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Title: Second Chances (chapter 1/?)
By: Andrea Doolan (andrea.doolan@utoronto.ca)
Pairing: Severus/Harry
Rating: PG-13 to NC-17 (depending on chapter)
Archive: My site for now
	 http://www.touyaxyukito.com/harrypotter/

Summary: Years after his husband's death, will Harry and his son be 
able to start anew?

Disclaimer: _Harry Potter_ is copyright J.K. Rowling, and is published 
by Bloomsbury.
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	A lone figure sulked around the edges of the Great Hall.  The 
room was gaily decorated for the occasion, with floating candles, 
colourful streamers, and banners that read, "Welcome Back Class of 
1998!  10th Year Reunion!"

	Severus scowled.  This was all he needed.  To be stuck at 
Hogwarts on Christmas Eve, mingling with former students, all at Albus' 
"request."  Frankly, after seven years of teaching the brats, he 
could care less if he ever ran into any of them ever again, especially 
the class of this particular year.  Potter, Weasley, and Granger.  Not 
to mention Longbottom.  Good god, he had promised to stay at least 
until 10:00, and it was only 7:00!  The feast had only been over for 
half and hour, and Severus didn't know what to do with himself.  Better 
to stay in the shadows and just wait the evening out.

	He was about to make his way over to a promisingly dark and 
uncrowded corner of the hall when a ball of energy ran into his legs.

	"What the devil?"  Severus looked down, and peered into smiling 
green eyes.  This did not bode well.  Damn Albus for also inviting the 
children and spouses of the former students!

	"Sorry!" said the little boy, who Severus pegged as being no more 
than four years old.  

	"Where are your parents?" Severus asked in a voice he hoped 
wouldn't scare the child half to death.

	The boy just giggled and shrugged.  "Daddy's here.  Who are you?"

	Inquisitive child.  "I am Professor Snape, Master of potions."  
Severus didn't know why he was being so patient with the boy.  Normally 
he would have glared, and sent the boy on his way so he could go back 
to his solitude.  "Who are you?"

	"Jamie," answered the sandy-haired boy brightly.

	Just then, Severus heard someone calling.

	"Jamie!  Jamie!  Where have you run off to?" yelled the slightly 
panicked voice.

	"Daddy!  Over here!" called the boy.

	And then Severus saw his worst nightmare come true.  Apparently 
he would not have a Potter-free evening after all.

	"I believe you've lost something, Potter."

	Harry looked up into the face of his former professor with shock.  
"What?"

	"Professor Snape!" said Jamie.  

	He was bouncing up and down.  Harry reached down, and picked his 
son up in his arms.  He looked at him sternly.  "I told you to stay 
put.  I'll have to begin putting proximity charms on you."

	"Sorry, daddy.  I didn't mean to, but there's a big cake over 
there, and..." said the boy as he gestured to the desert table.

	Harry sighed, finally meeting the gaze of his former teacher.  
"Hello, Professor.  Thank you for finding him."

	Severus nodded, but couldn't quite look at the pair.  "How 
surprising that a Potter couldn't follow the rules."

	If he was expecting anything, Severus wasn't expecting Harry to 
start laughing.  "Honestly, he usually does.  But, you know.  It's 
Christmas.  And he's awfully excitable.  Listen, let me thank you.  
Come with us to a table, and have a butterbeer."

	Severus was truly surprised Harry would even offer.  Probably 
some damn Gryffindor sense of honour and fairness.  But Severus had no 
intention of making this evening even more painful.  "I think not.  But 
thank you for the invitation."

	As he was about to walk away, the child said, "Please, 
Professor?"

	Severus would later claim that he was possessed by irrational 
kindness when he gave his answer.  "Fine."

	Harry smiled as he led Snape to an unused portion of the 
Ravenclaw table in a sparse section of the room.  He hadn't expected to 
see his potion's professor, and he certainly hadn't expected to talk 
with him, but he had been the one to find his son...

	It surprised Severus when Harry's son decided to crawl into his 
lap.

	"Jamie, why don't you take your own seat?" said Harry gently, 
obviously trying to keep the peace.

	Severus was about to agree when the boy looked up at him 
questioningly.  "It's okay," said Severus, surprising both of them, but 
especially himself.

	Harry placed two butterbeers on the table, and a glass of pumpkin 
juice for Jamie.  "So, Professor, what have you been up to?"

	"Why, terrorising children, what else?"

	Harry laughed again, and Severus found himself liking the sound, 
and the smile it put on his former student's face.

	"No, I mean seriously!"

	"In truth, I have been doing various potions experiments.  I am 
attempting to find a better burn remedy."

	"Ah, of course!  More potions!"

	Severus took a sip of the vile liquid in front of him.  He much 
preferred scotch.  "If you must know, I'm also in the middle of reading 
Kirkland's new thesis on the affects of experimental charms."

	Harry's eyebrows shot up with interest.  "Really?  I just got 
through it myself.  I admit that a good quarter of it was over my head, 
but I found his overall results fascinating!"

	Severus was genuinely surprised to lapse into a conversation with 
Potter and actually enjoy it!  The boy, well, man, he supposed, 
evidently paid far more attention to Flitwick than he ever did in 
potions.  He also strongly suspected that Potter had understood more of 
the book than he gave himself credit for.  His ability to argue his 
point, however, did not surprise him.  Potter always had been a 
stubborn one.

	Harry, too, was surprised at the turn the evening was taking.  
Even though he had grown out of his fear of the man while still at 
Hogwarts, Harry never expected himself to enjoy the other's company.  
And all the while Jamie was sitting quietly, colouring on some scrap 
pieces of parchment.

	"By the way, Professor," asked Harry, "why did Albus decide to 
hold the reunion at Christmas?  Why not at the end of the school year at the 
real 10th anniversary?"

	"Honestly?  You know how the crazy fool loves Christmas.  I think 
he was just looking for an excuse to shower you all, and your 
offspring, with gifts."

	Harry smiled.  How like Albus.  The he looked down at his son.  
"Speaking of offspring, it appears mine has fallen asleep."

	Severus looked down in shock at the sleeping bundle cradled in 
his arms.  And he hadn't even noticed!  The boy looked so happy and 
content that it seemed to pull on something deep within Severus' chest.  
What, he had no idea.  "It appears so."

	"Harry, there you are!"

	Severus scowled as the redhead and his wife interrupted them.

	"We've been looking all over for you!" said Hermione.  "Hello, 
Professor.  Happy Christmas."

	Severus didn't even attempt at returning her smile.

	"C'mon, mate, we're best getting back to the Burrow," said Ron, 
as he nervously eyed his former professor.

	Surprisingly to Severus, Harry didn't seem entirely thrilled at 
their arrival either.

	"Is it really 11:00!?  I didn't realise it was so late.  Sorry, 
must have lost track of the time."  Harry came around the edge of the 
table, and gently lifted his son from Severus.

	"Wha...?" said the sleepy boy.

	"It's time to go now, honey."

	"Wait!"  Jamie reached down and presented Severus with his 
drawing.  "Happy Christmas!"

	Neither of the adults knew the child was making a Christmas card.  
The words "Hapy Crismus" adorned the front, along with a picture of 
someone Severus assumed was supposed to be Father Christmas.

	"Thank you," he found himself saying.

	"Professor."  Severus looked up as Harry called him.  "Listen, I 
know our discussion sort of got cut short.  And I didn't really thank 
you properly.  So...will you come to Godric's Hollow after the 
holidays?"

	Severus honestly didn't know what to say.  "I..."  He looked at 
the card again, and got that same strange feeling in his chest.  "I 
suppose."

	"Brilliant!  I'll send an owl, okay?  Happy Christmas!"

	Severus couldn't help but look as the trio and the little boy 
took their exit.  Once they were gone, he too made his leave, but was 
stopped just short by Dumbledore.

	"I see you enjoyed yourself this evening, Severus."

	Damn the man, and his twinkling eyes!  "It was tolerable."

	"Yes, yes, it was, eh!  Happy Christmas, dear boy!  You'll be 
down for breakfast, won't you?"

	"Perhaps," was all he said, knowing the old man understood he 
meant 'yes.'

	"Good, good!  Have a good night, Severus!"

	"Likewise, Headmaster."  With that, he strode out of the Great 
Hall, and back to his dungeons.  When he returned, he realised he still 
had Jamie's card.  Eyeing the rubbish bin, he decided to display it on 
the mantle.  There, now Albus couldn't fault him for not decorating.

	As he prepared for bed, he wondered idly if Potter would keep his 
word and owl him after the holidays.  Not that he would be expecting 
it, or, god forbid, anticipating it.  No, of course not.

~*~*~*~*~

TBC...