Severus sat by Harry�s bed in the hospital wing, watching as his son slept peacefully.� From time to time he removed the cloth from the boy�s forehead, rinsing the piece of material out before casting the cooling charm and replacing it.� Harry no longer felt feverish, but his scar was still hot to the touch.� Gazing at the head of dark hair that rested on the pillow, a sense of wonder engulfed Severus.� This boy- this remarkable boy- was his son.� Whatever had he done to deserve a child like that as his own?�

 Gradually Harry began to stir, green eyes blinking open behind dark lashes.� The young wizard was mildly surprised (but secretly a bit pleased) to see his father sitting nearby.� Although Severus had said he would return, a part of Harry had been uncertain that the man actually would.�

 �Feeling better?� asked Severus.

 �Yes,� said Harry, and to his surprise, he did.� His head no longer ached (with the exception of a mild burning sensation in his scar), there was no more nausea or dizziness, and his back was tender but otherwise painless.� �Thanks for coming back,� he added.� �I�m glad you did.�

 �You�re looking much better,� responded Severus, a smile tugging unbidden at his lips.�

 Suddenly he remembered something.

 �I just remembered that I bumped into Draco Malfoy on my way up here; he looked as though he were leaving from this direction.� Do you know what he was here for?��

 If Draco were to discover that Harry was Snape�s son, the young Slytherin would surely be eager to tell his father, Lucius.� And that was as good as telling Voldemort.� Furthermore, Lucius, with his many connections, might also inform the Ministry, which was potentially as disastrous.

 �I don�t know,� said Harry, a frown crossing his face.� The expression momentarily lent him an uncanny resemblance to Snape.� �I must�ve been asleep.� But I don�t think he could�ve seen me, because the curtains were drawn.�

 Severus� shoulders relaxed slightly.� �Let�s hope he didn�t.� Which reminds me of something else: Dumbledore will be up shortly to perform the Mirror Charm.� Would you like me to stay?� If you�d rather I left, it�s perfectly fine, all you have to do is say so.�

 �No, it�s all right with me if you stay.� I don�t mind.�

 Inexplicably, Severus felt a mild relief at those words.� If his son could bear to be around him, things were off to an excellent start.� Maybe the whole situation would work out, after all.

 Suddenly Madam Pomfrey�s voice could be heard, sounding sharp with exasperation.

 �No, Miss Granger, Mister Weasley, you may not see Mr. Potter now!� I�ve already told you both, he is not to be permitted visitors until this evening.�

 �But, Madam Pomfrey, you let Dumbledore go in.� Can�t we at least stay just long enough to give him his homework?� He�ll get behind the rest of the class otherwise-�

 �For the umpteenth time, Miss Granger, no.� You can give it too him this evening.� Now, please leave.�

 Harry heard a pair of sighs, then the sound of footsteps walking away.

 At that moment, Dumbledore appeared in the Hospital Wing.

 �Ah, Severus, I see you�re still here.� Splendid.� You�ll be staying while I cast the charm, then?�

 The Potions Master nodded curtly, tension beginning to etch itself back into his harsh features.

 Turning to the bright-eyed boy who lay in the hospital bed, the Headmaster asked, �And Harry, you�re feeling better, I hope?�

 �Yes, thanks, Professor,� replied Harry politely.���

 �Right then.� First things first, let me explain what I�m going to do.� As you both know,� said Dumbledore, gesturing to include Severus, �I�ll be casting a modified Mirror Charm.� It should cause you to take on the appearance of James Potter while still retaining your eye colour and that trademark scar of yours.�

 Harry observed with mild amusement that Dumbledore had launched into professorial lecture mode.

 �I�m afraid that, never having had this charm cast upon myself, I can�t tell you what it feels like.� From what I understand, however, the sensation is not so extreme as that produced by Polyjuice Potion.�

 Dumbledore�s blue eyes twinkled at Harry conspiratorially at that last remark.

 �Any questions?��

 Harry and Severus both shook their heads.

 �Right then, let�s get started.� Harry, I suggest you just sit back and try to relax.�

 Harry lay back.�

 Severus watched the boy�s eyes close as Dumbledore began incanting a long stream of unfamiliar Latin words.� Though he was quite competent with Charms, this particular spell was one Severus had never observed before and knew very little about.� He tried to blot from his mind the image of Lily casting such a charm on an infant Harry.� Had she done it to protect James? To protect Harry?� To keep herself from being reminded of the circumstances of the child�s conception?� Or was it possible that, upon seeing her infant son for the first time, she had guessed as to who the child�s father might be?� She could have had me arrested at any time.� Why didn�t she? Severus asked himself silently.��

 A faint blue glow seemed to surround Harry, growing stronger as the Headmaster softly continued the incantation.� Soon it became difficult to make out Harry�s form as the glow intensified and the blue became darker.� Dumbledore uttered a final, sharp word, and the glow abruptly fell away.�

 Harry lay motionless on the bed, eyes still shut.�� The lightning bolt scar remained on his forehead, but his hair had returned to its accustomed messy state.� The shape of his face, too, was different, almost identical to that of James Potter�s.� Though when compared with Snape�s mental image of the adult James, Harry looked quite small and young.�

 Severus started to move towards his son, but Dumbledore�s arm suddenly blocked his way. �Was he imagining things, or was that amusement twinkling in the Headmaster�s blue eyes?

 �The charm is not completed until he awakens on his own.� If either of us were to touch him, the effects of the spell would transfer to us.� Somehow I don�t think you�d fancy looking like James Potter.�

 Severus was too absorbed by anxiously watching his son to react to Dumbledore�s gentle teasing.� To his relief, Harry soon opened his eyes (which were, thankfully, their usual bright green) and asked, �Did it work?�

 �Yes,� said Severus.� The charm had worked- perfectly.� It was all too easy to imagine that Harry was still the son of his old rival, Potter.� Still the boy Severus had so actively disliked and picked on for four years.�

 Dumbledore spoke next.

 �Harry, please be sure and tell your father or myself straight away if you have any more dreams concerning Voldemort.�

 �Okay,� said Harry.

 �I must be off now.� If you have need of me, you know where my office is.�

 Harry knew Dumbledore meant well, but he wasn�t about to bother the Headmaster with any personal problems he might be having.� He would of course, report any strange dreams or occurrences.

 �Erm�all right.� Thanks, professor.�

 A brief smile flashed behind Dumbledore�s long white whiskers, then the old wizard turned and left the Hospital Wing.

 Severus and Harry sat in uncomfortable silence for a few moments after the Headmaster left.� Neither seemed quite sure what to say to one another.

 �I�d better be leaving as well,� Severus finally said, breaking the silence.� �Your friends will probably be-�

 Snape broke off as he realised that the expression on Harry�s face had suddenly changed to one of abject horror, which was quickly schooled into a mask of neutrality.

 �What is it?�

 Turning around, Severus saw what had so startled his son.

 Fred and George Weasley had entered the Hospital Wing and were frozen in their tracks, staring at Snape and Harry with identical, genuine expressions of utter shock.