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Harry Potter And The Father
Chapter 10
Toys
When Harry woke up, finding a beautiful black panther on the couch, he took one look at it and fell in love. Looking around he made sure no one saw it and quickly hid it; he didn't want it taken from him. However, Severus was indeed watching, and was saddened by Harry's actions.
"Why are you hiding your Panther?" asked Severus soothingly.
"I'm sorry I didn't know how it got there! Please don't be mad at me" said Harry wide eyed deadly pale and green eyes wide with shock. It was possibly the longest thing Severus had ever heard Harry utter before. It saddened him greatly that Harry thought he was going to take away the panther but understood.
"Why would I want to take your panther away Harry? It was a present from Aunt Min" said Severus, there was no way a child was going to understand a name like Minerva.
"Freaks like me not allowed toys" said Harry looking down at the floor as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world. He remembered the small toy soldiers his Uncle had found in his cupboard and he had gone mental at him. He knew better than to take toys that didn't belong to him. He wouldn't give this man an excuse to be mean to him, he was a good boy now.
"You are not a freak little one, calm down the panther is yours, you can keep it, I promise I wont let anyone take it from you" said Severus walking over to the scared child and picking up the panther. Harry had dropped it; Severus then put it into the child's hands and took his hands away "Your Harry". Elated when Harry didn't flinch, but he of course didn't show any emotion other than a small smile now and again. Trying to put the child at ease, and mostly succeeding.
"Mine?" asked Harry breathless.
"Yes" said Severus adamantly.
"Thank you" whispered Harry clutching the panther as if it was the most precious thing in the world.
"No thanks needed little one," sighed Severus, "We will just have to get you a few more soft toys"
"More?" asked Harry wide eyed, shock shining in those lovely eyes. He couldn't possibly have heard right? More toys? For him? No way! That wouldn't happen.
"Yes," said Severus
Harry allowed himself to be dressed, Severus was extra careful with him. Not wanting to hurt him, or break any of his newly healed bones. He was still not used to being dressed with this amount of care. It was a nice new experience for him that was for sure and had remained so for the past fortnight.
"There" said a satisfied Severus "Looking like a little prince".
Harry just blinked not believing it; a prince had everything he wanted, and more.
"Prince?" ventured Harry unsure.
"My little prince" said Severus softly, getting his own cloak.
Harry smiled at that, he was then picked up, and they left Severus' quarters.
"Ah, Severus glad I caught you, how is Harry?" asked Minerva.
"Thank you" smiled Harry hiding in his dark mans cloak.
"For what dear?" asked Minerva confused.
Harry just showed her the panther she had transfigured for him. Minerva just smiled and nodded her head asking "How is he?"
"He's getting there" said Severus, "Slowly but surely".
"Ah, and just where are you two going?" asked Minerva.
"We are heading towards the toy shops in Diagon Ally" said Severus.
Harry's eyes widened at that him a toy shop? He didn't believe he was lucky enough for that. He had thought his dark man was just saying that, but it looked like he was truly going. Did his dark man have someone else in his life? Another child perhaps? He couldn't be lucky enough to have a family that cared could he? Maybe he was. He snuggled into Severus taking a tight grip of his cloak.
"Ah, if you wait a minute I will come with you, I would like to get him a few things also" said Minerva.
Harry gasped at that, she wanted to get things for him? They surely must be taking about someone else? It definitely had to be someone else now, this woman hardly knew him! He had only seen her, a handful of times she couldn't want to buy him things. Severus began rubbing soothing circles on Harry's back, the cuts and bruises were gone now. It had taken the better part of a fortnight for the bruises and cuts to heal.
"Of course you can come" said Severus, "Might as well ask Poppy too"
"Good idea," said Minerva, summoning her purse towards her. "Lets get going" after the purse was in her hand, a simple 'Accio purse' did the trick.
They passed the Hospital wing, inside Poppy was giving the hospital wing a once over.
"Coming to Diagonally? We are going to get Harry a few things," said Minerva.
"Of course" she said in a rush, anything to get away from the white walls. She loved helping people yes but being alone in that hospital wing is enough to drive her batty.
She too summoned her purse and cloak, before they knew it they were going to Diagon Ally.
They decided to walk; they wanted to let Harry see the beautiful town. Indeed Harry did get too see the place. It was absolutely gorgeous, Harry had never been anywhere before in his life. So many shops, people animals and land. Harry was in awe his head couldn't move quickly enough.
"Come on then Harry," said Severus, he put the child into the trolley, which was magically enchanted to give the child as much comfort as a normal chair would give him.
They then began to browse the isles, picking toy's up left right and centre. Not just toy's but clothes and other things he would need. Hat scarf, gloves and many other things.
The teddy's they let Harry get himself, he got a unicorn, lion, snake, a bear with clothes that changed from night clothes to day wear itself. Snow tiger and a teddy bird.
Harry felt like he was in heaven, all those toy's and he had been allowed to chose his own. Never before in his life had he been this spoiled. Smiling content getting pushed around. The motion of the trolley going around, helped sooth the child, he soon fell into a pleasant sleep.
It was a good job that the trolley was magically enchanted, because it was full to the brim. They got him many things, including a play wand, his first train set. And toys that moved if magic was put into it…it was like a magic trainer.
They also got loads of normal toys for him, shelves for him, and many books. Severus had not been able to resist getting the potions book for toddlers. He had a real passion for potions, and wanted to share it with his son, and nephew.
The book if touched, would tell you what the potion ingredient was, so he would know it when he sees it. Maybe in the coming years he would get more books that described what they did. Best time to learn a child is when they are children they absorb everything like a sponge.
"Should have guessed you would get something like this for him Severus" smirked Minerva.
"Shouldn't I?" asked Severus worried that he might be pushing his passion onto his son/nephew.
"No Severus, it will bring you closer together if you both have a passion for potion making" said Minerva; it still surprised her how unsure Severus could be at times.
"Come on then, lets get this lot round up." said Poppy, handing over twenty galleons, Minerva did the same. It paid for everything they had plus extra, they wouldn't take a penny from Severus. When he offered it back, they believed Harry deserved to be spoiled after everything that happened.
"What are we going to do? Head back?" asked Severus noticing his son was asleep. As strong as he was it wasn't good for Harry to be jolted around every five minutes. He needed sleep and Severus truly was becoming a mother hen.
"No, stay here for a minute, I will be right back" said Poppy leaving the shop, leaving behind confused teachers and a sleeping unaware Harry.
"Can I help you Poppy?" asked Jack curiously.
"I want the comfiest buggy you have" said Poppy.
Blinking he said "What age?"
"Two" said Poppy. Harry may be three years old but right now he looked two years old so he lied. It's not like the guy could sue her, and she really didn't want to have to sit and explain everything.
"I'll be right back" said Jack going away he did indeed come right back with a nice buggy. Nice fluffy blanketing, she nodded her head, signalling she wanted the buggy. Most people didn't bother with buggies. They bought car seats when the child is younger, then later when the child can sit properly on their hip they just apparate with them. If they had a big family they probably would actually prefer the buggy such as the Weasley's if they had ever been able to afford one.
"Fifteen galleons" said Jack.
"Here" she said handing over twenty galleons when she added a cover that was five galleon's it went with the buggy - a cosy.
"Take care" he said once she was ready to leave wheeling the empty buggy in the direction of her friends and Harry.
"You too Jack" shouted Poppy as she opened the door with her and left.
No one was more surprised when Poppy showed up with a buggy than Severus.
"Ah, that will do Harry perfectly until he's fit again" said Minerva nodding her head approvingly.
"I'm glad you agree, now lets get him in there!" said Poppy levitating the sleeping child. As soon as he was lowered gently into the buggy they strapped him in. Covering him with a blanket, he seemed to sigh and delve even further into himself if it was possible. It was saddening to see a three year old acting like a one year old. They hoped one day they could see him jumping for joy, blabbing incoherently without fear and playing with his toys without fear.
"Another good thing with these, you can put whatever you buy under the buggy."
And that's exactly what they did; everything they had bought (which was already shrunk) was put under. They spent the rest of the day going from shop to shop, going into a café when Harry woke having a coffee and letting Harry have something to eat. They didn't want to disrupt him too much, not getting food when he was used to it could do a lot of damage mentally. It could put him right back at the beginning again, not something any of them wanted.
"How are his teeth?" asked Poppy, she had been the one to fix him up.
"Good, the abscess have disappeared, he no longer eats slowly with cut up bits of meat so I'd guess he's no longer in pain" said Severus.
"When are you going to introduce your son to his grandmother?" asked Poppy.
"Soon" promised Severus nodding reluctantly.
"Hagrid won't be best pleased when he finds out we kept this from him" said Minerva.
"We best tell him before Friday, when he usually go for a drink" said Poppy.
"I'm surprised Dumbledore has kept quiet unless he's making moves on the sly" said Severus his voice dry and sarcastic.
"Oh no, Dumbledore isn't ready for people to know he doesn't have control of him anymore" said Minerva snorting.
"What do you mean?" asked Poppy.
"His popularity will take a dive if anyone investigates, so he's keeping quiet for his own benefit. The entire Order will go nuts when they find out, which I intent on telling them at the next Order meeting" said McGonagall. They only had one Order meeting once or twice a year.
When will the order meeting take place? next year when Harry's four or when he is still three? R&R