Chapter 3: A visit?

Because Harry had moved into Snape's quarters a week prior to Christmas he wasn't optimistic that he would allow Harry to go back to Grimmauld place for the holiday, but after seeing a new side to the man he reasoned they would.

He was right. A few nights prior to Christmas Snape stopped him on his way to bed and informed him that he would be escorting him back to Grimmauld place for few days to celebrate Christmas and bring in the New Year. Escorting? Did that mean he wasn't staying? Being the Gryffindor he was, he ended up blurting out.

"You're not staying are you?" It didn't come out as he intended and the hurt look quickly replaced by a stoic face made his heart plummet. But before he could try and remedy the situation he was briskly assured.

"Not to worry Mr. Potter, I dare not gloom your celebration with my presence. I will escort you there and I'll pick you up there. That will be all." With that the man had turned to his room and Harry to his. It had been a long night, he suspects for both of them.

They were to leave in a few minutes and while Harry had tried to bring up his courage to ask Snape to stay for the holidays he couldn't. Since the misunderstanding Snape had been distant with him. He wasn't as horrible as before Harry had come live with him but something definitely had changed.

"Mr. Potter, hurry up and grab your bag the inhabitants of that infernal place are awaiting your arrival and we punctuality is important.

They went via the floo network which did nothing to help the huge butterflies in his stomach. He had barely walked out when he was pushed behind Snape and a loud 'thump' was heard. He looked around the professor and found Sirius on the ground in a lump clutching his throat. A loud laughter sounded out but Sirius stood up with an exclamation. "How dare you attack me in my own home you vile Snake."

The professor looked calm as Remus and Arthur stepped forward to help the man up. "You should be thanking me."

"Excuse me." Came the outraged shout. "Harry come away from behind him."

Arthur Weasley putting a calming hand on the man's shoulder.

"Sirius, calm down. You actually should feel grateful for Severus' quick actions. All he saw was hands reaching out to grab Harry and he reacted by placing himself in front of him and shielding him while giving a sharp attack, which also gave him time to raise his wand and protect them both. It shows his quick thinking and if it was one of my children I would have done the same."

At that Sirius glumly nodded. He didn't apologize just the same but he turned to Harry. "Sorry kiddo. Your friends are upstairs, it'll almost be dinner soon so go join them and we'll give you a call when it's ready." Harry stepped from behind Snape and gave Sirius a hug which he tightened. After being released he turned around to say 'goodbye' to Snape to find him already gone. He sighed. Something that wasn't missed by Arthur nor Remus.

Ron and Hermione were happy to see him and they wanted to know all about his time away. He was glad that the twins and Ginny were doing their own thing as he wasn't sure he wanted to be interrogated by all of them. He told them about Snape's care and how he felt the man was treating him different, better. He told them about his help in his studying which Ron made a face at but of which Hermione was extremely jealous of. And lastly he told them how for some unknown reason he was extremely disappointed in Snape not joining them for the holidays.

Hermione was the first to try and comfort him. "Harry it's understandable that after the way you grew up it doesn't come easy to you being able to ask someone for something you want or need."

Harry gnawed on his lip in sadness. "But you didn't see his face Mione, he thought I was purposely telling him to fuck off."

Ron pipped up, "Look, mate. While I don't get why you'd like him here, I also haven't been living with the man. If you want him here you're just going to have to tell him."

"Yeah, Harry. I'm sure the adults will let you floo call him. Molly would sure to be welcoming, so would Arthur and Remus."

"And Sirius," he shook his head, "you guys didn't see how upset Sirius was at Snape when he came to drop me off." He sighed, "And Sirius is the closest thing I have to a father, and I don't want to lose that."

Hermione frowned at him, "Harry it's not an ultimatum. You can choose to have both men in your life. And if Sirius is such a father figure then he'll accept him in your life especially if he makes you happy."

They were interrupted by Kreacher informing them that dinner was ready. They made their way down after he promised he'd give the man a call soon.

But soon wouldn't happen until an ungodly hour of the morning on Christmas Day.

It was currently 2:38 am on Christmas Day. He had trouble sleeping the past couple days but today was beyond bearable.

He snuck out of Ron and his room and grabbed the floo. He was going to just call but he decided in the heat of the moment to pass through the floo and into the familiar quarters.

He expected to find the floo blocked or Snape to come out of his room wand drawn but it was quiet. For some reason it brought tears to his eyes. Here was standing in his threadbare pajamas, glasses crooked, teary eyed and covered in soot.

He almost ran to the man's room and pushed open the door. The minute he did the room was flooded in light and he was at wand point with a frowning Snape in front of him. Harry closed his eyes as Snape raised his wand further and felt a small soft tingle, he gasped and looked down. He was now soot free, and had a soft robe and matching slippers on. He watched as the man placed his wand beside him and instead brought out a soft handkerchief and reached for him. He stood still as his eyes were dried and rather than making him want to cry more it brought on even more desperation from inside him. The moment the man vanished the handkerchief Harry threw himself at him, clutching him in a tight hug mumbling into his stomach apologies, telling him, "I really wanted you to spend holidays with me but you don't want to." Harry felt a moment of panic as the man tensed but relaxed as he was just brought further into the hug.

Snape maneuvered them so they sat on the bed, Harry curled into him as the man ran soothing circles into his back.

"Mr. Potter, you will tell me what has gotten into you. It is an ungodly hour to be woken up and you should be sleeping as well. We talked about how a well-synchronized sleep schedule is needed for a healthy growing boy like yourself. Did you have a bad dream?"

Harry shook his head negatively. "You didn't hear me did you?"

"Explain Mr. Potter."

"Don't!"

"Harry James Potter. You will tell me what's wrong, this very instant."

"Please…"

Harry's face was framed with Snape's hands forcing him to make eye contact with the slightly intimidating man. He saw worry marring the stern features. "I want…"

"Tell me. Come now Mr. Potter, tell me how to help you. Tell me why you came to me instead of going to your godfather, Lupin or the Weasleys for whatever is troubling you so much that you are this upset on Christmas Day."

He sniffed but started to speak, letting it all out. "I want you to call me Harry. I want you to care about me again, like you did before I was stupid and made you think I didn't want to spend the holidays with you. I want to do stuff with you, like decorate, play chess, read, I'd even study with you as long as we spent it together." He rubbed at his eyes as they started to water again. "I missed you. And you never missed me. And I've been having trouble sleeping and the supplement potion doesn't taste the same if you're not there to complain about it anymore. It's not the same."

The hands that had framed his face began to cart through his hair. "Oh, little Harry."

"They're my family but I didn't want them. I wanted you. You're part of my family too." He gave a little sob.

"Harry you are a fool." He continued. "I'd expect this from a Gryffindor but I was assured you had some Slytherin in you."

"What?"

"Slytherins use what they need. If you needed me you are to get me as soon as possible. It doesn't matter if you believe I'm upset at you. You get me and I help you. This can exacerbate your condition."

"You aren't upset? I really didn't mean it."

"I admit I was a little displeased," he frowned, "but I figured it was a teenager situation."

He sniffed. "Does that mean that you'll come back and spend time with me." He looked up hopefully. Snape seemed to be debating but he gave a curt nod.

"However, we need to get some more sleep. After some breakfast we'll go over." Harry didn't move. He didn't want to. He was sure that Snape didn't want him this close but he wasn't going to move from his spot unless he was kicked out. He was nudged up and he took a deep breath in resignation.

Once he was up, Snape pulled down the comforter to his bed and pushed him back on it. He then moved to grab his wand and sent a patronous to Molly Weasley letting her know where he was and that they'd be back at Grimmauld after breakfast. After that was done he slipped under the sheets and turned off the light.

"Sleep Harry. Wake me up if you need me but try and get some rest."

Harry much calmer barely made a noise of agreement before he was closing his eyes and falling deeply asleep.