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Chapter 3
Not a Family
"Severus, you're already here," Dumbledore smiled as Harry entered his office behind him.
"What's the Potter boy doing here? We have important matters to deal with," Snape sneered. "We have to get my son!"
"No," Harry stopped dead in his tracks. "No, you can't be," he backed away from his potions professor. "You just can't."
For what was likely the first time in his life Severus Snape was too shocked to speak. He sat in one of the chairs and stared at the boy he had hated for so many years.
"But … he's the Potter's," he finally managed.
"Yes he is the Potter's son. They adopted him after the death of their own son."
Dumbledore had placed himself in front of the door so that neither of his guests could make a run for it. "They adopted him from the same orphanage that you placed your son at."
"Just because it was the same orphanage doesn't mean… are you sure?" asked Snape in barely a whisper.
"Both the Potters and you were extraordinarily secretive with your parts in Harry's early life. How many years was it before you told me about your son and where you had placed him? It wasn't until last year that I could put your information together with the adoption certificate I found with the Potter's estate. After that it was a simple blood test. The results were positive, you are Harry's father."
Harry had run out of floor and was now backed up against the bookcase lined walls in the headmasters' circular office. He was sidestepping around the room in a vain attempt to get further away from the man he who had just been introduced as his father.
"He's not my father. He hates me!" Harry shook his head. "He doesn't want me."
"Nonsense Harry, it was at Severus's request that I visited you today. Your father requested that he be considered your guardian in place of the Dursley's. Is that not correct Severus?"
"Yes, that was my intention," started Severus slowly. "I don't want you going back to Lily's relatives. I have been told that your living situation with them is less than appropriate."
"I want to go back to the Weasley's," Harry demanded. "I was going to spend the rest of the summer with them."
"Harry, you and I had an arrangement," Dumbledore peered over his spectacles. "You agreed to spend the rest of the summer with your father. There are just a few weeks left of the holiday, after that we can decide where you go in future. Are you going to break your word?"
"He doesn't want me sir, not really. If I were someone else… maybe," argued Harry.
"Harry, sit down. We'll have lunch and then we can discuss this further."
Both Severus and harry were much to tied up in their own thoughts to notice how the meal appeared before them. They ate in silence each contemplating their new role in what had, in the past, been a less than cordial relationship.
"Severus, perhaps you should tell Harry a little about your life?" the elderly Professor had a talent for making directions seem like requests.
"Mr. Potter… You know that I was a Death Eater?"
"Yes."
"During the latter part of the last war, and this time in-between, I was a spy within the Death Eater organization. I passed information to Dumbledore that I hoped would prevent Voldemort from winning. Part of my behavior toward you has been an effort to keep my place within the Death Eater organization so I could continue my activities."
"And the other part?" asked Harry.
"I was angry at the-boy-who-lived, parent's died hero's, savior of the wizarding world… but didn't save my family," Snape bitterly replied. "I thought you were a spoilt little ponce who didn't understand the sacrifices…"
"Why didn't you go to Voldemort when he called the Death Eaters during the third task?"
"Because of Quirrell I became useless as a spy. Voldemort knows I betrayed him. My last tie to Voldemort was broken this past month," said Snape lifting his left sleeve to show his bare arm.
Once again father and son withdrew into their own thoughts and silence reigned. The former attempted to reconcile the 15 year old who sat before him, with fifteen years of dreams, assumptions and suppositions. The latter tried to see his place in two different families.
"Why did you give me away?" asked Harry softly.
Snape stood up and started pacing. Minutes passed before he answered.
"Three days after you were born there was a Death Eater gathering. Voldemort ordered us all to bring our wives. It was an unusual request, but no one dared refuse. Each couple was called forward in turn and an account was taken of the wife's name, family, and loyalty. You see, Death Eaters not only pledge themselves to Voldemorts service, but also their families," Snape paused. "When our turn came, as soon as your mother named her family, Voldemort killed her. Avada kedavra, there wasn't anything I could do. He said that every living person from her family needed to be killed, and then asked if we had any children. I told him that yes; we had been expecting a child, but that the child had died. As soon as we were dismissed I took you to the Muggle orphanage so that you could not be traced by the wizarding world. Then I destroyed any evidence that I could find that you ever existed."
"Severus, you know Harry as a student, as James and Lily's son, and as the boy-who-lived. It's time you got to know Harry your son. Harry you know Severus as a professor; it's time you got to know Severus Snape your father. Three weeks, that's not a long time. Harry, you have studies to complete. Severus, you need to get ready for the start of term. In-between times you two get to know each-other. Severus, I believe you have prepared a room for Harry and we have a meeting tonight at seven. Please be on-time," said Albus Dumbledore before walking over to his desk and starting to prepare for his next business of the day.
Both the parties in question knew a dismissal when they heard one. So after a few more minutes of staring, a less than enthusiastic 15 year-old silently followed his father down to the dungeons. They stopped in front a portrait of an elderly man reading a book. Severus gave the password, toad eyes, and motioned for Harry to enter before him. One torch lit up as Harry entered the room and stepped to the side so Severus could enter behind him.
"This is the main room," said Severus looking around. He realized the room was too dark to see, and lit the rest of the torches.
Now visible in the large room were two chairs and a black leather couch arranged before an empty fireplace. In the corner was a table surrounded by four chairs. The windowless walls were covered in bookcases, and a few rugs were scattered about the floor.
"Your room is through here," stated Severus walking toward the rear of the room and opening a side door to reveal the room he had so carefully prepared for his son's arrival.
"Slytherin green, of course," sighed Harry as he went to unpack his trunk.
"Right, you're in Gryffindor. I suppose green isn't appropriate. I thought you'd be transferring from another school, Dumbledore didn't give me much information," explained Snape. A wave of his wand and the room once again underwent a redecoration, this time to the cheerful red and gold colors of Gryffindor house.
"Well obviously he didn't tell you, if he had you wouldn't have bothered," remarked Harry bitterly as he withdrew his schoolbooks from his trunk and took them to the desk in the corner. "If you don't mind, I believe I have studying to do," he quipped as he sat down with his back to the door.
"I'll call you for supper," Snape coldly replied as he withdrew to the main room.
"The Potter's, it had to be the Potter's. How could this have happened?"
Snape sank into a chair and rested his head on his hands.
*Pop* "Mr. Professor Snape sir?" Dobby the house elf cautiously asked. "Mr. Professor Dumbledore told me to ask if you wanted supper in your room today sir."
"Yes, supper for two," he ordered not moving. "Set it at the table in the corner."
"Yes sir," Dobby agreed before disappearing.
A few seconds later the table creaked under the weight of a very large, supper for two.
Severus Snape stood and looked over to the photograph on the mantle.
"I will keep my promise."
His silent footsteps then carried him over to take his first real look at the son he left behind so many years ago. What he saw wasn't at all what he expected. During the school year Harry's robes covered his clothes, Severus had never seen what his actual wardrobe looked like. With Harry seated at his desk, head bent over a book, he now got a very good look. Harry's hair, while washed and combed, was uneven and clearly in need of a trim. His sweater, while the correct size and in good condition, covered a tattered shirt with its sleeves rolled up several times so that Harry could use his hands. His pant's looked like they belonged on a small elephant, not a teenage boy. The waist was tied with a rope, the pockets had been torn off, the knees were large tattered holes, and the legs lay in shredded bunches around his ankles.
"Supper is on the table," stated Snape as he went to take his seat.
Harry boldly approached the table and chose the seat directly across from his Professor. Never removing his gaze from his dining companion, he served himself.
Severus Snape's face was a mask; he held his emotions firmly in check and even more firmly hidden as he ate his lunch.
"That is a …nice sweater," Snape blandly remarked.
"Thank you; it was a Christmas gift from Mrs. Weasley," answered Harry.
"Weasley's, of course." Snape thought as he glanced at Harry's plate. "At least I don't have to worry about him eating his vegetables, he'll eat anything."
"I know you and I haven't always gotten along. I didn't know…"
"So, if I was just Harry Potter it would be ok to treat me the way you have been, but because I'm Harry Potter your son it's now supposed to suddenly be different. Spare me the excuses. I am still the same person I always was. It's not my fault you never bothered to get to know me. The entire four years I have known you, you have spent making life miserable for everyone who didn't fit into your narrow little Slytherin world. You have done nothing but mock and torment your students, and me, for no greater crime than simply being alive."
"I don't expect you to understand," sneered Snape before storming out of the room.
Harry was left alone to ponder the words he had just spoken. He had meant every word, but maybe he could have phrased them better? Frustrated he finished his dinner and took a closer look around the room. Unless you had an unending fascination with potions, the books would hold limited interest, there were no other decorations except for a small photograph on the mantle. Curious, he picked up the picture for a better view. A woman smiled out at him, then down at her sleeping baby. She lifted a blanket out of the way so he could get a better look at the newborn she held.
"That couldn't be me."
Harry took the picture into his room and set it on the desk while he pulled his photo album out of his trunk. He spent hours comparing that photograph to the ones in his album; there was no denying the similarities. Sighing he looked about his room, Snape was trying. Maybe… he'd give his father a chance.
Severus Snape wasted no time on his way to the Headmaster's office. He was going to find out what, exactly, Professor Dumbledore had in mind when introducing Harry Potter as his son. He wondered why he hadn't been told sooner. Four years he'd spent being a total arse to his son, how was he supposed to make up for that lost time?
"Pixie Sticks," and the stone gargoyle jumped aside.
He took the stair two at a time, barely stopping to knock before bursting into the Headmaster's office.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" demanded Severus.
"Severus you, did not tell me until just this last summer. The blood tests to confirm it were done during the school year. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't have told you as long as you carried Voldemorts mark," Dumbledore apologized.
"Great the biggest danger to him is his own father," Snape bitterly replied.
"You are not, and were not the danger. Voldemort is the danger. Harry is not yet ready, we must protect him for as long as possible. Unfortunately, that involved keeping the knowledge of your relationship to myself for a time."
"How am I supposed to make up for…"
"You'll be surprised what the words `I'm sorry` can do. Now, we have a meeting to attend. Shall we walk down together?"
Severus may have been physically present in the meeting, but his mind was centered on a 15 year old boy and an old photograph. Fortunately Voldemort had remained quiet, and aside from the regular reports, there was no new business. He took the long route back to his quarters in the dungeons, and a few detours along the way. It was very late when Severus looked in on his son to find him asleep among moments captured, before he was old enough to remember. He covered his son with a blanket, before retiring for the night.