"You broke the bloody ship!" "It's always about you, isn't it?" ("Where are you going?") "To see if there's a pub." "So you managed to get your shirt off..." - coming from Snape? Holy shit... Sorry, it's Friday, I'm giddy. Happy reading.
Lana
That night, Harry went up to see Professor Dumbledore with his father. Severus had transformed him back to look like he had before, trying to reason with Harry's objections. He noticed a change in the way Harry acted towards him; not nearly as cold, and almost as if he wanted Severus to start acting like his father. The boy had been deprived most of his life of parents and couldn't wait to start having a father figure in his life.
Harry had also noticed a change in Severus- he was less cold towards other students, and positively warm towards him. It amazed him how much the man could change in a matter of 24 hours.
Before the two could knocked on the large oak doors, Dumbledore swung them open himself with a smile on his face.
"Severus, Harry. I've been expecting you." The two walked into his office, both only mildly surprised at Dumbledore's greeting.
"I assume you two are now at the very least talking?" he asked, sitting down behind his desk. Harry nodded and spoke before Severus got the chance.
"Headmaster… what am I supposed to call you?" he asked, squirming a bit uncomfortably.
Dumbledore laughed lightly , "Your Mother called me Papa, your grandfather called me Grandpapa, your great grandfather called me Granddad, your great-great grandmother called me Pa, and your great-great-great-grandfather called me Dad."
Harry thought for a moment, "Grandfather, until something a bit more… err…"
"Personal?" Dumbledore supplied.
"Thanks… until something a bit more personal comes along." Harry continued, "Actually, we – " he looked over towards Severus, " – have something to show you."
Dumbledore looked only mildly interested. "Go on."
Harry stood up and faced Severus, while he took out his wand and pointed at Harry. "Finite Incantatem!"
Harry immediately transformed into his true body once more this time welcoming the stretching of his bones and muscles. Once he felt it stop, he looked over at Dumbledore with a hopefully expression on his face.
"Well?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore was shocked. "Severus, you figured out how to reverse Lily's curse… He looks exactly like you."
"Scary, isn't it?" Severus chuckled.
Dumbledore shook his head once more, "It's amazing."
"I was wondering if I could just keep my Mum's curse off and stay like this?" Harry asked, his voice a bit deeper.
"Not at the moment, but once everyone knows, then I suppose it would be ok." Dumbledore smiled, "You still have her eyes though."
Harry grinned, flashing his now slightly crooked teeth. "I also want to change my name."
"Harry, give yourself a little time… This is all so sudden, give yourself a while to get used to it instead of jumping in head first."
"Headmaster, grandfather, sir… I have spent the past four years of my life hating my father and trying to remember a man that my mother hated. I realize all of this is sudden, but I trust her judgment more than anyone else's. If she thought he was worthy to be my Dad, then so be it… He's my Dad." Harry took in a deep breath, "I've never had a proper family. Even when James and my mother were married, he wasn't my proper father. I don't want to waste anymore time; I don't care about what ever kind of grudge I once had – it's gone. Fifteen years of not knowing, fifteen years of being deceived; I need to know."
Dumbledore put his head in his hands and thought. Severus could hear the rapid train of thoughts running through his mind at such a speed even he couldn't understand them. Finally a clear thought came through.
I>Severus, do you wish to partake in Harry's ideas?/I>
Severus nodded. "Yes."
Harry shook his head, "Can't you two just talk aloud?"
Dumbledore and Severus both chuckled; "Yes, he's definitely your son, Severus. But are you sure?"
"Sir, I'm 36 years old. When I was 21, when Lily died, I was too unstable and much too young. However, I have established a life for myself and I wish to bring Harry into it, if he is willing."
"Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"Grandfather… I want a family." Harry said quietly. "Please."
"Harry, to the world, you are the Boy Who Lived. Harry Potter, you, is known all over the world for doing something he had no control over. Harry Snape has never lived; he is not known, he has a past no one knows about, and is the product of a tangled web very few people on this Earth are aware of. Are you certain?"
"Harry Potter is a fake; Potter is a disguise to hide him behind because he didn't know the truth. He is the Boy Who Lived only because of his father – his real father. Harry Snape has lived for fifteen years without knowing his own family. Harry Snape is the reason Harry Potter ever existed. Although Harry Snape is the product of a tangled web no one knows about, Harry Potter is the product of an abusive man who didn't loved him or ever showed his wife any sympathy. Harry Potter has never existed; he has always been Harry Snape." Harry finished, a flicker of light in his eyes dancing.
"Are you sure?" Dumbledore repeated once more. "Once the truth is known, you can never go back."
"I am not Harry Potter, nor was I ever Harry Potter. I have always been Harry Snape; to you, to my mother, to my father, even to myself without realizing it. I want - … I need to know who I am."
"Very well." Dumbledore nodded, "Give me one week, then I promise you, you shall become Harry Snape and Harry Potter will cease to exist."
Both Harry and Severus smiled; "Thank you."
The two got up and left the room immediately after Severus changed his son back into Harry Potter. The two parted ways at the staircase near the end of the corridor after planning to meet the next day after classes were over. Harry was anxious to see Ron and Hermiones' reaction to the news of him becoming Harry Snape. He ran up to the painting of the Fat Lady and quickly mumbled the password (Dragon Blood), climbing in as soon as she swung her hinges open.
"Harry!" Ron exclaimed, dragging him up. "Where have you been? You missed dinner."
Harry shook his head, "Sorry, I was talking to – err – Professor Snape."
"Does he seem happy about the whole thing?" Hermione asked, the two dragging Harry into an empty corner of the Gryffindor common room.
"Surprisingly enough, yeah." Harry commented, "He seems… ecstatic, if you want to call it that."
Ron's eyes opened wide, "I don't think I've ever even seen Snape smile. Are you sure it wasn't your imagination?"
"Trust me, Ron." Harry grinned, "In one week, I'll be Harry Snape."
It was Hermione's turn to look flabbergasted. "Harry – Snape?"
"He even took off the curse that made me look like James." Harry grinned, "I look exactly like him, it's scary."
Ron shook his head, "This is going to take a lot of getting used to."
"Ron, be happy for me, please? I've never had any proper family in my life, and when I finally discover my father's been by me for nearly a third of my life now, I want to get to know him. You have both of your parents and a large family; you've never felt the sense of having no one to talk to. Sure, it's Snape, but why not? My Mum loved him, so he can't be all that bad. The reason he hated me was because he thought I was James' son, and even then he was trying to protect me. I need to get to know him, at least. It's going to be strange, I'll admit to that; but for once in my life, I have a family of my own. I'm happy; I have a father and a grandfather now, two people who are going to have to look after me… I'm tired of having to take care of myself all the time; I want someone to yell at me, someone to not let me do something just because he has the power to. I need this. Please?" Harry pleaded.
Ron sighed once more, "It's going to take a lot of getting used to, and I mean a lot."
Harry grinned, then turned towards Hermione. "Please?"
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. "How am I ever going to recognize you?"
Harry laughed, "That reminds me… Ron, I'm going to be taller than you now."
Ron looked horror-struck; "The midget in glasses, taller than me? Never!"
"Believe it." Harry grinned, "I'm almost 6 feet tall."
"Never, not until I see it. Even then, I'll make Mum magic me up a few inches."
"You'll still be even with me." Harry commented. "You're only 5'9."
"And a lovely 5'9 I shall stay." Ron smirked, "You're going to make this really hard on us, aren't you?"
"As hard as I can." Harry grinned, "And until then, you can call me a midget as many times as you'd like."
"Really?" Ron exclaimed happily, "Joy of all joys."
Hermione grinned, "Does this mean I'll be the shortest?"
"By about four inches, sorry 'Mione." Harry shrugged.
"6 feet? Good Lord…" Ron shook his head, "Never.
Never never never…"