As Severus Snape knelt before the Dark Lord Voldemort, he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of foreboding deep within him. It felt as though the events of tonight’s meeting were going to change his life forever, though for better, or worse, he knew not.

“Welcome my loyal Death Eaters. I have some interesting news.” Voldemort hissed from his throne. “It seems that our dear Wormtail has come across an unidentified potion. We have the ingredients and the steps to brew this potion, but we don’t have what the potion actually does. Now to find out what this potion does, I am going to select one of your numbers to test the potion.” Voldemort’s crimson eyes scanned the crowd of nervous Death Eaters. They fell on one particular form. “Severus Snape, step forward. You have been given the honour of testing the new potion.”

Severus cringed behind his mask as the icy cold hand of fear took a hold of him.

Stepping forward, he bowed and knelt before Voldemort. “You honour me, my Lord.” He said respectfully.

Voldemort smirked. “Remove your mask Severus, and drink the potion.”

“Yes my Lord.” Severus murmured, removing his mask and taking the phial containing the potion. Sniffing it cautiously, he closed his eyes and downed the potion. As he knelt there, his body tense, awaiting the likely gruesome and painful effects of the potion, he could hear the other Death Eaters behind him, shuffling nervously.

“Well Severus? Are there any effects yet?” Voldemort demanded, a tinge of curiosity to his voice.

“None as yet, my Lord.”

Voldemort sighed regretfully. “Very well. You may return to Hogwarts, but the minute you start to feel the effects of the potion, you are to owl me. Is that understood?”

“Of course my Lord.” And with that, Severus left the Dark Lord’s presence, feeling a mixture of pity and contempt for those who had to remain behind.Severus stumbled once he arrived at the apparation point just outside of the grounds of Hogwarts.

Shaking his head, which felt as if it was filled with cotton, he made his way to Albus Dumbledore’s office.

‘He wants me to owl him of the effects… he must be getting crazier as time passes because if he was in full control of his mental capabilities he would realise that if one doesn’t know what the potion is meant to do, then one may be taking note of things that happen naturally instead of in reaction to the potion.’ Severus thought to himself as he stood before the stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Albus’s office.

Entering the office, his eyes immediately fell upon the Headmaster of Hogwarts as he sat behind his desk, reading a Muggle novel.

Twinkling sky blue eyes looked up at Severus curiously, with touches of concern within them. “Ah, Severus, you have come back. Have you anything to report?”

Severus nodded sharply, then blinked a couple of times to clear his head. “Wormtail,” Severus spat the name out. “And the Dark Lord found an unidentified potion that they wished to try. The lucky test subject was me.” He said, watching as the concern in the sky blue eyes grew and the twinkle dimmed. “And before you ask or suggest anything, I do not require coddling, nor do I require a visit to the Hospital Wing. So far there have been no effects, and I will promptly test my blood to see what the potion is, once I return to my quarters.” Severus looked at the Headmaster pointedly.

As he watched Albus smile at him gently, Severus felt tremors run their course through his body, and his usual indifferent mask slipped from his face as the inky murkiness of unconsciousness grasped him tightly, dragging him deep within its folds of darkness.

Albus smiled lightly, though the smile immediately vanished into a mask of concern when he saw his Potions Master shudder then fall back in what appeared to be a faint.

Forgoing the use of magic to stop his fall, Albus leapt from his chair to catch the falling Severus. Once his hands connected with the back of Severus, there was a brilliant flash of light, and Albus could only stare at what was now lying in his arms.

In his arms, surrounded by the numerous layers of the Potions Master’s robes was a baby, about seven or eight months old. His young baby skin was as pale as ivory and as smooth and soft as silk. Raven black hair, already reaching his shoulders, curled slightly and was silky soft to the touch, while wide onyx eyes stared up at Albus. The eyes blinked once, twice, then closed as the babe yawned softly, before falling asleep.

Suddenly, the severity of the situation hit him. This was Severus Snape! This sweet, tiny infant was the bane of all Gryffindors, the most feared professor in the entire school, Severus Snape! If the situation was so alarming, Albus probably would be laughing at the irony of it all.

For the first time in many, many years, Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, Defeater-of-Grindelwald, and holder of many other titles, was at a total loss at what to do.

Suddenly, as his eyes fell on the calendar sitting on his wall, a devilish smirk spread across his face.

His smirk grew as he glanced at his familiar, Fawkes, but it changed to a gentle smile as he looked at the sleeping babe within his arms.

~*~

Emerald eyes watched the glowing scarlet numbers, anticipation evident in the brilliant gaze.

Suddenly, the glowing numbers changed, revealing the start of a new day.

The youth smirked as he opened the window to allow the barrage of owls in.

After removing the various packages that the owls carried, the youth gave them the opportunity to drink and rest, as he gave them an owl treat each, before handing one to his snowy owl perched on his shoulder.

The snowy owl’s amber eyes gazed lovingly at her master as he smiled up at her. She hooted curiously at him, wondering at the devious, mischievous glint in his brilliant eyes.

The youth laughed softly at the question evident in his owl’s gaze. “I’m of age.” He said simply, watching with a smirk as his owl’s amber gaze seemed to light with a devious glint that matched his.

“I knew you’d like that.” He said, chuckling, as he stroked her feathers gently. “Any ideas Hedwig?” he asked curiously.

Hedwig just cooed to her master and nipped him lightly on the ear, offering her support to any of his ideas.

After going through the numerous gifts he had received, he wrote the appropriate thank-you letters and sent them back with the owls.

Eyeing his gifts, he looked at one with something akin to suspicion. One box was filled to the brim with samples from the Weasley Twins joke shop. Though the shop had floundered for a bit in the beginning, business had began to pick up at the start of his sixth year at Hogwarts, when his best friend Ron, who was the younger brother to the twins, had turned the entire Slytherin House into French maids, despite their sex. He chuckled though, knowing that he would have fun with his relatives these holidays.

Suddenly there was a blaze of fire and a calming, melodious tune. When the flames cleared, leaving no evidence of the fire being there, the youth stared in shock at the magnificent creature that was staring at him, its sable eyes gazing at him, infinite wisdom in those eyes.

“Fawkes.” The youth breathed softly, his emerald eyes gazing gently at the phoenix before him. “Dare I ask why you are here?” He asked curiously, watching with a mixture of happiness and dread as the phoenix’s eyes danced with a mischievous gleam nearly identical to his master’s.

Fawkes tilted his head to the side as he spread his wings and rose into the air with grace, revealing a basket.

Curious, the youth walked over to the basket, but before he could reach it, Fawkes landed on his unoccupied shoulder and offered him a note.

Taking the note, he nodded his head in thanks. “If you’re thirsty Fawkes, you can drink over there.” He indicated to the water bowl he had for Hedwig.

Fawkes cooed softly, nipping the youth on the ear gently before ghosting over to the snowy owl’s perch.

Hedwig glared briefly at the phoenix, before returning her attention to her master. She hooted softly, reassuring her master. Her master, though he was happy, he hadn’t been the same after their return from the place where there were many human chicks, her master called it a ‘school’, four seasons ago. Nor had he sent her with letters to the dog-that-was-a-man-wizard, that seemed to care for her master. After their return, four seasons ago, her dear master had fallen into depression, nothing she could do would shake him out of it. It was only after a visit from the man-who-was-also-wolf and a, she believed her master called them ‘visions’, did his attitude change and Hedwig could see remnants of the boy she had been purchased for, many seasons ago. The fire that had been in his eyes came back with a vengeance and a new determination settled over him. The following morning, her master left the, Hedwig gave a derisive hoot at this thought, nest and went to the place where she had been brought from, without being seen by the man-wizard that was watching them. They had later returned when the night was waking, and her master seemed very pleased with himself.

A gasp from her master shook Hedwig out of her memories, and she looked down at him, as he stared at the parchment in his hands.

Hooting curiously, she watched as his eyes scanned over the letter a second time.

‘Dear Mr. Potter,

First, may I say happy birthday, and that I hope you enjoy your coming of age.’ Here he broke off, as the letter went into the inane chatter that was essentially the Headmaster’s way of leading up to something big. ‘Now, I’m sure you are curious as to what is inside the basket that accompanied Fawkes. That is my present to you, though I’m certain that you won’t see it that way. Please forgive an old man for his meddling and well, all my, what is it that Minerva uses?… Ah, that’s right, my quirks,’ A wry smile broke across the youth’s face as he could imagine his Head of House referring to the Headmaster’s eccentricities as quirks. ‘You’re the only one I could trust with such a…. gift as it is… and I pray that you can forget your past and live the life that was kept from you.’ His eyes narrowed. Dumbledore was stalling. He never stalled, unless he knew that he wasn’t going to like it. ‘When you return to Hogwarts, could you please see me immediately after the Sorting Feast to… discuss things.

Yours Sincerely

Albus Dumbledore.’

The youth blinked, this was an odd letter, even for Dumbledore’s standards. Suddenly, a movement out of the corner of his eye made him spin around, reaching for his wand as he did so, and drawing it in a swift motion. His eyes narrowed as they landed on the basket that was twitching.

Peering into the basket, the youth could only stare in surprise at the wide onyx eyes that were staring back at him. Stepping back from the basket, his eyes widened as the letter gave a jump in his hands. Turning his gaze back to the letter, somewhat reluctantly, the youth’s eyes almost popped out of his head as he read the post script that had appeared.

‘P.S. His name is Severus Snape, and yes, he is, or rather, was, your Potions Master. It seems that this is the result of an unidentified potion that Voldemort decided to test on Severus. I have given him to you in hopes to end the feud between the two of you, and also, you are the only one I trust with his safety.

Severus, like yourself, had a hard childhood before he arrived at Hogwarts. Please give him the chance to have the childhood that both him and yourself have missed, due to an old man’s misguided feelings.

Oh, you will also find books on how to care for children within the basket, though I have no doubt you will be a natural at it.

Once again,

Albus Dumbledore.’

The youth could only stare at the letter in his hands for a few moments, before returning his stunned gaze to the infant child in the basket, who yawned cutely, before his eyes closed and he drifted back into the land of sleep.

“Is he mad? Severus Snape and Harry Potter? He’ll skin me alive when he returns to his natural age.” The young man said in a whisper. He looked up at Hedwig, who was gazing at the babe with a gentle, curious look. “What do you think, girl?” He asked softly.

Hedwig returned her gaze to her master and cooed gently, showing that she thought he should care for the human chick.

He sighed. “Fine.” He then shot a glance at the smug looking Fawkes. “Your master is crazy.” He muttered, before writing a short note saying that he would take care of Snape and that they were definitely going to… discuss things once he returned to Hogwarts. Handing the note to Fawkes, he watched as the phoenix disappeared in a blaze of flames.

Picking up the basket gently, he placed it on the bed and in what was an instinctive gesture, he made sure that Snape was warm and covered.

Once that was done, Harry James Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, sighed and attempted to sleep, knowing that this year was going to be the most difficult and the weirdest of his years at Hogwarts.
-

Morning came, and Harry awoke to find that Snape was still fast asleep. Shaking himself mentally, Harry realised that he wouldn’t be able to call Snape ‘Snape’, seeing as that wouldn’t be good for such a small child. He was going to have to call him ‘Severus’.

Harry sighed, then he frowned, hearing his name shouted. He shook his head. ‘No, I’m not going to raise a child, even if it is Sn… Severus, in this household.’ He thought to himself. He smirked. ‘After tormenting the Dursleys for a bit, I’ll take him home.’

A pounding at the door made him look up sharply, and glance at Sn… Severus. Seeing the tiny face scrunch up, but continue to sleep, Harry let out a sigh of relief, before storming over to the door.

Pulling it open, he stared into the weak blue eyes that belonged to his cousin.

While Dudley had lost some weight over the past two, three years, it wasn’t enough for him to take on a definite shape other than that of a blob. Also, while Dudley wasn’t growing in any way, be it horizontally or vertically, Harry had finally had his growth spurt and had grown about a foot, maybe two taller, so he practically towered over Dudley.

“What?” Harry snapped softly.

Dudley glared at him. “Mum says to get down and cook us breakfast or she’ll send up Dad.” Dudley threatened.

Harry smirked, and pushed his way out of his room, the movement so unexpected that Dudley slammed into the opposite wall, causing the house to shake. Quickly glancing back into his room, he saw that the babe was still sleeping. Before he closed his door though, he motioned for Hedwig to come to him, and she landed on his shoulder.

Before he could take another step though, Dudley hurried down the stairs, and immediately began to complain to his parents.

Harry rolled his eyes and walked into the kitchen, watching with hidden glee as his aunt and uncle’s eyes narrowed in hatred and disgust at the sight of his owl. So concerned were they with his owl, that they didn’t notice his wand holster strapped to his arm.

“You freak. Apologise for what you did to Dudley, and maybe I won’t kill that ruddy bird of yours.” Vernon sneered.

The Dursleys were braver now, seeing as they were no longer under the threat of Sirius Black, or the Order. Sirius had died in Harry’s fifth year, falling through a veil that separated the living world from the world of the dead. And the Order, while they had been there for Harry for the start of his summer holidays that year after Sirius’s death, they seemed to be on suicide watch and their protection soon became too oppressive for Harry to handle in his time of grief, and so he sent a letter, begging for them to stop the guard, and the requiring of letters. At first the Order had been suspicious, but Harry soon convinced them that they needn’t be so worried.

Harry smirked. “It’s nice to know I’m so loved by my family that they remember my birthday.” He drawled, shuddering inwardly as he realised it reminded him of Malfoy.

“If you’re after gifts…” Vernon started, but Petunia’s horrified gasp broke him off. “What is it dear?”

Harry’s smirk grew. “So, you remember what happened when Mum turned seventeen, do you?”

Petunia’s eyes focused on Harry’s wand holster. “You… you’re of age.” She stated softly.

Harry grinned. “Yes I am, which means I can use my magic.” He waited for the explosion. He wasn’t disappointed.

Vernon stood with a strangled shout, his face rapidly turning red as he advanced on Harry, his intent evident in his piggy little eyes.

“Tsk, tsk, Uncle Vernon.” Harry said, drawing his wand and pointing it at Vernon. “You really shouldn’t try to harm a wizard who is capable of using his magic.” Harry scolded. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he strode into the lounge room, where he faced the large portrait of Vernon, Petunia and Dudley. Smirking, he began to cast spells over it, causing the portrait to change to one of his mother, father and himself standing in front of Hogwarts. With a quick flick of his wrist, he made the portrait a magical one, and grinned at his parents, who grinned back. With one last flick of his wrist, he charmed the portrait with the same charm that was on Mrs. Black’s portrait in Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. The portrait now couldn’t be removed by hand, nor could it be burned, painted over or anything like that.

“See you around, Mum, Dad.” He said softly, before striding up to his room, smirking at the startled shouts from the Dursleys below. He quickly packed his trunk and shrunk it, placing it within his top pocket. He then walked over to the sleeping babe and picked up the basket that was serving as his bed. Taking one last look around the room that he had… borrowed over the last seven years, he sneered and shut the door. Walking over to Dudley’s room, he smirked as he threw a few of the Twins’ prank lollies into the room. Nothing that would require magic to reverse, but things that would wear off after a while, like Canary Creams.

Walking downstairs, he saw that the Dursleys were still staring at the portrait in shock, letting out little shrieks of horror as the portrait moved. He laughed softly at them as he made his way to the door.

Vernon saw him first. “Get rid of this… this…” Vernon couldn’t seem to finish the sentence, but Harry simply shrugged.

“Ah, but you see, my dear Uncle, I don’t want to. Since you seem to think that Muggles are far more superior to Wizards, you get rid of it.” Harry taunted, before stepping outside. He smirked at the startled looks on the Dursleys’ faces, then looked at Hedwig, who had landed on his shoulder, gently, before turning his gaze back to the Dursleys. “Well, I’m going now. I’d say it’s been nice living with you, but in all reality, it hasn’t. May the Wizarding World never intrude in your delusions again, except of course for the painting.” Harry saw Vernon raise his arm and was about to bring it down in an attempt to strike Harry, but he merely smirked and disapparated with a loud ‘pop’.
-

Harry reappeared in front of a large house, surrounded by lush forests. He looked over the house with intense pride. This was his home. He had gotten it built at the start of the summer holidays the year before, after Remus Lupin and a vision convinced him that wallowing in depression was not going to bring Sirius back. The builders had done a magnificent job, and due to one of his clauses, they had erased their memories of the house once the job was complete so Harry could have his privacy.

Harry smirked, feeling the wards that surrounded his home. He had set the wards during his sixth year with the help of a Time-Turner that he had found within his robes after the incident at the Department of Mysteries. While he was at school, he would lock himself in a room and would use the Time-Turner to travel back in time as far as it was possible. He would then make his way to the Room of Requirement and use a fireplace to floo out of Hogwarts to his home and work on setting the wards surrounding the house. He did this for the entire year and now his home was even more protected than Hogwarts herself.

He shook his head. ‘If Ron or Hermione found out about this, they’d be shocked.’ He thought to himself. ‘Hermione would have a fit about all the rules and laws I’ve broken and how I’ve placed myself in danger, where as Ron would sulk because I didn’t tell him about it and invite him along, then he would have a fit when he realises how Slytherin I’m acting.’ He smirked at the last part. If there was one things that his friends thought, it was that Slytherins and anyone even remotely associating with Slytherins were evil. He, himself, at one time had thought that, when he was young and naïve, but now, now after seeing so much pain and death, he knew that his Slytherin side might be the very thing to save him.

Harry shook his head once more and started for the house, knowing that the house would be clean and tidy, thanks to Dobby and Winky’s help.

When Harry had approached Dobby the year before with an offering of a position in his new home, the excitable house elf had agreed instantly. Winky had overheard them, and since she was happier serving a family, she had asked, rather softly and respectfully, if she too could work for ‘Mister Harry Potter, sir.’

Harry had agreed, but only on the condition that she would have a day off, with no arguments. Winky had reluctantly agreed to these terms, and they spent one day a week at Harry’s home, making sure everything was in order and that it wasn’t getting dirty and overrun. Now that Harry was here to stay, so would Winky and Dobby.

Harry narrowed his eyes in thought. While he didn’t really want to care for Snape, he knew that he couldn’t deny the innocent infant a loving family, so he wouldn’t foist the child off into Dobby and Winky’s hands while on holidays, but, when they returned to Hogwarts, he would need someone to care for the child while he was in classes. Dobby and Winky would be able to care for him while classes were on, right?

Harry entered his home with a sigh. He was home, it was his home, and there was no one there to lock him in a cupboard if he did something they didn’t like.

“Master Harry Potter sir! You is home!” Came Winky’s voice as she rushed down the hallway.

Harry sighed. He hadn’t managed to convince the house elf to call him ‘Harry’, and it seemed that she had rubbed off on Dobby, who also called him ‘Master Harry Potter’. He rolled his eyes slightly, then answered the happy elf. “Yes Winky, I am. How have you and Dobby been?”

“We is being fine, Master Harry Potter sir. Is you wanting Winky and Dobby to be doing something?” Winky asked, her eyes wide.

Harry shook his head. “Can you just prepare a small breakfast please, as well as a baby bottle of warm milk please.” Harry requested politely.

Winky’s eyes widened with curiosity. “Why is Master Harry Potter sir needing a baby bottle?” She asked without thinking, before gasping. “Bad Winky!” She cried and was about to slam her head into the wall when Harry’s voice rang over her.

“Winky, I have told you. No punishing yourself for speaking your mind. You know I don’t like it.” Harry said sternly, watching as Winky stopped abruptly and nodded. “Now, in answer to your question, the Headmaster decided I was the only one he trusted to take care of something.” And with that, Harry knelt down in front of the elf and showed her the sleeping Snape.

Winky’s eyes seemed to fill with awe. “A baby, Master Harry Potter sir? What is being his name?”

Harry laughed softly. “This, my dear Winky, is Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts. Now, I’m going up to my room. Please bring breakfast and the bottle up there please. Also, please tell Dobby that I wish to see him in half an hour.” Harry said.

Winky nodded and disappeared with a pop, while Harry walked upstairs to his room. Opening his door, he looked around the room with pleasure. The walls and ceiling had been spelled to resemble the forest that surrounded the house, and it was so lifelike that creatures walked across the walls, and birds flew across the ceiling, which was like the ceiling of the Great Hall in Hogwarts. The carpet was a dark, rich green that was soft to the touch. All of his furniture was made with a dark mahogany wood. His bed was large and the coverings were dark green and black, which would probably disappoint Ron.

Placing the basket on his bed, Harry took his trunk out of his pocket and un-shrunk it, before opening it and placing everything away. He placed his prize Firebolt on the wall where it was laid out proudly, placed his school texts in his bookshelf that was there if he decided to do homework in his room instead of in the study downstairs. The bookshelf also held other texts that interested him and he intended to read them. His robes were hung up and his other school supplies were placed in a neat pile in the corner of the room. Finally came his photo album and his invisibility cloak, the first of which he placed on his beside table, the other, he hung from a hook on the wall, right beside the Firebolt.

He then transfigured a cot out of a paper clip he found in his pocket and conjured up a small set of drawers in which he would keep Sna… Severus’s clothes.

Suddenly, Winky appeared in the room. “Here Master Harry Potter sir. Breakfast and a bottle for young master Snape sir.”

Harry smiled slightly at the fact that his house elf had already accepted Severus as part of his family.

“Thank you Winky.” Harry said with a smile, watching as the house elf beamed, before placing the tray of breakfast and bottle on the desk.

Harry picked up the bottle, then looked over at the basket to see that Sn.. Severus was awake. He steeled himself inwardly. “Hey there, little guy.” He said softly, walking over to the basket, seeing how S… Severus was watching him. “Are you hungry?” He asked as he reached into the basket and carefully lifted Severus out, holding him in the crook of his arm. He held the bottle to the side of Severus’s mouth and watched as the mouth opened and took hold of the nipple and began to suck greedily.

“I guess you haven’t had much to eat, huh Severus?” Harry whispered softly. He then looked at Severus’s left arm. “You shouldn’t have the mark, huh? Well, let’s see how you are when you’re not trying to hide the fact that you’re a spy for the Light.” Harry murmured.

When Severus was finished with the bottle, Harry, going on instinct, grabbed a small blanket, placed it over his shoulder and began to burp the child. Once he was sure that Severus wouldn’t have gas, he rocked the child back and forth, murmuring soothingly to him.

Severus’s deep onyx eyes gazed up at Harry sleepily, and one thought passed through the child’s mind before he fell asleep.

‘Daddy.’

He smiled gently at the sleeping babe in his arms, before shaking his head distractedly. This was Snape, the bane of all Gryffindors, the man who had made the last six years of his life at Hogwarts a living hell. But, he couldn’t help the gentle look that came across his face as he returned his gaze to the baby. Sure, the man was a git, but he now he was an innocent baby. Of course, he was going to have words with Dumbledore, there was no doubt of that, but he was going to make sure that the infant had the happy childhood they had both been denied.

There was a soft ‘pop’ that indicated the arrival of a house-elf. Looking up, Harry saw that Dobby had arrived.

“Hello Dobby.” He greeted the elf. “Could you please go and get Headmaster Dumbledore and bring him here please? I fear we need to talk.” Harry then frowned in thought. “Also, don’t mention where the house is please.”

Dobby looked confused for a moment before grinning. “Of course Master Harry Potter sir.” He disappeared with another soft ‘pop’.

Harry looked at the babe and laid him down in his cot before walking down to the living room, where he sat, staring at the empty fireplace as he slowly ate his breakfast.

Once he finished his breakfast, he continued to stare at the empty fireplace, wondering what he was going to say to the Headmaster. While he wasn’t going to reject S… Severus, he wasn’t too pleased with the arrangements. What would have happened if he had stayed at the Dursleys? Dumbledore knew that they didn’t like anything to do with magic, and the fact that a baby just appeared out of no where was an obvious sign of magic.

He sighed, shaking his head. He knew that while Dumbledore had only really thought of meddling when he had sent S… Severus to him, Dumbledore had also thought of the babe’s safety from Voldemort. What Dumbledore obviously didn’t think about was the reaction that the Dursleys would have had to the sudden arrival to a baby that hadn’t been there the day before.

Suddenly there was a soft ‘pop’ signalling the return of Dobby.

“Master Harry Potter sir. Dobby is back with Headmaster Dumbledore sir.” Announced the excited house-elf.

“Thank you Dobby.” Harry said with a smile in the elf’s direction, causing him to beam. He stood and walked over to Dumbledore, smiling slightly at the shocked look on the old man’s face. “Welcome to my home, Headmaster. I’ll give you the tour, after we talk. Please, sit.” Harry invited, indicating to the couches and armchairs. He sat in an arm chair and watched as Dumbledore sat on the couch with a bemused expression. “Now, Headmaster, would you like some tea, or something sweet?” He asked.

Dumbledore shook his head, still shocked.

Harry sighed and looked at Dobby. “You may go Dobby, but please tell me if the baby upstairs wakes.”

The house-elf nodded once and disappeared.

“Now, Professor Dumbledore, I’m sure you’re shocked and confused, and I shall answer your questions after our talk.” Harry watched as Dumbledore nodded. “Alright, now that that’s out of the way, I have a question for you. What in Merlin’s name were you thinking?!” He asked, his voice raising at the end of the question.

Dumbledore blinked. “What do you mean, Mr. Potter.”

Harry sighed tiredly. “Please Headmaster, no games. Why on earth did you send Severus Snape to me? You know very well that he hates me. When he returns to his true age, he’s going to skin me alive, then attempt to skin you alive.”

Dumbledore’s eyes started twinkling. “Ah, but my dear boy, you are the only one I could trust Severus with.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. “I can understand you sending him to be safe from Voldemort. After all, the wards around the Dursleys would protect me, but what I don’t understand is why you sent him to me at the Dursleys! You know that they hate anything that they consider abnormal, and they would most certainly consider a baby that arrived out of nowhere abnormal. I wouldn’t have been able to protect him from them. They’d probably have thrown him into that same damn cupboard as they did me!” Harry blinked, realising what he had revealed.

Dumbledore’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean Harry?”

Harry sighed. “Most of my life has been spent in the cupboard underneath the stairs, it was my room. When my acceptance letters arrived the Dursleys figured that you knew where I was… living and decided to give me Dudley’s second bedroom.”

Dumbledore paled slightly.

Harry raised an eyebrow. “You mean to tell me that you didn’t know? My first acceptance letter was addressed to the ‘Cupboard under the stairs’. I’m fairly certain that something like that would stand out.”

Dumbledore took a deep breath. “We have spelled quills that write the address of all students.” He explained softly. “They are then delivered by owls.”

Harry nodded. “Well, that would explain things. Now, since you don’t seem like you’re going to reconsider your decision, and I, for one, cannot be bothered arguing with you, seeing as it gets me no where and gives you entirely too much satisfaction, how about I give you a tour of my home?”

Dumbledore nodded, still pale from Harry’s revelation.

At Dumbledore’s dazed nod, Harry began to lead Dumbledore around his home’s second floor, leaving the more interesting first floor and basement/dungeons areas for later.

Suddenly there was a loud cry and a sudden ‘crack’ of magic.

“Master Harry Potter sir, the young master is being awake.” Dobby said anxiously and unnecessarily .

Harry nodded once and walked swiftly towards his room, ignoring the now twinkling eyes of Dumbledore. Entering his room, he paused to find a red-faced screaming baby.

He winced, and looked lost for a moment, before a memory, faint and distant, like a fragment of an ancient dream, surfaced in his mind.

/He was crying, hot tears streaming down his face. Suddenly, there was a warm, loving presence picking him up and holding him close. Calming, he looked up and saw loving green eyes./

Harry blinked. ‘Was that what mum did when I cried?’ He thought to himself, before sighing tiredly and striding over to the cot and lifting the screaming Severus from the cot, murmuring soft words to him and gently rubbing his back. “Shh…” He muttered as the screaming babe quietened. “There’s nothing here to hurt you. Shh.”

Soon the screams turned to soft hiccups as Severus was lulled into silence.

Dumbledore smiled at his two boys. “I told you that you were the best for it.” He said smugly.

Harry didn’t even turn to face him when he answered. “No you didn’t. You said I was the only one you could trust Severus with, not that I was the best for it.” Harry pointed out.

Dumbledore flushed lightly but before he could say anything, Harry continued.

“Also, I forgot to mention this before. What is he going to wear?”

Dumbledore blinked. “Clothes of course.”

Harry sighed and rolled his eyes as he rocked Severus back and forth, hoping to keep the babe calm. ‘Gee…Clothes, why didn’t I think of that.’ Harry thought to himself sarcastically. ‘I’ve already promised to give him the childhood that we were both denied for however long I have him, so clothes would be a definite yes. But, in Dumbledore’s defence, he doesn’t know about my promise.’ He looked at Dumbledore, who was looking slightly confused. ‘Did he even think this through, aside from the ‘let’s be manipulative and hope Harry and Snape, err… Severus form a bond and that they therefore won’t kill each other’ part?’ Taking a deep breath, he explained to Dumbledore what the problem was. “Professor, have you thought of what a ruckus the press will make when it leaks out that Harry Potter is buying baby clothes? They’d all have a field day speculating who I got pregnant, how long we’ve been together and whether we were married or not.”

Dumbledore blushed again. “I hadn’t thought of that.” He admitted.

Harry sighed again. “You probably were too concerned for Sn… Severus and too focused on meddling to think this through. I’ll be able to transfigure him some clothes for now, but I’ll need some more, not to mention toys, books and the like. All costs can be charged to Vault 854, which is one of my personal vaults, and all items can be sent by owl, or Fawkes.” Harry placed the now calm Severus on his bed, before reaching into his trunk and pulling out an old shirt from the Dursleys. Quickly cutting it into several pieces with a severing charm, he then transfigured the pieces of material into a singlet, a t-shirt, a jumper, a nappy, a pair of pants and a pair of socks, all in various shades of green. The jumper even had a silver snake on it.

Harry then conjured a changing table and placed Severus on it. Picking up the nappy Harry looked at it in confusion. He knew that they were needed, and how they were meant to be worn, but how to put it on the babe before him escaped him.

Dumbledore chuckled lightly as he stepped forward, noticing Harry’s dismay. Taking the nappy out of Harry’s hands, he proceeded to show Harry how to put a nappy on a child, and how to remove one. When Harry sent him a curious look, Dumbledore merely shrugged and stated that he had many grandchildren.

Once Harry had finished dressing Severus, he picked up the now wide awake babe and then continued to show Dumbledore around his home.

~*~

“Harry, I ask again, how are the wards around your home so powerful? They’re even more powerful than the ones surrounding Hogwarts herself.” Dumbledore asked, as he looked around the library.

Harry winced. He had been dodging this topic all morning, and had been doing fairly well until they had past the Room of Magic, which he had named fondly. The Room of Magic was where all the wards, spells and basically, magic, were grounded. As they had past the Room of Magic, the magic inside, feeling its caster, its creator, in a sense, outside, had reached out towards him lovingly, letting him bask in its power, purity and overall warmth. Unfortunately for Harry, it was so powerful that Dumbledore had been nearly knocked off his feet in the magic’s haste to greet its creator. After that happened, there was no way, short of erasing Dumbledore’s memory of the event, to avoid the questions that spilled forth.

Harry sighed. “Over the course of last year, I flooed myself here and set wards around the property. I would order new books in about wards and study them before heading out and casting them.”

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes. “And how did you manage not to miss any of your classes?”

Harry blushed slightly. “After the… incident at the Department of Mysteries, I found a Time-Turner in my robes after I collided with some shelves. After class I would use the Time-Turner and go back as far as possible before going to the Room of Requirement and flooing out of Hogwarts to here, where I would cast the wards.” Harry said softly.

Dumbledore sighed, then smirked. “I was wondering how long it would take for your Slytherin side to wake up.”

Harry looked up and saw the smirk that was now only evident in the Headmaster’s eyes. He smirked in response. “It’s been awake for a while, Headmaster, you just haven’t noticed it.” Suddenly, his eyes lit up with realisation. “Who is going to teach Potions, and who’s going to be the Slytherin’s Head of House?”

Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “I am going to teach Potions, and the Slytherin’s Head of House is going to be our dear Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor.”

Harry groaned. “You’re placing Tonks as Head of House? Are you truly mad?” Harry questioned.

Dumbledore shrugged. “Mad people never really know, do they?”

Harry had to fight the urge to slam his head into a wall at Dumbledore’s response. Sighing resignedly, he led the grinning Headmaster out of the library and down to the dungeon area, where he would brew potions, and train, whether it be magical or physical training.

Coming back upstairs, Dumbledore requested to be shown the Room of Magic, and Harry, rather reluctantly, led the Headmaster back to the Room. Entering the Room behind the Headmaster, he smirked, noticing the look of awe on Dumbledore’s face as the magic washed over them.

Severus, who had been reasonably quiet on the tour, suddenly perked up and began babble in baby talk to both the magic and Harry.

Harry watched in slight amusement as the magic decided to show off for it’s young guest, crackling and popping with power and colour, causing Severus to giggle with delight.

Harry looked down at the child in his arms. “Sure, laugh now, but when you return to your original age and find out that the Headmaster has placed Tonks as Head of Slytherin house, you won’t be laughing as much.” Harry mumbled to Severus, watching as he smiled up at him, causing Harry’s eyes to widen with slight shock. “It’s like he doesn’t even remember that he hates me.” Harry said softly.

Dumbledore nodded. “I don’t believe he remembers who you are, or his… extreme dislike of you.”

Harry snorted. ‘It was just like Dumbledore to decorate the truth a little, make it seem more appealing.’ He thought to himself. “Well Headmaster, I’m sure you have many things to do back at Hogwarts, like purchasing Severus new clothes and the like. Send them with Fawkes, I’m sure he’ll know how to find me.”

Dumbledore nodded again. “Of course Harry. Now, I would still like to see you after the Sorting Feast to discuss where you shall be staying.”

Harry raised an eyebrow in slight alarm. “Where I’ll be staying?”

Dumbledore chuckled lightly. “I don’t think your room-mates would appreciate sharing their quarters with Severus Snape, no matter how old he is.”

Harry nodded. “Of course.” Leading Dumbledore back to the living room, he was about to call for Dobby when the old wizard placed a hand on his shoulder. “Yes?”

The old man looked at him with blue eyes filled with curiosity. “The other professors and I have been most curious to know why you gave up the Head Boy position. Would you care to tell me why?”

Harry sighed, he knew he was going to be asked this question. “While it would have been an honour to be Head Boy, I figured that this year I would have too much to concentrate on, what with the NEWTs and Voldemort. I know that I’m expected to defeat him this year some time.”

Dumbledore looked into Harry’s eyes and couldn’t help but wince, seeing the resignation in the boy’s… no, young man’s eyes. He shook his head distractedly. ‘Harry has never been a boy. The minute he re-entered our world, he had our hopes and dreams thrust upon his shoulders and not once has he complained about their weight.’ He thought to himself, feeling both pride and shame. Pride for how Harry had turned out and shame at himself for adding to Harry’s worries.

“And now that I have to take care of Severus, well, I certainly don’t have any time.” Harry concluded, then called for Dobby, who appeared but a moment later. “Dobby, can you please take Professor Dumbledore back to Hogwarts please?” Harry requested, watching as the house-elf nodded frantically.

“I’ll see you at the start of term Professor.” Harry said, watching as Dumbledore nodded his head in farewell, before disappearing with Dobby.

Harry stared a moment longer at the point where Dumbledore had been standing before looking down at his once again silent charge. There was something about his charge’s silence that disturbed him. Surely the babe couldn’t have already learnt the values of being quiet at such a tender age.

Then again, he had learnt at an early age the values of silence. The quieter he was, the less chance he had of being noticed, which increased his chances of going to his cupboard that without any bruises.

He shook his head, trying to dispel the negative memories. Shifting his gaze back to his charge, he smiled gently.

“Well, little one, let’s hope you’ll have a decent childhood this time around.” He murmured, smirking slightly as Snape gurgled up at him. ‘Where’s Colin when you need him? Perfect opportunity for blackmail material. I can just see adult Snape’s face when he sees pictures of him smiling and gurgling happily at Harry Potter.’ Harry thought with a grin, before a pungent odour filled his nostrils and made him look down at Snape with horror. “Please Merlin, no.” He muttered.

It seemed like Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived, had come across one of the few things parents, willing or not, feared.

The dreaded horror of a dirty nappy.