Part Three: Facing the Future
all notes and disclaimers in the prologue, still apply.

Harry,
In light of recent discoveries, I'd like to extend to you an invitation to stay at Snape Manor, with myself, and Remus. You are invited through the end of the summer holiday, though Albus informs me that you have previously arranged plans to spend the last two weeks before term with the Weasley's. You needn't feel as if you must- though I would encourage you to come, as we have much to discuss.

Severus looked up from the parchment he was writing. "Rehmy, how do I end this?"

"Let's hear the whole thing, then."

Severus read the short missive aloud. "Well?" He was honestly perplexed. His standard salutation was – his name. Something told him however, that this time, something more was required. The note was hardly emotional, pathetic really, as a letter between father and, and son, but truly they were neither to each other. They were student, and teacher, who happened to share genetic material.

"It's a shitty letter, Sev. Write it again."

"What would you have me say to the boy, Remus? Dear Harry- please come live in my cold and huge house with myself, and my lover who would rather stay in bed all day and screw around, but really, you're welcome to come. I know that this has been a big shock- you know about your least favorite teacher at school is really your father, but life sucks, and so I think you should summon up all your pathetic Gryffindor courage and suck it up. Come on over though, at least the elves are talented. Your beloved Daddy, Severus. Really, Remus!"

"Well, you could probably leave the part out about staying in bed in day screwing, and the part about life sucks, suck it up, but the rest would be better than that cold dribble on the page!"

Severus glared, and crumpled the first draft, tossing it into the fireplace. He dipped the nib of his quill in his ink, and wrote slowly and intermittently across the page.

Dear Harry,

My skills at letter writing are rather pathetic at best, and might I beg forgiveness for any awkwardness, or excessive dunderheadedness that I may display. I know that your life, our lives, have been irrevocably changed in recent days, and as such I have much I would like to discuss with you. I feel as if you're my jury and executioner at a trial for my actions. I saved your mother, bless her, but missed all the signs of your true identity. I truly thought, until Remus came to me demanding answers that you were every inch James Potter's son as you ever seemed to be. Whether or not you're currently looking for a father, you've just found one conveniently stashed nearly in your back pocket. Snape Manor, while not even slightly close to Surrey, is available for your use, and I would invite and encourage you to come so we can talk, and decide what to do about your drastic changes this summer. I'm aware that you have plans for the last two weeks of the holiday, but would extend my invitation to you, up to and through that time, as needed. I wouldn't be the sole occupant of the house, I have a large staff of interesting house elves, as well as the exclusive company of Remus Lupin. If you'd like to accept the invitation reply, when you're ready, and Remus and myself will drive down and pick you up from your relative's home. Please do not feel obligated to do so however.

Rather startlingly, I find I must sign this letter,

Your father, Severus Snape

*

Harry got the letter the next afternoon, and he bolted down the stairs to retrieve his owl from the cupboard. He was glad the family was gone for the afternoon, Vernon off at work, and Aunt Petunia had taken Dudley to a doctor's appointment about having his stomach stapled shut. Harry didn't quite see the point in that, that'd just make the poor esophagus swell to accommodate all the food that would gather, unable to enter the stomach. The owl that had delivered the letter had already flown off, typically Snape-esque.

He and Snape didn't get along – at all, but the growling in his stomach, the bruise on his arm from a punch that Dudley had thrown him this morning, did much to sway him. That, and that on his list to do, Get Away from The Dursleys was much higher in priority than worrying about Snape.

Professor Snape & Professor Lupin-
I'll come. I have to get out of this house. Come as soon as you can.
Harry

Harry sent Hedwig on her way, quickly. He started to compose another to Ron. This would be hard to explain, wouldn't it? He sat down to write. Ten minutes later he crumpled up the third attempt. Sighing, he started again deciding to just- tell him. Not explain at length. When he got to the Burrow in August it would be clear enough.

Ron,
I'm leaving the Dursleys, and staying with Remus until August at Snape Manor. Write me there, pass it to Mione.
Harry

He could send that later when Hedwig got home, and had rested. He would stay in his room this evening and wait for tomorrow.

**

Hedwig scratched against the window outside the kitchen where Remus and Severus were having breakfast. Snape got up from his plate, still in his black night-robe, and pajamas. He let the beautiful bird inside, and tossed a few bits of cheese, and egg aside for her to eat. She nipped his finger, and gave a hoot, before moving on to her meal. Severus stared at the outside of the letter before opening it. He unfolded it. He wasn't sure whether he should be glad that Harry had said yes, or not. Harry was a generally good kid, a bit of a pain in the ass sometimes. The boy never followed the rules, cared little for his schooling, and generally was difficult. But, he knew, the boy was his, and as such was his responsibility to care for.

"He's going to come, Rehmy."

Remus smiled. "It's a long drive."

"Can't we just apparate, rent a car, and then bring it back, and find a floo junction?"

Remus shook his head. Severus was just not an adventurer. "All right. Dress nice, Sev."

"Nice? Why?"

"First, because you're going to be removing your son from his horrible relative's home. They'd be so intimidated by you. Look your station. You'd be a millionaire if you lived in the muggle world. Look it. Besides, doesn't a shower sound fun?" Remus waggled his eyebrows in a suggestive gesture. Sev stood from the table, and dragged his mate back upstairs leaving a rather happy owl behind to consume their breakfasts.

*

After a rather interesting shower, then a second shower to actually get clean they dressed and apparated to a secluded spot in an alley in a town just outside Little Whining. Remus helped him pick out a car- different from the last car but no less impressive. Silver, with leather interior, and the most expensive you could rent. Remus, the only wizard Severus knew of that had a legal driver's license, drove up to the house. There was a very fat man, accompanied by an even pudgier boy, in the driveway, looking like they were about to leave.

"That's Vernon Dursley, and his son Dudley."

"That boy is related to skinny little Potter?"

"Skinny little Snape, yes, and he's not so slight anymore, love. Best get out." Remus got out, and nodded. "Hello again, Vernon." The man just stared. "This is Mister Snape. Mister Snape, this is Mister Vernon Dursley. Mister Snape is here to collect Harry."

"For what?!" Vernon was sure had hadn't heard about this.

"He's staying in my home for the remaining weeks before term, Mister Dursley. Thank you for your care thus far, but I believe that it will no longer be needed. If you'll excuse me, I'll help him with his things." Snape marched into the house, to find a rather horse-like woman staring at him.

"Who are you?" Her voice was grating, and horrible.

"Harry's new guardian. Let me pass."

Harry banged on the grate of the cupboard. He'd been trying to get in to retrieve his trunk when he'd found himself pushed inside, and locked there. If his trunk hadn't been padlocked he would have gotten his wand out. "Professor Snape!"

Severus turned at the sound of the boy's voice. "Potter?"

"In the cupboard."

Severus turned around, turning his glare on, the one that terrified seventh years and made first years piss themselves. "What is the meaning of this!? Locking a boy in – in there! Why- that's barbaric!" Snape whipped out his wand, causing a scream to issue from the ugly woman's mouth. "Alohomora!" Harry stepped out, and Snape caught his breath. Harry *had* changed! "Better?"

Harry nodded. "Thank you."

"Get your things, we'll be going as soon as you're done." Snape watched as Harry turned around, and dragged his trunk out of the closet he had just been locked in. Snape's blood boiled. Harry had to be at LEAST five eight now, and to lock him in a cabinet meant for a meager amount of storage, and mostly just good enough to throw shoes in, was- unthinkable. Why, at the very least, the boy demanded respect- he was The Boy Who Lived, after all. "I'll take that to the car. Get the rest of your things."

"Haven't got any, sir." The ink and paper could rot. It wasn't worth tearing up the floorboards- especially since Snape hadn't specified whether or not he'd be welcome to come back next summer, too. "Nothing that I want to take with me."

Snape looked at him. "Nothing? Clothing, anything?"

"No sir."

Snape shrugged. "Very well. Come on, Potter." He pulled out his wand. Petunia gasped loudly, as the trunk dwindled to the size of a fifty pence piece, and was placed in his pocket. Two tall, broad shouldered men, with nearly identical ponytails walked out the door.

*******

This chapter was pretty short, but the next one is big. Much to say, and do. I'll be up soon, just have to put a few finishing touches on it.
Thanks so much to those who reviewed for chapters one and two! You're the best.
Fireangel- I haven't decided, but it's crossed my mind.