Chapter 8

Severus woke up early as the sun from the magically spelled window shed light across his face. He moved to roll over to go back to sleep, but froze as something warm shifted on his chest. His eyes shot open and he saw his son curled up on his chest. He stood up carefully, trying to keep the boy asleep for as long as possible. He noticed his clothing was changed and sighed. The stern potion's master walked into the living room. "Lupin!" he whispered quietly, knowing the werewolf's sensitive hearing.

His head shot up. "Wh…oh, sorry, Severus."

He just raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry, I spoke with Dumbledore," he said the name as if it was an expletive. "Last night. The Dursleys," another expletive, "still technically have guardianship in the Muggle World, and he," expletive, "still has guardianship in the Wizarding World."

Severus swore. "That meddling old coot."

"I gave him until this weekend. Well, today I guess."

"And if not?"

"Between the two of us, we have enough strings to pull something off, even if we have to resort to a blood adoption. I can guarantee Amelia Bones and Kingsley will side with us if we even mention he was abused. We only need two upper level Ministry officials to sign off to make it legal."

"I'm sensing a clause."

"If it comes to it, I can't guarantee Jamie will return to his normal age, except naturally. There has never been a case like this before, but the odds, according to all information I can find, are not in favor of it."

"How long have you been at this?"

"I don't know. What time is it?" The clock struck 8. "Oh, um…about 8 hours, I guess," he said with a weak laugh.

He sat down next to one of his former rivals. "What have you got done?" Though he was slightly frustrated with the wolf, he was more upset with the Headmaster.

"Okay, I've penned a letter to both Amelia and Kingsley. I've filled out the adoption forms, save your signature. It takes a week to make the blood adoption potion, so if you don't have one already made, I can get a hold of a well made one in a matter of minutes."

Harry stirred, shifting in Sev's lap. He looked up. "Mo'nin' Daddy." He yawned and looked around. "Hi, Un'le Moo'ey."

"Good morning, cub," Remus said with a smile.

Severus nuzzled the boy's head before kissing it softly. "Good morning, baby."

Jamie giggled, sucking his thumb once more.

"I would have to change his name," Severus muttered, just realizing another cost of the blood adoption.

"You can name him however you choose. James, Lily, me, hell, even Sirius wouldn't begin to fault you for that. After everything you've done for him…." He trailed off. "If he had been yours from the beginning, what would you have named him?"

"Sebastian Alexander Snape."

Remus stood up and clapped him on a shoulder. "I'm going to go get cleaned up."

"Why you sad?" Jamie asked his dad.

"I'm not sad, baby. I'm just confused."

"Me help?"

"Harry," he started, but the child cut him off.

"No."

"No what?" Severus asked, fully confused now.

"Me Jamie."

"Oh, yes, Jamie. Do you remember when I told you your full name?"

"Yes," he cocked his head to the side, listening closely.

"You know how your Mummy and Papa went away."

"Bad man kill them. Me gets you for Daddy."

"Yes, and I got you, baby." He sighed. "To keep you safe, baby, I might have to change your name."

"Me no be me?" he was the confused one now.

"You would still be you. You will look a little different and people would call you by a different name, though."

"Mummy an' Papa s'ill knows me?"

"Yes, they will still know you. You will look like a combination of me and your mummy and your papa."

He cocked his head the other way.

"All babies are made up from their mummy and their papa. You, baby, will be made of your mummy, and papa and daddy."

His little brow furrowed. "So me 'petal?"

He smiled. "Yes, Jamie, you are very special."

"M'tay," he curled up against the older man's chest, content with the answer.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up for the day."

"M'tay." Jamie allowed him to carry him back to his bedroom.

Severus removed his pajamas. "What do you say about a bath?"

The big emerald eyes widened. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no," he kept repeating. His mantra continued quietly as he climbed off the bed before Severus could stop him and he backed into a corner.

"No what, baby?"

"No burn, no freeze, no, no, no, no, no, no, no."

Remus poked his head in, yanking on his robes. He had heard his cub's panic. "What's going on!"

"Go get everything for the adoption. This isn't going to happen anymore. He is terrified of the bath. I will NOT let those monsters have guardianship any longer."

"I'll be back in less than an hour with Amelia and Kingsley." He ran off.

Severus knelt down. "Jamie, baby, it's Daddy. I'm not going to hurt you."

The diaper clad boy raised his head just enough so his eyes could be seen from under his bangs. "Daddy?"

"Yes, it's Daddy." The toddler slammed into his chest. He stood up and pulled some clothes out of the closet before heading into his own bedroom. "Come on, baby, Daddy will be right there with you. We'll take a shower."

"You s'ay with me?"

"Yes, baby. Daddy will stay with you," he reassured the boy.

"Everything alright, Severus?" Remus asked as he came in, cuddling a pajama clad toddler, who was hiccupping and clinging to his dragon, blanket and Dad's robes, thumb firmly in his mouth.

"Bath time was just a little traumatic. A lot of bad memories were resurfaced." He nodded to the two other people. "Madame Bones, Auror Shacklebolt."

"Please, Severus, use our given names. We are on the same side after all," Amelia said softly, her eyes never leaving the tiny bundle in his arms.

"Have you picked out a name?" Kingsley asked.

"I have. He will still go by Jamie around his close friends and family, and he will hate signing it later, but it covers everything I wish for it to include."

"And that would be?" he pressed, needing to write it down.

"Sebastian James Eliot Evan Jonathan Snape. On a daily basis, it will be Sebastian Jonathan Snape."

"And for a godparent?"

"Remus John Lupin. The new discrimination law states that as long as I know of his lycanthropy I can do such. I do and I am."

"I don't disagree in the slightest," Amelia said writing it down, a smile on her face from the dazed look on Remus's.

"Remus," Severus held out his hand for the potion. He gave it to him. Snape quickly sliced his palm, added the blood and closed the cut. He corked it and shook the vial. "Jamie, can you drink something for me?"

"Wassit?"

"Do you remember how I told you that you are part of me and your mummy and your papa?" The boy nodded. "This will just let everyone else know."

"M'tay." He laid in Severus's arms and allowed the older man to give him the potion. He made a funny face at the taste, but swallowed, before falling asleep.

"I gave him a dreamless sleep potion and a minor pain relieving potion to ease any discomfort," Severus explained as they watched his features change. His cheekbones shifted slightly becoming more angular and his jaw thinned to somewhere in between James's square jaw and Severus's narrow one. He kept his Papa's small ears and nose, Lily's eyes, at least their shape, but his bone structure became Sev's. Normally they wouldn't be able to see so much on a child so young, but his lack of baby fat made it possible for them to see. He smiled as the scar on the boy's forehead disappeared. He unzipped the pajama and saw those scars fading as well. "Remus!" he breathed.

The werewolf came over and lightly touched the boy's chest. "Oh, thank the gods." He brushed a hand through the still messy raven locks. "He will get to be a normal kid, well, as far as circumstances will allow."

"Severus can I have you sign the forms really quick. It appears Sebastian is still 3, so we'll need to change the year of his birth," Amelia reminded them.

"Oh, yes, of course." He quickly signed his full name and the parchment disappeared.

The portrait hole slammed open. "Severus, what is going on here?" Dumbledore demanded.

"I am simply enjoying the morning with my son, his godfather, and a couple family friends. I see no problem with that."

"The Minister just Flooed me, Harry Potter just fell off the magical radar. Did you bind his magic?" He paused. "Wait, your son?"

"Yes, my son. Albus, may I introduce you to my son, Sebastian Jonathan Snape."

Remus stood. "You had your chance, Albus. You had over a month and nothing happened. In less than 12 hours we did what you should have done. He is not a pawn. He is a child. The Dark Lord has been defeated and the prophecy fulfilled. He is going to have a normal childhood, learning because he chooses to rather than to protect the lives of his friends and the Wizarding World. That is his past not his future." Remus smirked darkly as he realized the old man had another plan trying to hatch. "My cub is out of your control."

Sebastian whimpered and clutched tighter at Severus, tears leaking out of his still closed eyes. His entire body began to glow, its color fluctuating before turning a deep purple and going out, retreating back into his body. Severus sighed gratefully as his son calmed back down. "Pardon my language, but what the hell was that?"

"That was the removal of severe magical blocks, placed after the age of 3, which had not been removed." Amelia pulled out her wand. "May I?" At Severus's nod, she waved her wand over the boy. "77% of his magic had been blocked by one, Albus Dumbledore, at the former age of 8."

"You knew!" Severus hissed. "Get out, now, you are no longer welcome in my private quarters. Don't even think about coming near my son, or I will have you charged." He carried Sebastian back to his bedroom, wrapping him in the strongest protective wards he knew, before walking back to the living room. Amelia and Remus were still in there, but Kingsley and Albus were gone. "Where did Kingsley go?"

"Just because you didn't charge him, doesn't mean we weren't going to," was all Amelia said as an answer.

"Amelia, how can I ever thank you?"

"Just let me be part of his life. That boy has been through so much and he is getting his second chance with a family."

"Of course."

"Every child needs a nana." She stood up. "May I see him once more before I take my leave?"

"Yes, let me just take off some of the protective wards." He led her back to his bedroom and quickly did as promised. "It is safe for you now."

She crossed silently to his bed and ran a hair through the unruly locks. "Very good, my sweet boy, sleep well. Be good for your daddy. Nana will see you soon." She leaned over and kissed his forehead gently. Walking back to the Potion's Master, she did the same to him, though having to stretch up first. "If you ever need anything, give me a call."

"Thank you."

"You're a great daddy, Severus. I trust you to take good care of my grandbaby."

"I will." He glanced over as Sebastian began to stir. "Excuse me."

"I thought you gave him Dreamless Sleep?" she asked, immediately knowing she wasn't going to leave yet.

"Only a drop. Just to get him through the transformation." He sat next to his son and gently traced his facial features. "Come on, Jamie, it's time to get up." He sighed as Jamie climbed into his lap, not opening his eyes. "No, just because you got off the bed, doesn't mean you're up." The little hand made its way to his mouth and he nodded against his chest. "Do you want to see yourself?" Another nod. Severus sighed, once more, and carried him into the bathroom. He held him easily in front of the mirror. "Look, Jamie."

"Me?"

"Yes, that's you. Sebastian James Evan Eliot Jonathan Snape."

He cocked his head to the side, a move Severus was quickly realizing he did when he was confused or contemplating something. "Me 'Batan 'Nape?"

"Yes, you are Sebastian Snape."

He looked over at Amelia. He remembered hearing her called Nana in his dream, and remembered. "Nana, me 'Batan."

"Yes, you are Sebastian, baby," she said with a soft chuckle.

He looked back in the mirror. "Me look like Daddy." He touched his jaw then Severus's in the mirror. "Same."

"Yes, baby, you are very handsome just like your Daddy." She looked at Severus. "He kept Lily's eyes."

"He did."

"If he takes after all of you in strengths, he will be a force to be reckoned with. He has strong defensive magic, James was a Transfiguration Master, Lily in Charms, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy, and you in Potions and Defense."

"He had access to less than 8% of his magic and he defeated the Dark Lord, Amelia, he is going to be strong."

"Take him to Gringott's this afternoon and get a powers test. Also, it wouldn't hurt to check his inheritance, see what all he is getting. Even with the adoption, he will come into it next year, at the age of 4." She smiled. "Monetarily, a lot of people will try to befriend him. He is the heir to the Prince titles which you now hold, along with the Snape line, he is the sole inheritor of the Potter line and I believe Sirius named him heir to the Black line. At the age of 3 he is heir to 4 of the richest Wizarding lines. As for titles, I'm not sure. I know James inherited quite a few, and Lily was not a Muggleborn, so there is that to consider as well."

"We shall go this afternoon." The portrait opened. He sighed. "I really need to change the password."

"Severus!"

"Yes, Minerva?"

"Would you care to explain to me what's going on?"

"Not really, however, I'm sure if you ask nicely, Sebastian's godfather or Nana could explain to you what's going on. Say goodbye, Sebastian."

He transfigured the boy into warm winter clothes as he waved. "Ba bye, 'Batan!"

He smiled. "Give Nana loves."

The boy put a hand to his mouth and then straightened his arm in her direction.

He kissed his son's head. "Good job, Jamie. Let's get going."

"Me bwing Blue?"

"How about if Blue takes a nap while we are gone, then he will be all ready to play when we get back," he said as a compromise laying the blue dragon, he had clearly named Blue, on the couch.

"M'tay."

"Minerva, Amelia, good day."

"Goodbye, Severus. Have fun, my handsome grandbaby."

A smirk crossed the 3-year-old's face. "'Batan, 'some!"

She kissed his cheek as he giggled. "Yes, Sebastian is very handsome." He smiled brightly. "Go have fun with your Daddy. I will see you soon."

"M'tay."

Severus carried him out, after pulling on his cloak and boots, they walked out of the quarters and to the main floor. Thankfully most of the kids were in class so he didn't run into anyone as he left the castle. Sebastian hid his face against the cold wind in Severus's neck. He summoned his son's blanket and wrapped it around him, despite the sweater and thick winter cloak and warming charms. Once out of the wards, he Apparated to Diagon Alley.

"Daddy, Me nos like dat."

"I'm sorry, baby, we'll Floo home. Now, Jamie, we are going to go to the bank. I want you to be very respectful to the Goblins who are going to help us."

He cocked his head to the side, and carefully pronounced, "Gwiphook?"

"Yes, like Griphook," he had seen the Goblin in older Harry's memories multiple times. It appeared he was the one in charge of the Potter estates, and Sebastian remembered him from when he was younger with James and Lily. They entered the bank. Sev walked to the counter. "I would like to speak to someone who can help me with inheritance, powers and estates."

"For who?"

"My son," he said happily. "Sebastian Snape."

A/N: Okay, quick explanation of Harry's new name. I changed canon names a little to fit what I wanted them to be because I like the set up for his full name now. Sebastian is for Severus, his middle name. James is obviously for James Potter, his birth father. Eliot is what I have a Sirius's middle name. Evan for Lily Evans. Jonathan, the extended form of Remus's middle name, John. So the total is Sebastian James Evan Eliot Jonathan Snape. He is using his first name and the middle name for Remus on a daily basis because they are the two still alive.