Thanks for all the input & reviews, they are much appreciated.

Thanks to juliedecarson for beta'ing this chapter.

'Bold'-SS & V corresponding by journal

Most Evil Plan
Chapter 12
Stage Two

'My Lord,' Severus wrote in his copy of the journal, once he was safely cocooned in his own chambers and away from the circus that was currently taking place in the rest of the school, including the headmaster's office.

'Severus,' Voldemort wrote back, 'I trust you informed the headmaster.'

'Yes, my Lord. He in turn announced it to the school during the Halloween feast.'

'Excellent. He is falling right in line with my plans,' Severus could practically hear the Dark Lord's glee at those words.

'My Lord?' Severus questioned. How could the headmaster's interference benefit the Dark Lord? And how did Albus know what Voldemort wanted him to do?

'The entire school believes it is the truth. After all, why would 'The Great Albus Dumbledore' lie about such a thing? Soon the students will inform their parents. It is only a matter of time before the Ministry and the newspapers know. That will only add to Potter's distress. After all, I suspect that not many in the wizarding world would look favorable on the fact that their 'Savior' is the son of a Death Eater.'

And there's the reason why the Dark Lord was so adamant about using him in this scheme, Severus decided. Voldemort not only had the benefit of the initial stress Potter incurred at the realization that his most hated professor was his father, but he also had the added joy of possibly the entire school and wizarding world once more turning their back on Harry due to things he couldn't control.

Of course, Severus thought, there was still much he didn't understand about the plan.

'Of course, my Lord. Your wisdom is supreme. I imagine it is only a matter of time before Potter is once more distanced from his friends. I wouldn't be surprised if his roommates begin to ostracize him, believing him to be dark.'

'All part of the plan,' Voldemort wrote, and Severus could almost feel the Dark Lord gloating as he wrote those words. 'What happened after the announcement?'

'Potter ran out of the Great Hall, with Weasley shouting after him. Apparently the sidekick was upset that he was not previously told this information.'

'And so it begins. And Dumbledore's initial reaction?'

Severus paused as he thought about what to right. He was too distracted by the realization that someone overheard to take notice of Albus's impression.

'I apologize my Lord. I met with the headmaster to share this news. After I informed him, I was distracted by a gasp that came from outside his door, followed by footsteps as the eavesdropper ran away. By the time my attention was focused on Dumbledore again, he had had sufficient time to school his features.'

'I see,' Voldemort wrote. Snape flinched as he noticed how much deeper and darker those words appeared on the page compared to the others. Obviously a sign of the Dark Lord's anger. 'I am disappointed. I ask so little of you and you can't even accomplish that. Know that you will be punished for this.'

'Yes, my Lord. Again I apologize.' Severus looked at the pages, wondering how he could distract Voldemort from the topic of his punishment and failure.

'My Lord, your idea to move the Amevi potions to today's class was a stroke of genius. You were correct when you theorized that this day would have significant meaning for Potter.'

'Naturally, I was,' Voldemort gloated,'Tell me more.'

Severus responded by including a bit of the conversation he overheard earlier and Potter's wish that it didn't happen today. He also added some of his own embellishments, to make it appear that Harry was more distressed then he appeared.

'Excellent, Severus. Now since the entire school is aware of the circumstances, I think it is only natural that you and your son get to know one another better. Invite him to your chambers to tea, there is some information I wish for you to discover for me.'

'My Lord,' Severus protested, not wanting Potter to have access to his personal space, especially after the events of last year when Potter didn't hesitate to enter his pensieve. 'We are not allowed to have students in our private chambers.'

'Ah, but this isn't your student, Severus, this is your SON.'

Well, Severus thought in disgust, how could he argue about that?

Still shaking with rage and magic, Harry left Hermione at the library before he continued on to Gryffindor tower. Students quickly moved out of his way and avoided his gaze as if they expected him to suddenly start acting like Snape.

Without looking at anyone else in the room, Harry entered the sixth year boy's dorm and headed towards his bed. The only thing he wanted to do was draw the curtains around him and forget about this day.

"Hi, Harry," Neville nervously greeted as his friend walked past him.

"Hmp," Harry grunted in acknowledgement, as he continued towards his bed without stopping.

At Harry's lack of greeting, the occupants of the room, Seamus, Dean and Neville looked at each other before Seamus bravely asked, "Is it true?"

Realizing how rude he was being, Harry blushed as he sat down at the end of his bed and faced his friends. "Sorry, guys. It's been a really long day. As for whether or not it's true, do you really think that the headmaster would make such an announcement if it wasn't? Have you ever known the headmaster to lie to us? Not tell us the entire truth, yes, but lie?"

The other boys were shocked at the bitterness in Harry's voice when he mentioned the headmaster. They fully expected, and appreciated such an attitude towards the potion master, but never expected it from Harry in connection with Albus Dumbledore.

"I guess not," Dean answered.

"I didn't think he would lie about this," Seamus said with a grin, "But I told you that I wouldn't believe anything unless you said it."

"Honestly," Harry said with a sigh, "I don't know if I'll ever actually say it out loud. Merlin certainly knows that I don't expect him to act the part." With a grimace, Harry continued, "And I certainly can't imagine calling him father or dad."

Neville, Seamus and Dean nodded in understanding before an awkward silence came over the room. If the reaction of the students he met in the hall or the common room were any indication, Harry could just imagine what they were thinking. Deciding to end the uncomfortable silence, Harry quietly asked, "I'm not sure I want to know, but what happened in the Great Hall after I left?"

"Parvati fainted once she realized that she did attend the Yule Ball with Snape's son," Dean answered, trying to lighten the mood. "On the plus side, though, she's no longer mad or upset that you ignored her the entire evening."

"Neville mumbled something about sharing a room with Snape's son." Not noticing the look of alarm on Harry's face, Seamus continued with a grin, "For a minute there we were afraid that he was going to join Parvati on the floor."

"Neville?" Harry asked quietly, "Are you okay with me staying in the room?"

"Of course," Neville said, not looking at Harry.

"Are you sure? If not maybe I can ask Professor Dumbledore to make other arrangements," Harry said, after all, considering that it was the headmaster's fault he was in this situation, it was only right that he help fix it.

"No, no, that's not necessary. I'm fine with you staying here," Neville repeated, still not meeting Harry's gaze.

Harry gave a sigh as he realized that even if Neville wasn't fine, he wouldn't say anything about it. Instead, Harry decided to address what was really bothering him, "Then why won't you look at me?"

"I don't know," Neville answered just as quietly.

After a few minutes and feeling Harry's unwavering gaze on him, Neville bravely lifted his head and met Harry eye to eye.

"I guess it's just strange. Picturing the guy I've known for five years as the son of the professor I fear the most. The one I hate the most.

"Oh," Neville gasped in concern before Harry could respond. "Please don't tell him I said that."

"Believe me, Neville," Harry drawled. "I have no intention of telling him anything."

"Yeah," Dean commented, "I suppose the two of you really aren't at the point were you confide in one another."

"That's an understatement," Harry snorted. "I believe we are at the point where we can't stand and don't trust the other."

"Not the ideal father-son relationship, is it?" Seamus said with a laugh. "I can't quite picture Snapekeeping you after class for aheart to heart talk, however, I have no trouble imagining him keeping you aftertogive you a detention for daring to be his son."

"Too, true," Dean said as they all joined Seamus in laughter.

Once the laughter faded though, the uneasy silence reigned once more.

"Neville," Harry said with a look at Dean and Seamus as well, so that they would know that he included them in what he was about to say, "You've got to understand, I'm the same guy I've always been. Just because I found out some information about my parents that doesn't mean that I'm going to suddenly start acting different."

When no one responded, Harry tried a second time to get his friends to understand.

"Trust me," Harry pleaded, "Nothing could make me start acting like Snape. I would rather die than turn into him, regardless of how we might be related."

Neville, Seamus and Dean still looked a bit doubtful. As if by consensus, Dean spoke for the group. "It isn't that we don't believe you, Harry. It's just, well, it's genetics. How can you really prevent it?"

With a sigh, Harry continued, "Look, if we had found out that Malfoy was a long lost son of the Weasley's, would you suddenly be inviting him to share our dorm?"

"What? Of course not."

"Bloody hell, Harry! No way would we let him in here."

Well, that's a start, Harry thought wryly. "Would you expect him to stop acting like a vain, conceited, pureblooded, snob? Do you think that he would stop insulting Gryffindors?"

"No," Dean snorted, "It would take a miracle for that to happen."

Neville and Seamus nodded in agreement.

With a pointed gaze at his three dorm-mates, Harry replied. "Then why do you expect me to change so drastically? Everyone avoids me as if they expect me to start deducting points or give detentions every chance I get."

The three Gryffindors looked embarrassed, but remained silent. Put like that, it did sound ridiculous, but could they really take the chance?

"Look," Harry addressed them. "I guess I can understand if you feel a bit uncomfortable around me for a while, but please remember that this information is news to me as well. It's going to be hard enough dealing with the comments and actions of the Slytherins, since I'm sure that Snape won't stop them. And most likely, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff will have a few things to say about this as well. I would like to think that my own house would stand by me, or at least, those in the same year as me."

With a sigh, Harry pulled his feet up on his bed, "If you decide that you can't do that, please let me know. I'm pretty sure that the next couple of days won't be fun, I would like to know who I can count on and who I can't." After uttering the last word, Harry grabbed a hold of the curtains around his bed, pulled them shut and whispered silencing charms. He was pretty sure that he didn't want to hear anything else that they were going to say tonight, especially once Ron returned.

The next morning Harry returned from the bathroom to find an empty room. Realizing that this most likely meant that his friends couldn't handle his new identity, he headed to the common room by himself. Hopefully Hermione or Ginny would be there to offer him some support.

He wasn't sure if he had gotten through to his roommates last night, but he had hoped that at least one of them would bravely stand by him, after all, they were Gryffindors. The last of his hope faded away when his eyes surveyed a common room that only held a few first and second years. On normal days, Hermione would be up before the sun and after getting ready for the day would sit downstairs by the fire and read a book while she waited for him and Ron.

Figuring that Hermione had left the tower with Ron, Harry sighed and began his solitary walk to the door. As he approached his housemates, they fell silent. Harry might not be a genius, but he soon realized that he and Snape were still the topic of conversation. With each step the silence seemed to get louder. First and second years started to scramble away from him, some heading out the door, others hiding behind furniture or books.

Honestly, Harry thought, did they really expect him to turn into Snape? Keeping his head down, and trying not to glare at his insensitive housemates, Harry continued his journey. If this is what the Great Hall was going to be like, perhaps it would be best if he just skipped breakfast. Merlin knew that this wouldn't help his appetite. Harry was positive that this was an indicator of what the rest of the day was going to be like. If he was going to have to deal with this during classes, maybe having breakfast alone wouldn't be that bad.

Deciding that he'd stop by the kitchen for some food before heading out to the lake, Harry began to push open the portrait to leave.

"Harry wait!" he heard a voice cry while another said, "You weren't leaving without us, were you?"

Releasing his hold on the door and causing it to close, Harry turned around to find Hermione and Ginny standing before him.

"Hey," Harry said with a slight smile. "I was just debating whether or not to skip breakfast in the Great Hall."

"You really shouldn't" Hermione advised, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

Ginny however, went for the simple and direct approach, asking, "Why?"

"Just figured I could get some peace and quiet at the lake," Harry answered.

Ginny looked around the silent common room. Even though it was now filled with students of all ages, no one was talking. Some students were staring directly at Harry, while others flickered their gaze between Harry and their friends, as if in silent communication.

"Common room too loud for you?" Ginny asked with a grin.

Harry blushed as he realized how ridiculous he must seem. "Only when they stop talking when I enter the room," he muttered. "At least now I know what they mean by a deafening silence."

Hermione glared at her housemates until they started talking, or at least pretended to talk and act normally. "Come on," she said to Harry and Ginny as she opened the door, "You're not missing breakfast."

"Harry!" Neville called seeing Harry being pushed out of the tower door. "I was waiting to walk with you to the Great Hall."

"Out in the hallway?" Harry asked in confusion. "Why didn't you wait in our room or the common room?"

"If I sat in the common room I might have missed you. The minute I left the dorm this morning everyone started asking me questions about you and Snape."

"See," Harry said with a look at the two girls. "This is why I don't want to go to the Great Hall to eat."

"Tough," Ginny replied, "You're going."

"Absolutely," Hermione agreed as she took hold of Harry's arm and indicated for Ginny to do the same on the other side.

"Well," Neville said feeling unnecessary. "I'll just head down there now. I guess I'll see you there, Harry."

"Wait, Neville," Harry pleaded. "You can't leave me alone with them. Walk with us." Turning to his captors, Harry asked, "Will you please let me go? I can walk on my own."

Hermione and Ginny looked at each other. Giving a nod, Hermione said, "If you promise to go to the Great Hall."

Ginny echoed Hermione's movements. "But you have to promise."

"Fine," Harry agreed. "I promise to go to the Great Hall."

"Okay," Hermione said as she and Ginny released him. "I've never known you to break a promise.

"Thanks," Harry said once he was free, "Now let's go."

The four silently walked towards the Great hall. A few feet away from the closed doors, Harry groaned.

"What is it?" Neville asked in concern, "Are you sick?"

"Oh, no," Hermione argued, hearing what Harry heard, "You are not getting out of this."

"But Hermione," Harry begged, "Listen to them! Even with the doors closed, I can hear them talking about me."

"As you mentioned before, it's not the first time everyone was talking about you," Hermione said, dryly. "You survived before and I'm sure that you will survive this time."

"I shouldn't have to 'survive' breakfast," Harry complained, as he turned to walk away.

"Harry," Hermione admonished, "You promised."

"Hermione, I don't want to break my promise, but I can't do this. Not right now. I have no idea how anyone is going to react.

"Except for you three, everyone else in my own house either hates me or is afraid I'll turn into Snape. I can only imagine how the other houses are going to respond. I don't even know how any of the professors are going to treat me. I can't miss classes, so the only time I might be able to get some peace and quiet is during meals."

"Harry, I understand how you might feel that way," Hermione said, "but don't you think that it would be better to face everyone now and get it over with? If you wait for classes to start, not all of us will be with you. Besides, you did promise."

Harry looked to the doors of the Great Hall to his friends and back at the doors. "What exactly did I promise again?"

"Stop stalling, Harry," Hermione commanded.

Neville, however, looked at Harry andanswered his question. "You promised to go to the Great Hall."

"True," Harry said as a smirk graced his face and a twinkle, similar to that of the headmaster, appeared in his eyes. "But two things…A) I never promised to go to the Great Hall today for breakfast. And" Harry continued as Hermione went to argue that point, "Even if it was implied, I also never promised to enter the Great Hall."

Hermione, Neville, and Ginny stared at him, mouth opened in shock.

"It's starting," Neville mumbled quietly.

"What's starting?" Harry asked confused.

"You're starting to resemble Snape," Neville finally answered.

"Not really," Hermione argued. "I can't quite imagine Professor Snape saying that, but that did sound rather Slytherin-like."

"Ha-ha," Harry laughed, only to stop when he realized that no one else was laughing.

"They have a point," Ginny reluctantly admitted. "While it might not be something Professor Snape would say, it does sound like his thought process. You know," she added at Harry's confused look, "finding the technicalities. I remember one time in potions, I was kneeling on my stool in order to cut the grass roots, well, he gave me a detention because he had told everyone to sit down and that technically I was not sitting."

Harry stared at his friends in shock and horror. He wasn't really turning into Snape, was he?

END CHAPTER 12

Does Snape invite Harry into his chambers as V wanted?
What does V want to know about Harry?
So, does Harry go into the Great Hall for Breakfast? If not, what does he do?

HELP! I need something that the other students do to Harry to embarrass him/tease him about his 'father' for ch 13. Such as: turn his robes or hair green, charm him to look like Snape, something...I had something, but forgot it and can't quite get it back.

1/21/2006