Bellum DomesticumbyLittleTiger |
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Chapter 5-Awakening Harry slumped, unconscious, to the floor. In alarm, Severus rushed forward to catch him, narrowly preventing the boy from hitting his head on Dumbledore's desk. Carefully, he eased Harry onto the sofa, propping the young wizard's head with some pillows. "He's been feeling unwell ever since he entered my office this evening, Headmaster. Looked as though he were going to black out several times. I'm sure this- news- was just the last straw it took for him to collapse like this." "We'd better take him to Madam Pomfrey, then." "No, I don't think-" Severus' reply was cut short as he suddenly clutched his left forearm, suppressing a hiss of pain. "Albus, he's calling. Merlin, I hate to leave now-" "Go. He might grow suspicious if you don't. We'll talk when you get back. For now, let's keep Harry's parentage a secret." Wordlessly, Severus nodded, and with a swish of black robes, he hurried from the office. * * * The first thing Harry noticed when he awoke was that he felt very groggy, as if he had just come out of a very deep sleep. Why was he in the hospital wing? He vaguely remembered passing out, but he couldn't recall how. Eyes still heavy with the tiredness that permeated his entire body, he automatically stretched out his hand to find his glasses. Then he remembered that he didn't need them any more. As if he had been suddenly doused with ice-cold water, the events of the past day hit him. He had told Snape about the Dursleys. And Snape- Snape, who was a former Death Eater and had raped Harry's mother- was his father. Bitterly, Harry wished he had simply kept his mouth shut. If he had done so, his life would still be normal- well, as normal as it ever was. It had been bad enough finding out that James Potter wasn't his father. But it was worse learning that he was the product of a rape, and that his actual father was a man who had taken great pleasure in attempting to get Harry expelled and in ridiculing him mercilessly. There was no telling what would happen now. Harry recalled running away from the Dursleys before his third year at Hogwarts. Maybe he could do that now. He could renounce being a wizard, could leave the wizarding world, where he was famous. Then he wouldn't have to face whatever lay ahead of him� But Harry knew that he loved the wizarding world too much to give it up. Despite Voldemort, despite people like Draco Malfoy, and despite such boring classes as Divination, Harry loved Hogwarts. It was his home. But now, with the knowledge that Snape was, in fact, his father, Harry no longer knew where he stood. Feeling rather helpless, he sat up and pushed aside the curtains that had been drawn around his bed. It felt very strange to have clear vision without his glasses perched on his nose. "Ah, Harry. You're awake," came Dumbledore's voice. The Headmaster came over from the doorway where he was standing to sit beside Harry's bed. "What time is it?" "Ten o'clock. Harry, about what was discovered last night-" Dumbledore began gently. "I don't want to talk about it," said Harry shortly. Then, feeling his response to be a bit rude, he continued, "I wish I had never asked to do that test�" The white-bearded wizard's face was sympathetic. "You could, of course, pretend that none of this had ever happened. It would certainly make things easier. But consider, Harry. You'd be living a lie, denying a part of who you are. It is better to face the truth, no matter how painful it may be." Reluctantly, Harry nodded. "Professor, what's going to happen now?" he asked, running a hand through his black hair nervously. With a start, he noticed that it was no longer so unruly. Rather, it was straighter, and the hairs felt finer. Dumbledore sighed, the twinkle leaving from his blue eyes. "We're going to have to keep your parentage a secret, at least for the time being. All that's keeping your father out of Azkaban is his role as a spy. If Voldemort discovers that you are Severus' son, he will no longer trust your father and may very well kill him. "And the Ministry- the circumstances of your birth are such that the Ministry will probably not hesitate to throw your father back into Azkaban. They already distrust him enough for having been a Death Eater, even though he's proven, more than once, that he holds no loyalty towards Voldemort. Cornelius Fudge can be so blind at times�" Dumbledore's voice held a note of disgust at the mention of the Minister of Magic. "What does Sn- what does my- my father think about all this?" Harry fairly spat the word "father." "I think he wishes he could give up his role as spy and let you, if you wish to, live with him. I know you and the Dursleys are not exactly fond of each other. But you should ask him yourself; the two of you need to talk." "I have nothing to say to him," Harry said stubbornly. He knew Dumbledore was right, but the thought of facing his father was something he couldn't handle just yet. "Harry," said Dumbledore, gently but firmly, "you must give him a chance. The two of you may not have gotten along very well before, but you cannot afford to hate each other, especially now that Voldemort has returned. Your father does care about you, you know, in his own way." "I still hate what he did to my mother," the teenaged wizard replied, green eyes looking slightly sullen. "As does he. He is not a Death Eater at heart. I'm sure you realize that his favoring the Slytherins is part of the role he plays as spy. I know your father well; he's a good man, though it may not be readily evident. You really ought to get to know him." "I'll talk to him," came Harry's reluctant assent. He didn't really think Snape would give him a chance though. The man would probably like to ignore the fact that Harry was his son. But then, during his meeting with Snape last night, the man's behavior had been completely free of malice. He hadn't ridiculed Harry; he had even been- well- kind to him, cleaning the cuts on his back and giving him a painkilling potion. Maybe his father didn't hate him after all. Suddenly Harry realized that he didn't really know that much about Sn- no, his father- at all. He knew that Snape had been in Slytherin and that he had disliked the Marauders, James Potter's group of friends. He also knew that Severus Snape and Sirius Black hated each other with a passion. "Oh, no! Professor, what'm I going to tell Sirius? He and my- my father hate each other. I don't want to think what he might do-" "It's your decision whether or not to tell him, Harry. Personally, I find that the truth is always preferable. There is also the matter of your appearance. It is changing, as I know you've noticed. You're beginning to look less and less like James Potter." At that, Harry frowned. "How come, up till now, I've always looked like James if I'm not really his son?" Dumbledore sat back, rubbing his long crooked nose. "I'm afraid I can't give you a definite answer on that one. I suspect, though, that your mother must have cast some sort of charm over you when you were born. She was an excellent Charms student when she attended Hogwarts." "Erm, Professor, if I start looking more like Snape, people will start to figure it out, won't they?" "Yes, and the problem is that you're already beginning to resemble Severus. We need some way of disguising you so that you'll continue to resemble James Potter. I wonder�yes, I think a modified Mirror Charm should do the trick." "What's a Mirror Charm?" queried Harry. His insides were beginning to feel queasy. "It makes one resemble someone else. In your case, you would take on James Potter's appearance, while maintaining some of your actual features, such as your scar and the colour of your eyes. I don't know what we can do about your glasses. I was never very good with optical charms." As Dumbledore spoke, a feeling of helplessness and nausea coursed through Harry. He hated not being in control of himself, and he was very uncomfortable about the idea of not being able to control his changing appearance. At the same time, he wished he didn't have to disguise it, he was curious to know what he looked like now. Just then, Madam Pomfrey bustled over to check on Harry. "I'm giving you a dose of Pepper-up Potion, Mr. Potter. Best thing I know of for fainting spells. You still look too pale. Now, shoo, Headmaster, this boy needs his rest." With a mock long-suffering expression on his face, Dumbledore rose from his seat. "You are excused from classes for the day, Harry. Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, I believe, are quite anxious to see you, but Poppy here has banned them from the hospital wing until this evening. I'm afraid I have to ask you not to tell them what we've discussed. I'll be back around tea-time. I know Professor Snape wants to talk to you as well. He has said, however, that he will wait until you are ready to see him." The Headmaster placed a gentle hand on Harry's shoulder. "We'll sort this out. I'll be here to help the two of you through this." Harry swallowed, a lump forming in his throat. "Okay," he said, forcing himself to give a wry half-smile. With a last gentle squeeze of Harry's shoulder, Dumbledore turned and left the hospital wing. |
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