A/N: Some of you are curious about the 'heir'-thing? Well, I think that Voldemort would recruit the children of the Death Eaters to become Death Eaters one day. Is there an easier way? (I'm thinking of some... 'youth club' for the children)

Wytil - Yeah, Snape was the one to choose them. I think his family was very proud of being pureblood and Severus cannot change what or who he was taught to be someday. The perfect heir for the Snape family.

ariel:

1. A soap-opera? I'm trying to make this a serious story.

2. That's quite a problem. In the first version it only took a week until Harry was exhausted and he read the letter. Now it takes three weeks before Harry is exhausted but it also takes him three weeks to read the letter once again. To answer the other question: Severus is angry (and McGonagall is angry, too) because he thinks he 'lost' a smart student from his house and Harry is half Gryffindor. That doesn't work. So he tries and challenges the boy every time. The two teachers 'fight' over Harry.

3. It will take some time until everybody knows that Sheldon is Harry.

Natalia - I really like the length of your review! Of course I answer the reviews. I think you have to keep reading to figure out what's happening next. Everyone seems to be quite curious the relationship of Harry, Ron and Hermione. I'll try to fix that but I cannot promise anything!

white-blaze-dragon - I will update as soon as possible. Thanks for the review!

rebekah1 - Hermione is really smart and she will find out. I'm trying hard not to write too tacky but sometimes it perhaps just happens.

Kaleena Manson - There is a little twist in this and they won't be pleased with the way things go in the first, but they will get over it! ;)

Beth5572 - I think they will become friends once again, but it will take some time.

Lady Nicole Malfoy-Potter - Yes ma'am! grinning

rebecca - I do re-read my story but I have a good excuse for my lack of elegant language. English isn't my mother tongue and so I'm not sure of the niceties of good English by now.

vilthuril - Funny words in funny places, indeed. I'm also pretty sure I mix up British and American English quite often. (Monika, I fixed some of those places myself! LOL...my best friend lives in england :))

Phoenix 5 - Thanks. They will talk to Harry in this chapter but it will take some time before they are back on good terms.

manx:

1. The spell did suppress all the qualities Harry inherited from his father, physically and psychological. Harry's mind has changed as well.

2. The story is very focused on Harry and Snape. None of them really cares if the others are upset. Snape doesn't care and Harry doesn't want to know. Hermione and Ron will become more important soon and I will introduce another character as well. They will have a closer look on the reactions within the school.

Tabitha78:

1. Just read on! ;-) I will think about that offer!

2. Harry is kind of confused. He doesn't feel like he can become Harry again.

3. Funny? I actually don't want this to be funny! Well, not too funny.

4. I just write the conversations like I do write them in German. And it's Severus who is afraid because he sees so much of himself in the boy.

5. You see, I updated as soon as the chapter was finished. Although, I had some problems with this one because sometimes it just felt wrong. Hope you will enjoy it, though.

Tourmaline20 - Well, I don't know? I'm not a native speaker, I just read this somewhere and thought that would fit Snape.

ShadowedHand:

1. First I went for Richard Sean McGraw but Sheldon Richard McGraw sounded better to me. My mother suggested 'Alan' when I asked her about some male English name.

2. Oh, you are the first one who seems to have understood this one. Good work!

3. Hope for Snape? Perhaps there is... I'm not sure about that one.

4. Both of them need the comfort. I didn't mention it in my story by now, but Harry certainly is starving for any love. bangingmyheadagainstthewall It's easy to point out the obvious.

5. Yeah, after two miles I took a right turn but unfortunately it started to rain... Sorry, are you sure you read my story? confused Harry's skeleton in the closet? Well, I just guess there are things I don't need to understand, do I?

Okay, that one's rather tacky, I think. But still there is this conflict.

SPECIAL THANKS TO TABITHA78 WHO DECIDED TO BECOME MY BETA!

Chapter 6 - A 'clearly-nothing's-okay-really'-relationship, some new and some old friends

They returned directly to Severus rooms from Diagon Alley by floo to 'keep their profile low.'

"That was... interesting." Harry commented.

"Interesting?" Snape asked.

"Well, that was just... a statement. I think that this morning was interesting. I never experienced anything like that before."

Harry and Severus sat down on the two armchairs.

"So, what are we going to do now? We still have the afternoon left, after restoring your wardrobe."

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Anything wrong with your new clothing?"

Both of them sensed that the conversation became dangerous. There was more than a slight tension between them.

"No, nothing. These clothes are just... well, they are very... typical."

Snape raised one eyebrow.

"I... I don't know how to describe them... it's just that they look typical... for you and... your kind." Harry felt uncomfortable.

"What do you mean by 'your kind?' Purebloods?"

"For example?! These clothes look like they would belong to Malfoy's wardrobe."

"You are not a Potter anymore! You are now a Snape and I won't allow you to walk around like..." Harry jumped to his feet.

"That's enough! I don't want to look like your perfect little pureblood son! I will not look like your perfect little pureblood son!"

"I won't allow you to talk like that! You are not going to dishonour your family!"

"You may not have realised it, but my mother was muggleborn!" Harry shouted at his father. "I will never promote Voldemort's ill ideology!"

"YOU! You accuse me of being... loyal to the Dark Lord?" Snape grew angry.

"I think that you are very fond of his ideas, aren't you? Purebloods being worthier than muggleborns?"

"You little brat! How dare you... to compare me to Voldemort!" Snape even forgot his fear of Voldemort's name.

"Or what? Will you give me detentions, cut my pocket money?"

"I know how I could break your will if I wished to." Every fibre of Harry's body told him to shut his mouth and to give in, but he couldn't.

"Do you consider beating me?" Harry laughed. "You cannot scare me with that."

Harry was surprised when his father seized the shoulders of his robes and pushed him against the wall.

They stood face to face.

"Don't make me angry unless you are aware of the consequences." Harry's face showed his sudden fear. "I don't want to punish you, and I don't want to hurt you, but I won't let you talk to me like that, either! I'm your father, show some respect!"

"I will not deny myself!"

If glares could kill...

"Leave!" Snape released his son and walked over to the study. He had to subdue the urge to go and beat the crap out of someone. This wasn't a proper reaction but this boy made him go insane!

---

Both Snape and Harry tried to talk during the next week, but after some minutes one or both of them started to argue and the discussion ended in a fight. After that either Harry left his father's office with burning rage in his chest or Snape left Harry's room ready to tell off the first student he met for just being alive.

One morning during Potions after such a fight had taken place in the past day, Snape's lips were pressed together and his eyes were fixed on a book. He had ordered the students to mix a simple healing potion. He still kept reading when a strong scent of rotten flesh filled the dungeons.

"Potter! Explain yourself!"

Harry's head shot in the air. Even if Snape was too angry and his mind was distracted, Harry was well aware, that there was no Potter. Still, in a reflex his head had shot up and he had to resist the urge to explain himself.

Everyone else looked up and stared at Harry.

No one realised the faint smile on Hermione's lips. Now she was quite sure about everything, almost everything.

"Sir?" Harry cleared his throat. "Who is Potter?"

Snape looked up and glared at him. "None of your business! Now, go and help Longbottom. Consider it as a just response to your inadequate curiosity."

Oh yeah, punish me for saving your arse!

---

Harry smiled at the thought of his warm bed in his chambers. The week had been strenuous but it was over and he had a weekend full of sleep ahead. He would try to finish his homework tonight to have the weekend off.

"Hey, Sheldon! Would you mind having a chat?" Harry turned at the sound of Hermione's voice. "I have a question!"

"Feel free to ask but don't mind if I refuse to answer."

"You better if you know what's good for you..." Ron stepped towards Harry and pinned him to the wall.

"What's wrong with you? Have you lost your mind?"

"You know what this is about, don't you... Harry?" Harry stared at Hermione blankly.

"H... Harry? You have lost your mind!" Hermione brushed the hair from Harry's forehead. She gasped with surprise when she really found what she searched for.

Shit, the glamoury wore off!

"Harry!" Hermione searched his eyes for answers.

"Shut up!" he hissed. "This is supposed to be a secret!"

"Why didn't you tell us, mate?" Ron asked and let go of Harry.

"Let's go to my chambers!" He almost ran to the small room he lived in.

---

"I waited for almost one hour!" Severus complained.

"I... Could you please leave us for a moment?"

Snape stared at his son and the two students who followed him through the hole in the wall hidden by the painting of a black dressed man with a long silver foil. Lord Brandon had lived and died centuries ago. He had been the first transfer student Hogwarts ever had and was the first student who couldn't have been sorted. Harry guessed that Dumbledore wanted to cheer him up. Horatius Brandon had been a very successful auror, although he was killed at the still young age of forty-three.

"Granger, Weasley. Hope you will have a nice time!" Snape greeted the two students and left the room.

"Well, would you please explain this?" Ron demanded.

"Whatever I tell you, keep it secret! Only very few people know about this. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Hagrid, Madam Pomfrey and Snape."

"Harry, why? Why did they put this glamour spell on you? You aren't in great danger, are you?" Hermione and Ron stared at him.

"No... no... I... it's enough for you to know it's me! Please don't treat me like you would have treated Harry, the others would suspect something. I'm not Harry anymore."

"Harry! What is that about? Why are you... why did they change your looks?"

"They didn't. I'm... I've already told you enough!"

"You haven't tell us anything, mate!" Harry stepped towards Ron and leered at him.

"Ron, Hermione, I told you everything I can tell you right now."

"Harry!" Hermione almost cried. "Just explain what business you have with Snape?"

"I'm sorry, mates! I would love to tell you the truth, but I can't! I don't know the truth myself!" He hugged both of them and they left in silence.

He felt like his heart was torn out of in his chest. He missed his friends so much.

---

"Come in if you cannot avoid it!" Harry opened the door to his father's office and stepped in. Harry looked exhausted.

"You wanted to talk about something?"

Severus' heart softened at the sound of the faint voice. The boy always had this effect on him, damn it!

"Sit down. Dumbledore gave your O.W.L.'s letter to me. I thought you might be interested?" Harry sat down in the front of the desk.

"Oy, of course!" Severus handed the boy a thick letter. "Well, the last letter I opened wasn't very... pleasant."

"I don't think that this can get any worse... well, perhaps... just read it."

Harry opened the letter and read out the results.

"I failed Divination. Not a big surprise, nor a big disappointment."

"Read on!" Harry was surprised as he realized his father was excited.

"Outstanding in Defence against the Dark Arts, Exceeds Expectations in Charms and the same in Transfigurations. Another Exceeds Expectations in Care for magical Creatures and... guess... Herbology. I studied very hard for that, you know?"

Snape smiled proudly. "Exceeds Expectations, indeed!"

"No, I don't... don't believe it!" The rather cheerful expression on Severus face vanished.

"What? You didn't...?"

"Potions... I just..." The shaking Harry handed the letter to his father. Severus was preparing for the worst.

His son had failed at potions.

Severus was not ashamed of his son but of himself. He had tried to force the boy to work harder on his potions results by giving him the worst marks. And now he seemed to have destroyed everything.

First he just wanted to annoy Harry by spotting every little mistake in his essays, trying to confuse him during practical lessons. But later on he saw that the boy's results and efforts increased. He had begun to challenge the boy every time in order to help him.

Now he had ruined the boy's future.

"Read it." Harry's voice was a faint whisper, his face showed disbelief. "Just... read it!"

Snape hands were wet and he began to read through the letter. At the very end he spotted the results.

"Transfigurations... Divination... Care for magical Creatures... Defence against the Dark Arts..." He paused. "Potions..." He paused again, closed his eyes and breathed hard. "Potions... Outstanding? You received 'Outstanding' in your Potions test?"

"I promise I didn't cheat!" This was a reflex, a kind of survival instinct.

"Of course you didn't! You can't cheat during O.W.L.'s!"

"You say you're not angry?"

"Angry?" Severus was amazed how often the boy surprised him.

"Well, I thought... you might be angry because I proved you wrong!"

"Because you proved me wrong?" This boy gave the potions master the feeling that he knew nothing about children. He had been teaching for fifteen years and what had he learned? He didn't even understand his own son!

"You gave me the worst marks, besides Neville. You told me that I knew nothing about potions. I... obviously proved you wrong. I didn't intend that, you know?"

"That... I hoped you would do well. I actually feared that you would fail at potions. I feared that I had gone too far."

Harry sighed with relief.

"There is something where you are proving me wrong all the time. I thought I knew at least something about children. But every day you surprise me with another unforeseen response or answer or... you just surprise me every day."

The young men sitting in front of the heavy ebony desk fought back the tears. Yeah, he had made it.

He had proved his enemy wrong and had impressed his father. It was an odd and unknown feeling, much stronger than anything before. He had his potions O.W.L.

"What is wrong, boy?" Severus could have slapped himself in the face for calling his son 'boy' again. He was not a servant, nor anything he had in his possession. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Harry was confused.

"Calling you 'boy'. I'm acting like a bloody bastard. I'm talking like Lucius or... no. I don't want to treat you like you were something I can possess, you're not my servant or my slave. You are my son." Severus was surprised how much love and care lay just within these four words. He may not have intended to say it with such emotional intense but he truly meant it.

This was too much for Harry. He covered his face with his hands to hide his tears.

"What did I do wrong again?" Severus was concerned. He wasn't a good father. He just said one sentence and didn't even realise that he hurt his son so deeply. "Oh, I'm sorry. I surly didn't mean to hurt you!" He slowly stood up and walked over to his son and knelt down beside him. "Please, don't cry. I didn't want to hurt you!"

He forced Harry to look at him and saw a wide smile on Harry's lips and a deep happiness in his eyes.

"No, you didn't hurt me! I'm just so... happy about what you said and... guess everything. I... I proved my enemy wrong and I impressed my father." Severus smiled (still a very confusing sight for Harry!) and covered his son's hand with his own. A sudden knock interrupted the peaceful atmosphere and Severus rose.

"Come in."

Harry turned towards the door and Madame Hooch stepped into the office.

"Severus, I'm here to... what did you do to the poor boy?"

"Pray tell, why does everybody believe I'm the one to blame if the boy isn't feeling well? I'm innocent!"

"Whatever you say, Severus. Anyhow, I'm here to tell you that Dumbledore suggested making Sheldon McGraw the referee in the next match between Slytherin and Gryffindor. I thought this may be the better choice. And the fairer one as well."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Well, it's your choice, Madam Hooch."

"You wanted to be a referee?" Harry was asked.

"I fancy a good Quidditch match from time to time." Harry grinned.

"So I'm not the only one to be surprised by sudden discoveries today." Madam Hooch looked at them with surprise. "Well, our dear Professor Snape was a rather good seeker during his time at school."

Severus glared at her. "Rather bad than good."

"Ow, that's an understatement you should be reprimanded of! In his last year he even won against Potter. Unfortunately for Slytherin he had been ill in the matches prior to and Gryffindor even won with Severus catching the Snitch."

"We heard enough from past times! Just let's get back to the topic."

"I'm finished with the topic. One last remark: It's easy to scare off children!" Madam Hooch's lips curled with a smile and a spark of joy was in Severus eyes.

Dear ol' Dad warms up a little bit, doesn't he?

"I think I gotta go now. I have some work to do and a weekend of doing nothing ahead."

"See you on Monday morning." Severus answered.

---

"Did you hear about Snape? During potions with the Gryffindors and Slytherins he said something to Potter."

"Do you think Potter is still here? Do you think Potter and that...?"

"No, Snape is getting old, isn't he?" The two Ravenclaw girls chuckled. Harry pretended he hadn't heard anything.

"Silly girls!"

Harry turned at the sound of the icy voice. A young blonde woman stood a few steps behind him. He had seen her before, but where?

"Um...?"

"They think they are superior because they are Ravenclaws. Arrogant brats."

Harry starred at her with disbelief. Her short hair stood wild around her head and her icy blue eyes stared at he two girls. Suddenly she gazed at Harry.

"Isabeau Corva. I'm a sixth year Slytherin."

Harry swallowed hard. Most of his lessons he spent with the sixth years Slytherins. He hadn't even seen her during his last five years.

"Well, even some of those of my year don't recognize me. I'm a rather silent person."

"Sheldon McGraw." She only nodded. "Well, everybody knows me."

"No big deal. That was rather impressing to show up as a transfer student and additionally not getting sorted. Hasn't the hat considered putting you in some other house than Slytherin or Gryffindor?"

Harry felt uncomfortable.

"No. It hasn't. I think I'm too lazy for Ravenclaw and too stubborn for Hufflepuff. He never even mentioned another house than Slytherin or Gryffindor."

"Well, you're half a member of the family, aren't you?"

Harry looked at her with surprise.

"No, I am a Slytherin, don't worry. It didn't take very long to sort me. I made you speechless?"

"Um... I'm surprised about your comment..." Harry said, dumbfounded.

"They don't have any respect for Professor Snape. I don't when someone's so disrespectful. Still, he is a teacher." Harry nodded blandly.

"Do you have some kind of speech disability?" Isabeau asked, looking at Harry curiously.

"No. I just don't like to talk very much. It was a hard week, wasn't it?" Harry recovered as best as he could.

"Yes. See on Monday morning." Isabeau smiled and walked on.

"Yeah, see you!" Harry muttered and walked towards his room.

---

"Mister McGraw, nice to see you again!"

"Lord Brandon." Harry greeted. "Non omnis fallis." The painting swung aside and Harry stepped inside. A note on his desk caught his attention.

"You are expected to attend a meeting at the Headmasters office after breakfast tomorrow. This seems to happen very often lately!" Harry threw his bag across the room and dropped on the bed. He was too tired to do any work right now.

---

Harry woke in the morning and looked down at his watch. It was already breakfast time.

Damn. Normally he just would have turned over and slept until late noon, but today he had to get up and meet the headmaster at his office.

He decided that he could skip breakfast today and headed for Dumbledore's office instead.

While he waited, he had a closer look around. Still, the silver sword of Godric Gryffindor was placed in a showcase, but the faint reflection in the pane showed a different boy. Could Sheldon (or whoever he was now) have pulled the sword out of the hat?

"Good morning Sheldon, I'm happy you are already here!"

Sheldon turned to the headmaster and nodded friendly. His face turned unreadable.

"Headmaster, Professor Snape."

"Good morning, Sheldon." Severus answered.

"I wanted to talk about your plan to introduce Sheldon McGraw as son of Severus Snape." All three sat down and the headmaster offered tea and biscuits. "Are you sure of your decision?" They remained silent.

"Do we have another option? I mean, Voldemort will kill Professor Snape, won't he?"

"I think the boy is right, Severus." Severus rolled his eyes.

"The two of you just won't understand, do you?" Harry tried to explain.

"Dear boy, you have to explain things if we ought to understand them." Professor Dumbledore gave him the chance to explain more clearly.

"The Dark Lord has planned to gather all the Death Eater children during the Christmas holidays. That's some kind of training camp. He will try to brainwash the children in order to create another generation of Death Eaters, and he... he will break those, whose minds he cannot change. I don't want... anyone to suffer through such 'training'."

"I... He would kill you, won't he?"

"That's not the point, Potter!" It was easier for Snape to refer to Harry as 'Potter' when he was angry.

"So, what's the point then? Say it! SAY IT!" Harry's voice rose in anger as well.

"I already told you once: I WILL NOT SACRIFICE YOU OR ANYONE ELSE FOR SOME STUPID IDEOLOGY!" Snape stood, towering over his son.

"Sometimes you NEED to let someone help you with your problems!" Harry wondered where this calmness and the mature attitude came from. "Of course it's a dangerous, even wicked idea. But sometimes you have to risk certain things to win. Do you think it would be useful to sacrifice YOURSELF for some... ideology?"

Severus stared at his son with disbelief in his eyes.

"You certainly would sacrifice yourself for some ideology if you let yourself killed by Voldemort to save your son, Severus. Said son has a logical point of view, hasn't he?" Dumbledore had a serious look that one did not often see, so Snape knew to pay attention.

"Yes headmaster!" Severus admitted and forced himself to look at the sorting hat.

He remembered every word the hat had said to him during the sorting process.

"Well, too stubborn for Hufflepuff, of course. Furthermore you are far too willing to take a risk to fit into Ravenclaw and... undoubtedly, far too much talent to be wasted to Gryffindor. Well, dear, you are a SLYTHERIN!"

Could it truly be Gryffindor keeping the students from developing a straight sense for logic? Two of the worst examples for that came from the Weasleys' family: Percy and the twins, Fred and George.

Percy, the perfect little civil servant. He served without thinking, trying to bend logic so that there would be no tensions between the orders and his conscience.

The twins, on the other hand, didn't give a damn on logic, but were successful businessmen.

Since Severus only had to deal with one son himself, he almost admired Molly for her ability to keep all her children in the line, at least until they were of age and left school.

"I... I agree."

Everyone in the room just wondered what might have happened in Severus' mind to make him change it so fast.

"I... recalled a little 'conversation' and now... I agree. It's just that simple."