A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or any character thereof.

Chapter 58

Severus' head snapped up. He quickly erected his own privacy barriers over top of Lupins then circled the desk.

"You knew?"

"I've known from the moment I laid eyes on him that he was your son. My sense of smell is quite keen."

"Enlighten me Lupin. Were you ever going to tell me?"

Severus wanted to snap Lupin in half when he said quite calmly. "It wasn't my place to do so."

"Even after Lily and Potter were dead and the boy had no one, you still felt that it wasn't your place to tell me that Harry was my son?"

"I had assumed that Lily had a fail safe in place in case her and James both died, that she would find some way to get the information to you. Clearly she did since you know."

"Dammit Lupin. I just found out this past February that he's mine. I've lost years with him. Years! Years that I can never get back. I don't know how to be a father now because of that - not to a teenager."

Lupin snorted which caused Severus to narrow his eyes at him. "You teach teenagers everyday. You -"

"And most of them run at the sight of me, as they should. How did you know that I knew?"

"Last night, whether you realized it or not, you positioned yourself between Sirius and Harry, as if you were protecting him."

"He's a student. Of course I protected him."

"Maybe, but you've not been watching the other students as if you have been trying to learn everything you could about them."

Severus hissed and said a whole flurry of curse words.

"Don't worry about being noticed Severus. I do recognize the position that you are in, but I've been watching you extraordinarily close all year long - looking for signs that you knew."

"And when did you come to the conclusion that I did?" he snarled.

"For certain? When you told me a few minutes ago. And if you didn't know, well it was my way of finally telling you."

Severus sighed, mostly in frustration and partly out of exhaustion. He eyed Lupin standing in the middle of his office. "Did you know that James had changed the secret keeper?"

"You've already talked to Albus?"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "No."

"Then how did you know?"

"Because Lily told me in the letter that she wrote when she informed me that I had a son."

"Severus, that letter could exonerate Sirius."

Severus shook his head. "No it can't. It doesn't come right out and say that. I only figured it out last night after I used Albus' pensieve to review what happened once I was knocked unconscious."

He saw Lupin frown, then watched as indecision flickered through his eyes.

"What is it Lupin? I hate being kept in the dark, especially if it concerns Harry."

"If Lily wrote you a letter, I assume that she told you about the potion she used to change how Harry looked?"

"She did. How did you find out about the potion? In her letter, she said that she only suspected that you knew his true parentage - not that you knew everything." Severus took a seat behind his desk again.

He watched as Remus sat down in a chair across from his desk.

"I found out the same way that James did," Remus said warily.

"Excuse me?" Severus was sure that he had heard incorrectly.

Remus nodded. "During his auror training, he was looking for something and came across a book that had pages book marked and Lily's notes all over it. James may not have done as well in potions as you and Lily but he figured out what that potion would do and could only come to one conclusion as to why she would have researched it.

"He was devastated of course, but he had always known that he held the number two spot in her heart, behind you, and he was okay with that. After all, in his mind, since he had her and you did not - he had won."

Severus sneered and balled his hands into a fist.

"When James found that potion, Harry had just turned 3 months old. He panicked. He had to tell someone. He knew that Sirius would most likely kill you, as you were the only one that Lily would have betrayed him with. James doubted Peter would have offered any insight so he turned to me.

"He loved Harry with all of his heart. Finding out that he was your son did not change that. So I helped him research and perform a blood adoption to bind Harry to him as his son."

"You and him did what?" Severus nearly drew his wand on Lupin right there.

Remus winced. "Like I said, James loved Harry, even though he was not his. James was the last of the Potter line and needed an heir. The blood adoption allowed that to happen, plus it ensured that a paternity test would definitely show James as the father. And the ritual allowed Harry to take on some of James' traits."

"The potion Lily used already made a paternity test show James as the father," snarled Severus.

"Neither of us thought to check back then and most of what was written in that book was like a foreign language to us."

"And since neither of you thought to check, I'm sure neither of you thought about how a blood adoption would have interacted with the potion that Lily gave him? Now, even if I do brew the reversal potion, it might not work." Severus' hand inched closer to his wand.

"Does that mean that you are going to tell Harry?"

"Yes. No. I don't know."

Severus watched as Lupin stood. "Lily loved you Severus. She also loved James. They both loved Harry very much. James is as much his father as you are, as you need to be. Tell him before he finds out on his own."

"You will not tell him," snarled Severus as he stood up, pointing his wand at Lupin's chest.

"I won't say a word to him but he desperately wants to be a part of a family. I can see it in his eyes. While he's never said his relatives abuse him, he has said that they don't like him."

"And what of Black?"

"Sirius is a wanted criminal right now. He is in no position to give anyone a home."

"And if he is proven innocent? Do you honestly believe that he'll let Harry live with me? The man escaped from Azkaban to protect his godson!"

"Your claim as father supercedes his claim of godfather."

"We can't tell anyone Lupin. If the Dark Lord returns, how would I explain to him that Harry is my own flesh and blood? It would be expected of me to offer the boy up just to be killed."

"You honestly believe that he will return?"

"It doesn't matter what I believe," he said stiffly.

"Right. And in the meantime, you lose out on a chance to have a family, and so does Harry. For now, do not concern yourself with Sirius. When the time comes, I'll be able to handle him."

Severus watched as Remus walked to the door. "I promised Harry that I would be there for him if he needed me. I know that you don't like me very much, especially since I kept this information from you, but I want you to know that I'll be there for you as well if you need me. Tell him Severus. He deserves to have a family just like you do."

With that said, Remus removed the wards he had cast and left the office.

Severus threw himself back down into his chair and put his head in his hands.

He felt a headache coming on.

June 30, 1994

I found 2 books on meditation in the library. I have them packed already. Maybe something in one of them will make sense to me and help me control my temper.

I can throw a shield over other people now. I've been practicing with Ron and Hermione. I feel better knowing that I can try to protect someone else if the need arises.

Ron said that the Quidditch World Cup is being hosted by England this summer and that if Mr. Weasley could get tickets, I might be able to go. That would be awesome.

The few times that I've seen Snape, he looks at me funny, like he's trying to figure me out. It's not the look that I would have expected to get from him. Part of me wants to apologize to him for knocking him unconscious but it does seem that I have a Slytherin side after all - self preservation. I've decided to lay low instead.

Dumbledore has been looking at me funny too. I can't believe that he actually asked me if the Dursley's abuse me. I can't believe that I told him he already knew the answer.

I wonder where Sirius is now and if he's all right. I suppose that he was my only shot of having a family. I'd give most anything for a real family - people who would be proud of me for who I am and what I can do. I'll never get that from the Dursley's.

-Harry

Harry stowed his journal in his trunk and threw himself down on his bed. His roommates were sound asleep, as they should be.

It was four in the morning.

He was wide awake. Sighing, he reached for one of his pillows and pulled it over his head.

At the final breakfast, like usual, grades were handed out. Harry tentatively opened his list.

Ancient Runes - E

Astronomy - A

Care of Magical Creatures - O

Charms - O

Defense Against the Dark Arts - O

Divination - A

Herbology - E

History of Magic - E

Potions - A

Transfiguration - A

Harry was mostly pleased with his grades. Actually he figured that Snape would have out right failed him just because he could, but at least the man didn't.

A commotion at the end of the table caused Harry to look up. Fred and George Weasley had hexed Oliver Woods' hair red and gold. He laughed along with everyone else.

Together, with Ron and Hermione, the trio headed down towards the train station.

"Harry, can you save me a seat?"

Harry looked up at Neville. "Sure."

"I'll be there in a minute."

They continued on their way to the platform.

Once ensconced in a compartment, the four of them entered into a game of gobstones. About an hour into the train ride, Neville noticed a strange sight.

There was a tiny owl flying in and out of view of the window carrying an envelope that was much bigger than it was. Harry quickly opened the window and caught it.

"Feels like a fluffy snitch," he said while chuckling.

The owl bit him for his comment.

Harry saw that it was addressed to him.

When he opened it, he scanned down to see who it was from. He got excited when he saw that it was from Sirius.

Before he could read it though, Ron asked who it was from. Harry glanced at Neville and sighed. Neville was his friend too.

"Neville, can you keep a secret?"

"Er ... Harry I can try but honestly I suck at keeping secrets."

Harry frowned. "I trust you Neville but it's a pretty big one."

Neville smiled. "I don't trust me. I'll go see what Justin is doing."

"You don't have to leave," Harry said frowning even deeper.

"I'll be back in a few minutes. Watch Trevor for me?"

Hermione nodded.

Once Neville was gone, Harry read the letter out loud.

Dear Harry,

I hope this owl finds you before you reach your aunt and uncles house. I have some doubts about its reliability but it seemed eager for the job.

There are a couple things I never quite had the time to tell you. First, your Firebolt is from me. Consider it 13 years worth of birthday presents.

Second, the night that you left your uncles house last year, I think that I might have given you a fright. I'm sorry about that. I had hoped to get a glimpse of you before I headed north. I knew that you lived in that neighborhood. I just wasn't sure where. I met Petunia once but she wasn't married then. I knew that her husband moved in with her, instead of the other way around. Lily had ranted about it for weeks.

I plan on letting some muggles see me soon away from the castle that way some of the security can be drawn off.

Don't worry. Buckbeak and I will be safe.

Oh, and the second piece of paper might make next year more enjoyable.

If you need me Harry, just send word. Your owl will find me. I'll write to you as soon as I can.

Love,

Padfoot

Harry glanced at the second piece of paper.

I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter's godfather, hereby give Harry Potter permission to visit Hogsmeade.

Sirius Black

He grinned then looked up at his two best friends.

"That'll be good enough for Dumbledore," said Ron.

"I told you that he sent the Firebolt," said Hermione scathingly.

"Well, it wasn't jinxed though."

Harry tuned out their squabbling and re-read the letter. It was during the re-read that Harry spotted the post script on the back.

"I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl since its my fault he no longer has a pet rat," Harry read out loud.

Ron's eyes widened. The owl was hooting shrilly which made Hedwig narrow her eyes at it.

Then Ron did something that made Harry and Hermione burst out laughing. He took the owl and held it out for Crookshanks to sniff. "Whaddya think Crookshanks? Definitely an owl?"

The response was a purr.

In what seemed like no time, they arrived back at Platform 9 3/4 (with a story for Ron's parents about where the owl came from). After setting Hedwig free to fly back to Hogwarts, they went through the barrier.

"You ready boy?" snarled his Uncle Vernon.

Harry sighed and pulled his trunk up behind him. "Yes Uncle Vernon."

"Did you leave your pigeon at that place again?"

"Yes Uncle Vernon."

It was then his uncle saw the paper in his hand.

"What's that?"

Harry looked down. "It's a letter from my godfather."

Vernon's eyes narrowed. "You haven't got a godfather."

"Yes I do," said Harry grinning. "And he's a convicted murderer. He escaped out of prison just to check up on me."

"Nonsense."

"You remember that man on the news last year?"

Vernon nodded warily.

"That's him. He likes to check in to make sure I'm happy and being treated right."

Harry saw his uncle pale as they left the train station.

'Maybe ... just maybe this wouldn't be a bad summer after all,' he thought.

A/N: If I keep up this one a day chapter posting, you all are gonna get spoiled. It will backfire when I get caught up to my writing but that's alright. For what it's worth, the summer months are spread out over a few chapters. (It's gonna be a busy summer.) Some people are going to say that I'm jumping the shark with what all I have planned (I've written up through half way of the 5th year, but I've yet to actually type the 4th year) ... but I've decided that it's my story line ... I should be able to play with it. =) Of course, I'm doing my best to keep it all as real as possible ... well as real as this world is anyway. =)

Next up, the Headmaster get's a rude awakening! *grins*