Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.

~~~

"Dad?" Harry mumbled as he slowly woke up. He glanced around the room, seeing nobody except for Draco, who lay still on his bed, his eyes closed.

"He's not here," Draco said, suddenly. He turned his head to look at his brother. "Madam Pomfrey said he'd be back around six to eat supper with us up here."

"What time is it now?" Harry wondered, turning over onto his side.

"Almost six." At that moment, Severus came into the room. "Hi, Dad."

"Hi, Daddy," Harry yawned.

"Hi, boys, how did you sleep?" Severus asked, pulling a chair between the beds and sitting down.

"Fine," the boys answered in unison.

"Are you hungry?" Severus asked. He waved his wand, and a table full of food appeared in front of him. The boys sat up in their beds, hanging their legs over the sides. A plate was in front of each person.

"Can I go to Quidditch practice?" Harry asked as they ate. "I feel a lot better."

"We'll see," Severus replied. "I want to see what Poppy has to say. Draco, you're not eating much." Draco was taking very small bites and pushing his food around the plate with his fork. His elbow rested on the table, and his hand held his head up.

"I'm afraid my stomach won't keep much down tonight," Draco muttered. He pushed his plate away with a sigh. "I'm finished..." He lay back down on his bed. "I'm going back to sleep." He was out within a few moments.

"Poppy?" Severus called Madam Pomfrey over after they'd finished eating. "Harry says he's feeling a lot better, but I wanted your opinion before I tell him he can participate in Quidditch practice."

"He looks fine to me," Pomfrey declared after examining Harry. "I suppose he can participate, as long as he's careful." She gave Harry a pointed look, then looked at Severus. "Severus, perhaps you should supervise with Minerva, as well." Severus nodded his head.

"Come on, then, Harry," he said. The two of them went to get Harry's Firebolt broomstick, then headed out to the Quidditch pitch, where the rest of the Gryffindor team was already practicing. McGonagall was also there, keeping an eye on everyone.

"Harry, you made it!" Oliver Wood, the captain and Keeper, sighed with relief, as he ran over to Harry and Severus. He saw the broom in Harry's hand and gasped. "You got a Firebolt! Everyone, come look at this; Harry's got a Firebolt!" The rest of the team rushed over to admire the broom.

"Wow, Harry, where'd you get it?" Katie Bell asked, touching it lightly.

"Dad gave me and Draco each one for Christmas," Harry replied, shrugging his shoulders. "I haven't really gotten a chance to try it out yet; it's been too cold."

"Well, let's go, then!" Angelina exclaimed. They all mounted their brooms and soared up to the sky. Harry did some flips and dives, seeing how well his broom would maneuver.

"He really is a fantastic flyer," McGonagall commented to Severus, who nodded his head in agreement as the Snitch was let loose, along with the Quaffle and the Bludgers. "How are things going with Harry and Draco, Severus?"

"Very well, Minerva, thank you," Severus responded. "We're all adjusting quite well. Draco has turned out to be an amazing older brother to Harry, though they're only a few months apart. The boys take care of each other when I'm not around¼ And I like to think that I'm a pretty good father so far."

"From what I've seen, you are," McGonagall agreed. She suddenly blew a whistle that hung around her neck. "Mr. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, please stop playing around with those Bludgers! You're going to get someone killed!" She sighed and looked back at Severus. "Those two are going to be the death of me." Severus chuckled.

"If you can survive James, Remus, Sirius, and Peter, you can survive anyone; even the Weasley twins." He changed the subject. "Minerva, I think Harry needs to spend a few nights downstairs in our quarters. I wish to be close by, should he have more nightmares. Aside from that¼I just need some time with him. I promised him that I'd take some time to tell him about Lily, and I think he could use a bit more happiness these days. He's still having some...problems. He's not dealing very well." McGonagall nodded her understanding.

"I'll let his friends know that he won't be spending his nights in the Tower."

"Don't bother with the younger Mr. Weasley," Severus sneered. "He and Harry had a falling out last night, and I don't think he would care very much if Harry stayed in the Tower or not."

"Yes, I noticed this morning that the two of them weren't speaking to one another. I'll just tell Miss Granger tonight, and one of Harry's dorm-mates." Severus nodded as Harry came to a landing next to him. The boy was smiling, although he was pale and shivered with cold.

"You're doing great out there, son," Severus said, ruffling Harry's hair. He then proceeded to tighten the boy's scarf, which had come untied.

"Dad, stop!" Harry whined, embarrassed as Severus pointed his wand at him and cast a Warming Spell.

"I'm not going to let you freeze, Harry," Severus replied, smirking.

"We're almost done," Harry told him. "I just came down for a break. The Firebolt's great, Dad, it's got really smooth maneuvering, and the turns are so clean, and--"

"I'm glad you like it," Severus cut him off, smiling. "Go on, go finish your practice. You're staying downstairs for the next few nights, all right?" Harry nodded and then got back on his broom.

~~~

"Hi, Lily!" Harry said, picking up the cat as soon as he entered the Snape chambers. "Dad, I'm going to go change, and I'll be back out."

He took Lily to the bedroom and set her on the bed, then changed into his warm pajamas. Then he went out to the living room, where Severus sat on the couch.

"So why am I staying here for the next few nights?" Harry wondered, laying on the couch with his legs stretched across his father's lap.

"I want to be near you if you have another nightmare," Severus explained. "And I was thinking we could spend some time together. I think Draco's going to be staying in the hospital wing for another couple of days."

"Okay," Harry agreed, yawning.

"Go on to bed," Severus told him. "You need it. Oh, and no Silencing Spells, all right? Please, Harry."

"All right," Harry sighed. "No Silencing Spells..." He stood up from the couch and headed for his room. "Goodnight, Daddy."

"Goodnight, Harry," Severus said, smiling.

Harry lay down in his bed, with Lily at his side, but he couldn't seem to get to sleep. Until nearly midnight, he tried whatever he could think of to get to sleep, but nothing worked. Counting hippogriffs (he made it to one thousand, two hundred and forty seven before he couldn't take it anymore); remembering one of Professor Binns' History of Magic lectures, word for word (funny, the lectures always seemed to be able to put him to sleep in class); he even put a spell on the ceiling to make it look like the night sky, and counted all the stars he saw (eight hundred and ninety three, though he may have counted some of them twice). But there was this nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach that kept him awake. Something was wrong. What was it?

Finally, Harry gave up. He climbed out of bed, wrapping his blanket around himself, and crossed the hall to his father's room. The door was closed, so Harry knocked. Receiving no answer, he opened it slightly and peered in. The sight he was met with shocked him.

His father was sitting in bed, staring at a piece of parchment in his hand as a single tear ran down his cheek.

Harry opened the door a little wider, but Severus didn't take any notice of him. He only stared at the letter he'd just received. Harry made his way to the bed and climbed up next to his father, touching his shoulder gently.

"Dad? Are you okay?" Quite frankly, Harry was worried. He'd never once seen Severus cry, so this was a bit of a shock.

"Harry, I-I think you should read this," Severus said, quietly, as he handed the parchment to his son.

To Severus Snape

From Lily Evans-Potter

To be delivered January 3, 1994

Dearest Severus,

If this letter has reached you, then something has happened to me, because I wanted to tell you in person.

Severus, we spent nearly three years together. I loved you--and still love you--with all of my heart. When you told me that you were going on a special mission for Dumbledore, I was heartbroken. I knew that it would be dangerous for you, and I was afraid of losing you. The night before you left, we made it special. Do you remember? We made it special so that, if something were to happen, there would still be memories, and we wouldn't regret not expressing our love for one another when we had the chance.

The mission was supposed to take days. Days turned into weeks, and you still hadn't returned. Finally, I was informed that you had died on that mission. I died that day as well, Severus, and every day afterwards, I kept losing a little bit more of myself.

Then I discovered that I was pregnant.

James knew how people would react if they found out that "perfect" Lily Evans was unmarried and pregnant. He volunteered to marry me, to help me raise my child, to treat it as his own.

It wasn't until a few months after the baby was born that I found out you were alive. You saw James, Harry, and me, and I could see the hurt in your eyes. I wanted to tell you then, but I just couldn't. I'm so sorry, Severus.

But now I must tell you the truth. Harry is your son, not James's. When he was born, we put a charm on him that would make him look like James until you found out the truth. When this letter reaches you, the charm will begin to wear off. Harry will begin to look like you.

I loved James, Severus, but only as a friend. He helped me, and I'm grateful for that. But that's as far as it goes.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you before.

I love you, Severus, always and forever.

Love,

Lily

When Harry finished the letter, he let it drop to the mattress. His eyes were wide with tears as he took deep breaths, and his hands were shaking.

"I-I...You..." Harry barely whispered, looking up at Severus. Breathing was becoming increasingly difficult, and his body was starting to shake even more. Severus broke from his shock and took Harry by his arms.

"Harry, Harry, calm down," Severus murmured, lowering Harry to the pillows and making him lay down. "Try to take deep breaths."

He reached over to his bedside table and grabbed a vial of potion, quickly pouring it into Harry's mouth. Soon the shaking subsided, and Harry's breathing was becoming more regular. Severus covered Harry with the blanket and rested a hand on his forehead, smoothing the boy's hair down.

"I know it's a shock, Harry," Severus whispered, soothingly. "It was a shock to me, too... Are you all right?"

"You...and my mum..." Harry said, his voice quiet and weak. "You never told me..."

"I told you that I loved your mother, Harry," Severus replied. "I was planning on telling you more tomorrow night. Remember a while back, I told you I'd set aside a day, just to tell you about her?" Harry nodded. "I was going to do that tomorrow."

"Everything I've been told...about my parents... It's all been a lie. How I'm so much like my 'father' and all that... But he wasn't my father..."

"Harry, we-- We shouldn't talk about this now, all right? Tomorrow, I promise. I'll cancel all of my classes tomorrow. You just need to rest now. Do you want me to give you something to help you sleep?" Harry nodded his head, and Severus got him a sleeping potion. "You can sleep in here. I'll go out to the sofa--"

"Stay," Harry interrupted him, quietly. "Please?"

"Are you sure? I'll understand if you don't--"

"Stay," Harry repeated.

Severus shut his mouth and nodded, laying on the other side of the bed. Harry crawled across the huge mattress and then lay back down, closer to his father, and laid his head on the older wizard's shoulder. Severus hesitated, then wrapped his arms around the boy in a hug.

"You're something else, Harry," he whispered. "If I were you, I'd hate me right now."

"You didn't know, either," Harry replied, wiping tears from his eyes. "I can't blame you..."

"Tomorrow, we'll visit Draco at mealtimes," Severus said, softly. "The rest of the day, it's just me, you, and your mother. Does that sound good?" Harry nodded. "Good."