Magic On Strike

Well, true to the mind worker's statement, the intimacy between Severus and Lily definitely happened, even if they didn't see it. Harry might end scarred if he saw more than what already occurred. Should be fun when Harry woke up from his forced nap. Regardless, the scene proved Lily and Severus got drunk and slept together that fateful November night in 1979 where Harry was conceived. No one said anything, not because they couldn't, but that it wasn't their place. Also, it didn't matter because another scene began to play almost immediately afterward. By guess, it had to be when Albus took Severus's memories about learning he was Harry's father.

/Flashback/

Severus hadn't left his house since he learned Lily had been killed by Voldemort. Grief and guilt consumed him. A calendar on the wall revealed it to be November 6th, 1981; the clock on the mantle read 9:00 am. Not really all there, Severus plopped down in his chair by the fireplace, and buried his face in his hands. The love of his life was dead, and it was entirely his fault for ever revealing that prophecy to Voldemort. Severus poured himself a drink and stared into the fire burning. As the man finished off the liquid in his glass, a letter appeared in front of him, floating there. Severus set the glass down and reached forward to take hold. Severus tore the envelope carefully and pulled out the letter.

"My dearest Sev. If you're receiving this, then I am gone from this world. It's currently November 6th, 1980. Yes, one year from our night together. Voldemort won't stop his bid to kill my son, so there is a very high chance I do not survive this war. The same goes for James. I will admit to you, I do not trust Pettigrew; he's different. I wish Sirius hadn't talked James into switching our keeper. No matter, if you're reading this letter…I'm gone there's a couple things you need to be aware of. I need you to listen carefully to what I'm going to say.

First thing…The night we had was amazing, and I'm so very sorry you woke up without me. I knew you were into dark magics, and I could accept that…I didn't know you'd taken the dark mark until I woke up and saw it on your arm. I didn't leave because I couldn't accept it, I left because I knew if Voldemort ever found out; he would kill you and I couldn't bear that thought. As we said that night, the ones we love, we have to let go. It was the only way I could think to protect you, and also…I didn't want to ever have to fight you, or Voldemort force you to kill me. I meant everything I said, I wanted to give us a chance…But with you having that mark, Voldemort would be a constant obstacle between us. You deserved the truth as to why I was not there when you woke. Aside this explanation, there is more.

I know you're the one who told Dumbledore to hide us. That prophecy about my child…Thank you. I'm sure it risked your life, but you did it for my family. Given you heard all that, I know you know I had a boy on July 31st, just as the prophecy said. Here's the thing…I hope you're sitting, this is going to shock you. Harry is your son, Severus. I had thought it to be nerves of the wedding, my period was a day late when I married James. I overlooked it, until we got back from the honeymoon. I hadn't been feeling well either, so I went to see a healer and discovered I was pregnant. I was told I ovulated on the 8th of November and you're the only person I slept with that fits the timing. James and I hadn't had sex since October 22nd. I knew I was gonna get my period in a few days. And we didn't do it again until our wedding night.

It can only be you. Harry is your son. Our child. I'm sure you'll be furious with me for not telling you sooner, but I was trying to protect you. Same reason I left you. If Voldemort ever found out you fathered the child he was going to kill; he'd kill you. I didn't want that, I couldn't bear it. So it was agreed that James and I would stay married, pass Harry as ours. When Harry was born, James blood adopted him. We invoked a blood glamour so he'll look like James, but…When you take him, accept him as yours; it should break. James and myself are the only ones who know the truth. Now you. However…If you're getting this letter, it's because James and I have died, and his godparents, Sirius and Alice, are either dead, or incapable of taking care of Harry. That's how we set it up. This letter reaches you before the wills are read, and our wills say the same, as well then Harry is absolutely not to go to my sister.

If something has happened to Sirius and Alice, then Harry becomes a ward of the ministry. I don't want him in an orphanage, or with my sister. This is why you are getting this letter. So you can claim Harry, as his father. I won't have it be said Harry has no more family around. As I stated, no one knew of this but two people. You have to make it known, claim Harry.

I did all this to protect you, now I hope you'll protect Harry for me. You were my first friend and love, Severus. I love you. Always have, always will. Even with me gone, I'll never truly leave you, or Harry. Take care of our son. I love you both.

Always,
Lily."

Severus didn't even realize he had tears in his eyes, holding them back from falling as the information processed. Lily loved him. She'd always loved him, as she said the night they slept together. She only left to protect him, went on to marry James to keep him safe. And he had a child with her. The boy who lived was his son. Harry Potter was his son. With Lily. He had a son with Lily! Dear Merlin, he needed to find him. Albus said he was placing the boy safely while Sirius tracked down Pettigrew, and family records would show Lily's sister was family. Harry had to be with her. Sirius was imprisoned for murder, and Alice was tortured to insanity with her husband by Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr. Severus quickly stood, letter in hand, to leave his house and get to the bank when he felt the wards shift. Moving quickly, Severus went to the door and saw Albus there.

"Albus." Severus said. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to check on you, my boy. I know how much you cared for Lily." Albus said. "You've been holed up for days. I don't need to remind you that you are my potions master, Severus."

"And my time is about to become ever more restricted, Albus. In fact, I might resign." Severus remarked.

Albus looked shocked. "Severus, whatever do you mean. You cannot simply shut down because she is gone, I told you that I needed you. You swore you'd do anything if-,"

"If you kept her safe and you did not!" Severus glared. "I'm not shutting down because she's gone. Quite the contrary. My time will be spent raising my son." He held the letter up. "It was two years ago now, she broke up with Potter, and we got drunk at the bar…Slept together. It…Got her pregnant. Harry is mine." Albus's reactions didn't change. "Where did you place him?"

"Severus, just relax…" Albus tried. "When did you receive this?"

"9:00 this morning." Severus told him. "It's real, it's from Lily. I know her handwriting. She wouldn't lie about this. Harry is my son, and I'm claiming him as such. If you do not tell me , I will find out for myself and take him back."

"As I told Sirius, Harry is placed safely…" Albus remarked. "I've got him under blood wards with Lily's sister, bond of blood. He is safe from all those intending him harm outside the protections. It really is for the best, growing up away from all the fame of being the boy who lived…The dangers lurking from Voldemort's followers uncaptured. Surely, you can agree?"

"And he is my son, Albus. I have the right to take him…Protect him, as his father." Severus argued. "I supersede Black, and Alice is incapacitated for life. I override his muggle relatives too. There is no debating this. Harry is my son, and I will raise him as Lily intended for me to do. That's what this letter is, they hid the truth to protect me because I still worked for Voldemort…And you made me your spy for the Order, working as the potions teacher. I get it, and I'm not upset…But right now, the Dark Lord is gone and you asked me days ago to protect him, if I loved Lily. I do, I always have and always will, Albus. I will protect him the rest of my life, as his father, as it's supposed to be. You have no say, Headmaster. You don't have any rights to make decisions for my son. Now, if you don't mind…Get out of the way. I'm getting my son back."

"Severus, you are still under my employment. I can't just find a new teacher in the middle of the year."

"That is your problem, Albus. I am a father, and I will do my duty as such." Severus told him. "Lily said Harry was to never be placed with her sister, it's in her will. And I know you put him there while Black hunted Pettigrew. Well now Pettigrew is dead, and Black is in prison, Alice can't take Harry…That means he is MINE to raise." He stated. "I promised Lily on her dead body I would protect Harry, even more so now I know he's my son."

"Calm yourself, Severus…I have no intention of keeping Harry away from you." Albus revealed. "Just relax, let's sit down for some tea and we can work out an arrangement where you raise Harry and I don't lose my teacher. You know Slughorn retired…" He sighed. "Is that agreeable? There is no rush, Harry is safe while we talk."

"Very well…" Severus complied.

The two entered the kitchen and Albus took a seat while Severus prepared the kettle of water, then got the cups out. Albus pulled his wand silently when Severus's back was turned. The man cast a silent Imperio as the golden dust surrounded Severus and then the man just stood still.

"Forgive me, Severus. There is too much at stake for this to go the way you hope. You raising him messes up the entire plan. I need Harry to be raised up with no knowledge of the wizarding world until he turns eleven. I need him a blank slate to mold, prepare him to fulfill the prophecy, The Dark Lord will return, and when he does, I'll need you to go back to spying, Harry would never allow it if he knew you are his father. You'd give up spying for him, and that can't happen. Without your claim as Harry's father, the glamour placed on him will last his entire life and you will never know the truth, neither will Harry." Albus stated.

The man left Severus standing in place as he went to the desk to write out a quick letter, wording it formally that he would not claim Harry and assigned Albus Dumbledore as Harry's magical guardian. Albus used some spell to duplicated Severus's handwriting, and signature, then folded the letter up and tucked it away into his robes. Albus took the letter from Severus and destroyed it before facing the man with his wand aimed for Severus's head.

"You will be compelled to despise Harry Potter for being similar and looking like James, but you will protect him from a distance for Lily, until it's time for him to fulfill the prophecy. You will return to working at Hogwarts as Potions Professor. And you will go back to spying when the Dark Lord returns." Albus ordered. The man just stood there, before Albus turned his wrist. "Obliviate."

Albus made quick work of selecting the memories to get rid of, mainly Severus's night with Lily, and him learning Harry was his son. Albus tucked his wand away and sat back down as Severus came out of the trance.

"Albus…What are you doing here?" Severus asked.

"You poor boy, did you get lost in your thoughts about Lily? You can't blame yourself, Severus. You did your part in redemption by warning us of Voldemort's plans to kill young Harry." Albus said. "I came a little while ago, to check on you. And ask if you had information on any straggling Death Eaters, the less we have out and about, the safer Harry will be." He added.

"Right. Yes, of course." Severus nodded as he poured the tea and brought the cups over, passing one to Albus as he sat down. "The Death Eaters have gone dark, those who were not captured and imprisoned. I have no contact with them, they all believe I'm at the school to spy for the Dark Lord." He informed. "On that…I apologize for my tardiness from the school. I needed time…"

"It's perfectly understandable, Severus. I know how much you loved her. But we can all do right by her in keeping her son safe, and ensuring he makes it to that final battle with the Dark Lord." Albus assured.

"I know…I will return to work on Monday." Severus told the old man.

"Excellent." Albus smiled.

/End Flashback/

The point of Harry going to sleep was to see the scene they just did. It was true, Albus actually used an unforgivable curse on Severus to lay out the plan of why the potions master could not raise Harry. It was all to control Harry, mold him to the hero that would destroy Voldemort. Severus was shocked, but livid. You didn't need magic to feel the anger of knowing Albus did this, went to such lengths to control Harry. However, before anyone could say anything, Harry turned his head straight and opened his eyes.

"That controlling, lying, son of a bitch…" Were the first words out of his mouth. "I'll kill him myself!"

"I thought you wanted him to suffer?" Tom stated.

"I do. A slow, painful death..." Harry growled.

"Albus isn't worth it," Severus told Harry now.

"Maybe you didn't see what I saw, but that meddling old bastard used Imperious on you, used a compulsion charm to make you hate me all these years, and took your memories. He robbed you of being my father, and has admitted to doing everything he has for that stupid prophecy!" Harry got out of the chair.

"Harry, listen to me, son…Albus misdeeds are not worth you committing a crime that will land you arrested and in Azkaban." Severus stood now.

"These are not misdeeds! These are crimes he committed that he's not paying for! I want him to hurt…I want to hurt him, the same way he ensured I was for ten years, and then a further, four more summers…"

"Harry. Harry, listen to me, son…" Severus put his hands on Harry's shoulders. "We all saw what you saw. It played on the TV…We know what he's done, and I swear to you that it will not go unpunished. Albus will pay for his crimes against you, against me…Against us. And the world will see it." He said. "He's already failed, my boy. He tried, he did everything he did to keep us apart…To ensure that prophecy is fulfilled. Look where we are, just as you told Tom and I. It brought everyone together. It brought us together. He couldn't keep us apart. You're not fighting alone. We've got your back, we're on your side…Albus can never interfere again."

Harry took a deep breath, and lowered his head, nodding to what the man said. He was right, there would be the right time to strike. This wasn't it. Harry stepped in and wrapped his arms around his father. It didn't surprise Severus, and he shifted his arms to hug the teenager back. "Thank you…"

"You're welcome, son."

"But I swear to Merlin, if he tries anything else…" Harry warned.

Severus nodded with a chuckle. "We'll all deal with it. I promise."

"How long have I been asleep?" Harry wondered after he went back to his seat, and Severus, returned to his.

"About an hour," Hermione informed.

"Did the other memory show too?" Harry asked.

"Yes. We saw the one of your…Conception, and what Albus did to Severus. There were others mixed in, though." Lucius said.

"Do I even want to know?" Harry relaxed a bit.

"Dude, you're powerful as hell…" Blaise and Theodore said together.

"Uh, I…Thanks, I think?" Harry blinked.

"We saw when you blew up your aunt…" Neville informed.

"When you produced the large blast to send away dementors to save your past-self and Sirius," Remus added.

"The dementor attack before fifth year," Ron mentioned.

"When Severus found your mum dead, and held her body, then took care of you." Draco smiled.

"Right before Severus got the letter saying he was your father." Narcissa said.

"When Voldemort came back, and Cedric died." Pansy enlightened.

"And then the two we were originally trying this whole thing to see." Tom remarked.

"Huh…Well, I did warn you it would be random." Harry shrugged.

"Indeed." Severus smiled. "But we have the truth now, and we'll use it to make sure Dumbledore sees that he can't stop what is meant to be. Thanks to your godfather, I can't believe I'm saying that, we know truth and what was always intended has happened."

"Does this mean you forgive Sirius for the years of bullying? James too?" Remus grinned.

"I suppose…" Severus muttered. "Sirius figured out something wasn't right when he broke out of Azkaban, ensured the truth would be revealed…And I can't really be mad at James, he did save my life and…Died to protect Harry."

"Hallelujah! It's a miracle. Severus Snape, now a father, has learned to let go of the damn past!" Lucius drawled.

"Shut up, Lucius…" Severus growled.

"Good Merlin, you can really see the family resemblance." Remus said. "You and Harry are so alike, it's not even funny."

Severus and Harry looked at one another, then shrugged and nodded in agreement. Even though Harry still looked like James, it had been explained why. Assumingly, when magic returned and Severus fully claimed Harry as his son, the glamour would drop and everyone would see Harry as his true self. For now, it was enough that the truth was known and those responsible for trying to cover it up for selfish reasons would face the consequences.