Harry awoke to the familiar sight of the Hogwarts infirmary. He knew before he opened his eyes where he was, the smell and the fell of the bed cloths gave it away. He pulled the cover over his head in refusal to leave sleep behind just yet, scrunching his eyes shut he willed sleep to come but it was futile. He was wide-awake and he could hear footsteps and low voices approaching. Groaning he sat up rubbing his eyes, it was then that he remembered why he was at Hogwarts during the summer; it didn't explain why he was in the infirmary though. He tried to think back to the last thing he remembered and swore under his breath. He must have fainted, he felt ridiculous and embarrassed.

His head was aching again, too much had happened over the past two days that he was actually starting to wish he was back at the Dursley's. Harry actually shivered in disgust at the thought, he never thought in a million years he'd ever wish to be back there. Thinking of his Mother's sister made him remember the memories he'd watched.

Severus Snape was his father.

A wave of nausea swept through him and he reached for the bowl next to him. He couldn't quite get his head around the fact that the one person, other than Voldemort, that had made his life miserable was actually his father. Not to mention that he had no idea where that left him. He didn't even know who he was anymore because he certainly wasn't Harry Potter. Had his whole life been one big lie? After all he'd been lied to until he turned eleven about his parents and magic, he'd been lied to about Voldemort and the Prophecy until last year and now, now he'd been lied to about his own father.

Thankfully the bile in the back of his throat didn't come up and he placed the bowl on the side cabinet. A deep hope in the back of his head leapt up and whispered about happy families and Christmas with a Dad but he shoved it away. Just because he wanted a Dad didn't mean he could accept Snape as his. He'd rather live the rest of his life with a giant flobberworm then Snape. He closed his eyes and wished again that sleep would come and he could wake up from the horrid nightmare that was his life.

Hushed voices had now entered the infirmary and were making there way towards his bed but he didn't feel like conversing right now, not when he didn't even know what was going on in his own head. He knew more then anything he'd dreamed of having a family but surely that didn't mean he could just let go of everything that had happened and give into Snape as his Dad. Not to mention he was pretty sure that Snape wouldn't want him anyway, he hated Harry just as much as Harry hated him.

The voices stopped as they reached Harry's bed, he heard hurried footsteps coming over to the guests and he knew it would be Madam Pomfrey.

"Albus," She greeted, "Severus."

"Hello Poppy," the quiet comforting voice of the Headmaster carried across the room. It was really quiet amazing how Dumbledore could project his voice like that, Harry thought, "Has young Harry woken up yet?"

"Not that I know of."

There was a silence that was really quiet deafening, Harry tried to keep himself still. He just wanted to be left alone, he needed time to work through this and more than anything he wanted his friends.

"Perhaps we should leave him Albus," he heard the sullen voice of his Professor … not his Professor, his father.

Dumbledore hummed slightly and Harry felt the edge of the bed sink, "I understand your unease Severus however, as we have discussed, but now that the spell has been broken there will be no hiding from the matter."

"He needs to wake up in his own time Albus," Madam Pomfrey told the headmaster.

"Oh I do believe young Harry here is awake, isn't that right Harry?"

Harry's breath got caught in his throat. He should have known the headmaster would know he was awake; he stiffened as he felt a hand pat his arm. Sighing he let out a shaky breath and opened his eyes the bright lights of the infirmary dazzled him and he was disorientated as he tried to search for the face of Albus Dumbledore. He found the sparkling blue eyes and felt a sense of ease wash over him. Dumbledore would make this right, he always made things right.

"Ah hello Harry," Dumbledore said a smile on his face, "I trust you feel well rested."

When Harry nodded Dumbledore smiled brightly and stood up, "Do you think you could join me for a cup of tea in my office?"

Harry tried to think of an excuse, that he still felt dizzy or nauseous but as he glanced at the two other people at the room and his eyes landed on Snape he frowned. The man looked … worried. His eyes darker and the lines in his face where etched more deeply, it seemed like the man hadn't had any sleep for days. Perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea to talk to the headmaster, he could probably get some answers. He turned back to the elderly man but a thought dawned on him he couldn't trust this man to tell him the truth, he was the same man who'd kept the prophecy from him, who'd let him stay at the Dursley's all these years and, now that he thought about it, never spoken of a letter he had received from his mother. This could all have been avoided if he'd given the letter straight away.

"Actually Professor I'm still feeling a bit ill, maybe later?"

"Not to worry dear boy I may not be as good a healer as Madam Pomfrey but I do have a few spells hidden up my sleeves."

Harry what to outright groan but he held it in as he nodded stiffly. He looked down and noticed he'd been changed into one of the gowns patients wore and blushed. Who had changed him? He cleared his throat as he looked up and saw all three of them staring at him. They seemed to understand because Madam Pomfrey rushed to beside cabinet and pulled out the clothes he'd been wearing and with that turned on her heel and walked away. He watched as Snape and Dumbledore moved further up the infirmary their backs to him.

He found himself stumbling to his feet and pulling on his clothes. The dizziness he'd been feeling earlier returned and he gripped on to the bedframe to steady himself. He was disgusted at how weak he was been, why did it affect him so much? He looked down at his body and noticed that his muscles seemed to be getting more defined on he newly shaped bone structure. Perhaps that was why he was feeling so out of it.

Once he was dressed he turned back around to see the two men conversed in a hushed conversation and a slight anger bubbled inside of him. Whatever they were talking about concerned him, he should know. He gritted his teeth, it was always secrets around here.

Dumbledore seemed to sense Harry's stare because he turned round and hummed happily to himself as he waved Harry over. Taking his wand off of the side of the cabinet he followed them up to Dumbledore's office, the silence between the three of them spoke volumes.

After taking a seat in the familiar office he was dragged back to when he'd found out about the memories, everything was the same Dumbledore staring over his half-moon spectacles, Snape siting stiffly at Harry's side. They where sat in silence and Harry almost wanted to scream. His body was tense and aching, his head was still pounding and the silence was ringing in his ears. Rubbing his face tiredly and grinding his teeth he took a in a sharp breath. The anger he still couldn't control from the end of last term was building and he wanted to reach out and smash something against the wall to break the dam silence. However he'd broken so many of Dumbledore's things last year that instead he clenched his fists together.

"Well, what's going on?" Harry asked, "When can I go back to the burrow? We know why I've changed now, it isn't a curse or anything so I can go back, right?"

He felt a sudden need to feel the comforting hands of Hermione and hear one of Ron's dumb jokes. He wanted to be surrounded by the laughter of his friends or the comforting hug of Hermione. He wanted her to tell him it was going to be okay, that they'd stand by him like she always did. He hadn't realized how desperate he was to see Hermione, the urge to see her hand cooled the anger and now everything in him just wanted to leave Hogwarts and get back to his friends. He supposed that just like Hogwarts where his home, his friends where too.

"I am afraid Harry there have been some changes that are not physical," Dumbledore said bringing Harry out of his thoughts.

"What?!" Harry screeched, "Like what?"

"Manors Pot-," Snape broke off and looked away from the boy sat next to him his voice hadn't held the usual hatred, in fact it sounded dull and weary.

"Please Harry calm down and I will explain," When Harry nodded stiffly and sat back in his chair Dumbledore gave him a small smile and continued, "Once you had found out about your true parentage it seemed the curse your Mother placed broke every precaution Lily and James had taken. After you had collapsed Severus and I had time to look into the matter. It appears that on all records it now states that Severus is your father, it also appears that all parental rights have been revoked from the Dursley's and you now belong in Severus' care."

Harry let the words sink in, his mind racing. He had to live with Snape? Snape would be taking care of him? He chanced a look at the man next to him but he was staring blankly at the wall in front of him. A dread turned in his stomach; it would be worse then living with the Dursley's.

"What if I don't want too?" As the words fell from his lips he was almost certain he saw the dark haired man flinch but he couldn't be sure, "I mean, what if I choose to stay with the Dursley's?"

"I'm afraid Harry you wouldn't be able too, not only on all legal basis but your mother's protection has been broken there. Going back would put not only you but them in danger too."

He stared wide-eyed at the headmaster and swallowed the lump in his throat. There was nothing he could do? Not to mention the fact Snape didn't want him, he had to have Harry, no wonder he looked so glum. He would have to put up with Harry until he turned seventeen. Then another thought hit him.

"So I can't go back to the burrow?"

He could see Hermione's face swim in to focus and the Ron with his arm wrapped round her. They'd be alone at the burrow with out him? He had no idea why the image made his heartache but he supposed it was because they would get up to all sorts of fun and he'd be stuck with his most hated Professor.

"Not right now Harry, you and Severus have a lot to talk about."

He looked at the man next to him, he hadn't moved since Harry last looked at him, he sat stiffly and the boy wondered if had some sort of seizer they didn't know about.

"If all the legal stuff has change," Harry quietly said, not much louder than a whisper, "does that mean my last name has too?" He hadn't realized he hadn't been speaking to Dumbledore. In fact he'd been speaking to Snape, his eyes focused on the man.

Snape seemed to realize because he looked up and caught Harry's eyes, he seemed to notice the scared look on Harry's face because just as quietly as Harry had spoken he did too, "Yes, you now have my last name."

Harry nodded it seemed that although the voice was still dull and sullen when it didn't hold the bitterness or hatred it could be quiet comforting.

"Perhaps you could take Harry to his new quarters for the summer Severus?"

The man nodded and stood glancing at Harry and waiting for the young man to stand too before he began walking. The walk down to the dungeons was awkward and silent. The two men walked side by side but a gap bigger than a hippogriff was between them. Harry tried to remember the way but there was so many twists and turns he was sure to get lost and if sensing his confusion the man spoke up.

"It wouldn't do to remember the way Mr. …," Snape cleared his throat, "It changes every time.

"How do you remember it then Professor?"

This actually caused the older man to smirk, "I created the decoys, the twisting corridors, I would think I could remember the way to my own quarters."

They reached a portrait of a glowering man with long red hair and a pointed noise. He didn't speak as Snape barked the password and then told Harry it Moondew. He should have known it was a potion ingredient. The continued down a long corridor where they reached a door and Harry watched as Severus waved his wand in the air.

"My quarters are extremely well protected, no one can enter these rooms unless their wand is added to list if it is they may enter. Not to mention it is also guarded by decoys and a password. If you could pass me your want I shall add it?"

Harry nodded and pulled out his wand giving it to the man he watched as he began mumbling an incantation and Harry's wand began to glow. When the wand had returned to normal he passed it to Harry.

"To enter you wave your wand in the air, it will recognize the core and wood of the wand but even then will not allow you to enter until you have pressed your hand against the wood of the door," he proceed to show Harry. The place where Snape had placed his hand began to glow orange, almost as if it was imprinting the hand mark into the door. After a couple of seconds the door swing open and Harry immediately feels the warmth surge towards him, "do remember to place your hand on the door or it will fling you backwards when you try to enter and send me an alert that someone is trying to break in."

"Will that work for me now or do I have to do something like you did to my wand?"

Snape shuck his head, "You hand imprint is on your wand, the incantation I did was for both."

Harry followed Snape into his quarters and had to resist the urge to shiver. This was a side to the man not many people got to see and he felt like he was intruding. He knew he was, but it made him feel guilty. A short hallway led into an open living room with a roaring fire, two leather bound chairs and a table that seated four. The walls where lined with bookshelves that stacked books and for a moment Harry wondered if Snape owned more books then the Hogwarts library. It felt extremely homely and Harry didn't think it was possible. He had imagined Snape living in the cold walls of the dungeons with nothing put cauldrons surrounding him.

"If you would like to order food you use the floo powder to call down to the kitchen. My personal study is the door straight ahead," Harry hadn't noticed this door, "It is where I prefer to mark essays and brew more personal potions."

Snape the moved back down the hallway they had come from and Harry followed, "This would be my bedroom. Do not enter under any circumstances unless you are dying however if you have a problem and I am in there … you may knock," Snape pointed at the next-door, "That will be your room. I have been told the house-elves have already brought your things. You may take a look and make sure your possessions are all there."

Harry nodded but didn't move from his spot next to Snape and when he heard the man sigh Harry gritted his teeth. He couldn't get use to this, he just couldn't.

"Harry go investigate your room and check your belongs, I shall fire call some tea and we shall have a chat. The headmaster was correct we do have a lot to talk about."

Harry didn't know if it was due to the Professor calling him by his first name but he found his feet walking towards his room but just before he entered Snape cleared his throat, Harry looked back at his Professor and noted the man seemed quite nervous, "This is your home, feel free to make your room your own."

With that the man turned and walked away, Harry felt a sudden lurch in his stomach and for the first time since this all began it wasn't with unease. It was with longing and hope. He had a home and he had a … father.