Work Text:
Note: I have changed Harry's kids names just a bit to make more sense for a world where Severus is their biological brother (and very much alive)
Hope you enjoy this one-shot spinoff of "If I Could Have Been There" <3
1998-1999
The weeks following the incident in the office were relatively calm.
While Harry had no memory of what exactly his counterpart had done in the past, the thought that had sparked it all—the genuine desire to make things right—had been his, just as much as his counterpart’s.
It’s not like he had expected to travel back in time when he said those words in the first place.
It simply came from a bone-deep realization that he regretted what he’d done and wanted to make things right in whatever capacity was possible.
And given that he wouldn’t have the chance to go back and fix things, it was up to him to make things as right as he possibly could here in the present.
Despite what Severus had said in the heat of the moment, Harry did not expect the man to simply open up and want Harry in his life.
They started slow. Harry did not wish to push the man and he was not exactly sure what he hoped for. The fact that Severus was 20 years his elder meant that addressing the reality of their relationship was beyond awkward, no matter that they realized the biological truth.
They agreed to get to know one another, and Severus invited Harry to his private quarters for tea once a week until the younger wizard graduated.
Post Hogwarts, Harry insisted they keep meeting once a week, though now they would meet at Harry’s flat in London and their nights would at times include firewhisky.
Not realizing he was echoing the words of his counterpart, Harry encouraged Severus to figure out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. Harry asked the man if he had any interest in traveling, for example. He pointed out Severus was free to do what he wanted –to quit teaching and pick up a whole new profession if he so desired.
The potion master had given him a strange look, and Harry had noticed the slight tug at the dour man’s lips when he muttered, “I suppose you are the same person after all.”
Harry had given him a curious look, but Severus had said no more on the matter.
The next time they sat down together, Severus had thrown Harry for a surprise.
“I plan to submit my resignation to Minerva next week.”
Harry gaped. “Really? That’s–wow. I guess, congratulations? It never seemed like you enjoyed teaching, after all…”
“That is true, I did not.” He looked at Harry strangely. “My reasons for taking that post are no longer relevant as you rightly pointed out. I… must admit it is a relief to be done with it.”
“Yeah, I’m sure…” Harry stared into the dark liquid in his teacup reflectively before looking up to meet Severus’s eyes again. “Have you decided what you’re going to do next?”
“As counter as this may seem to my typical nature, I do not have firm plans as of yet. However…” He looked somewhat hesitant at the admission but pressed on. “I took the opportunity several days ago to stop by Gringotts. It seems that… Lord and Lady Prince did in fact provide me with an inheritance after all… this is something I never chose to look into previously due to my knowledge of their disownment of my mother. However, after witnessing the events your older self shared with me, I must admit my feelings on the matter altered somewhat.”
Harry stared. While he didn’t have much knowledge of the other timeline, he knew his counterpart had shared many memories with Severus that night. It was rare that Severus would actually share any of this information with Harry, however.
“So… you’re saying…”
“I am apparently Lord Prince,” he smirked. “And as such, I have access to the vaults, abundant resources, and lodgings belonging to the Prince line.”
“Wow.”
“I do not desire any publicity, but I admit I am curious to see my ancestral home. Perhaps these resources could provide a buffer of sorts while I consider my next steps.” He pierced Harry with a sharp look. “On that topic, have you considered taking similar measures? You should have access to Potter Manor.”
Harry gaped. “I… I guess you’re right, but it never really occurred to me. And I don’t know, the idea of living in a massive pureblood manor just doesn’t seem… I honestly can’t even imagine it.”
“I admit myself to feeling similarly. My childhood home was cramped and desolate. I am not used to luxury of any sort, beyond those luxuries provided by Hogwarts to all its staff.”
“If I do go to check out Potter Manor,” Harry said softly. “Would you mind coming with me? I’m not sure I want to go alone and er, technically it's your inheritance as well.”
“What a ridiculous thought,” Severus sighed. “But fine, I suppose I would be amenable. I will accompany you at whatever time you choose to venture over there.”
He pierced Harry with a long, intense look. “Perhaps once I have gotten my bearings, I will invite you to Prince Manor as well.”
Harry gulped. “That… would be great.”
As it turned out, Severus asked Harry to accompany him on his first visit to Prince Manor as well. Having no memory of the place, Harry found himself enjoying it with pure, childlike awe.
His counterpart had lived here? It was hard to imagine.
Severus, on the other hand, had quite a different perspective. As they walked through the halls, Severus would gesture to this or that, guiding them through despite never having actually set foot there before.
The more they saw, the more troubled Severus appeared.
“It is strange. I know how these rooms were used, I recall seeing it all in your counterpart’s mind. I know this place meant something to him – to them. But that was another life. This place holds none of that meaning for me.”
Harry considered Severus silently before responding.
“True... But that’s alright, isn’t it, Severus? This is your life, after all. You should make this place what you want it to be. Whatever it was to him is his business.”
Severus met his eyes once again. “Strange that in the past I always fancied you an idiot, Potter. It seems perhaps I was somehow mistaken.”
Harry rolled his eyes. When he spoke again, it was lighter, playful. “Alright, so let me ask you. If you had a large manor like this at your disposal, what would you use it for?”
“Hm. I suppose that is a reasonable question. To start… well, if memory serves, the Prince estate does have quite the impressive Potions Lab.”
Predictable. Harry almost rolled his eyes again. But then he smiled at Severus as he said, “Okay then, shall we check it out?”
Christmas, 2010 (12 years later)
Severus Julian Prince gripped his precious cargo with immense care and with a glance at his wife’s beautiful bright blue eyes, apparated straight to the front lawn of Potter Manor.
“We’re here, son,” he gently stroked his son’s back; the four-year-old was not yet used to apparating.
At his father’s voice, Alexander Aurelius Prince looked up to meet his father’s dark gaze, a large grin blooming on his features. A soft gentle grip took his hand and he looked up to grin at his mother.
“You look so handsome,” she murmured. “Ready?”
“Alex!”
The three Princes looked up to see Alex’s cousin, Arthur Regulus Potter, was on the front step of the manor, his overcoat thrown on in a hurry, the child waving frantically.
Alex struggled out of his parents’ grip and took off across the lawn. Soon, the two boys were hugging and rushing through the large manor entryway.
“Severus! Elena!”
Severus and his wife stepped forward to accept hugs from Harry and Ginny as they were brought into the warm manor.
“It’s freezing out there! You realize you can always floo in, don’t you, Elena?” Ginny asked.
“Yes, we know, but Alex wanted to see the manor in all its glory from the gardens. It’s been a bit since we last visited.”
As the two women moved towards the family room, the boys having beaten them to it, Harry and Severus eased into comfortable conversation.
At thirty years of age, Harry resembled the man he had been in Severus’s office that night much more than the student he had been before.
They rarely spoke about the true nature of their relationship, but Harry had been a grounding, supportive presence in Severus’s life and had gently encouraged him to explore his potential.
And Severus had not let the time in between go to waste.
As such, his life looked nothing like the years that had come before. He had even changed his name, wishing to cast aside Tobias Snape from his person once and for all. Instead, he chose to honor Julian Prince, the man who had been a father to another version of himself.
When he’d revealed the choice to Harry, he’d seen the way the young man had turned away, clearly emotional. He understood the significance. But he hadn’t pressed the issue.
Harry was always rather hands off, which Severus appreciated.
Had the young man wished for some sort of father-son relationship, Severus would have likely recoiled and run for the hills. Instead, Harry had simply… been there. A supportive presence, always there when he was needed, not there when he wasn’t.
It was… nice.
And Severus could say, without any hesitation, that at this particular moment, he was content. Even… shocking as it was to admit… happy.
Severus had left the world of teaching that he had no patience for and, after a summer of becoming acquainted with the Prince and Potter estates and the wealth of knowledge and resources they afforded him, Severus had decided to dedicate his life to research in the fields of Potions and Alchemy.
It was through this that he traveled the world, enjoying the freedom to go wherever his research took him, slipping into ancient libraries in foreign countries, comparing discoveries with other brilliant minds.
And it was through this that he had met Elena, a fellow researcher ten years his junior. They had grown close quite quickly. She had a sharp mind that matched his own, and his occasional slips into snark and sarcasm didn’t put her off. If anything, she seemed to find their battles of will amusing, a challenge.
Severus was 44 when they married, Harry with a newborn in tow at their wedding in the Welsh countryside.
It was two years later that Severus and Elena had had a child of their own. Alexander Aurelius Prince was Severus’s greatest and most meaningful accomplishment, the proof that there was goodness in his life.
Harry’s second son, whom he had named Arthur Regulus, was born the same year as Severus’s own, and they were thick as thieves.
Harry and Severus entered into the family room and Severus’s eyes widened just slightly to see the extended family in attendance tonight.
Before he voiced his thoughts, James Sirius, Harry’s first son, saw him and immediately clamped onto his legs like a barnacle. “Severus, you’re here! We have lots of cool stuff to show you.”
“Is that so, imp?”
As the enthusiastic six-year-old pulled Severus to a corner of the room where a toy potions lab was set up, Severus had to admit it warmed him somewhat to see how much his gift to Harry’s children had been appreciated. It was clearly well loved and used frequently.
Severus had long since gotten used to the boy’s name. Indeed, the images he’d seen in the elder Harry’s mind all those years ago had changed his opinion of the Marauders to a large extent.
After showing Severus his latest experiment, James rushed off to play with a blue-haired boy who Severus identified as Teddy Lupin.
The Potions Master moved to find his wife but was stopped short by a gentle touch against his trousers. He looked down to smile at the red-headed two-year-old Harry had named Lily Eileen.
“Hello, Princess,” he said, kneeling down to look her in the eye. She raised her arms and he picked her up easily.
“Hi Sevvie,” she smiled sweetly. Severus smiled wryly. This was the only human he would allow to refer to him that way.
“Severus, it’s a pleasure, as always.”
Severus’s eyes widened slightly in surprise to see a familiar blonde approaching him.
“Draco, you look well. It has been some time. Though I must admit I didn’t expect to find you here.”
Draco smirked. “Scorpius has bought into Potter mania, I’m afraid. He and little Arthur there are thick as thieves. I can guarantee they’ll be ruling Slytherin before long.”
Severus looked over to see a small blonde boy playing with Harry’s younger son as well as his own boy, Alexander.
Though he hadn’t expected to see Draco here, he was not truly that surprised. He was well aware Draco and Harry got along quite well now and Severus had even met them for drinks from time to time in the last few years.
Narcissa and Andromeda had made amends years earlier and given that Harry was Teddy's godfather, Harry and his children were frequent visitors to Andromeda’s home.
That Draco and his family had gone to visit one day only to find the Potters were finishing up a visit of their own was obviously no accident, though Andromeda, Slytherin she was, had never directly admitted it.
But Harry’s younger son Artie was the same age as Draco’s son Scorpius, and before long, the children were inseparable.
From across the warm, firelit room, Harry leaned against the doorframe, a quiet smile on his lips as he watched the scene unfold. What he saw before him, in his old life, would have been absolutely impossible.
There was Draco Malfoy, leaning against the mahogany sideboard with a relaxed smirk, gesturing with a glass of firewhisky as he debated potion ingredients with Severus, who stood there with all his dignity, but with two-year-old Lily Eileen balanced perfectly on his hip, her small, chubby hands idly twisting a stray silver button on her older brother’s dark robes while she babbled happily, completely safe in the circle of their attention.
Harry’s throat tightened with a sudden warmth. To have these people – this particular group that had been at odds more often than not–here together as family…
Harry’s ruminations were interrupted when Severus and Draco took a seat and motioned for Harry to join them around a low table. The three immediately eased into relaxed conversation, with Draco, who had pursued potions himself, quick to propose some ways in which he and Severus could collaborate.
Severus basked in the relaxed atmosphere. He supposed it would be nice to visit more often. He and his wife and son officially lived in Greece near Elena’s family but they returned to England multiple times a year to visit Severus’s side of the family.
It was still bizarre sometimes for Severus to think that his side of the family meant Harry Potter and his family.
Harry and Draco were bickering now, though there was no heat to it. Strange how everything had turned on its head.
But Severus found he quite liked this new reality, odd as it was.
Early Summer, 2026 (Harry is 46; Severus is 66) - 14 years later
“Severus? Do you have a minute?”
Severus looked at Harry and nodded, smoothly standing and following him down a garden path to the Japanese teahouse he and Elena had installed on the grounds of Prince Manor the year they’d moved back to England to be closer to Alex while he attended Hogwarts.
They grabbed a low table in the bamboo grove and Harry poured them both a generous finger of brandy.
“I can’t believe they’re already eighteen.”
“It is hard to believe, I agree.”
They had just come from Hogwarts, where the three graduates – Artie, Alex, and Scorpius – had looked completely happy and very handsome in graduation gowns with Slytherin green tassels.
The party had continued on the grounds of Prince Manor, which had been lit with fairy lights and lined with long tables laden with cakes and savory food courtesy of the Prince and Potter elves.
The younger generation had grown up; the youngest, Lily and Hugo, both sixteen.
For Severus, to feel that he had a permanent place in this group of friends and family was something he never would have expected.
He treasured it.
Still, he found he preferred the quiet most of the time and didn’t mind at all following Harry away from the happy chaos to this quiet corner of the grounds.
“They’re happy, aren’t they? They’ve grown up beautifully,” Harry said softly.
“That they have.”
“To our boys.” Harry raised his tumbler and Severus and he clanked them softly together, both enjoying a sip of the high-quality spirit.
And then, Harry’s green eyes suddenly widened and he looked stricken as if he realized what he’d just said. “I–”
“Don't, Harry. I know what you mean.”
Harry sighed, still looking irritated with himself. He drained his tumbler but his mood seemed to have soured.
Severus shot him a look. Harry had clearly fallen into one of his reflective, self-deprecating moods. He considered attempting to knock the younger man out of it with snark, but decided to wait and see where Harry wished to take the conversation.
Eventually, Harry spoke.
“They seem so young. They are so young and yet… then I remember that that’s how old I was when I–” He choked and Severus sighed. As he’d expected, Harry’s thoughts had gone in that direction.
“Harry, you need to forgive yourself. You have done enough.”
“Nothing will ever be enough,” Harry whispered. He looked at Severus and to Severus’s horror, the younger man had tears in his eyes.
Severus wondered if he should confiscate the liquor, but Harry was talking again.
“I know we never talk about it. We never acknowledge our relationship. And that’s fine, I’m grateful for what we have. And I know it’s weird, what with me being younger than you and all. But… I guess I see Artie and Alex graduating and here we all are here celebrating them and I just can’t help it… I look at them and I see you. But then the illusion shatters and I remember I didn’t get to see you graduate, Sev. I missed your whole fucking life.”
“Harry–”
“No Severus, please let me… I just… I’m so sorry.”
“I forgave you long ago. I think it’s time you forgave yourself.”
“Do you think–” Harry trailed off.
“What is it?”
“Do you ever think of me… that way?”
Severus sighed. He stared at Harry and let his emotions settle. The wizard before him would never know his worth even if it was looking him straight in the eye.
Severus made a decision. If Harry wouldn’t wake up on his own, he’d have to help him along.
Severus stood, knelt before Harry, and roughly pulled him into an embrace. Harry stiffened in shock. Eventually Severus spoke. “You're an idiot… father.”
When Severus released the embrace, Harry looked so happy and hopeful that Severus couldn’t help but return his smile just a little.
“Does it truly mean that much to you?”
“I guess it does… knowing that despite everything, you accept me that way, at least a little bit…”
“Aside from the very first decision you made as a parent, I would say overall your track record has been quite positive on the whole.”
“Thanks, Severus. I… love you very much, you know.”
Severus couldn’t and wouldn’t say anything in response to that, but Harry just smiled at him warmly, his anxiety of moments before gone.
“Mind if we stay here just a bit longer? I promise to keep the conversation lighter.”
Severus nodded.
They sat there side by side and Severus looked out at the manor grounds where their family and friends were celebrating. It was a beautiful sight.
His life was truly one of contentment these days. He had a wife, a son, a career he enjoyed, and an extended family that accepted and cared for him. He was whole in a way he had never thought possible.
Severus looked back at his young father. Harry was still over ten years younger than the wizard who’d appeared in Severus’s office all those years ago…
It was true Harry had failed him terribly when Severus was a child. But the truth was, since that day in his office… there was no one who had been there more.
Harry had brought them to this clearing and let himself share a rare moment of vulnerability. Because truly, Harry hadn’t forced himself on Severus in this way, ever, in all these years. That he’d maintained that distance while truly feeling the way he’d just revealed made it all the more meaningful.
Perhaps Severus ought to reciprocate, just a little.
Slowly, hesitatingly, Severus let his own shields drop. Harry seemed to notice the difference right away, and his eyes snapped up to meet the older wizard’s.
And then Severus said the words that had been there, stuck in his chest, hanging thick between them for years. Severus had thought he’d never say it–the counterpart to Harry’s heartfelt wish all those years ago.
“I wish you could have been there.”
Harry's eyes widened. They were impossibly bright.
“But the thing is, you were. Ever since then, you’ve been there for me in every way that counts. And it does matter. It made all the difference, in fact.”
“It did?” Harry grasped Severus’s hand, his eyes not leaving the dark gaze for an instant.
Severus didn’t pull away. He held fast to the firm grip and nodded slowly as he met Harry’s green eyes.
“It did. Dad.”