July 31st 1981

Flames flickered and danced around the logs in the fireplace providing the only source of light for the dark chamber. There were shelves of books lining the walls and in the corner stood a desk with many sheets of parchment scattered across it. The only other piece of furniture in the room was a high backed ebony armchair in front of the roaring fire. A limp hand hung over one of the arms, cradling a half-drunk tumbler of firewhisky. The figure stared into the flames, lost in his thoughts of past happiness.

He did not know, or even care how long he had sat there but was startled back into the present by the 'pop' of a head appearing in the fire. Albus Dumbledore looked up at the man, who realised immediately that something was wrong, as the ever present twinkle in the old man's eye was nowhere to be seen.

"Severus, I'm afraid that I have some terrible news for you. Lily Evans was killed last night in a minor battle with several Death Eaters. James Potter and David Longbottom were also among the dead."

Albus looked sadly at the figure before him "I'm truly sorry my boy, I know you were great friends."

The Headmaster's head disappeared with the same distinct 'pop' leaving Severus to stare despairingly at the flames, tears coursing down his face as his memories consumed him.

It was over a year and a half ago and Severus' life was so very different to what it was now.

December 3rd 1980

Severus stood in the main living room of Snape Manor and waited nervously for his wife to get home. They had only been married for just over a month and Severus still couldn't quite believe it. The 'crack' of her apparating into the hallway set his heart racing; the news he was about to impart to her could ruin his life.

"Sev?"

A call echoed throughout the house, disturbing the silence.

"In here, Lils."

She came into the room and, as always, she took Severus' breath away. Her long auburn hair shone in the firelight and her eyes gleamed like two polished emeralds. As she stepped towards him, a smile lit up her whole face.

"Hello, Mr Snape."

Severus grinned back at her "Hello, Mrs Snape."

At that, Lily threw herself into his arms.

"I missed you today" she said, sighing into his chest.

"I missed you too my darling." He held her close and briefly enjoed the felling of her pressed against him.

"Lils?"

"Mmmm?"

"Can we sit down? I have some news for you."

Lily looked up at her husbands face and a chill settled around her heart.

"My father took me to see some business associates of his. He wants me to follow in his footsteps so to speak."

Lily stared at the man she loved and who she had fought so hard to be with in horror.

"What did you say to him?"

"I did the only thing I could under the circumstances, but…."

She lurched forwards and, grabbing his arm, she pushed the sleeve up to reveal her worst nightmare. The Dark Mark stared up at her, branded onto her beloved husband's skin. She reeled backwards in disgust.

"How…? How…? How could you?!"

Utterly lost for words, she turned and fled from the room, not even giving Severus a chance to explain.

"Lily, please!!!!"

Severus shouted after her, but to no avail. Slowly, he crumbled to the floor and sat sobbing well into the night.

July 31st 1985

Five years later, Severus sat in his new office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He had never wanted a teaching appointment, but when Albus had offered it to him he had been unable to refuse. The old man had been like a father to him since he had left school himself and he knew that the school was in desperate need of a Potions Master. Less than a month previously, the last Potions Professor and her entire family had been murdered in a Death Eater attack after she had attempted to poison the Dark Lord.

There was a loud 'pop' from the fireplace as Albus Dumbledore's head appeared in the flames.

"Ah, Severus my boy. I see you're settling in nicely. If you have the time, I wonder if you could come up to my office? I have a small favour to ask of you." The head disappeared and Severus sighed. He loved the old man dearly but he had a very poor sense of timing, which only seemed to get worse as they years progressed. It was already July 31st and Severus only had a month to plan and arrange a years worth of classes for the seven years of students that would be arriving on September 1st. he stood reluctantly from his chair and made his way up to the Headmasters office. The gargoyle took one look at Severus and immediately stepped to one side. Severus was one of only three people, including the Headmaster himself, who were afforded the privilege of having their magical signature recognised by the Guardian.

"Severus my boy! I'm glad you could spare some time. I wonder, could you make a small trip for me? There's a young boy who is living down in Surrey with his aunt and uncle. His parents died three years ago and Minerva checks up on him every summer to see how he is getting along. Unfortunately, she in unavailable until the start of the academic year."

Severus glared at him.

"Albus, I have better things to do with my time than to run about the country looking in on other people's brats. Get someone else to do it."

"Severus I do understand but this boy is important to me. I know his parents well and I wish to keep him safe as I was unable to keep them safe."

Severus sighed in defeat.

"All right old man, you win. What is the brat's name?"

"Harry James Potter, he lives with Vernon and Petunia Dursley."

Severus stared at him in shock.

"Potter?! Not more Potter spawn……" His voice trailed off. "His aunt and uncle?"

"Ye, the Dursleys."

"Petunia Dursley was Lily's sister, you mean that this child is…."

"The child of Lily Evans and James Potter? Yes Severus, I am sorry. As far as I am aware, they did not marry…."

Severus did not stay to hear the Headmaster finish; instead he ran blindly from the office and out into the grounds. Tears forced their way out of the corners of his eyes until they were pouring down his face. He stopped running at the edge of the forest and slumped to the floor at the foot of a tree.

"How could you Lily?" He whispered, and as his words were carried away on the wind he apparated to Privet Drive.

He appeared under the shade of some trees in a park just off of his destination. He could see the house and, after a short-term invisibility spell, walked over to it. He peered through the front windows and, seeing no sign of movement he slipped round to the back of the house. There, he found a young boy of about three years kneeling by a flowerbed, pulling futilely at the masses of weeds that lay before him. Another, larger boy, sat outside the patio doors and was taunting the smaller child.

"Come on freak, you know you won't get any food if you don't do enough work!"

The boy stubbornly continued to pull the weeds up.

"They wouldn't give you anything anyway. They don't care about you, no one does. They don't even care that today's your birthday!"

Harry continued to dig and, failing to get a rise out of him, the larger boy went inside to the house. Harry stopped his work and brushed away the tears that had started to fall. Severus' heart broke to see him. No child, even one sired by James Potter, should have to suffer that kind of abuse. He removed his invisibility spell and, opening the garden gate, he walked over to Harry. The child looked up at the tall man dressed in black that towered over him with the innocence that only a child can have.

" 'lo."

Severus knelt down so that their eyes were on the same level.

"Is today your birthday, Harry?"

Harry looked at the floor mumbling.

" 'aybe."

"How old are you child?"

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment. "Four!" He said happily with a smile.

Severus smiled at him and did some quick mental arithmancy. Four years and nine months ago would be the November of 1980; one month before Lily had left him. Severus stared at the child in front of him. This child couldn't be the child of James Potter. This child was his.

A small present brought him back to the present.

"You 'k?"

Severus smiled weakly.

"Yes Harry, yes I'm ok. Now Harry," he said, thinking quickly, "are you happy here? DO you like your aunt and uncle? Are they kind to you?"

Harry looked fearfully at the house.

"Nuncle Vern'n don't like me. He said I shouldn't be 'live."

Severus stared in shock. How dare that muggle scum tell any child that they should never have been born?! That settled it for him; whatever it took, he would get Harry out of there tonight.

"Harry, I was very good friends with your mother and I know she would never have wanted you to live here. Would you like to leave the Dursleys forever and come and live with me?"

Harry looked into Severus' eyes as if searching for something and suddenly his own eyes lit up and he nodded furiously. Severus grinned at the boy and, pulling him into a hug, he whispered,

"I'll get you out of here, I promise. Now," he said, setting Harry back down, "are your aunt and uncle in the house?"

Harry nodded quickly.

"Good. Now, I'm going to go and speak to them. You need to pretend that you have never seen me before. Can you do that for me?"

Harry nodded again.

"Good boy, now sit tight. It'll be alright soon."

Severus stood up and walked to the front of the house. He transfigured his flowing robes into a smart, muggle business suit and rapped sharply on the door. After a few moments of waiting, a woman (who looked disturbingly like a horse) answered it.

"Can I help you?" she asked pleasantly, taking in his smart appearance.

"Yes, my name is Severus Smith from the Department of Child Services. We have received a number of complaints concerning a young boy that we believe to be in your care."

The woman's pleasant expression turned very quickly into a scowl.

"You'd better come in then."

She turned and walked back into the house and Severus followed her in. As she reached the door at the end of the hall she turned and said,

"If you'll just wait here for a moment, I'll just see where he is."

Without waiting for a response she walked through the door and closed it in Severus' face. Severus pressed his ear against the door and heard her voice.

"Boy! Come here! What have you been doing to the neighbours? Urgh, we should never have taken you in in the first place, we should have just left you on the streets years ago. When this man has gone, if he hasn't rid us of you then you'll go to your cupboard and you won't come out for a week. No meals, no going to the toilet, NOTHING! Worthless brat!"

Severus looked to the side and noticed a small door underneath the flight of stairs. He opened it to reveal a small cupboard with no light bulb and no obvious signs of bedding although it was clear that the boy slept in here as there were a pair of large, discoloured pyjamas that were full of holes. Suddenly, he heard a smack from the other room and a small crash. A moment later the door opened into the living room and Severus walked through. The woman was seated on a sofa, which was opposite the patio windows through to the garden. Harry was standing next to Severus having opened the door. He had a very recent cut across his forehead, which was dripping blood into his hands. Severus noted a small coffee table close to Harry that had very sharp corners.

"I'm sorry madam, but I didn't catch your name…" Severus began.

"Petunia Dursley, and this is my nephew Harry Potter."

"Ah yes, might I enquire as to why your nephew is in your care?"

"My sister left him with us when the boy was only a few months old. We have tried to take care of him of course but even at this young age he's a tearaway as I'm sure you're aware, having had complaints made about him."

Severus smiled. "Ah, Mrs Dursley, you misunderstand me. The complaints were not about the actions of your young nephew but about the care of him. people have expressed concerns for the boys welfare and as such, especially considering the recent cut on his forehead that you obviously do not intend to care for, I am taking the boy from you."

Petunia looked at Severus in shock but before she could speak he quickly said,

"Obliviate!"

He had considered just altering their memories but decided to just leave them with none whatsoever. Harry looked at his aunt in fascination as he waved his fingers in front of her face and gained no response.

"Quickly now Harry, where are your uncle and cousin?"

"Dudley and Nuncle Vern'n are upstairs."

"Good boy, now get everything that you wish to take with you and I'll be back in a moment."

He went quickly upstairs and after obliviating Vernon and Dudley Dursley he came back down to find Harry exactly where he had left him.

"There is nothing that you wish to take with you?"

Harry shook his head.

"Very well, come here child."

Severus took Harry into his arms and, holding him close, they apparated away.