Here is my new story. Just one warning: will contain corporal punishment (spankings). Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter 1: A Difficult Beginning

Severus Snape slowly walked through the pouring rain to his house. Of course, it was raining, he thought spitefully. Why did it have to rain on this dreadful night after what happened? He entered his house and shut the door behind him, using a spell to dry himself before removing his outer robes. He spotted Sirius on the sofa reading some fairly worn book.

"Is Harry in bed?" Severus asked, moving to sit in his favorite armchair.

"Good evening to you, too," Sirius replied. "Yes, he was in bed at eight. Why?"

Severus closed his eyes and for a brief moment, he hated the world. What was there to live for now? Severus felt tears burn his eyes so he kept them closed, refusing to cry like some broken man in front of Sirius.

"She's gone," was all Severus said.

Sirius took a deep breath as an overwhelming sadness took over him. He looked down, unsure of how to console the obviously distressed man. He wasn't sure Severus would appreciate any sympathetic gestures now though.

"Nothing could save her, eh?" Sirius tried.

"No," Severus answered, his eyes remaining closed as he fought against the tears. No amount of for knowledge had helped. He had been hoping desperately to save her. To find a cure. "We tried everything. Oh, Lily!"

"Harry is going to be devastated," Sirius said a bit frankly. That was how Severus usually preferred it. Maudlin sentiments and all that.

Severus leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His poor son. He was all Harry had left, now.

"Daddy?"

Severus and Sirius looked to the stairs and watched as Harry slowly made his way down them, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Harry, what are you doing up?" Severus asked, ignoring the tears that were now free to fall from his open eyes. "You're supposed to be in bed."

Severus stood and picked up his son, carrying him back to the chair he vacated. Harry looked at his father's sad face, wondering what was wrong. He gently touched Severus's cheek, starting to feel sad himself. Mommy always made things better, Harry thought.

"Where's Mummy?" Harry asked, remembering that his mother had left with his father that very morning.

"Oh, Harry," Severus sighed as he stood Harry on the floor and kneeled before him. "Mummy's not coming home, son. She . . ."

"How come?" Harry asked.

"I'm so sorry, Harry," Severus rasped. "She passed away at the hospital. She's no longer with us anymore."

"She left forever?" Harry's face fell at the very idea. He stomped his feet angrily. "No! I wanna see her now! She has to come read me my bedtime story! I want Mummy!"

"Harry listen to me," Severus gently rubbed Harry's shoulders reassuringly as he held him still. "Mummy died. She can't come back. Ever. She can't eat, she can't sleep, she can't play, and she can't read you your bedtime story because she is dead."

Severus hated being so bluntly honest with his son. He and Lily had explained to Harry several times the possibility of her passing, that she may die of her disease if treatment could not be found. Harry had always seemed understanding. But now her death was very much real.

Harry's lip trembled and his eyes watered. He fell into his father's arms crying.

"Shh," Severus rocked Harry. "It's going to be okay; I promise. We'll get through this. Just remember, Mummy's in a better place now and she will always watch over us."

"But she's not here," Harry whined.

"I know," Severus said.

Sirius had said nothing through the entire interaction. He simply watched the two Snapes embrace each other, knowing that they will pull through somehow.

2 Months Later

Harry picked up his stuffed elephant toy and threw it at his Uncle Sirius, who was busy reading the daily prophet in an armchair as he babysat Harry. Sirius looked up at Harry when the plush nearly ripped his paper as it struck him. He picked up the toy and set it back on the floor.

"Harry, it's not nice to throw toys," he informed.

Harry pouted where he sat on the floor surrounded by toys. Where was Daddy? Without his mother to keep him busy, Harry felt bored often and even lonely. He loved his Uncle Sirius, but the man just wasn't Mummy or Daddy. And now that Mummy was gone and Daddy was always busy working at the hospital, he didn't know what to do with himself.

Harry picked up another toy, a Quidditch action figure, and he threw that at Sirius, who was reading his paper once more. That toy succeeded in ripping the paper right through the middle as it struck Sirius.

"Ow!" Sirius exclaimed, tossing his paper aside and glaring at Harry, the toy falling to the floor as the man stood to his feet. "Harry Snape, stop throwing toys at me!"

Harry frowned at his uncle. He wasn't the boss of him. He could throw toys if he wanted. Besides, Uncle Sirius was being boring just sitting in the chair reading a paper. Harry looked at the floor, scanning his toys, before picking up another action figure and throwing it at Sirius, hitting the man's shin with his low aim.

"Ow!" Sirius rubbed at his leg knowing it would bruise later. He had thought the toy would miss when Harry practically aimed for the floor. "That hurt, Harry. Do you want to hurt me?"

Harry frowned. He didn't really want to hurt his uncle – he loved him too much to want to do that. But he wanted some way to vent his frustration and there was no one else here to do that to. Though he guessed he could aim at the wall but what good would that do? Walls don't react when toys were thrown at him.

"No," Harry admitted.

"Then stop throwing things!" Sirius said, fixing the paper with a wave of his wand.

Harry picked up a plastic mini train and threw it at Sirius while the man was turned away. It hit Sirius in the back. Sirius spun around and glared at Harry and Harry glared back defiantly, picking up another toy (a plush thankfully) and throwing it at Sirius, who actually caught it this time.

"Harry Albus Snape!" came a different, deeper voice.

Harry looked over his shoulder to see his father glaring at him, wearing his white Healer robes still and looking very fierce. Harry gulped as Severus crossed his arms.

"I heard Uncle Sirius tell you to stop throwing your toys," Severus growled. "Is there a reason your throwing things?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders which made Severus narrow his eyes more.

"Throw another toy and you'll be standing in the corner, young man."

Feeling exceptionally defiant, Harry picked up another plush toy and threw it at Severus this time. It landed at the man's feet harmlessly, but Severus didn't seem to like his defiance.

"That's it, time out!" Severus moved forward and grabbed Harry's arm, dragging the screaming child over to a cleared-out corner in the living room. Harry tried to pull out of Severus's grip before they got to the corner, hating time out.

"Stop it, Harry," Severus warned as he tried to make Harry stand on his own two feet and walk the rest of the way to the corner.

Harry managed to reach another toy on the floor and hit Severus with it repeatedly, striking his father's thigh. Severus snatched the toy from Harry and tossed it to the ground. Having had enough of Harry's behavior, Severus turned Harry into the crook of his arm and swatted his bottom three times. Harry yelped at the smacks, bursting into more tears. He hated getting smacked by Daddy.

"Now, in the corner with you," Severus demanded. "You have five minutes to think about your behavior."

Harry allowed Severus to gently push him to stand in front of the corner. His bottom stung something awful and now he was upset with his father, too. He heard Severus speak to Sirius and then the floo flared, which meant Uncle Sirius must have left. Harry's lower lip quivered. He didn't even get to say goodbye to him. He didn't really mean to hurt Sirius after all.

After five minutes, Severus allowed Harry to leave the corner, but he sat Harry down next to him on the couch.

"Now, Harry," Severus began, "why were you throwing your toys earlier?"

Harry was quiet for a moment before he shrugged his shoulders, saying "nothing."

"Nothing, hmm?" Severus raised an eyebrow. "Some answer. Phoenix, listen to me, I can't help you unless you tell me what's wrong. Clearly something is bothering you if you're attacking Uncle Sirius with your toys. Daddy wants to help you, son."

"I want to throw my toys," Harry said with a pout. "That's why."

"Hmm, I don't think so," Severus gave Harry a critical look, knowing his son all too well. "No one wants to throw their toys at people just 'because.' Try again."

Harry's lip trembled once more and he rubbed at his eyes, causing tears to fall.

"I miss Mummy!" Harry finally admitted as he cried.

"Oh, Harry," Severus hugged his son to him, allowing Harry to cry into his chest. "I know you do. I miss her, too. But that's no reason to throw your toys. Why don't you colour a picture for her? She'll be able to see it, because she's always watching us, remember?"

Harry nodded, remembering the funeral that he had attended with his father. So many people came, but he was more focused on the casket that held his mother's unseen body. He still didn't want to believe that his mother had been inside it and that she was buried deep in the ground.

"How about I get you some colouring quills?" Severus suggested.

"I want you to play with me," Harry stuck his lower lip out at his father, widening his eyes.

"Harry, I have work," Severus began. "Uncle Sirius will be back later . . ."

"You always have work," Harry pulled his knees into his chest and buried his face, crying. "I want you!"

Severus sighed. He was always so busy lately he was finding less and less time for his son. He figured working was just how he dealt with Lily's loss. He would need to fix that. He was very close to ruining his relationship with Harry.

"Alright, Son," Severus slid off the couch and sat on the floor with all the toys. Harry lifted his head and watched him, his eyes red trimmed. "What do you want to play, hmm? Knights and Dragons?"

Severus promptly picked up a small Quidditch figure and a stuffed dragon. He proceeded to make the dragon eat the figure. "Mmm, yummy. I love eating people!"

Harry smiled and joined his father on the floor, picking up another stuffed dragon. They played together for the first time in those two months since Lily had passed away.

Thanks for reading and please review!