It was the day the students were arriving and Severus had been asked, well told to bring Harry for dinner. The staff and those at school were to be introduced and since Remus would be around school he was expected to be there. Severus had known it was just an excuse but he thought with time Harry would likely start having a few meals with him in the hall and wanted to see how Harry would react. He was taking Harry to meet a few of the teachers and have a bit of a tour before, hoping it might make him feel a bit more comfortable. He was assured he would be able to move down the table or at least Harry would not be next to the headmaster though he was still worried as Harry had not been willing to leave the apartments since they arrived. He had cried himself to sleep the first two nights missing the Malfoys but he was talking still which was a good sign and the little kitten was doing him some good.

He came in and watched Harry who was sitting on the ground playing with the cat. He and Remus had been working on his writing. Harry had learned his letters and numbers at the kindergarten his relatives had sent him to but as he had never had someone to work with him at home it had always suffered a bit. But a few days of warm encouragement from Remus and he seemed to be already showing some genuine progress. They had finished before lunch as they were not going to make Harry study all day and Remus was at the desk working on his newest text.

Looking at the kitten which Harry had named Ghost he thought of something that might convince Harry to come. Harry had been quite excited when Charlie had told him about the ghosts at school and he had named his cat because of that and his coloring of course. He wasn't sure he would be introducing Harry to the Baron first for it might scare him off ghosts all together but he knew the others were quite friendly.

He knelt down to Harry. "I thought you might come have a tour of the school with me and meet a few of the teachers here. Maybe we will run into one of the ghosts."

Harry's eyes sparkled a bit when he heard that. "I swim with the squid?"

Severus almost choked on that and shaking his head he told Harry kids didn't swim in the lake but he promised to take him one day to visit Hagrid who had a big dog he though Harry might like. Harry smiled a bit at that or he had been told by Charlie about the ghost. As Harry took his hand he shared a look with Remus silently reminding him they would be expected at dinner that night in the hall. Harry had only seen the front hall so after showing him his classroom he lead him up through the school and the little boy's eyes were every where, drinking in the moving pictures. He had never been allowed to watch the television with his relatives.

It seemed the ghosts decided to meet Harry, at least Sir Nick who appeared. Harry beamed. "You're Sir Nick, knight like my book. Charlie told me about you."

Nick bowed and showed his half of head. "That I am my young man. Welcome to the school. The ghosts here welcome our newest little staff member."

Severus marvelled at the child who had been petrified by goblins and house elves when he first saw them but was chatting lively with the ghost. But Charlie had of course told him about the ghosts and it seemed if there was anyone cooler in Harry's mind then Draco it was Charlie. He had been terrified when he was at the Burrow and wanting to return home but Charlie had helped him through it and read him a lot of stories about dragons and knights, and told him about school. They had reminded Harry when he had been reluctant to leave Draco, that not only would Draco come to visit but that Charlie was here at school.

Nick warned them that the headmaster was coming their way, Severus not sure how the ghost knew, and he steered Harry towards Filius' office. He knew the charms professor would definitely put Harry at ease for he was such a friendly little man. Besides the office was quite close by and a good reason to bypass the headmaster.

Filius looked up when Harry and Severus came into the room. "Severus, and this must be Harry, so nice to see you two. Welcome to school Harry."

Harry cocked his head a bit and looked at the man. "Are you a goblin like I saw at the tavern?"

Severus could not have chastised Harry for he had been polite about it and besides he was happy to see a curious side of Harry coming out. Anyways Filius was laughing when he heard that and told the little boy he did indeed have some goblin blood but he was mainly human. Harry seemed to like his size, the fact the man was not much bigger then he was height wise and not as intimidating as some of the other adults were.

Filius smiled as Severus was about to take Harry off. "I will see you at dinner tonight Harry/ Are you excited about the Great Hall and seeing the kids sorted?"

Severus was worried for he had not told Harry but while Harry was a bit pale and drew back towards Severus he asked. "Can I sit next to you?"

Laughing Filius assured him he would be happy for the company if Harry wanted it and Severus was relieved to see Harry was not freaking over the news that he would be going to the feast. He just prayed that Harry could handle all of the people in the hall.

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Harry clutched at his hand anxiously later as they entered the hall. The students were not there yet but he was still a bit worried as they were the last among the staff to arrive which did not give Severus much hope for how Harry would handle the kids. He pointed up at the roof and Harry was marvelling at the roof which looked like the night sky and Harry stopped for a moment and stared up at it. Remus laughed a little bit but they both remembered their own first view of it as well. Albus was not pleased as a seat with a booster seat had been placed between Remus and Filius so Harry was not near the headmaster. Harry looked a bit worried about being away from Severus but he smiled at the little professor he had met and he still had Remus with him as well.

Both men distracted him as the older students came in, hard as there were many eyes on the little boy at the head table as well as Remus but it worked. And Harry waved his hand a little when he spotted Charlie and Bill coming in, both waving back at him. Harry was quite owl like when he watched the sorting.

Albus had finished his usual speech and motioned to them. "And these are Professor Snape's foster son Harry and Harry's Uncle Remus Lupin."

Remus was forced to stand up and he had Harry with him but Harry did not handle the sudden attention well and when the food arrived Harry refused to eat at all. Though perhaps a bit too old Remus took Harry into his lap and got him to eat a bit but he soon buried his head. Ignoring the protests from Albus they took their leave before desert and when they bathed and put Harry down for bed that night they were sure they would be in for a bit of hard night. Sure enough Harry woke up screaming on the top of his lungs.

After Severus had calmed him a bit Harry clutched his hand. "Stay please."

Severus nodded and lay down on the bed with him and tucked his blanket in around him. "If it will help you sleep, I'll stay here all night."

Harry slowly drifted of to sleep again and while he dropped Severus' hand and kept his distance, the little boy seemed to calm with him there. Severus kissed his sleeping head and settled down to sleep. He missed Remus in the doorway who had been watching them with a smile. Severus was far better at parenting then he gave himself credit for Remus thought and he knew this would help both Harry and Severus heal.