A/N: Sort of a slow start, I know, but I have to set everything up just right. :0) Hope you enjoy.

Ugly Truth

Frowning after watching his son storm out of the room, Tobias walked over to pick up his son's robes that Severus angrily had thrown earlier. The soft fabric brushed gently against his fingertips, and he grabbed them from the cold floor. He had seen several levels of frustration from his son since coming back into Severus's life, but this was something much more than just the usual 'Dunderhead' contempt. Sighing quietly, he headed to the coat rack, stopping the moment he heard something hit the floor.

Tobias paused and glance down, his blue eyes narrowing on the yellowed folded-up piece of paper. He glanced back to his son's room before he bent down and retrieved it. Normally, he'd have not invaded his son's privacy, but it was strange to see a note folded like that. Everyone at Hogwarts that Tobias had ever encountered rolled things, not folded them. It reminded him of notes passed in class.

Slowly, he unfolded the piece of paper and skimmed the first lines.

Since it will no longer matter soon after I succeed, let me tell you my story, Severus. We share the same childhood experiences. Marauders. Roger. Death Eaters. To name a few. Our paths divert now, however, from Lily's death, thanks to me.

Reaching out blindly, Tobias grabbed for the nearest thing to keep himself upright. Since it'd no longer matter? What in God's green earth did that mean? And share the same childhood experiences? Tobias's blue eyes narrowed even more, his lips pursing.

For me, I never truly moved on from losing her until I was thirty-eight. That coward murdered them with their only son surviving and forced to live with his maternal aunt in a household where he would be treated worse than a house elf. I swore to Dumbledore I would protect the brat, watch over him in secret. And I did that. For seven long years. The moment I saw those eyes and that face, though, anger and bitterness took over inside me. I hated him for surviving when Lily did not. I loathed that she had given her life for him and not chosen me. And as such, I treated the boy unfairly.

His heart sank as he realized that these were his son's words. Or rather another version of his son. One who had been hurt badly. Who needed someone to care for him, to love him. Tobias's callused fingers traced his son's handwriting, as if to let the author know that he was there.

I told myself I had to, though, in order to protect him properly. But it was a lie. I did it because I could. Because I wanted him to feel the pain I felt whenever I looked at him. So, he suffered my unjust treatment of him for seven years, always believing I was trying to kill him instead of knowing the truth.

Truth? What truth was that? Tobias needed to know more, so he read on.

It wasn't until he looked down on me with kindness as I lay dying in the Shrieking Shack that I saw him for the first time. He wasn't James, bent on making my life hell. Nor was he Lily. I had made his life hell, yet he still offered me kindness. He needed to know the truth, so I gave it to him freely. I showed him how Dumbledore had allowed him to live until it was time the boy would have to sacrifice himself for the rest of us. I showed him the missing pieces of his parents' story, and then nothing as the darkness took over. I thought I had failed in protecting him. But I hadn't. He succeeded ultimately, at great cost to himself unfortunately.

"As I lay dyin' in the Shriekin' Shack," Tobias mouthed, his eyes closing as he tried to push away all the emotions that swirled about now. Drawing in a deep breath, he reopened his eyes. No. His son was alive. Very much alive. He glanced towards his son's partially closed door. They weren't the same person anymore. This Severus and his Severus. His Severus, he had love around him every moment, every single day now.

Running a hand through his hair, he sighed. It was clear that great cost came to Severus as well as the other boy he had saved in this letter. If only he had . . .

The fates sent me back after his success. My story wasn't over, it had said. And it was right. The boy helped me move on, to see that I was worth something. He even, without him knowing it, helped me see my wife actually as something more than a mere coworker.

"Wife?" Tobias murmured. His son had married? He couldn't keep the proud grin from finding its way to his face. Good for him. He then scratched his head and focused on the last word. Coworker. So, his son had married a coworker? Well, it couldn't be any of the old biddies he worked with now. They were old enough to be El's age or older. And he was quite sure that his son didn't like cougars.

Now, I know you are likely still wondering who she is. Driven mad perhaps even by my not revealing it yet. There is a reason, however, I have not done so. And that reason simply is that I wish you to fall in love with her as I have. Not love her because I loved her. As quite frankly, that would take the fun and surprise out of everything actually.

"Good boy," Tobias mouthed. His son had been paying attention to the old sci-fi telly shows they used to watch together when things were better, easier.

But, as you well know, I am not always one to leave things to chance either, especially not with our luck. So, let me tell you a bit about my wife before the end arrives and I am gone from this world.

He drew in a sharp breath and shook his head. No. His son was very much alive. But this Severus . . . how he would give anything to tell his boy that everything would be all right. Just one more time.

She has always stood by my side, even when I did not know it. She has defended me fiercely over the years, choosing me over her family at times in fact. And she loves me with all her heart, which I assure you is quite extensive. She is not above letting me have it, though, when I am being a prat. However, she forgives me eventually, as she is a keen believer in redemption and second chances. But above all else, she accepts all of me, the good and the bad. She has never tried to change me, as she claims it would be a futile attempt since I am as stubborn as a jackass. She was the only one to congratulate me when I received the Defense against the Dark Arts position, informing the others that they were idiots for assuming I would then attempt to kill them all. She was the one who later found my father and brought him to my hospital bed, so that I would have the chance to speak with him and not regret it all my life. She also was the one who helped him receive a pardon from the Minister of Magic, as she has a history with the Minister.

She is the light to our darkness. And she has always been with us. If you do not believe me, then consider the card she sent you this Christmas. The only one we both know you've received. Or the birthday well wishes we've always passed off as coming from some deluded young witch who had to have felt sorry for us or at the very least obligated to use us as her one good deed a day.

Christmas card? Severus had said that . . . Tobias read on.

I don't tell you this so you'll marry her tomorrow. Not at all. I want you to fall in love with her as I did. To experience the awkwardness of a first date. The sweetness of a kiss. The butterflies deep within the stomach. Everything we did not get with our first love. The wait I promise is worth it.

But as I sit here now waiting for the end, self doubt is taking over. I've changed a great deal of things. You, your son, Tobias, Dumbledore, Minerva, our hated enemy Black, and the list goes on. I worry now that perhaps I've changed something that will take her away from you. That she will not return. So, that is why I've told you what I have. To, as the Muggles put it, place the ball in your court, so to speak. When you are ready, Severus.

His breath caught in the back of his throat. The future had changed. His son, or a version of his son, had changed it. Licking his lips slowly, he carefully folded the letter back up and put it back in his son's outer robes. A part of him wanted to run into his son's rooms and hold him, but that boy, that poor young man, in that letter wasn't his son. Not anymore. Love was healing the wounds that didn't heal for the other Severus.

He needed to tell El. Let her know what had happened. But he knew what his wife's reaction would be. She hated time travel and everything with it. Claimed it only led to intense migraines from all the implications, all the variables, all the possibilities. No. He'd keep El far from that.

But now he knew the truth about little Harrison, the grandson that wasn't really his grandson. It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the little boy was actually Lily's son, the boy who died. Running a hand through his shaggy hair, Tobias sighed. If anyone ever learned. . . impossible. He wouldn't let them find out. And if they did, he'd do anything to protect his family. Harrison, sweet little Harrison, his life was better now too thanks to his son's interference. All their lives had become better.

Heading to his grandson's room, he glanced in and saw the boy fast asleep. The truth would only harm. Only destroy the happiness and love that they needed. He gently closed the door behind him and headed to his son's room.

A part of him thought about knocking on the door, but Severus had left the door partially open. Tobias nudged it open just a bit more and poked his head inside. When he heard his son's soft snores, he smiled faintly and sighed silently. It would be better this time. For all of them. He left soon after.

It felt like he had been walking for hours now in order to clear his head, but he knew it had only been an hour or two at most. No matter what Tobias tried, he just couldn't get that letter out of his mind. Sighing, he shook his head, sticking a hand back into his pocket.

It was no wonder why his son was so angry earlier. His whole life had been turned upside down with a confession of heartbreak, of the truth. Though, Tobias supposed if he looked back on it, there were other signs. Severus had dressed up more before he went to his meeting. He rarely if ever wore his teaching robes around the castle for the hell of it actually. Was that his son's way of dressing to impress for this mysterious future wife? Well, he'd give his boy some credit. Severus did look good in them.

He turned the bend near his son's classroom then. BAM!

"Shit!" someone, a young lady on second glance, exclaimed as she fell backwards onto her backside, her hands trying to brace for her fall.

"Bless ya," Tobias called out, a grin on his face. Now, she wasn't old. Was this his son's future wife? She was young, yeah, but young was good. He then chuckled quietly and stepped towards her. "Ya all right there, lass?" he asked, leaning forward to hold out a hand to her.

She stared at his offered hand for a moment before following the outstretched arm to its owner. "Oh, thank the Gods, you're not him." She sighed in utter relief before grasping his hand and allowing him to pull her to her feet. She brushed off her skirt before she smiled nervously at him. "I am fine, thank you." She then lowered her voice slightly. "I'm clumsier than a newborn deer on a frozen lake sometimes." She offered him an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry I ran into you. I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going. Clearly."

Tobias snorted and raised his brow. "Is that so?" His brows then furrowed as her words echoed in his head. "Wait. Lass, who'd you think I was?"

The young woman shrugged. "The tall, lanky potions professor who could use a lesson, or five, in manners." She snorted quietly before the words tumbled out of her mouth. "I ticked him off at the staff meeting earlier by calling him a petulant child, and he blew up at me. If the Headmistress wasn't there, I'd have told him he needed to pull that stick out of his ass, so I could smack him with it for making fun of my being American."

"Ah." Tobias rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "That'd be my boy all right. Don't pay attention to him, though. He's just cranky 'cause my two-year-old grandson is keepin' him up late, and he ain't used to that yet." He smiled at her. "Name's Tobias Snape. And you are?"

The color once again filled in her cheeks as she realized she basically just told this man his son was an ass. Nervously, she ran her hands over her skirt before holding out a hand a moment later to him. "Demetri Le Fay. New Astronomy professor who needs a filter between her brain and her mouth."

Tobias shook her hand instantly with a soft chuckle. "No worries, lass. His mum's told him the same thing, truth be told." His blue eyes then narrowed on her. "New Astronomy professor?"

"Yes, sir." She smiled and nodded. "My father always said my head was in the clouds, so I figured I'd make a career out of it. "

"Well, ain't that somethin'." Tobias shook his head with another chuckle. "Other than my boy bein' his usual charmin' self, how's your first day goin'?"

"If I could do it all over, I would." She sighed. "After the disastrous staff meeting, I was royally told off by my great-great-grandmother's portrait for being a disgrace to the family name...again. Then I forgot to latch my door, and my cat has decided to be my personal tour guide of the castle. So," she shrugged "here we are."

"In other words, ya need a drink," Tobias chuckled with a shrug.

"I think I need two," she admitted with a snort.

"Your cat like anythin'? Milk or stuff?"

She seemed to think for a moment before she replied. "Merlin likes when I put a sugar cube in his milk. I think he believes it's Absinthe, since he sees me drink it that way."

A sharp whistle left his lips before he had a chance to stop himself. "Absinthe? Well, aren't ya a feisty little witch?" He shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "Even on my worst of days, I couldn't touch the stuff. But a sugar cube, now pretty sure the elves got that somewhere around here."

"Feisty is my middle name," she joked before she adopted a more serious tone. "Absinthe isn't that bad considering the foul tasting Firewhiskey all of you drink here."

"Firewhiskey? Huh. " He shrugged. "Wouldn't know it." He then forced a polite smile to her. He truly didn't know of it. He had heard of it of course and seen his son nurse a drink or two, but he kept to his long-ago promise to himself.

Demetri then sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Why didn't I think of calling an elf to chase that damn cat?"

"Elves save the world daily, ya know?" Tobias teased. "They don't get a lot of credit, but . . . those things really are handy in times like these."

"I'm still getting used to them being here actually." There was something about him that just made her want to talk. "I never grew up with a household elf as only the richest families had them." She shrugged. "Even my Boarding school only employed them on special occasions, which was few and far between really."

"Shit, lass. I only been around them since last Fall or so." As if that explained everything. "Before that I was under house arrest and—well, that's a story for another time. Let's go find yer cat."

"Are you sure? I don't want to inconvenience you," Demetri asked.

"Nah. It's fine. I don't have much else to do seein' as how my son and grandson are both sleepin' finally. So, what's this cat look like exactly? Like Mrs. Norris, a bit bitchy and clearly wantin' ya dead or more like McGonagall, sweet but deadly?"

"He's nothing like that thing Filch calls a cat." Demetri stopped short, gawking at the older man. "Wait. The headmistress is a cat . . . like an Animagus? Huh. Interesting. My great-great-grandmother Morgana was a bird Animagus actually."

"Yeah, everyone around here is somethin', ain't they?" Tobias said quietly.

"Merlin is all black with gold eyes," she stated a second later. "And I swear he's a reincarnated teenage boy because he listens just as well as some of the boys I went to school with."

Tobias snorted. "All right then." He called for a house elf, smiling at it when it popped in. "Two sugar cubes with a bowl of milk, please."

Demetri jumped when the creature popped in. "Sorry." Her voice was low, and her eyes remained downcast as if she had just been told of by a superior.

The house elf popped in the bowl of milk with two sugar cubes a moment later before it popped away again. Tobias said nothing when he noticed the young witch's jump. He himself had jumped like that more than a few times while being in this castle. So, who was he to say anything? Moving further down the hallway, he slowly set them down a moment later. "Now we wait..."

Leaning against the wall, Demetri watched Tobias. The man was interesting to her clearly and one of the only people to have given her the time of day in the short time she'd been in residence at the castle. Besides a nod or a smile from various coworkers, no one had gone out of their way actually to acknowledge her. She could chalk it up to being days before students arrived and the normal beginning of school chaos, but still. She wondered if she'd see more of the man or get a chance to talk to him again, when a faint jingling sound pulled her from her thoughts. She smiled, thanking the Gods she had thought of putting a bell on Merlin's collar before coming to Hogwarts.

Tobias jerked his head to the cat who was heading towards them. "Just call me Tobias Snape: World Class Cat Finder." He grinned. "Well, now that the cat's been found, you gonna be all right there?" He watched her and sighed inwardly. She needed a friend or two. She just had that air about her that screamed that she felt alone. And having lived alone for so long under house arrest, Tobias knew how damaging that feeling was to a person.

"I'll be sure to call on your services again and tell a few friends with wayward felines." Demetri laughed as she bent down to scoop up her cat. "You, Mister, are lucky Tobias helped me find you," she said addressing the sulking kitty, "before Filch did, or worse, the Potions professor." She winked at Tobias before smiling. "I can find my way back, hopefully. Thank you again for the help and the friendly conversation."

"Anytime, lass." Tobias smiled at the duo before he headed back to his rooms. She'd do for a daughter-in-law. Now if only his son were ready for such things...

It was late evening when Severus finally joined the land of the living again. Tobias had already fed Harrison and himself supper and put the little tyke back to bed after giving him a bath. His blue eyes glanced up when he heard the footsteps that murdered the silence, and he folded the Evening Prophet again and watched his twenty-two-year-old son stumble into the room with full-on bedhead.

"Well I'll be, ya are alive," Tobias joked.

His son grumbled something too low for him to hear and headed for the already brewed tea.

"So . . ." He smiled faintly at his son when Severus returned a frown. "Prophet is goin' on about another raid. Some Nott git was arrested this time. Ya given any thought to my offer?" He shouldn't have started with this, but he couldn't just go on the offensive quite yet.

"We're fine, Dad."

"Yeah, as long as ya stay in the castle, but that ain't a life, son."

"It's fine," Severus replied evenly, clearly annoyed.

"All it takes is one—"

"I said that it's fine."

"And what about these deaths, yeah? The ones who are found strung up, Severus?"

"There's no place safer than Hogwarts, Dad."

"Yeah, then why'd you hate this place so much after a while?" He hit a nerve. He could tell by the way his son's shoulders hunched up as if he was ready to tackle and beat him. "I'm just askin' that ya consider it. That's all. I'm—shit, son, I don't want to lose either of ya."

Severus scoffed before he took a big swig from his tea. A moment later, he turned his back to Tobias and rinsed out his cup. The older father couldn't stop the words from tumbling out. He needed the boy to know that he knew the truth. That he could confide in his father. That he wasn't alone.

"When were ya gonna tell me, son?"

"What?"

"The truth about Harrison," Tobias answered, folding his hands together.

"What are you going on about?" Severus seemed to be genuinely confused.

"That he ain't yers." He held a hand up when his son opened his mouth to argue. "Don't waste yer breath. I get why he's with ya. Just, ya know, it'd have been nice to have known that ya trusted me, Severus. At least a little bit."

"You're mad, old man!"

"Nah. What's mad is that ya still have the letter in yer pocket instead of burnin' it or somethin'. First thing after a kidnappin' or any rule breakin' is to get rid of all incriminatin' evidence, Severus. It lessens the charges that can be applied."

"Oh, forgive me, Dad, for not being the criminal mastermind you are."

"That's not what I'm sayin', and ya damn well know it. Yer keepin' it 'cause it tells ya about yer future wife, right?" He noticed his son's look of surprise instantly. "Met her earlier by the way. She's a bit rough around the edges, yeah, but she's good, son."

"You met . . ." His dark eyes darted to the door. "When was she in the castle?"

"She lives here, son. Remember?"

"What?" Severus frowned before he shook his head. "You met Sinistra?"

"Who?" Tobias asked, his head pulling back slightly. "Nah. I met Demetri, the new Astronomy professor. Your coworker." It was his turn to frown when he watched his son rear back as if he had been slapped. "What?"

"I didn't marry her!"

"Well, not to split hairs, but you ain't married to anyone yet, son."

"Yeah, but not her!"

"What's wrong with Demetri?"

"Nothing. Except she's annoying, mouthy, and rude, and American—"

"Same could be said about you, except the American part. And, come on, Severus. Ya only just met her. Give her a chance."

"She hasn't always been in my life, Dad!"

"So? This Sin-lady ain't exactly in yer life right now either, is she?" He watched his son's eyes flash dangerously and realized why his son had become so angry earlier. "She was supposed to be here tonight, wasn't she? This lady yer supposed to be with?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Judgin' by the tantrum yer throwin', it clearly does."

"I'm not throwing a tantrum!"

"Says the man yellin' like a madman," Tobias pointed out, crossing his arms.

"Fine. You know what? You're right, Dad! I am angry. I'm damn angry! She was supposed to be here! And she's not! Instead, there's some witch who—I don't even know how to describe her—it wasn't supposed to be like this."

"No. It wasn't. Yer future self made sure of that."

"So, what then? You want to go back to house arrest? The boy grow up in a household that hates him? Mum return to captivity? Is that what you want?"

"No, and ya damn well know that. I'm just sayin' that—Christ, son, ya did watch those shows with me. Ya know how this ends. All it takes is one moment, a butterfly dyin' over in Japan for all we know, and time all unravels into chaos."

"Those aren't real, Dad! They're just fictional shows on the telly."

"Yeah, and to a billion people out there, magic ain't real either. And we both know that's bull."

"I'm going out!" snarled Severus, slamming his cup down into the sink before he headed for the door. Everything about him screamed his anger.

"Son," Tobias started to say.

The portrait of Salazar, though, slammed shut behind Severus.

Tobias sighed heavily. He wasn't saying that he'd tell the authorities about Harrison, because he wouldn't give the boy up no matter what now. He had fallen in love with his grandson. But it is always dangerous to mess with time. Everyone knows that. There are always consequences, and he shuddered to think what those would be this time.