Well, sorry that I updated this before Choices, but this one was easy, and Choices chapter six is currently on it's fourth rewrite...

Severus Snape was, predictably, brewing a potion when the headmaster's phoenix burst into the room in a whirl of flames, carrying two letters.

'Who the hell sent these?' He thought, annoyed as he missed a stroke stirring, ruining the delicate brew he'd been laboring over. With the potion a loss, he removed the letters from Fawkes and decided to read the letters immediately. One was marked to be read first, so he opened the letter, catching a whiff of a hauntingly familiar fragrance.

Dear Severus,

I realize that this letter very likely comes as a shock, considering I'm dead, and likely have been for some time. I wanted this letter delivered the day before Harry's sixteenth birthday if I was gone. Well, you'll have to put aside the shock of getting a letter from a dead woman, because I have an even bigger shock for you.

You are a father, Severus.

Now that you're sure I'm insane, let me explain. I'm sure you know of the charm that allows a woman to slow the progress of a pregnancy, so I don't have to explain why Harry was born slightly more than a year after I left you. I hid his parentage with a blood charm, and I'm not ashamed of the dark magic I used to keep Harry alive. You see, I knew he was special . . . even before the prophecy. I See now and then, and the vision I had after I found out I was pregnant led me to my choices.

Harry has your bloodline, of course, but what no one ever knew was that I'm not muggleborn. I am the last descendant of a very powerful bloodline, hidden away with muggles. So Harry has some of the purest blood in the wizarding world.

Don't hate our son for what I've done, it was as necessary as what you've done, Mr. Spy.

I'm sorry that it hurt you, but if Voldemort had gotten to kill Harry, well, let's just say it wouldn't be good. Hopefully you'll forgive me someday, but I don't expect it. I do, however, expect you to make peace with your son. If events have come to pass the way I fear, he'll need you quite badly.

I Saw him growing up in the Muggle world, with my sister and her family. Go and get him, Severus . . . and hurry. If not out of concern for him, then because he'll need to learn how to be the heir of a Family like yours, and incidentally, mine.

Love always,

Lily.

Severus dropped the letter so fast one would think it was spitting bubotuber pus at him. He shook his head. 'I was never with Lily,' he thought, still shaking his head as he tried to understand what the woman's purpose had been, writing such a strange letter. Even as he tried again to place the scent that his body seemed to know despite his inability to remember why he liked it, he opened the next letter, and nearly had a coronary.

Hey Snape,

Surprised I'd ever leave a message for you? Yeah, me too.

This isn't a continuation of our rivalry our some asinine prank. I sent this letter with Lily's so that you'd take hers seriously. If you read hers first, you're probably saying 'what? I hardly knew Lily, so how'd she get the idea we had a kid?' Maybe you thought she was insane. Whatever. It's not like it matter . . . neither is true.

Lily and I became friends in seventh year, and she was like the sister I'd always wanted. When she asked me to help her hide her relationship with a Slytherin, of course I said yes, even after she told me it was you. I'd had an enormous crush on Lily before we became friends, so it wasn't hard to get everyone to think that we were dating . . . everyone except Sirius and Remus, that is. Peter believed it, but then he always was a bit more gullible than the rest of the Marauders.

Anyway, I married Lily when she told me she was pregnant. Of course, she delayed the pregnancy, so you wouldn't suspect after she left you. I went one better . . . I obliviated you. 'Why?' you ask. Frankly, I thought you'd die, or worse, break during the course of your spying. I didn't want Lily and her child killed for being close to you.

You'll have to get Dumbledore and Remus or Sirius to take off the memory charm if I'm dead. Potters are the heirs of Gryffindor, and Dumbledore is the only one powerful enough to remove my spell. I keyed it to the Marauders' Motto, so you'll need Remus or Sirius for that. I don't say Peter for two reasons; one, he never knew and I don't know if Voldemort is still around and you need to keep this quiet, and two, if I'm dead, he damn well better be, seeing as how he's our secret keeper.

Harry might know the Motto if I had him long enough, or if Sirius raised him, so if no one else can help you, he can.

He might be yours, but he's mine too. I adopted him, making him my heir, and the heir of Gryffindor. Even after the appearance charms break, he's still part mine. Sirius more than likely adopted him too, so he's the Black heir too. Poor kid.

Anyway, I am not going to even try and excuse my actions towards you. I really don't think you'd care to hear it, some things are simply inexcusable, and some wounds can never be healed. Don't take it out on Harry, none of this ridiculous situation is his fault, and despite everything, he is your heir, the only one you'll ever have. I know my pureblood history, and I am aware of your family's problem.

James Potter.

Severus threw the letter down, glaring at it as if it were James Potter himself.

"You son of a bitch," he hissed. "This had better be some sick joke."

A knock sounded on the door. "Enter," he snapped.

Remus Lupin came in quietly. "Did you get your letters, Severus?"

"This prank is less humorous than any you've ever played, werewolf."

"No prank, Severus," the werewolf replied. "It's all true, but if you don't believe me, have Albus remove the charm, he wouldn't be able to if there isn't one."

"Fine. Let's see what the headmaster has to say to this insanity."

Albus Dumbledore smiled like he'd received an early Christmas present when he read the letters from James and Lily.

"Remus, what is the motto?"

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

Dumbledore pointed his wand at Snape, chanting the counter spell and the motto. A red light surrounded Severus and when it lifted, the Potion's Master fell to his knees.

Yeah, minor cliffy there. Not like you can't guess what's gonna happen... Review and keep me motivated...