A/N: I know I said I'd update a lot sooner... Sorry. Really no excuse for it, just a sorry excuse for a writer ... I'll try to make my chapters longer, but I won't make any more promises that I'm not gonna keep...
Oh, thanks for the reviews, please keep them coming :)
Stepdad
Chapter 10
Severus, Harry, Remus, and Minerva walked to the altar and Harry glanced at Severus. "Are you ready, Harry?" Harry nodded. "Give me your arm." Severus had taken the potion out of stasis and held a small knife in his hand. Once Harry gave Severus his arm, Severus made a quick incision above the wrist and forced several drops into the potion. He quickly healed the cut, then did the same to his own arm and put his own blood in the potion, chanting softly in a language Harry did not understand.
Severus looked at Harry and motioned for him to take the potion and drink. Harry swallowed, a bit nervous, but took a goblet and dipped it in the cauldron and drank, Severus still chanting in the background. There was a swirl of magic and then everything went quiet. Harry looked at Severus expectantly. Severus nodded and looked at Remus and Minerva who were silent in amazement. They had never seen a bonding ceremony quite like that. "Is that it? Are we bonded?" Severus nodded and Harry sighed in relief. "Now what, Sev?"
Severus thought a moment and sighed. "Now, we prepare to leave. Would you like to go to Hogwarts?" Harry shook his head. He didn't much care for the place, too many bad memories of being teased his first year. "I didn't think you would. How about we go and visit some of my relatives. I'm sure they'll love to meet the newest Snape."
Harry thought a moment. He was really a Snape now. He smiled. "Yeah, that sounds great, Sev." Severus smiled as he placed a hand on Harry's cheek and looked at Remus and Minerva.
"You take good care of your boy, Sev. He deserves it."
"I will, Remus. Harry knows how much I love him." Severus looked at Harry as he said this and smiled back at the boy. "Now, I believe that I need to get your signatures. Remus. Minerva. If you please." They walked back to the house and Severus retrieved the paperwork from inside his robes.
"Sev, when are we going to leave?" Harry was anxious to disappear as soon as possible in case his mother decided to come back. The headmistress and the three wizards continued walking towards the house as the sun was setting. It had been quite an eventful day and everyone was tired.
Once they entered the house Severus gave Harry his answer. "As soon as we take care of this paperwork. Go get your suitcase. You did manage to finally pack, right?" Harry nodded and went up to his room. "This shouldn't take long." Not knowing if he meant Harry coming back or the paperwork, he said this to Minerva and Remus who sat down at the dining room table, looking over the papers. Minerva signed, then Remus.
"Like Remus said, you had better take good care of him, Severus. I shall know. I have ways." Minerva looked at him sternly before giving him a quick smile. Minerva was only partially kidding but Severus had no intention of betraying the boy. Already he meant too much to Severus, he could never hurt him.
"I will take excellent care of Harry. He's an extraordinary boy. His capacity to love is astonishing. I just hope I do not fail him. This happened so suddenly." Severus shook his head, trying to compose himself. Minerva put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a motherly kiss on the cheek.
"You'll do wonderfully. You're a wonderful teacher and a wonderful man. Harry is lucky to have you in his life, Severus Snape."
"I agree, Severus. Harry is just a boy. He's lost everyone he thought he could trust. His mother, his godfather. His father's been gone for a year and I don't think he's quite over that yet. It will take some time but things will work out. They always seem to anyway." Remus gave Severus a crooked smile that Severus returned as Harry stumbled back to the dining room. "Harry! All set then?"
Harry nodded and went over to Remus. "Thanks for everything, Uncle Remmy." Harry gave Remus a hug and walked over to Minerva. "Professor, thank you for your help today. With the guests and the bonding. I know you weren't exactly in favor of it."
"Oh, Harry. I only want what's best for you. And I think you and Severus will be good for each other." She gave him a rare smile and patted his shoulder as he turned to his father who had left the room for a moment to retrieve his own suitcase.
"Shall we go then?" Harry nodded and took one last look at his home. He hoped to never come back as it held so many memories that he wasn't sure he could trust any longer. Severus shrunk the suitcases and placed them in his pocket. He quickly transfigured his wizarding robes into muggle clothes. At Harry's questioning look he replied, "My relatives are muggles. They don't like my robes, think I look like a fruit." Harry smiled at Severus' laugh.
While Harry and Severus prepared for their journey, Sirius and Lily were preparing to go and retrieve their son. They weren't quite sure what they would tell him but Lily did not want to wait any longer.
Sirius and Lily ate dinner with some of the Black family, dodging certain questions about where Lily's son was. "We're waiting until the time is right to go and bring him here."
"Ah, so you plan on staying a while then, Cousin? That would be most enjoyable. Also, having your son here would be a delight, I am sure, Lily." Lily did not quite like these relatives. They were a bit too much like the dark wizards her James had fought long before Harry was born.
"I'm sure that he will enjoy his stay here. I should confess something to you, Cousin." His cousin looked to Sirius vaguely nterested. "Harry is in actuality my son. He does not know but I am sure that once we tell him things will be fine." His cousin nodded and looked at his wife with an evil glint in his eye.
"Yes, I believe Narcissa and Lucius mentioned something to that effect a few months ago while they vacationed with us in the Carribean. They certainly have quite an acceptable young son." Lily shivered at those words. She knew what kind of boy Draco was, if he were considered acceptable she was frightened to think what would truly please these people.
"I don't think that Harry and Draco ever really got along unfortuantely. It would be wonderful if he got along with his cousin, but that may be remedied once he knows the truth." Sirius was being awfully optimistic. Lily wasn't sure that she wanted Harry and Draco to get along. She wouldn't say anything now though. She knew the rich pureblood family protocol with being around James' family for more than fifteen years. She merely smiled slighlty and kept to herself. She would talk to Sirius later.