The Hero Hidden Beneath A Traitor's Clothing
Summary: Voldemort is at the height of his power once more, terrorizing both the Muggle and Wizarding World's he is considered unstoppable and ruthless. There is only one person left who can truly defeat him, a boy that the world has set on a pedestal. In his seventh year the boy is now a man and single handedly taking on the dark forces but are the people truly grateful to this mysterious warrior, or will he have to depend on another girl several years younger than him and a complete stranger to believe in him.
Rated: R (for adult content and some violence)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, the talented Ms. Rowling does, and the WB has some rights to the series. I just write for the hell of it all, so don't sue. I don't have anything worth taking me to court over.
Chapter 6: Blood Brothers
"So where is he?" Sirius asked anxiously looking around hoping to see his old friend with his own eyes.
While the three Gryffindors had each sat down on the floor Snape had seen it more fit to transfigure a quill he carried in his pocket into a chair and the other three rolled their eyes in semi amusement and semi annoyance. Of course the member that only Harry could see at the time sat down as well but hovered a few inches above the ground smirking at his son who sat uncomfortably on the hard floor.
"Before I tell you anymore, each of you have to promise me that not a word of this is to leave this room or your mouths. Got it?"
His godfather and his DADA teacher agreed without hesitation, even offering to swear on their own blood if necessary. Deeming it unnecessary Harry expressed his trust for them by explaining such a thing wasn't required.
Although Snape was a different case. He sat there pondering it for quite a while and Harry let him, it really didn't matter. If Snape didn't agree then he would put a strong memory charm on him, if he did which Harry believed would be the case then there need not be another thought on the subject.
His Potions Master may have been a greasy git but at least the young Gryffindor knew he was a greasy git who kept his word.
"And what would happen if I did happen to slip this little tid-bit of information to someone, like oh say the Headmaster?" he asked looking down on Harry with a devious smirk on his face and a quirked eyebrow. But Harry was unimpressed and unmoved by his antics.
"Can it Professor you and I both know you wouldn't. After all you did defend me at that Order Meeting and I highly doubt you want to repay your debt to my father by signing my death warrant with your big mouth." The younger man smirked back. After all Snape wasn't the only one who could play the Slytherin games.
Grumbling to himself Snape agreed to stay quiet around others but he wanted answers to some questions in return. And Harry feeling it was safe to deem him with those answers agreed albeit grudgingly.
By now Sirius was bouncing up and down with excitement and kept repeating like an eager three-year-old. "Where is he?" over and over again.
"Calm down he's right here." Harry pointed to the spot next to him where the spirit of his father floated cross-legged a few inches off the ground. Everyone else saw thin air but still believed.
"Okay what do you guys want to know?" he asked glancing at each of them just in time to see Snape open his mouth as if to speak when Sirius interrupted him sharply.
"He can hear and see us right?" Harry confirmed that it was true.
"James." Sirius started to say a little hesitantly feeling ridiculous talking to thin air while also feeling hopeful for this chance to get to apologize.
"Wait," Harry said holding up his hand and turned his head so he could talk to the man they couldn't see. They heard him speak although not quite understanding what was going on it worried them.
"I know its dangerous and energy consuming but I have to do this for them. Seeing you would put so much joy to them, I'm doing it with or without your permission.
Although no one else heard the retaliating answer the younger man of the four did.
"No! Harry James Potter, you remember what happened last time! You were practically bedridden for a week, your only lucky it was over the summer!" The transparent figure of James Potter scowled in his own stubborn way. "Not to mention that your mother would kill me if I let you, you know she already disapproves of you going to the past well don't bring on another argument."
"Dad," The boy whined. "I can handle it, plus it only had a bad effect on me because that was the first time I ever tried to make you visible and I had little power at the time. I could do it for up to an hour without feeling ill effects--" He trailed off realizing he shouldn't have said that.
"Oops.you didn't hear that." He murmured sheepishly receiving an angry expression from his father.
"Harry." James almost growled. "Have you been practicing with random spirits without the Others knowing? You're lucky they haven't found out young man because if they do it's the death of you and me both bucko!"
Chuckling lightly he shook his head. "Yeah, yeah they can't touch me or you. You're already dead sorry to mention that and I'm going to control them one day!" He said in false good happiness.
"If you live long enough." The other man grumbled sadly getting a far away look in his eyes and his son had gathered that he already had been thinking of the dangers he would be facing. A long silence permeated the room and Harry figured that they better get on with what they were originally there for.
"Right then lets do this." He said softly and took a deep breath before lying down. The three older men that were very much alive and waiting curiously for him to do whatever he was about to do watched him with perplexed expressions as the young Gryffindor shut his eyes.
Severus watched the young man through his onyx colored eyes perplexedly. The boy seemed so innocent now; it looked like he was sleeping. His chest moving up and down with each breath and his hair falling back away from his face and rippling on the stone floor.
It was true he had once been fascinated even enthralled with the ninja mage Smoke. Curious as to who he may be, why he hid himself, what his purpose in the war was and most of all why he chose to take down numerous Death Eaters all on his own. The man was a clever assassin, he seemed to have all the traits of a Slytherin, cunning, sly, dark, mysterious, and some part of him was obviously evil.
To find out that that man was Harry Potter had been more than a shock. Once he had found out just a mere week ago that fascination had gone from shock to momentary denial to bewilderment and lastly to understanding. Despite what people thought he was not as heartless or as blind in people's emotions as he was thought to be. He very well understood the boy's need to fight, to get revenge, and to end this war.
But that's not the reason why his emotions had never gone to hate for the boy. No, he didn't hate Harry. When the boy was younger he hated that face, his father's face. The only difference was the softer curve of the jaw and the way his chin seemed a bit more pointed, that was Lily's. The eye's, those green emeralds that shone brighter than the sun when joy washed over his face were much like the boy's redheaded mother's did. The same determined sparkle would enter them when he would set forth a task, and the same dulled reflection would pull over them when there was only misery to behold.
Everything else was Potters though and Severus would hate the boy without even realizing why sometimes. His anger would mount when he stared at him, stared at the face of his rival. But when those eyes met his that hate melted and ebbed away to leave emptiness. The green eyes that used to look upon him with friendship so long ago that he nearly forgotten what friendship really was. Sometimes he would forget the face that stared at him with that compassion and the boy that should have been his did nothing to remind him of it.
The unruly black hair, those thick rimmed glasses, his tendency to get into trouble and his fascination with new and interesting things. It was all James, down to the very last count. Except for the boy's manner. Growing up with those magic hating muggles didn't serve to give him as much confidence as his father had and the boy tended to keep to himself or to a small crowd. He didn't seek fame no matter how many times Severus taunted him about it, perhaps he taunted him of his father because he wanted to forget about the young Gryffindor's mother. Each and every picture of her face that entered his mind brought waves of guilt, guilt that he had done nothing more than stand back when he knew her death was upon her like vultures upon rotting flesh.
Then after his fourth year the boy began to change, not noticeably but if you rarely looked at him then you would have seen that change. Now he didn't have to hate that blasted face again, Potter's face, he could hate the long tamed hair, he could hate the skin that had become tanned, the broadening of the boy's shoulders, his face, it was Black's face now. He could hate the boy again because now he reminded him of another rival. But why was it Black's face? That question disturbed him more than his dreams depicting his past wrongs in the service of the Dark Lord.
Everything about the boy was wrong now. His body shape, voice, face, scent, hair, study habits, grades, and his distance from everyone else. Different as all that may be the change was still welcome, he didn't want the cruel reminder of whom's son Harry really was. And now he noticed the hair wasn't even a pure raven color any more, it had a dark brown tint to it now. But those bright green eyes stayed the same; they would always stay the same he realized. The way he flew didn't even remind him of James anymore, the boy had acquired his own unique talent that distinguished him from others and it stood out like black hair amongst the Weasley family. And now he couldn't hate him anymore, he had no reason other than the fact that the boy was still Potter's son yet he looked like Black.
Of course the older professors had declared that he looked remarkably like Tom Riddle had in his younger days but not as slim any longer Severus could not compare without seeing the younger Riddle. However if given the chance to see the Dark Lord in his youth the Potions Master wouldn't give it a second thought before he disagreed with Professors whether their accusations were true or not. His mind was made up that either way no one but Potter or Black lived on that boy's face no matter who he looked like simply because his mind would never loose grips with his loathing for the two.
Yet he was evermore thankful for the fact that the boy didn't look like Lupin, chances would be that he would murder the young Gryffindor in his sleep if such a thing occurred.
Severus must have been lost in his thoughts for so long that he didn't notice much happening until Harry started slowly fading from his position on the floor and the gasps coming from Lupin and Black alerted him to the materialization of their best friend, James Potter.
The very first thing he was about to do was run to his godson upon seeing him becoming more and more transparent. Sirius had kept a good eye on him to make sure nothing went wrong with whatever he was doing and had nearly leapt out of his own skin when Remus pointed a shaky finger to the spot beside the young Gryffindor where something shimmered and rippled the air.
A faint color began to form and the outline of a man took shape. Slowly but surely they could make out dark unruly hair and sparking blue eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses. The man stood there and remained smiling all through the procedure until he was nearly solid and the Sirius' godson nearly invisible. Only a thin outline and the shimmer or air could prove the young man was still lying on the floor.
"James." Came the raspy whisper from the escaped convict as his eyes misted with unshed tears clouding his sight. Sirius couldn't believe it. There was his friend, after so many years of wishing to see his best friend it had finally come true.
"Sirius, it's good to see you mate, I've wanted to say this for a while now that I'm glad that someone's there for Harry, I wish you could have been there from the start but it wasn't your fault you weren't, I know you don't think that you're doing much but you really are, you saved him in a way and he saved you in return." The man whispered almost afraid that if he spoke to loudly he would frighten them.
"And you Remus, I'm glad you've gotten the DADA position again, I've wanted to thank you as well for teaching Harry the Patronus and for being so understanding with him." Then finally he turned to the last man that sat brooding in his chair.
"Severus," he let the name echo soundlessly then continued with what he was about to say. "Thank you for looking out for my son when you clearly didn't have to. You probably don't think that he likes you but he holds a deep respect for your authority as do I."
Hearing his name the potions master had been brought completely out of his daze and now he took in the features he had admired for so long. Potter, it was really Potter not the son but this time the father. The father that he hated for a wrong that he himself committed. He hadn't changed in appearance at all but his manner had, he was depressed, but then again who wouldn't be in his situation. Finally he shook his head trying to get all thoughts of the man out of his head.
All three nodded afraid to utter a word, Sirius and Remus were paler than usual and had tears streaming down their faces gazing up at their friend.
It was Sirius who finally broke the silence. "God Prongs it's so good to see you, you have no idea how much we've missed you." He said using the childhood nickname they had called the man.
"Oh but I do Padfoot, I know. I've watched you all for twenty years without being able to interfere. If I were able to break down then I would have when I saw you being carted away to Azkaban. And Moony, I watched your transformations ever since I died. The wolf felt me near but I couldn't do anything, at first Moony was so docile and calm but later on the frustration of not being able to see me grew on you and you became more vicious in your wolf form but I still couldn't do a thing short of watching.
James smiled sadly at his friends. They didn't deserve the hardships that life thrust upon them, not even Snape deserved his hardships. They were all innocents in this game especially his son who had been given a gift that would eat away at his body and mind unless they found some way to lessen the pressure on him.
All were silent again and James couldn't help but feel they were wasting time like this.
"He looks like you, you know." He stated more than asked while facing his best friend that gesturing to the spot where Harry's transparent form lay.
"But why?" the other man asked incredulously followed by Remus' opinion.
"Is it because of his scar? I mean the connection he has with Voldemort?"
"Don't be absurd Lupin, if it was because of the connection then he would look exactly like Riddle instead of Black." They heard Snape hiss the obvious answer.
"Yes," James said, "That's true but they still want to know why." His eyes lowered to his son's prone body on the floor and he stroked a few transparent locks behind his ear. Although the others couldn't see Harry he still could and took comfort in the fact that Harry cared enough for him and his friends to give him this one last meeting.
"Then why Potter? I'm sure we'd all like to know." The potions master quipped back causing Sirius to nearly jump him for his snide tone.
"Shut up and listen Snape we don't need any of your sarcastic attitude nor do we need you stating the obvious." Stunned as he was the taller man scowled ready to fight back when the nearly solid form of James Potter stepped between them with an angry glare on his face.
"Enough." Even in his death James Potter still had that unique ability to make a simple whisper echo louder than the loudest scream and penetrate the thickest surface at the same time.
"Sirius, you remember what we did in our sixth year don't you?" James inquired looking piercingly at his friend, seeing the man come to the realization James decided to inform the other two of what was going on and recited a few practiced lines.
"Like the wind blowing from two directions Like the water mixing from two streams Separate yet together Brother of mine not by essence but by love, Find a way to fuse our souls into one. My blood is your blood, My son is your son, My wife your sister, My friends yours, Minds connected, Spirits intertwined, Trust is a beacon for our friendship, Love for our connection, Raise your head against the wind as we run together, A fish in the air and a bird in the water We do the impossible and become blood brothers. Tell your stories and I'll tell mine, When the hammer falls you have what is mine, I have what is yours, Protect willingly as said the design Protect you of mine."
After the first two lines Sirius had gone into a daze, a hypnosis almost and started reciting along with the other man remembering the lines as if they were a code imprinted on the back of his eyelids.
"Blood brothers?" both Snape and Lupin spoke in a surprised unison once the chant was completed.
"My blood is your blood, my son is your son." Remus whispered catching on to what was going on.
"So you're telling me that through your connection what is yours became Sirius' after you died?" The lyncanthrope tried to clarify it as best as possible while mulling over a dozen questions in his mind.
"Exactly." James answered. "We were of course sixteen when we did this thinking that being blood brothers was the coolest thing, it turns out that in a way it had its benefits." He gestured to the spot where his son was still feeding him energy enough to stay solid.
"I have to go soon. I don't know how long Harry can hold out, and the longer he does the worse it gets." The spirit sighed mournfully and was met with three curious gazes at which point he started to explain what was going on.
"Being a necromancer means that he has the power of the dead, living, and the in between. He can borrow this power any time he needs it yet he chooses not to because it feeds him extra magic all the time. If he loses a great quantity the realms feed him double the amount he lost and very quickly causing a strain on his body and mind. That power will soon eat him away if he doesn't share it with someone. That's why he's been letting his defenses down lately. That and the fact that Salazar visits him in his sleep where his mind is most vulnerable and plants negative feelings in his mind." The man's usually sparkling blue eyes became dull and lifeless once more as he shook his head.
"BUT!.but." Sirius began looking frantically at James. "Can't we do something!?" his voice was panicked and hoarse as he jumped up and looked at the spot where his godson was supposed to be at.
"He needs to share that power, once he does they can't touch him because part of a regular magical being will be a piece of him. He won't be a pure necromancer anymore. I suggest you hurry the binding up Sirius, get him to see reason and Lily and I will hold Salazar off as long as possible. You have to help him!" he cried as he slowly started to fade away guessing that his time was up he said a quick faire well.
"It was good to see all of you. Padfoot, Moony you'll always be my best friends. And Severus, thank you for looking out for Harry. And remember I will always be watching."
"James!" Sirius ran forward wanting to stop the other man from leaving and lunged at the fading figure only resulting in him passing right through the spirit and onto his now solid godson. "Good bye James old mate." He whispered rolling off the young man he landed on once a painful groan was emitted from him.
"Sorry Harry, you okay kiddo?"
"Yeah, yeah." The younger man groaned again fighting off an oncoming headache. "Feel like I've been run over by a truck mate." He laughed dryly and was greeted by a chuckle from his DADA Professor.
"Not quite, it was more like you were run over by a rampaging godfather." He said resulting in a smack on the arm from the dog animagi who sat on the floor beside Harry who was currently massaging his scalp and letting his hair out of the ponytail it was in.
Nobody had noticed until now that the young man's hair had finished it's transformation and turned a rich brown color, still straight and thick but now much more sleek much like the man's sitting next to him.
"You're hair." Remus gasped being the first to notice and said something in a very low voice that Harry was barely able to catch.
"It's done then, Sirius has a son and Harry has a father." Beside him Snape nodded chewing on his bottom lip thoughtfully.
"Let's just hope they both live long enough to enjoy it." The Potions Master said quietly staring off into space with the same sad look that he had on earlier.
**********************************AUTHOR'S NOTE************************************
Finally!! Finished it!! Yes it was all those prompting reviews that helped me keep writing. If I had more I'd be more enthusiastic of course. Is everyone following along here or are you lost? If so let me know and I shall try and fix things as best as possible.
Don't you guys hate the spell check? That's the worst part of writing! The typos, mistakes, and checking them over with that dreaded spell check!!! ARGGGHH I hate it!! (Don't mind me, just blowing off some steam.)
Hope you liked the chapter! READ AND REVIEW!!!!! (Now if only I can finish chapter 10 on child of darkness, child of light. Then I'd be a happy camper.)
Summary: Voldemort is at the height of his power once more, terrorizing both the Muggle and Wizarding World's he is considered unstoppable and ruthless. There is only one person left who can truly defeat him, a boy that the world has set on a pedestal. In his seventh year the boy is now a man and single handedly taking on the dark forces but are the people truly grateful to this mysterious warrior, or will he have to depend on another girl several years younger than him and a complete stranger to believe in him.
Rated: R (for adult content and some violence)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, the talented Ms. Rowling does, and the WB has some rights to the series. I just write for the hell of it all, so don't sue. I don't have anything worth taking me to court over.
Chapter 6: Blood Brothers
"So where is he?" Sirius asked anxiously looking around hoping to see his old friend with his own eyes.
While the three Gryffindors had each sat down on the floor Snape had seen it more fit to transfigure a quill he carried in his pocket into a chair and the other three rolled their eyes in semi amusement and semi annoyance. Of course the member that only Harry could see at the time sat down as well but hovered a few inches above the ground smirking at his son who sat uncomfortably on the hard floor.
"Before I tell you anymore, each of you have to promise me that not a word of this is to leave this room or your mouths. Got it?"
His godfather and his DADA teacher agreed without hesitation, even offering to swear on their own blood if necessary. Deeming it unnecessary Harry expressed his trust for them by explaining such a thing wasn't required.
Although Snape was a different case. He sat there pondering it for quite a while and Harry let him, it really didn't matter. If Snape didn't agree then he would put a strong memory charm on him, if he did which Harry believed would be the case then there need not be another thought on the subject.
His Potions Master may have been a greasy git but at least the young Gryffindor knew he was a greasy git who kept his word.
"And what would happen if I did happen to slip this little tid-bit of information to someone, like oh say the Headmaster?" he asked looking down on Harry with a devious smirk on his face and a quirked eyebrow. But Harry was unimpressed and unmoved by his antics.
"Can it Professor you and I both know you wouldn't. After all you did defend me at that Order Meeting and I highly doubt you want to repay your debt to my father by signing my death warrant with your big mouth." The younger man smirked back. After all Snape wasn't the only one who could play the Slytherin games.
Grumbling to himself Snape agreed to stay quiet around others but he wanted answers to some questions in return. And Harry feeling it was safe to deem him with those answers agreed albeit grudgingly.
By now Sirius was bouncing up and down with excitement and kept repeating like an eager three-year-old. "Where is he?" over and over again.
"Calm down he's right here." Harry pointed to the spot next to him where the spirit of his father floated cross-legged a few inches off the ground. Everyone else saw thin air but still believed.
"Okay what do you guys want to know?" he asked glancing at each of them just in time to see Snape open his mouth as if to speak when Sirius interrupted him sharply.
"He can hear and see us right?" Harry confirmed that it was true.
"James." Sirius started to say a little hesitantly feeling ridiculous talking to thin air while also feeling hopeful for this chance to get to apologize.
"Wait," Harry said holding up his hand and turned his head so he could talk to the man they couldn't see. They heard him speak although not quite understanding what was going on it worried them.
"I know its dangerous and energy consuming but I have to do this for them. Seeing you would put so much joy to them, I'm doing it with or without your permission.
Although no one else heard the retaliating answer the younger man of the four did.
"No! Harry James Potter, you remember what happened last time! You were practically bedridden for a week, your only lucky it was over the summer!" The transparent figure of James Potter scowled in his own stubborn way. "Not to mention that your mother would kill me if I let you, you know she already disapproves of you going to the past well don't bring on another argument."
"Dad," The boy whined. "I can handle it, plus it only had a bad effect on me because that was the first time I ever tried to make you visible and I had little power at the time. I could do it for up to an hour without feeling ill effects--" He trailed off realizing he shouldn't have said that.
"Oops.you didn't hear that." He murmured sheepishly receiving an angry expression from his father.
"Harry." James almost growled. "Have you been practicing with random spirits without the Others knowing? You're lucky they haven't found out young man because if they do it's the death of you and me both bucko!"
Chuckling lightly he shook his head. "Yeah, yeah they can't touch me or you. You're already dead sorry to mention that and I'm going to control them one day!" He said in false good happiness.
"If you live long enough." The other man grumbled sadly getting a far away look in his eyes and his son had gathered that he already had been thinking of the dangers he would be facing. A long silence permeated the room and Harry figured that they better get on with what they were originally there for.
"Right then lets do this." He said softly and took a deep breath before lying down. The three older men that were very much alive and waiting curiously for him to do whatever he was about to do watched him with perplexed expressions as the young Gryffindor shut his eyes.
Severus watched the young man through his onyx colored eyes perplexedly. The boy seemed so innocent now; it looked like he was sleeping. His chest moving up and down with each breath and his hair falling back away from his face and rippling on the stone floor.
It was true he had once been fascinated even enthralled with the ninja mage Smoke. Curious as to who he may be, why he hid himself, what his purpose in the war was and most of all why he chose to take down numerous Death Eaters all on his own. The man was a clever assassin, he seemed to have all the traits of a Slytherin, cunning, sly, dark, mysterious, and some part of him was obviously evil.
To find out that that man was Harry Potter had been more than a shock. Once he had found out just a mere week ago that fascination had gone from shock to momentary denial to bewilderment and lastly to understanding. Despite what people thought he was not as heartless or as blind in people's emotions as he was thought to be. He very well understood the boy's need to fight, to get revenge, and to end this war.
But that's not the reason why his emotions had never gone to hate for the boy. No, he didn't hate Harry. When the boy was younger he hated that face, his father's face. The only difference was the softer curve of the jaw and the way his chin seemed a bit more pointed, that was Lily's. The eye's, those green emeralds that shone brighter than the sun when joy washed over his face were much like the boy's redheaded mother's did. The same determined sparkle would enter them when he would set forth a task, and the same dulled reflection would pull over them when there was only misery to behold.
Everything else was Potters though and Severus would hate the boy without even realizing why sometimes. His anger would mount when he stared at him, stared at the face of his rival. But when those eyes met his that hate melted and ebbed away to leave emptiness. The green eyes that used to look upon him with friendship so long ago that he nearly forgotten what friendship really was. Sometimes he would forget the face that stared at him with that compassion and the boy that should have been his did nothing to remind him of it.
The unruly black hair, those thick rimmed glasses, his tendency to get into trouble and his fascination with new and interesting things. It was all James, down to the very last count. Except for the boy's manner. Growing up with those magic hating muggles didn't serve to give him as much confidence as his father had and the boy tended to keep to himself or to a small crowd. He didn't seek fame no matter how many times Severus taunted him about it, perhaps he taunted him of his father because he wanted to forget about the young Gryffindor's mother. Each and every picture of her face that entered his mind brought waves of guilt, guilt that he had done nothing more than stand back when he knew her death was upon her like vultures upon rotting flesh.
Then after his fourth year the boy began to change, not noticeably but if you rarely looked at him then you would have seen that change. Now he didn't have to hate that blasted face again, Potter's face, he could hate the long tamed hair, he could hate the skin that had become tanned, the broadening of the boy's shoulders, his face, it was Black's face now. He could hate the boy again because now he reminded him of another rival. But why was it Black's face? That question disturbed him more than his dreams depicting his past wrongs in the service of the Dark Lord.
Everything about the boy was wrong now. His body shape, voice, face, scent, hair, study habits, grades, and his distance from everyone else. Different as all that may be the change was still welcome, he didn't want the cruel reminder of whom's son Harry really was. And now he noticed the hair wasn't even a pure raven color any more, it had a dark brown tint to it now. But those bright green eyes stayed the same; they would always stay the same he realized. The way he flew didn't even remind him of James anymore, the boy had acquired his own unique talent that distinguished him from others and it stood out like black hair amongst the Weasley family. And now he couldn't hate him anymore, he had no reason other than the fact that the boy was still Potter's son yet he looked like Black.
Of course the older professors had declared that he looked remarkably like Tom Riddle had in his younger days but not as slim any longer Severus could not compare without seeing the younger Riddle. However if given the chance to see the Dark Lord in his youth the Potions Master wouldn't give it a second thought before he disagreed with Professors whether their accusations were true or not. His mind was made up that either way no one but Potter or Black lived on that boy's face no matter who he looked like simply because his mind would never loose grips with his loathing for the two.
Yet he was evermore thankful for the fact that the boy didn't look like Lupin, chances would be that he would murder the young Gryffindor in his sleep if such a thing occurred.
Severus must have been lost in his thoughts for so long that he didn't notice much happening until Harry started slowly fading from his position on the floor and the gasps coming from Lupin and Black alerted him to the materialization of their best friend, James Potter.
The very first thing he was about to do was run to his godson upon seeing him becoming more and more transparent. Sirius had kept a good eye on him to make sure nothing went wrong with whatever he was doing and had nearly leapt out of his own skin when Remus pointed a shaky finger to the spot beside the young Gryffindor where something shimmered and rippled the air.
A faint color began to form and the outline of a man took shape. Slowly but surely they could make out dark unruly hair and sparking blue eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses. The man stood there and remained smiling all through the procedure until he was nearly solid and the Sirius' godson nearly invisible. Only a thin outline and the shimmer or air could prove the young man was still lying on the floor.
"James." Came the raspy whisper from the escaped convict as his eyes misted with unshed tears clouding his sight. Sirius couldn't believe it. There was his friend, after so many years of wishing to see his best friend it had finally come true.
"Sirius, it's good to see you mate, I've wanted to say this for a while now that I'm glad that someone's there for Harry, I wish you could have been there from the start but it wasn't your fault you weren't, I know you don't think that you're doing much but you really are, you saved him in a way and he saved you in return." The man whispered almost afraid that if he spoke to loudly he would frighten them.
"And you Remus, I'm glad you've gotten the DADA position again, I've wanted to thank you as well for teaching Harry the Patronus and for being so understanding with him." Then finally he turned to the last man that sat brooding in his chair.
"Severus," he let the name echo soundlessly then continued with what he was about to say. "Thank you for looking out for my son when you clearly didn't have to. You probably don't think that he likes you but he holds a deep respect for your authority as do I."
Hearing his name the potions master had been brought completely out of his daze and now he took in the features he had admired for so long. Potter, it was really Potter not the son but this time the father. The father that he hated for a wrong that he himself committed. He hadn't changed in appearance at all but his manner had, he was depressed, but then again who wouldn't be in his situation. Finally he shook his head trying to get all thoughts of the man out of his head.
All three nodded afraid to utter a word, Sirius and Remus were paler than usual and had tears streaming down their faces gazing up at their friend.
It was Sirius who finally broke the silence. "God Prongs it's so good to see you, you have no idea how much we've missed you." He said using the childhood nickname they had called the man.
"Oh but I do Padfoot, I know. I've watched you all for twenty years without being able to interfere. If I were able to break down then I would have when I saw you being carted away to Azkaban. And Moony, I watched your transformations ever since I died. The wolf felt me near but I couldn't do anything, at first Moony was so docile and calm but later on the frustration of not being able to see me grew on you and you became more vicious in your wolf form but I still couldn't do a thing short of watching.
James smiled sadly at his friends. They didn't deserve the hardships that life thrust upon them, not even Snape deserved his hardships. They were all innocents in this game especially his son who had been given a gift that would eat away at his body and mind unless they found some way to lessen the pressure on him.
All were silent again and James couldn't help but feel they were wasting time like this.
"He looks like you, you know." He stated more than asked while facing his best friend that gesturing to the spot where Harry's transparent form lay.
"But why?" the other man asked incredulously followed by Remus' opinion.
"Is it because of his scar? I mean the connection he has with Voldemort?"
"Don't be absurd Lupin, if it was because of the connection then he would look exactly like Riddle instead of Black." They heard Snape hiss the obvious answer.
"Yes," James said, "That's true but they still want to know why." His eyes lowered to his son's prone body on the floor and he stroked a few transparent locks behind his ear. Although the others couldn't see Harry he still could and took comfort in the fact that Harry cared enough for him and his friends to give him this one last meeting.
"Then why Potter? I'm sure we'd all like to know." The potions master quipped back causing Sirius to nearly jump him for his snide tone.
"Shut up and listen Snape we don't need any of your sarcastic attitude nor do we need you stating the obvious." Stunned as he was the taller man scowled ready to fight back when the nearly solid form of James Potter stepped between them with an angry glare on his face.
"Enough." Even in his death James Potter still had that unique ability to make a simple whisper echo louder than the loudest scream and penetrate the thickest surface at the same time.
"Sirius, you remember what we did in our sixth year don't you?" James inquired looking piercingly at his friend, seeing the man come to the realization James decided to inform the other two of what was going on and recited a few practiced lines.
"Like the wind blowing from two directions Like the water mixing from two streams Separate yet together Brother of mine not by essence but by love, Find a way to fuse our souls into one. My blood is your blood, My son is your son, My wife your sister, My friends yours, Minds connected, Spirits intertwined, Trust is a beacon for our friendship, Love for our connection, Raise your head against the wind as we run together, A fish in the air and a bird in the water We do the impossible and become blood brothers. Tell your stories and I'll tell mine, When the hammer falls you have what is mine, I have what is yours, Protect willingly as said the design Protect you of mine."
After the first two lines Sirius had gone into a daze, a hypnosis almost and started reciting along with the other man remembering the lines as if they were a code imprinted on the back of his eyelids.
"Blood brothers?" both Snape and Lupin spoke in a surprised unison once the chant was completed.
"My blood is your blood, my son is your son." Remus whispered catching on to what was going on.
"So you're telling me that through your connection what is yours became Sirius' after you died?" The lyncanthrope tried to clarify it as best as possible while mulling over a dozen questions in his mind.
"Exactly." James answered. "We were of course sixteen when we did this thinking that being blood brothers was the coolest thing, it turns out that in a way it had its benefits." He gestured to the spot where his son was still feeding him energy enough to stay solid.
"I have to go soon. I don't know how long Harry can hold out, and the longer he does the worse it gets." The spirit sighed mournfully and was met with three curious gazes at which point he started to explain what was going on.
"Being a necromancer means that he has the power of the dead, living, and the in between. He can borrow this power any time he needs it yet he chooses not to because it feeds him extra magic all the time. If he loses a great quantity the realms feed him double the amount he lost and very quickly causing a strain on his body and mind. That power will soon eat him away if he doesn't share it with someone. That's why he's been letting his defenses down lately. That and the fact that Salazar visits him in his sleep where his mind is most vulnerable and plants negative feelings in his mind." The man's usually sparkling blue eyes became dull and lifeless once more as he shook his head.
"BUT!.but." Sirius began looking frantically at James. "Can't we do something!?" his voice was panicked and hoarse as he jumped up and looked at the spot where his godson was supposed to be at.
"He needs to share that power, once he does they can't touch him because part of a regular magical being will be a piece of him. He won't be a pure necromancer anymore. I suggest you hurry the binding up Sirius, get him to see reason and Lily and I will hold Salazar off as long as possible. You have to help him!" he cried as he slowly started to fade away guessing that his time was up he said a quick faire well.
"It was good to see all of you. Padfoot, Moony you'll always be my best friends. And Severus, thank you for looking out for Harry. And remember I will always be watching."
"James!" Sirius ran forward wanting to stop the other man from leaving and lunged at the fading figure only resulting in him passing right through the spirit and onto his now solid godson. "Good bye James old mate." He whispered rolling off the young man he landed on once a painful groan was emitted from him.
"Sorry Harry, you okay kiddo?"
"Yeah, yeah." The younger man groaned again fighting off an oncoming headache. "Feel like I've been run over by a truck mate." He laughed dryly and was greeted by a chuckle from his DADA Professor.
"Not quite, it was more like you were run over by a rampaging godfather." He said resulting in a smack on the arm from the dog animagi who sat on the floor beside Harry who was currently massaging his scalp and letting his hair out of the ponytail it was in.
Nobody had noticed until now that the young man's hair had finished it's transformation and turned a rich brown color, still straight and thick but now much more sleek much like the man's sitting next to him.
"You're hair." Remus gasped being the first to notice and said something in a very low voice that Harry was barely able to catch.
"It's done then, Sirius has a son and Harry has a father." Beside him Snape nodded chewing on his bottom lip thoughtfully.
"Let's just hope they both live long enough to enjoy it." The Potions Master said quietly staring off into space with the same sad look that he had on earlier.
**********************************AUTHOR'S NOTE************************************
Finally!! Finished it!! Yes it was all those prompting reviews that helped me keep writing. If I had more I'd be more enthusiastic of course. Is everyone following along here or are you lost? If so let me know and I shall try and fix things as best as possible.
Don't you guys hate the spell check? That's the worst part of writing! The typos, mistakes, and checking them over with that dreaded spell check!!! ARGGGHH I hate it!! (Don't mind me, just blowing off some steam.)
Hope you liked the chapter! READ AND REVIEW!!!!! (Now if only I can finish chapter 10 on child of darkness, child of light. Then I'd be a happy camper.)