Summary: Can one person and fate make the difference in Severus' life?
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, sue me and become poor.
A/N: This fic is AU, not canon. and thanks! to my beta Karri
Now to my reviewers! Taking the chance here.
sparkling silver angel wings: sorry for the delay
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ChildofDarkness1988: yes this is redemption for Snape
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Chapter 26
When Severus awoke around nine the next morning, Lotty smiled at him as she placed the steaming cup of coffee at his place on the table. Severus eased out from under Harry and went to the coffee as it beckoned to his weary head. Even after sleeping all night he was not rested for his dreams had been filled with strange visions. Filling his mouth with the fresh coffee, he thanked Lotty and asked her if all was well. It was not like Lotty to look so on edge, and Severus wondered what had caused it.
"Lotty is not wanting to upset Master Snape, but she must tell him of his visitor when he and Master Harry were gone yesterday."
Severus' heart started beating inside his chest twice as fast. If any of the Death Eaters knew he was Harry Potter's father, then there would be a price on his head for not bringing him before the Dark Lord. "Lotty, did you tell them about Harry?" When Lotty made no move to reply, Severus grew distraught. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he shook her. "Did you tell them about Harry?"
Lotty pulled Severus' fingers from her shoulders and looked him in the eye, her own growing large. "Lotty did not tell them of Master Harry. She is a good elf and would not get Master Harry into trouble. Lotty will not allow anyone to harm him." When the house elf said this, Severus calmed down and sat back in his chair. Taking his cup again he noticed his hands were shaking and he willed them to stop. He would not show anything to the Death Eaters should they come. He had left them to follow that idiot; he instead would take care of something more important than his spying duties, Harry.
When he glanced over at the small boy, he knew they would eventually find out about him, and then it would be an all out war, but would they be victorious against the Dark Lord? He did not wish to think about it now.
Severus and Harry went about the next few weeks going out into the meadow and having picnics, and Severus had even taken Harry on an outing to France. They had grown closer, and on several occasions Severus had come home from Hogwarts to find Harry and Lotty playing in the house together. Once he had even came home to find Lotty dressed in some of Harry's old robes as they played warriors, and wizards.
No one would have known that Harry was not born and raised as Severus' son if they had seen them together. While Severus showed no patience with the students in Hogwarts, he spent hours on end teaching Harry how to prepare potions the correct way, and they grew close by this bond. Lottie would even have to drag them out of the lab, telling Severus that it was well into the early morning and that Master Harry needed his sleep.
Months Later...
Harry's next birthday had come and gone, and he and Severus had gone to the ocean, something Harry had always wanted to do. Severus had developed a severe case of sunburn, and Harry had tried to keep from snickering about the lobster comment, but just as the year before Severus had woken him at midnight and taken him to the summit of the mountain. Harry, even though he had seen it the year before, marvelled at it once more, his eyes staring at the endless clouds that seemed to be circling his head.
The rest of the year was spent with Severus teaching Harry potions. He wished he could teach the boy more, but without a wand he could not fathom defense or transfiguration. Severus also did not wish to call forth the powers he had seen Harry use. It had frightened the boy yes, but it had scared Severus far more than he cared to admit.
Today Severus had to leave out for a few minutes to go to Diagon Alley for more potion ingredients. "Harry, continue to stir the potion counter clockwise every ten minutes. I will be back with the unicorn hairs in an hour."
Harry nodded his head to show that he understood, and he smiled up as he stirred the potion. Lotty promised Severus she would keep an eye out for him. "That does not mean for you to give him a mound of sweets in my absence. No cake or chocolate before dinner. Is that understood?" Lotty said she would obey. Severus peered at her with raised eyebrows, but Lotty looked the picture of innocence with her big gray eyes.
As soon as Severus disappeared into the fireplace, Lotty went about preparing dinner for the pair. She was making a special dinner tonight, one of Severus' favorites, chicken and dumplings. Not that he would ever admit to anyone how much he loved the simple meal, but Lotty had known since she found him sneaking it in from a restaurant. After the meal was made, Lotty went to check on Harry. When she peeked into the room Harry motioned for her to come in. "Lotty, want to help me stir?"
Lotty shook her head vigorously. "Lotty does not wish to mess up Master Harry's potion."
"You won't mess it up Lotty, I trust you. Come on, it is easy," Harry said placing the spoon in her hand. Lotty stirred just like Harry told her to and she let a tear drop from beneath her eyelashes. "Master Harry is too kind to Lotty. You should have Lotty serving you, but instead you are letting Lotty help with your potion."
Harry tilted his head. "Lotty you are not just a house elf, you are my friend." This only made Lotty cry more, and when Harry finally got her to stop, Lotty left saying she would be back in a moment. In no sooner than five minutes Lotty did come back in carrying a tray with a mug on it. "Master Snape says not to give Master Harry any cake or sweets before dinner, but he did not say I could not give you hot cocoa."
Harry grinned knowing that Lottie had tricked his father. Harry was sipping his cocoa when he stopped. "Lotty where is your cup?"
Lotty looked shocked. "I am not having a cup. My duties are to the kitchens."
"Come on Lotty, have a cup of cocoa with me please." Lotty could not refuse those big green eyes, and with a pop of her fingers she too had a cup of cocoa. Both of them sat down by the cauldron and every ten minutes Harry again would stir. Once their cocoa was gone, Lotty took the cups away and left Harry to set the table. Harry cut down the heat on the potion and went to wash his hands.