~Chapter One~
--One Year and Seven Months Later--
Severus Snape stalked through the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a scowl on his face. He was heading towards the Headmaster's office, as he had just been summoned by his friend and superior Albus Dumbledore. The old wizard just wouldn't leave Severus in peace. The school term had just ended four days ago, leaving all the teachers at Hogwarts, while the students went home until September 1st came around again. Sighing Severus knew he was destined to spend yet another boring summer at Hogwarts, while most of his peers left for homes, families and friends.
Approaching the office protected by gargoyles he murmured the candy password and stalked up the stairs, grunting as he reached the top, opening the door to the outer office he looked around, the normal pictures sitting there, but most people had left. Unlike muggle pictures, in Magic pictures the person in the picture moved. Suitcases and a large old leather trunk sat at the stairs nearby, as though waiting for Dumbledore to leave. A bird cage sat empty on top of the trunk, but Severus knew Dumbledore wouldn't use it, not by a long shot. Fawkes, Dumbledore's Phoenix was always loose and free.
"Ah, Severus, child, it is good to see you, come in, please come in," The old wizard with the waist long white hair and beard said, smiling. He wore purple and blue starry robes, his ice blue eyes looking through half moon shaped glasses, which were sitting on his crooked nose.
"I see your leaving for break Albus," Severus wasn't a very trusting man, he only trusted three people, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall and Rubeus Hagrid. Severus thought this as he huffed down into a nearby chair, not caring what message he sent as he did his childish routine of hanging his long thin legs over the side of the chair.
"Yes, I shall be heading to my Manor tomorrow sometime, then later this month, I shall be going to my sister's house. Flitwick, Professor Hooch, and Madame Sprout have all left already. Minerva shall be leaving in about two weeks or so, and everyone else will be going home by the end of the month. This is exactly why I've called you here." Dumbledore stated.
"All right," Severus muttered, Albus asking him favors was never really a good sign.
"I need you to go check up on young Harry Potter," stated Albus, Severus gaped at him.
"You must be joking, forgive me Albus, but why me! Why not Remus? I hated James, I still hate him," stated Severus annoyed. James had died only a year and a half ago, and Severus had never really been sad for the man.
"Don't think of it like you're doing it for James, think of it as your doing it for Lily. Severus, I know how you felt about her, and I know how she felt about her son," Severus sighed and looked at the floor, 'damn Albus,' thought Severus as he thought about the woman he had long ago loved, they had been in love, they had even dated, but then James changed that all when he proposed, the same day Severus was going to. Severus had never forgotten that; if only he had been a few hours earlier…Harry would be his….and he'd probably be the dead man.
"I'll go, but I'm not doing this for James, I'm doing this, because I know Lily would be spitting nails if she knew her baby boy whom she adored was in the hands of her wretched sister," with that Severus stalked off, wishing more than anything Albus hadn't asked this of him.
Severus sighed as he stood at the end of Surrey, looking around he marched towards the house Harry was supposed to be at. As he approached the house, he noticed that obviously everyone was asleep, being three in the morning, that didn't really surprise him. Severus reached in his robes and pulled out his wand, pointing to the front door he whispered 'Alohomora' and watched it open gently. Walking inside he didn't have to go very far. The first thing he noticed was that it only looked like three people lived here, there were no pictures of a fourth person, such as Harry.
His thoughts were distracted by a soft whimpering noise coming from under the stairs. 'dear lord, no one is that cruel,' thought Severus as he made his way towards the cupboard under the stairs. He noticed it was locked, and wanted to scream at this horrible joke.
He hurriedly unlocked it and opened the door, praying he wouldn't find his worst nightmare in there. However, his prayers went unanswered as he saw lying before him, a small two year old child, whimpering in a corner, curled tightly into a fetal position….
Flashback
The small greasy haired boy whimpered loudly as his father ranted on about him not performing the right kind of magic.
"You stupid twit, can't do anything right!" hollered the elder pale man, a woman sat across the room, only watching, her face bruised and swollen, as the man made the child his target.
"Please papa, I tried, really papa," cried the child, of only four years, little Severus hadn't produced exactly what his father had asked for, the boy had known the beating was coming.
"Damn runt! What good are you to the family if you don't even have talent! Should have killed you early on," the child continued to cry as his father disappeared, he didn't move until he felt a pair of arms slip around his shoulders gently; his mother.
"I'm here honey," she whispered as she held her only child…
End of Flashback
Severus sighed, wanting to forget much of his childhood, he realized that had been two years before the death of his mother, Jasmine, and three years before his father, Salazar had married the horrid witch; Calpurnia. Severus shook his head and looked at the small child…James' Potter's child, the high and mighty James would fume if he saw the shape his only child was in right this moment.
"Harry, can you hear me? My name is Severus Snape, I'm a teacher at Hogwarts, I'm here to save you," explained Severus gently as he reached out to touch the child, who up until now he was sure was asleep.
Green eyes flew open at the touch and a whimper was emitted. Severus looked into the green eyes, Lily's eyes. Lily had been the only other person to show him what true love was. If Harry Potter remembered his first meeting with Severus a little over a year ago, he certainly showed it, because as though he remembered the eyes he reached out for the man.
"You're going to be okay Harry, no one will hurt you ever again, okay," stated Severus as he lifted the boy into his arms, muttering a numbing spell on the way up, "you've got to be real quite, Harry, can you do that for me?" to his surprise the small boy nodded and leaned his head into Severus' shoulder. 'don't get attached Severus,' Severus thought as he walked out the door, through the alley and disapparated with a loud pop.
When he apparated just out side the school gates he felt a sigh of relief, he had made it out alive, and with Harry. He felt the small child curling up further in his arms, as though trying to find comfort and security. Severus unconsciously wrapped his robes around the child, and pulled him closer as he headed calmly towards the castle. He knew that as long as Harry was still conscious than he wasn't in any immediate danger.
"Poppy!" Severus hollered at the top of his lungs as he finally made his way into the infirmary. The older mediwitch came out and gasped at the sight of the small child wrapped in Severus' arms and clothes.
"It's Harry Potter, his family beat him, I don't think he's horribly injured but you should check him over anyway." The older witch nodded and gently took the now whimpering toddler from Severus' arms.
"Where are you going?" Poppy asked as she watched his begin to leave. He looked at her and sighed slightly, worried obviously about the child.
"To talk to Albus, he needs to know what happened," stated Severus as he left the infirmary and headed to the headmaster's office.
"Albus! Albus," called Severus as he ran up the stairs, the door swung open just as he reached the landing, and the older wizard collided with the younger wizard. Severus felt a hand grip his robes to keep him from falling down the spiral stairs and possibly to his death.
"Severus, child, perhaps it would be wise no to run though the castle halls. Since we do not allow students, I hardly think staff should do it either," Severus Sighed breathing heavily as he and Dumbledore entered the office.
"I just brought Potter back from his Aunt and Uncle's house. He's not in very good shape sir," explained Severus.
"This is why I send you; to gather the child. I was sure he was being abused, I did not have the evidence. Come Severus, I would like to discuss something with you," Severus looked at him warily and joined him in two seats in front of Albus' desk.
"Severus, would you perhaps consider taking the child?" Albus began. Severus looked at the man.
"What…you mean….you mean keep the boy?"
"He needs to remain somewhere safe, I trust you Severus, and you would be an excellent father. Harry needs you, and I believe you need him as well. Remus can't take him for obvious reasons, but I'm sure would be willing to help, and become an Uncle figure. The boy's god-father is in jail. Peter is dead, and Lily never liked him anyway. Lily trusted you, doesn't that perhaps count for something child?"
"Albus, I don't know the first thing about children…and babies are...," Severus didn't finish as Albus held up his hand.
"You will learn together, Please Severus, for Lily, to show her how much you loved her. For James and showing you don't hold the grudge any longer," Severus glared at the old wizard.
"I do still hold the grudge. Fine, temporarily, but only temporarily. I'm not the boy's father, and James would roll over in his grave if he knew I would be caring for the child," Albus nodded, smiling softly.
"Now let us go see the child," Severus huffed and nodded.
AN: You guys are amazing, thank you for all the reviews so far, it's been wonderful knowing so many are interested. Thanks to my beta Ellen, she's awesome! Quick word this story is a set of stories, it's a four part series, I've written the full outline and I'm currently working on a summary to each chapter so I can have an idea of where I'm going. I'm going to try and up date every two or three days, depending on how fast I rake out the chapters and have them to Ellen to beta. Thanks everyone! Steph