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!
LadyLily3: Thanks!
RemusLupinRocks: Welcome to the fic, and here is what happens next
viva rose: yes stupidity seems to be running rampant
ChildOfDarkness1988: LOL thanks!
MysticalWitch: who said they were done with?
Arica,Princess of Rivendell: I DID!
wwwendy: welcome to the fic!
esmeralda: thank you!
Ceyxa: aww he will be
kears: snort seems they will get theirs
DebsThe SnapeFanNow: whew shorter name, and hehehehe
Spiorad: thankies! hope you like this one
sparklingsilverangelwings: you can be a honorary cousin
SevsMoonChild: yes Severus rules!
Thank you for the reviews they make me smile! Now on with the fic!
Chapter 23
Harry tossed and turned seeing the Slytherins in his dreams as the potion tried to counteract the poison in his system. He was about to become frantic when a warm feeling of security came over him. Little did he know as he slept that Severus had wrapped him up in the covers and pulled him even closer. Harry dreamt no more horrific things, and when the sun began to shine through the window, he opened his eyes mere slits.
"Harry," Severus called to him. "How are you feeling now?"
Harry snuggled under the covers a bit more not really wanting to leave the comfort of the nice warm bed, but he looked up at his father. "I feel all right, except my throat hurts, and my stomach is rumbling."
"I believe we can remedy that." Severus called Lotty and asked if she would bring him and Harry breakfast in the bedroom. Five minutes later, Lotty walked in with two trays laden with fruit, toast and eggs.
Harry grimaced at the eggs remembering how they felt coming back up, and decided he would take a piece of toast instead. After finishing over half of it, and having his dad vanish the crumbs out of the bed, Harry lay back down on the pillow. He felt much better, but the warmth of the sheets was lulling him into slumber again. Before he knew what happened he was asleep, and Severus was tucking the covers around him.
Severus waited for a few minutes before he got up from the bed, and went into the sitting room. He was going to take advantage of Albus teaching his class for the day, and get some much needed marking done. Pulling the stack of parchments from his bag, he sat down in front of the fireplace and began his grading. He left the door open in case Harry awoke and needed him, but he was glad Harry looked much better than he had the day before. After the tenth paper, Severus' eyes began to cross and he fell asleep, quill still in his hand. Lotty waited and watched her master fall asleep. She carefully went over and removed the parchments and quill and then started a small fire to keep the chill out of the room. "To be so menacing to everyone else he surely did look very innocent while he slept," she thought.
Harry stirred in his bed, the rumbling in his stomach getting louder and louder. When he peeked his eyes open this time he was happy to see the light no longer bothered him, and that his headache was gone. In fact he felt fine, and wanted something to drink, and eat. As he crept out of the bed he was stopped at the door to the bedroom. "Can Lotty get Master Harry something?"
"I just wanted a little something to drink and eat. Where is my Dad?"
"Master Severus is asleep, would you like me to waken him?"
"No, no," Harry said. "Could we just have a small bite to eat right now?" With the snap of her fingers Lotty had food on the table, and she was ushering Harry towards a chair. When Harry sat down he was shocked to see Lotty tucking a blanket around him. He was not cold, but he did not want to hurt her feelings. "Will you join me Lotty?"
This kind of thing was unheard of in the house elf-master relationship. "House elves are not supposed to eat with their masters," Lotty tried to explain.
"I don't mind, and I would like the company. Please Lotty, won't you join me?"
Lotty did not know what to do. She was supposed to obey her masters, but this was something new to her even after all of the years of her life. Carefully pulling out the chair she sat down and stared at Harry, and was even more shocked when he handed her a slice of toast covered in strawberry jam. "Here Lotty, have some of this, it is my favorite."
Lotty took the toast and bit into it. The taste was amazing. She had never tasted jam, and found she loved the taste herself. For over thirty minutes they sat at the table, and Harry had even chuckled quietly when Lotty looked up with strawberry jam on the tip of her nose. Lotty cleared away the plates and Harry walked over to the chair where his Dad sat.
"I don't wish to wake him Lotty. If he does wake up could you tell him I have gone to take a bath?"
"Yes, Master Harry, you go and wash up. Lotty will make sure all is well."
Harry walked into the bathroom and shed the pyjamas he was wearing. Feeling very sticky all of a sudden he stepped into the tub full of warm water. Relief washed over him as the warm water seemed to work out all the stiffness in him. He even started to play in the tub after washing up a bit. Harry was trying to see just how long he could hold his breath under the water. Each time he held it for a while longer.
Severus woke up from his nap in the chair and stretched. His neck was hurting from the position he had fallen asleep in, but a few good twists and he popped the kinks out. Looking around he did not see Lotty but he did see the door slightly ajar and the water bucket was missing. He assumed she was outside getting more water for the kitchen. Thinking he would go and awaken Harry, and they could have a nice dinner if he was up to it, Severus walked into Harry's bedroom. He saw the sheets rumpled up on the bed, but he saw no Harry. Panic set in instantly, and he called for his son.
Harry did not hear his father call him. He had finally managed to hold his breath for thirty seconds under the water and he was determined to hold it for one minute like Ron said he could do. "Maybe if I close my eyes and concentrate," Harry thought, and this is how Severus found him when he burst through the bathroom door.
Harry heard the door banging against the wall, and screamed. Severus heard Harry scream and yelled out, thinking something was wrong. As he went to grab Harry, his son bolted from the tub, wrapped in the towel he grabbed as he darted past. Severus, slipping on the wet floor went head first into the tub of water and came up spluttering. By the time Lotty made her way into the bathroom, one of her masters was standing in nothing but a towel, and the other was in the tub with his clothes on. The scene was too much and both the others were shocked to see Lotty start to laugh. It started as a small giggle, but then it turned into a huge rumbling laugh. Harry had been shaking from the fright, but when he settled down he saw the comedy of his father in the tub clothes on and the giggles overtook him too.
"If both of you are done laughing, I believe we should all get dry. Harry, are you well?"
"I am fine Dad, honest."
Harry gathered up a set of clean pyjamas, while Severus changed into drier clothes. When they both emerged from their rooms Lotty had two cups of steaming cocoa waiting for them. They sat down on the couch, and after a lot of poking and prodding from Severus he declared Harry well. "Now that we have you back into good health perhaps we should discuss who put you into the state you were in."
Harry did not shrink back in fear as Severus thought he might, and it lightened his heart to see his son show such bravery. "I would like to tell them I forgive them. I am mad that they tried to hurt me, but it is only right I forgive them, isn't it?"
Severus was appalled. He himself would have hexed both of the boys into the next week if Minerva had not come in, but here Harry wanted to forgive them. "I am afraid that they have been expelled, and are to be on the train home tonight."
"Can't we go before they leave Daddy?"
Severus wanted to scream about the injustice of it all. Why could Harry not hate them as he did? Why was his son such a soft and kind child? Surely it must be one of his mother's traits for it was not one of his.
"If that is what you wish Harry, then go and get dressed. We will leave within the hour."
Harry hurried off to put on some clothes, and Severus buried his head in his hands. He must have seemed distressed for Lotty came over and asked if there was something she could do.
"There is nothing you can do. My son it seems has his mother's kind heart. Forgiveness, kindness what kind of traits are these?" Severus questioned out loud.
"Excuse me Master Snape, but aren't those Gryffindor traits?"
Severus groaned again, could his son be showing Gryffindor tendencies? How strange would it look for Severus Snape's son to be in Gryffindor? He would be horrified.
"Why do you look so pained Master Snape?"
"The rumors, the horror of my son showing his Gryffindor traits. How will it make me look? How am I supposed to feel about my son possibly going into Gryffindor?"
"It is not my place Master Snape, but did you not love Miss Lily and she was a Gryffindor, and would you not love Master Harry even if he were a Gryffindor?"
Severus shook his head. "Lotty, you have spoken no truer words ever. I will accept whatever house he is in, and love him regardless for he is my son." Getting up, Severus went to collect Harry and they were gone in a pop apparating to the train.