Title: A Thirst To Prove Himself

Author: dem bones

Genres: Supernatural/Horror

Pairings: One-sided H/G and R/HG, Eventual H/HG

Summary:7 years after the Potters died, Snape discovers they have left Harry to him and out of obligation he removes him from the Dursleys but he doesn't want him so who has raised Harry all this time?

Warnings:This story revels in the fact that it can use Ron and Ginny a whole lot and mess with your minds. It also will not make a single effort in neglecting any 'despised' characters or bashing them whole heartedly. Character Death, OCs and dark themes.

A/N: This story was originally planned to be a story that attempts to realistically put H/HG in a romantic setting while at the same time making me completely entertained. The events in this story will be based on all seven books and all eight movies but by no means will directly copy them. Any ideas are welcomed at this point. I will be posting segments equivalent to each respected book when they are finished.

So far the word count for this story: 32,939 for the first book.

Disclaimer: I do not own HP.

Chapter 1: Living with Malory

Years after the investigation of the destruction of the Potter's home in Godric's Hallow 7 years since their death, a rugged shaggy haired auror apparated into Hogsmeade.

He walked into the Hog's head greeting Albus Dumbledore in the pub, who looked to have just finished partying.

"Dumbledore, I've found something you might want to look at."

The shaggy man brought out a black dented metal box that had escaped the ruins.

The older man pointed his wand at the box, opening the lock.

Inside was the Potter's last will and testament.

"What does it say?" The shaggy man asked.

"Should the Potters return to the dust, they would like to give their child to Severus Snape."

"Snape?!" The young shabby man inquired incredulously. "Why would they do such a thing and why would they leave a will?"

Dumbledore smiled mysteriously.

"Perhaps it was due to the chance that they could possibly die." The old man murmured.

The shaggy haired man left. Looking at the will with a look of raving madness, Dumbledore incinerated the parchment.

Like a typical time when visiting the Hog's head, everything was overheard. Dumbledore, whose sanity was slowly diminishing over the two wars couldn't help forgetting this small fact as he left the pub.

Lucius Malfoy had been enjoying a drink himself when he had heard it.

After suavely finishing his drink, Lucius stepped outside and apparated to Snape's home in Cokesworth.

It was with indifference that he knocked on the door of his old friend.

"Come on, Snape I know you're there." Lucius called out.

Snape opened the door glaring at him.

"Well look who's grouchy this morning."

"What are you doing here, Lucius?" Snape inquired.

"Can't a friend drop by to visit?" Lucius retorted.

"You never drop by unless as you say there is something 'cheesy' brewing in the rumour mill."

"I'm hurt. Do you really think me so shallow? I thought we were friends." Lucius teased with mock humour.

"Spit it out Lucius. I don't got all day."

Lucius turned serious.

"Dumbledore got his hands on the will of the Potters. Apparently they requested that you be the guardian of their son should they die." He said. "The Dark Lord would turn in his grave if he heard that. What a lucky man you are."

"What makes you think I want to take the boy in?" Snape snarled.

"So fiesty." Lucius mocked.

Snape schooled his face into indifference.

"You don't like kids? My son would be hurt."

"I'd turn in my grave before I took that troublesome son of his."

Lucius chuckled.

"Pity, I imagine the Dark Lord would be very disappointed that his most loyal servant passed this opportunity to kill his nemesis so quickly." Lucius drawled. "Or perhaps maybe you're not as loyal to the Dark Lord as all of us were so inclined. Maybe you'll honour that mudblood's wishes and spare her son."

Snape's expression was stone, undeterred by his friend's insults.

"This has nothing to do with my feelings for Lily. If you're so inclined to try to persuade the dark lord otherwise, it'd be an honour to inform him of your hesitance in providing him means to return back to life." Snape explained. "The reason I don't want to take him in is simple."

A piece of parchment caught Lucius' eye.

"Your aunt has been writing you again hasn't she?"

Snape glared at him.

"Get out!"

"She wants to reconcile with you doesn't she. I could imagine her face should you decide to give her that half-blood."

"Out." Snape snarled shoving Lucius out the door.

Snape looked at the letter from his aunt spotting a vial of memories possibly dropped off before Lucius had left.

HpSS

Months later, Snape was outside the door of the Potter's solicitor, Rosa Johnson.

The woman as referenced in Lucius' memories was the one who seemed to be called as the executor.

Snape knocked intently on the door.

"Come in."

He walked confidently inside. The woman behind the desk seemed surprised at his appearance.

"Can I help you she asked?"

"I need to see Rosa Johnson."

"You're speaking to her."

"My friend happened to come across a will left by the Potters?"

"I don't handle estate affairs." She said.

"The Potters instated you as the executor of their will." He snarled.

She sighed.

"Where is this will then?"

"It was burned."

"Then why are you here?"

"I have my friend's memory of the ordeal."

"I assume you can give me a copy of that memory." Rosa inquired doubtfully.

Snape scowled.

"Of course I can."

Rosa handed him an empty vial.

The man placed his wand at his temple pulling out strands of his memories from his head and placing them in the long glass tube before handing it to her.

She went to the back of her office and took out the large grey cauldron, her pensieve where she looked carefully over her memories.

Rosa dumped the memories in the cauldron and dived in.

Minutes later, she came back out.

"So to sum it up, Dumbledore burned the will?" She inquired angrily.

"Yes."

"I will want a copy of this memory to send to Gringotts and to the Ministry for the affairs concerning Mr Potter." Rosa said. "If you intend to retrieve Mr Potter from his current guardians, I happen to have a copy of their will in my desk as the two happened to be good friends of mine."

HPSS

Outside the residence of Privet Drive, Arabella Figg who had spotted and recognised the sister of her friend Eileen Prince staring over the Dursley's property, walked towards her eager to ask why she was standing there.

"Is there a reason you are outside the Dursley's home?"

"So is this where I can find Harry Potter?"

Ms Figg's eyes widened in surprise.

"You're looking for Harry Potter?"

"Yes, my nephew insisted I drop by to pick him. Y'see he said that the Potters offered him the guardianship of the boy."

Ms Figg looked shocked.

She handed her the copy of the will from the Potter's.

"I see."

Malory Prince, a stern looking woman with red and blonde hair tied in an untidy bun, intently knocked on the door of the Dursleys.

A beefy man opened the door. He looked over the woman wearing what looked like traditional wizard garb.

"You're one of them aren't you?" He inquired rudely. "Your kind aren't welcome here."

Malory glared at the man.

"I am not here to visit you muggles. I'm under the impression that you've taken Harry Potter under your wing." Malory forced with as much politeness as possible.

"There's no one here that goes by that name." Vernon Dursley said, flush in the face.

The redness of his face clearly gave him away.

"My nephew is the legal guardian of the boy, I insist you give him to me or you may run into some complications." Malory said.

Vernon looked visibly shaken, his eyes wide with fear.

"The Potters have requested that my nephew take in boy." She said waving the copy of the will in front of his face.

"I'm not scared of you."

Malory shot a mumbling charm, a disarming hex and a disillusionment charm on his body before stepping gracefully into his house. Never in her life was she going to conform to muggle laws and she wasn't going to start.

She headed upstairs having caught Dudley as he left his bedroom.

"Who're you?" He asked.

"I assume you are the son to that beefy man?" Malory inquired curtly in return. "Do you know where Harry Potter is?"

"Oh, his room is in the cupboard under the stairs." Dudley said, caking his words with as much politeness as possible.

Malory was indifferent to the information as she treaded down the stairs. Bracing herself for anything she unlocked the door under the stairs with her wand.

Inside was a young boy looking up at the ceiling from where he was lying on his bed. He was tossing a small plastic white ball in the air with boredom.

"You are Harry Potter, yes?"

"Who're you?" Harry asked, turning to look at her curiously.

"I am Malory Prince, my nephew has asked that I stop by to take you to my house for the rest of the summer. Your parents left a will to give you to him should they die."

"Alright." He agreed, surely the Dursleys wouldn't let a complete stranger inside their house.

The young boy followed Malory outside the Dursleys.

"Hold onto my arm." Malory said.

Harry grabbed her arm.

"Tighter."

Harry held on for dear life, then he had the overwhelming sensation of being condensed and squeezed into a thin tube.

The next moment he opened his eyes, Harry saw he was standing outside a wire gate. On the sides was what looked like spiny wire fence from what he could see as most of the fence was covered with red rose bushes.

He looked up to see Malory take out a thin wooden stick waving it over the gate.

The wires on the gate unraveled an entrance way for the two.

Malory beckoned Harry to follow her. He could see a large manor in the distance.

Once inside, Malory encouraged Harry to shred off his coat.

Harry gave his coat to her to hang on the coat stand as he absorbed the site of the manor's interior.

It appeared the manor was quite vast, on the ceiling was a beautiful glass ceiling where he could see the sun shining blindly through the windows.

"I expect you to promptly arrive for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is at 7, Lunch is at 12, and Dinner is at 5." Malory said curtly.

Harry could respect that the woman while stern was also straight to the point.

Malory lead Harry to his rooms at the end of the manor.

HPSS

At around dinner, Harry walked into the dining room on the way to the kitchen with the intent of cooking his dinner. The boy had thought it was his obligation so it was quite a surprise to see Malory sitting at the table with two reserved plates for the both of them.

"My nephew has decided to allow me to help you study magic before you go to Hogwarts." She explained. "Unfortunately since he seems to think that wizards your age shouldn't be taught any better, I feel it's even more important to teach you about our traditions."

"Albrecht, GET YOUR ARSE IN HERE RIGHT THIS MINUTE!" Malory screeched from the top of her lungs. Harry thought she almost sounded like a harpy.

A small ugly grotesque creature suddenly appeared from the air. The creature wore a fancy blue flat hat, an apron coated with multi-coloured paint, and a fake moustache above it's lip.

"This dear, is a house elf. Their purpose is to give us things. All you need to do is ask." She explained.

The house elf looked such a pathetic sight that Harry felt sorry for it.

"Um, thank you for the meal." He said softly.

Albrecht's eyes widened at the compliment.

Malory's eyes widened in surprise before narrowing into a brutal glare.

"Did I say thank the creature? He's a servant for Merlin's sake."

Harry laughed sheepishly.

"Sorry." He said, though Malory had the impression that he didn't mean it.

She huffed indignantly.

"That elf just needs one more excuse to let flattery go to his head." Malory drawled irritably, rubbing her forehead with the tips of her fingers.

After the two finished their meal, Harry followed Malory to her room. Harry had forgotten where his room was so caught up with dinner and everything.

Inside her room, Harry saw various art pieces on the wall of beautiful landscapes.

Malory had been collecting the paint she had her house elf retrieve for her before dinner when she saw Harry on the corner of her eye.

"What are you doing in here?" She inquired sternly.

Harry flushed.

She visibly relaxed the moment she saw him looking uncomfortable in her presence.

"Did you forget where your room is?" She asked, murmuring it so quietly as if trying to calm someone down.

"Uh, yes." He stammered. "Those are nice paintings."

She turned and smiled at Harry.

"Thanks." She said, stopping what she was doing. She grabbed Harry's hands walking him slowly to his room as if she wanted Harry to remember where it was.

Before they parted ways, Malory looked into his room. A warmth filled her heart as she looked at the boy.

"Good night, Harry."

HPSS

Years had passed when Harry had went to breakfast one morning. Malory was looking quite anxious, antsy and a bit edgy.

"What's the matter, Aunt Malory?" Harry asked.

"Uncle Lionel is dropping by next week, he wants us to visit the manor." Malory replied.

"Then what's the problem?"

"Harry." Malory replied in warning.

"Does it have to do with my blood status?"

"Yes, I'd rather you not tell Lionel anything about your blood status. He hates half-blood wizards."

Normally something like that would offend him, but Malory had told him something similar when Harry had been wondering why she had been distancing herself from him.

For it had taken months for Malory to finally warm up to him.

"Muggles have always scorned us, our family always told us to stay away from muggles because of that." She said.

Harry remembered a boy that had lived next door who had always played with him while he was at the Dursleys.

The Jones family had a son that would often play with him, unfortunately Dudley would always beat him up whenever he managed to get his hands on him.

Still the boy never abandoned Harry. Harry remembered insisting the boy leave him, not wanting the boy to get beat up by Dudley because he knew he was only doing it because he was his friend.

The boy was just like Dudley, he had no magic ability. Harry remembered even showing him his powers. That incident had given hope that not all muggles were bad.

Malory had seemed touched when Harry told her the story. It had surprised him significantly as he had always thought he might have been too obnoxious, too freakish for the woman.

He had asked her one day about it.

"Do you hate me?"

Throughout the conversation, Malory realised what Harry had really asked when he had told her of the Dursleys.

"It's not you, Harry. Don't ever think that." She said. One of the things Harry had learned that day is that prejudice kind of hatred wasn't something personal and that hatred would always be there because all humans were ignorant. It wasn't a flaw, it had nothing to do with him as a person and that gave him hope that things could change even if they never seemed to.

"Never think that Harry. Every time you think of that, remember this song."

Malory began to sing him a song.

'Even when the sun goes down

Even if evil triumphs over good

Even if all hope is lost

Even if you lose faith in believing.

If there is a shimmer of light

A flicker of fire in the darkness.

You can believe when all hope has failed, when you can no longer depend on faith

Even if that flicker of flame doesn't shine for you

Even if it shined brighter for unconcealed evil.

Believe in that flicker of flame because that mere shimmer of light even if it's a flicker in the darkness that shines for someone else. Remember it still lights up your day.'

The song was soothing like a lullaby.

"I won't tell him." Harry said to Malory in regards to telling Uncle Lionel about his blood status. He figured it would make Malory happier if she didn't have to hear any drama from her relatives.

The first time he met Uncle Lionel anyway, Harry thought him to be rather friendly. The man was tall with a tuff of sandy hair on his head with rugged side burns on the side of his face. He had sharp grey eyes that were a little intimidating but there was strangely a warmness present in his eyes.

"So whose this lad? I didn't know you had any more kids, Malory." Lionel said in excitement.

"My nephew had me take him in for a while." Malory explained looking non-chalant.

Lionel knelt down in front of Harry.

"What's your name?"

"Harry."

"Ah. That's a cool name."

The boy was unmoved by his statement, his eyes focusing instead on the inside of his home. Lionel Prince was the sole heir of the Prince family. Not only was he the only son of Janus Prince but he was also the eldest son. As the eldest son, Lionel was also the rightful heir of Prince Manor. It's where he resided.

Harry looked around the place. The Manor had a large living room with a fireplace on the right side. There was some stairs embellished with polish heightening the walnut colour of the wood, lined with scarlet carpet that led up to the second floor.

The kitchen was near the back of the house on the first floor behind the door to the back. Inside there was a room to dine as well as a room where the house elves cooked his supper.

Lionel brought them to the table in the dining room having his house elf brew some lunch for them all.

"Gourmet!"

A creature not unlike Albrecht immediately appeared with a white chef's hat.

"Give us some food quickly. If you leave our guests to starve you'll pay dearly." Lionel said, voice interlaced with the dark undertones of sheer sadism as if the thought of torturing his house elves was the highlights of his day.

Contrasted with this, it seemed for the rest of the day Lionel seemed to kiss up to them.

After their stay they had dropped by every now and then throughout the years and finally on the day before Harry's 11th birthday, Malory took him to see a friend of hers.

"Who are we seeing today, Aunt Malory?"

"Just a friend of mine." Malory replied curtly.

Once the two had walked outside the wards of her home, Malory apparated them to London.

Harry could see that the two of them had apparated in front of a pub called, 'The Leaky Cauldron'.

"Are we going inside?"

"Yes, unfortunately. You see my friend might have a slight drinking problem."

Just when they were about to enter the pub, a man with a white turban was exiting the building.

"Ah, Mr Potter I didn't see you there." He said.

"How did you know my name?" Harry asked.

"I was just talking to Hagrid about you. He was telling me how he was expecting your arrival."

"Who are you?"

"Quirinus Quirrell, but if you plan on attending Hogwarts then it's probably best you refer to me as you would to your professors."

"Then just make our acquaintance brief shall we? I don't got all day." Malory said pushing Harry along.

"I'll see you, Mr Potter."

"So what does Professor Quirrell teach?" Harry asked, eyes lit with curiosity.

"He used to teach Muggle studies though I heard recently that he's planning on taking the Defence Against the Dark Arts position. I certainly look forward to seeing what Hogwarts with teach you, Harry."

Harry wisely said nothing as the two walked into the pub.

The big raggy man looked up, eyes filled with mirth at Malory's presence.

"Don't even think about it, big guy." She said when the man made a move as if to hug her.

"Ah it's Harry." The man greeted upon catching a glance at the young boy.

Malory turned to Harry and motioned towards the giant man.

"This is Hagrid, the person I've come here to meet."

"He looks a little big doesn't he?"

Malory took her time and Harry thought she was almost scrutinising him with the way she looked him up and down as if he were something fascinating.

"Hagrid is my assistant with my research, I'm studying magic creatures in their habitats. I think with my research, wizards can finally find a solution as to how to replicate the effects of unicorn blood in potion brewing." Malory explained. "It's a handy ingredient in getting rid of harmful after effects of some dark curses."

HPSS

A day later at Dumbledore's insistence, Severus Snape accompanied him to Diagon Alley. The two it seemed were visiting Olliviander.

Outside the wand shop, Albus knocked on the rickety door.

Snape waited impatiently, eventually Olliviander came to the door.

"Albus, it's good to see you." Olliviander said, shaking Dumbledore's hand in a warm greeting. Snape followed lingering behind the headmaster like an unwanted shadow.

Snape snorted. Olliviander's eyes lit up in recognition.

"Ah Mr Snape, I almost didn't see you there." He greeted.

"If the two of you have already exchanged welcomes can we continue straight to the marriage vows."

Both men much to Snape's horror didn't seem perturbed at his statement.

'These two are insane.' He thought.

"Albus, you'll never believe it. Mr Potter dropped by here earlier to get his wand. He has the other wand, made from the other feather of your phoenix. He seemed very merry to put it in that extendable bag of his too. Compliments from your Uncle Lionel, he was always an expert at Charms." Olliviander said.

"Fascinating." Albus murmured, stroking his chin in wonder.

"I see Potter has once again reserved himself a place in the spotlight." Snape grumbled.

"Now, now, Severus."

Albus guided Snape by the shoulder and they both left Olliviander's company.

"You should come and visit more often. It's not often one visits to converse over tea."

Snape choked.

Albus saw he had turned green.

"Are you alright, Severus?"

"I'm fine." Snape replied, bracing himself against his body's averse reaction to the implications of Olliviander's statement.

'I hope that aunt of mine has taught that boy something, preferably some manners.' He thought.

HPSS

The next day, Malory took Harry to King's Cross.

"Do you see that wall between Platform 9 and 10, you need to run with the belief there is something on the other side." Malory told Harry.

Harry had his belongings and his owl that Malory had ordered for him in Diagon Alley.

"Alright." Harry said before running towards the wall faithfully.

Malory followed from behind him but not before Harry was bombarded by the paparazzi.

The blonde prissy woman known as Rita Skeeter was digging at Harry for quotes for a new article for the Daily Prophet.

"How do you feel your first day of school will go?" She asked.

"F-Fine I guess." Harry stammered feeling flustered at the gazes of the adults surrounding him.

"How does it feel to be famous?"

"You're smothering the boy." Malory cut in splitting the crowd and pushing her away from Harry.

Harry snuck away in the confusion. Near the train, he saw a girl was struggling to put her luggage on the train, so Harry pitched in to try and help her.

"Thanks." She said.

On further scrutiny, Harry could see she was fairly average looking and her face was surrounded by bushy brown hair.

She seemed to realise Harry was staring at her and scrutinsed him in return.

"That scar. You wouldn't happen to be Harry Potter, would you?" She asked.

Harry had the feeling she had heard about him when the paparazzi were surrounding him eager for an interview.

She seemed to greet him like a fan girl would greet a person from a band that they enjoyed much to his dismay.

"I'm Hermione." She stammered, flustered at having met him.

"Harry." He replied reluctantly.

Seeking any company he could find, Harry reluctantly joined the girl on the train.

In the back of his mind, he was pensive that he hadn't had the time to say goodbye to Malory.

HPSS

On the train, Hermione reserved a compartment in the front row. Their only company was a cheery light red-haired girl.

"What your name?" Hermione asked, after sitting across the girl making herself comfortable.

"Oh, Susan." The girl replied.

"You look excited. I've practised spells all summer, I can't wait to try them out."

Susan flushed.

"Surely you practised all summer." Hermione inquired, condescendingly.

"Do you have to be so overbearing?" Harry retorted.

"Then have you practised?"

"You're annoying."

Hermione flushed.

At some point the train must have been moving, when a fair haired boy slid open their compartment door.

"Have you seen a toad?"

"No." Both and Susan replied.

"I'll go help you look for it." Hermione said.

After Hermione left both Harry and Susan basked in an awkward silence for a couple of minutes.

"So what's your name?" Susan asked curiously.

"Harry."

"Harry Potter?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah." He replied irritably.

"Oh." Susan said softly. "I know that you-know-who gave you that scar but how exactly did it appear on your head?"

Harry was under the impression that Susan was pretty average as far as looks and intelligence went. The fact he had a scar seemed to be common knowledge even to Malory who had told him that his parents had died after trying to protect him from Voldemort but something about her question puzzled him.

"Is there any magic that kills without leaving any physical blemishes?" He muttered sarcastically.

"The Killing Curse." Susan replied pensively.

Harry was amazed at how fast she had replied. Thinking about it, if it was a curse that left no physical blemishes why did he have the scar? He didn't want to think it was something that distinguished him from everyone else and he certainly didn't want to think he was granted some super power from the wizarding gods in their most sacred holy place either.

"You sound as if you're very familiar with the curse."

"It killed my aunt and uncle." Susan explained. "My father had two sisters and a brother you see."

Harry thought that never knowing his parents was terrible, but he come almost feel the sadness radiating from Susan at the revelation her dear relatives were dead.

"Luckily Aunt Amelia is still alive though." Susan said cheerfully.

"Where does she work?" Harry asked.

"The Ministry. She works as the head of the department of magical law enforcement."

When some time has passed a woman with a trolley had dropped by their compartment. Harry and Susan had bought a couple of treats for the rest of the train ride.

For the rest of the trip both remained silent in wonder of what would happen once they had arrived at Hogwarts.