A/N Hi everyone. Thank you once again for your patience with my slow updates. Please be reassured that this story won't be abandoned. This is a shorter than usual chapter but I really wanted to get something up for you all. Unfortunately my nan is very unwell at the moment and won't be with us much longer so as I'm sure you can understand my mind has been elsewhere recently. Please also forgive any mistakes.

Thank you for your support, I love all the reviews that I get and appreciate them enormously. I still get so anxious posting new chapters but the feedback I get means a lot. Enough of the mushy stuff and on with the chapter! :)

Chapter 26.

Before retiring for the night Severus flooed the hospital wing to check on Draco.

"Severus I was just about to call you" answered Poppy.

"Is everything alright?" Severus replied worriedly.

"Yes Mr Malfoy is fine. He had a bad gash on his head but no concussion so I have put him in a healing sleep with a monitoring charm. I have also contacted his parents and they will be over first thing tomorrow."

Severus sighed in relief. If Draco was in a healing sleep, there would be no point going down to visit him now which meant he didn't have to leave Harry. "Thank you Poppy, I appreciate everything you have done."

"It's my job Severus and I'm happy to do it. How is Harry?"

"He will be fine; bumps and bruises mainly. I gave him a dreamless sleep potion to stave off any nightmares tonight."

"You may need one yourself" said Poppy.

"No I need to make sure I am alert should Harry wake up earlier than expected."

"Well goodnight Severus, see you tomorrow."

Severus bid farewell to Poppy before closing the connection on the floo. He went to check on Harry and couldn't help but smile at the sight of his son. His son; that was a thought that warmed him to the core. Harry calling him dad had made this one of the happiest days in his life even with all the drama that preceded it. He stroked Harry's hair back before bending down and kissing his forehead. Harry snuffled in his sleep making him look more adorable than ever. Severus checked the monitoring charm that would alert him to Harry having a restless sleep, then went off to his own room. Severus knew he would have to have a serious chat with Lucius in the morning because there were somethings about tonight's incident that were troubling him. All the emotions of that evening though had finally started to take a toll on the man and as soon as he lay his weary head down on his pillow he was fast asleep.

X

Harry woke up the next morning at 8am feeling content. He stretched out in his bed, smiling to himself as he did so. He got up and padded down the hallway to the kitchen. He wanted to do something nice for his dad but he wasn't allowed to cook without supervision. "Misty" he whispered.

"Morning Master Harry is you okay?"

"I'm good Misty thank you. I want to make breakfast for my dad but I need some help as I'm not allowed to do it by myself."

"I's help you. Misty is happy Master Harry and the Professor are family now."

Between them Harry and Misty made pancakes, waffles and coffee for breakfast. When they had finished Harry carefully carried the tray into his dad's room. "Morning dad" said Harry brightly, waking Severus up in the process.

The man in question sat up quickly looking around for the source of the sound until he spotted Harry holding a tray full of breakfast. He cast a tempus and found it was after 8am. It showed how tired he was that he never heard Harry get up.

"Misty and I made breakfast for you."

Severus internally sighed with relief that Misty had helped. "To what do I owe this unexpected treat?"

"I just wanted to do something nice for you" replied Harry shyly.

"It is a wonderful surprise." Harry beamed at Severus and carried the tray over. Severus took the tray from Harry so that the boy could climb next to him. Breakfast in bed was something that he hadn't indulged in since he was a child. He suspected this was a first for Harry.

"After breakfast can we go and see Draco?" asked Harry.

"Of course. Lucius and Narcissa will most likely be there too."

Harry chewed thoughtfully on his lip before asking, "Am I allowed to still call you dad in front of them?"

"Nothing would make me happier. I would expect a bone crushing hug from Narcissa though when you do."

"What about other people though? No one else knows you were my guardian apart from Professor Dumbledore and some of the other teachers. Do I have to keep it a secret?"

"Eventually Harry the news will have to come out, especially once the adoption is formalised. Until then you can tell whoever you want. Just try to keep my reputation intact."

"You mean don't tell them you're actually a big softie" teased Harry.

Severus vanished the tray before saying "I'll give you a big softie!" then proceeded to tickle Harry.

"I give, I give!" laughed Harry. "I promise to tell everyone you're really scary." Harry took a moment to regain his composure then said, "I think for now I won't tell anyone other than the Malfoys, oh and Professor Dumbledore. Everyone will badger me with questions that I don't want to answer yet. Is that okay?"

"Yes Harry. We should enjoy the calm before the storm" answered Severus. "Come on now, go get dressed so that we can go and visit Draco.

X

They arrived in the hospital wing 20 minutes later. Harry walked over to Draco's bed where he was sat up talking to his parents. As soon as he spotted Harry he started apologising, "I'm so sorry I didn't believe you Harry, it's all my fault we got hurt, I should have listened to you!"

"It's okay Dray, I mean it did sound pretty unbelievable."

"Yeah but you've never lied to me before."

Harry silenced the blonde by giving him a hug, "We are both fine so don't worry about it."

"Well I promise never to doubt you again."

As predicted as soon as Harry had finished with Draco, Narcissa pulled him into a tight hug. "Thank you Harry your quick thinking made sure things didn't end up much worse."

"It was just luck" replied Harry bashfully.

"Hopefully we won't have a repeat of any incidents like that, I'm not sure I could take it" said Severus as he joined them.

"Come on dad, it's not like I go looking for trouble."

"Yet it always seems to find you" answered Severus ruffling Harry's hair.

Harry just had time to register a gasp coming from Narcissa before he was engulfed in another tight hug. "You finally asked?" Harry nodded. "I'm so happy for you both!" she exclaimed before letting go of Harry and hugging Severus instead causing Harry to giggle slightly.

"Would you care to fill in the rest of us?" asked Lucius.

"I asked Severus if I could call him dad and he agreed. He's also going to adopt me."

"That is so cool!" exclaimed Draco.

While the boys sat chatting animatedly the adult moved to the opposite side of the room where Severus cast a one-way silencing charm.

"Congratulations Severus, you and Harry both deserve this" said Narcissa.

"Thank you but that is not what I wanted to talk to you about though."

"Something is troubling you isn't it?" asked Lucius shrewdly.

"Last night Quirrell announced that the troll was in the dungeons."

"Except it wasn't, was it? The boys were on the third floor" said Narcissa.

"Precisely. If Mr Longbottom hadn't come into the hall when he did all the teachers would have been in the wrong place." Severus shivered at the thought of what might have happened. "Quirrell has been acting strange ever since he came back this year. I have to wonder if he was hoping to cause enough of a distraction to try and get the stone."

"You said that the Philosophers stone was well protected?" Lucius knew all about the stone as he had been the one Severus had ranted to about the stupidity of hiding something like that in a school. Lucius had been inclined to agree with him. He did however give Severus a few extra spells that could be used for protection.

"It is but with enough time a competent wizard could get past them and I don't believe Quirrell is as incompetent as he seems."

"What could he want it for though?" mused Narcissa.

"It could be for any number of things but at the moment I have no solid proof of anything. I tell you one thing though I will be keeping a close eye on him. If he is up to something he will not get away with it."