Severus Snape, Potions Master at Hogwarts, wasn't fond of his students, they were stupid kids that have almost burnt his class down to ashes more than once, but he liked children, Draco Malfoy, his godson, was one of his favorites, he was so intelligent and active, sometimes even annoyingly so, that Severus always wanted to see him when he had an especially bad day. Draco liked him just because he was "uncle Sev" and didn't judge his dark looks.
Thinking about his godson made him ponder about The-Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter, son of his best friend Lily Potter nee Evans and his worst enemy James Potter, Dumbledore had said that the child was in a happy muggle family that treated him like a prince. In some way, the thought of the Potter spawn being spoiled made him assume that the kid was a bully, a spoiled prat, someone that he won't welcome in his class, he would be exactly like his father. But also, Potter being spoiled was always better than the kid being abused, after all he Vowed to protect the child, if the child was save on the muggle house, wherever that is, he will be in peace with himself.
It was a cold night of December, Severus went to bed after grading some first year's essays, surprisingly they weren't inadequate, some of the students weren't able to pass but there wasn't any Trolls upon the marks, which was very rare, 'I may have a capable group among my first years.' He fell asleep quickly, which was easily achieved with the help of some sleeping potion of his own creation.
The dream in which he was had Lily on it, which is how he knew that it was, indeed, a dream, she got closer and closer, getting away from the dark mass that was the deeps of the scene, his best friend sat down on the love seat, which Severus hadn't notice before, and gestured for him to seat on the armchair in front of her.
Once he sat down Lily started talking: "Sev… it´s been a very long time… I missed you" Severus wanted to express the same feelings towards her, but she cut him by continuing her speech "I need you Sev… Harry, my son… he needs you, he is alone with Petunia, my little boy is with my vicious sister and his whale husband…" Severus was extremely confused, Dumbledore told him otherwise "But Lily… Dumbledore told me that.." he was cut again but this time by James Potter "Dumbledore… that son of a b…" he saw James taking a deep breath, trying to calm himself "Snape… I know I was a complete idiot towards you but I want to say sorry, it was wrong and I should have known better"
Severus was speechless for the first time in his life, James Potter was apologizing to him, he was angry but somehow, seeing that the man was sorry, and, even if it was after his dead, still wanted to say so, made him reconsider if James was really that bad of a choice for Lily "how did Harry end up in Tuney's house?" Severus spoke after a couple of minutes of silence, during which James sat down next to his wife and took her hand "Albus wanted it like that, why? I cannot tell" Lily sighed deeply "you have to save him Sev please, promise me you will" Severus swallowed some saliva thinking about the promise before accepting the request, then Lily stood up and kissed his cheek. After that sweet gesture, Lily and his husband thanked Severus before marching away into the darkness.
Severus woke up feeling everything and anything, all the information that he believed true had been twisted by a dream, were the facts even real? They had to be, he felt Lily's kiss, he saw them, they were real, he could have sworn it. He had to talk with the headmaster, he needed answers.
He dressed himself in a hurry, thinking about everything that he needed to corroborate and how to do it, his train of thought took him to wonder if the headmaster would tell him the truth if he asked. By the way James had reacted when Severus mentioned the Old Man he supposed that he was hardly going to get any truthful answer… but he needed to try nevertheless so he got dress and started walking up the stairs from the dungeon to the headmaster office.