A/N: Thank you again for bearing with me. I hope you like this chapter. The sorting will be next chapter and I FINALLY finished the sorting hat song!!!!!!! I made a mistake in the prologue; Serinity is actually spelled Serenity, sorry Ankha! Excuse any mistakes I make, I haven't been able to go over the chapter. And one more thing, I HAVE A COMPUTER!!!!(jumps up and does a victory dance around dining room, which is covered in lanolium, in socks. Slides across room and crashes into wall) owwwwww. (gets up rubbing butt) that hurt! anyway, I will try to update regularly. I still don't know if we are getting internet or not, but I can still go to the library after my FTA meetings on tuesday, so if I don't update at once every three weeks at most, I give you permission to hurt me. It has been raining for 12 days. I like rain but this is a little much. Maybe it will go away....hopefully.

Ankha: No need to worry about to many mistakes, I think I caught the majority of them. Now on to the story! (I'm posting this for her so I get to add what I want. Hehehe.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. JKR owns Harry Potter. Severitus owns the plot line. Ankha owns Serenity. My mom owns this computer. I own my thoughts.

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Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, the savior the wizarding world. Everyone assumes his home life is perfect, that his aunt and uncle more than make up for the loss of his parents. The fact is that they are terribly wrong. Vernon Dursley is hotheaded and often abusive, Petunia Dursley is a goody-good who spoils her son rotten, and that son, Dudley, is a spoiled rotten whale (quite literally). It is amazing how this boy, who has the ability to become more powerful than Albus Dumbledore, is beat and bullied by his so-called 'family'. But this is how life is for him, day in and day out. The morning begins by a wake up call, or you could call it simply banging on the door. He rolls out of bed and rushes downstairs to fix breakfast. After cooking he begins his daily chores, pausing only long enough to fix lunch and dinner. Before he goes to bed, he is able to eat whatever is left from the day's meals, which, with Dudley around, usually isn't that much. The next day would begin the cycle again. It was a meager existence and certainly one that Harry doesn't deserve, but now comes the sad part. At least once a week Vernon uses him as his personal punch bag. A normal year will consist of two months of chores and beatings, followed by ten months at Hogwarts, almost heaven if it weren't for the fact that his life is threatened every year. And so he lives his life, as he would this year if certain events hadn't happened. One of the more important being that Dudley was called fat. After promptly beating up the kid, he went into a state of depression, which increased his appetite. This went on for a month, during which Harry had little or nothing to eat. Precisely two days before he was to go to Hogwarts, Harry fell into a state of unconsciousness, stemming from his lack of nutrition. Petunia, after checking to see if he was still alive, took him for ill. She was able to get him to eat soup about once a day, for fear he would die if he were starved; she didn't like what he was, but that was now reason to let him die. Another important factor is Dumbledore finding out about the abuse and Harry's real parentage. Separate, these things would have little impact on the world, but together...together they have the power to change things forever.

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"I can't believe you still haven't told him. It's been fifteen years, he has a right to know you," Remus said, a vague tone of disbelief coloring his voice. Severus whirled to glare at him angrily, lips pulled back from clenched teeth.

"Know me?! Why in the hell does he have a right to know me? For all I know he's not even mine!" Snape yelled, and turned to stalk away. Remus, however, latched tightly onto his shoulder and forced him to stay his ground.

"Let me go, werewolf." He growled, but Remus kept his grip. For a moment, he didn't say anything, his expression shifting between concern and disbelief.

"He is yours, Severus. Surely you knew that,"

"I knew of the possibility, but nothing more." Snape replied, though the tone of his voice clearly said otherwise.

"Then why didn't you find out?! He could have grown up without all the lies,"

"Oh, yes indeed. As if I would just pop up on his doorstep and admit to sleeping with his mother, oh I'm sure that would go over well."

"Well, you've never seemed to worry about other's reactions to you before. You've got to tell him! He'll probably find out on his own eventually, and just imagine what a mess that would be,."

"Not anymore of one than if I were to tell him; can you imagine what would happen were he to know? ME?! His FATHER?! You can't honestly expect that he'd be happy in the least. I am not the type of person that can be a father."

"Oh, so that's it."

"What?"

"You don't think you're worthy."

"I'll be astounded if you can think of anyone LESS worthy. I was a Death Eater, Remus, I've done more evil than I can rightly remember, I'm not worthy of being anyone's parent, and besides, I wouldn't even know how. And how do you think he would feel? You obviously have taken a liking to him, what do you think it would do to him if he were to discover that his real father was a murderer; a conscienceless follower of the Dark Lord? A cruel, bitter teacher hated by the entire school? It'd break him, I've no doubt that it would."

"Then that just proves that you need to get to know him."

"I don't think so."

"Tell me, why are you always on his case? Why is it that you always single him out for ridicule?"

"Simple: to teach him a lesson. Everyone else here, you included, tend to treat him like some high-and-mighty savior of the wizarding world. Half of the people who claim to be his friends would turn on him in an instant if his 'heroic' image were to be tarnished. He's got to learn to fend for himself out there, one way or another. If I don't break him of the spoiled lifestyle he probably enjoys at home, who will? You? Dumbledore? I highly doubt it."

"I thought that might be your reason."

"What? You'd better not even consider criticizing me for my methods, for I assure you, there's plenty I could say about yours."

"Have you heard about the Dursleys at all? The muggle family he lives with?"

"Of course not. If you'll remember correctly, I was comatose when he was placed with them, and I don't tend to bother with gossip."

"I've noticed. Either way, you wouldn't have learned anything more. Harry doesn't like to talk about them at all, I'm afraid I found out rather by accident."

"Found out what?" Snape questioned, his curiosity peaked.

"Have you ever seen Harry getting mail in the Great Hall? Or going home for the Christmas holidays?"

"No, but I hardly see what that has to do with anything."

"Severus, when I taught here, one day I asked him to stay after the lesson. I'd noticed he was looking ill, and I wanted to ask what was wrong. He was very reluctant to tell me, but after I slipped a little calming potion in his tea, he eventually gave in and told me some of what had happened."

Snape looked at Remus, "Go on."

"His uncle beats him, Severus; quite often, in fact. As it turned out, he had a pair of cracked ribs, as well as severe bruising across his chest and back. I cornered Mr. Ron Weasley to find out more about the Dursley's, and I daresay it isn't pleasant. One year, Weasley and his brothers had to actually break him out of that house as if it were a prison, bars on his window and everything."

"They....beat him? Why? He's their blood, surely they didn't."

"The Dursleys hate magic, Severus. Do you remember Lily's sister, Petunia? She hated Lily with a passion. Once they no longer had to live in the same house, Petunia severed all relations with her sister. She's carried that hate on to Harry, and her husband is the same way. Harry had to sleep locked in a broom closet for eleven years."

"Remus, you are coming with me to see Albus this instant, I'll not allow that, that FAMILY to ever...."

"No."

"What?!"

"Tell Harry."

"I can't, you know that!"

"He's your SON, Severus."

"I'm aware of that."

"Then say it, admit it out loud."

"Fine. Harry is my son. Now, can we please get on with it? I may not wish that fact to be known, but I will NOT stand for ANYONE mistreating him."

"And how, precisely, do you think he sees your behavior toward him and all the Gryffindors?"

"That is different. I have no choice as long as Voldemort lives and I retain my title as 'spy'."

"Yes, but you could always let him know that. Let him know YOU."

"Oh, so we're back on that again, are we?"

"It's the only way you can keep him safe from the Dursleys, by telling the truth."

"As I've already said, no. We will inform Albus of the..abuse..and nothing more."

"If we tell Dumbledore, he will remove Harry from that house. Harry will have no choice but to go to an orphanage or a temporary care facility. Now, imagine what that would do to him, he's already got more than enough in common with the Dark Lord, how do you think he'd react to yet another?"

"Surely no worse than if I talked to him."

"I doubt that, Severus. I will make you a deal. If you agree to tell Harry and Dumbledore the truth, then I will come with you to talk to him about the Dursleys."

"But then Albus would send him to live with me. I couldn't do that Remus, I'd be worse than the Dursleys."

"No you wouldn't. You've never hit a student, and I know for a fact that all that yelling you do is just an act. You only need to give yourself a chance, and spare your son another summer of beatings."

"Very well."

"Promise and swear that you will tell Harry, and soon."

"I promise that I will tell..Harry..the truth before Christmas. Are you happy now?"

"Yes, but you understand that I am not doing this for 'me.' I'm doing this for Harry, and for you."

"Me?"

"Yes. You have a son, Severus. You have as much right to know him as he does you. You're both the only real family either of you has."

"I'd have to agree with you on the last, but can we please get on with it? I'd like to tell Albus and get this whole thing over with as soon as possible, I'm sure he'll have plenty to say."

"He won't be ashamed of you, you know that." Severus just looked away.

Remus sighed, "Dumbledore is in a meeting now, we can go talk to him tomorrow. I will send a house-elf to let you know when." He walked out of the room.

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The next day was one of complete chaos. With the sorting that night and classes the next day, everyone was scrambling to take care of last minute business. Even Trelawny was brought down from her tower, and put on quite an amusing show. She was on her way to the headmaster's office with Professor Sprout, talking about her latest premonition: with the sudden appearance of a house-elf, she would experience great pain. Just as she rounded the corner a house-elf popped up in front of her. She screeched and threw up her papers, receiving a nasty paper cut, right in between her thumb and forefinger. That was the second most interesting thing that happened, aside from the news Dumbledore received.

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"Glad to see you could make it," Remus said as he casually leaned against the wall beside a tall gargoyle. Severus came up to him.

"Lets get this over with." He turned to the stone gargoyle. "Cockroach clusters." As the gargoyle stepped aside, they walked onto the revolving stairs. Just as they stepped off, Albus opened the door and smiled brightly at them.

"Good evening Remus, Severus. What can I help you with?"

"Actually, there are two matters of importance that we need to discuss," Remus said.

"Come in and have a seat," Dumbledore replied, seating himself behind his desk. "Go on."

"Do you want to go first Severus?"

"No, it would be best if you did."

"Very well. Headmaster, during the year I was teaching here, I made a startling discovery concerning Harry Potter. He made me promise not to tell anyone about it, but I feel that I must.

"What is it? He's not getting into any sort of trouble, is he?"

"No, actually it's more in regards to the Dursley family. When he came to class one day the year I taught here, he was not looking well, so I held him after class to see what was the matter. After giving him a calming potion, I finally found out what was wrong."

"What on earth was it?"

"His Uncle beats him, Headmaster. When Harry came to class, he had several broken ribs and horrible bruises, all carefully hidden by his robes. According to Mr. Weasley, he's also been malnourished and imprisoned, not to mention a probable load of other mistreatments."

"You're convinced that this story is true?"

"Oh yes, Poppy can confirm the injuries if you like. And the information wasn't exactly given willingly."

"Something must be done at once. The Dursleys must be spoken with immediately, and some sort of arrangement made for Harry for the summer holiday. I honestly can't believe that Harry has never said anything..."

"He's probably ashamed, Albus...he can't be blamed for that."

"Yes, and probably scared of what would happen were he to be taken from his only remaining family. Undoubtedly he'll have to be placed in an orphanage, unless the Ministry would agree to letting him stay here."

"Actually, Headmaster, that brings us to the second topic." Remus cast a glance at Severus, who nodded slowly, "You see, the Dursleys aren't Harry's only surviving relatives."

"Pardon? According to the records, all of the Evans and Potter family are dead."

"The records are correct on that point, but wrong on another. Albus, James Potter was not Harry's father," Severus said.

"Then who is?" Albus asked, smiling slightly. Severus eyed him warily.

"I am sure you have no reason to ask that, but I have a question for you. Why did you not do a thing to help Harry? I'm sure you knew, as you seem to know everything else that happens."

"I wish I did know, but I didn't. Just as Harry puzzles Voldemort, there are many things I will never be able to find out about him. I wouldn't have known about his parentage if it weren't for a revelation I had this summer."

"Revelation?" Snape asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Just certain things you two have in common, but we can talk about that later. Have you spoken to him?"

"No, and I hadn't planned on it, but in order for Remus to tell you about the abuse, he made me promise to tell both you and Harry the truth."

"Arrangements will be made for Harry to stay with you, Severus. Remus, I am sure there is nothing more to worry about, seeing as Harry should be on his way here as we speak. See you at the sorting ceremony."

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Review Please!!!!

Ankha: Yes, please do. I'd like her to get to the next part as I am very curious as to what is going to happen. *picks up wand and begins to poke Rose* Poke! Poke! Tell me!

Rose: I will not! *runs to try to escape Ankha's poking*