CHAPTER ONE
Severus was just settling down for the evening with a warm mug of tea and a thick potions book, when an owl tapped on his window. Grumbling, he ripped the window open and snatched the letter from the bird, not even thanking it as he tore the scroll open. It was a request from Dumbledore, to meet him in his office immediately. Growling, Snape stalked into his bedroom and got dressed, his mind playing back the scene from earlier…he was sure Dumbledore wanted to talk about that. Again.
"The boy is out of control!" Severus had yelled at Dumbledore the second they were alone.
"He means well Severus."
"ALBUS! HE TOOK ON A FULLY GROWN MOUNTAIN TROLL!"
"Remarkable boy." Dumbledore smiled, and popped a sherbet lemon in his mouth, his free hand subconsciously stroking his long beard.
"Albus. He should have been punished for risking his life, not given house points."
"He did well to rescue his friend."
"He. Could. Have. Died. He needed to be punished, because next time someone needs saving, instead of telling someone he will do exactly what he did tonight. He is eleven years old and knows a few basic spells. If you allow him to carry on like this, the Chosen One will be dead before He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named even makes his return."
And Snape had left, because he could see nothing would persuade Dumbledore that his Golden Boy needed anything other than mollycoddling and being rewarded for stepping out of line.
Now, he stood outside Dumbledore's office at that ridiculous time and resolved that if Dumbledore started on that topic again, he was leaving and going to bed, regardless of the fact that Albus was his boss.
He entered, to find Dumbledore looking pale and strained – a most unusual sight for the relaxed, jovial man.
"Albus, what's the matter?" Snape asked, hurrying to the old man. "Are you hurt?"
"Not badly, Severus. Nothing that isn't already healing," the wizard said, waving a heabily bandaged hand at Snape. "Take a seat."
"What's going on?" Snape asked, sitting down quickly.
"Earlier this evening I was called to the Dursley Residence by an alarm that told me the blood wards had fallen. I had to fight off Lucius Malfoy and another old death eater, and unfortunately in defending the two muggles there, was caught off guard. However, I am fine. They, not so much so. Regrettably they shall not leave St Mungo's for a little while."
"The blood wards fell?" Snape asked. "How? How could this happen Albus?"
"How do you think, Severus?" Dumbledore asked, as he drank deeply from his goblet.
"I…what?"
"Do you think my magic failed?"
"Impossible."
"Then think. Severus. Think."
Severus was silent for a moment as his mind tried to come up with some complex magical idea…and then he realised. The obvious answer had been floating in front of him all along; but he had missed it.
"Petunia's dead." He said flatly, recalling the horrible horse faced girl of his youth.
"She is. She died this morning. She was hit by a hit and run and died on impact. Harry must be told."
"Indeed. Not tonight though. The boy must be worn out after the antics of this evening."
"Yes, not tonight."
"Is that all, headmaster? I presume you wish for me to help you set up some different wards. We must do so before Potter returns over Christmas."
"Harry will have to stay here for Christmas." Dumbledore said gravely.
"Why? Did the house get destroyed?" Snape asked.
"No," Dumbledore said. "It seems that Harry is not welcome in the home any longer. Not that it seems he really was before, but Petunia allowed him to stay on my command. Vernon Dursley, however, is beyond my command. He said some terrible things about the boy. They kept him in the cupboard you know. Under the stairs. They thought he was a freak."
"Oh." Snape said. He'd always thought Potter was a pampered little Prince; and that was why he was so irritating and broke all the rules. Now though, it seemed he didn't keep to the rules because he'd never been parented…just neglected. Put up with. Snape winced…he'd judged too quickly because of who the boy looked like, and he'd been wrong. Damn.
"Indeed."
"So, where is he to go in the summer?" Snape questioned. "The Weasleys? I'd be happy to help you put wards up there, if that is what you require."
"No, Severus, although they did offer when they heard the news."
"Why not, then?" Severus was beginning to feel drowsy, and wonder why he was here when Dumbledore didn't actually seem to require his help with any protective wards.
"Well, Potter is no longer with his family. Which means we consulted the will left behind by the Potters, for their son."
"And?"
"After Sirius Black, you were listed as Godfather."
There was a pause.
"What?!" Snape asked, feeling frantic.
"Lily revised the will the day after it was made. She added you as Godfather, because she felt that if her and James were not around, that could mean that Sirius was not either."
"Who signed as witness?" Snape asked. "Presumably not Potter."
"No. Remus."
"Lupin?"
"I believe he is the only Remus we know."
"So…what does this mean?" Snape asked, with a dreadful feeling that he knew what it meant.
"You will become Harry's guardian." It wasn't even a request. It was a demand.
"Albus, I hate children."
"You'll get over it."
"No." Snape crossed his arms across his chest and shook his head. "I will NOT look after James Potter's son. No way. Too many bad genes for me to deal with."
"Severus." Albus said softly. "Severus. Lily made this decision. Lily decided that if nobody else was there, she wanted you to care for her son. After everything she knew about you, and all the mistakes you made, she still chose you. She believed in you so much that she went behind her husband's back and made a move she knew he would hate, because she thought that you could step up to the task of caring for her son. Severus, he may look like James and he may act a bit like him too. But beneath all of that, beneath the appearance and the disregard for the rules, Mr Potter is a scared little boy, a little boy who spent ten years sleeping in a cupboard, being called a freak and being treated like a servant. He is not James Potter. He's a little boy who hasn't known love since he was one year old."
Severus stared at Albus, stony eyed as it dawned on him that there really was no way of escaping this. Amongst the annoyance and the panic (he didn't know how to look after children! Terrify them, sure. But raise one? Good Lord, no.) his heart was warming. Lily. Lily had chosen him, in the full knowledge that he had turned to Voldemort. She must have known then, that he wouldn't stay allied to the dark if she was gone. She must have had faith in him. Faith, that for once, had not been misplaced. Snape nodded slowly.
"Very well." He said. "Potter will have a Guardian then."
"Severus, you are a good man." Dumbeldore said. "And now, at least, you can give him the guidance you are so sure he needs." The old man smirked, his eyes glittering.
"There is that," Snape agreed, allowing a smile. "I warn you now, Albus, no ward of mine is going to risk his life and get away with it. If I am to be his Guardian, he will have consequences."
"Of course, my boy."
"When will you tell him?" Snape asked, dread filling him as he pictured Potter's reaction. Oh god.
"Tomorrow. I will ask him to meet me after breakfast…it is the weekend after all so he won't miss any school."
"Will you require my presence?" Snape asked. Please, god, no.
"Of course," Albus smiled. "I shall let you go now, you must sleep. Tomorrow may be…difficult."
"Ha. Understatement of the century old man." Snape said as he left the office. It took him a while to go to sleep, and when he did, for the first time in ten years he dreamt of Lily. Lily, smiling at him, thanking him for what he had done, for agreeing to look after her boy.