Disclaimer: Don't own it, unfortunately…..

Thanks Mak for being such an awesome beta

Review, you know you want to.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter Nineteen

Truth

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next week was relaxing and Severus was enjoying this vacation away from Hogwarts. If he were there he would no doubt still have a headache and be in an even surlier mood. He was thankful Alex didn't try to force conversation out of him and was content to just sit around and read for a few hours.

However, Alex didn't always keep things quiet. He liked to have his friends come over to "hang out" as the boy said. Whenever his friends did come over Severus retreated to the basement, he certainly didn't want to hear teenage boys talking about pointless things.

In their time at the cabin Severus had become attached to the big brown leather lazy boy recliner. He usually went for wingback chairs that weren't too comfortable to anyone but him, but this chair, was just phenomenal. It was huge and very cushiony. One day he sat in it for five hours straight, not realizing how long it had been. Alex laughed at him and asked if he wanted a cup to pee in so he didn't have to leave the chair. The poor boy had a cup thrown at him for that remark.

It took him a few days to use the foot rest and recline the chair. When he did, Severus was happier than before. He fell asleep in the chair that day and was awoken by a flash. He looked up at Alex and was blinded by a flash coming from a camera. Severus scowled and jumped up from the chair. "What the hell are you doing?"

Alex smiled as he tucked his digital camera into his back pocket. "Just taking a picture, that's all."

"Give me the camera," Severus said sternly.

"Why?" Alex thought it was hilarious to see his professor so angry over a simple picture.

"I demand that picture be burned." Severus was getting angry when the boy didn't lose his smile. He's enjoying this too much, Severus thought.

"I don't understand why," Alex asked innocently.

"I will not have that picture shown about Hogwarts and become a laughing stock," Severus said raising his voice.

Alex simply shrugged his shoulders and replied, "I wasn't planning on showing it around Hogwarts, Professor. It was just a bit of fun."

"Explain how that was fun," he said, folding his arms over his chest.

"You looked like an old man sleeping like that in the lazy boy. I thought it was funny, so I took a picture of you." Alex started to walk away, but turned back toward Severus and added; "Besides I won't show it around. If it's that big of a deal I'll burn the picture like you asked." Alex held back a laugh at that because he knew he would make ten copies of it and burn one just for the Potions Master's sake.

"Yes, you certainly will, Mr. Barneo. I want to witness it as well."

"Alright." Alex walked into his room and started laughing. It was a good thing his professor didn't know how digital cameras worked. If he found out Alex would certainly be in trouble.

XXX

Alex was finally able to drag Severus out of the recliner and into town for a day. They walked around Lake Placid and Alex told him all about the town. Severus watched the boy talk animatedly about it and he smiled briefly as Alex told him a story about a duck that used to chase him around when he was three. He thought the town was nice and quaint and enjoyed that it was low key and homey.

The two split off and went their separate ways for a few hours. Severus combed through the bookstore looking for something good to read. He finally decided on a few fiction books. He did a like a good mystery after all. As he was walking down the street he saw Alex in a hobby shop talking to a man in front of the counter. He had a screwdriver in his hand and looked to be fixing a small model train car. Severus walked in a heard the tail end of the conversation.

"It's good as new sir. It just needed another contact," Alex said as he handed the car back to him.

"Thanks Alex. It will mean a lot to Jim to have his favorite train up and running again," the man replied.

Alex laughed. "It's no problem. I hope he enjoys it."

Alex noticed Severus as the man was leaving the shop. "Hello Professor. Did you have a good time?"

"I did. What have you occupied your time with?" Severus asked as he looked around the store at the different trains on the shelves.

"I come in here every now and then to help Franklin out with his shop. He's a friend of the family and he got me into trains when I was about five."

Severus nodded his head as he picked up a packaged train. "So, these things actually run?"

"Yes. I can show you my set if you like when we get back to the house."

Before Severus could respond, Franklin came into the shop looking a little wind burnt. "Whew! It's chilly out there. So Alex, was there a great rush of sales?"

"I sold a few trains and repaired one. It needed a new contact. Franklin, I'd like you to meet my professor from school."

Franklin looked at the Professor and stuck out his hand. "Ah, so you are the professor Alex was telling me about. It's nice of you to accompany him out here. I'm Franklin Montgomery."

Severus looked at Franklin the moment he walked into the shop. He was an elderly man in his sixties, stocky build, and a full beard. He could have almost passed as Santa Claus had his hair been white instead of grey. Franklin seemed like a decent fellow and Severus shook his hand as he introduced himself. "It's nice to meet you Franklin. Severus Snape."

Alex grabbed his coat and said to Franklin, "Do you mind if I head out? We need to eat."

"Not a problem. Stop by whenever you have time. Have a good evening," Franklin replied as he headed toward the back of the shop.

Severus and Alex walked down the street as the snow wisped around them. They settled on a German restaurant that overlooked the lake. The restaurant was half full but there was a good atmosphere that they both enjoyed. After they had finished their meals the two apparated back to the house and spent the rest of the night reading on the couch.

XXX

The next day after dinner an owl arrived with a package. There was a rather large box with a small envelope attached. It was to Alex, from his mother's lawyer. He gently took the letter from the owl and read the letter.

Alex,

Here is the box I promised to send you over your winter break. I'm sorry it took so long for me to send it but I wasn't sure when you would be arriving. If you ever need any council or would just like to talk to an old friend, you know where to find me.

Sincerely,

James Macanally

Attorney

Alex gulped and looked at the box as if it were a snake ready to strike him. He didn't want to think about the contents of the box. It would change his life and he was not sure if it was a good thing. Alex grabbed the box and put it in his room so he could avoid looking at it until he was ready.

Severus watched as Alex read the letter. He had an idea of who it was from and what was in that box. Alex looked scared as he quickly put it in his room. Severus felt bad for the boy; he had been through a lot in such a short amount of time. He wondered how Alex would take the news when he opened that box. Severus stared out the window and into the sky thinking about the possible outcomes of what lay in that box. If the boy's father was dead Severus could try to become his guardian. If his father was alive, Severus would help him, even if he wasn't very happy about it.

The rest of the day was very silent. Alex stayed out of his room as much as possible and barely said ten words to Severus. When Alex brought him some tea Severus noticed that Alex was trembling slightly. "Sit down, Alex."

He sat down heavily and sighed, looking into his lap. "I know you are worried about the contents of that box, but don't let it worry you too much. Whatever happens will happen and I will help you as best I can."

Alex simply nodded and thanked him. Alex was thankful that his professor would care about him and help him even if it meant they had to search for his father. Part of him wished that his father was dead so he could try and stay with his professor. Thinking that made him feel awful and his eyes started to water.

Severus put an arm awkwardly around him and Alex put his arms around his chest and laid his head on his professor's shoulder. Severus was highly uncomfortable with Alex hugging him. He tried not to say anything that would hurt the boy and settled on something much nicer. "Don't think about it today, Alex, let it sit until tomorrow."

"Alright," Alex replied as he closed his eyes and slowly started to drift away. Tomorrow he would worry about the box.

­­­XXX

Alex sat on his bed gazing at the box that sat on his desk. It had been sitting there for twelve hours and he had looked at it every time he entered the room. He finally got enough nerve and went over to his desk. He picked it up and brought it back to his bed. Sitting cross-legged in the middle of the bed he slowly opened the box. He knew the contents of this box could change his life forever. Did he really want to know who his father was or is? Is it worth it?

Shaking his head he decided he needed to know. Opening the box he grabbed an aged envelope that sat on top of everything. He opened it and found a letter from his mother.

My dearest Sebastian,

If you are reading this I either got up enough nerve to show you this or you got this from the security deposit box upon my death. You will never know how difficult it has been keeping this from you. All those times when you were younger, asking where your Daddy was and if you would ever see a picture of him. I know that I told you he was dead; in a way he was. He was dead to me. He chose a path that could never include us, or so I thought. He made a choice and so did I. I left him and everything behind. Everything from my former life is in this box. I ask two things from you; 1) keep an open mind about what you see or read and 2) give the three journals to the designated people.

Your father was a great man. If he is still alive I'm sure he is still a great man. We met in Italy when we were younger. You can read more about it in my journal. He really was amazing. He was so caring and loving. Our wedding day was beautiful, I couldn't have asked for a better day. The day I told him I was pregnant with you he could not stop smiling or checking up on me.

You were conceived during a war. A dark wizard arose and was threatening the wizarding world. It wasn't looking good and my father asked him to become a spy. He wanted to do it, he was the only one who could, but I fought him every step of the way. I made my decision. I faked our deaths.

I know it was a terrible decision but I had to do it. I could not bring you into this world and know that if the Dark Lord won you would one day be forced to join him. Go and find your father. I know he will welcome you with open arms. It was his greatest wish to have a son and I know he would be proud of you. The next page is your true birth certificate. Good luck my beautiful boy and I hope you find all you want in your life. Please forgive me sweetie, I love you so much.

Love,

Mom

Alex slowly turned the next page over knowing he was about to find out the one thing he had wanted know most of his life.

Birth Certificate

Name: Sebastian Alexander Snape

Date of Birth: January 9, 1980

Birthplace: New York, New York

Mother's name: Aurora Dumbledore Snape

Father's name: Severus Sebastian Snape

Alex stared at his birth certificate for several minutes. He didn't notice the tears that were streaming down his face as he thought of his father. He had been alive all this time and they had lost so much time together. He knew he had grown close to Professor Snape; they had a few conversations about their lives and about their lost loved ones. He fell asleep crying, clutching his birth certificate.

XXX

Severus knew that box had been weighing heavily on Alex's mind since the moment it arrived. He knew he would look in it and find what he needed to know. It was difficult for Severus. He should be happy that the boy would finally know who his father was. Would the man even want him? He would be a fool if he didn't want a boy like Alex. He was a great kid and part of Severus wished that his son would have been like Alex. Hell he wouldn't even mind adopting Alex if he would let him. That wouldn't happen as soon as he looked in that box and found out who his real father is. He sighed and got up from the chair he had been sitting in for twelve hours. Severus wanted to check up on the boy. As he made his way up the stairs he wondered what kind of life he would have had if his wife and child had not died.

Knocking on the door, he got no response. Slowly opening the door, Severus saw Alex with his back toward him, huddled in a fetal position, laying beside the box on his bed. As he approached the boy he saw he was shivering. Leaning over him, looking closer at Alex he saw tear streaked cheeks and a crumpled up piece of paper gripped tightly in his hands. Severus sat down on the bed and lightly shook his shoulder to try and wake him.

Alex slowly awoke to the feeling of someone shaking his shoulder. It took him a moment to realize he was awake and that his professor was his father. Without a reason he started crying again, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to curl up tighter into a ball. Severus knew something was wrong when the boy started crying again and started pulling away from him. Not caring that he was Alex's professor he gathered the boy in his arms holding him and rubbing his back.

"Shhh, it will be alright Alex. We will find your father. I promise." It was breaking his heart to see Alex like this.

Trying to regain his breathing, Alex relaxed his grip on his birth certificate. He silently handed the paper to Severus still crying with his head against Severus' chest. Taking the paper Severus slowly read the piece of paper that had the boy in his arms upset. He almost stopped breathing when he saw his name on the piece of paper under father's name. Was Alex crying because he didn't want Severus as a father? Was it because he was such a horrible person that Alex couldn't see him as more than a professor or spy? He must hate the fact that he has a Death Eater as father. Severus tried to push him away but Alex suddenly tightened his grip around Severus and held on to him for dear life.

"NO! Please don't leave me! I-I can't lose you too!" Alex screamed still crying. "Please…" he pleaded in a weak voice

Severus could barely breathe because of Alex's strong grip. Apparently he was wrong; Alex seemed to want him to stay. He put his arms back around the boy and looked down at his shaking son. His son. He never thought he would ever have his boy in his arms. Closing his eyes he tried to even his breathing, but it didn't work. He was over come with emotion and before he knew it tears were silently streaming down his face. He rocked his son, just holding him, every now and then dropping kisses on the top of his head. Severus leaned back, taking Alex with him, onto the bed to lie down. Eventually, they fell asleep in each others arms.

XXX

Severus awoke a little later. He felt his son's head on his chest breathing evenly. He looked beside him and found the crumpled up birth certificate. Picking it up, he smoothed the piece of paper out and looked at it again. He still couldn't believe it. He had his son. He and his beautiful Aurora had made this amazing boy. Thinking of Aurora gave him a guilty feeling. Severus didn't know whether to be angry or grateful to Aurora. Angry because she faked her own death and made him believe her and their son had died or grateful because she had enough insight to save their son from the same fate as his father.

He smiled thinking about the looks on Albus and Minerva's face when they realize they've had their grandson with them for the past six months and didn't have a clue. Knowing them they would fawn over him and spoil him rotten. He deserves that and so much more he thought to himself. Depending on how their first real conversation went as father and son he would try his hardest to give his boy all he needed and wanted.

"Sebastian." Severus whispered while rubbing his back. "You need to get up."

"Mmhhhh," came the muffled reply.

"Come on. Get up. I'm hungry and you must be as well."

Alex slowly came into consciousness listening to his father telling him they needed to eat. He unwrapped his arms from around his father and pushed himself up on his elbows. Turning onto his back he scrubbed his face with his hands trying to wake up and wipe his tear stained cheeks clean. They both stood up on opposite sides of the bed and looked at the box still in the center of the bed. Alex looked up at Severus after a few moments.

"Bring it to the kitchen. We can look through it after we eat," Severus said as he walked out of the room.

"Ok." Alex said as he grabbed the box.

XXX

Alex and Severus sat down at the table after preparing dinner. They talked about what would happen next for them.

"Are you going to tell Voldemort I'm your son?"

"No. I don't think that would be a good idea. He would make you join and I don't want you to have to go through that."

"So when we get back to school we have to act like usual?"

"Unfortunately, yes, but we could always decide we need more time for research." Severus said smirking.

Alex smiled, "I think that's fine. What about the summer?" All he could do was think of more questions he needed to ask his father.

"I think we should avoid my home for the summer. Maybe we could come back here: if you would like to." Severus was slightly nervous having this conversation with his son. He didn't want to ruin it.

"I would love to. The Death Eaters don't know about this house so I'm sure we will be safe here."

Severus looked down at his food before replying, "I might have to leave every now and then to attend meetings."

"I know. Maybe….the Head-no….uh….my grandparents could come and visit sometime," he asked hopefully.

"I'm sure they would love that," Severus said with a slight smirk. "Speaking of which, we will need to tell them sooner rather than later. When they find out I'm sure they will be here as fast as they can apparate."

Laughing, Alex said "It will be nice to have a decent Christmas after everything that's already happened this year."

"I am looking forward to spending my first Christmas with my son." Severus said giving a small smile to his son. It seemed that he couldn't stop when he started talking to him.

"Well I guess we should maybe floo them or ask them to come tonight so we can tell them."

"We will tell them in person tonight. We can floo them later and ask them to come over. I think we should look through that box before they come."

"Sounds good."

XXX

They settled onto the couch with the box on the coffee table. Alex grabbed a set of journals bound together with a ribbon. On each of the journals there was a name. There was one to Severus Snape, another to Dad, and the last to Mum.

"I guess that these are the journals she wanted me to give you guys." Severus gently took the journals from Alex and set them aside.

"We will deal with those later."

"Ok." Alex said as he grabbed a large scrapbook from the box. Flipping it open he found his mother's birth certificate and her first baby picture. The whole album was full of pictures of her growing up. There was Aurora smiling when her first tooth fell out, riding a bike and her learning to play chess with her father. There were pictures of her at school, on family vacations, pictures from Christmas, and birthdays.

The next smaller photo album was all of her and Severus before they were married. There was every single letter Severus had ever written her while they were in school. The pictures showed the two in Rome the day after they met. More pictures of them together during the summers. The last picture in the album was of them when they were seventeen years old. They had there arms around each other and they were gazing into each others eyes, sometimes smiling, laughing, or kissing. Alex closed that scrapbook letting a tear fall down his cheek. Severus drew him into a hug and kissed the top of his head. Releasing him he said, "Here let's try this one." Grabbing another scrapbook, "this looks like our wedding album."

Looking through the wedding album was difficult for Severus. He was reliving that day over again and it took all he had not to break down. It seemed that having Alex in his life was crumbling the wall he had built up. Alex knew his father was having a difficult time with this one. Halfway through the album Alex took his father's hand in his own and gave it a light squeeze. When Severus felt Alex squeeze his hand he gave in and let the tears fall. Severus told him all about that day and what happened during each picture and how much he loved Aurora.

XXX

After going through the entire box of pictures and memento's Severus fire called the Headmaster. He asked Albus and Minerva to come over as soon as possible. Alex had just finished packing the box back up when Albus and Minerva arrived via the floo. Alex just looked at them while Severus went over to greet them. From the moment they saw the two they knew something was wrong.

"Severus, what is it you needed to discuss with us?" Minerva asked eyeing them both.

"Uh, well, I'm not sure how to put it exactly….."Severus stumbled with his words. He thought he knew how to break it to them but when the time came he just couldn't get the words out.

"How about you start from the beginning." Albus said while sitting in an armchair.

Alex picked up the birth certificate and handed it to the headmaster saying "I guess this is the beginning, sir." He plopped down onto the couch and stared at his hands. Minerva leaned over Albus as they read the birth certificate. Severus stood watching them both as they found out the truth. He looked over at Alex who seemed very tense and sat next to him and ran a hand through his hair. He looked at Severus and smiled weakly relaxing slightly. Finally, Albus and Minerva looked up from the birth certificate and looked straight at Alex. They both had smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes.

Alex got up and stood in front of them. Albus pulled him into his arms and Minerva put her arms around both of them. Alex sank into his grandfather's arms and let out a big sigh of relief. He finally had a father and grandparents, but at the cost of his mother's life. Albus released his grandson and cupped Alex's face with his hands.

"I'm so glad to have you back, my boy." He dropped his hands and Minerva brought him into her arms. She kissed his head and let go of him smiling.

"I can't believe you've been with us this whole time and we didn't notice." She said pulling him into another hug.

After settling down and talking about plans for Christmas, Alex fell asleep with his head on his father's shoulder. Albus and Minerva excused themselves after a while, telling Severus they would see him in a few days on Christmas Eve. He nodded goodbye to them, picked Alex up and settled him into bed.