Lana
Harry ran breathlessly down to Severus' office, his hair whipping behind him. He passed multiple Slytherin students, all of whom either carefully avoided him or treated him with much more respect than he deserved or was ever shown. It was obvious his father had threatened them in a way that had scared them shitless, him being the Head of the Slytherin house.
Harry ran into Severus' office and slammed the door behind him, breathing as hard as he ever had. Severus turned quickly towards his son, wrinkling his brow in worry.
"Harry, are you all right?" he asked, advancing on the 16 year old.
"No… I'm not." Harry breathed hard. "Three really… nice looking… girls just asked me out… And I don't know… Which one to say yes to… Help?"
Severus threw his head back and laughed, "Which one do you like the best?"
"I don't know any of them!" Harry exclaimed, "They all just cornered me and started… I don't know… Competing, saying that they were better than the girls next to them."
Severus continued to chuckle, "Well, it seems you have a situation. What do you like in a girl?"
Harry thought for a moment, "Smart, funny… I have to know them first, before I could ever consider dating them."
"Do you have a specific house you prefer?"
Harry shook his head, "What would be the fun in that? You were in Slytherin, Mum was in Gryffindor… They're opposite houses. Why should I limit myself?"
Severus shook his head, "Don't base your relationships off your Mum and mine's. I got her pregnant during the summer before seventh year… If I hear you're going around sleeping with your girlfriend before you could properly deal with the consequences, I will have your neck."
"What if she's not my girlfriend?" Harry asked innocently.
Severus shook his head, looking at Harry with a smile
on his face. "Then you'd better pay her well."
The year continued as it would have any other way; Harry was slowly accepted, and after only a month no one continued to ask him about why he had chosen to abandon his identity as James Potter's son. He was happy with his decision; to him, it was the only way to live now that he was aware of how James acted towards his mother. Even thought he had no true memories of her, he loved her as much as any son would love a mother, and knowing he bore her enemy's name and appearance made his detest looking in the mirror before Severus had transformed him.
Potions was much easier with the knowledge Severus wasn't going to try to make his life miserable anymore. He lightened up, both on Harry and the rest of the school. Summer vacation approached faster than Harry had expected; it seemed like no time Dumbledore was alerting the Dursleys of Harry not returning over the summer. As Harry suspected, they were overjoyed, not because his father was alive but because they didn't have to deal with his 'abnormalities' being under their roof anymore.
Severus lived in Hogsmeade; he had moved there after he had been offered the teaching job at Hogwarts. His home was not a large one as his childhood house had been, but it was much more personal and welcoming than his childhood home had ever been. Pictures of his family and Lily adorned the walls, along with personal photos of himself and Lily, pictures he knew Harry would be excited to see.
He had an extra bedroom that would be made into Harry's room, and on the dresser was a picture of Lily, one of Severus' favorites. He had taken it the day they were married, December 26th, 1977. She was sitting on her bed with a wide smile across her face, her hair down and school robes billowing around her. As a joke, she had exchanged her scarlet and gold Gryffindor tie for Severus' own green and silver Slytherin tie, making her auburn hair stand out even more. She was sitting with her legs crossed, her right hand fingering her wedding ring which was on her left hand.
Harry and Severus arrived mid-afternoon the day school let out. Severus' suspicions were confirmed when Harry assured him he loved his room; It was decorated with various Quidditch teams with a large Chudley Cannons poster in the middle of his wall. The walls were a cream colour with a wooden floor and doors while the bedspread was scarlet with golden tassels, matching Lily's bed in the picture.
Harry was amazed at how Severus was treating him; he was used to not being sneered at anymore and be taken seriously, but Severus was starting to show bits of affection towards Harry. Nothing drastic, but he tried to make Harry feel as at home as he possibly could. He was quickly accepting the fact that Harry was his son and that he was now living with him. The visual change in Harry made it easier for both Severus and Harry to feel comfortable around each other. Much to Severus' surprise, Harry didn't bother cutting his hair, letting it grow out to nearly his shoulders. Harry was not a miniature version of Severus, rather a definite cross between Lily and Severus. He had Severus' body structure and hair, but Lily's facial structure and eyes.
Their first night together was fairly uncomfortable, but once Harry realized this was now his home also, he quickly accepted it and acted a little more like himself with each passing day. He constantly asked Severus about Lily; what she was like, how she acted. He slowly gathered a better understanding of their relationship and who James truly was. Harry insisted the two talk as much as possible, as he wanted to get to know his father better. Severus' home was the total opposite of what his personality had been and Harry wanted to get to know the man his mother had loved, not the monster of a professor he had known for four years.
The first time Severus was Called, nearly three weeks after he and Harry had moved into their own home, he knew it was necessary. He had been informed by one of Dumbledore's spies that Voldemort thought he had been saving himself with crossing over to Dumbledore's side and was willing to give him another chance. Severus was one of his favorite Death Eaters; a typical Slytherin and much like Voldemort himself. Severus notified Harry he would be leaving and quickly Apparated to the location Voldemort was, finding himself once again amidst his fellow Death Eaters.
"Good Afternoon, my brothers." Hearing Voldemort's voice once again sent a shiver down Severus' spine. Wondering if he should even be there, he quickly turned to face his Master.
"I don't doubt you all have been well. As some of you may have noticed, the Daily Prophet has yet to acknowledge the fact that I have, indeed, risen again, even after two years of my existence. Unbeknownst to them, this has been of an advantage to me and my fellow brothers – you. I have heard of the wonderful destruction and chaos you all have been creating; I am proud.
"On a more serious note, many of you have notified me of something that I could not have imagined, not even in my wildest dreams; Harry Potter is indeed, not a Potter."
Murmurs rose through the group, but Voldemort quickly silenced them. "Instead, he is the offspring of one of the most faithful among you. It was not the curse that Lily Potter cast upon Harry on that fateful night, rather a promise I made. As many of you are aware, a wizard's promise is binding; it can not be broken. I promised this brother I would not harm anyone besides the Gryffindor Line and Lily Potter that night – I was unaware Harry was not James' son. Therefore, I had broken my promise to my faithful servant, unbeknownst to both him and myself.
"It is now known he is Harry's father; I have no reason to go after Harry now, except revenge. But, since I do not wish to lose my Death Eater, I shall make sure his son is no longer bothered – the first brother among us to harm Harry Potter shall be punished accordingly. He is well protected by Albus Dumbledore, and I shudder to think of what he would do if he beloved Harry was harmed, as it is now not necessary. We shall not consider him a target no longer; do not bother."
With Voldemort's last words, a mass surge of relief washed through Severus' body. He was safe, he didn't have to worry about Voldemort harming his son. Severus no longer had to check on Harry each night, making sure Voldemort had not found out his location. They were no longer protected by the charm that had once protected the Dursley's home – it was up to Severus to protect Harry.
He was safe.
She came calling
One early morning
She showed her crown of thorns
She whispered softly
To tell a story
About how she had been wronged
As she lay lifeless
He stole her innocence
And this is how she carried on
Well I guess she closed her eyes
And just imagined everything's alright
But she could not hide her tears
'Cause they were sent to wash away those years
They were sent to wash away those years
My anger's violent
But still I'm silent
When tragedy strikes at home
I know this decadence Is shared by millions
Remember you're not alone
For we have crossed many oceans
And we labor in between
In life there are many quotients
And I hope I find the mean
-Creed, "Wash Away Those Years"
I know, about forty chapters too late... But I just found it (out of over 100 CDs, sorry) and hey, it works! Lily's experiences in Severus' POV.