Disclaimer: We all know we don't own or make money. Those who claim to… well we all know there don't.

Warning: I take no responsibility if reader is allergic to slash or anything else in this fic. You have been warned in the previous chapters and if that didn't get through I am sorry. You're the ignorant one.

A/N okay it hasn't been too long. Don't throw anything too nasty. Well allons-y.

Previously-

He could feel the spells dissolve but he remained still. His thoughts too much in turmoil to move. Harry would not accept him. Why should he? Severus knew who he was. And he was not a nice man. He had been hiding behind his masks for so long he was unsure if they were masks at all. You must first accept yourself he knew he had hidden his heritage from the world. It was a risk to too many. The only that had known where the other professors and the Malfoys. He looked down at his hand the aged skin he knew was not entirely his own. Could he let his masks go? He clenched his fist.

Presently-

Harry sat the bowl of brightly colored sour gummies on the dark coffee table next to the tray of tea and biscuits. Now all he needed was his family to make their appearance.

That was something that got him. His family. It was an interesting thought that he now considered them his family. When he had left he was almost ready to strip them of their familial ties just because of his previous encounters. But after staying with the *Marius family he had given them the chance, or choice rather, to stay or walk away. What happened after that would determine his opinion of them. So far, the opinion was mixed. He could not just look past the fact that his Godfather was killed by one of the people about to visit him. But during his correspondence with Narcissa she insisted that there was more to the veil then he originally thought.

There was a knock on the door and the handle hissed at him that there was a group of four waiting for him, he decided it was time.

The rest was up to them.

Snapes POV

"Minerva why did you not tell me that you had gotten a hold of him!" he slammed his fist onto the desk in front of him. The older woman just looked at him and waited. "I looked everywhere for him! For months! And I come to find you have had correspondence with him." He fell back into the armchair and gripped the arms tightly.

The woman handed him a cup of tea, and just for the fact he knew there was a calming draught in it, he accepted. He watched her watch him, and they waited a few minutes for the potions to affect him.

It took at least three, a weak one by his standard, but he felt the tense muscles all over his face, shoulders, and back relax as the potion worked its magic.

Looking back at the woman he sighed. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

"Because you would have gone of on some goose chase and tried to find him. And he did not want that."

"I see."

"Severus, do not jump to conclusions. The young man simply needed the time. And you running after him would have solved nothing. Have you noticed he is better? That family helped him move on. It was what he needed on more than one level."

Severus sat quietly thinking over the brief encounter with Harry. He had held himself with confidence, something he had lacked before.

"He has changed in many ways Severus; did you not see the tattoo he now has around his neck?"

He ran his finger against his lips. "I do not believe it to be a simple tattoo."

"Oh?"

His finger moved to his left wrist and ran over the covered ink. "If he has indeed been with a family then they may be what remain of a specific ritual."

"The customs of your people are not that well known Severus. What rituals?"

"An apprentice must complete a test and a ritual to become a master of the art. If the ritual is a success it leaves intricate tattoos on the body."

"Do you know what art he is a master of?"

"Every tattoo is different depending on the person. And I do not think that is his only one."

They sat in silence for a moment, both drinking their tea and going over the information.

She coughed quietly. "Severus what are you going to do now?"

His grip tightened on the cup and he looked away. "Nothing."

"Nothing? Severus he is back. And he still calls does he not?"

He set the cup on the tea tray. "Of course he still calls woman. But he asks me to do something I will not do. I will not chase that that will never accept me."

He stood stiffly and started to pace. "Why would he, his greasy potions master. I have nothing to offer. He has already expressed that others want him."

"Severus I know enough that only one calls to you. And they do not call to anyone else. They may want him but he is yours. And you're just going to give up because you do not think he is capable of accepting you? That is a cowardly move."

"I am not a coward!" he slammed his hands onto the table surface. He breathed deeply for a couple moments before shame boiled up inside.

"Prove it to me. To him. You're so adamant about it. Prove it to yourself. What is it he asks of you?" His fingers curled into themselves.

"He asks me to accept myself. To not hide who I am. He taunted me that the vamp…that the family he was with do not hide." He sneered.

"Well Severus this is not something I can help you with. As he said you must accept yourself." She raised and walked around the desk placing a hand on his shoulder. His face was hidden behind his hair. "But I can tell you this if you do want him, do not give up. I know who you are Severus Tobias Slytherin Prince Snape. You were a death eater." The shoulder tensed beneath her hand. "A Spy for the good. You did many things but you are a good man. You sacrificed so much for the peace of others and you no longer have any masters. You are free. You have the ancient blood of one of our founders who was also a good man. You are a Vampire. A Born. And one day you will have a family of your own." She patted his shoulder before leaving the office.

He clenched his fist as he though over her words.

All of it was true. But it could not change who he is.

Harry's POV

The door swung open to his touch, the four people outside his door stood quietly. Waiting.

"I am glad you were able to find the rooms. Come in. I have some tea prepared for us."

They all nodded, Narcissa gave a small smile in greeting as they all passed him into the sitting room. The Malfoys sat on the couch and Bellatrix sat in one of the arm chairs. He sighed as he walked to the other and sat. It was silent but Lucius changed that.

"I must admit it surprised me to find you in the dungeons with the snakes." He took the offered tea and sipped it.

Harry sat back into his chair. "You will find, Lucius, that there is much about me that would surprise you. But that is beyond the point. The dungeons are more inviting than the rest of the castle. And they allow me to do what I have to do without the eyes of others watching me."

The man nodded and relaxed a little bit. Harry sneaked a glance at Bella; she had been silent and watching. He couldn't decide if she was planning a way to kill him or what. But it was getting unnerving. He looked at Draco briefly. The man looked tired. But he was looking around the room in interest. Narcissa coughed quietly and he focused on her.

"My lord."

"Narcissa, I have asked you to call me Harry."

"Harry, throughout our correspondence you never once mentioned what you wanted of my family."

He thought for a moment before sitting forward and looking all of them in the eyes. "When this ring first appeared on my hand and I was told that you were my family, my first thought was to cut all familial ties." Bella narrowed her eyes. "But I was given the advice of giving you a chance as I know that if I had you would no longer be Blacks. You would be unknown. Disowned. So I gave you a choice. Leave the dark lord or don't. As you know I am to fight him. Whether I win or lose is up to fate but I did not want to be fighting against family if I had the choice."

"If we had chosen to stay with the dark lord would you have cut the ties?"

"Yes."

They sat in silence again before Bella spoke up. "What are we to do now? You have locked us out of the Black vaults. We have no means of jobs and we are here because it is the only place that is safe for us 'death eaters'."

"We wait for the war to end. You may decide to stand next to the dark lord if you wish. But if you do you cannot come back. After the war you will be free if you stand by me. You are in all technicalities my cousin. All of you are the last family I have left."

Draco snorted into his tea. All eyes looked at him.

"What that sounded corny as hell." Bella smirked with Draco. Narcissa smiled and Lucius leaned back. It seemed that was what they needed to break the ice.

Harry laughed. And stood up. He held his hand out to Draco and smiled. "Hello my name his Harry Potter Black." The scene so much like that of first year with one difference. Draco smirked and took his hand.

"Draco Malfoy."

A/N so the next chapter. Short I know. Losing momentum but there will be a catch next time. Just wait for it. And waiting…. Waiting…. I'm kidding. It shouldn't be too long. Let me know what you think. TTFN