Fathers and Sons

Fathers and Sons

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Problematic Bloodlines

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"No," said Albus Dumbledore, his tone telling that this was the final answer. "Absolutely not."

"Why not?" argued Remus angrily. "Give me just one reason why Harry cannot come to the Grimmauld Place!"

"At first, it's too full of memories of Sirius," the Headmaster sighed, although not without a brief glance at Severus, as if he'd been wondering what the Potions Master was doing there. He was Remus's lover, that much was obvious, but discussion about Harry just didn't seem to fit him. "And at second, the blood protection the Dursleys give him is extremely important. Without it, Voldemort would be at his neck at once. This way, we can get some advantage of the protection Lily bought with her death."

Something flashed in Remus's eyes. Dumbledore noticed this, but didn't recognize the feeling. Severus, however, did. He'd often enough been on the receiving end of Remus's anger. In other circumstances, he'd been sorry for the Headmaster, but now, he was too confused and tired. The surprising news hardly did any good for him, nor did the fact that it was well past midnight now. And of course it didn't seem to disturb Dumbledore at all. Bloody twinkle-eyed bastard.

"Then he'll come to Hogwarts," the werewolf said stubbornly. "I won't let him be with those damned Muggles for a day longer."

The Headmaster sighed again. "Didn't you hear me, Remus? At first, he needs the blood protection those 'damned Muggles' provide him. And it's forbidden for a student to stay in the school over the summer holidays. Only if he were a teacher's child, he could stay - what he of course isn't."

"The blood protection wards can be also set on me," Remus argued. "I'm a Halfblood, Albus, and Lily was my second cousin. Harry'd be just as safe."

"No. The wards wouldn't be half as strong as with a close relative, such as Petunia. And he won't stay at Hogwarts. There's no way I could get away with that kind of violation of school rules, not after last year."

"Very well." Remus's eyes flashed again. Then he said, "Now, you won't give me any more poor excuses, Albus. I'm staying here the next year as Severus's husband, and the School Governors can't say a shit about it. I'm not asking you to bring Harry Potter here. Instead, both I and Severus are demanding our child to be brought here. Therefore, you will set the blood protection wards on me, and they will protect our son."

"What are you talking about?" asked Dumbledore, now looking dumbstruck. He seemingly paid no attention to the notion about the two being married; although it wouldn't have mattered even if he did, the fact that Remus had a different familyname was the only change in their life that an outsider could notice - if they knew. "Surely Harry isn't your son?"

"No, he isn't," replied Remus calmly. "But Michael Snape is. Surely you've heard of Adoption Charms?"

As the old wizard still didn't seem to believe, Severus suggested lazily, "Look from your records. The school should at least know."

Instantly obeying, Dumbledore summoned the book that contained the information of all students of Hogwarts. His eyes scanned the pages while he flipped through them. "Thirty-first of July, 1980," he read aloud. "Well, I'm sorry, but there's only Harry Potter - and Neville Longbottom, of course." Then his eyes suddenly widened. Obviously the text was changing in front of his eyes. "Mi - Mi -" he stuttered a couple of times. Then Severus, tired and bored with everything, snatched the book from the Headmaster's hands and read himself.

"31st of July, 1980

Michael Severin Snape

Parents: Remus and Severus Snape"

Then the black eyes were raised to the Headmaster, who looked suddenly very old. "Very well," the old wizard said then slowly. "Bring him here, and I'll set the wards. Maybe it's better if he's with fully trained wizards, anyway."

"No only maybe," muttered Severus, "but absolutely. We all remember last summer and the Dementors."

And to that, none of them had anything to add.