Disclaimer: I don't make money off of this story. I don't own Harry Potter and Co. I just like to play with them.

Chapter Warnings: Character death. Maybe boring due to dialogue, but some questions are answered. Not all though. Please keep reading after this chapter. (I was watching Peter Pan with Jason Issacs while writing this, and seeing the guy who plays Lucius Malfoy say 'I believe in faeries. I do. I do.' is quite entertaining.)

Letters From A Father

Chapter Fourteen: Healing Part I

They packed as fast as they could. Severus cradled his son to his chest as Fawkes took them back to Godric's Hollow. He yelled out orders for Hermione to call Minerva and Poppy, Draco to get potions, and stopped Remus from following him upstairs since the ex-werewolf was panting just from walking half-way up the first flight of stairs. He made Remus to go at least sit in the lounge to rest. He was of no use to Harry dead because he was too stubborn to just lie down and drink a few healing potions.

Severus rushed up the stairs, carrying Harry bridal style into his room and laid him on the bed. Draco, with Fawkes on his shoulder, came in with the requested potions. Snape fiercely grabbed them from his godson and started pouring them into Harry's mouth, making sure to go slow, despite his shaking hand, so that Harry wouldn't choke. He gently stroked Harry's throat to get him to swallow. He would not lose his son, but potions could only do so much. He needed Poppy.

Fawkes left Draco's shoulder and perched on the headboard.

"Cry in his mouth! Heal him you blasted bird!" Severus snarled at the phoenix. Fawkes gave an indigent trill and puffed out his chest feathers. Fawkes was offended, but Draco was afraid. He'd never seen Severus act like this…so protective…towards anyone except to Draco himself. Draco left, so he wouldn't be underfoot when Poppy and McGonagall arrived.

"Where the hell is that Mediwitch? You damned bird! Avada-" Snape yelled.

"Expelliarmus!" Snape's wand shot out of his arm. He berated himself for relaxing in his spying ability and should've heard someone coming. He turned to see Poppy in the doorway with her wand out.

"Severus! You are distraught! Get out of here!"

"No. I cannot and will not. I want to be here to help you!" Severus said, fighting a loosing battle. He knew she had a special place in her heart for Harry.

"You tried to kill Fawkes! In your current mood, you will hinder more than help," explained Poppy in a gentle tone. "You've done something already. He's looking better already. Go before I have Fawkes take you down to Minerva." Snape nodded then left to unpack and clean up after he retrieved his wand. Poppy ran a diagnostic check on the younger of her two favorite patients. She started at Harry's feet and ended at his head. It was then she gasped when she noticed Harry's famous scar was gone.

Oh, how she longed for the day Harry would be rid of that dreadful scar. It disfigured his otherwise lovely face. The scar hindered him in so many ways. In Poppy's eyes, the only interesting aspect of that cursed scar was that it was a medical anomaly. It was a puzzle that irked her to no end. At times, it seemed to be a faint pink line; other times, it was bold red as if Harry had been cursed just minutes before. She had no idea how to help the poor boy.

'Stable but exhausted' the spell read after a bit of Harry's personal set of collections that she had. Severus did a good job with what he had on hand. With Harry resting peacefully, she wondered if this would be the beginning of him sleeping like this. His face had a tranquil look- as opposed to the worried and upset look he usually had when he slept in the Hospital Wing.

Poppy spelled the room white and made it look just like the Hospital Wing with just one bed instead of the usual twenty. A sense of familiarity was nice. When she was done, she had Dobby bring Severus back to tell him Harry was ok.

"Have you seen the scars on his back?" Snape asked.

"Yes. I told him I would heal them but he was extremely adamant about keeping them. He said his uncle liked to look over his work and that whatever didn't kill him only made him stronger. It's nice to be able to talk to someone about it."

"What do you mean, although I have an inkling what you are going to say."

"Dumbledore," they said together.

"I have a few potions that need to be tended to for Harry. Will you get me immediately if something happens?"

"I've placed a monitoring charm on him, so it will alert me if he wakes, or something happens. Since it's on, I'm use your lavatory to wash up. Surely you remember how second year potions classes went." Severus smirked at her, remembering the dunderheads. Poppy glared back at him and he showed her to the wash room.

-----

While Madam Pomfrey and Severus were upstairs, Remus, Hermione, and Draco told Minerva what happened at Bimini.

"We can give them a cure hopefully. A few packs still trust me. I will go to them and see if they will help."

"No you will not. We aren't sure if it was just the water, or if it was the magical backlash due to the Horcrux. I will not put you in that sort of danger, Remus!" McGonagall fought back. The Marauders had been some of her favorite students at Hogwarts, and she always had a soft spot for the quiet werewolf, but she would not budge. She would not send him there and convince them there was a cure for Lycanthropy, and it fail because it was of a Horcrux instead. She already lost James, Lily, and Sirius. Peter deserved what he got in her eyes when she was told about his death.

"Mr. Weasley figured out an obliviate was cast on him and he suspects Harry did it." Minerva looked at Remus with a pointed look. Remus looked to the floor, feeling as if he was a child again and was caught with James and Sirius pulling a prank. McGonagall laughed at his "innocent" look.

"Oh, Remus. He said he remembered that Harry came back from somewhere, then there was a blank spot, then he was turning down his covers to sleep. We all know that it was about the Horcruxes and after what he did to Hermione here, we decided to keep it on him."

"We?" Hermione asked.

"His family and the Order. He told his mom about what happened and they are all mad and disgusted at him for hurting you. You are like a second daughter to them."

"What of Miss Weasley?"

"She's quiet, almost like she was in her first year with the Chamber and all. I know she still pines for Harry and I don't think she's gotten over their break up. She doesn't have her mother's temper anymore. I also believe that they are still dealing with their father's death. They were the youngest so they didn't have Arthur around much. He was always working to support them. Bill had Arthur the longest, Charlie next, and so on. They don't have the fond memories the older boys do."

Hermione, Remus, and Draco nodded.

"How is Bill after Greyback attacked him?" Remus asked.

"He has some wolfish qualities, but he does not change at the full moon; Molly was ecstatic. His wedding to Fleur was beautiful, wasn't it?" The Headmistress and Remus talked about the wedding that was at the Burrow till Hermione decided to interrupt.

"What about Luna, the twins, and Neville?"

"The twins stuck those fantastic Extendable Ears around Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley and are listening for anything suspicious. Miss Lovegood and Mr. Longbottom are keeping tabs on the students, much in the same way that the twins are. No one has much information, however. It seems everyone is tight-lipped when they shop or go to classes. We have no idea what will happen until it does, and by then we are too late," Minerva informed them.

They sat in silence, mostly wondering if Harry would be okay.

-----

Poppy came in, after taking a quick wash and a light dinner, putting up as many warding spell as she knew on Harry's door.

"I figured you'd be here, James," Poppy whispered to the lone figure sitting close to Harry's bed. Snape looked at her with huge surprise on his face.

"Oh, please. I had to work on you so much during your school years that I could recognize you anywhere. I also know that you would never pretend to be Severus unless Dumbledore had something to do with it. Besides, your glamour is fading since Harry had started reading the letters. I know how that spell is tied into his reading them. I'm slightly shocked that Harry hasn't noticed. I imagine that you've been applying a regular glamour, though."

"Yes, I have. We've had a hard few months and I didn't want to scare him. Why have you not mentioned to me that you knew I was someone else? We just talked a little more than an hour ago!" James almost yelled.

He didn't want to wake Harry up to this conversation. Their relationship was tentative at best, and James didn't want to completely lose his son. He was resigned to the fact that the last letter may not make much difference once Harry read it, but it was the best explanation he could give. He would talk to Harry face to face, but he did want to keep the tradition with the letters going. Every year of his life, he looked forward to writing it. It was a constant in his life.

"Well, good. He shouldn't wake till morning, but you know how he is; he might be up in an hour. I think you should apply a regular glamour for now. I didn't say anything because we were usually at school and the walls talk-a fact you know well. In addition, you were spying and the fact that I knew may have put you in danger."

"Thanks, I think. It's a bit unnerving that you've known all this time. You've been like an older sister to me...or a favorite aunt. Tell me, am I a bad father for doing this?"

Poppy thought a bit then put a hand on his shoulder.

"He'll be hurt. He believed that the father that he loved, looked up to and wanted to be was dead- that he died saving him, but only to find out that his dad has been his hated professor for six years. How do you think he's going to feel? But, he will know that you protected him as much as you could. You aren't a bad father. You did all you could in a horrible position and with a manipulative Headmaster. He will realize that. Just know that Harry doesn't have a lot of trust in adults and this will be a huge blow to him. He might hate you for a while, but he'll come around, especially when he reads the last one." Poppy looked at the devastation on James' face. "James, look at me. You aren't a bad father. I just want you to know what might happen. Be Prepared."

"I should have known this day was coming. I just was hoping I'd have more time. Thanks, Poppy. I think I'll stay here." James reached over and brushed a lock of hair out of Harry's face and watched over him till morning.

-----

Harry woke up two days later, groggy and blinded by the white. Hospital Wing. He shut his eyes quickly and groaned.

"Damn, not again." He heard a deep chuckle from the black spot on his bedside and a soft roar from a green spot on his bed. Dagda! The little dragon grew quickly but it was still rather small, since it was still a baby.

"I heard that, Mr. Potter!" Poppy bustled towards them. "Like father, like son. I swear you two come here the most and are the most eager to leave." Harry looked up with his innocent face and cheeky grin and Snape glared. "Don't you dare look at me like that, Severus Snape." She started to walk to Harry's desk to get a few potions and she changed the room back to how it was.

Snape rolled his eyes. "I saw that!" Harry laughed at the banter.

"Be gentle with my dad. He's old." Harry laughed, then realized what he said then ducked his head, not looking at Snape or Poppy. It was the first time he said something like that. It actually slipped out on accident, but the more he thought on it, the more Harry liked saying that. His dad. His own dad. Not Ron's dad, or Malfoy's- not that he wanted Draco's. His own, and it was nice to have one.

Snape gave a smirk at Harry. Harry saw it through his lashes, and when no reprimand came, he looked up and smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry." Snape waved off the apology. He liked being acknowledged without Harry using it against him like he had in the past. He hated when Harry mocked him and used the title against him. Severus knew that Harry had to adjust, and having been lied to for so long that he could be acting a lot worse. Snape knew he would be.

"You're right. Poppy, be gentle. I am old after all."

-----

After Harry went back to sleep, Snape retired to his own room, mainly because there was a evil minx inside his son's room who kicked him out. He stared at the roaring fire and drank another tumbler of firewhiskey.

His dark mark was gone. When he was branded by the old wizard, he knew instantly it was the worst mistake he ever done. He should have fought for his son. He would have won against Dumbledore. Lily had always complained about Petunia- how she was always degrading Lily, and calling her a freak. Was that what he subjected Harry to but not fighting Dumbledore's plan? He certainly hoped not.

He rubbed where the mark had been for years. How would the Order get information now? Harry's scar was gone, so there were no more visions, and he wasn't a spy anymore. He felt useless, but he gained a son. Out of the two choices, he preferred to have his son back.

He drank another tumbler. It was odd, but liberating at the same time to not have to go back. Something he had done for a long time was, in an instant, ripped away from him. His life changed so quickly, not that he minded, but it was a hard adjustment.

To him, Dumbledore had now died in vain, but sending that light at the old man was freedom and the end of the manipulation in his life, as well. It was less than a year, and he was out of the Death Eater ranks. Dumbledore was the cause of all of the bad stuff that happened, so he was not completely depressed about it as he should have been. Dumbledore knew how Tom Riddle was when they met at the orphanage. Why didn't he do anything then? James was surprised that Harry stayed so pure. His life with the Dursley's surely hadn't been proper, even for a house-elf, if the scars on his back and face were anything to go by.

-----

The Dark Lord was not happy. His link to the Potter brat seemed to have disappeared and his delicate, white skin was marred by his own mark on his forearm. When he called his servants to him, he was met with unimaginable pain, then noticed that his potions master had not joined them.

So he was the traitor. Voldemort had his suspicions but they were always unfounded. After Harry Potter, Severus Snape would be his second Horcrux, he decided. The brat and the traitor together in death. He cursed their names mentally as he cursed his followers physically. Lucius was the only one spared that night for leading a successful raid on a Muggle town.

"Lucius!" Voldemort barked. The blonde bowed respectfully and awaited orders. "I have a present for my most trusted. Bring her out!" Crabbe and Goyle dragged a bloody and dirty Dolores Umbridge out by her hair.

She looked up with tears brimming at Lucius' face. Her savior had come.

"You may have her. Do whatever you see fit." Voldemort gestured and sat back on his throne to watch the lovely show.

Lucius loved how Umbridge begged for him to save her meaningless life. She screamed so prettily. He strung out her death, making her feel all of the agony she had put him in while he was at the Ministry. Her once blonde hair was now stained with her blood. Her eyes stayed open after Lucius decapitated her.

"Lucius, my servant, you have done well tonight. You there, take her to the Ministry."

------------------------------

A/N:Sorry it's short. The next one will be longer. I hope I counted right. '0'th letter to '17'th is 18, right? My notes tell me so.

Please no flames or questions like, "How is that possible?" as I do have explanations planned out. Just give me time lol. :-D Well…I guess you can ask but I won't answer directly.

I hope you keep reading even though the Dad issue is explained. Voldemort is still out there.

I have a paper to write, so it might be a while. I am working as fast as I can. Review as always!