Reconciliation

Artwork by beaweasley2 - thank you so much!

***

Chapter 3 – Reconciliation

Severus Snape was pacing the floor of Dumbledore's office when the headmaster returned.

"Ah, Severus, I'm glad you took my advice and remained here. Such an unfortunate and horrible event has occurred."

Snape braced himself for the bad news.

"James Potter has been killed by Voldemort."

"What of Lily?" he asked hysterically.

Dumbledore looked at the young man angrily. All these months and he still only cared about Lily!

"Harry is at St. Mungo's. Apparently, Lily was only Stunned by Voldemort, and when he tried to murder the child, the Killing Curse rebounded onto him and destroyed his body. Voldemort is powerless now, thanks to little Harry Potter."

Snape waited patiently for news of Lily, his face showed no reaction to the news. Dumbledore sighed and said that Lily was fine, just in shock and grief.

Snape was beside himself. He needed to see her now. "Headmaster, please, I need to be with her now. She must be terribly frightened. She needs to be protected!" he pleaded.

"Severus, I have Aurors watching over Harry. Lily is resting in Minerva's rooms. Soon, they both will be living here," he replied.

Snape was ecstatic. "Lily will be living here! Here!" His eyes glazed over and Dumbledore became worried.

"Severus, Lily is a widow now. She will be in terrible grief for James." He placed deep emphasis on the dead wizard's name.

Snape came out of his reverie and sobered. Now that the bastard was dead along with the other bastard, he could be more than accommodating and even gracious.

"Of course, sir! You know my history with Potter, but he was Lily's husband, and she needs to be treated with kindness and respect. She'll need her space to come to terms with her loss," he said magnanimously.

Dumbledore smiled, but his eyes did not twinkle. He knew the young wizard better than he realized. It was a gamble keeping Lily and her son here with the man who had loved and been obsessed with her for most of his young life. He hoped now that Tom was truly dead, then Severus could live a normal life. Perhaps his desperation would ease and the friendship he once had with Lily could be restored.

The young wizard was becoming agitated. "Albus, I need to know, who is watching over Lily's son?" He had to sound like he actually cared for the little blighter if Albus would let him near her.

"I have Alastor and Kingsley on hand. If anyone can keep him safe, it would be them!" he said confidently.

"Could I please help? With all respect, Headmaster, I was a Death Eater. I know how they operate. I would not put it past any of them to try to hurt the boy. Could I please just watch out for any danger?" he begged.

Dumbledore acted as if he had not heard a word spoken. "Severus, I would appreciate it if you would go and see Lucius. With Tom gone, I am concerned about his taking control over the more renegade Death Eaters. We do not need another Dark Lord. Please report back to me as soon as you can ascertain his plans."

"Certainly, Headmaster," he muttered in disappointment. He turned swiftly on his heel and departed.

***

It was in the wee hours of the morning when Severus returned from Malfoy Manor. Lucius had been most subdued. He and Narcissa had seemed jumpy and terrified. When he had pressed them about their plans now that the Dark Lord was dead, all the blond wizard would do was shake his head and say, "I honestly cannot say, Severus. However, I do know one thing. I shall never be carted off to Azkaban. As far as the rest of the world will know, I was under the Imperius Curse and am more than happy the Dark Lord is no more." He had a fierce glint in his eye when he spoke, and Severus had realized that if the wizard were pushed far enough, he would do whatever it took to ensure his family's safety. After all, Lucius had to look out for his own son.

It was all Snape needed to know. He would keep Lucius' dirty little secret. He was far too powerful politically and lucratively to fight. He would just have to keep him close where he could watch him. He actually agreed with him on one point. Azkaban would be the worst possible scenario. If Lucius were to be imprisoned with the Lestrange brothers and Bellatrix, plus with all the others that would be thrown in there once the Aurors finished rounding them up and putting them away, Lucius would become an angry, volatile, and powerful wizard. No, Lucius needed to stay in his posh, elegant, comfortable manor where he could remain soft and complacent. He would make sure Dumbledore understood that need.

***

After breakfast, when he had finally finished with the headmaster, he left his office and began to walk down towards his dungeons.

He saw Minerva with Lily. She was holding a baby. His black eyes caught her green ones, and she shook violently.

Snape thought his chest would rip open. He could not, would not allow Lily to continue fearing him. Minerva was trying to calm her, and he slowly came to her side.

"Severus," Minerva warned him.

"It's okay, Minerva. Lily, please, you are exhausted. Let me hold Harry," he said softly.

Lily was so lost and frightened; she looked as if she would drop at any second. She reluctantly handed her son to her old friend and watched him intensely as the dark wizard held the son of his nemesis.

Severus had only offered to hold Harry in order to ingratiate himself to Lily, but as he held him, he saw the boy's eyes and his breath caught.

"Lily," he breathed. "He has your eyes."

Minerva and Lily looked at Severus Snape as if they had never met him before. He was enthralled with the little boy. He smiled as Harry grabbed his nose. Severus chuckled and kissed the offending little hand. Harry laughed and babbled at the wizard. Lily's eyes softened, and Minerva smiled broadly. Perhaps, things would be all right after all.

"Minerva, please, let's get Lily somewhere comfortable. There are more than adequate rooms adjacent to mine in the dungeons. If you would help me with some Transfiguration, I'm sure we could make a very comfortable living space for Lily and Harry," he said serenely, never taking his eyes off of little Harry Potter.

"Let's get Lily settled in my rooms for now, Severus, and we can speak with Albus about a more permanent arrangement," Minerva whispered calmly. She became very aware of how Lily was looking at Severus holding her son with such adoration, and she looked so happy, Minerva thought it might not be so bad after all to keep the two together. After all, they had been so close during their school years.

***

After Lily and Harry went to sleep in Minerva's rooms, she, Dumbledore, and Severus met in the headmaster's office to discuss the future of mother and son. Dumbledore insisted they stay at Hogwarts, at least until the Aurors could round up Voldemort's Death Eaters and also until the secret behind who had betrayed them was resolved. In addition, it was imperative that no one be aware that Lily was alive. They were all in accord with the headmaster's decision. What was the utmost on Severus' mind was who had betrayed the Potters. He swore to Dumbledore he would do whatever he could to find out what had happened.

Now the decision had to be decided concerning the living situation of Lily and little Harry. Severus insisted they stay safely in the dungeons near him. Dumbledore was leery of having them so close to the Slytherin common room. Minerva suggested that perhaps Lily could live with Severus if she wished.

"After all, Albus, no one could breach the wards Severus places on his living quarters," she added shrewdly.

Dumbledore looked at Severus with a hard, piercing stare. "Severus, I took you in when you were desperate and had nowhere to turn. I can throw you to the wolves just as easily. If you harm her or seduce her..."

Snape was insulted. "I have never in all the years I have known Lily, ever tried to force my affections upon her. I love her...it's true. However, my love for her is more than physical. She is an intelligent and powerful witch. She was my best friend, and I want nothing more than to earn that friendship back. Please Albus, let me make it up to her and to Harry."

Dumbledore looked sharply at the young wizard standing before him. Something had happened to soften him towards the boy. It was genuine, and for the first time, he truly felt he could trust the dark man completely.

"Very well, Severus, if Lily agrees. Minerva shall approach her with the offer, and if she is amenable to the idea, then you have my blessing. Minerva shall work on some Transfiguration to give Lily and Harry their own space."

"You may leave now, Severus. I wish to speak with Minerva alone."

After Snape had left, Dumbledore asked Minerva about what she knew of Severus' transformation. She eagerly replayed the scene and told in her astonishment how Snape had reacted to the child and how the child had reacted to him. She said it was one of most precious moments she had ever witnessed, and Lily's face had been so serene and calm, it made her feel relaxed for the first time since the whole nightmare began.

When Minerva approached Lily with the plan to hide them away in Severus' rooms, Lily agreed without reservation. She said she had for such a long time now felt she had been too hard on Severus and her rejection of their friendship led him to seek approval with Voldemort's minions.

"I want to make things right with Severus. I want us to start over again. I just hope he can still accept that I will always love James. He is the father of my son, after all."

Minerva remained quiet. That might be the proverbial fly in the ointment. Nevertheless, it would have to be for Lily and Severus to work out.

Huge thanks to my wonderful, anonymous beta! Please review, I'm addicted to reviews!

This is my response to the Anything Goes Challenge Prompt #27. Voldemort decides to Stun Lily instead of killing her; does he kidnap Harry? Kill him? What happens to Lily and to Snape?