Chapter 11| One Saved

Harry had slept well, despite the fact that he and Ron shared a room. The red-haired boy was a little too enthused about proclaiming their friendship, much to Potter's amusement. He had let it slide with him commenting on how he wanted to be friends with many people.

Bouncing down the stairs, he grinned as he saw the twins in the tower.

"Hola, Senors." He hummed lowly, sitting in front of them.

It was still early in the morning, and breakfast was not going to be served for a short while. Long enough for the old soul to get the information that he wanted.

The twins chuckled as they saw the look their little brother was giving them. They knew what he wanted, and it was all the more amusing to see him basically squirm. It would seem going back in time had destroyed his ability to mask his emotions. Then again, he was a child once more.

"I told and showed him everything." George admitted easily, getting a slightly disappointed look from the smaller one.

The two laughed, grinning some. It wasn't long before they began talking about their new abilities, though they gave confused looks as Harry told them about his Creature inheritance.

"We've never heard of that." Fred hummed, looking at his brother, who just shrugged.

"Maybe it's rare?" George offered, both of them looking at the younger of them.

The boy-who-lived nodded, holding his thinking look. He was trying to remember if the current Life said anything about this. She might've, maybe implied it?

"I think it's rare, maybe it only shows for Purebloods and those close to it?"

The three of them shrugged as if they weren't going to scourer the school library. The twins did have the Library Master's favour this time around, so they could go into even the forbidden sections. They found that having her favour was most handy as they were able to think up many new ideas for potions, charms, and what have you because of their research into such spells. Anyway, they were sure they could find something on the issue in the school library, and if not, then they would just have to wait for the Black Library.

"Well, it's-" The red twin started.

"Nearly time-" The green twin continued.

"For breakfast, we-"

"Are looking forward-"

"To seeing you-"

"Around, old friend." The twins harmonized with a smirk before they turned and strolled out of the room.

Harry chuckled at them, a sweet smile on his innocent lips. It felt like everything was going right. The twins were together again, happy and causing mischief just because the hat sorted them differently. He hoped that whatever venture that they were up to about Neville didn't cause any harm. He quite liked Neville; he was like another brother to him besides the Weasley twins.

"I can't believe the teachers just allow those two to walk about." A pitched voice hissed.

The good mood the old soul was in dimmed some, his smile faltering. He did however straighten his back and relied on some things that Draco was able to teach him about being a Pureblood, seeing as he would have some seats in Wizengamot. The blond's teachings have helped the saviour many times from lashing out, especially after what Ron did to his surrogate sister.

"They aren't breaking any rules. They are quite friendly." The black-haired boy gave the other a simple nod before he looked behind the red-haired boy. "It seems breakfast is about to be served; we should meet with the others." A tight-lip smile was rewarded to the other before the smaller boy walked off to talk with the others in his year.

Ron scowled, clenching his fists. This wasn't how Harry was supposed to be! Dumbledore had said that the boy would be hurt! Traumatized and weak! That the Boy-Who-Lived needed someone to guide him! Yet that thing has done nothing but ignore him and talk down to him!

The Weasley shook his head some, quickly bouncing over to the boy. He needed to get control of this quickly. He had to get control of this! He wasn't going to fail someone as great and powerful as Dumbledore! He could finally be able to get out of poverty! He could eat however much he wants to and buy all the latest clothes and what-nots!

Harry winced a little as he felt the malicious intent come from the boy he had once considered a friend. In his old life, he had thought the burn of his scar meant Voldemort was nearby, but now he realized, it was a warning him of evil. Of people's lies. Sure, it still told him when Voldemort was close, but he still fell under the malicious intent part of it.

It wasn't long till they were in the Great Hall, and for now, Harry sat at his Gryffindor table. He carefully looked around the grand room, a sense of familiarity spreading through him. It had been so long since he had been inside these grand walls as they were at this moment. After the war, Hogwarts went through many upgrades, the Room of Requirements was found as was the Chamber. Both areas were soon stripped of their magic and taken away, something that the young Potter deeply regretted having done. Yet, that time is in the future, a future he knew wouldn't pass.

There was a long morning speech from the Headmaster, one of which the Gods didn't listen to. Why listen to something they already knew or thought was bs? There were other students, namely the Slytherin and the Ravenclaws, who didn't listen on behalf of not caring or having heard of other things.

Severus Snape carefully gazed out into the room, looking at the familiar faces of the older years and memorizing the faces of the younger years. His eyes stopped when they landed on Draco Malfoy, the blond he was Godfathered to. The boy was eating like a perfect Pureblood, even compared to his own House, but his eyes were watching someone else. It wasn't hard to find that someone else, as they were practically mirroring the young Heir.

The Dark teacher was rather surprised at seeing the perfect form and decorum that Harry Potter was showing. He had been told that the boy had been raised by Muggles, Lily's sister nonetheless. A wince wished to escape onto the man's permanently scowling face. That woman was once a nice woman, mean at times but that's what siblings were for! Petunia and Lily held a bond so close and tight that he wasn't sure it could break. Sure, the woman spoke idiocy, but when she saw she was wrong, she corrected herself and apologized! It was only when she met that Dursley did she change.

Snape remembered holding a crying Lily as she cursed and complained about the man. He remembered the heartbroken look on her face as her beloved sister practically disowned her! The teacher could only imagine what that woman could've done to someone like Harry, the very person that her sister sacrificed her life to save.

Carefully, narrowing his eyes, he saw that despite what he thought, the Potter was friendly, very open and calm. If he truly tried to push himself, he could've sworn he saw a grandfatherly look take hold on the boy's face.

The Potions Master soon pulled himself away from his grim staring and went back to his own food. He doubted he would have time to eat much later.

Harry was rather happy about his classes, they were the same as they were in his first life, so that was something. He also saw and heard that the vast majority of his year-mates were going to be in most of his classes with a few switches and changes. The young-looking boy believed because there were roughly an equal number of students per House and year, that the years were carefully divided into two so that way the Houses could share classrooms. You know, be partnered with someone you don't like so you can figure out how to handle similar situations when you're an adult? It made sense to him at least.

Humming some, the boy couldn't wait till he had potions. Through Draco, he had learned to enjoy the subtly of it. It was rather enjoyable. The blond had compared potions making to cooking, something that Harry excelled in and genuinely did enjoy.

Once the Gryffindors and Slytherins were at the door, they had to wait. The air was tense, something that Potter didn't like. He remembered that after the war anyone who went into Slytherin was quickly branded and hated, old childhood friends were quickly shunned and abandoned. He remembered there had to be extra laws in place as eleven-year-olds were being dropped off and abandoned left and right once they were sorted Green. He was lucky that his children had great, understanding friends. Yet even before the war, the tensions and stigma was never nice. He needed to break that here and now.

"Hello, I'm Harry Potter." He offered his hand to a chubby boy, Crabbe if he remembered correctly.

The slower Slytherin looked at the hand with poorly hidden distrust before grabbing it. The grip was a bit painful, but there was no look of malice on the boy's face; he was just stronger than the average child.

"You've got a firm grip!" The saviour chirped, making the other release his bruising hand quickly.

Crabbe cleared his throat, shifting some. He hadn't meant to hurt the other... His mother did tell him he needed to be aware of his strength...

"I-"

"No need to apologize, you didn't hurt me." The shorter boy smiled brightly, a genuine calming aura floating from him. It was relaxing for everyone. "What's your name though?"

The chubby boy cleared his throat before he nodded.

"Vincent Crabbe... This is my friend Gregory Goyle." The other big student nodded, a tense look on them both.

"Nice to meet you, Vincent and Gregory!"

The two Slytherins looked at each other, unsure of what to really do or think. It was strange to be treated the way they were by anyone other than Draco. Most people would just take a look at them and think they were idiots or that they were going to be some type of bodyguards. Those people probably weren't wrong, but Draco had told them they could be powerful and intimidating Aurors... Was Harry going to say the same?

Before any of them could say another word, the door to the room was swung open with an eerie creak. The two Houses jumped a little, except for the Heir Malfoy and Heir Potter. They had been expecting it and they had been warned via their magic.

Swiftly, the group hurried into the room, the two Houses almost evenly splitting, except for one oddity.

Draco gave the boy-who-lived a confused look, his grey eyes scanning the Gryffindor up and down. It was nearly unheard of that the two rivalling Houses would have someone sit with the other so willingly. The brave, or idiotic, boy grinned at the stunned Pureblood in a jovial manner.

"I haven't been able to talk to you since the sorting, and you seem like you would know your potions." He hummed sweetly, tilting his head in such a cute fashion.

'He's too cute and naïve for his own good. Why did he have to be hurt? I miss seeing him like this, and that smile... It's directed at me... It's my smile now.' The blond's eyes flashed that silvery colour before he looked away, a strange sense of panic piercing his heart. 'What am I thinking! Get a hold of yourself, Draco! You are a Lord, act like one!'

Before the blond could question his thoughts again, Severus Snape, the youngest Potions Master, walked into the room with his robes blowing around him. Quietly, Draco was glad for the distraction that his Godfather now provided.

Harry watched the older man with amusement. He was sure the man had enchanted his clothes to do such a thing. He wouldn't put it past him to do so. It made the man both elegant and a threat in one fell swoop. Especially with his ever-present scowl.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making. As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe that this is magic." The man began before going off on his familiar tangent.

Harry and Draco glanced at each other, a sweet smile forming on both of their lips. A sense of pain and guilt formed in both of their chests. Snape had died during the second war. He died protecting the last thing that his first love had cared about, and Harry could only be saddened by that thought.

"Potter!" Said the boy tilted his head up, waiting for the questions. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel into an infusion of wormwood?"

The black-haired boy tilted his head back, running his head through the properties of both items and how the difference in their makings could affect the stew(potion).

"Draught of Living Death; a much more deadly version of a sleeping potion that it would seem as if the victim were dead rather than asleep." The boy nodded slowly before giving a sweet smile.

Snape narrowed his eyes. The boy shouldn't know that. He lived with Petunia, did he not? The Master blinked the thought away, quickly going off on his second question.

"If I told you to look for a bezoar, where would you find it?"

Again, it took the boy a few moments to come up with the ingredient and its need.

"A bezoar is a stone in the gut of a goat, it's very useful as it can save you from most poisons if taken in time."

The man nodded, a sense of pride and kindness forming in his chest. Had Petunia gotten over her newfound hatred and taught the boy these things? Let him learn maybe?

"Monkshood and wolfsbane." That one caused a bright smile to form on the boy's face.

"There's the same plant, sir, in fact, they also go by the name of aconite. It's the main ingredient to your famous Wolfsbane potion for the victims of the werewolf curse if I remember correctly."

The dark-haired man hummed, nodding in approval. He genuinely had not expected the boy to know. Cruel on his part, but the boy looked so much like that blasted father of his. He absolutely hated that man. Yet... This boy held Lily's green eyes. His eyes were full of magic and life, of gentleness and oddly of understanding... As if to say he knew the reason for the cruel action on his part.

The professor quickly turned away, huffing a little.

"Twenty points to Gryffindor." He muttered before turning to the board and spelling the ingredients and instructions for an easy potion onto it. "You have the rest of the period to finish." He growled, glaring as the vast majority of the first years scrambled for the cabinets.

His black eyes looked down to his Godson and the son of his bully. The two were the only ones who hadn't moved to the open cabinet, instead having pulled the reserved ingredients from under their desks. The two effortlessly began the potions, each one mirroring the other in perfect timing. It was oddly cute.

Snape blinked that thought away, reminding himself of what Dumbledore had told everyone. How that boy never had to work a day in his life, practically sleeping in diamond beds. Yet, as he looked closer at the boy's slender hands, he questioned those words. Those slender hands had the beginnings of callouses from working, and the way he moved from one instruction to another, the ease and smoothness that could only happen with near-constant practice.

'What if he lied? What if this boy wasn't raised like a king?' The thought made his scowl deepen. He didn't like what that thought implied. For now, he'll watch the boy, protect him if he must. At least till he knew what was going on.

Harry glanced up, a warm feeling flushing over him when he saw a new conviction taking hold of the man's once hateful eyes. Sweetly, he gave a smile to the man before focusing back on the potion. It seemed Snape was beginning his Slytherin questioning.

One has been saved.

~2,839

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***