Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Harry awoke the following morning feeling a vague sense of panic and he lay in bed for a minute or two before he remembered why. When he did remember, he jumped out of bed and ran to his father's bedroom. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer. He's just asleep, Harry told himself. He opened the door and stared in horror at the empty bed.

A moment later he had dressed and was sprinting through the halls on his way to Dumbledore's office. He reached the entrance, but realized he didn't know the password.

"Sugar quill . . . skiving snackbox . . . canary creams." Harry kicked the gargoyle. "Just let me in, you bloody statue!"

"Derek?"

Harry turned and saw Dumbledore down the hall coming toward him. "Professor, my father isn't back yet. He was-"

Dumbledore made a calming gesture. "Derek, relax. He's fine. He's in the infirmary and he is already complaining to Poppy about wanting to leave"

"Thank you, sir," Harry said before heading to the hospital wing.

When he got there, Severus was sitting up in bed reading the Daily Prophet. Harry studied him before approaching. He looked paler than usual and his hands were trembling slightly, but, other than that, he looked fine. Harry let out a sigh of relief and walked forward. Severus laid the paper aside when Harry reached the bed.

Severus took in Harry's flushed face and sweat-soaked hair and raised an eyebrow. "Did you run all the way from the dungeons?"

Harry grinned sheepishly. "Well, not exactly. I ran to Dumbledore's office, he told me where you were, and then I ran here." Harry looked down. "You weren't there when I woke up. I ... panicked."

Harry saw surprise flicker briefly in his father's eyes. "That is . . . understandable, however, I do occasionally end up here after a meeting. It might be prudent in the future to see if I am here before you panic."

"Yes, sir," Harry said, sitting in a chair next to the bed. "Um . . . was it bad?"

Severus paused before speaking, considering how much to tell him. He checked to make sure they were alone. "The people he sent us after escaped using a portkey. I believe they were the same people he spoke of in your vision. He was . . . displeased."

"Cruciatus?"

Severus nodded. "Among other things."

"Who were they?"

"I cannot tell you, Derek. I take you did use the potion."

Harry nodded.

"Good. We will need to start occlumency lessons again."

Harry groaned. "I know it's necessary, but-"

"But?"

"Well," Harry shifted uneasily. "Can you try to explain things better? I mean, how do I clear my mind? How do you just think of nothing?"

"You don't think of nothing, child. You concentrate on one thing only and don't let anything else come into your mind." Severus leaned back and closed his eyes. "I may not have explained it clearly enough last year."

And that, Harry thought, is as close to an apology as I'm going to get.

Harry stayed and ate breakfast with his father and afterwards Severus finally badgered Pomfrey into letting him leave. They went back to their rooms and Harry worked on his summer homework until lunch. He had just finished his essay for Transfiguration when Severus told him it was time to go to lunch.

When Harry entered the Great Hall, he was surprised to see two extra people at the table. There was a woman with strawberry-blond hair and a girl around his age with very dark red, wavy hair. As he sat next to the girl, he noticed the professors giving them curious glances, as well.

Once everyone was seated Dumbledore introduced them. "Good afternoon, everyone. I would to welcome our new Muggle Studies professor, Arianna Turner. This is her daughter, Samantha, who will be starting Hogwarts this year. I ask that you help them feel at home here."

The food appeared and everyone started eating. Harry turned toward Samantha. "Hi, I'm Derek Snape. Professor Dumbledore said your name is Samantha?"

She smiled. "Yes, but everyone calls me Sam. Do you go to school here?"

"I'm starting school here this fall, too."

"Oh, good," she said, sounding relieved. "At least I won't be the only transfer student. Can you tell me a bit about Hogwarts?"

They talked all through dinner and Harry found out that Sam had been raised in the Muggle world. She had known about the wizarding world, but didn't have any contact with it until she was eleven. She had lived in America for about fourteen years until her mum decided to move back. Harry told her the story he and his father come with and felt a stab of guilt when she expressed her sympathy about his 'mother'. They also talked about quiditch and he was delighted to find out that she liked to fly too. They were making plans to go flying when his father interrupted to let Harry know he was going to his lab to brew some potions for the school year. After lunch Harry showed Sam around the castle and the grounds.

For the next few days Harry's time was divided between hanging out with Sam and spending time with his father. He started helping Severus in the potions lab and

found out that, when he wasn't belittling Harry, Severus was actually a good teacher. Harry enjoyed his time alone with his father, but he was anxious that his father might try to talk about what happened at his relatives' house. Thankfully, Severus hadn't tried to make him talk again, but there had been a couple of times when it seemed he was going to bring it up. Harry had either redirected the conversation, or made up some reason to leave. He didn't know how long his father was going to let him avoid the conversation, though.

They had just finished up in the lab one day when Severus handed him several letters.

"What's this?" Harry said.

"I believe they are called letters," Severus teased. Harry mock glared at him and he laughed. "They are from your friends and I believe your OWL results are there, as well."

Harry nervously opened the letter containing his results. He quickly read through the letter and was rather surprised at his grades. He had received a D in History of Magic. Well, I expected that. He also received A in Divination and Astronomy, an E in Herbology, and an O in Transfiguration, Defense, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, and Potions. I got an O in Potions? He thought.

"How did you do?" Severus asked.

"Well, it looks like you won't be rid of me this year," Harry said, handing the parchment to him.

Severus studied the paper before handing it back. "Very good, Derek. I must say, I didn't expect you to do so well after all you went through last year."

"Yeah," Harry said quietly, thinking of Sirius.

Severus awkwardly patted his shoulder. "So, do you know what classes you want to take?"

"I'm still thinking about becoming an auror, so I'll need to take Defense, Charms, Transfiguration, and Potions. I think I'd like to keep taking COMC, too."

Severus frowned. "Are you sure you don't want to drop that one?" Harry nodded. "Very well, I think I will have time to take you to get your supplies tomorrow. You only have about a week until school starts."

"Great . . . um . . . " Harry hesitated. "I was wondering if Sam could come with us. She has to get her school things, too."

"I will speak with her mother about it."

The following morning Harry, Severus, and Sam, flooed from the Headmaster's office to the Leaky Cauldron. They stopped at Gringotts to get some money before going shopping. After they finished purchasing robes and school supplies, Harry and Sam went to Florean's for some ice cream. They promised to meet back at the Leaky Cauldron in an hour.

They had just finished their ice cream and were talking quietly when Ron and Hermione showed up and sat at the table next to them.

"...worried about him. He hasn't answered our letters for more than three weeks and nobody will tell us why." Hermione was saying.

I need to write back to them soon, Harry thought guiltily. I just haven't thought about it. He felt really bad about making them worry. He was startled and flinched slightly when Sam touched his arm.

Sam frowned in concern at his reaction. "Are you all right, Derek?"

"I'm fine," he said, embarrassed.

"Well, it's almost time to go, and Professor Snape doesn't seem like the patient type." She smiled.

Harry laughed. "You're right about that."

They started to leave when Sam noticed Ron and Hermione looking at them. "Can I help you?" she asked, politely.

Hermione blushed. "I'm sorry, but did you say that you're here with Professor Snape?"

"Yes, and my mother. She's the new Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts. Do you go to Hogwarts?"

Hermione nodded. "I'm Hermione Granger and this is Ron Weasley," she said, holding out her hand.

Sam shook her hand. "My name is Samantha Turner, but you can call me Sam. Derek and I are transferring to Hogwarts this year."

"I didn't know the greasy git took students on shopping trips," Ron sneered.

Sam frowned at his rudeness and Hermione glared at him. "Well, I suppose it's only natural for him to do so when one of the students is his son," Sam said.

Harry, who had hung back until now, stepped forward, and extended his hand to Hermione. "Sam didn't introduce us," he said, grinning slightly. "Derek Snape."

Hermione shook his hand dazedly. "I didn't know Professor Snape had a son," she said.

Harry shrugged. "Neither did he. My mum kept it a secret. I didn't know about him until she died this summer," he said, looking down.

Sam touched his arm and Hermione looked sympathetic. "I'm sorry to hear that, Derek," She paused. "Are you two staying at the school?"

Harry nodded.

"Have you seen Harry Potter there?" She asked anxiously.

"No, "Harry said frowning. "Is he supposed to be there?"

Hermione sighed. "I don't know. He's a friend of ours and we haven't heard from him in a while. I was hoping maybe you had seen him."

Harry started to reply, but Ron interrupted. "As if he would tell us if he did," he said sarcastically.

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Come on, Hermione, he's Snape's son. You know how that git treats Harry."

Harry looked at him coldly. "I would appreciate if you did not refer to my father that way in front of me."

Ron stood. "I would appreciate it if you would get the hell away from us."

Harry bit back an angry reply. "Fine." He turned to Hermione. "It was nice to meet you. Come on, Sam. We're late."

Sam said goodbye to Hermione and followed him. They didn't speak on the way back. Harry was furious at Ron for his immature behavior. He had known Ron would be difficult, but Harry hadn't thought he would be this bad. He was starting to think he may not be able to be friends with Ron while he was posing as Derek Snape. In fact, judging from his reaction, it was unlikely Ron would want to be friends even after Harry told him the truth.

They reached the Leaky Cauldron and Severus started to scold them for being late. He stopped when he saw Harry's expression.

"What happened?" he asked.

Harry shook his head. "It's not important." Severus frowned at him. "I'll tell you later," Harry said.

They flooed back to Dumbledore's office and headed back to their respective rooms. Before they parted, Sam stopped Harry.

"Don't let what that boy said bother you. There's always going to be people like that. People who judge you by your parents, or by their own prejudices, are not worth your time." She smiled sadly at him before following her mother.

When Harry and Severus reached their rooms, Severus ordered some lunch from the house elves. Harry still seemed very angry so Severus decided to let him calm down before asking for an explanation. They were halfway done when Severus questioned him about what had happened.

Harry sighed and rubbed his head wearily in a gesture Severus recognized as one of his own. "We met Ron and Hermione while we were gone."

"I take it Mr. Weasley was his usual tactful self," Severus said sarcastically.

"Yeah," Harry laughed bitterly, "and the really ironic thing is he was using the way you used to treat me as an excuse to be rude to me."

Severus frowned in concern. "Harry, I know it's discouraging, but just give it a few weeks. He may just need time to get it through his thick skull that you are not like me. If he doesn't, well, you will not have to be Derek Snape forever."

Harry shrugged. "I know. I just miss them. Sam is really great, but I've been through so much with Ron and Hermione and it's hard pretending I don't know them."

Severus sighed and laid his fork down. He went to Harry and placed his hands on Harry's shoulders. "I'm sorry you have to go through this, Harry. I know it is hard for you, but I am here if you need anything."

Harry looked up at his father and smiled at the sincerity he saw in his eyes. "I know. Thanks, Dad." He stood and hugged Severus. "I better go write to Ron and Hermione."

Severus watched him go into his bedroom still stunned by what Harry had called him. He called me 'dad', Severus thought in amazement. He felt unexpected warmth spreading through his chest that seemed to be a combination of pride and . . . love? No, it couldn't be, he thought, I haven't loved anyone since . . . He shook his head. You're going soft, Severus, he told himself, but that didn't dispel the joy he felt at being accepted by his son.

A/N Thanks to everyone for all the reviews. I'm glad you liked it. I'll try to keep updating regularly. Enjoy!