Chapter 3 – Lost Time
After what had seemed like hours, uncle Vernon had spilled his seed inside of Harry, with a final hard, uncaring thrust. Now, Harry was lying down on his pallet, unable to do much more than pant and cry. Why wasn't he able to stop him? Why did he always hope that that wouldn't happen? Was he really that naïve? No – he was weak. That's what it all came down to; at school he was bullied, his cousin loved to play 'Harry Hunting,' and he was unable to stop his uncle from abusing him.
No longer. No longer would he just run to his uncle's side like an obedient lap dog. He wasn't going to deal with that shit anymore – he would be 17 in exactly one week (according to the clock that had rung midnight while his uncle had been relieving himself), and then he could legally use magic outside of school.
But he wasn't going to wait a-whole-nother week; if his aunt and his uncle could get out of there, then so could he. He was tired of being the shy, timid little boy – from now on, no matter what, he was going to change. As soon as he was certain that his uncle was asleep, Harry was going to leave. Where to? He didn't know – the only thing he was aware of was that he needed to get away – and fast.
The man named Severus stepped out of the fireplace into a small building, the 7-11 on 18th street, New York, followed by the man called Albus.
"Come on, old man," snapped Severus Snape, "I don't have all night!"
"My apologies, Severus," replied Albus Dumbledore, in a calm, even voice. "I understand your urgency – had I been able to find my son again, I, too, would be in a hurry."
At Dumbledore's words, Snape regretted what he had said. Dumbledore's son, Albus Dumbledore Jr., was the one who had lost his life while sucking on a lemon drop, and Snape knew how much he missed him. "Do not apologize, Albus," Snape said, looking at the man with sorrow-filled eyes, "it is I who should be apologizing – that was very rude of me."
"It is a thing of the past! Now – Severus, I never imagined to find the boy in America, of all places! How did you know to come here?" asked Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling with joy for his friend.
Both men quickly left the 7-11, and were walking down the sidewalk again, before Snape answered. "It was the amulet. Do you recall it pulsing? Well," Snape continued at Dumbledore's nod, "it was giving me the information it knows. For example: due to our prior knowledge, you and I know that the boy will be 17 in one week, but that was out only information. I now know that he looks remarkably like James (that would be Lily's doing) yet he has his mother's eyes. I also know that his name is Harry, and he lives with his aunt, uncle, and cousin in a small townhouse, here in New York. In fact – his house should be… right… about… here!" Snape exclaimed – stopping in front of a house with a small front yard, one black BMW, and no lights on – it was #4 Pivet Drive.
Severus stood, looking at the house, momentarily frozen. Here, right in front of him, was the house in which his son lived. He had spent the better part of 16 years searching all over the United Kingdom, looking for his lost child – never imagining that he could be across seas – not even knowing if he was alive. Now – after all of this time, he was finally able to see him.
How much like James would he look like? How would he act? What would interest him? All of the questions that had crossed Severus' mind over the past 17 years came back to him, causing Severus to not know whether he had been standing on the porch for a few minutes, or for an hour. It was only when Albus' hand came to rest on his back that he came out of his haze. Without saying a word, Snape gave the old man a nod of thanks, and turned to knock on the door.
He would be able to see his son – that was the only thing that mattered.
He was not prepared for what happened when the door opened.
Harry had downed the last of the pain relieving potions he had; he had been unable to sneak many away this year, owing to the fact that his potions teacher, Professor Coleman, had finally noticed that he was missing boxes of it. Now, Harry was packing up what little possessions he had, and put them into his tattered school trunk. He had placed all of his second hand schoolbooks on top of his school robes (which carried a shield of his house – the Zambezi Sharks). Harry had thrown in his invisibility cloak, and a map he had – which was of someplace called 'Hogwarts.' Pocketing his wand and his small bag of wizarding money, Harry listened one last time for the sound of uncle Vernon; he let out a sigh of relief when he heard the loud, steady sounds of his snoring.
Harry quickly opened the door to his cupboard and made his way down the hall. With one last look around, Harry opened the front door, limping and wincing in the pain uncle Vernon had caused, and pulled his trunk out onto the front porch. Once both he and his trunk were outside, Harry turned back around and shut the front door.
Still looking at the door, Harry spoke. "Good-bye, fucker. Rot in Hell." With a look of disgust, Harry turned back around to find two men looking at him; one with a look of worry, and the other with one of hope.
Severus was shocked when, as he was raising his fist to knock, the front door had opened, and out stepped a person with a mop of unruly black hair. The person had then stepped out onto the porch, and, essentially, into the light. It was his son! Who else could look like a carbon copy of James Potter? After a moment, Snape realized that his son had paid no attention to the two men standing right behind him – in fact, it seemed as if he was ignoring everything around him, aside form the front door he was staring at.
Snape was about to say something – who knows what – when Harry spoke. "Good-bye, fucker. Rot in Hell." Those words startled Severus. Who was his son talking to? It was when Harry had turned back around that Severus got a clear view of his face. Harry was covered in cuts and bruises, some which were fading, and others which were obviously fresh. It was also clear that it pained him to walk, judging by the way Harry was grabbing his stomach and the way his legs were spread – as if he was unable to close them.
Both Severus and Albus were shaken out of their thoughts, which were both on the same wavelength, when Harry spoke again.
"Err… hello…" Harry said, obviously a bit confused as to why there were two grown men on his front porch, in the dead of night.
Albus Dumbledore, the man of quick recoveries, stepped forward and stuck out his right hand. "Hello there, dear boy. My name is Albus Dumbledore. Am I correct in my assumption that you are the young Harry Potter?"
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Dumbledore – yes, my name is Harry Potter," Harry paused, and shifted his gaze to Snape, before continuing. "How can I help you?"
Although Harry had spoken to Dumbledore again, it was Snape who answered. "Harry, my name is Severus Snape – and I have some… interesting new to share with you – but first, I must ask – are you alright?"
Even though Snape had asked as calmly as he could, he had been unable to sound anything less then incredibly anxious; which startled Harry. As long as he could remember, no one had ever asked him if he was alright… almost as if they cared. With those three words, Harry subconsciously felt more for the man standing in front of him, then anyone else he had ever met.
Harry gave a dry laugh and responded, "I've bee better." Even as Harry said it, his vision had begun to fade. Harry started to sway on the spot, before he blacked out… right into Severus' arms.
When he came back around, Harry vaguely noticed that he was comfy – for once; and warm – his cupboard was always freezing. Add these oddities to the confusing dream he had had… (something about two men… one with a long white beard, and one with shoulder-length black hair…) and Harry was getting a headache… correction: he was getting a bigger headache – owing to the fact that he already had a migraine.
With a groan, Harry turned his head to the side and muttered "damn you, Vernon…" After a moment, Harry realized that there were voices surrounding him – did Vernon have company? Figuring that Vernon would want him to cook something, Harry decided to try to get up; it was then that he actually made out some of the words that were being said.
"…you can't be serious!"
"-re you sure? It can't be!"
"RAPE!"
"me you didn't! Please Severus – tell me!"
"SHUT UP! YOU'RE GOING TO WAKE HIM!"
Harry opened one eye wearily to see the same man from his dream giving a room full of people a death glare that could freeze hell.
"I will NOT have you bothering him! I believe that Dumbledore told you everything of importance – now, if you'll be so kind… GET THE HELL OUT! NOW! At Severus' word, everyone, excluding Harry and himself, got up quickly and left the room. Harry sat up, cautiously, and looked around – not sure of where he was…
Severus gave a weary sigh, and turned around to look at the boy in question, to find him looking right at him.
Harry and Severus simply stared at each other for a moment, each for their own purposes. Harry – trying to figure out where the hell he was, and Severus – basking in the glow that was his soon. After a few minutes, Severus cleared his throat.
"I see you're awake. How are you feeling?"
Harry, reliving his joy of the last time he had heard those words, suddenly realized that he hadn't been dreaming – those men were real. Thinking quickly, Harry decided to stick with the truth, because the man – Severus – seemed genuinely concerned. "Much better… I still have a pounding headache, by my ribs and legs feel better…" Harry trailed off, suddenly self-conscious. How much did this man know? How much could he tell him? Harry's worries must have been on display, because Severus answered his unasked questions.
"Harry, I'm going to be blunt – and terribly honest. You and I have many thing to discuss, but what your uncle has done to you is my top priority. Last night, when Dumbledore and I showed up at your house, you feinted – do you remember?" Harry gave a quick nod – almost glad to be having this conversation with someone, even if it was with a man he had just met. "Well – after that, I took you inside your house, hoping to have a discussion with your uncle." As he said that, a dark look crossed over Severus' face. "I found him in his bed, sleeping. When I woke him – with some… persuasion – he was quite startled. For… security purposes, Albus and I gave him Veritisum and had him explain your injuries." At this point, Severus was looking directly into Harry's eyes. "I also had him tell us how long he had been abusing you… I must say, when I heard, I got a bit carried away… I hexed him with a Re-occurring Pain Curse… I have had him experience everything he has done to you…" Severus trailed off, not exactly knowing what to say now – it wasn't exactly a normal occurrence for him to be sitting on a bed, next to a young man who had been raped for six years, and to comfort him.
Harry, as well, wasn't sure what to say. That part of him that still wanted to be the timid and shy boy he had always been, was crying out to say that he was terrified, while his new, won't-take-any-crap, side wanted to say that it was no big deal – that he was over it. Not exactly sure what he was going to come out, Harry opened his mouth to reply.
"Mr. Snape – I'm still not sure why you were at my house last night, but I'm glad you were. I was, as I'm sure you've figured out, running away. I'm not 17 yet, or else I would have cursed uncle Vernon into obliviation myself, but I'm thankful that, at least, you did. I'm not saying that I'm not still upset about what has been happening, but last night I vowed that I would take matters into my own hands – that Vernon would never again even think of touching… I'm not sure whom, exactly, you are, and this may sound crazy, but I can't help but trust you. All I know is that I'm glad you showed up last night… and, for some reason, I wouldn't have wanted anyone else there…" Harry trailed off this time, not sure how this Severus Snape person would take everything he had just said.
"Harry, I think it's time for me to tell you the reason I was at your house last night," Snape said, with what looked like a hesitant smile. "Harry… what do you know about your parents?"
At Snape's question, Harry's heart skipped a beat. Did Snape know who his parents had been? "Well, sir, I know that my mother was born in New York, New York, but, when she was accepted to a magic school, she moved to England. I also know that she met my father at the school she went to, and that they had me a few years after graduating. I was told that my parents moved to America when I was one, to avoid being killed by Voldemort, yet they ended up in a car crash, which took their lives… I have also bee told that I look just like my father, yet I have my mother's eyes… please, sir, why do you ask?"
Snape gave Harry a small smile. "Well, Harry, I asked because I needed to know what it was that you'd been told – you see, there were actually only four people who know the truth about your parents… Lily Evans, James Potter, Albus Dumbledore, and myself…" Snape paused for a minute, trying to decide where to start. "I guess I should begin with the telling of your mother……… she was a remarkable person. You are right in saying that you have her eyes, yet she had fiery red hair, which had nothing on her fiery soul. She was truly amazing – she refused to judge anyone, and was always willing to lend a hand – no matter what. I suppose it was that which drew people to her – including myself. Sometime between our 6th and 7th year at Hogwarts, that 'magic school' she was accepted to, I fell in love with her.
"Right before our graduation, I confronted her with my feelings, and, instead of answering, she kissed me…" Snape paused again, yet this time, he was reminiscing. "Well… over the next few years, she and I spent a lot of time together… in fact, so much time, Lord Voldemort was getting suspicious – you see," Snape explained, at Harry's confused look, "I was a spy for the light. Voldemort didn't want any of his 'followers' to be seen with 'mudbloods,' like you mother. I had just been informed, by another spy, that Voldemort had heard of your mother's and my relationship, when your mother told me that she was pregnant – with my child…" Snape's face lit up when he said that – so much so that Harry was wondering how much this man normally smiled.
"In order to protect our child, and my role as a spy, Lily accepted an offer made by a close friend – she would place charms on our child, altering his appearance to those of her friend, making it seem that she had conceived the child with him rather than me. She then decided that they would go into hiding somewhere – yet she would not let me be secret keeper – 'for your own safety' she had told me… she then gave me this amulet," Severus said, as he reached into his shirt and pulled out the bronze medallion. "She told me that, if something were to happen to either our child or herself, this amulet would pulse once, signaling a death, and twice, heaven forbid, they both died… well, about 16 years ago, the amulet pulsed once, as I'm sure you know, signaling her death – however, I was unaware of who it was who had passed…
"Your mother had also told me who her secret keeper was going to be… Wormtail… or, better known as Peter Pettigrew. Well, apparently Wormtail, a 'faithful' servant of the Dark Lord, told Voldemort where they were – which proved to be useful. You see, Voldemort cast a spell little known spell, called the Insieme curse, which would enable two people to die at once… you've heard of the prophecy, correct?" Snape asked, receiving a quick nod from Harry. "Well, so had Voldemort – or so he thought. He decided to 'kill to birds with one stone,' so to speak. The night that Wormtail told Voldemort where your mother was hiding, Voldemort set out to kill a small boy named Neville Longbottom and his parents, which ended up in the death of your mother.
"Although he succeeded in Neville's death, he failed to destroy our son. With our son's failed death, Voldemort had become weak – but still managed to live for another decade and a half – until Dumbledore's son killed him – for the time being.
"Harry, you must see where this is going…" Snape said, staring intently into Harry's fierce, green eyes. "Harry, your real name is Harry Snape – you are my son. I have been looking for either you or your mother for the past 16 years, ever since James Potter decided to risk his life to save yours. Your mother had given me one last piece of information before she had left, to America, it would seem. She had told me that, if she was unable to see me again beforehand, the amulet would pulse once more, on the night marking the week before your 17th birthday – and I would know how to find you. The only downside that has come from this, aside from you not knowing that I even existed, is the fact that Voldemort isn't in fact dead, because you are still alive…" Snape trailed off again, suddenly unsure what to say.
Harry was struck dumb… everything Snape said was… surreal. He had a father… a living father… a father who cared so much for him, that he had spent 16 years looking for him…everything that Harry had been told seemed to make sense… suddenly something clicked.
"You mean… if you're my… father… I can stay with you? I can leave the Dursley's?" Harry asked, daring to do what he had learned to avoid… hope.
Snape's face broke into a smile again. "Harry, even if I wasn't your father, I would never let you go back there again."
Those words settled it for Harry. Every word Snape had said was true – he was his father. It was Harry's turn to smile, as he jumped forward to give a hug to Snape.
To give a hug to his father.
(A/N): YEAH! Another chapter! Now, be honest – how many of you thought that I was going to have Snape have Harry with James? Well – I hope that you liked it! I'm really sorry for all of the confusion over the Albus Dumbledore(s) – I knew that it would create some problems, but I thought that if I updated quickly, then it would be okay. Well – as always, let me know what you think!
seamermaiden – yeah, sorry – I hope that it makes sense now!
twitchyfingers – thanks!
DaughterofDeath – ummm… okay – I'm glad that you are looking forward to another chapter – but do you think that you could maybe rephrase it a bit next time? That's really all that I ask…
Letifer – thanks! Yeah – grammar isn't my strong point! ;)
I-Shave-Clowns – LOL – your review made me crack up – I love geeks with glasses too:D
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nightwing – thanks!
KniGhtInwAitiNg – yeah, all questions will be answered soon enough!
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