DISCLAIMER: See Ch. 1.

A/N: Here, the Harry/Snape interaction takes on a whole new level... ;)

CHAPTER 31: AN INVISIBLE FAMILY

"Cedo equidem nec, nate, tibi comes ire recuso." Dixerat ille... "I indeed yield and do not refuse to go as your companion, my son." (Thus,) he spoke... -Vergil, Aeneid (2.70f)

"...and Snape, of course, would no sooner play games in class than adopt Harry." J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry walked down the flights of stairs to Snape's office. After knocking on the door, he heard Snape's silky voice. "Who is it?"

"It's Harry Potter, sir."

There was a pause, and then Snape's response. "Come in."

Harry entered, and he saw only the various pickled plants and animals stored around the room. The door shut behind him, and Snape walked out of the shadows. 'Why does he always do that?' Harry thought.

"So, what are you here for, Potter?" Snape asked.

"There's something which I was hoping you could explain to me. Excuse me one moment." With that, he took out the trunk, enlarged it, set it to the storage room, and entered it.

He descended the ladder, and saw the portrait of his parents from when he saw it for the first time. He carefully climbed back out with the painting, and saw Snape now sitting in his desk, with a whiskey-filled shot glass in his hand, gazing into the fireplace.

"Anyway, Professor Snape..." Harry started to ask.

"Just spit it out already," Snape said nonchalantly, drinking from the shot glass in his hand.

"Ever hear of someone named Perseus Evans?"

Snape's eyes widened in shock, and he spat out the whiskey into the fireplace, which consequently caused the flames to leap high for a moment.

"What?" he choked, turning around to look at Harry, who tried not to laugh at the rare sight.

"This painting," Harry said, pointing to it, "Was painted by a Perseus Evans. There's a Mark Evans in your House. The maiden name of my mother, who you got along with, was Evans. I was hoping that you might know something."

Snape got up and walked around his desk, and picked up the painting, viewing it at eye level. Anger crossed his features for a moment at seeing the cheerful face of James Potter, but softened a bit at seeing Lily Potter née Evans. The Potions Master turned it over to see the handwriting, and Harry had the impression he was doing some quick thinking. He handed the painting back to Harry, took some Floo powder, threw it into the fireplace, and called, "Albus? There's something I think you should see."

There was a rush of flames, and Dumbledore came marching out of the fireplace. "Ah, good evening, Severus. What is it that has required my attention?"

"I am beginning to wonder, Albus," Snape said in a sort of detached voice, "That I might actually be related to Potter."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, and he asked with a smile, "What brought on this amazing flash of insight, Severus?"

"The painting in Potter's trunk," Snape said, pointing to it. Dumbledore picked up the painting and observed it, admiring the work.

"Excellent craftsmanship, for whoever painted it," Dumbledore commented.

After putting Silencing Charms all over the office, Snape said, "I would know, Headmaster, because I painted it."

Harry felt his body give a sudden jolt of surprise. Dumbledore had an expression of genuine surprise on his face. "Please explain, Severus," he asked.

While composing his thoughts and sitting back down at his desk, Snape launched into his story. "As both of you might be well aware, Lily Potter née Evans was something of a friend while I was at school with her. I wasn't able to be that friendly with her as I would have hoped, because being a Slytherin raised with 'proper' wizarding values, it would have looked bad, and my father wouldn't have tolerated it. On the rare occasion that I met her, I couldn't help but like her. She even had to tutor me in Charms at one point, when I got injured.

"She was also remarkably clever. One time, as part of a joke, she even turned my name, 'Severus Snape,' into an anagram, 'Perseus Evans.' She never really said it, although at times, I was sure she was alluding to the fact that she and I could possibly be related. I dismissed it as a clever idea but not really being true, because both 'Snape' and 'Evans' are fairly common last names. I still use the pseudonym from time to time."

"So you painted it?" Harry asked.

"I did, as a matter of fact," Snape said, his features twitching as though he wanted to smile. "I doubt your father would have been happy if I showed up at his wedding, so I improvised."

"What about Mark-" Harry began to ask. Then he remembered... Mark with beetle black eyes... Snape directing Mark to his office the first night back at school... Mark being worried about Snape... it all fit together in Harry's mind. With a small gasp, he then asked, "Mark's your son, isn't he?"

Snape nodded. "And once again, you figure it all out. He is indeed my son. Mark Evans is a pseudonym he goes by, for the sake of his own safety. His true name is Marcus Snape."

"Then why does he live in Little Whinging, like me?"

"He lives with his mother- my wife- because the Dark Lord and his henchmen don't know I have a family, and I intend to keep it that way. The fact that he lives in the same town as your relatives is purely coincidental."

Harry stopped, taking all this in. It was still something of a surprise. Then he remembered something else. "Er, Professor? I don't know how to break this to you, but my cousin, well, he's something of a bully, and Mark..."

Harry didn't need to finish his sentence before Snape pieced it all together, and a snarl formed on the Professor's face. Quickly diverting Snape's attention from any possible murder plans or such, Dumbledore quickly said, "As amazed as I am at all of this, there's still one question; are the two of you related?"

This bought both Harry and Snape's attention back to Earth. Both of them looked thoughtful, until Snape came up with an answer. "I believe there is a spell which can instantly trace back a person's genealogy. One must simply take a piece of parchment, prick their index finger on their dominant hand, let a single drop of blood fall onto the parchment, say phrase ‘Revela meam hereditatem, propter sum,’ plus their name, and tap the parchment twice with their wand."

As Snape took out a roll of parchment, Harry went back into his trunk and got out Sirius' penknife. Snape laid out the parchment on his desk vertically in front of Harry and said, "You should let the blood fall at the bottom, so you might be able to trace it back farther."

Harry nodded, and with Sirius' penknife, let a drop of blood fall on the bottom of the page. After using a healing spell to close the wound, he said "Revela meam hereditatem, propter sum Harry James Potter," and tapped the parchment twice with his wand.

Harry closed his eyes, wondering what would happen with this magic. A moment later, he opened them.

The parchment showed his genealogy on both sides back to the 1800's. He looked at his mother's side of the family. He traced his Muggle ancestors backwards from there. Lily Evans... William Evans... Justin Evans, who married the daughter of Percy Hawkins... but the name of Percy Hawkins' wife made Harry's jaw drop. Alice Snape, who, from the looks of it, was a Squib.

His eyes then went upwards to Alice Snape's parents. Richard Snape and Roxane Rogue, both wizards. It also seemed that Alania Snape had a brother, Richard Snape. Harry took a look at that line of the tree. After Richard Snape, there was Norman Snape... Gregory Snape... Anthony Snape... Severus Snape... and finally, Marcus Snape.

But that wasn't the only peculiar thing. Joseph Evans' brother, Charles Evans, was apparently a Muggle-born wizard. The line of his witch daughter, Chloe Evans, intertwined with Anthony Snape to form Severus Snape.

Harry felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. Mark Evans was his cousin, but even more surprising, Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master, Death-Eater-turned-spy, Lord of the Dungeons, was his first cousin, once removed. (1)

The teenager showed it to his professors, who looked it over together. Snape's jaw dropped an inch, while Dumbledore seemed to find the whole situation hilarious. Harry shook his head, muttering things like "This sort of thing only happens to me, I swear."

"I'm sure stranger things have happened to you, Potter," Snape said in a shocked voice, his eyes not leaving the parchment. Getting up, Snape threw Floo powder into the fireplace and said, "Mark Evans, please come to my office."

Mark trudged out of the fireplace, looking genuinely confused. "Yes, Professor?"

"It's alright, Mark, you can drop the professor/student act here and now." Snape handed the parchment to Mark, who was shocked, to say the least, upon seeing this newfound discovery.

"Harry?" Mark said at last, looking up at him. "We're cousins?"

Harry nodded, still dumbstruck by this revelation. "And that means you're also Dudley's cousin." A sudden smile formed on Harry's face. "Imagine that. He picks on kids who always happen to be his cousins who happen to be wizards. I can't wait to see the look on his face."

"By the way, Harry," Dumbledore asked, causing Harry to look around (he'd forgotten the Headmaster was there), "Maybe I should apologize for not doing enough thorough research about your mother's family when it came to me to decide who to place you with fifteen years ago. Although now that it's occurred to me..." he surveyed the three other people in the room with a smile, but Snape quickly figured it out.

"You can't be serious, Albus."

"Why not? You are his blood relative." Harry once again felt strange as he realized Dumbledore was suggesting that Snape adopt Harry. (2)

Snape moved his mouth as though to say something, but no sound came out. Mark just looked back and forth between everyone else as Harry supplied, "Because even though we've put some differences aside, it's still rather strange to be in the same house we've had conflicts with for the past five years?"

Snape nodded mutely, still mulling over the idea in his head. "Do you think this is a good idea, Albus?"

Dumbledore shrugged. "Why not?"

"For one thing, I'm still a very important spy for you..."

"And if I recall correctly, Voldemort and none of his henchmen know about your manor."

Snape paced a little, thinking this over. On one hand, it was still a little strange to be related to his rival's son, not to mention the risks involved... on the other hand, it might just be what was needed to ensure the boy's safety, not to mention some protection from Dumbledore's meddling.

"Well," Snape said elusively, "That's really Potter's decision, isn't it?"

Harry felt a little nervous now. He felt as though he was in a life-or-death situation, which, in a way, it was. Wisely, he asked, "What if I do something wrong?"

Snape really couldn't blame Potter for asking that. "The same sort of things I would make a student do in detentions here, like preparing ingredients or cleaning rooms. I would never use magic to cause pain or physical injury. Never. However, at times I might insist that you stay in your room under dire circumstances, like if the manor was being attacked."

Harry could tell that part of Snape's insistence came out of memory of his own childhood. It was now Harry's turn to weigh the decision in his mind. Should he, or should he not?

"I agree," he said at last, "Although I don't want to tell my friends about this. Only on a need-to-know basis."

Snape nodded. "It's settled then. Tomorrow, we will discuss this with your relatives, and maybe have guardianship changed."

"As mean as they may have been, that doesn't mean I want to see anything bad happen to them," Harry added. "I'm not like that."

"Indeed, if anything happens, I will provide safety for them, although not here at Hogwarts," Dumbledore agreed. "Also, Harry, speaking of a need-to-know basis, I feel I owe you another explanation. The reason I didn't tell you some things earlier in your education, like about the prophecy, was because you didn't know Occlumency, and Voldemort could have figured the rest of it out from there. That doesn't mean, however, that I would simply let you go around Hogwarts without someone keeping an eye on you. I've had someone floating around Hogwarts watching you as a sort of guardian."

Harry was curious now. "Who would that be, sir?"

Dumbledore smiled and called, "Oh, Peeves..."

The poltergeist burst into Snape's office, looking delighted as he did flips in the air. "Oh, I always wanted to be in here... now let's see, which pickled friend shall I free first?"

Harry's jaw dropped. "Peeves watching out for me? What- why?"

"Because he's one of your ancestors, Harry." (3)

Utter silence reigned as Peeves stopped dead in his path, floating upside down with shock on his face. Turning himself upright, he floated over to Dumbledore and said, "What are you talking about, Bumblydore? Me related to Potter? I only kept watching him because you told me to."

"And I told you to, because you're one of his ancestors," Dumbledore said cheerfully, as though explaining to a young child that two plus two equaled four. Turning back to Harry, he said, "As you can see, I even keep secrets from some other people who work for me, so don't feel too bad about being left in the dark, Harry."

"And I suppose that's where his father got the mischief-making trait?" Snape sneered, looking ready to run out of his own office.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Dumbledore commented. Turning to Harry, he said, "Harry, you remember your family tree from your vault, yes?"

Harry nodded, causing Dumbledore to continue. "One of your ancestors, Benjamin Porter, was a businessman. His brother, Jacobin, was the merchant who traveled to China and brought back goods for your ancestor to sell in Europe, before settling down in China and becoming one of Miss Chang's ancestors."

"Harry's related to his ex-girlfriend?" Mark asked, surprised. Dumbledore nodded in the affirmative as Snape simply eyed Harry, unable to believe what he was hearing. Turning back to Peeves, the old teacher said, "Please show them your normal form, Benjamin."

There was a sudden breeze as Peeves changed in appearance. He was now a man in his mid-thirties, with a thin face, brown eyes, and messy black hair. He looked somewhat like James Potter, but without glasses, and with a different face, not to mention that he was in robes that were highly fashionable in the Renaissance. He still floated in mid-air, and had normal colors, but was still somewhat transparent.

"In case you're wondering, Harry," he said in a voice devoid of any usual malice, "Some people become ghosts when they die because of unresolved business from their lives. Some people become poltergeists instead of normal ghosts, because they died sudden violent deaths, and so they need to find a way to express their chaotic feelings."

"So what happened to you?" Harry asked.

"Oh, well, my brother sent back several crates of fireworks from China, and I couldn't want to open them. It nighttime when I got the shipment, and I couldn't wait to take a look, so I took a torch, and... well, let's just say that was in the days before warning labels."

Harry winced. "So you accidentally got yourself blown up," he finished.

"At least I went out with a bang," Benjamin quipped. "By the way, notice how I never harm you?"

Harry nodded, and then said, "Yeah I suppose. By the way, sorry I pecked you those times."

Benjamin shrugged. "Apology accepted, although it's nowhere as bad as Lupin shoving gum up my nose." Ignoring the looks from the other three people in the room, the spirit went on, "Anyway, it's my job to make sure nothing happens, and I always report to the Headmaster, because, well, who am I to argue with him? By the way, I would have been able to stop you that night in your first year when you went after the Stone, except you can do a very good impersonation of the Bloody Baron."

Harry blushed a little as Dumbledore laughed. Snape raised an eyebrow as if to say, "This one I have to hear about."

Benjamin continued, "Or there was the time in your second year where I dropped the Vanishing Cabinet to save you from Filch's wrath. Nearly-Headless Nick hardly needed to encourage me; all he needed to say was 'Harry's in trouble,' and I did my work."

"So what's with the singing?"

"It's a habit as a poltergeist. The other time in your second year, where I saw that you had found Nick and that Hufflepuff kid petrified, it's because I had to alert everyone, however tactless I did it. I even use my poltergeist's impatience to help you, not by watching you, but to annoy other people."

"You mean like last year with Umbridge after the Weasley twins told you to give her hell?"

Benjamin winked and smiled. "Exactly. I certainly took pride in what I did after hearing her denounce you like that. However, if I had known about the stuff he did to you physically, I would have done a hell of a lot more than blow raspberries behind her back or drop a chandelier on her head. I was about to itching powder and other nasty stuff in her clothes, except Miss Granger beat me to it with the 'let her be abducted by the centaurs' plot."

Dumbledore interrupted at this point. "As fun as it is reliving last year's torment of Umbridge-" and Harry caught the twinkle in his eyes "-I should also explain that I keep Peeves around because he knows about the wards, and he even knows a few ways in and out that the Marauders never found, including his own lair."

"His lair?" Harry asked incredulously.

Benjamin shrugged. "I need to plot and rest somewhere. Well, I'd better get going, and I ask that you keep my alter ego thing a secret. Although if you ever need any help, feel free to call me." His image changed again, and as Peeves, he said, "Well, time to get going, oh Dunderheads of the Dungeons!" And with that, he bounced out.

Harry's mind was still in a state of shock. "So," he summed up, "I'm related to Cho, my former girlfriend... Blaise, the first Slytherin I got along with... Mark, another kid in the same neighborhood as me... Peeves, the resident poltergeist... and Professor Snape." Shaking his head, he said, "My life just seems to get stranger and stranger."

"I doubt it's anything to worry about, since some of us are related to even crazier people, like my brother, Aberforth," Dumbledore pointed out, his eyes still dancing with amusement. "However, Harry, if you are to meet with the Dursleys tomorrow, you might want to notify them before then."

Harry nodded, and taking out some parchment, ink and a quill, he wrote out a letter to the Dursleys.

To the Dursleys,

I don't know how you are going to react to this news, but I just found out that I am related to one of my professors, Severus Snape, who teaches Potions (it's like chemistry). I was hoping to see you tomorrow afternoon as to change custody of me.

There is something else I think you should be aware of. I'm related to Professor Snape through your side of the family, and so you do have some wizarding relatives. Enclosed is a genealogy chart, and with my name and his circled. Technically, he is Aunt Petunia's second cousin, and is therefore my first cousin, once removed. From time to time, he uses a pseudonym, "Perseus Evans," which is an anagram of his real name. (Ironically, my mother came up with it.)

Another thing I think you should be aware of is that Professor Snape's son has been living in Little Whinging this whole time, under the alias, "Mark Evans." In other words, Dudley, leave Mark alone, unless you want to deal with his father (my professor), and as most of the students in my school can attest to, he is one very strict disciplinarian.

That's pretty much all the important stuff. I suppose I'll see you tomorrow then.

Your highly talented relative,

Harry

He smirked after writing this. They often thought of Harry as a freak, which was as far from the truth as it could get. While Dumbledore proofread the letter (his eyes were still twinkling humorously), Harry circled his name and Snape's on the chart, dried it, and enclosed it with the letter.

"Anyway," Harry said at last, "Thanks for telling me this. I'd better go up to the Owlry, since Hedwig hasn't delivered anything for a while."

"Ill accompany you, since it is nearly curfew," Snape said, getting up as Harry put his things back in his trunk. As he climbed back out, he bade Dumbledore and Mark goodnight as they left.

~*~*~*~

It was a silent walk out of the dungeons between professor and student. It was past the second floor when Harry spoke up. "There's something else I remember, Professor. That memory of yours, where I saw your parents fighting... well, why would Vol- Riddle accept you when you're a halfblood?"

Snape smirked. "The Dark Lord didn't know." The smirk vanished as he continued, "If you remember the chart you just saw, you'll know that I had a cousin, Claudius Snape. He died at an early age during a werewolf attack, so whenever I discussed my parents around the Dark Lord, I was really referring to my Uncle Lucifer and his wife, instead of my own true parents."

"If you don't mind me asking, sir, why did your father marry your mother if he also upheld those pureblood beliefs?"

"She was able to convince him that since they were from the same ancestor, the odds were that any offspring they had would be magical. He always resented her for it, though..." Snape's voice trailed off, and Harry could tell he didn't want to talk about it.

The Potions Master suddenly changed the subject. "So, what was that about the encounter with Peeves in your first year?"

"Ron, Hermione and I were under my Invisibility Cloak when Peeves came lurking around. I imitated the Bloody Baron's voice, telling him I had business to attend to tonight at that he should stay away, which he did," Harry recounted, smiling.

Snape gave a rather evil-looking smile. "Clever," he commented. "How Slytherin of you."

"Thanks." Thinking hard now, Harry said, "I don't know which I qualify more of as, Slytherin or Gryffindor. More like some strange combination of both."

"How did you end up in Gryffindor anyway?"

"I asked the Hat- more like begged it- not to put me there, and I still think it was a good idea to be put in Gryffindor, since some Death Eaters' kids are in Slytherin."

Snape looked directly at Harry now. "Persuade the Sorting Hat? That's supposed to be almost impossible to do."

"Unfortunately, I seem to be capable of a lot of that."

'Including the ability to reach out to almost any person you meet,' Snape mentally added.

They continued to talk until they had reached the Owlry. Snape told Harry, "There is a spell which secures post send to another person. Say 'Secutor' and then the name of the recipient."

"Thanks," Harry said, taking out his wand. "Secutor Petunia Dursley," he said, tapping the seal. With that, he called, "Hedwig!"

The snowy white owl flew down out of the rafters. "Did you go hunting yet?" he asked. She shook her head in the negative, but didn't mind having mail to deliver for a change. "Here, this is urgent. Have a safe flight." Harry stroked her feathers, gave her the letter, and with a reassuring hoot, she flew off into the night.

"A very intelligent owl, Potter," Snape commented.

"I know. Every time I was at Privet Drive, she was the only one in the house who wouldn't flinch at the sight of me."

"By the way, the Ministry of Magic was able to imprison a few dozen Death Eaters, thanks to you and your phoenix. You killed about a dozen other Death Eaters, though, with that explosion you caused."

Harry simply nodded, trying not to think of himself as a murderer. "By the way, I was able to use the fire thing again. Lestrange was using the Cruciatus Curse on Ginny, and I just... snapped. She was charred so badly, I'm surprised I didn't kill her."

Snape was surprised once again. "What happened with her?"

"Riddle snatched her and took off. Somehow, I get the feeling that he isn't too happy with her."

"After the prophecy was destroyed last summer, the Dark Lord tortured Bellatrix Lestrange for hours as punishment. She lost consciousness and was out for a day."

Harry winced at the possibilities of what Voldemort did, but didn't really care for Lestrange. "I'm sure Riddle isn't too happy with her right now either."

~*~*~*~

In another secret location, Voldemort was poring over books of Dark Magic, looking for something he could use, when Jugson came in. "Her condition is stabilizing, my Lord. Would you like to see her now?"

Voldemort got up from his desk, sadistic anticipation written all over his face. "Yes I would, Jugson. Thank you."

"It is my pleasure to serve, my Lord," he replied humbly, bowing his way out as Voldemort departed for his laboratories.

Voldemort's laboratories were so sinister between the architecture and the contents, it made Snape's office, with all its pickled inhabitants, look like a convenience store. In fact, it would make a Muggle think of Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory, except with its frightnening quality amplified to the nth degree. After meandering around various equipment and chains, the self-proclaimed Dark Lord walked up to a medical table, where the charred Death Eater was strapped down.

"Feeling better, Bella?" he asked, smiling evilly.

"Getting there, my Lord," she said in a raspy voice, staring up at the vaulted ceiling.

"It might take longer than you think, Bella. Crucio!"

She shrieked in agony for several moments. After Voldemort let the curse go, he said, "I will not continue to tolerate your failures, Bella. Once again, you have been outdone and humiliated by a small group of teenagers, of all things."

"Master, please..." she begged.

Voldemort sighed, shaking his skull-like head. "Good help is so hard find these days..." he muttered as though Dark Lords always had these problems. His eyes swiveling back onto his incapacitated henchwoman, he said, "I just may find some use for you, Bella, which includes healing all those nasty wounds of yours."

With a wave of his wand, the medical table tilted so it was at a sixty degree angle to the floor, and a trapdoor opened at the bottom. A couple of dozen feet below was a tank of bubbling green chemicals, with what looked like snakes writhing around in it.

Lestrange gasped in fear and horror. "Master, please, no..."

Voldemort clucked his tongue. "No pain, no gain, Bella. Here, take a nice, warm medicinal bath; that ought to heal you."

With a few sinister clicks, the restraints came undone. Freed from them, Lestrange slid right off and fell into the pit with a long, piercing scream. She writhed and struggled as scaly limbs dragged her down. The last thing she heard from overhead was Voldemort's high and cruel laugh. The sickening green of the contents getting darker, Lestrange blacked out, and she knew no more. (4)

~*~*~*~

Harry and Snape had made their way to Dumbledore's office to ask the Headmaster about these new fire abilities. Dumbledore pondered this over until he came to a conclusion.

"I believe, Harry, this may have something to do with 'the power the Dark Lord knows not.' This fire ability of yours seems to be connected to your power of love. If someone you are concerned about is put in danger- "

"-I get angry and try to roast them, I know," Harry finished for him, leaving Dumbledore amused at his protégé's choice of words.

"So, Harry," Dumbledore continued, "I believe you can be trained to work with your abilities as a fire elementalist. I can even lend you a book or two during the course of this week."

"Thank you, sir."

"So, good night, Harry."

Harry nodded. "Good night, Professors," he replied on his way out.

~*~*~*~

An hour or two later, Hedwig was soaring over Little Whinging. Turning off to one side, she flew through the open window and into the kitchen.

All three Dursleys were there; Dudley now had his driver's license, so he had come home for the weekend and he was enjoying a late dinner with his parents. They were laughing the whole time, with a whole slew of jokes that Vernon and Dudley had heard from their friends, and as it was time for desert, Vernon was laughing about how many people he had managed to sack and/or yell at during the past week.

Looking up from his quadruple scoop ice cream, Dudley said, "What's that ruddy owl doing here?"

Vernon leaped up, obviously nervous. Petunia had a funny feeling this couldn't be good.

Ignoring their rude reactions, Hedwig hopped off the windowsill and onto the fourth chair, facing Petunia. She hooted softly as if to say, "It's for you, so take it already."

Nervously, as though it might explode, she accepted it from the owl, which stood there, waiting while the letter was being read. Petunia turned pale as she looked through the letter, but after seeing the enclosed chart, she looked about ready to faint. Father and son exchanged looks, wondering what that blasted relative of theirs had done now.

Finally, Petunia stopped reading it, and leaned back against her chair with her eyes closed. A moment later, she opened them again.

"Well?" Vernon demanded.

"It turns out, he's related to other freaks. Through my side of the family."

Vernon and Dudley looked at each other, mouths agape. Before either of them could say anything, Petunia continued, "He's related to one of his professors at school. This professor and I are second cousins, so he's the boy's first cousin, once removed."

"What's his name?" Vernon demanded.

Petunia looked at the letter again. "'Severus Snape,'" she said flatly. "But he also goes by some pseudonym, an anagram of his real name, which is 'Perseus Evans.' Evans was my maiden name."

"What's an anagram?" Dudley asked stupidly.

"It's where the letters in a name, phrase or sentence are rearranged to make new names, phrases or sentences, Duddy dear," Petunia said sweetly to her darling son. Looking at the letter again, she said, "Wait, there's more..."

They waited a moment, and Petunia asked Dudley in a very serious tone, "Dear, I need you to tell me the truth: Do you know a boy named Mark Evans who lives in this neighborhood?"

Dudley nodded nervously, although he didn't dare tell his parents that he used the boy as a punching bag. "Yeah, why?"

"Because he's your cousin, and this professor's son; he just started going to that school this year. It also says here that this professor is 'a very strict disciplinarian.'"

Vernon made a strange noise between a yelp and a gasp and Dudley leapt right out of his seat, causing the entire room to shake when he landed again. Horrible images filled their minds as to what this professor could do.

"Why do I always end up running into his kind?" Dudley wondered, shaking his massive head.

"It also says that he, as in my blasted nephew, is coming over tomorrow so custody of him can be changed," Petunia said in a decidedly unhappy tone. She quickly added, "I'll handle everything; you two go do something tomorrow, and I'll call you on your brand-new cell-phone when they're done and gone."

It was quickly decided, and Petunia told Hedwig (still sitting there patiently, watching the amusing family drama with a great amount of interest), "I got his message. Thank you."

Hedwig hooted, turned around, and flew back out into the night.

"That bird understood you?" Vernon asked suspiciously.

His wife gave a small, sad smile. "I put up with the boy's mother in the same house for years; I knew what and how she did things."

Not at all interested in wizarding life, the Dursley family finished dinner.

~*~*~*~

For the rest of the night, Harry tried to keep Ron optimistic. Ron was lamenting that his birthday had gone so sour, while Harry told him there were other bad things.

It also turned out that other homes were attacked, including Hermione's, Neville's, Luna's, Cho's, and others that he was friends with. None of their families were killed, or severely hurt for that matter.

Harry pushed all thoughts aside as he tried to get to sleep.

Early the next morning, he got up and wrote a note to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. He said how he was grateful that they had always helped him and that if they wanted financial help for whatever reason, they could always ask him, and that they didn't need to pay him back. While he was at it, he wrote a note to Professor Trelawny, as a sort of "get well soon" note.

Once he was in the Owlry, he saw Hedwig fly in, well-rested and fed. "Hi girl," he called out to her. She turned around, spotted him, and flew down, nuzzling against him. "Nice to see you too," he laughed. "Could you please deliver these? One is for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and the other is for Professor Trelawny, who's still in St. Mungo's."

She hooted in the affirmative, took the notes, and flew back out.

At breakfast, Harry told Lavender and Parvati about the note he had sent. They smiled and called him a very noble young man, while that Judy Arnold girl just scowled and ignored both of them.

Harry was about to ask Judy what her problem was when the owls flew in. As Ron scanned the Daily Prophet, he spat out his pumpkin juice into his lap.

"Dad's resigning as Minister!" he told Harry and Hermione, horrified.

According to the article, he couldn't juggle the responsibilities as Minister of Magic with the crisis currently afflicting Bill and Charlie. In a shocking press conference held the previous night, Mr. Weasley had invoked an ancient law that hadn't been used in more than a century. According to this law, the current Minister of Magic could choose a substitute leader for a while during wartime, should the pressure ever become too great. The substitute Minister would rule in the true Minister's place during the wartime crisis, and after the crisis was over, the true Minister would resume his job.

"I don't get it," Harry said. "How do they know the substitute Minister won't simply give the seat of power back to the true Minister?"

"According to wizarding tradition," Ron explained, "If the war is won while the substitute Minister is in power, that makes him a war hero, in a sense. Because of the special kind of honor it carries, the substitute Minister should have no qualms about turning the position back over to the true Minister after the war."

Harry nodded, understanding the vague idea behind it. The rest of the hall was debating this news as well as Dumbledore got up out of his sight, causing everyone to stop talking.

"Students, as you may have already heard, our current Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley, has invoked an old law called The Choice of the Substitute Leader. A decision should be reached by this afternoon before you all depart. That is all."

The rest of the morning passed slowly as Harry played wizard's chess with Ron. During lunch, special pamphlets delivered by Ministry owls declared the Substitute Minister: Amos Diggory. The Hufflepuff table had something of a celebration, because ever since Cedric Diggory's death, he had become something of a martyr, and his parents had gained a special sort of status.

After lunch, everyone was in their dormitories, ready to depart. A few teachers for each House would use Portkeys to drop off the younger students first, progressively working their way up to the older students. The remaining students all took advantage of this time to say good-bye for each other before what some had dubbed "their dangerous vacation from school." Before McGonagall came back to chaperone the fifth years, Harry find a private corner with Ginny and gave her a last kiss.

"Hang in there, Ginny, and I'll do the same," Harry told her.

"Agreed," she smiled.

As McGonagall, Hooch and Hagrid came back for the fifth years, Ginny waved, took her stuff, and left. He went to the boy's staircase, but Hermione cut him off and wrapped him in a bone-crushing hug.

"Stay safe, Harry," she whispered.

"You too." With a sad sort of smile, he went up to his dormitory.

Harry was waiting around with the other boys in his dormitory, wondering where Neville was. His stuff was missing too; had he somehow found a way to leave already? Before he could ponder this anymore, Aurigo appeared, tapping on the window.

Harry rushed over to open it, and he accepted the message, thanked Snape's eagle owl as it flew off, and quickly read it.

Potter,

Since you and I are going to meet your relatives in order to have your custody changed, you will be coming with me after I have escorted all the Slytherins back to their homes. Collect your things and come down to my office A.S.A.P.

Professor Snape

Hastily pocketing the letter, he said, "I have another way to get to where I'm going. 'Bye, guys."

"Stay safe," Dean said.

"Have your wand ready at all times," Seamus added.

"Harry," Ron said. The messy-haired teenager looked at his friend, the latter's eyes filled with sadness and worry as he put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Don't let You-Know-Who get you, mate."

"Likewise," Harry said, "And tell your family I hope they're safe." Shrinking his trunk and putting it in his pocket, he waved good-bye as he left.

He was halfway down the staircase when he remembered: Ardeavis and Nemorphus. Becoming a phoenix, he zipped over to his office, and after explaining the situation, he put Nemorphus (still in his tank) into his trunk. With Ardeavis perched on his shoulder, he resumed his walk to Snape's office.

To his surprise, Neville and Luna were already waiting there with their possessions. "What are you two doing here?" Harry asked, dumbstruck.

"Professor Snape is so absorbed in order work for a cure to the Cruciatus Curse, he wants our help during the week," Luna said in her dreamy voice as her eyes wandered over the office's display of pickled creatures.

"I'm probably the best Herbology student in this school, and Luna's one of the best at CoMC," Neville explained. "I'm not so crazy about being with Snape for an entire week, but I really want to get some work done on it."

Harry laughed. "You and Professor Snape are certainly both into your work."

Neville gave a half-hearted smile, but then Harry realized what they were implying. "Wait, both of you are staying with Professor Snape for the entire week?"

"Precisely, Harry," Luna chimed, not showing a sign of fear. Of course, not being a Gryffindor, she may have had some immunity from Snape's House-based disdain.

"Are you doing the same thing, Harry?" Neville asked him.

"Well, yeah, but because, well... can you keep a secret?" After both of them nodded, Harry blurted out, "Snape'smyfirstcousin, onceremoved."

Once the other two teenagers had unpacked it, Luna raised an eyebrow while Neville looked like he was quaking a little in fear. "What?" the round-faced boy breathed.

Harry nodded. "It can't be that bad, though. Ever since I tried to talk to him, well... he's not so bitter anymore. He's not a completely different person now, although a lot still has changed."

Nothing more was said on the subject as they waited in silence until Snape came in. He held out a Portkey, which was in this case, an empty beaker. A few seconds later, Snape's office was empty.

~*~*~*~

Harry and the others landed on in a barren moor, filled with the kind of brown grass that is left over from winter before spring comes. After they all regained their footing, Snape said, "Follow me."

They walked in silence for a minute or two under swirling light gray skies. Looking around, there wasn't so much as another building or structure in sight, not even a Muggle telephone pole. Suddenly, Snape held out his arm, gesturing for the students to stop; it was when Snape waved his wand that a house came into view.

It was three stories tall and several rooms in length, with a couple of towers scattered across the roof that were each five stories tall. It was built entirely out of large mason stones in various shades of gray, and it had a slightly dreary touch to it. Using complex magic to walk through the wards, Snape opened the front doors and beckoned the three students to enter.

Harry never thought about Snape having a home, although if he had to take a wild guess, he would have envisioned a dark, Gothic kind of house that didn't see much light. It was built out of stone and marble, with black and white alternating tiles, a couple of sweeping staircases, and a couple of circular seals with the letter "S," which had a snake wrapped around it. There were a few battle scenes on the walls, with the figures occasionally parrying with each other. Harry had to admit that it had a strange kind of beauty to it, as though it were the home of a scientist, artist or philosopher, or some sort of intellectual.

As the door magically shut behind them (Neville jumped an inch off the floor), Snape called out for his house elf. "Dormiel!" (5)

A male house elf with a stubby brown nose, wrapped in a tea cozy with the Snape family seal on it, squeaked, "Yes, Master Severus?"

"I have three guests with me this week. Students, in fact; Miss Luna Lovegood, Mr. Neville Longbottom, and Mr. Harry Potter," Snape said, indicating them. Dormiel did a double-take when seeing Harry, but sensing this, Snape plowed on, "Please show them to the sitting rooms that were organized."

"Right away, Master Severus, sir!" Dormiel squeaked. Turning to the three students, he declared, "Follow me!" As he walked up a couple of flights of steps, with Neville and Luna's trunks floating behind him, Harry and his friends followed behind him.

The first stop was a sitting room for female guests. While the boys waited outside, Dormiel helped Luna get set up. After Dormiel closed the door behind him, they set off again, and they found themselves on the opposite side of the same level of the house.

It was like a smaller version of the Slytherin common room, except more comfortable-looking furniture and it was painted in navy blue and earth brown. There were a couple of couches, tables and chairs, with lamps and a comfortable-looking fireplace. There were two doors leading off from it, one with a sign that said "Neville Longbottom," and another which said "Harry Potter." As Dormiel helped Neville into his own room, Harry took a look at his.

It had a comfortable four poster bed, a couch, a full bookcase, strange instruments, a work desk with a lamp, and even a cauldron and other potion-making equipment in the corner.

"Is Mister Harry liking his room?"

"Yes, Dormiel, thank you. I'll set up my room from here."

"If there's anything you need, do not hesitate to call for the service of Dormiel!" With a bow, a squeak and a crack, the house-elf vanished.

Harry took out his Runespoor and its cage, and while he renewed the Heating Charms, he slithered around, taking in the sights.

"Nice place, Harry!" Momus told him. "Where are we?"

"Snape Manor."

"Wait a minute!" Nemesis protested. "You mean the tall dark Potions guy at your school?"

"Yup, that's him."

"How'd you get him to do bring you here?" Morpheus inquired.

"He's my first cousin, once removed."

All three heads looked at him, and the next moment, all three sets of jaws literally dropped to the floor. Since Runespoors had disconnecting jaws, like all snakes which swallow their prey whole (such as anacondas or reticulated pythons), the sight of a completely shocked Runespoor was very comical indeed. (6)

With a crack, Dormiel had reappeared. "Master Severus requests your presence, Mister Harry," he said.

"Thank you, Dormiel," he replied. After putting Nemorphus back in his tank, Harry followed the house elf down to the dining room.

The dining hall in itself was impressive, and Snape was sitting at the end of a long table which could have made enough room for about fourteen people. Luna and Neville were sitting next to each other, and Snape was waiting patiently at the end.

"Good," Snape said, rising to a menacing stance. Neville gulped a little, but Luna sat there, unfazed by this. Putting on his serious face, Snape launched his speech. "The three of you are here for various reasons. Miss Lovegood and Mister Longbottom, since both of you are highly talented in Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures respectively, and have been working to help find a cure for the Cruciatus Curse, you have opted to continue your research with me this week while Hogwarts is undergoing new security measures and people are with their families. I expect full reports at the end of each day. You will be working in the greenhouses and paddocks, on the south side of the manor." With a snap of his fingers, another house-elf appeared, this one dressed in a burlap sack.

"This is Vertumno," Snape said. "If you need any help whatsoever, he will provide what you need."

"Vertumno has been hearing about Mister Longbottom and Miss Lovegood," he said. (5)

As Vertumno fell silent, Snapem turned to Harry. "Mister Potter, due to your importance in this war, you will need to learn how to protect yourself against the Darkest kinds of magic known to wizards. This is the sort of material that even most seventh year students can have trouble with. However, the aim is to defend yourself against it, rather than use it. Lessons are each afternoon."

Snape's eyes sweeping in all three students, he laid down the ground rules. "This is not a vacation, and I expect all three of you to act like young adults, and not just to run around this house. Breakfast is at 8:00 in the morning, lunch is at noon, and dinner is at 8:00 in the evening. I expect you all in bed by 10:00 at night. If you misbehave, I will have you do things that I would make you do in detention at school, like prepare ingredients and clean equipment, although I can assure you that you will not enjoy the task. I will not lock you in your rooms, although you may need to stay there for safety's sake. This house is similar to Grimmauld Place, since it is Unplottable and is protected by the Fidelius Charm. Even the Dark Lord and his minions, Death Eater or otherwise, do not know about this manor. If you would like to go outside, then ask my permission first, and no exceptions. If you are lost, then you can call either Dormiel or Vertumno for help. Is all that understood?"

After all three students nodded silently, Snape said, "Good. Mr. Potter, please come with me, as we need to change custody. Vertumno, please show the other two guests the gardens and the paddock."

As Harry followed Snape to another room, the professor said, "Mark will be coming by today, Mr. Potter."

"You can call me Harry, if you want."

Snape turned to him. "I'll allow you to call me Severus in private, although preferably no alterations on that name."

They were now in a front of a fireplace, and taking out some Floo Powder, Snape tossed it in and said, "Number 17, Magnolia Cresent." The flames turned green, and after Snape walked through, Harry pocketed his glasses and went in after him.

~*~*~*~

Harry fell out of the fireplace, shaking the ash out of his hair. Using his wand to dust himself off, he saw he was in a Muggle household. Mark was there next to the couch, his trunk ready. After greeting his father and cousin, the young Slytherin positioned his trunk, yelled, "Snape Manor!" and dived in with the trunk.

After pressing something on his wrist, Snape somehow caused his clothes to change. He now looked like a Muggle businessman, with a black jacket, black slacks, and a black tie, giving him the appearance of someone who worked for the Muggle government. Harry, who was already wearing a shirt and jeans ever since Hogwarts, had no need to magically alter the appearance of his clothes.

It was a brisk walk to Number 4, Privet Drive, during which neighbors would look out through their windows and see what looked like a respectable pair. Once at the Dursley residence, Harry rang the doorbell, and a moment later, Aunt Petunia peeked her face out.

"You must be Professor Snape," she said, although the panic in her voice was ill-disguised.

"And you must be Lily's sister, Petunia Dursley née Evans," Snape said. Petunia winced at the mention of her sister, but took it all in stride.

After letting them in, Petunia led them to the kitchen table. After seating themselves down, Snape took out the forms that needed to be signed by both adults, including something which needed to be signed by Harry. It was rather stiffly the whole time, as no one dared say anything that could have escalated into an argument. Towards the end, however, Petunia quickly lost her patience.

"Oh, and I suppose you're going to gloat, boy?" she snarled towards Harry. Snape made to berate this woman's attitude, but Harry already had a back-up plan. "No, I'm not. Because I'm not bitter like you. I could spend the whole day recounting what you did to me during the time I was in this house, except that will get us nowhere. Besides, my anger is more directed to those who deserve it, evil people who have had a much bigger hand in ruining my life. Things could have been worse here, like you physically abusing me, which thankfully, it never got to. I suppose your protection of me counterbalances your attitude, so I'm not going to do anything about you."

This side of him she had never seen before took Petunia aback. At the same time, Snape was astounded by this new level of maturity Harry had; he couldn't help but feel his respect for this boy grow more and more.

Deciding to divert attention back to the matter at hand, Snape said, "Anway, that's all the legal documents. This will not rescind the blood protection on your home, Mrs. Dursley; as long as Mr. Potter stays with anyone of his relatives, all of them are equally protected."

"So, even if he's with you, my family is still safe," Petunia summed up, skipping all the magical detail.

"Exactly."

The front door suddenly opened, as Vernon and Dudley walked in, unaware of the two guests. "Oh Petunia, in order to celebrate the boy leaving us forever, we-" they stopped dead in their tracks when they saw Harry right across the table from them. Snape sneered at the two Muggles, his dark eyes resting on the giant boy.

Dudley gulped as Snape rose silently from his chair to his towering height, donning what so many students had labeled as "the death glare," which basically said, "You are in so much trouble."

"D-d-dementoid!" Dudley spluttered, flattening himself against the wall, causing Snape to blink in confusion.

Harry sighed and shook his head. "No, he is not a dementor, and we can't be related to dementors, because they're not even human." Something coming to Harry's memory, he asked, "What bad memories to the dementors force you to relive, anyway? I never figured that out."

Slowly, Dudley said, "I can't believe how often that subject is brought up, and you wonder what it was. That big guy giving me a pig's tail, the awful toffee with the tongue..." Dudley shook his head and said no more.

"Anyway," Vernon growled, "Due to the fact you are no longer under our custody (thank God), we invited Aunt Marge over. She was driving right behind us, so she'll be here in a few minutes, so I suggest you leave."

Harry was about to say something truly scathing, but Snape cut him off. "Before Mr. Potter and I depart, I would like to warn, you, young Mr. Dursley-" his somewhat scary gaze was fixated on Dudley "-that if you ever endanger my son again, I will be forced to show you what could happen. And yes, he's allowed to use magic during the summer in life-threatening situations, and I'd say someone as corpulent as you physically harming him counts as life-threatening."

Dudley gulped and quaked with fear, but Harry could tell that Snape was enjoying every moment of it. Quietly, Snape drifted past father and son (who both dived out of the way), and went over to see the cupboard that had been Harry's room for more than a decade.

Opening it, Snape could see it was dark and dingy, with some spiders crawling around here and there. The professor privately gagged at the thought of a tiny Potter growing up in here. Closing it and turning back to the Dursleys, he said, "Odds are, some of your descendants might develop magical powers; if I ever find out about them being in here, you will regret it."

They were just nodding in silent terror when a voice said, "Vernon, I'm here!"

Snape drifted into a corner and out of sight while Aunt Marge stood on the threshold, as unwelcome to Harry as he remembered. Snape watched from the corner with a raised eyebrow; he had heard of this woman being inflated like a balloon, and the Obliviators from the Ministry of Magic had made her think it was just a bad case of gas from indigestion. He sneered with amusement at their sense of humor.

Aunt Marge immediately targeted Harry. "So!" she boomed imperiously. "Still here, are you, boy?"

"Yes, but not for long," Harry answered smugly with a smile on his face.

"I will not tolerate your attitude, boy!" she thundered, incensed by his disrespect. "You'll end up just like your unemployed parents at this rate!"

With some Slytherin-style thinking, Harry launched his counter- attack. "You knew why they were unemployed, didn't you? Because they were so rich." Allowing this block of information to sink in, Harry continued, "I just saw my family vault the other week; about 70 million pounds are in there, I estimate. That and the fact both my parents were very smart, noble, and popular with their community."

Four fat Dursley jaws dropped to the floor as Snape raised his other eyebrow. Aunt Marge looked about ready to bust every major blood vessel in her body as her face turned a violent shade of red. "So, now that that's all been cleared up, I think my new guardian and I will leave now. Have a nice day," Harry said cheerfully.

Harry walked out onto the driveway, laughing, but he stopped when he heard a familiar dog growling from behind him. Turning around, he saw an old canine nemesis: Ripper.

'Payback's a bitch, and so are you, you stupid dog,' Harry thought. 'Time for overdue justice to be served, I suppose.'

Pretending to be scared, he ran into the backyard with the dog hot on his heals. His strength, speed and stamina had improved these past several months, so he far outran ripper. He quickly climbed up a tree, and as Ripper started to bark victoriously, Harry smiled evilly and transformed into a lion, jumping down at him, teeth bared and claws ready.

Harry carefully planned this out so none of the neighbors would see it from their own homes, nor would Marge see it from through a window. Ripper, on the other hand, was practically scared out of his mind. After Harry landed right next to him and just as quickly transformed back, the dog ran back with a yelp towards Marge and the other Dursleys, who were just walking around the corner, obviously to see Harry climb up a tree again to escape the mean old bulldog. Their anticipating smiles vanished like a light bulb blowing when Ripper darted back to them, hiding cowardly behind Marge.

"Is that supposed to be a pure bred bulldog?" he asked as though discussing the weather. "I'd say he's not bred well enough if he got scared by one of the neighbor's cats which came by just now." Laughing, he waved good-bye and walked back out to the front of the house, where Snape was waiting for him.

"Very amusing show, Harry," he said silkily, although Harry could have sworn he saw his new guardian's dark eyes sparkling with mirth.

"Thank you, Severus." After that, they silently walked back to Number 17, Magnolia Cresent, in order to Floo back to Snape Manor. (7)

~*~*~*~

Once they were back in Snape Manor, Harry met up with Mark, and they spent the rest of the afternoon brushing up on dueling. Harry had to be careful, as not to accidentally harm Mark.

At the dinner table, just before they started eating, Snape told them, "Tonight, I will be meeting with the rest of the Order, and I will be back late tonight. I still expect you all to adhere to the rules. Is that understood?" After they all said, "Yes, sir," Snape snapped his fingers, and Dormiel appeared, carrying their dinner.

Just before Snape left, he called Harry off to once side. "There is also something I think you should understand now, Harry," Snape said seriously. "While I will not treat you and blindly worship you as the Boy Who Lived (which I know you wouldn't like anyway), we cannot ignore the fact that you're high up on the Dark Lord's hit list. This Dark Magic I will show you can be very grueling. You think you can handle it?"

Harry nodded. "Of course, sir."

"Excellent. Good night," Snape added, sweeping out.

"Good night," Harry called back.

~*~*~*~

At Grimmauld Place, people were spending their time before the meeting congratulating Amos Diggory and wishing their condolences to the Weasleys (although Percy and the twins still weren't a part of it yet).

Mrs. Weasley was just saying how Harry offered to contribute some money to the recoveries of Bill and Charlie, and that that wasn't necessary, because in a way, Sirius already had. Sirius had left a portion of his money to the Weasleys for caring for Harry when he wasn't able to, and therefore it pretty much served the same purpose as Harry's proposition.

Snape was about to tell Dumbledore about how Harry was all set up at Snape Manor when Tonks' voice was heard in the distance, then the umbrella stand crashing, and Mrs. Black screaming her head off yet again. Tonks stumbled in, wailing, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Snape, on the other hand, and put up with that horrendous portrait one too many times. That painting was going to die.

With a snarl, he stalked out of the room and to the portrait, faced it, pointed his wand, and yelled, "AVADA KEDAVRA!" (8)

With a flash of green light and a rushing sound, the portrait crumbled into dust and fell off the wall. Snape was just savoring his victory when other Order members came rushing up to him, with Lupin in the lead.

"Somehow," Lupin said slowly, "I think Sirius may have approved of the irony. Thanks for getting rid of her for good, Severus."

"Thank you, Remus," he said silkily. His eyes traveled back up to the wall, when he saw-

"A lockbox?" Dumbledore asked, his eyebrow raised. After casting Dark detection charms, Snape pulled it out and opened it.

It was full of old manuscripts, mainly about potions and such. Looking up at Dumbledore, he said, "May I please study these for later, Albus? I'll give a full report for later, of course."

"Go ahead, Severus," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling with amusement at his younger colleague's devotion to potions. "Anyway, now that Nymphadora-" ("Don't call me that!" screeched Tonks) "-is back on her feet again and Mrs. Black has been, shall we say, terminated, we have a meeting to resume."

It started off with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley saying how Percy would show them the stolen documents once it was all sorted out, and then it eventually progressed to the discussion of Hogwarts security. And the whole time, Snape's arm rested on the box, not letting it out of his sight.

~*~*~*~

Harry was just snuggling into bed in his room when he realized; how ironic that he would consider a room in Snape's house as his own room.

Harry indeed had a family, which was still strange, even by wizarding standards. However, this family would stay unknown from the rest of the wizarding world, mainly for security's sake. 'How perfect,' he thought to himself, 'That if I have any trouble, I can just turn to my invisible family.' With that, he rolled over and dozed off, sleeping a comfortable, dreamless sleep.

(End of Chapter 31.)

A/N: This was definitely one of my more pivotal chapters, wasn't it?

(1) MAJOR thanks to Aaron, my wonderful beta reader at the time I wrote this, for untangling all this! Granted, it's nowhere as complex as the genealogies of all the intermixed pureblooded families (like the Blacks), but still pretty tangled.

A note regarding the spell itself: The thing about using a drop of blood comes from the discontinued but dramatic story “It Never Ends,” by paradox01. However, I came up with the incantation myself; it loosely translates from Latin as “Reveal my heritage, because I am…” (in the sense of putting one’s heritage on a genealogical chart).

(2) Isn't this just an amusing plot bunny? If anyone wants to read any good "Snape reconciles with Harry" stories, I HIGHLY recommend the following authors and their works, where Harry/Snape reconciliation is an important plot or subplot...

GreenGecko
AlastrionaSnape
shadowarwen
Rubberduckie713
Twilight Author 488
Corbin Slate
Mirriam Q Webster
lotrobsession
Bluethought
Howl
Mikee
Melissa Jooty
krtshadow
YamiPaladinofChaos
TheVelvetGhost
Jocelyn
Sindie
Draco664
Aspen in the Sunlight
Dragongirl16
Enahma
Charma1219
JiM1
Phoenix Sworn
QueenWeasel

If anyone wants to read any more Harry/Snape reconciliation stuff, you can peruse through GreenGecko's C2 group, "Potions and Snitches"!

(3) It was inspired by what else we see of Peeves in the Phoenix cycle by TheVelvetGhost. Both that story and mine try to answer an interesting question: What is the story with Peeves?

(4) No, she's not dead; she just because a new science project, heehee (although writing this was pretty fun!).

(5) "Dormiel" comes from "dormir," the French verb meaning "to sleep" (the Latin root is where we get the word "dormitory" from); "Vertumno" comes from "Vertumnus," one of the Roman gods of vegetation.

(6) I'll have to draw a picture of this sometime, haha.

(7) Haha, they had it coming!

(8) Ding dong, the bitch is dead... hahaha...

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