Dear Merlin.. thank you all so much for responding. I am sooo terribly pleased by the reviews that I've gotten, and I certainly hope that this chapter lives up to expectations. Tee hee.
A big THANKS to xikum, whom I love and who, unexplainably, likes this chapter. I hope that all of you do, too- here is my attempt to go out on a limb.
This chapter has no dialogue. It was the scariest thing I've ever had to write.
Hah.
Read on!!
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-Severus Snape POV-
The prosecutor couldn't find any questions to discredit Draco. He tried to trip him up, of course, but Draco was steadfast about what he had said to Dumbledore. There was nothing to be gained by questioning Draco, which was exactly why Severus had recommended him.
Snape had known Draco his entire life, and loved him like a son. It had been he who saw Draco's first steps, who taught him how to speak, and he who cleaned the boy up and comforted him as he cried.
It had been difficult for Severus to see Draco in the corridors of school, being mean, nasty, and the perfect little Slytherin that Lucius had always wanted him to be. What had been worse, was knowing that some of it was real.
Draco was not an angel, far from it, actually. There was no way that he could have acted hateful for all of those years and not had some of that darkness within him. Yet, Draco was still an actor, a very accomplished actor. And Severus was proud of him for deceiving his father and the others for as long as he had. The boy had even had Dumbledore fooled. The look on the old man's face when Severus had suggested Draco as a witness had been the highlight of Severus' week! It wasn't often that anything was slipped past the headmaster, so when someone actually managed it, it was a cause for celebration.
Severus didn't do celebration much, either. Of course, as these new surprises kept springing up, the prospects of a party were looking better.
Draco was coming to live with him, which he should have been doing since the beginning. He could have hexed himself for not suggesting it sooner. It would have saved both he and Draco a lot of suffering and tears. Of course, at that time, he still had Lucius Malfoy to contend with. Thanks to Harry, those days were gone.
Harry.
The boy had been plaguing his every thought for weeks now. He was impossible to ignore, being Severus' height, looking quite like a Snape, and being a Gryffindor on top of that.
Severus scowled inwardly. Ugh. A Snape in Gryffindor. The family line was ruined!
Ah, yes, Harry.
Not even Potter anymore. No, Severus couldn't bring himself to call the boy that. Potter was the name of the enemy, the title of an overgrown, arrogant brat who had managed to get himself killed years ago. Potter was not the name of this boy.
He was Harry, now, which brought both delight and terror to Severus' thoughts. He had gone soft; he'd known he would. It had only been a matter of time.
They would still have their problems, of course. How could they not? Harry was a Gryffindor, he a Slytherin. They boy was impulsive, a tad bit angry, and too caring and generous for his own good. He had a bunch of friends, was adored by thousands, and was the bloody savior of the wizarding world.
Severus was none of those things. He was careful, methodical, and always planned things out before doing them. He was harsh, bitter, and certainly more than just a tad bit angry. He had been a Death Eater, carried a major grudge, and was condemned by almost everyone as a cold-hearted, unfeeling bastard.
What a pair the two of them made.
They were as different as night and day, beyond their physical aspects. Where Harry was good, he was bad, and they clashed like, well, orange and green.
But Severus had decided that he was willing to learn, if the boy was…
An icy hand gripped somewhere in his chest. What if Harry wasn't willing?
What if he didn't want to try; didn't want to begin any type of relationship with him?
What if Harry wanted nothing to do with him?
Oh, god, it was possible, wasn't it? He was still Harry's ugly, greasy Potions professor. He hadn't been kind to the boy, ever, had in fact ridiculed and bullied him to no end.
He wouldn't even blame Harry for not wanting Snape in his life. No, he might even expect it, now that he thought about it. Why would the boy even consider liking him?
And yet... he had seen something between them. No, no… Harry wouldn't reject him. At least, dear Merlin, he hoped not. Had he not seen Harry make an attempt?
Yes, the boy had tried to form some kind of bond between them, hadn't he? He had rescued Severus, after all, had risked life and limb to save him. And today, he had even called him 'father.'
Severus knew that Harry had been acting sarcastic, that he hadn't exactly meant what he said, but oh, how that word had frozen him. The terrifying Potions professor had been brought to his knees by a word, a single, innocent word, spoken out of his child's mouth.
Dear lord, he was thankful that no one was privy to his little inner monologue. How they would laugh if they thought he was even capable of such feelings. His reputation would be ruined!
Snape forced back a chuckle as he found that he truly didn't care what anyone thought. Let them laugh. Harry was his son, after all, wasn't he? Which made Severus a father. He was allowed to have these thoughts.
Sweet Merlin, was that... happiness?
It had been such a long time since he had experienced the feeling, such a very long time. Could it possibly be?
How was it that a mere boy could spark this change in him? He felt alive, a feeling he had not had since Lily was his, his loving, witty, bright star, dear Lily…
She was dead now, he knew, but she was still there. She was there in the presence of his son, of their son. Her spirit was inside of him, that vivacious Gryffindor spirit that Severus had so despised and so adored.
Her green eyes were staring at him now, silently asking him what the hell he was doing.
Which was when Severus snapped out of his thoughts to find himself sitting in a courtroom, looking at Harry Potter, with a strange, unaccustomed, very tiny smile slowly creeping across his face.
