What if Lily was not muggleborn
by Teddylonglong
All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not making any profit by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.
Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC, Dumbledore/Weasley bashing
"What idea, Daddy?" Aidan voiced everyone's question.
Frank smiled at his son, before turning to Lily. "Considering that you cured the werewolves, the Shrieking Shack won't be needed anymore, right?"
"I suppose so," Lily replied, looking at Frank in confusion.
"So," her friend continued, "why don't you rebuild that to a combined Potions classroom for Hogwarts as well as an apothecary on the Hogsmeade side of the wards? You could take turns teaching and taking care of the apothecary. Then between the two parts, you could have a large laboratory to do the brewing."
'Would it be possible to build a house across the wards?' Lily wondered, glancing at Salazar, who was nodding in apparent appreciation. She remained pensive for a moment before deciding, "That's an amazingly stunning idea."
"You could connect the door to the Potions classroom to some place in the castle, for example, one of the corridors near the entrance hall, in case it rains or the students don't have enough time to walk so far for their Potions class," Minerva supplied, apparently liking Frank's idea. "The question is if Albus will allow you to use the Shrieking Shack, considering that it belongs to Hogwarts and he's the headmaster."
"That doesn't matter, because Lily and I are the owners of Hogwarts," James spoke up, grinning.
"While Lily is the heir of Salazar and Helga, James is the heir of Godric and me," Rowena informed the deputy headmistress. "They can well override the headmaster's decisions."
"He might know that James Potter was a descendant of Godric Gryffindor though," Minerva replied, pensively. "So as long as he's not privy to your identities…" She slowly trailed off, giving Lily a questioning look.
"He won't have to know," Amelia stated. "It's enough that Mrs. Slytherin is the heir of Slytherin and Hufflepuff. If he knew that James was the heir of the two other founders, he'll think that the heritage has passed to Harry now, and since Dumbledore believes Alice to be his magical guardian, we merely need to have Alice's consent."
"Any time," Alice agreed, smiling broadly.
"Granddad, what do you think?" Lily enquired, turning to the painting.
"What exactly is the Shrieking Shack?" Salazar returned the question in apparent amusement.
"I believe that it's my place to explain," Remus spoke up and told the ancient wizard everything how Dumbledore had built the Shrieking Shack for him to retire during the full moon.
"All right, then you definitely won't need it anymore," Salazar decided. "Instead of building a completely new lab, you should consider making a connecting door to my lab, provided that this Severus is trustworthy enough to let him in. You can always charm the door to our bathroom so that he won't be able to see let alone enter our quarters."
"The question is if Snape will agree," Godric spoke up. "He really is a grumpy figure; always completely dressed in black and in a bad mood."
"I'll speak with him," James spoke up, pensively. "Siri.. no, Frank, would you perhaps join me for a conversation with Snape?"
"I'll accompany you," Minerva promised, looking from Frank, who nodded in confirmation, back to James. "Why don't we meet with him in my office first thing tomorrow morning?"
Everyone agreed, and Minerva sent a quick Patronus to Severus Snape inviting him into her office for a meeting with Sebastian Slytherin and Frank Longbottom at nine o'clock the following morning.
HP
Severus eyed the message, which he had received the previous evening, when he had just returned to his quarters after a much too time-consuming Christmas dinner in the Great Hall. 'Minerva, Slytherin, a broom maker, and Longbottom, an Auror,' he thought in confusion. 'What do they want from me, and why in the world am I not to tell Albus about it?' he wondered, as he readied himself for the meeting.
'At least it's going to take place at Hogwarts, so that I don't have to leave the castle in that shitty weather. Moreover, Minerva has always been trustworthy,' he thought, as he strode through the empty halls a short while later.
"Severus," Minerva greeted him, smiling. "Thanks for coming. Do I need to introduce Sebastian Slytherin? I trust that you remember Frank Longbottom."
"Of course," Severus replied, inwardly groaning like he always did, when he thought about his time as a student at Hogwarts. "I haven't met Mr. Slytherin yet, although his reputation precedes him."
"Mr. Snape," Slytherin spoke up, "we have an offer for you, which according to Minerva here will probably please you very much. However, in order for us to be able to inform you about the details, we need you to swear us a wizard's oath to keep my wife's and my secret to yourself." He stopped talking, casting Severus a questioning look.
Severus frowned. 'I'm not just going to swear a wizard's oath just because someone demands it,' he thought, feeling very much upset by the request.
"Severus," Minerva said in a soft voice, gently placing her hand onto his shoulder so as to comfort him. "I strongly recommend that you comply. You will not regret it."
"According to Minerva, your Occlumency shields are good enough, so that the headmaster won't be able to witness our conversation?" Slytherin enquired, causing Severus to nod.
"Very well," he grudgingly agreed and, pulling his wand, stated, "I hereby swear on my magic to never reveal the secret of Mrs. and Mr. Slytherin to anyone."
"Severus," Minerva addressed him once again, "what they tell you now will sound extremely unbelievable; however, it is the truth." She gave him an encouraging nod before looking at Slytherin.
"I am James Potter," Slytherin spoke up, before he suddenly morphed into the form of his childhood nemesis, causing Severus to pale in devastation. However, his former classmate held up his hand. "I believe that I need to apologize to you for my behaviour during our common time at Hogwarts. I'm sorry that we did what we did, but we were children, and we've grown up, as I trust you have as well."
Severus nodded, grimly, motioning for the man to continue.
Changing his features back to his Slytherin form, his former classmate continued, "My wife and I, together with our friends including Minerva here have made a plan, which involves you – provided that you want to be included in this."
'His wife… Mrs. Slytherin must be Lily. She's alive.' Severus' thoughts went haywire. 'That's why she felt so familiar. But her husband is alive as well. She's still not for me to have. Thank Merlin she's alive though.' He almost missed Frank Longbottom's explanation, only catching the second half about connecting the new Potions classroom to one of the castle's main corridors.
'Where and why are they going to change the position of the Potions classroom?' Severus wondered, when Frank continued, "That way, Elisabeth and you could share both teaching and brewing."
"She would teach my classes and I could concentrate on brewing?" Severus blurted out in excitement. "That would be highly appreciated, however, did the headmaster agree to this plan?" he queried, quirking an eyebrow.
"He doesn't even know about it," Minerva admitted, sighing. "However, due to their heritage, the Slytherins are the owner of Hogwarts and as such entitled to overwrite Albus' decisions. We need to talk to Albus, however, before doing that, we wanted to ask you if you'd be interested at all."
"Just one thing, Snape," Slytherin spoke up. "Dumbledore doesn't know about our identities, and we wish to keep it at that. Just so you know. Don't forget about your oath."
"I won't," Severus confirmed. "And yes, I'm very interested. It's a fantastic idea," he added in determination. 'Anything that enables me to quit teaching or at least teach less classes would be fine with me,' he thought, 'and if it's working together with Lily, it's even better.'
Deep in thoughts, he followed the small group to the headmaster's office, where Minerva presented the idea to the headmaster.
Severus became even more excited upon hearing the first half of the story, which he had missed earlier.
"First of all, I'm glad to meet you, Mr. Slytherin," Albus greeted his former student. "I only wished you had brought your wife with you, as I'd really like to get to know her as well."
"I'm sorry, Headmaster, but my wife was otherwise occupied this morning," Slytherin replied, promising to introduce her to the headmaster at the next opportunity.
"Severus," Albus then turned to him. "Do you want to work together with Mrs. Slytherin and share the positions of Potions professor and Potions Master for Hogwarts and as Potions Master for the apothecary with her?" he enquired.
"Yes please," Severus quickly confirmed, feeling ecstatic at the idea.
"What about the position as head of Slytherin?" Albus continued, giving him a sharp look.
Everyone looked to the portraits of the former headmasters, when Salazar Slytherin suddenly spoke up from Godric's portrait. "I wish my great granddaughter to become the head of Slytherin, but she told me that she's only willing to comply, when her son David is going to enter Hogwarts, which will only be in about eight years' time. Until then, I'd like to ask Professor Snape to continue caring for my little snakes."
Severus lightly bowed in the direction of the founder, confirming, "Of course, Professor Slytherin."
While the others discussed plans for the re-building of the Shrieking Shack, Severus tuned them out and busied himself with his own thoughts. 'I get to have my own apothecary together with Lily, and she's going to take over most of my classes. I don't have to teach so many dunderheads anymore,' he thought, feeling absolutely delighted.
"Severus, you look outright happy," Albus observed, giving him a questioning look.
"Yes sir, I love this idea," Severus confirmed, happily.
"Oh Merlin, he even smiles," Minerva chuckled, causing Severus to send her a menacing glare.
"Well, if that's all," he voiced, as he rose from his chair, and the headmaster adjourned the meeting, instructing them to keep him updated about the progress with the Shrieking Shack.
Once they left the headmaster's office, Minerva handed him a small parchment. "Elisabeth told me to invite you to Slytherin Manor for New Year's Eve. We'll floo call you to fix the exact time."
Muttering a small thanks, Severus handed the parchment back and retired to his quarters to think about the big news in peace. 'That is the best Christmas present I received in a very long time,' he thought, as he skimmed his wardrobe for robes in any colour but black, only to decide that he had to go shopping right away.
HP
During the three days following Christmas, the extended family spent much time exploring the Hogwarts grounds around the Shrieking Shack as well as the space at Hogsmeade right outside the wards of Hogwarts.
"How can we buy the land here?" Lily enquired, feeling relieved to see that the ground right outside of the border of Hogwarts was not used for anything. "I just hope that it doesn't belong to anyone, especially not to any Death Eaters or such," she added, pensively.
"I'm fairly certain that it doesn't belong to any person but to the village of Hogsmeade," Amelia reassured her friend, promising to make sure that the Slytherins could buy it as soon as the ministry would be open again on the second of January.
"Thanks Meli," Lily replied, smiling.
HP
In the morning of New Year's Eve, the older trio retired to an unused bedroom on the third floor.
"What are we doing here?" Susan asked, giving the boys a questioning look.
"The professor who's coming tonight," Harry spoke up in a hushed voice, "he's the Potions professor, right?"
"Yes, I think so," Susan replied, shrugging.
"Why Harry?" Neville enquired, causing Harry to chuckle.
"I thought that perhaps he can help us brew a prank potion for the adults," he admitted, grinning.
"Oh, that's a great idea. But not only for the adults, for everyone," Neville demanded.
"Ah, no, not the little ones," Susan contradicted. "Do you want to hear their whining the whole evening?"
"Oh all right, only the adults then," Neville agreed. "Did you have an idea what to do to them?"
Harry shook his head. "Not really. Maybe we could make their hair a different colour or such. We could ask Padfoot for advice."
"No, not Padfoot," Susan disagreed. "He's not a Potions Master, and he wouldn't know what could harm them. Perhaps they're pregnant again with three more babies. We have to consider that, too."
"Really?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Do you think they want more children?" Neville added, equally astounded.
"Well, the little ones are going to be three in summer, and if they want babies then, they should already be pregnant," Susan reasoned, recalling how Sirius, James and Frank had always been very protective of their wives, when they were expecting their younger siblings.
The two boys were still considering her argument, when Spirit popped up in front of them.
"Mistress Lily is looking for you," the elf announced. "Please go and wash your hands and come to the dining room for lunch."
"Thanks Spirit," the three children replied, simultaneously.
"Let's just ask Professor Snape for an idea," Harry decided, and Susan and Neville immediately agreed, before they left the room and dashed downstairs.
HP
'I just hope that James and Sirius will behave towards Severus,' Lily thought, as she waited for her former best friend to come through the Floo. 'Otherwise, it's going to be very hard to work together on a daily basis. Even if we use the potions lab in the founders' quarters, one or the other member of our extended family will show up every now and then.'
When Severus finally stepped out of the fireplace, Lily cast him a surprised look. When she had met him at Diagon Alley shortly before David was born, he had been wearing black robes and looked outright unhappy. Today, however, he was wearing Slytherin green robes and smiled at her.
"Severus," she greeted him, returning the smile.
"Is that really you?" he breathed. "You're alive."
"Yes," Lily confirmed.
"What am I supposed to call you?" Severus asked in a soft voice.
Lily sighed. "Here at home, you can call me Lily, but only if you're sure to remember to call me Elisabeth at any other time. Maybe just call me Eli."
"All right," Severus agreed, before he enquired, "Why are you keeping your identity a secret?"
"Dumbledore is a meddling old coot," Lily replied, her voice laced with anger at the old wizard. "On top of that, we're certain that Voldemort isn't really gone, and we don't want him or his Death Eaters to know…" She slowly trailed off, giving him an uncertain look.
"He's not gone? Oh Merlin, I hope you're not right for once," Severus replied, only to add, "It's a good time now without the necessity of spying."
When they entered the Parlour and Lily introduced Severus to everyone, the older trio stepped in front of the man.
"Professor," Harry spoke up in a firm voice, "would you please follow us for a moment? We'd like to ask you something."
"Sure," Severus agreed, giving her a questioning look, to which she could only shrug.
"Where are you going?" she enquired, when the children led the Potions Master out of the Parlour.
"Potions lab," Susan informed her, grinning mischievously, before she hurried after the three wizards.
HP
Severus followed the eager children with mixed feelings. 'They boy looks like Potter,' he thought in disgust, before he tried to convince himself that he was also Lily's child. 'I wonder what they want,' he thought, feeling extremely uncomfortable as he recalled how the Marauders had pranked him at every opportunity.
He almost sighed in relief, when the children led him into a very well equipped potions lab.
"Professor," Harry spoke up again, "thanks for coming with us. We'd like to prank the adults," he continued and explained about the children's earlier discussion.
"Have you assisted in the brewing of potions before?" Severus enquired in a stern voice, while he let a series of prank potions pass in front of his mind.
"Yes sir," the girl assured him. "Harry is the best of us at brewing, I'm good at preparing ingredients, and Neville usually fetches the ingredients for us."
Severus smirked. "Very well then, let's begin. It'll take about half an hour to brew." He conjured a parchment and made a short recipe appear. "Are you already capable of reading?"
"Yes sir," the Longbottom boy replied, eagerly. "What is the potion going to do?"
Severus decided to ignore the question. 'They seem quite alert for their age,' he thought. 'They should be about five by now.'
To his surprise, Harry and Susan were able to brew at least as well as any second-year student, and half an hour later, a perfect potion was simmering in a cauldron.
"You did that very well," he commended the children, who smiled happily.
"Thank you so much for helping us," Susan was the first to reply.
"Excuse me sir, but what is this potion going to do?" Harry enquired.
"That's for me to know and for you to find out at dinner time," Severus informed them, smirking. The children began to beg and plead for him to reveal the secret, however, he remained firm.
"Let's hand the phial to Spirit, our house-elf," Susan resolved, as she carefully took the phial from him and handed it to a house-elf. "Please put this into the adult's drinks at dinner," she instructed the elf.
"One moment," Severus interrupted the girl. Turning to the elf, he added, "You can put this into everyone's drinks. It's completely harmless, even for the children."
Apparently realising that the elf cast her a questioning look, the girl confirmed, "All right Spirit. Please do so."
tbc...
Thank you so very much for your kind reviews for the last chapter. Please tell me what you think about this chapter and your expectations for this story. Any opinions or ideas are very welcome.