Disclaimer – Once again I own nothing. Unfortunately.

Harry Potter and the Founder’s Rite

Chapter 1 – Faces, old and new.

Severus Snape was not a nice man. He knew that. Everyone else knew that. So it was no surprise that as he stalked through Diagon Alley just before the start of the new school year that people on both sides of the Alley shied away from him. It could also have had something to do with the thunderous expression on his face.

Dumbledore had called him that very morning to once again tell him that he had not received the Defence against the Dark Arts position. Even after all he had done, after he had saved Harry bloody Potter’s life once again and then assisted the brat in destroying the Dark Lord, he was still not trusted. It had been almost twelve years ago for Merlin’s sake; surely he had paid his dues.

But no. Apparently not. He was still stuck teaching potions to a bunch of dunderheads. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t be teaching the same dunderheads Defence. No, he would. But at least then he wouldn’t have to see them massacring his art in the vilest way on a daily basis. Being able to throw curses and hexes at them was also undoubtedly a plus. It was a form of stress release anyway.

He scowled menacingly at a third year that had the audacity to wave at him before ducking into the Apothecary with a relieved grunt.

‘Professor Snape, a pleasure as always.’ The assistant said cheerfully, smiling brightly. Severus scowled.

‘Do you have the ingredients ready that I requested?’ he snapped.

‘Yes, of course, Professor.’ The wizard remained disgustingly cheerful even in the face of Snape’s strongest glare.

‘Well, could I have them please?’ The potions master ground out.

‘Oh, of course, Professor. Just a moment.’ The wizard disappeared into a back room as Snape swore to buy them by owl post next time. He knew he wouldn’t, of course. He couldn’t check their quality that way, but there had to some way of buying them without having to come to Diagon Alley and put up with the staring and the pointing and the whispering.

Just then the wizard came back and dumped a box of vials on the counter with a bang that couldn’t help but make Severus wince. Didn’t the infernal idiot realise just how combustible some of these ingredients were if accidentally mixed.

‘There you go, Professor. I’ll just let you check them.’ He smiled before moving to serve another couple who had just walked in.

Severus carefully opened each vial, checking their freshness and quality before corking them tightly. Satisfied he waved the man over and pulled out the required sum from his money bag before picking up the box and walking swiftly from the shop.

As he stepped outside, a small figure, not realising the speed with which he would be suddenly be stepping into the street, ran smack into him causing several of the vials to jostle and one to fall. Unfortunately it hit the ground and shattered and the small figure joined it soon thereafter, blood welling as the glass cut deeply into the tiny hand.

Severus opened his mouth to berate what he now realised was a small boy, probably starting at Hogwarts in September, when suddenly another larger figure sprinted up and knelt beside the boy who was whimpering softly.

‘God, Joshua. I told you not to let go of my hand.’ The frantic voice breathed in panic as much larger hands picked up the smaller bleeding one in theirs.

Severus’ eyes widened as there was a soft murmur and one of the larger hands hovered over the smaller one. When it was removed the hand was completely healed.

‘Merlin.’ Severus breathed. There was only one person capable of wandless magic of that calibre and he had disappeared almost twelve years before. Strong arms then picked the boy up and cradled him against a firm chest as the taller figure rose and turned to face the potions master.

‘Professor.’ The voice said neutrally as Severus looked into green eyes he thought he would never see again.

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‘Albus,’ Severus bellowed as he burst into the headmaster’s office. ‘It was him. He was in Diagon Alley. He has a kid, for Merlin’s sake.’

‘Now Severus, just calm down. I can’t make any sense of what you’re saying when you’re ranting.’ Dumbledore said calmly.

Severus growled but obligingly sat down and took the cup of tea he knew was laced with calming potion. He also knew he needed it. A bloody ghost was back from the dead.

‘Now, Severus, who was in Diagon Alley?’

‘Harry Potter.’ Severus spat.

Dumbledore reeled back as if struck. ‘What?’

‘I saw him. He saw me. I’m not lying.’ Snape insisted.

‘I never said you were, Severus, but you must understand my hesitation. We had practically ever Auror in the world looking for him after Lord Voldemort was destroyed. Not one of them found him. I know he had some special gifts but surely someone would have seen or heard from him.’

‘Well apparently no one did.’ Severus sneered again.

‘What was this about a child? How old?’

‘A boy, about to start Hogwarts if I’m not mistaken. I can’t believe no one picked it up. Surely you or Minerva would have seen something when the letters went out?’

Dumbledore shrugged. ‘Depends on the name. We just have the book transcribe the list of that year’s students. We don’t actually look to see their parentage.’

‘Well hadn’t you better look now.’ Severus was practically pulling his hair out and Dumbledore looked at him for several moments.

‘Why are you so upset, Severus. I didn’t think you liked Harry Potter.’ He asked curiously.

Severus got up and began pacing the office. ‘Because if that boy is eleven and staring at Hogwarts that would mean that Potter got someone pregnant before he even left school, before he killed the Dark Lord. Someone out there knew where he was all this time and not even his supposed best friends knew that. The bastard walked out of the school almost twelve years ago, half dead with injuries that would have killed anyone else and he never looked back. Everyone thought he’d bloody died for Merlin’s sake.’ Snape thundered, throwing himself back into the chair and glaring fiercely at the elderly wizard.

Dumbledore didn’t speak instead getting up and crossing to the bookshelf and pulling down a large ancient looking tome that had been resting next to the sorting hat. The hat itself gave a sleepy grunt but didn’t wake as Dumbledore moved back to his desk and placed the book carefully in front of him.

Severus just continued to glare as Albus opened the book and checked an index. ‘What did you say the child’s name was?’

‘I didn’t.’ Severus ground out. Dumbledore just raised an eyebrow; his twinkling blue eyes that had brightened at the news of Harry Potter’s return became even more visible.

‘Joshua.’ Snape finally growled.

Dumbledore smiled and dropped his head once more, trailing a wrinkled finger down a page before turning to another, this one almost two thirds of the way through.

Suddenly Dumbledore gave a sharp intake of breath and his head shot up. The twinkle was completely missing and he had hard blue eyes fixed on the potions master. ‘Is there anything you wish to tell me, Severus?’

Snape’s own breath stuck in his throat and he paled. ‘No.’ he said hoarsely.

Dumbledore’s eyes narrowed and he turned the book around so it was sitting on the desk in front of the potions master before pointing to a particular name.

There in front of him Severus saw the name Joshua Evans. Severus snorted at the lack of creativity.

‘Look at the mother’s name.’ Dumbledore commanded and Snape followed the line down until the came to the parents. Printed in the column for the child’s mother in very neat script was the name Harry Potter.

‘What?’

‘Now look at the father.’ Dumbledore said again, his voice slightly colder. Severus nervously followed to the next column but was totally unprepared in spite of knowing exactly what he would see. There in the same neat script were two words.

Severus Snape.

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I’ve just spent the weekend away where there was no TV, no books, and hundreds of horrifying children. There was however a computer there and this is the result. I already have the next few chapters done and will post them over the next few days together with another chapter of Veela Promise and Betrayal.

Hope you liked it anyway.

Regards,

Mione