The Effects of a Spell
CHAPTER 3
The next morning the Dumbledore's family bedroom was bathed in sunshine. Although the summer was drawing to a close the warm weather had not disappeared. Albus awoke first and sat up carefully, not wanting to wake the other inhabitants of the bed. They made a lovely picture. Severus was curled protectively around Harry and the dark-haired child had buried his face into his father's chest. Further examination reassured Albus that he was sleeping peacefully.
A tapping noise at the window alerted the headmaster to the fact that his morning post had arrived. He let the owl in and unfastened the letters from his leg. The bird pecked his hand hopefully and he fished around in his bedside locker for some owl treats. He rang for Dobby who appeared seconds later. Seeing that the others were asleep the house-elf toned down his normally exuberant manner. Albus ordered some tea to wake him up and began to read his letters.
About fifteen minutes later Albus felt the first stirrings in the bed. Severus opened his eyes and quickly shut them again at the bright sunshine. He reopened them slowly to let them adjust.
"Good morning child," his father said with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes, "Sleep well?"
Severus hmphed at him and then smiled, "Very well actually Father." he answered.
He sat up slowly, trying not to disturb his sleeping son. When Harry felt the warm 'pillow' shift however, he whimpered and pulled closer, putting his head on Severus's lap. The man smiled softly and stroked the messy raven hair.
"He seems quite content," remarked Dumbledore, "Thank goodness you added that Dreamless Sleeping Draught to his milk last night."
"Yes I was worried he wouldn't sleep properly even with the potion," mused the Potions Master, "We can discuss it all with the twins. They are supposed to be back today, aren't they?"
"About lunchtime I think," answered Albus, "They had training this morning I believe."
Just then Harry shifted again and opened his wide green eyes. He looked around blearily.
"Hello my child," Severus greeted him gently, "Did you have a nice rest?" Harry's response was to reach his arms up in a childish request to be held. Severus pulled him onto his lap and cuddled him as he rubbed the last of the sleep from his eyes with the backs of his hands and again surveyed his environment.
"Gaga." he said when he saw Albus. The old man reached over and stroked his cheek. "Hello my little one," he smiled, "What about some breakfast?" he held out his hand and the purple bell appeared once more.
Dobby took their order and in a matter of minutes was back with cereal and buttered toast. Harry reached for the bowl curiously and knocked it, spilling some cereal on the duvet. He pulled back and began to shake a little, eyes wide.
"What is he expecting to happen?" Albus wondered but aloud he said, "No harm done Fireling. Look."
He waved his wand and the mess disappeared. Harry looked up carefully.
"It's all right child," Severus soothed as he cuddled him, "Would you like some cereal?"
Harry forgot his fear at the sound of the soft voices and allowed his grandfather to feed him. After breakfast Albus and Severus washed and dressed their little one and brought him back into the bedroom. Harry was much more awake and aware than he had been the previous day. He looked around the room with innocent curiosity and spotted a shelf of toys beside the bed. He looked longingly at them.
Severus saw the look and when he had returned Harry to the bed he brought over a little tray on legs. Placing it over the child's knees he put some toys on it. There were brightly coloured blocks and a toy broom, which flew around a little when its button was pressed. Harry was delighted with this and sent it zooming around the room, almost knocking off his grandfather's glasses again.
"You should put an unbreakable charm on those Father," Severus chuckled as he sent the broomstick back to Harry. The boy clapped and laughed. Albus pushed his glasses up again and watched his little grandson.
"Well he certainly seems happy," he said, "I suppose at that stage in his life he hadn't been long with the Dursleys."
Harry started on hearing that name and dropped the broom, looking frightened.
Dumbledore mentally kicked himself both for spoiling his grandson's happy mood and for leaving him with those awful people in the first place. He sat down at Harry's side and Severus sat at the other.
"It's all right little one," he said gently stroking the soft hair. He picked up a child's book beside him and showed it to Harry.
"Why don't I read you a story hmm? Would you like that?" Harry liked the warm voice and the kind blue eyes. He wanted nothing more than to be held gently and spoken to in a loving tone. He was used to the sharp voices of his aunt and uncle. Albus read this in the child very clearly and he responded by gathering him into his arms and kissing the top of his head. Harry snuggled closer to him and put his fingers in his mouth.
This action combined with his wide innocent gaze made him look years younger. Severus felt all his protective instincts rising. He reached over and took Harry's hand earning a smile.
Albus opened the book and selected a story about a little boy who got a broom for his birthday and was learning to fly. There were lots of pictures of the boy flying around. Harry was enthralled and Albus was sharply reminded of the time his Severus was two and had studied the book with the same excitement.
Eventually Harry became tired and pushed the book away with a little whimper.
"Dada." he wailed and held up his arms to Severus.
""Come here my Childing. It's all right." Severus soothed and Albus helped him to wrap some blankets around the boy. Harry quieted when he was securely in his father's arms and felt the man rock him back and forth while humming gently. He closed his eyes and smiled in contentment before drifting into slumber.
He was still sleeping soundly when the twins arrived at lunchtime. Severus stroked his face and called to him in a singsong voice to rouse him. Harry eventually opened his eyes and looked around.
"Hello child," said Seri gently, sitting down beside them on the bed, "Will you come and sit with me so I can have a look at you?"
Harry looked into her green eyes and a memory awakened in his innocent baby's mind.
"Mama!" he cried reaching out happily to Seri who was so shocked she almost fell off the bed. Recovering herself quickly she gently took the boy into her arms.
"Could be the eyes that made him think that," Kit teased, "Or it could be the fact that you and Sevvie are so cute together."
Seri gave her sister a quick look of reproach before returning her attention to the child she held, scanning him carefully.
"Did he sleep we last night?" she asked Severus who had just given Kit his Instant Death Glare Grade 10. The dark haired woman merely smiled back unabashed.
"No actually," he answered, "He had an awful nightmare. Father and I used Occlumency to enter the dream. It concerned the Dark Lord and Lily and James."
"Oh how horrible!" exclaimed Kit and Seri clutched Harry more tightly.
"I suppose it is to be expected," she said sadly, "A memory like that is bound to leave its mark."
"Yes," said Albus, "He was clutching his scar when it was over but I think that it was merely due to remembered pain rather than any present attack from Voldemort."
"You poor baby." Kit cooed at Harry, ruffling his hair. Harry did not understand what was happening but he was overjoyed at all the new attention and he gave Kit a smile worthy of an angel. She responded by kissing him on the cheek.
"I said it before and I'll say it again. My child has some Slytherin in him," declared Severus.
Albus chuckled and didn't argue this time. He was beginning to see his son's point.
TBC
Thanks for all reviews.
CHAPTER 3
The next morning the Dumbledore's family bedroom was bathed in sunshine. Although the summer was drawing to a close the warm weather had not disappeared. Albus awoke first and sat up carefully, not wanting to wake the other inhabitants of the bed. They made a lovely picture. Severus was curled protectively around Harry and the dark-haired child had buried his face into his father's chest. Further examination reassured Albus that he was sleeping peacefully.
A tapping noise at the window alerted the headmaster to the fact that his morning post had arrived. He let the owl in and unfastened the letters from his leg. The bird pecked his hand hopefully and he fished around in his bedside locker for some owl treats. He rang for Dobby who appeared seconds later. Seeing that the others were asleep the house-elf toned down his normally exuberant manner. Albus ordered some tea to wake him up and began to read his letters.
About fifteen minutes later Albus felt the first stirrings in the bed. Severus opened his eyes and quickly shut them again at the bright sunshine. He reopened them slowly to let them adjust.
"Good morning child," his father said with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes, "Sleep well?"
Severus hmphed at him and then smiled, "Very well actually Father." he answered.
He sat up slowly, trying not to disturb his sleeping son. When Harry felt the warm 'pillow' shift however, he whimpered and pulled closer, putting his head on Severus's lap. The man smiled softly and stroked the messy raven hair.
"He seems quite content," remarked Dumbledore, "Thank goodness you added that Dreamless Sleeping Draught to his milk last night."
"Yes I was worried he wouldn't sleep properly even with the potion," mused the Potions Master, "We can discuss it all with the twins. They are supposed to be back today, aren't they?"
"About lunchtime I think," answered Albus, "They had training this morning I believe."
Just then Harry shifted again and opened his wide green eyes. He looked around blearily.
"Hello my child," Severus greeted him gently, "Did you have a nice rest?" Harry's response was to reach his arms up in a childish request to be held. Severus pulled him onto his lap and cuddled him as he rubbed the last of the sleep from his eyes with the backs of his hands and again surveyed his environment.
"Gaga." he said when he saw Albus. The old man reached over and stroked his cheek. "Hello my little one," he smiled, "What about some breakfast?" he held out his hand and the purple bell appeared once more.
Dobby took their order and in a matter of minutes was back with cereal and buttered toast. Harry reached for the bowl curiously and knocked it, spilling some cereal on the duvet. He pulled back and began to shake a little, eyes wide.
"What is he expecting to happen?" Albus wondered but aloud he said, "No harm done Fireling. Look."
He waved his wand and the mess disappeared. Harry looked up carefully.
"It's all right child," Severus soothed as he cuddled him, "Would you like some cereal?"
Harry forgot his fear at the sound of the soft voices and allowed his grandfather to feed him. After breakfast Albus and Severus washed and dressed their little one and brought him back into the bedroom. Harry was much more awake and aware than he had been the previous day. He looked around the room with innocent curiosity and spotted a shelf of toys beside the bed. He looked longingly at them.
Severus saw the look and when he had returned Harry to the bed he brought over a little tray on legs. Placing it over the child's knees he put some toys on it. There were brightly coloured blocks and a toy broom, which flew around a little when its button was pressed. Harry was delighted with this and sent it zooming around the room, almost knocking off his grandfather's glasses again.
"You should put an unbreakable charm on those Father," Severus chuckled as he sent the broomstick back to Harry. The boy clapped and laughed. Albus pushed his glasses up again and watched his little grandson.
"Well he certainly seems happy," he said, "I suppose at that stage in his life he hadn't been long with the Dursleys."
Harry started on hearing that name and dropped the broom, looking frightened.
Dumbledore mentally kicked himself both for spoiling his grandson's happy mood and for leaving him with those awful people in the first place. He sat down at Harry's side and Severus sat at the other.
"It's all right little one," he said gently stroking the soft hair. He picked up a child's book beside him and showed it to Harry.
"Why don't I read you a story hmm? Would you like that?" Harry liked the warm voice and the kind blue eyes. He wanted nothing more than to be held gently and spoken to in a loving tone. He was used to the sharp voices of his aunt and uncle. Albus read this in the child very clearly and he responded by gathering him into his arms and kissing the top of his head. Harry snuggled closer to him and put his fingers in his mouth.
This action combined with his wide innocent gaze made him look years younger. Severus felt all his protective instincts rising. He reached over and took Harry's hand earning a smile.
Albus opened the book and selected a story about a little boy who got a broom for his birthday and was learning to fly. There were lots of pictures of the boy flying around. Harry was enthralled and Albus was sharply reminded of the time his Severus was two and had studied the book with the same excitement.
Eventually Harry became tired and pushed the book away with a little whimper.
"Dada." he wailed and held up his arms to Severus.
""Come here my Childing. It's all right." Severus soothed and Albus helped him to wrap some blankets around the boy. Harry quieted when he was securely in his father's arms and felt the man rock him back and forth while humming gently. He closed his eyes and smiled in contentment before drifting into slumber.
He was still sleeping soundly when the twins arrived at lunchtime. Severus stroked his face and called to him in a singsong voice to rouse him. Harry eventually opened his eyes and looked around.
"Hello child," said Seri gently, sitting down beside them on the bed, "Will you come and sit with me so I can have a look at you?"
Harry looked into her green eyes and a memory awakened in his innocent baby's mind.
"Mama!" he cried reaching out happily to Seri who was so shocked she almost fell off the bed. Recovering herself quickly she gently took the boy into her arms.
"Could be the eyes that made him think that," Kit teased, "Or it could be the fact that you and Sevvie are so cute together."
Seri gave her sister a quick look of reproach before returning her attention to the child she held, scanning him carefully.
"Did he sleep we last night?" she asked Severus who had just given Kit his Instant Death Glare Grade 10. The dark haired woman merely smiled back unabashed.
"No actually," he answered, "He had an awful nightmare. Father and I used Occlumency to enter the dream. It concerned the Dark Lord and Lily and James."
"Oh how horrible!" exclaimed Kit and Seri clutched Harry more tightly.
"I suppose it is to be expected," she said sadly, "A memory like that is bound to leave its mark."
"Yes," said Albus, "He was clutching his scar when it was over but I think that it was merely due to remembered pain rather than any present attack from Voldemort."
"You poor baby." Kit cooed at Harry, ruffling his hair. Harry did not understand what was happening but he was overjoyed at all the new attention and he gave Kit a smile worthy of an angel. She responded by kissing him on the cheek.
"I said it before and I'll say it again. My child has some Slytherin in him," declared Severus.
Albus chuckled and didn't argue this time. He was beginning to see his son's point.
TBC
Thanks for all reviews.