Who Are You To Me?

Chapter Six

'Dissimulare' is Italian, it means 'Conceal'.

A/N – Thanks to all my reviewers: HermioneGreen, HecateDeMort, Shania Maxwell, insanechildfanfic, lillinfields, Padawan Jan-AQ, Mikee and Lady Lily3.

I'm sorry you all had to wait so long for the update, I've been concentrating on some other fics, but I aim to update my HP fics more!

A couple of you mentioned the owl post being intercepted, and to be quite honest, I hadn't thought about that at all... I'm sorry. I still don't have an explanation...

I've also finally figured out html tagging, which you will notice in this chapter onwards.

Anyway, on with chapter six!

Harry looked up as Hedwig flew through his window; she was carrying a piece of rolled parchment.

He opened the letter, and immediately read the bottom of it; he didn't want Snape to use 'Dad' or anything yet, that would be weird. He read the paragraph about letting Dumbledore know, so he immediately wrote a quick reply, stating that Severus could let Dumbledore know, and he would send a longer reply later.

Harry read the letter through twice. He felt so confused. The person he'd thought was his father wasn't his father, but his professor, a man he had never liked, was? He needed to tell someone but he knew he couldn't, that or he wouldn't.

Harry had to think before replying to the letter. He decided to take a walk while he thought of everything he had discovered.

Walking around Privet Drive, Harry thought about how his life was going to change.

The first thing he realised was that his relationship with his professor was never going to be the same again. Would he be expected to move into the dungeons with his father? Or could he stay with his friends?

The second thing that Harry thought about was his friends. Yes, they'd stood by him with other things, but would this news be too shocking for them? He didn't want them to reject him.

Harry suddenly realised another thing. Ever since he'd been at Hogwarts, people had always told him how much he looked like James Potter, his father up until yesterday. How was that explained? It was only when he reached his room that he vaguely remembered something in his mother's diary about a spell. He grabbed the diary, and flipped through. There it was again. 'I have found a spell that will change my baby's features so that he or she grows up to look like James.'

Looking towards his desk, Harry found another letter from Severus, asking if he wanted to go and stay with him for the last 2 weeks of the holidays. Harry pondered this for a while, before he sat down at his desk, and began a letter.

To Severus (It still feels too surreal to call you Dad, I hope this is ok)

I have given your letter a lot of thought, and I think I can forgive you. I'm still hurt that you never came to get me, but I understand why, I think Professor Dumbledore wants to pretend everything is alright sometimes, when it clearly isn't.

I'm not really sure what to call myself; do you think I should keep my surname for now?

I'm glad someone else isn't afraid to say Voldemort's name. What happens if he finds out? Does that mean we are both in even more danger?

I will tell you everything to do with the Dursley's when I see you next, although, they haven't been too bad this summer, I think it was Moody's threats that did it – he told them that if they didn't hear from me every 3 days they'd be round to see if everything was okay. So far, they haven't had to visit, my uncle and aunt (unfortunately from my mother's side, they are still my relatives) have been letting me send post via owl.

I would like to come and stay with you, although isn't it a little dangerous? We could meet in Diagon Alley on Tuesday and go from there.

Anyway, let me know about Tuesday, I will see you soon.

Harry

PS, is it safe for me to tell anyone, or should I wait a while?

Harry began to look forward to Tuesday, he had to meet Ron and Hermione anyway, it was a good excuse to leave then.

Harry looked at Snape's owl, sitting on his desk. He gave it an owl treat, and asked it to take the letter back to Severus.

He then sat down to wait for the reply, which, if he knew Severus, would arrive in about 30 minutes, his owl was fast.

A short reply arrived a little while later.

Harry,

Diagon Alley is too dangerous, definitely, I assume you were meeting your friends there? I'll sort something out, are you happy travelling by portkey? I might sort that out.

I'll send a longer letter later.

Severus

Let me know what you thought! I know it may seem that Harry has accepted the news rather quickly, but I think he's old enough not to argue it, when he knows something like this isn't going to be a lie.