Chapter 10----- Better Day.

"Boo." Snape jumped throwing some reports in the air, gasping for air, he heard the voice again. "Working on Christmas are we?" Snape turned around to face the person who was scaring him out of his wits. It was Harry, with out his glasses on and smiling.

"Hello. Merry Christmas." Snape greeted. "Did you get."

"Yes, and thank-you."

Snape smiled, and the two of them were silent for a few minutes, while Harry hummed a tune that Snape didn't recognise. Harry kept on humming the same tune, there were a few words like "Please stand up" over and over again, Snape suspected that they were the only words that Harry actually knew.

"What are you singing?" Snape asked.

"What? Oh.some muggle song. I heard it over the summer. Enimen. Dudley kept playing it all the time."

"Dudley?"

"My cousin."

"Ah." More silence. It seemed to be growing. What was there to talk about? Pretty much nothing. "What else did you get."

"You know, the usual. A little box, jumper, book."

Then he saw Harry's hand go up to his forehead, then Snapes own hand went to his arm, it was the Dark Mark. Voldemort had summoned them. On Christmas day of all days. Wasn't this was meant to be a day to spend with your family? But it wasn't a choice for Snape had to make. He would have to go to Voldemort's Christmas party, he was only hope that the evil git wasn't expecting a present.

"I er."

"I know you have to go, I'm not stupid you know. I feel it ten times worse than you do."

Snape went out of the room, "Oh," Harry called back. "Try not to get killed. I've lost one father, I don't want to loose another one." Snape nodded and left Hogwarts to a place of terror.



"You are late Severus."

"I am sorry my lord but it took me some time to get out of the anti apperating wards."

"Hmm." The Dark Lord murmured, inspecting his fingernails. He was sitting on a throne and his legs were swung over the left arm of it. "It is a sacrifice that I unfortunately have to endure with. Your position at Hogwarts is too valuable to me to force you to leave. Yes.close to Harry Potter are you not?"

"I am his teacher sire."

"Yes.indeed." Voldemort swung his legs into the correct position and he stood so Snape had to quickly get down on his knees. It was something that Snape had learned the hard way. When he stands you get down, and quickly at that matter too.

"I hear from Lucius here that dear Harry, is going slightly mad. A mental break down methinks?" he smiled slightly. "And it is directed mainly at you I hear as well. Your office to be exact." Voldemort raised his wand and Snape felt like he was being lifted up by his chin. "Why is this my dear boy?"

"I.er.gave him a detention. He's had a very hard summer. He just snapped I think. We don't get along at all." Voldemort turned and Snape was released.

"So I hear as well. Why is this?"

"His father, me and him.weren't compatible so to speak."

"Even your hatred for the boy, prevented you from forcing him to be expelled. In fact from dear Lucius here." He nodded to best buddy. "You fought to keep the boy in school." Voldemort's eyes shone with hatred. "Why?" he demanded.

Snape who was massaging his chin had to think of an excuse.and quickly at that. The truth would put Harry in even more danger. But Voldemort was continuing his anger level rising. "Now, I can't get to the boy! For when, and I believe you know this Severus, he is at school I can't get to him especially under that cracked up old fool Albus Dumbledore."

Then Snape saw his way out. "Yes but if the Potter boy were to be expelled, he would merely go to his aunt and uncle."

"Why does this matter?"

"Well master, the spells protecting the boy will prohibit you from entering."

"I will someday break them."

"Yes, as you will break the ones at Hogwarts, only if Potter remains at school you have people there to watch his move for you. At his home you would not. That was my plan sire. If I have acted wrongly I pray that you forgive me and I will find some other way."

"Be quiet Severus, you have not wronged. Not now. Yes.you are as sharp as you always were. But you are getting old now Severus and you remain childless."

Snape had to refrain from scoffing. "I never had any interests in having a family my Lord."

"Your 'interests' mean nothing to me Severus. Stand." So Snape did so.

"I do not understand my Lord."

Voldemort had his back to Snape, and was stroking his chin in thought. " No, you would not." Voldemort returned. "You are to old for me to use now Severus. Your age?"

"I am now thirty- five sire."

Voldemort nodded. "Thirty-five. You have been with me since you were the pure age of eighteen." His index finger went under Snapes chin. "I thought so highly of you. I do still." Again the Dark Lord turned his back on Snape. "You have disappointed me."

"I exist only to serve you my master." He bowed down low again.

"And served me you have. But when you were still at school you were too close to that mudblood girl. Potter's wife."

"Lily Evans sire. And yes I suppose I was close to her. Though I do not know why this has any importance to us."

"It has every importance Severus. I think that your pure blood has continued, but it has been tainted." Voldemort turned around again. "Tell me Severus, what happened on the sixth of November 1979?"



"Excuse me?" Snape asked. "I do not know what you mean by the question my Lord."

"You know exactly what I mean Severus." Voldemort kneeled and looked into Snape's eyes a very rare occurrence. "Tell me my dear Severus. Tell me."

Snape acted as though it was difficult to recall what he did that day. So after exhaling a breath he spoke. "Went to the pub had I drink, met Lily."he trailed off.

"Lily you say." Voldemort said. "What happened after that. I think I know but I want to know the truth. Lucius, over here if you please."

Malfoy came over with a tiny bottle of clear liquid that Snape recognised as Vertaserum. Voldemort was going to give him that. Truth potion. Voldemort was going to find out. Find out that Harry was Snape's son. Voldemort pursed Snape mouth open and poured the liquid in.

It was a horrible burning sensation, which almost made him vomit. Then, nothingness. Rather like being under the imperious curse. "Your name?"

"Severus Snape."

"Yes, and what happened after you met up with the mudblood in the bar?"

"Lily? Got drunk, ended up in bed with her."

"The outcome?"

"She fell pregnant with my child."

"Who was?"

"Harry Potter, My Lord."

There was still something that remained of his personality in what was like a darkened corner of his brain that broke down and cried. Voldemort knew the truth.