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Third Times a Son

Chapter 6

"Good afternoon Professor, won't you please come in?" Ron said politely and guided the Professor into their living room where tea and biscuits were already set up. Hermione sat on the couch sipping her tea and looking totally exhausted. Severus eyed them both and noticed their appearance. They were smiling and acting polite but he could see their grief. They just lost someone they loved dearly and he felt jealousy in the pit of his stomach. Trying to keep his stoic facade, he greeted the girl with a nod and a slight smile before sitting across from her.

"Thank you for inviting me. May I?" Gesturing to the tea and Ron nodded.

"Please, help yourself." He said soberly sitting next to the girl.

At this, Hermione turned to Ron, "Sweetheart, can you go grab the honey out of the kitchen." She made sure to keep her eyes trained on his. He nodded and left. Severus felt there was some sort of silent communication between them but ignored it for now.

When Ron was gone and Severus was settled with his tea, she pulled an envelope out of her robe pocket and handed it to Severus. "It's a bit worn. Harry never let it out of his sight. It was his most prized possession." Severus put down his cup with shaky fingers and gently took the envelope recognizing the stationary immediately. He caressed it reverently losing himself in the past. He brought it up to his nose and inhaled, closing his eyes and let the scent wash over him. He could smell Harry with just a hint of lilac...Lily.

He tried to control himself and if anyone were to ask him he would say he did, but in reality he didn't. Tears formed and fell on their own, leaking from the corners of his eyes and his breathing began to hitch. He knew if he opened his eyes now she would see his pain, his grief, his wasted life crashing down on him and she can't be witness to his weakness. He must be strong now because whatever it is that his son wants from him, expects from him, he can't do without his courage and without her to guide him.

Hermione glanced back toward the kitchen to allow the man time alone with his thoughts. She realized he's trying to put up a front but he's grieving just the same.

When Severus pulled himself together, he followed her line of sight, Ron must be giving them time. He quickly pocketed the letter and used his wand to clean his face before the girl turned back to him. "Thank you for the letter. It means so much to me that you returned it to me. But if I may ask, how long have the two of you known about me and the letter?"

Hermione bit her lip and studied the man in front of her. Harry left so much unknown and now that he's gone she felt so much stress because of it. The truth shall set you free, she remembered Harry quoting that to her when they were alone discussing what would happen after he died. It all needs to come out now for the healing to begin. She made up her mind to be honest with the man, she smiled at him and began her tale. "When we were first years, Harry would often go off by himself. Ron and I never knew where he went or what he did but we felt he needed that time to himself so we let him be. After Harry had that detention in the Forbidden Forest where he saw that 'thing' drinking from the Unicorn he realized the dangers in this world were different from anything he could have imagined. It was then that he took us to an abandoned room on the seventh floor. It was a cozy room including a couch with pillows and blankets and a nice fire in the hearth. We could tell he spent a lot of time there and we felt uncomfortable at first invading his space. But Harry was on a mission and he sat us down and for the first time the three of us talked openly and honestly. We discussed our fears and concerns. Ron and I filling Harry in on all things regarding Voldemort because he honestly didn't know anything. That's when we made a pact. The three of us vowed to protect each other, help each other, be honest and true with each other and most important to be each other's secret keepers - so to speak. We could tell each other anything and none of us would tell anyone, judge or be judged and we wouldn't criticize each other only support one another. That night began our journey together and solidified our love for each other. That night Harry told us the truth."

Severus listened while she told her story, engrossed in learning anything about the boy he didn't know already. Seems he kept many secrets from the Headmaster. Severus knew for a fact that the Headmaster didn't know anything about Harry's doings in his first year. Having spent much time with the Headmaster and discussing the strange events happening all year, never once did the older man mention Harry going off and disappearing for hours.

Well, her story did answer a lot of questions about the 'trio'. Why they were so close and seemed to be inseparable. He felt sick to his stomach thinking about how the three of them knew about his relation to Harry and never let on. In fact, they seemed more protective of him especially during potions class. His stomach turned at the thought.

"Professor?" She said quietly. "We encouraged him from the beginning to tell you; to talk to you, but you were so mean and vindictive towards him personally that he just couldn't put himself through that anguish. I don't know how much of Harry's personal life you know about but I can honestly say if you've heard any rumors about it...well, believe them. Most of them are correct. Oh, he played them off as rumors so people wouldn't harp on that part of his life. He liked to keep things close to the heart, Professor. He was very self protecting that way, believe it or not.

Severus sat back and studied the girl's face. He was trying desperately to read a lie or a joke in her expression because the rumors he's heard about Harry's upbringing were terrible. In fact, he thought them to be something the boy put out there to earn sympathy from the masses, having heard them during the Triwizard Tournament. "Surely you're mistaken. The things I've heard would only be done to a dog or a house elf, not to the Savior of the Wizarding World." He said sadly afraid that she was going to confirm his suspicions.

She sighed and picked up her tea cup. It was her moms tea set given to her for graduation. Porcelain white with pink and yellow flowers winding around its sides."Unfortunately, I cannot deny the rumors. Honestly, I don't know how they got started or who said anything but Harry was furious when he heard them." She said sadly confirming his worst nightmare. His son was abused.

He felt sick, dizzy even, learning the truth. How he misjudged the boy. "And the Headmaster? Did he know?" He swallowed noticeably. Merlin let him not have known. What would that say about his mentor.

"No, I don't think so. Harry was a proud man, always have been since I've known him. That's not something he would have ever told the Headmaster. He only told us because things came up that he thought one way about and we thought another. Those differences of opinion between us never ended even when we were out of school. They had him so brainwashed, it took me and Ron many long sessions in that classroom to convince him of that what they did was not right." She teared up at the memory leaning forward to add more tea to her cup. "So your treatment of him is or was normal to him." She said to the tea pot not wanting to see his reaction to the truth.

Severus was taken aback. Harry thought what? "Miss Granger…" she looked up to him and sat back again. "...no one would think my treatment of the boy to be normal." He sneered. "Was he that daft?"

Hermione sat forward and placed her cup gently on the table. Wiping her thighs slowly with both hands before she looked straight into his eyes and with steel in her voice she told him; "Professor, the boy has a name and I expect you to use it when we're talking about him. Harry wasn't perfect by a long shot but I loved him anyway. Was he naive? Yes, he was. Was he slow in understanding life's lessons? Yes, he was. But if you ever ask me if he was slow in the head or in mind, I will throw you out of here so fast your head will spin and you will not be welcomed here again. Do you understand me?" She said pointedly.

Realizing his mistake, he quickly raised both hands and acquiesced. "I'm sorry, Miss Granger, I certainly meant no disrespect towards you or Harry, forgive my blunder. It will not happen again. Please understand, I'm still wrapping my mind around all of this. First, that he's my son and second, that Lily was obliviated. You're telling me about Harry's personal life and it's just too much for me to process and I'm finding it all unbearable." Rubbing his eyes with the palms of both hands, "It's all been humbling and humiliating, and a little hard to swallow at the same time."

He looked at her and then to Ron who just came back into the room. "My life has been full of cruelty for a very long time but know this, if I could do anything to bring Harry back I would do it. I would give anything to have him here, to get to know the man he's become...to have a son who loves me for all my ugliness and to help me find the good in myself. Because if there's anyone who could find the good in my blackened heart it would be Harry, I'm sure if it."

Hermione softened her look and glanced sideways to Ron. Ron placed his hand over hers and smiled. She nodded to him and squeezed his hand in return. That speech must have changed her fiancés mind about the man. "I have no doubt he would have drove you crazy, Sir, but you're right - he could find the good in anyone." Ron said cordially. "I'm glad to hear you say that, it means more than you will ever know to us."

Hermione nodded in agreement. "For whatever reason, Professor, Harry loved you. He knew you hated him but he loved that you protected him in spite of that. He loved that you loved his mum and he knew you loved her with all your heart. He loved you because on that god-awful night in the graveyard when that madman tried to kill him you weren't there when all the others came. You weren't there to protect him but he knew you didn't belong to Voldemort. He was so proud of that fact, we couldn't get him to shut up about it for months" She laughed even though her face wasn't happy. "So you see, Sir, even though we don't understand the 'why' we don't have to. Harry loved you and that's all that matters. We promised him to help you, to be here for you and to keep you from going down the wrong path. If that's okay with you, we would very much like to get to know you better."

Severus sat stunned. They must have talked extensively about him for her to know all that. Harry is a mystery to him now. A mystery he wants to solve and savor. It's all he has left. His family is gone now and if it weren't for Harry wishing him to be happy and making sure he had a support system, he would be gone too. He sniffed but wouldn't allow any more tears to fall. "Harry is unbelievable. Knowing me without knowing me. How did he do that? I accept your generosity and support. Thank you." He said calmly. He meant every word, he will make Harry proud of him again.

"Miss Granger,"

"Hermione, please." She said with a soft smile.

"Okay, Hermione," He said, "I looked closely at the things Harry left me and, quite frankly, I'm a little confused. He left me a few items that all seemed to be related, all bearing the same mark. So, besides coming here for some answers and the letter, I've come to ask you if you know what the meaning that mark is." Before he finished speaking he could see that they understood what he was talking about. They looked stunned and silently talked to each other before Hermione spoke.

"Can you describe the mark?"

"It's a triangle encompassing a circle speared with a line. It's on several of my pieces."

"Blimey! Hermione!" Ron exclaimed.

"I know! Oh my!" She sat there quietly thinking of the ramifications and the possibilities of what this could mean. "What was going through your head Harry" she whispered to herself. "Did you actually...but why keep it a secret? What have you planned." She kept whispering to herself while the two males in the room sat quietly. Severus was ready to burst. He wanted to know what the hell was going on!

"Sir,"

"Severus, please."

She smiled and nodded. "Severus, what items exactly have this mark?"

Ron scooted to the edge of his seat in anticipation.

"A vault key, his invisibility cloak and the Headmasters wand."

The two sat quietly, shocked is more like it. "One is missing." Ron stated.

"Right, the stone, he lost it in the forest, when he went to Voldemort. But why did he keep the wand? I thought he put it back with the Headmaster." She said back to Ron.

"Me too. Why would he keep that a secret? Too bad he lost the stone, if he had all three he would be…"

She shook her head to stop him and bit her lip. "That's a good question. But why would he give the Professor his cloak and the wand but not the stone?"

"It makes no sense without the stone. Though, Harry was secretive his last few months. Do you think he did it? Do you think he left them to the Professor? And if so, to what purpose? Can you even pass that title on? I wish Harry would have told us and not left us hanging." Ron babbled. He looked to the Professor and studied the man. "I wonder if you do have the stone. It would make sense if you did,. Harry didn't do things by halves." He mumbled.

Severus could tell they were working something out, what, he didn't know. What stone are they going on about? What did Harry do and why did he keep it from them? He was just going to say that when the two of them looked away from him.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other for a long minute, both communicating silently, before Ron jumped up and bellowed out "Merlin! He did do it! He had to, 'Mione! He had to have all three! That's what this…"he gestured with his hands to the three of them, "...is all about! I just know I'm right, Hermione, you know it's true! Blimey!"

"What in blazes are the two of you talking about!? What stone? What did Harry do?" He said exasperated. What the hell are they babbling on about? What is Weasley getting all worked up about?

Hermione touched Ron's arm and he sat back down. The excitement emanating off the man. "Did you bring your envelope with you, Sir?" She said with such control because she really wanted to scream out in excitement.

With a nod he pulled his envelope out of his cloak pocket, but before he could open it, she asked him, "Sir, have you ever heard the Tale of the Three Brothers?"

XxxX

Severus sat stunned. The girl had just recited the story of the Three Brothers, which he knew partially from when he was a child. It's a mere children's story or so he thought. According to her, the story has some truth to it. The three Perverell brothers were the real brothers in the tale and the Hallows were real as well. The Deathly Hallows. As in the wand, the stone and the cloak. All three things he seems to own now according to Miss Granger and thanks to his son.

"Sir, lets see what you have in your envelope." She indicated the envelope in Severus' lap, "I'm curious if he left you the stone." Hermione said.

Severus nodded and carefully opened his envelope and took the items out. He gently placed them on the table between them next to the tray of tea and biscuits. As he did so he heard Weasley's intake of breath. "I don't understand all this fuss, I don't see a stone amongst these items." He said as he finished placing his items on the table.

Hermione didn't hesitate, reaching for the golden snitch and shaking it. The sound of something moving inside froze Severus in his chair.

"Bloody hell." Ron exclaimed. "He did it. He really did it."

"Yeah, but why did he leave them to Severus? Why not tell us about it?" Hermione pondered. Harry did tell her he had something for her to do. That he kept things from her and when she found out she might be upset or angry with him. Is this one of those things? What is she supposed to do? "Harry what are you trying to tell us? What am I supposed to do?" She questioned herself.

"'Mione, I don't think you have to do anything. I think your job was to inform the Professor of what he has. The rest is up to him."

"How...I...I'm sorry I don't understand what all this is supposed to mean. Are you telling me that Mister Potter gathered all three Hallows and Mastered Death?" Hermione nodded while gently placing the snitch back on the table. "Then why is Potter not among the living? Looks to me that this children's story has no merit in believability." He said as he reached over to gather all the items.

"Sir? I don't understand how Harry still has the stone or the wand. He dropped the stone in the forest and Ron and I thought he put the wand back in the tomb. This is impossible." She said in disbelief as she watched her professor start to gather his things.

He gathered up the wand and the snitch together and felt a shock go through his fingers dropping the two items immediately. Hermione and Ron jumped when he dropped the snitch, the sound echoing through the room. "Harry must have left them to you for a reason, Sir. I believe the story has merit. There's too much evidence for it not to be true. I think you need to figure out what Harry is trying to tell you."

Severus listened to her and studied the table in front of him. Is the boy trying to tell him something? Hasn't he had enough surprises in the last week?

This wand is Albus' wand he remembers. So all this time the old man has had the Elder wand and no one knew. And the cloak...could it be? But the stone...he's trying to remember back to when the stone could have been acquired. "The snitch, why did Harry put the stone inside the snitch?" He asked them.

"He didn't. The Headmaster left Harry the snitch in his Will. The stone was already in the snitch. It took us most of the year to figure that out." Ron answered him.

Bloody hell. Did Albus know about all this too?

"Miss Granger, how do you remove the stone?"

"It's the snitch from Harry's first match. He caught it in his mouth, so all I know is if you breath on it it reveals a message. To be honest I don't know how Harry opened it." She said still shocked at what Harry's done.

"Hmm…" he started but was cut off by the girl talking again.

"Sir, this key? What is it for? I don't recognize it as any of his vault keys." She had picked up the old silver key and was turning it over in her fingers. She suddenly stopped and gasped. Ron leaned over and they both caught their breath. There on the key was the Deathly Hallows symbol.

Ron touched the mark reverently, "Blimey, Harry."

XxxX

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