Once again, I would like to apologize to everyone who read the original CH 4. I reposted it so it flows with the rest of the story. Those who didn't read the original, don't worry! As promised, this chapter is dedicated to Jarvey and Kateydidnt for their most excellent awareness. Now, on with the fic.
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"Bertie Botts," Harry inhaled deeply and knocked on the Headmaster's door.
"Come in." He pushed the door open to find a very grave Headmaster staring at him. "Sit down, Harry, I wish to go over some rules with you." Harry nodded and sat down in the plush chair across from Dumbledore. The old wizard handed pouch, a key, a note, and an old tin can. "This key is the skeleton key for Gringotts. I assume yours was destroyed in the fire." Harry nodded. "Very well. Now this note will inform the Head Goblin that you will need a new key. The skeleton key is to be returned to me immediately upon arrival. You will go to Ollivander's first thing to get a new wand. I have already contacted him about it and he's agreed to re-measure you. The can is your Portkey directly to wherever I am. That way, if anything follows or comes with you, I will be there. The pouch has Floo Powder in it. You can Floo directly into Gringotts, by permission of the Head Goblin. They are expecting you. Here is your book list for next year," the Headmaster handed him a parchment, "If you are not back here by dinner, I am sending Professor Snape after you." Harry visibly gulped at the threat, and he could tell the Headmaster was not happy about this. He wasn't nearly so cheery when aggravated.
Harry thanked him profusely, promised up and down that he would be vigilant and cautious, then made his way to the fire. He stepped in and threw the Floo Powder down.
"Gringotts Bank!" In a flash of green, he was whisked away, landing in a heap in front of the Head Goblin.
"Dumbledore said to expect you. Do you have the letter and the skeleton key?" Harry stood and brushed himself off, handing the two items to the goblin. "Very well, follow me." He was led to a cart and set inside. The Head Goblin himself took him to his vault and handled the key. Harry stocked up with more money than he would ever need; he needed new everything. Once done, he was handed an envelope with the skeleton key sealed inside, and another key.
"This is your new key. I suggest you not lose this one in a fire." Harry groaned inwardly. Just how many people knew about it? He pocketed the two items and thanked the Head Goblin on his way out. As promised, his first stop was Ollivander's, though he did pause for a moment to gaze at the new Firebolt XS. He heard the familiar tinkling of the bells as he entered the dusty old shop, and the old wizard came from behind his shelves.
"Ah, Mr. Potter. Headmaster Dumbledore said you would be back. He told me of the terrible potions accident, and that you needed a new wand. Well, it is probably for the better, with the events of last month." Harry cringed, remembering the duel he had had with the Dark Lord, and finding out that brother wands were not meant to duel each other. The measuring tape set to its work, and soon, Harry found wands being thrust into his hand and out again.
"Holly, dragon heartstring, 7 ½ inches……no, don't think so……Mahogany, phoenix feather, 8 inches……no……Yew, dragon heartstring, 9 inches……not that one……hmmm……difficult you are, Mr. Potter. How about this? Cedar, 8 ½ inches, unicorn hair……don't think so……Yew, phoenix feather, 10 inches……not that one either…….my, my, my, you are proving a challenge Mr. Potter! Have no fear, we will find the right wand for you yet. How about this? Willow, unicorn hair, 7 inches…..guess not……here's a rare combination: Redwood, dragon heartstring, 8 ¾ inches." Harry sighed in relief as the familiar warmth, more pronounced this time, spread through him. Ollivander smiled warmly and congratulated Harry.
"It seems this wand is more perfect for you than the other. Perhaps it was You-Know-Who's connection with you that made the wand choose you. But no more worries, you have your rightful wand now! That will be 8 Galleons." Harry thanked and paid the man, then exited the shop quickly. That man had an uncanny ability to know you without you opening your mouth. As Harry made his way to Flourish and Blotts, he wondered if it was something that came to wizards in old age.
He entered and purchased his school books, as well as a few others on potion ingredients and charms. He purchased a new trunk, to carry everything easier. In it, he stuffed an entire new wardrobe, all the candy he could want, and all new quills, ink, and parchment. He even got himself a journal; Hermione had once told him that keeping a journal sometimes helped sort things out. He stopped to eat lunch in the Leaky Cauldron and chat with Tom for a while, and then made his way to Quality Quidditch Supplies. He checked how much money he had, and smiled at the thought of all new Quidditch supplies. Really, as a Seeker, he didn't need much; just gloves and a broom. He picked out his new gloves, and the storekeeper, recognizing him at once, offered to engrave his initials on them free.
Then Harry made his way over to the brooms. He told the clerk he wanted the fastest XS they had, and he smiled. He came back out with the best-looking broom Harry had ever seen. If Malfoy had been jealous of him with the Firebolt, he was really going to flip now. He smiled as the storekeeper came back with his personalized gloves, and thanked the man. He wandered over to the supplies section and noted all the books on Quidditch. One in particular caught his eye: 30 Seeker Drills to Improve Your Game. Harry smiled and grabbed it, as well as a Seeker Practice Kit. After paying for the items (nearly emptying his pockets in the process), he decided on one more trip to the bank. He grabbed enough money to last him through all the trips to Hogsmeade (if they were even going to be allowed this year) and respectfully asked to use the fire.
He Flooed back to the Headmaster's office, smiling. There seemed to be a conference of all the Heads of Houses and the Headmaster, and Harry apologized for interrupting.
"Not at all, Mr. Potter, we were just discussing prefects for next year." Harry nodded and handed the Headmaster the skeleton key, the tin can, and the pouch. "Thank you, Harry, and we have something to give you." The Headmaster nodded and McGonagall stood, smiling.
"Congratulations, Mr. Potter, you've been appointed a Gryffindor prefect." Harry held out his hand as his Head of House placed the small pin in it.
"Thank you, ma'am," he said, almost disappointed. McGonagall chalked it up to exhaustion, but another in the room knew better. The Headmaster eyed the potions master curiously; the boy's tone had not gone unnoticed by the Slytherin. Harry thanked them all again, apologized for interrupting, and took his things to his room.
He unpacked everything and settled down to read his new books. Tomorrow, he could spend all day trying out his new broom and Seeker Kit. For now, he occupied himself with The Encyclopedia of Potions Ingredients and Charms: A Look at Enchantments and Their Qualities.
A soft knock on his door drew his attention abruptly away from the book. He looked at the time and noticed it was almost time for dinner. He set his potions book down on the bed and rubbed his eyes.
"Come in," he stood as Professor Snape entered and closed the door behind him. He looked at the broom and raised his eyebrows.
"Had to buy the best broom, Potter?"
"Of course. Knowing Malfoy, he probably begged his father to buy the whole team Firebolts," Harry spat. At Snape's death glare, he lowered his eyes. "Sorry, I've just got a lot on my mind." Harry's mind was reeling at having Snape in his room and speaking with him civilly.
"You didn't seem too pleased at being made a prefect. Care to tell me why?" Harry's head shot up.
"Why are you being nice to me? You hate and despise me, yet you seem to be going out of your way to make me comfortable."
"Would you rather I leave you alone and ignore you? Because that's certainly possible." Snape made a move toward the door, but Harry stopped him with a shout. Snape turned to look at the boy, once again, out of his peripheral vision, and once again saw his image in the boy. He turned to the boy suddenly, causing Harry to flinch and shy away. Snape relaxed a little when Harry's features returned to normal, and furrowed his brow in thought. Harry sighed embarrassed and noticed his professor's curious expression.
"What is it, Professor?"
"How much do you know about charms?" Harry stood shocked at the abruptness of the question, but racked his brain for the answer. Wait, I have a book, he chided himself. He shrugged and picked up the Charms book off of his bed. Snape stepped closer to examine what the boy was doing.
"You actually bought books other than school texts?" Harry nodded and motioned to the pile on his bed. Snape saw the Quidditch book and snorted, but stopped short at the other. Potter had actually purchased a potions book and was reading it voluntarily. He shook his head disbelievingly as Harry sifted through the pages.
"What is it you want to know, professor?"
"Seeing through a charm, specifically a concealing charm." Snape sighed, mentally cursing every god he could think of if he was right. Damn Lily and her advanced charms, he thought. Harry soon found the section on disbelieving concealing charms and handed the book to his professor. Snape grabbed the book and skimmed the text.
As with any illusion, concealing charms may be disbelieved and the person under the charm may be revealed. The more advanced the charm, the harder it is to "see through" it, or disbelieve the illusion. Many charms cannot be seen through, and a few can only be disbelieved by close blood relatives.
Snape sighed audibly, causing the boy next to him to shift uncomfortably. Snape smirked; the boy couldn't stand not knowing. Snape grimaced inwardly, If I'm right, he won't want to know.
"Potter, have you ever had a blood test?"
"Sir?" Harry looked up at the potions master quizzically.
"A blood test, to prove that your parents were really who they said they were. It's standard practice for all pureblood wizard children."
"Maybe if my parents had lived, I would have," Harry sneered. "Why do they need to prove my parents were really my parents?"
"As I said, it's only done in pureblood families, to make sure the blood wasn't tainted. If somehow, a Muggle or Muggle-born had been polymorphed to look like a pureblood, the child would no longer be a pureblood, therefore all privileges and inheritances would fall to the next oldest child."
"But my mother was a Muggle-born witch, so I'm not a pureblood." Harry pulled the book from Snape's outstretched hand and slammed it on the bed.
"There's no need to get hostile. Sit down, and I will explain everything." Snape snapped his fingers and a house elf popped up.
"Yes sir?" Snape scribbled a note and handed it to the small creature.
"Go give this to the Headmaster. Tell him I said it is time." The house elf bowed and popped out. Harry sat down, mind stunned with possibilities. Snape turned away from the teenager and stood. He made his way to the door just as there was a knock. Snape turned to the boy with an eyebrow raised, and when Harry nodded, he opened the door. The Headmaster walked in and smiled warmly at Harry, who stood.
"Sir, what is going on?"
"Sit down, Harry, and Professor Snape will explain everything." Dumbledore handed the potions master a package and patted him on the shoulder. "Everything will be fine; you'll see." And with that, he left. Snape set the package down on the bedside table and took a seat in the chair. Harry sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for the tale.
"First of all, Mr. Potter, I must ask you to hear this in its entirety. Second, and this is a warning, what you will hear is going to contradict what you know of your parents. So if you do not want to hear it, say so now."
"Sir, knowing what I know is wrong would be torture. Tell me," Harry responded.
Snape nodded, he was expecting as much. He took the package and unwrapped it. Inside was a letter and a small orb. He tucked the orb away and set the letter beside him in the chair.
"I will start with your mother, as that will be easier. She was not a Muggle born as you were made to believe. She was a pureblood witch, from a prestigious family. She also had a fraternal twin brother, though they were separated in birth. Her true father did not want a girl as the eldest, and as Lily was older than the boy, he secretly left her with Muggles, not unlike you. Her brother was raised knowing his sister only through their mother, who was intent on searching the world for her lost daughter. When Lily got her letter from Hogwarts, she met her brother on the train, along with his friends, James Potter and Remus Lupin." He paused, letting the information sink in. Harry's eyes bulged as he realized the truth.
"So, Sirius is my uncle?"
Snape nodded and continued, "Yes, that's right. And so she fell in with the Marauders. She sat in my boat on the trip up to the castle, and we became instant friends. Until I was sorted into Slytherin. She didn't forget about me, but she was so busy with her newfound brother and his gang that she just didn't talk to me often. Until our third year, when we began tutoring each other. She helped me with charms and in turn I helped her with potions. Even James came to a few sessions, throwing in his transfiguration knowledge. Your mother and I were quite inseparable, and in our fourth year, I asked her to the Yule Ball." He paused again, letting Harry's brain catch up. He seemed to be processing this well, so he pressed on.
"From then on, your mother and I dated. After graduation, I proposed."
"What?!?" Harry shouted. Snape held up a hand and silenced him, though he had no doubt the boy was loathing him more every second.
"You promised to listen to its entirety first. After I finish my story, I will permit any question you wish." Harry nodded, silenced. "Your mother accepted my proposal and we were married, in secret of course. Ironically, James Potter was my best man, and Sirius gave her away, with a threat on the side to me." Harry chuckled a little at this, and Snape relaxed a little. If the boy was laughing, it was a good sign. "We were married only a short time, and the call of the Dark Lord interrupted us. Your mother was not appalled at my being a Death Eater, but her brother was. It is an ancient wizarding tradition that if another man claims his love for a woman within a month of her marriage, a family member can annul the matrimony. When Black found out what I was, he talked Potter into claiming his love for Lily, and Black annulled our union."
"That's why you hate Sirius and Dad so much. Because…"
"Because they ruined my life. With nothing left, I delved deeper into the darkness, and that night was my first cold-blooded murder. I took all the hatred I had for Potter and Black and poured into every hex and every curse I cast on the Muggle boy. It was so easy to mold the boy's features into Potter's visage, and thus take out my anger on him." Snape's voice had gotten softer, almost melancholy, and he looked into Harry's eyes expecting hatred and disgust, but only found sadness there.
"And since I look like Dad, you hate me, too."
"First of all, Mr. Potter, I do not hate you. I have no idea where you got such an absurd idea."
Harry snapped, "Perhaps it's the way you always treat me?"
"Have you ever seen me treat any Gryffindor better? Especially with Slytherins around? If they squeal, my position is compromised and I would be killed. Then the Order would have no spy. Now quiet, I've almost reached the end. This letter was sent to me 8 months after Lily's death, on our anniversary, and this orb was sent thirteen years later, the number of days we were wed. I don't know why she planned it that way, but I received this today. I have not looked at it yet, but from the clues of the letter, I believe I know what it contains. And it has to do with you as well. The letter tells of a secret, kept only by herself and her brother, but she does not say what. She involved Potter without his knowledge, using a series of complicated charms." Harry gazed into the orb.
"What is that?" he motioned to the silver sphere lying in Snape's hands.
"It is the vessel for a soul message. It can be programmed into anything to be delivered to a certain person upon your death. Lily must have cast a delaying charm on it."
"How do you activate it?"
"I will show you," Snape pulled out his wand and laid the tip of it upon the orb and spoke only one word, "Lily." The orb glowed deep purple, then shifted from scarlet to silver. Snape leaned in so Harry could see it better, and both wizards gazed into its depths. The colors swirled, and Lily's visage soon appeared. She smiled at them, her entire face lighting up with the motion.
"Hello Severus. First of all, I would like to apologize for my brother's actions, as I'm sure he's never done so himself. He was only doing what was in my best interest, or so he thought. As soon as I heard the news, you can be sure he never forgot the true strength of my power. But this is not the true reason for my message. I know it is not safe for you to know this now, but when this reaches you, I pray the Dark Lord is defeated. By now, you know of my son, Harry, and most likely detest him." The image chuckled, "Maybe that is too strong of a word, but unless he's a Slytherin, you probably don't like him. I don't know what you will be doing in thirteen years when you receive this, but hopefully it is meaningful and enjoyable for you. Perhaps Potions Master of the Ministry?" Lily's smile widened. "You never did like the Ministry anyway. Don't worry, Albus will help you; he's a good man.
"But you wish to know why I have chosen to send this message so far into the future. If you know of Harry, or even know him personally, you must think I gave up on us and turned to James. I must tell you now that this is not true. He is your son, Severus, concealed from all by many charms. I have sent specific instructions to Dumbledore in a similar message orb on the charms I cast and the counter-spells for those charms. I must go now, the duration of the spell is ending. Know this, my black knight: I love you, and always will, no matter what my brother says. I know you hate him and have every reason to do so; I will not try to sway you from that course. But do not hate Harry, for he is not a Potter, though I fear this is what the world will come to believe should I die. He was really never given a last name, upon my insistence that you would return for me. Though James did insist that he take his first name. According to James, the boy is Harry James Potter. In truth, he is Harry James Snape. Goodbye, my love, I will always be with you." And the image faded, leaving a lily in the center of the orb, perfectly preserved inside. Both were silent for a moment, taking in the shocking news. Snape, not sensing anything from the boy, stood and placed the orb on the bedside table. He folded the letter and tucked it into his robes, then walked to the door. He heard the boy stand, but Snape did not slow his exit.
"Wait," the boy's voice was soft, but firm. Snape paused at the door and turned, not saying anything. "You forgot the orb." Harry picked up the object and handed it to the older wizard. Snape took it from him, looking at him curiously. "She did send it to you, so it's yours." Snape nodded and left without a word. Harry watched the door close and proceeded to collapse on his bed. This day proved to be his most demanding ever. Not only did he get all new things, but he got a new identity as well. And family, he told himself, I have a father. Vowing to resolve this tomorrow, he fell asleep, dreaming, for the first time, of a real family.
Snape walked the corridors to his chambers, and upon entering, found the Headmaster sitting there. With only a sigh, Severus collapsed into the opposite chair.
"How did it go, Severus?"
Snape rubbed his forehead with his head, willing his growing headache to go away. "He didn't hex me, so I guess that's a good start. In fact, he didn't seem too put off by the whole thing."
"And what about you? What do you think?" The Headmaster studied his friend carefully.
"I honestly don't know what to think. Yesterday, in the library, I looked at the boy out of the corner of my eye, and he looked just like me. When I turned my head, he was back to being Potter. The same thing happened earlier today. It's actually what started this whole thing off in the first place."
"Yes, that was one of the more advanced charms placed on the boy. As a matter of fact, I believe you are the only one who can see him this way."
"Albus, I'm very tired. Could we discuss this in the morning? With Harry?" When there was no answer, he looked up to see the Headmaster smiling idiotically at him. "What?"
"You just called him Harry," Dumbledore pointed out.
"Well, it is the boy's name after all. I'd be daft to call him Michael." They shared a laugh and the Headmaster took his leave, after making Severus promise to come see him in the morning.