I AM MY FATHER'S SON

LADY SHINIGAMI

DISCLAIMER: THE USUAL. 'NUFF SAID.

CHAPTER 4

The next month passed quickly in Harry's mind as he trained extensively with Voldemort, trying to reach a new level in his power. By now, he was able to Apparate; he was well on his way to becoming an Animagus; he could defeat Lucius Malfoy in a duel, even with his bad leg, and he had mastered Occlumency just several days earlier. Also, he knew what Voldemort was capable of in battle, and he was well aware that the Dark Lord knew of his capabilities as well. It didn't matter to him much.

Harry had nearly drowned himself in his studies, missing the companionship Draco had provided and his father's dry sarcastic humor. Staying in the Manor with the Dark Lord as his near-constant companion was unlike anything he had ever imagined or expected. The man sometimes seemed almost human in behavior, but he was quick to temper and Harry often enjoyed arguing with the older wizard, surprised but at the same time, not surprised at Voldemort's intelligence. The dark wizard actually seemed to be a regular person at times. Definitely bizarre!

At the moment, however, as September faded away, he exercised his leg muscles in the back of the Manor on the grounds. The grounds were covered in large trees, but they surrounded the Manor house, and Harry was always supervised should he try to escape before he recovered completely. His exercises involved walking around with a cane, and he used a makeshift practice cane for this very exercise. He didn't want to wear out the cane Severus had given him before leaving for the school, even though the Potions Master had warned him to keep it nearby or with him at any cost. Still, he hated the fact that he was going to need a cane for the rest of his life, but he needed to make the best of it despite the fact.

"Potter! That's enough for today. Go back to your room." Voldemort said from where he stood in the shadows of the Manor, watching. Harry looked over and nodded. He didn't bother to respond.

Once in his room, Harry tossed aside the makeshift cane and he reached for at the cane that was his right, his heritage. His father, Severus, had given it to him, and it bore the Snape family crest. Then he went about packing his things into his trunk, somehow knowing that today he would walk out of the front gates of Riddle Manor, a free wizard and completely recovered. At this thought, he wondered briefly what his friends would think about everything that's happened so far, everything that's changed for him. Harry knew that he had changed greatly over the past few months, and he was fairly certain that most of the wizarding world would view his change in a negative fashion, but Harry found that he didn't really care.

A knock at the door interrupted his reverie, and he turned to face Lucius as the older wizard entered, looking annoyed and perhaps mildly disgusted. The young Snape smirked with amusement.

"The Dark Lord wishes to test you, Potter, to see if you have recovered completely. If so, you are free to leave and if not, you will remain here until you are ready." The Deatheater sounded bored and Harry glared at the blond wizard.

"I understand, Lucius. I'm not stupid."

The Malfoy patriarch glared at him. "That may be, boy, but I think it's such a waste to let you leave here alive, and foolish. I would rather kill you."

"Yeah, well, that isn't your decision to make and you will die by my hand before this war is over. That I promise you." Harry said, throwing on his cloak and with his cane in hand, he moved past the older wizard, ignoring the man's fuming.

The trip through the Manor was easy and when Harry pulled the front doors open, he saw Voldemort standing in front of the gates, about a hundred yards away. None of the other Deatheaters were there.

Calmly, Harry slowly made his way across the property, drawing closer to Voldemort with each step. He knew that he would walk through the front gates and the Dark Lord would send him back to Hogwarts.

Harry stopped directly in front of the taller wizard, staring at him for a moment. "I have to thank you, Voldemort. Thank you for saving my life."

The Dark Lord shook his head, crimson eyes glinting. "No, Potter. This was all for my benefit. You are free to go."

Harry nodded. "Very well. I have one question, though. Why hasn't my scar hurt at all during this time? Usually, it hurts when you're nearby or when you're feeling particularly angry."

Voldemort smirked down at him. "I closed off that aspect of our connection the moment you were brought to my attention. However, I can reopen the connection at any time, Potter. See you on the battlefield."

"Likewise, Voldemort." Harry turned away from the older wizard, but a slender white hand stopped him. He looked up at the Dark Lord, his green eyes questioning.

"This is my gift to you, Potter. You will need every advantage you can get." The Dark Lord held out a wand holster, obviously custom made. It was made of beautifully crafted durable leather, with the Snape family crest carved into the hard leather and it was meant to be strapped to his thigh for easy access, something that Harry needed now that he had a cane.

Harry's eyebrows rose as he noted the craftsmanship. "Well, I must commend your craftsman, Voldemort. This is an excellent piece of work." Voldemort nodded and released Harry's arm. Harry walked out the front gates of the Manor just as his enemy said, "It's also a one-way Portkey."

Harry felt the pull at his navel as he disappeared and he landed at his destination, falling on his ass in the process. "Damn you, Voldemort." He strapped the wand sheath to his right thigh and looked up at the castle looming in front of him. With a growl, he remembered why he had spent the past three months in Riddle Manor and the reason why he now walked with a cane. That old coot Dumbledore had abandoned him, but Harry knew exactly how to get his revenge.

Walking up to the castle that had seemed like home to him, Harry transfigured the old muggle clothes he was wearing into elegant black robes, reminiscent to the Dark Lord's style of dress. He knew that, by now, he looked almost exactly like Severus did at sixteen, minus the hooked nose, just as he knew that it would have a profound effect on his life and the wizarding world, but really, he didn't care.

Reaching the large oak doors that led into the Entrance Hall, Harry could hear the other students talking and laughing in the Great Hall, and he felt a small surge of anger rush through him. Damn that old man!

Inside, the doors of the Great Hall opened and closed as a girl left the dinning area. Catching sight of him, she paused and, with a look of joy on her face, she ran to Harry and engulfed him in a bear hug. It was Hermione.

The bushy-haired girl released him and looked him over, her sharp and clever eyes missing nothing. "Harry, where have you been? Dumbledore told us when term started that you had gone for special Order training, but he didn't say when you'd be back, and he said that we couldn't contact you or anything. Harry, why do you look like Snape, and why do you have a cane? Harry, what's going on?" She asked and he smiled at her fondly.

"Hermione all will be explained soon. Go back inside and I will be there momentarily. I shall explain everything. Please." The Gryffindor girl nodded after a moment's hesitation and headed back to the Great Hall. Harry watched her go for a second, recalling her words.

"So it would seem that you're interfering again, old man. You try my patience severely." He said softly to the air.

With a deep breath, he approached the solid oak doors and with a heave, opened them. The Great Hall quieted as the laughter stopped and whispers started to flutter. Harry stood in the open doorway, casually scanning the Great Hall. At the Gryffindor Table, Hermione was at Ron's side, a gently restraining hand on the redhead's arm. The rest of them were watching him with curiosity overlade with worry and surprise. He skipped over Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw without so much as a glance as his gaze settled on someone in particular at the Slytherin Table. Draco had his trademark smirk firmly in place as the blond regarded him. Harry returned the small gesture before fixing his gaze on the staff table.

Most of the professors had risen from their seats, as well as the Headmaster, but Harry noticed that Severus remained in his seat, a small, barely noticeable smile on his face as he watched Harry with glinting black eyes. He focused his attention on Dumbledore, his face hardening in anger as he started to approach the staff table; his limp noticeable as he walked with his cane, and despite his physical disadvantage, Harry knew he presented an impressive figure at the moment.

His forest green eyes turned to ice as he observed the old man that ran the school. Dumbledore stood, watching him as he approached and there was no twinkle in his blue eyes. Harry snarled at him, drawing gasps of surprise from the crowd behind him. He stopped in front of Dumbledore, the table in between them.

"Good evening, Headmaster. I'm back." He said softly, but the words were heard throughout the Hall, and they sounded harsh to everyone's ears.

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, Harry, and we are very glad to have you back. Did your training go well?" he asked conversationally, but Harry didn't want any of the lies.

Harry grinned with feral amusement, chuckling. "You mean the training the Order of the Phoenix provided me? That's what you told everyone, right?" He didn't wait for a reply. "Well, enough with the lies, old man. Admit it, you left me in that hellhole, and I nearly DIED!!!" More gasps came from the students, but Harry ignored them. Dumbledore merely regarded him with a blank expression.

"Whatever are you talking about, Harry? The training I organized for you wasn't too dangerous. What's wrong, Harry?"

"I said, enough with the lies, old man! You still interfere with my life, and when I need you the most, you abandon me! I'm talking about the Dursleys, fool. I remember, last June, that I was promised aid, if I needed it. In fact, if I didn't write to any of the Order members every three days, someone would check up on me. Where was the Order when I needed them most? Do you want to know what exactly happened the night I ran away from my prison, a prison you created? I'll let you know about it anyway. This was only a week after term had ended, and I was already covered in bruises and bleeding cuts and my ankle was shattered!! Shattered!! I need a cane for the rest of my life, old man, because of you!! I was starved, beaten, a slave to those... those, insects because the Order of the bloody Phoenix didn't come when I needed them, and you lead them!!" Harry pushed up his sleeves and laid bare his arms to Dumbledore, revealing the scars that Dudley had inflicted on him. "You see these scars, Dumbledore? They were inflicted by my only 'family'. I ran away the night this happened, barely able to walk, with only my Invisibility Cloak and wand, which had been taken from me, but I found it. When my dying body failed me and I couldn't crawl any further, I lost consciousness. I truly thought I was going to die, and I was happy for it. I woke up in Riddle Manor, my wounds taken care of, courtesy of Lord Voldemort. He's the one who saved my life, and the reason I'm standing here now. But you already knew that, didn't you, old man."

Harry's gaze flickered over to his father, who was watching him with the barest traces of pride. "You knew this because of Snape and his spy work. You also know that he can no longer be a spy because Voldemort knows of his betrayals. You already knew that. However, there is something you do not know." Harry smirked, his eyes hard as ice and just as cold.

Dumbledore frowned at him, very aware of the silent students, and he wanted the seething boy in front of him to leave the Hall. He hadn't wanted a scene. "Harry, maybe we should talk in my office. This is no place for this discussion." Harry laughed outright, the sound of his laughter echoing harshly through the large room.

"You old fool! Harry Potter died that night! That child, so deep in my mind, died that night in the streets, alone, but happy. The Boy Who Lived, however, he is still alive. I, in my mind, remained nameless for some time, until the truth was revealed. Did you know this truth as well? I renounced the name of the world's Savior the night Harry Potter died, although I am still the Heir of the Potter family. I rejoiced in my true name as Xaver Snape, son of Severus Snape, The Boy Who Lived!" The shock was so great in the Great Hall that no one managed a single cry of shock and surprise, but Severus nearly beamed, he was so proud in his son.

Xaver looked into Dumbledore's eyes and smiled wickedly, evilly. "You will not interfere again, or I will kill you. I have chosen to finish my education in this school, but no longer will you pull the strings. And remember this, old man; I don't fight this war for you, or for the Light. I fight this war, my war, to bring the Prophecy to an end. You remember the words, don't you? Of course you do. 'Either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.' That is my prophecy, and this is my war. Not yours, never yours. You had your war, now this one is mine. Do not interfere. Now, to do things right, let's have me Sorted. I am Xaver Snape, new to this school, so isn't it only proper to have this new student Sorted? I think so. Accio Sorting Hat." He cast the minor spell wandless, ignoring all of his surroundings. The Hat flew into his waiting hand minutes later and Xaver called out, "Snape, Xaver. Entering sixth year." He placed the old Hat on his head and waited.

Ah, so you know the truth, I see it here, in your mind. You are still a Potter, somewhere, and also a Black. It's true! You see yourself as part of the three families, and your inherent magic has made it so. Anyway, to your Sorting, young Xaver. I must say, this name suits you better than your previous name. Anyway, I still go by what I said the past couple of times; you would do well in Slytherin. The hat said in his mind, and Xaver smirked.

Then make it true. I need to return home, to where I truly belong.

The Hat agreed with him. Yes, you do belong with the Serpents. Come visit me, even if you're not on good terms with dear old Dumbles. It won't matter to me.

I will.

"SLYTHERIN!" The Hat called out and Xaver removed the animated object with a smile, his eyes still hard. A look at Gryffindor table showed Ron outraged, but silent with shock. Hermione regarded him sadly, but she nodded to him and smiled lightly. She understood his reasons for doing what he was doing. The others didn't seem so understanding, but it didn't matter.
Xaver looked back to the staff table, or, more specifically, to Severus, who watched him with little surprise. Xaver smirked at him.

"I did tell Draco before term started and before you left that there wouldn't be a Snape in Gryffindor for long. I was always a Slytherin, but I never wanted to be a Slytherin because Voldemort was one. Now I don't care, mainly because he is one of the very few who has been honest with me. I am now where I belong, and I am truly my father's son. Don't you agree, father?" he asked and Severus nodded with a wicked grin of his own.

"Of course, my son. Now, go down to the dungeons with Draco. You'll need to get acquainted with the Slytherin dorms, Xaver. Go on, I'll be down momentarily. Draco, you are excused for now." Severus said and the Slytherin prince joined Xaver as the younger Snape left the great Hall. Once the two were out of sight, the Hall erupted with noise as the students regained their voices.

At the Gryffindor Table, Ron was seething. He couldn't understand what had just happened. He turned to Hermione. "Hermione, what just happened?"

The Prefect sighed. "Apparently, Dumbledore used Harry, or rather Xaver, for the last time. I'm not sure how he is Snape's son, but its obvious that Xaver is still Harry, somewhere deep down. You know Harry, when he does something, he does it completely, and quite frankly, I believe him. I don't know the full story, but there's more to this mess, that's for sure."

"But he's a Slytherin now, and he's saying Harry died! What did he mean by that?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ron, things like this happen all the time. A traumatic experience happens, and something dies in the victim, and something else is born to replace what has died. In this case, Harry was abused to the point where he was physically dying. The Harry we knew before had a sense of naivety and vulnerability, no matter what, but that's gone now. It's sad, really. Why didn't we see it? There must have been warning signs about his abuse, so how could we not have seen them. Dumbledore's been using him, not telling him everything he needed to know, and now, Xaver's not going to stand for it. I know I wouldn't." Ron turned on her, blue eyes flashing. "Hermione, he just admitted to spending three months with You Know Who! It doesn't matter what happened to him! He had the chance to end the war but he didn't! Who knows what he learned, and it's probably Dark magic too! And now, he's a snake! And Snape's son! He's not fighting for any of us, just for himself! That's just a bit selfish, which isn't Harry at all! I think he's turning to the Dark, away from the Light. I don't think we can trust him. He didn't tell us any of this!"

Hermione's eyes hardened. "He doesn't have to, Ron. You should be happy for him; he has a family now. That's all he's ever wanted! You know, if he has gone Dark, then why is he here, at Hogwarts, and not at Voldemort's side, plotting our demise? Answer me that!"

"You heard the prophecy, Hermione. One of them has to die, so he is just saving his own arse! That's all it is." He stood from the table and left the Hall, a few people following him as they had overheard their conversation.

Hermione glared at him as he left before turning her attention on Snape at the staff table, where the Potions Master was talking forcefully with Dumbledore. As she considered the Headmaster, she thought that if everything Harry had said was true, that Albus Dumbledore wasn't above lying and deceitfulness when it came to something as important as Xaver's safety. She knew that Xaver was the only one with any sort of chance of defeating Voldemort, and she wanted to help her friend to do just that.

"You're still my friend, Harry, despite what name you go by now. You will always be Harry to me." She said softly, almost in a whisper before leaving the Great Hall herself.

At the staff table, Severus smirked smugly in Dumbledore's direction. He was pleased with the result of his son's tirade against the interfering old coot. McGonagall, however, was in shock.

"Well, Albus, you didn't expect that to happen, now did you?" Severus asked snidely, throwing a sneer at the older wizard. "He became quite independent during his stay at Riddle Manor, having to think for himself and keep up his guard against any wayward Deatheaters that may have killed him, despite Voldemort's orders. You have lost control of your puppet, and said puppet has exposed you for what you are, Dumbledore. Stay away from my son and do not interfere." Severus rose from the table and exited the Great Hall unnoticed by the students as they talked amongst themselves about the evening's events.

Halfway down to the dungeons, Xaver stopped walking and Draco stopped with him, looking at him curiously. Xaver's eyes were closed, and a small frown darkened his already cold features.

"Xaver? What's wrong?"

"He's opened the link again. Voldemort, you bloody fool, why did you open the link?" he sighed and opened his eyes. He smiled softly at Draco.

"Don't worry about me. The Dark Lord's just being an idiot. Speaking of which, check out the wand sheath he gave me as a parting gift. Strange of him, yes, but well appreciated." Xaver showed the sheath to Draco, who was in awe of it. "It was also a one way Portkey, which is how I got here. Oh, and your father wants to kill me, seems to think it was a waste to let me go at all."

Draco laughed and they continued their walk down to the dungeons. "Yes, that would be him. He hasn't said a thing to me yet, well, except to say before we left a month ago that I had better start thinking of Severus as my father now, for all he wants to do with me. I guess my refusal to join the Dark hit a nerve or something. Hey, you do realize that you won't receive warm welcome now that you're here and not fighting for the Light or the Dark." Xaver laughed at Draco's concern.

"Well, anyone can anything they please, but it would be pointless. I can and will cut down anyone in my way. There are very few people that I care in this world, and they are the only people I will fight for. I will go against everyone else if I have to." Xaver said and Draco held out his hands in defeat.

"All right, all right. You don't have to explain everything to me; I understand. I'm just warning, is all." Reaching the Slytherin common room and dorms, Draco said the password and led Xaver through the dungeon common room, and showed him his room. Xaver had one dorm mate, and it was Draco.

Xaver smiled appreciatively around the dorm room. "Now this is better than the Tower. The décor up there is a little gaudy, to be honest."

Draco smirked. "Well, down here, you can have anything you want; I'm sure Severus will allow it. How are things between you two?"

Xaver gave a small shrug, sitting on his bed and setting his cane down beside him. "I don't know. I know he was proud of me in the Hall, but its not like we've talked or anything since he brought you here a month ago. There are still obstacles, but that's to be expected. Hey, what do you think will happen tomorrow?"

"Expect anything, really. Especially from Gryffindor. They did not react well to the changes you've brought with you. You met Granger outside the Hall didn't you? I saw her come back in, looking a little shaken up, right before you came in. Anyway, you should be prepared for pranks, crude jokes, the whispering, and some attempts on your life."

"So what else is new?"

"Point taken. I'm going to bed. I'm sure you can take care of yourself in the common room? You should probably wait for him there. Goodnight." Draco climbed into his bed and closed the curtains, shutting himself inside.

"Goodnight, Draco." Xaver grabbed his cane and a little slowly, made his way to the common room, where the other Slytherins were starting to gather. He knew there would be problems already, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle with ease. He smirked as he stepped into the light of the fire.

Pansy Parkinson was the first to notice him and she turned to him, bringing Xaver to everyone's attention. Her face was contorted with anger and a sense of superiority. That would definitely change tonight.

"What the fuck are you doing down here, Potter? I don't care what happened to you, you're still a Gryffindor to everyone here and we don't want you polluting our space!" The others around her voiced their agreement. Pansy seemed to gain confidence from it. "You're just a cripple anyway. What use are you here?"

"You really have to ask that, Parkinson? Then you're just as stupid as I remember. Harry Potter's dead; Xaver Snape lives. I belong here. Do I have to prove myself? Should I? No, I shouldn't have to prove anything. There are no more lies here. No more masks. I don't have to be perfect, the perfect little hero who's going to save everyone. Did any of your Deatheater parents tell you that I was trained by Voldemort himself? Oh, he still wants to kill me, but I think Voldemort and I are becoming friends, of a sort. I warn you, pissing me off is not a smart thing to do. Your lives could be the price of irrational actions." Xaver spoke calmly, his words and tone conveying the danger in his smooth voice. Many of the younger Slytherins, and a few of the older ones, backed away, regarding Xaver with caution. Parkinson just pulled out her wand, and in a flash, it was flying from the Slytherin girl's hand. Xaver's cane had left a large welt on her wrist. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Xaver just smirked at her plight. "Leave me alone. That is my final warning." The other Slytherins just stared at him for a few more minutes after Parkinson had run away in tears, Severus came into the common room, sending everyone scattering. Xaver laughed lightly, his emerald eyes glinting fiercely.

Severus gave him a small almost invisible smile. "Well, you seem to have made an impression here already. Did you hurt Parkinson too much?"

"How did you know?"

"I have charmed the dorms and common room to notify me whenever someone gets hurt within my walls. My spells also tell me who gets hurt, who does the hurting, and what was used. How is the extent of the injury?"

Xaver shrugged. "I think I may of just fractured her wrist, but my cane did leave a fabulous red and purple welt. Kind of impressive, actually."

Severus chuckled at his son's light tone of the matter. "Well, please don't go injuring your Housemates too badly. Is Draco already in bed?" Xaver nodded.

"Yeah. He seemed to think that I would be able to handle myself, and he was correct. Things are going to get rough tomorrow, with the other students and maybe some of the professors. Do you have any advice?" Severus contemplated Xaver's question before he nodded.

"Yes. Just be who you are, and don't take any shit. I would advise at always having Draco nearby, to have a remark for anything. I should think this will be enough. I hope you know that I can't exactly pick favorites outside of the Deatheater children." Xaver rolled his eyes.

"You could get away with it, actually. I did tell the other Slytherins that Voldemort trained me himself. I don't think he would care if you favored me a little. Just, please, don't harass me like you used to." Severus nodded, serious. Xaver smiled.

"Thank you."

Severus nodded. "You should go to bed. You have a difficult day ahead of you tomorrow. Goodnight, my son."

Xaver nodded and headed for the room he shared with Draco. Just before he disappeared into the shadows of the dungeon corridor, he turned around, looking at his father. He smiled softly.

"Goodnight, father."

Then Severus was alone in the Slytherin common room, staring after his son. He smiled. Then, he, too, was gone from the common room.