Thank you everyone of you who have read this story so far and to every one who took that extra minute to post a review. Thank you, corey, Harriverse, zeynel, Ahhh, Echo, Gowvan, deeps85, Paul, Raine, AmberJack, killinguwithumbrellas

Harry Potter and the Trip to the Past

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Chapter – 22

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Harry had known whom he was related to. The last time, this had not created any ripples, because Snape's portrait had not yet been put up in the Headmaster's office and only Lily had been affected. James and Sirius had looked stony when Harry told them, and then they had brushed it off. Lily had cried a little and then all of them except Harry had forgotten it. Harry had it in the back of his mind but had not said anything, as the arguments otherwise were pretty ugly already.

This time around, he had been curious about Snape's and Dumbledore's reaction to what the potion would reveal, because almost all the purebloods would have a muggleborn witch or wizard as a relation and be descended from them. He had watched as each name had been called and knew Snape was very curious about his mother. He also knew Dumbledore would want to know as well which family had Lily been a part of. Harry was very much looking forward to seeing both their reactions and was hoping for a good laugh about it with Snape later on, and who knew Harry thought, grinning to himself, he could also get away with teasing Snape as well.

Harry waited patiently until his name was called and he went walking swiftly and at the same time, taking care to walk keeping both Snape and Dumbledore in his line of vision. He drank the potion calmly and then poked his finger and let the blood drop on to the parchments and waited for Morgana Prince's name to appear.

Morgana Prince was a squib. The Princes were apparently an affluent family until a few generations ago. They were inordinately proud of their family not unlike the Blacks and they were all Slytherins. Morgana was born some two hundred and odd years ago and she married a muggle called Gartin. It was from that couple that Lily was descended. A few generations later a daughter born in the Gratin family whose name was Primrose and who married another muggle called Thomas Evans. In the Evans line Lily was born, and apart from her no one else until Harry's time had exhibited any magic at all. By the time Primrose married Thomas, the Gratins had completely lost touch with the world of magic and they lived like all other muggles.

The Princes in the meantime had lost their affluence, and slowly they merged with other ordinary wizarding people of no special mention. They lived quietly. A few generations later Eileen Prince, Snape's mother was born into that family. She was the only daughter of Socrates Severus Prince and Xarina Rosemerta Prince. She married a muggle, Tobias Snape. The elderly Princes were furious and refused to have anything to do with their daughter and grandson, and died without seeing their grandson even once.

Harry blinked as the parchment came up with the name of Morgana Prince and looked at Snape and Dumbledore. A second later he started to laugh at their expressions.

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Snape got up early that morning, with almost a spring in his step. He was going to know Lily's family. Harry did not look worried or thoughtful; so Snape concluded that Lily's family was someone whom Harry approved of. He had wondered over and over about which family Lily was a part of and he had placed his bets on a few of them. The only families he could think of were the Dumbledores, Potters, Blacks and Malfoys.

Harry had also told him, he wanted to see Snape's reaction and that he thought it would be extremely funny, so it was a family Harry was comfortable with and yet would shock Snape. Well, Snape decided all these families would shock him nicely, but now that he almost knew; he was instinctively a good guesser after all and he would not be shocked and he would NOT give Harry Potter the chance to create a Patronus using his reaction. With such determination burning in his chest, Severus Snape smirked to himself and got ready for the day.

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Dumbledore was told by Snape that the potion would be ready by the end of the week and Dumbledore had been very happy. From that time onwards his mind had started wandering. Whose family did Lily belong to? He knew in his family there were no squibs, but then his mother was a muggleborn, and perhaps there may be something in that. Perhaps Harry was related to him. On that thought assailing him, Dumbledore became very much excited. He slowly calmed down later, but the thoughts of the Saturday and Potions were never far away all that week and on Saturday, he also woke in a suppressed state of excitement. He had initially been very curious about Harry, but slowly, he had come to like the boy very much. Harry intrigued him and made him think, especially about his confidence and his very clear thinking and dynamic actions, but he realized that he also like the boy a lot and would not mind him as a relative.

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The morning slowly arrived for Snape, Harry and Dumbledore. Snape and Dumbledore got up very early that morning and were one of the first ones to come to the Great Hall.

'Good Morning Severus.' Dumbledore said cheerily. 'Today is the big day where we will once and for all put an end to all this muggle born discrimination. I am very happy, Severus.'

Snape sneered, but kept quiet. McGonagall though was curious. 'For the children Albus? Yes. This will hopefully stop all the dogmatic opinions that most purebloods seem to favour.'

Dumbledore nodded and then smiled widely again. 'I am wondering if I will be related to anyone here, I would like to be related to Harry, he is the child I know best among all children in the School and he is a delightful child.'

Snape almost laughed outright at that. Delightful child was something he would not use with Harry. But then, to be fair to Dumbledore, Snape knew much more about Harry than Dumbledore, well, this time at least. Instead he sneered.

'I also thought about just who may be related to whom. While I could care less about whom Potter is related to, I sincerely hope Lily will be related to someone decent. Not any of the death eaters or the Blacks or any Slytherin, in fact.'

Dumbledore simply stared at Snape, before he blinked once and looked away. He was shocked. Snape was speaking almost normally about Lily. In the past years, Dumbledore had never heard Snape utter the word Lily, after Snape met him in his office, shortly after Lily's death. The last thirteen years, Dumbledore could count on one hand, how many times Snape would have spoken of Lily and mentioned her by name. And yet, today, Snape was talking normally about her as he would about Minerva or some one else. Dumbledore was amazed and decided not to comment on it and draw Snape's attention, lest he went back to his old ways, where he suffered as much as he Dumbledore did with the fallout with Grindelwald. Dumbledore's eyes clouded for a minute, before he shrugged off memories that still had the power to hurt him, decades after they happened and smiled at Snape and Minerva.

'Oh, I would not mind a Slytherin who is not working for Voldemort, Severus. I only hope whoever it may be would treat him as family. He has Sirius and Remus as well, but this would be blood family and if they are above suspicion, we could ask them to stay with Harry for a few weeks in the holidays, so that the blood protection he lost because of not staying at the Dursleys can be negated.'

'I thought he was well protected here.' Snape asked him, with a frown.

'He is, but at Privet Drive, there was a blood protection that came from Lily's blood Severus. That was powerful and to have such a protection would be wonderful. Harry is safe at Grimmauld Place though, do not worry.' Dumbledore told him and smiled as he watched the sneer flash on Snape's face.

'Worry, about Harry Potter. Dumbledore, you are joking surely.' Snape told him and turned away as the doors of the Great Hall opened and students walked in, all of them in a suppressed state of excitement.

The professors too, were very excited as well and after breakfast, they started with the Potion, deciding to call from the seventh year and go year by year, and they called out names one by one and slowly they finished with the seventh years, and came to the sixth years and worked their way down.

Snape was using his Occlumency to the fullest when Harry's name came closer and closer and then suddenly it was Harry's turn. 'Potter, Harry.' McGonagall called and Snape watched as Harry stood up smartly and walked very coolly to the staff table and take the potion and let a drop of blood fall on to the parchments. Snape and Dumbledore watched with fascination and then were completely shocked and taken aback when they saw the name of Morgana Prince.

Harry was related to a Slytherin and that Slytherin was none other than Severus Snape!

Dumbledore could not believe his eyes that had become wide with shock and his mouth open and hanging rather unattractively. Snape in the meantime had watched intently as the names appeared with threads shooting up and down between the names and saw the name that had separated from the wizarding family and gone into the muggle world because she was not accepted there. Morgana Prince! One of his ancestors from his own family had turned away one child because she could not do magic. And Lily was descended from her and Harry was her son. Lily was related to him, Snape! And Snape after that thought could not think. He looked at Harry in total shock and staggered back and abruptly sat down on a chair, his mind completely at a standstill and unable to work.

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That was when Harry looked at them and started laughing. Their expressions were too funny and he could just not help it and let himself go. A minute later he calmed himself, thinking it was certainly a Patronus moment, perhaps he could cast even two. He would taunt Snape with this.

'Sir, what is the matter? Is this Morgana Prince related to Voldemort or one of his death eaters?' he asked Dumbledore who choked again and Snape made a strangulated noise that could have been anything from indignation to horror. Harry, feeling he deserved a medal for his acting skills was now showing slight fear and concern, instead of the laughter. 'You and Professor Snape looked so funny, but then I realized, that both of you were shocked and sir, it is a bit scary. Er… please tell me which family this is Sir'

'Harry we will talk after this work is finished. I was slightly shocked. I was in fact hoping you would be related to me.' He said smiling and now it was Harry who choked and coughed. Merlin! Dumbledore thought he would be related to him. A second later though, Harry smiled much moved by that revelation, his green eyes very brilliantly shining in his face. 'Thank you Sir.' He said softly and smiled when Dumbledore beamed at him. He knew Dumbledore loved him, even the last time Dumbledore had loved him as his own; the difference of opinion they had was in his manipulations, where Harry differed in a few decisions, mainly relating to Snape.

'That's okay Harry. You have a new family now and they are as good as you can get. We will talk later. Come to my office as soon as this is over, will you? I will keep this parchment with me for now and give it to you later. Now run to your friends. They are beginning to look anxious.' and smiled once more as Harry nodded and ran off.

Snape was still to speak a word. His black eyes were wide in his face and he had begun to turn blue before he remembered to breathe. Harry grinned to himself, Snape had never expected this; not in a million years, he was still reeling with shock. Harry went to Hermione and sat down nest to her. She had stopped crying, but there were still traces of her fear on her face, that she may have been related to some truly horrible person, and she merely squeezed Harry's hand and looked at him.

'I'll tell you later. It's some family not very well known, apparently. Dumbledore wants me to meet him after this. I'll know then, I think. He'll probably try and contact the Ministry to see if there are living relatives now, I suppose.' She nodded and they turned to the staff table. Snape had got up and was now calling the rest of the names. He did not look at Harry and Dumbledore, but simply went on with his task.

Slowly all the muggleborns and half blood children finished with taking the potion and having their parchments done and Dumbledore dismissed everyone and walked out, looking at Harry, smiling and nodding his head. Snape was walking behind Dumbledore and was looking straight ahead with a huge scowl on his face.

Harry grinned to himself and stood up, and started walking towards Dumbledore and soon joined him and Snape. Snape walked in complete silence and Harry followed suit, but Dumbledore had apparently got over his shock, and was softly humming to himself.

They reached the gargoyle and after a cheery 'cockroach clusters' all three of them went up the stairs to Dumbledore's office and seated themselves. Dumbledore conjured tea, sandwiches, and cakes, handed them around and looked at Harry, who was munching on a sandwich and sipping his tea in great unconcern. Snape on the other hand was now softly growling to himself and muttering things to himself. Suddenly he looked up at Dumbledore.

'I wish to speak to him alone for a second Headmaster. If you will give me permission…' Snape trailed off, looking at Dumbledore in the eye.

Dumbledore looked deeply into Snape's eyes and then sighed and slowly nodded. 'You can take the conference room, Severus.' Snape was already shaking his head. 'No Dumbledore. I will take him down to the potions office or lab. In fact if you will give me permission I will floo down with him from here.'

'Sir?' Harry asked hesitantly and gulped as both of them looked at him, one smiling and the other scowling. 'Is there something wrong in the parchment Sir? Is my mother related to a death eater or Voldemort or someone like that?' he asked as Dumbledore choked on the death eater and Snape glared at him.

'You will know in a minute, Potter as soon as the Headmaster gives us permission to leave.' Snape told him softly, his anger all but vanished from his face and Dumbledore was once again struck at the change in Snape. He was smiling rather nastily and his black eyes were glinting with suppressed anger. Dumbledore was quite worried.

'Perhaps Severus, both of us should speak to Harry.' Dumbledore managed to say, before he was cut off abruptly by Snape.

'You need not worry Headmaster, I will take care of Potter and we will both come and meet you once I finish talking to him. You must grant me this.' Snape told Dumbledore who sighed again and slowly nodded his head, looking at Harry and smiling at him. Harry was looking very worried by now and so was Dumbledore but Snape was very, very calm, a fact that worried Dumbledore even more.

'Both of you will come here after you have finished with him, I hope Severus?' Dumbledore asked him, standing up and walking towards Snape who was already near the fireplace, his hands going to the floo powder. Harry also stood up and walked quietly to the fireplace and stepped into the fire after Snape with the words, 'potions office' after Snape. The last thing he saw was a worried and yet slightly smiling Dumbledore standing there looking at him.

Harry stepped off the fire and followed Snape into his chambers and waited for Snape to extensively ward his already warded to the brim chambers, and watched Snape close the fire place and turn towards him. Harry had in the meantime thrown himself on a sofa and seeing Snape's grim expression, started to laugh.

Snape stood there, his hands folded tightly against his chest and waited for Harry to stop laughing. Harry laughed for a good three minutes, 'Your face, Snape. It was hilarious. I never had so much fun. And Dumbledore looks ugly with his mouth open and hanging with all his face hair getting into it. Ugh!'

'Have you quite finished?' Snape asked him chillingly. Harry smiled and nodded his head. The next second, 'HOW DARE YOU? HOW DARE YOU NOT TELL ME THAT LILY WAS RELATED TO ME.? DID YOU NOT THINK I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO KNOW? HOW COULD YOU KEEP SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM ME?' and Snape threw a water hex, that hit Harry's face with a strong jet of water and almost choked him.

Harry hurriedly cast the drying charm on himself, coughed and spat out the water from his mouth and turned to Snape.

'I knew you would know anyway. I wanted to see your face, Snape and I am not disappointed. What remains is when Dumbledore calls Sirius and Remus and tells them this. Can you imagine the scene?' Harry started laughing again.

Snape went and sat down opposite Harry and looked at him with disdain. 'Lily knew about this?' he asked abruptly.

Harry stopped laughing. 'Yes and she was very thrilled and slightly upset that she had not known before.'

'Did I speak to her? Why won't you tell me Potter? At least let me go and speak to her now. Activate that portrait for me.' Harry simply gaped at him. Was this Snape or someone else, he wondered. Snape was talking to him as a friend and it simply took Harry's breath away. Okay, so it was a rather petulant friend who was demanding information from him, but the casualness of Snape's speech was nothing short of amazing to Harry.

'You know you can't Snape. It is simply not advisable. Mum would want Dad's portrait to be activated at once, not to mention she and Dad would ask me how I could access the vault and how I knew the password. I could not tell them, my Dad would tell Sirius and Remus and that's not on. I did not want you to know, remember. Only you found out by a stroke of luck. I don't need their lectures and advices, not to mention the arguments Snape. We are coming on nicely and let me get Voldemort, then I'll unlock Mum's portrait for you and you could chat with her for as long as you like. But not now, please.'

Snape was quiet a long moment. 'There is something you are not telling me Potter. What is it?' he asked conversationally, seating himself opposite Harry.

Harry snorted inelegantly. 'Of course I'm not telling you stuff, Snape. I'm not telling you a lot of things. As it is I have changed too much, I feel at times. I only hope all this will not change the original timeline and create so many unknowns that I flounder and fail in my task. Please understand Snape. I'll tell you everything slowly. As it is only you know so much, not even Sirius and Remus know. Please don't kick up a fuss.'

Snape was silent, thinking over Harry's words and Harry continued. 'You never guessed did you. You staggered Snape, staggered and looked sooo unSnape, it was shocking, truly.'

Snape sneered at Harry grin. 'No, I did not guess Potter. I don't think of your mother as a relation like this.' He stopped abruptly realizing what he had said and stood up. 'Time to go to Dumbledore's office and speak to him. I will tell him I've told you and back me there. Alright? Then come on.' And Snape turned and walked away, hiding his face that had become quite flushed and embarrassed. Harry was taken aback. Snape had almost revealed his true feelings regarding his mother and Harry himself flushed with embarrassment for a minute, not knowing how to react to something like this from Snape of all people. Fortunately for him, Snape went away embarrassed himself, if his flushed face was anything to go by.

Harry smiled and stood up and followed Snape quietly and soon flooed along with Snape to Dumbledore's office and met a visibly relieved Dumbledore who beamed at Harry's accomplishment to come back with a personal meeting with Severus Snape in one shape and good cheer as a bonus as well.

'Well Harry, has Severus told you about who the Prince family are?' Dumbledore asked him.

'Yes Sir. I am related to the brilliant Professor Sir.' Harry told Dumbledore wide eyed and smiled as Dumbledore chucked. 'Brilliant is correct Harry. Severus is one of the best Potions Master in all of Wizarding Britain and indeed in the entire Wizarding World.'

'Yes Sir.' Harry said smartly and stole a glance at a Snape who was pressing his lips together trying to seal his lips from uttering profanities that would only get him a reproachful look and a few well chosen words from Dumbledore and one more thing for that blasted boy to snigger over.

Harry grinned widely and Snape went blue in the face. 'Sir Professor Snape's not breathing, look.' Harry told Dumbledore innocently and grinned at Snape when Dumbledore turned to Snape in alarm.

'Will you shut up Potter? Dumbledore I am fine and I have told Potter about my family. I think he may have understood.' Snape finished with a sneer at Harry, who nodded and smiled back at Snape. The sneer vanished abruptly and a scowl replaced that.

Dumbledore looked at Harry's smiling face and Snape's scowling one and suddenly wanted to laugh very badly. He sent both of them away asking Snape to come and see him later and let out a huge guffaw the moment the doors closed behind Harry and Snape. Dumbledore was truly amused. Even if Harry was not his relative, he had the very best guardian there was; Snape may be rude and short with Harry, but Dumbledore knew he would die to protect Harry and that was all that mattered and who knew, he may even come to care for the child. After all he, Dumbledore already did.

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Harry and Snape left his office and walked down. Harry cast a privacy bubble. 'What should I tell everyone? I never asked you in between all the laughing.'

Snape rolled his eyes, actually rolled his eyes. Such human emotions from him, Harry thought in wonder before he shook himself and listened to Snape who was saying something. 'You may tell them the truth. I will not be able to conceal this from Lucius and others and I will pretend to dislike you more from now on, because if the Dark Lord comes and I have to go back, I would need to stay as far as I can from you. Otherwise, he will just ask me to bring you to him.'

Harry nodded. 'Don't be too mean. Give me detentions when I need to talk to you or you need to tell me something. I am going to write to Sirius and Remus right now and then I'll go and talk to Hermione. Speak to Dumbledore and arrange to be in his office when Sirius and Remus will come. This is your chance to get a Patronus moment.'

Snape did not answer, but his eyes glittered and Harry knew wild horses and blast ended skewts would not keep Snape away from that meeting. 'Go write to them now; they will come by breakfast tomorrow.' Was all he said, before he turned towards the dungeons and Harry went to the library to seek out Hermione and Neville and tell them whom he was related to?

They were not in the library, and Harry took out his map and saw they were by the lake along with Draco, Pansy and Blaise. He put his map away and ran to the lake and hugged Hermione as she threw herself on him.

'Oh, Harry I have been so afraid. Whom have you been related to?' she asked him.

'Welcome to the family Hermione.' Harry told her smiling broadly. 'You are also related to Draco's mother. She is Sirius's cousin.' Draco looked a bit green at this information. 'Who are you related to? Us?' he asked hopefully. He did not mind Hermione, but he really did not want anyone to be related to him and if anyone must be related to a Malfoy, Draco felt Harry was best.

'No I am related to Snape. He was blue in the face Draco. I think he was fighting with Dumbledore that he made the potion wrong.' Harry rolled his eyes. 'Snape?' Hermione was sufficiently impressed and horrified, while Draco looked jealous. Harry had to be related to Snape of all people. Why not the Malfoys, he thought unreasonably. Malfoys were so much better and look whom he was to acknowledge as family apart from Hermione.

'Perhaps he did get the potion wrong. I think so too.' Draco told him sulkily.

'Hey! You are not feeling bad because Hermione's vaguely related to you are you?'

Draco shook his head, but turned a bit pink. Hermione giggled and laughed outright when Draco's face turned red from pink. 'Oh, Harry, Draco and Mr. Malfoy are related to the Creevys. You know Colin Creevy, the photo mad boy. That's who and Draco almost fainted when he heard that.'

Harry bit his lips to stop joining in Hermione's laughter. 'And you guys?'

'The Parkinson family is related to some dull 6th year girl and Zabini are related to two boys in 7th year.' she recited sadly, while Blaise shrugged unconcernedly. He was really not bothered like Draco and Pansy, really. What did it matter? It was not as if they would come and live with them. Not the end of the world, surely.

'Did he scold you badly?' Neville asked him. He had no relatives in the School and he was watching all this around him, rather impassively, only coming to life, when Harry told them, he was related to Snape.

Harry shook his head. 'Not really. He was shocked and he surely did not like it much I think. I am glad I have Sirius and Remus for me.' Harry told there and changed the topic. 'I will be writing to Sirius about Snape being related to me and also about you and Colin. Want to add anything?' he asked her as she shook her head, her eyes wide.

'No, just say I'm happy I'm related to him. That's all.'

End of Chapter – 22

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