As soon as everything had settled again, the high pitched cries of a wailing baby met Harry's ears, reverberating off the walls of this unfamiliar room he was now in.

"It's all right, Harry. Mummy's here," he heard his mother say as she reached down into a wooden cot and gathered up the crying baby into her arms. She cooed to him, attempting to soothe his cries as she slowly began walking the length of the room.

Harry looked around, realizing with a burst of warmth that this must have been his nursery. It was furnished with an assortment of baby items throughout the room.

In the far corner was the wooden cot, decorated with green blankets and a few plush animals placed within. An owl themed mobile was hanging over it, the animated owls flapping their wings and swooping down to different levels as they slowly flew in a lazy circle. Near the window, there was a rocking chair with a colorful quilt draped over the back and a small bookshelf beside it, lined with several books. When Harry glanced up, he noticed how the ceiling was similarly charmed like the one in the Great Hall at Hogwarts to reflect the sky outside, currently displaying a night sky full of glittering stars.

"Is someone being difficult?"

Harry spun around at the sudden sound of his father's voice behind him. Severus was standing in the doorway, his brows furrowed, a hint of alarm and concern showing through on his features. Apparently, his father had just arrived home; he was still dressed in his black robes and had not taken off his cloak yet. Harry figured he must have heard the baby's cries and came here straight away.

Lily sighed, and shook her head, continuing to gently bounce the baby in her arms. "He's been fussy on and off all day, more so than usual."

Severus frowned, stepping fully into the room and coming to stand beside her. He looked intently down at baby Harry, then at Lily.

"Is he all right?" he asked. "Is he ill? Should we call—"

"He's fine, Sev. I've already done a diagnosis charm on him," Lily said, attempting to reassure him. When Severus still appeared unconvinced, she continued, "And the book said it's normal for babies to be fussy sometimes, he just needs help falling asleep."

It seemed to take a while for his father to finally accept her words. When he did, the sharp lines on his face softened as he studied the still crying baby for a few more moments, before turning and heading toward the rocking chair. He shrugged out of his cloak and draped it over the back of the rocker, then returned to Lily's side.

"I'll take him now, Lily," Severus said, reaching for the lightly struggling baby.

With a small grateful smile, she carefully handed little Harry over.

Once Severus had secured him in his arms, he gave Lily a concerned look. "You're exhausted. Why don't you get some rest."

"I'm fine," Lily insisted, even as she lifted one hand to her mouth in an attempt to stifle a yawn.

Severus raised an eyebrow at that, but didn't comment as he watched Lily make her way over to the rocking chair. She sank wearily into it with a sigh, her eyes falling shut as she leaned her head back.

Harry looked back at his father as Severus shifted the baby to rest against his shoulder, then slowly began walking around the room in the same manner that Lily had, swaying gently back and forth as he rubbed a hand up and down little Harry's back. Severus was even humming softly, though Harry wasn't sure if he was consciously aware of doing it. After several moments, the cries eventually diminished into occasional whimpers until the baby yawned and fell asleep, his head tucked against the crook of his father's neck.

It was still a bit strange, thought Harry, seeing his father in this setting, like seeing an animal out of its natural habitat. If someone would have described this scene to him a month before— one of Snape actually holding Harry and helping him fall asleep, even humming softly to him— Harry would've scoffed and written it off as entirely unbelievable. Now, however, he never wanted to forget it…

"You already have a way with him, Sev," Lily said softly, and Harry could practically hear the smile in her voice before he saw it. She was now watching them as well, her eyes twinkling like the stars overhead.

There was no response from Severus to her comment, though Harry did notice the corners of his father's lips turning upwards when he glanced at her. After taking a few more steps around the room, Severus pressed a quick kiss to the top of little Harry's head, then with careful movements, lowered him into the cot.

Harry moved closer, peering down into the cot as his father rearranged the blanket over the baby and tucked a small stuffed doe— one that reminded Harry of a miniature version of his father's Patronus— beside him as little fingers curled around the doe's plush neck.

Then Severus straightened, and for a few moments, he stayed beside the cot, simply observing the peaceful rise and fall of little Harry's chest in sleep.

Just as his father was about to step away, everything shifted again, dissolving away in a whirl of color.

And before Harry knew it, the scene had reformed around him.

He found himself back in the sitting room, and judging by the festive decorations, it must be around Christmas time.

A moderately sized Christmas tree stood beside the fireplace, in the process of being decorated. His father was holding little Harry, gently bouncing the baby as he flicked his wand, levitating some shiny baubles and golden ornaments of all shapes and sizes from a box by his feet onto the tree. As each ornament floated by, little Harry watched them curiously, his fist stuffed into his mouth as he gazed at his reflection looking back at him. He reached a small, chubby hand towards them, wanting to pluck one out of the air.

When one was within little Harry's grasp, he seized it with both hands and stared at it for a moment before trying to shove it into his mouth.

"I don't believe ornaments are edible," Severus said dryly, sounding faintly amused as he raised an eyebrow down at him. Little Harry gurgled, cracking a smile up at his father, and, apparently unable to help himself, the corners of Severus' lips quirked upwards into a smile of his own in return.

Then a flash of light from behind Harry made him turn; his mother, who had been standing behind him, had snapped a photo of the moment.

"That one is certainly going in the album," said Lily, grinning as she aimed the camera for another shot.

Intrigued by his reflection in the lens, little Harry dropped the ornament he'd been trying to chew on and reached towards her camera instead, just as the flash went off again.

Severus rolled his eyes, a slight hint of exasperation in his tone as he said, "Honestly, with how much you point that contraption in his face, he's going to begin thinking it's his mother."

"This is going to be Harry's first Christmas; I want to immortalize the occasion," Lily replied, ignoring his comment, and pressed a quick kiss to little Harry's cheek. She snapped one more photo of little Harry as he smiled at her, then set the camera down and glanced up at the tree.

"And when he gets older, we could take him to pick our own Christmas tree," she said, a soft smile playing on her lips, her eyes glimmering. "It was a family tradition of mine I want to continue someday..."

As Harry listened eagerly to his mother recounting one of her family Christmas traditions, he yearned for the chance to spend more than one Christmas with his parents. He'd give anything to experience a proper Christmas with them, one that he could at least remember…

He couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like if he'd had the opportunity to grow up here with them… How different his life would be…

"The finishing touch," Severus said, as he pulled a rather antique looking angel figurine out of the box and handed it to Lily.

She accepted it with a smile and waved her wand, levitating it to the top of the tree and securing it with a sticking charm.

After Severus spelled the lights on, they settled down together on the sofa, gazing contently up at the tree as they sipped on cups of hot chocolate that Lily brought out. Little Harry sat happily on his father's lap, leaning against Severus' chest as he blinked up at the tree, mesmerized by all the colorful, glowing lights.

As Harry continued to watch them, the longing that had lodged itself in his chest seemed to grow. He still found it difficult to believe that the happy baby had actually been him all those years ago; it was almost as if he was watching someone else's life playing out in front of him, instead of his own.

Then all too soon, the room shifted, swirling away once again. The following memories were short and brief; snippets of his childhood continued to play out in front of him, giving Harry more glimpses into a life he'd been too young to remember.

His father sitting in the rocking chair, gently bouncing little Harry on his knees as the baby giggled happily… His mother rocking him to sleep, softly humming a lullaby… His father shooting colorful sparks out of his wand and sending them flying around little Harry as the baby's eyes lit up, laughing with delight as he waved his arms around, trying to catch them… His younger self in a high chair, his father's motions imitating a train as he attempted to direct the spoon into the giggling baby's mouth…

And Harry was also a bit surprised to see James in a few of the scenes, snapping pictures with Lily's camera.

"That's enough, Potter," Severus snarled as another blinding flash went off. He was in the middle of trying to land another spoonful of baby food into little Harry's squirming mouth.

"Just a couple more…" James said, continuing to click the camera as he shifted to and fro, capturing a few more shots of them. "I've finally gotten the hang of this thing!" He grinned, looking down at the camera as if he'd just discovered a new toy.

Severus scowled as he set the spoon down, and shot a glare at James, one so potent that Harry thought his father was about to snatch the camera out of James' hand and smash it to pieces.

But then everything became blurred, and in the next moment, they were gone, the scene shifting again…

"He can't even talk properly yet Sev, much less read and understand complex potion ingredients," Lily said in another memory as Severus settled in the rocking chair with little Harry on his lap.

"It's not too early to start learning," Severus shrugged, flipping the page. When little Harry pointed at a drawing of a colorful plant, babbling indecipherably, his father smirked, "At this rate, he will be a potions prodigy by the time he takes his first steps."

Lily chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. "Well with you as his dad, he just might well be."

Harry watched for a few more moments as his father murmured softly, flicking through the pages with little Harry, before the room dissolved, and reformed back into the sitting room.

"Can you say Mama now, Harry," his mother encouraged, mouthing the word slowly. "Mama."

Little Harry blinked, staring at her for a second before he smiled and let out a string of baby talk, all of which was indecipherable to Harry except for something that clearly sounded like Dada.

Lily gave a soft laugh as she pulled little Harry onto her lap. "Well done again, Harry. You've really mastered that word, haven't you?" She looked fondly down at him, smoothing a hand over his hair. "I'm sure Daddy will be back soon."

Not long after Lily finished that sentence, the front door swung open and Harry turned to see Severus enter. His father looked tense, his face set in a stony expression, a silver mask clutched in his hand. He must have just returned from a Death Eater meeting, Harry concluded, recognizing the style of the mask. Severus shed his outer robe, and then with a sharp flick of his wand, he banished it away along with the mask.

"Dada!" little Harry cried when he'd caught sight of him, crawling out of his mother's lap and towards his father.

"Harry." Severus' features softened slightly as his eyes landed on little Harry crawling his way over to him.

"Someone seems excited to see me," his father said, bending down and scooping little Harry up into his arms as soon as he reached him.

"He's always excited to see you," said Lily, smiling warmly as she rose to her feet and greeted Severus with a kiss. "How was the meeting?"

"Excruciatingly long," Severus replied, sighing as he settled into the armchair beside the fireplace with little Harry on his lap.

Lily poured him a cup of tea from the tea tray, then prodded it with the tip of her wand to reheat it.

"Well, Harry's been missing you all day," she said, handing him the tea. "Wouldn't say anything but 'dada' all afternoon, no matter what I did."

"Is that so?" Severus said, a faint smirk on his face as he raised an eyebrow down at little Harry, who had been happily playing with the buttons on his father's robes.

"Dada," little Harry smiled as he rolled his head back to look up at him, reaching up and grabbing Severus' chin from underneath. Harry watched as his father's face seemed to relax then, the rest of the tension fading away as Severus leaned down and placed a kiss onto little Harry's forehead.

And everything dissolved again, swirling and reforming back into the kitchen not a moment later.

"Look at Mummy, Harry!" his mother called, waving her hand as she attempted to get little Harry's attention. A camera hovered beside her, aimed at the toddler in the high chair who was happily tearing into a small cake.

This must have been his first birthday, Harry realized, the only one I got to celebrate with my parents…

There were clumps of cake and colorful icing all over his younger self; on his face, his hair, and his clothes. Harry suspected more ended up on him than actually in his mouth.

The camera flashed then, right as little Harry glanced up, shoving a chubby cake covered fist into his mouth.

"He's growing up so fast. Seems like only yesterday that he was born," Lily said, a soft smile playing on her lips. She looked towards Severus who was sitting on the other side of little Harry, "Before we know it, he's going to be all grown up."

"Nonsense," said Severus, placing a quick kiss to the top of little Harry's head. "He's not allowed, and he knows it."

Little Harry smiled up at his father, babbling as he held up a fistful of cake and offered it to him, which, to Harry's amusement, he ended up smearing onto Severus' shoulder.

Lily laughed as Severus scowled half-heartedly at the toddler, who was now giggling at his father.

"I believe someone needs a lesson on where exactly food is supposed to go," Severus muttered as he cleaned his robes with a quick Scourgify.

"Sorry I'm late," said a voice suddenly behind Harry, and he turned just as James enter the kitchen, carrying a long package wrapped in light blue paper with snitches zooming across it.

"Just a little something I think he'll enjoy," James smiled, setting the package on the table. He pushed it towards little Harry, who had become fascinated by the snitches. "Happy birthday, Harry."

Harry caught Severus' suspicious look at the present, his eyes narrowing.

"Thank you, James. That's very kind of you," Lily said, and began unwrapping the paper as little Harry traced the snitches with icing covered fingers.

Harry moved closer, peering into the box as his mother opened it.

It was the smallest broom Harry had ever seen, no more than three feet in length. He supposed it was like the wizard equivalent of those training bikes that Dudley had when he was first learning how to ride a bike.

"Look Harry, it's a broom," Lily smiled, taking the toy broomstick out of the box.

"Very sensible, Potter," Severus sneered, when he'd caught sight of what it was. "Gifting a just turned one year old a broom."

"Any kid would love to have this," James said, waving him off, still grinning, "and it's perfectly safe. There are safety charms imbued into it."

Severus pursed his lips, looking doubtful as he eyed the toy broom warily. It was as if he expected the broom to spontaneously start whizzing around the kitchen at any moment.

After cleaning the bits of cake from little Harry's hands and face with a wave of her wand, Lily lifted him from his high chair and settled him on the toy broom, holding him steady.

Curiously, little Harry poked the broom handle, trying to comprehend what he was sitting on. He looked up questioningly at his mother, and after receiving an encouraging smile from her, little Harry wrapped both hands around the handle. It began to slowly rise up. Granted, the broom only hovered about two feet off the floor, yet Harry still noticed his father tensing, his wand clutched in his hand just in case.

"Hang on tight, Harry," James said excitedly as little Harry began moving forward.

At first, he flew slowly around the kitchen, then, once he'd gotten used to the feeling, little Harry started picking up speed. Soon, he was zooming around the kitchen, under the table, and around their knees, laughing with joy.

Eventually, Severus managed to relax somewhat, though he never put away his wand, and his eyes constantly followed little Harry's flight around the kitchen.

"I think he really likes it," Lily smiled, as little Harry flew around her again.

James smirked, "You never know, the kid could end up becoming a Quidditch player one day."

Harry couldn't help but laugh as Severus grimaced at that, looking horrified at the prospect.

"Merlin help me if that becomes the case…" he muttered, running a hand down his face.

Again, the memory shifted, swirling away into the beginnings of another.

Now his younger self was crouched on the floor, stacking colorful blocks while his father lay sprawled beside him, handing him pieces as he concentrated on his tower.

"Today's the day," Lily said, a hint of excitement in her voice as she fiddled with the camera.

"What for?" said Severus, lifting an eyebrow up at her.

"He's going to walk today, I can feel it," said Lily. "For the past week and a half, he's been so close."

She grabbed her wand from the side table and waved it, summoning the stuffed doe that Harry had seen earlier in his younger self's cot. Then she lowered herself to the floor, focusing the camera on little Harry.

Severus gave her a mildly exasperated look as he handed another block to little Harry. "Perhaps if you stopped shoving that ridiculous device in his face all the time—"

"In case you aren't informed, Severus," Lily said sweetly. "Our son's first steps only happen once in his lifetime, and I don't plan on missing it."

Severus rolled his eyes. "You've become obsessed."

"Look at him, look at his eyes."

"He's staring at those sweets you left out. He's tried to steal them twice already."

"I see determination," Lily continued, ignoring him. "He's going to do it any moment now."

Just then, the tower little Harry had been building tumbled down, scattering the blocks in front of him. He blinked, staring at the spot where his tower had been just a moment before in confusion, seeming unable to comprehend what had just happened. Then all of a sudden his face scrunched up, tears welling up in his eyes, and Harry fully expected his younger self to start wailing any second now. That was until Severus leaned his head close to little Harry's and whispered something into the toddler's ear. It was like a switch had been flipped off then; little Harry's face calmed after a few moments as he babbled back to his father, shoving a chubby fist into his mouth.

"Look at your mother," Severus said softly, pointing in her direction. "This will go on for days if you don't do this soon, and Daddy will have to find his own means of escaping Mummy's descent into madness."

Lily picked up a block and threw it playfully at him.

"Very funny," she said, rolling her eyes at him. "Now, help your son up and get him to walk to me."

"Yes, dear." Severus smirked, lifting little Harry to his feet and holding him steady as he bobbed up and down happily.

Lily gave an amused shake of her head as she spelled the camera to hover beside her, then sat up on her knees and held up the plush doe.

"Come to Mummy, Harry!" She spoke animatedly, smiling and waving the toy in front of her. "Look at doe doe, she wants you to come to Mummy! You can do it, love, come to Mummy!"

Harry watched his younger self with amusement as the toddler clapped his hands and laughed, but made no attempts to walk towards his mother. After a moment, Severus rose to stand behind him, his long legs towering over him as little Harry gripped his father's fingers with both hands. When Severus gave a small tug, little Harry took a shaky step forward.

"Yes, that's it Harry!" said Lily, excitedly. "Come to Mummy!"

But then little Harry plopped back down onto the floor again, shoving a block in his mouth. Harry saw the amused smirk Severus sent Lily as she threw her hands up in exasperation.

"Give him time, Lily," his father said, resuming his position on the floor next to little Harry. "He'll walk when he's ready."

Lily sighed, spelling the camera off. "He should already be walking by now."

"I'm sure he'll get there eventually," Severus said as little Harry presented him with a block, which he took gently, and placed it carefully on top of the new tower little Harry had begun building. "However, it doesn't appear as if he will today."

"What if he never does?" Lily said, leaning back against the front of the sofa.

Severus frowned, looking thoughtful for a moment. "Then I suppose I'll allow him to fly that blasted broom more often."

Lily snorted as Severus got to his feet.

"I'm going to make some tea," his father said, then gave her a look. "Something to help take the edge off before you go at it again."

Just as Severus disappeared into the kitchen, little Harry looked up from his blocks.

"Dada!" he called, staring at the doorway.

Little Harry frowned in confusion when his father didn't reappear after shouting for him a second time. His bottom lip trembled slightly as he looked towards his mother, his eyes doubling in size.

"Daddy will be back in a moment, love," Lily said, giving a tired smile as Harry crawled over to her.

She carded a hand through his hair as he settled himself on her lap.

"I bet you can walk," his mother said, as little Harry pushed himself up to stand on her legs, leaning his weight against her. "You're just holding out on us."

Little Harry tugged lightly on her red hair, his brows furrowing.

"Dada," he mumbled, along with a string of baby talk Harry couldn't understand.

Lily smiled, humming thoughtfully. "Well if you're missing Dada so much, why don't you walk over to him."

Little Harry blinked at her, and after a few seconds, he crawled out of her lap and seemed to head back towards the blocks. But then Harry watched in surprise as his younger self slowly got to his feet and began toddling his way toward the kitchen, slightly wobbly, but unassisted. Harry thought he was going rather quick for a toddler who had just taken his first steps.

There was a gasp from his mother, then, "Sev— Severus!" she shrieked, scrambling to her knees.

His father practically flew to the doorway, appearing alarmed, wand in his hand. Lily pointed at little Harry walking towards him, and when Severus' gaze landed on the toddler, his jaw dropped.

"Is he—"

"He's actually walking!" Lily seemed mesmerized, unable to tear her eyes away from little Harry.

Then, suddenly remembering the camera, she frantically reached over and grabbed it.

"Keep going, Harry!" Lily said, then gestured at Severus. "Move back further into the kitchen Sev, let him follow you!"

But his father had already kneeled down on one knee, ready to scoop little Harry into his arms when he walked into them a moment later.

"Well done, Harry," Severus said, his eyes lighting up, an unmistakable look of pride on his face when he lifted little Harry up and bounced him up and down in celebration, making the toddler squeal with delight.

"Did you get that?" he asked Lily, his eyes never leaving little Harry, who had begun lightly playing with his father's hair.

"Just barely," Lily replied, setting the camera down. "I nearly missed it."

"Did you see how fast he was moving?"

"I couldn't believe it!" She kissed little Harry's cheek and beamed, "He didn't even need help! He just stood up and started walking to you all by himself!"

"He's brilliant," Severus smiled, pressing a quick kiss to the side of little Harry's head. "I would expect nothing less."

Then the room dissolved, swirled away again, and since Harry had been so enraptured by the happy memories, the next memory caught him off guard.

Lily sat in the armchair, staring silently into the fireplace as if waiting for something to appear in it. And not a moment later, the Floo roared to life and his father stumbled out of the fire. Harry felt his blood go cold in his veins. Without warning, Severus collapsed heavily onto the floor.

Lily gasped, flicking her wand at the fireplace Severus had just appeared from before rushing to his side, kneeling beside his fallen form.

He looked awful; Harry assumed he must have just returned from a meeting with Voldemort.

Severus' robes were torn, patches of blood soaking through them as his entire body trembled uncontrollably. On his forehead, there was a deep gash that was bleeding, and he appeared deathly pale, as if he'd lost too much blood already.

"Severus?" she called, her hand scrambling to his neck, searching for a pulse as she continued to call his name.

There was no response.

"James!" Lily shouted over her shoulder, a note of panic in her voice.

"What's with all the—" James froze in the doorway when he caught sight of Severus on the floor. "Bloody hell! What happened to him?"

"I don't know, help me move him onto the sofa," Lily said, attempting to remain calm. "We need to call Madam Pomfrey."

The scene shifted again, and quickly reformed a second later...

His parents were now sitting opposite each other at the kitchen table.

"You don't have to do this."

"Lily..."

"There must be another way."

"The Dark Lord nearly discovered everything," Severus said, running a hand tiredly down his face. "And he's not finished with my interrogation."

Harry noted with some relief how his father looked better than he did in the last memory, seeming relatively healed as the gash on his forehead was now just a slight bruise, though he still appeared worn and pale.

"Then don't go, don't answer his summons," Lily said, her eyes pleading. "I'm sure Dumbledore can find someone else to spy."

"There is no one else with the proper skills to deceive the Dark Lord," Severus said, releasing a heavy sigh before continuing, "The outcome of this war is dependent upon my position in his ranks."

He reached across the table and clasped her hands in his, speaking softly, "We have discussed this before; if at any point this all becomes too dangerous to continue, I will step away, remove my memories until the war ends."

Lily shook her head, still determined, "You don't have to, we can find another way… maybe leave the country or—"

"Nowhere would be safe. He will stop at nothing to get to Harry," Severus said grimly. "Not until he's defeated."

Lily simply stared at him for a long moment, her eyes glimmering as the truth in Severus' words seemed to sink in.

She swallowed, lowering her eyes and drew in a trembling breath. "What if it never ends?"

"Not soon enough, but it will, eventually," Severus said quietly, gently squeezing her hands.

"When? A year? Five? Fifty?" Lily burst out in exasperation, her voice wavering as she continued, "By then, Harry would have grown up and left the house, having never known his father."

Severus swallowed hard, glancing away, his resolve seeming to falter for a moment as his eyes landed on little Harry in the sitting room, playing quietly, completely oblivious to his parent's conversation.

"If it keeps him safe…" He took in a deep, steadying breath, then returned his gaze to her. "I will do anything to keep you and Harry safe."

Lily closed her eyes, a tear escaping as she did, before she lowered her head, pressing a hand to her face.

A multitude of emotions flashed across Severus' face, too quickly for Harry to decipher, as his father watched her for a long moment. Harry could tell Severus was struggling with this, just as Lily was, but he wasn't breaking down yet. He was trying to remain strong, to stay resolute in his decision.

"When will you do it?" Lily asked softly.

Severus cleared his throat, hesitating before answering, "Tonight."

Lily looked back up at him sharply. "Tonight?"

"Before the Dark Lord decides to summon me again," Severus confirmed, sighing sadly. "Dumbledore has arranged for you and Harry to move into a safe house with Potter."

Lily frowned. "A bit of a short notice, don't you think?"

"I wish it wasn't," Severus replied softly.

A heavy silence fell over them then, the only sounds coming from the consistent ticking of a clock on the wall.

Harry desperately wanted to warn them, to reach out and convince his father not to leave, because he knew what happened next...

Severus glanced at the clock, then rose to his feet. "I'll put Harry to bed."

He received no response from Lily as he left the room, pausing in the doorway for just a moment to observe little Harry playing with an animated toy dragon that was flying around him.

"Harry."

Little Harry instantly looked towards him, his eyes lighting up when he saw his father. A smile spread across his face as he got to his feet, and made his way to Severus, more steady than Harry had last seen him.

"Dada!" he said when he reached his father, raising his arms up.

Severus managed a small smile as he picked little Harry up, holding him close.

"Let's get you to bed," his father said, and little Harry babbled back, resting his head against Severus' shoulder.

Harry followed his father to the nursery, where he settled in the rocking chair with little Harry on his lap.

"How about a bedtime story?" Severus said, plucking a book from the shelf.

"Book!" little Harry said, smiling up at him.

Severus kissed the top of little Harry's head, then opened the book in front of them and began to read. Harry didn't know how much time had passed as he watched them; his father kept reading until little Harry couldn't keep his eyes open any longer and drifted off to sleep in his arms, curled up against his chest.

It seemed to hit him, then.

An overwhelming sense of grief seemed to wash over his father, as if the weight of all he was leaving behind had finally settled in.

Severus drew in a tremulous breath and held little Harry close as the toddler continued to sleep peacefully, entirely unaware of his father's anguish. He rested his cheek against the top of little Harry's head, and closed his eyes as a few tears slipped down his face and into little Harry's hair.

Harry's chest tightened and he had to swallow past the lump in the throat. He'd never seen his father like this, and almost felt as if he should look away, not wanting to intrude on such a private moment.

Severus didn't look quite so strong now. He looked almost broken, as if his entire world was collapsing in front of him, but then again, it was. Harry couldn't even begin to imagine having to make such a decision— to leave your family and remove all the happy memories spent with them…

After several minutes, Severus quickly wiped the tears away with the back of his hand, then, rose from the rocking chair. He didn't go directly to the cot, instead, he took a few steps around the room with little Harry cradled against his chest, seemingly wanting to prolong the inevitable for a few more minutes. Little Harry subconsciously snuggled closer against him, his head tucked into the crook of his father's neck.

Then, with a heavy sigh, Severus slowly made his way over to the cot and pressed one final kiss to little Harry's forehead before reluctantly lowering him in. When little Harry began to whimper at the loss of contact, his father reached down and gently stroked the top of his head, smoothing his thumb soothingly over little Harry's forehead to calm him.

Severus lingered for a long moment beside the cot, simply staring down at little Harry, then glanced around at the nursery, as if he was attempting to commit all this to memory. Even though Harry knew his father would have no recollections of it after this night.

"Sleep well, Harry," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Severus gave one long, last look at little Harry, before he stepped away and made to leave the room.

As Harry turned to follow his father, he wished his younger self would start fussing again, just to further delay his father's departure.

He found Lily standing in the doorway, apparently having been watching them. Her eyes were red, as if she'd been crying, but there were no tears at the moment. She gave a small smile, though it was forced, as Severus walked towards her, and shut the door softly behind him.

"You must conceal Harry's true appearance," Severus told her once they were back in the sitting room. He swallowed, the next words seeming to come out with great difficulty, "He needs to look like Potter's son."

Lily sighed sadly and nodded her understanding, now seeming resigned to accept his decision.

"Severus..." she began, but her voice broke.

Severus went to her and gently cupped her cheek with the palm of his hand. Lily leaned into his touch, and closed her eyes for a moment, taking in a shuddering breath. When a tear slipped from her eyes, Severus swiped it away with his thumb, then looked deeply into them.

"I love you, Lily," he said softly. "Whatever happens…"

"I know," Lily gave him a small smile, but it trembled and didn't reach her eyes. "I love you too, Sev."

Severus leaned down and pressed his lips to hers for a long moment, then drew back, and pulled her into his embrace, holding her close.

"Just… please be safe," she whispered against his chest.

"You as well," Severus murmured. "Both of you."

He tightened his hold on her, burying his face in her hair. They remained like that for a long while, his father seeming to draw strength from just holding her, neither willing to let the other go.

But it was only a matter of time...

The Floo suddenly flared to life behind Harry, startling him, and he turned to see Dumbledore step into the room, brushing some soot off his robes.

"Are you ready, Severus?"

With a deep, trembling breath, Severus drew back slightly, and placed one final kiss to Lily's forehead before he fully pulled away from her. He looked into her eyes one last time, then turned to Dumbledore and gave a short nod.

"Wait, Dad," Harry breathed, and momentarily forgetting himself, he reached a hand out to his father, as if to stop him, but was only met with empty air as Severus walked on by, following Dumbledore out.

The next thing Harry knew, he was soaring weightlessly up through darkness until he landed heavily back in his father's study, falling to his knees.