This story is a sequel to Harry Potter, age 8. If you have not read that story, I would humbly suggest that you do otherwise things will not make as much sense. Just to refresh memories, however, in the previous story Harry's guardians the Dursley's died when Harry was eight and Severus Snape became his guardian. In that story Snape grew from a cold, disinterested caregiver to someone who was forming a deep and loving attachment with his ward. In this fiction there are going to be parental spankings, if this is not something you want to read about then please enjoy the plethera of other delightful fictions on this site that do not include it. This is your final warning. As always, I appreciate quesitons, ideas, and comments. Enjoy!
Severus Snape looked at the birthday cake and winced. He knew that when he had allowed Molly to throw this birthday party for Harry that she would go a little overboard, but a three tier cake frosted in Gryffindor colors was a little much. But even that could have been forgiven if it hadn't been for the invitation of others! Though he could almost understand the Longbottom boy, even though he was likely a squib, and perhaps even the Finnegan brat, at least they were Harry's age. But their invitation of Lupin was completely inappropriate and he had been glaring daggers at Molly the entire evening. Harry and he had fallen into comfortable companionship with the Weasleys in the past several months, developing a routine of Sunday dinners, birthday parties and even some cooperative schooling activities. So Snape trusted and maybe even liked Arthur and Molly, which added to his sense of betrayal.
Of course, Harry was oblivious to anything that was happening with adults, and was instead enjoying goofing around with the same-aged boys that Molly had provided. Snape would occasionally take a break from glaring at Molly to turn his black stare to the remaining marauder, but the targets of some of his best glares appeared completely oblivious. Lupin politely and quietly watched the festivities, ate the sandwiches and cake, and sipped punch happily. Snape had only seen the man a few times since school, but had never spoken to him since. He found scenes of his childhood humiliations hard to push down out of his mind.
And then the boy caught his eye, the boy that had wheedled his way into his heart, but that of course they were too polite to ever talk about. The boy, despite looking so much like the marauder that had fathered him, was able to learn to trust and attach to a bitter old Potions Master that had been abused and bullied for years by said marauder. Snape could barely believe it himself, but when he looked at the boy his features softened, a phenomenon not unnoticed by the objects of his glares. At least where Harry was concerned, Snape had become soft.
"It's time to open presents!" Molly announced, bringing out a newspaper-wrapped parcel from the other room.
Harry's eyes brimmed with excitement, he had never had a birthday present before. He had never had a cake nor a party either; so he felt as if he was going to explode if he experienced any more happiness. Ripping off the paper, he pulled out a large box of chocolate frogs and a jersey for the Canons. Laughing, he held up the jersey and loved the relaxed, oversized fit. He then opened the gifts from Neville and Seamus, and received a self-inking quill and a toy broom that would fly around your bedroom for ten minutes when thrown in the air. Harry then saw the large present - and knew that this one was from the Professor. Flashing him a cheeky smile, he ripped off the paper to reveal a new broom.
"That's a Comet 210!" Ron recognized it.
"Since Harry has become so much better on the Safesweep I thought it might be time to upgrade," Snape told him. "However, I still installed some extra safety charms on it."
"Thanks, Professor!" Harry yelled, hurtling himself towards the man and nearly knocking him over in exuberance. Snape did not correct the lad, however, but instead patted him on the back kindly and encouraged the boys to go out and play with their new brooms. With Harry's Safesweep no longer necessary, perhaps even the child Ginny could take a ride.
The boys, accompanied by the Weasley brood, made their way out of the house noisily, comparing the upgrades to Seamus' Comet 190, and taking a few jibes at Ron's old Shooting Star. Harry carefully geared up in his safety equipment, knowing he was under the watchful eye of his guardian, and was soon whizzing around the yard in a makeshift game of quidditch.
"I am surprised you would give him a Comet at his age," Arthur mildly observed. "But I expect that his proficiency with the broom is the reason."
"He would hardly be happy on a Shooting Star," Snape admitted. "I did not expect to buy him a full-sized broom until Hogwarts. But he has grown and improved on the broom so much that I knew that had to be his birthday present."
"He looks like his father on that broom," Lupin commented calmly. "Goodness, he just turned a corkscrew going straight up."
"He has some natural talent," Snape conceded, not really wanting to talk to the man.
"I think you're doing a wonderful job with him," Lupin told him firmly. "You can tell that he's happy, growing, healthy, and very attached to you, Severus."
Snape sniffed, somewhat mollified, but still would rather be talking to anybody else. "Thank you," he replied stiffly.
"Severus, this may not be the time or the place," Lupin told him in a rushed, vulnerable voice. "But I want you to know how utterly wretched I feel about how we treated you during our Hogwarts years. I tell you, it still haunts me today."
"Surely you don't think a few words will erase years of . . ."
"No, of course not," Lupin interrupted him, putting his hands in his pockets. "But I just wanted you to know that, and to offer my official apology for what a prat I was to you then. And when I see you raising Harry, James' son, in such a loving and respectful way, I feel doubly ashamed. You are a good man, Severus, and I will admit a better man than I."
Shocked at this speech, Snape turned to look out the window again, not sure of how to answer. He had been prepared for mocking, insults, maybe sly references to past abuse. This upfront honesty that these Gryffindors showed really shocked him. Had they no self-respect? But there was also a part of him, he admitted, that was a little disarmed by the man's honesty and humility, it did take a lot to apologize.
"At some point, Severus, I would ask that I could tell Harry who I am. I don't want to be a father figure, I think you are firmly entrenched in that role and I would never want to interfere with it. But I would love it if it were possible that I could be sort of an uncle?"
"We will see," Severus answered non-committally.
"I will wait until you grant me permission," Lupin nodded. "But for right now it is just so good to see him. He looks so much like his father, it makes my heart jump."
"He has Lily's eyes," Snape told him, looking at his ward, his eyes softening.
"He does," Lupin agreed.
Snape watched Lupin carefully after that, trying not to glare, and realized that Lupin did indeed seem like a different man. His clothes were shabby and patched, but he wore them with a quiet dignity that Snape had to admit was different than the condescending arrogance that he experienced in school. He was exceedingly polite to everyone; complimenting Molly's hospitality more than once and the comfort of the burrow.
Mollified by the apology, he unwittingly began to relax slightly. With his concentration no longer on making sure his displeasure was known to the Weasleys and to that man, his brain began to realize that something was off here. Why was Lupin here? Why did the Weasleys invite that man without even consulting with him? Something was awry here, and Snape sniffed a plot afoot. He eyed the partygoers suspiciously, suddenly realizing he would have to be more vigilant. This smelled like Albus Dumbledore.
