I'll make it without you

"Severus are you sure this is what you want to do?" asked Albus.

"Yes." He had never been so sure of his life and where it would lead him, but right here, right now, this is what he needed to do, for Lily, for Harry, for himself.

"Have you thought this through?" Minerva rocked a whimpering Harry back and forth.

"This is what lily would have wanted, for Harry to be protected."

"He would be protected in the Dursleys care." Alastor added.

"Dursleys!" Severus scoffed. "Have you met those people? He asked. "They are the worst sort of Muggles. Petunia hated Lily, she hated me because we were different. She would hate Harry just the same."Severus bit his bottom lip hard as the memories of their childhood came back to him.

"Very well..." Albus trailed off. "Let it be known. Severus you are now father of this child."

Severus held Harry tightly to his body, "I will never let you down." Severus whispered softly to the child wrapped in his arms. "You will want for nothing."

"There will not be a child in this world that will not know his name." Minerva said looking at Albus.

Severus took one last look at the people in the room, and started towards the door.

"Severus, once you step outside that door, there's no turning back. Your life will forever be changed." Minerva placed a guiding hand on his shoulder.

He looked into her eyes, one look said it all. "I know." He left the room gently cradling the child in his arms. "I will always protect you, little one."

Severus grabbed a broom from a closet and carefully situated himself in the middle. He thought broom would be much safer than apparating. He took off towards Spinners end. The cold air hit him in the face. He closed his eyes for a moment. Taking the whole night in a single second. This morning he was just a potions professor, now he was a guardian, a father, a hero. When he reached Spinners end, he left the broom outside his house. Swiftly, he unlocked his door and stepped inside, with a flick of his wrist, light flooded the house. He removed the blanket from the childs face. "Harry, I know you don't understand what has happened, but this is your home now." The child peered out and looked around.

Severus took the child and made his way up a set of stairs, at the top set his bedroom, fair size with a queen sized bed. Silk black comforters draped neatly over the bed, a handsome wardrobe sat in the corner, and solid oak covered the floors. "I know its not much, but I promise you will have everything you want." He pulled the covers back and gently laid Harry in the middle, putting pillows on either side to prevent the child from rolling off the bed.

Severus laid beside the baby, lightly stroking Harrys black hair. Harry smiled and gurgled happily at Severus. Despite all he's been though, he's a happy baby, he thought. He smiled sweetly back at Harry. The child reached his hand up and grabbed ahold of the mans finger, and cooed softly. Severus kissed Harrys forehead gently, tears rolled down his face. He had so much of lily in him. "I already love you, Harry." He cuddled the baby in his arms, Harry soon fell asleep. He silently watched the baby sleep. This was the start of his greatest fear. Losing Lily, and becoming a father, it was also the start of a brand new day. He wasn't going to let it go to waste.

He drifted into sleep, dreaming of deep emerald eyes. Harry.