Disclaimer: I don't own HP, HP owns me.
A/N: Padawan Jan-AQ, DestinyEntwinements, Iloveplotbunnies, kears, nicky12330, Hilga Pence- thanks for the reviews!
Late that evening, Harry sat straight up in bed. Something was wrong. He gingerly pulled open the curtains at the foot of the bed revealing Snape.
"Professor." Harry whispered. "What are you doing here?"
Severus grabbed Harry's hand and silently apparated them to the pond. Harry was still reeling from the feeling…This form of apparition was nothing like Harry had ever felt before.
"What was that?" Harry gasped.
Severus smirked. "Just a simple bonus I suppose you could say. Our kind is not bound by the physical laws of wizards."
Harry rubbed his eyes and looked at Snape with a puzzling countenance. Snape seemed to be staring off into the distance…quietly watching the tentacles of the squid lap at the water.
"Harry…" the man began. "Promise me that you will not follow my path."
"What are you talking about, Professor Snape?"
"Surely you have felt the connection that the both of us now share…I can know your every thought if I wish it. This evening, while I was trying to cling onto some much needed sleep, I was woken by thoughts from you…thoughts of the dark."
Harry stared at Snape…he was describing something akin to the connection that he used to feel with Voldemort. Somehow, the concern that was apparent in Snape's voice made Harry feel ashamed.
"Sir, sometimes I just want it over with. I don't feel like I will ever be able to gain enough knowledge to defeat Voldemort. Even if it means beating him at his own game."
Snape turned to Harry, and for once, the cold stern countenance had disappeared. "Harry, this war isn't easy for anyone, and I imagine that your family situation doesn't help matters. But turning to what made Voldemort what he is will not help you defeat him. That will only make you like him. You must concentrate on the one big difference that you have between Voldemort and yourself. That difference is what will be the turning point in this war."
"But, Professor, what do I have that is so different? I know that Dumbledore keeps mumbling something about the capacity of love, but it can't be that simple."
"Sometimes, Harry, the solutions to the biggest problems are the most simplistic. I now know that you are nothing that I ever truly made you out to be. Accept that as an apology. You will not be fighting Voldemort alone. What you don't seem to realize is that you do have a family now, albeit an unusual one."
Harry looked at Snape in shock. "A family?"
Snape managed to crack a smile. "Yes, Harry. Did you not pay attention in your Defense Against the Dark Arts classes? Vampires are very family oriented. The maker is usually considered to be the so-called father of a clan."
Harry began to feel a bit uncomfortable. What Professor Snape just said could not be what he was thinking he said.
"Sir, could you please explain?"
Severus rolled his eyes in a playful manner. "Harry, my maker was Erasmus. In the vampire world, he is considered to be my father. He would be your grandfather."
Harry was honestly not trying to be difficult, but he couldn't believe his ears…and at the moment, the shock was wavering between feelings of relief and ire.
'What are you saying, sir?" Harry asked pointedly.
"Harry, in the vampire world, I would be your father. You can treat me however you like. I will not fault you. But I took on that responsibility the moment I brought you over. Why do you think Draco is having such a difficult time?"
Harry couldn't believe his ears…the once thought greasy git was his adoptive father of sorts… All Harry could think of was the rage and anger of the last few years. Before he knew what he was doing he had tackled Snape to the ground and began punching and kicking the man.
Severus simply let the boy get rid of his frustration. After all, some of the kicks he deserved. Harry's tantrum was over almost before it had even started, and the boy fell to the ground on his knees.
"Finished?" Severus asked.
Harry sat, panting. He looked at Snape, watched a rivulet of blood seem to flow the opposite direction from Snape's face and seemingly crawl back into his skin. The cut slowly faded away leaving unblemished skin behind.
Severus simply looked at Harry with sadness in his eyes. He knew that the boy would never feel much for him, he had hurt him too badly. His own son didn't like him very much at the moment. He could only hope that through time, the two would see it in their hearts to forgive him.
Harry suddenly turned towards Snape. "Why did you do it?"
"Why did I do what, Harry?" Snape asked.
"Why did you give the information to Lord Voldemort? Why couldn't you leave my parents alone? Why did you have to be so selfish? Why should I not kill you right now?"
Severus sighed. He had known that this question would have been asked sooner or later. It was only natural, and it was about time that the boy let his true feelings show.
"Honestly, Harry, I would like nothing more than for you to kill me. If you figure out how, I will be eternally grateful…The answers to the other questions are not so simple."
Harry grabbed Snape by the throat and began to squeeze. Snape smiled and pushed the boy off with a flick of his wrist…Snape was that bloody strong. Harry resorted to glaring at his "father vampire" and hoped for a decent answer.
"In terms of the other answers you seek, I could say that I was selfish, that I was young and foolish. The truth is, Harry, there is nothing that I can say to excuse my actions. I gave your parents up out of spite. Out of spite for their happiness, out of spite for everything your father ever did to me. I have never said that I was a kind man, Harry. If I was truly pure, I never would have been a Death Eater. I cannot lie about that."
"How do I kill him then? You gave up information about my parents to try to help orchestrate my murder, the least you can do is to give me information in return."
Snape grinned. Harry was finally displaying the aptitude that he knew the boy had always been capable of.
"Spoken like a true Slytherin, Harry. The question you must ask yourself is whether you wish to defeat Voldemort as a wizard, or if you would wish to defeat Voldemort as a vampire. Each path has its own chance for folly, I'll not deny that. But each path has its own strengths. You need to choose, that will decide what I will need to tell you in order for you to defeat him."
"By rights, you should tell me everything. I deserve at least that much for the price I've paid."
Severus silently thanked Erasmus that he as of yet had not given Harry the gift of his blood. While he did still have a death wish, he needed to take care of Draco first. And if tonight was any indication, Harry may well end up the strongest of all.
Severus looked at Harry and nodded. "Tomorrow. The sun will be upon us soon, and you need to take your potion. Meet me in my chambers after dinner tomorrow. I will tell you everything you wish."
Harry grunted. "I warn you now, if you lie, I will find a way to defeat you. I will find a way to make you suffer. I will never give you what you want. For you, betray me, and you will never see death…you will relive the suffering that you have caused."
Snape could not help but notice that Harry was becoming something more…He was no longer the simple innocent Harry Potter everyone thought they knew…He was something else entirely…something not of this world.