Preface

Parallel universe story! It's going to be a fun one! No drama, just lots of fluff and laughs. I kind of got the idea from two stories I've already written, Motorcycle and Don't Touch Me.

So, in the parallel universe, Voldemort was killed by the rebounding Killing Curse he shot at Harry Potter all those years ago. No horcruxes or the like. He is properly dead and Harry can live his life like any 'normal' celebrity child would.

Here we go! Starting off in that parallel universe in three…

Two…

One…

"You what?" Severus asked, his words as tepid as his demeanor. His pale fingers lingered against his robe, paused in place, and his bloodshot eyes remained steady, peering at the headmaster.

"Have you not wished to prove your loyalty, Severus?" Albus murmured. He had hardly looked up at the Potions Master since his arrival. His gaze instead was half-hidden behind his spectacles. This man was clearly keeping away important secrets that could easily be given away.

Severus inhaled slowly as he tried to understand the situation and make out what Albus was requesting him to do. "You… do realize that I used to be a Death Eater, don't you?" He was mocking, of course, because he couldn't believe any man on the planet could have just said those ill-chosen words just twenty seconds ago. "You know this." He leaned forward. "You know what I feel about her choices. You know what I think of him. Why do you ask me to do this?" he inquired with great curiosity. "Because of what I have told you about Lily?"

"Yes," Albus sighed. He suddenly looked very tired. "The simple answer is yes."

"I have no sympathy for this… this boy." Severus spat out the last word with as much intensity and spite as he would spit out the name of his arch nemesis from over a decade ago. "I was in the Dark Lord's inner circle!" he boomed. He stood up as his muscles started tensing one after the other, aching as they clenched in defense. "I am a Death Eater, Albus. Now tell me what you expect me to do."

"I've made a mistake," Albus admitted. He finally looked up at Severus. "I have made a mistake and I implore you to rectify it."

"What have you done?"

"Harry… He isn't safe."

Severus barked in sordid amusement, his greasy hair dancing against his cheeks as he lifted his head up slightly. Dumbledore had finally gone insane. "Then why don't you take him in?" he taunted. "He is your charge."

"I cannot," Albus said under his breath. His fingers were weaving into the soft strands of his beard. "Not yet. I need some time to make arrangements. You know I have no other choice. I trust him with no one. Not even his family. I have made a grave mistake."

Severus slammed his hands on the table vehemently, all traces of laughter vanishing in an instant. "What have you done?" he hissed.

"They are not capable of giving him love. His own family is unable to give him anything but misery and loneliness," Albus lamented as he sat back against the chair. He pulled his hand away and reached forward to pick up a flimsy piece of lined paper off his desk. It seemed to have been folded and read many times by the way the creases nearly caused it to rip apart. He held it out to Severus, who snatched it with a disgruntled growl. There were faint pencil marks on it, shaky and hardly legible. He had to move towards the candelabra to read it.

Dear Santa,

When you come over this year can I go away with you? I do not want presents. I do not like this house so I want to live with you. I will be very quiet because I am very good at being quiet. I will help mend the toys and I can cook food for all the elves.

Just get me out of this stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid house. It hurts too much. I don't like anyone in it and everyone in it hates me. Please.

Harry

Severus hadn't realized that he was holding his breath until he released it in one loud gush. He glanced over his shoulder at the headmaster who had been watching him the entire time. "Because of this?" he asked blandly. He held up the letter in contempt. "He doesn't like his time outs, so you want me to take him in?"

"No one can know where he is. Not yet."

"Isn't that convenient?"

"The house has been experiencing enormous spurts of uncontrolled magic, Severus. If this continues, there is no telling what the child will do to escape his family. He could hurt himself. Just until school begins after winter break, that's all I need. He needs to be housed in a location he feels safe in and I trust you to provide him with such an environment. Once you return to school, he will live here. Only for a fortnight. I know what I ask of you is beyond com-"

"Then don't ask me!"

Albus tilted his head to the side and pressed his fingers to his temple to ward off the dull ache behind his eyes.

Snow packed along the sides of the road and ice slicked the pavement on the night Harry Potter arrived at Spinner's End, bundled in a jacket three sizes too big, worn boots, ratty mittens and a threadbare scarf. All of those were his, passed down from lovely Dudley Dursley. Held in Harry's hands was a small duffle bag that stored the rest of his meager possessions he had packed up from the cupboard under the stairs. And now he stood in front of an ordinary looking door of an ordinary looking house that stood on an ordinary looking street, still ogling at the extraordinary man that stood beside him.

When the old man with the beard and purple suit had come to collect him from Privet Drive, Harry had no qualms. He didn't question anything. He didn't even say goodbye. He packed his things and walked out without a word, in awe of the man who had made his uncle and aunt cower in fright.

Now here he was, three days before Christmas.

"You don't have to pretend to be Santa Clause," he said quietly. "He's not real."

Albus smiled down at the little boy, his blue eyes dancing with cheer. "I rather like pretending to be him," he responded before knocking three times.

Harry started when the door opened abruptly. Then he took a step back when he saw the man behind it. He was so very pale and his black hair framed his face unflatteringly, making ominous shadows appear against his pasty cheeks. His eyes were dark and sunken, and his brows were knitted together into what could only be a permanent frown. He wore the strangest clothes too, although not quite as strange as pretend Santa.

Severus directed a disgusted glare towards the boy and then dismissed him entirely to look up at Dumbledore, to whom he directed an even fiercer scowl.

"Merry Christmas, Severus," Albus murmured as he nudged Harry forward into the foyer and closed the door between them.

Harry continued to stare at the thin man. Severus clicked his tongue in exasperation and walked away. He had left his potion brewing.

Harry took the time alone to survey his surroundings. He understood why he was there. He was to live with this man now. He looked around the cramped and dark corridor. Unlike his old place, this house looked a bit foreboding and was too quiet. The walls were bare. He couldn't make out the color without light. He felt around for a light switch, but found nothing. He shrugged to himself before plopping down on the ground and struggling to get his large boots off of his cold feet. The taxi ride to the house had been silent. Now this exchange had been silent too. It was all so mysterious.

He shuffled down to the first entryway that had light, finding himself in the living room. It was plain with two grey couches, a fireplace on one end, two chairs by the window and a coffee table with nothing on it. Through the living room he made his way into the kitchen where, once again, there was almost nothing.

Not even a fridge or a stove.

Harry worried his lip. How was he supposed to eat? What was he supposed to eat? He shook his head to get rid of his trepidation and scurried out of there. On the other side of the hallway was another door, this one closed. He opened it and shivered when he heard that frightening creak he had heard all too often in movies. The door had stairs behind them, going down. Harry was never going down there if he could help it.

Unfortunately, that was exactly where the man in the black dress had gone.

Harry kept walking down the hallway that held four more doors, two on each side. This house was very weird. Just one corridor with doors on either end. He soon figured out that two of those doors led into bedrooms, one of them obviously his. He barely hid his excitement as he set his bag atop his fluffy bed and then ran to the window to look out. He had his own window… Perfect. He stared out into the fence of his neighbor, but that was okay. It was still a window.

Opposite the two bedrooms were one bathroom and one enormous study. Harry was blown away by how massive the library was. He didn't quite understand how such a large room could exist in this tiny home. He knew better than to venture into the room uninvited, so he filled his hungry eyes with the sights.

Once he was in his room again, he looked around more intently. A soft flickering light shone from a lantern on his bedside. He also had a broad wardrobe, one chest of draws, a small table and a chair. The room was painted white and the floors were carpeted. It felt nice under his socked feet. The bed itself was just a twin, but that was incredibly large in Harry's eyes. He sat on it with some hesitance. Then he lowered himself onto his back and stared up at the white ceiling. It was strange being in bed with a light on. He wasn't used to it.

He fell asleep that way, his legs dangling over the edge and his hands clasped on his stomach.

Severus leaned against the doorjamb and watched the boy for many minutes, lost in his own thoughts. This was Harry Potter. This was Lily's son. He cringed. The boy looked nothing like Lily. He looked like a proper Potter instead. His teeth gritted in anger as memories started to surface. He carefully pushed them down by remembering his reasons for housing Potter's child. It was for Lily's sake. It was how he would atone for his wrongdoings. He would do right by Lily's child. He was Lily's child. Severus realized that he would have to keep reminding himself of that because, from that day on, all he would be seeing was the face of a bully who had tormented him for years too many.

Lily's child.

He huffed as he pushed away from the doorjamb and walked to his own bedroom. He wasn't about to lose yet another night over this kid. Not if he could help it.

Harry jerked awake with flailing arms, his stomach dropping as he fell. He whipped his head around the brightly lit bedroom in shock. He tried to remember furiously and everything came back to him before long. He sighed with relief. This was his room now.

His lips pulled up into an infrequent smile. His room.

He fell back and flipped over onto his stomach, screaming into the mattress with glee. He squealed and laughed until he was crying and laughing some more. He wasn't at Privet Drive any longer. He would have kept going for hours too, if not for the sharp rap on the door to his bedroom. His bedroom.

He scrambled off of the bed and rushed to the door to fling it open.

Severus staggered back when the boy rammed into his legs to hug him tight. He was struck dumb. He also nearly pushed Harry away, barely restraining himself in the nick of time. His arms dropped to his sides instead and he let the boy have his way for a few moments before clearing his throat.

Harry tipped his head up to look at Severus with a bright smile. "Thank you," he hummed. "I knew you'd take me away." He buried his face against Severus' stomach again.

"Goodness," Severus grumbled under his breath. "Don't touch me."

Harry froze, then his arms slackened. Severus relaxed when the boy stepped back quickly with his head down. This was a much better way to talk. Damn it, the lad even had that hopeless shock of black hair like James Potter. "Get dressed for breakfast," he said brusquely. "You are absolutely filthy." He spun around on his heel and stormed towards the kitchen.

"I can cook."

"I'd rather live," Severus drawled as he disappeared into the living room.

Harry twisted the hem of his shirt between his fingers. Was he supposed to take a bath now? He hurried to get to his bag out of which he pulled out clean underwear, worn pants and his best shirt. He wanted to impress the new nameless man. He also took his toothbrush out so he could clean his smelly teeth.

Severus was contemplating heinous murder when Harry walked in with damp hair. Potter seemed to have no sense of etiquette. "When I call you for breakfast," he seethed, "I expect you to be ready in no less than ten minutes, understood?"

"Yes, sir."

Severus blinked.

Harry sat down in front of his plate while trying to be as quiet as possible. His glasses had a habit of slipping down his nose, so it was nestled at the tip as he tucked into breakfast, which consisted of eggs and toast. After snapping out of his reverie, Severus did the same, albeit while growling a few choice words under his breath. They ate in silence. The professor glanced at the child at intervals when the fork screeched against the plate or the cup thudded a bit loudly on the table. Harry ate in small, measured bites, obviously trying very hard to be on his best behavior. He looked no more than six.

Severus scoffed. A six year old would hardly write a letter of that caliber. "How old are you?" he asked after placing his utensils down.

"Eight."

Three years until he would be studying at Hogwarts. Severus remembered those days bitterly. And now he was expected to make room in his life for the sake of this good-for-nothing child who everyone revered like no other. Had it not been for Lily, Harry wouldn't even be alive. That was the only reason Severus had agreed to care for a child that looked nothing like her. He got up and gathered the dirty dishes. Then, pulling out his wand, he flicked them away to the kitchen.

He jumped when he heard a sharp squeak and crash. Harry had just toppled off his chair. "Don't you even have a modicum of manners in you?" the man snapped. "Get up."

"Wh-wh-wh-what's that?"

He looked down at his wand, then back at Harry who was gawking at him openly. He hadn't noticed those stark green eyes until then. "You don't know about magic?" he murmured in confusion. He was mesmerized by Lily's eyes. She had looked at him the same way when he showed her the things he could do with a wave of his hand. She had looked up at him with those same eyes, that same expression – a mixture of fear and delight.

"Magic?" Harry breathed. "Was that magic? Is that what magic is?"

"Yes," Severus said distantly. He stepped away in heady disorientation when Harry scrambled up onto his feet. "Haven't they talked to you about magic?" he asked. By the incredulous way Harry was staring at him, he could guess at the answer. "They've told you nothing?"

"About what?" Harry asked nervously. "They never tell me anything."

"But you must know about your mother," Severus rushed to say. "You must know how she died."

The boy blanched and withdrew physically. His small arms were folded against his stomach and his eyes drew to the floor. "A-an accident?" he mumbled. "They died in a car crash."

Severus pressed a hand to his mouth in defeat as he looked down at the child. Harry really didn't know anything. Petunia had kept him in the dark. What had she planned to do? Drive the magic out of him by never telling him? Pretend like Lily never happened? "And you believed them?" he couldn't help spitting out. Was this boy daft? "Are you daft?"

Harry staggered back in an attempt to get away. He shrieked when he was stopped forcibly and jerked forward instead. He struggled against Severus' bony grasp in vain and couldn't stop from being dragged into the living room. The professor didn't let go of him until he was deposited on one of the dusty grey couches. Harry pulled his knees up to his chest as he wailed, keeping his face hidden so Severus couldn't see his face.

"This is no time to cry," Severus snarled. "Now you are going to sit there and listen to everything I am about to say to you. No interruptions and no questions until the end, understood?"

"I'm sorry," Harry cried. "I-I'm sorry."

"I've seen the act before, Potter," Severus rebuked, grasping the back of the boy's collar and tugging it back to make him lift his head. "You may have fooled that old man, but it takes more than a few tears to fool me, understood?"

Harry nodded quickly and pressed the heels of his palms to his eyes from behind his glasses as he shuddered. "I won't say anything," he sobbed. "I'm sorry. I won't."

Severus sat opposite Harry on the coffee table. "You are a wizard. You have magic in you, like your mother. She did not die in an accident and I do not know what kind of a simpleton would believe a lie of that sort when it's coming out of the Petunia's lying tongue. She was killed and you survived because of her death." He paused for effect, knowing that he had scared Harry out of his wits already. But he wanted to torture Potter's boy for a little while longer. "You must listen carefully to what I am about to say next," he added menacingly. "If you ever squander away this precious existence of yours, you will personally deal with me and I will make sure you feel more remorse than you will ever be able to live with."

Harry wasn't crying anymore. He was too stunned.

"Now I will be your guardian. You thought your life with the Dursleys was hard? Be careful what you wish for. For the next two weeks, you will be under my care. You will wake up every morning at seven and finish your breakfast by eight thirty. I shall begrudgingly allow you to use my library afterwards and provide you with some schoolwork that you may do. No doubt you need to be taught everything from scratch. Lunch will be served at twelve. After, you may do what you like in the house, provided you make not a single peep. At two, you will continue with your reading. You will read all the pages I had assigned to you and you will keep a notebook in which you will write every single day for at least one hour detailing the concepts you have hopefully managed to get inside your head. Dinner is at six and your curfew is nine. You are not to be seen or heard by anyone other that myself and a few people I will introduce you to. If, at any point in your stay, I find you unsatisfactory, rest assured, I will make it known and you shall be scrubbing the cauldrons until your hands are chaffed and your elbows are bruised. Under no petty circumstances are you to disobey me. Have I made myself clear?"

Harry swatted Severus on the cheek.