A/N: I'm sorry that it took so long for an update. Real Life took out a
contract for my life and I had to go into hiding. I really meant to update
before this. This isn't as long as the others, but I figured that you all
would want an update ASAP. Hope you enjoy! ~Sylvia
Snape looked his son over as the boy came in. He looked slightly different, as though he had changed again. Not physically, though. Mentally, perhaps? He wondered what it could mean? He shook his head mentally. Changes just did not happen in the space of a twenty minute walk, did they? He thought back through his life to see if he had made any life changing decisions or come to any conclusion in that space of time. He could come to one. The day he had gone to Albus Dumbledore and showed him what he had done. The day that he had decided that Lily did not deserve anyone like him, and that she would be better off with someone else. The day that he had turned spy and had given up his family. He had taken a walk along the cliffs on the other side of the land, contemplating dark tendencies with their height. He had rubbed his left arm until it was raw. He had cried. And he thought about his dead father, murdered by the master that he had willingly served, and his mother, who had gained blindness through torture. She had not blamed him for toture. She had blamed him for giving in and joining, accepting the mark on his arm. He broke his thoughts in time to see his son drop a light kiss on his grandmother's head. Snape smiled a bit. Harry had accepted his grandmother. Perhaps there was hope.
Harry listened to the two adults in the room make conversation, rehashing old family memories with each other. Harry just wanted to listen. They weren't asking any questions, and he really enjoyed hearing embarrassing stories of Severus's childhood. He took only one potion the whole evening and had ended up curled up in front of the fireplace, a pillow beneath his head, while staring at the ceiling and listening to his grandmother and father speak of Severus's experiences while at Hogwarts. Some of them he laughed at, while others he ignored. There was a strange feeling in his chest, one that he couldn't quite figure out. He stood and excused himself, wanting to walk around the house. Severus told him that if he became lost, all he need do was call and someone would find him. Harry had nodded and started off, wandering aimlessly until he heard a voice say his name. He turned and looked up. Snape's father.
"What is the Gryffindor doing wandering around?" he asked, motioning towards a seat near the portrait.
"Thinking." Harry answered. The man motioned for him to go on. "About my new family. I never had one, not a real one, before, and now I'm finding it just a bit odd." The man sneered a little.
"You've always had one, you just didn't know it. How are you and your father getting along?" Harry shrugged.
"Not really. We're not hexing each other." He answered. The man smirked. "We don't have much of a relationship." The man smirked a bit, reminding Harry of Severus.
"Well, not hexing each other is a step in the right direction." The portrait said sarcastically. Harry only raised an eyebrow at his grandfather. "Tell me what is really the matter. You're just like Severus. I can tell that you're brooding about something." Harry looked up, surprised and a little offended. The man smirked again and motioned for Harry to talk.
"Does he really want me?" Harry asked rhetorically. To say that the portrait was surprised would have been an underestimate of human emotion. His eyes had widened and he had gone pale.
"You really don't know your father well, do you?" Harry sighed and shook his head. "Let me put your fears to rest on that question. He does. Possibly more than anything he has ever wanted in his life. When he found out, he came down and shared the news with us down here right away. He had even left Hogwarts to do so. I had never seen him so happy." Harry pulled his legs up to his chest and perched on the chair, thinking about what had been said. "I don't think that I've ever seen such an insecure young man before." Severus Sr. observed. Harry glared up at him. The man shrugged. "You are, you know." He told Harry. Harry shrugged.
"I guess killing someone does that to me." Harry mumbled. He had thought that his grandfather hadn't heard, but he did.
"Ever the noble Gryffindor?" He asked. He stood and came forward. "Let me tell you something, Harry. Killing is rough on anyone, but you can't let it rule you." The other portraits around nodded. "You were Harry Potter, you did what you had to do, and you survived it, more or less in one piece. Now, you are here with your father and your grandmother, two people I am sure whom will always accept you no matter what you do, where you go, or what you say." The man sighed. "I was never very good at this, but you have a new life waiting for you. I suggest you move on." With those words, he turned away and looked as though he was finished speaking. "He loves you, Harry. Just give him a chance." He said as Harry had stood up from the chair. Harry looked at the portrait of his grandfather for just a few seconds, and then smiled up at it.
"Thank you, Grandfather." He turned and went back to the sitting room, where Severus and Gran were in deep conversation about the joys of summertime. Harry smiled to hear Severus say that he liked to walk in the garden at sunset. He settled down back in his spot in front of the fireplace and sighed. Warmth. He let the voice of his father wash over him, listened to the sweet tones of his grandmother. He almost let himself become sad, knowing what he had missed out on, but was happy to have them now. Even if he could only call his father Severus.
Harry rolled over and opened his eyes. What had caused him to wake up? He went over to the window and looked out, wondering how early it was. Why were there no Muggle clocks around? That was one of the few things he missed, Muggle technology. Thanks to the wards around the manor, not even his Muggle wristwatch worked. He saw some fog hanging around the edges of the house. He figured it was early. Harry jumped when he saw Severus come riding into view on a black horse. Severus had his hair tied back into a low ponytail underneath the helmet he wore. Harry figured that the clothes he was wearing was a riding habit of some sort, though it reminded him of the clothes worn by nineteenth century gentlemen. His father also had some of those high riding boots and gloves that he recognized from Muggle magazines. He watched until Severus was out of sight. He wanted to do that!
"Good morning, Master Harry!" Harry turned around and saw Luck y standing there.
"Good morning, Lucky." Harry returned. "How are you?" Lucky chuckled.
"I am fine, Master Harry. Lucky was wondering if you would like something special for breakfast?" Harry shook his head no.
"The usual is fine, Lucky. Thank you." Lucky smiled and went to the closet. He started pawing through the clothes hanging there. "What are you doing, Lucky?" Harry asked.
"Choosing an outfit." Lucky said.
"I hope that is for you." Harry said. Lucky pulled his head out of the closet long enough to glare at Harry.
"Of course not, Master Harry. You just can't choose a decent one for yourself, so Lucky must do it." Harry chuckled as the house elf was making work for himself. Lucky discarded several shirts before he decided on a deep green one. A pair of slacks and a robe later, Lucky pronounced himself satisfied with how Harry would look. "Breakfast in half an hour, Master Harry." With that announcement, he disappeared. Harry shook his head and took a quick shower before pulling on the clothes that Lucky had picked out. Why upset the house elf who prepared your food?
Harry left his room and went down the stairs. He reached the bottom just as his father came in the front doors. "Good morning, Severus." He said. The man stopped and smiled a bit.
"Good morning, Harry." He answered. "How did you sleep?" Harry smiled at him.
"All right. Were you out riding?" Severus nodded.
"Yes, I was. I enjoy early morning rides." Harry hated the awkward feeling that this conversation had. He nodded and turned to the dining room. "If you would ever care to join me, I would be happy to have you." Harry nodded again and smiled.
"I just might some day." He told the man. "See you at breakfast." Harry said as he opened the doors. Severus nodded and started up the stairs.
"Master Severus! Mud on my floors!" Harry heard Lucky scold. He turned around in time to see his father actually look embarrassed about being caught tracking mud through the house. A bucket and sponge appeared next to the house elf. He immediately started grumbling to himself about careless wizards. Harry laughed at the scene of Severus standing on the stairs while an irate house elf followed him, scrubbing off the mud. The image was still fresh in his mind when he went into the dining room and greeted Gran, who was quietly sipping at her tea.
"Harry, did I hear you say that you might join your father in riding?" She asked with a slight mischevious grin.
"You did, Gran. I'm not sure about it yet. I have a limp and I'm not sure whether or not my leg will be strong enough for it." Gran only smiled and turned back to her breakfast. The Daily Prophet owl came in and dropped the paper next to Severus's place. Harry reached over and snatched it from its resting place. Time to find out what was going on in the wizarding world. He started reading one article and actually cheered when he read the name of the Minister of Magic.
"Good heavens, Harry, what is it?" Gran asked, startled by Harry's cheer.
"Arthur Weasly is the Minister of Magic!" He told her happily. Gran chuckled.
"Know him, do you?" She asked. At Harry's answer she smiled. "That's true, Harry. Has been for the last three years, soon after Fudge was kicked out of office for incompetence." She told him. Harry sat back and grinned. It was about time. It was about time that someone saw the complete idiot for what he was and kicked him out. He just wondered how much had changed since he had left the world four years ago. He startled from his thoughts as his father walked in, now looking like a wizard instead of a gentleman. That thought made Harry wonder what Snape liked to do in his free time besides riding.
"Harry, did you have any plans for today?" Severus asked as he sat down. Harry quirked an eyebrow at his father. Really, the man had asked that question as though he thought Harry had some sort of occupation at the house.
"Um, no." He answered flatly.
"Ah, good." Severus said. "I thought that I would take you into London today to the mediwizard's office to have your injuries looked at, to see if anything could be done for them." Severus told him before starting in on his breakfast. Harry froze for a second.
"And what are you going to tell the doctor about how I received such injuries?" Harry asked a little sarcastically. He had had a lot of practice in the last four years on building stories, and he knew exactly how much trouble he could get in with a story that was full of holes.
"You were in the war. Second opinion." Severus said as he eyed the paper that Harry was still holding. "That's mine." He told Harry.
"Oh, I was just catching up on the stuff I've missed since I've been away." Harry told him lightly, burying himself in the paper. Severus growled slightly before turning to his mother and making some comment about children in general. Harry grinned from behind the paper, smoothing each sheet out before folding it and replacing it at his father's side. Severus did not notice it right away, but tucked it under his arm as he and Harry readied themselves for their trip into London.
"What do you think I'm going to do while you are being examined?" Severus asked. Harry grinned and shrugged, dropping a kiss of farewell onto Gran's head. "We'll be back soon, Mother." Severus told her while she hugged Harry to her. "All right, Severus. Good luck, Harry." She told him. Harry thanked her and followed Severus into the fireplace where they Flooed to the mediwizard's office.
Reviews:
Chapter 7 Trallgorda: Picky, picky, picky, sis! Thanks.
?: Thanks for the wonderful review and picture. It was very funny. Snape holding yarn! Here's your update. Sorry it took so long.
Mistik-elf13: Thanks for the compliment. What does "ic" mean? I couldn't quite decipher it.
Enahma: Definitely post, considering that Harry is twenty-one and Sirius is dead. Thanks for reviewing.
Athenakitty: Yes. Yes. Yes. Thanks for reviewing.
Chapter 6 Trallgorda: Yes, he remembered. Thanks. I try!
Mistik-elf13: *gasp* What a compliment! Thanks. Athenakitty: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thanks for reviewing!
Xikum: Awesome review. About Harry's other grandparents: Do we ever really hear of them on the Evans side? No. Harry is very insecure right now about everything. He has been uprooted against his will. Just wait and see. There'll be more explanation in the story soon.
Enahma: Thanks!
Kateri1: Thank you. Gran is based on my own grandmother, who has that sort of quiet wisdom I was trying to bring across in Gran.
Kaelindarkstar: Thanks for the great review.
Snape looked his son over as the boy came in. He looked slightly different, as though he had changed again. Not physically, though. Mentally, perhaps? He wondered what it could mean? He shook his head mentally. Changes just did not happen in the space of a twenty minute walk, did they? He thought back through his life to see if he had made any life changing decisions or come to any conclusion in that space of time. He could come to one. The day he had gone to Albus Dumbledore and showed him what he had done. The day that he had decided that Lily did not deserve anyone like him, and that she would be better off with someone else. The day that he had turned spy and had given up his family. He had taken a walk along the cliffs on the other side of the land, contemplating dark tendencies with their height. He had rubbed his left arm until it was raw. He had cried. And he thought about his dead father, murdered by the master that he had willingly served, and his mother, who had gained blindness through torture. She had not blamed him for toture. She had blamed him for giving in and joining, accepting the mark on his arm. He broke his thoughts in time to see his son drop a light kiss on his grandmother's head. Snape smiled a bit. Harry had accepted his grandmother. Perhaps there was hope.
Harry listened to the two adults in the room make conversation, rehashing old family memories with each other. Harry just wanted to listen. They weren't asking any questions, and he really enjoyed hearing embarrassing stories of Severus's childhood. He took only one potion the whole evening and had ended up curled up in front of the fireplace, a pillow beneath his head, while staring at the ceiling and listening to his grandmother and father speak of Severus's experiences while at Hogwarts. Some of them he laughed at, while others he ignored. There was a strange feeling in his chest, one that he couldn't quite figure out. He stood and excused himself, wanting to walk around the house. Severus told him that if he became lost, all he need do was call and someone would find him. Harry had nodded and started off, wandering aimlessly until he heard a voice say his name. He turned and looked up. Snape's father.
"What is the Gryffindor doing wandering around?" he asked, motioning towards a seat near the portrait.
"Thinking." Harry answered. The man motioned for him to go on. "About my new family. I never had one, not a real one, before, and now I'm finding it just a bit odd." The man sneered a little.
"You've always had one, you just didn't know it. How are you and your father getting along?" Harry shrugged.
"Not really. We're not hexing each other." He answered. The man smirked. "We don't have much of a relationship." The man smirked a bit, reminding Harry of Severus.
"Well, not hexing each other is a step in the right direction." The portrait said sarcastically. Harry only raised an eyebrow at his grandfather. "Tell me what is really the matter. You're just like Severus. I can tell that you're brooding about something." Harry looked up, surprised and a little offended. The man smirked again and motioned for Harry to talk.
"Does he really want me?" Harry asked rhetorically. To say that the portrait was surprised would have been an underestimate of human emotion. His eyes had widened and he had gone pale.
"You really don't know your father well, do you?" Harry sighed and shook his head. "Let me put your fears to rest on that question. He does. Possibly more than anything he has ever wanted in his life. When he found out, he came down and shared the news with us down here right away. He had even left Hogwarts to do so. I had never seen him so happy." Harry pulled his legs up to his chest and perched on the chair, thinking about what had been said. "I don't think that I've ever seen such an insecure young man before." Severus Sr. observed. Harry glared up at him. The man shrugged. "You are, you know." He told Harry. Harry shrugged.
"I guess killing someone does that to me." Harry mumbled. He had thought that his grandfather hadn't heard, but he did.
"Ever the noble Gryffindor?" He asked. He stood and came forward. "Let me tell you something, Harry. Killing is rough on anyone, but you can't let it rule you." The other portraits around nodded. "You were Harry Potter, you did what you had to do, and you survived it, more or less in one piece. Now, you are here with your father and your grandmother, two people I am sure whom will always accept you no matter what you do, where you go, or what you say." The man sighed. "I was never very good at this, but you have a new life waiting for you. I suggest you move on." With those words, he turned away and looked as though he was finished speaking. "He loves you, Harry. Just give him a chance." He said as Harry had stood up from the chair. Harry looked at the portrait of his grandfather for just a few seconds, and then smiled up at it.
"Thank you, Grandfather." He turned and went back to the sitting room, where Severus and Gran were in deep conversation about the joys of summertime. Harry smiled to hear Severus say that he liked to walk in the garden at sunset. He settled down back in his spot in front of the fireplace and sighed. Warmth. He let the voice of his father wash over him, listened to the sweet tones of his grandmother. He almost let himself become sad, knowing what he had missed out on, but was happy to have them now. Even if he could only call his father Severus.
Harry rolled over and opened his eyes. What had caused him to wake up? He went over to the window and looked out, wondering how early it was. Why were there no Muggle clocks around? That was one of the few things he missed, Muggle technology. Thanks to the wards around the manor, not even his Muggle wristwatch worked. He saw some fog hanging around the edges of the house. He figured it was early. Harry jumped when he saw Severus come riding into view on a black horse. Severus had his hair tied back into a low ponytail underneath the helmet he wore. Harry figured that the clothes he was wearing was a riding habit of some sort, though it reminded him of the clothes worn by nineteenth century gentlemen. His father also had some of those high riding boots and gloves that he recognized from Muggle magazines. He watched until Severus was out of sight. He wanted to do that!
"Good morning, Master Harry!" Harry turned around and saw Luck y standing there.
"Good morning, Lucky." Harry returned. "How are you?" Lucky chuckled.
"I am fine, Master Harry. Lucky was wondering if you would like something special for breakfast?" Harry shook his head no.
"The usual is fine, Lucky. Thank you." Lucky smiled and went to the closet. He started pawing through the clothes hanging there. "What are you doing, Lucky?" Harry asked.
"Choosing an outfit." Lucky said.
"I hope that is for you." Harry said. Lucky pulled his head out of the closet long enough to glare at Harry.
"Of course not, Master Harry. You just can't choose a decent one for yourself, so Lucky must do it." Harry chuckled as the house elf was making work for himself. Lucky discarded several shirts before he decided on a deep green one. A pair of slacks and a robe later, Lucky pronounced himself satisfied with how Harry would look. "Breakfast in half an hour, Master Harry." With that announcement, he disappeared. Harry shook his head and took a quick shower before pulling on the clothes that Lucky had picked out. Why upset the house elf who prepared your food?
Harry left his room and went down the stairs. He reached the bottom just as his father came in the front doors. "Good morning, Severus." He said. The man stopped and smiled a bit.
"Good morning, Harry." He answered. "How did you sleep?" Harry smiled at him.
"All right. Were you out riding?" Severus nodded.
"Yes, I was. I enjoy early morning rides." Harry hated the awkward feeling that this conversation had. He nodded and turned to the dining room. "If you would ever care to join me, I would be happy to have you." Harry nodded again and smiled.
"I just might some day." He told the man. "See you at breakfast." Harry said as he opened the doors. Severus nodded and started up the stairs.
"Master Severus! Mud on my floors!" Harry heard Lucky scold. He turned around in time to see his father actually look embarrassed about being caught tracking mud through the house. A bucket and sponge appeared next to the house elf. He immediately started grumbling to himself about careless wizards. Harry laughed at the scene of Severus standing on the stairs while an irate house elf followed him, scrubbing off the mud. The image was still fresh in his mind when he went into the dining room and greeted Gran, who was quietly sipping at her tea.
"Harry, did I hear you say that you might join your father in riding?" She asked with a slight mischevious grin.
"You did, Gran. I'm not sure about it yet. I have a limp and I'm not sure whether or not my leg will be strong enough for it." Gran only smiled and turned back to her breakfast. The Daily Prophet owl came in and dropped the paper next to Severus's place. Harry reached over and snatched it from its resting place. Time to find out what was going on in the wizarding world. He started reading one article and actually cheered when he read the name of the Minister of Magic.
"Good heavens, Harry, what is it?" Gran asked, startled by Harry's cheer.
"Arthur Weasly is the Minister of Magic!" He told her happily. Gran chuckled.
"Know him, do you?" She asked. At Harry's answer she smiled. "That's true, Harry. Has been for the last three years, soon after Fudge was kicked out of office for incompetence." She told him. Harry sat back and grinned. It was about time. It was about time that someone saw the complete idiot for what he was and kicked him out. He just wondered how much had changed since he had left the world four years ago. He startled from his thoughts as his father walked in, now looking like a wizard instead of a gentleman. That thought made Harry wonder what Snape liked to do in his free time besides riding.
"Harry, did you have any plans for today?" Severus asked as he sat down. Harry quirked an eyebrow at his father. Really, the man had asked that question as though he thought Harry had some sort of occupation at the house.
"Um, no." He answered flatly.
"Ah, good." Severus said. "I thought that I would take you into London today to the mediwizard's office to have your injuries looked at, to see if anything could be done for them." Severus told him before starting in on his breakfast. Harry froze for a second.
"And what are you going to tell the doctor about how I received such injuries?" Harry asked a little sarcastically. He had had a lot of practice in the last four years on building stories, and he knew exactly how much trouble he could get in with a story that was full of holes.
"You were in the war. Second opinion." Severus said as he eyed the paper that Harry was still holding. "That's mine." He told Harry.
"Oh, I was just catching up on the stuff I've missed since I've been away." Harry told him lightly, burying himself in the paper. Severus growled slightly before turning to his mother and making some comment about children in general. Harry grinned from behind the paper, smoothing each sheet out before folding it and replacing it at his father's side. Severus did not notice it right away, but tucked it under his arm as he and Harry readied themselves for their trip into London.
"What do you think I'm going to do while you are being examined?" Severus asked. Harry grinned and shrugged, dropping a kiss of farewell onto Gran's head. "We'll be back soon, Mother." Severus told her while she hugged Harry to her. "All right, Severus. Good luck, Harry." She told him. Harry thanked her and followed Severus into the fireplace where they Flooed to the mediwizard's office.
Reviews:
Chapter 7 Trallgorda: Picky, picky, picky, sis! Thanks.
?: Thanks for the wonderful review and picture. It was very funny. Snape holding yarn! Here's your update. Sorry it took so long.
Mistik-elf13: Thanks for the compliment. What does "ic" mean? I couldn't quite decipher it.
Enahma: Definitely post, considering that Harry is twenty-one and Sirius is dead. Thanks for reviewing.
Athenakitty: Yes. Yes. Yes. Thanks for reviewing.
Chapter 6 Trallgorda: Yes, he remembered. Thanks. I try!
Mistik-elf13: *gasp* What a compliment! Thanks. Athenakitty: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thanks for reviewing!
Xikum: Awesome review. About Harry's other grandparents: Do we ever really hear of them on the Evans side? No. Harry is very insecure right now about everything. He has been uprooted against his will. Just wait and see. There'll be more explanation in the story soon.
Enahma: Thanks!
Kateri1: Thank you. Gran is based on my own grandmother, who has that sort of quiet wisdom I was trying to bring across in Gran.
Kaelindarkstar: Thanks for the great review.