Later that day, Lily met Harry at her private rooms.

"Hey darling", she smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the head, "sit down"

She pointed to the empty space on her olive green couch, where Harry sat down, looked at her and instantly said: "Was it good?"

"Sorry?", Lily asked a bit confused as she sat down next to him.

"Your night with Snape, Mum!", he said louder. Actually a bit louder than expected.

"Harry…", Lily felt so awful. It was her making him feel miserable. It was her making him upset.

"You can't be serious! W-Why are you doing this? Why him? WHY?!", now he shouted on purpose.

"Calm down… please. It is not just… that… you know? I love him, darling", she told him softly, grabbing his arm.

"No…", he shook his head, "no Mom, don't tell me that you love him. Not him. He's the complete opposite of Dad."

"Trust me, he is not. He is just that strict man, because he got hurt so deeply when he was younger. But you just get to know him better.", she continued.

"I don't want to know him better. He is my teacher!", Harry stood up, "I know him in class and I know that he can't love! You are replacing my father with him and expect me to accept it."

"I am not replacing your father!", now Lily spoke up and followed her son, who made his way behind the couch.

"No one could ever replace him!"

"Why are you doing it then?!", Harry shouted.

"Stop yelling!", she warned him, as he understood instantly.

"Sorry"

"Haven't you loved before?"

Harrys first thought was Ginny, and yes indeed. He loved her and couldn't do anything about it.

It hit him like a flash every time he saw her. She was the most beautiful thing he knew.

Without thinking about it, he began to smile.

"Yeah", he whispered and looked into his mothers eyes.

"Wanna tell me about it?", she smirked.

"It's a Weasley", he laughed, well aware that his mother already knew.

"She's beautiful"

"She really is, darling", his mother now smiled and guided him back to the couch, "does she know?"

"No, she is with someone else", that sentence made him sad and angry again.

It broke his heart to see her with him literally every day in class.

It broke his heart to see how happy she was and didn't even noticed him.

"I'm so sorry, Darling, but you know: it's love when all you want is that person to be happy, even though you're not part of their happiness", she told and hugged him a bit.

"I know. I'm fine, mum", he nodded and looked through the room to fight the tears coming up.

"I love you and I want you to be happy. Happy on every day of your wealthy life", she said and looked at him from the side.

"I want you to be happy too", he swallowed and looked down to his knees.

He knew that he had no other option than to try to deal with Snape and his mother.

It was a weird thought, it was a weird picture, it was a weird future to be, but he had to find a way to accept it.

After losing his father, there was absolutely no way to lose his mother as well.

When she was happy with him, then she should be with him, no matter what everyone said.

"I'm okay with it", he said after a moment of silence.

"I'm okay with you and Snape", he looked up.

"Really?", Lily asked, smiling.

"I guess. I love you mum, but I love it even more to see you happy"

"I love you, Harry. So much", she replied now hugging his son very tight.

"Love you too, mum", he hugged back.

"You'll like him.", she looked at her and her eyes began to shine.

"Yeah…", he smiled, trying not to disappoint his mother. He knew that this would be a ton of work.

To differ between him as his teacher and him as his… Stepdad?

A cold shower ran over his back.

He often thought about his mother finding a new man.

When he was younger, he always dreamed of a father. Of course, the idea of someone replacing his father on the spot next to his mom made him frightened, but still some kind of dad was always his dream.

Now that he got older, he said goodbye to the idea of a dad.

He could never see Snape as a father and would not even try to, but maybe he could actually like him somehow.

"I'll try my best, but do not expect me to be his best friend by tomorrow", Harry added and moved away from his mother.

"You don't have to. Just don't be upset about it anymore!", Lily looked at him with a bright, wide smile on her face.

A knock on the door let them look behind them.

"Lily, darling?", a deep pitched but surprisingly soft voice entered in the form of Severus.

"Sev. Hey", Lily now smiled even wider, if this was even possible, stood up and give him a brief kiss.

Harry remained on the sofa and demonstratively looked away.

An awkward silence built up between the Gryffindor and his teacher.

"Everything's fine?", Lily wrapped her arms around his neck and moved her eyes up to meet his.

"Of course…", he smiled a bit, "it's just…"

He turned away from the woman and looked at the young wizard, who still continued looking out of the window.

Without a word, he sat next to him.

Harry's heart immediately started beating faster, just because usually when Snape was around, nothing good would happen.

"Harry.", Snape said, looking over to him.

"Y-yes sir?", Harry nervously moved his head to him, but avoided meeting his eyes.

He never called him by his first name. It was incredible surreal hearing him say it.

"I'm excited to be part of your family now", he smirked a bit.

When Harry heard this, he let his eyes meet his for a second.

"Your mother is the bravest and most beautiful woman I've ever met, and I promise you that I'll protect her with everything I have.

I promise to both of you my full protection. Always."