DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter.
AUTHOR'S NOTE- What can I say? Life's hectic and with finals coming up, I've got about 5 project due within a week. I'll survive, but I don't know how well this fic will turn out within that week. Posting will be a little harder this week, if my editor, Nibor13, is as swamped as I am. Enjoy this! ^^
Chapter 5:
The Father I Never Knew
Tristan was extremely nervous once he arrived in Diagon Alley. He knew how to get to Harry's house; he looked it up on the Internet. The taxi was the last leg of his journey. Stepping out of the taxi, he looked at the house where his brother lived. Paying the taxi driver, he looked on as the taxi left. He took a deep breath and walked up the path to the door. His finger was shaking while he rang the doorbell. He pushed it and took a step back. His breathing was heavy; he didn't know how his relatives were going to react to him. Slowly, the door opened. A woman stood there.
"Welcome Tristan. I'm your Aunt Petunia. You're a bit early. How was your trip? Come in come in. Don't just stand outside," Aunt Petunia said, more friendly than she normally was.
"Hello. It's just nice to meet you. May I see my brother now?"
"Yes, he's down in the basement. Your cousin Dudley is outside playing. Dinner's around 5."
"Thank you. I'll see you then."
He walked down the stairs that his aunt pointed him to. As soon as he started down the stairs, he heard someone run towards them. Dashing down the stairs, knowing whom it was, he smiled for the first time in years.
"Tristan! Tristan! I can't believe I'm meeting you! I'm so happy. Come, sit down, let's talk," Harry said graciously.
"Wow, you must tell me all you know about my mother and father. You probably know so much more about them than I do."
"Yes, well, you said you went to Hogwarts, what House were you in?"
"I was in Gryffindor, like yourself. I saw you on numerous occasions. Now tell me about my mother and father."
"Well here's a photo album of my mother, father, and their friends. I found another photo album over the summer that had the picture I sent you. Do you want to know who your father is?"
"Yes, but question. Does he know that I exist?"
"No, our mother never told anyone about you. The only one she might have told is dead."
"I see. Well, go on tell me about my father."
"You know him already. Your father is Snape."
"As in Professor Severus Snape? That's my father?" Tristan said in complete disbelief.
"Yeah, that's the only one Mum thought it could be. Besides, you have his nose, hair, and height. I bet he gave you weird looks while teaching you?"
"Of course! Snape hated me! He only hated me because I was a Gryffindor. I was by far the best potions student he's had in years. I was good at Charms as well. My weak points were History of Magic, Herbology, and flying. I was never very good at flying, quite the opposite, aren't we?"
"What about Transfiguration and Defense Against the Darks Arts?" Harry asked, curious about his brother.
"I was okay at those. I never really liked Defense Against the Darks Arts. Lockhart was a git. Though, I can't say much better about my father," Tristan smiled at that, "I can't believe I'm Snape's son. Should we tell him now?"
"Yeah, let's write him a letter." Harry and Tristan set out to write a letter to their least favorite teacher.
Dear Prof. Severus Snape,
You may remember me as the 'best damn Gryffindor at potions.' Tristan Winbaf, though I changed my name to Tristan Hollen once I moved to the United States. I gave up my life as a wizard; until I received a letter from whom I believe is one of your students. Harry Potter contacted me about a secret his mother had. You do remember Lily Evans from your seventh year at Hogwarts? Apparently you two led a romantic life over the summer after you graduated. Your little fling led to me. My mother was only 18 when she had me and felt that she could not give me what I deserved. I was given up for adoption when I was only three months old. I never knew who my father was until Harry told me. I've decided to tell you as soon as I found out. I suppose I got your genes for my strength in potions. I've sent a recent picture of myself. As Harry has told me numerous times, I have my mother's eyes and her smile. He also decided to point out that I have your nose and your height. My hair is a mix though; it is black with natural red tints to it. I wish I knew sooner so I would be able to get closer to my father, you. If it is at all possible, would Harry and I be able to come to Hogwarts early and speak with you? We both would love to hear about our mother and we have many unanswered questions for you. I expect a prompt response, knowing whether or not you would like to get to know me, your son, better.
~Tristan Cameron Hollen (Snape)
"I think that's good enough, don't you?"
"Yeah, but did you have include my name in it? Snape's going to kill you for that one," Harry added.
"True, true. Remember, he doesn't know that I exist as his son and that on a little technicality you're his stepson, or something like that."
"Alright, I just hope he remembers to write back. Hey, look at the time. It's almost five, dinnertime," Harry said, looking forward to dinner with his brother.
Aunt Petunia has finished setting the table when Harry and Tristan arrived upstairs. Tristan looked around, his mouth watering at the sight of all this home-cooked food.
"Tristan, are you okay?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine little bro. I live by myself in New York and usually just have TV dinners. I never particularly cared for cooking, and the Muggle way makes it harder on myself. Microwaves are easy enough and then eating out always helps. Plus, it's always nice having a girlfriend that can cook," Tristan smiled at that last comment.
"Oh, you have a girlfriend? What's she like? You can't secrets from me, bro!" Aunt Petunia looked at the two boys. The way they were talking, it was if they had known each other their whole lives and were only apart for a short period of time.
"My girlfriend is so sweet. She's trying to become a history teacher and I'm trying to become a math teacher. We have a few classes together and that's how we met. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to dump her."
"But, bro, if she's so sweet, why would you dump her?"
"Simple. I've got to move to England to be with my little bro! She'll understand completely if I just say I need to spend some time with the family and that we need to spend time apart. Besides, she understands how I need a family. It'll be fine. Now, I'm hungry. Aunt Petunia, when will dinner be ready?"
"Oh, Tristan, have some patience! Dinner will be ready soon. Your uncle has to come home first though and then we will eat," she heard what sounded like a car pull up in the driveway. "Ah, there he is now. I suppose it would be okay to eat now. DUDDYKINS! TIME TO EAT!"
Whispering to Harry, Tristan asked, "Does she always call him pet names?"
"Primarily, yes," Harry said, stifling his snickers.
"Wow, I've got some crazy relatives. First, Snape and now these guys? Who's next, Prof. Binns?" Tristan joked.
"Not that I know of. There was an additional letter given to me by our mum. She meant it for you, if I found you. Let's read it tonight, okay?"
"Genius idea, little bro. Maybe we'll find out what other crazy things our parents did as kids," Tristan jokingly said, not knowing James' reputation for being a prankster and playing pranks on Snape.
"You don't know half of it," Harry muttered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Oh, nothing. I'll explain later."
"Little bro, if you don't start talking…someone's not going to be sleeping much tonight. Unlike yourself, I am a full-fledged wizard and CAN harm you!"
"Chill, chill. Not in front of the Dursleys, I swear. Let's finish eating."
Uncle Vernon looked at the two boys immersed in a private conversation. He could not believe his sister-in-law had another boy that was a freak as well. He knew that it couldn't last because Harry would go back to school and then Tristan would leave. Then he saw something he had never seen before. A smile crossed Harry's face for the first time ever in the Dursley's household, in front of the Dursleys. Looking back at the boys, he knew that this was best for Harry, and it kept Harry out of the way. Uncle Vernon headed into the study, with Dudley following quickly behind. Aunt Petunia began the dishes, until Tristan stopped her.
"Aunt Petunia, let me do this. I may not be the best at cooking, but I can do the dishes. Please, at least let me help?" Aunt Petunia stared at him. He had such manners, unlike his bratty little brother. He looked at her so sincerely; she just had to let him do the dishes. As she left the room, Tristan told Harry to come closer and that he wanted to tell him something.
"The trick to winning someone over is to volunteer to do chores or to help them out. Besides, you can always have fun with the dishes, as long as the floor stays nice and tidy." Harry laughed; his brother was more like what Sirius told him about his father. It was strange having Tristan related to Snape and being nothing like Snape. Tristan saw that look in Harry's face.
"Oh, so you think I'm nothing like Snape, eh?"
"Of course. I've heard a lot about my father and you seem to act like him. It's just odd, that all."
"Harry, I act nothing like Snape because he has things hidden in his past that I don't. You understand that don't you?"
"Yeah, I guess. Hmm, it seems the dishes are done. Let's go read the letter the Mum wrote."
"Fine idea, mate!"
Dear Tristan Cameron Snape,
By now I hope you've found that I, Lily Evans, am your mother and that Severus Snape is your father. You must understand the circumstances. We were young and careless, but I could not give you the home you deserve. I wrote this letter in case I died before I had the chance to meet you as an adult. This letter explains things a little more in depth than the one Harry was presented with. I'm assuming you know who Harry is if you have this letter. Harry knows the story of seventh year. I fell in love with your father, but only two people knew of our relationship. Remus Lupin was a Gryffindor, like myself, and Carolyn Defrasp was a Slytherin, like your father. When I became pregnant, I told only Carrie, as Carolyn was called. I found out years later that she had murdered. Now no one knew about you existing beside myself. I had decided to tell Remus, but he had to swear not to tell a soul, ever. He swore he would tell no one, except you when the time came right. He swore he would never even tell Harry and that he would act surprised about all of this when Harry did find out. I appointed Carrie to be your godmother and Remus to be your godfather and tell you everything about Severus and I when the time was right. I suppose you should contact Remus, but he'll be surprised to hear from you. I wish I could have seen you, with your sparkling green eyes, your black and red hair, and your nose, which was so much like your father's. I'm sorry, sorry for giving you this burden, sorry for everything and anything that has gone wrong with your life, I'm sorry. Please, forgive me.
~Lily Evans Potter
Harry thought that this letter was personal and he knew it when Tristan began to cry. "Bro, what's wrong? I can try and help."
"I just wish I could have met her, just once," he said, tears flowing down his cheeks.
"May I read the letter?"
"I guess. Just don't bother me, okay? I need to be left alone. May I use the phone to call my girlfriend? Now seems like the time for everything to go wrong!"
"Don't say that Tristan! It's not true! Break up with your girlfriend, if you must. Just come back here and we'll sort it all out, I promise," Harry said, gently.
"Fine, I'm going to the phone. I'll be back. We'll talk, but I'm not promising anything good."
Harry read the letter. After reading it he knew why Tristan was crying so hard. Then it clicked! Tristan never met Remus and this made things even more complicated. This night was not going to be an easy one. Until Harry remembered something about dinner that might cheer Tristan up a little. Hopefully.
