Baloo Bear

Part of the Fragmented Soul world.

In this scene Harry is five years old. Severus is being forced to move from their home once again after Harry preforms magic in front of and on some muggles. This is a short snippet into their lives when Harry is still a young child.

August 1985

Severus paced restlessly across his potions lab, hands running through his hair in furious agitation. They had only been here for a year and a half and it looked like they would have to move yet again; this would be the second time now that they had been forced to leave the place that they were trying to call home. Harry hadn't meant to; he had only just turned five the month before and his magic was beginning to get uncontrollable.

He had never known for a child to show such early signs of accidental magic, though he had always known that Harry was bound to be a special if not an entirely unique child. The trouble was that the Ministry of magic might possibly be able to trace such large bursts of power which meant that it wasn't safe here anymore. He couldn't risk staying here not with the chance that they might be found.

Severus had managed to fix the pretty, blonde, muggle girl's eyes after Harry had somehow managed to turn them bright green to match his own. He had even managed to remove the fluffy white wings, which she had been adorned with much to the horror of her parents and then proceeded to erase all the memories that he needed to but he knew it wouldn't be enough to allow them to stay. He would never have peace of mind if they stayed which meant they would have to go.

Removing his wand Severus began to shrink and pack everything they needed from his potions lab, almost everything else could easily be bought again but he needed his potions equipment for his business. He had hoped that they would be able to settle here more permanently however it wasn't to be apparently. Finishing the packing fairly quickly with his wand in hand, he moved through into the sitting room next where he had left Harry in front of a DVD. His heart melted at what he saw there. Harry had fallen asleep watching his favourite film. This normally changed weekly, as with any child of that age but currently it was The Jungle Book and that seemed to unwavering, at least for the moment.

Severus had even bought him a stuffed toy Baloo bear which was half the size of Harry himself. Harry had cuddled up with it half using the toy as a pillow, his knees tucked up under his body and bum in the air, arms wrapped protectively around Baloo. The film was still playing on the television as the little boy slept through it and Severus couldn't help but smile. His hair, as usual, was sticking up all over the place and just beneath his fringe was the hideous lightning shaped scar. His little Harry.

Every time he looked upon the little boy's sweet, chubby cheeks and toothy grin, he knew that all the moving and the risks were worth it. His little powerful baby boy would be safe , protected and loved. Any anger or irritation at having to now find somewhere else to live faded at the soft murmurings coming from his son's lips as he floated through his dreams.

It had taken Severus some time to adjust to fatherhood but now that he had got into the swing of being a single father as well as running his own business to support them both and not to mention teaching Harry everything he would need to know it really wasn't so bad. Most children Harry's age were starting primary school, at least in the muggle world. Severus however couldn't risk it. He had known that he would always have to tutor Harry at home; he could never risk sending him to school, magical or otherwise.

Watching Harry grow up was enough to remind him every day that he couldn't ask for a better life for either of them, despite the sacrifices that he had had to make. Even if that life meant that they were constantly on the run, it was still better than allowing Dumbledore to use the boy for whatever plan he had cooked up. It was the price they had to pay for staying safe and away from the likes of Albus Dumbledore.

Taking care not to wake him, Severus scooped up the not so small infant into his arms. Instantly the small child shifted in his sleep, snuggling himself into his father's warm embrace, clutching desperately at his Baloo bear. Severus held him there, studying every inch of the innocent face. He had known James since he was eleven years old, he knew that Harry would be the spitting image of his father even though he was only five. It was clear even now how much he would look like James Potter but there were definite signs of Lily there too and Severus focused on them.

Strangely though seeing James in the young boy didn't bother Severus in the slightest because every time he looked into the startling green eyes he was reminded of Lily. The woman who he still missed dearly and thought about daily, he would never forget her, it wasn't possible to merely forget everything that they had shared. Severus would tell Harry about Lily as he grew, he would make sure that her darling Harry would know the wonderful woman that had given him life and then sacrificed her own to save it.

With a deep sigh he carried the five year old up the stairs to his bedroom. Drawing back the blankets on his bed he tucked Harry in, remembering fondly how adamant the child had been at wanting deep green bedding. Leaning down he placed a kiss upon the boy's forehead, stroking back the raven hair from his closed eyes.

"Love you, my little Harry," Severus whispered softly as he stood up to leave, thinking that he should continue packing their things so that they could leave come dawn. However as he attempted to quietly tiptoe out of the room he heard Harry turn over in his sleep, emerald eyes blinking open.

"Daddy," the little boy murmured sleepily, rubbing his eyes with clenched fists. "Daddy," he repeated again a little more desperately.

"It's okay little one," Severus said soothingly going back to sit by the bed so that his son could see him. "Go back to sleep, Harry," he whispered, a hand going to stroke the mass of dark hair.

"Stay," Harry replied sleepily, his eye lids already starting to droop again as he tugged Baloo bear closer to him.

Severus smiled fondly at the small child and nodded his head, "Always," he whispered.