Trip to the Past
CHAPTER 12: TRIP TO THE PAST
A tall dour-looking man clad in a black shirt and trousers strolled down the busy streets of New York City. He had just recently moved from Montana and supposed one of America's biggest Wizarding communities is a good place to stay so long as no more extra-terrestrial beings come and attack.
After the war in Britain, Severus Snape decided to leave. Lord Voldemort was dead. Albus Dumbledore was dead. He finally had no master left to serve. He was finally free.
No one bothered to look for him. Everybody just assumed he was dead. Really? The war-time Severus would never do anything without a plan. He was a Slytherin, not a Gryffindor. Had no one ever realized he had prepared to face the Dark Lord's wrath? He knew the man's favorite way to punish his servant followers. No, not the Avada. He wanted them to feel pain. Cruciatus until they beg for death or Nagini. He prepared for both.
MACUSA granted him asylum when they found out the infamous hero decided to leave Britain. He accepted, of course. He had nothing left in Britain. No matter how much he sacrificed for them, they will always see him as the evil, dungeon-bat, Death Eater professor.
He only wished he was able to save Lily's son.
Harry Potter. The child of the love of his life and his childhood enemy. Oh, he used to loath the existence of the boy. He was so ready to hate him and make him suffer until he saw him walk towards the sorting hat his first year.
Harry Potter was abused. One look and he knew. How everyone else didn't notice really baffled him. And he couldn't do more than add nutrition potions in his food and put healing potions in his satchel. Albus Dumbledore made sure of it.
He should have known the man had nefarious plans when he asked for an unbreakable vow.
'Keep Harry Potter alive but do not interfere and make yourself known.'
Severus was too distraught to notice the exact wording in the vow. Lily had just been murdered and it was all his fault. Albus used him. He used his pain to turn him into his pawn and he couldn't do anything about it without breaking the vow.
So he did what he could to keep the boy alive. He watched over him constantly. He saw the boy laughing until he could no longer breathe. He saw him enjoy flying through the strong wind outside quidditch. He saw him making friends with outcasts. He saw Harry.
But when you're able to really see a person, you can't help but see their pain as well. Severus did. He saw Harry crying alone in the most secluded parts of the castle. He saw the boy fight for his life more times than an Auror. He saw him being condemned for things he did not do.
He condemned him for things he had no control.
And now Harry Potter is dead. Killed by a lingering curse sent by the Dark Lord only a few days after the battle.
Britain had nothing worthy of him anymore. Here in America, he can continue his research in peace. He had great correspondence with MACUSA whom he provided potions for, and he had no one to condemn him from his past mistakes.
So he wandered over to Woolworth Building to meet with a friend without a single worry of being cursed at. He only needed to find a decent job first as mail-order potions won't be able to sustain his research expense, preferably where he could continue experimenting on potions.
"Severus, it's good to see you." Julian greeted the Potions Master with a smile.
"Julian." Severus bowed slightly.
Julian invited Severus to sit, "What brings you to New York? Here to see the aliens?" He joked.
The man rolled his eyes. "I moved. Montana wasn't for me." The man simply responded.
Julian snorted, "That's what you said about Nevada. And Idaho. And Texas... should I go on?"
Severus huffed. "Anyway, I was actually looking for another job right now. Any recommendations?"
"Actually..." Julian was deep in thought. He just received the results of Harry Stark's core development test and found out the boy's magical core was already fully developed. He was about to inform Mr. Stark when Severus came to his office. "There is this one boy who I think might need to start school early but I do not think for a second his father would let him study at a boarding school this early. If you're up to tutor, I'll recommend you."
Severus blanched. Tutor? Him? The dungeon-bat? To a child younger than eleven? Not going to happen!
"I don't like children. They are very hard to teach. I should know. I had the ill-luck of teaching eleven-year-olds for many years."
"Harry is very smart and likable. He listens well and has honestly better focus than a lot of adults I know." Julian defended. "What you have to worry about is the father. He's a goddamn over-protective bastard. I cannot tell you anything else about him due to a non-disclosure agreement until he agrees to my suggestion, assuming you accept the job."
Severus inhaled sharply at the boy's name. Was this fate? Will his past continue to haunt him?
He thought for a moment. Julian had never lied to him before. And he did need the work. He loved to teach but hated teaching dunderheads who can't follow basic instructions. He supposes he could accept. Julian hadn't informed the father yet so it's possible the man won't be needing a tutor for his son after all.
"This isn't some spoiled brat who throws tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants when he wants it?" Severus clarified to which Julian promptly shook his head no.
"How old is the boy?" He inquired.
Julian smiled slyly, "He just turned five."
Severus' jaw dropped. Five? He had met gifted children who needed to start school early but never that young! The youngest he ever knew was eight and the girl really was powerful, or so they say. This five-year-old boy might just be the youngest to have a fully-developed core recorded.
It intrigued him, that's for sure. He wanted to meet the child. A fully developed core at five was just never heard of. The power the kid has will be majestic, and for him to be able to teach such talent was incredible.
"Yes. I'll take the job if he'll have me."
"Daddy?" Harry called. "Can we have the green spaghetti for dinner?"
"It's Pesto, Harry." Tony corrected impulsively.
"Oh, Pesto! So that's why you asked me what's Pesto made of." Bruce interrupted with a grin that had Tony roll his eyes.
"We don't have Pesto, bud." He frowned and turned to the rest of the guys (and girl), "Why don't one of you go get some. You heard my son. He wants green spaghetti."
"No, daddy. it's alright. We can have normal spaghetti instead." Harry interfered. He didn't want to bother the others.
"You know what? I kinda liked the idea of green spaghetti. Why don't we go together." Clint suggested.
"Take Steve with you," added the father. "And don't let him out of your sight."
Clint sent him a salute and dragged Harry out of the room, a reluctant Steve following closely behind.
"I'll be at the lab if you need anything."
Tony went to work on an upgrade for Hawkeye's quiver while the guys took Harry out to buy Pesto when JARVIS interrupted him.
"Sir, Julian Jackson from MACUSA is on the line."
"Thanks, J."
He sent his phone on loudspeaker and continued working, "Hey Jackson."
"Mr. Stark." Julian greeted. "Harry's results came back."
Tony instantly dropped his tools and picked up the phone. "And? Is something wrong?"
"No. Actually, there is something but I won't consider it wrong. Far from it, in fact." Excitement laced Julian's voice as he latched on explaining what exactly made him giddy about Harry's Magical Core test.
"Your son has a fully developed magical core, Mr. Stark. The youngest one ever. I believe his had developed when he was only three based on how strong his magic currently is. The accidental magic he did when he fell down the stairs was most probably instinctual.
Now, the difference between accidental and instinctual magic lies in control. Magical children often perform accidental magic when they get angry, scared, or confused, as a form of self-defense. They have no control over how their magic acts. However, in instinctual magic, your mind and your core know exactly what to do and how much magic to exert. We thought your son just had a very strong accidental magic. He was able to apparate at such a young age when normally we have to be at least 17 to be able to practice it. You need to have total control of your magic fo keep you from getting hurt."
Tony was dumbstruck. He knew what having a fully developed core entails after reading more than enough books on the workings of the magical world.
Harry has to go to school. He needed to use and train his magic so it won't harm him or the people around him. A fully developed core means stronger and more controlled magic. Which was why he was able to apparate from Princeton to New York City during the battle, not that Julian knew about it.
"Harry's too young to go to Ilvermorny, Julian. He's only five!" Tony opposed wholeheartedly. He wasn't gonna send his baby to a boarding school with eleven-year-olds and older.
"I know, Mr. Stark. Which is why I have a suggestion." began Julian. "While there are other schools Harry can attend that aren't boarding schools, the rest of the students will still be eleven and older. I know how hurtful children can be, Mr. Stark. So instead, you can have him home-schooled. It's not commonly practiced here in the states but it's still allowed as long as the reason is valid and you can find a tutor MACUSA approves. I think Harry's case qualified as a valid reason, Mr. Stark."
"Home-school? And you didn't tell me that the first time?!" Tony guffawed.
"It's not in the procedure, Mr. Stark. MACUSA does not advertise it to avoid breaking the ISWS. Home-schooling was the only way magic can be taught hundreds of years ago and because of it, the committee had difficulty controlling how much magic is performed in public. It caused us the Salem Witch Trials, Mr. Stark. We try to avoid repeating history." Julian explained calmly.
"Yeah, I get it. Still, if I had known, I wouldn't have to spend so much time worrying about possibly sending my son away." He bemoaned. "Anyway, a MACUSA-approved tutor, you say? Where can I find one?"
"Well, you're in luck, Mr. Stark as I have one I know who recently moved to New York and was looking for a job. His name is Severus Snape. He's a renowned Potions Master, the youngest one to complete his mastery in over 300 years. A little dour-looking but brilliant. I'll send his profile over. You might find he had a dark past, Mr. Stark but make no mistake, he's not evil."
Severus Snape, Tony found out, was exactly as Jackson described. He's now in his late forties, achieved his mastery at the age of 19, taught in one of the world's biggest and oldest wizarding schools for at least 15 years, and fought as a spy in a goddamn war against a dark lord. He had a dark past, alright.
Apparently, he joined a cult who called themselves Death Eaters of all things at the age of 17, right after he left school. He went back to teach Potions at 21, the first time the said dark lord fell. He was feared as a professor, is known as overly strict and "evil". Yet, a few of his students still defended him. It seems like the evil strict professor was a champion of the abused and the underdogs.
He's supposed to be one of the best duelers and the best potions master in Europe. He was outed as a spy at the second war that nearly got him killed. He then moved to the US who granted him asylum when Britain refused to honor his role in their war.
Tony decided he liked this Severus guy. Aside from because Jackson recommended him, the man is familiar with battle. Harry would be safe around a strong wizard like Severus.
All he needed to know now was how the guy will interact with his son. If he ever made Harry uncomfortable for even just a moment, he's out. He won't let a harsh man tutor his baby boy.
Those eyes.
Severus' first look at Harry Stark was like a trip to his painful past. Yet he couldn't seem to look away.
Harry Stark looked so much like Harry Potter. The same tousled hair, the same facial structure, the same smile, even the same name! Just without the scar.
However, what really caught him was his eyes. So exactly like Lily's. He had never met anyone else with eyes like Lily and Harry's. Emerald with a bit of gold flecks.
One detail is odd. Two is a coincidence. But five similar details?
"Harry, buddy. I'd like you to meet Severus Snape." Tony Stark introduced. "Severus, this is my son, Harry Anthony Stark."
That was enough to break Severus from his daze. "Hello, Harry." He greeted softly, coming down to kneel in front of the boy, actually surprising himself how natural it felt.
The boy sent him the most dazzling smile and offered to shook his hand, "Hello, Mr. Severus. Are you the one who's gonna teach me magic?"
"Yes, I suppose I am. Is that alright?" He inquired, a small smile showing on the corner of his lip.
"I suppose it is," Harry half-smirked.
Cheeky.
Severus thought Harry Stark reminding him too much of Harry Potter will bring him pain. It didn't. He felt at peace. If by any miracle, Stark is a reincarnation of Potter, Severus would be nothing but thankful. Maybe it was his chance at redemption. He'll finally have the chance to protect the boy with all his ability.
Tony watched Severus Snape completely fall in love with his son and smiled. Harry would be more than safe now. He had Pepper for an aunt, a group of superheroes ready to beat up whoever dared to hurt him, and now an infamous war hero for a tutor.
And the best part was his baby boy didn't have to go to a boarding school anymore!