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Oh, what interesting possibilities! Regarding the original question, I am worried that Lily's influence would not have been enough to counter James's attitude, and that Harry would have turned into a Gryffindor version of Draco. Also, if we're assuming that James is abusive, Lily may have become too cowed to defy him. Of course, in that case, Harry might grow to hate his father for mistreating his mother, and resolve to become the opposite of James, so it could go either way.
As for parent substitutes, I think that Sirius--assuming that he didn't go to Azkaban--is too irresponsible to be a good father. He's more the "buddy" or "cool uncle" type. With his prejudices and recklessness, he would also probably turn out a little Gryffindor-Draco who sees all the Slytherins as Death Eaters.
Lupin would be a loving parent, I think, and more responsible than Sirius. But there's the whole werewolf problem, as you mentioned, and I'm not sure he's strong enough to be a good role model for Harry. We've seen in the "Snape's Worst Memory" scene that he let his friends get away with doing cruel things, presumably because he was afraid of losing their friendship. And even as an adult, he shows his weaknesses: not telling Dumbledore that Sirius is an animagus; apparently letting Molly and Tonks pressure him into a romance with the latter; and temporarily abandoning his pregnant wife in DH.
It might work out in a Snupin story, where Lupin and Snape are co-parents, since that would take care of the Wolfsbane Potion problem. Lupin could be the more nurturing parent while Snape is the disciplinarian--although that runs the risk of making Snape the bad guy. And it also assumes that Snape can get over his dislike of Harry.
But I think, as you said, that he would have a harder time rejecting a one-year-old who is naturally going to bond with his caregiver. I think it would be harder to hate a baby than an older child who already looks like a young James. I guess Harry could already resemble James even as a baby, but to me, babies look less fully formed, and maybe Snape would find it easier to see the Lily in baby Harry. (Or maybe I just have baby-blinders. Personally, I can never see the resemblance when someone coos, "He looks just like his dad!" or "She looks just like her mother!")
And yes, I think someone as deprived of affection as Snape is will find it hard to resist a child giving him unconditional love. And if Dumbledore played it as "you have to look after Harry for Lily's sake," I think Snape would have taken baby Harry in. And if he saw it as a way to atone for his part in Lily's death, maybe even partially redeem himself (figuratively speaking) in her eyes, then he would do his best to be a good parent to Harry. Maybe he wouldn't exactly know how to go about it, since he doesn't seem to have good examples in Tobias and Eileen, and he'd probably be awkward and overly stern at times, but I think he could grow to love Harry under those circumstances.
As for parent substitutes, I think that Sirius--assuming that he didn't go to Azkaban--is too irresponsible to be a good father. He's more the "buddy" or "cool uncle" type. With his prejudices and recklessness, he would also probably turn out a little Gryffindor-Draco who sees all the Slytherins as Death Eaters.
Lupin would be a loving parent, I think, and more responsible than Sirius. But there's the whole werewolf problem, as you mentioned, and I'm not sure he's strong enough to be a good role model for Harry. We've seen in the "Snape's Worst Memory" scene that he let his friends get away with doing cruel things, presumably because he was afraid of losing their friendship. And even as an adult, he shows his weaknesses: not telling Dumbledore that Sirius is an animagus; apparently letting Molly and Tonks pressure him into a romance with the latter; and temporarily abandoning his pregnant wife in DH.
It might work out in a Snupin story, where Lupin and Snape are co-parents, since that would take care of the Wolfsbane Potion problem. Lupin could be the more nurturing parent while Snape is the disciplinarian--although that runs the risk of making Snape the bad guy. And it also assumes that Snape can get over his dislike of Harry.
But I think, as you said, that he would have a harder time rejecting a one-year-old who is naturally going to bond with his caregiver. I think it would be harder to hate a baby than an older child who already looks like a young James. I guess Harry could already resemble James even as a baby, but to me, babies look less fully formed, and maybe Snape would find it easier to see the Lily in baby Harry. (Or maybe I just have baby-blinders. Personally, I can never see the resemblance when someone coos, "He looks just like his dad!" or "She looks just like her mother!")
And yes, I think someone as deprived of affection as Snape is will find it hard to resist a child giving him unconditional love. And if Dumbledore played it as "you have to look after Harry for Lily's sake," I think Snape would have taken baby Harry in. And if he saw it as a way to atone for his part in Lily's death, maybe even partially redeem himself (figuratively speaking) in her eyes, then he would do his best to be a good parent to Harry. Maybe he wouldn't exactly know how to go about it, since he doesn't seem to have good examples in Tobias and Eileen, and he'd probably be awkward and overly stern at times, but I think he could grow to love Harry under those circumstances.