Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the Harry Potter universe; they were created by, and belong to JK Rowling.

A/N: After reading my reviews I would just like to again thank those who have kept reading over the years. If I have not answered your questions it is because I do not want to ruin it for you. I will also be avoid Mary Sues at all costs. If Harry has a pairing it will not be slash as I don't see his character as inclined towards men.

Italics are thoughts and italics and underline are parseltongue.

Chapter Eleven-Tension

Harry, heart racing, hid the letter he had received in his pocket. After stuffing a piece of toast into his mouth, Harry quickly exited the Hall. As he tore through the Hogwarts corridors he knelt behind a pedestal with a vase upon it, so no one would see him from the main corridor. He viciously ripped into the thick parchment envelope revealing cursive writing in black ink.

Harry,

You know by now who I really am to you, your father.

Harry felt his breathing become more labored after reading this. He closed his eyes for a moment to steady himself and continued reading.

Rest assured, I have not spent my years plotting to take your life knowing this. I found out the truth, only after you did. I was informed of your incident in class, which occurred at the same moment I felt pain coursing through me. I now feel a connection to you Harry, concentrate, I am certain you will feel it too.

Harry closed his emerald eyes and concentrated as the letter instructed him. He was not sure what he was supposed to feel and felt ridiculous for trying. However, he soon located something that he did not think was present before. It felt like a line, a rope extending out from behind his scar into something too far for him to access fully, out of this reach. From the bond he felt someone, a person who was, for the moment, healthy and content. It wasn't much, but it was there.

It was my desire to guide you into adulthood, to teach you how to become a great wizard, you are the heir of Slytherin- with all the rights and privileges that come with the title. I was abandoned by my father, you will not be by yours. Your fellow housemates are unaware of your paternity but will attempt to befriend you. I suggest for your own benefit, you let them.

Harry, I want you to know, I mean you no harm. If I had it my way I would have raised you myself, we are the only remaining members of the noble Slytherin line. If you require anything, you need only ask. That fool Dumbledore had me believe that you were dead. He let you be raised by those people, you thought to be your Aunt and Uncle, wretched vile people they are. Dumbledore knows from experience what happens when a child grows up not being nurtured and yet he robbed you of a childhood, remember that, and never forget it. Never.

Harry felt himself get hot with anger at the old headmaster. The pedestal beside him shook and with lightening reflexes, Harry reached up and caught the vase which had nearly hit his head. He chastised himself for letting his emotions get the better of him, it was what Voldemort was probably trying to do achieve by this contact. Carefully, he put the decorative object back.

The prophecy that has caused us both so much pain is untrue. It apparently says 'Born to those who thrice defied him.' Yet it is labeled with our names. I obviously have not defied myself, so you see it is yet another wedge Dumbledore has tried to drive between us. Due to his past indiscretions, it is of course my suggestion that you do not inform the headmaster that I am aware of your existence.

I urge you to continue your occulmency, yes I know about that also, it could be a useful tool to keep Dumbledore out of your thoughts.

Harry remembered the odd sensations he has had in the headmaster's presence and cursed himself for not realising sooner. Dumbledore may have been taking advantage of his mental weakness for some time now.

Yours sincerely,

Your father.

Harry stared down at the parchment he held in his hands, pondering its implications. Although he now doubted Dumbledore's intentions, he was not about to take the word of a murderer who had sought to kill him since he was an infant. Angrily, he crumpled the parchment into a ball and took out his wand, prepared to set it on fire. The boy hesitated as he again felt the invisible connection he had to the Dark Lord.

"Incendio." He muttered and watched the letter burn.

Harry felt weary after a day of classes. A day of sitting near the Slytherin's though not really with them. Both he and the Slytherins seemed to agree that wasn't quite right, keeping conversation to a minimum. Harry tried to make contact with his Gryffindor friends, but he could tell Ron was still uncomfortable around him and Hermione was following Ron's lead, only offering the odd smile and wave.

During dinner, Draco once again made room for Harry to sit beside him as the long table filled. Harry took the offered seat without a word and nearly jumped as he felt a tough tap on his shoulder. He spun around to find the Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team standing behind him, the tall, hairy, muscular boy looming over him.

"Potter, Puceys turning out to be a shocking chaser this year so you will be taking his place." Graham Montague casually remarked, his voice even and expression neutral.

"Since when?" Harry asked surprised, furrowing his brow.

"Since Professor Snape and I decided that's when, why did you forget to learn how to use a broom?" The captain raised a thick eyebrow questioningly.

"Umbridge banned me though." Harry reminded as members of the Slytherin house listened in.

"Well thanks to Snape, she has revoked the ban. Be grateful. You are an adequate Quidditch player, you will serve your house. First match is in November against Gryffindor. Training will be later in the week, be prepared." With that last sentiment, the bulky boy turned on his heel and left the hall. Harry felt grateful that he was at least allowed to play the sport he loved so much again. He fought to keep a smile off his face. Malfoy, who had been following the conversation, sniggered and addressed Harry.

"That stupid friend of yours is going to love that Potter," he motioned to Ron sitting on the other side of the hall. "You had better not let him block any of your goals out of pity." Harrys' heart sank as he remembered who the Gryffindor keeper currently was. He solemnly returned to his food until he felt something poke him in the back of the head. Reaching up, he grabbed the pink piece of enchanted parchment that had flown into him.

"Oh no." He groaned as he realised who sent the letter and what it was regarding. Sure enough, when he had opened it, the scrawled script read:

Meet me in my office in 10 minutes time for detention Mr. Potter- Professor Umbridge.

Not wanting to be kept longer if he was late, Harry left at once.

"Well hello there Mr. Potter, right on time." Professor Umbridge smiled, her red lips pressed tightly together as she straightened her fuzzy pink cardigan. "Please have a seat, won't you?" The woman pointed to a seat at the other side of her desk with her stubby bejeweled finger. Without saying a word, Harry sat his lean body in the offered seat.

"Are you ready to get started dear?" She began in her high girlish voice that to Harry, sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Harry nodded his head.

"What was that?" she continued, holding a hand to her ear as though she had not heard what he said.

"Yes Professor." Harry replied grudgingly, not meeting her gaze.

"Excellent," she chirped as she reached into her desk draws and pulled out the dreaded quill, she had taken to using during his detention sessions with her. She placed it delicately in front of Harry with another small tight lipped smile.

"Now, to attend to your attention seeking behaviour."

"It was an accident by Neville… ma'am" Harry said shortly, his eyes darkening, attempting to refrain from doing anything he would regret.

"Now that might be the official story, and what the other professors foolishly believe Mr. Potter, but we both know what really happened hmmm."The short, squat woman said confidently. "Someone felt the spotlight moving off them a little and felt the need to made a scene and remind everyone who the center of their universe should be."

With a crash, two of the Defence against the Dark Arts teachers' kitten plates fell to the floor, interrupting her train of thought. The stumpy woman jumped as they broke and frowned before remembering the task at hand.

"Now, as we have already made quite a nice start on the right hard." She picked up his right hand to examine the scar which read I must not tell lies, only to find it missing. She pressed her lips together so tightly, that Harry began to think her head was going to explode.

"It appears to have healed." She stated, a disappointed tone in her voice. She shrugged off the displeasure and returned to her upbeat girlish manner, "No matter, a clean slate then. This time Mr. Potter please write, I am not the center of the universe."

Gritting his teeth, Harry picked up the quill and began to write focusing on empty places on the wall where the plates had hung, the stinging was less this time. He heard Professor Umbridge make a squeak and looked at her plump face. She was looking at his hand, where the skin was perfectly intact.

"Again." She demanded sternly. "Write it again."

Harry watched his hand this time as he began to write the words. He could see the quill strokes on his hands, the same as those appearing on his piece of parchment. Except, the skin on Harrys hand did not remain cut, but neatly healed back together before appearing as though nothing had ever happened. Harry stroked the intact skin with his other hand before Umbridge slapped it away and picked up the hand to examine it herself. Seeing it unaffected, she released the hand.

"Again!" She demanded, her voice shrill and her expression confused yet angry. As Harry prepared to write the sentence again, the office door opened to reveal his new head of house.

"Professor Snape." Umbridge said in her same shrill voice. "What can I help you with?"

Professor Snape coolly gave a small nod of acknowledgement and Harry saw the intimidating mans dark eyes quickly glance over the quill and recognise what the writing implement really was, without Umbridge noticing.

"I was just after Potter, I have not had an opportunity to welcome him to my house as of yet." Snape said, not hiding his distaste.

"I'm sorry Severus, but we were actually in the middle of something." Umbridge began, glancing at the horrendous quill she favoured.

"Yes detention, I'm aware. However since it was your decision to have the boy in my house, let us get the orientation over with." His cold black eyes fell on Harry. "It will not be a pleasant experience for either of us."

Umbridge, seemingly happy with this, nodded in agreement and allowed Harry to leave with Snape on the provision that they would arrange another time to continue Harrys' detention.

Harry followed Snape as he walked through the castle, listening as Snape recited the same speech he was sure the Potions Master had given every first year Slytherin student, for many years.

"I have just returned from a previous engagement. Mr. Malfoy has given you the tour of the Slytherin dungeons?" Snape questioned, not turning to face Harry, only his black shoulder length hair visible to the newest Slytherin.

"Yes Professor." Harry replied curtly.

"Good." Snape lead Harry into a dark empty classroom, not far from the Potion Masters office .

"We shall continue to practice your abysmal attempts at Occulmency." The man's thin lips curved into a sneer as he reached into his long black robes.

"Clear your mind." Snape instructed, placing emphasis on each word. "Concentrate."

The spell hit Harry and, doing as his professor had instructed, he made his mind blank, suppressing his memories and denying Snape access. Snape stopped.

"Better." He said simply, never one to give much praise. "Again."

Harry felt the spell upon him once more and again, succeeded in protecting his thoughts and memories. Snape withdrew the spell once more and prepared to retry the spell.

"Again." The professor coldly instructed, Harry prepared himself. Snape sneered disdainfully and drawled. "Make your father proud."

At these words a stunned Harry faltered, he felt the walls he had carefully put up inside his mind crumble, unintentionally allowing Snape access into his mind.

He watched as Snape saw the memories and thoughts that had been foremost on his mind. He saw the letter written in parseltongue from Voldemort. He watched as Dumbledore held a deceased infant in front of Voldemort, as he buried the poor child and cradled the live one in his arms. An image of Dumbledore and the Potters floated through his head. The vibrant red headed woman who looked happy and broken at the same time, the dark haired man who Harry seemed to so closely resemble.

"Is.. is that him?"

"Yes James, it is. I am very sorry for your loss James and Lily. I know you'll miss Harry a lot. I have… buried him myself, for the protection of all three of you, you must forget about that Harry. From this moment on, as much as it pains me to say, this little fellow here, is the only Harry Potter to ever have existed. This is a power binding potion, give this to young Harry, as he is Voldemort's biological son we don't know what extra traits he may possess, we need to suppress them."

He could see Lily Potter press a kiss to his forehead and utter.

"We will love him like he is our own"

"NOOO!" Harry cried out, forcing Severus Snapes' presence from his mind. An awkward silence fell between the two. Harry wiped the thin film of sweat off his brow and watched the chest of the menacing Potions Master rise and fall with heavy breaths. Holding his head high, Harry's superior regained his composure.

"Weak attempt. It is time for bed Potter, return to the Slytherin dungeons at once." Severus Snape walked past Harry and left the room without another word. Harry did as he was told.