The Sequel! I'm so excited to be writing this. Thank you all who've joined me on the journey so far. I hope you like this next story. The first chapter is a quick one, but have no fear, they'll get longer. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Do not own Harry Potter
Harry tiptoed down the hall to his father's room. He figured he was getting a little old to be seeking out his father's comfort, but after the nightmare he had just woke up from, it felt like the right thing to do. He would have just sought out Sam for a quick hug, but the three-tailed kitsune was out hunting.
Harry pushed open his father's door and slipped inside, shutting the door behind him. He peered through the dark at his dad's bed, but it looked abandoned.
"Dad?"
Light flooded into the room from the bathroom, blinding Harry for a moment. He squinted at his father's figure in the doorway, his eyes slowly adjusting. Severus had a hand stretched out to a light switch, though he didn't flick it off yet. The man was only wearing shorts, as he usually did on warm summer nights. Severus frowned at Harry.
"What are you doing in here, son?"
"I, uhh, had a bad dream."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Harry shrugged his shoulders then shook his head.
"Do you need a drink?"
Harry scuffed his feet on the floor. "No."
Severus sighed and moved towards Harry, leaving the bathroom light on so he could see. Harry felt very small and childish at the moment. He kept his eyes fixed on the floor, watching his toes dig into the carpet. Severus squatted slightly in front of Harry.
"Look at me, Harry," Severus demanded softly. Harry looked straight at his father, seeing him eye level. "What's wrong?"
Harry shrugged and said, "It was just a little scary, I guess."
"May I take a guess?" Severus asked, quirking a brow. Harry wasn't sure what his father was asking but nodded. Perhaps take a guess as to what was wrong? "Was it about Professor Quirrell and the stone? Or nearly losing Sam to the ministry?"
Oh, a guess about his nightmare.
"A little of both," Harry confessed, remembering how vivid and real his dream had seemed.
"You're all right son," Severus pulled Harry into a hug. "Your safe and sound. I'm here with you and Sam isn't that far away."
"I know."
After a long hug, Severus pulled back and looked at Harry.
"Are you ready to go back to your room?" he asked.
Harry shook his head.
"Harry, you'll be fine. Do you want Sam to stay in your room tonight?"
"Can I just . . . no, I don't want to bother Sam."
"But you're willing to bother me?"
"I'm sorry. Would you mind if . . . can I . . . I'd like to . . ."
"Do you want to sleep in my bed?" Severus asked when Harry struggled with his words.
"Yes, please."
"Alright. But just for tonight." Harry allowed Severus to pick him up and he wrapped his arms and legs around the man, wondering why he was still so easy to pick up. He rested his head on his father's shoulder while Severus turned off the light in the bathroom, blinding him once more. Harry blinked as he was laid in his father's king-size bed. Severus climbed in on the other side and Harry curled up next to him.
"Why am I so small?" Harry asked.
"You're not. You're average for your age."
"Were you this tall at my age?" Harry lifted his father's hand and compared it to his own by placing his palm against Severus's. His fingertips just passed his father's palm. Harry pouted, his lower lip protruding as he stared at the major size difference.
"No, actually. I've always been a little taller than the rest of my classmates." Severus interlocked his fingers between Harry's. "You'll catch up, don't worry."
Harry snuggled into his father's side, yawning. He let go of his dad's hand and looked up at the man. Severus had his eyes closed and was breathing evenly.
"Are you asleep?"
Severus snorted before saying, "What if I was?"
"Oh, sorry."
"Go to sleep, son. You have a busy week ahead of you."
"I'm going to be twelve in two days."
"Indeed. You've lived a dozen years now."
Harry smiled and closed his eyes, resting his head on Severus's shoulder. He shifted himself against his father more, his feet brushing up against the man's legs.
"Merlin's beard, Harry!" Severus jerked away slightly and was pretty awake now. "Your feet are ice cold!"
Harry laughed. "Sorry."
"Sorry? That's all you ever say anymore, isn't it?" Severus reached for his wand and cast a warming spell towards his son's frozen feet. He set his wand away and settled back on the bed, wrapping an arm around his son again, grumbling about sharing his bed with cold feet. Harry snuggled back into his father's embrace, happy to have warm feet now and still amused by his father's reaction. He yawned again, feeling his father's warm breath against his hair.
"Night, Daddy."
"Night, son."
The next morning, Severus woke up in bed alone. He pushed himself off his stomach and rolled his legs over the side. He stretched his arms before standing to perform his morning routines and dress for the day. The house smelled like pancakes and bacon. Severus smiled as he stepped into the shower. Harry had shown great interest in cooking and once he proved that he could make a small breakfast without making a mess, Severus allowed him to do as he pleased in the kitchen.
Severus finished his shower and dressed for the day, brushing his hair briefly before walking downstairs to join Harry for breakfast. His breath caught in his throat as he entered the kitchen.
White flour was everywhere, along with spilled syrup, scattered strawberries, a large puddle of milk on the floor, and a knocked over bag of sugar. Harry had himself covered in everything and Sam, fox-sized, was covered in white flour as he sat on the counter and watched Harry work the waffle maker Severus swore he had hid on an upper shelf. Sam's three tails flicked in amusement as he watched the young boy work the waffle maker.
"What on earth happened in here!?" Severus snapped.
Harry and Sam looked over in his direction. Harry smiled.
"Morning, Dad!" he greeted happily. "I'm making breakfast. I was trying to make waffles like you do. See?"
Harry held up a plate of misshapen waffles.
"Not bad for a first try, right?"
Severus glared at Harry.
"And who said you could attempt making waffles? How did you even get the waffle maker down?"
"Sam," Harry said, lowering the plate.
Severus glared at the fox, who smirked and looked at Harry.
: Snitch, Sam teased. Don't worry, Severus, we'll clean this up.
Sam shook out his fur, shaking flour all over the place. Severus backed up a step.
"Sam!" he admonished.
Sam stopped shaking himself with a foxy smile, still as white as ever, before jumping to the counter on the other side, sniffing at the frying bacon.
"I'm sorry it's a mess, Dad," Harry apologized. "I'll clean up, I promise."
"Hmm," Severus growled, crossing his arms. "And take several hours doing so."
Severus whipped out his wand and waved it around. A broom entered the kitchen and began sweeping, a mop waiting in the hall for the broom to finish. Rags flew to the counters and scrubbed away, cleaners spraying themselves here and there. The fallen strawberries picked themselves up and flew to the compost bin, but Sam snatched them before they could fall in, licking his lips happily. Severus rolled his eyes at the fox.
: No need letting good produce go to waste, Sam stated.
A couple rags scrubbed Harry's face, hands, and arms cleaned while a spray bottle, brush, and towel cleaned Sam.
"Thanks," Harry said. "And I really am sorry."
"Next time," Severus reprimanded, "ask before you try anything new. Especially in the kitchen and around the stove."
"Yes, sir."
"Did you at least get the coffee started?"
"Of course," Harry nodded, rushing to the steaming pot and pouring the coffee into a mug, offering it to his father.
Severus gladly took the coffee, moving out of the way of the mop that came in scrubbing the floor. The kitchen was clean again and Harry plated food for everyone, putting Sam's food in a large bowl, making sure to add extra bacon. Severus sat at his usual place at the head of the table in the dining room. Harry carried out a plate for him and set Sam's bowl on the floor. Sam eagerly began chomping down.
Harry carried his plate out last, along with a cup of orange juice.
"Well done on the breakfast, son," Severus proudly said.
"Thanks," Harry smiled.
As everyone ate their food, Phantom, Severus's great grey owl, arrived and delivered morning mail and the Daily Prophet. Severus, finished with his meal, opened the paper to read the news. Sam had long been finished and Severus could sense the fox staring at his last few pieces of bacon on the plate. He ignored him and continued reading. Then he heard chomping.
He lowered the paper slightly and watched as Harry grabbed cut up pieces of his waffle and threw them to Sam, who was now sitting by Harry's seat. Sam caught the pieces in midair, jumping up slightly to do so. Severus frowned at the two, unsure of who to scold. He decided on Sam.
"Sam!" Severus yelled.
The fox tilted his head at him, his ears giving a flick.
: What? Do you honestly think I am going to deny more food? Especially bacon?
Harry laughed and pointedly grabbed a piece of bacon.
"Harry," Severus turned his stern look to Harry. "No more feeding Sam. Finish your breakfast."
"Yes, Dad." Harry shoved the piece of bacon into his mouth.
Sam moved back to sit by Severus, eyeing the bacon on the man's plate once more.
"Go away, Sam," Severus growled.
: I won't beg like some stray mutt. But I will sit here and obligingly explain the benefits of having no leftovers.
Harry snorted and Severus raised an eyebrow.
"You don't call that begging? You had your breakfast. Go lie down somewhere or go outside."
: Come, now, you know you want to.
Sam wagged his three tails and perked his ears, tilting his head more. Severus tried not to look in Sam's direction, but he could still just see Sam out of the corner of his eye. He bit back a laugh and reached for a bacon strip, tossing it to Sam who caught it happily.
"Dad!" Harry scolded with a smirk. "No more feeding Sam. Finish your breakfast."
"Yes, sir," Severus chuckled.
: Score for the fox, Sam smiled, ending his begging game.
After Harry had eaten his fill, he sipped at his juice slowly.
"Tomorrow, can I have a sleepover?" he asked his father hopefully.
: What, may I ask, is a sleepover? Sam asked.
"You know," Harry began, "when you invite friends to spend the night at your house."
: This is technically the first house I've lived in. Sleepovers, huh? Inviting people into the safety of your home to spend time in your most vulnerable state. What a great opportunity for an assassin.
"They're twelve-year-olds, Sam," Severus gave the fox a warning look.
"Almost twelve," Harry reminded his father.
: I find that age doesn't matter.
"I don't think my friends are assassins, Sam. But I was thinking we could invite Ron and Hermione and Draco, as long as he's nice to everyone – he should be fine – and we invite Neville and . . . and the twins . . . and . . ."
"Absolutely not!"
"Why not?"
"They may come for your party but I am not entertaining those troublemakers all night. I believe everyone you mentioned will be plenty to host, but only four will remain the night."
"We can all sleep in my room! On the floor!"
"Not your friend Miss Granger. She will have to sleep in the guest room."
"Why can't she be in my room? She'll be all alone."
"I'm sure she will be fine. Besides, it would not be appropriate."
"What's not appropriate about it?"
: I could give you a good answer that involves four boys and one girl, Sam smirked at Harry.
"Growing young ladies need space and privacy, Harry," Severus said as he rolled up his Daily Prophet. "And Miss Granger is no exception."
With that, Severus whacked the back of Sam's head with the paper. Sam yelped in surprise before he bared his teeth at Severus. Harry grinned.
"Fine, but we can hang out in my room together until bedtime, right?"
"Until lights out, yes." Severus unrolled his paper and resumed reading it. "Now, go get dressed for the day. I advise you to take a shower."
"Okay." Harry stood and ran to his room.
: If you ever hit me with a paper again, you'll be reading it in shreds.
"What a very dog thing to do," Severus smirked.
Sam growled at Severus.
I hope you liked it. I know it's really short, but it's just a taste of what is to come! Any ideas for a sleepover? Game ideas? How to "stay up late without Severus knowing" ideas? Please review and tell me what you think!