Belated Accidental Magic and Payback
by Healer Pomfrey
All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.
Please read the warnings in the summary before reading and complaining!
"That was fun, but on the other hand, I still feel bad towards Snape," Harry said to Lily, when he retired to his office.
Lily smiled. She had not expected anything else from her son. "As your father and I told you already, it wasn't your fault in the slightest. But I've a suggestion for you," she said, thoughtfully. Seeing that Harry was hanging on her lips, she continued, "Even at the age of eleven, Severus was already brilliant at brewing. Why don't you give him a chance to assist you. You'll realise soon that his brewing abilities are far beyond first-class level, even if he lost all of his later knowledge."
"That's a good idea," Harry replied, pensively.
"One more thing," Lily said, sighing. "Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall know that it was you who obliviated him, because Fawkes told them the truth after overhearing us talk about it at Potter Manor. Therefore, you could just speak with them and ask them what you could do to help Severus have a better childhood this time. His first childhood wasn't much better than yours, as he was abused by his Muggle father and then made the mistake of joining the Death Eaters."
Harry stared at his mother's portrait in shock. "Are you sure that they know? Does anyone else know?"
"No Harry," Lily replied in a soothing voice. "I'm aware of this, because I travelled to Godric Gryffindor's portrait in the headmaster's office shortly after Fawkes returned to Hogwarts on that evening, and I don't think that they told anyone else. They both said that it wasn't your fault that you cast accidental magic anyway."
Harry remained thoughtful for a moment, before he replied, "Very well, I have to teach the last morning class, but I'll speak with them later on. Maybe after hearing Hermione's advice first though," he added as an afterthought.
HP
"Harry, that's a wonderful idea," Hermione agreed, when Harry asked Dobby to call the girl into his office after lunch. "If there's anything that I can help with, I'll be here," she promised, smiling, as she added, "I'm very happy to have you back, Harry."
Harry inwardly groaned. "I missed you, too," he admitted in a soft voice, "and I'd love to ask you to become my girlfriend, but I don't know if such a relationship between teacher and student would be tolerated."
Hermione remained pensive for a moment, before her expression brightened and she replied, "If you make me your fiancée instead of your girlfriend, they'll probably tolerate it, but we can go to see them together and ask about this and about how to help Severus."
Harry let out a relieved sigh. 'She really is the most brilliant witch alive,' he thought, before he asked, "Hermione, will you become my wife?"
"Yes," the young witch replied, smiling, "if you can wait until after my NEWTs."
HP
The headmaster and his deputy were delighted to hear about Harry's and Hermione's engagement and promised that it wouldn't be a problem for them, even while Hermione was still a student.
When Harry asked about a possibility to help Severus, the professors exchanged a look, before Dumbledore said, pensively, "What Severus needs most is a guardian who is able to understand him and doesn't hold grudges because of his former behaviour."
"Professors," Hermione spoke up in determination. "I'm going to be seventeen in two weeks' time, so even if Harry's still not of age, perhaps we could become Severus' guardians together."
"We don't know if that's what Severus wants and if he'll be able to trust us, especially since he already guessed that it was me who obliviated him," Harry said in a small voice.
"It was not your fault that you cast accidental magic, my boy," Dumbledore contradicted, gently. "For the time being, the guardianship matter is not overly urgent, since the school year has only just begun. Maybe we should just give Severus a few weeks or even months, let's say until the beginning of the Christmas holidays, to get to know you. For the time being, I suggest that you make him your student assistant."
Harry looked at the headmaster in surprise. 'I've never heard of such a position,' he thought.
"Harry, this is only a suggestion. Of course you don't have to do that," McGonagall threw in, smiling fondly at the young wizard.
"I think that it's a good idea," Harry replied, pensively. "Could you perhaps call him here, Professors? I'd like to tell him the truth and suggest to begin anew by trying to work together."
"Of course, dear," McGonagall was the first to answer, "if you're really sure that this is what you want, and that you don't hold any grudges towards Severus."
"I've only known my son for a few months," Lily suddenly spoke up from Godric Gryffindor's portrait. "However, he's not one to hold grudges. He didn't even want to accept the Potions professor's post thinking that he was taking it from Severus."
HP
Shortly later, eleven-year-old Severus Snape hesitantly stepped into the room.
"Hello Severus," Lily spoke up from the portrait, causing Severus to turn to her with a combination of horror and delight.
"Lily," he spoke up, seemingly amazed.
"Severus, Professor Potter would like to speak with you about something," Dumbledore greeted the boy, before he remembered to offer lemon drops to his guests.
"All right, sir," Severus replied and curiously eyed the young professor.
"Severus, I have known you for several years, when you were still an adult," Harry began to speak and shortly explained about their relationship, before he offered to put the memory of that fateful Occlumency lesson into the headmaster's Pensieve.
"Yes please," Severus accepted the offer and seemingly curiously headed into the Pensieve accompanied by Dumbledore and McGonagall.
HP
"Don't worry, he'll come around," Hermione whispered, soothingly holding Harry's hand.
"I hope so," Harry replied, still feeling very guilty about the whole matter.
Almost too soon for his liking, Severus returned together with the professors. "Professor," he spoke up in determination. "Thank you for allowing me to watch your memory, and please accept my apology for my behaviour towards you."
Harry stared at the boy in disbelief. "There's nothing that you have to apologize for," he answered in a soft voice. "That wasn't you, but your older self. I'm also sorry for what happened to you, and I hope you believe me that I didn't want to harm you in any way."
"I believe you," Severus replied, still seemingly shocked by the memory that he had witnessed.
"I heard from my mother," Harry continued to speak, pointing to Lily, who was still observing the conversation from the portrait, "that you were already brilliant at brewing at your current age. Therefore, I'd like to suggest for you to become my student assistant, provided that you wish to assist me."
"I'd like that," Severus agreed immediately. "Thank you very much for offering me the position."
While the headmaster explained to the boy about the position of a student assistant, Harry let his thoughts wander off. 'Today was a really exciting day,' he thought. 'I can't believe that it was only this morning that I taught my first classes. Then Hermione agreed to become my wife and Severus my student assistant. He seems much nicer than his older self was. I'm curious how it'll be to work together with him.'
He was brought back to reality, when Dumbledore dismissed them. After Severus and Hermione, Harry left the headmaster's office, smiling back at his former head of house, when she thanked him profusely.
HP
During the following months, Harry quickly became used to being the Potions professor and Slytherin head of house, and he realised soon that he could work together with Severus very well. His student assistant spent most of the evenings with him, helping Harry to brew the potions, which were needed for the hospital wing. From time to time, he asked Harry something if he was not sure about an ingredient or the brewing process, and Harry patiently taught the boy - completely pushing the memory of how the former professor had taught him from his mind.
Hermione usually joined Harry between the last afternoon class and dinner, spending the hour together with him in Harry's private quarters. Even if she mostly spent the time on her homework and Harry had to prepare his classes, he was very happy having her with him. During the weekends, Harry usually brewed potions together with Severus in the mornings, and spent the afternoons in his rooms together with his fiancée.
To Harry's surprise, time seemed to fly by much faster than during his time as a student, and all of a sudden, the last week before the Christmas holidays arrived. On Sunday evening, one week before the beginning of the holidays, McGonagall suddenly floo called Harry and asked Harry and Hermione to come to the headmaster's office for a moment.
Wondering what the headmaster wanted, the two friends walked up to the gargoyle, giving the password "Chocolate phoenixes" to enter the office. To their surprise, Severus was in the office together with Dumbledore and McGonagall.
"Hermione and Harry," McGonagall was the one to speak first. "Mr. Snape would like you to become his guardians. Are you still willing to take him in?"
"Of course, Professor," Hermione blurted out, smiling at the boy.
"Sure," Harry agreed, giving Severus a questioning look.
"Thank you, Professor. I'd like that," the boy replied to his silent question.
"Professors," Hermione spoke up, slightly hesitating, "would it be possible for me to remain in Harry's quarters together with Harry and Severus, or do I still need to return to Gryffindor every evening?"
"You may stay in Harry's guest room," McGonagall reassured her, before Dumbledore called Twinkle, his house-elf, and asked for a student's room to be added to Harry's quarters.
HP
The new family quickly became used to living together, and when Harry and Hermione married right after Hermione's NEWTs, they adopted Severus. A year later, Hermione gave birth to a girl, whom they named Lily, according to her big brother's wishes. The little girl adored her big brother, and he always received the brightest smiles from his sister.
By the time Severus took his NEWTs, he had become a handsome young man, who - apart from his affinity to the brewing of potions - had not much in common with his former older self.
When Severus passed his Potions Mastery exam for the second time, Professor Dumbledore was just about to retire, and Harry left the Potions professor's position to Severus, while he became Dumbledore's successor as headmaster.
"Dad," Severus turned to Harry, when they were sitting at the high table waiting for the students to arrive for the welcoming feast with five-year-old Lily between them, "thank you so much for giving me a second chance for a much happier childhood."
"You're welcome, son," Harry replied, unobtrusively squeezing his wife's hand under the table.
THE END