" Mr. Potter, I assure you it is abuse. Requiring you to use any cooking equipment at age five is purposeful endangerment. Using power tools necessary for landscaping is also purposeful endangerment. Any punishment resulting in injury is physical abuse. Not being fed regularly and being left alone for extended periods of time is neglect. We can continue this discussion with the appropriate authorities, but for now let's talk more about the reason we are here at all. What's your current opinion of Mr. Marvolo? Tom prefers Marvolo as Riddle reminds him of his unseemly muggle upbringing." Severus explained.

"I'd ask to know your opinion on Mr. R-sorry- Mr. Marvolo first, sir," Harry countered.

"I believe his ideals have been exaggerated, manipulated, and misused," Severus answered trusting the child with his blunt honesty.

Harry smiled and answered, "I believe Mr. Marvolo is my father, sir."

Severus was shell-shocked. "What in Merlin's name?"

"There's no record of the Potters having any child. My presumed birth record was submitted with appropriate dates 6 months after I was born. Mr. Marvolo has a child's birth record submitted the day after my birth. In addition, there are articles which discuss his wife's pregnancy. It was 6 months after the date of my birth that Mr. Marvolo's son was presumably killed but there was never a body found. Doesn't that seem strange to you, sir?" Harry answered.

"What have you done with this information, Mr. Potter?" Severus inquired.

"You're the only one who I've told of my suspicion, sir. Lily Potter was O- and James was B+ which means if I were their child I would only have a 25% chance of being the O+ that I am. Mr. Marvolo was O+ which means regardless of Mrs. Marvolo's blood type I have significantly greater chance of being their offspring," Harry explained.

"Mr. Potter, how long have you been researching your suspicions?" Severus asked.

"I started during my second year, sir," Harry answered.

"Harry, if you'd like, there's a potion I can brew that will reveal your parentage," Severus suggested.

"You'd be willing to do that for me, sir?" Harry asked completely shell-shocked.

"I wouldn't suggest it if I weren't willing, Mr. Potter."

Severus ushered Harry into his private labs and guided the boy through preparing the simpler ingredients he would need. Meanwhile the potion's master dealt with the more precise ones. When all the ingredients were prepared, Severus asked Harry to wait in the classroom while he brewed the potion. When it was done, he joined the boy in the classroom.

"Mr. Potter, all the potion requires now is a bit of your blood. When your blood is combined into the potion, we will drop a specified portion of the potion onto a paper and once it has been absorbed your parentage shall appear on the paper. Is that understood?" Severus explained passing over a sterile knife.

Harry nodded and sliced his palm open without hesitation letting his blood run into the cauldron until Severus pressed a cloth into his palm and started stirring the potion counterclockwise. "You know a simple finger prick would have sufficed," Severus mumbled.

"Sorry, sir," Harry mumbled as he watched the potion master measure out the appropriate amount of goo which he then smeared across a parchment. With bated breath both wizards watched as the parchment absorbed the potion.

Hadrian Velator Marvolo

Father: Tomas Riddle Marvolo

Mother: Meliora Malfoy Marvolo

Severus barely contained his gasp as he watched the young wizard in front of him grin wildly. "Hadrian, would you like me to arrange a time for you to meet your father?" Severus asked gently.

"Y-you'd be willing to do that for me, sir?" Harry asked in disbelief.

"Hadrian, I thought we'd already established I don't make offers unless I'm willing to do them," Severus replied while rolling his eyes.

"But, sir, what if he doesn't want to see me?"

"Hadrian, you father and I were close friends. I was named in his will as one of the people in line to take you in should anything ever happen to him. I was there to hold you the day of your birth. Hadrian, I saw firsthand the love your father has for you. I watched him be destroyed when he thought he'd lost. You are the light of his world and when he finds out that you are alive, he'll want to see you, Hadrian. An army couldn't keep him from you," Severus answered honestly.

"When do you think I could meet him?" Harry asked nervously.

"I could take you to him now if you wish?"