A/N: Yea! Severus is getting a clue in this chapter. I was going to include a Harry/Sev conversation in this chapter, but the chapter just kept growing, so it'll be next chapter.
Thank you all for all the wonderful, wonderful reviews!!!

A/N2: Thanks to Shades for pointing out I typed Draco' for Dean' at one point. That's fixed now. Goes to show how I ship, eh? Can't keep that icy Slytherin out for long... oh... and he'll be back next chapter. Ah... love Draco. Harry/Draco love....



Remus's sharpened werewolf senses had come in handy int he past. Sunday morning brunch turned out to be another one of those occasions. He looked up as a group of Gryffindor fifth years walked in, and frowned slightly as he noticed the guarded, somewhat suspicious expressions on their faces. What was ood, however, made his eyes narrow.

Harry's right hand was playing nervously along his chest, resting in more or less the same area overall in the long run. Remus looked closer, and saw that Harry's robes looked slightly altered near the crest.

Wait! Why was Harry even wearing his school robes on a Sunday to begin with?

The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor let himself think back over the events of the past week or so – after the full moon, Harry had told him about the article in Witch Weekly, as well as Sev's reaction to his son's forced coming out. Harry had also mentioned the verbal insults he was taking. Then, after class on Friday, the very next day, Harry had asked that odd question about wand holsters. Wand holsters?!?

He turned back to look closer at Harry then, and gasped slightly when his sudden suspicions were confirmed. A fourth year Hufflepuff had sneered as he approached the group, and all five pulled their wands. harry had pulled his the quickest – from a wand holster. Harry had just replaced his wand when Sev entered the hall and sat down beside Remus.

Good morning, Remus, he greeted his former classmate congenially.

Hello, Sev, Remus replied, his tone somewhat distant. Then he shook his head as if to clear it, and turned to the older man. Sev, is there any new threat from Voldemort?

he replied, surprised. Why do you ask?

Well, I was wondering because Harry's friends all pulled their wands on that Hufflepuff a few moments ago, and Harry's carrying his in a wand holster, Remus explained.

Severus's eyebrows shot upwards. Why would they pull their wands on another student?

Remus set his tea down slowly and looked cautiously at the other man. he began gently, I know you aren't fond of the topic, from what Harry said, but he's been putting up with a fair amount of verbal abuse since that article was printed last week. I'm merely concerned that he may be fearing physical violence.

Severus blanched. He had been so worked up over his own reaction, he had failed to truly consider the impact on his son. Worse yet, he had been completely unaware that any verbal abuse was taking place. He put his head in his hands. Was he really such a failure as a father?

Severus went back to his chambers to do some significant soul-searching immediately after his plate was clear. He closed the door and locked it both manually and magically before adding a few select wards. He most definitely did NOT want to be disturbeed. He had to come to at least an intermediate solution. He realised, when he pulled himself from his self-absorption long enough to look, that Harry had been uncharacteristically sober during the remainder of the week. Severus didn't flatter himself enough to think he was the sole cause of his son's change in demeanor; truth be told, it was the major cause, however much Severus didn't believe it. Still, he did acknowledge, upon reflection, that his reaction could not have helped.

What was the issue? That Harry was gay, or that other people knew his son was gay? While different, they were distinctly different in some ways. Severus pondered the question for some time, and concluded that for him, at least for now, both were issues. So. He would have to consider them separately.

Issue number one: Harry, his son, was gay. Unless major strides in human reproduction were made, this meant Harry would never have any children that were biologically his, thus signalling the end of the Snape line.

Severus brought his head up sharply. Four months ago, he had thought himself was the end of the Snape line, accepting that he would not be having any children, biological or otherwise. Then he had found out that he was Harry's father, and... and what? Suddenly carrying on the Snape bloodline had become important to him? He expected his son to do what he would not? He shook his head angrily and growled. Maybe that didn't really matter to him. After all, Harry might adopt, passing on the Snape name. If not, at least the last member of the Snape line would be a distinguished one, one to be proud of.

Then, Severus turned to his own feelings towards homosexuality. He had always thought it vaguely replusive; a dirty, hidden thing that some depraved individuals resorted to in the absence of available female companionship. Harry's case, however, made him reconsider this view. Harry could certainly have his pick of girlfriends; he was still the Boy Who Lived, after all. Perhaps... perhaps it truly was something predetermined, rather than the notion of choice he had always thought it to be. Certainly, his interactions with Black and the werewolf had led him to that conclusion, although he was able to quash his repugnance enough to be friendly with Lupin. Still, why would Harry choose such a lifestyle? Severus could only conclude it was not, in Harry's case, a choice.

Severus could not, not matter how heartless he seemed, hold an irreversible fact over his son's head. He would have to suppress his own views of homosexuals for the time being, and work through them privately, so that they did not affect his son. A forced coming out, and what was probably a messy break-up, could not be easy for any fifteen year old, much less for one who carried the burdens that Harry did.

Severus groaned. How could he have been so insensitive to his son? Regardless of his own feelings, he should have been there for Harry! He nearly beat his head on the table in frustration. One month on the job, and he was making quite a muddle out of it!



Meanwhile, Harry was surrounded by Ron, Hermione, Dean, Seamus, and the twins in Gryffindor's common room. It was time to compare notes and figure out who was behind the attack. Unfortunately, there was more than one suggestion on how best to proceed – widely different suggestions at that.

Ron, Fred, and Seamus favored brewing, stealing, or buying Veritaserum, adminstering it to Neville, and questioning him on who was involved.

Hermione and Dean, on the other hand, did not think Veritaserum was an option at all, and wanted to simply compare note, find out alibis and whereabouts, and observe, observe, observe.

Currently, Harry and George were attempting to advocate a middle ground. That is, compare notes, find out people's alibis and whereabouts as much as possible, but veritaserum handy if needed.

After hours of discussion, the compromise position was finally agreed upon, and lists of potential attackers were brought out and compared. There were some surprises in store, however, when Harry shared his opinions.

No, Fred, George, cross off Malfoy and his minions, add Parkinson.

The twins were astounded.

Malfoy hasn't made a single comment to me about this, Harry explained, and we've had enough scrapes with the three of them that their shapes and voices would have been recognisable. Pansy, on the other hand, has been awful, and I don't think she's incapable of it.

Hermione, who was recording the compiled list, merely nodded and made the suggested changes.

Add Finch-Fletchley, McMillian, and Bones, Harry instructed a few moments later, earning him a few more odd looks.

asked Fred curiously.

Ex-boyfriend and his two best friends, Harry said with a shrug. I gave him a black eye earlier in the week, for the article. Could be payback.

Hermione frowned. More than a payback, by far, but I'll add them.

The completed list of preliminary suspects had seventy names on it. Luckily, Ravenclaw had had Quidditch practise at the time of the attack, and so four names were eliminated. Hermione left to get the detention rosters from Filch and McGonagall – as a Prefect, the request wasn't all that unusual – and Seamus and Dean went to visit Madam Pomfrey, in case any of the suspects had been safely ensconced in the Hospital Wing at the time. George volunteered to bring up some food from the kitchens, leaving Fred, Ron, and Harry staring at their list.

What are we going to do when we know who it is? Harry asked quietly.

Fred responded coolly. Subtle, not overt, and not all at one time, but repercussions nonetheless. George and I already started on Longbottom, although no one else will likely notice the difference.

inquired Ron, his interest raised.

Fred nodded. He's actually been less clumsy this year, but not for the next nine days, ten hours and forty-five minutes. It has to seem random, he explained to their bewildered looks. Also, he'll emit a faint suggestions to dock points at the slightest opportunity. George and I agreed not to prank for the same amount of time – a week – so that we don't mess up our own standings.

Harry was impressed, and told Fred so. Remind me never to get on your bad side, he added with a laugh, and Ron and Fred joined in.



Severus moved on to issue number two: the fact that others, that the whole wizarding world by now, knew that Harry, *his* son, was gay. The realisation hit him like a ton of bricks: he was deeply ashamed. Ashamed of his son, and ashamed to be identified in any way with what he had always perceived as a perverstion.

Then he was more ashamed; ashamed of being ashamed. Harry had been so thankful when he had discovered that he had a living parent that was proud of him, and he, Severus, and removed that from him. No wonder the boy appeared so disconsolate! He was confusing pride with love, and was most likely convince that he was unworthy of love. Severus had seen the same before, especially, in his experience, among orphans. Good one, Severus, he told himself. You really bungled this up royally!

Twist and turn things though he might, Severus could not escape that his reactions were based primarily on shame. The knowledge had not gone completely public before that article that Harry was, indeed, his son, and he had somehow anticipated feeling rather proud when the news finally hit the wizarding community. Instead, it had been buried in a poorly written exposé of Harry's private life. Severus grimaced. He was so selfish, so self-absorped! He had been more upset about the damage the revelations would do to his own status, his own reputation, that he had failed to consider Harry at all. Harry, who for everything he had gone through, was still not an adult!

He did love the boy, he acknowledged that fact, but the instant after he thought it, he realised that Harry had no idea he felt that way. His letter had no doubt made things worse. At the time... at the time it was tit for tat. He was humilated, so he would make sure that Harry didn't feel any better. Merlin, what an assine, juenvile thing to do! He had been alone, truly alone for so long. Had he really lost the ability to be compassionate, to care about someone else?

It was sometime later before Severus came to the conclusion that he would talk to Harry after his Potions class the next morning. He needed to apologise, as foreign as that was to Severus. He had to make sure Harry knew that he still had his father's love... if he had ever realised he had it in the first place. Oh, you do know how to muck things up, Severus, he chided himself.



The list was narrowed down, after the afternoon's excursions, to forty-two names, spread amongst the four Houses. Casual inquiry, they hoped, would narrow down the Gryffindors. All of them hoped that two participants was all Gryffindor had supplied.

Harry was beginning to feel some pain in his ankle again; he concluded that, between Sirius having to use Harry's wand, barely remembering the spell, and being out of practise, the healing spell had not taken properly. Harry hobbled upstairs where Dean rewrapped it and Ron helped Harry to shower while still keeping his balance as well as his cast dry, as he had since the attackers. After dinner and some time spent on homework (at Hermione's insistence), the seven assembled again, this time in the fifth year boys' dormitory. Seamus kicked Neville out so subtly that Neville thought himself volunteering to leave.

Here's the tally, then, Hermione said briskly, all business. Twelve potentials in Hufflepuff, five remaining to check in Gryffindor, two confirmed in Gryffindor, six potentials in Ravenclaw, and nine in Slytherin. Fred, George, you'll need to engineer the procurement of Veritaserum.

The twins nodded seriously. One of the people we've been talking to, about distribution for the shop, runs a brisk trade in potions on the side. I think we can get Veritaserum from him fairly quickly. It won't be cheap, but we can handle.

The others frowned at the last statement, but Harry reminded silent and struggled not to smile. Fred and George had plenty of money – his investment, plus their profits from the summer and the tidy business they had going within Hogwarts itself.

Hermione then turned to the rest of the list. Dean, you said you thought you could deal with the remaining Gryffindors tonight?

Dean nodded. Actually, I think I'll head back downstairs now and see what I can find out. I'm nice and unobtrusive, you know, so people don't think it's odd to tell me things. He grinned self-mockingly as he headed out the door.

How are we going to check the other Houses? Seamus asked. Is there anyone we can actually trust to ask in any of them?

Surprisingly, yes, Harry said with a wry grin, as he pulled out a few sheets of parchment. I have a few people offering to be my rebound guy. Two Ravenclaws, who I've never seen near each other, so they can each check out the same ones, and even if one's a fake, the other shouldn't be. Only one Hufflepuff, but, surprisingly, three Slytherins. The Slytherins, of course, didn't sign their real names, because most of the House is extremely homophobic.

If they're so homophobic, why hasn't Malfoy said a word? Ron wondered.

Harry laughed. I wondered that myself at first, Ron, but I think I finally hit on an answer.

The others looked at him blankly. Isn't it obvious? He must be either gay or bi himself.

The others just stared at Harry dumbfoundedly before Hermione began nodding slowly. You're right, Harry, that does make sense. I'm sure Daddy Dearest hasn't a clue, either.

Harry shook his head. I'm sure. But that's part of the reason I'm sure neither he nor his goons were involved in any of this. Malfoy especially can't take the risk that things would turn around and blow up in his face later.

There was a general consensus of agreement and then the others helped Harry draft letters to his potential informants in the other Houses. Seamus, Ron, and the twins left then to go to the Owlery, and Harry stayed seated on his bed with Hermione.

Harry, how are you really doing? I know that you've gone through worse, but this still had to be a rough week for you.

Harry pursed his lips and frowned before nodding slightly. I can't deny that. I just wish... I mean, I talked to Sirius some, and that helped, and you lot are great, of course, but I do wish my dad hadn't reacted that way.

Hermione smiled sadly. Maybe it was all just too much of a shock for him, she offered. I'm sure he'll come around eventually.

They were interrupted then by Dean returning from the common room. You can mark off the other five Gryffindors, but put down a definite for McMillian. I overhead Parvati saying that she was supposed to meet him for a study date last Thursday and he was almost an hour late, and when he got there, he looked like he had been in a fight.

Hermione made the appropriate notations on their list and then stood. I think I'll head back to my dormitory now, if you're going to be in here, Dean.

Dean nodded. Not a problem. The others should be back up soon, too.

Harry slowly dressed in his pajamas, and was just lying down when Ron and Seamus returned. G'night, Ron, Seamus, Dean, he called sleepily.

they chorused, and Harry forgot his problems in sleep.