Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Just copies of the books.


Severus watched the five cauldrons of potions he was brewing. They were simple potions to make, like a Minor Blood Replenishing Potion, Endurance Potions and Potion of Alacrity. It only took a long time for the process to finish. As he stirred the last cauldron until it turned a crystal white, Severus sat back and let it sit. Then he thought back on when Harry first entered his life.
Number 4 Privet Drive was always the loudest house in the quiet neighborhood. Mainly because of a portly man shouting out of the top of his lungs. "Harry Potter!" Vernon screamed as he chased a five year old Harry down the stairs. Harry beat the fat man around the corner and made it safely into his room in the storage room beneath the stairs. He bolted it shut from the inside not letting the man get to him again. "Get out of your room this instant!" Vernon ordered as he tried to pry open the door with his fat fingers, but it was no use.

Harry curled up in his bed and shivered in fear. Pain filled his arm as he rubbed it. Vernon had beaten him again. One of Dudley's toys went missing and Vernon blamed Harry. Harry knew where it was, since Dudley did not have the greatest memory in the world. It was behind his second bedroom's door. If Vernon or Petunia or Dudley just asked, Harry would have said where it was, but they just beat him. Like ever other day.

Suddenly, Harry heard an explosion. The lights went dark. "Stupefy!" a cold voice shouted.

Stupefy? Harry wondered. The thought of checking what happened outside crossed his mind, but Harry was far to scared of Vernon to unlock the door. "You know, Vernon, your a stupid low life son of a git you know that? One of the worst Muggles in the whole damn planet." the same cold voice sneered.

"Dear God what's going on?" the voice of Petunia screamed as stomps cracked above Harry's head. "What have you do-"

"Silencio!" the voice spoke and Harry's aunt's voice was gone. He still heard the stomping. "For the sister of Lily Evans, you sure are ugly and a horrible person. Stupefy!" A clump sounded and the shuffling was gone.

Lily Evans? That was my mother's name. Harry said to himself in his mind. Who in the world would know who his parents were? His aunt and uncle always told him that they had little friends and they died in a car accident. That was how Harry received his scar on his forehead.

"Don't even bother coming down, Dudley," the cold voice scoffed. "Unless you want to end up like your parents. Now, would you be so kind as to tell me where your cousin is?"

Cousin? That meant me. Harry thought. But he had no where to hide. This was his only hiding place. He hoped the man looking for him would not blow open the door.

"Alohamora." This time the voice was not in a sneer or scowl. Suddenly, the locks on Harry's door flipped open and the door swung out. "Pack you bags, Harry. I'm taking you out of this dump." Harry saw a man in his thirties. He had a crooked nose, long black oily hair, a grim expression and pure black eyes. If anything, the man looked evil. "Hurry up unless you want me to wake you uncle. I doubt you would want him to give you another bruise like the one you have on your arm." The man was dressed in black robes and held a wooden stick in his right hand.

Harry followed the man's instructions, not wanting to get hurt. This may have been a kidnapping, but Harry could care less. He hated this house, this family and how his live is. If following the man meant he could escape, Harry would do it. Harry began to gather his clothes and pack a suitcase when he heard a slap. The man had his hand on his face and a glum expression. "Forget packing, Harry. I'll do it for you." With a wave of his stick, everything folded itself nice and neatly into his suitcases. With another wave of his stick, the suitcases rose up into the air and floated out the room.

"Who are you?" Harry managed to ask in the short time that he overcame his fear of the man. Every time Harry met the man's gaze, he felt as if the man was glaring at him with hatred or malice.

"I'm an old friend of your mother's," the man replied as he led Harry out of the room. Harry found his aunt and uncle lying on the ground dazed. "Sooner or later someone will come and revive them. I doubt you'd want them up at the moment. Come."

Harry turned back and saw his suitcases following them as the made their way out. "How do you make them float? Is it some trick or magic?"

The man turned back and glowered at Harry. Harry did not know if the man was shocked or angry. Or maybe a mix of both. "How did your parents die?"

Harry's eyes narrowed. He wondered how the man knew so much about him and his family when Harry clearly did not have the slightest clue who the man was. Nor did his aunt or uncle. "A car accident."

"That's a lie. You parents were murdered."

"What?" asked Harry as he blinked rapidly in disbelief.

"I think we should tell Harry when he's older, Severus," a new voice spoke. Harry turned to see a pale man walking down the street. He looked around the same age as the man standing before him.

"No. Harry needs to know this now, Remus. This is his destiny." the dark man replied coldly. "Your parents were killed by the man who gave you the scar on your forehead."

Harry fell back. His legs were shaking and weakened tremendously. "You're scaring the boy, Snape!" another voice entered. Harry did not have the strength to turn and see who it was.

"I'm well aware of that, Sirius." the dark man sneered. "I am making him confront his fears. This is the boy the prophecy said would bring us victory over Voldemort. If he does not learn to confront his fears at an early age, how would he do so later on?"

"At least give him a proper environment to give him the truth under," the pale man protested. "And the bruise on his arm is not going away. Do you have the Bruise Removing Salve?"

Harry keeled over and fainted. He did not understand what was happening. His parents were murdered? Someone gave him his scar? His head was spinning so fast he did not know what was real anymore.


When Harry woke, he found himself in a large bed and a guest room similar to one in his uncle's house. He sat up and found that his arm no longer hurt. Then his memories of what happened before he passed out returned. "I must apologize for Severus, Harry," a voice spoke in the darkness. Harry turned and found the pale man from earlier. "Remus Lupin. An old friend of your father's."

Harry found that he was not scared by this man. He seemed calm and nice compared to the dark man who came and dragged him out of his uncle's home. That man's name was Seve-something. "Did he really get killed?"

Remus eyed Harry. "Yes. He was killed four years ago along with your mother. They were trying to protect you and succeeded." Harry noticed sadness in the man's eyes. "Don't worry, we're not here to harm you. Rather we're taking over as your legal guardians until you can enter Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts?" Harry asked fairly confused. Once more his head was spinning.

"It's a school for witches and wizards like you and me," Remus replied. "That's where you parents went to school as well as Sirius and Severus."

"Witches and wizards? Isn't that all just in story books?"

Suddenly, the door burst open and a handsome man crashed in. "They never told you you were a wizard?" Harry jumped back, somewhat scared by the man. He had short brown hair and light gray eyes. Some facial hair was growing, but Harry could tell the man was in the middle of shaving since a bladed floated around his face. "The son of James and Lily doesn't know he's a wizard?"

"Sirius!" Remus said, but failed to control his old friend. Hardly anyone could except for James Potter.

"He was raised by those bloody Muggles after all. He didn't even know his parents were killed!" a cold voice scoffed at the doorway. Sirius spun around and drew his wand at Severus as Severus did the same. Suddenly, their wand flew out of their hands and into the hands of Remus.

"It would be good if none of us used our magic while Harry is in the room," Remus said as the two men just turned away and growled. "You're a wizard, Harry. A famous one. One day you will see the world of wizardry, but not yet."

Harry just nodded. He still did not understand anything that was going on. How much could a five-year-old boy understand about a world he was neglected from since his birth?


A few months passed which allowed Harry to get use to his surroundings. It was easy to talk to Remus who was the nicest of the three men. Sirius was also fun to be around, since the man loved excitement and was full of energy, but Sirius was not allowed out of the house. Not unless he changed into a big black dog. At first, Harry was scared of Sirius's dog form, but after riding it several times, the fear disappeared. Harry still did not understand the concept of magic. No matter how much he thought about it, Harry was taught magic did not exist. Only in myths and legends.

However, Harry was still scared of Severus. The man always looked dark and glared at everyone. Remus explained that was because Severus had a bad history with Harry's father, Sirius and himself, but Harry did not really understand. This was still all too new to him. However, Harry still wanted to know the man. He was the person who saved Harry from the Dursley's, even thought they live next door.

Harry found Severus in the basement and when he walked in, he felt nauseous by the smell. "Yes, Harry?" a cold voice asked. Harry had gotten use to the way Severus talked, but not his glares.

"Can I talk to you?" Harry asked as he stood at the steps with his sleeves covering his mouth and nose and eyes staring straight down at the ground. Severus was hardly ever out of his basement unless it was time for a meal.

Severus looked up at Harry, trying hard not to glare. But how could he not? Harry looked like a splitting image of James Potter. Except for his eyes. Those were Lily's. "You may," Severus replied in his best kind voice. He had not expected taking over the Dursley's would be this difficult. For a whole month Harry cried whenever he saw Severus. "Come over here and take a seat," Severus said as he waved his wand to conjure a comfortable chair. "It doesn't smell as bad over here." It was hard to think of sentences in terms Harry could understand. Severus was far too use to teaching students at Hogwarts and making them answer even if they did not know the answer.

Harry took a seat and shifted before finding a comfortable position. "Can you tell me about my mother?" Harry asked as he looked up at his guardian.

"Sirius and Remus did not tell you?" Severus asked skeptically while stirring his potion.

"Only about dad. They told me to ask you about mum." Harry sat perfectly still in his seat. Severus could tell Harry was still uncomfortable around him. All those years being a Death Eater really did not pay off.

"You mother was a kind and loving woman," Severus began and immediately his expression changed. "She had red fiery hair that burned like the sun. Her eyes are emerald green like the ones you have. When you father and his friends made fun of me, it was your mother who would always come about and save me. It was not until much later that I understood why she did it."

"Did you like mum?"

Severus nearly chuckled to the question. Actually, he wanted to, but the old habits of his Death Eater days were hard to break. So he was content with just a smile. "Yes I did. I don't think anyone who has met her would not like her, with the exception of the Slytherins."

"Slytherins?" Harry asked. He had not been told much about Hogwarts, but Severus could tell the boy was interested.

"Hogwarts has four houses or groups. Students are split into the different houses when the get to Hogwarts," Severus began the explanation. He had not noticed his grim expression was gone. "Your mother was sorted into Gryffindor, the house of bravery and courage. I was sorted into Slytherin, the house of cunning and ambition. Slytherins and Gryffindors hated each other for as long as the history of Hogwarts."

"But you liked mum, didn't you?"

"Yes I did. You see, not many Slytherins are like me. Your mother was born of to Muggles."

"The normal people?" Harry asked. Severus considered explaining, but it was too complicated.

"Something like that," Severus decided to say. "Slytherins don't like people born to two Muggles. But since Lily always helped me, I started to like her. She was all that made my days at Hogwarts worth going to."

"Why can't Slytherin and Gryffindor get along? You and mum did fine."

Severus smiled to Harry as he patted the boy's head. Harry was so innocent and good hearted like Lily. "No one knows. Maybe one day you can bring the two houses together."

Harry beamed as he said, "I will!"

And then Severus laughed. It was not a chuckle. It was a laugh. It felt good to laugh again. He had not laughed since graduating from Hogwarts. Harry is Lily's son after all. Not just the son of James Potter.

Suddenly, two men burst into the basement laughing their hearts out. Severus jerked his head around to find Sirius and Lupin crashing down the stairs. His laugh was gone, but his grim expression did not return. "You laughed!" Sirius cried out as he hit the ground. Remus was leaning against the wall to hold himself up.

"We have proof!" Remus said as he pulled up a recording. It was one of the entire conversation between Severus and Harry.

"Dumbledore's gonna love this!" Sirius screamed as he pounded his fist on the ground.

"Give it!" Severus screamed. His face burned with anger. No one has seen him laugh. Only Lily. He snatched the recording out of Remus's loose grip and shoved it into his pocket.

"Too bad I already sent Dumbledore a copy!" Sirius shouted as Severus shot him a deadly glare.

"I knew Harry would be able to get you to laugh!" Remus said proudly as he fell over.

"You sly--" Severus began, but refrained from finishing the curse. Harry was still in the room. When he turned to see Harry laughing, Severus could hardly keep his own laughter down. So he laughed. It was good to laugh again.


Severus chuckled as he poured the potion out of the fifth cauldron. If Remus and Sirius had not tricked Harry into asking Severus about Lily, Severus doubted he would have ever opened up. When he left Hogwarts and was separated from Lily, Severus closed himself from the world, even the other Death Eaters. This was why Voldemort had chosen him to become the spy inside of Hogwarts. But Voldemort did not know that it only took a five year old boy twenty minutes to open up Severus.

In many ways Severus was glad he forced Dumbledore to give him guardianship over Harry. It gave Severus a chance to live a life he once dreamed of and longed for. His own father, Tobias Snape, had not been a good father to Severus or a good husband. Severus shuddered at the memory of his father and vowed he would never become the same man. With Harry as his adopted child, Severus was given a chance to prove it.

Although it was hard figuring out how to raise Harry, Severus was able to find a way. Along with Sirius and Remus. Trouble always followed Harry around. Having two Marauders as guardians did not help. Severus was usually the voice of reason of the three. Sirius was the mischievous one and Remus leaned in that direction as well.

But the day when Harry reached the age of eleven came and Severus was forced to leave the boy; even though it was not permanent. Harry had agreed to put up the act of hating Severus in front of the students only after several weeks of debate. It was hard not being able to see his adopted child whenever he wanted. Give advice freely. Make fun of Harry. Do all the things they once did when they lived in Number 5 Privet Drive.

Sometimes Severus wished Dumbledore had given Severus the opportunity to raise Harry from the day his parents were killed. Dumbledore refused adamantly for years before Severus was able to get through to the old headmaster. At least Dumbledore gave in before permanent scars were formed from living with the Dursley's. In many ways, adopting Harry allowed Severus to heal Harry's wounds and allowed Harry to heal his wounds.

Severus placed the vials of potions in a small container and left the dungeon. Hardly anyone was awake at this hour. "Lumos!" he said as he lifted his wand to light the dark corridors. Severus headed towards the Gryffindor tower, but when he passed by the library, he found a lamp still lit. Without a doubt, it was Harry's. Dumbledore had given the Triwizard Champions special privileges to stay up past curfew, one which Harry often took advantage of.

Severus smiled as he found Harry asleep with books sprawled out across the table. He took a peek at the books as he set down the potions and found it on anti-magic fields and Runelore. With a wave of his wand, Severus conjured a blanket and placed it over Harry's shoulders. Before Severus turned to leave, he looked at Harry once more, who had a smile across his face as he slept. Severus could not be more proud of raising someone like Harry. He turned and walked out of the library to get sleep of his own.