Chapter 16- HE WAS WHAT!?
Severus walks in and smiles at the sleeping form. He can't help but smile at how young Harry looks while he is sleeping. He bends over the sleeping form and kisses his forehead while saying, "Goodnight my child."
Severus walks out into his living room and is not surprised when he sees Minerva. "Can I help you?"
"Good to see you too Severus. I have some news to pass on to you from Remus. He wants to have his first counseling session tomorrow afternoon with Harry. That is the main reason that we brought Remus to the castle. We wish that Harry gets over his treatment from the Dursleys."
"So you don't feel that I can help Harry getting over his treatment from the Dursleys when I had similar issues?"
"That is not what we mean to do Severus. Remus is a certified counselor."
"I know what the boy is doing and how he is feeling from my own experience! I know what Harry is likely to do to cover and avoid others finding out about the Dursleys."
"Severus as the child's guardian you have the right to say you don't want a counselor for Harry, but your father and I think it is best for the child." Minerva says.
"I don't want the wolf near Harry."
"Severus be nice. He has a right to be with his nephew and his best friend's son."
"I don't care if Remus talks to Harry about his father and their adventures but he will NOT talk about the Dursleys with Harry."
"Very well. As the boy's guardian you have the final say regarding Harry. I will go tell Remus your decision."
Harry is bored. Severus has made him work on his school work all morning and it is nearly lunch. He is itching to fly but knows that should Severus find out he won't be sitting comfortably in the near future.
Harry stands up, he knows that Severus is in his study and he wants to ask if he can explore the castle grounds for a bit. He knocks on the study door and hears Severus call out, "Come in."
Harry enters and sees that his guardian has been working all morning just like himself. Severus looks up as Harry enters and asks, "what can I do for you Harry."
"I was wondering if I could go walks around the grounds and perhaps visit Hagrid?" Harry asks hesitantly.
Severus's first instinct was to say no but he then remembers that Harry is an active 11 year-old and he has been working on his homework all morning. "Yes. You may. But you must be back for lunch. I promise that you won't be going anywhere if you are late to lunch. "
Harry nods in agreement, "Yes sir ...Severus."
"Go on. Have fun but be back in time for lunch."
Harry immediately turns and runs out of the quarters excited to be free. He is down at the quidditch pitch in no time. He walks into the Gryffindor locker-room and walks over to the broom cupboard. He pulls out the nicest looking broom knowing that he can't use his own as that is in his guardian's quarters and he wasn't going to risk being caught flying. He quickly takes to the air. The cool air hits his face reminds him of quidditch.
Harry quickly loses track of the time and doesn't realize that he has missed lunch.
Severus is seething. He gave the child one rule one blasted rule and of course the child completely disregards it the moment he has a chance.
"Severus you need to calm down. Go down to your quarters. I will find Harry and send him down to you but you need to calm down before you deal with him." Albus says to the irate man.
"I believe I can find Harry myself thank you."
"Severus Tobias. You will go down to your quarters and wait for me to send down Harry. But you must calm down before I send him down."
Severus is immediately abashed at the tongue lashing he just received from the man. "Yes Headmaster."
Albus sighs as he hears the formal title and knows that his son is upset. "Just go Sev."
Severus turns and walks to his quarters embarrassed that his father had lectured him as if he was an unruly teen.
Meanwhile, Albus is making his way up to the Owlry thinking that the young child is visiting with his owl. He is disappointed though to find that Harry is in fact not visiting his owl. He walks over to the ledge hoping to find the boy playing with Fang or sitting by the lake. He doesn't see Harry but he then looks up and sees a figure flying over the quidditch pitch and hopes that Harry is not flying.
Albus makes his way down to the quidditch pitch and is sad to see that it is indeed Harry flying over the pitch. He knows he has to tell Severus where he found Harry but is reluctant to get the child into more trouble. He casts the sonorus on himself and says. "Harry come down here please."
Harry is shocked to hear the voice of the Headmaster and knows instantly that he is in trouble. He obeys and flies down in front of the Headmaster while looking down at the ground. Albus is sad to see that Harry refuses to look at him but he knows that it is because he knows that he is in trouble. "Child, look at me."
Harry slowly looks up at the older man with a guilty face. "Sir I.." Harry starts but falls silent when the man holds up his hand to silence him.
"We are going to go up to my office and talk for a little bit before I send you to your father." Albus says with no room for argument. Albus then proceeds to put his hand the young child's shoulder and guide him towards the castle. The journey is silent and far to quickly for Harry's liking they reach the office.
Albus sits behind his desk and motions for Harry to sit down on one of the chairs in front of the desk. Albus studies the child's position and is sad to say that Harry is refusing to look at him and is on the verge of tears. He is sad to see one fall down his cheek.
"Harry. Child. Why the tears? What is wrong?"
"He's going to send me back isn't he?"
"I'm sorry Harry I don't understand."
"Severus. He's going to send me back to the Dursleys isn't he? I can't go back to them!"
"No child he won't. You are undoubtedly going to be punished but he won't send you back."
"Yes he is. I've mucked everything up. If only I wasn't so stupid." More tears fall leaving streaks on Harry's cheeks.
"No you haven't. Yes you made a mistake and you will be punished for it but you won't be returning to the Dursleys no matter what you do."
Harry is not listening he just continues to cry. Albus stands up and walks around the desk. He picks up the under-sized child and sits down with Harry on his lap. He rubs Harry's lower back in an attempt to calm him down.
Harry eventually calms down buried in the man's robes. He looks up at the man and then looks back down. Albus says, "let's get you down to your father hmm?"
Harry whimpers when he hears this and buries himself farther into the man's robes.
"Come on Harry, everything will be alright." Albus says while nudging the child softly to the ground.
Harry stands up and waits for Albus to do the same. Albus then guides Harry over to the fireplace. At Harry's confusion he gives an explanation, "we are going to be flooing down to your chambers. Since you haven't done it before you will be going with me."
Harry just nods at the explanation and allows himself to be pulled into the flames and is surprised by the odd feeling. He hears Albus call out, "Severus's Chambers." Harry closes his eyes to avoid getting soot in his eyes.
When Harry opens his eyes he is shocked to be in front of his guardian. Albus was holding Harry to make sure he had his balance. He gently pushes Harry towards his guardian. Harry looks up scared at his guardian and awaits instructions. Severus looks down at the scared child and says, "go to your room Harry."
Even though Severus did not yell Harry's heart dropped when he heard the disappointment in the man's voice. He just looks down at the floor and walks toward his room closing the door.
"Where was my foolish son?" Severus asks turning to his father.
"He was flying at the quidditch pitch." Albus says.
"HE WAS WHAT?! HOW DARE THAT BOY BE SO FOOLISH! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON HIM I'M GOING TO…"
"Severus. Stop. Let me say something. I know you are going to punish Harry for flying and missing Lunch but don't be too hard on the child. He is terrified."
"Of course I am going to bloody well punish him he went flying when both Poppy and myself told him not to."
"Sev. He is not terrified because you are going to spank him. He thinks that he is going back to the Dursleys. His exact words were, 'He's going to send me back to the Dursleys isn't he? I can't go back to them!' He is completely terrified."
"I would never send him back."
"I know that. He has never had a consistent parental figure in his life. You are the first and he is terrified that he is going to lose you. He truly loves you Severus. Until this is permanent Harry is going to be scared until he knows that he cannot be taken or sent from you."
"I've been thinking about that. "
"I'll leave you to it then. Severus don't be too hard on the child. He is young afterall."
Severus just looks at his father unimpressed and doesn't say anything.
"Well, I'll take my leave now. Good-bye Sev." Albus says grabbing floo powder and flooing out of the quarters.
Severus sighs knowing that he is going to have to deal with the child he thinks of as a son.
An/ I am sorry that it has been so long but I hope that this long chapter makes up for it! How do you think that Harry is going to be punished? Please review I love hearing what you think is going to happen.