A/N: I've been asked what a Severitus challenge is. This is where you must reveal that Severus is Harry's biological father. For more information, visit

www. geocities. com/ challengefics/thechallenge.htm

Aren't you tired of being weak?

Such rage that you could scream

all the stars right out of the sky

and destroy the prettiest starry night

every evening that I die.

Lipgloss and Black- Atreyu

Don't be frightened, Nagini.. No one shall know.. Not even our host..

The crackle of bones, breaking, in a dim-lit, cold room. That was all Harry could remember. That, and the hiss of a cold voice, Voldemort, no doubt, send a shiver down his spine.

His hair had grown once again that morning, and he moved it away and ran a finger down his lightening bolt scar. A slight burning sensation tingled beneath his finger, as Harry opened his eyes. Harry was aware of his surroundings now.

His head lay on a thick textbook.. He groaned, he had fallen asleep, and had not finished his final draft of his essay.

His watch beeped. With a glance, he discovered it was only six. With an exhale, he walked upstairs to trim his hair once more. Pulling out the blade Sirius gave to him, he gazed at it tiredly, with hesitation, he pulled a strand of hair with his fingers, and cut it short; causing his hair to bounce into a mess.

When Harry was halfway through his task, he heard a tired, "'H'rry, mate, wutcha doing?" It was Ron, pajamas three inches too short for him, and the red hair askew from sleeping.

"Cutting my hair, Ron, go back to sleep." Ron looked at the hair on the ground. Harry's hair had grown two inches in length that night, which wasn't bad, but leaving his hair long all summer had given Harry many dirty looks from his aunt, and 'quality time' with his uncle to the barbers. So, Harry had made a habit of giving a quick cut each morning to keep that messy -just out of bed look- his father was famous for.

Ron gave a yawn, "Have.. prefects meeting.. Herms idea.." He moved passed Harry, snatching his toothbrush. Harry finished up, with a smirk. Of course, it would be Hermione's idea of convenience to schedule a meeting so early. Giving a quick sweep, Harry headed downstairs, to finish up his essay.

Reading it over and over, the Boy-Who-Lived looking for any sort of mistake possible as he headed down to the Great Hall for a quick breakfast. There were quite a few students awake, to Harry's surprise. Sitting down next to an exhausted looking Ginny, she gave a tired greeting. Ginny, too had become a prefect, to Molly Weasley's pleasure.

"Ron and Hermione are having a meeting with MaGonnagull." She said, after a sip of coffee.

Harry inquired after a swallowed bite of toast, "What about?"

Ginny, then looked awake, "Their fighting. Ron felt it was necessary." With a smirk. "Of course, it's clear as day they're into each other." She gave a yawn, "They had a complete blow-out in the meeting." Harry nodded, looking to his essay. Ginny, being Ginny, was talkative even at seven. "Why are you up so early?" She asked curiously.

Harry noticed Ron walk in with great speed, and gave a quick answer to Ginny, "Nightmare," before turning to be unloaded on by his best friend.

Ron asked after explaining everything to Harry, staring at Ginny. "What's the matter?"

Ginny rose to her feet, "It's nothing, I'll see you both later." And she scurried away. Ron shook his head, and muttered something about women, and started his breakfast feast.

Severus had successfully avoided the werewolf the entire morning, but was cornered before the sixth year lesson. "Severus," he said stepping into the classroom.

"Don't have time, Lupin." He said quickly, writing ingredients on the board.

"I can see that, Severus." The werewolf said in the same snappish tone. Must be coming close to that time of the month.. Severus smirked. Temper was getting short. Snape noted. Remus replied, "And since our schedules don't seem to quite line up, I have come to schedule some time to talk. Perhaps after the full moon?"

Severus growled, "Fine," Giving in to the werewolf was always the what happened, there was no point in fighting these days. Especially when Severus desperately reminded himself he wanted a smoke whenever he saw Lupin approaching. The shaggy robed man always pressed until he had gotten what he wanted, Something the Marauders engraved into the man's soul, no doubt. Lupin left as the early students began to arrive.

Those being Granger and Potter. Granger whined, "Certainly, Ron can get through his thick skull that this issue did not need to go to MaGonnagull." Watching the Golden Boy roll his eyes, was slightly amusing to Severus, only because not only did the subject bore the entire student body it bore the Potions Master. The two sat in a desk, and Granger chitter-chattered about her problems to Potter as he read his essay over until the bell.

The rest of the class filed in, and took their seats accustom to their house. Gryffindor sat with Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw sat with Slytherin. The class was in total twenty-five students, eighteen of which were Ravenclaw. Severus mused, A seating arrangement would be entertaining.. The Head of Slytherin pushed the thought aside, Perhaps, if the students begin to misbehave. No need to cause problems so early in the term.

"You have one minute to hand in your essays in the front, or else you mark will be counted zero. Once you have handed your essay in, copy the ingredients down off the board."

The mad rush of handing in began. Watching as Draco handed it in first, giving a smirk, knowing even if he hadn't handed it in, he could still get full marks if he handed it in tomorrow. A struggling Hufflepuff, and the collision of two Ravenclaws was dodged by the seeker skills of Potter; managing to hand in both his and Granger's and sat down to work once more.

After setting the students on their way to make the potion on the board, Severus began his jobof marking. His second favorite part of the job, he mused. Deducting points off Gryffindor was the first.

The Ravenclaws, of course, got near full marks. Most of them, like Granger, attempted to squeeze in every bit of information in the three feet, and this made the writing smaller, harder to read. Forcing marks off. The Hufflepuffs in the class all got average marks, and when Snape got to Potter's, he expected the same quality as the Hufflepuffs. He, however, was disappointed.

It was perfect.

He took out his measuring tape, and measured exactly 3 feet. Neither spelling mistakes nor grammar errors were present. Glaring. Any copied material? None of the sort. With a scowl, Severus took out a pen and wrote on the top of the paper Perfect- 5 points to Gryffindor, and shoved the essay aside, with haste. Guess the boy wanted to be in the class after all.

As the bell rang, he watched the students file out, as he called Potter back. The boy shifted, gave Granger a nod to go, and stepped up to Severus' desk. "Yes, Professor?"

Severus made a click with his mouth, "How is it, Potter, after five years of potions, only is it now that you seem to be showing any sort of skill in the class?"

The boy asked, "What do you mean, sir?"

Pulling out the essay, and handing it to him. Giving him a chance to see what he received, Snape continued, "As well, it was necessary to enter the class with an 'O' from your OWLs. Which you achieved. How is that when your average of last year was below average?"

The boy didn't even blink as he said, "Must be all the studying, Professor." Staring down the boy, trying to enter his mind. Why is he so suspicious of me? I didn't do anything.. did I? Called him worthless yesterday, maybe that is why.. Wow, I cannot believe I got full marks!

It was like a Potter to lose his train of thought to boast his achievements. Snape scowled, and proceeded to narrowed his eyes."Pitiful, Potter," With a sneer, "I was actually thinking you had learned something, clearly by the skill of your Occumency," He snatched the essay away from him, "Lessons must continue." The boy gave a shrug, "Wednesday at 8, Potter. And if you are late to those, there will be consequences." With a nod of understanding, the boy hurried off for his next class.

"Harry, wait." Remus said, holding him after what was a very successful class on legal curses that were considered Dark.

Harry looked over at the werewolf. "Professor?"

Remus went to his desk, and gave Harry a piece of old parchment. "I believe this.. belongs to you." Harry grinned, holding the familiar map. "Professor Dumbledore asked me to return this to you. Says you have more of a use for it than he does at this time."

Harry smiled, "Thank you, Professor."

Remus advised, "No secret trips to Hogsmeade though, Harry,"

Harry nodded, "That's fine." It didn't mean Ron couldn't go make a trip to Hogsmeade for him..

He was halfway out the door when Remus shouted, "Stay out of trouble, Harry!" Harry found a laugh, and headed off for dinner.

Sitting next to the still feuding Hermione and Ron, he found himself talking with Ginny once more. "Are you going to be trying out for the Quidditch team, Gin?" He asked, taking a sip of pumpkin juice.

Ginny shrugged, "I don't know," She said slowly, "I'm not that good, and I wouldn't want to.." Lowering her voice, and giving a nudge towards Ron's direction, "Steal the spotlight from Ronnikins over there."

Harry gave a smile, "Nah, Gin, you are good! With some practice, it will boost your confidence of how you play, and I truly don't believe Ron would mind." Turning to Ron, "Isn't that right, Ron?"

Ron agreed not even knowing the reason why, and stabbed his steak with his fork, in a mood.

Ginny asked quietly, "You know the other day," Continuing, "When you had that nightmare.." She trailed off.

Harry gave a nod, and asked with curiosity, "Yea, what about it?"

"I had a nightmare too." She whispered. Harry stared. "I don't remember much about it, just a bit of talking. I woke up, shivering, you know?"

Harry nodded, and tried to comfort the worried girl. "Don't worry about it, it's not real." That's something he remembered off a movie.

Ginny exhaled, "I know," and turned back to her meal.

When Wednesday came around, Severus was sitting in his office, waiting for the The-Boy-Who-Lived, to be the Boy-Who-Was-Late-Yet-Again. Not that Snape cared, he was had things to do, such as mark. Glancing at the clock, he found Potter was a minute late. Probably would not even dare to show, Snape thought.

Five minutes after, the door was pushed open, "Sorry I'm late, Professor.." Staring at the boy, he heard his thoughts. Think of an excuse, he's staring.. think, Harry think! Even tell the truth.. Snape would never understand the truth. He did not say anything, he just shut down his mind, probably aware that Snape was inside.

"Five points from Gryffindor, now let's begin."

The lesson seemed to be going well. The boy appeared to be trying his damndest, not that it did any good. Severus had been able to get into his mind fast. Pulling at recent thoughts.

The return of a certain piece of parchment.. Potter looking at a blade, and cutting his long hair.. A cold voice "Don't be frightened," Cracking of bones..

Severus pulled away at the sound of someone collapse. "What was that?" It seemed a conversation they had had before.

Potter pulled himself up and replied, "Nothing. Let's continue." He was forcing himself too much. He was pushing himself to become stronger. Severus thought. It reminded him of himself as a boy, when his father had abused him for being weak.

"No, Potter, we'll call this a lesson, I think." Severus said.

The boy snapped, "What?!" He was on his feet, "I need to learn this, Professor! You damn well know this too." If the boy had known he was acting just as a Slytherin would, he would probably 'freak-out'. However, he also was acting on that Gryffindor courage. Staring into the Potions Masters' hollow eyes, not backing down. Once he knew Severus would not back down, he scuffed, and left in a fit. Reminds me of his Godson. Severus gave a smirk, and turned to his marking.