A/N: I apologise for taking so long to post, between work and family, I haven't had much time for writing. Hope you enjoy! Oh, I did have Severus say he was on the Slytherin Quidditch team—logic being that he refereed, so if he can fly well enough to do that, maybe he was on the team.

(Summer 1982)

Seven

Severus took one final look about his quarters to assure himself everything was packed. He took very little with him between home and school, a few books and journals, any notes he had taken on experiments, some items of clothing. He left his trunk for the house-elf that served him while he was at school and headed for the front gates of the castle. For the first time in his life, he was looking forward to summer at Spinner's End. During his childhood, the only good thing had been Lily, after their friendship fell apart he had only dreaded the long months at home ending in a return to school where it was really no better, just different. His mother had died during his seventh year, his father had disappeared and so once he graduated from Hogwarts, he was alone in the house. His home had been a quiet and welcome refuge at times while at others feeling isolated and alone with unwanted memories.

Now, it was different. He had someone he knew was waiting for him. His friendship with Lily had been rebuilt over the past few months, and there was little Harry who had become quite attached to him. Severus left his trunk for the house-elf who served him here at school to take care of and walked out of his quarters.

He followed the longer route from the dungeons to the main doors of the castle, knowing the halls would most likely be empty; the students had already gone home for the summer, as they had left that morning for Hogsmeade station. When Severus reached the main level of the castle, he was not expecting to see Minerva McGonagall.

"Severus."

He inclined his head in greeting. "Minerva."

"Have a good summer, Severus."

He frowned; she looked like she wanted to say something more. "The same to you, are you going to your family?"

"Yes, I'll be staying here in the Highlands. Severus, I don't want to seem as though I'm prying, but . . . . don't let the past stand in your way, Lily knows how you feel about her, she just needs some encouragement."

The transfiguration professor walked away. Encouragement? He frowned and continued outside, the air of the Scottish Highlands still cool as he strode towards the front gates.

XXXXXX

Lily sat on a blanket, Harry and Ron running around her chasing the bubbles she was making the muggle way. The older Weasley children played nearby on the muggle playground and Ginny was content to try and catch the bubbles from her mother's lap. The air was already growing warm, but it was still nice and Molly had brought the children to Spinner's End for a picnic in the park. It was the first time they had come to Cokeworth. Lily had made certain they were all dressed appropriately so they would easily blend in with the muggles. She had left a note for Severus, knowing he was to return from Hogwarts at some point during the day and not wanting him to worry.

"Lily?"

She turned when she heard her name. Coming over the top of the hill was the vicar's wife and her two youngest children. Lily stood.

"Hello Sarah, how are you and the boys today?"

"Fine, just out for a walk in the park." She looked at the crowd of ginger-haired children.

"Sarah, this is Molly Weasley, a friend of mine and her children." Lily proceeded to introduce her to the Weasley children. Sarah's boys, Andrew and Mark were the same age as Percy and the twins. Sarah's eldest boy, the one that Severus had helped, was a year older than Bill. The boys ran off to play. Lily hoped all went well, she didn't want to have to obliviate one of the few women in the neighbourhood she had become friends with since coming back to the area.

"Harry's getting so big." Sarah spoke as she sat down on the ground with them.

"Yes, he is. His second birthday is coming up; we'd like you to come, of course."

"Of course we'll be there." She smiled at Harry who was getting sticky trying to blow bubbles on his own while Molly held the container.

The three women talked, keeping an eye on the older children as Harry, Ron, and Ginny played. The afternoon passed and it was soon time for them to get their children home and get suppers started. Molly and the Weasley children went with Lily and Harry to floo back to their home.

Lily was carrying Harry as they entered the house. The scent of roasting chicken filled the air. "Severus?" She called as she walked into the living room.

He appeared from the kitchen.

"Daddy!"

Lily looked at her son, he was reaching for Sev. Lily let him down and he ran to Sev who lifted him up. He hugged Harry and looked at her. Molly broke the silence. "Hello Severus, we were visiting Lily and Harry, and need to floo home."

"Of course, Molly, thank you." He spoke, but never took his eyes from Lily. Molly smiled and moved to lead her children to the fireplace. She stepped back slightly, looking at Lily.

"Lily, he's heard the boys and Ginny with Arthur."

Lily nodded. It wasn't unexpected, but it was still a surprise to hear Harry call Severus, 'daddy'; and she wasn't sure how he felt about it either. The Weasley's left and Severus continued to stand in the kitchen doorway, Harry in his arms.

"I . . . I am sorry he. . ."

She shook her head and held up her hand to stop him. "It's ok, Sev, really. He hears and sees other children with their fathers, and he needs a father figure. I can't think of a better one."

XXXXXX

The summer passed quickly, it was nearly Harry's birthday. She and Severus had slipped into a comfortable routine and Harry had grown very attached to Severus. Lily knew what she wanted to get Harry for his birthday, but it required a a trip to Diagon Alley. She found Sev sitting on the living room floor, surrounded by Harry's building blocks. Harry was busy piling several blocks into a tower. He looked up at her.

"Look!"

"Very nice, Harry." She smiled and sat down next to Severus, noticing all the blocks in her son's tower were green. In fact, all of the blocks were green and silver. "Severus, Harry needs to learn all his colours, not just green, silver, and black."

Severus frowned. "Spoilsport." He looked at the blocks, "Reverto." The blocks changed back into the multi-colour set they had been. She smiled at him, he used wandless magic frequently, as well as non-verbal. He was powerful, and yet his power did not make him arrogant, she knew he would never raise a hand against her or Harry.

"Sev, I'd really like to go to Diagon Alley to get Harry's birthday present, what do you think?"

He looked at her, his dark eyes showing little of his thoughts. "I will take you."

"Glamour?"

He nodded. "For now, yes, I think it is best. Will you leave Harry with the Weasley's?"

"I hate to leave him with them, eight children? I thought I would see if Sarah might watch him."

"What if he shows accidental magic?"

"I didn't think of that, so far he hasn't displayed any, but if he did it would be hard to explain and I don't want to obliviate her, even a little. I suppose I could call Minerva, if she can't we'll just go together."

Severus nodded and Lily went to make the fire-call.

Lily and Severus used the floo to arrive at Diagon Alley the next day after leaving Harry with Minerva at Spinner's End. Lily smiled at the look of surprise in his eyes when she slid her hand into his as they walked out of the Leaky Cauldron and through the entrance to Diagon Alley. He said nothing, but grasped her hand and walked into the crowd.

Lily was able to find the child's potions kit she wanted to get Harry. "He loves watching you, Sev. He'll love this."

"He does seem to like to watch; perhaps he will have his mother's gift for potions."

She smiled up at him and whispered so only he could hear. "You would love the irony of guiding James Potter's son to be a Potion's Master."

"He was rather awful at them. If Harry is good, he will have gotten it from you."

She was surprised when he walked her over to the section for training brooms and selected a young child's model that was charmed to never fly higher than the height of the child riding it. "You don't mind if he loves to fly and plays Quidditch?"

"Why would I? I was a Slytherin Chaser until I broke my arm just before the first game of seventh year and got replaced." Severus answered quietly.

Lily looked at him a moment before reaching her hand out and touching his arm. "I would love for you to teach Harry to fly. I think it's a wonderful gift."

XXXXXX

Lily sunk down onto the couch and closed her eyes, she felt completely exhausted. Harry's second birthday party had gone extremely well, especially considering the gathering consisted of Wizard, Witch, and Muggles who did not know about Wizards and Witches. She heard Severus' footsteps as he descended the stair and turned her head to see him enter the room.

He walked past her into the kitchen and she heard him making tea. When he emerged several minutes later, she was surprised to feel him sit down at her side, placing the tea tray on the oval coffee table.

"No bouts of accidental magic from any of the children, I would say we were successful." He almost smiled as he handed her a cup of tea.

Lily took it from him and sighed. "Harry's really grown very fond of you, Sev. He'll miss you when you go back to school."

Sev turned to her, holding his tea cup in hand. "I had considered asking if you and Harry wanted to come along, but I think you are both safer here."

Lily had to smile at his words. "We do miss you though. Are you sure we couldn't just stay in Hogsmeade?"

Once again, the look of surprise as he watched her, he wasn't used to someone missing him, even after eight months of her telling him she was glad to see him when he returned. She supposed it would take a while to overcome the years of neglect.

"Lily, I have considered it, but I do not think it would be wise."

"Does Albus know Harry is with us?"

Sev sighed. "No, as far as I can tell, he's never bothered to check on Harry."

She reached over and took his free hand in hers. "Thank you for looking after us. I don't want to think about what might have been if you hadn't stepped in."

They stared at each other for a long moment. Lily moved towards him and he set his cup down, opening his arms to allow her to curl into his embrace.

Severus held her for a few minutes before looking down to see her green eyes staring up at him. "What?"

Her cheeks turned pink as she blushed, he wanted to kiss her. Was eight months long enough? Would she be mad at him? It wasn't lack of courage, it was a well-honed sense of self-preservation that made him pause. He finally dipped his head and touched his lips to hers, half-expecting her to smack him for doing so. She didn't. In fact, she was soft, warm, yielding. Although his desire urged him forward, he pulled back, keeping the kiss simple and pure.

Lily was smiling as he looked down at her, her green eyes sparkling in a way he had not seen in a very long time.