Family is Everything

Alternative Version

Disclaimer: While I love the books, if I owned the rights to them, the story would have been different.

Summary: The war is over and Harry is starting his life with Severus and Lucius. The arrival of his godson changes his perspective on the men in his life causing him to flee the country. This is an alternative to my original story line. HP/SS/LM, HP/SS. AU/OOC MPREG

IMPORTANT NOTE

I have written this alternative version to my Family is Everything story. It is a much shorter although sweeter version. The first three chapters of each of the two stories are word for word identical so if you have already read them then please feel free to skip to chapter 4. This is where the story lines changes.

Earlier that day in the personal chambers of Potion Master Professor Severus Snape…

Having returned from an early meeting with the team working to remodel Malfoy Manor, Lucius walked into Severus quarters and hung up his cloak. Finding the living room and bedroom empty, he entered Severus private potions lab. Upon noticing that Severus had not yet started the potion, he snuck up behind the man and slithered his arms around his waist, placing a gentle kiss on Severus neck before whispering to him.

"Hello Love."

Twisting in Lucius grasp, Severus turned and placed a soft kiss on Lucius lips. Not liking the gentleness of it, Lucius quickly deepened the kiss into one that was more passionate. Nearly brutal in its intensity.

"Well hello to you too."

"And where has our sexy little lion disappeared to?"

Severus had a feeling that this wasn't going to go over very well but knew that he couldn't avoid the subject for long.

"He has gone to meet with Andromeda about the custody papers and bringing Teddy to live here in the castle."

"HE'S DONE WHAT!? Why would he do such as stupid thing without talking with us first?"

Lucius quickly pulled away from Severus and started pacing the room. The move was so fast that he practically pushed the other man into the worktable.

"Well, he did mention it last night Lucius. Granted I thought we should have discussed it more but we both knew he would be bringing the child back with him to raise."

"We both knew no such thing!"

"What are you on about? Surely you realized that he has every intention on raising the child. He even mentioned turning one of the rooms near us in the manor into a nursery."

"Like I would ever allow such a thing to happen. He may have mentioned it; however, it was not set in stone and I have no intention on allowing it to happen."

Severus was startled by this comment. Of course Harry would want the nursery near the master bedroom. The young man was obsessed with the little family he had left and would want to be a hands on father figure for the child instead of having him room on the other side of the manor being raised by house-elves like Draco.

"Lucius, Harry is not like you. He wants to raise Teddy not foist him off on the elves."

"Foist him off on the elves? I don't care who raises him as long as it is done in someone else's home!"

"Are you seriously telling me you do not want Harry to take custody of the boy?"

"It's not that I do not want him to take custody. I refuse to allow it! I have done my penance in child rearing hell; let someone else raise the beast!"

That sent Severus' mind reeling and his shoulders slumped slightly as he processed what Lucius had said.

"I know that's how you feel Lucius, although I can not fathom your reasoning but you can not do this to Harry. If you do not pull yourself together and support him in this, you will push him away from you. Away from us."

The last was said so softly it almost wasn't heard. Severus couldn't believe what was happening. He thought he knew Lucius better than this. After all the years that they had been friends and the later years as lovers, he honestly thought that Lucius was over this superiority crap. How could he possibly be so blind? How could he possibly love someone that talks of a child in such a callus fashion?

"I don't care Severus; I've done my duty and given an heir to my family name. I will not raise another child!"

"Lucius, please, you must see this from Harry's point of view. Teddy is the only family he has left. Family is everything to him. You can not just ask him to walk away from the responsibility he has to the child. Besides he is young. You should know by now that he would want to have children. It's always been a dream of his to have a big family. How can you ask him to give up his dream because you don't want it?"

"It's easy; I will not raise that half-breed. And I will not be having anymore children. Either he realizes that or he has no part in my future."

"Lucius, please, be reasonable."

"No. I've made my decision and now you must make yours. Do you stand by me in this, or do you throw away a 6 year relationship over Harry?"

"I love you Lucius and I don't want to lose you bu…"

Lucius interrupted him with an exclamation of, "I knew you would see things my way. I…"

It was Severus turn to interrupt with a raise of his hand that had an effect similar to if he had used a Petrificus Totalus on his lover.

"You misunderstand me Lucius. Or rather, you didn't allow me to finish. I do not want to lose you; however, you are not the only one in this relationship who has wants and opinions. What about what Harry wants? What about what I want?"

"Wha…"

"You seem to forget that you are not the only one that is an heir to a family line. Would you in your arrogance and stubborn headedness go against your upbringing and effectively terminate three ancient and noble bloodlines?"

"What in the name of Merlin are you on about?"

"You have stated that YOU have given your family name an heir, what about Harry and I? Harry is the only heir of both the Potter and Black lines as I am the only heir to the Prince bloodline. Would you have all three of our lines end just to suit your demands?"

Lucius sneered, "I do not care what you have to do. If your lines die out, so be it. If you have to hire some whore to fulfill the obligation, so be it. I really do not care as long as the bastard is not brought into my life and home."

"So you would have Harry and I both have affairs and then dump the child with no care what so ever? I knew you could be a cruel bastard; however…"

CRACK

The move was so fast that Severus never saw the fist heading for his nose.

"You will not speak to me like that."

Severus looked up at him. One hand holding his bleeding nose, the other clutched tightly to his wand.

"Get out."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. GET. OUT!"

"Gladly. Perhaps by the time I return you will have come to your senses."

This time Severus really did cast the Petrificus Totalus spell on Lucius. Muttering a soft Episkey to repair his broken nose and a Scourgify to clean the blood off his face and robes. Severus then turned back to Lucius lying on the dungeon floor.

"You listen to me and listen well for I will not repeat myself. I may love you; however, I will not be treated like this. I am not some servant that you can order around and abuse as you please. And as of this moment we are no longer partners. No longer friends. I want you out of my quarters, out of this school, and out of my life! I have spent the last twenty years being ordered, manipulated and abused by a tyrant and the headmaster. I've served my time and I will not have YOU try to imprison me further. Now GET OUT!"

With that he conjured a snake that looked eerily similar to Nagini and cast Oppugno causing the snake to attack Lucius as he lifted the binding spell. Lucius bolted up as fast as he could and tore out of the dungeons bellowing, "THIS IS NOT OVER! NO ONE ELSE WILL EVER WANT YOU! YOU WILL BE BEGGING AT MY FEET FOR FORGIVNESS!" with the snake nipping at his heels.

Severus muttered a Finite Incantatem on the snake when Lucius was far enough away. Slamming the door, he instantly threw up locking and warding spells before collapsing on the floor in tears. Smacking his head repeatedly on the door he couldn't help but think how lucky he was to still have Harry. Lucius was right. Who else but those two would love him? He was nothing but an ugly old former death eater turned spy. He'd lived alone for years, pushing everyone aside, keeping to himself and an occasional acquaintance just to ensure he could do his job as a spy and come out of the war alive.

He was such a looser. Hell, he hardly had anything to his name. His grandparents disowned his mother for marrying a muggle. They took pity on him in later years by allowing him enough money to pay for his schooling and to earn his Masters. He knew from their will that if he had children with another witch or wizard, his children would inherit the entire Prince fortune; however, that did him little good and if he had children with a muggle, they too would be left with nothing.

Yes he had a house. Not much of one. After his mother's death he left it as quickly as possible and the house fell quickly into disrepair without him there to help his worthless muggle father keep up with the repairs.

He had a job. One that he really did not despise, despite popular opinion. Yes he hated the fact that most of the children were incompetent dunderheads when it came to potions yet there were a few each year that showed promise and the job did allow him to pursue his passion, research and development of potions. Despite the time constraints of teaching and being a spy for the light, he had still managed to create the Wolfsbane potion and the Anti-Cruciatus potion. One being helpful to allow werewolves to keep their minds during the full moon and the other helping to cure the affects of the Cruciatus curse. Both had brought him a sizeable income. He would have earned more from them if it was not for that ugly tattoo that once adorned his arm. So while the money was sizeable, it did not last long leaving him just as broke as he was before.

Severus dragged himself out of his depressing thoughts and headed for the bathroom. A nice long bath was just what he needed to start thinking clearly again. Hopefully by the time he was done, Harry would be home.

Severus was starting to get worried. Harry had been gone all day. It was now nearly dinner time and he had yet to hear from his young lover. Fearing that something might have happened to the danger magnet, he went to the floo to call Andromeda. Maybe he was still there just spending time with the family.

Severus tossed a handful of floo powder in the fire and when the flames turned green he kneeled down and stuck his head in.

"Andromeda Tonks, Tonks Cottage."

A few moments of spinning and his head appeared out of the fireplace in Tonks Cottage.

"Andromeda. Andromeda are you there?"

Severus heard soft footsteps before seeing the older woman walk into the room drying her hands on a dish towel.

"Severus, what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if Harry was still with you. I would have thought he'd have returned by now and with a few Death Eaters still on the loose, I was a little concerned."

"Why no, Harry and Teddy left hours ago. I'm sure it's nothing. They have probably gone to Diagon Alley. Harry needed to pick up some items for Teddy. We decided that most of his stuff would stay here for when he visits so Harry needs to replace nearly an entire nursery full of stuff."

"Of course, I am ashamed to admit I had not thought of that my self. I am sorry to bother you. I am sure they will arrive any time now. Thank you Andromeda."

"It's alright; even though the war is over we still can't be too careful. Give me a call if he doesn't show up before dark. And please, as I have told you before, call me Andy."

"As you wish…Andy."

With that he pulled his head from the flames canceling that call. Of course he would need to go shopping. How could he forget that? He was just being foolish. Harry would be home safe and sound any time now with little Theodore. Teddy. Everyone seemed to call him Teddy and he should remember to do it as well. While he had time to kill, he might as well get started on building a room for Theo…Teddy. Since it was obvious they would not be moving into Malfoy Manor, they would need to create a nursery here for the child.

He had just finished putting the final touches on Teddy's new nursery when his clock chimed to tell him it was time to head to the Great Hall for dinner. Taking one last look around the room, he was proud of himself. The ceiling was charmed similar to the Great Hall, the only difference being that the ceiling would always shine with the evening stars and the glowing moon, no matter the time of day. The ceiling would change to reflect what constellations would shine above the castle each night.

The walls were painted with a forest scene with different animals roaming in and out of the trees and lounging by the brook. There were centaurs, unicorns, wild stallions, deer, griffins, panthers, birds, bears and even wolves. Every type of wild creature he could think of that would live in the forest.

Off to one side was a book case carved into the shape of a tree. A small toy box that looked like an exact duplicate of Hogwarts. And finally a wardrobe made of beautiful oak. On the other side of the room was the door to Teddy's own bathroom. While he was still young and would not need them for awhile, Severus had made a child's sized toilet and sink. The tub was a child's size version of the prefects tub, without the diving board. All in all he thought he did a good job. A small smile graced his face. Yes, Teddy was sure to like it here. All it needed was a bed and other items that Harry was sure to pick up while out shopping.

Turning on his heel, he headed out to dinner in the great hall. Despite the rough morning, he was happy with how things were turning out. He could not wait for Harry and Teddy to get home.

Poor Severus, just can't catch a break. I feel kind of bad for doing this to him. Coming up in the next chapter should be the letter and the return of Albus.