The Prices Of Family

"Professor Snape, how are we getting to Hogwarts." Harry asked, having a hard time staying awake.

"Knight Bus, in your condition broom, floo, and apperition are out of the question." he said, sticking out his wand arm. And with a loud BANG, the violently purple, triple decker bus came into view. The conductor, Stan, stepped out.

"Welcome to the Knight bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we'll take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this eveni- Harry!" He'd just spotted Harry in Snape's arms. Then he looked to see who it was carrying him. "P..Professor S..S..Snape." It was comical, the look on Stan's face.

"Mr. Shunpike, I see you've made something of yourself since graduation." he said, distainfully. " Is there a deck on the bus that is empty?"

"Y..y..yes Professor, th..third d..deck is f..free s..sir." he continued to shake.

"Oh get a grip Shunpike!" he said. "Harry is not well and I'd like to get him out of the open."

"Right, follow me Professor." Stan seemed to have pulled himself together as he calmly led them to the top deck of the bus.

"The beds on this deck won't move if we are jerked Professor." he said as he led them to a bed at the far end. "Whereabouts are you headed?"

"Hogwarts, Stan. Dumbledore will owl you the money." Stan nodded and hurried back below, wanting to get away from his ex professor as fast as he possible could.

"Ok, Harry." Snape said as he lay Harry on the bed and sat on the one beside it. "I'm sure you're confused about some things. So I'll explain. Almost 16 years ago, your mother Lily and I had been dating for along time. We got married and everything went fine for awhile untill we both joined the Order."

"The Order?" Harry asked.

"The Order of the Phoenix. Albus's defense agianst the Dark Lord. He wanted me to spy for him. I didn't want to but Lily convinced me. After awhile, I believed her in danger so she and I split untill things calmed a bit. Lily wrote me almost 15 years ago and told me about you. That James was not your father. But that I was your father."

"Ok, say that agian with a straight face. Harry said. He didn't believe a word of this. He saw the serious look on his face." Your..not...joking, are you?"

"No Harry I'm not."

"THEN WHERE WERE YOU? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN JAMES TOLD MY MOTHER TO TAKE ME AND RUN? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN HE WAS MURDERED? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN SHE BEGGED FOR MY LIFE, FOR HIM TO TAKE HER'S INSTEAD? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN HE TOLD HER TO STEP ASIDE SO HE COULD KILL ME, THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO DIE, AND WHEN SHE DIDN'T, HE KILLED HER TOO! WHERE WERE YOU WHEN HE TURNED HIS WAND ON ME, WHEN HER SACRIFICE SAVED MY LIFE AND TURNED HIS CURSE BACK ON HIM! WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I WAS TAKEN TO THE DURSLEYS AND THEY BEAT ME EVERY SINGLE FREAKING DAY SINCE I WAS FREAKING. 3. YEARS. OLD!" Anger rushed through his veins like wildfire. He started to cough. Snape patted him on the back until it was over.

"Harry, I'm so, so sorry. That night, when he came to Godric's Hallow, I was in Azkaban. The aurors had raided a Deatheater raid and until Dumbledore told them what I was at the hearing, they thought me one of them. Afterwards, when Dumbledore told me what happend, I was devestated. I thought it was my fault and believed you would be happier with her sister. I never knew until this morning what they did to you. I had a few old friends watching you, making sure you were alright this summer. I was tipped off and I was pissed. Dumbledore knew the whole time and I told him off, well actually I nearly blasted him to pieces, I was so angry. Harry if I knew do you really think I'd leave you with them? I love you." Harry could see the earnestness in his face. He sighed.

"I..I understand." Tears ran down his face and Snape pulled him into his arms.

"Oh, Harry. Its ok."

"But why have you been such a...such a..."

"Bastard?" Snape finished for him. Harry nodded. "Not even the Dark Lord knew of my treachery and most of the Slytherins's parents are Deatheaters. A Devoted Deatheater wouldn't be lto Harry Potter now would he?"

"But why do I look like James Potter?"

"It wouldn't be to good if James Potters 'son' looked like Severus Snape now would it. I made a potion that is similar to the Polyjuice. And as with the Polyjuice Potion, its only temperary. It will start to wear off on your birthday. You look tired, get some rest Harry." he nodded and sunk down in the bed. He was almost jerked off when the bus stopped.

"Stupid bus." he muttered as he fell asleep. "Ernie needs to learn how to drive." Snape chuckled softly.

"You said it son."