Prologue
A loud crackle thunders the neighborhood as Hogwarts potions professor pops into existence in the middle of the road clad in black robes.
’These familiar streets always brought unwanted memories to light.’ Severus shook off the chill of oncoming winter, and continued to scan manicured houses for number 4.
"Hey Sev! Race you to the gate!" Auburn hair sent flying as Lily Potter starts to run, laughter filling the air as a young Snape gives chase to the only person he ever cared for, yet away from Hogwarts the only place he truly felt at home. However the first year was his favorite no matter what his home life was like, because he has met Lily Evans.
An older Sanpe Strutted up 4 Privet Drive waiting for his associates,
Dainty hands grip his as they make way to Lily's favorite class; charms, young Severus stops both of them as the last person in the halls enter their classroom, laughter leaks through the thick door before it closes and Severus knows it's James Potter and his friends "Lily?" she turns to him and his breath catches in his throat,"Uh- no matter what, we'll always be friends no matter what right?" She doesn't see how much he worries as her grin turns to a frown "Of course silly!" Severus lets out huff and then she turns around opening the door for him. They smile at each other as they enter.
"Hey sev, you never have to worry about us okay?" Lily always knew what he needed to hear. "If James bothers you again, come to me okay?" Severus clears his face as he enters the classroom but stoically nods at her. Lily giggles but they go to sit down for the lesson.
Snape furrowed his brow at unease with the memory of his and Lily's second year resurfacing when the 'marauders' started to do more than tease Snape, it didn't get too bad until...
Lily rounded the corner to head to the great hall when sniffles come from an empty classroom nearby, ever the gold heart she changes direction opening the door is when she spotted him with fresh bruises on his visible skin and unkept robes. "Severus! What happened? no, wait. Was this James!" Only to stop short as he flinched back, catching the tremble in his hands.
The marauders gazed down at him- they had attacked at lunch shoving him down the hall and pushed him down. "Lily doesn't need a slimy snake following her around, Snape! why don't you hangout with one of your own kind instead of with her!" James shouted with a sneer, James was surrounded by his friends who equally make jeers toward him however when Severus tried to seek help from Remus who witnessed what his friends were doing to snape refused to lay hand in his torment, however his message wasn't received as his eyes dart away murmured to his friends that he was starting to get hungry and started to walk off thankfully his friends were quick to follow.
Shakily Severus got up with a strong urge to scurry back to the safety of the dungeons, but with a newfound resolve announced,"Sod off Potter, Your lucky to even have her as a friend" Potter had whirled around with such hatred in his eye at the time that it had truly frightened Severus at the time when he was a boy," Look at this Snivellrus is talking back! Look at yourself! A Slytherin you don't even know about friendships, you're just holding her back!" with that James lifted his wand.
Throwing a few jinxes while Severus held back the jinx's with a strong protego charm however when Petigrew threw a flipendo that hit him and could no longer project the charm and was hit with the impediment jinx. James, Sirius, and Peter cheered and he couldn't feel anything but impending doom as his limbs wouldn't respond. They had tacked and maimed him while he was immobile. Shaking his head as though to rid him of the experience he let Lily help him up from the floor in the classroom he had ran to and escorted him to madam Pomfrey. At the time that's probably when it started going downhill if he knew how he could have stopped the dark thoughts that told him it was because of Lily that he was hurt, he would in a heartbeat.
But now he couldn't change anything. She was gone and it was his fault that he wasn't there for her before she fell. He could feel tears well up in his eye and quickly wiped his face as he could hear Albus and Minerva approaching. Harry was nowhere to be seen.
Lily had given birth not long after they'd graduated while their relationship was strained after him calling her a 'mudblood' in sixth year. They remained close friends, James and his friends were kept in check by Lily allowing him to visit often till I delivered that stupid prophecy.
A loud huff leaves him as he looks at the house Dumbledore was planning on placing harry. Petunia. The thought that she'd be caring for Harry made him uncomfortable, how she would treat her own sister was horrendous. Protectiveness overpowered his hate for James Potter at that moment.
Dumbledore lumbered up the drive, “Ah I should have known you’d be here Professor Snape, I expected McGonagall here first.” The deceitful soothing rumble voice traveled through the area. Dumbledore could only ever cause him his ire. “Minerva is behind you” He draws his attention to a tabby looking at him with her ears forward and tail curved. “McGonagall.” Dumbledore gently blinks in greeting.
“Are the rumors true Albus?” worry heavy in her voice
“I'm afraid so, Professor. The good, and the bad”
“And the boy?”
“Yes, where is your ward?” The fact that he isn’t here right now is a bit concerning.
“Hagrid is bringing him.” even more of a reason to be concerned then…
“Do you think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?” Yes, somebody reasonable.
“Ah, Professor, I would trust Hagrid with my life.”
“That is why I worry for the wizarding world. That man is a buffoon” Hagrid could be a troll instead of a giant sometimes.
There is a motor sound, and the three professors look up to see Hagrid’s flying motorcycle coming down from the sky, which slides to a stop.
"Professor Dumbledore, Sir. Professor McGonagall. Professor Snape.”
“No problems, I trust, Hagrid?”
“No, sir. Little tyke fell asleep just as we were flying over Bristol. Heh. Try not to wake him. There you go.” Hagrid hands a baby Harry wrapped in a bundle over to Dumbledore.
In his arms he holds Lily's child. Albus wants to send this innocent child to Lily's muggle sister. If I were a lesser man I’d turn my anger towards this little boy who has gone through a hardship no one but him will bear.
And right now Albus Dumbledore was trying to take him away. Heat in my clenched fists was building.
"Albus, are you sure it's safe? I've watched these people all day they're the worst of the muggles imaginable!" McGonagall’s whispered rant flew right past him.
"The only family he has" Abusive!
"This child will be famous-" Listen!
"-etter care for him knowing not of his fame, to grow-". I can’t believe this!
"You can't possibly believe that sending him to them, to HER, is in his best interest? They are vile! Petunia hated Lily for being a witch. McGonagall is right and the husband no doubt he's worse." Snape couldn’t stop his explosion.
"I understand your perspective Snape, just give it a few years, Snape they're his last living relatives it's not really goodbye after all" Albuse says as he and Hagrid walk past me.Sneering at Hagrid who's just stayed quiet.
Minerva and I stay behind a while longer after Dumbledore apparates and Hagrid drives off.
She watches as I stroll towards Harry, kneeling down and casting a warming charm, muttering to myself how stupid the grandmaster must be to leave a child outside on one of the coldest nights of the year.
“Severus the Headmaster has a point, he had mentioned blood wards were in place.” She gently reminded him. “ And if he stayed, no ill-willed wixen can harm the boy.”
“Yes, however it isn't a wizard or wixen that I worry about, it's her sister! I fear she will be his greatest danger if he does stay!” My increased volume arouses little Harry, swaddled and warm. I return to his side to shush back into slumber. It's now that I can finally take a good look at the baby. The dark hair- Must be a recessed gene- I push out of his face reveals a fresh scar on his forehead blemishes against his smooth baby skin, and an adorably big nose.
“It won’t be forever, Sev, let a few years pass. We'll check up on him, then if he isn’t doing well we’ll come back for him.” She compromised.
Sighing I look down at Harry not even a month after his parents are gone, I nod and look back at Minerva “Okay, You’re right.” I take one last look at the last piece of Lily "Goodbye Harry." With that I tucked him in and knocked on the door. Saying goodbye to Minerva and apparate back to my chambers in the dungeons of Hogwarts. Drowning myself to forget this sorrowful feeling. Promising to the gods that night I will go back for Harry in a few years.