The Second Tom

Chapter Seven

Severus's p.o.v

I never imagined that I would care so much for who I thought was James Potter's son. When I saw the letter addressed to a Thomas Harry Potter I was sure that he was going to be the bane to my existence. I had prepared myself to hate him, but then once he was sorted into my house I slowly started to see him in a different light. He was nothing like James or Lily. While he never spoke on his position on light or dark, I could see the hatred in his eyes when he was around Dumbledore or when they spoke on him being part of the most famous light family.

It didn't take long for him to catch on to me analyzing him. At first I could tell it irritated him because he couldn't do anything about it. Then he started coming into my classroom after all of the classes were over just to speak with me, which shocked me because from what I gathered he never liked to talk to anyone besides Abraxas.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything professor."

I looked up from the papers that I was grading and made eye contact with Thomas Potter. He never looked from me and I could tell he was testing me. I didn't know why it what for, but he was. I kept he's gaze until he swiftly walked up to my desk and placed an old worn book on my desk. It didn't take long to realize it was my old potions text book.

"I have a few questions, professor, and I don't think there would be anyone more qualified to answer them than you."

I was suspicious of the underlying message of his words. Was it because he knew that the dark prince was me or was it simply because I am a potions master?

"What are your questions Mr.Potter? I don't have long to speak as I need to finish grading yours and your fellow class mates' papers."

Thomas gave a simple nod before flipping one page where it said 'property of the dark prince' and slid his finger under the words.

"How did you come about this alias for yourself, professor snape? I am rather curious."

I could have told him to leave my office that day. I probably should have, but I didn't. We spoke of a lot of things then, and I gained alot of his trust. He didn't ever say he trusted me, but I could tell by how he carried himself around me. As the years passed Thomas became important to me. I saw him as a son, and I still do.

Thomas is not a bad person. While his decisions he has chosen to make have not been the best, I cannot blame him. The light took him away from his family, killed his mother and unborn sibling, and forced him to live a life of abuse. He has never known love or compassion, but inside be desperately wants to. Since I first seen Thomas he was full of anger and hatred. I could see it when I looked in his eyes. Then when he started to get close to Abraxas I could see a small amount of hope mixed in with the negative emotions. But when he was rejected, I saw that hope vanish. The only good thing in his life, suddenly wasn't so good and I don't think he knew how to cope with that.

"Draco was the one who got us to Thomas. Everyone had thought he had been attacked and several injured, but when we got to Severus's private quarters we discovered there was no wounds. Then Something inside of him , I'm not sure what it was, told us that he had murdered Godric Potter. We thought it would be best to bring him here for the time being."

I had snapped out of my thoughts when Lucius began to explain to Tom the situation. He looked worried for his son, and we all understood why. The murder of Lily was something that could be over looked , but this was the boy-who-lived. The lights only way they thought they could defeat Voldemort and now Thomas is their prime suspect, and they're going to come looking for him.