Lucius leaned back against the soft cushioning of his high back chair. He had been working on obtaining the paperwork Severus had asked him for the past week and a half, but it still seemed as if he had just started. It appeared as if Dumbledore had begun digging this giant hole for his friend since Severus's battle for Elizabeth had ended nearly fifteen years previous. sighing, Lucius leaned forward, resting his head in his hands, allowing his platinum blonde hair fall around his face. He was determined to complete the task his friend has given him, not because it was Severus, but because he wanted to show Dumbledore who he was messing with

. After a few moments, he recomposed himself, allowing his steel gray eyes to scan the documents in front of him, listing everything that Severus had done during his stint as a Death Eater and the proof behind it, three fourth of the way through the claims, Lucius had almost given up, until he spotted something, something he had overlooked, something that Severus could use to his advantage. A silent smile appeared on Lucius's lips as he leaned back against his chair. All he needed to do now was visit the Ministry, visit the minister, flash a few hundred galleons, sign his name on the dotted line, and his old friend would have what he needed. He had to admit, it felt good going over the headmaster head.

SS

Severus laid upon his side in his dark bedroom. His abused body was stiff and sore, but that was to be expected. he had been punished by the Dark lord, who was displeased with his latest information. It had been ages since he had been in this much pain, but he knew it was worth it. It enabled him to know that for a few hours, no matter how heinous those hours were, his children were safe.

Severus turned until he was flat on his back and stretched his achy muscles and joints. It would take a few days until everything was back to normal and he wasn't so sore, but he would have to deal with it after all there was no rest for the wicked. . . speaking of the wicked. He wondered if Lucius had made any progress on the paperwork he wanted so desperately. He knew it would be a challenge to clear his name because Albus would not have made it easy to be accomplished. he just hoped that his friends standing and pocketbook could clear up the matter before the looming holidays and he had no real desire to explain to his son why he could not go with him and Elizabeth when they left for Christmas.

sighing, Severus glanced at the clock on the wall. 4:30. an hour before he needed to be up. relaxing his tense muscles, he closed his eyes, maybe he could get an hours worth of sleep before he had to begin a day full of obnoxious dunderhead students.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Severus made his way from station to station, observing his fifth year Gryffindor- Slytherin class. this time he had made the unfortunate decision to allow them to pick their own partners for the bruise balm they were supposedly creating. By the looks of it, only a few were going to have a decent product. Silently sighing in irritation, Severus planted himself behind his desk and proceeded to grade the impressive stack of essays he had accumulated over the past week. With the soft sound of bubbling mixtures and knifes softly knocking against the cutting boards that lined the various stations.

Every now and again, Severus would look up from his current essay, paying close attention to Harry. He noticed the slight change in Harry since he had told the boy he loved him. The Gryffindor didn't appear to be so forlorn, or on the verge of a breakdown, but the boy wasn't his normal self. Or was that 'normal' self just a mask?He wasn't sure, but he figured when he and Harry had a proper chance to talk, he would discover who the real Harry Potter was.

"When you are finished with your balm, jar it and turn it in." Severus stated clearly from his desk, his eyes jumping from person to person. Due next week, a 3 foot essay on the importance of flubberworm mucus in balms and Salves as well as the side effects of using too much or too little of this ingredient." There was a collective groan from the class. No one wanted to write that long of an essay on that anyway, especially since the snow was beginning to fall and everyone was more than ready for the Christmas break.

"You have plenty of time to complete your assignment before you run rampant for the holiday." Severus states sharply, earning several glares from the students. If he couldn't spend the next three weeks free of work, then neither could they, after all life wasn't fair. If it was, Mikayla would be alive, Harry would have his parents, and the Dark Lord would have stayed dead.

"But sir" Ms. Granger began,, her hand in the air,

"There are no butt's Ms. Granger" Severus cut in. "This is your assignment, if you continue to make such a big production out of a simple essay, I will double its length, which is something I doubt any of you want." Severe silence filled the room, as he received hateful glares from both sides of the room, but after fourteen years of teaching, it no longer phased him. the tension filled silence was finally broken by the silence. Stools scraped the cool stone floor as the students turned in their balms and left. One by one, Jars of the deep purple paste were staked upon his desk.

"Mr. Potter?" Severus stated as the boy approached his desk with his friends leading the way. "Stay after, I need a word with you."

"Yes-sir."

HP

Harry was surprised his father asked him to stay after class, surely he had not done something wrong? he had made the balm as instructed, even with Ron deciding he wanted to be partners, Harry assumed that was an excuse for him to talk to Ron, but it really had not worked. He really didn't want to talk to Ron until he had apologized to Elizabeth, which he doubted would happen.

"Did I do something wrong sir?" Harry asked as the door shut behind Ron leaving him there alone with Snape.

"No, Harry, nothing is wrong." Severus replied as he leaned against his desk, opening his arms so Harry could hug him. "I just wanted a moment with you."

Harry wrapped his arms around the Man's middle inhaling his familiar scent as the strong, warm arms enveloped him. If this was what it was like to have the most fear teacher in Hogwarts History love you... then he loved it. He had never really be loved by anyone until he met Ron and Hermione, but to have an adult, one who was actually related to you, love you, it was truly and utterly amazing.

"Really?" Harry mumbled into his father's chest as they stood there in the classroom.

"Of course you silly boy." Severus replied as he rested his chin on top of Harry's head. "If i didn't then i wouldn't be doing this." Harry smiled. Every time he had an encounter with his father he was always reassured that he was wanted. He was always reassured that he would not be a burden. Was this how his sister felt every day? Was this how people who had loving families felt when their parents hugged them, showing how much they cared for them? He was pretty sure it was, he would have to ask Elizabeth later, when they had time.

Slowly Harry felt his father pull away and held him at arms length, looking him over. The man's usually cold, dark, onyx eyes held different emotions than the usual disdain and hatred he was acclaimed to. No instead there was something else in his eyes, something that made the man look younger. Love. there was love in the deep depths of the potions' master's eyes.

"Why don't you come down to my quarters after classes today?" Severus suggested quietly. " We have some things to discuss and it would be best to do it in the privacy of my quarters. Away from prying ears, and it give us time to... bond"

The last word seemed strange coming from Severus, but Harry liked the idea. Slowly but surely he was becoming a part of the family he always wanted.

"Yes sir." Harry replied as he threw his arms around his father's middle again.

"We will also discuss what to call me when I see you this afternoon." Severus replied as he ran his hand through Harry's hair. "Off to class you go, and I will see you after your class."

EB

Elizabeth smiled as she placed three sets of dishes on the square maple table that sat in the middle of her father's kitchen. Her father had invited Harry to come and spend time with them after their classes, something she never thought he would actively do on his own. She knew her father loved the boy. she had seen it and he had said so, but she also knew that her father had some self esteem, self confidence. trust, and rejection issues that went back to when he was younger than her. At least that was what her Gram said, and her Gram should know, since she was her dad's mother right?

AS Elizabeth finished setting the table, she could hear the rustle of her father's 'casual' clothing against the door frame has he leaned against it.

"Do you suppose Weasley and Granger will hinder him?' Severus asked a few seconds later.

"I hope not." Elizabeth replied "I know he really hasn't talked to either of them of for greater part of three weeks but that will probably resolved by Christmas."

Severus grunted as he continued to watch her set the table. Apparently he wasn't so keen on the idea of Harry forgiving them. Then again, she supposed if she was in his shoes, she wouldn't either. After all how could you forgive the people that overlooked the abuse of your son or contributed to the mistreatment of your daughter?

"What does he see in them?" Severus asked quietly as Elizabeth rounded the table one last time.

"As far as I know they were his first real friends." Elizabeth stated as she leaned against the square table. "Or at least that was what they were saying during the summer. Harry and I never really talked about it."

Severus rose one of his elegantly arched eyebrows as the words rolled off Elizabeth's tongue.

"I suppose that would be a reason to go back to them." Severus replied, a hint of knowing in his voice. "Did they elaborate why they were his first friends he had?"

"No, not exactly. I suppose they didn't really know either." Elizabeth sighed. "Eventually we might know the answer to that question, and other questions we may have, even if we don't like the answer."

HP

Harry stood in front of Snape's office for what seemed like hours. He wasn't sure if anyone was in there, and he didn't know exactly where in the dungeon maze the Potions' Master lived. With a deep breath, Harry raised his knuckle and rapped on the hard wood door. Anxiety gripped his insides until the door creaked open, reviling Elizabeth on the opposite side. A small smile was on her lips as her eyes fell upon him

"We were wondering when you would get here." Elizabeth stated as she motioned for him to enter the office. His father's office had not changed in all of the years he had been his student: potions ingredients preserved in jars that lined all four walls.

"Sorry, but Professor Trewlaney kept us later than usual" Harry replied as he heard Elizabeth shut the door, causing what little light that lit the room to dim.

"It's quite all right." Elizabeth stated as she moved towards a door he had never noticed before. "It gave us some time to straighten up the place." Harry cocked an eyebrow as Elizabeth murmured a password and the door swung open gently revealing a large warm colored room. From first glance, it seemed impossible that these rooms might belong to the cold head of Slytherin, but upon closer expectation from the door way, Harry could see that everything about this room identified his father. From the floor to ceiling book cases to the warm cream colors that made the space fill homey.

"Is this you live?" Harry asked as Elizabeth walked onto the tiled floor.

"When I was little yes" Elizabeth stated as she guided him to the couch. "I usually sleep in the dorms with everyone else, but sometimes I stay here with dad and keep him company."

"Where is he at anyway?" Harry asked quietly as he took in his surroundings. The room looked much bigger from the outside, but he supposed that was because of the color choices. Pictures of Elizabeth lined the mantle and even some vacant spaces on the bookshelves.

"Changing probably" Elizabeth replied as she watched Harry as his eyes danced from picture to picture. "He doesn't wear his teaching robes after class unless he has detentions."

Harry nodded as he pushed himself up from the couch to examine the photos closer. Some of the first pictures his eyes fell on were of Elizabeth when she was a baby wrapped in a light green blanket, others had a woman who must have been in her late fifties or early sixties holding the rather tiny Elizabeth. Quiet a few of them had the head of Slytherin with his daughter. The Potions' Master seemed so young back then, by the looks of it, just out of Hogwarts. Nevertheless, the usually cold man had a smile upon his face in every picture Harry saw. He thought it would have been creepy to see the stoic man smile, but it wasn't instead it was a welcome change. He liked seeing the thin lips upturned at the ends as the older man had his arms wrapped around Elizabeth.

"Who's this?" Harry asked as picked up a picture The picture frame was an antique, the silver was tarnished and the photo was slightly faded, but the two individuals were still visible. The man was obviously his father; there was a genuine look of happiness on his face as he rested his chin on the woman's shoulder. His arms wrapped around her waist.

SS

Severus stood silently as he watched Harry examine the numerous photos he had accumulated over the years. Many of photos were of him and his little girl as she grew up, some of them where of him and his mother; there was a few of him and Lily, and even fewer of him and Mikayla.

"Who's this" Harry asked as he picked up an antique silver frame. The metal was tarnished around the edges and the photo was slightly faded, but that did not diminish the quality of the photo or the memory.

"That is your sister's mother," Severus answered as he moved from the doorway. The picture had been taken the day that Mikayla told him she was pregnant with Elizabeth, up until that point, he had never felt so happy. With gentle hands, he took the picture from Harry's hands and examined the girl he was holding. In that moment. "However, I did not ask you down here to examine photos" Severus stated as he set the picture down. "You are here so we can discuss you"

There was an emotional shift that played across Harry's face in a matter of seconds. He didn't blame the boy for being afraid, after all it wasn't every day you had a discussion about your future with the man who was suppose to hate you.

"Take a seat Harry." Severus gestured back to the couch were Harry was originally seated and waited until both of his children were seated before continuing.

"Harry how would you like to come and live with us?" Severus asked as he glanced at the pictures of him and Elizabeth that lined the mantel " Of course I would und-"

"Yes" Harry replied quicker than Severus would have thought, he thought he would have to convince the boy of his actions and intentions, then again things had changed between them over the past few weeks.