© Besnaped.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to JKR. Written in response to Severitus' challenge.
A/N: I either need a beta, or all you readers to point out my mistakes for me to correct, especially since English is not my first language. Thousand thanks to all who already did so and to everybody else who reviewed!
Chapter 2. Truth or Dare all over.
"Potter! Stay behind," Snape called at the end of the class after a bewildered Harry. What had he done wrong this time?!
With a wipe of a hand towards the door to his office, Snape wordlessly invited Harry in, following and settling himself behind a huge carved desk. "Sit down --" little pause, "Harry." Harry's brows shot up the ceiling.
Snape's tone was very grave and his expression lacked its usual sneer. "There is something I need to tell you."
Harry was stunned. This didn't seem about the class or any rule infraction that could be blamed on Harry. Snape would be only too happy to have an opportunity to get Harry expelled. He would be gloating, never sad. Whatever could have happened that it was so hard for his normally implacable Potions Master to break the news! Hell, he didn't even get angry when Harry failed to take a seat at the man's first request.
"First of all, let me explain my continuous behaviour or rather lack thereof towards you and your friends," Snape spoke and Harry didn't manage to detect any of his usual sarcasm in Snape's voice as much as he tried. "As you know, I have to keep appearances in front of my House, since many of them come from families loyal to your worst enemy, and it is not myself. You will understand that it would not be wise of me to fawn on the boy-who-lived under scrutiny of such an audience. I am far from hating you, but I could not let you know earlier, because they needed to see you also act on my charade rather than on my true feelings. I do not hope for forgiveness, but I must apologise nevertheless." He paused at that, watchful for Harry's reaction.
"I-I f-forgive you," Harry stuttered self-consciously, lowering his eyes under professor's expectant gaze. It felt so weird having his rigid teacher asking for forgiveness. He felt some power over Snape at that moment and couldn't bear it. Snape was the most imposing figure he could possibly imagine, and standing above him was decidedly a screaming sign that something was not all right with the world. He dreaded the professor's next words.
Snape groaned at Harry's complaisance, at Harry's uncertainty, at his own outright pathetic display of need to be understood and accepted by the boy. He did not know if he could continue with the rest of his confessions at once. Oh, he very well knew that this charade could not go on! The boy was living a life of lies and it was turning out that not even they were bringing any good. He'd hoped that removing himself from boy's life would make it a happier one, but instead he turned him in for a life of abuse. He should have checked on him, should have checked on his son. Now his son would have both: lies AND abuse. HAD have. He'd had to make sure not to commit another mistake with Harry, Merlin knows the boy had already had more than a fair share of pain.
"As you may suspect, there are several things concerning your existence that are being kept from you. The one I may no longer leave untold is bound to change your life forever, and I don't think it will be a sort of change you might welcome. No one would blame you if you prefer to never know for sure and continue with your life of blissful deceit, but if you must know the truth I want you to believe first that I for one do care for you and will do everything in my power to help you adjust, Harry." He wanted to reaffirm the sincerity of his words by calling the boy's given name.
Harry's mind was reeling. Was he dying of some incurable disease? Was he related to Voldemort? Was he going to be expelled? Why was it Snape telling him this? Could he believe him? "I choose the truth," he choked out, voice hoarse, eyes wide and hazed.
"Harry," Snape began but couldn't quite bring himself to continue. "Harry," he started once again, "Harry, I am your father."
Now Harry was convinced that he was dreaming. Sleeping and having a nightmare inspired by their game of the previous evening. He has still not woken up into a new day. Of course, that was now very obvious to him. First Snape forgets to be snide to him and even apologises, then practically asks to choose between truth or dare, and finally for the crowning touch claims being Harry's real father. Harry shook his head and pinched himself hard.
"If you are wondering whether you are dreaming, I assure you this is not a dream," Snape said with a trace of bitterness. 'Of course, having me for a father is no one's dream,' he silently quipped to himself. He sat there intent on the reaction of his son and became utterly terrified when all of a sudden Harry burst out laughing. "Out of Snape and Lockhart -- better Snape!" Harry forced out hysterically.
"The boy'd lost it," was all Snape could think. "The disgust and the shock were so much that he'd lost it."
Blinking out tears of laughter, Harry finally took in Snape's pained expression and suddenly had to grip the edge of the desk in front of himself to keep from accidentally falling forward in his chair and smashing his face on the dark wood of the desk. Snape was instantly behind his son, holding him by the shoulders while Harry tried to breathe. "You'll be all right. It's just the shock," Harry heard Snape whispering, voice trembling. And then he heard or saw nothing more.
A/N: All corrections, suggestions and comments are welcomed and begged for. Thanks for reading! Kiss and bow for reviewing! By the way, I really, REALLY NEED TO KNOW YOUR OPINION on this part, thanks!!
Oh, and read my other stuff also, people who'd done so said they liked it, so enjoy!
© Besnaped.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to JKR. Written in response to Severitus' challenge.
A/N: I either need a beta, or all you readers to point out my mistakes for me to correct, especially since English is not my first language. Thousand thanks to all who already did so and to everybody else who reviewed!
Chapter 2. Truth or Dare all over.
"Potter! Stay behind," Snape called at the end of the class after a bewildered Harry. What had he done wrong this time?!
With a wipe of a hand towards the door to his office, Snape wordlessly invited Harry in, following and settling himself behind a huge carved desk. "Sit down --" little pause, "Harry." Harry's brows shot up the ceiling.
Snape's tone was very grave and his expression lacked its usual sneer. "There is something I need to tell you."
Harry was stunned. This didn't seem about the class or any rule infraction that could be blamed on Harry. Snape would be only too happy to have an opportunity to get Harry expelled. He would be gloating, never sad. Whatever could have happened that it was so hard for his normally implacable Potions Master to break the news! Hell, he didn't even get angry when Harry failed to take a seat at the man's first request.
"First of all, let me explain my continuous behaviour or rather lack thereof towards you and your friends," Snape spoke and Harry didn't manage to detect any of his usual sarcasm in Snape's voice as much as he tried. "As you know, I have to keep appearances in front of my House, since many of them come from families loyal to your worst enemy, and it is not myself. You will understand that it would not be wise of me to fawn on the boy-who-lived under scrutiny of such an audience. I am far from hating you, but I could not let you know earlier, because they needed to see you also act on my charade rather than on my true feelings. I do not hope for forgiveness, but I must apologise nevertheless." He paused at that, watchful for Harry's reaction.
"I-I f-forgive you," Harry stuttered self-consciously, lowering his eyes under professor's expectant gaze. It felt so weird having his rigid teacher asking for forgiveness. He felt some power over Snape at that moment and couldn't bear it. Snape was the most imposing figure he could possibly imagine, and standing above him was decidedly a screaming sign that something was not all right with the world. He dreaded the professor's next words.
Snape groaned at Harry's complaisance, at Harry's uncertainty, at his own outright pathetic display of need to be understood and accepted by the boy. He did not know if he could continue with the rest of his confessions at once. Oh, he very well knew that this charade could not go on! The boy was living a life of lies and it was turning out that not even they were bringing any good. He'd hoped that removing himself from boy's life would make it a happier one, but instead he turned him in for a life of abuse. He should have checked on him, should have checked on his son. Now his son would have both: lies AND abuse. HAD have. He'd had to make sure not to commit another mistake with Harry, Merlin knows the boy had already had more than a fair share of pain.
"As you may suspect, there are several things concerning your existence that are being kept from you. The one I may no longer leave untold is bound to change your life forever, and I don't think it will be a sort of change you might welcome. No one would blame you if you prefer to never know for sure and continue with your life of blissful deceit, but if you must know the truth I want you to believe first that I for one do care for you and will do everything in my power to help you adjust, Harry." He wanted to reaffirm the sincerity of his words by calling the boy's given name.
Harry's mind was reeling. Was he dying of some incurable disease? Was he related to Voldemort? Was he going to be expelled? Why was it Snape telling him this? Could he believe him? "I choose the truth," he choked out, voice hoarse, eyes wide and hazed.
"Harry," Snape began but couldn't quite bring himself to continue. "Harry," he started once again, "Harry, I am your father."
Now Harry was convinced that he was dreaming. Sleeping and having a nightmare inspired by their game of the previous evening. He has still not woken up into a new day. Of course, that was now very obvious to him. First Snape forgets to be snide to him and even apologises, then practically asks to choose between truth or dare, and finally for the crowning touch claims being Harry's real father. Harry shook his head and pinched himself hard.
"If you are wondering whether you are dreaming, I assure you this is not a dream," Snape said with a trace of bitterness. 'Of course, having me for a father is no one's dream,' he silently quipped to himself. He sat there intent on the reaction of his son and became utterly terrified when all of a sudden Harry burst out laughing. "Out of Snape and Lockhart -- better Snape!" Harry forced out hysterically.
"The boy'd lost it," was all Snape could think. "The disgust and the shock were so much that he'd lost it."
Blinking out tears of laughter, Harry finally took in Snape's pained expression and suddenly had to grip the edge of the desk in front of himself to keep from accidentally falling forward in his chair and smashing his face on the dark wood of the desk. Snape was instantly behind his son, holding him by the shoulders while Harry tried to breathe. "You'll be all right. It's just the shock," Harry heard Snape whispering, voice trembling. And then he heard or saw nothing more.
A/N: All corrections, suggestions and comments are welcomed and begged for. Thanks for reading! Kiss and bow for reviewing! By the way, I really, REALLY NEED TO KNOW YOUR OPINION on this part, thanks!!
Oh, and read my other stuff also, people who'd done so said they liked it, so enjoy!
© Besnaped.