Here comes the warning about being open-minded. Forget what Harry saw in the pensive about Snape's parents. Not too big a sacrifice, right? (nervous giggle)

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Chapter 1 - Relations

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Snape sighed, took another comforting swig of fire whiskey, and put quill to parchment:

Harry,

I deeply apologise for my callous and bitter response to your prudent warning in my potions class today. It was wholly unjustified. By no means do I have the right to humiliate you and attack your character, as well as that of your father in front of your peers. However, I believe I owe you an explanation for my actions. I am not asking for forgiveness, only for your time and consideration.
Last year, during my occlumency lessons, you discovered some unsavory details of your father's and my life at Hogwarts. Our actions can be explained only as sibling rivalry and deep envy.
I am certain that as you grew up, you questioned your lineage. I hope to offer you some enlightenment regarding that topic. Your grandparents were Harold Potter and Marella Lestrange, great aunt of Rodolphus Lestrange. Marella was a prideful woman, and was never pleased with her kindly husband. Together, they bore a son, your father. Harold doted on him endlessly, and Marella became embittered. She strayed from him and found solace with Cyrill Snape, a greatly feared yet highly respected vampire. I was the ill-begotten product of that brief affair. When Marella became pregnant, Cyrill threw her out and swore never to speak with her again. She returned to Harold, and he forgave her, promising to raise her child as his own.
Unfortunately, Marella died in childbirth shortly thereafter, leaving Harold to raise James and myself until we were old enough to attend Hogwarts. James, naturally, was always Harold's favorite, and he sought out his father's attention like a well-trained puppy. Harold fell ill, and tried to keep James at his side for as long as possible, but was eventually forced to send both of us to Hogwarts. James, being two years older than the rest of his classmates, thrived on popularity and attention, as well as success on the Quidditch pitch. I remained a bookworm and studied potions in-depth with Professor Alvreight under the encouragement of Professor Dumbledore.
Being written off as a bookworm is no fair title, as you have noticed from your friend Hermione. James and his friends found the deepest pleasure in torturing me, as older siblings are often compelled to do. But his actions bordered on outright cruelty. I found solace in a fellow bookworm, your mother.
I soon found myself in love with Lily Evans. We had become best friends during our first year, dated on and off through fourth and fifth, and by the time sixth year rolled around, she had ignored me in favor of your father. She defended me less and less to him, until finally, she joined in on the insults. I became more and more resentful, and when your father proposed to your mother at graduation, I left and took the Dark Mark.
I left Voldemort after the death of your parents. No amount of fear or dedication could have tied me to the man who killed my brother and the love of my life.
Needless to say, my past has left me a cynical, angry shell of a man. Again, my apologies for my harsh words in class. Enlightened as you now are, I will leave you to your own thoughts. Know that despite our ties, I am compelled to treat you no differently as a student.

Professor Severus Snape

Potions, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

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"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Is that suitable enough to send to the boy?"

"I don't know, Severus. You tell me. Do you find that suitable?"

"Quit being Socratic, Albus." Snape sat in an overstuffed and rather comfortable chair at Dumbledore's desk, rubbing his left temple pensively.

"Tea?" Dumbledore asked, while puttering around with his tea set in a corner of the office behind his desk.

Snape nodded. "Strong and black."

Dumbledore moved around from behind his desk carrying the cups on their saucers. He crossed the room and continued to talk while he handed Snape his tea, then sat down in the second guest's chair and proceeded to stir heaping teaspoonfuls of sugar into his own.

"Severus, it is entirely up to you. He's your nephew. Do you consider your admission to be a necessary attribute of your apology for your outburst in class? It is, after all, a secret which you have harbored for years in order to protect the both of you."

"I suppose I've always felt compelled to tell the boy, but never found a chance. Or a reason that was good enough to put both myself and the boy at risk."

"Why did you snap at him to begin with? And find something else to call him besides 'the boy.'"

"I suppose I've just been having a bad day, considering the meeting with Voldemort last night. Of course, I filled you in on everything when I got back. It's all still a haze, really. I just know the Dark Lord has called for an increase on attacks, focused on halfbloods and disloyal purebloods. He's gone beyond his usual anti-muggle mania. I wouldn't be surprised if the final battle were upon us. But I digress. I woke up with a headache yet again, the first years could not comprehend the idea of stirring twice counterclockwise, Professor Sprout brought me asphodel instead of ginger root, hardly interchangeable, and Longbottom melted another cauldron…" That had only been half the truth. In addition, he had caught Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley snogging violently under a tree by the lake during lunch break, something that made his blood boil like the Cruciatus at the mere thought.

"That was Lily and my spot fifth year, the rotten little fink," he thought bitterly to himself. "Point taken. And then some." Dumbledore accepted Snape's reasonable explanation, adding the usual twinkle in his eye for good measure.

"I suppose I just saw the opportunity and let loose."

"So suppose Harry reads your letter and decides to pursue a deeper relationship with his newfound uncle? Would you follow through?"

"Potter? Wanting to pursue a deeper relationship with me? Of all people he could grow closer to, I highly doubt he would choose me."

"My dear boy, I believe he would cling to any relative handed to him. He lost Sirius only last year. Not to mention the loss of his parents so early in life, and the trauma inflicted upon him by his aunt and uncle. But theoretically, if he pursued, would you go along?"

"Theoretically, I would. The boy is bursting with enthusiasm for everything he learns. If I wasn't such a prat to him and backed off in the classroom a bit, I'm sure he'd take to potions beautifully."

"Severus, put education aside for a moment. Would you feel any bitterness regarding his father?"

"Of course I would! His father was a boil on my rear from the moment I was born until the moment he died!" He caught his temper just before another explosion, paused for a moment, and considered a more tactful course to take.

"The resemblance between Harry and his father only runs slightly deeper than the flesh. They do look uncannily alike, and the younger Potter does have a certain disregard for the rules, just like his father. But that can be explained by the mere fact that he is a Gryffindor. His father never had the deep enthusiasm and genuine thirst to excel in the classroom that he has. James was always one to strive for popularity at any cost. Harry does not stoop to outrageous levels to elevate himself. I do believe I could lay bitterness aside and pursue a deeper relationship with my nephew."

"That's about as good an explanation as you would ever entitle yourself to, isn't it Severus? Deliver the letter. Would you like to borrow Fawkes?"