A/N: Alright, before you read, let me give you some warnings: (a) I'm not a good writer, so sorry if it's bad. (b) This story will partially follow the books (c) I thought of the end of this story while listening to Courtyard Apocalypse (d) I have to use the Fanfiction writing thing because my Mac doesn't have Word anymore
Genres: Family/Drama/Adventure/Action/Hurt/Comfort/(hopefully)Humor I do not like shipping Severus with someone, but I will ship Harry with someone. Harry's parents are MIA, not dead. Most of the characters that died in the original series, will probably be alive. So, on that note, please review! I value your opinions. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, sadly, but I'm fine with it. I'd rather cry while reading someone else's work.

Chapter 1: An Unexpected Visitor

"Sev! Get up!" Severus Snape opened his eyes to see his best friend, Lily Evans, standing above him. She shook her head. "Sev, we've got Potions. Professor Slughorn will dock points if we're late." Severus groaned. Going to Potions meant being in the same class as Potter and his friends. Just after I started to feel peaceful, he thought. Lily held out her hand and helped him up. After he brushed himself, he noticed Lily looking at him worry in her eyes. "Do you ever sleep?" she asked.

"Of course I do." Severus started to walk to the castle. He couldn't tell her about what he does at night.

Knock. Knock.

Severus halted halfway to the castle. What was that knocking? he wondered. He shook his head and kept on walking. "You know, there are times I think you're lying to me." Lily said while catching up to him.

Knock. Knock.

"Severus?"

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The memory slowly faded away as Severus Snape woke up from his sleep. He looked around and realized he wasn't at Hogwarts, Lily wasn't there, and he wasn't a boy. Severus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. His school memories have been haunting his sleep every now and then. When he heard the knocking again, he looked towards the clock. "Merlin's beard! It's five o'clock in the morning! Who would be here at this hour?" Severus muttered while grabbing his wand. He slowly approached the door, wand ready. When he opened the door, he was shocked.

"Good morning Severus. It is nice to see you again." Dumbledore standing on Severus Snape's doorstep, acting like they saw each other a week ago. That, and it was bloody five o'clock in the morning. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but this is important. May we come in?" Dumbledore asked.

Severus rubbed his temples. He hadn't spoken to Dumbledore in five years. Now he's on Severus's doorstep asking to be invited in? I will never understand this man, he thought. "Of course you may come-" Severus paused. "Did you say we? Who else is with you?" Severus asked suspiciously.

"Ah yes, I forgot." Dumbledore gestured to someone down the hall. A large man with an equally large beard came to the front of the door. "Hagrid, would you bring the boy in?" To that Hagrid squeezed through Severus's front door, walked to the living room and plopped down on the couch. Severus looked at Dumbledore quizzically, but Dumbledore also went to sit on the couch. Severus sighed and sat in his armchair across from Hagrid and Dumbledore. That's when he noticed the little bundle in Hagrid's arms. Severus looked at Dumbledore asking for an explanation. "The little boy in Hagrid's arms is Harry James Potter. He just turned five yesterday." Severus's eyes widened, but Dumbledore continued. "Yes, he is the Boy Who Lived. After is parents disappeared, I put him in the care of his Aunt and Uncle, but it is only now that I regret that. You see, this boy's aunt never gave him love. She only rarely fed him and when she did, it was a very small portion. His uncle would hit the boy if he cried and forced him to live in a cupboard under the stairs." Severus covered his mouth with his hand. He noticed the boy stir in Hagrid's arms. "Well, I'll get to the point before before the boy wakes up. Severus, I want to place him under your care."

"What!" Severus said in surprise. What possessed Dumbledore to have him watch the child the Dark Lord failed to kill? That and the boy was the son of the man he hated most. Dumbledore pulled out a small envelope and handed it to Severus. He opened it and almost cried. He recognized Lily's handwriting the moment he started reading.

To whom it may concern,
If my husband, James Potter, and I, Lily Potter, were to go missing or die before our son, Harry James Potter, had his 17th birthday, I declare his guardianship given to Sirius Black. If Sirius Black is either unwilling or unable to care for Harry, then his guardianship will pass to Frank and Alice Longbottom. If the Longbottoms are either unwilling or unable to care for our son, then I let his guardianship be passed on to Severus Snape.

Severus dropped the letter on the floor. The rest was about the Potter's belongings, but Severus couldn't bear to read more. Why had she chosen him? The last time they spoke was the time he decided to become a Death Eater. Dumbledore then said, "I know you might be unwilling to care and give him the love he needs, but I ask you to give him a chance. If in one week you decide you do not want to be his guardian, then please owl me. Ah, it seems the boy is waking up." Severus watched as the boy, Harry, opened his eyes. When Severus made eye contact, he took a step back. The boy had Lily's eyes. He had the same eyes that would sometimes show concern, or anger, or happiness. The same eyes that made Severus's heart ache. "Harry my boy, no need to be afraid." Dumbledore reassured. Harry still looked wary of all the new faces.

"Where am I?" Harry asked.

"Well, we are not at the Dursley's anymore." Dumbledore replied.

"I have to back, or Uncle Vernon will be angry." the boy said trying to get out of Hagrid's arms.

"Harry, you will not be living with the Dursley's anymore. According to your mother and father, you'll be staying with this gentleman." Dumbledore pointed towards Severus.

Harry gave Severus a wary look before saying, "My Mum and Dad?"

"Yes. Now, Hagrid and I must be going because the new school year is starting. Here Severus, this is a bag of his belongings. Come on Hagrid." Dumbledore disaparated. Harry's eyes were huge when he saw Dumbledore was there, then he wasn't. Severus heard Hagrid sniffle, say something to Harry, and then disaparate after Dumbledore. Harry's mouth was hanging open, not believing what he saw.

Severus huffed. Dumbledore is the man no one will ever understand. Severus then heard the boy's stomach grumble loudly. "Are you hungry?" Severus asked. Harry nodded, then shivered. Severus pointed his wand at the fireplace and said, "Incendio! Alright, follow me. And close your mouth, you're not a cod fish." Severus proceeded towards the kitchen, Harry following behind. Severus's kitchen was small and quaint, with a worn table and two chairs. Harry went and sat down on a chair, watching Severus with awe while he made porridge. When it was ready, Harry gobbled it up.

Severus felt anger boiling inside of him. Did they really not feed the boy? he wondered. It made Severus remember things he did not want to remember. When Harry finished, Severus could tell the boy wanted more porridge so he filled up his bowl. Harry's eyes widened. "Thank you." he whispered.

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