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To Die for Rebirth

Chapter 4

Reluctant Acceptance

Two days had passed since Harry first got back his consciousness. The potions regimen that Madam Pomfrey had prepared for him worked wonders despite the effort it took to swallow the mostly bad-tasting medicines. The past two days had passed in a breeze for him since he was not able to stay awake for more than 10 minutes. He had been able to move around with minimal pain although still being quite weak. Lucky for him Voldemort was not actively crucio-ing people that summer. In fact, Harry had not seen any vision that summer, which often drew his mind to a wondering spree as it was quite uncharacteristic for the Dark Lord to idle around after his very public come-back in the Ministry of Magic Atrium. That thought would cause his mind to divert and think about Sirius' unfortunate death because of his own incompetence.

Harry stirred and woke up from his slumber, feeling the significance improvement of his health. He could still feel slight pain when he stirred but he felt that he would be able to stay awake longer. He did not feel as weak as before. Opening his eyes, he found his Potions professor at his bedside. Severus Snape appeared to be reading a book of which title Harry could not discern due to his horrendous eyesight. He seemed to not notice that younger boy had wakened up. Harry kept silent and observed the man.

He was quite sure that the professor had always been there during his 10-minute consciousness routine. If his memory served him right, the professor had always called for Madam Pomfrey when he woke up and let the matron did her work on him. They had not talk to each other spare the first time when he apologized to him because he would have been fast asleep again after taking the potions. He was not sure on what to feel to have someone always looking after him this way, especially when that someone was his most-hated teacher. He could not fathom why the professor would want to stay in the hospital wing with him. His heart warmed up with the thought of someone caring, but he quickly erased such stupid insinuation from his mind.

He finally decided to announce his awareness. "Professor Snape? Is that you?" he called softly.

"Yes, Potter." The dark figure approached his bedside and he could make out his teacher's outline better. "Pomfrey said that you should feel better when you wake up today because your magical reserve has started to build up to a decent level. Are you feeling any better?" His tone was unreadable.

"I feel much better, actually. I think I should be able to stay awake longer now," Harry answered quietly. He then decided to take the risk to ask for his spectacles. "Professor Snape, by any chance did you come across my spectacles?"

"No, I did not. I'll conjure one for you though." Snape waved his wand and handed him the exact replica of his previous spectacles. "I charmed it to adjust automatically to your eyesight but the charm won't last forever."

Harry took the spectacles, put it on and said his gratitude. There was an uncomfortable silence afterwards, which was only broken by Harry's rumbling stomach.

"Hungry, Potter?" the Potions Master smirked. "Madam Pomfrey had to attend a conference for the day and would only be back to check on you later. She gave me instructions for your potions to be taken after your meal."

"Wheezy," Snape called and a Hogwarts house-elf popped into existence. "Please prepare a bowl of porridge and chicken soup for Mr. Potter," he said. Wheezy replied with a typical house-elf response and left to prepare Harry's food.

While waiting for his son's food to be brought over, Severus dragged his chair nearer to the bed and sat down. Not knowing what else to talk about to his son and to uphold his behavior towards one Harry Potter, he took out his book and started reading again, ignoring the boy. The quarterly potions journal was fairly boring to the common wizard but not to Severus Snape because of his extensive. The journal held the latest breakthrough in Potions and also different research findings that could make potions making much simpler.

Through his peripheral vision he noticed that the Wheezy had brought his son's meal on a tray and set it in front of him. It was not long before he completely forgot about the last passage that he had read and focused his mind on his son although he was still holding the Potions journal, pretending to read. He saw Sebastian tentatively tasting the porridge to measure its temperature and started eating. Severus had to restrain himself from smiling from the pride of seeing his son wisely eating the food slowly although he was famished. He was then appalled by the thought of it. He, Severus Snape, was proud of the son he just found out a few days ago. That was too uncharacteristic of him. He tried to revert back to his journal but he was unable to not look at the eating boy.

He took in his new appearance. The boy got many of his features from his mother. Contrary to popular belief, Lily was quite the plain Jane. She was pretty, but not outstandingly pretty. She had no distinctive feature except for her emerald orbs that swirled with knowledge and power – the same eyes that his son had inherited. Although Sebastian had his mother's non-unique features, Severus had to admit that it was perfect for his son. Lily's plain features gave a soft and kind look. Yet, the slightly-squared jaw, high cheekbones and sharp nose that resembled his, gave Sebastian a strong and manly appearance. He was too entranced to realize that his son had finished his meal for a while.

Severus finally noticed the empty plate and put his journal down, only to find his son looking at him. Merlin knew how long he had been stared at and he was sure he hadn't flipped a page since he sat down. The potions professor had to engage all his will to fight flush of embarrassment from coming appearing on his pale face. He faked a cough and said with his normal, slightly condescending tone, "Why don't you tell me that you are done, Potter?"

"Oh. Umm.. I called you a few times, Professor Snape. But you were reading with full concentration," Potter said after being caught in surprise by his question.

He just gave a terse nod and called Wheezy the house-elf to clear the tray. He then retrieved three phials of potions from the nearby cabinet and handed it over to his son, "Here, drink these. The bright green potion is nutritional potion for your… nutrition deficiencies. This pink potion is for muscle healing, and this purple one is to assist you with your magical reserve recovery. Poppy is not giving you anymore Dreamless Sleep potion because extended usage of the potion can cause addiction."

Severus watched Sebastian drank the three potions dutifully before taking a big gulp of water to wash down the terrible flavor.

"Professor?"

He gave permission to his son to continue with a small nod as he put away the empty phials.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" asked Sebastian innocently.

Severus froze. Sebastian seemed to notice this and quickly added, "Sorry, you don't have to answer that. I – umm.. I'm just being stupid. But, thank you! I'm grateful that you decided to check on me and brought me here."

The older man was conflicted whether he should tell Sebastian about their relationship or not. He was sure that sooner or later, his son would know. Weighing his options in mind, he finally decided to let the truth out. He sighed, rub the bridge of his nose and took out Lily's letter and Sebastian's birth certificate.

"It's fine, Potter - Harry. Here, you will know once you read this," he handed the two pieces of parchment that had changed his views radically since a few days ago.

His son took the parchments and started reading. He observed his constantly changing expression and realized how emotionally transparent Sebastian had been. The phrase of 'wearing his emotions on his sleeves' aptly described the boy. Severus realized that he would have to teach Occlumency to his son again as they were now sure that Sebastian had been somehow connected to the Dark Lord.

"Is this true?" Sebastian's voice broke his chain of thought.

Severus looked at those intense emerald eyes and held his gaze while nodding jerkily. His son moved the first parchment behind and read the second one while touching the space where his name was in wonder. "My name is Sebastian, and I'm named after you?"

The older man wisely decided not to answer what he assumed to be a rhetorical question as Sebastian just continued speaking afterwards. "Over the summer I've noticed my changing features and I have known that James Potter couldn't have been my father. I've been losing his features as they morphed to what it is right now. But never had I imagined that you, of all people, will be my father. Thanks for saving my mum from those dirty bastards. Somehow I wish that we had known this long time ago so I don't have to go back to the Dursleys every summer… Sebastian, huh? I kind of like the name." He finished his monologue softly with a hint of sadness.

Severus couldn't only guess that the sadness was directed to the memoir of his mother and the wishful thinking. "I wish that I had known as well, Potter."

"You can call me Sebastian, I suppose. As it is apparently my true name. I'm actually glad to leave Harry Potter behind. The fame and all that bullshit, you know."

How wrong had he been about his son! He had always assumed that Harry Potter enjoyed walking in the limelight with his followers kissing the ground he walked by. "Language, Sebastian," he reprimanded his son lightly and took the parchments that his son had offered back.

"I know you have apologized about your actions to me in the past but I don't think I can forget them. You had been a total jerk to me. Sorry but even with the letter I don't think I can see you as a father figure, … Snape," Sebastian said with slight vengeance but ended his speech being unsure of what to call his father. He then added hastily when he saw his father's face constricting, "For now, at least."

Severus had to restrain himself from letting out a big breathe and said, "I don't expect you to, Sebastian. But I hope we can build up something over time. Would you like that?"

At Sebastian's tentative nod he added, "You can call me Severus. Or Sir. It's weird to call me Snape since you are a Snape as well. And we need to work on your language, young man."

That ended the lengthiest conversation Sebastian had had since the start of summer and they settled down in a comfortable silence. Severus went back to his Potions journal and gave his son an older copy to read.

"Severus? How is Sebastian doing?" came the jolly voice of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

Both Snapes had been reading the journals for about half an hour and they looked up to the colorfully clothed old man. Dumbledore was wearing his favorite purple robe with blinking golden stars patterns.

"Oh, hello there Harry. Good to see you awake!" Dumbledore greeted his favorite pupil cheerfully.

"It's Sebastian now, Headmaster. Severus has shown me my mum's letter," Sebastian replied curtly, creating evident tension in the room.

Dumbledore face turned grave as he conjured a chair next to where Severus was sitting. "Sebastian, I'm truly sorry about hiding the prophecy from you for so long. My intention was to let you have your childhood without the burden of the prophecy. I planned to tell you when you turn seventeen but last year's incident was unavoidable."

Both professors could see the struggle in Sebastian's face. "Fine. It's not as if I've ever had a carefree childhood though," anger interlaced with sadness colored his voice.

"Ah yes, about that. I have to apologize for putting you with… your relatives. I did not expect that he would go so far. I'm sorry, Sebastian," Dumbledore said with regret evident in both his voice and facial expression. Sebastian just kept quiet and still looked mad although Severus could see the hysteria in his eyes from the mention of his relatives.

Severus decided to step in, "Vernon was dead when I collected you, Sebastian. He died of electrocution. Dumbledore had transfigured his body to a piece of furniture and set 4 Privet Drive in flame."

No response from his son. "We need to decide if you would ever want to reveal that you had been Harry Potter to the community or not. The headmaster had an idea of planting a carbon copy of your body in the burnt ruin and let the authorities find and identify you. That way, Harry Potter would die and no one would suspect you." Sebastian perked up a bit after hearing that idea. He was tired of all the publicity he had gotten as Harry Potter and the execution of the idea would give him reprieve from the savior of the Wizarding World stigma.

"Yes please, I would like that to happen," Sebastian said softly and looked at Dumbledore with a gaze full of meaning. Although he was still mad at the old man, erasing Harry Potter from his identity would do him a lot of good. His gaze to his headmaster seemed to say, "You do it, Old Man and I will try to forget the wrong you did me."

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes came back as he stood up, "Very well then, Gentlemen. It appeared that I have things to do and a big funeral to arrange."

It was a grey Friday and the Godric's Hollow cemetery was filled with mourning witches and wizards. News had it that The-Boy-Who-Lived had been found dead in his muggle's relatives house. The muggle news said that his uncle had locked him in his room and burnt the house down due to the pressure of being out of job. His aunt and cousin were away for vacation to France and his uncle was nowhere to be found. Vernon Dursley was officially a fugitive for homicide and arson.

The Wizarding World wept for the lost of their savior. Hogwarts students and professors, ministry workers and even squibs gathered together in the cemetery for the funeral of one Harry Potter. From the distance people could see a row of redheads sitting in the front row, heads down in despair. Next to the coffin stood three figures. A shabby man who was more a father than anyone else to the boy and two best friends: one redhead and one messy brunette.

On that day the world said their farewell to Harry Potter.

Good bye, Harry Potter.

.

To be continued…

A/N: Fourth chapter for your weekend accompaniment! Next chapter: Good bye, Harry Potter. When I was throwing around the idea whether Harry Potter should live at all, Dumbledore's decision to burn 4 Privet Drive down came into my mind. Hence, I decided to let Harry die and Vernon Dursley missing as a fugitive (although he was actually dead. Yay! Way to go to sully the Dursley name). I should aim to finish Sebastian's recovery and 1 year training hiatus from Hogwarts by Chapter 10! But fret not, during his training there will be a lot of actions from Sebastian, Severus, The Order, and Voldemort.

May I get your opinions for this chapter? Is Severus being OOC? Sebastian/Harry?

Thank you for the reviews, story alerts and favs (also to those reading the story anonymously). Keep the coming! :)

~ Jollybird who is expecting a midterm examination next week and another one the week after – accompanied with one presentation and report deadline. (4 Feb 2012)