Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.

A couple of weeks passed since the Bludger incident and nothing else out of the ordinary happened, which suited Harry just fine. Although today they did have a guest speaker in Defence, apparently he knew everything about Defence and had written several books on the subject.

"T-today we have a s– special guest," Quirrell said as he addressed the class. "G -Gilderoy Lockhart has written m -many books on dark creatures and his e -encounters with them."

"Thank you, Professor Quirrell," Lockhart smiled, his blonde hair perfectly styled and his blue eyes bright as he looked at the class. The photographer with him snapped photos. "I'm sure you all will want autographs and I promise you will get them. But we must wait until the end of class."

"Autographs? Is he serious?" Ron muttered.

Harry nodded in agreement and glanced at Hermione. She was staring dreamily at Lockhart. He grinned and nudged Ron. The redhead glanced over at her, snorted, and rolled his eyes. All the girls were looking at Lockhart like that.

"Now, my life is not just about book signings and publicity photos. It's hard work when you're famous." Lockhart flashed a bright smile. "Of course, I am a Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defence League, Order of Merlin, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award...but naturally I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her!" He chuckled. "Of course, there is another celebrity here who knows what I am talking about."

Harry's eyes widened. Please don't say my name, please don't say my name...

"Harry Potter!" Lockhart beamed. "You and I are worth the front page of the prophet. Why just think if we wrote a book together? An automatic bestseller, I assure you!"

"Uh, no thanks," Harry said, wrinkling his nose. He noticed Draco glaring at him and he stuck his tongue out at him.

"M-Mr. Potter, p-please act y-your age," Quirrell said loudly. "If it is s-still P-Potter." He added.

Lockhart widened his eyes. "Oh, if you want my advice, and who wouldn't, do not change your last name. Potter is known all over the wizarding world."

Harry lifted his chin. "I'm a Snape."

"Yes, yes," Lockhart waved his hand dismissively. "But if you wish to continue your fame -"

"I don't," Harry said through gritted teeth.

"Well," Lockhart cleared his throat. "You are but a child. I'm sure your father would agree with me."

"You should talk to him about it," Harry suggested, hiding a smirk. He was sure his dad would love that.

"Good idea! Now, I have brought some fearsome creatures for you to see." Lockhart brought forth a covered cage. "I must ask you not to scream, it angers them."

Harry leaned forward. Now, this was more like it.

Lockhart removed the cover to reveal electric blue creatures who were eight inches high, and had pointed faces and shrill voices.

"Cornish Pixies," Lockhart said dramatically.

Several students began giggling. "Uh, Mr. Lockhart?" Seamus raised his hand. "They aren't exactly known for being very dangerous, are they?"

"Don't underestimate them, they can be very tricky!" Lockhart wagged his finger at him.

"But they aren't exactly fearsome creatures," Ron said skeptically.

"They're kinda cute," Lavender cooed, waving at them.

Lockhart frowned and looked slightly irritated. "Let's see what you make of them, shall we?"

Quirrell, who had been watching with a slightly bored expression, suddenly stepped forward with an alarmed look on his face. "No, don't -"

But Lockhart opened the cage and pixies shot out in every direction. Two immediately seized Draco by the ears and lifted him into the air.

"Let me go!" Draco wriggled around, trying to get free. "Just wait until my father hears about this!" He shouted as they hung him on the chandelier.

Harry couldn't help it, he burst into laughter.

"Now this is a photo opportunity," Ron exclaimed through his own laughter.

Lockhart's photographer was snapping pictures right and left as the pixies continued their mayhem. They took ink bottles and sprayed the class, shredded books, and papers, and even smashed windows. Soon students had either run out of the class while others hid under their desks. Draco was still swinging from the chandelier.

Quirrell narrowed his eyes at Lockhart. "I-I'll round them u-up."

"Never fear, Professor. I can do that." Lockhart boasted. "Peskipiksi Pesternomi!"

Nothing happened except for one pixie who snatched his wand out of his hand and threw it out the window.

"Hey!" Lockhart protested. He looked around nervously and then without another word, bolted from the classroom.

"He just leaves?" Ron asked.

"Immobilus!" Quirrell yelled. The pixies immediately froze. He glanced at Harry and his friends. "P-please put them b-back in their cages and c-clean the room for me." He left the room.

"Why us?" Ron complained.

"Someone get me down immediately!" Draco yelled from where he was still hanging.

Harry exchanged an amused look with his friends. "We're busy." He said as they began stuffing the pixies back into their cage.

"Come on!" Draco whined.

"We'll get someone to help you," Ron said with a smirk. "Eventually."

"Like Filch." Harry snickered.

"Filch is a squib, he can't do anything!" Draco snapped.

Ron's mouth dropped open. "He is?"

"What's a squib?" Harry asked.

"A non-magical person who was born to at least one magical parent." Another voice said.

Harry turned around to see his dad enter the room. "And not one of you will speak of it to anyone. Am I clear?" He flicked his wand and Draco floated down to the ground. "Mr. Malfoy, am I clear?" He asked sternly.

"Yes, Sir," Draco muttered, smoothing his hair down. He quickly hurried from the room.

"So I hear you had an interesting class," Severus said to his son.

"How did you know?"

"When you hear students running through the hallways screaming, it makes one curious," Severus said. "Also Professor Quirrell stopped me in the corridor and told me what happened. He also told me you were being rude during the lesson."

"I was not!" Harry protested.

"I just want to hear your side of it," Severus said patiently.

"I stuck my tongue out at Malfoy." Harry shrugged.

"How mature."

"Then Quirrell said, act your age Potter if it is still Potter." Harry continued. "Then Lockhart, who is a total fraud, said I shouldn't go by the name Snape because it isn't famous and well-known like Potter is," Harry smirked. "He's going to talk to you about that."

"Is he?" Severus asked in a dangerous tone.

"Yeah. He also wants us to write a book together."

"Not happening." Severus would love to have a nice chat with Lockhart. He glanced at Ron and Hermione. "Well, you two go on. Your class is obviously dismissed early. Harry, come with me."

"Am I in trouble?"

"Not that I know of. I just want to talk to you." Severus led him down the hallway.

"About what?"

"No more sticking your tongue out, especially during class." Severus admonished.

"I thought I wasn't in trouble!"

"You're not," Severus said in exasperation. "That doesn't mean I'm not going to admonish you for bad behavior." He paused. "Harry, do you want to go by the name Snape?"

"It's who I am. Right?" Harry asked hesitantly.

"Yes, but the name Potter is -"

"I'm your son," Harry said stubbornly. "I appreciate what James did, helping mum and trying to protect me. I have his name as my middle name and I'm glad about it. But my last name should be Snape." He looked pleadingly at his dad. "I'm yours, right?"

Severus drew him into a hug. "That you are, Mr. Snape."

Harry grinned.

HP

At breakfast, practically the whole Hall was laughing over the daily prophet. On the front page was a picture of Draco being lifted up by his ears by the pixies.

"I'm going to frame this," Ron laughed.

"Malfoy looks really mad," Hermione giggled.

Indeed, Draco looked furious and kept yelling at people to stop laughing.

"This is the best," Harry chuckled. He looked up at the Head Table to see the professor reading the paper and grinning. He noticed his dad was trying to look serious but Harry could see the amusement in his eyes.

"Who is that?" Harry asked as a man with white blonde hair and an elegant cane stormed into the Great Hall towards the end of breakfast.

"It's Malfoy's dad," Ron said as they watched Mr. Malfoy stalk up to where the Headmaster was sitting.

"Lucius, how good to see you," Dumbledore said brightly.

"I would like to talk to you about this!" Mr. Malfoy said loudly and angrily as he held up the prophet. "How dare you let this happen?"

"I'm afraid I was not in the classroom when that happened," Dumbledore said calmly.

"Yet you approved having that fool guest speak here!"

"Yes, it is sad that it appears he was lying about all his achievements," Dumbledore said. "At least the truth has come out now."

"At my son's expense!" Lucius snarled, gesturing to where Draco sat. "He's the joke of the wizarding world!"

Harry noticed Draco flush with embarrassment and felt a tad of sympathy for the blonde. His dad was attracting attention and making it worse. "He's not the joke of the wizarding world." He stood and spoke up impulsively. He flinched slightly as Mr. Malfoy turned and glared at him.

"Ah, Mr. Potter. Wait, that's wrong, isn't it?" Lucius smirked. "You're a Snape. Who would have thought? I'm sure Severus, that you are mortified to have such a son." He sniffed.

"Actually, I am very happy to have such a fine son," Severus said coolly. "Now, what were saying, Harry?"

"That the joke of the wizarding world is Lockhart," Harry said. "He lied about everything and a pixie even snagged his wand and threw it out the window!"

The other students stood up and began shouting out.

"Lockhart was a fake!"

"He's an idiot!"

Draco looked around warily and visibly relaxed when he saw no one was laughing at him anymore.

Lucius also noticed this and gave Harry a surprised look. "I see." He said slowly. "Such interesting news, Severus," He said, glancing at the scar on Harry's forehead. "If only you had known then."

"I would have protected him at all costs," Severus said evenly. "Just as you would have done for your own son." He added.

Lucius faltered. "Yes, of course." He said grudgingly. He glanced at Dumbledore. "I'm still not happy about this." He shook the prophet. "You should be more careful who you allow into this castle."

Dumbledore gave him a pointed look. "Yes, I should."

Lucius cleared his throat, looking slightly uncomfortable. "I suppose what is done is done." He said finally. "At least that fool had been found out. He's in utter disgrace."

"Yes." Severus agreed. "Now, is there anything else you need here?"

Lucius hesitated and then shook his head. "No, I suppose not." He murmured.

HP

"Malfoy's dad is scary," Hermione said as they walked to their Tower. "No wonder Malfoy is such a git."

Ron snickered. "We've been a good influence on you." He teased.

Harry started to laugh but then paused. He stopped walking and tilted his head.

Kill...Rip...Tear...

Harry whipped around, frantically looking for the low, hissing voice he just heard. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Hermione asked.

"I heard a voice, or I thought I did," Harry said in confusion. He listened but he heard nothing now.

"Voices in your head? Not normal, mate," Ron teased. "Even in the wizarding world."

Harry forced a smile. "Yeah, guess I'm just hearing things." He hoped.

HP

Harry enjoyed spending evenings with his dad, doing his homework while his father graded papers. It was relaxing, in a way. Normal. It made him feel content.

"Dad, have you ever heard voices?" Harry asked suddenly.

Severus looked up from his papers. "I hear voices every day. In the form of annoying, whining students."

Harry rolled his eyes with a laugh. "No, I mean...a voice no one else can hear."

Severus set down his quill and looked at Harry curiously. "No." He said. "I have not."

"Oh." Harry went back to his homework.

"Have you?"

Harry hesitated, not wanting his dad to think something was wrong with him. He had felt like a freak living with the Dursleys, he didn't want to be a freak here too. "Not really. I think it might have been one of the ghosts." He said finally. He winced internally at the lie. He wasn't supposed to lie.

"Ah," Severus lifted his quill back up. "Probably Peeve's playing a prank. He is a menace."

"Yeah, it was probably him" Harry lied. The voice he had heard definitely wasn't Peeves. "So Malfoy's dad is rather intense."

"Yes. He is not someone you want to engage with." Severus said. He wasn't sure where Lucius's true loyalties lay. He had been an eager follower of the dark lord but Severus had noticed after a while that he seemed to lose his enthusiasm for it. Whether it was because he realized that being a death eater was really just being a slave to Voldemort's whims or because he didn't want Draco to follow in his footsteps, he wasn't sure. Having a child could have changed him, although he was sure Lucius still thought pure-bloods were superior to half-bloods or muggle-borns.

"Just like his son," Harry commented cheekily.

"Hmm. Yes, it is better the two of you stay out of each other's way." Severus said. "Which essay are you working on?"

"Yours." Harry gave him a scowl. "This Wiggenweld Potion has a lot of ingredients to learn. It sounds complicated to make."

Severus nodded thoughtfully. "It is. You think I should cancel the essay?"

"Would you?" Harry asked with wide, hopeful eyes.

"No," Severus smirked. "Keep working."

"You are cruel," Harry told him. "You know, the students think you are the meanest, strictest teacher in Hogwarts."

"Thank you," Severus said in a pleased voice. "I've worked hard for that reputation."

Harry sighed. Of course, his dad would be happy about that. Seeing his dad's satisfied expression made him chuckle. "Dad, in mum's journal she mentioned you wanted to own your own apothecary. When did you decide to become a teacher?"

Severus snorted. "I decided to become a teacher when Albus offered me the position. I never wanted to teach but it was a good way to stay close and keep him informed of any death eater activity as even when the dark lord disappeared, I was still spying." He paused. "Also I would be here to protect you."

"You wanted to protect me?" Harry asked eagerly.

"No," Severus admitted with chagrin. "But Albus asked me to and I owed him."

"Oh," Harry said quietly, his face falling slightly.

"I was so hurt by your mother yet also completely grief-stricken when she died," Severus said in a soft voice. "I also protected you for her, even though part of me hated her for what I thought she had done. I just wish I had known from the beginning. I can't imagine what she felt when she realized she had been cursed. She would have felt horrible for hurting me and not being able to tell me she was pregnant."

"I wish the three of us could have been a family," Harry said wistfully.

"I know. But you and I are a family now, are we not?"

"Yeah." Harry smiled.

"And Harry, now I protect you because I love you. Because if something ever happened to you, it would completely devastate me." Severus said seriously.

Harry felt a warmth spread through him at his dad's words. He wanted, loved, and cherished. It was all he had ever wanted.

TBC: