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A Prince in Lion's Clothing	By : Sablesilverrain Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Tom Views: 36570 -:- Recommendations : 7 -:- Currently Reading : 9
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or anything you recognise here. I make no money off of this, and am writing it purely for entertainment. Don't take it too seriously.

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Harry and Neville were deep in hushed conversation with Hermione, discussing how Harry should broach the topic of leaving the school with Severus for Christmas when Ron came back. He strode up to the group and cleared his throat.

“Harry, can I talk to you? In private?” He asked.

Harry frowned. “Why?” He asked suspiciously.

Ron flushed. “I wanted to… Apologize. For flying off the handle like I did. And see if we can still be friends.” He muttered, staring at his feet.

“Oh.” Harry said lightly, then added, “No, thanks. I know, now, who my real friends are.” He told the boy. “But I accept your apology. Thank you for being big enough to own up to doing something wrong. That takes character.” He said, then turned back to Hermione, dismissing Ron wordlessly.

Ron's face reached an impressive shade of red, Neville being the only one to notice, and he spun on his heel and stormed away.

Harry noticed Neville watching Ron a few minutes later. “Nev? What’s up?”

Neville cleared his throat. “Ron is angrier than I’ve ever seen him before at you. I’d watch your back if I were you.” He suggested.

Harry winced. “Warning noted. Thanks.”

Hermione nibbled her lip nervously. “You don’t think he'd actually try anything, do you?” She asked worriedly.

Harry snorted. “Even if he did, his offense is no match for my defence skills. I'll be fine. Unless someone else steps in and helps him out.” He added.

“I hope there’s no reason to worry, but you know how he is. He can try to make your life miserable. It’s possible he might succeed.” Neville told Harry. “Just be careful around him. And try not to provoke him any further than you already have. That’s all I’m saying.”

Harry nodded. “Will do.” He lowered his voice again. “Do you suppose he has a Manor? Or did the Prince family not have one?”

Neville snorted. “Oh, no, Harry. They had one. It should have passed to him, you just have to ask. They weren’t part of the sacred twenty-eight, but they were still very well-to-do.” He told Harry.

Harry nodded. “I'll ask, then. Next time I see him. Alone.” He amended.

*****

Severus walked up to the gargoyle guarding the office and snapped the password, wondering, not for the first time, why he was being summoned.

He entered the office and Albus smiled at him. “My boy!”

Severus visibly bristled at the term and gritted his teeth. “Albus.” He returned tightly. “What is the problem?”

Albus’ smile didn’t slip for a second. “There’s no problem, Severus, quite the opposite, I got some wonderful news just yesterday!”

Severus fought back a sigh at the pussyfooting around the subject. Albus was always like this. “What news would that be?”

Albus’ mood grew solemn, and he asked, quietly and curiously, “Why didn’t you tell me you were Harry’s father?”

Severus’ blood ran cold. “Where did you hear that?” He asked sharply.

Albus smiled again. “Hear? Nowhere. I actually plucked the knowledge from young Mr. Weasley’s mind, with his permission, of course.”

Severus nearly rolled his eyes at his own oversight, but instead simply muttered, “Of course,” in reluctant agreement.

“So why did you keep that fact, and that of your reinstatement as Lord Prince, from me? For so long?” Albus added reprovingly.

Severus sighed. “The reinstatement I kept from you because I was ashamed of the reason for it by the time I came to you.” He told the man.

Albus nodded slowly. “Septimius reinstated you for joining the Death Eaters, I take it?”

“Yes.” Severus answered.

“And Harry’s parentage? Surely you know that I approve of the boy finding a parental figure, and one such as you, nothing makes me happier for you both! There was no need to keep that from me.” Albus told him.

Severus shook his head. “I was going to tell you soon. Before the Christmas break. I just wanted him and I to have some time to forge something of a relationship as father and son without eyes on us. No matter whose they happened to be.”

“I see. I suppose that is commendable. Now that I know I can ease things somewhat for you both. You are permitted to take him off the grounds on days when he has no classes to attend, if you wish. I will ask that you keep me apprised of where you intend to go, but I can trust you with the safety of your own flesh and blood.” Albus said cheerfully.

Severus looked surprised, but recovered quickly. “Thank you, Albus. I will take the opportunity to get to know him better away from school. In a less formal setting. Perhaps we can grow closer through normal outings, like a parent usually shares with their child.”

Albus smiled widely. “Quite, quite! That was all I wished to speak with you about. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?” He asked.

“Not at this time.” Severus said.

“Then you may go. Give Harry my regards next time you see him.” Albus said as Severus turned to leave.

“I will.” Severus assured him, then left the room.

He was pleased that things had gone so well, but also suspicious.

What game was Albus playing now? The rules had changed, and Severus had no idea what the new ones were, exactly.

He would need to figure them out quickly.

*****

“Harry, please stay after for a moment.” Severus called out as the class put their things away.

This was nothing new, but Harry couldn’t think of a single thing they had to discuss right now, so he put his things away and waited patiently while the rest of the class filed out.

After everyone had gone, Severus leaned his hip against Harry’s desk, crossed his arms over his chest, and spoke. “Dumbledore knows about my reinstatement as Lord Prince. And of our relation.” He said.

Harry’s stomach dropped. “Yeah. Ron doesn’t know Occlumency.” He answered glumly.

“I will be teaching you the darker secrecy spell, the lip-locker, at a later date. It prevents the secret from coming out even against Legilimency, but use it as a last resort, only. It is a Dark spell.” He warned. “Furthermore, I have been granted the privilege of taking you off school grounds when you have no classes to attend. Would you like to accompany me to Diagon Alley on Saturday? I need to go by Gringotts to get something out of my vault, now that there is no need to hide it, and then we could go for ice cream after.”

Harry grinned widely. “Yeah, that’s be great!” He said excitedly.

“Good, then that’s settled. We will be able to speak more freely away from the castle. My classroom, office and private rooms are safe from prying—at least, once I disable any eavesdropping spells my Slytherins try to get past me for the day—but still, there are things I prefer not to tell anyone where we might be overheard. I have some such details about our family traits to discuss with you.” Severus gifted Harry with a rare smile. “Go, get to your next class. I will see you tonight for Occlumency.”

Harry smiled back. “See you then!” He said, then rushed toward his next class.

Severus sat down and got to grading. He’d be able to teach Harry to work with memories tonight. He was skilled enough to make small alterations to them, and that ability would grow with practice. He’d be fabricating false memories in a year or so. Severus was glad the boy had inherited his skill with the mental arts. It marked him as a true Prince.

*****

“Tonight, you will be learning to make alterations to memories. You will still be able to remember them correctly, but it is useful for pretending to open your mind to someone whilst keeping the truth hidden. You can show someone the altered memory, and unless they know what to look for, they will believe it is true. I am skilled enough to fabricate untrue memories out of nothing, and in time, you will reach that level.” Severus told him.

Harry looked at him in shock. “You can do that?” He asked.

“If you know what you are doing, and are adept in mental magic, yes.” Severus answered, amused.

“How?” Harry demanded.

Severus chuckled. “Learn to successfully modify a memory first. We will move on when I cannot spot a fake.” He said.

Harry nodded.

“Pick a memory, any one will do.” Severus began. “Then, instead of the real words spoken, pick a phrase that you’ve heard uttered from the other person in the memory at another time, and interpose them saying that over what they really said in the memory. Remember exactly how their mouth moved, but envision that with the clothes they originally had one in the memory you picked, and with the same body language. Make the modification as detailed as you can, because the easiest way to spot a fake is that things are vague and foggy in the modified area.”

Harry frowned, thinking of a memory. He thought of the night his name had come out of the Goblet. He replayed the memory and changed it by having Ron finish with the words he had said when learning about Harry's true parentage: “I can’t even look at you.”

He spent ten minutes making it as detailed as he could, and held it in his mind as he looked at Severus. “Got it.”

Severus deftly entered his mind and watched the memory, then withdrew and nodded. “Very good, for a first try. But still, the change was obvious. When did he say he couldn’t even look at you?” He asked.

Harry snorted. “When he found out you were my real father.”

“Ah.” Severus said softly.

“Yeah.” Harry replied. “But I’m better off without him. He has a history of turning on me, and I don’t need that.” He finished lightly.

Severus nodded. “A wise decision.” He said. “Let's try again.”

******

Harry tried very hard to get his hair to lay flat, with very little success. He scowled into the mirror, then sighed heavily and wrapped his heavy winter cloak around him. He needed a new one, as this one was a few inches too short now, but it was what he had.

He headed down to the dungeons and knocked on Severus' door.

Severus opened it and smiled fondly. “I gave you the password, Harry. Use it.” He said, letting the boy in.

Harry smiled sheepishly. “I didn’t want to seem presumptuous. You gave it to me to use once, I assumed it wasn’t an open invitation to come and go as I please.” He explained.

Severus chuckled. “Idiot boy. I want you to come and go as you please. You are family. I want you to feel welcome here. My door is always open to you, even when I am not here, let these rooms be your sanctuary.”

Harry smiled widely. “I'll remember that.”

“Good.” Severus said, putting on his own winter cloak. He looked at Harry's. “And we're stopping by Madame Malkin's shop, it would seem.”

Harry flushed. “I can pay for—”

“You are my son.” Severus cut him off. “I will pay for your clothing. And you need something much finer than that.” He smirked wickedly. “We'll get you something that will have Weasley eating his heart out with envy.” He said.

Harry grinned. “That’s awful. I like it.” He said.
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A Prince in Lion's Clothing