Sev broods, Harry muses, the Hufflepuffs realise Harry's not a murderer, and Hagrid's class comes out feeling fairly normal. Just another typical day or two in the life of Harry Potter... er... Snape, no?

And, yeah, this is gonna have slash in it. Because Harry's gay in everything I write. Or at least bi. Sorry if you don't like that, but it's going to play a big part in his interactions with Sev later on – and no, NOT incest. Eww!




Meanwhile, Severus Snape was brooding. He had returned to Hogwarts to begin brewing the Wolfsbane Potion that Remus Lupin would need each month. Since it could be stored for up to three months, he planned to have an extra two months' supply on hand at all times. Theoretically, it was because he could be called away as a spy, but... That was another issue that had to be dealt with. Voldemort did not trust Severus Snape, and if he were to claim Harry as his son, it would be virtually impossible to return to the circle of Death Eaters. Severus Snape had put his life on hold for years because of his role in the fight against Dark, but he would not this time, and he had to visit Albus Dumbledore and figure out a solution.

Come in, Severus, come in.

Hello, Albus, he said coolly. His professional mask had been broken by only two people – James Potter and, now, Remus Lupin. Not even Dumbledore knew how close James and Sev had become. I'm afraid that we have a problem we must discuss.

Is something the matter?

No. Yes. No. Simply this. I will be unable to remain as a spy any longer.

Albus was shocked, Severus could tell. Whatever he had been expecting, it wasn't this. Why, Severus?

A number of reasons. Voldemort barely trusts me now. I will refuse to use Avada Kedavra in the raid next week. And, perhaps most importantly, I recently learned something important, and I have duties that must supercede my role as a spy.

What have you learned?

I learned, Albus, that I have a child. A son. A child who thinks his parents are dead.



Severus Snape smiled, knowing it would shock the elderly headmaster. He withdrew the yellowed parchment that Remus had left with him. Perhaps you should merely read this. Remus Lupin received it a couple of weeks ago. He handed the letter to Albus and sat back to wait.

Moments later, Albus raised his head and sighed. I had no idea that you and James had become so close.

That was the point, after all, wasn't it? No one knew. No one at all. He was a good man, Albus, and I have sincerely regretted every time I have been forced to act as if I hate him.

And Harry is your son.

Precisely. If James was correct in his assessment of the spells, then they are beginning to wear off even now. Remus and I are planning to assess just how much as occured when term begins, and then decide when to tell Harry.



Severus smiled, sadly but genuinely. He offered to call me Sev, he explained enigmatically. So you see why I cannot continue to spy.

Yes, I do, the headmaster sighed. You are correct in that you cannot continue in your role as spy. We apprecite all the work you have done so far, and I do not doubt that I will used your talents in other ways against Voldemort.

I would be upset if you did not, Severus replied evenly.

Albus smiled. I know, child, I know.

Severus stood. I have a syllabus to write. Oh. You might want to warn the other faculty that since I will no longer be serving as a spy, my attitudes will shift significantly. It will be damnably satisifying to give Draco Malfoy the detentions he deserves!

With that, Severus left the room, ignoring the chuckle behind him. He had seethed inwardly at the way he had treated Harry for years, and the way he implicitly encouraged Draco to taunt the Boy Who Lived. Now he could begin to correct those wrongs.




September 1st dawned bright and clear. It was especially clear to Harry, who got up, dressed, packed his trunk, and headed to breakfast before Ron woke up. He was happily spooning up his porridge when Ron entered the kitchen. Whoa, mate, how'd you make it down here without tripping? he asked, his voice full of amusement.

Harry asked, thoroughly confused.

Your glasses, Ron said simply, as if that explained everything. Noting Harry's continued look of puzzlement, he expanded the statement. You aren't wearing your glasses, Harry.

Harry was shocked. I'm not. I'm not? But, Ron, I can see perfectly fine.

Ha, ha, Ron scowled. Good joke. You got contacts and decided to play a trick. Okay, joke's over.

No, Ron, you have to believe me. I don't have contacts, and I really can see!

Ron peered at his eyes. You're right, he said finally. You aren't wearing contacts. You aren't wearing your glasses, and you claim you can see perfectly well. Wait! Your hair grew another inch or two!

Harry looked down at his hair. It had grazed his shoulders the night before, but now was a slightly below them. Huh. The two must be related somehow; I'll ask Hermione if she knows anything.

Anything about what? Hermione greeted them cheerfully as she and Ginny made her way downstairs.

Harry's hair did that growing thing again last night, and – here Ron lowered his voice – he doesn't need his glasses anymore.

Hermione exclaimed, looking thoughtful. I'll check it out once we get back to school.

On their way to catch the train, Hermione again brought up the subject of who the other prefects might be. Harry caught Ron's eye and cocked an eyebrow, then grinned at Ron's answering nod. Well, Hermione, Harry began, only to be interrupted by Ron.

We know who they are! Ron exclaimed triumphantly.

You DO?!? Who? How do you know?

We know, Harry explained, very much amused, because we are the other prefects.

Hermione squealed, then put her arms around both of them in an sort of hug. You two! You didn't tell me! Oh, we're going to have such fun. Any other surprises? The last was said much louder, and it seemed that the other occupants perked their ears up then.

Harry reddened. Actually, yeah. Fred and George turned around at that and grinned.

Aha! She did listen to us, then!

More like she said that she didn't have time to do it herself, so I'd better! Harry laughed.

Ron asked. Are you saying that...

Fred exclaimed cheerfully. Harry's the new Captain!

Ron's eyes lit up. Well done, Harry!

Hermione was less thrilled. Oh, Harry, will you have time for everything?

Harry snorted. We've managed to have enough time before, why would this year be any different?

Hermione had to agree with that as they pulled up at King's Cross Station. They were running slightly late, as it seemed they were wont to do, and they hurriedly went through the barricade to Platform 9 3/4. Fred and George separated from them almost immediately, and Ginny went to find some of her friends, which left the trio to bear the brunt of Mrs. Weasley's goodbye, and then find a place on the train.

Since we're all prefects, we might as well sit up in the prefects' cars, I suppose, Ron said, his voice low. He hadn't told any of his family about being a prefect, and it was dumb luck that none of them had heard them in the car.

Good plan, Harry agreed. And it means we'll either definitely see Malfoy or not at all, but either way his goons won't be with him.

Hermione led the way over to the front of the train, and the three students loaded their trunks onboard and scrambled in to the large, spacious car. Unlike the other cars, it was not divided into separate compartments.

Hello, Justin, Susan, Hannah, Harry and the others greeted the three Hufflepuff prefects from their year. How was your summer? Ron asked.

Harry fidgeted nervously. He wasn't sure if those three, like so many others, still blamed him for Cedric's death.

Mine was terrific, Justin shared. We went on holiday to the United States.

Oh, that must've been fascinating! Hermione was immediately interested and leaned forwards over Harry's lap to talk to Justin. Amused, Harry lifted his eyes to the girl sitting next to Justin.

How about you, Susan?

Susan jumped. Oh! Fine, just fine. Did homework, mainly though.

Harry grimaced in understanding. I think they assign more every year. Of course Hermione loves it, he grinned. Have you heard about our Defence Against the Dark Arts professor? Harry could tell that Susan wasn't quite sure how to deal with him, so he was doing his best to keep things light and relatively impersonal. He didn't fancy breaking down with his memories of Cedric or anything in the middle of the prefects' car.

No, do you know who it is?

Harry smiled. It's one of our old professors returning.

Susan smiled then, finally. Seeing as Quirrell's dead and Lockhart's incompetent, it's either Lupin or Moody.

A shadow crossed Harry's face then. He didn't realise that others didn't know the truth about their professor from the year before. Luckily Ron had overheard the conversation and snorted. Moody? We never really had the real Mad-Eye Moody teach us.

Susan and Hannah both gasped, horrified.

Harry's voice became detached and monotone as he told them a quick version of what had happened. He was taking polyjuice potion. The man that was impersonating Mad-Eye was a Death Eater. He's the one who put my name in the Goblet, and then turned the Cup into a PortKey. Harry sighed. After they interrogated him, McGonagall watched him, so he could be questioned further, but then Fudge had to muck things up as usual, and let the Dementors kiss him. Dumbledore was very angry about that. So Fudge doesn't believe any of us about Voldemort, and everybody's out risking their lives again, because I was stupid enough not to let Professor Lupin and Padfoot kill that damn rat back in third year! Harry's voice had grown louder and louder, and he found the other five staring at him.

Hermione exclaimed. You did the right thing by not letting them kill Wormtail! You were right, your dad wouldn't have wanted them to become murderers for him.

But if I hadn't, Harry said, his voice low now, he never would have gone back to Voldemort, and Bertha Jorkins wouldn't have been killed, and Cedric would still be alive, and Voldemort wouldn't have his body back.

The Hufflepuffs were staring at Harry, a mixture of horror and pity on their faces.

Oh. The point of all that was, Professor Lupin's going to be here again.

That was a rather anticlimatic statement, to say the least, and the Hufflepuffs continued to stare.

Ron said in a concerned voice, I knew you were upset about Cedric, but you never said you blamed yourself for Wormtail.

Susan gasped. You're upset about Cedric?

Harry looked directly at her. I told him to take the Cup with me. We had helped each other out throughout the whole tournament. I told him about the dragons, he helped me work out the egg, and we worked together at times in the maze. I was hurt, and he wouldn't bloody take the cup. Said I deserved it more. Bullocks. The only way I could get him to take it was if we shared it. We grabbed it together, and it was a PortKey that took us to a graveyard. We had our wands out, and a high-pitched voice rang out. Kill the spare.'

That was the only warning we had. Next moment, there was a whisper of Avada Kedavra,' and a flash of green light, and Cedric was dead. Later, after Wormtail brought Voldemort back, they untied me, and forced me to duel Voldemort. Our wands share the same core, in another one of those awful coincidences, but it kept me alive – Priori Incantem effect. Echoes came out of the wand, echoes of the people Voldemort had killed. Cedric asked me to bring his body back to his parents. I saw my parents, Bertha Jorkins, that old Muggle man... they surrounded Voldemort, and I ran to Cedric's body, summoned the Cup, and we returned.

Susan and Hannah were openly crying, and Justin was looking at Harry with something akin to awe. I'm sorry, Justin said simply, holding out his hand. The last thing you need is having people on our side against you.

Harry took the proferred hand, which was followed by Susan's hand, then Hannah's. You don't mind we tell some of the people in our House, do you? Hannah asked. I think it would mean a lot of them.

Harry shook his head. Not at all. I think more people need to know. Know what kind of person Cedric was, and what kind of monster killed him. Unconsciously, Harry rubbed his scar, but Ron noticed.

More nightmares?

Harry sighed and nodded. Not too many, but they're definitely up to something. What worries me is that Wormtail knows the secret passages into Hogwarts. Dumbledore's put up wards on the one under the Whomping Willow, but we'll have to do it ourselves, with Professor Lupin's help, on the other one, if we want to be able to keep using it.

Ron and Hermione nodded, and made mental notes to discuss that possiblity with their Defence professor as soon as possible.

The next couple of hours passed quickly, as Harry, Hermione, and Justin all pulled out books to read, and Ron, in his element, happily entertained the two Hufflepuff girls. Elsewhere in the compartment, older prefects from different Houses were chatting quietly. Harry paused in his reading at one point and barely lifted his eyes to notice that Justin was quietly watching him. Hmm. Harry wouldn't be adverse to any attention from him, although he couldn't discern if he was watching his with interest or merely curiousity. Harry was glad that he had already changed into his robes when he felt himself get aroused at the thought that Justin was checking him out. Great, guess that answers that question, he thought to himself. Just one more thing to make Harry Potter stand out.

Oddly, no one had asked about his lack of glasses, and Harry assumed that most simply thought he had changed to contacts. The train sped onward towards Hogwarts, and Harry wondered why his hair had grown, his eyesight improved, and his complexion changed slightly. He hoped that Hermione's usual skills would be up to the task in finding the answers.

Eventually, it was time for the prefects' meeting, and Harry noted with some displeasure that Draco Malfoy was among the new Slytherin prefects, but thankfully, Harry managed to avoid any encounters with the other boy. Maybe this year will be a good one, Harry mused.



Meanwhile, at Hogwarts, Sev and Remus were holding court in the dungeons. I'm curious as to how much has changed, Remus stated. I don't know how the combination of the potion and the charm exactly will work.

I doubt he'll need his glasses anymore, Sev said. Lily and I both have – had – excellent sight.

Remus nodded. Undoubtedly he will grow somewhat taller than he would have expected; James was a good five or six inches shorter than you.

Sev let his mind wander. If only he had known... of course he couldn't have done anything at the time, but Harry needn't have gone to live with those Muggle relatives of Lily's. James had probably assumed that Sirius or Remus would have taken Harry in. And now... Sev had missed out on fifteen years of his son's life. He didn't deny that he wasn't the most warm and caring person out there, but he wasn't quite as dour as his outward persona had always suggested.

He remained lost in his thoughts until Remus brought him out of his reverie. The Express will be arriving shortly. We should go on up to the Hall.

The other professors looked up in surprise to see the Potions Master walking amicably with the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Contrary to popular opinion, Sev had no real desire for the DADA position, and he certainly wasn't going to waste any more of his life being extraordinarily nasty for no good reason. With those thoughts in mind, he sat down between Remus and Hagrid, laughing at the fact that he was sitting between two former Gryffindors. Good evening, Rubeus, he greeted the large half-giant. I trust your summer activities were profitable?

Hagrid looked at him with astonishment. Er, yes, sir, professor.

Please, call me Severus. I no longer find it necessary to pretend to be nasty to every inhabitant of this school.

That comment was overheard by several of the faculty, Sev noted happily, and he smiled pleasantly when Madam Hooch and that Vector woman shot him concerned looks.

A moment later, the doors opened, and the student body began to enter. Sev began to scan them for Harry – his son – and very nearly passed him over. When he located the boy, he gasped, and his hand clutched convulsively at Remus' leg. Bloody hell, Remus. Look at him.

Remus hadn't been paying attention, Sev could tell, because the ensuing gasp was loud. His hair, Sev, looks exactly like yours, now. Sev had stopped making his hair deliberately greasy, another part of his persona that he was happy to shed. And his eyes must've already corrected themselves. He looks a bit more pale, as well.

Do you think that the beginning of October will be soon enough? Sev murmured, no little apprehension coloring his voice.

I don't know, my friend. We're just going to have to wait and watch.



As Harry sat down, he looked up towards the faculty table and let out a gasp of his own. Snape's actually being human, he said, his voice tinged with disbelief. He's carrying on a civil conversation with Professor Lupin.

Not only that, but he finally washed his hair, Ron added. I wonder if he found a girlfriend or something.

Hermione snorted. Honestly. It's not polite to talk about the professors that way. The other two scowled at her. Okay, okay, but let me be hypocritical for the first night, at least! Harry and Ron grinned then, and sat back to watch the Sorting, followed by a lavish feast.

The next morning, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all groaned when they read that their year would start off with double Potions with the Slytherins. What a way to start the year! moaned Ron, and Harry agreed. It was with no little trepidation that Harry entered the dungeon classroom and sat down.

Snape swept into the room a moment later, his hair still free of oil and grease, and then did something equally astonishing – he smiled.

Good morning, class. I'm sure you've all noticed a slight chance in my demeanor. Snape tactfully ignored the issue of his hair. I would like to serve notice to all of you that, while I may be more pleasant, I am still the hard taskmaster you have come to know through four years of exacting work. As for the reasons behind this change, let me only say that a difficult chapter of my life has come to a close, and I am free to act as my conscience dictates.

The change was apparent when Slytherin lost House points, although still not as many as Gryffindor, and Draco Malfoy was the only member of the class to receive a detention. As they were preparing to leave, Snape spoke up again. Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, if you would stay behind for a moment.

He waited until the last student had left the classroom, then closed the door. I believe that you three are aware of the role that I played in our fight against Voldemort? The trio nodded. The change in my attitude is a reflection that I am no longer forced to pretend to be allied with that scum. I wanted to tell the three of you, particularly, and especially you, Harry, that I had to be extra hard on you because of external ties. He paused, and looked directly at Harry – his son, he still couldn't believe it – and spoke. I never hated James Potter. He and I actually were partners in ops, and we became close friends. I even came to see you as a baby when I could safely. Our enmity was a ruse from the time we finished our fifth year here until his death. My humblest and most sincere apologies for anything I have said to malign James. Sev had carefully not made any reference to James as Harry's father.

Harry, for his part, was stunned. Professor Snape had just addressed him by his first name, and actually apologised. T-t-thank you, professor, he managed to stutter out before escaping to the comparatively normal environment of Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class.