"Harry Potter and the Shadows of Merlin"

Hogwarts, Eighth Floor – Headmaster's Office

Albus Dumbledore, the most powerful white wizard of the age and Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, sat comfortably in his beloved chair, smiling serenely at the scowling man standing before him—Severus Snape.

"Dumbledore!" Snape burst out, his voice tense. "I don't understand how you can allow Dana Avery near Harry Potter. Letting them live together in the Leaky Cauldron? He'll corrupt the boy!"

Dumbledore shook his head mildly, reached into a candy box, and retrieved a Fizzing Whizbee.

"Severus, you're too worked up. Would you like a candy to calm your nerves?"

Snape snorted and said nothing.

Dumbledore smiled gently.

"That child is no longer an Avery. He is now Dana Emrys. Not a criminal anymore, but a student of our Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Snape crossed his arms tightly.

"Student? Not even Durmstrang would accept someone from prison!"

Unbothered, Dumbledore responded calmly.

"The Book of Admittance recorded his name, so by the ancient laws, he is a Hogwarts student. Besides, you picked him up yourself. Are you not in a better position than anyone to judge his character?"

Snape snapped back, "That kid has secrets. My Legilimency doesn't work on him."

"But you saw him break down crying in front of his mother's bones, didn't you?" Dumbledore replied. "Only someone with love in their heart would react like that after losing a loved one. He was framed and imprisoned in Azkaban. He isn't guilty. If anything, we all owe that child."

Snape's voice was tight.

"He was in Azkaban for four years! His cell was across from Sirius Black's. Black taught him magic! How can any child taught by that man not be dangerous? And yet you've placed him next to Harry Potter?"

Dumbledore paused. The name "Sirius Black" always provoked deep-rooted resentment in Snape—a remnant of the pain the Marauders had inflicted on him as a student, with Sirius being the worst of the lot.

Dumbledore sighed.

"Minerva has spoken to him several times and believes he's well-mannered, loyal, and careful not to burden others. I trust her judgment. Besides, he's still young. If we guide him well, he will not stray."

Snape almost roared, his fury mounting.

"Dunat Avery told me that Dana Emrys petrified him on the train! He even tried to cast Avada Kedavra!"

Dumbledore chuckled lightly.

"I've looked into that. Dana did use the Petrification Curse, but only after Mr. Avery insulted him. As for the Killing Curse? It was a simple Lumos Solem. A harmless light spell."

Snape glared at Dumbledore.

"Even so, we can't take that kind of risk! He survived four years in Azkaban! That changes people. The boy cast the Patronus Charm with his bare hands in Azkaban—do you understand how unprecedented that is? If he decides to go rogue, we wouldn't be able to stop him!"

Dumbledore replied gently,

"The fact that he could produce a Patronus in Azkaban shows his heart hasn't fallen into darkness."

Snape slammed his fist on the desk.

"This isn't what I came to discuss! I don't care if you want me to be 'nicer' to him—I can do that—but you must keep him away from Harry Potter!"

Dumbledore responded with deliberate calm.

"From what I understand, Dana has already moved out of the Gryffindor dormitory due to pressure from other first-years. He now lives alone in the tower. As for Harry, he is free to choose his friends."

Snape pressed his lips into a thin line, then stood, turning his back to the headmaster.

"Fine. I'll use my methods to keep him away from Potter."

Dumbledore nodded, still smiling.

"As a professor, that is your right. Just don't hurt the children."

Snape grunted and left the office.

Great Hall – Lunchtime

Snape's mood was foul, his stomach twisted with anger. He needed food to calm himself, though he usually had house-elves bring it to his office. Today, he deliberately chose to go to the Great Hall.

He couldn't stop thinking about Dana Emrys and Harry Potter. It gnawed at him.

He had to protect Harry. Last night, he'd stared into Harry's eyes—and they were exactly like Lily's. But the rest of his face was James Potter's. That wasn't inherently bad… but if Harry developed James's personality too?

Tsk. With Dana Emrys acting like a second Sirius Black, if the two boys became close, Harry would be a James-Sirius hybrid. That thought alone made Snape feel the sky was crashing down.

And worse still—he couldn't read Dana. What if the boy was a Death Eater?

Reaching the Great Hall, Snape had no time to sit before a Hufflepuff prefect, Gemma Farley, rushed up to him.

"Professor! Thank Merlin I found you. The Dungbomb stench in the common room hasn't gone away! The house-elves have worked all morning but it's still awful!"

Snape blinked.

Common room?

Last night?

Dungbombs? Again?

Did he even go to the common room last night?

While he tried to piece together the puzzle, he spotted the Gryffindor first-years entering in groups. Harry Potter walked beside Dana Emrys, laughing.

Snape's eyes flared. He spun on his heel and hissed at Gemma:

"Such a trivial matter needs my attention? It seems you want someone else to take over your prefect duties!"

He stormed off before the fury inside could make him do something worse—like tear the boys apart with his bare hands.

It wasn't logical to separate them now. He needed a plan.

For now, he'd return to his office. Because seeing them side-by-side… it was as if James Potter and Sirius Black had been resurrected.

Elsewhere in Hogwarts

"Hey, Dana! You're awesome! Because of you, we earned four points in Charms!"

Dana Emrys shrugged and glanced at Hermione, who was just behind him.

"Didn't Hermione also win us a point?"

The girl proudly lifted her chin. Harry grinned.

"With you two around, Gryffindor will definitely lead the House Cup race. We're unstoppable!"

Hehe… naive boy.

Snape hasn't started his game yet.

Just then, Dana caught sight of Snape in the distance. The professor glanced at him coldly, then walked away. That look—it chilled Dana to the bone. Snape hadn't looked at him that way before. It was a mix of contempt and warning.

What's wrong with the old bat?

Had something from last night been discovered?

But no… if Snape knew, he'd already be dragging Dana to the dungeons. That look had been subtle—too subtle. Not pain. Not anger. Not yet.

Dana let the thought slip and shifted focus. Charms class had gone well. The other first-years had warmed up to him. They no longer flinched in his presence. Some even looked… impressed.

That helped Harry, too. Now the Boy Who Lived could walk beside him openly.

But that was dangerous. Harry was the eye of every storm. Staying too close would bring Dana nothing but trouble.

So he warned, "Harry, you should keep your distance. I've got a bad reputation. You'll get pulled into it."

Harry shook his head.

"I don't care."

At this stage in his life, Harry welcomed anything that made others look away from him.

Behind them, Ron Weasley quickened his pace to catch up, walking on Harry's left.

"Harry, Dana's right. He needs some space. Look—you're hogging all of his time. Hermione hasn't even had a chance to talk to him."

Hermione, trailing just behind Dana, rolled her eyes and shot Ron a glare.

"Idiot!"

To Be Continued…

For more chapters

patreon.com/Liamlivingstone