Magic On Strike

Christmas day was good. After the small talk of where Harry acquired such rare potion materials; Harry watched everyone open their stocking presents. It was humorous for everyone to open their little things. The woman got jewelry. Matching earring, necklace, and bracelet sets; both silver. Harry informed he had a set for Andromeda too, so they'd all match as sisters. Severus was gifted a friendship bracelet that Lily made for him, but never got to give because of their fight and the friendship ending. Harry had found it in a box of his mother's things, there were two. One obviously meant for Severus, and the other for Lily. Severus seemed to recall that Lily was wearing her bracelet when she died. The plan had always been that when Voldemort no longer a threat to them, or was defeated, Lily wanted to thank Severus for getting them into hiding, saving them and hope to become friends again. Lucius and Tom both got snake cufflinks, and gold watches. Draco got some little treats, and a gold bracelet with his initials on it plus a snake similar to the one on his silver ring that he always wore. Draco got a wand holder for the arm. Harry remembered Draco liking Harry's, so Harry got him his own in the same style. The last gift was all of their wands, except Severus's. The first remark had been Tom saying that Harry said he wouldn't give them back until he was sure that they could be trusted. Harry only replied that they earned his trust the day they all stood up for him against his uncle at the tree farm.

It was a great morning, and the plan had been for the Lupin's and Tonks's to come. Unfortunately, the Christmas plans didn't hold for what they were set it. Severus had to phone the Lupin's with Harry's cellular and let them know they shouldn't come over because Harry was sick and in the worst of it. It started shortly after the stockings were gone through, Harry fell into a coughing fit where it sounded like he was choking. It was a group effort from all the other housemates to get Harry to agree to cancel the rest of the plans for the day, and rest. It was clear to see the overall concern, so Harry didn't fight them. The teenager did stay downstairs where it was warm by the fire, but wrapped up in a blanket and slept there. Well, it was small naps throughout the day and staying hydrated and medicated. Nagini and Slythers both wrapped themselves around Harry to try and help keep him warm. It took a few more days until Harry was better, and the last two were the worst because Harry lost his voice entirely. But by the 29th, Harry was good again. His voice came back and everything cleared up. Harry spent the 29th with taking it easy, but on the 30th, everyone chipped in to help him clean the house because they were doing the New Year's party. Harry would get to see all his friends again, and Harry let Draco invite his friends and their parents.

The families those guys were staying with already had plans, so thankfully, it meant Harry didn't have to invite everyone. His house would be full, wall to wall, if everyone came. No, this would be a semi small gathering of people. However, the parents weren't coming, for the Slytherin group of Draco's friends. The only question had been for how to get everyone there, so Harry sent Kreacher and Dobby to bring everyone for 6:00 pm. Right now, it was only 5:30 pm. Harry did meet up Hermione and the Weasley's ahead of the party time, to exchange gifts. Aside Hermione and the Weasley's, Neville and Luna had come already, along with Remus with Nymphadora, Teddy, Andromeda, and Edward were some of the first to arrive and Remus wasted no time giving Harry a hug.

"Harry…I'm so grateful you're alright." Remus sighed.

"Uncle Moony…" Harry figured there was no point trying to make the man believe it was all fine. "It was just a cold."

"It was bad enough that Severus had to call and tell us not to come over." Remus argued. "I was worried, cub."

"I know, but I'm okay. Trust me, I've dealt with far worse in my lifetime and survived." Harry promised.

After the hug with Remus, Harry hugged Tonks, Andromeda, and shook Edward's hand before holding his godson for a short bit while the adults opened their gifts from Harry. Remus got a large picture of the Marauders, minus Pettigrew. Harry managed to find pictures of Sirius, Remus, and James standing together with their arms over each other's shoulders; it was when they were students, Harry captured years one through seven, all in the same spot. The one large picture featured seven in one. Remus also got a large picture of Sirius and James as angels, with wings, on either side of a normal picture of Remus. The meaning was clear; as they were together in life, they still are in death and the two troublemakers were now watching over Remus. The werewolf barely contained his emotions, but it landed Harry with another tight hug. Andromeda obviously got the matching set of jewelry that Narcissa and Bellatrix received. Tonks herself got a wolf charm bracelet and full moon earrings and necklace. Teddy got toys and Harry hadn't been sure for Edward, but got the man a bottle of his favorite liquor and some pretty drinking glasses.

Harry got a family photo of the Lupin's with Andromeda and Edward, which he already added to his fireplace mantle with other pictures that meant a lot to him. The rest of what he got was parchment, quills, ink, notebooks, and snacks. When all of the gift wrapping paper was cleaned up, Harry ensured the house was ready for an influx of people and now leaning against a wall. It was already 5:50 pm, so it wouldn't be long for the other invited guests to arrive with Dobby and Kreacher.

"Ah, Remus. Almost forgot…" Bill Weasley suddenly spoke as he approached the werewolf. "I was given this at work this morning to pass along to you. Since I can't break curses right now, I've been helping the goblins organize files and this fell out of one; it's addressed to you with set instructions for you to receive at a certain time. The goblins said you were supposed to get this months ago, and it got overlooked." He handed a sealed letter to Remus, who accepted what he was given and looked over the envelope. "I would assume that since magic was taken in the middle of June, things got a little hectic and that's why it wasn't realized until now."

"The Black Family seal?" Harry inquired. "Which file did it fall out of?"

"I think you know without me having to say it, but let's leave it at the files being moved around and sent to old archives were those of people who are no longer with us." Bill informed.

Harry knew what that meant. This letter fell out of Sirius's file at Gringotts, Harry knew Bill worked there as a Curse Breaker.

"I hadn't known it was yours until Harry called you Moony on greeting you. That is who the letter was addressed, and I regret that me nor the goblins knew who that was." Bill said.

"It's my Marauder name…Only Sirius or James would have used it to address me," Remus stated. "No one would have known what it meant but one of us."

"I only got possession of it because I told the goblins I was seeing Harry tonight for a party, and would ask him if he knew a Moony, but worked out; I didn't have to ask him." Bill said. "And there is one for you as well, Severus," Bill pulled another envelope to give to the potions master.

"Me?" Severus said. "Why would the mutt leave me anything to read?" Harry shot the man a glare for calling Sirius a mutt.

"No way to know until you read it, Severus," Narcissa stated.

"I'll go first…" Remus opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. "Come on, cub. We'll read it together…Share the pain of losing him." Remus put his arm over Harry's shoulders with a soft smile. Harry watched as Remus unfolded the letter.

"Moony. If you're reading this it's because I've ended up dead, probably protecting Harry. I wish I could say I'm sorry for leaving you, but if Harry's life was in danger; I had no choice. He's my godson and I was charged by James and Lily to keep him safe. I already failed to do that for so many years because I went after Pettigrew. I was going to take you down memory lane, but I know that like myself, you'll never forget all the fun we had after meeting and becoming the Marauders. I know you'll hold onto all those albums we made, and you'll share them with Harry too. He's already got his little group, I've dubbed them the Marauders, second generation. You can't deny it. Harry is James, hands down. He's even got the Stag for a patronus. He's Prongs Jr! Harry is the leader, the one who comes up with all the ideas. Ron is me, a jokester and always has Harry's back. Hermione is you, the intellectual who tries to get Harry and Ron to behave and they don't so she tags along to make sure they don't get themselves killed and Neville is Pettigrew, but Neville has far more honor and loyalty that Pettigrew ever did. He'll never betray his friends like Pettigrew did. Neville is the one who shies from danger, but wants to support his friends anyway. Harry's friend Luna is like Lily, a very caring and gentle soul who is smart and not afraid to be herself. Tell me I'm wrong, I dare you."

The revelation was surprising Ron, Hermione, Luna, and Neville, but no one could deny it. Even less on Remus, who sighed in agreement to the words. For Harry, he felt like he was going to cry, but refused to in front of everyone.

"Now, I won't apologize for leaving you. I had to protect Harry. But…I am sorry if you were there when I died, and had to see it. I know if Harry was there too, you pushed down all your own hurt to make sure he didn't do anything stupid. I'm sorry for all the full moons you go through without us For all the memories you have to remember without us. Remember when we did that every summer in school, stay at James's house? Sleep under the stars with a fire going in the back yard. Remember after we graduated, spent all that time before James asked Lily to marry him on that beach? Bar hopping, cliff diving? Good times. I hated my family, you know I did…You and James became my brothers. James's parents became the ones I wish I had, bless their souls for taking me in when I ran away from home. I had the best years of my life with you two. Now, I have two favors to ask…I'm sure you know of them already. The first, if you see that low down, death eater, lying, traitorous rat Pettigrew…Finish what we started. Destroy him. Kill him. Make sure there's nothing left to find of him this time. But you know…Make sure no one knows it was you. You have a wife and kid to go home to."

"And the second…Yes, you know. Take care of Harry. I might be his godfather, but you're his uncle and he'll need you. He'll need Uncle Moony; he's been calling you that since he figured out how to say it. Well, say it for his age when he learned how to talk. What was it, Mooey and Pafoo? He knew who we were. Don't let him do anything stupid, and don't let him shut down. The boy is destined for greatness, he'll change the world; he just doesn't know it yet. There is nothing in this world that would allow me to express how much I loved the family I gained through you and James. Thank you for being my brothers. And I swear to you that even with me gone, I'm still with you. James is still with you. We always will be. We'll walk beside you and Harry as we did in life, even if you can't see us there. The ones who love us…I left the rest of that blank on purpose, Harry knows. Ask him. I love ya, Moony. I'm sure we'll meet again someday. Your friend, Padfoot."

Harry wouldn't. He would not lose control of his emotions and break down here. Harry lost it one time and that when Sirius when through the veil, since; he just kept it inside. "What is the line? What line did Sirius say you would know, Harry?" Tonks asked.

"The ones who love us are never really leave us, and you can always find them; in here…" Harry repeated from the end of third year when Sirius told him, motioning to his heart.

"What does yours say, Uncle Sev?" Draco wondered. He was going to go comfort Harry, but Remus seemed to have it covered.

"I imagine, given our history, one last chance to insult me…" Severus muttered as he opened the letter. "Listen here you hook-nosed, greasy-haired, dungeon dwelling snake…" Severus started. "I'm just not even going to bother." He remarked.

"You should see what he has to say, Severus," Remus remarked.

"You should, Severus." Narcissa agreed. "It might be important."

"I doubt it." Severus scoffed. "You read it if you're so curious, but I refuse to read a letter from Black just to insult me from beyond the grave." He handed it off to Lucius carelessly, then folded his arms over one another, eyes closed.

Lucius peered over the letter, slowly losing his stoic composure as Narcissa noticed this and leaned closer to read too. Finally, she gasped in shock. "Severus…You're going to want to read this. It's not to insult you, except the opening…But you're going to what to see what he's said to you." Lucius informed as he handed the letter back. "Trust me."

Okay, that was a little weird…For both of the most composed people Severus knew to stress he needed to read what was in the letter. Severus grasped the parchment from Lucius and read it silently.

Listen here you hook-nosed, greasy-haired, dungeon dwelling snake…
I'll keep this short, with a warning. I don't care who you are to him, but if you hurt my godson, Snape…I'll haunt you until the day you die. I already know how you've treated him over the years in your class. I know why you've treated him that way too, because he's just like James. However…Here's something you don't know. I know you won't believe me, but I'll make it a final request that you read everything…

Harry is not James's son…He's yours.

Severus's eyes widened a little, the breath caught in his throat as he kept reading.

Have I got your attention? Good. Now, listen.
November 1979, Lily and James got into a huge fight and broke up. Lily ran into you at the pub, you two talked over drinks and it landed you both in bed together. The next morning, you were gone. Lily and James worked things out, got back together. However, it didn't erase what she did with you, so she came to me for advice, I told her that since she and James broke up; there was no unfaithfulness and no reason to bring it up. That was until Lily found out she was pregnant, and of course, she came to me again. Lily knew the baby was yours, there is no question in it being James's because of the timing. She found out after the honeymoon, I want to say it was first week of December.

James and Lily hadn't slept together since mid-October. They didn't have sex again until their honeymoon. I told Lily she needed to tell James the truth, that it couldn't be hidden. With my support, Lily told James what happened. The two decided that they'd stay married and James would be a stepfather…Lily wanted to tell you, but we didn't know where you were until Dumbledore came to inform you had changed sides, and the Potter's had to be put into hiding because Voldemort was after their unborn child. Lily wanted to protect you, knowing you were Albus's spy and if Voldemort found out that you fathered the baby; he'd kill you for being a traitor.

It was agreed by James and Lily that you never know, unless it was under set circumstances. When Harry was born, James blood adopted him; brewed by Lily and I was sworn to secrecy, Severus. Unbreakable vow. The only three people who knew the truth were me, Lily, and James. Written in their wills, if they were to die, Harry goes to me, as his godfather, but if anything happened to me…You received a letter, and be made aware of the truth that Harry is your biological son, so you could take custody of him. A simple blood test would prove it, through Gringotts.

I don't even know how you didn't know before getting this. Technically, you should have gotten the letter when I went to prison. Look into it, you might get an answer as to why. I wrote this one you're reading now, hopefully, in Harry's fifth year. When we learned about his visions of Voldemort. I didn't dare think I'd survive a second war, I wanted insurance this would reach you this time and if you're reading it, I'm dead and Gringotts has fulfilled the requirement of delivering it right to your hands.

For whatever it might be worth, I am sorry for how I treated you. I make no excuses, I was an asshole. But I am sorry for all the tormenting, and nearly getting you killed. I won't ask your forgiveness. However…

I stand by my warning. Do not hurt that boy…He's been through enough.

And if I can request of you…Don't ban Remus from his life.

Take care of my godson, Severus. Please.

-Sirius Orion Black.

"Severus?" Harry's voice drew the man from his thoughts. "Are you okay? What did Sirius say to you?"

"He…" Severus paused. "Said I'm your father…"

The room went dead silent at what Severus said. Eyes widened, people gasping. But Harry? The boy looked like he forgot how to breathe, or maybe he knew how, but just couldn't catch his breath. Before anyone could say anything, the shock hit full force and Harry blacked out and it was Draco and Tom who reacted first to catch him so he wouldn't smack the ground. Room was made on the couch as Harry was laid flat there, and Remus checked over his unofficial nephew before looked at Severus.

"Talk…Now." The wolf ordered, a clear protective side coming out.