Lana
Harry ran out of Dumbledore's office, not daring to look back. He ran through the Hogwarts corridors and up to the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Dragon Blood…" he panted, and then climbed in as she swung herself open. He ignored the stares he received from his fellow Gryffindors and went straight up to the 5th Year Boy dorms.
Ron Weasley, his best friend, was lying on his bed reading "Flying With the Cannons". He looked up as he saw Harry enter the room with a look of fury and betrayal.
"What's wrong with you?" Ron asked, sitting up.
"My life is ruined." Harry said forcefully. "I just found out everything I've wanted to find out for the past five years and far too much more."
"Such as?" Ron asked, eagerly leaning forward.
"I…" Harry paused. "You'd never look at me the same way again. You'd laugh at me, if anything."
Ron shook his head, "I could only think of one reason I'd laugh at you, Harry, and that's impossible."
"What is?" Harry asked, "Because right now, I don't think anything's impossible."
"Never mind, trust me, it's impossible." Ron commented. "So, are you going to tell me or do I have to get Hermione to magic it out of you?"
Harry shook his head, "Do you swear you won't say a word?"
"If you've committed murder, I can't promise anything." Ron shook his head gravely. "Other than that, tell me."
Harry drew in a deep breath. "My Mum and Snape were married."
Ron's eyes opened wide. "You're kidding?"
"That's not all," Harry admitted. "You promise you won't say a word, even to Snape or Dumbledore?"
"Why would I want to talk to Snape?" Ron asked in disgust. "I promise. Continue."
"My mum got pregnant when she was in her seventh year… Snape was the father. Voldemort killed the baby, though, before it was born."
Ron nearly choked, "You almost had a half sibling? And from SNAPE, at that?"
"It gets worse, trust me." Harry sighed, "They had to break up because of Voldemort threatening them, but they got married instead, right? So then, they stage a break up and Mum gets back together with my… James."
"Since when is he James?" Ron asked.
"You'll see." Harry repeated, "So, they get married while Snape and my Mum are still married. Turns out Mum slept with both."
Ron was slowly getting the picture. He dropped his book, but didn't bother picking it up.
"James was abusive. He hit my Mum a lot, and also raped her. I don't know why she stayed with him, but anyway…" Harry shook his head; "You have no idea how hard this is for me to say."
"Go on." Ron coaxed, "It can't be that bad."
"Yes it can." Harry sighed once more, "My own Mum didn't know if James or Snape was my father."
Ron fell off his bed, but quickly recovered.
"My Mum knew right before she died though. She loved Snape tons more than James… She wrote Snape a letter, and in it she said she cursed me to look like James Potter, even though Severus Snape's my father."
Ron's face turned white. "Snape… Professor Snape?"
"Dumbledore's my great-great-great-great grandfather, to top it off… On my Mum's side." Harry sighed, "The reason I didn't die that night is because Snape made Voldemort promise he wouldn't kill anyone except the Gryffindor line… James was the last heir of Gryffindor. My mother was the exception. So, when he tried to kill, he broke his promise to Snape without realizing it. The spell backfired and hit him, and you know the rest. Also, I guess the reason she cursed me is because she didn't know I would be the reason of Voldemort's downfall… She couldn't have a child that was supposed to be James' son and have him look exactly like Snape."
Ron was speechless. He sat on his bed, gaping at Harry for what seemed like hours. Finally, he opened his mouth.
"You have to tell Hermione."
"No!" Harry exclaimed, "Not yet. I'll tell her when I'm ready… I ran from Dumbledore and Snape earlier, I don't want anyone else finding out right now."
Ron nodded, then paused for a moment. "You know what this means?"
Harry shook his head, "No, what?"
"You're not Harry Potter… You're Harry Snape."
"Spare me." Harry fell back onto his bed. "That sounds terrible."
Ron grinned, "Sorry, Harry."
The next morning was the first time Harry had to face both Dumbledore and Snape – during breakfast in the Great Hall. As the three friends ducked into the Hall and made their way over to the Gryffindor table, Ron elbowed Harry in the ribs and nodded over to the High Table.
"They're both looking at you." Ron said. Harry shook his head, refusing to turn to the table.
"I don't want to look at either of them."
Ron nodded, understanding. Hermione took her place on the other side of Ron, leaving Harry closest to the High Table. He dared to look up there for just a moment, and when he did he saw Severus' eyes upon him. Dumbledore was leaning over to talk to Professor McGonagall and wasn't look at him at the moment.
"Oh God…" Harry groaned. "We have Double Potions today, don't we?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes. I heard you and Ron talking last night; Sorry, I just wanted to ask you if you were ok and I kind of heard the whole thing."
Harry shook his head, "That's fine. The whole school's going to know in a matter of days anyway."
"No they won't. Ron and I won't say a word, will we Ron?" Hermione glared at Ron as if trying to will him to agree.
"Yeah, we won't say a word, Harry." Ron agreed, looking back up towards the High Table. "Wonder what you would look like if your Mum hadn't cast that spell?"
"I don't think I want to find out." Harry said numbly. "Potions… Last class of the day?"
"You can't skip it, Harry. You're going to have to face him sooner or later."
"Ron, he's my father. I just found this out, after fifteen years of thinking otherwise. The one teacher I despise ended up giving me life… I don't know whether to hate him even more or just get over it and accept him."
Hermione shook her head, "If I were you, Harry, I'd just accept it. You can't change the past, so why don't you just go up to him and apologize? He has to forgive you, he's your father."
"It's not that easy, Hermione. Talking about it just hurts even more…" Harry sighed. "This is going to be one hell of a day."
The day went by at twice the normal speed, it seemed to Harry. History of Magic, Transfiguration, lunch, and Herbology went by much too fast. As we walked with a trembling body down to the dungeons with Ron and Hermione, he tried to will himself to die on the spot. Stepping into Professor Snape's classroom was harder than he had ever imagined. He quickly fled to his seat, surrounded by both of his friends. He didn't dare look up until Snape started attendance and reached his name.
"Harry Potter." With great difficulty, the name rolled off of Severus' tongue. He looked up to see the boy, trembling slightly, raise his hand, his eyes meeting his for a brief moment before quickly looking back down at his hands. Severus finished calling attendance, and then cleared his throat.
"Today we're going to be making a Memory Potion. There are many versions, and the one you'll be making is one of the better kinds. It can make you remember things you've long forgotten, some good, some bad. At the end of the class, I will be testing it on a volunteer." He continued, giving them a list of ingredients and instructions on making the potion.
As the class started, he walked around the room, commenting on various potions. He wasn't as hard on Gryffindors as he usually was; he knew they noticed. After nearly an hour, most of the potions were finished.
"Ok, who would like to volunteer?" To his surprise, Harry raised a shaking hand.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Ron whispered, poking his friend in the ribs.
"Mr. Potter… Are you certain?" Severus asked with an air of surprise.
"Yes." Harry nodded, his voice cracking a bit.
"Very well." Severus came over to his side of the room and inspected his potion. After a moment, he decided it was safe. Taking the goblet he held in his hands, he poured the boy a half a cup of the Memory potion. Harry took the goblet, nearly spilling it, and drank it down in one gulp.
She was screaming… Crying… He could hear her screaming… A bright purple light hit him; he could feel himself transforming… Finally, with a flash of green light, the screaming stopped. A new, quieter noise was coming from the window… He could hear a man yelling. The figure in the room turned towards him and pointed his wand. A beam of green light hit him on his forehead, but only cut him slightly. It rebounded on the figure, and with a flash of bright light, the figure disappeared. A few minutes later, he could feel the foundation of his home shake. Suddenly, he was falling… Falling… He could hear himself crying. A different cloaked figure fished him out of the rubble and held him in his arms for a moment – Severus Snape. Severus put him down and quickly fished Lily Potter's body out. Harry could see him take her hand in his lap, and he could both hear and see Severus sobbing.
He waited for what seemed like hours, eventually tiring of crying. A man twice the size of a usual man showed up and took him in his arms. He took one last glance at his Mum and Snape, him just sitting there crying. For a fleeting moment, he felt himself tear up, but he was taken away from the scene.
He opened his eyes with a start, looking around the dungeon with a new found terror. He then looked back up at Snape, who was starring at him with a strange expression on his face; worry, almost.
"Oh God… I heard her… I'm so sorry…" Harry choked. "It was terrible."
"So you do remember." Severus said quietly. "Class is dismissed. Harry, I would like to talk to you privately for a moment."
Harry nodded numbly, watching the rest of the class
disperse. He looked up at Snape once more, the sense of loneliness intensifying.