Severus Snape lay sleeping in his deep blue bed. It was late, and he was tired after a along day of teaching classes. Today was one of the worst days of his week, as it was three first year classes in a row.
First came the Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff, and then double Gryffindor/Slytherin. The Gryffindor/Slytherin class was quickly coming, yet again, unbearable, even though school had yet to complete 3 full weeks in session. The animosity between houses fast spread to the new students, even ones who had never heard the word Gryffindor until they set foot in the school.
After dealing with two full hours of pranks and shouting matches, he had wanted nothing more to go home and collapse in bed. His responsibilities expressly contradicted that wish however, when he got home to a disgruntled house-elf chasing his 5 year old ward around the sitting room.
"Harry Potter." Severus said sternly, causing the boy to skid to a stop directly in front of his feet and look down shamefaced. "When I solicited Dobby to baby-sit you, I did not imagine I would be sentencing him to chasing after you. That is now how I raised you to behave. I believe I told you to stay in bed today- we have to get rid of that cold."
"Not sick." Harry muttered, and then gave a large sniff. Rubbing his eyes, he glared stubbornly at Severus. "Dobby maked me steam."
"Made, Harry. And that was your medicine. The pepper-up potion will help get rid of your cold. It's time for another dose soon, actually."
"NOT SICK!" Harry yelled this time, ducking under the kitchen table to avoid the steaming potion his papa was holding.
"Come here please, Harry." Severus requested.
Harry held tight to the legs of the table when Snape finally tired of the game and tried to levitate him out. His grip was no match however, and he soon soared right to his father's outstretched arms.
"Papaaaa" Harry whined, "Papa it makes my eyes cry." Severus hoisted him higher on his hip and settled him on the counter top. "Open wide please, Harry." Harry tightened his lips, Snape sighed. He knelt a little so that he was eye to eye with Harry.
He could see the tears welling in his eyes and the way his hands were shaking. "Does it truly hurt you to take this potion, Harry?"
Harry nodded, opening his mouth. "My ears hurt, and my eyes sting, and you don't care."
"Oh I very much care, Harry. Hold on just one moment." Opening the cabinet, he felt around the top shelf. Success.
Emerging from the cupboard, he saw that Harry was actually crying now. "Hush now, Harry. It is all right. Look, no more potion." He vanished the potion from the goblet and took a table spoon from the cutlery drawer.
"This is muggle cold medicine. Not half so effective, but well enough for one as young as you. I believe it's cherry flavored." He enticed, allowing Harry to smell the medicine.
"'Kay." Harry submitted, obediently swallowing the Cherry Flavored syrup. The medicine soon allowed Harry to doze off in Severus' lap during "Max the Muggle and the Pesky Pixie Problem."
That was hours ago, however, and Harry and Severus had both long since gone to bed.
Too bad that in the middle of the night, Harry had woken up; quite frightened over a horrible dream he'd just had about his own pixie problem.
Creeping slowly into his papa's room, he warily peeked over the edge of the bed. He knew that Severus might get angry with him for waking him up- after all; his papa had been awful tired when he went to bed.
On the other hand, his dream had really rattled him. He wanted nothing more than to climb into papa's bed and curl up against him.
"Papa..." he whispered, clutching his bear that he'd had for as long as he could remember to him. "Papa are you awake?"
Severus started, his instincts told him something was amiss… there was someone in the room. He stealthily took his wand from beneath his pillow and with the reflexes of someone half his age pointed it at the offending noise and cried Lumos.
The light reflected Harry's frightened eyes, all the larger without his glasses on, staring at his raised wand. He quickly lowered it, leaning over towards little Harry.
"Gracious Harry, you startled me."
"Sorry." Harry whispered, biting his lip. Snape cast a quick time checking spell. Two in the morning. Lord.
"Why are you up, Harry?" He asked as patiently as he could manage. "It's very…"
"Bad dream." Harry interrupted. "Pixies in my room."
"Oh Harry." Severus sighed, swinging his legs over the side of his tall bed. He pulled on a dressing gown and hoisted Harry into his arms. "We'll get you some pumpkin juice, and then back to bed."
"NO!" Harry cried, "They're in my room papa. I want to sleep with you."
Severus rubbed his eyes, he was really too tired for this. "You're room is perfectly fine. And your ferocious little friend here," he held of Harry's bear, "is more than fit to protect you."
"Please papa." Harry moaned, drinking his juice. "They say they're going to eat me! And Franklin!" he cried, holding up his bear for his papa to inspect.
"Well now, we mustn't allow that to happen. It would be terribly lonely here all on my own without Franklin." Severus teased.
"And me!" Harry pouted, "Right?"
Severus tweaked his nose, smiling. "Even more than Franklin. Come now, you can stay with me."
The bed was not quite so roomy with Harry curled up into his chest, but he didn't mind. The rhythmic breathing of his young charge was enough to lull him into a comfortable haze, and welcome him back to sleep.
"Who told you that Harry?" Severus asked a barely 4 year old Harry Potter.
"Charlie did. Said everyone has one." Harry wiped his eyes. "Where's my mommy?"
Severus sighed, "Harry. Try to understand me - once, you did have a mommy. And a daddy. But long ago, when you were just very little, they had to go away. They're very far away, and can't come back but I know that they love and miss you very much."
Most of this seemed to go straight over his head, but Severus got the impression Harry at least vaguely understood. It had been two years since Harry had come to live with him, and after the first few bumps and bruises – he had been very happy alone after all- he could not imagine himself without him.
"Love me?" Harry pulled him out of his thoughts, "I'm sorry, Harry. What?"
"Do you love me?" The open honesty in a child's voice, especially this child's voice could get to anyone. Even Severus.
Severus smiled softly, "Yes Harry, I love you very much."
"Wish you were my daddy."
Me too. Severus immediately felt guilty for even thinking such a thing. "Harry, he loved you so much. I fail in comparison, I'm afraid."
Harry was fairly used to big words, being around Severus so much. Often he didn't understand the smaller words that the kids at school used, because of his influences at home.
That's why Severus had enlisted a few of the teachers to help him tutor Harry in basic skills while he taught. Harry enjoyed his lessons with Hagrid best, being awed by the half giant. Hagrid taught him how to take care of his owl, Hedwig, and about all the other animals around on Saturday mornings. Remus Lupin was taken on my Dumbledore to help with his English Language Arts skills and basic maths.
Harry was progressing rapidly and Severus could not believe the pride he felt for another person.
Harry was babbling on about the unicorn Hagrid had PROMISED to show him on Saturday, forgetting all about the serious discussion they had just had when Severus awoke.
Dreams were not unfamiliar to Severus, he dreamed nearly every night. Sadly, they were not all good ones though. His dark past did not allow for that. Waking up to Harry beside him helped to put him in a better mood though. He brushed the hair out of Harry's eyes, and the little one stirred.
"Good morning, Harry. No more pixies in your dreams I trust?"
"Franklin chased them away Papa, you should have seen! He growled and shook his claws at them and they all just flew away. Just like Hedwig when she hunts. Real fast!"
Severus made a proper amazed face, and pulled Harry's pajama pant leg down, where it had ridden up to his knee. The puppies on it were running around, away from Harry's finger where he was trying to chase them.
"Breakfast, then off to your tutor, son." Harry nodded, and grinned, allowing himself to be picked up and wrapping his legs around Severus' waist. He knew that his papa wasn't really his papa, but it still made him happy when he called him son. And he was as good asa real papa, anyway.