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Harry Potter And The Father
Chapter 19
The World Find's Out
It had been a week since the changes had stopped, and Severus was beyond grateful for it. Harry was used to pain and he didn't like complaining much, but thankfully he told Severus when he was sore. Or it would have been the worst mistake he had ever made, thankfully all was well. Harry's eyes had gotten a little darker, but other than that they remained green. He had gotten a little taller, but whether it was the potions Severus had given him and decent meals or the spell they weren't sure.
There was suddenly an urgent knocking on his door, it was once again Sunday and the children would be leaving for Christmas break tomorrow. Ensuring Harry would stay seated eating breakfast he answered his door and found a flustered Minerva standing there with a paper. Seeing her face he had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach whatever it was it couldn't be good.
"They know" said Minerva grimly; it shouldn't surprise them after all the shopkeepers at Diagon Alley had seen them many times.
"And how's the reactions?" asked Severus dryly.
"Surprisingly mild, there's a few families coming forward wanting to adopt him, mostly those whom know how you treat your class they have no power in the Ministry and no chance. Minister Fudge made a statement, surprising the hell out of me he's being very diplomatic about it" said Minerva handing the paper over.
Boy Who Lived Adopted By Severus Snape
"They do not know Lily was my twin" observed Severus reading the newspaper.
"That information hasn't been released yet; Severus I think you should hand over a copy of the abuse Harry went through. I know it's not ideal but he's only three years old, he won't know by the time he's older it will have blown over. It will give you a positive light against everyone, and they will leave you alone instead of attacking you in the papers" said Minerva quietly.
"I don't know Minerva…that could blow up in my face" said Severus looking constipated, which meant he was worried and conflicted with all the new information he, had received.
"I'd rather that than you attacked and Dumbledore using it as an opportunity to have Harry placed elsewhere. If you tell them now Dumbledore cannot hope to twist it to his own agenda his eyes were twinkling big time" said Minerva cautiously.
"Oh very well, I shall speak to Jordyen this morning" sighed Severus conceding the point.
"Good, we shall accompany you" said Minerva meaning her and Poppy of course. Those two women had become permanent friends and advisers in the short time he had Harry. He was very grateful to them, plus it was good for Harry to have some female influences in his life. His mother despite how much he loved her wasn't a good role model; she was just as meek as Harry was. She had allowed her bastard of a husband beat on her and her son all those years. Part of Severus was still angry with that despite how much he loved his mother.
"I'd appreciate that, I guess my mother will have to be told before Christmas. I shall floo to your rooms before lunch Minerva it's time Harry met his grandmother" sighed Severus grimly.
"Don't worry so much it will go fine, if you want I shall accompany you to Snape Manor" suggested Minerva softly.
"No, its fine there won't be a problem…I hope" said Severus quietly.
"Very well Severus, I shall see you soon" nodded Minerva quietly leaving Severus' quarters shutting the door firmly behind her. Feeling the wards securing his home, since Harry had come they had only gotten stronger and more lethal. Merlin help anyone that tried to force their way into Severus' quarters they wouldn't survive.
"How would you like to see your grandmother?" asked Severus softly, coming back and sitting next to Harry.
Harry's green eyes met his, he knew he could trust his daddy he had proved that over and over again. He was no longer having trouble controlling his magic, not that he had realized he had lost control of it. He had just felt a constant pressure, but always suppressed it because he knew what happened when it was let loose. His Uncle's beatings were always worse when weird things had happened. His daddy was different; when things happened he was actually proud! Proud of all things. Needless to say Harry was no longer afraid of that part of him, and his necklace helped too.
"No floo?" asked Harry his eyes beseeching his daddy's.
Severus sighed softly, Harry for some reason did not like the floo, and now that he was asking for things he always asked for not to floo. It was rather strange, Apparation was probably worse than floo'ing or at least in his experience.
"Ok we will apparate then" replied Severus softly, "Is there anything you want to take with you?"
Harry nodded before climbing from the sofa and going to his room, he grabbed his Black Panther and cloak before coming back out. Severus smiled softly, ruffling Harry's hair and put on his cloak and let Harry decide if he wanted to walk or not. He did, as he clutched as Severus' hand tightly as if he was afraid Severus would pull back.
"Ready to go little one?" asked Severus, he didn't want to see the looks he and Harry were going to get. This wasn't a good idea, but he couldn't deny Harry anything or it would break the fragile trust his son had in him. Especially something as silly as floo'ing his son didn't like it and it was as simple as that.
"Where does grandma live daddy?" asked Harry his head cocked up looking at his dad curiously.
"She lives at Snape Manor" said Severus softly.
"Oh alone?" asked Harry.
"Yes sweet one she lives alone" said Severus hiding his grin. Harry really was getting better and it filled him with glee. A few weeks ago he hadn't wanted to speak unless spoken to so yet another leap in his faith was accomplished.
"Doesn't she get lonely?" asked Harry sadly.
"Sometimes I'm sure she does but she has plenty to do, she likes to brew potions like me" explained Severus softly.
Harry just nodded and silently followed his daddy out of Hogwarts; he didn't notice the stares he was getting. However, Severus did and glared at every single one of them, he didn't want his son unnerved. Once they were out of the school grounds, he picked up his son and apparated him.
Harry looked around his eyes extremely big; this place was huge almost as huge as Hogwarts. The flowers were beautiful, Harry observed as he walked along the path every colour and size was there. He had never seen so many before all in one place, very pretty was all the happy little boy could think. Eventually his legs tired and he began walking slower, his daddy noticed and Harry with a bright smile snuggled into his arms quite content to lie curled in his daddy's arms.
"Hello son, long time no see. Care to tell me why I found out about this…disgrace in the newspaper?" asked Eileen looking very cross indeed.
Severus quickly put a silencing charm around Harry, his mother wasn't in a good mood and he had a feeling he wouldn't be in a few minutes either. He sighed before creating a travel cot similar to Narcissa's and put Harry into it. He looked warily at his father but got an encouraging nod from him. Trusting that everything would be alright he turned his attention to his beloved panther.
"Is that your feelings or the feelings father beat into you?" demanded Severus scowling darkly at his mother.
"He's a half blood Severus! His mother is a Muggle born I know she was your friend but you have tarnished the family name" said Eileen sharply.
"I never took you for one to live up to the pureblood crap everyone sprouted mother" said Severus his lip curling in distaste. His mother was going too far, he decided there and then that Harry wouldn't have much to do with her.
"It doesn't matter whether I do or not" said Eileen adamantly.
"No? So you have no problem with Harry being your grandson?" asked Severus smoothly arching an eyebrow in question.
"He may be the boy who lived Severus, but he's first and foremost a half blood" sighed Eileen she hadn't even looked at the child or she would have realized something.
"Again I ask if that's you or father's conditioned part of your brain speaking?" asked Severus dryly. He couldn't believe how stupid his mother was being, she had never spoken like this before. She didn't believe twins shared magical cores yet she was condemning him for adopting a child. Whether she knew or not that Harry was her biological grandson didn't matter.
Eileen sighed sadly shaking her head unable to believe what her son had done. The Prince and Snape lines combined were as pure as you could come, had more money than the Black's Potter's even the Malfoy lines. No Prince or Snape had broken contact with their families and married Muggles or Muggle born's.
"I thought you didn't believe in the pureblood mania? You certainly didn't care about the magical core sharing twin belief" sighed Severus sadly, more sad for the fact that Harry wouldn't really get to know his grandmother. At least he had Poppy and Minerva, they were better role models for Harry anyway, and that fact was becoming more and more apparent.
"That's an old wives tale but the Snape and Prince lines are as pure as you can get! There aren't many left, even the Black's and now Potter's aren't pure anymore" said Eileen.
"I'm not listening to this" said Severus aggravated, he picked up Harry and ensured the panther was securely in his arms before he began walking out of the room. Just as he got to the door he turned around and spat the words out bitterly.
"Lily Evan's was your daughter; Harry is your grandson the Potter line is still as pure as they come. Harry's not just my adopted son but also my nephew" Severus spat at his mother bitterness clear as day in his voice. He smirked nastily at his mother's stunned look before leaving not even listening to her when she began shouting his name.
Once he landed on Hogwarts grounds he took off the silencing spell and stalked to the Hospital wing. Once there he floo'ed Minerva and she quickly came through confused by Severus' concealed anger. Things must have not gone well at Snape manor but from what he knew Eileen was meek enough.
"What happened?" asked Minerva confused.
"Here you go Harry" said Poppy giving Harry a chocolate lolly. Harry looked at Severus for permission, when he nodded Harry smiled softly and accepted it. He didn't get treats often, but he loved when he did.
"My mother is a bloody idiot" said Severus very quietly.
"What happened?" repeated the cat animagus frowning.
"She disapproved of my choice to adopt Harry" said Severus grimacing in disgust at the thought of his mother's words.
"Why?" cried Minerva shocked.
"I'd like to know that as well" said Poppy, the fact someone disapproved of having 'the boy who lived' in their family was shocking in itself. Minerva, Poppy nor Severus cared for Harry's title but most others did.
"Because he was a half blood" sneered Severus, the irony was almost enough to make him want to laugh. He was too furious to really appreciate the irony of it right now, no doubt his mother was floo'ing his quarters. She wouldn't get an answer even if he was there he wasn't happy with her.
"But he's not" replied Poppy "Didn't you tell her…"
"I was about to then she began going on about how I had disgraced the family name" said Severus shaking his head in exasperation.
"I thought she didn't believe in all that pureblood stupidness?" frowned Minerva.
"I was under the same impression" agreed Severus.
"So what's happening now?" asked Poppy.
"Nothing I told her as I left, that Lily was her son and that the Potter line was probably now purer than ours" smirked Severus, his mothers expression bringing an amused glint to his eyes.
"That was evil Severus" said Minerva her lips twitching in amusement.
"She brought it on herself" said Severus honestly.
"Indeed she did" said Poppy looking angry on Harry and Severus' behalf.
"Well then shall we go to the Prophet station, have it out for the dinner edition?" asked Minerva.
"I'll blame you if this comes back to bite me in the arse" said Severus grimly.
"I'll shoulder the blame than have Harry hate you" said Minerva agreeably her own face grim. They needed to do this before the public went against him, goodness knows what they would or could do to him. Harry might even get hurt in the cross fire, it was much safer to appeal to the public's hearts. It wasn't just the public but Dumbledore she was worried about, and who would have thought they would see the day Minerva would be worried about Dumbledore, in regards of what nasty thing he may do.
It didn't take long to get to the Prophet station, Jordyen looked sick to the stomach at the new information she learned in ten minutes. She asked questions and wrote a lot down as she went, giving Harry soft pitying glances every now and again. She couldn't believe what she had learned today, she couldn't believe the boy who had killed You-Know-Who was beaten by a Muggle. Even worse that Dumbledore had sent him there, she was going to get a lot of Prophet Sales today that was for sure.
"Well at least you didn't ask Skeeter's to do it" said Minerva as they walked back.
"Pft, I wouldn't do such a thing she's a compulsive liar" snorted Severus in distain.
"Hopefully she wont do what Skeeter's does" said Poppy.
"Everything I've read from her is truth hence why I chose her" said Severus smoothly.
"True" said Minerva nodding curtly.
"How do you think Albus will take the next edition of the paper?" asked Poppy smiling in grim satisfaction.
"No doubt he will be shocked, he won't be very popular afterwards" said Minerva.
"He will be despised by everyone, he left a hero with Muggles against everyone's protests and it's finally came back to haunt him" said Severus.
"I warned him not too I had followed them around all day but he disregarded up. I wish I had done more now but there's nothing to be done about it" sighed Minerva, she would always hold the guilt for letting Dumbledore talk her into it.
"There was nothing you could have done any more than any of us" said Severus bluntly.
"It doesn't feel that way, whenever I see the child I feel so guilty" said Minerva her blue eyes showing just how much guilt she carried needlessly.
"I think you should put Harry down for a nap" said Poppy as they got to the gates of Hogwarts.
"He's already been asleep for half an hour, he will wake up in an hour" said Severus he knew how long Harry slept in the afternoon by now.
"I shall see you at dinner Severus" said Minerva.
"I shall be joining you" said Poppy smiling softly, excitement in her eyes and it caused a bounce in her step. Poppy didn't always come to the great hall for dinner, she wasn't a teacher or head of house so it wasn't required. Most of the time she just had it in her office, especially if she had a patient.
Will Severus forgive his mother? will they make up? or would you rather Harry not know his grandmother? will Dumbledore leave severus alone now? or will he try even more to get Harry out of Severus' influence? will Fudge really be on severus' side? will the newspaper report the truth or twist it to seem like Severus did the abuse? R&R please
