Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.
~~~
Tuesday, January 4, 1994
"What's this I'm hearing about you cancelling all your classes?" Draco asked at breakfast in the hospital wing. "Couldn't you wait until I'm out of here, so I could actually enjoy a free period? By the way, you both look like shite."
"Something...unexpected happened last night," Harry said, quietly, sitting on a bed. "It turns out that Dad's my father." Draco raised his eyebrows.
"Harry, you just made it really easy for me to insult your intelligence right now." Harry shook his head.
"No, no, I mean, he's my real father. Not James." Severus handed the parchment over to Draco, who quickly scanned it.
"Wow," Draco said once he'd finished. "That's just...wow." He looked up at Harry. "Your hair's longer."
"Yeah, it is," Harry agreed, reaching up to touch the hair that now hung an inch or two past his ears. "My nose is changing, too."
"I feel bad for you on the nose deal," Draco said, sympathetically, as he looked at Severus's long-ish nose. "Too bad you couldn't have gotten your mum's nose."
"I take offense to that," Severus said, frowning at Draco, who grinned tiredly.
"That was the point," he replied. "Anyway, is this really going to change anything with you two, except for how Harry looks?"
"Between us, no," Harry replied. "But how about everyone else who thought James was my father? They're going to start asking all sorts of questions and just treating me and Dad weird when I suddenly start looking like him. And what about my name? I've been living for thirteen years thinking I'm Harry Potter. Everyone else in the wizarding world has spent the last thirteen years thinking I'm Harry Potter."
"Harry, James was your father for a year; you're still Harry Potter," Severus said, softly. "We can still hyphenate your name like we were going to. We'll just keep it Harry Potter-Snape, and only tell the truth to the people closest to us. Nobody else will have to know anything, and they won't ask any questions. As for your appearance... We can either replace the charm, or just tell people that you wanted to try something different with how you look."
"I don't want to replace the charm," Harry said, quietly. Severus smiled and squeezed Harry's shoulder.
"Everything will be all right, Harry," he said, reassuringly. "Later we'll decide on who we want to tell." Harry nodded his agreement.
"Now that we got that all settled," Draco said, yawning as he lay down. "I love you both, but go away. I'm tired."
"Go ahead and get some more sleep," Severus said as he and Harry stood up. "We'll come back for lunch." Draco nodded and waved as his father and brother left.
~~~
"Your mother was an amazing person, Harry," Severus said, softly, as he and Harry sat on Severus's bed. "We were very good friends from our third year, but since she was a Gryffindor and I was a Slytherin, very few people liked the idea of us being friends. Still, that didn't stop us.
"Lily was also good friends with James and his group, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew. James and Sirius didn't particularly care for me, and I felt the same about them. Remus was the only one out of that group who really gave me a chance. And then Peter... There was just something about him that I didn't like.
"I already told you about everything Lily did for me when she found out about my father, so I'll skip all of that. In our sixth year, your mother and I decided to pursue a romantic relationship. We were together almost three years--the best years of my life. I loved her with all of my heart; she was the reason I lived.
"When we were nineteen, I had to go on a mission for the Headmaster. The night before, your mother and I¼ Well, I'll assume that I don't have to explain that part. The next morning, I left with a promise to Lily that I'd be back. I don't even remember what the mission was for; all I remember is that I was gone a very long time, and I nearly died.
"Some time in September, after you were born, I found my way back. I don't know how, but I remember making it to Hogwarts and being taken up to the hospital wing. I stayed in there for several days, and then I was let loose. The first sight I was met with when I got out was James, Lily, and you. You were almost an exact replica of James.
"I was so angry when I saw. I thought Lily had betrayed me, turning to James right after I left. Then she saw me, and as soon as I saw the look on her face, I ran. I couldn't stand seeing her after that. She kept trying to contact me. I spoke to her a couple of times, but not enough to call it worth it. I saw her once.
"But even though I thought she'd betrayed me¼I still loved her. I could never stop loving her. And I never have."
"Why did they say you died?" Harry wondered, laying against Severus's side. The older wizard wrapped an arm around the boy.
"I have absolutely no idea. The Ministry found that I'd been captured, injured... And apparently, that means I'm dead." Severus rolled his eyes. "As I lay, barely conscious, on the floor of some dungeon Merlin knows where, I tried my hardest to stay awake. I knew that if I didn't, then I wouldn't wake up at all. Lily was the only reason I made it out of there. All I thought about was her and the promise I made to her about coming home to her. We'd been planning on getting married as soon as I got home..."
"Dad? Are you sure you can talk about this?" Harry asked when he saw the expression on Severus's face and the tears in his eyes.
"Of course I can," Severus assured him. "I just haven't told anyone all of this before."
"Do you want to take a break?" Harry offered. "You don't have to tell me everything all at once." Severus sighed. "Dad, I know you didn't sleep well last night. Why don't you just take a nap for a while? I'll do some homework or something. Merlin knows I have enough, since you made me skip my classes yesterday."
"It was necessary," Severus said, defensively. At the look on Harry's face, he said, "Oh, all right. I'll take a nap, if it'll make you happy. Just wake me up if you need anything, all right?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Dad. I took care of myself for twelve years. I think I can manage a couple of hours."
"Of course you can," Severus agreed, smiling lightly. "Go on, get to your homework. Don't let me sleep too long."
Harry left the room and shut the door. He grabbed a couple of books from his bedroom and took them to the living room, where he began to write essays. Soon after he began working, there was a call over the fireplace. Looking up, Harry saw Lupin's face.
"Hi, Professor," Harry greeted him.
"Hi, Harry, is Severus there?" Lupin looked a little anxious.
"Sorry, sir, Dad's taking a nap."
"Is he all right?"
"Yeah, he's fine. We just¼got a bit of a shock last night, and we were talking about it. He got a little upset, so I'm making him take a break." Lupin chuckled a little, though his amusement didn't reach his eyes.
"I wonder how you managed that," he said, smiling. "As far as I knew, nobody could make Severus Snape do anything." His face became serious. "Harry, when he wakes up, tell him I need to speak with him, all right?"
"Is anything wrong, Professor?" Harry inquired, concerned.
"It depends on how you look at it. Just let him know. Thanks. Oh, and Harry? You look good, kid. Different, but good." With that, Lupin disappeared. Harry shrugged his shoulders and went back to his homework.
"Describe, in detail, the twelve uses of Dragon's Blood." Harry murmured the words to himself. He grabbed his quill and some parchment and began to write slowly. His head began to drop, but whenever it did, he suddenly caught himself and tried to concentrate on the assignment. He was nearly asleep when he heard Draco's voice. Harry instantly picked his head up and looked towards the door, where Draco was standing.
"What are you doing here?" Harry wondered, rubbing his sleepy eyes as Draco went to the table, where his books sat.
"Don't worry, I'm not interrupting your time with Dad," Draco assured him. "I needed something to do upstairs, and I told Madam Pomfrey I feel good enough to come down and get my homework. Amazingly enough, she agreed."
"Dad's sleeping," Harry yawned. "I made him take a nap." Draco laughed a little.
"That's a first, someone making him do something," he said. He made his way to the sofa and leaned over Harry's shoulder. "You haven't finished that yet?" Harry shook his head.
"Shouldn't take me long, assuming I stay awake," he replied. He glanced up at his brother. "You're feeling better, then?"
"Of course, I never stay sick for very long," Draco confirmed. "I'll be out by suppertime." He headed for the door with his books, but Harry's voice stopped him.
"Draco?" he said in a quiet, uncertain voice as he looked at the older boy. "Do I look weird?" He asked the question that had been bugging him for hours.
"You look different, Harry," Draco told him, gently. "It may look strange now, but keep in mind that the charms are still coming off. When the changes are over, everything will fit together, and it will be normal. It will take a little getting used to, I'm sure, but I reckon you'll look damn good in the end. Hell, if I wasn't your brother, I might even say you'll look sexy." He grinned at Harry, who smiled back. "But Harry, remember: No matter how much bigger than me you get--and you know you will, because Dad's tall--you'll always be my little brother. Nothing will ever change that. All right?" Harry nodded.
"Thanks, Draco," he said.
~~~
Around lunchtime, Harry opened his eyes to find himself stretched out on the couch and covered with a blanket.
How did I get like this? He wondered to himself, sleepily. He glanced around and saw Severus in the kitchen, pouring himself some tea. Then Harry saw that his textbooks and parchment were in a pile on the floor in front of the couch.
"Damn it!" he hissed, suddenly. "I didn't get anything done." He proceeded to curse under his breath as he made his way over to his father, who was sitting at the table with the Daily Prophet. "Why didn't you wake me up when you saw me sleeping?"
"You're tired, Harry, and you were sleeping soundly," Severus responded, not looking up from the newspaper. "That's a rare occurrence anymore, so forgive me if I'd rather not spoil it. Besides, I've only been up for about twenty minutes." Harry dropped his head to his arms, which were folded on the table.
"Professor Lupin needs to speak with you," he told his father. "He called by Floo when you were sleeping."
"He can wait. I promised it'd be just you and me today." Harry shook his head as Lily jumped up onto his lap.
"It seemed very important. You talk to him now, and I'll eat lunch upstairs with Draco. We won't have much of the day to ourselves, anyway, because Draco's getting out by suppertime. He came down earlier to get his homework, and he told me."
"All right," Severus sighed. "I'll go see Remus; you go see Draco. I'll come back down here as soon as I'm finished." Harry nodded, lifted Lily to his chest, and left.
"Have you come bearing food?" Draco asked as soon as he saw his brother. "You've come bearing a kitten, but I see no food." He took Lily from Harry and sat back down on his bed.
"No matter," Harry replied. He snapped his fingers, and a table appeared, with two plates of food.
"Wandless magic is a very useful skill to have, I can tell," Draco told him as he quickly began to eat, pausing only to take a drink of his pumpkin juice or to give food to Lily. "Where's Dad?"
"Had to talk to Professor Lupin about something," Harry explained. "Don't eat so much, so fast. You'll just end up losing it all. I'm seriously about to lose my appetite."
"Then don't watch," Draco said, simply. He swallowed his food, then said, "Your hair grew again." It was true; the charm was wearing off quickly, and Harry's hair was now down to his shoulders, curled slightly at the ends. "I think I'm going to put a spell on my hair and make it grow out quicker. I hate having it short. Lucius and Narcissa wanted it short, and I never got around to changing it."
"Draco, I was thinking about what you said earlier," Harry said, suddenly. "About how if we weren't brothers, you'd said I'm going to look 'sexy.' And I've been wondering for weeks. Do you fancy guys?" Draco chuckled when Harry began to blush a little.
"Don't look so embarrassed," the older boy said. "Yes, I fancy guys, but I also fancy girls. I go both ways, though it's only physical attraction at the moment. I haven't had any real relationships yet; I haven't tried anything." He eyed Harry. "You fancy girls, yeah?" Harry nodded. "I know of a girl who likes you. She has for a while, I think. Ginny Weasley."
"How do you know she likes me?"
"I can just tell," Draco replied, shrugging his shoulders. "The way she looks at you, it's obvious to everyone except you." He smiled. "She's a pretty one. I've always liked redheads, myself."
"She's a nice girl and all, but I only like her as a friend," Harry said. "I don't really like anyone in particular right now. Too much shite going on in my mind already without having to deal with that." He looked at his brother. "You like someone special?"
"I could only name a dozen," Draco laughed. "Wow, let's see... Fred and George Weasley, Oliver Wood--damn, that boy has a sexy accent... Um...To be honest, Harry, I really like Hermione." Harry's eyes widened, and he nearly spit out his food.
"You like Hermione?" he repeated after he'd calmed down. Draco nodded. "Well... I'll have to see what I can do about that, then."
"Would you?" Draco asked, hopefully.
"Of course," Harry said, smiling. "I think you two would be great together." Draco smiled, pleased that his brother would approve if he had a relationship with Hermione. "But you have to do me a favor, as well. You need to help me with my homework tonight. I fell asleep earlier, and I didn't get anything done."
"That's no problem, of course I'll help," Draco assured him.
"Hey, Draco?" Harry said, suddenly, after a few moments. "Since none of the Slytherins like you anymore, are you still going to play Quidditch?" Draco shook his head.
"I quit. I never did like it much, anyway. I think they replaced me with a second-year, but I don't care. Bunch of prats, if you ask me." Harry nodded his agreement. "I think I'm going to just move all of my stuff from my dorm to downstairs. I can't stay in there anymore. I mean, yeah, I'm still a Slytherin. I'll always be a Slytherin. But that doesn't mean I have to like the Slytherins. So I'll just spend my nights in the 'dungeons.' I like it better down there."
"I think I'll probably be staying down there until this whole situation with Ron is over... I don't know if it will ever be over." Harry's expression saddened.
"Come on, Harry, cheer up," Draco insisted, handing Lily over to the younger boy. "If he's willing to throw two and a half years of friendship away over something so trivial, like your wanting the adoption to be a surprise, then you're better off without him."
"I guess so," Harry sighed. He stood up, cradling Lily in his arms. "I'm going back downstairs. I'll see you later, Draco."
"Harry," Draco said, softly, as he stood up. He took Lily and put her on the floor, then wrapped his arms around his brother in a tight hug. "Everything's going to be fine. All right? I promise you, things will be fine in the end."