Well, here's the bit that just wouldn't come to me. I've finally finished it, and Lantaana has graciously betaed it. Here goes..


When he saw his son's sleeping form, Harry had to stop himself from leaving the infirmary altogether. The infirmary was empty and silent save for the humming coming form the Mediwitch's office. Killian looked miniscule in the narrow bed, his torso and arm swaddled in plaster so only his head peeked out. His prone body lay unmoving with the sleep of the drugged. That, in itself, was neither bad nor unexpected. It was the extreme paleness of the visible skin that scared Harry out of his wits. The enormous bottle of skele-gro at his bedside proved that Severus had beaten him there, by an hour at least.

"Well Mr. Potter, when were you planning on enlightening me on this development?" The Potions Master has materialized directly behind Harry, and was glowering down at him with unabashed ill humour. Suddenly shaky, Harry took a step away from the man and further into the room.

"It only just happened; I really had no chance to let you know. You weren't here during lunch, and Madame Occasia is quite good at her job." When Severus made no move to answer, Harry shifted further into the room and looked up to catch the man's eye. "You must realise I'd no intention of keeping you ignorant of this."

"I suddenly feel reassured" drawled the said man and took a step towards Harry, who backed further towards Killian's bed. "Would you like to let me know now, seeing that we're conveniently next to the young man in question?" Feeling thoroughly flustered, Harry chose to focus on anything but Severus, and so ended up looking at his son's small hand peeking out of the plaster.

"Well you see, you know how the Cannons presented Ron and me with their brooms from the last season?"

"Go on."

"I really haven't a clue on how he got his hands on it..."

"I'd think that leaving the blasted thing in your hallway was a clue."

"It wasn't in the corridor! I left it on top of the coat rack!"

"Which, Potter is in your corridor!"

"But he shouldn't be able to get up that far... It's impossible, even with chairs!"

"Oh for Merlin's sake; he's your son! Whet else did you expect!?" Harry made to answer that Killian had no Potter genes, and it was Severus he called Papa, but the man waved him off. "I can piece it together now. The boy took it out for a ride; you saw him by sheer circumstance and flew after him just in time to save him from splattering himself on the Great Lawn?" When Harry mutely nodded, Severus threw up his hands, looked up to the ceiling and muttered something about a generous helping of Potter luck.

"The damage is not as bad as it could've been..." ventured Harry only to be shot down by the other man's glare.

"I would imagine that landing on you instead of the ground would do that. The Mediwitch told me, after telling me that you're far too proficient at self healing. Why didn't you tell me?" he added in a lowered voice.

"Because it wasn't of prime importance", hissed Harry in response." Besides, I would have told you eventually."

"Don't lie to me Potter. You'd have told me about Killian, and nothing of your part in this mess. Damn it, I should have been told!"

"Why, Severus? You and I share Killian's affection and he has yours, which is enough reason for me to let you know of his state. You and I however..." Harry trailed off, still refusing to move his eye anywhere near Severus, and missed the quick flash of blankness in the man's features. When he did manage to look up at him, Severus' face was, once again, schooled into a semblance of polite iciness.

"You are indeed correct Mr. Potter. Do forgive my intrusion." With that, the man bent to touch Killian's cheek, and then left, not once looking over his shoulder.


I'm working on the next chapter, and Harry's being recalcitrant.

Other than that.... please feel free to tell me what you think.