A/N: Many apologies for the long lapse – it's finals time at my college and I'm swimming in papers. There's a bow to the sitcom in which the woman who played Madame Hooch stars, "My Family" — see if you can pick it out!

Chapter 5 – The Scar

Dina collapsed into a leather chair beside the fire in the Slytherin Common Room and shook her head. "No luck. Weasley's brother doesn't know anything."

Matt and Marin groaned, and Julienne kicked at a balled-up essay on the floor. "Merlin, this is difficult. But he really couldn't be Harry Potter, could he?"

"I'm sure I saw a scar on his forehead when we were in detention," Matt reported. "Jules, he could be Harry Potter, I'm sure of it. But what if he is? What do we do?"

Dina knew exactly what her parents would do. They'd drag the child off in a broom cupboard and insure he never saw the light of day. And isn't that what she should do? After all, he was the cause of Lord Voldemort's downfall. But Voldemort was gone, shouldn't they be moving on...? Except they'd never be moving on. Her parents were in Azkaban. "Hasn't he caused Slytherin enough trouble already? And it's Snape carrying him around – Snape wouldn't carry Harry Potter around like that. Mum and Dad served with him, he was one of us."

"What's happening to your parents?" Marin asked. "Father -"

"I'm sorry to disturb you," Professor Snape interrupted. Dina jerked around and studied his expression while trying to hide her own – how much of the last bit had he heard? "I need a few of you to watch Harry for a bit. I told him you'd show him how to play Exploding Snap."

Matt was the first one out of his chair. "We'd be glad to, Professor. We could take him outside, too. It's not that cold yet. Does he have a cloak?"

"Get Flaherty to transfigure one," Snape commanded. "She's particularly good at that. I'll be back in an hour or so, alright, Harry?" He set the child down on one of the Slytherin-green couches and ruffled his hair. "If they're mean, kick them."

Snape grinned at the child, and the child grinned back.

Dina tried not to let her shock show, but Matt and Marin weren't able to keep it in. Snape... grinning? Ergh. Snape wasn't supposed to grin. Snape never did anything even close to grinning. Snape was a sallow, brooding man, forced to become a teacher after the fall of the Dark Lord... right? And then Snape's smile disappeared – he frowned at the Slytherins and swept out of the room in his usual dramatic manner.

Harry sat on the couch and stared at the Slytherins. Dina stared back. It was Matt who finally broke the silence. "Erm... I'm Matt. Dina's over there, this is Marin, and this is Jules. And you are...?"

Clearly, Matt was trying to get all the information from the boy that Snape was hiding. The boy, however, didn't appear to be forthcoming. "Harry," he said calmly, and started kicking his heels against the couch.

"No, your full name," Matt said, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

"Well, you didn't tell me yours," Harry countered. He scowled and crossed his arms, kicking his heels against the couch even harder.

There was no denying it. The kid had to be Snape's. "Matthew Marcus Eck," Matt said. Obviously, he wasn't giving up on it.

"Herodos Iamus Snape," the boy said. "It's Greek."

Matthew looked depressed – he'd desperately wanted to take revenge on the Potter boy. Marin and Julienne didn't seem to care much. Marin was leafing through the newest Which Broomstick? catalogue, and Julienne had her Potions text on her lap. "Alright, let's go outside," Dina sighed. "Matt?"

"So you're not Harry Potter?" Matt demanded of the boy.

He wrinkled his nose, but not before jerking in some sort of recognition. "I'm not. Daddy said Aunt Petunia's a liar."

Matt's eyes narrowed, but Dina crossed the room and held out a hand to Harry before the Slytherin boy could demand more information. "C'mon, Harry – I'll show you a secret passage. So Professor Snape is your dad?"

Harry glared at Matt – it was rather funny, as he looked to be a miniature Snape – and jumped to his feet. "Of course he's my daddy. And he said he wouldn't have left me with Aunt Petunia if he'd had a choice."

"Right... um, I'll take you down to the Quidditch Pitch..." He was a funny little boy, Dina thought, but at least he was adorable. He grabbed her hand and she led him from the Slytherin Common Room, the pair followed by a suspicious-looking Matt.

+

"You left him with Slytherins?" Minerva demanded. She was seated across from Albus and next to Severus in the Headmaster's office, along with one of Albus' relations, who worked for the Department of Records.

"And why shouldn't I?" Severus countered, glaring. "He's my son, I'll leave him with my House whenever the need arises!"

"He's not an ordinary child, Severus – he might be your son, but he's also the savior of the wizarding world!" Minerva exclaimed. And not just the savior – he was also the target of the very people the Potions Master left him with. "What if they find out who he is? Do you honestly think he'll be safe with them?"

Severus snorted. "They'll be safer than with your pack of rule-breakers. I trust Miss Lestrange implicitly, despite her parentage. There are a few I wouldn't leave Harry with... but those few can be watched."

Minerva shook her head. "Most of them would kill the boy the moment -"

"Severus is his father," Albus said softly. Sadly, almost. "It is Severus' choice. I doubt the boy would be comfortable here, anyways. Now, Severus... we need to change his name, legally, and close the file. Then, until the time he attends Hogwarts, he'll live a normal life."

"He can't grow up at Hogwarts," Minerva put in. She'd seen it tried – and look at what happened to Susan Hooch's children! The eldest became a cross-dressing mini-cab driver, the second spent all her time hiding in the Muggle world, and the youngest was a nymphomaniac. Hogwarts could do odd things to the very young. "And you're hardly suited for many other jobs. Everyone knows what you were accused of." It was harsh, but the boy was precious. Voldemort wasn't dead, only banished... the boy could end it all.

"He won't grow up here," Severus snapped, glaring darkly at Minerva. "I've owled my great uncle in Athens. His granddaughter has three children, one about Harry's age. Harry will live in Greece. I'll spend my weekends and holidays at the family home with him and, when he's eleven, he'll come to Hogwarts to be trained. Is that adequate?"

Before Minerva could object, Albus smiled. "Of course, Severus. I'm glad you intend to be a force in your son's life... it would be simple to leave him in Athens in your cousin's care for good."

"I won't be my father," Severus countered, softly.

Albus nodded and passed over a packet of papers. "The change of name form is in there. I've filled out the paternity test results and Mr. White has signed them. Also, the request to close the file – the moment we're done here, only you will have access to it. Harry Potter will disappear into oblivion."

"Disappear until he's eleven," she muttered. "He'll hate it, Albus... one day, a normal child, the next, expected to destroy a Dark Lord. How will he cope with being illegitimate?"

"He'll be fine. He'll know that he's my son, and that's all that matters." Severus took out the forms and signed each one. And then it was done. Harry Potter had ceased to exist, and only Herodos Snape stood in his place.

+

"And Aunt Petunia was really mean. She liked Dudley better than me. Uncle Vernon locked me in the cupboard, though. They said only freaks could do magic, and mum was a freak. Granpa and Gemma couldn't do magic, but they said it was okay. But then they died, Aunt Petunia said," Harry babbled as they walked along. He was bundled up in a Slytherin-green cloak, borrowed from a short first-year, and marched along happily, hand in hand with Dina. Along the way, bits of his life were coming together.

He'd lived with abusive Muggles, related to his mother. His mother was a Muggleborn, oddly enough – and he'd been taken from his father and hidden. His mother was dead and a hero... the little bits of information weren't enough to piece together everything, but it sounded as though he was illegitimate, and perhaps unwanted. Whatever the case, Professor Snape would be sure to take care of his son, now. "Well, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were the freaks, if they couldn't do magic. It's their loss, the great bloody Muggles," Dina proclaimed. "It would be poetic justice if your cousin ended up being able to do magic."

Harry frowned and itched at his forehead. "What's potic justice?"

Dina sighed. He was five, after all – he just acted older than his age. "Not important. Hey, do you want to see the squid? Matt, throw something in the lake, make the squid come by!"

"This is a waste of my time," Matt grumbled, hurling a rock at the still water anyways. "He's just a kid, he's of no use."

"He'll be a Slytherin some day," Dina predicted, "and then he'll be one of us. Isn't that right, Harry?"

"What's a Slytherin?" Harry asked. He sat down on the edge of the lake, disengaging his hand from Dina's, and stuck his fingers in the water.

"It's the best House at school," Dina said, taking a place beside him. "All the cunning people end up there, like me and your dad. When you're eleven, you'll get to go to school here, and you'll get put into a House too. I wonder what House your mum was in?"

Harry shrugged. "Daddy said she was a hero." He scratched at his forehead again.

Dina frowned as Matt started skipping stones. "Is something wrong with your head?"

"Headmaster Dumbledore did something magic to me when Daddy was yelling at Bill for being mean to me. It's all itchy. I don't like it." Harry wrinkled his nose and scratched a little more.

"Here, move your hand," Dina commanded, pulling her wand from her pocket. "Finite Incantatem..." she murmured as she touched the wand's tip to the itchy spot. What she saw made her stop short. "Oh my God... Matt...?"

"What is it? Can't you even perform a simple..." Matt trailed off as he stared at the boy's forehead. "What do we do?" he hissed. "The professor – he's harboring Harry Potter -"

Harry scowled, a perfect copy of Professor Snape's face. "I'm not Harry Potter. Daddy said Aunt Petunia was lying."

Dina finally worked past her shock. "We do nothing, he's Snape's kid -"

"Snape was the mole," Matt hissed, reaching for his wand. "My dad told me all about the end... someone warned the Potters, they did something that destroyed the Dark Lord, something that hinged on this boy – and it wasn't even Mr. Potter's son! That's the irony, isn't it! The tool of the Dark Lord's destruction was the son of a supposed Death Eater! But if he was a good follower, he'd already have killed the boy -"

"No!" Dina snapped. "Matt, he's just a kid, it wasn't his fault! His mum's already dead!"

"Your parents gave up their lives to take revenge! How can you sit there and protect the brat?" he spat.

Dina scrambled between Harry and the armed Slytherin. "That's enough! The Dark Lord was defeated -"

"He will never be defeated," Matt snarled. "And if your parents couldn't do it... then I'll be the one to take revenge."

Dina, unable to come up with a better option, grabbed up the boy and ran.

+

Severus had handed over the documents and was ready to continue arguments with Minerva over the subject of Harry's upbringing when Albus' kinsman turned away from the window. "Excuse me, Uncle... but there seems to be a disturbance outside..."

Albus rolled his chair back and peered out the window – a frown creased his face. "Severus, you'll be needed near Hagrid's hut. Minerva... could you bring Matthew Eck to me immediately?"

"What's wrong?" Severus demanded. "Mr. Eck is supposed to be watching Harry -"

"He's currently chasing Harry," Albus murmured. "I think your boy blew his own cover."

Severus was out of his seat and being followed by Minerva in mere moments. If they had one thing in common, it was a wish to see the boy in good hands. "Most are either studying or at Quidditch practice," Minerva called as Severus took the stairs two at a time down toward the foyer. "Just stun Eck! No one will see!"

"If it were my choice, I'd do more than stun him," Severus growled – but Minerva was too far away to hear him. He was out the front doors before a pair of Hufflepuff girls had time to question him and heading for the lake – the view from Albus' window. He caught sight of Eck in the distance and sent off a Stunning Hex, but his aim had always been truly horrible. Eck tripped in surprise, however, and gave Snape the chance he needed to gain on the boy. "Put your wand away, Mr. Eck! Where's my son?" Severus called.

Eck pulled to his feet but, instead of dropping his wand, turned it on his professor. "You traitor!" he spat, "My aunt lost her soul because of your son! She was loyal! How could you let that kid live?"

"Mr. Eck, put your wand down. You do realize you haven't a chance against me, correct? You're a fourth-year, and I know enough Dark spells to make your toes curl," Snape grumbled. "Now – where's my child?"

"You're weak, that's what you are," Eck continued, oblivious. "Not only did you sleep with a filthy Mudblood and get her knocked up, you didn't kill the child, and that child caused the demise of your lord!" He waved his wand around, threateningly. "You can kill me, but Dina knows the truth, as well! When she comes to her senses, she'd destroy the boy, just like her parents would have it! She's loyal!"

Severus aimed before Eck's reflexes had time to make him duck. "Obliviate," he hissed, and Matthew's face went blank. There would be plenty of time to deal with the aftermath later, when his child was safe. He ran on.

+

There was screaming coming from behind her. Thankfully, the boy was scared enough to take her advice – he hung around her neck like a cloak, whimpering softly, as Dina pelted toward safety. Hagrid's hut was only a few metres away, and Hagrid had been the first man on the scene after Sirius Black betrayed the Potters, he'd often said. If anyone would shelter Harry Potter, it was Hagrid.

"She's loyal!" Matt shouted, somewhere behind her. Who was loyal? Dina herself? If her parents knew she was hurtling across the Hogwarts campus, trying to save the life of Harry Potter, she'd be the one in peril. No, Dina certainly wasn't loyal to the Dark Lord, as much as her loyalties lay with Slytherin.

Hagrid's door opened and the man himself emerged, followed by a slim, tall figure with red hair. "Dina Lestrange?" the enormous figure of Hagrid called in confusion. "Tha' you? En't you supposed ta' be doin' homework?"

"Help!" she cried, doubling her efforts. "You have to help me – Matt's going to hurt Harry!"

Weasley's older brother, the Head Boy, jumped down from behind Hagrid and met Dina halfway, holding open his arms to take her burden. "Here, Lestrange – what's going on?"

"Quick, get inside!" She was more than happy to allow Weasley to take Harry. "Matt Eck. He's behind me, he wants to kill Harry."

Hagrid narrowed his eyes, but Dina was too preoccupied to notice as Bill darted into Hagrid's hut and she followed. Harry started sniffling, and Bill lent him a shoulder to hide in. "Why does Eck want to hurt Snape's boy?" Bill demanded. On the old table in the middle of the hut was a dirty tea set and a stack of books on dangerous creatures. Obviously, Bill had been around for tea time.

"Look at his forehead," Dina snapped, bending over to catch her breath and cradle the stabbing pain in her side.

"He's Harry Potter," Bill murmured dumbly. "Why's Severus watching him?"

Dina laughed. "He's Snape's son! Don't you get it...? Potter's wife was sleeping with Snape – the son of a Dark Wizard defeated the darkest wizard of all!"

And then the door of the hut banged open again. Dina threw herself between the boy and Eck – but Eck wasn't there. It was Severus Snape.

Harry disengaged himself from Bill and scurried across the room into Snape's arms. "Daddy!" he squealed. "They said I'm Harry Potter, but you said I'm not Harry Potter! And Matt isn't nice – he was yelling and he wants to hurt me!"

"I won't let him," Snape murmured, rocking the boy in his arms. Once again, Dina was shocked by the tenderness with which Snape treated his son. "You'll be safe, from everyone," he whispered.

"Is it true?" Dina demanded. "Did you and Mrs. Potter -"

"Lily was a brave, wonderful woman," Professor Snape broke in. "She died trying to save her son. She was a hero. And that's all Harry needs to know."

Harry didn't seem to think so, as he wrinkled his nose and stuck his tongue out, but Snape pressed a kiss to his son's head and ruffled his hair. "I promise that I'll tell you the whole story... it will only confuse you now. Your mother loved you and I love you very much," he whispered. The boy nodded slowly and hid his face.

Bill took a few steps toward the professor and, for just a moment, Dina could see confusion and something resembling compassion in the older man's eyes, though it was masked in moments. Weasley had seen it too, as he sighed and slid back into a chair. "Gods... you and Lily... Sev, why didn't you -? Sorry, pardon me. Professor," he spat, any trace of friendship gone. "Why are you hiding his scar? He doesn't look like James at all, of course – he looks a bit like Lily, but not enough to immediately connect the two. Anyone can see he's your son, Se- Professor."

"If they can't see the scar, they'll treat him no differently than anyone else. Harry Potter doesn't exist. Can the two of you keep that secret?" Snape's gaze rested mainly on Dina.

She answered first. "No one will know – but what about Matt? Ever since his aunt got the Dementor's Kiss, he's been cheering for the Dark Lord's return. I mean – since your son destroyed You Know Who, I guess you're not really on his side... right...?"

"Correct. But no one can know that either. This is a dangerous game, Dina. If you wish it, I'll obliviate you both, as I did Mr. Eck. I won't risk Harry's safety. The fewer who know his true nature, the better." Snape glanced up to the Gryffindor, the compassion suddenly back. "You won't tell anyone, will you, Billy? Remus would skin me alive and Black -" Snape choked and shook his head. "Please, Bill."

"I'll keep the secret," Bill promised. He gave a crooked grin, and Dina had the sudden feeling she'd missed something. "Harry won't be hurt. Not even Charlie will know, Sev."

"No one will know," Dina assured the professor, eager to the attention back on herself. "I'll tell the Slytherins... I'll tell them that your wife passed away when Harry was born, and his relatives aren't suitable guardians anymore. They'll never know."

"They'd better not," Snape said, turning for the door. "His safety rests with you. He'll be going to stay with my cousin for most of next term – but only the two of you, Professor McGonagall, Madame Pomfrey, and the Headmaster are privy to this information. Even Hagrid isn't allowed – that's why he's still outside. Keep it secret. Keep him safe," Snape commanded.

Dina dared not do anything else.

+

Harry liked sitting up next to the teacher's desk in the potions classroom. Daddy said he was going to go to live in Greece tomorrow, and Harry didn't know Greek, but Daddy said Aunt Merinae would help. Daddy said he wasn't allowed to scratch at the magic on his head, and it didn't itch as much as it used to, but it was still annoying. "Daddy, can I have a biscuit?" Harry whispered, sneaking behind the table to tug on Daddy's robes while the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws who were much older than Harry got to work on their potions. Harry was jealous, he wanted to do magical things too.

Daddy dug a biscuit from one of his drawers – there hadn't been any there before, but Harry liked them so much that Daddy put some there for class times – and gave it to Harry. "Don't spoil your dinner," he muttered, peering at Harry.

"I won't," Harry promised, nibbling at the digestive. Little did he know that chocolate covered his face and ink covered his fingers... Daddy smiled and hoisted Harry up onto his lap and let him stay there for the rest of the class, despite the whispers of the students. Harry curled up there and dozed off, finally safe and at home.

A/N: And with this, we've reached the end of the first section. I'm now taking votes on which House little Herodos will be Sorted into – I have an idea already, but if the majority want something a little different, I'll strive to change! Just smack that review button and send in your vote, or email me at s_hornbach@hotmail.com – I can't wait to add them all up! ~Indarae~