So this chapter is a little on the short side, more of an outgrowth of chapter 8 than a proper chapter itself, but there was a natural break and since I'm at least two or three chapters ahead content-wise, I though it would work out.

Leah, my beta, suggests that you simply think of this as Chapter 8.5.

Thanks for reading!

Chapter Nine

Dumbledore met Ariadne's fierce stare, but his jaw went tight. "Is there any way to reverse the spell now that he is healed?"

The room seemed to hold its collective breath. Ariadne shook her head. "Not that I know of. Severus, Harry and I will be bound together until one of us dies, at which point the bond might dissipate. Probably."

Severus narrowed his eyes, watching her. She was meeting Dumbledore's gaze with an unyielding one of her own, but there was something in the lines of her body that told Severus she was nervous. He frowned. Was it his reaction to that news that was making her uneasy? She'd warned him before she'd cast the curse. He knew the consequences of it, or at least, he knew enough about it that he wasn't surprised to hear about the bond.

Besides which, what was done was done. There was nothing they could do about it now. Harry was alive. That was the only thing that mattered to Severus.

The Headmaster sighed. "I suppose we shall see the consequences of this as time passes. I cannot say I am happy with your methods, but at the moment, I cannot fault your results."

Poppy cleared her throat. "If these two," she indicated Severus and Araidne, "aren't experiencing any side effects, than I think we can safely rule out the Curse as being any sort of cause. Otherwise, especially with something like the Valetudo Vinculum, all three should have matching symptoms."

Harry's aura chose that moment to ripple ominously and send a rainbow of sparks across the floor. They all turned back to look at it, worry keeping them silent for a moment. Finally Hermione tore her eyes away from Harry's bubbling aura. "Excuse me, everyone. I'm going to go to the library. I think the sooner I can find the information about Gryffindor's VS, the better."

"Miss Granger," Severus said. She turned to look at him. "There is something that might be…pertinent to your search. Something that I trust will stay within these four walls and not be shared with any of your…little gang."

He looked severe and uncomfortable that Hermione merely nodded and stayed silent.

He looked at her for a moment, as if waiting for her to argue. When she didn't, he nodded and looked back at Harry. "Mr. Potter—"

"Severus," Dumbledore interrupted him, disapproval obvious on his face. "I believe Harry himself has a right to know before anyone else is told."

Severus froze for a beat, before turning blazing eyes on the Headmaster. "As you did not see fit to inform even me for 15 years and then only upon the issuance of an ultimatum, I do not see how you have any right to tell me whom I should and should not inform, Headmaster." His voice was ice, bitter and cold.

Dumbledore blinked, exhaled, and then finally nodded in defeat. "As you will."

"And I do. I have every intention of telling him myself once he is well. I trust that, until such a time, Miss Granger will keep her mouth shut about it."

Hermione nodded, wide-eyed. "Sir, whatever it is, I won't tell Harry. But can I say, sir, that Harry does not respond well to things being kept from him."

Severus drew in a sharp breath through his nose. "Neither do I, Miss Granger." He paused, taking a breath. "Harry Potter is my son."

She blinked at him, expression still expectant for a moment, before it sunk in that there would be nothing else forthcoming. The statement made no sense and yet somehow made all the sense in the world. The story they'd been given about the progression of the relationship between James and Lily Potter had been full of holes, of inconsistencies, and of missing pieces, but they had all just ignored it. Hermione herself had simply assumed that the holes in the narrative were the result of the unreliable nature of memory. That Snape would be Harry's father explained so much, filled in so many missing pieces. And of course, generated more questions. She nodded finally. "I see. Yes, that makes sense. I'm sorry that you only just found out, Professor. That must have been horrible."

She shot Dumbledore a pointed look and missed the shock that flashed across Severus' face. "You believe me?"

Hermione turned back to him, frowning. "Of course, I do. It's only logical. And lying about it would serve no purpose that I can see. Harry will be…pleased to have a family member, a parent. Hang on…does that make him Harry James Snape, then?"

Severus stilled, staring at her. Ariadne snorted. "Doesn't exactly have a ring to it, does it?"

Hermione smiled at her. "It really doesn't." She paused, thinking for a moment. "I wonder if there is an easier way to tell if Harry is undergoing his VS…Madam Pomfrey, isn't it true that a parent can sooth a child's aura with physical contact during the fever?"

Poppy's eyes widened, but she nodded. Severus immediately moved closer to the bed and took Harry's hand. The molten gold that was still visible above Harry's bed calmed. The bursts of color slowed and the showers of sparks nearly disappeared completely. "Well…that answers that, then." Poppy said, voice weak.

Hermione nodded. "I'm going to go to the library anyway and see if I can dig up anything on a situation like this."

The others nodded and she slipped out. Walking through the halls of Hogwarts without the student body was eerie. Her footsteps echoed loudly against the stones. The library was even worse. Madam Pince was nowhere to be seen, which was disconcerting enough, but the warmth and comfort that filled the library during the year had all drained away. The rooms were cold and dank, with the musty smell of old books almost overpowering.

She tried to shake it all off, making a beeline for the local history section. There were dozens of books on each of the founders, but there were so little mention of their formative years that working her way through them should be simple enough.

She pulled a stack, dragged it over to one of the study-tables, and settled in for the long haul.

Meanwhile, Severus had retaken the chair from Ariadne, so that he could continue to hold Harry's hand. The boy's aura was mellowing, though still unstable, and his fever remained dangerously high. There was nothing they could do about the fever. When a witch or wizard came of age, each underwent an illness, a fever to burn away the final restraints that nature had placed on their magic. When they awoke from the fever, the witch or wizard would have full control of their magic and then be able to perform high level magic. A child whose Venefici Sopor was delayed would have to be held back from passing into second year.

The idea that Harry had passed not only to second year, but managed to cast spells at a fifth year level without having undergone his fever was mind-boggling.

"He must have tremendous power to be able to cast a fully corporeal Patronus without having undergone his Venefici Sopor." Poppy murmured, watching Harry as he shifted restlessly.

Dumbledore's eyes went wide. "Remus. I should tell Remus what has happened and the Weasleys. Poppy, please keep me informed if there is any change."

Poppy nodded and the Headmaster swept from the room. She cast several monitoring spells over Harry and followed him out.

With only the two Coven members as witnesses, Severus let his body slump over the bed. He pressed his forehead to Harry's hand and said a silent prayer to the Goddess for the boy's life.

Olympia glanced over at Ariadne, worry in her eyes, and raised an eyebrow. Ariadne shrugged helplessly, not knowing what to say or do. Someone needed to point out the danger that Harry was in, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Severus was shouldering a large enough burden and she couldn't bear to add to it.

Olympia sighed softly and said, "Severus, I…I don't want to alarm you or seem pessimistic, but it is still likely that he will…that Harry will not survive his fever, given how delayed it was."

Severus flinched almost imperceptibly. "I am aware."

She nodded, chest aching with sympathy for the man. Ariadne shuffled closer and reached for Olympia's hand. There were tears in her eyes. Olympia gave the hand in her grasp a squeeze and said a silent prayer to the Goddess: Harry Potter couldn't die. He simply couldn't.