A/N: I own nothing. Thanks to all the wonderful reviews. Please keep them coming, however, I don't mind constructive criticism it makes my writing and story better, but flamers are not welcomed, if you don't like the story then don't read. With that note here's the next chapter. ENJOY! I know this is late, but I think posts are going to be coming ever two weeks, and yes HBP is out, so I guess this is going to be AU. Apologies now for all the fluffiness.

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"Harry." James cried as he watched his son fall back down on the bed. "Look what you've done." He rounded on the fallen wizard.

"No my dear boy. What you have done." The old wizard pulled himself off of the floor and brushed the dust off of his robes.

Never in his whole life had anybody had the audacity to do to him what the younger man did. He was proud, and he realized that he had made the mistake of denying the two people he cared for most of all in the world, the things that they wanted the most. A family.

Dumbledore made his way to Harry's bed, but a strong grip against his arm stopped him from moving any further. He sighed warily as James' tight grip impossible as it may seem, strengthened.

"I am not going to harm him in anyway." He said gently. "I'm just going to check on his vitals, contrary to what you may think I still care strongly for the boy."

James considered Dumbledore for a moment, but he wanted to make sure that his son was not hurt and that he was ok.

The grip became lax, and Dumbledore moved to the bed. He placed his hand on the sleeping boys wrist. "He is not in a coma, he has just fainted."

James looked like he himself was ready to faint at the outcome of all of this.

"I can revive him now, if you would like?" Albus asked.

"No, wait a few minutes. I think I need to change back to good old Snivellus." He grinned as the name brought back so many good memories of the man who gave up his life to save another's. "I think I've got to tell Harry this gradually."

"As you wish. When you're ready let me know."

There was a long pause and when James had gone back into Severus form he let Dumbledore know that he was ready.

"Enervate." The old wizard said.

Emerald green eyes fluttered open. Harry was confused and scared, he remembered seeing Dumbledore talking to someone. Someone who looked really familiar, and then he remembered. Dumbledore was talking to his father. He screamed again, but before he could collapse, a pair of strong arms wrapped around his body, comfortingly.

When Harry saw who was holding him he screamed harder, and his face began to pale. He could not register why Snape would be holding him, but whatever the reason was it still terrified him beyond belief. He tried to struggle, but it became futile as he realized the strong grip of the potion's master was relentless. He still tried and failed. When Severus did not let go again Harry screamed harder with all his might.

The two men were quite surprised at the boy screaming bloody murder. For someone that had just come out of a lengthy coma, the boy was able to put up one hell of a fight.

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Hermione lay asleep in her bed; exhaustion had finally caught up with her tired body. She felt like she could sleep for a hundred years, so when the first scream of the night woke her up she was ready to start scolding the person who was the cause for all of the noise, however, as soon as the screaming started it finished. She rolled over onto her stomach and fell asleep once more.

She was dreaming of unicorns running along the water's edge of the great lake. It was a beautiful day, with a slight breeze, clouds in the sky, the sun shining down on her body. Her, Ron, and Harry were sitting under the beech tree, just watching the wondrous sight that was pictured before their eyes. Nothing could ruin that day. Or so she thought.

Out of nowhere came a loud screeching sound. It sounded like someone was being strangled to death. The unicorns took to cover in the forbidden forest, and the trio tried to find the source of the noise, with no such luck. They all looked at each other in confusion, and frightened for the person who was making all that noise. Another loud long wail filled the sky, and Hermione plundered to the ground, out of shock. The two boys left standing went to try to help her up, but couldn't, apparently Hermione had fallen in some sort of a bramble bush, and couldn't seem to get out. No matter how hard they were tugging it did not seem to help matters. Harry and Ron stood up shrugged and left the trapped Hermione, to get out herself.

She was stunned by how her best friend and her boyfriend could leaver her in such a deadly position. Her hands felt around for anything to grip, and what it found surprised her. It was soft and warm, not like what the thorns were supposed to feel like.

Her eyes snapped opened. Hermione was laying on the floor trapped in her blankets. Nothing was real, except for the hollow screeching sound. When she finally realized that it was just a dream her heart rate returned to normal, and her body stopped trembling, her mind was sound once more and she felt her body return to it's regular state. She untangled herself from the onslaught of sheets, and tiredly made her way to the common room, where she assumed the noisemakers could be found.

She descended the stairs and saw Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny all huddled up by the fire, the wailing continuing feverishly.

"Now really." She cried. "Enough's enough. I don't know and don't want to know what you're up to, but isn't it time you went to bed, and stopped making so much noise."

Four red headed people turned to look at the bleary-eyed bushy haired girl, flushed anger apparent in all of their faces.

"First of Hermione, we are not the one's making any of the noises that you are hearing. Second it is summer and your prefect duties do not apply during the off school year. Third off Fred and I are out of Hogwarts and we do not have to take orders from you any more." Said a hot-tempered George.

"If it's not you then who is it?" She questioned.

"'Mione, some times you can be so thick, even for a witch of your intelligence." Fred piped in. "If it's not one of us then who do you think it is?"

"Harry." Hermione whispered so quietly that her friends had almost missed her reply. Her eyes grew wide as she took in what she herself had said. "Harry's awake. She screamed, jumping up and down, we have to go see him."

She rushed to the fat lady's portrait and was almost there when Ron came up behind her and grabbed her shoulders.

'Ron what are you doing? Let go of me." She cried.

He held onto her more firmly and gently pushed her into the puffy chintz chair by the fireplace.

She gave them all a quizzical look, waiting for someone to give her some kind of explanation.

"It is Harry, he has definitely awoken, but he's been screaming his head off for like ten minutes now, and every time we think it's finally safe and he's quieted the whole thing starts again." Ginny answered Hermione's unasked question.

"If we go to see him that would probably calm him down wouldn't it. Seeing all of us there, I'm sure he would feel better." She said determinedly.

"Can't." Fred vaguely replied. He conjured up marshmallows and some sticks and passed them around to his siblings and friend. They were not in the mood to eat, but it gave them something to do.

"Why not?" Hermione stared at her marshmallow roasting in the fire, wondering why they were being depraved of seeing their broken friend, whom they helped to save.

"Because the fat lady's locked us in, there's no way to get out. We think Dumbledore might have had something to do with that, probably wants to give Harry some time to recuperate and then get reacquainted with his father."

"Oh." Hermione looked placid, after that. She knew that she had no right to interfere with Harry and his father reuniting, and she had no desire to intrude on what would be a critical turning point for the two of them, if they were ever going to have any hope of putting back the pieces to their broken family.

The friends watched the fire as their once forgotten marshmallows melted into the flames, causing the fire to change from orange to white and then back again, apparently even the flames at Hogwarts was bewitched. The interruptions of jagged screaming was the only sound that entered the Gryffindor common room, again that night.

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For a boy so small and sick the "potions master" and the headmaster had no clue how Harry had become so fast. They were both taken aback when Harry had finally been able to scratch "Severus" that he finally had to let go of the boy.

It had taken almost twenty minutes for him to find release, and when he did he made a beeline for the exit to the infirmary. He did not want to stay with a crazed Severus Snape, and with Dumbledore who had just watched with amusement written across his face that rivalled the sparkle in his deep blue eyes.

He had about a few more strides to take and he would soon be free. His body sore and aching he was there. Just as he was at the door, it swung shut right in his face. Surprise took him by force, and he turned to see Severus Snape pale and shaking. He had looked like Harry had never seen him, even madder then when he had entered the pensieve uninvited last year.

"What do you think you're doing?" James shouted at his trembling son. He could not help but yell. When he saw Harry running his heart gave way. He was so scared that Harry would hurt himself or fall down from lack of energy, thus leaving him in another coma. James did not want that, now that his son was awake the truth would B revealed. "Don't you ever do that again! Do you hear me?" James walked closer to his son, and tried to make a grab for him, he was taken by surprise when Harry had curled into a ball at the foot of the door, trying to make himself as small as possible.

"No, please don't." He cried. "I promise I'll be good. I promise. Just don't please."

"Harry?" James asked cautiously. "Harry nobody is going to hurt you." He kneeled beside his broken son, and ever so gently pulled Harry's arms away from his face.

Harry yelled and tried to kick out, but James was faster and moved swiftly away from the flailing legs. Instead of being mad he looked as if that gesture might have been the funniest thing he had ever seen if the situation was not so grave.

"Harry. I'm not going to hurt you." He tried to look as forlorn as possible in Severus' body, hoping his son would have pity on him, even though he knew Harry would probably feel nothing but loathing for him, considering for the past six years he had made Harry's life a living hell.

Harry pulled his hands back from Snape's grasp. He did not know why the potions professor was acting kind and gentle, but it was unnerving him.

"Professor Dumbledore." He cried imploringly to the headmaster. "Help me."

Albus took pity on the scared child and went to go collect Harry from an insane looking Snape.

"Do not come near us." James screeched at the older wizard.

"The child is frightened, Severus, look at him. He does not understand that you do not wish him harm."

"It is your fault then, isn't it? You will not go near him. I think it's best you leave, and let me deal with him by myself." James was getting angrier by the minute; he would not be in this position if Albus had been honest with both him and Harry from the start. Now he had to deal with a terrified son, who he thought he would be close with.

"If that is what you want."

"No, please Professor, don't leave me. He's going to kill me, just like Uncle Vernon would have done. You can't leave. I already promised I'll be good." Harry's face was pale, and sweat was pouring down it in great wet drops.

Seeing his son in a state, he said calmly. "Albus you will leave, and Harry and I are going to have a little chat. Something that should have been done a long long time ago."

Harry did not like the sound of that, the last time those words were spoken Dumbledore was telling him about the prophesy and in the end either he would be murdered, or have to murder somebody else.

"No I want him to stay." He cried.

"Harry this is important I need to talk to you privately before everything becomes distorted once more." James made another attempt to reach his son.

"Don't come near me!" Harry cried. He feared that the potions master would do to him what his uncle did. He was a freak and he deserved no less, but he was hurt and he did not want it happening again. He understood that it was his magic that was giving him the strength to fight and defend himself. If it was not for that he would have died a long time ago.

"Harry, my dear boy," Dumbledore reached down beside Harry and spoke softly, "I will leave you because Severus here is right there is a lot that you two need to discuss and it would be a lot easier if I was not around when you two talked."

"Fine." Harry replied brokenly. He knew it would be better to agree with Dumbledore, every time he tried to argue with the old man he lost.

Dumbledore left a resigned Harry and a fearful Severus to talk about their relationship towards one another.

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The small dragon knew that this would be interesting a small pleasure of delight ran through his body as he witnessed the boy – who – lived, have a total mental breakdown.

"I always knew he'd crack. Nothing, but a scared little baby." He thought to himself from his current position.

All he had to do was wait a few more hours and he would have the information that Voldemort needed, and much sooner than was expected. He would certainly be better for it, and Voldemort would be pleased.

"Harry." The greasy haired man called to the younger man beside the door.

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"Don't call me that. You have no right." He spoke so forlornly that the people in the pictures looked as if they might start crying.

"I have every right." He growled. Frustration was setting in. James never thought he would be rejected so, he understood that he was Severus, but he thought that with the gentleness he was showing Harry would soon come around. Apparently he was wrong.

"No you don't. You have no right. You always made my life a living hell, and because of you Sirius is dead."

"How dare you, you insolent little brat, I have every right to call you what I want to, and if I so desired I have every right to throttle your little neck. If anyone should be blamed for Sirius' death it rests only on you." James could not stop those words coming from his mouth. He had been angry with Harry for accusing him of killing his best friend and he had forgotten that Harry still did not know whom he was talking to. Yet James just made the biggest mistake of his life when he saw the fear run through his son's eyes.

His hands flew to his mouth to cover them, but then he let go to stop his error. "Oh Merlin. Harry I'm so sorry. It was a slip of the tongue."

"Get away from me." Harry spat venomously. "GET AWAY!" He kicked his legs out again and tried to harm the man in front of him

James had no idea what to do, he backed up a little away from the flailing legs, but he refused to leave Harry's side his son was too distressed and it was all because of him.

He was relieved when Madame Pomfrey came storming into the infirmary.

She had been away at St. Mungo's helping the Medi Witches and Wizards. They were short staffed there and needed extra hands. She had assumed that her patient would be taken care of by the headmaster and his father, had the boy awoken when she was not there, how unmistakably wrong she was.

"What in Merlin's name is going on here?" She tried to keep her voice calm and steady as to not startle Harry anymore.

When neither of the men said anything she flicked her wand and Harry was tucked tightly into the hospital bed, where he found he could not move.

"I have restrained them so that it will keep you in bed young man, you were not supposed to be out." She then turned and faced Slytherin's head of house. "And you," She admonished. "What do you think you're doing? Especially since you know who you are and he has absolutely no clue. What did you do to the boy?"

James' beetle black eyes looked at his squirming son, who was trying to still fight against the constricting bed sheets. "I yelled at him." He said broken-heartedly. "Then threatened him. Then I blamed him for Sirius' death."

"You did what?" Madame Pomfrey looked astonished at the man before her. "I thought you had more common sense then that. But since he's awake and you've caused this mess, then you can fix it. I will not help you, and I refuse to show you any pity. Just get my patient better before I come back or else." She stormed out of the wing in a huff, the threat left hanging in the air.

"Harry," He spoke cautiously.

"Get it over with then. Let's go."

"Get what over with." James looked at his son puzzled.

"The throttling. Uncle Vernon beat me a lot so I'm used to it. C'mon, Sir, isn't that what you've always wanted?"

"No Harry it's not."

The boy looked away, pain was written all over his face, it broke James' heart to know that he was the one that put it there.

Harry sneered at the man standing before him. He knew he was being lied to, any minute that promised throttling would come. He wanted the comfort the he once felt, he wanted to feel protected and loved, and instead every turn in his life he was faced with hatred that was directly aimed towards him, why should his professor be any different.

"Harry there are things you do not understand, things I did not understand. Things that were revealed to me just a few days ago, and had I known what I am going to reveal to you I would have done everything in my powers to protect you. I swear. What I said just now was the biggest mistake I could have made and I'm sorry."

Harry turned his face away from the professor, and did not answer him back. He did not want to hear what the professor had to say to him, he just wanted to go to sleep.

"Harry it is time. Look at me and I will show you what this is all about. In the end I promise it will be worth it."

Harry reluctantly turned his face towards the potions master. Curiosity always seemed to get the better of him.

He stared attentively and waited for what would happen next. He was nearly ready to laugh when he saw Snape make a face like he was constipated.

His feelings changed from one that was laughable to one of utmost horror. Standing in front of him was his father.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO." He screamed. Harry could not take in what he was seeing. His father alive. His father standing before his eyes. His father that threatened to do what his Uncle Vernon had done. His father who he had once admired was now the cause of some of the hurt that he was feeling.

"Harry." He said quietly, "Son I am so sorry, for everything." He made to approach his still tightly wrapped son, but stopped short when another ear splitting scream reached his ears.

Harry collected himself and knew from what he saw in his father's eyes that this was not a joke, but the truth.

"NOOOOOO! You. Are. Not. My. Father." He turned his face on the pillow and tears streamed down from his eyes.

James was thunderstruck. He thought that his son would forgive him now that he had shown his true face; he did not think that this was the reaction that he would get. He tried to look at the emerald green eyes that seemed resolute to not look in his direction. Lily's eyes, his one true love, how Lily would have been so disappointed in him.

"Harry it's true, if you don't believe me I'll take you into the pensieve myself, and you can see the truth for yourself."

"I don't want to see anything, I don't want you, and I don't need you. I already have everybody I need."

James felt as if he had been struck in the face, and he crumpled in the seat by the bed.

Harry watched as his father felt defeated. His father had caused him so much pain, he reminded Harry that he was and always has been a freak. "Hermione and Ron, and the rest of the Weasley's are the only family that I need."

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Up in the common room the portrait of the fat lady swung open giving the five people in the room permission to leave.

"That's weird." Hermione's muffled voice awoke the rest of the party.

Fred fell off the couch and landed on Ginny, squashing her in surprise, from the interruption of sleep.

"Gerrof me." She shoved Fred off of her compressed body.

"Sorry." He mumbled his apologies.

"What's up Mione?" Ron asked his girlfriend from beside her on the puffy chintz chair. He absently started brushing a loose strand of hair off her face when he saw how distressed she had become.

Hermione pointed at the door, indicating that they were finally allowed to leave.

They all scrambled from their respective seats and made their way to the infirmary. They all paused in confusion when they reached Harry's bed.

Harry was trembling in his sheets, and could not move, and James was like a puddle in the chair tear streaks stained his face.

"Harry what happened?" Ginny cried. She wanted to rush to him and wrap her arms protectively over the boy she loved, and that's what she did.

Harry allowed Ginny to take control and found that he actually liked the small red haired Weasley girl. He liked the way her arms fit perfectly around him, and how she whispered soothing words of comfort in his ears.

"Shhhh, Harry it will be alright, nothings going to happen to you ever again. I promise."

The stunned occupants in the room watched as Harry's face relaxed.

"Hey mate." Ron said a little bit uncomfortably. "Glad you're back with us."

Harry looked over his shoulders and for the first time since he woke he gave a genuine smile. As soon as the smile appeared it hastened away at the sight of James.

"I don't want him here." Harry said pointing a finger at James, to make sure that nobody would think those words were meant for them.

"But Harry he's your father." Ginny protested in their embrace.

"Make him leave, I don't care who he is. He is not my father."

"Harry…" Hermione began.

"It's ok, Hermione, I'm going. Harry I'll see you later son."

"I'm not your son." He said as James walked out the door.

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James' shoulder slumped in defeat as he made his way out the door he knew it would be better not to push his son, and he prayed that sooner or later Harry would forgive him for what he had done.

He climbed into bed and grabbed for a picture of him and Lily on his nightstand. "Oh Lils, I did the most horrible thing I could do to our son. I am worse than his uncle. I wish you were here; I need you my beautiful darling. I need you more then ever. Please help me make things right. Help me make things right between our son and me. I am so sorry Lily, so sorry. Please forgive me for hurting him, please." Tears rolled down his face and for once throughout this whole ordeal James Potter wished that he could just die.

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The little dragon slipped from his perch and made his way out of Hogwarts and into Hogsmeade, where he apparated back to where his new master would be waiting for him.

He knew he had to tell him what happened. An awake Potter was not good; they needed him still in a coma so that he could be weak and vulnerable for when their plan would take place.

"Enter." Said the man who Draco knew had sensed him come to his door.