Bloody Hell!

Chapter Six

He started spinning and closed his eyes so the soot won't get in them. When he landed on the floor, he opened them and looked around him. He was in the Leaky Cauldron and Remus was standing above him, waiting for Harry to acknowledge him.

'Finally! I thought you'll never see me. Do you think you need new glasses?'

Harry scowled at the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor and replied, 'No, thank you, professor Lupin. I think I can still see quite well with my old glasses.'

He saw Remus flinch at the address and smirked. Remus put a hand over the mouth to hide his gaping mouth.

'What's the matter, Remus?' asked a very concerned Harry, bringing Remus out of his reverie.

'Oh, it's nothing... It's just astounding how you look like Severus. When you scowled and smirked... Wow. You look even more like him than you did like James...'

Harry's eyes lit a little, but he shook his head.

'Yeah, well. I'm still getting used to it.'

'You will get over your shock, Harry, don't worry.'

Harry smiled and Remus put his hand on Harry's shoulder. They walked to the backyard of the Leaky Cauldron and Remus pulled his wand out, when Harry interrupted him.

'Remus, can I try?'

Remus nodded and moved, so Harry had a full view of the wall. Harry concentrated hard on the air that surrounded him and asked it to push enough of its strength to move the bricks. With some difficulties it worked. Harry sighed and pulled a hand over his sweaty forehand. He turned around to see Remus looking absolutely shocked. He laughed at the sight, then said, 'Remus, please... get used to seeing more... for me?'

Remus shook himself and then laughed out loud.

'Okay, Harry! But just because it's you.'

Harry grinned wickedly and pulled Remus in the alley and said, 'Come on, we don't have all day and I didn't get to go to Diagon Alley last year. I want to enjoy the time here.'

Remus allowed himself to be pulled and was happy that Harry was feeling so relaxed in his presence. They went to Gringotts first and cooped up a bag full of coins. Then they went off to Flourish and Blotts where they bought all the books that were necessary for his main courses. When they found all of them, Remus asked, 'Do you know which compulsory courses you will be taking?'

Harry narrowed his eyes in thought and said, 'Yeah. Professor McGonagall and I had a Career Meeting a few months ago and I can drop Herbology and take Care of Magical Creatures instead. I can also drop Divination. I doubt I will need it as an Auror... If I ever become one. But I think I will take Healing, Duelling, and Ancient Runes.'

'Three subjects?' asked Remus surprised.

'Well, I know I won't have much to do in Duelling and Healing as I already have the knowledge, but I think that Ancient Runes might come out pretty interesting.'

Remus smiled and nodded. Harry then searched out for those books and asked Remus, 'May I look for some extra books, Remus?'

Remus smirked and said, 'Only if it's not all Quidditch related.'

Harry shook his head and headed to the Charms section in the bookshop. He knew what he was looking for. He was looking for a book on how to combine spells, charms, curses, and enchantments. He hoped he could combine the Killing Curse with the Curse of Animus. He also hoped to make a new curse, which he didn't know the meaning yet, but he knew he will know when he will get the information he needed. Harry stopped at a book and took it off the shell. Do It Yourself - Charms, Spells, Curses, You Name It. It looked useful so Harry picked it up and went forward. He picked two other books, when his eyes fell on the Latin section. He felt an invisible rope pulling him at a far off shell. There was a tiny book glowing on a strange coloured one. He picked it up and read the cover, Harry James Snape Potter. He still gaped at the book, when he heard Remus, 'Hey, Harry. We have to go!'

He gave the book one last look and put it on top of the other extra books he chose. When he approached Remus, he put the chosen books to the seller and paid for them, then he turned around and said, 'Well, let's go. I don't think Snape would like if I came late.'

Remus grimaced and helped him to shrink the packages and put them in his pocket.

~8~8~8~8~

Once they were back at the castle, Harry closed himself in his room and went over the books he bought. He pulled out some parchment and started on his last essay he was to do over the summer. He transfigured his writing desk in a short large table, as he saw in a Chinese book he got a glimpse of, when Dudley had to write a research on Chinese Culture for school. He conjured a cushion, made himself comfortable and started writing. It seemed easier to write than before and Harry made a decision it was because of his shared knowledge with the Founders and Merlin. When he finished, he lay on the bed and opened the book, he found in Diagon Alley. He opened the book, which had his name on it.

Hello, my dear son,

Read the first paragraph and Harry made a double take.

I see you have found the book, or should I say the book found you. It was charmed to be found by you, after you found out about your true parentage. This book is also charmed to automatically fill itself with all the new knowledge you gain. You will see, it already contains many things. It contains your knowledge from Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Merlin. It also contains your knowledge from the past five years at Hogwarts. I know you're a Gryffindor and I am proud of you, my son. Remember I love you, and that it's not your fault I died. I died because I wanted you to live, because I knew of the prophecy Sybill made. Dumbledore wasn't aware of that, that I knew its full meaning, as I dreamt about it and it appeared in my dream from the day it was made. Yes, James, you can talk to him too... Sorry about that, it's just that James wants to talk to you... write to you...

Hey, kiddo! How are you? Bet your mum is boring, hmm? Well, that's how she always is, when she talks about something serious. Boring. But let's not talk about her for the moment. I just wanted you to know I love you even if you're the git's son. Sorry, Lils. Snape's son. You are like my son, and I don't care of your surname. I was hoping to be able to raise you myself, but now I see that old Snivellus has the ability. Not that I'm mad at it, on the contrary. I am happy that you can live somewhere else as the Dursleys you had to live with. I hate those gits! Sorry, Lils. She's watching what I write behind my back, so I can't write nothing inappropriate. Phew, she finally decided to trust me with my words... after I swore to her on my mother's grave that I won't brag to you about Sni... Snape. I can see you now. Not now as in now, but as a cute little baby that sleeps in my lap and sucks his little finger. You are such a cute baby. You look a lot like Snape, but I know it's only a matter of minutes that you will look like me. You know, we always knew we won't be able to look after you. You see, we knew we'll die the moment the prophecy was made. Okay, okay... I leave you to Lils now. You just decided to pee in your diapers, so I have to go change them.

Hi, Harry, it's me again. Now that your dad is out of the way, I have something to tell you. I know what you're trying to do. Mixing the Killing Curse with the Curse of Soul. It won't work properly if you don't add another charm in it. It's your greatest strength and his greatest weakness. Yes, I'm talking about love. That night, when he took your blood, as he was resurrected, he also got some of the feelings. He didn't have them before, so you can use it to your advantage. I have to go now, sweetie. Tell Severus I miss him, and that I now know what he does. Tell him I'm sorry...

Lily Potter, @-.-'--

James Potter

Harry felt his tears flowing down his cheeks again. He felt drowsy and decided to go to sleep. Just before he closed his eyes, he emptied his mind, so that he wouldn't have another vision about Voldemort and hoped for a peaceful sleep.

~8~8~8~8~

Next day, he woke at an unnatural hour. He thought it was because he went to sleep so early. He stood up and stretched. He went out and glanced at the Grandfather clock Snape had in his quarters. It showed 4:16 AM. Wow, it's early, Harry thought when he stepped out of his father's rooms. He went down the corridors to the Entrance Hall and changed his appearance. He smiled inwardly as he glanced in the mirror. He looked like a complete stranger. Then he made a copy of himself and ordered him to go back to the dungeons and sleep. He himself was going on a trip. He went to the apparition area on the Hogwarts grounds and apparated to Diagon Alley. He went in Knockturn Alley and started looking around. He found a strange looking bookstore and entered. Looking through the shells, he found some interesting books on Dark Arts and decided to buy them. Just as he intended to go to the storekeeper, he saw a book, which appeared to be in parseltongue. He also picked it up and finally gave the storekeeper his choice.

'You've got yourself some very interesting books, young man. May I ask what your name is?'

Harry smirked and answered, 'My name is Fidens Vigor.'

The storekeeper stared at him.

'You have a strange name, young lad.'

Harry just nodded and left the store as the storekeeper gave him his change. He looked around and headed to the Apothecary. He just headed to a reserved section when he heard his father's voice.

'Good Morning, Mulciber. I see you got the ingredients I asked you to order.'

Harry stiffened and a moment later, he remembered that he didn't look like himself anyhow. He chose the potion ingredients he knew he would someday need and went to pay for them, when his father said,

'That would be all, thank you, Mulciber. I hope to see you well next time I come here.'

Harry put the ingredients on the desk and waited for the bill, than paid him five golden Galleons and seven bronze Knuts. When he headed out of the Apothecary, he felt someone grab his shoulder and steer him out of Knockturn Alley. He didn't have time to look around him when he felt himself roughly turned around to face his father's deadly glare.

'What do you think you were doing?' he hissed when Harry looked shocked. Harry shook his head and asked,

'What are you talking about, sir? Who are you?'

Snape's glare deepened and he whispered, 'Don't you think I would know who my son is and who isn't?'

Harry's eyes widened in surprise. Snape pulled him to the Leaky Cauldron and still scowling said, 'Go to Hogwarts, the Headmaster is waiting for you. He would like to speak to you about your little escapade.'

Harry sighed and nodded. He looked at his father, and in a blink of the second, he was gone.

~8~8~8~8~

Severus stared at the place where his son stood just a few moments ago. He could still feel the worry he felt when he realized Harry wasn't Harry. He really couldn't believe that someone could look like Harry so much but still wasn't Harry. He knew immediately that the person sleeping in the bed wasn't his son. He could feel the energy, and it wasn't the one from Harry. He woke the clone up and asked him what was going on. The clone told him what Harry did, as Harry forgot to tell him not to say anything, just to go to sleep. Severus felt the shock still circling his veins. He never felt so scared in his life as then when he ran all the way to Headmasters office and informed that Harry was missing. Dumbledore immediately called Remus and with his help, they could find Harry. As Remus was a werewolf, he could smell Harry and his location. They went to Diagon Alley and Remus got a shocked face. Snape asked him what was wrong and Remus answered that he could smell Harry, but he wasn't in Diagon Alley, but in Knockturn Alley. Severus blanched at this and went straight in the dark Alley. He saw Harry entering the Apothecary and followed him a few minutes later. Of course, Harry did think - at least a little - and changed his appearance, even his name. If it wasn't for his energy and way of walking, he wouldn't have recognized him himself. The moment he saw him, his worry and fright vanished with the wind. The only feeling he felt in the moment was relief, but a second later, it changed into anger. He went in the Apothecary and saw Harry walking in the restricted section looking at potion ingredients. Severus talked with Mulciber, the man that ran the Apothecary, for a little bit and bought himself the ingredients he ordered and came early, then waited outside for Harry, grabbed him by his shoulder and pulled him to Diagon Alley. He started to tell him off, but Harry acted as though he didn't know him. Severus understood that, but it still hurt. He told him that he knew who he was and sent him off to Hogwarts. Now he stood still as a rock and mulled over what happened over the last few hours, than sighed and also apparated to Hogwarts grounds.

~8~8~8~8~

Harry Apparated right outside of Hogwarts gates and opened them. Boy am I in trouble now, he thought. He changed back to himself and walked through the gates. He looked around him. It was so peaceful. He never wanted to leave Hogwarts again. He decided to ask the Headmaster if he could stay at Hogwarts for summer holidays. He stepped over a rock on the road and continued his way to the castle. When he reached the Entrance Hall, he stopped in his tracks. Remus was standing there and looking at him in such a way that Harry only wanted the Earth to open and swallow him. He looked elsewhere when he walked past him and towards Dumbledore's office. The office was empty. There was only Fawkes on his perch, scowling at him. Harry sighed,

'Don't you be angry with me too, please? Remus, father, and the Headmaster are already...'

'Right you are, Harry.'

Harry swirled around and saw Dumbledore, standing in the doorway with Severus. His eyes were downcast when he said, 'I'm sorry. I just wanted to get some books about Dark Arts and I knew of no better place then Knockturn Alley.'

Severus sat on the chair near Harry and said, 'Why didn't you tell us. We could have accompanied you.'

Harry looked up at his father and said, 'I wanted to go alone. I didn't want to cause troubles, but I needed to go there alone. No one recognized me... apart from you, of course. How did you know who I am?'

Snape smirked and said, 'I can sense energy... But we could say that I asked your clone what was going on and he told me.'

Harry giggled nervously.

'Don't laugh! What if someone recognized you?!?' Snape started to yell. Harry froze in his giggling.

'What did you think you were doing, boy?!?'

Harry's eyes shot open. Boy was the word his uncle used when he was about to beat him.

'Didn't you think of what could have happened? No, you don't think. You're a damn Gryffindor!!-'

Harry started trembling, but Snape didn't notice. He was so absorbed in his litanies that he didn't notice Harry's paleness. He advanced on the boy that was his son, but Harry was quicker. He ran out of the office and headed for the Astronomy Tower. There he sat himself on the balcony, feet hanging over the wall. He closed his eyes, trying to stop the tears to run.

'Why did this happen to me? I got a family and I screwed up already.'

'You didn't screw up,' someone or somewhat said. Harry opened his eyes and saw a beautiful raven seating on the balcony as well.

'What? Yes, I did. I only know that he's my father for a few days and I already have to go off doing stupid things.'

'Stupid, yes, but you didn't screw up. I watched everything that happened. He was sick with worry when he realized it wasn't you that slept in the bed. I think it's only of relief that he yelled at you. I know you don't know what parents feel, but I do. They have two choices when they find out their child was missing and that they found him. One, they could smother you to death, and second they could yell at you for your stupid actions. As you know, Snape isn't really the emotional type of a parent so the second choice is more likely to happen.'

Harry smiled slightly.

'Now that you put it this way...'

'Harry?' Severus said quietly as he saw a sitting Harry 'talking' with the black raven. Harry looked up in surprise, then asked, 'Yes?'

Snape sat on the floor by Harry and said, 'I'm sorry I yelled at you before.'

Harry smiled and replied, 'It's all right. You had every right and as this raven here said, and I quote, I know you don't know what parents feel, but I do. They have two choices when they find out their child was missing and that they found him. One, they could smother you to death, and second they could yell at you for your stupid actions. As you know, Snape isn't really the emotional type of a parent so the second choice is more likely to happen.'

With that, Harry started to laugh. Severus gaped at him for a second and than joined in laughing. Harry wiped some tears that were in his eyes and seriously said, 'I really am sorry, Dad.'

Snape's eyes opened wide when he heard what Harry said. He stared at him in astonishment and Harry squirmed.

'What did I do now?'

'You called me Dad...'

'I did?' asked Harry, surprised. Severus nodded quietly. Harry watched him for a minute and then leaned his head on his father's shoulder,

'Well, you are my dad, aren't you?'

Snape held his breath as he waited for Harry to continue.

'And you care for me...'

With that, he looked up in his father's eyes. Severus' own were filled with tears as he nodded,

'Yes, I do.'

'Then it's settled. You care for me and I care for you. Therefore, naturally the next step in our relationship is for me to call you dad as it's more intimate than Father and I feel more comfortable with it. Are you okay with this?'

Severus could only nod as he pulled Harry closer to him. Harry closed his eyes in contentment. He knew they were progressing more quickly than Harry imagined, but Harry knew the man for the past five years and although he didn't want to admit it before, he admired the man's wit, intelligence, dark humour, etc. He respected him in a strange way. That's why I accepted him to be my father so quickly, I guess, Harry thought.