Dumbledore really messed us up, didn’t he?
Harry
Lily’s office was tucked away in a small, cozy brick building that felt removed from the noise of the world. Harry had to reassure Ian and Gid that he'd be fine going to the appointment alone, though he felt their concern lingering on him like a shadow as he entered. Inside, the smell of antiseptic and parchment filled the air. The moment he stepped in, his eyes caught Severus standing by the check-in desk, a familiar yet not in this world. Harry swore he could feel the faint hum of magic radiating from the man, something he thought he'd left behind.
“Good morning,” Harry greeted, cautiously..
“Morning, Po—Peverell,” Severus corrected himself, his voice clipped but softer than the tone Harry once knew. “I wanted to speak with you before your appointment with Lily. Follow me.”
Harry followed, noting the way Severus moved. It made Harry almost imagine Snape’s old robes billowing behind him, a contrast to the practical, muggle clothes he now wore. When they reached an empty exam room, the feeling of Severus’s magic washed over him again. The man must have cast a silencing charm.
Severus turned abruptly, his eyes narrowing. “As always, Mr. Potter, you rush into things without considering the consequences.”
Harry smirked, appreciating this odd sense of normalcy. “Well, you know me, sir. But, really… how are you here? I thought you were dead.”
Severus sighed, his expression hardening. “What you saw… that was a golem of me. I was long gone before then, Potter. I assume you used the same spell to get here, but without the foresight to prepare the necessary potions to cleanse yourself of the dark magic clinging to you.”
Harry blinked, realization dawning as Severus reached into a bag and withdrew a glass container filled with pills. The sound of them clicking inside felt like a warning.
“I’ve refined my potions into pill forms. Not all clients prefer liquids,” Severus explained, his tone efficient, cold. “Take one pill a day for fourteen days, with food. And for Merlin’s sake, do not use your magic until the course is completed. The dark magic is feeding on you, draining your power. The more you use, the less you’ll have.”
Harry nodded, the weight of his decisions pressing down on him. He hadn’t been smart. He knew that now, but finding his soulmates was worth any price. He could never regret that. "Thank you… sir. I know it sounds strange, but I’m glad you’re alive. And that you’ve found your soulmate." Harry paused, feeling a heavy sadness he hadn’t expected. “Dumbledore really messed us up, didn’t he?”
For a moment, Severus’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. “Yes, Potter, he did. But that no longer matters. I have Lily. And our daughter.”
Harry smiled back, though his heart ached at the strange familiarity. “I’m happy for you, Severus. Though, I have to ask,how is Lily your soulmate? I thought she was with my dad…”
Severus’s eyes darkened, a flash of fury crossing his face. “Dumbledore.”
That single word sent a chill through Harry. He had known, deep down, that Dumbledore wasn’t the man everyone believed him to be, but to hear it from Severus was something else. “What did he do?” Harry asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Severus crossed his arms, staring off as if looking into a terrible past. “He manipulated us. He tampered with our memories, changed our soulmate marks. How, I don’t know. But Lily and James… they didn’t remember. Only Regulus and I did. That’s why Regulus destroyed himself and why I turned to the Dark Lord. I thought it was the only way to stop Dumbledore.”
Harry couldn’t speak. What could he say? The silence between them stretched uncomfortably.
After a moment, Severus walked toward the door, picking up his bag. “Since I’m no longer your professor, you may call me Severus. And I will call you Harry, seeing as you are no longer a Potter.” With that, he left, and the subtle hum of his magic dissipated, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts.
Harry sat quietly, waiting for Lily. The conversation with Severus still replayed in his mind. Could everything he had believed about his parents and Dumbledore really be so twisted? He was still turning these thoughts over when a knock came at the door, and Lily entered with her characteristic energy.
“Morning, Harry! I’m so glad you came to see me!” Lily’s red hair was pulled into a loose knot atop her head, and her freckles stood out against her warm smile. She glanced down at the chart in her hands. “I see Severus gave you some vitamins. Trust me, they’re the best, though I may be a little biased.”
Harry chuckled, the tension easing slightly. “Yeah, I’m sure they’ll help. I’m feeling better today already.”
Lily looked at him thoughtfully. “That’s good, but I want to ask you something, and please, don’t feel embarrassed. Is there any chance you could be pregnant? Finding your soulmates can… you know, change things.”
Harry’s face went red instantly. He shook his head vigorously. “No! I mean, no, we haven’t… we’re taking it slow, and… no. Definitely not.”
Lily laughed softly, her eyes sparkling. “No need to be embarrassed, Harry. It’s natural. If you’re not ready for that yet, then we’ll put you on some birth control, just in case.”
Harry nodded, the thought of pregnancy unsettling him, not because it wasn’t something he wanted eventually, but because it was so soon. Were Gideon and Fabian even thinking about children? He had no idea.
“Y-Yeah, that sounds good. Birth control, please.”
Lily scribbled a note on her chart and then checked his vitals, performing a full physical. “Everything looks good, Harry, but I want you to focus on your diet. You’re a bit underweight, and you need more balance in your meals. If you can’t manage three meals a day, at least try for smaller, frequent meals.”
Harry smiled. “Gideon makes sure I eat now. I used to skip meals a lot, but since meeting my soulmates, things have been better… not that you want to hear me ramble about that.”
Lily placed a warm hand over his. “I do, Harry. I understand how much life can change when you meet your soulmates. My world turned upside down when I met Severus. It’s like everything makes sense after, doesn’t it?”
Harry smiled, the connection between them feeling more like friendship than anything maternal. “It really does.”
Severus
Severus entered the back room of his small shop, where the soft babbling of his daughter greeted him. The room was set up perfectly, allowing him to work while Violet remained close, nestled in her cot.
“Hello, my sweet Violet,” Severus murmured as he approached, his heart swelling at the sight of her bright green eyes. “Did you have a nice nap?”
He picked her up, cradling her gently, the weight of their conversation with Harry still lingering in his mind. Memories of the past, of the war, of Dumbledore’s manipulations, all threatened to surface. But that wasn’t his life anymore. His life was here—simple, happy, and full of love.
“No more dark lords, no more self-righteous wizards spouting their ‘greater good,’” he whispered softly, brushing a finger across Violet’s cheek. “Just you, and me, and Mummy.”
Violet cooed in response, and Severus chuckled. “Yes, I think it’s time for an afternoon snack. Mummy will be home soon, and then we can have all the cuddles we want.”
If anyone from his old life could see him now, they would hardly believe it. The cold, hardened man was gone. Here, in this world, he didn’t need to be on guard. Not for his Violet. He pressed a kiss to her soft hair and smiled.
Regulus
“James, stop pacing. You’re making me nervous!” Regulus laughed softly, watching as his soulmate fidgeted by the exam table.
“I can’t help it,” James groaned, running a hand through his already wild hair. “It’s your health, our baby’s health. I’m losing it, Reggie. I know I’m supposed to be strong for you, but…”
Regulus stood, kneeling in front of James, and gently took his hands. “Hey,” he said softly, his blue eyes locking onto James’s brown ones. “You don’t have to be brave for me. We can be scared together.”
James let out a shaky breath, leaning his forehead against Regulus’s. “I just want everything to be okay.”
“It will be,” Regulus assured him. “We’re going to have a baby. Half you, half me. They’re going to be smart, funny, beautiful. And most of all, they’ll be loved. That’s all we have to focus on.”
James smiled, a soft chuckle escaping him. “I hope they get your brains, Reggie.”
“And my hair,” Regulus teased, running his hand through his short dark locks.