"Hello Harry," Luna said from behind the boy. Harry just waved absentmindedly as he reviewed some material for Transfiguration. Neville sat behind him, slightly dozing off as he stared at his half finished Potions essay. "What is plaguing you?"
"Nothing you need to worry yourself about, Luna." Harry said, not unkindly. "I just need some time to get my thoughts together." He rubbed Neville's sleeping head lightly. They had stayed up late the night before going over spells for their test review in Transfiguration. Neville was exhausted, especially from the back-to-back classes they had today.
"Do you mind if I join you then? I've got some studying to do for Herbology."
"Go right ahead. Just don't wake up Nev, he doesn't deserve that." Harry responded to the girl. Her hair, a pretty shade of blonde and white, was in three odd ponytails, all curled in different directions. Harry didn't mind the younger girl, in fact he liked having her around. She was a good friend of Neville's so she was automatically a friend of Harry's.
It was quiet for a little while, Neville eventually rousing from his slumber to complain about his Potions work once more. Harry just stifled a laugh at Neville's complaints while Luna grinned.
"Potter, Longbottom ." Harry heard from his spot in the library. In front of him stood Blaise Zabini, a boy he recognised from defence, and another girl in Slytherin clothing. "May we join you for studying?"
"Why?" Neville questioned. Harry just gave the pair in front of them an odd look. Who was that girl? Harry swore he had heard her name somewhere within the school.
"I'll put it straight to you two." The girl sighed. "You two are the best in both defence and transfiguration. We both need help in those subjects. It's not right for heirs like us to be lacking."
"I uh, I don't really, Harry help me out here." Neville mumbled. Blaise gave Neville a look of disdain, but Harry wasn't paying attention. He was still trying to figure out who this random girl was.
"Potter, I do not appreciate you staring at my friend and housemate." Zabini said. "If that's what you'd rather do then studying, then it seems Draco was right about you."
"Sorry, Zabini and woman I don't know, not to bruise your egos, but I'm not interested. I just swear I've seen you around somewhere before. What's your name?"
"Greengrass. Daphne Greengrass."
"Nope never heard of you. Go ahead and sit down. We're reviewing the spell frequency for proper casting."
"What Harry means is how much power you're supposed to put behind the spell." Neville elaborated on the odd looks of the two Slytherin. "He likes to think of different ways to break down topics into 'bite-sized pieces', as he likes to call them."
"So he doesn't copy the text book?" Greengrass questioned.
"Nope," Harry said, popping the P. "Between you and me, Greengrass, half these textbooks are lacking in a multitude of ways."
"It's Heir Greengrass, actually." The girl said, turning up her nose.
"Okay, and? It's Heir Potter but you didn't have enough respect to call me by my title, so why would I call you yours." A beat of silence.
"Ah, I apologise, Heir Potter."
"All is forgiven, Heir Greengrass." The two Slytherins took their seats. Harry and Neville whispered to each other about spells while Luna studied quietly.
"If you're so good, Heir Potter, please explain this." Greengrass pointed to a page in their Transfiguration book. Harry glanced over at it and promptly pushed his book towards her. The inside was marked with ink and even some cut outs from other books. Greengrass eyed it with disdain, but took the offered book anyway. Her eyes widened. Harry watched as she scanned the page once more. And again. And a third time, okay what was wrong with his book?"
"Heir Potter, how do you make this make sense?" She mumbled. Harry shrugged.
"Something me and Neville have learned this year is magic is power and intent. Unless you truly want the mouse to change to the box, it will never work."
"What's this about a box-to-mouse spell?" Zabini asked, looking over his friend's shoulder to read the page. Harry's blood ran south, and he quickly pulled the book out of their hands. Neville seemed just as tense as he was, but for a different reason. Neville hadn't known about his self study of transfiguration.
The rest of the study block was awkward, but never silent. Luna would go from talking to Greengrass to practising spells on Nevile's vine. Zanini talked a lot, Harry learned, especially about theory. Harry himself wasn't big on spell theory, power and intent afterall, but Zabini had raised a few good points. Spellcraft, for example. How did that work with Harry's explanation of power and intent? It would be something they would have to look at later, Zabini had said. Harry took it as a silent win. Slytherins and Gryfindors getting along in the pursuit of knowledge. Who knew?
"Harry my dear boy, I'm so glad you were able to join us this evening for tea! Had to make a fast escape?" Dumbledore asked cheerfully. Harry was still a little on guard with the man, he was the one who had subjugated him to his muggle lifestyle all those years, but Dumbledore was making an effort to change those ways. He told Harry stories about the first war, about his parents, about their time in Hogwarts. Something Harry's brain had been lacking for a while.
When Dumbledore had first said that they "needed to talk", Harry assumed it was about his biological father. However, and most graciously, that wasn't the case. Harry didn't have to deal with that yet.
"Yes of course, Professor. But what do you mean by us?" Harry asked, looking around Dumbledore's desk. No one else was there. A black dog suddenly popped his head out of a blanket, and Harry laughed in surprise. "Sirius!"
No later had Sirius Black turned back into his human form had Harry jumped into his godfather's arms. His godfather. Not Ron's, Not Hermione's, Not even Neville's. His. That thought alone made Harry very, very happy. Sirius was something he had never wanted to share.
"Hey little-man!" Sirius ruffled his god-sons hair. "We've got something wonderful to tell you."
"While this has been a most touching display of affection, I say we all sit down." A voice said from behind them. A pit formed in Harry's stomach while Sirius growled above him. Snape.
"Snape, I'll have you know I haven't seen my Son all summer! You can bugger off, you know!" Son, son, son, son, son! Sirius had just called him his son! "But we should sit down, this might shock you out of your socks." Sirius told Harry with a wink. Harry was still reeling from the fact that Sirius had called him son.
"Well, Harry, I have some great news." Dumbledore had said after they sat down. "You will be spending the rest of your holidays with Sirius, wherever he may be, or may go." Harry's eyes lit up like christmas trees, and he turned to look hopefully at Sirius. His godfather just sat there, a large grin on his face as he hugged Harry. The warmth was amazing.
"Thank you, Professor!" Harry said earnestly. Dumbledore just smiled, eyes twinkling and alight with joy.
"Why does this concern me, Headmaster?" Snape asked, tone annoyed. Wow, way to ruin the moment, sperm donor!
"Well Severus, you stay at headquarters quite often, either recuperating from missions or brewing potions. I figured it would be polite to let you know beforehand." Dumbledore stated.
"Well thank you, Headmaster, but I must be going, I've got potions on the burner-"
"Sit, Severus. There is one more thing all three of you need to discuss. I promise, it will take but a minute of your time." Snape sat back down at the Headmaster's words, face and body language clearly showing what he thought. Harry on the other hand was a wreck. Not because of the "oh my god Sirius called me his son!" but because his body language matched that of the horrible potion professors.
"This is not easy to say," Dumbledore sighed. Harry's grip on Sirius' hand tightened, and the man looked down at his Godson in confusion. "Harry, would you like to say it?"
Harry shook his head, eyes wide. Sweat ran down his forehead. Snape on the other hand could barely keep his head from snapping over to look at the boy. Did he know? That had to be the only reason all three of them were here! Did Dumbledore tell the brat? No, there's no way, Severus was sure of it.
"Very well, my boy, I'll just go ahead and say it. Harry's biological father is Severus Snape."
A maelstrom of emotions crashed over Sirius—betrayal, confusion, and a seething rage. Why had James not told him? Why was he not informed of that, in his opinion, horrible, decision? He knew that James couldn't have kids, he couldn't either, bit still! He was the godfather! He was Harry's godfather!
"Sirius, I'm still my dads son, I promise. I-I can prove it, the goblins, my parents used a blood potion-"
"A blood potion would have run out if you weren't continually taking them." Sirius stated. He looked down at his Godson, and his heart broke. "Oh pup, you're still my godson, no matter what, or who your biological dad is. You are James and Lily's son, you hear me? My son. That won't ever change, Harry. Not in a million years. Even if you went up and joined Voldemort. Still have to kick your ass though." Harry let out a wet laugh, neither one noticing the paleness of Snapes face.
"There is one more thing I'd like to ask you, Harry." Dumbledore said, clearing his throat. "Then I'll let you take snuffles out to the Hogwarts grounds and play around for a bit. Sirius needs a little sun." Harry laughed and wiped his eyes. Damn tears.
"Yes, Professor?"
"What have you been doing with that study group of yours? The Slytherin's? Professor Sprout brought it to my attention that she saw a group of you arguing the other day." Harry rolled his eyes.
"Probably antagonising them, it's in his blood after all. Oh wait." Snape said, seething. The boy finds out he has a dad and decides to choose someone else!? Not that Severus would ever want to be that brats father, not in a million years. Harry clenched his fists, vile words on the tip of his tongue begging to be released. He couldn't though, not in front of the headmaster. Not while he was still in school.
"Fuck off, Snivilus. Now pup, I wanna know too. Arguing with Slytherins?" Harry shrugged.
"Not really arguing, but debating. At least at the start," Harry waved his hand as he got into the story. "See, Neville and I wanted to work on some of the household charms, and Heir Zabini said it was stupid to even know them because we have house elves. Both Neville and I agreed, but Hermione started talking about how they have lives too, which I also understand. Heir Greengrass and Hermione started bickering over it. Even Neville couldn't see Hermione's side of things, and I remarked that I'd like a house elf when I get my own place one day, and Hermione didn't like that. So me and Nev tried to explain to her the magic behind house elves and the contracts, but she wouldn't hear any of it. She called it slavery, so when she stormed off no one went after her." Dumbledore frowned.
"That's most troubling. Was it Ms. Granger that wrote the letter to the house elves a few days ago?"
"Yes, professor! Me and Neville told her that was a bad idea, but she didn't listen." Dumbledore chuckled.
"Ah, I see then. I'll call up Ms. Granger soon and explain to her how the elf contracts work, don't worry. Now, how about you and Sirius go out and have some fun, alright? Enjoy yourselves." Harry nodded and smiled at the old man, and got up to walk towards the door. Sirius, who quickly transformed into his black dog form, Snuffles, followed him out quickly. The two left without a second thought.
Snape on the other hand, was seething.
"Albus, how could you!" Snape burst out, anger and magic evident in his voice.
"Harry knew for a long time. Since this summer, might I add." Albus reasoned. "He and Sirius deserved to have it spoken out loud."
"I can't believe for a second that Potter was this open to me being his biological father."
"You're right, he and Mr. Longbottom call you sperm donor with such malice, it even gives me the chills." Dumbledore joked.
"This is not a laughing matter! Black is unfit to be a guardian let alone a parent."
"Oh but you are?" Dumbledore asked. Snape stayed silent. "That boy may be your child but he is not your son. I will not misjudge the little trust he has given me again. He will not be staying with you, or anywhere around you, unless he wants to."
"I don't want him with me." Snape hissed, and with a massive twirl of his cloak, left the office.
"Have fun with Sirius?"
Harry looked at his friend. Something was off, really off, and Harry couldn't tell why. Maybe Harry had upset him when he took his bacon earlier that day?
"It was really fun actually. He found out about Snape being, y'know, but he was okay in the end. He said he would have done anything for my SD to be anyone else but Snape." He muttered to his friend quietly. Nevilles eyes softened briefly, but his face remained stone cold.
"Good, I'm glad you had a good time. We need to talk." Neville said. Harry winced.
"Look if its about the bacon-"
"It's not about the bacon!" Neville exploded. He sighed, stepping back from his friend. "It's about your transfiguration experiments."
"What about them?" Harry asked, dumbfounded.
"They're wrong, Harry! It's immoral! You're forcing animals to become things in an unnatural way of magic!"
"I am not!" Harry shouted back at his friend, anger rising. "It's exactly what we do in McGonagall's class!"
"It's not! You just leave them as book covers or tea cups or boxes! For no reason."
"There is too a reason! It's so I can see how long I can go without being near the object! And It's not like they're stuck like that!"
"Don't you understand what you're doing is permanent transfiguration?" Neville exclaimed.
"What..?" Harry had a questioning look on his face, not understanding what his friend was talking about.
"You mean you didn't," A shocked laugh left Neville, and he seemed to sag. "I've been yelling at you for something you had no clue you were doing."
"Neville, please, have I been doing dark magic?" Neville let out a sound between a laugh and a wail.
"No, permanent transfiguration, or PT, is an advanced branch of magic. Newt level kids barely get a grasp on it before graduating, and you just, you just did it from a book."
"How'd you know that?" Harry asked.
"I went snooping after our meeting with the Slytherins that day, I would have brought it up then but I was scared. But you're my friend, Harry, and you need to know that these animals you used aren't ever going back to what they were."
They sat in silence for a while, heads hung and knees touching.
"I, I'm sorry Neville. I swear, I didn't know." Tears threatened to fall with Harry's head hung so low.
"I'm sorry too, Harry. I thought you knew. But please, promise me something?"
"Yeah, Nev?" Harry asked. His quiet voice seemed loud in the now silent room.
"Promise me, if we look at magic we look at it together. Harry, you're the first real friend I've ever had, I can't lose you, or, or," He stuttered a bit, something he hadn't done much of since summer. Something in Harry clicked just then, and he vowed inside himself to never break this specific promise. Harry nodded instead, gently cutting Neville off.
"I promise, Neville. Never again, and I'll let you know beforehand if I ever go looking for knowledge. I promise." They hugged each other for a few seconds.
"This is a bit awkward." Neville said.
"It is. Let's uh, never talk about this again, yeah?" Harry retorted awkwardly.
"Agreed."
A bit of a shorter chapter today! I like to think of it as a filler chapter, so to speak. Mostly for chapter 8, as I'll be introducing some pretty cool things in the next chapter. It's currently in the works, and may just be my favourite so far.