Severus could not believe how much he was enjoying shopping. Harry had stayed with Dumbledore, who would not risk Harry leaving the castle, so Severus had Lily all to himself.

They had bought potions ingredients, candy that they had shared as children, clothing, special foods, parchment, and special quills, and even bottles of butterbeer to take back (neither of them liked firewisky).

Afterwards they had going to Madam Rosmerta's pub and had a small meal, and they had talked about NEWTS that they had gotten, and other things that they had missed in each other's lives. The only topic the two ignored was James.

Hour later, as the two walked though a secret passageway under Honeydukes to the castle, they were both smiling and happy. James, Voldemort, and the War were all forgotten. Lily had James's invisibility cloak, returned by Dumbledore, and they were using it for extra precaution.

"That was fun Sev. We should do it again sometime!" Lily said, laughing at one of Severus's many bad jokes.

"Yeah, I would like that - next time I'll make you try on some of the lingerie."

Lily laughed again. Her laugh is so beautiful Severus thought to himself.

"Well then, I am going to make you try on those pink fuzzy tops!"

"Hmm…" murmured Severus. " I still think it would be worth it to see you with so little cloths on" Severus smiled at the thought. The last time he had seen much of Lily's body was when they had gone to a hot springs during the Christmas break in their fifth year. Her bikini was a dark green, and he always teased her that it was his house colours.

Lily gasped, pretending to be offended. "You naughty boy!"

Severus continued to smile. "Remember when we were thirteen, and I walked in on you wearing that bikini swimsuit. You freaked out; even though it was something you are supposed to wear in public."

"That may be so, but really not something to be wearing in a room alone with a very naughty boy," said Lily.

"You were just self conscious about your body, at least I convinced you to wear it to the hot springs!"

"Whatever"

Much Later….

Back in Lily's room, after she tucked Harry into his crib in the next room, and Severus had left to sleep on his own - to her disappointment - Lily opened her letter from James.

Dear Lily

If you are reading this, then I must be dead, and you were saved from Tom Riddle's wrath. Now hear me out. I still hate Snivillus. Always have. Always will. You know this will never change… However, he saved my life twice, to the once I saved his from Moony in our third year. Lupin was so angry with Padfoot…

Anyway, we got married; Snivillus got depresses knowing you were mine. Joined old Volde after Dumbledore said it would please you if he did something good. Dumbledore put a spell on his arm first so his dark mark wouldn't be permanent - Snivillus has probably taken it off now, seeing as to save you he must have been exposed as a spy.

Snivillus saved me first from dementors when that witch Bellatrix injured me. The second time was when Lucius sent the death curse at me, and promptly disaperated. I had already been stunned, and Snivillus deflected the curse. Sometimes I wish he had not.

Anyways, after you started dating seventh year, you made me promise not to bully Snivillus. As you can see by me using Snivillus again here, you must be able to tell that I never held up my side of that deal. I now only wish that I had done more. Even now, I am still jealous of him.

But also, Snivillus wasted much of the order's time dropping hints that Padfoot and me were not worthy of being there, because we were too reckless. No doubt I was, because Snivillus did need to save me twice.

As for Harry, I think Snivillus is capable of helping you with him. As of late - well - Harry probably will prefer him anyway…

Now, last of all, you must know this. It was Snivillus who informed Voldemort of the prophesy, which made Voldemort come after us. It was Snivillus who over-heard the new divination teacher- the old fraud - tell Dumbledore of 'the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord'.

This letter is much longer than the one I gave Snivillus. Give Harry his letter when he is much older, and he is capable of reading it himself.

Also, I know about what happened between you and Snivillus on the eve of our wedding. I found out six months after Harry was born. I was bitter towards Snivillus after that, but then I found out that he didn't know. I treated Harry rather badly when you left after that, but you mustn't blame me. I was bitter. I am bitter. Forgive me. For the way I blamed our innocent little son. For stealing you from Snivillus. For breaking you heart in doing so.

James ex-Gryffindor Seeker

p.s TEACH HARRY TO FLY, HE HAD BETTER BE A SEEKER TOO

Lily blinked, and then re-read the last bit of the letter. It was Severus who put me and Harry in so much danger. It was his fault that James is dead.

Suddenly Lily felt guilty for sleeping in Severus's arms last night. Her husband had just died, and all she wanted was to be with Severus? How could she behave so immodestly? And what had James ment by treating Harry badly?

Then she remembered what James had said about lying to her about stopping bulling Severus.

"Men!" Lily cried out, before flinging herself at her pillow, and crying bitterly into it.

Zzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Severus sat on his bed, with a horrible feeling in his stomach. He could not explain what it was. Severus stayed up for hours, listening to Beethoven's Love Story, played by the wizard radio, which he had adapted to pick up muggle stations.

Suddenly he heard Harry crying. Severus was not sure if this would wake Lily up, so he decided to go to harry himself. And hadn't James said that Lily might need him to take care of Harry?

After going into Lily's room with the key she had given him, he went into Harry's bedroom. The walls were a light blue with a golden snitch pattern. Severus forced himself to ignore the reminder that Harry was James's son, and not his.

"What is wrong Harry?" Severus asked the crying child.

"Hair-wy have a nig-mare" Harry sobbed.

Severus noted to himself that it was harder to understand a crying child. Harry's usual easily understood vocabulary had vanished. However, Severus still understood him.

"You had a nightmare Harry? Tell me what happened." Severus picked Harry up, and carried him to the living room, setting him on the couch.

"Daddy hit me 'gain," said Harry looking at his hands, fidgeting, as if he had done something wrong.

'Daddy hit me again' the words echoed through Severus's head. James hit his son? This did not sound like the proud James he knew. Mistreating his own son?

"Harry, did you say that you dad hit you?"

"Mmm-hmm" murmured Harry, nodding. Harry seemed to be trying to push himself as far from Severus as he could. "I did-din' mean to do anythin wong"

"Harry - you did nothing wrong, would you mind if I used ligilimency on you to see-" but Severus stopped, seeing that Harry had no idea what he was talking about.

"Don hurt me!" whimpered Harry.

"I won't hurt you Harry, I promise I won't. Never. Okay? I won't ever hurt you." Severus said.

"Okay." Harry replied smiling. "You won let daddy hurt me again either wright?"

"Your Daddy won't come back Harry, he can never hurt you again. Only in your dreams if you let him."

"I won let him!" Harry said defiantly.

"Harry, I am going to use some magic on you. I promise it won't hurt, okay?"

"Okay"

"Ligilemens…"

Severus was in Lily's house. He could see her at the doorway, putting on a light jacket.

"I won't be long James, I am apperating right to where Dumbledore is, I'll be safe. Just getting a bit of food…" Lily trailed of, doing the last button.

"You won't be stopping anywhere else? How do I know you're not running around with several guys behind my back?" James asked her.

"James!" Lily gasped. "How can you think I would do that, especially when we have Harry together? I would never betray you like that."

"If you ran into Snivillus?" persisted James

"First of all, he is a death eater, and I am insulted you think that I would want to spend time with someone who associates himself with Voldemort. Second, you should be old enough not to call Severus names…"

James turned away from her, and glared at the mirror.

Since when is James so worried about Lily cheating on him? What is with him? And he sure is not treating Lily well. Severus thought to himself watching the scene unfold before him. Lily kissed James check (At this Severus closed his eyes, flinching back) and then disaperated.

"Daddy" called Harry, crawling up to him from the floor. "Where wis mummy?"

"SHUT UP!" James yelled at Harry.

Severus jumped, surprised by James outburst.

Harry started to cry.

"Oh stop snivelling," said James, grabbing Harry by his arm and pulling him up the stairs. Harry was grimacing, but had forced himself to stop crying.

Severus left the memory, not wanting to see more.

"Harry, let me tell you something, your father should never have treated you like that. You didn't deserve that. Okay? Do you understand me Harry? James doesn't have the right to call himself your dad, behaving like that." Severus told Harry.

"Yes Severus," said Harry, finally pronouncing Severus's name right. "Can I stay with you, I don want to go to my cwib alone."

Severus considered Harry for a moment, then conjured at note for Lily explaining everything he had found out, and that Harry was with him. Severus transported the crib to his bedroom, and took Harry there.

"Thank you Severus." Harry said. "Good Nigh"

"Good Night Harry," said Severus, and with a wave of his wand, the light was out.