Ch 9. The Rescue
Harry woke with a start he was laying face down on the bed nestled between his brothers. The three boys had grieved themselves to sleep over their father.
After a few moments Harry remembered what woke him he could still feel his fathers emotions running through him, a soothing emotion flooded his senses and before he could stop it sleep claimed him again.
Severus Snape was never one to dream, especially about impending death but after his chat with Percy Weasley the day before and the threat of a Dementor's kiss hanging over his head anyone would be disturbed. The last thing he remembered about that conversation was being knocked out by Stupefy. It wasn't until he heard a clang near by that he remembered something had woke him in the first place. Paper fell to the floor a few feet from the cot he laid on...
Zeveruz Darling,
I have come to take you away from here zat idioat huzband of mine knoz nozing nor will 'e. I can only hope it is not to late to see my son again. You need only ask zis parchment to bring you to me. I am outzide zis building waiting for you. Come quickly.
"Narcissa" Severus knew only one Russian but why would she risk helping him? Perhaps she really does miss Draco. Not bothering to question it further Severus asked the parchment to take him to Narcissa and with a pop he was outside, he saw her immediately white blond hair flowing around her black covered shoulders.
This was not the cold hearted classically trained Narcissa Malfoy. This beauty before him is the same Narcissa Raisa Romanovich he met at Hogwarts all those years ago.
"Ve must be going." Narcissa held out her hand to Severus and was delighted when he took her offering. With a pop they were gone the resounding pop found them just outside Hogwarts grounds.
"I muzt be going I'm returning to Russia. Pleaze tell my son zat I will miss him and prehapz zis zummer you and Kate will bring him and ze children to see me. I will owl you when it iz safe." With that Narcissa apperated leaving a very concerned Severus behind.
"Dad?" Harry's voice called, when Severus turned to the direction of the voice no one was there. Though the parental sixth sense is rare it is definatly not unheard of, this fact drew Severus into motion. Letting his feet carry him Severus found himself standing before a very awe struck Fat Lady.
"Pro...professor?" she stuttered.
"Ophelia" Severus said absentmindedly and the portrait slid aside, Severus bounded the stairs two at a time trying to reach his son. When he reached the dorm room he was surprised to find Harry face down with Neville curled to one side and Draco to his other. Harry had clearly taken the roll of big brother gracefully but Severus could feel the waves of lost loneliness pouring off his son. After silently watching them for a moment Neville rolled away from Harry, taking the chance Severus slid noiselessly on to the bed reaching over Neville he scooped up Harry causing a small whimper to escape Draco. None of them woke as Severus carried Harry down to the common room.
"Harry, my son, thank you for looking out for your brothers. I just wish you would open up to someone even if it's not me." Severus sat there a few moments cradling Harry lost in his own thoughts when Harry spoke.
"I want to open up to you but as much as you've shone me you want to be my dad I'm still scared that once you know me... well that you wont want me anymore." Harry cuddled closer into his fathers willing arms. Severus knew he had still not been completely forgiven for making Harry stay with his aunt and her husband. He could only hope that now things would change for them all and Harry could have the family he so deeply desired.
"Harry, I love you so much I just wish I hadn't been so stupid in my youth then maybe your mother would still be alive and I could have helped her raise you. I hate it so much that you missed out on a wonderful childhood because of me, your mother was an Angel Harry. She was so brave when my father took me from our home and had me branded, I thought she would hate me because I could no longer return home without making her the wife of a death eater. After our first couple of talks I told her that I wouldn't put her in danger because I loved her that's when she told me about you. I knew then that I couldn't let my father know I was to have a child, just in case we had a boy. I was so young and afraid and I wanted to tell the world the woman I love is having my child but I knew I couldn't not as long as my father was alive. I did the only thing I could I called Sirius, he and James where there in moments." He looked down to see Harry's questioning eyes on him.
"Don't look so surprised son, your godfather and I had the same relationship then that you and Draco have now. I trusted Sirius in fact I would have asked him to marry your mother and raise you but he was so in love with your aunt that I couldn't. He told me that James would care for you both and that you would be safely watched over." Severus kissed the top of his sons head causing Harry to snuggle closer, this movement startled Severus though he is close to Julie they never simply sit and talk like this.
"After a lot of convincing James took my place, how I missed Lily and Sirius. Then one day Remus brought me the news, I had a son, I wanted to celebrate I wanted... then it hit me I missed your birth. That day Remus became Moony to me, a real friend I wept on his shoulder, wept for you, wept for your mother, wept for the loss I felt and Remus just stood there with me till I could weep no more." Severus' voice was thick with emotion and Harry could hear the unshed tears. Even when they had talked before about the past they has shared many moments but never had his father wept Harry knew that this was his fathers way of clearing the air between them in hopes that they would become closer with time.
"I told you once that I was there when Voldemort tried to kill you it was your mother's love and my well placed spell that protected you. I had a choice save the woman I love and the man who put his life on the line for my family or save my son. I caught James' eyes and with a nod I set out to save you. When it was all over and everyone had left including you and Hagrid, I went back and I wept over both Lily and James. Only then did I realise I wasn't the only one there Moony was there watching me, I went to him expecting our normal pattern of comfort, instead he pushed me away and venomously accused me of leading them to James and Lily so I could take you away from them to raise as a death eater." Harry blinked up at his father, eyelashes glistening with unshed tears how could Remus think such a thing after all they'd been through together.
"Dad I..." Harry's unshed tears began falling like tiny raindrops his heart breaking, shattering into a million tiny pieces. He couldn't speak only snuggle back into his father's arms, moments later he was asleep.
While Severus was breathing a momentary sigh of relief at being with his son, other parts of the castle sparking with heated energy.
"Albus I wont abandon him when he needs me most he's been there for me all these years." Sirius yelled at Albus Dumbledore who stood in front of him looking as seriously kind as ever, behind him Netis and Remus where waiting for their instructions, as they had been called to the location along with Sirius and Petunia; Sirius realised suddenly that he had caused them all to flinch.
"Please Sirius, there is no need to shout I'm not asking that you leave and no longer speak to him I'm only suggesting that you return to your home for the time being and allow Dudley to get used to being without you and handling things on his own." At this Petunia flinched she felt almost sorry for those who would be Dudley's professors. Had it not been for Vernon the boy would have shared the chores with Harry and he would never have been this bratty.
"He has a point Sirius we could go home and take time to reacquaint ourselves, we'll still only be a fire call away love." Petunia put her hand on Sirius' shoulder.
"And Netis and I will be here." Remus added quietly and Netis nodded beside him. Remus hadn't gotten over his feelings about Severus but he had recently come to terms with the fact that it wasn't his fault, James and Lily were gone.
With one last look around the room Sirius stood and walked stiffly to the fireplace. "If anyone needs me they will find me at home." He stepped into the fireplace and vanished followed by Petunia.
Once alone Albus turned to Remus and Netis. "Remus my boy, care to explain?" Remus slumped into a nearby chair.
"I don't know how I forgot I just... I wasn't... I mean I..." Remus stuttered while Netis stood beside him with a perplexed look on her face.
"Forgive my ignorance but what did you forget Remus?" Her look changed from that of confusion to that of horror as she looked into Albus' bright blue eyes... her eyes though this fact didn't dawn on her as she read the thoughts running rampant in his head. Remus the man she loved was not only a Wizard but a werewolf. Netis dropped her eyes from the blue marble sized spheres before her, she was in aw that Remus had been so close but yet she never read that in his thoughts.
"Netis my dear may I ask you something?" Albus studied her a moment and when she nodded continued. "Who is your father?" For a moment she didn't answer then she looked up again into his eyes only to find she couldn't read what he was thinking.
"David sir." The twinkle in his eyes brightened and shined rivalling the starts themselves.
"David Pettesson I know he changed it when he and my mother split up but I don't know what it was to begin with." Netis was nervous since she'd been here she'd never been asked about her family, now she felt as if this man already knew more than she dose.
"I suggest you two rest, you never know what tomorrow will bring" ...turning to the window ... "Now what are we to do about this mess."Albus muttered as Netis and Remus made a silent exit.'
Netis walked quietly holding Remus' hand they were making their way back to their room, her mind wondered over the new information she had discovered.
"Netis, do you hate me now that you know?" Remus' expression became very worried when she didn't respond, he halted his stride.
Netis stopped too, not turning to meet his eyes she spoke. "I don't hate you Remus I just need time to adjust. Why didn't you tell me?" Her shoulder's sagged her outward appearance showing just how tired she suddenly felt.
"I... I just... " Remus began not really knowing how to say he thought she wouldn't want him and he didn't want to loose her before he got a chance to know her.
"Is that the only reason you didn't tell me? You thought I would leave you?" Netis knew she couldn't be to upset with him after all she hadn't told him she was not only a witch but a mind reader as well. Remus stared at her a moment nodded once and continued on to their room. In that one nod he settled the matter now they both had to come to grips with this news.
When they reached their room Netis went into the bathroom to prepare for bed while Remus sat waiting his turn. When Netis returned she allowed a small kiss to be placed on her cheek as Remus walked past her into the bathroom. As Remus emerged he found Netis sleeping curled up on her side.
Kate Snape sat at the foot of the bed she shared with Severus, the dungeon seemed lonely without him. She could hear her daughters even breathing and wondered for the millionth time if the girl even cared about what happened to her father. Grabbing her hair brush she ran it absently through her thick black tendrils of hair. Kate sat at the end of their bed to midnight wondering what Severus was doing and if he was being treated ok. Curling up on the bed she let sleep fall over her.
AN: For those who didn't want Ch8 to be the end here you go. To those who didn't understand Ch8 I hope Ch 9 helps.
Thanks to my editor who inspires me as much as she corrects.