Just wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone whose read and reviewed chapter one. Little Sev stories are the cutest but I think sometimes we forget how young the gang are (Lily is only 16 here!). Therefore, I hope this comes across ok in the story.

As always, I own nothing.

Severus didn't know where he was, but he knew he was in really big trouble. He glanced around him, but it was dark and strange, and he was instantly scared.

He had moved into a sitting position and sat on itchy blankets which scratched his skin badly. He wanted to move away from it but didn't dare in cause his daddy was somewhere in the room trying to trick him again. His daddy wasn't shy in hitting Severus and he didn't fancy another beating after last night's bad one.

The toddler sat on his bare bottom; hands held together in front of his naked torso. He was completely naked and he didn't understand why, he was cold and felt shy and embarrassed to be in a strange place with no nappy. Mummy usually made sure he had clothes on when it was dark outside… Where is mummy anyway he wondered, his little bottom lip jutting out and trembling slightly in distress. Where is my mummy he thought miserably?

"Mama?" the baby called out into the silence, unsure but hoping his mummy and not his daddy would find him. Just as he called out, he heard a strange noise, like a door being opened. He wasted no time in getting wobbly to his feet, which were partially covered in old grey socks, and ran to hide under the table. Unfortunately, the socks were slippery, and the boy (being only 2 years old) wasn't the most efficient runner yet. He slipped before he got to the table and banged his head hard off the floor, stunning himself.

Lily and James entered the common room together when James suddenly pushed her behind him, raising his wand defensively. Lily rolled her eyes at him, raising a brow in question to which James pointed at something across the room in the dark. He had immediately noted the strange shape moving, and internally noted it definitely wasn't a first year. He muttered "Lumos", effectively bringing the object into his line of vision, but the light didn't help the shape make any sense to him at all. Quirking his brow to match her expression, he turned to look at Lily, who looked just as dumbfounded.

A little form, thin and pale, was lying face down, little bum cheeks up, in the common room. At first James thought one of the house elves had gotten drunk or died, but then he heard the whimpering human sounds and walked automatically over to the form on the ground. A little boy, around two years of age, was somehow lying naked in their common room, the form was cowering and he instantly felt sorry for the little one. Lily followed close on his heels as he immediately bent down to the boy, with the intention of lifting him up and comforting him.

However, Snape had heard the footsteps coming towards him when the lights came up and he panicked, he pushed the ground away from himself just as the man's hands gripped him under his little armpits and they looked at each other. The boy looked at the man and fear gripped him, though he wasn't sure why. The baby's face puckered in fear, big dark eyes filling with tears and soft black brows pulling together. As soon as James realised who he was holding he dropped the child in shock, causing it to fall hard back onto the ground.

"James!" Lily shouted in shock "What did you do that for!" she rushed over to the form, who was strangely not crying, but quietly whimpering in pain and fear.

"Lily do you not see who this is?" James hissed urgently and leaned toward her so that they were both looking at the toddler. "That is Snape!" he stated in shock. Lily turned her eyes to meet his and her mouth hung opened slightly.

Severus, who had been listening on the ground between his whimpers, heard his surname spoken harshly and looked at the young couple. "Me Sevf" he lisped quietly to Lily, looking heartbreakingly unsure of himself. Snape tried to push himself off the ground again weakly, but Lily had reached for him. "James, he's freezing, give me your jumper please?" Lily said calmly and James complied silently, looking at the baby like a bomb.

Lily lifted the baby off the ground and brought him closer to her for warmth, taking James' sweater and tucking it round him. "We need to bring him to the infirmary" she said quietly and they both set off together.

Severus stilled in shock, he knew he had been bad and he knew he didn't deserve this kindness. His father always told him nasty little freaks like him didn't deserve kindness, but the man had given his jumped to Severus to keep him warm. And the lady held him gently, not like anyone else ever had. Severus was so confused and he tried to covertly glance at the couple through his messy black hair as they made their way to see Poppy.

"Sev?" she whispered, sitting crossed legged on one of the beds with the baby curled in her lap "Can you tell us how you got here?". Madame Pomfrey stood beside James, face ashen with shock and worry.

The baby scrunched his little crooked nose at her in thought, James had disappeared from his sight and he liked this much better. "Who you?" he questioned her seriously, making Lily smile despite the terror she felt for her friend's state. Severus had chubby hands, common with a two year old, however nothing else could be described as chubby on the little boy. He clasped his hands seriously and a deep "v" formed on his little face.

"Well, my name is Lily" she smiled kindly.

"LeeLee?" the child murmured softly, smiling around the word which seemed to fit his mouth nicely. "Leelee fwend?" he asked questioning her again and Lily nodded and cuddled Severus closer automatically.

Through their discussions, Lily and Madame Pomfrey determined he had no memories and had been de-aged somehow, she rocked him gently as James returned with some new school shirts folded neatly. Lily looked at him in question, but he had already started to transfigure the items into clothes for the child. Lily felt her heart thump unevenly at the kindness of the gesture, despite the unfriendliness between the men previously.

Madame Pomfrey retreated to her office to get some instruments to assess the baby Snape.

"I don't really know much about babies or sizing Lil" James murmured softly transfiguring a blue blanket for the child to be wrapped in properly and scratching the back of his neck with his free hand uncertainly. As he approached Lily and Severus, the baby stiffened and whimpered away from him. James looked at the baby in shock and raised a brow at Lily "Does he know who I am?" he asked her.

"No, I don't think he knows anything beyond having a feeling for something or towards someone…" she said. "Now Sev, look at what James has brought you, a lovely blankie to keep you warm, what do you say?" Lily said in a baby voice to the toddler who looked mutinously at James. Without a beat he cringed into Lily and started to cry quietly, furtively looking back at James as though he was doing it on purpose!

James glared down at the baby on her lap "He's done this so you have to forgive him Lily. He's a pathetic snake trying to worm his way back into your life" he spat furiously.

Lily jumped up and glared at James "How can you say that Potter, he's just a baby!" she stated angrily, the toddler flinching at the insults from James.

"He knows exactly what he's doing, he's a devious one and you know that!" James retorted.

"Well I guess I was right about you Potter, you haven't changed at all!" Lily shot back, angry and hurt and perhaps a bit concerned James was right.

James stumbled back like she had slapped him across the face, pain and hurt written all over it.

"You're worth more than this Lils, he's using you again" he said sadly "The rest of his stuff is over there, he clearly doesn't feel comfortable around me. Let me know if you need me" he finished with a desperate look at her and left the infirmary.

Tears rolled down Lily's face immediately and Severus was distracted from his "crying" instantly. He touched her face unsure and clumsy; "No cwy Leelee" he said in his best 'big boy' voice "Bad boy gone" and he smiled.

Lily looked sharply at Snape, who immediately cowered under the intensity of her gaze. "James is not bad Severus. I want no more fighting between you two, do you understand me?" she finished sternly, the baby gulped and nodded furiously. Lily had taken him in her arms, and helped him, he didn't want her to realise he was a worthless little brat like his daddy said, he would tolerate that other man if he had to but he was sure they would be better off without him.

"Me sowwy Leelee!" he cried genuinely this time, fat tears streaming down his face.

"There there now, no need for tears" Lily patted his back uncomfortably, she really knew nothing about babies and if Snape was messing with her, she would be humiliated and furious at him.

She bounced him lightly, and the boy clung to her desperately. Lily was already starting to feel suffocated with him and she immediately felt guilty for it.

Severus screamed and cried once he was taken by Madame Pomfrey for an examination. He whimpered and his whole body shuddered in grief once both women told him off for same, but he was sulking rather than anything else.

"There Sev, all better" Lily commented to him, putting a nappy on him and a little plain white footsie PJ suit which James had transfigured, complete with little golden snitches. "Now, wait here and play while I speak with Madame Pomfrey" she commanded, transfiguring some of the tongue depressors beside the bed into colourful building blocks.

Severus was spelled in a limiting circle and forced to sit in the horrible hospital bed alone without his Lily, for he had already decided she was his Lily. No one else could have her and he desperately wanted her to be his new mummy.

The toddler groused and grumbled, kicking away at the blocks grumpily until he heard his Lily shout "You better be playing nicely over there Severus!" across the room towards him. He then made a conscious effort to 'play nicely' to make Lily happy.

Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall had joined the group to discuss what to do about Severus' predicament.

"He's no family that can take him Miss Evans, and you know as well I do that he wouldn't be cared for correctly. He is underweight, malnourished and scarred head to toe! And I won't even go into his psychological profile" Madame Pomfrey finished shuddering "Headmaster, we can't send him away and fail that child twice in his young life".

Professor Dumbledore gazed down towards where Severus was pretending to play with the blocks, he chuckled to himself at the manipulations of this young Slytherin "Well… I'm afraid we will need time to review the child and consider how to undo what has been done" Dumbledore finished solemnly.

Walking towards the child, Lily felt a strange longing to stay with him.

Severus watched as the strange lady who was a nurse approached him with his Lily behind her. "Severus dear, you're going to have a sleepover tonight in the castle with me. Isn't that fun?" the older woman enthused, despite the crestfallen look on the baby's face.

"Me Leelee?" Severus whimpered, looking wildly to Lily and holding his arms out desperately "Pwease me be good Leelee" he cried.

"Oh Sev, it's not because you're not good! I just can't take care of a baby and remain in school" Lily half-heartedly explained.

"Me no baby Leelee, me good boy!" Severus cried, tried to stumble towards her but losing his balance on the squishy mattress. He fell onto his stomach pathetically and cried "Leelee pwease!".

Lily couldn't help the maternal instinct that instantly ran through her, she rushed to the boy and cuddled him close "Okay Sev, we'll stay together tonight" she whispered, looking at the adults present and daring them to tell her otherwise.

"Miss Evans, I'm sure you don't want-" began Dumbledore, only to be cut off by Lily.

"Sev stays with me" she stated firmly, holding the baby tightly. Severus cuddled into her pretending she loved him, and he was her baby.

"Very well Miss Evans, follow me" Dumbledore began, continuing "I'm sure your classmates would prefer to not have a toddler in their sleeping quarters?" when the red head hesitated.

Lily blushed and nodded, following professor Dumbledore with Snape on her hip, their things levitating behind them.

20 minutes later, Lily was in her new quarters with Severus. She placed the little boy on the ground to stand while she stretched her back and yawned. Severus watched her and tried to mimic the stretch, the yawn causing him to be unsteady and wobble backwards on his little feet.

"Oh Sev" Lily chuckled and reached her hand out to the little boy who gladly took it "Let's see what home looks like!" she enthused falsely, feeling hollow. She was 16 for Christ's sake and extremely overwhelmed by these developments. She had wanted nothing more than to go back to her dormitory and confess her kiss with Potter to Marlene, Alice, Dorcus and Mary.

The rooms reminded her of the common room, but smaller. Everything was on one level, a large living area with a fireplace and comfy sofas and armchairs, a kitchenette to the rear closer to the entrance and a dining room table facing the living area. There were 3 doors opposite the entrance, at the far end of the room. One door, Lily discovered, was her room with a private bathroom off the room, the second was a communal bathroom with a tub for bathing the child, and the final room was for Sev complete with a crib, toys, clothing and a changing table. A travel crib was also in the living room.

Lily had shown Sev his room and he walked slightly behind her, fearful and quiet.

"What's wrong Sev?" Lily asked softly, kneeling down to the boy who looked down at his footed PJs pitifully.

"Sev no serve dis" he muttered sadly wringing his chubby hands; "Sev fweak an bad" he said, his voice breaking at the end when Lily scooped him into her arms.

"No no no little one, you mustn't think like this at all! You are a lovely baby boy who deserves lovely things!" she enthused honestly. "Whoever made you feel like this was bad Sev, not you!" she said as the toddler sniffed sadly, keeping his head down.

"Dada bad?" he questioned, a funny quirk to his brow showing his inquisition.

"Yes Sev, your daddy was bad to say that to you. I won't let anyone hurt you" she said, realising she meant every word of what she said to him, as the little face smiled shyly at her. He really was a cute baby, Lily thought. Though skinny, his cheeks balled when he smiled. He was pale and sickly against the starkness of his dark eyes and hair. Long eyelashes touched his cheeks when he looked down, and a flush of pleasure coloured his face now. His hair curled at the end of his neck, but was straight and soft, definitely not the lank or greasy hair she was accustomed to.

"Come now, little one, I think it's time for bed" Lily said, stifling a yawn. She scooped the boy up, who tiredly leaned into her and rubbed small circles on his back.

Severus made no sound as Lily brought him into her bedroom, secretly delighted she wanted him in with her. She levitated the travel cot and popped him into the bed beside her. To Severus' delight and fear Lily summoned a teddy snake for Severus to cuddle. His eyes went huge in shock "Dis for Sev?" he whispered in awe. He never had any toys before and he felt like it was a trap.

"Yes darling, all yours" Lily smiled sleepily at him, watching as the tail of the snake popped right into Sev's mouth and he sucked happily and loudly.

"No Sev, don't do that" Lily said, wrinkling her nose and reaching for the snake to sharply take it from his mouth. While most children would have fought, Lily noted it was strange that Severus just looked heartbroken at the toy which she had promised not to take away from him. His mouth, wet from the suckling was pointed downward and his little bottom lip pouted slightly. Severus was mostly annoyed at himself for believing Lily wouldn't trick him.

She realised her mistake and explained "I don't want you sucking on this toy Sev, use this instead" she said, producing a dummy with teeth protecting charms on it.

Severus thought he had disgusted Lily with his suckling on his new toy. His daddy told him he was a disgusting freak daily, but he had thought his Lily was different. He was heartbroken he had fallen for the trap but immediately delighted when Lily explained her reasoning to him. His Lily was good!

She presented the dummy to Sev, and it was clear he didn't know what to do with his new gift. He held it in his hand unsure and looked at Lily guiltily from under his eyelashes.

Oh shoot, I've just told him not to suck on his toys, I'm confusing the lad, she thought in frustration.

"Look Sev, you suck on the teat of the dummy, like a bottle?" with that word uttered, Severus' tummy let out an almighty grumble and Lily nearly smacked her own forehead.

Severus looked terrified and two little hands pressed against his treacherous belly frantically. Pushing against the flat bulge, where it should be round and chubby. "Me sowwy Leelee!" he cried and flinched, lifting a little hand over his face, elbow out to protect himself from the blow he knew he deserved.

He had really messed up now, Lily had taken care of him and he was warm and she was gentle, but he was a greedy ungrateful brat and he had pushed her too far he thought miserably.

Lily stood in shock momentarily before slowly reaching for Sev, exaggerating her movements to show that she wasn't going to hurt him. "Sev, why didn't you tell me you were hungry?" she whispered, her voice upset, which made Severus feel even worse.

"Me bad… no serve it" Sev whispered. He didn't get food when he was hungry, just when the adults allowed it… was his Lily so silly?

"Sev you must tell me when you are hungry so I can get you food!" Lily stated intensely, causing the little boy to cringe slightly in fear once more. "Let's have some milk, I think it's too late for anything more solid" Lily said, mostly to herself.

She watched as Severus laid on her bed, head against her stomach, while she fed him the bottle. She had struggled initially to get the teat into his mouth because he insisted he was fine, but once he got to taste the warm sweet milk, his eyes and mouth turned greedy and he sucked frantically like a starving man.

Lily had to remind him to slow down continually, stroking his hair and telling him he was a good boy. She watched as the little beetle coloured eyes grew heavy and eventually closed.

When the baby's breathing was sound and even, Lily moved him into the cot beside her bed. Exhausted, she quickly brushed her teeth and pulled some pjs on, crawling into bed gratefully.

Before turning off the nightlight she cast some charms and enchantments to allow her to hear if Snape woke or cried during the night.

Flopping down on the pillow and exhaling loudly, she closed her eyes and fell into a grateful deep sleep.