In which Severus never became a teacher or head of Slytherin, but has his own potions practice. He still feels he needs redemption and on hearing about a sad little boy decides he needs an apprentice. Or the one where Severus redeems himself in time for Christmas.
Severus did not come to Hogwarts very often, perhaps once or twice a year. He had two assistants that helped out and went regularly, he stayed in his potions lab and worked instead. He lived in Hogsmeade, a bustling town of twenty five thousand magical, half of all the magical in Great Britain. Five thousand lived in Diagon Alley below London, two thousand in Godric's Hallow, the rest were scattered over the British Isles. He felt lucky, he was a former death eater and though he had spied he nearly lost everything. His uncle on his mother's side in direct violation of his parent's wishes took Severus under his wing and helped him gain his shop and indeed the whole four story building was his.
Now he was headed to Hogwarts clad in his best robes, they were not black, those he reserved for brewing in. These were green with blue trim, his long black hair was tied back from his face and he had a neatly trimmed beard, all the more to help him look older than his twenty seven years. He had heard news, disturbing news and the headmaster of Hogwarts must have heard the same news. Normally Severus wanted nothing to do with anything Potter, but this could not be ignored. He came on the office of the headmaster and entered, the man was there clad in blue robes with stars and moons on them, his long white hair and beard carefully tended to. Severus took a seat and took out the contract and handed it over.
"It's airtight, the ministry can't challenge it." Severus said. "The lad is seven now, and the right age, the legal age for this."
"He is indeed, and alas I had thought his family would take good care of him." Dumbledore said, "you will do well for him."
"I will indeed, he will have to work hard but from what you have stated he already does, did you put protections so that they cannot harm him at least?" Severus asked.
"Yes, as soon as I found out what they were doing." Dumbledore replied, "I can't take him out as the ministry would put him back, but if his relations sign that, then he is yours and safe."
"Good, I can go today." Severus replied.
"A good Christmas present for the lad." Dumbledore said.
Far away in Surrey Harry Potter was not looking forward to Christmas at all. He knew all the work he had to do that his lazy aunt refused to do. Even if he did it right she would find a reason to make his life miserable. He knew that he had eleven years to go in this house and then he could leave and be well shot of them. Until then he had to deal with them and their stupidity. At least the teachers liked him and he had a few packs of food hidden away in his cupboard now for when his aunt played her favorite game of "let's starve the orphan" again. At least he had not been hit in a few weeks, even his fat stupid cousin could not hit him.
He was getting ready for another day of work and getting yelled at when the doorbell rang. He mentally shrugged and went back to cleaning the kitchen while his aunt answered the door. She was wearing an apron over her pink dress and probably answered the door with a duster in hand. A man's voice could be heard but Harry did not care about that, probably was for his uncle who came thundering down the stairs and started to talk to the man. Harry just kept cleaning and thought about the nice little flat he would get when he grew up, nothing big, just space for a bed, maybe a couch and his own little kitchen with a bathroom all his own.
"Boy, you are wanted in the living room now!" His fat uncle said sharply.
"Yes uncle Vernon." Harry said carefully but quickly putting the cleaning supplies away he was working with.
"It's important, come now!" Uncle Vernon said sharply.
Harry walked into the living room to find a tall man clad in an expensive navy suit with green and gold silk tie with mirror shined shoes seated on his aunt's couch. He had a beard and long hair tied back, he must be really posh to get away with that. He was studying Harry and Harry felt ashamed, he was clad in his cleaning clothes, old ragged clothes he had patched himself. His glasses were held together by tape and his hair, well he could do nothing about that. Yet the man seemed interested in him as he studied him and Harry did his best not the flinch as the man took out some documents from his coat and placed them on the coffee table.
"It would be best if I took him now, his magic will only get stronger, nothing you can do can stop that." The man was saying, "it is a standard apprentice contract, you sign and I take him away."
"Let me see." Vernon said reading it over, "states he will get an education, three meals a day, one set of informal clothes, on set of formal, three sets of work clothes and a room, bed and medical care."
"That is right." The man said and as uncle and aunt were reading the documents the man smiled at Harry, "it is as good an offer as you can get, and legal even in your world."
"Yes, well I see no problem with this." Uncle Vernon said.
"But Vernon!" Aunt Petunia said.
"No, boy should go, be good for him." Uncle Vernon said, "we can't take him, so best if he goes."
"Good, well then that is settled, Harry go pack your things, you will come with me, but you don't know my name yet do you?"
"No sir." Harry replied.
"I am potions master Severus Snape, and you are now bound to me as an apprentice, I will explain later what that means."
"Yes sir." Harry replied.
He took the duffle Severus handed him and packed what clothes he had, the blanket and stuffed tiger he came with and came to the door. He put on his overlarge coat and headed out with Severus to a small VW microbus in green. He got in and Severus drove off, Harry was nervous and scared, was he now a slave or worse? What would happen to him now? Once out of the town Severus pressed a button and the microbus gave a lurch and they were rolling up to the walls of a town. They got out of the bus and Severus tapped it and it shrunk and went into his pocket. Harry stared in awe, yes shrinking a car for a muggleborn or raised wizard always got the best reactions. Severus smiled and lead Harry into the town that looked like it was straight out of a fairy tale. The buildings were tall and made of warm brownstone and none were less than three stories tall. They had slate roofs and where there was wood in trim or doors bright cheery paint could be seen.
"First of your aunt and uncle probably lied and said there was no such thing as magic?" Severus said.
"Yes sir, there is?" Harry replied.
"Yes, and you are a wizard and my apprentice and more, I am your legal guardian and will take good care of you. Now come, you will want to see your room first and change out of those rags." Severus said.
"Yes sir." Harry replied.
He was led to a large building, on the ground floor was a shop and storage room. The next floor was devoted to a very large potions lab and the next two levels were home. The very top was where Harry found his new room. He took it in, the four poster bed with blue curtains around it, the small table, the bookcases full of books, and there was a rag rug in green, cream and blue and a large wardrobe. Harry was in awe and did not even complain when he was ordered to take a hot bath then change into the new clothes laid out for him. He loved the jeans that fit him and the soft sweatshirt in blue with a dragon on it. The warm socks and trainers were perfect as well and he headed down to the main living area and kitchen.
"Much better, no charge of mine deserves to be dressed in rags." Severus said. "Now I know you heard you are an apprentice and what that entails?"
"Yes sir." Harry replied.
"That is the minimum I have to do for you, I will do far more, you for your part are required to study hard and learn what I have set for you. You are to keep your room clean and neat and any space you are in has to stay neat and clean."
"Yes sir." Harry replied.
"Good, and I am Catholic so I will be going to Midnight Mass for Christmas, you are welcome to join me if you wish, but it is not a requirement."
"I would like to join you sir." Harry replied.
He tucked into his food and enjoyed it, there was pot roast with roasted carrots and potatoes. There were peas in butter with herbs that tasted so good to him and dark bread with real butter not the margarine his aunt favored. He liked the taste and oh there was milk, cool rich milk for him to drink. He ate as much as he could and then his eyes went wide as a small slice of treacle tart appeared on his plate. He ate it slowly, not knowing this was his mother's favorite, all he knew is that he loved it. He felt like the luckiest boy alive and thanked Severus for the wonderful food. Severus smiled as he was glad the boy enjoyed the food. He knew Harry got scraps if that and his relations did not care about him, he had to have learned his manners from school as he did not see them teaching him any.
The next week was a wonderful time for Harry, he had warm clothes, was allowed to read what he wanted and only had to keep his room neat and clean along with tidying up after himself. He went to Christmas Mass and found it wonderful and felt that this was the best Christmas ever. Yet more was to come, on Christmas morning he woke up to his new guardian over him telling him he had gifts to open. Harry headed downstairs and saw a small pile under the tree for him. Severus knew giving him too much would overwhelm him and so he had talked everyone down to one gift each. Harry's eyes went wide and he sat cross-legged on the floor staring at the gifts. Severus sat on the couch and sipped his tea knowing it would take Harry time to open his gifts.
"All for me?" Harry asked.
"Yes, six years worth, you missed out on a few Christmas gifts there." Severus said, "go ahead, they are all for you."
"Yes sir, thank you sir." Harry replied.
"Save the labels, you will want to write thank you cards later." Severus said.
Harry carefully opened each gift, from Albus he got a small model of a Quidditch pitch, from McGonagall a soft tartan quilt she had made herself which Harry loved at once. From Sprout he got plants he could keep in his room that would promote good health and healing. From Flitwick he got sweets of all kinds, then from Sinstra a magical model of the solar system. Trelawney gave him a crystal ball and Babbling and Hagrid went in together to get him a fully grown and trained golden retriever dog. The last gift was large and one Severus had a feeling Harry would like, his mother had, she loved them even though she was a teen when they came out. Harry unwrapped the box and stared at the huge Lego bin before him. He looked up at Severus wide-eyed.
"You, you got these for me?" Harry asked.
"Your mother liked these too, I thought you would as well." Severus replied.
"I love them, thank you sir, and I will make sure they stay in a corner, so you never end up stepping on them." The boy promised.
"I know you will, happy Christmas Harry." Severus said.
"Happy Christmas dad." Harry replied.
Severus did not correct him, why should he? After all if that is what Harry wanted to call him he could hang tradition. He smiled at the boy who looked so happy and knew he had made the right choice. Harry was going to grow up loved and cared for and he would become a strong man and wizard. For now, Harry had a good home, and a good Christmas, one of many to come in the future. Far into the future, when Harry had children of his own, he would tell the tale of how his dad had rescued him and raised him with love and how that had lead to a happier, freer magical world. For now Harry was a happy little boy who had everything in the world he could want, peace, security and love. Happy Christmas everyone indeed.