© Besnaped.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to JKR. Written in response to Severitus' challenge.
A/N: TO ARIANA DERALTE: I'm eternally grateful for your betaing!
A/N: TO TEIGRA: Thanks for offering being my beta!
A/N: TO EVERYONE: If you feel like something needs correcting, by all means do let me know!
A/N: TO ALL MY REVIEWERS: Guys, your reviews is what impulses me to write. You have only yourselves to thank for my updates. I trust you already know what to do if you want another update soon.
A/N: TO THE REST OF THE READERS: And you, why haven't you reviewed? Don't you like it? Well, then never mind. I'm sorry.
Chapter 4. I Dare you to the Truth!
Some moments later Harry found himself sitting again in front of Snape's desk with Snape behind it. Harry's face was dry once more and Snape appeared as unmoved as ever, making Harry wonder for a split second whether anything of what has just happened in this very room, had indeed happened.
Snape considered sitting in front of Harry on the same side of the desk, but immediately decided against it. He'd given too much ground already. Yes, he was Harry's father, and yes, his hate towards Harry was merely an act for Death Eaters' benefit. But not all of his everyday behaviour was a facade. He indeed had a dark sense of humour nourishing his innate sarcasm, he strongly believed in discipline, preferring punishments to rewards, was of markedly asocial nature and could be found in a foul brooding mood more often then not. He was still Harry's teacher; with a reputation to maintain. And he had really forgotten HOW to feel. He had a responsibility towards the boy, that was one thing he knew. But no words of comfort would form. He just sat there in silence, gaze turned to his son, and there was nothing on his tongue, on his face, in his eyes or in his heart.
"Prove it," the boy under his gaze practically spat.
"Certainly. We could always call Madame Pomfrey again and have her perform the consanguinity test --"
"No, that's not what I mean. Well, maybe that too, but that's not what I wanted to ask. How did it happen? How can you be my father? How come I look like James? Is Lily my mother? Have you always known? Why haven't you ever told me before? Why are you telling me now? Why did I have to live with the Dursleys? Am I even related to them? What will happen now? Does anyone else know? Does Dumbledore --"
Once Harry started asking he could not stop. It was hard to believe that only moments ago it had seemed almost impossible to think of something to say. Harry was getting more and more agitated, speaking faster and faster. Snape was forced to interrupt. "Mr. Potter!" he exclaimed without thinking. There was a stunned pause during which Snape has realised his mistake and even got to think that it would have been better if he'd yelled 'Mr. Creevey' instead, after all it was him whom the boy had reminded him of at that moment.
"I'm not," Harry finally stated. "I'm a Snape," he allowed ever so simply.
Snape stared. And stared. Stared some more. Harry cleared his throat.
"Right," Snape at last seemed to come out of his stupor. He cleared his throat too. "I've prepared a pensieve to show you."
"Thanks. But at the moment I would prefer to hear it from you."
'Speaking of truth or dare,' Harry thought. He just witnessed Snape freezing two minutes ago and he thought he'd caught glimpses of something akin to sadness or even concern during the first part of their talk. Didn't Snape EMBRACE him? Yet now he was just sitting there with a stone face and staring, and Harry was beginning to doubt if he hadn't just hallucinated the whole thing. He wanted to see if he was able to trigger some emotional response from the man. He needed to KNOW that the whole issue mattered to Snape, no -- his father, at least an iota of what it did for him!
Momentarily Snape was at a loss again. He had not anticipated this, and now he was trying to figure out what Potter, no -- Snape, no -- Harry, was attempting to play to. But no matter the game, the boy's request was only fair. He'd had to comply. Snape concentrated hard, brows knitted in thought, and began his narration.
A/N: Next chapter sounds tough. And longer. Ok, I have to think now.
A/N: For those who've offered help and for those trying to convince me to write longer chapters, start thinking on the secondary plot for this story, that would provide some background events during which I could present my ideas on how Harry and Severus get to know each other, develop some tender feelings and work on their father/son relationship. Situations that would include the rest of the characters, besides these two? I haven't decided what to do with Lupin, how to include him in all this. And you want him, don't you? Don't get me wrong, I know exactly where I'm headed so far, I'm just not so sure yet about what's going to happen next. Something's gonna happen though, never fear. I hope.
A/N: All corrections, suggestions and comments are welcomed and begged for. THANKS for reading and even more so for reviewing! Take a look at my other stuff too.
© Besnaped.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to JKR. Written in response to Severitus' challenge.
A/N: TO ARIANA DERALTE: I'm eternally grateful for your betaing!
A/N: TO TEIGRA: Thanks for offering being my beta!
A/N: TO EVERYONE: If you feel like something needs correcting, by all means do let me know!
A/N: TO ALL MY REVIEWERS: Guys, your reviews is what impulses me to write. You have only yourselves to thank for my updates. I trust you already know what to do if you want another update soon.
A/N: TO THE REST OF THE READERS: And you, why haven't you reviewed? Don't you like it? Well, then never mind. I'm sorry.
Chapter 4. I Dare you to the Truth!
Some moments later Harry found himself sitting again in front of Snape's desk with Snape behind it. Harry's face was dry once more and Snape appeared as unmoved as ever, making Harry wonder for a split second whether anything of what has just happened in this very room, had indeed happened.
Snape considered sitting in front of Harry on the same side of the desk, but immediately decided against it. He'd given too much ground already. Yes, he was Harry's father, and yes, his hate towards Harry was merely an act for Death Eaters' benefit. But not all of his everyday behaviour was a facade. He indeed had a dark sense of humour nourishing his innate sarcasm, he strongly believed in discipline, preferring punishments to rewards, was of markedly asocial nature and could be found in a foul brooding mood more often then not. He was still Harry's teacher; with a reputation to maintain. And he had really forgotten HOW to feel. He had a responsibility towards the boy, that was one thing he knew. But no words of comfort would form. He just sat there in silence, gaze turned to his son, and there was nothing on his tongue, on his face, in his eyes or in his heart.
"Prove it," the boy under his gaze practically spat.
"Certainly. We could always call Madame Pomfrey again and have her perform the consanguinity test --"
"No, that's not what I mean. Well, maybe that too, but that's not what I wanted to ask. How did it happen? How can you be my father? How come I look like James? Is Lily my mother? Have you always known? Why haven't you ever told me before? Why are you telling me now? Why did I have to live with the Dursleys? Am I even related to them? What will happen now? Does anyone else know? Does Dumbledore --"
Once Harry started asking he could not stop. It was hard to believe that only moments ago it had seemed almost impossible to think of something to say. Harry was getting more and more agitated, speaking faster and faster. Snape was forced to interrupt. "Mr. Potter!" he exclaimed without thinking. There was a stunned pause during which Snape has realised his mistake and even got to think that it would have been better if he'd yelled 'Mr. Creevey' instead, after all it was him whom the boy had reminded him of at that moment.
"I'm not," Harry finally stated. "I'm a Snape," he allowed ever so simply.
Snape stared. And stared. Stared some more. Harry cleared his throat.
"Right," Snape at last seemed to come out of his stupor. He cleared his throat too. "I've prepared a pensieve to show you."
"Thanks. But at the moment I would prefer to hear it from you."
'Speaking of truth or dare,' Harry thought. He just witnessed Snape freezing two minutes ago and he thought he'd caught glimpses of something akin to sadness or even concern during the first part of their talk. Didn't Snape EMBRACE him? Yet now he was just sitting there with a stone face and staring, and Harry was beginning to doubt if he hadn't just hallucinated the whole thing. He wanted to see if he was able to trigger some emotional response from the man. He needed to KNOW that the whole issue mattered to Snape, no -- his father, at least an iota of what it did for him!
Momentarily Snape was at a loss again. He had not anticipated this, and now he was trying to figure out what Potter, no -- Snape, no -- Harry, was attempting to play to. But no matter the game, the boy's request was only fair. He'd had to comply. Snape concentrated hard, brows knitted in thought, and began his narration.
A/N: Next chapter sounds tough. And longer. Ok, I have to think now.
A/N: For those who've offered help and for those trying to convince me to write longer chapters, start thinking on the secondary plot for this story, that would provide some background events during which I could present my ideas on how Harry and Severus get to know each other, develop some tender feelings and work on their father/son relationship. Situations that would include the rest of the characters, besides these two? I haven't decided what to do with Lupin, how to include him in all this. And you want him, don't you? Don't get me wrong, I know exactly where I'm headed so far, I'm just not so sure yet about what's going to happen next. Something's gonna happen though, never fear. I hope.
A/N: All corrections, suggestions and comments are welcomed and begged for. THANKS for reading and even more so for reviewing! Take a look at my other stuff too.
© Besnaped.