Sebastian was looking out the window. He was sitting in the train that would bring him up to Nottingham. He already took a bus from his school to reach London and would need to take another one to reach Cokeworth. But for now, he was sitting in the train, remembering his school year. The first one that did not end in some kind of huge catastrophe.

A normal year. He got to be a normal teenager, going through a normal rebellious phase (according to Severus). He still felt a little ashamed about those few months, but he made it up to his classmate since them and was now friends with his dormmates.

Bryan had been the first to study with him. He wasn't afraid of his moods and helped him a lot to catch up on the muggle curriculum.

Finlay, Archie, and Theo were all in the volleyball team with him. They were fun and they shared a few adventures together. Like that afternoon when they got out of the school and to the village. It had been exciting for Sebastian to do it without the help of the Invisibility Cloak. He could really get caught this time, and there was no fame to save his neck. They didn't go very far, just to the village next door, where they found the liquor store.

Archie's family was rich, and he had used that money to forge an ID saying that he was eighteen years old. He got into the liquor store and came back with a pack of light beers.

They spent that afternoon in a park, sipping their beer and laughing. Fortunately, they made it back in time for dinner. The surveillants had yelled at them for disappearing but bought their story of a walk in the school's woods.

He also remembered fondly of a volleyball match opposing their school to the nearest public school. They won by just a few points and Sebastian could see how disappointed the other teens were. He had an idea and, after checking with his team captain and the coach, talk his school team into inviting the other team to their party. Instead of the victor's party, it became a big party with a lot of people. So much that they nearly ran out of food and drinks! But he was glad that everyone had fun in the end.

It was also the proof that he was becoming a better man than any of his fathers. They would have never invited the losing team and their friends to share a nice evening with them after a Quidditch match. Thinking about it, HE wouldn't have done it before.

He spent the rest of the trip thinking about Alice. She was one of the girls attending the school next door. They met during that party after the match. She was a pretty woman, blond-haired with clear blue eyes. She had spent the first hour alone with a book until Sebastian came to invite her for a dance. He knew that he wasn't as attractive as before, but he went for it with the confidence of a victorious Gryffindor Seeker. It must have shown, because she accepted to dance with him, and then the next dance, and the next. He was a disaster on the dancefloor, but they laughed a lot about it. After the third one, he led her to the table with the sodas and started to talk with her. Asking a lot of questions, both to avoid saying too much on himself and because people generally love talking about themselves.

He didn't see her again after that evening. Maybe it was not meant to be, but he really hoped to get another chance to see her next year. He would be looking for her this time.

When his train stopped, he got out and looked around to find the bus station. After a few minutes walking around, he found a desk where he would be able to buy a bus ticket.

'A ticket for Cokeworth, please.'

The man at the desk didn't look very happy with his day but still gave the ticket to Sebastian, who paid for it with the muggle money Severus gave him before he left for school in September.

The bus trip was much less comfortable than the train, but also shorter. After a few hours, his finally got out and into the city bus that would lead him to his neighborhood.

It was now dark outside. He had spent all day travelling to make it back home. He knew that Severus wouldn't be able to get out of Hogwarts before mid-afternoon, at best, so he hadn't bother to wait for him a chose to travel by himself. Dumbledore always made one last meeting to close the year with all the professors. It was a strange tradition in Sebastian's opinion. Why would they want to spend more time together, when they just spent ten months on top of each other? Just like he was a little sad to not be with his friends anymore, but after ten months in the same house and classes, he was happy to spend the summer alone with his brother!

Sebastian got out of the bus. The streets here were still as depressing as the previous summer. Even more so in the dim light of the rare streetlamps lighting the road. He could see a few more house that seemed occupied than last year. Maybe people got poorer and felt the need to move into a more affordable neighborhood. No one in their right mind would come here just because they wanted to. No one. Everyone ended in the dump for a reason.

He walked down a couple of street and suddenly stopped. For his position, he should normally be able to see the corner of Spinner's End. Only, because it was so dark, he couldn't. And that meant that the streetlamp was broken.

Sebastian continued to walk and passed his street. It was completely in the dark. Severus was not home.

From that he could make two scenarios. On one hand, Severus could simply be late and would come house tomorrow. On the other hand, something could have happened in the three days since he last spoke to him. Meaning that he may need to go into hiding.

As he continued to walk to the next bus stop, Sebastian tried to remember the plan that Severus had.

Sebastian got into the last bus of the night going back to the station.

Something in him was telling him that Severus was in danger. Something went wrong… Again.

During the trip back to the station, Sebastian reviewed the plan several times in his head.

The streetlamp was broken tonight, but he should go back tomorrow night and see if it was still the case. If it was still broken, Severus was in trouble, and he should go into hiding. He knew that Severus had prepare a plan for that. Everything was written in a little notebook, but Sebastian never bothered to read it. He was so sure that everything would be okay now…

He remembered that Severus had spent days working of that hiding plan. He would need to dig out the notebook tonight and see if there was anything that could help him.

When the bus finally arrived at the station, Sebastian got out and suddenly felt completely lost. What was he supposed to do now?

He looked around him but could only see a depressing street, with an old train station that wasn't used anymore, and even more depressing buildings around. When the local industries had closed, they took the whole town with them.

He decided to start walking and searching for a place to sleep for the night. He quickly found a hotel and made a face when he saw the name: the Railview Hotel.

He knew that place. First, he recognized the building. It was where he slept with the Dursleys when Vernon was running away from his Hogwarts letters. Then, he recognized the name. It was the hotel where his new mom regularly met with his… father. The hotel where his brother was conceived.

Just thinking about it made him want to sleep in the streets.

Only the thought of being reprimanded by Severus for doing something so stupid and dangerous made him walk into the hotel.

An old lady was at the counter. She seemed to be busy with her accounting book.

'Hum, hum.'

'Oh! Good evening, sweetheart! How can I help you?'

'Hum… I need a room for the night,' said Sebastian, already taking out his wallet.

'Alone? Where are your parents? I am not sure I can let you stay here, young man. Can I see an ID?'

'Hum… sure.' He gave her his muggle ID card.

'Well, I usually don't accept minors traveling alone. I see you live in Cokeworth, why don't you go home, sweety?' asked the lady. She looked nice and caring.

'I can't. My older brother is only coming home tomorrow, and he kept the keys. I called his office and he told me to come here', lied Sebastian.

'Oh, my poor lamb. Come, I'll get you a room for the night. Do you want to have breakfast here tomorrow? It's served at 7.30am.'

'Yes, thank you.'

She really was the picture of a grand-mother, baking cakes and hosting for big family dinners. To think that she might have met his parents…

It was better not to think about that.

She took a key and walked toward the small staircase. It was cover in an overly flowery wallpaper, just like the corridor on the second floor. The carpet had seen better days but was clean. The lady stopped in front of a room with the number 3 on it.

'There, see you tomorrow morning. Have a good night!' she said, giving him the key.

And she left him alone in the corridor, with the key in hand.

Sebastian entered the room and almost regretted coming here in the first place. The room was clean, but the decor was all in a pastel pink theme, with roses and flowers everywhere. Very Umbridge. Or very romantic, for a young couple meeting in secret.

Both options were bad in his opinion.

With a sight, he decided that it was too late to find another hotel, if there was another one in this town. He put his suitcase holding all his muggle stuff for the year at the bottom of the bed, an old habit from Hogwarts. His backpack ended up on the bed.

Sebastian quickly opened his suitcase and pulled out his Two-Way mirror. He needed to talk with Severus, see that he was okay. Surely, he was being paranoid.

'Severus Snape'

Nothing.

The mirror shimmered but showed only black. The shimmer proved it was working, so Severus was not dead. But he must have left the mirror in his pocket because Sebastian couldn't see anything. He would need to try again later.

Sebastian took out his pajamas and toiletries and, after a nice shower, started to get ready to bed. He tried the mirror again but still nothing. He decided to start reading the journal where Severus had written his emergency plan.

After the second page, he realized that they were only addresses. Like if he had planned an itinerary for him. He decided to look more into the bag and discovered all the camping gear that Severus had packed for him. He quickly re-packed everything except his wand, his Invisibility Cloak, and the address book.

If Severus had prepared him a camping bag, then he would camp. The only thing he wasn't sure about were the addresses. They might be an itinerary to follow, but if Severus was caught and tortured for information, it might also become dangerous to follow it.

Sebastian trusted his brother. If he was caught, he wouldn't crack. And why would someone ask about the location of a Squib anyway? No. If Severus didn't answer his mirror tomorrow, and the streetlamp was still broken, he would start to follow his brother's list of addresses.

He would need to go check earlier than today. And he would need to buy his bus ticket in advance to get out of Cokeworth. The selling desk usually closed before sunset. It was hard to think that he might be wasting the money if Severus was back home. But he was sure that his brother wouldn't mind if Sebastian was extra cautious.

The night was short and stressful for Sebastian. He couldn't stop his mind from thinking. Between his fear for Severus, and the idea that he may be sleeping in the same room Voldemort had used to meet with his mom. Urgh. Disgusting. It was like thinking about Lily and James… Urgh! It was true that no child liked to think about their parents doing IT. And he had too many parents for his own sanity!

In the morning, Sebastian took his breakfast quietly and left the hotel. He would never come back here if he could help it.

He chose to go visit Katy at her salon. The chemical smell welcomed him; it was comforting how some things didn't change.

'Hey! Sebastian, right? I was wondering where you had disappeared all this time!' said Katy.

Sebastian noticed that her dark blue hair had changed for a bright purple color. He liked it better.

'Yes. I was at my new boarding school', said Sebastian.

'Oh, good. I kept wondering if your Crazy Daddy had kidnapped you and was brainwashing you in a secret villain location' said Katy, laughing but reassured.

'Crazy Daddy?'

'Yeah. I named him that in my head. Nazi Daddy sounded less funny.'

Sebastian looked at her with round eyes.

'You… you remember about my father?'

'Oh, honey. It's not every day that you comfort a crying teenager over his Nazi father. Of course, I remember!' said Katy. 'So? Are you here to give me an update on his arrest or to get a haircut?'

'Unfortunately, only a haircut today. No one knows where the man is hiding.'

Katy made a sad face.

'Maybe next time you come. Alright, hop on the chair in front of the sink and let me work my magic!'

Severus was waiting. Food came a few hours ago, carried by a miserable looking house-elf. But nothing else happened since he woke up.

He had checked his pockets, but they were completely empty.

He simply hoped that Sebastian didn't go to Spinner's End and was using his emergency bag. The camping gear should help him survive until he turns eighteen. After that, his brother would be free to go wherever he wanted, but hopefully far away from here.

A son. He had a son.

Eileen didn't betray him. He betrayed her. He assumed the worst of her when he saw that pregnant belly and the wedding ring and left the Alley without an explanation. He left her, alone and pregnant, to fend for herself against an abusive husband.

He had killed his own father for doing that to his mother and himself. Severus had every reason to want to kill him.

Severus.

His son.

A son that had been tortured by him own wand.

A son that was waiting in the cells of the Manor. Waiting to know if he was going to live or die.

He would live, of course. He was HIS son.

His only fault was to help a teenager that was afraid to die. Harry Potter was dangerous to him, now more than ever, since he became mortal again, but it wasn't enough to kill his own son. The baby he had with Eileen.

Eileen.

His sweet Eileen had loved him. And if any woman on the earth ever had a chance to sparkle something more than disdain in him, it would have been her. If only she was still alive, they could care for each other. He would never be able to love, but he wanted to care for her. If only.

She had loved him and raised their son.

And their son had created a clone of himself.

… "Sebastian is not only my brother, but he is also my clone. We share the same parents, mother, and father." …

Sebastian Snape used to be Harry Potter, and now he was his son.

What was he supposed to do now?

Voldemort sighed. Betrayal was ambiguous. It could be read one way or another depending on the person. That's what he had learnt last night.

… "If this isn't enough to save my life, at least leave him alone. He hasn't done anything wrong. He is just a child." …

Severus had begged for Harry Potter's life. Just like he had begged for Lily Potter. The woman was dead now, but maybe sparing the boy's life would give him a chance to… to what?

To do better than his own father? He was already doing worst! He had his son in a cell, waiting for his death. And his son's protégé was his Number 1 target. At least his own father had only ignored his existence, not actively tried to kill him.

So, the question remained: What was he supposed to do?

Wormtail came to take him. He led him with his wand through the corridors to a bedroom with a small bathroom attached. It was simple but cozy, all in cream and tender green tones. Wormtail ordered him to shower and get dressed in the clothes provided in the bathroom.

Severus was contemplating the events while letting the hot water run on his sore muscles.

Voldemort must have decided to spare him.

Once dried and dressed in one of his own black clothes, he came out of the bathroom. He was welcomed by the sight of the most feared Dark Lord of their time, waiting patiently for him, sitting on the bed covers.

Severus couldn't think of one pertinent thing to say, so he just stayed silent.

'My mother tricked my father with a love potion. When she got pregnant, she stopped dosing him and he left us to die in the streets. I refuse to be anything like that man.' Voldemort kept his red eyes glued on Severus. 'Because of the potion, I will never be able to love. I didn't love your mother, but I realize now that she loved me. And she loved you.' There was a short silence before Voldemort continued. 'For the past year, I… Let's say that I have a better understanding of emotions and have learned how people can care for each other. I would like to try that with you, Severus'.

They both held their breaths before Severus answered.

'Will you leave Sebastian alone?'

'I was hoping I could make him the same offer. He -'

'No. You leave him alone', said Severus.

There was a longer silence. Heavy and awkward.

'Severus, I just want to give a chance to our family. Where is he?'

'I don't know, and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. I don't believe for one second that you give a knut about us. You don't care for anybody but yourself.' Severus was angry now. A family? Really?

'He is sixteen and alone, Severus you can't seriously think that he is going to survive more than a month on his own!' Knowing the boy, Voldemort was ready to believe it. Harry Potter had a way to always survive. Severus must have shared that thought.

'He will', he said with confidence.

With a sigh, Voldemort stood up and walked to the door. One hand on the doorknob, he looked at Severus.

'I will do everything I can to give us a chance to become a family, Severus, I promise. Maybe one day, you will believe me and tell me where to find your brother. In the meantime, please don't leave the Manor's ward. Your belongings have been brought to this room. It will be yours for now.'

With that, he left the bedroom and Severus behind him.

He wasn't surprised that Severus didn't believe him. But that didn't stop the ache in his heart. They would need time to mend their relationship, he knew it, he just hoped that it wasn't too late for them.

As for Harry Potter… The survival of the boy was important to Severus. If Sebastian and him could get along, and that was a big "if", he could re-unite his family. The one Eileen gave him, and the one Severus created.

This HAD to work. It was his one chance to know how it was to care and to be cared for. His only chance to have a family.

First, he needed to make sure that he had a proper place for his family. Away from his Dark Lord responsibilities. A house, somewhere Severus wouldn't see anything of his activities. Most people tried hard to separate their private life from their job, there must be some reason behind this.

Then, he had to erase any threat that could come in Sebastian's way. Wherever he might be. Which meant that he needed to control the Ministry sooner than what he expected. Plus, there was no need to wait for Potter's birthday anymore. The Light Idol was gone. Replaced by his son.

His son.

Harry Potter was his son.

He still had difficulties with that idea.

Voldemort walked out of the Manor and disappeared to Little Hangleton. He never liked this small village. The houses were well kept and the garden full of roses and other seasonal flowers. It was, by all standards, a nice and quiet village. But he resented his father and grandparents. They should have done something for his mother. And when his came to confront them, they shouldn't have treated him like dirt.

But the house on the hill was the only one that he legally owned. The one he had claimed after the death of his family. It was falling apart with decay. He didn't care enough to renovate it when he was living here two years ago.

As soon as he past the front door, Voldemort started to spell the dust away, followed by a string of Reparo to every item he could see.

After Voldemort left his newly appointed bedroom, Severus waited a few minutes. He didn't want his father to know he had a way to contact Sebastian. As soon as he was sure Voldemort wouldn't come back, he opened his trunk and pulled out his Two-Way mirror.

'Sebastian Snape'

'Severus? Are you alright? What happened?' The worried face of his brother appeared in the mirror.

'I am fine. You?' asked Severus, with more restrain.

'Fine. I followed your plan, I am at – '

'DON'T' Severus stopped him. 'I am not in a secured place and it's better if I don't know where you are.'

'Sev, what happened?'

'Draco Malfoy has killed Dumbledore. I made sure no one would suspect that I had a hand in it, but then I had to run away from Hogwarts. My freedom was liked to Dumbledore's surveillance, they would have lock me into Azkaban. By now, the house must be watched by the Auror so you cannot go back to Cokeworth.'

'I… hum, okay.'

'You're still there?'

'I arrived last night, I wanted to check again tonight before leaving. I am at the bus station, I can leave in the next hour or so, don't worry', said Sebastian. So much for not knowing his location. 'So, should I follow the order of the addresses if you can't know where I am?'

'No. They were just suggestions. If you stay under the radar, you will be fine.' After a tensed silence, Severus moved on with the most distressing news. 'That's not all. I don't know how but Voldemort knew that I helped a teenager to hide last summer. I don't think he knows the details but that was enough to make me a traitor in his eyes – '

'Sev – '

'Let me talk. Please', Severus was trying to keep a cold head. 'He gave me a chance to give him one good reason to save my life… I gave him mother's letter. I wanted to protect you, so I begged him to spare you. I told him you are my clone… He knows we are his sons, Sebastian. He is looking for you. You need to stay hidden.'

Sebastian had tears in his eyes. Why couldn't he have a normal life?

'So, he wants to kill me because I am his son now?' said Sebastian.

'I don't know. He seems to want to make a family with us, but I think it's a trap. I just don't know why he would do that.' Severus was thinking out loud. 'I will try to get more information while you stay hidden. Do you think you can stay safe more than a week without supervision?'

'Ah. Ah. Not. Funny. You know I'll manage. Your situation is much worse than mine, are you still with Crazy Daddy?'

'Crazy… What?' Severus looked at his brother as if he had suddenly grown a second and a third head.

'Yeah, it's Katy, she called him that in her head.'

'Katy?' Severus used his very intimidating voice. It never failed to bring the truth out of his students.

'The hairdresser. I talk to her last summer when we just learnt about mom and Him. Don't worry, she thinks he is a Nazi.'

Severus considered it for a moment.

'Not so far from the truth.' Both had a little smile at that. 'Yes, I am being held at Malfoy Manor.'

'Are you okay?' asked Sebastian, worried again.

'Yes, he put me in a room. I don't think I am in any immediate danger.'

A long silence followed, carrying all the unsaid emotions they shared.

'Hum… I should go buy a bus ticket to leave town. Do you think we will be able to talk later?'

'I don't think so. I will keep you updated but it's better if we limit our communications.'

'Right. Take care Severus.'

'Stay safe Sebastian'

Sebastian cut the call and hide the mirror in his jacket.

One hour later Sebastian was in a bus toward Mablethorpe. He looked by the window as Cokeworth's was getting smaller. Mablethorpe would be his first stop, then he would find a map of the UK. That was one think Severus didn't anticipate. His almost non-existent knowledge of the country. He never had the opportunity to go on vacation with the Dursleys, and Hogwarts didn't teach geography.

When the bus stopped, Sebastian discovered a touristic coastal city with a long beach. Sebastian quickly found the campsite near the beach. He was on a strange kind of vacation, running from his father who was holding his brother prisoner.

After battling for more than an hour with the tent, he finally managed to build his new home.

The interior was clean but of an ancient style. Severus must have chosen one of the cheapest tents. The tent was small, for a magical one. It only had a small kitchen, a bed for one person, and a small bathroom behind a curtain.

When Sebastian got to bed that night, he cried from a combination of fear from his father, relief for his brother and pure exhaustion.

Boring. That's how Severus could describe his life nowadays.

He has spent the past three days in his rooms and in the potion lab of the Manor, not daring to do anything else. He had tried to avoid seeing his father by skipping meals, but the man was persistent and came every evening to his rooms, where he would have dinner served for two.

Severus had endured those meals in silence, while Voldemort had trying to make him talk. He was sure that the older man had a plan in mind. He didn't know what, but it couldn't be good.

On the fourth day, Voldemort came to the potion lab where Severus was hiding with a smile on his face. A smile on a snake face was not a beautiful sight.

'Severus, there is something I would like to show you. Follow me.'

'Yes, my Lord'

'I already told you that you don't need to call me like that when no one is around' Voldemort sighed. It felt like fighting a lost battle. Unlike his other battle, we couldn't win this one with brides and showing off his powers. He needed another strategy; he just didn't know which one yet.

They both made their way outside of the Manor and to the limits of the wards.

'Take my arm, Severus. I am going to Apparate us'

Severus did as instructed. He had a bad felling about that.

Soon, they landed in a Hall. It looked clean and the wooden floor polished. Recently.

'I had to renovate it' said Voldemort, suddenly hesitating. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all. Maybe he should have waited before bringing his son here. But he had been genuinely happy when he had finished to renovate the house this morning. 'It's… hum. It's our… home? I warded the place myself; you are safe here. I just thought that you would like to get away from the Malfoys. Get your own space'.

Severus was still silent, looking around him. He could tell that the decors have been chosen with care. The rugs looked ancient but in good shape. His father was obviously more gifted than him when it came to cleaning spells.

'Your… Your bedroom is upstairs' said Voldemort, now starting to climb the stairs, Severus following him. His son was not saying anything, and it made him nervous. This had to work.

When Severus passed the door, he stopped. The bed, the desk, the wardrobe, everything was set up to welcome him. It wasn't a joke. It was a bedroom, and if the cauldrons lined on the desk were any sign, this was, indeed intended to be HIS bedroom.

'What… Why… Why would you?' Severus was completely lost. What was the man's plan exactly?

'I told you I would do anything to give us a chance. I owe that to your mother, and to myself. I want to know how it feels to care for someone else. And you are my son… I want to care for you.' Voldemort could see the confusion on his son's face. For once, the potion master lost his impeccable mask and showed something more than a façade in front of him.

There was a silence during which Severus walked slowly around the room, trying to process the information.

'I don't need you to provide for me, I can take care of myself. You missed that chance years ago.'

'Maybe. Maybe I missed it. But I want to do better this time. I thought your mother was pregnant with that muggle, that she had cheated on me, betrayed me. I didn't know, Severus. But I am not my father. I will do better than him. Just give me some time. A month! If in a month you chose to walk away from here, and I won't stop you. But during that month, you have to promise me to try too.' Voldemort had the very disturbing feeling that he was begging for his son to accept. He hated that. But he had to try.

Severus hated that. Being trapped. But the longer Voldemort was focus on him, the longer Sebastian was safe and away from him.

'Fine' said Severus. 'One month and then you leave us alone. Both Sebastian and me. I don't want you near him, ever.'

'You are worried for him' This wasn't a question. Voldemort was simply fascinated to see the worry for someone else on his son's face. He had learned about it from his Horcrux, but it was something different to see for real.

'I want him to be safe'

'Don't worry then. I have moved forward a few of my plans and I will personally make sure that no one hurts him.' As Voldemort was ready to leave the room, satisfied to have earn a month of his son's cooperation, he turned to him. 'You know, maybe you should consider that: I could help you to keep Sebastian safe.'

By the end of the same week, the Ministry of Magic fell into Voldemort's hands.