Harry reluctantly returned to his homework. He read over his re-hashed essay, feeling a little guilty at just having copied the previous years work (and adding some Hermione inspired additions) rather than making a real effort.

Then again, if the teacher couldn't be bothered to give the students a different assignment he deserved to get exactly the same essay to read again.

He decided the next assignment to do was his Charms essay, after first skimming through all his charms books for information on glamours. He was going to have to ask Hermione about those, he figured, finding nothing.

Snape had cancelled the glamours on them both before they re entered the house, to Harry's mild annoyance.

He thought back to the shopping trip. He hadn't realised how many wizard shops could be found in the muggle world. He had been surprised when Snape had taken him into seemingly normal (Muggle!) shops only to enter another store via a password or secret door which muggles couldn't see and find himself in small (apparently very select) stores where the man bought his various goods.

He couldn't wait to tell Hermione about that!

He straightened his glasses, again marvelling how clear everything was. He hadn't realised just how bad his eyesight had been until he was shown how things were supposed to look, and felt an awkward squirm. His aunt and uncle had always told him how expensive new glasses were which was why he'd had to use tape to fix up his old ones whenever they broke, until Hermione had taught him the reparo charm at least.

Snape had already spent a lot of money on him and he felt guilty that he hadn't even offered to pay for the glasses.

And running into Vernon! How bad was his luck?

There had been a moment he was sure the man knew it was his nephew he had a grip on, and had frozen.

He had never been so happy to see Snape than at that moment!

It wasn't often someone stood up his uncle, and he closed his eyes to savour the disbelief which crossed the bully's face.

Fancy Snape sticking up for Harry! The boy would have put money against that ever happening!

But then, wasn't that what a parent did for their child?

He briefly wondered how his life would have been if he had grown up with his father and grandparents, then growled at himself. It wasn't that long ago he had been hoping to move in with Sirius, and thinking about the Snapes as his family felt like he was betraying his parents and Godfather.

But then, his mother must have wanted him to know his other family. Why else would she have left the information for Snape?

He wondered what she had given him to prove he was a father.

Rather than follow that train of thought, Harry started on his Charms essay.

Severus returned to the lab to properly store the new supplies and to continue with his brewing. He had purchased enough replacement ingredients for his mother's stores and for himself to continue his brewing for the school's stores. He smirked to himself, remembering Harry's long-suffering looks as he was dragged to various stores to collect his different supplies. The boy must have gotten his patience (or, rather, the lack of same) from his mother.

He knew a lot of people did not think that he had much in the way of patience, but given that some potions took hours to brew, or even weeks, it was a virtue he had in spades. (Maybe not so much with people though!)

He was growing annoyed with himself for not just cursing that obnoxious muggle. He had enjoyed the day out with his son, and it had been a complete success until that moment.

Well almost a complete success. The boy had been acting more like a five year old than a nearly sixteen year old, and Severus had been getting irritated with him, but even he would not have treated the child the way a complete stranger had dared too!

And he had to confess, it had been easier to think of Harry as his son when he didn't look like Potter.

He idly wondered what the boy would have looked like before his appearance had been altered. He wondered how Lily had managed that, and more to the point, if he could undo it permanently.

Eileen came into the lab, watching him for a few moments before speaking.

"Did you have an argument?"

"Excuse me?" he finished stirring before turning around to face her.

"When the two of you were out, did you have a row?" she repeated.

Severus frowned, "No. Why?"

"Harry's been quiet since he came back." she commented

He sighed.

"It was actually a really good trip. We got his eyes tested…" He trailed off, frowning,

"How often should he be getting his eyes tested?" he wondered out loud.

Eileen shook her head, not having a clue about muggle eye care. "Why?"

Severus was tapping one long finger against his lips thoughtfully.

"He couldn't tell the optician when his last eye test had been, and apparently his prescription has changed quite a lot, so it must have been a while ago…"

"Maybe it was last year, but he couldn't remember the exact date?" Eileen suggested.

"Hmmm", it was possible.

"Anyway, we had a light lunch, which, yes he ate all of, and I dragged him into a couple of 'new age' shops. I may have visited a couple more than we strictly needed to." he confessed with a smirk. It had been amusing to watch Harry try to be patient when all he wanted to do was go get his new glasses.

"Anyway, we picked up his glasses and were heading home….I took my eyes off him for two minutes, and some ignorant muggle had my son pinned half way up a wall ready to punch him!" Severus growled, frustrated at having allowed the incident to happen.

"Do you blame Harry?" Eileen questioned, softly.

"Blame…? Of course not." he was genuinely confused.

Damn it! He should have protected his son! that's what parents did!

He focussed on his brewing, and Eileen left him to it.

Whenever her boy was upset or anxious brewing calmed him down.

"Have you any essays for me to check over yet?" Severus asked his son over dinner.

"Just 'history of magic'", Harry answered, not looking into his father's eyes. "And I got started on my Charms assignment."

The dark man nodded.

"Can we play cards again tonight?" Harry asked, turning to his grandfather.

Tobias grinned, agreeing immediately.

Severus frowned. The boy had done hardly any work today!

But he found himself also agreeing, "On condition that we have a potions tutorial tomorrow."

Harry's smile fell. A day of Potions?

Just after dinner, an owl flew through the window and landed on the Potion Master's arm.

He took the note, quickly read it and sent his reply.

"I have to attend a meeting tonight. I do not know how late it will go on, can you make sure Harry is in bed by half-past nine?", he asked his father.

Harry turned quickly. A meeting? The order? Or ….?

"Meeting?" he repeated, not sure how to ask 'who with?'

Understanding the unspoken worry, Snape said "The Order"

Harry gave a sigh of relief.

"Can I come?" the boy inquired, hopefully.

Snape sneered, mildly, "I do not believe you are a member."

The boy scowled. Sirius had been for letting him join the organisation!

"I'd join if they let me", he muttered.

His father glared.

"Any way, I just meant I could come to headquarters, maybe see Remus?"

Snape pursed his lips.

Harry gnawed his bottom lip.

"I expect you to be asleep by the time I get back", he told the boy sharply.

The man swiftly made his way to his room to change into his robes.

Of course the boy didn't want to speak to his father!

Why would he when he had the damned werewolf!

Severus had thought that his son would have started to trust him by now, and was hurt by the teen's request to see the other man.

He has known me longer! The professor fumed.

He calls my parents 'gran' and 'gramps' and he's only known them 5 minutes, yet I am still professor or sir.

He conveniently forgot that he had often wanted the teen to call him 'sir' or 'professor.'

Before leaving in a swirl of robes, Snape reminded Harry of his bedtime.

Harry stared after his father, a little bewildered. Had he really annoyed him that much?

Seeing the hurt etched on his grandson's face, Tobias tried to cheer the boy up.

"How about we get the dishes washed and then get the cards out?" he asked with a grin.

Harry smiled back. "And, if we 'forget' about bed time? I won't tell if you don't", he tried.

It earned him a chuckle, but no agreement.

It was late by the time Dumbledore finally declared the meeting over. Severus couldn't believe that it had taken so long to discuss nothing!

There had been no Death Eater activity, the Dark Lord was presumed to be overseas but there was no actual news.

The man was getting gradually more frustrated. Every time he was about to take his leave, the headmaster added 'just one more thing'

And as if that wasn't bad enough, after the meeting had reached its conclusion, Molly Weasley started taking orders for tea and coffee, and then just as he had made it into the hall, he still couldn't escape! The bloody werewolf decided they 'needed to have a chat!'

The headmaster had told him of Harry's newly discovered family and he wanted to know that Harry was doing okay.

At least the wolf had the sense to not just come out with 'I hear Harry Potter is really your son, how is he?'

As soon as Lupin asked how Severus was getting on with his 'delicate new potion,' he knew his former colleague was not talking about the wolfs bane improvements he was attempting, and ushered him into the un-used lounge.

Why they held the meetings in the kitchen instead of the sitting room was beyond him.

After casting a privacy charm (or three) the professor answered, "The boy is fine."

Remus smiled at the prickly man.

"I believe you, Severus, but let us remember that you and Harry have not gotten on well in the past, he has just lost his Godfather, and been told that his father is not the man he thought he was, but is in fact you, I mean no offence." he held up his hands "Then, he is uprooted from the only home he has known, moved in with you and your parents, who he does not know… I think he probably would like someone to talk to", Lupin finished.

Severus remained stoic, unwilling to concede the point.

"I have told Harry he is more than welcome to talk to me if he wishes", he stated in a low voice.

Lupin actually laughed at that!

Snape scowled.

"Severus, you are probably the last person he wants to talk to about this, again I mean not to cause offence, it is simply that you are too involved. I am a bystander, neutral… And he knows I am more likely to talk about James and Sirius." he added the last sadly.

Not too happy about it, Snape did see the logic, and agreed.

"I will have a port key arranged", he snapped, cancelling the charms and leaving without saying 'goodbye' to anyone. Remus rejoined the others, nodding to Albus to let him know he had managed to talk to Severus.

After a short debate with himself, Snape decided to spend the night at his parents home, as his new supplies were still there and he wanted to start with the boys Potions lessons early.

How his son could be such a disaster in a subject both his parents were so gifted in was a mystery, but one he was going to solve (and fix!)

The only light still on when he arrived 'home' was the hall one, letting him know that everyone was already in bed, and that his parents had been expecting him to come back. He smiled to himself as he locked the front door, switched off the light and quietly made his way upstairs under the soft glow of a 'lumos'.

He had planned on going straight to bed, but paused outside his son's room, looking in on the figure on the bed.

It seemed Harry had been having a restless sleep so far, the covers were mostly spilled on the floor, all twisted. Harry gave a soft moan, turning in his sleep, and Snape went over wondering if he was receiving a vision. The boy gave a soft 'huph' as he turned again, and the man brushed the fringe away from the scar to see if it was inflamed.

It looked normal.

The boy nudged the hand and Snape found himself combing his fingers through the child's hair. Harry pushed his head closer to the gentle touch, like a cat demanding attention. It seemed to settle him, his breathing evening out, and his face relaxing. Severus kept the soothing motion up until he was sure his son had fallen into a more restful sleep before sorting out the covers, detangling them and re covering the sleeping child.

For the second time, he was aware he had tucked Harry Potter in.

It was ridiculous, but part of him mourned all the nights he hadn't been there to do that for his son.

Sleep eluded Severus; for a long time he lay staring at the ceiling thinking about how life would have been different if he had known Lily had been carrying his child.

He knew Lily had made the right choice, not to tell him about his child and, hard as it was to admit even now, to stay with Potter. All he could have offered them was death, and perhaps not even a swift one. As it was, his 'fellow' Death Eaters were convinced that his parents were dead, and that lie kept them safe.

The next day found Harry had made breakfast of porridge again, a huge pile of toast with butter and marmalade set out and tea and coffee ready to be poured.

"Thank you, Harry." Tobias smiled, "But you really don't have to do this."

The boy shrugged. He didn't mind making breakfast for his grandparents; at least they acknowledged it and thanked him.

He took a slice of thickly buttered toast and a cup of tea for himself, deciding against marmalade.

He glanced up when his father entered the room, wearing black trousers and long sleeved shirt.

The man poured himself a cup of black coffee, downing almost half the nearly scalding liquid in one go and topped up his cup. He sat down and helped himself to toast, being generous with the butter and marmalade.

Harry got the impression that the professor was in a bad mood and briefly wondered if it was because he had to spend the day in the potions lab with him.

He hoped Snape had changed his mind about the lesson, as he could think of nothing worse than being shut in a room with a grumpy Potions Master!

"Are you going to thank Harry for breakfast?" Eileen prompted, not intimidated by her son's surliness.

Harry kept his head down, paying more attention to his meal than it needed. He would rather the man did not notice him, and staying quiet had sometimes kept Vernon's attention off him; he hoped the same strategy would work here, even if it hadn't worked in Potions class.

"Thank you, Harry." Snape was perfectly polite.

"No problem." Harry assured him, quickly.

"I assume making breakfast was your job at your Aunt's?" Eileen asked, taking a sip of her own coffee (milk and 2 sugars)

"Yeah, only it was a fry up for them most mornings, bacon, eggs, sausages, mushrooms the works!", Harry gave a laugh, "This is easy, just porridge and toast."

"A fry up? Every morning?" Tobias repeated, incredulous. He liked a fry- up as much as the next person, but once a week was enough, and even then, most his Sunday treat was grilled rather than fried.

"Yeah, for Uncle Vernon and Dudley anyway. My Aunt usually had toast or porridge and orange juice."

Eileen frowned.

"Yet you didn't eat breakfast? After making it for the rest of the family?" she queried.

"I didn't feel hungry in the mornings." Harry shrugged. The truth was, while The Family were eating, Harry had their beds to make, then the dishes to wash before having to run to school (or starting his chores during the holidays.) He didn't have time to eat breakfast, and got used to not eating in the mornings. He tried to make up for it by sneaking extra food when he was making dinner.

After breakfast, Harry offered to wash up, but again his grandfather refused to let him, waving him through to the living room.

"You will want to wear robes in the Lab.", Snape directed, shortly.

Harry muttered a "Yes sir", and headed upstairs.

He really did not want to work in the lab, but hurriedly pulled on a set of his older school robes over his clothes and made his way quickly back down the stairs. It was never a good idea to keep Snape waiting, and the mood the man was in today, it would be suicidal!

Snape glanced at the boy as he reappeared, wearing….school robes?

He pursed his lips.

Were the robes he had purchased not good enough?

Before he could remark on that, however, Eileen asked if he didn't have others he could wear.

"Yeah, but they are new, and I don't want to ruin them." he answered.

Snape rolled his eyes. Surely the boy knew robes had protective charms woven into them specifically to repel potions and most potions spillages? That was why he was wearing them after all.

No matter. The robes he was wearing would do, they fit after all, and there was no point in wasting time getting him to change. And he had to admit to being pleased that the boy did not want to risk ruining the clothes he had bought. He decided to strengthen the charms the robes, so that even Neville Longbottom would have problems destroying them!

He kept his own robes in the lab, as his parents lived in a muggle neighbourhood and he wasn't sure when they would have visitors and he did not need them to have to deal with awkward conversations about their cross-dressing son!

Just as they were about to go into the cellar, alarms started sounding. Harry jumped, and looked around, wondering where the noise was coming from. Snape had his wand in his hand as he moved to the front door, casting various charms to reveal the wizard(s?) who had entered the secure area he had set around the house. Eileen moved swiftly in front of Harry, wand also drawn. Toby, like Harry, was unsure what to do, but stood behind the boy, a hand on his shoulder. Harry stepped back into his grandfather, feeling a little safer.

The alarms were suddenly silenced, and Snape yanked the door open with a growl, and hauled in Remus Lupin.

"Did I not say I would organise a port key?" the Potions Master snarled.

Eileen lowered her wand, but did not slip it back up her sleeve. Her son may know this man, but she didn't and was not about to risk her grandchild.

"Sev?" Tobias prompted to remind his son they were awaiting introductions.

"Mother, father, this is Remus Lupin, Lupin my parents, Tobias and Eileen." with a slight smirk, he added, "and I believe you know my son, Harry"

Harry felt awkward. Would Remus still want anything to do with him even though he wasn't really James's son after all?

Harry hadn't really seen, or spoken to Remus since the man had stopped him following Sirius through the Veil. Harry had all but demanded to see the were-wolf just yesterday, but now that he was here, the boy was nervous.

"Lupin wanted to check up on Harry," Snape explained, biting each word out, "I told him last night that I would organise something, let you know to expect a visitor and make sure we had nothing else planned for that day. I assume I was taking too long?" he inquired, in a low hiss.

Harry was glad not to be on the receiving end of the man's tirade, and he assumed that the dreaded potions lesson was off for today. He wondered if perhaps Remus asking to come visit him had been the reason for Snape's ill temper that morning.

"I apologise for turning up out of the blue," Remus told the Snapes in a soft voice, "I was given a port-key by Albus Dumbledore, and I assumed he had arranged things with you."

Snape snorted.

Harry stayed by his grandparents, chewing on his bottom lip. Remus had wanted to check up on him? Even knowing who his parents really were?

He felt a small smile steal across his lips.

"I can see Harry is fine, and we can easily rearrange my visit if now is inconvenient?" Remus continued, amiably.

Harry glanced over at his father, hoping he would let the former professor stay for a visit. After all the man was here now, and potions could be brewed anytime.

He hadn't been aware of chewing his lip until Eileen peeled it out from between his teeth with her thumb. He gave an apologetic shrug, still watching the face off.

The cheek of the were-wolf! Standing there making it look like he, Severus, was the unreasonable man in this situation! The former professor was just standing there waiting on Snape's decision, which he would probably gently agree with, somehow making himself look good and Severus would be portrayed as the 'baddie'. He was tempted to demand that the wolf leave, just to make the point that he was in charge, but he was not really in the right frame of mind to work on potions with a teenager who would likely need 100% of his attention so he didn't blow up the house.

But then again, he had planned to spend the day in the lab with his son and felt irritated that those plans were on hold.

After a moment, Remus made the decision for him.

"I would like it if we could arrange another time for a visit?" he suggested.

"That would be acceptable", Snape grudgingly agreed.

"And Harry?" Remus smiled, "Ron is getting impatient on your reply."

Harry frowned.

"Reply? To what?" he questioned, puzzled.

It was Remus' turn to look confused. Had Severus been withholding Harry's mail?

Or had the owl been intercepted?

"Ron owled you a couple of days ago." Lupin told the boy.

Snape regarded the two. Had Harry not read his letter? He had wondered if he had secretly answered it despite being told his correspondence would have to be checked by him.

"A letter was delivered to you while you were asleep so I left it on your bedside table." Snape informed his son.

Harry grinned. Ron had written to him? He was about to dash up to his room to fetch it, when Snape handed it to him, having summoned it.

Eagerly, Harry opened the note and read it quickly.

"I can take your reply back with me if you want." Remus offered.

"Uh…" Harry hesitated, glancing at his father.

"Ron was asking if I can go to the 'burrow' at the end of the holidays?" he asked, sure the answer would be 'no'

Snape shook his head.

"You may write to Mr Weasley and let him know you are staying with other relatives this year, and you will see him on the train at the start of term."

Harry sighed, but wrote the note. Ron would probably assume he was with the Dursleys staying with Aunt Marge.

Before sending it, Snape checked it. There was no sign of a code or any clues to who Harry was staying with, so he allowed Remus to take it.

The were-wolf again apologised for intruding, and took his leave.

Harry stared after the man for a moment before being reminded he had a potions lesson in the cellar to get to.

Like a man being led to his execution, Harry reluctantly followed his father down to the potions lab.

Ok, I wasn't sure about this one so it's been on the laptop for ages while I tweaked it and guess what?

Yup, still not sure I like it! (Chapter 5 wrote itself and I hoped no. 6 would be that easy, but no. anyway, it's up now, for better or worse x)

It has been a long time in coming and I could probably spend another year on it and not like it so it's now or never.

I would like to say thank you to everyone who has reviewed (especially recently despite the lack of new material) also to everyone still reading and alerting a huge Thank You.

Hope it was worth the wait.

x