Summary: Can one person and fate make the difference in Severus' life?
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, sue me and become poor.
A/N: This fic is AU, not canon. and thanks! to my beta Karri
Now to my reviewers!
JellyFish72: Welcome to the fic
Arica, Princess of Rivendell: Okay! I did
Purple Raveness: heheeheh ty!
Spiorad: a bit of fluff, for Severus fans there
lilsnape: thanks for the review!
mb: thank you, I had to redeem him a bit there
Pure Black: thanks
rosiegirl: hehehehehe
Viva rose: yes, lots of traveling
sparkling silver angel wings: glad you liked it!
DARKMARKLV: Voldemort does not know they are the same person.
Ceyxa: It has happened errr here with my own kid
Lady Lily3: thankies!
Ruse:D thanks!
Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, they made my day. Now on with the fic!
Chapter 24
Severus could see the two boys standing with their bags packed waiting for the train to arrive. Neither one looked very happy about it. He steered Harry towards them and watched identical sneers cross their faces. "Mr. Nofton, my son has something to say to you and Mr. Walker."
"What do you want runt? Look, we are already expelled, are you here to gloat or something?"
Harry walked over and stood right in front of Dominic, and even though he was a good six inches shorter it did not seem to bother Harry. "I came to say I forgive you for what you did. That was all I wanted to say."
Severus felt the bile churning in his stomach as he watched his son tell two obvious enemies he forgave them. This was not a trait one would think his son to possess. He was ushering Harry away before he turned both boys into slugs when he heard Dominic chuckle at Harry.
"Too bad we didn't kill the little runt, then I wouldn't be expelled," he had said to Charles. The other boy's eyes grew as round as saucers at Dominic's proclamation, and Severus' turned to slits as he whirled around. Before he could make it one step, Harry starting walking back over to Dominic. Once he stood again before him, Harry very calmly looked him in the eyes.
"I tried to do the right thing and forgive you. It is the nice thing to do, something you know nothing about, but I want you to know when I become a wizard with a wand I am going to make sure people like you are locked up where you belong!" Harry said, his voice growing louder and louder as he spoke.
Severus had never seen Harry angry and it scared him to see the boy shaking in what he thought was fear. It was not fear, however it was pure adrenalin and Harry was taking out all his frustrations it seemed on the bigger boy. He was screaming and yelling at Dominic and the boy was still sneering at him. Severus knew it was time to break this up before it got really bad, but before he could step over and restrain Harry, his son balled his fist up and punched Dominic right in the jaw. Dominic went down hard, and jumped up to retaliate. Severus pulled his wand from his robe to show Dominic that any thoughts of retaliation were not going to be permitted, as he tugged on Harry's shirt, dragging him away.
Harry was still furious as he saw both boys board the train, but he knew he had done something bad, and faced his father, eyes downcast. "I am ready now," he said to Severus.
"Ready for what?"
"For my punishment. I lost my temper and hit Dominic."
Severus burst out laughing, and pulled Harry into a hug. "Son, you are only human. While I do not condone fighting, sometimes one cannot help oneself. You tried to be the better man and he did not accept your forgiveness. You shall not be punished, now come let us get back home. Minerva has invited us to dinner in the Great Hall."
Harry squealed with delight and grabbed his father's hand as they apparated away. Once home he went to go get ready for dinner while Severus relished the thoughts of earlier. "Why is Master Snape so happy now?" Lotty asked.
"It seems my son does not only have Gryffindor traits. It seems he inherited some of his father's as well."
"Then he will have the best of both houses in him," Lotty said, a smile coming to her face.
Severus, beaming with pride, looked toward the door as Harry stepped out ready for dinner. "That he does," he said as he and Harry went to meet Minerva and the rest of Hogwarts for dinner.
Dinner, Severus thought, was to be a casual affair but as usual Dumbledore had other plans. After the main course he wandered over and sat down between Severus and Harry. He smiled at the boy, but when he turned toward Severus he had the same infuriating glimmer in his eyes. "So Severus, I hear that young Harry here showed magical aptitude with a wand the other day."
Severus did not know how the old man always seemed to know everything that went on, but he would maim whoever had told him. "Yes, Harry showed some promise with a wand, but he is only nine Albus and that is two years away from enrolling here."
"Do not fret Severus. I would not have Harry enroll just yet, I merely thought a few tests would be in order to see just how far along the child is. He has never had any knowledge about magic; it would do him no harm. I could even have Minerva here teach him if you wish."
Severus saw everyone staring at him. As he glanced down the table even small Professor Flitwick looked entranced by what may happen. This made Severus boil over with anger. "He is not something to be put on display. Soon enough he will have the world staring at him, no privacy, and his whole life an open book. Would you truly rob him of what little innocence he has left?"
It was not expected when Minerva McGonagall stood up her lips twitching as she spoke. "Severus Snape! How dare you accuse us of trying to make him something for our amusement? I only wanted to test the boy, not bring grief to him. If it upsets you this much we can forget the whole thing. Do you forget so easily I was there the day that he was left with those people? I would rather have done anything than leave him, but it was not my choice. Things were done that cannot be undone, why not now give him every opportunity to help himself?"
Severus listened to Minerva rant, and it cowed him as if he were a small boy in her class once more for a second or two, but then his feelings as a father rose above that. "I think none of us are considering what Harry thinks about all of this. Has anyone thought to ask him?"
Harry, who had been busy talking with Hagrid, had ignored the adults and their conversation, and only now when everyone stared at him did he notice them. "Daddy, did you say something?" he asked head turning to his father, a worried look that he had done something wrong.
Severus stood and walked over to him, and sitting down, he smiled to show Harry that he was indeed not in trouble. Professor Flitwick toppled off the chair at seeing Severus smile, but quickly regained himself. After quirking an eyebrow at the small man, Severus turned his attention back to Harry.
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall wish to see if you can do some things with a wand or without. You do not have to if you choose not to. It is entirely up to you."
"All they want me to do is play and show them some things?" When Harry saw his father nod that this was true, he put his finger to his chin. "That sounds like fun Daddy. I like to pretend. Am I allowed to touch a wand? I thought you said not to."
"Just this once I will make an exception, if it is truly what you wish." He watched Harry nod vigorously that he wanted to, and this worried Severus. Would Harry not be able to enjoy the little time he had left of childhood? All his worries vanished when he saw that Harry had fallen asleep some time ago. Picking him up, Severus took his little boy home, where stories of dragons and fairies still made him giggle with glee.