Chapter 4: Explanation

Snape was silent for a moment. Without speaking he straitened himself up as if preparing to walk away from Harry. "Where are you going Sir?" Harry asked worriedly. Did Snape decide he didn't want to tell him? Harry needed to know the truth. Snape couldn't just leave him sitting there helplessly against the stone wall with all these unanswered questions running though his head!

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Well Mr. Potter," he said, and Harry could tell he was trying to keep a sneer off of his face, "Lunch shall be starting any minute now, and I think it would be best if we were able to talk without being trampled by dozens of hungry students, don't you think?" At this, Harry flushed.

"O-of course, sorry Professor," he mumbled. Harry slowly lifted himself off of the cold stone floor to follow the Potions Master.

They walked silently for a few minutes until Snape stopped in front of a large door. Harry knew that the door would lead into Snape's office because he had been in there the year before, when he was involved in a certain incident with a certain bewitched car. Snape turned the handle of the door and held it open for Harry to enter. Harry hesitated before walking in.

Harry surveyed the cold dungeon before him. It was exactly the same as he remembered it although of course, the items on Snape's desk had been rearranged. The door was shut behind him with a loud click. Harry turned and looked at the Professor in front of him. Snape simply stared back at him for a minute before walking past him and sitting down in the black chair behind his large mahogany desk. He folded his arms across his chest and looked back at Harry impatiently.

"You can sit down Potter, that is why chairs were invented," Snape drawled. Harry flushed once again before sitting down in a wooden chair in front of his dear Profess- no- his dear father. Yes, his father. Not Potions Professor, father. As Harry thought this, he felt an unpleasant wave of nausea flow through him.

Snape sighed. "I don't know exactly how I should start…" he trailed off. Harry finally found his voice.

"How did you and my- my mum meet?" he asked softly.

"We went to school together, as I am sure you already know." Snape said, " I met your mother the day after term began, I remember because I was extremely upset and angry it was moments after I had had the pleasure of meeting James Potter and…" he bit his lip nervously, "Sirius Black." Harry shot up in his chair.

"What! You-you mean- that my fa- I mean that James knew- knew S-Sirius B-Black?" Snape closed his eyes and nodded his head.

"Yes, they were best friends throughout their years at Hogwarts, but lets drop the subject of- of him, shall we?"

"Yes sir," Harry said quietly. James Potter and Sirius Black were friends at Hogwarts? The same Sirius Black that murdered thirteen people with one curse? The same Sirius Black who was thrown into Azkaban twelve years ago? The same Sirius Black who had just recently escaped from prison to find Harry, and kill him? It wasn't possible- was it? And if this was true, why would he want to kill his best friend's son? It just didn't make sense!

Harry was quickly brought out of his thoughts when Snape spoke again. "Anyways," he said, " I just had an unpleasant run-in with them, and I was walking in a deserted corridor, when I ran into your mother… Apparently, she noticed that I was upset because she asked me what happened. I told her. We talked for what must have been hours. After that, we became friends.

We started dating in our third year. After our seventh year I asked her to marry me. She of course, said 'yes…'" The potions master drifted off and looked away. Harry had a feeling that he was starting to get choked up. Snape looked back at his son. "We had a small wedding, " he snorted, "My father never even knew. We were eighteen at the time. When we were nineteen you were born." At this, Harry's eyebrows shot up. "We were young, I know. But we did date for seven years before you were born, so…" He shrugged. Harry nodded to let him know he understood.

"Then we found out that the Dark- that Voldemort was after us. I was a spy for Professor Dumbledore. Voldemort didn't know that a married Lily. I probably wouldn't be here if he did. In the end we decide that James would "marry" Lily, then take you and her into hiding. James and I always disliked each other, but he cared for Lily, and I loved her and you both.

"The day Lily died, was the worst day of my life. Harry, you need to understand that I wanted so much to keep you, but I couldn't. The world could never know that you were my son. We didn't truly know if Voldemort was gone for good, and even if he was, there were still many Death Eaters that weren't imprisoned, looking for revenge. I promised my self that I would keep you safe…"

"But you didn't," Harry said now on the verge of tears, "You sent me to live with the Dursleys! They hated me! They were mean and neglected me for years! All I wanted was a family! A Mother and a Father," tears were starting to fall freely now, "I never had either one!"

"And I wanted my wife and child! I cried myself to sleep every night for months! I hated myself for giving you up!" A few tears started to build up in the Professor's eyes. " Please believe me when I say this, okay? I do love you, and you can hate me if you want, but I will still love you. You are my son. Mine. And you always will be. Please, please believe Harry…" Snape trailed off helplessly. At that moment Harry was truly happy that Severus Snape was his Father. He looked into the dark eyes of his Father, and when he did he saw love and hope. And that was enough for Harry.

"I believe you," Harry whispered.

A/N: I know this is a little fluffy, but I couldn't help myself! Snape loves Harry, but in the future he will be comforting when he needs to be, and stern when he needs to be. Also, the prophecy about Harry and Voldemort does exist. That's why Voldemort went after Harry, and killed Lily. So with that all said, PLEASE REVIEW! Reviews make me so very happy!