Chapter 3
It was Wednesday early afternoon November 4th and Severus was led into a huge ritual cavern where they would call all these anchors of the Dark Lord.
Severus was wearing a white(!) shift that went to his knees, leaving his hairy legs for all to see. Not that he minded. He was surrounded by goblins only and they didn’t look or care.
He had taken an intensive cleansing bath, which had extracted quite a few things he hadn’t realized he had on his body. Like a few curses, which made him much uglier than he was. Especially his skin tone, hair, and teeth had been affected. He now had clean hair -bound in together at the nape of his neck- straight whitish teeth and pale but not swallow skin. He was still thin and tall and wiry and had beetle black eyes and thin eyebrows perfect for raising one of them. Somehow his former looks had been an armor just as much as his Occlumency shields. He would have felt very vulnerable looking like this outside of Gringotts.
Much more beneficial than his new looks had been the cleansing of all residues the torture curse and other dark spells had left in his body. Now, Healer Gingerroot could heal him at last, as she had promised... cough ... threatened.
He just hoped Harry would recognize him, but the pull of their magic stayed the same, so he was not really worried.
He tried not to let his thoughts run wild now. The ritual was most important! He carefully walked into one of the three circles doing his utmost not to disturb the lines drawn in salt. He sat down cross-legged on the white cotton pillow happy for the slits in his shift now, helping him keep his modesty.
The goblins had told him that they did those things naked, but Severus had felt too uncomfortable even with only goblins in attendance.
He looked over to the little black rock in the second circle and the rune-covered, gray rock in the last. He had been warned that it would be painful, so he sank into deep meditation. He had just to be there anyway. Everything else would be done by the goblins.
And so he floated deep in his mind, quite comfortable and content until he felt a tug on his magic, the sign they had agreed on beforehand to come back to his body.
Oh shit, his body ached! And he was laying spread eagle in his circle, pillow under his left shoulder. Right... At least the shift covered him still.
He looked over to the little rock and it was gray now and the bigger one was black. It worked!
He slowly raised his left arm and looked at it. It was clear of any tattoo! Just plain, pale skin! Tears welled up and he let them come for a second. Resisting the knee-jerk reaction to pull up his Occlumency shields.
He was learning.
He then looked to one of the ritual masters that had studied his mark extensively and raised his eyebrow in question. The goblin nodded and gestured to Severus to come to him.
He all but skipped (not really) to the goblin and was told to go change and meet in his and Harry’s living room.
Soon they sat on the low couches and a now awake Harry climbed all over Severus. Oh-ing and ah-ing about his Sev’s new looks in his toddler way.
One of the goblins held the black rock in his hands and grinned.
“It worked!” He all but crowed. “We have all the anchors of Lord V in here. Just his main soul is at large now and if it is not possessing anything it will have no hold in this realm anymore and pass on.”
“And if it is possessing something, the possessed being or creature will die quickly, and the piece will need to leave and look for a new host, and then he will be gone,” Another goblin said, grinning.
Harry grinned back, just as toothily (or so he thought - only having four teeth by now).
Severus smirked at the sight and said, “And what happens with the rock now?”
“We thought you could transfigure it into a ball and little Potter here bounces it into our biggest vat of molten metal. That way, if there is anything to this prophecy still, it might be fulfilled with it.”
“Would we not make a child kill another being unknowingly that way?” Severus asked frowning, feeling uncomfortable.
“So?” Asked one of the goblins, not understanding the humans’ concern.
Severus was stumped about how to explain it. Not even a pure-blood would have qualms with this, but he was no pure-blood and grew up with some muggle ethics.
“Would it hurt his soul?” He then thought to ask.
“Oh no! It would not! Some of us can see souls and would never agree to such a thing if it would hurt the little one in any way. And remember. The main part is out there and will not be hurt by the release of the anchors.”
“What do these anchors consist of anyway?”
“We can only tell you that they were obtained by Forbidden Magics. Very dark and very evil.”
“And Harry will not be influenced or hurt by holding the rock?”
“No. They are contained fully by these runic arrays. The transfiguration will not change that. Now come, we need to finish this.”
Harry and Severus were led through new tunnels into the biggest smithy one could imagine. It was loud and hot, and Severus quickly cast a cooling charm on them both and a Muffliato on Harry’s ears.
(He was allowed to cast magic within Gringotts, the goblins trusted him not to overuse the privilege and he tried to do as much as possible without it, but in this case it seemed necessary.)
They came to a huge cauldron full of molten metal, whose heat even penetrated the strong cooling charm but needs must. The goblin carrying the rock held it up and nodded to Severus, who cast a transfiguration on it that made it change into a rubber ball striped in rainbow colors. Harry was immediately interested!
“Would you throw some things into the vat and make it look like fun? Harry will want to join in,” Severus suggested.
“Good idea.” And with that the goblins started throwing easily burning things like wood into the molten metal, cheering and laughing. Harry, who had looked at the ball with want in his eyes, made grabby hands to the goblin, still holding the transfigured rock. He might not hear all that good, right now, but the goblins looked like they were having fun!
The ball was handed to Harry, and he threw it into the vat with astounding precision for his age. Severus was impressed! The ball melted on the surface of the metal, like a snowball on a stove and many black clouds emerged from it, screaming. Harry could not really hear it and only saw the goblins raising their arms in the air, cheering. Even his Sev was smiling! He did it!
Harry felt very accomplished. It was just sad the ball was gone! He looked around for another thing to throw, but his Sev was walking out of the interesting place again! No!
But then he got bounced on his Sev’s hip and forgot his anger. Bouncing was fun!
Lord Voldemort was frustrated.
He needed to leave and recuperate at a place with many possible animals nearby to possess and the ritual circle he had hidden just for this possibility to help anchor him. So he was on his way to Albania.
But the way there was not easy! He hadn’t even reached the English coast yet and his ‘ride’ was dying already.
He needed another, faster animal to possess than the snake he was inhabiting right now. Maybe a dog?
There! A black and white Russell terrier. Perfect! He let go of his hold on the snake and rushed to the dog.
Or so was the plan.
What actually happened was a puff of black smoke coming out of the snake and dissipating immediately. Meanwhile, the snake twitched weakly, and the terrier sniffed it interested. The dog bit the snake dead and brought its hunting success to its rather disgusted owner.
This concluded the life of Tom Marvolo Riddle.
The Wizarding World celebrated the demise of You-know-who after the announcement of his death at the hands of the Potters and moved on. After they were told by Sirius Black and Alastor Moody that probably Lily Potter was responsible and Dumbledore claimed it was the toddler boy, they just decided to praise the Potters at large. It was much more palatable than praising the muggle-born witch.
Some rather revengeful members organized the trials and, as a distracted Dumbledore was not preaching forgiveness and Barty Crouch Jr. had not been caught in the act of committing a crime therefore his father was still very powerful, the trials were hard but fair. No bribery was possible as Moody and Sirius watched over the holding cells with argus eyes.
And it was decided that every pure-blood that refused Veritaserum was given the highest possible sentence for the things that could be proven, they committed.
It still was the better deal for most, but quite many got a life sentence anyway as they had been seen casting unforgivable without their masks hiding their faces at times. Especially Bellatrix Lestrange and her cohorts.
But some, like Rastaban Lestrange, might have been named by other Death Eaters trying to reduce their sentence, but nothing could be proven and so they walked. Barty Crouch Jr. was caught in the end and agreed to take the truth serum. As he never had committed a crime he walked as well.
The Carrows, Lucius Malfoy, Dolohov, Rockwood, and some more had been remiss to clean up their manors after their Dark Lord’s fall and before they were arrested. So, when Aurors inspected all properties of known Death Eaters in the holding cells at once, they found horrible and unspeakable things had been committed there. Everything was documented and the perpetrators were quite helpless to defend themselves against so many proven heinous acts.
The rat, as Peter Pettigrew was called now, was given the kiss. People just were too disgusted, and he was a flight risk, with his Animagus form. His poor mother died shortly after, a broken woman.
The missing boy was forgotten by all but a few and the wizarding world flourished.
Several years later Dumbledore visited Gringotts, to inquire about the Potter vaults once more. He was led into the office of a very old goblin named Gribnuck and was offered tea and lemon cakes.
At last, the goblins acknowledged his standing and threatened him with all due respect. The cakes were divine and the tea!
Unfortunately for him, he failed to notice the slightly bitter note of the tea, which was quite well masked by the fresh lemon juice and sugar in it. And he failed to see the pleased glimmer in the old goblin’s eyes when he drank his tea.
After his first sip, he fell off his chair screaming and clutching his head.
The goblin calmly called the guards and instructed them to bring the Headmaster of Hogwarts to St. Mungo’s. He preserved the tea and the cakes and went on with his business, feeling quite accomplished.
The Healers at the hospital were stumped. Nothing was wrong with the old man, they had to stun him as he was screaming so badly. But physically there was nothing wrong with the man! He was quite healthy for his age, even if he was close to becoming a diabetic.
After two days of tests, they decided to look at his mental ‘body’, and the only Legilimens they had on call found all of his old friends’ shields gone. All of them and it seemed that Albus had shoved his feelings and anger and guilt unsorted behind his shields for decades! And now the shields had broken.
He could find no external attack signs on the tatters that still existed and started helping the mind of his old friend to sort through the mess. It was only possible with calming potions for both of them and it took them 28 years during which Albus had to stay at the hospital for the first 15 and only could move into his old home in Godric’s Hollow for the next 13 years, visiting St. Mungo’s daily.
When they were finished, at last, Albus was a changed man. He had lost all of his high-profile jobs within the first year after the fall of his shields and after sorting through all of his memories and feelings – even the ones in the pensive – he would never set up friends to die at the hands of an enemy to defeat said enemy! Never!
The good thing his change of mind and attitude resulted in was that Fawkes had a closer bond with him than ever.
He watched the world, waiting for Tom to come back, but that never happened and so Dumbledore disappeared from the minds of the public as an actual living human being and appeared in history books.
It was time for Hannibal Severus Snape to go to Hogwarts tomorrow. Both Hannibal and his father were a little anxious. Even though the boy would go one year earlier than Harry Potter would have.
They had spent a year and a half in the time chamber and repeated that time outside, just to be able to trick the Book of Admittance at Hogwarts. Severus had also blood-adopted Harry at the age of five, so he had now two dads and a mum and changed his name to Hannibal Severus Snape. Hanni for his friends at Gringotts and his muggle school. Even if he got teased by the human children for having a girl’s nickname, he insisted. He asked if they had a better idea with his name and they were stumped, so that was it.
Until one boy said in second grade, “What about Han? Like from Han Solo? That would be an awesome nickname!”
The newly named Han agreed wholeheartedly.
Han’s looks had not changed by much. His hair had become a little tamer, and he was a little leaner and taller. His face was narrower now. But his eyes stayed the same. He just didn’t need glasses. Overall, he was the perfect mixture of James, Lily, and Severus, and not a carbon copy of James much to Severus’ relief.
Han had grown up with stories of his first parents, maybe a few more about his mum, but those were the ones he wanted to hear more about anyways.
They had never moved out of Gringotts. Han had become vast friends with the two goblin toddlers from his first day there and Severus felt at home and had a great job by now.
He had been interviewed extensively during the first weeks and it had been decided that he had to work for room and board for 5 years with no money earned for his crimes. He gladly accepted. It was no punishment at all to him. For a goblin, it would have been bad! No money earned? Horrible!
Afterward, Severus was made the personal co-worker of Gribnuck, and they were an unbeatable team in the world of potions. Their different onlook to life led to astounding inventions for both species. Severus got quite rich through the years.
Severus and Hannibal both spoke the native goblin language fluently by now. Han just had a much better accent, they were told, and both were intensively schooled in goblin traditions and rules.
Fortunately, Han did attend muggle primary from age 5 on, to teach him the human rules of social interaction as well. It wouldn’t do if he farted and belched in human company to compliment the cook of all things!
After Severus 'punishment’ and Han’s adoption, they often braved Diagon Alley and the surrounding Alleys. Even running into Sirius Back from time to time. So, when Han was eight Severus offered to contact Sirius on his behalf, but Han had only ever met the Sirius that was sneering at his dad, so he was not interested. At all.
And now it was time for Hogwarts. Dumbledore was still at St. Mungo’s after his episode five years ago in Gribnuck’s office and the school had changed for the better. The defense teacher could stay longer than a year, Binns had been exorcized and the standards had been raised again to international levels. Even if some pure-bloods whined about it.
“What if I get sorted into Gryffindor?” A worried Han asked.
“Then you would make me and your birth parents proud. Like you would in either house!”
Han nodded and said, “But Gryffindors and Ravenclaws live in towers! That is horrible! I want to live as I do here!”
“Hm, not even under the lake?”
“That would be ok, I guess.” Hanni looked a little dubious. He had experienced a flood in the tunnels of Gringotts and had not been a fan, understandably.
“Well, you like to fly and the head of Ravenclaw is a half-goblin.”
“True! Oh, I don’t knoooow!”
“Well, it is not for you to decide anyway. Just go with the flow and let the sorting device sort you.”
“Hmpf. Ok.”
Severus grinned at his son. He could not be prouder. Han was a wiz at potions, a phenomenal flier, and very good in a swordfight. Not that the last was taught at Hogwarts, but it meant he was quick and fit. Defense would be a walk in the park.
“Did you pack everything?”
“Yes, I think so! But I can write if I forgot something, right?”
“Absolutely. All will be well. Trust me!”
All was well.
Han met a pair of hilarious twins on the train and an older girl, who could change her appearance! He was fascinated. He just wished he could see magic, like some older goblins could and his dad was learning to do. He wanted to know how that magic worked!
He met a second year as well who also was in Hufflepuff like the girl Tonks. It seemed to be the most amazing house!
He and Gred and Forge made a pact that they would stay friends, even if they were in different houses, which was good as the twins were sorted into Gryffindor and Han into Hufflepuff, much to his delight.
The hat had told him he had traits of all houses and let him choose! There was no question about where he wanted to go.
Harry Potter was never found. Even though his godfather and father’s friend Moony never really stopped looking. Even with having a family of their own, they never gave up!
Sirius was walking with his second wife and his two youngest children down Diagon Alley to get their school supplies.
His daughter Carina would be a first-year now! He just hoped she at least would be sorted into Gryffindor. He had a child in every house but Gryffindor by now! The shame!
He goofed around with his youngest, ignoring Regulus the little snake (against all of his swearings he never would), and walked backward into someone else. He turned around and saw a distinguished-looking Severus Snape, looking calmly at him with a raised eyebrow.
“Hey Snivellus, watch where you are going!” he jeered. Playing it up for his daughter, so she learned the right way to talk to snakes. Regulus scowled. He admired the famous potion master greatly. In secret though.
“You see, children,” a calm voice next to Snape could be heard, “This is a prime example of prejudice against your grandfather and him being a Slytherin. So, if you are sorted into that house, there will be some idiots talking like that.”
Sirius swiveled around to look at the son of Snivellus (ugh! He needed a brain scrub!). Hannibal Severus Snape looked just like his father, tall, thin, and dark, just with green eyes. Some memory tucked at Sirius, but he ignored it to scowl at the impertinent snakeling!
“I am not prejudiced against snakes!”
Regulus scoffed, “Yeah, right.”
“Hey! I am not! Carina, help me!”
“You totally are. I pray every night that I will be sorted into Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, just so you will shut up, Dad!”
“Nooo! You need to go to Gryffindor! You are my last chance!”
“I wish you would grow up and be a dad, not a clown!” Carina yelled at him and stomped off. Regulus followed her quietly.
Sirius turned back to his nemesis and only saw the back of him, walking leisurely with his son and two grandchildren(!). One just reached Hogwarts age, and the other one still too young.
“This is all your fault!” Sirius yelled at the retreating backs.
The youngest turned around and stuck out his tongue.
Sirius nearly returned the favor, but still had Carina’s voice in his head, saying ‘I wish you would grow up and be a dad, not a clown!’. Was he really that bad? His two oldest had left home as soon as they could, and his younger ones seemed inclined to do the same. Shit. Maybe Moony was right and he was stuck in his teens. How embarrassing! He looked around for his wife and found her in front of a fashionable shoe boutique.
He hated his life!
Severus’ only thoughts of Black’s last words were, ‘If only you knew how right you are. This is all my fault!’.
He grinned.
The end