HP: Those Years Sleeping with the Half-Blood Prince

The snow had stopped on the afternoon of the day before school started, but the Cotswolds were still shrouded in a thick white silence.

The fireplace was burning brightly. Ian was organizing several notebooks he would take to Hogwarts, while Severus was doing a final check of the contents of his medicine box, his brow furrowed and his expression focused.

When the doorbell rang, the two exchanged a glance; there shouldn't be any visitors at this hour.

Ian went to open the door, and a blast of cold air, carrying a hint of crisp pine scent, rushed in.

Lily stood outside the door, her fiery red hair shining like a warm flame against the snow. She held Harry, who was wrapped tightly in a small blanket, in her arms, and James Potter was beside her.

James looks thinner and more composed than he did in his student days. Behind his glasses, his eyes have lost some of their former arrogance and gained a more mature look.

"Lily!" Ian was a little surprised, then stepped aside. "Come in quickly, it's cold outside, Mr. Potter." He paused, then used a slightly more formal form of address.

"Just call me James." James's voice was a little dry. He followed Lily into the house, instinctively protecting his wife and children from behind. His gaze quickly swept around the room before finally landing on Severus, who was standing up from the workbench.

Severus stood there, holding a bottle of tranquilizer in his hand, his expression somewhat blurred in the glow of the firelight.

He first looked at Lily, nodded briefly, and then his gaze met James's, with a short, silent distance between them.

Lily had already carried Harry to the center of the living room. She untied the blanket, revealing little Harry's fluffy black hair and curious green eyes. He waved his little hands, babbling and showing no fear of strangers.

"I hope I didn't disturb you." Lily's voice was tinged with laughter, but her eyes were slightly red. "You're going to Hogwarts tomorrow, and I thought... I should bring Harry to see you before I leave. Also, there are some things I have to say in person."

She turned to Severus, her green eyes swirling with emotion, pure and unadulterated.

"Severus, thank you. Professor Dumbledore told me everything, the final warning... Without the time you bought us, our defenses wouldn't have been activated so quickly. You saved our lives, you saved Harry."

Severus's lips moved, as if he wanted to say something sarcastic like "it was just a message," but looking at the innocent baby in Lily's arms staring at him, those words stuck in his throat.

He simply shook his head slightly, his voice low and hoarse: "...It's good that you're alright."

“No, this is important,” Lily insisted. She took a step forward, her free hand seemingly reaching out to touch Severus’s arm, but then stopped, looking at him more earnestly.

"And Ian, thank you... for everything you've done for us, all those years you were over there..."

"It's all in the past, Lily." Ian walked over to Severus, naturally took his stiff hand at his side, and smiled at Lily.

"The most important thing is that everyone is safe now. Come, sit down and let's talk. Would you like some tea? My mother just sent over a new batch of butter cookies, which are said to be good for calming emotions, although I think she's just looking for an excuse to feed us."

The atmosphere relaxed a little.

Lily sat down on the sofa with Harry in her arms, and James sat down next to her.

Ian went to make tea, and Severus silently put the medicine bottle back in his box, then came over and sat down in the armchair opposite him. His gaze was mostly on the leaping fire, and only occasionally would he glance at Harry very quickly.

Little Harry seemed very interested in Severus, constantly trying to reach out to him while making muffled "puff" sounds.

Lily smiled helplessly and gently coaxed him.

After the tea was served, there was a brief silence, broken only by the light clinking of the porcelain cups.

James cleared his throat, then suddenly looked up at Severus, his eyes no longer darting away.

"Snape," he said, his voice lower than usual, "there are some things... I've owed you for a long time."

Severus raised his eyes, his dark eyes calm and still, waiting.

James took a deep breath, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his knee. "Back in school... those things, picking fights, provoking, and... those silly pranks. I thought I was pretty great back then, using bullying to show how tough I was, especially with you... because I was jealous of your friendship with Lily, and I thought my way was right."

He spoke slowly, but each word was enunciated clearly, without any perfunctory remarks. "I was wrong. That wasn't courage, it was being a jerk. I hurt you, and... disappointed Lily many times. I apologize for that, for everything. I'm sorry, Severus."

He spoke the last name somewhat haltingly, but very earnestly.

The living room was quiet, with only the crackling of the fireplace.

Lily looked down at Harry, who was yawning in her arms, a small shadow falling from her eyelashes.

Ian picked up the teacup, but didn't drink it; he simply felt the warmth emanating from his palm through the porcelain.

Severus remained silent for a long time.

Just when James thought he wouldn't respond and was about to say something more, he finally spoke. His voice was flat, devoid of emotion, but also lacking the usual sarcasm.

"Those things," he said, "are long gone."

This is not forgiveness, at least not the kind of forgiveness where you shake hands and make peace.

But this is a clear signal that he is not clinging to those old grudges. At least for now, in this place, in front of Lily and the baby, he is willing to turn the page.

James clearly understood; his shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly, he nodded, and instead of continuing the topic, he said:

"I heard from Remus that you took over the position at Hogwarts. That's great. Your potions skills have always been terrifyingly good. You'll definitely teach better than that old fox Slughorn."

He tried to lighten his tone, but it still sounded a bit stiff.

"At least I won't teach them how to make syrup in a crucible on the first day of school," Severus said casually, picking up his teacup.

James paused for a moment, then forced a slightly awkward but much more genuine smile. "That's right, that old guy..."

The conversation seemed to have started a little. Lily talked about Harry's recent "feat," trying to make a teddy bear fly with his still-unstable magic, which ended up hitting his father's glasses.

James helplessly pushed up his perfectly intact glasses frame and complained that his son was "exceptionally gifted, but only good at ruining his own father's life."

Ian smiled and asked about the other two raiders.

Sirius seems to have finally understood Regulus and has begun to share his brother's burdens. Remus, on Dumbledore's recommendation, has started working as an advisor for several magical creature communities affected by the war. Although his work is not very stable, his mental state has improved a lot.