The moment that Harry sat down beside Draco and across from Hermione the questions started, "What's it like being Professor Snape's son Harry?" Neville squeaked.
"I can't believe that Professor McGonagall...well McGonagall-Snape and Professor Snape are married...what's it like to be with the both of them?" Pansy inquired not even bothering to sound snotty.
"Yea Harry, tell us what it's like." Blaise put in.
"Alright everyone freeze and quit badgering him and maybe he'd answer." Hermione cut in and the others all quit talking and looked expectantly at Harry.
"Well to answer your question Neville it's great. Professor Snape is a really great Da and Professor McGonagall is a wonderful Mam as well. To answer your question Pansy I was shocked at first as well when I woke up in what I thought were Mam's quarters and then Da comes walking in , but they really love each other and so it's well...calming to be with them. I know that Mam and Da will protect me and I don't have to worry about getting in trouble for something I didn't do or worry about them fighting because, they hardly ever even argue." Harry explained.
All the Slytherin first years were quiet and then they started talking amongst themselves like the rest of the table was doing. Some of them were marveling that Harry's Mam and Da were married at all since that had known both professors for their entire lives and should have been able to realize that they were married and Neville was mostly shocked that Professor Snape was nice to Harry and that Harry thought he was a great Da.
"Really Neville, it's not like my Da is mean or anything like that. He's really nice and well...he hugs me whenever I need a hug or comforting just like I'm sure your families do the rest of you guys...and girls." Harry added as Millicent sent him a look that said not all of them were guys even if Harry was just using slang.
"Harry's right everyone Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall-Snape are both very nice and human just like the rest of us and just like our families. I'm really glad that they adopted you Harry...that makes you and me kind of like family. You see Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall-Snape are my godparents and so since you're their son and their godson that kind of makes us like godbrothers in my opinion...that is if you're ok with title." Draco offered and Harry saw his jaw twitch again in nervousness.
Harry was silent for a moment as he pondered what Draco had said. First he now had parents that were alive and his parents by blood not just by a muggle adoption. And now Draco was informing him that they could be Godbrothers since Harry's Da and Mam were Draco's Godparents. Harry suddenly realized that not only Draco , but all of the first year Slytherins were waiting for his response and so Harry cleared his throat and began, "Sure Draco, I'd like that a lot I've never had a brother before." Harry agreed grinning slightly. For once Harry saw Draco grin and nod his head in agreement, "Good and I've never had a brother before either or even a cousin that was close to my age." Draco concluded and the table starting talking again.
Once dinner was over Harry stood up and turned to head with the rest of the Slytherins , but all of the sudden he felt someone's hand on his shoulder and he turned around.
"Your Mam and I thought that you might like to come to our quarters for the night." Professor Snape offered smiling kindly at his son.
"Ok Da just let me tell my friends first." Harry agreed and headed to catch Draco, Neville, Hermione, and the others.
"Hey Draco, I'm going to stay in my...parents' quarters tonight. Could you let the others know where I'm at?" Harry questioned turning to head back to his Da.
"Yea I'll let them know and maybe you could talk to Uncle Sev and Aunt Minnie about you coming to Malfoy manor sometime to meet my Momma and Papa." Draco suggested before he turned and headed after the other Slytherins. Harry turned and saw both of his patents waiting for him to come with them and get ready or bed.
"What were you and Draco talking about sweetie?" Professor McGonagall inquired.
"Well Draco said that you and Da are his Godparents and that that kind of made him and me Godbrothers if I wanted to be that is and I told him that I had never had a brother before and that I was fine with that. He said he'd never had a brother before either or even a boy cousin who was close to his age and when I asked him to tell the others were I was going just now he suggested that I talk to you and Da about going to Malfoy manor sometime to meet his Momma and Papa. Could we do that?" Harry probed.
"Actually that's what your Mam and I were discussing. We were thinking of taking you to meet them this weekend and thought that we might take Draco with us so that he could visit his parents." Professor Snape explained and then looked to Harry for his opinion.
"Will...will I like them?" Harry questioned hesitantly.
"I think so sweetie. You and Draco seem to get along fairly well and Lucius is a lot like Draco is when Draco isn't around the others and doesn't feel threatened by Slytherins whose parents did not turn to the light before Riddle's downfall and as for Narcissa, Draco's Momma, she is a lot like me in some ways and will probably try and hug you." Professor McGonagall elaborated and reassuringly hugged Harry to her.
"Ok...I think that I'd like to meet them. They do sound really nice. Is Mr. Malfoy a lot like you Da?" Harry questioned looking at his Da.
"What do you mean son?" Professor Snape asked curiously.
"Um...well...you know...you're nice and you have a sense of humor. Is Mr. Malfoy like that?" Harry probed.
"Oh you think I'm nice do you Mr. Snape?" Professor Snape questioned raising an eyebrow at his son.
"Well...yea...you're not a bad guy Da. No matter how mean you try to be to some of the more irresponsible students...you can't fool your own son." Harry retorted smiling at his Da in amusement.
"You know me to well son, however don't go spreading that around or I'll lose my "bat of the dungeon" persona." Professor Snape muttered barely able to keep his smile at bay. Harry saw the smile that his Da was trying to hide and instead of answering he just put on a wounded look while trying to hide his own smile.
Professor Snape looked down at Harry and saw that he had a wounded looking expression and he instantly felt guilty, "Harry...I was only joking son, I didn't mean..." Professor Snape started to apologize and then he heard Harry snickering.
"I was only picking at you Da. I saw you smile and decided to have some fun since you were trying to fool me." Harry laughed and then he smiled at his Da. Professor Snape looked at Harry and then he burst out laughing and picked Harry up and hoisted him into his arms.
"Da put me down..." Harry protested but when his Da simply hugged him closer to him he decided to take advantage of it and snuggled against his Da's chest and laid his head on his shoulder.
"I thought you wanted down son." Professor Snape teased, but Harry's only response was to put one of his arms around his neck.
Professor McGonagall looked warmly at her husband and her son. Sev had tears in his eyes after Harry's obvious display of affection and Harry looked so content that it brought tears to her eyes as well. How anyone could have ever hurt Harry was something that angered her greatly. Now that Harry was her and Sev's son that would not happen again. Sev had been right the night before when he said that Harry had awoken motherly instincts in her and no one would hurt their son now. It broke Professor McGonagall's heart to think how Lily would feel to have seen how her little boy had been treated. Professor McGonagall knew that Harry's nightmares were far from over and that he would undoubtedly be found in her and Sev's bed many nights needing to be cuddled; however she was more than happy to hold Harry when he needed it and make sure that her son was safe now. She had promised Lily when Harry was born to protect Harry and in truth had been devastated when it appeared that Lily had changed her mind and allowed only Sirius Black and Alice Longbottom to be named Harry's Godparents. She hoped that Lily could forgive her for being mad at her and hurt and for the fact that she hadn't had the will inspected early. In truth she knew Lily would have because, Lily had been one of the most forgiving people that she had ever known and she had completely forgiven Sev for the comment made in Lily and Sev's fifth year. Lily had reassured Sev that she had known all along that he had been sorry , but she couldn't forgive him publicly and be his friend again in front of the deatheaters that Sev was friends with. It would have ultimately resulted in not only the deatheaters harming Sev , but also James and Sirius trying to harm him as well. In hindsight even though James had often tormented Sev it had often been Sirius that had encouraged James to hurt Sev and reminded James that Sev was close to Lily because, he knew that James had always liked Lily. James had apologized after Lily and Sev had made up and from that moment on he always made sure that Sirius kept his mouth shut around Sev and respected him. Professor McGonagall had found out through Lily that James did indeed feel bad about how he had treated him when they were younger and that Sirius's stunt where Sev had almost been killed had indefinitely broken up the Marauders as the group had called themselves and created a rift between James and Sirius. Sirius and James like Lily and Sev had only recently patched things up when Lily found out that she was pregnant and she wanted Sev to know the child just as James wanted Sirius to know his son if Sirius promised to act civilly around Sev. James had only reluctantly chose Sirius as Harry's Godfather because, he didn't want to start another fight and so had chosen Sirius over James's other friend Remus Lupin. Now that Professor McGonagall knew the truth she was going to make sure that Sirius Black stayed in Azkaban and if by some chance that he did ever get out he better stay away from Harry because, Sirius would not only have her to contend with , but Sev as well and she could see by looking at Sev that Harry not only had her wrapped around his finger but he also had Sev wrapped around his finger as well. Professor McGonagall was pulled out of her memories and evaluations when they reached the Portrait to their quarters and Sev muttered the password and Salazar Slytherin swung open to allow them in. Professor Snape carried Harry to his room and laid Harry down on the bed. Harry, who had been asleep, opened his eyes and then when he realized that he was in his parents' quarters Harry closed his eyes back and smiled contently. Professor Snape smiled at his wife and the pulled Harry's shoes off and picked Harry up while Minnie turned down the bed and then he deposited him into the middle of the bed.
"Aren't you and Da getting in bed Mam?" Harry questioned sleepily slurring his words but refusing to give over to sleep nonetheless.
"I thought you were asleep sweetie?" Professor McGonagall questioned as she transfigured Harry's clothes into pajamas instead of robes.
"Well...I was...but when Da put me under the covers I woke up and then I waited for a moment and you and Da didn't get in bed." Harry explained yawning.
"Your Da and I have some things to discuss before we retire for the night, but you can go ahead and retire for the night if you want to sweetie. If it will make you feel better your Da and I can sit in here and write the letters to the Malfoys that need to be written as well as some other things that need to be done." Professor McGonagall offered smiling down at her son.
"Well...ok...but you and Da are coming to bed later right?" Harry questioned uncertainly.
"Of course sweetie; Harry is there some reason that you don't want to go to sleep without your Da and me?" Professor McGonagall questioned.
"Well...what if I have a nightmare? You and Da won't be here and I...liked being able to...snuggle with you and Da last night." Harry admitted blushing. Professor McGonagall's heart broke and she lifted Harry into her arms.
"Oh sweetie, we'll be here and I promise that we won't leave you alone. Would it be better if your Da and I perhaps wrote our letters here instead of on the love seat so we would be right beside you?" Professor McGonagall questioned as she tenderly rocked Harry in her arms and held him close.
"I think that I would like that Mam." Harry agreed and then he closed his eyes and allowed her to rock him to sleep. When Professor Snape came back into the room he saw Minnie rocking Harry and wondered what had happened while he was gone.
"What happened, Minnie?" Professor Snape whispered as he slowly sat down on the bed. Minnie turned teary eyes towards him and Professor Snape quickly put his arms around his wife and son.
"Oh Sev, I can't believe the damage that those people did to Harry. He was so scared to be left alone for fear that he would have a nightmare. I promised him that you and I would write our letters to Cissy and Luc in bed so that he wouldn't be alone. I love him so much Sev and so help me if I ever see those people again I will personally tear them apart limb from limb." Professor McGonagall glowered angrily while still rocking Harry in her arms.
"Oh Minnie it will be alright honey. He has us now and no one will hurt our little boy while either of us is here to protect him." Professor Snape reassured her while he kissed her on the cheek.
"Mam don't cry. I'll be ok. I have you and Da now." Harry mumbled shocking both of his parents as they both thought that Harry had been sound asleep.
"Oh sweetie, I'm sorry it's just I love you so much and it breaks my heart to think of what those...people did to you sweetie." Professor McGonagall explained as tears slipped down her face.
"I'm ok though honest Mam. I mean I still have nightmares and everything , but nothing really terrible every happened to me. It was only physical and emotional abuse Mam. You don't have to worry about him touching me or any of them touching me in any other way." Harry assured his Mam as he reached up and wiped the tears from her face.
"Oh sweetie, I'm so glad to hear that and I just want you to know that I love you so very much. Sev and I will never let anything happen to you if we can prevent it in any way." Professor McGonagall vowed and Harry simply snuggled closer to his Mam and hugged her back. The small family sat like that for a while with Harry safely tucked in his Mam's arms and Professor Snape holding both his wife and his son. It had been about thirty minutes since anyone had said anything and then Harry, who had dozed off, woke up and realized that he was still in his Mam's arms.
"Mam, I thought that you and Da had to write letters to Draco's Momma and Papa about visiting them this weekend?" Harry teased smiling at his Mam. Professor McGonagall smiled and then nodded her head, "You're right sweetie. Will you be ok if I lay you down on the bed beside me?" Professor McGonagall inquired gently watching Harry's face intently for any sign of anxiousness or nervousness.
"Yes Mam, I'll be ok as long as you and Da are here with me. I know that you or Da neither one would let anything happen to me." Harry assured his Mam as she laid him down on the bed and he closed his eyes and let himself give over to the need to sleep. Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall sat down to write to the Malfoys.