Harry Potter and the Cave of Revelations

By Aeowin

Chapter 8 The Explanation

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A/N I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to update, but I had window problems. I had almost finished this chapter and had shut my computer down for the night. The next morning when I went to boot up, I received a .dll error and ended up having to format my system, so of course I lost chapter 8 and had to rewrite. I'm not quite as happy with this as I was with the original, but I wanted to get this out to my wonderful readers! Chapter 9 is about 1/3 completed, and barring any other computer (or problems, should be up by the end of the week.

I am considering cutting the answers to the reviews at the end of each chapter. Let me know what you think, and I will make a final decision based on your responses.

One last note, I have thought about a house competition (Many thanx to Elssha!). I will ask a few questions at the end of each chapter and award points to each correct response to the reviewers respective house. So what do you think? Please R/R and let me know!

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"I read all of these things in his eyes, and in an instant, my decision was made. I Obliviated him, but in that instant, I felt regret as well. I knew that I could not place blame on Snape alone. He would not have been in my home had I not placed him there. At the last second, I modified the spell. His memories of that night would be removed, but only for a limited time, and those memories would only be revealed at a time of my choosing. I have now chosen to unveil his memories. Dumbledore has by now received a letter, and only by Dumbledore's explanation will the spell be dispersed completely.

"That is my tale, my son. I came here not only to bring you back to yourself, but to tell you the truth. Severus Snape is your father."

Severus Snape stood before the door to 4 Privet Drive, fist raised as if to knock. Yet something deep inside had halted his hand. Something wasn't quite right here. Snape had been a spy for the Order for too long to disregard his instincts. As he stepped away from the door, the Potions Master focused his attention closer yet on his surroundings.

The acrid smell of smoke, which he hadn't paid any mind to, seemed out of place on this hot, humid night. The scent, although faint now, floated on the wings of a gentle breeze. Snape followed the odor to the back garden. There, he spied the smoldering remains of a sizable bonfire. 'Who within their proper mind would have a fire on such a night?' he speculated, while continuing to peruse the area.

His eyes fell upon an opened trunk, lying close to the dying embers. Potter's, surely. Yet why would the boy leave his things lying around, vulnerable not only to the weather, but to prying eyes as well? Snape was sure that the brat was completely spoiled, pampered even; but could the boy not even be bothered to take care of his belongings?

Snape turned away from the offending sight with a disgusted click of his tongue. The sight that next met his eyes was an abnormal protuberance near the back portico.

In a swirl of billowing black robes, he turned and strode toward the strange knoll. With each self assured step, the shape grew ever clearer, finally revealing itself to be a person…a person lying intertwined within ropes that had clearly been used to bind the person to the overturned chair…Potter! Could it possibly be?

As the Potions Master glanced quickly around, he picked up the lingering magical residue of several different wizards. Not Death Eaters? He had quickly ascertained that no Dark Magic had been used. But if not Voldemort's work, then whose?

Severus stepped quickly to the body and placing a steady hand upon its shoulder, swiftly turned its face toward the moon's feeble light. His heart fell as his gaze fell upon the easily recognizable features of Harry Potter. The boy's face was ashen, his glazed eyes staring, unfixed. It couldn't be…the boy who lived…Harry Potter simply could not be dead!

Snape's eyes came to rest upon the boy's chest, and slowly he became aware of the slight rising and falling that was present. The boy was alive…but barely. Quickly, Snape fell into his Potions Master persona and began to access the injured body before him.

Slight concussion; massive blood loss due to lacerations of the right wrist; multiple contusions, burns, and abrasions; substantially underweight and malnourished. Upon completing his examination, Severus stood in utter shock.

Harry Potter had been in the care of his supposed loving relatives for less than three weeks and this was the result? How was this possible? Potter was supposed to be no less than worshiped by his muggle family, right? Yet if that were true, than what had happened here? Snape could clearly sense the life force of three muggles inside the house, each of which radiated an overwhelming sense of satisfaction

Was it possible that Potter's relatives had caused these injuries? In an effort to discover the truth (that's what he told himself, anyway), Snape gently opened the young boy's eyes and uttered the spell that could answer all questions.

Legilimense …The word, which fell softly from his mouth, gave no warning of the harsh wrenching sensation that came suddenly from behind his eyes. It was a feeling very reminiscent of being transported by a portkey; but instead of a tingling tugging from his navel, he felt a harsh yanking behind his eyes. Instantly, a dizzying fog enveloped his mind. He was spinning inside of a fluffy, white cloud, trying desperately to fight his way clear.

Slowly, the fog began to lift and separate, and as the air cleared, he saw someone he had never dreamed he would lay eyes on again in this life.

"I read all of these things in his eyes, and in an instant, my decision was made. I Obliviated him, but in that instant, I felt regret as well. I knew that I could not place blame on Snape alone. He would not have been in my home had I not placed him there. At the last second, I modified the spell. His memories of that night would be removed, but only for a limited time, and those memories would only be revealed at a time of my choosing. I have now chosen to unveil his memories. Dumbledore has by now received a letter, and only by Dumbledore's explanation will the spell be dispersed completely.

"That is my tale, my son. I came here not only to bring you back to yourself, but to tell you the truth. Severus Snape is your father."

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Harry stared at his father, totally astounded.

"What!" he bellowed. "You can't mean…you aren't saying…he can't be…" Harry stuttered.

"Son," James began.

"NO!" Harry shouted. "It's not true! I know it's not! I look exactly like you! You are my father! I know you are…" he cried. "You have to be…" these last words were almost lost in the enormous sob that escaped from the boy's stone like defenses.

"Harry, son…it's the truth. He is your father."

"NO!" Harry exploded. "If this were true, how could you just let it go? He took her! And you were OK with that!"

"No, Harry. I most certainly was not OK with it." James sighed. "When your mother told me that she was pregnant, I was crazy with worry. Once I knew that you could not possibly be mine, I wanted nothing more than to see Snape dead. I wanted to squeeze his life out with my own hands. I had always disliked him; now I had a very real reason, an all too real reason, to hate him. And I did. When I realized that he and your mother had…been together, I wanted to die – no, I wanted to kill him. The night that I confronted him, that was what I had planned to do. I was going to murder Severus Snape!"

"But then, I confronted him. I was angry, and I wanted answers. I told him that I knew that he and Lily had lain together…I told him that I had proof, that I knew. He realized then that there was only one way that I could know.

"I saw the realization dawning upon his face, I saw the hope in his eyes, and I knew that he would stop at nothing…he would destroy our family if he thought there was any hope that his one night with Lily had resulted in a child."

"You see, Harry, I knew that he was a spy, I knew how he had loved your mother. And I knew if he had any reason to believe that you were his, he would stop at nothing to take you away from me. That is why I had to Obliviate him. I could not risk you!I could not risk Severus Snape finding that you were his son"

"His what!" A shocked voice demanded from behind them. Harry and James turned to see a white faced Snape striding angrily towards them.

Sorry that this was so short, but as I said, it was a forced rewrite. Now, on to the reviews.

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Zesuit – Don't worry, all will be revealed…eventually!

Pleione – Good for you! Sorry this chapter didn't really answer any questions, but it was originally supposed to be much longer. You will get some answers in the next chapter.

Rosiegirl – Can't answer that, it would give too much away!

Susan Potter – Sorry! I really am writing! Please forgive my lateness!

Bellegeste – Thank you again for such a lovely review! I am so glad that you got the connection with Cedric. It's not a usual link, but I always thought that if Harry were to face his ghosts, Cedric would have to be one of them. As to the 'Castle Snape', 'Snape Manor' confusion, I had originally called it 'Castle Snape' but then decided on 'Snape Manor'. I tried to reread and edit, but a couple of glasses of wine paired with lack of sleep and I missed 1 or 2 of the CS references. Oops . Also, James cannot leave the safe room and enter any part of the castle. He can disapperate at any time, unless someone changes the wards

Juliedecarson – Thanx! I'm glad you like it and I hope you will keep reading!

StrangersPearl – Thank you so much for your praise and your criticisms. I like knowing what my readers really like. That said, yes I'm afraid Severus is indeed Harry's father, but don't expect them to get all warm and fuzzy right away, if at all. Happy birthday! It is a bit late, but hopefully not too late for a Bday present!

HecateDeMort – Thanx

Kalisin – Thank you, and again, sorry for the wait.