The CHALLENGE
1. Severus Snape must be revealed to be Harry's father (no..not James, though
that would be interesting......MWAHAHA!!!)
2. Remus Lupin must have returned to Hogwarts for some reason or another
(unless it's a 3rd year AU, in which case he's already there.heh)
3. Harry must undergo some progressive physical change starting on his
birthday. No *tada!* and suddenly he looks like Snape, at first anyway.
4. The story must be based mostly around Harry and Snape
5. (optional) if you want, feel free to take one of the conversations I've got
posted here. Change 'em however you want, they're mere clutter on my harddrive
right now, and I hereby bequeath them to you.
6. Make note somewhere that it's in response to this challenge, so all the
other nice people can give it a shot too, if they want, or be able to find the
other challenge responses.
7. LET ME KNOW! I WANNA READ 'EM! I'm keeping a list in the 4th chapter, too!
Feel free to either email me or let me know in a review.
Well...I was bored one day and I sat down and just started
writing out conversations that could be used in a story. I had a vague idea for
a fic to go with them, but as I've already got a couple things I'm working on,
I didn't really want to try and start it. Maybe later.
Anway, now that that's done with, here's the First Conversation, the others are
in separate chapters'. Please take into account that these are mostly just
skeletons, that is, there is almost no description whatsoever. If you use them,
I would highly suggest adding some in and modify...whatever. :)
::Lupin and Snape talking in a hallway::
“I can’t believe you still haven’t told him,” Remus said, a vague tone of
disbelief coloring his tone. Severus whirled to glare at him angrily, lips
pulled back from clenched teeth.
“Told who what? I haven’t he slightest idea what you’re on about…” Severus
growled, but was cut off by a sharp returned gaze from Remus.
“You know very well who and what I mean, Severus. It’s been fifteen years…he
has a right to know you.”
“Know me?! Why in the hell does he have a right to know me? For all I know,
he’s not even mine!” Snape yelled, and turned to stalk away. Remus, however,
latched tightly onto his shoulder and forced him to stay his ground. “Let me
go, werewolf.” He growled, but Remus kept his grip. For a moment, he didn’t say
anything, his expression shifting between concern and disbelief.
“He IS yours, Severus. Surely you knew that…”
“I knew of the possibility, but nothing more.” Snape replied, though the tone
of his voice clearly said otherwise.
“Then why didn’t you find out?! He could have grown up without all the lies…”
“Oh, yes indeed. As if I would just pop up on his doorstep and admit to
sleeping with his mother, oh I’m SURE that would go over well.”
“Well, you’ve never seemed to worry about other’s reactions to you before.
You’ve got to TELL him! He’ll probably find out on his own eventually, and just
imagine what a mess that would be….”
“Not anymore of one than if I WERE to tell him. Can you imagine what would
happen were he to know? ME?! His FATHER?! You can’t honestly expect that he’d
be happy in the least. I am not the type of person that can be a father.”
“Oh, so that’s it…”
“What?”
“You don’t think you’re worthy…”
“I’ll be astounded if you can think of anyone LESS worthy. I was a Death Eater,
Remus, I’ve done more evil than I can rightly remember…I’m not worthy of being
ANYONE’S parent, and besides, I wouldn’t even know how. And how do you think he
would feel? You obviously have taken a liking to him, what do you think it
would do to him if he were to discover that his real father was a murderer? A
conscienceless follower of the Dark Lord? A cruel, bitter teacher hated by the
entire school? It’d break him, I’ve no doubt that it would.”
“Then that just proves that you need to get to know him.”
“Why, whatever do you mean?”
“Tell me…why ARE you always on his case? Why is it that you always single him
out for ridicule?”
“Simple. To teach him a lesson. Everyone else here, you included, tend to treat
him like some high-and-mighty savior of the wizarding world. Half of the people
who claim to be his friends would turn on him in an instant if his ‘heroic’
image were to be tarnished. He’s got to learn to fend for himself out there,
one way or another. If I don’t break him of the spoiled lifestyle he probably
enjoys at home, who will? You? Dumbledore? I highly doubt it.”
“I thought that might be your reason.”
“What? You’d better not even consider criticizing me for my methods, for I
assure you, there’s plenty I could say about yours.”
“Have you heard about the Dursleys at all? The muggle family he lives with?”
“Of course not. If you’ll remember correctly, I was comatose when he was placed
with them, and I don’t tend to bother with ‘gossip.’”
“I’ve noticed. Either way, you wouldn’t have learned anything more. Harry
doesn’t like to talk about them at all, I’m afraid I found out rather by
accident…”
“Found out what?”
“Have you ever seen Harry getting mail in the Great Hall? Or going home for the
Christmas holidays?”
“No, but I hardly see what that has to do with anything…”
“Severus, the first day of classes I asked him to stay after the lesson. I’d noticed
he was looking ill, and I wanted to ask what was wrong. He was VERY reluctant
to tell me, but after I slipped a little calming potion in his tea, he
eventually gave in and told me some of what had happened.”
“Go on…”
“His uncle beats him, Severus; quite often, in fact. As it turned out, he had a
pair of cracked ribs, as well as severe bruising across his chest and back. I
cornered Mr. Ron Weasley to find out more about the Dursley’s, and I daresay it
isn’t pleasant. Evidently, they weren’t even going to let him come to school
this year. I suppose it was a lucky thing that I showed up…Anyway, one year,
Weasley and his brothers had to actually break him out of that house as if it
were a prison, bars on his window and everything.”
“What?! Impossible…Dumbledore wouldn’t allow him to stay in a place like that…”
“Dumbledore doesn’t know about it. Harry’s too proud and ashamed to tell him,
and I imagine he doesn’t want any more attention drawn to him, either. He made
me promise not to tell a soul after I found out, and I’ve kept that promise
until now. I tried to get him to tell Dumbledore, but I’m afraid he’s just as
stubborn as you.”
“They …beat him? Why? He’s their blood, surely they didn’t….”
“The Dursleys hate magic, Severus. You didn’t know Lily as well as I did, but
I’m sure you heard her mention Petunia?”
“Once or twice, and never with pleasure.”
“Yes, well Petunia hated Lily above and beyond a simple sibling rivalry…she
thought Lily was a freak. Once they no longer had to live in the same house,
Petunia severed all relations with her sister. She’s carried that hate on to
Harry, and her husband is the same way. Harry had to sleep locked in a broom
closet for eleven years.”
“Remus, you are coming with me to see Albus this instant, I’ll not allow
that…that FAMILY to ever…”
“No.”
“What?!”
“Tell Harry.”
“I can’t, you know that!”
“He’s your SON, Severus.”
“I’m aware of that…”
“Then say it, admit it out loud.”
“Fine. Harry is my son. Now, can we please get on with it? I may not wish that
fact to be known, but I will NOT stand for ANYONE mistreating him.”
“And how, precisely, do you think he sees YOUR behavior toward him and all the
Gryffindors?”
“That is different. I have no choice, as long as Voldemort lives and I retain
my title as ‘spy.’”
“Yes, but you could always let him know that….let him know YOU.”
“Oh, so we’re back on that again, are we?”
“It’s the only way you can keep him safe from the Dursleys….by telling him the
truth.”
“As I’ve already said, No. WE will inform Albus of the…abuse, and nothing
more.”
“If we tell Dumbledore, he will remove Harry from that house. Harry will have
no choice but to go to an orphanage or a temporary care facility. Now, imagine
what that would do to him….he’s already got more than enough in common with the
Dark Lord, how do you think he’d react to yet another?”
“Surely no worse than if I talked to him.”
“I doubt that, Severus. I will make you a deal. If you agree to tell Harry and
Dumbledore the truth, then I will come with you right now to talk to him about
the Dursleys.”
“But then Albus would send him to live with ME. I couldn’t do that Remus, I’d
be worse than the Dursleys…”
“No you wouldn’t. You’ve never hit a student, and I know for a fact that all
that yelling you do is just an act. You only need to give yourself a chance,
and spare your son another summer of beatings.”
“Very well….”
“Promise and swear that you will tell Harry, and soon.”
“I promise that I will tell…Harry…the truth before christmas. Are you happy
now?”
“Yes, but you understand that I am not doing this for ‘me.’ I’m doing this for
Harry…and for you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You have a son, Severus. You have as much right to know him as he does
you. You’re both the only real family either of you has.”
“I’d have to agree with you on the last…but can we please get on with it? I’d
like to tell Albus and get this whole thing over with as soon as possible, I’m
sure he’ll have plenty to say.”
“He won’t be ashamed of you, you know that.”
“Yes…but then he doesn’t have to be.”
Still here? Okay then…on to the next conversation!!!
Conversation
#2
::Lupin and Snape in
Dumbledore’s Office::
“Good evening Remus, Severus. What
can I help you with?”
“Actually, there are two matters of
importance that we need to discuss.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to go first, Severus?”
“No, it would be best if you did.”
“Very well. Headmaster…earlier in
the semester I made a startling discovery concerning Harry Potter….he made me
promise not to tell anyone about it, but I feel that I must.”
“What is it? He’s not getting into
any sort of trouble, is he?”
“No…actually it’s more in regards to
the Dursley family. When he came to class the first day back from summer
holiday, he was not looking well, so I held him after class to see what was the
matter. After giving him a calming potion, I finally found out what was wrong.”
“What on earth was it?”
“His Uncle beats him, Headmaster.
When Harry came to class, he had several broken ribs and horrible bruises, all
carefully hidden by his robes. According to Mr. Weasley, he’s also been
malnourished and imprisoned, not to mention a probable load of other mistreatments.”
“Your convinced that this story is
true?”
“Oh yes, Poppy can confirm the
injuries if you like. And the information wasn’t exactly given willingly.”
“Something must be done at once….the
Dursleys must be spoken with immediately, and some sort of arrangement made for
Harry for the summer holiday….I honestly can’t believe that Harry has never
said anything…”
“He’s probably ashamed, Albus…he
can’t be blamed for that.”
“Yes, and probably scared of what
would happen were he to be taken from his only remaining family….undoubtedly
he’ll have to be placed in an orphanage, unless the Ministry would agree to
letting him stay here…”
“Actually, Headmaster, that brings
us to the second topic.” Remus cast a glance at Severus, who nodded slowly,
“You see, The Dursleys aren’t Harry’s only surviving relatives.” Lupin said
“Pardon? According to the records,
all of the Evans and Potter family are dead.”
“The records are correct on that
point, but wrong on another. Albus, James Potter was not Harry’s father,”
Severus said.
“Then…who is?”
“I am,”
“What? How is this possible?”
“Do you remember that last mission
Voldemort sent me on, in November of 1980?”
“Yes, I do…and I gave you permission
to do what was necessary to convince the Dark Lord.”
“When I arrived at the Potter home
in the disguise of James Potter, I discovered that my reason for being there
had already been removed, as James had taken the result of his work with him.
However, before I could leave…Lily found me, and…wanted me to come to bed with
her. Forgive me, Albus, but…I did. As I was trying to slip away the next
morning, Remus found me lurking about, and deduced what had happened. I
rather…blackmailed him into not telling anyone. As he later told me, Lily was
slightly ill a few weeks later….she was pregnant; with Harry. Lily never
discovered that it hadn’t been James.”
“Have you spoken to him?”
“No…and I hadn’t been planning on
it. But…in order for Remus to tell you about the abuse, he made me promise that
I would tell you and Harry the truth.”
“Merlin….You’re Harry’s father….I
always thought there was something about you two…”
“I fathered him, Albus, but I’d
hardly consider myself a father.”
“Maybe not now, Severus, but you’ll
learn easily enough. At least Harry won’t have to go to an orphanage now…”
“Yes…and I do hope that the ends are worth the means.”
Notes:: Harry and Severus are both a bit OOC in this
one, though Severus obviously has a reason. I was having a little trouble with
Harry, so feel free to modify it or whatever.
::Snape and Harry somewhere
outside::
“You’ve changed this year.”
“Er…yes. It started around my birthday….I’m not sure
what to make of it.”
“It’s nothing to worry about, too much at least.”
“What is it?”
“A spell, likely cast by yourself when you were just
a baby. It’s not all that uncommon. You wanted to know your father;
therefore…you became him. Fifteen is often a pivotal age...it’s not surprising
that it would wear off now.”
“So you mean that all these years I’ve only looked
like my father because I wanted to?”
“Yes.”
“So…I’ll look more like my mum, then?”
“Perhaps. Harry, there is something that I must tell
you…the reason I brought you out here…”
“Excuse me, Professor…but did you just call me by my
first name?”
“Yes…and I suppose I must make a few things clear
before I continue.”
“Alright…”
“First off…I wish to apologize. The way I act in the
classroom, towards you especially, is not the way I am; it hasn’t been for a
long time, anyway. I behave the way I do because of the Slytherins…I’m sure
that you’re aware that many of their parents are Death Eaters?”
“Yes...I know of a few.”
“As far as they know, I am a loyal Death Eater. As
long as I am needed as a spy, I must keep up my act. All Death Eaters are
expected to despise Gryffindor and Muggleborns, and you especially for what you
did to Voldemort. If I were to show leniency, any at all….my loyalty would be
questioned. In reality, I can’t stand that brat Malfoy…he’s just as bigheaded
and pompous as his father. And you…I don’t hate you. As of yet, you won’t
understand why, but…you bring up many painful memories for me, as well as a lot
of other issues that I’m still trying to deal with. Therefore…I am sorry,
Harry. I should have told you that it was an act, and nothing more.”
“That…that’s alright, Professor. You’ve told me
now.”
“I appreciate that, Harry…but I’m sure you won’t
feel that way in a minute. I’m sure you’re not fond of all the secrets that
have been kept from you over the years…”
“No, I’m not…it always seems like everybody else
knows more about me than I do.”
“Yes, and I’m afraid I didn’t know that until
recently. I always thought that you grew up with full knowledge of who you
were, of what you did. I assumed you’d been spoiled by your aunt and uncle,
placed high on some pedestal like so many seem to do. But now I know
differently….Remus told me about what they did to you,”
“He...he told?! But, he promised that he wouldn’t…”
“He kept his promise well, Harry…he had good reason
to tell me,”
“You haven’t…told anyone else, have you?”
“Dumbledore knows, but that is all.”
“Oh….I suppose I’ll be…staying at some orphanage
now….”
“No, you won’t be. I made a deal with Remus after he
told me, Harry. I agreed to tell you a …rather large secret, if he promised to
tell Dumbledore about the abuse,”
“What is it?”
“First you must promise me that you won’t run off,
and you’ll hear me out,”
“Okay…I promise.”
“Thank you. Now I’m quite sure you’ll hate me even
more than you already do after this…but you must be told the truth. About
fifteen years ago Voldemort sent me on a mission to steal something from James
Potter, and Dumbledore instructed me to do what I must in order to appear loyal
to the Dark Lord. So…I waited until I knew James would be gone for a few days,
and used Polyjuice to disguise myself as him. I snuck into his and your
mother’s home, only to discover that the item I’d been sent to fetch had gone
along with James. As I was leaving…your mother found me, and, believing me to
be James, she…asked me to bed with her. We slept together that night, Harry.”
“You...and my mum…did that?!”
“Yes…The next morning as I was trying to slip away,
as I’d run out of polyjuice, Remus Lupin discovered me. Unfortunately, he quite
easily figured out what had gone on between Lily and I, and was hell-bent on
telling both Lily and James about it. However, I…threatened to tell his secret,
and he agreed to keep quiet about it. He allowed me to leave after that, and I
saw him again a few weeks later. He told me that he had waited around for Lily
to wake up after I left, to make sure she was alright…and she wasn’t. A few
weeks later she was ill. She was pregnant…with you.”
“What…? I mean…no, that can’t be….James…”
“...never knew about it, and neither did your
mother.”
“But…if that’s true, then that means that…that…you’re my father.”
“Yes, it does,”
“H-how do you know? For sure? I mean…surely someone
would have…”
“I know because there is no way that you could not
be. Looking at you, now especially, I can see little pieces of myself. Your
position in Quidditch, some of your attitudes and expressions…they all remind
me of myself when I was your age. And before you argue that it could be
coincidence, I did have a test performed, so that I’d know for sure. I was able
to acquire a sample of your blood during your last stay in the hospital wing. I
gave it, along with a sample of my own blood, to Poppy to test. You are my son,
Harry, the test proved that beyond a doubt.”
“But…why didn’t anyone tell me sooner? Why was I…”
“I thought that you would be better off living with
the muggles. After the fall of Voldemort, I was hospitalized during the time
you were being delivered to the Dursleys. Afterward, I was imprisoned for a
short time while I was put on trial for my association with the Dark Lord. When
I was finally freed, I thought that you’d be better off surrounded by family
and with a memory of Lily and James, than you would be with me, a former ‘dark’
wizard. If you had grown up knowing about me, you would have been ridiculed
about your birth, assaulted with questions. I was afraid…I didn’t, and still
don’t, have the slightest idea on how to be a father. I was terrified that I
would mess up, that something would happen to you if I were to claim you as my
son. I am sorry that you had to grow up with those…people, and that you’ve
lived with yet another lie. I should have checked up on you, and I should have
found out how they were treating you, taken you out of that place…”
“It’s…okay. Don’t worry about it. I’ll forgive you
all that if you promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“Promise me that I’ll never have to go back to the
Dursleys, or go to an orphanage or anything like that.”
“I promise that you’ll never have to see those
people ever again. You could stay with me for the holiday, if you wish.”
“Okay, I think I’d…like that.” “God...you’re my
father…I have a father….”
“Harry, I’d better get you back to the castle now. I
know it’s an awful lot to take in, but I’d like to talk to you again tomorrow,
if that is alright.”
“Yes…that sounds like a good idea.”
Okay,
last one.
::Snape and Harry again::
“I still can’t believe that you’re my father….”
“I’m sorry that it had to be me, Harry…I know I’m
certainly not the most loved person in the world.”
“I’m glad it’s you.”
“What?”
“Of course I’m still….really shocked, I don’t think
it’s quite sunk in yet, but…I am glad that it’s you. I may not have liked you,
but I have kind of looked up to you…for the job you do for Dumbledore, what it
costs you, and for what you’ve done for me in the past.”
“Thank you, Harry. I will try to live up to that.
I’m hardly worthy of being anyone’s father, let alone yours.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, you’re doing fine as far as I
can tell. I’ve never exactly had a father before, you know. I’m not sure what
I’m supposed to do, either.”
“Well, that’s some relief. I will try my hardest,
but you do realize that in class I won’t be able to change my behavior towards
you,”
“I understand. Maybe could we…get together sometimes
then? To…y’know…talk and stuff?”
“Of course. And if anyone asks questions, we could
always claim that I’m tutoring you, or you’ve got detention.”
“What about my appearance? You said that it’d keep
changing…won’t that make people suspicious?”
“Hopefully you won’t end up looking too much like
me, for your safety, of course. But if you do…I’m not sure what could be done.
We’ll take that on when it becomes necessary,”
“I don’t like to admit it, but I’m kind of…scared.
I’ve been having trouble sleeping because I can feel it happening at night. And
then when I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror…there’s always
something different, like it’s not really me anymore.”
“It’ll be alright, Harry. It shouldn’t last too much
longer. Try and think of it this way, for the first time you’re starting to
look like who you really are.”
“Maybe could you say that first part again?”
“I suppose…It’ll be alright, Harry,”
“Thank you,”
“What is it? Why are you crying?”
“I’m sorry…it’s just that no one’s ever really said
that to me before.”
“Everything will be okay, I promise you that. No
more lies, I promise.”
“You know, you make a really good father,”
“Well, you’re not such a half-bad son, either.
Although, there is that hair….”
“Oh, and you’re one to talk,”
“Fine, I’ll make you a deal…you tame that rat’s
nest, and I’ll take better care of my own,”
“Hey! I can’t help that my hair goes everywhere,
what am I supposed to do about it?”
“I don’t know, grow it out a little perhaps?”
“Very well then, you have a deal, Professor Snape,”
“Deal, Mr. Potter,”
“I just realized something…I’m not really a ‘Potter’
am I? I’m a Snape.”
“You’re right, now that you mention it. I’d never
really thought about it before,”
Okay,
that’s that. If you’re wondering why I’m doing this, it’s because I absolutely
love the idea of Snape being Harry’s father. And…I know everybody would murder
me if I started yet another fic…hehe…I promise I’ll finished my other two
before I start another one!!!
Well, I hope somebody was inspired or…something by this, have fun!
HAPPY READING AND WRITING!!