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!
ChildofDarkness1988: Welcome to the fic!
eyeinthesky: sweet Hope you like the update
sparkling silver angel wings: hehehehehe thanks!
Rheniel: Yes the fluff, and angst are both in here, they switch back and forth
DebzThePadFootmoonyPron: you shall see
silverbirch: YAY! welcome to the fic!
juliedecarson: thanks, yes it is sad
Lady Lily3: I like sweet, but angst too
viva rose: snickers
AccioSeverus: Yes, it will be very hard for them to be apart
rosiegirl: hehehe He might take him soon
mb: Umbridge! Ahahahaha that is evil
Ceyxa: Hm maybe, but the fic is completed all 32 chappies
Arica Princess of Rivendell: I did!
Purple Raveness: Thanks, welcome to the fic!
Ruse: He will get into his share of trouble ahem
athenakitty: not too long before something happens
You ALL brought a smile to my face! Now on with the fic!
Chapter 16
For the next two days, Harry read more in the book and played the mighty wizard with his stick, killing off dragons with his mighty hexes. Harry climbed to the highest spot in the meadow, the one overlooking the valley, and was acting out the part where the dragon fell to his death, when his foot slipped on a nearby rock. Harry screamed out and squeezed his eyes shut, as he knew it was a long way down, but he did not feel himself falling. Harry slowly opened his eyes, when he realised he was not going to hit the bottom, and found himself floating next to the drop off. Reaching out, he climbed back up, and then he began to tremble. He didn't know what had just happened, all he knew was he felt like he was weightless and then he found that he was floating. Thinking his father would be angry, Harry walked back inside forgoing lunch for his stomach was queasy after the near fall.
Harry tried for days to see if he could do any of the other things, but gave up, as he couldn't even seem to be able to float anymore, and he was too scared to check by jumping off the side of the hill. Harry just read the book each night, and waited for his dad to come home that Friday.
Friday seemed like it would never arrive. Harry had finished over half the book, and still he didn't understand most of it, but it was better than the baby books he had. He had waited all week, and this afternoon his father would be home for three whole days. Just when he felt he could not wait a minute more, Severus walked through the door, and was tumbled to the floor when a small, very excited boy leaped into his arms. " It's good to see you too Harry, now how about we go and have a bite to eat. I am starved."
Harry's face had the widest grin Severus had ever seen, as he told his father all about his week, except about the book, and he listened, hanging on every word as Severus described the idiots who had blown up several things that week. "Oh and if I thought one Weasley was bad, those twins are almost unbearable. They glued poor Della Thornsby's dress to her seat with everlasting glue. We had to pour a removing potion on it to release her."
Harry snickered, despite the odd look his father gave him. Harry showed his father a new game of Old Maid, after he explained to Severus the concept. Severus, it seemed had chosen poorly twice and ended up with the Old Maid card. Harry had laughed, and then asked why they called the lady an Old Maid. Severus took this as a hint that it was time for bed. Harry protested that he was not sleepy, but stopped when Severus promised him a long story.
Severus deemed Harry must have been right, because even after the story he was still awake. Severus thought for a long time. How could he tell Harry he was supposed to meet the Minister of Magic tomorrow to discuss some things with him? Harry would be crushed that one of his days was taken from him, and so Severus, looking into those green eyes decided he would not ruin tonight at least, and he tucked Harry in and kissed him on the head. "Sleep well Harry," he said closing the door. Then from behind the door he heard the childish voice answer back. "Sweet dreams, Dad."
When Harry awoke the next morning, he found his father at the table, not in his night attire, but in his formal robes. Harry, being half asleep, did not think to question his father's strange choice of clothes; he wanted breakfast. Reaching for the pumpkin juice Harry poured a full glass and drank half of it in one gulp.
The two, father, and son, sat eating their eggs and bacon talking about what Harry thought of one day going to Hogwarts, and about what exactly did Severus teach. After Harry had finsihed eating, Severus pulled him into his lap.
"Harry, there is something I need to do today, and I am afraid I will not be back before you go to bed."
"No, you promised you would be back, and we would spend time together. You promised, Daddy, and it is not fair to break a promise," Harry said, his chin trembling. He had waited all week to see his father and now he was leaving again. "You just don't want me around," Harry cried, jumping up and running for the door.
Harry flung open the door, the tears streaming down his face. He knew he wasn't good enough to keep around, his uncle had always said so.
Severus leapt up and went to run after Harry, and belatingly realising just how fast a nine year old child could run when he wanted.
Harry had made it past his favorite spot next to the tree, and now the tears were streaming down his face so hard they were fogging up his glasses. He did not want to go back, only for his father to leave again. Still running, Harry did not realise when he ran right off the side of the hill, and still didn't until he heard his father cry out.
Severus stopped midstride and watched as Harry neared the edge. His heart stopped when Harry's mad dash continued on, and he was sure the child would plummet to his death, but he hadn't. Harry had continued, and now he hung in midair, hovering. Severus had fallen to his knees at some point near the edge of the cliff and tears pricked the corners of his eyes.
"Harry, come back this way son. Slowly walk back over to Daddy."
Harry was afraid he would fall, but he was more afraid of the rejection waiting for him. "I'm not. You're leaving me again. Why did you say you were going to spend time with me, if you didn't mean it?"
Severus' heart was beating faster and faster. He did not know how Harry had accomplished this little feat, but he did know that at any moment Harry could plunge the two hundred feet down to the ground below. "Harry, come over here and I will not leave, I promise."
Harry turned his head to the side and seemed to think about it. "Are you sure you won't leave me?"
"I promise you Harry, I give you my word, just come back over here to me."
Harry shrugged his shoulders, and walked carefully back over to where his father was sitting on the edge of the cliff. He could see the skid marks his father's boots had left in the dirt, and now he could see the tears seeping down his father's face. As he stepped back onto solid ground, Severus snatched him up and wrapped him in a tight embrace. Not wanting to let go, even for a second.
Harry didn't understand the choked sobs coming from his father, and he hated seeing him sad. "Don't cry Dad, I'm all right."
Severus wrapped him up in his arms and stalked as quickly away from the hill as he could. When he reached the house he called for Lotty. "Please make Harry and I a light dinner tonight, we have some things to discuss." Then he went to discover just what Harry had been doing this week.