A Lion and A Dragon

The Boy Who Lived

Harry Potter was raised by his mother, Lily, and his stepfather, Severus Snape Potter. Snape's love for Lily couldn't stand to see her hurt. He couldn't stand her suffering from the weight of being a single mother. To pay his debt to James Potter, Snape stayed by Lily's side and promised to protect both her and Harry forever. But every day as Harry grew up, he began to look more and more like James, Snape feels guilt and shame inside him. Even though he was married to the love of his life, he was one of the people that helped You-Know-Who kill so many people, including James, the person Lily loved. Lily wanted to keep her surname as Potter and Snape agreed in honor of James. Snape and Harry didn't really become close, and Harry never called Snape, 'dad' or 'father.' Then one day didn't help their relationship at all, "Mom? Professor? What happened to my dad? Why is it just us?" Little nine-year-old Harry asked. Lily and Snape looked at each other, and Snape nodded and said, "It's time for him to know. If we wait any longer, he might find out from someone else and not us. He's ready, Lily." Lily looked at Snape and then Harry, she sighed, "Harry, the night you got your scar... It was the same night your father died. You-Know-Who killed your father because your father wouldn't let him hurt you. Your father wouldn't go down without a fight," Lily began to sob. "H-He w-was a b-b-brave man. Y-You, look j-j-just like him H-Harry. Y-y-you have his m-messy hair and b-bravery. Hh-he would've been so, s-so proud of you, Harry." Lily took Harry into a big hug, and Snape stroked Lily's hair. Lily took a deep breath, "If Snape wasn't there in time, we would've died from the collapsing building." Harry looked at Snape, and Snape nodded. "But what is that weird tattoo on your arm?" Harry said to Snape, and Snape bowed his head in shame. "I used to serve You-Know-Who, and this tattoo is called the Dark Mark. All who served the Dark Lord has it. I am not proud to wear it, Harry. I am quite disappointed with what I have done." Snape looked up at Harry with a sad smile to see Harry scowl, "YOU KILLED MY FATHER! YOU HELPED VOLDEMORT KILL HIM!!" Lily flinched at name and tears began to flow. "HOW COULD YOU?!?" Harry yelled and started to sob. Lily went up to Harry and tried to give him a hug, "Harry, plea-" Harry shook her off and ran out of the house. He made sure to slam the front door too. Harry ran taking lefts and right to make sure if anyone was following him, they would lose him. Harry had no idea where he was going, but he wanted to be anywhere Snape wasn't. Harry ran and ran until he got to the backyard of a house that no one ever bought. Behind the house, in the forest, was a small garden and a stream. For the 11 years that Harry lived in the neighborhood, that house was for sale, and no one ever bought it. It was a big and ancient, every wooden board whined loudly, some even said it was haunted. But little did Harry know that someone did buy the house. Harry sat by the stream and took off his socks and shoes. He rolled his pants up to his knees and placed his feet in the water. He exhaled shakily and began to sob. He hated Voldemort, he hated that his dad died, and he especially hated Snape. He hated that Snape was his step-dad and that they lived together. Harry hugged his knees and then let go and laid down in the soft, dewed grass. Harry's sticky, wet, blotchy face didn't stop the drowsiness from overcoming him and he fell asleep.