By Blood

Chapter 1: The Revelation

Severus Snape watched from a distance, hidden under his invisibility cloak, as Harry Potter huddled in the corner of his tiny cupboard. The boy's small frame shook with fear and exhaustion, his vivid green eyes filled with a glimmer of hopelessness. Snape's heart clenched at the sight of him, a deep sense of responsibility stirring within him.

It had been years since Snape learned the truth. The truth about Harry's parentage and his own role in the boy's life. Dumbledore had revealed the secret shortly after Lily and James Potter's tragic demise. Snape had spent countless nights since, wrestling with the guilt and anguish that had consumed him.

It was then that he made up his mind. It was time to reveal the truth.

The next day, Snape, now determined, appeared on the doorstep of number four, Privet Drive, a place he despised. He ignored the astonished faces of the Dursleys and pushed his way inside. The house was as dingy and unwelcoming as ever, but Snape's focus remained solely on rescuing Harry.

He found himself standing in front of a locked door leading to a small closet beneath the stairs. A wave of anger washed over him as he recalled the years of neglect and mistreatment Harry had endured. Snape summoned his wand and muttered a charm, unlocking the door and revealing a pale, malnourished figure curled up inside.

"Harry Potter," Snape said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "I've come to take you away."

Harry looked up in surprise, his eyes filled with a mix of confusion and hope. He had expected no one to come to his rescue, but now here was Snape, the potions professor he had known for years, offering him an escape from this living nightmare.

"Why?" Harry whispered, his voice hoarse from disuse.

"Because I am your father, Harry," Snape admitted, his voice wavering ever so slightly. "It's time for you to leave this place and come with me."

A whirlwind of emotions flooded Harry's mind. Snape, the greasy-haired and cold man, was claiming to be his father? But as he looked into Snape's eyes, he saw a flicker of sincerity. A feeling ignited within him, a desperate longing to believe that someone actually cared about his well-being.

"Can I trust you?" Harry asked, fear tingeing his voice.

Snape hesitated for a moment, his eyes softening. "I can understand your skepticism, but I promise you, Harry, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. I'm not the man you believe me to be, but it will take time for us to build trust."

Reluctantly, Harry nodded, deciding to take the leap of faith – it was either this or another year trapped with the Dursleys. He packed the few belongings he had into a small bag and followed Snape out of the house, leaving behind the dark memories that had plagued him for as long as he could remember.

Once they were far enough away from Privet Drive, Snape removed his invisibility cloak, revealing a stern-faced man with greasy black hair and piercing black eyes. Harry had only seen him as an intimidating professor before, but now he saw vulnerability in Snape's expression.

As they walked through the bustling streets of London, Snape explained everything. How his mother, Lily Potter, had fallen in love with him during their years at Hogwarts. How he had repented for the choices he made as a Death Eater and had dedicated his life to protecting Harry, the one living souvenir of his hidden love's sacrifice.

"The truth had to remain hidden, Harry," Snape said, his voice tinged with sorrow. "Voldemort would stop at nothing to find you and use you for his own twisted purposes. We had to keep you safe."

Harry listened, his heart aching with the weight of it all, but also with a newfound understanding. Snape, the man he had thought was his enemy, was now revealing himself as his father, his protector.

Arriving at a small cottage on the outskirts of a dreary town called Spinner's End, Snape led Harry inside. The atmosphere was as somber and gloomy as expected, with bookshelves lining every wall, filled with dusty tomes and potion ingredients. It was a far cry from the warm and loving home Harry had dreamed of, but he knew that it was a start.

Days turned into weeks, and the dynamic between Harry and Snape remained distant. Snape did his best to provide for Harry, ensuring that he had a warm bed, food to eat, and the necessary materials for his studies. However, his cold exterior allowed for no unnecessary pleasantries. Every conversation was a battle for connection, each gesture fraught with an unspoken tension.

But beneath the hardened exterior, Snape couldn't help but observe Harry's resilience and courage. The way he faced each day with determination, despite the hardships that life had thrown at him. Snape saw glimpses of himself in Harry, a reflection of his own stubborn spirit.

Time passed, and Harry's eleventh birthday approached. Snape had secretly been saving up for a special gift, something that would mark the beginning of Harry's journey into the wizarding world.

On the morning of Harry's eleventh birthday, Snape presented him with a worn-out, leather-bound book. "This," Snape said, his voice uncharacteristically soft, "was your mother's. It contains her thoughts, spells, and notes she took during her years at Hogwarts. She would have wanted you to have it."

Harry's eyes widened as he gingerly took the book. The weight of it in his hands was significant, a tangible link to the mother he had never known.

"Thank you," Harry whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of gratitude and curiosity.

Snape nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Read it and learn, Harry. Your mother was one of the brightest witches of her time, and you have her blood running through your veins. There is much to discover."

From that day forward, Harry threw himself into the pages of Lily's book, immersing himself in her wisdom and magical expertise. Snape saw the fire ignite within Harry's eyes, the hunger for knowledge and understanding that mirrored his own thirst for excellence.

As the weeks turned into months, Snape couldn't help but notice Harry's incredible talent for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Reluctantly, he found himself teaching Harry privately, pushing him harder than any other student he had ever taught. Though their interactions were intense, Harry thrived under Snape's tutelage, his skill and knowledge growing at an unprecedented pace.

Despite Snape's cold exterior, a sense of pride welled up within him each time Harry showed determination and improvement. It was a battle within himself – his role as teacher overlapped with his newfound role as a father figure.

And so, in the dimly lit confines of Spinner's End, a bond began to form. A bond between a father who had dedicated his life to protecting his son and a son who was just beginning to understand the depths of his father's sacrifice.