AN: Many many thanks to Yen for helping make this ending worthy of the rest of the tale. Thanks!

The Truth

Harry opened his eyes to find he was still in the Infirmary. He wasn't sure how long he'd been out, but the professors were clustered in small groups a few feet away from him talking much like they did when there were no students around. A small pool of silence remained around his and Severus' bed. One side of his mattress dipped and he turned from the familiar sight to another, equally familiar one.

"Mate," Ron leant over whispering, "are you all right?"

Harry closed his eyes and took stock of himself. "Just fine. My headaches slightly, but not much."

Hermione settled on the other side of the bed and shot a quick glance over towards Madam Pomfrey, before whispering, "Is Professor Snape going to be okay? What if the spell hurt him permanently?"

Harry sought out his guardian, squinting at the black, blurry outline on the bed next to his. At least, the dark form was where he left Severus, and the man had the feeling of someone sleeping. "I don't think so – not permanently hurt at least. I think he is going to be okay, but …" worry bleed into his tone, "I just don't know."

Ron handed over Harry' glasses before squeezing his shoulder as Harry slipped them on. Hermione squeezed Harry's other hand. "He'll pull through. Snape is too … stubborn and strong not to."

Harry chuckled. "You mean cantankerous, contrary, hard-headed …" he trailed off as both Ron and Hermione chuckled with him.

Mr Weasley's head popped up above Ron's. "Ah, Harry, you're awake."

Concerned blue eyes searched his face, before staring into his eyes. Even as Harry stared back into them, he saw the concern melt into anger. It reminded him of Ron, so he prepared for the man's temper.

It never came.

"I think you should come to the Burrow for the rest of the day," Mr Weasley said, his tone not showing one ounce of his aggravation. "That way we can get you back here and to Madam Pomfrey if something happens."

Those blue eyes rested meaningfully on both Hermione and Ron after they left him.

"Ah," Dumbledore's voice exclaimed, "Mr Potter is awake."

As one, the professors bustled over with Pomfrey in the lead. She ran a basic scan over him and then summoned a potion – headache relief from what Harry could tell.

"Yes, he is," Mr Weasley shooed him off the bed as soon as he finished his potion, "and he'll be coming home with me."

"What about the Death Eaters?" Professor McGonagall asked.

Mr Weasley looked at Severus, "They won't be in any shape to hunt him down, and the ones who might find us, Molly and I can handle."

Dumbledore looked at Harry and the other two, but Harry was positive the bright blue eyes were attempting to bore into his mind, so he made sure to keep his head lowered, just like he would have done at the Dursleys. You never look an adult in the eye unless you were planning on confronting them, and Harry had no plans to confront Dumbledore without Severus awake.

"Let's go."

With admirable speed, Mr Weasley procured a portkey from Dumbledore and shepherded the trio out the Infirmary. Harry was thankful he wasn't in a hospital gown since he wasn't sure Mr Weasley would have given him time to change.

It wasn't until they were at the Burrow and inside Mr Weasley's study that he spoke again, this time with disappointed blue eyes trained on his son who wilted under that gaze.

"Ron, your mother and I will be talking to you later about your foolishness, the breaking of our trust, and your abuse of Professor Snape's hospitality." Ron paled further making his freckles stand out on his cheeks. Mr Weasley shifted his focus to Hermione. "I shall be informing your parents as to what happened, as well."

Hermione stiffened slightly, uncertainty filling her face.

He finally looked down at Harry, "I shall also be telling your guardians, as well as letting the person you were staying with know. I hope they will impress upon you how you used Professor Snape. Now, speaking of guardianship, Snape's ward – John – needs to be notified and Professor Snape's hospitality returned."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione all frowned at that.

'I hope he doesn't mean the Dursleys. They can't mean to return me there...but they don't know I'm Severus' ward. They believe I am still with Aunt Petunia.' Harry had started thinking about her a little nicer since she hadn't spat his name earlier that summer. Maybe he and Snape could visit later at the park or some other neutral ground, or he could at least call her to let her know he was okay. Mr Weasley started speaking again, breaking into his thoughts.

"John will be staying here until Snape is able to take him home," Mr Weasley clarified. "So, where is he?"

"He's fine, sir," Harry said quickly. "There's no need to collect him."

"Nonsense." Mr Weasley's tone brooked no argument. "He needs to know what happened to his guardian and so does the person who's watching him. As it's your fault Professor Snape is not collecting him right now, we shall. It's only polite."

Harry's eyes widened and he spun about to stare at Ron and Hermione, "Mrs Gillian!"

Even as they started looking worried, he turned back to Mr Weasley. "I need to make a phone call, sir. Please!"

"You can call Mrs Gillian after you tell me where John is, then we can head out and take care of both things," he paused for just barely a heartbeat, "Or is he with Mrs Gillian?"

As Hermione assured Mr Weasley that John wasn't with Mrs Gillian, Harry stared at him, his mind turning over the bargain, looking for a way around it, but finding nothing. 'I can't tell him I'm John. Severus hasn't said it was okay. I know – it was because of Voldemort, but … I can't. Even if I end up back at Aunt Petunia's for a bit, I can't say anything. But … I don't want to go back there like this. I doubt she'd be as nice.' His gaze darted about the room and after the third time of looking at Ron's apprehensive face, it settled there. 'Ron can tell him. Severus will understand a child not keeping things from a parent.'

Compressing his lips, he narrowed his eyes at Ron, praying that his best mate would understand. "You know where John is … and … and … even though we were all sworn to secrecy, Snape will understand you telling. He has to – it's a parent thing."

Ron cocked his head to one side before his eyes widened and darted to his dad and then back to Harry. He gave a slight nod of his head, a touch of relief showing in his eyes. "Go outside – the garden would be a good spot. If you're not in here, there'd be less to fuss about." He looked at Hermione, "Will you get Mum for me?"

Harry and Hermione were out the door before Mr Weasley could say a thing.

§§§§§

Arthur almost called the other two back, but something in the way Ron stood, in the set of his shoulders and the determined expression on his face stopped him. There was a tale here, one that would rival the one from last summer, and he was about to learn it – or at least a key part of it. Oh, he trusted that Snape had taken the three from the World Cup grounds and let them spend the night at his place, but he felt there had been more to it then, and now he felt that this tale and that tale were interconnected. It was the same feeling that never failed when it came to his brood.

Ron shifted from foot to foot, his eyes not quite meeting Arthur's as they waited on Molly. Arthur wondered if the forthcoming tale would explain how Harry ended up with them. He and Molly had agreed to let Ron and Hermione visit Severus and his cousin because Severus really seemed to want them there. Molly had consented only because the man had saved those two last year. That John had seemed a likeable child hadn't hurt. He just couldn't see how the lines connected to Harry being with them though.

"What's going on, Arthur?" Molly asked as she came in with Hermione following behind, and shut the door.

Arthur gestured to Ron to start talking. His youngest son squared his shoulders even more in an obvious attempt to screw up his courage. Whatever this was, it was going to be big.

"You two can't tell anyone," Ron started, "I know, you're not going to agree to it easily, but it's not to protect me, Hermione, or Harry. It's simply because Harry doesn't have permission to tell you two or anyone else."

Arthur watched the worry flit over his son's face before resolve took its place. 'Harry had mentioned being sworn to secrecy.'

"I don't either, but Harry's right. The Professor will most likely forgive me telling you since you're my parents, but … but I don't have permission to tell you or to give you permission to tell others. So, you can't."

Arthur could see Ron's eyes begging him even though the rest of his stance was rigid – almost trembling with conviction. "Unless it endangers someone, we will not tell," he said.

Ron let out a softly sighed 'Thank you' as he calmed and then he started explaining.

"Harry's John." Ron blurted out, "Harry told us that Snape took him in over the summer between our first and second year. He's been living with him since, but it can't get out because Snape is a spy for You-Know-Who. So, Harry changed his name while he was staying with Snape and was called his cousin."

Arthur stood still as the words spilt around him, his mind easily deciphering them from the fast mumble through experience. The rightness of them soothed the minor irritation that'd been with him since Snape had returned the three of them last summer.

"Hermione, please get Harry. I think it's better to have all of you present."

Arthur waited until Harry was with them before he continued. "Harry, why do you need to call Mrs Gillian?"

He studied the boy while he waited, picking out the similarities between John and him and surprised at how many there were.

Harry's head was dropped as he played his the hem of his shirt. "Because we were supposed to have tea with her this afternoon, and we're late. Severus … she's going to be worried."

"We shall stop by her place when we pick up your things from Snape's," Molly spoke for the first time since entering the room.

Arthur kept a smile from his face – her tone wasn't quite hard and unforgiving but wasn't the soft one Harry was used to hearing either. Ron was relaxing though – he knew that there might be a punishment, but that forgiveness was on the way.

"It'll take too long," Harry tried not to whine, but Arthur could hear it in his tone.

"Especially as we don't know the area well," Arthur thought for a moment before shifting his attention back to Ron, "Unless that park from earlier is close to Snape's home?"

Ron shook his head, "There was a long bus ride and then a train ride to get there."

Arthur's brain rolled about with plans, attempting to come up with some way to do things right. Get Harry's things, let the neighbour know, watch over the children, and devise some sort of punishment for them. 'Molly and I will have to discuss the last one.' Giving up on getting Harry's thing – that could be a punishment itself – Arthur nodded decisively. "I'll take you into town so you can call her, and Harry will have to borrow some of Ron's things for a while."

Harry flashed a grateful smile his way, "Thanks, sir." Luckily he had all four neighbours' telephone numbers since his first summer there.

§§§§§

Severus slowly drifted awake, part of him regretting losing the deeper connection he had with Magic. That was one of the most peaceful moments he had felt in his entire life. Keeping his eyes closed, he did a quick mental check over himself and determined that he was better off now than he had been in the park. Once he was sure of that, he focused outside of himself.

'Hogwarts' Infirmary'

He had been in this place too many times to not recognise the slightly scratchy sheets he was lying on and the faint smell of potions in the air. He opened his eyes slowly and spotted the faculty around in small clustered groups, some standing and some sitting on the other Infirmary beds. A fast surveillance of the area showed that Harry wasn't there and neither were the other two Gryffindor students. 'Arthur or Molly must have come for Ronald and taken them with them.'

He needed to confirm that thought and to do that he had to move. Shifting carefully, he sat up and turned his back to the Infirmary door. A glance down confirmed that his shoes were where Poppy normally left them – at the foot of the bed on the opposite side of the door. His wand was not on the side table. He checked and found it still in his sleeve.

Slipping his feet into his shoes, Severus stood up on surprisingly strong legs and surveyed the crowd, spotting Poppy nearest the door. 'I'm not getting out of here without talking to them, then.' He hadn't truly expected to, but a glimmer of hope had prevailed as usual.

Three steps towards the door – there was no harm in trying – Albus noticed. Poppy had noticed first, but she was going to wait until he made it to her to comment, same as normal.

"Ah, Severus," Albus' greeting drew everyone's attention, "how are you feeling?"

Severus continued towards the door in the vain hope that he could leave the moment he answered that question. "Fine, Albus. The staffs' help was what was needed to sway the spell's effect."

He had spoken briskly and even made it to Poppy's side before he stopped. She had her wand out, so he knew she was going to perform a few diagnostics before he could leave. This was also part of their routine. He grimaced when she lowered her wand, her own eyes narrowing.

"And where is John?" she asked.

The rest of the staff pinned him with stern questioning looks that made him almost feel like he was their student again. He glanced around the Infirmary, checking once again to see if any of the beds were occupied or at least screened off. Confirming that they were all empty, he answered, "Safe, I believe."

"You believe?" Minerva snapped.

The Headmaster's frown carried as much censor as Minerva's tone. The rest of the staffs were not far behind.

Albus' tone was heavy with disappointment. "I offered to find him a safe place to stay, Severus. Besides, you didn't need to let Harry, Ronald, and Hermione perform that spell."

Severus raised one eyebrow. "They would have completed it without my presence, and even though I was not much use to them, it at least informed them that it didn't all go to plan and to get help."

"So, you just dropped your boy off somewhere that might not be safe to watch those three?" Rolanda scoffed.

"You didn't care what might happen to John?" Sinistra added.

Shaking his head, he turned to Poppy. "Diagnostic now, so I can go check on him."

The Healer's eyes narrowed but she raised her wand. Albus spoke as she flicked it. "How did those three get together? Why didn't you inform me that Harry was there?"

Severus scanned the results which were displayed in the air with Poppy, checking to see if he needed to brew anything. He was positive his magic levels would be low, but to his and – by the look on her face – Poppy's amazement, it was normal, if not a touch high. The rest of the information showed that he was in fine health – as good as he normally was, at least.

Poppy stepped away from the door, and he walked towards it. Albus stopped him with both a spell – one that locked the door – and his words.

"I require an answer, Severus."

Compressing his lips, Severus stared at the door, accessing the power behind the locking spell. Harry was someplace, at the Weasleys he believed, and most likely worried.

"Where's Harry?" he asked the room in general. One of them should know.

Minerva answered. "Arthur took him with him. We'll be escorting him back to the Dursleys this evening."

Whipping around, Severus glared at her, "He's not going back there. John is coming home, where he belongs."

Minerva blinked while everyone else's eyes widened. "John?"

Severus gave a tight nod. It was a sideways way of answering Albus' question, but he knew the Headmaster would understand. The rest of the staff might need a bit of help, and Albus would certainly want an explanation, so he continued. "Yes, John. Harry has gone by that name over the summer since his first one at this school. Of course, that is why Weasley and Miss Granger were over – so they could visit him, and that is the reason I was supervising their spell."

He waited, his gaze shifting between Albus and Minerva before scanning over the rest of the staff to access their reaction. Poppy was fighting a grin as was Filius and Pomona. Albus and Minerva both looked distinctly unhappy, and the others looked flummoxed.

"You will see me in my office, Severus," Albus said, steel underlying the softly spoken words and released the spell on the door.

Severus tensed, compressing his lips into a tight line. Turning back to Poppy, he spoke softly under the hubbub of babble rising from the others, "Please, let Harry know that I am fine."

She nodded and stepped out of his way.

Severus strode out of the Infirmary, knowing he was followed by not only Albus but Minerva as well. He hoped that Pomona and Filius would join them – that would save time explaining. It didn't take him long to be in the Headmaster's office with the other Heads of House and Albus.

Severus spoke as the door closed behind them, "Can we make this quick, as I do need to check on my ward?"

Albus crossed over to stand behind his desk, "How, Severus?"

Being deliberately obtuse, Severus replied, "By leaving Hogwarts' grounds and then Apparating to the Burrow."

Filius' snicker almost made him smile. Albus' darkening look helped him to refrain.

"How did Harry Potter become my ward and be known as John Holmes?" he queried.

There was a rustling noise as the slumbering portraits on the walls awoke.

Albus nodded as Minerva added, "And why it is not reflected in the school records?"

Pomona shot him a questioning look at the last revelation, but Filius still looked gleeful.

"Was it because young Mr Potter showed signs of being mistreated during his first year?" Filius asked, his tone bland as if this was a commonplace occurrence.

Severus gave a curt nod even as Pomona, Minerva, and Albus frowned. "Even though James Potter was not … my favourite person, I owed it to Lily to check on her son. The conditions I found were untenable. Harry and the Dursleys agreed with my taking over his guardianship."

"But why didn't you just report this to the authorities?" Pomona asked, her frown had faded into puzzlement. "As you said, you were no fan of James – and not of Harry if your behaviour during school is any indication."

Severus refrained from snorting in disbelief. Pomona had the Hufflepuff's tendency to believe in the system – the same system that failed him time and time again. "Harry's guardianship was not registered in the Wizarding World – so obviously, this was not to be broached here. That is why his records were not changed at school, as well as our behaviour towards each other here.

"As for why I took him in, because it was best to treat this quietly and all parties were willing. I do not now, nor have I in a long time, blamed the boy for his parentage, nor for the raising he has received before moving in with me. There are no bylaws that say I couldn't, and it worked well for both of us."

Albus rested his hands on his desk, his blue eyes staring at Severus, but the look in them was far away. They focused as Severus moved to open the door. "You saw no reason to inform us who John was, especially after the Dementors appeared in Little Whinging? You took him with you there to hunt for himself?"

Filius chuckled aloud this time, shaking his head. "Did you really, Severus?"

Severus took his eyes off of Albus long enough to look at Filius as he answered him, "I wasn't about to leave the lad home by himself while those monsters were out hunting for him, or deliver him to Poppy and have them attempt to enter the school without her knowing it could be a threat."

He looked back at the old wizard who he respected and trusted but hadn't with this. "Albus, if you'd known, if the school had known, it would have got out. At the time, it was the best option available to me. Harry could not continue living where he was and it couldn't reach the papers or the Ministry – neither the Wizarding one or the Muggle one as certain parties would have heard of it. Petunia handled the questioning with aplomb and Harry's location wasn't compromised."

"He has been looking better and been more focused in classes since you took him in," Filius added his support. "I see no reason to object to the measures you took to ensure the boy's safety."

"I agree with Filius," Pomona smiled, "he has been more attentive and has been doing better in class."

Severus watched as the anger drained out of both the Headmaster and his Deputy. "This wasn't a conspiracy against you, Albus. I wasn't trying to foil your plans, which is why Harry and I both played our parts to the hilt while at school. Why both of us understood that our connection could never be suspected at all."

"Then how did Miss Granger and young Mr Weasley learn of it?" Minerva asked.

Albus sighed and shook his head slightly, "A better question is how long did it take for them to find out?"

"After the World Cup incident, when Harry returned home with them," Severus answered and surprise became the dominant expression on the others faces.

Albus sighed lightly, but a small smile began curling his lips. "I expect you to change the school records and we will keep the change out of the news."

When Severus nodded, Albus continued, "What do you know of the outcome of the spell your ward and his two friends cast?"

"The Dark Lord is no more. Some of his more … diligent followers also perished. The staff was capable of convincing the magic drawn up by the spell to not kill the rest of his followers."

Severus left out the feeling he had from the magic as it was letting go of the others that if they didn't publicly or privately declare that they weren't for Voldemort and not hunting Harry, and meant it, then something drastic would happen. Severus wasn't willing to chance what that could be even though he hadn't felt like the warning applied to him.

Several quiet sighs of relief filled the room. Albus' smile finished growing. "Then, go check on the boy and let him know you're okay."

With a quick nod to the others, Severus swept out of the room. He smiled to himself, wondering when it was going to hit them that Harry had been the one helping them in the summers.

§§§§§

The meeting with Molly and Arthur had almost made them miss the late train home. When Severus first arrived at the Burrow, Harry – after carefully looking him over from head to toe – informed him that they had called Mrs Gillian to apologise and to let her know that they had gotten caught up sightseeing. Ron, Hermione and Harry had already decided on areas around the Burrow to talk about when that topic came up in future. Severus was given a tour of them while Molly and Arthur told him about Ron informing them who John was, and then trying to worm out of him as much of the truth as they could get.

Severus had used the fact that they were supposedly sightseeing to convince Arthur and Molly to let the other two return with him and Harry to Spinner's End. He also assured the patriarch that his son did not abuse the trust placed in him by Severus.

Glancing at the three huddled into themselves, drifting off to sleep, swaying with the rattling of the carriages, Severus couldn't help but smile. 'Far from abusing my trust, they found exactly what I had hoped they would. A solution to the Dark Lord Problem. That my life was threatened was not a concern to me – it was mostly expected. I've lived with that threat before. I wasn't even positive I would come back from that week after the Tournament, fixing Wormtail's potions mistakes. But if I didn't survive this spell, I would consider it worth it as long as That Thing didn't.

He savoured the contentment of knowing that Harry would be able to enjoy his final years at Hogwarts without any worries. Leaning back in his seat, he watched as the lights from the passing villages swept by,

They'd be home by midnight.

§§§§§

To make up for missing tea at Mrs Gillian's, Severus arranged to host the neighbourhood afternoon tea party at his place then next afternoon.

Severus poured the tea, and after fixing the cups to everyone's preferences, served it. Harry flashed him a smile as a thank you, the same as his neighbours, and Ronald and Hermione both thanked him verbally.

"No, Mr Culpepper – I learnt that my father's last name was truly Potter," Harry sipped his tea while faded green eyes stared into his own.

Severus wondered how their story would go over. He was positive that Mr Culpepper was putting two and two together and was expecting another private conversation before the week was done. He'd already had told the older man that the Dark Lord was gone and did his best not to give all the details. Severus knew though that in the end, Mr Culpepper probably knew as much as Albus about the events by the time he was free from Culpepper's parlour earlier that morning.

According to Harry, Petunia was just as good at getting information. The lad had called her while he was over at Mr Culpepper's. He'd looked pleased with himself, and asked if they could all meet up in London to do some of the tourist things together. 'I agreed – but I will be calling her back to make the plans and to suss out her intentions. She is not hurting Harry again – not intentionally.'

"Why didn't you know it before, dear?" Mrs Pence asked. They'd been trying since he came to learn more about why he was now living with Severus.

Harry's face tightened. "I was orphaned when I was only one, and my relatives … they didn't like either of my parents and made sure I knew that they didn't approve of either them or myself."

Severus cut in, "His school records reflect Potter as his last name, and I am honouring his wish to be called Harry."

Culpepper frowned slightly but it didn't hide the wonderment in his eyes. "Will it be fine if we slip and call you John?"

Harry nodded and the entire collection of neighbours relaxed.

Anita set her quickly emptied cup down, "Can we go now?"

All the younger ones' eyes turned to their related adults, the same question in them as their own empty cups settled onto their saucers.

Severus nodded to his three as the other adults did the same for their charges. His front door was flung open as teens and younger children flew out into the summer evening, happy to leave the rest of the conversation to the adults.