Harry woke up in the middle of the night to find Madame Pomfrey and Albus Dumbledore surrounding the bed next to him. They hadn't noticed him wake up. What was going on?
Just then, Dumbledore shifted his weight, and Harry could barely make out the shaking form of Professor Snape lying on the bed, Dumbledore's arms trying unsuccessfully to restrain him from movement. Harry moved so he could see what was going on, but Madame Pomfrey noticed and shoved the white curtains around his bed again.
"Sleep, Potter!" she demanded angrily, obviously miffed that someone would dare move while she was working.
Even though Harry could no longer see, years of eavesdropping experience served him well as he listened to what was going on.
"Albus, this is worse than usual," whispered the concerned voice of Madame Pomfrey.
"Voldemort must have been angry," muttered Dumbledore.
Harry sat back. Of course, he thought to himself. Snape must have gotten back from one of his Death Eater meetings. Harry shivered as he thought about what would happen if Voldemort ever found out that Snape was a spy for the good side. The dark lord didn't even know that yet, and still Snape came back with the aftereffects of the Cruciatus Curse. If he inflicted such damage on his own people, Harry couldn't imagine what he would do to his enemies.
"Albus, hold him still. I need to go get his potion. I'll be right back," assured Madame Pomfrey. Harry heard retreating footsteps as the medi-witch ran to her office.
Harry couldn't resist his drooping eyelids and soon found himself back in the perils of sleep that threatened to haunt him forevermore.
**
Harry woke again a few hours later to his own screaming and Snape sending him death glares from the next bed. Madame Pomfrey was standing over Harry with a calming potion that she had somehow gotten him to swallow, and he was slowly quieting.
"Better, Harry?" she asked. He nodded painfully and collapsed back onto the bed.
"Poppy, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself," sneered Snape as he tried to make his escape.
"Severus, you're not well! You'll barely make it to the dungeons by yourself!" screeched Madame Pomfrey, on the verge of sheer outrage.
"I will not tolerate Potter's screaming interrupting my sleep," said Snape, pushing the witch aside. He strode out the doors, walked hastily to his chambers, and collapsed on his floor. He couldn't move.
'Perfect,' he thought. Now he wouldn't be able to get up until morning.
Realizing that he was going to be stuck on the floor for a while, Severus Snape folded his arms in a makeshift pillow and promptly fell asleep.
**
Albus Dumbledore got up the next morning and immediately went to the hospital wind to break up whatever argument that he was sure was going on between his potions master and nurse. The two didn't take very kindly to each other, after all. Bracing himself for the fight, Dumbledore opened the doors to the hospital wing, only to find Harry Potter sitting up and staring at him with two large emerald eyes.
"Good morning, Harry," he said, walking over to the boy.
Harry merely nodded in greeting.
"Might I inquire about Professor Snape, Harry?" asked Dumbledore, certain that the nurse and the wizard were off killing each other somewhere.
"I think.. he left. Last night. Don't know, really, I was asleep," Harry murmured.
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed in a frown. "Madame Pomfrey?" he asked gently.
"In her office," Harry replied.
Dumbledore nodded his thanks and went to speak to the mediwitch.
When Dumbledore was safely gone, Harry found his letter on the bedside table. He had wanted to read it earlier, but today was the first day that he felt like he was actually up to the task. Harry opened the envelope to find a yellowed piece of parchment inside. Curiosity suddenly overtook him. So this wasn't just a letter from his friends. Not like he didn't wish to speak with them, but the idea that someone else would send him a letter was exhilarating. He tenderly opened the piece of paper and looked at the neat handwriting. He glanced at the faded signature.. LILY POTTER??? Harry's eyes went wide as he gaped at the treasure in front of him. He slowly began to read, as if savoring his mother's last words.
~~*~~
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this, it probably means that I'm not here to give it to you. First of all, my son, know that I love you. I would do anything to save you from the fate that I know we all may suffer. James and I decided to write you this as kind of a last-words thing. We really don't know what to say, but we feel the need to tell you SOMETHING. Oh, and James says 'hi.'
~~*~~
Harry smiled appreciatively.
~~*~~
Harry, you are our pride and joy. Both of us thought our hearts would explode with happiness on the day that you were born. That happiness never faded away. As I look at you in your crib, only a few steps away, I feel that I might sing with joy. If we weren't in hiding, believe me, I would. But for now, it's silent down there. It must remain silent- we're running from Voldemort.
~~*~~
Harry didn't know that his heart could pound so hard. Here were his mother's last words, written all of those years ago. And he was reading them. A shiver of happiness zipped along his spine.
~~*~~
Anyway, Harry, there's only one thing that you need to know. And I dn't know how this will affect you, or if it will at all, but—James is not your father.
~~*~~
Harry's stomach dropped. WHAT? James not his father?? How could that be true?!?!?!
~~*~~
He did adopt you, though, Harry, and he loves you like only a father can. As you're reading this, I'm sure that you are having doubts. You look just like James, don't you? Believe me, I know. And I wish I weren't telling you this, Harry, but you've got to understand.
A year and a half ago, I got married to James Potter. I was already pregnant with you at the time. James and I have always been great friends, but it was always friendship, not love. I was in love with someone else.
Anyway, my boyfriend of who-knows-how-long and I had finally been pulled apart by this terrible war that has been plaguing the wizarding world these past few years. I still love him, Harry. I will always love your real father. But it is too dangerous for us to be together. Much too dangerous. For your father is off to fight in this bloody war as a spy. He'll be working under Voldemort. And, most likely, he'll die.
~~*~~
Harry gasped loudly- a SPY? He only knew of one spy, and oh, god, she couldn't mean-
~~*~~
So that's why I married James. To protect both your father and you. But James isn't your father. His name was Severus Snape.
~~*~~
Harry's mouth dropped open in horror. The later dropped to the ground, and that's when Harry passed out. Passed out, and never wanted to wake up. Wanted it to be a lie. Have it go away, make it be some kind of cruel joke. Severus Snape? His.. father?? Harry collapsed into blackness.
**
Harry woke up a few moments later. Fortunately, Madame Pomfrey hadn't checked on him, so the letter was still sitting next to him. Damn that letter. That letter killed everything that Harry had ever known. And he wasn't even done reading it.
Harry picked up the letter again, his hands trembling violently. Trying to make himself believe it was a lie. It wasn't possible, was it? NO!
~~*~~
James and I put a charm on you so you'll resemble James until your fifteenth birthday. Unfortunately, if we're not there, the charm cannot be reproduced. I'm sorry, Harry. Your appearance will change so you look like you should- and, judging by the few seconds I got to see you as yourself, you look a lot like your father. But you have my eyes. I love your eyes.
Remember that James and I love you, Harry. We'll always love you.
Your mother,
Lilly Potter
PS: There should be another note in this parcel for Severus, if he is still alive. Please give it to him, Harry. You can read it if you want. I love you!
~~*~~
Harry couldn't help his tears. He hadn't cried in a very long time, but now, it seemed only appropriate to cry. Severus Snape. He was RELATED to Severus Snape. He wondered if Snape knew...
Harry found the other letter and considered reading it, but found that he didn't want to. Didn't want to read his mother's loving words to that greasy old git. He shoved the letter back into the parcel and put it aside just as Madame Pomfrey walked in. He was still crying, lying back on the wall behind him with his arms folded across his chest. Why did Madame Pomfrey have to come in NOW?
"Harry?" Madame Pomfrey's voice squeaked as she stared in shock at her young charge. Tears were running down his face, which was red with anger.
"Harry, child, what's the matter? What's wrong?"
Harry wasn't paying attention. His entire mind was going red. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could hear someone calling his name, but he wasn't listening. Now was not the time to listen. Now was the time to scream.
But he didn't scream. No, instead of screaming, he released a ton of energy and the windows shattered. Every single window in the hospital wing was broken, shards streaming across the room, leaving one very shocked Madame Pomfrey and a red-faced, trembling Harry Potter.
"ALBUS!!!" screamed the witch, too petrified to actually move.
The headmaster was there in seconds. Apparently, he had heard the windows break from inside his office. So did the rest of the staff who had remained there for the summer. Every teacher, with the exception of Severus Snape and Professor Trelawney, ran into the hospital wing right behind Dumbledore. Professor McGonagall caught Madame Pomfrey as she fainted. All eyes were trained on Harry.
"Harry?" Dumbledore whispered fearfully. Harry glanced at the headmaster, but his eyes weren't focused and Dumbledore doubted that he was actually in his right mind. He pointed a wand at Harry and cast a sleeping spell, but it didn't work. Instead, Harry's eyes slid into focus, and Harry realized where he was. He looked around at the shattered windows, which were carefully being replaced by Professor Sprout.
"Harry?"
The teenager turned to the concerned face of Professor McGonagall. "Harry? Are you alright?"
Harry nodded and wiped the tears from his eyes. He looked at the bedside table and saw the hated letter. At once, red started to cloud his mind again.
Dumbledore noticed the change. "Subdue him, would you, Minerva?" The headmaster walked swiftly to the table and grabbed the parcel, letter included. The teachers behind him had apparently been able to quiet Harry down, as he was now sleeping soundly.
"What did you do?" asked Dumbledore.
"I really have no idea. All of us said different things."
Dumbledore chuckled, even though it wasn't exactly a laughing matter. "Where's Poppy?"
The headmaster found her on the next bed and immediately woke her up. "Poppy?"
The nurse looked around wildly. "Albus?"
"What happened, Poppy?"
"I walked in, and he was sitting up, looking almost mad. He was crying and his face was bright red.. and it seemed like he was going to explode, or something. Then the windows all broke," explained the mediwitch.
"Do you know what was wrong with him?"
"It was like nothing I've ever seen before. It wasn't related to his injuries, I think. Maybe he was reliving what happened over the summer."
Dumbledore frowned and turned around. "Minerva, do you think you could stay here with Poppy and Harry? I don't want to leave her alone with him."
"Of course, Albus," said Minerva, a bit worriedly.
The headmaster left, walking to his office and pondering the parcel he held in his hand. He didn't recognize the handwriting, which meant that it wasn't from Ron or Hermione. The two had sent him so many owls that Dumbledore could pick out their handwriting anywhere.
Albus sat down in his office, not paying attention to the paintings, which seemed to be grumbling incessantly. He opened the parcel and picked up the open letter. Part of him felt guilty for reading Harry's mail, but he needed to know what had sparked such a reaction. Reconciling himself to his decision, Albus Dumbledore avidly read the letter.
**
Thirty minutes later, after reading and rereading Lily's letter about fifteen times, Dumbledore could scarcely find the energy to breathe. How was this possible? He hadn't had any idea, and he knew everything that happened in his school. Everything!
Suddenly he understood the massive frustration and anger that Harry had been feeling only minutes before. If he had been Harry, he would have been really ticked off as well. Dumbledore sighed. He needed to give Harry back his mail. He would leave it to the boy as to whether of not he would give Severus his letter. Albus swore to keep his mouth shut. Now one else could know about this. No one else COULD know about this.
