I do not own Harry Potter.

This was originally written as a Valentine's gift for a friend of mine. Love you Tasha. This is a work of Fanfiction. Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.

"Welcome to my humble home." Emily declared as she opened the door to her home and helped Harry carry his things inside. "Spare room is on the left." She directed him as she turned on more of her lights. It was already getting late by the time they arrived at Harry's uncle's house. Then she had to explain who she was and why she was there. It had taken longer than she had expected, or wanted. So it was night by the time they got back to her flat in downtown London.

"This is bigger than Dudley's room." Harry said as he walked into the plain room. "How long do you think I will have to stay here?" He looked over at Emily curiously. He had thought he would have gone off to live with his father, but now he wasn't so sure.

Emily looked over at the boy as she finished setting her things down. He looked like he didn't know what to do. "Only a few days. Severus wants to get a room set up for you at his place before you move in. In the mean time, we get to go to the Ministry of Magic and finalize some things. As well as go and meet a few people that will help us with our little cover story." She looked over at the clock curiously. "It's 5 o'clock now, so you can get yourself settled while I make something real quick."

"Do you use magic to cook?" Harry asked as he walked out of the spare room and followed Emily into the kitchen. She set about grabbing pots and pans and setting them on the stove. Her kitchen looked a lot better than his aunt's.

"No, I like using my muscles." Emily heard Harry giggle as he sat at on a bar stool. "Could you go over to the fireplace and flip the hour glass? Otherwise Severus will never be able to get in."

"Sure." Harry walked over to the large fireplace in awe. It was larger than he was. "Why is the fireplace so big?" The hourglass was filled with red sand and sitting on an alcove inside of the fireplace. He flipped it over, and gasped as the sand turned green. "What does the hourglass do?"

Emily chuckled to herself at the eleven year old's questions. "The fireplace is also my flue door. It's another way wizards travel around. And the hourglass is my lock. When the sand is red it is locked. When it's green it is open." At the end of her explanation a flash of green filled the room. "Speaking of traveling, looks like we have a visitor. Good evening Professor McGonagal."

"Good Evening Professor Grimm, Mr. Potter." Minerva gave the two a smile before turning her attention back to Emily. "May I have a word with you, Emily?"

"Of course. Harry, why don't you go and set up your room a bit?" She gave the boy a smile as he nodded and went to his room, shutting the door. Emily cast a silencing spell under breath before turning her attention to the older witch. "Is something the matter?"

Minerva took a step closer to the witch. "Albus has heard from the Ministry that the Malfoy family is asking about Potter's relocation." Emily gave the witch a slow nod, she didn't know what the problem was. "The Malfoy's have been trying to get Albus fired since he took the job. And they are strong supporters of You-Know-Who."

"You fear Harry's life is in danger?" Emily frowned looking over at the door to Harry's room. "I assure you, I won't let anything happen to him."

"I trust you, Emily. It's those you trust that I am worried about." Minerva could see a bit of hurt in Emily's face. "I'm not questioning your judgement, but I am a paranoid woman, and I don't take chances with my students."

"Nor do I." Emily replied, "I will keep him safe Minerva, don't you worry. And I will find a place where he will be safe. Or so help me I will become his guardian."

"I will hold you to that." Minerva swore, "And I have to thank you, I told Albus those Muggles were not the ones Harry should have been entrusted to. But he believed it would be good for him." She wrung her hands together. "Now I believe this is best for him."

"I will make sure he is happy, Minerva." Emily gave the older woman a smile. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have dinner to make." She walked over to the fireplace with the witch and bid her farewell. Once she was gone, Emily returned to the kitchen and her cooking. "Harry? Can you come set the table please?"

The sound of a door opening and hurried feet followed Harry into the kitchen. "Yes Professor Grimm." Emily watched with a frown as Harry set about gathering plates, cutlery, and glasses. "How many of us will there be?"

"Three, Severus said he would like to join us." Emily watched as he continued to set the table perfectly. "And Harry, you can just call me Emily, I'm not your professor here." Harry gave her a hesitant nod as he sat down on a bar stool and watched her cook.

About a half hour passed before Severus arrived, and by that time their meal was just about done. "Seems you both have been busy." Severus gave the two a smile before his son ran at him and enveloped him in a large hug. "How has you day been?"

"It's been good. Uncle Vernin couldn't say a word against Emily taking me. I thought smoke would start coming out of his ears like he ate a Pepper Imp." Harry laughed as he spoke to his father. "Am I going to be moving in with you?"

"Yes, once we find someone to help us." Severus sat at the table as Emily set plates of spaghetti down. "McGonagal is planning to stop by."

"She already has." Emily moved the salad from the counter to the table. "It's all taken care of. Now I just need to find someone. Did you take a look at the list?" She sat down and served Harry some salad before serving herself a bit and passing the bowl to Severus.

Severus chuckled as he watched Harry pick at the salad a bit. "I did, and a very curious name came up, Jethro LaMont. He's the great uncle of Narcissa Malfoy."

"Draco's mother?" Emily was shocked such a name had been left on the list. She had expected Dumbledore to take off anyone that could connect Harry to dark magic. "Is he on better terms with Dumbledore or Narcissa?"

"Family always comes first to him." Severus spoke confidently. "I asked Narcissa about him. Seems he played wizards chess with Albus on multiple occasions for the past half century or so." He took a bite of his food and smiled cheerfully. "I did not know you cooked so well."

"I'd like to think I have sufficient cooking skills." Emily smiled back at Severus as she ate a bit of food. "Would it be alright if I left you an Harry here for a bit? I have to go resupply."

"Not at all, take your time." Severus watched as Emily took her plate to the sink and magically started the dishes. She then walked off to the front door of her apartment, waving one last time before leaving. He then turned his attention back to his son, who did not look happy. "Is something the matter?"

"I was hoping we would get the entire summer together." Harry said as he picked at his food.

"And we will, once we make sure Dumbledore won't find out." Severus ruffled his son's hair with a fond smile. "Your hair has gotten quite long. We should get it cut before the school year starts." He chuckled as his son pushed his hand away.

Harry chuckled with his father, he still couldn't believe Snape was his father, but something just felt right about it. "So what are we going to do this summer?"

"Anything you want to do." Severus had a small list of things he wanted to do. Starting with visiting his mother and the Potters. Then doing anything Harry wanted to do.

"Just the two of us?" Harry asked.

Severus paused for a moment, he wanted to spend time with Emily as well, but he understood his son's want. "Just the two of us. But you will be staying with Mr. LeMont once I have to return to Hogwarts to prepare for the start of the term."

"Okay." Harry smiled happily as he continued eating his meal. He was looking forward to getting to know his father, he had never really had a father before.

Emily raised her hand and knocked on the door in front of her. The apartment was three stories tall and looked just like any other apartment on the street. Harry was looking down the empty road curiously. Part of her wondered if she had been given the right address, but all those doubts changed when the door knocker turned into an eyeball. "Emily Grimm here to see Jethro LaMont."

"Please enter." The eye shut and the door swung open. Emily ushered Harry into the house and followed after him. The front entrance was about twice the size of what could be seen from the outside. And waiting for them at the mouth of the hall was an old house elf. "Master LaMont will meet you in the parlor."

Emily followed after the elf with Harry beside her. She had an amused smile on her face as Harry stared at the house that was much larger on the inside than the outside. They were led to a room with glass for three of the walls and a view of a large flowered field. They sat on one of the couches to wait for their host.

They were served tea and cocoa while they waited. It was about five minutes before their host entered the room. "So you are the youngster Albus has been talking about." Jethro LeMont was an elderly man. He didn't need help getting around, but he certainly couldn't do as much as he wished he could. His white hair was receding, but it stuck out in all directions. "And You're Miss. Grimm I presume." He sat down in his favorite chair that the house elves had moved into the parlor for him.

"I am, thank you for meeting with us." Emily shook the man's hand when he offered it. "I assume then that Albus has mentioned what is going on with Mr. Potter at the moment."

"He has. And Cissa has also been in contact with me." Jethro could see the two recognized who he was talking about. "My little Cissa doesn't ask for much, but when she does I know it is important." He leaned forward onto his knees. "So, tell me what it is you need from me."

"I'm not sure what Mrs. Malfoy has told you, but we need you to act as Harry's Guardian." Emily explained carefully, "Harry will be living with his father, Severus Snape, but as far as Dumbledore and the rest of the world will know, Harry is staying here with you."

"A cover?" Jethro looked from the woman to the boy. "And what do you think about this? Are you scared of Albus Dumbledore?"

Harry kept his eyes on Mr. LaMont, his emerald green eyes boring into his own sapphire eyes. "I haven't known Professor Dumbledore long enough to be scared of him. But dad thinks it is necessary, and I trust my father."

"Smart lad." Jethro gave the kid a smirk before looking back at Emily. "I will play along. Albus may be the best chess player I have ever played against, but the prejudice he has against my family has to stop. He needs to be stopped."

Emily could see something like fear in Jethro's face. "What is Albus trying to do?" She met the man's eyes and froze at the intensity of his gaze. She may have been centuries old, but this man knew something she didn't.

"In all of our games, I have never beat Albus. I have gotten him down to a pawn and a king, and he has defeated me with a checkmate." Jethro watched the two as they shifted in their seats. "Albus' best attribute is his innocent manipulation, you won't know you are playing his game till it is too late."

Emily nodded as she stood from her seat with a smile. "Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. LaMont. We will be in contact." She then escorted Harry and herself to the front door. He hadn't answered her question, but something told her she would eventually learn the answer.

Welcome back to another year of Hogwarts. How excited are you for this?