It was decreed that, should anything happen to Earl James Potter and Countess Lily Evans Potter of Godric's Hollow, that the custody of their son, Harry, Lord Potter, would immediately go to his godfather, Sirius Black, if he was younger than seventeen. James and Lily positively doted on their son, and spent many happy hours nurturing his play. When his eleventh birthday drifted closer, they eagerly anticipated his Hogwarts acceptance letter arriving, and were overjoyed when it did so, on the first of August, one day afterwards.

Sirius was frequently traveling the world, after a disagreement had him exiled from his family seemingly permanently. However, when word reached him that his brother had died, and later his own mother and father, Sirius returned to London. As the final remaining heir, Sirius took of the mantle as Lord of the House of Black, and Duke of Grimmauld. While this was happening, the Wizards' Flu Pandemic of 1847 – 1848 raged throughout England, and struck James and Lily. It was decided, after a lengthy discussion, that Sirius would adopt young Harry, and, once the adoption went through, Harry, now in his second-year of Hogwarts, began to feel a bit better about the entire situation, once he had landed on his feet.

Harry, meanwhile, had become close to another family in the Wizarding World, that of Squire Arthur and Dame Molly Weasley. Sirius wholeheartedly approved of the friendship which had been fostered between Harry and the couple's youngest son, Ron Weasley, the latter of whom was very comforting in the wake of Harry's parents' untimely deaths. Frequently, Harry would spend time at the Burrow in Devon, or Ron would come to the ancestral Black family home, Grimmauld Place, located in Essex.

Harry was avidly watching when all the Weasley children graduated from Hogwarts; when this occurred, it was understood that all of them would ultimately enter the workforce as quickly as possible. Bill apprenticed as a Curse Breaker at Gringotts Wizarding Bank, where he would ultimately meet his wife, Fleur Delacour, from France, who had crossed continents in order to better her English. Charlie had gone on to Romania to become an apprentice at their dragon preserve, and was getting along well with everyone there. Percy, meanwhile, was destined for the Ministry of Magic, and became one of the underlings in the secretary department underneath Minister Dugald McPhail. When Fred and George graduated themselves, they managed to pool their money and open a shop in Diagon Alley, with assistance from Sirius and Harry, which catered to the pranks they so adored. Ron joined the Auror Academy after his own graduation, and his own engagement was announced to fellow student, Hermione Granger, who was a close friend of both Harry and Ginny's. Finally, Ginny apprenticed with Madam Pomfrey, the mediwitch, at Hogwarts, alongside her own fiancé, Draco Malfoy.

For years, Sirius, everyone in the Weasley family, as well as Headmaster Dumbledore and his Head of House, Professor McGonagall, had asked Harry what it was he wanted to do. Harry carefully considered all the departments at the Ministry of Magic carefully, but ultimately decided that such a thing was not for him. After leaving Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Fred and George's shop, one day after going over the quarterly review, he stumbled upon a new shop in Diagon Alley, which was positioned between Quality Quidditch Supplies and the apothecary, called Prince's Confectionary. Perplexed at the notion that he had never seen it before, Harry cautiously stepped forward, drawing his winter cloak more closely about him as the snow swirled around him and pressed closer, curiosity finally winning out as he took ahold of the handle and opened the door, a bright, tinkly sound of a bell jingling as he entered.

It was considerably warmer inside as the door swung shut behind him, and Harry got a good look at the fare the shop boasted. It seemed to be much finer in quality than that of Honeydukes or Sugarplums, and seemed to specialize in all things chocolate, in all shapes and sizes. Creamy nougats were in one corner, while another one featured salted caramels, and a third location boasted dark chocolate swirled with toffee. Since it was so very close to Christmas, each section was done up in red, green, silver, or gold, with magnificent trappings of boxes, ribbons, and swirls of magic in the air constructed out of glitter.

Harry felt that he was being watched then and slowly turned his head, his eyes widening then as he spotted a man with long, black hair staring back at him, his ebony-colored eyes flashing with a moment of intelligence and recognition. "I'm sorry, sir," Harry said quickly, forcing his voice not to tremble as his cheeks heated and his groined tightened at the sensation of such a handsome man staring at him. "Your shop was...intriguing, to say the least."

"Many people don't recognize the art that is chocolate-making," the man replied, not unkindly, as he swept into the room. "And who do we have here?"

"Harry Potter, sir," Harry replied, bowing to the fellow wizard, unknowing if he was outranked, due to him only just obtaining his mantle (and fortune) as Earl of Godric's Hollow just after his seventeenth birthday—could it really have been over four years ago now? "It is a great pleasure to meet you."

"Ah, Potter," the man said, inclining his head. "I attended school with your mother and father. I cannot say we were close, but we were familiar with one another."

Harry blinked. "You knew them, sir?"

"I did. Oh, and I am Severus Snape, Duke of Spinner's End," he replied, something faltering in his facial expression then, almost as if he did not like his title.

Harry nodded his head; although his mother and father had mentioned Severus, they hadn't said much, other than he went to school with them, and Sirius had said the same, although always with a sneer. "I am familiar with your name, sir," Harry told him promptly. "However, if you were so close with my parents, why did you separate? I can understand taking different paths, but..."

"Your mother and father wished to marry after Hogwarts," Severus replied with a small shrug. "I had a desire to go out into the world and make something of myself. Despite my mother dying and making me the sole heir to the House of Prince, I still wanted to be a success, without merely having a fortune because of my familial connections."

"So, chocolates, then?" Harry asked.

Severus nodded. "Yes. Chocolates. I attended private lessons with legendary pastry chefs, and other dessert makers throughout France, Italy, and Germany. Although we do sell other things in this shop," he continued, directing Harry's attention to a massive case by the register, which was filled with holiday biscuits, cakes, and other baked goods, "chocolate always seemed to call out to me on a level that I couldn't even begin to explain to anyone. Of course, things are a bit slow at present, due to Remus not being around..."

Harry blinked, shocked. "Remus Lupin?" he asked.

Severus gave Harry the ghost of a smile. "Yes, I know you are familiar with him, as he has told me of you many, many times. He handles the biscuits, cakes of all varieties, fruit tarts, and custards. He and Dora, his beloved wife, were married last year, and Dora just gave birth to their son, Edward, called Teddy. He will be out of the shop for a considerable period, naturally, until the Easter holidays... But, I suppose you know all of this."

"Well, Remus only mentioned that he was in a decent business, due to the notion that the Ministry of Magic or Hogwarts wouldn't hire him..." Harry flushed.

"I know of Remus's affliction, and supply him with Wolfsbane," Severus explained. "I am a trained potion's master as well."

Harry let out a sigh of relief, whereupon he found himself straightening up then. "So, you have a need of someone to assist you?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Severus looked Harry over. "Do you know anything about business?"

"Yes," Harry responded. "I have shares in Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, actually. I am one of their silent partners, and go over the books with Fred and George quarterly."

"You took Arithmancy at Hogwarts, then?"

Harry smiled ruefully at that. "At one of my best friends' suggestion, yes. It was difficult to begin with, but her encouragement was quite fulfilling."

Severus inclined his head at that. "How about baking?"

"The Weasleys practically adopted me, and Dame Molly Weasley showed me everything she knew about cooking and baking," Harry explained, and was pleased that Severus looked quite impressed with what he was saying. "I love baking cakes the most," he confessed, and was rewarded with a more full smile from Severus. "Something about creating something from nothing, it's..."

"Magic," Severus and Harry breathed at the same time.

Severus nodded his head. "Molly Weasley's baked goods are the stuff of legends," he praised. "I suppose you've come up with your own recipes since then?"

Harry nodded. "Of course. My specialty is a dark chocolate torte with cherries, port wine, and finished with a rich, chocolate ganache."

Severus looked mightily impressed. "You have the recipe memorized, then?"

Harry nodded, this time a fair bit more eagerly. "Yes, sir," he assured the man.

"Do you use a cherry puree, or whole cherries?" Severus questioned him.

Harry looked up at the man and smirked. "I never give away the milk for free."

Severus returned his smirk. "That is quite Slytherin of you."

"The hat wanted me in Slytherin," Harry told the man, who raised his eyebrows. "But I knew I was better-suited for Gryffindor."

Severus nodded his head. "I see." He hesitated for a moment, looking around the shop. "In which other classes did you take your NEWTs? I assume Arithmancy was one of them."

"It was," Harry confirmed. "In addition to Arithmancy, I also took Alchemy, Ancient Runes, Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, History of Magic, Potions, and Transfiguration."

Severus looked mightily impressed by that. "Were Time-Turners used?"

Harry flushed. "Yes," he admitted. "Hermione, one of my closest friends, and I had the same schedule, though, so we really only needed one, but Professor McGonagall, Headmaster Dumbledore, and the Minister of Magic all signed off on it."

"And your scores?" Severus queried.

"O's in each subject," Harry confessed, flushing a deeper shade of red. "Hermione would expect nothing less. She made our revision schedules, too."

"Yours and your other close friend?" Severus guessed.

"Ron Weasley," Harry said quickly, and found himself beaming then. "He's in the Auror Academy at the Ministry of Magic."

"And you didn't wish to be an Auror, Harry?"

Harry shook his head. "No, I didn't, sir."

Severus didn't press him further. "Well, Christmas is a month away," he mused. "Business gets a bit fast at this point, as everyone wants chocolate-covered oranges upon the day itself."

Harry smiled. "I prefer strawberries with my chocolate," he mused.

Severus smiled a little at that. "Interesting," he replied. "Could I trouble you to come into the shop again, Harry, three days from now, to help with the customers and make some of that delicious cake you mentioned? It would have to be early..."

Harry nodded. "I could, yes. How early?"

"Four in the morning," Severus replied, and Harry nodded at him. "I can give you to Floo password if you would prefer."

Harry gave the man a small smile. "That would be wonderful."

After getting the Floo password from Severus, Harry made his way out of the shop after he also thanked the man profusely. He made his way to the restaurant district of Diagon Alley, passing by The Leaky Cauldron as he did so. Ron and Hermione had some free time for luncheon that day, and Draco and Ginny were going to join them. Harry passed by The Wicked Bat, The Giggling Ghost, and The Flaming Phoenix until he came upon a posh establishment called The Thorned Rose, where he and his friends had gone frequently, due to its fairy-tale like appearance, dishes, and wait staff.

Stepping inside, Harry was told by the buxom hostess that his party had already arrived, and was shown into a private room called The Dwarves Cottage. The restaurant itself was done of up appealing brown stone, polished beautifully, with stained glass windows depicting the tales each room represented, with the entry way being dedicated to Sleeping Beauty, due to the restaurants' name. Smiling as he stepped into the room decorated after Snow White, down to the stained glass of a raven-haired woman with red lips kissing her prince charming, and mine carts holding onto additional plates, silverware, serviettes, and glasses, he bent to kiss both Hermione and Ginny on their cheeks, and clasped hands with both Ron and Draco. Harry lowered himself into the seat, taking the menu on offer.

"You look happy today," Draco mused, smiling at his friend; the heir to the Marquess of Malfoy had always been a bit full of himself, but that had just added to his charm, and he had calmed down considerably when his twin younger sisters, Cordelia and Cressida, had begun at Hogwarts their fifth-year and Ginny's fourth. "Something happen during the quarterly review?"

"Only that Alicia and Angelina stopped by for a bit of a snog afterwards," Harry replied, sipping at his Gillywater.

Ginny made a face. "Please... They played Quidditch with us, Harry," she begged, and nodded over at Ron to include him in the argument as well. "I really don't want to think about anyone snogging them..."

"They are engaged," Ron said softly, shrugging, not really seeing an issue.

Hermione patted his hand. "That's right, love. And, if provided that no one was coerced in any way, it shouldn't be seen as an issue."

"And provided that they use Contraceptive Charms," Draco put in.

Ginny rolled her eyes, slumping beside Draco and huffing slightly. "You know very well when Cordelia and Cressida started their courtships Theo Nott and Blaise Zabini that you were at your wits' end."

Draco sputtered at that. "Because they're my mates, and they're so...so..."

"Seventeen, of legal age in the Wizarding World?" Ginny asked, affixing her fiancé with a penetrative expression. "And besides, Theo and Blaise will give them every luxury and comfort they're accustomed to. Plus, Lucius and Narcissa approve..."

"Well, of course they do," Draco snipped. "Theo's heir to a dukedom, and Blaise is due to inherit a wizarding principality in Italy," his gripe continued.

"I think we were discussing Harry's happiness," Hermione said quickly, not wanting Draco and Ginny to dissolve into one of their passionate arguments, which had led the Weasley and the Malfoy families to move up the wedding date on more than one occasion. Hermione turned to Harry, and although her expression was bright, Harry knew just how exhausted she was, due to her work as an Unspeakable for the Ministry of Magic. "Tell us, Harry," she encouraged him, and Harry could sense that Ron was holding her hand underneath the table. "What's made you so happy today? Did the quarterly review with Fred and George go well, then?"

"We're pulling in twenty-percent more business than third quarter," Harry informed her, and his friends around the table congratulated him heartily. "But, although I'm quite pleased about that, there's something else."

"What is it, mate?" Ron asked.

"Well, I went into a newer shop earlier," he replied, shrugging his shoulders slightly. "It's called Prince's Confectionary."

"Oh, I've seen that!" Ron said, sitting up, while Hermione, Ginny, and Draco turned to look over at him, in addition to Harry. "The one with the green sign with the silver border and silver letters, right next door to the Wheezes."

Hermione nodded her head. "Oh, yes, that's right. Ron pointed it out to me last week after we met Ginny and Draco for tea at Rosa Lee Teabag."

"Did you go inside the shop, then?" Draco wanted to know.

"I did, yes," Harry responded. "The proprietor said he went to Hogwarts when my parents went there themselves. Introduced himself as Severus Snape, Duke of Spinner's End."

Draco raised his eyebrows. "He's one of father's oldest friends," he said softly, and all eyes turned to look at the Heir to the House of Malfoy. "No, he really is. He was the first Snape to attend Hogwarts, Mother told me and the girls when we were little. His father was a Muggle, you see, and liked a bit too much to drink."

"Who was his mother?" Ginny asked.

"Eileen Prince," Draco responded.

"Oh! She was Captain of the Gobstones Club," Hermione put in. "She was a member of the Pureblood Prince family."

"Their only heir," Draco sighed. "His mother passed away after one too many arguments with her Muggle husband, Tobias Snape. Terrible man," he continued, and Ginny clutched at his arm as Draco's eyes grew saddened.

"What happened to him?" Harry asked, gritting his teeth.

"Tobias? Was sent to the goal and hung for how he treated Eileen," Draco said stoutly. "And good riddance, too."

"You said it, mate," Ron said, nodding emphatically.

Harry was about to speak further, but their hostess returned and asked what they'd all be ordering for luncheon. "I'll have the three little roast hogs, please," Harry said at last, as it was his usual order, which was stuffed with sage and onion stuffing, and accompanied by roasted potatoes and other vegetables, and baked apples for pudding.

"The Rapunzel salad, please, with grilled salmon," Hermione said, once it was her turn; it was a beauty of a dish, with glazed pears upon the delicate lettuce leaves, and was finished off with a trio of blueberry tarts.

"I'll have the cheese souffle, please, with the small meat and vegetable board," Ginny said softly; it too was a pièce de résistance of the restaurant, with the cheese souffle being fluffy and yellow, and the board being cedar plank, with sliced prosciutto, salami, mortadella, and chorizo, together with celery and carrots, and was finished with crème brûlée.

"The roasted golden goose, please," Ron said, smiling to himself at the notion of what he was about to eat; the goose came stuffed with chestnut and bacon stuffing, and was served with French beans and potato dumplings, and was finished with trifle.

"The pumpkin stew, please," came Draco's order at last; it was served in a roasted pumpkin, which had been buttered expertly, and its consistency was thick and very creamy. The entire dish was accompanied with a sizable chunk of freshly baked bread, and was finished with a trio of multi-colored macarons.

Harry waited until the waitress had gone before he turned to regard his friends again. "Anyhow, I found out that Remus is his work partner in the whole arrangement..."

Hermione gasped at the name, and casted a Silencing Charm around the table. "Wait a moment, that makes sense," she said, brightening. "Severus must be the one supplying Remus with Wolfsbane! He is a renowned potion's master, you know."

Harry nodded his head. "He had mentioned, that, actually. He also seemed to speak fondly of Dora, of course."

"Oh, Merlin, Dora," Draco said, rolling his eyes.

Ginny giggled at that. "Can't have a conversation about Remus without mentioning Dora..."

"He mention Teddy, too?" Ron asked.

"He did," Harry continued, "And Severus mentioned that he's given Remus time away from the shop until Easter."

"Mighty generous of Duke Snape," Ron acknowledged.

"It certainly is," Hermione put in.

"Well," Harry said at last, "I informed Severus of my Arithmancy experience, and the fact that I'm a silent partner in Fred and George's shop and did the quarterly review with them."

Ron raised his eyebrows. "Did you mention that Mum taught you everything she knows about baking and such?"

"Of course I did, Ron," Harry assured him.

"Wait a moment," Draco interrupted, staring at Harry. "You thought Severus was handsome!" he said, jabbing a finger towards Harry, most unlike his refined Pureblood breeding, but was nevertheless grinning from ear to ear.

Hermione gasped as Harry turned pink. "You did, didn't you, Harry?!" she cried, her own smile coming out to play.

"Oh, Harry!" squealed Ginny. "That's just marvelous!"

"Yeah, mate, whatever makes you happy," Ron assured him.

Harry flushed a darker shade. "Well," he said softly, "Severus asked me back in three days to make the chocolate torte..."

"With cherries?" Hermione and Ginny asked.

"With the ganache?" Ron and Draco wanted to know.

"That's the one," Harry told them, scratching the back of his neck. "He wants me to come in at four in the morning, though..."

"That's not so unusual, Harry," Hermione assured him. "My aunt Frieda worked in a bakery in Chelsea when she was younger, before she met and married my uncle, Chester," she explained with a smile. "Several times a week when Aunt Frieda was on shift, she would have to get there between three and five in the morning."

"But why?" Draco asked, confused.

"Baking does take a lot of work," Ginny said, remembering how long her mother took in the kitchen for a party, where lots of baking was required.

"It does, but remember this was a Muggle bakery," Hermione explained. "As in, no magic to light the fire, or to make the dough rise faster, and no Preservation Charms, either. So, you have to be sure you have everything in working order by the time the shop doors open, otherwise, you won't have anything to sell when they do. And, if that happens, it could mean the difference between feeding your family or not for the week."

"Blimey," Ron said, shaking his head. "I never thought of it that way... Do other Muggle businesses work that way, too?"

"Many of them, Ronald," Hermione said fondly, before turning back to Harry. "So, did you tell Duke Snape you'd be back?"

Harry nodded at her. "I did, yes. And not just because I thought he was handsome," he said quickly, causing Hermione and Ginny to grin at one another, while Draco smothered a laugh and Ron didn't quite quiet a chuckle. "I did it because I didn't want to merely give him my recipe for the torte..."

"As well you shouldn't, Harry, no matter how handsome he is," Ginny said stoutly. "Make him work for it, even if he is a duke."

"Mum works hard on her own cakes and things," Ron put in. "I'd hate for you to get taken advantage of, Harry."

"Luckily, I've got lots of recipes that are my own," Harry said quietly. "Maybe, by the time I make them all, Severus will have gotten to know me, and will take me seriously..."

"Take you seriously?" Draco asked. "You're of good breeding, with plenty of talent, and are respected by your peers, adults, and the younger generation alike within the Wizarding World, Harry. Why would you think Severus wouldn't take you seriously?"

"Well, he seemed to know who I was, but Sirius has made it clear that he doesn't like him, and perhaps that won't bode well for me..." Harry spread his hands.

"He shouldn't hold that against you, and, remember, what he decides to check up on, naturally will come to the forefront," Hermione said.

Harry swiveled his head towards her, alongside the rest of the table. "What are you talking about, Hermione?" he asked.

Hermione sighed. "Well, of course much of the job will hinge on how well you perform with the torte baking and whatnot. It could prove nerve-wracking to do so in an unfamiliar kitchen," she said sympathetically.

Harry hunched his shoulders. "I've dealt with worse," he replied brusquely, doing his best not to dwell on the notion that he no longer had his parents with him.

"Of course, Harry," Hermione responded. "But, naturally Severus will seek to find out all about your academic achievements, and your character."

Harry blinked. "How do you mean?"

"I mean that he will likely send an owl to Headmaster Dumbledore, at the very least, to try and glean some information about you, such as, why he should hire you in the first place?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "It's not like no one else has served detentions, Hermione."

Hermione huffed, annoyed. "Yes, I understand that, Harry. Thankfully it didn't make any difference when it came to your marks," she said primly. "He will likely want people close to you over the years to question your character, among other things. Who's to say he won't seek out the headmaster, Professor McGonagall, or any of us? Not to mention the fact that you're friends with Draco, the son of a dear friend of his."

Harry peered over at Draco. "You hear from Severus regularly?"

"Now and again," Draco replied. "He's meant to come to the manor for Christmas. I'm sure you'll see him then."

"Why hasn't he been there in years past?" Harry wanted to know.

"He did before you and I were close," Draco responded, "when he could get away from his intensive lessons in France. I assume he mentioned those."

Harry nodded. "He did, yes."

"And he'll likely be a guest when Ginny and I marry next spring," Draco informed Harry with a small shrug. "He's practically my godfather, although we don't stand on ceremony."

"Blimey, mate," Ron said again. "What are the odds?"

"But was he kind to you?" Hermione pressed Harry.

Harry sighed. "I suppose he was, yes. He even smiled a few times..."

"Merlin," Draco breathed, clearly impressed.

"What?" Harry asked.

Draco shook his head. "No, it's just... Severus must've been quite taken with you in order to smile at you so openly like that."

"The shop was deserted," Harry said quietly.

"Doesn't matter," Draco said quickly. "Severus doesn't typically smile, and hasn't done, not really, ever since he graduated from Hogwarts," he explained. "He wasn't close to any of his family, as previously mentioned, and only really had my father as a friend."

"He must have felt lonely," Harry said quietly.

"He did," Draco confirmed, "although he wouldn't outwardly say so. He fled to France, Italy, and Germany to escape his life, and to make something of himself. Only a handful of occasions did he come back—a few of my birthdays, Christmases, and the girls' christening. He almost never smiled during that time, and, even when wizarding photographs were taken, or portraits were painted, he looked stoic."

"Do you want to do this, Harry?" Hermione asked in the moment of silence that followed. "You don't have to, you know. I know we've all been on you to make a decision about your future, since you've never been content to be a lay about..."

"I know, Hermione," Harry said quietly, and straightened his shoulders. "But... I have to do this, I really do."

Ron nodded at him. "We understand, mate."

Hermione gave him a small smile. "And we support you."

"Just tell us if you need anything," Ginny added.

"Because we'll always be here for you," Draco assured him.

Harry smiled at them all. "Thanks," he responded, but didn't share with them that the main reason for wanting this position at the confectionary was to try and make Severus smile more often than he had done in recent years.