Better Be Slytherin!

young age.'

'Then I don't know. Perhaps he was very upset by what we discussed his last time in my office, the pictures, and his Muggle relatives, and then . . .' He trailed off, feeling as if a door had suddenly opened in his mind. For the first time since that Sunday evening weeks ago, he recalled what secrets he had been trying to pry from the boy, just before Harry had collapsed with the vision and begun writhing in pain on the floor of the dungeon. Despite the potions and spells he had tried, nothing had worked to stop the boy's convulsions or his vision, to sever the connection between Harry and the Dark Lord.

When he had told Harry, in the Infirmary, that he could not use Legilimency to see what had happened in his vision, he had been telling the truth. But he had tried to use a little known type of Legilimency, to loosen the Dark Lord's hold on the boy, and had found he could not penetrate the vision without causing Harry's mind irreparable harm. No, he had been unable to do anything to help the poor boy. He had never felt so helpless before, so completely powerless and lost, not even when, years ago, he had been held under the Cruciatus Curse by the Dark Lord, and was left drooling blood at his Master's feet.

I will protect him, Lily, he vowed once more.

His hands balled into fists. How could he have forgotten that conversation with the boy? The vision and the busy, argument-filled days with Dumbledore that followed were no excuse. What if something more had happened? He would never forgive himself. 'Just before he had the vision, he told me another boy was making unwanted advances toward him,' Severus said to the Baron through gritted teeth. 'Has he mentioned anything of the kind to you?'

The Bloody Baron's eyes narrowed dangerously. 'I have heard nothing, and I have seen nothing, as I only accompany him outside of Slytherin common rooms, which means . . .'

'It's one of my Snakes, I know.'

'Which one?' the ghost demanded, hurtling his incorporeal body toward Severus so quickly he had to back up a pace, banging the backs of his legs on a low cabinet. The ghost's face was murderous, and Severus was, for perhaps the first time, truly afraid of him. At that moment, Severus knew that if he could, the ghost would kill for Harry Potter.

'I don't know; he didn't get a chance to say.' Severus should have asked again, once Harry regained consciousness, but he had not. Why? It was very unlike him. He protected all his Snakes, even if from each other. Why had he not addressed the issue? And why did it feel as if he were only now remembering that it had been an issue to begin with?

'How dare you do noth--' the Baron started, but Severus held up a shaking hand.

Was it possible?

He did not need to draw his wand; it was already in his hand. The 'threat' of the Bloody Baron charging at him had been enough for him to take it out without even thinking about it. Swishing the wand over his body -- especially his head -- several times, he cast a number of diagnostic spells. And then he cursed. Loudly.

Someone had Obliviated him.

Not very well, obviously, or he would not have retrieved the memories so easily . . . well, easily once he had had the proper trigger. Otherwise, he might never have recalled that portion of their conversation.

It had to have been Potter.

That stupid, unbelievably idiotic, snot-nosed little boy!

'What is wrong, Severus Snape? What have you discovered?' The Bloody Baron was still very close to him, still very angry looking, but his tone of voice was less threatening.

'That arrogant little shit Obliviated me!'

'Impossible. He does not have the capability, as yet.'

'Spare me,' Severus snarled as he headed for the door. He was going to tear that boy a new one. No one fiddled with his mind! 'He did it; no one else knew about our conversation.'

As he flung open the door to his office, the Bloody Baron zoomed in front of him, attempting to halt his progress in his march toward throttling the boy. 'It must have been accidental magic. He cannot know what he has done. He would have--'

'He would have what?' Severus interrupted, even as he ignored the Baron and walked right through him. The cold went down to his bones, but he did not stop. His rage kept him warm. 'He would have confided in you? Not if he wanted no one to know!'

'And why is that, Severus Snape?' The Baron flew in front of Severus again. 'The boy is filled with shame about his family and the way they treated him, and he believes he is not worthy of anyone's care. He has learned, time and again, that those he confides in will turn their backs on him, that he is the one who suffers when anyone in his life attempts to 'help' him.'

Severus walked through the ghost again, though his rage was not as hot as it had been, and he shivered upon resuming his march. 'He stole my memories!'

'He protected himself!' the ghost snarled back at him. 'Or, at least, I believe that is what he was trying to do.'

'You know him so well, do you? Are you sure he has not tried the same with you?' Even as he said it, he knew it was stupid.

The Baron was floating backwards now, but still in front of Severus, so they could continually glare at each other. 'Severus Snape, how could a boy, even with accidental magic, Obliviate a ghost?'

'If it could ever be done, Harry Bloody Potter is the one who would do it!'

'That is true,' the Baron admitted. 'I have seen him do things already I would have never imagined possible for a boy his age. But he did not do this intentionally, Severus Snape, I am sure of it. It will not go well for you if you condemn him without hearing his side.'

Severus had reached the portrait to the Slytherins' common room, and he spat the password without replying.