Dinaer

After a long silence his father spoke. "Albus said he told you that you could either stay here or spend the rest of the summer with your friends. The decision is yours." Harry could sense his fathers underlying fear of rejection, but even without knowing that Harry knew he wanted to stay and spend time with his father.

"I want to stay with you," Harry said. "But I was wondering if I might be able to go stay at the Burrow for a night. I didn't write them back after I got my birthday presents and I'm sure they're wondering if I'm okay. Plus I want to tell Ron and Hermione what's happened."

"Of course. You can floo there now if you'd like. I'm sure they'd let you come."

Harry nodded and his father reached above the mantle to the floo power before throwing some into the flames. "The Burrow!" he barked and seconds later the disembodied head of Mrs. Weasley was floating in the fire place.

"Harry dear! Happy birthday! Oh my goodness you look so different. What happened? Where are you?!"

"Hi Mrs. Weasley. It's kind of a long story. Do you think I could come visit for the day and I'll tell everyone at once?"

"Of course Harry of course! Come on through!"

Luckily Mrs. Weasley hadn't noticed the other man in the room and didn't ask questions. After a short trip through the fire place Harry found himself in the Weasley kitchen being hugged and kissed by his surrogate mother.

"You look so different! And so much taller! Oh! You must have come into an inheritance!"

"Could you not mention it until I can tell everyone? It's actually kind of a long story..." Harry trailed off.

"Whatever you say Dear. The children are in the backyard, they'll be very happy to see you."

"Thank you Mrs. Weasley, this means a lot to me." And with another hug he walked outside to find his friends.

When Harry reached the grassy field just outside the back of the Burrow, his stomach was fluttering with nerves. He knew his friends loved him and would accept the creature he had become, but he was extremely worried that they wouldn't be able to accept his father. Harry may not have spent much time with the man, but he finally had a parent and he didn't want to lose him now. Harry watched the sun's descent, his mind miles away when finally the people flying above took notice of him stepping onto the field. He watched as one by one they landed and dismounted their brooms. Fred was the first to shout.

"Oi! Can we help you?" Harry could feel the confusion emanating from his friends and had to hold back a laugh.

"It's me." He smiled and pulled back his hair to show his green eyes and lightning bolt scar.

"HARRY!" Ginny shouted and bolted forward into his arms knocking them both backwards onto the grass. "You look completely different! What happened!" Harry was pulled to his feet by Ron and dragged into a hug with his best friend.

"Mate, what happened to you?" Harry looked into the faces of the first people who had truly loved him. Ron, Ginny and the Twins all stared back at him and Harry didn't need the gift of empathy to know that they were confused.

"I had a pretty crazy birthday. Can we go back inside so I can tell your parents while I tell you?"

"Of course Harry, let's go now." Ginny said pulling her brothers along.

Twenty minutes later they were all seated at the dinner table, joined by their parents, sipping tea and making small talk. Finally Harry cleared his throat.

"Something big has happened to me. It all started this morning when I woke up..."

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"I wanted to come here and tell you all first thing. I want to keep it as quiet as possible, but I thought it was important you all knew."

"Wow. That's pretty intense Harry." Ron spoke first. And then his face broke into a mischevious grin, "Can we see them? Your wings?"

Relief flooded Harry and he didn't hesitate to disrobe for the second time that day. He closed his eyes, fisting his hands at his sides and willed his mind to expand his wings like his father had taught him. When he stretched them fully they brushed the walls of the kitchen. Harry opened his eyes to see the looks of awe on the faces before him. But then Mr. Weasley asked the question he'd been dreading.

"Who did you inherit the gene from?" Harry's stomach clenched and he broke into a sudden sweat. Everyone in the room noticed his reaction and paused.

"That's something else I have to tell you. I mentioned that I received a letter from my mother, but I kind of left out the most important part." Harry hesitated and looked up at Mrs. Weasley who smiled encouragingly, giving him the confidence to carry on. "She told me that James Potter isn't my true father." He paused for the expected gasps.

"She also told me about the charms that were cast on me as a baby, that made me look like him. When I finished the letter, the charms lifted and I changed to look like this. Like my real father."

"Harry, who is your father?" Mrs. Weasley asked, afraid she already knew the answer.

"Professor Snape." He whispered keeping his eyes trained to the floor, feelings of shock and horror washing over him in waves.

"You've got to be kidding," Ron eventually voiced everyone's thoughts but Harry just nodded. "Well don't worry Harry. You're already of age, you don't have to deal with him at all."

At that Harry had to look up. "That's just it Ron. I want to. We talked today. He's the one that told me all about being a Dinaer, he's one too! For the first time in my life I have a true parent, someone who can show me how to grow up. I'm not about to just give that up!" He sighed.

"Harry dear, we're your parents," Mrs. Weasley spoke up. "You don't need him."

"Don't you understand?" Harry shouted, his wings expanding intimidatingly. "He loves me! So much I can feel it even without the empathy!" Seeing the frightened faces of the people he loved Harry reined in his anger, willing his wings away. "Mrs. Weasley, I'll always consider you my surrogate mother, same as you Mr. Weasley. And all of you are the best family I could ever have asked for. But Professor Snape, my father, he's like me. He understands what it's like to be a Dinaer. I need him. And he needs me."

Harry pulled on his robe and sat down again to take a long drink of his tea. Eventually someone broke the silence.

"We're with you no matter what, Harry." George spoke up.

"Yeah Mate, if you say Snape's your father then we'll accept him." Said Fred.

"I imagine he'd fit in fabulously at the family reunions!" Chirped Ginny.

"Right you are Sister!" Spoke George. "Why, your pops and Great Uncle Herman would have loads to talk about!"

Harry laughed despite himself. This was what he'd been hoping for. He glanced at his best friend, searching his face for some sort of approval. Ron must have noticed because finally he said, "I don't understand it much, but if this is what you want I'm in no position to stop you. Just please don't start calling him Pops." He shuddered and everyone laughed. Harry basked in the light feeling of the room, thankful that his friends could accept his father. He didn't think he'd get quite the same reaction at Hogwarts however.

"Goodness look at the time!" Mrs. Weasley squawked. "All of you into bed, now! No whining! Harry dear can you stay for the night? I'd hate to send you back this late at night."

"Yes I can stay. There's no way I'd miss out on your breakfast if I could help it."

Mrs. Weasley hugged him and sent him up to Ron's room where he changed into an extra set of pajamas he kept there. When both boys were settled into their adjacent beds Ron rolled over to look at his friend.

"Have you thought about who your Mate might be?" Ron asked quietly.

"I haven't really had time to think about it actually. I'm a little nervous to think that someone out there was born with the soul purpose of being my Mate. It's a little intimidating."

"What about, your -er, preferences?" Ron asked delicately.

"I asked my father about that. He said that Mates are always the preference of the magical creature."

"You told Snape you're gay!" Ron exclaimed.

"Yeah, I was kind of worried 'ya know?"

"You know, it's kind of funny," Ron started.

"What?"

"All last year when you were wondering whether you're gay or not, it was already fated for you to be. I mean, whoever your mate is was born your mate and a boy. You really had no choice in the matter."

"I didn't think about it that way. But I definitely think I had a choice, last year at least. I made a personal choice to date Lee Jordan, and he's not my Mate. At least, I don't think he is."

"Oh my gosh! What if he is your Mate?" Ron sat up with excitement. "How cool would that be? We had so much fun when you two were dating!"

"I doubt it'd be very cool," Harry said with a laugh. "Last I heard he's dating the beater from Ravenclaw and it's looking like they're going to bond."

Ron physically deflated at that. "It was just a thought. Let's just hope it's not someone like Malfoy though, ugh." He shuddered and Harry tried to share the sentiment, but as his mind flooded with thoughts of the blond Slytherin he wasn't filled with the usual feelings of hate.

Eventually Harry could hear Ron's breathing even out and the occasional snore. He thought back to that morning, when he'd awoken at the Dursley's to find his wings. The wings that were now aching to be let free. Harry pulled off his pajama top and rolled onto his stomach, allowing his wings to lay softly against his back. It had been a long day.
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