Severus Snape barely slept a wink before a sharp knock resounded on his front door.
Reluctantly, he removed himself from the warm chair, cracking his back. going to the door, he opened it to discover a tiny white-haired boy on his doorstep with a small bag on his shoulders, and couldn't help but smile as he scooped him up into his arms.
"Well if it isn't my Dray Dray, what are you doing here? And where is that mother of yours?" Severus asked pleased but concerned as Narcissa was usually very overprotective of the small boy, normally he wasn't allowed out of her sight.
"Momma said she has to go to town with Daddy and she brought me here and said you wouldn't mind watching me for a few hours today," Draco responded, eloquent for his age.
"She has that right, I'd never miss a visit from my Godson," Severus responded.
"Who's that boy?" Draco asked, pointing behind him.
Standing in the hallway with a thumb in his mouth, Harry stood with a cup in hand, watching Draco with curiosity.
Severus nodded. "Draco, that is my own little boy."
Draco seemed to be thinking this over, then looked hopefully at Severus. " Can I play with him?"
Severus thought carefully, not sure if Harry was ready. But the opportunity for Harry to make a friend his own age was too good to pass up, it may help boost his confidence.
"Well, why don't you go ask him yourself?" He encouraged, watching the pair.
The white haired toddler walked determinedly over to the very shy Harry.
Extending his hand out he says, "Hi, I'm Draco Malfoy, do you wanna play with me?"
Harry blushed but took the boy's hand, thinking of Dudley and how nice he was.
"I'm Harry."
The boys went over to a spot on the floor and Draco pulled some dinosaurs from his bag.
"Here, you take this one and I will take this one," Draco said bossily.
Harry just looked at the plastic dinosaur in his hand apparently at a loss about what to do.
Seeing the curious look on Harry's face, Draco seemed to understand quickly.
Taking his green dinosaur, he made it walk and talk to the one Harry had, trying to show him what to do.
It didn't take long for the boys to abandon the dinosaurs on the floor and engage in a new game with some toy guns that Draco had also brought. Together, they chased and in turn ran away from invisible aliens, yelling and shouting with excitement as they really got into their game.
Severus stood up from the armchair he'd taken a seat in, nimbly avoiding the running toddlers to go make Draco's favourite for lunch.
Setting the food on the table, he turned back to the living room where the boys were still running around the house, eyes glinting in amusement. "Can the little soldiers take a break from alien hunting to enjoy a bit of lunch? You can continue your game after you eat."
Draco turned toward the kitchen and spotting the food on the table his eyes lit up.
Hot Dogs and cheese! You're the best Uncle Sevvy!" He cried.
Severus was Draco's Godfather, but Draco referred to him as his uncle and honestly, Snape loved it.
He would never admit it at Hogwarts, but he truly did love children. Especially babies, but his Godson and of course his Son were his favourite.
Draco had seated himself at the table, but Harry was still eyeing Severus with distrust.
Severus didn't know exactly how to approach this for Harry to eat, he was afraid anything he might do would cause him to bolt.
Draco though had set aside his hot dog, obviously noticing his new friend was having a problem.
"Hey Harry, what's wrong, aren't you hungry?" Draco asked.
Harry slunk out of the room, still deathly afraid of Severus, but Draco had followed.
"What's wrong Harry?" The boy asked again.
Harry was out of sight of Severus but he was still close enough for Severus to hear their conversation.
"I'm scared." He mumbled sounding close to tears.
"What are you afraid of?" Draco asked.
"That man in there." He admitted.
"You mean you're afraid of your daddy? But why would you be afraid of uncle Sevvy, he's the best?" Draco asked, confused.
And then Harry spilt to Draco the story of his life with his Aunt and Uncle.
"Before he brought me here, I lived with my Aunt Tunia, Uncle Verny, and my cousin Duddy, Duddy and Tunia were fine but Uncle Verny always came home smelling funny and he always punished me using his hands, and sometimes the wooden thing he used to cook meats with, he would hit me all the time, I would feel such pain, I used to wish someone would take me away and then one day that man in there came and broke down our door, he looked scary and was super angry, I was terrified of him, he hit my uncle Verny and made him fall. But then he took me away from my family and brought me here." He stopped to take a breath and continued in a rush. "I'm so afraid I'll make him mad and he'll punish me like he did my Uncle."
Listening from the other room, Severus felt guilt and hurt enter his heart. He had unknowingly put that fear into his son, he shouldn't have lost his temper, he should have realised anger would scare the boy.
How could he fix the boy's fear? But then, further conversation pulled his attention back to them.
"But Harry, your Daddy's not like those people, my Uncle Sevvy is the nicest man I ever met, he has never hurt me and won't harm you at all, he's the bestest man ever. Come on Harry just give him a chance, I promise you'll learn to like Uncle Sevvy." Draco put in.
Harry went quiet for several minutes, then nodded. "I guess he hasn't punished me like that yet, and I should give him a chance. Okay, I'll come eat lunch with you."
Miraculously, Harry and Draco came back to the table and he actually climbed up and started to eat too. They continued their conversation about the aliens they were shooting at earlier.
As soon as Harry and Draco were finished, they were back racing across the room, chasing more aliens and yelling at the top of their lungs. Severus watched in silence, taking rare delight in seeing Harry having so much fun.
Scratching his chin, he was trying to rack his brain, figuring out how to talk Narcissa into letting Draco come over more often to play. He liked the effect he had on Harry.
