Third Times a Son

by Lovetoreadseverusdotcom

Harry was cursed in the final battle with a slow killing curse. He attempts to befriend Snape, who his father but does not know it, and it doesn't go as planned and he never gets the chance to tell him until the reading of his Will. How will this new knowledge change Snape? How will it change Harry even though it is too late. Will they ever have a relationship? Rated T for now.

1. Chapter 1

AN: This story has been on my computer for a bit. I wrote several chapters, but then the bug to write Matters hit me. I hope you like it.

Please review at the end, I would really like to know what you think.

Thanks.

Harry Potter is not mine.

Third Times a Son

Chapter 1

Harry coughed into his napkin violently, drawing the attention of Minerva. He glanced at her sideways then back at his napkin. Shit it was red, not good.

Looking back to the Headmistress he whispered, "Minerva," shifting his eyes downward to the napkin. At the same time, they both stood, the headmistress helping Harry away from the table. Keeping the napkin on his mouth, Harry allowed himself to be ushered towards the back door.

"Is everything all right?" Pamona asked as she slipped out the door as well and looked between Harry and the Headmistress.

"Everything is fine, keep eating everyone. I will return after I settle Mister Potter here."

On the way to the Infirmary she watches Harry with concern in her eyes. "Have you told him?"

"No"

"Harry, why ever not!? You've had plenty of time to talk to him."

"Minerva, it's complicated. He does not like me. I've tried but he just doesn't want anything to do with me."

"Harry..." she said with so much sadness, Harry actually had to stop walking and turned to address her. He looked down at the blood stained napkin before pinning her with his eyes.

"Minerva, I love that you care so much for me. Besides Ron and Hermione, I consider you family. I only told you the truth, so you would understand why taking the professors position was so important to me. I have tried with all my heart to befriend him to have some sort of congenial relationship with him and he refuses. I don't hate him for that, please know that I understand his feelings better than you could ever imagine. I'm the 'son' of his tormentor for years and the son of the woman he loved but didn't get to keep. He's had to do so much for me, making his life not his own. Now that the war is over, he is finally free. Do you understand? I remind him of his past, of a time when his life was not his own, of the man who made his school years a living hell. I don't hate him, Minerva, I understand him. And we will not be telling him any of this, do you understand. Tell him nothing." his large green eyes boring into old ones until he could see the resignation in them.

She nodded, but the sadness was there in her expression. "As you wish Harry. I just wish this was ending differently." she said sadly.

"Me too." He said, and they began walking again.

Once inside the infirmary, Minerva guided him to the closest bed "Poppy!" Helping Harry onto a bed, she turned just as the Mediwitch came into view.

"Headmistress?"

"Please inform Healer Cabot at St. Mungo's that Mister Potter is in need of him immediately."

"Oh Merlin! Certainly, right away!" Seeing Harry with a blood on his chin and a red soaked napkin in his grasp, she turned abruptly to her office to floo the healer. When Harry first came back to the school, he came to her and told her all about his illness. He needed her to know in case anything happened and he was in need of medical treatment. Needless to say, she was upset but she promised to be there if he ever needed her. So, in his second week at the school, Harry introduced her to his Healer. He's a nice fella and seems to understand this illness and what it's doing to Harry, but still, she felt like she was missing something, like Harry wasn't telling her everything.

She returned to Harry's side with Healer Cabot in tow a few minutes later. The Healer immediately started his scans, worry evident on his face even though he tried not to show it.

"How long have you been having nose bleeds, Harry?"

Wincing at the tone of the question and knowing how he will react to the answer, Harry resigned himself to his fate. "A week, maybe two, but they have been small nose bleeds. Hardly anything to get worked up about." He added along with a shrug.

"Harry!" this coming from Poppy, "You know better than that! You should have come to see me after the first one! There…."

Healer Cabot took hold of Harry's face with one hand and with his wand in the other started chanting a complex healing charm. This got the attention of the mediwitch and she stopped her speech to question the Healer, but before she could even ask why he was using a complex healing charm and not episkey he stopped her with his next sentence.

"Can we be alone please?" He left no room for argument, his voice firm and professional.

"Yes, of course. We'll be right inside Poppy's office." The two ladies left quietly, closing the office door behind them.

When the door closed, Healer Cabot stood there and watched Harry for a few minutes. The silence was enough to put Harry on edge for the conversation that was sure to come. "Harry." The tone full of concern and disappointment.

"I know. I know. Please don't say it." Sighing and sliding back onto the bed to rest against the headboard and stretch out his legs. He closed his eyes not wanting to see the disappointment on his friends face.

"Well someone has to." Grabbing the chair and scooting closer to the bed, Healer Cabot pinched his nose before speaking again.

"What's your status with…"

"Stop." Holding up a hand before the Healer could say another word, Harry took out his wand and muttered "Muffliato. This is really not the place for this conversation, but I see you're going to have it anyway. So, let's have it so I can get back to my rooms. I have several essays to grade before tomorrow." He knew that was a lame excuse, but this topic is not one he enjoys having. With the Headmistress it's one thing, she doesn't know the whole truth, but Cabot knows everything, and the truth is worse than anyone would believe. "Liam, I know what you're going to say, and the answer is 'no'." Breathing deeply and running both hands through his messy black hair, "I'm trying to get closer to the man! But he's so damn stubborn. The thing is, Liam, is that I totally get him. I understand why he is the way he is and because I know in my heart that our relationship will never be anything more than it is right now, I'm going to leave it be."

"Harry, are you sure? Don't you think if he knew the truth he would change his feelings toward you? Having family around at a time like this can help you a great deal when the going gets tough."

"I have Ron and Hermione and I'll have the Weasley family once I tell them."

"And when will that be?"

Fidgeting on the bed, Harry played with his shirt hem "Now, I guess would be as good a time as any."

"Damn straight 'now' is a good time. Harry you're really sick. This curse has progressed into the final stages and it won't be long before you won't be able to take care of yourself or express yourself to others. Now is the time for you to start tying up those loose ends and preparing your loved ones for what's to come next."

"I know that's what was happening. I was hoping if I ignored the signs that it would postpone the curse and I would have more time."

"Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. You really should think about telling him, he's your father. You don't have to mention the other part, although why you wouldn't, I don't understand. It would save your life. But that's not my decision to make and I have to honor and abide by your choices either way." He stood and placed his hand on Harry's making the raven haired man look up, "I'll support you in whatever you decide."

Teary eyed and unable to speak clearly, Harry just nodded and smiled at the man.

The Healer smiled back and stepped away. "I'll let the Headmistress know that you're to be on bed rest for the rest of the week and if you get one more nose bleed you're to floo me immediately. Harry, please take care of yourself. No more flying and no more rough housing. At this point, your body is weaker than you think, and it won't be able to handle the normal things a healthy body can. Do you understand? I don't want to have to confine you to a bed at St. Mungo's."

Hearing that, Harry's eye got round, and he threw his legs over the side of the bed. "No way am I going to St. Mungo's!"

"Then listen to what I say and rest the rest of this week. No classes, Harry. Just rest. I'll be back the same time next week to check up on you and we'll go from there. Okay?"

"I guess I don't have much of a choice." The look Healer Cabot gave him made him rethink his answer. "I promise! I'll rest and be careful. I will take better care of myself, it's just hard that's all."

"I know. See you next week."

"Bye." Harry said as he sat back onto the bed and waited for Poppy and the Headmistress. Bloody hell, bed rest. Maybe it's time to leave Hogwarts and really take care of myself. Spend what time I have left with Ron, Hermione and the Weasley's. Snape isn't going to suddenly be my friend or even a polite acquaintance, so why bother staying. I tried my best, no one can say that I didn't.

Thinking back over that last few months, since the start of term, Harry remembers how he tried to be a colleague along side Snape. It wasn't easy to approach the man, but he's not a Gryffindor for nothing. The first time he approached Snape raved at him for minutes on end about how incompetent he is and how he doesn't understand how Minerva could hire someone like him. The next time Harry approached him, he apologized for the pensieve incident and all the other stupid things he did while a student at Hogwarts. That didn't go over too well either. Snape all but chewed his head off about boundaries and compared him to his father for the umpteenth time.

After that, Harry kept his interactions to 'Good mornings,' school related topics, and 'Good evenings." He figured he could win some respect from the older man if he showed more respect toward him. It seemed that after a while it was working, Snape conversed politely with him on school matters and returned his greetings when Harry greeted him. Snape never went out of his way to talk to Harry nor did he start any conversations that they might have had. In fact, the Professor went out of his way to avoid being around the young man and Harry would have to refer to the Marauders Map to find him most of the time. So, on Halloween, Harry found himself in the Astronomy Tower thinking about the past and his future, when Snape entered and went to the far rail, he couldn't resist the urge to try again.

"Professor Snape."

"Potter."

"It's a clear night out tonight. Good for watching the stars."

"Indeed... Potter, I didn't come up here to chit chat with the likes of you. If you have something you wish to say or ask me then do it now and leave."

Bristling from the retort, Harry took a deep breath to calm his temper. At this point he's beginning to think the effort is not worth the aggravation but for his own conscious he needs to try at least one more time.

"Do you think that there is any possibility of us ever being on friendlier terms? I mean, I don't think we could ever be best friends, but I'd hope that we could at least have a better relationship than the hate/hate one we seem to have. You've done so much for me that I was unaware of at the time and I just want the opportunity to get to know you a bit better…if that's at all possible." He was going to say more, but Snape cut him off.

"Potter, I think you know more about me than I'm comfortable with. You've seen my memories after all. I have no intention of becoming your friend now or anytime in the future. I do not want you to get to know me and I certainly don't want to get to know you. You are arrogant, you are a troublemaker, and you are someone I thought I would never have to look at again once you left this school. I may have shown you my memories of your mother, but that does not make us best mates. I loathe you, Potter. From the very bottom of my soul I want nothing to do with you." And with that last word he turned and left the tower and a speechless Harry staring after him.

Rubbing his face and coming back to the present, Harry shifted on the bed, moving the pillow behind him up further on his back.

"Harry, Healer Cabot has filled me in on your treatment for the next week. You can either stay here for the week, which I recommend, or you can go to your rooms. However, if you choose to stay in your rooms, you're not to cook or clean or even do grading. Minerva, you will make sure his teaching duties are assigned to someone else?" The mediwitch said sternly bustling around Harry like a bee. Not even waiting for an answer, she kept on moving "Do you need dreamless sleep or a pain potion?"

"No ma'am. I think maybe I should leave all together, go to Grimmauld Place." He looked to the Headmistress imploring her to allow him to go.

"Leave? As in leave the school?" Poppy said confused as to why he would leave. "No, you will stay in your rooms, so I can monitor your progress easier." She stated with her most professional voice. Summoning a few potion vials to her and giving them to Harry. "Just in case you need them. Put them on your nightstand, sweetheart."

"Okay. Thanks." He smiled at her. Taking the potions and standing from the bed.

Minerva ruffled his hair and he looked up to her. "Harry?"

"I'll stay in my rooms. Can I ask Hermione to come stay with me? She can do my grading for me while she's here, if that's alright with you, Minerva."

"Yes, that's perfectly fine. Go on and get settled and I'll be by after dinner to check up on you and we can talk for a bit."

"Okay, thanks Minerva. For everything."

The seriousness of his situation has finally started to sink in. He probably won't be around to welcome the new year. He knew this day would come, but it's been five years since the final battle and he's been doing good so far. The curse seemed to be all but nonexistent and he forgot how sick he was most of the time. But now, it's rearing its ugly head and he has to face the inevitable…he's going to die…soon.

XxxX

Harry did as he was told and stayed in bed for a whole week. Hermione came and stayed with him, taking care of him, and doing his grading. Ron eventually came to stay, both knowing what was happening, they wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. They invited the whole Weasley family over one night and Harry told them about the curse and how he's dying. Molly took it the hardest and cried for hours while offering to do anything for him to make him comfortable. Finally, she settled on cooking his favorite meal and settled herself in his kitchen.

"Has the Headmistress found a replacement for you yet, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"She's looking, but it's slow going. She told me there are a few prospects though." Hermione just nodded her head in understanding.

"When is Healer Cabot coming by again?" Ron asked. "I think mom is staying to talk to him, she's not taking this very well." All three of them were seated on the bed, Harry under the covers and the other two on either side of him. He liked having them here, but he felt so guilty about taking them away from their lives.

"Later today I believe. I knew it would be hard for her. I feel so guilty about not saying anything sooner to her, but I just couldn't burden her with it when she was still mourning Fred."

"Hermione tells me that you stopped trying to befriend Snape. Are you sure you're ok with that? I mean, he is your father and I know how much that means to you. To have a decent relationship with him before…you know." Ron looked sick at realizing his best friend was dying and saying it out loud made it more real than he can take.

"I'm not ok with it, but I have to be. He doesn't want anything to do with me and I'm just too tired to keep at it. I think I want to live my life for me…with my two best friends and my adopted family. I want to enjoy the little things like watching the two of you, marveling at the colors of a sunset and soaking in the beauty of a sunrise. I want to feel the wind on my face and commit to memory the smells of winter and a home cooked meal. I want to play chess with my best mate even though I never win, just being in your company is enough for me. I know my time is limited…" looking from Hermione to Ron, "...but I don't want to worry about who likes me and who doesn't because in the end that doesn't matter when it comes to death. Does that make sense?"

Hermione and Ron squeezed his hands in understanding. "Ok, no more Snape talk. His loss anyway. How about you leave this place and come stay with us." Ron tossed out there, although he's pretty sure that's exactly what Harry wants.

"Yes! We would love for you to stay with us. We're not taking 'no' for an answer either. We both took time off and we have all the time we want and need to be with you. We love you, Harry. Please." Hermione choked out. Her eyes glassy with tears and when Harry looked to Ron he was nodding his head in approval with watery eyes too.

"I…"

"This is not up for debate, mate. You will be staying with us. As soon as your Healer says you can leave this bed, we are leaving. We already told the Headmistress." Ron confirmed.

"Okay guys, I will come stay with you, but you have to promise me that if it becomes too much for you that you'll send me to St. Mungo's and let me die there."

"Harry! As if we would ever let you die in that place! You will be around family till the end. We promise you that. Now, no more of this dying talk. How about we play a game of Scrabble?" Hermione always defaulted to playing Scrabble when her emotions overloaded. Harry understood and loved her even more for it. "Okay, Hemione. One game. I'm not very good at it and you always beat the pants off me!" Harry laughed and the other two followed suit.

XxxX

"I'm feeling fine, Hermione! Really, please let Teddy in the room. I promise I'll stay in bed and I won't over exert myself." Sticking out his bottom lip and flashing his sad puppy dog eyes at her. "Haven't I been good? I've been stuck in this bed for over a week and I've done everything Liam has asked me to do plus everything you requested. All I'm asking is for some time with my godson. I promise we'll just sit here and talk, maybe read a book together. I just really need to see him. Please Hermione." He begged her and he knew he'd won before she answered him.

Smiling back at her best friend, "Okay Harry. But you stay in bed and no rough housing! I know how the two of you get when you play together."

"Geez Hermione I'm not two. I promise no rough housing." His smile lighting up his face and his eyes bright and playful.

"No, but...Merlin, Harry." She sighed and threw herself on the bed next to Harry. "Listen, I know you're restless in this bed and I know you want to get out because you feel fine, but Harry, you're not fine. Please." She begged. Harry was getting progressively worse and she worried he wouldn't be around much longer. "Please, Harry"

"Hermione, love, I'm sorry. I know you worry about me. I promise I won't play rough or leave the bed."

Just then, Harry started coughing and wheezing and placed his hand over his mouth. When he finished his hand was bloody. He looked up to Hermione, but for some reason he couldn't see her. His vision started wavering from blurry to black and he could hear his blood rushing through his ears. He blinked several times and his stomach did a flip. He felt something pull him forward but was unable to comprehend what it was so he tried to ignore it and tried to calm himself down.

His head felt fuzzy and he took in a long shuttered breath, leaning his head back against the many pillows behind him. "Mione, I don't feel so good. Maybe you should call Healer Cabot." He whispered and kept his breathing shallow and his eyes closed to fend off the effects of his dizzy spell.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat when she saw the blood in Harry's hand and she desperately looked to his face to gauge how he was feeling. But when he finally looked up to meet her eyes there was no recognition in them. Horrified, she grabbed his hand, "Harry!" Getting no response, she pulled him toward her. "Harry! Oh my god! Harry please answer me! Shit! I'm calling Liam!" She yelled.

Just as she finished her sentence, she heard Harry's whispered plea. Jumping up from the bed and running to the floo, she hollered out to Ron. "Ron! Harry…" but was stopped from finishing her sentence when he ran past her to Harry's room over hearing her pleas from earlier. She kept going to the floo to make the dreaded call to Liam and prayed her best friend would survive this setback.

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-Lovetoreadseverusdotcom