Chapter 1

A/N This is an answer to a challenge on Potions and Snitches: Lost Brother of Severus. This starts just after the trio save Sirius and Snape attempts to protect the trio. That scene was not in the book and is taken from the movie. Harry doesn't know Snape's first name yet. Some mention of child abuse, not graphic.

Disclaimer I do not own any characters you recognize, they all belong to my hero, JK Rowling. I am making no money off this.

Italics: Dreams or memories

June 6th (evening)

Harry:

'No dad, leave him alone!'

'Don't you see the mess he's made? He has to learn that it is unacceptable.'

Severus threw himself in front of Clement, who let out a whimper.

'Severus, get the hell out of the way, and let me discipline my child,' shouted Tobias.

'No, Clement didn't mean to, it was an accident, please just leave him alone!'

A glass shattered behind Tobias causing him to turn, while Severus and Clement ran through the front door.

He was in a dark room, moonlight filtering in from the window. The door creaked open and he watched it fearfully.

'Clement? Are you alright?' asked a soft voice, which belonged to his brother.

'It was scary, and I swear I didn't mean too. I wish you'd been there.'

'I'm sorry, I'll try to be here next time, I just needed to get away for a while, I'm so sorry. Would you like me to sneak you a potion from mum's cupboard?'

'You know how to get at them? Mum said we couldn't, and it's locked.'

'Maybe if my need is big enough, it worked once.'

'Please, my back really hurts.'

'I'll be back.'

'Sev, are you awake?'

'Yes, it's dawn, see? Come watch.'

Clement went and joined his dark haired brother at the window.

'It's beautiful.'

'I know.'

'Sev?'

'Yeah,' replied Severus, looking at his brother.'

'Why is daddy always so angry?'

'I- He- It's just that he, just doesn't really like magic, I guess.'

'Why, you said it was a gift.'

'It is, never think any different, it's just that, well mum said there was an attack by some bad people. And whatever they did changed him, mum said he was once really nice. Sometimes I can remember him holding me, gently you know, like mum does? But he turned to drinks and that makes things way worse, but mum says it helps him feel better.

'I don't understand'

'Neither do I, let's just enjoy the sunset.'

'And I saw her just on that swing, she's really pretty, with red hair and her eyes are really bright green.'

'Is she the one you've been watching?'

'Yeah, and she was talking to her sister about the stuff she does, and it's like what we do sometimes. And I told her she was a witch, like mum. And then she got upset and ran home,' sighed Severus looking longingly at the swing.

'Maybe you could try again.'

'I suppose, I don't want to leave you at home alone again though. You'll have to at least play here when I try.'

'Sure Sev, when you two are friends you'll introduce me right?'

'Course, who wouldn't want to meet you?'

'And this is my little brother, Clement,' said Severus proudly, 'and Clement this is Lily, remember I told you about her?'

'He's adorable,' grinned Lily, 'can he do magic too?'

'Of course,' piped Clement, 'Sev says I'll be a powerful wizard one day.'

'All three of us will get the letter, Petunia won't though. She's only a Muggle, and Clement will have to wait a couple of years but soon we'll all be at Hogwarts, away from this place,' said Severus, leaning against a tree watching his audience.

'And where do we go to get school supplies?' asked Lily.

'Diagon Alley,' said Clement, 'mum told me it's got the most wonderful shops.'

'Stealing my questions, Clement?' asked Severus playfully, 'that won't do.'

Severus leapt on Clement; his fingers sought out Clements weakest point, and tickled him mercilessly.

'No, stop, Sev, please,' cried Clement.

Lily laughed.

Harry woke suddenly in the darkness of the hospital wing, glancing at Ron and Hermione's beds to ensure he hadn't woken them. His head buzzed with questions. Who were all these people, and could this Lily of his dream, be his mother? Despite the questions, Harry was able to sleep once more.

July 31st

Severus:

A tall man stooped low in a small room, lit only by one tiny window. He was clutching an old, black and white photograph, showing which showed two boys, identical had it not been for the difference in their age, whom had their arms slung over each other's shoulders, smiling at the camera.

'Clement,' murmured the black haired man, 'where are you, or do you still live?'

Severus Snape sat on the old mattress, his face devoid of emotion, as he remembered another July 31st.

He was 10 and he and Clement and snuck out of the house and crept to the park.

'Isn't the full moon majestic?' asked Severus quietly.

'It's beautiful,' agreed Clement.

The two gazed up at the sky, pointing out different constellations. There was a sound in the bushes and Severus glanced away for a moment. When he looked back, Clement was gone.

'Clement!' he shouted desperately, 'please this isn't funny, where are you?'

He had spent the rest of the night searching.

Snape would never forget the desperation, the fear, and the pain, that his younger brother's disappearance had brought.

A/N This is my first multi-chaptered fic, so i hope to be able to review once a week on Mondays or Sundays. Please leave a review and let me know what could be improved on and what you liked. Thanks