A/N:
Lang. in this chapter but otherwise, nothing major. Please enjoy!
Lament of Innocence
Chapter Three: Family Ties and Meddling Old Fools
"Get your hands of off my son," a cold voice sneered and everyone looked up to see Severus Snape glaring at the lot of them in disgust, his arms folded over his chest while Lucius Malfoy stood right behind him, his cold gray eyes glaring dangerously at James.
It was like everything froze in time as soon as those words fell from his lips. Nobody moved. No one seemed to breath. Until James tightened his grip on Harry's shoulder while he stood up slowly, his chocolate colored eyes fixing in a bitter cold gaze.
"You greasy haired little bastard," he snarled in a such a soft voice, it was actually creepy. "It was you!"
"James, calm down," Lily began, trying to rub little circles in his back but he didn't seem to want to listen to her, pulling away from her softly while he moved Harry to the side and out of the way, Sirius taking a step forward as if to protect him, making Harry look up at him with the confusion he felt.
"Wait," Harry began, trying to catch someone's attention. "What the hell is going–"
"You stole him, didn't you?" James accused, seething with anger as he chocolate eyes narrowed in hatred. "You impotent bastard! Couldn't have a son of your own so you stole my kid!"
Snape had never been more so pissed off at the imbecile before him, his charcoal eyes lit up with anger as he glared at James with an equal amount of outrage and hatred. "How dare you! Do not blame your lack of carelessness and judgement over your own so-called family on me! I did not steal your son, I gave him a better life!"
Harry looked as though his heart had stopped as his eyes widened in disbelief. What was his father saying?
"Gave him a better–a mouse would have a better life with a hungry cat than anything living with you Snivellus!" James retorted. "Hate me that much do you, to take him? What were you planning on, hmm? Giving him over to the Dark Lord whenever you were out of his good graces so he could use him on Julian? On us?"
Snape's eyes darkened further as they became so narrowed it was hard to tell he even had them open any longer.
"I would never hand over my son–"
"He. Is. Not. Your. Son!" James screamed so loudly that anyone that wasn't paying attention, most certainly was now.
"James, please," Molly called, coming closer to the small group as Lily tried in vain plead and he pull him away from Snape, afraid he might do something regrettable.
"He is not your son, he will never be your son, and if you so much as look at my kid again under any circumstances–no–fuck that. I'm still going to kill you because you stole him in the first place!" James spat, pulling away from Lily again and down right ignoring Molly.
"No one's killing anyone, calm down" the sandy haired Lupin intervened, coming over to stand slightly behind Sirius. "This is all some big misunderstanding that just needs to be sorted out. So if everyone will just calm down–"
"Calm down? I don't need to calm down!" James yelled at him and Molly turned around to look at Fred and George, mouthing 'Get Dumbledore!' to them, both twins standing up with a start and heading away from the table. On the way, Fred tapped Hermione on the shoulder and motioned for her to come with them. Frowning in bewilderment, the bushy haired girl followed immediately while the rest of the teenagers watched the on going skeptical like everyone else in the restaurant.
"There's nothing to sort Lupin, it's simple!" James continued. "Snivellus is a sorrier excuse for a failed wizard than we thought and resorts to stealing other people's children when he can't produce any of his own. He's that bitter–that hateful–that he would rather watch decent people in agony and pain over losing their child, their brother! Just to please his own sick fancy!"
"You call raising children–excuse me–having children, let's start there," Lucius Malfoy began, sneering at the spectacled man as he took a step forward. "You call having children with a filthy little mudblood decent? You should be bowing down and thanking Severus for taking the little bastard in."
Harry shot his head in his direction and opened his mouth to insult him but Lily beat him to it, glaring at Lucius as if he was lower than dirt. "Don't you dare insult my child with your fowl tongue, Malfoy!"
"You're out of line Lucius," Snape snapped in agreement. "Do not associate my son with these people and do not ever call him a bastard–no matter what his parentage or bloodline is–again in presence."
Lucius inclined his head to him, though he ignored Lily's little outburst. "Duly noted old friend. My apologies. " He paused to look at Harry, still giving him a rather distasteful look. "He may not be your own biologically, but you did save him the disgrace of being raised by such incompetence, let alone his exposure to useless mugglelovers and disgusting mutts with their werewolves and their half breeds. It's a good start."
"What you'd just say?" Sirius barked angrily, launching forward with Lupin catching him by the arm and pulling him back to restrain him. "You dare insult my kid and my husband when you're nothing more than a slimy, evil, bigot? You don't deserve to be near mankind, let alone judge it!"
"Spoken like a true mangy dog," Mr. Malfoy drawled.
"Spoken like someone who really wants my dad to kick their–"
"Elizabeth!" the Lupin, Lily and Molly called to her in unison. Mr. Malfoy didn't look phased. "Please. I except as much from the likes of you and your offspring Black. Your stupidity and lack of class never cease to amaze me." Then he turned his attention back to James and Lily.
"No matter the circumstances or nature of him acquiring your son, you and I both know that after so many years of parental neglect–"
"Neglect!" Lily shouted outraged and Lucius focused all his attention on her, giving him a nasty smirk. "Let's be honest mudblood–"
"Stop calling her a 'mudblood'," Harry snapped angrily, grabbing everyone's attention. He didn't care if the woman really was his mother or not, he simply strongly disapproved of anyone insulting someone around him in such a manner.
Lucius gave the teen another distasteful look but chose, for Snape's benefit, not to speak his thoughts and instead, continue with his current conversation topic and return his attention back to Lily, who was looking down at Harry with a faint smile on her face before glaring back up at Lucius.
"Severus did not 'steal' your son–you can't steal something when it's abandoned." He paused to look over at Julian, who was glaring back at the man hatefully.
"You've spent so much time spoiling this so-called 'savior' to the wizarding world, I find it amazing you even noticed the boy was gone, let alone having any nerve to call the child 'kidnaped'."
At that moment, James brandished his wand and there was an outcry from the group as Lily and Molly tried to stop him from cursing Malfoy, who in turn had already pulled out his wand with Snape while Sirius was pointing his own wand at him. Even the seemingly level headed Lupin and Arthur Weasley was screaming and shouting now while they tried to get everyone to put their wands away and simply calm down.
The teenagers watched the entire scene with amazement, Harry flinching at so many voices screaming right in his ears as well as so many wands being pointed and he seemed to be in the way of at least three of them.
Countless people, diners and workers of the restaurant alike, had all but crowded around to watch the spectacle as a small group of people pushed their way through them.
"Silence!" a voice boomed finally and everyone paused and turned to see none other than Albus Dumbledore standing there looking at them all in disapproval, with the Weasley twins and Hermione right on his heels. "This is not the time, nor the place for such a discussion! I also
gesture that all of you gentlemen put your wands away!"
He glared at each of the four man, watching them intently as one by one, they all finally lowered their wands though no one actually put it away and out of sight.
Give a slight shake of his head as he glared from man to man, he finally turned his attention to Harry, his eyes widening for a brief moment before inclining his head to look over at Severus in disapproval before clearing his throat. " I believe this matter needs to be explained in the proper manner before we resort to foul language and curse throwing."
James shook his head, using his wand to point at Snape who in turn, taking the motion as a threat, pointed his back. "I want this bastard under Azkaban!"
"I said no cussing professor" Dumbledore stated calmly and James looked annoyed before he continued. "I want Snivellus arrested for kidnaping Harry!"
Snape tightened his hold on his wand as if he were ready to strike. "I did not–"
"There is no need to explain yourself Severus," Dumbledore assured him, putting his hands up. James looked over at him startled, then outraged and opened his mouth to speak but Dumbledore put up his hand up again. "I shall explain everything. All the parties involved, please, follow me to the Potter's home. And put your wand away!"
Everyone waited as James and Snape had a stand off, neither making a move to put their wands again until finally, James lowered his first, Snape only following suit after he was positive he wasn't being tricked. At this, the small group began to disperse, Lupin forcing Sirius to return to his seat while Arthur motioned for Fred and the others to sit back at the table now, as they had been standing off to the side out of the way.
James took a few steps backwards from the two men standing in front of him, touching Harry's arm to get his attention. Harry snapped back into attention, glaring at him as if he had two heads. James tried gave him a half hearted sheepish smile but said nothing while Snape glared daggers at the shaggy haired man though too, said nothing.
Lily began to fret to Mrs. Weasley but she would here none of it.
"Go ahead dear, everything will be fine. We'll just stay here and finish the meal," Mrs. Weasley assured Lily as she patted her hand with a confident smile and Lucius snorted. "And what will you order? Water? You can't afford a crust of bread on the menu."
Arthur moved to open his mouth but Dumbledore beat him to it, turning to stare curiously at Mr. Malfoy. "They'll be putting it on my tab, so there's no need to worry of their consumption. But it is kind of you."
Lucius sneered at Dumbledore who simply smiled kindly at him before the blond aristocrat stormed away to inform his family of the news–or at least, what they weren't already aware of.
Ron looked between his mother ushering Lily to go over to Harry before she looked up at Julian and waved him to come over to his mother, the raven haired boy looking back at his friends. Ginny gave him a sympathetic smile and Hermione waved her hands in a 'shooing' motion before the boy finally got up and walked over to Mrs. Weasely, cutting his eyes to look over at Dumbledore as he tried (and looking a just a tad agitated) to calm down James and Severus who had begun to bicker as softly as they could to one another, complete with James pointing his finger inches away from the man's large nose as he got in his face and Snape growling some sort of threat at him.
"Does this mean we can come?" Ron asked causing Hermione and Ginny to roll their eyes as Elizabeth smacked him very over the head., making him wince. "Course you can't go! Julian and I will have to tell you what happened."
"No, you most certainly will not," Lupin replied softly, appearing behind her and making her jump a little. "Because we're not going. We're staying here at the restaurant with the Weasleys."
"Why?" both Elizabeth and Sirius cried at once and Lupin sighed, rolling his eyes at both of them.
"Shall we?" Dumbledore called finally, completely cutting off James and Severus bickering when they resorted to flat out name calling. He walked between the pair and Lily followed, putting either hand on Harry and Julian's shoulder before guiding them out of the restaurant, giving them both reassuring smiles.
Both boys stole glances at one another as their father's followed, the entire group ignoring the soft murmurs and curious looks of the other witches and wizards dining in the restaurant as they left.
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Harry glanced around the living room when he was lead inside the large, two story home. Even from the outside, he could tell the house would be cozy and welcoming: the grassy was all springy and perfectly cut. A beautiful flowerbed lined the house like a moat and there was even a white picket fence.
He looked up at the fireplace and was assaulted by arsenal of pictures, both moving and none moving as he paused to look at all of them while the other occupants of the room found seats and Lily went to go get everyone refreshments.
He saw a wedding picture with his would be parents and the raven haired man from the restaurant. A moving picture of his parents by a fountain, both looking extremely happy as James simply twirled his wife around and they laughed.
Then he saw pictures of himself–or the other boy, Julian. Pictures from when he was a younger boy to his age now, with his friends, the bushy haired girl named Hemine or whatever her name was, and Ron, the raven haired girl he learned was Elizabeth, the latter giving him a noogie as she beamed at the camera.
Then there was a single picture that caught his attention. It very large picture in the move, though this one didn't move. It had Lily and James in it, each holding a single child that looked very identical to one another, a green eyed boy in James arms while the brown eyed baby was in Lily's.
Harry lifted the picture off the mantle and studied it closely. It was a moving picture, with Lily rocking the child in her arms when he began to cry softly while James began to do the same to the child his arms, making silly faces at him to make him laugh before both parents looked up at each other with mischievous smiles and began to sing–off key– to both of them as they raised each child up in a standing position on their lap, both babies laughing now.
Harry couldn't help the light smile that crossed over his lips.
"Harry?" the older man, Albus Dumbledore, called out to him softly and snapping out of his fleeting thoughts, glanced over at him. He'd met the man only a few times when he came to visit his father–he was the only person he knew of other than his parents that ever saw him without his glamour charm until today though why he'd never thought of that briefly entered his mind as he placed the picture back carefully down on the mantle.
He made his way over to a small couch, taking a seat to the right of Julian, with his 'father'
Severus Snape standing over to the right of him, not bothering to sit. James and Lily sat on the love seat just to the left of them while Dumbledore sat in the recliner in front of them all, drumming his fingers together just under his chin, looking from person to person, his sapphire eyes twinkling.
He turned his complete attention to Harry finally, who only stared back with a mixture of confusion and irritation.
"I do believe you are owed quite the explanation," he smiled toward him before he turned his attention back to everyone present in the room. "As well do you all, with the exception of Severus and myself. Let me begin by saying: Severus is as much as an innocent bystander as anyone else in this room."
James snorted loudly in disbelief and crossed his arms over his chest, looking at the head master skeptically. Lily on the other hand, seemed to be more willing to be open to Snape's innocence while both Harry and Julian looked genuinely interested in the information now.
"Severus in fact, did not kidnap your son," Dumbledore continued and James decided he was through listening. "Headmaster, he has my son that was stolen from his crib in the hospital over fifteen years ago–"
Dumbledore shook his head. "I am afraid, you are incorrect in your assumptions James."
"As always," Snape snapped sarcastically and James glared at him, opening his mouth to retort but Lily touched his shoulders and Dumbledore gave him a pointed look so the shaggy haired man became quite.
"Severus in fact, did not steal Harry away from the hospital. That was, in fact, done by a few of Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters, bent on a way to resurrect the now ever present Dark Lord."
Harry frowned. Why the hell would someone need him to help the Dark Lord?
"Severus, along with myself, found Harry in their presence and freed him from their grasp. However, upon this finding, I realized that your son was in grave danger and thus, was no longer safe as were the rest of you."
Dumbledore adverted his eyes for a moment, as if deeply considering something before giving a heavy sigh, he finally continued. "I am the one that told Severus to take Harry."
If a rat were to piss on cotton, Harry was sure he would be able to hear it because the room had become that deathly quiet. He himself, made no move to speak a word as he was in deep turmoil. He understood and yet, his mind was processing the information slowly, as he'd been trying to live in ignorant bliss for the past half of hour.
These people truly were his parents–not the man or woman he'd knew to be them since as far back as he could remember. He looked over at James and Lily, who at this point were glaring at the old man in utter shock (Though he saw a mixture of horror on James face and he wasn't sure if it was from the revelation or the fact that Snape had nothing to do with it or at least, not as much as he thought he would have.) He couldn't even remember them–he probably had been too young to, but Harry felt like he should at least remember something about them. It just couldn't be true.
But as he studied them throughly, he knew the old man wasn't lying and everything simple fell into place. He had the same startling emerald eyes and his father's shaggy, unkempt hair. He obviously got his lack of vision from his father–and just about every other feature, save his eyes and nose.
Harry didn't know what to feel or exactly how he should feel anymore. But he knew the moment James opened his mouth in that millisecond, he wouldn't be able to think properly for a while.
And he was completely right.
"My son." he began in a eerie low, calm tone, glaring daggers at Dumbledore.
"James," the headmaster began wearily, glancing back at the young man with regret.
"My son!" the raven haired man snapped hatefully, glaring first at Snape, then at Dumbledore before he continued.
"You knew how much Harry means to us! You knew how much it of an effect it had on us when he went missing. The countless days, months–years we spent looking for him, hoping and praying that he was still alive!"
Harry watched as James' body shook with his anger, his eyes welling up as Lily got to her feet, clamping her hand over her mouth and slowly walking to the far side to the room, trying to calm herself down. The older man that sat across from them all sat in silence, watching James with guilt and sadness as the younger of the two continued.
"How the hell could you do this to us, Albus! We trusted you! You knew where he was the entire time and still pretended to act like everything was fine, like everything was normal–like you actually gave a damn about our son when you couldn't even care enough to bring him home to us!"
"That's not true James," Dumbledore spoke softly.
"Then what the hell is!" James demanded in a hurt, angry tone.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the older man as he got to his feet and placing his hands behind his back, walked over to the window and paused as he stared out of it, a contemplating look on his face before he turned around to face them again just as Lily took her seat beside James, again, the shaggy haired man trying to comfort her while he glared at Dumbledore intently.
Julian was looking a bit out of it, his eyes seeming to look past the older man instead of at him while Harry was glaring up at his 'father', the greasy haired man avoiding eye contact at all cost.
"It was the circumstances of the situation, at the time, that I thought my actions the right course," Dumbledore began in an apologetic tone. "No one was certain which child at the time, was responsible for the Lord's Voldemort temporary demise."
Harry cut his eyes at Dumbledore as he continued to speak, though he was still aware Snape wouldn't look at him.
"The few Death Eaters that were still loyally were trying to find ways to bring about the return of their master. As such, they had taken what little information they knew about the situation and tried using it to their advantage: that it was a child born by the Potters and that this child was currently in the hospital for treatment."
"How'd they find that out?" James snapped, glaring over at Snape.
Dumbledore gave him a look over his glasses. "The Dark Lord had many informants James, you know this. But under some misguided fortune, the soul was not aware that both boys had gone in, thus, instantly making Harry the targeted child. He was then kidnaped–but only then did said Death Eaters find that in fact, the second child had also been admitted in the hospital for treatment, thus creating a rather confusing problem for the lot. They dare not kill Harry yet because they were not certain they had the right child to begin with and in fact, it seems they were once again, attempting a plot to kidnap your second son."
Harry took this chance to look over at his twin, who was already staring at him with a slightly troubled and guilty look.
"Severus, as well as myself, were able to locate at least two of the five Death Eaters involved in the kidnaping and thankfully, they had Harry with them. After a troublesome battle of sorts where both refused to surrender him over while giving a mad riddled confession, drastic measures had to be taken."
"You killed them." Harry stated abruptly, bluntly. "I...killed them." Snape uttered and Harry shot a look in his direction as the greasy haired man said nothing more, still not daring to look at his son. Harry frowned. He was ashamed, he knew it. Even if that was the only sure thing he knew about this man anymore.
Dumbledore nodded regrettably but said nothing more on the subject.
"It was then that I realized that my own drastic measures had to be taken. There were still three other Death Eaters on the loose that knew about Harry and I knew they would come for him. Julian was under no immediate danger as, what the Death Eaters admitted, they knew to look for 'the baby with green eyes'.
"However, with the terrible incident with the Longbottom's fresh in my mind, not to mention that Death Eaters are not known for their 'kindness' towards their victims, especially the more fanatical of Voldemort's followers, I thought it would be best to put the child in hiding until the danger was no longer present, or at least, until we could be positive of which child actually committed the deed.."
There was a heavy silence in the room as Lily and James looked at each other, as if having a private conversation before James let out a long breath and turned his attention back to Dumbledore. He seemed to have calmed down considerably but he still looked angry.
"When we–when you discovered Julian was the right child, why didn't you place him into hiding as well then?"
Dumbledore nodded, understanding the reason behind the question. "Because everyone throughout the Wizarding World became not only aware of who Julian was, but he had done. You will find that most will look favorable to a child that is credited to destroying a Dark Lord and as such, would be coming the interest of many to protect. And with their numbers completely diminished, with several to afraid to admit their deeds, a select few in Azkaban and an even slimmer few dead–including four of the five wizards responsible for Harry's kidnaping–there was no longer any need to fear for his safety.
James nodded slowly but Lily looked a little troubled and finally asked the one question Harry had on his mind since the explanation: "Why couldn't Harry come home?"
"And why didn't you tell us anything?" James added, frowning.
Once again Dumbledore looked as though he had been expecting the question, though this time, he chose to take a little time before he answered.
"If I may be honest, it was for a number of reasons." He paused to look at each teen again, Julian watching the whole exchange intently while Harry was now glaring at Dumbledore in irritation. "I learned, for instance, that Voldemort was in fact, not as dead as we may have all hoped. While he was no threat, so to speak, he was in fact not dead. He would return–eventually, but there was absolutely no way of knowing how or when. While Julian may have been able to protect himself against him, Harry would not, should the Dark Lord confuse him for his brother and...act accordingly."
Everyone seemed to pause to stare at Harry while he frowned slightly, watching the old man in a calculating matter, not missing the brief put-out look Julian sent the same man's way.
"Then there was the little matter of Harry himself."
Dumbledore shifted his gaze to Severus who glared back at him annoyed. "And the relationship he'd established with people whom he thought to be his parents. He was so young by the time everything had completely settled down–too young. Too young to understand the complications of his circumstances and far too young to understand why he would be taken away from possibly the only parents he had known."
"Like now is any better?" Harry finally voiced, his tone coming of sarcastic and snarky. Dumbledore gave him an understanding nod. "Not by very much I admit, no. But you are capable over understanding the situation now and are hopefully, more open to the truth than perhaps a child who would more likely be far more stubborn."
Harry simply nodded absently as he looked first at the man he thought to be his father, then at his actual parents.
"The reason you were not told of Harry's placement," he paused to look directly at James with an almost chastising manner and the shaggy haired man adverted his eyes a little embarrassed. "Should be obvious to everyone in this room."
"By why couldn't he have lived with the Weasley's?" James snapped suddenly, sitting up in his seat. "Or Sirius? Or hell, Moody!"
Everyone in the room minus Harry (who had no clue who Moody was) looked over at James and he rolled his eyes nodding. "Okay–fine. Not Moody. But why Snivellus?"
"Because no one would have thought that I would entrust–let alone that you would entrusts–your son to someone you seem to hate so very much," Dumbledore replied matter of factly.
James scuffed. "Seem?"
Dumbledore glared at him. "I knew I could trust Severus with this task, more so when he willingly accepted." Both James and Snape snorted in unison at this and both Lily and Dumbledore glared at them. "He may have objected, several times. He might have fought, screamed, and even cried–"
"I did no such thing Albus," came Snape's snarky cut in, rounding on him.
"– but the fact of the matter is, he excepted, knowing the possibly consequences along with the feelings involved. That alone, was enough for me to leave Harry with him. However, knowing it might make you feel better, I did ask Severus to under go an Unbreakable Vow in regards to the situation to ensure Harry's safety, to which he also accepted willingly."
The room grew silent again as James seemed to stare at Snape in a new light while Lily gave him a look of pure appreciation, despite the circumstances. For his part, Snape was pretending they wasn't in the room, looking rather annoyed with the whole situation with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Well, this certainly explains a hell of a lot," Harry stated finally, sighing and sinking back onto leaning his head back to stare up at Snape. "Why I never looked like you, why I barely looked like 'mother'. Why I couldn't go out of the house or when I did, I had to be under some stupid glamour. And I guess I couldn't go to Hogwarts cause, "
He turned his attention to Julian then. "You go there."
The boy, so caught up in whatever his thoughts were, jumped about a mile in the air when Harry spoke to him. Had the situations been different, Harry might have laughed– Julian's face was hilarious– as the boy that looked exactly like him calmed down enough to answer.
"Yeah, I do. So do mom and dad."
Harry arched a brow. "They go to Hogwarts? Well that also explains why I had to study so hard."
"We work there," James stated matter of factly, sounding a little offended.
"And I suppose you never told me anything for the same reasons Mr.–"
"Please, call me professor," Dumbledore smiled and Harry shot him a side look before he nodded.
"For the same reason Professor Dumbledore didn't? Cause I wouldn't 'understand' and be 'confused'?"
Severus paused for a moment then gave a stiff nod. "I did not wish to tell you anything until I felt that you were ready for the information. When the time was appropriate for you to learn the truth, should you ever have to."
"My doing, it's completely my fault," Dumbledore added simply, nodding a little. Harry glanced over at him and slowly nodded in agreement. "Riiight. So my whole life's a lie and I didn't get the book I wanted either. Yeah. Well, this birthday certainly sucked."
He crossed his arms over his chest and sunk further into his seat.
"Oh I wouldn't say entirely," Dumbledore smiled warmly. "And you've become yet another year older. I say that alone, is enough of a celebration."
Again, Harry nodded the odd discomfort from his 'other half' and the odd shifting of his eyes at those words
Harry glared at Dumbledore as if he'd grown another head. "You're crazy, aren't you."
Dumbledore looked over his half moon spectacles and smiled. "Certifiably." Harry snorted and shook his head while Snape massaged the bridge of his nose as he spoke. "What happens now."
"He'll come home–won't he," Lily asked Dumbledore and James snorted. "Your damn straight he's coming home! To his real family."
"This should be good," Harry muttered to Julian who looked over at him puzzled before Snape exploded. "I will not allow you to just take Harry away from me, Potter! The boy doesn't have to go anywhere with you."
James raised an eyebrow at Snape and gave the man a skeptical look. "Are you serious? Or inhaled too many of those potions you brew? You kept Harry for fifteen years without my permission. Do you think I'm giving you an option in that?"
"I assure you, Potter, I could careless what options you are giving me. My son–"
"Your son?" James snorted amused, glaring in a rather nasty fashion at him.
"Yes, my son! I clothed him, I fed him, I raised him and took care of him! I did any and everything a true and competent father was suppose to," Severus sneered at James. "He is my son, whether we are linked by our blood or not! And I won't have you disrupting or unraveling everything I've taught him with those insignificant teachings of yours along with the help of the mutt and werewolf."
"That is enough," Dumbledore snapped sternly and the pair froze in respect for the older wizard, despite whatever current feelings they may have for him.
Shining blue eyes studied the pair over a pair of half moon spectacles before he turned his attention to Harry and Harry alone. "What would you like to do, my boy."
"Oh, so now I get to decide," Harry snorted, rolling his eyes.
"Harry," Severus and James replied in a dangerous tones before they both glared at one another and snapped. "Don't try to discipline my son!"
"Will the two of you just stop it? Please? We're not in our school days and Harry isn't something for us to be fighting over like this! Try to take what he must be feeling into consideration!" Lily scolded and both men stopped finally however, continued to glare at one another. She looked over at Harry and gave him a encouraging smile and after a moment's hesitation, he returned a weak one back.
He could try he supposed. However...
. " Professor," he began with a deep sigh. "I have no clue what I want to do or even what I should be doing."
Dumbledore nodded. "Quite understandable, my boy."
"I don't even know how I should feel right now." Harry frowned at him deeply suddenly. "For the record, I'm really pissed at you–I know that."
Dumbledore couldn't help but chuckled softly to himself as he inclined his head to him. "Also quite understandable."
"And I'm kinda mad at da–er–well...you" Harry announced, looking over at Snape who only nodded. Harry then looked over at his biological parents before closing his eyes and massaging his temple as he sank lower still into a lazy sitting position.
"I want to get to know my real family. I mean...I guess I do," he announced and his parents actually looked relieved while Julian gave a light smile his way. Then he looked back over at Snape. "But I mean...I still want a relationship with my–uh–I mean–"
"You can call him Snivellus," James grumbled and Lily slapped him on the shoulder as both Harry and Snape glared at him with the same exact dark expression. James took note of this fact and pointed an accusing finger at Snape before looking over at Dumbledore with a pleading look. "See! We have to get Harry out of there before he can do anymore damage!"
"Oh James! Stop being so immature," Lily sighed and Snape sneered. "Wishful thinking, I'm afraid."
James opened his mouth to speak but Dumbledore raised his hands to quiet the oncoming barrage of insults. But it was Lily who spoke up.
"Why don't we try this: Harry can stay the summer with us, that way he can get to know us better before the school year starts. Severus can come to visit him if he'd like– he raised Harry and that's that," Lily snapped as her husband began to cut in. "And we shouldn't alienate Harry from him, we'd be horrible if we did and you know it."
James let out a long sigh but nodded begrudgingly. "Then we can figure out what should be done come the holidays." She looked over at Severus. "Can you agree to those terms?"
The greasy haired man glared at James but nodded never the less. "Details still need to be discussed but I believe I can agree to those terms yes."
Lily nodded gratefully as James grumbled about not caring whether Snape did or didn't followed by so not-so-very-polite name calling while Dumbledore clapped his hands together loudly, snapping the shaggy haired man out of it. "Splendid! I can finally set up a couple of days during the summer vacation for Harry to test to ensure his proper entry level into a fifth year of Hogwarts education, then, we can enroll–"
"Whoa, whoa, wait," Harry shouted, looking bewildered. "You mean...I get to go to Hogwarts?"
"I don't see why you shouldn't be able to," Dumbledore nodded before thinking for a moment and looking at him knowingly over his glasses. "Unless...you'd like to stay at–"
"No! Hell no!" Harry cried. "I want to go to Hogwarts!" He paused, to look over to Snape, calming down slightly. "I mean–I can go. Right?"
"Why are you asking him?" James asked matter of factly and Lily slapped his arm and he looked at her confused. "What?"
"If it will keep you from trying to burn down your dorm and hexing teacher's head in toilets, thus keeping me from having further headaches, then I more than willing to– "
"Finally," Harry sighed with a roll of his eyes before glaring at Dumbledore. "This doesn't put us anywhere near even. You still piss me off."
"Harry!" Snape snapped and he couldn't help but flinch into submission before grumbling his apology.
But the older man didn't seem to mind. "I hope that over time, I will be able to make up an old man's mistakes to not only you, but your entire family." He smiled. "But for now, let us try to enjoy what is left of your birthdays."
"I'll fire call the restaurant," Lily announced, already heading toward the fireplace. "I'm sure Molly and the others are worried. When I'm done..." She paused to look at Harry and a warm smile washed over her face as her eyes lit up. Harry couldn't help but feel warm: he could practically feel the happiness and love radiate from her.
She gave him a little nod before she headed toward the fireplace just as Julian quietly got up from his seat and leaned over to whisper something to Dumbledore. The older man nodded as he spoke and getting up from his seat, followed the youth out of the room under the curious watchful eyes of James and Snape before the latter snapped his head around to glare angrily at the shaggy haired man, his eyes glowing dangerously.
"Potter, outside, now. We need to discuss a few things," Snape demanded coldly, already heading for the front door. James glared over at him. "Don't get your gray under britches in a twist Snivellus, I'll come when I get ready."
The man gave him a sharp back glance at the open stab at the past, his mouth giving a low snarl as he opened it to possibly curse the man verbally into oblivion before he simply clamped his mouth shut and stormed outside, slamming the door shut behind him so hard that a few pictures from the wall fell and Lily paused to turn around and glare at James–who pretended he didn't see her.
James glared at the door a moment longer before turning his attention to Harry, who was staring at him, an eyebrow arched though is face, curious.
The two remained quite for a minute, each letting their own thoughts and feelings run through them as they listened to Lily begin to chatter softly in the background again.
"What do I call you," Harry demanded as politely as he could. James nodded in understanding before he spoke. "I think both Lily and I can understand if you don't want to call us 'Mom' or 'Dad' just yet. It won't offend us at all if you want to call us something else. Like 'James' or 'Lily'"
Harry nodded as he began to walk past him, towards Lily. He paused, giving James a back glance and a half smile. "You can call me whatever you like. I don't mind and I understand why you might want to. I'm okay with it. So you can call me 'little mumps of a sugar darling'...as long as you don't call me that in public. Or preferably, while I'm conscious...I'm o-kay with it."
James gave a somewhat relieved sigh before he beamed at him. "You've got a sense of humor at least. We might be able to save you after all."
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Author's Notes:
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the new chapter. As I was writing it, I came to realize that this story is going to be rather long. (Though I don't think I'll have go all Harry's fifth year.) In any case, I hope you enjoyed and more to come! Leave feedback if you like!