The rest of July was a very tense month inside the Potter residence. That comment, which from the boy's point of view had been tiny and unimportant, had made his family tread carefully around him. Even Brian, who didn't understand why all the fuss was made. After all, Harry had never been important to his parents or Sirius, and now it seemed like everyone wanted to be by his side.
To say that the situation was unbearable was an understatement... there were times when someone would let out an involuntary sigh when the teenager in question left the room. Things would surely have gotten ugly, had it not been for the fact that the boy was leaving for Hogwarts again at the beginning of August. As such, it was just exhausting.
The departure to Hogwarts was scheduled for the morning of August 1st, and although his Professor's letter indicated that it would be advisable for him to take his personal belongings, it was also true that he had informed him that everything he really needed would be provided for him at the appropriate time and he would not have to get it on his own.
So, on the night of July 31st, he was caught packing his trunk so he wouldn't forget anything he thought was appropriate to take with him. To his surprise, while he was considering whether to take his books, his brother entered his room, causing Night to wheeze angrily, always on guard in case the youngest Potter tried to do something to him.
"Can I talk to you? " Was the polite question Brian asked under his questioning gaze.
"I guess. I'm not going to force you to shut up. What do you want?"
"I want to ask you why you behaved like that with mom and dad. You hurt them."
"And why is that my concern...?"
" You hurt them! Haven't you heard? Every time they want to talk to you, you say something hurtful, every time they want to do something with you, you leave them hanging... Don't you care at all about them?"
"Exactly!" Harry cut off Brian's speech.
"Huh?"
"I don't care, I don't want them around. There's your answer."
"But... they are our parents. How can you say something like that?"
"No Brian, they are not my parents, they are yours. Look, Brian, let me explain it to you, throughout our entire life I have been nothing more than an irritation to them, only you mattered. They always ignored me or forgot me and when they remembered me it was to blame me for things that were not in my control or to say hurtful words to me. I was never their son, I was just a nuisance. Now, things have changed and they have remembered my success and they want to make up for lost time... I'm sorry, it's too late."
"But you said it yourself, they have changed."
"Yes, but it's not for the reasons you think."
"So?"
"Look, I didn't want to tell you, but since you insist, I'll tell you. Because of a prophecy. The reason they favored you is because they believed you were prophesied to destroy the Dark Lord, but now they know that's not the case and they remember my existence. If they hadn't discovered that it wasn't you, things would still be the same."
Brian looked at him with an incredulous expression, and then a few seconds later with anger. Obviously, he was unable to associate the idea his brother had placed in his head with the one he had previously. He already knew that things were going to be like this, but he had to at least try.
The farewell the next morning was just as tense as the time together the previous month had been, with the added bonus that Brian now had an expression of anger and contempt that he hadn't had towards his brother for months. Not much was said, just a few slight gestures before the portkey was activated, taking him away from his living room and depositing him on the school grounds, where the one who was now officially his Professor was already waiting for him.
"Welcome apprentice."
"Master Snape... thank you very much for accepting this humble student into your art."
After the formal greeting, they both headed to Snape's quarters to deposit his things and see where the castle decided he would stay during his apprenticeship. During the journey, they both maintained a calm and sociable conversation, leaving aside the different formalities that had separated them during their school years.
Ignoring what was obviously a subtle attempt by the Headmaster to get them both to stop by his office, the two found themselves in Snape's office awaiting where he might be staying. Though seeing as the castle gave no indication of where that might be, Snape turned to his apprentice to see if he had a better idea.
For his part, Harry knew exactly where the castle wanted his rooms to be. That was one of the misconceptions that the people in general had about Hogwarts. Everyone still thought that it was the Headmaster who gave the rooms to those who were going to reside at the school, but in reality, it was Hogwarts itself that usually indicated where it wanted that person to reside. Therefore, the boy was not surprised when it was in the rooms he had resided in for so long in his free time, and Snape, although he felt full of envy, was not either.
"Well, the house elves will take care of taking your things to your chambers" Snape commented while gesturing for them to leave "Right now, we better go to Diagon Alley before it fills up with students."
"To the Alley? Why are we going to the Alley?"
"Of course. You need apprentice robes and what better place to find them than in the Alley, Let's go."
After that, they left the castle and its grounds and the potions master apparated them both to the entrance of the Alley. Once there, he began to walk without looking back and without waiting for his apprentice, for he had a reputation to maintain.
To his surprise, they didn't stop at the rather well-known Madam Malkin's, but instead continued straight ahead until they reached a small shop that you would normally pass by. It was a rather small, dark place, and Harry would have wondered why they were there if it weren't for the amount of magic in the air, so he wisely kept his mouth shut.
"Ahh... Master Snape. What can I do for you today?"
" Good morning, Mr. Quinus. I have accepted a new apprentice and I need you to provide him with the appropriate robes."
"An apprentice, Master Snape? He's the first one you've had..."
"Have you finally found someone with the necessary skills? Where is he? I need him here to take his measurements."
"He's right here," Snape replied, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder.
The man blinked in surprise but didn't ask any questions, nodding for Harry to step onto the small stool to have his measurements taken. While the process unfolded both the man and Snape engaged in a pleasant conversation about various current topics, from the latest potion developed to cure the common cold to the current political climate. Twenty minutes later there was a set of dark-colored robes waiting for him on the counter, all bearing what appeared to be Snape's emblem of mastery, a simmering cauldron with a large capital S encircling it.
After paying for the robes, the master and his apprentice left the small tailor's shop to go to the pub... they had already spent several hours shopping and it was time to eat, so they both ordered a small lunch before returning to Hogwarts. The boy was feeling slightly self-conscious at the fact that his new master was paying for all the things they had bought, as well as their lunch, but when he mentioned it the man pushed him away slightly.
"You are my apprentice," the man began calmly, and seeing the boy's expression he added, "It is my obligation as a master to take care of your expenses until you are able to take care of yourself. Since you are also a minor, this obligation is even greater."
"But my parents " The boy began, feeling bad because, after all, he knew that with the money that was in his personal vault, he could live more than comfortably, but since it was totally illegal, he couldn't tell Snape about his constant income.
"Your parents, Harry, do not appreciate or accept you as my apprentice. That is why they would not bear the expenses in the hypothetical case that I should not and would not want to take care of them myself. Now eat your lunch."
The subject was not discussed again and they continued the conversation about how they were going to carry out the apprenticeship. The man explained that a normal apprenticeship could last from five to ten years, depending on the ability and dedication of the apprentice, but that he was convinced that Harry would be able to finish it in a maximum of three years.
Over the next few days, they developed a comfortable routine, during the day the man would make potions with additional help from the boy, or the teenager would be an observer of the potion and the man would ask him different things related to the potion he was currently developing.
Overall, the days were much more interesting than he had ever imagined, but it was not for nothing that the man was considered one of the best potions masters in the last century.
The routine might have continued in this way for the rest of the summer, without any interruption, if it had not been for the letter the boy received a week and a half after beginning his apprenticeship.
That morning, during breakfast, an owl interrupted their usual conversations about the capabilities of different types of ingredients and left a sealed envelope in front of the boy, bearing the symbol of the Ministry. With trembling hands, he opened the envelope, already knowing what it was about, the answer to his request for emancipation.
'Dear Mr. Potter
After receiving your request, we have carefully studied your case and can give you an answer.
While it is true that all of our laws have a series of minimum requirements, it is also true that the legislation you indicated would allow you to be considered a legal adult.
We are therefore pleased to announce that your application has been accepted by our department and from this moment on you are considered a legal adult with all the benefits and obligations that this entails.
Please accept our warmest greetings.
A. Glunstrang.'
As he read the letter, the boy smiled more and more until he finally had to restrain the irresistible impulse to start shouting a loud 'Yes!' while jumping up and down for joy. But finally, he settled for a satisfied and joyful smile.
Filled with curiosity, Snape picked up the letter and read it quickly before looking at his apprentice in surprise and asking.
"Did you apply for emancipation?"
"Yeah"
[T/N: Sorry for the late post, a power pole fell over yesterday and I just charged my phone at a shop]
"And they granted it to you? Just like that?"
"Yeah"
Harry smiled even more at his mentor's surprised look, ignoring the headmaster's slightly alarmed expression... he was counting on it. Now, he would no longer be a pawn in anyone's chess game... he was the master of his own life.
[T/N: YYYYYYYYEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!! F*CK YOU ALBUS!!! If you enjoyed this chapter then leave a comment, write a review, and drop some stones. If you can't wait for more then check out the P@treon or the Ko-fi, also check out my other book, A Gamer in Game of Thrones]
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