Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.

The Snape manor

When they ran out in the hallway, it was already too late. The only thing they could see in front of them was empty corridors; although the torches were lit, barely produced any light. Harry instinctively ran to the left and Severus to the right. They both came to the end of the hallway and couldn't see anything but statues lightened by the silver moonlight. Whoever it was eavesdropping on their conversation was gone. They saw only one option: to sit and cry over their exposed secret. Severus, rather than crying, cursed while he slamming the door so hard that a few jars fell from the shelves shattering.

''Was anyone following you?'' He harshly asked.

''No... I don't think so.'' Harry said insecurely.

''Damn, do you have any idea who it might be?''

''No, but I saw Mrs. Norris on the way here. Maybe it was Filch.''

''I doubt it, we would surely see him, and he is not in his best years and could not have gotten far.''

''What are we going to do now?''

''We can only wait to see what this person will do with the information he or she heard. I just hope it won't spread all over the school till morning.''

''To tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind that much anymore.'' Harry said almost in a whisper. Severus gave him a questioning look.

''I thought you were against anyone knowing we were related,'' he declared, surprised that he'd been able to keep his voice calm.

''That was when I thought you were a greasy self-concentrated thick-headed bastard. Now I think you're okay,'' Harry stated. Severus kindly smiled at his son. This was definitely a pleasant surprise. At that point, Severus was almost thankful to the person that was behind that door a few minutes ago.

''I'm glad to hear it. So, what's your answer?''

''To what?'' Harry stared at the dark haired man blankly. Severus was a bit annoyed at his son's lack of attention.

"Whether or not you're going to my manor for Christmas holidays.'' It was easier the second time.

''I'm still under the impression YOU are asking ME to spend Christmas at your house?'' Harry exclaimed, surprised.

''Well, you're my son aren't you?'' Severus replied sarcastically. ''Though I'll understand if it's too soon to...''

''I accept.''

''What did you say?'' Severus thought he heard it wrong.

''I said I'll go to your house during the holidays.''

''That's... That's great!'' Severus said enthusiastically.

''Yeah, a good friend of yours told me I should give you a chance. Maybe you're not that bad after all, and it will be a nice to have a father around for a change.'' Harry teased.

''Now we have to think an excuse for your Muggle relatives...''

''Oh, don't worry about them, they won't miss me much,'' Harry said, instantly cringing at the very thought of them.

''What about Weasley? I'm sure he'll ask you to go at his house like he does every year.''

''Ron, if you will.'' Harry corrected him. ''I hate lying to him but I'll think of a story, don't worry.''

''Then it's settled.'' Severus said with contempt. ''I'm sure you're tired. You can go to sleep now.''

''Good night.'' Harry said and left the dungeons. He wasn't this happy in a long time despite that there was one more person to know their, until recently, well guarded secret. Now the problem was what to tell Ron. He had the whole night to think of a reason to stay at Hogwarts.

Severus was right; Ron did invite Harry to go to the Burrows for Christmas the next day. They were eating their breakfast in the great hall. Severus watched from the professors table how his son lied to his best friend because of him. He was eager to know how Harry will get out of this one.

''You know I'd love to come but Dumbledore thinks I'll be safer at my aunt's house.''

''Dumbledore said you'd be safer around bunch of Muggles then with wizards?'' Ron asked in disbelief.

''Right, you know him and his ideas...''

''Yeah, but what I don't know is when you started to listen to him. As far as I know you always did what you wanted.'' Ron said with a confused tone.

''Well, now it's different...'' Harry didn't expect so many questions from his best friends.

''How's that?'' Ron tried to get his point.

''Look, I have to listen to him or I could really get in trouble.''

''You didn't mind that before, when Sirius was alive. He wouldn't listen to Dumbledore.''

''Well, Sirius is dead. And I'm nothing like him, you should know that by now.'' Harry spat.

''No, you're not. You're not like your father either.''

''What's that supposed to mean?'' Harry put down his fork and gave Ron an angry glare.

''Nothing, just that I'm surprised at the sudden interest in keeping yourself safe.''

''It's not just me, you and your family would be in danger too and I can't allow it. I'd rather be with the Dursleys then to put your lives is danger. What's with all this questions anyway?'' Harry asked, surprised.

''Nothing, I just wanted for you to come spend Christmas with us.'' Ron shrugged his shoulders.

''Believe me; I regret it more that you do. If it's any comfort, I'll write to you.''

''Fine, but what am I going to tell my Mum?'' Ron asked, disappointed.

''The truth; Dumbledore ordered me to stay with my relatives. Trust me, she'll understand.'' Harry said with bitterness in his voice; he remembered how Dumbledore told the whole Order that he's Snape's son.

Ron simply shrugged his shoulders and let go of the subject in which he wasn't going to win anyway. Both Harry and Severus were a bit tense during the breakfast, part of them expected that till morning the whole school would rumour about them being father and son. Therefore they were rather surprised when this turned out to be a usual breakfast like any other.

The boys were on their way to Charms with their books in their hands. They were about to write the half-term exam in Charms and Harry knew he had to do it well though his grades from this subject were good when compared to the last year. Two hours later they were heading to Transfiguration to another exam. The easiest exam was the one Dumbledore gave them. Well, at least to Harry, considering that he was the first one to finish it. The rest of the day Ron and Harry didn't talk much, Harry assumed it was because he wasn't going to the Burrows. That was the only reason he could think of as to why Ron was upset.

In the next five days they finished most of their exams except Potions. Finally, one afternoon, three days before holidays, they were on their way to the dungeons.

''How can you be so calm!'' Ron almost screamed.

''What? I realised that there's no point in worrying about something that I have no control of,'' Harry responded nonchalantly while he entered the dungeons and took a seat.

''It's easy for you to say,'' Ron muttered as he became paler every second. At the point Snape entered the dungeons, Ron's face turned in to a light shade of green. Severus strode through the classroom, his robes floating around him.

''You have forty minutes to brew this potion.'' Severus authoritatively flicked his wand and the instructions appeared on the blackboard. ''You'll find all the ingredients you need under your tables. You can now begin,'' Severus ordered as he turned the hourglass upside down.

Harry hoped he'd brew the potion correctly because his grade depended on it. Although Severus was his father, he surely wouldn't give him a grade he didn't deserve. First Harry calmly read the instructions and then started to prepare all the necessary ingredients. Ron on the other hand was sweating and Harry could see his hands were uncontrollably shaking. But that was nothing to what Neville looked like. Every once in a while, Severus walked across the classroom; something that only made his students more nervous. Harry managed to finish his potion in the right way; it even had the dark blue colour like it was written on the blackboard. He slipped the potion in a vial and put it on the Severus' table much to everyone's surprise. Usually he was among the last ones who finished the potion and it usually didn't go well. Harry picked up his things and left the classroom along with two girls from Ravenclaw and a boy from Slytherin.

He went up to his dormitory and waited for Ron to arrive. Half an hour later Ron burst in the room and threw his bag on the floor so harshly that all the books fell out.

''Bloody hell! I messed it up!''

''Hey, I'm sure it's not so bad.'' Harry jumped from his bed trying to comfort his friend.

''Not so bad! Instead of blue my potion turned green! Bloody hell!'' Ron yelled. ''How come you did it so fast?'' He asked almost enviously.

''Oh, I was just lucky.''

Ron turned away and went to sleep without a word. Ten minutes later, Harry was about to do the same when he heard a scream coming from the common room. He quickly grabbed his wand and ran downstairs. He found a first year standing in front of the fireplace.

''What's going on?'' Harry asked the girl who was obviously speechless. When he came closer he realized what scared the girl. He smiled and explained the blue haired girl that the figure in the fireplace is just a strange looking log. She ran off to her dormitory leaving him alone in front of the fireplace.

''Hi, Hermione!''

''Hi! Oh, I'm so glad to see you! I tried to contact you yesterday but the common room was empty. How are you?'' She took in a deep breath.

''Great, how are you?''

''Good, I think my plan's working. But I don't have the time to explain, my parents are in the next room and they could get in any minute. I just wanted to talk to you and Ron to see how things are going there. Where's Ron?''

''He's sleeping. He got upset over Potions, we had the half-term exam a while ago.''

''Did you do it well?'' Hermione asked a bit afraid of the answer she might get.

''Yes, as a matter of fact I did,'' Harry stated.

''I'm glad. Look, I probably won't be around to see you or Ron on Christmas so I wish you both a Merry Christmas. I suppose you're going at Ron's place for holidays?''

''No, I'm not. Dumbledore ordered me to stay with the Dursleys, just to be safe.'' Harry lied.

''Oh, that sucks! Maybe I'll be able to send... Damn-'' Suddenly, Hermione's head disappeared from the fireplace. Harry quickly ran to the dormitory to tell his friend the news. But when he saw him sleeping, he decided to tell him everything in the morning.

''Why didn't you call me?'' Ron asked when Harry told him about Hermione the next day.

''You were asleep and I didn't want to wake you up,'' Harry explained. ''Besides, I didn't talk to her for very long, she just told me that her plan is working and she wished you a Merry Christmas.''

''Oh, I hope she'll come back soon,'' Ron sighed.

The last day of school, Harry packed his things along with Ron and Neville. He tried to look as annoyed as possible for going to Dursleys so Ron wouldn't suspect anything. He obviously managed that because Ron didn't ask him anymore questions about why he has to go to his stupid relatives. When Neville asked him why wasn't he going with Hogwarts Express, Harry responded that Dumbledore will take him personally to the Dursleys. After everyone left, Severus came to the Gryffindor common room where Harry was already waiting with his trunk.

''Are you ready?'' Severus asked.

''Yes, I am.''

''Good, follow me.'' He ordered.

They left the common room and Harry followed Severus all the way to the dungeons and then through a dark corridor that he'd never seen before. After almost 10 minutes of walking through the corridor, they finally arrived in front of a thick wooden door that was locked down by several chains and charms. Severus muttered an incantation and all the chains disappeared. They entered a small dim room with almost no light. In the middle of the room was a small table with a book that looked very heavy. Much to Harry's disappointment, the book was a portkey. They both hold to it and after Severus muttered another incantation they arrived on a large clearing. The sight in front of them was beautiful: a manor nearly half the size of Hogwarts castle.

''Welcome to the Snape manor,'' Severus said.


This chapter is dedicated to starfan1, rosiegirl, Anna Evans, Lady Lily and all of you who reviewed. I want to thank Amanda who's patient enought to correct my mistakes.

I'd appreciate if you leave a review so that I know what to do with the story to make it better for all the people who read it. Thanks,

Lily