Part of Harry didn't want to leave, but he did. If the man was selfish enough to walk out, he couldn't stop him. He couldn't babysit the man until he came to his senses. He did have Kreacher though keep an eye on the man for him. He hoped the elf could tell where he was going in all of this. Harry told himself he shouldn't care. If the man could just walk out like that, he didn't care. It was only two kisses, and they obviously had meant very little to him. And he had made Teddy cry, which was something which made him furious. The man was a coward, he didn't care who he hurt. He didn't care if the Malfoys loved him, and missed him. Or that Teddy adored him. Or that Harry, well that Harry, he loved his son.

He headed for Malfoy manor and had no idea what to tell them. Maybe he should not have told Severus, and just let the Malfoys come here. He truly hoped that sending Kreacher would help. He was starting to hope Lucius would really kick his brother's ass.

Harry came into the Malfoy sitting room. "I'm sorry."

Lucius looked up. "He left I assume."

Harry nodded. "Or will soon enough."

Draco had come in. "I knew we should have gone with you."

Teddy sobbed. "Mr. Toby go. He no read. He go."

Harry tried to calm his son. "Daddy will read to you I promise."

Teddy shook his head. "Daddy don't like snakes."

Draco reached for him. "Hey munchkin, how about I tell you one?"

Teddy looked at him. "You tell me one?"

Draco took him into his arms. "I will try."

Harry shook his head. "He really liked Severus."

Lucius grunted. "The man has a way of winning over children."

Harry grunted. "I thought it was a fluke with your son."

Harry was kicking himself about all of this. He felt bad, both for the Malfoys and for his own son. He was a healer, and he couldn't have told them about Severus. But he could have allowed Lucius to find him in the hospital. Or he could have taken them with him to the manor today. And now the man might be gone and never to return. And his son was hurting as well. He should never have allowed his son to get to know the man. He didn't introduce Teddy to him, Teddy wandered in, but he should have ended it there. He had thought though it would be good for the man. And he may have been right, but it had hurt his son in the long run. His son crying was just too much for him.

Lucius looked at Harry, and had to wonder if it was more. He could see that Harry was upset, and not just for their sake. He knew it could have been for his son. He had only really got to know Harry the past months, but he knew what a good father Harry was to his son.

Harry sunk down. "I should have taken you."

Lucius shook his head. "We didn't insist on coming."

Harry shook his head. "We should have known he'd go."

Lucius poured them both a drink. "He'll return."

Harry smirked. "He hid from you for two years."

Lucius shrugged. "But we thought him dead."

Harry accepted the bourbon. "He doesn't care who he hurts."

Lucius downed his bourbon. "I don't think you give him enough credit."

Harry sipped at his own. "He is a coward."

Lucius poured some more. "I think coward is perhaps the wrong word."

Harry drank the rest. "Then what would you call him? He runs from everyone who might care."

Lucius handed him another glass. "He has been hurt before."

Harry didn't buy it. "So have most of us. Why are you so quick to forgive him?"

Lucius sighed. "He stood by me through a lot."

Harry knew. "You were the one that told me to tell him to come back, or you'd hunt him down."

Lucius agreed. "I may be able to understand. But that doesn't mean I won't kick his ass first."

Lucius could admit he was furious with his brother, both for himself and his son. Severus damn well knew how much they both loved him. Lucius had never had much family, his father was always very cold, and his mother died when he was little. They had been tortured into the mark together. They had already been friends, but that had only strengthened the bond for them. He had trusted Severus above all else. And the fact the man allowed him to think him dead, infuriated him. Both he and Draco could have used Severus through the loss of Narcissa. And they would have both helped him to heal. The loss of his mother was hard enough on Draco, he shouldn't have been mourning his Uncle too. Like Harry, much but not all of his hurt, was for his son.

Harry's eyes went to his son. "Both our sons have been hurt."

Lucius squeezed his arm. "Teddy is young, he will recover."

Harry smiled as he watched him with Draco. "I never thought I'd be grateful for a Slytherin cousin."

Lucius laughed a little. "You could tell your son that you can talk to snakes."

Harry corrected him. "I could."

Before they could respond Kreacher appeared. "Master, he be gone. Kreacher cannot track him."

Harry explained he tried having his elf track him. "It must be a Fidelius."

Lucius agreed. "Prince Manor likely."

Harry was surprised. "Why would he go there?"

Lucius smirked. "Because it is under a Fidelius charm and he is under the impression, Albus was the only secret keeper besides him."

Harry lifted an eyebrow. "Under the impression?"

Lucius admitted that Albus had told him before he died. Albus had known that Severus would use the place as a safe house if he was in danger. He worried that the man would be a fool, and go there if injured, and not where there was a healer. He had told Lucius of the location, so that if Albus couldn't go, Severus could be found. He had known that Lucius could be trusted with Severus' life. Lucius hoped Severus would go there. He knew he wouldn't go to Spinner's End, Draco owned it now, and they would always have access.

Teddy's voice broke them from their discussion. "Mr. Toby, Mr. Toby."

Severus had no idea what was stopping him. He knew the longer he remained, the more risk he took. Lucius and Draco would come soon. The Malfoys were too stubborn for their own good. They had been better off without him, they had moved on with their life. But now Harry had gone and allowed his son to tell them he was alive. And now they would come looking for him, he knew they would. He had to leave before they did. It would be harder for them to move on this time, as they would know he was alive. But he would leave, and they would move on eventually.

He went to his rooms and began packing up his things. With spells it was easy enough, his magic had recovered over the past two years. He'd never be as strong as he was before, but he was back at adult magic levels. He stopped with the last two things.

Dotty appeared. "Master I help."

Severus stopped her. "No."

Dotty looked. "Master not take?"

Severus sighed. "I don't know."

Dotty began packing. "Master Harry work hard on for you."

Severus ground his teeth. "I know."

Dotty continued. "Master never so happy since war."

Severus looked at her. "How would you know?"

Dotty smiled. "I visit master in hospital. Master very sad."

Severus never knew. "Why? I never summoned you."

Dotty just worked. "Mistress ask me to look after her nephew. Dotty always watch over you."

Severus sighed. "My Aunt. She took care of me."

Dotty nodded. "She like Master Harry. He take care of you. And little master."

Severus picked up the book from the bed. "You will take this back to Teddy."

Dotty was surprised. "Master sure see him again."

Severus pushed the book on her. "No."

Dotty was confused. "I sure master will. Master care, like Draco."

Severus watched his elf as she finished her job. He had never thought the elf would have come to see him in the hospital. Or that she would ever know that he was alive. He had been shocked enough, that she came when Harry had told her he was alive. She had come with his Aunt from Prince Manor, when his Aunt was disinherited for not marrying. Dotty had served her and Severus ever since, but until Harry brought him here, he hadn't seen her since before the final battle.

When he was ready to go, he summoned the bus. He was in no shape to apparate all the way to the manor. He would take the bus only so far, up to Scotland, and then he would apparate from there. He had never thought to call the place home, but it would work for now.

Stan looked at him in shock. "You're dead."

He smirked. "I am indeed."

Stan shook his head. "I am seeing things."

Severus paid him. "I am a ghost. Best you remember that."

Stan stuttered as he took the money. "When people hear this, they'll never believe me."

Severus handed him more. "You won't tell anyone, or I will haunt you."

Stan nodded. "The third level is empty."

Severus told him his destination. "Keep it that way."

Stan called as he headed for the stairs. "I didn't know ghosts paid."

Severus almost laughed. "How many ghosts have you had on this bus?"

Stan shrugged. "I think you're the first."

Severus continued hobbling up the stairs. "Likely the last."

Stan called. "I wouldn't think a ghost would be on crutches. I thought you guys floated."

Severus snapped. "Punishment for asking too many stupid questions."

Stan shut up, and Severus made it with great difficulty, to the top floor. He had been working hard with Harry for the last months. With crutches, he was able to get up them, though it took a great deal of time. He for a moment thought about his rehab. He shook his head to clear the thoughts. He could live with the crutches, he didn't think he'd have ever walked anyways. That damned knee would barely bend, and the other not at all.

He ground his teeth as Stan appeared some time later. "I want to be alone."

Stan handed him some coffee. "Paid for it."

Severus grunted. "Fine."

Stan turned to leave. "You're our last stop, so it will be a while."

Severus looked out the window. "Where are we?"

Stan turned back. "Nearing Stone Henge."

Severus had no idea what overcame him. "I have a change in destination."

Stan was shocked when he heard. "Planning to haunt the family? Heard they were spies."

Severus grunted. "Something like that."

Stan went down. "You should come down. It will only be moments."

Severus went to follow. "Sooner I get off of this."

When they pulled up Stan called. "Always a pleasure to have a ghost on board. Tell others about us."

Severus shook his head. "I am sure I will."

Severus had no idea what he was doing here. But somehow when he heard where they were, he had found himself coming. The book and all Dotty talk had got to him. He could admit he needed to see that Lucius and Draco were okay. And some of Teddy's crying was in his head. He was able to apparate to the front door, not setting off wards, as he knew the passwords. As he came into the den, he saw them and stopped. He stood there watching them, Harry with Lucius, and just drank them in. Of course to no surprise, Teddy saw him, and alerted them all.

Severus grunted when they all turned his way. "Not quite the homecoming party I was expecting."

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