A/N: Disclaimer, as the former chapter said, I do not own HP or his universe. Merely borrowing :)

I apologise for the long wait, but getting an almost full time job over the summer and then starting UNI with work part time, has left me with little 'me-time'. This chapter isn't as long as the others, but gives small hints to what could happen in the future :)

Reviews and suggestions are welcome, as always :)

- fflover

Chapter 4.

Having eaten the best meal, he had ever had. Not that he could eat much, but he ate a little of everything, and it was delicious. Harry took the chance to look around from where he was sitting in Severus' lap. Ms. Narcissa was beautiful, her long blond hair, was pulled up and away from her face allowing it to flow down her shoulders. Harry could see a few strands that had stayed and framed her face. Her blond hair and almost white complexion made her blue eyes pop.

Next to her, at the head of the table was Lucius, the man looked regal, and Harry admired his looks, the man was very handsome, Harry believed this is what Draco might look like in the future, and he hopes to be around to see it. To Lucius' right is Draco, looking very much like a Lucius mini-me. Harry cannot help but giggle at that thought, and if Severus felt it he said nothing. Moving on to the last person in the room, Harry studied him from under his fringe, trying – and failing – to make it look like he isn't looking.

The man sitting at the other end of the table looked a little younger than Severus, but Harry couldn't decide. Mr. Tom, Harry believed, was a god, despite not being very old, Harry could see the power the man holds. The way he sits and holds himself or the way he was conversing with Lucius and Severus, he talked with knowledge and confidence and the thing Harry found most interesting was the man's eyes, that crimson red colour, they were almost magical.

The word made Harry giggle again, during his walk around with Draco, the other boy had talked about the magical world, its wonders and mystical allure. Harry looked back to the table in time to see it change from desserts to biscuits, cookies and coffee and tea.

Harry eyed the teapot, next to the crimson-eyed man, but doesn't say anything, Severus had already done so much for him – the man had even shared his plate and cutlery – so he didn't want to ask for any more than that.

X.o.o.O.o.o.X

Severus was finishing his wine, when the tea arrived. He waved a hand and the coffee made its way towards him, he felt Harry still in his lap, so he looked down to see what had caught the young boys attention, seeing the direction, his lips turned up into a small smile. Taking a sip of his pure black on black coffee, he swirled his left hand and a smaller teacup and saucer made its way towards the teapot, a flick with his fingers and the teapot was pouring some of its content into the cup. Another flick made the teapot stop pouring and the saucer slowly made its way towards Harry. When it touched down in front of the boy, a few chocolate biscuits had been added on the saucer around the cup.

X.o.o.O.o.o.X

Harry sat in Severus' lap, in genuine awe – the display of magic was awesome – and when he saw the direction of the cup and saucer, he sat completely still. When the saucer had made touchdown Harry almost couldn't move, was he allowed to have tea? He hadn't asked for it, so he looked up to Severus, to see the man looking at him with a fond smile, Harry looked back to the teacup, and then back to Severus, he made a small gesture with his hand as if to say 'for me?'. All Severus could do was give a sad smile and a nod.

Harry picked up the teacup, blew on it a took a small sip. Strawberry and raspberry. Harry hummed and blew some more, and took another sip. Placing the teacup back on the saucer, Harry grabbed one of the biscuits – chocolate – his favourite.

Finishing his tea and biscuits, Harry leaned back on Severus, who placed his arm around him, making sure he wouldn't slip to the side. It didn't take long for Harry to fall asleep, for the first time in a long time, he was content, full and felt safe.

X.o.o.O.o.o.X

Severus felt Harry's breathing go even, indicating he had fallen asleep. Severus smiled down at the young boy, how anyone could ever treat such a precious child to those kind of horrors, he didn't know. He didn't want to know. Looking up, Severus looked around and gave a small nod to those present – his friends, his most trusted – rising from the chair, with Harry safely tucked in his arms. "I'm going to tuck him in." not waiting for a response, Severus left the dining-room and made way towards their bedrooms.

Walking down the dimly lit hallways, Severus could finally think about what he was going to do now. Going back to Hogwarts, that was out of the question. How was he supposed to hide Harry from the 'not-so-good' headmaster? Arriving in front of Harry's door, Severus pushed his magic out so it would open. Walking towards the bed, Severus held Harry firmly with one hand, so he could use the other to pull back the comforter and the duvet.

Placing Harry carefully on the bed, Severus – with the wave of his hand – changed Harry's clothes into a night shirt and trousers. Tucking the duvet and comforter around the small boy, Severus made to get up when he felt something pulling his sleeve. Looking down into sleepy, emerald coloured eyes, Severus smiled "Yes, Harry?", "Paddy, need paddy". 'Paddy' Severus couldn't even imagine what a 'paddy' was. So he looked to Harry for a clarification of what the boy needed.

"My doggie, my paddy, my Padfoot." Harry was looking at the small bundle of things he had brought with him. Severus in his shocked state grabbed the bundle and found the teddy, to his surprise there was a stitching on the back leg, which read 'Padfoot'. Giving the teddy to Harry, he leaned down and placed a kiss to the boy's forehead, "One of the elves will leave you some clothes for tomorrow, as well as show you the way back to the dining-room. If there is anything don't hesitate to come to me, alright?", "O'ay, night papa Sev'rus."

Severus could only smile, he didn't think Harry would remember what he had said about the clothes, and was certain it was Harry's unconscious that had called him papa, but he didn't mind, not one bit.

X.o.o.O.o.o.X

Walking into his own room just across the hall, Severus sat down behind the desk, head in his hands. 'Padfoot', that word, that name, it woke many long lost memories that both Severus and the mind block had hidden.

Padfoot, Black, Sirius, his mate. Severus dug around in the draws of the desk in search of parchment, ink and quill. Having found the items, Severus began to compose a letter, Sirius had been in Azkaban for 5 years, and it was time to get him out. Fudge was not an option, the man hung to every word the headmaster said, so next best, with the authority to give someone a trial, Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

Calling for one of the elves to take the letter to the Owlery, Severus sat down in his chair, exhausted. Taking a deep breath Severus walked to his bathroom, standing in front of the mirror he let his glamours fall. Standing before him now, was a healthy looking male, not looking a day over twenty. His crooked nose wasn't as prominent, but still present. His lanky, greasy hair, looked fuller and curled at the end. His eyes were still the deep brown almost black colour, except now you could see specs of red and grey, flickering around.

He smirked to himself, if the students ever found out that the rumour about him being the bat of the dungeon was true, they would be even more scared of him, he could legitimately threaten them with using them as potions ingredients. The ingredient being their blood. Perhaps he could use other parts, but blood was the most important one.

Despite not having to drink blood, and that he could eat like a 'normal' human, the students didn't need to know that. Replacing his glamour, Severus decided that he would tell Harry the next day, for now, he would finish his nightly routine, try to work into his brain that he had decided not to return to Hogwarts. Turning off the lights in the bathroom, Severus walked towards his bed, pulling the comforter back, he slipped in, and not long after he fell asleep, thinking about Harry.

X.o.o.O.o.o.X

Harry woke up with a scream stuck in his throat. He was shaking and drenched in sweat. It took him a minute to recognise where he was, 'Malfoy Manor'. His eyes were darting around the room, searching for the tormenters his nightmare had brought with it. He could see no one in the room, could hear nothing but his own heart beating wildly in his chest. He wanted his papa, he didn't care that he had only just met with Severus, but calling him papa was just so right.

Grabbing Paddy, Harry slipped out of bed and walk towards the door, opening it and crossing the hall, he raised his hand to knock, 'What if Severus didn't want him in his rooms? But he had said he could come to him, if there was anything' with renewed confidence, Harry knock silently on the door, after counting to five, Harry opened the door to peer inside.

Severus was lying on the bed facing towards the door, Harry could see that his eyes opened a little wider when he saw who it was. Without saying anything, he hugged paddy tighter to him and walked to the bed, "Papa, I had a bad dream", Severus simply smiled, "I'm glad that you would come to me Harry, thank you. Now come one, it is late and little ones need their sleep", with that said he raised his covers and invited him in.

Harry quickly climbed onto the bed and under the covers. Paddy was still hugged tight to his chest and he didn't lessen it until his papa had wrapped his arms around him. It felt nice, while one arm was hugging paddy close to him, his other hand had found its way to Severus' night shirt holding it, not letting go.

X.o.o.O.o.o.X

Severus placed a kiss on Harry's forehead, "Goodnight Harry, I will see you in the morning." The only response he got was a content 'hum' from Harry. Knowing that the boy in his arms was safe, he whispered a cleaning spell on Harry and his clothes, to remove the sweat, and then fell back to sleep.

TBC