Once he had seen what had happened with the potion in class, he had spent the last few weeks of school watching the two boys from a distance. Harry looked just like James, but the more he watched the more he realized that Harry was more like his beloved Lily. Not only did he have Lily’s eyes, but he had Lily’s heart and charm. People just couldn’t help but be drawn to the boy. Draco had gotten Lily’s gift with potions and James’ (and somehow Lucius’) devil-may-care attitude.
James Potter had been born on a broom and both boys had inherited that gift from him. It would be interesting to see the two Seekers battle it out on the pitch this coming year, for Lucius had already bought Draco’s way on the team by purchasing top-of-the-line racing brooms for the Slytherin team. Unlike some of the other Houses, Severus allowed his captains to make all decisions concerning the Quidditch team. His previous captains had never allowed anyone below fifth year to be on the team (and never had a girl been allowed on the team), but he had seen the boy fly and knew that he could handle it. Flint must have wanted those brooms badly enough to allow Draco on the team.
He was pulled from his musings when Draco came into Harry’s room and made his way over to the large armchair in the corner where Severus was sitting. Draco sat on the arm of the chair and leaned against his godfather’s shoulder. Severus couldn’t help but smile, as he put his arm around the boy. This one was definitely not a morning person. “You’re up early.”
“That bloody rooster next door woke me up. You forgot to put the damn silencing charm on my room,” he replied around a yawn.
“Language, little one.” The boy slid off the arm of the chair and into his godfather’s lap, resting his head on the man’s chest as he had done when he was little. “Comfortable?” Draco nodded, closing his eyes. Severus chuckled. “Such a spoiled little dragon.” He made face at his godfather, but was content to just sit and rest in the man’s arms.
Severus looked over at Harry and wondered if he would be able to look past all he had said during the last school year and see the man behind the mask. It had been hard to be so cruel to the boy, but he knew it had to be done. Imagining the boy to be James had made it a little easier, but not much. If Harry really did have Lily’s heart, he knew the boy would forgive him.
When Harry began to stir, Severus stood and put Draco back in the chair, covering him with a light blanket before moving over to sit on the edge of Harry’s bed. He held the boy’s glasses out to him and allowed him to put them on himself.
Harry looked up at him, momentarily confused. He vaguely remembered Malfoy and the professor coming to the Dursley’s house and getting him, but everything was still unclear. “Sir? I thought maybe I was dreaming…”
Severus shook his head with a smile. “Who is that sleeping over there in the corner?”
“Is that Malfoy, sir?” he asked, looking up at the man.
“Yes, Harry, that is Draco,” Severus answered. “How are you feeling?”
Harry thought about it for a moment before answering. “A little sore, but not too bad. Did you get Madam Pomfrey to come heal me last night?”
He pulled out his wand and ran a quick diagnostic on the boy. “No. I’ve had some training in the healing arts myself, so I took care of you.”
“Oh…thank you, sir. Where am I?” he asked, looking around the room. It was a very simple room with a sloping ceiling. Two windows graced the outside wall with his twin bed under one and a desk under the other. The chair Malfoy was sleeping in was on one side of the door and a closet on the other.
“You are in my home, Harry,” Severus answered. He glanced over at Draco and sighed softly. “I need to ask your forgiveness, Harry. Your mother and I were friends a very long time ago and I promised her that I would look out for you and protect you. I haven’t done a very good job of that. Will you please forgive me?”
The boy looked up at his potions professor in shock. Was Snape really apologizing to him? “You knew my Mum?”
“Yes, I did. We knew each other before we went to Hogwarts.”
Harry continued to stare up at the man before him, cocking his head to the side in a gesture that reminded Severus so much of Lily. This man had known his mum! He had promised to protect him, and even though he had been rude and nasty to him the year before, he had also been trying to save him when Quirrell had tried to hex him off his broom during that Quidditch game. And now he had even rescued him from the Dursleys! “I forgive you, Professor.”
“Thank you, Harry. Now I need to tell you something very important, alright?” When the boy nodded he continued, snapping his fingers to summon the vials he had shown Draco the night before. “Do you remember the potion that I had you brew just before the end of term? The one that showed if there was any family relationship between two people.”
“Yes, sir. You had Draco and I test it in front of the class and it showed that we were distant cousins. Hermione told me that all wizarding families are distantly related.”
Severus took the three vials that floated into the room and showed two of them to Harry. “I want you to get a good look at these.”
Harry took the two vials that the Potions Master handed him and read the labels. One read ‘Padma and Parvati Patel’ and the other read ‘Fred and George Weasley’. He looked up at his professor. “So this color means that the two people tested are twins?”
“Yes, Harry. The vial that you saw in class was not the correct vial. I switched you while you and Draco were arguing and had the class distracted. This is the correct vial,” he said, handing the boy the third vial, this one containing his name and Draco’s.
Harry stared down at the vial and then looked at the other two. “This one is the same as the other two. But that’s impossible, sir. Malfoy and I aren’t…we can’t be. We can’t stand each other…and we don’t even look anything alike. He looks like his father and I look like mine. Sir?”
Severus reached out and ran his hand over Harry’s mop of dark hair, a gesture he often used to calm Draco. He was pleasantly surprised when Harry leaned into the touch. “It is true, Harry. I tested the potion that you and Draco brewed. It was perfect. Then I went and talked to Lucius and he confirmed my theory. Draco is the son of James and Lily Potter.” Harry took a deep, shuddering breath. “You and Draco will stay here for three weeks and we’ll figure things out. Then I’ll send you to the Weasleys and Draco back to Malfoy Manor for the last week before school.”
The boy slowly nodded. “What are we supposed to tell everyone?”
“That’s what we need to figure out. After breakfast the three of us will look at Lucius’ memories and decide what to do. For now, why don’t you get up and get ready for the day while I go start on breakfast, alright?”
“Yes, sir,” Harry said, getting out of the bed and moving toward his trunk.
Severus stood and went over to Draco, tossing the boy over his shoulder. “You were eavesdropping again, mister.”
“Honest, Uncle Sev! I wasn’t!” he protested.
He closed the door on Harry and carried his godson across the hall into his room, putting the boy on his feet. “So you weren’t listening in on our conversation while pretending to be asleep?”
Draco opened and closed his mouth a few times before finally speaking. “Well…maybe a little. Don’t wallop me, Uncle Sev! Please!”
“I’ll consider your request, Draco, but right now I want you to get dressed and come help me with breakfast.”
“Yes, sir,” he said, moving to get dressed.
--
After they had eaten breakfast and worked together to clean the kitchen, Severus led the two boys into his study. He removed a stone basin from the cabinet and set it on the desk. “This is a penseive,” he told the boys. “You can store memories in here so that you can look at them into more detail later. It also allows other people to view your memories. These are Lucius’ memories of the day the two of you were born. Shall we?” he asked, holding out both hands. Draco put his hand into his godfather’s and after a brief hesitation Harry did as well. He led them over to the penseive and before either boy realized what was happening, all three of them were inside the memory.
The two boys, unused to stepping in and out of penseives, fell to the floor and Severus helped them up as a young Lucius Malfoy entered the nursery, moving over to a small, sickly looking baby. He lifted the baby into his arms carefully. They watched as the man’s face fell and he brought out his wand for what Draco recognized as a silent diagnostic spell that Severus had often used. He stared at the baby for several minutes before his head turned toward the twins sleeping peacefully in the next crib.
Severus stepped closer to the crib, wanting to catch a glimpse of what Draco really looked like. He smiled when he noticed that his hair was the same shade as his darling Lily. He looked up when Lucius stepped over to the crib and placed the baby in his arms in the crib beside the other two. Then the man picked up the tiny “Draco”. With a few quick waves of his wand the baby he had just lifted into his arms and the baby he had set down changed appearances. Severus wasn’t sure what charm Lucius had used, but he would find out. Hopefully it was one that he could reverse. Lucius had always excelled in Charms.
Together the three watched as Lucius placed the baby in his arms into the other crib and covered him with the blanket that a few moments before was covering his true son. “Sleep well, little dragon,” the man whispered before leaving them alone in the room. Severus took Harry and Draco by the arm and pulled them from the memory.
Both boys ended up on the floor again, Draco looking even paler than normal. “Are you alright, dragon?” he asked his godson, kneeling beside the boy. When Draco shook his head, Severus lifted the boy into his arms and carried him to the couch, sitting down with his godson on his lap. He motioned for Harry to join him.
Harry stared at them for a moment before moving to sit beside the man. This Snape was different from the Snape he had met at school. This man had laughed and smiled and even apologized! And he knew his mum! He had even saved his life and taken him away from his aunt and uncle. This Snape was a good man.
Severus held Draco for a moment before speaking. “You have both asked me what we were going to do about school. The headmaster thinks it wise that no one knows the truth. I think it best we wait to decide what to do. How about we agree to discuss this matter again before we go our separate ways in three weeks?” The two boys exchanged a quick glance before they both nodded.
“Now, Harry,” he said, looking down at the boy. “Most people think I am a pureblood wizard. I am in fact a half-blood. My mother was a witch and my father a muggle. I grew up in this house and we are in a muggle neighborhood, so while we are here we do things as muggle as possible. Since you grew up with muggles, I know that won’t be too hard for you.
“As the two of you are not allowed to use magic outside of Hogwarts, I’d like you to bring me your wand as soon as we finish. I think it will be easier for the two of you to resist the temptation to use magic if you don’t have your wands. Draco has already given me his.”
“Under protest,” the blond muttered, crossing his arms, and Harry couldn’t help but crack a smile. It seemed the boy wasn’t as spoiled as everyone thought.
Severus patted Draco’s back before giving both boys a serious look. “I know the two of you didn’t get along very well this past year, but I will not have my house turned into a war zone. So you two better learn to get along or I know two boys that will be very sorry.”
Draco looked over at Harry. “That means he’ll wallop us.”
When Harry’s eyes grew wide, Severus sighed and shook his head. “Harry, look at me please.” When the boy looked up at him, he continued. “I will never hurt you the way your uncle did. No one should ever be treated that way. For minor misbehavior, I usually assign extra chores or you will lose some privileges or I will wash your mouth out. However, there are a few things that will earn you a spanking. My spankings will never leave you in need of healing.”
“Don’t let him fool you,” Draco said with a smirk. “He used to play Beater on a professional Quidditch team.”
“Might I remind you, Draco, that you are already on thin ice,” Severus told him in the cold tone that he used in the classroom. “I suggest you tell Harry the truth.”
Draco sighed, but did as he was told. “He never played Quidditch. And spankings don’t really hurt that much…or at least not for long. He uses them to make an impression,” he said, doing a fairly good imitation of his godfather, who just gave him a look. “But then he’ll hold you after it’s over for as long as you want and tell you that you’re forgiven and stuff.”
“That’s right,” Severus told him, a little proud of the boy for helping him explain things to Harry. “Do you want to tell him what earns a spanking?”
“I guess. When he tells you to do something, you have to do it right away. If he starts counting, you know you’re in trouble and you better do what he said before he gets to three, ‘cause that’s when you get a spanking, but just a little one. If you do something he’s forbidden you to do, like…going into his lab without permission, then you get a real walloping.” When he got another look from his godfather, he added, “Well…only like ten smacks, sometimes a few more if he’s spanked you for that before.”
“Do you understand, Harry?” Severus asked, knowing this might be hard for the boy.
Harry had to admit that he liked the idea of having clear rules and consequences laid out for him. Sometimes at the Dursleys their rules for him changed day to day and the consequences were really bad, as he’d just experienced the day before. He looked over at his newfound brother and wondered what it would be like to be held the way the Potions professor was holding the other boy. It was clear the two cared for each other very much and for a very brief moment, Harry envied his twin. “Yes, sir, I understand.”
“Hopefully I won’t have to punish you like that at all.” He was silent for a moment before continuing. “Draco is my godson and since you don’t have a godfather of your own, you can consider me your godfather if you wish.” Idiot Black had to go and kill Pettigrew and all those muggles and end up in Azkaban, he thought. Surely he knew that this boy would need him.
“I think I’d like that, sir,” Harry said, hesitating a moment before moving closer and leaning against the man’s side. Something about this man made him feel safe and warm, even though he was a completely different man at Hogwarts. In the last few hours he had come to see that the man did wear a mask at school.
Severus was surprised by the action, but pleased and put his arm around the boy, pulling him closer. “While we are here you may call me Uncle Sev, just as Draco does. And when we get back to Hogwarts I will give you the password for my quarters so that you may come any time you need me. No more of this foolishly rushing off into danger like last year."
“Yeah,” Draco piped up. “Don’t do something like that again. It really hurt.”
“Yes, sir,” Harry whispered before his eyes widened in surprise at Draco’s comment. “How? What? Huh?”
“Perhaps I can explain,” Severus told Harry. “While you were fighting with Quirrell, Draco was brought to me with a severe headache. He’s never had one before. About the same time that you passed out in that chamber, Draco passed out in my quarters.”
“So he felt the pain that I was in?” Harry asked. Both Draco and Severus nodded. “Wow…Sorry, Malfoy.”
“Do it again, Potter, and I’ll hurt you,” Draco told the other boy.
“That’s enough, boys,” Severus said, giving both of them a stern look. “I will not have my home turned into a war zone, so I suggest that you two learn to get along. And while we are here, I want you to address each other by your first names. You are brothers, after all.” After they both nodded, he continued. “Harry, why don’t you go upstairs and unpack, then please bring me your wand.”
“Yes, sir,” the dark headed boy replied, before scampering through the open French doors, across the sitting room and up the stairs.
Severus looked down at his godson. “Now…I think you and I have some things to discuss.”
--
That night Severus sent the two boys upstairs at quarter to eight to straighten their rooms and get ready for bed. Normally he wouldn't send them to bed quite so early, but it had been a long couple of days for all of them. At eight-thirty he went upstairs, stopping first in Harry’s room. The boy was stretched out on his stomach on his bed looking through a photo album. “All settled?” he asked the boy, sitting beside him. Harry nodded. “What do you have there?”
“Pictures of my Mum and Dad. Hagrid gave it to me before I left.”
“May I?” he asked. Harry nodded and sat up, placing the album in the man’s hand. Severus flipped through the book, looking for the photo that he had given Hagrid. He turned the book and showed the picture to Harry. “I took this picture of Lily during our seventh year. She didn’t know I took it.”
Harry peered down at the photograph. Lily walked from one side of the photograph to the other, turning sharply and messing with her robes. “What’s she doing, sir?”
Severus chuckled before answering. “I have been called ‘The Bat of the Dungeons’ since long before I started teaching at Hogwarts. It started when I was a student.”
“’Cause of that thing you do with your robes, sir?”
“So you’ve seen that, huh?” Severus asked. Harry nodded and leaned against the man’s side without really noticing that he was doing so. Severus wrapped his arm around the boy, drawing him closer as they gazed at the photograph. “She was trying to teach herself how to do that. She didn’t even know that I took the picture.”
“Did you give it to Hagrid?”
“I made a copy and gave it to him," he answered.
Harry smiled up at him. “Thank you, sir!”
He smiled in return. “You’re welcome, Harry.” He ruffled the boy’s hair. “Bedtime, kiddo.”
“Yes, sir,” the boy chirped before putting the album on the table beside the bed and climbing under the blanket. Severus stood and tucked the boy in. “No one has ever done that before…”
“Then I shall have to make sure that I do it every night while you are here,” he said, reaching out and running his hand over the boy’s hair as he had done that morning. Once again Harry leaned into the gentle touch. “Good night, Harry.”
“Good night, sir,” the boy replied, snuggling down under the blanket.