Bound by Blood (and Faith)

A/N: Welcome readers to my twisted little brain. I invite you to relax, pull up a chair, and enjoy this work of fiction. I do not own Harry Potter, the world he lives in or any of the characters therein. (Oh, how I wish I did). I am not making any money off of this work. It is just for my own entertainment (and hopefully, your entertainment as well). As the disclaimers become applicable, I will let you know. Chapter one is very mellow.

Massive thank yous to my awesome, amazing, brilliant, patient and (sometimes) gentle beta, Jags. Without you, this story would have stayed in the dark recesses of my brain.

Chapter 1

The world does not revolve around you, Mr. Potter. The sooner you grow up and realize that, the better all of our lives will be.

The biting words echoed through his head, drowning out all other sounds, including the raging storm that shook the windows of 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry leaned against his bedroom wall, face against the mercifully cool window. He stared across his small back garden, but the scene barely registered with him. His mind was miles away.

The long weekend was nearly over, even though Harry hadn't done much more than what he was doing now. He had started it with such high hopes, but they had all been smashed with a few words and the crack of skin on skin. His rejected peace offering was sitting on his kitchen table, ruined by the heat of the house. Not that it was particularly hot in the kitchen, but the concoction should have been refrigerated. He hadn't been able to bring himself to put it away. Not after it had been flung back at him will all the disdain and coldness that could be mustered by one Severus Snape.

Harry's eyes watered when the memory of Snape's rejection of his gift and, ultimately, him replayed yet again in his mind. Nearly unbearable pain lanced through his chest and heat flooded his cheeks. He had expected some degree of rebuff, but he had not expected the sharp, backhanded slap, which, by itself, would have been more than sufficient to convey Snape's disgust, but the Potions teacher had followed the blow with harsh words that had utterly shattered Harry's heart.

Foolish boy. You think the world itself is in love with you. Not everyone is waiting in line to lick the dust from your boots.

As if that had not been cruel enough, Snape had thrown him out of his study with orders never to return. Harry slid down to kneel beside the wall, tears coursing down his face unchecked. Not for the first time in the last few days, Harry was glad he lived alone. He didn't want anyone seeing him like this. It was humiliating enough to know that he had shown his hand to the one man he would ever truly love and had been slapped down, literally, for it. Sobs wracked his body and he reached up to bury his face in his hands.