It takes a few moments for Lily to turn over her shoulder to see who it was. Severus Snape, well, she shouldn't be surprised. He owned this cottage and maybe she didn't dispel all the wards before entering. Putting her and James' attempt to ward their house to shame, as they only warded the gate and doors.

"Snape," she acknowledges curtly as she stands up. The days of niceties between them were long gone. Snape made sure of that when she tried sticking up for him.

Snape snorts, and when he takes a step forward, Lily notices the caution in his step. One would think that he was in a room with a ravenous lion. "Tell me, Madame Potter," he drawls. "What gives you the right to be scouring through the room of a ten-year-old girl who shouldn't even exist in your mind yet? I would have expected it out of your swine of a husband, but you?" Snape shakes his head, "I thought you would have more tact than this."

Lily's nostrils flared at the insult to her husband as she glared at the man who she once considered a friend. He was supposed to be her age, except he appeared decades older as if he was fifty rather than thirty-one. Withered as if the years weren't too kind to him. The spiteful part in her relished it, that it's what he would get from joining a group that would do nothing but harm to people like her.

The tactful, kind part of her scolded her for such thoughts. You don't know what his life has been like in the past years.

Lily pushed that part of her away as she said, "Well, you should be grateful that it was me rather than my husband, Snivellus," she hissed. For a moment, she sees him flinch and there's hurt in his obsidian eyes for a fleeting moment before they harden. "He wouldn't have been as tactful as I am. Besides, I can't afford to wait to hear how Dumbledore's conversation with your charge is going to go. I had to see who my son will be going to school with."

"Then I suppose Eleanora Black has now told you," Snape replied.

"Yes." Lily nods. "Everything."

"Though of course, it doesn't matter to you that she is the daughter of one of your friends," he points out, the condemnation in his tone. "What seems to matter more to you is that she is the daughter of the man who tried and failed to kill you and your family. Which is why you would feel justified in prying your nose in the room of a little girl. Say I went to your home and did the same to your son, you and your husband would hex me to oblivion the moment you saw me."

"Except my son isn't around former Death Eaters around the clock," she pointed out. "My son isn't getting the idea that he should join Voldemort when he comes back. Influence is what makes a child, and you know it."

"You don't think that it's a choice that I would leave only for her to make when she gets older?" he demands. "She's only a ten-year-old girl who prefers to play Quidditch and read Charles Dickens to pass the time. She shouldn't even be concerning herself with everything about the Dark Lord at this stage."

At this, Lily felt sick of herself. Even if she felt like she had reasons to worry over the nature of this girl's influences, Severus was right: she was just a ten-year-old girl who shouldn't be dwelling on whatever grandiose tales of Voldemort most likely given to her peers. The mention of her playing Quidditch was added onto it. For Eleanora Black nee Lupin was the Seeker for the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team in her time at Hogwarts ("And a bloody good one too," James would say grudgedly during school.).

She had no trace of doubt that Nora would strongly disapprove of what she was doing. When she spoke of Albus' upcoming conversation with Victoria, she seemed to have hope that something good would come out of it. It was clear as well that she desired to see only herself in the girl, refusing to see the monster that had fathered her. Even if she wasn't comfortable raising her at first due to the violent nature of her conception.

Lily takes a deep breath. She was going to do this for Nora. To put her own mind at ease. "Does she talk about wanting to know her mother at all?" she asks.

"Toria had asked me one time, and I doubt my steering the topic to another direction had helped her," he answers. "One who is observant would pay attention to the wistful glances she gives to Narcissa and Bellatrix when they are with their children, so of course, she's hungry for information, and I don't feel like the right person to tell her. Also, she has no idea who her father is. Even the Malfoys', as reverent as they were to the Dark Lord, wouldn't tell her given the magnitude of such a parentage. It would turn any child's head just as being the Boy-Who-Lived would."

Though Lily thought those two weren't the same, she could understand the comparison. Even if Lord Voldemort bought nothing but death, horror, and destruction in his wake, he was still a powerful wizard. Something that would probably only matter depending on the child for when they had gotten information.

"Thank you," she had said. "That is what I needed. Now, I suppose you have exams to grade."

She was done here, and she'd rather this be the only interaction she had with him.

As she leaves the room, she doesn't feel his gaze. Though she was certain he only looked after her when she was out of sight.

James sighs as he gazes at the contents of the file he was perusing. "What did I get myself into," he sighs, running his hand through his black hair.

"The Abernathy Fleetwood file still stumping you?" Dorcas asks him from the next cubical next to his.

"Yeah," he grumbles. "I offered Dawlish to take it off his hands and well, seems to be giving me a headache as well."

Come on, where should I start, he thinks as he flips open the parchment. There has got to be something he missed. He was James Potter, for Merlin's sake. He hardly gotten stumped by cases like these.

"Any progress, Potter?"

James jumps at the sound of Madame Lestrange. He turns unwillingly to see her a few feet behind his seat. A bundle of books under one arm while she carried a cup of tea in the other hand. Her brown eyes studying him rather sharply.

"I am still trying to make sense of it, Madame," he admitted, waving his hand to his work in front of him.

She nods as if in understanding, but he doesn't fail to miss the glint of satisfaction in her eyes. Even if she never broadcast it, she never seemed to be fond of him and the feeling was mutual. Bellatrix Lestrange had come from a family of blood purists and married into another family like that. According to intel provided by Sirius during the final years of the Great Wizarding War, she, her husband, and brother-in-law were high up there within Voldemort's inner circle. James could bet every Galleon spent on his father's Sleekeazy's Hair Potion that Lucius Malfoy had ensured they were never litigated once suspicion was off of him.

"Never known you to have problems with a case file, Potter," she mused, taking a sip of her tea. "Potter, I received a memo that Albus Dumbledore is waiting for you at Madame Bones' office."

Albus Dumbledore? James raised his eyebrows. Of course, Lily sent him a letter on Sunday about the incident at the Surrey Zoo and he assumed it must have been that. For what else would it be.

He sets down the documents pertaining to the Fleetwood file and stands from his cubicle. "I should be back soon, Dorcas, Stebbins." The two Aurors near him nodded in kind and he went on his way. Careful not to bump into Nymphradora Tonks as she crossed from the clerical section towards her cubicle.

Madame Bones' office was not too far from the Auror office. It was when James opened the door, did he not only see Albus sitting in one of the chairs in front of Madame Bones' desk, but he saw Lily there as well.

"Ah, James, my boy," Albus acknowledged merrily as he closed the door behind him. "Have a seat."

James could feel his stomach tense up. Twisting together his hands as he shuffled to the seat next to Lily. Of course, this was Albus he was speaking to, so he shouldn't be uncertain. Yet, he was. Given what the contents of the conversation might be.

Once he sat down, he put his hand towards Lily, who gripped it tightly. "So…" James started, wanting to alleviate the tension. "Emrys made mention that his son is excited to begin Hogwarts. That he has his heart set on Gryffindor."

"Ah, yes," Albus answered. "He also aspires to be like me when he grows up." He sighs. "Oh, the way our minds used to work in that stage of youth. How peculiar we would seem. In fact" – Albus pulls out a folded piece of parchment – "it is interesting the things we come up with as a child." He unfolded the paper and James could see what looked like red eyes poking through the openings of purple fabric. "This is one of Seraphina's drawings. Quite a fascinating mind. Sometimes I keep her drawings, to remind myself of my own peculiarities as a child." He sets the drawing aside. "Now, how is Harry?"

"Um, he's doing good," James answered, his stomach lightly quivering. Well, he's not sick, he thinks.

He could see his wife swallow before she continues, "We had to tell him about this world. The truth why we had to sequester him and…" she sighs. "He didn't take it well."

"I assume this was in response to the events that you described in your letter," Albus surmised.

"Yes," Lily answers as James nods.

"That is curious," Albus acknowledges. "For you did say there is no Parselmouthes present in the Potter line. Though, I wish I can find a answer to that anomaly."

At Albus' last sentence, a thought occurred to James. Harry's ability to talk to snakes, it couldn't possibly be related to…

"Maybe it is from that Halloween night nearly ten years ago," Lily vocalized. "Maybe when Voldemort failed to…" she shook her head, "you know and left some sort of mark in my son when his attempt backfired."

"That is possible, yes," Albus concurred with a nod. "Therefore, fulfilling part of the prophecy."

"Just because Voldemort acted on the prophecy, doesn't mean we should," Lily noted. "Harry shouldn't be involved in this in any sort of way."

"Whoever this source is, should have kept their mouth shut," James began, "for Voldemort interpreting the prophecy the way he did put Harry in this situation in the first place. Even if he could have gone after us prophecy or not."

James knew that that it could have been any of the Death Eaters who could have gone and reported it to Voldemort. Though, around the time of Sirius' infiltration, Sirius talked about how Severus Snape was given a seat closer to Voldemort around the time Albus said Trelawney shared him her prophecy. Who else would it have been, as none of the other Death Eaters had a history with Lily like Snape did. Who else would Albus hire someone with Death Eater ties to take old Sluggy's place.

Though, James and Sirius kept that speculation to themselves, for Lily's sake. No matter what she thought of Snape, no matter if she stopped speaking to him, James knew that she was still sentimental towards him, whether she realized it or not. Merlin, even after that day in fifth year, she was still protective of him. Lily literally went on his arse when she heard the gossip that he was still poking at Snape behind her back in seventh year.

Even if he longed to share it with her, James kept his mouth shut. As no one wants to hear that their former friend provided Voldemort with the information that led to the events of that Halloween night.

"As I said before, you never crossed his mind when he overheard it, that he realized his mistake on the week your son was born," Albus brought forth. "He was taking a great risk to work against his former master, and he'll take that risk again when he comes back. Also, Lily, we can try ensuring that Harry is able to maintain a normal childhood. That he'll have no part in this."

Just hope that he comes back when Harry's out of Hogwarts. However, that was wishful thinking. A lot can happen in just a few years. There was a high chance that the blighter could come back before Harry knew everything to hold himself against a Goliath like Voldemort.

As for Albus' last words, try they may but it didn't help that ominous feeling that any attempt to prevent Harry's part in this will be fruitless. If they had been honest with him. Maybe even take baby steps through the years….

"Which brings me," Albus begins, interrupting James' thoughts, "I will be having a change in staff this year. It seems like our Defense Professor has managed to put himself in a pickle that has put him in the Hospital Wing. Our Dueling Professor will be filling the Muggle Studies position for when the latter's Professor fills for the Defense. And I believe that the students would rather have a living teacher than a ghost teaching them History of Magic."

It was clear what Albus was asking out of them.

"Albus, wouldn't that be overstaying our welcome?" Lily asks. "I mean, he's already going to be signaled out as it is."

"The whole point of going to Hogwarts is to get away from the parents, not to be near them," James pointed out. He was glad that his father was never Potions professor, for he would have been forced to be on his good behavior.

"You two can still keep a professional distance from him during the school day," Albus said. "I have known a couple Hogwarts Professors who had their children in their class and managed to keep a professional distance. In fact, you won't be the only ones. A ward of one of our Head Teachers might start the same year as Harry."

James could see Lily shift uncomfortably in her seat. He doubts that Dumbledore would take too kindly to the information that she went in the bedroom of a child without said child's consent.

There was one thing about Albus's offer. He could have just asked if either one could take up teaching at Hogwarts rather than offering both of them teaching positions. Well, Snape was part of the faculty, and he supposed that Albus was afraid he would regress back to how he was in school at the mere sight of Snape. That he would be less likely to do anything with Lily there.

It didn't help that Lily most likely shared that sentiment. It's going to be thirteen years since he last saw that tosser. He had grown past that. If anything, it was probably Snape who hadn't grown past their school days. They were in their thirties now.

Part of James felt that accepting the offer would leave Nora in the effort to finish gathering what they need to grant Sirius a fair trial. Especially when Madame Lestrange made any progress difficult. The other part of him suggested that she made it difficult because he was involved. That Nora might be able to find someone to help her and have better luck. Besides, something told him it would be to his family's benefit if he and Lily were there.

Of the two teaching spots Albus offered, James knew which would fit him best.

"Of the two, I'd take Dueling," he admitted. "It was one of my favorite electives while in school. It was fun, but it also taught me everything that became useful when I left Hogwarts."

It also gave me the excuse to hex Snape and the other snakes without getting into trouble, he wants to think. Except saying that out loud would warrant a glare from his wife. James also doubted that good old Professor Trimble wouldn't be happy to hear that he confronted Voldemort without his wand.

James could see Lily hesitate before saying, "Well, I was able to go through History of Magic without drifting to sleep unlike a certain person here. Though I believed the class would have benefitted if it was one where a sizable portion didn't see it as time to get some shut eye before another class."

"Excellent," Albus beamed, blue eyes twinkling. "We hold our staff meetings the day after the students depart for the summer holidays. The first for the current teachers to wrap up the school year. The second to affirm their teaching spots or to finalize their resignation and handing their positions over to their successors. I should see you two then."

Even if Albus had no ill intentions, that didn't stop James from feeling the strong sense of foreboding of what might come the next seven years while Harry is in school. Especially when he had the feeling that either he or Lily might not be able to make it towards Harry's seventh year.

"Have a seat, Severus," Albus gently prompted. Though Albus' demeanor had often betrayed the weight of the news he might bring. Given that Severus felt as if his intestines could explode out of his stomach at any moment as he sat in the chair before the Headmaster's desk.

The Headmaster never pulled him out of his second full day of grading examinations if it wasn't anything important.

"As you see, we will be having our changing of staff," Albus sighed. "Thaddeus Reinhard might not be able to recover his faculties to continue teaching Defense." It wasn't unusual to see Defense professors come and go. Ranging from something such as burnout to being at the fatal, receiving end of something or other. "Young Quirinius has accepted the offer for next year and is willing to spend the holidays going on a tour to prepare teaching the course."

He couldn't think of another poor choice to teach Defense when Albus had a few, better alternatives before him. Quirinus Quirrell. Foolish, timid Quirinus Quirrell who had a hard time stringing together a sentence without stammering from time to time. Severus hated to think how that one might end, and something told him that yes, it will not end good.

However, he had a feeling that this wasn't about the replacement for Defense.

"And who's going to teach Muggle Studies in his place?" he asked.

"Charity has offered to take the role," Albus answered, "which brings me to…" he hesitates and Severus could feel his already uneasy stomach clenching even further, "…now, Severus, it would have been a detriment if I didn't tell you, and I feel that things will be better if I were to be open to you on this.

"I came to the Ministry this morning to visit Lily and James Potter," he continued. "I offered them the Dueling and History of Magic positions. Of course, they were hesitant at first due their belief that it would signal their son out even further. Though they reconsidered when I informed them that they can keep a professional distance from their son."

Severus could feel his chest tighten. His whole body goes cold as the bile burns at the back of his throat. Fighting the urge to stay in his seat as images and thoughts from his school years raced through his head. How that early summer day turned horrid when Potter and his lackeys cornered him after their Defense OWLs. What came after….

He shakes his head. No, not now. He presses his lips as he glares at the Headmaster. "James Potter, Albus?" he demands. "I can't imagine even a less worthy of a man to take up the mantle as Dueling Professor."

"Severus, he's not the same boy you once knew," Albus maintained. "You'll be pleased to see how far he's gone."

Pleased. Severus couldn't help but scoff at that thought. Of course, no matter how hard Albus would profess otherwise, he allowed his Gryffindor bias to blind him to how imperfect James Potter was. "You do realize that it's been years since I was in close proximity to him. You don't think he's going to regress back to his younger repugnant self at the sight of me?" Severus demanded.

"He's been away from you long enough that I highly doubt your presence will elicit that same reaction," Albus pressed. "In the event where he does…certainly you didn't pay attention when I said she'll be teaching here as well."

Lily. Last night, it was clear to him that she wanted this to be their first and only interaction in fifteen years. That she had no desire to be near him again. Part of him didn't blame her, after everything on the day of their Defense OWL exams. He had called her the worst thing imaginable during a time of great duress, a word he wants to take back.

The other, cynical part had scolded him for the former. Their friendship was hanging by a thread by the time it had happened. For the more she was acclimated to the wizarding world, she had spent less and less time with him and more time with her Gryffindor dormmates. That since he was no use to her anymore, she had been looking for something to end the friendship, and the events of that afternoon in 1976 gave her an opportunity. Any Gryffindor worth their salt would put a stop to their friend's harassment by hexing the bully, and she did the bare minimum despite the prefect badge gracing her robes.

Given her defenses of Potter's behavior in spite of her vocal dislike, he wondered if she secretly fancied him, but didn't want to admit it. It would make sense given that she was dating him seventh year. He had wanted to think that Lily was the one who stopped Potter from furthering harassing him in seventh year but that was foolish, naïve thinking. For it only made sense that he simply stopped in fear of getting caught and losing the Head Boy badge that he never deserved in the first place.

He was doing so much better without her around him. Having both her and her husband would be like being back as a student all over again, and he didn't want to be there. No, he wasn't going to be vulnerable. Just because he was ensuring their safety didn't mean he would have to lower his walls around them and give them an advantage.

Severus sighed. There was no way he was going to make Albus understand how he felt, even if he respected the man.

"Very well," he says. "Thank you for sharing the information."

It was when he was free to go and fled to the safety of his office, did he collapse. His heart was pounding so fast and hard that his chest hurt. The world was shaking around him as he tried to breathe.

It's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean.

I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus.

Severus closes his eyes and tries to breathe deep. Running his hands against the stone floors of his office to remind him that he was here in the present. That he was no longer a student. No longer that helpless boy who dreamed about getting back at his tormentors.

It was when he regained a semblance of the world around him that he staggered to the shelf of potions behind his desk. Popping off the cork before downing the contents of the Calming Draught until he drank every last drop.

Merlin forbid he make it habit to drink Calming Draught daily during the school year.

A few days had passed since the revelation that his parents were wizards, and before Harry knew it, the very last day of primary school was upon him. For the last day, Mrs. Hawksworth put on The Black Cauldron for them to watch. Of course, Harry, Andrew, and Alfie had the unfortunate luck of sitting at the table in front of Dylan Benson and his gang. Who were pelting clumps of paper every now and then.

Harry had the feeling that Dylan and his lackeys might attempt to stuff their heads in the toilets shortly after the bell rang if they stayed in the building long enough. Andrew and Alfie must have had the same thought too. For when the moment they were dismissed, the three took their rucksacks and booked it out of there. "Catch you later," they breathed as they made their separate ways.

His legs and lungs were burning from all that running as he opened the door to his grandparents' car.

"Harry," Gran Hyacinth exclaims as he buckles in. "What was the hurry?"

"It's last day, Cinda," says poppy. "The summer holidays are about to start."

"It's not like I want to stay when I will not go here anymore," said Harry. He wasn't going to see Dylan Benson and his gang anymore. They weren't going to the same schools, though with his parents' revelation on Sunday, Harry was certain that where he was going was no ordinary secondary school.

Maybe Andrew will be there too, by the sound of it.

As his Gran drove the car away from the school and through the Birmingham City Centre, did Harry lean his head against the headrest of his seat. Closing his eyes for a few moments and taking deep breaths.

By the time he opened his eyes and leaned forward, one sign that he knew he was close to home was the sight of the old Cadbury building when they entered Bournville.

Of course, both his parents were at work, and his grandparents would never turn down a opportunity to look after him until they got home. As Gran prepared dinner in the kitchen, Harry had deposited his rucksack in his bedroom.

His parents' bedroom never held much interest for the past three years. Ever since his last attempt at trying to get a peek of what they get him for his birthday or Christmas. Now ever since his parents' revelation, he had wondered what else they had in their room. If there were magical items from the world they came from.

Harry peeked downstairs to make sure his grandparents were preoccupied before going to the lavatory to get a hairpin to try to unlock the door. Though he was surprised he was able to get it unlocked with one try.

He made sure to close the door behind him before venturing further into his parents' tidy room. Mum was one to notice if anything was missing, so he made sure he put everything back where he found it. As if mum guessed he might be doing this, Harry could see no sign of anything of magical value among her things. So he turned to his dad's.

It didn't take long. In a box under his side of the bed was something that looked like silver. The fabric felt like fluid, silk in his hands. It was in his curiosity that he decided to wrap it around his body.

Harry could have sworn his eyeballs would have left his socket if when he saw nothing where his body should be.

"Harry?" Gran had called from downstairs.

His gran's shout was enough to snap Harry out of his daze. Prompting him to put the curious article of clothing back where he found it before sneaking out of his parents' room.