Being a Father is Like Farming, There are Always Things to Do.

Severus Snape stared at the scene in front of him and was mentally groaning as he realized that somehow, Albus Dumbledore was going to make this his fault when it was the old interfering goat's.

"Get out, get out and take that freak with you." Lily's sister screamed as she looked at her husband on the gurney being wheeled out of her home by four fairly strong medics who were trying to figure out how to heft the man on it into an ambulance while wondering if they should contact the police who to their surprise was arriving in a squad car just as they exited the home.

Looking at Potter who was standing next to him, staring at his aunt, then at the oversized boy Snape was sure was her son, the Potion's Professor sneered. "Petunia, if you would just settle down..."

"This is all his fault. He did this." The horse-faced woman charged her nephew only for Snape to stop her by discreetly showing her his wand.

"While Potter is many things, he didn't cause your husband's heart attack." Snape snapped. "Petunia, go to the hospital. Visit with your husband. Take your boy with you. We will talk when you get back. We will talk when you are less excitable."

"I won't leave that freak and you alone in my house." She shrieked. Severus saw the local constabulary arriving and was hoping they wouldn't need the obliviators, that was the last thing the large mess needed.

Severus had never liked Petunia Dursley nee Evans, and her treatment of her of Harry horrific but he didn't want a public scene so he silently used a charm to knock her unconscious then called out to the medics coming back up the sidewalk to gather their equipment. "You have another patient. She fainted."

The medic hesitated then came back in with a gurney from the second rescue vehicle and when they had removed Petunia, Snape quickly told them to wait to talk to Petunia about her husband.

When the auror, no, police officer seemed to be unsure of what to do, Severus said: "Her son will be fine here with us."

"I am here to speak to Mr. Dudley Dursley sir. However, his parents need to be present so I will just wait outside until my supervisor arrives."

Turning to the Dursley boy/whale; no he was more like a fully grown hippo after the ambulance had left and the officer had exited the home, Snape noticed he didn't even seem worried about his father, so he ordered him to his room. "Boy, I am not in the mood for your nonsense. Go to your room while I speak to Potter and don't come out until I permit you."

"Who do you...?" The hippo sneered only to whimper when he looked at the dark man standing in front of him.

Snape quickly silenced the hippo, then using magic backed him up towards the staircase. "Go, before I stop being nice."

Once that was done, Snape saw Mrs. Figg entering so he turned to Potter and said: "Where are your things?"

"My uncle locked them in the cupboard under the staircase when I got home," Potter replied still stunned to see his least favorite professor on Privet Drive. "Sir, why are you here?"

"I will tell you once we get away from here." He answered. Unlocking the cupboard, recalling it from his rather unfortunate trip into Potter's mind, he looked at the boy standing in the middle of the parlor and said: "Up on the first floor, show me this room they moved you to."

Harry wanted to refuse, everything in him said to keep Snape away but somehow he knew that this was his chance for freedom from the Dursleys.

Silently walking up the stairs, he showed him his room and sat down on the chair next to the desk in the room.

Snape looked around, his anger growing as he mentally killed both Petunia and her fat slob of a husband in the most painful way possible. "Stay here and pack up anything you want to take with you. No, scratch that. Pack up every single thing you own in this room."

"Sir?"

"Just do it," Snape ordered in a clipped tone before moving to the hippo's room. Opening the door, looking around, seeing the Dursley boy eating cake and playing some sort of game on a television screen, he asked: "Where do you go to school?"

"None of your business, you freak." The overweight hippo snapped.

Not bothering with being polite, Snape quietly performed Legimacy and took a look in the simple-minded brain of the idiot in front of him. Getting his answers and more, Snape sneered and said: "The last thing you should be doing is eating more of that crap."

With that, he transfigured the cake into Peruvian cockroaches and smirked before locking the door with the boy inside. Striding purposefully towards the master bedroom, Snape used magic to locate the safe he had seen in the boy's mind.

A simple alohamora and he had the files and proof of what the Dursleys had been doing with the money they were getting to support Potter. Looking around, then moving towards the ground floor, he quietly did a reveal spell and soon found the box that Petunia had not been able to destroy.

Removing it from the closet and relocking it, he went back upstairs to see that Potter had obeyed his request. "Sir, what about the food that Mrs. Weasley sent me?"

With a cold smile, Severus packed it up and looking at Harry's owl asked: "Does he know where to find Black?"

When Potter looked desperate to avoid answering, he said: "Send it to Black, tell the idiot that he was cleared this afternoon in the Wizengamot."

"What? Really?" Harry asked in shock.

Snape handed him the special edition of the Daily Prophet and watched as he stood there frozen while he read the headline and then the smaller article regarding Sirius Black.

"How?" Potter asked stunned as he sank onto his bed.

"I will fill you in when we get out of here, along with everything else. Tell Black to find Lupin and meet us at Spinner's End." He replied.

"What's Spinner's End?" Harry asked.

"Where you will be finding out what is going on," Severus replied looking in shock at the boy in front of him. Albus Dumbledore had a lot to answer for, and Severus knew that Black and Lupin would be as furious as he was at what he had found out. He was sure that neither of them had an idea what Lily and their friend had been up to.

Harry took one last look around after sending the food to Sirius along with the note and the Daily Prophet before telling him. "I think that is everything, sir."

"Where is your wand?" Snape asked then groaned as he realized he would have to begin to start calling him Harry.

"On my arm." He showed him the wand sheath. "Hermione got me this for Christmas."

Nodding in silent approval, Snape said "Mrs. Figg is going to stay with your cousin. I was told you weren't aware that she was part of our world but she is a squib."

"Really?" Harry asked shocked as they walked down to the main floor and he looked around at the house for the last time.

"Severus, I heard what is going on." Arabella Figg said quietly. "How are you doing?"

Looking at the woman who had known his mother, Severus replied. "I will be fine once we explain to Potter. If Albus shows up..."

"After I am finished putting a flea in his ear about this situation, I will send him on his way back to Hogwarts." She said grimly.

"Will you be okay with the boy?" He asked looking at the upper floor.

"I will be fine. Turns out that Dursley's blood pressure went up because there is an investigation into the boy. He tried to blame young Harry but since Dursley couldn't intimidate young Harry into confessing to a lie and the surveillance camera clearly shows the Dursley boy, old Vern lost it."

"Is Dudley being arrested?" Harry asked the woman while wincing at she told his potion's professor what had been happening on Privet Drive so far that week.

"He's in trouble for the break-in at the apothecary, yes." She said.

Before leaving the house, Severus said a quiet finite on the hex he had leveled at the boy staring at them out the first-floor window and then walked to the waiting car.

"Sir, you can drive?" Harry asked in shock as he stared at the nice luxury sedan parked on the street.

"Yes, now get into the car so we don't draw the nice policeman's attention, Harry." He quietly hissed.

Harry went to sit in the back-seat but rolling his eyes, Severus leaned down and said: "I am not your chauffeur, get in the front passenger seat, Potter."

Walking around the boot of the sedan, Harry opened the door and got inside the vehicle then stared in astonishment as his professor turned the key and started the car.

Twenty minutes later when they came to the A1, Harry inwardly cringed at the idea of a wizard-driven car going that fast but they soon arrived at what he was sure was Spinner's End.

Following Snape inside, Harry looked around the dusty house and asked: "Is this where I will be staying?"

"No, this is a way station of sorts," Snape said then used his wand to remove the dust covers. "It depends on how soon Black and Lupin arrive."

"Oh." He said then looked at Professor Snape and realized to his shock that the man was wearing muggle clothing. A pair of dark dress pants and a dark gray dress shirt, his hair tucked back in a small rubber band.

"Po-Harry stop staring. It's rather rude young man." Snape said from where he was seated on the divan. Looking at the boy, he said "What were you doing before the fully grown hippo had a heart attack? You look like a poorly fed street urchin."

Looking down at the sweat pants that were way too many sizes too big for him and the T-shirt that was hanging to his knees and said: "I was to paint the garage today."

Taking in Potter's outfit, the trainers that looked even worse than the gray-colored clothes and Snape shook his head and muttered an oath. "Stay here."

Heading upstairs, hoping to find something, anything he might have left from his childhood, Snape eventually found an old muggle band T-shirt that ironically Lily had given him and a pair of his old jeans. Digging some more, bemused to find a pair of sandals he had never worn still in a shoebox, he went back downstairs.

Tossing the clothes into the washer and carrying the shoebox to the parlor, he said: "When was the last time those idiots fed you?"

Seeing Potter beginning to scramble for an excuse, Snape rolled his eyes and said: "Follow me."

In the kitchen, he did some digging and found some pasta and sauce then the appropriate spices before checking the rest of the kitchen out. "Have a seat, Potter."

The meal was almost cooked when Severus heard the washer and told Potter to drain the noodles. Tossing the clothes into the dryer and returning to the kitchen to find the boy mixing the noodles with the sauce, he said: "Why can't you ever show this kind of initiative in potions?"

Not sure what to say, Harry was mentally preparing a response when an owl flew in and landed on the table in front of them. Holding out his leg to Harry, the owl was offered a treat by Snape then flew back out the window.

Harry read the letter and said "It's from the Goblins. They are requesting a visit with me this week."

"I know. I already received the same request." Snape said. Harry looked at his professor wondering what was going on, but the smells coming from the pan had his stomach growling and he was beginning to feel like Ron.

Dishing up the food, Snape said: "There is butterbeer or muggle soda pop."

"Soda is fine." Harry replied then once seated across from his professor with food and drink in front of him, asked: "Sir, what did the Prophet mean that the Headmaster was in trouble and is that why I was removed from the Dursleys?"

"They aren't directly related, but yes there is a connection. We should wait for Black and Lupin, Harry." Severus didn't think that Harry quite understood that while being in trouble with the Goblins was bad, it wasn't an issue for the wizard government.

Harry couldn't help noticing that Snape went from calling him Potter to using his first name, something that the man had never done before. Suddenly recalling the polyjuice potion, he cautiously asked. "Sir, what was it you said to me when Ron and I arrived at school second year?"

The man's head slowly rose and his eyes widened then Snape smirked at him and said "Potter, I assure you, I am me. Now, to make you relax, I told you that you were seen when you pulled your rather harebrained stunt with the flying car. I still can't believe you two idiots forgot you had an owl with you."

Flushing at the heated glare, Harry heard Snape muttering something about how Harry was going to drive him insane within a month if he wasn't reined in. When the man muttered something about how just because the boy needed love didn't mean he didn't also need discipline, Harry just wondered if the feared insanity hadn't already taken over Snape.

Finished with their meal, they had no sooner sat down then Harry's owl arrived. Reading the note, Harry breathed a sigh of relief and said "Sirius said that he is with Remus and they will arrive in an hour. He also thanked me for the food."

Snape, upon hearing the dryer stopping as they left the kitchen, went and retrieved the clothes, stopping to pick up the shoebox, he walked over and dropped the items on the sofa next to Harry.

"Here, go upstairs, shower and change before they get back." He ordered.

Harry looked at the clothes and other than the length of the jeans was happy to see that they should fit him. "Sir, where did these clothes come from?"

"The store Potter, it's this large building with windows and people inside who sell you things that sometimes muggles don't need. Now, stop asking questions and go shower and change. One more thing Potter..." He replied sarcastically trying to avoid explaining that they had once been his.

Harry looked up only to be smirked at yet again. "Try for once to do something with that hair."

Showering and changing into the clothes, curious as to where they had come from and how Snape would have anything so muggle and reminded of the car, Harry slipped into the sandals and felt fairly normal for once in his life as he came down the stairs to where his Potions Professor was reading a book.

Snape looked up, shaking his head as he noticed things he had missed before, or maybe just things he hadn't wanted to see and said: "Let me shorten those."

A fast tailoring charm later and the jeans were the right length.

Harry heard Snape's question and was not wanting to answer it but decided in the name of the peace that had been in existence so far answered. "A little over 90 pounds sir and about five foot four."

"Remind me to brew you some nutrient potions," Snape said shaking his head to hide his anger and dismay at what Albus's lie had done. If only the older man had thought to speak to Severus, none of this would have been necessary.

Severus looked over to see that Harry was now reading a battered book and was a bit surprised to realize he knew the title. "What are you reading?"

"It's a muggle book." He reluctantly stated. "Hermione sent it to me."

"The cover looks familiar," Severus replied.

Setting the book down, Harry said "It's a muggle adventure story called the Hobbit. She sent me the whole series to read this summer."

"How did you keep it away from your relatives?" He asked.

Harry admitted "I didn't. I grabbed it from my trunk when you went upstairs, sir."

The sound of an owl flying into the room had Harry smiling widely as an owl landed in front of Professor Snape and held out her leg then the owl flew back out the window.

Reading the note, Severus handed it to the boy who after reading what Sirius wrote looked at the man sitting on the chair across from him. "Sir, what is going on? Why don't they want you to tell me until they get here?"

"They feel you might need their support when you hear the news." He replied knowing that the last two maunders were reeling as much as he at the revelations that had come out due to the Goblins. "As for what is going on, well let's just say that the Headmaster meddled in something he shouldn't have. Something your mother did to protect you. It's why I removed you from your aunt's residence against the Headmaster's wishes today."

"Oh," Harry said then went silent as he looked at his watch. "Do you suppose that they meant five tonight or in the morning? I don't know exactly where Sirius is."

"With the speed, your owl got to him earlier, he is nearby. I guess that he was already on his way home when he received our note and the food." Severus was quite certain of that fact because his owl the day before had returned within a few hours of his sending it. That the owl who had just entered was a Hogwart's owl had him convinced that Lupin and Black were talking to Minerva like he had suggested.

"Sir is it possible for you to at least tell me why Mr. Malfoy did what he did and what he meant by he had an honor debt to Sirius that required him to turn in Wormtail?"

"Wormtail?" Snape asked then it hit him whom Harry was talking about. "You mean, Pettigrew?"

"Yes, Pettigrew. Why did Draco's dad hand him over to the ministry?" Harry asked looking confused as to why the dark wizard had done so.

"I am guessing there is an honor debt between the two of them," Severus replied trying to find a way to word it without exposing what Lupin, Black and he had to tell the boy.

Harry frowned when it became clear that he still didn't understand. Severus looked at the young boy and said "The other part of that is rather simple. Harry, do you understand that the Dark Lord isn't exactly the sort to share power?"

"Yes, he's a dictator," Harry replied.

"Do you think that after almost twelve years of freedom, of doing what and when he wants, that Lucius Malfoy who joined up when he was underage would want to go back to serving someone else?" Severus asked.

Harry thought about it, then asked: "So what you are saying is that Pettigrew was betrayed by someone he thought was a friend?"

"Ally would be a better description," Severus replied only to see Harry suddenly grin. "What is it?"

"I am just happy that someone treated Wormtail like he did my parents. So, what happens now?" Harry asked wondering what his potion's master knew.

"He will be given the veil. It's a rare punishment, most are sent to Azkaban, but due to what they now know about animagus and Dementors, they had little choice if they wanted to punish him for his crimes."

"What is the veil?" Harry asked.

"It's a room in the Department of Mysteries; behind the veil is a void, it's death." He explained wondering where all this curiosity was when in class.

"So he is going to die?" Harry asked wearing a frown. "Doesn't that make us like Voldemort? If we kill him?"

Severus who was rather relieved that Lily's killer was going to die, didn't know how to answer that. "Yes, but Harry, if he is free, he will try to revive the dark lord. I also don't consider it the same thing. He had a trial, he confessed and was found guilty. He was given three options."

"What options?" Harry asked looking at Severus.

"The magical world has three options for condemned criminals, fed to the Dragons in Gringotts, kissed or the veil. He chose the veil." Severus replied.

When the boy's eye widened in surprise, he was about to forestall more questions when he heard "There are dragons at Gringotts?"

"Yes, guarding the high-security vaults," Severus replied inwardly worried that Harry's eyes had lit up at the idea of dragons. Seeing the boy's excitement he shook his head in annoyance and said: "Trust me, you don't want to be visiting them, Harry."

Harry wanted to ask his potion's professor why the man seemed to have suddenly begun to call him by his first name, but this day had been the longest time they had ever been around each other without a war of words or anger so he stayed silent.

He was feeling guilty about being happy that Wormtail was going to die that day but at the same time, he was glad his parent's betrayer was going to pay for what he did.

Looking at his book and then at the man holding a potion's book, he offered "Sir, would you like to read one of the other books I have?"

"No, this is fine." The dark-haired man replied then went back to his Potion's reference guide.

Harry was almost to the end of his book when the floo lit up with blue flames instead of the usual gree. "Sir, there are blue flames in the fireplace."

Severus knelt and whispered the passcode and passed his unmarked arm through the fireplace to remove his safety precautions and stepped back to let Remus Lupin and Sirius Black through.

Both men quickly looked around then tightly hugged Harry before Sirius said: "Albus will be here soon."

"Potter grab your book. We have to go." Harry didn't understand why Moony and Padfoot grabbed his trunk and his Potion's professor grabbed his arm, but before he could ask any questions, the man in question pulled an old picture down from the mantle and said: "Grab on, Harry."

Harry felt sick when he finally landed onto the grass after what felt like hours. Kneeling and gasping for breath, he heard the trio speaking in hushed tones but at the moment he had more important things to worry about as he tried to keep his lunch inside his stomach.

"Cub, are you okay?" He heard and now that he was able to breathe, Harry looked up and nodded. Sirius smirked and asked "First time by portkey?

Nodding and standing yet again, Harry looked at the three of them and said "I am never traveling that way again. I almost prefer floo powder."

He heard quiet chuckling as Snape led the way to the large gated house. "Sir, where are we?"

"Prince Hunting Lodge," Snape replied as he used his wand to open the gate. "Fair warning, I have no idea the condition we will find the lodge. I didn't have a chance to scout the location after my visit to the Goblins."

"Will Albus be able to get here?" Remus asked and Harry was once again curious as to why all three men seemed angry at the Headmaster.

"No, only those I invite," Severus replied as they walked up the stone-paved driveway to a large house built with river stones.

At the door, Harry watched Snape pull out a large old fashioned skeleton key and stepped back to let the huge double doors open. Inside, they looked around the foyer to find that there was a central staircase that went up to the first floor and a door on each wall.

Snape strode over and opened the door to the left. "Library. Looks to be in good shape."

The door to the right lead to a hallway that led to a parlor. Walking back, he said, "Kitchen and staff quarters must be to the back."

Harry looked around, catching Remus looking at him with a weak smile on his face and that Sirius seemed shell-shocked while Snape seemed in charge and almost pleasant to the other two men.

Sitting down on his trunk, the confusion of his day and the unanswered questions sending him almost over the edge, he said "Good, now that we are safe will one of you please tell me what is going on?"

Snape knew that he had been avoiding this discussion, some part of him scared to tell this boy the truth, another part was feeling conflicted at knowing he was about to destroy all of the boy's beliefs and yet a third part deep down was thrilled with the knowledge he had received this week.

"It's a long story, Harry. Do you think it can wait until we get something to eat?" Sirius asked sounding almost meek to Snape's surprise. "It's been a long day."

The boy nodded and to Snape's surprise looked his way and asked: "Professor, what about you?"

Looking over at Black then at Lupin, he looked back at Harry and said "I will see what we can find in the kitchen. I had a Hogwart's house-elf bring some provisions but I have no idea what they brought."

"You brought an elf from Hogwart's?" Lupin asked sounding stunned by what Severus was sure he thought a complete disaster.

"Yes, I chose a rather peculiar house-elf," Snape said looking at Harry. "He was wanting to get paid and is only an employee, not bonded to the castle."

"What sort of insanity is that?" Black scoffed all the while wondering if Snape wanted them to get caught.

"Harry would you please call for the Prince Hunting Lodge's house-elf?" Snape asked amused by the anger growing on the two marauders' faces.

"How, sir?" He asked feeling completely bewildered. "I mean, how do I call for the house-elf?"

There was a soft pop and to the astonishment of Lupin and Black, the small house elf threw his arms around Harry and was excitedly thanking him for taking him in.

"Dobby?" Harry asked looking confused.

Harry felt the tight arms around his waist as the former Malfoy house-elf hugged him. When he pulled back, Harry was happy to see he was wearing a small green robe and what looked like socks on his feet.

"Harry Potter is a great wizard!" Dobby said with a huge smile on his face as he again thanked Harry who had no idea what was going on. "Now that he has a family again, Dobby is hoping that Master Harry will let him bond with him."

"Dobby?" Harry looked at the house-elf and felt sick at the idea of anyone wanting to bond, to enslave themselves to anyone else, let alone him.

"Dobby, would you please tell Harry how a house elf's magic works?" Harry heard Snape asking.

"Dobby needs to bond, to make his magic works, Master Harry. House-elves need their master's magical aura to do magic themselves." Dobby quietly stated, his ears hanging low as he felt the rejection from the one wizard he wanted to bond with.

Harry sat on his trunk and looked at Dobby and winced at the idea of what Hermione would say but he found it impossible to reject the elf in front of him. "Dobby, I will agree if you and I can agree on wages and time off."

"One sickle and one hour a week," Dobby stated.

"How about one galleon and two days off a week?" Harry countered and Sirius wondered if his godson understood magical money.

"Two sickles and one hour," Dobby replied.

"Two galleons and you only work mornings plus I buy you yarn so that you can knit as many socks as you want." Harry offered.

"Master Harry doesn't know how to bargain very well," Dobby said shaking his head in distress at the boy in front of him. "One galleon, one day but yes to the yarn."

Harry looked at the house-elf and was mentally hearing Hermione lecturing him but he still held out his hand and said "Deal."

"Deal, master!" Dobby agreed and vigorously shook Harry's hand. The house-elf turned to Snape expectantly and Harry found himself doing the same.

"Fine, it's a deal." Harry didn't get why the elf was turning to his potion's master but when Snape began muttering something and he felt the words turn into a charm that settled over the house-elf and himself.

Sirius saw the house-elf pop out of the room and looked at Harry knowing that the time was coming that they had to fill him in on all that had gone on over the last two weeks.

Minerva McGonagall had filled Moony and him in the tale of what had happened with Wormtail and then had told them the timeline of what had been going on regarding the Goblins searching for the newest heir to the Prince lineage.

How it had led to Severus Snape and the shocking news of Harry's connection to the mess. How Albus had attempted to interfere and how the Goblins had threatened to declare him persona non gratia within Goblin territory.

McGonagall had informed the two of them that when Snape had learned the truth, he had destroyed the Headmaster's office and accused the man of interfering one too many times in his life.

Looking at his godson, thinking how much his life was about to change and how difficult this was going to be for Harry even if it would improve his life, Sirius found that he truly didn't know if it was for the better or for the worse that he had feared to begin with.

He found his eyes going to Snape who seemed to be in control but he was sure that when he heard Moony and his plan, the man would not be so calm. Yet at the same time, he couldn't help wondering what the hell James and Lily had been thinking.

Yes, he could understand the fear and anxiety that had led them to make this plan, but he doubted that James had thought it through clearly. He was almost positive that the idea to have Snape help had been Lily's, she had always believed that there was a better side to the man in spite of his choices and the terrible insult he had thrown at her fifth year.

Harry wanted to protest what he felt was a delaying tactic when Snape called out for Dobby and asked him to escort Harry and his trunk to the family bedrooms. Before he could say a word though, the excitable house-elf popped the trunk and Harry to a bedroom on the first floor.

Dobby looked around, snapped his fingers and the dust on the furniture and the grim covering the windows disappeared. One more snap and the bedding looked freshened.

Harry found himself now standing in a large room about half the size of his dorm room in Gryffindor tower. The bed was a huge four-poster bed like his at school but decorated in Ravenclaw colors. Looking around, he saw an armoire and a large wood desk as well as an odd-looking sofa that looked almost as comfortable as the bed in front of a long wall of bookshelves on either side of a huge fireplace that was more than half empty.

"Does Master Harry like his new room?" Dobby asked his wide eyes tracking Harry's face worried the young boy wouldn't like it.

"It's splendid, Dobby," Harry replied as he sat down on the sofa and looked around. In the next second, his trunk had magically opened and everything inside it seemed to find a place for itself.

His clothes went to the armoire. His current year books to the desk and the previous year textbooks went to stack themselves by subject neatly on the bookshelf next to the desk.

His Quidditch books and the muggle books, Hermione had given to him soon joined them. His broom flew to the top shelf and his potions and school supplies danced over to spare shelves as well.

Harry found himself watching his photo album going into the nightstand top drawer, Harry grinned when his photo of his friends landed neatly on the waxed mantle. His invisibility cloak came out and slipped into the drawer on top of the photo album then the candy he had kept covered underneath it jumped into a conjured crystal bowl next to the sofa.

In less than five minutes, Harry's trunk was emptied and his room looked like it was his. Dobby then showed him to the private in-suite bath and Harry's eyes went wide as they took in the large bathtub that resembled a pool in the center of the room.

"Dobby are you sure this was supposed to be my bedroom?" He asked.

"Yes, Master Harry. Master Snape is in the master bedroom and the Wolfman and the doggie are in the two rooms in the west wing." Dobby said wearing a large smile.

Wanting to ask Dobby why he called Snape master, he heard a loud boom and rushed towards it only to realize that he had no idea how to return to the ground floor.

Seeing Dobby behind him, he asked him to show him down the stairs, not to pop him there so that he could find his way around the large house.

Dobby grinned at Harry and showed him the way back to the main entrance then guided him into the large dining room where he found the three men. Sirius and Remus were already seated and Snape was kneeling and speaking to someone through the floo.

"What was that noise?" Harry asked breathlessly from running down the staircase and through the hall.

"Someone not invited tried to come through the floo network," Sirius said wearing a gleeful smirk as he looked at his godson. When Snape stood and walked over to the table, he asked: "Why did you agree to let him come this weekend?"

"By that time we should have the family wards up and the magical support if he was to try to manipulate the situation," Snape replied grimly. Looking at his professor, Harry got the feeling that whatever was going on had to be bad. Why else would a man who two weeks ago been planning on letting Dementors kiss his godfather be working with the man?

Then there was Sirius, he was shocked at how civil he was being to his potions' professor considering he hated the man. Looking at Remus, he found the man's soft golden eyes were staring at him. Swallowing the lump of fear in his throat, Harry asked: "What is going on?"

"Let's head to the parlor. I am sure that Dobby won't mind bringing us in a snack." Snape suggested.

Remus had been quietly observing the interactions since they had arrived at Spinner's End and it was clear that the news had thrown Severus into a tailspin but it was also clear from the way his eyes rested on Harry that the man would be able to move forward.

He was worried about Sirius's reaction to whatever decision that Snape came to though. Sirius had been heartbroken to find out that Snape could and probably would choose to keep Harry with him. Padfoot's emotions since their first meeting in the shrieking shack had been shifting between such extremes that he knew his friend would need time and care to get past what had happened while he had been in Azkaban.

He was only hoping that Snape would be able to move past their joint distaste for one another and allow Harry to remain in Padfoot and his lives.

The four of them moved to the parlor and he saw Snape looking at the large dark grandfather clock and Remus noticed the time. Twenty-four hours from now, Peter would be going through the veil. He felt such anger and resentment for his former friend, and yet, the idea of another death ate at his very soul.

Sirius sat on the other end of the sofa from Harry and watched as Snape took the chair nearest the boy who due to the latest revelation connected such a disparate group of people. He saw Moony's eyes on his and knew that his old friend was worried about how he would react as they told Harry what had gone on during the last two weeks.

He, himself was worried about that but he had gone to Godric's Hollow and made a vow to Lily and James that he would be there to support Harry no matter what. So if fulfilling that vow meant making peace with his second-worst enemy, he would do so.

Finally, his eyes went to Harry and how thin and small his godson was. It created a wave of inner anger, an absolute rage at the thought of his godson being neglected and raised by the Dursleys when there were other, better options that Albus Dumbledore had rejected in his opinion that he knew best.

"Harry, your clothes look better than they usually do, did that young friend of yours pick them out?" He asked looking at the jeans that fit and the Who T-shirt along with the leather sandals.

Harry looked at Snape then at his godfather and said: "No Professor Snape handed me these and told me to take a shower earlier."

"He was wearing rags I wouldn't use to clean out the first year cauldrons." Snape drawled and Sirius saw Harry wince and Snape have a look of regret at the words hurting the boy.

"I recognize that band. It was a muggle band that Lily liked." Remus replied wanting to diffuse the situation.

Harry looked down in surprise and said: "I just thought that the name of the band was some sort of magical joke or something."

"Potter how on earth is it possible...never mind, Tunie has more to answer for than I knew," Snape said wearing a sneer as he glared off into the distance. "As for the clothes, they were mine, once upon a time."

"Really?" Harry asked in shock as he took in the muggle jeans and the T-shirt again. Shaking his head, he told his godfather. "Professor Snape drove a car. Can all wizards do that? Is there a spell you can learn?"

"A car, how interesting, Not very Slytherin of you, Snape," Sirius said in a weird tone that had Harry wishing he hadn't brought it up.

Dobby brought in the requested food and once he had left, Sirius looked at Harry and said "When I left with Buckbeak, I went to a Black family compound that my dad never told my family about. I set the hippogriff free and was staying at the cabana on the beach."

"Is that where that bird was from?" Harry asked.

"Yes, it's a toucan." He replied then picked up a cup of the tea and a few biscuits needing the substance to strengthen his resolve.

Harry grinned and said, "Hermione knew and told us."

"Why am I not surprised?" Remus said shaking his head in amusement as he thought about Harry's young brilliant friend.

"When Pettigrew escaped, he was sure that he would be exposed so he went to someone he was sure would help him escape justice," Snape stated.

"Who would help him?" Harry asked. After a moment he said, "That is how he ended up at the Malfoy house?"

"Yes, he managed to make it to the Malfoy Manor and hid in the stables until he saw Lucius exit the house," Snape answered.

"Why didn't he just go to the house?" Harry asked looking at his professor.

Sirius chuckled and Snape looked at Narcissa's Black cousin and said: "You know about her fear?"

Shaking his head in the affirmative, he was laughing when Snape told Harry "Draco's mother has a problem with any kind of rodent. The manor house is warded against them in the most painful way possible. If Pettigrew had tried to approach the house in his animagus form, he would have been immediately electrocuted."

"I thought wizards didn't use electricity?" He inquired.

"It's the best way of explaining the pain he would have felt," Sirius answered as he recalled how his young cousin had loathed rats.

"So why didn't he go to the house as himself?" Harry asked. "Why hide out in a barn?"

"Stables, Harry, not a barn." Snape corrected. "Remember, Pettigrew more than likely eavesdropped and knew that Malfoy is close to the minister. He probably was trying to be careful."

Seeing Harry's face show he understood, Sirius said "Remember, Harry, Peter is a coward. He would never show himself unless he had no other choice."

"He chose the wrong dark wizard to visit though," Snape replied. "Lucius has spent the last twelve years building up his power base. He has worked on fixing his reputation and after his lapse last year; he would be very careful to stay on the side of the light. I am sure that when Pettigrew showed himself to Malfoy he was sure that he was safe."

Sirius chuckled in spite of his disbelief as he said: "Oh the irony of Peter being betrayed by someone he thought was on his side."

Snape looked between Harry and him and said: "Harry thought the same thing."

"He got what he deserved after betraying his friends." Harry clipped out.

"I just don't get what Malfoy meant by owing me an honor debt," Sirius replied. "I get why he turned Peter in. I just don't get his public response to the situation."

"What do you mean, Sirius?" Harry asked hoping they would tell him all that was going on immediately.

Looking over at Snape and getting that that part of the story should wait, he said: "That is more the part we have to tell you about later."

"Why can't you tell me now?" He asked looking hurt.

"Harry, it's going to be a lot to take in." Snape's voice had changed to an even lower tone and Sirius found himself staring between the boy and the wizard sitting to his right. There was an emotional attachment growing from Snape to his godson even if Harry wasn't treating the older man any differently yet.

"Harry, for now, let's stick to the first situation, okay. We will be telling you the rest, but we must tell you in the right order." Remus offered up and he saw Harry nod and Snape relax after watching Harry for a moment.

"Anyhow, from what was reported at the Wizengamot, Lucius stunned Peter and put him in one of Narcissa's rat cages." Snape began talking again.

"I would feel sorry for him if he didn't deserve it." Sirius murmured. "Narcissa charmed those cages to be unbreakable years ago."

"I was called by Professor McGonagall to testify and she agreed to be there as an advocate if things went haywire," Remus said. "I arrived and was led into the full Wizengamot and we sat in the witness box only for Amelia Bones to stand up and tell Fudge she had caught the man who had given away your parent's location to he-who-must-not-be-named and who was responsible for the deaths of over a dozen muggles. My heart was in my stomach, terrified that I was about to see Padfoot kissed."

"I am sure seeing me there added to your confusion," Snape said as he recalled how he had been horrified by the news himself. He had gone to the Ministry to confront Albus after a visit to Gringotts that had exposed the old man's manipulations. He had known that if Sirius had been caught it would have destroyed any chance of peace or anything more with Harry.

Remus began speaking again. "The next minute, she had two aurors bring out that charmed rat trap and she forced Peter into his human form. She immediately dosed him with veritaserum and within minutes he had spilled the truth."

"Lucius was standing next to Fudge, smirking as Pettigrew told the whole Wizengamot about being betrayed by someone he had thought a true believer and that helped repair Malfoy's reputation as well as wipe the stain off of Blacks," Severus explained to Harry.

"So you aren't in any trouble?" Harry asked his godfather.

"No, he is in a bit of trouble. Pettigrew confessed about Black being an illegal animagus. He was facing a fine and the magical version of probation since they did so when underage." Severus said.

"I am required to register within the next month and they deducted the fine I had to pay from the blood money that they are giving to me for sticking me in Azkaban without a trial," Sirius growled.

"What is this probation?" Harry asked.

Severus glared at Black then heard Lupin chuckling as the wolf said "He is to serve his probation at Hogwarts once he gets a medical all-clear from St. Mungos. He is the responsibility of your Head of House since Minerva refused to leave him in the charge of Headmaster."

"What does that mean?" Harry asked looking hopeful as he watched his godfather. Snape felt tense as he faced that the boy would always be close to the idiot.

"It means that I will be tutoring, without remittance for the next two years at Hogwarts," Sirius answered. "From what I recall about your head of house though it more than likely means coaching the Quidditch team and grading homework."

"So you will be teaching?" Harry asked now looking thrilled.

"No." Snape clipped out. Seeing Harry look his way, finding the sadness in the eyes the same color emerald green as Lily's, he softened his answer. "He won't be in the classroom, Harry. Maybe if he decides to stay and teach after his probation but not for the next two years."

"Oh," Harry stated. "Still, at least I would get to see you when I am practicing quidditch."

Snape was mentally replaying all the dangerous antics Harry had gotten up to over the last three years playing quidditch and was debating refusing to let him play when he realized that if he did so it would be a disaster.

"Why is everyone mad at the Headmaster though?" Harry asked through his yawn. He hadn't slept well. He had had a bad night at the Dursleys as his Uncle Vernon tried desperately to make what happened with Dudley's criminal behavior his fault.

He had been locked in his room without food the last two days and had spent the night hearing his aunt and uncle going over things in their room. He had been terrified that Vernon would hurt him or worse as the man's voice had gotten louder and louder as he swore that Harry had to have put some sort of hex on Dudley to make him commit a crime.

His aunt's shrill voice had gone up with each response until Harry had heard her saying that she wanted him, meaning Harry out of the house, no matter what.

"Harry, it's almost ten-thirty, why don't we leave that part of the story until morning," Remus said softly. "I understand that you received an owl from the Goblins and that is part of this story."

"I am not sure I will be able to sleep if I don't know," Harry confessed.

Snape had an idea, probably not a good one but he looked at the dark-haired boy and said: "I will be right back."

When he returned, he was carrying two potions and called out for Dobby to bring in a glass of pumpkin juice for Harry. Once that was done, he handed Harry the two potions. "It's for your health."

Seeing the boy's doubtful glance as he looked at the two vials, he said: "One is a nutrient potion that you should take a half-hour before bedtime and the other will help you sleep better."

Harry looked between the three men and wanted to say he didn't want to take the potions, but he saw the expectant expression on Sirius's face so he drank them both down and said: "Why do all potions taste disgusting?"

"Not all of them do," Snape said wearing a smirk. "Just the ones that you end of having to take. Now sit down and we will answer any five questions you have except for questions regarding the Goblins, the Headmaster and what he has done."

Harry yawned and bargained "Five questions apiece, right?"

"Five questions, total," Snape answered amused at the attempt to bargain.

"How about three a piece?" Harry asked hopefully.

"If you can stay awake long enough to let us answer each of the questions, I agree," Snape answered with a sidelong glance at Remus who was sure the man had given Harry a sleeping draught.

"Anything?" Harry asked while wondering why Professor Snape seemed in charge and why Remus and Sirius just seemed to be going along with his decision.

"Within reason," Snape answered cautiously.

"Okay." Harry agreed. "Remus, why didn't you stay in contact when I was living with the Dursleys or even my first two years at Hogwarts?"

Remus winced and with a guilty look on his face said "Harry, in truth, I was too busy feeling sorry for myself. I thought two of my friends were dead and that the one I was closest to had betrayed them. I trusted the Headmaster when he told me you were safe with family and never questioned it."

"Okay, fair enough." Harry said then looking at his godfather asked "Why didn't you stay with me, why was it so important to go chasing after Peter. I needed you and you weren't there because of it?"

Remus saw Sirius turn white then swallow before his friend admitted "I made a stupid impulsive decision that cost you a lot and I can never make up for it but I was so sure that you would be safe with Hagrid. He had calmed you down when I couldn't and I in truth thought that I was the only one who could deal with Peter. I didn't think things through."

Harry yawned then looked at his potion's professor and asked: "Why did you go from hating me to being so pleasant today?"

"Harry that is part of the mess with the Headmaster so how about another question?" Snape offered.

He saw the boy blinking through his eyelids that were surely growing heavy and then smirked when the boy asked "Okay, how do you make your robes billow as you do? Hermione is convinced that they are charmed and Ron says that they are just trying to escape from you like everyone else when you are glaring at us like that."

There was some chuckling but Snape never got a chance to answer as Harry's head tilted to the side and came to rest on the arm of the sofa.

"He's out," Sirius said surprise. "What exactly did you give him?"

"The power of suggestion," Snape answered dryly. Seeing the doubt on their faces he said "I gave him a double dose of the nutrient potion which works best when there is nothing else given to help him sleep. I will explain that later."

"Should we call for Dobby?" Remus asked but Snape whispered a quiet weightlessness charm then lifted Harry under his knees and arms and then asked Sirius to get the doors.

Minutes later, Harry's clothes were removed with a charm and his school pajamas were charmed onto him as Severus covered him with the sheet and a light blanket. Sitting down, he carefully removed Harry's glasses then he placed them on the nightstand closest to the door before brushing his hair off his forehead, softly said "My son."

Sirius wanted to protest but in truth, Snape was correct, Harry was his son. When the other man stood there for several minutes, then seemed to realize that Sirius was watching, he stood and looked over at him. "I don't know why James chose me, but I won't let Lily down. Harry should have never had to live as he has been for the last thirteen years and I was part of it. No more."

Sirius stepped back and followed the silent wizard back down to the parlor where Remus was still seated but talking to the house-elf who made the tray of tea disappear and to their surprise a trolley with alcohol, muggle and wizard fire whiskey replaced it.

Soon the three men were seated, they remained silent for almost an hour then Severus looked at the other two and said: "There is something I need to tell you."

"More secrets?" Remus asked skeptically.

"Not a secret, exactly. More like a vow that was made fourteen years ago that is going to add to this mess." Severus said then reaching for three of the heavy old fashioned crystal glasses poured each of them some of the muggle brandy.

Handing both of them two finger widths full, he said "When Draco was born, Lucius asked me to be his godfather..."

"Oh, Merlin." Sirius got as he recalled a conversation he had once had with James. "When James asked me about Harry, he agreed to be the godfather for any children I may have in the future."

Severus smirked at the idea of Black procreating and then swallowed some of the very smooth brandy. "I am guessing you know what I am about to tell you."

"Lucius Malfoy is Harry's godfather," Remus asked and tossed back the brandy, drinking it all in one gulp then pouring himself another. "How on earth did this happen?"

"Yes and exactly how Sirius described what had happened with Potter," Snape answered darkly before sarcastically continuing. "At the time, I had no way of knowing that my schoolboy enemy would find out that his wife and he couldn't have children together and that they would do a blood ritual using my blood to help father his son. I am so sorry that when I agreed to Malfoy's request, that I didn't consider that possibility."

Sirius shook his head at the snarky tone from Snape and said: "I still don't get how Lily did this and don't know how we explain this to Harry so the Malfoy being his extra godfather thing is the least of our problems."

"I will be right back." Severus stood and walked to the library where the books he had sent over with Dobby the day before were. Grabbing the one the Goblins had given him he went back into the parlor and tossed it at Remus sure that the ritual would be over Black's head. "Page forty-nine."

Remus read the ritual, blushing as he understood what had gone on. He was thirty-five years old but the description of the ritual was very explicit and there were still some things he preferred not to think about regarding his friends.

Sirius moved over to stand behind Remus and read the page. Frowning as he got what Lily had done, he asked "How did Lily get your blood willingly? You were no longer talking at that point?"

"I saw Lily one day in Hogsmead," Severus said. "She simply asked and I have never been able to refuse her anything. I just never suspected why she wanted it.

"So basically, they used your blood to cure their issues and then uh, did the deed?" Sirius said weakly as bad images floated around in his head.

"Exactly," Severus replied. "What is worse is that Albus knew about the blood ritual and that Harry was also my son. The whole reason he was with Petunia was blood wards."

"Severus, what did you find when you went to get Harry?" Remus asked.

"First of all, Dursley Senior was in the middle of a heart attack when I arrived. His son's delinquent behavior became known to the police the day before Harry went home. He delusionally believes that Harry somehow hexed the boy into stealing drugs, cigarettes, and liquor." Snape drawled out.

"Lily's sister was the same lovely piece of work who hates her sister. I sent her to the hospital with her husband and her son was stuck in his bedroom. I left Arabella Figg standing guard along with a muggle policeman."

"I would guess from the way that Harry was so eager to move in with me, they were horrible to him," Sirius stated.

"His first bedroom was a cupboard from what I saw in the simple mind of that idiot hippo who passes for a boy. There isn't a single photo of Harry in that whole house. I did some research and found files that show the money that was given to them to support Harry went to buy luxuries to that fat slob of a son of theirs." Severus said with a scowl. "They received over a hundred and thirty thousand pounds over the last thirteen years. I doubt they spent a thousand pounds in thirteen years on him. He was barely fed, they only gave him hand me downs from the other boy. He has no medical records as well."

"I will make sure that they pay for every single hurt that created in Harry's life," Sirius vowed only for Severus to hold up his hand to stop his speaking. "What?"

"I am not stopping you from going after them, but you should wait, at least until we have dealt with the danger from Voldemort and Albus," Snape replied. "Albus wants to keep Harry under his control. We have to deal with that first, then the Dursleys pay. I will speak to the Goblins during our visit there tomorrow and have them retrieve the money that the Dursleys still have."

Nodding, Sirius asked, "Do you think that Albus is right, that Voldemort will try to return?"

"Yes," Severus replied.

Nodding that he had heard, Remus asked: "Why?"

"Albus is keeping it close to the chest, he won't share what he knows but after what happened last year with the diary and what Harry told Albus had happened, it is not that hard to piece it together."

"What diary?" Remus asked.

Severus looked at them then asked, "What do you know about Harry's first year at Hogwart's?"

Shrugging, Sirius said, "I am sure that it was a typical first year, why?"

"Oh, it was typical if you think to fight a troll on Halloween, having your broom bewitched by a possessed DADA teacher during your first Quidditch game, going into the Forbidden Forest and facing Voldemort in wraith form as a detention and oh, and convincing Hagrid to give up a baby dragon is typical." Severus sarcastically listed.

Sirius looked at Remus and demanded, "Why didn't you tell me about all of that?"

The werewolf looked pale as he stuttered. "I only heard about the troll. I knew nothing about any of the other."

"Albus kept most of it under wraps but it all happened," Severus said. "First of all, the Dursleys tried to keep him from getting his letter and instead of dealing with it himself, he sent Hagrid to tell Harry about Hogwarts."

"That doesn't sound too bad," Remus said relaxing a bit.

"Except that Harry had no idea about the magical world, he should have sent MacGonagall or me," Snape stated. "Oh, I should mention that he was on an errand for the Headmaster to retrieve the Philosopher's stone from Gringotts."

Groaning, both men realized that Hagrid couldn't keep secrets and knew that that had been a bad idea.

"He arrived at Hogwart's having befriended the Weasley boy on the train. Things were quiet at first, then on Halloween, the Weasley boy insulted Granger and she ran to the girls' bathroom and cried in there all day."

"I hadn't heard anything about that, just that they saved Hermione from the troll," Remus said looking troubled.

"From what I saw when I looked into their memories, Harry was just as in the wrong, he stood there and let it happen," Snape said sounding troubled. "Quirrell was trying to get to the stone and wanted to use the troll as a distraction."

Sirius lifted his glass and drank a large gulp of alcohol. Looking at a smug Snape as he finished telling them the story, he said that was bad but it could have been worse.

"Oh, we are just getting started." Snape drawled and then said "I forgot the duel challenge with Draco. They were almost caught by Filch and had their first run-in with the Cerberus that the Headmaster had guarding the stone."

In rapid succession, Severus told them about Harry's first Quidditch game and watched as they drank deeply of their drink. Next came the dragon and detention in the Forbidden Forest.

"Wait, I forgot to mention HOW HE ENDED UP ON THE QUIDDITCH TEAM," Severus said filling them in on that part of the story. By the time he got to the end of Harry's first year, a bottle of Scotch was completely gone and Sirius looked torn between being impressed and being terrified.

Remus shook his head when Severus told them about the end of the year feast, his sense of fair play angry with what the Headmaster had done. "I am sure that just deepened the rift between your Slytherins and the Gryffindors, what was the man thinking?"

"In truth, while I think that Albus is a manipulative bastard, I think that he genuinely has feelings for Harry. He is just stupidly trying to make up for his mistakes in ways that are creating even worse ones." Severus said.

"So Harry's second year, that was the one where Lockhart taught and the Chamber of Secrets was opened, correct. Something about a snake, I believe." Remus said thinking on what he had heard from Minerva McGonagall.

"Yes, sounds rather unremarkable the way you describe it," Severus replied then with a wicked smirk told them the rest of the story. He watched them drink deeply when they heard about the flying car, then saw Sirius wanting to snicker when he told them about Hermione the cat. "It's amusing now but at the time, I wanted to strangle those dunderheads."

"Severus, she brewed polyjuice potion at twelve." Remus pointed out.

"Yes, I am aware of that fact. I am also aware of all the ways that potion can be messed up and the various consequences when it is done in a lab let alone in an abandoned girl's bathroom, Lupin." Severus said with a black glare the wolf's way.

"It does sound a bit reckless," Lupin admitted. "Still, it is astounding she succeeded."

Severus continued with his story and saw Sirius and Lupin turn green at the mention of the spiders. "What?"

Stuttering, Sirius said "W-we are acquainted with those spiders. What was Hagrid thinking to send them into the forest?"

"The problem is that Hagrid sees dangerous creatures like that Hippogriff, the large spider and the thestals as wee beasts, nothing to be afraid of," Severus said as he watched the other two drink deeply of the whiskey yet again.

"Here I was thinking it was dangerous for me to be around Harry," Remus said shaking his head in a stunned manner his mind on his mistake at forgetting to take his potion at the end of the year.

"We haven't even gotten to the basilisk yet," Severus said and saw Remus choke on his drink before muttering the word basilisk. "I haven't seen it, but I am hoping Harry will show me the chamber at some point. The Headmaster said the snake was a good twenty feet long."

"Wait, how did Harry end up in the chamber?" Sirius asked and when he heard the tale was convinced that Severus was telling them a whopper of a story until he looked over at Remus. "You believe him?"

"I uh, heard something similar from Minerva last year. Minus how Harry had almost died. I am sure that Albus didn't tell her that part of the story."

Severus then told them the story of how Harry had ended up with the gratitude of Dobby and what had happened with Lucius Malfoy. Seeing the smirk on Black's face, he added: "I haven't filled Lucius in on the latest, but I think it will relive him a bit."

"Why on earth would it do that?" Sirius asked, his dislike for the blond wizard heard in his voice.

"Lucius lost his ability to do magic for a few days. Imagine if he had landed that spell." Severus said in a darker tone.

"He would have become a squib. So the magic knew even if we didn't." Remus said.

"It also explains my strange reactions to Harry," Severus admitted. Seeing them looking at him, he stated. "Every time he has been in danger, I have had the oddest need to make sure he was fine then shake him until his teeth rattled then wanted to hug the brat. It didn't make any sense considering how much he looked like James."

Remus was bleary-eyed as he looked at Severus. "Why didn't you do just that?"

"The idea that I wanted to hug James Potter's son was more horrifying than standing in the middle of the Great Hall and asking Minerva out." He said shuddering in remembrance at one of the less-lethal battles between the Marauders and himself. He wasn't sure if it was a reminder of the humiliation they had caused or the icy reaction from his transfiguration teacher to his invite.

Remus watched as Sirius let out a loud guffaw as he recalled that particular prank. "You were rather poetic, Snape."

"Don't remind me." He muttered as he glared at Sirius.

"That was one of James' ideas," Remus spoke up and said with a slight smile. "Of course, we had no idea you would, uh, well be so creative in asking her out."

TBC, maybe