[OG] Champion of Ravenclaw: Inheritance

And He Leaves

Late one night, against regulation Snape managed to convince Eames to let him into the apartment. He found Harry by the fireplace staring aimlessly at the flames. The haunted look on the boy's face made the potions master falter. "Everyone is worried about you." Snape said after a moment of silence. Harry didn't respond and when the Slytherin house head sat down on a chair near by he could see the boy wiping his eyes. "Mr Diggory found a letter and pendant. The letter was addressed to you." This stirred a response and Snape reached into his robe and pulled out the letter, holding it out for Harry to take. Tentatively the boy reached out and grasped it, Snape spotted the healing scar on the boys arm, a mock of the dark mark and a sadistic reminder of what had happened that night. He watched as the pale boy opened it up and began to read.

Harry,

I know we barely know each other and I know you'd made yourself clear about not needing a dominant yet but I can't stop thinking about you. I believe it would be dishonest to you pretending I felt nothing about you. So I write this letter to give to you after the Tournament. Along with it I give a courting gift in the hopes you will accept me, there are many benefits and I promise to always adore you, especially that smile. But if you should reject I completely understand, I am out of place asking this of you. Just promise me you'll keep smiling? I do so love it when you do.

Love Always
Cedric Diggory

Snape held out the pendant next, a simple silver chain and a large bead of Jade shaped like a cat, engraved in the back read the promise of love. Harry broke down for what felt like to him to be the hundredth time. Snape didn't know what to do at that point he knelt down and try and console the weeping child only to have Harry bury his face into the older man's robes.

"It won't stop hurting." Harry bawled.

"The scar?" Snape asked perhaps a little densely. The boy shook his head.

"My heart." Any tension between the two melted away as Snape hugged the boy.

"Of course it does. And part of you always will mourn for his loss. It won't ever fade but eventually you'll be able to live with it, much like you live with the scar on your forehead. But the scars of the heart are deeper and hurt longer." Snape said softly.

"You sound like you know from experience." Harry sniffled. Snape leaned back and gazed into the green eyes that were just like hers and sighed.

"I do." Snape said. "I loved your mother. But she loved someone else, your father. That's when the first scar presented itself, but I still cared for her. I'd have done anything for her. And then on the night she died, though I was no where near, I felt the second scar cross my heart and I knew I'd lost her again." He expected a look of disgust or judgment to mark the boys features but instead he looked sad.

"And then I came along and reminded you of her and my father." He mumbled.

"Don't fret like that, I've been rather cruel I know, but it's not at your fault." Snape sighed, the child was too soft hearted.

"Really, cause it seems everyone close to me is either hurt or dead." Harry scoffed. A coldness seeped into Snape, so it wasn't just Cedric's death that caused the boys current state.

"What did he tell you."

"That the reason I'm alive is because she's dead. Her loving sacrifice created a spell that made me untouchable to him." Harry looked at the fire again and frowned. "A spell now negated since he used my blood to come back."

"Harry, your mother saved you because you deserved to live, don't ever think you weren't worthy of that. And she, your father, Cedric, they wouldn't want you to lock yourself away from your friends, they'd want you to survive to thrive, to keep on smiling." Snape hung the pendant around Harry's neck. "It doesn't have the same affect as a courting item but the necklace is still rightfully yours. I have to go, I've already gone against the rules being here. Just think about what I've said."