Authors Note: Thanks again for all the reviews and for following my story of favoring it.
Chapter 20
The boys are just gone when Madam Bones turns towards Severus Snape. "Professor Snape. Professor Naga told me that you have personal experience with what Collin told us about Professor Dumbledore."
Severus glares towards the other man who just looks ahead like he has done nothing wrong but still isn't willing to look at the glaring man, knowing that Severus is angry. And the formerly dark lord really doesn't feel any guilt. He had said it to get help for their son after all. "That is correct." Saverus says angrily.
"May I ask what Professor Dumbledore told you and would you tell me as much about the surrounding circumstances as you're comfortable with?"
Severus gives his husband another glare before saying, "My father couldn't cope with the fact that my mother and I had magical abilities and had some other troubles. He was alcoholic and beating me nearly every chance he had and drank away most of our savings causing us to live with very limited resources. Professor McGonagall was already teaching here when I came and noticed quickly. It took her a while but during my third year here I told her a little about my life at home and she promised to help me. Apparently she went to Professor Dumbledore, expecting him to get the help. He did summon me to his office and let me tell him everything again before explaining that yes, he could get help for me but then I would be taken away from my mother as well and that people might think that all Muggles are untrustworthy and maybe Lily, who was already a close friend of mine when I first came here, since she lived close by, might be taken away from her family too. Especially if it was noticed that Petunia, her sister, was already starting to prank her harshly, since Petunia started to resent her sister."
"She did? Why would you let the boy stay there if she hated her sister already?" She asks the man.
"Professor Dumbledore assured us all that she had changed and regretted how she acted up towards her beloved sister in her jealousy and would be happy to take care of the boy and would probably spoil him to make up for what she had done to Lily during their childhood." Severus drawls angrily. "I believed him at the start."
"Only at the start?" She questions further.
"Yes," he replies, "I heard that some people from his order, that is fighting against the dark Lord, are watching the boy and talked to them. It quickly became clear that it had been a lie and that Petunia wasn't treating the child appropriately. I have everything prepared to ensure that he won't have to spend another summer there though."
"Why didn't you come to me?" She questions. "And what have you done to ensure that?"
"I have written to Petunia about Hercules." He grins evilly, "Since she knows that Harry owns a snake that is very similar to the one that killed her husband this summer, I very much doubt she will open the door for Harry when he is brought there and there for he will have to be brought someplace else. I also have two medallions spelled that whenever Harry touches one and wishes to see me, the other one will glow and be inscribed with the coordinates of the first one. Since that second one will be with me, I will know and be able to pick him up immediately. I already have a room prepared for him for such an emergency and plan to give him the medallion for Christmas."
"I always thought you two don't get along?" She mumbles, having heard talk about that even in the Ministry.
"We didn't use to." The man agrees, "But he was in some sort of trouble this past summer and I was the only one in a position to assist him and did just that. Ever since he is more trusting of me and has a room in the dungeon that he is even using frequently when he feels unsafe elsewhere. In particular when his snake Hercules is gone. He also needed it at the start of the year when most students hated him for lying about the dark Lord and owning a dangerous snake."
"I see." She says very surprised. "What about He-who-must-not-be-named? You are as far as I know a Death Eater that is spying for Dumbledore to help defeat him. Won't that be bothersome if it becomes known that Harry Potter is living with you?"
"Most certainly not at the moment." Severus replies, "The dark Lord seems to be preoccupied with other things. And I can always stop spying and would if it was for Harry's welfare."
"I see." She mumbles and looks back towards the other Professor, "You mentioned another case where you only assume that abuse is there. In what house is that girl?"
"Gryffindor." The man replies.
Madam Bones asks a few more questions about the last case, as well about what Harry had said about the Muggles he had tried to get help with when he was younger. It seems to her like someone had interfered. After that she excuses herself to talk to the head of Gryffindor house about all these children. She is just about out of the room when Severus grumbles, "You had to tell her about me, didn't you? And did you even consider what it might be like for Harry when his life at home is plastered all over the daily prophet?"
"It was his choice and I'm sure he considered the possibility that it will get into the papers." The older of the two man replies. "And I had to mention you, because I have to get Dumbledore out of Harry's life to keep our son safe. I might have failed you both back then but I do intend to do better."
Severus just leaves the room to look for his son around the corridors, hoping that he can talk to him a little but only finds him latter that afternoon in his own rooms, sleeping on a couch in front of the fire place.
He decides to leave him for now and just sits down close to him with a book in his hand and waits for the boy to wake up until it's shortly before dinner, worried that the boy will be wandering the halls again if he's too well rested for sleep he decides to wake him.
After waking he asks, "Are you sure you did the right thing? It might be all over the papers tomorrow what you said today."
"That was the point." Harry replies, "If other kids that are going through this read it, they might come forth too. I might hate all that hero worship, but since it is going on, I should at least set a good example and to get help for themselves is something they should do."
"You are allowed to think of yourself first on some occasions and I would have gotten you out of there without any media attention towards you." The man grumbles a little.
"I know." Harry replies, "I hope you're not mad that I told her that I'd rather go to live with you than anyone else?"
"Of course not." The older says without hesitation, "You now that you always have a place with me, I told you that. But what did you mean earlier? Are you going to tell her some excuse for why you want that?"
"I was rather thinking about telling her the truth." Harry says with a slight blush. "I don't really like all that secrecy, even if I know what is being kept from others. I'd just rather say the truth. At first I just didn't want it to be the truth but I want to be your son."
Severus stares at him and hugs him before asking. "What about Dumbledore and Black?"
"I don't really know." Harry sighs, "But I have an invitation to the headquarters with the Weasleys. I wasn't sure if I should go at first, but I think I have to talk to Siri."
"I'm not sure it's the best idea to go there for that confrontation." Severus mumbles, "I think it'd be better if you ask him to meet you at the shrieking shack beforehand."
Harry is about to complain but then says, "Maybe you're right. He can be a little hot headed."
"A little." Severus grumbles. "I insist to be close by as well."
"I'll be fine and you two will only fight if you're there." Harry pleads.
"Just wait a little after going there before getting to the real topic." Severus orders, "I'll follow a little later and stay outside the room you're in and eavesdrop to make sure I'm around to protect you should he try anything."
"I'll have Hercules with me." Harry tries, "I'll be fine."
"I'd sill rather be there for added protection." Severus says, "I don't trust that man."
"I'll think about it, okay?" Harry agrees. "But I'm getting hungry, can we go to dinner?"
Harry does think about it during dinner for all of five seconds but then writes a letter to Sirius, asking him to meet him there the next Saturday after lunch because he needs to talk to him and also asks him not to reply to the letter unless he can't make it that day. After that Harry tries to enjoy his evening with Draco and to relax and not worry about what will come of his talk with Madam Bones.
It becomes more easy during the coming week since for the moment nothing does happen. For the whole next week everything seems to be normal. Apart from the fact that Professor Naga doesn't keep Harry after every class but he still seems to favor the boy keeping the rumors running. Just now it is said that Harry broke up with the Professor for Draco but that the Professor is trying to charm Harry back.
Harry just tries to ignore those disgusting rumors and is meeting Draco some afternoons during the week but not during the nights, stating that they both need their sleep on school days and that they can spend a night together during the weekends. Due to that Draco is with Harry the night before he is going to meet Sirius and notices that Harry seems worried about something.
That Saturday morning when Harry still seems tense, probably even more then the night before, he asks, "What is bothering you this time?"
"Nothing with you." Harry smiles, "I promise. But maybe you can do me a favor?"
"What favor?" Draco questions.
Harry looks at Draco for a moment and then says, "Meet me outside this room at about 5 o'clock. If I'm not here by then, go to Snape and tell him that I went to meet the dog and aren't back yet. He'll know what it means. But I should be back by then since I'm going to meet him around 4 o'clock and it shouldn't take long."
"Sure." Draco replies looking worried but doesn't say anything else. He stays with Harry and talks about different things until it's time to go to lunch and Harry says that he's going to talk a little with his friends afterwards. Little does Draco know that Harry walks right after lunch towards the meeting he had mentioned. So that a little after lunch Harry is sitting in the shrieking shack more or less under a huge dog that is licking his face. "Stop it, Padfoot."
Harry manages to get the dog off and watches him turning back into the human he knows. Sirius is smiling at him and says, "How are you, pup? I missed you and why haven't you replied if you're coming this Christmas. You are coming, aren't you?"
"I'm not sure." Harry replies, "It kind of depends on a lot of things and one of them is what you say when I'm done talking to you today."
"Why?" Sirius asks, "Is something wrong?"
"Kind of." Harry tells him. "First of all, I want to tell you the truth about what happened this summer. Because Snape told some lies that made it possible for me to get around having to tell you anything. I didn't want to tell you at the time and he did it to help me, so please don't be mad at him or me. It was just a little much at the time and I needed to get things straight in my head."
"It's okay." Sirius tells him looking a little worried towards the snake. "I wouldn't be mad at you. Just please tell me what happened, so I know why you were acting so strange."
"First thing, I never was captured by anyone. I fled from the Dursleys when Hercules bit my uncle to save me from a beating." Harry mumbles, "The Dursleys never really liked me."
"You mean they wanted to beat you?" Sirius asks shocked. "But Dumbledore swore to me that Petunia wanted to make up for everything she used to do to Lily and would do anything she can to raise you as good as possible."
"She never wanted me." Harry replies, "Dumbledore lied."
"I'm so sorry, Harry." Sirius says honestly, "But what happened after that?"
"Hercules led me to my dad." Harry says looking hurt towards Sirius. "He told me everything and don't even try to deny it."
Sirius just stares at him for the moment. "I, I don't know what you mean." He says, clearly trying to pretend that everything Harry knows by now is a lie.
"I said don't." Harry nearly shouts at him. "I've got proof. And Remus told me the truth too. You took me. You stole me from my real parents and then you let the dark Lord hunt me down because of that stupid prophecy. You let me be hunted and fight in a war since I'm a little baby, just because you couldn't deal with the truth, and when James and Lily died you'd rather hunted Wormtail then be there for me and I was shipped off to the Dursleys that hated me all my life. I thought I could trust you, I cared about you and all you do is lie to me even now that I know!"
It's quiet for the moment and Sirius looks down in shame but after a moment he mumbles, "Because I'm scared. I can't lose you too. You're my Harry, my godson and I don't want to lose you too. I know we were wrong and that it was wrong what we did but it was already too late when I came to that point of sanity. I'm sorry Harry but please don't hate me. I really do care, I never meant for you to get hurt and I would do anything to make it up to you just please. Don't leave me for those Death Eaters and I know they are Death Eaters because you were with one."
"One that could very well have been my mother that you helped to kill." Harry states.
Sirius is quiet again for a moment before whispering, "She wasn't, was she?" He knows that Harry will be much less likely to ever forgive him if she was.
"No, she wasn't." Harry replies. "But she could have been and you helped Dumbledore kill her and took me away."
"But it probably was for the best, right?" Sirius tried, "They are Death Eaters. Who knows what you'd be like now if we hadn't?"
"I don't know that." Harry mumbles, "I might have been different. But I certainly wouldn't be hunted by a dark Lord or have been starved and treated like a house elf most of my life."
"I'm sorry Harry." Sirius tells him. "If it is any help, Remus was always against it. So if you have to be mad at me, at least don't be mad at him. He wanted me or Dumbledore to tell you for years. And was about to tell you himself more than once."
"I know." Harry tells him with a sigh. "And I don't want to be mad at you but it's not easy after meeting my real dad and seeing how much he cares for me. He still had my old room with a crib and all. He treasured me and he helped me when I came there, confused and worried and already knowing both of my parents thanks to Hercules. I hated the thought that he's my dad and still he helped me and helped me get back here because that's what I wanted."
"I guess he brought you to Snape?" Sirius questions, "Did he know that he's a spy or did you tell him?"
"It is Snape." Harry mumbles not looking towards the man who at least was his godfather up until now.
"You mean, you're Snape's son?" Sirius asks shocked. "No surprise you were that out of it."
"He's nice though." Harry insists, "Especially now he knows who I really am. He was just so mad at me before, because he knew that James was there that day. He knew that he was one of the people taking me."
"I guess I can't complain then." Sirius mumbles, "He must have been pretty pissed at us."
"He is," Harry sighs, "But only partly due to that. He's also still pretty pissed about all the pranks you did in school."
"Do I have to get along with him now?" Sirius whines.
"At least as well as Ron and Draco." Harry tells him.
"Draco?" Sirius asks, "Since when are you calling little Malfoy by his first name and I thought he and Ron hate each other?"
"They do." Harry replies. "But they are forced to be more or less civil around me since I'm sort of dating Draco."
"You are what?" Sirius asks shocked, "You are dating a Slytherin?"
"I am." Harry grumbles and glares, "And I'm sick of all the prejudices. Draco can be nice. I know he rarely is and is snobbish and spoiled and a prat but he makes me laugh and makes me feel special in a way no one else does and I like being around him, so don't you dare say anything about it."
Sirius looks at the boy and sighs, "If he makes you happy, I can deal with it."
"You won't have a choice unless you want to lose me." Harry replies, "You were there when I was kidnapped and helped with it. I'm not going to put you over my friends and real family. Not after what you've done." Harry sees the man looking down sadly and adds, "But I still like you, and want to spend time with you if you still want that? After all, technically I'm a Snape."
Harry can see the man scrunch up his face in disgust but he says, "I guess there has to be a good one just like with the Black's, right."
"My dad is just fine." Harry grumbles, "He might have made a few wrong choices but being abused at home and bullied in school certainly didn't help him fight the anger he felt and that's what the Death Eaters used to get him on their side."
Once again Sirius is just looking down but then he smiles a little and says, "Now that we got all the serious talk out of the way, want some candy? We can go to Honey Dukes and I buy you some."
"By me some?" Harry asks, "I thought you're still on the run?"
"You didn't hear?" He wonders, "It was in the newspaper, headline even."
"What was?" Harry questions.
"I'm free." Sirius grins at his godson. "Your little stunt with the Veritaserum confirmed that you at least believed me innocent and since it also confirmed that you have seen Peter, I read that they started to look around for more proof of my innocence rather than my guilt and I contacted Madam Bones and offered to be questioned under Veritaserum, as long as she promises that I'm not locked up without a proper trial again. She promised and here I am, a free man."
"That's great." Harry smiles and gives the man a hug hearing Hercules complaining about being forced to touch the stinking dog.
"That snake wont bite me, will he?" Sirius asks. "He doesn't seem to like me."
"Hates you actually." Harry confirms, "You knocked him out when he was still a baby and stole his baby brother. Of course he's mad."
"Now he lies." Sirius insists, "I most certainly never stole any snake! I swear."
Harry talks a little longer with the man and explains what he meant with baby brother. It's late afternoon when he walks to his dad and once again walks right in hearing his fathers arguing. "Just give me a chance." The former dark Lord says, "What else do I have to do to get you two back? It's all I want now, so just tell me. I'd do anything."
"I told you I can't just forgive you for nearly killing my son." Severus grumbles, "And now go."
"But I didn't know it was him. I thought his father had killed our son." The newly named Professor Naga insists, "And he's not only your son. Don't you think I regret everything I did to hurt him? He's my son too and I care about him more than I can ever say."
"I guess I better come back later." Harry just says and turns around.
"You can stay." Severus replies, "This man is just about to leave."
"With all due respect Dad, I really doubt he is." Harry just states, "I have no idea why you can't forgive him, but I meant what I said before, and I know you don't trust him yet but considering what you told me before, you should remember that somethings are worth the risk."
Harry just leaves after that, hoping that he had done the right thing. At least if they got back together his dad could keep the other man on a leash. Harry just walks on towards the seventh floor. It's nearly time to meet Draco anyway and he had just wanted to let Severus know that Sirius knows everything now apart from that the dark Lord is his father but Harry can do that another time.
Authors Note: Will Severus finally forgive his husband? Will Harry now that the man helped him? Will he ever be as close to Sirius as he used to be? Will he ever tell Draco that he is in love with the blond? Will he get to live with Severus? Will Dumbledore get in trouble now that Madam Bones knows everything? Will she find out who arranged the strange behavior of the Muggles that Harry told about his home life? Will The dark Lord get his wish and be rid of Dumbledore? Or will Dumbledore find a way to talk himself out of it? You'll find out soon since there are only two more chapters to go!