Lost and Found

Chapter Eight: Stunning Revelations

Disclaimer: If I owned this why would it be on fanfiction? All I own is the cat and Canan.

Author's note: Thank you so much Arwengeld and FireSenshi2 for the reviews.

Yes Arwengeld Sirius is a bit daft sometimes but not all is as it seems. I do like the way you were onto Dumbledore from the beginning. My friends who proof read hadn't caught on until the last chapter.

FireSenshi2 thank you for such a kind review. It defiantly encourages me to keep going and put out more chapters quicker. I got this one in a day!

"Snivelly what the hell do you have James' diary for?"

Severus wasn't shocked by the man's behavior. Sirius Black had always been one to act before thinking and Snape was still used to being at the business end of the man's wand even after 9 years. None the less the man had another question, and after Severus heard it, he was a bit more understanding. "I served 7 years! Why did you wait so long if you knew I was innocent? Seven years with dementors! Without even a blanket!" The man clearly was still affected by his stay in Azkaban. The pleading tone, unlike the man's impulsive behavior, did come as a surprise though. "Sirius, I only just found out today. I'm sorry that you spent so much time in Azkaban without a trial. Now if you'll calm down, you can have a shower and brush your teeth and hair. You'll feel much better after that. Then I can explain why I had James' diary." Severus says, holding up his hands to show he didn't have his wand. Sirius thinks about his suggestion for a minuet. "Did you inform the head master?" He asks. Severus shakes his head. "I took the diary directly to Lucius when I saw it." He says, and right on cue the blonde steps through the floo as Sirius lowers his wand. "Okay. Well where can I shower? I suppose you can explain later." He says. "This way." Lucius says, waving him down a hall to their left. As soon as he's gone, Severus sits down on one of the couches by the hearth.

How did he even begin to explain to Sirius that he had James' diary because the man had fathered his son? How did he explain that his late best friend was a monster? Since when did he care about hurting Black's feelings? Perhaps when he ran into him at Daigon Alley after his 7th year when everything hit the papers. The man had actually been civil. Offered his condolences. He had enough sense in him to act as a human. The man had been tactful and the least he could do is be tactful in return. But just how to explain this? He looks over at Lucius. "Luc do you still have the diary?" He asks. "Right here." He says handing him the book. "Okay. And a pensieve?" He asks. The blonde nods and brings it to him. "Hopefully the diary will be enough. But knowing Black he'll be in denial." He says, placing the wand at his temple.

"Denial of what?" Asks the man in question, making Severus jump. He hadn't realized how much time he was lost in thought. But Sirius now stood before him, his long black hair clean and brushed smooth, face shaved, teeth cleaned, and in clean robes that showed enough chest to see one of his many rune tattoos. "Denial of the circumstances that lead me to have that diary in my possession. Your not going to like this." He says, gesturing to the man to take a seat. Sirius raises an eyebrow and sinks onto the other side of the couch. "Sirius I want you to read James' diary. The entries from when we were in our 7th year." He says. "Seventh?" He asks, raising an eyebrow. It was a year that had been nothing short of eventful. "But before you do I wish to know why you wanted to know if I told Dumbledore. After that I need you to read the diary." He says.

Sirius nods and looks into the fire, trying to think of a way to explain. "I asked about Dumbledore because he's the one who cast the Fidelus charm. He knew Peter and I switched places. And were Dumbledore not there when I was arrested I would have no reason to suspect him of anything. I was pronounced guilty prior to any trial. So his testimony after I was sentenced would have done nothing. But the headmaster was with the aurors and didn't say a word even though he knew. He let Peter get away. I don't know for what purpose, but I don't trust him." Snape nods his head. "Well I was hoping you may be able to shed some light on what the old coot is up to. It looks like you know as much as we do though." He says, opening the diary to September 12th of their Seventh year. The day Canan was conceived.

September 12, 1977

Had a good romp with Snivellus today behind the greenhouses. I have him believing I'm the only person who will ever touch him. He's so willing whenever I need a good hole but I don't plan on keeping him around once I get with Evans. It will be a shame because I have him under my thumb but it's not like I have him believing he's good looking enough to have on my arm and show off at social events. Oh well. Bang him and break him. I ruined him for anyone else.

Sirius looked sick. "James was the father wasn't he?" He asks, looking over at Severus. The wizard could only nod. "That's why I have the diary. That was the only time we had any relations in seventh year though. He broke things off with me for Lilly 6 weeks later." He says, turning to another entry for him.

December 8, 1977

I saw the most disgusting thing today. Snape was sitting in the kitchen with the house elves. I mean not that they don't look similar enough in the nose department. But all noses aside the little shit had a baby book and his hand was on his stomach! And when they asked how far he was he said he was 13 weeks! THIRTEEN WEEKS! That means I put the abomination in him. This is unacceptable. No child of mine is going to have Snape as a mother. How did the little slut not even know not to use a birth control potion. I thought he wanted to be a potions master for Merlin's sake. If he would have just told me I would have payed for an abortion. It's a week too late for that now. I guess I'll just have to find some other way to get rid of the evidence.

Sirius looks shocked. "You never told him." It was a statement not a question. "As I'm sure you were able to pick up on, James didn't treat me well. When he left me I was relieved. I didn't want to subject my baby to that kind of treatment. It wasn't to make things inconvenient for James. It was for the safety of my child." He explains. "I still can't believe James would be such an arse. I mean he wasn't ready to be a dad, but to have anything to do with what happened to your son..." Severus nods. "I told you you wouldn't like hearing this. But I had the diary because I wanted to know what he was doing the day his first son was born. I thought it would help bring me closure." Sirius nods and flips to that page.

"The 27th of May?" He asks. Severus shakes his head. "The nearest entry is the 28th." Sirius nods and begins reading.

May 28, 1978

Well I snuck to the hospital in my cloak today. I got rid of the problem and dumped it in a garbage can outside a pub in wick. It was rainy so the squawling thing probably died of hypothermia or drowning or something. I can't let it ruin my chance with Lilly though. It's his fault. He should have taken care of it when he found out about it.

Sirius looked like he was about to be sick and grabbed one of Narcessia's vases from the end table and heaved stomach acid into it before casting charms on the diary to figure out who wrote it. "Author Tuum!" James potter is written across the page. "No! This can't be! "Ostende Scriptor!" James Potter's name floats above the page in red letters. "Mihi qui hace scripsit!" He tries again. A picture of James appears in the air above the diary like a spectra, and a slew of emotions crosses Sirius' face. Horror, disgust, disbelief and sorrow all show themselves on his expression before it finally settles on resignation. "Severus I'm so sorry for what he did to your son. I know nothing could ever replace him. I can't believe I was best friends with a murderer. I wouldn't believe it. I still don't believe it. And yet I can't deny it."

"Sirius calm down. I'm not the one who discovered the entry." Says Severus. "What do you mean?" Asks Sirius, bewilderment now his dominate expression. "Canan, could you come to the parlor?" Calls Severus, smirking softly. "All right!" The child calls from the kitchen and hurried foot steps grow louder until Canan appears in the doorway. "Come here sweetheart. I would like for you to meet Sirius Black. This is my son Sirius. He's the one who found the entry that lead to your innocence being proven." Says Severus. Canan makes his way over to the couch and sits between them. "How do you do sir?" Asks Canan. Sirius looked over at Severus, who had a proud grin across his face just looking at the child. His child. "I'm very well thanks to you. I dare say that you've given me the best Christmas gift I've ever had." He says, smiling brightly at the child. Canan doesn't know what to say and shyly leans against Severus.

"How did you even find him?" Asks Sirius, still incredulous. "His accidental magic lead to an early trip to Hogwarts. Then after he got hurt in potions and I took him to the hospital ward and the date of birth was the same and we found out that Canan was adopted and it turned out he was taken to a church by a muggle homeless man." He explains, ruffling his hair.

Sirius could only grin. He had wavy hair like James, a button nose and hazel eyes, but other than that he was all Severus. A real cute kid too. And while he was glad that James hadn't actually killed the child, he understandably couldn't look at the man in the same light. It made him wonder about Harry. "Severus do you know what happened to Harry?" Asks Sirius, a sense of trepidation settling in his stomach. "Yes Sirius." Severus says with a grimace. "Dumbledore put Harry with the Dursuly's." Sirius takes a few deep breaths to keep him from losing his temper. "Lucius, am I within my rights to remove the child from their home?" He asks. "The Potter's will states that your to be his guardian. Now that your free the will has to be honored. Do you have a place to go though? Dumbledore would look here first as I'm your lawyer, then your properties and quite possibly the Prince properties." The blonde points out. "No. But we'll find a place." He says, and Severus breaks into a grin.

"I have a property in the muggle world Dumbledore doesn't know about. And it won't be listed at Gringotts. Tobias Snape was a muggle. It's my father's old hunting cabin. I stayed there awhile during my search for Canan. It's warded against muggles, wizards and magical creatures along with having antiapparition wards and anti port key wards. The only floo connections are my home at Spinners End and Malfoy manner. Nothing can come in or out unless you allow it. I believe you could put up blood wards as well.

Cessy's blood should work for your protection as she's your cousin." Severus points out. "But what about for Harry?" Canan asks, his eyes falling to the diary on the table. "And why do you have James Potter's diary? Your acting weird about it." Severus sucks in a breath and Canan looks around the room at the adults, taking in their expressions as the gears in his Slytherin head start to turn.

His dad said his father died a hero and things would be complicated if the world found out about his actions. James was a hero. His sacrificing himself for his child would be questioned if the world found out he tried to kill his other son. And the grown ups were acting really weird about it. And he had been a Griffindor too. That's the house the sorting hat said his father was in. He looks up at his dad with a look of understanding in his eyes. "My father was James wasn't he?" Severus sighs in resignation. "I suppose it was only a matter of time before you figured it out, being as smart as you are. Yes Canan. James was your father." Canan nods, staring into the fire as he thinks that information over. "I can see why that's information that shouldn't be spread. But use my blood in a blood ward for Harry. It makes him my little brother after all. Visiting regularly will strengthen the wards." He says, sounding much older than his nine years. "That could work. But what about a Fidelus charm?" Asks Lucius. "Who would be the secret keeper or keepers?" Severus asks. "Canan is going to need to make visits to strengthen the wards, as is Narcessia. Your his lawyer Lucius, so you'll need to go. And I wouldn't let my son travel alone. So that's four primary secret keepers." Says Severus.

"Well we all know the Dark Lord could come back after Harry. It's better to have as much protection as possible with four secret keepers than less protection. None of us are lose lipped." Says Narcessia. About this time Sirius has a thought as well. "We could do it with three. Canan can floo with you Severus and never have to be made a secret keeper. It is a lot of responsibility for a nine year old. I wouldn't want to put that on his shoulders." He suggests. "I'm okay with that." Says Canan. "Can we go get my brother?" He asks, looking at his dad. "I suppose so. The charm work can wait until tomorrow. Dumbledore wouldn't bother to leave his holiday festivities after all." He says disgustedly. "We can spend the night here and floo to the cabin tomorrow. Lucius can you get a carriage to take us to the apparition border? I'll not have Canan walking in the cold after getting over pneumonia." Canan rolls his eyes. "Okay mommy." He snarks, causing Sirius to crack up, and Lucius tries to keep a straight face. His efforts are an abysmal failure as his expression is closer to undignified constipation. Even Lady Malfoy couldn't contain her laughter. In response to this Severus reaches over to Canan and starts tickling the hell out of him. "Oh so it's mommy now is it?" He asks, relentlessly tickling his sides as Canan squirms in a fit of giggles. "No! Your daddy! Your daddy!" He says, trying to get away from the fingers. "That's what I thought." He says, retracting his hands and standing up. "Now who's going to Privet Drive with me?" He asks.

Sirius and Lucius stand up. "I'm coming as a representative of the Ministry. Sirius is coming as his guardian. You know the location Severus, and Canan is Harry's family. Let's get our cloaks on. Severus grab something to make a port key." Says Lucius. Severus grabs a pair or scissors and cuts off Lucius' ruffly tie. "Really?" Asks the blonde as Severus casts the spell on it. "Yes I'm sick of looking at that frivolous peacock decoration." Severus answers and makes sure Canan is bundled up nice and warm. Sirius chokes back a laugh. "Are you sure you don't prefer the title mother Severus. You really have that role down well." Severus gives him an unimpressed look. "Don't think I'm above hexing you Black." He says and walks into the awaiting carriage. "Okay okay. Let's go get my godson." Says Sirius and picks up Canan and handing him to Severus before getting in himself and sitting next to him, leaving the other bench to Lucius. "The way you get along with children Black, one would almost think you were one." Snape's voice held no vitriol though and the corners of his lips held a smile.

"Shut up Snape." Says Sirius in an equally jovial way. "Behave you two. We'll be outside the wards in 10 minuets." Lucius informs them. With all the ideal small talk it hardly seemed like 10 minuets. "Okay everyone grab hold." Severus says, taking form hold of one of Canan's hands and the tie with the other. The other two follow suit and Severus explained to Canan to hold on tight and he'll feel a pulling sensation in his belly button. Then he says the activation word, which was Serpent, and they found themselves in an alley way behind privet drive. They walk between the fences to the front door and ring the bell.

"Merry Christmas Petunia." Severus says, a bitter undertone to his voice. "What do you want?" She returns, sending him a glare. "I want to introduce you to the man who your sister requested be Harry's guardian in her will. Now we'll just be in and collect Mister Potter and be on our way." He says, forcing his way through the doors. "Where is he?" Asks Sirius. "He's visiting a friend." She says, her voice with an uneasy edge. "What time will he be home?" Asks Lucius, catching Severus's eye. "I'm not sure. Whenever he wants to come home." She says in her clipped tone. "On Christmas? Petunia your a terrible liar. Ad Punctum Harry Potter." He says and follows the pull of his wand. It was a spell used for tracking lost children. One that hadn't worked for him because he hadn't named his son yet when he had been taken. The wand leads him to a cupboard under the stairs. "I'll leave the two of you to this. I don't know what you'll find and I don't know if this is something Canan should see." He says.

"Okay. You wait by the door." Sirius says and points his wand at the lock, afraid of what he may find. "Alohamora!"