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, Thank you so much for your help.

Bold: Flashback
Italics: Conversation between Harry & Hermione that Snape spies on—slight change of POV

MOST EVIL PLAN
CHAPTER 8

TAUNTS AND TESTS

Severus walked down the corridor of the dungeons, his regular scowl on his face, grateful that this day was almost over. As horrendous as lunch had been, the rest of the afternoon was been worse. Most of the students in his afternoon classes had spent the time whispering to each other or staring at their professor, looking for some resemblance between him and Potter. Glaring, deducting points, and threatening them with detention didn't keep them from this new pastime.

The times between classes were about the same. When he tried to leave the lab, like he normally did, he had ended up spending that time trying to avoid the staring students in the hallway. If he stayed in his office or classroom, almost every other professor in the school came to visit him, citing some reason why they needed to be in his presence. Of course, once in the room, those professors started to ask him about his 'child'. On the plus side, Severus thought, he had been spared the offer of lemon drops, since the headmaster knew the truth.

Snape paused as he remembered Professor McGonagall's visit.

"Lovely day, isn't it Severus?" Minerva asked as she closed the door behind her and set up a privacy charm.

"Gorgeous," Severus drawled in monotone, waving a hand towards the concrete walls. "I just love the view from my window. All that sunshine and the birds singing."

"Severus, you don't have a window," Minerva stated.

Severus simply raised one eyebrow as if to ask 'your point is?'

"Fine," Minerva huffed, "Be like that. I just wanted to see how you were doing. I'm sure the news was as shocking to you as it was to your child."

Oh, you couldn't be more wrong, Severus thought.

"And I suppose you want to know who that child is?"

"Only if you wish to tell me," Minerva spoke quietly. "Just know that I am here if you need me. I'm sure this isn't easy for you or your child."

"I will let the child know that."

"Severus, I am here for you as well as your child. Just because you are an adult, it doesn't mean that you have to handle everything by yourself. After all, this is an unusual situation."

Snape remained silent, thinking that Minerva didn't know how right she was regarding the uniqueness of this situation.

"I just wanted to let you know how happy I am for you," Minerva continued. "And that whoever this child is, he is lucky to have you."

That sentence brought Severus's head up with a jerk.

"And what do you mean by that?" Snape asked in a chilling tone. He might not actually be a father, but Minerva didn't know that.

"Severus, calm down," Minerva said as she laid her hand on comfortingly on his arm before he pulled away. "I meant what I said. I knew you for seven years as a hardworking, intelligent student. And these last fifteen years as a coworker. You can be sarcastic, rude, opinionated, and insensitive. But you are also responsible and caring. Oh, maybe not caring as in offering a student a shoulder to cry on, but I know that you will do anything and everything to help and protect the students in your care, even those you claim to dislike or loathe. It is no secret to the entire staff how much you care for your Slytherins. I can only imagine how much more you would care for your son. You'll be a terrific father, and I'll say it again, any child would be lucky to have you."

Severus looked into her eyes, trying to gage the truth of her words. Finding no deceit, he asked, "First of all, it is quite possible that my child already has a father." After all, Severus thought, there were few students in the school without parents, so without knowing who his 'child' was, the odds were in favor of that situation, "And does not wish for me to be a part of their life. Sec-"

Minerva angrily interrupted, "If your child fails to see beyond the surface, but rather bases his opinion of you from your classroom demeanor, than I am quite certain that such a student is not worthy of your name or time. Furthermore, I would go as far to say that that child is a disgrace to Hogwart's and all that we teach. Hopefully we are not only teaching these students 'foolish wand waving', as you call it, but are also teaching these students how to think and act for themselves," she paused for a moment and then hastily added, "as well as what is right. With all the magic that encompasses their lives, they should know that they are seeing illusions. It is up to them to see past that.

"We are at war, and have been preparing for this war for quite sometime. It would be a disgrace if one of our sixth year students based such an important decision on opinions, hearsay, or rumors and not take the time to gather the pertinent facts for themselves and make an informed, unbiased opinion."

During his coworker's outburst, Severus gave no indication that he heard a word she said, but taking advantage of her pause, he continued, "Second of all, what makes you believe that my child is male?"

"Severus, I may not be a Slytherin," McGonagall stated, ignoring Severus's snort, "But after teaching in this school for forty years, I have learned a thing or two about Slytherins and their cunningness."

Severus glared at the transfiguration professor, challenging her to share what she learned about his students.

"I am quite sure that if your sixth year potions class revealed that you had a daughter, your snakes would've taunted 'Snapette' and not 'Snape Jr."

With those words, Minerva released the silencing charms and left the dungeon before Severus could state his third point about it being none of her, or the other professor's business.

Throughout the day, he had thought about Minerva's words and her protective attitude. He was used to hearing her get riled up to protect one of her idiotic Gryffindor 'cubs'. He just never thought he would hear her use that same tone to defend him. Of course, once it became known that this battle was between him and the Golden Gryffindor, Severus suspected that any support he had previously garnered would be relinquished in favor of his 'son'.

As he silently approached the lab he could hear Potter and Granger talk. Stopping before the last turn, he tried to listen to their conversation. He admitted that he was curious about how Potter really felt about this. Not to mention that it would be wise to have something to 'report' to the Dark Lord.

Snape paused as he tried to listen to what his two students were saying. Realizing that they were talking too softly to be heard by normal standards, Snape silently casted a spell on his ears to decipher even the smallest sounds.

Much better, he thought, as he spied on the two Gryffindors.

"Don't worry, Harry, we'll get to the truth," Hermione comforted her friend.

"That's what I'm afraid of," Harry moaned. "What if he is my father? What would I do then?"

Hermione honestly didn't know. "Surely there is something good if that is the case."

Harry looked at her in disbelief. She thought that there might be something good from this situation? Well, he thought, perhaps there was.

"Well, if he is my father, it might explain why the sorting hat said that I would do well in Slytherin our first year. I much prefer that reasoning than the fact that Voldemort is in my head. Perhaps parseltongue runs in his family, as well."

Luckily his years as a spy kept Snape from gasping from the surprise he felt at those words. The golden boy of Gryffindor would do well in Slytherin? What was the world coming to?

"See? A bright side to everything," Hermione stated, with a grin.

Sure, real bright, Harry thought to himself. "I just wish this didn't happen today."

"Why…oh," Hermione muttered quietly as she remembered the significance of Halloween for her friend.

"I also can't help but wonder if they knew. Well, I kind of assume that my mom would have known, but perhaps she didn't. If she did know, the question is did she tell my dad, er, James that I wasn't his son? And if he knew, did he tell anyone? I'm pretty sure that he didn't tell Sirius. He really didn't like Snape. I'm positive that those feelings of dislike would've carried over to Snape's son, even if James had accepted me. There is no way that Sirius would have loved me if he knew the truth.

"Perhaps it's best that he's dead," Harry continued despondently. "It's difficult enough that I might have to accept Snape as my father, but I don't know if I could have lived if I had ended up losing my godfather because of it."

"Harry, I'm sure you wouldn't have lost Sirius because of this," Hermione protested.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked dubiously. "I'm not even convinced that I won't lose Ron's friendship because of this."

"Harry, that's ridiculous!" Hermione scolded. "He was fine at lunch."

"Yeah," Harry agreed, drawing the word out, "he was fine after I told him that I was sure something interfered with the results."

"Well, you'll still have me, regardless of what the results show."

Oh, how sweet, Severus thought sarcastically as he started to feel a bit nauseous listening to the conversation between the two friends.

"Thanks," Harry said, before going back to the previous topic. "I still wonder if Snape knew before hand."

"Professor Snape, Harry," Hermione corrected.

Severus had to stifle a laugh, even with everything that was happening, Granger still attempted to have her friends treat the professors with respect. Of course, he then cringed when he heard Harry's reply.

"Hey, if he is my father than I can call him whatever I want. Perhaps I should call him 'Daddy Snape'? Is that respectable enough for you? Or would you prefer the more formal 'Father Snape'? After all, I have to distinguish between him and James somehow."

"Fine," Hermione grumbled, admitting defeat, at least for the moment, "Call him whatever you want."

"I still want to know if he knew this whole time. Maybe Malfoy was right."

"Harry, when has Malfoy ever been right, at least when it involved you? Besides, as I said earlier, Professor Snape did have a look of surprise on his face after I read the results out loud. If he knew, I doubted that he would have had me read the results out loud. I'm sure he didn't like all the attention he received due to all the rumors that are flying around the school."

"Neither do I."

Sure you don't, Snape thought, you are probably reveling in it. All this attention and the boy wonder didn't even have to save anybody or fight anything.

"I know you don't, Harry, but at least this time you have someone to share the attention with you."

"Oh, yeah, I'm sure Snape will be a big help. He probably thinks I'm enjoying this."

Hermione was silent. Much as she hated to admit it, Harry was probably right about Professor Snape, not that she would say something like that about a professor.

"I've been thinking," Hermione stated, ignoring Harry's exaggerated shocked expression, "if he did know, that might explain why he was so willing to admit you into his class. I mean, it makes sense that if you are his son that he would want you to have the best and most complete education possible. Potions is a wonderful subject. And regardless of what you might think, he is one of the best potion masters in the country."

In the world, Severus corrected, not even recognizing the compliment the young witch had given him.

"If he knew, then how do you explain how he has treated me for the last five years?"

Hermione was silent once more as she thought about his question. "Maybe he just found out himself. Perhaps he received a timed-delayed letter, or perhaps he found a long-lost diary."

"Sure he did," Harry snickered. Honestly, he thought, what were the odds of that happening?

Finally deciding that he had learned enough, Severus ended the spell and turned the corner to look at his two students

"Glad to see you're on time for something," Severus addressed Harry as he opened the door to the lab to allow them to enter. "Draco will be here shortly. Miss Granger, why don't you start preparing the ingredients."

While Draco and Hermione worked on the potion, Harry and Severus were left staring at each other, neither one knowing what to say. Snape had a feeling that it would be useless trying to talk to his 'son' before Harry was convinced that it was the truth. Harry however, had a feeling that no matter what he said, Snape would just deduct points or assign him detentions.

"Professor," Malfoy said, breaking the silence, "The frogspawn has been added to the potion, it just needs to simmer for forty-five minutes."

"Very well, thank you, Draco." Turning to include all three in his next statement, Severus said, "You can wait here or you can leave and return in half an hour," he offered.

"I'll wait," Harry firmly stated, glaring at the cauldron as if he could change the results by will alone.

"Me, too," Hermione said, after a brief glance at Harry. She took the seat next to him and opened her bag to extract a book.

Draco just shrugged as he took a seat at the next work bench. After knowing what all three students were doing, Severus retreated to his office.

"Harry, you might as well get some work done while we wait," Hermione directed.

"Like I can think about homework at a time like this," he grumbled.

"Like you think at all," Draco taunted the Gryffindor.

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry said half-heartedly.

"Just ignore him, Harry," Hermione instructed. "Just open your book and read. It will get your mind off of things."

"Ha," Harry scoffed. "The only thing that would get my mind off ofthe potion is if Voldemort started attacking right now."

Hermione just rubbed his back consolingly, "It will be okay," she promised.

"How?"

"Well…maybe you can leave the Dursley's?"

"Doubtful," Harry muttered. "My mum's blood, remember? Besides, leave the Dursley's to live with Snape? I don't think so. Better the devil you know."

"Harry, he's not that bad," Hermione stated.

"To you," Harry added.

"I'm sure he'll be a great father," Hermione said, trying to reassure Harry.

"To a Slytherin, maybe."

"Well," Hermione stated matter-of-factly,"you w-"

Glancing between the door to Snape's office and Draco, Harry interrupted her and hissed, "Hermione, not here."

"Fine," Hermione reluctantly agreed, while Draco looked at them curiously. "But if he is your father, you should tell him."

"Like he'll believe anything I say. Even if James Potter isn't my father, that doesn't mean that Snape will change his opinion of me."

"He will," Hermione said confidently. "And you'll change your opinion of him, once the two of you get to know one another."

Harry fell into silence, choosing not to respond. He knew that if he said what he was thinking 'I don't want to get to know him', Hermione would start to lecture him on why he should give Snape a chance.

"He's not that bad," Malfoy spoke in defense of his Head of House. Sure, the man was critical and sarcastic, but he did support those in his care.

"Yeah, to a Slytherin," Harry repeated.

"And he wouldn't be to his son," Draco muttered. "I'm sure that if you were his son, he wouldn't treat you the same."

"Yeah, he'll probably treat me worse," Harry muttered "Weren't you the one who said that there was nothing more disgraceful than having a Gryffindor for a son? And that he was probably killing himself?"

"Please," Draco sang, drawing the word out, "I wasn't serious. A Slytherin is much too ambitious to kill himself. If he was really ashamed, he would find a way to kill you."

"Thanks," Harry grumbled, "That really makes me feel so much better."

"That was if he was ashamed," Malfoy reiterated, not sure why he was trying to make Potter feel better about the fact that Snape was his father. After all, this was the type of information that could be used to taunt Potter for years. "I doubt that he really would be. Doesn't every man dream of having a son?"

"Perhaps," Harry acknowledged, once again asking, "But a Gryffindor?"

"Granted, it's not as good as a Slytherin or a Ravenclaw, but it still has to be better than a Hufflepuff."

"Great, third place," Harry mumbled. "That doesn't change the fact that I'll be his son with the name and face of his childhood enemy."

"You could always change your name," Draco suggested with a smirk, earning a glare from Harry. Draco just stared at the dark-haired Gryffindor, amazed at the resemblance to Snape that showed when Potter imitated one of the potion master's looks.

Before he could comment on it, Hermione shared what she had been pondering these last few moments.

"I wonder what spell your mum used to change your appearance. It has to be quite powerful to last so long. Perhaps it is permanent?" Hermione wondered, not really expecting an answer.

Since Potter was no longer glaring, thus ending the resemblance to Snape, Draco decided not to mention it at this time. Instead, he thought of another issue that would need to be addressed if Potter was a Snape. And Draco was slowly losing what doubts he had.

"With Potter being the son of the Head of Slytherin, I wonder if this means that he'll be considered a member of Slytherin?" Draco shared. Not only was he curious if it would be true, but he was also sure that it would upset the Golden boy. The only other thing he knew for sure was that if Potter was Snape's son, Snape wouldn't allow them to hold any more Potter-bashing parties.

Once more, Draco smirked when, as if on cue, Harry protested. "No! I'm not changing houses."

"Good question," Hermione answered, not noticing Harry's protest. "I don't believe this situation was discussed in Hogwarts, a History. Probably because it has never occurred. If a head of house's child did attend the school, they were always sorted into the house of that parent."

As Harry, quietly banged his head against the desk, hoping to wake himself up from this nightmare, Hermione and Draco continued to debate this point. They discussed such things as class assignment, sleeping arrangements, meals, and points. Draco figured that any points received should be awarded to Slytherin, while points taken should be deducted from Gryffindor. After all, most of the times when Potter lost points it was because of his Gryffindor-like behavior. They also discussed what this would mean regarding Quidditch games. Hermione really didn't care, so Draco decided that Potter would play for them or at least not play for Gryffindor in the games against Slytherin. Much as he hated to admit it, Potter really was the better seeker of the two.

Finally, Harry had had enough, and sitting straight up in his chair, he said, "Guys, you're talking about this like it's true. It could be a mistake."

"It could be true, also," Draco said, smirking at Harry's discomfort.

"He's right, Harry. After all, you tested the Amevi potion three times."

"Seven," Harry grumbled as he corrected his best friend. There was the first time he tested it when Malfoy gasped at the results; the four times he desperately re-added his blood trying to get different results while Snape was reviewing his classmates potions; the last time he tested his own potion while Snape stood waiting for his results; and the time he used Hermione's leftover potion.

"See? Even more reason to believe that the results are true and that he is your father."

Harry glared at her. Didn't she know that this was not a time to be reasonable or logical? "Even you said that Malfoy or somebody could've done something."

"Hey, it wasn't me," Draco defended himself. "I was as surprised as everyone else about your results. I actually thought it was a joke you or Snape were playing on the other."

"Well, it wasn't me," Harry said, glaring at the doorway of Snape's office.

"Well, I sincerely doubt that Professor," Hermione stressed his title with a pointed look at Malfoy, "Snape would play such a joke on anybody. He's too mature for that."

"You mean too much of a-"

"Harry!" Hermione hissed as she eyed the open door to Snape's office. "Show some respect. He's still your professor and most likely your father, as well. You don't want to start the relationship off on the wrong foot."

Harry snorted. Five years of Snape tormenting him wasn't the wrong foot?

"I won't believe he's my father unless this potion is finished and confirms it."

As Hermione looked at the time, Snape stepped out of his office and showed that he heard at least part of their conversation as he said, "Speaking of finishing, I believe it's time to add the final ingredients."

Harry moaned as the three of them stood up and walked over to the cauldron. If Snape heard them talking, then most likely Harry would probably have detention before he left the dungeon. Of course, if Snape was his father, he would probably be grounded as well.

Snape passed a knife to both Hermione and Draco.

"Miss Granger, add two drops of Mr. Potter's blood to the cauldron. Mr. Malfoy, add the same amount of my blood."

Harry held his hand out for Hermione to obtain the required amount of blood. Right before she cut his hand, Harry closed his eyes. Not out of fear or pain, but rather in a silent prayer, hoping that this potion wouldn't show the same results as the Amevi potion.

Draco, noticing Harry's actions, taunted him, repeating words he used five years earlier, "Scared, Potter?"

Instead of echoing the reply he gave five years ago, Harry quietly admitted, "Terrified, but not of the knife."

After the last ingredients were added, Snape quickly healed his own palm then than Harry's before peering into the cauldron.

"Hermione," Harry whispered, as he too set his gaze on the potion before them. "What are the result options again?"

Before she could reply, Severus answered, "As it would apply to this situation: Red…no relation; Orange…distant relation; Yellow…cousins; Green…siblings; Blue…father and"

"Son." Harry completed in tune with Snape as the potion turned and stayed blue.

END CHAPTER 8 TAUNTS AND TESTS

What is going on with Draco? Why is he so...nice (for Draco at least)? How will he handle this? How do YOU think he should handle this?

10/22/05