It was a cool but sunny day in march when his daughter had nagged him to go to a new playground, one she didn't know yet. They apparated to a London suburb and Sirena took off as soon as her feet touched the ground.
Severus smiled as he watched his daughter charging toward the swingset and sat himself down on a bench, a small picnic basket appearing beside him a second later.
He retrieved a crumpled up piece of paper from his inside pocket and glowered at it.
The latest letter from Dumbledore had arrived this morning, urging him once again to take the position as potions professor at Hogwarts. School had let out only a week ago and Severus had already received about twenty letters.
Either the Headmaster was in legitimate, desperate need of a new teacher or he wanted Severus under his thumb completely. Whatever the old man's reasons, Severus would have none of it.
Sirena was only five, he wanted to be with his daughter, see her grow and devote his time to her. Even five years later, his daughter still felt like a weird dream. Often, after she was in bed, he'd stand in the doorway and watch her sleep, asking himself how a man like him deserved this.
Actually, Sirena was the reason for the rift between Severus and the Headmaster. When the Potions Master's wife was pregnant, he had told Albus that his days as a double Agent were over. It was just too dangerous and after Sirena's mother had died in childbirth, the decision was made for him.
He loved teaching, but he wouldn't reconsider until his daughter went to school herself. He had told Albus his decision was final and refused to be intimidated by the old man. And while their relationship remained cordial, they hadn't seen each other since before Sirena was born.
Come to think of it, the old headmaster didn't even know Severus had a daughter. He had never been told. Severus was so lost in thought that he didn't notice his daughter sitting with a dirty, ragged little boy, talking to him quietly. He only looked up when he heard Sirenas voice.
"Leave him alone, you great lump!"
He stood and saw his little girl facing four mean looking boys. A small black haired child was lying on the ground, sniffling and groping for his glasses.
Severus pulled himself to his full, menacing height and strode over.
"What is going on here?" He glared at the largest boy, smirking inwardly as the little brute shuddered.
"I...well, we were...umm.." The fat boy stuttered, fighting to hold the stare.
"Well?"Severus arched his brow, immensely enjoying the effect it had.
"N-Nothing, sir." The whale of a boy leaned toward the small child who was kneeling behind Sirena.
"You wait till you get home. I'll tell Dad about this." And with that he waddled away as fast as his chubby legs would take him, his friends in tow. Sirena smiled brightly at her father and hauled the the still sniffling boy to his feet.
"It's okay, you don't have to cry any more. He's gone."
"Thank you," the boy replied with a small voice,"and thank you too, sir."
Severus was felling uneasy now, that mop of black hair reminded him of someone. "What is your name child?"
He dreaded the answer. The small boy glanced up at him from underneath his black fringes. Lilys eyes...This child had Lily's eyes. The thought raced through his mind over and over again. He could see her before his inner eye, smiling at him, her emerald eyes full of happiness. He was so perplexed, he'd almost missed the the boys mumbled answer.
"I'm Harry, sir. Harry Potter."
Of all the children in the world his daughter had to go protect James Potters son. He was starting to feel irrational anger swelling inside him when a little voice in the back of his head said 'Lily's son. Not Potters, but Lily's.'
He took a calming breath and let his gaze wander over the boy. The bulky, mismatched clothes couldn't hide the fact that the boy was far too thin. He crouched down before him and tilted Harry chin upward with one finger.
He thought he had seen something odd before his brain went into full stop. The right side of Harry's face was bruised and, barely visible through his black fringes, a long cut was just starting to heal. The expression in the green orbs was one he had never seen on Lily. Frightened and apprehensive.
"Who did this to you, boy?" Severus voice trembled with rage. Looking at Harry was like looking at a younger version of himself. He probably wouldn't have even noticed it five years ago, but having a child made you see many things that previously went unnoticed.
"Nobody, sir. I'm clumsy, fell down the stairs..."
There it was. Severus had heard it many times, had said it many times. The lies, the hope that someone would finally see the truth. He knew it too well. Not caring about the grass and the dirt, Severus sat down.
"Harry, my name is Severus. I'm Sirena's father and I would like to help you. But you have to tell me the truth. Who did this to you?"
Sirena took Harry's hand and pulled him to the ground with her. She didn't let go of his hand but held it with reassuring pressure. Neither Severus nor Sirena questioned him, but just waited. Sitting here with the son of his arch nemesis felt so wrong, but sitting with the son of his best friend felt like the most normal thing of the world. But when he looked the child, Severus didn't see Potter's spawn, nor did he see Lily's boy. He saw a hurt and frightened child, like he himself had been. He saw a lost boy.
"I think it's my fault, sir. My aunt and uncle don't like me much, I'm a burden for them. I try to be good... I really do, but I just can't do anything right." He slowly and timidly began telling them how he had to earn his keep, had to work for scraps of food and Dudley's old clothes.
About the punishments for his freakishness.
All the while, the little boy didn't sound really bothered. He was used to this treatment. It would seem that the boy in his tender age was already more jaded than people five times his age. But if one looked closely one could find the faintest traces of hurt in his eyes and voice.
Harry stopped talking abruptly. It was clear that he hadn't planned on revealing so much of his home life.
Severus realized he had to act quickly before the boy scampered off.
"Sirena, go grab the basket please." Sirena moved quicker than usual. It seemed she was desperate to feed Harry.
Her father smiled. 'So like her mother..' The picnic basket was placed next to him and he started pulling out sandwiches, fruit and a big bottle. Plates and cups followed quickly.
"I'll be going. Enjoy your meal" Harry turned to leave when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Harry, how many plates do you see?"
"Three, sir."
"Exactly, for me, Sirena and you. Sit and eat with us."
Harry just stared. 'Does he really mean that? Who would want to eat with me?' "Sir?"
The man sighed and motioned for the boy to sit. Harry was not sure what to do, but he felt it would be impolite to disobey the man who had helped him. He watched in wonder as a plate was filled with a sandwich, grapes and a banana, and then set before him.
"Eat." the older man directed.
Still a bit sceptical, Harry nibbled his sandwich.
"Oh, for the love of Merlin! Eat, boy. I won't take it away and you won't get in trouble. I promise."
Reassured, Harry ate and chatted shyly with Sirena while Severus was left to ponder the boy and his situation.
'I don't understand this. I've never met this Vernon so I can't say what type of man he is. But the Petunia I remember wouldn't hurt a child, nor stand by and watch abuse. She was jealous of Lily. She wanted to be a witch too. But Lily said that they made up after Hogwarts. Petunia saw Harry as a baby and doted on him. I still have letters and pictures to prove that. What in the nine circles of hell is going on here?!'
While he was lost in memories, Sirena seemed intend to make Harry throw up. Severus came back to here and now as she was urging him to eat a third sandwich.
Harry looked queasy but couldn't seem to find a polite way to decline.
"Sirena. I think Harry had enough for now. He told us how little he usually eats, his stomach can't handle this much at once."
Harry looked torn between relief and disappointment. 'Probably wondering when he'll be fed next.' Harry's next words proved this thought.
"Sir. Maybe I could just take it home? That way I wouldn't waste food." The boy looked at Severus with hopeful eyes. 'That's it! I have to know!'
The older man skimmed the surface of the boys mind. Flickering emotions and flashes of unpleasant memories. The potions master made a quick decision.
"Harry, I want you to listen to me for a minute. I would like you to come with me and Sirena. I know there's no reason you should trust me, but I know what happens in your home. And I know you don't deserve to be punished for things that are not your fault. You shouldn't have this live. I don't want you to go back to your aunt and uncle's house. And I know your mother wouldn't want it either."
'Okay, unfair tactic' Severus thought as he saw Harry's eyes and mouth open wide in wonder. 'Desperate situations warrant desperate means.
"Sir, you.. You really knew my mum? How?"
"Yes. We were best friends most of our life. We went to school together." That sealed the deal.
Harry was sure the man said the truth. He didn't know why he was so certain of that, and a part of him screamed not to trust the adult. That part though was quickly silenced by the part that wanted to hear stories about his mum.
Severus knew he'd won. Every self-sufficient child was suspicious and didn't trust adults in general. But the lure of a mother he'd never known, and probably idealized everything he knew about her, was too much for little Harry.
So when Severus stood, one hand on Sirenas shoulder, and stretched out his other hand to him, Harry took it. The wizard turned on the spot and Harry tried to scream as the playground turned into suffocating darkness.
