New Beginnings

Chapter 2 Changes and Determination

I Do Not Own Anything Harry Potter Related or pic/video above^

Septimus' eyes snapped open, only to swiftly close again with a groan of pain.

He now had new memories to sort through and a terrible headache trying to prevent him from thinking.

Finally, done struggling to sort his new memories, he starts reorganizing and rebuilding his occlumency walls, having to start from scratch.

(Turns out time travel and memory dumps lay waist to occlumency shields, who knew?) Opening his eyes, he observed the room.

In the bed next to him is a young Severus Snape who is subconsciously hugging his left arm as though his life depended on it.

Septimus softly runs his fingers through Sev's silky raven hair as his mind wanders
If someone had told Harry James Potter when he was younger that 'one day he would be related to Severus in any way other than a dreadful teacher and inadequate pupil, he would have thought they were insane.

Though after receiving the vile of memories along with a journal filled with the man's research and theories on Horcrux and how to safely remove and destroy a foreign soul piece from a living being without harm.

And while there wasn't anything conclusive, it did cite the goblin's trove of information on lost and forgotten magic. Unfortunately for Harry, he wasn't on the best of terms with the goblin nation. Anyway, Harry's respect for the man had grown exponentially that day, not that he'd forgiven Snape completely that came later with years and more wars.

After Harry won against Voldy, he'd gone back to the Shrieking Shack only to find that Snape had disappeared without a trace, never heard from again. And Harry was left regretting that he never tried to know the brilliant mind behind his many masks of Snape, not that he thought Snape would've let Harry close enough to know him even after the war.

There was too much history between them back then. But now, looking at the boy sleeping so peacefully, with the memories of a beloved brother, he didn't think he could bear seeing him grow bitter, having to sharpen his already witty, sometimes sarcastic tongue as a weapon for self-defense.

Maybe he could keep Sev from making some of the mistakes he seemed to regret most, at the very least be there for his brother to lean on when tough times come, as they always do.
That's something Harry had to learn young.

Septimus was snapped from his thoughts by his door creaking open and Eileen, their mother, quietly entered the room.

Eileen Prince is unconventionally pretty, not a beauty by most standards, but she has a certain charm and grace of manner.
And a lively and playful sense of the ridiculous.
Eileen's eyes sparkled when things struck her as funny it paired well with her infectious smile.
So rarely seen other than around her children.

Her dark, worried eyes brightened upon seeing Septimus awake and seemingly coherent.
Swiftly making her way to his unoccupied side
"Oh! my child, how are you feeling?"

Eileen asked tenderly as she lovingly brushed a piece of hair behind his ear.
"I'm a bit sore, but I'll be okay." He reassured her gently before adding quietly. "Although I'd be better if we never had to see that man again."

She got a bit teary-eyed then and sat down, then gently pulled him into her embrace.
"I'm so sorry! My stupid pride."
Eileen looked distraught as she continued. "I have let my stubbornness keep me trapped here and endangered you and your brother far too long. I never thought he would go so far as this, but never again!"

Septimus was a bit confused at her firm declaration.

But when he tried to ask her about it, she told him not to worry too much while he was recovering as she gave him one more comforting hug and then proceeded to try and drown him with potions. At least, that's how he felt about it.