Lana
"Harry, your father was killed because he had Godric Gryffindor's blood running through his veins. Lord Voldemort is the last remaining ancestor of Salazar Slytherin and therefore devoted to killing the Gryffindor line." Dumbledore said, pausing for a moment. "Your mother was killed because she was trying to protect you."
"Yes, yes… I've heard the story before, Headmaster." Harry said a bit stiffly, "Is that why Lord Voldemort tried to kill me? Because I'm the last remaining heir of Gryffindor?"
"Yes and no, Harry. Currently, all Voldemort is trying to do, I assume, is pay back old debts; he believes he owes you your death, and therefore is dedicated to fulfill it." Dumbledore said quietly. "However, that was his reason for trying to kill you that night."
Harry nodded, "But why didn't he just kill my Mum and get it over with? He doesn't seem like the type to be sympathetic."
"Because," Severus said with an air of disgust, "your mother was the most important thing in the world to me. To lose her was to lose one of his most supportive, faithful, or so he thought, Death Eaters. To him, this was the same as losing an important city to a country. He feared it would begin his downfall."
"So you were protecting my Mum?" Harry said quietly, daring to look at Severus for the first time.
"Yes. I heard her last words – her last thoughts."
"How… Thoughts?" Harry asked, slightly miffed.
Severus cleared his throat, "I can read minds, Harry. I transferred my gift, which was given to me by Lord Voldemort, to your mother. That is how we communicated."
"She… My Mum could read minds?" Harry asked, amazed. "Wow."
"She made the mistake of telling your father that the night before they were killed. Under the Filedius Charm, only Peter Pettigrew knew where they were. It hurts to think of what James might have done to Lily." Severus sighed, "She also told him we were married; Afterwards, she did not contact me for nearly 24 hours. I was terrified something had happened to her… I tried to warn her before it was too late, but she wasn't listening.
"That night, I stood guard at your home and watched James Potter die. I felt no sympathy for him; you might think I'm a monster, but you have no memories of what he was truly like. You hear stories from friends that only want to remember the good things, never the bad. Remus Lupin knew about your mother and I – he kept our secret. James Potter was a true monster; he didn't love you mother, he only wanted an heir – you.
" I watched as Voldemort went upstairs to where you were with your mother. She was finally listening to me; I tried to convince her to put you down, but instead she cast what we all believe to be the counter curse to Avada Kedavra, which only she and your father knew. I pleaded with her to leave you, to give you up and to live, but she refused. She wanted a baby so badly; you were her child, Harry, you meant more to her than life itself. I heard her die; I heard her last thoughts, I heard her screams of terror. I heard her. The thought still haunts me, even to this day. After she died and Voldemort disappeared, all the Death Eater vanished. I, however, felt such intense emotion I destroyed your home. When a wizard is feeling intense emotion, he has capabilities beyond his normal standard, as I believe you've experienced before. I fished you out of the rubble and set you down, but then went to find Lily's body. I was emotionally dead. I was holding my wife's body in my arms, knowing she wasn't coming back… It was terrible."
Severus stopped, forcing the tears in his eyes to stay within his body. Dumbledore cleared his throat, and then continued where Severus had left off.
"I found Severus and your mother four hours later. Hagrid took you to your aunt and uncle's home while I attended to the bodies and Severus. He was taken back here, and the next year made Potions Master.
"Before your mother died, she left Severus a letter explaining some things he had not yet known. Before I tell you these things, I must make you understand something, Harry. Your mother and Severus were married- legally and emotionally bonded. Your father and mother were only together for the sake of Lily and Severus' life. Along with marriage comes certain expectations, including intercourse. Your father was brutal when it came to that subject and your mother. She often couldn't attend classes due to soreness or injuries, as I later found out. What you must understand, Harry is that your mother and father's marriage was not out of love, nor emotion. It was out of necessity. Severus and your mother were a true couple, but due to Voldemort, could not be seen in public together. Do you understand?"
Harry nodded slowly, the ideas slowly seeping into his mind.
"Harry, sometime in the two weeks you were conceived, your mother and I spent a few days together. Yes Harry, like that." Severus watched with amusement as the expression on his face quickly changed from awe to disgust. "It was not known if James or I was your father."
Harry looked horrified. "What? You… you're kidding me?"
Severus shook his head, "I almost wish I was. However, your grandfather here knew, as he was the one to confirm Lily's pregnancy. He also knew you were going to be a boy. Lily had both James and I give her a list of names, both boys and girls. What I thought had happened was these lists were sent directly to Dumbledore. However, Lily was also aware of the gender of the baby – you – and picked out one name from each list. Harold being on mine, James being on… well, James'. She shortened my name to Harry and used James, telling your grandfather which name she had chosen."
Dumbledore set his hand on Severus' shoulder and then picked up where he had left off. "I knew who your father was and I told Lily before she went into hiding. I forbad her to tell either of the two, as James did not know of the controversy and Severus had not asked or expressed desire to know towards me. As I have told you before, your mother wrote a letter to Severus the week before she died. Severus read it just before you came in-"
"Fifteen years of unanswered questions, Harry, in one letter." Severus held up the yellow piece of parchment. "I now know for certain who your father is. I also know the answers to questions I've never asked, just always assumed."
Dumbledore cleared his throat, "Harry, the night before you were attacked, Severus made a deal with the Dark Lord. Voldemort promised that only the heirs of Gryffindor would be killed that night – the exception being your mother, if she refused to leave. It was as good as his deal was going to get. Lily was listening to Severus while he was making the bargain with Voldemort.
"Harry, she cast a spell on you moments before she died – until now, we have all assumed it was a counter curse to Avada Kedavra. However, as she writes, it was not."
Severus then held up the letter and started reading:
"Dearest Severus,
I'm afraid I will never get to see you again. Voldemort will find us, I am sure of it. Until I am out of hiding, I will not be able to see you, and I will not be out of hiding until Voldemort is killed. I am sure you are trying your hardest.
Severus, no matter who Harry's father is, he will grow up to look like James. Before I die, I will make sure of it. Papa tells me he will inform me of who the father is before James and I are hidden. I'm scared it will be you, but even more terrified it will be James. I do not want my son growing up to be like that monster; he has far too much potential for it. Please, no matter what the outcome, make sure he is safe."
Severus stopped there. "The rest is fairly personal, and if you wish I shall read it to you later on. However, the spell cast that night was not the counter curse; it was a spell to make you an exact replica of James, save your mother's eyes. You look exactly like James did, exactly. Down to your stance, your posture, your way of moving; he is there constantly. That is why I was certain he was your father. I did not know of the spell yet."
Dumbledore started speaking once again; "Harry, before she finished this letter, I told her who your father was. The very last line is key. Do you want to know?"
Harry was dumbfounded. He knew it was a possibility
Snape was his father, but an equal chance James Potter – the man he believed
was his father for his whole life – was. To him, it was a 50/50 chance.
He slowly nodded, "Yes. I also want to hear the
rest of the letter."
Severus nodded and held it up again, once more starting to read.
"I do not want my son growing up in a world where you are a cause, no matter how little, of destruction. Leave the Death Eaters, I beg you. Make sure before you die, you are completely free of their reign. I love you, Severus. It amazes me how much sometimes. My last thought will be of you – hopefully, you will be listening. When my life flashes before my eyes, all I want to see is you. James was not my life, and Harry has only occupied the past year. You are my all: my past, my present, and hopefully my future. Even if I do not live much longer, you will be my future. Never forget me, Severus, but move on after I'm gone. I'll always be with you and I want to see you happy – I need to see you happy."
Severus cleared his throat, struggling with the tears
that were forming in the corner of his eyes. "And please, Severus, whatever
you do… take care of our son."