NOTE: I do not own Harry Potter

Harry woke to the sounds of Mrs. Black's picture's screaming and the doorbell ringing. He looked at the clock. It read 3:17 A.M. Why is someone here this early? Harry thought. He threw on his robe and slippers, grabbed his glasses from the nightstand, and readied his wand. Harry met Sirius in the stairwell. They went to the door together.

"State your name and business!" Sirius demanded.

"Sirius, it's Severus, I'm looking for Harry. I need to talk to him. Is he with you?"

"Sn- I mean, Dad? Why are you here?" Harry asked.

"There must be something wrong if Snivellus has come at this time looking for you," said Sirius under his breath.

"Yea, but how do we know if it's him?" Sirius shrugged.

Harry turned to the door, "Ok, if you are Snape, then when Professor Lupin was out with his condition, and you substituted for my class, what page did you tell us to turn to?"

"Page 394; I was teaching you about werewolves to see if you would pick up on the hint."

"Well, he got it right. Should we let him in?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, but I'm ready to fight to the death for you."

"Thanks Sirius. I'm pretty sure it's him, and if not, well good luck, mate." With that, Harry opened the door. Severus rushed in, grabbed Harry by the shoulder and pushed him to the kitchen while Sirius ran after them.

"WHY DID YOU LEAVE?"

"YOU CALLED SIRIUS A MONGREL!"

"YOU TOLD ME HE COULD BE A BETTER FATHER!"

"YOU USED THE CRUCIATUS CURSE ON YOUR OWN SON!"

"YOU USED IT BACK ON ME!"

"YOU BETRAYED MY MOTHER!" After Harry's last remark, Snape fell silent. "Heh, I thought you loved her. But apparently not," Harry said with a cracked voice. Snape grabbed Harry by the shirt collar.

"You don't know me. I loved her more than anything else. But I guess you can't understand that." Snape started to walk away after this sentence, but Harry began speaking.

"Then why did you leave? Why did you hide us from the world?"

"I was protecting you! I was protecting the Order! I was doing my part! Do you think I've been lying to Voldemort because I could? NO!"

"Yea, but couldn't you have done that with at least visiting your only son? The only family figure I've had is Sirius and we're not even related! How could you abandon family?"

"I did this for the benefit of the greater good!"

"Ok, but isn't having a child a good thing? Wouldn't revealing to your child that you're his father be a good thing? I don't think you know how to be good."

"DO YOU QUESTION MY MORALITY?"

"YES! I THINK I DO!"

"EVERYTHING I'VE DONE, I'VE DONE WITH YOU IN MIND!"

"HEY!" Sirius was silent during this whole conversation until now. "Will you two stop fighting? Severus, you obviously came here with something of great importance. What's the news?"

"I've received word from the Dark Lord that he has learned of me being Harry's father. He has ordered me to – to –"

"What?" Harry and Sirius both asked.

"To kill him." Sirius dropped into a chair and Harry just stood there with his mouth hanging open.

"You're lying, I know you are!" Sirius snapped. He then jumped at Snape, planning to hurt him in any means necessary.

"Sirius! No. He's not lying. But why?"

"He's Voldemort. To hurt Severus, the same old reason just to get you dead. Fill in the blank," Sirius answered.

Snape stood, and then said the most sincere thing he'd ever said:

"I told Lily I wouldn't let anything happen to you. I promised. I love her. And Harry, I love you."