~Chapter Six~
Christmas music rang through the huge house as the young boy danced through the house, wrapping presents for his father, his Uncle Lupin and Grandpa Albus. He was so excited, his father had bought him Christmas CDs for them to listen to, and would finally becoming home from the term. Lupin had been keeping him every chance he could, but now Lupin was in the kitchen, and Harry was waiting in the living room for his papa to come home.
"Harry? I'm home," the voice came from the front door, Harry hopped up and bounded towards his father, gripping him tightly around the neck. Severus chuckled and hugged the eight year old boy tightly.
"I missed you," Harry said smiling, Severus nodded.
"Hmm, me too buddy, I've missed you, have you had fun this past week with Lupin?" Harry nodded and smiled as he hugged his father yet again.
"Missed me that much have you?" Harry smiled as his father chuckled.
"Yes, did you get me anything?" Harry asked smiling as his father lifted him into his arms. Severus chuckled and looked at the boy.
"I hope you don't expect me to bring you something every time I come home." Harry smiled and leaned his head onto his father's shoulder.
"No, but it's Christmas, and I have it on the highest authority that you guys went to Hogsmeade two days ago before the end of the term." Severus smiled as he carried the boy into the kitchen.
"Really, and who might this authority be?" Severus asked, wondering who had ratted him out.
"Grandpa Albus," Severus nodded.
"Figured as much, well, I may have gotten you something, but seeing as Christmas isn't for another two days, you're not getting it yet." Severus said, placing a kiss on the child's forehead, then placed him down and leaned across Lupin's form to get a strawberry, Lupin smiled.
"If I didn't know better I'd say you spoil that child." Severus glared at Lupin.
"I prefer to call it treating him to something once in awhile." Severus said sitting down in the chair.
"Right, that's what it's called nowadays." Lupin said laughing as he placed a plate of food in front of the Professor.
"Listen, Remus, thanks for taking care of Harry this past year when you could, it's been rough at school lately, and it was nice to not always have to worry about him as well." Severus said.
"Severus, this may sound strange, but you're my friend, and for a friend it's nothing. Besides, I like to "treat that child to something special" every so often too." Severus chuckled.
"You know it's funny, fifteen years ago, I would have laughed at anyone that said I'd be friends with a werewolf, but, well now, I'm glad to have you along for the ride." Severus stated.
"Same here, by the way that little imp has been asking me about tradition at my house, I think you and he should talk, and start your own tradition, might be good for him to have something of his very own to share with you." Severus nodded, his mouth full of food.
"Okay, I can do that, so you staying for the next two days, or what?" Severus asked.
"Um, actually no, I was going to go visit my brother for a couple days in Ireland, then I was going to come back. You know let you guys have your Christmas, I'll be back the day after Christmas, give you and Harry your presents."
"You got me something?"
"Don't get a big head Severus, it wasn't anything big, and it wasn't half as expensive as what you bought Harry two days ago." Severus blushed slightly.
"Hey, hey, I can spoil him, he is my son."
"What happened to that mean man who stated 'But I'll be damned if I spoil that little brat, he's already gonna be famous'?" Severus sighed.
"Look that was before I knew him, and he is my kid I can do whatever I please thank you," Severus said, just as Remus placed a cup of coffee in front of him.
"Why don't you take a nap Severus, you looked beat, I'll take care of Harry for a little longer," Severus nodded a thanks, got up and slowly headed to his room.
"Severus, Albus is gonna be here in an hour, I'll be leaving as soon as he gets here," Remus called after him.
"Okay, have him wake me up before dinner." Remus nodded.
"You feeling okay?"
"Ahh, not really, I've had a cold coming on for months, but hey it's normal." Remus nodded but just couldn't help feel a little worried.
Harry and Remus sat at the coffee table playing Wizard chess when Dumbledore finally arrived.
"Grandpa!" Harry jumped up and hugged Albus tightly.
"Hello Harry, how are you?" the boy smiled at him.
"Great, are you staying for Christmas with us?"
"Well Christmas Eve yes, where Severus?" Dumbledore asked.
"He's taking a nap, wasn't feeling so well, so I'm watching over Harry until you get here, then I'm going to get going. He said wake him before dinner."
"All right, well, why don't you go get to your brother." Remus nodded and looked at Harry.
"I'll talk to you in a couple days okay, you be good for your pop; and have a happy Christmas pal." Remus smiled and pressed a kiss onto Harry's head, he shook Dumbledore's hand and headed to the floo. Harry waved goodbye, Dumbledore waited until Remus was gone then looked at Harry.
"Want to finish the chess?"
"You bet!" Harry said excitedly.
"Minerva will be here later tonight, she said she would join us for dinner, I thought you might like that." Dumbledore said smiling.
"Grandpa Albus, do you have traditions with your family?"
"I'm not sure I know what you mean…" the conversations continued until nearly five, Dumbledore looked at the clock when Pinky came out and smiled.
"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes Master Dumbledore sir." Dumbledore nodded thanks.
"Wanna go wake up your dad?" Harry nodded and ran towards his father's room.
"Be gentle Harry, your dad doesn't feel too great."
"Kay." Harry opened the door and looked inside, his father lay on his bed, stomach down, head turned away from him. His dark black hair sticking out everywhere, a soft snore emitting from his mouth.
"Papa." Harry whispered gently, reaching out he touched his father's face, gently tapping his dad's pale cheeks.
"Hmm, Harry?"
"Yeah, Pinky says dinner is almost ready. Do you feel better?" Harry inquired, Severus smiled gently and reached out, touching the boys head, ruffling his hair.
"Little better pal, come on let's go gets some food." Severus said slowly getting out of bed and walking with the boy to the living room. Severus was greeted by Dumbledore's large smile and happy Christmas.
"Hello Albus, where's Minerva?" He asked, knowing the Headmistress would be coming for dinner.
"She said she would be here any minute." Nodding Severus lifted Harry up and plopped him in his chair with a smile.
"Stay here for a minute Harry, I would like to speak to Grandpa Albus alone for a moment." Harry nodded and smiled watching them leave.
"What's wrong Severus?"
"Nothing really, I was just thinking maybe Harry shouldn't come back to school with me after the term, he may get sick, there's something going around, it's bad enough he's around me and I have it, I don't want him getting sick."
"I see you dilemma, however, Remus is unable to take him for at least two weeks out of a month."
"It's moments like this I really wish Andromeda was alive."
"Your sister?"
"Well, she'd be able to take Harry while I was at work, then on the weekends he could come to stay with me."
"Why don't you talk to Mrs. Weasley, she's got a son about Harry's age, or Ms. Longbottom, she's also got a son his age. Lucius scares him, so Draco is indeed out of the picture."
"I really don't want Harry around anyone like the Weasley twins, the boys are first years and they already drive me mad, and as for Percy, that boy has a head on his shoulders bigger than Europe."
"What about the other two Weasley boys?"
"They weren't so bad, Bill didn't much like me, but I admire both of them, they were very good students. Never took points from those two, no matter how much I dislike Gryffindor."
"What are you two talking about?" Came Minerva's voice, Severus and Albus turned around and smiled at the woman.
"Where Harry will go for the rest of the term." Severus stated.
"Oh why not the Weasley house hold, they've got a son Harry's age. Charming little boy, I met him once," Severus glared at both of them.
"No, anyone else… why not Lei, or Danni, they've both got kids, I mean Danni isn't married but she's got a little girl, doesn't she, and Lei, she's got a little boy."
"Lei could probably do it, Danni is really busy Severus, and she does have a daughter, but the child is only five. Lei would be a better choice, but are you sure you want Harry hanging out around a possible Ravenclaw?" Albus inquired jokingly.
"I know the child, he is a charming boy." stated Severus, causing the other two to laugh.
"That's settled then, I will speak to Lei tomorrow, see her what she says, I'm sure she'll be thrilled to speak to you."
"You sure she can handle it she's been on her own since Gideon died two weeks before Voldermort's demise." stated Minerva.
"Lei is strong, she's gotten past the death of her husband and brother-in-law. She is after all, my daughter. Now let's not keep the child waiting, he's probably starving!" Albus said causing his friends to smile.
"Minerva!" Harry cried as he dove into the older woman's arms. She smiled and wrapped her arms around him. The child was so full of love, how could anyone ever want to hurt him.
"Hello Harry, how are you child?" Minerva asked smiling.
"Good." Severus smiled as he sat down beside his son, and looked at the wonderful food in front of them.
"Papa, did you have any traditions at your house as a child?" Harry asked about half way through the meal. Severus smiled softly.
"Yes, before my mother died, we would eat three large dinners, that way we could always have friends, and family over. We'd have one the day before Christmas Eve, one on Christmas Eve and one Christmas, if you ask me, I think mum just loved to cook." Severus said smiling.
"Was she pretty?" Severus smiled again.
"Oh yes Harry, mum was the most beautiful woman in the world, lot like your mum, but she had big brown eyes."
"Are we going to do that? Have three big dinners?"
"Probably not, maybe two, but not three, unfortunately I'm not much of a cook, and neither is any one else I know," Severus smiled.
"Did you have house elves?" Severus smiled.
"Yes, while my mother was alive, dad considered them slaves, but mum taught me that they were helpers not slaves."
"Tell me about stories from school?" Minerva laughed, if Harry had a one track mind it didn't last long.
"Well there are four houses, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. A hat sorts…"
"A hat wow! That's so cool!" Harry said excitedly. The conversation went on for about twenty minutes after dinner was actually finished, until Severus noticed his son seemed to be falling asleep. Severus smiled and easily lifted the child into his arms, still believing the boy was way to light.
"Someday Severus, that won't be so easy," Minerva commented, making Severus smile.
"Yes, I know," Severus whispered looking down at the form in his arms, head rested just under Severus' chin.
"Hello son," the voice stopped him in his tracks, made him want to be sick, etched fear into his heart, a fear that hadn't been there since he was eighteen…Severus turned, standing in the entrance to the living room was his father, tall greasy looking pepper gray hair. His eyes held only anger and contempt.
"Father…." Severus could say no more, he quickly handed Harry to Minerva.
"Get out of here, and take Harry with you…I don't want him to see whatever is going to happen here." Minerva nodded, as did Dumbledore. The two left unnoticed to the older man, and with fear Severus moved towards his father.
"What are you doing here?" Severus hadn't seen his father since he was eighteen, when they had had a large fight, causing Severus to leave.
"I'm not allowed to greet my only son," the man spoke in a deep voice, even deeper than Severus'.
"No after nearly fifteen years of ignoring me, and seventeen years of beating me dad! I'd say it's a little too late to be a father!" Severus knew he shouldn't have said it, for the moment he closed his mouth a hand connected with his cheek. Severus' head turned with the harsh slap, as it burned through his face, only causing the anger to rise.
"How dare you!" The man began.
"No! How dare you, you spent seventeen years beating me senseless, you killed my mother! You killed Andi! How dare you come back, I don't know what the hell you're here for, but you can leave now, because I won't have you anywhere near me, or anyone I care about!" Severus yelled, he wasn't defenseless anymore, some little child his father could push around.
"Oh so you think you can just cast me aside, I raised you boy."
"Wrong, I raised myself, and mum helped. You were a drunken fool, with too much going for him, Voldermort is dead father! And he's not coming back! I don't have to bow down to you or him anymore!"
"You're going to regret that boy, Voldermort will be back, to kick the ass of the little child who destroyed him, and when he returns he'll destroy you too."
"I welcome him to try," stated Severus.
"Consider yourself negative a family!" Yelled the older man.
"I've had no family since mum died! Now get the hell out of my house," he yelled in a low dangerous voice, that would easily have any student running. He held his breath waiting for something, anything, finally he heard a loud snap and his father was gone. Severus let out a breath, and for the first time since he had left his father's house thirteen years ago, he collapsed into a fetal position on the floor and cried.
"Severus, child," the voice was softer, and more gentle as Severus felt himself being pulled into a tight embrace, he knew who it was, and easily allowed the comfort to come.
"You have a family child, you have Harry, and myself. Minerva loves you like a son. We all love you," Severus nodded, leaning his head on Albus' shoulder.
"Where is Harry?"
"Sleeping in Minerva's quarters on the couch, we'll bring him tomorrow if you'd like, or you can come back with me, and stay then we'll come and celebrate Christmas."
"Anything sounds better than staying here," Albus nodded, and helped Severus to his feet.
They flooed to Minerva's quarters, where Severus saw the small child on the couch, sound asleep, lying down beside him, Severus curled up himself and wrapped an arm around the boy. He gently caressed the boy's temple as he listened to his even breathing, thanking god that whether he had a real father, he had others who care about him.
"Happy Christmas Harry," he whispered.
Lady Lily3-I'm glad you are liking this story, I hope the like for it will only continue as Harry grows closer and closer
To his first year at Hogwarts, with some surprises in store along the way.
Heather Snape--Thanks' for your review, it's always nice to know people are reading your stories, and enjoying it
AthenaKitty--Yes Harry will be going until he graduates, and defeats the dark lord and possibly a few months after
That has all happened. I'm pretty much going with the books but with a twist to it, and hopefully I'll have my last
Two parts out before she has the last two books out, lol, being able to write it is a lot easier then thinking to parts
I know are huge.
Mikee--There will be a warning for Lucius, I know a lot of people are wandering what I'm going to do to him, but so
Far I have no intentions of killing him off until the very, a lot of people are going to be based around what he
Does, including Severus, Damien, Ron, and Draco, so I need him to stay alive for quite some time.
Inysa--I'm really glad you like it so far, I'm having a great time writing this, I'm almost finished with Part one, which
Is just as exciting to me as anything, so I'll be able to go on to Part two, I think I'm going to drift away from the
Books a little more come part two, just because I don't want it to be exactly like the books though.
Pip3--I have to agree Poor Harry, but I feel bad for Severus, I think my biggest thing in this story I'm trying to get across
Is the depth of each character, and how people only see one side of Severus, I read a part of book one
Late last night, the part where Snape decides to referee the Quidditch game, and I noticed that while
He did seem angry, he also seemed like he really wants to protect Harry.
Rosaleen--Thank you I'm glad you like the explanation, sometimes it's hard to come up with that kind of stuff, and
I know I tried very hard with that one, I didn't want it to be like all the others, it wouldn't be as interesting.
Dir en Grey-- Yes he whined lol
Eva McGregor--This idea has originated from about twelve different stories I've read, some have been discontinued
Others have been on hiatus for God knows how long, and others are still going strong, and each one has
It's own little twist. However, I've read at list six stories about Harry being a little kid in Severus' care, and I
Love that kind of story, because I like Sev, and I like little Harry, so I wanted to focus on that, and keep it
Different. So if it sounds familiar that would be why. Thanks for the review
Can You See--Thanks you for the review, and yes Draco is very scared of his father, as we will be finding out in later
Chapters, as well as in the last part of the series, which he does something a little unexpected. Stay tuned! J
Lacye74--Glad you're enjoying the story and I hope you keep coming back for more!