A/N: Thanks to those of you who have already reviewed Chapter 1. Please continue reviewing and let me know what I'm doing right especially and what I'm doing wrong if you must. Thanks for being kind and generous.
cccccc
Harry heard snippets of conversation as he drifted in and out of consciousness. What he heard didn't really add up to much of anything. He couldn't recognize many of the names he heard either. If he cared, he'd be concerned that he was losing his memory. He heard something about being "on the edge" and "having to want to come back" from someone named Madame Pomfrey. Someone named Dumbledore also came to visit him several times whispering things like "I'm sorry, Harry" and "it was for your own good" and "blood protection." He also caught a few things from someone sounding something like Snake. Phrases like "your fault" and "stick up for yourself" and "weak, Potter" came from him. In Harry's mind, he knew that it was his choice if he wanted to wake-up, but he still couldn't bring himself to do it.
cccccc
"He's doing very poorly, Professor Dumbledore. I mean, he's pretty much recovered from his injuries- he lost a lot of blood, a few broken ribs and a broken ankle, and many contusions. But it's his mind I'm worried about. After loosing Sirius and being beaten all summer without any contact with those who really cared about him, he has no will to live. He has to want to come out of this. I suggest that he be surrounded with people who love and care about him- his friends."
"As always, Madame Pomfrey, your magnificent care is appreciated. You are right of course. I knew that it was dangerous to leave him there after Sirius's death, but there is blood protection at his house. I fear that he would have suffered a far greater injury if he hadn't gone back. Voldemort is a far greater foe than the Dursleys, no matter what Harry might be feeling." Dumbledore then turned to Harry and grabbed his hand. "I'm sorry, Harry, but it was for your own good. There are many things here worth fighting for. You must grab hold of those." Dumbledore mumbled to himself as he left the hospital wing, "I think it is time to make some things known."
cccccc
"I know why you called me here, Professor. I know you thought I could have done more, but by the time that I arrived it was to late to do anything. He should have been able to take care of himself anyway. I mean, after all, they are only muggles. Potter always has been after attention anyway; he probably brought this on himself. I'm sure he must have done something to deserve it."
"Actually, Severus, it was an entirely different matter that I brought you here for. Although it does concern Mr. Potter. You of all people should know that Harry has done nothing to bring this on himself. The Dursleys are simply scared of anything that is slightly different from themselves. After watching him last summer, I had hoped that you could understand more about him. I see that you have not learned enough. I must stress to you the urgency of getting to know him. You must go visit him while he is still recovering, his very life may depend on that. He needs to know that there are things worth fighting for."
"Why me? Surely there are people who are more able candidates then me." Sneered Snape.
"Severus, there are some things that I need to discuss with you. I know that this will come as a complete shock to you, but you must believe me when I tell you this. Do you remember when you first became a death eater?"
"Of course, Professor, how could I forget that?" Snapped Snape as he didn't like being talked down to.
"Of course, please bear with me, Severus. Voldemort knew of your complete and utter love and devotion for Lily Evans…" at this point Dumbledore was interrupted.
"Please, Professor, you should know that I did not care for her at all. She and James were completely in love. He was vile and she was evil. There was no attraction between us."
"Severus, there are many more things that I am going to tell you that you are not going to believe, but you must hear me out. I do have proof. Shall I continue?" Dumbledore looked down at Snape through his glasses. "Good then. As I said, Voldemort knew that you are absolutely in love with Lily Evans. He knew that you had plans to marry her and that she did not approve of you becoming a death eater. Voldemort could not have you turning against him. He knew how valuable you could be- therefore, he had your memory altered. He made you hate Lily Evans. He made you despise her and James as well. All your memories of the two were altered to reflect complete hate. Unfortunately, Lily was already pregnant with your son and was therefore forced to marry James Potter. She knew that she was in grave danger; that is why she and James were forced into hiding. Voldemort knew that he must find and kill your son before you found out about him. Lily, you see, suspected that Voldemort had turned you against her and he knew that she would do everything in her power to turn you against him. Harry Potter is your son."
"No, what you are saying does not make any sense. There is no way that is possible. Harry Potter is weak, horrible at potions and doesn't look anything like me. In fact, he's almost a spitting imagine of James. No, you must be mistaken." Relieved at this line of thought, Snape sat back in his chair convinced that he was correct.
In a soft voice, Dumbledore continued. "Lily knew that her son was in as much danger as she was. Her mothering instinct was as strong as her magic. She put a charm on him so that he would resemble James. She always was great at charms. Unfortunately, the charm does not last forever- it's wearing off. Have you taken a good look at Harry lately? He doesn't look like he used to. In fact, he is now a perfect resemblance between you and Lily. That was one of the reasons that it was imperative that you be told. Come, there is a memory that I think you should see."
Dumbledore stepped over to his penseive and swirled it around. Severus was still sitting in shock, facing away from the Professor. "Come Severus, this will prove it all to you."
As the two went down into Dumbledore's memory, they were each lost in their own thoughts at different ends of the spectrum. As they arrived, Snape looked around and recognized the place immediately. They had arrived near the edge of the lake at Hogwarts. There was a much younger version of him holding hands with Lily Evans. He couldn't believe his eyes. He was kneeling down; he almost fainted from shock.
"Lily Evans, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" said his younger self.
"Oh, Severus. You know how I feel about this." Her eyes pooled over with tears. "Why did you become a death eater? What were you thinking? You know I want to marry you, but I just can't with the threat of Voldemort. I can't marry you knowing what you are doing to poor innocent people. I can't have children with you knowing that they will have to grow up and be a death eater."
"Lily! Lily! You know I had no choice. I've told you this before. I promise, that as soon as I am able. I'll get out. We can go into hiding. All I want is you."
"Will you talk to Dumbledore about this with me? Come up with a plan?"
"Yes, I promise. If you'll marry me, we can go to Dumbledore right now."
"Then Yes, Severus, I will marry you." At this point the two hugged with a passion that was almost embarrassing.
"This is where the memory ends." Said Dumbledore. "Back to my office."
"What happened? What happened after that?" said the current Snape.
"Well, no one knows specifically. Soon after that memory ended, you and Lily parted ways to go to class. You and her made a pact to meet at Dumbledore's office right after dinner that night. Apparently before that happened, one of your fellow death eaters modified your memory. You didn't meet up with Lily that night and she was concerned. She found you studying in the library and tried to ask you what was wrong. Apparently you were very rude to her. She came crying to me and that was when she gave me that memory that you just saw and told me that she was pregnant with your son."
Snape was so slumped over in his chair at this point that it seemed that he would fall out. The thoughts running through his mind were chaotic and he couldn't keep control of them. He couldn't process this and part of him still didn't believe Dumbledore. He thought this might just be a hoax or… he didn't know what.
"I understand that this is going to take time for you to process. Your relationship will have to grow slowly." At this Snape snorted. "I do not wish to rush the process, however, he needs you now. He must have a reason to live. Madame Pomfrey says that he is on the edge. We also need to decide fairly quickly how we are going to cover his appearance. He is quite changed and the other students will suspect very quickly. You are his father, Severus. You must work on your attitude. You must try and find those feelings and those memories that Voldemort tried to take from you. They are still there. Now, go to Harry. He needs you."
At this, Snape wordlessly got up and left the room.
