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As he walked along the dimly lit corridors of the castle, 13-year-old James Potter justified his reasons for this after curfew journey. It would surely mean several detentions if he were to be caught, a letter home to his father and a severe and lengthy lecture from the headmistress. (Aunt Minnie was not a woman to be trifled with) Surprisingly enough only one of the possible consequences he would face really worried the Gryffindor, a lecture and detention he would suffer, it was the idea of a letter being sent to his dad, which had James momentarily pausing at the top of the stairs that led to the dungeons. Shaking his head slightly, James reminded himself that his father was the reason for this forbidden jaunt to the depths of the castle.
Reaching his destination, James squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, and knocked sharply on the heavy wooden door, the sliver of light under the edge of the door, gave James a slight reprieve in knowing that he hadn’t disturbed the occupant on the opposite side. Although in this instance it was a risky move just knocking on this door. Before he had time to reconsider his decision, the door was wrenched open, and the imposing form of the Potions Master came into view.
“This had better be a matter of life and death Mr Potter” the formidable man scowled “As I can see no other possible reason as to why you would be wandering the halls well after curfew.”
James swallowed thickly, fighting the urge to bolt. “It is quite important Professor” the teen replied, “I wouldn’t be out otherwise.”
He had never been one to deliberately go looking for trouble or willingly break the rules; he left that to his cousins. Certainly, he’d been wrapped over the knuckles for the odd transgression, but those occasions had never warranted any serious actions. He may have been Harry Potters son, but he certainly didn’t possess the penchants for trouble and rule breaking his father had been known for.
Something in the way the teen had answered his question, had Severus moving aside and beckoning the Gryffindor into his office. The boy was a decent and often an obedient one. Motioning for him to sit, Severus moved behind his desk and sat down, fingers steepled in front of him. “Now Master Potter what was so important that it required you to visit my office at this hour?”
Placing his hands in his lap, James looked his professor in the eye and spoke “I want to know how serious you are about my dad”?
Severus Snape former Death Eater and spy was a man who had immense control over his emotions. As such spluttering and stammering that followed James Potters statement would have tested the theory.” Master Potter, I have absolutely no idea what…
James raised his hand putting a stop to the man’s refuting his statement. “I have eyes and ears Professor Snape” it was said with respect.
“Be that as it may Master Potter” Snape answered, “I fail to see how you came to that conclusion” Nor do I see how your father chooses to spend his free time is any of your concern.”
“It was a few things,” James countered, ignoring the comment about poking his nose into his father’s private affairs.
“They would be?” Snape drawled, suppressing the urge to squirm in his seat at the boys questioning look.
“Three times in the last 3 weeks I have seen dad sneaking out of the castle, in the same clothes he was in the previous day. Two of those occasions have been when he was filling in for Professor Buckley in Defence and had spent the night here; both times he was coming from the direction of the dungeons. First, I thought he had been to see Albus, but that wasn’t the case.”
Severus inwardly cursed the child’s keen and observant eye; there was also an expletive for Potter senior as well. Harry was slipping if the boy had only spied him on three occasions he mused.
“Last week when I came to speak to you about the essay on poisons, I noticed dads boxer shorts were bunched up behind your desk. The ones with the dragons breathing fire on them” (Aunty Ruby, Uncle Charlies wife had gifted them to his father for his birthday earlier in the year)
Snape fought the blush creeping over his pale face and once again cursed the child’s observation skills. Only Potters progeny would have noticed where the man had flung his underwear in the rush to bend Severus over the nearest surface.
“The final piece came together today during Potions, when you walked by my desk, I got a whiff of my dad’s cologne, that and I saw his DMLE badge poking out from underneath some parchment.”
A small smile graced the normally stern face at the memory of the frenzied moment of intimacy earlier in the day, when Harry had come back for his badge. Taking a deep breath, Severus investigated viridian orbs that reminded him so very much of Harry. “It seems we have been found out.”
“Look Professor” James interrupted before Severus could offer further explanation “I understand that my father’s life is his own and as you pointed out, how he chooses to spend his free time is his business, but after what he has been through in the last few years with my… mother, surely you can understand why I’m asking”
“I do understand, yes” Snape answered “I commend you for having the courage to approach me and ask these questions. I wonder why you didn’t approach your father first. Although I understand your reasoning there too” Severus added answering his own question
“I couldn’t stand by and watch dad get hurt again,” James murmured, looking like a small and frightened first year. She did so many horrible things to him; I didn’t want it to happen again. He didn’t date after he got divorced, a lot of people wanted to date him, being the chosen one and all. So, when I noticed that he was smiling a lot more and seemed happier than he’d been and figured out you were the reason, I knew I had to come and ask how serious you were about him”?
“Master Pot, James” Severus began “I care about your father a great deal and would never intentionally set out to hurt him or cause him any pain, that doesn’t mean to say on occasion that I won’t inadvertently upset or anger him, it’s all part and parcel of being in an adult relationship, but understand I will always work through and fix whatever problem your father and I encounter”
“It’s not just about me” James said earnestly “It’s about Al too. I know how much he likes and respects you, I would hate for that to be taken away from him, if things didn’t work out with you and my dad, or if it was only an every now and then type of thing”
“I can assure you, I don’t participate in casual liaisons,” The Professor countered tersely. “I can see your point of view”
“She was always meanest to Al,” The Gryffindor said quietly
“What do you mean?” Severus asked
“He was named after you for a start” James answered
Severus well remembered the late-night conversations he and Harry had had about the youngest child being given his name, even if it was the middle initial.
“When Al was sorted into Slytherin, my mother was furious, blamed dad, claiming it was his influence that had caused the hat to place him there. It was setting Al up for a lifetime of grief, having your namesake”
“Your brother is thriving in Slytherin house, I have yet to encounter any problem” Severus countered.
“Yeah” James smiled fondly “he loves it. She didn’t speak to him for a month when he wrote home and told her he’d found a friend in Scorp Malfoy”
“Ridiculous witch” Severus muttered under his breath.
“Al was so upset, couldn’t understand what he’d done wrong and why being with friends with a Malfoy was a bad thing”
“It isn’t” Severus commented, “I hope you apprised Albus as such”
“I did and so did Dad. When Aunty Pansy found out what she’d said about Scorp and Uncle Draco, she punched my mother in the face, broke her nose”
Severus let out a snort of laughter, causing the Gryffindors eyes to widen comically. “I wasn’t aware you knew about that incident?”
“Uncle George sent me his memory of it” James smirked “Aunty Pans has a mean right hook”
“That she does” Severus agreed “I hope after our conversation your mind is at ease?” he added
“It is Sir, yes” James smiled “For what it’s worth I, think you are just what my dad needs”
“In what sense?”
“You see him for who he is, not how the rest of the population sees him. To you he is just Harry Potter, father of two and an Auror. You don’t manipulate him or use threats to get your way” Most importantly you make him happy”
“Thank you, James,” Severus said sincerely “Your father happens to make me incredibly happy as well. Would it be acceptable to you if I spoke to your father and set aside a time to sit down with you and your brother and discuss your father’s relationship, and mine and get better aquatinted along the way?”
“I would like that Professor” James replied “Thank you for not throwing me out on my ear or giving me detention”
“You’re welcome, Master Potter, now I believe it is well past time for you to return to your common room”
A week later
Harry laid his head back on the pillow, waiting for his pounding heart to slow. After an enjoyable evening spending time with Severus and his sons, watching in awe as the normally stoic man laughed and joked with the boys as if he’d known them since birth.
A pang of guilt had coursed through him at having not told the boys sooner about his growing relationship with Severus. With everything he’d been through with his ex-wife, Harry couldn’t take the risk of letting his sons get close to someone, only to have them ripped away if things didn’t work. Harry had become very untrusting after his separation and following divorce from Ginevra; the woman had cheated, lied, manipulated, and bullied to get what she wanted. He hadn’t been entirely sure whether things would last with Severus.
He needn’t have worried; Severus had taken the time to get to know Harry as an adult and his own person, not the personification of his father. He respected Harry’s wish to take things slow and build a foundation based on friendship and mutual trust. The Potions Master had renewed Harry’s faith that there decent people in the world that truly saw him for what and who he was, respected the man he had worked hard to become.
The evening had ended on a high, with his sons smiling and an intense and immensely satisfying round of lovemaking, followed by an intensely satisfying orgasm.
A long slender arm snaked around his waist and pulled him closer, a soft kiss pressed to his temple. “This evening was rather enjoyable” Severus murmured
“It was” Harry said sleepily “Been a while since I’ve seen the boys that happy and content”
“I quite agree, it’s all thanks to your son”
“My fiercest protector” Harry mumbled, closing his eyes, and letting sleep take him.