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Harry Potter And The Father

Chapter 17

Buying An Owl And Order Meetings

True to his word Severus did take Harry to Diagon Alley to see the animals, people were giving Harry curious looks. They could obviously see the changes that he had undergone and were under the wrong impression he had been blood adopted. Which essentially makes someone the heir to the family, it wasn't gone it disgraced the name or that's what Pureblood's liked to think.

"Look daddy! A baby owl" whispered Harry in awe; she looked like a strangled chicken with no feathers.

"Indeed" said Severus smoothly, he had never seen a baby owl so young in a shop.

"Why is she the only one?" asked Harry cocking his head to the side curiously a sad look on his face for the owl that was lonely.

"She must have been abandoned sweet one, some animals abandon their young. Either that or her mum and dad are dead" said Severus in explanation, in a way a three year old child would understand.

"I hope they died" said Harry solemnly he didn't like the thought of anyone abandoning someone.

"I'm sure that is what happened" said Severus nodding his head; he didn't like to see such a solemn look on his baby boy.

"Do we have to leave her?" asked Harry his voice so sad and lonely it went straight to Severus' heart.

"She will be well cared for" said Severus softly, coming eye level with Harry letting him see he was serious.

"But she's lonely" protested Harry sadly, softly petting at the owl making sure he didn't make cause what tiny white feathers called down to come away.

Severus realised as they were walking out of the shop, Harry looking back at the owl looking extremely sad, that Harry had just about asked for something. It was the closet he had ever gotten to having an argument with him. He knew he was going to regret this but he couldn't take seeing such a heartbroken look on his son's face. Shaking his head he picked Harry up and walked back over to the counter, knowing he was going soft and worse yet he didn't care.

"I'd like to buy the owl" said Severus curtly, just because he was going soft with Harry he would be damned if his reputation as a bastard went to hell.

"Which one?" asked the shop assistant being deliberately vague.

"I think you know" said Severus his eyes narrowed and a scowl painted on his features. His voice was neutral he didn't want to scare Harry after all; it was a good job really that Harry couldn't see his face.

"Very well" conceded the woman nodding her head, she had known she had deliberately being annoying. She hadn't been in a good mood all day, might have something to do with her being dumped but this wasn't here nor there. She gathered the owl up in the soft bedding and quickly put it into a small square cage. The owl wouldn't be able to stand up on its own for quite some time, so it was safely nestled in a nest of soft bedding.

"Would you like it sent on to Hogwarts?" asked Emily, the shop assistant watching the Potion's Master curiously.

"Can I hold it?" asked Harry warily, he didn't want anything happening to the owl. He couldn't believe it though; the owl was coming home with them. His daddy probably wanted it for himself, but it was coming home and that's all that mattered to Harry. He was almost jumping up and down with suppressed glee he had an animal to look after even if it was daddies.

"You have to be very careful mind" said Severus softly, nodding his head he handed over the galleons and placed the feather light box into his son's arms. The owl was twittering obviously very uncomfortable and afraid in the dark small box. Harry was biting his lip and taking extra care not to hurt or move his owl crooning at it softly as if he understood what it was going through. Considering Harry had been shoved in a cupboard it didn't surprise Severus in the least that he would understand.

They got to the nearest floo and floo'ed towards Hogsmeade, and they spent a leisurely hour walking back from Honeydukes. Severus had gotten Harry a few pieces of fudge that would be soft enough for him to bite into. Remembering how he had stopped Hagrid from giving him any, he didn't want Harry thinking he wasn't allowed anything. It was true though Harry wouldn't be getting a lot of sweets; his teeth were in too bad a shape for such thing. He could do what he wanted when his adult teeth came in, but until then he would have to do what he was told, whether he liked it or not.

"Did you like that?" asked Severus softly, he kept a good eye on his son he was walking by himself. He knew the pain could start up whenever it wanted, as the changes went through him. He had on him as usual all the potions he would need. The ones his son would need were at the very top, so he could get them in a rush. His eyes had stayed the same dark emerald colour with black swirls in them; his nose had become more button like if possible. His lashes has gotten longer and turned black making most people envious that their child wasn't more gorgeous. Severus couldn't believe that Harry could look so gorgeous with the Snape looks either, he hadn't been the nicest looking child he knew that. No matter what his mother said, he knew he hadn't been. He longed to know what Lily had looked like under her glamour's but it was something that would never be. He wondered if he had any children of his own if they would look anything like Harry. Not that he planned on having any, heaven forbid someone actually liked him enough to put up with his sarcasm and nasty temper.

"It was very nice" nodded Harry shyly his entire face lit up when he tasted it. Even ice cream didn't taste and beautiful and delicious as the fudge his daddy had just given him.

"Good," said Severus giving his son a small secret smile when he saw no one was around.

"Severus, thank Merlin I found you, Dumbledore called an Order meeting" puffed Minerva coming to a halt beside him.

"I wasn't notified" said Severus his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"No I suspected you weren't when you didn't get in touch this morning" said McGonagall "It seems I was too late to get you when I did floo. I know you spend a lot of time in the shops with Harry so I apparated over there. They said you had already been so I apparated back here, went to your room and you weren't there. I was just coming out again to see if I could find you"

"Well I am here, it's the house elves day off, and everyone I know is at the Order meeting perfect timing" snarled Severus furiously, tamping down on his anger he didn't want to scare his son, no matter how angry he was.

"Well calm yourself just bring him with you" said Minerva her hand on Severus' shoulder as if trying to give him strength.

"That is no place for a three year old" bit out Severus furiously picking Harry up. Even with one hand Harry had a steady grip on his owl as if afraid of dropping him. The other was wrapped around Severus' cloak, he knew Harry didn't like him shouting he got easily scared so he closed his eyes and forcefully let go of the anger. There was nothing he could do; obviously Dumbledore had wanted the meeting to happen without him, too bloody bad because he was going. He wasn't going to let Dumbledore ruin his name and make him out to be the bad one.

"Come little one, we have a meeting to get to" said Severus softly.

Harry cocked his head to the side obviously not understanding what the word meeting meant.

Harry was very curious about where he was going he had never been up this part of the castle before. He was confused when his daddy snarled a sweet name at a bird sort of statue. He jumped in fright when it abruptly began moving, the grinding sound had been similar to the noise Vernon made when he came down the stairs in the morning. Jumping extra hard on the ones at the top, where his cupboard was, it was a surprise the bloody stair hadn't fallen in under his weight.

"Severus" said Dumbledore unable to disguise his surprise to see not only the man himself but Harry. He had never been able to get into Severus' quarters since Harry had come, even knocking the man had refused to answer to him. He had invited everyone over to see if he could get people on his side, get Harry out of Severus' control. He couldn't fight him officially because he knew he would loose, the contract was full proof Lily had made sure of that. It seemed she hadn't trusted him as half as much as he thought she had, Severus obviously didn't either.

"Hello Albus, I was very surprised indeed to find an Order meeting today, I guess my letter got waylaid?" asked Severus sarcastically.

"You didn't get it?" asked Albus in feign shock.

"Oh no you made sure of that" sneered Severus hiding his fury.

"Is that who I think it is" asked Remus from one of the seats, the only reason he came back once a month was to attend meetings. No one else knew where he went or what he did any other time, and he refused to answer questions about it. Goodness knows where he went to transform into his wolf, Severus could only hope he didn't infect people when he went out. His amber eyes were alight his nostrils flaring as he smelt the air around him the scent of everyone in his room.

"Why is it that he gets to see him but I don't?" snarled Remus furiously turning to Dumbledore fury written all over his face. Remus of course hadn't known where Lily stayed; she had been more James friend than hers. Severus on the other hand had gone to her house for a few days when they were younger, when Eileen had made sure his father was gone for a decent amount of time. Petunia lived in her parent's old house in Privet Drive which is how Severus had known where to go.

"What is going on?" asked Shacklebolt cautiously.

"Severus was Lily's twin brother, they kept it a secret as Eileen had given her away to stop Severus' father Tobias killing her. Lily had given Severus time delayed letter informing him and also giving him full custody of his nephew now adopted son" said Minerva.

Remus was the only one unsurprised, he had known from their first year; after all they had smelt almost identical. Only Lily smelt more feminine than Severus obviously, having a wolf nose was handy some times.

"You knew" snarled Severus furiously. He could see everyone else was shocked other than Remus Lupin and it certainly didn't take a genius to figure out why.

"Calm down everyone, Severus give Harry to me" said Poppy shaking her head knowing his meeting was going to be hard on Severus. He would find it difficult obviously to hold his anger in so she was going to take Harry and make sure. Severus handed a very sleepy but tense Harry over to Poppy, after very quietly reassuring him everything was ok and he wasn't angry at him. Swallowing thickly Harry nodded his head, burying himself into Severus for a few seconds before willingly being handed over to Poppy.

"What do you have here Harry?" asked Poppy softly seeing the box distracting the little one.

"Daddy's baby owl" said Harry softly opening the box and letting her see the chick.

"Oh it's beautiful" gasped Poppy in fake astonishment as if she hadn't seen a baby owl before.

Harry's head bobbed up and down a small smile on his face, the Order couldn't help but wince at the teeth the child was missing. Thankfully Harry didn't seem to see them, but Severus had and he had thrown them a look that promised death if they did it again.

"What happened to the child?" asked Molly wide eyed, she more than most realized no three year old child should be missing any teeth never mind so many of them. She had a child Harry Potter's age and he didn't have missing teeth.

"He was abused at the Dursley's where Dumbledore insisted on placing him for the so called blood wards" sneered Severus, one eye on the Order members and one eye on his son. Who seemed content to sit and pet his baby owl, and talk quietly with Poppy or rather answer her questions.

"So called?" asked Moody his eyes narrowed. He trusted Dumbledore when it came to war, after all they had been through to wars together. He respected the hell out of Severus for spying on the Death Eaters even if he hadn't trust him fully. It would be a stupid thing to do to trust a spy, but when he had found out about the vow it became another matter altogether.

"Lily was adopted, she wasn't Evan's blood she had the blood of Prince and Snape" explained Minerva "As we explained earlier, you know as well as I just how twins are seen in the Pureblood society"

"Aye that I do" grumbled Moody, there had been a time where he had to arrest the mother of twins who had just murdered her second born child - a little girl. Ironically enough the father had been a half blood, he hadn't known his wife's views and paid for it. He had, had to raise the boy on his own; the mother had died in Azkaban only five years into her sentence.

"She looked nothing like him" said Diggle frowning.

"Obviously" barked Moody rolling his eyes "The whole point would have been defeated if she had her natural looks" he looked extremely disgustedly at Diggle for being so stupid before turning and ignoring her. He had been in school with Eileen Prince he knew her speciality lay in Potions and Charms, she had been the top of those two classes. No matter how hard he worked in Potions he hadn't been the best in it, for an Auror it was required he was content to just come second in the end.

Severus smirked in amusement, he knew there was a reason he liked Moody.

"Why did you place Harry Potter with the Dursley's then? If the blood wards didn't exist?" asked Molly her face was stony. She remembered what Severus had said, abused at the Dursley's where Dumbledore had placed him. Severus didn't lie that much she knew he was very honest, too bloody honest sometimes which made him irritating to be around at times.

"Death Eaters were everywhere, I created wards that no one would be able to break" said Dumbledore.

"There were no wards, I got into that house no problem, and you didn't realize I had Harry until the Ministry informed you of the adoption. You still wouldn't know if you hadn't been in a meeting with him" said Severus his lip curling he so wanted to snarl and shout but he didn't want to scare his son.

"What of course there were! I know you are mad that I didn't check upon the child but there is no need to lie" said Dumbledore incredulously. This wasn't how he imagined his Order meeting going, he had been about to test the waters. If the Order believed him perhaps he could get the Ministry and public in his favour too.

"I can show you in my pensive if you want…I am not lying" snarled Severus furiously, standing up looking very imposing indeed. There were many things he hated being called, the first on the list is a coward, and the second being called a liar anyone that knew him better than to suggest such a thing.

Poppy thankfully had put Harry into a silencing bubble so he didn't hear what others were saying. This wasn't a conversation for little ears, she added herself into it but she could hear the others whereas Harry couldn't. The spell was invented for just that purpose to stop children hearing grown up adult conversations.

"Albus how could you not check up on the child? You know sometimes blood isn't everything. Many Muggle born children walk these halls that are abused you cannot be that stupid!" snapped Molly unable to help herself she was standing up now looking very intimidating.

"Not just Muggle Born's" said Severus but he had to concede most of them were. Pureblood children were cherished, every single one of them counted unless of course it was twins unfortunately.

"I didn't want Harry knowing about the Wizarding world, I wanted him to grow up as a normal boy so when he turned eleven he would be a normal child and not spoiled" said Dumbledore patiently, inwardly he was furious his Order was turning on him Albus Dumbledore over a child he didn't like it one bit.

"There are other ways to make sure you aren't seen" said Moody suspiciously. He was beginning to think Snape was right and Dumbledore had allowed the boy to be abused. James Potter had been a favourite of his in the Auror academy even if he liked pranks a little too much. Abuse wasn't looked upon kindly in the wizarding world; in fact many Muggles had been almost sentenced to the Kiss for such a thing.

"I would have left if it wasn't for the children, I'm going to ensure you don't hurt anyone the same way by ignoring them" said Minerva stiffly.

"How can you say such a thing?" gasped Dumbledore wide eyed.

"It's the truth, how many times have I came to you and told you about suspicious injuries on children? You never did a thing." said Poppy sadly. She didn't have the authority to do it herself; all she could do was report to her superior and let him do anything he could to help.

"I do go to the board of governors" said Dumbledore his twinkle absent as he looked at the accusing looks he was receiving from his Order. Molly looked utterly livid with the new information coming to light.

"If that was true Lucius would have done something, he's a pureblood he doesn't condone abuse of any kind" said Severus his lip curling at yet another lie from Dumbledore.

"I want my daddy" said Harry to Poppy.

"Severus, Harry wants you" said Poppy quickly; she could see the child was beginning to tremble for some reason. Perhaps it was the amount of time Severus had been away from him. It made no sense as Severus went for longer periods of time, even if he did come see Harry during his breaks and before each class.

"Come here son" said Severus his voice instantly changing, as he held out his hands for his son.

"Sore daddy" whispered Harry his green eyes glazed with pain.

Severus felt like swearing, how could he have forgotten his son could be in pain. "Where?" asked Severus, rubbing soothing circles on his back. He didn't care that he was getting shocked looks from around the room. The Order had always assumed he hated children, given how he treated them in his classroom it wasn't an invalid assumption.

"Honestly! He has to be strict in his classes! Otherwise there would be accidents!" said McGonagall shaking her head at the shocked looks Severus was getting. She could tell Severus was uncomfortable about it; she was proud though that he didn't care about his reputation and cared for Harry first and foremost. It was true, when Slughorn had been a teacher there had been accidents nearly every class, since Severus had begun teaching there would be lucky if there was one a week sometimes not one for months.

"Drink these" said Severus softly, and Harry did without complaint before settling himself quite comfortably against his daddy's chest.

Remus looked ready to suffer an apoplexy just watching them.

"Again why did Snape get him?" asked Remus growling low in his throat. The full moon was upon them and it was easy to anger the man, even if most of the time he was very mild mannered.

"Haven't you been listening?" asked Minerva smartly "He has custody of him"

"I tried to see him many times but Dumbledore wouldn't allow it, how did he know where to get him" said Remus his amber eyes full of suspicion.

Severus snorted in derision "I visited Lily at her home during the summer of course I'd remember where she lived" sneered the black clad man.

Remus just sat there fury written across his face, he knew he had no chance of getting to know Harry now. Not with Snape having custody of him, even if he did contest it Harry wouldn't ever be adopted by him. He was a werewolf, and they weren't looked upon kindly, and weren't allowed children. Well not allowed children alone, he was a single man and wouldn't have anyone to watch over him the nights of the full moon.

"I think I'm going to take my son back to my quarters, he's had enough excitement for one day" said Severus standing up, his son secure in his arms so that he didn't even murmur when shifted.

"You can bring him over to mine whenever you like Severus, I'm sure my Ronnie would like someone his own age to play with. He's ever so jealous of Ginny, she has a friend just along the road from her Luna" said Molly throwing Dumbledore a look of utter contempt before looking back and finishing her conversation with Severus "Even if her parents are slightly…odd"

"I will when I think my son can handle it; he's very afraid of loud noises and a lot of children. His cousin was the only child he knew, and the boy took after his parents and hurt Harry too" said Severus his lip curling as he thought about the boy he hadn't met. Dudley Dursley, how he wanted to take the spoiled little boy over his knee for the way he treated Harry.

"I see" said Molly her eyes looking ready to tear up, the thought of anyone hurting a child made Molly furious. She had seven children; she hadn't raised a hand to them even once. Even when the twins did her patience she never, ever resorted to corporeal punishment.

Severus nodded curtly around the room, before lifting up the baby owl and leaving. Satisfied that if Dumbledore even tried they wouldn't listen to him now. He had gotten his side of the story before him, and his was a helluva lot more believable than Dumbledore's that was for sure.

Once he was back he put Harry into his bed, he took the owl and hand fed it milk through a stopper. It was the only thing the baby owl would be able to get; he couldn't stuff regurgitated food down its mouth. The thought alone was enough to make him sick, so until she could eat that's what she would get. She didn't seem to mind too much, she was a white owl and she cost more than barn owls for sure. He was going soft and it made Severus shake his head in amusement.

He had of course heard Harry when he said it was his owl, the child didn't realize she was his. He would be the primary carer; he would be feeding it that was too much for a three year old. The only thing Harry would be doing was petting at her of course. If it stopped him having to go to the shops every day to see them then all the better.

Would you like to see Ron and Draco friends? with Harry of course will Sirius break out of azkaban early or is it overdone? is it even done? will the Wizarding world find out about Severus adopting Harry - not just the Minister, Malfoy's and the shop keepers that see him. will the public be alright with Severus being the father of the boy who lived? will Harry's abuse be spilled across the first page of the daily prophet making them furious enough to hunt and kill the dursley's thats one way to stop snape getting the blame :P it being someone else. will severus have to go to a trial to keep harry or will the ministry tell the papers that its permanant and it was the last wish of Lily Evans Potter the woman well respected and awed by the wizarding world. R&R please!