Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ (Harry Potter) How to Defeat a Dark Lord ❯ Six ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter SixAlthough the mood between the three older wizards lifted with the news that there might be a loophole for them to work with, Damean watched in concern as Harry became more and withdrawn. When he was unable to figure out what was wrong, he pulled his nephew to the side to ask if he knew what was going on in the young one's head.

gSev, I'm really worried about Harry. Are you sure he's ready for this trip? It might be best if we waited another day,h Damean said, concern lacing his voice.Severus had also been watching Harry. It seemed, to his eyes at least, that the boy was mentally preparing himself to, once again, don the mask of the Boy Who Lived or any of the other masks the teen would put on to wear on a regular basis. In an undertone, he tried to explain what was going on. gThink about it, Uncle. Harry wears a lot of different masks, even with his friends, in order to protect himself. At the moment, Harry is doing nothing more than to once again prepare to face the public.h

gWhy would a boy his age need to wear a mask? Wouldn't it be better if he let the world know who he really was?h Gidean asked, also joining the conversation.Severus snorted in contempt. gLet me put it this way: when I first sent my message to the Dane for help, what did I call him?h

gYou said that the Boy Who Lived needed help.h

gWould you have helped if I had asked for any other of my students?h

gYou have a point. But that still doesn't explain the mask.h

gOk, let me ask you this: have you seen The Boy Who Lived today?h

gI'm not sure what you mean. Of course we've seen him; he's right in front of us.h

gNO. That's not the Boy Who Lived. The Boy Who Lived breathes confidence when things need to be done. He starts to give orders and others follow them without question since he is a natural leader, even more so than Dumbledore or Riddle. I have not seen The Boy Who Lived since the last day of the school term. Today alone, I've seen a rebelling teen and a young man that has been hurt by those he should trust, a young child that has been hurt in so many ways that he should be, to all extents, broken beyond repair but somehow isn't due to his willpower. You have not seen the Boy Who Lived, the Saviour of the Wizarding World, Gryffindor's Golden Boy, a member of the Golden Trio, or Harry. Trust me when I say that over the next few weeks, you will see mask after mask. I'm not sure if you will ever see just Harry. I really don't think anyone has, including his friends. At least, not often.h Taking a deep breath, Severus finally looked Damean in the eye. gToday in Diagon Alley, you will see the Saviour of the Wizarding World and the Boy Who Lived. If I'm not mistaken, one of them will show up here even before we leave. He is respectful but hates authority and hates beyond all other things to be left in the dark about things he needs to know in order to survive and keep those he cares about alive. Be prepared for him to do and say anything, including hearing him mutter under his breath about having to spend time with the 'Greasy Git'. He'll do as he is asked but only after he thinks about it and believes that it's the best thing to do. He's a natural at making split second decisions that are usually the right ones. Don't expect him to show any of these talents, he would prefer to stay in the background for as long as possible. If anything should happen to set him off, all I'm asking you to do is step back and let him deal with it. No matter what.hHarry, who had heard some of the titles Sev had told Damean and Gidean, entered the conversation with a snort of contempt. gYou forgot one of my many titles Sev. In this case, itfs the most important one. You forgot to tell them about the 'Chosen One'. Not that I blame you of course. I hate that title, just like all the rest, just like you hate having to deal with them all.h

gYou do know you don't have to wear a mask around usc right, Harry?h Damean asked him while Gidean nodded his agreement. He looked up as Harry gave a small snort of disbelief. The two of them watched in awe as the first of the masks took its place before Harry answered.

gI'm sorry Sir, but I don't think you understand. In order to survive, I must hide who I am; I do not take off my masks, not even here. If you would please excuse me, I need to make sure that nothing has been left behind for me to be tracked by.h Turning to Severus, the first noticeable mask continued. gExcuse me, Professor, but has everything that has any of my blood on it been destroyed?h

gWhat do you take me for Potter? Mr. Longbottom? I know how to dispose of unwanted material,h Professor Snape sneered.

gMy mistake professor, it won't happen again,h the Boy Who Lived grumbled under his breath as he left the room.Gidean didn't know what to think. He finally turned on his cousin. gSeverus Snape, what has got into you?h

gFor each of his many masks, I have one that goes with it. It gets worse before it gets better,h was the only reply Gidean received.

gI'm ready to go whenever you are, Professor,h Harry said from the fireplace, his mask firmly in place and his eyes shuttered.Snape paused for a moment to make sure his own mask was up before nodding to the others. Gliding over to the teen, he stopped and lowered his voice trying to help Harry in some small way deal with some of the baggage he carried around on his young shoulders. gFor what it's worth, Harry, I am sorry that we have to do this. If it wasn't for the fact that we needed to go to Gringotts, we could have owl-ordered anything that you needed.h

gI know Sev. I don't like it but I know. Can we go now? I hate traveling by Floo, and the quicker it's done, the better I'll be.hSmirk firmly in place, Snape took a pinch of Floo powder and called out his destination, quickly followed by the others.~~hpss~~As soon as Tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron, noticed that Harry was there, he immediately started the hero worship. The only thing that stopped the others in the pub from getting near Harry was the sneering voice of one pissed off Potions Master.

gIf you are quite done, Mr. Potter, I would like to get this duty over with as soon as possible. You and your ~fans~ are wasting my time." With the flare of those trademark black robes, Professor Snape left the pub without waiting for Harry's response.Sighing with resignation, Harry just shrugged his shoulders at Tom and followed Snape with Gidean and Damean bringing up the rear. Walking through the back door of the pub and standing before the entranceway to Diagon Alley, he muttered a very soft "thank you" to Snape and received a quirk of the lips in reply.Gidean had been pondering for a while the only problem he could see. He stopped Severus from opening the wall leading into Diagon Alley with one simple question. gHarry, where is the key for your vault?hHarry smiled at the gobsmacked expressions that graced the faces of both Snape and Damean. Apparently, they had not thought that far ahead. He truly did love to see that look on the Potions Masters face and kind of wished that he had a camera available to capture the look, just because he didn't see it there that often.

gI made sure last summer to give my key to the goblin in charge of my vault. Griphook is the only other being besides Molly Weasley to have any type of access to them,h Harry reassured the three older wizards. Sighs of relief could be heard from all.The four of them honestly did try to make a quick trip to Gringotts. Unfortunately, this did not happen. News of Harry's arrival quickly spread until the whole Alley seemed to buzz with the news. For the first time, Damean and Gidean truly understood what Severus meant about Harry and his masks. As soon as Harry heard the first of the whispers moments after setting foot in the Alley, The Boy Who Lived was replaced with 'Harry Potter, the Chosen, Saviour of the Wizarding World'. The confidant stride, lopsided smile and gleaming eyes of the young man were the complete opposite of what they had seen throughout the earlier part of the day. Harry sauntered through the Alley with a practiced, elegant grace, calling out greetings to the people he knew and answering the calls from the people he didn't, all the time seeming to ignore the fuming Potions Master at his side. Said Potions Master was the only reason the group continued to move forward as no one wanted to get to close to the snarky man.It wasn't until they actually reached Gringotts that everything started to go wrong. Harry had just breathed a sigh of relief: he was finally getting away from his adoring public without any mishaps, when the familiar cold, drawling voice stopped him cold in his tracks.

gWell, well, well, if it isn't Saint Potty. Whatever happened to the Burning Bush that usually follows you around every where?h Draco sneered at him.Harry's eyes started to glow with an unnatural light as he turned to his school nemesis. Sneer firmly in place, Harry turned to see Draco Malfoyc a very much alone Draco Malfoy. gYou know what they say Malfoy. 'Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.' But in your case, I'd just rather not waste my time. Besides, without your little friends surrounding you, you're nothing but a scared bully trying to look big.h

gScared, Potter? Of you? Ha, only in your dreams."A thrill of alarm raced down Harry's spine. The two of them had traded this particular insult time and time again over the years and this was the first time the traditional response of 'you wish' was not used.

gThe only dreams I have of you, Malfoy, are nothing but nightmares. And I wouldn't wish those on anyone,h Harry sneered back, hoping Draco had received his message.

gDon't worry Scarhead, the sentiment is returned ten fold.h Message received, in other words.Smirking, Harry gave a suitable response. Hoping that the blond would figure out the meaning behind the words. "Go away, Malfoy. I have business to take care off before joining the twins for tea. We were planning to discuss their newest invention. Maybe you would like to join us later in testing it. We've decided to call it Ferret Juice.h Without waiting to see if Draco would be able to form a coherent reply, Harry spun on his heel and walked away in a manner that reminded most of a certain snarky Professor.Following Harry's lead, the three older wizards gave the blond identical sneers and followed the Boy Who Lived. With their longer strides, they easily caught up with him.Harry could feel the fury rolling off the Potions Master. He only hoped that Snape would let him explain before turning his famous temper loose. Although he hid it well, his experiences with his uncle were still extremely fresh in his mind and facing the Potions Master terrified him. All that Harry really wanted to do at the moment was curl up in a small dark place and wait for the coming storm to pass.Damean watched the defensive posture of the teen, which became more and more pronounced the closer Severus got. He hoped for the boyfs sake that he had a good reason for the way he talked to the young Malfoy. He was worried that Harry just let his mouth run. He was extremely glad that they were almost out of the publics view, because it looked like Harry was about ready to crack and he did not want that to happen in public.Instead of going to one of the many tills, Harry went to the head of the goblin security force, whispered a few words in his ear. Moments later, the four wizards were escorted to a private room to await the banking officials to come to them.As soon as the door was closed, Snape let loose his temper. gHow dare you talk to my godson like that? Without his help, you would still be with those so-called relatives of yours. You ungrateful, arrogant idiotch This was about as far as Damean allowed him to get. Harry having seen the Potions Master coming towards him, Harry placed himself behind Gidean and buried his head in the older man's back.

gSeverus, look at him. If you keep yelling at Harry like this, he's never going to trust you again. Give him the chance to explain,h the Dane commanded.Snape took one look at the damage he had done and instantly regretted it. gDamn, Harry I'm sorry. What in the world possessed you to get in an insulting match with Draco?h

gI wasn't,h came Harryfs timid reply.

gThen what were you doing?hComing out from behind Gidean, Harry looked at Snape. gMalfoy wants help to escape the nightmare. I told him to meet us at the twinsf flat to discuss getting him out. Since the twins won't believe I sent Malfoy their way, he needed the password.h Harry ducked his head shyly. gThe password was set by me for the twins in case something happened. Without it, no one gets into the main rooms.h

gAre you telling me that everything the two of you said was code?hHarry's head came up with a snap. gAre you telling me that you didn't notice that Malfoy and I haven't been fighting lately? Just what kind of spy are you Professor?h He snarled.Before the two of them could start arguing, the door was opened and two goblins entered. Instantly, both sets of masks came back into view.

gMr. Potter, this is Stonehand. He's the goblin your parents hired to look after your interests. As of this morning, I turned your key over to him. It has been a pleasure to watch over your accounts for the past year.h Griphook gave Harry a small bow and withdrew from the room. Stonehand studied each of the men in the room. His mind automatically registered the fact that two of the four were true-blooded vampires; one carried a very small amount of a true blood vampire strain, probably only enough to affect grace and voice. Then there was Harry Potter, who was everything he was told to expect and at the same time, so much morec but that mystery could wait. He had business to attend to.

gMr. Potter, I will be happy to go over your accounts and take care of any business you may have but first I have been charged with a matter by your late parents that needs to be taken care of, for it may complicate anything that you need done,h Stonehand began.

gOf course, Stonehand. If what you need to take care of is that important, we would be happy to wait,h Harry said, hiding his frustration behind yet another mask.

gOh, no, Mr. Potter. I won't keep you waiting. I was instructed by your parents to give Professor Snape a letter. Until the time that he reads it, your accounts have been put on hold,h Stonehand explained, while handing a sealed scroll to the professor.Snape broke the seal on the scroll and for a few minutes, the room was silent. When he was done, he shook his head and began to read the scroll once more, slowly. After coming to the same conclusion the second time around, he once more returned to the top but this time, he read it out loud.~Snape.I know this letter will come as a surprise to you but under the circumstances, Lily and I really didn't know who we could trust with the life of our son. Hell, I'm still not sure if I can trust you, although Lily has repeatedly told me that I can and after listening to her arguments, I was forced to agree.If things turn out for the worst, we are dead. Sirius is either dead or in Azkaban. Remus, because of what he is, is unfit and Peter is either dead or a traitor. This means that Harry will be taken to Lily's sister and her family (horrible Muggles by the way, just to let you know) by Dumbledore, who will not honour our last requests that he not be left in their care no matter what happens.This leaves us with only you to trust. This letter will only be delivered the day that Harry either loses complete trust in Dumbledore and lets him know so, or the Headmaster makes a really big mistake.Lily and I would have liked to have asked you formally to accept complete custody and guardianship of Harry, but circumstances being what they are, that is just not possible, thus this letter. Harry needs someone in his life that he can trust and will look after his best interests. Not just until his 17th birthday but for much longer. For his sake, we ask you to look after his interests until his 21st birthday. At that time, another letter will be delivered to you.We ask this because Harry is going to need someone strong in his life to both protect and teach him. We beg of you Severus, to put the past behind you, even if you don't accept custody, to at least teach him everything that you know.The goblins have all the paper work needed to formalize the transfer of guardianship, if that is the way you do decide to go. Please Severusc Harry needs you.James H. Potter.~Snape looked up from the letter to meet the gaze of Stonehand. gWhere is the paperwork?hTo say that Stonehand was shocked would be an understatement. He was fully ready to have to convince the man in front of him to accept the responsibility of caring for the last of the Potter line. To see him agree without any hesitation, though, was not what he was expecting. Snapping out of his state of shock, Stonehand opened up the folder he carried and handed a set of papers to the Potions Master. gYou need to sign all three pages and, since these are forgery protected, you need to add three drops of your blood on the seal at the bottom of the last page.hSnape took the papers and after looking through all of them to make sure everything was in line. He glanced up at Harry to make sure this was what he truly wanted. Harry understood the look and gave a small nod of acceptance of the terms laid out by his parents. He watched as one by one, Severus Snape signed all the legal papers and then with the tip of his wand, pulled three drops of blood out of the tip of his finger, let them fall on the seal and watched as it glowed blue, identifying that it was indeed the Potions Master who signed the papers.

gThank you, professor. How would you like us to deal with young Harry's accounts?h

gNothing is to change at the moment, Stonehand, until I have time to go over everything with Mr. Potter. I will let you know when we both have the time to go over the accounts together.h

gVery well.h Turning to Harry, Stonehand asked, gNow that that is settled, what business do you have with us today Mr. Potter?hHarry grinned at the goblin. gActually Stonehand, the moment you handed that scroll to Professor Snape, my main business was complete. We had come in to see if my parents left anything here on who they wanted as my guardian if anything had happened to my godfather. Other then that, I just needed to pull some money from my vault to do my regular summer shopping before school starts.h

gAh. Well if it helps any, all you need to do is sign for anything you buy and the storekeepers will send the bills here,h Stonehand told him.

gThank you, Stonehand. I believe that unless the Professor has anything else that needs to be done here, we are done for the moment.h
Stonehand looked towards the Professor and seeing him shake his head, bowed and took his leave.After Stonehand left, Snape looked at Harry. gWould you like to finish explaining to me what happened between you and Draco?h

gCan I show you instead Sir? It would be easier in the long run.h

gOf course, Mr. Potter, by all means, lead the way. I would love to see what you and my godson are planning.h Sarcasm dripped from Snapefs tongue.Sighing, Harry turned and left the room and quickly left the bank, knowing that the other three followed behind. Moving quickly, Harry worked his way through the crowds in the Alley, toward the twinsf joke shop. Instead of going in the front door, he turned and made his way to the back of the building. When the other three caught up to him, he muttered the password and let them all into the back room. As soon as the door closed behind them, the room lit up and they could all see both twins waiting for Harry.

gHello Harry. It's great to see you again,h one started.

gIt would be better if we knew why you sent the Malfoys to us, though,h the other finished.Harry's eyes went wide in shock. gWhat do you mean The Malfoys are here? I only sent Draco!h Harry's gaze narrowed in anger, the twins knowing that look all to well, pointed Harry up the stairs while moving out of his way. Nodding his head in thanks, Harry looked at the others. gYoufre welcome to follow me but I'm warning you now, don't get in my way. I have a ferret to kill.h With that, he started up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and barely stopping to open the door at the top.