Magic On Strike

The rest of that day where the truth was revealed was spent ensuring Harry didn't get that angry again. It was new for anyone to see, it wasn't like Harry to just rage out and instantly go for the kill. In this case, he outright admitted he wanted Albus dead and he wanted to kill him with a suffering, slow and painful death. It was rather dark, but thankfully, the anger was understood and Severus reacted right away to step in and calm Harry down. Albus was going to have a lot to pay for when this was over, but the bottom line is that Albus had failed. Despite what he did, Sirius figured out something wasn't right and made sure things came to light and Dumbledore had not known Sirius knew the truth. It was realized between the two letters. Sirius's had said Lily swore him to secrecy about Harry being Severus's son, but Lily claimed only she and James knew. That was done because Lily didn't want anyone getting their hands on that letter and learning, it was theorized that perhaps Lily didn't trust Dumbledore, knowing his obsession with defeating the Dark Lord. Either way, Dumbledore didn't know Sirius knew, and now, that was everyone's advantage over the man. Albus would go on believing that he had power as Harry's guardian, for now. Everything would be revealed soon and Albus outed as a manipulative, controlling, liar.

Harry and Draco's friends stayed for dinner, then Dobby and Kreacher took everyone home. Harry enjoyed some quiet time with Draco in Harry's room, watching a movie, with the door open and then the two went off to bed. The last few days were peaceful, Harry and Severus were still working at their relationship; it was getting better, stronger…Closer. Harry now usually called him Father pretty often, only using his name when differentiating between James and Severus. The last couple days had also been spent with everyone working together to help Bellatrix move into Tom's room, then turn Bellatrix's old room into a nursery. Tom and Bella were actually dating, and had been since that first kiss in January. Right now, she was thirty-nine weeks, and the baby could come any day. Today was the 5th of March, and it had become a normal thing for Harry to have his and Draco's friends over; everyone got bored otherwise and if they'd been in school; everyone would be hanging anyway. This time, Harry had all the Weasley's over, minus Percy and Charlie. It wasn't for a party, but it got everyone in one place for a good time.

The two groups meshed pretty nicely. Harry was weary of Ginny, she knew that he was dating Draco, but Harry found it hard to believe she just accepted things. Perhaps he was being overcautious, but Ron had mentioned Ginny nearly threw a fit when she found out. Now, the girl was just quiet and even now, just kind of staring at Harry unsuspectingly. Harry felt her eyes on him, even if no one else noticed. It was rather unsettling, but Harry knew she couldn't do anything. There was no magic, and Harry hoped that even if there was; she wouldn't do something as fool enough to attempt a love spell or potion on him. The girl would get it eventually, and let go. No matter what she said, or did, Harry was with Draco and even if they didn't last; he wouldn't be with Ginny. Either way, this was just a day for friends to get together so no one got bored. It was sad to say that everyone hated there wasn't any magic, but this whole event, it brought so many people closer together. A new respect and understanding. The peace was incredible, and for the first time in years; Harry had hope that it would stay.

"So, Harry…What's it like having Severus as a father?" Hermione asked.

"About the same as it was before, with him being less of an ass because he can't compare me to James Potter anymore. If he makes that comment about being just like my father, he's talking about himself." Harry joked.

"He can still compare you to James Potter because you still possess some of his traits from the adoption," Severus remarked. "Even if that glamour on you drops, the blood adoption will always remain, son."

"Then so will the one from Sirius, right?" Harry inquired.

"It's for life, Harry. As you put not so long ago, you cannot remove blood." Severus informed. "I hope you know that while I will be less of an ass, I will expect better brewing when school resumes…Between the Potter's ancestry in potion making, to your mother, and myself; there is no reason you can't. There's far too much talent running in those veins for you to not become a potions master."

"Yes, sir," Harry rolled his eyes.

"Don't get cute or disrespectful. You're under seventeen, I can ground you…" Severus warned.

"And we had a deal you wouldn't go insta-dad on me." Harry reminded.

"I'm just laying the warning, Harry. You have your freedom, but don't think for a second I won't assert myself as your father if I feel you need reigning in or punishment for stepping out of line. I still own that right until your seventeenth birthday. More so since that letter Dumbledore wrote on my behalf is fake. Legally, I never gave up my rights as your father." Severus told him.

"I know, Father. Come on, when have you known me to not behave?" Harry asked.

"How about literally every year at school? Merlin above, my boy, there are things you've done that should have landed you expelled…Maybe Azkaban." Severus sighed.

"Not all of those were my fault!" Harry argued.

"Oh? Really now?" Severus arched a brow.

"This should be good. True test to their relation…Can Harry win an argument with Uncle Sev…" Draco chuckled.

"Did you not go after the Sorcerer's Stone in first year?" Severus inquired.

"Dumbledore sent Hagrid to pick it up from Gringotts while taking me there to get money for my school stuff, and then entrusted the information about the stone and Nicholas Flamel to Hagrid, who can't keep a secret." Harry stated. "And relayed that information to a curious group of first year students after they accidentally ran into a Cerberus on the third floor because of the possessed staircases. For all you know, Dumbledore knew that Voldy's bodyless spirit was attached to Quirrell and purposely compelled me to want to find it and stop Voldemort from getting the stone." Severus went to say something. "And don't say he wouldn't because we've all seen what a manipulative liar he is. He erased your memories of my mother and learning you were my dad, then compelled you to hate me because of James, but also protect me for my mom."

"It doesn't prove he sent you after the stone." Severus said.

"But that doesn't mean it isn't what happened either. It's heresy." Harry countered. "You tell me how Dumbledore knew I'd go after the stone when the night Ron, Hermione, and I went after it when he wasn't even in the school, according to McGonagall. How did Dumbledore know the sacrificial love from my mother's death to save me is what burned Quirrell and Tom. I'm telling you, the old fool set the whole thing up. Dumbledore is the one who gave me the invisibility cloak, told me to use it well. Said James left it in his possession before he died. It was him who left the mirror in an abandoned classroom. Him who hid the stone in the mirror. Don't tell me it's not a coincidence…"

"He's got a point, Severus…" Narcissa shrugged. "Dumbledore could have used a compulsion charm on Harry, maybe even Imperious. He used both on you."

"If Dumbledore hadn't put the stone in the school, there wouldn't have been a problem. Second year wasn't my fault either. Lucius slipped the diary into Ginny's cauldron at the book shop…" Lucius put his finger up. "Don't even deny it." Harry glanced over to him. "We both know you did it." He added. Lucius stayed quiet. "Dumbledore knew Ron and I were under the cloak at Hagrid's the night he basically told us to uncover the truth. Based on prior facts of this man compelling people to do what he wants, I'm going with compelled to do as we were told. I got dragged into the events of third year. None of that was my fault, and I only acted when I came face to face with Sirius…"

"You did sneak into Hogsmeade, Harry," Ron reminded.

"Yes. That, I did do. With help from Fred and George, plus the map. But it was only because there was a technicality my form wasn't signed. That was the year my uncle's sister ticked me off, and I blew her up…So yes, I did use the cloak and the map to sneak off the grounds. I admit to that. But everything else…Not me. Sirius broke out to protect me, and I didn't even know he was innocent until Hermione and I followed him into the Shrieking Shack. Ask Ron and Hermione, the minute I saw him, I wanted to kill him because I thought he had betrayed mum and James." Harry informed.

"Yes, we know. We saw that memory on your birthday last year." Severus nodded. "You did use a time-turner, and break your godfather out of prison! That was worthy of going to Azkaban yourself."

"Dumbledore told us to do it." Hermione informed. "In the hospital wing, Dumbledore told Ron, Harry, and I that time was a mysterious thing. Powerful, dangerous when meddled with. He told us out right that Sirius Black was being kept in the top most cell of a dark tower. He reminded me of the laws, to not be seen…And return before the last chime of the clock or the consequences would be too ghastly to discuss. That if we succeeded, more than one innocent life could be spared."

"And Dumbledore is the one who approved Hermione to have the time turner for her classes, even though McGonagall gave it to her." Ron added.

"But fourth-," Severus started.

"Was not me either." Harry interrupted. "That all Barty Crouch Jr, Polyjuiced as Alastor Moody. It was him who put my name in the goblet, and you were more than informed that I had no choice but to compete. I am not the one who stole supplies from your personal stores. That was Barty, to brew the potion for himself. As for the Gillyweed, before you go accusing me…That was Dobby, on Barty's order." He remarked.

"Fifth year then, you-," Severus tried.

"I only defended myself." Harry told him. "Umbridge sent those dementors to Surrey to shut me up about Voldemort being back. I protected myself. And in school, I only refused to be called a liar and I showed you that proof," He showed his left hand where the scars were. The worst thing I did was believe a fake vision Tom showed me, then take myself and four other students to the Ministry of Magic, to rescue my godfather."

"If you had listened to me with Occlumency training, you wouldn't have been fooled." Severus huffed.

"If you hadn't been a grudge-bearing arse about James, I might have listened better. You went on and on about controlling my emotions, you tell me how to do that when you're purposely ticking me off by bad-mouthing the man who I believed was my father and died for me. You couldn't let go of the past…At the same time, I know it's not entirely your fault now that Dumbledore had a role to play in all that, so we both fell victim to it." Harry said.

"So aside from Harry leaving Hogwarts campus during third year…None of the things he did were actually his fault." Tom mentioned. "Everything he did was to either protect himself from those aiming to silence him, namely Umbridge and Cornelius Fudge…Or he was compelled to do it by Dumbledore. I suspect that the compulsions were less and less effective as the years passed on Harry, given how powerful he is. We know Harry can resist the Imperious curse, and that would have been the strongest Dumbledore could ever attempt on Harry. But on Miss. Granger, and Mr. Weasley…No offense to you both, Dumbledore would have been able to compel them."

"None taken." Ron said.

"The point, Father, is that it wasn't all me…" Harry told Severus. "You heard Dumbledore in your own memories; that he needed me a blank slate to mold. Raise me up to be the hero that defeated Voldemort. Wouldn't be surprised if the bastard has my entire life pre-planned out. Dumbledore's failure, though, is that he didn't anticipate Sirius knew the truth and wanted to ensure the truth could come out if he died. If Sirius hadn't acted on wondering why I didn't end up with you when he went to prison, and wrote that letter, we never would have known."

"Regardless, now that we do know…I expect you to come to me if there's a problem. Clear?" Severus asked.

"Crystal." Harry nodded.

"Good boy." Severus. "And well done in your argument. You are absolutely my child."

"Hardly a child anymore." Harry remarked.

"Harry, let me enjoy it…Would you? I already lost too much time. Very few things in this lifetime make me happy, this is one of them." Severus told him.

"Fine, fine. If it makes you happy, Dad." Harry replied. It was the first time Harry ever called him Dad. He'd been using Father, or Sir, the occasional and playfully sarcastic, Professor. But not, Dad.

"Awe," Narcissa, Molly, and even Bellatrix gasped.

"Shocking, Severus Snape has a gentle side…" Lucius teased.

Severus just rolled his eyes and ignored them. Perhaps being a father had gotten to him, but whatever. He was happy, there was no point hiding it. Everyone deserved to be happy, didn't they?

"How are you doing, Aunt Bella?" Tonks asked. "Due date closing in, isn't it?"

"Five days if the baby stays on track." Bellatrix replied. "I'm doing alright, quite ready to be done. I don't like being so tired all the time."

"Get used to that. Even after you give birth, you'll be tired. Babies need a lot of attention, you're always going to feel tired." Tonks laughed a little.

"Even worse when they learn to walk and run." Narcissa added. "Good Merlin, I think we stopped having to manage Draco when he went to Hogwarts."

"Granted, he has always been very well behaved since old enough to be taught proper mannerisms." Lucius said.

"It was the constant bathroom use for me." Molly chimed in. "Don't get me started on it with the twins."

"I could do without that too!" Bellatrix sighed. "Speaking of…Tom, help me up." She asked. Tom got up and easily pulled the woman to her feet slowly, then she headed off to the downstairs bathroom.

"Ready to be a father, Tom?" Remus asked.

"Not really, but…I suppose I'll learn as I go." Tom admitted. "I never got parental affections as a child, I am not even sure I'm capable of providing it to my own."

"You are." Harry told him.

"I was born from a love potion, Harry…We already went over-," Tom started.

"We went over that is was possible you might not be able to understand or feel love because of the conditions that which you were conceived under. It was never declared that you are incapable." Harry told him. "And I don't believe that you are such. You obviously have things you hold close to you since the magic ban, Bellatrix being one you care for. As you are dating her, which signifies there are feelings involved. You two kissed on New Year's, that's a form of affection. We've been enemies all these years, but you saw my uncle being an ass to me, and you stepped up when everyone else did to get him to back off. I'm not saying you care about me, but…It shows you know right from wrong, and you have morals…Living the muggle life almost the past year has showing you the other side of the coin you were rejecting. Your own muggle side." He informed.

"And when your child comes, you'll fall in love with him, or her. There are things in this life that matter to you, that you would stand up for and protect." Harry continued. "Don't say it's not possible. Severus was compelled to hate me, and deep down, he's always cared and kept me safe. It wasn't just for my mum that he's protected me. Deep down, there was that parental love because even if we didn't know it, the connection was there. Look at him now, he jumped right into acting like a father after all these years of being a grump."

"Boy, don't push it!" Severus warned.

"See?" Harry stated. "It's there, Tom. Your ability to see and understand what love is. You're not incapable of love, you're just not letting yourself feel it because you thought all these years that it was a weak emotion. It's not. It's the strongest emotion, and believed to be the most powerful. How do you think I've beaten you all these years? It's because I have friends, and family, who I'd do anything to protect. Because I love them. I'm nothing without them, they've kept me going. Given me a reason to fight. They are what makes me strong. They are my power. You saw firsthand what the love my mum did for me, it destroyed you." Harry paused. "That power I'm said to have that can vanquish you…It's love. It's my ability to love. You've walked the path of darkness because you didn't get any love as a child, and no one pulled you away from it. You have people here now, you have what I do. Friends and family. You and I, though very distant, are family. You have something to fight for. Your family. Let the love in, Tom, you'll find how much stronger you can be."

"I still don't see it…I'm the same now that I was before we lost magic." Tom remarked.

"Are you? Truly, Tom? Are you the same person you were nine months ago?" Harry asked. "Think about everything, then ask yourself that question again. I think you'll find that you're very different. All you have to do is stop denying it. You'll see it when your child is born. Of this, I have no doubts. Trust me."

It was silent a moment. No one expected such powerful words, advice given, from Harry to Tom. It clearly gave Tom something to think about because the man did not have a second response. If he didn't believe what Harry said, he would have immediately denied it again.

"TOM!" Yelled Bellatrix's voice.

The panic rose in Tom's eyes as he quickly got to his feet and went over to the bathroom.

"She probably needs help walking. I needed Remus's help during the end…" Tonks offered.

"I was on bedrest." Molly recalled.

"I was active until the day I went into labor." Narcissa said.

"Harry!" Tom called as he came to the edge of the room.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"Bella said she's in pain and can't get off the floor. I can't get the door open." Tom told him.

"What do you mean in pain?" Narcissa stood up the same time as Harry.

"She said she doubled over from a sharp cramp, and feels like she wet herself…" Tom informed.

"Dear Merlin! Her water broke, she's in labor!" Narcissa realized.