Disclaimer: All characters (except Sebastian, but he's basically Harry at this point) belong to J K Rowling along with the first two paragraphs of Pensieve memories. If you want to read them in detail, go check out the chapter Prince's Tale in Deathly Hallows. It's my favourite chapter in the whole series.
It only took James and Sirius a few minutes to find a Pensieve. They found one hidden in a broom cupboard. "Maybe I should stay behind," Sirius suggested. James looked at him, shocked and confused. Sirius added hastily, "You know, just in case Sebastian wakes up or Hagrid returns with Dumbledore." "Okay," James agreed and drained the vial into the basin. With one last glance at Sirius, he jumped it.
James didn't know what he thought he would see. But the last thing he expected was Lily and her sister, Petunia. Scenes floated past as Snape and Lily interacted for the first time, as Snape told her about the wizarding world, as Lily and Petunia began their life-long feud.
He saw himself and Sirius making fun of Lily and Snape. Looking back, he did sound conceited, but he was eleven years old! He saw Lily being concerned over Snape's choice of friends. He saw the day of his Defense Against Dark Arts OWL - the day Lily and Snape cut off contact with each other. It was one of the best days of James' life, but Snape must have had a terrible time.
The scene dissolves and reforms into a new one. James found himself in Snape's old living room on a rainy night. A drenched Lily was pleading with Snape. "I am so sorry we fought, Severus! I knew you didn't mean it. I'm so so sorry."
Snape replied stoicly, "What happened to your bighead boyfriend?" His insults no longer angered James. He was used to it. Lily shook her head, "I don't know why I started going out with him in the first place. He's arrogant, and he doesn't care about others' feelings!" Lily recited the words with such contempt that it took James aback. Did she really think that?
Snape obviously thought so. "Glad you finally realised it. But I still don't understand why you're here." Lily hesitated, pretending to be nervous (actually, she was worried. This was the moment of truth). "While I was with James, I realised something else, too. I'm in love with you, Severus."
Snape froze. "Y-you're in love with me?" he asked, unable to believe his luck. James knew the feeling. Lily nodded emphatically. "Yes, Severus. Once I figured it out, I couldn't stay with James. I had to come and find you." Lily waited with bated breath for Snape's response.
A grin spread across Snape's face. James had never seen a smile like that, or a smile at all, on him. It's disorienting, honestly. If he were Lily, James would have gotten out of there that very second. "I'm in love with you too, Lily. I always have been," Snape whispered.
Then, everything went blurry for a couple seconds and re-focused. Snape and Voldemort were arguing about something. "I know of her blood status, My Lord, but she's a genius. She would be a great ally," Snape insisted. Voldemort didn't say anything, just stared at Snape with his terrifying snake eyes. Death eaters must be out of their minds every time they look at their master.
"My Lord, she used to be a part of the Order. Think about all she knows," Snape continued, trying to persuade Voldemort. "She doesn't need to be a Death Eater. Just let her in on our meetings, as you did with Narcissa. She is on our side, I promise." And by some miracle, Voldemort agreed. But James had a feeling the Dark Lord didn't trust Lily as much as Snape did.
The scenes changed again, and James witnessed Lily telling Snape about their pregnancy. He saw their wedding day, Lily and Snape, surrounded by Death Eaters, yet looking happy and excited. It's been a long time since he saw Lily so joyful.
More smiling Snape and Lily as they welcome their son into the world. James thought that the flood of memories would end on a happy note, but then, everything took a turn for the worse. A new scene came into focus, of Lily and Snape sitting in their bedroom, having a serious discussion.
"Severus, I've been keeping something from you. But before, you have to believe that I love you. For real." Snape nodded confusedly, but James had an idea of what was to come. "I've been working as a spy for the Order. My mission was to come here under the pretence of loving you to gather information. But I've stopped doing that. I really do love you and our son now."
Snape looked like everything he believed in had turned out to be false. And a part of it had, in a way. James couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He would be if the love of his life told him that a part of your relationship was faked.
Then, Snape did something that erased all of James' pity for him. He pressed his Mark. Lily's eyes widened as she realised what Snape was doing. James wished he could do something about the betrayed look in her eyes, but he could only stand and watch as Voldemort entered the threshold and Snape spilt all of Lily's secrets.
Lily tried to escape and run away, but it was no use. Voldemort had trapped her in the room. The villain turned to her, "Well, well, well. It looks like we have a double agent within us. And you know what happens to those who betray Lord Voldemort. They die. Avada Kedavra!"
Lily fell to the floor, no longer breathing. Snape seemed absolutely terrified. "My Lord! I thought- I thought we decided Lily was valuable to us!" Voldemort turned his slit eyes to Snape, "I suppose so. But others are competent enough. Now, where's the child?"
"The child, My Lord?" Snape was in a trance. James didn't think he expected Voldemort to kill Lily so abruptly, but he's the Dark Lord! That's what he does! "Your child, Severus. Sebastian," Voldemort replied impatiently.
"Why do you want him?" Snape inquired protectively. He wouldn't fail to protect his son, as he did with his wife. "The child has her blood. Her muggle-born blood. It needs to be destroyed." "No!" yelled out Snape, "I won't let you have him."
Lord Voldemort drifted off to the nearby room, despite Snape's efforts to stop him. He smirked when he saw the sleeping baby lying in front of him. "Children. Always so innocent. But you never know who they become when they grow up. Avada-"
Voldemort broke off as Snape came in between him and Sebastian. "If you want my child, you have to get through me." "Severus, stop this nonsense. You can always have more children if you want them. Move away." But Snape refused to budge.
"I'm asking you one last time, Severus. Move away." The Dark Lord's voice was laced with cold anger. James guessed he wasn't used to people defying him. "No, My Lord. The child has done nothing to you. Kill me if you want but spare him."
Voldemort shook his head slowly, "Oh, Severus. You brought this on yourself. But a simple killing curse is too kind, don't you think? Yes, I think I'll have Nagini feed on you. She's been hungry recently, too." And Voldemort summoned his pet snake out of the air and set it on Snape.
Snape fought and struggled, but to no avail. Blood came pouring out of his wounds as the snake bit him. "Hm, so messy. I'd better move this elsewhere." And so, Voldemort cast a Levitation spell on him and floated him to the living room.
All through this, James can't help but wonder how Voldemort became like this. Watching someone you know die because of you, yet only caring about the blood making a mess. It made him want to throw up.
Voldemort trudged back to the baby's room and gave Sebastian an evil smile. He lifted his wand and uttered the incantation. "Avada Kedavra!" Green shot out of the tip and hit the child squarely in the chest. But instead of the baby going limp, the spell rebounded and hit Voldemort.
There was blinding light as James heard Voldemort scream out loud in pain. When the light receded, all James could see was a sleeping Sebastian and a dead Lily on the floor nearby. And with that final glance, James was transported back to the real world.
James had just regained his balance and caught his breath when he saw Sirius rushing towards him. "Oh good, you're back. You need to tell me everything that you saw in that Pensieve later. Dumbledore's waiting for you downstairs."
James descended the stairway carefully. He was still processing everything he saw and was also nervous about seeing Dumbledore. He expected there to be an argument, and even though James knew the old wizard was nothing like Voldemort, he was definitely strong.
Dumbledore smiled at him when he spotted James. "James, Hagrid tells me you refused to hand Sebastian over to him. Can you tell me why?" "Because he's Lily's child. I trust you, Albus, but if anyone's taking care of Sebastian, it will be me," James replied, his heart racing.
"But I have reasons to think that the child would be safer elsewhere," Dumbledore explained, still frustratingly calm. "I would love to hear your reasons," James responded. Dumbledore hesitated. Clearly, he thought I would give Sebastian over without a fight. He thought wrong.
"You see, there is a charm called a sacrificial charm. When someone gives up their life for someone else, magical protection is laid over the one they seek to protect. Whoever killed the sacrificer will not be able to touch the protected."
"I know what a sacrificial charm is. That doesn't answer my question."
"I'm guessing that Voldemort was vanquished tonight because he tried to attack Sebastian. But because of someone's protection, Lily's, I assume, the spell rebounded. To keep the magic alive, Sebastian needs to live with someone who carries Lily's blood. He needs to be with her only living relative - her sister, Petunia."
James scrunched his face up in disgust. Dumbledore wants Sebastian to live with Petunia and her equally-monstrous husband? James is even more determined to keep the child with him.
"For once, professor, you guessed wrong. Sebastian does indeed have a sacrificial charm protecting him. But it wasn't because of Lily; it was because of Snape."
Dumbledore was taken aback. Surely nobody expected Severus Snape, a Slytherin and a Death Eater, to be the one to sacrifice his life for Sebastian. But being a father makes you do stuff like that. James gave him some time to process and then hit him with his next point.
"Last time I checked, Snape has no living relatives. So, wherever he lives, the charm will wear off. Wouldn't it be better if he stayed with a somewhat powerful wizard rather than a house of muggles who hate magic? Someone like me, perhaps?"
James felt a smirk coming on. He repressed it because it was rude, but James was smug. He had made an irrefutable point, and Dumbledore knew it. "Yes, James, it would be better. But, I'm concerned, would you be able to raise a child on your own?"
"He doesn't have to raise Sebastian alone. He has me," Sirius joined into the conversation. James tilted his head in Sirius' direction, agreeing with his best friend. "Alright then," Dumbledore conceded, "I'll let you raise the child. But, please, take good care of him." We promised, and Dumbledore apparated away.
James turned to Sirius, "We're parents now, basically. Are you ready for this?" Sirius waved it off, "I was born ready! Well, I wasn't, but who cares? We'll be fine. Now, tell me all about the Pensieve."
And so I did. Sirius was just as shocked as I was. Afterwards, we moved to the bedroom. Sirius conjured a coffin for Lily and placed her in it because I couldn't bear to see her like that. We searched the room for anything interesting, and that's how I came across Lily's diaries.
A recount of what went down from Lily's perspective. It doesn't make it feel any better, but it definitely has changed how I think of Snape. He turned out to be a decent person in the end. Now, let's just hope his son is, too.
(A/N - And that's the end of this story. There is definitely potential for a sequel, but I don't have one planned right now. I have a huge TBR list I want to get through while I still have the time to. Thank you to all of you that read, favourited and reviewed this story!)
