Disclaimer: I don't own the book characters or plot line, however I DO own the plot line of this fanfiction along with my own made up character, Hailey.

A/N: This is a response to Nagini's Challenge #5, and this is going to be a slash story, it happens to be more fun to write in my opinion then the mundane Harry/Ginny & Herm/Ron stuff. (But I do have stories like that too.) Couples are as follows (If any of this bothers you I suggest looking for another story): Harry/Sev, Herm/Seamus, Ron/Lav, Nev/Ginny, Dean/Colin, Parvati/Lisa Turpin, Sirius/Remus, Hailey/George, Fred/Katie

A/N: I'm thrilled you all love my story! This chapter is Harry's reaction to the news. I hope you all keep reading it!

Harsh Realities



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Harry Potter had one of the most interesting years of his life during his fifth year at Hogwarts. Some of the teachers had deemed him worthy to be a Prefect, how he didn't know, but they did. He was also made Gryffindor's Quidditch Captain.

The team had officially named him, 'Oliver Wood Jr.' due to all the practicing they were now doing. He had to be tough though, they lost Oliver, Alicia and Angelina. And the next season they were going to loose Fred and George. He was however, glad that he wouldn't lose Katie just yet as she was quite the Chaser.

They had tryouts early in the year, leading to Ron becoming a Keeper, while Ginny and Dean became Chasers. They won the cup due to Harry's maniac practice sessions. However Harry had a few other revelations to deal with as well, he was gay. There was no way to get around it. To top it off he was falling head over heals in love with the most hated Professor in the school, Professor Severus Snape.

Hermione knew about his feelings, but Ron didn't. Harry had worked with the Professor all year between Spying and working with the Order of the Phoenix, a group headed by Albus Dumbledore that fought against Lord Voldemort.

Harry and Severus were now fairly good friends, and on a first name basis. Harry sometimes thought Severus was mildly flirting with him, but decided that in hopes of keeping the relationship going in that way, and hopefully beyond friendship at some point, not to question him about it.

Harry had changed slightly over his fifth year and now the summer. Harry had the muscles and tan that most boys would die for and girls went crazy over. His green eyes were sparkling more than they ever had, but had that same unique brightness to them. One couldn't read them as easily as they once could, but you could always tell when he was up to something as they sparkled as if they had a life of their own.

Harry always laughed at his friends Ron, with his girlfriend Lavender Brown and Hermione with her boyfriend Seamus Finnigan. The two couples had no idea they were envied by nearly the entire school over their relationships.

Ginny got over her crush on Harry when she realized that really, Neville was just as brave a Gryffindor as Harry was. Of course it took Neville standing up to Professor Snape in class to show the school that he was indeed a Gryffindor, but he did it. Harry silently thanked Merlin.

Of course there were other relationship developments that year too, Dean Thomas and Colin Creevey started dating. And when the school started voicing their opinion against it, Harry decided enough was enough and stood up for them announcing he was of the gay persuasion as well and if anyone had a problem with it they could go kiss a Dementor.

Then the rest of the gay students started coming out and those that were of the straight majority realized they were in the minority at Hogwarts. Of course the fact that most of the smarter, more talented Wizards and Witches in training were some of the gay students might have had something to do with the reasons they shut up about it. Either way, Harry had initially helped almost half the student body when he helped Dean and Colin, who were eternally grateful to him.

Parvati Patil was one of few girls that came out after Harry's announcement, her girlfriend was Lisa Turpin of Ravenclaw. Few people knew it, but Padma Patil had arranged for the two to be together, much to Harry's amusement. Harry hadn't dated anyone that year like everyone else suddenly did, with the exception of George Weasley who claimed he was merely 'waiting for the right girl'. Harry and George started playing pranks together, and were commonly known around the student body for it as being better than Fred and George once were.

Fred was busy with his new girlfriend Katie, but occasionally helped Harry and George on the bigger pranks. Like the time they put a potion in all of the Slytherin's pumpkin juice that turned them all into fluffy bunny rabbits for an hour. By the time Professor Snape found a cure for it, they were changing back before he could administer it.

But for now Harry was sitting on his bed at 4 Privet Drive, writing a quick note to Severus and the Headmaster regarding his last vision from Voldemort. It seemed Voldemort was questioning Severus's loyalty, and Harry was rather frantically writing to both to make sure Severus damn well assured the monster he was loyal. Before he could even finish the letter the doorbell rang.

Aunt Petunia opened the door, and when she screamed Harry immediately grabbed his wand and raced for the front door praying it wasn't a Death Eater. When he got to the top of the stairs he nearly fell down them from laughing so hard.

Petunia Dursley was up against the wall, shrieking as if someone was torturing her, and Dudley was running down the halls holding his fat ass with both hands as if to shield it. Meanwhile, Professor Severus Snape himself was standing in the door looking rather confused at the Muggle's reaction to him. Severus looked up and smiled at Harry before asking, "Do I look that awful?"

Harry immediately replied, "No, it's the robes and the wand. Hagrid once gave Dudley a pig's tail, and the Weasley's have rather scared them further away from Wizards. Aunt Petunia, this is my Potions Professor from Hogwarts, Severus Snape."

Petunia looked from one to the other, screamed again and ran down the hall the way Dudley had gone. Harry shook his head and walked over to Severus before asking, "Is everything alright?"

Severus tried to look reassuring, knowing that Harry had no clue what was going on and said, "Yes, just pack your things. We're Portkeying back to Hogwarts in ten minutes."

Harry knew something was up and nodded before rushing back up to pack his things. Not realizing that Severus had followed. Harry packed up everything he owned, not realizing that he was forgetting his Diary and the two letters he was just working on. Severus smirked as he sat on the bed realizing Harry didn't know he was there or that he was forgetting the letters and the Diary.

That smirk died as he read part of the Diary entry Harry had just finished, about Harry's feelings towards him and his last Voldemort vision. Severus cleared his throat and Harry turned around only to blush bright red in total udder embarrassment. Harry didn't say anything, but rather picked up the pieces of paper and the diary, throwing them into the trunk and closing it.

Severus stood behind Harry as he closed the trunk and gently put his hand on Harry's before saying, "I'm not saying that I don't return your feelings Harry, but neither of us can act on them while this war is going on, it wouldn't be safe for either of us. As it is if someone were to find out the way that you feel about me, they could use me against you. You understand don't you?"

Harry nodded, "Of course, why else do you think I haven't told you?"

Severus smiled but before he could do anything, he had an armful of Harry who was kissing him rather demandingly. Severus melted into Harry's touch and returned the kiss. When Harry pulled back he stayed in Severus's arms and said, "You know we could be together now though, I do have my father's invisibility cloak. I could use that to get down to see you at night."

Severus chuckled and said, "Alright, Alright. Just keep in mind that the only thing this changes is how we spend time together in my rooms. Not the way we treat one another outside of my rooms."

Harry nodded, and stepped out of Severus's embrace to get Hedwig and her cage. Harry let Hedwig out and told her to go to Hogwarts before grabbing his trunk. Severus took out the portkey, entwined his fingers with Harry's and then they were in Hogwarts. Harry just looked up at him and smiled. Severus tried to look calm and reassuring as he said, "We're expected in the Headmaster's office."

Harry just nodded and followed Severus up to the office after they gave Dobby his things. When they sat down in front of Albus Dumbledore, Harry was slightly scared as he had only seen the Headmaster this upset only once before, during his fifth year towards the imposter Moody. Albus sighed and asked Harry, "How has your summer been Harry?"

Harry smiled cautiously and said, "It's been good actually. Apparently Sirius uh, negotiated with them just before the end of term."

Albus chuckled and said, "Yes, Sirius would do that I suppose. Harry, I have here a letter and a few things you need to read. The pensieve mentioned in the letter that is intended for you is right over there next to Fawkes. If you like, Severus and I can accompany you into the pensieve. If you like, we can leave you alone to deal with the pensieve and your feelings after reading the letter. I want you to know Harry, that blood does not make the Wizard, and I am not mad or feeling differently towards you because of this."

Harry blinked and asked, "May I see whatever it is you want me to read?"

Albus nodded and handed him the letter from Lily and James, his original birth certificate, and the adoption papers. Harry read the letter with a completely blank face. Then Harry read the birth certificate and the adoption papers. He put the papers back on Albus's desk, took a deep breath, stood and started pacing the room. Severus and Albus merely sat there and watched Harry pace back and forth.

Harry finally sat down and took another deep breath before saying, "I'd like to meet my sister."

Albus nodded and answered, "Hailey has apparently known you're her brother for a week. She received the letter intended for her, and she and the Evans family will be moving back to England. Hailey will be attending Hogwarts now and she's expressed an interest in meeting you this weekend when they arrive."

Harry nodded and then put his head in his hands and asked, "Does Voldemort know about this?"

Severus answered that one, "He knew that your mother was pregnant shortly after forcing himself on her, however he was told that there was only one child and that the child was James Potter's son. How they hid your sister from him is beyond me, but he doesn't know that she's alive or that you're his son."

Harry sighed and said, "So, how do we use this to our advantage in the war?"

Albus blinked, stood and kneeled in front of Harry before saying, "You do realize that you're now fighting against your biological Father."

Harry chuckled softly and said, "Headmaster, I mean no disrespect, but that creature will never be my father, regardless that we share genetic similarities. James Potter is my Father."

Albus grinned and said, "James and Lily would be very proud of you Harry. However, I must ask if you would be willing to use the fact that you are in fact Tom Riddle's son to our advantage. There is a slight chance that he would grant his son a position of power within the circle, if you would be willing to spy."

Harry didn't even blink, "I'll do anything to end this nightmare Headmaster. Anything. But I'll never take his mark on my arm. However perhaps we could field how he would react to the situation by sending Severus in with a copy of my original birth certificate?"

Albus nodded, duplicated the document and handed it to Severus. Albus quickly said, "Go now, tell him you were present when Harry received the news and that he's in a state of shock. Please don't mention Hailey yet, we don't want to endanger her before she's safely within Hogwarts."

Severus nodded, gently squeezed Harry's hand and left. Albus showed Harry to his room, surprisingly right next to Severus's rooms, though Albus said that with a rather knowing glance at Harry and mentioned that the tapestry on the edge of his bedroom wall hid a corridor to Severus's room.

Harry wrote letters to Sirius, Hermione and Ron telling them he was at Hogwarts, and that he would explain about why he was when he saw them at the start of term. With that he turned to the pensieve that was intended for him, and took out his wand to start sifting through the memories.