Chapter Two
Severus and the boy arrived home safely. The boy was dozing lightly, obviously exhausted. Severus ran his hand lightly through the unruly hair. Ugh. The boy really needed a bath.
He jiggled his arms a little. "Child?"
Green eyes opened and looked up at him. "Daddy?"
"You need a bath."
The boy nodded solemnly, he did indeed. His last hosing down had been more than a week before. The only part of him that was clean was his arms, and that only because one of his chores was to wash the dishes.
He grinned suddenly as he thought of something. All Mommy's and Daddy's named their children. In his dreams, he had always been 'Harry', but now that he thought of it, he didn't really like that name. It was used only rarely, and always in situations that were sure to become bad.
"Daddy?" he asked. It was strange, really, to suddenly not be afraid of asking questions. It was something his Aunt and Uncle had instilled in him never to do. But with this man, his dad, he had no fear.
"Yes?"
"What's my name?"
His dad looked down at him, puzzled. "You don't know your name?"
"You haven't named me yet." His dad still looked puzzled, so he explained it to him. "You're my dad now. So you have to name me. That's what all Daddy's do."
"Oh?" Truthfully, Severus quite liked the idea. It would remind him less of James. "How about I think about, and after your bath I'll tell you what I thought up."
The boy grinned happily. "Alright."
He was fascinated by the bath Severus showed him. It was practically a pool! Severus found himself amused as the child asked if there were bubbles, too.
"Bubbles for later," he found himself saying. "Let's get you clean and into bed first."
"I have a room?"
Severus smiled. "Not yet. You will, but for tonight how about you sleep with me."
The boy hummed his agreement, before wriggling out of Severus's grasp. He had almost forgotten about what had happened earlier that night. With his first step, however, he was rudely reminded of his Uncle's Urges. He stumbled, whimpering as he fell.
Severus was right there. He had not forgotten the boy's predicament. It was stupid to have let him down. Gently, he picked the boy up, spelling away the rest of his clothes, and placing him in the warm water. The boy looked up with shining eyes. "It hurts."
Severus nodded, accio-ing a bottle of healing salve. This one had an herb in it that would numb the area. He opened the lid, liberally getting the salve over his finger. He would let the boy do it, but because of the numbing ability, too much and it would be numb for too long. Too little and it wouldn't be effective. And if the boy washed it off in the water...his whole body might turn slightly numb.
"Child." He said. Merlin, he hoped he didn't scare the boy. "I need to rub this onto your bottom. It will help you heal, and make it so it doesn't hurt." The boy was wide eyed again.
Surely his father didn't have Urges too? He hoped not. He looked at the shiny finger doubtfully, fear blooming through him. NO! This was his father! He wouldn't hurt him! He slowly rose out of the water, turning around and bending forward slightly. If he couldn't trust his father, who could he trust?
He flinched at the first touch. It still hurt. But slowly and gently, that finger massaged his abused hole, and made it's way slightly inside. Whatever the stuff was it really worked! He relaxed further, slumping forward, and when the hand was gone, his body was laid in the water. A soft cloth was rubbed over him, his hair soaped and rinsed several times.
Severus took him out when he was satisfied with his cleanliness. He conjured some pajamas. The boy was asleep when he took him into his arms and carried him to bed.
"Xaidrian," he whispered into his ear. "Your name is now Xaidrian."
(A/N: Harry's new name is pronounced 'zay-dree-in')
Severus awoke.
With a sudden shot of adrenaline, he remembered what had happened just last night. The boy...!
...was right where he had left him. He observed the sleeping child for a bit. He looked adorable, curled up as he was. He could pass for a six-year-old. Severus smiled slightly as he remembered his name.
Xaidrian.
As a child, he remembered only one of the few fairy-tales that he had read. One of them had been about the wizard Xaidrian. It was an old story, and he doubted whether anyone but the older generation even knew it. It was, by far, his favorite.
He continued smiling, and was quite surprised that he did so. He had not had a reason to smile in quite a while. He would tell Xaidrian the story behind his name, one of these nights. It had always held him in rapture because of all the adversity the hero had overcome. Not to mention, Xaidrian (of the story) was also abused. It had been very easy for Severus, and now most likely the boy, too, to relate to him.
Said boy was now staring up at him. Severus wondered if it was because of his circumstances that he had become such an early and silent riser, or if it was natural.
The boy was staring wide-eyed, much like he had done when Severus first found him. "I thought you were a dream." He whispered.
Severus only just kept himself from frowning. He knew how those sort of dreams went. "No."
"Oh."
They did nothing, just stared, and Severus wondered, for the first time, what on earth he was supposed to do with the boy. What did one do with nine year old boys? He would have to be taught...and fed...and bathed...and hugged...and that was as far as his imagination would stretch.
The boy blinked, and a bright smile lit up his face, before quickly disappearing. "Did you ever name me?"
"Yes. Your name is now Xaidrian."
Xaidrian crinkled his nose. "That's a funny name. What's it mean?"
Severus smiled, once again. He would have to get a hold of this! What would his students do if he suddenly became cheery? "Xaidrian is the name of a hero. I'll tell you his story before long."
"Alright."
Xaidrian was having a fantastic day. His dream had, for once, not been a dream.
And he had seen his Daddy as soon as he woke up! And eaten breakfast! A good one, too, with warm bacon and cold juice and fresh fruit. He had also been dragged away from doing chores!
And now, his Daddy had said they were going shopping for clothes, and toys, and some furniture for his room.
He was currently wearing one of his Daddy's shirts. It was shrunken, so it slightly fit him, but the arms were too long. He was also wearing a similar pair of shrunken pants. And they were all black. He didn't have any shoes, though, so his Daddy had said that was the first thing they were going to buy.
He was positively fascinated by this 'Diagon Alley'. Lots of people wearing weird dresses and funny hats were walking around. His Daddy said they were witches and wizards, and that they did magic. Xaidrian didn't really know what to think about this. Magic for him...
His day passed in a blur. It seemed to him that he was constantly trying on clothes, and picking his favorites of foods and play-things.
The part he remembered the most was when they had stopped for ice-cream. They had finished the shopping, and were on their way home, but his Daddy had said that one always ended a shopping spree with ice-cream.
This was where Xaidrian had learned that he was afraid of men.
The shopping had been alright, it was only women who had helped him. The few men he had seen had easily been avoided. His Daddy was also there to protect him.
It was different at the ice-cream store, though.
Xaidrian had frozen at the sight of the tall man behind the counter. When he had been handed his ice-cream, he had been horrified to find his body shaking, and he himself was on the verge of screaming.
The man was going to hurt him!
He bolted.
Severus cursed to himself as he chased his new child down. Really, how could he have forgotten about the boy's admittedly recent past?
It wasn't too terribly hard to snatch the hyperventilating boy up. He had no idea how, but the child knew it was him. Almost instantly, Xaidrian was calm, clutching onto his robes and burying his face into his neck. Severus walked slowly to the apparation points, ignoring the attention his boy was getting.
His purchases had already been ordered to his house, so he had no need to worry about that. The forefront thought on his mind was getting home and putting the child down for a nap. He was a little old for such, but today had been a tiring day, after all.
The transition home had gone smoothly. Xaidrian still seem rattled however, and refused to let Severus leave his presence.
And this was precisely how Minerva found them.
Minerva had been in an absolute flurry all day.
Harry Potter! She simply had to visit Harry Potter!
She could not fall asleep during the night, and thus found her adrenaline wearing off just a little after breakfast. Unfortunately for her, she had woken back up well after mid-day.
The first thing on her mind? Harry Potter!
It was to her supreme dismay that Severus's floo wasn't working. Really, would it kill the man to set up some sort of communication with the world. Even half the owls she sent, when they came back, had feathers missing and letters still attached.
Thus, the stately woman had no other choice but to apparate as close as she could to the other's house. Oh! When she got a hold on that potion's master! Minerva was even more dismayed to know that she was still a good four miles from the manor. This did not deter her, however. Oh, no. She was going to see Harry Potter today if it was the last thing she did.
When she finally got there, panting and sweating and feeling generally old, no one was home, of course. The house elves wouldn't let her in. And everything was shut tight against all imaginary intruders, including cats.
And so she sat, brewing in anger. Righteous anger. Severus knew she was coming over today! And what did he do? Nothing! He had not prepared in any way to receive her!
She was in this state for well over an hour. And by the time she saw the man, she was too overwhelmed to reveal herself. So she stalked him into the room, paws padding gently, observing the child in his arms.
Harry seemed better, in the very least.
But why was he so afraid? He was practically drenched in the scent of fear.
SEVERUS!
She waited until the boy had fallen into a fitful sleep, and, Severus was tip-toeing out of the room.
She was going to get him so good for this. Oh, yes...
She gave the man no time to get over his shock of seeing her, no time to explain. She simply lit into him. This was Harry Potter, after all. Someone had to be his defender.
"You! What have you done to that boy!"
Typically, Severus did nothing but sneer. It was one of his 'you are the best example of ultimate stupidity' sneers.
"Don't you look at me like that!"
Sneer.
Minerva whipped out her wand and jabbed him. "The boy was terrified! What happened!"
Sneer. "Min..."
"NO! I don't want to hear your excuses. I thought you'd be a good thing for the boy, and what do I find?!" She practically growled at him in anger.
Severus showed her a different sneer, this time - 'you have just managed to amuse me by actually getting more stupid'.
And now she was huffing. She was just so mad! (Really, this was because of her lack of sleep, and her sitting on a hard wall for some hours. Not that she acknowledged this. It was easier to blame it all on Severus. Plus, how often can one have a believable excuse to punish him. For she was going to punish him. It was his fault, after all, that she was in such a sour mood.)
"Do you know what I am going to do?" A thin black eyebrow rose. "I am going to contact Remus Lupin."
With that final statement, Minerva twirled gracefully around. She did not allow herself to indulge in his facial expression. Right now she needed sleep. She would come back tomorrow (hopefully with Lupin in tow) and actually talk to the boy face to face.
Then she would enjoy seeing the horror she had placed on Severus Snape's face.