Goodnight Souls
Summary: Snape thinks and Harry finds answers and makes a life-altering choice.
Notes: Two chapters in one day to make up for the short chapters.
Severus Snape sat in his chair in his office, nursing a cup of Firewhiskey. He often didn't use strong alcohol, since he was a teacher, but this day made it necessary.
For the first time in a long time, he had the sleeves of his robes pulled up to his elbow and was studying the Dark Mark. He was waiting for his Lord to summon him. He didn't know if his Lord was going through what Harry had gone through.
If he hadn't, it would be bad.
If he had, it would be worse.
The likelihood of each happening was half and half. He didn't know what the Dark Lord would do. Would he declare he had a son who resigned at Hogwarts? Would he be summoned and sworn into an Unbreakable Vow again? Or would he duck low and plan quietly? Severus didn't know.
Or... he could go to his Lord and tell him. He could stop by and tell him of the day.
But that'd be too risky. All he could was secretly confide in Harry or confide in himself. He could not tell a soul.
There was a sudden, yet quiet knock on the door.
"Enter."
The door opened to reveal... Harry? Severus sat up straighter. He guessed that Harry had come to talk to him about all this mess. Severus drew up a chair for Harry and the boy sat in it.
He watched as the boy pulled a neatly folded piece of parchment from the pocket of his robes. He unfolded it and placed it between, upon the desk.
"Sir?" Harry began, "I have some questions..."
"Go on."
"What's a Horcrux?"
Severus sucked in a sharp breath. "Where did you get that information?"
Harry looked sheepish. "Erm - it was on the parchment. 'Horcrux: 90% Blocked by Albus Dumbledore'."
Severus nodded. "Ah. Do you wish to know? It is not pretty."
"Yes, sir."
"A Horcrux is a container for a soul. One would rip apart a piece of their soul by committing murder and placing it into an object." Severus explained. Harry looked very pale by then.
"So," Harry croaked, "I have a piece of Voldemort's soul inside me?" He unconsciously reached up and placed a hand over where his heart would be.
"It seems so."
"How do I get it removed?"
"The host has to be destroyed."
Harry's eyes widened. "I have to die?"
Severus nodded once. "Yes. You will have to die to wish it removed."
Harry thought for a moment. Severus knew he was thinking quite heavily. He didn't know if Harry would chose to die or to chose to keep the soul shard. It would be very unlikely to chose to die, but it was a choice nonetheless.
But...
"You may think on it." Severus interrupted Harry's train of thought. "You do not have to chose now."
"I know. But..." he trailed off.
Severus waited.
Harry looked up and looked at his godfather in the eyes.
"He's my father. I'm the son of Voldemort. I think I'll keep it."
Severus wasn't surprised.