Severus Snape first encountered Harry Potter when he had been locked in a closet for over a day. It happened shortly after the protective barriers, combined with a sudden spike in the child's accidental magic, forced the headmaster to interrupt the Potion's master's fairly leisurely morning. The patronus appeared suddenly in his sitting room, the corporal body of the Phoenix speaking the message that Severus was to drop everything and come immediately to the headmaster's office.

Severus was skilled enough in Occlumency to take this in stride, grateful that the summer holidays had just begun, and there were no students present to witness the event. He promptly sent a response, then prepared to Apparate to just outside the grounds of the school.

When he arrived outside the headmaster's office, he voiced the latest password--Chocolate Frogs--and was permitted entrance.

Albus Dumbledore appeared in front of him immediately, pacing about in a manner very much unlike him. The look on his face reminded Severus of his expression during the days just before the downfall of the Dark Lord. Far from the cultivated look he usually wore in front of students and staff, Albus looked unguarded.

Just for a moment. Upon seeing Severus, the familiar look lodged into place.

"Ah, good, you received my message. Are you well, Severus?" he asked, kindly.

"As well as ever, I dare say," was his brusque response. "What, might I ask, is your reason for summoning me?"

The haunted look returned, if only for a moment. "The barriers protecting Harry Potter have vanished. Moreover, there has been word from the Ministry that there was a sudden spike in the child's accidental magic. I told Fudge that I would inspect the premises before he sent anyone out to investigate."

Severus nodded, feigning nonchalance. "The boy's relatives are dead, then?"

"That's what I believe. Come, Severus. We must make haste," Dumbledore implored.

He didn't bother asking why he, of all people, would be chosen to accompany the headmaster. The man's ways were often foreign to him, but he acted according to his sense of logic. Besides, if the relatives were dead and the Potter's spawn's magic had saved him, it might only be temporary. The risk to his life, likely enhanced by the death of his relatives, might be larger than ever.

With a nod, Severus followed the man to his desk, where an object that likely served as a Portkey sat.

"I had this created in the last hour. Together on three, then," Albus commanded. "One...two...three!"

The outside of the house held one of those pristine lawns that might grace the cover of a muggle magazine. The address read, "4 Privet Drive."

Severus allowed himself the slightest of eyebrow raises. He'd assumed that, with the Potter family dead, the spawn would be residing with his maternal grandparents. As long as it had been since he'd visited the Evans family, he'd known that this address did not match theirs. Had they moved to another residence? But they'd loved their other house...

Albus refrained from knocking, opting instead to open the door directly. This, too, took Severus aback. Muggles generally locked their doors, even during the day. One knocked to receive entrance, or rang a bell. The headmaster, upon knowing that the owners were deceased, could certainly abstain from such a superficial gesture, but Severus knew that he hadn't performed any charm to unlock the door.

Once inside, Severus noted nothing amiss. Or, rather, he saw, heard, or smelled nothing amiss--but it was there, all the same.

Albus noted it as well.

"Bubble-Head Charm," they said at once, then flicked their wands at their heads.

"Carbon monoxide poisoning," Severus noted, hearing his voice echo slightly within the bubble.

"Indeed. And Harry's magic must have spiked in order to preserve his life," Albus agreed. "We must locate the boy, and bring him out of here."

"If he hasn't already left," Severus noted. "But why didn't he call the police?"

They walked around the perimeter of the downstairs, stopping as they saw the unmoving bodies of two adults. Severus recognized one as Lily's sister, Petunia. His stomach tightened. Harry Potter was being raised by her? The other man, rather enormous, must have been her husband. From what Severus remembered of Petunia, this seemed like the last sort of man she'd consider marrying. And, judging by her body, she hadn't exactly lost what looks she'd possessed as a girl. Certainly, she had always been plainer than Lily...

Severus forced himself to focus. "Harry's former guardians?"

"Indeed. His aunt and uncle," Albus answered, sympathetically. "They took him in just after his parents were murdered."

Severus would have given a great deal to know how that had come about, but now was hardly the time to press for details. Harry Potter still needed to be located, and it was possible that the noxious gas was in the process of ending his life.

He was about to propose they search upstairs when he froze just outside of the kitchen. There was a door, and he was suddenly certain he knew that the Potter spawn was inside.

So, apparently, was Dumbledore.

Severus was closer, so he reached out a hand to pull it open. At first, the door did not move. It was only after muttering, "Alohomora!" that the door gave way.

Inside, crouched in a corner, could only be the Potter spawn.

Author's note:

Seems like a fitting place to end the first chapter, right?

This is my first Severitis fic. I use the term not to denote biological relationship (Harry Potter is James's biological son in this universe, plain and simple!), but rather that Severus will become his guardian and father figure.

I will also add here that as I am a firm opponent of ANY form of physical punishment on a child, you will see NONE of that here. Nor threats of it. So, if that isn't your Snape "flavor," you have been warned. If it is, I hope you will enjoy. If you have no strong opinion, I also hope you will keep reading.

For what it's worth--and while I will likely mention this in the next chapter--the Dursleys died from carbon monoxide. Or, rather, the adults. Dudley was out of the house, and will be taken in by Aunt Marge. But as he's not the center of the story, I will only very briefly address this.

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