Ah, a good cuppa tea and a Severitus story
I'm not sure why I love them so much (Snape as biological parent/adoptive parent/guardian/mentor but it rings true to me that someone who had such a shit storm of a life be given a second chance in fanfic. Of course Harry would see him entirely differently if he'd met him when he was younger (maybe ages 5-8 which, generally, are my favorites). I remember a quote from Rowling way long ago about being curious/confused whatever as to why Severus as a character was so popular when he was so mean to Harry. I think for adults it's seeing a microscope of our own lives and how we've screwed up and paid the penalty (or penalized ourselves). For adults Severus' tale of redemption and how he tried so hard (even if sometimes he hit bumps in the road) tried to make it right makes my heart hurt. I've still never gotten over Rowling killing off Snape. Sure she killed off a lot of the adults from the first rise of Voldemort but letting the Malfoys survive and not Severus? Eh. I'm definitely one of those who sticks my fingers in my ears and la-la-la-la I refuse to accept that ending for Severus. Never mind, I just hope that writers continue to write these lovely alternative stories where Severus was given the chance to have a little happiness too.