"Yeah man, he's mine and he'll always be
The best thing that ever happened to me
You can't turn it off like electricity
I love him unconditionally
I'll take the blame
And claim him every time
Yeah, y'all, he's mine
I thank God, he's mine

- Rodney Aikens "He's Mine"

Sirius and Severus sat deep in the Forbidden Forest, pouring sugar on the rosebushes, trying to lure a Unicorn to them. It was not going well.

"They like pure souls, don't they?" Sirius asked popping open a Butterbeer and handing it to Severus.

"Yes."

"Well, we're going to be here a while," muttered Sirius leaning back against the tree. Severus grunted in agreement.

"Why would he touch it?" Sirius asked after a long moment of silence. It was the fourth time he had asked the question in the last hour.

Dumbledore had always been a figure of admiration and wonder to him. Sirius had always been hot-heated, emotional. He tried to change that after Azkaban - hot-headedness had gotten him killed and thrown into prison and let Pettigrew live after all - and had always admired Dumbledore's cool, collected reserve.

"He was compelled to," Severus said finally.

Sirius was hunched over, his head in his hands. The dementors were angry.

Someone kneeled down beside him. Someone human. Maybe, finally, they were going to kill him. That someone put his hands on top of Sirius', who jumped at the contact.

He looked up, Dumbledore was inches from, his eyes heavy and serious.

"Sirius," he whispered, pained, still holding Sirius' face. "Sirius. My poor boy."

Sirius continued to stare blankly at Dumbledore. Not knowing what was happening nor completely trusting his own eyes.

"It's over," whispered Dumbledore, squeezing Sirius' hands and running his thumbs over Sirius' cheekbones at the same time. "It's over."

He hadn't been touched in so long. He barely remembered that it could be soothing. His lips started to tremble, and Dumbledore pulled him in a gentle hug, like Sirius was something to be protected.

Dumbledore had taken Sirius to his quarters in Hogwarts after that. After the dementors, Sirius was more a sickly, frightened animal than a man, and Dumbledore had treated him as such. He had washed the grime and dirt off of Sirius emaciated body, fed him spoonfuls of soups and stews, and put him into a dreamless sleep in the first bed he had seen in over a decade.

He didn't care that Sirius didn't speak for two days, that all he did was ravage food like a dog then lie in bed and stare at the ceiling, but on the third day, he forced Sirius out of bed. They walked through the grounds, past the lake, into the forest and back again. The sights, smells sounds of the castle that Sirius had once known so well soothed him, made him feel human.

"It's time to come back now, Sirius," Dumbledore had said kindly as they sat by the lake. "Do you think you can do that?"

"I don't know," Sirius whispered, speaking his first words since his release. Dumbledore nodded, accepting of this answer.

"Harry would like to meet you," Dumbledore said, three days later

Sirius laughed harshly. "That is a terrible idea." He started picking at the skin around his nails.

"I don't think so."

"I - Merlin - look at me. I'm - " Sirius trailed off, rocking slightly without realizing. Dumbledore covered Sirius' shaking hands with his, stopping the painful dig of nails into flesh.

"You're a kind man, a good man, a strong man. You will get through this," he said. "And Harry -"

"Is better off without me in his life," Sirius said adamantly.

"That's not true," Dumbledore said, just as firmly. In all of Sirius conversations with Dumbledore, the man had remained an impassive, awe-inspiring figure. He was loving, but detached, to intelligent to be rocked by things like emotions, but he was now.

"He needs you, Sirius." Sirius shook his head.

"Why would a child want with a barely-functional disaster 30 year old? I'll just make his life needlessly complicated. He has his family and - "

Dumbledore shook his head. Sirius stopped, frowning.

"What do you mean?"

"He needs you."

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked, a little hysterical now. Dumbledore tightened his grip on Sirius' hands.

"He needs you. There is no one else," Dumbledore said. "He needs to be loved, cared for, he needs someone who will always be there. He needs his Godfather."

Sirius put his head in hand, pulled at the roots of his hair and let out an almost dog-like howl of misery and pain.

"Look at me," Sirius said, his eyes filling with tears and pain. "LOOK AT ME. Do I look like a stable fucking influence to you?"

With the agility of a much younger man, Dumbledore moved to deal down before Sirius, who was practically hyperventilating.

"I know that you have been through a terrible ordeal. I know that you feel alone, that you are in incredible pain, that you feel incapable of dealing with life -"

"Feel incapable? Two days ago you fed me, you bathed me for Merlin's sake. I'm acting like a child not like a parent."
"And look how far you've come. You're walking, talking, showering solo," Dumbledore said, a twinkle in his eye. He turned serious again. "I don't see a disaster when I look at you. I see a kind, wonderful, loving man who is strong enough to rebuild his life."

Reluctantly, Sirius raised his face from his hands. He looked at Dumbledore's kind, warm face for deception, but found none.

"You honestly think I can do this?" Sirius whispered. Considering he could barely get out of bed in the morning, he didn't see how he could.

"Yes. I do," Dumbledore said. "It will be hard, painful at times, exhausting certainly, but I know if you choose to do this, you can. But what I believe does not matter, what matters is how you see yourself. You have to decide."

Sirius looked up at Dumbledore, pale and scared. He wasn't sure what he believed

"He needs me?" Sirius whispered.

"Very much." Sirius remembered that beautiful dark-haired baby, the way James' face had instantly matured the moment he held him, the way Lily fussed over his every move, yet they still had Siirus over for dinner multiple times a week. He had been scared of losing his place in the Potter family when Harry game along, but he had been pulled closer. They had done right by him, always, and they had trusted him with what they loved the most.

"Alright," Sirius whispered, his gut cold. "I'll do it."

Fear licked his gut, but for the first time, so did something like purpose.

Dumbledore reached up and cupped his cheek.

"I'll be there, Sirius. I promise. For both you and Harry."

"Are you alright?" Severus asked, noticing how pale Sirius had gotten.

Sirius nodded. Severus looked down at his watch. "We should ask Hagrid about the Unicorns."

He checked his watch.

"Are you meeting Pauline," Sirius asked, smiling at him. Severus shrugged. "I'll finish here. You go."

"Are you sure?"

"Just make sure it's worth my time," Sirius said, throwing a wink towards him.

Severus rolled his eyes, but he did make the most of the evening.

"Ok, now, this is the best past," Pauline said putting one of her legs over Severus' lap. She peeled the wax paper from the vanilla cupcake and held it to his mouth. He could count her freckles. He took a bite, not taking his eyes off of her golden ones.

The cupcake was sweet and light, just like the entire day had been. She was teaching him how to bake, something he was surprising inexpert at considering his potions prowess.

"Next time, I'll make brownies," she said.

"You're going to make me fat." She threw her head back and laughed, a glorious, full-bellied laugh.

"You are ridiculous," Severus said, but he was smiling. "How about this weekend?"

She grinned.

Dumbledore was ill. Odd rumours about Voldemort and like were in the air. Yet, Severus felt something like peace.

He and Harry can broken through the veneer of awkward uncertainty that had held there relationship back. Now the child was content to throw himself on Severus' couch and dramatically recount his Quidditch practices or jabber on about History of Magic (A Wizard's History in brief had been a hit).

He and Pauline had another date, then another, then they were seeing each other multiple times a week. Severus was aware - sometimes uncomfortably - of her similarity to Lily. Both were frank, funny, smart, and both had that same, easy goodness that Severus found so alluring. But where Lily had fire and passion, Pauline had softness and patience.

Even Sirius, who was currently working with Severus to find unicorns, had added much needed laughter, frivolity, and companionship to Severus' life.

Severus had ideas in his youth and with diminishing frequently afterwards, that he might make something of his life. He hadn't stretched out under the trees with Lily as a child and imagined that he'd turn into a loathed, embittered, lonely teacher. He imagined greatness, joy, love. He didn't have those juvenile fantasies anymore, but some days - with Harry, Pauline, and Sirius -he felt like he was a version of himself that he actually liked.

xXx

"Professor Snape?" Harry said. It was another Thursday night and they were half-way through a plate of cookies and a chess game

"Hm?" said Snape, so focused the chess-board that he missed the uncharacteristic nervousness in Harry's voice. He was trying to find a play that would both teach Harry something and prevent him from winning at the same time. However noble Severus' objectives in teaching Harry chess may have been, Severus refused to lose.

"Do you know who Nicholas Flammel is?" asked Harry. Completely taken aback, Severus jerked his head up from the chess-board. Harry was not supposed to know about Nicholas Flammel. He returned Severus' stare with a wide-eyed innocent one. He didn't have all the information, just enough to ask questions. Which, in Severus' opinion, was far too much. Not wanting to give anything away, Severus cleared his throat.

"Doesn't sound familiar," Severus said. "Did you read about him in one of your books?" Harry shook his head.

"No, but I think maybe he could have something to do with that thing Fluffy is guarding," Harry said. Severus jerked his head up again. Harry met his gaze, looking a little frightened, but determined.

"How do you know about Fluffy?" asked Severus in a measured tone. Harry looked down.

"Potter, it is not your job to keep the school safe or to worry about Fluffy, alright?" Severus said sternly.

"But - "

"I assure you, everything is being carefully monitored. There is nothing for you to worry about," Severus said. "I don't want to hear about you nosing around this anymore, understood?"

Harry looked at Snape for a long moment, like wanted to protest, then nodded in agreement.

"Good. It's getting late. You should head back to Gryffindor tower," Snape said even though there was 45 minutes left until curfew. Harry looked a little put out, but quickly gathered his things then left. Severus waited until the boy had a 10 minute head start back to Gryffindor tower, than all but ran to Dumbledore's office.

"He's 11 years old. Merlin knows what he's gotten into his head!" Severus was now screaming full force at Dumbledore who was watching from his chair looking maddeningly impassive. It had been 20 minutes of this.

"The stone is well-protected Severus," Dumbledore said kindly.

"That's my point!" Snape yipped. "What if he tries to get past that dog? He already knows about it. What if he succeeds and then gets strangled by the Devil's Snare that would be waiting for him underneath!"

"Severus, I do not for a moment think Harry would seek that stone for himself," Dumbledore said, too serenely. He always had more faith in the children than Severus had. Harry might be good and noble and brave and all those things, but Severus could imagine only imagine the appeal that a magical stone providing eternal life and riches would have to an 11-year old who had lost his parents so young.

"You could talk to him, Severus. If you are so concerned."

Severus narrowed his eyes.

"This is about Potter's safety, not about your obsession with linking us together," Severus spat.

"My obsession with linking you two together has much to do with my thoughts about his safety," Dumbledore said, his voice flickering with annoyance. He sat forward

"I think it is possible - in fact I think it is likely - that Harry will have to face Voldemort again. I may be wrong, and I hope I am, but if I am not he will require certain skills, certain experiences that normal children do not have."

"He is a child," Severus said.

"Yes, and he deserves to be loved and protected like an ordinary child," Dumbledore said. "But I do not have the privilege of looking at Harry and simply loving him. I have to look at Harry and think about how he could will live past his 20th birthday, I have to consider how the Wizarding world will look on his 20th birthday. The most I can do is place him in the care of people I know love him, even though I know we will sometimes be at odds, and hope that way to give him protection today and in the future. My version of having a cake and eating it too."

"I don't love - "

"Don't do that," Dumbledore said. It was one of his rare harsh moments. "You may rail against the boy all you like when you mean what you say, but I won't hear a word of vitriol that you throw out there for your own self-protection."

Snape looked away from Dumbledore and stared at the wall. His heart was still beating too fast and too heart. Whatever he felt for Harry, made him irrationally angry overprotective. The thought of Harry facing Voldemort made Severus break out in a sweat. He did not enjoy these feelings. He rested his head in a hand.

"Love can be rather trying, can't it, Severus?" Dumbledore said cheerly, pushing a candy bowl towards him. "Sherbet lemon?"

Resentfully, Severus took one.

xXx

Severus reminded himself repeatedly that it was simple. He just had to figure out a way to keep one 11-year old away from the third floor. Considering he had manipulated Voldemort, this should be easy. Still, he couldn't figure out a strategy. Part of him wanted to yell at Harry, threaten him, make him so frightened that he wouldn't even consider going after the stone. The other part of him wanted to reassure the child, tell him gently and calmly to stay away, make him see reason.

Then - on occasion - he reminded himself that Harry might have no real interest in the stone. That he was just curious. He didn't believe it though. He kept going over and over strategy in his head as he patrolled the halls.

The children were asleep - or pretending to be - and the castle was quiet. Severus was alone. It was when he did his best thinking, what soothed his nerves, what made him feel whole when felt like less than a ghost and more like a human. It was almost a good thing Pauline had gotten sick and cancelled their date.

In a distant classroom, Severus heard the sound of voices. His lips thinned and he walked quietly to the classroom. The one bad thing about prowling the halls was that - inevitability - he had to deal with students who had snuck out to make out in empty classrooms, attempt illicit adventures or simply escape the dorms. If it was Potter looking for that bloody stone -

As Severus came closer, he realized that the voice he heard that was high and tearful. Severus stopped. Another crier.

With an aggrieved sigh and no small amount of trepidation, Severus pulled the door open. Quirrel was standing there, grabbing his head, sobbing.

"-get it - I'm sorry - I know I've failed - "

An odd hissing emanated from somewhere in the room. Severus stopped, dead. He had only one other time walked in on a colleague crying - Professor Sprout after she had to tell one of her students that her parents had died. Severus hadn't known what to say then, and he actually respected Pomona.

Get it.

Severus backed out of the room. Quirrel wanted to get something. It had to be the stone.
Severus narrowed his eyes. He had to get it first. With a deep breath, he walked to the third floor corridor.

He may not be able to figure out how to talk to Harry, but he was gong to get that bloody stone.

xXx

Snape was gripped his leg, swearing under his voice. His door buzzed. He frowned. He had told Sirius to floo directly into his own quarters. He limped over to the front door and pulled it open.

"Potter, what are you doing here?"

"I-It's Thursday night, sir…" Harry trailed off. Snape had never explicitly said he would be out with Harry on Friday night. The man just happened to be in his apartment whenever Harry came by on Thursday. He thought it was an unspoken understanding, but Snape was probably just sick of him.

"Right" Snape muttered. "I apologize, Potter. An emergency came up. Perhaps we could play chess tomorrow night instead?"

Then Harry saw it, Snape's leg was gushing blood. Harry gasped in horror.

"Your leg, Professor!" Harry said, ignoring Snape's scowl. "You should go to the hospital wing!"

"I'm fine, Potter," Snape was definitely angry now. The fire glowed green behind Snape's shoulder. Sirius stepped out, looking anxious.

"Severus? I got your owl. Are you - " Sirius asked. He drew up short when he saw Harry. "Harry! What are you doing here, kiddo?"

"I came to see Snape. Look at his leg!" Harry said.

Sirius looked at Snape's leg and hissed in sympathy.

"Merlin, Severus, come on and sit down."

Snape was starting to look distinctly bad tempered.

"I'm fine," he snapped, but he allowed Sirius to wrap an arm around his waist and take some of his weight.

"I told you to stay away from that damn dog," Sirius snapped right back, leading Severs to a chair by the fire.

"Fluffy?" Harry asked, following them into his room. "You're trying to get to the Elixer of Life? Why?

'Potter, this really doesn't concern - OW!" Severus said, swearing loudly as Sirius severed the bottom of his bloody trousers.

"Sorry," Sirius said, conjuring bandages and pressing them against Severus' leg with a sympathetic hiss.

"That's pretty deep, Sev," he muttered. "Perhaps the hospital wing?"

Teeth clenched, Severus shook his head. Sirius seemed to expect this reaction because he summoned a bottle of disinfectant and start it to lav it over the open wound, getting a grunt of displeasure from Snape.

As Sirius continued to fuss over Severus' leg, Harry scanned the room. Severus' usually pristine dining room table was covered with papers and spell books.

Harry scanned the open recipe: unicorn blood, elixir of life and phoenix tears.

Frowning, he continued to read the introduction. A potion combing three ingredients: unicorn blood, phoenix tears and the elixir of life, can break any curse or bring a person back to life if administered before a single human tear was shed over the deceased. The potion is simple - add equal parts and stir - but obtaining the ingredients is nearly impossible.

"Why are you trying to brew this potion?" Harry asked. Sirius and Severus shared a dark look. "Does it have something to do with Dumbledore's hand? Is he dying?"

Severus couldn't help but think that the child was uncomfortably quick on the uptake.

Harry looked back at the book, continuing to scan the instructions.

"It says only children can contact the Unicorn Keeper," Harry said, looking up, excited. "I could do it. I could help."

Sirius smiled indulgently.

"Harry that's a lovely idea -"

"It's for Dumbledore right? And it must be serious if you're going through all this," Harry said stubborning.

Sirius' smiled dimmed, and he turned to Snape as though tapping him in. Snape cleared his throat.

"While Unicorns are generally gentle creatures, there are too many unknowns and the forest is to dangerous, and most importantly Potter, it is the job of the adults to do the protecting around here and it is your job to focus on your studies and Quidditch."

"But if I can help, I want to," Harry said. Sirius was already shaking his head as he sat down on the seat beside Harry.

"No -" Sirius said.

"But -"

"Harry I know Dumbledore is important you. He's important to all of us. I know you want to help him and that it part of what makes you such a great kid," Sirius said, extending his arm out along the back of the couch behind Harry. "But it's far too dangerous."

Harry found the statement annoyingly coddling instead of sweet. He was 11. Certainly he was old enough to help the war effort even a little bit. Who was Sirius to decide that Harry was not mature enough?

"Sirius is right, Harry," said Severus, as though he was ready Harry's mind. His eyes were dark and heavy as they regarded Harry. "There are other ways."

"Unicorns aren't dangerous. Snape said so himself in class!" protested Harry fervently.

"Professor Snape, Harry,' Sirius corrected quickly. "And this is not a discussion. I appreciate you want to help, but my decision is final. Now, please go to bed."

Sirius met Harry's angry eyes with calm, firm ones of his own. Sirius had never spoken to Harry like that before, like he was a stupid child who couldn't take care of himself. Harry felt a swell of resentment rise up inside of him. He had taken care of himself for years. Sirius had been so gone after Pettigrew and missed the first years of Harry's lives. The years when he actually had been a little kid who needed someone to tell him what to do.

He had never been angry for Sirius about it before, but he was irrationally angry about it now.

"I am going to go into the Forest," Harry said, jutting his chin out stubbornly. "And there is nothing that either of you can do to stop me."

"You watch your tone," Sirius said, just as stubborn.

They glared at one another. Without another word, Harry spun on his heel and stormed out of the room.

"That went well," Snape said sarcastically. Sirius scoffed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Did I really just say watch your tone?"

Severus laughed.

"God, I sound like Harry Potter Sr," Sirius said. He looked at the door. "Should I -"

"You did the right thing," Severus said. "He'll calm down."

"Maybe," Sirius said. He didn't sound convinced. He sighed.

"Hows you're leg? I need a beer. Are you seeing Pauline tonight?"

"She's sick."

"Hm, I wonder if a Potions master could do something about that?" Sirius said casually leaning back on his chair.

"Black, when are you going to stop interfering in my love life and get your own?"

Sirius grinned.

"I prefer the sort of love life that doesn't require advice."

"I'm sure you do," Severus muttered in response.

Still, Sirius' words stuck with him and, hours later, limping and feeling a little silly, Severus approached Pauline's house with sweating palms and chicken soup from the little deli a few blocks away. With a deep breath, he knocked on the door. After a moment, Pauline answered, fresh-faced, in her jeans and clearly not ill. She looked a little surprised to see him which, Severus thought vengefully, made sense considering she blew him off.

"You're not sick." She stepped out the door, looking a little abashed.

"If you want to break up with me, you can just end it," Severus said, the humiliation of standing there with soup was too stark.

"No," she said quickly. "No, it's not that. It's - "

"Momma," a small voice said suddenly. Severus looked down to the doorstop where a tiny two-year old in pink-footie pyjamas stared up at Severus and Pauline with golden eyes and a slim nose that most definitely came from Pauline. Completely startled, Severus blink at Pauline who gave him an uncomfortable sort of smile and turned to the little girl.

"Fiona, this is Mommy's - uhm - friend, Severus," Pauline said. "Severus this is my daughter, Fiona." Severus just blinked at her, still in shock.

"How'dyou do?" Fiona asked sweetly, her voice barely above a whisper. Severus cleared his voice.

"How do you do. Hello," he said. His voice had spiralled up several octaves. In his entire life he had never addressed a child so young. The odd mixture of formality and youth left him feeling quite wrong-footed. She just continued to stare expectantly at him.

"You go on inside, honey," Pauline said. "I'll be there in a moment."

"Story?" Fiona asked, blinking her big eyes.

"It's very late," Pauline said, pushing a strand of Fiona's hair behind her ear. "You go pick out a book and get into bed and we'll read half, ok?" Fiona nodded eagerly and bolted back into the house, presumably for the book.

"You have a daughter?" Severus finally managed to sputter out after the door closed. Then another thought. "Are you married?!"

"No!" she said quickly. "I mean yes I have a daughter, but no I am not married. Fi's father isn't - well he's not in the picture." Severus' mind was reeling so much that he didn't respond.

He had met Pauline at 22 in the Ghangzou would. She was 32 now. It was a 10 year difference that Severus hadn't considered at all until this moment.

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything," Pauline said, glancing back at the door. "I haven't really dated since Fi was born. I didn't really know what to say or what this was. I didn't handle this well. I never knew what the right time was, you know?" Severus' mouth was dry.

"You and have been spending so much time together, which I love. I really do. But I needed to spend a night with my daughter," she said. Severus cleared his throat.

"Right. Well I should let you get back to that then," he said. He backed away from the door.

"Sev-" she started, stepping forward. But it was too much. Severus turned on the spot and apparated back the gate at Hogwarts.

He closed his eyes. Pauline had a daughter. A daughter. What the hell was he supposed to do now? Where did he go from here? He was so shaken by there thoughts that he hadn't even noticed he had made it all the way back to castle to his dungeon.

Everything that had once seemed so right was now so complicated. It had been a dream, a foolish fantasy to think that either he or Pauline would be the same person after so many years. He was damaged. She had a child. Perhaps their time had passed.

He lay backwards in his bed, his leg hurt. He was confused about Pauline, worried about Harry. He closed his eyes against the plethora of unpleasant emotions and drifted off to an unpleasant sleep. Hours later he was woken by an insistent knocking. In his years of being a Head of House, that knock never boded well. He jumped to his feet and threw open the door. Hermione, frizzy-haired and panting, and a guilty-looking Ron stood facing him.

"Professor Snape, Harry's gone in to the Forest," Hermione said.

"What do you mean?" asked Snape, his gut starting to go cold.

"The unicorn blood - He thought if he asked the Centeurs - "

"He did WHAT?!" Severus asked causing Ron to jump. The sensitive, proud creatures would find a human asking them for the secrets of the Forest to be an impertinence.

"So..well..he went into the forest -"

"Fuck!" Snape was already getting to his feet.

Severus sprinted towards the Forest, not stopping to think, not feeling the pain in his leg. He was petrified. The one other time he had felt fear like this, Lily had died. He stumbled through the marsh, through the puddles, his wand out, calling Harry's name with unapologetic verve.

He heard hoofs, and stopped hoping they were unicorns. It wasn't. It was a centaur heard.

Immediately Severus bowed.

"Forgive my intrusion on to this land which you have authority over and which is sacred," he said. There was a silence from the heard, which Severus took positively.

"Why do you come here, human?"

"My - a child - a student from the school - I've been told he has gone into the Forest. I must retrieve him."

"You think we would allow harm to befall a child who enters our woods?" Bane asked his tail flicking in displeasure.

"I understand you provide protection to all children," said Severus. "But I must find him."

Bane snorted and tossed his head.

"As all humans - you believe your methods to be superior to ours."

"It is one thing to rebuff offence, Bane, it is another to actively seek it," said a white Centaur, younger-looking with a lean face. "His worry for his foal is natural and admirable."

Bane considered this for a moment.

"The child is unharmed. He is with the One."

"You - you took him to the Unicorn keeper?" said Severus, bewildered. What was this world? It was Banes turn to shrug.

"The One sees to the protection of all foals. I do not have the right to keep a human child from her, should he seek her counsel."

"Fine. Where is she?" The Centaurs laughed.

"As if we would reveal those secrets to you, human." Severus clenched his teeth together. He had genuine admiration and respect for the Centaur population, but the subservience was grating on his nerves.

"Please. I only want to find the student," Severus said, desperation swirling within him.

"Wait here," Bane said, already walking away. "Your child will come to no harm."

"Wait," Severus called as the herd followed Bane. "Where is he?"

The Centaurs laughed and continued to walk through the Forest. Severus was too scared too move further into the woods after Bane's command that he remain in place. Harry could be being brought here. Still, the thought of just standing, of doing nothing while Harry could be - Severus shrugged that thought off. They boy would be fine. He'd be fine. He'd be -

A white light shone from the depths of the forest.

"Who's there," Severus demanded, drawing his wand.

The light came closer, taking shape of a unicorn. There was another, then another. Severus straightened up. One of the unicorns had a limp, dark figure on his back. Harry. Severus ran towards him.

"Is he hurt?" Severus yelled. The unicorn knelt down and slid Harry off of his back.

"Harry!" Severus whispered, kneeling beside the child. Harry was breathing, and his colour was good. Severus half picked Harry up and rested the unconscious boy's body against his.

"Why is he unconscious? What's wrong with him?" demanded Severus, continually checking Harry's pulse. It throbbed reassuringly against Severus' fingers

"Humans cannot know where we dwell." The voice that spoke was high-pitched and lyrical. Severus whipped around from Harry's inert body to stare at the owner of the voice. A woman, frightfully beautiful stood behind the unicorns. Her floor-length hair and body were as pale as the moonlight behind her. The long, gossamer dress she worse was somehow both thick and incredibly light. She seemed to glow.

"He's cold." Severus ran his hand up and down Harry's arm. "Harry?"

"He'll be fine," she said, blinking her Globe like eyes. Severus shook his head. "I would never hurt a child."

Severus was hardly reassured. He cupped Harry's cheek. worried about the late night in the forest, about the fact that Harry was on the cold ground. Severus took his cloak off and laid it out over Harry.

"What did you do to him?" Severus demanded.

"A sleeping spell," she said blithely. "He'll wake in a few hours, unharmed."

"He's your child," the woman stated,

"No, he's not mine," Severus muttered, not focusing on the conversation. He tucked the coat more securely around Harry's shoulders. The moment he did, an array of lights started to emanate from Harry. Severus pulled his hands away.

"Hey!"

"That is his soul." she said, unconcerned with Severus' worry. She cocked her head to the side, considering. "It's a lovely soul. See this," she touched a gold stream that was piercing Harry's heart. Harry groaned.

"Stop," Severus said. All of the sudden, Severus started to glow as well. The gold thread piercing Harry's heart pierced his.

"See," she said seriously. "Love between a parent and child - it is the most pure form of love. Other loves pierce different parts of the body, glow different colours, glows weaker. But parental love - when it is real - only ever pierces the heart."

Severus tried to ignore the statement and focused instead on casting a diagnostic charm on Harry. Nothing glowed. Harry wasn't hurt. Severus relaxed slightly. The moment he did, he felt a burning nauseous feeling in the back of his throat. He hadn't realized how anxiety-riddled he was at the thought of Harry's being injured until that moment.

He touched Harry's cheek. It was cold as ice.

"Time to go home, Potter," Severus whispered, casting a featherweight charm on Harry and gently gathering him up in his arms.

"Your soul is curious."

"I'm sure," he said dryly, not wanting to discuss his mangled excuse for a soul with the notoriously judgemental unicorn-keeper,

"You are a good man," she said. Severus stopped and turned around. "You pretend not to be. I find that odd."

She kept blinking at him. Severus didn't know what to say to that.

"Uhm-" he started, distinctly wrong-footed when it was clear she wanted an explanation.

"This child has been mistreated," she said. "Children's souls are delicate. He's damaged." For some reason, Severus pulled Harry closer to him. The unicorn-keeper continued to stare at him with her unnerving, fixed glance.

"He's not damaged," Severus said, disliking the way she spoke about Harry like he was a piece of dropped fruit.

"Yes, he is," she said matter-of-factly. "This child loves you. Love is dangerous. I worry you will hurt this child."

Again Severus didn't know how to respond. Her forthrightness was confusing and awkward. Severus cleared his throat. He looked down to Harry's pale face and skewed glasses. He looked so young and vulnerable.

"I do too," Severus admitted softly.

"I'm quite fond of him."

"I am too," Severus said.

"Be careful with him," she said. "The blood you need is in the child's pocket," she said in her dreamy, lilting voice. Severus nodded, staring at her odd, glowing white body. He shifted Harry's weight and nodded at her.

"Thank you," said Severus. "Thank you very much."

"Albus Dumbledore has always been kind to the creatures of the forest," she said simply, her beautiful eyes radiating. Severus nodded and turned to walk out of the forest, boosting Harry further up.

As soon as they were out of sight. He shifted Harry so he could take the thin vial of blood and place it in his own pocket.

"You really should lay off the treacle tart," Severus whispered as they continued through the forest. Harry's head lolled onto his shoulder. In spite of himself and the weight he was carrying, Severus smiled and allowed Harry's head to rest on the crook of his neck. Severus opened the front door to Hogwarts and quietly walked through the dark halls to the cool dungeons where his own quarters were. Harry spent so much time in Snape's quarters that it hardly felt odd to Severus to carry the child inside.

He was about to lay Harry down on the couch, when he noticed that his apartment was completely different. There was a second door. It opened to a second bedroom Severus had never seen before. Severus frowned and walked inside still holding Harry.

The walls were a warm beige, there was a large bed covered by striped blue and brown duvet, a dresser with a mirror. On the side table, there was a framed photograph of Lily and a glass unicorn on the side table. Severus had no idea how it happened, but he knew who did it and who it was for.

"Alright, let's hope this isn't a hallucination," murmured Severus as he laid Harry out carefully on the bed. Harry didn't fall through the bed, which Severus took as a good sign. With a spin of his wand, he covered Harry with the thick duvet.

Harry smacked his lips and furrowed his brow in slight confusion.

"It's alright," Severus whispered, sitting on the bed beside Harry.

Harry was still so thin and undersized for his age. Now that Harry was safe, the unicorn keeper's words were running through his head. Damaged soul. I am worried you will hurt this child.

He felt himself swell with protectiveness and affection. He had been trying to deny it for so long, but it was painfully, unequivocally true: he loved Harry. He loved him with every bit of his poor, mangled heart, and he would do whatever it took to keep Harry safe, happy. Even if it meant changing his entire personality.

With a hesitant hand, he pushed Harry's fringe away.

"I'm going to figure this out, Harry," Severus whispered. He had no model, no father of his own, Harry was going to have everything - Severus would see to that.

Harry continued to sleep, oblivious. Severus smiled.

"Good talk," he whispered, his hand still resting on the unruly mop of hair.

Like an anxious parent watching a newborn, Severus watched Harry sleep for a few minutes, watching him breathe until he was sure enough that the breaths would continue that he could leave the room and floo Sirius.

Despite the fact that Severus started the conversation by telling Sirius that Harry was fine. The man floo'd through the fireplace in the middle of the conversation.

"Where is he?" Sirius asked. He was irate.

"He's sleeping." Severus nodded his head towards the second bedroom. Without another word Sirius shoved his way past Severus and threw open the door.

Harry was still fast asleep, looking small and sickly in the middle of the large bed.

"Merlin," Sirius said simply. He sat on the edge of Harry's bed and rested the back of his knuckles on Harry's cheek, defeated now instead of angry. "Are you sure he's alright? Should we call Poppy?"

"He's fine. Just a sleeping spell," Severus said.

"I told him not to do this," Sirius said. The anger was still clear in his voice. "I told him under no circumstances was he to go to into that bloody forest!"

"Welcome to parenthood. Potter isn't fond of the rules," Snape said dryly, both amused and sympathetic at Sirius.

"He could have been killed! And where were you? Aren't you supposed to be keeping an eye on the bloody students while they're here, Snape?" Snape arched an eyebrow at Sirius.

"I am the Slytherin Head of House, Black. I can't be everywhere at once."

Sirius muttered something in agreement. "I'm going to have a word with Dumbledore about the security, and Minerva and Ron and Hermione."

"Don't forget the Minister for Magic, he certainly should have done something," Severus said dryly. Sirius opened his mouth to respond than realized Severus was joking

"I'm sorry. You're sure it's nothing more than a sleeping spell?" Sirius asked finally, running an anxious hand through his hair.

"He's fine," Severus said, sinking down on the chair beside Harry's bed. "Unicorns are gentle. They simply didn't want their habitat revealed. He will wake soon." Sirius continued to stare at the sleeping child.

Severus flicked his wand at his kitchen cupboard and two glasses and a bottle of wine sailed through the air.

"I probably shouldn't," Sirius said, throwing a nervous look at Harry as Severus poured him a glass.

"If you are going to stay here and watch him all night anyways, might as well be comfortable." Sirius laughed and accepted the glass.

"Alright," he conceded."You don't mind me staying?"

Severus swirled his wand and a cot popped up beside Harry's bed.

"Damnit!" Sirius said aiming a kick at Harry's dresser. "Merlin, I haven't been this pissed off in a long time. I want to wake him up just so I can yell at him."

Severus smirked into his own glass of wine. One of the first unpleasant lessons he learned from teaching was that children one was responsible for had a unique ability to get under one's skin.

One his second week, he had tried an admittedly over-ambitious potion with his fifth-years to show that he was serious about the level of skill he wanted the class to attain. One student - Aurelia Huxley - had put in wrong kind of sugarcane, melted her cauldron and burned her thighs badly. Madame Pomfrey had been able to put her right, but the fear and guilt had enraged Severus for days.

"Do you regret agreeing to raise him?"

"What! No. Of course not," Sirius said. "I just want to throttle him a little right now is all."

"The only thing I regret is that I wasn't able to be there when he was younger," Sirius said. "I missed nine years of tucking him in, doing up his buttons and worrying about his poor decision making. I'd do anything to get those years back."

Emotion was starting to pull at Sirius' handsome face, making him seem decades older. He ran a hand though his hair.

"Why are you asking this?" Sirius asked suddenly, sounding irritable.

"Pauline has a daughter," Severus said. The moodiness evaporated off of Sirius' face, replaced by a pure shock.

"Wow," Sirius said, leaning back into his chair. "A daughter. How old?" Severus ran a hand through his hair.

"I don't really know. Around 2, I suppose," Severus said. A little smile played on Sirius' lips, but to his credit, he didn't laugh.

"2 is young," Sirius said, because stating the obvious was so helpful. Severus grunted in agreement. Harry shuffled a little in his sleep and Sirius immediately looked back to the bed,. Harry smacked his lips and started to snore lightly. Sirius' face softened.

"I don't know if I - " Severus trailed off not knowing how to say what he wanted to say. With a pang, he remembered Michael who never could or would exist. Severus pushed that thought away.l.

"When you decide a child is your responsibility, they become a part of you, whether or not they are biologically yours," Sirius said finally. "I think you already know that."

Severus looked over to where Harry was sleeping and remembered the gold threads surrounding his heart. He poured himself and Sirius another glass wine. Regardless of the fact that Harry was fine, neither he nor Sirius would be sleeping all night. That, Severus supposed, was what those gold threads meant.