Lana
The first time Severus ever laid eyes on him was in the Great Hall ten years later, during the Sorting Ceremony. He was sitting next to a redheaded Weasley, pushing his glasses nervously up his nose.
Severus was no longer the kind of man who expressed his emotions; his ability to love, to like, to live a true life of happiness died with Lily. Ten years later, he was still feeling the effects of her death. Each night, he made himself a potion for a dreamless sleep. If not taken, he would wake up in the middle of the night; sweat pouring down his face, her last thoughts pounding through his head as they had that fateful night long ago.
Seeing Harry was unavoidable; he had him three times a week for Potions. He was placed in Gryffindor, confirming Severus' fears of him being James' child. He had the same black hair as James, along with the same attitude. He also held the same dislike for Severus as his father before him; it was obvious.
It wasn't until Harry's fifth year that Severus had a true encounter with him, alone. Lord Voldemort was back, and Harry had once again fought him and survived. It was Dumbledore's wish for Harry to join the ranks of Severus, Sirius Black, Arabella Figg, and Minerva McGonagall, as a member of the group his parents once belonged to.
Severus fought tooth and nail for Harry to be able to grow up as a normal child – as normal as a child of his fame and status could get. Harry mistook this for Severus' dislike towards him, and fought even harder to be allowed in.
It was the fifteenth anniversary of her death; Fifteen long years since Severus had touched her, fifteen long years since he had heard her voice. He was 36 years old now, but looked as if he was nearing his fifties. His jet-black hair was graying slightly from stress, and the bags around his eyes grew with each passing night.
He was brought up into Dumbledore's office, meeting Harry and his grandfather-in-law there. Memories flooded through him, cutting through his mind like a knife. Sitting down in one of the seats provided, Severus closed his eyes and willed them to go away.
"Harry, could you please step outside for a moment? Professor Snape and I have something to discuss." Dumbledore asked his grandson politely. Harry nodded and closed the solid oak doors behind him.
"Severus, you have been avoiding me." Dumbledore commented. "It's been fifteen years, you must come to terms with your loss."
Severus shook his head, "Sir, you lost a granddaughter, I lost a wife. We have both suffered, and we both have different ways of handling the situation. Mine is to lock myself from the outside world. I enjoy my solitude, I have no problem with living the way I do."
Dumbledore shook his head, "Severus… I understand what you're saying, but I have to explain something to you. Lily knew who Harry's father was… I told her before her and James went into hiding. Did she tell you before she died?"
Severus shook his head, "I'm surprised I didn't come across that in her mind."
"She knew you wanted to know; I'm also surprised she didn't tell you."
"Well, sir, somewhere in our relationship there had to have been secrets, or else it wouldn't have been a true relationship."
Dumbledore nodded, agreeing. "Yes, Severus. The day has come when Voldemort has risen again. You have assured me you are prepared to face him once more; for that, I am deeply impressed."
"Thank you sir. Excuse me for asking, but is there a reason you called me to your office?"
Dumbledore nodded, "Severus, it has been fifteen years to the day. Harry outside has an idea it is their anniversary, but what he doesn't realize is the true meaning of it.
"Lily gave me a letter to give to you before she died just as a precaution, but unfortunately I must give it to you now." Dumbledore handed him a yellowing envelope with his name written in Lily's handwriting. He hungrily opened the envelope, his eyes feasting on what lay before him.
He read quickly and silently, an air of suspense hanging throughout of the office. A moment later, he looked up at the old wizard and nodded.
"I am ready."
"Very well, allow me to get Harry."
Moments later, the tall teenager walked into the room, his head held high, just as James had many years before. Sitting down as far away from Severus as possible, he starred straight ahead.
"Harry, as you must know, it has been fifteen years since your parents were killed by Lord Voldemort. Halloween, 1981."
"Yes sir." Harry nodded, looking slightly miffed.
"There is some history you must be aware of, to truly understand why they died." Harry looked up towards Dumbledore with a curious expression on his face.
"James Potter was abusive to your mother while they were in school. Both physically and sexually." Severus was reading Dumbledore's mind and spoke his words before Dumbledore had the chance.
Harry shot of a look of hatred in Severus' direction. "My father would never do that."
I>If you only knew…/I> Severus laughed ironically.
"It's true, Harry. James Potter nearly killed my great-great-great granddaughter on more than one occasion." Dumbledore spoke quietly, as if he was trying to make the impact of the words a bit easier.
"Your… What?" Harry was now thoroughly confused.
"Harry, your mother was my great-great-great granddaughter." Dumbledore repeated.
"Which makes me your great-great-great-great grandson…" Harry ticked off the greats with his right hand. "Honestly?"
Dumbledore nodded, a smile on his face. "Very few people in the world know that, Harry."
Harry nodded numbly, trying to absorb the information. "Is that why you had my father's cloak?"
Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, that's why I had James' cloak in my possession."
Severus coughed as Dumbledore continued. "Severus, would you like to say the next part?"
"Gladly, Headmaster." Severus looked over at Harry. "James was a controlling man; he knew I liked Lily at the time, and he wanted to make my life hell. He told her to make me fall in love with her, and then break my heart so bad I would want to die.
"Lily followed his plans gladly; they staged a breakup in the Great Hall, and soon she was with me."
Harry blanched at the thought of Severus Snape and his mother dating. Severus caught this and smirked.
"Ahh, it gets worse. Headmaster?"
"Your aunt Petunia and uncle Vernon got married the summer of '77. Instead of James attending, Severus attended it with her. I was present for the wedding, which is how Severus discovered my relation to Lily. Severus?"
"This gets a little hard to explain, Headmaster… However… Two months later, at the start of our seventh year, Lily informed me she was pregnant with my daughter."
Severus smirked at the horrified expression on Harry's face. "You… You… You SLEPT with my mother?"
"On more than one occasion." Severus replied snidely. "But, as fate would have it, Lord Voldemort killed the fetus, leaving both Lily and I devastated. This was three days before Christmas- on Christmas day, I received a letter from my father explaining to me I had one month to break up with her, or else both she and I would be killed."
"Naturally, the next day, December 26th, I married Severus to your mother." Dumbledore paused as Harry's face went white.
"My mother… and Snape… You… two… married?" he asked weakly.
"Yes. For three years, until she died."
"But… I was born in 1980… She graduated in 1978…"
"Yes, of course. We'll get to that in a moment, Harry. A month later, Professor Snape and your mother also staged a breakup. No one knew of their marriage except myself-"
"And Remus Lupin." Severus admitted. "Lily told him."
Dumbledore nodded, "Very well then. Myself and Remus Lupin." He cleared his throat; "James Potter got back together with your mother and married her that summer, not knowing she was already married to Severus."
"Your mother and I got together maybe once or twice a year. The last thing I wanted her to do was have a child with James; it was also the last thing she wanted to do. However, when she announced she was pregnant, she was happy. Therefore, I was happy as well. I helped your mother through her pregnancy; James drank and actually barely made it to your birth. I assisted your mother through her delivery, myself and her Papa." Severus smiled fondly at the nickname Lily had given Dumbledore.
"Severus was aware Peter Pettigrew was a traitor; However, as Sirius Black was blamed, he slowly grew accustomed to it, and soon thought Peter was dead, along with the rest of the wizarding world. He tried to warn me, though, but I didn't get the message in time."
"I made Voldemort promise he wouldn't kill any one besides the last of the Gryffindor line. He made one exception: Lily. She cast a spell on you moments before she died, which I believe protected you from his spell."
Harry was slow to speak. "So… You were married to my Mum… You had sex with my mum…"
"No, never sex." Severus corrected, "Unlike her relationship with James, ours was out of love, not lust."
"Ok then, you… did it with my Mum… she almost had your baby… she hated my father… Why are you telling me all this?" Harry asked.
"Because, you must understand. You must know what it was like, the true story only now four people on Earth know of. Myself, Severus, Remus, and now you. I understand you believe Professor Snape here hates you."
"Yes, I know he does." Harry once again shot a glare in Severus' direction.
"No, I don't. I merely hate the fact my wife died saving you, and you aren't grateful in the least." Severus growled.
"I AM grateful! I miss them, I have dreams, I hear them…"
"You hear them?" Severus was now interested. "When?"
"When my Mum died… I can hear her and Dad shouting, I can hear her last words."
"I was there that night." Severus admitted, "Standing guard. I tried to get to her, but it was too late."
Harry shook his head, "I don't care anymore. Why are you telling me this?"
"Because, Harry, you must understand. Do you understand?"
Harry nodded, "Now tell me."