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!
simplyme89: Glad it cheered you up! and yes Harry is sweet
lilsnape: lol, thanks!
mb: I am glad my fic gives you a good feeling! and as for Draco hmmm who knows!
sparkling silver angel wings: Lotty does rule! and thanks!
viva rose: hehehehe yes she is diligent in her work.
TammyLynnSlark: Thanks! I like nice Severus too.
Purple Raveness: thankies!
Arica Princess of Rivendell: I did!
Proops: thanks for the review! Glad you like the fic
Lady Lily 3: ty!
kears: hope the paper is done, enjoy the update!
deb: LOL! thanks for the ideas.
Now on with the fic!
Chapter 29
The next day Harry was physically fine, but his usual exuberance was nowhere to be found. Instead he sat on the couch watching as Lotty bustled about the kitchen cleaning and stirring each pot. He wanted to help, but Harry was still a little shocked about the day before, and his father had been gone for hours now. His need to know outweighing his desire to remain silent, Harry spoke up. "Lotty, do you know where my father went, and when he will be back?"
"Master Severus is out inviting people to dinner." Seeing Harry needed something to occupy his mind, Lotty placed her hand on his shoulder. "Would Master Harry like to help Lotty?" The instantaneous smile was answer enough, and Lotty handed Harry the lettuce to tear up for the salad. Harry soon forgot about being sad until the floo alerted someone was coming through it. Harry instantly tried to hide behind the wee house elf.
Severus stepped from the floo placing a scouring charm on his robes, and handing the big square box to Lotty he knelt down beside Harry. "If I told you that your friends the Weasley's were coming, would it be enough to make you come from behind Lotty?" Harry shook his head no, and Severus raised an eyebrow, and then walked back into his room. Harry came out from behind Lotty and ran to the room banging on the door. "Let me in Dad!" he yelled.
The door was opened so suddenly that Harry toppled through onto the floor and Severus leaned down to pick him up. "I was just putting up something in my room for later, now how about that help for your father?"
Smiling, Harry ran back to the kitchen counter and started chopping up the carrots. Severus soon joined him and they both chopped and diced all the vegetables needed for the meal. "I think it is time for you to take a bath and get ready for out guests."
Harry jumped from the stool he was sitting on and ran to the bathroom, Lotty disappearing into the room to lay out his clothes for him.
Now freshly scrubbed, hair still wet, Harry emerged from his room to find his father gone again. Knowing he was only getting ready himself, Harry walked into the kitchen and tried to steal one of the tomatoes out of the salad bowl but a soft smack on the hand from Lottie had him retreating to the couch. Soon he heard the door to his father's room creak open, but when Severus stepped out Harry's mouth fell open in shock. His father was not in his usual black robes, but instead was in the most brilliant green ones Harry had ever seen.
Severus walked over to him and closed Harry's mouth that was hanging open. "Someone could mistake you for a guppy."
When Harry still looked at him strangely he shook his head at him. "Did you honestly think my dress robes would be black as well? A special friend of mine told me long ago that I looked rather suave in this color. Don't you think so?" Severus said, trying to hold back the laugh that was forming.
"It's just I have never seen you in anything but black, even your pyjamas are black," Harry said, his amazement dwindling enough for him to stop staring.
Severus scooped him up. "Well, today is a day for celebrating friends and family."
Before Severus could say anything else, the fireplace blazed and Remus stepped out of it wearing what looked like to Harry a new set of dark blue robes. Soon the sitting room was full of people and Harry wandered how many more were coming. Ron and his family were there, and Harry and Ron had found themselves a small corner and were comparing their wizard cards. They had grown bored, and Harry asked if he could take Ron to his room and show him his ceiling, which glowed in the dark, and the stars and planets actually moved. Severus had agreed, and Ron and Harry left the cramped room where all the adults were mingling.
"So Harry, what did you ask him for?"
Harry stopped staring at the ceiling. "Ask him for what?" Ron reply was cut off as the door opened and Fred stuck his head in. "I was sent to tell you both to get your bums out here this instant, people are hungry."
Ron got up from the floor where he and Harry had been watching the comets shooting across the ceiling and helped Harry up. "Seems like they would give us a break from the demands today, or at the very least you."
Harry wanted to know why Ron had said he should get a break, but thought Ron was referring to what had happened with the man in the sitting room. When he and Ron stepped out into the den Harry saw the normal table was twice it's normal size and a huge banner was hanging over the mantle. "Happy Birthday Harry," it said and Harry was in shock. After all the excitement he had forgotten his own birthday.
"Happy birthday Harry," everyone said, and Severus leaned down to pick him up enveloping him in a huge hug. Harry buried his face in his father's new robes and whispered into his ear. "I forgot it was my birthday."
Harry and Ron sat down, and everyone dug into the meal that they had made with Lotty. Soon it was time for gifts and when Harry opened his from his father he too had a matching green robe. "That is one of the nicest robes I have ever seen," Ron exclaimed. "Mine are the ones Percy grew out of."
Albus stood from his seat and raised his glass. "A toast to our newest students at Hogwarts." As Harry and Ron lifted their glasses, two letters floated down from the ceiling and landed beside their plates. Both boys had known one day they would receive their letters, but seeing them made it real. "We are going to Hogwarts Ron!" Harry said, jumping up and down. The smile on his face did not waver the rest of the night. As he walked to the floo with the Weasley family, Ron yelled over. "See you in Diagon Alley on Saturday mate!" and then he was gone in the green flames of the floo.
When everyone was gone, Lotty busied herself in the kitchen while Severus went and collapsed on the couch. "Your father is not as young as he used to be."
Harry came bounding over and launched himself onto the couch beside his dad. "Are we really going to Diagon Alley this weekend?"
Severus ruffled his hair. "We really are. We cannot have you going to Hogwarts without a wand and supplies now can we?"
Harry's eyes went as big as two moons. "I get my wand, like a real wizard! No more pretending?"
"Just like a real wizard Harry. Now off to bed, before I fall asleep sitting up."
Harry bounded off to bed, his bed, and soon he was asleep dreaming of Hogwarts and being a wizard fighting off dragons.
