Ignorance Isn't Bliss
Chapter 7 - Answers
When he was half way to the lake he summoned his broom and it reached him as he neared the Quidditch pitch. He hopped on and started flying as fast as possible, darting back and forth across the field. He continued performing various stunts for about half an hour before he saw a tall, dark figure approach on a broomstick of it's own.
"Harry! Harry, I'm sorry!" Severus yelled. He wanted it to appear to Dumbledore as though he was trying to smooth things over with Harry. But Harry, playing along, only flew faster in the other direction. Severus flew even faster, and easily caught up with him on the far side of the pitch. When he got closer he lowered his voice and they discussed what had been said up in the headmaster's office.
Harry motioned over to the edge of the lake, and Severus followed him over to the edge nearest the gates. After setting down his broom, he wrung his hands in a nervous manner. "What do we do now, father?"
Severus smiled at the title. Although Harry had said it a few times already he still wasn't used to it. "I'm not sure Harry," he sighed.
"I discussed it with the headmaster and he is at a loss. His best suggestion is to leave things as they are and tell people that your appearance was changed so that you could hide easier. He maintains that you will never forgive me for what I did and that you won't accept me as your father. I think it should be your decision Harry." He looked to Harry with no small amount of hope.
Harry looked into his father's eyes, appraising him, judging whether or not he should trust him. "Sir, before I decide anything, I need to know why. Why do you side with Voldemort? I understand why we can't trust Dumbledore, but can you tell me why I should trust Voldemort?"
Severus motioned for Harry to sit next to him by the lake. Harry sat down beside his father and gave him his full attention.
The potions master cleared his throat and began. "Harry, there are three main components to this war. First you have the Ministry of Magic. They are corrupt, as you probably know already."
Harry chuckled, "Yea, I know."
Severus continued. "It is all about power and money for those who rise to the top. Whoever is Minister gets an incredible amount of power and they often do what they will with it. Influential Purebloods, whether they are light or dark, decide the fate of laws based on moneys exchanged. "
He picked up a leaf from the ground and twiddled it between his fingers. "Then you have the Order of the Phoenix. While they are light wizards and use only light magic, they are just as power seeking as the Ministry. They want all dark magic stopped. Albus Dumbledore was a great wizard until he defeated Grindelwald. Ever since then, he has become very manipulative. He has a certain view of the world, and he wants everyone to follow in his vision. If you aren't with him, you are against him, and the other members mostly follow him like sheep. If you're not completely light you are considered evil and persecuted. Dumbledore follows no laws but his own and is not afraid to blackmail. In some ways he is worse than the ministry. They at least have to show some level of accountability."
He dropped the now destroyed leaf on the ground and turned to face Harry completely. "Finally you have Lord Voldemort. While he is by all means a dark wizard, he was created out of Dumbledore's desire for the perfect world, Dumbledore's manipulations. Voldemort believes in the right for wizards to be able to practice whatever form of magic they wish. This is why the dark creatures are usually on his side. He lets them be what they are. You can't fault a thing for being what it is. Voldemort understands this. I also agree with his views on Muggles. Albus and the Ministry both think that we should stay hidden from Muggles. They are very derogatory towards muggles. They think them weak and cute, like a little plaything. Lord Voldemort knows all too well that muggles aren't weak, and the more we try to stay hidden, the worse it will be for us when they do discover us. Voldemort believes that we should be open to them. They only fear us because they don't understand. He was abandoned by his father because of that fear and you were mistreated because of it. Does that help explain things?"
Harry picked up a stone and skipped it across the water. "Yea, it does. I agree with you, father. I don't know if I agree with Voldemort's means, but I agree with his ideas. I think the headmaster has committed far greater evils. It hurts for a few minutes to be put under the Cruciatus Curse by Voldemort, but it hurts forever to have your family taken away by Dumbledore. I don't ever want to be taken away from you again. I want to be your son. I think I'm ready to talk to the headmaster again." Harry was more than excited. He had plans to make, research to do.
"I would love for you to be my son Harry. I want to be able to take care of you." Severus ran his hand up Harry's back to his shoulder. His eye's glazed over a bit. "Let's head back."
The pair stood up and returned to the castle, with the sun setting over the trees.
