Disclaimer: Even though I'm sure you think that I came up with the Harry Potter characters, I didn't.
The Silver Horn
Chapter 2
Snape Manor; A week after the beginning of summer vacation
Severus Snape was in heaven. He bustled about in his potions lab, busily concocting seven different healing potions at once. If a Hogwarts student could have seen him now, they would have thought that they were in the middle of a dream, or a nightmare. There was a smile on the Potions Master's face; a small one, but a smile nevertheless. The usual frown lines etched on his face were gone as he relaxed, making him look ten years younger. Snape always felt at home in any potions lab. He happily inhaled the strong fumes of brewing potions and the unique scents of different herbs. He loved listening to the soft sounds of bubbling concoctions and simmering mixtures. He also relished the challenge of making a difficult potion.
A sharp tap startled Snape out of his trancelike state. He looked up at the window with annoyance. A tawny brown owl hovered in the air, carrying an envelope. It tapped again on the window. Snape growled and yanked open the window. Like a book lover in the middle of an interesting read, the Potions Master hated being interrupted in the middle of a brewing. He snatched the letter from the owl as he grumbled something about horrid birds and bad manners. He tossed the letter on an empty table, and then went back to work. A soft smile crept back onto his face as he slowly stirred a green potion.
Hours later, Snape sat comfortably in the middle of his living room; potions book in one hand and a mug of hot chocolate in the other.
"This is the life," he thought contentedly. "Blessed silence, no brats running around ruining potions…" He smiled.
The smile slipped from his face as he remembered the letter he had received.
"Bloody letter," he muttered, but stood up and set the book and mug on the table, walking to the potions lab to retrieve it.
As he walked back into the living room, he looked at the envelope more closely.
"The Potter crest?" he asked out loud, startled. He immediately thought of Lily. Was she alive? Did she send him a letter? He squashed the thought immediately.
"Lily's dead," he said firmly. He opened the envelope, took out the letter, and saw familiar flowing cursive writing. His eyes widened as he started to read.
My dearest Severus,
If you are reading this letter, then I am most likely dead. Actually, I am most certainly dead, since I charmed this letter to go to you only if I wasn't alive. My charms haven't failed me yet. Severus, I am so sorry for leaving you that night, for not trusting you and hearing you out. I've always loved you and no one else; believe me if you will. James and I married only to protect someone, not out of love. But I will come back to that later.
Severus, do you remember the night of our engagement, the night before you told me you were a Death Eater, the night before I ran from you?
Snape snorted, but there were unshed tears in his eyes. Of course he remembered that night. What kind of person wouldn't remember that sort of happiness? Who did Lily think he was?
Something happened that night, Severus. I found out two days after that I was pregnant.
Snape's mouth fell open, while his eyes widened.
Close your mouth Severus.
His mouth snapped shut with a click. He scowled at the letter.
A week later, Albus told me that you had been forced to be a Death Eater by your father, and you had become a spy for the Order. Severus, you don't know how much remorse I felt when Albus told me. I wanted to run back to you and cry a million apologies for the way I yelled at you. But when Albus told me that there was a prophecy about our son and that Voldemort was looking for it, I knew I couldn't go back to you. I had to protect our son. With you being a Death Eater, you could have been forced to tell Voldemort about our son at any moment or die trying to protect him. I couldn't do that to you, to us.
Albus and I thus came up with a plan. James was included as well. He agreed to marry me and pretend that Harry was a Potter instead of a Sanpe, never dreaming that Voldemort would be after us as well.
Snape groaned softly. It couldn't be. It couldn't be what he was thinking.
It's true, Severus. Harry Potter is really your son. I know there must have been much animosity between you two, since you had though he was a Potter. Forget about your past differences, Severus. Harold was the name of James's grandfather. Give Harry a new name, and call him your own. He is your son. Love him.
I put a charm on Harry that made him look like James. It will wear off when he turns sixteen. I have not told him the truth because this is something that must be said in person. I trust that you, his father, will tell him; about my cowardice, about your courage.
Severus, you were my first love and my last, my only love. I never loved James. Remember your love for me if you have forgotten, and give it to Harry. My dark angel, my life, my love, don't be sad that I am gone. I will always be watching over you. I will love you forever and always.
Love,
Lily
P.S.
Don't ever forget how to love.
Severus was frozen in his seat, his eyes closed, as the letter slipped from his hands and fluttered slowly to the ground.
Back to the Dursley Residence
Godric, Salazar, Rowena, and Helga found themselves in the middle of bare room the walls were crudely whitewashed, while the only furniture was a small bed on which lay a thin, tattered sheet. A gasp from Helga startled the other three into looking where her frembling finger was pointing. A small, bloody figure lay prone in a corner of the room.
"Harry?" Rowena whispered, as the four rushed over to him. Both Salazar and Godric's fists were clenched as they watched Helga examine Harry's injuries.
"If I ever get my hands on that uncle of his…" Godric growled.
"Your hands will go right through him," Salazar said sarcastically, but there was a flicker of both anger and worry in his eyes.
Helga sighed, wringing her hands, "We have to take him back to Griffindor manor now. I need potions to heal this."
"But Helga," protested Rowena, "We haven't told him who we are yet, or where we're taking him."
"There's no time," Helga snapped, her eyes looking scared. "We need to hurry."
She held out her right hand, while her left hand lightly touched Harry. The others did the same, touching Harry with one hand, putting their other on Helga's.
"Picture Hogwarts," reminded Rowena.
Together they cried, "Spirito Transportismo!"
At 2:00AM in Albus Dumbledore's room at Hogwarts, a silent alarm went off, a red light pulsing gently. The wards at Pivet Drive were down. Dumbledore rolled over in his sleep, snoring lightly.
At 3:00AM, the red light flickered off; the wards had reappeared. The Headmaster slept on, oblivious to what had just happened.
