Summary: Can one person and fate make the difference in Severus' life?
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, sue me and become poor.
A/N: This fic is AU, not canon. and thanks! to my beta Karri
Now to my reviewers!
to be left outside alone: Sorry, they are friends, but I am in the process of writing one where Harry and Draco do become friends
mb: Severus is a mystery isn't he hehehehehe
Liniya: snickers I would love to see Severus covered in feathers
Alfa: Thanks and welcome to the fic
Ceyxa: Yes a wee bit of fluff mixed in with the angst to come!
Lady Lily3: You shall see a Malfoy later , yes
viva rose: hehehhehehehe, thanks
esmeralda: thanks, update here!
Yulara: Thanks, I hope it slows down for you
sparkling silver angel wings: You may have all but his wand, I do not mean the one he uses to hex with
Ruse: Thankies! Now update yours!
athenakitty: Sorry you will not see The Dursley's again in tis fic
SeulWolfe: me either Mmmm
juliedecarson: heheheh Thanks!
All of you make my day with your reviews! Now on with the fic!
Chapter 14
Morning came far too early for Severus, and the two loud boys did not help his roaring headache. He should have known a day with the Weasley clan would not leave him in the best of moods the next day. Finally flinging the covers off, he slipped on his robe and went to find out what the two were doing to cause such a racket.
Severus soon found out as he opened the door, and had to duck the flying object headed for his face. He was not happy when the custard tart splattered against the door beside him, spraying his hair with sticky custard.
Harry and Ron both froze at the table where they sat. Severus did not smile after this one, and each knew he was upset, and they were the targets of his ire. Neither spoke a word and waited to see exactly what he would do, and when he turned back around and went back into his room shutting the door, Harry began to worry.
"I'm in for it now, he's mad."
"You don't think he'll come out and turn us into something horrible do you?"
Harry glared at Ron. "He is not going to turn you into a troll or anything Ron, but he will probably punish me."
"How do you figure you'll get the blame? I threw the tart, you were just smart enough to duck."
Harry didn't explain to Ron about the years with the Dursley's, he simply turned to him and said, "It's always my fault, trust me on that. I think I better get this cleaned up before your mother gets here."
Both boys cleaned up the table, and had to stop when Lotty shooed them away, and started wiping everything down with a rag. It was not long before they were to meet Mrs. Weasley by the wards, and as Severus had not returned from his room, both went out the door. Harry lingered for another minute once they were outside to see if his father was coming, but soon realized he was not and followed Ron.
They had not been standing at the wards long when the pop announced Mrs. Weasley had arrived for Ron. She pulled both boys into a hug, and then looked down to Harry. "Harry dear, where is your father?"
Harry didn't want to lie, but he didn't honestly know what his father was doing. "He went back to bed I think. Maybe he was tired."
This had Mrs. Weasley looking at Ron sharply. "I do hope you behaved yourself and gave Severus no trouble."
Ron gulped. "Honest Mum, he didn't say I had."
Harry nodded in agreement; his father had said nothing this morning when he had closed the door.
With a few more hugs from Mrs. Weasley, Harry watched as she and Ron left. Harry realized he was in trouble, as now there was no one here but him and his father, and in Harry's world this meant pain, and punishment. Sucking in a deep breath, Harry walked back into the house. It was his father, and he would take the punishment that was coming.
Harry sat on the couch waiting for Severus to come out of the room for over an hour, and then he began to worry. Was his father that upset at him? Harry hadn't meant to upset him this much. "Maybe he thinks I'm too bad to keep around," Harry thought.
Harry sat on the couch for two more hours, until the waiting was driving him crazy. He now didn't know if he wanted Severus to come out of the room or not. It had been a long time, and the longer Severus had to think about it, the more time he would have to think up something good for Harry. This thought tumbled through Harry's mind for only minutes before he finally gave up, curled into a ball and fell asleep.
Severus had been angry, at having to take another shower, this time to remove the goo from his hair. He wanted to yell and rage at Harry about throwing food in the house like he was some kind of animal, but knew that he would only hurt the boy. Severus did not want this so he sat down on his bed and waited for the anger to subside. It was not long before the comfort of the blankets, and the cosiness of the bed had him asleep, the day before had obviously worn him out.
Severus awoke feeling refreshed. Even his back, which had been hurting after only three laps in those cars, felt better. He was about to go and see if he could have a nice breakfast without it landing on him when he looked outside.
"Why is the sun setting already, surely it is not that late." Putting his shoes on, he went out to what he hoped was a good breakfast he was starving, but when he opened the door the smell of chicken greeted him, instead of bacon.
"Lotty, why are you serving up chicken at this hour?"
The house elf looked in horror. "I thought Master Snape would like some chicken for his dinner. Lotty will take it away and make you whatever you would like."
"Dinner? Did I really sleep that long?"
Lotty nodded, and Severus sat down at the table. "Having a son is taking a lot out of me I suppose." Lotty came and filled two plates with chicken and steaming vegetables. Severus was about to begin eating when he noticed the lack of noise in the room. "Where are Mr. Weasley and Harry?"
Lotty ran over to the table. "Master Harry took Mr. Weasley outside after breakfast."
"Why did someone not come and get me to see the child off?" Severus then noticed Harry's plate sat untouched and without another word he got up to see if Harry was outside still. He knew that his reaction this morning might have put the boy ill at ease, and he wanted to tell him he had no anger towards him now.
Severus searched the whole meadow calling Harry's name, and still he did not find him. He decided Harry might be in his room and went back inside and walked right past the house elf who was trying to gain his attention.
Opening the door Severus called Harry's name and yet he found no trace of the child. Getting a slightly frantic he finally stopped Lotty. "Do you know where Harry might be, I can't find him anywhere."
"Lotty was trying to tell you Master Snape sir. Master Harry has been there for hours waiting for you," she said pointing at the corner behind Severus' door. Severus turned to where the house elf was pointing, and saw Harry curled up in a ball obviously cold, in the small space in the sitting room near Severus' bedroom door. It seemed the child had gotten so cold he had pulled the small green rug off the floor an attempted to wrap himself up in it.
Severus sighed, how could Harry break down all that he had worked hard to put up as a front in such a short time. Here, staring down at his son, he could not even work up a sneer that he was famous for. Here he was only a father, and a remorseful one at the moment.
Severus leaned over and saw that the boy was shivering. He reached down and uncurled the boy from the rug, waking him in the process. "Harry, wake up, or you won't sleep a wink tonight."
Harry's eyes fluttered open and he saw not an angry father staring at him, but he thought Severus looked worried. Harry then noticed how cold it had become in the room and he shivered.
His shivering did not miss the observant eye of Severus, and he carried Harry over to the chair by the fireplace, and with a quick flick of his wand the fire was roaring and warming up the room. Harry still shivered and as Severus brought over a blanket. Harry looked at his father. "Dad, I really am sorry about this morning. I didn't mean to make you angry."
"Harry, this morning is forgotten. Just remember in the future that food is not to be thrown in the house. Would you like something to eat?"
Harry couldn't decide if he wanted to cease the rumbling of his stomach, or to stay here nestled up in the blanket by the fireplace. Severus saw his son wrap the blanket tighter around himself. "How about we eat here by the fireplace?"
Harry liked this idea and soon Lotty brought over the chicken, and Harry even ate the broccoli temporarily forgetting to protest he did not like it. They sat for a long time talking about the party, and laughing about how Hagrid had accidentlly knocked Professor McGonagall in the pool. "She was very mad Dad. I don't like to see her that mad, she's scary looking."
Severus snorted and almost choked on a piece of corn. "You are right there Harry. Minerva McGonagall is one witch you do not wish to make angry. She scared me when I was a boy."
Harry's eyes grew big. "You got scared Dad, but nothing scares you, I even told Ron so."
Severus smiled down, a smile of pride that a father has for his son. "Even I get scared, Harry."
"What scares you, Dad? You are the bravest person I have ever met."
Severus ruffled his hair. "Enough of this talk, how about we ask Lotty for some hot cocoa before bed?" Severus was relieved when Harry got up to ask the house elf for the cocoa, for he did not wish to answer that the only thing that scared him was ever losing his son.
Two cups of hot cocoa later, Harry was one tired young man, and Severus, despite his nap was also. "Harry, I think we should get you off to bed young man."
"Can't we sleep here Daddy, it's warm here by the fire?"
"I suppose we could. "Accio pillow," Severus said, and soon a pillow came floating out of the room and he placed it under his head. Then pulling Harry to him he laid down and fell asleep watching the crackling of the fire.