A/N: Sorry it's a little boring in the beginning, it gets better.

A few hours after Severus and his sister went to bed, they were jolted from their slumber by Harry's cries. Alyssa, on a reflex that came from a year of spying on the Dark Lord, was on her feet with her wand in her hand before most people would have even registered the noise. She headed for Harry's room, stifling a yawn because of her late night. Severus emerged from his room as she reached Harry's.

"I'll get started on breakfast if you take care of Potter," Severus offered.

Alyssa smirked, "You just don't want to have to change his nappy."

Severus didn't bother to deny it; he knew his sister would know.

"Go on," Alyssa smirked as she entered Harry's room, "I'll take first watch. After breakfast he's all yours though, unless you want me to speak to the Headmaster in my nightdress."

Severus nodded as he went to his room, yawning tiredly, as he got ready for the day.

Alyssa entered the guest room, surprised to see that Harry was standing up, holding onto the bars of the crib. He let out another squeal as Alyssa entered the room, impatient with her pace. Alyssa smirked as she picked up the frustrated toddler, carrying him to the changing table.

"You know," she said as she conjured nappies and wipes, "I think you honestly believe your squealing affects me."

She quickly changed his nappy and transfigured tissues into a green shirt, jeans, and black socks. As soon as she had gotten rid of the soiled nappy, Potter's attitude improved. He babbled nonsense, intermixed with a few understandable words, to her as she dressed him for the day. He was still babbling when Alyssa set him in the highchair that Severus had transfigured.

"You certainly seem to be a morning person," Alyssa remarked dryly as she poured tea into two cups, setting one at her place and the other at her brother's.

Harry only grinned.

As Severus was finishing with breakfast, two owls swooped in with copies of the Daily Prophet.

"Owl," Harry said, clapping his little hands with delight.

Alyssa stroked the feathers of the owl that rested on her shoulder.

"Yes Potter, owls," Severus said as he put the food on the table, grabbing two treats for the owls.

Severus took the other owl over to Harry, letting him pet it while Alyssa fixed a plate for him. The little boy was delighted, and the owl loved the attention. Both owls left as the Snapes sat down to breakfast.

"When are you going to call Albus?" Severus asked as he took a sip of his tea.

"After breakfast and I've dressed for the day. I think it best if I don't go into specifics," Alyssa replied as she skimmed her copy of the Prophet.

"What do you plan on telling him?"

"Simply that it is urgent that he comes here, that I need to speak with him but am unable to leave the house. Hopefully Potter will be taking a nap while we speak to Albus, so that he doesn't find out until we tell him. One of us will have to stay here with the boy while the other is in the pensieve."

"Do you think it will be necessary to show him the vision?"

Alyssa gave her brother a look.

"Alright, that was a stupid question," Severus conceded.

All three were soon finished with breakfast, so after cleaning up the dishes, Alyssa and Severus parted ways; Severus to go and clean up Harry, while Alyssa went to get dressed and speak with Albus Dumbledore.

Alyssa smoothed her black dress as she knelt on the floor, Floo powder in hand. With a flick of her wand, she ignited the necessary green flames. She then dropped the powder into the flames, called out "Hogwarts, Headmaster's Office", closed her eyes and stuck her head in the flames. As soon as her head stopped spinning she opened her eyes. She was in fireplace in the Headmaster's Office, but Dumbledore was nowhere to be found. It's still rather early, Alyssa mused as her eyes landed on the clock behind Dumbledore's desk. 7:30, maybe he's still asleep. "Headmaster," she called out, hoping he'd hear her. The portraits on the walls woke up, but there was no sign of Albus Dumbledore, so she called out again, slightly louder, "Professor Dumbledore!" Still nothing. Alyssa was getting a little annoyed, so she yelled, "ALBUS!" hoping that he'd finally hear her. After a few moments, she heard a door open, then footsteps. Finally, Alyssa thought as Albus Dumbledore entered the room, wearing a star-patterned dressing gown.

"Alyssa, dear girl, this is a surprise. What is the cause for this visit at such an early hour," Dumbledore asked as he made his way over to the fireplace.

"Am I not welcome?" Alyssa asked dryly as Albus sat on one of the chairs around the fire.

"No, not at all dear girl, but I'd assumed that you would be consoling your brother, after the events two days ago," Dumbledore replied as he took a lemon drop from the tin in his pocket.

Thank Merlin that I'm not there, otherwise he'd offer me one, Alyssa thought as she replied, "Severus is fine for the moment. I need to speak to you, but am unable to come to Hogwarts."

Dumbledore looked closely at her, his blue eyes twinkling a little less brightly than usual. He's still grieving for Lily & Potter. Perhaps this isn't the best time to do this, Alyssa thought. Before she could tell him to forget it, tell him that they could speak another day, Albus said, "Of course Alyssa. Would you like me to come to Spinner's End?"

Alyssa nodded. "Can you bring your pensieve as well?"

Albus nodded, looking searchingly at the young woman in the fire place. She is worried about something, Albus mused, something important, otherwise she'd have never left her brother. "Of course my dear, just give me time to get ready. I'll Floo over at 10."

"That's perfect Albus, thank you." Before he could reply, Alyssa had gone, leaving the Headmaster to ponder what was the matter with the young witch.

Alyssa used a simple charm to remove the ashes from her hair as she removed her head from the fireplace. As she straightened up from her kneeling position on the floor, she looked around for her brother and Potter. As she went looking for them to tell Severus about the meeting, Alyssa mused that she and her brother should really try to call the boy by his given name. After all, she reflected, it's not the child's fault that James Potter was an arrogant toe rag. Lily wasn't a saint either though, she added as an afterthought. After all, there was no need to say the things she did when I defended Sev in 5th year. Shaking her head, she walked towards the guest bedroom, hearing her brother's voice coming from that direction.

What she saw made her smirk and accio a camera. Severus was sitting in a rocking chair, reading The Tale of the Three Brothers to Harry, who seemed to be enjoying the story immensely. At the flash, Severus stopped reading and looked up, scowling as he saw the camera.

"That picture is going to be destroyed," he growled.

Alyssa smirked. "Says who?"

Before Severus could respond to that, Harry squealed.

"Story," he pleaded, looking from one sibling to the next.

"And then he greeted death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life."(Tales of Beedle the Bard, pg. 93) Alyssa finished without even looking at the book.

Harry clapped his hands in delight.

"Albus will be here at 10," Alyssa informed her brother as she conjured a seat and sat down.

"What will we do if Potter doesn't want to take a nap?"

"We can take turns watching him until Albus brings him up, which he no doubt will after he sees the vision."

Severus nodded, but before he could say more he was once again interrupted by Harry.

"Story?" Severus handed the book to his sister. "You can read to the brat this time."

She accepted the book, and was flipping through the pages when Harry spoke again.

"Snake," he said, reaching for Alyssa.

She froze.

"How would the boy know your animangus form?" Severus asked in confusion.

Alyssa shook her head as she took Harry from him. "I don't know Sev, he was asleep when I checked on him as Ebony." She returned to the book, finding the story she wanted as she puzzled over that fact.

"He must have been awake, at least partially, and you didn't notice," Severus said thoughtfully.

"Perhaps," was all his sister said before she started the story, "The Fountain of Fair Fortune…" Severus picked up the forgotten camera as his sister read, waiting for his chance for payback.

As the Headmaster stepped out of the fireplace at 10 o'clock, he was greeted by Alyssa. "Hello again Alyssa," said Dumbledore cheerfully, "Would you care for a lemon drop?"

"No thank you Albus," Alyssa replied levelly, "Please, have a seat."

As Albus sat, he watched Alyssa, who was pacing in front of the fire. "What is it you need to speak to me about? Did something happen to Severus?" Dumbledore asked concernedly.

Alyssa shook her head, not stopping her pacing. "Severus is fine, still grieving over Lily, but better than would be expected." Certainly better than when I found him yesterday, Alyssa thought, grateful that her Occlumency shields stopped the Headmaster from reading her thoughts. "I had a vision Monday night, after I left your office."

Dumbledore sat up straighter. "A vision? About what?"

"About Potter. And Severus. And Voldemort," Alyssa said, flinching from the pain that name caused her Dark Mark.

"What happened Alyssa?" Dumbledore asked in concern. He didn't believe that Voldemort was gone, and hearing that Alyssa had a vision about him proved that theory.

Alyssa sighed, rubbing her temples tiredly. "I think it will be easiest if I show you."

As Dumbledore produced the pensieve, Alyssa put her wand to her temple to retrieve the memory. "Would it be possible for Severus to accompany you instead of me? I really have no desire to see those horrible scenes again."

"Of course Alyssa," Dumbledore said, taking in the stressed witch in front of him. As she left to get her brother, Albus mused that it must be very bad if Alyssa couldn't tolerate the memory.

Severus entered the room, causing Albus's focus to shift to the man in front of him. Alyssa was correct, Severus seems to be doing much better than I imagined, Albus thought . True, Severus looked exhausted and there was grief in his eyes, but he seemed as though he was dealing with his guilt, rather than letting it consume him. I wonder what caused that change, he thought, recalling the broken man from his office.

"Good morning Albus," Severus said as he crossed the room.

"Good morning Severus. How are you?" He really wanted to know; he worried about the pale young man and his sibling. They made a bad decision, but they seem to be trying to atone for it. If only he knew.

"I'm am as well as can be expected," Severus answered, keeping his mind blank.

Dumbledore nodded before gesturing to the pensieve. "Shall we?" Both men touch the surface of the pensieve, getting pulled into a memory about the future.

Albus and Severus landed in the kitchen of number four Privet Drive. A calendar showed that they were two years into the future. A clock on the mantle showed that it was 7:30 in the morning. Before they could wonder what the point of this scene was, a thin, blonde woman strode into the kitchen, dragging a little child no more than three years old by the ear.

"Get started on breakfast. Don't you dare burn anything or you won't get any meals for a week."

"Yes Aunt Petunia," the child said obediently, getting a stool so he could reach the stove top.

Both men watched as Harry, because that was who the boy was, cooked breakfast for his family, nearly getting burned when his cousin decided to would be funny to shove him off the stool. Petunia took the plates to the table, completely ignoring her nephew who had sprained his wrist as he fell. A big, beefy man with a large mustache walked in, and Harry shrank back.

"What are you still doing here boy," the man barked as he sat at the table, "Go get started on your chores."

"Yes Uncle Vernon," Harry said, keeping his hurt wrist close to his body.

The rest of the passed in front of them quickly. Harry cleaned the house and tended the garden while his cousin lounged around. Harry was given a slice of bread and cheese for lunch, after having nothing for breakfast. After dinner, which Harry was once again denied, Harry was beaten by his uncle for not being able to finish his chores and because he accidently broke a plate with his magic. Albus's face was grave as that memory faded out, while Severus was fuming.

"Those muggles punished him for something he couldn't control, and are treating him like a bloody house elf." No wonder Lyssa couldn't leave him there, Severus thought.

"This is indeed troubling Severus," Albus agreed soberly. "I suspect a visit to Privet Drive may be in order."

"I would hope so," Severus muttered as the next vision appeared.

Harry, twelve years old, talking to a house elf in his bedroom. Said elf uses magic, causing Harry to get a letter from the Ministry, as well as punishment from his relatives. They watched how his uncle beat him before throwing him in his room. They watched as the man attached several locks to the door, as well as a cat flap for food, and paid someone to put bars on the windows. The memory faded out as Harry was locked in his room.

The next memory took place later in the year, at Hogwarts. It showed Harry and a red-headed boy standing outside the castle, staring in the window.

"Hang on…" Harry muttered to the red-head. "There's an empty chair at the staff table…Where's Snape?"(HP 2 pg.77)

Severus was very surprised to find himself mentioned in this memory, especially considering the boys' next words.

"Maybe he's ill," the red-head said hopefully. "Maybe he's left," said Harry, "because he missed out on the Defense Against the Dark Arts job again!"

"Or he might have been sacked!" the red-head said enthusiastically. "I mean, everyone hates him-" (HP 2 pgs. 77-78)

Severus looked at Albus, about to ask if he was that bad of a teacher when his memory self, who had snuck up behind the boys a few moments ago spoke.

"Or maybe," said a very cold voice right behind the two boys, "he's waiting to hear why you two didn't arrive on the school train." (HP 2 pg. 78)

Albus and Severus watched as memory Severus led the boys to his office, which was the same as his current office, and proceeded to yell at them, sneering and jeering at the young boys. Severus was shocked, to say the least.

"I'm treating him the same way I would've treated his father," Snape whispered, unable to believe that he was snarling at the boy he had been reading stories to an hour ago. The scene shifted before Albus could comment.

They reappeared in Dumbledore's office, where memory Dumbledore and memory Severus were discussing Dumbledore's death, and Severus promising to kill him. They listened as Dumbledore laid out his master plan for Harry defeating Voldemort, and Severus's reaction.

"I've spied for you and lied for you, put myself in mortal danger for you. Everything was supposed to be to keep Lily Potter's son safe. Now you tell me that you have been raising him like a pig for slaughter-"

"But this is touching, Severus," said Dumbledore seriously. "Have you grown to care for the boy, after all?"

"For him?" shouted Snape. "Expecto Patronum!" From the tip of his wand burst a silver doe. (HP 7 pg. 687)

The real Severus looked at the future him. "How could you do it," he whispered as he watched the doe fly away and the scene change. "How could you kill him?"

"I made you promise, my boy," Dumbledore said, his eyes devoid of their usual twinkle.

They watched as Dumbledore died and Snape fled Hogwarts. They watched as he returned with the Carrows, trying to keep the students safe while looking like a loyal Death Eater. They watched the battle for Hogwarts, where Severus died in the Shrieking Shack. They saw the aftermath of the battle, where Hogwarts was in ruins and Harry was subject to scorn for killing Voldemort, even though everyone was glad he was gone. The memory ended after that, and both Albus and Severus were once again in Severus's living room at Spinner's End.

"Where was Alyssa during all of this?" Albus asked, sitting down and pressing his fingertips together contemplatively.

"Apparently, that is not the whole memory," Severus replied, still shocked by what he had seen. "She picked out the most important pieces to show you. If you wish, I will get her."

At Dumbledore's nod, Severus left the room, going up to the guest room where Alyssa was putting sleeping Harry into his crib. As she turned, she saw her brother in the doorway.

"You're back," she said softly. "Are you ok?"

He nodded, still reeling over the images he saw. "Albus wants to speak to you," Severus replied, equally softly so as not to wake Harry.

Alyssa nodded and followed her brother out of the room, mentally preparing for what was to come, and hoping that Harry would nap for at least an hour, so she could explain everything before she told Albus what she had done. As she entered the living room, she saw the pensieve, still in the same place. As she passed it, she put her wand to her temple and extracted another silvery memory, placing it in the pensieve with the first.

"That is the full memory Albus," she explained in regards to the man's puzzled look. "There were many more memories, but I picked the ones necessary to prove my point."

Albus nodded, and then asked the first question that had been bothering him. "Why are you in none of these memories Alyssa?"

"I was killed during the boy's first year at Hogwarts," Alyssa said, keeping her voice level and her face emotionless, even though she was nowhere near as calm on the inside. "The Dark Lord possessed the body of Quirinus Quirrel, and when I stopped him from killing the boy, he killed me instead, nearly killing the boy as well. That information, as well as much more, is in the pensieve Albus, and I think you should examine everything in detail before you act, but there is one thing I would like to discuss with you before you go."

"What is that?" Albus asked, intrigued at what could interest this woman more than the details of her own death.

"The boy," Severus said, "Lily's son."

"What about Harry?" Albus asked, looking between the two siblings.

"I presume that you saw some of the abuse that he will suffer at the hands of those muggles?" Alyssa asked.

Albus nodded, looking saddened. "I had hoped Petunia would treat him better. After all, they are his family."

Both Snapes snorted.

"Have you forgotten what our family did to us?" Alyssa asked bitterly, "All for the crime of being magical. You should know by now that people fear that which they do not understand."

"What happened with you father was regrettable, but that has little bearing on how Petunia treats Harry. Regardless," Albus said, holding up a hand to stop the protests, "I will go to Surrey to fetch Harry, placing him somewhere he will be taken care of."

"About that…" Alyssa said, unsure of how to bring up what she had done.

"Yes?" Albus asked bemusedly, wondering what Alyssa was planning now.

"You don't have to go to Surrey to fetch the boy," Severus started.

Albus's eyebrows rose to his hairline. "And why is that?"

Before either Snape could answer, there was a cry from upstairs.

"Lyssa, Sevvus!"

Before Albus could ask who that was, both Snapes had left the room. He followed them up the steps and down the hallway, into a bedroom containing a crib and other furniture a child would need, as well as a raven-haired, emerald-eyed baby with a scar on his forehead, who was crying. Alyssa reached the crib first, picking up the baby and letting him snuggle close, obviously afraid of something.

"What's wrong little one? Did you have a nightmare?" Severus asked as he stroked the child's hair.

"Uh huh," the small boy whimpered, cuddling even closer to Alyssa.

She murmured soothing words to calm him down, while Severus gently rubbed his back. Dumbledore was forgotten for the moment as they comforted the young child. Dumbledore himself couldn't believe what he was seeing, Alyssa & Severus Snape taking care of James Potter's son? He spotted a camera laying on the dresser and snapped a picture of the two stern professors, unable to resist.

"I see why I have no need to go to Surrey," Albus said, causing three heads to swivel in his direction. "It is plain to see that young Mr. Potter is comfortable here for now. Would it be possible for the two of you to watch him while I look through the memories? I feel that there will be much to do afterwards."

"You have no idea," Alyssa muttered, before saying, "As long as Severus has no objections and the child behaves himself, I have no reason to object."

Albus looked at Severus.

"As Alyssa said, as long as the boy behaves, I have no cause to object."

Albus nodded, and with his eyes twinkling madly he said, "Perhaps you could consider becoming Harry's permanent guardians. After all, he seems to trust you, Lyssa and Sevvus."

With that, Dumbledore left, still laughing, as Alyssa & Severus looked at each other in horror.

"He will never let us live this down," Alyssa said faintly as she put Harry down so he could play with his toys.

"Never," Severus agreed, looking at the child playing by their feet. "Do you think that we should accept guardianship of him?" Severus asked after a moment's pause. "It's still possible for him to go to his godfather, you said he's innocent."

"Yes, Black should be cleared in a few days," Alyssa agreed, "And he would take the child in gladly."

A/N: I know I'm horrible stopping it here, but I need to know what people think before I go on. Should Severus & Alyssa adopt Harry, or should he go to Sirius? Will they be able to stop Voldemort from returning after all? Let me know what you think. Also, I apologize for the extra outtakes from the books. I'm using the books as Alyssa's future visions. There probably won't be as much, if any, in the next chapter.