Chapter Four:

The letter was written in a neat script that Severus hadn't seen in over sixteen years. He leaned back in his chair, his thoughts running wild. The main thought was that he had a son. But who was the mother? The mother, Severus mused, there was only one possibility, and the letter confirmed it. It was Lily Evans, his school-time girlfriend. They had married for a short time after their graduation. It had been quiet.

Shaking his head to dispel the nostalgic thoughts from his head, he had more pressing matters at hand, like his son. But you still don't know his who his son is, do you? His son couldn't be anyone other than the famous Harry Potter. This was the problem bugging Severus. He HATED the Potter brat with a passion. But this wasn't Potter anymore. This was his son.

The night passed along quickly for Severus, and by morning, he decided that he would have to talk to his son. He had the Gryffindor/Slytherin class first, the perfect way to make a time to meet with Harry. It wouldn't be hard to find something to give the boy a detention for. It was easy, and he could always neglect to tell him what it was for.

"Potter!" Severus barked at the raven-haired boy sitting in front of him. "Detention tonight!"

Harry just nodded, resigned to his fate; his two friends were gaping at Severus like fish out of water. One of them, Granger, finally got the courage to ask what it was for. What did Severus answer?

"Mind your own business Granger, twenty points from Gryffindor for being nosy." If he actually HAD a reason, he might have told her, but the truth was Harry had been doing the whole potion perfectly. He hadn't spoken at all that lesson. It was curious; he had said very little since Severus had found him in Ravenclaw's room. It made him think a bit, what could change his son from, being so lively to so quiet in such a small time? Shaking the thoughts from his head, he continued with the lesson.

At seven that night, Harry was found standing outside Snape's office door. He knocked, and entered when he heard a growled 'Enter!'

"Take a seat, Potter." Harry sat on the proffered seat. "Now, I am fully aware that you did nothing wrong during this lesson." Harry just looked fixedly at a spot on the wall behind the older man. Sighing, he continued.

"I needed a reason for you to be here without it seeming suspicious. There is something very important I need to tell you. You see, yesterday, after you left, I received a letter, from your mother, Lily."

"My mum is dead; I have no family that cares." Severus sighed.

"That's where your wrong, Harry. You see, this letter contained some interesting things; the most shocking was one simple revelation Harry, you are my son," he was interrupted by Harry.

"Don't be daft! That is not possible! My mum was married to James Potter, who she loved and I was the product of that love! For all I know, you could be claiming this to lure me to the Dark Lord! I have no proof!" Harry's face was flushed, and his eyes blazing. Severus sighed and reached into his coat for the letter Lily sent him.

Harry scanned over the letter; it basically said that Severus was his father, that he was the heir of Slytherin and Ravenclaw through her, and Gryffindor through Severus (causing Harry to raise an eyebrow at the other man).

"So you mean I have to change my name to." He glanced at the page and froze.