It was almost seven ‘o' clock and getting dark when Harry landed on the ground with a thud. Severus somehow had landed far more gracefully and didn't bother casting Harry a second glance as he turned and began walking away from the boy on the ground. Harry grumbled something unflattering under his breath but quickly got up, lugging his huge trunk behind him in an attempt to catch up with the potions master.

Harry continued to follow Severus through a small town feeling rather anxious about the upcoming meeting. Though it was dark Harry could make out several small shops lining both sides of an old road that was in desperate need of being repaved. Despite the condition of the road the buildings surrounding it, though old, were in good condition. Several cars were parked along the sidewalk, but only one other person walked down the street opposite the unlikely brothers.

Once they reached what appeared to be the edge of the town, Severus led him to a small, almost unnoticeable dirt road that led over a hill; the trip up the hill was no picnic for Harry as his trunk was large and weighed almost as much as him. By the time they reached the top, Harry was out of breath and could see a house visible from the town yet it was only about a ten minute walk from the center of the small fishing village. Harry assumed the trip down the hill would be easier than the walk up, but his trunk kept trying to outrun him, causing him to trip several times. He became so preoccupied with controlling his trunk, he didn't notice the potions master had stopped walking until he ran into him.

"Watch where you're going," snapped Severus before taking the trunk out of Harry's hands and preceding the rest of the way down the hill towards the house. Shocked - and wishing the man had done that before - Harry could only stand staring after his newly discovered brother before coming to his senses and hurrying to catch up.

Once at the house, Harry noticed quite a large amount of noise coming from inside. Severus muttered something under his breath that Harry was sure would earn him a week of detention if he said it himself. Severus knocked, but as though not expecting to be heard over the shouts coming from inside, before immediately reaching up above the doorframe and removing a key which he used to unlock the door.

Stepping inside, Harry's nose crinkled as it was immediately assaulted by a number of smells ranging from tobacco to alcohol. The smoke in the room was so thick Harry could almost see it. Severus dropped Harry's trunk beside the door and walked through the dining room and kitchen then through an archway that led to the living room. Once in the living room Harry could see the smoke in the room as well as the half-dozen or so men smoking gathered around a telly watching a football match.

Severus was looking thoughtfully around the room when a man came through a side hallway stepping out of a bathroom. Severus didn't notice him until he placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Severus," the man said with a smile as he pulled his son into a hug that Severus stiffly returned, as though he were not used to such a gesture. "What are you doing here? And who's this?" asked Tobias gesturing towards Harry.

"It's a long story," Severus practically had to shout to be heard.

Taking the hint, Tobias moved away from his son and made his way to the telly, which he unplugged. The action elicited shouts of protest from those present. "All right, all right, I know everyone wants to see the game, so I suggest you hurry home so you don't miss any."

Gradually, everyone started getting up and Tobias said bye to each of them in turn as they made their way out the door. Once everyone was out, Tobias started picking up the beer bottles and other garbage. "So to what do I owe to this unexpected yet welcome visit?" asked Tobias making his way to the kitchen. "Oh, and please feel free help," remarked Tobias gesturing to the empty bottles he was holding.

Rolling his eyes Severus opened the windows before grabbing some of the garbage, indicating Harry should do the same and followed his father into the kitchen.

Not knowing what else to do Harry cautiously picked up the bottles and a few discarded paper plates before proceeding into the kichen after his professor. If it were not for the fact that he had just found out he had a brother, and was now in his father's house he might have objected to having to clean up someone else's mess. After all he wasn't at the Dursley's anymore. However, the shock and frustration at the situation had yet to wear off leaving Harry to simply pick up the trash and head to the kitchen after his professor.

"Well?" asked Tobias as soon as Severus and Harry were in the kitchen.

"Pott...Harry meet Tobias Snape. Dad, meet Harry Potter. Your son."

Tobias stopped and dropped everything he was carrying, the glass bottles shattering as they hit the tiled kitchen floor. Tobias spun around coming face to face with Severus. "What?"

"I believe you heard correctly," stated Severus no emotion on his face.

Tobias glanced at Harry then back at Severus before taking a deep breath and addressing his... son. "Harry, why don't you go watch TV. in the living room for a few minutes."

Harry felt anger bubble up inside of him, but at the same time tears of frustration welled in his eyes for the second time in one night. Here he was in a strange house with a professor who despised him and said professor's father who didn't seem thrilled to have him in his home. With the feelings of anger growing stronger Harry began shouting. "No! I'm tired of being sent to another room whenever something that involves me is being discussed. I will not..."

Whatever Harry was going to say was cut off as Tobias, with a glare fiercer than his son's, reached out and grabbed Harry's left ear.

Harry gasped and tried to wiggle away but found it only made things worse.

"I don't care as to whether or not you're my son," Tobias spoke in a harsh whisper, "but as long as you are under my roof you will follow my rules and never ever raise your voice to me, boy. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes...yes sir."

"Good," said Tobias releasing Harry's ear. His glare disappeared and his original disposition returned before he continued. "Now, go into the living room and watch TV."

"Yes, sir," said Harry.

Severus knew the boy wanted to rub his stinging ear, but refused to do so in the presence of others. Harry set the stuff he was carrying down on the counter, harder than was necessary, before leaving the kitchen.

Tobias watched the boy go, strongly reminded of another boy who frequently tested his limits and seemingly went out of his way to annoy him. Once Harry was out of sight, Tobias turned towards Severus. "Well?"

Severus merely reached inside his robe and pulled out the letter Lily had sent and handed it to his father.

After Tobias read the letter, he handed it back to his son. "My name isn't mentioned anywhere in that letter, and I hope your not naïve enough to think I was your mother's only...partner, especially since we haven't seen each other in years."

"We did a relationship test between me and the boy. He is without a doubt my full brother - meaning we share the same mother and father. So unless there's something you'd like to tell me..." Severus paused looking at his father with a raised eyebrow before continue in a rather bitter tone, almost spitting the last of the sentence out. "He's your son. But if you still don't believe me, we can do another relationship test between you and him."

"It's not that I don't believe you, Severus, but for something this big I would like to see it for myself." Tobias spoke quietly but with a hard edge to his voice.

Severus nodded and after helping his dad clean up the glass on the floor, they went back into the living room where Harry was sulking on the couch angrily flipping through channels.

"Po...Harry," said Severus, "we need to do another relationship test to prove conclusively that you are his son."

"Doesn't matter what I say about it; you'll just do it anyway." Harry spat out angrily, finding a suitable channel on the telly he threw the remote down on the couch and barely caught himself before crossing his arms over his chest and pouting.

Severus's eyes narrowed and he was about to comment when his father did it for him.

"You're pushing it, boy. I know you don't want to be here and that you were probably perfectly happy with whoever you thought your parents were, but that does not excuse your attitude. Now, I suggest you straighten up your attitude or you won't like the consequences."

"Yes, sir," mumbled Harry who then pulled out a hair and handed it to the potions master. Severus took it as he searched for the other vial of the relationship potion in his robe.

"Do you always carry a spare?" asked Tobias clearly amused.

Severus glared.

"I always thought you'd grow out of that O.C.D. thing."

Severus began adding the hairs to the potion, glaring at Harry when he chuckled at his father's comment.

Once the test was complete, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that Tobias was indeed Harry's father, the three occupants of the house remained quite. Even for Harry and Severus, this test seemed to write in stone that they were, without a doubt, brothers.

"Well," Tobias broke the deafening silence, "have either of you had dinner yet?"

"No," Severus and Harry answered in unison, though both seemed distracted.

"Well, let's clean this mess up and I'll make something to eat."

Severus nodded and began picking up more garbage, as did Tobias. Harry was the last to join in not understanding why he had to clean when he didn't make any of the mess, but knowing better than to argue.

After cleaning up and eating a light dinner which consisted of soup and sandwiches, Harry, who was still sulking slightly, was led to his room. The house was about average in size. It had only one floor, three bedrooms and two baths. Apparently, he and Severus had entered through the back door because opposite of the side hallway in the living room was a door leading to a small porch. The hallway had five doors: three which lead to bedrooms, one that held a bathroom, and the last was a small linen closet. Harry's room was next to the professor's. After Severus showed him to his room, he told him to get ready for bed and that lights-out would be at ten, no arguments.

Not that Harry would have gotten much of a chance to argue, considering that as soon as the words had left the professor's mouth the door had slammed shut and he was left glaring at a closed door. After doing this for a couple of moments, Harry decided that it had, in fact, been a long day. He was rather tired right now, anyway, so he would go ahead and get in bed, deciding to discuss his bedtime tomorrow.

......................

Severus didn't want to deal with anything else tonight. Not only had he been in a long drawn out fight with three Death Eaters that led to his house burning down, but then he discovered he had a brother. And not just a half brother, either, which meant his father had lied when he said he hadn't seen his mother since she walked out on them when he was nine. He supposed his father had his reasons - after all, Severus would have been about twenty at the time and working on not only his potions mastery but his muggle degree in psychology as well. Severus sighed, determined not to think about it any more till tomorrow. He still smelt like smoke and a cleaning charm never made him feel overly clean. Grabbing a pair of sweatpants, he went to the bathroom for a quick shower before he went to bed.

........................

Tobias was pacing his room when he heard the shower turn on down the hall, and figured Severus was in the shower. He honestly didn't know what to do. Raising one boy twenty years ago had been hard enough and it was arguable as to whether or not he had succeeded then. If he were truly honest with himself, he didn't particularly want to go through it again. But the boy obviously needed someone, and Tobias was his father. Sighing, Tobias decided he needed some time to think as well as a good night's rest. It was almost ten ‘o' clock and the boy had been told to be in bed by ten so he might as well go check up on him before turning in himself.

Walking down the hall Tobias could still hear the water running in the bathroom as he made his way to Harry's room. Knocking and waiting for an invitation in first, Tobias entered the room to see that the boy had in fact followed at least one direction without complaint since he walked through the door. Harry was in his nightclothes ready for bed.

"I just came to see if you needed anything and to say goodnight."

Harry shrugged, "I don't think I need anything."

Tobias nodded and walked up to Harry's bed pulling the covers back. "Then what are you waiting for? Get in," Tobias said gesturing to the bed.

Harry looked uncertain for a moment, but slowly walked over and crawled into the inviting bed.

With well-practiced movements, Tobias tucked Harry in, ignoring the surprised look on the boy's face. "I trust you will remain in bed until tomorrow. No late night escapades. You know where the bathroom is if you need it." Walking back to the door Tobias turned off the late, "Goodnight Harry, pleasant dreams." And with that, Tobias gently closed the door and, no longer hearing the shower running, decided to stop in and say goodnight to his older son, not realizing that his simple action of tucking Harry in had shocked the young boy beyond belief.

Entering Severus's room, Tobias realized that his son was still in the bathroom and hadn't made it back to his room yet. Taking a seat in a chair he decided to wait for him.

Severus got out of the shower, dried off and brushed his hair before putting on his sweatpants, leaving his dirty cloths in the hamper. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror without a shirt he looked down at his left arm and rubbed a hand over it in disbelief. Since Voldemort had found out he had betrayed him the Dark Lord had removed the Dark Mark from his arm because he was not "worthy" of wearing it. It had been painful, possibly the worst thing he had experienced, but being able to look at his arm without shame was worth any amount of pain. Once finished admiring his now-bare forearm, he walked back to his room, not really surprised to see his father there waiting for him.

"I didn't think you wanted to talk about Harry until tomorrow," commented Severus as he, not bothering with a shirt, sat down on his bed.

"Who said that's why I was here? After all, it's been . . . how long since you came to visit, boy?"

Severus merely raised an eyebrow. "Yes, well...I suppose I should go make sure he is in bed, seeing as it's after ten." Severus began to get up, but was stopped by his father.

"No need, I just came from his room; he's in bed, tucked in, and hopefully will soon be asleep."

The two remained silent for a moment, before Severus asked the question that had truly been bothering him in a small quiet voice that his students wouldn't have recognized. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"In case you hadn't noticed I just found out about his existence myself."

"I meant, why didn't you tell me you had been seeing my mother after she left?" Severus looked pleadingly into his father's eyes. He needed an answer.

Tobias sighed leaning his head back against the chair, staring at the ceiling while he replied. "You were away at college when she just showed up one day, still as spontaneous, reckless, and...irresponsible as ever. Not long after her arrival, the boy sleeping next door was conceived and...then she was gone again."

"Do you know where she is now?"

"No, that really was the last I've seen or heard of her." The sadness in Tobias's tone would have broken anyone's heart.

Severus nodded seemingly satisfied with this answer.

Tobias got up out of the chair and walked the short distance to his son. Placing his hand on his son's shoulder covering up the small Celtic symbol tattooed on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're here, Severus. I'm sorry you lost your home, but I'm glad you're here. I've missed you." With that Tobias removed the hand he had placed on his son's shoulder and went back to his room.