12
Before you read this chapter I recommend you go back to chapter 3 of Harry' Last Hope and read that chapter. The whole story wraps back around.
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Severus couldn't sleep. His eyes refused to remain closed as he struggled not to worry about the small boy across the hall. Harry didn't put up a fuss or fight about being left alone in his new bedroom. No, the boy had put up a false bravado and Severus knew the act was for the sole purpose of impressing him. The boy was wrought with insecurity, that much was obvious. His insistence to not be a nuisance and hide his fears had started at a very young age indeed.
The Potion Master thought of his meeting at the ministry that had taken place earlier that day. Minister Fudge had been persuaded into re-evaluating the legal rights Severus had in the adoption now that Black was back. As far as the minister was concerned Harry's legal godfather should have the right to attain custody of the boy.
The adoption had been very close to being over turned in favor of Black, that is until Severus stepped in and set the minister straight.
When Severus had first reached the ministry building he had no idea the pandemonium his presence would cause. Witches and Wizards alike had stopped to turn and stare at him. Several asked for autographs, which he refused to give with a wave of his hand.
By the time Dumbledore and Severus had made their way into the minister's office there was a large crowd following behind them. As soon as Fudge saw the support Snape had garnered he soon changed his tune and began to back Snape.
Severus demanded the adoption to remain as it was and for the entire matter to be laid to rest. Fudge was about to refuse but once Severus threatened to reveal the minister's part in keeping Harry at the Dursley's, the minister relented. The minister let it be known that he was concerned for his own welfare now that Black was a free man. Snape could care less what Black would have to say over matter.
Severus reflected once more about the sixteen year old Harry never coming to him with the information that Black was trying to turn the adoption over.. He didn't know if the teen had ever planned on telling him what Black was up to. It put a slight doubt into his mind whether or not Harry would choose to stay with him if given the chance. He pushed that thought aside, not wanting to question their relationship as father and son.
It had been almost an hour since the Potion Master had last checked on his six year old son. The first time he went into the dimly lit room he had found the boy curled up on the bed with silent tears dripping down his face. As soon as the child realized Severus had walked into the room the little imp pretended to be asleep. Severus had tried to get him to open up and talk about his tears but the child had refused. After several long minutes Harry finally fell asleep.
Severus threw back his covers and pushed his feet into his slippers once more. He quietly went out into the hallway and pushed his son's door open a bit more. He was surprised to find the child standing in the middle of the room looking around as if he were lost.
He immediately spelled the lights on and stepped closer to the child as the boy's look of panic slowly abated.
"Daddy, I thought … I-I didn't know where I was… I thought you left me …"
Severus scooped the boy up and brought him back to his own bedroom, "No Harry, I told you that I would not leave you. Let us sit by the fire for a bit, shall we?"
Harry nodded as he held tightly to his father's neck with one hand and clutched his pony with the other. Once they sat on the chair by the fire, Harry laid his head against his daddy's chest and heard the thumbing of his heart. It calmed his own racing heart down considerably.
"Better?" Severus asked as he wrapped his arms around the child.
"You're the best daddy in the world," Harry quietly affirmed. "Way better than Uncle Vernon."
"I should hope so," Severus stated dryly, although he felt quite content to hear his son say the first part. "Close your eyes now and try to sleep."
It took only moments before Severus could feel the steady rhythm of his son's breathing, indicating that the child had fallen asleep. Before long his own eyes shut and he fell into a restful slumber.
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The next morning Severus woke up with a sleeping child curled up in his lap. He felt a sharp kink in his neck as he tried to sit up a little straighter. The boy startled awake and looked up at him with alarm.
"You are safe child," Severus calmly confirmed.
Harry rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stretched before climbing off his daddy's lap. He found his little pony on the ground and picked it up.
"Come Harry, let us get ready for the day," Severus led the small boy into the bathroom. He was relieved when the child took care of his own needs without needing help, then washed and dressed himself.
They made their way down into the kitchen to search through the crate of food Molly had left them. Just as Severus warmed up the pancakes and eggs, a very infuriated Charlet stormed into the room.
Severus sighed deeply, he had actually forgotten all about the obtuse girl with all that had been on his mind. He begrudgingly waved his wand to cancel the loss of voice spell he had placed on her. He immediately regretted it as she began her tirade.
"How could you do something so evil, so cruel! I have never been treated with such disrespect in all my life! I swear Severus you'll be sorry you ever did that!" Charlet raved.
"Is that a threat?!" Severus asked in a cold tone sending a shiver down Harry's back.
Charlet straightened her pearl laden robe and gathered her poise, "I would never threaten you, cousin. I am merely saying that it was a cruel punishment in which I hope you do not use again."
Severus narrowed his eyes at the girl, "I have absolutely no patience to put up with any defiance. If you should speak to me in a disrespectful tone again I will not only render you speechless but also confine you to your rooms for the foreseeable future. Do I make myself clear?"
Charlet had the good sense to push down her anger and adopt a more submissive expression, "Yes Severus, I do understand."
"Fine, then please join us for breakfast," the Potion Master knew the girl was still angry, however, he really did not have the fortitude to reflect on the matter.
Charlet sat in the chair next to Harry and looked at the small boy in shabby clothes. She couldn't wait to inform Vespa of the new state of affairs! This might even help their new plan along rather nicely.
Harry had never seen anyone with hair as long and shiny as Charlet had. He wished he could touch it. "You have nice hair," Harry declared before stuffing a large piece of pancake in his mouth.
Charlet ignored the sticky little urchin and continued eating her breakfast. She felt Severus' eyes boring into her but chose to ignore him as well.
"Hey, guess what? We all have black hair!" Harry declared with delight. "Charlet, do you like ponies? You can play with my pony if you want to." Harry prodded the toy to prance towards Charlet.
Charlet rolled her eyes, "I don't play with toys anymore, you little freak." She knew that name effected the boy adversely from her talks with Vespa.
Harry grabbed the pony off the table and held it close. Uncle Vernon called him a freak too.
Severus gave the girl a stern reproach, "Charlet, you may leave the table if you cannot manage to be civil towards Harry."
Charlet suddenly remembered her purchases from yesterday's shopping extravaganza were being delivered this morning and thought better than to talk back. She quickly did some damage control. "Alright, let me see your stupid pony."
Harry didn't like the way Charlet looked at him when Daddy wasn't watching and he didn't want her to play with his pony anymore either. He clasped onto it tighter and shook his head. When daddy wasn't looking Charlet stuck her tongue out at him.
Harry saw Charlet's pink tongue sticking out at him and he immediately thought of all the times Dudley did that to him too. It made him feel really angry and he wished Charlet's tongue would turn into a pink snake.
Severus had just picked up his cup of tea when Charlet clapped both her hands over her mouth and started to scream. He quickly stood up and made his way to the panic stricken girl.
Charlet felt something wiggling in her mouth and freaked out when she realized it was her tongue! She tried to tell Severus but couldn't manage to form any coherent words. Finally she grabbed at his hand and opened her mouth so he could see.
The Potion Master stepped back from his initial shock over seeing a pink snake looking back at him. He quickly incanted a spell to end the charm cast at the girl's mouth. The pink snake disappeared and was replaced with her sharp tongue once more.
"What the bloody hell just happened?! Did you do that Severus?" Charlet was fuming with anger.
Severus gave a curt shake of the head. They both looked at Harry at the same time. The boy's eyes were opened wide with shock.
"Harry, what happened?" Severus asked.
"I-I don't know," Harry said.
Severus turned the boy towards him and looked into his eyes, before snapping out, "Never lie to me child. Do not be afraid to tell me the truth."
Harry's heart raced with fear. He knew he had caused that snake to happen but also knew he would get into really big trouble if his daddy found out. Whenever 'funny business' happened at the Dursley's he always ended up locked in his cupboard for days, after being punished over Uncle Vernon's knee. He was frozen with fear over making his daddy mad at him.
"Harry James Potter, I will ask you once more; did you turn Charlet's tongue into a snake? Never keep secrets from me," Severus used a stern voice to convey the gravity of the situation. He was not only concerned for the boy's uncontrolled magic but also over the fact that the boy would hide anything from him. He realized part of the reprimand was due to a sixteen year old Harry keeping secrets about Sirius Black trying to get the adoption turned over.
Harry didn't want to lie but he was too afraid to tell the truth. He shook his head before looking down to avoid his daddy's eyes.
Charlet couldn't hold back her fury any longer, "You horrible little freak! Severus you ought to beat him senseless for hexing me!"
Harry panicked over hearing that. He jumped down from the chair and ran as fast as he could. He didn't know where he was going but he knew he needed to hide. He ran into the hallway but before he even reached the end he heard his daddy's voice.
"Stop! Harry, come," Severus commanded in an unyielding tone. He watched as the child hesitated for a mere second before turning to face him.
Severus led the boy into his study and shut the door behind them. He contemplated how to handle this situation. After a moment he made up his mind. He stared down at the trembling boy, regretting what had to happen in order for the child to learn to trust and obey him. It would not be to the child's benefit to let him get away with mischievous behavior and lie to his father. Severus sat down on the chair by the fireplace and crooked a finger to the child.
Harry felt like his legs were made out of lead as he walked towards his doom. He looked down at the floor, too ashamed to look his daddy in the eyes. Why did he have to be such an awful abomination, like Uncle Vernon always called him. Why did funny things always happen around him?
"Daddy please, I'm sorry, I-I didn't know it would happen! Please daddy!" Harry begged in a trembling voice. Begging never worked with Uncle Vernon, it only made the punishment worse but he couldn't manage to stop himself.
Severus took hold of the child's thin shoulders and leaned down to look him in the eyes. "It is very important that you not lie to me ever again. Wizarding children will cause accidents to happen, that is part of growing up. You are not in trouble for the accident but you are in trouble for lying to me."
Severus released the boy's shoulders and sat back in his chair. The boy slowly put the pony on the floor then stood up and with shaky hands began to unbutton his pants.
Severus was horror-struck and grabbed at the boy's hands quickly, "No Harry, I would never beat you." He buttoned the child's pants back up then pulled Harry onto his lap.
"Merlin child, I would never lay hands on you in anger. For pity's sake, is that the only way Dursley dealt with your transgressions?"
Severus pulled the boy closer to him and kissed the top of his head. In doing so he noticed the boy felt a bit warm. He felt Harry's forehead and confirmed his suspicion. The boy was slightly warm, but not enough to cause alarm. He would keep an eye on the boy in case the fever rose any higher.
"I'm sorry daddy. I just don't know why I'm such a bad boy," Harry's voice sounded grave with the weight of his crime.
"You are not bad Harry. I can hardly blame you for not trusting in adults with that dreadful uncle of yours. You must learn to trust me, I will always watch out for your best interests. Now, let us come up with an appropriate punishment together. One that does not involve any form of physical punishment."
"Um, I can clean and wash the dishes and even make your bed and clean your room," Harry declared, racking his brain for more punishments that didn't include getting hit.
"You are not a house elf, Harry," Severus stated flatly.
"What is a house elf? Charlet said I'm one."
"No you are not, do not listen to her comments any longer. A house elf is a small creature that enjoys tending to a wizards needs. House elves cook and clean and do your bidding. They are very useful creatures that I have become far too dependant on," Severus saw the wheels turning in the boy's head before the child looked up at him with a serious expression.
"Daddy, I think I am a house elf."
Severus closed his eyes, "Harry, for Merlin's sake! You were treated very poorly by your relatives but you will not be inflicted with such treatment any longer. Now, let us get back to your punishment. I can not very well assign you a report nor can I give you detention. I am unfamiliar with punishments for small children so I will require your assistance. Perhaps you can tell me how the Dursley's punished that great oaf of a cousin you have?"
Harry giggled into his hand, "Dudley doesn't get punished!" Harry's giggling bubbled into a fit of full laughter.
Severus thought that was the nicest sound he had heard in a long time and vowed to make it happen more often.
"Oh, wait. One time Uncle Vernon's boss came to tea and brought his grandson Carter Thomas with him and Dudley was supposed to play nicely with him and share but Dudley doesn't know how to share so he hit Carter Thomas really hard and made him cry! That was the only time he ever got in trouble," Harry said this all in one long breath with big round eyes.
Severus quirked an eyebrow up, "And what sort of punishment did Dudley endure?"
"They made him say he was sorry," Harry stated with a smile. "It didn't go over so well though because right after Dudley said he was sorry he kicked Uncle Vernon in the shin for making him say it."
"You reap what you sow," The Potion Master alleged dryly. "Well if an apology was good enough for Carter Thomas than it is most certainly good enough for Charlet. An apology it is then."
Harry looked up into his new father's face and felt a burst of love. He reached up and hugged his daddy's neck in a tight embrace. Right before he let go he gave his daddy a kiss on the cheek.
Severus was seriously thinking of having Harry stay this young and innocent, even if Black did regain his senses. He felt so fortunate to be able to meet his son at this innocent stage of the boy's life, before distrust had a firm hold. Regretfully, he was forced to admit that would not be very fair to the boy.
Harry scrambled off his lap and ran towards the door.
"Harry, where are you going?"
"To tell Charlet that I'm sorry," Harry declared. He ran out the door and down the hallway. Once he got to the stairs he slowed down. By the time he was half way up the stairs he felt as if he needed to lie down. His head swam with dizziness and his tummy began to twist. He turned around and sat on the step. After a minute he stood up and held onto the rail as he made his way up the stairs. His head felt kind of cloudy and his bones hurt too.
He walked past his own room and looked in several more rooms down the long hallway. Harry could hear someone talking in the last room down the hall. He slowly pushed the door open and peeked inside. Charlet was sitting on top of a giant round bed with silky curtains draped around it. Her room was so messy he couldn't find a clear path to get to her. She still hadn't noticed him and kept talking to herself in the mirror. He knocked on the partially opened door to get her attention.
"Oh Merlin, it's the kid!" Charlet hissed into the mirror before narrowing her eyes at Harry. "What the bloody hell do you want?"
Harry took a step into the room, "I'm sorry bout the snake tongue, Charlet," Harry bravely declared.
"Get out, you little freak!" Charlet screamed before throwing her shoe at the door. Merlin, she hoped the little vagabond hadn't heard her talking to Vespa! She waited until the door closed all the way before holding the mirror up to her face once more.
"Vespa, he's gone."
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Severus heard his black hawk approaching before he ever saw him. The bird swooped into the room through the floo with great commotion and black soot polluting the air. The Potion Master pulled off the parchment attached to the bird's leg then shooed it out the window.
He knew who the letter was from and was eager to have his questions about the dark arts spell answered. The note consisted of five words; Diagon Alley, Pinder's Potions, now.
The ex- death eater was quite familiar with Pinder's Potions. It was a popular drinking establishment for death eaters to frequent, due to the easy escape routes leading out.
Severus had to leave Harry and did not trust Charlet to care for the boy. He floo called the Burrow but found no one to be home. Next he called Draco and asked the teen to come through the floo.
Draco begrudgingly agreed to stay with Harry until his return. Severus made sure to warn him to check on the child's fever every so often. Then feeling more than a little concerned he felt compelled into leaving a hand written list of precautionary measures to take should the fever worsen or an emergency arise.
Draco smirked at Severus and shook his head, "I hate to point this out Severus but you are beginning to act like Madame Pomfrey with all your fussing over the kid."
Severus pulled his heavy cloak over his shoulders and gave the Slytherin a dark look, "You would do well not to repeat that statement to anyone else. I hear Durmstrang gets awfully cold in the dead of winter." He turned on his heel and headed upstairs to let Harry know he would need to leave for a bit.
He finally found the child curled up in the chair they had slept in last night in his bedroom. The boy was startled awake when they entered the room.
Severus knelt before the chair and pressed a hand to the small boy's forehead. Definitely a bit warmer than before but still not alarming so. "Harry, I must leave for a short while."
Harry rubbed his eyes and slowly sat up, "I dreamed I had to go back to the Dursley's and I missed Christmas with you."
Severus knew this would be Harry's first real Christmas. He smoothed the child's hair back, "I promise we will have Christmas together. I must leave but Draco will stay with you until I return."
Harry turned to see Draco leaning against the door frame. He jumped off the chair and launched himself at the shocked Slytherin.
"Draco, let's play piggy back again! Trot around, trot around!"
Draco bent down so Harry could climb on his back. He caught the smirk Severus now smugly wore before his godfather walked out the door. Before long he was galloping around the large bedroom with Harry Potter hanging on his back. Merlin, what was this world coming to!
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Knockturn Alley was packed with shoppers of every variety. All the restaurants had lines out the door in view of the fact that the house elves were still on strike. Severus pulled his hood further over his face as a few witches recognized him. He heard his name whispered as he walked by a group of teens.
The black door to Pinder's Potions had a goblin guarding the establishment. As soon as the goblin recognized him it bowed down low and pushed the door open. Severus spotted his friend in the very back of the room sitting right next to the floo.
A bottle of fire whiskey was ordered before the frizzy haired wizard spoke, "May I ask who had the audacity to cast a dark spell against your son, Severus?"
Severus waved the question off, "Doesn't matter, the man was not of sound mind."
"Would you like me to take care of the man for you? I owe you my life Severus." The frizzy haired wizard had a dark gleam in his eye that made Severus respond more harshly than intended.
"I am capable of taking care of my own problems. I would like to know about this curse," Severus emphasized, then calmed himself by taking a swig of the fire whiskey.
"Anxious, are you? As you should be, as you should be." The Wizard replied in a sober tone, "The spell is classified as dark arts for a reason; it will eventually kill the one it was cast against … unless they return to their proper age before fever sets in."
Severus took in a sharp breath.
"I take it the child has the fever already? There is still hope. Let me explain the curse; For every day the child lives at that age, a day will disappear from his past from that same age. It will effect every person the child had come in contact with during the days that he disappeared; since he is re-living those days. It is quite complicated but you must understand something; the Universe will fight against this unnatural occurrence and kill off the person causing these anomalous days to occur. Hence the fever will eventually kill the child." At this point the Wizard pulled out a small glass bottle filled with a dark liquid and set it on the table.
Severus picked it up and uncorked it. He couldn't recognize the ingredients from the smell.
"Be careful my friend, there is no other like this in the world. It will save your son. The potion will take roughly ten years to work. Once the child returns to his past the fever will leave him but … this potion will be in his system building up a resistance to the fever. You can not cheat the Universe… the fever will return. But it will take ten years for the fever to return. By the time the fever does return the boy will be strong enough to fight it off."
Ten years … that would make Harry sixteen. Severus suddenly remembered the odd fever Harry had when he was rescued from the Dursleys. He remembered how the fever resisted every potion the boy was given! Severus struggled to grasp the concept. This had already happened, Harry had already lived through this time travel experience when he was saved from the Dursleys this past summer.
It all made perfect sense now; the odd dreams with him caring so deeply for the boy, the way his feelings for Harry had changed so abruptly on the day he saved him way back in July. It was no wonder he felt a strong connection towards Harry!
This time Harry spent as a six year old had indeed impacted his whole life as it looped back around to the here and now.
Merlin, how would this effect Harry when it ended? Would he still be open to having a father that had lied to him and sent him back to live with the Dursleys? The disheartening thought of sending Harry back to Privet Drive took the Potion Master's breath away.
"My friend, are you alright?" The frizzy haired wizard asked with concern over seeing his friend lose all color in his face.
Severus forced himself to breathe. He clutched onto the table, "The child must be sent back."
"That is correct. Without doing so, the boy would surely die. You haven't a choice but to make the one who cast this against your son send the child back. You see the boy was essentially plucked from his life. You must cast an obliviate to keep the child from remembering his time here." The wizard sat back and folded his hands on the table, "Give the entire bottle of the potion to the child just before he is returned. He must be returned within a few minutes of drinking the potion or he will die."
Severus carefully placed the potion in his pocket before nodding at the wizard, "A debt paid, my friend. You owe me nothing more."
The frizzy haired wizard bowed his head in acknowledgement of this wizards oath. By the time he looked up once more the stoic Potion Master was gone.
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Back at Snape Manor, Draco was beginning to worry about the little tyke. When Draco had first arrived the kid had been full of energy, jumping around and talking incessantly about Christmas. As time went on the kid slowed down considerably until he finally lost all his energy. At the moment all the kid wanted to do was to lie on the rug in front of the Christmas tree.
"You want to go see what kind of food is in the kitchen?" Draco asked the lethargic boy. They were lying on the floor next to each other looking up at the tall tree as the colorful fairies flickered through the branches.
"No thanks. I'm not very hungry," Harry said in a tired voice. His head was swimming again and the lights on the tree were making him feel a bit nauseous. He rolled over onto his tummy and looked at his new friend. "You can go eat if you want. I won't go anywhere."
Draco turned on his side and balanced his head on a bent arm. He looked at the kid's sweaty face and thought he best check his temperature. He'd forgotten all about doing that until now. He placed a hand against the boy's forehead and could instantly tell the kid was ill.
"Harry, why didn't you tell me you didn't feel good," Draco asked as he sat up and looked down at the kid.
"Dunno."
"Come on, Severus wanted me to give you some potion if your fever went up," Draco stood up and helped Harry to his feet. The kid dragged his feet and bumped into the coffee table when they passed it. "You alright Harry?"
"Don't feel so good, Dray," Harry whispered. He stopped and knelt down on the floor before pressing the palms of his hands against his forehead.
Draco knelt down in front of him, "You want a piggy back ride?"
Harry shook his head. His head hurt so bad he thought he might start to cry. He pushed his fingers against his closed eyes and willed the tears to stay put. "I want my daddy."
"Yeah, he'll be back soon. Come on little buddy, let's wait for him in the study," Draco said as he scooped the kid up and held him close. The kid put his head down on his shoulder and gripped him around the neck.
Before they reached the study Draco could tell the kid had fallen asleep. He tried to put Harry down on the sofa but the kid gripped his neck tighter. With nothing else to do the Slytherin decided to just hold the sleeping boy. He sat down in a chair by the fire with the kid still clinging to him. Before long they were both fast asleep.
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Severus walked down the icy street in a daze. He couldn't get over the fact that he had to send Harry back to Privet Drive. The spell Black had cast at Harry was not a de-aging spell; no far worse, it actually kidnapped Harry from his past. Once the boy returned he would be living with those vile Muggles once more!
He had promised the boy he wouldn't ever have to go back there again. He had no idea that six year old Harry had been taken from the past. The average de-aging spell merely shrunk your body and mind back to a younger age. The curse cast against Harry had actually taken him directly out of his past.
What sort of effect would this have on Harry when he turned back to being sixteen. The Potion Master couldn't help but think it would only make Harry distrust adults even more for being lied to. He might not remember anything when he returned to Privet Drive after he was alleviated but he would surly remember everything once he returned to being sixteen. Sixteen year old Harry would know exactly what had happened to him.
A flurry of snow fell as he passed by the same toy store he had purchased Harry's hover board at. He remembered that day as being a good one, filled with happy memories for them both. Without knowing exactly what he was looking for, he made his way through the throngs of people and went into the toy store. He heard his name being whispered amongst the many parents doing their last minute shopping. Within seconds the proprietor was standing in front of him.
"Professor, welcome to my shop. Anything you want is yours, free of charge! We are so grateful to both you and your son sir," the owner gushed forth. "What are you looking for?"
"A toy for a six year old child," Severus stated while his eyes roamed the shop.
"I have a special toy I ordered for important patrons but I'm sure they would understand if you wanted it instead!" The little man pushed his way through the crowd and opened a door leading into the back room. Standing in the corner was a wizard bicycle. There were no wheels but the rest looked the same as a Muggle bicycle.
Severus couldn't think of a better gift to give his son, "Is it possible to make it blue and to add a horn?"
The man gave him a peculiar look but nodded, "Certainly sir, anything for you."
Within moments Severus walked out of the store with a brightly wrapped package, shrunk down to fit in his pocket. He picked up a few more items then made his way back to the Leaky Cauldron.
He stopped off at Hogwarts to relay his new found knowledge of the curse to Albus. The headmaster wore a grim expression but promised to let healer Fairchild know as soon as possible. Albus could see that Severus was struggling with sending the boy back.
"Severus, you must remember, the child has already lived through all the abuse he will ever suffer at the hands of Dursley. In other words the curse has essentially gone back in time and taken Harry out of the life he was living at the age of six. He will not be forced to re-live those ten years over again. Severus, think of it this way; the child had the opportunity to be free from the Dursleys for a few precious days. Harry will be back with us soon, the same sixteen year old adolesent boy you have grown to love. This expierence could only change him for the better."
Severus nodded, "That will be of some comfort but … was there any charm that could have kept the child from the emotional abuse he already suffered? I am certain there is no such magic strong enough to hold back Dursley's sharp words and humiliation directed at the child." Severus turned away from the headmaster and held onto the mantle of the fireplace as he looked down at the floor, "Albus, if you could only appreciate the purity and love this child exudes, you would feel as I do over sending him back to that hell hole. I may never forgive you for placing him there to begin with."
Severus didn't look back as he stepped into the floo. He missed the tears the headmaster now shed and the look of utter grief.
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Severus stepped out of the floo at Snape Manor. He was amazed to find Draco fast asleep with Harry draped across his chest. For a moment his snarkiness came out and he wished he had a camera. A picture of this scene would forever keep these two boys in line! Blackmail was a useful tool if used for good.
Just then, Harry woke up and stared up at him through green eyes.
"Daddy," the small fevered boy reached a hand up towards his father.
Severus shrugged his cloak to the ground before picking the boy up and pressing his lips to the child's forehead. He could tell the fever had exacerbated considerably since his departure that morning. "I am here."
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Hello Friends,
So how will this effect Harry once he returns back to being sixteen?
The sixteen year old will not go back to Privet Drive once the curse end.
Hmm, I guess you will have to wait and see. What was your favorite part in this chapter? Mine was the scene with Draco taking care of Harry at the end of the chapter.
Draco will be in the next chappy since I'm starting to really like him.
Tigerlilly- hope your sister is better soon :+)
Take care and don't forget to review 8 +)