Ginny put her hands on her hips and demanded again, "Well? Who are you? And how the hell did you get in here?"

Harry smiled, thinking how cute she looked with her face flushed a very appealing shade of pink, and her warm brown eyes flashing in anger. That was definitely the wrong thing to do.

"Think this is funny, do you?"

Hermione peered at him suspiciously through her long lashes.

"Calm down Ginny, and let him explain." She looked apologetically at Harry. "Please excuse my friend." To which Ginny huffed, and glared at Hermione."It's just that it's rather uncommon for a perfect stranger to waltz into Gryffindor Tower, and it requires a password."

Ron narrowed his eyes at Harry. "Speaking of which, how did you get the password?" He looked accusingly at Neville, who had just walked in the door.

"I thought that you'd grown out of leaving the password around for anyone to find," Ron said.

"I didn't," Neville denied vehemently.

"Oh, it's not his fault," Harry said breezily.

"No?" Ginny said through gritted teeth. "Then explain just how you got in here." She was definitely not in a patient mood after dealing with her irritatingly annoying berk of a brother.

Harry ignored her questions and smiled."You know you're every bit as cute as Draco said you were."

"Draco? What the hell does that arse have to do with this?" Ron sputtered. "Are you a Slytherin?"

Harry smirked when Ginny's eyes widened in shock, as he went over, and gently lifted her chin up, and brushed his lips against hers.

Slap.

Well, he certainly should have expected that, shouldn't he have?

Harry rubbed his tingling cheek. "Now, is that anyway to welcome a guest?" he asked with a wounded expression.

Harry backed away as Ron took a step towards him, looking like he'd like to greet this stranger in the same manner as his sister had.

Hermione tugged at Ron's arm. "Ron, will you calm down. Let's give the poor soul a chance to explain."

Harry knew that he was pushing his luck, but he couldn't stop himself.

He began looking around and pretending to be struck in awe at the comfortable surroundings. "Wow, they weren't exaggerating. You've really got a good setup here."

Harry held back a chuckle at their horrified expressions, when he sunk back in the comfortable sofa, laid his head back and plonked his feet lazily on the coffee table.

Harry looked over at Ron. "You know mate, I could really go for a cold butterbeer."

This is the most fun I've had in a long time, Harry thought amusedly as he saw Ron's face grow an increasingly darker shade of purple.

Harry patted his wand pocket, just in case his friend, who was frothing at the bit to escape Hermione's grasp of steel, managed to free himself.

"Oh, and Ginny, is that your name?" Harry asked innocently. "Why don't you come sit your cute little self down here beside me? I know you're going with that Harry Potter chap, but I think that maybe it's time you had a real man. I mean, c'mon, the guy's not even that good-looking." He smoothed his hair back arrogantly. "He's not half as good looking as I am," he said cockily.

Ginny growled. "Why you arrogant, conceited little prat."

Hermione suddenly pinned Harry with a piercing look. "You know you look a lot like-" She hesitated.

Uh oh.

She let go of Ron and Ginny's arms, and began to examine him closely, while Ginny and Ron looked on in confusion.

"But you have the exact same shade of eyes that-" Her brow crinkled in confusion. "But-"

Now Ginny was staring at him too. Ron still looked confused.

"Harry?" Hermione asked hesitatingly.

Harry's stomach roiled.

"Yes," he whispered.

Harry stood on shaky limbs. Reality washed over him, making him more insecure than ever.

Ginny shook her head. "But how? I mean- uh, when? I don't understand."

Ron's freckles stood out starkly on his ashen complexion. "Wow mate, you look just like-- like Snape."

Hermione's eyes widened in sudden comprehension. "It was the ritual, wasn't it? The White Magic cleansed away all the impurities--any trace of magical energy that had been attached to your soul."

Harry felt like a science experiment, with the way they were all staring at him.

He wanted desperately to reach out and hold Ginny. He wanted nothing more than to feel as though the ground hadn't shifted from underneath him. He'd held back on his feelings of horror and confusion on having the face that he'd seen in the mirror for the past seventeen years, been morphed into a complete stranger. He hadn't realised until now, how much of his whole identity had been wrapped up in being James Potter's son. He'd looked like the man, he had thought that he'd inherited the man's Quidditch skills. Many had said how brave he was, just like his Dad, James.

Now, he felt as though he had to get to know himself all over again. Who was he now? He wasn't ready to let go of James. He still felt as though the man were a part of who he was, even if they didn't carry the same blood. He owed the man his life. What was most difficult was the fact, that it wasn't something he could talk to Severus about. He felt like he was being pulled apart like a rag doll. He didn't want to dishonour the memory of the man who had laid down his life for him, who had loved his mother dearly, but he didn't want to hurt the man he had grown to care for deeply either. He felt disloyal to both of them.

Harry hadn't wanted to say to Severus that he had a moment of sheer panic when he'd held up the mirror and a younger version of Severus Snape stared back. Not to say, however, that it wasn't interesting to see his true appearance. There had been brief moments since learning that Severus was his biological father, that he'd had a burning curiosity to see what he'd look like if the glamour were removed, but worry that he might have inherited Severus' nose, or lose his mother's eye colour had kept him from pursuing those thoughts, any further. Perhaps it was a little arrogant on his part, but he thought that he'd rather look like the handsome James Potter, than the Greasy Git of the Dungeons, Severus Snape. He couldn't help being relieved also that he seemed to have gotten the best features of both his parents.

"Harry."

Harry was snapped out of his reverie by Ginny's soft voice. He looked at her with moist eyes.

"Ginny, I-"

His palms were sweaty, and he looked at Ginny with uncertainty.

Ginny felt awkward as well. She felt as though she were looking at a stranger. She knew that it was crazy. Harry was still Harry, and of course she loved him, no matter what he looked like. Right?

Harry wasn't sure who made the first move, but he felt all his fears and doubts melt the instant he had her in his arms, and felt her tender lips on his.

She smiled slightly and ruffled his silky hair. "You look so different, but-" She held his shoulders and pushed him back slightly. "-I like it. It'll take some getting used to but you look really sexy. I feel like I'm cheating on my boyfriend."

Harry raised an eyebrow and peered over her shoulder at Hermione and Ron.

Hermione was an extremely intelligent and perceptive girl. She knew that Harry was worried that they would reject him because of his new appearance.

"You have to ask, Harry?" Hermoine answered the unasked question. She turned to Ron. "We don't care what Harry looks like right Ron?"

Ron stared a minute at Harry, before the corners of his mouth lifted in a small smile. "Of course not mate. I guess I can get over the fact that you look like Snape, as long as you don't start acting like him."

Neville seemed to look a little worried about that as well.

Harry smirked at Ron's discomfort, but was appreciative nonetheless for the support his friend had maintained throughout this whole ordeal. Harry felt a warm glow that his friends were willing to put aside their animosity towards Severus, so that Harry didn't have to choose between them. The choice would have been unbearable. He'd wanted a family since he'd been very young. Well, a family that treated him as though he were a part of them; a family that loved and cherished him and cared about his happiness and well-being. On the other hand, he cared very deeply for his friends; they may not be family by blood, but they were family nonetheless.

As he sat next to his friends, and hesitatingly put his arm around Ginny, he began to feel a little of his anxiety about the strange twists his life had taken recently, subside a bit. While it was true that things would never be quite the same; he would never be the same again, he could at least rely on his friends to always be there for him.

Despite, Ginny's attestations to the contrary, he noticed that she seemed a little ill at ease when he placed his arm around her frail shoulders. She stiffened slightly, and then over-compensated by gushing over his new appearance. Harry felt a pang of regret. He realised that she probably felt just like she had joked about; like she was dating a stranger. Like she was cheating on her boyfriend.

"So, Harry, are you going to move back into the tower now that you’re back to normal?" Hermione asked, as she leant back onto Ron's chest. They looked so natural and comfortable with each other, Harry thought jealously. Would he and Ginny be able to get back to the comforting familiar level that their relationship had reached?

Harry hesitated. He felt that rush of unfamiliar emotion wash over him again. The reluctance to leave Severus' quarters was almost overwhelming. Harry admonished himself; what was he, a child, afraid to leave his Daddy's side? But he couldn't shake the sense of loss he experienced whenever he thought of leaving his room, and the new home that he'd made with Severus.

"I think that I'll move back slowly," Harry began cautiously, trying to gauge their reaction.

Hermione nodded in understanding. "It's okay Harry. It's perfectly normal that you'd be reluctant leave Snape's quarters."

"It's not just Snape's quarters. It's our quarters now," Harry explained.

Ron looked panicked. "But you are coming back, aren't you Harry?"

"Of course I am," Harry reassured him. "I just still want to spend some nights with my, uh-with Severus."

"Well, that's understandable, but just so long as you don't forget your friends," Ron said anxiously.

"Ron," Harry admonished. "How could you even suggest that?"

Ron broke out in a grin. "Well, let's arrange a welcome-back party for you then."

Harry felt his spirits rise. Yeah, a party. Having fun, letting go of his worries, and just being a normal teenager. He desperately needed that right now. Of course, what normal meant for the likes of Harry Potter, was a question that begged to be answered.

"Sounds great," Harry said excitedly.

"Good. I'll talk to Seamus about getting the-" Ron lowered his voice to a whisper, "-firewhiskey".

Hermione shot him a disapproving look. "Ron, one of these days, you're all going to get caught, and be expelled."

"No we're not." He patted Harry on the back. "They'd never expel the Saviour of the Wizarding World," he said cheekily. He nodded to Neville. "Nor his accomplices."

Harry chuckled. He was inclined to agree with Ron that McGonagall would never expel him or his friends for breaking the rules, no matter how severely. On the other hand, he had an inkling that Severus would be far from lenient if he discovered that not only had his son and his friends, snuck alcohol into their dorms, which was strictly forbidden, but the fact that his son was consuming said alcohol to the point of inebriation. With Severus' views on drinking, they'd probably all be in detention till the end of term, if they were caught.

"Uh Ron. We have to be very, very careful we don't get caught. If my father-"

Ron's expression sobered. "Yeah." He shuddered. "I don't even want to think about the kind of detentions that he'd come up with. We'll just have to be really careful we don't get caught. That's all."

"Or we could just forgo the alcohol Ron. It's not like it's a prerequisite to having a good time," Hermione said primly.

Ginny nodded in agreement.

Ron grinned at Harry. "Yeah, but it's more fun."

Harry smiled. Good old Ron. A warm feeling spread over him. This was so different from the sense of darkness that had surrounded him for so long. This was just having fun relaxing with his friends, and yeah, doing something against the rules, and enjoying the feeling of not getting caught. Well, at least he hoped they weren't going to be caught. This reminded him of the feeling of adventure and exhilaration that he used to feel when he'd sneak off to Hogsmeade under his invisibility cloak in third year. Of course then, he used to feel a certain satisfaction that he was so blatantly pulling the wool over Severus' eyes, and getting away with it, while the man knew that Harry was breaking the rules, but couldn't prove it. Harry had a slight twinge of guilt. This was no longer his Professor that he was trying to hoodwink; this was his father. His father, who had been incredibly patient; well… patient for Severus, that is, and had stood by him throughout the whole ordeal with the Dark Magic.

One look at Ron's happy face though, and Harry pushed aside his reservations in favour of allowing himself to feel excited and optimistic about the future.

---------

It felt incredibly good to be able to wander about the castle without a bodyguard, but Ginny still accompanied Harry down to Snape's quarters.

They stood and stared at each other awkwardly, and Harry shifted from foot to foot. "I guess I'll see you at dinner," he said hesitatingly.

Ginny nodded. "You do look so handsome. I mean, not that you weren't before," she was quick to add.

She gently touched his face. "And now you can really see your eyes," She broke off shyly. This was all so strange, she thought. She kept having to remind herself that this was Harry, and not some random stranger. It was all so bizarre. She could tell herself logically that it was really Harry Potter inside, but when she stared into the eyes of a virtual stranger, it was hard to associate the two. What she told Harry was true though. He had the most lovely eyes, and she was so thankful for Harry's sake and her own, that at least his eye colour had not changed drastically; for Harry that he still had a link to his Mum, and for her that she still had some connection to the old Harry.

---------

"Severus?' Harry called out when he stepped through door, and Severus didn't greet him like he usually did. "Severus!" He called again, and worried his lip when his query went unanswered.

Hmm, maybe he was brewing in his lab, Harry suddenly thought. No, he wouldn't be brewing when it was almost time for dinner.

Harry knocked on Severus' bedroom door, but his knock remained unanswered. He was really starting to worry, when he noticed light spilling out from the bottom of the closed bathroom door.

Oops, Harry thought embarrassedly. He didn't hear the shower running, so he assumed that Severus must be attending to his, uh-- Harry felt his face warm up, --bodily functions.

Harry went to his room, and changed into some clean clothes. After he pulled his tee-shirt over his head, and his straight hair fell softly back into place, he stood for a few moments and stared at himself in his vanity mirror. He touched his ebony hair, and reveled at the silky, soft texture of it. It lay straight and smooth at the top, and curled slightly upward at the bottom. At first glance, it appeared that his hair was darker than before, but when he turned his head a certain way, the light capturing the auburn highlights, softened the look of the dark hair against his new lighter skin tone.

Harry couldn't help but wonder what he would have looked like as a child, had his Mum and James never put glamour on to hide his appearance. He'd seen pictures of himself when he was younger, but he had as before, been a miniature of James Potter. Harry felt a wave of gratitude wash over him for the man who he'd spent the first fifteen months of his life with.

Although Harry felt some remorse and loss for the person he thought that he was, he also realised that he was on the brink of a new beginning. He wished so much that he had known Severus was his father all along. He didn't regret the time that he'd had with James, though he couldn't remember it, but he wished after his Mum had died that he'd been sent to Severus. Of course he knew that Severus hadn't been mature enough, or free from Voldemort's influence, but Harry couldn't help but wonder had Severus known that a part of his Mum had lived on in himself, and a young child that needed him, if he wouldn't have stepped up to the plate and been the father he needed to be.

Harry took one last look at his new appearance, and steeled himself for what he knew would be the true test--Walking into the Great Hall, with hundreds of eyes pinned on him, being the object once again of whispers, stares and the object of gossip and false rumours. He was sure that his picture would be on the front page of the Daily Prophet tomorrow. He could only imagine what the headline would be:

HARRY POTTER'S SHOCKING NEW APPEARANCE

In a shocking twist, the saviour of the Wizarding World, Harry Potter, or should we say Harry Snape, has transformed into the spitting image of his new-found father, Hogwart's illustrious Potions Master Severus Snape. One must imagine that his other father, James Potter, must be rolling in his grave at the thought that his son looks so much like his arch nemesis.

Harry shook off his negative thoughts, and squared his shoulders. What was he a brave Gryffindor, or a mouse?

Stepping out into the hallway, he collided with Severus, and he steadied himself on his feet.

Harry looked up. "Severus, there you--"

Harry's jaw dropped.

"Se-Se-Severus." Harry's lips opened and closed like a fish, unable to form a coherent phrase.

Harry gawked up at his father. He couldn't believe it! Gone were the stringy, clumpy, greasy mounds of hair. Was this the same man who'd been touted the Greasy Git of the Dungeons? He even smelled like freshly washed hair!

Severus snapped his fingers in front of Harry's face.

Harry blinked, but couldn't stop staring.

Severus rolled his eyes.

"Yo-yo-your hair," he finally gasped.

"What about my hair?" Severus growled.

His look defied Harry to comment on the fact that he'd finally washed his oily hair.

Of course Harry ignored that look.

"You actually washed your hair!" Harry said in disbelief.

Severus pinned him with a ferocious glare. He knew that he was being unreasonable since his motive for washing his hair in the first place was for shock value, but he was beginning to regret that decision. He was only going to bring more attention to himself.

"You look nice," Harry insisted.

Severus only glared more.

"Yes well, stop gawking and get moving or we'll miss dinner," he said gruffly.

Harry couldn't wipe the stunned look from his face, and kept sneaking glances at Severus as they walked down the corridors towards the Great Hall.

Harry wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole. He felt as though he was a wild animal in the zoo; every head turned to gawk at them. Severus just glared back at them, but Harry could hear the whispers and curious stares, wondering who the new student was with Snape, and snide whispers that Snape had actually washed his hair.

Of course Snape had ears like a bat, and took great relish in handing out detentions to any student daring to voice their awe in the fact that Severus Snape was no longer the Greasy Git of the Dungeons; Hell had frozen over. Snape had washed his greasy locks!

If Harry thought that the attention that they'd attracted had been unbearable walking the halls of Hogwarts, then walking into the Great Hall, facing hundreds of gawking, curious students and staff alike, was downright excruciating.

Harry kept his head down, and made a beeline for the Gryffindor table.

By this time of course, rumours had spread through Gryffindor House of Harry's shocking new appearance. To Harry it seemed as though the House was divided. There were some like Seamus, who were torn between his hatred of Snape, and the unsettling fact that his dorm mate looked a little too much like the hated professor for comfort, and the fact that this was his mate Harry Potter, whom he had shared laughter and good times with since first year.

Despite the incredible awkwardness of the situation, Harry couldn't help but chuckle at the reaction of the general student body and staff. They looked like a bunch of gaping fish, sitting there with their mouths wide open, their heads whipping back and forth between the Head Table and Gryffindor Table, trying to decide which was more bizarre; Snape having washed his greasy hair, or the stranger who looked suspiciously like their most hated professor, sitting in the chair that was normally occupied by Harry Potter, chatting it up with Harry Potter's best buddies.

It didn't take long for most to put the pieces of the puzzle together and realise with shocking clarity that Harry Potter now resembled a miniature Snape. Harry's ears buzzed with the mixture of jeers, whispers and speculation about how this unexpected turn of events came about. For once, all the Houses were in agreement; they felt as though they'd stepped into another dimension.

Once the Slytherins had figured out that Harry Potter now looked the spitting image of their Head of House, Harry could feel their icy stares on him, and Harry knew that it would be only their fear of Snape's wrath that would keep his snakes from taking out their revenge on him. Snape's Slytherins had not been pleased when they discovered that Harry was Snape's son, but because Snape was not overly demonstrative towards Harry, and their interaction, up until this point, had been in private, they were able to pretend that Harry was still the annoying Gryffindor that they loved to hate. Now though, when the evidence of his parentage was impossible to deny, with the proof staring them in the face, the Slytherins would not take this news lightly.

If the students were paralysed with shock, the staff at the Head Table were, if possible, even more gobsmacked at, not only the extremely uncharacteristic behaviour of their colleague, but the astonishing revelation that the Saviour of the Wizarding world, famous former son of the late great James Potter, now resembled the short-tempered, irascible Potions Master. They had barely gotten over the shock that Harry Potter, was not really a Potter after all, but now there was no denying his paternity; it was as plain as the noses on their faces. As was the case with their students, the normally cool and professional professors of Hogwarts were unable to decide who to gawk at.

Minerva looked as though she had tied her bun too tight. Her cool composure cracked like broken china. She kept opening up her mouth to speak, but couldn't seem to spit out the words.

Severus' patience snapped. "For Merlin's sake, woman, stop gawking. Anyone would think that you'd never seen anyone bloody well wash their hair before."

He glared at her, hoping to deter her to put into words, what she was thinking; that since he was not bloody well anyone--and since he was the Greasy Git of the Dungeons, who never washed his hair, then it was perfectly within her rights to gawk, as he put it!

"So Severus," Minerva finally found her voice, "I assume that that's Harry over there?"

"You assume correctly Minerva.”.

She looked at him thoughtfully. "I had suspected that Lily might have put a glamour on Harry, but I had rather thought that it was a permanent glamour, as it had held for seventeen years, and showed no signs of wearing off."

Severus' brow wrinkled. "Yes, I had assumed as much as well."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "So, how did the glamour reverse itself so dramatically, and so suddenly."

Severus lowered his voice to a whisper, to include Horace, who was on his other side. "The White Magic Ritual had some rather unexpected results, and not just for Harry," he said ominously.

Horace's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean, and not just for Harry," he said a little too loudly, causing others to eye them curiously.

"Keep your voice down Horace," Severus snapped. "We should perhaps meet later and discuss the details, in private."

Horace looked apologetic. "Yes, yes of course Severus."

-----------

Harry finally gave up trying to enjoy his meal, and shoved his plate to the side. He had rather hoped that as the meal progressed, and their curiosity satiated, that everyone would find something else, or someone else to focus their attention on. But that expectation was unrealistic, he realised with frustration. If anything, the whispering, pointing and glaring only intensified.

What made Harry particularly nervous, was the hatred and resentment he could feel coming from the Slytherin table. Draco wasn't brave enough to look Harry in the eye, but when he thought that Harry wasn't looking, he wore such a sour expression, that it looked as though he had been sucking on a lemon.

Adams, who was still seething from resentment over the harsh punishment he'd received from his Head of House, had no problem looking at Harry in the eye, whatsoever, and the malice that glinted in his eyes, had Harry confident that the Slytherin had in no way forgotten their earlier confrontation.

There was not one Slytherin who looked happy with this new development, and Harry was sure that the Slytherins had considered him a threat the moment that they found out that he was their Head of House's son. The Slytherins were a close-knit bunch that had an odd idea of what constituted loyalty and honour. They had always selfishly held onto Severus as a sort of father-figure, and mentor, and when Harry came into the picture, they resented having to share their time and attention with their Head of House's real son. No matter how much Severus threatened them with bodily harm, Harry didn't trust any of them as far as he could throw them, and Harry was certain that they would just find a way to get to him, without Severus finding out. They were Slytherins after all; they were experts in subtlety, stealth and deviousness.

Ironically enough, the only one that Harry was not worried about was Draco, and the reason for that was twofold. While it was more than a possibility that Adams could convince Draco or any of the other Slytherins, through fear and threats of harm, to take revenge on Harry, Draco was more afraid of Severus. Harry had to admit grudgingly that the Slytherin had enormous respect for Severus, and while there was no love lost between him and Draco, Draco would not consciously hurt Severus, and would be very careful not to incur his wrath again, especially so soon after the last time.

"Harry, are you okay?" Ginny's soft fingers brushed against his arm, and he looked into her soft brown eyes that shone with concern.

He sighed. "Yeah, I guess, but I'm not really hungry anymore."

"Yeah, me neither," she admitted softly.

He saw that her plate remained virtually untouched as well.

Harry stood up. "I've gotta get some air. You want to get out of here?" He addressed Ron and Hermione as well. They looked like they hadn't made much headway into their dinner either.

They all nodded solemnly and tried to duck out the exit without drawing too much attention to themselves. Of course that was easier said than done.

All eyes followed their every move, until they slammed the heavy wood doors behind them.

Severus' concerned eyes also followed Harry as he exited out the door. He shoved the plate with his half-eaten meal to the side, dabbed at his mouth lightly with his napkin, and then threw it on the table.

He turned to Minerva, and then Horace. "I would like to speak with you both this evening in Albus' office at... let's say seven," he said quietly as he rose from his seat.

Both Minerva and Horace nodded, and exchanged a look as they studied Severus' departing figure.

---------

"Harry."

Harry turned around, startled by his father's deep voice summoning him.

Hermione, Ron and Ginny couldn't help but gawk at the man again. It just boggled the mind how squeaky clean Snape's hair was.

Severus caught them staring, and gave them an icy glare.

They pulled their gazes away reluctantly.

Severus turned his attention to his son. "How are you holding up, Harry?" he asked with concern.

Harry sighed. "I feel like I've stepped back in time. Will I ever be able to have a normal life?"

"I would imagine that this will all blow over, and in a few weeks they will find another target to focus their attentions on," he said sympathetically.

Harry's eyes widened in horror. "A few weeks?"

Severus raised an eyebrow at him. Teenagers! While he was somewhat sympathetic to Harry's plight, he rather thought that adolescents were outrageously melodramatic. He believed what he had said to Harry, that this whole affair would soon be a thing of the past, and they just had to ride it out.

Harry, of course, thought that enduring weeks more of being gawked, stared at and being the object of speculation and resentment, seemed like a lifetime. He was just so tired of it all.

Severus studied his son for a moment. "You know Harry, Christmas is only a few weeks away. Perhaps a little holiday away from it all would take our minds off of all our problems, and'" he couldn't believe he was going to say this, "perhaps your friends could come to visit as well."

Harry's spirits lifted for the first time in weeks. "Where would we go?"

Severus looked at Harry thoughtfully. "Well, we could go to Spinner's End, but its rather run-down at the moment, and would need some extensive repairs and a good clean up before it would be habitable."

"Well, we could always go on the weekends and work on fixing it up and cleaning it a bit," Harry suggested.

It was good to see the boy brighten up a bit, even if it was only for a short time. Yes, it was one of his more brilliant ideas, if Severus could say so himself. They both needed a little distance from all this chaos and while he was not inclined to celebrate such inane holidays such as Christmas, he would make an effort for Harry's sake.

"Yes, that would be suitable if you are agreeable. We could take a visit this weekend and assess the state of the premises."

"Great." Harry smiled up at his father. "I'll see you later. I'd just like to spend a little time with my friends."

Severus nodded. "Just so you remember to be back to our quarters by curfew. Unless of course you plan on spending the night in the Tower."

Harry shook his head. "No, I'll wait till tomorrow and move a couple of things back up there then."

Harry noticed that Severus' lips tightened slightly. That was the only sign that Harry could tell that the man wasn't as nonchalant as he pretended to be about Harry moving back up to Gryffindor.

"I mean, uh, I'll be only moving a few things because I'll still be staying some nights in our quarters." Harry noticed the slight relaxing of Severus' shoulders.

"I know that you're anxious to get rid of me and all, but c'mon Severus, what would you do without a cheeky teenager to keep you on your toes?" Harry teased lightly.

Harry could see the slight quirk of Severus' lips, but then the usual mask was up.

"Well then, unless the cheeky teenager wishes to avoid a lengthy and very monotonous detention, said teenager had better have his butt back here by curfew."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Gotcha."

"Oh and Harry," he added as his son started to walk away.

Harry looked at him expectantly.

Severus had been going to invite Harry to his meeting with Horace and Minerva, but thought better of it. Harry could use a night of simply relaxing and enjoying the company of his friends. Besides, he'd rather talk with him privately anyway. There were many things that they needed to discuss, including the unexpected consequences of the ritual.

Severus shook his head. "Nothing. Just be careful if you are walking back here alone later."

Severus had noticed the disturbing reactions of his Slytherins, and thought that perhaps a little chat was needed to instill a little fear in them to keep the little snakes in line. Merlin forbid if he ever caught anyone so much as laying a finger on his son, and that included his Slytherins.

Harry sighed. "Yeah," he said dejectedly. So much for being able to wander the halls unescorted. So much for finally being free; so much for finally being a normal teenager.

Severus hesitated. He stiffly put his hand on Harry's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "Have patience. It'll get better."

Harry gave him a small smile. "I hope so."

"It will," Severus said firmly.

Severus watched his son walk away, and couldn't help the increasingly familiar feelings of helplessness, once again take hold of him. Why didn't anyone ever warn him that fatherhood would be so damned complicated and hard on his nerves? What made it damned hard was the fact that he couldn't even help his son. He couldn't even protect him properly. It would all be so much easier if Harry could stay out of trouble for five minutes, but Harry was attracted to trouble like a moth to light.

------

"So, mate. About the party," Ron began excitedly.

Harry looked at him anxiously. "Ron, do you really think that anyone is going to want to come to a party in my honour?"

"Not that I approve of sneaking in alcohol for the party, but Ron's got a point Harry. You're still who you are, and nothing's going to change that," she said firmly.

"Well at least not with the Gryffindors that is," Ron added. "But who really cares about anyone else anyway."

Ginny nodded in agreement. "They're right Harry. I mean, it's all a little strange, but it doesn't change who you are inside. Anyone who doesn't accept that, wasn't never you're friend anyway, and not worth caring about."

Harry smiled. "Sorry guys,' he said sheepishly. "I'm sitting here feeling sorry for myself, and I'm forgetting how lucky I am to have friends like you guys."

"Don't forget it again," Ron said in mock sternness.

Harry chuckled. "I won't mate."

"So, Seamus-" he lowered his voice, "-hid the firewhiskey under our beds."

"Really?" Harry perked up. "I could really go for one now."

Ginny and Hermione looked shocked. "Harry," they said in unison.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Relax girls, Severus would have a fit if I went back to our quarters with alcohol on my breath."

"Well, if you only had one--" Ron began.

"Trust me, he'd know. That hawk nose of his is not just for show," Harry said laughingly.

"Speaking of Severus, it's almost time for curfew," Harry said suddenly."Aw damn, I'd better hurry."

Why did it always seem that he was rushing to get back to Severus' quarters before curfew! Well, at least when he was back in the Tower, he wouldn't have to worry about it all the time. Harry thought it was ironic that all of a sudden he was so concerned with respecting curfew, and Severus' feelings when he'd spent so many nights sneaking around under his invisibility cloak , relishing the fact that he was breaking the rules under Severus' large nose.

"Do you want me to walk down with you Harry?" Ginny asked quietly.

"I don't know if that is such a good idea Ginny. Those Slytherins were giving Harry some nasty looks. And then you'd have to walk back from the dark dungeons by yourself. Maybe we should all walk Harry down," Hermione suggested.

While Harry and Ginny exchanged disappointed glances, as they both had wanted some privacy to say goodnight to each other, they both saw the logic in Hermione's suggestion. At least till things calm down a bit, it was best that Harry wasn't alone in the corridors at night.

Harry walked back to Severus' quarters with his shoulders slumped. When was his life ever going to be his own?

Thankfully, Hermione and Ron stayed back and allowed the two some privacy to say goodnight.

-------

"Thomas," she said nervously. She grasped onto the front of his robes. "You have to be more careful. They're asking a lot of questions."

His face twisted in an ugly scowl. "I'll take care of them."

He fingered the polished wood of his wand and then pocketed it.

The colour slowly drained from her face. "'What are you going to do?"

"Suffice it to say, that they won't be asking anymore questions," he said coldly.

He waved his arm and the hinges creaked under the force, as the door slammed into the wall.

She saw the dark form, once again disappear into the dark.

She closed the door, with shaking hands, and secured the locks in place.

She sunk into the couch with relief, taking the weight off of her legs that didn't feel strong enough to support her anymore. She stared wistfully into the flickering flames, and allowed her thoughts to consume her.

She pressed her finger to her temple. What had she done? she asked herself for the millionth time, as her frail body wracked with her sobbing. He had been so handsome at one time. She'd fallen for his charms. But he wasn't who she thought he was, and now she had to live with the consequences of her actions. She had to live knowing what evil his seed had reaped.

And she was powerless to stop it.

A blood curdling scream wrenched the night air.

------------

Harry's eyes flew open, and with a feeling of dread, realised that he'd had yet another nightmare. Once again, he could feel beads of sweat drip down his face, and he whipped back the covers with his shaking hand.

He could feel his knees knock together as his legs wobbled under him.

This wasn't supposed to happen anymore. The dream had been provoked by the Dark Magic, that's what he was certain of, that's what Severus was convinced of, so why was he being tortured again by these cruel, all too real dreams?

Harry swallowed his panic, and grabbed the candle off his night table.

The walk down the darkened hall with only the flickering of a candle to guide him, seem to take forever. He hesitated; should he wake up Severus? It was still so hard to let himself depend on others, and Harry wasn't sure if he'd ever feel comfortable going to someone for any kind of help, let alone emotional support. He swallowed the lump in his throat.

He rested his hand on the door, and hesitated only a moment. Maybe leaning on someone else wasn't so horrible after all.

Maybe it was time to let Severus really be a father to him.