Severus had never been a fan of Yule, or as it was more commonly referred to now, Christmas.
As a young child, the holiday had went mostly unnoticed in his home. Once he entered Hogwarts, he always chose to remain at the castle for the holidays.
Loneliness was preferable to dealing with his father.
Now, he typically is volunteered to remain at the castle for the holidays to supervise the students who chose not to return to their homes.
... Or, he supposes, the students who had no home to return to.
He really did need to begin searching for a suitable placement for Potter this summer.
He allowed himself a small chuckle, in the privacy of his office, as he recalled his last conversation with the child.
Potter truly was a wonder. About as far from his father, personality wise, as a person could be.
He wondered how James Potter would feel about his son, the perfect Slytherin.
He supposed if the elder Potter had been around to judge his son, that Harry likely would be a much different child.
Much less interesting at a minimum.
He cleared his mind of his errant thoughts of Potter and returned to the distasteful task before him; wrapping gifts for children.
It was his own small tradition. Typically, the Slytherins who remained at the castle for the holidays were the ones who had specific reasons to avoid their homes. So, he had decided his first year of teaching, that those students would receive a small gift from him to open on Christmas morning.
He sighed at his own sentimentality as he signed Potters with a gentle reminder that he had many allies and friends within the castle who wished him a merry holiday.
'I don't got no parents, no real friends, no guardian. Who would believe me if I told?'
Foolish child.
He pinched the bridge of his nose as he rehashed the harsher parts of the conversation they'd had. Potter had a cruel, vindictive streak- that much was obvious. What was much less obvious, perhaps not even to the child himself, was what had likely triggered this particular bout of cruelty.
'They were talking about seeing their parents tomorrow and Parkinson said I don't have any family and I got mad.'
He had reread that part of Potter's admission multiple times.
He would be a liar if he said his heart hadn't constricted, at least minutely, at the thought of Potter sitting in the common room surrounded by his classmates' cheerful musings on their impending time with their family.
It was pitiful really. Potter had more power than any child, or adult for that matter, should have the right to and he would likely trade it all for a family.
Maybe.
The boy was awfully fond of using it to torment his classmates.
Not that Severus blamed him, Harry likely would not have had a father to create him if Severus had that much power when he was a student.
He sighed again, the child was a difficult puzzle to solve.
However, as it is Christmas Eve and Severus' presence is required at the annual staff party, he is a problem to be worked on for another day.
Severus left the gifts for the three remaining Slytherins on his desk, knowing the elves will relocate them to their proper places tonight, and resigned himself to making an appearance at the staff room.
***
As soon as he entered the staff room he immediately wished for an illness to strike him so he could be genuine when he made his excuses to leave.
Minerva looked well on her way to being pissed, as well as Rubeus and Pomona.
He hated holiday staff parties. The staff believed it brewed closeness and a more familiar workplace but Severus believe it just caused him to have to brew extra stocks of Pepper-Up Potion for Poppy's stores.
He snagged a glass of firewhisky off the table and attempted to sneak off to a corner where he could suffer in silence for an hour or so then disappear back to his rooms.
"Severus! My boy!"
Unfortunately, he was caught by the Headmaster before he could disappear.
"Albus," Severus turned towards him and raised his glass slightly. "How are you?"
Albus' gave him a beaming smile, as if nothing pleased him more than seeing Severus at a mandatory staff party.
"So formal, Severus! Come, have a drink, tell me how your classes are going?"
Severus sighed internally as he followed Albus to a couple open chairs. He hoped he could drag another Professor in to the conversation quickly so he can make his escape.
"So, how are your classes going? Any prospective apprentices?" Albus asked as soon as the two sat.
He rolled his eyes at the inane question that only Albus would insist upon asking him every year.
"No," he drawled. "I will continue my standing custom of not spending more time with any student post-graduation."
"One day you will find a student worth spending time with," Albus declared with a wink.
"Oh?" Severus asked drily. "Did you hear this from Sybill or have you undertaken seeing as a second occupation?"
Albus laughed as if he had told a delightful joke.
"Just an old man's intuition," he winked again.
Severus could feel his own eye beginning to twitch in exasperation. The old man's 'intuition' has been ridiculously skewed as of late.
He was saved from attempting to find a proper response by a tipsy cry, "Ah, Severus! There you are!"
He looked up gratefully when Aurora clutched on to his arm.
"Come!" She giggled, "You have to try one of these pastries! They're simply amazing!"
Severus allowed himself to be drug away by her a safe distance before he whispered, "Thank you."
"Anytime," she whispered back, sober as could be, before releasing his arm with a conspiratorial wink.
Aurora was always an excellent actress when she was a student- he was happy to see that she continued to use those skills to assist her fellow Slytherins.
He resigned himself to quickly making his rounds and exchanging pleasantries with the other staff members.
The quicker they all saw him, the quicker he could escape.
Eventually, after over an hour of making small talk with the other professors, and after wrenching himself away from a trip down memory lane with an inebriated Filius, Severus was able to make his excuses and head towards the door.
His bed would be much more wonderful after this charade of staff camaraderie.
"Oh, Severus?" Albus called from his seat by the window, just as he was about to exit to the hall.
Severus turned and glanced at him with one eyebrow raised.
"Do keep an eye on your snakes during the break," he said with his blue eyes twinkling madly. "You never know when they may need support from their head of house."
Severus repressed a shudder at the implied double meaning, simply giving a curt nod.
That's certainly ominous.
***
On Christmas morning Severus watched his students closely at their table in the hall.
The three remaining students- Charleigh, Fawcett, and Potter- were dressed in their casual wear and eating breakfast.
Well, Charleigh and Fawcett were eating, Potter was just pushing his around and looking pathetically lonely at one end of the Slytherin table.
Satisfied that Albus' warning from last night seemed unwarranted at the moment, he ignored the children in favor of focusing on his much needed coffee.
"Merry Christmas Severus," Minerva said politely as she sat next to him.
"Happy Yule Minerva," he responded.
He glanced at the Gryffindor table and felt a surge of jealousy at its emptiness.
"All of your lions are gone this holiday?" He asked her. "Must be a nice change from their usual chaos."
"Yes, well, I was almost saddled with the Weasley boys, but apparently Molly decided she wanted the whole family together for the holiday this year," Minerva chuckled. "Lucky for me, eh?"
Severus shuddered at the idea of the Weasley twins alone in the Gryffindor tower for two weeks and agreed that she had indeed gotten lucky.
"What's wrong with Potter?" Minerva asked, apropos of nothing, eyeing the child over the top of her tea glass. "He appears... subdued... this morning."
He glanced over at the Slytherin table and studied Potter more closely, the child did look downtrodden this morning.
"I imagine it is difficult to celebrate a holiday without a family," Severus said cooly. "Potter is an orphan, is he not?"
Minerva rolled her eyes as she continued staring down the small raven haired boy.
"He's made friends within his year, hasn't he? I imagine they have shown their devotion to him with plenty of gifts."
Severus scoffed at her cold evaluation and thought this may be an opportunity to sway her towards a more accepting approach towards the boy.
"Potter is having difficulties with some of his housemates," he said slowly. "A few of them were taunting him for not having a family to return to for the holidays. That is likely the cause for his dejected demeanor."
Minerva glanced over at him, and he rejoiced to see a small glimmer of sorrow in her eyes.
"Oh?" She said lightly. "That's a rather cruel approach for school children to take."
He sighed heavily, overplaying it just a tad, but Gryffindors are not known for picking up on subtleties.
"Yes," he said sadly. "Potter was rather upset last night. I tried to talk to him but I was at a loss of what to say when he worried over how his Gryffindor parents would have felt about his placement in Slytherin."
Minerva looked up from her plate sharply with heat in her eyes.
"They would have been fine with it!" She said stoutly. "James may have been a touch immature when he was a student, but we both know Lily had no reservations about the Slytherin students."
Severus very carefully did not glare at her for indicating that the older Potter's behavior was just 'a touch immature'.
He'd been hospitalized three times by the so called Marauders, 'a touch immature' indeed.
"Yes, well," he raised his hands in a supplicating gesture. "I tried to tell him how much Lily would have loved him, regardless of his house affiliation, but I'm afraid there was not much I could say on the matter of Potter's opinion."
He slumped his shoulders and stirred his coffee.
Three...
Two...
"Don't be absurd!"
Bingo.
He turned back towards her and was highly amused to see the warring emotions playing so obviously on her face.
Her mouth was still set in its thin line- showing her current dislike for Potter Junior. But her eyes glistened with all the adoration she carried for one of her favorite students, Potter Senior.
"Why doesn't the boy come to his fathers head of house?" She asked. "Surely he's aware that I would undoubtedly know more about James than nearly anyone in the castle."
Severus just lightly lifted one of his shoulders and kept his face blank, with just the tiniest hint of sadness for her to pick up on.
"Perhaps he thought you would refuse him? It's certainly no secret that Harry is not your favorite student."
Unlike Potter Senior.
Minerva scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous Severus. There is quite a difference between rightfully removing points for misbehavior and refusing to tell an orphaned student stories of his father."
'Rightfully removing,' Severus internally rolled his eyes at her blatant prejudice against the child.
Outwardly though he did his best to look pleased.
"I'm sure that Harry would be ecstatic to hear about his parents from you, thank you Minerva."
He'd make sure Harry was prepared to be called to her office. Merlin forbid the first time Minerva try and reach out to him and he suffers a full blown panic attack in front of her.
... or attack her physically like the child did him.
Brat.
"Yes, well," Minerva looked rather flustered and spoke primly. "I will attempt to reach out to him before the end of the holidays."
Severus nodded and continued drinking his coffee.
Perhaps he could sway Minerva against Albus' views.
If Potter plays it right.
He pinched the bridge of his nose as he considered the likelihood of the child not becoming abrasive and defensive when he is inevitably called to Minerva's office.
He'll just have to talk with him beforehand.
Easy.
***
Not fucking easy.
Where the hell is the monster?
After dinner he had decided to speak with the child, perhaps inquire on his Christmas, inform him of Minerva's pending invitation, and instruct him on how to behave around her.
Except he couldn't find the blasted child.
Charleigh informed him that he had disappeared after dinner and had yet to return to the common room.
Severus had wasted no time in checking the rest of the dungeons, the Astronomy Tower, the Library, and had even stopped by the other houses common rooms to see if perhaps Potter had made an acquaintance with one of the remaining students- which he did not.
He scowled as he swept through the second and third floors- the hellian had some explaining to do once he found him. It was well past curfew at this point.
He was making his way up down the fourth floor when he heard the tiniest snuffle behind a tapestry he passed.
He silently walked back to the tapestry and yanked the decor back to discover Potter sitting on the floor with his head bent down...
... crying?
"Potter?" He called softly, gaining the child's attention. "Are you quite alright?"
Potter jumped to his feet and glared fiercely at him.
"'M fine, sir," he snarled.
Severus snorted, "Clearly."
The child had red-rimmed, swollen eyes, tear tracks on his face, and his hair looked as if he had been pulling at it for quite some time.
"Have you been attacked?" He asked hesitantly.
Potter rolled his eyes and made to shove past him.
"No, sir," he said shortly.
Severus allowed him to pass and easily kept stride with him- relieved to see the child was headed back to the dormitory.
"In that case- detention for being outside of the common room past curfew."
Potter snorted, and mumbled something, no doubt unflattering and crude.
Severus could feel a headache blooming. The child was truly insufferable at times.
"Where have you been?" He asked him, not expecting a truthful response.
"'Splorin'," was, of course, Potters sarcastic response.
"What parts of the castle have you been 'exploring' Potter?" He grit out, his jaw had seemed to have made the decision to tense up against his will.
Potter just shrugged, "Dunno, all parts I reckon."
He wondered if he could force Potter to pay for the new teeth he would undoubtedly need from how hard he was grinding them together in irritation at his responses.
"And exploring the castle had somehow caused you to cry behind a tapestry?"
Potter stopped walking and chose to glare at him with as much heat in his eyes as he could force.
"I. Wasn't. Cryin. 'M not weak."
Interestingly, it looked as if the child was grinding his teeth together as well, if the tone of his voice was anything to go by.
Maybe they would receive a discount if they both required new back teeth.
He shook his head to clear his wandering thoughts and took a couple long strides to catch back up to Potter, who was doing his best to quickly make it to the dungeons.
"I never implied you were weak Potter," he said casually. "I simply wondered what had happened to break your spirit this evening."
"Nothin'," Potter mumbled. "Just a long day, wasn't it?"
Severus hummed in response.
Perhaps the child was lonely? Maybe it was just his own holiday tradition to cry on Christmas late at night?
... or was it something to do with Albus, who warned him that his students would need extra support during the holiday break?
"Potter, you haven't seen the Headmaster lately, have you?"
The boy stopped and gave him a curious, narrow eyed look, before snorting and continuing down the hallway.
"Nope, why?"
The meddling old man has caused him to become paranoid.
"No particular reason, although I imagine that you will be called to Professor McGonagall's office soon."
As he had hoped, this information completely distracted Potter from his slip up regarding the Headmaster.
"Why, sir?" Potter looked at him with his eyes wide and his hands trembling. "I d-didn't do n-nothin', I swear."
Severus kept his eyes off the child as he responded quietly.
"You are not in trouble. Minerva wishes to talk about your father with you, and it would be best if this happened, do you understand?"
The child has his head down and his arms wrapped around his torso.
"N-no, sir, I d-don't."
Severus made a sound of impatience, but truly how could he expect the child to understand without a proper explanation?
"Come here."
He guided Potter off to the side of the hall and into a more private alcove.
He slowly went to place a hand on boys shoulder, only to be immediately flinched away from.
"Potter, listen to me and recognize this for the opportunity it is- Professor McGonagall was overly fond of your father and is under the current belief that you are pining for stories about the man."
He smothered a smirk when Potter scoffed, at least he'd broken out of his fear quickly enough.
"Play this right, Potter," he hissed softly. "Allow yourself to be underestimated by Minerva. I suggest you present yourself as innocent as possible. Weak, pliable, and desperate for stories on the parents you so idolize."
The child kicked his red trainers against the floor before looking up at him curiously.
"Ya know I thought they were just junkies all my life, didn't even know they were dead 'til you told me, did I? Why would I want somethin' I can't ever have? Wantin' 'em won't make 'em come back, will it?"
He laughed lightly, a breathless huff of air, before he answered his own question.
"No, it won't. It'll just make me weak, easily trapped."
Severus thought back to when he believed the child would trade his power for a family.
Idiot, he berated himself. He needed to read Potter better. If he could understand the workings of his mind perhaps he could keep him from following the dark part that Albus continues to stubbornly insist he is set upon.
Potter's green eyes were sharp when he stared into Severus' own black ones.
"I don't like makin' myself look pathetic without a good reason, sir."
How did the hat take so long to sort this tiny first-year when there really was no other option?
Severus allowed his amusement to shine through his gaze as he quietly asked him, "Is the possibility of turning an enemy to your side not a good enough reason?"
Potter's lips curled up in to an expression that could almost be called a smile, if it weren't for the sly look in his eyes, nor the dried tears still staining his cheeks.
"Reckon that's as good of a reason as any," he shrugged casually. "One less enemy couldn't hurt."
He smirked at how easily Potter had picked up the charade he had laid the ground work for.
"Precisely. Now come, bed. And if I catch you out this late again it'll be a months worth of detentions."
They continued the trek in silence, Severus only broke it once they were outside the Slytherin entrance.
"Perhaps one of the only benefits of not having your parents is that most people will expect you to want them more than anything." He glanced at the child, who looked thoughtful, before continuing. "If they believe that you are simply a lost child who solely wants his parents- you will not be perceived as much of a threat. Use that. You are made of stronger stuff than your enemies, but allowing them to think differently only helps you."
Potter nodded in understanding, Severus assumed the boy already knew this, but his loathing of appearing weak prevented him from using it.
Although, he did truly seem to enjoy hearing about his mother. Perhaps this meeting with Minerva will help him feel closer to James as well.
He'll enjoy hearing about James' vindictive side, anyway.
"'Kay. Poor orphan Harry will be on his best behavior."
Severus almost laughed outright at the child's attempt to project innocence into his words.
"Go to sleep Potter."
If he could keep the insane child alive for the next seven years at least he will have a source of never ending amusement.
***
A few mornings later Severus was pleased to see Potter give Minerva a shy (fake) smile and a small wave at breakfast.
"I assume you spoke with him?" Severus murmured to Minerva behind his usual mug of coffee.
"Who? Harry?" Minerva asked, smiling gently at the boy. "Of course I did, I told you I would."
She gazed wistfully at Potter for a moment before turning her attention to her own coffee.
"Poor child, I don't think anyone ever talked much about his parents before. He was practically on the edge of his seat wanting to hear more."
She sighed heavily, before adding what she apparently thought was the most tragic part, "Harry didn't even know about James' talent at quidditch."
Severus just hummed in acknowledgement but he didn't miss that Potter was now 'Harry'. Nor did he miss the child's smug grin, apparently pleased at a job well done.
***
The night before the students were scheduled to return to the castle Severus was annoyed to be responding to a summons from the Headmaster.
"Severus!" Albus cried joyfully when he entered the office. "I have wonderful news I wanted to share with you."
Severus remained standing, hoping it would expedite the meeting, and raised his brows at the older man.
"Oh? Do share."
"The Mirror of Erised has been placed in its final destination," Albus declared happily.
"I was not aware that the mirror was ever not in its proper place," Severus said slowly, feeling a tremor of unease through his stomach.
"Aah," the Headmaster continued, "I had moved it, temporarily, to test a theory."
What 'theory' would Albus need a cursed mirror to test?
Severus studied his nails and attempted to adopt an unaffected tone.
"I admit myself curious what this theory was. Will you be sharing it with me?"
"I will not."
Severus sneered, still staring down at his nails. Not surprising, considering how tightly Albus clutches his secrets.
"I will however share the results with you."
Severus looked up at him in surprise before quickly schooling his features back in to his typical blank expression.
When Albus simply smiled at him silently, he prompted him to continue, "And?"
Albus' eyes flashed victoriously when he stared plainly, "Harry Potter sees his parents when he looks in to the mirror."
Severus very quickly occluded his mind to ensure that none of his thoughts were tangible when he responded.
"Is that so?" He drawled. "And how were you able to determine that?"
Albus had the overwhelming audacity to lean towards him and smile, as if this were a wondrous discovery and not a heart breaking tale of a young boy gazing upon an image he could never hope to have.
"He has been visiting the mirror almost nightly since Christmas break began," Albus said conspiratorially. "I followed him last night and we spoke about what he saw when he looked in to the mirror."
"And the child desires his parents above all?" Severus asked carefully, saving his disbelief for his own privately guarded thoughts.
"He did," Albus nodded. "The poor child has been distraught every time he visited the mirror."
Severus looked down at his hands clasped in front of him to avoid the Headmaster seeing his rage.
Is this the reason for Potters despondency and frequently swollen eyes the last two weeks? A bleeding trap from the Headmaster?
This is why Albus warned him that his students would need support during the break? Because he planned to entrap and test the emotionally frail child?
How dare he use a cursed object to judge the validity of Potters desires? Who would dare judge the worth of a soul based only on the deepest wishes of an eleven year old traumatized child?
The never ending chess master, that's who, he thought ungraciously.
"This is what I had hoped for Severus," Albus continued, heedless of Severus' growing anger. "This means that the boy is not lost after all, Harry can still be on the right side."
On your side, you mean, Severus corrected silently.
"Hmm, indeed," he said aloud, choosing his words with extreme caution. "A sentiment that I have said from the beginning."
"And you were correct my boy," the meddling old man said agreeably. "I should have never doubted your word. I hope you will accept the apologies of a cautious old man."
He assumed that Potter would not be receiving the same apology, as empty as it may be.
"Of course Albus, I am simply pleased that you were able to find common ground with Potter."
He felt a migraine forming at the falsehood of his own words, but games must be played and shields can never be dropped. Never around a possible enemy.
After discussing a bit about the upcoming term, Albus dismissed him cheerily.
Severus was under no misunderstanding that the sole purpose for this meeting was to inform him of Potters discovery of the mirror.
Once he was in the privacy of his quarters, with a glass of bourbon, he finally let his thoughts wander to one of his questions from this disaster of a situation.
What did Potter truly see when he looked in to the mirror?
***
Severus decided that it was prime time to make an announcement to his students and asked Farley to call for a house meeting the night they all returned from holiday.
He stood in front of the fire, with his arms crossed, and stared them down evenly.
"This is a reminder that while I will not interfere with in-house politics and duels- use your brains," he said softly, knowing every student could hear him.
"I am going to use a popular Muggle phrase here when I insist that you do not start fights that you cannot hope to finish."
He let his eyes rest on Dolohov and Parkinson for a moment, intentionally ignoring Potter, then nodded at them all.
"If you are idiotic enough to start a fight, in front of a room of witnesses, and find you have taken on more than you can handle; I will not be here to assist you."
He smirked at them then, "You are the house of cunning, ambition, and self-preservation, I suggest you use it. Good night."
Just before he closed the portrait door behind him he heard Potter's bright laugh.
Well, he warned them. Merlin have mercy on them if they go after the boy again, because he knows Potter won't.