Severus watched from the balcony as Harry began trimming back the plants that bordered on the rear patio. He sighed gloomily and wished that he had not been so stubborn last night about staying out to play Pirate. He'd been truly miserable when he'd realised that Harry was angry and upset, and had wanted more than anything to go and say sorry, but something had held him back.
The more time that passed, the less sure Severus had been that Harry would want anything to do with him. He'd told Harry that he hated him; that Harry was mean, and in his heart of hearts, Severus knew that wasn't true. Harry had protected him from the men in the masks; had even taken him from Mother and Father and given him a room and clothes and Dragon. He had good food three times a day, as much as he wanted to eat, and could choose what colours to wear, and what clothes. He was patted to sleep each night, something that he had never had before, even when he was a baby.
Someone who hated him and was mean wouldn't have bothered giving him all that. Someone who hated him and was mean would have beaten him for arguing, or locked him out of the house to teach him a lesson, or all sorts of other things. By the time he knew he should go and apologise, he didn't feel that he could any more. He was certain that Harry would send him away, and was making plans to live in the tree house, which suddenly seemed cold and uninviting after being allowed to live with Harry.
Luckily for Severus, Harry had sent his owl to come get him. She had settled on the rail near where he'd been slumped and hooted softly, getting him to look up. There had been something about her gaze that had been a little disappointed and he'd sighed, mumbling an apology and promising to go see Harry straight away. Hedwig had fluttered just ahead of him the whole way to the house, alighting on a hedge to hoot in encouragement when he'd faltered or hesitated.
Harry had welcomed him with a hug that had broken Severus into remorseful tears. He'd been given his dinner and bath and put to bed with the admonishment that he would be staying in his room or on the balcony tomorrow instead of going down to the tree house. Such a mild punishment was a shock, and Severus had agreed sleepily, the hand on his back patting him to sleep.
Now Harry was down in the garden working while they waited for their Grandfather to come. Severus' memory of the old man with the flowing beard was a little hazy, but he'd only felt comfortable in the other mans presence, despite the terrible circumstances leading to their meeting in the little room. He'd had breakfast on the balcony with Harry, and he'd been promised that Grandfather would have lunch there with him too. He wasn't sure where Harry would be, as he'd had a definite feeling that Harry wasn't planning to have lunch with him today, something that sat in his chest like a heavy weight. He'd really disappointed his saviour, and the thought made him want to cry.
He went back into his room and sat on his armchair, hugging Dragon tightly to his chest, wishing he could go back in time and be good for Harry.
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