Harry Potter and the Guardians of Power
Usual Disclaimers apply, folks – but you know that don't you.
AN: My deep apologies for two cliff hangers in a row (cough, not really, cough) but the chapter was already 15 pages long and now this one is 16! Please review and thanks especially to those of you who have reviewed every chapter and added this story to your favorites list. Thanks for the suggestions for a new story. I am kind of leaning towards a "Dumbledore looses a young Harry" or a "Somehow Harry gets thrown back into his younger self so he gets to do over his life." What do you think? I don't think this story needs a sequel, but I might if people want one.
From Chapter 18:
Harry and Severus were standing in the middle of the Great Hall, clasping each other tightly, Carus gripping Harry's shoulder with her talons, and looking nervous. Harry had packed his staff into his trunk so he would need to focus his power and send it to the others in the outer circle instead of through his staff. They had practiced this the last two weeks and he had gotten very good at feeding power to each of the Founders without causing overload in them.
Rowena stood to the north, Helga to the south, her husband Salazar to the east and her brother Godric to the west. Merlin stood behind Rowena in the north and Artemus behind Helga in the south. The four Founders called up their magic and blended it around the two in the middle of them, Rowena deep blue, Helga golden sunshine yellow, Salazar deep emerald green and Godric shining crimson. Artemus blended his glistening silver magic with Merlin's golden shimmer over the top of the other four. They raised their hands sending blessings for a safe journey and then all chanted together:
Posterus ut preteritus
Reverto quis est lost
Preteritus revert out posterus
On the third recitation, a column of blinding white, pure magical energy engulfed the two travelers standing in the middle until they were completely shielded from view. The magic collapsed in upon itself and with a last flash, the room cleared to find just six people left standing.
Chapter 19: Pranking the Headmaster
When the afterimage of the blinding flash of white power faded, over one hundred beings in the Great Hall gasped almost in unison, and then yelled, causing the walls of the castle to reverberate with sound!
Severus had managed to hold onto the limp form of Harry just long enough to look up into the startled faces, searching for one particular face. When he spotted his mentor, Albus, he just barely nodded, said, "We have returned." And then slumped to the floor, boneless and uncaring. Carus had flashed out of the room when they had first appeared so no one had noticed her in the blinding light surrounding them. She flashed up to Dumbledore's office and fell asleep on Fawke's perch with the scarlet phoenix preening her feathers and trilling in soft comfort.
Albus bellowed, "Silence!" to the rejoicing and frantic crowd as Madame Pomfrey went into full medi-witch mode. "Stand back, stand back, and let me get to them." She plowed through the crowd like a snow plow through a snow bank, pulling her wand as she came. She proclaimed loudly, "Albus, bring Severus!" as she levitated Harry and took off towards the hospital wing at a dead run. No one had ever seen her move so fast in all their years in the castle. Albus levitated Snape and followed, almost as quickly, though with slightly more dignity, yelling at Dobby, over his shoulder, to keep people in the hall.
The crowd had been too stunned to move before the four left the Great Hall, but now they flowed as one toward the exit only to find it guarded by one menacing looking Dobby, standing with his arms crossed. "You will stay here, good wizards until Headmaster Dumbledore tells Dobby to let you out." And with a snap of his fingers the Great Hall doors slammed shut. A second snap and the tables were refilled with refreshments. The assembly grumbled but no one was willing to tackle a free house elf's power, so they resumed their conversations, only louder and much more cheerfully.
Poppy motioned to Albus to put Severus into the bed next to Harry's as she continued to run diagnostic spells on the boy. She stopped after a few moments and looked at the Headmaster with amazement. She quickly scanned Severus and shook her head. Albus looked at her with concern and raised an eyebrow in question.
"They are fine, well, they are both magically exhausted but otherwise they are both in excellent shape. I can see signs of Harry's injuries but they are all well healed and he is actually in better health than he ever has been. Severus is not quite as drained, but he is healthier than I have ever seen him too. Where ever they have been, they have been healed, well fed and well rested. But they have come a tremendous distance to be this drained of magical energy. Severus should be awake by tomorrow morning, Harry will take a day or two beyond that and then they will be back to normal."
Albus sighed deeply and smiled so wide his face almost split. "That's fantastic news, Poppy. Let me go tell the others and then how about you leave them in Dobby's care and come join us for a celebratory Christmas breakfast? This is the finest Christmas that Hogwarts has ever had!"
She nodded absentmindedly as she went to fetch a couple potions for each of them, telling the Headmaster to send Dobby to her and then she would join them in about half an hour. She poured a strengthening potion and a restorative potion down each of their throats, finally spelling them into hospital pajamas. Leaving their clothes on the end of their beds, Dobby might as well take care of those, since he had just come in the door. She gave instructions for the over enthusiastic and jubilant elf and then, checking her patients over once more, left to join the others in the Great Hall.
Dumbledore had just managed to get everyone back into their seats as Poppy came into the room so he waved her up to the podium to tell the gathering about the two friends who had miraculously returned. She nodded to the beaming headmaster, looked out over the expectant faces and said, "They are both fine, just exhausted. They both expended a tremendous amount of magical energy apparating from wherever they came from. Severus should be awake by tomorrow morning. Harry is completely healed of all his injuries and has actually gained a little weight! His magic is also drained; I assume he was feeding raw power to Severus to help with the apparition. He should be awake in two or three days, and I don't expect any complications in either one." Her words were met with a resounding cheer and clapping as people turned to each other and grasped hands, gave hugs, wiped tears of joy, and talked excitedly to each other.
In the hospital wing, Dobby picked up their soiled robes and began to remove items before banishing them to the laundry. He decided that Harry Potter's should just be banished period after not finding anything in his pockets. Professor Snape's had many interesting items in his sealed pockets, which all the house elves knew about and always searched diligently before laundering anything belonging to the potions master. Dobby found two shrunken trunks and a book with a parchment addressed to HIM! Dobby was so excited he was jumping up and down as he read the instructions to Dobby. He was so happy, the Great Harry Potter trusted only him with this job! He would do it, just as soon as Madame Pomfrey returned and released him. Harry Potter could trust him, he would do it! After sending the trunks to the appropriate beds, he sat down with the journal tucked under his vest and waited for the nurse to return.
It was the best Christmas morning any of them had ever remembered and even though they had been up all night, very few people left the Great Hall until early afternoon, when the euphoria was finally wearing off and the adrenalin had drained enough for the exhaustion to begin. But Poppy Pomfrey had a job to do and she would never shirk her responsibility. So right after she had eaten, she returned to the hospital wing, stopping only long enough in her office to grab the charts for Severus Snape and Harry Potter; easily the two largest files in her cabinet, well, maybe Neville Longbottom's was just as thick, and taking a book to read, she settled down between her two patients to wait for some sign that they were waking up. As she sat down, she thanked Dobby and told him he could return to the celebration in the Great Hall if he wished.
As soon as the nurse had dismissed him, Dobby returned to the Great Hall to keep an eye on Harry Potter's friends. It took a while to get Hermione alone but Dobby managed to tell her that he had a message from Mr. Harry Potter, sir and that she and her friends needed to return to the common room so that he could deliver it. He impressed upon her that no one else was to know so they should keep it a secret. He then popped away to the common room to wait for them. Hermione circulated among the people present and eventually managed to get Ron, Ginny, George, and Fred to each leave quietly without anyone noticing their departures. She took one final look to make sure no one had paid any attention to them and left to walk quickly up to Gryffindor Tower, full of anticipation and joy.
When she stepped through the portrait hole, she noticed Dobby standing in front of the fire with a thick, hand bound book in his hands, bouncing up and down on his feet. When she sat down on the couch between Ron and Ginny, he grinned at them and handed Fred the parchment from within the book.
Fred started reading aloud, "Dear Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the twins, I am leaving this for Dobby to find because I really need your help. I need you to read this journal that I wrote over the past year. Yes, Professor Snape and I have been gone a year and a lot has changed. I suggest that you take turns reading this aloud so that you are done as quick as you can, and then if you agree to help Severus and I prank the headmaster and all the other adults, I need you to say aloud, your name and that you agree to assist the biggest prank in Hogwarts history! If you all agree, the rest of the instructions will appear on the bottom of this page. Thanks mates, we couldn't do this without you! Love, Harry."
The teens agreed they had to go to sleep for a few hours before beginning to read Harry's journal and Dobby agreed to wake them up and then bring them sandwiches, crisps and beverages at two o'clock so they could begin to read.
It took all afternoon and into the late evening for the five to finish the book that Harry had written to them. At times they cried, they laughed, but mostly they were stunned at what their friend had accomplished while he was missing. But by the end of the book, they all knew deep in their hearts that Harry had a Dad, and that his Dad loved him and cared for him. They would do it. They stood in turn and each said aloud their name and that they were in on the prank, of course the phrase that Harry had them each say was 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!' In fact, the twins were so excited that they could hardly speak!
They were rolling on the floor with laughter by the time they had finished reading Harry and Severus' idea on how to make their new relationship known. Now all they had to do was wait for the two to wake up. They were still laughing when they headed up the stairs to their dorms that night, happy in anticipation and joy that their friend had returned.
When Severus woke up, at around four in the morning, he recognized that he was in the familiar, but decidedly unwelcoming, hospital ward; he knew that they had returned. He looked over at the peaceful visage of his son sleeping beside him, the moonlight making him appear even younger than his morphed self appeared to be. He grinned, well, that part had worked. He softly called, "Dobby." And the house elf appeared with a big grin, nodding his head so hard his big ears were flapping.
"Master Snape, it's so good to see you. How can Dobby help you sir?"
"Did you get our message? Were you able to deliver the journal to the Gryffindor's okay?"
"Oh, yes Master Snape! And they is agreeing to help you and Master Harry Potter, sir. They is just waiting for you to wake up, sir." Dobby replied excitedly.
"Good, good, Dobby. Thank you and you may go now." Dobby bowed so low his ears touched the floor and he left with a pop. Severus centered his thoughts and called out to the entity that was Hogwarts. 'Hogwarts, we have returned safely. It is time for you to help your Master Harry. Hogwarts, are you there?'
# Yes, father, I am here and awaiting your command. Master Harry still sleeps. May I heal him now?#
'Yes, but not enough so that anyone will notice how powerful he is until he returns to his common room. We don't want the nurse to notice anything different about him. Can you do that?' He wasn't sure why the castle called him father, but if Hogwarts wanted to call him that, he wasn't going to tell a thousand year old castle not to! Maybe it was because he was Harry's father and the castle thought of Harry as Master?
# Yes, father, I will heal him. I know what his magic felt like before you traveled to the past and I can give him that amount of power now. I will wait to talk to him. I will wait for Master Harry. #
The stones in the infirmary glowed a soft golden yellow and seemed to gather the moonlight onto Harry, who wiggled and started to squirm in his bed. After a few minutes, Severus saw his green eyes open and look around. He groaned and looked over at his father in the next bed. He gave a weak grin and asked, "Why do I always wake up in the hospital wing?"
Severus chuckled, "Because you always do foolish Gryffindor things." Harry smiled back and stuck out his tongue. He sent a soft mental touch, closed his eyes and went back to sleep. Severus climbed out of his bed, tucked his son in, brushed the unruly hair off of his forehead and kissed the top of his head. "We did it, we are home, child." He went back to his own bed and fell back to sleep easily.
Early the next morning, Madame Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore opened the hospital doors only to find the two sitting up in bed sending glaring looks at each other and sitting in total silence. Dumbledore rolled his eyes, and looked at them askance, "Haven't you boys learned to get along yet? I thought being alone together for two weeks would have helped you forget your past and get along for once."
Dumbledore had no way of knowing that he had interrupted a glaring contest the two had started out of boredom and they were actually scoring each other and sending rude insults mentally, trying to break each other's concentration. Harry looked down quickly as the corners of Severus' mouth twitched. He fought for control before speaking. Severus answered, "We have declared a truce. I do not speak to him; he does not speak to me. We manage very well. It is a start, do not push for more." Poppy continued to bustle around the two, wand out, incanting diagnostic spells.
"Well, you both healed faster than I expected. I see no reason you both cannot leave after you eat a good breakfast." She left the three to talk and sent for an elf to bring them breakfast and clothing to change into.
Dumbledore made small talk as the two ate and then looked at them pointedly. "We know from an informant that you were found out, Severus, and tortured for it, and that Harry was tortured and had many bones broken. Then Voldemort tried to cast the killing curse, somehow Harry blocked it again and then you both disappeared in a flash of light. What happened then? Where have you been for the past two weeks and how was Harry healed so well?"
Severus shielded his mind of the truth and allowed only the story they had worked out to show in his mind. "We materialized in some old empty manor house, I'm not sure where. I don't think it was even in England because I didn't recognize the constellation patterns. I believe it was somewhere in France. There was a potion's lab in the basement and I was able to brew potions for both myself and Harry. There was food as I believe the manor is used for part of the year, it appeared to be stocked but everything was stored as if awaiting the return of whoever lived there. It took until two days ago for me to be able to apperate with Harry. We took short jumps until we came to the Channel which I finally recognized. I was weak from the jumps, so I used Mr. Potter's magic to supplement mine in one last jump to Hogwarts and here we are. I was most surprised to find so many people in the Great Hall. Did we miss something?"
Dumbledore really didn't look like he believed their tale, but that was all he could read in Harry's mind also, and Harry didn't know Occlumency, so he had to accept it for now. Perhaps someday he would get the true story. He had brought his pensive and used it to share the important events of the past two weeks. Both were laughing at the tale of the gerbils and stunned at the success of the defense of Azkaban. Severus was thankful they had found a way to get such reliable information so that he wouldn't feel any regret that he could no longer spy. After viewing the emotional and touching vigil they had missed the night before, Harry and Severus were both stunned speechless at the moving tributes their friends had given them and were very thankful that they had been able to return.
They now felt bad about deceiving the Headmaster but the plan was already set in motion and they needed a plausible reason for Severus to change his attitude towards Harry while allowing Sirius and Remus plenty of time to adjust to the new relationship between the two, especially now that Sirius had been vindicated and was free. Severus was perfectly willing for Harry to have a close relationship with Sirius as an Uncle; but he would not give up Harry as his son for anyone! Harry sent reassurances through his bond to his father; he loved him and wouldn't give up their relationship even if Sirius was now free. Severus was his Dad and always would be!
After Madame Pomfrey reluctantly allowed the two to leave the hospital wing, Harry ran to the Great Hall where his friends should just be arriving for breakfast. Ginny was the first to see him as he stopped at the door, she squealed and ran to grab him in a big hug, quickly followed by the others. They walked in a mass to the Gryffindor table to sit down and catch up with each other. Severus had walked in at a more sedate pace but he was being greeted by many of the order members and was having a hard time walking through the crowd of well wishers to reach the staff table. It was a good thing the two had eaten very early that morning because they were constantly being congratulated on their safe return. Severus was even surprised by a huge, tearful hug from Molly Weasley! Something he had to remember to pretend to hate as he actually kind of enjoyed it.
It took more than an hour for the six youths to be able to finally leave the hall to return to start planning in the common room, but they finally made it safely back through the portrait hole.
"Okay, Harry, mate, show us what you really look like now. I've been dieing to see since we read your journal last night!" George said immediately as Harry stepped through and made his way towards his favorite chair just before the fire.
Harry looked to make sure they were alone and instantly morphed to his new self. He took a moment to center himself and reached out to Hogwarts. 'Hogwarts, are you awake? We made it safely to our own time.'
# Yes Master Harry, I have been waiting for you all these years. Your father said you would talk to me when you reached your common room, so I waited to restore your power. May I heal you now? #
'Thank you, Hogwarts, that you be very nice. Is there anything that has changed because of our journey into the past? Did we change anything too much?' Harry had been very worried that their year with the Founders had made too much of a difference and things would be drastically changed now.
# No, Master Harry, the Founders have taken great care to restore everything to be exactly as it was in your memories. Lady Ravenclaw found a way to share the memories of you and your father with me so that I could ensure that things remained exactly the same. They spelled me to be able to fully wake again when you returned. I have been mostly asleep for hundreds of years just waiting, but now I am awake to assist you in your destiny. #
'Thank you! Now, I need to talk to my friends to continue the plan we came up with. Is there anything else I need to know?' Harry was still in a trance; his friends had given up on trying talking to him. They thought they knew what was happening because of the journal, but they would obviously have to wait to find out for sure.
#The founders have designed a set of chambers for you and your father. I have removed the barricades on them for you. You will find them in the same location as the chambers you used in the past. I will wait to talk to you again, Master Harry, about restoring the wards once again to full power. I am glad to be awake again. # Harry felt the comforting, very powerful presence of Hogwarts slipping down below his level of consciousness once again and turned to his friends.
The five were astonished to watch the skinny, short teenager morph to a tall, very athletically built sixteen year old with long, glossy black hair and a sense of confidence and nobility that was almost palpable. As he remained quiet, they could feel the magic build up within him until he exuded the kind of power they had only felt around Dumbledore and then only when he wanted you to feel it. The feeling of immense power faded as Harry again turned his attention to them. A bright flash of fire and his phoenix, Carus, appeared on his left shoulder, completing the picture.
"Wicked!" All three Weasley boys exclaimed, almost in unison. The girls just gaped at the handsome teen, so different from the self-conscious, hesitant boy they had known for years.
Hermione was the first to voice what they all wondered, "Where you talking to the castle, Harry?"
"Yeah, Mione. She told me that the quarters that Dad and I, whoops, Professor Snape and I used are open for us again on the third floor. Right where Fluffy used to live!" He chuckled and plopped down in front of the fire, morphing back to his younger self as he did so, "Now let's get to planning."
The six talked, joked, and laughed all afternoon until it was time to go to the Great Hall for dinner. Professor Dumbledore had decided that since Christmas Day had been so unusual, they would have their traditional Christmas Dinner tonight even if it was now the 26th. Most of the Order members that had been staying in the castle had left this morning after greeting Snape and Potter, only the Weasleys, Sirius and Lupin, and the staff and the six students would be eating dinner together.
The six were the first to arrive in the Great Hall and found there was just one very long table down the center of the room. The usual decorations had not been put up, it was inappropriate before Christmas with the two missing and now, well, Christmas was actually over. But Hagrid had placed one gigantic, decorated tree in the corner and it was piled with presents under it. The kids ran to it and started sorting and shaking packages.
Harry called to Dobby to fetch all the wrapped presents he had in his trunk to place under the tree. They had calculated they would be returning on Christmas Day, so he and Severus had been prepared. Though they would be giving each other a present later, out of the public view. Harry had completed all the jewelry he had designed in the past and was quite pleased with it.
The adults came in, talking and laughing with a scowling Severus following them. Harry sent him a quick 'Not too much longer, Dad, just day after tomorrow. We can do this, just think of what we can accomplish and they won't be able to punish us!"
Harry thought Severus' smirk looked remarkably like he was trying very hard not to laugh and turned toward his friends to hide his own giggles. They knew what to do; Harry had enlisted their help to cover up any lapses, so they began to giggle also, thinking ahead of the pranks on the Headmaster and the Professors that they would see in the next two weeks.
The adults made the students wait until everyone was done eating to begin opening presents. Harry had many more than he had ever had, many of the Order had given him books about Defense, he noticed his Dad smirking madly at those so he just rolled his eyes at him in a wordless message and sent 'Behave, there might be something I don't know in them!' Snape actually choked on his tea and had to cough to cover a laugh.
Every one liked the jewelry he had made them, though only the five knew he had actually made them and not ordered them before he had gone missing. With the evening ending in a pleasant harmony, every one said good night and left to sleep soundly and peacefully for the first time in a long time.
Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione were sitting at the table eating breakfast on the morning of the 28th acting as innocent as they could. Everyone else was in attendance except the twins and Severus Snape who were standing together outside the doors waiting for Harry's signal. He sent to his dad, 'Everyone's here and eating. It's time!'
He used a finger to set the invisible mist the he and his dad had used to prank Sal and Godric in front of the hall doors and waited. The door opened to admit the twins who entered the mist and with a loud pop they were dressed in matching pink robes, bows in hair and skipping to the table, oblivious as to what had just happened. Everyone looked up at the pop and started to laugh at the twins being pranked when they realized with horror that the prank had also affected the dour potions master who had been just behind them. And he did realize he was wearing pink robes, with braids and bows in his long hair. And he was not skipping and giggling. In fact the word to describe him was livid!
He swished his wand angrily down his body and removed the charms. He thundered to the Gryffindor table, put both hands on the table and leaned down so his large nose almost touched Harry's terrified face. "POTTER! MY OFFICE! NOW!" Without waiting for a response he turned and stalked out. Harry's mates whispered to him in encouragement as he stood with his head down and slowing dragged himself out without saying a word.
No one saw 'hide nor hair' of the two until time for lunch. They had been having a wonderful visit while laughing about the looks on the adults faces but that wasn't what everyone else thought they were doing.
A few minutes before lunch, Ron and Hermione showed up at Professor Snape's office as planned. The next step was crucial to the plan so they were all just a little bit nervous. The two entered and hearing voices through the open door to the potions classroom; they entered and found Harry and their most hated teacher having a pleasant conversation about what they were about to do. There was a large cauldron of some weird green foamy concoction just sitting behind them and they looked up when the two came in.
Professor Snape smiled at them, "You both have straight what you need to do?" they replied in unison, "Yes, sir."
Harry hugged his dad, stood back and waved his hand at him. Severus' face lost its harsh look and many of its wrinkles. His body straightened taller and he now looked much younger. Instead of being 37 he was now 24 once again. Harry took off his outer clothes until he was standing there in only his boxers, Hermione having turned her head, and morphed down to about a two year old. Severus then draped his way too large clothes over him and with a swish of his hand he made the green solution erupt and splash all over the two of them until they were drenched and the cauldron turned over and spilled everything out.
Harry reached up to Ron who carefully picked him up, "It's okay Ron, I really am still sixteen, well, fifteen. My mind and my magic are all still here, just like when Tonks changes her appearance. I'm just going to put on an act." Even though Harry's speech was that of a fifteen year old, he did pronounce words as if he really was only two. Ron nodded, looking relieved.
Severus smiled at the three, grabbed Hermione's hand and said, "Let the fun begin!" She startled, looked at her professor's hand clutched tightly in hers and giggled. "This is so WEIRD!" she sputtered and led the way out of the door and up to lunch.
By the time the four reached the Great Hall, Harry was screaming his head off, wailing with the piercing cry that only a terrified two year old could make, Ron, Hermione and Severus were running and everyone was breathless when they crashed through the doors into the stunned silence. Dumbledore stood at the sight and came quickly around the end of the staff table to the four. Ron pushed a screaming Harry into the Headmaster's arms with relief and stepped back so he was out of the way. Hermione was still holding Professor Snape's hand and was almost hysterical; of course most of them didn't know it was with laughter, not panic.
"We went down to confess to Professor Snape that we helped with that prank and we found them in the classroom. A cauldron had exploded and now Harry's a baby and Professor Snape doesn't know who he is! I had to tell him his name and bring him here; he didn't know where he was."
She handed the professor's hand to Professor McGonagall who had also come to see what the commotion was. She was so stunned she accepted it without even realizing what she had done and continued to hold hands with him as he just smiled beatifically at her, looking all around the hall with a look of wonder. Snape piped up, "I like this place; it's pretty. What's your name, pretty lady?"
Dumbledore looked panicked trying to calm a screaming toddler, McGonagall looked at Severus as if he had two heads, the rest of the teachers as well as Remus and Sirius were thunderstruck and the children just looked expectantly at them. Of course no one noticed the children, they were to busy trying to figure out what to do. They also didn't notice the invisible, magical camera taking pictures of the whole thing!
Poppy pulled out her wand, as Harry and Severus both filled their minds with exactly what they wanted her to find. She turned to the headmaster, "They are both healthy, Severus only remembers the last thirty or forty minutes, Harry is a healthy but very unhappy two year old. I don't know what happened, and I don't know how to reverse it. Sorry, Albus, but I'm stumped."
Sirius had grabbed Harry but was having no more luck at calming the now red faced and very upset child, he passed him to Remus. Remus panicked and passed him to Hermione who had no more luck than anyone else. She turned and handed Harry to Severus who put the little boy on his shoulder, patted his back and whispered to him. Harry calmed down to an occasional hiccough and promptly went to sleep, his breath still catching every once in a while. Stunned silence filled the hall, the eight pranksters having a hard time keeping a straight face.
Albus introduced himself to Severus and helped him to his seat at the staff table. Lunch was unique. Snape acted fascinated and very happy to talk to everyone. He ate several sandwiches with Harry comfortably asleep across his legs. Severus ate with one hand and rubbed the sleeping toddler's back with the other while asking dozens of questions with awe and wonder. He felt the soft touch of the Headmaster trying to read his mind but kept his mind filled with everything he had just heard and seen. Albus shook his head and gave up. Severus smiled to see the wheels starting to turn in the old man's head as he finally accepted the situation and tried to figure out how he was going to reverse the potion. Eric Brewmeister was fascinated at the puzzle of how a potion could go as wrong as to produce these strange symptoms. Hmm, he would need to brew a potion that aged them each about thirteen years; that he could do; he just didn't know how he was also going to restore the potion's master's memories! Well, he would solve one problem at a time.
Sirius wasn't a happy man. Why did Harry want to be with Sniv…, oh right, he promised to give the man another chance, right, Severus Snape. And why did he scream at him, Harry had always liked him when he was a baby, in fact he had played by the hour with Harry and his father, James. Well, he guessed he would just have to stick close to his godson and Snape right now to make sure the man didn't hurt him. But he didn't seem to hate him anymore; of course, he didn't seem to know who anyone was. In fact, Snape had seemed very pleased to meet him at lunch and had really liked the stories that he and Moony had told him. In fact, if he had to admit it, the man seemed to be a very pleasant fellow if you discounted their history, which actually now didn't exist any more. If it wasn't for Harry being only two and not liking him, he wouldn't care if the mishap was reversed; ever.
After a very pleasant lunch, Albus had taken Severus and Harry down to the potions master's quarters in the dungeon. Sirius had insisted on accompanying them and Albus really didn't mind. The three men had just sat down when Harry woke up. "Daddy, I'm hungry!" That said, he climbed off of Severus' lap and ran looking for the bathroom. The men heard a sigh and then a flush before the toddler reemerged and climbed once again onto Severus' lap putting his small head on the man's chest and sticking his thumb into his mouth. Albus laughed, "Well at least you won't have to be changing nappies, son." He called for a house elf to bring a cheese sandwich and a banana as well as a glass of juice for the boy.
Sirius had sat next to Severus on the couch and was trying his best to make friends with Harry again. Harry looked a little leery but at least he wasn't screaming any more. The toddler ate lunch while still on his 'Daddy's' lap, as the adults talked over his head. Harry thought he had tormented his godfather long enough and allowed himself to be enticed down to the floor to play with the blocks that Sirius had conjured.
The three men had decided that Sirius would stay with Severus to help with baby Harry and reeducate him about living in the castle and the world of magic. Then tomorrow they would begin to brew an antidote to the failed potion that had de-aged the two about thirteen years.
Albus had volunteered to watch Harry the next morning to allow the two men to help Eric in the potions lab. He never knew what he was in for. Minerva had offered to help also, though she had no more experience caring for a very active two year old than the aged headmaster had to be truthful. It was too close to the full moon for Remus to be of any help.
Unknown to them, the children had let all the other Weasleys in on the plan to get Sirius and Severus together and prank the Headmaster; so they were unfortunately unavailable to help with babysitting the boy. Harry's journal was making the rounds of the family to explain what was happening. Molly thought she would just have to go shake those two; but was made to see the humor in the situation almost immediately and agreed it was a worthwhile goal to finally bury the schoolboy rivalry and hatred that had festered for so many years between Severus, Sirius and Remus.
Harry had charmed the camera to follow him around taking pictures whenever he would send a mental 'now' and he was getting lots of really great memories. He was sure he would never live down the pictures of Albus Dumbledore, greatest wizard of the century
feeding him his morning oatmeal. Dumbledore had opened his own mouth and made funny faces while feeding him and he had to pretend to need help. Frankly, the man was a menace; he missed Harry's mouth and got more on his clothes and face than in him. And he kept giving him biscuits at every turn.
Now the three were on the floor, Dumbledore adorned with baby bib and bonnet as he played 'house' with Minerva as the 'mum' and he as the 'Daddy'. It was actually kind of fun seeing the two let down their hair with him, so to speak.
Harry knew from his time with Bella, that you didn't give a two year old finger paints but who was he to stop the professors. Albus now had beautiful streaks of clumped and colored beard, Minerva had lovely handprints on her bum, just as high as baby Harry could reach, and Harry had charmed the paint to resist any effort of the two to remove it, so still adorned with the colors of the rainbow, and too exhausted to remember to just change their clothes, they headed to the Great Hall for lunch.
The two adults had been at first astonished, and then proud, but had gradually worked their way to annoyed at baby Harry's displays of 'accidental magic'. Minerva now had beautiful blonde ringlets, Albus had a full head of red hair, unfortunately now arranged into an 'afro' and they both were still adorned with the finger paint. 'Blessed Merlin,' thought Albus, 'I can't wait to get back to a castle full of hormonal, over exuberant teenagers. They are much less work than one blasted baby!' He would have been much more upset if he realized that the camera was still following, dutifully taking pictures for one very fat, very funny picture album.
When the five teens sat down for lunch, they couldn't help laughing at the picture of the head table, and the trio entering the hall after them. Severus was still bubbling at Sirius who was trying hard not to laugh, as the three entered the Great Hall. Professor Dumbledore had a big red afro, his beard was full of clumps of rainbow paint, Professor McGonagall had beautiful blonde ringlets and tiny handprints all across her bum. Harry walked between the two, holding a hand with each of the two, looking angelic and innocent. He took one look at the head table, yelled, "Daddy!" and ran to climb on Severus' lap and tell him all about his day.
He threw his arms around Severus' neck and gave him a big sloppy kiss, turned around and grabbed a turkey sandwich from the plate in front of them. Albus glared at him when he noticed that Severus just gave him a bowl of applesauce and a spoon and let Harry feed himself, which he did very well. By the end of the meal, Harry was asleep in Sirius' arms while Severus finished eating, and Albus and Minerva looked like they wanted a nap too.
Hermione and Ron walked up to the staff table and volunteered to watch Harry for the afternoon, promising to call the potions master if they needed him. Harry sent to his Dad, 'Come out later and we'll play in the snow. It should be fun! How's the 'cure' coming?'
Severus sent back, 'Actually quite well, Eric is a good potions master, perhaps he and I can split the potions classes when I get my memory back. And I am getting along surprisingly well with Sirius, he's not too bad when we aren't trying to kill each other. I might actually be able to one day call him, friend! So we should be able to speed up the plan, it might only take a couple more days. Love you, son, I have to go now.'
Harry morphed back to himself after they entered the portrait hole and spent an enjoyable afternoon playing wizarding chess, exploding snap, and planning more 'accidental magic' for the professors. The twins were, not surprisingly, a good source of ideas, and Harry was constantly reminded not to get on the wrong side of them or Ginny. Those three could be just mean!
Over the next nine days, it appeared that no one was safe from baby Harry. Professor Flitwick had to float upside down for almost an hour one morning, Madame Pomfrey was turned into a big, pink bunny when she tried to force baby Harry to take a vitamin potion, and Hagrid looked particularly nice in a bright yellow tutu and ballet slippers when he scared the boy by bringing a bowtruckle to lunch to show him one day. And the camera just clicked on and on.
Harry could only be comforted when he was upset, scared or just plain tired by his Daddy. And Sirius and a somewhat recovered Remus had gotten used to seeing their former worst enemy cradling and caring for Harry with real affection. Harry now called the two Uncle Padfoot and Uncle Moony and the two were very pleased. They had decided they might actually like Severus Snape now and were mightily hoping that he wouldn't change back too much when the potion was finished tomorrow afternoon.
Albus and Minerva had decided that all parents should be given an Order of Merlin and the Weasleys should be nominated for sainthood after babysitting several more times for baby Harry. All in all, everyone could hardly wait for tomorrow.
Everyone in the castle, plus the Weasleys, were arranged around the potions classroom waiting for the potion to finish the last five minutes of cooling before they could give it to Severus and Harry. Eric carefully ladled a measure of absolutely worthless potion into two goblets and handed one to Severus who took it and drank it in one long chug. Everyone watched him, not noticing Harry pointing two fingers at Severus, who gradually aged back into the familiar visage of the potions teacher, though without the trademark snarl. He turned to look at all of them and smiled.
"Yes, it appears to have worked. Thank you all for your help." He then turned and gave first Eric, and then Sirius and Remus a big smile with a heartfelt thank you. He looked deep into Sirius' eyes and quietly stated, "I had forgotten exactly why we began to hate each other, and in truth I can not even remember now, but the past few days have meant more to me than I can ever tell you. Friend?" he held out his hand and Sirius smiled back and shook it. "Friend and thank you Severus for saving Harry."
The handshake and pledge were repeated between Severus and Remus, before everyone turned to look expectantly at Harry. Severus picked him up and kissed his forehead, "Come son, you need to grow too." The others were still stunned to see the way Severus was treating Harry even after his reconciliation with the two Marauders. Harry sat on Severus' lap and drank the potion; luckily not as much as Severus had had to drink, and then slowly morphed himself back into his fifteen year old self. He turned and hugged Severus tightly. With a tear in his eye, his voice quivering, "Will you still be my Daddy, Severus?" He then turned to the other two standing beside him, "Uncle Padfoot, Uncle Moony, will you be my godfathers and uncles still?"
Sirius had looked upset briefly at the idea of Severus being Harry's dad, but he had realized over the last few days that he was much happier being an uncle than a daddy and that he still had twelve years of growing up before he wanted a teenager of his own full time. Remus and Albus had finally convinced him that Azkaban had kept him from maturing past the age when he had been imprisoned and that he really needed to work on growing up.
The two hugged the teenager who was still perched on Severus' lap and acquiesced, looking at Severus first to make sure it was all right with him. Inwardly Severus and Harry were both yelling 'Yes! It worked!' to each other. And with a gentle flick of his finger, Harry sent the camera back to his dorm room to await the development of the pictures of the last ten days.
Two days later, the rest of the students returned to the castle for the start of the new year and things settled down to normal, well, as normal as Hogwarts castle ever was.
AN: Sorry if this chapter isn't as edited as they normally are. I wanted to get this out before the weekend was over since I left you with two dreadful cliff hangers and I feel bad. I am now completely caught up on writing so don't expect a new chapter for a few days. I really do like to be several chapters ahead of time but real life caught up. My two grandsons just turned fourteen, my son had foot surgery and we went out of town for three days and my daughter wouldn't loan me her laptop so I had no access to a computer. Oh withdrawal symptoms!