Chapter Eight
Another summons to attend the Headmaster had been delivered as he was drinking his morning coffee the next day, it was unusual for Severus to be called in to see the Headmaster this often, and he was apprehensive as he entered the office. The sight of an emaciated Sirius Black floored him, and he had to ask the Headmaster to repeat what he`d said twice. "I said that Mr. Black here is innocent" the Headmaster said sternly, "I approached him yesterday after our meeting, and he convinced me absolutely that he has been wrongly imprisoned for almost ten years. In fact he even convinced the aurors, the minister and the Wizengamot itself."
"Do call me Sirius headmaster" croaked the gaunt figure sitting in Severus` usual chair in front of the Headmaster`s desk. For once in his life Severus was so flabbergasted that he could not speak, he just stood there mouthing silently. Luckily Dumbledore could understand him anyway "it seems James and Lily changed secret keepers on us, and trusted entirely the wrong person." "Pettigrew" Severus spat sure he had guessed correctly, Black scowled darkly muttering "that filthy rat."
"Indeed as Sirius tells me Peter was actually a rat animagus, we must keep an eye out for him as he is bound to have taken refuge somewhere probably as a rat."
"Thinking of that traitor makes me so mad I could spit" Black snarled, "I`m just glad Harry survived. Speaking of Harry, I know I`m not your favourite person but I hoped you might let me meet him Severus?"
"Why are you asking me whether you can meet Potter, I have nothing to do with him"
Black actually managed to get even paler, "You mean that nobody told you Harry is yours?"
"He`s WHAT?" Severus bellowed. "I think not! I would remember such a thing."
"B****, I hadn`t expected that you hadn`t been informed. James was sterile; sadly many purebloods have this problem. When Lily became pregnant we all knew Harry couldn`t be his, and I surmised Lily would choose you as donor. She even admitted as much to me shortly before she died, I argued that she must let you know before they went into hiding and I thought she would have been sensible enough to do as I suggested."
"Obviously not" Severus said weakly, "I don`t remember anything about her contacting me at that time, but even you wouldn`t lie about something like that."
"Well she probably obliviated you, she indicated that your position would make it dangerous for you to know about having a son" Black said.
The headmaster suddenly clapped his hands saying "well this changes things. Minerva was never happy that I placed him with Petunia, and I had some doubts myself.."
"He`s with Petunia"! Black and Severus roared simultaneously, "You must have been mad to place him there, the woman hated magic rabidly" moaned Black.
"I hoped that she would love the boy since he was Lily`s, Petunia did love her sister" Said Dumbledore reassuringly Severus just looked at the Headmaster speechless for a moment before hissing "Petunia HATED Lily in the end, she was consumed with envy because Lily was magical while Petunia wasn`t."
"Dear, dear" Dumbledore said, well there is no need for him to stay where he is now. Severus can no longer fulfil his role as spy, and can take his place as the boy`s father."
Severus somehow doubted that it would be that easy, but at least one thing was explained. He`d wondered why he felt no effect at the lust curse Lucius had told him about, the man must not have taken any possible pre-existing children into consideration.
