A/N: Thank you reviewers
MarsMoonStar, Forbidden Secrets, Lunarian, momma-dar, lillinfields, The Kuro no Tenshi
Disclaimer - I only own the plot.
Ignorance Isn't Bliss
Chapter 6 - The "truth" is told.
As Harry and Professor Snape approached Hogwarts, Harry was reminded to play along and act however he deemed appropriate to whatever the headmaster said. They would work everything out later. Severus also made the point that Harry should try to clear his mind, and Harry explained that he'd been working on it for the past month.
They left Harry's belongings with a house elf and they walked up to the headmaster's office, he tried to contain his annoyance with the whole situation.
"Ah, Harry, I'm so glad we found you. I was so worried that you might be hurt somewhere. Lemon drop?"
Harry pulled away from the grasp Professor Snape had on him and flopped down in one of the chairs. "No thank you. I don't need a lemon drop right now. What I need is a place to sleep since Professor Snape saw it fit to drag me here in the middle of the night."
"Well Harry I was worried. We needed to find you before Voldemort did."
"You found me and now I'm tired" He snapped.
"Very well. I want you to stay in Professor Snape's quarters since he is the only teacher here right now. I will see you in the morning. We have much to discuss."
Harry jumped up. "Why can't I stay in Gryffindor Tower? I knew you'd just stick me with someone else who hates me."
At the same time Professor Snape had jumped up, "Albus, you expect me to share my private quarters with this insufferable brat? There must be somewhere else."
Albus stood up and gave both of them a look that clearly stated that the conversation was over. "Harry, a house elf has already taken your things down there and an extra bed has been added. See you in the morning."
"Follow me Potter." Snape said, still glaring at Harry and the headmaster.
Snape walked quickly to the dungeons, robe billowing behind him. And Harry followed trying to keep up with his robes billowing almost the same way.
When they entered the professor's rooms he motioned for Harry to sit by the fire. He came over and sat beside him and brought a piece of parchment. He wrote out.
"Don't say anything about what I told you out loud. The castle has ears. We can write it down here but we must burn the parchment afterwards."
~Okay. Am I playing along good enough for now?~
"Yes, now feel free to act very upset tomorrow when we tell you the story Albus cooked up about how you are my child. We will have to act angry with each other for a while but I will be able to talk with you freely when we are outside of the castle."
~I understand. I can't believe how easily he lies. I think sometime tomorrow, after our meeting, that I'm going to go flying. Can you meet me at the edge of the forest by the Quidditch pitch?~
"That sounds good. Albus will understand if you need to go flying after what we tell you."
~Okay~
Severus tossed the parchment into the fireplace and Harry went into the bathroom, changed into his newly acquired black pajamas, and got into his bed.
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The following morning, Harry woke up and ate breakfast with Professor Snape and got dressed in a set of black casual robes. He had taken to wearing them the true wizarding way with little underneath. It almost made him feel more powerful like he wasn't hiding anything. As if he accepted himself more. He even looked more powerful. With the straighter, black hair that now framed his face at his cheekbones and the fitting robes he resembled a young warrior.
He wasn't sure why he was so eager to impress his father, it wasn't like they had just met. But, when Harry met Professor Snape by the fireplace his father raised in eyebrow and nodded at his appearance, instantly causing Harry to grin. It felt good to be appreciated for being himself.
They stormed up to the headmaster's office, both having a scowl firmly in place. After entering the office, the headmaster motioned for them both to take a seat.
"Now Harry. You will be remaining here for the remainder of the summer. I have notified the Ministry and your relatives of your location and they have agreed to let you remain here. You are not to leave the school grounds for any reason. If you need anything from Hogsmeade tell one of the professors and we will get it for you. I also want you to take extra defense lessons while you are here. You know what the prophecy said and I cannot change that, so you must be prepared. Do you understand Harry?"
Harry, who had tried to keep his face as emotionless as possible, smirked before answering the headmaster's question. "I understand perfectly, Sir. You want to keep the rule-breaking Gryffindor on his leash. I suppose if I at least get free reign of the grounds that should be enough for my curiosity." He finished his statement with a traditionally Snape-like raising of the eyebrow.
The headmaster nodded, conceding the use of the grounds to the boy-who-had-gotten-too-smart. "Now that the rules have been laid, Harry, I have another matter to discuss with you. I have noticed that your appearance has begun to change so it is time that I finally told you the entire truth. This will be hard for you to hear, Harry."
Harry started running his hands about his person pretending to check whether or not he felt different. "What do you mean I'm changing? I don't feel different."
The headmaster chuckled slightly before regaining his serious stance. "Harry you are changing because there are charms on you that are wearing off. When you were a baby I placed charms on you to make you look like James Potter because he was not your biological father."
Harry's face grew red and he could feel his magic crackling around him. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE WASN'T MY FATHER?"
"Harry. You must calm down. We don't want you to lose control. If you calm down I will explain."
Harry was seething. He was trying to do his best at faking a shocked reaction and the fact that he was pissed off at the headmaster was helping greatly. He hadn't expected the magic to start getting out of control so he figured he must have gained some power recently, having not been this mad in a while. Sure he'd been angry this summer, that's why he ran away. But to be lied to by the headmaster, to be denied his family, was almost too much. It took him a few minutes to finally regain his composure and take his seat. "I'm sorry sir. You may continue."
"Thank you Harry. I can feel that your magic has intensified. We will have to add controlling your magic to your lessons. Now to continue with my story. It is probably best if Professor Snape finishes the story."
Harry could see his father glare at the headmaster before turning towards himself. "Mr. Potter. I know that in your Gryffindor mind you will try to interrupt me, but I would appreciate being able to finish before you go on a tirade."
Harry nodded blankly for him to continue.
"As you know I am a Death Eater but I spy for the light. It wasn't always so. When I was in my late teens and early twenties I was a very loyal Death Eater, and I did many horrible things. One night while I was out with Voldemort we came upon your mother, Lily Potter. Knowing she was a Muggle born witch we attacked her. Harry, I raped your mother. I was very distraught afterward because I had actually cared for her when I was still in school. It was after that night that I decided to turn to Albus and become a spy. I told him about the attack on your mother so he monitored her pregnancy. When you were born he could tell you were mine so he put the charms on you."
Harry never looked at either man in the room the entire time, he didn't want to see the anguish he new would be on his father's face. He was afraid that if he did, he would lose control and kill the headmaster. When his father had finished telling the lie, Harry stood up and walked to the window. He gazed out over the lake and tried to come up with the perfect reaction.
The headmaster became concerned at Harry's silence. "Harry. Harry, are you okay?"
That statement broke the dam. "NO I'M NOT OKAY! HOW COULD I BLOODY BE OKAY? I JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY MUM WAS RAPED BY SOME FUCKING DEATH EATER SCUM. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU KEPT THIS FROM ME. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE ME ROOMING WITH THAT MAN."
He stormed out of the office and stalked out towards the lake.
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