Chapter Text
Severus Snape was still skeptical about his offer of Occlumency, even though he would stand by his decision for now.
From what he'd seen, Potter simply did not have the discipline over his emotions to master the mind art. Still, if recent events were anything to go by, the brat would be a key element in this war, and that meant that whatever secrets he had in his mind needed to be protected.
The boy knew too much, and, with time, would need the power to make his own decisions and judgements on matters without external tampering - whether from the Dark Lord, the Headmaster, or anyone else.
Regardless of his own feelings towards the boy, it was evident that he had become a player, or a pawn at the very least, and to give him as many resources and preparation could only be a good thing. Furthermore, he would be useful to be able to guide and influence. And they needed a better rapport than they currently had for that to work.
Perhaps, even, Potter wasn't quite so intolerable anymore. James Potter would never have conceded to anything less than all out war with Slytherins, unlike his son, who whilst still irritating, had promise.
More like Lily. Lily's son.
He did wonder, vaguely, what had happened to the mutt. Not that he cared, but he would have rather killed the bastard himself if any murder was to be committed.
There was a knock on the door, finally.
"Come in," he instructed, curtly.
The boy entered, looking a little wary, shoulders squared defensively for battle, even if his expression was more neutral than normal.
Harry was trying. He'd give the brat that - he was trying to be civil here, and make the most of the opportunity. He could try too.
"Evening," the boy muttered. Still forgot the 'sir', but the address was polite, if a little stiff. A bit pureblood etiquette actually.
It made him very curious as to what Harry's summer life had been like, living with the Dark Lord.
"Take a seat," he orderered, in turn. "I'm led to believe you are aware of the basics of what Occlumency is?"
"It's a mind art, defends the mind from outside intrusion," Harry answered. He gave a nod at the response.
"Correct. Anything else?"
"...sorry."
He'd take that as a no. And another time when the boy didn't add a 'sir' or 'professor' on the end. He carefully clamped down on the urge to correct that, lips thinning.
He was quiet for a moment, studying the boy.
"I will attempt to break into your mind. You will attempt to defend yourself in anyway that you can think of."
"What-how?" Potter began. He'd already cast his spell - gently, for the first time, aware that the boy was young.
It was easy as sinking a knife into melted butter.
Tom knocked on the door, greeted by a smiling Professor Lupin as he was invited in.
The Office was neat, and rather sparse, though homey enough with books on the wall, and a creature in a tank.
"Thank you for inviting me," he said, politely, following the man over to the table where tea was set out.
"Oh, my pleasure," Lupin responded, pouring out some tea into both cups. "Milk? Sugar?"
"Some sugar."
The cups of tea were prepared, and they both settled in their chairs, studying the other with a curious brand of hostility disguised behind every pleasantry possible.
"How have you found your first week of teaching to be?" Lupin questioned, in that mild tone of his.
"My students have been very receptive so long as I make no mention of Goblins."
They shared a few words and constrained laughter on the matter of Binns and their shared experiences and comparisons of his classes, even when it was very clear that Lupin's possessed an uneasy edge he was trying to hide - perhaps with the knowledge of just exactly had had happened to the ghost to open the position of History Professor for his taking.
He calmly took another sip from his cup, feeling it clink against the saucer.
"And yourself, Professor Lupin? Have you settled in well?"
"Please," the man smiled again. "Call me Remus. And yes, yes I have. It's a wonderful opportunity of course, though I fear how lacking and jumbled the students previous education in Defence against the Dark Arts has been."
"Hmm, yes. I have noticed that. Especially with all the dangerous events which seems to happen at this school, one would assume that the Headmaster would put more effort into preparing and protecting his students for and against what's out there."
Lupin visibly bristled.
"I think he hopes to give the children a childhood, which they fully deserve, and so is protecting them in that sense. Also, considering that notoriously there is a curse on the job, I would say he is doing his utmost best with the resources allowed to him."
Gratitude. There was a level of gratitude and admiration that went above even the normal many showed the famous Headmaster. Tom took another sip of his tea.
"Well, we can only hope that nothing tragic happens to you then, mustn't we, Mr Lupin?" he said, lightly, keeping his eyes fixed on the other.
He could see the man wondering if he meant that as a threat or not, eyes tightening a little.
"I suppose."
"Though, you seem capable of defending yourself," Tom continued, "as one would hope for a defence instructor. I was sorry to hear about what happened on the platform. The students were lucky that you were there."
"You lived with Harry all summer, didn't you?"
Lupin seemed to lose some of his patience for dancing around and pretending he was oblivious. Ever a Gryffindor, he supposed, being bold enough to cut to the chase when it concerned his...did he even have a connection with Harry?
Tom let a small smile curl his lips, not quite so innocent. He didn't have to be. Lupin had just established that he knew damn well who he was. He could almost respect the man for having the guts to do this and invite him over for tea anyway.
"Yes, I did, and I will continue living with my charge once the years is out," he said.
"But you are not his rightful guardian, are you?" Lupin said, delicately. His eyes could have flashed, but he simply drank some more, before setting the cup down with a soft clink.
"Not right now, no." But he would be. "However, it is not uncommon for a child to find himself with a new guardian if his current ones are found to be unfit, and the lack of concern Mr and Mrs Dursley showed for their twelve year old nephew going missing certainly warrants further investigation. I'm sure no one wants Harry living in an abusive environment."
Something flickered in the other's eyes, and Tom could have grinned in triumph and pounced on it. There was the doubt, that small scrap of doubt over the great Light leader's actions. God, Harry was a goldmine for blackmail, wasn't he? He should keep the boy alive for that, at the very least of things, and see how many of the light he could twist with it.
Sentiment. There was a reason he was so eager to avoid it.
Having a soul connection, or even his current level of attachment to the boy could be fatal. He couldn't afford to grow fond, not in anything but the remotest sense of pride for his possessions.
After all, he'd already identified the power he would have if he could get Harry to care for him. He wasn't going to in anyway open himself up to having the same trick used on him - besides, he was sceptical of his own ability to care.
He had never loved anyone. The greatest he had ever reached was a reluctant sense of respect, or acknowledgment, possessiveness perhaps. Not-hate.
He also had no desire to express how quickly Harry had fallen into the not-hate category, all things considered, but he supposed the Horcrux had something to do with it.
"And you think you're a better environment?" There was a definite pointed edge now, the facade splintering around the edges.
"Naturally," Tom said, before accommodating the dropping of walls. He knew the man would be reporting anything he learned back to Dumbledore, but he figured he'd made his claim obvious already. "And you would do well not to get in the way, or let anyone else get in the way. He's mine, and he will stay that way. I think it's the best solution for everyone involved. Guardianship battles can get so messy. I wouldn't wish to traumatize anyone."
Lupin's nostrils flared, eyes dark.
"You have nothing good planned for him."
"I have something great planned for him, which is better. Good and bad are mere shackles, lacklustre words used by weak men to justify their own incapabilities." He drained his tea. Vowed to get more information on this Lupin, some more grabbles for his use. "Thank you for the tea. I've always found a good brew clearing to the mind, haven't you?"
He gave a smile and walked out.
He had work to do.