A/N: Hey guys! This is the next part. It's rather long, thirteen pages,
so you can't say it wasn't worth the wait. Hope you all enjoy! ~Sylvia
Minn was standing there when Harry Apparated into his living room. "Hi, Minn." He said, seeing her there. She wagged her tail and nuzzled his leg through the robe. "Yeah, I know it's weird. Did I ever tell you I was a wizard when I was younger? It was before I got all these scars." Harry said, motioning towards his face and hand. He threw off the robe and ignored it. "You must be hungry." Minn padded off towards the kitchen, Harry following to feed his dog. Minn barked happily as Harry poured food for her. She dove into it happily while Harry moved into his living room and settled into a chair. Minn came in a few minutes later, leash in mouth, and dropped it into Harry's lap. "Is that a hint?" For an answer, Minn went over to the door and scratched at it. "All right." Harry stood and clasped the leash to her collar and opened the door.
"Oh, hello Liam!" a voice to his right said as he started down the walk. "How are you today? Off from work?" Liam's neighbor, Mrs. Simpkins said as she came up to the fence.
"Yes, Mrs. Simpkins, I'm fine. Home from work for the day, I'm afraid. How are you and your husband?" He asked politely.
"He's fine, Liam. Just fine. You're looking so pale! And so different. Are you feeling all right?" Liam nodded.
"Yes, I think that I've just spent too much time inside lately." Minn tugged on her leash. Liam shushed her and turned back to his neighbor.
"You look so nice. Going on a date?" She asked. Liam glanced down at his clothes. Lucky had good taste.
"No, ma'am. A friend of mine tried to make me over. This was the closest he got." She chuckled about his looks again and then left him to walk his dog. Liam took her to the local park and let her run. She tried to muss his clothes, but found that Lucky must have put a stain-repelling charm on them. They weren't even wrinkled. Liam got Minn back on her leash and took her home.
He entered his house and heard Minn growl. He shushed her and took up the cricket bat kept in the coat rack and started down the hallway. He turned towards the living room and held up the bat. He kicked open the door and found Snape standing in the middle of the room, looking at some of Liam's belongings. Another man was standing behind him that Harry didn't know. His eyes automatically went upwards to Harry's scar, and ran down the face, tracing the rest of his scar that had masked his old one. Harry sighed. It was starting. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Ah, Harry." Snape finished folding the cloak that Harry had thrown off earlier. "I guessed that you came here. I picked out some clothes for you since you left. You can wear them or not." Snape said, putting the cloak down on top of a pile of boxes. Minn darted forward and started growling at Snape. "Yours?" Snape questioned, taking out his wand.
"Yes. Don't hex her." He told Snape. Snape looked up and noticed that Harry had only folded his arms.
"Where's your wand?" Snape asked. Harry snorted.
"When I took up a Muggle's life, sir, I became a full Muggle. I put all of my wizard's things away. Muggles don't have relationships with wizards, so I think you should leave." Minn growled again.
"Unfortunately, Harry, you are a wizard, whether you like it or not." Snape said, his voice growing cold. "You have gifts. You should use them."
"I did. Voldemort's dead. I'm done with my 'gifts'." He answered. He motioned towards the door. "Out." Snape scowled.
"You are really planning to do this all by yourself, aren't you? These changes that are going to happen." Harry didn't even answer. "You need help during this time, Harry. You don't know what's going to happen to you. I can help." Harry scowled. "You are going to be difficult, aren't you?" Snape asked.
"I am twenty years old, Professor, and I remember the legal age being eighteen. You and I really shouldn't be having this conversation." Snape smiled. Harry dreaded the answer Snape would have for him.
"Ah, that's the beauty of you being a wizard, Harry." Snape stepped forward and flicked his wand at Harry. "Kryptos." He said. Harry was hit with the spell. A dull gold glowed out from Harry. "This is the spell that tells whether or not someone has magic. Your test is positive. Also, there is a wizard law that says if a wizard is undergoing a magical process that could result in some physical harm to himself, or others, then that wizard is returned to the care of his family until such changes are finished." Snape smiled at him smugly. "That family must be magical of course, and can be revealed by another spell." Snape again flicked his wand. He started his own faint glow. "Ah, family." He said, pointing to himself. "We have a witness of course." Snape said, motioning to the man behind him. "Thank you, Minister." Snape said to the jovial looking man, who was currently looking a little shell-shocked at seeing Harry Potter alive and claimed by Severus Snape. "I trust that you will tell no one of Harry here. The boy likes his privacy."
"No problem, Professor Snape." He said to the man. He turned towards Harry. "You, young man, must return to Professor Snape's home until your twenty-first birthday, or the magic has run out, which ever comes first. I believe the two events should coincide. We, the Ministry that is, do not want you injured. You may do this by yourself, or it could be court-ordered, which ever you chose. If I do not hear from Professor Snape in an hour, I will return here with Aurors." He looked over Harry again. "Do not worry about your secret getting out. I will tell no one, if that is what you really want." Harry nodded. The Minister bowed and Apparated away. Snape flicked his wand and both glows died away.
"There's no way you could have falsified those results?" Harry asked. Snape smiled and shook his head. "And you're really my father?" Snape nodded. "I do have to return to your house?" He asked.
"Yes." Snape answered. Harry sighed and turned, going up the stairs.
"I'll go pack." He said. Snape nodded. "Minn, watch him." The dog leapt to her feet and stared at him, intent on ripping him to shreds if he put one toe over her line. "Be careful; she can be vicious." Harry called from the stairwell. Snape eyed the dog. He resumed his seat. He had hated bringing in the minister, but found it necessary. Since Harry was no longer a child, Snape had had to invoke that old law since Harry had just left him in Diagon Alley. He had indeed picked out clothes for the boy, things that he thought would be both comfortable yet attractive on the boy. Snape remembered Lily trying to dress him in those same colors when he had been Harry's age.
"I suppose that we are taking you along." Snape said to the dog. She wagged her tail but did not remove from her post. "I'm Harry's father, you know." He smiled to himself. He was Harry's father. "And I love him, the crazy boy." Minn wagged her tail again. "You should have seen him when he was in school. A student who loved to learn, and wouldn't be put off of his lessons, even with a git teacher." Snape jumped as a loud thud sounded from upstairs. Minn turned tail and rushed up the stairs, Snape just centimeters behind her. She pushed open Harry's door and trotted over to him, who was currently on the floor, holding his head in obvious pain. Minn eyed Snape, as though telling him to do something.
"Harry, don't worry. Minn and I are here." Snape dug through his robes and found a pain-killing potion. He tilted the boy's head back and put a hand over his mouth to deter Harry's spitting out the potion. "Swallow." He reminded. Harry swallowed as he was told. Snape gave him another dose and managed to lift Harry onto his bed. Snape brushed some wayward strands of hair out of his son's face and wiped the sweat on his forehead away. Harry smiled faintly and drifted off to sleep. Snape checked the vials to make sure they weren't Dreamless Sleep. They weren't. The pain must have exhausted Harry. Snape shook his head and turned towards the closet. Harry had been packing. Must not have wanted the Auror to come. Snape packed some more clothes, several outfits of different styles. Who knew what the boy wanted. The dog even helped by pulling out an odd-looking shirt and pants. They were well worn but obviously cared for. Snape packed those as well, and closed the case. He carried it downstairs. "I wonder where he keeps his magic things." He said to himself. The dog, which had attached herself to him, went over to a little cupboard under the stairs and pawed at the door. Snape went over and opened it, finding Harry's old school trunk in it.
Snape reviewed the contents. It appeared that the trunk had not been opened for a few years. Snape smiled and shrank the trunk, putting it into his pocket. He had a feeling that Harry would want some of those things before long. The dog growled behind him and went into the kitchen. Her belongings were all there, gathered together in a way that made Snape wonder about the intelligence of this dog. He smiled at her and put her leash, bowls, and food all into a sack, which he then shrunk and put into his robe. He ended with Harry's suitcase and went back up the stairs to check on his son.
Harry was still asleep. Snape went over to him and shook him. Harry's eyes snapped open and he sat up. "Easy, it's just me. Ready to go?" Snape asked. Harry nodded and followed Snape down the stairs. Minn trotted along behind them both. "I have all of your things." Snape said. "Including things for your dog." Harry nodded again. It seemed that he really didn't feel like talking. Snape took out of some Floo powder and held it out to Harry.
"I'm on the network?" Harry questioned. Snape nodded.
"You are now. You can remove yourself at anytime. I signed you up under an assumed name, Liam Harrison, so that people wouldn't know that Harry Potter lived here." Harry smirked.
"He doesn't. Liam Harrison does." Snape smiled while Harry took some Floo powder in his hand. "Where am I going?" he asked, stepping into the fireplace.
"Snape Manor." Snape said. Harry nodded and took a deep breath.
"Snape Manor!" he called, dropping the powder. Green flames leapt up around him, and then he was gone. Snape stepped through, the dog next to him.
"What, you like me now?" Snape said to her with a smile. She only wagged her tail and looked up at him as though to say, "Get on with it, human!" Snape called out the name to his home and stepped out with the grace of long practice. Harry was already in the sitting room, brushing soot off his clothes. Minn jumped out behind him and shook off the soot she had accumulated. Harry collapsed into a chair and looked at his father.
"I'm not happy with you." He told Snape. The man shrugged.
"Which fact? The fact that I am your father, the fact that I actually looked for you and found you, or the fact that I forced you to come back here?" Snape asked.
"All of the above." Harry told him. Snape shrugged and called for Lucky. Lucky popped in and bowed. Minn barked, causing the house elf to have a small heart attack. "Minn, down." Harry said from his chair.
"Lucky, could you please take Harry's things to his room? The dog will be staying with us as well. Her things can go in the kitchen, if you don't mind." Lucky shook his head. "Thank you, Lucky." Snape said, handing several small boxes to Lucky out of Harry's line of sight. Snape smiled at the elf as the elf looked at the belongings with rapturous joy. He had given something for the house elf to do. The elf disappeared and was probably up in Harry's room right now, putting Harry's things away and arranging the belongings.
"Well, what do we do now?" Harry asked from his chair. Snape went over to the corner and poured out two drinks. He handed one to Harry.
"I have no idea. I didn't think past getting you here." Harry sighed as though he was losing his patience.
"What should I call you?" Harry asked, running his hands through his hair. Oh, that was definitely getting cut. It was far too long.
"Severus, or Father if you want." Harry nodded. How had he known? "Treat this as a vacation. I believe that Mr. Davidson wanted you to take one soon to seek some medical attention. Don't worry, he has found a replacement." Harry glared. Severus smirked and took a sip of his drink. "From what I have seen so far, you appear to be getting hit with a lot of pain all at once, and then have none whatsoever for quite a while. Is that true?" Harry nodded. A look from Severus changed his answer.
"Yes, that's true. No warning either. It just comes on." Severus nodded and looked his son over. He did indeed look different from the young man he had met in the solicitor's office.
"Where do you experience pain?" He asked.
"Intense headaches, joint pain, muscle pain. That's about it." Harry said, stroking Minn's head, which had found Harry's lap in just a few seconds.
"Growing pains. You're going to get taller." Harry rolled his eyes.
"Wonderful." Harry said sarcastically. Severus smiled. He stood and motioned to Harry.
"Tour of the house." He said as the youth stood. Snape tossed his black robe to him. "Some of the portraits of my family would take offense at your Muggle clothing. They'd consider it indecent." Harry smirked and looked as though he was going to put the robe down. "Come on, now." Harry pulled the garment on and followed Snape out of the room, Minn close behind. Snape led Harry through the library, the game room, the ballroom (not used in over a hundred years, Snape said, due to lack of partying by his most recent relatives), the sunroom, another sitting room, and finally the portrait gallery. There were several on each side. "Come, let me introduce you." Snape said, grabbing his robe's sleeve and pulling him along. "My great-grandparents." Snape said. Harry read the nameplate. Severus and Amethyst Snape.
"You're named for him." Harry said. Snape nodded. The couple in the portrait woke up.
"Oh, hello Severus!" Amethyst said. "Who's this young man?" She asked, poking her husband. Snape smiled at the portrait.
"Hello, Nana. This is Harry, my son." "Nana" immediately smiled.
"Hello, Harry. Is this your first time to your family's home?" Harry glared at Snape, who only grinned.
"Yes, it is." Snape answered for him. "We just found out that we were related a little while ago. I brought Harry here until his next birthday, about two months away." The man in the portrait finally became coherent.
"Sevvy!" The man boomed, smiling down at Snape. "How is my favorite great-grandchild doing today?" He asked, standing up and moving to the edge of his frame.
"I'm fine, Papa. I'm just bringing my son around to meet the family." He said, motioning to Harry. Snape felt that the glare he had just earned rivaled those he had gotten from first years.
"Your son? Why had we never seen him before? We always knew, that is, your Nana and I, that you would bring the newborn down the minute the medical wizards allowed." He said as he looked over Harry with a smile that could only be called proud.
"Long story, Papa. This is Harry, here for a visit for the next two months." The man in the painting smiled.
"Nice to finally meet my great-great-grandson!" He said enthusiastically. "Please call me Papa. Grandchildren have for decades. I even forget my own name sometimes." He told Harry.
"Yes, sir." Harry said. Nana tittered.
"Such manners." She said. "Please call me Nana." Harry nodded and looked over at Snape.
"Don't worry, we'll be back. We have a lot of other relatives to meet." Snape grabbed hold of Harry's sleeve and led him away, putting him in front of another portrait. "My grandparents." Severus said. Harry looked at the couple. They seemed snake like, cold and distant.
"Severus, who is this?" The lady asked as she sat up and stood in front of the two men.
"My son, Harry. He was raised by others for his safety." Snape told her. Harry read the nameplate. Matilda and Severus. Harry figured Severus was a family name, being passed down father to son. Severus Sr. stood and came forward.
"Hello, it is nice to meet a great-grandchild, finally." Harry smiled. Although the woman seemed cold, she did smile at the mention of a great- grandchild. "How old are you?" he asked Harry, completely ignoring Severus.
"Almost twenty-one sir." He answered.
"Ah, at least you have taught him well, Severus!" The man answered. Harry smiled. Someone else had taught him. "Why did you break with tradition?" He asked. Harry could see Snape roll his eyes before he answered.
"I did not know he was my son until just a few months ago. He was raised by someone else, and named by someone else. I refuse to change his name just for some family tradition." Severus told his grandfather. "We have other family members to meet, Harry. Come along." Harry's great- grandparents waved as Harry followed his father to another portrait.
"My father." Harry had not needed the explanation. The man looked almost exactly like Severus. He looked down with a cold look at the two standing in front of him.
"Severus." He said by way of greeting. "Who is this?" He asked, motioning to Harry. Harry gritted his teeth. The cold voice reminded him of Voldemort. He wondered if the two had been in league with each other.
"My son, Harry." He answered. "He and I have just recently met, and he's here for a visit." Harry didn't know what to say.
"So he is my grandson." The man looked Harry over. "He's in the middle of a change?"
"Yes sir. One of the reasons for his visit." Snape answered.
"Come closer, boy." Harry glanced at Severus. Severus shrugged. Harry took two steps forward. "What house were you in at Hogwarts?" he asked. Harry had not been expecting that question. Around the hall, the other paintings perked up, wanting to hear the answer.
"Gryffindor, sir." He answered.
"Bah! Gryffindor!" he said, looking at Harry with something close to disgust. Down the hallway, Great Great Grandfather Severus burst into a cheer.
"Knew there'd be one sooner or later!" He shouted.
"Quiet, Grandfather." Severus Sr. roared. "Bravery, Courage, and Strong- minded, eh?" He said, moving towards the chair in the background. "More like reckless and stubborn." Harry couldn't help it. He grinned. "What are you smiling at?" His grandfather demanded.
"Well, sir. I was smiling at the memory of the Sorting Hat, sir, and what he said to me." Harry answered. Snape looked up. He knew that Harry had spent a long time under the hat. Snape Sr. motioned for Harry to continue. "He said that I could be great, and that Slytherin would help me on my way to greatness."
"Why weren't you in Slytherin, then?" Severus Sr. demanded.
"I asked not to be put there." Behind Harry, Severus was chuckling discreetly.
"Why would you not want to be put there?"
"I was told that all wizards who had gone bad were from Slytherin. I asked not to go there." Severus Sr. looked as though he was going to scream.
"Why did you not educate your son properly on the Houses?" Severus Sr. asked his son.
"He was raised by others, Father." Snape answered.
"What others?" Harry smiled again.
"Muggles, sir." He answered. The man in the portrait fell over in shock. The others around them made shocked noises or froze.
"Severus, son. Do what you can to help this poor child. Harry, we will speak again later." And with that dismissal, the man turned his back on the hallway. Harry smiled again and looked over at Severus.
"Did you have to provoke him?" Severus asked as he led Harry out of the gallery and up the stairs. Harry chuckled.
"I couldn't help myself. Your relatives seemed nice." He said, forgetting that they were his own relatives as well. Snape nodded and led Harry towards the dining room.
"Lunchtime." Snape said in response to Harry's questioning glance. Harry shrugged and sat down where told. He helped himself to food and listened as Snape talked about the house and it's history. He didn't want to talk about anything else. Harry didn't think he would have been able to handle anything else but a history lesson. He still couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that this was his father. He didn't know why he hadn't known and thought that he should have figured it out. He shrugged off those feelings and started down another path of thought. He dare Snape interfere with his life! He had done fine on his own, having been hired fresh out of the evening school he had been attending and taken on for a trial period and then gaining a firm place with Davidson, only to have that ripped away from him. And what was he going to be doing here for the next to months? Knit? Harry ground his teeth and snapped his head up at Snape's voice.
"Stop that." Snape told his son, having watched the boy begin to grind his teeth. Harry glared at him. Snape glared back. Glaring. An art that he had perfected. There was no way that Harry would get the best of him here. The two held contact for almost ten minutes, until Lucky popped up in front of them and found himself fixed with Snape's glare. The elf let out a tiny squeak of surprise. "Yes, Lucky?" Snape asked, happy that he had not looked away.
"Mistress is finally here, Master Snape. She is waiting for you in the sitting room." Snape nodded and thanked Lucky. The house elf bowed and disappeared.
"Are you finished, Harry?" Harry nodded and didn't meet his eyes. He didn't want to start glaring again. Snape stood. "Let's go." Harry stood and put his napkin on the table.
"Where?" Harry asked. He wondered how many more rooms there were.
"My mother, your grandmother, is here. To see you." Snape said simply. He had written her last night and told her of Harry. A reply came back almost immediately saying that she would be by midday the next day to see her grandchild. Harry froze at the statement.
"Why would she want to see me?" He asked.
"You are her only grandchild, Harry. Why would she not want to see you?" He asked. Harry glared at Snape. "Stop glaring and come along. I doubt she will stay long, anyway." Snape said, turning and leading a rather reluctant Harry Potter out of the dining room and down the hallway. When they entered the sitting room, Harry didn't see the woman right away. Once he was in the room, however, he found her seated in a chair in front of the fireplace. "Mother." Snape said, moving forward. The woman reached out to the potions professor next to her.
"Hello, Severus." She said, standing up and hugging Snape. Harry watched the scene a little uncomfortably. That was just odd. Snape hugging someone. The two broke apart. "Now where is this grandson of mine? I heard him come in with you." Snape took her hand and guided her to Harry. He gestured for Harry's hand, taking it when Harry had not responded. She clasped Harry's hand in both of hers and smiled at him. "Hello." She said. "Am I guessing that you stayed with tradition, or did you break it to spite your father?" She asked, turning her head back to where Severus was standing.
"His name is Harry, mother. I told you he was raised by others. Didn't Sadie read the whole letter to you?" He asked.
"You know how elves get, when they become excited, Severus." She answered, reaching up and taking Harry's face in her hands. "Hello, Harry." Harry stared at her unseeing eyes and swallowed. She was such a kind and gentle woman, soft-spoken and endearing. Harry took a breath and found his voice.
"Hello, Grandmother." He answered. Snape gave him a pleased look, which Harry disregarded. It was a title, nothing more, and Snape would do well to remember it.
"Oh, Merlin, he called me Grandmother." She said with a small chuckle. She patted Harry's cheek and laughed again. "You make me feel ancient, Harry, or very stern." She said, making a stern face in his direction. "Could you call me Gran, if you would be comfortable with that?" She asked. Harry took another breath.
"Certainly, Gran." She laughed again and pulled him forward in a hug. Harry stayed still for a few seconds before wrapping his own arms around her. She chuckled again and smiled, reminding Harry of Mrs. Weasley.
"Come on, Harry, lead an old woman back to her chair and tell me about yourself." She asked, motioning Harry to a chair. Harry took her arm and helped settle her in a chair. "Ah, thank you. Now, I am assuming you attended Hogwarts. What House were you in?" She asked.
"I was in Gryffindor, but told that I would have done well in Slytherin." He answered.
"Ah, Gryffindor. I was in Gryffindor, you know. Fine house, for all of your grandfather's complaining about it. Have you met him yet?" She asked.
"Yes, I did, this morning." She laughed.
"Yes, I was in Gryffindor, and he was in Slytherin. Found ourselves stuck in Potions and Care of Magical Creatures every other day, just glaring at each other. Slytherins and Gryffindors didn't like each other in those days, let me tell you. We hated each other. And then one well-meaning teacher who taught transfiguration was being cheeky one day and made your grandfather and I work together. We got nothing done, what with the hexing and all. Both of us ended up in the hospital wing, side by side, still trading insults. The nurse had to confiscate our wands until we were better. We were still trying to hex each other from our beds. Three weeks in the hospital wing makes you view another person in an entirely new light, let me tell you. By the time we were out of there, we created quite the scandal, just as I am sure your mother and father did." Harry found himself enjoying her story. Gran was an easy person to be around, undemanding and cheerful. "In fact, the only fight I ever had with your grandfather after that day and before we got married was about him playing Quidditch. Did you play Quidditch, Harry?" She asked.
"Yes, I was Seeker on my House Team." He answered. Snape saw an opening.
"The youngest in over a century." He said after Harry. She smiled at the announcement.
"Precocious?" She questioned. "Knew you would be. Both of your parents are smart, though a shame about Lily. She was such a smart and good girl, and so ready to be a mother." The woman sighed while Harry lowered his eyes. Gran had liked his mom and had known her, and it sounded like she had loved the girl. "I had always wanted a daughter, and your mother knew almost nothing about female witch duties when she came to Hogwarts. When I heard that Severus had made a friend from Gryffindor, and a girl at that, well, I was beside myself. It seemed like history was repeating itself. Before Lily came here, she had never heard of house elves, or housekeeping charms, none of that. When Severus told me she was Muggle-born, I took it upon myself to see to it that she knew how to run a magic household, especially after her parents died. I invited her for the summer and she spent almost every summer, or at least part of the summer, here." Harry looked up at this. His mother had stayed here? Where had her room been? What did she do all summer? He looked over at Snape, who simply nodded.
"What was your favorite subject in school, Harry?" She asked, suddenly turning the conversation in another direction. He debated. He wasn't sure.
"I was good at Defense Against the Dark Arts." He answered.
"Not what I asked. What was your favorite?" Harry thought it over. He really didn't have a favorite class. Everything in school seemed secondary to what he had been through.
"I really didn't have a favorite class, Gran. It changed from year to year." He answered truthfully. She smiled and nodded.
"Multifaceted." She said with a smile. "That's good." She launched into a story about Severus following in his father's footsteps with the potions, but he had also been good a defense, which only caused Harry to raise an eyebrow at his father. When he lowered it, he felt the pain building. He closed his eyes and raised a hand to his head. Snape was at his side in an instant. "What is it, Severus? What's wrong with Harry?" She asked. Snape tilted Harry's head back and poured a potion down his throat.
"Swallow, Harry." He told the boy. Harry did as he was told and accepted another one. The second was Dreamless Sleep. "I'll explain as soon as I take Harry upstairs." He told her. He gathered Harry in his arms and Apparated to the boy's room. He laid Harry down on the bed, removed his robe and shoes and went back down the stairs. He found his mother out in the hallway.
"Is he all right, Severus?" Snape took her arm and guided her back to her chair.
"He's fine, Mother. Sadie did not read you all of your letter. Harry has a spell on him that is painfully wearing off. Lily put it on him when he was born, so that he would look nothing like me and would look like James Potter. Since he is almost twenty-one, the spell is wearing off." He told her, pouring some tea for her and putting it in her hand. "The only reason he is here is that I had to enforce an old law that everyone, even Dumbledore, forgot was on the books." Mrs. Snape's face showed her astonishment. "Lily sent me a letter explaining everything to me. Why she did what she did, why she didn't tell me sooner, why Harry did not know." He stopped and collected himself. He wondered if all parents could easily feel as though they were helpless when it concerned their child.
"He knows that you're his father?" Snape answered her in the affirmative. "Has he accepted it?" Snape shook his head no, forgetting that his mother could not see it.
"No, Mother. He still calls me 'Professor' or 'sir', if he even speaks to me." Snape told her. She sipped at her tea and stared off into space. Her child was hurting and deeply about his own child. She smiled to herself as he realized what she had gone through when he was small. She had told him that all of his feelings would change when he was presented with his own baby. For years, she had thought that impossible, and now Harry.
"So my grandson is the famous Harry Potter?" She asked. She chuckled to herself when she heard Snape's growl.
"Had I known that he was my son, there would have been no reporters anywhere near the boy." She smiled again. "Or adulators. Or Muggles. Or Malfoys." He finished, ticking off the influences he wouldn't have wanted around his child.
"Well, Severus, it seems that you have yourself a son and got to skip all that messy stuff at the beginning and move straight into the 'independent adult' phase that all children go through." Snape heard that statement and sighed.
"I would have given anything to have been there his whole life." Severus told her. She smiled sadly and nodded.
"I understand." She said quietly. "I'll talk to Harry when he wakes up. I want you to make yourself scarce when he does. I could almost feel the glares he directed at you." Snape chuckled.
"He has yet to beat me in a glaring contest." He told his mother. She laughed. "Show an old woman to her bedroom, and then to Harry's. I want to be there when he wakes up." Snape took her arm and led her to her bedroom first, and then to Harry's. He watched as she arranged herself in the chair next to his bed and reached out a hand to his forehead, smoothing back the hair that lay arranged about his head. He smiled, remembering her doing the same thing to him when he had been younger. He doubted his son got much in the way of physical affection from his relatives. She hummed a small tune and played with the boy's hair. Snape turned and left the hallway, going to his private lab to make more pain-relieving potion. He was going to need more.
Trallgorda: Demands, demands, demands. Gee, sis! I thought you loved me. Haha, just kidding. Here's your update.
Twindemonicangels: While Harry does run away (check end of chapter 5), he also sees reason when explained to him. Thanks for reviewing.
Fizzysoda: Glad you like him! Thanks for reviewing.
Emiepatapouf: Harry is only twenty. Snape and Harry do not know how to relate to each other, it's going to take time. Harry is also acting a bit like a child. And please, in my reviews, do not take the Lord's name in vain, I have a tiny problem with that. If you must use swear words (although I don't prefer using them too often), don't mention God in them. Thanks for your review though! I loved getting it.
Ruth: Glad you like my story. Here's the update. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for reviewing.
Parselmouth: Thanks for reviewing. Glad you like it so much. Update is here.
Nicky15: Thanks for reviewing and pointing that out. I would love to hear your ideas on how to correct that. Any suggestions? I want the child to be related to the Weasleys. Any ideas? Here's your update.
The Shadow Bandit: Thank you for such a good review.
Lillinfields: Glad you liked it. The whole glowing thing was Harry's old lightening bolt scar glowing, not Liam himself. The picture showed an image of Liam with the lightening bolt scar glowing on his forehead. In other words, the scar squealed. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for reviewing.
Athenakitty: What is this, 20 questions? Okay, here we go! Yes. Yes, to avoid pain. Which question? Yes, Dumbledore is a shutter bug! Yes, Harry had trouble with dreams and the nightlight soothed him when he woke up. Helped with disorientation after the dreams/visions. Yes, based that off my sister who hates scrambled eggs unless they have cheese. Yes. Yes. Snape, but not really ticked off, just semi-annoyed. Okay, hands hurt from typing! Glad you liked it. Sorry for any confusion.
Enahma: Here you go. Thanks for reviewing!
I think that is everyone, but if I missed anyone, thanks for reviewing! ~Sylvia
Minn was standing there when Harry Apparated into his living room. "Hi, Minn." He said, seeing her there. She wagged her tail and nuzzled his leg through the robe. "Yeah, I know it's weird. Did I ever tell you I was a wizard when I was younger? It was before I got all these scars." Harry said, motioning towards his face and hand. He threw off the robe and ignored it. "You must be hungry." Minn padded off towards the kitchen, Harry following to feed his dog. Minn barked happily as Harry poured food for her. She dove into it happily while Harry moved into his living room and settled into a chair. Minn came in a few minutes later, leash in mouth, and dropped it into Harry's lap. "Is that a hint?" For an answer, Minn went over to the door and scratched at it. "All right." Harry stood and clasped the leash to her collar and opened the door.
"Oh, hello Liam!" a voice to his right said as he started down the walk. "How are you today? Off from work?" Liam's neighbor, Mrs. Simpkins said as she came up to the fence.
"Yes, Mrs. Simpkins, I'm fine. Home from work for the day, I'm afraid. How are you and your husband?" He asked politely.
"He's fine, Liam. Just fine. You're looking so pale! And so different. Are you feeling all right?" Liam nodded.
"Yes, I think that I've just spent too much time inside lately." Minn tugged on her leash. Liam shushed her and turned back to his neighbor.
"You look so nice. Going on a date?" She asked. Liam glanced down at his clothes. Lucky had good taste.
"No, ma'am. A friend of mine tried to make me over. This was the closest he got." She chuckled about his looks again and then left him to walk his dog. Liam took her to the local park and let her run. She tried to muss his clothes, but found that Lucky must have put a stain-repelling charm on them. They weren't even wrinkled. Liam got Minn back on her leash and took her home.
He entered his house and heard Minn growl. He shushed her and took up the cricket bat kept in the coat rack and started down the hallway. He turned towards the living room and held up the bat. He kicked open the door and found Snape standing in the middle of the room, looking at some of Liam's belongings. Another man was standing behind him that Harry didn't know. His eyes automatically went upwards to Harry's scar, and ran down the face, tracing the rest of his scar that had masked his old one. Harry sighed. It was starting. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Ah, Harry." Snape finished folding the cloak that Harry had thrown off earlier. "I guessed that you came here. I picked out some clothes for you since you left. You can wear them or not." Snape said, putting the cloak down on top of a pile of boxes. Minn darted forward and started growling at Snape. "Yours?" Snape questioned, taking out his wand.
"Yes. Don't hex her." He told Snape. Snape looked up and noticed that Harry had only folded his arms.
"Where's your wand?" Snape asked. Harry snorted.
"When I took up a Muggle's life, sir, I became a full Muggle. I put all of my wizard's things away. Muggles don't have relationships with wizards, so I think you should leave." Minn growled again.
"Unfortunately, Harry, you are a wizard, whether you like it or not." Snape said, his voice growing cold. "You have gifts. You should use them."
"I did. Voldemort's dead. I'm done with my 'gifts'." He answered. He motioned towards the door. "Out." Snape scowled.
"You are really planning to do this all by yourself, aren't you? These changes that are going to happen." Harry didn't even answer. "You need help during this time, Harry. You don't know what's going to happen to you. I can help." Harry scowled. "You are going to be difficult, aren't you?" Snape asked.
"I am twenty years old, Professor, and I remember the legal age being eighteen. You and I really shouldn't be having this conversation." Snape smiled. Harry dreaded the answer Snape would have for him.
"Ah, that's the beauty of you being a wizard, Harry." Snape stepped forward and flicked his wand at Harry. "Kryptos." He said. Harry was hit with the spell. A dull gold glowed out from Harry. "This is the spell that tells whether or not someone has magic. Your test is positive. Also, there is a wizard law that says if a wizard is undergoing a magical process that could result in some physical harm to himself, or others, then that wizard is returned to the care of his family until such changes are finished." Snape smiled at him smugly. "That family must be magical of course, and can be revealed by another spell." Snape again flicked his wand. He started his own faint glow. "Ah, family." He said, pointing to himself. "We have a witness of course." Snape said, motioning to the man behind him. "Thank you, Minister." Snape said to the jovial looking man, who was currently looking a little shell-shocked at seeing Harry Potter alive and claimed by Severus Snape. "I trust that you will tell no one of Harry here. The boy likes his privacy."
"No problem, Professor Snape." He said to the man. He turned towards Harry. "You, young man, must return to Professor Snape's home until your twenty-first birthday, or the magic has run out, which ever comes first. I believe the two events should coincide. We, the Ministry that is, do not want you injured. You may do this by yourself, or it could be court-ordered, which ever you chose. If I do not hear from Professor Snape in an hour, I will return here with Aurors." He looked over Harry again. "Do not worry about your secret getting out. I will tell no one, if that is what you really want." Harry nodded. The Minister bowed and Apparated away. Snape flicked his wand and both glows died away.
"There's no way you could have falsified those results?" Harry asked. Snape smiled and shook his head. "And you're really my father?" Snape nodded. "I do have to return to your house?" He asked.
"Yes." Snape answered. Harry sighed and turned, going up the stairs.
"I'll go pack." He said. Snape nodded. "Minn, watch him." The dog leapt to her feet and stared at him, intent on ripping him to shreds if he put one toe over her line. "Be careful; she can be vicious." Harry called from the stairwell. Snape eyed the dog. He resumed his seat. He had hated bringing in the minister, but found it necessary. Since Harry was no longer a child, Snape had had to invoke that old law since Harry had just left him in Diagon Alley. He had indeed picked out clothes for the boy, things that he thought would be both comfortable yet attractive on the boy. Snape remembered Lily trying to dress him in those same colors when he had been Harry's age.
"I suppose that we are taking you along." Snape said to the dog. She wagged her tail but did not remove from her post. "I'm Harry's father, you know." He smiled to himself. He was Harry's father. "And I love him, the crazy boy." Minn wagged her tail again. "You should have seen him when he was in school. A student who loved to learn, and wouldn't be put off of his lessons, even with a git teacher." Snape jumped as a loud thud sounded from upstairs. Minn turned tail and rushed up the stairs, Snape just centimeters behind her. She pushed open Harry's door and trotted over to him, who was currently on the floor, holding his head in obvious pain. Minn eyed Snape, as though telling him to do something.
"Harry, don't worry. Minn and I are here." Snape dug through his robes and found a pain-killing potion. He tilted the boy's head back and put a hand over his mouth to deter Harry's spitting out the potion. "Swallow." He reminded. Harry swallowed as he was told. Snape gave him another dose and managed to lift Harry onto his bed. Snape brushed some wayward strands of hair out of his son's face and wiped the sweat on his forehead away. Harry smiled faintly and drifted off to sleep. Snape checked the vials to make sure they weren't Dreamless Sleep. They weren't. The pain must have exhausted Harry. Snape shook his head and turned towards the closet. Harry had been packing. Must not have wanted the Auror to come. Snape packed some more clothes, several outfits of different styles. Who knew what the boy wanted. The dog even helped by pulling out an odd-looking shirt and pants. They were well worn but obviously cared for. Snape packed those as well, and closed the case. He carried it downstairs. "I wonder where he keeps his magic things." He said to himself. The dog, which had attached herself to him, went over to a little cupboard under the stairs and pawed at the door. Snape went over and opened it, finding Harry's old school trunk in it.
Snape reviewed the contents. It appeared that the trunk had not been opened for a few years. Snape smiled and shrank the trunk, putting it into his pocket. He had a feeling that Harry would want some of those things before long. The dog growled behind him and went into the kitchen. Her belongings were all there, gathered together in a way that made Snape wonder about the intelligence of this dog. He smiled at her and put her leash, bowls, and food all into a sack, which he then shrunk and put into his robe. He ended with Harry's suitcase and went back up the stairs to check on his son.
Harry was still asleep. Snape went over to him and shook him. Harry's eyes snapped open and he sat up. "Easy, it's just me. Ready to go?" Snape asked. Harry nodded and followed Snape down the stairs. Minn trotted along behind them both. "I have all of your things." Snape said. "Including things for your dog." Harry nodded again. It seemed that he really didn't feel like talking. Snape took out of some Floo powder and held it out to Harry.
"I'm on the network?" Harry questioned. Snape nodded.
"You are now. You can remove yourself at anytime. I signed you up under an assumed name, Liam Harrison, so that people wouldn't know that Harry Potter lived here." Harry smirked.
"He doesn't. Liam Harrison does." Snape smiled while Harry took some Floo powder in his hand. "Where am I going?" he asked, stepping into the fireplace.
"Snape Manor." Snape said. Harry nodded and took a deep breath.
"Snape Manor!" he called, dropping the powder. Green flames leapt up around him, and then he was gone. Snape stepped through, the dog next to him.
"What, you like me now?" Snape said to her with a smile. She only wagged her tail and looked up at him as though to say, "Get on with it, human!" Snape called out the name to his home and stepped out with the grace of long practice. Harry was already in the sitting room, brushing soot off his clothes. Minn jumped out behind him and shook off the soot she had accumulated. Harry collapsed into a chair and looked at his father.
"I'm not happy with you." He told Snape. The man shrugged.
"Which fact? The fact that I am your father, the fact that I actually looked for you and found you, or the fact that I forced you to come back here?" Snape asked.
"All of the above." Harry told him. Snape shrugged and called for Lucky. Lucky popped in and bowed. Minn barked, causing the house elf to have a small heart attack. "Minn, down." Harry said from his chair.
"Lucky, could you please take Harry's things to his room? The dog will be staying with us as well. Her things can go in the kitchen, if you don't mind." Lucky shook his head. "Thank you, Lucky." Snape said, handing several small boxes to Lucky out of Harry's line of sight. Snape smiled at the elf as the elf looked at the belongings with rapturous joy. He had given something for the house elf to do. The elf disappeared and was probably up in Harry's room right now, putting Harry's things away and arranging the belongings.
"Well, what do we do now?" Harry asked from his chair. Snape went over to the corner and poured out two drinks. He handed one to Harry.
"I have no idea. I didn't think past getting you here." Harry sighed as though he was losing his patience.
"What should I call you?" Harry asked, running his hands through his hair. Oh, that was definitely getting cut. It was far too long.
"Severus, or Father if you want." Harry nodded. How had he known? "Treat this as a vacation. I believe that Mr. Davidson wanted you to take one soon to seek some medical attention. Don't worry, he has found a replacement." Harry glared. Severus smirked and took a sip of his drink. "From what I have seen so far, you appear to be getting hit with a lot of pain all at once, and then have none whatsoever for quite a while. Is that true?" Harry nodded. A look from Severus changed his answer.
"Yes, that's true. No warning either. It just comes on." Severus nodded and looked his son over. He did indeed look different from the young man he had met in the solicitor's office.
"Where do you experience pain?" He asked.
"Intense headaches, joint pain, muscle pain. That's about it." Harry said, stroking Minn's head, which had found Harry's lap in just a few seconds.
"Growing pains. You're going to get taller." Harry rolled his eyes.
"Wonderful." Harry said sarcastically. Severus smiled. He stood and motioned to Harry.
"Tour of the house." He said as the youth stood. Snape tossed his black robe to him. "Some of the portraits of my family would take offense at your Muggle clothing. They'd consider it indecent." Harry smirked and looked as though he was going to put the robe down. "Come on, now." Harry pulled the garment on and followed Snape out of the room, Minn close behind. Snape led Harry through the library, the game room, the ballroom (not used in over a hundred years, Snape said, due to lack of partying by his most recent relatives), the sunroom, another sitting room, and finally the portrait gallery. There were several on each side. "Come, let me introduce you." Snape said, grabbing his robe's sleeve and pulling him along. "My great-grandparents." Snape said. Harry read the nameplate. Severus and Amethyst Snape.
"You're named for him." Harry said. Snape nodded. The couple in the portrait woke up.
"Oh, hello Severus!" Amethyst said. "Who's this young man?" She asked, poking her husband. Snape smiled at the portrait.
"Hello, Nana. This is Harry, my son." "Nana" immediately smiled.
"Hello, Harry. Is this your first time to your family's home?" Harry glared at Snape, who only grinned.
"Yes, it is." Snape answered for him. "We just found out that we were related a little while ago. I brought Harry here until his next birthday, about two months away." The man in the portrait finally became coherent.
"Sevvy!" The man boomed, smiling down at Snape. "How is my favorite great-grandchild doing today?" He asked, standing up and moving to the edge of his frame.
"I'm fine, Papa. I'm just bringing my son around to meet the family." He said, motioning to Harry. Snape felt that the glare he had just earned rivaled those he had gotten from first years.
"Your son? Why had we never seen him before? We always knew, that is, your Nana and I, that you would bring the newborn down the minute the medical wizards allowed." He said as he looked over Harry with a smile that could only be called proud.
"Long story, Papa. This is Harry, here for a visit for the next two months." The man in the painting smiled.
"Nice to finally meet my great-great-grandson!" He said enthusiastically. "Please call me Papa. Grandchildren have for decades. I even forget my own name sometimes." He told Harry.
"Yes, sir." Harry said. Nana tittered.
"Such manners." She said. "Please call me Nana." Harry nodded and looked over at Snape.
"Don't worry, we'll be back. We have a lot of other relatives to meet." Snape grabbed hold of Harry's sleeve and led him away, putting him in front of another portrait. "My grandparents." Severus said. Harry looked at the couple. They seemed snake like, cold and distant.
"Severus, who is this?" The lady asked as she sat up and stood in front of the two men.
"My son, Harry. He was raised by others for his safety." Snape told her. Harry read the nameplate. Matilda and Severus. Harry figured Severus was a family name, being passed down father to son. Severus Sr. stood and came forward.
"Hello, it is nice to meet a great-grandchild, finally." Harry smiled. Although the woman seemed cold, she did smile at the mention of a great- grandchild. "How old are you?" he asked Harry, completely ignoring Severus.
"Almost twenty-one sir." He answered.
"Ah, at least you have taught him well, Severus!" The man answered. Harry smiled. Someone else had taught him. "Why did you break with tradition?" He asked. Harry could see Snape roll his eyes before he answered.
"I did not know he was my son until just a few months ago. He was raised by someone else, and named by someone else. I refuse to change his name just for some family tradition." Severus told his grandfather. "We have other family members to meet, Harry. Come along." Harry's great- grandparents waved as Harry followed his father to another portrait.
"My father." Harry had not needed the explanation. The man looked almost exactly like Severus. He looked down with a cold look at the two standing in front of him.
"Severus." He said by way of greeting. "Who is this?" He asked, motioning to Harry. Harry gritted his teeth. The cold voice reminded him of Voldemort. He wondered if the two had been in league with each other.
"My son, Harry." He answered. "He and I have just recently met, and he's here for a visit." Harry didn't know what to say.
"So he is my grandson." The man looked Harry over. "He's in the middle of a change?"
"Yes sir. One of the reasons for his visit." Snape answered.
"Come closer, boy." Harry glanced at Severus. Severus shrugged. Harry took two steps forward. "What house were you in at Hogwarts?" he asked. Harry had not been expecting that question. Around the hall, the other paintings perked up, wanting to hear the answer.
"Gryffindor, sir." He answered.
"Bah! Gryffindor!" he said, looking at Harry with something close to disgust. Down the hallway, Great Great Grandfather Severus burst into a cheer.
"Knew there'd be one sooner or later!" He shouted.
"Quiet, Grandfather." Severus Sr. roared. "Bravery, Courage, and Strong- minded, eh?" He said, moving towards the chair in the background. "More like reckless and stubborn." Harry couldn't help it. He grinned. "What are you smiling at?" His grandfather demanded.
"Well, sir. I was smiling at the memory of the Sorting Hat, sir, and what he said to me." Harry answered. Snape looked up. He knew that Harry had spent a long time under the hat. Snape Sr. motioned for Harry to continue. "He said that I could be great, and that Slytherin would help me on my way to greatness."
"Why weren't you in Slytherin, then?" Severus Sr. demanded.
"I asked not to be put there." Behind Harry, Severus was chuckling discreetly.
"Why would you not want to be put there?"
"I was told that all wizards who had gone bad were from Slytherin. I asked not to go there." Severus Sr. looked as though he was going to scream.
"Why did you not educate your son properly on the Houses?" Severus Sr. asked his son.
"He was raised by others, Father." Snape answered.
"What others?" Harry smiled again.
"Muggles, sir." He answered. The man in the portrait fell over in shock. The others around them made shocked noises or froze.
"Severus, son. Do what you can to help this poor child. Harry, we will speak again later." And with that dismissal, the man turned his back on the hallway. Harry smiled again and looked over at Severus.
"Did you have to provoke him?" Severus asked as he led Harry out of the gallery and up the stairs. Harry chuckled.
"I couldn't help myself. Your relatives seemed nice." He said, forgetting that they were his own relatives as well. Snape nodded and led Harry towards the dining room.
"Lunchtime." Snape said in response to Harry's questioning glance. Harry shrugged and sat down where told. He helped himself to food and listened as Snape talked about the house and it's history. He didn't want to talk about anything else. Harry didn't think he would have been able to handle anything else but a history lesson. He still couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that this was his father. He didn't know why he hadn't known and thought that he should have figured it out. He shrugged off those feelings and started down another path of thought. He dare Snape interfere with his life! He had done fine on his own, having been hired fresh out of the evening school he had been attending and taken on for a trial period and then gaining a firm place with Davidson, only to have that ripped away from him. And what was he going to be doing here for the next to months? Knit? Harry ground his teeth and snapped his head up at Snape's voice.
"Stop that." Snape told his son, having watched the boy begin to grind his teeth. Harry glared at him. Snape glared back. Glaring. An art that he had perfected. There was no way that Harry would get the best of him here. The two held contact for almost ten minutes, until Lucky popped up in front of them and found himself fixed with Snape's glare. The elf let out a tiny squeak of surprise. "Yes, Lucky?" Snape asked, happy that he had not looked away.
"Mistress is finally here, Master Snape. She is waiting for you in the sitting room." Snape nodded and thanked Lucky. The house elf bowed and disappeared.
"Are you finished, Harry?" Harry nodded and didn't meet his eyes. He didn't want to start glaring again. Snape stood. "Let's go." Harry stood and put his napkin on the table.
"Where?" Harry asked. He wondered how many more rooms there were.
"My mother, your grandmother, is here. To see you." Snape said simply. He had written her last night and told her of Harry. A reply came back almost immediately saying that she would be by midday the next day to see her grandchild. Harry froze at the statement.
"Why would she want to see me?" He asked.
"You are her only grandchild, Harry. Why would she not want to see you?" He asked. Harry glared at Snape. "Stop glaring and come along. I doubt she will stay long, anyway." Snape said, turning and leading a rather reluctant Harry Potter out of the dining room and down the hallway. When they entered the sitting room, Harry didn't see the woman right away. Once he was in the room, however, he found her seated in a chair in front of the fireplace. "Mother." Snape said, moving forward. The woman reached out to the potions professor next to her.
"Hello, Severus." She said, standing up and hugging Snape. Harry watched the scene a little uncomfortably. That was just odd. Snape hugging someone. The two broke apart. "Now where is this grandson of mine? I heard him come in with you." Snape took her hand and guided her to Harry. He gestured for Harry's hand, taking it when Harry had not responded. She clasped Harry's hand in both of hers and smiled at him. "Hello." She said. "Am I guessing that you stayed with tradition, or did you break it to spite your father?" She asked, turning her head back to where Severus was standing.
"His name is Harry, mother. I told you he was raised by others. Didn't Sadie read the whole letter to you?" He asked.
"You know how elves get, when they become excited, Severus." She answered, reaching up and taking Harry's face in her hands. "Hello, Harry." Harry stared at her unseeing eyes and swallowed. She was such a kind and gentle woman, soft-spoken and endearing. Harry took a breath and found his voice.
"Hello, Grandmother." He answered. Snape gave him a pleased look, which Harry disregarded. It was a title, nothing more, and Snape would do well to remember it.
"Oh, Merlin, he called me Grandmother." She said with a small chuckle. She patted Harry's cheek and laughed again. "You make me feel ancient, Harry, or very stern." She said, making a stern face in his direction. "Could you call me Gran, if you would be comfortable with that?" She asked. Harry took another breath.
"Certainly, Gran." She laughed again and pulled him forward in a hug. Harry stayed still for a few seconds before wrapping his own arms around her. She chuckled again and smiled, reminding Harry of Mrs. Weasley.
"Come on, Harry, lead an old woman back to her chair and tell me about yourself." She asked, motioning Harry to a chair. Harry took her arm and helped settle her in a chair. "Ah, thank you. Now, I am assuming you attended Hogwarts. What House were you in?" She asked.
"I was in Gryffindor, but told that I would have done well in Slytherin." He answered.
"Ah, Gryffindor. I was in Gryffindor, you know. Fine house, for all of your grandfather's complaining about it. Have you met him yet?" She asked.
"Yes, I did, this morning." She laughed.
"Yes, I was in Gryffindor, and he was in Slytherin. Found ourselves stuck in Potions and Care of Magical Creatures every other day, just glaring at each other. Slytherins and Gryffindors didn't like each other in those days, let me tell you. We hated each other. And then one well-meaning teacher who taught transfiguration was being cheeky one day and made your grandfather and I work together. We got nothing done, what with the hexing and all. Both of us ended up in the hospital wing, side by side, still trading insults. The nurse had to confiscate our wands until we were better. We were still trying to hex each other from our beds. Three weeks in the hospital wing makes you view another person in an entirely new light, let me tell you. By the time we were out of there, we created quite the scandal, just as I am sure your mother and father did." Harry found himself enjoying her story. Gran was an easy person to be around, undemanding and cheerful. "In fact, the only fight I ever had with your grandfather after that day and before we got married was about him playing Quidditch. Did you play Quidditch, Harry?" She asked.
"Yes, I was Seeker on my House Team." He answered. Snape saw an opening.
"The youngest in over a century." He said after Harry. She smiled at the announcement.
"Precocious?" She questioned. "Knew you would be. Both of your parents are smart, though a shame about Lily. She was such a smart and good girl, and so ready to be a mother." The woman sighed while Harry lowered his eyes. Gran had liked his mom and had known her, and it sounded like she had loved the girl. "I had always wanted a daughter, and your mother knew almost nothing about female witch duties when she came to Hogwarts. When I heard that Severus had made a friend from Gryffindor, and a girl at that, well, I was beside myself. It seemed like history was repeating itself. Before Lily came here, she had never heard of house elves, or housekeeping charms, none of that. When Severus told me she was Muggle-born, I took it upon myself to see to it that she knew how to run a magic household, especially after her parents died. I invited her for the summer and she spent almost every summer, or at least part of the summer, here." Harry looked up at this. His mother had stayed here? Where had her room been? What did she do all summer? He looked over at Snape, who simply nodded.
"What was your favorite subject in school, Harry?" She asked, suddenly turning the conversation in another direction. He debated. He wasn't sure.
"I was good at Defense Against the Dark Arts." He answered.
"Not what I asked. What was your favorite?" Harry thought it over. He really didn't have a favorite class. Everything in school seemed secondary to what he had been through.
"I really didn't have a favorite class, Gran. It changed from year to year." He answered truthfully. She smiled and nodded.
"Multifaceted." She said with a smile. "That's good." She launched into a story about Severus following in his father's footsteps with the potions, but he had also been good a defense, which only caused Harry to raise an eyebrow at his father. When he lowered it, he felt the pain building. He closed his eyes and raised a hand to his head. Snape was at his side in an instant. "What is it, Severus? What's wrong with Harry?" She asked. Snape tilted Harry's head back and poured a potion down his throat.
"Swallow, Harry." He told the boy. Harry did as he was told and accepted another one. The second was Dreamless Sleep. "I'll explain as soon as I take Harry upstairs." He told her. He gathered Harry in his arms and Apparated to the boy's room. He laid Harry down on the bed, removed his robe and shoes and went back down the stairs. He found his mother out in the hallway.
"Is he all right, Severus?" Snape took her arm and guided her back to her chair.
"He's fine, Mother. Sadie did not read you all of your letter. Harry has a spell on him that is painfully wearing off. Lily put it on him when he was born, so that he would look nothing like me and would look like James Potter. Since he is almost twenty-one, the spell is wearing off." He told her, pouring some tea for her and putting it in her hand. "The only reason he is here is that I had to enforce an old law that everyone, even Dumbledore, forgot was on the books." Mrs. Snape's face showed her astonishment. "Lily sent me a letter explaining everything to me. Why she did what she did, why she didn't tell me sooner, why Harry did not know." He stopped and collected himself. He wondered if all parents could easily feel as though they were helpless when it concerned their child.
"He knows that you're his father?" Snape answered her in the affirmative. "Has he accepted it?" Snape shook his head no, forgetting that his mother could not see it.
"No, Mother. He still calls me 'Professor' or 'sir', if he even speaks to me." Snape told her. She sipped at her tea and stared off into space. Her child was hurting and deeply about his own child. She smiled to herself as he realized what she had gone through when he was small. She had told him that all of his feelings would change when he was presented with his own baby. For years, she had thought that impossible, and now Harry.
"So my grandson is the famous Harry Potter?" She asked. She chuckled to herself when she heard Snape's growl.
"Had I known that he was my son, there would have been no reporters anywhere near the boy." She smiled again. "Or adulators. Or Muggles. Or Malfoys." He finished, ticking off the influences he wouldn't have wanted around his child.
"Well, Severus, it seems that you have yourself a son and got to skip all that messy stuff at the beginning and move straight into the 'independent adult' phase that all children go through." Snape heard that statement and sighed.
"I would have given anything to have been there his whole life." Severus told her. She smiled sadly and nodded.
"I understand." She said quietly. "I'll talk to Harry when he wakes up. I want you to make yourself scarce when he does. I could almost feel the glares he directed at you." Snape chuckled.
"He has yet to beat me in a glaring contest." He told his mother. She laughed. "Show an old woman to her bedroom, and then to Harry's. I want to be there when he wakes up." Snape took her arm and led her to her bedroom first, and then to Harry's. He watched as she arranged herself in the chair next to his bed and reached out a hand to his forehead, smoothing back the hair that lay arranged about his head. He smiled, remembering her doing the same thing to him when he had been younger. He doubted his son got much in the way of physical affection from his relatives. She hummed a small tune and played with the boy's hair. Snape turned and left the hallway, going to his private lab to make more pain-relieving potion. He was going to need more.
Trallgorda: Demands, demands, demands. Gee, sis! I thought you loved me. Haha, just kidding. Here's your update.
Twindemonicangels: While Harry does run away (check end of chapter 5), he also sees reason when explained to him. Thanks for reviewing.
Fizzysoda: Glad you like him! Thanks for reviewing.
Emiepatapouf: Harry is only twenty. Snape and Harry do not know how to relate to each other, it's going to take time. Harry is also acting a bit like a child. And please, in my reviews, do not take the Lord's name in vain, I have a tiny problem with that. If you must use swear words (although I don't prefer using them too often), don't mention God in them. Thanks for your review though! I loved getting it.
Ruth: Glad you like my story. Here's the update. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for reviewing.
Parselmouth: Thanks for reviewing. Glad you like it so much. Update is here.
Nicky15: Thanks for reviewing and pointing that out. I would love to hear your ideas on how to correct that. Any suggestions? I want the child to be related to the Weasleys. Any ideas? Here's your update.
The Shadow Bandit: Thank you for such a good review.
Lillinfields: Glad you liked it. The whole glowing thing was Harry's old lightening bolt scar glowing, not Liam himself. The picture showed an image of Liam with the lightening bolt scar glowing on his forehead. In other words, the scar squealed. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for reviewing.
Athenakitty: What is this, 20 questions? Okay, here we go! Yes. Yes, to avoid pain. Which question? Yes, Dumbledore is a shutter bug! Yes, Harry had trouble with dreams and the nightlight soothed him when he woke up. Helped with disorientation after the dreams/visions. Yes, based that off my sister who hates scrambled eggs unless they have cheese. Yes. Yes. Snape, but not really ticked off, just semi-annoyed. Okay, hands hurt from typing! Glad you liked it. Sorry for any confusion.
Enahma: Here you go. Thanks for reviewing!
I think that is everyone, but if I missed anyone, thanks for reviewing! ~Sylvia