The days blurred into each other. Caring for a newborn was more work than Severus had thought. Less important things like laundry and dishes and housecleaning fell by the wayside as he changed countless nappies (he hadn't made nearly enough, as it turned out), cleaned off spit-up, and frequently nursed his ravenous baby who seemed happiest when held, loudly fussing when Severus needed to feed himself or see to his own bathroom needs instead. Hedwig liked to watch the baby, who gazed back at her with wide green eyes even when Severus had the audacity to set him down, unless he was hungry or dirty in which case he would scream until Severus came running back. Severus quickly came to the sober conclusion that he was simply not allowed to take care of himself and the house and the baby at once; it was clear the baby took precedence and everything else would either have to fit around him or be dropped for the time being. Severus coped as well as he could, but soon didn't recognize himself: he wore the same clothes for days, ate here and there, fell asleep whenever the baby did, which wasn't often enough. He'd never been such a ragged mess.

There were days he couldn't get anything done and he felt utterly frustrated with himself, wondering if he'd bitten off more than he could chew. What made him think he'd be qualified to care for a baby? And then there were days when the baby was quiet and Severus would lie on the sofa with his baby boy on his chest and ignore the messy house and everything else to watch those little green eyes stare up at him with recognition and trust.

"For someone so small and helpless, you have certainly taken over the place." But he was smiling as he brought the baby closer for a kiss on the head, already covered with black fuzz. He wasn't typically one for physical affection, not that he'd ever had anyone to give it to, but he had the excuse that babies need lots of touch. And there was something about his baby's soft head that made him want to kiss it; he also liked to hold out a finger for the baby to grip with his tiny hand. Thank Merlin there was no one around to see him acting so maudlin over an infant. He'd deny it to anyone.

The little one was wrapped up in the fur blanket, warm and snug as Severus held him. Severus had no plans to add more furs to it - it was the right size for a child even when he grew a little bigger. Perhaps he'd really been preparing it for his son all along.

If only he'd thought to come up with a name too. He could keep it the same and have him be Harry Snape, but he felt this new beginning deserved a new name to go with his new identity. That way there would be no trace of the boy known as Harry Potter. There would only be Severus Snape's son.

It was well after midnight when Severus finally got the boy down to sleep, full of milk with a clean nappie, while his father was wearing robes from three days ago and was hungry from missing dinner. He wearily set the baby down in his simple little bassinet next to his bed, transfigured from an old pair of glasses that were no longer needed. He knew he should get a bite to eat while he could, but he sat on his bed watching his baby boy's sleeping face. Maybe he was just too tired to move. His eyes were heavy, as well as the rest of him. The kitchen seemed so far away. It would be easier to just collapse on the bed and pass out until the baby inevitably woke him up. But he needed to eat, if only so he could keep feeding the baby and maintain some energy. He could collapse on the bed afterwards.

Making himself get up, he padded to the kitchen, locating some produce he'd managed to pick the other day. He was going to have to learn how to do things one handed while holding a baby, or figure out how to do it hands free. Perhaps a sling of sorts.

He ate random things raw, unwilling to take the time and effort to cook. Who knew how long he had until the baby woke up. Then he went to the bathroom, only to do a double take at who he saw in the mirror before he left.

There were dark circles under his eyes. His long, untended hair was a dirty, tangled mess. He had a bit of paunch from the leftover baby weight and loose skin. His robes were spotted with dried spit-up and leaked milk.

"Oh, Merlin." He was a wreck. He felt like a wreck. Not that he'd ever been magazine cover material, but he at least took basic care of himself. Now he could barely manage his own hygiene because he was always taking care of the baby. He sighed, trying to keep it from becoming a sob when he heard crying from his room.

"What is it now, child?" He picked up the baby and found his clean nappie wasn't so clean anymore. He fetched a clean one and changed him, but knew this wouldn't be enough to get him back to sleep. Sometimes walking around with him helped, but Severus was too bone tired. He lay in bed with the baby on his chest and closed his eyes. Maybe if he led by example, the baby would follow suit.

It was not to be.

Hedwig hooted in concern, but Severus barely heard her over the screaming in his ear. Little Hadus had been very upset for quite some time, and Severus didn't know what was wrong. His nappie was clean, he didn't want to nurse, he didn't seem hurt anywhere, he didn't have a fever. Severus held him against his shoulder and paced around the house, patting his back, but it didn't calm the screaming baby, and he was coming to his wit's end, not to mention worried. What was possibly ailing the child? What if he was sick after all? Severus would Apparate to the nearest town without hesitation if it meant getting the medical help his baby needed. He didn't even think about cleaning himself up first, as much as he needed it. He was too busy imagining terrible scenarios of what might be wrong with his son and how unfair it was for him to be sick when he was only a few months old and what if it was his fault he'd never forgive himself if he'd done something to cause such distress in his brand new son because he didn't know what he was doing...

Just then he stopped pacing as Hadus let out a great amount of gas. Then he burped, stopped crying, and gave a gummy smile of relief.

Severus stared at the now calm baby grinning up at him. He wasn't sure if he felt more relieved or stupid.

"Well. I wouldn't have expected so much in someone so small. No wonder you feel better now."

He kissed his baby, then went to get the sling (made from very loose robes he wouldn't need again), making sure Hadus was snug against him before fetching the greenhouse basket. Being able to keep the baby with him hands free was a big help - he could do the daily chores and keep him close, for both their peace of mind. Hadus liked being held as much as possible, and Severus liked knowing where he was.

"I believe we have enough for a nice salad tonight." Severus put the ripe vegetables in the basket, skipping over the beans. "Perhaps we ought to lay off those for a time, wouldn't you say?"

Hadus didn't say, but he looked around curiously, his eyesight getting clearer as he got older.

The berries were ripe as well, and Severus picked a few bunches. "One of your favorites, as I recall," he said with a smirk. The memories of feeling the baby kick inside him after a sugar rush were fondly recalled, even as he also recalled how uncomfortable he was near the end. Carrying the baby like this was more comfortable, and there was more interaction.

Severus managed to eat half a meal before Hadus started fussing again. It didn't take Severus' sharp nose to guess why. A change of nappie, a washing of hands, and he could finish lunch, already accustomed to eating in snatches here and there. He was merely grateful at this point that he could eat at all.

That evening he sat on the sofa, nursing Hadus for the umpteenth time that day. He couldn't exactly fault his baby for having a voracious appetite, despite how exhausted he felt. He had trouble remembering the last time he felt truly rested, going from heavily pregnant and unable to sleep to caring for a newborn and unable to sleep.

But he remembered clearly that it had been about this time last year when he'd had a weak, broken teenage boy sitting on this sofa with no appetite for anything, despondent of life and ready to end it all. And in a way, he had.

Severus gazed down affectionately at his baby boy, peacefully suckling away. He had only been born a few months ago, and he was running his father ragged, but Severus didn't want to go back to life without him. They were in this together now, starting over as a new family, and both of them were happier than they'd been before.

Severus' lips turned upwards as he watched Hadus slow down, his eyelids drooping.

"Someone's getting sleepy."

He chuckled softly as Hadus fought to keep his eyes open, and failed. Eventually he broke off from nursing, dozing off in his father's arms. Severus leaned down to kiss his head, then sat back with his own eyes shut as his baby dozed on him.

How much had changed in one year.

And there was no going back for either of them.

"Careful, Hadus. She doesn't like having her feathers pulled."

Without fine motor skills yet, Hadus enthusiastically patted his little hand against the snowy owl, cooing in delight as his father held him by the owl's perch. To her credit, Hedwig tried to stay still, unwilling to nip or scratch the boy. No matter what the child did as he learned to interact with his bird and the world around him, Hedwig gave the youngling some leeway. It would take time before her wizard knew how to pet her the way he used to. In the meantime, Severus demonstrated with his own gentle fingers.

"Like this. Slowly." He stroked his hand down Hedwig's feathers. Hadus kept trying, but he wasn't quite there yet. But he was enjoying himself, grinning ear to ear and cooing as the pretty bird watched him with round eyes.

Hadus was turning out to be a generally happy baby - Severus was continually surprised at how many things the boy found to smile and giggle at. Perhaps it was his own serious nature that made it seem unusual at first, but he was coming to appreciate it more and more, enjoying his little ray of sunshine.

"Alright, that's enough for now. Let her rest." Severus set Hadus down on the floor. "We have things to do as well."

He headed for the laundry room, Hadus crawling after him. He pulled himself up on his father's leg and made noises to divert his attention from the clothes to himself.

"Just a minute, son. We need to take these out to dry."

Severus carefully set Hadus back on the floor so he wouldn't fall down when Severus turned and walked away with the wet laundry in his arms. Hadus crawled after him as they went outside. It was still warm enough to hang things outside, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

Severus kept an eye on Hadus as he hung up the clothes; the boy was moving fast these days. He could be right beside him, or by the bench, or heading behind the house towards the greenhouse, or in the direction of the woods. Severus hated to think what could happen if little Hadus ran afoul of wild animals, or toxic plants (he was still in that stage of putting everything in his mouth).

When he finished with the laundry, Hadus had pulled himself up on the bench.

"Hadus, how about a quick constitutional before it gets dark?"

Hadus turned at hearing his name, and waved a hand. Severus watched, rooted to the spot, as Hadus held himself up with one hand, then let go. He wavered a little and grabbed the bench again, then looked back at his father.

"It's alright, son." Severus knelt in the grass and held his arms out.

Hadus hesitated, then let go, standing on wobbly legs.

"Very good. Can you take a step?"

Hadus watched his father, chubby hand in his mouth. He raised a foot and set it down, taking his fist out of his mouth as he held his arms out for balance. He tried another step, and tumbled into the grass on his bottom.

"You're alright, Hadus," Severus assured him as those green eyes looked to him uncertainly. "Try again."

Hadus decided to go the easy way and crawled over to his father, who picked him up.

"That's fine, but you nearly had it." He set Hadus on his feet by the bench again and knelt a short distance away, arms out. "Come to me."

After a second's pause, Hadus let go and stood on his own two feet. He tried a step. Then another.

"That's it. One foot in front of the other."

Slowly, cautiously, Hadus took shaky steps towards him. Severus watched with bated breath. At last, Hadus reached Severus and fell against him as he was wrapped in his father's arms.

"Good job, son. I'm proud of you." He kissed Hadus' head, meaning every word.

After Hadus got his bath, he was put in a nightshirt, then he held his arms up for daddy.

"Up?"

"You are perfectly capable of walking to your room, especially considering you ran away from me when it was time for your bath."

Hadus giggled at the memory. "Up!"

Severus gave in and picked him up, carrying him to his room.

"Say goodnight to Hedwig. She's heading out."

Hadus waved a hand. "Nigh,' Heddy!"

Hedwig hooted before flying out the window.

Severus carried Hadus to his room (which used to be the study) and set him in bed before sitting down. Hadus reached over and grabbed at Severus' chest. "Milk?"

He was eating mostly solid foods, but at night he liked to have milk. "Alright, but you will be too old for this soon."

Severus got into bed and Hadus snuggled against him, tugging at Severus' robes until he opened up for him to latch on. Severus put an arm around him and grabbed a book from the stack by the bed.

"Tonight we will continue reading about household potions through the ages. I believe we left off around the 16th century."

Severus read the chapter aloud, gradually feeling Hadus slow down in his nursing. The tasty milk, the warmth and safety of his father's arm, and the soothing drone of his soft baritone lulled Hadus to shut his eyes and eventually nod off.

Severus stopped reading when he could tell Hadus was asleep. He closed the front of his robes, but watched his son sleep for a few minutes. He was so young, not too old for a bedtime routine. Yet he wasn't entirely a baby anymore, not the way he used to be. He didn't crawl anymore, he slept through the night, he was learning more words all the time (including when Severus had cut his hand in the kitchen and inadvertently taught him some colorful language), and it wouldn't be long before he was weaned. He still needed lots of care, but now Severus had just enough time to shower every day again and wear clean clothes, and he had trimmed his hair back to shoulder length, so he felt more like himself.

Yet he had to admit that part of him would miss this, holding his son as he fed him from his body. Nursing and caring for a baby had been challenging to say the least, but it was about to be a bygone season of life. He would never have guessed it would go by so fast, all those sleepless nights and long days that felt like they'd never end.

He knew he needed to get up and go to bed himself, but he stayed put a while longer, holding his little boy while he was still little.

"Where are your shoes?" Severus asked.

Hadus shrugged. "I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? Aren't they in your room?"

"I don't know, I can't find them."

Severus sighed in exasperation. He was getting quite tired of having this same conversation over and over. "I told you to always put them in the same place so you'd be able to find them."

"Yeah."

"Did you put them there?"

"Yeah."

"Then go get them."

"They're not there."

Frustrated, Severus went into his son's room and started searching. The shoes were not by his door as Hadus had said he was going to put them, but by his dresser just a foot away. Severus grabbed the shoes and held them up.

"What do you call these?"

Hadus squinted at them. "You found them!"

"They were nearby the whole time. Go put them on."

Hadus took his shoes and went to his bed, bumping into the side of it in his haste.

Severus watched, suddenly thinking on a different subject. Hadus was an energetic child always running around at top speed, not looking where he was going all the time. But how long had he been squinting like that? What if his bumping into things wasn't entirely out of childish thoughtlessness?

Severus kicked himself. He should have remembered this might be an issue again. He should have recognized the signs earlier for what they were.

Once Hadus had his shoes on, Severus beckoned him closer.

"Hadus, come here."

Hadus scurried over, nearly running into him. "Are you cross at me, daddy?"

"No." Severus held him at arm's length then held up a hand. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

Hadus came closer and took his hand for a better look. "Three."

"Hm." Severus stepped back a few paces and tried again. "Stay there. Now how many fingers?"

Hadus squinted, trying to lean forward a little. "Four?"

"No." Severus came up and put a hand on his shoulder to herd him out the door. "I'm taking you into town. You need glasses."

"Glasses? What's that? I thought we were going to look for potion ingredients!"

"That can wait. This needs to be taken care of first."

"What are glasses, daddy?"

"They're something for you to wear so you can see better."

"I can see, daddy! Really! I'll put my shoes away better, I promise!"

"Once you get glasses, you should be able to find them easier."

"Do I hafta get glasses?"

"Yes. Now hold onto me."

Hadus held tight to his father's arm as he Apparated them away.

Despite his reservations about these glasses his daddy said he needed, Hadus liked going into town. They rarely went, as his daddy preferred to take care of things himself when he could and not interact with others. (Hadus proudly knew he was daddy's favorite person because he said so.) But Hadus was always fascinated at seeing all these other people, men, women and children going here and there about their business.

They went down the busy street until they came to a small doctor's office.

"These are Muggles," said Severus, "so mind what you say."

"Okay, daddy."

Hadus knew not everyone was lucky enough to be a wizard like his daddy. He could do all sorts of amazing things with his wand, or even just his hand sometimes, and he knew everything about potions. Hadus hoped he'd be a wizard too, and his daddy said he would be. But they had to keep magic a secret from those who didn't have it. Probably to keep them from getting jealous.

To Hadus' relief, the visit was painless, and he came out afterwards with a new pair of eyeglasses, thin and black. Black was always a good color, like daddy wore.

Hadus blinked in amazement at how clear everything was. "Wow!" He looked up at his father, getting a better look at him. "Daddy, you have black eyes! Just like your hair!"

"Yes I do." He could see amusement in his father's eyes. That was a good sign.

"And you've got little wrinkles around there too!"

Severus arched an eyebrow. "Wonderful."

Hadus eagerly pointed out everything he could see as they went back down the street. The whole world had more clarity of detail than he had imagined. Glasses weren't so bad after all.

As he watched the passersby with new fascination, he noticed yet again that the other children he saw not only had daddies, but mummies too. Women who corralled their children and told them not to run in the street and not to fight with their siblings and to stay close and that they'd eat when they got home. Similar things like his daddy told him. But Hadus only had his daddy. He'd never had a mummy too.

Once out of sight of the Muggles, they Apparated home.

"Daddy?"

"Hm?"

"Do I have a mummy?"

Severus froze. He didn't answer.

"How come other kids have mummies and I don't?"

Severus gripped the side of the house, mind racing as he was blindsided by another thing he should have seen coming. What should he tell him that wouldn't give away his troubled previous life?

"... You did have one. Once."

"When?"

"A long time ago."

"Where is she?"

Severus' chest ached at the memory of the red-headed woman he still missed, even after all these years.

"... She is dead."

Hadus' eyes went big. "Why?"

Severus took a breath, not wanting to tell the child the whole story about his idiocy that led to her death. "You don't need to know. It was a long time ago."

"Do you miss her?"

"... Very much."

"What did she look like? Was she nice?"

Severus shut his eyes. "... She was a beautiful woman with a kind heart."

"I don't remember. I wish she was here."

"As do I." He finally faced his son, looking up at him with those almond-shaped green eyes. "You got your eyes from her. She had lovely green eyes just like yours."

"Really?"

"Yes. But the main thing you should know is she loved you very much."

"Was I her favorite person too?"

"Yes, I believe so."

Hadus thought this over. Severus took advantage of the momentary silence. "That is all you need to know. Come. We'll have lunch, then forage for ingredients."

Hadus didn't miss the finality in his father's tone, and followed him into the house.

It was a fine spring day as they headed into the woods in the direction of the river to fetch water. Hadus looked all around, always curious to see what they'd find out here. He'd been going into the woods with his daddy for as long as he could remember, but there was always something neat to see, whether it was plants they used in potions, or interesting insects, or the various wild animals, or just a rock or two in a funny shape he could add to his collection. One time he and his daddy found a big set of antlers that a deer had shed, and they took them home and hung them up on the wall. It seemed to amuse his daddy for some reason. Hadus hoped to find a smaller set of antlers one day that he could hang up in his room.

"Stay close," said Severus, carrying the bucket. "Don't wander off."

"Okay, daddy."

He kept his father's tall figure in sight as he gazed around, hearing birds chirping overhead and grass rustling as they walked.

"Daddy, look! Mushrooms! The kind we like!"

"Pick them carefully and hang onto them."

Hadus picked them from the stem as his father had taught him, holding them in his fist as he resumed walking. Later on he saw a lizard scurrying along the ground; he followed it as it went up a tree trunk. He pointed his finger at it and mumbled a few words, the way his father would point his wand and mutter and levitate things in the air wherever he wanted, or turn one thing into something else he wanted instead...

Suddenly the lizard disappeared, replaced with a toy version that fell from the tree. Hadus jumped, nearly dropping the mushrooms, staring at the toy. He knelt down and poked it. It didn't move. It was no longer a real, live lizard. He'd transfigured something, just like his daddy!

"Daddy, look what I did!" He stood up to show him.

But there was no one there.

Hadus looked around. The tall, black figure of his father was nowhere to be seen.

"Daddy?" He was all alone. His daddy always said to stay with him so he wouldn't get lost, but he'd found the neat lizard and must have followed it farther than he thought, and his daddy had gone on without him. Or maybe Hadus had made him disappear!

"Daddy? Daddy, where are you?"

Severus reached the river and dipped the bucket into the water. A few fish swam by.

"Hadus, what do you think of fish for dinner?"

No reply. Severus turned around, but his son wasn't behind him. Looking around in all directions with increasing alarm, he didn't see the boy.

"Hadus?" No answer.

Panic instantly rose up. He dropped the water bucket with a loud thud as he bolted in the direction he'd come.

"Hadus! Hadus!"

He'd thought he was right behind him! How far had he gone without his son? What if he was hurt? What if he ran into wild animals? How stupid was he, not to check to make sure his son was with him?

His heart pounded in his chest, not from running but from sheer terror that something horrible had happened to his son and he hadn't done a thing to prevent it. How could he live with himself if he lost him for good? What kind of irresponsible father was he? If he just had Hadus back safe and sound, he'd never let him out of his sight again! Merlin forbid if anything should happen to his son...!

He heard crying and ran faster towards the sound, wand out in case there were predators to fight off.

Hadus was sitting on the ground, sobbing.

"Hadus!"

He looked up, sniffling, saw his father running towards him, and jumped to his feet to run to meet him.

"Daddy!"

Severus fell to his knees as he wrapped his arms tight around his son, who was now sobbing in relief as he clutched his father's robes in his little hands. Severus was close to tears himself, pressing his son closer and kissing his head.

"Are you hurt? Are you alright?"

"I was.. so scared! You weren't there... I was all alone!"

Severus' heart wrenched. "I'm so sorry, son. I thought you were right behind me. What happened?"

"I saw a lizard... an' I followed it... an' I turned it into something else, like you do... I was gonna show you, but you were gone!"

Severus' immense relief at finding his son safe morphed into angry fear at how much worse this could have ended and how easily prevented it could have been. He pulled back to look his son in the face. "This is exactly why I tell you to stay close! Wandering off like that is extremely dangerous! Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?! What if you'd gotten so lost you couldn't find your way back? What if you'd been bitten by a snake, or run into a coyote?! I wouldn't have been there to help you, or even be able to find you!"

Hadus was crying harder. "I'm sorry, daddy! I won't do it again! I'm sorry!"

"You had better not! I should magically tether you to me like a baby until you learn not to be so thoughtless!"

Hadus kept crying. Severus sighed and held him close again, his ire spent. They stayed like that, holding each other tight until Hadus got his tears out.

"Are you still mad at me, daddy?" he asked in a wavering voice, muffled against Severus' robes.

"No. You're forgiven. I was partly angry at myself as well for not keeping a closer eye on you. You scared me half to death, child. I thought I might have lost you forever. What would I have done if something happened to you?"

"I was scared I was never gonna see you again."

"So was I."

"I dropped the mushrooms."

"Never mind about the mushrooms." Severus pulled back. "Let's head back together this time." He stood up and took Hadus' hand in a gentle grip. "When I say stay close, do I mean run off without a word?"

"No."

"What does it mean?"

"I stay with you."

"Good." He finally glanced over at the soft toy lying on the ground nearby. "Is that what you were talking of?"

"Uh huh. I pointed my finger at the lizard like you point your wand and it turned into that."

"Impressive." Severus scooped up the toy with his other hand and glanced over it. "Your accidental magic is getting stronger."

"Do I hafta turn it back into a real one?"

"No." He held out the toy lizard for Hadus to take. "You may keep it. Let it serve as a reminder of today's lesson."

"Okay."

Hadus clutched the soft lizard in one arm and held his father's hand as they walked back to the river. He squeezed his father's big hand wrapped around his, not about to let go anytime soon. Severus squeezed back.

Severus' sleep was abruptly broken when he heard screaming from his son's room. He shot up in bed, then jumped out and ran.

Hadus was thrashing around in bed, screaming and crying.

"Hadus! Hadus, what's wrong?" Severus sat on the bed and managed to grab his son's flailing arms.

Hadus woke up, but continued crying. "Daddy!"

"I'm here. What is it, son?"

"I had a bad dream...! It was really scary!" He sat up for a hug, feeling safer with his father's arms around him.

"It's alright. It's over now." Severus rubbed the boy's back.

"I was really little, and there was a bad man all in black like you do daddy, but he was scary and he laughed and pointed his wand at a lady, and she was screaming at him not to do it, but he cast a curse at her and there was a bunch of green light and she screamed and fell down and didn't get up and he killed her! Then he pointed his wand at me and there was more green light and he screamed and my head hurt and I thought I was gonna be dead! You weren't there and I was all alone!"

Severus' blood chilled in his veins as he held his crying son. "It was only a nightmare, son. That's all. You're safe now. No one is coming to hurt you."

He held Hadus until he quieted down.

"Do you want some water?" Severus asked.

"No."

"Why don't you go back to sleep, then."

"Don't go, daddy."

"I won't go anywhere. I'll stay here and watch over you until you fall asleep, alright?"

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Reluctantly, Hadus lay down again. Severus laid a hand on his son's head.

"Does your head still hurt?"

"No."

"Good. I know it was frightening, but try to forget about it. You need your sleep."

"I can stay up for a while."

"No you're not. Little boys need their sleep or they won't grow big and tall like their fathers. They're also cranky when they're tired."

"Cranky like you?"

Severus arched a brow in fake offense. "Watch it, young man."

Hadus smiled mischievously. Severus' lips turned upwards as he ruffled the wild black hair.

Eventually, Hadus fell asleep, his father's hand on his back. Severus remained sitting on the bed, watching his son's peaceful slumber as he thought on not so peaceful things.

How was it possible? Why was the boy dreaming about something he shouldn't even remember? He'd shown no signs until now of recalling anything from his previous life, and Severus had purposefully told him nothing. Were some events so traumatic that the memories remained, however deeply buried, even after he was born all over again? Severus had hoped this would be a completely new start for the boy, and thus far it had been. He was growing up a normal, happy child with a devoted pet owl and a father who loved him more than life. He didn't need to ever know about the lonely, heartbreaking life he'd had before. Severus would prefer he never recall anything from those days and just be his caring, generous, mischievous son forever.

Perhaps this was only a fluke. A one-time occurrence they could forget about and not speak of again. They could go on with their lives as they had, talking and cooking and eating and foraging and brewing and gardening and everything else they did together every day without worrying about the outside world too much. Severus couldn't imagine life without his son, and he wasn't about to do anything to jeopardize what he had, the only good thing he had that he had done nothing to deserve but would never give up without a fight.

He hoped to Merlin that nothing else from the past would resurface and upset his son again. Harry Potter was dead, and it needed to stay that way.