Chapter One – The Truth

The room was silent, and yet there was a small buzzing of magic brewing. In the corner, cauldrons were stirring themselves, and yet still something seemed to missing. Normally Snape would have enjoyed the smell of potions, the excitement of all cauldrons bubbling and brewing the challenge of having at least 25 different potions going at the same time. But the truth was Snape felt flat. He admitted to himself, that he was bored in life. He was a teacher at a school, without a family, without a wife. He had nothing to live for. Perhaps he'd better go and pick on some students...

"Remind me why we are here, Potter"

"So I can learn Occlumency" said Harry who had begun to examine the dead eel on the next bench over.

"Correct Potter and dim though you may be, I would have thought that after two months of lessons you might have made some progress. Lazy. Arrogant. Just like your father…"

Harry looked straight back up at Snape, hating him with every inch of his being. "Protego!" he yelled. Snape staggered backwards-his wand flew up. Suddenly his mind was racing with memories that were not his own. A greasy haired teenager in the corner of the room, a man and women arguing, a girl reading. Then finally he saw four young men, all sitting around a tree. It took Harry a minute to realise that one was his father, the others was Sirius, Lupin and Wormtail. Each of them seemed to be occupied with something. His father was releasing a snitch and then just as it was about to escape, he would catch it again just in time. This was to the amusement of Wormtail who would let out hefty cheers each time he made a spectacular save. Sirius was simply sitting in the grass, picking blades out and throwing them for no particular reason, while Lupin was engrossed in a transfiguration book.

"This'll liven you up, Padfoot" said James quietly "just look who it is". All four of the young teenagers looked up.

"Excellent" whispered Sirius. Harry turned to see what they were looking at. It was a young Snape, he too suddenly realised what he was looking at, and instantly reached for his wand, but not quick enough.

"Impedimenta!" shouted James, pointing his wand at Snape. Students all around had flocked to watch. Snape lay panting on the ground. James and Sirius advanced on him wands raised, several people watched laughing. "Who wants me to take off Snivelly's pants? "mocked James.

"Leave him alone" shouted a young girl in the group of onlookers. Harry knew at once who it was his mother Lilly Evans.

But whether or not he did leave Snape alone Harry never found out, "ENOUGH" yelled Snape white with rage. Harry was filled with horror, Snape was in full height standing in fount of him, lips shaking, teeth clenched outraged at what had just happened. "Amusing man your father wasn't he?"

"no" said Harry trying to get as far away from Snape as possible who was still shaking.

"Get out. OUT. I don't want to see you in this office ever again!". Harry didn't need to be told twice, he hurried towards the door as a jar of dead insects exploded over his head. He flew along the corridor, stoping only when he had put three floors between him and Snape.

What hurt him most was not being shouted at or having jars thrown at him, what hurt him most was that he knew how it felt to be humiliated in a circle of onlookers. He knew exactly how Snape felt and he felt sorry for him.

For nearly five years his father had been a source of comfort and inspiration. Whenever someone had told him that they were alike he had glowed with pride, but now he wasn't so sure. He felt cold and miserable when he thought of him now.

Suddenly Snape burst into Dumbledore's office, holding nothing back.

"I refuse to teach him, not after that"

"He's an arrogant prat, just like his father he's so…so…so lazy, rude..."

"Yes" chuckled Dumbledore "He is like his father, more than his father would realise" he said looking straight into Snape's eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?" replied Snape.

"Severus, I think it's time we were to have a little chat. Sit down please, there's something I need to tell you". Snape sat not sure what was going on. Then rose looking quizzically at Dumbledore. Then sat again deciding that whatever it was nobody, I repeat nobody could argue with Dumbledore.

"This isn't about, Slytherin is it?"

"No" replied Dumbledore.

"Potions"

"No"

"The Dark Lord"

"No"

"My teaching standards" he said wincing

"No" replied Dumbledore, instantly making Snape relax into his chair.

"Severus, you really amaze me, you may be good at occlumency but no matter how many times you attempt to guess, you will not read my mind. Sometimes the truth can be painful, but no less it is the truth and you ought to listen. This may not be easy to hear, nor might it be the right time for you to hear it but I felt you ought to know before I depart. Harry is your son. "For the second time that day Snape's face became very pale, although this time it wasn't rage, anger or humiliation, it was shock. His face became lifeless as if he was remembering something very painful and sad.

"Sorry?" replied Snape.

"Don't be sorry Severus. He's your flesh and blood"

"But, But, But, But…"

"No buts Severus, he's like you. I thought by now you would have worked it all out, one look at that patronus of yours would have explained everything to me. Why did you think she didn't sacrifice Harry? Yes Severus" he said pointing straight into Snape's heart. "Love certainly is blinding, it was you all along. Lily loved you. You were just too blind to see it."

"But James…"

"No Severus. Lily told me just after Harry was born. James didn't' even know. She just about flinched every time she looked at him. She couldn't believe it either. Why? Because it was you she loved. No one else. After she became pregnant, she tried to tell you. But from what I've heard you weren't exactly going to play happy family so she went and found someone who would give her child a decant home, James. Don't you see, he's you. You're him. "

Harry Snape. What a funny name it sounded like in his head. If only he had known earlier. After all these years of hating him it turns out now that he loved that little boy from under the cupboard. He suddenly felt an immense feeling of proud, he forgave him for everything. Harry was his and Lily's, sweet sweet lily. His son had concord the Dark Lord. He had always been disgusted by the idea of James having Lily's child. Now it all made sense, after all Harry did look more like him than James. After about 8 minutes of silence, Snape was about to ask if the boy should be told.

"No" replied Dumbledore knowingly "He must never know, Voldermort would use you if he did. It's better that way".

"Yes" muttered Snape as he began to stumble down the steps to the dungeons. In which every student and teacher was surprised that they did not get told off for bring mud into the castle or for having their tie underdone or even for hitting each other's bottoms with broomsticks and in which Professor McGonagall quickly and quietly asked him if he were feeling okay and reached her hand out for his forehead. It seemed to her that Snape was smiling...