August - Harry, age 6
Snape looked up from the potion that he was working on as he heard the glass shatter. His hand moved to quickly lower the heat on the cauldron as he called out the child's name. He had purposely left the door to his laboratory open so that he could hear the child playing in the parlor.
The man moved towards the door as he heard the back door slam closed. His pace quickened and a moment later Snape was in the kitchen and then the parlor. He called out the child's name once more, a bit louder as he spotted the shattered lamp on the floor.
Turning on his heel, Snape walked back through the kitchen and out the back door, letting the screen slam once more. "Harry?" He nearly shouted. "Where are you?" The man's eyes scanned the yard for any sign of the child and he felt his heartbeat quicken as he realized there was not a trace of him.
Harry wasn't even sure what had happened! Or how! What he did know though, was that it was bad. He didn't know what the creature was that popped out of nowhere! He didn't know how the lamp broke! The small child shook as he pressed himself further into the bushes.
He heard Snape calling his name right next to him but he still didn't budge. Snape would send him away - he was sure of it! The idea of it made a soft sob pass the child's lips as he wrapped his arms tightly around his knees. He didn't want to be sent away again.
Snape was nearly about to Accio the child to him when he heard the small sob. The man looked down, spotting the bushes only a few feet away from him shaking slightly. "Come out of the bushes Harry," Snape spoke, his voice firmer than he would have liked.
Harry tried to still himself at the words from the man, holding his knees tighter. Maybe if he just remained still Snape would think he had just imagined the bushes moving. He rubbed at his face, taking in a breath in a horrible attempt to keep himself quiet.
Snape raised an eyebrow after a moment passed and the child did not appear. "One..."
"No don't!" Harry stood from the bushes, stepping out of them and backing up just a step once he was in the open yard. His lower lip quivered as he stared at Snape through his tear-blurred vision. "I-I didn't... I..." Fear started to grip at the child. Snape wouldn't believe him. He'd just send him away or punish him or both! Harry was clearly struggling on what to say before a sob passed his lips once more. He pressed his small hands to his face as he remained in place.
Snape leaned down easily picking the child up and walking towards the house with him in his arms. "You did not what? Break my lamp?" He walked into the kitchen, closing the door behind him.
"I didn't!" Harry shook his head against his hands as he was carried back inside. "Don't s-send me aw-awaaay! I promise I didn't!"
Snape's eyebrow rose as he stepped into the parlor. "Why would I send you away over a broken lamp?" The man walked over to his armchair, sitting down with the child in his lap.
Harry's shoulders hitched as he lowered his hands slightly. Snape didn't sound angry. "I...I dunno," he whispered, brushing his eyes from under his glasses. The action made them almost tumble off his face.
Snape reached out gently removing the glasses from the child's face and setting them on the table beside him. "You may end up with a spanked backside if you broke that lamp doing something you are not supposed to be doing but I do not intend to send you away."
"I didn't do anything!" Harry shook his head, giving the man a pleading look. "R-really! It... it just happened!" His volume rose just slightly before he gave a sniff.
"Okay." Snape took a deep breath forcing his temper to remain calm. He was sure that the lamp did not just shatter on its own for no reason at all. He was also sure that if the child was lying he would turn him over his knee. "Explain to me exactly what happened."
"I was playin'." Harry motioned to his toys that he had abandoned on the floor, taking in a breath. "And... and I dunno what it was! It had big ears and big eyes. And it came out of nothin'! Really! And I was scared," the child's voice fell soft as he looked down towards his lap. "And then... then it broke!"
Snape's brow furrowed for a moment before a light bulb went off in his head. A feeling of guilt swept through his body as he realized his mistake. He should have introduced the pair weeks ago. "Nita," he spoke loudly causing the small house elf to appear at his feet.
"Master Snape," she bowed deeply, eyeing the child curiously.
"Nita, this is Harry, I apologize for not introducing the two of you sooner."
Harry leaned slightly more into Snape's chest as the house elf appeared, taking in a breath. Nita? The child gave a soft, "Hi" as he stared down to the creature.
"Master Harry." Nita bowed once more causing Harry to give a soft grin.
"Is Nita who you saw that scared you?" Snape questioned as his hand moved to rub the child's back.
"Yeah." Harry turned his attention back to Snape, raising a hand to clear away the remaining tears within his eyes.
"That will be all Nita," Snape dismissed the house elf who bowed once more before disappearing in a puff of hand continued to rub the small back as he cleared his throat. "Nita is my house elf. I should have introduced the two of you weeks ago however she rarely comes out during the day. You needn't be afraid of her, she is very nice."
"It just broke t-though," Harry whispered softly, resting his cheek back against Snape's chest. He closed his eyes as his back was rubbed, taking in a breath. "'M sorry."
"That is called accidental magic," Snape sighed softly as he adjusted the boy in his arms. "When your emotions become too big for your little body things like that can happen because of your magic. As you grow up you will learn to control it. I am not cross with you."
As the child was shifted, Harry wrapped his arms tightly around Snape's neck. His head tucked into the man's neck as he gave a small shudder. Accidental magic... that was the reason his aunt and uncle didn't want him. He sighed, hiding his face slightly within Snape's robes.
"You have had small bouts of accidental magic before. Such as when you where running around your relatives yard and ended up in the kitchen without getting there on your own." Snape's fingertips gently tapped the small back. "It is not your fault and I am not cross. However the next time it happens please come tell me, don't run and hide."
"I'm sorry," Harry whispered once more, raising his head up slightly to rub at his eyes. He rested his arm back across Snape's shoulder. "I was scared," he admitted softly.
"I understand. As I have said, I am not cross." Snape's hand gently moved across the small back. "I apologize for not introducing you to Nita sooner. It never occurred to me that you would be frightened of her."
"What does she do?" Harry relaxed as his back was rubbed, giving the faintest of sniffs.
"Everything." Snape leaned back slightly in his chair bringing the child with him. "She prepares all of our meals. She cleans the house. She also keeps an eye on you for me. House elves see everything that goes on. If she saw you in a particularly dangerous situation and was able to get to me before you were hurt she would. She is quite a nice little elf as well." Snape adjusted the child in his lap. "Most wizarding families have elves. They are employed at Hogwarts as well."
Harry's eyes widened slightly at the words, moving his head to rest down on Snape's chest. "She can do all that?" The child lowered his arms, instead letting them wrap loosely around the man's middle.
"And then some," Snape nodded. "As I said, she is very kind as well. There is no need to be afraid of her. It would do you well, however, to remember that she is always watching. That should be a reminder to behave." Snape waved a hand causing the broken lamp on the floor to vanish.
The child's cheeks flushed at the words, his back tensing just slightly. "She sees... all that?" He muttered, hiding his face into the side of Snape's robe.
"She does. If you stay out of mischief it will not be an embarrassment though, will it?" Snape's eyes moved to the clock on the mantel. "Now I think it is time for some lunch before your nap." The man stood with Harry still in his arms. "If you plan on playing with these toys this afternoon, I suppose that they can stay in the parlor for now."
Harry made a small noise as he was lifted, adjusting himself in Snape's hold as his eyes fell to the toys briefly. "Yeah," he hummed, a small smile soon playing on his lips.
Snape walked into the kitchen, carefully setting Harry in his chair before he tapped the table causing lunch to appear. His eyes moved to his laboratory door before he walked across the room and shut it tightly. "Do you have any homework this weekend?" The man slid into his own seat.
"Nope! Well... yeah. I forgot I have a worksheet for spelling. Gotta circle the right words." He nodded slightly as he took a bite of his meal.
Snape nodded as he took a bite of his meal and swallowed. "We will see to it that you get that done before dinner."
"Kay," Harry agreed releasing a sigh, the rush from earlier finally leaving. He was okay and Snape wasn't mad at all. And Snape said that the house elf was actually nice! At least he didn't have to worry about that. "Thanks, Snape."
Snape ate another bite of his meal before speaking once more. "I think that tomorrow we may need to go to Diagon Alley. I have several ingredients that I need to purchase."
Harry grinned, sitting up a bit straighter. Snape had told him about the different wizarding areas and he was really looking forward to exploring everything! Or at least looking. "When are we goin'?"
"I think we will go tomorrow morning." Snape ate another bite of his meal. "We will have to use the floo." He wanted to give the boy plenty of warning on their means of transportation. Harry had used the floo twice with him so far to travel to Hogwarts and back and the boy wasn't too fond of it.
"Nooo," Harry whined softly, lowering his hands to his lap as he looked at Snape. "I'd rather swim a million miles."
Snape frowned at the words. "You will be just fine. The more that you do it the more that you will get used to it and then it will not frighten you at all."
"I hate it," Harry huffed slightly, finally taking another bite of his meal. It made him feel sick and dizzy when they traveled by the floo, even if he never got sick.
"You just need more experience with it. One day you will likely forget why you ever even disliked it." Snape ate another bite of his meal. After swallowing he cleared his throat. "Unless of course you would rather stay home. I can find someone to come and watch you while I go."
"No," Harry quickly shook his head as he gave a small scowl at the words. "I wanna go!" He huffed as he ate several more bites of the meal.
Snape nodded as he ate the last few bites of his meal. "I am sure that it goes without saying that if we are going out tomorrow I expect good behavior while we are out."
"I'll be good," Harry nodded as he continued to eat at his own meal, soon giving the man a grin before he drank severe gulps of water.
Snape watched the child finish his meal before he stood. "Nap time."
"Snaaape." Harry rested his arms on the table, giving the man a frown. "I'm not tiiired," he whined softly as he watched Snape stand.
"Your eyes and that whine are telling me a different story," Snape said knowingly as he leaned down and tapped the table causing it to clear itself. A moment later he lifted the child from his chair, carrying him out of the kitchen. "I think that you are well past tired."
Harry gave a soft whine into Snape's shoulder as he was lifted up, his arms wrapping around the man's neck. He shifted a hand to rub at his eyes before he rested back over his shoulder.
Snape's hand moved to gently tap the boy's back. "Quite tired indeed." He started up the staircase adjusting Harry in his arms slightly.
"No I'm nooot," he muttered into the man's shirt, shaking his head slightly. "I wanna stay up, Snape."
Snape stepped onto the second floor as he shook his head. "Do you need to use the lavatory first?"
"No," Harry shook his head once more, tightening his hold slightly on Snape's neck. "I also don't needa take a nap."
"I have a feeling that once you are in your bed you will fall asleep without any trouble." Snape walked into the boy's room and over to his wardrobe. He pulled out a clean pair of sleep pants.
Harry gave a huff at the words, pulling his head back slightly as they entered his room. "You dunno," he muttered, watching at Snape took out the pajama pants.
Snape raised an eyebrow at the boy's words as he walked across the room and sat down on the bed. "I know that you will be sorry if you don't mind your cheek." Snape carefully stood the child in front of him before reaching out and undoing his jeans. He pushed them down to the floor. "Step out of these please."
Harry stepped out of the pants, though a frown remained on his face as he did so. "I'm still not sleepy."
Snape folded the jeans, placing them at the foot of the large bed before he picked up the pajama pants and leaned down, holding them out for the child to step into. "We will see how you feel once you are lying down in your warm bed."
Stepping into the pajama pants, Harry still frowned as he rested a hand on the man's shoulder. "Well... will you stay a little?"
"I will," Snape nodded as he lifted the child. He stood and then leaned over, pulling back the thick blanket and sheet on the bed before placing Harry down. "Lie down." He waved a hand causing the room to darken.
The child sighed as he laid down as instructed, turning so his body faced the man. He blinked rapidly as the room darkened, releasing a breath before yawning widely.
Snape refrained from commenting on the yawn. "Roll onto your stomach." He pulled the covers up over the child.
Harry slowly did so, tucking his head under the blankets slightly as he gave a hum. His pillow was so soft. He was sure that Snape must of done something to make him sleepy!
Snape pulled the blankets up over the boy's shoulders, tucking them in before his hand moved to gently rub the small back.
Harry fell silent, blinking as he stared against the far wall before his eyes closed. His back and shoulders relaxed as a sigh passed his lips. Sleep came far too quick for the child, nestling his cheek against his pillow.