"Concentrate, Harry! You're nearly there!" Harry slumped to the floor and leaned his back against the wall. He took the bar of chocolate from his professor and sighed as he broke a piece away and popped it into his mouth. He was exhausted, but he was so close to producing a corporeal patronus he didn't want to give up. They had started just after breakfast; Remus casting his own to show Harry his wolf. That got the boy motivated to concentrate harder on the task ahead of him. He was promised that he could see his father's patronus once he was able to cast one. He broke one more piece of chocolate from the bar and wrapped the rest in the foil it came in and set it on the table. He focused on the memory of the night before, and knew it was the right one.

He and his father had sat together on the couch, staring into the crackling fire. Severus kept his arm around Harry and Harry leaned into his father, his head resting on the man's shoulder. Harry found he had questions that he wouldn't dare ask any other time, but felt that moment was perfect.

"Did you and mum ever talk about what you would name your children?" He always felt a ripple down his spine when his name was said. He would flinch, but he always assumed it was the tone in which his aunt and uncle called. When he got to Hogwarts, it was much the same, but he chalked it up to old habits. He felt his father shift slightly, but kept his arm where it was. The man was carding his hand through his son's hair and answered.

"We did. Your mother was always one to have as many preparations for the future as possible. Sometimes it seemed she had our lives planned to the letter. If something threw it off, she would adjust accordingly and within a day or two, everything was right as rain again." Harry felt the older man chuckle and he couldn't help but smile. Usually when they would talk about his mum, Severus would stiffen and talk in short, clipped tones. This time the man was relaxed and seemed to relish in reliving his past.

"I wonder why she named me Harry." He began to play with a stray strand of thread from the blanket. Severus placed his hand over the boy's to get him to stop.

"I presume she did to further convince the wizarding world that you were James'. His father's name was Harold. It is obvious where the middle name came from. It is generally tradition that the first born son is to be named for the father."

"So my middle name should have been Severus." He nodded his head in thought.

"Not so. Your mother was never one for tradition. I believe it was yet another way to deceive all. She had an odd choice of names selected, but she was firm in her ways. If things ended up different, you were to be named Braydon Julian." He saw the gears working in the boys head and he stopped him before Harry could get started. "No, my father's name was not Braydon. The man did not deserve to be remembered." Harry rolled the name over in his head repeatedly. He wasn't sure why, but he was loving the name the more he said it. It could have been because it was something that was so connected to his mother, or the fact that it was not Harry Potter. Braydon wouldn't be the Boy-Who-Lived. He would be Braydon Snape.

Severus, feeling Harry relax further into his side, held the boy tighter and let his head fall on top of his son's. If there was a mirror, they would have been able to see matching smiles on each other's faces.

He wasn't Harry Potter. He was Braydon Snape. He was ready to face the boggart. He was going to get it this time. He stood from the floor and readied himself. He took his stance, adjusted the grip on his wand three times and nodded to Remus. He could feel the coldness seeping through the crack in the trunk, but he kept repeating his own name over and over; the name that had no connection to anyone but his mother and father. He felt his father's arm around him from the night before and knew the memory was strong enough. Remus gave him a couple of seconds more and opened the lid completely. The dementor was out and coming down on Harry in an instant, but the boy was prepared. He let the memory fill him completely and yelled, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" He was so used to seeing white wisps come forth that he almost dropped his wand when he saw the large snow leopard leap forward and chase the dementor back into the open trunk, Remus holding the lid with a large smile on his face. When the boggart was successfully locked in, Remus ran to Harry and lifted him into a hug, squeezing him tight and laughing.

"That was brilliant, Harry! I'm so proud of you, kiddo!" Remus spun the boy in a circle, and then put him down. Harry was still holding his wand and was shocked to see his patronus sitting by the trunk; it's forepaw in the air and swiping his ear. Harry stood slack jawed, just staring at it. Sensing he was being watched, the snow leopard walked over to Harry and nudged his hand before disappearing completely. Harry walked to the worn couch and flopped into it. He did it! He cast a corporeal patronus. He picked up the chocolate bar from the side table and began eating small pieces of it. He leaned his head back and rested his eyes. A few moments later he was flicked in the ear. He opened his eyes a crack to see his father towering over him.

"Well then, let's see. I will not be able to get Remus to quiet himself until I do." Severus shot his friend a look, but Remus kept grinning. He was too proud to care about his sullen friend's slight. Harry stood up and put the chocolate back down.

"Do I need the boggart again?" He was tired from the work he had done that morning, but was willing to go through it one more time for his father.

"Not at all, Harry. Now that it's done, it will come easier for you. It will still be difficult when faced with dementors, but now you know what memory to use." The man was still smiling but sat next to his friend on the couch. He wanted to see Severus' face when the boy's patronus appeared. Harry stood in the middle of the room and took a deep breath. He thrust his wand out and said the incantation, a second later the snow leopard bounding around the room. He sauntered in front of both men, paying special attention to Severus, but deemed him acceptable and went and sat next to Harry, his tail wrapped around his paws and twitching slightly. Harry watched the wispy animal with a smile on his face. He missed the beginning conversation between his two professors, and only heard Remus' reply.

"I promise you Severus, I did not tell him." Remus was sitting on the arm of the couch when Harry walked back, his patronus dissipating behind him.

"Tell me what? Can I see your patronus now?" He looked between the two men, but Severus simply waved his wand. A bright white light appeared and was then replaced by a snow leopard. It walked over to Harry and nudged his leg, and then with another wave of Severus' wand, it was gone.

"That's…we have the same patronus?" He was happy and confused all at the same time.

"It appears so. Your mother's patronus was also a snow leopard." Severus looked to Remus and the man nodded. Severus knew Lily loved him, but having Remus confirm that her patronus never changed warmed his heart.

"Wicked!" Harry's smile hadn't left his face. He felt so connected to both of his parents. He watched as Remus tapped the table three times and a few minutes later, lunch appeared. Harry dug in, taking three sandwiches. He was starving after a morning of trying to cast his corporeal patronus. He couldn't wait to show it to Hermione and Ron. He still had another week of being grounded to endure, and he knew Ron would ask questions, but he could manage. He was curious as to what he was going to try and learn after lunch. He knew it was going to be a spell to reveal an animagi, but he wondered what he was going to practice on.