“I will need to check on Harry,” said Minerva. “I promised her I'd be back half an hour ago.”
“Then by all means do so but I would like to bring you with me so you may remove the wards your placed there,” said Dumbledore. “I can only guess what you warded.”
“How do you know about that?”
“It disturbed the blood wards slightly.”
“I don't believe my presence is needed,” said Severus.
Rather he was counting on it. He honestly didn't trust himself not to hex the Dursleys after how he found the girl the day before. He also had a lot to think about. Had he just agreed to house Harry Potter? Yes, he knew he had to – for Lily. But how on earth would that work out? Could he even trust her not to destroy the place within the first day? Well, he certainly wasn't going to let her. He was supposed to protect her and as he had told the Headmaster many times before he could not do that if she could not be relied upon to obey the rules. The last thing he needed was to chase after her every time she meddled in affairs that did not concern her and as a result got herself in trouble. Well, if she was to be a Slytherin she would follow the same rules and she would find that he, unlike Minerva, actually did take an active interest in the rules being followed in his house. In fact, when he thought about it, he was quite sure that he could actually keep her far safer than Minerva had by simply taking care of her rule breaking. True, Quirinus had attempted to kill her on the Quidditch pitch but she would never have gone after the philosopher's stone had she respected her teachers and followed the rules!
“Indeed not and you will also have to make a room ready for her,” replied Dumbledore.
Damn, he hadn't thought of that! Where would he even put her? If this was only for a few days he wouldn't have bothered and simply put her on the couch but if she was to remain there for the rest of the summer and possibly during the school year he would need to clear out a room for her. He supposed the room he was currently using as an additional store-room would suffice.
“Then I suggest you go now Minerva. I will meet you back here in 20 minutes or so and we will floo to Mrs Figg's.”
The witch nodded and left the room. Severus glared at the old man who had turned his attention to the paperwork on his desk and seemed almost unaware of his presence.
“Severus, my boy, is there something you wish to say?” Dumbledore said, his eyes still on his desk.
“You know exactly what I think.”
“I hope so,” replied the old man.
“What exactly is it you expect me to do? You are expecting something in return for this, I'm sure. Is it only my promise not to take her from you?”
“I expect you to protect her.”
“I was already doing that,” huffed Severus.
“You were but things will not get any easier. I do not wish to be at odds with you, Severus, surely you can see that. I don't doubt that you care for her a great...”
“Care for her? I care about the fact that this has been kept from me! I care when a child is mistreated! I care when that child's guardian does nothing to prevent it! I care because I owe it to Lily to see that the girl is taken care of properly – and so should you!”
“She is your daughter, Severus, it is only natural if you should wish to get to know her and this way you may do just that while we keep her safe.”
“You may think what you will. I took her because I cannot trust you with her.”
“So you say. We may not agree upon everything but I would like to work with you rather than without you.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Not at all. But if it should ever come down to it and I feel I must chose between you and Harry I would not hesitate to chose her,” said Dumbledore with a sorrowful expression.
“I am well aware of how important she is should your prophecy still apply to her!”
“I believe it does. Now if you will excuse me I have work to do and you must prepare to take the girl. You have my permission to ask the house elfs for assistance should you need it.”
Severus scowled at the man and stormed out of his office. As if he had ever needed his permission before! Hah! Well, he had better things to do than trade veiled insults with the Headmaster. What was he going to do with the girl? Transfigurations were not a permanent solution. Oh, for Merlin's sake! He would have to get her an actual bed, a desk of her own and a bookcase. Was the second storage even large enough for her? This was proving to be a larger undertaking than he had realized. There were no windows in the dungeons. Would that be disturbing to a girl who had lived in a cupboard? Severus didn't know. He would have to ward every single door down there too or have her going through everything! Severus paused in the hallway and reminded himself that it was necessary for him to do this before he had a panic attack. Hopefully she would adjust to the Slytherin dorm fast and her presence in his quarters would be only for this summer. He was brought back from his thoughts by the sound of hurried footsteps coming towards him. He looked up to see Minerva in her coat.
“Severus!” she gasped. “Severus, I can't find her! She left my quarters!”
He didn't need to ask who 'she' was. Blast! The girl couldn't stay put for less than two hours! Her living accommodations would have to wait. What if someone had seen her?
“I'll find her,” he quickly nodded to Minerva and flew past her.
He would leave it to Minerva to fetch the girl's possessions – meanwhile he would find the owner. Severus could feel his temper rising. He knew it wasn't easy for her but surely staying in Minerva's quarters was not too much to ask? Here they were, fighting to keep her out of the Headmaster's hands. Did she think they could do it without her cooperation? She most likely did. After all, was she not used to adults fixing everything for her, no questions asked? It only took one wrong step and everything would crumble around them. Where would she even go? Severus' first instinct was to check the Quidditch pitch but he left searching the grounds for later, hoping that the girl at least was sensible enough not to leave the castle. Then again it is P... Severus grimaced. That still didn't feel right. He just could no longer bear to think of her in connection with James.
Severus quickened his pace and continued down the hallway with a scowl on his face and his robes billowing behind him. He would start by Minerva's office and search the nearby corridors first. Would she have gone to Gryffindor tower and tried to enter? Just to be certain Severus took a detour to the portrait and questioned the fat lady. He didn't mention a small girl but simply asked whether anyone had come by recently. Satisfied that the girl had not come this way and that the mouthy portrait was now glaring at him, Severus continued to Minerva's office.
The door was closed and warded. Clearly Minerva had done this to ensure no intruders could enter but Severus thought it rather ridiculous when it meant the girl couldn't slip back inside should she come to her senses. Where could she have gone? He continued down the hallway until he heard something up ahead. His ears perked and he stopped to listen. Silence. It had sounded like light footsteps and oddly enough Severus' first thought was that it was student up to no good despite the fact that it was summer and no students were around. Well, except one. Severus proceeded carefully. He turned a corner and found no one there. She was certainly around here unless Flitwick had developed a passion for hide and seek – those had not been the footsteps of an adult human. He wasn't fool enough to call out for her – should it prove to be someone else after all.
Severus turned his attention to a door nearby that he knew to be a broom closet. The door appeared closed at a first glance but in reality it was not entirely shut. Losing his patience the Potions Master strode over and opened the door. A shriek followed as the girl inside jumped and dropped the two books she was carrying on the floor.
“Where have you been?” hissed Severus as the girl realized who the intruder was.
She didn't answer but instead reached for one of the books on the floor. Severus sighed and picked up the other one which had landed partly on his foot. He looked at the book in his hand. It was a rather thin book on the seeker for the Holyhead Harpies. She reached out and tried to get it back from him but Severus held the book out of her reach.
“I asked you a question,” he said, every bit as furious now that the girl was found.
“The library,” replied the girl shortly and attempted to pass him and leave the closet but Severus blocked her way.
“And were you not told to remain in professor McGonagall's quarters? Have you any idea what would have happened if you were spotted?”
“Madam Pince wasn't there! And I was going back now anyway!”
“That is no excuse! Do you live to be trouble? Come!” he replied and reached for her arm.
“I can walk back on my own!” cried the girl.
“You are not returning to professor McGonagall's chambers. Come now.”
Severus wanted nothing more than to lecture the girl properly but he couldn't risk having a longer conversation with her here. He pulled her out of the closet and made to continue down the hallway.
“Hey, where are we going?” gasped the girl as she struggled keep up with him.
Severus didn't answer. He had to take her somewhere and his own office was the only option. It seemed he would not have much time to prepare for her or come to terms with this himself. He wouldn't tell her about this arrangement until they arrived. He didn't need a shouting match in the corridors when he was trying to keep her hidden and he was absolutely certain the girl would express her displeasure vocally. The girl soon stopped protesting and even kept quiet when Severus quickly pushed her through a door so she wouldn't be seen by Irma Pince as the woman passed on her way back to the library. But when they were heading down the stairs to the dungeons the girl caught on and began struggling against him as soon as they were in the dungeons and somewhat out of danger of discovery.
“Let go of me!” she hissed. “I'm not going to the Slytherin dorms!”
Severus paused. So that was what she thought was happening? That he would send her there already?
“No, you most certainly are not. I don't need you running all over the place without supervision. We are going to my office.”
“Oh,” said the girl and looked slightly confused. “But I'm still not going with you! Where is McGonagall?”
“Professor McGonagall is currently retrieving your possessions from your relatives' home.”
He continued to pull her along until they reached the door to his office. He put the book under his other arm and unlocked the door with a flick of his wand. He dragged the girl inside and closed the door behind them.
“Why don't you sit down?” he said and flicked his wand once again, causing a chair to slide up in front of his desk.
“Give me that,” said the girl and reached for the book in his hand.
Severus sighed and walked up to his desk where he placed the book. The girl followed behind him. He sat down behind his desk and took at deep breath. He knew this wasn't going to be pleasant and he had hoped to find her in a more compliant mood.
“Sit,” he said, repeating his request.
The girl was studying him. Her eyes were narrowed and she was frowning slightly as she clearly tried to piece together what this was about. She placed her hand on the chair as if she needed to check and see if it was real before she slowly sat down and put the book she was holding on the desk – never taking her eyes off Severus.
“Before we address the absolute stupidity of leaving professor McGonagall's quarters I need to discuss your stay here with you. As you may know we had a meeting earlier today.”
“So it was about me! Why wasn't I invited!” cried the girl.
“Quiet!” snapped Severus. “Why you were not invited is something you may ask the Headmaster if you should wish to. Now, due to her work you will not be able to remain with professor McGonagall. It has been decided that you will receive a room of your own elsewhere which you may also continue to use when the school year begins until you feel comfortable with moving into Slytherin.”
“What do you mean? I get my own room?” gasped the girl. “Where?”
Severus studied her. Her lips moved slightly forming a slight smile and her eyes were full of light. The girl most likely had never truly considered the room she had lived in this summer her own nor could he fault her for being excited when she had lived in a cupboard. If only you knew. But she would know in a moment. A part of Severus almost felt bad for snuffing out her happiness but there was no way around it.
“You will be staying with me,” he stated, unblinking.
And now we wait. Three. Two. One. And?
“What? No way!” cried the girl and jumped up from the chair.
“You need to be under supervision while you are here and since I will be your Head of House we all agreed it would be the best course of action. It has already been decided.”
“You... You can't do that!” the girl spluttered. “I don't want to stay here! You can't make me!”
Severus sighed.
“I am afraid you don't have a choice. There are no other alternatives. I cannot say the thought is pleasing to me either but it is the way it must be! If you can control yourself I have more to tell you.”
The girl's face had turned completely white. She spun around and ran for the door but Severus was faster and locked it from behind his desk. The girl became even more furious when she found the handle wouldn't turn. Severus rose, trying very hard to reign in his temper.
“Sit back down! That behavior is absolutely ridiculous!” he demanded.
“No!” cried the girl who was now looking just about ready to murder him.
“Stop this nonsense and sit back down before I decide to stick you to the chair!”
The girl crossed her arms and turned her back on him. Severus quickly moved over to her and spun her around, keeping his hands on her shoulders.
“I am trying my best to patient with you but I am warning you, my patience is running low! Sit down so we may have a civilized conversation!”
“Just fuck off!” spat the girl.
Severus turned pale. What did she just say to me? They had had their fair share of disagreements in the past but never had she spoken to him like that!
“P...” he said and managed to stop himself just in time. He couldn't say it. Not to this face. What then? Harry? No. Severus was positively shaking with fury.
“Don't you dare speak to me with such language!” he hissed.
“Whatever,” replied the girl, rolling her eyes.
“Harriet!” thundered Severus.
He had imagined she would either be frightened and apologize or give him another cheeky reply but not what actually happened.
“Don't ever call me that!” screamed the girl and swung her fist at him, intending to hit him in the chest, only to be stopped by Severus whose reflexes were still excellent.
He stared at her, wide-eyed. Her cheeks were flushed with anger and her eyes were watering.
“I... Calm down. Take deep breaths. I promise I won't,” said Severus slowly when he had gotten over the initial shock.
The girl didn't reply but was clearly choking on sobs. Severus kept his hand on her shoulder and gently steered her back towards the chair. For Merlin's sake! Please don't have her cry! Well, so much for the Headmaster's plan the rename her Harriet. That clearly wasn't going to go over well. The only thing was Severus wasn't quite sure what the objection was. Was it to the name itself or simply to him referring to her by any first name? The girl plopped into the chair and sat there staring at her own knees.
“May I... Inquire as to why you dislike that name?” asked Severus as he was very careful to keep his voice as neutral as possible. He certainly wanted to discuss her behavior as well but not until he had calmed down.
“My aunt called me that. It's not my name,” replied the girl, still not looking at him.
Severus sat back down while he carefully thought about what he would say next.
“The Headmaster has suggested renaming you that so that you may continue to be known as Harry Potter. However,” Severus said holding up his hand to stop the girl when her head shut up and her mouth opened. “I do believe we may change that should you wish it.”
“He has no right to decide that!” sneered the girl. “Why didn't anyone ask me?”
“I think everyone was assuming that you would prefer it that way. It would explain the confusion about your gender as a simple mistake if 'Harry' was short for 'Harriet'.”
“You should have asked. Maybe I don't want to be Harry Potter. Ever thought of that?”
As a matter of fact I did. But no one would listen to me!
“You don't want to be Harry Potter?”
“No. James called me that. Besides I'm not a real Potter anyway am I? Well, I don't want anything to do with him!”
Severus was simultaneously rejoicing and cursing this new development. It would mean negotiating with the Headmaster again but he suddenly felt justified in his reluctance to refer to the child as 'Potter' ever since the discovery.
“If you would agree to pretend you were originally named Harriet then I am certain there can be no objections to you officially changing you name. That being said, I don't believe your reaction just now was in anyway justified. You do not speak to me like that. You do not attack a teacher. I thought we made that clear after your little stunt with the Headmaster.”
Harry narrowed her eyes. What did he mean by that? Hadn't he asked her to be upset with Dumbledore? How was she supposed to know what she was or was not to to do when he hadn't told her what to do? McGonagall had agreed that her anger was justified then and honestly Harry considered it every bit as justified now. How could they decide such a thing without her?
She had already told herself countless times that she couldn't trust anyone and once again they proved her right. How was she supposed to trust people who went around changing her life for the worse every time she gave them a chance to discuss without her? What exactly was Snape trying to do? He hated her. It was obvious to Harry that he didn't in any way like the idea of having her here yet somehow he had agreed to this? Well, Harry wouldn't have it. Apart from the Headmaster, Snape was the person she would least like to be near in the world. Every single time she saw him she was reminded of the vivid red color in the bottle and the words she had heard him yell at Dumbledore. She is my daughter! She didn't want to be anything to him – not even one his Slytherins.
“It's not fair,” she huffed.
“Perhaps you believe otherwise? Perhaps you believe you have every right to go about attacking your professors?” replied Snape coldly.
“Well, maybe my professors believe they every right to go about ruining my life!” hissed Harry.
“Perhaps it has escaped you but we are trying to help you!” thundered the professor.
Harry jumped slightly at the sound of his voice and became very aware of just how alone she was. Still, she couldn't bring herself to be careful. There were too many emotions fighting to escape from her chest.
“How? How are you helping? Why do I have to be a Slytherin? Why can't I stay where I was? Why aren't you telling me anything? Why don't I get to decide?” she cried.
“If you are quite finished... I have already informed you that resorting you will not only put you in the house which you claim you were intended for but it will give the Headmaster much less control over you. As for your staying here: Professor McGonagall cannot house you and so you will be staying with me which is also much more convenient since I will be your Head of House. It is as simple as that. We are trying to help you by ensuring that you will never return to Surrey, you silly girl! Tell me, would you rather stay there this summer?”
Harry paused. Was that the only choice she had? Snape or the Dursleys? This was turning into a very unfunny game of Would you rather? Earlier she had thought to herself that she would spend the summer with Malfoy if it meant never going back to the Dursleys.
“Will I have to go back to them?” she asked.
“I already told you: Professor McGonagall and I will not allow it. You will never have to return,” replied Snape in a rather annoyed tone.
So it was exactly the same kind of thing. Only it was Snape instead of Malfoy. Perhaps she could actually do this? After all she didn't have to actually have anything to do with Snape did she? She'd just have to sleep in his quarters, right?
“And when school starts?” she asked, wondering.
“Then you may either sleep in the dormitory with your new housemates or remain in your room here.”
Harry wasn't entirely sure which was worse – sharing a dorm with the Slytherin girls or staying with Snape. The Slytherins would make her life hell but what would her friends say if they knew she was living with Snape? As a matter of fact what would they say about all of this. Suddenly Harry felt afraid. What would they say about her face? About being moved to Slytherin? About being related to the old bat? Oh, no! Malfoy was going to have the time of his life!
“Of course you may not tell anyone where you are staying should you chose the last option,” continued Snape. “Should anyone ask you sleep in a guestroom which has been lent to you. That brings me to another point. Under no circumstances may you reveal the nature of our... connection to anyone. Not even your little friends. The Headmaster will be telling the press that you are James Potter's stepdaughter and that your father is unknown. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir,” Harry nodded.
She was thankful for that actually. Why did Snape think she would tell anyone? She didn't want anyone to know about that! In fact she wished she didn't know!
“We will have plenty of time to discuss things further but for now I believe we must address your behavior today. Not only did you leave professor McGonagall's quarters when you were told to stay and put yourself in danger of being spotted, you also decided to swear at me and physically attack me!”
Harry's eyes shot up. Was he really still angry about that? Nothing had happened when she snuck out and even if she had actually managed to hit him he would have deserved it!
“I believe writing a few lines will adequately occupy your time for an hour or so,” said the professor. “I think 200 lines of 'I will respect and obey my elders' would do just fine. When your room is ready for you, you will be confined to it for the remainder of the day.”
What had she honestly expected? This was Snape after all! On one hand Harry wanted to get up and protest the unfairness of this but on the other hand she wanted to be left alone with her thoughts.
“Will you be staying here?” it flew out of her.
Snape raised an eyebrow at the question.
“No, I will have to see that a room is prepared for you. Still, you will not leave my office and do not for a moment believe I will not be checking up on you!”
Anything to get rid of you! Harry sighed. She wasn't sure what she was going to do but at least now she would have to time to herself to think about it. Snape got up from his chair and flicked his wand, causing one of the two students' desks he kept in his office to move closer to his own desk. Another flick and a quill, ink and a stack of parchment flew of the shelves and settled on the desk.
“I suggest you begin,” said Snape.
Harry got up and reached for the book on his desk. If she had them with her she might read a bit when she got too bored but just as she was about to take one of them, Snape reached out and grabbed them both.
“I don't believe you will be needing these.”
“Hey, those are mine!”
“No, those belong to the school. Now sit down and begin. I will return shortly and if you've left this room for any other reason than to use the facilities you will be sorry, am I understood?”
Harry glared at the man for good measure. In all honesty she just wanted him to leave. It didn't matter that she would be stuck here she just wanted to be alone. She walked over to the desk and slowly as she dared and took her sweet time to sit down and grab the quill. Snape waved his wand at the door – presumably unlocking it before he turned towards one of the bookcases and placed his hand on an old book. The moment he did so it glowed slightly and a door appeared on the wall next to the bookcase. He turned and nodded to Harry before opening the door and disappearing. As soon as it closed behind him the door disappeared as well.
Severus closed the door to his office behind him. He hadn't in anyway expected her the react well and he hadn't been disappointed but what puzzled him was that the girl had ultimately obeyed him – even if it was with an attitude. The lines would keep her occupied while he sorted out her sleeping arrangements. Perhaps if he kept her occupied he might survive the summer?
He looked around the living room of his humble abode. While he did have another home outside of Hogwarts this was where he spent most of his time. It was very much so the quarters of a professor and a confirmed bachelor. To Severus this was his life and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't picture the girl in it. He left the books there and exited the living room and ventured out into the hallway and opened one of the door which lead into the second storage room. There was dust on almost everything in here. The room was full of boxes and a few pieces on old furniture. While he used to the storage room for his private stock of potions this one was mainly books other old things he either didn't care for or hadn't bothered to sort through. What was he going to do about this? Much of this was rubbish but Severus needed time to sort the treasure from the trash. He muttered something about idiotic children under his breath as he thought of how much easier this would have been if the girl had stayed in Minerva's quarters and how he would have been able to do this without worrying about finding his office in ruins. He paused. Perhaps he could stack the boxes in the lab for a while until he had the time?
Severus took a deep breath and began banishing the dusty boxes to the lab. All this trouble. He wondered what Lily would think of all this. Would she approve of his efforts? Once the boxes were gone Severus stepped further into the room to get a better look at the furniture. Some of it he had brought with him when he first got the position at Hogwarts and couldn't afford anything better. These were from some of the places he had been staying while in the Dark Lord's service. Another part of the furniture had never belonged to him but had been left here by Slughorn when these were his quarters. Additionally Severus suspected the house elfs might have thrown a few other things into the pile in the part of the summer before his employment where the rooms had been empty. Some of these things looked like they might be from some of the guestrooms. They certainly didn't seem like something Slughorn would have used.
Severus quickly banished a few dining room chairs of his own. A very decadent cabinet which he suspected was the former occupant's followed suit. At the back wall were what appeared to be two identical beds and a couch stacked on top of each other. The beds were white-painted wood and Severus recognized them as being from the infirmary. When he had begun at Hogwarts the beds there had been metal and rather heavy. A few years later they were replaced by these wooden ones which were in turn were later replaced by the more modern cots that were there today. It would have to do. He banished the couch and one of the beds leaving one behind.
There were no desks there but Severus could easily move one of the students' desks from his office in here so she might use it until they found a better one. It wasn't as if he'd had any notice. There was a wardrobe in the room which he had brought from one of his previous residences but it was a bit on the big side for a twelve year old girl and so Severus shrunk it ever so slightly. Severus banished the rest of the furniture. He knew a bookcase wouldn't be hard to find since Hogwarts was full of them.
“Milly,” he snapped and the house elf popped into the room. “I need this room cleaned and the bed made. You may use some of the bedding from my house. I will need a bookcase moved in here so please see whether there are any unused ones in the guestrooms.”
The house elf bowed and disappeared. Severus left the room with a sigh. It would have to do. Surely the girl wouldn't complain considering where she had previously slept. And even if she did, what she expecting? A part of Severus wished he could have done more with it now. It was acceptable but it reminded him of his own room when he was a child. It had what it needed to have but nothing more. It was every bit as gloomy as the girl's previous accommodations. Severus had to remind himself that this was only temporary. They would find a proper place for her no matter what the Headmaster said and she would have a chance at a proper cheery childhood. The clock in the living room showed that nearly half an hour had passed. It was about time he checked on the girl.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Before moving in
Who I am not
Chapter End Notes:
Up next: Moving in!