~Chapter Eight~
Severus was sitting in his office when he heard a loud pop and looked up to see Remus Lupin, looking distraught and frustrated. Severus looked up at him and tried to smile, but noticed that Remus didn't seem up to much smiling.
"Something wrong Lupin?" Severus asked, as he continued to look down at his paper.
"Uh, yeah, we need to talk," Lupin whispered. Severus looked up and noticed the werewolf seemed close to tears.
"About what?"
"Harry, and my being here…" Lupin looked at the man who had become a friend, and suddenly Lupin realized he would miss Severus as much as he would Harry.
"I'm not following," Severus stated behind his desk and Lupin took a seat.
"I have to leave, I can't stay here, at least not right now, it's a bad time to be a werewolf here. I'm not safe, I'd be better off going to America, for at least a little while."
"America, why on earth there," Severus said annoyed.
"Well, they're more accepting of…some things, and it would be safer, and it may give me time to get things straight in my life, look I don't want to do this Severus, believe me, I love that little boy as much as you do, but I'm a werewolf," Lupin stated.
"Why does that suddenly matter! Dammit Lupin, it never mattered before, suddenly you want to run away from that?"
"I'm not running away Snape, I'm trying to come to terms with things."
"What do you call leaving without telling that young boy in there, because I can bet you that you weren't going to tell him, you were going to ask me…weren't you, weren't you!" Demanded Severus.
"Look Severus I really don't want to have this argument right now, okay, it's bad enough I really do have to go. I've made a friend, and a family I never thought I'd have, and amazingly enough you're the one who gave it to me," Lupin spoke.
"You cannot leave me to that child! He loves you, you're the best friend he's ever going to have," Severus was now yelling.
"Severus, you're his father, he loves you too, I'm only a god-father and uncle figure."
"Only, only, what the hell do you think you are to me, I didn't waste all these years getting to know you as a friend for you to run out now."
"Look Severus, it's the way it is okay, I'm sorry. You're my friend too, but I can't stay here anymore, the Ministry won't allow it."
"Get Dumbledore to say something for you…"
"Severus, even if he would, it wouldn't matter, they're getting rid of all the werewolves in these parts right now, they think they're a danger. Look I will be back okay, I promise you, but until that moment, I'm safer elsewhere. I'll write Harry all the time," Lupin said.
"That doesn't make up for the fact that I'm the one who will have to tell him," Severus said.
"I know, and I'm sorry, really, but this is hard enough, I'll write you whenever I get wherever I'm going," Lupin turned from Severus, but Severus caught Lupin's arm.
"Look Remus, take care of yourself okay, I don't need you disappointing Harry, because if you do, I'll make sure you are no longer a werewolf," Remus smiled softly and nodded, then with a loud pop he was gone.
Severus sighed as he walked into the large library, sitting on the couch by the window, Harry was reading a rather large novel. Severus sighed and slowly approached the young man, feeling fear grip his stomach.
"Hey book boy, you and I need to talk," Severus said.
"Yeah…okay dad, just let me finish this book…" Harry said eyes still following the words on the page. Severus reached forward and plucked the book from his hands, causing Harry to grasp for it and scowl. It hit Severus, that was his scowl, his glare, dear god the child was so much like him.
"No Harry, I mean we need to talk now buddy," Harry sighed and brought his legs off the couch, allowing his father to sit down on the couch near him, there was a quite uncomfortable silence between the two, and then Severus took a deep breath, book still in hand.
"Ah, son, I just spoke with Uncle Lupin, and well, um… Harry, Lupin is going away for awhile. Before you ask, no I do not know how long. Um, he said he was going to America or something for a while, to sort some things out, and then he'd be back. He says it'll be better for him as a werewolf."
"You're joking right… this is all a bad joke you're…where's Uncle Remus," Harry got up, but his father caught his wrist, turning him Severus looked up into Harry's wet eyes, and felt his own eyes growing damp.
"This isn't a joke Harry, I'm really sorry, I tried to talk to him but…"
"No! You're lying! You said something to him didn't you! What did you tell him! NO!" Harry turned and ran out of the room, leaving Severus alone in the large quite library, sighing Severus slowly got up and headed downstairs, deciding that was the best place, for now anyway.
Harry sat in his room, staring at the ceiling, tears dripping off his soaked cheeks as he thought about Lupin not being here. He couldn't imagine a day without Remus, it was hard enough imagining one without Severus, or anyone else he loved. Why Lupin? Harry didn't really blame his father, but as usual, dad was the closest person and Harry let his anger fly.
Just as Harry turned over on his side a owl flew in, dropped an envelope in his hands and disappeared out the window again, Harry looked at it, and knew instantly it was from Remus.
Harry,
Have I mentioned I'm sorry? It was better this way buddy, I realize how hurt you must feel right now, but it wasn't your fault, and it wasn't Severus', the Ministry of Magic is getting rid of all werewolves in these parts, and a lot of them aren't surviving very long to get very far away. I couldn't let anything happen to you or me. Maybe it was panic, but whether it was panic or love for the only nephew I've ever had, I'm not really sure. Either way, I did it for you, because you're safe right now and that's what matters.
Please don't blame your pop, I realize this is rough, especially with school starting soon, but just remember I love you, and I'm still reachable, just owl me anytime, I'll always respond buddy. Listen you be good okay, don't stay up to late with your new friends at Hogwarts, and listen to your old man when he tells you things, because he'd usually right, believe that if you will.
Oh and good luck with your house. I know your dad thinks you'll either be in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, but I'd bet even money on Gryffindor or Slytherin, no matter, wherever you go, you're father will be proud of you, and so will I.
Be good Harry,
With love,
Remus Lupin
Harry wiped the tears away and looked at the note, sighing he sat it on his bedside table and put his head on the pillow, never realizing he would fall asleep so quickly.
Severus slowly crept into the room, looking at the sleep figure of his son, smiling he muttered a small spell to change the clothes from day clothes to night clothes, allowing the young man to be more comfortable. Severus sighed and sat down at the edge of the bed, looking at the innocence written all over the face.
"I'm sorry dad," came the whisper, Severus looked at him and smiled softly.
"I know, you're forgiven, I'm sorry I had to tell you, now get some rest, School starts in three days, and we're off to Diagon Alley quite soon," Severus pressed a kiss on the boy's left temple then slowly left the room, smiling as he closed the door, knowing that his son was going to be okay.
Pip3--Lol, thanks for all your reviews they are very appreciated
Headncloud--Glad you're enjoying this thanks for the review
Mikee--No worries there will eventually be a serious Lucius bashing, trust me, I hate the man, I've been reading samihain's(sp) story Solstice(sp) and I hate him more than I do when I'm writing mine. Thank you for your review.
Lad Lily3--Severus isn't going to be mean…he will be a little like normal Snape, because Voldemort doesn't realize he has Harry, so Snape needs to keep that image up a little so the Dark Lord doesn't get suspicious, and Snape does go one to explain this to Harry.
Makalani Astral--I'm glad you're enjoying this, and I like Snape this way too.
Kateri1--Thank you! Glad you like it
Lirael2--Draco is going to play a VERY important part later on during Harry's sixth year, he's going to play a very Large part, however until the fifth year it will be about the same between the two, then Lucius will…well read and find out! I'm excited about how it's going to go. No hints for houses sorry guys! You'll find out soon enough, and hate me for it or love me for it.
Lilinfields--Thank you glad you're reading it
Asa-chan--I'm not really sure why you think a Snape/OC would make this story bad, I've written them before and I've had many good comments, I'm not trying to brag, and I'm really sorry if you don't want to read it anymore if there is a Snape/OC relationship, but I'm okay with giving this away, there will be eventually, and it will not be bad. However, it will also be hard to tell from time to time. This other character is very important to this series as well. Once again I'm sorry if you don't like this, and I can't stop you from not reading this, but I have it planned out already.
Heather Snape--I can't wait either, lol there aren't as many changes in the first year as their will be in the following years. As soon as You-Know-Who is back, things will have to change a little.
Eva McGregor--Thank you for noticing that, and for all of you who noticed that, I did change it later on that day or the next day, and I feel like an idiot, because I had it so Harry was turning eleven, but for some reason I typed in ten, don't ask, anyway thanks again for the review!
SlytherinSupreme--Thanks for the review!
Dir en Grey--lol sorry about the 2003 it from cutting and pasting, anyway I'm excited about the house, however I'm also notice I might lose people, but we'll see.
Iniysa--glad you like it. Thank you for the review!
Ariana Dumbledore--It's amazing how easy it is to pick up stupid mistakes, thanks I did change it, and I appreciate your telling me, my beta or myself didn't pick it up, which is a bad thing. Thanks for the review, even it was telling me about an error.
Athenakitty--I am following the books to a certain degree, the main parts will remain the same for the most part, and yes Sirius will be in the series. As will Wormtail.
Rosaleen--Thank you I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter.
HINT TO HOUSE: He won't be in Hufflepuff.
Also if you are the hundredth review (the first person to review for this chapter) if you ask me a question (and you're extremely specific and I don't feel it will give away anything to huge…and I can answer yes or no to it or minor details without telling everyone, I will answer anything you ask.) Does that make sense, the first person to review in this chapter you can ask any question about my series and I will answer it.