DISCLAIMERS: I don't own anthing other than the plot. J.K. owns the characters and I just borrowed them to play with.

A/n: Re-posted 08/17/2013

italics = Thoughts

Chapter 15 – Conflicts Ahead

Harry ended up deciding that he wouldn't tell the whole true to his friends by letter. He could easily imagine what Ron and Hermione would say. Ron would be shocked and nauseated with the concept that Snape was any ones father, let alone Harry's. Hermione, on the other hand, would be shocked and ecstatic, she would understand what an opportunity this was to him... and she would probably think about all the things Snape could teach her friend.

That was what Harry was thinking while he thought about what he should write, plus a few of the reasons he hadn't went back to London with them.

Dear Ron,

I'm fine! I promise! Dumbledore decided that the Dursleys aren't fit guardians for me (finally!) so, I'll never have live with them again! That's why I had to stay at Hogwarts while you guys went back to London... and that was the good news! Now a... not exactly bad new, but not as good a new... I'm not sure yet...

The rumours are right, for the first time ever... I really was at Diagon Alley... with Snape. He's my new guardian... Dumbledore thinks that living with him is the safest place for me... what with his experience in potions and DADA...

Tell your mother I'm alright, please. And that I'd love to see you all this summer... I just don't know if I'll be able to... I'll have to ask Snape... maybe your parents could ask him?

I'll talk to you soon,

Harry.

P.s. Could you tell Hermione for me? I want to use Hedwig to send a letter to Sirius... thanks!

Sirius' letter was even more difficult to write. Harry hadn't forgotten the hope and happiness that came with his godfather's invite. To be able to live with Sirius would have been the best thing ever for Harry... at least till he decided to give Snape a chance. In the end, Harry understood that the best thing he could do was to tell Sirius everything, even if he was afraid of what his godfather reaction would be to the news that Harry wasn't James' son, but Snape's.

Dear Sirius,

We saw each other a few weeks ago, but so many things happened these last few days that I'm not even sure it really happened. It all began the night you escaped with Buckbeak. Snape knew I had helped you, somehow... he was furious when he got to the hospital wing – luckily Hermione and I were already back there – he accused me of helping you... in the end he was so mad that he yelled at professor Dumbledore "So it was your idea, Albus? Your idea, was it? To put MY son in danger to save that worthless Black, WASN'T IT?"

I didn't understood what he meant with that at the time... but a few days later, when it was time to go away, Dumbledore asked me to go to his office. Snape and Madam Pomfrey were there as well. I... I don't know how to tell you what happened next, Sirius, I... I found out something that day. Something I'm not sure how to tell you so you won't hate me...

Dumbledore asked me to do a test, Sirius. A paternity test. They wanted to find out if I'm really my father's son. James Potter's son. Sirius... three names showed up as the result. My mother, Lily and... and two names as my fathers.

Please, please don't hate me Sirius! Severus Snape's name showed up as my... biological father. I... Dumbledore and Snape said that, as James Potter's name also showed up, but in second, that he adopted me...

I'm living with Snape now. Dumbledore wouldn't let me live with you... and Snape being my father... I'll have to stay with him now. We managed to not kill each other... yet…

I hope you understand... there's nothing I can do, Sirius! Please! I would've loved to stay with you!

I'll wait for your answer,

Harry.

Tears streams went down Harry's face by the time he was finished. A few had fallen in the letter while he wrote. Never before had Harry had someone that actually wanted him. Sirius was the first, and that meant the world to him, even if they barely knew each other.

When Harry went down to dinner that night, Lucius and Draco weren't there, and Harry was glad about it, he wasn't sure he would have been able to be civil to them. Snape didn't say anything about Harry practically running away from them earlier that day, and Harry was grateful for that. Dinner was served, and they ate in silence, each lost in their own minds.

A few days passed, and Harry hadn't got an answer to either of his letters. He and Severus started to talk a little bit during the meals, Harry especially liked when Severus would tell him things about his childhood with Lily. In exchange, Harry started to tell Snape a bit about his live with the Dursleys, from his earliest memories. They managed to keep civilized conversation, and until that day, no screams were heard in the house.

Harry was getting nervous and agitated by the lack of news, so much so that he could barely eat or focus on the homework he had to do. And then, an owl finally showed up, with Ron's answer at breakfast one day.

"Ah." said Snape "so this is what had you so nervous."

Harry flushed, he really wanted to say that the letter didn't have anything to do with it, but he knew that to lie would only put him in trouble, especially because of something like that. So, Harry only nodded and took the letter from the owl.

"And who is it from? To cause you such anxiousness?" asked Severus.

"It's from Ron..." told Harry "he wrote me a few days ago... that day we went to the Diagon Alley... I... I told him I'm here, in your house."

The way Harry said that told Severus a lot. He took from it that his son hadn't informed his friends about their changed relationship. Another thing he realized, and a much more worrying thing was the fact that Harry still wasn't comfortable with the living arrangements. If the problem was the house itself or if it was Severus, he couldn't be sure.

"And to whom else did you wrote?" asked Snape, he'd rather deal with one problem at a time "your owl has been missing for several days now, delivering a letter, I suppose."

Harry mumbled something, his eyes fixated in the letter.

"What?" Severus was getting irritated "and look at me when I'm talking to you, please."

"Sirius." Harry answered looking briefly at his father. The answer was barely audible.

"BLACK?" now Severus was really starting to be irritated "and what, pray tell, did you wrote the mutt about?"

"The truth." this time Harry held Severus look "that I'm here, that I'm your... son. That James Potter adopted me... everything. Well... almost everything. I didn't say a word to him about the Dursleys..."

Severus went silent for an instant. He told the truth! He admitted he's my son to Black!

"And you haven't got and answer yet, I presume?" Severus couldn't hide completely the proud in his voice.

"No... Hedwig isn't back... but then again... I don't know where he is, so... she might haven't found him yet." Harry looked to his hands.

"Why don't you go read your letter, son?" Severus sighed, even if he didn't like it, he had to say it "I'm sure you'll hear from... Black soon."

Harry looked at him startled, and then a timid smile came to his lips. He nodded and went to his room, taking the owl with him.

In his room, Harry put the owl in Hedwig cage and sat down to read.

YOU'RE LIVING WITH SNAPE? Don't worry, Harry, we are going to take you out of there as soon as possible! Dad got tickets to the Quidditch World Cup and you HAVE to go with us!

Don't let the bat of the dungeons stop you! Dad thinks it would be better is he talks to Snape too... but anyway, you NEED to stay with us for the rest of the summer!

We'll save you from Snape, don't worry!

I'll see you as soon as possible! QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP, HERE WE COME!

Ron.

P.s. Mione is trying to convince me that you living with Snape isn't such a bad thing... don't let her talk you into believing it, ok?

Harry laughed. His friends' reactions were exactly like he thought they would be. Ron seamed more worried than Harry thought he would be, especially because he didn't have the whole story yet. Hermione, though, Harry had got perfectly, she was already telling Ron all the good stuff that could come out of this arrangement. Now, though, to make Snape let Harry go the World Cup with the Weasleys… Was it even possible?

WHOSSON?####WHOSSON?

Lucius Malfoy had a huge problem in his hands. On one side was the disgust he felt about everything Potter, the boy-who-lived to defeat the greatest dark lord of all times, Lord Voldemort, Lucius master. On the other side was his friendship with Severus, forged by years of being tortured together.

The fact that the Potter boy was in truth his friend Severus' son, put him in a complicated situation. Lucius had known for a long time now that his friend wasn't a real deatheather, but till now, that hadn't changed their relationship, especially because Severus had always found a way to let him know when the light side was closing in on him. Their friendship was a true one, above the light and the dark sides of the war, or better, it was above the petty ways of Dumbledore and Voldemort. Now, though, it was clear that the Dark Lord was getting stronger, Lucius knew that his friend would never give up his son, not even for his position as a spy. And when one considers the fact that HE was defeated by a baby... Lucius thoughts went on a new path, a path he never before had let himself wonder about.

With Severus found as a spy, the light side would need a new man amongst the dark... and in that position, if Lucius played his cards right, he would be in the perfect position on both sides, him and his family. They would be on the winning side, independently of which side won the war. He needed to talk to Severus about all that, and he had to do that soon, because of the plans to the after party of the quiddtich match. Hmm... maybe Mr Potter will be interested in seeing the game... the idea deserved some more thought, even Lucius knowing how easily he could get two more tickets, even more easily when I tell Fudge whom I want then for.

A/n: Reviews?