Chapter 2
The Present
"Harry," Ginny said quietly, "Are you sure you won't come with us to the Burrow this evening?"
Harry turned his eyes from his girlfriend to his father. "No, Gin. I'm going to stay with him. I want to be here when he wakes up."
Ginny smiled in understanding, kissed him and left.
Left alone, Harry looked down at his father's hands. They were so very like his own, he mused. He had been searching for his real father for years, even since Sirius and Lupin had told him the truth after his third year; James Potter had blood adopted him, but he wasn't Harry's real father, though Lily and James had never told them who it was.
Harry was less upset with the news than he had expected. After all, he only found out his parents' names when Hagrid told him on his eleventh birthday so was therefore not overly attached to the memory of James Potter.
Often he wondered who his real father might be, and if he knew about Harry. Sometimes he would imagine that Professor Snape was his father; after all, the man was the closest thing Harry had to a father during his Hogwarts years. He didn't know what prompted him, but Harry began to speak to the unconscious man about his Hogwarts years and all the times his professor – no, his father – had helped him.
Hogwarts 1991-1992
The troll had been knocked out, Hermione Granger had lied for Harry and Ron, they had gotten five points for Gryffindor each for "sheer dumb luck" according to McGonagall, and Snape had narrowed his eyes at Harry, promising retribution during his next 'detention'.
Harry stood in front of Professor Snape, shuffling his feet as the professor continued marking the fourth years' homework.
After what seemed like hours of mental torture, Snape began to put away his papers and Harry squirmed uncomfortably. Finally,the man looked up to face him.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself, Mr. Potter?" he asked, his face an impassive mask.
Harry gulped. "Sir?"
"Do you have any sense at all, Harry," Snape said, his voice rising, "Jumping on the back of a troll? Does your life mean that little to you?"
By the end of his twenty minute lecture he was given about safety and the dangers of rushing in, Harry was thoroughly ashamed of himself and promised to look for an adult next time. "I'm sorry, sir," he whispered, but at the same time, he couldn't help the warm feeling that had taken root inside of him. The Dursleys had never cared if he had gotten hurt, in fact they probably would have been delighted if he had died; Harry had finally found someone who cared.
Later that evening, Poppy Pomfrey bustled into Severus Snape's room and demanded to see Fluffy's bite on his leg, claiming an anonymous tip-off had told her. "An anonymous tip-off named Harry Potter?" he said sarcastically.
...
"It was Snape, he was jinxing the broom," Hermione informed them.
"I knew it!" Ron exclaimed loudly, "He's out to get Harry."
Harry shook his head. "Don't you think Snape would be more subtle if he was trying to kill me? He seems more like the type who would use poison."
"But I know a jinx when I see one. You have to keep eye contact and Snape wasn't blinking," Hermione insisted.
"Hermione, he could easily have been saying the counter curse. You have to keep eye contact for that too," Harry said, exasperated that they were blaming a murder attempt on his secret mentor.
"That's true," Hermione admitted, "But then who could it be?"
"I don't know," Harry said slowly. He would have to ask Professor Snape what he thought.
...
"I don't know who it is," Snape said when Harry asked him.
"You must know something! You were doing the counter jinx."
"How do you know about that," Snape asked suspiciously.
"Hermione," Harry said quickly waving that away. "Anyway, you were saying?"
"The Headmaster has his suspicions," Snape said reluctantly. "You must be more cautious, Harry, now that we think someone is out to get you. Do not get into any more dangerous situations."
...
"Enter!" a voice came from inside.
"Professor?" Harry said nervously, as he stepped into Snape's office.
"Mr. Potter," Snape said, raising an eyebrow in surprise. This was the first time Harry had come to his office of his own volition.
"I have to tell you something, sir, about a friend who might be doing something illegal, but I didn't want him to get into trouble," Harry said, still fidgeting and hoping that he had made the right decision.
Snape regarded him for a brief moment. "Very well, Mr. Potter. Proceed and then I will judge what the best course of action is."
Harry took a deep breath. "Hagrid's raising a baby dragon in his hut."
Snape was very still. Harry could hear the ticking of a clock nearby.
"That overgrown imbecile," Snape whispered.
"He is not!" Harry said angrily, but Snape wasn't listening. He walked over to a small pot of powder above the fireplace, took a handful,and threw it in the fire. When the flames turned green he called out, "Headmaster! Come through, quickly"
Harry glared at him furiously. This was his idea of helping?
The Headmaster's silver beard seemed to come through first. "Yes, Severus?" he said mildly. He caught sight of Harry. "Ah, Harry, how are you doing my boy?"
"Enough pleasantries!" Snape interrupted. "Headmaster, according to Mr. Potter, Hagrid is raising a baby dragon in his hut!"
The smile slid off Dumbledore's face. He sighed. "I will go talk to Hagrid immediately," he said taking the floo out once again.
Snape turned to meet Harry's accusing stare. "You don't understand, Harry," he said quietly, "Hagrid was expelled for a very similar reason. If the Ministry had found out about the dragon, Hagrid would have been forced to leave Hogwarts."
As the words sunk in, Harry could only say, "Oh."
"You did the right thing by coming to me, Mr. Potter."
Harry smiled. "Thank you, sir."
He found out later that the dragon had been sent to Ron's brother, Charlie, in Romania.
...
"We think Quirrel's trying to steal the stone," Harry announced when Snape had cornered them after they had spoken to Professor McGonagall.
Ron and Hermione looked at Harry as if they thought he was mad, while Snape looked completely taken aback.
"And how do you know about the stone, Mr. Potter?" Snape asked in a deadly whisper.
"That's beside the point," Harry said impatiently.
"That is exactly the point. Twenty points from Gryffindor for meddling in things that don't concern you," he said and at Harry's look of disbelief, added, "The stone is well protected. Do not assume that Professor Dumbledore takes anyone's safety lightly." With that he walked off.
Unfortunately, Harry was far from reassured.
...
As Harry speaks, deep in his unconscious state, Severus Snape remembers
"A fifty foot dive, Minerva!" Severus yelled. "Was he trying to break his neck? And you put him on the Gryffindor team!"
"Really, Severus," Minerva said, reprovingly, "The boy's a natural, just like James-"
Severus rolled his eyes. Apparently Harry had inherited more than James' looks.
"That is no excuse, Minerva. First years are not allowed on their house teams."
"Actually, first years are not allowed their own brooms," Minerva corrected. "Although I shall speak to Albus about that."
Severus thought for a while. He knew that he would no be able to fight the combined forced of Minerva and Albus on this one, who would surely agree.
"Very well, Minerva, but I will buy him the broom," he said firmly, "And you'll tell him it's from you."
Minerva looked shocked. "Severus if this is an attempt to the sabotage the team..."
"Oh for goodness sake woman, I'll get him a Nimbus 2000 if it makes you happy!" He'd anyway been planning on getting him that. As Harry's father, he should Harry his first broom.
"What's the catch?" Minerva asked suspiciously.
"He'll have detention with me," Severus answered simply.
...
For three days Harry remained in the Hospital wing, and unknown to Harry, for three days Severus kept a constant vigil by his side and sat with Harry with the whole night. On the third day, Severus was woken from his sleep by Dumbledore who just smiled at him sadly and said "He has your hands."
Severus scowled at Dumbledore for catching him in such a vulnerable position but took one of Harry's hands in his own gently rubbing his thumb over its back.
Dumbledore waited by him but the moment Severus saw Harry begin to awaken, he let go of the hand he was holding abruptly and walked out the door. Harry's eyes opened just in time for him to make out a billowing black cloak leaving the room.
Hogwarts 1992-1993
"If the two of you were in my house, you'd be on the train home, tonight," Snape spat after the car incident.
After eating their sandwiches in Snape's office, Harry told Ron to go on ahead. When Snape walked in, he froze at the sight of Harry.
"It's almost curfew, Mr. Potter," he said coldly.
"I'm sorry, sir," Harry whispered, looking down.
"For what, Mr. Potter?" Snape said, surprised.
"For disappointing you."
For the first time, Snape seemed to be speechless.
...
"No, not you," Harry said as Gilderoy Lockhart approached after Harry had gotten hit by the Bludger.
"The boy doesn't know what he's saying," Lockhart said cockily, as he took out his wand to perform some spell on Harry.
"I believe he does, Lockhart," a cold voice said above Harry. He looked up to see Snape looking murderously at Lockhart.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Ignoring Lockhart, Snape turned to the Weasley twins and said "Take Potter to the Hospital Wing."
...
"Ron and Hermione think it's Malfoy," Harry announced, walking into Professor Snape's office.
"What is Malfoy?" Snape asked absently as he continued to mark papers. "The reason why these dunderheads can't grasp the difference between pickled newts eyes and pickled toads eyes, I simply cannot understand."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Anyway they think Malfoy is the Heir of Slytherin and he's the one opening the chamber."
Snape looked up and snorted. "They think a twelve year old is responsible for setting a monster loose on Muggle-borns?"
"Well, he did say, 'You'll be next Mudbloods' that day (Snape flinched) and everyone knows what he thinks of Muggle-borns," Harry said defensively.
"Many Purebloods feel that way. Malfoy is not the heir of Slytherin, and if he were he would probably be boasting about it already."
Harry snorted. "Yeah, that's what I thought. But they don't believe me and now Hermione's trying to brew Polyjuice Potion in the girl's bathroom on the second floor and she wants me to make a distraction in Potions while she steals ingredients from your private stores –"
"What!" Snape yelled, suddenly standing. "Is that girl insane? Brewing Polyjuice in a bathroom!"
"Wait!" Harry called as Snape reached the door, "You can't let them know that you know. They'll get mad at me!"
Snape narrowed his eyes at Harry and thought for a bit. "Very well, Harry. I will 'catch' Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley coming out of the bathroom tomorrow and speak to them"
Hermione and Ron came into the Common Room the next evening, looking embarrassed.
"It can't be Malfoy," Hermione told Harry, "Snape explained it all, and it makes sense that he isn't."
"Yeah, mate," Ron added, "And he didn't even take points."
Harry smiled.
...
All around him, people were pointing and muttering things like "Parseltongue" and "Dark Wizard". Harry was even more frightened by the fact that he could actually be Slytherin's heir, seeing as he knew nothing about his ancestors.
He was so morose when he went for his Potion making session with Professor Snape that he barely spoke two words when the professor asked him about his day. However, the man instinctively seemed to know what was bothering him.
"Harry," Snape said quietly, "There is nothing wrong with speaking Parseltongue. It is a rare and precious gift."
"Salazar Slytherin spoke it," Harry choked out, "The Hat said that I could have done well in Slytherin. What if I'm the heir?"
Snape looked surprised and an unconscious smile graced his lips. "You're not, Harry," he said firmly, "Neither of your parents were descended from Slytherin. You might have inherited the ability to speak Parseltongue the same way witches and wizards are born to non-magical parents."
"I… I guess that makes sense, sir," Harry said thoughtfully.
"Trust me, Harry. And don't bother with their ignorant ramblings. Neither myself nor any of the other teachers believe you have anything to do with the attacks."
At that moment, Harry was about to tell him about the mysterious voice he had been hearing but decided not to at the last minute and simply began brewing.
...
Severus Snape remembers
Severus waited impatiently in Minerva's office along with Arthur and Molly Weasley and Dumbledore. Ginny Weasley had been taken into the Chamber and now Harry and the Ronald Weasley were missing as well. Severus had never felt more useless in his life.
The door began to open and Severus stood up immediately. He paled and sank back down on his chair when he saw Harry coming in, clutching a sword in his hand and covered with blood and grime. Severus listened with his mouth open (something he would deny to Harry later) as he heard how his son had slain a Basilisk. A Basilisk! And Dumbledore once again rewarded him for risking his life. Oh he would have to have a very serious chat with Albus.
"How can you reward him for it, Albus?" Severus asked pacing his office, "He could have been killed! Irresponsible thing to do! How will he learn if he keeps being rewarded for his recklessness?"
"You sound like Molly Weasley, Severus," Dumbledore said, amused, something which Severus certainly was not.
"Albus," he said warningly.
"Severus, I think you should be the one to speak to him about getting into dangerous situations. He looks up to you, and listens to you."
A small smile passed over Severus's face at the words.
...
Harry couldn't help grinning like a maniac as he watched Professor Snape exploring the Chamber of Secrets like a kid at Christmas. He could barely contain his excitement when he saw the Basilisk, fresh for the picking, though he blanched when Harry showed him where he had stabbed it with the sword. He whirled on Harry, promising him eternal misery and detention if he ever did anything so foolish again.
Harry quickly reminded him of the already extensive punishments he had already been given by him, one of them being to help harvest the Basilisk scales and venom. Harry was just glad he had decided not to tell Snape about the fang that had stabbed him arm.
Hogwarts 1993-1994
They both knew that Harry had been in Hogsmeade, though Harry still stubbornly refused to admit it.
"If your head was in Hogsmeade, surely the rest of you was there as well," Snape said quietly, trying to keep his temper in check.
Harry had settled for a puzzled expression which fooled no one.
Snape sighed. "Harry, I know you understand the danger you are in. Your mother risked her life to save you, and gambling her sacrifice for a day in Hogsmeade is a poor way to repay her."
Harry looked down, ashamed.
"However, if I ever catch you sneaking into Hogsmeade again, Black will be the least of your worries. Is. That. Clear?"
Harry smiled. "Yes, sir."
...
"Sir, will you teach me how to fight off Dementors? The way Professor Lupin did on the train ride this year?"
Snape scowled at the mention of Lupin. "Very well, Harry. You will not be able to practice on a real Dementor, but I will teach you the spell."
For the lesson, Snape explained to Harry that he would have to think of a happy memory and say the incantation, Expecto Patronum. "If said correctly, it should produce a Patronus, which is a guardian that will protect you against Dementors."
"What does a Patronus look like, sir?"
"Everyone's Patronus takes a different form," Snape explained vaguely waving his hand, "Now begin."
"What form does your Patronus take, sir?" Harry couldn't help asking.
Snape didn't reply.
By the end of the year, Harry could produce a full-fledged Patronus, which for a reason Harry could not fathom, took the form of a Raven.
...
Severus Snape remembers
Seeing the traitorous Sirius Black with Harry, Severus came the closest he ever had to committing murder. He was beyond reason. If Black had hurt even a hair on Harry's head, Severus would make Azkaban seem like a walk in the park.
But before he could send Black back to where he belonged, Harry was in front of the mutt, defending him, and at that moment Severus only saw James Potter, once again united with his partner in crime, Sirius Black.
Later, he found out that he had been stunned by Weasley and Granger.
He had no idea how Black escaped, but he instinctively knew that Harry had something to do with it.
Could anyone blame him for getting Lupin sacked? The wolf had almost attacked his son! Yet, Harry did not talk to him or come to see him for the remainder of the term.