Prophesy of the Serpent

Author: Gryphnwng

Rating: ~Pg-13 for now

A Severitus Challenge fiction

Disclaimer: Is Harry Potter mine? Nope. *Shakes head* Is Harry Potter J.K.R's? Yes!!

AN- Well, virus in finally gone, thank goodness.  So is the spy-ware!  Give thanks to Josh who helped me fix things.  I love my fiancé!! *Gushes*  Ok, back to the real world.  Sorry for the lateness, but, things happen.  I hope you all like this chapter, and that it was worth waiting almost a month for!  Just a note, from the previous chapter- the gryff password I used was Baka snake- Baka meaning stupid/dumb in Japanese. ^_^  I believe some had questions about that.  See below for meaningful notes on the story. And one more thing….with the advent of book 5, this story is now, even more then before, an AU.  I won't be putting ANY spoilers in here for book five, it will continue on as it started out. ^_^  Now, I wanna read book six…sheesh!

*Mice tassste good!*  is parseltongue

~I wonder if I'm wearing clean underwear?~ is private thought

Now I present…

Previous chapter…

Severus fumed impotently and stalked to a seat and sat down, followed by Harry and Sirius.  Remus sat down at his desk.  "You see, Harry, this summer Sirius and I learned something very important that relates to both you and Severus."  He rummaged in his desk for a second, and then brought out an age-yellowed piece of parchment.  He used a quick doubling charm on it, and then handed a copy to both Harry and Severus.  "I think you both should read this latter we received this summer.  It came from James."  Shocked silence fell in the small room, and two pairs of eyes slowly started to read the letter.

Chapter 6

Halfway through the letter both Harry and Severus wore identical expressions of disbelief.  Harry looked up at his Godfather brandishing the letter in one white knuckled fist.

"This is a joke, right Siri?  I mean, it can't be real…right?" 

Sirius shook his head sadly and stood, walking over to Remus at his desk who opened up one of the drawers.  He pulled out a piece of heavy, yellowed parchment and handed it to Sirius, who gave it to Harry.  Harry frowned as he looked down at the official looking document and read what it said. 

~Delano Cade Snape~

Adopted Harry James Potter

D.O.B~ July 31, 1980

Birth Parents:

Father~ Severus Salazar Snape

Mother~ Lily Evans-Potter

Adopting parties:

James Potter

Lily Evans-Potter

Godfather:

Sirius Orion Black

It was his birth certificate.  Harry re-read the information it possessed perhaps three times, in denial of what it told him, though it was stated clearly on the form.  He really was Snape's son.  Slowly he drew his eyes away from the old document and glanced his Godfather and Remus, to his potions professor.  The former were both wearing sad, apologetic expressions, clearly sorry about having to break the news.  It wasn't a joke after all.  Severus though, was furious.  The only reason he hadn't spoken a word was because of the charm that Sirius cast that caused him to sing that ridiculous song.  His lips were pulled back in a snarl of fury, both fists clenched on the armrests of the chair he was sitting in.  It was clear he didn't believe a word.

Harry himself didn't know what to do or think.  He finally had the proof that Dumbledore was manipulating things his way, but the price of that proof..!  It was too much.  In one swift move he stood from his chair and was exiting the room, his robes swirling around his tall frame as he left, his face an expressionless cold mask. 

Neither Remus nor Sirius had time to react before the door slammed shut.  Remus blinked a few times, then Sirius cleared his throat.

"Well, that went better then I thought it would…"

Remus brushed back his hair from his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck, turning to Severus who was still silent but fuming in his chair.

"I suppose you would like your proof now as well, Severus?  We have the memory restorative with us that James left."  Severus nodded his head jerkily once, still glaring for all he was worth.  He made a curt motion with one hand towards his throat as well.  It looks could kill; Sirius would have been dead ten times over from the potency of the glare he received.  Remus nodded, understanding what he wanted.  "Of course.  Siri, take off the charm please, let Severus talk."

Sirius muttered under his breath about friends with death wishes, and did as he was asked, then taking cover behind Remus.  Severus worked his jaw a few times, sneering at the two men in front of him.  "So brave, mutt?  What happened to that vaunted Gryffindor courage of yours?"

"Courage I have, yes.  But not a death wish!"  Sirius called from behind Remus, ducking the swipe his friend aimed at him.  Remus grimaced, stepping aside and leaving Sirius exposed to view.

"Now if you both would just find your maturity for a moment, we can finish here."

"Do, please, Lupin.  I have no wish to be a part of this joke any longer then I must.  So if you would…?"  Severus stood and took a few steps forward, folding his arms within the folds of his robes.  Remus sighed, again rubbing the back of his neck as he took his wand out. 

"You know this isn't a joke Severus.  We wouldn't joke about something this important you know."

"Really Remus.  Potter my son?  You could have done better."  He scathingly retorted, one dark brow lifted in disdain. His voice was loud enough to send a few insects fluttering in the office.  He gestured to Remus' wand, held loosely in the werewolf's hand.  "Now, if this is the only way I can get out of this room with you two delusional Gryffindors, then please, hurry."

Sirius stood back, not wanting to get in the way as Remus began to chant in Latin, a long string of words that would strip the spell blocking Severus' true memories without harming his mind at the same time.  It was the only spell that could be used as Dumbledore had used a very complex memory modifier to begin with.  A pale rose nimbus settled over Severus for a few moments, lighting his concentration set features in its pale light.  The glow flashed once briefly, lighting the entire room with brilliant rose hued light, before fading as the spell ended. 

Sirius blinked trying to rid his eyes of the colorful after-images that danced in front of him.  A low moan of pain snapped his head to where Severus was now sitting once more in the chair.  Both Remus and Sirius went to his side quickly, thinking something had perhaps gone wrong with the spell after all, but were shocked when Severus raised his head.  Tears were streaming down his face.  In the entire time that they had known the man, he had never once expressed such emotion, let alone cry.  The sight of it was beyond words.  Severus dropped his head into his hands, his dark hair falling forward to curtain his face.  Hesitantly, Remus placed a hand on the man's shoulder.  It was shaken off immediately.  From the depths of the hair enshrouded head, a shaking voice weakly spoke.

"Please, leave."

Remus didn't try to touch Severus again, but he tried to speak to him, offer whatever comfort he could.  "Severus, I know you're…"

"Just get out!"  He was cut off by Severus's violent shout, and a wave of magic that flung both men to the wall by the door.  He collapsed back into the chair, ignoring both Sirius and Remus, his slumped over shoulders shaking violently.  Only when he heard the door click softly shut, signifying the departure of the other two me, did he finally give into the grief that had been 15 years in the making. 

It was a good thing that the office had a silencing charm in it, otherwise people would have wondered what the howls of anguish, loss, and rage were that would have emanated from it.  Severus could do nothing but sit in the chair and let the tide of emotions flow over him.  His beloved Lily, dead these past 14 years, and his own son, raised by others, and he hadn't been allowed to grieve.  The pain of this knowing cut through him like a knife, intensified by the years it hadn't been expressed.  Mixed in with this was a burning rage at the man who had taken both from him, and the support of one of his truest friends.  It was a long time before he could rise from that chair and make his way to his own quarters, where he fell into a deep sleep, tormented by dreams of his lost love and the life they could have had together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a dark corner of the Astronomy tower Harry sat curled up, face void of any expression.  Still as stone, he stared out at the night sky watching the stars.  Sensing his troubled thoughts, his familiar Silestra made her way from an inside pocket of his robes to drape comfortably around his neck.  The silver ankh on her head gleamed softly in the starlight, pale tongue flickering out to taste him.

~Massster?  What troublesss you thisss night?~

He finally stirred slightly from his position, looking down to meet the eyes of his snake.  ~Nothing.  Everything.  I don't know.  It'sss jussst that, everything that I have known about my life wasss a lie.~  He leaned back once more, softly thumping his head against the cold stone behind him.  Somewhere along his trek up to the tower his hair had come loose from its tie and now hung about his face in a dark curtain.  Silestra squeezed her coils slightly around him in a reassuring squeeze before speaking again.

~That isss much to think on indeed.  Who hasss lied to you, and what about, if you don't mind me asssking?~

He rested a finger on her head gently, already calming a bit from the turmoil he had felt earlier.  ~The old white haired bumblebee, who isss massster here.  It turnsss out he usssed a ssspell on my real father, making him forget about my mother and their love.  All thessse yearsss I had a parent ssstill alive, and neither of usss knew.  We both found out tonight.  I don't know what to think, he hasss alwaysss hated me before.~  Harry sighed a bit after his rather long-winded explanation, staring out into the night sky.

Silestra pondered this information quietly for a time, deciding what to say.  ~Isss there a reassson for the deception, or wasss it maliciousss in nature?  Perhapss it wasss to keep you sssafe?  Bessst find out before you act, I think.~

~I'm pretty sssure it wassn't for a good reassson.  I can't asssk him myssself becaussse he will lie mossst likely.  I can't let him know that I know the truth.~

~Ssso more acting then, massster.  Perhapsss you ssshould be one of thossse humansss who entertainsss othersss when you finisssh thisss ssschooling?~

Her last comment had the desired affect in pulling Harry from the last of his apathy.  He still was mad, and no small part confused, but it was controlled now and hidden.  With a small laugh he stood, pulling his cloak around him and blending into the shadows.  He scratched his friend under her chin in her favorite spot, answering her.  ~They are called actorsss, sssweet.  And I'm sssure I'll have plenty of practice by the time we are done here.~  He ducked out of the tower and started back for Gryffindor tower, and his warm bed.  It had been a long day, and he was exhausted.  He only hoped his friends would leave him be for a bit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Behind a stone gargoyle and a set of twisted steps lay the lair of Headmaster Dumbledore.  It was quite late in the evening, yet he had not retired yet for the night.  Instead, he was drafting a note for the McGonagall, the head of Gryffindor House.  It was a wish for Mr. Potter to come to his office at 2pm the next day for a small chat. 

With a last flourish, he signed his name to the bottom of the paper and uttered a drying charm on the ink.  Whistling softly some muggle tune, he brought the note to his familiar Fawkes.  The scarlet bird crooned softly as his master caressed his plumed head.  He delicately took the folded note from Dumbledore's hand and held it securely in his beak and awaited instruction.

"If you would be so kind, Fawkes, please take this to Minerva for me.  It is in regards to our Mr. Potter."  The birds golden eyes blinked, and he gave a happy chirp before disappearing in a flash of golden light.  Still humming his little tune, the headmaster went back to his desk chair and sat, helping himself to a lemon drop.  This was definitely working out.  After tomorrow, the loose end would be taken care of, and things would be on tract once more.  With luck, young Harry would be so happy to be back and reunited with his beloved Godfather he won't notice his, ahem, guidance. 

A/N:  Um….sorry?  *grins sheepishly*  I truly didn't mean for it to take that long, but, well…some things had to come up.  Then I got lazy. Bad me.  I'm trying to be better though!!  Really I am!  I've an idea now about how I'm gonna do this.  Kinda hard to write as you go, but it's getting their.  Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this so far, you are my lifeblood!  I think I've pairings down, at least some.  Harry/Blaise, and Draco/Ginny.  Not sure if I want to keep Ron and Mione together, we'll see how Ron takes the news ^_^  Basically, it's the pairings I put since I got a number of requests for slash free.  I did finish a one-shot Harry/Draco pairing called "Gryphon Baiting for anyone who likes slash.  It's R rated here, and the NC-17 version is at both my yahoo group and adultfanfiction.net.  I hope you enjoyed this chapter, the next should be longer.  I couldn't write anymore though here, it wouldn't come . lol.  Maybe I'll get to work on my other story idea…hmmm…..:-D

~*~Gryphnwng~*~