DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter. Harry Potter is the creative works of JK Rowling.

Many thanks to juliedecarson for beta'ing this chapter.

Thanks to everyone who is reading this story. Thanks as well to everyone who has included this (or my other stories) in their favorites or C2's.

Many more thanks to those who take time to review & let me know what they think of this story. I love receiving the feedback & knowing that people are enjoying it.

Most Evil Plan
Chapter 7
Shocking

'Severus Snape…Severus Snape.'

The room was so quiet you could hear those last two words echo against the dungeon walls.

A look of shock fleeted over the potion master's face before being replaced by a mask of indifference.

All eyes turned to the professor, as his eyes flickered towards Harry.

Harry avoided the professor's gaze as he said, "See, something's wrong. You're not my…You can't be my…" Harry's voice trailed off as he refused to complete that sentence.

"Father," Severus supplied, arching an eyebrow.

"NO!" Harry vehemently denied, as silence once more overtook the room.

This time it was Snape whose voice rang out, "You have five minutes, bottle and label your potions, then clean your work station."

Severus turned and retreated behind his desk as most of the students went to work following his instructions. Before turning to face his students once again, he gave a silent sigh of relief. He had two things to be grateful for this morning. One, that nobody else's results were unexpected, it would be difficult enough dealing with Potter, he couldn't imagine if he had a hysterical Hufflepuff on his hands as well; and two, that the headmaster didn't provide anyone else with the potion that skewed Potter's results. Severus had had nightmares the night before that two or three students were trying claim him as their parent. Of course, those then lead to nightmares about Voldemort, since the Dark Lord would not have been pleased that his plan didn't work. After all, who would believe that Severus Snape was the father to numerous teenagers, all the same age and in the same potion class?

Harry, however, continued to stare at the potion master in shock. How could he just ignore this? Didn't he want to find out what happened?

"Sir?" Harry asked, approaching the professor's desk after Snape took his seat.

"What is it, Potter?" Severus asked impatiently.

Harry stared at Snape in shock. He couldn't be serious, asking Harry what he wanted.

"Sir, about my potion results…"

"What about them?" Severus asked when Harry fell silent. He glanced around the room and noticed that all work had stopped as the students once more focused their attention on him and Harry.

"Well, they're wrong."

"Then you'll fail this assignment," Severus smirked, "And quite possibly be out of my class."

"But it wasn't my fault! The potion itself was right. It has to be. After all, Malfoy's potion was correct."

"Then what makes you think that yours is incorrect?"

"It said you were my father!"

"And that is erroneous?" Snape replied sarcastically, giving the idea appearance that he didn't believe the results either, yet had no reason not to.

"Of course it is!"

"As much as I would like to agree with you," Severus sneered, "Potions do not lie. As you stated, Mr. Malfoy's results were correct. I don't see how it is possible that your potion, which came from the same cauldron as his, would be incorrect. Believe it or not, it appears that you miraculously brewed a potion successfully."

"Then the vial or parchment must've been contaminated," Harry pleaded. "Or the cauldron, perhaps it wasn't designed to interact with my blood," Harry theorized. "Maybe someone is trying to play a joke on us."

"Perhaps," Severus stated doubtfully, using that one word to make it clear that anyone who attempted to play a prank on him would suffer dire consequences.

"Potter,"

A few snickers and a murmured, "more like Snape," came from some students that had recovered from the initial shock. They, however, were soon silenced as Snape glared across the room and snarled, "Finish cleaning your work stations, then leave."

"Potter," Severus began again, "Miss Granger already informed the class that this potion is considered one of the most secure potions by the Ministry. I highly doubt that sixth year students would be able to succeed in skewing the results when the Ministry's team of top-notch potion makers had failed."

"No, but you might be able to," Harry replied.

Severus just glared at Harry and raised an eyebrow, before sarcastically retorting, "Yes, because it is a lifelong dream to claim Gryffindor's Golden Boy as my son."

"Okay," Harry reluctantly, admitted, "So maybe it wasn't you. But still, something has to be wrong. I refuse to accept this."

Severus sighed as he turned towards Hermione, as she and Blaise prepared to dispose of their extra potion. "Miss Granger, stop what you are doing. I need a spare piece of parchment for Mr. Potter."

"Yes, sir," Hermione answered as she retrieved one from her bag.

"Mr. Potter, I assume that you trust Miss Granger's potion is correct and that her parchment would be spell free?"

"Yes," Harry admitted, adding a 'sir' at Snape's glare.

"Miss Granger, please select an empty vial from the stores."

"But," Harry began to protest.

"In the unlikely event that all the vials have been contaminated, please check it for spells."

"Yes, sir," Hermione responded as she followed the professor's instructions.

"Professor," Hermione called a few minutes later, "there are no spells on this vial."

"Very well, Miss Granger, can you please fill the vial with your potion, then leave your cauldron as is."

All the students watched as Hermione filled the vial and handed it to Snape.

Snape took the vial and passed it to Harry. "Mr. Potter, please add the last ingredient."

Harry took a deep breath as he added drops of his blood before mixing the potion. At a nod from Snape he unrolled the borrowed parchment and dropped some of his potion on it.

He looked in horror as once more, 'Harry James Potter, son of Lily Evans Potter and Severus Snape' was displayed.

As Harry began to shake his head, Hermione asked, "Sir? Isn't there another way to check if these results are accurate?"

Harry shot Hermione a look of gratitude and mouthed 'thank you' to her.

"And why would we do that, Miss Granger?"

"Well, you have to admit that Harry's results are unexpected. How do we really know that Malfoy's results are correct?"

"Hey!" Malfoy shouted in protest.

Hermione barely spared him a glance as she continued, "Maybe he did do something to the cauldron and Harry's results are just a strange side effect of that spell."

"Ten points from Gryffindor for suggesting that another student sabotaged this lesson," Severus smirked. He wasn't surprised that Miss Granger had come to the defense of her friend, nor that she wanted more proof than this potion to confirm the boy's paternity.

Severus reluctantly addressed the students still present and asked, "Does anyone know how to change the Amevi potion to the Consanguinitas potion?"

As expected, only Hermione and Draco raised their hands.

"Mr. Malfoy?"

"You need to neutralize the slug heart by adding crushed centaur hoof. Then add frogspawn and simmer for forty-five minutes; once that is done, then you add the blood of those in question. The potion will change color depending on the familial relationship between the blood samples that was were contributed."

"Very good, five points to Slytherin." Turning to Harry, he said, "I wish to uncover the truth as much as you do. If you are still concerned about the validity of your results, we can convert the remainder of Miss Granger's potion to the Consanguinitas potion."

"Fine," Harry agreed, before adding, "But I want Hermione to do it."

"Very well, but she will be assisted by Mr. Malfoy, since you do not have the acceptable skills. The three of you will report back here after your last class."

"But-"

"Mr. Potter, class ended ten minutes ago, and as fascinating as this must have been for your classmates," Severus sneered, glaring at the other students who had refused to leave, "I'm sure that they are hungry."

"But-"

"And I do not think this would be considered an emergency by your other professors to excuse you from their classes. Class dismissed, now get out."

"But-"

"What is it, Potter?" Severus asked, once more igniting the class into snickers.

"How do you know that no one will interfere with Hermione's potion while we are gone?"

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, Miss Granger, please place an imperturbable spell on your cauldron and set it to a password. The rest of you, get out."

As the students exited the lab, Severus could hear their conversation.

"Something's not right," Harry told Hermione. "I mean, it can't be true, right?"

"I don't know, Harry," Hermione whispered softly. Oh, how she wished she knew what was going on. "Professor Snape was too calm, almost as if this wasn't a surprise to him. Of course, he did look surprised at first, but quickly retreated back to-"

"Back to the snarky git he is."

"Harry! That's a professor you're talking about," Hermione scolded.

"And perhaps your father, as well," Malfoy smirked. Neither of them had noticed that he had been following them since they left the lab.

"He is not!" Harry protested.

"Then how do you explain why he was so calm. He probably knew this whole time, but just didn't want anything to do with you."

"Shut up, Malfoy."

"Harry, just ignore him. I don't think he's right. As I said earlier, Professor Snape did look surprise at first. Besides, he couldn't really protest and yell in front of everyone." Hermione thought for a minute before continuing, trying to make Harry feel better, "He's probably in his room right now throwing things around and breaking them."

"Don't say that!" Harry yelped. "That's what I do when I'm really upset," Harry recalled, thinking about the headmaster's office. "I really don't want to think that we have something in common. Especially giving the results of my potion."

"Don't worry, Potter," Malfoy inserted with a smirk. "He's probably not doing as your friend suggested."

Harry stopped and looked at Malfoy in shock. Was he trying to comfort a Gryffindor? Now Harry knows the world is coming to an end.

"More likely he is in his room trying to kill himself. Nothing more disgraceful than having a Gryffindor for a son." And with a smirk, Malfoy walked on towards the Great Hall, leaving Harry and Hermione staring after him.

"Harry? What's going on?" Neville asked as they ate lunch that afternoon. "Everyone keeps looking over here at you."

"Well, a funny thing happened with my potion today…" Harry began, not quite sure what to say.

"What potion?" Ginny asked.

"Amevi."

"What went wrong?" Ron asked, for once wishing that he was in NEWT potions with his friends. He hated not knowing what was going on with them.

"Apparently nothing," Harry muttered.

"Then what's the problem?" Ginny asked, her face echoed the confusion of the students around them.

"The problem was the results," Harry vented. "I'm telling you, somebody probably spelled the vial or parchment."

"Harry, I checked the vials, they weren't spelled. Plus you used parchment from my supply," Hermione reminded him. "The result was the same."

"That doesn't mean it's true," Harry stated, still in denial.

"Don't worry, we'll find out the truth after class."

"Even that is too long to live with this information," Harry complained as if in agonizing pain.

"What information?" Ron asked, his mouth half filled with food.

"Harry, what did your results show?" Ginny asked.

Harry just sat there shaking his head and refusing to answer, while students around the great hall whispered or laughed.

"Hermione?" Ginny asked after a few minutes.

Hermione also shook her head. She had a feeling the information would get out soon, but she wouldn't be the one to tell it.

"Hey, Snape Junior!" Some of the Slytherins called from across the room. At the head table Snape shuddered in revulsion, as he heard his Slytherins taunt his 'son'. Now Draco decides to overcome his reluctance and speak out against his head of house, Severus thought ironically. He couldn't feel this way when there was only a handful of sixth years in the room. No, not Draco, he had to find his courage when there was a room full of students and professors.

A few moments of silence overtook the table before a soft "Oh," was whispered by Ginny as she realized that she had finally got her answer.

"What?" Ron asked looking between Harry and the Slytherins a few times. "Please tell me I'm wrong and that I'm jumping to conclusions," he begged, after putting the pieces together.

Harry just shook his head, refusing to meet his friends' eyes.

"How did that happen?" Ron screeched, attracting more attention.

"I told you. Somebody spelled the vial or parchment, or something," Harry explained desperately.

"What happens after classes?" Neville asked quietly.

Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny looked at him in confusion. Neville pointed to Hermione and said, "You said that you'll find out the truth after classes. I was just wondering how."

"Oh, we are converting the Amevi potion to the Consanguinitas potion after class," Hermione explained.

"Hopefully that will put an end to this mess," Harry muttered as another Slytherin called for Snape Junior, making their table erupt in laughter once again.

"Severus," Minerva inquired, gaining the attention of all the professors seated at the head table, "Why are the Slytherins calling for Snape Junior? Is one of the first years your child?"

At the first taunt, the professors sneaked looks at Severus to see how he reacted. He should have known that the Slytherins wouldn't let the matter rest, nor would the professors.

"No," Snape answered honestly and succinctly.

"I did'n know ya had kids," Hagrid said as he took his seat.

"Neither did I," Severus replied dryly.

"Something must have happened to make the students believe you have a child attending this school," Minerva reasoned. "I don't believe that any of our students would start such a rumor about you; and especially not your Slytherins."

Severus didn't answer since he was too busy trying to think of ways to get revenge on his Slytherins for bringing this matter to the attention of the other professors. He at least hoped that he would be left in peace until dinner.

"Weren't the sixth years scheduled to brew the Amevi potion today?" Sprout asked, before adding, "I believe you mentioned it when you asked me for daisy roots."

Severus groaned, he should have known better than to release unnecessary information. Then again, who could have predicted the pandemonium this information had caused. Once more he was contemplating thoughts of vengeance, this time on the Dark Lord as well as his Slytherins.

"Is that what happened?" Flitwick asked as he looked around the Great Hall.

"Oh, my," Madam Hooch stated in shock. "I suppose the child didn't know before today?"

"I imagine that Severus didn't know either," Minerva stated quietly. "Otherwise he wouldn't have had the children brew that potion."

"Unless he wanted to shock his son or daughter," the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor inserted. He wouldn't put it past Snape to do just that.

Severus remained silent as the professors tried to figure out exactly what happened in his classroom this morning.

"If that was true, then it obviously isn't a Slytherin. I can't imagine Severus doing something to deliberately hurt one of the students in his house," Minerva asked.

Ah, good old Minerva, Severus thought, she always did try to defend him. He wondered if she would still do that once Voldemort's plan was revealed.

"So, Severus, care to tell us who the lucky student is that gets to call you dad?" The headmaster asked.

Severus just glared in response. The old man knew he didn't want to do this, did he really think that Severus would joyfully proclaim Potter as his son? The headmaster did bring up an interesting point, though. Potter better not call him dad, not if he wanted to live, Severus thought. Regardless of what the Dark Lord wanted.

"At least tell us if it's a bouncing baby boy or daddy's little princess," Sprout pleaded.

"Why?" Severus asked sarcastically, "So you would know whether to buy pink or blue booties?"

The professors stared at him in shock before turning to each other. Finally one of them had the courage to quietly state what they were all thinking. "So it is true then. You really have a child that's attending Hogwarts?"

Severus groaned, but refused to speak. Why did he just confirm that for them?

"What do we know?" One of the professors asked as they began to gossip about the identity of Severus's child.

"Well, it's a sixth year," Hooch commented. "Who are the sixth years that are in NEWT potions?"

"I don't think Severus knew beforehand," Sinistra commented. "If he did, then the headmaster would know."

"How do you know he doesn't?"

"Because he just asked who it was," Sinistra retorted. "Besides, if more than one person knows a secret in Hogwart's then everyone knows it."

"True," the other professors agreed.

"So it could be a Slytherin."

"It must be a Slytherin," they all agreed, luckily loud enough to block out the headmaster's chuckle and Severus's groan.

Although Severus had been joking when he mentioned the booties, he wasn't quite sure about it now. The professor's behavior reminded Severus of first time grandmothers with

the way they became so excited at finding out about his 'child'.

Severus was jolted out of his musing when the professors started to name off sixth year Slytherin students, regardless of their placement in NEWT potions.

"Blaise Snape"

" Now it could be a girl," one of the professors commented before saying, "Pansy Snape"

"No, I've got it, Draco Snape"

"Theodore Snape, at least he has dark hair."

Perhaps he should leave, Snape thought, before they get to Vincent and Greg. Obviously they didn't need him here for this.

"Millice-"

"Wait a moment," Flitwick interrupted, "It was the Slytherins who were calling for Snape Junior, so it is highly unlikely that it is one of them. Severus's child must be in another house."

"Surely not one of my Hufflepuffs," Sprout stated, after all, none of her sixth years resembled Severus in looks or manners.

"Ravenclaw?" Madam Hooch suggested, as the other professors nodded in agreement.

"Why not Gryffindor?" Albus merrily asked, only to be shushed by the other professors as they tried to figure out who Severus's child could be.

END CHAPTER 7

Consanguinitas -atis f. relationship by blood , consanguinity.

UPCOMING:
CHAPTER 8: Different Potion(Different or SameResults?)

9/8/05