And still can't stop hoping

Summary: AU: Neville was named the Boy-who-lived. Harry's mother died giving birth to him and his father blames him for her death. And if you already have an heir in your family who really needs someone like Lucas Harry Potter?

Disclamer: Nothing but the idea, some new characters which you don't know from the books 1-6 are mine. Anything else like the characters belong to J.K.Rowling, I'm only using them ;)
And a BIG THANK YOU to my lovely beta reader searinox!

Sam :)

Chapter 9

"Be careful with that lemon grass, Luca. If you put them in too fast, it's quite possible that the potion will throw it back into your face." Said an amused potion master. Lucas nodded shortly and slowed his movements down a bit. He watched the young boy a bit longer before nodding to himself.

It was the beginning of June and Severus had managed to come and see Lucas every other weekend. However, his troubles had been awarded and Lucas had opened up to him more and more. When Severus had started to call him "Luca" he had even been awarded with a small smile, and so he tried to use it as often as he could, just to make him feel better. He even was sure that the boy might even trust him.

Not much, mind you, but he could now put a hand on his shoulder without the boy flinching and Lucas didn't seem to mind it anymore when Boris or Severus was standing close to him. Even Boris could now touch him without trouble and even got away with hugs. Now, there weren't many, but Lucas had accepted them as a reward and even if he sometimes still couldn't stop a light tremble, he seemed to appreciate them anyway.

Severus had finally managed to talk to Lucas about a subject not potion related when they had meet the fourth time. Before that, the boy would just ignored the questions or turn them into something potion related that he would answer.

Severus never really knew why the child had been so hard on himself to stay away from other topics, because more than once it had seemed as if Lucas had wanted to answer but then decided against it. But Severus never pushed it; and one day, Lucas had finally answered.

Severus remembered exactly how it happened. They had worked on a potion (of course) and he began talking about his son and his likes and dislikes. It was hard for the potion master to open up, but he knew that it was the only way to get to know the young boy….

"You know, Luca…Adrian really likes Quidditch; but sometimes I really don't know if he really likes the sport or only the competition against the other houses. I personally don't understand why someone has to risk his life because of trying to find a small golden flying egg or a red ball. The only intelligent people are the beaters, you know? They at least keep an eye out for the things that hurt and keep them away from themselves and their team mates. They are the clever ones, don't you think?"

Severus Snape was astonished at himself that he talked so freely about a topic he normally had few words to tell about; but somehow it seemed like a good thing to talk about at the moment. The potion was shimmering and they wouldn't be able to do anything for ten more minutes. But he was still pleasantly surprised when Lucas answered….and he stayed on the topic!

"I…I really don't know if I could like Quidditch. I mean it seems like a very interesting sport from what I read about it but like you already said, Sir. I really prefer sports where I don't have to risk my life for just a few seconds of fun. And even if you don't die, there are still so many accidents in the game and I really don't want to …be in any pain if I can avoid it…" Lucas finished quickly and Severus was sure that there had been something else the boy had wanted to say but ignored it.

He'd just had the first "normal" conversation with the boy, and he didn't want to loose that just because he was too curious.

"You are right, Luca. It can be quite an interesting and amusing sport to watch, though. You can admire the players for their skills on the brooms at the same time as asking their mental health to put themselves at such a risk. And at times, it's really quite entertaining to see full grown men crying over a lost game of ball sports."

And he was rewarded with the second small smile the boy had every shown him.

After that they could talk about more and more topics and Severus selected a few potions on his own where the brewers had to wait for sometimes 30 minutes so he could talk to the boy. After the 3rd potion, Lucas looked at him as if he would say something but then just shook his head.

Severus had known then that Lucas had seen through it, but at the same time didn't seem to be too angry about it. Severus was thankful because they could continue their talks about Quidditch, favourite dishes, and colours and everything else one could think of that wouldn't give anything away.

He would never have thought it, but now he even read a bit in the Quidditch magazines of his son. Of course, he was always careful that no one saw him because everyone knew about his dislike of this sport. But somehow, he didn't hate it so much anymore, because it was a safe topic to talk with Lucas.

But today there should be another surprise for the potion master. Because normally he started the topic, or talking in general for that matter, and Lucas would answer some questions, would ignore others, and ask some of his own. But today, it seemed was another small break through in their relationship.

"Sir? If I may ask…what is Hogwarts like?" asked the quiet voice of Lucas. The boy still spoke quietly, but not as uncertainly as he had before. It seemed that now he was just scared that if he spoke too loud, it would break the small bond they'd formed or someone would storm into the room to destroy every bit of trust they had built over the weeks

"Hogwarts? What do you want to know about it, Luca?" asked the potion master calmly. He offered Lucas a small smile as the boy looked unsure about the counter question.

"I read Hogwarts, a History, but I have no real idea what it is really like. I don't really know what the real differences between the houses are, other than that they have different colours and mascots, and it would be nice just to know something about it before I go there."

Severus smiled lightly. So Lucas would come and attend Hogwarts. Till now he never really had known, because the boy hadn't made any plans known or how long he would stay in the potion shop- if not for forever. And it meant also, that Severus, at last, would know the boy's last name and then he could hopefully help him to get away from his family and find a real family. And if no one was found he would take the boy in himself before he was sent to an orphanage. Yes, hopefully he could finally help him more than only with talking.

"Hogwarts is wonderful. I always feel at home there even if I have a small house which I share with my son. The first look at Hogwarts will take your breath away, and you'll remember it clearly until the end of your days. It's one of such moments where you just can't remember anything more beautiful in that moment."

Severus paused for a second and collected his thoughts. It was true that he didn't like children that much when it came to potions, and many thought he would detests Hogwarts as a home for so many "brats," but in reality, he loved it. It had been his home when his own home life hadn't been the easiest one and he could always count on Hogwarts to keep him safe. With a small smile he continued to tell Lucas about Hogwarts.

"There are four houses as you surely know from the book. I won't tell you how you get sorted, because that's a surprise, but I promise you it's nothing bad and it will be only between you and the sorting ceremony. Because even if the whole school sees you, no one hears what is spoken and that's the important part. Just remember that there was never someone who was sorted incorrectly.

"The four houses are Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. You already know their colours and mascots and probably also the traits that belong to each house. Slytherins are the cunning ones, Ravenclaws the clever ones, Gryffindors the brave ones and Hufflepuffs the loyal ones. What I think is more important is that everyone has all traits but some have them more than others and sometimes you'll just learn them with time.

"What is also important is that your house is your family. I speak now more for Slytherin, because I'm their Head of House and my son, and hopefully soon my godson, are part of the house." In thoughts, he also added: 'And you, too.'

"Slytherins hold together and we help each other; we take care of each other. Because sadly, most people, especially Gryffindors, think that we are the bad and evil ones. I don't have to tell you what I think of that, so I won't. But it also makes Slytherins so much more of a family than the other houses because we are the outsiders, we are alone. And if no one is looking out for us, then of course we care even more for each other."

Severus stopped for a second and as he saw the Lucas had followed everything he said, he added. "And I really think that Slytherin will take good care of you, Luca." He stopped for a second and then told himself to take the risk. He bent forwards so that his eyes were at the same height as Lucas' and told him quietly.

"And I really think that we could help you against the ones that hurt you and make sure that they won't have another chance. I swear I will do anything I can to keep you save and so will everyone else in Slytherin."

He saw Lucas flinching when he spoke the first words, but he only turned his head away and avoided eye contact. It wasn't as bad of a reaction as it could have been, and Severus was thankful that it showed the fragile trust the boy had for him. And as Severus said the last part Lucas looked again in the eyes of the potion master and you could see that he believe the man, but seemed shocked about it anyway.

Severus saw that there was a bit of hope in these eyes and he smiled softly and nodded. "I'll talk care of you, okay? Not only because I'm the head of house of Slytherin, because you can always come to me even if you are not sorted into Slytherin, which I strongly doubt. You are a Slytherin if I ever saw one."

And after a second thought, he took a small step forward and hugged Lucas. At first the boy was stiff, but as nothing changed he finally relaxed and even put his head on the professors shoulder and enjoyed the arms that wrapped around him. Lucas closed his eyes and seemed to want to soak up the warmth of the older man.

"You promise?" he asked in such a soft voice that Severus nearly didn't hear him; but Snape nodded.

"I promise."

Et voilà! Chapter number 9 is here :). I hope you liked the chapter and enjoyed it...because this will be the last one with Snape and Harry for some time...at least of this kind.
Please let me know what you think and again...THANKS A LOT to Mistress of Eternal Night, YaoiFan26, jka1, Sevvie lover, padfootsrevenger, sylvan, Hope, allwaysandforever, rogue solus, Alianna15, DarkNinjaBunneh, RavensCave, Cale 4, Anna Evans, silver-red-phoenix, lilyseyes27, risi, flower123, Otspock, momocolady, weasleygirl, crystal, Monnbeam, XxX-PhoenixGirl-XxX, Lady AeTeRa, Jepoliant, imakeeper, vampirelf and Fae Child19. And thanks especially to AnnF and Dea Puella. I corrected the mistakes...so thanks a lot for telling me!
And to all who are wondering about Snape's reaction to Harry and not Lucas...well, will see about that...I don't want to say too much too soon ;). So just keep on writing reviews and you'll get your answers sooner :)

Chau and thx again,
Sam :)