in his tummy.

When they arrived, Harry let go of Snape only to fall back and almost land on his bum. Snape caught him quickly, slowly lowering Harry down to sit on the carpet floor. His little body could barely hold on, but it did, because the thought of throwing up on Snape’s carpet seemed like the worse idea than feeling sick for a little while longer.

“You will be fine, breathe Potter.” Snape let his hand linger for only a soft second, until he strode away to wherever. Harry didn’t care, he knew Snape wouldn’t hurt him, even as the man felt intimidating.

Still, Harry looked around to try and get rid of the dizziness and get some sense of place. The carpet is a dark green and so soft to the touch. Harry almost felt bad for having his dirty little feet on it after walking in the slightly muddy park. His shoes still didn’t magically fit, which Harry hadn’t done anything about for lack of wanting to get the attention of the Ministry.

When Snape came back from wherever he went, he set a glass of water in Harry’s hands, making sure the boy could hold it safely before letting go and went off to somewhere again.

Harry finally got some sense of placement, and his eyes cleared up, so the first things he did was take in his surroundings. The carpet was a rectangle that stopped a yard away from his outstretched feet. The furniture around Harry reminded him of Snape’s office, but much more cozy, and it was warm, unlike the Dungeons Snape worked in. The wasn’t just brick walls that surrounded him, but a dark oak floor and ceiling with paintings of such and such on the wall. There were pillars lining the walls too, and the dark green furniture matched the dark oak in its accents.

It’s a beautiful room, and Harry wondered if this was Snape’s quarters at Hogwarts, then quickly forgot about that idea. He wouldn’t have taken Harry there now, it wasn’t time for school yet.

Suddenly and quietly, the door facing Harry opened and Snape came walking through, holding some things in his hands as he strode through the room to meet Harry. When he kneeled down, Harry could see what Snape had and gasped quietly.

His potions professor, the one who always hated him, must have taken pity on Harry after seeing him come out from his cupboard with baggy clothes and no shoes. With having to live with Petunia, Harry should’ve thought Snape would understand better this time.

“You will stay with me until you must leave for Hogwarts, and will come with me tomorrow to get your school supplies and such. These clothes should fit you somewhat tonight. We will get you more suitable clothes tomorrow as well. Our first stop will be Gringotts.” Snape took the empty glass that Harry was sipping from out of his hands, trading it for the clothes. “The restroom is the door on your left. Once you change I will lead you to your room for the night. You will stay with me for the following night before you must be off for Hogwarts. I will show you exactly how things must go, and you will listen and do as I say.” Harry nodded, actually happy that someone would truly introduce him to the wizarding world instead of just dropping him off and expecting him to know what to do.

“Okay. But, Mr…”

“It’s professor Snape to you.”

“Right, professor Snape, right…” A pause. “Umm, this is all real right? Wizards, witches? Magic? I just-.” Harry tried for words but couldn’t find them.

“Yes, magic is real. You are a wizard, and other wizards exist. How do you think we got here, Mr. Potter?” Snape let a moment pass by, but eventually, hesitantly, he pulled his hand out to be in front of Harry, his palm facing up. A flower grew right there in the middle of his palm, and Harry gave another little gasp and smiled.

The yellow dandelion blossomed sweetly, smiling at Harry who smiled back, all giddy and giggling. Even with an adult amount of information, Harry seemed to find himself acting much more childish than he ever intended and ever thought he could be. Especially around Snape.

“You see now, Mr. Potter?” Snape’s monotone voice seemed to have the smallest hint of joy buried under a lot of practiced blankness, but Harry heard it. Harry nodded, smiling tiredly. Snape picked the dandelion off of his hand and set it on the neatly folded pile of clothes Harry now supplied, then stood. “Now, be off and get dressed, and leave your clothes there. We’ll be up rather early to gather your supplies and such. Go on, off you go.”

Harry gladly did as he was told, too tired and dizzy to argue. He already agreed with the idea of sleep now that the time was so late. And apparating at night always zapped the energy out of Harry. It was most definitely a long day already.

Once Harry was in the soft, comfortable, slightly big pajamas, Snape led him through the door he came from before and went down a corridor, the little Harry following in Snape’s shadow. Harry held the dandelion in his right hand at his side, not letting go and actually getting pretty attached to it. He remembered Snape doing something similar for his mother, and smiled. Maybe Snape would like him now more that he saw more of his mother than Harry’s father in the boy.

Soon enough, Harry was getting magically tucked into a queen sized bed in a similarly decorated room than the last. The sheets were also soft, and not in the silky kind of soft, but the cozy kind of soft. Once Harry was under the covers, another very fluffy blanket was laid over his little body and the familiar magic of a protective charm washed over him. It made Harry smile, and he was damn sure Snape’s eyes eased from their constant scowl as well, but he’d soon forget as he instantly fell asleep in the bed, feeling safe.

***

Breakfast with Snape wasn’t as uncomfortable as Harry thought it would be. Even as Harry waited in his seat at the dining room table, he swung his legs back and forth, because why not? Even if it’s Snape who picked him up, Harry will still meet Hagrid, and Snape’s house is beautiful in a way that made Harry feel so invited. The color scheme Harry was expecting was black, dark green, dark black, more dark green, and darker dark black.

Instead, Harry was astounded by the dark and sage green colors with the dark oak brown that held a bit of reddish color and was definitely red in the sun. Speaking of the sun, the house had very tall ceilings that equally matched with the ceiling to floor windows, bringing sunlight and the view of outside greenery into the house and making everything so magical.

So, as Harry sat relaxed and giddy in the small round booth under the windows surrounding the bench and making the golden sunrise shine through, he kicked his feet in his seat that wouldn’t let his legs touch the ground. Eventually, Snape finished making the two of them food, and set plates of different foods down in the middle of the table in case of wanting more of something. It was a very large breakfast, and Harry noticed the extra amount of food Snape already piled onto Harry’s plate.

While they ate, it was peaceful. Afterwards, Harry realized that it might be suspicious that he hadn’t been asking questions this whole time, and decided that when Snape started cleaning up breakfast, he’d help and ask about things along the way.

“So, what’s this Hogwarz place anyways?” Harry asked while he tried to start cleaning off his dish.

“It’s Hogwarts, and just leave your dishes in the sink, they’ll clean themselves.” Snape still sounded annoyed, even if his eyes still betrayed him whenever he watched or looked at Harry.

“Hogwarts? Hogwarts. Okay, so it’s a school? What magic does it teach? Do you teach there, professor Snape?” Harry followed Snape around while the professor flicked his wand this way and that, activating spells here and there to change or clean something while they walked down the halls.

“Hogwarts teaches many different kinds of magic. I teach potions at there.” His answer was short and to the point, like he wasn’t actually trying to be rude to Harry, but his fuse is short and anxious. So Harry stayed quiet for a bit longer, letting Snape settle down a bit.

After walking around the large house, Snape led Harry back into a bedroom he’d let Harry sleep in. He’d made a b-line to a door in the room, Harry’s little legs could barely keep up again but he still followed. Once Snape opened the door, Harry followed Snape inside to be rewarded with a very large and very beautiful walk in closet. The hangers are full of all different kinds of shirts, jumpers, sweaters, and cardigans. Many folded clothes and pants were in drawers as Snape looked through them selectively.

While Snape continued his browse, Harry sat himself down on a stool next to a large full person mirror. When Snape finally looked like he had everything he’d wanted, the professor laid out the clothes on the seat in the middle of the room and pulled his want out. He used a wordless spell which made the clothes go from large enough to fit someone like Snape to small enough to perfectly fit Harry.

Snape used a spell to fold the clothes again then walked over to hand them to Harry. The little boy took them delicately in small little hands. Harry had never had someone actually care about his clothes fitting at that age. It almost brought him to cry about it, but he preserved and looked up to Snape.

“That is your outfit for today. All of the clothes in this closet will be sized down to fit you, and they will be yours to have.” A small pause. “Remember, it will be cold, so don’t forget your jumper and put every layer on.” Snape ordered, though he more sounded like a worried mother to Harry. Especially the Harry who had never had such kindness from someone else until now. Even if Snape would not be viewed the same if Harry hadn’t known what is now the future.

“Thank you, professor Snape.” Harry couldn’t help the crack in his young little voice. Harry could sob later. For now, he stays strong. Snape nodded before leaving Harry to his own devices.

While Harry got dressed, he realized as he looked in the mirror, that a real kid like him would know nothing of how to actually wear the outfit Snape had given him, and wondered if it was a test. So, in the spirit of not wanting to be suspicious, Harry messed up some buttons on his button up, and tried to tuck in his cardigan but not his button up. His collar was left up, and his messy hair seemed to match with his messy outfit. He also tied his jumper by its arms around his waist.

Harry walked out of the closet, all dressed up in his stupidly messed up outfit. Snape wasn’t in the room, so Harry went to go search for him elsewhere when he caught Snape in front of the bedroom door, leaning on the wall, bored. The potions master took one long look at Harry, then sighed. He picked up his wand then waved it at Harry, fixing up all the mistakes he’s purposefully made. “Turn.” And Harry did, letting Snape finish ticking in his little ducktail into his little belt with another whisk of his wand. Harry knew from experience that the duck tail of his button up was not going to stay put.

This time when Snape put his arm out for Harry, the boy didn’t hesitate to clench his stomach and grab the arm. The snap and a pop came and both Harry and Snape arrived in Diagon Alley, right in front of Gringotts.

“First, you require money for your supplies.” Snape held Harry up for a bit longer. Once two recovered they started their journey into Gringotts, Harry asking questions left and right. Harry finally posed the question he had asked long ago once more.

“But professor Snape, I haven’t any money.” Harry confessed, but he knew better by now.

“No, your parents left you their vault. You will use that money until you may possess a profession and take over the Potter Lordship. Come along boy, quickly.”

Harry almost tripped. Potter Lordship? He hadn’t heard that in a while. When he turned seventeen he’d been eligible for his seat in the Wizengamot, but refused it and the seat stayed empty.

But as Harry contemplated what Snape posed for little Harry’s mind, they entered Gringotts, the goblins seemingly peering down from their desks, filled high with stacks of papers and fast working quills.

“Professor, what are those creatures? Up there?” Harry nodded his head towards the working goblins, knowing not to point and stare when they were just doing their job. He also knew just how unpleasant a few could be, but not all of them.

“They are the goblins who keep wizard money safe in their vaults under London. You may ask them yourself to explain when they have your blood tested.”

“Blood tested?” Harry inquired, completely in shock in hearing about it. Hagrid had not done blood testing, he’d only gotten Harry access to his vault with his key. Of course, Harry knew about blood testing, but he’d never used it. But then, Harry thought it smart to have his blood tested to find out just what he owned and might be heir to. So maybe it was a good idea after all.

“Yes, blood testing. The goblins will take a small sample of your blood to check for any seats or vaults you may inherit. Come along.” Snape explained the situation easily, but Harry only stared up and around Gringotts in awe, not really listening to Snape. The bank still looked as magnificent as it always had, with its beautiful chandelier and dark oak with quartz and marble.

Too bad he’s ruined it while hunting horcruxes.

The two had finally made it up to the tallest desk at the end of the hall, the old goblin peering down from his desk. A scowl forever plastered on his face.

Snape already had Harry’s key out and handed it to the goblin. “The Potter vault.” Then Snape took a note out from his robes, handing it facing down to the goblin. The old goblin looked at it, a hint of surprise came across his face. “Dumbledore wishes for access to vault 713.”

The goblin nodded, grimly. “Very well.” He responded, solemn and sort of anxious. “Griphook will escort you both.”

Another goblin came out from around the tall desk, ushering the two back to another door. He had the same suit Harry remembered, his nails and teeth as sharp as ever. Harry decided in that moment that if he ever needed reoccurring meetings with Gringotts, Harry wouldn’t use Griphook’s services this time. He’d always been sneaky, and there are other goblins Harry much more preferred.

While Snape had his back turned, Harry turned to the older goblin with a calm smile. “May your your gold shine and be blessed. Thank you.” Harry looked back just a bit to see the surprisingly pleased face of the old goblin.

Yes, Harry had done some research on customs for many different people when he was older. He had to, since he was an Auror requested by so many, even to help goblins and Centaurs and such. It always made Harry feel proud to be able to help others, and do so respectfully while in service.

Of course, Snape never missed anything, and turned his head to Harry when the boy caught up to him. Harry gave a sheepish smile, trying to come up with an excuse.

“I, umm, heard someone say it when they left earlier, so I- I thought it was, umm, appropriate?” Harry mumbled. But Snape didn’t seem to care much more than that, so he continued to look ahead and keep walking.

When they finally got to the mine cart they’d take down to the vaults, Snape quite literally picked Harry up by his waist like Hagrid had done to set Harry into the cart. Snape was surprisingly gentle when holding Harry, and it was short lived when Harry got sat in his seat and hooked his ankles under his wood to hold on. When the potions master and goblin got in, they started their speeding journey down underground.

It felt like a journey lasting forever, but with the magic surrounding the vaults, it could’ve been hours or just a few minutes that passed. They finally landed at the Potter vault, getting out quickly as the group seemed to be in a rush.

“Key, please.” The goblin’s squeaky voice rang through the small hall of a few clustered vaults. Snape handed Griphook the key, watching carefully as he carefully inserted the key and twisted. As soon as the door was open, Snape snatched the key away from the goblin. Harry would’ve thought it rude if he hadn’t known Griphook from his own experience.

The vault door dragged open heavily, revealing mass amounts of gold and artifacts sitting in a stretched out room. It almost surprised Harry, but then remembered that younger him never cared much about the artifacts and only really saw the mass amount of money in front of him. The most money he’d ever had in his life.

Snape reached into his robes again and brought out a relatively small, black dragon leather bag. He gave it to Harry, who immediately looked inside and found it empty, but filled with so many charms that it made him wonder if Flitwick himself made it. “Hold that open.”

The professor then took out his wand and levitated mass amounts of money into the bag; it barely got heavier. The sheer amount of money Snape put in the bag was much more than Hagrid had him take, and almost five times as much. Even then, it barely put a dent in the lot of it. Harry worried to think of if he was heir to anything else, because he could comfortably live off of the Potter fortune for the rest of his life, and maybe three generations as well.

“That should be enough. The Potter finances have been steadily rising through lending the business to Gringotts, so this amount will be back in this vault in around six month’s time.” Snape stood still, looking at Harry’s astonishment, then looking around the vault. “You may also take an artifact or heirloom, though I would doubt the ability an eleven year old may be able to take care of it.”

Now Harry looked around, actually looking for something he’d remembered was here now. He knew, a few years after Hogwarts and checking the entries that entered his vault, that Dumbledore had gotten his cloak from here, the lying cheat. Harry walked in further, tying the strings of the bag tight and hanging the light dragon skin bag by his wrist. He walked a ways, then to his left was a neatly folded, beautifully embroidered cloak, just the way Harry remembered it.

When he picked it up, Harry caught the way Snape’s eyes flashed something, but he couldn’t pinpoint just what it was. He looked around a bit more, finding boxes and jewelry, armor and gold, magical items and things galore. Harry looked back to Snape, who was impatient and tapping his foot softly.

“Can I come back?” Harry made his way back to Snape and Griphook, stuffing the cloak into the bag before the Snape could see it clearly.

“Any time you’d like.” Snape responded, now moving back to the cart with Harry in his shadow. “You will keep that bag on you, and pay for your equipment with it today. 29 bronze knuts to one silver sickle, and 17 sickles make a gold galleon. Use them wisely, and you won’t use the money for others.” They all got back into the cart. “I will not have the students of Hogwarts manipulate you into giving anything of yours to them when I am the one in charge of you.” Harry smiled at that, then clipped his bag onto the side of his belt where a mechanism was waiting for it.

***

The trip to vault 713 had Harry silent the whole time. He didn’t want to know what Snape would say if Harry asked what the small package was, and he already knew that Snape wouldn’t steal it. There was really no need for any words, and otherwise no need for Harry to speak at all. But what came after wards, once they got back up to the surface, had the most honest questions Harry could’ve asked the whole day, since he knew little to nothing about blood testing.

“So, how do they get my blood?” Harry started as Griphook led them through the corridors.

“They will prick your finger for one drop of blood.” Snape responded dully.

“And how do they know I, uhh…”

“They can tell by your magic in your blood just about anything they need. Today, they will find out who left their vaults and seats on the Wizengamot to you. I will come with you next summer to also figure out any extra details as well.”

“And what are the seat things?”

“They are seats of a political office inherited by blood and lineage. I suspect that you may hold the Potter and Peverell seats, as your father and mother held, but some others may have left their own to you in a form of will, as the muggle term is, or ritual that gave their family magic to you.”

After Snape finished explaining, Griphook opened a door for them and let them inside, not going in himself and shutting the door behind him.

Inside, the rectangular room is filled with bookshelves after bookshelves, filled with the presumed books. They towered all the way up to the ceiling until being met with an open glass ceiling that showed off the beautiful blue sky and fluffy cold clouds. There is a desk at the end of the room with two chairs sitting facing the desk in front of them, a small coffee table besides each chair.

Snape strode towards the goblin, who continued to look down at his papers, writing something.

“Severus Snape and Harry Potter, welcome.” The goblin looked up at the two, gesturing for them to sit. “I was expecting Mr. Harry Potter to be visiting Gringotts soon, but not to expect a blood test and be accompanied by Mr. Severus Snape.”

Harry glanced over to Snape, both had sat down in a separate chair with stiff bottoms from their journey in the underground. Snape seemed as poised as always, with a bit more stress in his shoulders than before now. He must not know what to expect. Harry thought before looking back to the goblin.

“Alas, here we are. I am Rinkon, and am the one in-trusted with the runnings of Potter and Peverell finances. Of course, you must be in a hurry today. I suspect you must be collecting your school supplies today, young Mr. Potter, so shall we get on to the blood test? It shall only take a moment to register your results and we’ll go from there.” Rinkon explained before hopping out of his chair to come around to a desk on his right.

“Thank you.” Harry said, earning a smile from the polite goblin. Not many goblins would waste time with pleasantries, but it seems this older goblin was much more laid back. Even if goblins were the most structured and uptight creatures you’d ever met.

When Rinkon came back from his musings around in his desk, he held a book, a quill, and a bottle of ink in his spiky hands. He went back to sit at his desk, placing his things on top before lifting himself up. Harry could swear that he saw Snape smirk while Rinkon struggled, but he only ignored it because he himself needed to try not to smile, let alone laugh.

“Ah, here we are.” Rinkon settled in his seat then organized the materials to face Harry. “I hope someone explained this to you before you got here?” He questioned Harry, glancing towards Snape. Harry nodded.

“Yes, professor Snape told me you needed to prick my finger?” Rinkon nodded back.

“Indeed. You will prick your index finger on your right hand with this quill.” Rinkon picked up the quill. “Then placed the tip on the first page of this book.” He then opened the book to the first page. “The quill will allow you to use the blood you gave to write your name, then this book will hold any personal information you’d ever need. Your profession of school, your seats in the Wizengamot, your vaults, what you are heir to, and what properties you may possess. It may also have other things, but those will come in time. So, if you could get started.”

Rinkon gave Harry the quill, and left Harry to do what he’d needed. Instead of watching Harry, the goblin turned to Snape.

“I see that some muggles have been keeping Mr. Potter since his parents had passed under false pretenses that they are his guardians?” Snape nodded, wearily. “I see, and his only other guardian is in Azkaban. I see. Well, the only other person to be his guardian is most likely Albus Dumbledore, though he is not written or magically inclined at all.” Rinkon bit around the bush, getting Snape to get the hint and assuming Harry wouldn’t.

“Yes, I understand. The boy will be staying with me for until he enters school, then he will stay at school for the holidays.”

“And after school?”

“He will chose where to stay.”

“I can chose not to go back?” Harry interrupted the two, who whipped their heads back to the boy. Harry set down his quill, finished with his name. He had just started reading his information as it appeared magically, but looked up when he heard he has a choice.

Rinkon seemed to not worry that had most definitely knew what the adults were hinting at, instead reaching for the book and taking it to look through. Snape took initiative on the matter instead.

“Yes, you may chose where to go, since the Dursleys are not your true guardians. Your only other guardian is in Azkaban.” Harry saw clearly how Snape grimaced when he said Sirius is in prison. Did he know? “So you may have someone take temporary guardianship over you until he may be able to come back.” And Harry smiled at that, how Snape had at enough faith to actually say that Sirius could come back. And Harry knew he would, so that just made it all the better.

Snape decided the conversation was finished, then turned to Rinkon, who waited for them with the book still open.

Rinkon turned to Harry, smiling. “Harry Potter, your information is all here. I must remind you to be very conservative with giving out this information, even if that person you may think to share it with is a friend or is family. It is very important information that anyone may use against you.” The goblin now had a very stern expression while sliding the book over to Harry. He took it gently, opening it to the first page.

Harry James Potter

Age - 11 years

Wizarding Family

James Potter - Deceased - Killing Curse (1960-1981)

Lily Potter - Deceased - Killing Curse (1960-1981)

Sirius Black - Living - (1959-) Location - Azkaban - Godfather

Lordship(s)

Heir to Potter Lordship

Heir to Peverell Lordship

Heir to Black Lordship

Heir to Prince Lordship

Heir to Slytherin Lordship

Vault(s)

Potter Vault

Peverell Vault

Black Vault

Prince Vault (accompanied by Lord Prince)

Slytherin Vault

Harry didn’t read father than that. Slytherin? Prince? Why did Snape give him his seat? When? And why does he have Sirius’ seat? Did that come with him being in Azkaban? Why does he have Slytherin? Was the rumor from second year true? He looked to Snape, who had surprisingly not been peering to look at the book. But Harry needed answers, so he set the book on the table, and before Rinkon could take it, he slid it over to in front of Snape. Both Snape and Rinkon gave Harry a curious look at the gesture. Harry stood firm in letting Snape see the contents of the book.

“You explained the whole seat things is political, but I don’t know the names besides my own and Slytherin. And I don’t know why I have Slytherin.” Harry explained, looking up at Snape for answers. The professor gave Rinkon a look for help, but the goblin just sat back to let Snape explain, a smirk making his pointy white teeth shine.

Snape gave a sigh, but none the less tried his best to explain. “The Potter and Peverell seats were your parent’s, so they have been willed to you now that they may not hold them.” Snape winced slightly. “The Black Lordship is your godfather’s, if you haven’t already figured that out by the name. Since he is in Azkaban, he may not hold the seat and it is willed onto you.” Snape took a long breath before continuing. “The Slytherin seat has been very selective of its heirs over the centuries, and the blood is so spread thin that it is very unpredictable. It seems the magic of the Slytherin bloodline has chosen you for its heir. There is nothing to be done about that now besides except it. It is a very important seat, and since you will be attending Hogwarts, the school will be pleased to see one of its confirmed heirs back home.”

“And the Prince seat?” At this, Snape seemed to fidget, rubbing his thumbs together slowly. Rinkon, on the other hand, just seemed tired.

“Severus Snape, just tell the boy. It will get out soon enough.” The goblin said, making Snape’s back straighten up stiffly. He gave a good glare at Rinkon before continuing explaining to Harry. He faced the smaller boy, anxious. Harry hopes he didn’t look anxious because of him.

“When your mother had passed, I had decided to give my Prince seat to you out of her memory. Now, you are my heir.” Snape sighed again, exasperated.

Is that why you seem so protective of me? So keen on not letting me fail? Harry wanted to ask, but quickly decided against it.

“Oh.” Harry spoke quietly. The tension in the room had risen, but Harry was so focused on what Snape was going to say that he only now felt it, a small pressure that filled the room. “I like the name Prince, it’s cool.” And all the tension from Snape’s shoulders dropped innocently to the floor.

***

Walking out of Gringotts made everything around them seem so bright, Harry had to squint to see properly. But Snape never stopped walking, so Harry followed like a shadow.

The outfit Snape put Harry in was actually quite cute, almost like a doll. He had a white button up long sleeve shirt with cuff links, a little maroon bow tie and a cream colored sweater vest. The little dark brown slacks were paired with shiny black shoes and matching black socks. Like Harry is a little man. Harry wondered if he should wear outfits like this more often, since it matched his situation beautifully.

While they walked, Snape pulled out a piece of paper from his cloak, reading off of it. “We will need to stop a few places for your school supplies first, then we’ll get your wand, your animal, and finally your robes and a new wardrobe.”

So, Snape and Harry wandered into shop after shop, looking for this and that for school. Snape was very helpful when shopping for potions equipment and ingredients, but was at a loss when buying books other than for potions. Even so, Harry knew from experience exactly what would be needed. He already knew everything from Hogwarts that he needed, so maybe he’d take some exams without the classes as a home study in his later years. Just because he already knew almost everything from school in his normal classes, he could actually study new subjects too.

Either way, Snape didn’t bother commenting when Harry bought triple the amount of books he needed, and didn’t mind reading the title to see them all advanced and about adult level kinds of information. Though, Harry didn’t catch when Snape slipped a few more fiction and potion books in with the mix, so that’d be a fun surprise for him.

After all the books, the extra potion making tools, the paper and quills, and anything else Harry needed, it was finally time to get Harry’s wand. Of course, that led the two to Ollivander’s and into the tricky task of choosing a wand. So, when Snape left Harry in the hands of Ollivander, he didn’t complain, just huffed childishly. He kind of hadn’t wanted Snape to go yet. He’d wanted Snape to know about the wand Harry got.

But Ollivander was all business while choosing wands, so Harry didn’t get to grumble much.

Wand after wand came flying in and out of Harry’s hand, one and another, they all weren’t right one for Harry. Of course, Harry knew this, but stayed forcefully quiet on the matter. Eventually, Ollivander had gone even further back into his shelves of wands, and Harry knew what would happen next. As Ollivander made his speech about wands and wizards, mentioning Voldemort and such. To Harry, it felt like a movie playing back, a sense of Deja Vu he’s been getting for a while, except the few changes like Snape instead of Hagrid. Still, Harry asked his questions, then sat down on one of the chairs Ollivander had in his shop and waited.

A few minutes later, Snape came striding in, and Ollivander started recalling Snape’s own wand and how Snape’s wand this and Snape’s wand that. After a while of the aloof wizard’s ranting, Snape himself excused himself from the conversation and took Harry and him out of the shop and down the street to continue their shopping.

“Now we will find you an animal. You may have a toad, a cat, or an owl. I suggest an owl.” Snape drawled on. “An owl can carry your mail, though a toad is easier to do transfiguration on. You will have two weeks before school officially starts, and will take the train in twelve days. I will escort you wherever you go outside of Hogwarts, and when you go to and from your family. Hogwarts-.”

“But what if I don’t want to go back.” Harry interrupted Snape, not caring about the repercussions he knew he’d find. They were stopped just outside of the shop where Harry knew Hedwig would be, but he still hesitated. Harry didn’t want to go back, and he didn’t know if Snape would let him after his past with Petunia.

But, instead of the stone cold voice telling him not to interrupt, Harry got a twinkle is usually dull eyes and an answer.

“If you wish to not go back to the Dursley’s, there are people that may be willing to take you in. Though I am sure Dumbledore would want to hear of any plans you might have. Your only other legal guardian is currently in Azkaban, as we talked about before, and cannot take up the mantle of legal guardian until he is proven innocent.” The explanation took a while, and made Harry remember their conversation just earlier. He still had so many questions for Snape. Like, will you tell me about my other guardian? Why are you being so nice? Will you take care of me over the summer? Will you betray Dumbledore for me and not tell him?

All questions that bounced around in his head, but never left his mouth.

“Oh…” Harry put on a pout, and apparently, something so simple made Snape fold when it came from a child, because he immediately placed a hand on Harry’s shoulder and gently led him inside the store.

“How about you pick out an animal from the list, then we may speak on this matter once I get you back to the house. No need to fret, how about you pick out two.”

Harry lit up, mentally smirking because wow, that only ever worked on Sirius before, and sometimes Mrs. Weasley. Interesting.

Snape stayed close to Harry in the store, almost like he thought one of the animals would leap out and try to attack Harry. Which, to be fair, did almost happen twice since they’d entered the store, so the worry was well placed, but the hovering did nothing to calm Harry’s nerves.

When Harry spotted Hedwig, he immediately went to her cage, picking it up gently to take her to Snape. But Snape was already by his side, analyzing Hedwig while she stared back at him, sassy as Harry always remembered her to be. Harry looked up at Snape, who gave a nod in return. That meant Harry picked right in Snape’s eyes, not that Harry would’ve cared, but it still felt right and made him giddy.

“An owl, now one more.” Snape straightened his back, tired from the day already.

“One more?” Harry asked.

“Yes. I remind you that you, Mr. Potter, may get two animals if you wish.” Harry made an O with his mouth before looking around for another he’d like. There were so many, and would Hogwarts even allow a niffler to live in the dorms? Or a bat? Or-. Or a beautiful silky black cat that sat so calm in its cage, watching Harry from above.

“I want that one. The black cat with green eyes.” Snape followed Harry’s eyes up to the cat, who stared back at the professor with bright emerald green eyes, matching Harry’s almost impossibly. Harry could swear he’d almost seen Snape smile, and smiled to himself as well.

“The cat it is, then.” Snape responded, his voice a bit lighter.

They went to pay, having Snape levitate the cat down from its perch. Harry bought one green collar and one red collar for the cat, food for both animals, treats, toys, and other more selective things like a few different perches for Hedwig and a few scratching posts for the cat.

“What will you name them?” Snape asked Harry as they headed towards a tavern for lunch. The time read noon on the clock in Ollivander’s, so it is most definitely time for lunch. Harry still felt drowsy from staying up so late the night before, but kept up easily as he’d been used to long, sleepless nights.

“I’m naming my owl Hedwig, but I don’t know what to call my cat.” Snape nodded.

They entered the establishment and ordered their food before they sat down. “Maybe Noir? Cause he’s black?” Harry inquired, but Snape didn’t give input like Harry wanted. “Or maybe… Mischief, I like Mischief.” Harry looked down at the cat by his feet, still sitting peacefully with its head in its paws. Noir looked up at Harry, listening. “Do you like Mischief? I hope so, because that’s what I’m going to call you.”

Harry looked up at Snape, who had taken out a book and was reading it. When Harry looked for the title, it read ‘The Magnificent Potions of The Fifteenth Century’. He hadn’t read that one yet, so Harry made a mental note to buy it and read it some other time.

Lunch went by quickly, as had the rest of the day as well, and the pair were finally at Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. They stepped in, finding robes and clothes every which way with this leather or that charm.

“You will need your school robes fitted, as well as multiple outfits and such. It will take a while to find the things you like, so we will get you fitted for your robes first. You may enter other shops as well to find other clothes.” Harry nodded. They had already bought many different clothes and such for Harry, everything being fit into the black bag Snape had given him.

He followed Snape to the person at the desk, looking around for anything he’d like. The lady looked at Snape, then at Harry. She didn’t look Harry in the eyes though, she was looking right above them. His scar. “We will need Mr. Potter fitted for his school robes.”

The shock on her face said all Harry needed to know. Good thing it also told Snape to get this over quickly because before the lady could speak, Snape snapped at her.

“We need this done quickly, now. We are in a hurry.” He ordered the girl away, turning to Harry with a softer face than he gave the woman. “While you get fitted, I will be here to wait for you.” Harry nodded, content with Snape staying to wait. “After this we will go back to my house to start on early studying for your classes. Dumbledore has put me in a position to take care of you at your time at Hogwarts. I will not have you failing anything while I look after you, especially my class.” Harry mentally smirked.

He knew he wasn’t going to fail anything, he remembers everything he was taught from his last time at Hogwarts. Harry couldn’t fail his classes, and if anything, he’d excel in them and instead take on home study subjects on so that he could sit for all of the exams. If he wanted, Harry could be the best student, and take quite literally, every test Hogwarts had to offer.

Hermione’s head would probably explode if he did that, but Harry didn’t care much about that. Heck, once she saw his test scores she’d probably use him to help her teach other people. If Snape is responsible for him and didn’t want him to fail, then Harry supposed he could just, per se, knock his expectations out of the ballpark? Oh yes, and out of petty spite because Snape thought he’d need to worry at all. How wrong he’d be.

The lady stepped out from where she’d run off to just a second ago, taking the attention of both Snape and Harry. “Alright, we’ll have you this way Mr. Potter.” She said as she gestured to a door. Harry looked up at Snape, who nodded to go with the lady, then followed her directions and walked with her into a room.

To his utter surprise, already standing in the room and one of the two pedestals for fitting, was Draco Malfoy.

Now, don’t get it all mixed up, Harry doesn’t hate Draco Malfoy, not really. After he’d grown up, and the young Malfoy apologized over and over about everything while trying to make up for his misgivings, Harry had gotten soft for the blonde and the two had become hesitant friends. Of course, that was over years of time, and when they were older.

This Malfoy, however, was the same scrawny little brat that would never shut up and would insult people left and right if he had anything to say about them. Which, for Malfoy, was a lot.

“Come along, your guardian is in a hurry now.” The lady spoke, gently but stern, pushing Harry to the second pedestal. Malfoy’s eyes shot to Harry, peering at him while he walked up and onto the pedestal. Harry rushed to cover his scar with his bangs.

As always with their childhood, Malfoy was taller. But Harry knew he’d grow much taller than Malfoy by fifth year, and the height difference jokes would only last through their fourth year. Once Harry got settled and the lady started taking his measurements, Malfoy started talking.

“Hogwarts, are we?” Malfoy asked, his tone bored with a hint of curiosity. Harry nodded.

“Yes, Hogwarts it is. You as well?” Harry asked back with a smile, being friendly as he could. Hopefully, when Malfoy introduced himself to Harry before the sorting, Harry could interrupt him before the boy insults Ron. Maybe things could turn out differently, without the whole rivalry being so treacherous.

“Of course, only the finest for my family.” And then the spouting came, and Harry couldn’t be more dulled by it. “My mother and father went to Hogwarts, and my grandparents, and their grandparents, and so on. Each and every one of them were Slytherin, as I will be as well.” Harry nodded, then back tracked.

“Slytherin? What’s Slytherin?” Harry asked, feigning ignorance.

“The Hogwarts houses, you don’t know of them?” Malfoy’s posh voice seemed even more curious now, looking Harry over piece by piece. If Harry still had his old baggy and sad shaped clothes, he might have been embarrassed and gotten defensive at his age. But now, not caring about clothes even as he looked much nicer than before, he still got embarrassed. Maybe Malfoy would hate him if Harry said he’d been raised by muggles instead.

“Ah, yes, I’ve not been given much information about Hogwarts yet, as you can probably tell. Would you mind telling me about it?” Harry tried to get on Malfoy’s good side, knowing how nice he really could be if certain people weren’t around. And how much the boy liked to talk as a kid and as an adult.

And apparently, asking Malfoy to speak more really did the trick on making the boy light up, his smile so bright it almost outmatched his pale silver hair. He knew it.

“Of course I can! I, of course, can only tell you what I’ve been told, but I do know lots about the school already! I’ve read Hogwarts, A History at least three times now! Oh, that’s a book about Hogwarts, by the way.” Malfoy went on, talking mostly about the history of Hogwarts and this and that. His explanation took so long that they were almost finished at the shop. Harry thought that Malfoy and Hermione could be great friends if they ever just sat down together and talked. “And Dumbledore is the standing headmaster now. My father doesn’t care for him much, so I’ll just have to wait and see the man for myself.”

Harry smiled, continuing to nod. “And the houses?” Asking politely, Harry wanted to get back on topic before his time ended. He wanted to know how Malfoy felt about them now, as a kid with only the word of his father and books. This talkative book nerd Malfoy who probably knew just as much as Hermione herself and even more.

“Oh yes, the Hogwarts Houses. There are four houses, each one named after the four great wizards who created the Hogwarts. There is Hufflepuff, which I’m told is for the polite and loyal. Ravenclaw, which I hear is for the book enthusiasts and smart. Then Gryffindor, for what Uncle Sev tells me is for the loyal, brave, and bullheaded.” Malfoy sniggered, but didn’t really say anything much more hurtful on the house.

It surprised Harry a bit, how much kindness and politeness he could give and how much he’d get back, especially from Draco Malfoy. Being polite to Malfoy felt so hard when he was without his adult memories and struggling against the boy, but now it just felt… it felt right, not having to really fight Malfoy. Like he shouldn’t just accuse this little eleven year old of being a death eater, or accusing his parents of such actions. Draco Malfoy is just a boy who reads books and is excited for wizarding school.

“And one more?” Harry asked when Draco paused to smile brightly again.

“And Slytherin! The house my whole family is always in! Both my mother and father’s family have all been, if not most, Slytherin sorted wizards and witches. Of course, there was my one uncle who had been chosen for Gryffindor, but I have never met him, so I wouldn’t be able to tell you why.” And that hit Harry hard.

Because Sirius is Draco’s uncle, and Draco didn’t know who Sirius is. At the knowledge of that, Harry gritted his teeth and made a mental note to introduce the two. Even if Draco can be a bit of a snob, Harry is sure that Sirius will love him.

“Alright boys, all done here! Your robes will be done by tomorrow, so you should be off now to get your supplies and all. Both of your guardians are outside already. Go along, they’re just out here.” The lady ushered the two out while they continued their conversation. They were just getting to asking what house they’d think they’d be in when the two approached Snape and Lucius Malfoy casually talking together.

The arrival with the two boys made both adult’s heads turn. Snape’s bored expression turned to Harry with concern mixed into his stoic expression. He stood next to Harry’s pets, Mischief’s eyes glinted at Harry’s arrival. Lucius was there too, who gave Harry a once over before smiling stiffly.

“Ah, so you must be the child Severus has been tasked with keeping. Nice to meet you Mr…” But before Harry could answer, Draco turned to Harry with a full face of shock.

“You’re here with Uncle Sev? What’s your name.” Harry smiled kindly once again. When Lucius didn’t immediately scold his son for his brash manners, Harry thought a little better of the man. Just a little.

“Oh, I’m Harry.” But he didn’t care to say his last name just yet. It might’ve been for the dramatics, but Harry wanted to see the face of Draco Malfoy when he realized he’d meted out to Harry Potter. Maybe they’d be friends. Harry certainly hoped so.

“Now we must be off, there is much to do today.” Snape interjected before Lucius could ask for a last name, but the little Malfoy seemed to have a knack for interjecting people, and decided to speak up about his concerns.

“Did you already get your school supplies?” Malfoy asked Harry, who noticed the sadness in his eyes. Wow, Draco Malfoy didn’t seem to want to let go of Harry.

Harry nodded to the younger Malfoy. “Yes, but I have to unpack, and I’m supposed to start studying today.” Malfoy’s expression went even more sad. It was an expression that made Harry fold instantly. “What’s your name? I have an owl, so maybe I can write to you before Hogwarts? I mean, I’ll see you there too, but if you want to stay in touch-.”

“Yes! I have an owl too! Oh, and I’m Draco Malfoy. We can most certainly write! Though, I need your full name to address to.”

“Oh! I’ll be at professor Snape’s house, so you can send it there!” The two were very excitedly chatting while the two adults just paused to watch the interaction. Lucius narrowed his eyes at the hesitance of Harry not giving him his last name, but didn’t comment. Once the two started talking about what their owls looked like, Snape interjected them by clearing his throat. The gesture got both kids to stop and face the man.

“I believe it’s time to go, Mr. Potter.” Harry nodded, looking to Draco Malfoy, who was still trying to piece together the name and seemingly having a hard time. Lucius Malfoy’s own face went stone cold and his legs faltered, making him balance on his cane.

“See you later!” Harry said before walking back out of the store with Snape, the animals floating behind them. He looked back for just enough time to see Draco Malfoy piece together the name, along with the face of pure and utter shock.

***

The two apparated back to Snape’s home after walking out of the shop, away from the Malfoy’s.

Immediately, Harry noticed that they were in the room Harry stayed in the other night. Snape levitated the animals on top of the desk directly underneath the tall curtain covered window.

Harry had barely had the chance to examine the room the few times he’d been in it so far, but now he actually could see where he’d stayed before after the woozy feeling left his eyesight.

The room was huge, being tall enough to fit another floor above him with a tall window that reached the ceiling. The window had been pushed out of the room to make a raised nook the size of a queen bed at the bottom. In front of the nook was three stairs to get up to the nook, and hanging from the ceiling of the window cutout was a lamp that went down to the middle of the window, held by black chains.

On the sides of the stairs were two desks, where on the right Mischief’s cage was set, and the left where Hedwig sat, huffing in her cage and preening her feathers. The desks, and multiple other pieces of furniture in the room, was the same dark oak as the rest of the house. The floor is a lighter wood, but mostly covered with dark green and sage green fluffy rugs and carpets. The walls sported either a black brick look on certain walls, or wood pillars of dark wood, or a flat dark green.

When Harry looked directly upwards, light came from a grand black chandelier that hung high up. Harry was surprised that the bed didn’t have a four posted frame, then realized just how big it was and changed his mind. While he stood in awe, Snape moved around to check on the animals a bit.

“Go ahead and unpack your things here, it’s where you’ll be staying while here and until you must leave for Hogwarts. You shall go by train to school, but I will escort you there and stay until you board the train. You’ll pack your trunk two days before we leave, and I will take it with me to Hogwarts, so no need to load it onto the train. You will also wear your school robes on the bus, no need to bring extra things for you to carry.” Harry had wandered over to the bed to sit while Snape took the chair from the desk.

“Okay. So, I take the train and you won’t?”

“I shall take the floo, which is an alternative way of transport. There is no need for teachers to take the train. Now, once you get to school, you will be sorted into your school houses.” Harry beamed, happy to be able to share this information.

“Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin! Malfoy told me about ‘em just earlier.” Snape’s lips twitched, just for a second in a smile.

“Yes, a sorting hat will be placed on your head and it will chose your Hogwarts house. Then a few announcements from your headmaster Dumbledore will be said, then the school song will be sung, then the feast. After dinner, your prefects will lead your to your house common room, and you will go to bed in your dormitory. Your luggage will be there waiting for you.” Harry nodded his head, already knowing, but actually happy to have someone explain it to him. “Today, you will start studying early for the school year. I will have you read some of your school books, then takes notes the second time around.”

Oh Merlin, this is gonna be a lot. Harry thought to himself, sinking a little at the thought of studying. He already knew this stuff, the memories were clear in his mind from first year! But, maybe he would appreciate doing something easy for once. Just reading them taking notes couldn’t be that bad. What if a friend needed them and he couldn’t help?

“Okay, cool. What do I start with?” Harry got up, standing and waiting for instruction from Snape.

“Sit down, I’m not done.” Harry frowned, sitting back down on the bed. It sunk a bit, but otherwise was firm under soft bed sheets. Nice.

“Okay, but what more do I need to know? Malfoy basically recited all about this book he had, Hogwarts, A History? What else is there about Hogwarts that I need?”

“It’s socialites, Potter. Politics, especially with your reputation. There will be many witches and wizards with certain families you must be aware of, child. Not unlike the Malfoy family you’ve met earlier, there are influential people in Hogwarts. There are also customs of others. Many other children will be, in a sort, prejudice towards each other. The rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin has become much more into straight hatred by my opinion.” Snape explained, his nostrils flaring at the idea. “Feel free to ask questions while I explain, I will answer them.”

“Should I be taking notes?” Snape smirked.

And for around an hour, Harry was told about the different social standings in Hogwarts. The rivalries, the meaning of each house. His own reputation and his supposed defeats of Voldemort. Even about certain mysteries of Hogwarts like The Chamber of Secrets, the secret passageways, and the Room of Requirement. He spoke about the heads of each house, and the headmaster.

“You’re the head of Slytherin house? Is it a good house?” Harry wanted to know if Snape would hate him again if he went to Gryffindor.

“There are no good or bad houses, boy. Only perspectives of personality. Now, why don’t you go on and unpack before you start on studying. Your bag should have everything, correct?” Harry nodded. “Good. I will be just in the room across from this one. That is my bedroom. If you ever need me at night or when I may be there, you may find me there. If I am not there, I shall be in the Dungeons downstairs or the kitchen.” Snape got up and started walking over to the door. “I’ll check on you in an hour.”

Harry smiled warmly behind Snape’s back. “Thanks, professor Snape.” That made Snape stop and turn back around in the open door frame, waiting. “I- the Dursleys would never have, uhh, done any of this. So, thank you.” Harry looked up. “They would’ve never let me go to Hogwarts, or even go anywhere out of my cupboard either.” Damn it, Harry felt his eyes watering.

Harry knows, he knows how much Snape cares. About his mother, about his family, and eventually about Harry himself. So even when Snape tried his best to school his expression, or snapped at Harry, Harry couldn’t hold it against him. Snape’s a spy, so he needs to play for a certain team on the outside, incase of certain people thinking certain things about him.

Gritting his teeth at the idea, Harry promised both himself and Snape that he wouldn’t let Peter Pettigrew go, and would never let Voldemort come back to power before Harry could officially kill him. He’d kill Scabbers as soon as he could, and buy Ron a different animal when the rat conveniently went missing.

For one of the first times, Snape actually let himself smile. Just a small one, but still a smile sweet. “You are very welcome. But you won’t be going back to the Dursleys. Ever.” Harry had an idea that Snape had just decided to adopt him, but only smiled watery at him instead of commenting.