Harry sat in his room, rage flowing through him. The things Snape had said to him had to be lies. The Malfoys would never lie to him. Harry couldn't believe the lengths Snape would go to to ensure Harry knowing the truth. Harry's head throbbed from the prevention of tears which he was now letting flow freely; he held his head in his hands. But there was a small voice planting doubt in Harry.

Harry couldn't help but think 'What if he's not lying?' Harry lifted his puffy red eyes and looked once more at the emotionless rafters. There was more about his past he didn't know. This, perhaps, is what made the situation so horrible.

Would Dumbledore really have put me here if he hadn't thought it best? If the things Snape had said were true, why didn't Dumbledore told me? Snape is a prat so he would say things to upset someone, but usually never someone from his own house. There are things I don't know but surely not that much. When Dumbledore retrieved me from the Dursley's last year, I was too happy to question anything. It still makes no sense why Dumbledore had not told me himself. Then again, why did the Malfoys lie to me, especially Draco? Perhaps they didn't know? This is hell. I know nothing of myself and I have to listen to the different stories people tell me until I know the truth. What if that is the truth? I keep going back to that. Snape could be telling me what I've wanted to know for so long. Who am I?

Holding on to his last thought Harry wiped his eyes and decided to return to Severus and ask him all the things running through his mind.

Severus sat in the drawing room, with a glass of firewhiskey pressed to his forehead. His head had been pounding profusely since Lucius had left.

What had Lucius and Narcissa been thinking? Harry is now upstairs very upset because he either thinks that I'm lying to him or that his best friend's parents lied to him. Either way he feels betrayed and I am the cause. This is all James Potter's fault. If he hadn't 'saved' me, I wouldn't need to look after Harry. Then again, he's Lily's son too. Oh Lily, Why did you have to marry that tosser? You didn't have to marry me but why Potter? If I had known what would happen because of me I would have never done anything the way I have. Not only have I ruined my life, but I've done a bloody good job of destroying Harry's as well. The boy didn't even know how his parents died or even why. Once he's calmed a bit, I'll have another chat with him. I must get him to trust me because what is coming this year will try him. I need to prepare him. I don't know that it will happen but there is a chance that it's already been set in motion.

Severus was startled from his thoughts by Harry, who had just come from behind the bookcase.

"Sir, I wanted apologize for my actions," Harry said staring at the floor.

"There's no need to. You have been lied to for a whole year about your own life. It's only natural to be upset," Severus replied.

"Would you like to know everything? There is more I must tell you, the reason for this training and other things,"

Harry silently sat down in the seat across from his Potions Master.

"Your parents, as I told you, fought against the Dark Lord and his followers, Death Eaters. They were leaders in the crusade against him. The Dark Lord was very powerful and if one crossed him, it was only a matter of time before they were punished. In those days, desperation thrived while happiness waned. So many people were murdered and tortured. The Order of the Phoenix was the strongest resistance. Your parents were members. Voldemort went after any member he could. Once it was learned that your family was next on the list, Dumbledore convinced them to go into hiding. They listened. They used a complicated spell to keep them hidden from anyone who didn't know where they were. The only person that could tell where they lived was their secret-keeper. I'm sorry to say they put their trust in the wrong person. One of their friends, Sirius Black, told Voldemort of their whereabouts. He betrayed them because he had been taken in by his powers," Severus watched Harry take in this information

"Sir, why didn't Professor Dumbledore tell me this?" Harry asked slowly.

"I couldn't begin to tell you. I haven't the slightest idea why," Severus replied not looking away.

Harry furrowed his brow in thought and contemplation, "What does this all mean?"

"One night, after learning the location of your home, Voldemort went there intent on killing you," Severus said this slowly.

It took several minutes for Harry to realize what his professor had just told him. Kill me? This man that the Malfoys told me was my parents' master, tried to kill me? I don't understand. What does all this mean? What is Snape getting at telling me these things?

"Voldemort…he tried to…kill me?" Harry replied in slow disbelief.

"Yes, Harry, the Dark Lord thought that you would be his downfall and he had to do anything to prevent it," Severus's eyes once again locked with Harry's; he hoped this would help keep Harry calm.

"Why would the Malfoys lie to me?" Harry's voice was dripping with hurt.

"That I do not know the answer to. I can guess that they felt they shouldn't be the ones to tell you what I have just told you," Severus watched this boy. He's twelve and he's already experienced more pain than most of the others in his year. Now he has discovered that the family he thought to be like his own has lied to him.

Severus cleared his throat, "There is something else we need to discuss as well,"

Harry looked at him and he continued, "This year when you faced Professor Quirrel, you saw Voldemort, didn't you?"

Harry voice was slightly hoarse, "Yes, but he was sort of feeding off of Quirrel,"

"There is something else coming this year, Harry, and this is why the Headmaster has put you in my care. Why you have been forced into 'training'. This thing that is coming is only a precursor to the future horrors you will face. Voldemort will rise again, no matter how we try to stop it, he will come back. Harry, I understand if you're frightened but…" Severus was cut off.

"Voldemort killed my parents; he was nothing more than a murderer. You tell me he's coming back, I'm not scared," Harry's brow was furrowed in determination.

"Then you must understand that you cannot disobey me when we begin your real training. I cannot impress upon you the importance of your acquiescence. Along the way I will relay to you the things you need to know. The most important thing I must mention, you have to make it seem as though you are doing all of this alone. I cannot be connected to the foils in any way. Do you understand?" Severus finished.

They sat for several minutes while Harry processed the information. So that's what all this is about? I'm supposed to be helping Snape? This is what my parents would have wanted. I mean, I'll be helping everyone in the end, won't I?

"Sir, Why is it so important that no one knows that you helped me?" Harry asked.

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose; he should have known Harry would ask.

"Please, just trust me," he said quietly.

Harry silently nodded. I trust him; I'm just not sure why he won't tell me.

"I can't tell Draco?" Harry asked, hoping for a ray of light.

"I'm sorry Harry, you must tell no one, especially the Malfoys," Severus replied, his voice full of grief.

Harry's heart sank a little. Am I expected to keep this all to myself?

"I expect you don't want to hear this Harry, but saving the world has a price. Loneliness is quite possibly the most painful," Severus said this almost to himself. I know all too well what he's going through and yet here I sit keeping it all from him. It's a wonder that he doesn't hate me or that he even trusts me.

"I think I'm going to bed," Harry sighed, looking at the floor.

Severus remained in his chair, "One more thing, I need to make a trip to Diagon Alley soon; perhaps you could contact the Malfoys and find when they will make their next visit,"

Harry tried to hide a smile, "Yes sir,"

Once Severus was sure Harry was upstairs he went to the fireplace; he grabbed a handful of green tinted shimmery powder and threw it into the fire, sticking his head in it.

"Malfoy Manor!" Severus yelled.

Severus watched as several hearths flew by until finally the drawing room of the manor came into view. Severus saw Narcissa sitting with a book and Lucius with some papers.

"What were you two thinking?" Severus snarled in an angry whisper.

Rather than jumping in surprise, as one might expect, they both looked at Severus with mild recognition.

"Well, Severus, Draco doesn't even know the truth. We couldn't very well tell Harry the opposite of what we told Draco; it would've surely come up in conversation," Narcissa reasoned.

"So you fabricated some story of how the Potters were followers of the Dark Lord?" Severus spat.

"Severus, we renounced the old ways once Draco was born. The story we told the boys, was the one Dumbledore told us to tell them," Lucius said from his armchair.

"What!" Severus wasn't even trying to be quiet now.

"It's true he said that once you told Harry the truth, it would be easier for the two of you to get along," Narcissa replied, "I have to the man credit for being creative,"

Severus was silent with rage for a moment, "He obviously has no idea what impact hearing the truth had on the boy,"

"I believe he did, in fact, I'm sure he counted on it," Lucius smirked.

Without a word Severus pulled his head from the green flames and was back in his own home.

How could that old codger do such a thing? The man constantly claims to care about Harry but he has been the cause of most of the boy's suffering.

Severus walked to the desk on the other side of the room and began rubbing his eyes. This was not turning out to be what he had signed up for. He pulled out a piece of parchment, a raven feather quill, and an ink well; he would write to the headmaster rather than meet with. Severus feared that if he met with the professor about this subject, he would say things he would regret.

Headmaster,

Harry and I spoke tonight. He became enraged when I began to tell him the truth about the night Lily and James died. I know you told the Malfoys that cock and bull story to tell Harry. I haven't come to see you to avoid a nasty altercation. This is Lily Evans' son. He has suffered more in half a lifetime than most do in their whole existence. I have no understanding of why you have done this, so please enlighten me. Harry and I will be making a trip to Diagon Alley soon, if you wish to clear things, I will be at the Leaky Cauldron for the day. I will not disclose the day because you have our ways,

Always at Your Service,

Severus Snape

Once he had read it over several times, Severus called his raven, Edgar, and tied the parchment to her leg. He watched the elegant bird fly out the window and out of sight. The world blew up!