Chapter 5

After the adoption went through (rather quickly as the new Minister helped,) Severus decided it was time to show Harry just what his parents left him with. And so a trip to Gringotts bank was in order...

"Harry, Welcome to Diagon Alley!" Severus said as he motioned with one arm through the Archway entrance. All Harry could do was stand there gaping at the sight in front of him. Severus stood and watched Harry's reaction for a moment then took his hand and set off down the street. All the while green eyes darting everywhere trying to take the sight in. Until they came up to a large, white building.

"This is Gringotts. The wizarding bank, run by goblins and the safest place in the world except perhaps Hogwarts." Severus explained to Harry.

"Potter Family vault please?" Severus asked one of the goblins handing over the key.

The goblin nodded and beckoned them to the carts which lead to the vaults. The part Severus hated the most. Harry on the other hand loved the ride to the vault as he had never been allowed on a rollercoaster with the Dursleys and this was the next best thing. Severus could not help but laugh at the child's exuberance.

As the goblin opened the vault Severus thought Harry's eyes would pop out they were so wide. They walked in and looked around. Harry ever the observant one, immediately laid eyes on a little something that he had forgotten about: his cuddly toys that his parents and uncles had given him; a silver wolf, a black dog, and a black panther. Meanwhile Severus had found a chest that belonged to Lily and was full of documents so he shrunk it and pocketed it to look at later. Harry handed him the toys to look after as he grabbed a fairly familiar and very soft blanket.

"Is this all you want to take with you?" Harry nodded. "Ok. Shopping. I'm sure you would like some more clothes and toys wouldn't you?"

"And books." Severus smiled as he knew the child loved everything magic and loved to read as well as have stories read to him at night.

Heading back through the Alley Severus thought he would also like to get Harry a pet to keep him company.

First stop, Flourish and Blotts. Severus decided on some primary learning books for Harry while Harry picked out some story books he liked the look of for Severus to read to him. Then Severus placed an order in the apothecary to be sent to Hogwarts. And after a visit to Madame Malkins for some new clothes for the both of them, (Severus having decided that as he's no longer a spy he didn't have to keep wearing black all the time) greens and blues for Severus and a range of colours for Harry, Severus lead Harry in to the pet shop. Shortly after entering Harry noticed hissing coming from the back of the store.

let me out you imbeccccilssssss, I'm hungryy

hello, you could come home withh me, I'll feed youu

Severus was startled and stared at Harry. "W-w-w, Harry? You can talk to snakes?"

Harry nodded as he continued to talk to the grass snake in front of him. At that moment the shop keeper came forward.

"May I help you?"

"Yes I would like to buy the snake please. How much is it?" Severus asked.

"Well the snake is 10 galleons but you will also need a tank and boxes of food as well, so that's another 8 galleons."

"Doesn't need a cage. Said he'll wrap round my arm and keep me company. He doesn't like cages. He said he's something called claustrophobic." Harry said after conversing with his new counterpart.

"Here are the 10 galleons for the snake. Come Harry." Severus picked the snake up and handed him to Harry. "He needs a name, but we'll find one later. Let's go home first, ok?"

Harry followed Severus out of the shop and back to The Leaky Cauldron to floo back to Hogwarts.

Later in their quarters...

Severus remembered Lily's trunk that he had found and enlarged it back to normal size.

He took all the documents and places them on his table to get a better look at them and possibly find an order to them. Then a bundle caught his eyes. It contained two letters, one for Harry that wasn't a surprise to him but the other was. It was labeled to him.

'Dear Severus,

First of all I wanted to say sorry for running out on you and not letting you explain. I was a fool. Know that I love you and always did no matter what happened afterwards. I am also sorry for not telling you the information in this letter sooner but I couldn't because it was too dangerous. If you are reading this then what I feared has indeed come to pass and both me and James are dead but Harry still lives. It is because of him that I married James. You see, not long after that night I found out that I was pregnant but I had already run into James' arms for comfort. But when it turned out I was pregnant I didn't know whose it was. I told James the news and he was thrilled at the prospect of a family and asked me to marry him. For the protection of both you and the child if it was yours I said yes to James. Please forgive me. Because Harry is yours I could tell as soon as he was born who the real father was, so I placed charms on him to look like James. If it is safe to do so please take care of him. I fear that if anything happens to Sirius (and knowing his temper it probably will) then he may be placed with my sister. THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN! If it has rescue him please. She hates me and anything magic.
If you have found this letter with it are: a letter explaining everything to Harry; a note book with all the charms and their effect and counter charms placed on Harry; and two birth certificates, one real: naming him Seren Severus Snape, and one fake: naming him Harry James Potter.

Love always

Lily

PS also I have included a letter signed by both me and James to denote that Peter Pettigrew is our secret keeper, not Sirius as everyone thought. Sirius said it would be safer but I don't trust him, hence the letter.'

Severus sat there stunned. Harry or should he say Seren was his not only by adoption but by blood. He smiled. He had the son he had always wanted and with Lily at that. 'Now' he thought 'how do I let my son know of this news?' He remembered the letter and read it to see if the five year old could understand it. If not he could always read it to him explaining things he doesn't understand as he went along. With this in mind he proceeded to tell his son just that.

Both went to sleep that night with large grins on their faces in the comfort of knowing they truly were family.

A/N should only be two more chapters of this fic but may start workin on a sequeland possibly a prequel. Don't forget to R&R!

Lucyfer Addams