Harry Potter and Harry Snape returned to the Slytherin common room in Hogwarts, and Potter spent the next few days at Hogwarts. It was particularly difficult for him to interact with the people he had known for years and have them know him only as Dudley. But it was interesting to see what his life would have been like without Voldemort trying to kill him and his friends. One of the oddest things was the way Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle treated him – with kindness, as they apparently treated most people here. All because my mom was sorted into Slytherin, Harry thought.

“Do you want to see your parents, while you’re here?” Harry Snape asked Potter at one point. “Since you can’t see them on your world?”

Potter froze. He hadn’t considered the option. “I don’t know,” he said finally. “I do want to see them – they died when I was barely older than a baby in my world, and I miss them dreadfully. Sometimes looking into the Mirror of Erised makes it better, and sometimes it makes it worse. But my parents here… they’re not my parents. They won’t know who I am. And I can’t decide if I want to see that or not.”

Young Snape nodded. “I guess that makes sense. If you want, we can go watch them. Not, like, spy on them, just see what they’re doing and if you want to talk to them, you can.”

Potter nodded slowly. “Yeah. Yeah, I think I’d like that. Can we start with my dad?”

“Sure. Would you like to read what the Daily Prophet had to say about him?”

Potter nodded again, and took the offered newspaper eagerly.

James Potter Rises to the Top
Yesterday, James Potter was promoted to Head Guard of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. As the goblins that run this establishment are far from amiable to their Wizard counterparts, making a name for oneself as a Wizard in the Bank is quite commendable. Potter began work at Gringotts upon his graduation from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1978, beginning as an hourly security guard and working his way through the many ranks. When asked for an interview, Potter declined but said, “I would like to thank all the people who have helped me get here today.” Potter lives in London with his wife and two small children.

“I wonder what his kids are like,” Harry Potter said quietly.

“I dunno,” his friend replied. “It says here they’re small, so they’ll not be at Hogwarts. What do you think? Do you want to see him?”

“We can just leave?” Potter asked, surprised.

“Why not?” Snape said in turn. “As long as we don’t miss any classes.”

Potter shrugged. “Okay, let’s go.”

“Hang on,” the other boy said. “I don’t know how we’re going to see him. He works at Gringotts, and he probably Floos there and home again.”

“Can you Floo into Gringotts?”  Potter asked.

The other boy frowned. “I’m not actually sure.”

“Then maybe he’ll leave Gringotts and apparate from Diagon Alley – we can see him then.”

“It’s worth a try,” young Snape said cheerfully.

On that hope, the boys made for Diagon Alley, stationing themselves outside Gringotts. After an hour, Potter spied a familiar figure coming out of the doors.

“Whoa!” young Snape said beside him. “He looks just like you!”

Young Potter nodded and gulped. Suddenly, without thinking, he found himself running toward the man.

“Excuse me,” he said. “Are you James Potter?”

The man turned. He looked at Harry, looking exactly as he always had in the Mirror of Erisad. “What do you want?”

“Um, I wanted to ask you about your job. I’ve, um, always wanted to work for Gringotts, and you’ve gotten as high as I’ve ever heard any Wizard getting.”

James Potter sighed. “You have to be very patient with the goblins and allow them all their little whims, or they’ll sack you. All you do as a guard is stand around, as barely anyone every bothers trying to break into Gringotts. Though I will say we’ve had some action while I’ve been here. Anyway, I’m tired and I want to go home. Goodbye.” The man turned and began to walk away.

“Wait!” Harry Potter said. But he could think of nothing else to say, and the elder Potter did not turn around.

“And?” Harry Snape said, coming up behind his friend.

The boy shook his head. “He’s not the way I imagined him.”

Thankfully, young Snape did not ask questions about the encounter. “Would you like to meet my mother?”

“And what’ll I say to her? I can’t pretend to be her nephew.”

“I’ll come up with something,” young Snape said. “Besides, she’ll like you just because you’re with me. C’mon, we’ll go to St. Mungo’s so we can go home with Dad, and you’ll be able to get through his wards on the house.”

They went, and found Severus Snape in his office, pouring over books.

“What’cha reading, Dad?” young Snape asked.

“This one is on the Floo Network, as are those in this stack. These over here are on time turners and such.” He waved a hand at a much smaller stack of books. “Why are you here?”

“Harry wanted to meet Mom,” young Snape said. “But we didn’t want to try your wards. I thought we could go home with you.”

The elder Snape nodded. “I see. Well, it will do no harm to leave on time, I think. Although,” he added, looking at Potter, “You do understand that she is not your mother, correct?”

Potter nodded. “Yes, sir. We just came from seeing James Potter.”

“And how did that go?”

“Not very well, sir.”

Snape nodded again. “I see. Well, as long as you understand that she’s not your mother but Harry’s, I think all will be well. Let’s go.”

The boys followed Snape to the Floo.

“Potter, you’ll hold my hand,” the elder Snape said. “That’s the easiest way to make it through the wards. Harry, why don’t you go first and warn your mother that you’re bringing home a guest.”

The boys nodded, and young Snape darted through the Floo.

“That should be enough time,” Snape said after a moment. “Ready?” He held out his hand.

“Sir, are you happy?” Potter asked unexpectedly. He hadn’t planned on saying anything; the words just popped out.

“Happy? Yes, I suppose I am. I have a good life – a good family and a good job go a long way.”

Potter nodded. “You’re just always so… grumpy.”

“Hmph. Well, that’s just my way. I don’t mean much by it. And I think I’m better around Lily. But Harry and my other children can see through it, at least.”

Potter nodded again. “Okay. We can go now.” He took Snape’s hand and they stepped into the green flames, appearing in a bright, airy kitchen.

“Sev! You’re home!” Potter saw his mother smiling broadly, hurrying over to kiss Snape. He looked away from the happy reunion.

“And Harry’s friend! Welcome to our home! I’m told your name is Harry, too?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Lily Snape laughed. “No need to ‘ma’am’ me!”

Potter nodded, a lump in his throat.

“Where are the other children?” Snape asked.

“Lucius is playing outside, and you know very well that three of them are at Hogwarts, where you should be,” she added, turning to her eldest son in mock severity.

“Classes are done for the day, and I missed you,” he replied with a grin.

“Sure you did,” Lily teased. “Why do I bet you had some grand scheme and I just happened to fall in the middle of it?”

Young Snape shrugged, still smiling. “Maybe,” he answered.

“Is dinner ready?” the elder Snape asked. Potter realized that the generally grumpy man looked very relaxed and even happy here, and he blinked in surprise.

“Just about. Call in Lucius, please,” Lily answered. With a flick of her wrist, she set a spoon to stirring a pot on the stove across the kitchen. Potter looked on wide-eyed at the display of wandless magic, but no one noticed.

“Lucius!” Snape’s baritone boomed out of the door. “Dinner!”

After a moment, a small redheaded boy careen through the door and grabbed Snape’s legs. “Daddy!”

“Hello, Lucius,” Snape said, scooping the boy up. “How are we today?”

“I made a castle,” Lucius said proudly.

“Oh, did you now? Well that’s good.”

“Harry!” Lucius cried, catching sight of his older brother. “You’re here!” He wiggled until his father put him down, then ran to Harry Snape, who picked him up obligingly. “Who’s he?” Lucius asked, pointing a pudgy finger at Potter.

“This is my friend Harry,” the older brother replied.

“That’s funny,” Lucius giggled.

In no time at all, Potter found himself sitting at the dinner table with his mother who wasn’t his mother, his least favorite professor who wasn’t a professor at all, his new friend, and a little boy. But the meal was not awkward, and he managed to enjoy himself immensely. When dinner was done and the dishes were cleaning themselves, he knew it was time to go.

“Thank you for a lovely dinner,” he told Lily.

She pulled him into a hug. “Any time.”

Surprised and deliciously happy, Potter hugged her back, then waited until the other Harry said his goodbyes. Then they Flooed back to Hogwarts.

“That was really very nice,” Potter said contentedly. “I’m glad I got to meet her.”

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