Where Others Fear to Tread

Chapter 25

Harry rested his chin on the ledge of the train window, watching as the darkened countryside sped past. Opposite him Snape sat with a potion magazine open in his lap and a half eaten egg and lettuce sandwich at his side. If it hadn’t been for the man’s dragon leather boots or the tip of his wand showing out the sleeve of his jumper he may have just looked like any other of the muggles using the train. Harry smiled at his own reflection in the glass as he leant his head against the window, and tucked his feet up onto the seat beside him.

With Voldemort’s attack upon Hogwarts the school it seemed would not be reopening after the summer. Students had been sent owls informing them that until further notice their schooling was suspended, and that if they wished their parents may take up tutoring. Harry had managed a weak chuckle, as he’d read Ron’s letter earlier that morning. His Uncle Vernon would have loved receiving that letter, and Harry was awful glad he was no longer in his relatives care. While the other students were bound to continue their schooling under the care of their parents Harry however was destined for far worse. Severus his mate was gentle and understanding but Professor Snape Harry’s tutor for the past six years was nothing if not ruthless in his discipline and teaching. Harry had an awful feeling that learning defense against the dark arts with Snape was going to go beyond even the worst of his nightmares. What little hope Harry held onto that he still might survive Snape’s teachings was the wizard they were to meet at Glasgow station, and the man whom’ Snape has said would also be teaching Harry. His name was Jasper apparently and a wizard whom Harry should respect. Harry was a little dubious about Snape and Jasper’s so called friendship but the boy could do little but trust his mate, just as Dumbledore had for the past 37 years.

Harry had been a little emotional this afternoon at the train station. Due to the very nature of their journey Auror’s had flanked their every move. Harry had said his goodbyes to his friends with promises of writing when he could. Admittedly Snape had muttered something about ‘not on your life’ but Harry would find other ways to contact his friends if not through owl post. Remus had given Harry a few textbooks on Defense and Harry had noticed the indignant sniff Snape had made at the gesture. Saying goodbye to Sirius had been the hardest though and when it had come time to leave Harry had been reluctant. Far too raw a memory was seeing Sirius disappearing into the shroud at the ministry and Harry didn’t want to loose his godfather again. Finally having boarded the train dressed like muggles going on vacation Harry had let his emotions win, and as the train pulled away and he waved for a final time at his friends he let the tears fall down his cheeks. Snape had been conveniently already buried in his magazine and Harry wondered if all the tenderness, caring and love last night had been a dream, because sitting before him now was the same cold, hated potions professor he’d known for six years.

Harry sighed deeply as he pushed the crust of his own half eaten sandwich back into the brown paper bag it had been wrapped in.

“Are you still moping Potter?” Snape inquired as he put down his magazine and glared at Harry across their compartment, having heard the boy sigh for the fifth time in under a minute.

“Back to Potter again are we? I’m beginning to think you enjoy messing with my emotions.” Harry snapped a little nastily back at Snape who, in a green turtle neck sweater and a gray pair of trousers look no less menacing than when he was in his black school robes. Snape swilled from his bottle of water before capping it and stowing it in his satchel, his gaze trained carefully on Harry.

“What were you expecting Harry? Long walks under the stars, romantic picnics in the rose gardens, chocolates and flowers, love poetry perhaps?” Snape cocked his head questioningly at Harry who deliberately turned his gaze from Snape back out onto the passing scenery. Harry heard Snape sigh when he didn’t reply. “I already told you Harry, I’m not a romantic and will not become one simply because you desire to be pampered like a love sick maiden. I do not need soppy out pourings of my heart to show my love for you. I take simple pleasure in your company and the small moments we are alone together. It would do you well to learn to enjoy those times also.” Harry nodded silently hardly surprised by what Snape had just said. No matter how hard Harry wanted it, Snape was never going to be the idealistic mate, showering him with unadulterated love trinkets and tokens. It was better therefore to resign himself to doing as Snape seemed to do, and take pleasure in the small moments Snape showed Harry his softer side. Deciding to change the topic of conversation Harry gestured to the two defense books Remus had given him.

“So what exactly am I going to be doing at this cottage, I was supposed to be finishing my final year at Hogwarts.” Snape put aside his magazine obviously more interested in discussing this than reading about the latest craze in Cauldron design for modern potion masters.

“I thought it is high time you started learning what Hogwarts teachers have failed to teach their students in the past because of Ministry restrictions. You are going to work six days a week 11 hours a day, learning everything remotely offensive and defensive from muggle martial arts to advanced curses. Myself and Jasper are going to turn the wizarding worlds ‘boy-who-lived’ into the great wizarding savior they’re all expecting him to be.” Harry stared at Snape in utter shock his mouth hanging open as he watched his life spiraling down the toilet. Harry was sure Snape was going make his life at Dursley’s seem like a happy family retreat.

“That sounds……..” Harry trailed off not sure what words he could put to such comments from Snape. Snape smiled crookedly at Harry pleased by the boy’s speechlessness. This was going to be hard but Harry needed to learn what they’d failed to teach him in school. The boy needed to know how to survive, and more than ever Snape had an invested interest to see the boy both win and live to see the end of the war. Admitting his love of Harry had been difficult but nothing would be as difficult as saying goodbye should the boy fuck this up.

“It sounds like hell Harry and believe me you have no idea how much you’ll want to kill by the time we’re through with you.” Harry grimaced as Snape reached across and placed a gentle hand on his knee as if he hadn’t just suggested death and himself in the same sentence. “But you’ll survive it, even if I have to drag you through it by your hair, kicking and screaming.” With a comforting pat of Harry’s knee Snape sat back in his chair and watched as Harry practically shit himself as his mind began to work overtime. Snape went back to his reading for a little while, allowing Harry to stew over what was to come. Eventually though the boy seemed to come out of his shocked stupor, a little wiser and far more determined.

“So who is this Jasper person?” Harry questioned as he watched Snape smile from behind his magazine.

“Jasper is an Auror’s worst nightmare. He’s escaped more jail cells than I can count, he has a degree in curses and has more experience with dark wizards than you’ll probably ever encounter in your lifetime. Essentially he is going to be the thorn in your side until you tear him from your body with your bare hands.” Harry’s gaze darkened, the fleeting hope he’d had that Jasper may have been his saving grace, was fading quickly.

“He sounds great.” Harry whispered cautiously trying and failing to hide his nervousness from Snape, who laughed and rolled his eyes.

“Oh don’t get me wrong, he’s a great wizard. Friendly enough and well mannered, of good breeding and extremely intelligent. He owns a muggle pub called the Crouching Dragon in Glasgow.” Snape casually flicked a page of his magazine, and Harry sighed a little in relief that Jasper wasn’t a complete bastard.

“So how do you know him?” Harry queried still somewhat dubious about Snape and Jaspers relationship.

“I’ve known him since I was a child, we played together.” Harry frowned a little in confusion, but said nothing as Snape continued. “He’s my brother.” Harry was floored in an instant, his eyes wide like saucers and his mouth gaping like a fish. “Jasper Julius Snape.” Severus continued as if he was stating some none interesting potion fact.

“Brother?” Harry stumbled over the word as his brain caught up with his mouth. “You never told me you had a brother.” Harry said a little accusingly making Snape glare at him from over the top of his magazine.

“You never asked, and I didn’t really see fit to indulge you about stories of my childhood or family.” Harry moved brazenly across the carriage and sat himself down on the seat beside Snape, having put aside the rest of the man’s sandwich.

“Will you tell me stories about it now?” Harry questioned hoping against hope that Snape would agree. Harry had never really had a family, not like the one Snape probably had and it always intrigued Harry to hear about everyone else’s families. Snape seemed to pick up on Harry’s need and gently gestured for the boy to pillow his head in his lap. Harry had seemed very interested in Snape’s relatives back when the wizard had been describing them in the paintings in his rooms and Snape supposed now they were married it seemed fitting Harry should become part of his life both past and present.

“Alright, where to begin…”

Harry spent the rest of the train trip completely enthralled with listening to Snape’s stories about his family. Harry had grown up around muggles and it was strange listening to tales of wizarding family mayhem. Somewhere between Snape telling Harry about his schooling and his brother Harry had fallen asleep, certainly not intentionally but asleep nonetheless.

Harry was awoken by the shuddering of the train and the squeal of the trains breaks as they pulled into the station. Blinking in the early morning light coming in through the window Harry sat up groggily from the seat only to find the compartment empty, their cases on the other seat ready to leave but without Snape. Stretching and muttering about having slept with his glasses on Harry got up and stuck his head out of the compartment, glancing up and down the hall for any signs of Snape but there were none. Harry began to panic a little as he stepped back into the compartment and began glancing about for signs of where his mate might have gone. Before Harry however could begin to worry too much the sliding door of the train compartment opened and Snape stepped back inside, his hand coming to rest on Harry’s tense shoulder. The relief must have shown in Harry’s face when he spun around because Snape enveloped him in a strong hug to calm the younger wizard.

“Relax Harry, I went to the bathroom.” Snape whispered gently against Harry’s forehead, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of the boy’s head before pulling back. “Come on let’s get going, Jasper should be meeting us outside the coffee shop on the platform.” Harry nodded and grabbing his own trunk followed Snape off the train and down onto the bustling Glasgow train station. It wasn’t hard to follow Snape in the crowd of muggles, the man the only one with shoulder length black hair tied up with a leather band.

Eventually they pushed their way through the crowds to the coffee shop and Harry watched as a man, dressed in black slacks, and a white shirt and knee length leather jacket approached them. Snape smiled brightly as the man came to a stop in front of him. Remarkably it seemed Jasper was extremely similar to Snape, the two of them both had black hair, although Snape’s was shorter, their noses were both a little crooked, and the dark obsidian eyes were near images of one another. Yet Jasper was bulkier, either through pork or muscle Harry couldn’t tell beneath the coat, and Jasper was older with a more defined, chiseled chin.

“Severus, you’re looking old I didn’t recognize you little brother.” Harry smirked behind his hand as he watched Jasper ruffle Snape’s hair and tug playfully at the man’s turtleneck sweater. Snape pushed his brothers hands irritably away from him.

“Sod off Jasper, mother always said your wit was tasteless.” Snape’s tongue was sharp but Jasper’s it seemed was sharper as he pulled his brother into a strong hug.

“Yeah but mother was a nasty old cow with no sense of humor.” Came the reply mid way through the hug. Harry couldn’t suppress the snort of laughter at the comment or the sibling argument happening before him. Never in his six years of knowing Snape would Harry ever had imagined him with a brother, who it seemed was just as sharp and nasty as Snape seemed to be. His snort drew attention to him and Harry schooled his features into a smile as Jasper looked at him from over Snape’s shoulder. “And this must be your young mate.” Jasper stepped away from Snape and came around to look at Harry properly. The boy dutifully lowered his gaze to the platform as he felt Jasper casually pursuing him like he was a delicious meal. “I have to say Sev, you’ve got good taste.” Harry blushed crimson at Jasper’s comment before glancing up as a hand was thrust in his direction. “Jasper Julius Snape, pleased to meet you Harry, is it?” Harry gingerly shook Jaspers hand and nodded, Severus’ obvious disapproval shining behind his narrowed eyes.

“Jasper.” Severus growled low in his throat as Jasper held a little longer than necessary onto Harry’s hand. Already Harry liked Snape’s brother but he made a note to be careful if the man’s attentions were to wander.

“Oooh do I detect some possessiveness there Severus?” Jasper let go of Harry’s hand and turned back to his brother, who was eyeing him warningly.

“No, just keep your hands to yourself or I’ll cut them off.” Was Snape’s cool reply. Almost immediately Jasper nodded and picked up Snape’s trunk, the man obviously familiar with Snape’s threats just as Harry was.

“Alright then let’s be going, want to miss the morning traffic.” Jasper smiled over his shoulder at Harry and Snape who having glanced at one another began following the other wizard from the platform and into Glasgow’s heart. Harry wasn’t sure yet if this was going to turn out to be a nightmare or not but he was pretty sure he was looking forward to seeing Snape and his brother arguing over the next few months…

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A/N *Rolls her eyes at her readers* Just cause those last two chappy\'s were pretty boring, here\'s another to make up for it, and another new character to chew on, or is he going to chew on Harry before Sev can? Enjoy...