CHAPTER FOUR: TALKS
Harry could be found sitting on the stands by the Quidditch pitch, his Firebolt, which he had summoned from his dorm laying beside him. He had spent the last two hours flying while trying to make sense of the revelations of that evening. The sun had set a long time age, but that hadn't stopped Harry flying or sitting in the stands amidst the gloom.
"I'm sorry I blew up at you earlier." A familiar voice said from behind Harry, it sounded genuinely remorseful, "I don't like surprises especially nasty ones."
"Thank You." was the reply as Harry looked up to see Professor Lupin standing behind him. "You don't hate me because Snape's my father do you?"
"No," the werewolf said as he sat down besides the boy-who-lived, "You're still the same boy who I taught two years ago, and my best friend's godson." He gave Harry a reassuring look.
"Good." Harry breathed happily as his thoughts turned to his godfather, "Sirius is going to go mental isn't he?"
"Yes, he will." Remus replied wearily, "I've just owled him telling him to come to Hogwarts, but I haven't given him any details, in case he does something stupid."
"Is he going to require restraining when he finds out?"
"Yes, he was the one who was closest to James, and he also hated Snape the most. Finding out the truth is going to destroy him. I just hope Dumbledore finds someone to calm him down when he finds out. Especially as Prongs isn't going to be much better." He obviously hadn't forgiven his Animagus friend, as he spoke his name with a little venom, "Sirius always brought out the worst in him."
"What about when he meets my father?" Harry queried, worried about his father.
"Those two hate each other with a passion. I doubt he'll accept that your Snape's son."
Harry felt disappointed; he would lose his godfather over this. "So I'm going to lose my godfather because I've found my father." Remus put his arm around Harry in a gesture of comfort, "Fair trade I suppose." he said trying to put on a brave face.
"Sirius always was a bit emotional. But I'm trying, I haven't seen the good side to Snape before, just the arrogant evil git that he and all Slytherins pretend to be."
Harry grinned, "He does keep it hidden, even when he was teaching Primary School kids. I only got to know him when he stopped me from getting bullied by Dudley during my second week in his class. I was terrified of him before then."
Remus emitted a small chuckle, "Just as everyone was scared of Prongs' performance here. You know your father has forgiven the traitor. I don't understand why? It seems a bit out of character."
Harry thought for a moment, "Probably because it was in his interests to do so. So he could take the Potions job, to get closer to me."
The werewolf scoffed, "Typical." he muttered, "Bloody selfish Slytherin."
"Hey, that's my father you're talking about." Harry moaned light-heartedly
"It's true though."
"I know. Besides he's not the only one to have forgiven him." Remus looked at him questioningly, causing Harry to release himself Lupin's grip, "It was the right thing to do." Harry argued giving the impression that the werewolf's unspoken question was a personal insult. "If I hadn't it would have destroyed him. He has repented you know, just as my father did."
"I don't understand how you of all people could ever forgive him He killed your mother. He was responsible for putting you with those damn muggles. He's made your life hell over the past four years. He even tried to give Sirius the Dementor's kiss, when he knew damn well that he was innocent." the former professor hissed
"I know, and he knows." Harry pleaded, "He knows what he did is wrong, and he's trying to make up for it. Now, I don't understand his motivations, especially surrounding Sirius, but he is on our side now. The guilt is destroying him, professor. You saw what he was like in Dumbledore's office, he could barely talk. He's only going to move on, if we forgive him and help him."
Remus sighed, "Call me Remus. I'm not a professor anymore. And Harry I can't forgive him and neither can Sirius, because he could have helped, if he hadn't been so selfish. If only he'd confessed, or told someone about the switch in Secret Keepers. Sirius wouldn't have gone to Azkaban, and you would have grown up with him, and I wouldn't have been so damn lonely all these years. Life could have been so much better for everyone."
"I know, and I can understand Sirius' reaction, he's too emotionally involved." The raven-haired boy rationalised, "But for you its just selfishness. This is a guy who desperately needs and wants help, and we're the only ones who can give it to him."
Remus smiled at him "Your mother would have said the same thing. She was one the most caring people you could ever meet. She was always helping people, even Slytherins, She'd be proud of you." Harry smiled warmly back at him. "Come on Harry, it's getting late, curfew was two hours ago." They both stood
"Seb." Harry said his face losing the smile, "My name is Sebastian. Harry is my middle name." The werewolf nodded before accompanying the student on the long walk back to Gryffindor tower. They strolled in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. "Thank you for understanding, Remus." Harry said, smiling warmly, as they approached the portrait of the Fat Lady, he was genuinely pleased that his former professor seemed to comprehend Harry's point of view and although their chat had only been short it had cleared the last of the misunderstandings and doubts that had presented themselves that evening.
"It was my pleasure." the werewolf replied, smiling as well.
"Phoenix Tears." he said to the Fat Lady, giving her the password. She swung forward to reveal an uncrowded common room. The twins were plotting in the corner, and Ron was playing exploding snap with Dean and Seamus, while Hermione was reading. Ignoring everybody Harry headed straight for his dorm and his bed.
"How did your detention with Snape go last night?" Ron asked the next morning as the trio walked to breakfast.
"It was weird and full of surprises. I'll give you more details later when we're alone." Harry replied. He was nervous about going in details. He had resolved last night not to tell his two best friends about James or about his true parentage. Although he planned on telling them about Fangs being the Potions Master, hoping it would improve their opinion of his father. He had told both his friends about his contact and the ways in which he had helped him, but he'd never let them read their letters, they were too personal. He just hoped that Hermione wouldn't realise that he was leaving some important information out and then try to find out what he wasn't telling her, because she'd probably work everything out and while he trusted her to be calm about these things, he was worried she would tell Ron who would almost certainly freak.
Hermione looked at him inquisitively. "Something happened, didn't it?"
Harry nodded, "It wasn't a real detention, Snape and someone else wanted to talk to me. I'm not supposed to give details but I will anyway. I also had a chat with Remus Lupin as well."
"Lupin was at your detention?" Ron enquired
"No, I spoke to him afterwards." Harry said as they walked into the entrance hall, the noise coming from the Great Hall was unusually loud, probably because they weren't used to seeing Fangs hairstyle worn by the dour Potions Professor.
"Bloody Hell." Ron cried as they walked into the great hall, "Snape's washed his hair."
"So? What's the big deal?" Hermione, ever the calm one commented as they walked to the Gryffindor table. She didn't seem to find Professor Snape's hairstyle that important.
"This is Snape. You know the greasy git, evil Potions Professor Snape." Ron said as he started piling food onto the plate. Harry was silently laughing at his best friends reaction to the differences between Fangs hairstyle and that of the disguised James, as well as the general commotion surrounding the issue, and looking up to the high table he could see that the headmaster and most probably Harry's father were as well.
"I know who Professor Snape is Ron." Hermione said sternly. Harry could tell another Ron/Hermione argument was brewing. "But why you take such an interest in his hairstyle when there are more important things to concentrate on, like schoolwork."
"Oh come on 'Mione the OWLs aren't until June." Ron replied annoyed that the bushy haired was bringing up work at breakfast time. Shaking his head Harry left his two best friends to bicker in peace, while he ate his breakfast, interrupted only by Hedwig, who brought a short note from his father telling him to visit after classes that afternoon.
The three friends didn't find time to talk about Harry until just before Lunch. "So what did Snape want last night?" Hermione asked curiously, when they were finally alone.
"Which Snape?" Harry asked cryptically while smirking. He had decided not to lie about last night. Instead he planned to forget most of the stuff was discussed. Both Ron and Hermione looked at him strangely, he could tell that the bushy- haired girls' brain was whirring, trying to interpret his comment.
"Someone's secretly replaced Professor Snape as potions teacher, haven't they." Hermione exclaimed, "I'm not surprised, he is important to the war effort."
Harry grinned at Hermione, "Yes, Snape's decided to concentrate on his spying duties." He replied.
"Probably can't be trusted evil git." Ron muttered darkly.
"Ron." Hermione warned, "Professor Snape is on our side."
"He's Dumbledore's spy in the death eaters." Harry explained.
"You-Know-Who's spy more likely." Ron muttered in the same tone. He was the receiving end of two glares.
Harry ignored his best friends complaints, "He's been replaced as potions teacher by an old friend of mine." he said. Hermione was looking at him questioningly. "My old primary school teacher is our new Potions Professor."
"The one you're always writing to." Hermione enquired. Harry nodded, "Fangs?"
"Yes, he taught us yesterday and I didn't even notice." Harry moaned.
"Must be a pretty good actor." Ron joked.
"How did he know our names?" Hermione enquired.
"The Marauders Map. My mum told Snape how to operate the Marauders Map, and he rescued it from Moody before he could find it at the end of last year." That was the first lie and as expected Ron had fallen for it, but Harry had a feeling that Hermione hadn't.
"Your mum and Snape were friends?" Ron questioned disbelievingly.
"Yes. It was the fact that she was married to my father and not him that drove him to join the death eaters. That's the reason he hates me so much, because he thinks I ought to have been his." Harry explained. It was only a slight bending of the truth, and both of his friends believed him.
"Eugh!" Ron exclaimed, "But who would want to date Snape? No offence to your mum, mate. But come on"
Harry grinned at his friends response, neither his father nor James were as bad as Ron made them out to be. He wasn't surprised by his redheaded friends reaction, considering he only Snape through James' extremely nasty and somewhat anti-social façade. "I'm told that he wasn't as bad then." Harry remarked, "But then it that's not difficult, is it?."
"True." Ron replied.
I had a few problems writing this chapter, in that it's a bit of an inbetweeny chapter, in which there isn't much actual plot. But still, it's come out OK. Thank You to all the reviewers, your reviews are much appreciated.
Usako3000: James does tend to be overlooked in Severitus Challenge fics but the it's the nature of the challenge, as it is a Sev-centrered challenge, and the fact that this fic is more James-centered breaks the rules of the challenge, but I'm still calling it a Severitus Challenge fic anyway. As for hating James, that is quite easy to do in this fic.
Kateri: I'm glad you like it.
Senathon Snape: Have patience, I'm also rewritting another story of mine with the intention of posting it, it's called "Of Two Lords and a Prince" and the first chapter and Prologue are up already. As for Sirius, the next chapter is titled 'Padfoot'.
Pink-Crane: Why didn't you think you would like it originally? And I'm not the only one to have a gay James, who survived Halloween 1981. The other day, I discovered a challenge issued by 'Prongs' devoted to the same topic. This won't be a response to it though, the challenge requires a slashed Harry.