Hogwarts, at least!

Before the dinner in the great hall was served, Severus Snape returns to his quarters, rather than going through his stack of dunderhead's assignments, he directly takes a handful of Floo powder, before entering the fireplace.

"Leaky Claudron!" Vanishing in a maelstrom of green fire, he reappears a few seconds later in the establishment defining the border between the two worlds. Casting a quick 'Tempus', he nods, making his wand vanish in his sleeve before stopping to the counter, he was ten minutes early.

While he had a habit of coming on time in his lesson, today was different, seeing the boy again, after ten years need some preparation that a Firewihsky would help. From the news a few months back, he didn't what await him.

When a baby, the boy had show potential, but ten years are long and can change peoples. Without James Potter, the boy had very few reasons to turn into a bully and an entitled brat of the worst kind, but without Lily to keep him straight, he was a complete mystery.

Thinking of his deceased childhood friend brought bad memories to the surface.

"Professor Snape, I wouldn't though to see you tonight." Exclaim Tom, surprised to see the man here. Even if he wanted a drink, he knows that professors keep few liquors in their quarter, at worst they would visit the Broomstick or Hoghead, but never came down to London just for a drink.

"I wouldn't, school assignment."

Nodding at the confirmed though, he asks." Can I serve you something while waiting for or...?"

Nodding back, "A Firewihsky would do just fine." respond the man, seating on a stool separated from the present customer, while taking out five Sickles (~14.70 P).

Taking out a glass from under the counter, and a bottle from the shelves behind, he fills the glass on fourth-fifth, while sweeping the money away.

Taking a light sip, his dark, tough return, more specifically to the dreaded night. Founding the still-warm corpse of Lily had been a shock and the confirmation that he was but a pawn in the hand of the two megalomanic playing soldier with the lives of the witches and wizards of Britain.

Thinking to the boy 'Harry', Sneered him at the ridiculous name from a ridiculous father, he was curious as to what the young boy look like nowadays. He was nearly sure that he was physically nothing like the veiled propaganda of the lemon sucker, a thin, stunted boy with the bird-nest of the potter. An ugly raw scar marring his forehead, a pair of glass in short a mini-version of James Potter younger, only with black hair.

He couldn't, for the life of himself, understand the man. Don't he have no memories of the encounter ten years ago, when they brought in the castrate Were? Was the older man losing his touch or his disillusion was taking over, making him remember what he wanted?

He couldn't know, and wasn't really curious at the man thoughts, as long as the boy wasn't like his father and a Gryffindor, it would be alright for him. The boy couldn't be a Slytherin, too much bad blood between him and the heirs of the followers. Ravenclaw could be taken as a threat, while Hufflepuff would be amusing to see.

Even then he didn't really have hope to see anything else but those bloody cat morons. He had nothing against the animal, but there represent in the castle were just light bigots, sometimes even worst than the snake's ones.

~~~

Stirring the content of his glass lazily, giving a glance at the clock on the wall above the bar, he could see that he still had five minutes before the appointed time. Swallowing the rest of the drink in one go, before pushing the empty glass to Tom to take back, a slight shake indicating that he wouldn't take a re-file, he waits for the boy.

Without attracting too much attention from the patron, the backdoor, leading to the Alley, open, letting someone enter.

It was only because he was facing the door that Severus Snape pay attention. When his gaze land on the stranger, his eyes widen, unbelieving at sight. There, in the door frame, stood his target. It identification ridiculously identifiable from the mane of crimson red hairs and a pair of deep emerald eyes. When the opposite gaze lock on him, he felt as if someone had dealt a blow to his guts.

The resemblance was uncanny at a frightening level. The steeled gaze was giving him chill, remembering the one of Lily when she was furious, it was simply frightening.

More than that the boy was ridiculously tall, around the height of a four-year or small fifth one. From the more fitting muggle clothes, he could make more than simple flesh, while not ripped, the young was muscled. The only thing betraying his young age was a remaining of baby fat on his face, that would rapidly vanish.

'Even the bloody cat is oversized, it's ridiculous!' Shouted him in his mind.

Say kneazle had also his piercing blue gaze lock on him from what he could see this particular individual was nearly two times the size of a normal kneazle. Knowing how a normal one was, he shudders at the thought of his claws and bites.

Shaking off the thoughts, he looked at his general appearance. He barely restrains a smirk at the scar-less, glass-less, look-a-like Lily.

'He had nothing of his father; I could already see the reaction of the press when they knew of it.'

Smirking inwardly at the new boot to the ass Dumbledore will earn when the populace learns that he was even feeding them shit as off his appearance, brought warm to his stomach, or was it the Firewihsky?

~~~

When Alex see Snape waiting for him, he didn't need to bust a neuron to understand what the old goat was playing at. Keeping a schooled expression, he studies the man before crossing the bar to him.

Extending a hand, he said evenly, "I can't say it a pleasure to meet you seeing our last encounter, but thank you for coming, professor Snape." keeping his gaze straight in the Potion eyes.

This was simply a test in two-fold from him, first was to see if he would babble to Dumbledore and the second to test his thoughts on him. If he attempts Legilimency, the man couldn't be trusted, but if he speaks to Dumbles, he would be an obstacle to remove.

Seeing the man' eyes widen for a second before his gaze harden and face close, he waits. When all Snape does was to shake his hand curtly, he gave a brief look at Frost. Seeing that his trusted friend wasn't hostile to the man was enough for now.

"Quite a particular specimen you have here, Mr Potter." Say neutrally, Snape.

"Thank you; Frost had shown quite a particular grow spur not long after coming to my company. From what I could conclude, it would appear that we share quite a particular bond."

"Truly?" Asked the man back, with only raising a brow. Seeming to consider something for a second, he slowly took his wand, keeping it tip toward the ground. "May I?"

"A confirmation or information would be great, thank you."

Nodding back, Snape a step back, before waving his wand in a particular pattern. The crowd, who had turned silent when the two had started their exchange were surprised by the nearly blinding golden glow surrounding both young and beast.

Quite a few let out a shout of shock at the sight. Turning to the barkeeper, Snape asked "Do you have some parchment?" keeping his voice even, not betraying his shock.

Nodding frantically, the man vanishes from a few seconds before returning with an inkpot, a quill and a sheet of parchment.

Scribing a rapid text before signing, the document flash for a second, before rolling on itself with a tap of Snape wand.

"Should an Auror ask for your licence, this should prevent any mishap. My rank as potion master allows me to grant such document for bounded familiar."

"Thank you, Professor Snape, should we go? I wouldn't take you from your meal for too long."

"Hmm."

~~~

Steering toward the fireplace, both leave ten knuts in the little box at the side of the Floo powder. Seeing him already familiar with that particular system, Snape enters and clearly say "Dungeon office!" before throwing the powder at his feet, taking away in a swirl of green flame.

Waiting for them to extinguish, and the man to clear out of the hearth, Alex follows his action, vanishing from the pub, with Frost tightly anchored on his shoulder.

Looking around when arriving, he passes from a dimly lit place to a dimly lit cold and slightly damp place.

Seeing Snape waiting form him at the door, he obliges the man and followed him.

~~~

In the great hall, as the student enter, they became puzzled as to why, not only three heads of House and the Headmaster were waiting not far to the entry in, but the missing Snape. As all the students were present, Dumbledore address to them.

"I know that you are all wondering why three of you head of House, as well as myself, are waiting here? A particular guest had finally been tracked down, if I can say so, and would join us tonight. Professor Snape had been tasked to retrieve him and lead him here."

"But dinner?" Whine someone at the Gryffindor table.

"I assure you, Mr Weasley, that you won't die of hunger waiting a few more minutes." Chuckles the man, not needing to know who it was, drawing quite a few laughs throughout the hall, to the boy shame, who's life hadn't been what he expected the past month and a half.

~~~

Without anyone realizing, the door of the great hall had been claused, by Dumbledore, who would allow that someone was put under the spotlight for once, other than him.

Not long after a relative silence fall, while some were whispering in groups as of the identity of say guest, the doors open, banging against the walls on each side.

The sudden noise surprised more than one, and squeaking cries resound shortly in the hall before a dead silence falls as the entrance of the son of the bat. Sneering at all but his own house, Snape rejoin the other four, shortly followed by someone else.

~~~

When Alex Appears, gasp resound from the female population of the hall, as well as nearly all professors. The first was only due to the mix of his feature and the tighter-than-wizards-robes, muggles cloth wears.

For the professors old enough to had the Potter couple as students, however, was due to his uncanny resemblance to his mother. Being the first to snap from her trance, McGonagall sent a withering glare at Dumbledore for an oblivious reason, before stepping forward.

"Welcome, Mr Potter." Another wave of gasp resounds, louder, in the hall." I quite happy that you chose to come here."

"Don't misunderstand, Professor McGonagall." Cut curtly, Alex. "I only came here because of the barely veiled threats of your headmaster. The man has been harassing me with letters for half a month before threatening me with laws that didn't concern me."

This sends the population of the castle frenzy. Shocked, McGonagall sends another glare at Dumbledore, who lost his smile, before focusing again at Alex.

"Could you explain, please?"

"As you all know, the Minister passed a law, heavily pushed by the Headmaster, that force young of an age to attend Hogwarts, while born of British descendant or on the island soil. What both didn't bother to explain is, by the time I had refused Hogwarts invitation, while it was still legal, thus exempting me from the law. Using this, the man threatens to size my holding in Gringotts, as a chief warlord, should I not attend."

This draw horrified gasp from the pureblood, knowing what it would mean from them all.

"By the way, you are to present yourself in front of the goblin Nation council, from attempts of the thief of the last Heir, and breach of the 1459 treaty. From your slight against me, your accounts had been frozen, all of them, signifying the Hogwarts one too." Say Alex to the white as sheet Dumbledore. "I doubt you would retain your seat as chief warlock after threatening to size the fortune of an Heir and create a precedent to allow the Ministry to plunder the wealth of extinct and nearly extinct House." Finished Alex to burry the man political carrier.

In the hall, more than one pureblood heir had turned white as a sheet at the consequence, had Dumbledore been hallowed to act, and aware that they all now own debt to House Potter. Dumbledore also understands this, making him fall on the stool he had made came to sort Alex.

~~~

While all professors were outraged that Dumbledore had gone that far for having the boy-who-lived here, Snape was smirking inwardly at this.

'Did the old fool hadn't learn? each time he attempted to force the boy, he was the one to be burned.'

Trembling, and taking several breaths to calm herself, McGonagall turn to Alex.

"So you came here, in order to..."

"... Safeguard the legacy left to me from my family, yes."

"Very well, since you are here, let sort you, and be done with this sordid affair."

"I think you misunderstand yet again, professor. As I reject the school proposition, I can't be part of the school, thus being sorted in one of its House. As Headmaster Dumbledore clearly said, I'm a guest, as such, I will be housed by the castle and receive education, as if home-schooled. I will not pay a single Galleons, as it was a decision of the headmaster." Say Alex while keeping a straight face.

"Bu-but that not possible, such accommodation isn't available!" Splutter her.

"It is, Minerva, it just that it hadn't been used in the last 546 years." Say the hat, suddenly animated, in the hand of Argus filch. "Do you have a preference for your room location, Heir Potter?"

"I will leave this decision into the castle hand, I'm but a mere guest, it would be unbecoming of me to require anything from anyone of this faculty personnel."

"Very well, a room would be prepared on the fifth floor, where the ancient guests quarter are."

"Thank you."

"Your welcome Heir Potter." Slightly bow the hat, before staying in position, returning to sleep.

~~~

As the situation settle, the meal appears, while the professors return to their table. just before she did, the transfiguration professor turns to him.

"As you are not a proper student here, choose a table for you to seat."

"Thank you, but I have already eaten before coming here, I will just wait for you all to finish." Say him, taking the stool, before putting it against the wall. Taking a book out of his trunk and start to read, before the dumbfounded look of everyone present. None realising that Dumbledore had long since vanished, even him hadn't a skin thick enough to seat at the head table and eat after all of this.

Under the surprised gaze of all, Alex' huge kneazle enter the kangaroo pocket on the sweater, leaving only its head out. Taking something from a backpack in his trunk without even looking at it, he starts to feed the cat with the content of the packet.

To their side, Mrs Norris could be seen sniffing the air, while letting out a cute meow. Turning his head to the caretaker who just scoops his cat in his arm, while looking warily back at him, Alex says.

"Do you want some of it? it made from dried fish and vegetable, it a good diet for keeping a cat healthy. There are few magical plants mixed in. I have a mix for strengthening the bones, boosted nutrition for slightly old cat needing a helping hand, or after a heavy wound. There also for easier digestion and muscles stimulants for active one, to help heal. It all approved by the ICW if you worried, oh, I also had them with beef flavour and chicken too."

~~~

Hearing the boy speak to him normally, Argus Filch was at first surprised, before looking at his sweety and then the tom in his sweater pocket happily munching on the treats.

"Chicken, you say?"

"Yes, I also have an open packet, if you want." Respond Alex, fishing out say packet, who was effectively open and half-empty from the sight.

"Had something for her bones and muscles, she isn't young anymore. Digestion could be good too. Grumble the man at the end.

"How about a mix?" rather propose Alex. "If she isn't young anymore, it better to not focus just on one aspect, it could be harmful to break her inner balance." Say him while fishing other packets, and a bowl, mixing a little of the four packets in it, in different proportion.

Seeing him, the caretaker made his way, before letting the dust-coated cat jump and bolt to the bowl. With years in the castle, Mrs Norris had learned to detect threats from free food given by Sutent, letting Argus freely let her choose. When he sees that she didn't stop eating after sniffing just once, he relaxes.

"Do you know where I can found that?" Say the gruff man, reclining against the wall.

"I have enough with me for a while, Frost isn't really partial to chicken, I just keep them when he is in the mood for it. I can leave you with a mix of the three, see what she prefer and ask me for more later?"

"Hmm."

Nodding to himself, Alex take out three containers in metal, before mixing the chicken, fish and beef into one each.

"Here you go, it should be enough for two meals each. All you need is to fill the bowl, no more than the edge, after it would be nefast for her, too much good is bad, after all. I feed Frost by hand because he hunts too, so it more treats than his meal."

~~~

While the two where talking, completely ignoring the others, the hall had once again fallen silent, listening to them. As the head table, Flitwick couldn't help but quip, "Want some, Minerva? I'm sure Mr Potter would not be against helping your old bones." Chuckling, Professor Sprout spit take from her goblet of pumpkin juice, drenching the half-goblin, making the other laugh at him rather than the Deputy Headmistress.

From his seat, Snape looked suspiciously at the boy. As a potion master, he had a particular interest in the application of potion ingredients in a similar field. What he heard from the Potter heir was completely unknow for him, but if true could open new paths. Poppy Pomfrey was equally paying attention at the discussion, like Snape, she had a good idea on how such ailments, if safe for human consumption could be used as a post-operation treatment, rather than heavy potion regiments.

For those having a cat, or half-kneazle animal, the conversation was also appealing, making mental notes to observe and see if the blasted cat experience side effect.

At the head table, Hagrid had been first really interested in the enormous kneazle, and more than happy to see the care it was under.

~~~

As the meal draws to an end, students start to return to their common room, throwing gaze at the boy-who-lived in passing. The meal had shattered quite a numbers of already affected images of the Headmaster in their mind. The more the Potter heir and the Headmaster where concerned, the lower people discover the limit of the man was willing to go.

~~~

Closing his trunk and shrinking it, before faking to put it in his pocket, Alex turns to the waiting Transfiguration professor. Nodding to him, they made their way to the fifth floor.

"While you were waiting, I was able to browse the rules pertaining to the guest of the castle. While there isn't a curfew, I would strongly recommend to not wonder the hall at night, as prefects would be told to not make an exception. Inside your quarter you are free to act as you please, and know that proportional consequence would be applied." Say her sternly, the message clear.

"Yes, professor."

Nodding at his willing-ness, while keeping in mind that he was his father's son too, she didn't completely relax her guard.

'Only time will tell, I guess, with any luck, he takes more from Lily.' Sigh her internally, while leading him through the stairs.

Once arrived on the fifth floor, she takes the main corridor, walked a few meters, before stopping a few meters further in a side corridor.

"Do you have any preference, Mr Potter?" asked the witch.

Looking in the corridor, he just crosses to the other side, stopping to a stone statue, followed by the cat animagus.

"This is your new charge, Mr Potter will stay as a guest of Hogwarts until his OWLs, or NEWTs obtain, following his choice."

The statue nod, before turning to Alex.

"All you will require is a password to be set, then repeat. I will leave you, for now, Breakfast start at seven, we will go over you timetable tomorrow and you will rejoin class on Monday. I would browse the few first chapters of my books this weekend if I were you, Mr Potter, you have a month and a half to catch up from your peers. I trust you will be able to found the great hall from here?"

"Thank you, professor, and yes, I will, worst came to be, Frost had a good nose, he would be my guide."

"Very well, good night, Mr Potter."

"Good night professor."

~~~

Waiting for the woman to vanish, he turns to the statue.

"Any Password will do?" Asked him, receiving a nod back. " from any kind?" Again a nod.

Putting his hand on the knight armored chest, he alters it with craft magic, making appears the Evans crest on it, before vanishing it. The password registred, he once again made the crest appears and vanish.

When the knight step on the side, revealing an opening behind, he was relieved that it had worked. Seeing that the portrait was looking intently at his back, his suspicion was cleared, the old man had instructed them to take hold on the password, as this area was the only one where he wasn't hallowed passage on his simple authority as Headmaster.

Having housed dignitaries and the like, the founders had made sure to have a safe zone where the Headmaster couldn't have hold, just in case, never would they had though that such securities would help protect a student from the Headmaster himself.

Smirking while entering his next quarter, he was thankful once again to possess craft magic.

~~~

Looking around, Alex could see a round room, similar in size from any of the four common room. Made in a similar arrangement, antique but sofas, love seat and seat in perfect condition were arranged in an arc around the fireplace. Around the room, a side of the wall was housing shelves on a quarter, full of books, additional comfy seats and tables were disposed of not far, allowing the possibility of a relaxing lecture or working on paper. Another quarter, the centre of the room was left empty, while round coffee tables were put on the faraway side, on the opposite of the door, to allow private conversation.

The colour schemes were neural, a cream white on the wall with a smattering of pastel blue and light red drapes. Between the bookshelves and coffee tables, facing the fireplace, were windows, giving on the black lake and a part of the forbidden forest.

Lastly, two sets of stairs were leading on what he guess tower. Climbing up to the first door, a bedroom the side of a year dorm from the Gryffindor appears. Like them, and the attached bathroom was present but smaller, and with a closet in the bedroom.

Taking a hot shower, before dressing him his snow leopard enchanted onesie, he dives under the sheets, falling asleep not long after.

~~~

Waking the next morning, with Frost on his stomach, he stretches while looking through the window. Seeing that the sun hadn't appeared yet, he cast a quick look at his upgraded connected watch. Reading '6:56', he nods, before heading to the shower.

going downstairs in the common room, he seats comfortably in a seat, before taking out a book, after preparing a plate for his breakfast. Eating while deciphering the runes schemes of the various wards compiled in a book from Egypt, he stops after feeling his watch vibrate, indicating 8:30.

Tidying before leaving the room, he barely turns to the door, before Frost had already jumped on him, nimbly entering the pocket and looking at him by raising its head, purring.

Shaking his head at the Kneazle antic, he pets it while exiting the room and making his way to the stairs, then the great hall.

~~~

He wasn't surprised to not see Dumbledore here, and when seeing that McGonagall had already finished, he made his way to her.

"Good morning professor, is now good?"

"Good Morning Mr Potter, and if you are ready, yes. I could wait for you to eat something first, though."

"Thank you for your concern, professor, but I'm good."

Not insisting, she nods. "Very well then." Taking a blank timetable, an inkpot and quill, she put four other timetables for him to look at.

"While not all options are available as a class will either take place at the same time or happen during an already ongoing one, you have the possibility for some choice. I would recommend sharing a maximum of class with different houses. As you are not from a particular House, point deduction is not appliable but know that corresponding punishment would be given from rule-breaking." Say her, sternly

"Seem fair." Shrugged him, making her ease, and nod.

Looking at the option, he immediately says. "I know their no way I will share potion with the Gryffindor-Slytherin class, it just asking for trouble. That combination shouldn't have been made in the first place."

All listening professor couldn't help but nod, sharing the same view, even Snape. While liking subtracts a huge amount of point from the dunderhead, he prefers the more calm second class, where they actually do something. Other than blowing cauldron or sabotage each other preparation, that it.