Chapter 1: Off to the Ministry
It had been forty-eight hours since one and a half year-old Harry Potter gained the lightning bolt scar that made him the Boy-who-Lived. Prior to forty-eight hours ago, no one survived the Killing Curse and Lord Voldemort was still alive. Now, on November 2, 1981, the Wizarding World was still celebrating the infant's unexpected success. Children were told of the boy's triumph; of the heroic accomplishment that saved the future generation of children from the terror that plagued the Wizarding World: Lord Voldemort.
Only one little girl was not given the opportunity to query her father about what happened. Apollonia Snape was shuttled off to spend a few days with a friend of her father's—a friend he knew had nothing to do with Voldemort's followers—Andromeda Tonks while he went off to speak with Dumbledore about what happened. For Severus Snape, Voldemort's destruction meant a lot of things. The Ministry planned on rounding up all known Death Eaters, including Severus. No one knew that Severus Snape played turncoat once the prophecy became known. It had been around that time in which Apollonia was conceived, a few days after her brother. And, in order to continue raising his little girl—Lily's daughter—Severus needed to turn himself in and deal with this imminently.
Dealing with the Ministry would be an issue in and of itself. He had just recently taken over the post as Potions Master from his own teacher, Horace Slughorn, a few months ago. Initially, Severus wanted the Defense post; Dumbledore refused, instead suggesting that he become the Potions Master. Now that seemed like a mistake; it was a well-known fact that when Professor Merrythought retired some forty years ago, Voldemort—or Tom Riddle—asked to fill the post. The refusal invoked Voldemort's anger and he cursed the position so that no teacher other than him would last longer than a year. And, it was true; throughout Severus's own years at Hogwarts, there were at least seven teachers. If Severus was getting taken in by the Ministry regarding suspected Death Eater activities, it might have been better if he took the Defense post instead of Slughorn's old job.
And, Apollonia; how could Severus even consider raising his little girl if he was forcibly brought to Azkaban? His daughter was the only reason he was doing this; so that the Ministry would have no qualms about allowing Severus to raise his daughter, turning himself in was the only option. Severus apparated to the gates of Hogwarts and made his way up to the school. Before he went to the Ministry, the Potions Master needed to have a talk with Albus. It had not really been discussed in-depth, but the young savior was his daughter's brother; Lily's son fathered by Potter. As much as Severus hated James Potter for what he did to him in school, his son was Apollonia's brother; and Severus needed to know what happened to the boy.
The Potions Master was rather pleased that the Headmaster saw fit to cancel classes for the week due to Potter's unexpected success in defeating the Dark Lord. He had no desire to worry about classes when the Ministry was going through Death Eater trials. Of course, there was also the fact that Dumbledore himself had testimonies to give during the trials. He wasn't the head of the Order of the Phoenix for nothing. Albus could easily vouch for Severus and get him off the Ministry's charges; Severus then, needed to be sure that the Headmaster would help him with his issues. For Apollonia's sake; even for Potter's sake.
Severus traipsed through the castle and up to the Headmaster's office, ignoring everyone he passed. "Albus, we need to have a talk," Severus declared, storming into the room.
"Ah, Severus," the Headmaster murmured, clearly ignoring the Potion Master's rather abrupt entrance. "Care for a lemon drop?" Severus eyed the Headmaster, who eventually elaborated on the vague statement that was given. "A Muggle sweet I'm particularly fond of."
"No thank you, Albus," he said. "I came to discuss the current situation. The Dark Lord's destruction two days ago at the hands of Potter's boy has brought up a precarious situation." There was no need to beat around the bush; Apollonia's future depended on him getting rid of this obstacle that was the blemish on his arm. His mistake from three years ago brought him to this position. A mistake five years ago caused all of this to happen. With both mistakes made—both life-changing decisions—Severus Snape was not about to make a third mistake however; if he did such a thing, he would get no more chances. Should that happen, Apollonia might be sent to a foster home. And, he couldn't watch that happen.
"Shouldn't you be here with your daughter?" Albus asked.
"I took her to see Andromeda," Severus explained. For the past few months, Poppy, Minerva, and Pomona helped watch over his daughter. He would have asked one of them to watch her, but thought it best if the one year-old wasn't here. A lot of the Hogwarts staff—Minerva, Poppy, and Hagrid—were part of the Order and might be called to testify. When it came to Pomona—the only other person Severus trusted to watch his daughter—she was busy caring for a group of mandrakes, too busy to watch over his little girl. Andromeda had been left as the only other option, the Black sister that never sided with Voldemort.
No, Severus amended. There was Sirius. Only last night, word got out that Sirius Black killed twelve Muggles and best friend Peter Pettigrew. It was that incident that led Severus to deal with this now; hearing Black's name reminded the Potions Master of his only too recent school years, when those blasted Marauders frolicked the school causing trouble for people like Severus. As much as he hated Potter for stealing Lily, Severus despised Black even more; it was the latter that lured Severus to the Shrieking Shack and almost had Severus killed by their werewolf friend, Remus Lupin. And besides, Severus owed Potter a life debt for rescuing him; a life debt that now converted to Harry James Potter. And, it seemed fairly obvious that the only way to repay such a debt was to take care of the Ministry issue and go find the savior. After all, wouldn't he want to know his sister?
"An excellent idea," Dumbledore approved, popping a lemon drop into his mouth before looking expectantly at the young Potions Master. "And your reason for being here?"
"My duty as a spy and my duty as a father puts me in a precarious position, Albus, as I'm sure you very well know," Severus began. It was true. Little Apollonia had been here at Hogwarts for as long as Severus had been teaching Potions here, despite that only being a few months. "Should the Ministry take me in for questioning and throw me into Azkaban, what will become of my daughter? Lily's older sister, Petunia, is her only other relative that could possibly take her in and I am not about to let that happen." Petunia Evans—or whatever it was now—always resented the fact that her younger sister had magic and she didn't. No doubt, Apollonia would not be treated well if she went there.
"Her brother would be there," the Headmaster said softly.
To a normal set of ears, the Headmaster's statement would be almost imperceptible. But, to a spy like Severus, who trained himself well, it was perfectly clear. "You didn't!" the Potions Master roared. Potter living with Petunia? He wouldn't wish that on anyone, not even Potter. Because of his magic, Harry Potter would never survive Petunia; Severus knew that by age eleven when he and Lily got their letters to Hogwarts. "Have you gone mad, Albus? Allowing the boy—the savior of the Wizarding World, may I remind you—to lodge with his Muggle aunt is ludicrous. I know Petunia; I have for a long time, and know that she will not tolerate the boy's magical heritage. Whatever you're trying to do, it won't work."
"It is for the best," Albus decided.
"The best?" Severus sneered. "Albus, have you met the woman to whom you are referring?" Albus had certainly gone off the deep end if Petunia was the choice of guardian for the boy.
"No, but Minerva has," Albus intoned.
"And her opinion?" Severus queried, his face impassive. The Potions Master didn't know whether to be enraged or pleased that Minerva also knew this. He supposed it would be best to hear what the elderly woman had to say about them. Only then would Severus provide any commentary. As much as he was truly tempted to supply such an outburst, it was for the best Severus to keep his mouth shut. Things might work out for the best.
"The worst sort of Muggles imaginable," he quoted softly.
Minerva's words brought a small smile to the irate Potion Master's face. As far as Severus could tell, another one of the staff was on his side in regards to the Boy-who-Lived going to stay with Petunia. Though, unlike Severus, Minerva did not have prior experience with the woman. Her assessment of the home was an unbiased opinion, one that was surely accurate. "I'll have to thank Minerva," Severus decided. "Seems she's on my side in this."
"It is for the best," Albus maintained.
Severus sneered. "I'd be a better guardian to the boy than Petunia." It would also be better for Potter to grow up with his sister. After learning that Potter lost his parents, there was a small part of him that sympathized with the boy as Apollonia was the only true family that Potter had left. Even if Severus hated the boy's father, the hatred that Severus possessed towards James had not completed transferred to the Boy-who-Lived. The only reason that was so was because it was his daughter's brother and he could very well alienate her if such transference occurred. No, Harry Potter was a one year-old boy; there was no way he could be so much like James in that amount of time. And, if Severus raised the savior of the Wizarding World, there might be a way to nurture Lily's traits and suppress Potter's traits.
The Headmaster looked at his Potions Master in surprise; obviously the old Headmaster had not suspected such a thing. Albus's expression returned to its neutral state, as if he had not been caught off-guard by what was said. "Severus, I would have thought that your hatred of James would also include little Harry. After all, you joined the Death Eaters almost immediately after Lily's engagement to James was announced," Albus reminded.
Though he knew that to be true—Lily's engagement had definitely influenced the decision to join the Death Eaters—Severus preferred not to be reminded of such things. It was Lily's news to him that she was pregnant—not only with Potter's child, but his as well—and the Dark Lord's almost subsequent decision to target the Potters that drove Severus away from the darkness's allure. All that mattered anymore was his daughter; Apollonia had to live in a world free of Voldemort. "That may have been true had I not been blessed with a daughter," Severus conceded. "A daughter who also happens to be the Harry Potter's sister."
Albus nodded. "Yes, I suppose that would help."
"Which is why I'm going to the Ministry, Albus," Severus informed the elderly man. "For my daughter's sake, it is imperative that I take care of this Death Eater business. If I don't, the Ministry might lock me away in Azkaban and my daughter might grow in a home that will show her no love. The same fate will undoubtedly befall Potter if he goes to live with Petunia."
"So noted," the Headmaster nodded.
Once he made his opinions known to the Headmaster about Potter's placement with Petunia, Severus used the fireplace to Floo to the Ministry. When he set foot in the atrium, the Potions Master took note of the fact that there were Aurors bustling about, trying to round up the Death Eaters as early as possible. A man Severus recognized as the Auror Alastor Moody noticed his presence and pointed him out. "Look! It's Severus Snape!" The Auror approached, clearly confused as to why a known Death Eater might be at the Ministry.
"I've come to turn myself in," Severus stated simply, ignoring the glares he received from people such as Moody. "I will submit myself for questioning under Veritaserum as well." Severus wished for it to be of public record that he became Dumbledore's spy when the Potters were targeted; that he wanted to protect Lily and her unborn children from suffering at Voldemort's hand. He begged Voldemort to spare Lily's life, but went to Dumbledore for the assurance that his childhood friend would be protected. So that he could protect his daughter, Severus came willingly, a fact that would be taken into account.
Hogwarts' Potions professor duly followed the Aurors. Despite turning himself in, he might have to spend some time in Azkaban to await trial; his reasoning for placing Apollonia with the Tonks family for the next few days. The Tonks' daughter, Dora could help watch over the girl for the duration. Severus was, as expected, taken to Azkaban. Though, he noted, it appeared as if Severus was to take residence in one of the nicer cells. It did not matter to the former Slytherin; he would wait this out and prove to everyone what was going on.
It appeared as if turning himself in was a blessing in disguise. Severus's trial was to take place on the morning of Wednesday, November 4th. From what he could tell, it was the earliest possible convenience for the Ministry to schedule his trial. Not the Severus minded; he would wait forever to deal with this in order to give his daughter the life she deserved. He wished for Apollonia to live in a world where Voldemort didn't terrorize the Wizarding World. And, quite ironically, it was thanks to her brother that such a thing was possible. Potter's defeat of the Dark Lord five days ago had given his twin sister a chance to live a normal life. Because of it, Severus would wait as long as he needed to deal with this.
The morning of November 4 dawned on the tiny island in which Azkaban was situated and Severus was brought to the Ministry, chained. As he stood in front of the Wizengamot, bound in chains, Severus caught sight of Ted Tonks in the gallery. He was the only one to come, which was only because of Apollonia. All others who came were not in support of him; in their eyes, he was a Death Eater and not worthy of living in society. Little did they know that Severus was truly working for Dumbledore to bring down Voldemort from the inside. Speaking of Albus, where was he? Why wasn't he, Minerva, or Poppy here to support him? Or even Pomona? Why was it that had Ted been the only one to come when there were at least four other people who had some semblance of the truth?
Severus supposed that it didn't matter at the moment. The news of his being a double agent for Dumbledore would soon come out. And then he could go deal with the situation regarding Potter. The boy had been living with Petunia for the past four days. He had suffered the woman's wrath for those four days, which was enough. Harry Potter could not live with that woman. Not ever! So, once his trial was over, Severus would see to it that Harry Potter was protected, in a place where he could grow up with his sister. Albus would not be permitted to keep the savior of the Wizarding World hidden with his Muggle relatives, in a home in which magic would never be welcome. Harry Potter would not be welcome there.
As Severus sat in a chair, bound by chains, the Head of Wizengamot stepped forward to address Severus and his peers. "Severus Tobias Snape, you stand accused of consorting with Death Eaters, and of being a Death Eater yourself. Mr. Snape, how do you plead?"
"Not guilty," Severus replied.
A collective gasp was heard in the gallery before they were shushed to proceed with the trial. "You have agreed to give a testimony under Veritaserum, have you not?" he was asked.
"I have," the Potions Master stated.
The Veritaserum was administered and the questioning began. Severus had to roll his obsidian eyes when the Head of Wizengamot asked the first question. It was always the same, but still they felt the need to ask such a pointless question. "What is your name?"
"Severus Tobias Snape."
"When were you born?"
"January 9th, 1960."
"Are you a Death Eater?"
Ah, finally! Right to the point, aren't you? This was the question Severus had been waiting for. He knew that the Veritaserum would force him reveal that he was a Death Eater. However, it would also force the truth to come out to the world that he acted as a spy for Dumbledore since early 1980—in fact, it was shortly after his twentieth birthday—in exchange for Lily's protection. "Yes." There was another gasp. "However, my allegiance to the Dark Lord only lasted until February 1980 when I swore loyalty to Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix in order to protect my unborn daughter." He needn't mention that Lily was also a part of this, for what he said was the truth; he was doing it for his daughter.
"You have a daughter?"
"I do."
"Her name?"
"Apollonia Snape." That was only a half-truth, but the truth nonetheless. Severus simply omitted his daughter's middle name and her mother's maiden name, the latter given as a reminder of what he lost. Now it would serve as a reminder for his daughter of the fact that she never met her mother, nor would she ever. Apollonia Lily Evans Snape was a motherless daughter, which better than being an orphan as her brother was. That, however, was not a matter that needed discussing at this moment; he was currently on trial.
"And, are you still loyal to Dumbledore?"
"Very much so," Severus stated.
The Head of Wizengamot grimaced. "We will take a ten minute recess to check the veracity of these statements." A gavel banged down and Severus was momentarily led away.
It did not bother Severus that the Ministry wanted to check up on his daughter's existence. Doing so would only prove that the Veritaserum worked, that Severus was truly working for Dumbledore as he informed the Wizengamot. Though, it would be worth noting that Veritaserum was impossible to deceive; he could only tell the truth upon being dosed.
It took awhile for Severus to once again get brought before the Wizengamot. "Your claim is true. You do indeed have a daughter. And, as you have admitted under Veritaserum that your loyalty lies with Albus Dumbledore, it is the court's decision that you have been acquitted of all charges. You are free to go home to your daughter, Mr. Snape."
The shackles around the Potions Master's wrists and ankles disappeared, allowing Severus to glide towards the one person who came to support him. "Ted, I can't thank you enough for you and Andromeda taking care of my daughter these past few days. Would you mind doing so for another few hours? I have an errand to attend to." It was time to deal with the Potter situation. He was Apollonia's twin and deserved to live with his sister.
"I'll tell Andromeda," Ted nodded before Apparating away.
As Severus did not know where Petunia was living at the moment, he Flooed back to Hogwarts to ask Albus. Coming into the Headmaster's office, Severus saw that Albus was casually paging through a book on the Dark Arts when he walked into the man's line of sight. "How did it go, my boy?" the Headmaster asked, not bothering to look up at his Potions Master.
"Cleared of all charges," Severus declared.
"Ah, excellent," Albus grinned. "I knew it would work out for you. Now, when will we be seeing little Apollonia back in the Hospital Wing?" He asked the question so casually, as if Severus had not come in for another reason other than to alert the Headmaster that he still had his Potions Master. "It is the highlight of children's day when they must go to the Hospital Wing; they enjoy playing with your little girl. It has been quiet without her."
"Sorry to disappoint, Albus, but my daughter will be remaining with the Tonks family for another few hours," Severus informed the Headmaster. "I am here to discuss the Potter situation. As I have said before, I think it a mistake that you would place the boy in Petunia's care. If even Minerva agrees with me that Petunia is the worst sort of person to raise the boy-who-lived, then it is in his best interest that he be removed from the home immediately. I'm sure Petunia won't even bother to put up a fight. She hates magic and will hate the boy."
Albus set the book down, allowing twinkling blue eyes to meet obsidian. "I'm afraid you don't have a choice in the matter, Severus. Harry must remain at Number Four Privet Drive until the day he turns seventeen. Nowhere else is safer for him. And besides, I have Arabella stationed nearby to look after him. There is nothing to worry about, Severus."
"Like hell there isn't," Severus roared. He stormed out of the Headmaster office and down to the dungeon. Despite Albus's assurances that Potter would be okay, the cantankerous Potions Master was sure that the boy-who-lived was in danger. So, after entering his own office, Severus Flooed to 10 Wisteria Walk, where Albus once mentioned Arabella Figg lived. A brief conversation with the woman ensued before Severus made his way to Number Four Privet Drive. The Potions Master had a spell to cast, one that would help keep him well-informed as to any magical occurrences that were performed in this house. If Potter had to stay here, Severus could at least make assurances that everything was as it was meant to be. It was the only way for him to be appeased.
That done, Severus went to retrieve Apollonia from the Tonks'. After the events of the last five days, now was the time to begin a normal life, a life without Voldemort; a time to live without fear. Harry Potter had saved them all from such a fate. Severus only hoped that come eleven years from now, the boy-who-lived would be ready to attend Hogwarts.
Author's Note: This is a story I've been working on for the past few weeks, my own twist on the Severus raising Harry plot line. In this case, Severus has a daughter, Harry's half-sister. And, with this sister comes a whole new set of problems. There are a few events that happen in the books that will happen in this timeline, but, for the most part, this story is extremely AU.
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