A/N- Yes it took me forever to write and yes it is a bit of a tearjerker. And yes, misspellings are probably here, but that happened when you cannot move the wrist on one hand. A sprained wrist, work, and exhausted and delayed this story, but here it is. I do not own. Non-canon, completely AU, lots of cuddling! -x's are scene breaks, Italics are often thoughts!

~Case

-x-

Severus glared into his cup of coffee, wishing for once that he could have slept in this morning. But no, he had work to do for Hogwarts and lesson plans to create. He had a child to look after, and yet that child was the reason he was exhausted. Tim had fared no better, the older man had already left to tend to business at his practice. Albus was sitting across from him with his own strong cup of coffee, blearily staring at the morning Prophet. He was not actually sure if the man was reading or merely staring blankly at the rubbish paper. Severus glanced toward the timepiece, running his hand through his hair. Merlin, was he tired! It was just past eight now, the dreamless sleep would keep the child asleep for at least another two hours. Well at least one of them could have a lie-in this morning, it did give them plenty of time to work and to agree on rules for the child.

-x-

A few hours later, Severus looked up from his paperwork. It was summer, there was always paperwork to be down for the school. A small tingling feeling in the back of his mind alerted him to the fact that the child was finally awake. It was nearly noon. He set his parchment aside, standing and striding into the kitchen. He debated briefly whether he should go up to the child, but he would give the boy time to wake up completely and come down on his own. Until then, he could start lunch for the three of them. Tim had floo'd an hour ago to mention that he would done with work and home for lunch. Thankfully, the healer did not have any serious patients, besides Harry, at the moment. So he could easily stay with them, only having to visit his practice a few times a week. Severus glanced down at the sleeping pig, moving to fix a dish for Maple too.

-x-

Harry groaned, opening his eyes. His throat hurt, like always, but he felt well rested. He really did not want to get up but his bladder was screaming at him. He grabbed for his glasses and stumbled out of his room and into the nearest washroom. A few minutes later, after splashing water on his face and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he walked much slower back into his room. He gazed into his wardrobe and frowned. He had no idea what to wear, he was not sure what kind of chores he would have to do here. There was not really a lawn, although he had seen a small garden on his brief tour yesterday evening. Perhaps they wanted him to clean inside the house? But all his old clothes were gone, the professor had gotten rid of them. His new clothes were nice and surely they would not want him to dirty them? Or maybe they did. He just didn't know. There were more clothes in this wardrobe than before, though. Someone had placed causal clothes in there, shirts and trousers for times when he was not at school, he supposed. With a sigh, he finally grabbed a pair of trousers and a random black shirt. He unfolded the shirt and gasped at it. There was a silver animated dragon on the front, and it burped fire! He grinned briefly but quickly sighed. This shirt could not be for him, he was a freak. Freaks did not get shirts like these. Harry sadly folded the shirt and placed it back into the closet. He removed a light purple collared shirt and tugged it over his head instead. It was not as cool as the other but at least it was purple. Finally dressed, he trotted downstairs to see what his daily chores would be. He had over slept and he knew that he would be punished for it. Best to get it out of the way and start working, else wise he knew he would be in serious trouble.

Severus turned from the stove at the sound of the very light footsteps coming into the kitchen. Children should not be this quiet. He mused, turning critical eyes on the boy who stood in the doorway, eyes downcast. "Good morning Harry. Or rather, good afternoon. " He drawled, turning back to the stove.

Harry flinched, staring at his feet. He knew it, he knew that they would be angry. Although the professor did not sound angry but he had overslept. Of course they would be angry! He wasn't quite sure if he was allowed to ask questions or not, but he needed to know what to do and the professor did not seem to remember. He bit back a sigh, glancing toward Maple. How he would love to play with the pig again today, but he knew that he had work to do. "What are my chores, sir?" He rasped softly, not daring to speak much louder. It didn't help that his throat still ached, but then, he knew it would.

Severus turned to face the boy, raising an eyebrow. "Does your throat hurt, Harry?" He asked sharply, filling a glass with ice water. The boy did not even look at him, he just shifted uncomfortable. How much more trouble would I really get into if I went back and dealt with that muggle? Even if Albus was displeased, it would greatly make me, at least, feel better.

Harry stared at his feet, knowing better than to answer the trick question. It had to be a trick, why would the professor care about that? Shouldn't he be working by now? He knew he was in trouble and answering would only make his punishment worse. He flinched and jerked backwards when a hand gently grasped his chin, lifting his eyes upwards.

"Kindly look at me, Mr. Potter." Severus drawled, crouching in front of the child. When frightened green eyes finally met his, he sighed. "You are not in trouble, child. If you do not tell me when you are hurt, I cannot make it better." His brisk tone was a tad softer than normal, not as harsh as it could be.

Harry stared at him for a moment before directing his eyes downward. He could not duck his head but that did not mean that he had to meet the Professor's eyes. He knew better! "Yes sir, sorry sir." He rasped hoarsely. His throat really did burn but he would not complain.

"Drink this, Harry. It is water."The older man held out the glass, spelled to be spill-proof, waiting patiently for the child to take it. Harry finally did, every movement hesitant. Once the boy had hold of the glass he stood, turning back to the stove. "When you are done with the water, you may wake Maple. It is time for her lunch. When she is eating, however, I want you to sit at the table. She can be quite...defensive of her food." He intoned, stirring the pot of macaroni once more. He glanced at the child, who was slowly sipping his water, before turning his attention back to the lunch the Tim would surely approve of. Not that he, himself, would be eating it. Macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, and salad. Hm, well he could eat the salad. It was the prefect food for a child, especially one as underweight as the Potter boy. The boy who had set down the empty glass and was now tickling the pig. Merlin help us.

Tim stood in the doorway of the kitchen, surveying the scene in front of him. The child was with Maple and Severus was cooking. Or rather, the young man was glaring at the food as if it had personally offended him. He glanced at the meal, not as high carb as he would like, for both boys, but good enough, before turning his attention to the young boy. "Afternoon Severus, Harry." He remarked calmly, smiling down at the large pig that had sudden;y noticed him and was now nudging him. "Hello Maple. I see Severus has prepared your meal." He greeted fondly, crouching to scratch the pig behind her ears. He glanced toward the boy and then make to the pig. Maple was territorial and, although he doubted that she would purposefully harm Harry, there was always a chance of accidents. "Come on Maple, you can eat outside today and graze for a bit." He murmured softly, taking the bowl from the counter and leading the pig from the room.

Harry sighed, glancing warily at the table. Freaks weren't suppose to sit on furniture. But they had let him last night, hadn't they? He was bad though, he hadn't gotten up early enough and the Professor had been forced to cook, something the man seemed to hate, if his glares were anything to go by. He knew he wouldn't get to eat today but he felt really lonely now that his only friend was gone. The healer was back though, and watching him.

Severus flicked his wand at the pots and pans, causing them to arrange themselves on the table. Three place settings quickly followed. He glanced at Tim, eyes flicking toward the child briefly. The older man seemed to understand, giving a brief nod of his own before placing a series of potions by two of the plates. "Wash your hands Harry." Severus ordered, glancing toward the boy. His shirt was not exactly a play shirt, even though he knew for a fact that both Tim and Albus had gotten the boy more play clothes. The child merely glanced at him and then at the sink. He sighed, conjuring a small stool. The boy was quite small for eleven, his head did not even reach the counters. That would prove to be a problem for some of his classes, especially Potions. Well, he had a solution for that already in place as there had been quite a few short students over the years.

Harry glanced at the tall dark-haired man before turning his eyes on the step-stool. It was not the same as the one Aunt Petunia had bought him but it would work quite well. He slowly stepped on it, testing his weight before leaning across the counter to wash his hands. He did not quite understand why he needed to wash his hands if they were just going to get dirty again but he knew better than to argue. He scrubbed his hands for several moments before turning the water off. He jumped down from the stool and flinched backwards when a hand towel was held out to him. Towels were not for good for nothing freaks, not at all. He hesitated briefly before wiping his hands quickly on the towel and scurrying backwards.

Merlin help us. Severus raised an eyebrow at the child, returning the towel to its hook. He needed strong tea if he was to manage this child. He moved away from the boy, giving him the space that he desired. "Come Mr. Potter. It is lunch time." He drawled, gesturing to a chair. The boy gulped and looked up at him with frightened eyes. Clearly he expected to be hit or worse.

Harry eyes, wide with confusion, flitted between the two men. The healer man had moved to the table and was filling one plate with food. The professor was watching his with sharp eyes. He knew that he needed to correct the two men, else wise he would just get into more trouble. He knew very well that he was not allowed food if he did not complete his chores, thank you very much. He did not want them to get angry at him for tricking them. Aunt Petunia would feed him before he did his chores, but he knew that was so he would have more strength and besides, these men were not Aunt Petunia. They were men and men did not care for whelps like him. No sir, they just hurt freaks as they were suppose to. But hadn't the professor said that he wasn't a freak? And the healer man? Well maybe they were just confused, but he, Harry, knew the truth. "But sir, I didn't do my chores. I slept late, so I don't gets food." Harry reminded quietly, staring at his feet. And now they would beat him, because they would remember how bad and freakish he was. Or worse, they'd send him back to uncle. He resolved, then, to be the very best he could be and do his chores perfectly so that he would not have to go back to uncle. When his words were met with a deadly silence, he finally peaked up through his fringe, frowning slightly at the two men. Neither were looking at him, rather they were staring at each other. The healer finally turned warm brown eyes to the child, even as the dark man stalked from the room. Uh-oh, he was in for it now!

"Harry." The soft word caused the boy's head to jerk up. Tim sighed, this never became easier, not at all. "Whatever rules you are following do not apply here. They are void, do you remember what that means?" He asked gently, crouching at the boy's level a few feet away. He knew the child would feel safer if there was distance between them.

"Yes sir, it means they don't exist." Harry parroted instantly, knowing this answer, at least. So he wasn't in trouble for not doing his chores? But then where had the dark man gone, if not to get something to beat him with.

Severus stalked up the stairs, moving into the child's room. Getting away from the kitchen had done much to help him calm down. He wanted to hex that man, so badly. But it would not do if Harry believed him to be angry at him. The child did not need another person to be afraid of. He found what he was looking for, grabbing it and heading back downstairs.

The healer was watching him intently. It made him feel almost...naked. As if the man could see his very bones. Considering how scrawny he was, perhaps the healer could see his bones, especially since these clothes actually fit him well. Green eyes briefly met brown before dropping, once more, to the floor.

"Although there are a few rules here, Harry, those are not part of them. You will never be beaten or starved here, child. You will never go hungry." Tim remarked softly, keeping a keen eye on the young child. He was not quite worried about where Severus had gone. He would have felt the wards if the younger man was harming himself...or destroying something. He also knew that the man needed a brief respite from this, it was nearly too much for him to hear a child tell him that he was not suppose to eat. Oh how he wanted to get to that beast of a man! He glanced toward the doorway and bit back a smile. It was not often that the dour Potions Master would be caught holding a purple and silver plush dragon.

Severus crouched down next to the child, holding out the stuffed toy. Harry hesitated for a moment before latching onto the dragon and hugging it tightly to his chest. He knew that the boy needed comfort and that was why he had gotten the damn toy. Perhaps Harry would feel safer with his dragon than by himself. He hesitated briefly but slowly opened his arms to the child. He was just as surprised as Tim when the boy fell into them, silently sobbing.

It was too much, all too much. They would not beat him and they would feed him! That's what the healer man...Tim said. And the dark man had offered him his dragon and then offered him a hug! He felt so safe...it was overwhelming. Harry was not used to this, not at all. His uncle was not here and the men promised to not hurt him! He knew that he still had to earn his keep but he felt safe, really safe.

Severus held the child, listening to the gasping mutters of the boy intently. It was often telling, what children said when they were upset or hurt. He knew that Harry had experienced little comfort in his young life and he knew that now that he was away from that house, everything would be hitting the child all at once. He paused in his own thoughts to listen to the murmurs before scowling at the boy. "You will not have to 'earn your keep here' Mr. Potter. It is our duty, and delight, to take care of and... love you." He growled softly, causing the boy to sob all the more harder.

Tim frowned slightly, watching the scene in front of him. Harry was not calming down but working himself further up. Perhaps a bit of calming magic would do much to help him. He moved slowly, crouching down next to the pair. He gently rested a hand on the sobbing boy's back, sending in a gentle flow of magic. Severus raised an eyebrow at him but nodded when the boy seemed to calm slowly, no longer in danger of making himself sick.

It took awhile for his tears to stop and, although he felt ashamed, he did feel much better. Harry rested his unruly head on Severus' shoulder, squeaking when the older man picked up and placed him on his hip. The man was swaying a bit, rocking him. Calming him more. He felt so...cared for. So loved. Silent tears came again, but this time calmer, slower. It wasn't long before he found himself sitting, sitting!, on the dark man's lap, a plate of warm food and a glass of grape juice in front of him. The potions vials held to his lips and drank, and then a fork being gently positioned in his hand. No one had shown him how to use one before! He took a deep breath, leaned back against the man's chest, and took a careful bite of the macaroni. He grinned around the forkful, it was the best thing he had ever tasted, ever!

Severus smiled fondly down at the small child, eyes meeting Tim's for just a moment. The purple dragon sat on the boy's lap, one of the child's arms wrapped tightly around it, his hand gripping his own arm. He never thought he would be allowing this child to sit on him, to eat on his lap. He knew the boy needed the closeness, but it was something else too. Severus knew then exactly how Albus felt about him, how the older two men could love him like their own child. Because his heart was full of pain for the hurt this child when through and love. Love for a child that he never would have expected. Love for a child that he would fight for and live for. Love for one little Harry Potter.