The cozy, warm interior of the Potter family home in Godric's Hollow was filled with laughter and conversation. The sun was setting, casting a soft golden glow through the windows, and the family had gathered around the dinner table, enjoying the evening together. Lily and James sat across from their three children: Harry, who had just returned from Hogwarts for the summer holiday; Jasmine, who was on the cusp of her first year at Hogwarts; and Pollyanne, who was still too young for the magical school but full of curious questions about everything.
Lily leaned back in her chair, a smile tugging at her lips as she looked at her children. They were all growing so fast—especially Harry, who was now 12 and had already made quite a name for himself at Hogwarts. Jasmine, only a year younger, was bubbling with excitement as she prepared for her own first year, while little Pollyanne had a mind that never stopped, always asking questions and imagining new possibilities.
"Alright, children," Lily began, her voice warm with affection. "Let me tell you a story about my childhood. You might find it hard to believe, but I used to know Severus Snape—before he became Severus Prince."
James raised an eyebrow, though there was a playful glint in his eye. "Oh, this ought to be good. Snape? Your Snape? The one who was always so... moody?" he teased.
Lily chuckled, swatting him lightly on the arm. "Yes, James, that Severus. And before he became all brooding and mysterious, he was just a boy. In fact, we were actually friends—well, kind of."
The three children looked at her with wide eyes, clearly unconvinced. Harry, in particular, raised an eyebrow, leaning forward with skepticism written all over his face. "You were friends with Severus Prince? Mum, are you sure?"
Lily smiled gently, her gaze turning distant as she recalled her childhood. "It's true, Harry. We went to Hogwarts together—Severus and I, and many of the other familiar faces you've heard about. We were in the same year, and we spent a lot of time together. But then things changed. It's a long story, and a complicated one, but back then, we were just two kids trying to make our way through the magical world."
Jasmine, her eyes alight with curiosity, spoke up next. "I've heard about Severus Prince. He's the genius billionaire, right? The one who made those amazing inventions. My friends at school talk about him all the time. Everyone's going on about his new spellproof clothing line, and his potions that help Muggles."
Harry nodded, a bit more interested now. "I've heard that too. He's kind of a big deal, isn't he?"
Lily couldn't help but chuckle at their excitement. "Yes, he is. But believe it or not, Severus was nothing like that when I knew him. He didn't have any of that ambition or drive. He was quiet, studious, and, well, very different from the man you know now. Back then, he was just a boy trying to figure himself out."
Pollyanne, who had been silent up until now, tugged at her mother's sleeve. "So... you knew him when he was Severus Snape, and then he became Severus Prince? That's like... like a story from a fairytale!"
James laughed, clearly amused by Pollyanne's comment. "It does sound like one, doesn't it? The quiet, brooding boy who grew up to be a billionaire. Maybe we'll even see him at the Ministry event next month."
Jasmine, still fascinated by the story, tilted her head. "Mum, do you think Severus invented the best thing from Prince Enterprises?"
Lily smiled, the gleam of pride in her eyes unmistakable. "Well, he was a part of many groundbreaking inventions. But I think what he did for the Muggle world—using magic to help them, to improve their lives—was the most important."
"Hold on a minute," Harry interrupted, suddenly leaning forward with excitement. "You all talk about inventions, but nothing beats the Potter family's Invisibility Cloak! That's by far the best thing I've got."
The room quieted as the topic of the cloak arose. The Potter family had been famous for their connection to the legendary Invisibility Cloak, one of the fabled Deathly Hallows. Harry had been given the cloak by his father when he was just a baby, and ever since his first year at Hogwarts, it had become an invaluable tool for his adventures and escapades.
James, seeing his son's enthusiasm, grinned. "Ah, that's right! Nothing beats a good old-fashioned Invisibility Cloak. You know, Harry, I think it's time I told the story of the Peverell brothers again."
Jasmine's eyes widened. "The Peverell brothers? You mean, the ones who made the Hallows?"
Harry and Pollyanne both turned to their father, eager to hear the tale once more. They had heard the story before, but it was always a favorite, and it had become a sort of family legend.
"Yes," James said, leaning back in his chair, his face taking on a thoughtful expression. "The Peverell brothers—Ignotus, Antioch, and Cadmus—were three brothers who lived long ago. They were skilled wizards, and each of them was granted one of the three Deathly Hallows, which are considered to be the most powerful magical artifacts in history. The Hallows themselves are the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Invisibility Cloak."
"Wait," Pollyanne said, her eyes wide with curiosity. "I thought the Elder Wand and the Resurrection Stone were both lost forever?"
"They were," James replied, nodding. "But the Invisibility Cloak was passed down through generations, eventually making its way into the Potter family. That's how it came to us. Harry was given it when he was just a baby."
Lily nodded, smiling at her husband. "James is right. The cloak was passed down through the years, kept safe and hidden by each family. It was a gift from the brother Ignotus Peverell, who gave it away as a way of ensuring that he would never be found by Death himself. After all, the cloak allowed its wearer to vanish completely, to disappear from the mortal world at will."
Harry sat up straighter. "So, the cloak was never really lost then?"
"No," Lily said, shaking her head. "The cloak was passed down, and in each generation, it was kept hidden, its power kept secret. The last time it was used was by your father, Harry. It's one of the reasons the cloak is so special—it's one of the only remaining Hallows."
Jasmine raised her hand, excited. "Does that mean that if I had the cloak, I could disappear too?"
James laughed. "Not just you, Jasmine. Anyone who wears the cloak can disappear. But it's a very special item, and it's not something we take lightly."
Harry looked down thinking about the cloak hanging in his closet upstairs, the object that had been with him through so many challenges. His thoughts drifted back to his first year at Hogwarts, when he had first used it to sneak around the castle and escape danger. It had kept him safe more times than he could count, and he had always known it was valuable, but hearing the story of the Peverell brothers once again made him appreciate its significance even more.
"Yeah," Harry said quietly, "it's the best thing I've ever had."
James smiled warmly at his son. "That's because it's a part of you, Harry. The cloak has been in our family for generations, and now it's yours. You're carrying on that legacy, just like Severus is carrying on his own."
Pollyanne, her face alight with wonder, clapped her hands. "Wow, that's amazing! The best invention in the world is the cloak!"
Lily chuckled, nodding in agreement. "It certainly has its place in history."
"Alright, alright," James interjected with a wink, "while the Invisibility Cloak is an impressive family heirloom, we're still not going to forget Severus and his company. After all, without him, Muggles would still be without all those great inventions."
"I suppose you're right," Harry said, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Prince Enterprises really is doing a lot of good for both wizards and Muggles."
Jasmine looked back at her parents, smiling. "I wonder if Severus Prince will ever come to one of our family events. It'd be interesting to meet him."
James and Lily exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. "Perhaps one day," Lily said softly, her voice carrying a sense of finality. "But for now, we'll stick with the stories of the past."
As the evening wore on, the Potter family continued to talk about the future, their plans for the summer, and the wonders of magic. But in the back of their minds, the weight of the past—of Severus's transformation into Severus Prince—lingered like an untold chapter of history waiting to be explored. And while the children were still young, they knew that the stories of their parents' pasts, and the history of the magical world, would one day shape their futures in ways they could only begin to imagine.