Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.

That evening, Severus stared into the fire in his fireplace, the journal loosely held in his hands. Lily had been under the Imperius curse. That was why she had broken up with him. How could he have not seen it? And Potter – no, Harry. Harry was his. Oh, Lily, he thought brokenly. She wrote of how she had been finally able to fight off the curse, how she had told James the truth and he had said to wait for Voldemort to be destroyed before telling Severus the truth.

James had probably been right, Severus thought grudgingly. He had been so angry after Lily had left him that if she had tried to talk to him once he became a death eater, he likely wouldn't have listened. And she would have been in danger from Bellatrix. Of course, he had turned from the death eaters and become a spy for the Order but there was no way for Lily to have known that. He wished she had. He had been a fool to let his anger and hurt push him towards joining Voldemort. Bellatrix, he seethed. At least she was in Azkaban, hopefully suffering greatly. If it wasn't for her, he would have been with Lily and his son. Severus shook his head. His son. He had a son! Merlin, how was he going to be a father to a boy who hated him? His son was so angry...he definitely has my temper, Severus thought ruefully. He remembered what Harry had said before, about his father not being a good man...he winced. Those words had confused him then but now...Merlin, he had been so petty and mean to the child, so Harry had a good reason to dislike him. Of course, the child had been rude and disrespectful right back. He must be so confused, he thought sadly. He starts school knowing his father is here and then I treated him so badly. They would need to talk and soon. They needed to mend things between them so their relationship could grow. I have a son, Severus thought proudly. He then frowned. A reckless, brave, impulsive son who detested him. Yes, they definitely needed to talk. But first...

Severus got up and tossed floo powder into his fireplace. "Albus Dumbledore's office!" He stepped in and disappeared into the green flames.

HP

"You had no idea?" Severus asked after telling Dumbledore the truth.

"No, none," Dumbledore said, shaking his head. "Merlin, poor Lily. And poor James." He sighed. "If only I had known, Harry would have been with you instead of his relatives."

"His relatives," Severus said slowly. "He was left with Petunia." His eyes darkened, remembering what Minerva had told him. "She hated Lily. Am I to assume she treated Harry as badly as she did Lily?"

"Worse, I'm afraid," Dumbledore said. "I read through the diagnostic Poppy took of him, as she does with all first years. The Dursleys neglected Harry and there were several past injuries found that seem suspicious."

"I want to read the diagnostic," Severus said stiffly. If the Dursleys had hurt his son, they would pay.

"Of course," Dumbledore nodded. He hesitated. "How do you plan to proceed with this? We can keep it a secret -"

"No," Severus said firmly. "That would not be fair to Harry. It will be hard enough building a relationship with him, making him keep it a secret will make it all but impossible."

"But your spying -"

"I'm sorry, Albus. I can not spy for you." Severus said calmly. "If I did, not only would we have to keep it a secret that I am Harry's father but also I would have to be seen treating him cruelly in public. No, I will not do that to him. Harry comes first."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "I understand, Severus. You're right. Of course, we will have to discuss how to precede. The public will be...well, shocked."

"It's none of their business," Severus said dismissively.

"It's not but Harry Potter is a very well-known name," Dumbledore said carefully. "This needs to be handled carefully."

"What do you suggest?"

"I'll let Cornelius Fudge know first and then perhaps we can have someone from the prophet write an article on what happened," Dumbledore said thoughtfully.

"Not Rita Skeeter," Severus said distastefully.

"No, of course not. Someone more trustworthy, I would think." Dumbledore chuckled.

HP

The next day was a Saturday and Severus summoned Harry to his office right after breakfast. He had waited since last evening, hoping for the child to have a chance to calm down. It had been difficult, he had wanted to go to the Tower and retrieve his son, talk things out. But then he thought it would be better to give Harry time to cool down, as well as he was still trying to wrap his head around everything. And he could admit to being nervous, this boy was his son and he needed to make it up to him that he hadn't been there for him, that he had treated him so disdainfully. Also, he needed to see to a project in his quarters. A surprise for his son.

Harry entered Snape's office and automatically began walking to where the cauldrons were stacked up, waiting to be washed. He hoped he just had detention for his outburst yesterday and that Snape hadn't read the journal. He didn't want to talk about what was in it. There was no point, the man hated him.

"Potter, come sit down," Severus said, inwardly wincing at the use of the surname. It was a reflex he would need to overcome. The boy was not a Potter but a Snape.

Harry hesitated and then trudged over the chair in front of the desk. He sat down and looked at Snape nervously. "Did you read it?" He asked after a moment.

"Yes."

"And?" Harry held his breath. Was this the moment Snape said he didn't want him for a son? Not that he didn't already know that but to actually hear his own father actually say it...

"I wish I had known sooner," Severus said honestly.

"You do?" Harry asked in surprise, his eyes flying up to Snape's.

"Of course I do. I wish I had known what had happened to your mother, I wish I had known I had a son who needed me." Severus said, keeping his gaze on his son.

"Even though you hate me?" Harry asked incredulously.

Severus clasped his hands together. "I do not hate you."

"Liar," Harry muttered.

Severus pointed at him. "I admit I detest your attitude at times. Stop with the disrespect." He warned.

Harry shrank in his chair, shame filling him. "Sorry." He murmured. He wasn't usually so cheeky with adults, even the Dursleys.

Severus nodded. "Now, I do not and did not hate you. However, you reminded me of your mother and the man I thought she had left me for so I admit that I did not treat you very kindly." He hid a smile at the huff his son gave. "I was angry and I took it out on you and for that, I am very sorry. Perhaps we can start over? Could you give me another chance?" He held his breath as he waited for an answer. He wouldn't blame the child if he said no.

"Okay," Harry said, relief filling him. This was what he had been hoping for but he hadn't thought it would ever happen. He fiddled with his glasses, which were slipping down his nose.

He's so forgiving, like Lily, Severus marveled. He studied his son closely. Now that he was really looking at him he could see that Harry did not resemble James Potter at all. His eyes and nose were all Lily, his hair was black like Severus's, not dark brown like James's had been. It had a tousled, messy look but Severus's own hair had been like that when he was younger. Harry had his chin and cheekbones. The need for glasses had likely been inherited from Lily's father, who had also worn glasses. "If you ever want your eyesight fixed, let me know." He offered as he saw Harry once again adjust the pair he wore.

"Really? You can do that?" Harry asked eagerly.

"Of course, child. It's up to you. Your mother's father wore glasses. I remember him complaining that they always slipped down his nose no matter how many times he got it fitted." Severus said, smiling as he remembered Lily's parents. They had been very kind to him as a child, never judging him for having old, mismatched clothes and a drunk father.

"Yeah, it's annoying. They fall off and break, and it's so hard to see if you're in the rain..." Harry shrugged. "Would it hurt? Having my eyes fixed?" He asked after a moment.

"No," Severus answered. It wouldn't hurt or take long but for most, the potion for the eyes was expensive and only a few healers knew how to do it, which was why many witches and wizards just wore their glasses. It was a spell that could go very wrong and cause permanent blindness if not done accurately but he knew how to do it and of course, he could provide the potions needed. He wanted to give to his son, to do things for him. Which reminded him of the project he had been working on. "I would like to show you my quarters." He said. "I consider them home and hope you will too. I also have a house as well, although I rarely go there."

"Home?" Harry whispered, not realizing he said it out loud.

Severus felt his heart clutch at the hope he could hear in that one word. "Would you like to see our quarters, Harry?"

Harry looked at him and nodded, a smile spreading across his face.

Severus realized his son also had Lily's smile, it lit up his whole face. He couldn't help but smile back.

HP

"This is the sitting room and through there is the kitchen," Severus said, gesturing to a doorway. He led him down a small hallway. "This is my room, please do not enter without my permission. And this door here is always locked as it is my own personal potions lab. Do not ever enter without me. If I am in there and you need me, tap your wand on the door and say, 'Pulset'."

"Okay." Harry agreed.

"And this here," Severus led him to a door. "Is your room." He opened the door. This was the project he had been working on.

Harry walked in and his eyes went wide. The room was done in maroon and gold with touches of dark green here and there. The bedspread was a deep maroon color with gold and green pillows. There were Quidditch posters on the walls, a dresser, and a wardrobe as well as a bookshelf. Tears filled Harry's eyes, he couldn't help it. A real bedroom, done especially for him. His father had given him a bedroom. Impulsively, he wrapped his arms around his father. "Thank you." He whispered.

Severus stiffened for a minute, not used to being hugged. But then he relaxed and put his arms around his son. "You're welcome." He said gruffly.

HP

Harry had spent several hours with his father, asking questions about when had met his mother, asking him what he had been like as a kid, asking about potions...

Severus felt exhausted but happy. Not since Lily had he talked about himself so much. His son wanted to know everything about him and Severus had asked his own questions, although Harry had evaded questions about his childhood. Looks like I'm not the only one tired, he thought in amusement. Harry had fallen asleep on his sofa. He gently lifted his son into his arms, frowning at how light the boy was. He carried him to Harry's room, laying him on the bed. He covered him with a blanket and took his glasses off, putting them on the bedside table.

He set a ward to let him know when Harry woke and then flooed to the infirmary. He and Poppy needed to talk.

HP

"I can't believe this," Pomfrey breathed after Severus finished telling her everything. "You are Harry's father?"

Severus nodded. "The truth will be made public, Albus is seeing to it."

"Oh Severus," Poppy said sympathetically. "How horrible. I can't imagine the pain you went through."

"Somehow I have a feeling it's nothing compared to what my son has been through," Severus said. "I would like to see the diagnostic you ran on him. Albus mentioned it."

Poppy nodded and summoned the parchment. "Yes, I immediately told him what I discovered. I knew the child could not return to his relatives, although Albus..." She hesitated. "He insinuated that Harry would have to. I didn't push it because summer is months away but I did intend to talk to Minerva about it."

Severus frowned. He knew the blood wards protected Harry from death eaters but to knowingly send a child into an abusive home? "Harry's home is with me now." He read through the diagnostic, his eyes darkening. "This is completely unacceptable!" He hissed.

"I know." Poppy said softly.

Severus felt a fury like he had never felt before filling him. His son had clearly been neglected the moment he had entered the Dursley's home. Extremely malnourished, burns, sprains, a broken ankle, a fractured arm, a concussion... "My, what a clumsy son I have." He said sarcastically.

Poppy nodded, a grim look on her face. "Yes, I'm sure that's what his relatives said if they were ever questioned about his injuries."

"He needs to gain more weight," Severus said, his eyes still on the diagnostic. "And get his vitamins...does he eat healthily?"

"I don't know," Poppy said with a small smile at the worried look on his face. "I told him I would have a nutritive potion added to his meals but I do not know whether he actually drinks it."

"If he doesn't, he will now," Severus said firmly. "I'll make sure of it."

"Good." Poppy grinned. She was proud of Severus, he was taking to fatherhood quite well. It should be quite a journey for both of them.

HP

After Harry had woken up, he'd gone back to the Tower to pack some of the things that he wanted to keep in his new bedroom. His dad had asked him to spend the night in their quarters and Harry had eagerly agreed. He also couldn't wait to tell his friends about it.

"Harry, I think it's so wonderful," Hermione said happily.

"So you just forgave him for being a git?" Ron asked incredulously.

Harry shrugged and nodded. "Yeah. He said he was sorry and he said he wanted to start over. He even had a bedroom made up for me in his quarters. It's brilliant!"

"It's just a bedroom," Ron rolled his eyes.

Harry looked at him evenly. "The Dursleys never gave me my own bedroom."

"What?" Hermione asked in surprise. "Where did you sleep?"

Harry could feel his cheeks heat up from embarrassment. "The cupboard under the stairs. When I got my Hogwarts letter, they gave me my cousin's second bedroom but it was pretty bare except for Dudley's broken toys."

Hermione and Ron stared at him in horror.

"They made you sleep in a cupboard?" Hermione whispered.

"They never wanted me," Harry shrugged.

"But they're your family," Ron said in confusion.

"They hate magic and anyone magical," Harry told them. "My Aunt didn't like my mum, she called her a freak. She said she knew I would be a freak too."

"Oh, Harry. They sound completely horrid." Hermione said sadly. "At least you don't have to go back to them."

"Yeah," Ron said, realizing why Harry had so easily given Snape a second chance. Why the simple act of giving him a bedroom meant so much to Harry. "What gits they are, to treat you that way. I'm glad you have something better now...even if it is Snape."

Harry grinned as Hermione shoved Ron.

"Hey!" Ron protested. "I'm being supportive."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

HP

Harry was laying on the floor in the sitting room, looking through a Quidditch magazine while his dad sat in a sofa chair, looking through some papers.

"Your grades need major improvement."

"What?" Harry looked up.

Severus waved a parchment in the air. "I have a progress report of your grades and there are several I am not pleased about." He said seriously.

Harry's mouth dropped open. "You – you can't look at my grades!" No one had ever cared about his grades before!

"As your father and professor, I dare say I can. If you wish to remain on the Quidditch team -"

"You can't take me off the team!" Harry yelled in panic, shooting to his feet. "You mean, old -"

Severus slammed his hand on the arm of the chair he was sitting in. "Enough! Watch how you speak to me, Harry." He warned in a low voice.

Harry shut his mouth, flushing with embarrassment.

"As I was saying, if you wish to remain on the team then you need to keep your grades up." Severus continued.

"My grades are fine." Harry protested. Well...

"Not by my standards." Severus glanced at the parchment. "So far you have an E in Defence and Charms which is very good. An A in Astronomy and Herbology, both of those will need to be brought up. In Transfiguration and History of Magic, so far you have a Poor and a Dreadful in my class." Severus looked at him sternly.

"Your class doesn't count. You breathe down my neck, yell at me, and made me nervous." Harry defended himself.

"Indeed? Well, that will naturally change." Severus said, knowing there was truth to that. "I will try not to make you nervous but if I see you making a mistake or coming to class unprepared, you best believe I will be saying something about it. What is your excuse for the other classes?"

"Well," Harry bit his lip. He had been helping to research Flamel and what Fluffy could be hiding, which meant he had slacked off in his other classes. But he couldn't tell his father that. "Astronomy and Herbology I can do better in." He admitted. He just didn't put much work into his homework but he could.

"I agree. And you will."

"History is so boring I can't concentrate. And Transfiguration is really hard and I get frustrated." Harry sighed.

"I remember thinking the same about History," Severus said with a nod. "Do you take notes during that class?"

"Uh, no," Harry said. He was usually falling asleep in that class.

Severus frowned. "You need to take notes. You should be doing it in all your classes but with History, it helps you focus if you follow along with the lecture as well as prepare for your upcoming exams. I can tutor you in Transfiguration." He told him. "It is complex magic and one of the hardest subjects to learn, a lot of students struggle with it. I'd like to review the notes you take for your other classes to make sure you are doing them properly. And they better be legible otherwise you will be redoing them."

"No one has ever cared about my grades before," Harry muttered.

"Well, now you have someone who does," Severus said briskly.

Harry hid a grin. He couldn't help but feel good that someone, other than Hermione, cared that he did well. And his father offered to tutor him which meant he didn't mind spending time with him.

"We will go over some potions in my lab as well," Severus said. "I never gave you a chance to take to the subject, I'd like to give you one now. I need to make some pepper-up potion for the infirmary, you can assist me."

Harry's eyes brightened. "Okay." He agreed happily. Now, this is how he had imagined it, having a father. Someone who cared about him and helped him with homework and spent time with him. This is all that he had ever wanted.

TBC: The truth becomes public, Harry and Draco fight...