Ch 14 Christmas Cruise

Christmas break came faster then he would have liked. Lucius had somehow convinced Severus to come on a cruise with him and Narcissa. Severus had protested for nearly a month before he had given in. So here he sat packing his and Harry's clothes. They would be leaving first thing in the morning to the port where they would be sailing along the coast and hitting beaches here and there. Severus planned to spend all his time indoors the sun was after all his enemy. Harry was jumping around singing 'I'm a little Tea pot' while throwing all his toys around the room. The cruise ship was child friendly and had many attractions for young toddlers. Severus felt his confidence slipping. He really didn't want to go. Perhaps he could convince someone else to go in his place. His floo suddenly came to life and into the room came Lucius Malfoy.

"Listen Lucius perhaps this isn't a good idea. I am not really one to bathe in sunlight after all" Severus said staring at Lucius, who rolled his eyes.

"Now Severus I knew you would be having second thoughts so I brought you something" Lucius said and extracted from his pocket a pair of black shorts. He handed them to Severus who noted they were swim trunks. Severus sneered.

"Lucius you aren't going to get me in the sun." He said.

"I won't but Harry will. I got these because I knew that you probably wouldn't want a tan. They will keep the suns damaging properties away from you. So when you return form this trip you will just as pale as you are now" Lucius said like he had just given Severus a big treat. Severus just pursed his lips and went back to packing.

"Oh Severus you will have fun. Harry will have fun. He will have the time of his life with the other children. Oh and I hope I didn't forget to mention that this is a muggle cruise"

"WHAT!" Severus said turning so fast that something cracked.

"Well the cruise it is hosted by muggles. We will be separated from them the majority of the time but you still might run across them." Lucius said. Severus was trying to control his temper. For some reason he had been short the last few days. He had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach and it was uncomfortable.

"Lucius is your sole purpose in life to make mine miserable?" Severus asked when he trusted himself not to kill the man.

"Don't be silly Severus I am trying to make you happy and Harry too. I can't help it if I forgot to mention what kind of ship the majority of the passengers are. The whole first class is wizarding society. So you don't have to worry about the how you act when you dine and things like that." Lucius said. Severus sighed rubbing his eyes.

"Very well Lucius thank you for the trunks and I will see you tomorrow at the docks"

"Actually you should meet at my house. We have to arrive in a muggle fashion so we will be taking the car." Lucius said.

"Alright then I will see you at your house at 7 am sharp" Severus said his patience wearing thin.

"Fine Severus fine. See you tomorrow." Lucius said before disappearing back to the living room where he heard the floo soon after. Severus went back to his room and unlocked his liquor cabinet. He grabbed a bottle of Vodka and took a swig. He felt the burning in his throat and stomach as the alcohol washed over him. He felt a little light headed but he also felt his tight limbs begin to relax. He took another smaller swig before putting it away. He returned to packing Harry's things. When he finished he went back to his room and began to pack his clothes. Before he closed his suitcase he looked around to make sure he didn't forget anything. He glanced back to his liquor cabinet. He would definitely need alcohol to get him through this week. He unlocked it and pulled out the Vodka along with some Scotch and Bacardi. He stuck them in his suit case.

"Uncle sevis can I go with aunty McGongall. She's going to teach me something" Harry asked. Severus nodded.

"Take the floo to her office" Severus answered, he watched the child disappear, before he left the chambers through the dungeon door. He felt like giving out detentions to the remaining students.

The next morning Severus and Harry and two large suitcases apparated to Malfoy Manor. The luggage was put into the long black limousine and Harry and Severus went into the house to find Lucius.

"Good Morning Severus Harry. Are you both ready to go?" Lucius asked in a jolly mood.

"Yes!" Harry answered and he went off to find Draco.

"Would you like something to eat or drink before we go Severus? We are waiting for Narcissa to finish grooming herself so it might be a while." Lucius said.

"Yes can I get some Scotch" Severus said his migraine coming back.

"it's a bit early for that don't you think Severus?" Lucius said his brows raised.

"I can mix it with coffee" Severus offered.

"Alright Severus but only because I know how much you hate me right now" Lucius said and he summoned a house elf who returned immediately with coffee and alcohol. Lucius took only coffee while Severus dumped more then a generous amount of Scotch into his coffee. He downed the scorching coffee and refilled it the same way before downing that cup to. He was about to do it again but Lucius took away the alcohol.

"The last thing I want to do is baby sit a man." Lucius said and Narcissa came down soon afterwards. They were on their way to the port about ten minutes later after having to wrestle Draco away from his toy broomstick.

The ride was uneventful and dull. Severus was in between drunk and sober and he felt good. He didn't even pay attention to Narcissa's disgusted looks. They arrived to the port just as other rich wizarding families did. Muggles stared as the strangely dressed rich people stepped out of their limousines. They were greeted by muggle butlers and maids. Their rooms were huge and lavishly decorated.

The trip was a sort of blur to Severus who kept himself well in a haze to remember half the things he did. Lucius however said that Severus was being a fun dad and took a lot of pictures to remember the trip by. Severus was sober the day they made dock and he could return to the hospital. With it came his previous feeling of unease. Harry was weighed down with a million more toys and Albus and Minerva were there to greet them.

They were both smiling but Severus noticed that it didn't quite reach their eyes.

"Albus, Minerva" Severus nodded in greeting as he went to throw his stuff in his room. When he returned only Albus stood there.

"Where did Harry go?" He asked.

"Minerva took him to unpack his things. Severus can I speak to you in my office?" He asked. Severus felt suddenly very tired and he didn't really want to know what the old man had to say. He however nodded and followed the headmaster through the floo. Albus was already seated behind his desk and Severus took a seat in front of him.

"What is it Albus?" Severus asked straight out. He began to grow impatient with the man who was taking his time to answer.

"Well as you might have guessed it isn't anything good Severus" He started and when Severus said nothing he continued.

"Well the Dursley's came into contact with me two days ago. They sent me a letter via post saying they wanted Harry back in their care"

"You said no right?" Severus said not sure how to take this new revelation.

"Of course I said no. I told them that Harry was happy here with his established new life and that I would not release him back into their care." Albus said he looked tired.

"They wrote back saying that we had kidnapped their nephew and if we didn't return him they would alert the authorities." he said and Severus just raised an eyebrow.

"That's stupid they couldn't possibly do anything to us. They are only muggles." Severus said crossing his arms over his chest.

"On the contrary Severus they could do a lot of damage to the secrecy of our world. If they told the muggle authorities we could be revealed and a lot of paper work would have to be done. We are also in the wrong not even the ministry knows of Harry and without their consent we could be in trouble. You could lose your job as well as I for giving consent to the arrangement." Albus said and Severus was speechless. Nothing was said for a while Severus sat in numb shock realizing what this could mean. His world was crashing around him.

"You can't let them win Albus" Severus said his voice low as he sank in his chair his head in his hands.

"I am trying my boy. I am trying" Albus said.

Severus left the office and headed to the grounds he walked around the lake trying to come to a conclusion about anything. He had never felt so at a loss for what to do.

/Alright sorry it took so very long but I have been busy busy busy. It will be ending pretty darn soon now. Be prepared to cry my friends for I am an evil witch. Jk review TTFN

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