Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

It had been 7 years since the battle of Hogwarts, 7 years since voldemort’s death. 7 years since Severus nearly got killed. 7 years since Severus tried to kill himself.

Now days, if you asked the students of Hogwarts what their opinion on Professor Snape was; the answers you would get would be unexpected - for the students that knew him before at the very least.

’knowledgeable about his craft!” - A ravenclaw 3rd year

”No where near as mean as he used to be!” - A Gryffindor 5th year

”Strict, but fair!” - A hufflepuff 2nd year

“A great head of house, despite his prickly - ok, mean exterior, he’s actually protective and kind of caring.” - A Slytherin 7th year

Professor Snape was a different man now. Well-maybe not completely different.

He was still a little biased towards Slytherin, he still wore black robes and a coat that billowed behind him, and he still had a glare that could shut any kid with an ounce of survival instinct up.

He was still Severus after all, not a polyjuiced Lockhart.

However, Professor Snape also treated Gryffindors a lot less worse now, he’s now an actually decent teacher, a little less unapproachable than before, and most notable of all, was quite close with Minerva and Harry. He had always been close with the Gryffindor Professor, even before - but Potter was certainly a new development.

Harry could be found publicly defending Severus, and Severus could be found allowing himself to get dragged to the Burrow for Potter’s sake.

He and Minerva recontinued their weekly chess meetup, and Severus occasionally met with Harry at Hogsmede for a stroll.

If you knew where to look in Snape’s office, tucked inside a book - was a small photograph of him smiling brighter than he had even been seen smiling, with Harry and Minerva at his side.

“I am not going, and that is final!”

Severus huffed and crossed his arms in a particularly childish way

”Oh come on Severus, surely you’re not still scared of social interaction?” Minerva teased

”Scared.” He repeated incredulously “Do I look like the type of man to get scared by an everyday thing?!”

“Well, you looked pretty scared when I performed that flying trick the other day!” Teased Harry

“I had a right to be, Potter! I haven’t spent half my damn life protecting you just for you to die performing a broom trick.”

Minerva chuckled

”That’s always your excuse when you’re caught acting fatherly towards Harry”

The Slytherin spluttered

”Fathery?!”

The two Gryffindor’s laughed, as the three of them continued to banter, strolling down the snow-lined path of Hogsmede.

———

They had, after all - managed to convince Severus to come along to the Burrow for a Christmas dinner.

Severus sat, trying to hide a small smile that threatened to peek out.

Harry was retelling stories of his school days to a young Teddy with Hermione and Ron, while Minerva and other’s sat nearby. She would occasionally add to his story while scolding him. 

”Oh, Severus!” Minerva waved him over

”Tell everyone how you got back at Unbridge for that Class Inspection she did!”

Teddy’s eyes lit up, full of young glee.

He loved hearing the story of the way his family retaliated against that Unbridge woman! Godfather Harry started an illegal defence club, while Professor McGonagall subtly tormented her in cat form and used weaponised incompetence.

”Snape retaliated against umbridge?” Asked George in bewilderment.

Severus crossed his arms

”I ‘retaliated’ in a much more, cunning method than you and your twin did, but yes - I definitely got her back.”

He started to retell his own vicious comeback against the toad.

”For one, I poisoned her food, not enough to kill her obviously - but enough to make her end up in the hospital wing for days. I also subtly replaced her personal tea stash with low quality versions, and I also added-“ An evil grin crossed his face “Harmless, but foul crushed ingredients into the tea bags too.”

Hermione, Percy and Molly looked horrified, whilst the rest of the people listening in - Teddy, Minerva, Harry, George, Ginny and Ron looked gleeful.

”What ingredients sir?!” Ron asked, he looked as if he was seeing Severus in a new light.

“Oh you know, flobberworm testicles, beetle dung, and-“

Molly cut him off

”Right Severus, I reckon that’s enough. You  wouldn’t want Teddy getting the wrong idea on how to behave will you?”

”Yeah, you’re forgetting you’re gonna have to teach me too!”

Severus waved them off

”Not my child, not my problem. I’ll take all the points I want if he puts a toe out of line in my classroom.”

Percy cleared his throat

”Well technically, Since Harry is the Godfather of Teddy, and you act as Harry’s ‘father figure,’ he could be considered your grandchild.”

“Father figure?!” He repeated incredulously “Wait, grandchild?! I am not grandfather age!!”

Everyone surrounding him chuckled

Minerva Wheezed,

”You’ve always said I’m ‘Grandmotherly-like’ who knew you were gonna get there before me!”

”I am not a grandfather!!”

That only made the rest of the house devolve into a laughing fit once again.

Arthur and the rest of the people who were celebrating Christmas with the Weasly’s sat down and had dinner together with the already gathered group.

The house was filled with warm laughter, as stories and conversation were heartily exchanged.

Life was good, life was warm, 

Severus Snape hadn’t visited the astronomy tower in years.

It was going to stay that way.