A/n: Re-posted 08/22/2013

italics = Thoughts

Chapter 16 – The Way to the World Cup.

Harry and Severus managed to find a common ground and a bit of peace for almost a full day before something happened to jeopardize it. Harry hadn't said a word about Ron's invitation yet, and the more he waited the more he was sure the older man would be mad at him. He also knew that his time was getting shorter and shorter, and that any minute now Snape would receive a letter from Mrs. Weasley talking about that exact invitation. Harry was sure that if he left all the talking to Mrs. Weasley he wouldn't be allowed to go. No questions asked. So, Harry tried to get his Griffindor courage and just ask.

And that was the time Errol choose to arrive at Spinner's End. Harry and Severus had just finished their dinner when the owl crashed against the window. Krunch was there quickly to open the window and help the owl, giving Severus the letter that had his name on the outside.

Severus was curious at first, what could those redheads want with me? But the more he read the angrier he became. His brow was up to his hairline, and Harry, watching, was getting more and more nervous. When Severus finally finished reading, he looked at Harry with such fury he could have set a whole forest on fire.

"So you didn't had the courage to tell me you want to spend the holidays with your friends, so you decided to give mother Weasley the pleasure of telling me?" asked Severus, his mind full of anger and deception and even a little bit of sadness.

"What? I did no such thing!" Harry managed to say.

"Are you telling me that you haven't told your friend Weasley that you want to go to the World Cup with him and that you want to stay with him till the end of the summer?" Severus words were like ice, cutting Harry.

"NO!" the boy yelled "I NEVER said that!"

Severus, though, wasn't listening, his mind concentrating in the letter that was getting more and more crumpled in his hand.

"I thought Griffindor was the house of the brave. Where is your bravery now? It comes out when the headmaster is around, so you can tell him exactly how I tortured you, but it runs away from you when it's time to tell me I'm not a good guardian to my face? WHERE IS YOUR COURAGE?"

Harry took a deep breath. He could see that Severus wasn't hearing a word he was saying, and he didn't know how to make the man actually listen to him. Not that he had any hope that he could say something that would make Severus let him go to the World Cup.

"Dad" Harry called, it was the first time he called Severus dad, he knew that if that didn't made Snape pay attention to him, nothing would. "I never said anything like that to Ron."

"What did you just called me?" Severus was paralyzed, he could only look at Harry amazed.

"Dad... you're my dad, right?"

"It's the first time you have called me that." Severus had to point that out, his mind still in shock.

"If you prefer, I can keep calling you Severus..."

"NO! That's not it!" Severus cut in "now, what is this about you never saying anything like that to Ron?"

"Exactly what I said... Dad." Harry too couldn't stop himself but feel emotional saying that word. Having someone to call that after all those years thinking he would never know what it felt like... "I didn't tell them about us... about you being my father... I wanted to tell them face to face; Ron told me his father got tickets to the Quiddtch Cup, and he asked me if I wanted to go with them, if you'd let me... But I NEVER said ANYTHING about spending the holidays with them! I swear!

Severus could see the honesty in Harry's eyes. There was a little bit of hope there as well.

"Very well. I'll think about it." he finally answered "But you are not staying with them for the remaining of the holidays, am I clear?"

"Crystal!" Harry had a little smile in his face, hope shined stronger in his eyes "Thank you for considering it."

Before another word could pass between them, the floo connection came to life.

"Severus?" said the known voice of Lucius Malfoy.

"I'll go to my room." Harry smile vanished, and without waiting for permission to leave or any kind of acknowledgment he left the kitchen, passing Malfoy and going to his room, not looking in the blonde's direction.

"That boy needs to be disciplined." said Lucius to Severus.

"You did try to kill him, Lucius. I cannot blame him for not liking you." was Severus answer, he offered a drink to his friend, and sat in his favourite armchair. "To what do I own this visit?"

"We have been friends for a long time now, Severus" started the blond "you are my son's godfather. And now that it has come to light that Harry Potter is you son, I think it is... important, to all of us, if you, Draco, Potter and I could came to an understanding."

"Must I remind you once again, my friend, that you tried to kill Harry when he was only twelve? And you forget to take into account that Harry and Draco's rivalry is almost as great as the one I had with James Potter and his troupe." commented Severus "if you have an idea of how to make them make peace, I'm all ears."

"I have five of the best tickets to the Quidditch World Cup Final. Potter and Draco are both mad about the sport. I'm sure they will put their rivalry to rest so they can enjoy the game, don't you think?"

"I think you became forgetful with age. You clearly didn't think this through, my friend." Severus had to measure his words "you forgot who your master is."

"OUR master, you mean." insisted Lucius.

"No, Lucius. As you well know, I swear to protect Lily, and, later, her son. Now I have promised MY SON that I won't let anyone harm him, and that includes YOUR master. We both know He was not actually defeated all those years ago."

"And we are still friends. So why does my allegiances have to do with anything? I'm only inviting my long-time friend and his recently found son to watch a quidditch game. Where's the harm in it?" asked Lucius.

"Where's the harm? Lucius! If you are seen being nice to Harry Potter in an event as big as the Quidditch Cup, someone will see you and when your master comes back you will be in trouble. And I intent to keep my relationship with Harry hidden from the public eyes for as long as possible."

Lucius stopped for a few minutes, thinking about what Severus had said to him. His friend was right. He had been blinded by his need to protect his family and be on the winning side of the war and didn't thought as carefully about how to do it as he thought he had.

While Lucius made his new plans, Severus figured out how to give Harry the best birthday present he could – there was only a few days until the date! - and he would still be able to keep an eye on his son while he enjoyed the gift.

"Tell me Lucius, how much do you want for one of those tickets?" Severus asked.

"Why would you want just one ticket, Severus? Don't tell me you want to send the boy alone!" was Lucius answer.

"Don't talk nonsense, Lucius. Of course I will not send Harry alone. The ticket is for me. Harry was invited by the Weasleys to the game, do not ask me how, but they will be at the Top Box as well. I wasn't planning on let him go, but if I can be there as well, I will be able to keep an eye on him.

"If you're aiming to keep your relationship with him away from public eyes, my friend, you can go as my guest. We'll be all on the Top Box, but to the public eye you will..."

"Be there as your friend and Harry will be there with his friends. Just a coincidence that we happen to be on the bests sits there are." finished Snape.

"Very well. We'll do it like that, then." agreed Lucius "but you'll own me. And I already know how you can repay me."

"And what is it you want me to do?"

"I need you to talk to Dumbledore in my name."

Severus Snape really didn't expect to hear that coming out of Lucius Malfoy's mouth.

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