Epilogue

Severus apparated onto the grounds of Tick Tock Cottage, having long ago been granted unlimited access through the wards, and strode purposefully up the cracked garden path. He knocked unnecessarily on the ivy bordered door; unnecessary since he had been told numerous times that he was welcome to walk in and because the inhabitants most certainly already knew he was there. Nonetheless, the door was opened by two black scruffy heads; one belonging to a young but tired-looking man and the other to the squirming toddler in his arms.

"Severus," Harry greeted warmly, stepping aside to let the man in. "How are you?"

"Should I not be asking you that question?" Severus returned. "You look terrible."

Harry barked out a short, loud laugh. "Thanks! Well I probably do, a 26 hour long labor can do that to you."

Severus took off his frock coat to hang on the waiting coat stand. "You talk as though you had to deliver the baby yourself. Surely it is the mother who gets that credit?"

"Of course," Harry smiled fondly. "She was incredible, again. I don't know how she does it." Harry shifted the toddler in his arms. "Look who it is James."

The mini Potter beamed, "Unca Sevvy."

"That's right." Harry grinned as his mentor rolled his eyes. "Say hi to Uncle Severus."

"Hi Unca Sevvy." James waved enthusiastically.

"Good morning little urchin." The potions master glared back and the boy giggled in delight.

"Come on through," Harry led them all towards the sitting room. "Gin'll be down in a minute, she's just sorting the baby."

Severus nodded and took a seat as Harry placed James down on the plush rug where he was surrounded by all manner of magical and muggle toys.

"I'll just get some drinks. Mint tea?" Harry offered on his way out to the kitchen

"Please." Severus replied and then realized to his horror that this left the terrible toddler and he alone together.

James, as if sensing his disarmament, turned a big gummy grin towards him and toddled on over to his knees with an armful of blocks. "Unca Sevvy, build tower?"

"Certainly not."

Disappointment flashed on the boy's face for only a moment before hope gleamed once more. "Unca Sevvy, build tower pease?"

Severus sighed in the long-suffering way he had long ago perfected. "Very well, but I shall not be doing all the work and I shall not be scrambling around on the floor. I can assist you perfectly well from here." With that, the Professor removed his wand from his robes and began levitating blocks from around the carpet into a small, well-balanced tower.

James, seeing this, squealed in delight and hastily began fetching his own blocks to join in the fun.

Harry returned when the tower was reaching heights greater than James, who happily shared his success with his father. "Look, Daddy, me build big tower."

"Excuse me, who built the big tower?" Severus interrupted.

James, finding his unusual uncle to be as bemusing as ever, giggled heartily. "You funny!"

"Hmm, hilarious." Severus gave up and sipped his mint tea.

For a few minutes, Harry humored James, setting him up with some quieter puzzles to keep him busy while the adults talked.

Harry had just settled back into his seat when Ginny entered, a bundle held preciously within her arms.

"Hi, Severus."

"Ginevra." Ginny accepted the use of her full name as she always did with the Professor, knowing the struggle they had been through just to get there. When they had first left school, Snape had insisted on calling her Miss Weasley right up until she and Harry were married. Only when he began addressing her as 'Mrs Potter' did Ginny finally put her foot down and threaten to suggest to her mother that the Potions Master would like his own knitted jumper for Christmas if he didn't start calling her by her given name. "You are well-recovered I hope?"

"Very well, thank you. Just rather exhausted."

"Naturally." Severus nodded. "If you require any potions, just send an owl."

"That's very kind of you, Severus. Thank you."

"So, 'Uncle Severus', are you ready to meet our newest addition?" Harry asked teasingly as he took the baby from his wife's arms.

"I suppose, if I must."

Harry chuckled quietly, bringing over his new-born to sit beside his mentor on the sofa. Harry laid the baby gently over his own knees and adjusted his surrounding swaddle of blankets so his face was clearly visible. "Severus, this is Albus."

"Albus?" Severus looked up from the baby to his ward's tired eyes. "Not particularly fashionable."

Harry smiled, "No, but we like it."

"You've made peace with him then?" Severus was glad that the boy had let go of his past conflicts with the memory of his headmaster.

"Nobody's perfect." Harry said seriously. "It wouldn't be fair for us to remember someone as if they were. But we can look back on their lives and remember the good they have done, the parts of them that made them people we loved and admired. Dumbledore was a man of great wisdom and great love. Those are both qualities I hope my son grows up knowing."

Severus nodded and placed a hand on his ward's shoulder as though it would help to settle the gravity of his words. "Albus Dumbledore loved you greatly Harry, I do believe he would be honoured to be the namesake of your son."

Harry and Ginny shared a look which Severus missed as he inspected the baby closely. "We've chosen a middle name too." Ginny began, somewhat cautiously.

"Oh?" Severus looked up curiously then grimaced at the young parents' nervous expressions. "Oh Merlin. Albus Remus? Really? The poor boy doesn't stand a chance."

"No, we-"

"I appreciate this is entirely your decision, but think of his sorting when 'Albus Remus Potter' is called up. It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue."

"Severus, stop!" Harry halted his Professor's rant. "We haven't called him Albus Remus."

"We thought we'd leave Remus for Teddy to use when he's older." Said Ginny

"Ah, so what is the baby's name?"

"Well," Harry looked at his wife for reassurance. "We both decided that his full name should be, Albus Severus Potter."

The room stilled with only James' nonsensical mutterings breaking the silence. Harry realized suddenly that he had never seen his Professor look shocked before, the expression alien on his usually stoic face. If he wasn't so nervous about the man's reaction, Harry might have been amused.

At last Severus opened his mouth to speak, almost rasping, "Albus Severus?"

"That's right." Ginny confirmed.

"Severus?" He asked again, looking for confirmation from Harry this time.

"Severus." Harry nodded.

After another moment, the Professor seemed to come back to himself. "Why on earth would you do such a thing?"

Harry looked fondly down at the stirring baby on his lap. "We gave him wisdom and love from Albus and thought he should have some courage and loyalty in his name too."

"Merlin knows why you've given him the name 'Severus' then." The Professor snarked.

"Severus Snape," Harry said seriously, looking sternly into the Professor's eyes with a tone that was not to be argued with. "You are the bravest man I have ever known."

Severus sighed knowing the boy would not relent. "Is there not another name you'd prefer? Something more traditional?" He wasn't sure why the thought of the baby being named after him made his insides squirm.

Ginny smiled, "It's traditional for family names to be passed through generations."

"Exactly!" Severus gestured over to the new mother of two. "There must be plenty of Weasley names you could choose!"

Harry placed a hand on Severus' shoulder. "You are my family."

And how could he argue that? When he had taken such great pains to convince the boy of that fact himself. Harry Potter was very much his family and so, by extension, was the little bundle before him.

Harry allowed the man some quiet before asking gently, "Would you like to hold him?"

Not sure he could speak for the moment, Severus nodded his head in a jerky affirmative and gently took the baby from Harry's arms when he was offered. The movement roused the baby further and for a second Severus feared he would cry, but Albus merely wriggled his body closer to the warmth of Severus' chest and settled there.

Harry and Ginny continued talking quietly – something to do with arrangements for Sunday lunch at the Burrow. Severus knew without it being explicitly stated that he would be invited and expected to attend, as he was nearly once a month. He had been so lonely for so long and then somehow, all of a sudden, he had a son and then a whole family. He looked down at the baby in his arms. The baby stirred, blinking open tiny eyes of emerald green.

He had somehow acquired a family – and he didn't seem to mind at all.

AN: The End.

I can't believe what a mission it has been to finish this story! I just want to take a moment to thank those that have stuck with this story over the years and a special thank you to those who have reviewed and kept me going with you positive responses to this story.

I have already had a few queries about a sequel and sadly there is no sequel in the pipeline for this story. Instead, I have started writing a 'good Malfoys' story with similar mentorship vibes as this and have also got some early plans for a Spiderman story. Neither are published at all yet but the Malfoy story will hopefully start appearing before the end of the year and is likely to be titled: The Highest Tribute, so keep an eye out for that.

Thank you again for reading. xx