Immediately upon being discharged Harry set out in search of his friends, he had much he wanted to share with them and so they went out into the grounds for some privacy.

He thought they would be interested in learning what he had discovered about the chamber of secrets but they seemed preoccupied with musings on his connection to Snape. He had been spelled asleep for the majority of his time in the infirmary and it hadn't really occurred to him that the slimy potions master who held such an obvious dislike for him was an unlikely candidate for voluntary blood donation. Hermione had even had the audacity to suggest that she thought Snape might be his father, Seeing Harrys disgust Ron had quickly countered this by pointing out the similarities between Harry and James before changing the subject: ' you're cursed for life now mate, Snapes blood, you'll probably turn into a vampire or something next full moon!'

" Don't be absurd Ron, Do you really think Madam Pomfrey would have given me his blood if he were a vampire." Harry refuted, groaning when he realised he was echoing exactly what the teacher in question had said to him the previous day.

Ron groaned, 'you sound just like Hermione now'

Harry smirked to himself, 'Perhaps Snape is Hermiones father – it would explain how she is a witch when both her parents are muggles'

'you know perfectly well Harry that is it is entirely possible for two muggles to produce a magical child' said Hermione coldly 'but if that were not the case then perhaps Snapes father is your grandfather, it would explain how your mother was a witch when both her parents were muggles'

'Bloody hell! Hermione I think that it' Ron exclaimed 'That's why we haven't been able to find anything!'

'What's it?' Harry and Hermione asked simultaneously.

'Why we haven't been able to find anything – there is no official connection between the Potters and the Snapes'

'I think you might be right Ronald however I think that connection is more likely to be between Harrys mothers family and the Snapes'

'It's definitely between my Mothers' family and the Snapes'' Harry stated blankly. 'Lily Evans was my mothers' maiden name and there was both a Lily and an Evan on that parchment, bit of a coincidence otherwise when you consider there were only five names on it'

'I know you don't like it Harry but I really think Snape might be your father'

Harry glared at her in anger, 'and what about James Potter – he died to save me, to save my mother, you know what this says about my mother – are you saying that she didn't really love him that she cheated on him, that she lied? I don't care what you think, Snape is not my father, no matter what that parchment said.' Harry was fighting to hold back the tears, he turned angrily to leave but as he did his heart sank as he found himself staring into the furious black eyes of Professor Severus Snape.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other guiltily before staring sheepishly towards the ground but Harry stared back at him defiantly.

Snape had decided against telling the boy anything but it seemed that somehow he and his friends had already discovered it for themselves, 'Follow me' He growled before stalking off back towards the castle ahead of them, when they reached his office he slammed the door closed muttering privacy charms as he paced up and down in front of them. 'sit' he snarled as he ran a single finger along the spines of the books on the shelf, seemingly finding what he was looking for he plucked one down and began leafing through it as the trio sat in stunned silence in front of him. After a few moments he slammed the book down on the desk before turning it around to face Hermione. It was for a paternity potion, he gestured to the door which led to the adjoining classroom. ' I trust you are competent to brew this without my supervision Miss Granger, you may take what you need from the stores, Mr Weasley may aid you but take care as your friend requires a reliable potion, if at any point you require my assistance, ask!'

They looked at Harry who managed to silently assure them that it was okay to live him there with Snape alone and then left.

'Are you my father? Harry asked sullenly.

'It would seem likely but the potion will have to confirm'

'How come you never said anything? I've always been led to believe I was an orphan.'

'I didn't know'

'But you were errr, romantically involved with my mother?'

Snape raised his eyebrows and smiled but gave no answer

Bleurgh- Harry pretended to retch. 'Your manners are atrocious Potter'

'I could say the same about yours'

'Hardly' the professor said scathingly.

'I'm pretty sure having an affair with a married woman would be considered poor behavior!'

'Do the maths Potter, either way you were conceived outside of the marriage' Harry automatically started counting backwards despite not actually knowing when Lily and James had married, there was so much he didn't know about them, and everything he did know had just been turned on its head, it wasn't fair.

'How long will the potion take to brew?' Harry questioned.

'Not long, it's a pretty basic recipe – just over an hour I'd say'

'We should help….' Harry rose from his seat.

'No WE should talk' Snape corrected,'

'What do you want to talk about?'

'How did you and your little friends discover the possibility of my being your father?' Harry shrugged noncommittally'

'What is this parchment you spoke of earlier, Who gave it to you?'

'No one gave it to me' Harry answered confused.

'Well then where did you get it from?'

'We were interested in discovering whether I had any other living relatives, we performed the consanguines indicator' Harry finally confessed.

'Who's we?'

'Ron, Hermione and I'

'And the result?'

'You and four other Snapes.'

Snape looked thoughtful, 'Was I listed first?'

'Yes' Harry looked at him curiously.

'Then we have our answer, I am your natural father – there is no doubt about it'

'Oh'

'I must say I am impressed that you managed to brew such a potion'

'It was Hermione mainly' Harry shrugged again

'I won't ask where you managed to procure the ingredients from' he continued with a hint of warranted accusation. Harry stared at him defiantly.

'Is this why you have been staring at me all term?'

'I haven't been staring at you!'

'What induced you to wish to connect with family, you already live with your aunt and uncle, do you not?' Snape asked remembering how the boy had cowered from him before and suddenly fearing that he may have been abused at home

'I was curious!'

'Is that all?'

'Yes'

'Your Aunt and Uncle never mistreated you?'

'What do you care, you hate me'

'I don't hate you'

'You have picked on me and condemned me for being James Potters son since I first came to Hogwarts – and now I discover I'm not even his son, I'm yours so all those times you derided me for "being just like my father" you were speaking of yourself'

'I saw you as a constant reminder of the fact that she chose him over me, I was wrong, I unreservedly apologise.'

'I hate you'

Snape reached out to try to comfort his son, but was once again met with a wince as though the boy expected to be struck for his sentiment.

' I hate the fact that I was never given the opportunity to be a father to you. Dumbledore knew all these years and never said anything', Snape said quietly 'I wanted to take you when your mother died, he refused, had I known you were my son I could have insisted, I could have spared you the horrors that cause you to recoil from me as though you truly believe that I might hit a child, what does that say about your upbringing.'

'You wanted to take me? , even though you didn't know I was your son? Why?

'I truly loved your mother; I didn't want her sacrifice to have been in vain.'

They continued their stilted conversation until Ron came out to tell them the potion was nearly ready. They already knew what it would tell but followed him through to the classroom where Hermione was waiting with the potion. Snape dispensed the pale greyish liquid into four separate beakers while explaining the concept of 'controls'. Using his wand to cut his palm he added a drop of his own blood to each potion, after healing himself again he beckoned the trio forward, Harry added his blood to two of the beakers while Ron and Hermione each added theirs to one of the other two. The potions started changing colour; both samples containing Harrys blood turned a brilliant white while the other two turned black. Harry was definitely Snapes son by blood.

Ron and Hermione looked to Harry sympathetically. 'Does this mean I'm Harry Snape now? Harry asked contemplating how this might change things. 'You are a Snape, but legally your name is still Harry Potter and must remain so, I must insist that you keep this strictly between yourselves, at least until I have had a chance to sort some things out – promise me'

'We promise' they mumbled in unison just before Rons' stomach rumbled loudly breaking the tension.

Snape drew a pocket watch out from under his robes and sighed, he had succeeded in missing lunch again, people were going to start talking if he wasn't more careful. He summoned a house elf who brought some food up to them and they ate together at a small table in Snapes office.

The three young Gryffindors made attempts at small talk with the professor they had just discovered was their friends father to no avail before drifting into an awkward silence. When they had finished eating he bade them farewell stating that he needed to go and speak with the headmaster, he invited Harry to call on him at any time and for any reason but reminded them of their promise not to reveal to anyone what they had discovered about Harrys paternity.