AN: I know this is an uncommon pairing, but I think it's sort of adorable and so… Here we are. CC/HP slash. Colin Creevey and Harry Potter. This story will be mature, very much so. It will contain mentions of rape, abuse, and underage sex. This is a dark!fic with an evil!dumbledore and a pretty oc snape. Don't like, don't read. This story will also carry some ddlb themes, but it will not run the story.

Chapter One: To Become

Harry tapped his quill against the floorboards, trying to sort out what he needed to do next. He'd spend a good half of his summer moping—though Hermione assured him he was only mourning in her letters—about the loss of his godfather, Sirius Black. All that sulking gave him time to think, however, and he came to a rather startling conclusion.

First, he blamed Snape. After about a week of that, he realized that if he'd have trusted the greasy git in the first place then none of this would've happened. He blamed himself next, but after a rather rapid exchange of letters with the oh-so-helpful Hermione, he decided that wouldn't do either. She told him that he couldn't put the whole world on his young shoulders, and so he decided to blame Dumbledore instead.

He thought about it some more. Dumbledore, according to everyone he had spoken to about it, had been the one to cast the Fidelus on his parents' home, and would therefore have known who the secret keeper was. That meant that he had left his godfather to rot for 12 years without even trying to get him a trial. Even if he hadn't known, he should've brought one up later once they all realized he was innocent.

Not a week after receiving his last letter from Hermione, he was brought another letter by an old school owl.

Harry,

I regret to inform you that there has been an attack. The Granger family along with Miss Hermione Granger were found dead in their sitting room. It is clear that this could only be the work of Voldemort. We will have to train you starting with the coming semester, my boy.

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore

Harry didn't even cry, instead choosing to purse his lips and curse the headmaster's name. Didn't that old man know that he spent every waking moment in that snake's head? There was one thing he knew for certain: Hermione was not murdered by the Dark Lord.

No, Harry didn't blame Snape, or himself, or even Voldemort. He blamed Albus Percival Wulfrick Brian Dumbledore, and he wasn't going to let that old man hide anything from him again.

Harry finally put his quill to the parchment he had on the floor.

First thing was first, he was going to go to Gringotts.

++Picture Perfect++

Harry gaped openly at the goblin in front of him.

He had just been informed of his magnificent acclimation of wealth, his homes *cough* manors, and his power within the ministry as a member of the Wizengamot with a seat for his every house. Potter, Black, Gryffindor, and Slytherin (as proclaimed defeater of the heir, even if he went and got himself resurrected).

But that's not what had him gaping. What had him so shocked was the name he was seeing on the Potter will.

Godfathers: Sirius Black and Severus Snape

Godmothers: Alice Longbottom and Narcissa Malfoy

Two of the names listed were very alive and well and able to take care of him. He jerked his eyes up to the goblin in front of him.

"Who has seen this will?"

The goblin smiled as he witnessed the wool being pulled from the young lord's eyes, and it was not a pretty sight.

"Only its witness, Albus Dumbledore."

Harry frowned.

"I wish for Professor Snape to be summoned here without the headmaster's knowledge."

It didn't take long for the rich to have their requests fulfilled.

"Potter," Severus greeted with a sneer, but he couldn't hide his curiosity.

"Professor," Harry greeted neutrally before immediately handing the scroll over, "You may want to look at this."

He watched as the man read the will, and he was shocked when the man looked up at him with the most vulnerable expression he had ever witnessed.

"You were supposed to be mine?" he asked, his usually steady hands shaking. "Who—Why did you not?"

Harry moved closer to the man, trusting his instincts over what he thought he knew.

"The headmaster kept this from us. For some reason, he's had me living with my Aunt Petunia," he told him. "I'm not going to ask you to take care of me. I'm a grown wizard, nearly. I'll be emancipating myself this evening, and I can take care of—"

"You can emancipate yourself if you wish," he said, his voice deep but not as smooth as usual, "but I would appreciate it if you would allow me another chance at teaching you occlumency."

Harry shrugged.

"I've learned it. Hermione sent me books."

Severus frowned, and Harry smiled slightly.

"If you wouldn't be opposed, I would like to get to know my godfather," he said hesitantly. "I know you don't like me much, but it seems you're the only family I've got."

Severus nodded sharply.

"Of course."

++Picture Perfect++

Harry signed the note without even looking at it, surprised when Severus' biting tone reached his ear.

"Do you even know how to shop responsibly, or must you throw your money around? Just like your—"

"17 sickles to a galleon and 29 knuts to a sickle is a pretty confusing system for a community of people who stop learning maths at age eleven, don't you think?"

Snape snapped his mouth shut.

"A galleon is equal to nearly 5 pounds sterling," is all he said.

Harry registered that, rolling it over in his head before coming to the startling realization that he was more than just a little rich. He didn't get to think about it long before he heard something rather sickening behind him.

"Give that back!" came a shout from a voice he found familiar but couldn't place immediately.

"You know what? I don't think I will."

Harry shrunk his packages quickly and shoved them in his pocket, rushing to the next aisle just in time to see Theodore Nott throw Colin's beloved camera to the ground with a resounding crash. Without thinking, Harry petrified the boy and rushed to his victim.

"Colin?"

The small blonde was crying openly, burying himself into his arms without hesitance. Harry held him close, mumbling reassurances. The boy felt so small in his arms despite only being a year below him, but then again, Harry had hit quite the growth spurt. He towered at a solid 180cm and he wasn't done yet. Harry looked down at the boy that was easily 20 cm below him, rubbing his back soothingly.

"I don't think that I can fix it," Severus informed him, studying the crushed mass of metal.

Harry sighed as he heard Colin's sobs grow stronger.

"Hey, little lion," he soothed, "I'll get you a new camera. Any one you want."

Colin shook his head, pressing closer to his protector.

"Dennis gave it to m-me."

Severus frowned, and Harry just gave him a confused expression.

"The Creevey's home was attacked this summer as well," Severus informed him. "Colin was away at a photography camp."

Harry looked down at the boy in his arms.

"Who are you staying with?" he questioned the boy, his frown deepening when he shrugged.

Severus let his own eyes flash with worry.

"I have suspicions that I feel I should share with you both," Harry admitted, not looking away from the precious bundle in his arms as he spoke. "Come with me to Potter Cottage."

TBC