Title: Some Idealistic Future
Author: Bridget McKennitt
Type: Fiction
Length: Slightly over 21,000
Pairings: Harry/Snape with Harry/Ginny, Lily/Snape
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Prompt: "he agreed that there were other women, and of purer blood, worthier of him"
Summary: Severus died as he always lived. Now in another place and time, he has a chance for love.
Notes: Many thanks to my betas snakeling and angela_snape. Written for snape_after_dh.

Autumn arrived once more just as quickly as it had the year before for Albus' first year at Hogwarts. Harry's boys ran on ahead, hoping to find their friends as he pushed the cart full of their luggage and their owls with Ginny and his daughter Lily by his side.

"I want to go to Hogwarts!" Lily cried out, the same argument she made last year. She tugged on Ginny's hand and gazed up. "Mummy, please?"

"One more year and then you'll be there just like your brothers," said Ginny. "You can wait one more year, can't you?"

"A whole year?" Lily wrinkled her nose and Harry couldn't help a smile from reaching his face. This was what he'd dreamt of all his life - a family he could call his own.

James overheard his sister and turned back shouting, "Maybe you'll be in Slytherin like Al!"

Ginny pursed her lips, not saying the words Harry knew she wanted to say. While he didn't care that his son was in Slytherin, Ginny did not like it. Her entire family had been in Gryffindor and she'd fully expected Albus to be there as well. Not that she would let her disappointment show to their children. She'd never want to break Albus' heart.

"Both of you be good, alright? No letters from your professors in the first week," Ginny said as she helped them onto the train.

Later that day, back in their home at Godric's Hollow, an owl arrived through the window and Ginny took the letter. Lily, tossing her jacket to the side, ran out of the kitchen while Harry sat at the table. "Who is it from?"

She broke the seal and unrolled it, scanning the letter. "The Defence Against the Dark Arts professor wants you to give a speech next week about the war."

"I can do that. It'd be fun to see the boys in their element." Harry smiled and his eyes drifted towards the animated portrait of the five Potters. Ginny and Harry stood in the back, his arm wrapped around her waist. James and Albus waved wildly as Lily giggled behind her hands. It was taken a few years ago and the picture was used in their Christmas cards that year. Molly adored the card and demanded to see her grandchildren more often. "That reminds me, did you want to take Lily to your Mum's today? I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see her."

"She has enough grandchildren!" Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes. "This is entirely your fault, you know. If we didn't marry, she wouldn't be so over the moon about our children. But you're right and I would rather do this now instead of getting a Howler about it later. I'll go get Lily ready. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get back. At least next year Lily will be in school and Mum can wait until the hols to see the children."

Harry chuckled and watched Ginny sashay out of the kitchen. The last time they'd made love was over three weeks ago and Harry could feel his trousers tighten as he thought back to their frenzied lovemaking. They were long overdue for a holiday, just the two of them. It wasn't his fault that Lily or the boys would demand to sleep in their bed. Ginny couldn't say no to them and Harry would move over so Lily could squeeze between them.

He leaned back and let his mind wander as he thought about Hogwarts. No matter how old he got, Hogwarts was still the first and best home he had known. Though nowadays he wasn't so much of an abandoned boy.

Unlike Snape. "Snape," he murmured. With Albus in Slytherin, he had plenty of exposure to the history of his second namesake. He hoped they were good things. Snape had been a bastard, though Harry understood why and he didn't want Albus to ever feel ashamed because of people's harsh words against Snape. "You were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew." Harry had been honest when he'd spoken those words to his son and after seeing the truth behind Snape's behaviour and his miserable existence, he couldn't imagine himself going through the same journey with half of Snape's courage and strength. It was why he kept a small picture he'd found while going through his mother's things of her and Snape in their second year or so framed in his office. There was good in Snape and he never wanted that to be forgotten.

Harry chuckled to himself. Perhaps it would be a good idea to compose a presentation about Snape and his efforts during the war. Harry didn't need to go truly in depth about the love the older man had felt for his mother, it would have been rude to expose Snape in such a way, but he could tell the students just enough so they would understand the power of love. He could see Albus in his mind's eye excited about the stories as he turned towards his son and gave him a small smile.

***

The presentation went well for all classes. James' lips curled into a small 'o' when Harry spoke about Severus Snape. Albus' face brightened and he immediately whispered to the boy next to him, proclaiming that he was named after the man. It felt good to know that the upcoming generation of the Wizarding World would not forget all that Snape had done to preserve their future.

After Albus' class, his son came up to him and gave him a quick hug. "That was wonderful, Dad. You've never told me about that before."

"Your Mum's not up to scaring you or your siblings with stories from the war." Harry mussed up Albus' dark hair, letting the boy laugh and pull away. "Don't you and James have tea with Hagrid later today?"

"We do after my next class."

"I think I'll go with you two to Hagrid's. It'll be like the old times. In fact, I will go right now and spend a bit of time with Hagrid before you two try to destroy his hut." Harry grinned as Albus denied the statement and watched him leave the room.

Out of his three children, Albus looked the most like him as well as having his temperament. If he squinted, he could almost imagine that Albus in his Slytherin colours was him in another place and time. Next year his Lily would be at Hogwarts and he could only imagine the chaos the Potter children would do when they were all learning their magic.

Harry made his way to Hagrid's hut, still musing about his younger self and his children. He was thirty-seven this year, a year younger when Snape had died, and he could not complain about his life. It was what he wanted, what his parents would have wanted for him, and nothing could take that away from him.

A flash of light out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and Harry adjusted his destination towards the source, into the Forbidden Forest without another thought. The last time he was here was twenty years ago and he'd died at Voldemort's hand in order to destroy the Horcrux within him. It wasn't a pleasant memory when he thought he was walking to his death, though there was a silver lining. He could vividly recall his mother's wide smile and his father's ruffled hair. If he died at that moment, he would have welcomed it and his parents would have taken him in with open arms.

Harry paused and glanced around. Though he wasn't sure, the clearing he appeared in looked familiar. He took a step forward and his foot brushed against something, nearly tripping him.

He knelt down and saw a glint of something half hidden in the dried mud. Not understanding why, Harry dug for the object and when it was in his hands, he realized what it was - the Resurrection Stone he'd dropped years ago. Harry sat back, uncertain what to do. He'd promised Dumbledore's portrait never to look for the stone again but didn't he do just that? He entered the Forbidden Forest and with the stone now in his hand, could he just leave it on the ground?

The forest was unnaturally bereft of animal noises and the normal rustling of leaves. It seemed as if the forest itself was awaiting his decision. "Perhaps it would be safer if I kept it in the Black vault." If he could find it, who was to say that it would stay hidden if he dropped the stone onto the forest floor once more?

Harry rose to his feet and held the stone close, slipping out his wand from his back pocket. "Tempus." The time flashed and he groaned. Somehow time had flown by as he travelled through the forest and it was nearly time to meet his sons at Hagrid's for tea. He had to leave the forest and quickly.

Laying his wand flat on his palm, Harry murmured, "Point me," to find his way out. As he did so, the stone in his other hand slipped. Harry gripped his wand as he reached out to catch the stone. The stone flipped two, three, four times before Harry could stop its descent. It glowed for a split second before returning back to normal.

Harry stared at the stone, uncertain of what had just occurred. Would his parents or Sirius or Remus appear to him like they did so long ago? Harry chuckled and shook his head. He hadn't summoned anyone. The stone fell out of his hand of its own accord.

Suddenly, Harry heard slight movements behind him and the heavy breathing of someone who had come a long distance and needed to catch his breath. Harry closed his eyes and turned around, ready to send whichever ghost he'd summoned back to the afterlife. He opened his eyes and couldn't believe who he saw.

"Snape?" said Harry as he stared. Snape wore the same black clothes he'd died in, though as Harry searched Snape's neck, there was no sign of an attack by Nagini. The older man did not look like a ghost or truly flesh but, just as his parents and Riddle before him, as a memory made solid. "You died."

Snape ignored Harry, or perhaps didn't hear him, as he studied his surroundings with a scowl on his face. Harry sucked in a deep breath. His form solidified even more. It was almost as if Snape had never died in the Shrieking Shack. "Snape."

Snape turned and lifted his arm as if he had a wand in his hand pointed towards Harry. "Who are you?"

"It's Harry Potter, sir. Don't you remember me?" When he summoned his parents, they knew him immediately. Snape, however, did not seem to know where he was, let alone who was with him. "I'm Lily Potter's son."

The word Lily caught Snape's attention and he peered into Harry's eyes, searching. Harry stood still, allowing Snape to scrutinize him before letting out a sigh of relief when Snape pulled back and nodded curtly. "So you are. I sent you to your death. You died."

"Er, yes. Sort of." Harry gripped the stone tightly in his hand. "I didn't really die." Why was Snape here and, more importantly, how would he send him back to the afterlife? It was not right to bring the dead back like this. Maybe if he dropped the stone like he did before, it would work. Harry released his hold and heard the thunk of the stone hitting the ground.

Snape carefully watched Harry, eyes narrowing as he waited for him to do something. His gaze followed the stone and the black shot up to meet the green. "What are you doing?"

"Sending you back." Harry gulped. "It should have worked. It did so when I saw my parents and Sirius and Remus. I don't know why it didn't do the same this time." Harry looked away. "I never told you how much I appreciated what you did for me, for my Mum. You're the reason why I'm still alive today and my children-"

"Children? You?" Snape snorted and sneered at Harry. "What chit would deign to marry you? Oh wait, of course, it must be that Weasley chit who worshipped the ground you walked on. I thought you had more taste than that."

Harry scowled and took a step forward, getting into Snape's space. "Don't talk about Ginny that way. She's the mother of my children and I love her."

"I see. She must be a wonderful shag in order to get you to notice her, let alone marry her."

That was the last straw. Harry clenched his hand and threw his fist towards Snape's jaw. Half expecting his fist to go through Snape's body, he was surprised to land the blow and watched as Snape stumbled back.

"I, uh, sorry!" Harry reached forward to help Snape when the older man pushed him away. "I didn't think-"

"I can see that. You brought me here to this mad existence only to bully me like your father would? You are indeed a Potter."

"No!" Harry rubbed his scar absentmindedly, not noticing Snape staring at the movement. "I didn't mean to upset you. I didn't even mean to bring you back. And I'm not certain how to send you away." He glanced at Snape warily. "How you're corporeal, I have no idea. That shouldn't have happened."

Snape muttered and touched his purpling jaw. "What do you propose you do about this rather unique situation, Potter?"

"I don't know." Harry knelt down and picked up the stone, tucking it away in a pocket. "I'll figure it out somehow."

"And what exactly am I supposed to do in the meanwhile? Stay in the forest and haunt the place?" He folded his arms over his chest. "I don't feel very ghost like."

"I know. Just, follow me. Maybe Hermione has an idea or two. She's good with that sort of thing." Harry motioned for Snape to follow him. "But first I need to hurry to Hagrid's hut. My sons are waiting there."

"Sons? So the Weasley chit has inherited her mother's ability to breed like gnomes. I fear for the world."

Harry frowned, holding his anger back. He forgot in the passing years how much of a bastard Snape was. "Yes, sons. And a little girl named Lily though she's not at Hogwarts yet. My eldest is James-" Snape let out a wild bark of laughter. "And my second son is Albus Severus. I told him you were the bravest man I have ever known and I meant it."

Snape let out another bark of laughter. "You named your son after me? How rich. All my pain and suffering, all in the name of Lily, and for what? I get her grandson named after me. So thoughtful of you."

"He's also named after Albus," said Harry stiffly. "I should just leave you here until I figure out a plan with Hermione. Would serve you right for being such a git." He shook his head. "No, I couldn't do that to you. Hurry on up. I don't want to worry the boys."

Snape quietly followed Harry out of the forest, as quietly as he could anyway as Harry heard grumbles under Snape's breath every few minutes. Harry himself wasn't sure what he'd gotten himself into. He should have never entered the forest or picked up the stone. Now he was stuck, for now, with a man...ghost...one he could touch and hadn't changed in behaviour since his death. He'd half expected the afterlife to ease Snape's misery, but it hadn't.

"How was the afterlife?" Harry asked, as they reached the forest end.

"I died the same way I lived, Potter." Harry waited for Snape to continue but the older man said nothing more. Should he have been so surprised? He'd just realized a few minutes ago that Snape hadn't changed.

"I'm an idiot," he muttered, knowing full well Snape could overhear his words. As Hagrid's hut drew nearer, Harry paused and turned to Snape. "Do you, ah, want to come inside? You can meet my boys. I think Al will be thrilled to see you."

"No, thank you, Potter. I'll wait out here while you waste my time with these activities."

Harry raised his eyebrow, and a soft smile reached his face. "I may be wasting your time, but for this, I don't care. You forget I saw your memories and I know how your parents messed you up. I know how living without my own parents made me long for something more. They're my boys and I'm their father. That comes first, no matter what." He turned and opened the door to the hut, leaving Snape staring after him.

Tea did not take long. James had an essay in Potions to finish off which he probably hadn't started in the first place, and Albus had promised to meet Scorpius before dinner began. Harry let the hot liquid roll over his tongue as he watched his sons argue in one breath and laugh with each other in the next. This was life and his heart clenched knowing that his parents would never see their grandchildren or experience the joy of raising him or the siblings he could have had if it wasn't for Voldemort. Harry didn't know how he could function really without James' light teasing or seeing Albus struggle through a decision or hearing Lily's sweet laugh. His children were an intricate part of him.

"Give Hagrid a hug and your father a kiss before you head up to the castle." Harry opened his arms and braced himself as James and Albus embraced him. "Behave you two and James, I don't want to see another letter from your Head of House about another prank you've done. At least give it a few more months, alright?" He glanced at Albus and mussed up his hair. "And I don't want to receive another letter from your brother, Al, about you getting caught at the lake after curfew with Malfoy's son."

Albus' face and neck flushed red and he glared at James before facing Harry. "It wasn't like that! Scorpius just wanted to show me something-"

"I bet!" James laughed and punched his brother lightly in the arm.

Harry rolled his eyes and opened the door, letting his boys run ahead of him. He waved good-bye to Hagrid before following them out. "Be good, you two!"

"They're your sons, Potter. I doubt they know the meaning of the word." Snape's gaze trailed after the boys, James with his reddish hair and Albus with his darker hair and green eyes of his grandmother. "Your youngest, who does she look like?"

"Like Ginny. Red hair, brown eyes, but she has Lily's spirit. Molly says she has Lily's laugh too. I think you'd like her. She's only ten, just about the age you were when you met my Mum. Well, come on then. It's time to head home."

***

Harry opened the door and moved aside to let Snape through. He wasn't sure how to transport the ghost...man from Hogwarts to Godric's Hollow but apparently Snape could still do magic even without his wand which was a good thing as Harry had no clue where it was. "Shut the door and wait here a moment. I need to tell Ginny real quick."

"You mean brace the Weasley chit for the arrival of the long lost dead?" Snape smiled thinly.

"You know, it's a tad annoying for you to keep calling my wife 'the Weasley chit.' We've been married for years, she's a Potter now. If you can't call her Ginny, call her by my last name."

"Weasley. Chit."

Harry threw his hands into the air and headed up the stairs towards his bedroom. He peered inside and saw Ginny sitting on the edge of the bed brushing her long red hair. She looked up and a smile lit up her face. "Harry. How was your time at the school? Are the boys doing well?"

"They're fine. James loves teasing Al but that hasn't changed. Ginny, love, there's something I have to tell you."

Ginny paused in brushing and placed the brush on her lap. "You have that look on your face. It's not the boys, is it? I knew I should have protested when Albus was Sorted into Slytherin. Something dreadful happened, right?"

"It's not about the boys. They're fine, like I said. I don't know how to say this." He rubbed his hand over his face. "I brought Severus Snape back to life."

"What!" Ginny stood abruptly, the forgotten brush falling to the ground. "I don't understand. How? He's been dead for ages."

"I'm not exactly sure. It just happened and he's downstairs waiting for me." Harry sighed and for a brief moment thought about telling Ginny about the Resurrection Stone but decided against it.

"We have Lily in the house, Harry! I don't want a dead man come to life here scaring her."

"He's more than some ghost. He's real to the touch and Lily won't be scared. She would think it was a hoot." Harry offered his hand. "Come with me, please?"

"Let me tell Lily to stay in her room. Oh, Harry, I wish you hadn't done this."

Harry went back downstairs and found Snape staring at the moving pictures on the mantle. Harry closed the distance between them, standing on Snape's right. "What do you think?"

He grunted and turned away from the pictures. "Nauseating."

"My Lily is in her room. Would you like to see her?"

Snape hissed and Harry vividly recalled speaking Parseltongue and how he could no longer speak the snake's language. "I don't want to see your precious girl with Lily's name, hair, and smile! What is wrong with you, Potter? Why are you pushing your perfect family on me? Maybe I am still dead and this is my penance for my sins."

"No, I didn't mean to do that." Harry rested his hand on Snape's shoulder. "You're the reason I'm here and why I have my family. I wanted to show that your death wasn't in vain. I'm not the same Harry I was when I was seventeen." Footsteps treaded on the stairs and Harry tugged on Snape's shoulder. "Ginny is coming. Please."

'Please.' A word that Snape could have taken in any number of ways. As he glanced at Harry, he could see his bright green eyes and thought back to another place and time when another would look at him like that. Harry had never given him such a look nor had anyone else but her.

There was no hope.

"Good evening, Mrs. Potter. I see the years have treated you decently." The words were spoken through Snape's clenched teeth, but as Ginny's eyes widened and Harry's mouth dropped, he supposed it was as good as any attempt.

Ginny cleared her throat and forced a smile. "Professor, it's nice to see you so...yes. Welcome to our home. Would you like some...can I offer you some...?"

"Tea is fine."

As Ginny headed towards the kitchen, Harry let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks for that, Snape. You know, I've never really called you anything but your last name and I'm just a year younger than you."

"It doesn't matter if you're a hundred, Potter. Never address me as any thing other than Snape."

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Doesn't it bother you to call me Potter? You must think about my father every time you say it."

"No." Snape glared and Harry let the matter drop.

"I'll, uh, go see what's taking Ginny so long. She's an expert on charms and spells in the kitchen so this is unusual."

"Can't you tell? The Weasley chit isn't fond of me, to say the least, and the feeling is mutual. You married down the ladder, boy, and I doubt you'll ever admit it." Snape leaned forward and Harry could smell Snape's slightly rancid breath. "Of course your Weasley chit is an expert on being a housewife. Her mother had to prepare her for this life - nothing but a broodmare."

"Snape-"

"I'm not a good man, Potter. Your mother knew that and you know that. I gave you my memories. Every moment she turned away from me because I am not a good man, nor am I a hero. Get that through your thick skull and send me to the afterlife!"

"Fine!" Harry shouted back. He dug into his pocket and pulled out the Resurrection Stone, gripping it tightly. He wished intensely to send Snape to the afterlife, anywhere far away from the Potter cottage.

Snape's form shimmered for a moment and Harry felt a brief urge to reach towards the man and see if he was non corporeal. The shimmering ending and Snape snorted. "As entertaining as that was, Potter, nothing happened."

"Something did but nothing visibly noticeable. I'll go get your tea."

He did so and Harry thrust the tea cup at Snape since Ginny refused to leave the kitchen. He left Snape and wandered upstairs into Lily's brightly lit room. His daughter sat in the corner of the room at a small table surrounded by her dolls. She looked up and her face brightened as she lowered her teapot and waved. "Hi, Daddy. Wanna play tea party with me?"

"Oh, Lily. Not right now. Daddy's just hiding up here while he thinks about grown up things." Harry knelt down beside Lily and lifted up her redheaded doll. "Daddy...accidentally brought a old friend that shouldn't be here and now I don't know what to do."

"Silly Daddy!" Lily laughed and Harry drank in the sound. "So play with him. He's your friend, isn't he?"

"Somewhat. He's prickly." Lily grabbed her doll from Harry and hugged it tight. "He wants to go home and I can't do that yet. I don't know how."

"You'll figure it out, Daddy. You're the best wizard in the world!" Lily grinned. "So until then, play. Then he won't be an old friend anymore but a new one."

"You're so smart, Lily. How'd you get this way?"

Lily grinned. "From you, of course."

***

His Lily was right. The Resurrection Stone obviously had something in mind with keeping Snape in the mortal plane and there wasn't anything Harry could do otherwise. But there was something he could do while Snape was around.

Harry showed Snape the guest bedroom and handed him a pile of clothes. "They're some of my old clothes but they should fit you well enough. You'll stay with me until I can figure out some way to send you back. You don't mind, do you?"

"Mind? There is nothing in this world or the next for me. It doesn't matter where I rest my bones." Snape dropped the pile onto the bed and he followed suit. "Ever thought of killing me? Perhaps that's what I was sent here for, for you to finally get your revenge on me like a good little Potter you are."

"Enough, Snape. Why can't you accept kindness from me? You used to when it was from my Mum."

"That's right, your Mum. No matter your eyes, you are not Lily."

"Right then. Supper'll be at seven so come down for food. You can meet my daughter."

"No."

"Yes. You're not allowed to be an arse while in my house, Snape. Just trust me, alright? Spend some time rearranging the guest room and make it more comfortable for yourself."

Snape glowered but when he did not disagree, Harry took it as acceptance. He left the room and headed into the kitchen where Ginny was loudly chopping steaks with a knife in her hand instead of using a spell to cut the meat. Harry sighed and went up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Ginny, don't be mad."

"I'm not mad. Why should I be mad that a murderer's sleeping just a stone's throw away from our daughter? Did you even think about her, or me, or when Teddy comes to dinner tomorrow night?" She lowered the knife and closed her eyes. "You have some idealistic idea of Snape and I was okay when you named Al the way you did. But this whole business of, and how did you bring him back to life! I want him gone, Harry, I do."

Harry began to trail kisses along Ginny's neck and she shivered at the touch. "He'll be gone before long, you'll see, Ginny. And he's not alive, just a ghost that has more weight to him than a normal ghost. He can't harm you or Lily. His wrath is nothing more than thunder during a storm. Loud but harmless. I promise."

"Oh, Harry. I don't like this. He's not a good man."

"He is a good man. Just not a very nice one."

At seven, Harry waited for Snape to come down for supper but after fifteen minutes and a whine from Lily about how hungry she was, Harry motioned for them to start eating. During dessert, he made a plate of food and stood, ignoring Ginny's pointed stare, and took the plate to Snape's room. Harry knocked before opening the door and noticed Snape had done nothing to change the look of the place. White walls, white sheets, a closet on one side of the wall with a cabinet against the window sill. Harry placed the plate on the cabinet and sat on the edge of the bed where Snape lay.

"I brought you food."

"I noticed. Just because I am dead doesn't mean I-"

"If you're going to insult me, just don't. Pretend you did and talk with me. I'm trying to be helpful and get you nice and settled in before I can help solve this problem."

Snape glanced at Harry before turning away. "You assume too much, Potter. Who is to say I even want to continue onward to the afterlife?"

Harry stared in disbelief. "It couldn't have been that bad! I mean, you redeemed yourself before you died. Fate wouldn't let you languish somewhere rotten."

Snape didn't know what was worse, the fact that Harry Potter was trying to be a sensible adult or that he did not expect Snape to 'languish' somewhere rotten forever. "You would be surprised. I died as I lived, like I said."

"Yeah, and what does that mean?"

"It means nothing! If you aren't planning on killing me, Potter, then leave me alone."

"Right then. Breakfast is tomorrow at seven. Do plan to sit with us because I'm not bringing your food up again." Harry was about to leave when Lily bounded into the room and climbed into the bed. "Lily!"

Snape, at the name, cringed and shuffled back, but Lily pressed on. She sat astride on his stomach and grinned. "Hi! I'm Lily. Are you Daddy's old friend? You don't look very old."

"Lily! Don't bother Mr. Snape right now." Harry reached for his daughter but she evaded his attempt.

"Oh! I know you. You're that Sev bloke Al is named for, aren't you? Daddy mentioned you last year when Al was first starting Hogwarts." Lily thrust out her hand. "Nice to meet you, Uncle Sev."

Snape's sallow face turned even paler than it already was and Harry stepped in, grabbing his daughter and lifting her into his arms. "Lily hun, that's enough. It's been a long day and Mr. Snape would like to finish his dinner. And you need to be heading off to bed so find your Mum and I'll tell you a story when you're in bed."

"Alright." Lily waved to Snape once more before slithering out of her father's arms and bounding away.

"Snape? Are you alright?" Harry leaned in as he pressed the back of his hand against Snape's forehead. It was cool to the touch and Snape looked as if he wanted to pass out. "Snape?"

"Lily. Lily."

Somehow Harry knew Snape was referring to his mother, not his daughter. "That wasn't my Mum. She's been dead longer than you have. That little scrap was my daughter."

"She looks like Lily," Snape said a breathless whisper.

"She does a bit, but she has Ginny's brown eyes. Of my three, only Al has my green eyes. Snape, are you alright?" It was awkward, to say the least, of a ghost being afraid of another ghost, but that was the only reason he could come up with for Snape's irrational behaviour.

"I, yes." He straightened and focused his gaze at Harry. "I think you are wrong about why I am here. This is most obviously penance for my sins in life to be in the bosom of your family and suffer greatly for it. I'd rather return to the afterlife and face the loneli-" He broke off and scowled.

"Loneliness?" Harry echoed. Of all the things he expected the afterlife to be like, loneliness was not one of them. Every time he saw the spectral forms of his parents, they were happy. They were loved and loved him in return. "What did you experience in the afterlife, Snape? Please. I just want to help."

"Do you really want to know? I sat under the tree in the park by my childhood home, all alone. I saw Lily there with your worthless father and his worthless friends and she's laughing and smiling." Snape's scowl deepened. "She doesn't know I'm there, doesn't see me, doesn't care that I am alone. Even in death, I am denied Lily Potter."

Harry did not know what to say. There wasn't anything he could say to Snape that wouldn't end up sounding foolish or slicing Snape further. He backed up and left the room, closing the door behind him.

***

The next few days were tense between the Potter family and Snape as well as between Harry and Ginny. Ginny refused to be in the same room as Snape as much as she possibly could and would forbid Lily from going near the man, despite Lily's curiosity about her father's 'old friend.' When Lily would go against her wishes, Ginny would spend the night arguing with Harry about having Snape in the house when Harry would rather make love to his wife.

"You're not getting any from me, Harry James Potter, until that thing is gone."

"Ginny love, why are you so up in arms against this? I'm just trying to correct mistakes and treat this man with the respect he deserves."

She glowered and added on another layer of clothing to her nightwear, causing Harry to groan inwardly. There was no chance for sex this night. "You may not remember since you didn't finish up your seventh year the first time around, but Snape was an arrogant prick to me and the rest of the student body. There isn't anything you could say that'll change my mind. Don't you even care about your family?"

"You know I do! But Snape is family, of a sort. In another place and time, he could have been my father. I would have been Harry Snape, not Harry Potter. I might have even had his gigantic nose. They were best friends since childhood and if Mum looked at Snape the way she did Dad, it could have happened."

"But he's not family, Harry. I am. Lily is. Why can't you understand that?"

"Fine. I'll just sleep on the sofa while you have your tantrum." Harry grabbed a pillow off his side of the bed and left Ginny with her mouth open.

He navigated his way to the living room with the lights turned off and plopped down onto the sofa. He rubbed at his scar and sighed. Perhaps Ginny was right. Snape didn't have to stay with them while he figured his way out of this mess. Unfortunately, Hermione was out of Floo range with her barrister job and he couldn't get in touch with her. He was screwed.

A sudden creak from the wooden stairs alerted him to the presence of another. "Ginny," he called out, though as soon as he said it, he knew it wasn't her. And Lily would have certainly turned on the lights before coming down the stairs. "Snape."

"Yes." The cushion next to him dipped from the weight and Harry could feel the warmth radiating from the man.

"Why aren't you in bed?"

"I overheard your fight with the Weasley chit. That was?" He paused. "You defended me. Why?"

"Why not?" Harry straightened. "You're worth defending."

"So you say but it is difficult to comprehend that you are saying these words." He paused again. "You have changed over the years, Potter."

Harry chuckled. "I'd like to think I have matured. I would be near useless as a father if I was the same Harry when I was eleven, or even seventeen." His gaze wandered towards the stairs, before he spoke again in a lower tone. "Why do you think I married down? Ginny loves me and she's a wonderful Mum."

"The benefit of being dead is that you gain insight into the world you left behind. While I watched Lily, sometimes my mind would drift to this world and I would pick up information. The Weasley chit grew up, like any wizard child does, on stories about Harry bloody Potter. Every step, every effort she has made, has been to make you hers. Because you are Harry Potter." Snape leaned in close and Harry could almost make out his black eyes from the residual light coming from outside. "You've always dreamed of a life without the Dark Lord interfering with your life like he did, but did you ever think that if he did not exist, you would have not married the Weasley chit? Because you would not have been the famous Potter you are today and she would not have tried so hard."

Harry didn't know what to say to that because he had never thought about such a thing before. Would Ginny have looked at him the same way when they were younger if he hadn't been the famous Harry Potter? Or for that matter, with his parents alive, would he have turned to Ron as his first friend or would he have found someone else, someone richer or better dressed like James did with Sirius once upon a time? He did not know the answers and wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answers.

"That doesn't matter, Snape. We're married and in love. We have children and I finally have a family. Whatever the beginnings may have or could have been, they are long gone. I have the present to deal with."

"Idiot," Snape said quietly.

"Git. Ever thought to stop feeling miserable and just live? Mum died thirty-six years ago-" Harry cut off as a hand shot up and squeezed his throat.

"Speak along those lines again, Potter, and I will finish off what the Dark Lord could not do." He released his hold on Harry. "If you plan on sleeping here instead of with your wife, perhaps there is much in your present you need to 'deal' with." The sofa cushion shifted and Harry was left alone in the dark.

Though Harry would never admit it, that conversation he had with Snape under the cover of darkness changed something in their relationship. Harry did not bother Snape with meaningless talk about his Mum or the afterlife. What good would it be if both topics were sensitive subjects to the older man? Rather than antagonizing him, Harry decided it would be best to study the books in his library and figure out a plan of action.

Harry was just settling into his chair with a book written about the afterlife when Snape barged into the room. "Potter, I demand you fix this situation immediately."

"What happened?"

"Your, your daughter refuses to leave my sight and constantly hounds me wherever I go."

Harry refused to let a smile slip onto his face least Snape noticed and took out his anger on him even more so. "She likes you. Sometimes I think she'll be Sorted into Slytherin like Al just because she enjoys listening to stories about you."

"How delightful that you tell stories of my wretched life to your children. Do they and you take particular glee over my demise by a snake ripping out my throat?"

"Snape," Harry said with a snap. "Stop being an arse. Instead of getting annoyed with my daughter, why not do something proper and teach her something like Potions. She'll enjoy it and I daresay you will too. She's a smart girl."

"And what about her ridiculous name for me?"

Harry pondered for a moment before chuckling. "Oh, you mean uncle Sev? I thought it was rather cute. She's still young."

"Your mother could properly pronounce my name at her age," Snape pointed out. "Unless this is a sly trick to point out that you and your wife are terribly inadequate in the teaching of your children, your point makes little sense."

"And you would rather my Lily look at you with her big brown eyes and call you Severus in a cold voice instead? I'd think it would hurt too much having a spectre of the woman I used to love staring at me like that, calling out my name with disdain." Harry knew his words hit their mark when Snape stumbled back with a stricken look on his face. "You do what you feel is necessary."

"No, no. Uncle Sev is adequate enough. Almost endearing." Snape rubbed his face with his hands. "You spent far too much of your childhood with Albus Dumbledore, Potter. What next? Do you plan to tell me I disgust you?"

Harry clenched his book tightly, fighting the urge to throw it at Snape's head. "Enough is enough, Severus. How many times must I tell you, daily I might add, that I don't think of you the same way I did when I was eleven? I named my son after you, for Merlin's sake and I'm thrilled he's in Slytherin." He rose from his chair, dropping the book on the floor, and closed the distance between himself and Snape. "I've grown up. My eyes have been seeing you in a proper light for ages. Why can't you do the same? Please. Let's just start over. You're family now. Haven't you realized it?"

Harry didn't realize that at the end of his speech, he had reached up and held Snape by his sleeve, standing an inch apart from him. "You're family," he admitted with a whisper.

"I-"

He shook his head. "You don't have to say anything now. Probably for the best since you'll want to yell at me some more. Lily's almost certainly waiting for you. It's best not to keep her waiting for long or she'll start fuming."

Snape nodded curtly. "Excellent suggestion, Potter. I shall see you at dinner tonight with the young Potter chit in tow."

"Sounds good to me." Harry watched Snape exit the room and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He was nothing but honest towards Snape; the man was family in a way. He could have been Harry's father. More importantly, living with the Potters wasn't Snape's penance for his sins. It was Harry's penance to pay for both of his parents, Sirius, and his own sins against the man.

***

"And what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Harry heard Snape say as he passed near the living room.

"Draught of Living Death, of course," replied Lily.

Harry peeked in and saw Snape sitting on the floor with his daughter with an open book between them, obviously a Potions book. Lily, with her hair braided back, was lazily turning the pages as Snape pointed out things in the book.

"Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"Hrm." Lily turned the pages until she found what she was looking for. "In the stomach of a goat, right, uncle Sev?"

"That is correct, Miss Potter, and a bezoar will save you from most poisons. What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane then?"

"Nothing. They're the same plant!"

A rare smile graced Snape's face and Harry sucked in a breath. It didn't make Snape's features any less harsh or more handsome, but it softened him a little around the edges. Made him look a little more human. It was amazing.

"You are correct again. Perhaps brilliance skips a generation for you are indeed your grandmother's grandchild. When you arrive at Hogwarts, you will be quite advanced in the subject of Potions if I can help it."

"Lily hun," Harry broke in. "Your Mum wants to see you in the kitchen. I think she's making cookies and wants your help. You don't mind, do you?"

"Nope!" Lily grinned at Snape before getting to her feet and headed towards the kitchen, her braided hair flapping behind her.

"She's a bit of a handful, isn't she?" he said as Harry offered his hand to Snape.

Snape hesitated before taking Harry's hand and rose to his feet. "Not at all. She is perfect. I believe congratulations are in order for you and the Weasley chit for creating her."

"Er, thanks?"

"She takes to her lessons very well. Perhaps someday she will become a Potions Mistress." There was a longing in Snape's voice that Harry's eyes rose to meet his.

"You think?"

"It is my hope."

"I'm glad that you're getting along so well with Lily. In a few months my boys will be home for their break and you will get to meet them in person. Think you can handle all five Potters at once?" Harry said with a grin.

"I am certain I will be dead before Christmas arrives. If that happens to come about, think you can manage to carry on my lesson plans with Miss Potter before she enters Hogwarts?"

Harry reached for Snape's hand once more and squeezed it. "You are not dying. I've been looking and looking and while there isn't much information about the stone that's not fairy tales, there isn't a precedent for what happened to you. You're real, as real as Ginny or I, flesh and blood. Maybe it was meant to be this way, Severus. You're supposed to be here, with us."

"That is nothing but sentimental rubbish, Potter, and I thank you not to mention that again."

"Suit yourself. What do you plan to do until dinner tonight? Ginny forbade me from going into the kitchen. Says she's making a surprise and I'm not allowed to see."

"Perhaps she does not want to have her kitchen burned to the ground by your pathetic attempts at cooking a decent meal." He glanced down and slipped his hand out of Harry's own. "If you truly wish to know, I plan to start planting herbs in your garden for usage in potions. You have nothing but grass and I assume a makeshift Quidditch area there and very little of value otherwise."

"I can help with that. What? I can. I'm not your idiot anymore."

Snape chuckled and his lip curled. "No, you are not. You are the Weasley chit's idiot now. If you persist in being a nuisance, then come along and help me decide where to plant these seedlings."

Harry narrowed his eyes, certain there was something hidden in Snape's statement but he shrugged and followed the older man. "When did you order these plants and why didn't I notice the owls delivering them?"

"I have no answers for your apparent lack of noticing your surroundings. Your daughter was with me the day I ordered them through a catalogue and we used your name to pay for the items. I assumed you wouldn't mind otherwise it would take some explaining on why a supposed dead man is living with the Potters and ordering plants."

"Yeah, thanks for that." Harry walked a bit ahead of Snape to open the door for him and they entered the garden. He saw the trays of seedlings alongside the wall and raised his eyebrow. "How many of these did you order exactly?"

"Enough to cover half your grass. Why do you ask?"

Harry chuckled, shaking his head. "No reason. Just don't spend all of my Galleons."

"So I suppose I should cancel that order of a hundred elegant white peacocks then?" Severus smirked as Harry laughed. "Imagine what your garden would look like with them."

"No thanks. Now how'd you want to organize everything?"

As Harry helped Severus design, or really just nod his head as Severus explained his vision, he appreciated the older man's deep voice that seemed to wrap around him. In Hogwarts, that voice was used to insult or shout at him. Here, it was merely wonderful. He could see why Lily enjoyed being around him.

And so life went on. Severus and Lily continued their lessons in addition to planting herbs in the garden. Ginny would peek through the windows watching in disparagement, but Harry allowed Lily her fun.

Time flew and soon it was two weeks until Christmas. The Potter household, headed by Ginny, was turned upside down as she went around making sure that the holiday would be one of their best. She sent Harry to hang the decorations with Lily in tow and spent most of her time cleaning to make sure the house looked orderly. Snape lucked out with chores as Ginny, still, refused to have anything to do with him.

Harry knocked on the door frame before entering Snape's room. Snape had lived in the guest room for so long that it might as well be his. Snape sat on his bed reading one of the books he'd borrowed from the Potter library before glancing up at Harry's intrusion.

"Yes?"

Harry gulped. "Ginny's gone out shopping, taking Lily with her. I am rather glad she did because right after they left, two owls delivered letters from Hogwarts." He held the letters gripped in his hand and Snape followed his gaze towards them.

"I assume there is a point to this story?"

Harry nodded. "I don't want to tell Ginny yet because I don't know what she'll say. She was not very pleased with Al being in Slytherin and with this," he broke off and took a breath. "Let me start from the beginning. The first letter's from James. He says he caught Al with Malfoy's son, Scorpius, by the lake and they were holding hands. Kissing."

"And the second letter?" Snape asked.

"It was a frantic letter from Al saying James is a liar and he wasn't doing anything. Al's a second year!" shouted Harry and tossed the letters onto the bed. "What's he doing in a relationship and with a Malfoy no less?"

Snape's dark eyes glittered as he placed his book aside and reached for the letters to read. "And this anger isn't because your beloved son that shares your appearance is in a gay relationship with the son that resembles Draco Malfoy?"

"Er, what?" Harry shook his head. "If I didn't care that Al got Sorted into Slytherin, why should I care that he's gay? Or experimenting. He's only a second year!"

"Tell me, what exactly does being in Slytherin and being gay have anything to do with each other? Unless you are conveniently forgetting that as the once home of the purebloods, marriage and intercourse with females almost certainly took place to breed more purebloods."

"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that." Harry rubbed his scar absentmindedly. "I didn't mean one and the other are the same thing. They're not. But Ginny wasn't happy about Al in Slytherin and I know she won't be happy with Al turning out to be gay either. She wants grandchildren, you know."

Snape let out a bark of laughter. "To think I thought you would have learned something in the years you've been married to a pureblood and associated with a pureblood family."

"There's nothing wrong with the Weasleys!"

"Then you should know that there are ways for same sex couples to conceive. The potion is related to the Polyjuice potion but instead of rearranging one's appearance, it rearranges a person's organs. So your precious doppelganger, if this isn't some sort of experimenting phase for him, will be able to carry on the Potter and Weasley genes. Not that it would matter as you have two other children and Weasleys breed like gnomes."

"Gee, thanks, Severus." He let out a breath of air. "I guess that's comforting to know that no matter what, Ginny and I can have grandchildren. But what about the fact that he's messing about with a Malfoy!"

"You are pathetic sometimes, Potter. Swallow your damn pride and write your boys their letters. Tell your eldest that he is a moron or whatever equivalent statement and tell your middle child that there is nothing wrong with expressing himself with Mister Malfoy but that he should be aware of sexual protection and send him a book outlining that. I believe you have such a book in your library. Then you will tell him that you won't be telling the Weasley chit about this but you fully expect him to explain to her by Christmas that he is fondling Mister Malfoy's balls."

"What!" yelped Harry. "He wrote that?" Harry reached for the letter and Snape pulled it back.

"No, but it is only a matter of time before he and Mister Malfoy will start exploring more than just snogging. Be thankful that their explorations won't cause either of them to become prematurely pregnant, unless for some irrational reason one of them is drinking a male pregnancy potion." Snape pointed to the edge of the bed and Harry sat immediately. "Potter, it is odd that I would be discussing this with you but there is nothing wrong at all with your son being gay."

"I know, I know. I just, he's so young. Why does he think this is the right choice in second year?"

"If I recall correctly, your Weasley chit has been in love with you since before she entered Hogwarts and look where she is now."

Harry gave Snape a wry smile. "Despite your stubbornness and being a general all around bastard, I am glad you are here. A bit surprised you know so much about this but I guess you came across this situation a lot as Head of Slytherin?"

"Not as often as you are probably thinking. No, I know of this because I went through it at your son's age." Snape finished his words with a glare in Harry's direction.

Harry's eyes widened and he leaned forward. "What? No way. I thought you died a virgin or something pining for my Mum. You're telling me you've 'fondled' some guy's balls?"

"Yes, and a lot more." Snape's glare deepened. "And I did not die a virgin, you twit. I may have loved your Mum and never slept with a woman because of it, but I had plenty of intercourse with men."

Harry's mouth dropped open and he blurted out, "Why would anyone ever want to shag you?" He suddenly found himself flying through the air and crashing against the wall as the door to Snape's room slammed shut on him. Harry rubbed the back of his head, wincing at the touch, and wondered how long Snape would be upset at him.

Snape ignored him over the course of the next several days. No matter how Harry tried to apologize or to get Snape to talk to him, the man would not say a word. The silent treatment, however, did not spill over to Lily. Snape was ever so cordial to his daughter and not even Ginny could find fault with his conduct, though she tried.

"Where is Lily?" asked Ginny as she barged into Harry's study.

Harry inconspicuously shifted the small picture on his desk of the teenage Snape and Lily so Ginny couldn't see it. "I don't know, Ginny love. I think she's having lessons with Snape in the garden."

"I don't like her spending so much time with him."

"You know how Lily's been begging to go to Hogwarts. This lets her pretend she's a student and besides that she's learning a ton."

"I don't care. She will pick up on his bastard mannerisms and I don't want our sweet girl to act anything like him. I've just been so worried." Ginny eyed her husband and went over to Harry, promptly kissing his cheek. "Sorry I've been neglecting you, Harry."

"It's alright. I have been spending my time doing some research." Ginny tried to glance at the title of the book Harry was reading but he shifted it aside so she could not read it.

"What sort of research?" She tried to catch the title and when Harry moved the book again, she smacked his shoulder. "Stop hiding it from me."

"I don't mean to, but this is private research."

"So private that you can't even show your own wife?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. No. Please, Gin. I'll tell you all about it later but my research is still in the beginning phase."

Ginny pursed her lips and said nothing. She raised her hand to adjust her blouse and Harry's gaze trailed to the tantalizing glimpse of her breasts revealed by the cut. He could feel himself hardening and he vaguely wondered if this was part of Ginny's plan all along.

"Lily will be at lessons for at least another two hours," he said in a low voice as he rose from his chair and dropped the book onto the floor. It had been entirely too long since he last made love to his wife. "Are you busy?"

A faint blush spread across her cheeks and Harry delighted in the fact that he could still make Ginny blush like that. It was adorable on her. "Harry, what if Lily finishes early? I don't want her to catch us."

"No one will see us, I promise." Harry took Ginny by the hand and led her through the house to their bedroom.

Harry yanked his clothes off before gently stripping off Ginny's as he laid her down on the bed. He pressed warm kisses to every inch of her soft curves. When he finally entered her, Ginny cried out in pleasure as she wrapped her legs around his waist. As Harry began to thrust into her, Ginny raked her nails against his back as she arched up. It didn't take long for either of them to come, Harry panting into Ginny's neck.

Harry curled against Ginny, resting his chin on her head. Who cares if Snape wasn't talking to him. There was always Ginny.

***

Harry took a sip of his cuppa he made as soon as he entered the kitchen after arriving home from the Ministry. He would have preferred taking an extension on his vacation, but seeing Ron in their office was worth returning back to work. Ginny was at the Prophet building working on her next article for the paper which left

Harry could hear Lily's squeals of delight coming from the sunroom and he took a peek from around the corner. Lily stood in front of a sitting Snape as she reached for the sparkles of light he illuminated above her head. "Uncle Sev!"

"Yes, my dear?"

Lily dropped her hands to her hips and pouted. "Show me more. Please?"

"Perhaps, if you can answer my question. Name me two ingredients in a boil cure potion."

"That's easy. Dried nettles and crushed snake fangs." Lily smirked. "Can you create a Patronus? Daddy sometimes shows me his when he wants to cheer me up."

"I can do that." Snape stood and he lifted his hand. It still amazed Harry that the ghost-man could cast magic without his wand so easily. Perhaps it was a benefit to being what Snape was. "Can you tell me what a Patronus is used for?"

She nodded. "They're used to keep Dementors away. Right?"

"You are correct, Miss Potter. They are also used against Lethifolds." He pointed in front of them. "Expecto Patronum!" From the tips of his fingers burst a silver doe trotting on the carpeted floor of the sunroom.

Harry inhaled sharply as the image of the Patronus took him back years to when he first saw it in the Forest of Dean. How the silver-white doe that led him to the Sword of Gryffindor and how familiar she felt to him. It was like they were old friends, back then, and that same rush of feelings flooded Harry in the present. His Lily must have felt the same way because her mouth dropped slightly open and she reached forward with her small hand to touch the doe.

The doe tilted her beautiful head and lowered her snout to Lily's touch. For a brief inexplicable moment, Harry felt jealous of his daughter that she could touch what he could never have. The doe was his and no one else's. As he clenched his free hand into a fist, the movement caught Snape's eye and he turned towards the door.

"Our lessons are over for now, Miss Potter. Your father is home and your mother will soon be as well," said Snape though he kept his Patronus out.

"Oh, alright. Thank you, uncle Sev." Lily curtsied towards Snape before blowing a kiss towards Harry and leaving.

"Erm, thanks for watching her while I was at work, Snape."

The older man grunted and turned his back on him. Harry decided he was fed up with Snape's moods and marched towards him, and grabbed his shoulder, turning him around. "Look, how many times do I have to apologize to you, you big git? I'm sorry I insulted you about your sex life and I shouldn't have done that. It was uncalled for. That just makes me an idiot and I didn't meant it. Can you forgive me?"

The doe, Harry noticed, took to watching Harry in the same manner as Snape was. "Perhaps you should be forgiven, Potter. If only so you do not kick me out of your household and I am deprived of your daughter's presence."

"Lily?" Harry narrowed his eyes. "You haven't done anything-" and broke off, not wanting to accuse Snape of being some child molester, especially with Lily looking vaguely like her namesake grandmother. "Never mind. I trust you." He ran his hand through his messy hair. "I just seem to put my foot in my mouth whenever I'm around you, don't I?"

"That would be the case, Potter," he said dryly and he turned towards his doe.

"Oi, wait. Don't get rid of her. Not yet. She's beautiful, you know, your Patronus. I can't help but feel comforted by her presence."

"Your daughter seems to feel the same way. What is it with Potters and my Patronus?"

"Perhaps it is because she represents my Mum and your love for her." Harry reached for his wand in his pocket and pointed it at the doe. "Expecto Patronum!" His stag leapt from the tip of his wand and landed in front of Snape's doe. His Patronus was slightly larger than Snape's and his antlers were magnificent in size. The stag lifted his snout and brushed it against the doe's own of his own accord.

"Don't do that!" Snape hissed as his free hand flew to his large nose.

"Do what?" Harry glanced towards him in confusion.

"I realize that your Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons have been sorely lacking, but you are an adult now and an Auror at that. Has no one ever told you that one's Patronus is considered as something highly personal. It would be as if I reached over to smack your penis with my own."

"You let Lily touch your Patronus!" Harry shot back and realized what he just said. "You let my daughter touch your-"

"You are a pervert, Potter. Your daughter is a child, not a Patronus, which is what I was getting at. This highly personal situation only takes place in the bedroom between two Patronus. It is used by some as a sexual device."

"Oh. That's...how come no one told me this?"

Snape laughed, a sharp laugh that made Harry feel like a teenager and he blushed. "This is not something a wizard hears in polite society. There are many inconspicuous wizard objects that are used as sexual devices. Patronus play is one of them."

"Right. Good to know." Harry looked at the doe with such longing that he was tempted to let his stag...and he stopped his train of thought. What was he thinking? Snape just told him that two Patronus were used for sex. If his stag touched the doe, then he'd be having sex with Snape. Or near as much anyway. What was wrong with him? "Right," he said again.

The doe vanished from sight and Snape dropped his arm. "Was there a need of me today or am I allowed to do my own errands?"

Harry shook his head, mostly to clear his thoughts. "No, I should be fine. I think I will take Lily to visit her grandparents at the Burrow."

"Suit yourself, Potter."

"Harry. Call me Harry," he blurted out. "We're both grown ups. It only makes sense."

Snape raised his eyebrow. "If you insist. Harry."

Harry smiled and recalled his stag, slipping his wand back into his pocket. "Thanks."

Harry bundled Lily up and they took the Floo to the Burrow. The first person he saw was Hermione. She embraced him in a hug and stared into his eyes. "How have you been, Harry?" She lowered her voice. "How is you know who doing?"

"He's fine. Been giving Lily lessons and babysitting her when Ginny and I are at work. Did you figure out anything in your research?"

She shook her head. "I've been short on time with it since I am trying not to let Ron know what I am doing. Nothing I have come across has precedence of someone who has died and came back alive just as they were before their death. Well, except Voldemort but he had Horcruxes..." she trailed off.

"No, stop what you are thinking. He would never do such a thing and even still, how did he come back to life? Wormtail had to do a ritual before Voldemort could return. All I had was a stone."

Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know what to tell you, Harry. I don't think there is anything we can do about it. Let me tell you, it will be a bloody mess to bring a dead person back to life in terms of Ministry paperwork."

"That's why you will be in charge of that and not me. Thanks again, Hermione."

"What are you going to do about the situation though? He can't stay at your house in Godric's Hollow forever, you know."

"I'm aware of that fact and I will have to talk it over with Ginny. I can't just boot him out of the house without any notice. I could never do that to him."

A loud crash sounded in the kitchen and Molly's voice rang out. Hermione groaned. "I knew I shouldn't have left Hugo with Molly. You need to figure out something soon and fast. The hols are coming up and how will your son react to seeing him? And more importantly, the rest of our extended Weasley family?"

"I'll cross that bridge when it arrives. Go get Hugo before he wrecks the entire kitchen, and bring Lily here too, yeah?" He kissed Hermione on the cheek. "You're the best sister I could ask for."

She grinned. "I know."

Harry flopped onto the couch rubbing his temples. There were so many problems associated with Snape returning that he did not know where to start. Hermione was right though. Bringing the dead back to life was a bloody mess.

He needed to do it, or he would never be able to do right by Snape.

A few hours later, Lily blew kisses to Molly and Arthur as Harry tried herding his daughter into the Floo. "You'll see them at Christmas when your brothers are here. Come on, Lily."

She glanced up with a curious expression. "I will?"

Harry let out a loud sigh. "Of course, like every Christmas we've had. What has gotten into you?"

She tugged on her father's sleeve until he knelt down so she could whisper into his ear. "Do you think, Daddy, that uncle Sev could come with us? He's awfully lonely at the house and you're never there with him."

"Ah, erm." Harry didn't know what to say. "We'll discuss this with your Mum. We should hurry though, I bet she's waiting at home right now for you." He took Lily's hand and, tossing in Floo powder, shouted out his destination.

When they arrived at their home in Godric's Hollow, the first thing Harry heard was Ginny shouting. Harry held Lily close and murmured for her to run up to her room and shut the door before letting her go. When Lily did as she was told, Harry ran towards the origin of the shout.

In the living room, Ginny had her wand pointed at Snape who held his hands up in the air. Harry stepped in front of Snape, his hand reaching back to wrap around Snape's waist. "Ginny, what are you doing!"

"I want him out of the house, Harry. I want him out now and if I have to force him by wand point, then I will."

"I can leave, Mrs. Potter, if the two of you truly wish it. I am well aware there is nothing for me here." Snape made his way towards the door but Harry's hand shot out and grabbed Snape's wrist, stopping him.

"You're a fool. If you leave, Lily will be heartbroken! Do you really want to make a ten year old girl cry?" He turned towards Ginny. "Go upstairs and we'll discuss this. I can't believe you would do something like this and almost in front of our daughter."

Ginny glared and tossed her red hair behind her shoulder as she stomped upstairs. Snape pulled his wrist away from Harry and murmured, "I shall be in your study when you reach your decision."

Harry watched the man go, his heart pounding from the situation though he was not particularly sure why. He turned and headed towards his bedroom, finding Ginny pacing on the carpet. She spun towards him and dropped her hands on her hips.

"Harry James Potter, I can't believe you! I have had it up to here with Snape. He has been here for months and I want him gone. Why won't you take my side for once and tell him to go?"

"Ginny," he said softly. "I am not letting him leave. This is his home now and I want him here. Lily wants him here. He isn't a bad guy and he's proven that since living with us. Please, just give him a chance and don't let him get under your skin."

Her shoulders sagged and her arms dropped. "Oh Harry, I can't. I love you, but I can't do this. I have a bad feeling about it all. Can't you understand that?"

Harry closed the distance between them and held his wife tightly. "I do, and I understand. But trust in me and our love. Severus is good. What set you off?"

"I saw him sitting there and," she broke off to take in a deep breath. "I realized that you spent more time with him than me and I didn't like it. You do, you know, and you always take his side."

"I don't. I think you're just imagining things."

Ginny pulled away and glared at Harry. "Oh yeah?" She reached for a pillow from their bed and threw it at him. He ducked to the side, his arms raising to protect his head. "Get out and stay out! Stay with your beloved Snape if you think I'm imagining things."

"Fine, fine. Be paranoid, Ginny. I'm tired." He took one last look at his wife, the light from the window catching her hair making it glow and her eyes blazing from anger, before leaving.

Harry found Snape sitting in his study, nursing a glass of Firewhiskey and holding a picture frame in his other hand. Harry came closer and saw which picture it was; it was the one of Snape and Lily as teenagers in their Hogwarts uniforms. Lily looked beautiful, as usual. Snape looked as he always with his large nose and sallow face, but the picture attempted a smile and he looked at ease. It was the best picture he had of Snape.

"Severus?" he said quietly.

Snape looked up and replaced the picture frame back on the desk. "Have you decided on kicking me from the vicinity after all? It would be perfectly understandable to adhere to your wife's wishes."

Something inside Harry snapped and in that moment reformed anew. He made a mental note to fire call Hermione and ask her to stop working on finding Snape a place to live later that night. "You're not going anywhere, not now or ever. Ginny knows how I feel and she won't bother you any more. So you're stuck with me." He gave a nervous laugh.

"Am I?" Snape raised his eyebrow.

His heart pounded even louder and he forced himself to nod. "Yes. You're family." He grinned. "Which means you get to play uncle to James and Al when they come home, and I get out of chasing them around. Deal?"

Snape stayed quiet for so long that Harry wanted to take back the words. Finally, he nodded. "Deal."

Days passed until it was time to pick up his boys from King's Cross for the hols and he brought them back, bouncing and excitedly chatting about their time at Hogwarts. James ran ahead, his Gryffindor scarf trailing behind him as he shouted, "Gryffindor rules!" Albus came right behind his brother and faced his father with a worried look on his face.

"Dad?"

"Yes, Al?"

Albus fidgeted, playing with the fringe of his own Slytherin scarf. "Did you mean what you said in your letter about Mum not knowing yet?"

Harry nodded. "I did, and I expect you to tell her yourself before you return to Hogwarts. Ah, how advanced is your relationship with Scorpius?"

Albus blushed and Harry tried not to groan in response. "Kisses mainly. We've seen each other naked but we didn't do anything bad or anything. I promise. We're too young for that!"

"And you like him?" Harry ran his fingers through his messy hair and wished he was anywhere but here talking to his son about his relationship. Merlin's beard, someday soon he would be talking with Al about his sexual relationship.

"A lot." Albus looked nervous. "I'll tell Mum about Scorpius after Christmas. I don't want to spoil her mood or anything."

"Alright. Go find your siblings while I prepare your surprise." Snape was in his study, awaiting the moment when he could come out and be introduced to his sons. He had to promise Lily a potions kit to keep her quiet long enough for him to tell them the news. Harry watched his son chase after his brother before heading into the study.

"Think you're ready for this?" Harry asked Snape as he watched the man straighten his robes.

"That is an irrelevant question, Harry. They will be here and I live here as well. We will have to learn how to function on some level."

Harry nodded. "Yes, but I hope that they are not too rowdy for you. James and Al are a bit boisterous compared to Lily."

"It will be fine as long as I am not required to join your family at the Burrow for Christmas." His lip curled. "Though perhaps I should. It would probably kill me and the world would be righted once more."

Harry stood behind Snape, placing a kind hand on his shoulder. "Possibly, but you know me. I would try to save you like I always do and you'll be stuck with me forever."

"Aren't I already?" muttered Snape, but Harry ignored the comment.

"We'd better hurry before James becomes impatient and tries to blow something up."

Snape followed Harry as they headed towards the kitchen. Ginny was leaning against the counter with a smile on her face as she listened to James' rapid account of some misadventure or another. Lily sat at the table poking Albus in the side as his son winced and tried to fend off his sister. Harry cleared his throat, waiting until he had their attention before bowing.

"James, Albus. I have a surprise for you. I have an old friend that's been living with us for awhile and I wanted to introduce you to him." Harry moved aside for Snape to enter. "This is my friend, Severus Snape."

***

"That went well, I think," Harry said as he poured a bottle of wine and handed a glass to Snape. They were both in his study, door closed, hours after Harry revealed Snape to his sons. Snape took the glass and drank deeply.

"Oh yes, your son pulling his wand on me made for an entertaining evening. We should do this again."

Harry stared down into his wine glass. "James didn't mean anything by it. I think his cousin Rose has been telling him about Inferi and since you're back from the dead, he thought you were one."

"So I gathered. Are you certain it is wise that I should stay here? Perhaps Miss Granger could ascertain if my home on Spinner's End is still standing? I can live there for the holidays."

Harry shook his head. "You are staying here, Severus. I want you here and so does Lily. And Al came around, didn't he? He wanted to hear any story you could tell about your childhood in Slytherin. James will be the same."

"If you say so." Snape sank into his chair and his shoulders sagged. "This is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. I do not think I can do this." He looked up. "Do not make me do this."

Harry placed his glass down and knelt before Snape, placing his hands on Snape's lap. "Yes, you can. I have seen you stare evil in the face for years on end and not blink. You can easily handle my children for a few weeks."

"It is not...them. Not fully. It is this." He gestured around the room with his glass. "Your perfect family, your perfect life. I am nothing and I do not belong here."

"You do. You'll see."

And Harry was right, for the most part. Lily loved her uncle Sev and Albus slowly got used to having Snape around. James, however, picked up on Ginny's dislike of Snape and mimicked her.

Christmas arrived and Harry awoke to his children jumping onto the bed. "Let's open up our presents," demanded James.

Ginny laughed and mussed up his hair. "Fine, fine. Go on and meet us downstairs. We'll be there in a moment."

The children scampered off and Harry pressed a kiss onto Ginny's hair. "They're monsters, aren't they?"

She grinned. "Sometimes."

By the time the two made it to the living room, Snape was already there handing out presents. "I am certain you will enjoy your present, Miss Potter," he said. He glanced up and met Harry's gaze as he gave him a half smile, or as near a smile as Snape could give. "Now move aside so your brothers can get their presents from me."

Harry wrapped his arm around Ginny's waist as they settled around the tree to watch their children. Harry kept sneaking peeks at Snape, assuming that the man would be out of his element, but that was far from it. There was a certain light on Snape's face as he watched Lily squeal over her new necklace or Albus hugging Snape when he received his first edition of a book on Salazar Slytherin. Even James couldn't deny thanking Snape for his present.

Later that day, as Harry went into the storage outside to gather brooms for a pick up game of Quidditch for his children, Snape slipped into the storage behind Harry. "Don't think I've forgotten your gift, Harry," he murmured against his ear.

Harry turned around, raising his eyebrow. "And what's that?"

Snape handed Harry a small phial filled with a silvery liquid. "Pleasant memories of your mother. I assume you would enjoy this?"

"I would. Thank you. This is much better than the lab I installed in the basement for you."

Snape smirked. "I don't know, Harry. I think a lab would be quite enjoyable."

He closed his eyes with a smile on his face. Snape was a part of his family, for good or bad. It was a strange thing to admit, but he liked it.

***

Ginny took one last glance into the mirror and turned back towards her husband sitting cross legged on their bed. "You will be alright for two weeks, won't you?"

"Of course. I don't see why you won't let me go with you or even watch Lily."

Ginny tilted her head and gave him a look. "I've told you before, Harry. I don't want Lily around Snape without my influence to balance her and I would love to take you with me but there is no way I am leaving him alone in our house for two weeks." She was leaving to follow a Quidditch team on their tour for the Prophet and Harry ached to go with his wife. It would have made for a nice vacation for the two of them as Quidditch lovers. "You'll be fine without me anyway."

"So says you," he grumbled but politely took Ginny's kiss when offered. "Two weeks, right? I should be fine. You'll be bringing back something for Lily and I?"

"You know I always do." Ginny pointed her wand to the luggage sitting on the bed with Harry and flicked it, her clothes flying out of the dresser and folding neatly inside the luggage. "I left the information of where I'll be staying on the fridge in case you need me for anything." She straightened and smiled a sweet smile. "Miss me?"

"Always." Harry stood and wrapped his arms around her small waist. Ginny leaned her head against his chest and took in his masculine scent that she loved so much. "Be safe, won't you?"

"I will be. The two weeks will fly by and I'll be home."

Ginny left for her assignment and a few hours later Harry found himself wandering through the house, alone for the first time since his last few days living at the Dursleys decades ago. He always had someone near him, with him, after Voldemort died. Ron and Hermione roomed with him until he started dating Ginny. Then there was always Ginny around and then their children. Now he was alone.

No, not completely alone. Somewhere in the house was Snape, just as lonely as he was. More so because Ginny would return and he wouldn't be by himself anymore while Snape had been alone for a lifetime.

Harry headed towards his study, leaving the door open, as he grabbed a bottle of brandy and poured himself a drink. What was wrong with him? He was acting like a melancholy fool, all because his family wasn't there with him. What would happen to him in the future when his children were all grown up and moved away to live their own lives? Pieces of his heart wandering through the world, leaving him a broken man.

He drank deeply from his brandy as he mentally gave himself a shake. His children would never leave him. At least not in a forever sort of way. They would grow up, marry, and he would have grandchildren to adore and love. There would be more pieces of his heart wandering the world and Harry wondered if his father had ever had the same thought when Harry was born.

Harry stumbled into his chair, leaning back and pouring more brandy into his glass. Only a few hours had passed and he was turning into a drunkard. At least Ginny or the children couldn't see him like this. They would be disappointed in him and they would be right in feeling that way. He was Harry James Potter, the foundation and patriarch of the Potter clan. He was not allowed to fall apart like this over nothing at all.

"When did you turn into such a lush?" Harry looked up from his drink and saw Snape standing in the door with his arms crossed. "The Weasley chit is barely gone and you are drunk. At least Miss Potter is not here to see her father in this light."

"Shut...up, Severus." He gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit. Drink with me." I don't want to be alone, he wanted to say but somehow knew that Snape knew. Snape sat down, crossing his legs and folded his hands on his lap. Harry offered him a glass and Snape took it though he did not drink.

"Tell me this is a one off occurrence, Harry."

Harry chuckled and took a sip. "I've drank alcohol with you before."

"Not like this." He frowned.

"My family is gone. I don't want to go back to the Ministry and I bet Ron's fuming over me missing work all the time." He shrugged his shoulders. "I hate the silence. It makes me start thinking things that I don't want to think about. How do you deal with it?"

"Occlumency helped." Harry snorted and Snape raised his eyebrow. "You do not believe me, but it is true. Occlumency helps in focusing your thoughts and emotions and keeping them tucked away from sight. I kept my loneliness hidden because if I did not, it would have eaten me alive."

"Like it almost did when Mum died," said Harry softly, recalling the Pensieve memory of Snape crying over Lily's picture.

"Yes."

"I learned Occlumency when I was seventeen, you know. The grief I had for Dobby's death held back Voldemort from my mind and I could keep him away with it."

"Congratulations, Harry. And yet you did not master it."

"I know, but I don't need to, not in the way that you mastered it." Harry finished his drink and rested his glass on his desk. "I still hate to be alone though." He reached over and took the untouched brandy from Snape's hand and gulped it down. "While you're here and we're talking, I have always wanted to ask you this question. Why didn't you ever get over my Mum? There had to have been other women you could have loved. Heck, there could have been men too. I've seen Goyle and Crabbe's dads before and they're hideous, but they still were able to marry and have children. No offence. You're not an ugly bloke."

Harry half expected Snape to turn away and leave like he usually did in the face of uncomfortable questions, but to his surprise, Snape stayed. He barely shifted from his chair.

"There could have been, yes," he finally said. "I could have had my pick of Slytherins, especially those enamoured with the Dark Lord. He would have acquiesced to any person I chose after Lily and if it was someone within his power, they would have been my mate. I would have had children." He glanced away and for a moment Harry thought he could see a tear welling in Snape's eye, but when Snape looked back, he could see it was only a trick of the light.

"You loved Mum that much?"

"Yes," he whispered. "She was my everything."

It was Harry's turn to glance away. As it was when he was a teen, so it was now. He could not bear to look at Snape's adoration without feeling heart pangs himself. "Did you ever kiss her? I mean, did she ever return your love?" he asked as he looked back.

"There was a kiss or two. Nothing more than kisses between friends. She never regarded them as something special."

Harry nodded. "You've kissed more people than me, I think. I've only kissed Cho and Ginny. Cho's kisses were so wet and not very nice while Ginny's felt..." he broke off as a dreamy smile appeared on his face. "Firewhiskey and light and wonderful. It still feels that way." Harry straightened in his chair as he realized something, his head swimming from all the alcohol he drank. "You've kissed blokes though! That's got to be different than kissing girls. How was that?"

"I suspect the same as kissing a girl with the only variations being in who you kiss. If you had only kissed Miss Chang, you would have thought kissing females were wet and disgusting. Perhaps it would have led you to kissing others, including males."

Harry laughed and laughed at the thought. "Maybe, but not at Hogwarts. Neville's not a bad looking bloke, neither is Dean or Seamus, but I couldn't imagine kissing any of them."

"What about Mister Weasley. Ron, I believe you call him? He is related to your wife and he looks quite similar to her. You could easily segue to men that way."

Harry abruptly stopped laughing and stared at Snape. "That's...that's disgusting. I could never kiss Ron either. He's like a brother to me. And, ew. He doesn't look like Ginny at all. Gross."

"Of course, Harry. Two siblings and redheads like those two could never look alike. My apologies."

Harry laughed again. "You're forgiven. But you've kissed blokes, probably scores of them."

"What is your point?"

"Well, I've never kissed one. You liked it though, right?"

"With the right man, it was certainly enjoyable, yes." Snape raised his eyebrow. "You still have not made your point."

"I don't have one."

Snape muttered something under his breath and rose to his feet, moving closer to Harry. "Fine. If you won't make it, then I shall." He knelt down, hands on the armrests of the chair, and crushed his lips to Harry's own. Snape kissed like he was trying to steal away Harry's soul. Snape's kiss was nothing like the ones he shared with Ginny. It was almost violent as Snape forced his mouth open and his tongue sought Harry's. It was heady, intense, and it compelled him to live within that moment, with Snape. He found himself dropping his glass and bringing his hands up to clutch wildly at anything he could grab. Snape's back, shoulders, even tangling his fingers in Snape's greasy hair.

He was not sure who ended the kiss first, but as Snape pulled away, Harry could see a faint blush on the other man's cheeks. Harry wondered what he looked like in the aftermath and decided he did not care. He ran his fingers through his messy hair, trying to steady his breath. "That was...it was..."

"Yes. I agree." Snape stretched his hand and touched Harry's cheek, curling his fingers against Harry's flesh.

He watched Snape's eyes trail down and he followed his gaze towards his erection poking a tent in his trousers. Without thinking about it, Harry reached for Snape's shirt and pulled him down. Snape need no further suggestion and he began to unbutton Harry's pants. When he pulled out Harry's cock, he gave it a long lick before swallowing it down.

It didn't take him long, the warmth and Snape's skilful tongue, pushed him over the edge and he came into Snape's mouth. Snape drank it all down and licked him clean before tucking Harry back in.

Harry sighed contentedly and stroked Snape's hair.

***

Harry lay in bed staring at the ceiling as he thought about what had happened earlier that night. He'd snogged Snape. Even more so, he'd come inside Snape's mouth and enjoyed it. What was wrong with him? If Ginny ever found out...he groaned. If Ginny ever found out, she would kill him.

But it felt nice and he enjoyed what they did. If he wanted to be honest, he did not regret any of it. He turned over onto his side, pulling the covers higher over him. How would he be able to face Snape tomorrow when he'd had his cock in the man's mouth? Harry ran his hand over his face. At the very least his daughter was not here to witness her father messing up in a spectacular fashion. That was his one consolation.

It took a long while before Harry could get to sleep.

Harry found Snape the next day sitting at the table in the kitchen. He had a pot of tea ready and a cup in his hands. Snape looked up and nodded slightly.

"Morning, Severus," he said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Pass me a cuppa?"

Snape poured Harry a cup of tea and nudged it towards him. Harry sat across from him and took the cup in hand, taking a sip. "Thanks. Did you have anything planned for today?"

Snape pierced him with a glare. "Stop blathering like an idiot. You didn't do anything wrong last night so stop acting like you did."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize kissing a guy and getting a blowjob was considered acceptable behaviour from a married man." Harry slammed his cup down, the liquid spilling over the edge.

"I don't see why you're making such a fuss. It's not cheating if you're having sex with someone already dead." Snape gazed at him coolly. "Not that what we did was much of sex to begin with, so you're safe."

"That's great to hear that I haven't cheated on my wife. Any other brilliant insights you have there?"

"Yes. We should do it again." At Harry's shocked look, Snape rolled his eyes. "Harry, in case you did not realize it, I enjoy having a thick cock down my throat. I enjoy the taste of come. If I'm going to be stuck in this house while I am currently alive, I want to experience sex."

"Erm."

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Of course I did," he snapped. "But that's not the point. I couldn't take advantage of you like that."

"Yes, you can. You won't be lonely and I get to have sex. It's a brilliant idea."

Sex with Severus wasn't that bad, Harry found to his surprise. Nor did it complicate their easy going relationship. The first time he made love to Ginny, he froze up and didn't speak to her for a week. The days following up to when Harry proposed to Ginny and the days after left Harry an emotional mess. He half expected it would be the same with Severus.

Either he matured over the years or it was something about Severus, but that was not the case. They'd spend their evenings in front of the fireplace, discussing current wizard news and gossip, like Draco's receding hairline, before finishing off one last glass of red wine and heading up to Severus' room. Harry always made the first move with a kiss. Severus would then push Harry onto the bed and fall to his knees, pulling down Harry's trousers in earnest. Like clockwork.

Severus inhaled Harry's musk, wrapping his hand around Harry's growing cock. "I've missed the feel of cock in my mouth," said Severus as he lowered his mouth to envelop Harry's cock.

"Y-you've mentioned that once or twice." Harry panted and slid his hand towards the back of Severus' head, torn between wanting to draw him closer or push him away. "W-wait. I don't w-want to come yet."

Severus released Harry's cock, the head slipping out with a loud pop. "Did you wish to frot yourself between my thighs or are you actually going to grow some balls and fuck me?"

"Don't be crude."

"Don't be a prude." Severus squeezed the base of Harry's cock in warning. "As much as I enjoy our activities, I want to get fucked and that's not going to happen until you learn to get over your squeamish behaviour."

Harry sat up, pulling away from Severus and hugged his knees to his chest. "It's not squeamish. I just don't think it would be very exciting. How could you like that?"

"I just do." Severus eyed Harry. "Usually it's the one being persuaded to bottom that complains this much. It's not as if you have never topped before."

"Women are different!" He muttered. "They just are, okay? I thought you liked my hand jobs?"

"It is nice, but I want more." Severus stood, rubbing his hand over his face. "Perhaps you should just go. Isn't the Weasley chit arriving home in a few days?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah." He didn't want Ginny to come home if it meant never having sex with Severus again, and it was a peculiar sensation to experience. Harry reached out and stroked Severus' arm, feeling the warmth of his flesh under his palm. His life had been entwined with this man from even before he was born. "You'll still stay on, won't you?"

"That depends entirely on you. Can you stand to look at me day after day without giving away to your wife that we fucked?"

"Made love," whispered Harry. "And don't cuss."

"Either way, we're done." Severus turned away. "Go back to your bedroom, Harry. There is nothing for you here."

Harry slowly stood up, taking one last look at Severus, before leaving the room. The next few days weren't filled with tension like what Harry assumed, but he still half expected for Severus to turn away from him and uncomfortable silence would fill the room.

***

Harry heard the door slam and the familiar giggles of his daughter. He turned to Severus, giving him a shy smile, before hurrying down the stairs. "So there's my two favourite girls!"

Harry swept Lily into his arms and kissed Ginny on the cheek. Lily held up a broom and grinned. "Mummy bought this for me. Can I fly it now please?"

"Only if you have an adult with you, and I want to talk to Mummy."

"I'll ask uncle Sev then." Lily wiggled out of Harry's arms and ran up the stairs.

"How was your assignment?"

Ginny dropped her knapsack on the floor, looking as ragged as he'd ever seen her. "It was fine. Just routine coverage of a Quidditch tournament. Mum gives her love, by the way, and wondered why Lily stayed at the Burrow if you didn't travel with me. She also wondered why you didn't travel with me because you usually do. I spent an hour trying to distract mum and when that didn't work, I had to lie so she didn't find out about your precious Snape."

"It's not my fault you don't trust him," Harry started before he broke off. He didn't want to go down this road. "Why don't I make dinner while you go unpack and relax? I'll even tell Severus to stay in his room sitting in the dark. Will that make you feel better?"

Ginny's lips twitched before she laughed. "A little," she admitted.

"He was the perfect gentleman while you were away, I promise. Our daughter really likes her 'uncle' and she's a good judge of people. If you can't trust me, trust Lily."

She wrapped her arm around Harry's waist. "I trust you, I do. I just don't trust him. I didn't want to mention it before, but he always stares at you. It's creepy. It's like he wants you for himself."

Harry smiled weakly, giving Ginny another kiss on the cheek. "Now I know you need to relax. It's not like Severus is even gay, let alone attracted to me."

"You're right, but sometimes I wonder..." She shook her head, a smile on her face. "And even if he was, you wouldn't act on it." Ginny laughed. "You're obviously not gay, so why am I worrying over nothing?"

Harry laughed with her because he didn't know what to say. He wasn't gay and neither was Severus per se, but they did act on their lust. He'd betrayed Ginny in the worst possible way and he couldn't tell her. It would hurt her so much and tear their family apart.

He heard Lily laughing and Severus' deep voice and peeked out the window to the garden. Severus held the back of Lily's shirt as she shakily flew on her broom. It was such a charming sight that Harry leaned against the window sill as he sucked in a deep breath. Severus looked like a father to his Lily, the both of them looking so happy, and Severus had never meant more to Harry than in that moment.

Harry turned away, ashamed of the thought. He needed to get away from this house and clear his head.

***

Ron raised his glass and winked at Harry. "Glad to see you out and about, Harry. Ever since you quit the squad, you've been hiding in that house of yours."

Harry smiled and drank back his Firewhiskey. This was good. Ron would make him realize that there was more to life than his whatever with Severus. "I haven't been hiding and you know I wasn't feeling the best as an Auror."

"Yeah, but it's been our childhood dream to be Aurors, you know? And now you're not there. It doesn't feel right." Ron drank another shot and slammed it down. "You and Ginny need to visit our house more often. Hugo's driving me insane. He wants to go to Hogwarts so badly. Is Lily the same way?"

Harry's hold tightened on his glass. Despite telling Hermione about Severus, he never told Ron and he didn't imagine that Ron would take the news so lightly. "Not really. I've gotten her a tutor to keep her busy. She enjoys her time studying and when September comes again, she'll be leagues ahead of the other students."

Ron's eyes brightened. "Really? I never thought of doing that. Hermione and I have been so busy lately that we'd barely have time to teach Hugo anything when we pick him up from the Burrow. Think your tutor would mind if he took on Hugo as well?"

"Erm. He might," Harry hedged. "I would have to ask him."

"Good bloke?"

"Yeah, he is. Lily adores him."

Ron nodded. "Then it's settled. I'll bring Hugo over tomorrow."

"Wait, what?" Harry looked up. "I didn't agree to this."

Ron smacked Harry on the shoulder and motioned for another drink. "Sure you did, mate. Who is your tutor anyway? Ginny's never mentioned anything about him."

"Oh, well. He's a good bloke. Old family friend." Harry thanked the waitress for bringing another round of drinks and hid behind his new glass. "Why don't I pick Hugo up tomorrow so you don't have to go out of your way?"

Ron narrowed his eyes, or tried to. It ended up coming out more like squinting. "Who is this mysterious tutor? I've known you all your life, you know. Do I know him?"

"Maybe. It's been a long time since he's been in our lives. School days, you know? Hey! How is Hermione, by the way? Has Molly helped improve her cooking?"

That distracted Ron and he started on a tirade about how lucky Harry was to have Ginny as his wife. "Mum taught Ginny earlier how to cook, you know? Hermione's never been so inclined and I'm horrid in the kitchen. Maybe it's a good thing Hugo spends his morning with his grandmum. He can learn how to be a better cook than his parents. Never mind about the tutoring, mate. Someone in this household needs to learn how to cook." Ron laughed.

Harry smiled and nodded, relieved that Ron wasn't talking about Severus or bringing Hugo over during the day. Just because Hermione was relatively okay with learning about Severus didn't mean that Ron would be.

***

Weeks went by and Harry figured that his fears about Ginny finding out what he had done were unfounded. They were never left alone for periods of time where they could leisurely make love and Severus refused to talk about what they did. They returned to the life they'd had before Ginny left on assignment and Harry was grateful for it.

He didn't expect to get caught by a simple look.

Severus entered the kitchen with a sleeping Lily in his arms. Ginny raised her eyebrow at the sight and he shrugged. "She fell asleep during history lessons. At least she'll fit right in during one of Binns' classes."

Harry grinned at the comment and finished off the rest of his slice of apple pie. Severus stepped forward, adjusting the precious bundle in his arms so he wouldn't jostle her awake, and wiped away a pie crumb from Harry's mouth with his thumb. Harry smiled and so did Severus.

"You bastards!"

Harry broke away from gazing at Severus to stare at Ginny's upset look. "Ginny, what's wrong?"

She pointed her knife at Severus then at Harry. "Harry James Potter, I can't believe you would do this to me under our own roof. And with him."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he hissed and turned to Severus. "Would you put Lily to bed? I don't want her to wake up to this."

"Certainly," Severus murmured as he glanced once more at Harry before leaving the kitchen.

"Alright, Ginny. What in Merlin's name are you ranting about?"

Ginny motioned towards the door. "Him. You. I saw the looks you two were giving each other. Harry James Potter, I've known you since you were eleven years old-"

"So has he," muttered Harry and Ginny heard it.

"Oh, very funny. I know you, Harry. I know how you look when you're infatuated and you gave him that very same look." Her face crumpled and Harry was afraid she was going to cry. "You like him and he likes you. I know it."

Harry rose to his feet and went to wrap his arms around his wife. "Ginny," he began.

"No. No, Harry. No more lies." She stood stiffly in his arms. "I thought you loved me."

"I do love you."

She looked up at him with bleary eyes, though there were no tears in sight. "But there's something going on between you two, am I right? You've done something with him."

He couldn't deny it and inclined his head. "I'm so sorry, Ginny."

"Has this been going on for months?" she whispered.

Harry nodded again. "Yes. No. Not the sex part. That's recent."

Ginny stepped back, shaking her red hair. "I see. I want you to leave the house. Tonight."

Harry didn't have the heart to tell her that Godric's Hollow was his ancestral home and belonged to him in name, or that even if he left, Severus would still be in the house. He simply nodded one more time and walked away.

Severus met him at the stairwell, arms folded over his chest. Harry fidgeted as he met Severus' dark gaze. "I assume you heard?"

"Yes, I did."

"Don't be upset." Harry took a step. "She's in the right, you know."

"I am aware of this. What I am curious to know is why you are following what she says."

"She's still my wife, Severus, and I wronged her." He took a deep breath. "I'm going to fix this."

"Will you now? How can you fix it when the Weasley chit looks at you with disgust after knowing what we've done? That you chose me over her while under her own roof?" He sneered. "The better question is, now that she knows, what do you plan to do with this knowledge?"

"Excuse me?"

Severus closed the distance between them, nearly knocking Harry down. "You insinuated that the sex between us meant something more than fucking. Did it really or were you so lonely that I was just a minor convenience, something to do while the wife was away?"

"I-I-"

"That's what I thought. Roll over onto your belly, Mister Potter. I've wasted enough time here as it is." He spun around and began to march up the stairs.

Harry rushed after him, grabbing Severus' arm. "What are you talking about? And why aren't you calling me Harry? I thought we'd moved past that."

Severus shook Harry off of him. "I'm taking my things and leaving this place. I was right in the beginning; this is merely penance for my sins. The dalliance I've had with you only deepens the pain."

"But what if I don't want you to leave?" he said quietly. "Lily would miss you like crazy. So would I."

"Potter, you don't know what you want. So before you completely frustrate those around you, figure it out." He snorted. "Something tells me that you'll just end up back in the same place before you met me." He raised his hand, Accioing everything into suitcases, and shrinking them down before pocketing them.

Harry figured he had to say something before Severus left his life. Again. "I don't understand."

"I know. And that's why I have to leave." Severus gave a mocking bow before Apparating.

***

"Coming." Hermione opened the door to see a miserable Harry on the other side. "Harry? What are you doing here so late?"

"Ginny kicked me out."

"I see." She motioned for him to enter and closed the door silently. "Ron's in bed and so is Hugo. I don't want to wake them up." She wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "As your sister-in-law and best friend, you're obligated to tell me what happened."

Harry did. Even when Hermione's eyes grew wide and her mouth curved into an o, he told her everything that happened. Even the confusing bits that made no sense to him. "And he left. He upped and left me."

"Harry, he didn't leave you. He left an uncomfortable environment, most of which you caused." She sighed. "What are you going to do about Ginny?"

"That's just it. I don't know." He groaned and ran his fingers through his messy hair. "I've gone and bollocksed everything up, haven't I?"

"A little." Hermione kissed Harry's cheek. "But I'll stand behind you like always."

"You're not mad at me for fooling around with Severus?"

A tinge of red covered Hermione's face as she tried not to meet Harry's eyes. "I find it hard to believe, but I know you. You wouldn't have done it without good reason."

Harry grumbled. "Everyone thinks they know me. Ginny, Severus, you, Ron."

"Don't we?" asked Hermione.

"No. Yes. I don't know. I'm feeling confused, is all. I just want everything to be right again."

"And it will be, I promise. But Harry, can you accept that things may not be exactly the same way they were before?"

"I think so."

Hermione nodded. "Good, because if Ron messed around on me, I'd hex his bollocks off and that's a fact."

"It's not cheating if the other person is already dead," muttered Harry and yelped when Hermione slapped him on the arm. "Okay, okay. I get it. I have to fix things between Ginny and Severus."

"Or not. Harry, think about it. You've never messed around on Ginny with anyone before. Ever. Then when you do, it's to a man who went to school with your parents and died, and did I mention a man? If you wanted to cheat, you could have done it with anyone, but you didn't. You did it with Snape. There's a reason behind it, I think, and now you just have to figure things through."

The next morning, Harry found himself standing outside Snape's house on Spinner's End. The house looked rundown and desolate, but it had looked nearly the same way years ago when Harry had seen it in Severus' memories. Time hadn't changed this little corner of Spinner's End.

He knocked hesitantly, hoping that Severus was inside and would let him in. He knocked a second time, but no response. "Severus, I know you're in there. Don't make me use my wand."

The door opened a crack, but it was enough for Harry. He pushed his way inside, pressing against Severus' chest. "May I come inside?"

"You already are, Potter." He moved aside so Harry could step inside and he closed the door. "Why are you here?"

"I came to apologize. I've been an arse."

"Yes, you have. Now leave."

"I can't." Harry ran his fingers through his hair, sighing. "I've been talking to Hermione and I realize that you mean something to me. I don't know what or how, but you do, and I need you. Forgive me?"

Severus sneered as he folded his arms over his chest. "Until you realize why I am upset, then no, I will not forgive you. Have you even talked things over with that wife of yours?"

Harry shook his head, feeling lost and confused. He'd thought apologizing would fix things, but it looked like that was far from happening. "I haven't."

Severus rolled his eyes and unfolded his arms to shake Harry by the shoulders. "Idiot," he growled. "Let me make this simple for you. You and I have entered a relationship of sorts. Your wife knows about this. What. Do. You. Plan. To. Do. About it? Am I worth anything to you at all or was I a distraction while she was gone?"

Harry shook his head. "You weren't a distraction. I liked what we did and I enjoy being with you. But it's not so easy because I love Ginny and I love my family. I've been married to her for years and you don't just stop without warning. What would you do if you were in my situation?"

"Do? That's easy, Potter, I'd let myself win," he murmured. "Because I never do."

Harry gulped, unconsciously raising his hands to touch Severus' face and neck. He liked touching Severus. He wasn't soft like Ginny, but he was perfect just the way he was. "You must have won sometimes, even only a little?" he said softly as he continued to touch Severus.

"Not even a little. After Lily left, I realized my life would never be full of joy. I've come to accept it except, it seems, when it comes to you. To this."

Harry smiled brightly. "Good. I don't want to accept a life without you either."

"That still leaves us in the same position, Harry."

Harry wrapped his hand around the back of Severus' neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Severus moaned and yanked Harry closer towards him, tightening his hold on Harry's shoulders. When they came up for air, Harry blushed and kept his eyes focused on Severus' chest. "You called me Harry," as if that explained his behaviour.

Severus snorted but didn't release his grip on him. "Idiot. What will we do?"

"I don't know, but we can do it together, right?"

"Of course."

"Here's your chance to run away and find some girl. I'm a mess." Harry chuckled, a pathetic expression on his face.

"I'll stay and take my chances," murmured Severus.

Harry didn't know what the future would bring, but somehow he could not bring himself to care much. Severus would be there, keeping him from messing up too badly.

Many Years In The Future

Harry laughed and pulled Severus through the busy station of King's Cross. He glanced around in a playful manner before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "Smile for once. You're not fooling anyone, least of all me." He ran his fingers through Severus' graying hair before his hand was swatted away.

"I am not pretending," he said curtly. "I do not understand why we have to be here. None of our children are going to Hogwarts. They haven't for years since Lily left."

"Git, I know that. That's why we're going for our grandchildren. You remember little Augustus, right? You were there when he was born. You thought Scorpius squealed like a pig while he was in labour and you sniggered when Draco burst into tears when he first saw his grandson."

"I remember the event vividly. Albus was ready to faint every time his husband groaned in pain. It still doesn't mean we have to be here to see Augustus off."

"Yes, we do. Now suck it up, and wipe that scowl off your face. We don't want to make a scene like you did a few years ago at Lily's wedding. Not an owl goes by that she doesn't bring up what you did with the enchanted suits of armour clanging for Dorian to either leave or suffer the consequences as well as flying birds diving and pecking at him. And didn't you do more?"

Severus' scowl deepened. "It still boggles the mind that such a talented girl would waste herself on a Muggleborn. She has the potential to be an excellent Potions Mistress."

"Why Severus, do I detect a trace of pureblood arrogance in your tone?" They both knew there was no heat in Harry's words. "Dorian is a great guy and he received a NEWT in Potions. At least that aspect I'd thought you would approve. Besides he suits Lily just fine. She can still take after you and become a Potions Mistress and her husband will be with her every step of the way." Harry knew the real reason behind Severus' stubbornness; no one would ever be good enough for the baby of the family and the only Potter girl.

They reached the barrier between platforms nine and ten and crossed through it, emerging on the other side at platform nine and three quarters, the fog thick in the air. "Do you see them?"

"I am not looking. This is ridiculous."

Harry glanced at his husband and slid his hand into Severus' own. "Every time you protest, I know what you're really thinking. You adore the fact Al and Scorpius want us here for Augustus' big day. Don't deny it."

Severus straightened and murmured, "Perhaps. Ah, there they are."

Harry hid a grin as he followed Severus through the crowds to where his son and family were. He could faintly see Albus ruffling Augustus' dark hair and Scorpius crossing his arms over his chest in a sulk. "Al, Scorpius!" he called out.

Albus looked up and grinned in a similar fashion as Harry. He dragged Augustus along as he reached for his father, hugging him then Severus. "Hey dads. Glad you two could make it. Draco's caught up with his Ministry work and the same with Mum at the Prophet. Scorpius was afraid you two couldn't make it as well."

"We wouldn't miss our grandson's first trip to Hogwarts," said Severus smoothly as he ignored Harry's snigger. "Are you excited, Augustus?"

Augustus nodded, his green eyes solemn. "Father says I have to get Sorted into Slytherin or I'm disowned. Malfoys belong in Slytherin only."

Albus muttered and embraced his son while glaring over his shoulder at Scorpius who headed their way. The glare was akin to Severus' own, it having taken Albus years to perfect the look. "Ignore him, Augustus. We don't care what House you get Sorted into. Neither do your grandparents."

"Cousin Fred wants me in Gryffindor like he is. Uncle James says Gryffindor is the best House and he's so proud Fred's there." Augustus stood still trying hard not to fidget like a good Malfoy. "Uncle James and cousin Fred are somewhere here. I think I heard his voice." Harry wanted to hug his grandson and immediately acted on the impulse.

"We'll see Fred off as well as telling your uncle to quit being a git. He takes too much after your grand uncle Ron, you know."

"Uncle James takes too much after his grandfather namesake," Severus said as he glared at Harry.

"Oi! Don't blame me. I'm innocent."

"Not bloody likely." But Severus tempered his words with a gentle squeeze to Harry's hand. "Augustus, there is nothing wrong with Slytherin. I was part of that esteemed House as well as both of your parents. Harry himself was almost in Slytherin before deciding Gryffindor was the right choice for him. And so it must be with you. Whatever House you end up in we will love you just the same because your happiness matters more to us than the colour scarf you're wearing."

Augustus smiled shyly up at Severus and he felt a wave of deja vu at the bright green eyes staring back at him. Like Albus before him, like Harry before him, Augustus inherited Lily's eyes and the thought that some part of Lily Evans Potter was living on through her descendents gave him a burst of contentment. "Thank you, grandpa."

"But try not to end up in Hufflepuff," Scorpius cut in. "Even Gryffindor would be better than that."

Albus laughed and kissed Scorpius on the cheek. "Now what'd I say about teasing our son? Just for that, you get to find James. Take Augustus with you."

Scorpius blanched but acquiesced to Albus' demand. He gave a belated hug to Harry and Severus before the two Malfoys wandered through the fog calling out for James and Fred.

Albus turned back to his parents and shoved his hands into his pockets. "He'll do well in Hogwarts."

"Just like his fathers before him," said Harry, causing Albus to blush. "You and Scorpius have raised him to be a fine wizard."

"Thanks, Dad. It helps that you and Father have been great examples."

Severus rolled his eyes and moved forward to embrace Albus, albeit awkwardly as if the years he spent raising Harry's children didn't improve his social graces. Harry knew it mattered greatly to Severus to know that his children adored him. He loved when they called him Father or Dad or when their grandchildren referred to him as Grandfather, their grandfather. Severus loved that Lily had grown up to be a fine witch and Potions Mistress in the making. Severus loved that James could now, after years of bitterness that Harry and Ginny divorced because of him, look at him and call him family. As a sign of good faith, James even gave his son the middle name of Severiano in honour of Severus. And Severus especially loved that Albus would, out of all his children, come to him for advice in life and love.

Harry blinked to attention as he heard Albus continue to speak. "Mum wants to take Scorpius and I to France this year as a present. I think she's doing it because you took us to Germany a year ago," he said, the last part directed towards Severus. "She, ah, still doesn't like you."

"I am not offended, Albus, and certainly not surprised. Your mother has every right to dislike me. The only thing that matters to me is that you and your siblings are happy and well adjusted, which of course you are."

"Because of you, you know." Albus gave Severus his shy smile. "I don't know if I ever told you this, but I'm glad Dad married you."

James, his wife, and their son Fred emerged through the fog following Scorpius and Augustus. Fred looked the spitting image of his father, except where James' hair was auburn, Fred had reddish brown hair. Fred waved and ran towards Harry and Severus, excited to see his grandparents. "Come to see us off, Grandpas?"

"That's why we're here," said Harry.

The horn blew from the scarlet Hogwarts Express and everyone began to say their goodbyes to the boys. Fred saluted as his mother helped him onto the train. Augustus, however, turned to Severus and tugged at his sleeve. Severus knelt down to see his grandson face to face. "Grandpa Sev, what if I don't end up in Slytherin?" he whispered, his fear creeping through.

"Augustus William Malfoy, your father Albus faced this same fear when he was a first year. He didn't want to Sort into Slytherin when his entire family had been Gryffindors. But it turned out for the best, did it not? He met your other father and you were born. If you end up Sorted elsewhere, things will turn out alright."

"You promise?"

"I do."

Augustus smiled and Albus helped him to the train. People inside the train turned and stared out at Harry through the windows. "Why is everyone staring at you?" Augustus demanded.

"It's me, I'm famous," James said blandly and Albus laughed.

Harry watched as Albus began waving to his son, trailing after him as the Express moved further and further away. "Look familiar?" Severus murmured into his ear.

"A bit. Things really do go in full circle, don't they?"

"With small differences, of course. You were married to Ginny when you saw Albus off to Hogwarts and before that, you were alone with only the Weasleys to see you off." Severus turned to his husband and reached forward to caress his cheek, though to anyone else it looked like he was dusting something off. "Do you regret the choices you've made?" Do you regret me?

Harry shook his head. "Look at me." The green eyes found the black and Severus saw love shining through his gaze. "I could never regret what I've done or that I ended up with you, because I love you. I love our family. You mean the world to me, Severus." He gave him a crooked smile. "Do you regret me? After all, you could have had any woman you wanted and of purer blood. Someone worthy of you."

"The day I choose some bint over you is the day I belong in the mentally insane ward of St. Mungo's. I am yours."

Severus bent his head to kiss Harry and Harry rose on his toes to deepen the kiss. He could hear James groaning over his parents being "gushy" and when Severus pulled back, Harry had a goofy smile on his face. Every twist and turn he'd taken in his life had led him to this moment and he could not regret any of it. All was well.

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