The Potions Master looked at Remus. He didn't stare, or send him a piercing glare; he just stood there for a moment, speechless. The thought whirled around in his mind for a moment, nothing completely clicking. For the first time in Severus' life, he was confused. He seemed to have come to that realization for within moments his blank look turned angry.

"Explain yourself, Remus, or are you just like the rest of the Marauders, just toying with my mind?" he asked dangerously, fully intent on ignoring the uneasiness rising in his stomach.

Remus Lupin, observed him for a moment before answering quietly, "I do not toy with you, Severus. Go see the boy now and judge for yourself if he needs more enemies, if anything that boy needs a family"

Something in the way Remus had said family, or maybe it had been the fact that he had mentioned family at all caught Severus off guard and he wavered, catching himself before the werewolf had noticed. No such luck.

"What is it?" Remus cocked his head, his eyes concerned.

"Nothing" he snapped, turning sharply on his heel, storming down the rows of tables, banging the doors open. Lupin looked after him for a moment, watching the great oak doors shut heavily before he sat down. He rubbed his temple idly, wondering what had just happened.

*~*~*~*~*

Leaning, one hand against the wall, Severus watched the slow, labored breathing of the one student he had loved to hate. Light from the fading sun cascaded on his sallow complexion, burning brightly on his hair and reflected eerily in his eyes. Guilt was the first and foremost thing on his mind. He noted with some trepidation the small, barely notable changes that would soon mark the boy as his son. Boy? Son? Who was he kidding? He was as prepared to face the truth as he was to chew off his own arm.

Harry's onyx black hair was longer and sleeker, no longer the messy mop it had been for the past 15 some odd years. A delicately sculpted brow creased, something of a whimper escaped the dry lips, as he brought up a hand as if to block a blow.

Snape clenched his teeth, something in his insides lurched and in anger at his own weakness he snarled, "Potter!" surprised at how easy it had come to blame Potter of everything. But this wasn't James; this wasn't even a Potter.

Dull, ivy green eyes snapped open coming to rest on glittering black ones.

"Snape?" he asked groggily, his arm dropping to his side painfully.

"You are to call me Professor Snape or sir, Potter. You are in Hogwarts, and therefore are still my student." His voice sounded cold, and harsh, as he glared down at the boy. The-boy-who-lived. How much more did I miss in my blind hatred?

"Yes, sir" he corrected, his voice equally cold as he realized who he was talking to. What was Snape, of all people, doing here? Did he know what had happened? Probably came to have a good hard laugh. Harry thought bitterly, hating the Potions Professor for even seeing him in such a weak state. "Why are you here, sir?" he asked coldly, wanting nothing more than to hex that sneer of his face permanently.

"To inform you, Potter, that you will be staying in my household for the duration of the Summer Term. On Dumbledore's orders, I assure you. However" he smirked at the mixed expression of surprise, horror and finally anger on his pupil's (dare he think son's?), face before continuing. "Since I do not have any intention of letting you within one hundred yards of my home, you will remain with me in the dungeons."

Harry stared at the head of Slytherin, refusing to blink when the pitiless eyes stared back. Live with Snape? He just knew he would be facing expulsion within the week. Honestly, what was Dumbledore thinking? If he was still throwing around that confounded idea that they would be friends, he was sorely mistaken. How could he? After what had happened last year? Unconsciously he gripped the bed sheets, a familiar ache tearing his heart apart mercilessly.

Snape left almost immediately; seemingly oblivious to the lost, pained expression in the depths of the emerald green eyes.

*~*~*~*~*

But Snape wasn't oblivious, far from it in fact. The pained expression, hidden behind a façade haunted his thoughts as he retreated to his private quarters. Locking the door he sat on a high back chair muttered a spell and watched as flames leapt in the fireplace throwing odd shadows across the room.

The house elves had obviously kept the place free of dust while he had been away, leaving a clean albeit slightly sinister looking living quarters. He ran a hand through his greasy hair absently, pondering the expression of hate on the still bruised face of his son. Looking into the astonishingly green eyes so full of mistrust and dislike leaving a different impression on him than before.

Before he had been James' son, a mirror of his school nemesis, but now… Now he was…an enigma. A complete mystery to Severus, and more importantly, a part of a memory that he had determinedly buried long ago. But now, like an old scar being ripped open, he was being forced to remember everything that he had fought so hard to forget. Unsuccessfully.

Since the first time he had watched his malnourished frame shuffle in through the large oak doors, watching everything and everyone with curiosity and delight, he had hated the boy. Searching for any reason to torture the boy, he had taken great delight in belittling him in class. The boy had been an outlet of his frustrations, contempt, and most of all his fallen pride. Without thought or consideration he had immediately labeled the boy another James, taking pleasure in getting his revenge.

Second and third year he hadn't stopped the barrage of torment. Always making sure he went just far enough to get to him but not far enough to get a considerable amount of attention from Dumbledore or anyone for that matter. He had always known where to draw the line, but somehow Harry was always the little hero. He of course had read the articles, which praised the-boy-who-lived avidly, drinking it all in, fueling the image of another proud James.

He remembered Harry's fourth year, when Rita Skeeter had written a particularly nasty article connecting him in a love triangle with Hermione Granger and Viktor Krum. Malevolently he had read the article aloud to the class, taking a sick joy in watching Harry burn with anger. He had encouraged the Malfoy child in his attempts to jeer and taunt the celebrity. With the sudden appearance of the Dark Lord, Severus had become even bitterer, using Harry as an outlet of his frustrations.

And as fifth year rolled around, he had positively enjoyed the fact that Harry was becoming the laughing stock on the wizarding world. He was hardly concerned when the boy started having nightmares, but was disturbed at being asked to give him Occlumency lessons. Never-the-less he had done as he was asked to, darned those twinkling eyes of Albus… He was somewhat irked at some of the images he had seen, but passed it off as rare occasions. No doubt the bike ridden by what appeared to a whale had previously belonged to the beloved Potter. As for the dog, it was a fluke. Those and probably all of the other images he had seen, save for the dementors, were probably distorted memories. Altered to play on his sympathies. But he had not given in; he had ignored all the signs that now came back, haunting him.

He remembered instances when he had recoiled from someone's touch, the way he had laughed but it had been hollow and his eyes had been empty of mirth. He watched the flames flicker licking at the dry log hungrily, his mind lost in guilt as the realization hit him. He had been wrong.

*~*~*~*~*

Well there is the second part of Chapter 7.

Thanks to my reviewers-

Hermione Green- thanks, I am the cruel one aren't I? * sings* "I'm a mean one, nillulmaiel..da da da da da da da….

Jaded Angel8- how did you like this part?

Gina-thanks

Athena kitty- questions will be answered soon enough * evil laugh *

Kaelleigh- thanks : )

Momma-dar- * grin * who doesn't love Remus ; )

Emiepatapouf- thanks

MiakaChan5- sorry about the chapter being short I try to write three to five pages for each chapter, thanks for the review

Ginny Lorina Fireseerer- thanks for pointing out the 'thank-you', for some reason my spell check didn't pick it up hmmm