Despite his protests Hogwarts' Madam Pomfrey refused to let Harry out of her sight, insisting it was for his own good. Right.

"We wouldn't want you to collapse and knock your head against anything again, now would we, Mr. Potter?" Madam Pomfrey gave him a kind smile, checking his temperature.

Harry, slightly groggy from a heavy sleeping potion, nodded his head and submitted to her ministrations. But her words rang in his head. 'Mr. Potter?' Was he really?

After the mediwitch left Harry rested against his propped up pillows and stared at the far wall. So many things had taken place in the past few weeks and he was still reeling. He had been sick with grief and regret when he had been rescued, and had thought death would have been a blessed release. But now, he was probably worse off than before.

Voldemort was still alive and after him. This might be slightly remedied by the fact that he was no longer Harry Potter, as least he doubted it was much of a problem anymore. This was another problem. Who was he? He couldn't very well go back to school as Harry Potter now that traces of his "father's" blood were no longer present. He doubted he would look very much like James Potter anymore, if his lanky frame and limp hair were anything to go by. And now that he was more or less Snape's son, would they change his name? Re-introduce him at the start of term as someone completely new? If his last sorting was anything to go by, Harry could make a pretty good guess what house he would placed in the second time around.

If that was true then what would be expected of him? Would he be expected to put on the same act as Snape? Pretend to be intently interested in the Dark Lord? Harry knew that if this was the road he was bound for then an even more likely was the road toward taking the Mark, and that, he wouldn't do. Harry knew that it would be expected, Snape was from a long line of dark wizards, much like the Malfoy's and Black's. But what of the prophecy? Did it still apply to him? Harry had a general idea that Snape most certainly had not defied the Dark Lord when he had been born?

But then again…how long ago had Snape turned on the Dark Lord? What if he had turned before his parents (mom and James, he remedied himself forcefully) had been killed? So many questions! Wishing he could sink farther into the mattress and hide under the covers forever Harry sighed and wondered why the fates were so adamant to make his life unlivable.

The following days Harry didn't see much of anyone except for Remus who was staying at Hogwarts until the term started. Harry had the sneaking suspicion that Dumbledore might hire him back for the Defense position again.

"Oh good, your awake." Said the familiar soft voice of Remus Lupin.

"Sure." Said Harry highly doubting that his state of drowsiness could be considered 'awake'.

"Hm, yes. I supposes 'conscious' would be a better term." Remus smiled.

"Remus, what's going to happen?" asked Harry, a slow throbbing headache starting to form.

The haggard man took a seat on the chair next to Harry's cot and fiddled with a piece of tattered sleeve. "I can't honestly say, Harry. The necessary precautions will be taken though, I can assure you of that."

"Will they put me hiding?"

"I doubt it, not yet anyway. I think perhaps that several serious changes will take place though." Said Lupin gravely.

"Will Snape have to give up spying?" Harry sincerely hoped this wasn't the case, although he may hate the man he didn't want the Order to lose one of their chief informants. And certainly not because of him.

Remus paused and thought it over, "It may be best, Harry, to let the Headmaster tell you." At Harry's slightly annoyed expression he chuckled. "He knows more than I do, and can answer your questions more thoroughly that I can."

"If he chooses." Said Harry resentfully.

"Albus always has his reasons, Harry."

The conversation dropped into a lull and Harry studied his fingers. They were longer than usual and the skin was devoid of the freckle that used to reside on the flap of skin between his index finger and thumb. "Remus?"

"Hm?" Lupin had apparently brought a book with him and was reading intently. At Harry's inquiry he paused and looked up.

"What do I look like? It's been days, and Pomfrey won't let me near anything that could show my reflection. Personally," he added conspiratorially. "I think she suspects I'll go into epileptic shock."

Remus gave a sharp bark of laughter and quickly covered it when the mediwitch came through the adjoining door. Once she had left he broke into a grin and chuckled, shaking his head. Sobering he looked up and studied Harry's face intently.

"And don't lie, my hair is black again. And I've noticed that it takes less time for it to have that 'dirty' feeling. My eyes sight has also improved and my voice is…different. So tell me, what do I look like?"

"You look like…Lily. Her features are much more obvious…" Remus studied his face and seemed unsure of what to say.

"And…?" said Harry, spellbound with dread and anticipation.

"You're his son, Harry, you're bound to look like him." Lupin marked his place in his book and set it on the stand, his brow dipped with hesitation.

"Remus!" said Harry, exasperated.

The werewolf sighed, "I'll bring you a mirror. You look like both of them; it depends on who you knew. I knew Lily well and you knew Severus more." Harry choked. "You know what I meant! You were around him more that I was."

Harry nodded his head, "You're right, I think you'd better bring a mirror."

Remus returned a while later with a small mirror and handed it to the dark haired boy. Harry took it and felt his stomach clench. It was the brother mirror of the one Sirius had given him. Squashing the thoughts of pain and sorrow he looked at his reflection with interest. James' boyish features were nonexistent and his skin was paler. Whether this was from lack of being out doors all summer or if it was hereditary from Snape, Harry couldn't tell. His bone structure was different, his jaw less round and more symmetrical, his nose was high but, thankfully, not hooked.

"He broke his." Came Remus' amused voice.

"What?" said Harry, giving back the mirror.

"His nose, you were wondering why you're nose wasn't hooked?" Remus had a wistful look on his face. "During a quidditch match he was the reserve chaser and Sirius was a beater. You work out the details." He finished grimly.

Harry smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. A small part of him really wished Sirius hadn't been such a git.

"Perhaps you should get some more rest, Severus will be by soon to help you move back to the dungeons."

Harry frowned. "Why? It's not like he cares-"

"Harry," said Remus, his tone chastising.

"Well?" Harry challenged. "Does it look like he cares? I'm his bloody son and he hasn't even been to visit or say hello or sit there and curse at me! Nothing! I know what he thinks of me, he doesn't what me as his son. I'm just the consequence of another prophecy." Harry played with the edge of the hospital blanket glumly.

"Don't be absurd, Severus doesn't know how to act. He just found out he had a son, and that son-"

"Is James Potter reincarnated." Finished Harry with a sneer. "Just because I'm his, won't change the way he sees me, Moony, he'll always see me as a loud, fool hardy, obnoxious, arrogant James Potter clone!" Harry hated saying as much, as if his words cemented it the fact alone.

Remus Lupin ran a hand through his ever-greying hair and sighed. "You can't expect him to just suddenly accept you, Harry."

"I don't, believe me, Moony, I don't. I don't expect anything from him."

"I hate to see you like this, Harry, I-"

"No, don't. I don't want your sympathy. I should have realised that I couldn't expect him to like me. I'm surprised I even let myself play around with the idea. I guess after everything that happened last year, I just…I don't know what to think, to believe, or anything. You know?"

Remus smiled sadly and stood, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Yeah, I know. Come on, let's get you ready then." The werewolf opened the dresser drawer beside the bed and rumaged around for some clothes.

"What was in that potion?" said Harry around another yawn. "I feel like I'm stuck in a fog or something."

"Harry? Where did all these clothes come from?"

"I dunno, Dumbledore?" Harry looked up from pulling on a pair of slacks. He hadn't thought about and had just assumed it had been the Headmaster.

"Professor Dumbledore, Harry, are you sure?"

Harry shrugged, removing his hospital gown. A sharp intake of breath brought his attention up to meet the glowing eyes of Remus. It was in that moment Harry recognized the wolf in his favorite ex-professor. "Moony?" He asked meekly.

Remus' yellow eyes were staring at Harry's chest and looking down Harry could see why he was in a state of shock. Scars crisscrossed and overlapped down the front of his body. While most were healed and slightly faded, uglier, newer ones stood out in sharp contrast to his pale skin. "Moony…"

The werewolf's eyes were a mixture of anger, guilt, and pain. "I'm so sorry, Harry."

"For what? You didn't know." Harry had quickly put on the shirt and jumper that his friend had previously been inspecting.

"I should have!" he said vehemently.

Harry gave him an annoyed look, "How? How could you help me? You didn't know, no one knew!"

"You should have told us!"

"And would you have believed me? I already told you how much I hated it there! I told you all, but nobody wanted to hear it! I'm the boy-who-lived, Remus! My life is supposed to be perfect! Who would believe me?"

"Any of us!" argued the older wizard. "You could have come to any of us, we would have listened!"

Harry snorted, his face twisted into a sneer, "Snape already believed I was an attention seeking brat! I would have been patted on the head and told to be a good boy!" Harry could feel the lump of emotion closing off his throat but he persisted anyway, "I told you how I was starved, how they hated me and magic! I told you, you just didn't listen!"

Remus was shaking with different emotions. He knew it was true, if he had looked and read between the lines he knew what he would have found. He remembered how Harry was always skinny, how he never got new glasses or the only muggle clothes he wore, besides the jumpers Mrs. Weasley sent every winter, were a pair of obscenely large jeans and tattered shirts. Looking back over the years he recognised the signs that seemed blindingly obvious now, but for some reason- had been over looked. A growl built in his throat and standing up he left the infirmary, seeking solace where a pair of green eyes wouldn't watch him.

Harry watched him leave and felt a tinge of regret. He had gone to far, he should have kept his mouth closed. Feeling hot tears threatening to fall he went to a sink on the far side of the room and splashed cold water on his face. Straightening, he found a towel and wiped his face, wondering where he had put his glasses anyway. His eyesight really had improved, while not perfect he could look around the room and nothing was blurry except the edges of the window on the far end of the room.

Checking to make sure he left nothing he sat on his made bed and waited. Snape strode into the room a short while later, pausing in the doorway looking at him. Steeling himself against the rejection Harry quickly followed him through the corridors to the Headmaster's office.

Inside they both took chairs on opposite sides of the room. Albus arrived shortly after and looked at them both with amusement. Harry wished he wouldn't. While the idea that his family wasn't actually dead was nice, the idea of who that left him with was not.

"Good morning, Severus, Harry." Both nodded their head muttering their own acknowledgement. "Lemon drop, anyone?"

After both refused the treat Dumbledore popped one into his mouth and ordered tea for everyone. That was the funny thing about spending time with the dotty Headmaster. You never knew what would happen other than you would be offered a Lemon Drop and force fed peppermint tea until it grew cold by the end.

"Professor, what is going to happen?" It was obvious by the look of serene calmness that literally oozed off the old man that he had been waiting for them to start the meeting. "Professor Snape can't possibly resume his spying if Voldemort knows about our…relation." Harry knew Severus hated when they used the Dark Lord's name but pushed the thought away.

"We have devised a plan. Harry Potter will be sent away into hiding since he is obviously a prime target for Voldemort. Severus' son will be a transfer student from Durmstrange. There was student there by the name of 'Angelo Aspera', he was expelled and now, you will take his name here. The papers are all arranged and coming this next term you will sorted as 'Escalus Solanio Angelo Aspera Snape.'

"Back story has been arranged as well. Your father Severus believed his wife dead, discovering your existence he took you back, your mother hated you and relinquished her custody."

"Escalus Solanio Angelo Aspera Snape?" Harry stared at the Headmaster and Snape for a moment in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me." Snape for one looked mildly offended. "No, never mind. Later. What about…Voldemort?" Harry noted Snape stiffen at the name.

"Severus will continue his duty, there is no reason to worry about that."

"And if he requests me?" Harry pressed.

"Severus can cover for you with the fact that you are not ready enough, Durmstrange is not the best of schools, its' curriculum is very loose and the classes poor." The headmaster was idly running his gnarled fingers through his beard. Harry hated when he did that.

"Good to know you have things under control," said Harry under his breath. Snape looked like he was about to say something but was silenced with a look from Dumbledore. "Can I at least tell Hermione and Ron?"

"It would be best if you didn't."

"The Order will have to know eventually." Pointed out Harry. He felt awfully fidgety in the office since that last time he had been there, he had practically wrecked the place out. "Maybe if we…" Harry paused, looking at the Headmaster meaningfully. "If we…filled them in on certain…things." Harry hated the idea of the whole Order knowing about the prophecy.

Dumbledore gave him calculating look. "Are you certain?"

"Yes." Harry was pointedly avoiding Snape's gaze. "They will need to know eventually wouldn't they? Might as well get it all out. And besides," he added with a dark look at the Headmaster. "You know how bad situations can get when vital information is withheld."

Albus answered this statement with a slightly sad smile. "Yes, I suppose I would."

"Then it's settled."

"I'll give you the time for the meeting once it's set up. Would you prefer it be at Hogwarts, rather than Headquarters?"

"Headquarters is fine, professor." Harry bit his tongue the moment the words had left his mouth. He should have said Hogwarts! But headquarters would probably be safer anyway. After a few moments the meeting ended with the agreement that Hermione and the whole lot of the Weasley family would be present when the announcement about his true heritage was revealed.

Reviews

Athenakitty: muahaha. So many questions, and so many answers…

Kateri1: thanks!

HecateDeMorte: Thanks for your review. Yes, turning Potter into Lily was quite fun.

Anyone who is out of story ideas: I have several challenges on my Author Page for your to consider. cackle