Disclaimer: I don't own anything Harry Potter.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stepped inside the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, looking older than ever. Severus was sitting across from him with his head in his hands. They both looked behind to see that Harry and his friends arrived. There was complete silence for a moment. "Hello, Harry." Dumbledore's friendly voice said, breaking the silence. "Please, sit down." he said, gesturing towards the three chairs next to the one Severus was sitting in. The three best friends sat down. Harry, still holding his Invisibility Cloak, threw it aside on the chair he was sitting on.
There was complete silence for a moment, all of them lost in thought. Dumbledore broke the silence again, and said "Well, Harry, I trust that you've told your friends about tonight's 'incident', am I correct?" he asked, looking towards the boy who lived. Harry slowly nodded, still lost in thought. "Harry, you cannot tell anyone else about me being your father." said Severus. Ron and Hermione were a bit shocked to hear the Potions Master call Harry by his first name. Harry looked up at his father. "Why not?" he questioned, wondering why he couldn't tell the other Gryffindors. "Harry, think about it. You tell everyone, it'll change everything. Some of the Gryffindors might possibly turn on you, because they might think badly about you being my son. And Voldemort, if he finds out that I'm your father, he'll take advantage of that." Severus explained. Harry looked to Dumbledore, who nodded, showing that it was true.
"Severus is correct, Harry." Dumbledore stated. "No one else can know about this." Dumbledore paused for a moment and sighed, then continued, "And it seems that Severus cannot simply ignore the fact that you're his son. Therefore, we must cover this up." At this, Harry, Ron, and Hermione seemed confused. The two older wizards noticed this and Snape said, "We will have to tell everyone, when they return from winter break, that Harry has gone into hiding to stay safe from Voldemort." Harry looked shocked to say the least. "But then how will I-" he was cut off by his father. "Since your appearance has been changing, we can use this to our advantage. When the students return, we will tell them that you are my son, but you will have to change your name, to whichever name you want. Also, you will need to be resorted. But, you cannot be in Gryffindor, because you will be known as my son, and people will think it suspicious for my son to be in Gryffindor."
When Snape was finished, Harry's mouth literally hit the floor, as was Ron's. Hermione, however, seemed calm, and simply nodded, but inside she was feeling sad about Harry being resorted. "No way! I want to stay in Gryffindor! All my friends are here and-" Harry was cut off by his father again. "And how do you think your friends will react to me being your father?" Harry closed his mouth and looked down, slightly hurt. "But-but, Ron and Hermione-" "Harry, they're your best friends, they would've understood. But the other Gryffindors hate me, don't deny it, I know. I can tell you right now that it will cause a lot of trouble for you staying in Gryffindor."
Harry felt tears forming in his eyes, unable to accept this. He heard Severus get up and walk over to him. His father lifted his chin. Moistening green eyes met black onyx ones. "Harry, we're only doing this for your own good. You can still keep in contact with Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger, but it has to be in secret." He kissed his son on his forehead, right where the troubling scar was. "Things will get better, I promise you, Harry." Severus said, emotion dripping his voice.
"It'll be alright, mate, we can still be friends." Ron said. Harry looked over to him. "But things will never be the same! We won't be able to have fun, going out and doing things. People will think it weird for a Slytherin like me to hang out with two of the most popular Gryffindors!" "Hold on, Harry." Cut in Severus' voice. "How do you know you'll be a Slytherin?" Harry closed his mouth instantly, realizing what he said. "Harry, please tell me." Harry opened his mouth, shaking slightly, and then said, "The Sorting Hat said that I'd do great things in Slytherin, but I refused. I didn't like the sound of that house, so I convinced it to put me in Gryffindor." Harry said, trailing off at the end and his voice growing softer.
"It's alright, Harry. We'll always be here for you, no matter what. You're our best friend, nothing will ever change that. I promise." Hermione said, looking Harry straight in the eyes when he raised his head again. "And, you two." Severus said, looking at Harry's best friends. "You can never tell anyone about this. I myself wanted this just for me, you, and the Headmaster to know. But he convinced me in a way I'll never understand, to inform you about this, seeing as Harry would tell you anyway. You must keep this a secret. Understand?" They both nodded.
"Now, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, you must go now. There are things that Harry, the Headmaster, and myself have to talk about in private. We will inform you of whatever we think is nesaccary." Severus said. And they both nodded in understandment, got up, put the cloak on themselves, and left. Leaving Harry, Severus, and Dumbledore alone.