It seemed to take an age, but they found all the kids who needed a place. Tom, the two Jims, Kelly, Alun, Terry, Mark, and Seth all aged five to seven. They had tracked down every one of the forty-three war orphans; only eight had needed to go some place new. Most of them were with relatives who cared, had been adopted by wizards or Muggles who'd been told about their children's special abilities and sad pasts. Harry was thrilled. He wanted a house teeming with children but he was pleased that so many had already had people taking care of them. He loved his eight boys.
Within a month and a half of opening they had them all and Harry was enjoying them immensely. Remus had taken over cooking. Severus was gardening (mostly for potion ingredients but gardening none the less). And they'd already collected two stray cats that lived in the garden.
About the cats Severus demanded, "Must you adopt everything?"
"I told you," Harry protested, "I like being domestic with you."
Remus had gotten more comfortable and happy than Harry had ever seen him. He was looking healthy and he allowed Severus to heal all his old scars. Harry had pointed out that, as he was always dosed up on Wolfsbane Potion he wouldn't be getting anymore scars. "I like this little house of yours," he said one morning. They were drinking coffee and no one else was out of bed. Severus had taken to sleeping in like a duck to water.
"It's nice, isn't it?" Harry said looking around the kitchen with a content air.
"No, it's amazing." Remus laughed. "Honestly, Harry, your parents would be so proud. Though I have no idea what James would say about you and Severus, he'd probably fall off his seat laughing."
Harry smiled, "How are you two doing?"
"Your father and I?" asked Remus sounding confused.
"No, you and Severus."
"We're okay, shockingly okay. You've changed him."
"No, I didn't. I…"
"Harry," Remus said softly. He paused, "I don't know if I'm allowed to ask this."
Harry swallowed and looked away before saying. "I was blackmailed, horribly, because of the way I felt. And then something terrible happened, it was awful, and he put a happy thought charm on me to protect me. But he fell into it and saw everything, the way I felt, the blackmail, everything I wanted: you getting a great job, being back in the Weasley's kitchen, Hermione and Neville's wedding. And… I guess it just changed what he thought. Y'know? If all he'd seen was wealth, and power, and world domination, I don't think we would be here now. But, I guess, because it was all such normal stuff he saw me for the first time. And I think he just saw that I wasn't such scum after all."
"Right, but he doesn't jump in with everyone who's not scum."
"No, but he also doesn't usually spend seventeen years hating a boy only to find out that the boy loves him. Maybe he liked my version of the perfect world too, or maybe he'd felt something before but denied it. I don't really care. I might not know the whys but I know that he loves me. And that makes ninety days of blackmail and one awful night worth it. If I end up here, in this kitchen, surrounded by nice people, it was worth it."
Remus just smiled at him as Severus walked in, "Any coffee left?" asked the man as he stretched.
"If you didn't laze about in bed 'til noon you wouldn't have to ask that question," said Remus.
"It's ten thirty," corrected Severus.
"Two of the boys tried to dig up your Parson's Tongue yesterday afternoon. It put up a good fight but you might want to go check on it."
Severus ran like his hair was on fire, Harry smiled, stood, and made a new pot of coffee.
"While I find scaring him rather entertaining what was the point of that?"
"No, the two Jims really did attack it. I don't think they got any of the roots out though."
"How bad was it?" Remus asked.
"A few scrapes and embedded thorns, nothing major."
"Anyone injured?" asked Severus coming back into the kitchen.
"Not badly."
"That's good. I don't think the Parson's Tongue will last long now, they broke off a lot of pustules. I'll have to give them all a talk about things they can and cannot dig up. Maybe I can set aside a patch for them. That plant needs replacing, a large green house would carry it. Will you two be alright with the boys?"
"We'll be fine. You go," Harry said handing Severus a cup of coffee.
Severus took a deep swig and said, "Good, I wanted the pustules for a potion I was going to make with the children this afternoon."
"Already? Aren't they a bit young?" asked Harry.
"Not for the fun ones," said Remus. "I'm assuming it's nothing ingestible?" he asked Severus.
"No, nothing like that, Bouncing Bubbles."
Remus smiled, "I used to love that stuff."
Severus blinked, "Would you like to help me with it? They'll need help with stirring technique."
"Sure," replied Remus.
"Potter, I would ask you but something might explode."
"Oh, ha-ha," said Harry as Severus and Remus laughed.
Severus left, carrying his coffee, to get dressed. "You've changed him," Remus repeated.
"No," Harry said again, "I really haven't."
Later in the afternoon Remus was barbequing as the boys played with their bubbles. Severus had sat them down and given them all a very stern talking to about not digging up his plants. He showed them the saplings and seeds he'd purchased for them and the patch he'd dug over that morning for them. The Jims admitted to attacking the plant the day before and Severus had assured them that they weren't in trouble but they shouldn't do it in the future. He taught them how to harvest the pustules off the Parson's Tongue without them popping and how to skin and juice the useful parts of the growths. He gave the boys a lesson in milking the thorns for the oil they gave off without getting wounded. They ground the dry components in mortars and passels and got filthy. And, even though Severus had jokingly told him he wasn't allowed to help, Harry stirred Mark and Terry's cauldron for them because they were only five and didn't have the strength to whip in the air that was required for the mixture to work. Now the children were taking turns blowing bubbles around each other and bouncing down to the bottom of the garden where the bubbles popped gently.
The yard was filled with shrieks of laughter. Harry and Severus were lying together under a big oak. Harry leaned into Severus and said, "Remus thinks I've changed you."
"Why?"
"Because there's no cloud over your head or thunder in your step."
"And what do you think?"
"I don't think you've changed a lick."
"But I don't have the cloud over me," Severus pointed out.
"No, but I think you're happy here. And neither Remus nor I have ever seen you happy."
"Is that the reason?" asked Severus with a smirk as though he was shocked.
"Well, are you happy?" asked Harry in reply.
The man thought for a moment and then said slowly, "Yes, I think I am. I think I'm very happy. It's sort of odd. But, as long none of them start calling me Dad, I shall be quite content."
Harry leaned in for a kiss as Tom bounced into the oak. The bubble popped and he landed gently on his bum. The pair broke off to clap politely as one would at Wimbledon for a particularly good serve. Tom stood, brushed himself off, and bowed, before running back up the hill giggling.
Having heard the end of what Severus said, he ran straight to Remus. He pulled at the man's robe's hem. "Minute, buddy," said Remus flipping the mushrooms and corncobs and coating them in oil. "What can I do for you?" he asked smiling at Tom.
"Would you please take me to the shops tomorrow morning before everyone gets up?"
"Of course, why?"
"I want to buy a gift for Severus. But it's a surprise so don't tell him, or Harry. Please?"
"Sure, sounds good to me." Remus agreed. "Do you need any money?"
"No it was pocket money day on Monday."
"Okay then." Remus turned back to his grilling as Tom went to join the others.
The next morning Tom knocked at the door to their bedroom nervously. Now that he had bought a gift for Severus he wondered if, perhaps, he should have bought one for Remus and Harry too. Harry opened the door in pajama pants, "Hey, Tom, what's up?"
"I, I have something or Severus," he said holding out the object, he'd wrapped it in brown paper and stello tape.
"Right, he's just finishing up in the bath, come in," he ushered Tom in and looked at the wardrobe and then the window. "It's raining," he complained, "I'm not getting dressed." He pulled on Ron's old sweater and sat back down on the bed next to Tom.
Severus walked into the bedroom wearing a towel around his waist saying, "Fancy a quickie?" His gaze fell on Tom and he blanched.
"What's a quickie?" asked Tom.
"Severus left the water in the bath for me so I can have a quick wash." Harry explained. "Tom brought you a present."
Trying to act less shocked than he was Severus said, "You didn't need to do that, Tom. It's very kind of you. Thanks very much." He unwrapped the gift and had to fight not to grimace as Harry suppressed a laugh. Not able to think of a response he stammered but Tom interrupted him.
"I heard you tell Harry that you wanted us to call you Dad. And I've been so happy here. You three are so nice and I would call you Dad if you liked."
Severus went suddenly somber. He cupped the "World's Number One Dad!" mug in his hands. "Tom, this the best gift I've ever had. Thank you. It's lovely. You call me whatever you like. You had a dad and I would never want to replace him. But thank you. Now, I think, it's time to try out my new mug," He waved his wand over himself and the towel was replaced with robes. He swung Tom up onto his hip and moved towards the door.
"What about my quickie?" Harry called after the pair.
"You're old enough to wash yourself, Potter," Severus called back with a laugh.
When he went downstairs he saw that everyone was in the living room playing disappearing jacks, exploding snap, and wizard chess.
"What are we on, fives-ies?" asked Remus looking at the jacks. Seth nodded and Remus threw the ball up just as all the jacks disappeared. "No fair!" he complained, and made a blind scoop. Only three appeared in his hand and Seth cackled with laughter.
Harry settled into his favourite seat on the couch by the window to watch them as Severus came in with a cup of tea in his new mug. He sat with Harry and handed him the drink, "I put in one sugar as a compromise." Severus didn't like sweetened tea and Harry would always put in two lumps. Harry thanked him and took a sip.
Passing the cup back he asked, "You busy?" The man shook his head. "Then, do I get kisses?"
Severus leaned in and delivered the kiss, "Always." He saw that Seth had stopped playing jacks and was watching them. "Something wrong, Seth?" Seth was the newest child in the house and he hadn't seen them together as frequently as the others had. Severus wondered for a moment if the little boy had a problem with two men being together. Seth shook his head but Severus pressed him, thinking it would be better to get any problems out sooner rather than later. "What is it, Seth?"
"Harry gets kisses when he asks for them," he asserted.
"Yes?"
"Well do I get kisses?"
Harry felt himself go cold at the words. The boys all paused, obviously listening, but they were careful not too look at the adults. Severus wordlessly handed the mug to Harry and stood. He scooped Seth up in one arm and Alun in the other. He peppered their faces with quick kisses before continuing around the room. "Everyone's kiss cauldrons filled up?" The boys laughed and nodded. "Good, when you get low, tell one of us." He sat back down and said, "Okay, Potter?"
"I knew I was forgetting something."
"Well, it's easily remedied." Harry smiled. "Why are you smirking?"
"I would described you as many wonderful things. But I never would have called you a kind man."
Severus snorted and said, "I'm not kind, I'm selfish."
"For what?" Severus cocked his head, indicating the sound all around them. Harry leaned forward and whispered, "A man who is selfish for the noise of kids laughing seems like a kind man to me."
Rolling his eyes Severus said, "Shut it. You make me sound soft."
"No," Harry shook his head, "anything but. I love you."
"Love you too, idiot."