Well...here is the next chapter...finally! I have some happy news to all my avid readers...I have vacation this week. That means that I will have a bit more time for writing...meaning a strong possibility that I will be updating more. Anyways...THANK YOU to everyone who left a review...I LOVE THEM! Thanks to all of you who have read this new one. If you just discovered me...and my stories...I have another one called Whispered Promises. I hope you enjoy this next chapter. I made it extra long because of your long wait!
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Severus was the first to awake the next morning despite his late night. The private potions master had established a routine of waking hours before classes during the school term to prepare for the day and prep his classroom. The routine had carried over into the summer and Severus took the time to relax without the demands of employers or potions.
After taking care of his personal needs, the man entered the kitchen and called Lola for some toast and coffee. Once the desired breakfast arrived, Severus began reading the current issue of Potions Masters Weekly.
It was about an hour later that the potions master was pulled from the journal by the chair across from him strapping against the cool stone floor. Having marked his place in the article he was reading, Severus turned to his godson.
"Good morning Draco."
"Morning Uncle Sev," Draco yawned.
"I'm surprise to see that you are up so early. If I remembered correctly, during summers I usually have to drag you out of bed at noon. Why the change?"
Draco simply shrugged his shoulders as the reply.
"Draconis Alexander Malfoy, do not lie to me. Not after yesterday," Severus warned with a stern but caring voice. "I know we gave you a dreamless sleep, did you have any nightmares after it left your system?"
Draco gave a stiff nod and quickly ducked his head. With his eyes glued to the table, Draco did not see his godfather rise from his chair or come around to his chair. The blonde nearly jumped out of his skin when a hand landed on his shoulder. Draco tipped his head back to meet the black eyes of his uncle.
"Come Draco, lets talk about this in the living room," Severus suggested with a soothing voice.
Draco and Severus walked side-by-side into the living room and took a seat next to each other on the couch. After calling Lola for some tea, Severus broached the subject of Draco's nightmares again.
"Dragon, I know you don't want to talk about everything that's happened, but you need to tell me or I can't help you."
"I can't…can't get what I saw out of my head. He was so small and broken. I know what father and his friends did to him and I'm worried what will happen if I ever have to go back to him. God Uncle Sev, you didn't see him there. I woke up with that image of him in the dungeons," Draco confessed and than began to cry.
Severus pulled Draco into his lap and started to rock the distressed boy. "Oh my little dragon, he will be fine. You helped him in a way no one else could. You can continue to help him by being his friend. Both of you are safe and your father will not get his hands on you. I am so proud of you, dragon. You are much stronger than you think," Severus murmured into his godson's ear.
Eventually, Draco calmed down and allowed Severus to help him work through his nightmare. Half an hour later, there was a knock on the portrait guarding their quarters. The potions master rose to answer the knock and was greeted with Poppy Pomfrey.
"Good morning Severus, how was your night?"
"As well as it could be," Severus sighed and stepped back to allow the nurse to enter. "Harry is still asleep and Draco is in the living room."
"Splendid! I think I will start with Harry and then check on Draco," Poppy informed the potions master before entering Harry's room. She came back into the living room about ten minutes later. "Harry has healed nicely, but he will still need the potions I listed last night. Did he have any problems last night?"
"Nothing too bad. He woke up with a nightmare around 2 am. I calmed him down, fed him some warm milk, and gave him his potions. He fell asleep shortly after," Severus explained.
"You did perfect! Well, he should be waking soon. Give him some more milk in the bottle for breakfast and then maybe some broth for lunch. He shouldn't really be out of bed until this evening, so don't allow him to walk around too much," Pomfrey instructed.
"Of course."
The nurse turned her eyes from the potions master to the blonde next to him. "Now, let me check on you Draco and then I will be on my way."
"Really Madame, I'm fine. There is really no reason to check on me," Draco quietly argued.
"Nonsense Draco Malfoy! After what happened yesterday, I dearly doubt that you are completely fine. Now sit still and I will be done in a minute."
The blonde sat with his arms crossed while the nurse ran her scans. After a few moments, Pomfrey nodded at the results.
"Severus, his system is still in shock a bit, but otherwise he is perfectly fine. The only thing that I have to instruct is no strenuous activities for the day."
"Of course Madame, I will make sure both boys follow your instructions. Thank you for all your help and for stopping by this morning," Severus said while rising to escort the witch out.
"No problem dear. They are two very special boys. Take good care of them," Poppy smiled.
"I intend to," Severus replied with a small smile of his own.
When the nurse left, Draco returned to his room to get ready for the day. When he finally came out, he asked his godfather if he could go to the library for a little while. After getting the approval and the instructions to come back at lunchtime, Draco gabbed a scone to eat and headed out.
Harry slept for another hour before the charm that Severus had casted went off. The potions master grabbed the bottle of warm milk, as well as the potions the nurse left, and entered the bedroom.
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As his eyelids fluttered open, Harry was instantly hit by the fact that he was not longer in his cell. It took him a couple of minutes to remember the events that took place the day before. When the memories assaulted his senses, Harry began hyperventilating. He didn't notice the dark figure that had entered the room.
Severus entered the bedroom just as the black haired boy started to struggle breathing. Abandoning the bottle and potions on the side table, the potions master rushed to Harry. He lifted the boy into a sitting position and climbed behind him. With one hand near his throat and one against his stomach, Severus started to coach the boy to breath.
"Deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth. That's it, one more. There you go, you're fine. Do another," Severus encouraged.
After a couple of minutes, Harry had relaxed and his breathing was back to normal. Severus moved to get off the bed, but the boy had his robes in a death grip.
"Harry, are you okay?"
Like the night before, the only answer the potions master received was a nod.
"Do you still remember where you are?"
A nod.
"I need to get up to gather your things. Can you let go?"
Harry's posture stiffened and he shook his head in the negative.
"Why, child?"
Harry just shook his head again and tried to burrow deeper into the man's robe.
Severus sighed and accioed the bottle and potions to the table near the rocking chair. The milk had cooled a bit and the potions master whispered a warming charm. He then lifted Harry into his arms and headed to the chair. Once he was seated, the man adjusted Harry in his lap and tried to stick the bottle into his mouth. Harry showed the first sign of his old self when he refused the bottle and hid his head in Severus' robes.
"Child, you know why you have to drink from the bottle. I promise that if you feel fine after this, then I will give you some broth and maybe some pudding for lunch. However, for now, you are stuck with the bottle. I know you are hungry, so open up," Severus reasoned.
Harry turned tearful eyes to his professor and gave a weak nod. The man was taken back at the resigned look in the child's eyes. Those eyes showed all the fear, confusion, frustration, determination, and pain that the child was currently feeling. He also saw the trust that Harry held for him and that surprised him. Allowing a small encouraging smile to grace his lips, Severus tried again to stick the bottle in the boy's mouth. This time, Harry didn't fight the bottle and quickly finished the milk.
Once the bottle was finished, Severus coaxed Harry into taking the potions. The two stayed in the rocking chair for ten minutes before Severus started to prepare Harry for the next task.
"Harry, we need to get you cleaned properly. I washed most of the grime off of you last night, but you need a real bath to get everything clean. I'm going to start the bath and I want you to undress and put on the robe I give you while I'm gone," Severus instructed.
Harry's breaths started to become gasps and his hold on Severus tightened as the potion master laid out the next chore. Severus started to pat his back to calm him down.
"Little one, what is this fuss about? It is only a bath. No harm will come from it," Severus said in a soothing tone.
Harry released a sob before he nodded his head and allowed Severus to place him back on the bed. The potions master then handed the small boy a robe and left to prepare the bath.
A few minutes later, Severus reappeared in Harry's room. He was glad to see that Harry had followed his instructions and was now sitting on his bed in the robe.
"Alright child, Madame Pomfrey said that you are not to be walking around until later this evening, so I'm going to carry you to the bath," Severus explained while he advanced towards the bed.
Harry nodded his head and looked at each movement the potions master made. Severus lifted the fragile teen into his arms and walked out of the room into the hall. When they reached the bathroom, Severus perched Harry on the tub edge and told him to remove his robe and get into the bath while he turned around to give the boy some privacy. Severus only turned back when he heard Harry slip into the tub. Since the teen was too weak to do much, Severus ended up bathing the boy and helping him out.
The pair returned to Harry's room and Severus handed the boy some clean pajamas that he borrowed from Draco and resized to fit him. Turning around once again to give the teen some privacy to dress, Severus waited for Harry to finish before gathering him up in his arms.
"How about we go into the living room until lunch?" Severus suggested.
Harry shrugged his shoulders in indifference but the small twinkle in his eye told the potions master what he thought.
"I take that as a yes," Severus playfully smirked.
When they reached the living room, Severus set Harry down on the couch and walked to the bookcase to grab a book to read. Once Severus returned to the couch, he sat down next to Harry and maneuvered the boy so his head was in his lap and he was fully laying down. He then began reading "The Merchant of Venice," aloud to the teen.
Harry had just started to fall asleep while listening to the deep voice of his professor when Draco came bouncing through the door.
"Uncle Sev! I'm home!" Draco yelled.
"We are in the living room Draco!" Severus called back.
The blonde entered into the room and saw his godfather and former enemy on the couch. As soon as Harry saw the blonde, he began to hyperventilate. Severus quickly lifted the small teen into his arms and began the process of calming the child back down. Draco watched it all with a shocked look on his face. He was confused at what had upset the other teen. When Harry finally calmed down, he burrowed into Severus' robes.
"What happened?" Draco asked.
"I'm not sure. I think he thought you were your father. However, I think at the present time, he would be afraid of Dumbledore if he came into the quarters," Severus mused thoughtfully.
"Should I leave?" Draco asked sadly. The blonde had wanted to spend time with Harry and the thought that the other teen was terrified of him made him feel terrible.
"No, Harry needs to get use to you and know that you would not hurt him. I think you should explain a little of what happened yesterday to him. It might help him see the difference between you and Lucius."
"Alright," Draco agreed.
Severus positioned Harry sideways in his lap so that the boy was facing Draco. Harry sat stiffly and looked at Draco with fear and uncertainty in his eyes.
"Okay, so I guess I should start by saying that I don't hate you. I had to pretend that I did because of my father. He wanted me to be like him and I didn't want to. I went to Dumbledore and Uncle Sev and told them my father was intending to have me marked next summer. When you were kidnapped in Hogsmeade, I immediately knew that my father had something to do with it. The next day, I received a letter from him stating that they had captured you and what they were doing to you. I was disgusted. I went straight to the headmaster and we started to plan a rescue. Since I was the only on that could get into Malfoy manor without the wards informing my father, I was the one to do the escape. Yesterday, when we finally had all the plan in place, I went down to the dungeons and freed you. You were in a right state and I had to carry you all the way out. When I crossed the wards, Sev was there to help. Unfortunately, the wards document all those coming and going, so my father knows what I did. Uncle Sev is now our guardian," Draco explained.
Harry just sat in Severus' lap with a pensive look. Although he was not speaking at the moment, he let Draco know that he believed him and was grateful for his help. The blonde let out a relieved breath when he saw that Harry accepted his help and his unspoken apology for how he had treated the small teen. He knew that they still had a long way to go before Harry would feel completely comfortable, but Draco was willing to work on it. He was amazed how much the teen allowed Severus to do already.
Lunch passed with the three sitting down to soup. Harry had some warm broth while the other two had some corn chowder. For dessert, the three had the promised pudding. After lunch, Severus made both boys lay down. He could see that Draco still had not completely recovered from the shock and Harry was practically asleep in his chair. Sweeping Harry up in his arms, he headed into the teen's room and tucked him into bed.
Draco slept for about an hour before waking up. As he entered the living room, he found his godfather reading out of a potions tome.
"Hi Uncle Sev, Harry still asleep?" Draco asked while rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Yes, I'll probably wake him in an hour if he doesn't wake sooner. Would you like to play a game of chess?"
"Sure," Draco answered with a small smile. He loved spending time with his godfather without the pressures of school or parents.
The two spent the next hour playing chess and discussing the last couple of days. Severus wanted Draco to understand that even though Harry was there and needed their help, he would always have time for his godson. Draco questioned his godfather about the connection between him and Harry. He wasn't jealous, just curious. At the end of the hour, Severus placed Draco's king in checkmate. He then headed to Harry's room to wake the boy up.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in the living room together. Severus coaxed both Draco and Harry to start on their summer homework and the boys were now on the ground by the fire working on their charms homework. While the boys were busy concentrating on their task, Severus took the time to watch his boys.
Draco was slowly trying to get Harry used to him. He would ask the green-eyed teen questions trying to get him to answer. Harry had yet to talk, but Severus could see the small boy getting comfortable with both their presence. The blonde would also give the little teen encouragement through praise and even a couple of pats on the back or ruffling of the hair. Unknown to the blonde, he had quickly claimed the role of big brother to Harry. Draco seemed born for the role. He was almost a foot taller than Harry and weighed about forty pounds more. He held an air that radiates power and protectiveness. Severus knew that Draco would be good for Harry and vice versa.
Severus then turned his focus to Harry. Harry was his little one. Although he would occasionally flinch from Draco, he allowed Draco to take the role of big brother. His eyes would sparkle when Draco gave him praise. Physically, Harry was healed from his ordeal with the death eaters, but still showed the scars of years of mistreatment and malnourishment. He looked like he could be entering his first year instead of his forth. Mentally and emotionally, Severus knew that Harry would never be the same. The child had seen too much. However, even with only one day, Severus began to wonder if this was the real Harry and not the happy-go-lucky, cocky, and confident Gryffindor. Severus knew that the next couple of months would be interesting.
The afternoon slipped into evening and the three sat down for dinner. Harry was given some mashed potatoes with turkey gravy and some milk without the bottle. Severus and Draco had roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and some bread. Once dinner was finished, the three retired back into the living room. Severus seated himself in the middle of the couch and had both boys on either side. Harry had taken his previous position with his head in Severus' lap on the right side. Draco curled against Severus' left with his head on his godfather's shoulder. The potions master continued the story he read to Harry that afternoon. Two hours later, Severus noticed that both of his boys were asleep.
Before the potions master could begin putting the teens to bed, the floo activated and Albus' head poked through.
"Ah, Severus, how are you?"
"Fine, no major problems so far. Although I know that will change come tomorrow," Severus sighed.
"Oh, and why is that, my boy?"
"I need to take the boys to Diagon Alley. Harry has no proper clothes, and he needs a new wand. I was thinking that I would just get their schoolbooks tomorrow too. I will take them to get their other supplies in Hogsmeade later in the summer," Severus explained.
"Well, that doesn't seem too big of a problem," Albus stated.
"Oh, but it is. Harry is frightened of everyone. Plus, he hasn't spoken one word since he awoke. How am I suppose to take a frightened, mute boy to Diagon Alley? I wouldn't go tomorrow, but the boy seriously has nothing to wear and I don't like the idea of him wandless."
"Maybe I could help. I will floo Olivander next and ask him to open his floo an hour before he opens. That way, Harry could get his wand before other customers can come in. He owes me a few favors and he has taken a liking to young Harry. That would leave just the clothing store and the bookstore. Since it will be first thing in the morning, there will be little crowds. Ask Draco were he usually gets his clothes, that way you know where you should go. Plus I believe that some clothing outfitters have private rooms for customers. That way, Harry could stay in the room and Draco and yourself can gather clothes. I will also contact William Blotts and inform him that you will be there in the morning for two complete sets of fourth-year books."
"That would be greatly appreciated," Severus informed his employer.
"Good. Well, if there aren't any more problems, I think I will go and make those calls. I will see you tomorrow morning in my office. You can floo to Olivanders from here. Goodnight!"
After Albus left the floo, Severus gathered Draco into his arms and carried him to his room. He then dressed him in some pajamas and tucked the blonde into bed. Severus brushed a kiss on Draco's brow and wished his godson sweet dreams. At the doorway, Severus turned back to his godson and whispered, "Goodnight Little Dragon."
Back in the living room, Severus then gathered Harry into his arms and did the same routine as he did with Draco. The only difference is that he replaced the monitoring charms. When Severus kissed Harry on the forehead, the teen leaned into the touch and gave a happy sigh in his sleep. "Goodnight my Little One."
Author's Note: That's the end of Chapter 2. I hope you enjoyed the story thus far. Next chapter will be the shopping scene. Let me know what you think...aka...REVIEW!
