Summary: Can one person and fate make the difference in Severus' life?
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, sue me and become poor.
A/N: This fic is AU, not canon. and thanks! to my beta Karri
Now to my reviewers!
Ok since I have not figured out a way to officially reply to reviews I shall answer reviews this once and PRAY for the best.
Gwenneth: Welcome to the fic! glad you like it
Ruse: Real mad is right.
mb: fever, delrious etc ahem hehehe
AccioSeverus: yes he will figure it out, he is the potion master
viva rose: but of course!
sparkling silver angel wings: LOL! go for it
jaz7: Welcome to the fic!
deb: thank you for the short name! and you shall see!
Purple Raveness: yes he will freak!
Arica, Princess of Rivendell: I did!
Mystical Witch: you shall see snicker
athenakitty: yep Severus will comfort him.
and to Rebecca: thanks for the flame! you made my day.
Now to the fic!
Chapter 20
Harry sat and watched as his father graded many papers. He was always fascinated at some of the words his Dad used when commenting on them. He was not supposed to know what some of them meant, but Harry had hung around the Weasley twins and they had taught him many colorful words that Harry thought would get him a scouring charm performed if he said them. Harry kept scratching his leg, as it felt itchy, as a matter of fact he felt itchy all over. When his dad had seen him scratching his arms, he had told him to stop fidgeting, and Harry had. The sensation was driving him crazy, but he knew his father was tired and not in the best of moods.
When Severus had marked the last paper, he stood up and got Harry's robes that he had flung off onto the floor. Handing them back to the red faced Harry, they both stepped into the floo and went back home. Harry sometimes wondered why his dad flooed back to his house when he could have just as easily stayed in his room at Hogwarts, but Harry knew he would want to get away from the dreary look of the dungeons as well if it were him.
As soon as they stepped into the sittingroom Lotty was taking their robes and ushering them to the table laden down with food. Severus wondered why the house elves always made enough food to feed thirty people, but as he was starving today, he did not ask. Filling his plate and then Harry's, Severus sat back and dug in. The potatoes were gone in seconds. Severus did not know if he even tasted them or if he simply inhaled them. He did notice that Harry was unusually quie,t and when he looked over he saw the boy's food was only half eaten.
"Harry, is something wrong? You have not eaten very much."
Harry stifled the urge to dig his skin out with his fork. "I'm just itchy, maybe I need a bath or something."
Severus quirked an eyebrow. "Come here and let me see where you itch." When Harry got over to Severus, he immediately saw the rash on Harry's arms. "Does it itch anywhere else?"
Harry did not want to complain but the sensation was driving him over the edge. "Everywhere," he whispered.
Lifting Harry's shirt revealed his entire torso covered in the same red rash. Severus stood up and left the table for a few minutes and returned with a small jar. "This is a salve that should help with the itching." Severus rubbed it on Harry's arms and then gave the jar to Harry to rub on the rest later after his bath. "Why do you not try to eat a few more bites?" Harry, feeling somewhat better, sat down and ate the rest of his potatoes, but nothing else. He wanted to take a bath and then crawl into bed.
After Harry emerged from his bath, he went straight to his bed and crawled onto it. Severus came in looking for him, as he had not returned afterwards, and saw him sitting on the bed with his potion book open. It was not the book Severus had given him though. When Severus looked down at it, he realised it was third year potions. When Harry noticed the questioning look on his father's face, he revealed the answer. "Percy let me borrow it for the night, he had finished his homework."
"Well, see Mr. Weasley receives his book back tomorrow then. I would not have him fall behind in class. Do you wish to read some before bed?" When Harry nodded his head yes, Severus did not move from the room. "Are you sure you feel well Harry?"
Harry did not want to tell his father he had a headache, and that he felt hot and sweaty already even though it was quite cool in the room. Faking a smile, he told his father he was fine and then he glanced back down at his book. Harry closed the book the minute the door closed and tried to stop the headache from coming, by rubbing his head. This did no good, and Harry resolved to just try to go to sleep.
Severus sat down on the couch and relished the quiet. It was not often these days he had time to simply sit back and relax this early in the evening. Conjuring a pad and pencil Severus sat down to do something he had not done in a long time. Severus loved to draw, but he had never told anyone of his passion. He could admit it was done it well, but his work had never been seen by anyone but himself. Once, his own father had glanced at something Severus had been drawing, and scoffed at him for foolish hobbies. He had taken the picture and torn it in half. Severus still had the picture of his mother he had drawn, taped together in the bottom of his trunk, and he looked at it every so often. Tonight he was drawing a picture of his son, sleeping. The peaceful look on his face that Severus had seen one of the many times he had snuck a glance at him while slumbering. Finishing up the picture Severus got up to retire to his own bed for the night. A peaceful night, and an early one too.
A/N: EEk it is short I promise I will update very soon for it.