Sea Change

Special thanks to Tambrathegreat and SickPuppy for thier kind reviews and encouragement.



Chapter 1


Severus Snape stalked through the corridors of Hogwarts, scowling at anyone who dared look his way. He didn't wear the billowing robes of a Professor anymore, but he was nonetheless imposing. Noting the somewhat frightened looks on the student faces, he smirked inwardly, pleased that time didn't seem to have diminished his power to intimidate.


He changed his expression, however, into one less fierce when he approached the entrance to the Headmaster, now Headmistress's, domain and saw Minerva McGonagall standing there waiting for him. They had long ago reconsiled their differences over his actions during the war, and she smiled when she caught sight of him.


"Severus," she said as he arrived in front of her. "It's good to see you again. At least Albus still has the power to make you put in an appearance."


"Minerva," Severus nodded, his scowl fighting to put in an appearance again. "Leave it to Albus Dumbledore to find a way to disturb my peace from beyond the grave. Any idea of what the old codger wants?"


"None at all, Severus," Minerva said, "he hasn't confided in me. I was simply the instrument."


Severus peered at her closely. His Legilimancy skills hadn't diminished any either, but he knew better than to try and attempt it on her. Still, he could stand his ground. "I warn you, Minerva, if this is some half cocked collusion on your and that framed menace's part to get me out of retirement, I can assure you it will not work. There is nothing that could ever induce me to endure the unique horror of teaching the miserable spawn of the Wizarding World's loins again."


To his ire, the current Head of Hogwarts only chuckled and said, "I can assure you, Severus, it is anything but that. For once, I am happy to report that we are fully staffed for the coming autumn term, and have no need of your services. I do not know what Albus wishes to speak with you about. That you will simply have to go up and find out for yourself. The password is "codpiece"."


Severus raised a brow at such a bawdy choice of password, but she only smiled cagily and said, "Nobody would ever suspect that, would they?" before floating off down the corridor.


Severus shook the incongruity of it out of his head and repeated the password to the gargoyle before ascending to the Head's office. He entered, staving off the quiet ghost of his own term as Headmaster, and stood before the massive desk, scowling up at the painted portrait of his mentor and former employer, who appeared to be dozing.


Severus kicked the foot of the desk in front of him, the loud sound startling the oil rendered denizens of the office into grumbled protestations. Except for Dumbledore, who only opened his eyes and smiled down benignly at Severus.


"Here I am, Albus, as commanded," Severus said sourly, bristling inwardly when the painted smile widened.


"Ah, Severus my boy. How good of you to come." Dumbledore said pleasantly.


"As if I had a choice," Severus muttered. "May I ask what is so important that you see fit to disturb my solitude?" he added impatiently, "I do not wish to spend any more time here than is strictly necessary. I fear my good mood will not last."


Dumbledore chuckled momentarily at the thought of the frowning man before him having ever been in a good mood, but then his expression turned somber.


"I would like to speak with you about a certain event in your past, Severus. It...." Dumbledore began, but was quickly interrupted by the living man in front of the desk.


"I have atoned for my sins, Albus," he said angrily, "and I see no point in dredging up past actions. You of all people know the motivation behind everything I have done, there is no need to rehash past mistakes."


"Ah, but Severus, I am afraid there is," Albus said gently, watching his former student and protege pace back and forth before the desk. "I refer to a certain event that happened approximately 36 years ago. An event we have not spoken of since." He watched as Severus abruptly stopped his pacing, his pale face paling further, his expression drawing tight and guarded. He knew then that Severus knew which event he was referring to.


"Wh....what bearing could that....event....... possibly have now?" Severus asked hoarsely, his face still.


"As of this moment, none, however..." Dumbledore began.


"Then what is the point of drudging all this up now?!" Severus hissed, "why? It is the past, and bringing it up now, after all these years, cannot possibly serve any purpose, nor any good. For anyone involved. I made my decision all those years ago, and you gave me your word that we would never speak of it again!"


"Severus, please," Dumbledore sighed, "believe me, my boy, if I did not believe there was a valid reason for speaking to you of this, I would never consider going back on my promise to you."


"What you consider to be a valid reason is suspect, Albus," Severus snapped, although, in his heart, he didn't truly believe that. He could not, however, seem to prevent himself reacting in a defensive manner. "I cannot imagine what difference the events of so long ago could possibly make now," he added stubbornly, "entire lives have been lived without this being dredged up, to no known detriment to the parties concerned. Bringing it up now can only damage those lives, Albus. Surely you've taken that into consideration."


"Again, Severus," Dumbledore replied, "I would not entertain the thought of causing you anymore pain or consternation than what you've already been forced to endure in your life..."


"Indeed I have been forced Albus," Severus growled angrily, "most often at your hand!"


"A fact I am well aware of, my boy," Dumbledore replied, "and to my eternal regret, I assure you. But even you, Severus, must agree that I tried to the best of my ability, given the circumstances, to spare you as often as possible."


Severus remained silent at that. In relation to the event the man was so insistent on delving into in particular, he knew he could not deny the truth of his words. He swallowed audibly, unaware that his throat had become so dry, and prepared himself to face yet another demon from his past.


"Very well, Albus," he said, annoyed that his own voice sounded so faint. He gazed up at the painted face. At the man who had been both his saviour, and greatest tormentor, and waited.


The man appeared to be considering his words, and Severus grew impatient. When no words were forthcoming, Severus prompted him by snapping, "Only you and I knew of that particular event, Albus. What has happened to instigate this meeting?"


"It seems that Scorpius Malfoy and Albus Potter have befriended one another," Dumbledore began, "it seems they have become rather... close."


"Much to the chagrin of their fathers, no doubt," Severus muttered acidly, "however, I fail to see how the spawn of my former students and their questionable choice of friends concerns me."


"Severus," Dumbledore sighed, "I have implored you over the years, my boy, to make your peace with Harry. He did, after all, save your life."


"Yes, Albus, he did," Severus said grimly, "which is only a just return on the life debt he incurred with me for repeatedly saving his miserable skin. I would say that puts your Golden Boy and your lap dog on an even keel. We no longer owe one another anything. Least of all any concern on my part for his son's actions."


The portrait above sighed again and said wearily, "I am afraid, my boy, Albus Potter's actions, particularly in regard to Scorpius Malfoy, concern you a great deal. If it were a mere friendship, I would not interfere..."


"The keyword being interfere," Severus growled, unable to help himself.


"However," Dumbledore said pointedly, peering down over his spectacles at a recalcitrant Severus, "I fear that it is more than mere friendship that is developing between them."


Astonished, Severus gazed up at the portrait looming above and blurted, "You fear? I am surprised at you, Albus. Don't tell me you've grown intolerant," he added snidely, "You cannot possibly be objecting?"


"There can never be anything other than friendship between Scorpius Malfoy and Albus Potter, Severus," Dumbledore said, "for no reason other than that they are family."


Severus frowned a moment, then said, "Well....yes, I suppose they are. After all, Potter's father was a pureblood....."


"No, Severus," Albus said quietly, "that is where you are mistaken."


"Whether or not James Potter was pureblood or not does not concern me," Severus snapped bitterly, "nothing about him does."


"James Potter was not Harry's father, Severus," Dumbledore said so quietly that Severus wasn't sure he heard him correctly at first, but he knew he had by the way the painted face looked at him so intently.


Severus was aghast, shocked beyond belief. Surely the man wasn't intimating that Lily had cheated on James Potter? Suddenly, an appalling thought occurred to Severus, and he felt the blood drain from his face.


"Not....not.......Black?" Severus whispered, horrified. Potter was bad enough. Certainly Lily hadn't defiled herself with the mongrel?? That would explain how the Malfoy scion and Potter's brat were too close for Albus' comfort.


"Severus," Albus said. "If you will be so kind as to fetch my pensieve from it's cupboard, and then invoke the Revelio charm on the cupboard."


Severus did as he was asked, returning to the front of the desk with the stone pensieve, as well as a glass vial containing the silvery strands of a memory the cupboard had been concealing. Having recovered somewhat, Severus held up the vial and stated, "Yours, I presume?"


"Yes," Dumbledore nodded from his frame. "I wish for you to view this memory, Severus, and we will talk after, if you wish."


Despite the chill that came over him, Severus uncorked the vial and emptied it into the pensieve, watching the silvery mist swirl into the bowl. When it calmed, he drew his wand, tapping the surface, and after a moment's hesitation, leaned forward to enter the memory.


Albus waited patiently in his frame. After all, time was all he had left now. He dozed off after a bit, but woke at the rustling sound of Severus exiting the pensieve. "Severus?" he asked warily.


The younger man stood in front of the desk, his pale face a now a pasty shade of white, the obsidian eyes wide with shock, his hands trembling slightly. He groped for the chair behind him, sitting down heavily, his breath coming in short, harsh gusts.


"My boy," Albus began gently, but stopped when the black eyes met his painted ones beseechingly.


"He....he's my son?" Severus whispered, "H-Harry Potter is my son?"


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