When the day was ending, Harry found himself eating a small dinner with Lupin and unwilling to report back to Snape at the end of the day. It seemed wrong. When Dumbledore addressed him by his new name, it seemed like the most awful thing in the world.

"I would tell you not to look so down, but I know I'm getting repetitive and you're going to be really annoyed with me if I keep trying to pep you up."

For the first time in two days, Harry laughed a little.

"You're getting it now, Lupin. You tell me if you'd rather be a werewolf or the son of the Hogwarts potions master?"

Remus humorously considered this for a moment before shrugging his shoulders and claiming that they were both of equal abhorrence. The two laughed over a game of chess until late into the night, when after much encouragement from Lupin, they walked all the way down to the dungeons for Harry to see his new residence.

"He's probably already asleep, right? I don't want to deal with him right now…I still don't want to talk to him yet. Uhhh…I haven't even been in his private rooms before…what do I do? What's his password?"

"I don't think he has one, my rooms didn't have one when I stayed here."

"So we have to knock?"

"We have to knock."

They both were slightly apprehensive at waking up the sleeping professor, but Lupin held his breath for a moment and knocked loudly, waiting for the loud yelling in return, but it never came.

"Should we try…again? I mean I can always go back up to Gryffindor tower and sleep there…"

Lupin held him by the collar and knocked again, when a slow steady set of footsteps came from behind the door, and a slow creaking filled their ears as the giant wooden door swung open.

"I'm sorry if we woke you, Severus. I was occupying Harry's time and lost track of how late it was getting. I'll take the blame for him."

Snape just looked at him for a moment. He was in a simple grey nightshirt and black house pants.

"No, you didn't wake me. I was reading in my study. I'll see him to bed, Remus. It's alright for now, just do not let it happen after term starts. He'll have a curfew then, I imagine."

Lupin smiled and gave Harry a strong pat on the back before starting back up the stairs.

"Goodnight Severus, Harry!"

This left an incredibly awkward silence between the two relatives standing on either side of the doorway. Harry's eyes were focused on the stone floor, as he walked past the professor and looked up to survey his new surroundings.

"Your trunk is in the bedroom on your right. That's where Dumbledore brought your belongings."

Harry didn't respond quite yet. The Snape quarters were…interesting to observe. He had his own small common area and study, with several spare rooms and a restroom off to the left and right. It wasn't bare, but it wasn't overly decorated and almost had a warm feeling to it. The fireplace crackled in the corner, and Harry could see stacks of books standing in various places.

"Right, sir. I guess I'll go and get ready for bed…"

They exchanged glances and Snape nodded as Harry darted for the doorway that was to be his bedroom. He unpacked his trunk nervously, finding some more clothes that Lupin had lent to him since he had outgrown his old ones.

"Potter."

The simple name caused the tension in the air to heighten a little, but Harry didn't feel so threatened by him this time…something was different about Professor Snape today.

"Yes, professor?"

He turned to look over the older version of himself. At least the Snape aged well for being a double-agent spy for the two most powerful wizards in existence…

Either way…the man still looked tense, but he took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes as he talked.

"I know we haven't been able to talk about…anything. I really did mean to apologize for the incident in which you were injured. That was completely my fault."

The boy raised an eyebrow but didn't break their brief connection.

"Albus has taken care of the fine details for now…and you shouldn't have to answer to anyone until the new school year begins."

The professor looked as though he was struggling to find words. Deep down, Snape really did want to snap at the 'irresponsible' Potter for being in his way and getting injured earlier, but that wasn't going to help the situation at hand.

"You nor I are exceptionally happy to learn of our relation, I'm sure of that. However, this can't be changed. I have a son, now. That's a responsibility I need to take."

"I understand that, professor, but I've been on my own for the majority of my life. If you're not up to the job, then you shouldn't try."

"Listen, boy! For once, stop being as hard-headed as your mother was. I'm only going to say this once. I'm most certainly not going to ignore the fact that I'm your father, even if I don't consider myself very prepared for the position. I am willing to try, and that's all I can do for now, if you care."

The ice was broken now, and both of them had to openly admit their relation to the other and their feelings about it.

"My entire life has been a lie, and it's been fed to me for sixteen years. I can't trust Dumbledore, I've lost Sirius and sometimes Lupin is too focused on his job in the Order to try and relate to me. I've got no one and I've never had anyone to count on except for my friends."

In a soft but grim voice, Snape agreed with Harry.
"You're not the only one who feels that way about life."

"So, Professor… If you're…willing to try…I suppose I will to. I've never had a father. I don't know what to expect or what to do. I've never had to be anyone's son."

With that, the two seemed to come to some agreement, some middle ground, and they both seemed to relax a little knowing that they had these feelings out in the open.

"Do you know, sir, if I'll stay in Gryffindor?"

Harry had a little desperation in his voice, he needed one constant for now….

"Yes, as far as I know. Dumbledore shows no intention of removing you from your house, even if you are the first Snape to bear the title...'Gryffindor'..."