A big thank you to everyone who favourited or followed this story, I appreciate it immensely. An even bigger thank you goes out to those who took the time to review as well :)

J.K Rowling owns Harry Potter and it's magical world. I am just playing with what ifs.

Some sections of this chapter have been taken from the Prisoner of Azkaban.

In chapter 2 Snape informed Harry of his parentage this chapter will continue to deal with the fallout.

Please read and review :)

Chapter 3: Undeniable proof (or denial)

The next day at breakfast Harry stuck to his usual routine. He walked down to the Great Hall with Hermione and Ron in tow, ignoring Draco Malfoy and his gaggle of Slytherin lackies still entertained it seemed with Malfoy's reenactment of Harry's altercation with the dementors.

The Slytherins laughed loudly as Malfoy did a ridiculous impression of Harry fainting.

Surely the joke was getting old now, Harry thought, the laughs certainly weren't as loud as they were last week.

"Just ignore him Harry," Hermione said from behind him, "It's not worth it."

Harry found that he had no problem ignoring Malfoy today. There were other things occupying his mind, far more troubling things than Draco Malfoy and his teasing.

He had decided yesterday that Snape was playing some cruel trick on his least favourite student. Harry had half a mind to report their conversation to his head of house. Snape had well and truly crossed the line this time, sure the man had been cruel in the past- downright horrid actually- but this, this was taking things to a whole new level of low. What gave Snape any right to tell Harry such preposterous lies, and to slander Harry's mother in the process?

He was afraid to bring it to McGonagall though just in case- no it was not even worth thinking of.

His parents were James and Lily Potter.

Harry dropped into a spare seat at the Gryffindor table, next to George Weasley, "New third-year course schedules," George remarked, passing them over, "What's up with you, Harry?"

"Malfoy," Ron answered before Harry even had a chance to respond, Malfoy wasn't what was bothering him, but he was glad Ron had given an excuse for his sullen mood.

George looked up in time to see Malfoy pretending to faint with terror again, "That little git, still on last week's jokes?"

The Weasley twins had already told Harry that the night of the incident on the train that Malfoy had come running into their apartment scared out of his wits at the sight of the dementors, they too had assured him that everyone had had a horrid experience when coming close to one.

Yet Harry was the only student he knew of that had fainted.

He was weak.

"Forget it Harry," Fred added bracingly.

"Yeah, Dad had to go out to Azkaban one time, remember Fred?" George put forward, "and he said it was the worst place he'd ever been, he came back all weak and shaking….they suck the happiness out of a place, Dementors. Most of the prisoners go mad in there."

"Anyway, we'll see how happy Malfoy looks after our first Quidditch match," said Fred. "Gryffindor versus Slytherin, first game of the season, remember?" The only time Harry and Malfoy had faced each other in a Quidditch match, Malfoy had definitely come off worse.

Feeling slightly more cheerful, Harry helped himself to sausages and fried tomatoes.

Next to him Hermione was examining her new schedule. The third years had been given the first week to settle in before starting their new subjects "Ohh, good, we're starting some new subjects today." She said happily, and Harry was happy to hear that in turn.

New subjects ought to keep his mind off other things.

"Hermione," Ron exclaimed, frowning as he looked over her shoulder, "I think they've messed up your timetable. Look- they've got you down for about ten subjects a day. There isn't enough time."

"I'll manage," Hermione said shortly, and Harry very much thought she was trying to end the conversation, "I've fixed it all with Professor McGonagall."

"But look," Ron Laughed, "See this morning? Nine o'clock, Divination. And underneath, nine o'clock, Muggle studies. And-"Ron leaned in closer, " Look- underneath that, Arithmancy, nine o'clock. I mean I know you're good, Hermione, but no one's that good. How're you supposed to be in three classes at once?

"Don't be silly," Hermione said dismissively, "Of course I won't be in three classes at once."

"Well then-"

"Pass the marmalade," Hermione said outstretching her hand.

"But-"

"Oh, Ron, what's it to you if my timetable's a bit full?" Hermione snapped, "I told you; I've fixed it all with Professor McGonagall."

Harry noticed Ron looking at him with a quizzical eye, no doubt he expected Harry to jump in and back him up, but Harry found he didn't have the energy to get involved. So, he shrugged, Hermione was right her timetable didn't concern them.

"WHAT D'YEH THINK YOU'RE DOIN', EH?" Hagrid's words were still sending his ears ringing as he pulled him towards the castle, "YEH'RE NOT TO GO WANDERIN' AROUND AFTER DARK, HARRY! AN, YOU TWO! LETTIN' HIM!"

Already this year was proving to be more hectic than his two previous years at Hogwarts, and Harry hadn't thought that his adventures with the Chamber of Secrets could possibly have been topped.

Harry had ended the Summer by blowing up Aunt Marge (accidently) and running away from the Dursleys. He had come to Hogwarts thinking that perhaps that would have been the only misadventures that fell his way but then he had fainted on the train ride into school after a run in with the dementors and ended his first week in the Hospital Wing after a near fatal potions accident (Malfoy's fault). If that wasn't enough today, he had endured a prediction of his own demise in divination that morning and then had flown on a hippogriff that afternoon. Oh, and apparently he had a mass murderer after him, but then Harry was used to that.

All of that didn't even include the worst of his year so far. No that by far was the conversation he had had with Snape, but Harry was doing all in his power to forget that little memory. He hadn't even told his friends. There was no point, he thought, it wasn't true.

"an' don' let me catch yeh walkin' down ter see me after dark again," Hagrid's voice woke him from his thoughts, the man still had a firm grip on Harry's arm. From the corner of his eye, Harry could see Ron and Hermione trailing behind them, just as confused as he was by Hagrid's outburst. "I'm not worth that!"

Harry was ready to argue with Hagrid on that, they had been worried about him after the incident with Malfoy and Buckbeak, but a dark shadow illuminated by the light of the castle stopped him in his tracks.

"Potter," Snape's voice hissed from the darkness, there could be no mistaking that sneer. His voice stopped all four of them in their tracks and turned Harry's insides to ice, "where in Merlin's name have you been boy?"

Snape was standing in front of him, tall and menacing, within seconds. Instinctively Harry threw his hands in front of his face in an act of protection, Snape's manner reminding him far too much of Uncle Vernon in one of his tempers.

"The three of you are out well after curfew," Snape said after a few moments, looking at Harry in an expression he couldn't quite understand. Harry thought his professor was looking at him, how he might look at a difficult potion, figuring out the next best step to take, "30 points from Gryffindor, and a detention for each of you."

"It's my fault Professor Snape-" Hagrid began, and Harry was thankful to him for trying to get them out of trouble.

"Be that as it may Hagrid," Snape cut in not giving the bigger man a chance to make his excuses for them, " as third years, Potter, Weasley and Granger should know better. The punishment stands." The last of his words were said in a sneer and Harry was reminded as to how much he hated the man standing in front of him.

There could be no relation between them. It wasn't possible.

The boy would no doubt send Severus to an early grave, his antics were surely enough to make a saint swear.

If the wolf hadn't of sought him out Severus no doubt would not have been aware that Potter and his friends were out after curfew.

He thought he would have preferred it that way.

Potter was unaware but all the staff were on a roster to ensure he made it to his common room by curfew. The boy had an escaped convict after him and Potter (as they all knew) was prone to dangerous escapades.

Severus had taken dinner in his office in an attempt to catch up on his marking that had fallen to the wayside after the previous week's excitements.

A knock on his door at that time of the night could only mean one thing. Trouble.

Lupin had stood staring at him as if he would much rather be anywhere else but standing in front of his childhood enemy, "Severus, I am sorry to bother you at this time of the night. I was just wondering if you had seen Harry."

"Not since yesterday's potions class." Severus drawled coldly.

Lupin nodded stoically at that, "I had thought perhaps that he was serving a late detention with you."

"No," Severus replied slowly but he may find himself serving a great many from here on out, Severus did not like the way his stomach knotted at the boys apparent disappearance. Damn the boy. "What did Weasley and Granger say?"

"They also have not returned to the common room," Lupin responded, " it is my hope that the three of them are together."

At that piece of information Severus had felt the knots in his stomach begin to unravel just a bit. Black would surely not risk going after Potter if he had his friends in tow.

It was only a few minutes after curfew no doubt the Golden Trio were simply taking their time to return to the castle. By all accounts the third years had had an interesting day.

That was when the thought had hit him. Hagrid. There had been some trouble in their care of magical creatures' class with Draco, Severus had already received correspondence from Luscious, he would not put it past Potter and his friends to go offer comfort to Hagrid.

"I believe I know where he may be," Severus put forward darkly, " keep looking for Potter regardless and if you don't hear from me in 30 minutes inform the headmaster of their absence."

Lupin had done little more than nod as Snape had stalked from the room.

As he had expected Hagrid was leading the three Gryffindors back up to the castle. Something akin to relief had washed through Severus at the sight of them.

It had quickly been replaced with anger. What gave these three the right to constantly think of themselves as above the school rules?

Dumbledore had let them get away with far too much.

As a head of house Severus had deducted points and assigned them all detentions for the remainder of the week.

Tuesday evening had rolled round quickly and now Potter stood in front of him his chin jutted out defiantly and his arms crossed over his chest.

How like James Potter the boy looked, it was a thought that made Severus grind his teeth and sneer at the boy's attitude. He was well within his rights to take the boy to task for his behaviour.

"Potter," he greeted simply.

"Professor," Harry replied evenly.

"Tonight you will be-"

"I want to make a Paternitas potion," The cheek of the boy to cut him off mid-sentence.

"I'm sorry?" Severus sneered feigning ignorance to the boys words.

"I want to make a Paternitas potion," Potter bit back, still defiant. Severus felt a twinge of annoyance at the boy's nature. Speaking back to one's professors was undoubtedly a Gryffindor trait (though he had never seen Lily exhibit it) it was not something Severus allowed amongst his Slytherins and it certainly wasn't something he was stand for with his so- other students either.

Potter, it seemed still doubted the truth of Severus claims over his parentage. A Paternitas potion would make the boys heritage undoubtedly clear, once brewed neither of them would be able to deny the results it gave them.

"It pleases me that you have managed to pick up a book Potter," Severus answered, he had not been expecting this, "Very well." He added after some thought, "If that is your wish."

"It is, Sir."

Severus nodded his head stiffly before turning on his heels and making his way to one of the workstations. He did not need to turn around to know that Potter was at his heels. The potion was simple enough to make and he thankfully had all the required ingredients in the store cupboard.

With a wave of his wand, Severus conjured everything they would need, the boy looked at him expectantly and Severus could not help but sneer, of course Potter expected him to do the work, "What Potter, did you expect me to do the work for you?"

Harry looked at him baffled, and Severus had to fight a smirk at the boys expression, "I will not leave myself open to anymore accusations of lying Potter." Severus paused for a second, while he wanted Potter to make the potion himself he also wanted to avoid a second potions mishap for the term, "you will make the potion with my assistance."

Harry gave his own stiff nod at that and begun preparing the ingredients as per the instructions without another word.

They worked in relative silence. Occasionally Severus admonished the boy for doing something wrong, Wrong, Again Potter. Read your instructions and start over. Counterclockwise Potter, can't you read? but for the most part Potter worked better than he did in class, with some effort Potter could be receiving far higher grades.

Severus shouldn't have been surprised. Lily had a natural talent for potions and if the boy really was his son well Potter should have been doubly blessed in the subject, not that his marks would ever suggest such a thing.

Potter seemed to check every step they took off the instructions on the page in front of them three times. Severus was only slightly offended by the boys actions, he had not given Potter any reason to trust him in the years they had known each other.

If Potter had bought the revelations to him, Severus was damn sure he would be doing everything in his power to check the validity of the claims.

"How long….." Potter begun but stopped short of finishing his line of questioning.

How long what? Severus thought momentarily before realising the boy, now staring awkwardly at him, was not talking about the potion. For a second Severus thought to feign ignorance and pretend he didn't know what Potter was getting at. He decided against that course of action. This was already difficult enough, "I found out the day of your accident."

Potter looked as if he wanted to ask another question, instead he looked down at the potion brewing between them. It was almost finished, simmering and beige in colour, as it should be. All they needed to do now was to each add a couple of drops of blood to the mix.

If Severus was the boys father the potion would turn blue, if he was not the colour would not change.

Potter went to reach for the knife on the table, but Severus grabbed his hand before he had the chance to cut an artery or put blood all over the lab. Severus took the boys hand gruffly and sliced the tip of Potters finger, they both watched as a few drops of red fell into the potion below them.

Severus healed the cut with a wave of his wand, before washing the knife and repeating the process on his own finger.

The potion turned blue.

The fact that they were both so desperate to deny was now laid out before them both. There was no going back now.

They had undeniable proof.

For a few moments Severus could not tear his eyes away from the cauldron in front of him. An odd sensation was filling through his chest. He could pretend this had no effect on him no longer, the both of them so desperate for the claims to be wrong had now ripped any uncertainty away themselves.

He's mine.

Across from him Harry too was staring at the potion intently, slowly he lifted his gaze to look at Severus, green eyes meeting black, what must he be thinking? Severus was his most hated teacher; he knew he had humiliated the boy on more than once occasion and been cruel to him and his friends. In his heart of hearts Severus knew why he had been so unjustly cruel the boy was James Potter in miniature form. How could he not have been? How could he have known?

Severus did not know what to say. Harry, it seemed did. Glaring at the man who was his father, he said the only phrase that seemed fitting.

"I hate you."

Thank you for reading please please please let me know what you thought.

Undeniable proof has now been given to both Harry and Severus. Chapter 4 will take place in the same time frame as a 'Boggart in the wardrobe' but obviously with some key changes, Harry's anger will also be explored.