Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Chapter 10.
The silence was deafening; no one dared to speak. Snape was deathly pale. All these years his son had known the truth, and he had never said anything. Why? Why hadn't he mentioned it? And how had he found out? In a soft voice, he voiced his questions. "Why did you never say anything? And how did you find out?"
For a moment, it seemed Harry wasn't going to say anything, but after Chiara lightly nudged his side, he sighed and spoke. "I never saw why I should say anything; you have made your feelings towards me very clear. No matter what you think of me, I didn't relish the idea of being told flat out that I was hated by my own father."
The man paled even further if that was possible. "I don't hate you."
Harry shrugged. "Of course you don't." It was clear that Harry didn't believe him; before the man had the change to speak again and try to convince the teen, Harry answered his second question. "As for how I found out, during the summer after my first year here, I found my mother's diary. She had left it at my aunt's house knowing Voldemort wouldn't find it there and so you would stay protected. There were several things in the box that I'm sure you'll want to have back."
Severus nodded slightly, too overwhelmed and trying to figure out what he should say. Draco, on the other hand, was completely buried in his own thoughts, trying to make sense of what his uncle had just told him. For years he had been making fun of Potter for being who he was, for not having parents, and now it turned out he was the one without parents, and to top it off, he was a Potter not Harry. It was a bit much to take in. Dumbledore seemed to see that everyone was too shocked or tired to really continue with the meeting, so he stood up. "I think that we should talk more about this tomorrow. You can all stay here for the night. Harry, Draco, Hermione, I can arrange rooms for you."
Snape looked up from his musings and shook his head. "No, Albus. My son and godchildren are going to stay with me in my chambers."
Dumbledore looked briefly at the teenagers. Draco didn't seem to care either way; the boy was probably trying to work through everything he had discovered. Harry, on the other hand, looked ready to protest, but Chiara was softly talking to him, obviously trying to convince him. Finally, the teen reluctantly nodded and Dumbledore told everyone they were dismissed.
Snape stood up, silently followed by the three teenagers. He quickly led them towards the dungeons where he had already arranged rooms for them. He had known at the beginning of the summer that it would all come out, and he had wanted to be ready. No matter what they thought of him, his child and godchildren would be under his care as long as they stayed at the castle. Looking behind him, he was worried to see the children walking silently, not even Harry and Hermione were talking. It seemed they were too tired. They stopped in front of the painting of a snake; softly, he said the password, knowing the children would probably not remember it anyway. The chambers were dark, and he lit a few candles, not bothering to fully light the room since they would be going straight to bed. He walked to one of the doors and, opening it, motioned towards the three teens. They entered and saw a small hallway with five doors. Severus stopped in front of the first two. "These are the bedrooms; the two on the right are for Draco and Hermione, they are pretty much the same so you can choose the one you prefer." The two blonde teens looked at each other and shrugged slightly. Draco motioned to Hermione that she could choose the room and she opened the door to the first one. Snape then turned around and motioned to the other two rooms. "The room in front of Hermione's is mine, you can come in if you need anything; otherwise, please keep out. The room opposite from Draco's is yours, Harry. And the last door leads to the bathroom."
The three teenagers nodded and waited to see if their professor had something else to say. Snape, seeing they were really tired, smiled hesitantly. "I'll call the house-elves to bring you some food to your rooms, and after you've had dinner, I want you to go to sleep, you are dead on your feet."
Harry opened his mouth to argue, not because the man wasn't right, but just because he was ordering them around, and it made him uncomfortable. Sure, the man had ordered them around since they had first stepped into his potions classroom, but that had been different. The tone of voice he was using was different. While Professor Snape had always barked out orders, expecting everyone to comply them at once, Severus' voice was now filled with concern and he seemed more... parental, if you could imagine Professor Snape ever being parental.
Before he had the chance to speak, Severus raised a hand slightly. "Eat and then to bed, Harry."
The boy closed his mouth quickly, never had he been ordered around this way, but seeing that neither Hermione nor Draco seemed to be very shocked by it, he assumed it was just the parent coming out of Snape. Shaking his head slightly, he turned towards his room and opened the door.
Hearing two other doors closing behind him, he decided to go in and close his own door too. As soon as he had done this, light flared along the walls, showing they were painted in a deep blue. The furniture was made of honey colour wood while the hangings around the big bed were made in light blue. Looking around, Harry couldn't help but feel at home; it was a very nice room, and he had a bit of trouble thinking that Professor Snape had managed to create it. Dropping his cloak in one of the chairs surrounding a small table, Harry walked towards his bed. He was about to open his trunk, when a soft pop announced someone's arrival. Looking up, he saw a house elf standing next to the table with a tray in his hands.
"Professor Snape told Gigy to bring Mister Snape his dinner."
Harry grimaced a bit at the title, but instead of correcting her, he just took the tray. "Thank you, Gigy."
"Mister Snape is welcome."
And with another soft pop, she disappeared from view. Harry regarded the tray for a few moments. He wasn't that hungry, but his father had made it clear that he wanted him to eat. Maybe he was being paranoid, but he wouldn't be surprised if Snape made sure they had eaten as he had said. Sighing, he sat down in front of the tray and picked up one of the sandwiches; he may be paranoid, but he was not going to take the chance and annoy the man. The professor had been nearly nice to them, and Harry was going to do all that was in his power to keep it that way. After all, the man hadn't told him to leave and never speak to him again. He had even given him a room of his own. For the first time since he had found out the truth about Snape, he started to questions the man's behaviour, and in a small place in his mind, he started to wonder if the man hated him as much as he had thought.
Once he had finished eating, he stood up and moved to the bed. Picking up the new pyjamas Chiara had made him buy, he got dressed. Silently, he slipped into bed, ignoring the house elf that had come to retrieve his tray. He was tired and confused; for a long time he had feared the day that everything would come into the light, but now that it had finally happened, he just felt more confused than ever. Snape just didn't make sense.
For nearly an hour he laid there, trying to find an explanation for his father's strange behaviour. His thoughts were starting to get number, and he was nearly asleep when he heard the door to his room open. After years at the Dursleys, he was awake at once but didn't move. His cousin had always enjoyed waking him up by throwing ice-cold water on him, and he had soon learned to wake up at the slightest sound of an opening door. Without moving, he opened his eyes slightly. He couldn't see much in the darkened room, but he saw the faint form of a man silently approaching his bed. Clutching his wand under his pillow, he stayed completely still, waiting to see what was going to happen. He was very shocked when gentle fingers ran through his hair, pulling it away from his face. Quickly, he closed his eyes all the way not wanting his father to notice he was awake. The gentle hands tucked him in tightly, and he felt a brush of lips against his forehead. Never had he been put to bed like this, and he could feel the burning of tears behind his eyelids. The gentle hand brushed his cheek, and the professor's soothing voice rang through the room.
"Go to sleep, Zach, I promise you're safe here."
Harry didn't know why, but suddenly, he felt completely at peace. He heard the man leave the room and move to another door, but by then he was already half asleep. Just before allowing the warm darkness to claim him, he realized he felt safe because, for the first time, his father had directly called him Zach.
To be continued...
A/N: Thanks for all reviews. And thanks to my beta reader, Vinnie and to Leena for her support.
Chapter 10.
The silence was deafening; no one dared to speak. Snape was deathly pale. All these years his son had known the truth, and he had never said anything. Why? Why hadn't he mentioned it? And how had he found out? In a soft voice, he voiced his questions. "Why did you never say anything? And how did you find out?"
For a moment, it seemed Harry wasn't going to say anything, but after Chiara lightly nudged his side, he sighed and spoke. "I never saw why I should say anything; you have made your feelings towards me very clear. No matter what you think of me, I didn't relish the idea of being told flat out that I was hated by my own father."
The man paled even further if that was possible. "I don't hate you."
Harry shrugged. "Of course you don't." It was clear that Harry didn't believe him; before the man had the change to speak again and try to convince the teen, Harry answered his second question. "As for how I found out, during the summer after my first year here, I found my mother's diary. She had left it at my aunt's house knowing Voldemort wouldn't find it there and so you would stay protected. There were several things in the box that I'm sure you'll want to have back."
Severus nodded slightly, too overwhelmed and trying to figure out what he should say. Draco, on the other hand, was completely buried in his own thoughts, trying to make sense of what his uncle had just told him. For years he had been making fun of Potter for being who he was, for not having parents, and now it turned out he was the one without parents, and to top it off, he was a Potter not Harry. It was a bit much to take in. Dumbledore seemed to see that everyone was too shocked or tired to really continue with the meeting, so he stood up. "I think that we should talk more about this tomorrow. You can all stay here for the night. Harry, Draco, Hermione, I can arrange rooms for you."
Snape looked up from his musings and shook his head. "No, Albus. My son and godchildren are going to stay with me in my chambers."
Dumbledore looked briefly at the teenagers. Draco didn't seem to care either way; the boy was probably trying to work through everything he had discovered. Harry, on the other hand, looked ready to protest, but Chiara was softly talking to him, obviously trying to convince him. Finally, the teen reluctantly nodded and Dumbledore told everyone they were dismissed.
Snape stood up, silently followed by the three teenagers. He quickly led them towards the dungeons where he had already arranged rooms for them. He had known at the beginning of the summer that it would all come out, and he had wanted to be ready. No matter what they thought of him, his child and godchildren would be under his care as long as they stayed at the castle. Looking behind him, he was worried to see the children walking silently, not even Harry and Hermione were talking. It seemed they were too tired. They stopped in front of the painting of a snake; softly, he said the password, knowing the children would probably not remember it anyway. The chambers were dark, and he lit a few candles, not bothering to fully light the room since they would be going straight to bed. He walked to one of the doors and, opening it, motioned towards the three teens. They entered and saw a small hallway with five doors. Severus stopped in front of the first two. "These are the bedrooms; the two on the right are for Draco and Hermione, they are pretty much the same so you can choose the one you prefer." The two blonde teens looked at each other and shrugged slightly. Draco motioned to Hermione that she could choose the room and she opened the door to the first one. Snape then turned around and motioned to the other two rooms. "The room in front of Hermione's is mine, you can come in if you need anything; otherwise, please keep out. The room opposite from Draco's is yours, Harry. And the last door leads to the bathroom."
The three teenagers nodded and waited to see if their professor had something else to say. Snape, seeing they were really tired, smiled hesitantly. "I'll call the house-elves to bring you some food to your rooms, and after you've had dinner, I want you to go to sleep, you are dead on your feet."
Harry opened his mouth to argue, not because the man wasn't right, but just because he was ordering them around, and it made him uncomfortable. Sure, the man had ordered them around since they had first stepped into his potions classroom, but that had been different. The tone of voice he was using was different. While Professor Snape had always barked out orders, expecting everyone to comply them at once, Severus' voice was now filled with concern and he seemed more... parental, if you could imagine Professor Snape ever being parental.
Before he had the chance to speak, Severus raised a hand slightly. "Eat and then to bed, Harry."
The boy closed his mouth quickly, never had he been ordered around this way, but seeing that neither Hermione nor Draco seemed to be very shocked by it, he assumed it was just the parent coming out of Snape. Shaking his head slightly, he turned towards his room and opened the door.
Hearing two other doors closing behind him, he decided to go in and close his own door too. As soon as he had done this, light flared along the walls, showing they were painted in a deep blue. The furniture was made of honey colour wood while the hangings around the big bed were made in light blue. Looking around, Harry couldn't help but feel at home; it was a very nice room, and he had a bit of trouble thinking that Professor Snape had managed to create it. Dropping his cloak in one of the chairs surrounding a small table, Harry walked towards his bed. He was about to open his trunk, when a soft pop announced someone's arrival. Looking up, he saw a house elf standing next to the table with a tray in his hands.
"Professor Snape told Gigy to bring Mister Snape his dinner."
Harry grimaced a bit at the title, but instead of correcting her, he just took the tray. "Thank you, Gigy."
"Mister Snape is welcome."
And with another soft pop, she disappeared from view. Harry regarded the tray for a few moments. He wasn't that hungry, but his father had made it clear that he wanted him to eat. Maybe he was being paranoid, but he wouldn't be surprised if Snape made sure they had eaten as he had said. Sighing, he sat down in front of the tray and picked up one of the sandwiches; he may be paranoid, but he was not going to take the chance and annoy the man. The professor had been nearly nice to them, and Harry was going to do all that was in his power to keep it that way. After all, the man hadn't told him to leave and never speak to him again. He had even given him a room of his own. For the first time since he had found out the truth about Snape, he started to questions the man's behaviour, and in a small place in his mind, he started to wonder if the man hated him as much as he had thought.
Once he had finished eating, he stood up and moved to the bed. Picking up the new pyjamas Chiara had made him buy, he got dressed. Silently, he slipped into bed, ignoring the house elf that had come to retrieve his tray. He was tired and confused; for a long time he had feared the day that everything would come into the light, but now that it had finally happened, he just felt more confused than ever. Snape just didn't make sense.
For nearly an hour he laid there, trying to find an explanation for his father's strange behaviour. His thoughts were starting to get number, and he was nearly asleep when he heard the door to his room open. After years at the Dursleys, he was awake at once but didn't move. His cousin had always enjoyed waking him up by throwing ice-cold water on him, and he had soon learned to wake up at the slightest sound of an opening door. Without moving, he opened his eyes slightly. He couldn't see much in the darkened room, but he saw the faint form of a man silently approaching his bed. Clutching his wand under his pillow, he stayed completely still, waiting to see what was going to happen. He was very shocked when gentle fingers ran through his hair, pulling it away from his face. Quickly, he closed his eyes all the way not wanting his father to notice he was awake. The gentle hands tucked him in tightly, and he felt a brush of lips against his forehead. Never had he been put to bed like this, and he could feel the burning of tears behind his eyelids. The gentle hand brushed his cheek, and the professor's soothing voice rang through the room.
"Go to sleep, Zach, I promise you're safe here."
Harry didn't know why, but suddenly, he felt completely at peace. He heard the man leave the room and move to another door, but by then he was already half asleep. Just before allowing the warm darkness to claim him, he realized he felt safe because, for the first time, his father had directly called him Zach.
To be continued...
A/N: Thanks for all reviews. And thanks to my beta reader, Vinnie and to Leena for her support.