Child of Mine
Chapter 5
When a Man Breaks

The past three days had been hell, Snape decided as he walked up and down in his room, snarling inwardly to himself, rocking Harry back and forth, desperately trying to calm him down.

Ever since the night he had given Harry that 'quiet' bath and then started him screaming again, it hadn't stopped. He was always crying, whether it was hysterically, or at a dull roar. No one, not even Albus Dumbledore himself, could persuade the child to eat, to sleep, or to quiet down for very long anymore.

Snape was so irritated that his mind had ceased functioning at most levels. Now it was amusing, yet pitiful to the rest of the staff, they KNEW that because of Severus' snarly attitude it was upsetting Harry. And they would have told him that fact, but Dumbledore, for some reason, wished Snape to learn this on his own. Little did they know that Dumbledore hoped this screw up, would break the horrible teacher / student relationship Severus held with Harry, and the rest of the students. If Harry could somehow wheedle his way into Snape's heart... Maybe there would be a chance for both of them to gain, what they had lost so early on in their lives.

Snape however was going on little, if ANY sleep at all, had he not been in such a bad mood and sulking over his problem, he might have noticed little things like, being nice to Harry just might shut him up. And the problem was, not only was he in danger of collapsing on his feet, Harry could get very sick if this kept on.

It was Friday night and nearing one A.M. Snape's eyes were bloodshot, his face was worn and dark circles were beneath his eyes. Harry was in no better shape and Snape switched the arm that was holding Harry and finally sat down on his bedroom couch and sighed in frustration.

"Please....." he nearly pleaded, voice cracking. "Just shut up, calm down, I can't take this anymore..." He rocked himself, and Harry, back and forth as if on a rocking chair and closed his eyes, rubbing Harry's back in a manner he hoped would be soothing.

"Please little one..." a soft, beautiful voice whispered pleadingly to him, "No more tears... I know your daddy is gone... please, I can't bear your tears anymore..."

Tears of unhappiness....betrayal, loneliness....

Then, she began singing, her voice stopping his tears as she sang....

"There is no tomorrow,
That we can't survive,
As long as you're with me,
We shall always strive.

To live and love fully,
Till we are no more,
Your heart and arms hold me,
And always assure....

So fear not my darling,
I'll always be near,
Our safety is hard won,
There's no need to fear..."

Had Snape been more awake and alert, he would have realized he had begun singing this song in his deep voice which was so soft and soothing, Harry had quieted down, and soon, was holding tightly to Severus' shirt, tears no longer spilling over his cheeks, and his red heavy eyes were drifting closed as the tired man's voice went on, both of them so exhausted, neither realized he had stopped rocking, because he was resting against the back of the couch.

"No danger can harm you,
While I guard your sleep,
Dream sweetly I'll be here
This promise..." he yawned slightly then whispered the words, "I'll keep...."

With one last yawn his own eyes slid shut and his body went limp, as both child and teacher fell into a deep rest, Snape's arms protectively holding Harry to his chest, assuring Harry unconsciously, that this promise, he would keep.

~*~

The next morning Snape slowly but surely woke up. He still felt exhausted, weak -- and his back, neck, and legs were in minor pain. He opened his eyes and looked to the weight in his arms, and there was Harry, still down for the count.

What had happened last night? The answer was just out of grasp and he sat there for at least ten more minutes before the memory of his mother singing to him suddenly came to his head. Mother... Lullaby... Singing to Harry... He froze.

Oh dear lord.

He hadn't.

He couldn't have-

How could-

Snape winced and hoped dearly that Harry remembered NOTHING of his transformation. What had happened last night? Why was it the others (before Harry was not able to be consoled even by the headmaster) could comfort him? Why is it, whenever he spoke, Harry broke into tears?

What was it they did, that he didn't do? What was it about them that made Harry smile?

He probably just likes them better... I'd swear that Gryffindor's play favorites, Severus thought to himself. So what was it that made Harry so upset? He thought about all the times he had had Harry and when the crying would begin, and when the smiles would end the tears... And he once more mentally froze.

It couldn't be....

It couldn't be that. It couldn't be because his tone of voice was upsetting Harry! That was so trivial! So stupid! So- So-- Like a child to get easily hurt and offended. He mentally groaned. That was what was upsetting Harry, he didn't like the fact that Severus was being so gruff and snappish. Meaning he'd have to be quiet, and calmer, if he wanted peace, if he wanted silence...

He would have to be (God forbid,) NICE!

How on earth was he going to survive this?!

~*~

Harry slowly woke up, his eyes opening sleepily to find himself looking up to the man who had sung to him last night. He hadn't felt that safe before since... Harry, for one moment, saw and felt within his mind's eye, someone holding him gently, soft perfume, a gentle voice singing, and then all he knew was fear, a flash of green, and then... waking up in blackness... screaming, crying, and being pulled from the darkness by this man...

Snape looked down at Harry who was looking at him with wide eyes, almost fearfully. He sighed and then gently asked, "How are you doing there, Harry? Think you can handle a breakfast after that long nap?"

Although Harry didn't understand what he had said, he knew enough that his tone of voice was different. It wasn't full of hate or distrust. But why? He didn't dare make a movement as he gave Snape a wary look.

Severus decided not to push his luck and expect the child to actually smile just yet and stood from the couch and took Harry into the bathroom. He sat on edge of the tub with the suspicious child in his lap as he got the water to the right temperature. He then efficiently stripped Harry and placed him in the tub. The child looked at the slowly filling tub to the man who was stripping his own robes off, and decided things were much better than normal and started splashing the rising water with both hands.

After stripping his clothes from yesterday off and placing them and Harry's dirty things into the hamper, Severus stood for a moment in the bathroom and watched Harry play in the water. A minute passed and he decided, 'what the hell...' and took care of his necessary business, even if the child was in here with him. Finished with that and brushing his teeth, he tried to figure if he should throw something on or wash the kid while sans clothing. He gathered the child's bath necessities and as he placed them on the edge of the tub, pouring in a small amount of strawberry bubble bath, when he got an unusual idea, which he discarded immediately. There was no way in hell he was going to take a bubble bath with Harry Potter!

Just then Harry looked up and gestured to Snape and his bath toys. Nodding, he put the toys in the tub and Harry made grabbing gestures at him with his hands and smiled and laughed up at him. Sighing, Severus gave in and climbed into the bath behind the child, who squealed in joy.

"If we ever get you back to normal Potter, and by sheer horrible luck, you remember it, I highly suggest you don't DARE tell anyone about this," he warned gently.

Harry had flat out ignored him with a squeal as he let the witch hit the water with a splash, getting Severus in the face. "ACKPTH!" he spit out the bubbly water as Harry began sucking on his plastic broom stick. As Harry heard him cough he turned round to see Snape wiping his face, and with another laugh he hugged Severus' knee, much to the shock of poor Snape, and went about soaking himself thoroughly with more splashes, using the dragon to create bigger splashes.

After washing Harry's body down with the blue soap bar he moved Harry a little more away so he could clean himself and when he sat it down and began scrubbing his arms with his washcloth. Harry looked to the sinking soap that had been dropped in the water and clumsily picked it up, and began scrubbing Severus' leg with it.

"What on earth are you doing?" Severus asked with a frown.

"Wash." Harry stated simply.

Severus sighed and picked up Harry holding him in one arm so he would be able to reach the shampoo's while Harry decided to take a lock of Severus' hair in his hand. When Harry's hand patted the top of Snape's head he was unfortunate enough to feel the sliminess, "Yuck," Harry said in disgust as his hand was shiny with the hair grease Snape used to hold his hair back and down.

"Excuse me..." Severus put him back down with a frown as Harry began cleaning his hand in the water. "Are you saying I need to wash my hair?" he asked with a glare.

"Yuck," was the simple answer.

About an hour later both were clean and dry and as Snape was about to use his hair oil Harry shook his head, catching Snape's attention.

"What now?" he asked icily.

"Nooooo," Harry whined looking at the bottle.

"It is my hair Harry-" he stopped as he realized that for the first time since he had met Harry, he had called him by his first name. This fact didn't go unnoticed by the child sitting on the bathroom counter because he was looking up to Snape with a strange look. Putting the bottle up suddenly Snape shortly said, "Fine."

He dressed them both, cleaned up the mess Harry had helped create in the bathroom, wiping off the shaving cream on the mirror and a few of the walls, and then took the pleasant smelling, and thankfully quieter child, upstairs to the dinning room.

As it was a Saturday, breakfast started an hour later then usual and he was slightly surprised to find Remus and Hagrid up and at the breakfast table. Now they were sitting next to each other and in a somewhat deep conversation so when he reached them they almost didn't notice him because of the lack of hysterical screaming that had been a constant forerunner to any entrance that Severus would make.

"Severus! Good morning! I see Harry's not screaming anymore... By potion, wand, or threat? I'm rather curious," Remus smiled to Severus who glared.

Calmly he placed Harry in his high chair and answered, "I'll have you know we had quite a restful night's sleep."

Remus grinned, "Well something must have happened to bring you to this."

"You have no inkling of an idea..." he muttered, keeping his voice modulated and calm during the conversation, which did not go unnoticed.

"You're actin' different today Professor," Hagrid commented curiously, "If we 'ad known that 'anding you a baby would 'ave calmed ya down, I woulda 'anded you one years ago..."

"Shut up Hagrid." Snape growled, which attracted the attention of his young charge.

Remus raised an eyebrow as Harry's lower lip began to do the infamous trembling bit.

"Severus-" Remus pointed to Harry and Snape immediately turned to Harry and took him in his arms trying to comfort him with gentle words and a simple backrub which seemed to be working. But Remus and Hagrid were too busy gaping in absolute shock to really notice.

"I've seen it all," Hagrid said slowly.

"What? Severus Snape cuddling Harry Potter?" Remus almost laughed at the visual of what an older Harry would have said, done, and reacted to such a picture.

"That and Harry enjoying it..." Hagrid added as he shook his head.

Severus had sat down and tried placing Harry in his seat but Harry, deciding he didn't wish to go back, began pouting again and Severus gave in, allowing Harry to sit on his lap.

Snape tried eating his own food, but most of it was stolen by the near one year old munchkin.

"How am I to eat with him stealing my food?" he asked with a sigh as he gave the toddler a bit of his sausage.

"That's like asking, 'How am I to come up with Remus' potion, and Harry's antidote while I'm busy trying to keep Harry Potter out of trouble'." Remus grinned.

Snape looked to him, and what used to be his quick, sharp, and cunning mind, (having a baby around can dull one's senses...) finally let it click as to what Remus had said, he winced and nearly let his body slump forward, "Damn it." then, "WELL Remus, since you're so good at bringing UP such trivial details, you may watch him, as it seems you two get along so well." Severus stood, and handed Harry to Remus who blinked quite taken back.

Snape then left the table heading for the doors quickly, almost skipping in a mad kind of glee.

"SEVERUS!!!" squeaked the stunned werewolf.

Snape called over his shoulders, "Do enjoy yourself!" and dodged round the corner as Hagrid began laughing.

Remus looked to him indignant as Hagrid held up his hands, "You sunk yer own boat wit' that one Remus."

They looked down to the toddler who had begun stealing an entire pancake from Remus' plate, happily stuffing it into his mouth when Hagrid suggested, "Why don't you bring the little tyke down to my hut when were finished and we'll keep him busy with some of the animals, maybe even get Ron and 'Ermione to 'elp us out. Take him for a walk, a picnic, something he couldn't normally do with tall, dark, and gruesome."

Harry let out a high happy squeal which they winced at but Remus nodded, "Right..."

~*~

It turned out that by the time they had reached the hut they had gathered a near truck load of students to help out. Perrin Whistler a Hufflepuff, Amber Posten and Salamanthia from Slytherin, Ben, Fred, George, Neville, Ron, and Hermione from Gryffindor. As the large group walked towards the hut Harry was given a ride on Fred's shoulders, he clung on by holding onto Fred's bright red hair, which he enjoyed playing with immensely. He was now wearing a sturdy blue corduroy jumper, white shirt, and little shoes, a baby bag being carried by Hagrid (who was the only one strong enough to lift it).

Since it was a very sunny day out, and quite warm they had set down a very large picnic cloth and had sat down playing with Harry and talking about school, family, hobbies, interests, friends, dislikes, likes, academic strengths and weaknesses, future plans, and more and more began realizing how many things they had in common. Hermione got along very well with Salamanthia who had a very keen mind and a love for transfiguration and books while Amber had fun flirting with Ron whom she found quite cute... as well as his brothers.

Harry, bored of sitting, had squirmed out of Hermione's lap and looking to his friends, who seemed interested in their own conversation, decided to crawl towards the one with the shabby robes that he remembered but didn't quite understand why.

Lupin looked down to see Harry quickly crawling towards him and as soon as Harry was within reach he swooped him up into the air as a cry of delight went through the air.

"FLY!!!" he ordered.

Remus stood, "Pardon me a moment," he said with a laugh as he then took Harry carefully by his sides, lifted him into the air, and began playing 'broomstick' popularly known as 'airplane' to muggles.

Hagrid looked over at his pumpkin patch then turned back to look to the group, "I know ya all may not want to, but would yeh mind 'elping me weed out the pumpkin patch? I want 'em to make it to a very good size fer 'alloween and it'd be a lot more fun and easier if I had yeh 'elping me."

The children looked to each other then to Hagrid's face, and mentally sighed as they nodded, answering that they would indeed help him. During their weeding Harry had gone from crawling to walking within an hour, but everyone was too busy to really notice it. They kept an eye on him making sure he was there, but beyond that they just didn't notice what he was doing specifically.

Now as all laws of nature go, when a young child is doing something or going somewhere it shouldn't, something bad is always going to happen. No matter how innocent the child's intentions are. And the big forest that loomed behind and beside the hut, almost acting like a tempting border that needed to be broached, kept drawing Harry's bright green eyes to it like a refrigerator would a magnet.

Remus finally stood up and placed Harry in the middle of the pumpkin patch warning them to watch Harry while he went to get the food. And this worked for about fifteen minutes, but work does keep the mind occupied, and eventually, Harry was able to waddle his way out of the care of his watchers eyes.

When Harry had been eleven, the forest had seemed dark and foreboding, creeping him out more then anything. But Harry at age one, was looking at it with wonder. What could be inside such a curious place? It radiated something so different that he had to go see what was there. It had only been five minutes back at the patch when Perrin looked up, around, and then asked, "Where's Harry?"

The small group froze, then began looking around, "HARRY?!?" a collective shout went through the air, but Harry was enjoying climbing over branches, and crawling through bushes, to really care. This forest was magical... he didn't exactly know what that meant, but it made his body nearly sing to be in such a place. The further he went, the more light he lost, and it was only about another few minutes of wandering that he finally realized, he wanted to leave.

He had come very far, and it was nice, but he wanted to go back to where Hagrid and his friends were. Turning around, he began aiming for what he thought was whence he came, but alas, his luck had run out.

Three more minutes later he was sitting down on the hard ground bawling his eyes out for his 'Daddy' and 'Moony'.

~*~

Firenze, a proud yet helpful centaur, was making his way to Hagrid's hut. He and Hagrid met about once a month to discuss problems of the forest and school, and today he was to inform Hagrid about the new... creature that had entered their forest.

It was a dangerous beast for it killed for the mere pleasure, and not for food, a child of his tribe had already been slain by this creature and he wished to risk no more of his tribes young.

His ears perked as he heard a cry soft and low almost waiver in the breeze. What was that? Who and where was it coming from? Unconsciously he began moving towards the cry and behind a set of trees saw a small human child crying into his clothed knees. He stepped forward, the sounds of his horse hoofs making dull sounds, and alerting the child there was someone other then himself, there.

He stood up looking to what had approached and let out a blood curdling shriek of fright at the strange thing before him. Firenze backed up a step as he looked to this child and felt something within him stir. He knew this child, this small boy with black wild hair... and as the boy looked up to him with tears trailing down his face, Firenze saw those familiar bright and powerful green eyes and knew beyond a doubt, that he and Harry Potter's paths had crossed once more.

~*~

The group had split off after searching Hagrid's hut, and the grounds immediately around it, while several were searching bushes, small trees, big trees, the lake, and so on, Hermione was running straight for the castle. Lupin... Dumbledore, anyone but Snape! He'd murder them! And if she had to tell him, she'd be the first to go.

Her mind was panicked, nothing could have happened to Harry, he WAS Harry after all... Nothing bad could ever happen to him right? Her eyes were stinging as tears began to build up like her fears. Find Lupin and everything will be alright... She was running blindly down corridors, heart racing, not knowing where he would be when she turned round one of the lower halls corners to see Remus holding a large basket on one arm and drinking his potion in one long swig with the other hand.

With Snape right next to him.

She froze and was running right back around the corner (away from Snape) without a moments pause when she heard Remus' choked voice, "Her- Hermione?!" he gasped out her name and she stopped ready to crumble, "What are you doing here?"

She turned around, and they looked to her apprehensively as they saw her eyes, her face, and the fact she was completely out of breath, "Harry--" she panted then stopped as Severus who had the cup back in his hands, tightened his grip around it.

"What of him Miss Granger? Snape asked icily eyes glittering dangerously.

"He's... we... I swear we were watching him-"

Remus' eyes widened, "Where is he?"

"I... We don't know-" she finally sobbed out. "He's gone, we lost him-" she wailed out, "we need your help-"

"WHAT?!" Snape bellowed this out and it echoed several times in the hall before she answered.

"I'm sorry-"

"Shut up you foolish child, crying won't find him!" he brushed by her and was running before she or Remus could blink, and they quickly followed behind the frantic potions master.