Heartless

Chapter three - what would you give?

Severus did indeed come down after dinner, he was strangely delighted to see Elena and made a fuss of her, he even fed her. Harry watched them interact with amazement, who would have thought Severus Snape a family man? He must make a very good husband Harry thought to himself. Then speaking without thinking he asked: "Are you married Sir?"

Severus looked over at him questioningly, and then to Harry's relief he smiled. "Yes, to a man called Clayton, he works in France for their ministry and comes back to England over the holidays or I go to him."

"Do you have any children?" Then Harry realised he was asking a lot of personal questions, most of which were not appropriate in their teacher-student relationship. "I'm sorry, I never should have asked."

"It is quite alright Harry, yes, we have one girl, she attends Beauxbaton, the French Wizarding School, I believe she is in her final year, much like you." Then after a moment Severus continued. "Now we have some work to be getting along with."

He handed Elena back to Harry who took her in his arms greeting her with a smile. "Will it be dangerous if she stays in the room with us?"

"I very much doubt it, we will not be practicing tonight, the only thing this little beauty will endanger is our concentration." Harry laughed and put Elena in a small chair that propped her up so she could see what was going on around her.

"What do you need me to do?" Harry asked, he was wearing black drawstring pants and a baggy white t-shirt but Severus was adorned in his heavy teaching robes and it took a while for him to remove them, Harry was not surprised that underneath them he wore still more black clothes. Black slacks and a t-shirt even his socks were black. Harry was willing to bet that he was even wearing black boxers but that was one question Harry certainly wasn't going to ask.

Although he thought it might be amusing if he did. Severus sat Harry down cross legged on the floor and Severus began instructing Harry on how best to clear his mind. He managed it was well, and he was so proud of his achievement as was Severus but he knew better than to start actual practice, he didn't want to push the boy to hard.

Also while he was there he dropped off Harry's homework and class assignments because even though he was looking after a small child that didn't mean he could skive off class. Harry put Elena to bed just after Severus left and then settled down at his desk and began to work through the pile of homework.

He didn't get very far however as Hermione came into see him about fifteen minutes after Snape had left. She had even brought Ron along with her and the three sat up talking just like they used to do when they had been younger.

Harry only ushered them out after Elena was disturbed from their roars of laughter. Harry enjoyed being with his friends, just spending time with them was enough, he was treating every moment as his last because that was the life that Harry Potter had to lead because for him that was reality.

He knew what was coming and he hated it, he would do near enough anything to just disappear into the muggle world where no one knew his name and settle down to a normal life. No visions, no training and he'd even be willing to give up his friends for his one chance at freedom. He took one look at Elena and wanted nothing more than to settle down and have a family, of course he'd have to adopt but he'd do anything for a second chance at life and he meant everything.

Elena's 'mother' sat in his dormitory racked with guilt. He rocked back and forth thinking about how he just left her as if she meant nothing. She meant the world to him but unless he wanted to condemn her to a life like he had then he had no choice. He knew the headmaster was looking for him; he planned to confess and ask that she stay with Harry. Surprisingly he didn't care that Harry Potter had his daughter, he knew that he would give her everything he could Harry would give her everything that he could not.

Ok I know a short chapter but I'm being realistic I have just written a 2,000 word essay and that wasn't fun. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, please review. xxxx