"Severus, you cannot quit being a spy; I'm glad that you and Harry have found common ground, but I still need you as a spy." Professor Dumbledore apologized.
"No!" Harry stated forcefully and Professor Dumbledore stared at him in shock.
"What?" Professor Dumbledore questioned surprised Harry had snapped at him.
"Professor Snape doesn't owe you anything anymore and he's more than made up for what he did in the past; stop treating him like he's a prisoner in this castle!" Harry snapped again and Dumbledore stared in shock.
"If it's anyone's fault, besides Riddle, that my parents gone...it's yours! Why couldn't you protect them huh? Because you're not perfect that's why and he's not either...everyone made mistakes!" Harry thundered and Professor Snape moved to gently pull him back as he started at the headmaster.
"Easy, Harry, easy." Professor Snape soothed and Professor Dumbledore had tears falling down his face when Harry looked up making him feel bad for having yelled so angrily at the old man. I
nside Albus was hurting more than anyone realized; James was one of the closest things he had to a son, which was why he had mistakenly let him get away with everything all those years ago, and now Harry was angry was at him for hurting Severus.
"I...I...you're right Harry, but there's something you need to know then...you're a horcrux, Harry, and that's why the last of the prophecy states that either you or Tom have to kill each other...there's a piece of Riddle inside of you." Professor Dumbledore admitted despondently and watched as Harry took deep breaths and Severus pulled the boy into his arms glaring daggers at Dumbledore.
"I cannot believe you never told me! I could have tried to find a way to help Harry!" Professor Snape yelled and Albus gulped before nodding and closing his eyes at the tears that were brimming quicker.
"Professor...I don't want to die." Harry murmured and Severus gently rocked the little boy back and forth as tears started to fall down his own face. Now that he let it all go Harry had quickly, and uncharacteristically, wormed his way into his heart.
"I'll try everything to make sure that doesn't happen and even though I don't want to admit this...Black will want to help you as well as the werewolf." Professor Snape grumbled causing Harry to laugh and lean his head tiredly against the professor's shoulder.
Harry left Hogwarts later in the night with the headmaster's permission and went to Grimmuald Palace.
"Harry! What are you doing here, Prongslet?" Sirius questioned pulling Harry into his arms and noticing how much the boy craved the affection he was being given.
"I needed to get away for a while...Dumbledore told me that Riddle is after the prophecy about us. I don't want to die Sirius." Harry sobbed and Sirius's hold tightened on him.
"Easy, easy, I'm here, I'm here." Sirius soothed leading Harry into the living room and depositing the both of them onto the couch.
"I've got you...you're going to be just fine Harry." Sirius soothed and Harry clung to his Godfather fiercely as tears trailed his cheeks.
After a moment someone else was heard entering the room and Harry turned his face more into Sirius's chest to avoid whoever it was seeing him. Until he felt himself be removed from Sirius and pulled into someone else's arms that is.
"Easy, pup, easy." Remus soothed holding Harry and rocking the boy gently like he did when Harry was little.
"I...I just don't want to have to worry anymore..." Harry admitted and Remus's hold tightened on him as he pulled the teenager into his lap, which Harry was sure looked ridiculous, and started rubbing circles on his back soothingly.
"You don't have to worry about anything, Harry. You can stay here with Sirius and me as long as Dumbledore says it's ok." Remus promised, but was shocked when Harry tensed and stood up.
"I saw what you guys were like as kids! My Dad, Sirius, sort of you...you were all bullies! You treated Professor Snape awful and you shouldn't have done that; I don't care if he had done anything to any of you in the past...you should have all grown up! Sirius you're the same now as you were back then! Stop calling him that stupid nick name and grow up! Please tell me my Dad actually did!" Harry screamed and was knocked back when Sirius struck him and then backed up looking at Harry in horror.
James would have killed him if he had been alive for striking his little boy; he sank to the floor and started rocking himself back and forth.
"Harry...please...you're all we have left of James and Lily, pup." Remus begged and Harry stared at him a moment before speaking.
"I...I...did he grow up?" Harry questioned again, but instead of Remus it was a different voice that answered him.
"Yes, he did."
"Professor Snape? What are you doing here?" Harry probed, but instead of waiting for an answer he plowed into the professor's chest.
"Easy...easy...I'm here because Dumbledore decided he owed it to you to listen to you and sent me here...I'm no longer one of his spies. Harry it is very important that you understand anything that happened between James and I was between James and I. Your Dad did grow up and he loved you and your Mum very much; do you think Lily would have stayed with someone that wasn't honorable? James was so happy to be a Dad, your Dad, and he was constantly talking about you at Order meetings and how much you had grown. James and Lily would have died for you any day and the person that James was on the day he died was an honorable person that cherished his family, friends, and doing the right thing. People do grow up Harry and I'm sorry that it took me so long to get over the past and realize that you're neither of your parents and both of them at the same time and grow up myself." Professor Snape apologized ignoring the fact that both Black and Lupin were watching them.
"Thank-you, Severus, thank-you." Remus mumbled and when Harry looked over Remus was actually bawling and then something else clicked in Harry's mind; he really was all they had left of his parents and if it had been him with Hermione or Ron's child, he would have wanted to be close to the child and protect them against anyone...especially Malfoy. Before he could head for Remus though he looked to the side and noticed that Sirius was slowly rocking back and forth; Harry started forward and sat down beside his godfather as his heart broke just a little.
"Sirius, look at me." Harry stated and Sirius curled farther into himself not wanting to see the wrath on Harry's face.
"Uncle Padfoot...please." Harry pleaded and Sirius turned and pulled the little boy into his arms and started sobbing heavily.
"I'm so sorry, Prongslet, I should have never hit you." Sirius apologized over and over before Harry hugged him tightly and gently, almost unseen, kissed him on the forehead.
"Don't worry about it Uncle Padfoot." Harry soothed and hugged his godfather harder than he had before.
"Thank-you..."Sirius breathed out in relief and held Harry against his chest for a little while longer before allowing Harry to sit up and look around. Remus was still crying and he stood and walked over to the couch the werewolf was sitting on.
"Uncle Moony...thank-you." Harry stated seriously and Remus wrapped his arms around his pup holding him against his chest as he started to cry harder.
"I love you Harry...thank-you, pup; you've given me a reason to live." Remus admitted and Harry lay heavily against the werewolf's chest and started to fall asleep.
"So, what happened?" Remus questioned the first to actually speak to Severus.
"I...I was supposed to be teaching Harry Occulmency, but I didn't go about it right and Harry retaliated and saw some of my memories. I...I struck him when he wouldn't leave...I...I felt awful...and apologized. I should have never treated him as if he had to pay for how James was as a child. I never wanted to become my father and as I looked around that's exactly who I was; Harry forgave me and told me he understood and that we should start over as friends and professor and pupil. I...I'm...sorry for not letting things go...and seeing as I'll be staying here...perhaps we should start over again as well." Professor Snape offered uncertainly.
"I'm the one who should be saying sorry; I think that James would have felt awful realizing how he had treated you and I know he would have appreciated everything you've done for Harry. Perhaps it is time to let the past go." Sirius agreed and the two shook hands in agreement before Remus stuck his hand out and shook Severus's hand as well.
"I agree and I'm sorry as well; I should have spoken up." Remus apologized and the three looked at each other before turning to look at the little boy that had changed their lives and made them grow up.