January - Harry, age 12

Snape's eyes narrowed in on several students in his classroom, his child included. The assignment had been to quietly work on a study guide in preparation for an exam at the the end of the week. Quietly being the subjective word.

Most of his students were doing just that, however, a small handful could not manage to keep their mouths closed.

"Silence," Snape hissed fixing the group of them with a stern look. "Concentrate on your work."

Harry rested his cheek on his right hand, looking to his left where Neville sat. He was clearly struggling with the topic and the teen sat up slightly to lean over and help his friend.

They were speaking softly, Harry now resting his chin on his hand as he explained several things. His sentence was cut short by his guardian's tone and he cast a glare over to the man. "We are," he snapped towards him, lowering his gaze back down to the book.

"You are not to be working in pairs." Snape replied fixing his child with a stern glare despite the fact that the boy's head was down. "You should each be working on your own study guide. Not helping one another!"

It was only then that Harry moved from his position closer to Neville, who had his head bowed down as Snape spoke. "So we just let each other fail?" Harry muttered, looking back to his own work. Hermione hissed a soft "Harry!" in his direction, but he didn't listen. He didn't even look up at the man.

"Longbottom!" Snape thundered as he moved from his position at the front of the classroom down the aisle. "If you are having difficulty with the subject you may see me after class or later this evening. You may also ask your friends for assistance outside of my classroom." Snape stopped in front of his child's desk. "Potter!" He placed a hand on Harry's desk, drumming his fingertips loudly against the wood. "Twenty points from Gryffindor for your cheek."

Harry glared at the hand on his desk, shifting his book slightly closer to himself. He didn't have to look up at the man to know the angry look that would be glaring down at him. Still, Harry felt defiance rise within him at the words. A soft, "Tch," passed his lips as he simply flipped a page.

Snape looked down at the boy, his eyebrow raising. "Something that you wish to say?"

Harry's fingers curled slightly. He knew it was a test as well as a warning. That didn't matter. Not then. "That I wasn't being cheeky, and only spoke the truth that you didn't want to hear." His voice was soft, as to be sure that at least the whole class wouldn't hear. The child looked up then, defiance clearly written on his face as he met Snape's gaze.

Snape's expression darkened as he heard several students around them gasp softly. "You will see me immediately after class." Snape was certain that he had never been so close to threatening his child in front of his classmates.

Harry didn't respond, simply looking back down towards his work. Slowly, his shoulders slouched down as what he said fully sunk in. "Yes Sir."

"You will also keep your mouth shut until then or you will be spending the rest of this class period waiting for me in my office. Is that understood?" Snape's voice was loud and stern as he moved back up towards the front of the classroom.

It was only as Snape's voice rose that Harry glared up to the man once more as he walked away. He didn't even bother with a response, biting his tongue and releasing a slow breath.

Snape stepped to the front of the classroom, turning around to watch his students once more. His eyes moved to the clock noting that it was nearly time to dismiss his class. Before his eyes settled in on Neville once more. The child looked absolutely lost as his eyes scanned the study guide. "Longbottom!" Snape thundered causing several students to jump including Neville. "You will report to my office immediately following dinner this evening!"

Snape watched as the child noticeably gulped and then nodded in agreement.

Harry's fingers curled slightly, his eyes glancing over to Neville briefly before lowering back to his own guide. He finished writing several more answers, lowering his quill down as he looked over his own words. There was no point in getting ready to leave, and he was not going to look up at his guardian either until the class was gone.

Nearly fifteen minutes later, Snape dismissed his class. His eyes settling in on his child as the other students filed out of the room. When the door finally closed behind the last one, Snape moved to Harry's desk, standing over the boy and glaring down at him. He cleared his throat, waiting patiently for Harry to look up at him.

Slowly, the teen closed his potion book and moved it over to the side, stealing a glance up to Snape as the man towered over him. He took in a breath before slowly releasing it as looking back to the top of the table. He hated seeing the man's face so angry at him.

"I think that perhaps we should discuss your atrocious behavior in my office young man." Snape's tone was stern as he leaned down and reached out firmly tapping the small chin.

Harry shifted his head away from the tap, standing without a word towards Snape. He couldn't bring himself to look at the man again, he simply picked up his book and satchel before standing. He took in another breath, willing his emotions to remain at bay as he moved across the class and towards Snape's office.

Snape forced himself to resist the urge to land a stinging swat to the trouser clad backside as he followed the boy towards his office. "I have not seen you behave so poorly in my classroom in years young man." Snape could not help but his angry tone.

"You were the one getting angry for no reason." Harry simply hissed his own response, placing his bag on the ground next to the chair. He folded his arms defiantly, turning to glare at the man.

"Did I tell the class to work quietly?" Snape questioned sternly as he leaned down putting his face much closer to his child's.

The child rested his hands against the arm of the chair, staring up at Snape. "And we were. Whispering is still being quiet."

"Do not act as if you do not know what my words meant." Snape reached out and tapped the boy's chin firmly despite the fact that he was already looking at him. "The rest of your class could follow my simple instruction and keep their mouths closed. You and Longbottom however, somehow found that too difficult."

"You still over reacted." Harry shifted his head away from the tap, his arms folding over his chest. "I was quietly helping him. You scare him enough."

"Forgive me Harry, I was unaware that you are a Professor of Hogwarts and that it is your job to help Longbottom during class when you should be concentrating on your own work." Snape reached out and took the child by the hand before walking to the chair in front of his desk. The man sat down, gently yet firmly pulling Harry to stand in front of him.

"It's not like he was going to just ask you for help and I never even made it seem like I'm a Professor." Harry felt himself tense as he was pulled to the man. "I was just helping him. You could of gone about calling us out all differently if you really had to."

Snape raised a stern eyebrow as he reached around the child landing a swat to his rear end. "Watch your cheek young man!" Snape snapped. "How dare you stand here and attempt to tell me how to handle my classroom!"

Harry took in a sharp intake of breath, taking a half step away from the man at the smack. "You don't have to yell," he replied, a hand reaching back to rub at his bottom.

"You'll be lucky if I don't bend you over my desk and take a ruler to that cheeky backside of yours." Snape reached out pinching Harry's school robe between his thumb and pointer finger, pulling the child back towards him. "I sincerely hope that you do not behave for your other Professors they way in which you did for me today."

Harry shook his head at the words, blinking. "I was just trying to help! You really didn't have to get all angry like that," he muttered, arms once more folding over his chest. To him, he was completely in the right! A blind man could tell Neville was terrified of his guardian, and he had only been whispering!

Snape's eyes narrowed on the child. "You are dangerously close to having that backside of yours warmed little boy." Snape reached around the child tapping his rear end firmly. "I asked you to remain silent in class and you refused to listen. That is the end of it."

Harry opened his mouth to say more before he closed it a second later. His stubborn gaze fell to Snape's knee. He shifted uncomfortable at his slightly stinging bum."Mmn." He raised a hand, rubbing at his eyes before lowering it back down, blinking several times. "You don't have to be so mean in class," the child finally muttered.

Snape raised an eyebrow as he leaned forward, his hands resting on his knees. "I do not believe that I was mean to you until you refused to listen and then answered with cheek when I told you to stop."

Harry once more looked ready to say something to the man before he simply released a loud huff of breath. His shoulders slouched down as he looked downward to his trainers. "Sorry." His tone was short, clearly still aggravated from the whole situation.

"You sound far from sorry." Snape reached out and tapped the boy's chin. "If you are able to speak calmly and without your cheek, I will listen to your frustrations."

"I've told you." Harry raised his eyes up, looking much more exhausted than defiant. "Neville is scared to even be around you, Dad." He frowned at the words. "I was just helping him know where to find the answers, and I was trying to be quiet about it."

Snape nodded at the words. "You do not think it would be beneficial to him to learn how to ask me for help when it is needed?"

"Yeah but..." Harry shook his head slightly. "I just dunno if he will. No one believes me when I tell them you aren't really that bad. I mean now Ron and Hermione know a little. But, even last year they weren't sure."

"It is quite important that he, as well as any other student, learns to stand up and speak for themselves. Regardless of how well you may do in my class Harry, I am the Professor, not you." Snape tapped the small chin once more.

"I never said I was, or try to be." Harry released a hard breath, shaking his head once more. "I was helping a friend. That's all."

Snape nodded once more. "Which is absolutely fine on your own time. Not when you are in my classroom and I have asked the class to work in silence." The man sat up straight once more. "Why do you think I told Longbottom to come see me after dinner this evening?"

"To help?" Harry tested softly, as if he was unsure of the reasoning. His defiance from earlier continued to slip, blinking tiredly as he raised a hand to rub under his glasses.

"Precisely." Snape gave his child a serious look. "I was more than aware, long before your impromptu tutoring session, that Longbottom needs extra assistance."

The child lowered his gaze down towards Snape's knees, a muttered, "Sorry," passing his lips once more.

Snape hummed softly at the apology. "What are we to do about your misbehavior in class? Perhaps you need a discussion with the wooden spoon as a reminder to listen?" Snape reached out and tapped the child's chin.

Harry shook his head, moving back a step as he swallowed. "Don't," he whispered, keeping his gaze down despite the tap on his chin.

Snape reached out and tapped the small chin once more, a bit more firmly. "Perhaps we need to bend you over my desk for a dose of the ruler?"

"No!" His head rose at the words, studying Snape's face as he took in a sharp breath. "No."

Snape raised a stern eyebrow as he reached around the child landing a hard swat to his trouser clad backside. "You may also see me in my classroom after dinner where you will be scrubbing cauldrons for an hour."

The child jumped slightly at the swat, his chin quivering just slightly as he nodded. A soft, "Yes Sir," passed as he lowered his gaze once more to the floor.

"Perhaps your presence while I am working with Longbottom will help the boy refrain from fearing that I am about to chop him up for ingredients?" Snape leaned forward and down in an attempt to see his child's face.

At those words, a small smile twitched at the child's lips. He looked up at Snape then, the grin remaining. "Maybe."

"In the future you will refrain from speaking to me in a cheeky tone in my classroom." Snape gave the boy a serious look.

"I won't." Harry shook his head as he spoke, releasing a soft sigh. "Promise, Snape."

Snape nodded. "You should be aware that I expect a perfect grade on your exam if you are spending your study time to attempt to teach other students."

"Fine." It was a challenging tone, though his grin remained. He would do amazing on the exam, just to prove his own point to the man.

"Fine," Snape repeated the word with a nod. "Anything less than perfection will land you on restriction."

Harry gave a nod, raising his chin slightly with a small huff. "I'll rival even Hermione's then." His arms folded, nodding once more at his own challenge.

Snape gave an approving nod at the words. "That would be more than acceptable." The man leaned back in his chair slightly. "Now tell me Harry, why is it that Longbottom is so terrified of me?"

Harry shifted, forcing a small grin at the question. "You're not exactly the nicest Professor I guess."

"It is not my job to be nice. However, I do not recall ever being particularly mean to Longbottom. I am sure he would disagree though I only call on him so often to see if he is grasping the material." Snape leaned back further in his chair, eyeing his child carefully.

"You... snap, more than just call on him." He eyed the man in return, swallowing. Snape had already told him not to tell him how to teach, but he couldn't help but feel he was doing so right then.

"There are times when he is not trying. When he is not paying attention. I am not going to coddle him or any other student Harry. I have snapped at others just the same, even you," Snape could hardly help but defend himself.

"Yeah well, I grew up with you." He shrugged a shoulder, smiling more. "Not everyone is the same, dad."

Snape hummed softly at the words. "Do you have homework from Transfiguration or Charms this evening?"

"A little Charms." Harry rested back against the man's desk, looking down at the top of it. "Not too much."

"You should finish it before dinner as you are serving detention after," Snape reminded the child.

The child's smile faded, his shoulders slouching slightly. "Okay," he muttered softly, pushing himself away from the desk as moving away from standing in front of his guardian.

"If you want to sulk over your punishment you can certainly fetch the ruler out of my top desk drawer and skip detention this evening." Snape stood from his chair as he looked over at the boy with a raised eyebrow.

"No." Harry turned as he heard Snape stand, shaking his head rapidly. "No, it's fine," he quickly stated, releasing a slow breath as he picked up his school satchel.

"As I thought it might be." Snape moved around his desk, sitting down behind it. "Are you planning on doing your homework here or are you going up to your dormitory?"

"Can I down here?" He visibly relaxed as Snape sat down once more, running his fingers over the strap of his book bag. "It shouldn't take too long."

"You may." Snape pulled a stack of exams that needed grading towards him. "Your classes are going well I take it?"

Harry smiled at the words, moving to sit in the chair across from the man and scooting abit closed to the desk. "Yeah. I mean... Defense is pretty dumb right now," he muttered, rolling his eyes at the thought of Lockhart.

"Regardless of your feelings towards it I still expect a good grade." Snape picked up a red quill as his eyes began moving over the first exam.

Harry raised a hand, rubbing at his eyes with just a soft sound before lowering it back down and adjusting his glasses. Reaching, he opened up his book bag and removed his Charms book. He turned on the chair, folding his legs over one arm of it while he rested the book up against his legs. A large yawn passed the child's lips as he opened the book.

Snape's eyes drifted up to the child as he yawned. "How late were you up last night?"

Harry gave a soft hum, resting the side of his head on the back of the chair as he looked at his book. "I just didn't sleep well," he muttered softly, chewing on the inside of his lip as he kept his gaze to the book. He was sure Snape would think he was mental about the voice, or not even believe him.

Snape's eyes remained on the child as he spoke once more. "Why didn't you sleep well? What caused that?" Over the years he had learned to read the child like a book. The chewing on his lip, the muttering, were signs that this was more than just being unable to sleep.

"I just woke up a few times. Guess was just some dreams." He released a sigh, his shoulders relaxing. "And it was too late to come down to you about it," Harry offered, looking over to Snape.

Snape raised an eyebrow at the words. "You are sure it was just that?"

At the question, Harry extended his legs out slightly so his book lowered down. He closed his eyes, resting his head back against the chair. Snape always knew. Even if he told the man yes, he wouldn't believe him and he had barely gotten around getting punished. Lying would only seal further punishment and it would not be school related. "I mean... doesn't really matter anyway."

Snape set his quill down. "If something kept you up half the night it absolutely does matter." His fingers tapped gently against his desk. "Come now Harry. What is it?"

Harry ignored the tapping on the desk, closing his book and placing down on the top of his satchel carefully. "I don't even know what it is though." He spoke softly, resting his arms over his stomach as he shrugged a shoulder.

"You do not know what what is exactly?" Snape crooked a finger at the child before pushing his chair back from his desk slightly.

At the sound of Snape's chair moving, Harry looked back to the man to notice the motion for him to move. With a sigh, the child unfolded from his position and stood. Slowly, he moved around the desk to stand in front of the man, once more shrugging.

"I just thought I heard someone talking last night, it was like an echo. But I must have just been tired is all," he quickly explained, his arms folding around his middle.

As Harry spoke, Snape cleared a space on his desk, moving papers out of the way. His hands hooked under the child's armpits before he lifted him and set him down in front of him. "What did you hear this person saying?"

"It was too far away. Sounded really... I don't know. It didn't sound normal." Harry shook his head as Snape lifted him on the desk, his hands resting on his legs.

"What do you mean it did not sound normal?" Snape questioned as his hands rested on each side of the boy's legs. "Did it not sound human?"

Harry gave a small grimace as he thought back. No, it really didn't not like any human he had heard at least. He finally shook his head at the question, looking up to his guardian. "Unless they were really sick."

Snape was quiet as he thought these words over. "Was last night the first time you heard this voice?" He locked eyes with the child.

Harry met Snape's gaze, studying his guardian for a moment before he broke the look. "I mean... like that, yeah. I've heard something when walking to classes, but I just thought it was castle making some noises."

"It was not a voice that you heard before?" Snape's hand moved to gently tap the boys knee.

"It didn't really talk before. But it all sounded the same. I don't know!" The child gave a frustrated sound, bowing his head down into his hands. He knew he'd sound crazy! "It's all just nothing."

"It is not nothing." Snape's fingertips tapped the knee once more. "If it is bothering you it is far from nothing."

"It sounds mental," Harry whispered down into his hands, shifting his legs slightly. "Maybe I'm just imagining it."

Snape's hand moved to tap the boys chin gently. "Do you think that you are imagining it?"

Harry's hands lowered down to rest on his lap, glancing up at Snape at the tap on his chin. He slowly shook his head no, sighing softly.

"I did not think so." Snape's voice was soft before he sighed. "You are sleeping down in our quarters tonight."

The child took in a breath, ready to argue against the idea before he sighed heavily. He was going to be down here anyway. "Alright." He bowed his head down, slowly moving a leg back and forth.

"If you hear anything tonight, regardless of the time, I expect to be woken up. Are we clear?" Snape tapped the boys knee once more.

Harry slowly nodded, sighing once more. "I will," he assured softly, looking up to the man.

Snape nodded as he leaned forward, putting his own face much closer to his child's. "Do not feel childish for doing so. If it is bothering you and causing you to lose sleep than it is not nothing."

Once more, Harry nodded with a soft, "Okay." Snape knew him too well, the man knew he was going to feel childish waking him up at night. Over something that he couldn't even explain!

Snape gave another nod as he once more reached out and hooked his hands under the boys armpits, lifting him and setting him back on the ground. "You grow any more and I won't be able to do that any longer," Snape mused softly.

The child smiled at the words, moving forward and wrapping his arms tightly around Snape's neck. He hid another yawn into his arm before he gave a soft hum. "So you don't think I'm crazy?"

"I do not think that you are crazy," Snape confirmed softly as his hand moved to gently rub Harry's back. "You know better than that."

Harry perched his chin on Snape's shoulder, eyes closing. "I know," he muttered softly, nodding as he spoke.

"You are going to bed right after your detention." Snape's hand tapped the small of Harry's back gently was he spoke before moving back up it once more. "I do not want to hear one word of argument about it."

"That'd be so early though." He pulled away slightly, a hint of a whine entering his tone as he stared at the man. "I'll be fine, really."

"One early night will not kill you." Snape gave the boy a firm look. "You will be thankful tomorrow for a good night's rest."

Harry's shoulders slouched at the words, a sigh passing his lips as he looked down towards Snape's knees. "Fine," Harry muttered once more. There was no sense in arguing, not right then at least.

"I hardly think making you go to bed early qualifies as abuse." Snape tapped the boys back softly.

"I didn't say that." Harry leaned back into the man's chest, resting his cheek back down on Snape's shoulder. "I just don't think I need to."

Snape hummed softly at the words. "We will see how you are after your detention then. How is that?"

"Okay," Harry agreed, pulling away and leaning against the desk. "That's a better deal, thanks dad."

Snape hummed once more as he reached out and tapped the small chin. "Go finish your homework so that we may go to The Great Hall for dinner please."

Harry moved back around the desk, going back to the chair. Sitting back down, he picked up his book once more while laying across the seat.

Snape turned back to his desk, pulling the pile of papers that needed grading back towards him. He picked up his red quill once more, setting back to work with a small sigh.


Snape looked up from his book as he heard the noise from down the hall. Having sent Harry to bed shortly after his detention, the child had been asleep for nearly four hours now. The man stood, moving down the hallway at a quick pace. Pausing outside of Harry's bedroom door to listen more carefully. If he wasn't awake he certainly did not want to wake him.

Harry's breath caught in his throat as he walked slowly within his room, frowning as he hit a few spots on the floor that creaked under his feet. He froze in his spot, taking in a breath before he walked once more. He stared up to the ceiling, listening to the hissing sound coming from above him- at times it sounded like even a growl.

Snape pushed the bedroom door open, his eyebrow raising as he saw his child slowly walking around the room. "What are you doing?"

"I hear it." Harry paused at the far wall, resting a hand on the stone as his gaze followed down the wall and towards the floor. The child visibly paled as he took in a breath. Whatever it was, finally spoke in a terrifying tone. A soft word, Harry wasn't even too sure if he heard it properly. "It... said 'kill'... that's all it said."

"You can still hear it now?" Snape's tone was soft as he stepped into the bedroom. He moved over towards Harry, an eyebrow raised.

The child nodded, staring across the room towards the floor. "It's further away now." He glanced up to Snape as the man approached, worry instantly covering his face. "You didn't hear it? It was so clear!"

Snape was silent for a long moment as he listened carefully. A frown took over his lips as he shook his head. "I did not hear anything."

Panic started to set in within the child's mind, looking around the walls as he took in a breath. "But it was so clear!" He pressed once more, moving past the man and towards the far side of the room where the voice had faded. "I swear!"

"I believe you," Snape assured the child softly as he followed Harry across the room, listening carefully.

"How can you? You didn't hear it!" Harry released a breath, looking down to the floor. "It was above... then it went down the wall and under the floor."

"I believe you because I trust you." Snape's tone was calm as he stepped closer to the wall, placing his ear against it.

"You don't hear anything?" Harry looked to the wall. In the distance he could still make out a low rumble before it disappeared completely. His shoulders slouched down. "It's gone."

Snape shook his head as he moved away from the wall. "I did not hear anything." He reached a hand out placing it on Harry's forehead as if checking for a fever.

The child moved his head away at the touch, shaking it. "You don't believe me!" Harry folded his arms around himself as he moved across the room back towards his bed.

Snape sighed softly as he moved towards the boys bed, looking down at him. "I do believe you Harry."

Harry shook his head, sitting down and pulling his legs up to his chest. His arms wrapped tightly around his knees, resting his forehead down within them. Tears of frustration burned at his eyes as he stared down into the cloth of his pajama pants, closing them tightly soon after. "No one else can hear it," Harry whispered softly, taking in a slow breath before releasing it.

Snape sat down on the edge of the bed, his hand reaching out to gently touch Harry's arm. "I believe you. I apologize for making you feel as though I did not. I had to be certain though."

"I would tell you if I felt sick," Harry snapped, shifting away slightly as he tightened his arms around his legs. He sniffed, raising his head just enough to allow a hand to rub at his wanted nothing more than to believe that Snape believed him- but he simply couldn't! How could he?

"I do not doubt that you would." Snape pulled his hand back towards himself, a look of hurt taking over his features. "I said I believe you. I also believe that I apologized for making you feel as though I did not."

Harry's breath hitched, raising his head slowly to rest his chin upon his knees as he stared down towards the floor. "Sorry," Harry whispered softly, blinking several times.

"It is okay." Snape moved a bit closer to the child, his hand reaching out to rest on top of his foot. "I can certainly understand why you are frustrated."

His gaze shifted to the hand on his foot before glancing over to the side and resting his cheek down. "I sound crazy."

"You do not sound crazy." Snape shook his head. "I only wish I understood better."

Harry tightened his hold slightly once more, tucking his head into his arm. "I don't even understand." His left hand raised, rubbing at his cheeks once more.

"I would like to speak to Albus about this. He may have some insight as to what you could be hearing and why." Snape's fingers gently tapped the boys foot. "There must be some answer to this."

Slowly, Harry moved closer to the man and leaned against his guardian's arm. His cheek shifted to rest against Snape's shoulder, one arm unfolding to wrap against Snape's. "I don't like this."

"I am not particularly fond of it either," Snape replied softly. His hand moved to rest on his child's knee. "However, we will figure it out."

Harry's hold tightened around Snape's arm slightly, closing his eyes. "What if Dumbledore doesn't know?"

"Then I will find someone who will know. Though I would be surprised if Albus does not have some idea of what it could be." Snape wrapped an arm around the child pulling him a bit closer to his side.

Harry lowered his legs back down, his arms soon shifting to wrap around Snape's middle tightly. "I'm not tired anymore," he spoke softly, closing his eyes.

Snape sighed softly as he glanced over at the clock. "It is near midnight. You should get back to sleep. You will be miserable tomorrow." His tone was soft.

The child only shook his head against Snape's arm. "I don't want to go to bed right now. I just can't."

Snape was silent for a moment before the hand that was wrapped around the child gently tapped his side. "Perhaps you should bring your pillow and blanket and come lie on the couch?"

Harry fell silent as well, curling closer against the man. "I don't want to hear it again," he muttered softly, sparing a glance over to his pillow.

"I will stay with you." Snape's hand tapped the boys side once more. "Come now, get your pillow. I will get your blanket for you."

Harry sighed softly, pushing himself away and standing from his spot. He moved and grabbed his pillow, holding it to his chest as he glanced around the room for a moment.

Snape stood, pulling the blanket from the bed and draping it over his arm. "You will be okay Harry. If you hear it again, let me know immediately." Snape placed a gentle hand on the boys back leading him towards the door. "We will speak with Albus first thing tomorrow."

Allowing himself to be lead out, Harry rubbed his thumb slowly over the case of his pillow. "Okay," he whispered softly, stepping over to the couch as the pair entered the parlor once more.

"I am sure that there is a perfectly logical explanation for all of this." Snape led the boy down the hall towards the parlor. "We will figure it all out."

Once they entered the room, Harry placed his pillow at the end of the couch and sighed once more. "Sure," he whispered, sitting down.

"Just calm down." Snape placed the blanket at the end of the couch. "Perhaps some warm milk?"

Harry gave a nod at the words, staring towards the fireplace. "And some honey?" The request was soft, just above a whisper as he looked back towards Snape.

Snape nodded as he leaned down and tapped the table causing the boys request to appear. The man moved around the table, sitting down next to his child. "Just try and relax. You are fine. It will all be fine."

A small smile graced the child's lips as he leaned forward and picked up the slightly warm cup. He leaned back against Snape's side, pulling his legs up onto the couch.

Snape wrapped an arm around the child as he leaned back against the couch. "Perhaps we should talk about something else? Get your mind off of it."

Harry took a small sip of the milk, sighing as he slowly nodded. "Yeah." He stared down to the liquid, swirling it before taking another sip.

"Is there anything that you would like to discuss?" Snape's finger gently rubbed against the boys elbow.

Harry continued to take several small sips before he spoke softly. "Not really. I just keep thinking maybe I really am crazy."

"You are not." Snape's fingers tapped against the elbow. "You are far from it actually."

"If you say so." Harry took a longer sip before leaning and placing the cup down. His head shifted back, resting against Snape's shoulder.

"I do," Snape nodded, tapping the small elbow once more. "I would know, I did raise you. Did I not?"

"I mean... yeah." Harry sighed, raising his hand to rub at his face before a large yawn passed his lips. "Doesn't mean that can't change."

"You are not crazy Harry. You are remarkable and a bit cheeky at times but far from crazy." Snape's head shifted, his chin resting on top of the boys head.

Harry's own head shifted slightly, tucking closer to Snape's chest as he only offered a shrug at the words. "I'm just sayin'... what if Dumbledore doesn't have an answer?"

"As I already said, if he does not we will find someone who does. There are several people who have been in this castle for quite a number of years. I am sure that someone will know something." Snape's thumb rubbed the child's elbow. "I thought that we had decided to discuss something else?"

A small grin crossed Harry's lips at that as he shrugged a shoulder. "I told you it was all I could think about."

Snape hummed softly. "I have to travel in the near future, over a weekend, for some ingredients. If you like, perhaps you could join me."

"Like I would say no," Harry huffed softly, a yawn escaping once more before he rubbed his cheek against the man's front.

Snape's free hand reached over and grabbed the blanket, pulling it over the child as well as himself. He leaned a bit further back on the couch, bringing Harry with him before he waved a hand causing the lights to dim a considerable amount. "I have to go to Switzerland. We would be there overnight."

As Snape moved, Harry's arms wrapped loosely around his guardian's middle. His head rested on Snape's chest, giving a soft hum as the blanket draped over him. "I want to go."

"You may join me." Snape's eyes closed as he gave a soft hum. "As long as you remember to behave and follow the rules while we are gone."

"I will," Harry whispered softly, shifting so his chin was tucked under the covers. "I love you," Harry whispered, yawning once more.

Snape's eyes opened before he moved his head, placing a kiss on the side of the boys head. "I love you very much." His tone was soft as he laid his head back, his eyes closing once more.