Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.

A few days after the visit to the Potter's, Lily was holding Harry's hand as they walked back from the library. She had taken him there to pick out some children books while James, Sirius and Remus met their Charms group for the project they were working on.

Snape stepped out of the shadows. "Lily."

"Severus?" Lily tilted her head. They hadn't spoken since fifth year. She missed him, he had been a close friend. But she was afraid of him becoming a death eater, afraid of the danger that put her and her family in.

"I need to talk to you," Snape said, briefly glancing at Harry. "It's important."

"Hi Profess – err, I mean," Harry trailed off.

Snape's eyes widened in shock. "Were you about to say Professor? Was I a Professor?"

Harry nodded.

"Why would I ever do a thing like that?" Snape was shocked. He couldn't picture himself coming back here and teaching.

"You taught Potions and you were head of Slytherin," Harry added.

Snape's mouth dropped open. "Do I have brain damage in the future? I would never want to teach!"

Lily snickered. "You must take over for Professor Slughorn. Who would have thought? I thought you wanted to own your own Apothecary?"

"I do," Snape insisted.

"You worked here to protect me," Harry said. He looked around to make sure no one was listening. "You were a spy," he added in a whisper. "For the Headmaster."

"A spy? Me?" Snape was in complete shock. "But I -"

"He protects you, Harry?" Lily asked her son.

Harry nodded. "He doesn't like me, cause I look like daddy. But he protects me for you." he told his mother. "He was really brave."

"I'm not brave," Snape muttered.

"Interesting," Lily murmured. "So, what did you need to tell me?"

"Word has gotten around about your son," Snape said quietly. "It has reached the dark lord. He has given orders to have your boy brought to him so he can question him about the future."

Lily paled.

"There are seventh years who are planning to try and grab him," Snape continued.

"Including you?" Lily asked hesitantly. "The seventh year death eaters?"

"I'm not a official follower yet," Snape said curtly. "But yes, I have orders too. I wanted you to know. Don't let him out of your sight."

Lily pulled Harry closer to her. "He's just a little boy." She protested.

"The dark lord does not care. He wants to know whatever he knows about the future," Snape said.

"Maybe he should stay with James's parents," Lily sighed.

"No!" Harry protested.

"Hush now," Lily said, thinking.

"He's safer here," Snape said. "The wards of the castle, plus Dumbledore, he's safer here. Death Eaters would easily be able to attack Potter's parents. Or your own," he added.

"I won't let them take my son," Lily said determinedly. "They'll have to go through me first."

"Just like before," Harry whispered.

"It's different now, Harry," Lily said.

"I'm going to lose both of you again," Harry panicked.

Snape's eyes flew to Lily. "You mean you and Potter don't survive?"

"It's different now." Lily insisted. "That was a different time, Harry was sent back here for another chance. So we could all have another chance."

"Hey, what's going on?" James hurried over, scowling at Snape. Sirius and Remus were with him.

"Is this death eater bothering you?" Sirius asked, pointing his wand at Snape.

"Stop that, he's not one," Lily admonished. "He came to warn us."

"Oh?" James raised an eyebrow. "How do we know him warning us isn't part of some Slytherin plan?"

"What's the warning?" Remus asked.

"Seventh year death eaters have orders to take Harry to the dark lord," Lily said shakily.

"Not happening," James snapped.

"This is probably part of Snivellus plan to take Harry, pretend he is helping..." Sirius muttered.

"No, no calling him that!" Harry snapped. If things were going to change, then attitudes had to change right? Maybe this time around, Snape could be the Marauders friend.

"Pup, he is into the dark arts and -"

"Maybe being bullied pushed him to it!" Harry stamped his foot.

Sirius looked taken aback.

"My choices are my own," Snape said after a moment. "But I haven't joined anything yet."

"Why not?" James asked suspiciously.

Snape eyed Harry for a moment. "I went to a meeting and it was not pleasant," he admitted. He didn't want to go into detail with a child present. The meeting had made him sick, actually. It was not a future he wanted for himself. Hurting innocents, killing, that was not what he had envisioned for himself. "It's not what I thought it would be."

"You-Know-Who kills and enjoys it, what else did you think it would be?" Sirius scoffed.

Severus looked away. "I thought it was about power and protection. I didn't know the dark lord was insane and expects us all to be his slaves."

"Who would you need protection from?" Remus asked curiously.

Snape gave him a withering glance, causing Remus to shift uncomfortably and glance at Sirius and James. "Oh."

"You didn't join Voldemort because of us," Sirius rolled his eyes.

"I haven't joined at all," Snape snapped. "But for those who don't have...anyone in their life and have been bullied their entire lifetime, it is tempting."

"We haven't bullied you your entire lifetime," James frowned.

Snape didn't say anything to that. "Just heed my warning. Don't let the child out of your sight." he turned and stalked away.

HP

"What are you doing?" James asked, closing his Transfiguration book. They were seated in front of the fireplace doing homework while Harry lay sprawled on the floor coloring. It was hard to concentrate though, with the warning from Snape fresh in his mind.

"Making a lesson plan for Harry," Lily answered absently.

Harry looked up. "Lessons?"

"A lot of your kids your age start school," Lily said.

"I've done school." Harry frowned.

"Yes, and you'll do it again," Lily said. "You're not going to grow up not going to school."

"I don't want to," Harry whined.

"It won't be that bad. I can teach you and Professor Burbage has agreed to give some lessons as well."

"No way!" Harry protested. Lessons meant homework and he didn't want homework!

"Harry," James spoke up, giving him a warning look.

"Aw, come on pup. It won't be that bad," Sirius said. "Most of it will probably come easily for you and you won't have much homework."

"Or you might learn stuff as if it was the first time," Remus suggested. "If some of your memories fade from the future as time goes on."

Were his memories fading? Harry tried to remember different spells and frowned. He could remember some but then there were others that he couldn't. They were hazy. Huh. "I guess it's okay." he relented.

James snorted and shared an amused look with Lily. "Glad we have your okay on it."

HP

"So Snape becomes a death eater, turns to spying for Dumbledore, and spends years protecting Harry?" Sirius asked in disbelief as they sat in the common room. Lily had put Harry to bed and then gone to the girls dormitory.

"According to Harry," James said, deep in thought.

"It must be a mistake," Sirius shook his head.

"Sirius, Harry wouldn't be wrong about something like that," Remus said.

"So our friend Peter turns on us and supports Voldemort and yet Snivellus turns spy and becomes some sort of hero?" Sirius asked in disbelief.

"Hopefully with Peter that won't happen again," James said. "And with Snape...maybe he does change."

"We could give him a chance," Remus nodded.

"But it's Snivellus," Sirius complained. "He called Lily a mudblood!"

"He made a mistake."

The three of them turned to see Harry standing behind them. He gave them a sheepish smile.

"Eavesdropping?" James raised an eyebrow and frowned at his son. "I thought you were sleeping."

"Sorry," Harry said, chagrined. "I woke up. But Snape, he regretted calling her that. He missed their friendship. With his home-life, I think mum's friendship -"

"Home-life?"

"Uh, yeah. His dad is like Petunia and Vernon," Harry said.

"Oh." James was quiet a moment. So Snape grew up abused and then came to school only to be bullied by him and his friends. He winced. That was why Snape had sought out being a death eater, wanting to feel powerful.

"He did warn us about the seventh year Slytherins," Sirius acknowledged grudgingly.

"That they want to take me to Voldemort?" Harry shivered at the thought of facing that creature again. Especially at this age.

"That won't happen," James said with determination. "But that's why following the rules and not wandering off is important."

"I know," Harry sighed.

"Good, because I'm going to be very strict about it," James ruffled his hair. He then bent down to look his son in his eyes. "Also, eavesdropping is very rude and I don't want you to get into the habit of it. Understand?" his voice was quiet, firm.

"Yes," Harry said, flushing at being scolded in front of Sirius and Remus. He relaxed when his dad picked him up to hug him, settling Harry on his lap. Harry rested his head on his dad's shoulder and soon was fast asleep.

HP

Lily had taken Harry for a walk outside around the castle so he could excess some energy. He was running slightly ahead of Lily when he saw the Slytherin team practicing. "Can we watch?" he asked hopefully.

Lily looked at the field and noticed that other students from other houses were sitting around watching so she agreed.

Harry was watching one boy who was nodding to what the captain was saying to him. "He looks like Sirius," he commented.

Lily nodded. "That's Regulus Black, Sirius's younger brother. He's a fifth year, I think and seeker for the Slytherin team. They don't talk," she said sadly.

Harry stared as he remembered how Regulus had sacrificed himself to try and destroy one of the Horcruxes. He remembered thinking how it was sad that Sirius had never known that his brother had changed sides, that he had tried to do the right thing. He glanced over as his dad, Sirius and Remus approached.

"He's good, right?" Sirius asked, his eyes on Regulus. His voice sounded proud yet sad at the same time.

"Regulus was a hero in my time," Harry told him.

"What?" Sirius stared at him in shock. "What did you say?" He asked hoarsely.

"Regulus, when he is eighteen he dies trying to destroy something of Voldemort's. Something that if destroyed could weaken him. He left a letter behind, stating his hopes for Voldemort's destruction." Harry said. "He changed sides."

"He did?" Sirius gazed at the field where his younger brother was flying.

"He doesn't want to become a death eater," A soft voice said, startling them all.

"Severus?" Lily asked in surprise.

Snape looked around and then cast a silencing spell around them. "He was at the meeting I was, with the dark lord. I saw it, only for a second, but I saw the horrified look on his face. I don't think he wants that life either." Snape shrugged.

"He doesn't have to!" Sirius exclaimed. "I would help him!"

"He's fifteen and probably afraid to go against your parents," James said. "They would disown him too."

"He could stay with me," Sirius argued. He had been staying with the Potter's but planned to get an flat after graduating.

"He may think you hate him," Lily said gently. "And he's probably scared."

"If you're going to do something, do it quick. Bellatrix is pushing for him to become a death eater soon," Snape said. "The dark lord -"

"Voldemort," James said, staring at Snape. "Say it."

Snape hesitated.

"Come on, it's just a name," Remus encouraged.

"Voldemort," Snape said a whisper.

"See? You didn't explode or anything," Sirius smirked.

Snape rolled his eyes.

"His real name is Tom Riddle," Harry piped up. "He's a half-blood."

"He is? Like me?" Snape looked shocked.

Harry nodded. "Uh huh." He watched Regulus fly. "He looks like a good seeker."

"He is," Sirius said proudly. He smiled faded. "I need to talk to him."

"Better wait until after practice," Remus said wryly. "Otherwise he may hex you."

"He should try the Wronski Feint," Harry said, his eyes still on the game.

"What's that?" James asked curiously.

"It's where the seeker pretends to spot the snitch below and races to get it, hoping the other seeker will copy the move. At the last second you pull up and the other seeker usually crashes." Harry said happily.

Lily's mouth dropped open. "That is so dangerous! Did you ever do that move?"

"Uh," Harry bit his lip. "I, uh, don't remember."

Lily didn't look convinced. "You're not lying are you?"

Harry's eyes widened and he glanced at his dad, who raised an eyebrow. "Um, I don't want to answer on the grounds that you...may ground me."

Snape and Remus snickered while James and Sirius burst out laughing. Even Lily giggled.

"Your kid is something else," Sirius said, ruffling Harry's hair.

"We know," James said fondly.

Harry grinned.

HP

"Reg."

Regulus turned around, his eyes widening at the sight of his big brother. They hadn't spoken in years! "Sirius?" he asked questioningly.

"Hey," Sirius said, feeling a little uncomfortable. His own brother was a stranger to him and it broke his heart that he had let it get to that. "How are you?"

"Uh, okay. I guess." Regulus said, clearly confused as to why his brother was speaking to him.

"You look exhausted." Sirius said bluntly. "Are you sleeping? Eating well?"

Regulus's mouth dropped open. "Huh?"

"You need to make sure you are getting enough sleep and eating well," Sirius said. He winced slightly. "Merlin, I sound like Mrs. Potter. Or James and Lily, with Harry."

"Harry," Regulus glanced around to make sure no one else was listening. "I was going to send an anonymous note to you but Sirius, Harry is in danger." he said in a low voice.

Sirius's face softened. "We know."

"You do?"

"You're not the only one who has second thoughts about joining Voldemort," Sirius said gently.

"I -" Regulus paled. How did his brother know? "I just..I don't -" He was scared, if some of the seventh year Slytherins knew...the ones who were already death eaters...

"It's okay, Reg." Sirius put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed affectionately. "If you want help, I'm here. I know I haven't been and I'm so sorry but if you choose a different path than the one our parents want you to follow, I'll help you."

Regulus stared at him, biting his lip. "I don't want it. I thought...I don't even know what I thought it would be like, to be a death eater," he whispered. "Mother and Father made is sound like such an honor but I was at a meeting and it was horrible, Sirius. I don't want it but I'm scared. Mother and Father will disown me if I don't become a death eater." Or they may do worse.

"Then Mother and Father would be wrong," Sirius said. "They should love their kids no matter what. Their love shouldn't be based on only if you do what they want."

Regulus shrugged. "It's just how they are," he sighed.

"Hmm," Sirius said, not wanting to talk about them anymore.

"But you hate me since I'm a Slytherin," Regulus said, sadness in his eyes. "You don't love me."

"I do," Sirius said, feeling horrible. "I was wrong too. I thought you would feel about me the way they did and I didn't even give you a chance. I'm so sorry."

Regulus fidgeted a little. "I can stay with you if they disown me?" he asked hopefully.

"Yeah, you can," Sirius said warmly. "If they turn you out, I'll raise you myself."

Regulus made a face. "I'm fifteen. I don't need raising."

"Of course you don't, kiddo," Sirius teased, ruffling his hair.

Regulus laughed and ducked. "Prat."

"Is that any way to speak to your older brother?" Sirius asked with mock sternness.

"When the older brother is you? Yes," Regulus grinned.

TBC: