TITLE: Raven's Gift
AUTHOR: Alia
STATUS/PART: 3/?
EMAIL:
RATING: PG-13...maybe R
PAIRING: Severus Snape / Harry Potter (he he)
SPOILERS: Um...OotP
WARNINGS: slash, mpreg, a little language, angst
DISCLAIMER: I do not in anyway or fashion own HP or anything else. I'm making no money from this.
SUMMARY: What will happen when many truths are revealed after being silenced for over a decade? How will Severus deal with the new situation?
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I should be ashamed. Torturing Severus is fine but the kid too? (sighs) Jules and Albus talk, Albus and Harry talk, Harry freaks...Author smirks. See how this goes? By the way, I was going to change this from the original to fix some crap that I didn't see when I first wrote this. However, I thought that it might get me more reviews so...(shrugs)
(smiles brightly) Thanks for the reviews!
Thanks to Arrow Snape, Beth5575, chaotenkeks, Tina, murkel, mel, ray, Tiger Lily, Flora, Tazthedevilman, Starr Light1, and kittencat for reviewing.
Tina: Albus? Just be happy I wanted to try an mpreg with Harry or it would have been Albus. Don't ask.
Flora: Julian knows what Severus knows. He really did tell Julian everything (and not the details (blush)). As for Harry...keep reading.
Starr Light1: Why would it bother him so much? Keep reading and you'll see. If its still not clear I'll try to help you understand in the next installment.
Raven's Gift
Julian glared at Dumbledore angrily. "There is nothing to talk about."
Raising an eyebrow patiently, Albus walked over and picked up the vial with Harry Potter's name. He raised it for Julian to see. "I believe we do."
The boy glowered and again Albus was reminded of Severus. Dumbledore sighed. "Julian, please calm yourself."
"Calm myself, Headmaster?! Calm Myself! I am perfectly calm!" he screamed. "Do you understand why I'm calm? Because this," he waved his hand around the room, "did not happen. I know Matthew. He'll keep his mouth shut and so will you."
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed angrily. This child would not order him. "Mr.Esan-,"
"NO!" He took a step back and looked pleadingly at the Headmaster. "Why can't you just leave it be? Is there something so wrong with that?" Julian leaned against the table.
Albus frowned. He couldn't understand why the boy was so frantic to ignore this? Was it because his father lied? Which he obviously had if the potion was correct.
Dumbledore could hear someone running toward their direction. "Perhaps it would be better do discuss this in my office."
"There is nothing to discuss."
"JULIAN!"
The boy jumped at the commanding voice. "Go and wait for me in my office."
Julian moved slowly to the door but it opened before he got there. Seeing the man at the door, he glared hatefully.
Harry was taken aback by the blatant hatred on the young boy's face.
"Excuse me, Professor." He moved swiftly around Harry but giving the older man plenty of space as if he was disgusted.
Harry turned to Dumbledore confused at what had just taken place. "What's going on? A few of the students were upset about something."
Dumbledore stared at the door, actually avoiding Harry's eyes. That frightened the young man.
"Professor?"
"Harry, at the moment, I am unable to answer your questions. Perhaps later but not right now." He turned toward the door. "I will be missing both lunch and dinner in the Great Hall. Please tell the others not to disturb me as I will be in my office for the rest of the day." He slipped out of the door leaving a confused teacher behind.
Julian was staring at Fawkes and Ignis as they sat on Fawkes's perch. He did his best to ignore his godfather who was watching him worriedly.
"We must talk, Julian." The silence remained.
"Can you at least tell me what you have against Professor Potter?"
"I have nothing against him."
"Then why are you so angry with him?" Julian didn't reply.
"Why are you trying to ignore the situation, Mr. Esan? Would it be so bad to have Professor Potter as your father?"
"He is not my father!"
"Answer me Julian."
The boy slumped in his seat but kept his angry face turned away. "I have a father. I do not need nor want another."
"What is wrong with having two?"
"I don't want him!" he shouted, finally facing the Headmaster. "I am perfectly happy with my life. I have the only father, the best father, that I could want. I do not want any more fathers be it Potter or anyone else. That is why I want to ignore the situation. If it had been a woman, I would have reacted the same. Besides, Potter can't be my father!"
Dumbledore watched the boy barely hold on to his temper. Somehow Albus knew that this wasn't the worst of it. "How are you so sure? Did your father really tell you the truth?"
Dumbledore realized he'd crossed a very important line the moment Julian's eyes began to glow green.
Minerva raced to the infirmary after making sure all of the Gryffindors were in the common room. The other teachers were making sure of the same thing. A large blast of powerful magic came from the Headmaster's office.
Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, who was visiting at the time, managed to get into the ravaged office, and gather both the unconscious child and Headmaster. Neither were hurt and even the phoenixes, they had obviously been blown around, were unscathed.
However all the other objects in the room were nearly destroyed. McGonagal opened the door just in time to notice a scene.
Mr. Esan was sitting beside the Headmaster on his bed as the old wizard was awake. "I'm sorry. That's never happened before. I just got so mad at you." The child looked miserable.
"It wasn't your fault Julian. I'm fine. You did me absolutely no harm."
"I could have."
"I don't believe that."
"I do. When you asked me that I was furious. Papa does not lie to me, EVER! He's told me about his past, even the things that still give him nightmares at times. He told me the truth." Esan sighed. "I'm still sorry. I don't know what happened."
"Your magic was out of control. Something like that rarely happens in wizards but it can be dangerous if it is not controlled."
"I see. What do I do?"
"I'll teach you how to control it." Julian nodded.
"We still must continue our discussion Julian." The boy shook. Shaking his head sadly, Albus pulled the boy beside him and spelled him to sleep. "You can come in now Minerva."
She came to stand beside the bed and looked at the sleeping boy. "What happened?"
"Apparently, Mr. Esan lost control of his magic this evening."
Her eyes widened. "That's not possible at his age is it?"
"It is now, my dear."
"What made him lose control, Albus?"
He frowned. "I am afraid that that is my fault. A situation has come up. A very serious situation that involves Julian, his father, and someone else. I cannot give you the details just yet."
Minerva nodded. She looked closely at Julian for the first time. "Reminds you of someone does he not?"
Minerva smiled sadly. "I'll go contact his father."
"Yes, that will be for the best, but I think it will be better to wait until tomorrow. We must get this solved and quickly. Minerva...will you call Harry in? It is very important that I speak with him." With a worried look on her face, she rushed off.
Twenty minutes later, Harry carefully entered the infirmary to see Professor Dumbledore was tucking in Julian Esan. "Are you alright Professor?" He closed the door behind him.
Dumbledore smiled, though it was dimmed by the lack of light in his eyes. "I'm perfectly healthy, Harry, and its Albus now."
Harry cleared his throat and nodded. He still had trouble calling the teachers by first name. "And Mr. Esan?"
"He is unfortunately where our problem lies. Come and sit down Harry." Foreboding suddenly descending upon his head, Harry nervously sat down on the bed that lay on the other side of Esan.
"Would you like some tea, Harry?" His face blanched as Albus let his signal go. This was not going to be good. In fact, this was going to be very bad. Dumbledore always offered tea when he told you something that he knew you were not going to take well.
"No thank you sir. Could you tell me what's going on?"
Albus, who sat on the other side of Esan, took the boy's small hand in his. "Today, in potions, we were creating a paternity potion. I used the blood from that staff that I took earlier this morning."
Harry nodded slowly, not understanding what was going on.
"Mr. Esan and Mr. Lyrin were paired together and had finished the potion. Using a vial of blood from staff and a few drops from Esan. Since none of the staff were related to this group of students all of their potions should have turned clear like water. Unfortunately, Esan's potion turned a very dark blue-black color."
Harry cursed the fact he never paid attention in potions.
Dumbledore noticed his ignorance. "This means that there is a close relation between both blood samples. That particular color was an indication of a parent." Harry's eyes widened. He wasn't Hermione but he wasn't stupid either.
"What does that mean?" he croaked.
"It was your vial that Julian and Matthew used in class today."
Harry stood quickly and began pacing the room with a furious pace. "That's not possible. I can't be that boy's father! Are you insane? They could have fouled the potion up! I did it millions of times. It can happen. And he looks nothing like me! He's a Slytherin as well and how can I be his father when I've never met his mother before? Merlin! There is no wa-,"
Albus smiled as the silencing spell worked on Harry. Julian had fallen into a natural sleep and Dumbledore did not want to wake the child. Besides, Harry's ranting was somewhat annoying.
The young man quickly noticed and stopped the pacing to glare at Albus. The older man could honestly see just a bit of Julian in it but not much. "Harry, will you please calm down. If it would make you feel better we will do a paternity test by charm. Flitwick should be able to supply us with one. Julian's maternal father should be here tomorrow at sometime. Minerva is contacting him in the morning. Until then, all we can do is suspect that you are his father though it seems both Julian and his father disagree."
Harry nodded curtly.
Albus sighed. "It would probably be best if you strayed from coming near Julian until tomorrow."
Harry frowned and Dumbledore removed the spell. "I set him off?"
"It was more like I implied his father had lied to him. It appears that Julian has a short temper when it comes to the older Mr. Esan."
Harry sighed and turned to the door. Albus said nothing knowing that the younger man needed to think.
"Does he believe that I'm his father?" Albus paused then said, "Actually, he is quite sure that you are not his father. He even tried to sabotage his potion and demanded that I forget anything happened."
Harry's face darkened. "I see."
"Harry-,"
"Good evening Headmaster." He quickly left.
Ron and Hermione, who'd just flooed in, watched their best friend stare up at nothing as he lay in his bed. They'd been stunned by the information that Harry had given them.
"So is he your son?" asked Ron.
"No. He botched up the potion. That's all. There is no possible way he could be my son. Even he thinks that it is impossible."
"What of his maternal father? What does he think of all this?" inquired Hermione.
"I don't know. He'll be contacted tomorrow and should be here by later that night. Whoever he is, he'll straighten this out."
"What if it's true?"
Harry sat up and stared at the woman. "What?!"
"Well, what if he is your son? It's not totally impossible Harry."
He shook his head. "He's eleven right?"
"First year."
"Well, who were you with twelve, eleven years ago?"
"Hermione, I was trying not to think at the time with Voldemort breathing down my neck. I don't remember."
She sighed. "Well you had better try. Who knows what could happen tomorrow?"
Ron laid a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Don't worry about her mate."
Hermione snorted.
"Ron, what if his father says yes. Just for the publicity if nothing else?" asked Harry.
"Then a paternity charm will tell the truth."
"Everything will go find tomorrow. You'll see." Harry nodded with apprehension.
Severus grabbed another crate that sat beside his front door. Carefully walking over to a nearby shelf, he opened the crate and began placing the jarred ingredients in their proper places. It was time for him to restock so he'd been at it all morning so far. Julian was usually around to help but with the boy at Hogwarts his father had half the work. He grumbled about where the hell his substitute worker was.
"No need to use that type of language, Raven."
Severus turned and barely glanced at Willow. "You are late."
She rolled her brown eyes. "Well forgive me sire but Magnolia went into labor and my sister needed help." Willow moved up beside him after folding her long black hair into a bun. Grabbing a jar, she started shelving and by 10 they had one crate left.
"Next time Ash is going to volunteer."
"Nagging your poor husband to do the work you promised me?"
"Hey, he isn't the one carrying." She patted the slight bulge that her robes couldn't hide. Severus smirked.
He turned just as a Hogwarts owl came through the door. Landing on the front counter, the creature put his attention to the note attached to his leg. Severus took it and read nervously.
Willow watched him pale. "What is it? Is it Matt? Julian? Are they okay?" She started wringing her hands.
"All it says it that it's an emergency and can I come to Hogwarts as soon as possible. It's Julian."
Willow watched him rush from the room after giving her a quick few instructions for the store. Then, he was running out of the back door.
Julian sat in his DADA class with a serious headache. Today they were going over boggarts but Julian just didn't have the concentration to get through the class. His father would be there later that day so they could get this foolishness over with.
After showing them the spell, Professor Lupin was giving them each a chance to try it out. A boggart was placed in a closet and at the moment, over half the class (Ravenclaw and Slytherin) had gone.
"Mr. Esan?" Julian looked up.
Professor Lupin smiled at him strangely and Julian figured that he knew. "Yes, Professor?"
"You're next."
The boy stood rubbing his eyes. He'd slept horribly last night and had missed breakfast. He was close to miserable.
"Ready?"
"Yes." The moment the boggart hopped out, Julian was ready but it was what it took form of that stunned him. Though it wasn't exactly a face, it had green eyes. The rest of the form was a solid black.
The eyes narrowed and an arm, or something like it, shot out and tried to grab him. "NO!" he screamed scrambling back.
"You're MINE!"
"NO!" Julian's anger built and raising his wand, he didn't shout the usual spell. "DISCERPO!"
His classmates all rushed back in fear. Lupin watched amazed and stunned as the boggart broke apart into small pieces as if it had been made of glass. But it was the eyes of the creature that caught him. He knew those eyes, but what had Harry done to own this child's fear and hatred?
Hagrid looked carefully at the man that stood before the gates of Hogwarts. The man was shifting nervously while glaring at Hagrid.
"Will you please open the gates now?" He handed Hagrid the note with Minerva's handwriting.
The half-giant nodded and opened the gate. As they came toward the entrance, McGonagal met up with them. "Mr. Esan?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"I'm Professor McGonagal. I'll take you to the Headmaster's office where he and your son are waiting." As she turned, Severus caught the uncertainty in her eyes. She could see the likeness with the glamour but it was still somewhat difficult. The problem was would Albus see it or not.
He followed her, his former state of mind even changing his now languid walk to a swifter one. He rarely used the stalking unless Julian and Matt got themselves into trouble. Which was often.
McGonagal gave the password to the gargoyle and they were soon entering the office. Severus took a deep breath before he entered knowing that time was up. He stepped in beside McGonagal.
Julian, who'd been sitting beside Dumbledore while glaring at someone in the corner, jumped up from his seat. "Papa!"
Severus caught his son as the boy launched at him. He hugged the boy tightly as he began to shake. "It's okay, Julian. I'm here, alright?"
Albus watched Harry's reaction to Julian's father and sighed when the younger man paled visibly. Well it appears that the potion was correct and that Harry more than likely could be Julian's father.
He looked at the man holding the boy. Dark blue eyes pierced his and despite the appearance he knew automatically who this was before him. He stood shakily.
Severus turned to Julian. "Son, I want you and...your professors to go out and wait a moment. The Headmaster and I need to speak to each other alone."
Julian gave him a skeptical look but nodded. McGonagal and Potter left without question though Potter looked a bit ill. Severus watched the door and wasn't surprised that the moment it closed he was caught up in Dumbledore's arms.
"Looks like you're happy to see me?"
Albus just hugged him harder. "Don't you ever do that to me again!" Severus stepped back but let Albus keep hold of his hands.
"I...we all thought you were dead."
Severus smiled ruefully. "I know that. I wanted things to be that way. Severus Snape was meant to die during that war." He told Dumbledore how he'd found a mutilated animal, who'd been caught in the crossfire and had transfigured it to resemble a human. "I gave it my clothes and disappeared."
Albus sat in the chair before his desk. Severus continued to stand. "But why? Why did you fake your death?"
"Do you think I really would have lived peacefully at the end of the war Albus? Despite your influence and Hogwarts's safety, both the escaped Death Eaters and the Ministry would have hunted me down. And I was already pregnant with Julian. I would hate to see what it would have been like had I stayed. Both our lives were easier leaving Hogwarts."
Albus nodded in understanding and for a few minutes they caught up, mostly on Severus's new life. Dumbledore smiled brightly at him and Severus finally realized how much he'd missed that damn twinkle in the older man's eyes.
"So I'm a godfather am I?"
"Julian knows or else he probably wouldn't have come to start talking to you."
"Yes...Severus, you should know why you are here today. Would you like some tea?" Severus glowered.
A loud shout startled the trio who stood outside the door. Julian burst through the door to see his Papa pacing back and forth across the floor of Dumbledore's office furiously. "Papa?"
Albus watched as Severus composed himself almost instantly. "Sit down Julian. I want you here for all of this."
"Are you sure, Raven?" asked Albus.
"I am quite sure. As I am quite sure that Julian must have missed something in his potion. There is not way that-," He struggled for words, "Mr. Potter is Julian's father. I know who Julian's father was and it was definitely not him."
Albus watched the boy nod and Harry pale even more. "Well, Mr. Esan if you can tell us the name of the boy's father."
Severus looked at Julian. "You didn't tell them?"
"They were too fixated on the potion."
Severus ran a hand through his hair. It was going to go gray far earlier than it should. "His father was an auror in the second range. His squad was the one that had been massacred in the Forbidden Forest. His name was Xanthus Zephryn."
Albus nodded but watched Harry stand near the door shaking. "Harry, sit down." The young Professor obeyed.
"Minerva, you should sit as well. Harry, do you have anything to say?" The green eyes stared almost vacantly at the floor.
"He's my son."
Severus's eyes narrowed. "Did you not just hear a word I said, Potter? Julian is not your son."
A shaky breath then, "He became my son the first time that night in Dionysia!" Albus closed his eyes as Severus took a step back, eyes wide. Julian had paled before shooting across the room to hide from them behind his father.
Severus took his child's hand. "I...Listen Potter, I don't know how you know that, but-," He was stopped as the young man before him changed to resemble the man he'd taken to bed that one night.
Harry (Xanthus) stood before him looking at both Severus and Julian sadly. "I'm so sorry, Raven."
Severus felt Julian squeeze him from behind.
"I...I just needed that one night. Everything was going insane with Voldemort and..." Severus shivered. They didn't want this. Neither of them wanted anyone else to interfere with their lives.
"Papa?" Julian's voice whispered softly.
Not taking his eyes off Potter, Severus pulled the boy to his front and held him. "I don't believe this."
Minerva, who'd sat stunned at the information revealed, spoke. "Would like to perform the paternity spell, Mr. Esan? Perhaps that would solve this once and for all." Severus nodded.
Harry removed the glamour and stared at the floor in shame. Coughing, Minerva recited the spell, pointing her wand first at Harry then at Julian. If Harry was indeed the father, a green line would form between them. If not, no line would be visible at all.
Minerva immediately retook her seat when the green line appeared.
Julian raced down the corridor shaking his head in denial. His father and McGonagal ran after him. Potter and Dumbledore remained in the office. The boy felt lost before his father hugged him from behind.
McGonagal offered them a nearby classroom to talk. When Julian finally calmed down, he looked at his father. He was walking slowly back and forth along the length of the room. "What happens now?"
"I don't know."
The next day came and Severus woke instantly and looked around at his surroundings. He was in a guestroom with Julian. They refused to be separated last night. Severus sat up, careful not to wake the small figure beside him. When he'd gotten pregnant with Julian, all he'd wanted was to have something that was his alone. Was it really selfish not to want to share Julian's affection with anyone else?
His friendship with Matt and others was fine but he was Julian's father. He'd never had real care or love from anyone before.
His father had not allowed it in his home, and though he knew Albus cared, it had always seemed tainted some way and Severus could never figure out how.
He didn't want to share the boy's affection though it seemed as if he wouldn't have to worry. Julian didn't want Potter in their lives any more than he did.
"Will I have to stay with him?"
He didn't jump in surprise though he felt it. "Not if I have anything to say about it. No matter what anyone says, you are my son!"
They spent their time together locked in the room. House elves brought them whatever they needed. Most of the time they talked about nothing but they knew that a decision would have to come soon. Severus himself had to fight the urge to grab his child and run.
A few days passed before Julian returned to classes though his father stayed. That morning at breakfast, the two of them entered the Great Hall side by side. Julian parted to his table after giving Matt and his friends a reassuring look and a parting squeeze on his shoulder from his father.
"Your father is sitting at the Head Table?" Clara asked.
"Yeah, Papa is sitting by Dumbledore." His father was at that moment conversing with Albus silently, ignoring the pleading green eyes on down the table. Atticus watched it all curiously then turned to Julian.
"What does all this have to do with Professor Potter?" Julian managed to keep the anger from his face. He hated that his quiet world was disrupted. Then he smiled bitterly. Of course life wasn't fair to anyone. His own father, rather fathers, knew that.
"What are you talking about?"
"Potter is watching your dad like a hawk, and your father is ignoring him." Clara nodded as she saw the signs also.
"I don't want to talk about it Atticus. Let it go." Seeing how serious Julian was Atticus and Clara tried to turn a blind eye to it. Julian's head looked up as Dumbledore, his Papa, and Potter walked out of the Great Hall.
"No." Severus's eyes narrowed at the two wizards before him. "Absolutely not. Julian is my son."
"He's mine as well Raven." Severus sneered at him.
"Oh you take a paternity test and suddenly you're going for Father of the Year. Well that is just fine and good but not when my child is involved. Julian wants nothing to do with you and neither do I."
"Raven..." Albus thought on what he was about to say. "Do you not think that Harry deserves a chance to prove himself?"
"Why does he need to prove himself? As far as I'm concerned he is no one of importance in my life or Julian's. I will not give him partial custody of my child."
Harry was slowly growing angry. Damn it this wasn't his fault. No one's actually, but he was the one being punished. "As I said before, he is now my son too. I want to see him. You've been hiding him for days."
"I have not been hiding him. It is Julian who wants nothing to do with you. I have done nothing but agree. I raised him to have a mind of his own."
Severus began pacing. "How can you say he would be happy seeing you? The son of the Boy Who Lived? He'd have nothing but the pressure to live up to his father. He'd have no privacy and his trust of people would become nonexistent. And you still have a large number of enemies. Have you ever thought of what they could do to him?" Severus was shouting as all his fears started hitting him.
Albus had a pensive look on his face and Harry looked completely devastated. Severus almost regretted what he said but all of it had been true.
Albus looked at him. "No one will take Julian's love away from you Raven. We merely want Harry to have a chance to share some of it."
Severus froze up and stared at Potter. He'd never really hated the boy till this moment. He'd always been annoyed and frustrated but never hated. "And if Julian refuses? Like I said, the boy is has his own mind."
Harry breathed deeply. "Then that would be the end of it." Severus looked at him for a long moment.
"I need to speak to him." With that he turned and ran from the room.
Julian entered his Papa's room quietly. "Are you okay?"
The older man was leaning against a wall staring out of his window. "I spoke with Potter today."
Julian tensed up. "What did he want?"
"A chance."
"What do you mean, Papa?"
Severus moved toward a sofa and Julian quickly sat beside him. "Potter wants the chance to prove he can be a father to you also without trying to take my place."
Julian frowned. "He doesn't just want to take me?"
"No and if he tried, I wouldn't be responsible for my actions." "So he wants me to give him a chance to be my father?"
Severus nodded.
"What should I do?"
"Julian...I raised you to do the right thing. I know you'll do what you think is right."
"But what about you?"
"Don't worry about me. You are the only thing that matters to me. Go to bed. It's almost curfew." Julian didn't move for a long moment before standing and leaving.
The next afternoon, the four of them, Severus, Julian, Harry and Albus, sat in the Headmaster's office waiting for Julian's decision.
Julian looked at his Papa who stood behind him, then at Dumbledore who smiled at him encouragingly. The boy finally let his gaze fall to Potter who was shifting nervously in his chair.
"I'll do it. I shouldn't crucify you without giving you a chance."
Harry smiled gratefully. "Thank you Julian."
The child nodded. "Just remember that you can't take Papa's place in my life. Not ever. It'll be hard enough for me to see you as a parent."
Harry nodded slowly. "How about we start off as friends first?" Julian agreed.
Albus looked at Severus who was watching his son with pride.
TBC
Alia: So did you like it? Review Please! Oh and there's one part left then I have to get back to my other story, WDCA. (holds car keys nervously) Just one more part...
