357Author: Raven
Disclaimer: If it were mine, the world would be a really messed up place.
Summary: Harry and Severus end up staying together during part of the summer. What secrets are revealed?
Chapter 24
Harry left the Gryffindor common room a little bit after supper the next day. He was meeting Draco outside the Potion Master's room to tell him who to report to from now on. Last night he had told Ron about Draco, Zabini, and Parkinson's offer. He had been wary, to say the least. Ron may be grudgingly accepting Snape as Harry's father, but he wasn't about to become buddy-buddy with Slytherins over night. Harry grinned. He would be amazed if Ron was ever more than civil with the Slytherins, and that alone would be a strain.
"Hey, Malfoy," Harry said cheerfully to the bored Slytherin standing near Snape's door.
"Potter," Malfoy acknowledged. "Where are we off to? Because if it's far, we'd better walk separately."
"It's not far," Harry said, opening the door to Snape's rooms.
Malfoy looked at Harry oddly. "Potter, you do realize that these are Snape's private quarters, don't you?"
Harry nodded. "I'm not stupid, Malfoy."
"You're acting like it! Snape is a Death Eater, Potter."
Harry snorted. "I know that," he laughed. "He's also a spy for the Order of the Phoenix and a good friend of mine."
Severus appeared in front of them, sneering. "If you're quite finished deciding whether I can be trusted or not, you can get out of the hallway now."
Harry grinned at Severus. "Good evening, Severus. I do believe you've met Malfoy?"
Severus nodded to the Slytherin. "Draco."
"Professor," Malfoy replied tensely.
"Severus," Snape corrected. "Would you take a seat?"
Harry and Draco sat at the table in the middle of the kitchen. Severus sat down as well.
"So, Draco, what made you not want to be a Death Eater after all these years?" Severus asked.
"Well, you know that my father is in prison, but my mother wasn't convicted of anything, even though she is a Death Eater as well. Yesterday I told you that my father brought me to get my Dark Mark, Harry. It was a mistake of words that I'm surprised you didn't catch. It was actually my mother who brought me, but it was on my father's orders. Before I was made a Death Eater, my mother brought me to some of the Dark Lord's meetings. I saw people being tortured, and I knew that it wasn't the choice for me. So I knew I had to find a way out. I thought of the Order."
Severus nodded. "Okay then. When you're ready to report, you let Harry know, and he'll set up a meeting for you. Here, I already set up these for you."
He handed Draco and Harry each a ring. Harry's was silver, with a ruby. Engraved in the inside of the ring was "Harry James Potter Snape," in cursive letters. Draco's was the same, except his stone was emerald, and "Draco Lucius Malfoy," was engraved in it.
"These are portkeys to my rooms," Severus explained, "which you activate by touching it with your other hand and saying "slian." They are also a method of communication between you. Touch your stone and say "callium," if you need to talk to the other person. The other person's ring will feel cold. If you have an emergency and need help, touch your stone and say, "secour," and the rings will feel hot. The rings will put a picture in your head of the location of the other person if it is an emergency, but I would suggest you find a meeting place for if you need to talk."
Harry nodded. "I have a place in mind."
"Where is it?" Draco asked.
"Third floor, so it's between Gryffindor and Slytherin houses. You know that statue of the one-eyed witch with a hump? Just tap it with your wand and say, "Dissendium," and it opens up."
Draco nodded. "How the hell did you ever find that, Potter?"
Harry grinned. "My secret."
Draco rolled his eyes and stood. "If you'll excuse me, Severus, I need to talk to some friends of mine."
Severus and Harry stood with their guest, as was the polite thing to do. "I'll see you in class tomorrow, Draco," Severus said to his student.
Draco nodded. "Good evening Severus, Potter."
"See you, Malfoy," Harry waved.
Draco waved back, then slid out of Severus' door and into the hallway. He needed to go to his common room to discuss this with Pansy and Blaise.
Inside Severus' rooms, the mood was relaxed. Severus got a bottle of white wine out of his cupboard and pulled out two delicate glasses.
"You care for any wine, Harry?"
Harry shrugged. "Sure. I've never had any."
Severus smiled. "We can have a toast." He poured the two glasses full and handed Harry his.
Harry tried a sip of his wine and swished it around on his tongue curiously. "Not bad," he decided. "Doesn't taste like it should be illegal for underage people."
Severus chuckled. "Drink enough, and you'll understand. But please, not in front of me. I'd rather not see you drunk. Now, what shall we toast?"
"Us," Harry suggested. "As father and son. So, we're toasting new beginnings and new principles."
"And what are these new principles?"
Harry smiled. "Love and honesty."
Severus grinned. "I can drink to that."
THE END
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So it's not really the end, technically, since I'm planning an epilogue. And I know I said yesterday that I was thinking of a sequel, but actually, now I'm not feeling it. I mean, this story was about Harry finding out the truth and accepting it. And I feel like I made that happen, and I didn't really leave any loose ends, except for a bit which I'll be taking care of in the epilogue. So unless I get any miraculous inspirations for a fantastic sequel, I don't think it'll happen. Keep your eyes open though: I'm definitely not going to stop the writing here. Keep a look out for a new fic within the next month or so… maybe one about Salazar… we'll see. Well, I'm not going to do all my thank you's now; I can handle that in the epilogue, so I'll end this note now!
REVIEW RESPONSES:
Thanks to: EternalEcho, Purple Raveness, Lady Lily3, Medicated Drama Queen, Henio41, oRouth (love you more), Rubber-duckiesofdoom, starangel2106, MirreZ
4: I appreciate your informing me on this matter: if I could read in other languages, I would have tried the other versions of the books myself. However, I am calling upon my (minimal) rights as a writer and doing Blaise Zabini a quick little sex-change. I'm sure J.K. Rowling won't mind too much, and if she does, I sincerely apologize. But for now, this is my story, and if I so desire, I can make Blaise female, and not much will stop me, but if you don't like it, you don't have to read this fic. Thanks, and good evening.
ANOTHER AUTHOR'S NOTE: Aww, I know I said I didn't feel a sequel coming, but maybe… your reviews are making me want to please! Hehe… so keep an eye out, miracles do happen. Sometimes.