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. BRIEF HP/SS/LM, HP/SS. Ignores HBP and DH. 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 change. Part of this chapter will be in the original version as well but the majority of it will be different. I will mark where the difference begins so that there is no need to reread the same stuff.

I really need a beta, why? Because I realized another oops I made so I'm going to have to go back and fix it. Nothing worth re-reading the chapter for but so that you know, I'm going to go back to the conversation where Severus wants Albus to send Fawkes to Harry and take out the discussion about Fawkes all together. Since in the U.S. muggles know about magic it wouldn't be an issue for Fawkes to be seen and with Albus holding the political positions he has, he would know that. Sorry to those that are seeing this chapter for a second time.

There is some major OOC in this chapter. I kind of had difficulty picturing Albus truly ticked off and certainly not saying anything inappropriate so be warned he does not sound like his normal grandfatherly self in this chapter.

And I promise to stop being mean to Severus soon. He'll be happy eventually.

Previously in Family is Everything"

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.

Severus arrived in the Great Hall with a flourish of his black teaching robes. School may be out for the summer but he still had a reputation to uphold. There were many people in residence at the castle due to all the construction there as well as the fact that many people had lost their homes during the latter stages of the war, so instead of the single large round table that was typical to holiday times, the hall was set up as it would be during a school year. Severus swept through the house tables and made his way up to the staff table where he took his typical seat to the left of the headmaster's chair which was surprisingly empty.

He was just starting on his meal when Fawkes appeared in a burst of flames trilling a somewhat sad sounding song. Fawkes dropped the letter he carried next to Severus plate and disappeared with another burst of flame. Severus was curious as to what the headmaster would want, or where he was that would require the use of Fawkes to get a message to him. Picking up the letter he opened it and noticed that it was short and to the point. If not a little cold sounding.

Severus Snape,

I have left the grounds to attend to some personal matters. I shall be returning in roughly half of an hour and I expect you to be waiting outside of my office when I arrive. We have much to discuss.

Albus Dumbledore

Severus had to wonder what had gotten Albus' garish robes into such a twist. It had been sometime since Albus had sent him a missive where not only was he addressed by first and last name, but Albus signed the same. Oh well he thought. He would just have to wait and see when the old codger arrived.

Severus was about half way through his meal when once again he was disturbed. This time by the usually hyperactive elf that Harry liked to keep around. What was his name again? Lobby? Cobby? He could never keep all those elves straight.

"Dobby be having a letter here for Master Snape."

Ahh, Dobby that was it. There must be something wrong with the elf. He wasn't as enthusiastic as he normally was and in fact, Severus would swear he saw tears in the creature's eyes.

"Dobby be telling Great Master Harry Potter Sir that he be giving letter to Master Snape at dinner time."

And with that he burst into mournful wails, handed the letter to Severus and popped out.

"What in the name of Merlin has gotten into that daft elf?"

Severus turned to the letter and was suddenly filled with a sense of trepidation. Why would Harry send an elf with a letter for him when he should be home soon? Actually, how had he sent it with the elf unless he was on the castle grounds but if he was in the castle, where was he? Uneasiness crept into him as he started to open the letter.

My Dearest Severus,

Although, I supposed I have no right to call you that any longer. Yet calling you Master Snape or Professor Snape causes a pang to my heart that seems to cut down to my very soul so if you don't mind, I'll stick with My Dearest Severus for just a little bit longer.

By the time Dobby delivers this to you, Teddy and I will be long gone. A few things have come to my attention today that forced me to reconsider where we stand. While it causes me great distress to leave, I fear it would cause even more to Teddy if we were to stay.

Part of me can not begin to comprehend all that transpired today. While another part of me knew it was bound to happen sooner or later. I'm nothing. Just an ugly freak with too many meaningless titles tacked on to the end of my name. I stupidly thought that you guys loved me and that would be enough. I see now how wrong I was. I can see now that your feelings for me do not run that deep. And why should they. You and Lucius were good together for a long time before I mucked things up by falling in love with you.

I wish to leave this with as much dignity as I have left so to make things less awkward for everyone; Teddy and I are leaving the country. I'm sure we will find somewhere to make our home and move on with our lives. Just as I am sure that you and Lucius will be happier without us ruining your plans.

You really do mean the world to me. I would not have survived this long without you watching over me and protecting me from the shadows. I know I could not have defeated the Dark Lord without you and Lucius standing beside me. And I know I would not have survived the loss of my family and friends without your shoulder to lean on. And I thank you for that. For all of it.

As much as it saddens me to say, it's time for me to grow up and stand on my own two feet. It's time to put aside childish dreams of happily ever after and knights in shining armor that would always be there. It's time for me to put aside the love I feel for you and concentrate on what is most important and that is my son, for despite his blood that is what he truly is now. I can not even begin to describe what he means to me. I would do anything for him. I would lay down my life if it meant protecting him. Just as I am laying down my heart because I know it's the only way to keep and protect him.

I guess I've blubbered enough and you're probably sick of reading anything that I have to say. So I'll close now. Albus and Teddy are wandering the grounds to give me time to write this up but we really must get going.

Good-bye my love. Take care of yourself.

Harry

Severus couldn't believe it. It couldn't be true. How could Harry do this to him? WHY would Harry do this to him? What on earth could have happened to make Harry run away? Surely he had shown Harry how much he loved him.

Yes they may have hated each other for years but he thought that they had moved past all that during Harry's training. The first few weeks had been difficult until Harry had had enough and lashed out at him. Calling him every name in the book and scream at him about how wrong Severus was about him. How he didn't know anything about the life he had lived. Finally Harry had blown up, unleashing all his pent up rage in a bout of accidental magic that was so strong all the windows in the room had shattered and Severus had been knocked unconscious when the outburst tossed him across the room. When he'd awoken in the hospital wing with a distraught Harry by his side, they'd talked. For hours they had talked about both of their lives and corrected a great many misconceptions. After that they had begun a tentative friendship that grew into attraction and finally love. At least for him it was love.

**********THE TWO VERSIONS SPLIT HERE***********

He reread the letter and his heart plummeted. He bolted out of his seat so fast that the chair went careening back towards the wall behind the table. Trying to maintain what little decorum he had left; he quickly tore through the castle back to the safety of his dungeons. Tearing down the wards as he got close he yelled the password, rushing in and slamming the door behind him. He strode to his liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink of fire-whiskey. Downing it, he went to pour another when he suddenly became overwhelmed with rage and whipped the glass into the fire and proceeded to drink straight from the bottle, dropping to his knees as the tears began. This is how Albus found him nearly an hour later.

Albus arrived back at the school and headed straight to his office. He was slightly surprised when he arrived there and did not see his potions master. Severus was not one to ignore a summons from him regardless of what was occurring at the time without a damn good reason.

Albus entered his office and proceeded to pace. His thoughts went to his new son and grandson and everything that they were going through because of the callousness of two men that he had thought better of. In fact he had come to see Severus as a son as well and it hurt him to think that Severus would choose to stay with such a bigoted bastard instead of siding with Harry who's only wish in life was to have a big happy family.

The more Albus paced and thought, the more enraged he became. After half an hour he had had enough. The twinkle in his eye was gone when he stormed into the Great Hall.

"Has anyone seen Professor Snape!?"

It was easy to see that he was highly upset with his colleague. He may have been trying to put on a calm front but the gentile grandfather figure was gone, replaced by one very pissed off old man that could make the devil second guess his decisions. Professor Vector was the one that was brave enough to respond.

"He was here for dinner but left after receiving something from one of the elves. He seemed upset when he left."

"Thank you."

With that he spun on his heel and marched down to the dungeons with a speed that belied his age. If he had stopped he would have noticed the air crackling with irate magic and the portraits whispering to each other about the scene they were witnessing. It had been some time since they had witnessed the esteemed headmaster so incensed. He did not even appear this infuriated when the Dark Lord attempted to take Hogwarts. Whatever the potion master had done, they knew was bad. Very very bad. They would have felt sorry for him if it wasn't for the fact that he seemed to have brought this ire down on himself.

As Albus approached his potion masters quarters he noticed the wards were down but brushed it off as he was to angry to put much thought in it. The portrait guarding the doorway sprung open without the password as if it was desperate to do anything it could to get out of the headmaster's way for fear it would be destroyed if it didn't.

Albus stomped into the living room fully prepared to rip Severus up one side and down the other for what he had done to his son. What he saw made him stop in mid-stride. Severus Snape. Potion Master extraordinary. Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Former Death Eater and long time spy for the Order of the Phoenix was a complete mess. He appeared more like a tiny child that had lost his best friend than the cold hearted vampire many students had accused him of being.

Albus took in the half empty bottle in Severus' hand and the tears streaming down from his face and suddenly started to wonder about what had happened this morning. Surely Severus would not be this upset if he had willingly chose Lucius over Harry. Albus knew that Severus had received Harry's letter at dinner but if things had played out like Harry believed, why would Severus be reduced to such a state? Perhaps Lucius had tossed him aside before things were all said and done. It did not matter. What mattered was that this man hurt his son.

"Come now Severus, you should be in bed perfectly content while getting screwed into the mattress by Lucius instead of wallowing in tears and liquor. What's the matter? Did he find some whore to replace Harry already and decide to replace you while he was at it?"

Albus had practically growled at him.

Severus looked up at his mentor and colleague a little bewildered. His alcohol riddled brain not entirely functioning well enough to decode what Albus had just said.

"Merlin's balls Albus! What the hell are you on about? You know what I don't care. Just get out. I've had a crap day. I've thrown out one lover and had the other walk away on his own taking my only chance at fatherhood with him so if you don't mind I'd like to continue drowning myself and hopefully I'll pass out to wake in the morning to find this whole disaster has been nothing but a nightmare."

"Ok something is not adding up Severus. Give me the bottle and we'll sober you up and instead of screaming at you as I'd planned, we'll have a nice little chat."

"I don't want to chat you deranged hippy! I want to drink myself into oblivion, pass out, and wake up tomorrow wrapped in the arms of both the men I love knowing that nothing that happened today really happened because if it did then it only cements the knowledge that Fate has condemned me to be miserable and alone my entire life."

Having enough of this and realizing that Severus was not going to willingly sober up Albus stealthily drew his wand and wordlessly cast an Incarcerous charm followed quickly by Mobilicorpus to quickly move Severus to the couch. Snatching the bottle of fire-whiskey, Albus banished it before turning once again to Severus and casting a sobering charm on the young man. Seeing him start to become agitated further now that he was sober, he walked to Severus' personal potion stores and retrieved a calming drought and none to gently forced the man's mouth open. He poured the potion down Severus' throat and quickly covered his mouth and nose when he realized his intention to spit it back out. Finally Severus gave a disgruntled glare and swallowed the vial concoction.

After a minute Albus decided it was time to clear a few things up.

"Now, if I release you, are you going to behave or do I need to cast a sticking charm to keep you in your seat. And trust me I have no issue with dousing you with Veritaserum if I must to get the entire truth of the situation."

"I shall do my best to behave. Merlin knows I have no wish to be around you while under the influence of Veritaserum."

Giving a slight chuckle Albus replied, "I have no doubt you would do anything to avoid that situation. Now, perhaps we should start at the beginning. I know that Harry left. And I know his reason for doing it; however, after the scene I walked in on, I fear that there is more to this story that even Harry does not know."

With that, Severus proceeded to give a complete accounting of his day. By the time he was finished, the normally stoic man had silent tears streaming down his face. Albus sat there stroking his beard and contemplating all that he had heard. His poor boys. Fate definitely was not being kind to them at the moment. If only Harry had listened to the entire conversation they would not be in this situation.

"Albus."

Severus calling his name pulled him from his thoughts.

"Hmm, yes my boy."

Severus hesitated for a moment.

"You said that you knew Harry's reasoning for leaving. Can you please tell me? He really did not explain it in his letter and I can not understand why he could possibly think I do not love him."

With that Albus began to tell his tale. Everything that had happened from the time Harry pounded on his door, all the way up until he left the airport. He told him of the portion of the conversation Harry had heard. He told him of the planning to get them out of the country. Of the trip to Gringotts, the adoption of Harry, the informal reading of the Lupin's will, the finalization of Teddy's adoption and the establishment of Harry and Teddy's new identities.

"Oh sweet Merlin, no wonder he left."

"Yes I understood fully why he felt the need to leave. While it saddened me to see my son and grandson leave, at the time I felt it was for the best."

"If you helped him plan to leave then you must know where he has gone? Get him back here! Please Albus, I have not begged for anything since I came to you seeking help to keep Lilly alive but I am begging you now. I will get down on my knees if I must but please bring him home so I can explain. I can't just lose him over some stupid misunderstanding."

"I am sorry my boy. I would bring them back in a heartbeat if I could; however, all I have is a general location. He was headed to California but I do not know if that is where he will ultimately end up. I know he wished to stay near a wizarding community while living in the muggle world which limits his options but still leaves a large number of places where he could be. There is no telling if he will stay in California and there are 10 other states with magical communities and at least two in each of those states and even if we managed to stumble upon the correct community that only limits us to a general area. We'd have no choice but to stalk through the community and hope that he would come in at just the right time for us to find him. Before he left Gringotts he had the goblins cast a spell that would ward off any mail coming from outside of the United States so we can not even send him a letter until he has the spell removed. I am truly sorry but there is just now way for us to contact him."

"Alright. I suppose you have a point; however, I do not like it and I want to be informed as soon as you hear from him."

"I will let you know. I promise. Now I think it would be a wise idea for you to take a dreamless sleep potion and go to bed. I am sure a good night's rest is just what you need."

"Albus I do not require a potion to hel…"

Albus wordless cast a Silencio on him followed quickly by another Incarcerous. He accioed a dreamless sleep potion, poured it into Severus mouth receiving a glare in the process and levitated him into his bed. By the time he had released the binding spell and covered Severus, he was already sound asleep.

With that Albus quietly slipped out of the rooms, casting locking and warding spells in order to allow Severus an uninterrupted peaceful night sleep and proceeded to his own chambers. After dressing for bed, Albus walked to the window and looked over the grounds. As he stood there thinking of the unfairness of Fate, Fawkes landed on his shoulder and gave a mournful trill.

"I know my old friend, I know. Oh my boys. Life has not been fair or easy for either of them. I am not sure how long it will take; however I know that they are meant for each other. I know he will come back to us. I only hope that when he hears the truth, he can forgive himself as well as Severus."