A Chance at Life

A Chance at Life

Chapter 5: Becoming Acquainted

January 11

Promptly at 9pm Harry apparated silently to the Snape’s front door, wand at the ready. He then knocked twice, firmly.

“What the hell do you want this time of night!” A drunken Tobias answered the door with a bottle of whiskey in one hand and his wand in the other. Harry quickly cast a powerful sleeping charm on him and walked inside as Tobias fell over backwards. Harry almost rolled his eyes at the man’s incompetence.

“You came!” He heard Severus call out and turned to see him being followed by a very nervous looking Eileen Snape, grasping her wand.

“Hello Severus. Madam.” He nodded politely.

“Where do you want him placed Mrs. Snape?”

Eileen cringed. “Is he all right?”

Harry blinked. “Of course. Just like I explained in my letter, he’s merely asleep.”

“Letter?” She asked confused and they both turned to a very edgy looking Severus.

“I’m sorry all right. Here, you can read it now.” Harry glared lightly at him while he waited for Eileen to finish reading and Severus glared right back, unrepentant.

“Well, this explains a few things.” Eileen said more calmly but Harry noticed she didn’t let go of her wand just yet neither. “The sitting room is straight ahead on your right; please put him on the couch.”

Harry levitated Tobias with a silent wave of his wand and did as she requested.

“Please follow Severus to the kitchen.” Harry remained silent as Eileen followed behind him and took the seat Severus offered him at the kitchen table.

“Thank you, Severus, Mrs. Snape.”

“Eileen, please.”

“Eileen. Are you familiar with the globe of truth spell?”

“Yes, I am.” Eileen answered a bit hesitant.

“What I am about to tell you will be hard for anyone to believe so I request that you cast it on us in order to work this out with as little difficulty as possible.”

Eileen glanced at Severus, surprised by the request, but relaxed a bit more as Severus gave her an encouraging nod. Eileen raised her wand and performed the spell. Harry then slowly placed his wand on the table and ignored Eileen’s tightening grip on her own wand.

“I met Severus the night before yesterday, in less than ideal circumstances I admit…I’m assuming he explained that part already?...Good. When I met him I realized that he didn’t know what had happened to him and I also deduced from his tattered clothes and malnourished appearance that he was not in a good family situation… Call it a hunch if you will. When I met with him again last night my hunch was confirmed when I saw his bruised jaw and depressed demeanor. To make a long story short, he told me about your situation and I would like to offer my help.”

“Mr. Potter…We are both adults and we both know that people don’t just help others out of the goodness of their hearts, especially in this time and age. What is it that you really want from us?” She asked trying to keep her sight on the hand nearest his wand and the globe at the same time.

“I want to help you and Severus get out of this situation… for both of you to be happy. I admit I’m no guardian angel, but neither is it my intention to hurt, mislead, or use either of you in anything nefarious.” Eileen’s eyes widened as the globe in the middle of the table remained white.

“Why?” She asked in a small voice.

“My reasons are complicated and I won’t tell you all of them but believe me when I say that I know what it is like to be trapped in a situation you can do nothing about. I want to help and I have the means to do it.” Harry answered gently but with confidence.

Silence enveloped the room until it was broken by Harry’s stomach giving a long, very painful sounding growl.

Severus looked at Harry in question, amused by Harry's light blush.

“Sorry about that. It’s been a long day and I haven’t had time to eat today.” He quickly continued before Eileen could say anything. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of this later.”

Harry then noticed her looking at him with an indecipherable expression on her face. “Would you like to ask me something? Whatever it is, I promise I’ll do my best to answer without taking offense.”

Eileen turned to look at the globe. “Do you really wish to help us without requiring anything in exchange for your aid?”

“I truly want to help you and no, I don’t require anything in exchange.” Harry assured her and Severus went to hug his mother when she broke down sobbing.

“He truly means it, mom. I didn’t believe him at first either, but the globe can’t be wrong.”

“Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt,” Harry said, noticing Severus’ overly pale complexion. “Did Severus get to feed today?”

Eileen blushed in indignation. “I don’t have a lot but I always make sure he eats something at least twice a day!”

“That’s not what I meant, madam. Severus needs to feed on blood twice a day.”

Eileen blanched and Severus turned his face away from her. “Severus didn’t mention it, and it didn’t really occur to me, I figured it was a one time thing…I thought human-vampires were different somehow.”

“I didn’t know how to tell you,” Severus said in a low voice. Eileen looked to Harry in supplication, not knowing what to say.

“Severus, I know this is new to you and very unusual. But believe me, you have nothing to be ashamed of. I have only ever fed one other vampire and we both saw it as something he needed and that I was able to provide. You are a vampire now and feeding on blood is completely normal. In time you will come to realize this as well.” Severus remained by his mother’s side but nodded in understanding.

“Ma’am, I don’t mean to be offensive but how long has it been since either of you have had regular, adequate meals?”

Eileen kept her gaze on the table in front of her and cleared her throat. “Since before Severus was born at least.”

“I see…in that case I don’t think it would be sensible for you to feed Severus in the next few months. However, until then it will probably be a good idea to be present during feeding; to help you become used to the idea.”

Eileen gave her son a gentle squeeze around the waist and agreed. “Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Will you be feeding him now?”

Harry quickly arranged for another feeding like yesterday’s. Eileen watched in fascination but could not help feeling slightly revolted at the same time. She knew that she would need to ‘feed’ her son at some point. The thought of having her son drinking her blood was disturbing, though now that she saw it being done it didn’t look as bad as she would have thought.

“Thank you, I was really hungry.” Severus told Harry when he finished with a satisfied expression and returned to his seat once more.

“I was wondering how you were planning to help us?” Eileen asked Harry after he finished healing his wrist, a little curious about how far this young man would go to help them.

“I have a proposal. All I need is your approval and cooperation. The first thing we need to do is for you to divorce Tobias.” Eileen frowned.

“Please let me just lay it all out and then we can change whatever you don’t approve of, all right?” Eileen agreed but didn’t look happy about it.

“You have grounds for divorce because of the domestic abuse and neglect. Your memories will be more than enough proof to secure its approval. As soon as that’s done, I will marry you right there and then. Let me make this very clear: It will strictly be a marriage of convenience. You don’t even have to take my name, you and Severus can use ‘Prince’ if you wish. I only want to marry you so that I have the legal right to protect you and Severus if/or when Tobias comes after you. I have already purchased a house for us near Hogsmead that I think will be adequate for our needs. It is lacking furniture and everything but I didn’t want to get anything you wouldn’t like, so I decided to wait for your opinion before I went shopping. As your husband I will also assume all responsibility for your welfare. Naturally, shelter, food, clothing, and a monthly allowance are all a given. But I do have one particular quirk…”

Eileen and Severus were sitting completely dumbfounded. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined anything like what Harry was telling them. Whatever that quirk was, they knew that it couldn’t be anything that would harm them so it didn’t matter what it was, they would accept it.

“I like to cook. Cooking is a favorite past time of mine and I like to cook whenever I can. You can still cook if you wish or if you don’t like my cooking but I just wanted to warn you. I’ll probably be in the kitchen a lot. Will that be a problem?”

Severus was in shock. “That’s your quirk…to cook?! But that’s women’s work…or a house elf’s!”

Eileen covered her face with her hands in embarrassment and Harry looked amused at Severus’ earnest proclamation.

“If we are to live under the same roof I think you should know that my views are extremely liberal. I don’t believe on limitations based on gender, I support same-sex marriages, and I hate the werewolf registration act.” Severus and Eileen looked at each other sideways, not knowing how to react to that. But they both knew Harry’s offer was too good to pass up just because their benefactor had weird views on gender roles and whatnot.

“That’s fine, we can accept that I think. Nor do I find anything wrong with your plan, but are you sure you have enough money for what you propose?”

“More than sure. I wouldn’t have proposed it unless I was certain I could do it.” The globe still remained white.

“The spell I placed Tobias under will last 24 hours or more, so we are free to do all this tomorrow if you are ready.”

Eileen found no point on putting off the divorce. Harry seemed sincere and she couldn’t let an offer like this pass up. Waiting won’t change anything of importance other than prolong her suffering and her son’s. “Well, I don’t mind, but do you realize I’m almost old enough to be your mother? I’m used to being the topic of gossip, so I don’t care, but in your case…”

Eileen trailed off once she realized what she was saying. Severus choked on a laugh and Harry just looked at her.

She flushed.

“I guess that was a foolish question.” Eileen admitted. If a man was secure enough to admit liking to cook, he probably didn’t care much for society gossip either.

“I will come here to pick both of you up tomorrow morning at 8:30. Pack only things of sentimental value. I’ll be taking you both shopping for essentials after we finish at the Ministry. We can buy everything else we need later on.” Eileen and Severus saw Harry to their door soon after and they hugged each other in happiness when they were alone once more.

Whatever…whoever, this man was…he was the answer to their prayers. It was all up to fate from here on, but they had faith that their luck had just turned for the better.

HPSSHPSSHPSS

January 12

Harry picked them up at 8:30am as arranged and they went straight to the Ministry. They spoke very little. Harry kept silent as was his usual habit in public places and Eileen and Severus were too nervous about what was going to happen to bother with idle chitchat. Eileen especially, she was seeing this side of Harry for the first time and it made her a feel a little bit nervous to see him looking so unapproachable.

Once at the Ministry they took the lift to Level 2, Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Office of Family Law & Procedures. A young woman sitting by the office entrance welcomed them. “Good morning. Are you all together?”

“Yes.” Harry answered evenly.

“Please take a seat and we’ll call you as soon as one of our officers is available. Your name please?”

“Harry Potter.”

“We’ll be calling you momentarily.”

They all took a seat and Harry was pleasantly surprised when Severus chose to sit next to him, their arms and thighs touching. No one would have seen anything extraordinary in such a gesture, bur for Severus, who was such a reserved individual that rarely initiated physical contact, this seemingly innocuous act was beyond remarkable, especially after knowing him for such a short time.

Harry discreetly and gently squeezed Severus’ arm in silent encouragement. Eileen smiled at the sight but didn’t remark upon it.

They were called 10 minutes later.

“Good morning. I am Officer Marcellina Goldman, how may I help you today?”

Harry nodded for Eileen to answer.

“Good morning…W-we are here today to do a number of things, but first of all I need a divorce.” Eileen replied after a slight hesitation.

“Well, you can certainly file for divorce, is this gentleman your…” She asked, taking in Harry's young appearance.

“No, no, no…My husband is not here today. He does not even know I’m here actually.”

“Under what grounds do you…” The Officer began with obvious disapproval. Divorce was very unusual in the wizarding world and not well-looked upon. She trailed off however under Harry’s glare and Eileen’s muted answer, “Domestic abuse.”

“I see,” Officer Goldman said in a much softer tone. “I will need proof of abuse. Can you submit memories for a minimum of 5 different instances of abuse?” Eileen nodded with an audible swallow.

“Try to choose memories that show Severus at different ages. Otherwise, they might make you do it again.” Harry said in a cool tone. He was more than familiar with the Ministry’s wiles and didn’t want to make Eileen have to go through that again just because they can’t tell if all the memories are truly from different occasions.

“Excuse me sir, but why exactly are you here?” She questioned Harry tersely.

“I’m her future husband.” Harry answered just as coolly as before and Severus glowered at her in reproach.

She nodded sharply at him and retrieved a pensieve. After helping Eileen place her memories within it and looking through them herself, a very pale Goldman approved the divorce. She then asked them if there was anything else they needed after finishing up the paperwork.

“Yes, I would like to marry Eileen…now.” Harry said firmly but in a polite enough tone.

Goldman’s right eyelid twitched. “There are blood tests required before…”

Harry cut her off, “I am muggle-born, the requirement does not apply.” This time a vein visibly throbbed at her temple and Harry toed Severus under the desk to get him to quit smirking.

“Is this truly what you wish, Ms. Prince?” She asked Eileen.

“Yes, please.”

Once the marriage paperwork was ready she asked Eileen if she wanted to keep her name or take on Harry’s. When Eileen said she wanted to keep ‘Prince,’ Severus piped in, “I want to change my name to ‘Prince’ as well.”

“I’m sorry but you are Mr. Snape’s only heir. Even though he has lost his legal claim over you as well as all visitation rights, unless he disinherits you, you are still the Snape heir. You can only refuse once you reach legal independence, at 17. Though you cannot discard the Snape name for now, you can add ‘Prince’ as a secondary family name. You may also change your first and middle names if you wish.”

“All right. I’ll keep Severus but there is no way I’m keeping Tobias as a middle name. I don’t need one. Just Severus Snape Prince is fine. And if people think that Snape is my middle name I’m not going to bother correcting them.” Severus grumbled and crossed his arms in emphasis. Harry thought Severus looked quite adorable, though Eileen’s exasperated sigh told him she disagreed.

The paperwork was finally done an hour later and Harry said as they finished, “I have one more item I need you to arrange for me today. I would like to name Severus my sole heir…and no, he’s not required to take my name to claim his inheritance.”

This time both, the eyelid twitched, and the vein throbbed. “Please fill out these forms and Gringotts will be receiving their copy by the end of the week.”

They were able to leave the Ministry by midday and Harry took them to a vegetarian Chinese restaurant for lunch. They had a pleasant meal and Harry and Severus left to the restroom for Severus to feed before leaving.

On their way back they ran into Harold Potter in the hallway, an event Harry had known would happen but still surprising in its rapidity.

It was like looking at an older, more masculine version of Harry. Harold was a middle-aged man with light blue eyes and shoulder length hair, tied back at the base of the neck. Harry tried to walk by with a polite acknowledgment but Harold was not satisfied with that.

“Excuse me; I don’t believe we have met before.”

“No, we have not.”

“Harold Potter; pleasure to meet you.” Harold said with a small bow.

“Likewise. Harry Potter…but if you’ll excuse us we are running late.” Harold was too stunned by Harry’s last name to protest his departure.

“I thought you were muggle-born?” Severus asked confused, noticing the resemblance.

“I am and you know I didn’t lie to you. It’s just a coincidence; a passing likeness.” Severus wasn’t really convinced but let it go at that so he asked Harry what they were gong to do next instead.

“Diagon Alley.” Harry answered him with a grin.
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AN: We'll here's another chapter. What do you guys think, is everything going too fast or is it believable enough?

Suggestions and comments are welcome, as always. =)

-Lina