Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. If I did, I would have lots of money.
A/N: This is my first fan fic. I would love some reviews, but please, no flamers.
Harry walked into his one bedroom flat and looked around to make sure that everything is in order one last time.
"Great, another year at Hogwarts…lucky me." Harry thought to himself, but it wasn't just another year at Hogwarts, it was his last year. Things had changed a great deal over the last year. The war was over and at a great price. He lost his best mate Ron and many other classmates as well. He did however turn 17 and in the wizarding world that meant that he was of age.
For Harry, nothing was ever easy. Even turning 17 had to be an ordeal, especially since he had found out that James Potter wasn't his real father. Talk about a blow to Harry's ego. Not that he really cared after what he had seen in Snape's Pensive.
Dumbledore had come to Harry's room at the Leaky Cauldron to bring him his birthday presents. Among them were pictures and other personal items that belonged to his mother. His mother had given them to Dumbledore the night before she died, almost as if she knew what was going to happen. Amongst them, was a letter written to Harry which was to be opened on the day he turned 17.
In the letter, his mother explained that James was not his father, and that even though James had known that Harry was not his, he had loved him just the same. Also enclosed in the letter was a small piece of parchment written by his mother that gave the spell that would lift his glamour charm. According to the letter, the glamour charm had been placed on him to protect his biological father from Voldemort. She wanted him to know that she had really loved his real father and that his real father had loved her just as much. She did not want him to blame his real father; his real father had never been told anything other than that Harry was James' son.
When Harry read this he had to pause, his father was out there, alive somewhere. To think that he once again had a chance at a family flabbergasted Harry.
He slowly handed the letter back to Dumbledore for his take on the matter as it changed everything that they both had ever known about Harry.
"What are you going to do, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry sighed and thought for a moment. "I guess I might as well keep the glamour charms up for now."
Dumbledore smiled. "But Harry, aren't you curious as to the identity of your father? I know that I am."
Harry coughed. "I don't know. I mean, what if I lift the glamour and I'm related to someone who was on the wrong side of the war. I don't think I could take it."
Dumbledore patted Harry on the shoulder. "But, my boy, you need to know. It might as well be now. You have defeated one of the worst dark wizards that the world has ever known. I think you deserve a chance at a somewhat normal life, don't you?"
Harry took a deep breath and pulled out the piece of parchment on which the spell had been written and closed his eyes muttering the incantation. As soon as the incantation escaped his lips, Harry felt a strange feeling pas over his body that was somehow not unpleasant. He slowly opened his eyes. Dumbledore looked as if he had swallowed a goat.
"Harry…" Dumbledore held aloft the small mirror that Sirius had given him. There staring back at him was a strange but not unpleasant face. It wasn't until he noticed his hair that everything fell apart.
"Snape."
Dumbledore smiled. "This could be a good thing you know. Severus needs something happy in his life. I believe that the war has taken a lot out of him."
"Do you think he'll accept me?" Harry asked as his voice quivered.
"Harry, believe it or not, the only reason Severus has even been harder on you is that he knows what you are capable of. And for many years, it pained him that you did not apply yourself in his classes."
"Headmaster, that doesn't exactly excuse him lashing out at me my first day."
Dumbledore laughed. "Harry, haven't you realized by now that Severus merely puts on an act. Every year he picks a student to make an example of. Believe it or not, in his own way, Severus does care, even for you."
Harry gulped. "I guess I had better be resorted. That and try to prove to him that I'm worthy enough to be in his classes."
Harry once again muttered the incantation and replaced his glamour.
"Sir?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Harry."
"Please don't tell him. Not yet. I want to prove myself first."
Dumbledore chuckled. "Harry, if dispatching Voldemort didn't impress him; I am not sure what will. But as you have requested it of me, I will keep your secret."
Dumbledore smiled at Harry and flooed back to Hogwarts to notify the heads of house that there would be a change of house for their currently most famous student.
Snape had been pacing back and forth, very annoyed, across the floor in his dungeon chamber wondering why the headmaster had summoned him to the school that day. It wasn't as if he didn't have better things to do with his time, but alas, Dumbledore knew that he would be always be there…he had nothing pressing at the moment but himself.
The only thing that Dumbledore had mentioned to him was that there was an emergency meeting and his presence was required.
"What now does the old man want of me" he thought to himself. "As if I haven't done enough for that man lately."
Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall was ironically mimicking Snape's pacing antics. Like Severus, the only thing that Dumbledore had told her was that the meeting concerned Harry, and not other explanation had been provided. Little did they know the world that they had known was about to change drastically and in a way in which neither of them had ever suspected.
Snape looked at the clock on his mantle. The time for the meeting had arrived. He briskly walked out of his chambers and began to head for Dumbledore's office.
"This had better be of great importance." he thought to himself. "After all, I am a very busy man and I have things that I need to do before the beginning of the new school year." Before he reached Dumbledore's office, he found himself in the presence of Professor McGonagall.
"Minerva."
"Severus."
Suddenly, Dumbledore appeared in front of them, the phoenix statue having moved for the headmaster.
"Come in, come in." Dumbledore ushered them into his office. "Have a seat."
McGonagall seemed a bit shocked that only Severus and she had been requested for this meeting.
"Albus, it was my understanding that this was a meeting for the heads of the houses, where are all other heads of house?"
"Well Minerva, this meeting only concerns the houses of Slytherin and Gryffindor, so the others, while they might have some interesting points of view, are not really needed at this meeting…Tea, anyone?"
Minerva smiled. "Yes, please, Albus. Thank you."
Severus simply rolled his eyes. " I think we should simply get to the point. After all, I have much to do to get ready for the coming year. As you well know, I am now teaching both Advanced Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Yes, yes, Severus … as you both know, things have changed greatly since the end of the war and many lives have been lost….the war has effected our students greatly and for some, they seem to feel as if they no longer belong in their original house. … One student in particular has come to my attention and has expressed the desire for a house change of which I have granted-"
"But-"
"Now Minerva, do not look at me in that way."
"But Albus, it is against all of our rules. We have never had a house change before."
"Yes, I understand your concerns and yours as well, Severus. But sometimes, we must bend our rules in order to help our students with their problems…"
"Potter." Snape thought to himself.
".. ..Since the war has left them not only physically but emotionally scared as well as other pressing issues, I have decided to allow this to occur."
"I am assuming that the student in question is a Gryffindor who wishes to be in Slytherin? " Snape said in accusing tone. "Am I not correct?"
"Yes, Severus, you are. One in particular… Harry Potter."
"WHAT! If you think I am going to let that boy out of my house you have gone completely mad. How could you, Albus? You do realize that they will crucify him. Not to mention the opinion of his current house. Besides that, he will be lucky if my house only ostracizes him. You cannot let him do this, Albus. You simply can't."
"Minerva, it has already been done."
"You do realize that he will not be getting any special treatment from me, and if you think that I would sacrifice my principles on his account, you are sadly mistaken. But if this is what he truly wants, let the dogs have him. Maybe, in time, this will do him some good; having to earn his place rather than being held aloft by those who worship him. After all, he has had everything handed to him on a silver platter." Snape turned towards McGonagall with a ferocious look in his eyes. "And, as for you, my good woman, you are simply concerned about loosing Saint Potter and the house cup. And to think that your students actually think you care about their welfare." Snape said coolly.
"I have made my mind up and the change stands. I only wish that you two will respect my wishes. Minerva, do not make this any harder. I ask that the both of you prepare your houses with the news and make the arrangements accordingly. Good day to the both of you."
With that, both heads of house knew that they had been dismissed. They glared at one another for a moment and simply left Dumbledore's office without making a sound.
Dumbledore sat at his desk and thought for a moment. "Harry, my boy, I do hope you know what you are doing. This did not go over very well at all." He patted Fawkes gently and thought about Severus and the hardness that had taken over the Potions Master's heart. "Perhaps this is for the best. It is about time they learned to put aside their differences."
