Alia: I got my baby fixed! (does a little dance) I can do anything I want now and my computer won't cut off on me. So because Spring Break is over (sniffles) and I'm slightly perky...and also avoiding studying for an exam...I decided to post this. I don't know how long the next one will be. I'll get right on it though.

Sarahamanda: Evil place? Thank you. You guys are jumping farther ahead then I am...

Melissa Jooty: I know it was cruel...and I plan to get a lot worse. Friends are suppose to be loyal. I know I'd go against the system for mine. I'd be nervous and scared as hell but I'd do it. When I thought of Julian's behavior, I took in the fact that he is just a kid, but you also have to factor in who his parents are. You can't wait? Just wait a bit longer. You'll love this. (sighs) Yeah its going to be a long road for those two. All Albus does is meddle. What do you expect? I'm a favorite! (bounces) Thank you! I try with Harry...now if only I could work better with Everybody.

TEC: Just a tiny bit? I'll have to work on that. You hope that Raven will be okay? (shifts nervously)

aikidobrat: I wanted REVENGE! (pouts) You'd be surprised how many stories I'm reading now just cut you off! So very cruel. Actually I'm being a little hypocritical aren't I? Of course I love reviews! I'll be sure to talk to you later.

Kate: Bribery huh? (narrows eyes) Okay. I'll take it!Leila: Oh come on! He's my baby too...although there are some of us that don't like to share...

Hana-Heart: (blinks) You're trying to get me killed aren't you? You are! (points at everyone that reads story including yahoo group) Well to be quite frank, you'll have to get through them first.

ladyoficyblueyes: I know it's cruel...but I love reviews so much. (sobs) Yeah, can't leave Harry a bastard forever.

Thanks also to everyone who read and just forgot to review (you know who you are).

TITLE: Second Chances -Because of Answers

AUTHOR: Alia

STATUS/PART: 4

SEQUEL: Raven's Gift

RATING: R (I might raise it again soon)

PAIRING: Severus Snape/ Harry Potter

SPOILERS: All of the books

WARNINGS: language, angst, slash, violence

DISCLAIMER: I do not in anyway or fashion own HP or anything else. I'm making no money from this.

SUMMARY: The characters of HP and Raven's Gift learn that some things won't stay buried.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Now for the first scene of this part to work I was going to have to change something in the last scene of Raven's Gift. Not going to happen. That was the original idea but I changed it so that I didn't have to screw with the first story.

Second Chances – Because of Answers

Late that Thursday night as Severus Snape also known as Raven Esan worked on saving Remus Lupin's life, a half giant was drinking heavily at a table in the corner of the Leaky Cauldron.

The room was rather empty, just a few drunken wizards here and there so it was rather easy for them all to ignore the ravings of half giant even though they echoed loudly throughout the place.

"It ain't righ', ah tell ya!" Hagrid yelled loud enough that the walls shook ever so slightly. "IT AIN'T! 'E'd be tha best da ever, Harry wou'd!"

Unknown to Hagrid, someone was rather sober enough to hear and understand everything the screaming half giant said. The man narrowed his eyes. He wonder for a moment had he heard correctly.

"Dey 'ad no righ' takin' tha lad away from his da! Harry'd make a betta da to tha lad dan he wou'd!"

The man's eyes widened. Was that oaf really saying...that Harry Potter had a son/I have to be hearing things./ He smirked. /Only one way to find out./ He walked over toward Hagrid's table.

"Hey there, mate. You alright?" He laid a pale hand on the massive shoulder in front him.

Hagrid looked up sniffling at the cloaked stranger in front of him. He wiped his nose with his sleeve causing the stranger to cringe ever so slightly. /Disgusting./

Hagrid shook his head. "'e jus' stole tha lad from his pa! Harry wou'd make ah good da! Best in the world!" cried Hagrid, his voice slurring over the 'l'.

The stranger sat in the chair across from him. "Someone stole a boy from who?"

Hagrid gave the man a blurry look. His eyes were focusing and he couldn't get a clear view of the man except for the blond hair. "Ma friend 'Arry! T'e boy's da took 'im away. Jus' 'tole 'im from poor ickle Harry." Hagrid took another swallow of his drink, becoming more and more intoxicated. He'd been at it for some time.

The cloaked figure raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Harry? Do you mean Harry Potter? He has a son?" /Oh this is just too good to be true/

Hagrid nodded, his head rolling about his shoulders. "Is true! Ah foun' poor 'Arry sobbin' up a rig't storm duh otha day! E's scared e'll lose his friend Remus. T'en 'e told me 'bout how ickle Julian was 'is!" Hagrid dropped his head to the table causing the stranger to jump in alarm. The half giant cried even louder. "An tole me how duh lad's da stole 'im away. Jus' took 'im!"

The stranger eyes were lit with excitement as an old hatred boiled inside of him. /Potter has a son! POTTER has a SON/ He glanced back at the giant. /So the boy's name is Julian. But I need more information./

"That's terrble! Who would take Harry Potter's son?" he asked. /Come on you oaf! Give me a name./

"Dat bastard Esum! 'E took 'Arry's boy from 'im! Poor Julian. Barely 'ad ah chance to know 'is da."

/Julian Esum? I'll have to look through the public ministry records./ "I'm sorry for Mr. Potter. Is there anything I can do to help?" he said, hoping to learn more.

Hagrid shook his head wildly, loose bits hair smacked the stranger repeatedly despite the cloak's hood. "Naw. Poor Harry said ta leave it be. E's jus' sad cause tha lad's gonna be thirteen soon."

The stranger leapt to his feet, barely a goodbye to the drunk Hagrid. He rushed toward the doors of the Leaky Cauldron and apparated to his flat. He needed to get to France. His father needed to know about this.

(a day later)

That night, Severus closed his weary eyes not being able to stand the sight of his son anymore. Julian was sitting on the steps of the porch of the small cottage, his feet solidly placed on the second step, his arms wrapped around his knees. There was nothing wrong with this boy's stance. It was the child's face that caused Severus grief.

Moving from the open front door to the living room, Severus sat in his chair and stared at the fire burning in the fireplace.

Julian had just turned thirteen years old yesterday and the boy had spent the day with his father. Lupin was far too tired to do anything except rest for his transformation. It wasn't so bad even with the werewolf around. They went outside and Julian somehow managed to get his father to participate in a snow fight. It went very well when he and Severus ate a cake that Willow had sent, while at the same time she managed to insult Severus's cooking. It went even better when gifts from Matt, Minny, Dillon, Clara, and Atticus arrived from Hogwarts.

It had been good to see the light in his son's eyes brighten. The last year had been hard on him emotionally. Severus hated seeing Julian so depressed. Though solitude may suit Severus, it wasn't right for Julian. The boy had no friends around except for Ignis and the only one to talk to was his father, except when Matt visited during holidays. Severus was having to home school him in order for Julian to keep up with his year mates.

Severus's problems weren't too hard. Zelda's was being run by Willow. Severus still created the potions but he sent them to Willow to store. The woman was all to happy to do it. She hated staying home all day. He didn't mind having so much time to himself either having done it for a many years. Only two things really caused him problems.

Severus sighed heavily as his eyes glanced at the door once more. His chest felt heavy as he continued to contemplate the situation that he'd placed him and his son in.

For some reason (it may have been intervention by Albus), Potter had not put out the information on him and Julian. Severus could not understand why. From what he understood from Julian, Potter had found out who he was and had gone on a rampage claiming that Severus had stolen his son. /But the idiot conveniently forgot that he had a part to play in it./ It had unnerved Severus when Ash announced that nothing had gone to the ministry yet. Severus had expected to be hunted down, but so far nothing had happened.

When Lupin showed up, he'd honestly been caught off guard. He hadn't expected the werewolf to come looking for him or know who he was. Thankfully, Lupin was all Gryffindor and had rushed straight to their cottage. The werewolf would keep his word (Severus would make sure of it) and Severus would give him his cure. At the moment Lupin sat near the fireplace, sleeping rather heavily. Apparently the potion had worked. Lupin had been locked up earlier but Severus had reluctantly released him after seeing how docile he was. Julian had tossed a ball about for a while before taking a seat on the porch.

Severus stood and went back to the door. The sun was beginning to set. "Julian." Brown eyes that seemed to droop looked up at him. "It's late. Eat your dinner, then finish the work I gave you."

Julian nodded his head slowly. "Okay, papa. I'll be right there." Severus frowned slightly at his son's back before going to his study.

The cottage that Ash had given them had needed much repair but it was a large enough place for both of them. It was not far from a short range of tall hills. For that Severus was thankful for he never liked being too close to water.

Continuing down the hall, his mind began to wonder to the nightmares he'd been having lately. It was the nightmares that were having him so on edge lately.

After they'd ran away, he'd continually had nightmares about Potter stealing Julian from him and him himself being locked up somewhere for stealing the Golden Boy's (though he was a man) son. Now however, they were something entirely different. He was lying in total darkness and there was screaming in the background. One was of an older man, and was extremely angry. The thing that frightened him was that the other voice was screaming in pain.

That voice belonged to Julian and it scared Severus more than he ever wanted to admit.

The thought of his son being hurt in anyway did not sit well with Severus. He'd been hurt too much in his own life for Julian to suffer, although the boy was suffering at least emotionally from the situation that they were in.

Severus walked into his study and sat down at his desk to finish labeling the jars and vials that he planned to send to Willow and Ash in a couple of days. He also needed to revise a charms quiz he was preparing Julian for. Immersing himself in his work, Severus didn't see the glow at his window immediately. After a moment, it did manage to grab his attention with its riotous movements.

Standing quickly, Severus tried to sooth his annoyance. Julian knew not to go running around the cottage, especially this time of night. Looking at the clock, Severus could see that it was around ten o'clock. "Julian!" Severus frowned when the light continued to move. He stormed out of his study and toward the front door.

Lupin's head snapped up as he yelped in surprise. Tilting his head to the side he wonder what had Snape in such a tizzy.

"Julian Esan, what did I tell you about-,"

"I didn't do it!" exclaimed the boy as he ran into the living room from the kitchen, sliding across the floor thanks to his socks.

Severus would have stumbled over his own feet if it hadn't been for years of practice of stalking through Hogwarts. Severus narrowed his eyes at his son. "Julian, were you outside?" If the boy had just come from the kitchen, which was on the wrong side of the house...

Julian shook his head. "No, sir. You told me not to go out this late. Why did you think that I was outside?"

Severus frowned. Julian wasn't lying. Especially since he'd come in from the kitchen. Severus moved toward the window beside the front door. The glow seemed to stop in front of the wards he'd placed around the cottage when the first came to the cottage.

Slipping his wand from his sleeve he motioned at Julian. "Do you have your wand?"

Julian nodded. "Yes, papa." His father had taught him to keep his wand on him at all times. It may have been paranoia but both merely referred to it as Slytherin caution.

Severus stepped over and opened the front door. Placing a warming charm on his clothes, he turned to the door. "Lupin," The werewolf moved toward him slowly, not wanting to accidentally startle Severus. "Keep an eye on Julian. Julian, stay in the house. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." Julian swallowed the lump that was beginning to form. When he was younger, every single time something seriously bad happened, his head began to throb slightly. It was always centered around the center of his forehead. Even that day when he heard Potter talking to his friends, his head had been throbbing earlier that morning. He'd ignored it then. There was no way he would do it now.

His father opened the door and looked out cautiously, his wand held tightly in his grasp. Moving with a grace that Julian envied, and at times tried to imitate without success, his father exited their home, and began moving across the porch to the lawn.

Julian moved to the window to keep an eye on his father while Lupin sat near the door keeping an eye on Julian. The young boy took a deep breath and began chanting, "I am not a Gryffindor, I am not a Gryffindor, I am not a Gryffindor." A soft huff from the werewolf and the thought that Matt would be insulted made Julian calm down. It also stopped him from going ahead and following his father out of the door.

The older Esan was in front of the glowing now, his wand lighted by a simple Lumos spell. Julian gasped when his father turned and began running toward him.

As Severus moved slowly toward the glowing lights before his home, something bothered him about the whole experience. Something scratched at the back of his mind about the scene but he ignored it.

He continued across his land to the wards and raised his wand as he began to glimpse something more. There were people standing at the wards. Continuing to move closer, wand in hand and prepared to fight, Severus was close enough to finally get a look at the people before him.

Seeing the black robes and white masks, Severus paled. He'd seen people dressed in the same clothes for too long to ever be able to forget it. The Death Eaters laughed at the expression on his face before one stepped forward. "Raven Esan...a pleasure to meet you."

Severus narrowed his eyes and took a step back. The bright side was that they obviously didn't know who he was. If they had any idea that he was once Severus Snape, things could get bad. Not that they weren't. There had to be at least twelve Death Eaters trying to get through his wards.

"What do you want here?" growled Severus. He hid his nervousness as most of the men returned to work on breaking his wards. The spells were causing the yellow lights.

"Nothing important." The Death Eater smiled. "But my lord would like a few words with you and your son."

Severus tensed, his wand ready to duel. "What would your lord want with me and my son? I do not even know who you speak of."

The man shrugged. "I am merely following orders, Mr. Esan. Surely you can understand."

Severus began taking a few steps back. "I truly am sorry for your predicament, however," he snarled, "You are not taking us anywhere."

The man laughed. "Oh you think so do you?" The blasts against Severus's wards grew stronger and they began to waver. "Why don't we find out?"

Severus turned and ran for the cottage.

"Julian!" The boy was standing by the window of the cottage just as the pop of the wards echoed around their temporary home.

Lupin growled lowly and began roughly nudging Julian away from the window. Julian tried to move toward the door.

"Papa, what's happening?" His father nearly bowled him over to get into the house.

Severus pushed his child away and slammed the door shut behind, putting up as many locking spells as he could think of. As he searched around his home, Severus cursed himself for not installing a floo. Even Ash had thought it a bad idea at the time. Lupin snapped his jaws at the door and growled louder. Severus knew that they were coming. "Julian, do you have that board of yours?"

The boy paled. "I…I left it outside."

"What about the broom your friends got you?'

"In my room. By the bed." Julian followed his father as the older man ran through the house. Both paused.

Severus glared down the hall. "Where the hell is Lupin?" He thought to go back but only for a second, as the front door was thrown open by a curse.

Severus threw the bedroom door open and he and Julian rushed inside.

"Where's Professor Lupin?" A growl, screams, and then the pained howl of a wolf answered his question. Julian grabbed his broom from the side of his bed and rushed toward the window.

Severus threw open the window and both just managed to avoid a hex that flew through the window. "Shit."

"Papa, who are those people."

"Death Eaters."

Julian's eyes widened. "Do they know who you-,"

"No. Don't say anything." Their heads snapped up as someone banged at the door.

"Mr. Esan, please reconsider. We would like to do this the easy way. No one will get hurt."

Severus found himself glaring at the door wondering if the fool actually thought he believed that. He'd been a Death Eater and a spy for over 20 years, for Merlin's sake! And more than likely they had just killed Lupin. He stood and managed to hex the three that were guarding the window of Julian's room. "Quickly." he hissed at his son.

Julian got his broom steady outside of the window and climbed on it. He turned to wait for his father. The older man was trying to hold the door closed and manage his way toward Julian at the same time. It wasn't working. Severus was putting all of his energy into keeping the door closed.

"Papa!" Julian whispered.

Severus shook his head. "Go!" He watched his son's eyes widen. "Damn you Julian, don't you dare argue with me! Not now! Get to safety. Try to make it to the town nearby."

Julian glared at his father before nodding, his face filled with determination. The boy turned his broom and shot off into the distance. Momentarily, Severus reveled in the fact that Julian could fly like Potter.

His temporary loss of concentration cost him. The door shattered and four of the Death Eaters rushed through, sure that they could handle one man. They underestimated him.

Severus immediately killed two of them with 'Avada Kedavra' and blocked out how easy it was for him to do so. He turned smoothly to the side as the others tried to hit him with stunning or petrifying spells. He merely returned them quickly.

He jumped slightly startled as Ignis appeared behind the two remaining men in his usual blaze of glory and began attacking one of them with his claws. Unfortunately, a luck swing of the Death Eater's hand tossed the phoenix into Julian's bookcase. The case then fell on him.

Severus cursed as he continued to duel with the two men. He threw another killing curse at each man. Unfortunately, one was experienced enough to avoid it and a good enough dueler to catch Severus off guard even though it was for a moment. A loud cry of 'Crucio!' sent Severus to his knees, growling with a pain he hadn't felt in years. It seemed to be too late for him but Julian had gotten away.

As he passed out from the pain of the Unforgivable, that was Severus's only real thought.

Julian flew as fast as he could toward a town that sat a few miles away from where he and his father now lived. Their former home had been closer and Julian wished that he was back home.

He wished that everything was good and quiet as it had been a year ago. Before he'd started Hogwarts and everything had went straight to hell. Unfortunately, you couldn't turn back time. Okay you could but he couldn't find the time turner he needed to get the job done.

A silvery hex nearly knocked the boy off of his broom. "Ahh! Go away you fucking prats!" Soon Julian was dodging the curses almost frantically. The boy flew through the air with an almost effortless grace despite the fact that he was nearly fighting for his life.

Dodging a few stunning spells, Julian could almost see the low lights of the town a couple of miles away. "Come on, Julian! Just a little longer. You're almost there. NO!" The broom began to buck then plummeted toward the ground below.

Julian tried to get the broom back under control but it was useless. He braced himself for the impact of the trees and ground below.

Crying out as he hit a few sturdy branches before dropping to the ground roughly, Julian tried to regain his senses. He groaned as he felt muscles twinge in pain. He stumbled to his feet and with barely a glance at his broken broom, he pulled out his wand and took off in a run.

"Come back here boy!" cried one of the men that were flying on their own brooms behind him.

"Oh gods, please!" sobbed Julian as he ran even faster toward the town that was much too far away. Knowing that he would never make it anyway, Julian turned, his fear taking a step back for his anger. The boy began throwing curses, even some that were considered dark, at the five Death Eaters following him.

Julian managed to dodge a majority of the hexes thrown his way but it was difficult. He was still just a kid and though he had been one of the best students in DADA, he was dueling with adults! He cursed in denial as a jelly legs hit him from behind.

Now on the ground and unable to dodge much, Julian turned to a few darker curses that Hogwarts did not think children his age needed to know. Shame on Albus for believing his lies about extra studying in the Restricted Section.

The boy did his best, did better than most adults could, but was eventually overcome. The one that had hit him from behind summoned his wand. Julian turned and glared at the bastard. He was ignored as the man, who remained hooded, yelled at the others.

"I cannot believe this. You couldn't defeat a mere child by yourselves?" The man snorted with disgust. "Why our Lord sent you fools, I will never know." He turned and looked at Julian. He gasped however when he saw the boy back on his feet and poised to run. "Stop him!"

Julian tried to run again, hoping that his youth would help him. But the other men were taller and obviously stronger. He was quickly tackled from behind. "Let me go, you bootlicking bastards! Let Me Go!" A strike to his face startled him but he continued to struggle.

The man who'd summoned Julian's wand pushed the Death Eater that tackled the boy aside. Grabbing Julian roughly by the neck, he slammed Julian's head on the hard ground beneath them as hard as he could. When the boy cried out, he continued to do it.

Julian's eyes rolled into his head as blood spread beneath him.

TBC

Alia: Don't give me those looks. You know I wouldn't hurt them unless it was necessary...okay so maybe I'm exaggerating a bit. Review