Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related is the property of J.K. Rowling and anyone else who has claim to a piece of Harry's fame
Disclaimer 2: I own the plot and Saerry Snape. Nothing more, nothing less.
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A warm thank you to everyone that's reviewed and here's the next chap! Harry and Sev coming right up! J
Chapter 23
**Father to Son**
Harry woke to find himself in the hospital wing. It took him a second to remember why he was there. Looking to his right he saw Hermione still asleep and Draco beyond her, a bunch of bandages clustered over his nose. Then he turned to the left and saw his father propped up on his elbows, watching him coal black eyes.
Harry sprang to his feet and said, "Professor!"
Snape gave a glimmer of a smile and said, "Sit down Harry. I find it's much more comfortable than standing up." He looked down at his blanket covered legs and added, "Or laying down."
Harry sank back down into his seat slowly and thought Did he just call me Harry?
Snape sat up further in the bed, pain flashing across his face as he did. Harry was up before he knew it and helped Snape sit all the way up with his pillow propped up behind him. Snape stared at him the entire time; wonder flickering in his cold eyes. Harry ducked his head, embarrassed, and quickly sat back down.
There was silence until Snape said, "Thank you," causing Harry to look up and blink in surprise.
Another long silence stretched out between them. Then Snape said, "So, you're my son." Harry nodded meekly in reply, his eyes focused on the floor.
"Harry."
Harry looked up and met his father's eyes. After a moment he looked away and said, "I'll understand if you don't want me." He didn't see Snape blink or slowly reach out a hand to touch his shoulder then draw it back.
"Harry, look at me."
Harry looked up again and Snape smiled, a real, true smile. He said, "Look boy, I'm not the best person in the world and the last one a sane person would look to as a father. But . . . " Snape paused then continued, "I'm willing to try and be one. If you want me to that is."
He waited for Harry to reply but when Harry didn't Snape said, "Unless you'd rather live with those relatives of yours. What're they're names?"
"The Dursley's."
"Yes them."
There was another moment of silence in which Severus studied Harry's bowed head and averted gaze. The long, dark hair, so much like his own, hid the boy's face, which was also like his own. He looked so much like himself yet so much like his mother as well.
Severus sighed and said, "I guess that's a no then."
Harry looked up, his eyes wide. "No?"
"You don't want to stay with your relatives?"
Harry shook his head vigorously and mumbled, "They're horrible."
Severus leaned forward and instantly regretted it as pain lanced up his side gain. He clenched his teeth against it them noticed Harry looking at him, a worried look on his face. Forcing a smile he asked, "Worried?"
Harry nodded in reply and Severus asked, "Why?"
"I don't know."
"Ah."
Silence fell again as Severus leaned back, looking at Harry out of the corner of his eye. Harry was watching him with the same green eyes that sometimes haunted him in his sleep.
"So, what do you intend to do?"
Harry shrugged and said, "I don't know."
Severus sighed. "Well, I want to know what problem you have with your relatives. You probably look forward to going home every summer don't you?"
Harry looked up at Snape like he was a madman.
"They hate me."
Severus blinked and thought His own relatives hate him? He asked, "Why?"
Harry closed his eyes and replied, "'Cause I'm a wizard. My aunt hated my mom too. They're always . . ." He paused and turned his head away.
"What? What are they always doing?" asked Severus, a quaver in his voice. He reached out and gently grasped Harry's chin, turning the boy's face back to him. In a soft voice he asked, "What do they do to you, Harry?"
"They . . . they beat me."
"WHAT?!"
Severus let out a bellow that made Madam Pomfrey glare at him from her desk and Hermione shift in her sleep. He leaned towards Harry, completely ignoring the pain in his side, and hissed, "When?"
Harry looked at him in fear and mumbled, "Whenever they're angry at me. Normally my uncle does it."
"Why haven't you told Professor Dumbledore?"
"I – I was afraid I'd be sent to an orphanage."
Severus' expression softened. It made sense that Harry wouldn't have wanted to be sent to an orphanage. He already had enough things in common with the Dark Lord and he obviously didn't want anything else.
After a moment Severus softly said, "I will talk to the Headmaster about getting you out of there."
Harry looked shocked and cried, "No!"
Severus grasped his chin again and forced Harry to look at him. "Harry, have you heard nothing I've said? I'm willing to give being a father a go." He smiled slightly and assed, "If you want me to."
Harry's face brightened and he breathed, "Really?"
"Yes."
"Of course! But, what should I call you?"
Severus sighed and replied, "We'll just go with Professor for now Harry." He smiled and said, "Though you know this doesn't change how I act to you in class."
Harry smiled back and nodded. "I know."
Severus reached out on impulse and ruffled the dark hair, causing Harry to grin up at his father.
What neither of them knew was that Draco was lying awake one bed away, listening to them.
A/N: Well, that's that. Now on to chapter 24. *blinks several times from reading her horrid writing then moves on*