~*¤*~ Welcome to the Family Tree ~*¤*~
For Disclaimers see ch. 1!!!
A/n: I update this EVERY Morning. So hence thereforth, I can't do it when I am in school. Bummer. But anyhow, here it is!
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~*Chapter 4*~
~*The Werewolf, Albus, then the biggest fear of all*~
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As Severus sat there he couldn't bare to look at any of the students at the Slytherin table, let alone the Gryffindor table. Where...(A/N: *GULP*) Harold Zane Snape sat in the mere disguise as Harold James Potter. He quickly tucked the letter in his robes then excused himself from the table. As he started to walk out Albus turned to Remus, Remus nodded to the door and Albus with the strange twinkle in his eye, nodded to Severus.
..:::: ************::::.. "I can't believe you still haven't told him," Remus said, a vague tone of disbelief colouring his tone. Severus whirled to glare at him angrily, lips pulled back from clenched teeth.
"Told who what? I haven't the slightest idea what you're on about....." Severus growled, but was cut off by a sharp returned gaze from Remus. 'He knows that the letter was from Lily, damn.'
"You know very well who and what I mean, Severus. It's been fifteen years.he has a right to know you. As well as his sister, whom Lily told you to raise as a favour, because James didn't know about the twins."
"Know me?! Why in the hell does he have a right to know me? For all I know, he's not even mine!" Snape yelled, and turned to stalk away. Remus, however, latched tightly onto his shoulder and forced him to stay his ground. "Let me go, werewolf." He growled, but Remus kept his grip. For a moment, he didn't say anything, his expression shifting between concern and disbelief.
"He IS yours, Severus. Surely you knew that...Lily thought that you'd read her handwriting and have a reason to believe her. I was there when she wrote them."
"I knew of the possibility, but nothing more." Snape replied, though the tone of his voice clearly said otherwise. He believed Lily, but didn't want to face the past. It hurt way to much.
"Then why didn't you find out?! He could have grown up without all the lies..."
"Oh, yes indeed. As if I would just pop up on his doorstep and admit to sleeping with his mother, oh I'm SURE that would go over well."
"Well, you've never seemed to worry about other's reactions to you before. You've got to TELL him! He'll probably find out on his own eventually, and just imagine what a mess that would be.."
"Not anymore of one than if I WERE to tell him. Can you imagine what would happen were he to know? ME?! His FATHER?! You can't honestly expect that he'd be happy in the least. I am not the type of person that can be a father, to the oh-so-famous boy-who-lived."
"Oh, so that's it."
"What?"
"You don't think you're worthy."
"I'll be astounded if you can think of anyone LESS worthy. I was a Death Eater, Remus, I've done more evil than I can rightly remember.I'm not worthy of being ANYONE'S parent, not Sasha's, Cora's, Mortisha's, Sheridan's, or Voldemort's daughters. And besides, I wouldn't even know how. And how do you think he would feel? You obviously have taken a liking to him, what do you think it would do to him if he were to discover that his real father was a murderer? A conscienceless follower of the Dark Lord? A cruel, bitter teacher hated by the entire school, except for the select Slytherins. It'd break him, I've no doubt that it would."
"Then that just proves that you need to get to know him."
"Why, whatever do you mean?" Severus asked with every word penetrating into Remus' skin like venom.
"Tell me.why ARE you always on his case? Why is it that you always single him out for ridicule?"
"Simple...To teach him a lesson. Everyone else here, you included, tend to treat him like some high-and-mighty saviour of the wizarding world. Half of the people who claim to be his friends would turn on him in an instant if his 'heroic' image were to be tarnished. He's got to learn to fend for himself out there, one way or another. If I don't break him of the spoiled lifestyle he probably enjoys at home, who will? You? Dumbledore? I highly doubt it."
"I thought that might be your reason."
"What? You'd better not even consider criticizing me for my methods, for I assure you, there's plenty I could say about yours."
"Have you heard about the Dursleys at all? The muggle family he lives with?"
"Of course not. If you'll remember correctly, I was comatose when he was placed with them, and I don't tend to bother with 'gossip.'"
"I've noticed. Either way, you wouldn't have learned anything more. Harry doesn't like to talk about them at all, I'm afraid I found out rather by accident."
"Found out what?"
"Have you ever seen Harry getting mail in the Great Hall? Or going home for the Christmas holidays?"
"No, but I hardly see what that has to do with anything...I stayed here for the holidays, along with my sister. She needed me."
"Severus, the first day of classes I asked him to stay after the lesson. I'd noticed he was looking ill, and I wanted to ask what was wrong. He was VERY reluctant to tell me. SO I asked Miss Granger to find out."
"Go on."
"His uncle beats him, Severus; quite often, in fact. As it turned out, he had a pair of cracked ribs, as well as severe bruising across his chest and back. I cornered Mr. Ron Weasley to find out more about the Dursley's, and I daresay it isn't pleasant. Evidently, they weren't even going to let him come to school this year. I suppose it was a lucky thing that I showed up.Anyway, one year, Weasley and his brothers had to actually break him out of that house as if it were a prison, bars on his window and everything."
"What?! Impossible.Dumbledore wouldn't allow him to stay in a place like that."
"Dumbledore doesn't know about it. Harry's too proud and ashamed to tell him, and I imagine he doesn't want any more attention drawn to him, either. Hermione told me that every time she tries to give Harry a hug, he pulls away. Which means he probably has marks on his back. I confronted him about it and had to give him calming potion. I tried to get him to tell Dumbledore, but I'm afraid he's just as stubborn as you."
"They .....beat him? Why? He's their blood, surely they didn't......"
"The Dursleys hate magic, Severus. You didn't know Lily as well as I did, but I'm sure you heard her mention Petunia?"
"Once or twice, and never with pleasure." Severus said this then thought of the letter.
"Yes, well Petunia hated Lily above and beyond a simple sibling rivalry.she thought Lily was a freak. Once they no longer had to live in the same house, Petunia severed all relations with her sister. She's carried that hate on to Harry, and her husband is the same way. Harry had to sleep locked in a broom closet for eleven years."
"Remus, you are coming with me to see Albus this instant, I'll not allow that.that FAMILY to ever."
"No."
"What?!"
"Tell Harry."
"I can't, you know that!"
"He's your SON, Severus. Just as Sheridan Damaris has been in your custody for the past 16 years. And she's your other DAUGHTER."
"I'm aware of that..."
"Then say it, admit it out loud."
"Fine. Harry is my son. Now, can we please get on with it? I may not wish that fact to be known, but I will NOT stand for ANYONE mistreating him, let alone ANY student."
"And how, precisely, do you think he sees YOUR behaviour toward him and all the Gryffindors?"
"That is different. I have no choice, as long as Voldemort lives and I retain my title as 'spy.'"
"Yes, but you could always let him know that....let him know YOU. The YOU that your wife and step children and normal daughters know."
"Oh, so we're back on that again, are we?"
"It's the only way you can keep him safe from the Dursleys.....by telling him the truth."
"As I've already said, No. WE will inform Albus of the...abuse, and nothing more."
"If we tell Dumbledore, he will remove Harry from that house. Harry will have no choice but to go to an orphanage or a temporary care facility. Now, imagine what that would do to him..he's already got more than enough in common with the Dark Lord, how do you think he'd react to yet another?"
"Surely no worse than if I talked to him."
"I doubt that, Severus. I will make you a deal. If you agree to tell Harry and Dumbledore the truth, then I will come with you right now to talk to him about the Dursleys."
"But then Albus would send him to live with ME. I couldn't do that Remus, I'd be worse than the Dursleys...."
"No you wouldn't. You've never hit a student, and I know for a fact that all that yelling you do is just an act. I overheard Sasha, Sheridan, and Mortania talking. You only need to give yourself a chance, and spare your son another summer of beatings."
"Very well.."
"Promise and swear that you will tell Harry, and soon."
"I promise that I will tell.Harry.the truth before Christmas. Are you happy now?"
"Yes, but you understand that I am not doing this for 'me.' I'm doing this for Harry.and for you."
"Me?"
"Yes. You have a son, Severus. You have as much right to know him as he does you. You, Lily and Sheridan and him were a family, bring him into your new family."
"I'd have to agree with you...but can we please get on with it? I'd like to tell Albus and get this whole thing over with as soon as possible, I'm sure he'll have plenty to say."
"He won't be ashamed of you, you know that."
"Yes.but then he doesn't have to be."
And silently without saying a word, the werewolf and the potions master walked up the office without mentioning anything. *****#####*****
After telling Albus of the Abuse he wanted to remove Harry from the Dursleys' immediately. All that time they were sitting there Albus was watching Severus. He was awfully fidgety.
"...yes, and probably scared of what would happen were he to be taken from his only remaining family....undoubtedly he'll have to be placed in an orphanage, unless the Ministry would agree to letting him stay here..."
"Actually, Headmaster, that brings us to the second topic." Remus cast a glance at Severus, who nodded slowly then sat up in the chair right this time, "You see, The Dursleys aren't Harry's only surviving relatives." Lupin said
"Pardon? According to the records, all of the Evans and Potter family are dead."
"The records are correct on that point, but wrong on another. Albus, James Potter was not Harry's father," Severus said.
"Then.who is?"
"I am," Severus winced as these words fell off of his tongue.
"What? How is this possible?"
"Do you remember that last mission Voldemort sent me on, in November of 1980?"
"Yes, I do.and I gave you permission to do what was necessary to convince the Dark Lord."
"When I arrived at the Potter home in the disguise of James Potter, I discovered that my reason for being there had already been removed, as James had taken the result of his work with him. However, before I could leave.....Lily found me, and....wanted me to come to bed with her. Forgive me, Albus, but.....I did. As I was trying to slip away the next morning, Remus found me lurking about, and deduced what had happened. I rather...blackmailed him into not telling anyone. As he later told me, Lily was slightly ill a few weeks later.....she was pregnant; with Harry, and the little know Sheridan in the 6th year in Slytherin. Lily never discovered that it hadn't been James, she had me raise Sheridan as a daughter, to keep James from finding out that she had twins."
"Have you spoken to him?"
"No....and I hadn't been planning on it. But...in order for Remus to tell you about the abuse, he made me promise that I would tell you and Harry the truth."
"Merlin..You're Harry's father..I always thought there was something about you two."
"I fathered him, Albus, but I'd hardly consider myself a father."
"Maybe not now, Severus, but you'll learn easily enough. At least Harry won't have to go to an orphanage now."
"Yes.and I do hope that the ends are worth the means."
"Severus, you'll be fine, why with the help of Clairese, you'll be a normal ole father before you know it."
Severus went slightly red.
"Well, Albus, she is well known for teaching one to be a father...."
Albus chuckled. "Well, Severus, about that letter this morning at breakfast....Why exactly did you run off?"
"The past is far too much to face, and I have been doing it a lot today."
For Disclaimers see ch. 1!!!
A/n: I update this EVERY Morning. So hence thereforth, I can't do it when I am in school. Bummer. But anyhow, here it is!
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~*Chapter 4*~
~*The Werewolf, Albus, then the biggest fear of all*~
**********************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~************************
As Severus sat there he couldn't bare to look at any of the students at the Slytherin table, let alone the Gryffindor table. Where...(A/N: *GULP*) Harold Zane Snape sat in the mere disguise as Harold James Potter. He quickly tucked the letter in his robes then excused himself from the table. As he started to walk out Albus turned to Remus, Remus nodded to the door and Albus with the strange twinkle in his eye, nodded to Severus.
..:::: ************::::.. "I can't believe you still haven't told him," Remus said, a vague tone of disbelief colouring his tone. Severus whirled to glare at him angrily, lips pulled back from clenched teeth.
"Told who what? I haven't the slightest idea what you're on about....." Severus growled, but was cut off by a sharp returned gaze from Remus. 'He knows that the letter was from Lily, damn.'
"You know very well who and what I mean, Severus. It's been fifteen years.he has a right to know you. As well as his sister, whom Lily told you to raise as a favour, because James didn't know about the twins."
"Know me?! Why in the hell does he have a right to know me? For all I know, he's not even mine!" Snape yelled, and turned to stalk away. Remus, however, latched tightly onto his shoulder and forced him to stay his ground. "Let me go, werewolf." He growled, but Remus kept his grip. For a moment, he didn't say anything, his expression shifting between concern and disbelief.
"He IS yours, Severus. Surely you knew that...Lily thought that you'd read her handwriting and have a reason to believe her. I was there when she wrote them."
"I knew of the possibility, but nothing more." Snape replied, though the tone of his voice clearly said otherwise. He believed Lily, but didn't want to face the past. It hurt way to much.
"Then why didn't you find out?! He could have grown up without all the lies..."
"Oh, yes indeed. As if I would just pop up on his doorstep and admit to sleeping with his mother, oh I'm SURE that would go over well."
"Well, you've never seemed to worry about other's reactions to you before. You've got to TELL him! He'll probably find out on his own eventually, and just imagine what a mess that would be.."
"Not anymore of one than if I WERE to tell him. Can you imagine what would happen were he to know? ME?! His FATHER?! You can't honestly expect that he'd be happy in the least. I am not the type of person that can be a father, to the oh-so-famous boy-who-lived."
"Oh, so that's it."
"What?"
"You don't think you're worthy."
"I'll be astounded if you can think of anyone LESS worthy. I was a Death Eater, Remus, I've done more evil than I can rightly remember.I'm not worthy of being ANYONE'S parent, not Sasha's, Cora's, Mortisha's, Sheridan's, or Voldemort's daughters. And besides, I wouldn't even know how. And how do you think he would feel? You obviously have taken a liking to him, what do you think it would do to him if he were to discover that his real father was a murderer? A conscienceless follower of the Dark Lord? A cruel, bitter teacher hated by the entire school, except for the select Slytherins. It'd break him, I've no doubt that it would."
"Then that just proves that you need to get to know him."
"Why, whatever do you mean?" Severus asked with every word penetrating into Remus' skin like venom.
"Tell me.why ARE you always on his case? Why is it that you always single him out for ridicule?"
"Simple...To teach him a lesson. Everyone else here, you included, tend to treat him like some high-and-mighty saviour of the wizarding world. Half of the people who claim to be his friends would turn on him in an instant if his 'heroic' image were to be tarnished. He's got to learn to fend for himself out there, one way or another. If I don't break him of the spoiled lifestyle he probably enjoys at home, who will? You? Dumbledore? I highly doubt it."
"I thought that might be your reason."
"What? You'd better not even consider criticizing me for my methods, for I assure you, there's plenty I could say about yours."
"Have you heard about the Dursleys at all? The muggle family he lives with?"
"Of course not. If you'll remember correctly, I was comatose when he was placed with them, and I don't tend to bother with 'gossip.'"
"I've noticed. Either way, you wouldn't have learned anything more. Harry doesn't like to talk about them at all, I'm afraid I found out rather by accident."
"Found out what?"
"Have you ever seen Harry getting mail in the Great Hall? Or going home for the Christmas holidays?"
"No, but I hardly see what that has to do with anything...I stayed here for the holidays, along with my sister. She needed me."
"Severus, the first day of classes I asked him to stay after the lesson. I'd noticed he was looking ill, and I wanted to ask what was wrong. He was VERY reluctant to tell me. SO I asked Miss Granger to find out."
"Go on."
"His uncle beats him, Severus; quite often, in fact. As it turned out, he had a pair of cracked ribs, as well as severe bruising across his chest and back. I cornered Mr. Ron Weasley to find out more about the Dursley's, and I daresay it isn't pleasant. Evidently, they weren't even going to let him come to school this year. I suppose it was a lucky thing that I showed up.Anyway, one year, Weasley and his brothers had to actually break him out of that house as if it were a prison, bars on his window and everything."
"What?! Impossible.Dumbledore wouldn't allow him to stay in a place like that."
"Dumbledore doesn't know about it. Harry's too proud and ashamed to tell him, and I imagine he doesn't want any more attention drawn to him, either. Hermione told me that every time she tries to give Harry a hug, he pulls away. Which means he probably has marks on his back. I confronted him about it and had to give him calming potion. I tried to get him to tell Dumbledore, but I'm afraid he's just as stubborn as you."
"They .....beat him? Why? He's their blood, surely they didn't......"
"The Dursleys hate magic, Severus. You didn't know Lily as well as I did, but I'm sure you heard her mention Petunia?"
"Once or twice, and never with pleasure." Severus said this then thought of the letter.
"Yes, well Petunia hated Lily above and beyond a simple sibling rivalry.she thought Lily was a freak. Once they no longer had to live in the same house, Petunia severed all relations with her sister. She's carried that hate on to Harry, and her husband is the same way. Harry had to sleep locked in a broom closet for eleven years."
"Remus, you are coming with me to see Albus this instant, I'll not allow that.that FAMILY to ever."
"No."
"What?!"
"Tell Harry."
"I can't, you know that!"
"He's your SON, Severus. Just as Sheridan Damaris has been in your custody for the past 16 years. And she's your other DAUGHTER."
"I'm aware of that..."
"Then say it, admit it out loud."
"Fine. Harry is my son. Now, can we please get on with it? I may not wish that fact to be known, but I will NOT stand for ANYONE mistreating him, let alone ANY student."
"And how, precisely, do you think he sees YOUR behaviour toward him and all the Gryffindors?"
"That is different. I have no choice, as long as Voldemort lives and I retain my title as 'spy.'"
"Yes, but you could always let him know that....let him know YOU. The YOU that your wife and step children and normal daughters know."
"Oh, so we're back on that again, are we?"
"It's the only way you can keep him safe from the Dursleys.....by telling him the truth."
"As I've already said, No. WE will inform Albus of the...abuse, and nothing more."
"If we tell Dumbledore, he will remove Harry from that house. Harry will have no choice but to go to an orphanage or a temporary care facility. Now, imagine what that would do to him..he's already got more than enough in common with the Dark Lord, how do you think he'd react to yet another?"
"Surely no worse than if I talked to him."
"I doubt that, Severus. I will make you a deal. If you agree to tell Harry and Dumbledore the truth, then I will come with you right now to talk to him about the Dursleys."
"But then Albus would send him to live with ME. I couldn't do that Remus, I'd be worse than the Dursleys...."
"No you wouldn't. You've never hit a student, and I know for a fact that all that yelling you do is just an act. I overheard Sasha, Sheridan, and Mortania talking. You only need to give yourself a chance, and spare your son another summer of beatings."
"Very well.."
"Promise and swear that you will tell Harry, and soon."
"I promise that I will tell.Harry.the truth before Christmas. Are you happy now?"
"Yes, but you understand that I am not doing this for 'me.' I'm doing this for Harry.and for you."
"Me?"
"Yes. You have a son, Severus. You have as much right to know him as he does you. You, Lily and Sheridan and him were a family, bring him into your new family."
"I'd have to agree with you...but can we please get on with it? I'd like to tell Albus and get this whole thing over with as soon as possible, I'm sure he'll have plenty to say."
"He won't be ashamed of you, you know that."
"Yes.but then he doesn't have to be."
And silently without saying a word, the werewolf and the potions master walked up the office without mentioning anything. *****#####*****
After telling Albus of the Abuse he wanted to remove Harry from the Dursleys' immediately. All that time they were sitting there Albus was watching Severus. He was awfully fidgety.
"...yes, and probably scared of what would happen were he to be taken from his only remaining family....undoubtedly he'll have to be placed in an orphanage, unless the Ministry would agree to letting him stay here..."
"Actually, Headmaster, that brings us to the second topic." Remus cast a glance at Severus, who nodded slowly then sat up in the chair right this time, "You see, The Dursleys aren't Harry's only surviving relatives." Lupin said
"Pardon? According to the records, all of the Evans and Potter family are dead."
"The records are correct on that point, but wrong on another. Albus, James Potter was not Harry's father," Severus said.
"Then.who is?"
"I am," Severus winced as these words fell off of his tongue.
"What? How is this possible?"
"Do you remember that last mission Voldemort sent me on, in November of 1980?"
"Yes, I do.and I gave you permission to do what was necessary to convince the Dark Lord."
"When I arrived at the Potter home in the disguise of James Potter, I discovered that my reason for being there had already been removed, as James had taken the result of his work with him. However, before I could leave.....Lily found me, and....wanted me to come to bed with her. Forgive me, Albus, but.....I did. As I was trying to slip away the next morning, Remus found me lurking about, and deduced what had happened. I rather...blackmailed him into not telling anyone. As he later told me, Lily was slightly ill a few weeks later.....she was pregnant; with Harry, and the little know Sheridan in the 6th year in Slytherin. Lily never discovered that it hadn't been James, she had me raise Sheridan as a daughter, to keep James from finding out that she had twins."
"Have you spoken to him?"
"No....and I hadn't been planning on it. But...in order for Remus to tell you about the abuse, he made me promise that I would tell you and Harry the truth."
"Merlin..You're Harry's father..I always thought there was something about you two."
"I fathered him, Albus, but I'd hardly consider myself a father."
"Maybe not now, Severus, but you'll learn easily enough. At least Harry won't have to go to an orphanage now."
"Yes.and I do hope that the ends are worth the means."
"Severus, you'll be fine, why with the help of Clairese, you'll be a normal ole father before you know it."
Severus went slightly red.
"Well, Albus, she is well known for teaching one to be a father...."
Albus chuckled. "Well, Severus, about that letter this morning at breakfast....Why exactly did you run off?"
"The past is far too much to face, and I have been doing it a lot today."