Colorado Springs July, 1980:
Eileen smiled down at her three year old children. They were such a blessing and the help she had to raise them, she missed Severus dearly but she had settled in well with Tobias here. They had bought stock in a few companies since coming here, one was Apple the other Microsoft. They never had been rich in England but here, now they were. Still they were careful and lived in a modest mid-century ranch with a basement. The house was very large with five bedrooms and three bathrooms on a massive lot! There was even a two car garage attached to the house. There were old trees in the front and one old one in the back and, as they were on a hill that basement was walkout. Oh and two fireplaces and it all was very affordable. They paid for it in cash and Tobias, always the one for seeing a good deal had installed solar panels himself and got a tax rebate for it.
He had taken one look at the kitchen and went to work on that and now, a year later it was a dream kitchen that was timeless. He was in the process of finishing the basement, oh sure Eileen could use magic to really help (and she only had for that one beam) but it made her Tobias happy to do the work himself. He took pride in his work and had even got a job in a book store here. He was a very happy man now and they were safe here. Though they missed Severus so very much. Tobias came upstairs and smiled at the twin terrors, both had black hair, grey eyes and looked very similar at this age. One was a boy the other a girl, The girl was called Sara Eileen Snape the boy Samuel Prince Snape.
"They are growing so fast." Tobias said.
"That they are, such good tykes." Eileen replied.
"And they have replaced me I am sure." Severus said.
"Severus!" Eileen breathed.
She turned to see the smirking form of her son, now a man! That smirk was all his father and he was so tall and tanned! His hair was very long and tied back and he was wearing jeans, dragonskin boots, a band tee shirt and a short leather jacket. She walked to him and hugged him holding him tight and crying but not caring. Here was her baby boy! Letters did not cut it at all, seeing her eldest here! Once she was done Tobias hugged him and then led him to the two children on the floor.
"Sara and Sam, this is yer older brother we talked to you about." Tobias said.
"Hi." Sara said,.
"Hi." Sam replied.
"We were not expecting you." Eileen said, "but there is a room for you, and well you are keyed to the wards."
"Thank you mum." Severus said.
"Mommy is the best!" Sara said.
"Yea the best mommy ever!" Sam replied.
"That she is, she is the best mother ever, and dad, dad is the best dad ever, I can see he remodeled here."
"I did indeed." Tobias said, "from your letters ye are now a master curse breaker and a potions master still in Hogwarts."
"I just adjusted a pain potion, I don't think I really deserved that." Severus replied.
"Ye did, never doubt your worth." Tobias said, "ye are a good lad."
Severus smiled and found the home more a mansion, then again he was in America and many homes were very large like this. The room he was given he did not even share with Sam, it seemed there was a room for everyone here. He loved the house and neighborhood and the fact that one could see Pike's Peak from here easily. He downed a potion to counter the altitude as he had just come from New Orleans and some really fun times there. He had to see his family that was the most important thing.
He had been forced to flee England for a time himself, and missed the wedding of his sister Lily to James. That had hurt but they had sent him a memory of it and that had helped. Lily was due with their own little wizard in a few short weeks. He dearly wished he could be there but knew that was not possible at this time. He had not even been able to be at the funeral for Lily and Petunia's parents and that had really hurt. Yet Voldemort was after him and wanted him in his service. At least Severus had an out training as a curse breaker. He had made a lot of money so far doing that and enjoyed the work as it helped cleanse the world one small part at a time.
"So where do you go from here?" Tobias asked.
"Japan, Okinawa, trust me there are things, well best not to say what here." Severus said, "will be a test for me for sure, the locals are grateful for any help."
"Oh yes, world war two did not help." Eileen said.
"No it did not, and this cold war." Tobias said, "now can ye believe me at fifty five with two tots like this? I love 'em dearly ye know?"
"I do, you are a great dad and I love you." Severus said.
"Eh sappy and yes I love you too Severus." Tobias said, "come more often."
Severus was able to stay for a few days, it was great to be with his parents who he loved so much. He hated this war, and hoped Voldemort would be defeated soon. Right now purebloods were starting from the rumors he heard to be called inbreed idiots, and he agreed. Too many joined the dark lord and though there still was more of a stalemate than actual fighting, it still meant that the pureblood cause was not wining in public opinion. Severus just hope that the war was going to turn the tied and Voldemort would be defeated soon.
St. Mungos July 31, 1980:
Lily Evans Potter was tired. Though Harry had come quickly birth was tough hard work. Now that her little boy was here she looked down at him seeing green eyes and a tuff of black hair. Little Harry James Fleamont Potter was wrapped snuggly in a blanket and sleeping now after his first meal. Even with the changes in life James and Lily were made for each other. Even more now that James was not as arrogant as he would have been in the past. He made sure to treat Lily like the queen she was and to give her every thing she needed. He was careful with the Potter wealth. It was not his responsibility to fund the war after all. No there were ways to get funding and such and that was not on him or others like him but on the ministry. Sure he helped but he was not going to blow his family fortune on this war. Call him selfish and he was but his family and close friends came first.
"So little Harry is going to grow up strong and healthy." James said.
"True that." Sirius said walking into the room, "so little."
"Yes he is but he is going to be smart, like his mother." Remus said entering as well.
"Where is Peter?" James said.
"Here, and he is right, you are a knucklehead at best." Peter said smiling.
"Too much time around Severus." James said.
"I wish he was here." Lily said, "then things would be complete."
"I know, I miss his wit." James said.
"You mean him telling you exactly what he thinks of you?" Peter said grinning.
"Yes, that." James said, "I am glad he is a friend, even if he is Slytherin."
"And a good man." Lily said.
"So godfathers?" James asked.
"Sirius and Remus." Peter said, "look I am not really strong and they are and it will offer protection to Remus, this way, well…"
"All three of you." Lily said, "yes I know how things are done but I am going to have two godmothers, Alice and Amanda so we need three godfathers, Severus is a brother."
"Very well." James said.
"We need to do the old oaths, I insist on it." Peter said, "now, it's best the first day of life."
"Okay you seem very serious about this." James said.
"Yes, please, now." Peter said.
"That oath means if one even tries to betray they will die." Sirius said, "are you sure?"
"I am, it's best this way" Peter replied.
Dumbledore was called in as he was a shaman of sorts. Then a priest as most here were Christian. In fact all were and in due time the sacred oaths were taken. Once done Peter looked more relaxed and James knew at once what had happened. He went over and hugged Peter, in another world he would be a cruel man, selfish and a bully. Here he was kinder (after being beat by Severus for bullying) and cared more. Peter was sobbing and then even Sirius knew what was going on as did Remus. They comforted Peter who always had been far more scared and weak than them, he had made the right choice and they were very proud of him. It was a very brave thing for them to do.
"He came to me, I thought about j-joining him but the then you are family and no, I can't! I will not, now he can't get to me I can't betray you or anyone." Peter said, "though I could spy, he does not know I have another form."
"Only if you want." Sirius said, "well! Braver than me glad for that, all I am is an old bird dog if you get my meaning."
"No corrupting Harry he is not even a day old yet!" Lily said.
"So that is it now, the dark dork is not going to get by us and break us apart!" Remus said smiling.
Peter had chosen family and friends and the old ways would make sure he could not betray anyone. The Godfathers and mothers were registered as done the old way and the Potters retreated to Godric's Hallow and a family home there. Potter castle was falling apart and needed work as Charlus Fleamont Potter had more important things to do, or so he said. In reality he did not know how to repair the structure and only recently had someone in to look it over.
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The Burrow: October 1980:
Gideon and Fabian Prewett sat with their sister her twin boys Fred and George in front of them. They knew their time was short but they had time, Severus had got them that. There was a little money in the Prewett family, enough to help the Weasleys send their children to Hogwarts in the very least new robes and wands. Yet Fred and George were getting everything of their uncles and would be the Prewett heirs.
"You can't know!" Molly wailed.
"We do, it must be done, Fred and George will do well to carry on our names." Fabian said.
"Agreed, this way the Prewett name goes on and the dark dork does not get to wipe out another line." Gideon said, "and if we come back all the better!"
"Alright, do the rights." Molly said, "but I need you to come back!"
"If that is what we are to do." Fabian said "then we will."
"Agreed in that." Gideon added.
They left and that was the last that Molly would see of her brothers. In one day they took down nearly an hundred death eaters dealing a near fatal blow to the death eaters. Yet it cost them their lives and they would live on in Fred and George Weasley-Prewett at your service. Molly was surprised to get a painting of them, and she did not go off on them yelling at them, no not her. They did their best to sooth her and in the years following her yelling at them and her own twins was a sight to behold indeed.
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So yes, now Harry has been born, and though only Dumbledore will hear the prophecy, the dark lord will still do what he does. I wanted Peter to give himself no way out, I wanted him to be a good guy and felt this was the best way to do that. Severus is going to head back to England sooner than later as the dark lord's power is diminished here.
Anyway, do review please!