As strong as we are united
Chapter Nine - How? And Why?
Snape scowled, Harry goggled, and Dumbledore simply smiled serenely at the two of them, ignoring their reactions totally.
Snape eventually stopped gnashing his teeth for long enough to growl, "Well thank-you Headmaster, it seems you have just saved me the trouble. But."
At this point, interrupted Snape's snarling and said disbelievingly "You're my Uncle?"
Snape sighed, this was not how he had wanted this particular discussion to come about. Trust Albus to go sticking his nose in. "Yes Harry, I am your Uncle." He offered no further explanation, though it was clearly sorely needed until Harry prodded him.
"How? I mean, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia are my only living relatives, aren't they? I don't understand. How?" His hands were balled into fists, his knuckles white, and his face was screwed up as if in pain.
Snape took a deep breath, and began to explain. He told of his younger brother, who had hated his family's association with the Dark Arts, and who had refused to comply with their parent's wishes and become a death eater, and who had subsequently been disowned at the age of nine. He told of how he had been adopted by the Potter family, who were unable to have another child as sibling to their only son James Potter, and how he, and therefore Snape had also, had become Harry's uncle. Finally, Harry told of his brothers death at the hands of his own death eater parents on his sixteenth birthday, the day he would have be initiated into the Dark Lords service, had he agreed all those years ago.
All through his story, Snape had watched is nephew's face closely as it went from disbelief, to joy, to grief, to anger, to shock and finally, to hurt. The glass that the boy had been staring at shattered from the sheer force of his gaze, but he did not notice. At last, Harry spoke in a carefully controlled and quiet voice, "So all those years when I was with the Dursleys, I didn't have to be, I could have been away from them, away from being a freak, a nothing, away from, from."
Snape knew exactly what he had been going to say, he could have been away from the abuse. Then Snape spoke, desperate to explain him-self, to justify himself to the boy, his nephew sitting in front of him.
"Understand Harry. I hated your father, James Potter, whilst we were in school we were worst enemies, and the feeling was mutual. And I hated my brother, your uncle for a long time, both because of the negative influence from my parents, and because he was Potter, and I hated anyone associated with your father, many of them I still do. I though I hated your Uncle, but the day I was forced to watch him die and do nothing, it broke me. That was the day I became a spy for the light side, for the headmaster. After Voldemort fell, I was depressed, and consumed with guilt for what I had allowed to happen to my own brother, the only member of my family with whom I had felt any bond at all. Then four years ago, I was arrested; I spent eight months in Azkaban, the wizard prison awaiting trial. I was found innocent, but it was decided that I was to be supervised for three years, to monitor me for any signs of partaking in Dark activities. Those three years ended in September, and I began to make arrangements for you to leave the Dursleys. That, Harry, was why I didn't come and get you sooner, and believe me I wish to God and Merlin that I had. For the first four years I was unable to take care of my-self, let alone a small boy, and for the next four, I was under close ministry scrutiny. I didn't want you to know me as your uncle whilst I was treated like a criminal. Believe me, if I could have come and got you earlier, had I known, I would have." Snape could not meet his Harry's eyes, terribly ashamed.
But Harry, after a pause, nodded slowly, and answered Snape's unasked question "I believe you," he hesitated unsure of what Snape's reaction would be, and then continued determinedly "Uncle".
Snape's head had shot up at the word uncle, this amount of acceptance he had not dared hope for. "I'm glad, thank-you, Harry". And for the first time since his brother's death more then ten years ago, a true smile was seen on Severus Snape's lips, with no sneer, malice or falseness about it. It was a sight that Dumbledore, who had been silent all this time, treasured (he later recorded it in his pensive).
Dumbledore smiled, "So then, Harry, it seems you now have a decision to make, as to where you will live from now on" At this, Harry unconsciously shifted slightly in his seat to be closer to Snape. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "You ay either become a ward of the state, and live at Hogwarts, or if you choose you could stay here, and Severus could become your legal guardian." He paused, "what do you think, you may have a few days to think it over, if you like."
But Harry had already made his desicion.
Chapter Nine - How? And Why?
Snape scowled, Harry goggled, and Dumbledore simply smiled serenely at the two of them, ignoring their reactions totally.
Snape eventually stopped gnashing his teeth for long enough to growl, "Well thank-you Headmaster, it seems you have just saved me the trouble. But."
At this point, interrupted Snape's snarling and said disbelievingly "You're my Uncle?"
Snape sighed, this was not how he had wanted this particular discussion to come about. Trust Albus to go sticking his nose in. "Yes Harry, I am your Uncle." He offered no further explanation, though it was clearly sorely needed until Harry prodded him.
"How? I mean, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia are my only living relatives, aren't they? I don't understand. How?" His hands were balled into fists, his knuckles white, and his face was screwed up as if in pain.
Snape took a deep breath, and began to explain. He told of his younger brother, who had hated his family's association with the Dark Arts, and who had refused to comply with their parent's wishes and become a death eater, and who had subsequently been disowned at the age of nine. He told of how he had been adopted by the Potter family, who were unable to have another child as sibling to their only son James Potter, and how he, and therefore Snape had also, had become Harry's uncle. Finally, Harry told of his brothers death at the hands of his own death eater parents on his sixteenth birthday, the day he would have be initiated into the Dark Lords service, had he agreed all those years ago.
All through his story, Snape had watched is nephew's face closely as it went from disbelief, to joy, to grief, to anger, to shock and finally, to hurt. The glass that the boy had been staring at shattered from the sheer force of his gaze, but he did not notice. At last, Harry spoke in a carefully controlled and quiet voice, "So all those years when I was with the Dursleys, I didn't have to be, I could have been away from them, away from being a freak, a nothing, away from, from."
Snape knew exactly what he had been going to say, he could have been away from the abuse. Then Snape spoke, desperate to explain him-self, to justify himself to the boy, his nephew sitting in front of him.
"Understand Harry. I hated your father, James Potter, whilst we were in school we were worst enemies, and the feeling was mutual. And I hated my brother, your uncle for a long time, both because of the negative influence from my parents, and because he was Potter, and I hated anyone associated with your father, many of them I still do. I though I hated your Uncle, but the day I was forced to watch him die and do nothing, it broke me. That was the day I became a spy for the light side, for the headmaster. After Voldemort fell, I was depressed, and consumed with guilt for what I had allowed to happen to my own brother, the only member of my family with whom I had felt any bond at all. Then four years ago, I was arrested; I spent eight months in Azkaban, the wizard prison awaiting trial. I was found innocent, but it was decided that I was to be supervised for three years, to monitor me for any signs of partaking in Dark activities. Those three years ended in September, and I began to make arrangements for you to leave the Dursleys. That, Harry, was why I didn't come and get you sooner, and believe me I wish to God and Merlin that I had. For the first four years I was unable to take care of my-self, let alone a small boy, and for the next four, I was under close ministry scrutiny. I didn't want you to know me as your uncle whilst I was treated like a criminal. Believe me, if I could have come and got you earlier, had I known, I would have." Snape could not meet his Harry's eyes, terribly ashamed.
But Harry, after a pause, nodded slowly, and answered Snape's unasked question "I believe you," he hesitated unsure of what Snape's reaction would be, and then continued determinedly "Uncle".
Snape's head had shot up at the word uncle, this amount of acceptance he had not dared hope for. "I'm glad, thank-you, Harry". And for the first time since his brother's death more then ten years ago, a true smile was seen on Severus Snape's lips, with no sneer, malice or falseness about it. It was a sight that Dumbledore, who had been silent all this time, treasured (he later recorded it in his pensive).
Dumbledore smiled, "So then, Harry, it seems you now have a decision to make, as to where you will live from now on" At this, Harry unconsciously shifted slightly in his seat to be closer to Snape. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "You ay either become a ward of the state, and live at Hogwarts, or if you choose you could stay here, and Severus could become your legal guardian." He paused, "what do you think, you may have a few days to think it over, if you like."
But Harry had already made his desicion.