Paradise Found

Soul Dust

Disclaimer: see before!

Summary: see before!

Jean-Claude: hmm, well I didn't intend the old man to be like Dumbledore, but it IS a nice plot now you've mentioned it! ;-)

Asha Ice: thanks!

Jewelclaw Lady of Wind: thanks! Old manrandom (?) character!

On with the story!

Chapter 6: Paternis.

Dumbledore then fixed his eyes firmly, but kindly onto Severus Snape, and gazed at him wryly:

"You might have just gained two children, Severus."

"Oh damn you Albus."

"It is nothing of my doing son!" chuckled the beaming Headmaster as the sour man sat and sulked like a 6 year old.

"Oh, well, DAMN YOU POTTER!" the dark man stood and paced around the circular room. "Damn you to all nine hells and the darkest pits of Tartarus! AND I HOPE YOU STAY THERE!!!!"

"Which Potter would that be then, Severus?" teased the Headmaster.

"Oh Albus you are the most INFURIATING old man I have ever had the misfortune of meeting! BOTH of them!"

"I don't think there is a 'both of them' anymore."

"Wha...??" Snarling, Severus Snape stalked towards the twinkling headmaster and fixed a death glare on him. "What the hell do you mean there aren't a 'both of them' anymore??"

The older man merely looked surprised at this statement and calmly replied: "It is merely that young Harry can no longer be seen as one."

The pacing man came abruptly to a stop in middle of his course and spluttered. Looking at the other as if he is mad, which the headmaster probably is, Severus drawled disbelievingly: "The Golden-Boy of Gryffindor, Saviour of the World no longer the one and only Harry-bloody-POTTER? What is the world coming to?"

"The world is changing. Not Harry Potter, Severus, Harry Snape." The annoying twinkle increased to a maddening extent, the elder man leaned back into his armchair and said offhandedly: "He is your son after all."

"What?" Severus Snape gulped and spluttered as realisation finally dawned on him. "Oh shit I have a son! And...it's bloody Saint Potter!"

"Eloquent as usual Severus."

"Oh shut up you."

"Paternity Charm? Why Albus?" a startled Madam Pomfrey stared openly between the three, clearly bewildered.

"It is a long story. We have a girl before us who has been hidden from us into the Muggle world for the past 16 years. She has a curious parentage. To cut it short for you Poppy, we would like you to find out whether the girl is the daughter of Severus Snape, or Lord Voldemort." Came Dumbledore's grave reply minus his usually twinkle.

Madam Pomfrey gasped and placed a hand over her mouth, holding onto the door of her neat little office for support. Still dazed, she did not question them further, perhaps from years of experience, dealing with strange requests of cures and charms within Hogwarts. Instead, she led the scared girl to a bed and laid her down gently.

"Now you hold still. I'm going to perform Paternis, a simple Charm, on you my dear. It won't hurt I promise, but may come as a shock if you are not accustomed to magic yet." She fussed over Haven, making sure she is ready for the charm. Then she rolled up her sleeves determinedly, and pointed her wand at Haven's heart and said simply:

"Confiteor prosapia!"

For a moment, nothing happened. And then, quite suddenly Haven gasped and a swirl of undistinguishable colours materialised in front of them, and colours started to separate. Madam Pomfrey explained the function of this Charm for Haven's benefit:

"The Charm will reveal the names of, firstly, your father, and then your mother. The names will be written in the colours of the Houses they are in, here at Hogwarts School, same goes to background colour. But if one of them is a Muggle, that's non-magical my dear, the lettering will be the colours of the House where they shall most likely be in."

Firstly, the swirl changed to a silver puddle, and threads of bright emerald twist themselves into forms of words. Everyone gasped collectively at the name, no, two names formed as the father of the child. It was written:

"Tom Marvolo Riddle

&

Severus Snape"

Giving them no time to think, and letters dissolved, and the colours rushed and changed to that of purest Gryffindor gold, and scarlet threads formed themselves to:

"Annabel Yvonne Davids"

"Excuse me Headmaster. I...I think I need to sit down." Said a completely nonplussed Madam Pomfrey.

"Poppy, I think we all could do with a seat, and perhaps a mild dose of Calming Draught." He added as he glanced at the distraught written clearly on the girl's face.

"Right Headmaster, coming right away." said the matron as she bustled away.

Silence fell upon the Hospital Wing as everyone sat deep in thought, digesting what had happened. The Headmaster sat in front of the unfortunate child, pondering. A child with two fathers, remarkable. Never before has this happened I believe. Is this a symbol for something about to happen? Child of Tom Riddle, she must be very powerful indeed. Yes, very powerful indeed, perhaps even more so that her half brother, Harry. Harry, I wonder if Remus has found him yet. Poor child. All his illusions of a perfect family will be shattered with this discovery. Just as Professor Dumbledore sat contemplating these depressing thoughts, the doors of the Hospital Wing is suddenly banged open with a mighty clamour.

Remus Lupin burst into the room, alone.

"Albus, I...I can't find him anywhere! I performed every single spell I know of finding people. I tried Comperio charm, to no avail. I then did Evestigatum charm, still not tracking him down. I even tried Accio, not even that worked!" tired and feeling hopeless, Remus sank down to the nearest bed.

Severus Snape hissed and flinched inwardly at this. A seemingly ludicrous but not wholly illogical theory popped up in his head:

He's not...dead...is he?

So soon, he has just discovered about Potter, no, his son. Man that word sounds strange. Snape grimaced inwardly, then mentally slapped himself. Your son, however much you might have disliked him before, is possibly dead and you are thinking about how the words my son sounds strange? Snap out of it Snape! Then suddenly it clicked. What if Potter has changed? What if he is not Harry Potter anymore? What if he is now a Snape? What if, what if that was the reason for his escape?

"Lupin." His cool silky voice startled Remus. "Did you use the name Harry Snape when you tried the charms?"

"Yes Severus, I've thought of the possibility of him already changed. After all, 16th birthday is a significant day. I tried Harry Snape as well as Potter." Remus answered with a fatigued air.

"What if I try my son?" Severus suddenly had an idea. Without waiting for an answer, he stood up and held up his wand and pronounced loud and clear:

"Evestigatum My Son!"

The wall in front of them suddenly evolved into a map, of Knockturn Alley no less. A green dot was spotted there, labelled: "Daedalus Caerulé Snape"

"Looks like we've found him Albus, Remus." Was all he said.

-Confiteor prosapia (Real parentage)

Confiteor-to reveal, to make known

Prosapia-family, parentage.

- Comperio

To find out, to discover.

- Evestigatum

To track down.

Excuse my poor Latin (or lack of)!

tbc

Soul-Dust

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