A.N: Well everyone, THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER! Yes, this story is finished! Bravo for me!
There WILL be a sequel up soon. When? I'm not sure. And I'm still not sure of the title, so you'll all have to
check back here for the information. As soon as I have the sequel posted I will put up a Author's Note
as chapter 38. There will be no story there, just the information.
This chapter will have many questions answered. If I still forget to clear something up, tell me
what I missed in a review so I can make sure I answer it in the sequel.
Well, I'm not sure what else to say, but I want to give out a HUGE "Thank-you" to all of those
who have reviewed my story, even though this was my first. And especially to those who stayed with me
even when I didn't update for like three months.
This chapter goes out to you!
*****************Chapter Thirty-Seven - "A Speech to Remember"******************
Harold James Snape walked down the quiet halls on the twenty-first of December. It was the night
he had to make his speech. In exact measurements, he had to be in the Great Hall, on the stage, in one hour
and twenty seven minutes.
Trying to take his mind off the upcoming speech, he let his mind wander on the revelations that he
had recieved during the past two weeks. The one he most seemed to think about lately, was the relationship
between his mother, his father, and James Potter.
********Flashback - Ten Days Earlier********
"Severus," Harry asked one afternoon. "Can I ask you a question?" Severus, his father, looked up
from the book he was reading and turned his attention to his son.
"Go ahead," he said, slightly curious as to what Harry wanted to ask.
"Well," Harry said, hesitating. "I was wondering how you're my father." Harry looked down for a
second. "I mean, I believe that you're my father, but how?"
Severus smiled slightly thinking, He finally said that I'm his father! Then he became serious, thinking
of how to explain his story as simply as possible.
"I suppose it started when I was in the sixth year, as was your mother and James Potter." he said.
"Your mother and I had began to date, secretly of course - no one would allow a Slytherin and a Gryffindor to
look at each other kindly, let alone date. We saw each other for over a year, and we seemed to be in love. Or
what we thought was love."
"We continued our relationship over the summer before our last year the only way we knew how. We
owled each other all summer. But I noticed that he letters sometimes seemed distant. There were just little
signs, like how she seemed to stop writing "Love always" or "Missing you". I didn't want to think that she might
no longer have been interested in me, so I dissmissed it." Harry noticed that Severus seemed to have a
distant look on his face.
"But after a few months at Hogwarts, there was a rumor going around that Lily was dating James
Potter. I finally opened my eyes to what was going on, and the next time I saw her I confronted her about it.
She told me that the rumor had been true. She had been cheating on me with my arch enemy - Potter."
"She begged my forgiveness, saying that she loved both of us, and that it was so hard for her to
choose between us. I was angered at this, that she loved Potter as much as she loved me. But I was still
in love with her, so I stayed with her. We continued our relationship for whole other year. I was to scared to
know if she was still seeing Potter, so I never asked."
"Then one day, when we were both nineteen, your mother came over to my house unexpectedly. She
told me what I dreaded the most - she had still been seeing Potter all that time. And what was even worse - he
had proposed to her that night. I remember her taking her hand out of her pocket and showing me the ring.
She told me that she had excepted. She said that she couldn't live by herself anymore, that she couldn't afford
her apartment in Wizarding London. She knew that she couldn't stay with her sister - your aunt - and she had
no one else to live with. I remember getting desperate then. I told her to live with me and not to marry Potter."
"But she said no, that it wouldn't be fair to Potter. That is one thing your mother always favored, Harry.
She always favored being fair. By then, I had lost it. I begged her to stay with me one more time, that if she
was going to marry Potter that she had to stay with me for one more night. And once agian Harry, getting back
to being fair, she accepted."
"And that, Harry, is where you came in." Severus gave Harry a small grin. "Three months later, she
was married to Potter. Six months after that, you were born."
Harry felt bad for his father. He had lost his mother to his worst enemy.
"But then," Harry said, frowning. "How come I look like James Potter?" Severus smiled to his son.
"You catch on a bit slow, don't you?" Severus laughed. "I asked Albus that yesterday. I had been
wondering about that for ages. He said that it was a type of wandless magic. Logicly, your mother's hope that
you were Potter's son mixed with Potter's happiness of having a son created a type of charm. One that caused
you to look like an almost carbon copy of James Potter. It was so powerful, that it lasted for fourteen years after
their deaths. Quite lucky for Lily, actually. I can imagine that Potter wouldn't have been to happy if he found out
that you had been my son the whole time."
But Harry still had a question. "Then, how long have you known that I was your son?" At this, Severus
looked guiltily at Harry.
"I actually have know since the summer after your fourth year. I was bored one day, so I snooped
around Poppy's files. I pulled out your file, and I noticed that your blood and other things seemed to match
me perfectly. Then I did the math, and realized that you were born almost exactly nine months after my last
night with your mother. I wasn't sure about telling you. Actually, I was planning on never telling you. I thought that
if you were to know that your true biological father was your, "Greasy Bastard Potion's Professor," that you'd
be crushed."
"But then after I had almost lost you, my only son, I realised that I had to tell you. So I did."
********End of Flashback********
Harry smiled for the first time that day. He was more than glad that Severus told him that he was his
father. All the torture he was put through was worth learning that he had a father.
Losing the thought of his father, he focused on the day he was talking with the Headmaster about
his new marks.
********Flashback - Four Days Earlier********
"Sir, do you know why I got these marks?" Harry asked from his chair in front of Albus Dumbledore's
desk. He pulled up his sleeve and showed his marks - A snow white Pheonix with green eyes and a dark
green Snake with an arrow tipped tail.
Dumbledore's blue gaze lingered on the marks for a minute before he leaned back in his chair.
"Well, Harry, I am not sure on why or how you recieved the marks, but I have very likely answers."
"I believe that you recieved the Pheonix mark because you "rose from the ashes", so to speak. As
a Pheonix dies from bursting into flames and then being reborn from the ashes, you died and then came back
to life. Shortly after, you recieved your mark. I believe it symbolizes your "invincability"."
"But sir," said Harry. "I thought that all Pheonixes were red. How come my mark is white?"
"I think it is white Harry, because you died and were revived from fighting on the side of the Light. I
believe that if the same scenario was to have happened to Voldemort or one of the Death Eaters, their mark
would have been a black Pheonix, as they fought for the side of the Dark."
Harry nodded in understanding.
"Now, as for the Snake, I am giving a wild guess. It might be because of your exception as to whom
your father is. Or it might be from when you started to attack your father, and then realized your mistake. It
could even mean something else, we might never know the true reason."
********End of Flashback********
Harry unconciously rubbed his arm where his marks were in thought. No matter what he thought
about, he still couldn't take his mind off the upcoming speech. He would have to stand infront of hundreds of
people - maybe even one thousand!
The Hogwarts students and staff where returning an hour before the "celebration". No one
knew why, they didn't know that Harry had safely been returned to Hogwarts. All they knew was that Voldemort
was dead.
Harry had been practicing his speech for over a week, but no matter how many times he practiced,
it never seemed to sound right. He had re-written his speech four times, and he still didn't like it.
When he wasn't stressing on his speech, he was either with his father, his friends, or Sirius.
He had been spending so much time with Sirius, he began to feel that he had deserted his father.
But one thing made up for all of that.
After remembering what Fred and George had said about "Trials going on for days strait" , he began
to wonder if when he had stunned the Death Eaters, if he had gotten Wormtail. Sirius told him that Peter was
underground when Harry had stunned the Death Eaters, but he had done it powerful enough that it stunned
him while underground.
Sirius(who was grinning so widely at the time it caused suspision) said that when the Aurors and
Fudge had seen Peter Pettigrew - alive - caused an uproar at the Ministry. Three weeks later, Sirius recieved
a trial.
He was proven not guilty of the murder of thirteen people and for the betrayal of Lily and James
Potter. For the mistake on the Ministry's part, Sirius was rewarded two hundred galleons.
As wonderful this news was, it gave Harry something else to stress about. Sirius said that he wanted
Harry to live with him once he got his issues sorted. And Harry, not being able to tell him that he couldn't live
with him, just smiled and hugged Sirius happily. But he could still stay with Sirus for a bit over the summer, he
thought.
Harry looked down at his watch. Seeing that the students were going to arive in ten minutes, he
quickly began to walk back to the dungeons.
************
"Harry, where've you been? You have to get ready for your presentation, don't you?" Severus
asked once Harry had walked in to his father's quarters. Harry walked over to the couch and plopped down.
"I've been walking around the castle, thinking. Oh, and I was wondering, well, requesting, if you could
wear your Invisability Cloak to the party...," Harry asked, looking at Severus. Severus gazed at him questionaly.
"Why do you want me to wear my cloak?"
"Well, when I say that you're my father and not Jams Potter, I know Sirus will curse you on the spot.
It'd make me feel a lot better if he can't find you."
"Why? You don't think I can handle your godfather?" Severus joked, and Harry looked seriuosly at
him.
"No, I know you can handle him. I just don't want him sent to Azkaban right after he's freed."
Severus nodded. "Alright, I'll wear it." he said. "So you're actually going to say that your my son in
your speech?"
Harry paled. "Yes, that way, all of Hogwarts will hear and the Minister will at the same time. That's
another reason for you to wear your cloak. Rita Skeeter will most likely be there, and you know as soon as
I say that she and the rest of the press will be after you." Harry shook his head, slightly disgusted.
"Speaking of Rita Skeeter, she hasn't writen anything for a long time. Maybe she was sacked."
Severus said, sounding hopeful. Harry shook his head.
"No, she wasn't sacked. Let's just say that she's taking a vacation from writing horrible stories
about people."
"And how do you know that she wasn't sacked?" Severus said accusingly.
Harry laughed and shook his head saying, "That's for Hermione, Ron, and I to know." Harry looked
down at his watch. "Everyone's here." he said, and once again paled slightly. "I should get ready."
Harry stood up from the dark green couch and made his way to his rooms. He heard his father say
from behind him, "Calm down, Harry. Everything will be fine."
************
Hermione, Draco, and Ron stood together in the Great Hall, awaiting the time for Harry's speech
to come. The students and facualty had arrived forty-five minutes ago, and the guests where just starting to
slowly file in. Witches and Wizards all dressed in magnificent Dress Robes came through the doors, showing
their invitations to Ministry members at the door.
All of the students were also dressed in Dress Robes, ranging from black to red, from plain to
shiny and flashy.
Hermione was dressed in a cream colored robe, with a single gold band going around the end
of her sleeves and one that was thicker and engraved around her waist. The robe was long and went past
her ankles so that only the heels of her shoes showed. On her right side there was a slit that went from just
below the knee to the ground, and showed her Dandilion colored under slip.
Her normaly wavy, brown, fluffy hair was tamed and elegantly curled, and hanging down just a inch
or two shorter than her mid-back. She had used a lip-tinting charm to redden her lips, and used some muggle
eyeshadow and black under-eye liner(that she had found burried at the bottom of her trunk) to touch up her
eyes.
And in her hand she held the Wizarding Camera that she had bought Harry the summer before.
Draco was also in Dress Robes. His were an emerald green, and were held together on his chest
with a silver clasp. His robes were held open the rest of the way down, and were inwardly rimmed with a
shiny gold material. He was wearing a high colared black shirt, and matching black slacks. And of course,
had to be matched with black shoes.
His silver - blonde hair was slicked back, as always.
Ron was dressed in the robes Fred and George had bought him that summer. It was a dark Royal
Blue, and were similar to Draco's. As Draco's robes they were trimmed, with a shiny blue material that was at
the bottom as well as around the sleeves. And when in the light, Ron's eyes matched his robes perfectly.
He, as did Draco, wore a black shirt and slacks under his robes.
Hermione looked anxiously around the crowded Great Hall, looking for someone she knew.
She spotted Parvati and Padme Patil with Lavender Brown. The Twins were dressed in identical robes
of purple, and Lavender was wearing a scarlet robe.
Looking more, she spotted Sirius, who was standing with Remus Lupin and other people she didn't
reconize. She noticed that Sirius seemed to be nervous, his eyes kept darting from person to person, but
he kept a bright smile on his face. He was in a black robe that was trimmed with a dark ivy-looking green.
Her attention was taken away as she noticed that Pansy Parkinson, Crabbe, Goyle, Marcus Flint,
a boy Hermione remembered from the Sorting as Avery Nott, and another Slytherin girl named Blaise Zabini
all came out of nowhere and approached the trio. Behind them other Slytherins flanked them, but none Ron
or Hermione knew by name. The stood directly in front of Draco, looking threatening at him.
Pansy stepped forword so she was nearly nose-to-nose with Draco, who looked down at her as if
it didn't faze him in the slightest, and slapped him across the face.
Draco took a step back and put a hand to his now reddening cheek, looking at her angrily. Hermione
and Ron gasped, completely shocked.
"You are a traitor Draco Malfoy!" Pansy hissed and Draco sneered at her.
"Is that all, Parkinson? You see, my friend is about to make a speech, and I don't want to be distrac-
ted by the likes of you." Draco said nastily at her.
"Your "friend", Malfoy? You're an even bigger traitor than I thought, befriending Potter. I thought that
maybe it was just because you weren't happy about being forced to be a Death Eater like the rest of us. But
being the friend of the bloody "Boy-Who-Won't-Kick-The-Bucket" is even worse than I thought! You've let down
Salazar Slytherin, Malfoy, just as you've let me down."
Draco snorted with mock laughter. "Yeah? Well sorry, Parkinson, but you won't be recieving a
Sympathy Card anytime soon." Pansy's eyes flashed dangerously.
"You're a bastard, Malfoy." she hissed. "You've put your own father into Azkaban, as you've put ours.
For that, you shall pay." She spat, raising her wand. Draco pulled out his wand and raised it nearly tip-to-tip
with Pansy's.
Seeing Draco as a possible threat, the eleven other Slytherins behind Pansy drew out thier wands.
Immediately, Ron and Hermione also took theirs out, and seconds later, Ginny, Fred, and George were next
to them, their wands also raised. But it was still no match, their where twelve Slytherins and only six of them.
Ron swallowed nervously next to Draco, who was keeping a strait face.
As soon as Pansy was about to shout out a hex, Sirius, Remus, Alastor Moody, McGanagol and
Dumbledore stepped up behind Draco, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George.
"Is there a problem here?" Dumbleodre asked, his eyes flashing over the Slytherins. They hurriedly
put their wands down and rushed away.
"We've put a seventeen year old into Azkaban!" shouted Moody. "We can make an exception for
you!" The Slytherins retreated faster and seconds later were blended into the crowd.
Hermione, Draco, Ron and the others turned around.
"What was that all about?" Sirius asked, still looking through the croud. Draco shook his head, a
sneer on his face.
"It was nothing, just Slytherins calling me a traitor and such. It's something I'll have to get used to."
Draco grimaced as Sirius looked at the hand print on his cheek.
"Yes, we'll have to have a talk about that," Dumbledore said. "Maybe I can make an arrangement
for you three and Harry to have a private flat next year." Draco, Ron, and Hermione grinned at one another.
"Now, if I'm not much mistaken, I believe that Harry should start his speech in a few minutes."
Dumbledore smiled and walked away followed by Moody, Remus, and McGanagol.
Sirius bent forword and said, "If anyone else gives you any trouble, just tell me. I can give you a
few ideas for pranks." Sirius winked and left.
Fred and George watched Sirius leave in a daze. "That's Padfoot?" Fred asked. Ron laughed.
"Yes, that's Padfoot. We call him Sirius, and sometimes Snuffles, but don't ask why."
"Brilliant man,"George said.
"Maybe he can help us with our joke shop..."Fred wondered, and the twins set off after him. Ginny
shook her head.
"I don't know about you," she said. "But if you add them with Mr.Black...they could blow the school
up." She laughed and was joined in by Ron and Draco. Hermione just shook her head, but she still had a
smile on her lips.
They all looked up as the torches lighting the Hall suddenly dimmed and the ones on the stage were
brightened. Albus Dumbledore walked onto the stage, taking out his wand and whispering a charm.
"Ladies and Gentleman," he said, his voice magically magnified. "I would like to welcome you all
here, and hope you will enjoy your stay. As much as I would like to stay up here all day, there is a friend of
mine that needs this opprotunity to talk to the public more than I do."
"It is my pleasure to welcome Mr. Harry Potter!" Dumbledore looked to his left as Harry walked out
onto the stage. Whispers went through the Hall like wildfire.
"Harry Potter? I thought he was kidnapped...."
"...you mean that he escaped from You-Know-Who, again?"
"...he still looks the same..."
Hermione felt a sudden whoop of anger as more whispers filled the Hall. Trying to ignore them,
she foccused on Harry.
Harry Pot - er - Snape was dressed in an Emerald Green robe that had a pattern of sparkling gold
stars. The inside liner was Silver, which matched his black shirt (that was trimmed in Silver) and dark Blue
Jeans. His hair, as usual, was messy, and in his right hand he carried his Pheonix Feather Wand.
Hermione noticed that tonight was the first time she had seen Harry with his wand in months. All
this time she had spent with him, he had never used a wand, and she didn't even notice.
She saw Harry point his wand at his throat and say something. He stood at the middle of the
stage and waited everyone to quiet down. It didn't take long, everyone was so interested in what he had to
say they didn't say anything more.
Harry put his wand back into his pocket.
"As all of you know," he said. "My name is Harry Potter. What most of you don't know, I am really
nervous right now. Yes, the famous "Boy-Who-Lived" or "Boy-Who-Won't-Die" to most of my enimies, is
nervous to stand infront of hundreds of people."
"I've prepared a speech," he said, taking a few sheets of parchment out of his pocket. "In truth,
I've spent days working on this speech. But I'm not going to share it with you." he crumpled the papers, and
they burst into flames, causing many gasps on excited whispers. "I'm going to tell you a story by what I know,
and from what I remember."
"On October 23rd, I was kidnapped from the Gryffindor Boys' Fifth Year Dormitories by a man
many of you are familiar with. A man named Peter Pettigrew. Yes, the same Pettigrew that was supposedly
murdered by my Godfather, Sirius Black. As I trust that many of you saw his trail, I will not go into details."
"Peter Pettigrew was one of Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters. As foolish and thick-headed he was,
he managed to bring Voldemort back to power in June of last year. I was there to witness it." More whispers
filled the Hall.
"Getting back to October, when I finally regained conciousness, a Death Eater took me to a room.
Inside was Lord Voldemort." The guests all flinched. "I thought that he was going to kill me, but he did not. I
angered him, and he decided that I should die suffering. So he simply put the "Crucio" on me, and when I
didn't scream, he resorted to kicking me as I lay on the floor. As I was about to be taken back to my cell,
he used the curse on me, and I blacked-out."
"For the rest of that day and the day after that, I was put through a "Torture System," if you will. Every
hour or two, a Death Eater was sent into my cell for fifteen minutes. Voldemort said that they could do anyhting
they wanted to do with me, as long as I stayed alive. Many of them cut me or put "Crucio" on me until I passed
out."
"Lucius Malfoy was ever so creative when he cut my scar back open," Harry held up his bangs,
revealing the scar that made him famous. "He also used the Imperios Curse on me, but I am able to fight that
off, so it didn't work. He got angry and gave me numerous cuts, like this one here." Harry put a finger to his
right cheek. As he drew his finger down from his temple nearly to his lips, a scar appeared.
"This went on for over a day. When I had started to believe that I was going to die there, another
Death Eater appeared. A Death Eater that was a spy for Albus Dumbledore. Severus Snape, my Potions
Professor. He told me that Professor Dumbledore had assembled a type of rescue party, I am not sure on
who, as he never told me."
"Finally I had a bit of hope, but I didn't make me any better off. All I did, when I was concious, was
worry, that more people would be in danger because of me. But, trying to help as much as I could, I tried to
stay awake, thinking that it would be a lot easier for people if I could defend myself."
"But I failed. Because of the amount of blood I had lost, I passed out, that time for good. I didn't
awaken when Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore came into my cell to rescue me. They thought
I was dead, at first."
"Now, I was unconious throughout all of this, so I'm not exactly sure how things went from then on.
Supposedly Professor Snape was running with me through a forest, when my best friends, Hermione Granger,
and Ron Weasley came with my Invisability Cloak. They were about to cover my Professor and I with it when
a curse was fired through the trees and stunned Professor Snape."
"My friends were about to help when Voldemort appeared. Following instructions that were given
from my Professor moments before, they hid down a hill and into the forrest. They were unable to see what
was happening, but they could hear me."
"Now, this is the next thing I remember. Voldemort revived me using "Ennervate," and once I was
aware of where I was, he picked carried me up a hill that stood over a large pond with his wand."
"I'm not going to go into details about what he said, for I was only about half concious at the time.
He picked me up, by my neck, and held me over the pond. He said things that I didn't agree with, so I laughed
at him. He didn't appreciate that, so he dug his long and dangerously sharp nails into the sides of my neck."
Harry held his neck, and when he took his hand away, five scars were visable. The people who
were able to see them gasped in shock.
"Losing more blood from the cuts in my seck, I passed out once again. Seeing his last opprotunity
to kill me, he dropped me into the pond below. Now, once agian, I'm not one hundred percent accurate on
what exactly happened next."
"When I was awakened once more, I saw my friends Ron and Hermione, with my old arch enemy
and new best friend, Draco Malfoy. The next thing I knew was that I was in a kind of trance. I won't say that I
was concious, because I wasn't, but I was aware of what was going on around me."
"By the screams of my friends, I knew that I must have been shaking uncontrolably. When I stopped
shaking, my friends stopped screaming, and they were quiet. I learned much later was that my scar had
began to glow a bright green. By the descriptions that they gave me, it created an image in the sky, much like
the feared Dark Mark. But instead of a Skull and Serpent, it was in the shape of a bolt of lightning."
"I heard my friend Hermione get up and leave, looking for my Professor. When she returned with
Professor Snape, he told them a story about a prediction that my Divination Professor made back
before my third year at Hogwarts. It seemed that I was supposed to defeat Voldemort, or as my Divination
Professor predicted, The Golden One was supposed to defeat the Dark One."
"Seconds later, Voldemort had apeared. He had seen my mark in the sky. All I remember next
was a growing anger inside me. I was so angry that I wasn't able to protect Hermione, Draco, Ron, and
Professor Snape. As I felt my self become angry, I broke out of my trance. I was finally concious again."
"But I felt different. I was angry, more angry than I have ever been. I noticed a change inside myself.
I don't know how I knew, but I knew that I was able to protect them. I knew that I could finally live up to the
expectation people had gave me the day I first 'defeated' Voldemort, when I was only a year old. I knew I could
kill Voldemort."
"I heard Voldemort shout out the Killing Curse at my Professor, and instantly, I snapped. I felt
myself erupt inside. Ever since I was a small child, I could do wandless magic, but not willingly. But then I
was able to. By simply pointing at my friends and Professor, I created a Magical Barrier so powereful it
blocked Voldemort's Killing Curse."
"I stood up and walked out from around the barrier I had placed. I laughed at Voldemort when he
showed panick in his eyes. I didn't feel like myself, I was cocky and had an attitude that no one had ever seen
before. I called him by his true name, Tom Marvolo Riddle. He fired the Killing Curse at me, and I simply hit
it away."
"I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was scared of me. It made me feel stronger. But I was
still angry. Angry that he had killed my schoolmate, Cedric Diggory, my parents, and the other dozens of
wizards and muggles that he had killed. I used my anger to my advantage."
"After that, I just released my magic energy. It was difficult, for I was still shielding my friends. The
energy I released, it could have blown this castle to peices, or as Professor Snape said, "Destroy a whole
town,"."
"My magical energy killed Voldemort." Harry lapsed into silence as many voices exploded in talk,
many not believing what they had heard. It stayed that way for a few minutes, and Harry stood patiently until
they were done.
"Most of you don't believe me," Harry said, a smile playing on his lips. "I can understand that. But I
can prove it to you."
Harry held out his arms to both sides, his palms facing up. A golden glow surrounded Harry as
his palms glowed red. The crowd watched in wonder as sparks erupted from his hands. The crowd clapped
and some of the first years gave screams of surprise. Harry held his hands out infront, causing the sparks -
red, gold, green, blue, purple, and white - to fly to the ceiling and fall back down into the crowd.
Harry stopped glowing and the sparks disapeared. "I appreciate everyone listening to my story,"
Harry said. "However, I still have another revelation to make." The Hall quieted immediately.
"When most people say something about me, they think of a short fifteen year old with black, messy
hair, green eyes, big round glasses, a scar on his forehead, and being extremely skinny. They, however, are
making a wrong assumption."
"I am not short and skinny. I don't have messy hair. I don't even need glasses. Actually, my name isn't
even Harold James Potter. My name is Harry Snape, and I am the son of Severus Snape, not James Potter."
"WHAT?!" Sirius said, well, screamed. Harry looked at him warningly.
"Sirius...."Harry said, and by then everyone in the Hall was looking between Harry and Sirius. Sirius
looked around the Hall, and Harry could tell he was searching for Severus.
Harry watched, slightly amused, as Remus came up behind and grabbed Sirius by the shoulders.
Remus said something quickly to Sirius, and Sirius turned and looked back at Harry, waiting for him to
continue.
"Now, of no one minds, I would like to take off the charm I've palced on myself, and show you how
I truely look." Hearing no outbursts, Harry changed back into his true self - Harry Snape.
The Hall watched as Harry became taller, his hair lengthen and neaten. Harry felt his face take on
it's true look. When he was sure it was finished, he took off his glasses and placed them in his pocket with
his wand. Harry smiled at everyone's shocked expression.
"In correction of who Professor Dumbledore introduced, I'd like to welcome myself - Harold James
Snape. There is no "Harry Potter" and there never has been. I just thought I should straighten the record while
I have the chance."
"Before I leave, I would like to thank you all for coming and listening to me. I believe that Headmaster
Dumbledore would like to talk to you one last time." Harry, now feeling light headed, apparated out of the
Hall and to the hallways outside of the door. He heard the trumendous appluase echoing from the Great Hall
before Dumbledore's voice filled the Hall once more.
************
Hermione, Ron, and Draco fought their way through the crowd as Dumbldore said a few last words
to the guests. They reached the door and pushed it open, looking down the halls.
"There he is," Draco said, pointing to their left. Harry was sitting on the floor against the wall, his
head laying on his knees, looking away from them.
They ran up to him, and stood before him. He looked up, and they got their first true glance at Harry
Snape. He was pale, and had a feverish look to his cheeks. He gave them a smile.
"Hey," he said. Hermione, Draco, and Ron all smiled down at him before they sat down next to him.
"You did really well, Harry." Hermione said, and squeezed his right shoulder.
"It was hard," Harry said quietly. "Nothing has changed between us, right? I mean, now that I'm a
Snape and not a Potter?"
"No way," said Ron. "You'll always be the geeky kid with glasses that we love."
"Oh thanks Ron, that makes me fell *so* much better!" Harry laughed sarcastically. They all were
laughing as the Great Hall's doors flew open and banged up against the wall. Without even looking to see
what was going on, Harry muttered, "Here's Sirius...."
Hermione, Draco, and Ron looked up, only to see Sirius stalking over to them with Remus behind
him.
"HAROLD JAMES...uh...WHOEVER YOU ARE!" Sirius yelled as he came over to Harry. Harry
sighed and stood up slowly, leaning against the wall.
"Hullo Sirius..."
"Don't "Hello Sirius" me! Where is Snape? How do you know he's your 'father'?" Sirius said, causing
Hermione, Draco, and Ron all to stare at him, shocked at Sirius's anger.
"Sirius...not now...please..." Harrry moaned.
"No! We need to talk about this right now, right here!"
"I know Severus is my father because my mother was seeing him and James at the same time.
The day I was in the Hospital Wing, remember when I died? I saw my mum, and she told me Sirius, she told
me my father was alive and that it wasn't James Potter." Harry could feel himself about to pass out. He
tried as much as he could to stand.
"Where is he Harry?" Sirius asked again. "Where is Snape?"
Harry could feel himself start to shake. "Sirius...not now!" Draco, seeing that Harry was about to
collapse, grabbed Harry around his middle and hold him upright. Sirius looked at Harry.
"What's wrong with you?" Sirius asked worriedly. Harry blinked a few times, trying to clear the
clouds and spots in his eyes.
"He used to much of his magic," said a voice from behind Sirius. Harry looked up as Severus
walked over to Harry, holding his Invisability Cloak.
Sirius didn't say anything as Severus bent down in front of Harry and place a hand on his forehead.
"You know you can't use your magic like that, Harry." Severus said. Draco took his arm off Harry slowly.
Harry threw his arms over his father's shoulders and put his head on Severus's shoulder. "I know,"
Harry said quietly. "But I wanted everyone to see." Severus smiled.
"Well, it's safe to say that they believe you." Harry nodded, his head still on his father's shoulder,
and closed his eyes. Severus stood up, Harry still asleep with his head resting on his father's shoulder.
Sirius looked at Harry's sleeping figure, a small frown showing. Remus was doing the same.
"He is really your son," Sirius said. Severus nooded.
"Yes, he is."
Sirius didn't say anything as he stuck out his hand to Severus. Severus posistioned Harry better
and stuck out his free hand, shaking Sirius's.
"You are still his Godfather. It is what he wants." Severus said as he let go of Sirius's hand. Sirius
looked at him seriously.
"I am?"
"Yes, Black, you are." And Severus turned away, his son sleeping soundly in his arms.
************
He didn't know that at this very moment, people meeting secret all over the country were holding
up their glasses and saying in hushed voices: "To Harry Snape - the boy who defeated the Dark Lord - and
lived!"
*************************************************
,.-~*~-.,,.-~*~-,.FINISHED,.-~*~-.,,.-~*~-.,
There WILL be a sequel up soon. When? I'm not sure. And I'm still not sure of the title, so you'll all have to
check back here for the information. As soon as I have the sequel posted I will put up a Author's Note
as chapter 38. There will be no story there, just the information.
This chapter will have many questions answered. If I still forget to clear something up, tell me
what I missed in a review so I can make sure I answer it in the sequel.
Well, I'm not sure what else to say, but I want to give out a HUGE "Thank-you" to all of those
who have reviewed my story, even though this was my first. And especially to those who stayed with me
even when I didn't update for like three months.
This chapter goes out to you!
*****************Chapter Thirty-Seven - "A Speech to Remember"******************
Harold James Snape walked down the quiet halls on the twenty-first of December. It was the night
he had to make his speech. In exact measurements, he had to be in the Great Hall, on the stage, in one hour
and twenty seven minutes.
Trying to take his mind off the upcoming speech, he let his mind wander on the revelations that he
had recieved during the past two weeks. The one he most seemed to think about lately, was the relationship
between his mother, his father, and James Potter.
********Flashback - Ten Days Earlier********
"Severus," Harry asked one afternoon. "Can I ask you a question?" Severus, his father, looked up
from the book he was reading and turned his attention to his son.
"Go ahead," he said, slightly curious as to what Harry wanted to ask.
"Well," Harry said, hesitating. "I was wondering how you're my father." Harry looked down for a
second. "I mean, I believe that you're my father, but how?"
Severus smiled slightly thinking, He finally said that I'm his father! Then he became serious, thinking
of how to explain his story as simply as possible.
"I suppose it started when I was in the sixth year, as was your mother and James Potter." he said.
"Your mother and I had began to date, secretly of course - no one would allow a Slytherin and a Gryffindor to
look at each other kindly, let alone date. We saw each other for over a year, and we seemed to be in love. Or
what we thought was love."
"We continued our relationship over the summer before our last year the only way we knew how. We
owled each other all summer. But I noticed that he letters sometimes seemed distant. There were just little
signs, like how she seemed to stop writing "Love always" or "Missing you". I didn't want to think that she might
no longer have been interested in me, so I dissmissed it." Harry noticed that Severus seemed to have a
distant look on his face.
"But after a few months at Hogwarts, there was a rumor going around that Lily was dating James
Potter. I finally opened my eyes to what was going on, and the next time I saw her I confronted her about it.
She told me that the rumor had been true. She had been cheating on me with my arch enemy - Potter."
"She begged my forgiveness, saying that she loved both of us, and that it was so hard for her to
choose between us. I was angered at this, that she loved Potter as much as she loved me. But I was still
in love with her, so I stayed with her. We continued our relationship for whole other year. I was to scared to
know if she was still seeing Potter, so I never asked."
"Then one day, when we were both nineteen, your mother came over to my house unexpectedly. She
told me what I dreaded the most - she had still been seeing Potter all that time. And what was even worse - he
had proposed to her that night. I remember her taking her hand out of her pocket and showing me the ring.
She told me that she had excepted. She said that she couldn't live by herself anymore, that she couldn't afford
her apartment in Wizarding London. She knew that she couldn't stay with her sister - your aunt - and she had
no one else to live with. I remember getting desperate then. I told her to live with me and not to marry Potter."
"But she said no, that it wouldn't be fair to Potter. That is one thing your mother always favored, Harry.
She always favored being fair. By then, I had lost it. I begged her to stay with me one more time, that if she
was going to marry Potter that she had to stay with me for one more night. And once agian Harry, getting back
to being fair, she accepted."
"And that, Harry, is where you came in." Severus gave Harry a small grin. "Three months later, she
was married to Potter. Six months after that, you were born."
Harry felt bad for his father. He had lost his mother to his worst enemy.
"But then," Harry said, frowning. "How come I look like James Potter?" Severus smiled to his son.
"You catch on a bit slow, don't you?" Severus laughed. "I asked Albus that yesterday. I had been
wondering about that for ages. He said that it was a type of wandless magic. Logicly, your mother's hope that
you were Potter's son mixed with Potter's happiness of having a son created a type of charm. One that caused
you to look like an almost carbon copy of James Potter. It was so powerful, that it lasted for fourteen years after
their deaths. Quite lucky for Lily, actually. I can imagine that Potter wouldn't have been to happy if he found out
that you had been my son the whole time."
But Harry still had a question. "Then, how long have you known that I was your son?" At this, Severus
looked guiltily at Harry.
"I actually have know since the summer after your fourth year. I was bored one day, so I snooped
around Poppy's files. I pulled out your file, and I noticed that your blood and other things seemed to match
me perfectly. Then I did the math, and realized that you were born almost exactly nine months after my last
night with your mother. I wasn't sure about telling you. Actually, I was planning on never telling you. I thought that
if you were to know that your true biological father was your, "Greasy Bastard Potion's Professor," that you'd
be crushed."
"But then after I had almost lost you, my only son, I realised that I had to tell you. So I did."
********End of Flashback********
Harry smiled for the first time that day. He was more than glad that Severus told him that he was his
father. All the torture he was put through was worth learning that he had a father.
Losing the thought of his father, he focused on the day he was talking with the Headmaster about
his new marks.
********Flashback - Four Days Earlier********
"Sir, do you know why I got these marks?" Harry asked from his chair in front of Albus Dumbledore's
desk. He pulled up his sleeve and showed his marks - A snow white Pheonix with green eyes and a dark
green Snake with an arrow tipped tail.
Dumbledore's blue gaze lingered on the marks for a minute before he leaned back in his chair.
"Well, Harry, I am not sure on why or how you recieved the marks, but I have very likely answers."
"I believe that you recieved the Pheonix mark because you "rose from the ashes", so to speak. As
a Pheonix dies from bursting into flames and then being reborn from the ashes, you died and then came back
to life. Shortly after, you recieved your mark. I believe it symbolizes your "invincability"."
"But sir," said Harry. "I thought that all Pheonixes were red. How come my mark is white?"
"I think it is white Harry, because you died and were revived from fighting on the side of the Light. I
believe that if the same scenario was to have happened to Voldemort or one of the Death Eaters, their mark
would have been a black Pheonix, as they fought for the side of the Dark."
Harry nodded in understanding.
"Now, as for the Snake, I am giving a wild guess. It might be because of your exception as to whom
your father is. Or it might be from when you started to attack your father, and then realized your mistake. It
could even mean something else, we might never know the true reason."
********End of Flashback********
Harry unconciously rubbed his arm where his marks were in thought. No matter what he thought
about, he still couldn't take his mind off the upcoming speech. He would have to stand infront of hundreds of
people - maybe even one thousand!
The Hogwarts students and staff where returning an hour before the "celebration". No one
knew why, they didn't know that Harry had safely been returned to Hogwarts. All they knew was that Voldemort
was dead.
Harry had been practicing his speech for over a week, but no matter how many times he practiced,
it never seemed to sound right. He had re-written his speech four times, and he still didn't like it.
When he wasn't stressing on his speech, he was either with his father, his friends, or Sirius.
He had been spending so much time with Sirius, he began to feel that he had deserted his father.
But one thing made up for all of that.
After remembering what Fred and George had said about "Trials going on for days strait" , he began
to wonder if when he had stunned the Death Eaters, if he had gotten Wormtail. Sirius told him that Peter was
underground when Harry had stunned the Death Eaters, but he had done it powerful enough that it stunned
him while underground.
Sirius(who was grinning so widely at the time it caused suspision) said that when the Aurors and
Fudge had seen Peter Pettigrew - alive - caused an uproar at the Ministry. Three weeks later, Sirius recieved
a trial.
He was proven not guilty of the murder of thirteen people and for the betrayal of Lily and James
Potter. For the mistake on the Ministry's part, Sirius was rewarded two hundred galleons.
As wonderful this news was, it gave Harry something else to stress about. Sirius said that he wanted
Harry to live with him once he got his issues sorted. And Harry, not being able to tell him that he couldn't live
with him, just smiled and hugged Sirius happily. But he could still stay with Sirus for a bit over the summer, he
thought.
Harry looked down at his watch. Seeing that the students were going to arive in ten minutes, he
quickly began to walk back to the dungeons.
************
"Harry, where've you been? You have to get ready for your presentation, don't you?" Severus
asked once Harry had walked in to his father's quarters. Harry walked over to the couch and plopped down.
"I've been walking around the castle, thinking. Oh, and I was wondering, well, requesting, if you could
wear your Invisability Cloak to the party...," Harry asked, looking at Severus. Severus gazed at him questionaly.
"Why do you want me to wear my cloak?"
"Well, when I say that you're my father and not Jams Potter, I know Sirus will curse you on the spot.
It'd make me feel a lot better if he can't find you."
"Why? You don't think I can handle your godfather?" Severus joked, and Harry looked seriuosly at
him.
"No, I know you can handle him. I just don't want him sent to Azkaban right after he's freed."
Severus nodded. "Alright, I'll wear it." he said. "So you're actually going to say that your my son in
your speech?"
Harry paled. "Yes, that way, all of Hogwarts will hear and the Minister will at the same time. That's
another reason for you to wear your cloak. Rita Skeeter will most likely be there, and you know as soon as
I say that she and the rest of the press will be after you." Harry shook his head, slightly disgusted.
"Speaking of Rita Skeeter, she hasn't writen anything for a long time. Maybe she was sacked."
Severus said, sounding hopeful. Harry shook his head.
"No, she wasn't sacked. Let's just say that she's taking a vacation from writing horrible stories
about people."
"And how do you know that she wasn't sacked?" Severus said accusingly.
Harry laughed and shook his head saying, "That's for Hermione, Ron, and I to know." Harry looked
down at his watch. "Everyone's here." he said, and once again paled slightly. "I should get ready."
Harry stood up from the dark green couch and made his way to his rooms. He heard his father say
from behind him, "Calm down, Harry. Everything will be fine."
************
Hermione, Draco, and Ron stood together in the Great Hall, awaiting the time for Harry's speech
to come. The students and facualty had arrived forty-five minutes ago, and the guests where just starting to
slowly file in. Witches and Wizards all dressed in magnificent Dress Robes came through the doors, showing
their invitations to Ministry members at the door.
All of the students were also dressed in Dress Robes, ranging from black to red, from plain to
shiny and flashy.
Hermione was dressed in a cream colored robe, with a single gold band going around the end
of her sleeves and one that was thicker and engraved around her waist. The robe was long and went past
her ankles so that only the heels of her shoes showed. On her right side there was a slit that went from just
below the knee to the ground, and showed her Dandilion colored under slip.
Her normaly wavy, brown, fluffy hair was tamed and elegantly curled, and hanging down just a inch
or two shorter than her mid-back. She had used a lip-tinting charm to redden her lips, and used some muggle
eyeshadow and black under-eye liner(that she had found burried at the bottom of her trunk) to touch up her
eyes.
And in her hand she held the Wizarding Camera that she had bought Harry the summer before.
Draco was also in Dress Robes. His were an emerald green, and were held together on his chest
with a silver clasp. His robes were held open the rest of the way down, and were inwardly rimmed with a
shiny gold material. He was wearing a high colared black shirt, and matching black slacks. And of course,
had to be matched with black shoes.
His silver - blonde hair was slicked back, as always.
Ron was dressed in the robes Fred and George had bought him that summer. It was a dark Royal
Blue, and were similar to Draco's. As Draco's robes they were trimmed, with a shiny blue material that was at
the bottom as well as around the sleeves. And when in the light, Ron's eyes matched his robes perfectly.
He, as did Draco, wore a black shirt and slacks under his robes.
Hermione looked anxiously around the crowded Great Hall, looking for someone she knew.
She spotted Parvati and Padme Patil with Lavender Brown. The Twins were dressed in identical robes
of purple, and Lavender was wearing a scarlet robe.
Looking more, she spotted Sirius, who was standing with Remus Lupin and other people she didn't
reconize. She noticed that Sirius seemed to be nervous, his eyes kept darting from person to person, but
he kept a bright smile on his face. He was in a black robe that was trimmed with a dark ivy-looking green.
Her attention was taken away as she noticed that Pansy Parkinson, Crabbe, Goyle, Marcus Flint,
a boy Hermione remembered from the Sorting as Avery Nott, and another Slytherin girl named Blaise Zabini
all came out of nowhere and approached the trio. Behind them other Slytherins flanked them, but none Ron
or Hermione knew by name. The stood directly in front of Draco, looking threatening at him.
Pansy stepped forword so she was nearly nose-to-nose with Draco, who looked down at her as if
it didn't faze him in the slightest, and slapped him across the face.
Draco took a step back and put a hand to his now reddening cheek, looking at her angrily. Hermione
and Ron gasped, completely shocked.
"You are a traitor Draco Malfoy!" Pansy hissed and Draco sneered at her.
"Is that all, Parkinson? You see, my friend is about to make a speech, and I don't want to be distrac-
ted by the likes of you." Draco said nastily at her.
"Your "friend", Malfoy? You're an even bigger traitor than I thought, befriending Potter. I thought that
maybe it was just because you weren't happy about being forced to be a Death Eater like the rest of us. But
being the friend of the bloody "Boy-Who-Won't-Kick-The-Bucket" is even worse than I thought! You've let down
Salazar Slytherin, Malfoy, just as you've let me down."
Draco snorted with mock laughter. "Yeah? Well sorry, Parkinson, but you won't be recieving a
Sympathy Card anytime soon." Pansy's eyes flashed dangerously.
"You're a bastard, Malfoy." she hissed. "You've put your own father into Azkaban, as you've put ours.
For that, you shall pay." She spat, raising her wand. Draco pulled out his wand and raised it nearly tip-to-tip
with Pansy's.
Seeing Draco as a possible threat, the eleven other Slytherins behind Pansy drew out thier wands.
Immediately, Ron and Hermione also took theirs out, and seconds later, Ginny, Fred, and George were next
to them, their wands also raised. But it was still no match, their where twelve Slytherins and only six of them.
Ron swallowed nervously next to Draco, who was keeping a strait face.
As soon as Pansy was about to shout out a hex, Sirius, Remus, Alastor Moody, McGanagol and
Dumbledore stepped up behind Draco, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George.
"Is there a problem here?" Dumbleodre asked, his eyes flashing over the Slytherins. They hurriedly
put their wands down and rushed away.
"We've put a seventeen year old into Azkaban!" shouted Moody. "We can make an exception for
you!" The Slytherins retreated faster and seconds later were blended into the crowd.
Hermione, Draco, Ron and the others turned around.
"What was that all about?" Sirius asked, still looking through the croud. Draco shook his head, a
sneer on his face.
"It was nothing, just Slytherins calling me a traitor and such. It's something I'll have to get used to."
Draco grimaced as Sirius looked at the hand print on his cheek.
"Yes, we'll have to have a talk about that," Dumbledore said. "Maybe I can make an arrangement
for you three and Harry to have a private flat next year." Draco, Ron, and Hermione grinned at one another.
"Now, if I'm not much mistaken, I believe that Harry should start his speech in a few minutes."
Dumbledore smiled and walked away followed by Moody, Remus, and McGanagol.
Sirius bent forword and said, "If anyone else gives you any trouble, just tell me. I can give you a
few ideas for pranks." Sirius winked and left.
Fred and George watched Sirius leave in a daze. "That's Padfoot?" Fred asked. Ron laughed.
"Yes, that's Padfoot. We call him Sirius, and sometimes Snuffles, but don't ask why."
"Brilliant man,"George said.
"Maybe he can help us with our joke shop..."Fred wondered, and the twins set off after him. Ginny
shook her head.
"I don't know about you," she said. "But if you add them with Mr.Black...they could blow the school
up." She laughed and was joined in by Ron and Draco. Hermione just shook her head, but she still had a
smile on her lips.
They all looked up as the torches lighting the Hall suddenly dimmed and the ones on the stage were
brightened. Albus Dumbledore walked onto the stage, taking out his wand and whispering a charm.
"Ladies and Gentleman," he said, his voice magically magnified. "I would like to welcome you all
here, and hope you will enjoy your stay. As much as I would like to stay up here all day, there is a friend of
mine that needs this opprotunity to talk to the public more than I do."
"It is my pleasure to welcome Mr. Harry Potter!" Dumbledore looked to his left as Harry walked out
onto the stage. Whispers went through the Hall like wildfire.
"Harry Potter? I thought he was kidnapped...."
"...you mean that he escaped from You-Know-Who, again?"
"...he still looks the same..."
Hermione felt a sudden whoop of anger as more whispers filled the Hall. Trying to ignore them,
she foccused on Harry.
Harry Pot - er - Snape was dressed in an Emerald Green robe that had a pattern of sparkling gold
stars. The inside liner was Silver, which matched his black shirt (that was trimmed in Silver) and dark Blue
Jeans. His hair, as usual, was messy, and in his right hand he carried his Pheonix Feather Wand.
Hermione noticed that tonight was the first time she had seen Harry with his wand in months. All
this time she had spent with him, he had never used a wand, and she didn't even notice.
She saw Harry point his wand at his throat and say something. He stood at the middle of the
stage and waited everyone to quiet down. It didn't take long, everyone was so interested in what he had to
say they didn't say anything more.
Harry put his wand back into his pocket.
"As all of you know," he said. "My name is Harry Potter. What most of you don't know, I am really
nervous right now. Yes, the famous "Boy-Who-Lived" or "Boy-Who-Won't-Die" to most of my enimies, is
nervous to stand infront of hundreds of people."
"I've prepared a speech," he said, taking a few sheets of parchment out of his pocket. "In truth,
I've spent days working on this speech. But I'm not going to share it with you." he crumpled the papers, and
they burst into flames, causing many gasps on excited whispers. "I'm going to tell you a story by what I know,
and from what I remember."
"On October 23rd, I was kidnapped from the Gryffindor Boys' Fifth Year Dormitories by a man
many of you are familiar with. A man named Peter Pettigrew. Yes, the same Pettigrew that was supposedly
murdered by my Godfather, Sirius Black. As I trust that many of you saw his trail, I will not go into details."
"Peter Pettigrew was one of Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters. As foolish and thick-headed he was,
he managed to bring Voldemort back to power in June of last year. I was there to witness it." More whispers
filled the Hall.
"Getting back to October, when I finally regained conciousness, a Death Eater took me to a room.
Inside was Lord Voldemort." The guests all flinched. "I thought that he was going to kill me, but he did not. I
angered him, and he decided that I should die suffering. So he simply put the "Crucio" on me, and when I
didn't scream, he resorted to kicking me as I lay on the floor. As I was about to be taken back to my cell,
he used the curse on me, and I blacked-out."
"For the rest of that day and the day after that, I was put through a "Torture System," if you will. Every
hour or two, a Death Eater was sent into my cell for fifteen minutes. Voldemort said that they could do anyhting
they wanted to do with me, as long as I stayed alive. Many of them cut me or put "Crucio" on me until I passed
out."
"Lucius Malfoy was ever so creative when he cut my scar back open," Harry held up his bangs,
revealing the scar that made him famous. "He also used the Imperios Curse on me, but I am able to fight that
off, so it didn't work. He got angry and gave me numerous cuts, like this one here." Harry put a finger to his
right cheek. As he drew his finger down from his temple nearly to his lips, a scar appeared.
"This went on for over a day. When I had started to believe that I was going to die there, another
Death Eater appeared. A Death Eater that was a spy for Albus Dumbledore. Severus Snape, my Potions
Professor. He told me that Professor Dumbledore had assembled a type of rescue party, I am not sure on
who, as he never told me."
"Finally I had a bit of hope, but I didn't make me any better off. All I did, when I was concious, was
worry, that more people would be in danger because of me. But, trying to help as much as I could, I tried to
stay awake, thinking that it would be a lot easier for people if I could defend myself."
"But I failed. Because of the amount of blood I had lost, I passed out, that time for good. I didn't
awaken when Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore came into my cell to rescue me. They thought
I was dead, at first."
"Now, I was unconious throughout all of this, so I'm not exactly sure how things went from then on.
Supposedly Professor Snape was running with me through a forest, when my best friends, Hermione Granger,
and Ron Weasley came with my Invisability Cloak. They were about to cover my Professor and I with it when
a curse was fired through the trees and stunned Professor Snape."
"My friends were about to help when Voldemort appeared. Following instructions that were given
from my Professor moments before, they hid down a hill and into the forrest. They were unable to see what
was happening, but they could hear me."
"Now, this is the next thing I remember. Voldemort revived me using "Ennervate," and once I was
aware of where I was, he picked carried me up a hill that stood over a large pond with his wand."
"I'm not going to go into details about what he said, for I was only about half concious at the time.
He picked me up, by my neck, and held me over the pond. He said things that I didn't agree with, so I laughed
at him. He didn't appreciate that, so he dug his long and dangerously sharp nails into the sides of my neck."
Harry held his neck, and when he took his hand away, five scars were visable. The people who
were able to see them gasped in shock.
"Losing more blood from the cuts in my seck, I passed out once again. Seeing his last opprotunity
to kill me, he dropped me into the pond below. Now, once agian, I'm not one hundred percent accurate on
what exactly happened next."
"When I was awakened once more, I saw my friends Ron and Hermione, with my old arch enemy
and new best friend, Draco Malfoy. The next thing I knew was that I was in a kind of trance. I won't say that I
was concious, because I wasn't, but I was aware of what was going on around me."
"By the screams of my friends, I knew that I must have been shaking uncontrolably. When I stopped
shaking, my friends stopped screaming, and they were quiet. I learned much later was that my scar had
began to glow a bright green. By the descriptions that they gave me, it created an image in the sky, much like
the feared Dark Mark. But instead of a Skull and Serpent, it was in the shape of a bolt of lightning."
"I heard my friend Hermione get up and leave, looking for my Professor. When she returned with
Professor Snape, he told them a story about a prediction that my Divination Professor made back
before my third year at Hogwarts. It seemed that I was supposed to defeat Voldemort, or as my Divination
Professor predicted, The Golden One was supposed to defeat the Dark One."
"Seconds later, Voldemort had apeared. He had seen my mark in the sky. All I remember next
was a growing anger inside me. I was so angry that I wasn't able to protect Hermione, Draco, Ron, and
Professor Snape. As I felt my self become angry, I broke out of my trance. I was finally concious again."
"But I felt different. I was angry, more angry than I have ever been. I noticed a change inside myself.
I don't know how I knew, but I knew that I was able to protect them. I knew that I could finally live up to the
expectation people had gave me the day I first 'defeated' Voldemort, when I was only a year old. I knew I could
kill Voldemort."
"I heard Voldemort shout out the Killing Curse at my Professor, and instantly, I snapped. I felt
myself erupt inside. Ever since I was a small child, I could do wandless magic, but not willingly. But then I
was able to. By simply pointing at my friends and Professor, I created a Magical Barrier so powereful it
blocked Voldemort's Killing Curse."
"I stood up and walked out from around the barrier I had placed. I laughed at Voldemort when he
showed panick in his eyes. I didn't feel like myself, I was cocky and had an attitude that no one had ever seen
before. I called him by his true name, Tom Marvolo Riddle. He fired the Killing Curse at me, and I simply hit
it away."
"I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was scared of me. It made me feel stronger. But I was
still angry. Angry that he had killed my schoolmate, Cedric Diggory, my parents, and the other dozens of
wizards and muggles that he had killed. I used my anger to my advantage."
"After that, I just released my magic energy. It was difficult, for I was still shielding my friends. The
energy I released, it could have blown this castle to peices, or as Professor Snape said, "Destroy a whole
town,"."
"My magical energy killed Voldemort." Harry lapsed into silence as many voices exploded in talk,
many not believing what they had heard. It stayed that way for a few minutes, and Harry stood patiently until
they were done.
"Most of you don't believe me," Harry said, a smile playing on his lips. "I can understand that. But I
can prove it to you."
Harry held out his arms to both sides, his palms facing up. A golden glow surrounded Harry as
his palms glowed red. The crowd watched in wonder as sparks erupted from his hands. The crowd clapped
and some of the first years gave screams of surprise. Harry held his hands out infront, causing the sparks -
red, gold, green, blue, purple, and white - to fly to the ceiling and fall back down into the crowd.
Harry stopped glowing and the sparks disapeared. "I appreciate everyone listening to my story,"
Harry said. "However, I still have another revelation to make." The Hall quieted immediately.
"When most people say something about me, they think of a short fifteen year old with black, messy
hair, green eyes, big round glasses, a scar on his forehead, and being extremely skinny. They, however, are
making a wrong assumption."
"I am not short and skinny. I don't have messy hair. I don't even need glasses. Actually, my name isn't
even Harold James Potter. My name is Harry Snape, and I am the son of Severus Snape, not James Potter."
"WHAT?!" Sirius said, well, screamed. Harry looked at him warningly.
"Sirius...."Harry said, and by then everyone in the Hall was looking between Harry and Sirius. Sirius
looked around the Hall, and Harry could tell he was searching for Severus.
Harry watched, slightly amused, as Remus came up behind and grabbed Sirius by the shoulders.
Remus said something quickly to Sirius, and Sirius turned and looked back at Harry, waiting for him to
continue.
"Now, of no one minds, I would like to take off the charm I've palced on myself, and show you how
I truely look." Hearing no outbursts, Harry changed back into his true self - Harry Snape.
The Hall watched as Harry became taller, his hair lengthen and neaten. Harry felt his face take on
it's true look. When he was sure it was finished, he took off his glasses and placed them in his pocket with
his wand. Harry smiled at everyone's shocked expression.
"In correction of who Professor Dumbledore introduced, I'd like to welcome myself - Harold James
Snape. There is no "Harry Potter" and there never has been. I just thought I should straighten the record while
I have the chance."
"Before I leave, I would like to thank you all for coming and listening to me. I believe that Headmaster
Dumbledore would like to talk to you one last time." Harry, now feeling light headed, apparated out of the
Hall and to the hallways outside of the door. He heard the trumendous appluase echoing from the Great Hall
before Dumbledore's voice filled the Hall once more.
************
Hermione, Ron, and Draco fought their way through the crowd as Dumbldore said a few last words
to the guests. They reached the door and pushed it open, looking down the halls.
"There he is," Draco said, pointing to their left. Harry was sitting on the floor against the wall, his
head laying on his knees, looking away from them.
They ran up to him, and stood before him. He looked up, and they got their first true glance at Harry
Snape. He was pale, and had a feverish look to his cheeks. He gave them a smile.
"Hey," he said. Hermione, Draco, and Ron all smiled down at him before they sat down next to him.
"You did really well, Harry." Hermione said, and squeezed his right shoulder.
"It was hard," Harry said quietly. "Nothing has changed between us, right? I mean, now that I'm a
Snape and not a Potter?"
"No way," said Ron. "You'll always be the geeky kid with glasses that we love."
"Oh thanks Ron, that makes me fell *so* much better!" Harry laughed sarcastically. They all were
laughing as the Great Hall's doors flew open and banged up against the wall. Without even looking to see
what was going on, Harry muttered, "Here's Sirius...."
Hermione, Draco, and Ron looked up, only to see Sirius stalking over to them with Remus behind
him.
"HAROLD JAMES...uh...WHOEVER YOU ARE!" Sirius yelled as he came over to Harry. Harry
sighed and stood up slowly, leaning against the wall.
"Hullo Sirius..."
"Don't "Hello Sirius" me! Where is Snape? How do you know he's your 'father'?" Sirius said, causing
Hermione, Draco, and Ron all to stare at him, shocked at Sirius's anger.
"Sirius...not now...please..." Harrry moaned.
"No! We need to talk about this right now, right here!"
"I know Severus is my father because my mother was seeing him and James at the same time.
The day I was in the Hospital Wing, remember when I died? I saw my mum, and she told me Sirius, she told
me my father was alive and that it wasn't James Potter." Harry could feel himself about to pass out. He
tried as much as he could to stand.
"Where is he Harry?" Sirius asked again. "Where is Snape?"
Harry could feel himself start to shake. "Sirius...not now!" Draco, seeing that Harry was about to
collapse, grabbed Harry around his middle and hold him upright. Sirius looked at Harry.
"What's wrong with you?" Sirius asked worriedly. Harry blinked a few times, trying to clear the
clouds and spots in his eyes.
"He used to much of his magic," said a voice from behind Sirius. Harry looked up as Severus
walked over to Harry, holding his Invisability Cloak.
Sirius didn't say anything as Severus bent down in front of Harry and place a hand on his forehead.
"You know you can't use your magic like that, Harry." Severus said. Draco took his arm off Harry slowly.
Harry threw his arms over his father's shoulders and put his head on Severus's shoulder. "I know,"
Harry said quietly. "But I wanted everyone to see." Severus smiled.
"Well, it's safe to say that they believe you." Harry nodded, his head still on his father's shoulder,
and closed his eyes. Severus stood up, Harry still asleep with his head resting on his father's shoulder.
Sirius looked at Harry's sleeping figure, a small frown showing. Remus was doing the same.
"He is really your son," Sirius said. Severus nooded.
"Yes, he is."
Sirius didn't say anything as he stuck out his hand to Severus. Severus posistioned Harry better
and stuck out his free hand, shaking Sirius's.
"You are still his Godfather. It is what he wants." Severus said as he let go of Sirius's hand. Sirius
looked at him seriously.
"I am?"
"Yes, Black, you are." And Severus turned away, his son sleeping soundly in his arms.
************
He didn't know that at this very moment, people meeting secret all over the country were holding
up their glasses and saying in hushed voices: "To Harry Snape - the boy who defeated the Dark Lord - and
lived!"
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,.-~*~-.,,.-~*~-,.FINISHED,.-~*~-.,,.-~*~-.,