A/N: Here we are, Harry happily continuing with life as usual, while Sev's world collapses, at least partially. Sev's in shock, major shock, but we love him anyway. :-)


The meeting drew to a close, and Remus quietly approached the other man. he said quietly. I need to talk to you privately.

Snape sneered. What is it, now, werewolf?

Remus' voice dropped even lower. I got a delayed delivery letter yesterday. From your former partner in ops.

Snape's eyes widened. Come with me, he said in a whisper, and led his former classmate down to his private quarters. Once the door was shut firmly behind them, and silencing spells cast, he faced Remus, his expression wary but curious.

As I said, I received a letter yesterday, from James. In it he... explains several things that I didn't know. He also explained something that no one else knew, but it involves you, and I think the best thing to do is for you to read the letter yourself. He reached inside his robes and pulled out the old piece of parchment, handing it carefully to Severus.

Severus Snape read the words in disbelief. His mouth formed the word How long it had been since he had heard that nickname. In the beginning he had detested working with James Potter, but after less than a year, the two had become quite close. In many ways, James was the closest friend Severus had ever had, and he had never been able to even properly grieve. Only two or three others knew about their work together, and no one realised how close they become. To the rest of the world, they were enemies, or at best grudging allies. He had hated every time he had to betray his friend and sleep with his wife, and he had thanked the heavens many times during those hard years that nothing had ever come of it, because he would have been driven mad with the knowledge that he would not be able to care for his own child.

Severus Snape had actually always wanted a child, but he had never found a woman willing to be his wife, even it it had been a safe thing to do, and Severus refused to have a child deliberately with someone who was not his wife. But now, as he read, he discovered that he did have a child. He had a son, the boy that he acted like he despised, when in actuality he had always considered himself to be like a second (or third, considering the status of the werewolf in Sirius Black's eyes) godfather to the boy, and he had watched out for him as best he could. But now... Harry was his son?

When Severus Snape finished the letter and laid it on the table, he was shocked to realise that he was crying. He was crying, he reflected, for so many things. For James, his kind, dear friend, with the large Gryffindor heart, who had taken Sev's child into his heart and raised him as his own to protect them all. For Lily, who had been deceived again and again. For Harry, who lived as an orphan, with Lily's horrible Muggle sister, thinking his parents were dead. And for himself, for the boy and then the man that had been Sev, who had had a friend.

Finally, he wiped his tears, and looked straight at Remus. Thank you for telling me, he said quietly. And thank you for letting me read the letter.

Not at all, Remus smiled gently. But... would you mind terribly if I called you – at least in private – if I called you Sev? It seems like James was the only one that called you that, but I think he would be pleased.

Sev nodded. Yes. I'd like that. And I do think he'd be pleased. He paused. What about Harry? He needs to know, but I doubt he wants to hear about it on his summer holidays.

Remus pursed his lips. James said that the effects of the charm and potion would be half-gone by Halloween and are just beginning to disappear now, which means that the process will be about one-fourth of the way finished when term begins. We can evaluate how he looks then, and make a final decision then, but I suggest we tell him around the beginning of October. It gives him time to make a few decisions about what to tell people.

That sounds logical, Sev agreed. Thank you again. And... I suppose I'll see you when term begins, Remus.

Until then, Sev. Remus smiled. And – keep the letter. I have many things to remind me of my friend; I doubt you had the luxury to do the same.

With that, the werewolf was gone, and Severus Snape was left alone with his whirling thoughts. I have a son, he thought. Harry is my son. Mine. I have a son.




Harry experienced two more of the overnight hair growth spurts between the time he arrived at the Burrow and the day two weeks later when he and Ron set out to meet Hermione at Diagon Alley. His hair had also gotten even flatter and neater, to the point that he could actually comb it and have it make a difference. The changes were more than a little unnerving, since he could not figure out why they were happening, but he had to admit that he looked slightly better than he had before.

C'mon Harry, hurry up, we're going to be late! Harry heard Ron bellow up the stairs. The twins and Ginny were going to accompany them to Diagon Alley as well, and Ron was anxious to get going.

I'm coming, I'm coming, Harry replied as he ran down the stairs. Just had to make sure I had my supply list.

Ron grinned. You know how McGonagall told us who the other prefects were? Hermione wrote about being a prefect and said she wished McGonagall had told her who the other prefects were. So 'Mione doesn't know it's us.

Harry chuckled. So I take it we're going to use that knowledge to our advantage in some way?

Ron nodded. I don't know how, but some way, we will.

Then it was time to Floo to Diagon Alley, and the Weasleys and Harry were soon meeting up with the Grangers at Gringotts, where they all made withdrawals and exchanges.

Fred took command of the group, I believe that several members of our party need to visit Madam Malkin's. And, you, Ronniekins, need new dress robes, which George and I have generously decided to provide for you. George winked discreetly at Harry while Ron gaped. Girls, do you need new robes as badly as these two puberty-striken boys?

Hermione giggled. Not quite as badly, but yes, we do need new robes. I take it that robes are the first item on the list, then.

George answered cheerily, and they set off at a brisk pace for the robe shop.

Harry and the others had been measured for new school robes, and dress robes had been selected for Ron and the girls when it was Harry's turn to get new dress robes. He tried on a pair that was dark green, similar to the ones he had previously had, but he saw Ginny and Hermione wince.

Hermione said, I think that your complexion's changed or something. That color just doesn't look the same. Not to mention the flatter, longer hair. What's up with that?

Ginny giggled. Oh, his hair's been growing at night. Not every night, but some nights. Harry's hair did reach to his chin nearly by that point, and the girls were right, the dark green didn't look as good on him as it once had.

Various other colors were brought out until a bright royal blue was settled on by the shop's workers and Ginny and Hermione. Harry was a bit exasperated by the end, and he complained a bit as he paid. It's not like I want to go to another ball. No reason for me to go this year, either, he lamented bitterly. And here I am spending my morning and my Galleons on dress robes.

Ron was far too happy with his own new robes to comment, and Hermione and Ginny teased him good-naturedly as they went next to restock their potions stores. After thinking a bit, Hermione added several other ingredients to hers and Harry's stack. So we won't have to break into Snape's private stores again, hopefully, she explained. Fred passed by at that moment and stopped still.

Break into Snape's private stores again? he exclaimed incredulously. When did you break into them in the first place?

Oh, that was second year, Harry explained airily. We had to make sure that Malfoy wasn't the Heir of Slytherin, so we made polyjuice potion.

Fred said faintly, looking more than vaguely impressed. Any other exploits to open up to?

Ron had joined them. We're not going to tell you all our secrets!

Wait, Ron, Harry interjected. There's one that I think we could safely tell.

Ron raised an eyebrow.

Harry grinned as they exited the shop. The Marauders.

Hermione and Ron broke out into matching grins. agreed Hermione as she directed them towards Flourish and Blotts.

What about the Marauders? demanded George, his interest level high.

Harry smiled innocently. I know them. All of them.



I didn't realise that I did, of course, Harry explained, until after you gave me the map. Actually, both of you have met two of them as well.

Fred said, his tone full of disbelief.

Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, Harry recited. Moony is a werewolf, and his three best friends became illegal Animagi in order to accompany him on nights of the full moon. One of the Marauders is dead now, but the other three are still very much alive.

Unfortunately, in one case, Ron growled.

Harry nodded sadly. Exactly. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Now, Fred, Geoge, Moony is one of the ones that you know. How many werewolves do you know?

Just one, replied George promptly. Professor Lupin. He stopped short, halfway to the clerk's counter. PROFESSOR LUPIN?!?

Harry grinned. Professor Lupin is Moony. And, incidentally, he's coming back this year.

the twins exclaimed. Maybe he can give us pointers!

Harry laughed. Oh, no, I have first claims on anything Marauder.

Fred asked suspiciously. We had the map first!

Let's wait for that until we're out of the bookstore, Hermione broke in. C'mon, let's just pay and then head for ice cream. Wait, where's Ginny?

Right here, Ginny sounded annoyed. I had to get all my books and then I was just listening to those four blabber on about Marauders or something like that.

Hermione smiled. Trust me, Ginny, it's more interesting than it might sound.

The group made their way to the outdoor tables, and Harry took a deep breath.

I have first claim on anything Marauder because I'm the only second generation Marauder, he explained quietly. My father was Prongs – his Animagus form was a stag.

Fred and George looked awestruck. Wow, Harry, you have all the luck! Your dad was a Marauder.

Harry shifted uncomfortably. Well, so's my godfather, and then I wonder about his relationship with Professor Lupin, so that's three out of four...

What about the fourth?

Harry asked gently. Do you want to tell this part?

Ron nodded. he explained quietly, was a rat in animagus form. He was the Potters' secret keeper, and after he sold them out to You-Know-Who, he allowed himself to be cornered in an alleyway, where he blew up thirteen Muggles and framed Sirius Black for everything, transforming into a rat, cutting off his toe, and scurrying way.

Ron took a deep breath and a swallow of water. He took refuge with... with a wizarding family. Eventually, he came to Hogwarts. Sirius realised that he was near Harry, and escaped from Azkaban for that reason, changing into his Animagus form to escape. It wasn't a mistake, when Sirius Black came to my bed that night. Ron looked steadily at his brothers.

Ginny was the one who made the connection. she gasped.

Ron nodded. Wormtail. He escaped the night... the night Sirius was recaptured. And he's the one...

The one that cut my arm, Harry finished. Voldemort's most trusted lackey.

Fred and George were gaping. So... Moony, Wormtail, and Prongs. Padfoot?

Sirius Black, Harry finished. Also my godfather. Innocent, but on the run. Dumbledore knows the truth, though.

Fred and George definitely looked impressed, Harry thought. Well. I reckon you need a nickname, too, Harry.

Harry grinned. Not yet. He winked at Hermione, as well as Ron, who had been studying the book on the animagus transformation with Harry at night.

The rest of the shopping went quickly, and the conversation was much lighter. Hermione returned to the Burrow to spend the rest of the holiday with the Weasleys, and Harry was happier than he had been since June, surrounded by his best friends and his surrogate family.