It was three in the afternoon when Severus wandered into the lab. The teens froze and stared at him.

"As you were," he said, seeing them unmoving over the cauldrons, "you might want to stir that, mr Potter, it looks ready to boil."

The teens turned back to their work, hands shaking slightly and occasionally glancing at the potions master, who was now walking around the lab, inspecting it. Harry shivered when he realised they hadn't gotten rid of the play cauldron and potions ingredients. Severus looked at his former toys at the table and turned to inspect the shelves.

"You did keep the lab clean and properly organised," he remarked.

Hermione suppressed a gasp as he stood right in front of the shelves with the poison he nearly drank. He didn't manage to suppress HIS own gasp. He whipped around and stared at Hermione. "Miss Granger," he said, eyes flashing dangerously, "would you care to explain why I seem to have a memory of you in connection with both this shelf and the corner, not to mention…"

Harry pulled Hermione behind him and stood in front of the potions master. "You were a three year old about to open that bottle," he pointed, "after we had told you several times not to touch anything but the things we had given you. You know perfectly well what would have happened if you had touched or drank the stuff."

Severus paled as he saw what bottle Harry was pointing at. "But why…why didn't you let me drink it?" he eked out. "Why did you work so hard to change me back? You hate me. This was a perfect opportunity to get rid of me." They stared at him.

Then Hermione stepped forward, looked him straight in the eye and said "You would have done the same if any of us had been given that potion. We didn't do anything for you that you wouldn't have done for us. And yes, we played with you while you were three, we gave you that kitten, and YES, I slapped you when you were about to drink that poison." Her eyes filled with tears. "I was so afraid then, I kept thinking about what could have happened, I couldn't sleep all night. We loved you, we didn't want to loose you," she whispered.

The potions master stood staring at the teens, swallowed hard and lowered his eyes. "But you did. You knew I would become that jerk you hate again once you gave me that antidote."

Harry put his arms around a crying Hermione. "Yes," he said, "But you'd be alive and well. We cared more about that. So no," he said, raising his chin defiantly, "we will not apologise for anything we did over the last few weeks, including playing with you and slapping you. I don't care how many points you deduct for it."

Hermione turned around again. "I'm sorry, professor, for everything that happened to you. We've seen now what a wonderful child you were, and what kind of horrors you had to go through. But I don't regret loosing our friend to give you back your life, and I certainly don't regret not letting you drink that stuff."

Severus slumped down on a chair. "Thank you, Hermione."

He looked up at her. "I do remember that afternoon now and I would have been a lot less patient with a disobeying toddler then you have been…"

He saw the absolute disbelief on both faces. "Can I see the recipes? For the potion and the antidote I mean?"

Still dumbstruck, Hermione handed him her notes.

He read them quickly. "Hmmm…yes, yes. Very good thinking, this is. Of course, you had to add…yes." He looked up. "This was quite some work, both potion and antidote are very complex. And now you are working on adapting it?"

They nodded. "Would you mind if I worked with you? This is a very interesting project you have going on." Both looked wary. He sighed inwardly. "I…I know you have little reason to like or even trust me," he said, staring at the desk and tracing a pattern with his fingers.

Merlin, he felt like that three year old again. "And I can't give you back the friend you lost. But…you and Albus…you have told me several times I don't have to hurt anyone anymore…so I hoped…you would give me another chance, and we could start over again. I promise I'll try to be nicer, and you can let me know when I'm being a jerk again…though I prefer you do that verbally, miss Granger," a small smile.

Then he waited for the verdict. "I blew it," he thought, "of course they won't go for it. Why would they? They were just being nice and…Gryffindors…"

Then he noticed two extended hands in front of him, and two smiling faces looking down at him. "Gladly," they said, "and we would love to work with you on this. How about tutoring time on Saturdays?" They grinned happily as the potions masters eyes widened, reminding them forcefully of Sevvy.

Severus slowly grasped their hands. "You mean that? Really?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "No, we voluntarily spend time working with you because we hate you and can't stand the sight of you," he said sarcastically. "Don't be stupid. Of course we mean it." Severus grinned. "My sarcasm rubbed off on you," he said delightedly, "I DID teach you something!"

Hermione snorted. "Oh no, he's had that sarcastic streak since the first time I met him."

Harry glared at both. "How about we don't discuss my character development and get on with brewing?" he suggested.

Severus shook his head. "Not me, I want to visit Minerva." He stood up, and was about to turn when he grinned mischievously and said silkily: "I'd almost forget…you mentioned something about points, I believe." They paled. "100 points…" the potions master began, seeing them turn a sickly green color, "to each of you for your efforts and success in brewing a difficult antidote."

After a second or two, they expelled the air they were holding and opened their mouths. "No need," Severus said, "they're well earned. Regrettably, I can't give you more, I will have to pretend to the Slytherins that Albus and Minerva forced me into giving you this. I'm very sorry you lost your vacation." He was motioned to bend over closer to the teens to listen to them whisper something in his ear.

"Don't tell anyone," they said, smirking, "but we've had the best holiday ever." The potions master was spared having to respond by the sudden roaring of the fire.

The dual voices of the headmaster and transfiguration teacher sounded through the room. "Severus, you get up here this instant!"

Severus shrugged. "It would seem they have been alerted to a change in points. Apparently they didn't bother to check the actual number." He took a handful of floo powder from the jar and threw it in the fireplace. "Headmaster's office!" he said and stepped through.

A hand took hold of his shoulder and dragged him from the fireplace, in the general direction of the corner. For a moment he panicked, then remembered he was a grown man again. Stopping dead and grabbing the hand holding him, he looked up.

"At least give me a chance to explain, Albus!" The headmasters eyes bore into his own. "I GAVE them points, Albus. You didn't say anything about not being allowed to GIVE them points."

A smile broke through on the face before him. "I know, dear boy, I know. Sorry, I just couldn't resist the opportunity to tease you." Placing a second hand on the other shoulder, he touched Severus' forehead with his own. "I'm so proud of you, child." He was pleased the potions master allowed the touches, and bit back a chuckle when the man blushed at the praise.

After the headmaster released him, Severus looked around the room and saw Minerva.

"Hi," he said shyly.

"Hello Severus," she said, smiling at him. He hesitated just a second, then walked up to her and gave her a hug. "Thanks," he said simply.

Minerva patted his back. "You're very welcome, Sevvy."

He grinned. "You two are allowed to call me that in private, but I don't ever want to hear it in public! Is that understood?" he said, with a very good imitation of Dumbledore's Headmaster look.

Minerva laughed. "Oh Albus, love, he really does do a perfect imitation of you."

Severus gaped. "Love?" he said.

Dumbledore slid an arm around Minerva's waist and smiled. "Yes, Severus. We've loved each other for a long time, but didn't think we should act upon it, with the war going on and all…but these past few weeks changed our minds. We have decided to marry."

Severus' jaw dropped for a moment, but then he laughed. "Well it was blatantly obvious to any half-wit that you were very fond of each other so it shouldn't surprise me. Congratulations!" he kissed Minerva on the cheek and punched the headmasters shoulder in an uncharacteristic show of affection. They beamed at him.

"Thank you, child. And we have two questions for you," the headmaster said. "We will need a quiet wedding, it's safer if Voldemort doesn't find out, at least not right away, and a large wedding would be a security risk. So it won't be a very demanding job, but I would really like for you to be my best man."

Severus smile deepened. "I'd love to, Albus!" Then his face dropped. "You'll get in trouble with the ministry for that, though…"

Dumbledore snorted. "I'll get in trouble with the ministry anyway, if you honor our second request…" they took his arms and sat him down between them on the couch. He looked at them a bit worried.

"Sevvy," Dumbledore started, "I know you're already 37 and I know it's not a very common thing…"

Minerva interrupted. "Sweetheart, you're starting in the middle again."

Dumbledore sighed and started over. "Ok…Severus, our question is if you would you consider letting us adopt you? I know it's not common to adopt adults, but we love you so much, in our hearts you really already are our son."

Severus sat very still as the people on each side of him waited anxiously for his reaction. "You…you want to adopt me?" he finally eked out.

"Yes, Sevvy. I know you have reached an age where you don't need parents anymore, but we love you. We want you to be our son, officially." Severus was shaking with the strong emotions that surged through him. They loved him. They wanted him. Asked him to be their son.

"Severus?" Albus' voice asked, concerned.

He looked up. "I...are you sure? You want me? Not someone better, someone who never…" Albus' hand firmly grabbed his chin. "You listen to me very carefully now, young man. We want YOU. We don't want to adopt just because we want a kid. We want to adopt you and only you. And no, we can't adopt someone better because there IS no one better. And if you say something like that about my son again you'll be in deep trouble. Do I make myself clear?"

Severus was dumbstruck for a second, then he launched himself into Albus' arms. It was a while before he noticed something was wet. Had he been crying? Yes, must have been. He looked up to see both Albus and Minerva, who were sitting snugly together holding him close, with tears running down their faces.

"I never had parents," he said softly, "Those monsters that raised me don't count. I don't know how to be a good son. But I love you too, and there's no one I'd rather have for parents then you two. And I think you might be wrong about me not needing parents at my age," he grinned through his tears, "but I'm not going back into that corner! Not unless some idiot manages to turn me into a three year old again…"

They laughed softly and hugged him closer. "We really should send Horace a thank you," Severus said, and then he froze. He jumped off the couch and went white as a sheet. "You…you can't adopt me," he stammered, "If Voldemort finds out I'm dead."

Dumbledore sighed. "There wasn't enough time to tell you everything, Severus. Come here, sit down again. There's some things you don't know yet."

"Yesterday morning, we found Horace," the headmaster began, "and fortunately we had time to interrogate him before Fudge came by with a dementor. Horace admitted to giving you the potion, but of course we already knew that. He told us Voldemort had been most angry with him. He had broken into his mind with Legimency. Apparently he hadn't yet told Voldemort you are a spy, no doubt saving that revelation to a later time when you were there…unkiddified. But when Voldemort broke into his mind, he saw that. He knows now you are a spy, child. You can't go back."

Severus sat very still. "I don't have to go back? I can stay here with you? When am I going to wake up and find out it's all been a dream?"

They laughed and patted his shoulders gently. He frowned. "But…you need information…" The headmaster nodded. "Yes, we'll have to find some other way. But you are not going back, don't you even think about it. You know what he would do. For now, all you are going to do is teach and help plan our wedding. That'll be difficult enough, I'm sure, as we plan to marry tomorrow."

The next day, the Great Hall had been decorated beautifully. Harry, Hermione and Severus had worked the entire night to get everything in order. Help had arrived at 6 in the morning when the Weasley clan flooed in. The guest list was short. The Weasleys, Remus Lupin, Hagrid, Harry and Hermione, Poppy Pomfrey. Madam Malkins had been by especially that morning to get the couple and their best man into decent robes.

Dumbledore had insisted he and his son wear the same kinds of robes but a fight had ensued over the color. Minerva had settled the dispute by making them wear deep red goldtrimmed robes that looked marvellous on both of them. She herself was, with a wink to her new son, dressed in silk green robes with silver lace on the collar and sleeves.

Albus snorted when he saw them. "Now this is something that is definately going into that photo album of yours, Sevvy," he said, as he quickly took a picture, "the Heads of Gryffindor and Slytherin switched colors."

Amelia Bones had offered to marry them and file the documents in secured archives. The wedding was nice but quiet, with a lovely dinner afterwards.

The students returned for the feast on Monday and normal life resumed. The potions master behaved more civilly to the students, but still strict and cold, even – or especially - to Harry and Hermione. They didn't mind. His attitude when they got together to work on their antidote project (and after that on several other projects) was vastly different. They became friends. And without admitting it (especially Severus), each often thought back gratefully to the day the potions master had been kiddyfied.