Harry's POV
I swallow as I hear Sev stomp up the stairs, looking nervously after Sirius, whom is just disappearing through the door to an adjoining room. But I know I have to do this on my own. I was the one who messed up; I am the one who has to fix it. Yet, as the door is thrown wide open, I can't help but wince.
To say Sev looks pissed would be a true understatement. His black eyes are blazing, and his knuckles have whitened. Slowly, he raises one arm and beckons for me to approach him. I obey, not wanting to test his patience even more. Because this Sev is more like my teacher and less like the man I consider my dad. Another proof he is both. I stop before him, nervously looking into his eyes. His eyes blaze at me, but then he surprises me by hugging me tightly to him.
"Oh Harry," he mumbles into my hair. "I can't believe how completely stupid you are sometimes. To believe I would stop loving you just because you gave me back my son!"
He puts enough space between us to glare at me.
"Use your brain" he suggests, "Have I not told you over and over again I love you? I understand that this is new to you, but…"
I blush.
"Talk to me damn it!" he almost snarls. "Don't go off like that. Do you know how worried I was?"
I look onto the floor, ashamed. Now afterwards, it was not very hard to see the faults in what I did. He had told me he loved me; he had assured me he wouldn't leave me. Yet, I didn't see.
Sev sighs and gently puts a finger under my chin, lifting my face so I am looking into his eyes.
"…Talk to me" he says almost pleadingly. "Let me help you adjust to a family. Don't do what you did ever again. Please?"
It is almost comical how strangled he sounds when he chokes out that last word. Severus Snape never says 'please'. But the severity of the moment just puts a weight behind the word and I can't help but see the desperation behind it.
"I won't," I silently promise him, looking squarely at him. "Sirius was kind enough to spell out the mistakes I did."
Sev rolls his eyes, clearly relieved by my promise. Then he hugs me tightly again before stepping back.
"Let's go," he softly says. "I think it's time for you to know what Sirius and I have planned. Besides, I'm sure he wants to make sure I haven't ripped you into pieces."
I growl a little. Here I have hoped they had put their differences behind them, but Sev just proved me wrong.
"You're such babies," I mutter under my breath.
Sev raise his eyebrows, but doesn't say anything as we continue walking. And I'm not sure about what to expect.
Sirius' POV
I've hated Severus for as long as I can remember. Sure, in the beginning, it was just petty dislike of a fellow student, but when he betrayed my parents, it became personal. Our quarrels and duels have gone to history at Hogwarts. But we never stopped to see the persons inside. Not that I wanted to, Severus is a slimy git after all, but we didn't consider why we did what we did.
Then we didn't see each other for a long time. Twelve years to be exact. And by then, Harry had come into my life. As the son of my best friends and my godson, he means more to me than the world. He's the only one left after Lily and James and the boy whom I babysat countless times when he was younger. I love him dearly.
Severus at that time was still free and he hated me still. But that was all right, I detested him too. The thing that was not all right was that he hated Harry. However, there was nothing I could do about that as I was, am, a fugitive. Even though I wanted to take care of Harry I couldn't. And I blamed Severus.
I lived at the run, only getting to meet the boy I loved at rare occasions, having to be satisfied with letters. And then, the Triwizard tournament came, and everything changed. Harry changed, Voldemort changed and Dumbledore changed us. For the first time, I shook hands with my enemy. Then Dumbledore dragged us both off to his office to get us to leave explanations to each other.
I never knew he was my cousin. I never knew he had to grow up the way he did because of the fact that we lived under the Fidelius charm. But it certainly explained why Dumbledore forced us to live together after my parents' deaths in 7th year. And while it didn't make me love him, it made me understand he had his reasons, and we reached some sort of tentative understanding.
But that shattered when I heard that Harry had gone off to live with him for the summer. And when he told me he considered him a dad, it hurt. It hurt so much. But I understood. Severus was there, I wasn't. While Harry loved me, I couldn't be a 'dad' as I couldn't be with him. My hatred blossomed.
Then Remus and Severus ganged together. Now that's a sight I do not want to see again. Anyway, they practically beat it into my brain that Harry loved me that he didn't love Severus more, that he did consider me a father's figure, and that while Severus and Harry shared things I can't understand, Harry and I do the same. And then Severus declared that he would help me catch Peter, for 'Harry's sake'. I hate that man!
Anyway, I did understand, and the speech I gave Harry is actually a rip off from the one I got from the 'inquisitors from hell'. I'm beginning to see what he meant about Harry and me sharing things they didn't. We do the same mistakes.
I left them upstairs to talk things out. I don't like the fact that I can't take part, but I can't. I did my thing before when I had my talk with him. So instead, I chat with Donal downstairs, marvelling over the fact that I've known him for years and never suspected he was Severus' son. Because I've spent considerably much time at Arabella Figg's house, one of my main hiding places. It feels strange to realize I have another relative so suddenly.
"How come you never told me?" I ask after having spent a few minutes discussing old memories.
Donal shrugs and gives me an infuriating smile.
"You never asked" he says and grins. "Besides, I had no idea you know my father."
I grimace.
"We aren't exactly the best of friends, you know" I reply. "I don't think he'll approve of us being friends. Or the hair thing."
Donal chuckles and flips his long, black hair over his shoulder, imitating a gesture I use to make all the time. His hair is only an inch longer than mine, so it looks very accurate.
"It's my hair," he says, smirking. "I can do whatever I want with it."
I just shake my head.
"Yes" I agree "but somehow, I don't think he'll like the fact that you copied my hairstyle."
A growl is heard from behind me, and I turn to see Severus and Harry behind me, the latter smirking, the former glaring. Harry walks up to me and hugs me.
"Thank you" he whispers.
I smile at that. The soft words sooth my pain and let me feel happy again.
"You're welcome" I whisper back, and then speak aloud. "So Severus. Don't you like that I know your son?"
Severus continues to glower at me and Remus and Harry collectively sigh while Donal looks faintly amused. But as much as I love annoying Severus, we have other things to discuss.
"Let's cut to the chase" I comment and invite Harry to sit in the couch with me. "As we're all here, we may as well have that talk."
Harry bounces onto the couch next to me, sprawling out in a position looking very uncomfortable.
"What talk?" he asks as Severus tries to decide if to sit next to him or in the armchair across the room, as far away from me as possible.
Harry makes the choice for him though, tugging sharply at his shirt, sending him down onto the couch in a highly undignified way. Then he winks at me, making me chuckle slightly before answering the question.
"Severus and I made a deal," I explain. "For your sake, we will tolerate each other. He will also help me prove myself innocent. Besides that, I'm going to stay with you and him on the holidays."
That last thing, we had not agreed on though. Harry doesn't know that though, and the matter is quickly settled as he throws himself around Severus' neck, hugging him tightly.
"Thank you, Sev!" he says.
Severus awkwardly hugs him back while glowering at me. He has become as Harry-whipped as I, there's no way he'll deny it now. And as I see the Boy Who Lived's smug look as he settles down between Severus and me again, I start to suspect that Harry caught my bluff and skilfully manipulated his new won father's figure into submission. That boy is dangerous. Sometimes, I'm truly surprised he didn't end up in Slytherin.
Remus and Donal seem to have caught up too, because they look highly entertained.
"You know you were just elegantly manipulated, right father?" Donal chuckles.
Severus lightly smacks Harry and fake glares at him.
"No!" he sarcastically says. "Naughty, naughty Harry."
Sev's POV
And now he's manipulating me. Gee, isn't it fun to experience fatherhood? Jokes aside, I'm overjoyed to have found Harry well and safe, and to have talked through the matter of his disappearance with him. I love the boy, and I won't stand for him getting hurt. Even if it means I'll have to put up with Sirius every holiday.
I'm worried about what will happen when the summer holiday is over though. When I will be under the direct eye of Voldemort again and Sirius will be on the run again. Then we will not be able to be together as much as now and I will have to act nasty again. If only I can be sure on how that will affect our relationship. My doubts are probably foolish, but I can't help having them. Besides, I wonder what Granger and Weasley will say about Harry and me being family.
If someone were to take a picture of us now, I doubt that anyone will see anything but a big, happy family. Harry, Sirius and I sit in the couch with Harry in the middle, smiling brightly due to the light atmosphere created by Harry's little trick. Remus sits in an armchair opposite of Sirius, looking pleased with a twinkle in his eyes I haven't seen in quite a while. And opposite of me, my lost son Donal sits, gazing at Harry and grinning. Somehow, I think they'll be good friends.
It has been a good evening tonight. And even if it will not last forever, it will be a memory to hold on to. A memory to bring hope and happiness to our minds and hearts. Because tonight, there are no hostility, not even between Sirius and me.
Then suddenly, a loud pop is heard from the open fire, startling us all. Sirius is actually already on his feet, wand pointing at the open fire. But instead of a deatheater or something like that, a small furry whirlwind has cuddled itself against Harry, making small, satisfied noises. Honey found her master.
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