Thanks for sticking with me, ya'll! Again, Snape is very OOC, but my running theory is that with both Lily AND Harry dead, he was somewhat less constrained by her memory. So, hopefully this story doesn't break the suspension of disbelief? Eh, still, it's my fantasy world, I like it and I'm going to keep going with it ;)
When Harry woke up that morning, it was to the smell of bacon and eggs. He crept down the stairs to find his mother in the kitchen cooking a full breakfast for the two of them, and noticed on the kitchen table the very same Potions Encyclopedia he had borrowed from Professor Snape.
"Good morning, Harry," his mother called over her shoulder with a sad smile. "I saw that book in your room. I hope you don't mind, I wanted to take a look at it myself."
"It's ok, but I'm borrowing it from Professor Snape," Harry said cautiously.
"I know where it came from, Harry," Lily sighed.
She approached the table with two plates of food and placed one in front of her son.
"Harry… Why didn't you tell me sooner that you were going over to Professor Snape's house?"
"Because… he's magic, like we are. You… you mostly avoid magic. I was afraid you would keep me from seeing him because of that. And I knew he could teach me more about potions too, and I wanted to be able to help you more…"
Lily sighed. "I suppose I should at least try to get to know the man. Since you've been spending so much time with him."
Harry brightened considerably. "I've learned loads from him, Mum. He's lent me lots of books."
"Is that so?"
"Oh, yes. I read the Little House on the Prairie books first, and some more muggle novels, and he's also lent me potions books, like this encyclopedia. Plus he tells me about Hogwarts sometimes, if he's really impressed with my work. Did you know Hogwarts has a kitchen full of house elves? And that the Slytherin Common room is under the lake?"
Lily smiled at her son. "I did know those things, Harry, but I'm glad you're so excited to have learned them. Why don't you invite the potions master for dinner tonight? We'll make it your birthday dinner, if you want. You can send him a note with Cliodne."
"Really? Can I send it now? Do you think he'll be awake, Mum?"
Lily laughed. "Most Potions Masters are up by nine, I would say. But finish your breakfast first- hey, not too fast!"
Severus was sipping his tea, deep in thought. Baker was exceptional for a nine-year-old. He had tutored many pureblood children, and rarely did he meet a child so eager to learn, who absorbed information the way Evan did. The child was relatively unphased by his often-sour mood, and Severus saw himself slightly paralleled in the boy- as if this child lived the life he would have lived had his father died when he was young. A loving but relatively absent mother, a few special possessions that he kept safe and secret, and almost no friends.
He was startled out of his thoughts by none other than Cliodne, the owl from the apothecary that he had met many months ago. It was difficult to forget the silvery blue feathered creature, which had come along with the fact that there was a high-leveled, talented potioneer nearby. He read the boy's note with disdain. He had been invited to a birthday party- of all things!
Attached was another note. The handwriting looked vaguely familiar. He tried to remember seeing it on the package Cliodne had delivered to Dobs.
Professor,
I regret that in our initial meeting I was somewhat cold. I am willing to consider that I misjudged your character.
My son has only just informed me that he has been visiting you, and learning from you. I want to tell you that I greatly appreciate your acknowledgment and kindness toward him. I regret that I have been relatively absent for him emotionally since his father's death. Throwing myself into my work has allowed me to pretend the rest of the world and my past is nonexistent- but we can only do that for so long.
I would be delighted to have another Potions master in my home. It would be an honor to speak with you again, and my son would be delighted to have you here.
-Belinda Baker
It seemed Madam Baker had finally learned of Evan's visits. He wondered if young Evan had gotten into great trouble over it. He hoped he could ease the woman's fears- the boy really was rather exceptional.
Severus shook his head. What was the world coming to? Since when did he go to childrens' birthday parties?
But this was clearly just a "dinner"- and there was only one child involved- surely it wouldn't be overly festive? Aside from that, Belinda Baker was a Potions Master as well. It was rare indeed to be able to work with another one of those, and especially one so highly praised by Dobs…
Severus stood, took an owl treat out of a jar for Cliodne so that she would go home, and made his way to the living room. He dug his way through the bookshelves until he found the Little House books. The set had come from a "Good Will" group around Christmas when he was around Evan's age. The group had left a package in bright paper on his doorstep. He brushed his hands over the books and remembered reading through them over and over, letting Lily borrow them, reading them again. They were never much his style, but outside of the dark arts books his mother had possessed, they were all he had to escape in.
He flicked his wand, wrapping the books in green paper. The same color as Lily's eyes.
"I knew you'd come!"
Severus grimaced as the boy threw his arms around him.
"Yes, well, I thought your mother and I could discuss potioneering." He peeled himself carefully away from the boy, just in time to see his mother run up behind him.
"Severus Snape," she said, holding out her hand. "I am honored to be your host."
"Ah, yes," Severus muttered, lifting a hand to shake hers. "It is an honor to be here, Madam Baker. I have to say, I wasn't expecting you to react very… hospitably… upon learning that I have been tutoring Evan."
She laughed, and it was like the sound of tinkling bells. Severus froze, eyes wide.
"Oh, I didn't," she assured him. Had she laughed before, at the Three Broomsticks? Apparently not, for he would have been just as startled then, to hear a laugh that sounded so much like hers.
"Professor, are you alright?" Harry asked. Severus quickly shook himself, and adopted an unreadable look.
"I am fine, Mr. Baker."
"Well, come on in then," Belinda Baker said, sounding somewhat strained. "If you'll let Evan get you a cup of tea, I just need to find my glasses. I set them down somewhere in the basement, and I'm afraid you look rather blurry at the moment."
"Of course, Madam Baker," he said smoothly, though inside he was in turmoil. She sounded so familiar, and the house- it had been the home of Mr. and Mrs. Evans.
"Have a cup of tea, Professor."
"Evan, when did your mother acquire this house?"
"Oh, it-"
"I acquired the house after studying with Madam Slydell," Belinda called from the stairway. "It had been abandoned by a muggle family with a witch daughter. Their other daughter, who was also a muggle, sold it to me for half the price. Said she didn't want anything to do with it. She took all of her mother's things, but left behind the furniture and whatnot."
"Petunia," Severus grumbled.
"I have to say, I am honestly surprised to see you here," Belinda said, her eyes seeming to scan him as she approached. "I remember you from school. You always seemed like such a loner… Most of the time, that is."
"The Dark Lord took much from me. I… I would not have come, but I suppose some part of me has severely missed companionship. I do not know yours or your son's true identity, but I assure you that if I were truly loyal to the Dark Lord, then just the knowledge that he and you were wanted would have indicated to me that I should kidnap the both of you."
Somehow, Severus felt a need to please and impress this woman. But his rambling seemed to only garner more suspicion in Belinda, who looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"Mum, Professor Snape is good, I promise," Harry whisperingly assured her.
"I, um, brought Evan a gift," the Professor said, pulling the package from his robes and having the decency to look at least somewhat uncertain.
Belinda narrowed her eyes.
"I have kept this place very secret," she began slowly. "I have kept my son and I hidden since even before he was born. I will be keeping an eye on you, Professor. If the Dumbledore trusts you, for certain- why?"
"That is a private matter," he said, suddenly guarded.
"Mum, please?"
Lily looked at her son, into his pleading eyes. Then to Severus, who looked lonelier and more hollow than she had ever seen him.
She sighed.
"Alright, Professor Snape. I will not delve into your private affairs. I suppose, if Dumbledore trusts you, it is not impossible for me to trust you as well. You have befriended my son, as well. I am interested in why. It's very… peculiar, that you would allow him to borrow possessions of yours, or devote time to tutoring him."
"Evan is… an interesting child," Severus said uncertainly as Evan bounded up to him.
"You got me something, then, Professor? You really didn't have to, you know."
"It isn't an expensive gift. If your mother says it's alright, you may open it now. It is possible she may want to check it for dark magic."
Harry turned to his mother with pleading eyes. She nodded.
When his eyes touched the Little House books, he squealed with delight. Severus winced at the sound. He eyed the boy's mother, hoping for some sign of approval, sure that she would say the gift was terribly cheap, even for a teacher. But instead of disdain, Belinda's eyes held tears, and her mouth curved into a small smile.
"Professor Snape… Were those yours?"
"Yes, they were. Evan has read them before in my home, and I allowed him to borrow them over the Holidays. I assure you they are not jinxed." He continued to watch her face. She took one of the books, turned it over in her hands, smiling.
"Evan has my copy of book 1," she told him. She opened the book and flipped through the pages, stopping at every tear or child scribble. "This is a very sweet gift, Professor."
"Thank you, Professor!" Evan chirped delightedly. "I'm going to take these upstairs to my room!"
When he was gone, Belinda turned to the Professor, biting her lip.
"Master Snape," she said uncertainly, "you knew I would probably react badly to you... Why did you decide to come here, if you knew I might kick you right back out again?"
Severus closed his eyes. "Your son has a way of drawing people out, Madam Baker. He is truly exceptional, both as a student and as a person. He reminds me of a friend I had in childhood. Aside from that, I… It has been a while since… I knew you were a Potions Master, and I hoped… and Dumbledore has been encouraging me to, say, put myself out there. I wanted to… I..."
Evan came down, then, and cut him short. Severus was left wondering what had made him share so much with a perfect stranger. But something about this woman… He almost wanted to believe she was Lily.