A/N: I am really sorry everyone with how long I have made you all wait for this chapter. I kind of hit a writer's block, not to mention that I fractured my foot etc… But here it is at last. Please REVIEW! Flamers are welcome as long as they tell me how I can improve.

Disclaimer:

Lady Lily3: Please don't hurt me! I don't own anything!

Severus: Really? Then why are the men in black and the secret service coming to get you?

Lady Lily3: What? Where? Looks around frantically No, please I don't have or own anything. Everything belongs to JK Rowling! She can even have my plot line if she wants to!

Severus: Hahaha, it was just a few of my friends!

PsyO: FOOLED YA!

Lady Lily3: Where did you come from?

PsyO: I hid in that corner over there points to a random corner Besides, I wanted to pop by and watch the show, where's the popcorn?

Severus: Conjures food Here. That will be 5 knuts please.

PsyO: Greedy! Severus I don't like you like that, you should be… Oh I don't know, Fluffy! Severus.

PsyO and Severus argue….

Lady Lily3: Anyway… Reader's here is the chapter! Hopefully by the time you finish reading it, Severus will still be alive!!

Last Time:

Dear Professor Snape

I accept your truce with honour, as I doubt that you make peace with people very often. Yes, I know about Daren and I do know him personally. The only reason that I know him personally is because…he is me! You are always welcome at my manor whenever you wish. Hope this letter didn't faze you too much!

Sincerely,

Harry Potter

He looked up, scanning the Gryffindor table for Potter to try and confirm that what was told in the letter was true, but he had already left. Looking back at the letter he noticed a PS.

PS. I will meet you tonight at 9:00pm at your private quarters to answer ALL of your questions. Some of the answers may surprise you, but I need to get it over with and you of all people deserve the right to know, as it was your life.

He rolled up the parchment and went to get ready for the long day ahead of him. Potter sure was full of surprises.

Chapter 4: Secrets Revealed

Harry made his way through classes that day with a relative ease. In Charms they had been practising the 'firmus tego tegere texi tectum' spell, which created a very strong shield able to protect someone from most spells. The more powerful that it was, the more curses and hexes can be blocked. Many people didn't know it, but if you were strong enough and had a lot of power, you would be able to block off the unforgivables. The founders had taught him how to do it over the summer and he was now able to do it perfectly, although they had made sure that he was able to protect himself from the Cruciatus and Imperious without thinking about it and wandlessly, before they let him try it for the Avada Kedavra. All in all, charms was a fly-by class.

The same had happened in the rest of his classes, which included DADA, Herbology, and Transfiguration. His teachers were very impressed, all of them wondering where he had learned everything that he knew and how he learned it so quickly. Yet Harry always replied with the same answer of 'summer training'. After dinner, Ron and Hermione pulled him aside to ask him a lot of questions.

'Harry, can you come with us to the Room of Requirement for a few moments please?' Hermione had asked so politely that Harry had agreed without question. As they were walking, he noticed the odd looks that he was getting. Thinking it over, he realized what he had just gotten himself into; they were going to try and find out what all the teachers had been unable to.

Thinking quickly, Harry tried to get out of it. 'Guys, I just remembered something important that I had to do; I have a detention with Professor Snape in 10 minutes! If I'm late who knows what he'll do!' Unfortunately, they didn't buy it.

'Sorry Harry, but I don't believe you. We know that you don't want to tell us what we want to know, but you can't get out of this one.' Ron gave him a pointed look, and he and Hermione linked their arms around his and dragged him the rest of the way there.

Once they arrived, Hermione let go of Harry's are and paced back and forth along the hallway where the room was thinking of how she wanted to design it. A few seconds later, a door appeared and Ron dragged Harry inside.

'Alright Harry, where were you this summer? How come you didn't answer any of our mail?' Hermione wanted some answers and she wanted them now.

Thinking quickly, Harry decided to make something up, although he really hated having to lie to his two best friends – after all, they had no secrets between them. 'Alright, but you have to promise that nothing will leave this room.'

Ron gave him a comforting look and a small smile. 'Don't worry about that mate, me and 'Mione can keep a secret. We're your best friends, and best friends don't snitch on each other.' (A/N: No pun intended)

'That's true, ok; the Dursley's decided to take a trip to Barbados this summer down in the Caribbean. After what happened down at the train station at the end of last year, they thought about the threat of mistreating me, and the fact that if I was left alone that I may mess up their precious little house. In the end, they decided that they would rather take me along then have their house ruined by a wizard. So, I owled the Order to let them know that I wasn't going to be around for the rest of the summer, but that I would be back in time for the start of term. I didn't want to take the risk that the letter would be intercepted, so I left out where I was going. If Voldemort had intercepted it, he would have known where to find me. This way, he didn't know where I was and had to be careful of how he made his attacks, never knowing when I may return.' There, that was one question semi-answered.

Ron and Hermione both gave him incredulous looks; who would have thought that Harry planned things so carefully? (A/N: Not to offend any Harry Potter lovers) Hermione was – as usual – able to recover from the shock first to be able to ask the next question.

'I understand where you're coming from Harry, but that still doesn't answer why you didn't answer our owls. You could have written sporadically telling us that you were safe and wouldn't be able to tell us where you were! Everyone was so worried about you, if something happens to you, then the entire wizarding world is going to be handed over to Voldemort!'

'Oh, so are you telling me that people were worried about me, Harry Potter, or were they worried about 'Harry Potter, boy-who-lived and the only saviour of the wizarding world?' His voice had taken on any icy edge that would have made Severus Snape proud. 'Just which one was everyone really worried over? Would they all still act that way if I wasn't the Boy-Who-Lived-And-Just-Won't-Die? Answer me!'

Ron and Hermione exchanged meaningful looks, 'Listen Harry, I know you're mad at us, but we are your friends and we were worried about the real you, not the superhero. Please believe us when we tell you this.' Hermione looked like she was about to cry and Harry realized that he had made a terrible mistake to take all his stress and anger out on them.

'Look, I'm really sorry that I blew up at you. It's just that I have been really stressed lately and you two were just the last straw. I still shouldn't have taken it all out on you though. I'm sorry.'

'That's ok Harry, we understand, really we do. You have so much to think about regarding this upcoming war and Voldemort is after you because of the prophecy (A/N: Let's just say that Harry told his friends about the prophecy before they left for the summer) so we know that you're stressed out.' Hermione was really knocking some sense into him.

Of course, Ron just has to add in his two cents, 'Ya mate; we'll always be here for you to off some steam. Always remember that.'

'Thanks guys, I really appreciate that,' though, secretly to himself he said, "Maybe one day, I'll be able to tell you both the truth" he smiled sadly at that. Try to lighten the mood, he glanced at his watch and got wide-eyed. 'Oh my gosh, I am going to be late for Snape if I don't get there in 30 seconds! Talk to you both later in the Common Room. Bye.' He quickly turned and left without so much as a backwards glace, or to give them a chance to respond.

Knowing that he had about 15 minutes before he had to be down in the Potion Master's private quarters, he reflected over what had happened over the summer.

----------------FLASHBACK----------------

'My fellow Death Eater's, it has come to my attention that one of you has been passing information to the muggle-loving fool Dumbledore. In return, he has been giving me misguiding information about the Order of the Phoenix!' Shocked whispers ran through the ranks of Death Eater's all hoping that their master didn't think that it was them.

Harry Potter stood in the shadows; waiting – like every other Death Eater – for what Lord Voldemort would continue to say.

'It turns out that he has been a spy since before my first downfall! How come I didn't know this before? It turns out that he the master of masters for Occlumency and Legilimency!'

A certain Death Eater paled behind his mask and so did Harry. He may not have liked his Potions Professor, but he didn't want anything bad to happen to him. Bidding his time, he decided to formulate a few plans just in case he was needed.

Voldemort continued, 'Severus Snape, remove your mask immediately!' At this murmurs went through the ranks, as Snape had been one of Voldemort's most loyal servants. To think that he had been fooling them all this time just made them all that more upset.

As for Snape, he was just in a turmoil of emotions on the inside, while his exterior remained calm and neutral. He had made up his mind, if he was going to die, then he was going to do it properly. (A/N: Run Severus, I'll hold them off for you!!LOL!) Carefully, he removed his mask to be sure that he had his best death glare on – the one that made his seventh years quake in their seats to try and get at least across the Atlantic Ocean and then some.

'Do you admit to betraying me Sssseverussss? Do you admit to betraying all of thossse who you pledged to protect? Ansssswer me!!' Voldemort hissed out.

'Yes, I do. I never wanted to join you in the first place and you knew it. You had my father force me and had him throw me to your feet. Then you branded me with your hideous mark that caused me to lose my wife who was the love of my entire life! It threw me farther into the darkness and you enjoyed it!! (A/N: Not Severitus challenge, don't worry). I hate you for ruining my life and I am glad that I was able to help bring your first downfall. I am glad that I was able to help in this round of war as well. I hope that you will be defeated and may you never return again. Die in Hell Tom Marvolo Riddle!' With that, he spat in Voldemort's face, knowing what was to come.

Wiping the spit from his face, Voldemort looked up and glared at him, 'I am very disappointed in you Severus; I had high hopes for you! Maybe I should teach you a few lessons before I finally kill you. Lesson number one: never call me by that name again!! CRUCIO!!'

As Harry saw Snape fall to the ground in agony, he forced himself to wake up, a plan already in his mind. While he had been watching Voldemort (A/N: Uugghh!!! Why does he have to have such a long name??) talk, he had been able to pinpoint on the exact location of Voldemort's lair.

Moving quickly, he grabbed his wand, altered his appearance and quickly ran past the apparition point of his Manor.

He arrived in Little Hangleton and entered the Riddle House. After silently knocking out three Death Eaters, he made his way to where he hoped they would be keeping Snape. He decided not to take any chances and then next time he ran into a Death Eater, he questioned him and then stunned him with a powerful stunner.

Making his way down the path that the Death Eater had told him, he came to a pair of heavy wooden doors and heard the dying screams of agony from Snape (A/N: Not literally dying, just fading out) and cheers from the Death Eaters. Placing an icy mask on his face and bracing himself, he barged in.

All of them turned to stare at what had interrupted their enjoyment. 'Party's over ladies, so if you will just get out of my way…' They all just looked at him and started to go for their wands. 'Just remember that you asked for it.'

With that Harry proceeded to kick some evil butt. Voldemort had left the scene before Harry had even arrived, apparently claiming that his job was done and that his servants could have some fun. Within minutes, all of them were disarmed and unconscious.

Carefully, he walked over to Snape's prone body, gently lifted him into his arms and apparated back to Midnight Manor with him.

Once they arrived, he carefully carried Snape up the stairs and laid him on the bed in one of the guest rooms that was closest to the Master Bedroom in case anything happened.

After he had spelled some pyjamas onto him and then pulled the sheets up around him, he saw Severus blearily blink his eyes open and give him a look of curiosity. 'Who are you and where am I?' He managed to croak out.

'You may call me Daren, and you are at my home; Midnight Manor.' Harry replied.

'Thank you Daren for saving my life.'

'You're welcome…'

'Severus, please call me Severus.'

'Alright, you're welcome Severus.'

Snape nodded his head before sleep quickly claimed him. Healing what he could, Harry turned and left the room, silently closing the door behind him.

--------------END OF FLASHBACK--------------

Without even realizing it, Harry was outside of Severus' private living quarters. 'Well, better get this over and done with,' he thought to himself. Raising his fist to know on the door, he was surprised to feel that he had hit something soft and had a sort of fabric feel to it. Looking up, he saw that he had just knocked on Snape. 'Oops…sorry Professor, didn't see you there.'

Snape smirked, 'Still as unobservant as usual I see, it's a wonder how you are able to…interrupt…certain death eater attacks!' Harry growled in response, 'Well don't just stand there, hurry up and tell me what you want before people really start noticing that I am on friendly terms with you.' He pretended to be really disgusted with Harry even being in his presence.

'Stop showing yourself up Severus, and invite me into your quarters; that is if you really want me to answer your questions, but if not…' He turned to start walking in the opposite direction when a hand suddenly reached out to stop him in his tracks.

'Don't even think of getting yourself out of this now, seeing as you brought this upon yourself. Now, get your arse in here and start explaining yourself.'

After Harry walked in and took a seat on one of the over stuffed comforters, he took in his surroundings. The living room was done is deep blues, silvers and greys. There was a mahogany cabinet in one corner of the room and remarkably crafted mahogany desk in the other corner beside an elegantly designed stone fireplace.

'Well, welcome to my private living quarters at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, what do you think of my décor?'

'Definitely not what I expected after get your 'I'm-An-Overgrown-Greasy-Bat-That-Loves-Dark-And-Cold-Places-So-Beware' persona. ' But all in all, 'tis a nice place you've got here.'

Severus just rolled his eyes, 'Would you like something to drink or to much on, some tea and biscuits perhaps?' (A/N: You know, that doesn't sound like a bad idea just about now! LOL! PsyO: YEH! I WANNA HAVE TEA AND BISCUITS WITH MY SEVVIE-POO! Lady Lily: Shh…You'll scare them away and you'll anger the Severus fan girls out there… And besides, you are not in the story.)

'Sure thing, if you're offering!'

A few minutes later - with the snap of a finger, the arrival of their munchies, and sitting comfortably across from each other – Severus asked his first question.

'Why did you do it Harry? Why did you save me from death, something to redeem me of all the horrible things that I've done? I am a dark wizard Harry, there is nothing in me that still hasn't been corrupted.'

'That's where you're wrong. You are not as horrible as you make yourself seem to be. Yes you've made some mistakes, but so has everyone else – including me! Maybe some weren't as drastic as yours but you could have made worse mistakes. Death is not the way to redeem yourself Severus, it is a way to escape what you fear. It is the coward's way out.'

'I saved your life because you deserved to live, not be tortured until sanity and then disposed of because you are no longer entertaining. You have redeemed yourself countless times already by risking your life to retrieve information for the light side. You put yourself in a danger that most people wouldn't have been able to be as successful as you were. As well, I would like to other to get rid of your last connection to Voldemort – in other words, your mark. May I, please?

'No, please don't. My mark defines who I am and what I have become. If you were to get rid of it, then it would feel like a part of me is missing. It reminds me of all the horrors I have committed, and punishes me with horrible memories when I least expect it; but it is what I deserve.' He refused to meet Harry's intense gaze that he could feel upon him.

'Severus, look at me,' when he was sure that Severus's gaze wouldn't leave him, he continued on, 'That mark does not define who you are and what you have become. Haven't you just listened to what I just said? You are no longer a dark wizard or a death eater. You went to Dumbledore and asked him for forgiveness and awaited your fate, yet he gave you another chance because he knew that there was something good inside of you. Don't throw away what he has given you, a chance of redemption – which you have already done. Don't throw away your chance at what I can give you Severus; your freedom from HIM forever.

'I suppose you're right. But I am still not so sure about it…'seeing Harry's desperate look, he made up his mind, 'Alright, you've made me change my mind. I have been stupid to think all of those things, and even more so to not accept what has been given and offered to me.'

Next thing that Severus knew, Harry was beside him on the couch asking him to see his mark. Very reluctantly, he pulled back his sleeve to reveal his forearm that bore his hideous mark. Wincing, he turned away.

'Now, I am not sure what exactly this is going to feel like, but I will be sure to try and block off as many things as I can.' Taking, Severus's arm into one hand, and placing his other over the mark, Harry pushed all of the love and warm emotions through the mark. He knew that Voldemort lived off of hate and didn't understand the feeling of love and therefore it caused him pain.

He could feel his scar burning in the back of his mind but thought nothing of it. If he were to break his concentration now, then Merlin only knew what would happen to Severus. He broke into Severus' mind and searched for all the good emotions that Severus had ever felt, and brought them forward to make him think about them.

After a few seconds, Harry felt the dark mark start to heat up and burn his hand. Thinking that if this was what he felt, then it must be hurting a lot more for Severus. Working quickly, he blocked as much of the pain as he could. He heard the sound of Voldemort screaming in his head, and suddenly, the mark was gone.

A/N: Well, that's it everyone. This was the chapter. Maybe it was a little short but oh well, what can I do? Suddenly sees her wonderful readers advancing on her with menacing looks. Umm…did you want more?? Are you sure?? Reading are getting ready to attack OK OK you win, here's some more of the story!!!

Severus couldn't believe his eyes; his mark, that had held him captive with evil, was finally gone and it was all thanks to the young man in front of him who he had detested for so long. Looking up, he said something that he hadn't said in a very long time, 'Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me!'

'You're welcome. Just please don't tell anyone who got rid of it please. It would raise a lot of questions; questions that I am not yet ready to answer.'

'Of course.' Seeing that Harry didn't really want to discuss this anymore, he decided to change the topic. 'Might I inquire as to how you were able to know I was in trouble and how you were able to disguise yourself?'

'I suppose. I don't know if you know or not, but ever since Voldemort fired the killing curse at me all those years ago, he connected himself to me. It has never been a problem until his reincarnation when he used my blood. Now, I am able to see everything he does and feel all the curses that he casts on his victims.'

Severus stared at Harry in shock. How could someone so young able to go through everything that Harry had? It just wasn't possible.

As for how I was able to disguise myself,' Harry continued, 'I am a shape-shifter and a multimagus. I can take the form of any animal at will, change into anyone, change my voice – everything that you could possibly imagine and then some.'

'Where did you learn all of these things?' he didn't know why he was asking when Harry had refused to answer this specific question whenever the other professors asked it of him. Why would he suddenly tell Severus?

'What I am about to tell you has not been told to anyone else. But I have certain reasons for answering this question for you. You see, I am the Heir of Hogwarts and Merlin, making me the most powerful wizard alive. I am also part of a prophecy made be Professor Trelawney stating that I either have to kill Voldemort or he will kill me; I have no choice. It is either to be the murderer or be the murdered.' He spat the last part as if it was poison.

'I had no idea! How can you go on living your life with the weight of the wizarding world on your shoulders? How can you act so calm about it all?'

Harry let out a small chuckle, 'You should have seen me in the Headmaster's office the night he told me about the prophecy that he had been keeping from me ever since I started school here. I was already upset about losing Sirius, and then with the prophecy on top of all that, well, let's just say that I trashed Dumbledore's office and broke nearly everything in there.'

'That was you? I had heard about that, but I didn't know who it was. Wow, you sure had a lot of nerve to do that. It's practically the same thing that I would have thought about doing, but I wouldn't have actually done it. How did you come into possession of that castle – it must be at least twice the size of Hogwarts!'

'Actually, it is exactly six and a half times larger, but it has a charm on it to make it look a lot smaller (A/N: I wanted to make Harry really special! LOL! Not that he really needs it though) than it actually is. It is name Midnight Manor and was given to me by Merlin and the Founder's. It was the safest place I could think of to take you after you were injured, and I didn't want anyone to find you. My home has more protection and secrecy charms on them then you could ever dream of!'

'Now, I have something important to give you. But before you do, I need to tell you that my parents are alive' He chuckled at the look on the Potions Master's face.

'How is that possible?' So Harry launched into the same explanation that Merlin and his parents had told him. Once he was done, he looked up at Snape. He had what you could call an expression of shock and another one of something akin to betrayal, but it was gone so fast that Harry wasn't even so sure that he had seen it or not. Without waiting for a response, he took a letter out of his pocket and handed it to Snape.

Severus looked at it carefully and then back at Harry for something like confirmation before he started to open it. He read the contents once…then twice…then once more before looking between Harry and the letter.

He made to move towards him, but Harry held up his hands, 'The walls have eyes and ears you know. It is better to just pretend that what you read in the letter didn't really happen and that you don't know anything. Also, it is pertinent to not tell anyone about what you read. I will try to find a way around it. Well, I told my friends that I was coming here for detention, and I think that I am a little overdue in leaving. I should head back to the Common room where my friends will be waiting to ask me what took me so long and if you had tried to poison me or not.' He let out a small chuckle, 'Well, goodnight Professor.' With that, Harry turned and walked out of the room.

Severus was still thinking about the letter, when his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a scream.

A/N1: FINALLY I AM DONE DONE DONE!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR ME TO WRITE THIS CHAPTER!! PLEASE REVIEW! I WORKED HARD ON THIS AND EVEN A ONE WORD REVIEW IS APPRECIATED!! THANK YOU!!

A/N2: Oh, what was in the letter that Snape read?? You will just have to wait until later in the story to find out. Well, this is the end of the chapter for sure. I made it extra long because of how long it has taken me to get this chapter up and running. I had some writer's block and just didn't feel like writing. But, then I got free time in business and typed it there. Thanks to all my reviewers for everything and I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. Please REVIEW!! Flamers are welcome as long as they tell me HOW to fix up my story.

To all of you who may be wondering if Severus is still alive from ealier, I can assure you that he will eventually make a full recovery. That just goes to show you that messing with me can be hazardous to your health.

Thanks a lot,

Lady Lily3 and PsyO