Chapter seven

Enter Dumbledore

As he had promised, Snape went to see Dumbledore – and Lupin – on Monday afternoon. It was with slight trepidation that Snape knocked at the Headmaster's door. Lupin, he saw, was already there.

'Ah, Severus,' said Dumbledore, 'We've been waiting for you. Please, have a seat.' Snape sat down. Dumbledore looked expectantly from one to the other.

'As I was saying, Headmaster,' said Lupin, 'We want to discuss Harry Potter with you.'

'Ah, yes.' Dumbledore glanced at Snape, a look of mild curiosity on his face, and then turned back to Lupin.

'You have, no doubt, noticed the changes in Harry's appearance this term,' Lupin went on.

'Yes, indeed; several members of the staff have been to see me about it... Poppy seemed to think that he might have been dabbling in Polyjuice Potion again, but the symptoms aren't exactly as would be expected... What do you think, Severus?'

Snape shifted uncomfortably in his seat. 'Well, Headmaster,' he said, clearing his throat, 'Polyjuice Potion may indeed have something to do with it, although perhaps not in the way you think.'

'Headmaster,' said Lupin, 'I am sure you remember that, seventeen years ago, you sent Severus on a mission to Godric's Hollow, disguised as James Potter. Seventeen years – I am sure I need not tell you what happens if Polyjuice Potion is used under – er – certain circumstances. Harry... is now sixteen years old, and... well, I think you get my point.'

Dumbledore's eyes widened in surprise. 'Well – that would, indeed, explain everything... Severus – I assume this is correct?'

'Yes, Headmaster,' said Snape, avoiding Dumbledore's gaze. Dumbledore said nothing for a while, and Lupin and Snape remained silent as well, leaving the headmaster to his own thoughts. Snape looked to his left and caught a glimpse of the portrait of Phineas Nigellus in front of his Slytherin Banner. He noticed that he seemed to be trying very hard not to snigger. After a few minutes, Dumbledore spoke again.

'Well, this does change quite a few things. Does Harry know about this?'

'We haven't told him,' said Lupin, 'although the changes in his appearance must have led him to suspect that something isn't as it should be.'

'Yes, quite,' said Dumbledore.

'I think he should be told as soon as possible,' said Lupin gravely. 'I'm sure he is worried about everything that has happened to him this term...'

'What do you think, Severus?'

'I hardly think Potter will be turning cart-wheels at the thought of my being his father,' Snape sneered. Perhaps he imagined it, but he thought that Dumbledore looked rather pleased at hearing these words.

'Would you excuse us, Remus,' said Dumbledore, 'I shall need to speak to Severus alone.' Lupin nodded and left the room. Snape was still avoiding Dumbledore's eyes; he felt like a schoolboy who had been summoned to the Headmaster's office for some offence he had committed – which, come to think of it, he had.

'So, Severus,' Dumbledore went on, 'you have known about this for some time now, is that right?'

'Well, Lupin mentioned his suspicions to me after the Start-of-Term-Banquet, but I didn't believe him – I didn't want to believe him.'

'But you believe him now?'

'How can I not – Potter has changed even more since then, even I cannot deny it anymore... Every time I look at him, I see a mixture of myself and Lily...'

'Why didn't you tell me what had happened when you came back from Godric's Hollow?' Dumbledore said without any trace of accusation in his voice.

'I didn't for a moment expect that this would be the consequence... I thought there was no harm done, as long as no one but myself knew what had happened.' He paused. 'But I was wrong.'

'Be that as it may,' said Dumbledore briskly, ' – as of now, our first priority must be Harry. I'm sure he is in considerable distress; we must decide what to do about it. Sooner or later, Harry will find out, one way or another, that you are his father, whether you want it or not. Considering everything that has passed between the two of you, I know this cannot be easy for you. So I need to know, Severus, if you are prepared to deal with the problems that may arise.'

'I daresay I shall have to be prepared, Headmaster.'

'Yes... But to be obliged to and to accept something willingly are two different things, Severus. I know your relation to the boy became even more strained after the ... Occlumency debacle last year...'

Snape's face was inscrutable as he looked at Dumbledore. 'It may take me a while to fully come to terms with the fact that he is my son, but I assure you that once I have done so, I will act accordingly.'

'Very well.' Dumbledore looked pleased. He paused, seeming to be deep in thought. 'Considering the strong feelings Harry has always had for his father – that is to say, James Potter – I think it best if I were to tell him,' he added after a while.

'I agree, Headmaster. If you would be so kind as to let me know when you have told him...'

'Certainly, Severus. No doubt he will want to see you sooner or later.'

'Yes, I should like to be prepared for such a meeting.'

'I quite understand. Talking about that...' Dumbledore looked at a table next to Snape, which held a collection of obscure silver instruments. 'I might just remove these before I summon him.'

The corner of Snape's mouth twitched slightly. 'Was there anything else you wanted to discuss, Headmaster?'

'Not at present, Severus. Good Night.'

Snape nodded curtly and swept out of the room.

'Well, well, well ... That certainly was an interesting conversation!' a voice came from the wall. Phineas Nigellus was leaning casually against the frame of his painting. 'Who would have thought that Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, the one who defeated the Dark Lord, Gryffindor's Golden Boy, is in fact the son of a former Death Eater, not to mention the head of Slytherin House!'

'Who indeed, Phineas,' Dumbledore chuckled, 'who indeed!' He sat back, putting his fingertips together, deep in thought. After several minutes he got up, went over to a cupboard, and took out a shallow stone basin engraved with runes and symbols. He put his wand to his temple and began extracting long, silvery strands of thoughts, putting them into his Pensieve.

Author's Note: I hope you all liked my characterisation of Professor Dumbledore – I very much enjoy writing him. Please, don't hesitate to review if you have anything to comment on!