First Place - Angst

Severus,

I know you hate this kind of thing, but if you haven't spoken with Albus yet go see him please. If you have spoken with him, or otherwise remember, tap the parchment with your wand and say the name of the potion Lily used to conceive Harry.

James Potter

Severus shook his head. It looked like James didn't trust Black to follow his instructions regardless of how James pleaded in the letter Harry had already read. He tapped the parchment with his wand, Genitorum Pariter.

The words James had written swirled and a much longer letter appeared in their place.

Sev,

The past year and a half has probably been the most difficult of my life, pretending to hate you. The Fidelius Charm was perfected by some Order members, though I don't know who, not long after we graduated. We've been in hiding under the charm with Sirius as our Secret Keeper since Harry was born. I love Padfoot, but it's hard on us only seeing him most of the time. At least Harry knows his godfather. He did bring Remus and Peter by a few times, and Poppy has insisted on visiting for check-ups. Albus comes by, and Frank and Alice have brought Neville over for the boys to play together. I thought Lily was going to go spare when Harry said 'Moony'. She'd been trying to teach 'Mummy' for ages. I guess the words are too close.

Sirius wanted us to change Secret Keepers. He was convinced that Death Eaters are watching him, hoping to find us, and believes he will be taken. Siri said if we switched to Peter they wouldn't be able to break him, Siri that is, under torture into betraying our location. After all, he reasoned, who would ever believe we would trust Peter with something that important. He barely passed his N.E.W.T.s despite all that studying. They would never even question him.

Harry's first birthday was a few days ago. We had a huge birthday party for him, in true Marauder style, with a large number of Order members here, and then we switched to Peter when everyone left. Not even Albus will know what we did, only Lily, Padfoot, Wormtail, and me. Lily has been having some bad feelings.

I know it sounds clich�d, but if you're reading this letter I'm probably dead, and Lily with me. I hope Harry survived us. We have a plan, and if Voldemort comes here we may be able to protect our son with our deaths. As Harry's godfather Sirius probably has him now or he's with his godmother, Alice Longbottom, at least Lily would hope so. Honestly, I can't really see Padfoot raising a kid. He can barely take care of himself. How would he react to diaper rash, or teething?

You know the prophecy. I've thought of little else for almost two years. It has to be Harry. Every parent thinks their child is special, is smarter than all the other kids, but there's something about Harry. Maybe it's having all three of us for parents, but when I look in his eyes I just know he'll be so powerful someday, Albus level powerful. He's only a year old Sev, and he's already done accidental magic. We haven't told anyone, but he summoned his bottle a few weeks ago and warmed it himself. He shouldn't be able to do anything like that for years.

I left all these letters because of you Sev. We said your position as a spy was more important than us, but if we were attacked then the most important thing now is Harry. He would grow up fine with Alice and Frank, or even with Sirius, but he needs you. In my letters I told Albus, Sirius, Frank, Alice, and Remus about us. Even if Sirius has a fit Albus and Remus, and Frank and Alice will support you. I know you want nothing to do with Moony, but he would never hurt you. You're a member of his pack. Got ya Sev.

Lily says we should have used Remus as our Secret Keeper, but what happens on the full moon? I don't know if he could protect us when he doesn't even know who he is. He's not mad at Sirius anymore, but he doesn't trust him anymore, not after fifth year. I don't know if he really trusts anyone. We had a falling out of sorts over it and things aren't what they should be. Please make sure he reads his letter. Make sure he knows I never thought he was a traitor, and neither did Lily, despite Padfoot's bizarre reasoning.

The box I gave you is mostly pictures and a few odds and ends that you'll recognize. To open it, hold it in both hands and say, 'Harold James Potter'. Only someone of Potter blood, or magically bound to a Potter, can open it.

Please make sure Harry gets his letter when he can read. Have Albus get it from Sirius if you have to and keep it somewhere safe. Siri will probably lose it within a month.

Lily didn't cast the memory charm exactly the way you wanted her to. She boxed up your memories so deeply that even Voldemort won't be able to find them without knowing exactly what he's looking for, and exactly how to unweave her work. She also made it so her charm will start to wear away if it's not reversed within the next five or so years, though if you perfect your Occlumency that may have some effect on it. When you do though, I'll tie you down if I have to so she can remove the charm. I might just tie you down even if I don't have to.

I miss you Sev, every day. We show Harry pictures of you and talk to him about you, but it's not the same. I wish Harry could have both his Daddies here.

I love you,
James

Severus took a few deep breaths and looked down to see his wine goblet was empty. He put it down on a table, wiped his eyes, and took a few moments to gather his composure. He picked up the sleek wooden box, about the size of the Standard Book of Spells, and held it gently in both hands. On the lid, though no line could be seen separating lid from body, the initials J.A.P. were inlaid with fine gold.

"Harold James Potter," Severus said softly.

The box glowed golden, but most strongly from a horizontal line about two-thirds up the side of the box. The glow faded and Severus lifted the lid. The first thing he saw was a small envelope with his name on it. He opened it, and a gold ring fell onto the stack of wizard photos.

Severus picked up the ring and felt his chest tighten as he slid it onto the ring finger of his left hand. It glowed for a short moment, recognizing the bond he had taken part in when he was eighteen, before constricting to fit him perfectly, and he felt the presence of James and Lily, both of them linked to him through the bond. The band was identical to the one James wore in Severus's memory, and Lily had one exactly like it, though smaller. It was the wedding ring he had only worn for a week, in the very house he sat in as he went through the box.

Most of the other things in the box were pictures, pictures of James and Severus, of James and Lily and Severus, of Lily and Severus, of Harry, of Harry with one or both of his now deceased parents, and a few pictures that were just Severus. Lily had captured him sitting in James's Head Boy room, sleeping in the Highlands Cottage, and brewing potions in the basement of the cottage. There were even pictures of him in Potter Manor before it was leveled by the curse. She had also gotten one of Severus holding Harry that day in the Hog's Head.

Severus knew he spent hours looking at the pictures, watching the interaction between the people in them. He saw the change in his appearance between the first time Black broke his nose, in their fifth year, and the second time, after they graduated and the threat of expulsion no longer held him back.

"Oh Sev," Lily had fussed over him, "at least let me put some ice on that."

Severus submitted. Lily would fuss for hours otherwise, and probably result to hexing him so she could treat his injuries, which she had done at least once in the past. He had bumped into James and Black in Hogsmeade, and snarled at them in keeping with his cover. It had been years since their verbal sparring had degenerated into fisticuffs and so the punch from Black had come as a complete surprise. James had pulled Black back, and Severus merely glared at them and left the Hog's Head.

"You should keep Black on a leash," Severus said grumpily. He had taken a pain killing potion readily, but there was little more to be done. He couldn't go to St. Mungo's, as they checked all their patients for the Dark Mark, and he refused to admit to Poppy Pomfrey that he had been in a fist fight with his school nemesis. He had just started his first year of teaching after all.

Lily laughed, "We have one for Padfoot. He and James patrol muggle and mixed neighborhoods that way sometimes."

Severus couldn't hold back the laugh at that image, "I know so many people who would pay to see that."

"I'll let you know the next time they go out," Lily promised as she cast a bone mending spell. "There. It's not as good as a little Skele-grow or Poppy's charms but it's the best I can do."

Severus felt his still swollen nose. It would be even more crooked now, "Lovely. Remind me to properly thank Black for this someday."

"I'm sure you won't forget Sev," Lily kissed his forehead. "Now get out of here before they get back. Even if Siri is completely wasted this would be tough to explain."

Severus rolled his eye and huffed, "I should get back to Hogwarts anyway. Tell James I'm sorry I missed him."

They hugged and Lily handed him the icepack to take with him, "He has tomorrow off. Stop by yourself and tell him."

"I just might do that," Severus smiled suggestively. He disappeared with a 'crack' and reappeared just outside the gates to Hogwarts.

The smell of butter in a frying pan greeted Severus as he woke, combined with freshly brewed coffee. He blinked the sleep out of his eyes and discovered he had fallen asleep on the couch in his robes. He stretched as he got up and went upstairs to shower and change. Aaron and Viviane were sleeping in their frames.

He was not looking forward to telling the past twenty years of history. It was necessary to talk to them before they spoke with Harry. They needed to hear the basic facts about their grandson or they, and he mostly meant Aaron with that, might slip and upset him.

When he walked into the kitchen Harry was putting breakfast on the table. There was a stack of golden pancakes, bacon, and some cut up fruit. Harry had even found a variety of jams in the cupboards to top the pancakes with, and a jar of honey and jug of maple syrup.

"I told you I could cook," Harry smirked and sat down.

Severus just nodded and began filling his plate as Harry floated a cup of coffee to land softly in front of him, "How many cups have you had?"

"I think this is number three," Harry looked into his mug and frowned.

Severus shook his head, "I have no idea where you got that. Lily never touched coffee and I drink it for the taste, not the caffeine."

"What about James?" Harry looked up with the eager expression that always accompanied questions about his family.

"James on caffeine?" Severus started laughing and had to put down his fork. "Chocolate was bad enough, and Lily often hid that from him. That man had enough energy for five people. Sugar and caffeine only made him worse."

Harry appeared much happier than he had been the night before. He ate more than was usual for him in the morning, or any meal really, and grinned up at Severus, "I think I figured it out."

Severus snapped his head up eagerly, "You did?"

Harry nodded and passed over a piece of parchment with a list on it. He read the list over and looked up at Harry, "You think...?"

Harry nodded short and rapid nods. It would make sense, Severus figured. The-Boy-Who-Lived would never be normal in any endeavor. It would also be a powerful tool for his son.

"There should still be a potions laboratory downstairs," Severus said thoughtfully. "I want you to choose three healing potions from your sixth year text that we did not brew in class and attempt them. Be sure to check the wards on the room, as no one has brewed down there in more than seventeen years. I promised your grandparents an explanation and did not get around to it last night."

Harry nodded, "Are there ingredients down there, or should I use my own?"

"There should still be some there," Severus closed his eyes and tried to remember. He had kept the cupboard there well stocked and charmed for freshness, but the charm could have failed. "Check them before using them though, and bring your own supplies down just in case."

"Okay," Harry nodded and flicked his hand to get the dishes cleaning. "I'll see you up here for lunch?"

Severus nodded and they both headed up the stairs, each for their own room. He walked into the master bedroom and floated a chair to face the portraits. Severus thought he might need something to get him through this and conjured up a tea pot and cup for the tea table that he put next to the chair. After sipping some tea he woke the Potters. With Aaron interrupting every few minutes it was going to be a long conversation. To be safe he started with the end of his own fifth year at Hogwarts, with a story the Potters were already familiar with.

A few days later they had already fallen into a routine. They traded meals, as Severus woke much more readily than Harry did, and Harry cooked dinner each evening while Severus took care of breakfast. Mornings were for work, whether it was potions, medicals spells, or dueling, and the last only for fun as Severus doubted he could teach Harry much more. In the afternoon they talked and got to know each other beyond their time together at Hogwarts. Childhood stories were exchanged, and Severus told Harry about the Snape family history.

At night they played chess, or cards, or a new wizarding game they found that Remus must have bought, Wizard's Monopoly. The two important properties were The Ministry of Magic and St. Mungo's. Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons were right below them. Muggle culture was being integrated more and more. Some nights they just sat in the same room and read. Harry had found a few books with phoenix references in the house and was devouring them.

It took more than a few days for anyone to check in on them, and Severus wondered at that. Remus had a tendency to be punctual to the minute and would only delay if something important had come up. Severus grated at not attending the Order meetings while he and Harry were locked away and began to understand how Harry had felt his fifth year, with everyone keeping secrets from him.

A knock finally came at the door after dark on their fifth day in the cottage. Harry looked up at Severus from the chess board questioningly and Severus nodded.

"Moony!" Severus could hear the grin in Harry's voice. "Come in. Want some tea?"

"Tea would be good Harry," Remus's voice, a bit more nasal than normal, responded. "I'd like you to meet my friend Joseph. He requested an introduction."

Severus looked up at that and saw a tall, pale man behind Remus, who did not look at all well. The werewolf's eyes were rimmed in red and his nose looked raw. Severus cringed inside at the sight, though he couldn't let that show. If Remus was able to get a cold that was not a good sign. The lycanthropy was starting to take its toll at perhaps the worst possible time.

He stood and made his way over to the entrance hall, where Harry was shaking hands with Joseph and trying to act properly. Severus had been giving him very small etiquette lessons, hoping to disguise them from what they truly were. Harry didn't need anything else to make him feel inferior. There were enough imagined faults as it was without adding on more.

"Severus Snape," Severus introduced himself with a short bow and a handshake. "Potions Master at Hogwarts and Harry's father."

"Joseph," the pale man responded with a similar bow, almost just a tilt of the head. "My family name is unimportant."

Severus quirked an eyebrow and the man just nodded. He looked at Remus who gave a small smile. Harry was looking at Joseph with a piercing gaze and Severus could almost feel the empathic senses opened and directed at the man.

"Please have a seat," Severus stepped back and led them into the living room. A flick of his wand sent the chess game to a side table. "Harry was just losing at chess."

"Again," Harry commented. "You would get much better competition playing with Ron or Albus."

Harry went into the kitchen to prepare tea, as he was not at conjuring level yet apart from his Patronus. While Harry was in the other room Remus took out a handkerchief and blew his nose. Severus noted the concerned look Joseph gave the werewolf.

"Is it bad?" Severus asked.

Remus shook his head, "I'm just not used to it. I think this is my first cold since before the bite, and I don't really remember much from then."

Severus applied a clinical eye to the man, "It's starting, isn't it."

"It is," Remus nodded, unable to hide the truth. "It would have years ago... but Nick and Ellie interfered."

"Nick and Ellie?" Severus was perplexed. He knew no one by those names.

"The Flamels," Remus smiled fondly and Severus felt his eyes widen against his will... Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, "I was living with them for a few years after we graduated, studying. Albus sent me to them. They had a hand in developing Wolfsbane and I tested some of the early versions." Severus almost shuddered. Some of those trial versions had horrible effects. "I almost died after one full moon and they only had one way to save me. I never would have asked, as I have no desire for immortality with this condition."

"You had the Elixir of Life?" Harry asked as he walked in with a tray floating in front of him. It settled without a sound on the low table they sat around and tea began pouring itself.

Remus blinked at Harry, "How do you...?"

Harry grinned, "The Stone was hidden in Hogwarts my first year. It was destroyed after the Voldemort possessed Defense Professor tried to steal it."

"Albus did mention something...," Remus shook his head slowly and massaged his temples.

"Would you like some Pepper-Up?" Harry asked cautiously. Severus knew that Harry was aware of exactly how Remus felt, not matter how hard the werewolf tried to hide it from him. "I brewed some this morning."

Remus sighed and eventually nodded when Joseph put a hand on his shoulder. Harry summed the flask and a goblet for Remus. He poured and handed it over. Steam shot of Remus's ears and the werewolf visible relaxed. He began drinking his tea.

"I had, of course, heard of you many years ago Harry, mostly from Remus," Joseph said in a low tone. He spoke quietly and with confidence. "You have nothing to fear from me, as you are family through Remus. I bring you a message from a mutual acquaintance. My friend Bertolt was much pleased to learn you left his forest safely."

Severus was accustomed to hiding his reactions, and so did not choke on his tea. If he was not in the comfort of a home he considered his, and his strange guest was not brought in by a trusted friend, he probably would have recognized the man for what he was immediately. Harry was tense and on his guard, but Remus was entirely relaxed.

"Remus," Severus nearly growled. He was not happy with this development.

"He took me into his family years ago Severus," Remus said calmingly. "My pack is protected through me. He cannot harm you, much as I cannot."

"And I ate earlier this evening," Joseph smiled at his small joke and Severus saw Harry relax a bit. His son had to be reading the emotions of the whole room carefully.

"That was Bertolt I met?" Harry asked and Joseph nodded graciously. "Please give him my thanks for letting me go and protecting me from the wolves."

"I will," Joseph said with a smile. "He wanted you to know his offer stands, should you ever change your mind."

"Offer?" Severus looked at Harry sternly.

Harry shrank a little and smiled at Severus, "He said I could join him...," Severus felt a bit of irrational fear, that Harry might leave him, "but I have no wish to be immortal, even if it would help me against Voldemort."

Joseph was nodding with approval, "There are not many strong enough to pass up the chance. It is a rare offer as we do not want our numbers to grow any more than your Ministry does, and rarer still for a wizard. There are none of us left who began as wizards and we do not know how it would effect the change."

"There may be some information on that," Severus cast his mind back to the books found in the Snape vault. Some of them were thousands of years old and he recalled at least one folio on vampirism. Joseph looked interested.

The potential for conversation changed when Remus stood abruptly. The other three followed suit and Severus began listening for some threat. Remus waved a hand and headed up the stairs. Harry tried to follow but was held back by Joseph. When Remus came back down he was clutching some black fabric and his eyes were glowing. Joseph intercepted him.

"Calm yourself child," Joseph said soothingly.

"It's one of them," Remus growled and Severus was immediately on guard again. "I know the smell. Where did this come from?"

The black fabric was cast to the floor and Severus recognized the cloak Harry had been wearing when he returned from Voldemort's headquarters. The healers hadn't known that Harry took the cloak off a Death Eater and had repaired it and given it back to him before they left Romania. Severus had no idea why Harry still had it.

Harry stepped forward carefully and picked it up with his left hand, keeping his wand hand free Severus noted, "I took it from Rookwood to help in my escape."

"Rookwood," Remus growled, Joseph still holding him. "Augustus Rookwood was the traitor."

"Remus, if you do not calm down I will have to force you," Joseph said sternly, and Severus took a step backwards. A contest of wills between two dark creatures was not something he ever expected to witness. "Rookwood is not here. You will wait, and you will have your chance."

Remus was breathing heavily and his fists were clenched. Severus could feel the magic rippling off him and Harry had sat down and closed his eyes, most likely fighting to get his barriers in place. Severus went to him to give him an anchor.

"He killed my father," Remus said, almost pleading, and Severus was shocked. The vampire was holding Remus like distraught child. "His smell was there. It was twenty-two years ago but I can still smell it."

"You will meet him in battle and the kill will be clean Remus," Joseph said quietly. "You are not a killer. You have no blood on your hands and you will not." Remus nodded obediently. "Apologize to Harry Remus. You know you cannot lose control around him." Severus was certainly impressed with this vampire.

Remus knelt before Harry, who finally opened his eyes. "I'm so sorry Pup."

"It's okay Moony," Harry hugged Remus's head to his chest. "If I had to apologize for every time I lost my temper I would be doing nothing else for weeks."

Severus threw the cloak into the fire, not wanting to provoke any further outbursts from the wolf inside Remus. When his son and the werewolf separated both had unshed tears in their eyes. Remus stood on shaky legs.

"I'll come back after the full," Remus said and coughed into his handkerchief. "I should not have come tonight with this cold. It's wreaking havoc with my control."

Severus nodded. James had explained him to him more times than he could remember how much Remus relied on controlling the wolf, how important that control was. Severus was concerned for the upcoming school year and decided to read everything he could find on the effects of the werewolf deterioration. If he had to he would contact the Flamels to find out exactly how the Elixir had affected Remus.

Their guests left after taking the letters Harry had written and giving them a stack of parchment, most of it for Harry. Severus knew that Harry had stuck the letter from James to Remus in the middle of the stack he passed him.

"Why is Remus sick?" Harry asked with concern. "I thought werewolves..."

Severus sighed, "You never wrote the essay I assigned, did you?"

"Hermione was the only one who did," Harry admitted with a small smile.

"Children," Severus shook his head. He doubted Remus had covered werewolves, and knew that Lockhart had not as he should have. "Very little you will find printed about werewolves is accurate, though there are a few reliable texts. Albus should have made sure you had them years ago." Severus squeezed the bridge of his nose. Harry was not going to take this well.

"The longest a werewolf has been recorded to live after being bitten was twenty years. Remus was the youngest survivor of the bite and has been a werewolf for thirty-three years. I have wondered many times why he is still alive. The Elixir of Life has probably had an effect on that. His cold is the first sign of deterioration I've seen. He probably has somewhere between two and ten years left."

Harry looked up in surprise. When taken by surprise he still was unable to mask his emotions, or maybe he wasn't even trying then. Despair hardened into determination, and Harry unknowingly took the same oath that three twelve-year-boys had declared twenty-five years before.

"I will not stand by and let him die," Harry said firmly.

Severus bit his tongue, not able to tell Harry that there was nothing he could do. Instead he pulled Harry into a hug.

Finding the Key - Chapter 7

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