Authors Note: I can't believe how many reviews I got! I never had that many within less then 24 hours after uploading the very first chapter and on top of that over 20 who found the fave button and more than 40 followers! I guess I had to manage to get this up today. I hope you all will enjoy this. It is a rather slow chapter but I wanted to write in detail how Severus will act around the poor abused boy now that he finally changed in front o him. I hope you won't get board of it and if you do, the next one will be more exiting again.


Shadow Phoenix

Chapter 2

Turning Human

By the time Severus returns to the Dursleys and enters the living room after unlocking the door silently with a spell, he hears Petunia say, "I swear it must have been some of your lot. We went to bed like always and the next morning he was gone. Just three weeks ago."

"You've always been a liar and a bitch Petunia." Severus says angrily from the doorway. "But I hadn't known that you are such a monster as well."

He glares towards the woman before drawing his wand and pointing it towards the door of the cupboard under the stairs and says, "Bombarda." After the blast, he walks closer to it and looks inside. There was no bed anymore but after saying "Accio broken toys." A few broken toy soldiers appear. "Would you care to explain why his toys are in that cupboard? Or why they are all broken?" Severus asks. "Or why Harry didn't know his own name until tonight? Or would you like to explain how he could have been where I just found him for MONTH when he just disappeared three weeks ago?"

He walks closer to her, "Or why he seems to believe it completely normal to be slapped hard enough to tumble down the stairs because he dared to ask why he didn't get to go to preschool when Dudley did?" He still walks closer noticing from the corner of his eyes how Albus pales, "Or do you want to explain why your husband threw him out of the house when the boy got sick in that cupboard after tumbling down the stairs and breaking his arm and possibly getting a concussion considering that according to him, his head felt fuzzy. Don't worry to explain why he got sick in there and not somewhere else, he already explained that he was locked up for hitting a picture with his foot on his tumble down the stairs." He stands not two feet from her and looks down on her when saying, "But how about you explain how the boy thought that to be a good boy, and to get back indoors he would have to hurt himself because Dudley was always praised for being a good boy after hurting the freak and after all, he is the only freak around isn't he?" He raises his wand and presses it into her throat "That garden shed outside, he climbed it to let himself fall down and hurt himself enough to either be considered a good enough boy to get back inside or better yet, to be with his mummy. What do you think would have happened had he not seen blue flames that brought him to safety?"

At this point he hears Albus gasp the name "Felix." It is quiet for a moment before Albus says, "Severus, he needs you. If you hurt her you get send to Azkaban."

"She could have killed him." Severus spits. "As it stands he still is depressed to a point that I fear he might do it for her. He is still sad that he came to me rather than finding his parents after that fall."

"We won't let that happen Severus." Albus says, "Harry won't return here. We'll protect him. We'll make sure he'll be fine and won't have any reason to harm himself again."

"Seeing her reminds me why I followed the dark Lord and wanted to kill all muggles." He spits at her and is glad to see her pale.

"Lily wouldn't have wanted that." Albus says trying to calm the clearly very angered man.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that considering what this monster did to her only son!" Severus grumbles.

"She still wouldn't have want you to imprisoned because of it." Albus says, "And as I said, Harry needs you now, she'd want you to be there for him and help him. Return to him and let me deal with her."

Severus stays in the position he's in for a moment longer before he steps back and turns on the spot to disappear with a loud pop. Albus on the other hand looks at her and says, "You are in luck, I don't want a great many deal of people to know about this but believe me, I will tell the right person about this and I'm sure that what he'll do will be worse and hold for longer then what Severus would do at his worst. Believe me, you will regret this day for the rest of your live. As will your husband."

After that he leaves to speak to Remus Lupin. He might have been the tamest one of the marauders but he was the most educated one and without him, James and Sirius would have been caught much more often and most of the genius that got their ideas to work came from him. And Albus is sure that Remus does remember the more creative and vindictive ideas that Remus had stopped them from doing so he won't need the inspiration to get some revenge for his friend's son. It might also be good for Harry to meet him given time. But for now, the boy needs to learn to be just that, a boy, and not just a Phoenix.

After a lengthy talk with the werewolf during which he had to remind him of all the reasons why visiting the Dursleys during a full moon wasn't in anyone's best interest, he returns to see how his potions master is doing. Severus opens the door to his private quarters and lets the older man in. "I assume that young Harry is sleeping." Albus says seeing a half empty bottle of fire whisky and hopes that Severus didn't just start it after his return.

"He is." Severus says and shows the older man into his own bedroom where Harry is sleeping on his bed, for the first time since he got here, as a boy. "I gave him a dreamless sleep after he told me everything that happened that night. Albus, he risked his life only to get back into that house and be considered a good boy rather than a freak. He tried to kill himself! He wanted to be with his parents not with me! What am I to say to him when he wakes up?"

"That my friend, I do not know." Albus sighs, "But I do believe that he chose wisely in coming to you. If anyone can understand him and help him, it is you."

"I'm not so sure of that." Severus replies, "I've never taken care of a child. And what will we do now? How will we explain that he is here?"

"There are two options." Albus replies, "We don't explain and he stays in the Shape of Felix whenever you two are seen and only is Harry in the safety of these rooms, or we say that he came here to learn about the magical world or because his Muggle family is, for privet reasons, unable to take care of him from now on and that I decided to let him stay in the castle and since you're the same age as his parents I deemed you the most appropriate person to take care of him. We might need him to show up as Felix every now and then so people won't be too surprised that the bird disappears completely but since he's been fully healed you can claim that he had started to be gone some nights and now seems to be more wild again. I doubt that many people will believe the boy to be the bird. The idea seems to farfetched."

"Draco might." Severus sighs, "You did let him hear that fairy tale and he already mused about Felix being a wizard."

"I'm sure we can dissuade him of that notion given time." Albus replies, "He is still young and not many will believe him even if he does talk about it."

"I guess you're right." Severus says. "And it would be wise to keep his ability a secret for now. It might give him an edge should he ever face the dark Lord. I still believe that someone else would be more suitable as his caretaker though."

"Speak to him and find out if he prefers to stay in the shape of Felix for a little longer before he's seen as Harry." Albus sighs, "At least I'm still officially his guardian and only had let them take care of him. I truly believed that even if resenting magic, they would at least be decent enough to the boy. I knew his life wouldn't be particularly easy but I thought that better than being praised for something he couldn't remember and getting overly spoiled. The safety the blood wards gave him was also a reason why I thought it best. But even in my wildest dreams I'd never have thought they would be that cruel to him or I would have at least checked up on him and taken him back. At least with me as his guardian, we can take our time to let him get used to his human form again and no one will challenge that I'm his guardian so you can keep taking care of him."

Severus sighs, "I fear to find out more that they did. I only had him tell me of that one night and you should have seen the look in his eyes when I questioned about how she had slapped him hard enough to tumble. He looked like it should be obvious, like it was the most normal thing in the world and then said that he is small and clumsy and not big and strong like me. Like that was the reason I was surprised, because I didn't tumble when slapped because of the size difference."

"Let's just be grateful that he has this ability and was able to save himself and find a good home for himself here." Albus replies with a smile.

"Now what about the point you so far conveniently ignored?" Severus glowers, "I'm not fit to raise a child!"

"Well for someone who's not fit to do so, you did an admirable job up to now." Albus grins, "You are the one he opened up to just like you were the one he came to. And, to be frank my boy, I'm reasonably sure that it wouldn't matter to whom I'd send him. He'd flash back to you anyway. Harry, or rather his magic, chose you. We might not know why and quite possibly never find out since he himself can't have chosen you as a person consciously, but for whatever reason, his magic picked you to be the most suitable person and up to now, as I said before, you did more than good enough. He trusts you, he even wished for you to be his father. He wrote so himself. All you need now is a little faith in yourself my boy."

"And what about the little fact that I'm a spy?" Severus questions, "How on earth am I to spy on Harry's would be murderer without risking the boy's life?"

"Oh, that's easy to answer." Albus says with a twinkle in his eyes. "You're not to do that." After an incredulous look from Severus he adds, "Right now Harry needs you to be there for him much more than the order ever needed a spy. Sure, having one is very handy and I'm sure I'll miss it once Voldemort returns, but it doesn't change the fact that Harry needs you much more than I ever did. I'm not going to deny him what he needs. And to be completely honest with you my boy, I rather see you safe than risk your life as a spy as well."

"You do realise that all hell will break loose when people start to find out that you entrusted their boy hero to ME!" Severus questions.

"Let me deal with that." Dumbledore replies with a twinkle in his eyes. "I'm sure I'll be able to make everyone see the advantage of my decision. And like I said before, it be impossible to try otherwise Harry might do as asked, but Felix will always come back to you my boy."

"Isn't there some other option?" Severus questions unwilling to give up easily. "I'm sure that the boy will come to care for whoever will take him and that he will stay there given some time to get to know them before he moves."

"And who would you suggest?" Albus questions.

"I don't know." Severus grumbles, "What about Andromeda? Miss Tonks certainly is old enough that Andromeda would have some time for a child that age."

"She just started to work and she is getting on in age." Albus stats. "She would do it if I'd asked but she doesn't know anything about how an abused child might react or what to do to help him. I also fear that Harry might fear Ted. The man is nice enough I'm sure but he is a muggle like his Uncle and he might fear to show any magic in front of him. Eventually learning how silly that is and that Ted doesn't mind will only increase the pain he probably feels at the harsh treatment of his own family for the very same reason." Albus sighs, "No I rather not expose him to a muggle again right away, don't get me wrong I think he needs to meet Ted at some point but maybe not until he at least mostly recovered from this."

"What about the Weasleys?" Severus questions. "Molly certainly wouldn't mind another mouth to feed and has plenty of experience."

"With healthy happy boy's and one girl and most of those boys are rather boisterous and while that isn't bad I fear that it is currently too much for Harry to be constantly exposed to that. He'd get lost in the turmoil and probably scared too."

"You're just trying to make me take him." Severus grumbles.

"Severus my boy." Albus says and looks at Severus, "Lily's son truly needs you. He came to you for help. Please don't deny him that. Don't send him away."

Severus sighs and moves towards his bedroom and opens the door to look at the boy. In his sleep, with his eyes closed, he looks so much like James. Still, he looks rather shy than arrogant even in his sleep. His arms and legs pulled as close to his body as possible and curled in on himself he looks nearly like a tiny ball with a messy mop of hair on his head. He sighs remembering how the boy had looked at him right after turning into Harry before him for the first time. The way he had looked up at him and asked him not to send him back. And most of all, not to leave him. Could he send the boy anywhere? What would happen to him should Severus send him away after the boy finally trusted him enough to change in front of him and talk to him? With a sigh, Severus says, "You win." He turns towards the old man and frowns at his smug look, "At least for now. I still think that I'm not suitable but I will take him until he chooses someone else over me."

"I think that sounds more than fair." Albus grins, "But you shouldn't hold your breath for that. I truly believe that you're great for him. You already care about him and you at least somewhat know what it is like to be hated for your magic by a family member. I'm also certain that you won't overly spoil him and I have faith that while I have no doubt that you'd be strict when given due cause, you won't be overly strict. You're the best choice, whether you believe it or not."

With a sigh, Severus closes the door to the room and turns to the old man before insisting, "I'll need to talk about a lot of things with him tomorrow, can you excuse me from my duties as a teacher for the day?"

"I'm sure that can be arranged." Albus replies, "I'll leave you for now. It was a tiring day and I fear tomorrow won't be that much easier for you my boy."

Severus watches the old man leave before he prepares for bed and joins the young boy. He pulls him into his arms and is glad to feel his muscles relax a little. When Severus wakes up the next morning the boy is gone and after further inspection of his rooms he finds Felix on his perch.

He walks over to the Phoenix and gently pets his fathers before he calmly says, "I'm afraid there are some things we two will need to discuss, for which you'll need the ability to speak, but if you wish you can stay the way you are for the time being and I'll get us some breakfast down here."

After that Severus calls for a house elf and orders breakfast for two and once the elf is gone he looks at the young animagus and says, "You're welcome to sit with me as you usually do but you can sit at your own place too."

The Shadow Phoenix watches him thoughtfully for a moment before he glides over next to the man and changes in flight landing on his human feet right next to him, "Can I sit with you like this too?"

The older man smiles glad to see the boy again so soon and says, "Of course you may." After that he picks up the small and light child and places him on his lap before he spells the boy's breakfast closer to them. The boy looks questioningly but doesn't say anything and just looks at the food. "Aren't you hungry?"

"A little." The boy mumbles.

"Then take whatever you'd like to eat." Severus orders with a frown. "You should know by now that I'm not inclined to let you starve yourself to death and you're only skin and bone as it is."

The boy nods and reaches out towards a bread roll and eyes the older man before daring to take it. Severus gives him a little nod and the boy takes it slowly towards his own plate, never letting his eyes leave the older man's face. Harry is about to take a bite when Severus asks, "It tastes much better when you put something on it."

Harry just looks questioningly before letting his gaze wander over the table. After a moment, he just looks at his roll thoughtful.

"What would you like on it?" Severus asks, assuming that he needs help to cut it open and maybe spread some butter on it. "I'll help you prepare it if you need assistance."

"I don't know." Harry mumbles, "I never had any of this."

Severus takes a breath to calm himself before he replies, "Then it is about time you try everything." After that he takes the bread roll from the boy who looks sad for a moment. But Severus cuts it in halves and then in pieces before putting something else on every one of them and placing them on the boy's plate. The boy watches while small pieces of the bread roll with different jams, appear. He also gets two different slices of cheese and some soft cheese spread on other pieces. He gets one with honey and even one with a chocolate spread. On top of that there is one with a bit of bacon and one with egg.

The boy still stares at all the pieces when Severus finally stops and then moves his eyes towards the man, "Are those all for me?"

"Of course, but I do expect that during future breakfasts you at least know what you like and are able to voice your preference. Which doesn't mean you only get one thing. I can always cut it up for you again." Severus replies.

"Thank you, Professor Snape sir." Harry says with a tiny smile on his young face.

"Sev." Severus replies, "Remember, I'm your Sev. You may address me as such since from now on, you may address me whatever way you like and you don't have to be as formal as the students. After all you are not one of my students yet."

The boy just beams up at him before he moves his little hand towards his plate and lets it move between the pieces clearly unsure what to try first. In the end the boy chose to take the piece with chocolate first but eyes Severus sceptically before taking it and once again keeps his eyes on the man's face while he moves it towards his mouth. Severus just waits for his face to light up once he tastes it. Both smile towards the other while the boy finally chews the bread happily. "It's so yummy." The boy says before swallowing it.

"I'm very happy you like it, but please don't speak with your mouth full." Severus gently chides with a small smile still on his lips, "It's rather impolite."

"I'm sorry." Harry replies looking worried and more sombre again.

"It's okay my child." Severus says petting the boy's head gently, "It's not your fault no one taught you better manners. I expect you to try to remember it in future but I don't expect you to remember all the things I'll probably tell you over the next few weeks right away."

"So, you're not mad at me?" The boy questions.

"Of course, not." Severus replies. "You are a rather well behaved boy for your age and intelligent as well. You are only five and can read very well for that. I thought you'd be about 6 and was rather surprised when you had more trouble with your numbers. But no one ever taught you so you are not to blame for that either and I'm sure you'll learn everything you must with time. Draco is learning for longer and not that much ahead of you on that account either."

Harry smiles happily before taking a piece with honey. This time hardly checking if he's allowed and more sure of himself already. He doesn't look quiet as happy as with the chocolate and says, "Too sweet." Once he swallowed.

Severus summons a bowl and says, "If you really dislike something and don't want to swallow it just spit it into the bowl." He hadn't even thought about the possibility that the boy doesn't like something from the things he put on his bread roll.

Breakfast takes a while since Harry is taking his time to eat everything slowly. He had a few things from Severus' plate before but seeing that he had a peek and had eaten fruits that first day Severus had stuck with fruits during meal times. He hadn't even thought about trying something else since with those he knew Felix would eat it and at first had worried that it wouldn't be good for a bird's stomach and not thought about it again later. He enjoys watching the boy's reaction to everything he truly liked and is glad that he at least swallows everything but wonders if it is because he was used to so little for so long and is afraid of wasting even the smallest bit.

Once the boy finished his roll Severus asks, "Would you like some chocolate milk or rather some juice? I could also get you some of both! And are you finished or would you like another roll?"

The boy looks thoughtfully. "I never had juice or chocolate milk."

"Than a bit of both." Severus replies and moves his wand to purr some of both into two glasses and places both in front of the boy while he himself drinks some coffee. He notices the boy eye it and informs him that coffee isn't very healthy and particularly unhealthy for small children which is why he's not allowed to have any yet. After that he asks again if the boy is still hungry which he denies. After he drank some of both and seems to like both just fine Severus says, "We both should talk a little about what will happen next. I had to inform Albus of who you are and that you are with me."

Harry looks afraid towards him. "He won't make me go back, will he?"

"No one will ever make you go back." Severus says, "I wouldn't let them. And should I ever be unable to protect you from such a faith you can always turn into Felix and flash back here."

The boy smiles and calms noticeably after hearing that he has that option and that no one will be able to force him to stay with his Aunt and Uncle again. "You are however a boy and need to learn a lot of things, like I mentioned before. And eventually you'll be a student of this school. To do all that you'll need to be Harry, and not Felix. You don't have to walk around as Harry all the time right away. But I would like you to get used to your real name and Albus and I think it wisest not to let people know that you are Felix."

"What about Draco." Harry questions, "He's my friend."

"I know you are fond of him but I believe it saver if he and his father don't know." Severus replies. "Do you remember the story about the boy-who-lives that Draco read to you?"

Harry is thoughtful for a moment, "Harry." He mumbles, "Was I that boy?"

"You are that boy." Severus corrects, "And that dark wizard isn't completely dead yet. He is weakened and won't be back for some time but eventually he might and those that followed him, might again. Lucius, Draco's father, is one of those that most likely will. If Draco knows about you being Felix, so will his father. And if his father does, so will the dark Lord. And if he does, you won't be able to have that ability as a secret surprise weapon against him."

Harry frowns for a moment and then says, "But he's my friend. He won't help someone who wants me hurt."

"Maybe not intentionally." Severus says, "But he might eventually. Either way, we must make sure that Felix won't be with me as often as he used to be so people will eventually think that he turns wild after being healed again. In that case, no one will be surprised when you show up right when Felix disappears."

Harry is silent for a while, "May Felix go visit others?"

"Like whom?" Severus questions surprised.

"Like Draco." Harry asks. "His father might not like the boy-who-lives, but he won't mind a Shadow Phoenix being around will he?"

Severus frowns worried that it is too dangerous but at the same time unwilling to deny the boy anything without due consideration. He sees the boy raise his arms to protect his head after seeing the frown after daring to ask a question and Severus sighs.

"While no one knows that you are Felix and you promise to stay in that form and be very careful and not be gone for too long, then I assume it is fine." Severus replies, "Will it be all right with you to stay in this room whenever you are just Harry and sometimes even without me? That way you'll be officially mine to take care of in a little while and then you can walk around the castle as Harry and make all kind of friends. There are some very nice students around that probably would love to show you what they've learned."

Harry looks nervous and Severus moves his fingers through the boy's black hair. "Don't worry, Harry. You don't have to decide right now if or when you're ready to face the castle as Harry. And you'll always will be my little Felix just like you are my little Harry."

"I'll be fine, alone I mean." He mumbles.

"If you need anything you can always change into Felix and come to me." Severus tells the young boy.

Harry smiles a little bit before he hugs the man for a moment. Right after the hug the boy changes back into Felix and flashes to his perch. Severus slowly walks over to pet the bird. "You may always hug me and unlike your Aunt and Uncle I expect you to ask many questions because the more you ask, the more you'll learn." Severus tells him, "And just so you know, I despise corporal punishment."

The bird looks questioningly for a while before he flies of the perch and lands as a boy next to Severus. His little arms move around the man's leg before he wonders "What's corporal?"

"Corporal punishment is another word for physical punishment and includes spanking or anything else that would physically hurt the person that is punished." Severus explains.

"How else can you punish me when I'm a freak?" Harry questions.

"I told you that you are not a freak and that you are not to address yourself as such." Severus replies with a small smile and picks up the small boy and carries him to the table. "To ensure that you learn that as well as about one of many possible ways to punish you. I will show you how you'll be punished whenever you refer to yourself as a freak by punishing you for that now." Harry looks up afraid while Severus magically summons parchment, ink and a quill. "You are to write I'm not a freak, I'm a good boy ten times. And before you wonder, the number of times will increase once you are more practiced in writing."

"The boy looks surprised before he asks "Are you sure this is a real punishment?"

"Believe me, I am." Severus replies "It seems weak to you because you are used to so much worse but every student of mine considers my punishments the worst. It will also on occasion include to be confined to your room. Or I might take a toy or other privileges."

Harry feels very stupid that he constantly doesn't understand words and tries to find out what confined and privileges mean by reminding the older man, "I don't have a room or toys."

"You will get a room very soon and when misbehaving you must stay in there. You'll also get toys very soon and I might take your favourite one when you've been naughty or take the privilege to visit Draco by telling you not to and increasing the punishment should you not listen." Severus smiles a little again and says "But I will still care about you deeply even when you're not on your best behaviour. No child is always good. Sometimes because they just want to do something forbidden so badly they believe it worth to risk of getting the punishment or maybe a child just forgot that something is forbidden. No one is born perfectly well behaved. Everyone needs to learn that. And you will, by occasionally being naughty, getting punished and thus learning that you've been misbehaving." Severus smiles again, "Now before you start to write them I want to make sure that you understand what I mean by confining you to your room and taking privileges. What does confining mean?"

"That you lock me up like Aunt did but in a room and not the cupboard." Harry replies happy to know it.

With a frown, Severus explains, "It does not mean that I'll 'lock you up' in the sense of locking the door. It only means that I'll tell you to go to your room and expect you to stay there. You are however to leave it and come to me in case of an emergency like a fire or that you hurt yourself or otherwise are in need of my assistance. And, of course, you can always leave to use the bathroom whenever needed. Also, knowing what I do about how you came here, I probably should tell you that should you ever feel sick while being confined to your room I expect you to still leave the room and tell me because your health comes first. Even if it is just a headache. Did you understand the difference?"

Harry frowns but says, "Locked up means I can't go out, confined means that I'm supposed to stay where I can leave but must leave when I'm hurt or scared that I'd get hurt or sick or just need to go to the bathroom."

"Very good." Severus praises the boy. "Next, what did I mean when I said I'd take privileges."

"That I can't visit Draco?" Harry replies sounding more like he's asking.

"Visiting a friend, even in the shape of Felix, is one possible privilege. Meaning something that you are privileged enough to be permitted to do or to have." Severus can't help but grin at the confused looking boy. He can nearly see the questions marks in the boy's head and then says, "How about we try to clear that up some more, what do you think could a privilege be? You already mentioned seeing Draco and that is one of those. Try to think of another example."

Harry thinks about it for a moment before saying, "Having a room?"

"No," Severus says, "It is a good idea, but a room, just like having a bed, is an essential. Meaning you need to have that to be healthy. It is deplorable of your Aunt and Uncle not to let you have a proper room especially since they didn't lack the ability to give you one. Dudley has two and he didn't really need a second one as badly as you would have needed a first one. You need a place you can sleep where you feel safe and comfortable and that is what a room is for. Even if you can be punished by being force to stay in there, you should still feel safe when you are in it. Try again."

Harry sighs and thinks about it some more before he says, "Maybe, no dinner?"

Severus shakes a head, "A growing boy needs nutrition's, you are already malnourished which means you got too little food to stay healthy and are much shorter than most boys your age due to it. I might be able to counter any permanent damage such malnourishment might have caused. And while sending a child to bed with just one missing meal is done by some, I don't consider it to be acceptable unless the child is overweight and had a late and sufficient lunch to keep it from getting hungry. But especially with a child that has already been malnourished in the past, denying food shouldn't even be considered. Leaving you with as little food as you had in the past is against the law and you could sue your Aunt and Uncle, however, it would reach the ears of some reporters and as you heard from Draco, people are very curious about you and everyone would talk about what happened to you and I doubt you like that. However, should you ever wish to see them appropriately punished for the deplorable way they treated you, you most certainly can contact the authorities."

"You mean…. they've been naughty?" Harry wonders confused.

"Very naughty Harry and I'm very angry with them for how badly they treated you." Severus confirms, "Now try again to think of a privilege. And don't worry to say something wrong. I'm glad you mentioned what you have so far so I could explain that those are indeed not a privilege but an essential thing that every child should have. I know there are children on this plant that starve because they don't have food. But their caretakers are either dead or don't have enough for themselves either. Your caretakers, meaning your Aunt and Uncle, had enough. And that is why it is so bad what they did."

With a sigh, Harry once again tries to think about something that might be considered a privilege and then asks, "The toy's. You said I'd get toys and that you'd take them when I'm naughty. So, they are a privilege, right?"

"That is at least partly correct." Severus praises him, "You remembered that very well Harry. Having something to play with in general is also essential for every child because by playing with those you'll learn much more than you think. However, the number of toys or how good those are is different for every child for a reason. Some children with no parents or very poor parents only have a can to kick or other everyday items they use as toys. Since I'm now the one who is responsible for your upbringing, and since I'm neither particularly poor, nor particularly rich, you will get some toys like colouring books, little figurines and, if you want, a broom for flying."

"Like Draco's?" Harry questions exited.

"It's impolite to interrupt Harry." Severus tells the boy before he continues, "And not exactly like Draco's. He had a beginner's broom when he was about a year and could just about walk. You are, at least for the moment, unpractised with flying on a broom and one like Draco's might be too dangerous. You are a bit tall for a broom like the one Draco started with and you may get a similar one to what Draco has now however Draco usually has the fastest and newest broom on the market since his father is very rich and can afford it. I however won't be able to buy you the most expensive one and you are too inexperienced for a particularly fast one. It will be an older and slower one. But if you ever manage to get into a Hogwarts Quidditch team, and before you ask that is a sport that I will show you when the next game is held here in school either as Harry or as Felix, my point is if you get into that I will use some of my savings and buy you a very good one." Severus smiles at the happy looking boy and ads, "But since having all your toys at once isn't essential, I might occasionally take one of your more preferred ones as punishment because while having something to play with is essential, expensive or favoured toys you wished for will be a privilege and I will on occasion take one or two for a set amount of time and return it to you once I consider you sufficiently punished. Did you understand that?"

Harry nods happy and to show that he got everything says, "I will always be allowed to play with something but when naughty not always with what I want to play with."

"Very good Harry." Severus praises. "You really are very smart to understand all of that. Now before you get to those lines I mentioned earlier, I want to let you know that I tend to use words that a lot of people don't use when talking to a small child like yourself, like confined or privileged. I could have used simpler words that would have been easier to understand for you and I know that most of those that I use you won't know. That is not because you are stupid or such but because no one used them when talking with, or around you and due to that you couldn't have learned them." He watches the boy closely to see if he could follow him. "I could use simpler words like most adults do when talking to a child, but I'd like to increase your Vocabulary which will enable you to understand textbooks better when you're older. Now whenever I use a word you don't understand, you must ask me okay?"

He saw the question marks start with adults already and only increase at just that word as well as Vocabulary. He watches while the boy fidgets and then mumbles, "I got everything until after you said you could use simpler words."

"Do you know what adult means?" Severus asks. Harry just shakes his head and Severus says, "It's another word for grown-ups. You are a child and I'm an adult. Now do you know what increase means?" Another headshake later Severus explains, "It means that something gets bigger. Like when I build a sandcastle and put more sand on it, I increase the size. Or if I make a cookies and use double the ingredients I increase the number of cookies I'm making. What about Vocabulary? Do you understand that word?" Once again, he gets a headshake from the boy. "It means words that you know for a certain language. If you have a big Vocabulary you know many different words. If it is small you know only a few. Like children usually have a smaller Vocabulary because they are still learning new words every day." He smiles "Let's see if you understand what I said before, now that you increased your Vocabulary by learning those three words. I said, I could use simpler words like most adults do when talking to a child, but I'd like to increase your Vocabulary which will enable you to understand textbooks better when you're older. Now whenever I use a word you don't understand, you must ask me okay?"

"You won't say easy things to me and want me to ask you when I don't understand a word you said so I'll learn more words and something about tricky things I read." Harry smiles and seems to be happy to be this certain to have understood at least most before he asks, "Does enable mean to can do something?

"Yes, that is correct and I'm very proud of you Harry that you understood it so quickly." Severus smiles. "I don't mind you asking me about the same words multiple times. You will hear me say many words you don't understand every day and probably not be able to understand everything the first time around because it will just be too much to memorize at one time. Do you know what memorize means?"

Harry uncertainly replies, "To remember?"

"Very good Harry." Severus praises again glad to see that even though he's been dreadfully neglected he managed to gain a reasonable intellect for his age which gives him cause to hope that with a little more help he might advance to a more than average intellect. "You should be very proud of yourself since you are much more intelligent than I thought you could be, taking your age and the way you were raised into account."

Harry smiles happy and mumbles, "I hadn't known, like in really known. I just thought that Dudley once got a game called memory and that was with cards where you have to remember where they are and Aunt Petunia said that memory means to remember so I thought memorize does too."

"In that case, let me clear up the difference. Memory is remembering something you already know. Like you remembered that word just now from when you learned it. Memory also means the part of your brain where what you lean is located. Memorize is to learn something new and place it in that part. You don't consciously do it but right now you're learning the difference and have to memorize it, so you'll have it in your Memory and be able to remember it at a later point." Severus explains.

"You must be really smart." Harry says sounding a little happier than before.

"I thank you for the compliment." Severus replies with a smile. "I have to be, to be called a Professor at this fine school. And don't worry, I'm sure you are a very intelligent boy as well. You'll learn everything, you have a good memory it seems and I'm sure you will be just fine now that someone actually helps you to learn." Harry smiles even more. "Now you write the lines I told you to while I'll talk to Albus for a moment through the fireplace. Do you still remember what you are supposed to write?"

"I'm not a freak, I'm a good boy. I'm supposed to write it ten times." Harry replies happy to have remembered. "I memorized it with my memory! And I'm sure my Vovabubelly will increase too."

"Very well done." Severus praises with an amused grin on his face. "But it's Vocabulary. Not Vovabubelly. Try to repeat it once it isn't easy to pronounce right especially for a child your age."

"Vocabulaly?" Harry tries.

Severus smiles a little, "Not perfect but better. We'll practise more the next time you pronounce it incorrectly."

"Sev?" Harry questions.

"Yes Harry." Severus raises an eyebrow.

"Does Pononse means how its sounding?" Harry questions.

"Yes, clever boy. Pronounce does mean just that." Severus says. "Now do your lines."

"Okay!" Harry replies with a smile on his face and turns towards the parchment and the quill.

Severus turns towards the fireplace and throws some floo into it. A moment later his head is in the fireplace and he looks towards Albus standing in his office. "I need to talk to you about my new charge."

"I think it's best if I come to you then." Albus replies, "I would like to talk to him if I can."

"I can't promise you, he is very shy." Severus explains, "But I think his mood is improving he talked to me a little today and is currently doing lines."

"Lines?" Albus wonders, "Surely that sweet boy couldn't have done anything to warrant a punishment."

"He called himself a freak after I told him before that he is no such thing." Severus replies, "But don't worry, since his handwriting is nearly illegible I do believe he can use the practise and only made him write a rather short sentence ten times."

"That is still a lot for such a small boy." Albus replies, "Do you really have to be that strict with the lad."

"I assure he disagrees." Severus replies, "I believe he considers me lenient since I informed him that I don't believe in corporal punishment. Either way, I believe that writing I'm not a freak, I'm a good boy will actually be good for him to get the message into his head."

Albus looks surprised for a moment before he smiles, "Well, if the sentence is that short and can be considered working on his handwriting, I believe that it is acceptable. Now, let me come though please so I can see the boy."

Severus moves back and a moment later the fire flares again and from the corner of his eyes he sees a blue flame at the table and by the time Albus is through the Shadow Phoenix is sitting at the desk. Severus silently walks over indicating with his hand towards Albus to stay quiet. He looks at the parchment and says, "I count only three. Please finish. And do not worry about Albus seeing you as Harry, he is informed of your circumstances and won't interfere."

The bird looks at him for a moment before turning and asking, "What does circum…something mean?"

"Circumstances." Severus says slowly. "Repeat it please." Harry does and after Severus corrected him a few times, manages to say it nearly perfectly and Severus nods, "It means things that happened to someone or around someone or even something. Like when it's very cold a plant might die due to that. Than it was due to the weather circumstances."

"Severus my boy." Albus chides gently, "You shouldn't expect too much of the child and use easier words."

"But I wanna learn." Harry says before ducking behind Severus.

"Please don't speak when adults are talking and do finish your lines." Severus replies before turning to Albus. "I believe that using more advanced words with Harry or in his surroundings will improve his Vocabulary greatly and that it will also be to his advantage when he gets accustomed to question everything he doesn't understand. Especially since he seemed to be afraid of inquiring about anything at the start. And as Harry just said himself, he wishes to learn." Severus looks at the boy while saying the last part to make sure he hears a more acceptable wording than 'I wanna' but unwilling to chide him for that on top of everything he's already done.

Harry nods and Severus is certain that he understood. Albus watches the two and smiles. Truth be told he had been a little worried about leaving Harry with Severus who is known to be particularly strict and most children don't like him very much. Until now Draco Malfoy was the only exception to that rule. But it seems that Harry's magic has chosen wisely. "Now what did you wish to discuss Severus."

"I would like to have a separate private potions lap. One that I can lock securely. That way I can still easily provide the hospital wing with potions." Severus replies, "Which I won't be able to do otherwise since I must remodel the current one into a proper children's bed room. The guest room is still needed for my godson's occasional visits and inappropriate as a permanent resistance for a child Harry's age due to its small size."

"I agree." Albus replies happily. "I'll have to see which room would be best but I think there is one that might be good on this floor. I'll have a few options ready by noon and an elf can show you and you just pick one."

"I thank you." Severus replies. "Also, I'd like to inform you that I'll leave later today with Harry. I don't know if he's ready to go as Harry but I think if I let him wear a hat or something that covers his scare most people won't know who he is so he can come along and have some ice cream as the child he is.

"Ice cream?" Harry questions surprised.

"Yes, ice cream." Severus replies, "And add another line saying I'm not to interrupt adults."

"How do you write that?" Harry wonders out loud and Severus moves his wand and the letters appear in the air before Harry.

"That's how you spell it." Severus replies, "And now try to finish it and then you may do as you please. I'll look over your lines when Albus leaves."

"Yes Sev." Harry says nearly cheerful.

"He looks rather happy for a child in his situation." Albus sighs.

"As I mentioned, his mood seemed to have improved." Severus replies, "Not enough I fear but it's a start and if it continues at this rate I'm reasonably certain that he'll be fine."

"I assume the trip you're planning is to buy all necessities for him?" Albus questions.

"That is correct." Severus replies. "It's overdue considering that I assumed him to be a child for some time. He needs crayons or something else to colour and draw, which will improve his handwriting further as well I assume. I'm also a little short on books that are adequate for a boy his age and I think a chess game wouldn't go amiss either even though he is a little young for that. I'm sure he'll find a great deal of other toys he'll like to have and I'm going to get him a few more depending on the price range."

"I should on this note inform you that there is a vault in his name at Gringotts from which I had some gold exchanged into muggle notes and brought towards his relatives up to now, to cover all those essentials you just mentioned." Albus sighs, "I fear very little of that reached the boy but of course you'll get the same amount."

"How much would that be?" Severus questions. "And how long will his money last if it continues to be used in this fashion?"

"He has plenty." Albus replies. "I had planned to give them as much and some for school materials before every school year once he starts primary school. After that I had thought to give Harry free access to his trust found since I can ask the Goblins to transfer school fees from the main Potter Vault. And believe me, he won't easily be able to waste enough to run out of funds for school books but if I'm proven wrong I'd pay for it since I recently decided to name him as one of two main heirs. I already discussed it with Aberforth who doesn't seem to want my gold anyway and is childless too. Who knows where my gold would end up. I had thought about leaving everything to the school but the way things are with the school board I know how little good that would do. I decided to rather make up for some of my past mistakes. And as I said, he's got plenty. The Potters enjoyed working quietly and peaceful in the background for themselves, unlike the Malfoy's, but they had more money than them for generations. They just didn't mention it which is why no one knew."

Severus' eyebrow rises monetarily before he says "If that is the case I will except money from that vault on occasion and I do believe that this warrants such an exception. But I refuse to except more than necessary. I, however reluctantly, excepted responsibility for Lily's son. Providing for him to the best of my abilities is part of that. I also would like to postpone the decision of giving him full access to his trust fund at the age of eleven. Especially considering that he is shy and still dreadfully unused to possessing money of his own. We should decide that when the time approaches." Severus frowns a little after seeing that Harry's hand halted in his writing for a moment when Severus said that he had reluctantly accepted responsibility for him.

"Of course, Severus." Albus replies. "And don't worry about further inconveniences, especially seeing how he already is improving I think we can find suitable accommodations with a friend for summer vacation once he starts Hogwarts."

Severus frowns disproving and he sees a silent tear run down Harry's face while his writing hand seems to shake a little. "I'm sorry Professor but I disagree with you. You were the one to point out that Harry's magic chose me. Not you. And I very much doubt he came to me for a roof over his head until he is eleven. He chose me as his caretaker and that does not just stop once he's off to school. I think we can agree that Harry needs stability and I'm afraid I must insist that ALL legal rights are transferred to me. I want to officially be his legal guardian at least until he chooses otherwise. I refuse to be a Nanny that you ask to take care of him."

Albus watches as Harry runs over to silently hug Severus before he wipers something into his ear and then Severus gives him a nod and mumbles "Always, and, if you are finished you may go play which includes flying around the castle but not too far, only ten feet from the building and not for too long." After that Harry changes and flashes away. Severus eyes his own bedroom door and sees once again blue light from the gap meaning that Harry didn't dare to go that far without Severus.

"I will have the papers ready for you by the weekend. I hoped you'd say you want to keep him." His eyes sparkle annoyingly. "I will also make sure that Remus is informed and agreeable. When old friends of James and Lily hear of this they probably will go to him to help them challenge your claim and it would greatly calm them down when he insists that you keep the boy. It would help if he may see the child. He was best friends with James and you can't tell the child as much about his father as Remus can. At least not nice things."

"Firstly, the child has a name. And secondly I might consider letting the wolf see Harry once he recovered from his time with the last caretakers you picked." Severus grumbles. "He hardly stays in his proper body around me and prefers Felix. You saw how fast he changed when you came and how reluctant he was to turn back. On top of that, I can't promise not to get upset about things that Wolf might say and refuse to leave Harry alone with a stranger until he feels comfortable with him. It wouldn't be good for Harry to see us fight."

"I understand and I'm sure Remus will too and give both of you some time." Albus replies "I still believe it to be important though."

"I know." Severus grumbles upset. "I'm afraid I even agree with you but right now neither Harry nor I are ready for this."

"I understand. Remus is dreadfully busy pranking the living daylights out of a certain muggle family anyway." Albus chuckles "I fear he has a little too much fun using all those pranks he had talked his friends out of using on you."

Severus raises his eyebrow before saying "And you believe that is sufficient punishment for those monsters?"

"Not even close." Albus sighs. "But it's the best I can do right now. Unless you want Harry's story on the front page of..."

"No I do not." Severus replies before Dumbledore can finish his sentence. "Harry knows about that option and that I would support him should he ever think being in the newspaper is worth getting these horrible relatives punished."

"I see." Albus replies "Anything else we need to discuss? Because if this is all I shall leave and set out to find the perfect potions room for you, get those papers ready and have some of Harry's gold brought to you so you can spoil him a little today. He deserves one particular great day out I believe."


Authors Note: Firstly, for all of you who wanted to the the Dursleys punished much more severely, Severus might have accepted that he can't kill them in an angry fit in front of Dumbledore without risking getting thrown into Azkaban but that does not mean that he gives up. He is a patient and smart man and they would be foolish to believe that he isn't just baiting his time and waiting for the perfect opportunity.

Now, I already promised you some excitement in the next chapter. It will mostly be about the little shopping trip and the damage control afterwards. I guess that already proves that not everything will get smooth. But what could possibly go wrong when the feared potions Professor of Hogwarts and known ex death eater (while the ex isn't that certain in most peoples mind) is walking around with Harry Potter who is only covering his scare with a hat? Really what could go wrong? Will they meet some of Severus' old death eater contacts? Or one of the order who wasn't aware that Severus is taking care of Harry? Or will Skeeter see them and they will be the headline in the Daily Prophet and people start to worry that Dumbledore lost his mind to let Snape take care of Harry? Will Harry manage to endure whatever happens without flashing to the safety of Hogwarts dungeons or will he expose himself already? Will Severus be able to keep the boy safe or will he regret taking the risk just to give Harry a good time and some Ice cream?

I'll try to update the next chapter tomorrow around this time but as of now, I can't promise anything. A review or plenty of more followers or such will certainly encourage me to work hard to let you read the next chapter soon!