A/N: Only five months since our last update. :D I've now since finished my other WIP, so updates for this fic should (fingers crossed) be quicker now. I've reread through all of your wonderful reviews and comments for this fic, gaining the much needed energy to get back into the swing of things with this story. I know that some of you are confused by what's going on in this story so far, but all will be explained. In fact, I've got a separate document that contains all the mysteries (with the answers) I've so far brought up just to make sure that I do answer your questions. So, with that said, I thank all of you for hopefully sticking with me and putting up with the long wait. Enjoy.

House Guest

Frowning as he drew his wand, Severus gave a curt nod to his father, who had waited until Severus's signal to open the front door. It wasn't possible that his owl had reached Hogwarts already. Owls were quick, but not that quick. So, who then was at the door? Another Auror who tracked them there? A Death Eater perhaps? Once Tobias opened the door and revealed who it was, Severus felt his jaw drop slightly before he quickly recovered. What in the world was she doing here?

"Good morning," stated a familiar older, stern-looking woman wearing forest green robes. Behind her square-rimmed glasses, her green eyes found Severus a moment later. "Might I come in for a spot of tea, Severus?"

Tobias turned back towards his son, who again nodded. He then stepped aside soon after, allowing Minerva McGonagall inside.

"How can we help you?" Severus asked quietly, instinctively stepping closer to Harrison when McGonagall's eyes narrowed on the young toddler.

Turning back towards him, she frowned. "Strange. I wasn't aware you had a son."

His heart raced in response to her suspicion-laced words. She would be sure to tell Dumbledore of her findings once she left. He just knew it. And once Dumbledore knew, it was all over then. Severus would surely find himself in Azkaban for certain now, forever a failure.

"Eh, my fault there, lass," Tobias spoke up with a quiet chuckle. "The lad's been stayin' with me as Sev settles in." He then took a step closer to Severus as he spoke. "That, and, well, I'm certain I don't need to tell you this, but my boy's still comin' to terms with this whole thing. I didn't exactly leave him with a good example, you know?" he stated, giving Severus a hard clap on the back before Tobias turned back to her. "Now, how about we cut to the chase and you tell us why yer here, lass?"

McGonagall seemed to consider Tobias's explanation for a bit before she finally nodded in acceptance a few minutes later. "I was asked here by Professor Dumbledore." Judging by her respectful tone towards Tobias, it was clear to Severus that she was not aware of Tobias's supposed criminal past.

Having been given the much needed respite with his father's explanation, Severus couldn't help but scoff in disbelief, though. She was asked by Dumbledore? Impossible. "Since when has it been possible for an owl to reach Hogwarts from here in just an hour's time?" he asked with a challenging raised brow. There was no way Dumbledore had received Severus's earlier message when he, Tobias, and Harrison first arrived. Perhaps four hours from then, yes he could see it, but not now.

"It wasn't an owl that alerted him," she replied simply. When Tobias looked towards his son doubtfully, she continued. "A Patronus was sent by an Auror, who stated that you and your father had been attacked in Cokeworth by Death Eaters and would be needing assistance." She then held up a hand, as if she could already guess what Severus was going to say. "Before you even ask, I knew you were here because Professor Dumbledore did. You see, once he had heard the Auror's message, he sent me here to this safe house to check on you. Now, as to how he knew you were here, well, if I were to guess, I would imagine he placed a tracker on you at some point, Severus." She then lowered her voice before she said under her breath, "Not that I blame him."

Severus clenched his jaw and glared. There was the age old prejudice rearing its ugly head again. "Why is that? Because I'm a Slytherin and not one of your precious little Lions?" he sneered.

Minerva's eyes flashed dangerously. "No," she snapped. "I wouldn't blame him, because even I find it odd that you mysteriously leave the castle on the very night that Lily, James, and their son are found murdered in Godric's Hollow!" She raised her head up slightly. "You may have forgotten the past, Severus Snape, but I surely have not. I am well aware of your feelings concerning James and—"

Unable to hold his temper back at her accusations, Severus shot back, "My feelings have little to do with their murders, McGonagall! And you're wrong. You've always been wrong, you foolish old woman! I didn't start it with Potter. He did! But, of course, as always, your precious little Lions could do no wrong. Especially not your favorites," he spat, glaring at her with daggers.

"Son," Tobias quietly said, gently resting his hand on Severus's arm. "It ain't worth it."

He wasn't so certain about that. Finally getting the words out he had wanted to say to her since the start of the school year was somewhat cleansing. However, once he heard the hushed whimpering beside him, Severus quickly understood why his father had cut in. His anger was upsetting Harrison. It was strange to think how quickly he was starting to take to the boy. Yet, there he was, beginning to notice the slight changes in the boy's behavior and adapt accordingly to those changes.

"Is that what you want to hear, Snape?" she replied brusquely, crossing her arms defensively. "That I was wrong in my actions, or rather inactions in this case, concerning their treatment of you?" She shook her head and pressed her lips tighter together when Severus remained silent. "I suppose you blame me for your joining the Death Eaters, too. That if I had just overlooked my obvious prejudices concerning my own house, you may have grown into a rather fine man, hmm?"

"No," Severus answered through clenched teeth. He wasn't that deluded to think it had been all her fault. "But you could have at least given a damn about the other students not from Gryffindor just once. After all, we both know I wasn't the only target of their harmless fun."

She took a step back instantly. "You truly believe I didn't care?" she asked, seemingly horrified. "I punished them as severely as one could, short of canning them. When it became clear to me, however, that my punishments weren't being taken seriously, I handed them over to Professor Dumbledore."

"Where they were awarded with sweets for their misdeeds, no doubt," Severus sneered.

"If you truly believe that, then—"

"Black tried to have me murdered! Or have you forgotten that quaint little fact, Professor?" As his words swirled around them, he instantly felt the change in the room. McGonagall looked paler than she had ever looked before, clutching her chest as she stared back at him shocked. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his father staring at him as well with a saddened look.

"What do you mean, 'tried to have you murdered?" McGonagall asked breathlessly.

Upon witnessing her reaction and noting her obvious surprise, Severus drew in a shallow breath. Was it possible that Dumbledore hadn't informed her as Severus had assumed? Could it be that only Severus, Dumbledore, Black, and Potter knew the truth? Surely someone had informed the other staff members about a student nearly dying, right?

"Black told me how to get past the Whomping Willow in order to see what Pomfrey and Lupin were up to," Severus answered calmly a moment later, watching McGonagall's face very closely. "So, I did as Black instructed." It felt like all the weight of the world was coming off him finally. "Only Potter decided to be noble for once and pulled me back before I ended up dead at the hands of his furry friend." At seeing McGonagall's face morph from surprise to outrage and knowing in his heart that her outrage was directed for him, he felt something strange stir inside him. He couldn't explain what it was, though.

"You . . .Why wasn't I informed of this?" she demanded.

Severus bit his cheek to keep from responding how that was a good question. Instead, he replied soon after, "You'd have to ask Professor Dumbledore." At this point, he hoped she did ask Dumbledore. It would be good to see someone finally stand up for him for once. He then grimaced when an image of a dark-haired witch from his past flashed in his mind. On second thought, someone who wasn't a starry-eyed twit lusting after the bad boy, he amended a moment later.

Closing her eyes, McGonagall hung her head somberly. Regret hung about her like an old friend.

"I apologize, Severus," she said quietly after the silence had gone on awkwardly. "I wasn't aware of that." Her arms fell to her sides before she glanced at him. "If I had known . . ." She closed her eyes again, brushing at her cheek briefly. "You're right to be angry with me." Her eyes then met his. "I should've done more. Clearly."

Severus, however, turned his back to her, electing instead to picking Harrison up. He didn't like the emotions that her apologies were eliciting in him currently. Disappointment had mixed with sadness now. The earlier anger and contempt had faded away with her admission. Sighing silently, he brushed back the toddler's hair, closing his eyes when he saw the kind green eyes staring back at him.

"I failed you," McGonagall stated bluntly. "You and the others who passed through our doors whom we were entrusted to care for. I failed all of you."

"Yes, well, your apologies do very little good now, don't they?" Severus replied harshly. When Harrison cocked his head to the side curiously a moment later, the message was understood. Dwelling on past wounds wouldn't do anyone any good. They had to move on. Or at least that was what Severus thought Harrison was thinking.

"Uh, lass, not to interrupt yer pity party or nothin', but do you or Bumblebee or whatever know what happened tonight in Cokeworth?" Tobias asked softly, steering the conversation into less dangerous territory.

McGonagall stood up a bit taller, accepting the offered respite. "Other than you three being attacked, you mean?" When Tobias inclined his head, she shook her head slightly. "Albus didn't really elaborate. He just asked me to come here, check on you, and deliver some things for him."

"Deliver some things?" Severus repeated, his brows coming together. That was the first he had heard her say that. His lips pursed as he watched McGonagall pull out a thin rectangular box from her robes then. What on earth would the old man be giving them? When she offered the box a moment later, he set Harrison down on the sofa again and carefully removed the box's lid. "A wand?" He glanced from the ornate wand in the box to her. "I have a perfectly good wand now. Why would I need another?" he stated, frowning.

In truth, Severus actually had two wands. He carried a twelve-and-a-half inch, hawthorn, dragon heartstring wand with him at all times nowadays, which he used primarily for Death Eater functions and other dark reasons. His other wand was what Ollivander had declared as his true wand during his first trip to Diagon Alley. Though, Severus didn't hold much stock in that, seeing as how his so-called 'true' wand usually felt uncomfortable in his hand. But Ollivander had always laughed off Severus's concerns, explaining Severus would likely grow into it. Almost ten years later, Severus clearly still hadn't grown into the thirteen-and-three-quarters inch, ebony, phoenix wand yet.

"He merely stated that you would understand," McGonagall replied with a shrug.

He would understand? Severus's eyes returned to the offered wand, noticing the carved in cluster of berries running down its length. Upon further inspection, he decided it was a carving of elderberries.

"Though, why he's giving you his wand is beyond me," she commented quietly.

His heart stopped briefly. This had been Dumbledore's wand? It didn't make a bit of sense. Why would the old man give Severus the wand he had won from Grindelwald? Unless . . . had Severus's future self done something that Severus himself wasn't aware of yet?

"He also wanted me to give you this as well." She pulled out another box from her robes, enlarging it a moment later before she held it out to him. "He stated that you should use it well."

Severus blinked before he slowly took off the box's lid. The faint silvery gray cloth shimmered slightly inside, the light catching it just right. He pinched the slippery cloth between his fingers and pulled it up a moment later.

"Strange," he heard her whisper beside him. He too shared her sentiments.

"Well, shit, that's gonna come in handy, ain't it?" Tobias remarked as he whistled approvingly. "Just don't go usin' it in the ladies' room, you hear, son?"

When Severus's eyes darted to his father and caught the older man's wicked grin, he scowled. As if he would ever do something juvenile. He wasn't James Potter after all. He then paused as it slowly dawned on him. Had Potter used this same Invisibility Cloak during their years at Hogwarts? If so, then it would certainly clear up a few things that had been unanswered over the years, namely how Potter had learned Severus's spells. But why would Dumbledore give him Potter's Invisibility Cloak as well?

At the feel of a hard tug on the cloak a moment later, Severus realized that answer too. Harrison. Somehow Dumbledore had figured out the truth about the boy. That Severus had—or rather his future self had—faked the toddler's death and given Harrison to him. But how? How was the question. How did Dumbledore know all of this?

"What else is there?" he inquired, looking back at McGonagall.

"Nothing. Those were the only things he gave me."

An Invisibility Cloak that likely had belonged to James Potter and Dumbledore's own wand? That was it? He shook his head. He didn't understand. His future self obviously would, but he didn't have the luxury of knowing the future. In fact, it barely seemed Severus knew the past at this point.

"Where is Dumbledore currently?" he asked a moment later. His eyes narrowed on her when he caught her instant look of pain. On second thought, her being there was odd, which is just what he alluded to next. "Why are you here and not him?"

"He's otherwise occupied, I'm afraid," she answered evenly, clearly holding back from explaining further. Severus was not about to let her off that easily, though.

"With what, Professor?"

"School business."

His eyes narrowed even more as he caught her lips thin even more and her eyes avoiding his. "You're lying. Where is Professor Dumbledore, Minerva? After all, what could possibly be more important now that the Dark Lord is no more?"

She held her head up higher, drawing in a sharp breath. It was clear she didn't want to answer, but was struggling with herself over it.

"Come on, lass. Ya ain't foolin' no one right now," Tobias chimed in. "What's goin' on?"

McGonagall's eyes snapped towards Tobias before her jaw clenched slightly.

"Did he call the wizardin' cops on us or somethin', lass?"

"Nothing of the sort," McGonagall finally answered.

"Then, why do you have yer knickers all in a bunch?" Tobias replied. "It's just a question. Ain't no one died over a question before."

She huffed, shaking her head. "As colorful as that is, Mister Snape—"

"Uh-oh. Here we go," Tobias groaned. He turned towards Severus. "If a woman ever calls you 'Mister' anything, it always spells trouble, son. Trust me on that. Yer mother used to be famous for that. Well, before we got married at least. Then, she moved onto the really scary one, my given name." His voice then rose slightly as he mimicked Severus's mother. "Tobias Avery!" He shook as if a chill came over him. "Still haunts me to this day."

After pausing for a moment and staring at Tobias in a manner that was clear that she didn't know whether to laugh or not, she finally replied, "Professor Dumbledore is otherwise engaged, I'm afraid."

Tobias instantly crossed his arms. "You know, lass, if those knickers go up any higher—"

"Kindly refrain from—" McGonagall started to stay, interrupting him.

"Then answer the question. Where's Bumblebee?" Tobias repeated, intentionally saying Dumbledore's name wrong.

"Professor Dumbledore is—"

"Otherwise engaged," Tobias mocked. "Yeah, I got that line. But I ain't talkin' to the witch who does everything by the book. I'm talkin' to the witch who wants to redeem herself and make up for lettin' poor kids suffer and the like."

Severus heard McGonagall's sharp intake of air instantly.

"Ya know," Tobias said calmly, his blue eyes meeting hers, "like my son for example, lass."

"What you're asking is . . ." Her voice trailed off before she shook her head. "It's not as easy as you believe."

"Sure it is. All you gotta do is tell us where he is, and then, bam . . . it's all good again."

"I can't. I'm sorry," she responded, shaking her head again.

"Why? Because my boy made a mistake and got himself in too deep?" Tobias shot back with a scoff. "Show me a man who hasn't, lass."

Severus noticed McGonagall glance at him. Her lips relaxed slightly as she watched him.

"Ya made a mistake as well, so why should you get a chance to redeem yerself and not my boy?"

McGonagall's shoulders slumped instantly, the final nail added.

"After he learned what occurred at Godric's Hollow," she started to say, "Professor Dumbledore locked himself up in his office. He refused to speak with any of us, including myself. It was only fifteen minutes ago that he asked me to see him in his office and stated to me how an Auror had contacted him via Patronus to inform him of your attack. I pressed him to reveal the mysterious Auror's identity, but he refused, stating that I needed to come here directly and give you those two things to help you on your journey while he went to check on something. He said nothing about you having a son, though."

His eyes narrowed on her slightly. Dumbledore's wand and Potter's old Invisibility Cloak would help him on his journey? The old man clearly had the wrong Severus in mind for these gifts. The only journey Severus saw himself on currently was raising a toddler.

"Yeah, well, ain't a lot of people know about my grandson for obvious reasons, lass," Tobias drawled. "Can't be too sure that you and the others won't try to warp him, you know? Or talk crap about his father in front of young Harrison, so the lad's been stayin' with me."

McGonagall nodded silently for a moment. "Understandable." Her eyes then moved back to Severus. "However, I would imagine in the coming days you would return to Hogwarts with your father and son, then."

"And just why on earth would I do that?" Severus replied, his lip curling slightly.

"Because with the Dark Lord gone now, the Aurors are rounding up former Death Eaters and sentencing them for their supposed crimes," she stated. "It won't be long before the Aurors find you."

Severus tensed instantly. What she was saying only made sense after all. With the Dark Lord no longer petrifying the Ministry, there would be no reason the Aurors wouldn't round up all the long-rumored followers and lock them up, throwing the key away for all eternity. He'd admit he had considered that a possibility earlier in his talk with Dumbledore, but he hadn't thought anything more about it since then. She was right, though. He would need a powerful ally if he were to survive.

"Actually, I contemplated taking a leave of absence for the remainder of the year." Or rather that was what his future self told him to do.

"If you run, Severus, then you will appear guilty and the Ministry will only hunt you more. Trust me. I worked there for quite a bit," McGonagall admitted. "And the way the rumors are going, the Ministry is not above imprisoning you for the hell of it."

"And if I don't leave, then I am forced to remain—"

"Safe. As will be your family," she declared.

No. It was out of the question. He couldn't return to Hogwarts. Not now with Harrison. One look at the boy, and the others would figure out that the boy wasn't his. No. It was better this way. No chance of the boy's lineage being discovered.

"Son, she's right," Tobias offered quietly. "If what Chloe was sayin' earlier about yer past, then yer gonna need some high-ranking people havin' yer back and vouchin' for you."

Severus's head whipped around towards his father. Go back? His father had to be mad if he thought that would happen. There were others who were more powerful than Dumbledore out there surely. It would take time, but he knew he could find them.

"I ain't sayin' ya gotta stay forever, son."

No. It was out of the question. He couldn't return to Hogwarts with Harrison. They would all find out the truth then, and Severus would find himself Kissed for certain. He just needed to get his father to understand and relent without revealing the real reason of why he didn't want to return. Like a good Slytherin, that reason popped into his mind instantly.

"You want me to return to the place where I was bullied, where I was nearly killed?" There was no way his father could argue with that now. "And here I thought you truly cared for me. For your grandson." He could see his father's resolve start to falter and waited for the man to surrender.

Tobias sighed softly, running a hand through his scruffy hair for a few moments. His blue eyes remained trained on his son as time passed slowly. It felt like a lifetime had passed before he finally spoke quietly.

"Ya used to go on about that castle for hours on end, tellin' me about how wicked it'd be to finally be somewhere safe, somewhere far from our shitty little town, somewhere where you could be somebody other than a criminal."

The memory of that tickled the back of Severus's mind briefly. He couldn't believe his father recalled that. Of all the things for his father to remember . . .

"Let's be honest, son. It ain't that yer scared of. I mean, yeah, it sounds like it wasn't what ya thought Hogwarts would be, but now it can be. Yer gettin' a second chance, son, and so is that place."

The faded feelings he had once felt while at Hogwarts during his first and second years started to bubble up inside Severus again. His father was right. It was funny how he was finding them both to be correct in their words. He had at one time considered Hogwarts to be his home, to be his safe place. But all that had changed once Potter and his gang of thugs gave him a dose of cold reality day after day, year after year with little interruptions.

"So what is it? What's got you runnin' scared with yer tail between yer legs?" Tobias asked.

Severus's eyes dropped to Harrison instinctively. How would he explain the boy to the others and not have them investigate further? Granted, he knew the others likely either knew or would know that young Harry Potter was supposedly murdered with his parents. That had likely come out by now. And if no one knew the truth that the child was actually missing and not dead—well, no one ever searched for a dead child. But he knew all too well how everything he had worked so hard for would be destroyed after just one second of misfortune on his part.

"If it's your classes you're concerned about," McGonagall began, "I'll have someone cover them until you're ready to return." Her eyes softened just a bit as she unexpectedly lowered her metaphorical mask. "But, Severus, running away isn't going to help anything. All it will do is make you appear to be guilty, and at this point even the slightest hint of guilt will get you certainly convicted to a lifetime in Azkaban. The Aurors, the Ministry as a whole in fact, don't care about justice right now, only revenge. And they will stop at nothing, not even the truth, to get it."

His classes? That was what she thought was preventing Severus from returning? As if he gave a damn about those horrid, idiotic brats. He had never wanted to be a teacher in the first place. It was his two masters, Dumbledore and the Dark Lord, who damned him to a lifetime of teaching. He would have much rather have been brewing more interesting potions and creating powerful spells than teach. His classes. He sneered.

"So, you believe it would be wise of me to return to Hogwarts instead and remain Dumbledore's pawn then?" he spat angrily. Ever since he had learned the truth from his future self, he had continued to battle with himself internally with this question. What she was saying, after all, made perfect sense to him. He would need an ally. He knew this. But was it truly worth the risk to return with young Harrison at his side? He had seen what happened to people once they lost their value, and he didn't ever want to end up like that. Yet, that was how he envisioned would be the case if he returned to Hogwarts with Harrison. He would no longer have any value to Dumbledore, so he would be cast aside like yesterday's trash. "Is that it, McGonagall?" He didn't even wait for her to respond before he continued, turning towards his father this time. "You wish to know why I don't want to return? Well, take a hard look at your grandson, Tobias. You would be asking me to bring him to environment that is not healthy for a toddler, where danger lurks around every corner." As his father's grin grew, so did Severus's frown. "You find this amusing?" he snapped irritably. What the hell was Tobias grinning about?

"Well, it seems to me, Severus, that you're coming to terms with your unexpected fatherhood quite nicely," McGonagall answered for Tobias.

Severus blinked. What on earth was she talking about?

"You appear to care quite deeply for your son already," she explained further. "I hear you, though, and understand your apprehension. You want your son to be safe like any good father does."

Good father? Him? He stared at her in hidden disbelief. Had someone Confunded her? There was no way he was a good father. Was there?

"While I can certainly understand your meaning and share those same sentiments about feeling like a pawn to Albus, I do believe that he means well in his actions and doesn't intend to hurt others."

Severus glanced away and looked out the nearby window. The best intentions often paved the way to hell after all. Or didn't she know that?

"However, I know with all my heart that he would never use your son as leverage over you."

Why not? It seemed in an alternate future, Dumbledore had used Evans to keep Severus loyal to the cause. Why then wouldn't Dumbledore use Harrison?

"He isn't a bad man, Severus, and neither are you."

That familiar annoying feeling of warmth expanded inside him at hearing her declaration. They were just words. That was all. And yet, her words gave him a sliver of hope for the future. Perhaps he wasn't as bad as everyone thought, as Evans had suggested.

"The boy—" He clenched his teeth when she held up a hand and cut him off. He absolutely hated it when people interrupted him.

"Will be with his father, and his grandfather if you both so choose, at Hogwarts. No one ever said one had to take a leave of absence away from the castle after all," McGonagall pointed out.

He sighed inwardly. He was losing this argument. How had this even happened?

"Give us another chance, Severus," she said softly, resting a gentle hand on his arm. "Come home." Her eyes then darted to Harrison who was watching her closely. "Come home, and let us do what we should have done from the start—fight for you."

Fight for him? No one ever fought for him. Not without having an ulterior motive at least.

"I will not subject my son to people questioning his lineage, his birth, his background."

"I wouldn't expect you to," she replied calmly. "Not until you're ready." She then shrugged. "And, frankly, let's be honest, shall we? You would likely tell whomever is asking such questions that it's none of their goddamn business. Which it isn't. That is solely between you and your son's mother."

Severus lifted his head up, glancing sideways at her. Was it truly that easy?

"I made a horrible error in judgment when you were my student years ago, Severus, and you paid the price for it unfortunately." The sadness blanketed each of her words. "You are absolutely correct. I should've done more for you and the others. Please allow me another chance to make things right now."

He stared at her, however, unable to move past her earlier words.

"We have lost so many these past few years," McGonagall stated, continuing on. "So many families have been torn apart as a result. So much blood has been spilt needlessly. There has to be another way. So I'm choosing to end the status quo I've participated in for so long. We need to band together as one. One family. One house." Her eyes then met his. "Don't you agree?"

"Speaking of house unity always sounds good to those listening, but implanting ways to achieve it rarely works in reality," Severus replied, noting her soft sad smile a moment later.

"Perhaps one day then," she remarked. "Until then, I mean my words." She drew in a breath. "My unfortunate favoritism for my House ends today. It never did any favors for anyone anyway. It only increased the rivalry and prejudices against the other houses."

He nodded slowly, wondering why she was telling him any of this. He knew she had seen the error of her ways now. What did it matter what she was going to do about it now? When he felt her squeeze his arm gently a moment later, he glanced down at her hand.

"Normally, I would tell you to take all the time you need, Severus, but seeing as how we both know the Ministry will be looking for you soon and you are here not at Hogwarts, I think a night to sleep on where you will go from here is the best I can offer." She offered him a faint smile. "If you do decide to return to Hogwarts, know that I will stand beside you and vouch for you to the Ministry."

"Why?" he blurted out hoarsely. What had changed to make her do a total 180 in terms of her attitude towards him? It didn't make sense.

"Because you're a good man, Severus. I just was too blind to see it."

A good man? Him? No one believed him to be good. At least no one that mattered.

"I should return to the castle before anyone notices that neither the headmaster nor the deputy are there." She gave a soft laugh before she inclined her head politely towards Severus and then Tobias. "Until tomorrow." She then Disapparated from the farmhouse on the cliff, leaving the trio alone again.

Severus stared at the spot she had been, though, unable to move. He couldn't wrap his head around her treating him respectfully, like an equal, for once. Since his accepting the available Potions master position last summer, she had remained standoff and at times even downright belligerent with him. He had become used to people being disrespectful towards him, so he usually just snidely replied back with whatever he could think of that would do the most damage. That was unless Dumbledore was around. But even then, Severus would grudgingly respond defensively.

"Ya all right there, son?" Tobias asked softly a moment later, coming to stand beside him.

Every bone in Severus's body wanted him to respond truthfully and say no, but he instead only pushed back those thoughts and turned towards his father.

"The Aurors will soon learn of your leaving," he stated, changing the subject.

"Yeah. Bet they ain't gonna be thrilled about that," Tobias said with a laugh. "Ya want to me to leave then? Just so you and the boy don't get pulled into my shit?"

Without a thought given, Severus replied, "No." He caught his father's brows furrow together. "I don't want you to go." Tobias nodded slowly.

"Then, should we head to that fancy castle?"

Sighing, Severus shook his head. "Not tonight, Dad." He couldn't face them all quite yet.

"All right." Tobias gently picked Harrison up and held him. "Then, let's get our lad to bed before he turns into a pumpkin." He chuckled when Harrison giggled in response.