-113
Six year old Harry had never been so relieved to see anyone in all his short years. He had a terrible dream about waking up back in the cupboard and was so happy to wake up to his daddy looking down at him that he almost started to cry. Then he did start to cry once his daddy picked him up and kissed him on his forehead. He couldn't explain how safe he felt, like he'd never felt before.
Severus carefully picked the child up off of Draco's chest without waking the teen. He could feel the fever radiating through the child's clothes and thought he best do something about it. He held the boy close as he walked upstairs and into his bedroom. He had no idea why the child was silently weeping against his shoulder but tried to console him.
"I will take care you," Severus said in soothing voice. He placed the boy down on his bed and went into the bathroom to run a tepid bath.
He knew this fever would not respond to potions, it would take old fashioned Muggle treatment to get the fever to lessen for a short time. He would just need to keep the fever from becoming too high until Black came back to his senses. As much as he wanted Black to regain his sanity, for the boy's sake, he was also dreading the moment he would need to send the child back.
After taking off his outer coat, Severus rolled his sleeves up. He started to undress Harry as he explained what he was doing. "How does a nice cool bath sound to relieve that dreaded fever?"
"Draco can magic a boat out of soap," Harry informed his daddy in an tired voice. Once they reached the bathroom Harry climbed into the tub. His head hurt so much he didn't think he could muster the energy to play with the boats his daddy made for him. Daddy's boats were much fancier than Draco's.
Severus knelt next to the tub, occasionally pouring water over Harry's head and back. The boy kept looking at him with those emerald green eyes as if he was a hero. It broke his heart to know where the child would most likely be sleeping tonight.
"You're a good boy Harry. You would make any man proud to have a son like you. Your mum and dad loved you very much," Severus said as he washed the child. Even though he knew the boy would be obliviated before he was returned back to Privet Drive he also knew that the sixteen year old Harry would remember these events. Somehow he thought these experiences of feeling loved and important would make some sort of difference in the end.
"Daddy, you're a good boy too," Harry said as he tried to make his daddy happier. He could tell his daddy was sad and hoped it wasn't because of him. He tried to come up with something else nice to say. "I like your Christmas tree. It's way nicer than Aunt Petunia's tree."
Severus chuckled as he realized what the child was trying to do. The boy felt much cooler now and he thought this might be a good time to give Harry his Christmas present.
"I believe Saint Nicholas left a package for you under the tree," Severus whispered into the child's ear.
Harry looked back at him with disbelief.
"I don't think so Daddy, Dudley said Saint Nicholas would never …"
"No! Dudley is a dim-wit and he is most certainly wrong. I saw a package with your name on it under the tree. As soon as you are dressed we will see how utterly daft Dudley truly is," Severus said as he wrapped the child in a warm towel.
Harry dressed as quickly as possible. His head felt much better now but even if it still hurt that wouldn't stop him from getting his first ever present! He dressed in record time then ran ahead of his daddy and down the stairs.
Severus rushed to keep up with the little scamp. He accioed Harry's gift from his cloak pocket still in the study and sent it under the tree. Harry saw a small package with his name on it and whooped with joy.
"You're right Daddy! Your right, Saint Nicholas really did bring me something!"
Severus touched his wand to the package and watched the child's eyes grow wider as the package grew, "Open it Harry."
Harry walked around the large package then slowly tore the paper off in a very controlled manner. Severus thought the child must be savoring the experience of opening his first present and it tugged at his already aching heart.
"It's a bike," whispered the shocked boy. "But …" Harry looked down to where the wheels were supposed to be. "It's okay, I can just pretend I'm riding."
Severus shook his head over the child always looking for the bright side. He helped Harry onto the bike, "This is not a Muggle bicycle, you do not need wheels. Your bike will fly."
"Fly? You mean it flies in the air?"
Severus chuckled over the child's astonishment, "Yes, I believe it does. Start to peddle and we will see what happens."
Harry began to peddle and the bike hovered in the air. He peddled faster and the bike started to move forward. "Whoo hoo! I'm flying Daddy, I'm flying!"
"Yes, I see! Now try to turn," Severus advised as he saw the child coming up on an ancient Ming vase. The boy turned with ease as his bike zoomed around. Harry let out another whoop before riding his bike around the living room.
"Hey, what's all the racket" Draco asked from the entryway. His hair was still mussed from his nap and he leaned against the door frame rubbing his eyes. He spotted the wrapping paper on the floor and immediately said, "Hey, how come Potter gets to open his presents two days before Christmas? Can I open mine too?"
Severus rolled his eyes at the petulant tone the teen was using, "Very well Draco, I believe you will find a gift with your name on it under the tree."
Draco threw a fist in the air, "Presents!" He rummaged around until he found a long flat present with his name on it. "I know what this is!"
Harry stopped riding his bike to watch Draco open his gift. He laughed over the way Draco ripped the paper off in a flurry.
"YES!" Draco yelled out when he saw the hover board. "Thanks Severus, it's exactly what I wanted." The Slytherin placed the board on the floor and struggled to balance as it moved across the floor.
Harry followed along behind Draco on his new bike, honking the blue horn that was louder than Dudley's horn. They circled around the living room, barely avoiding the large statues but laughing the whole way around.
Severus found the scene to be rather amusing and smiled when he thought about the way his own father would react to this commotion in his stately manor. He picked a book off the shelf and settled into a chair by the fire.
Harry kept up with Draco as the older boy led him all over the house. It wasn't long before he began to feel the fever creeping up on him again and his head starting to swim. He peddled back into the living room and parked his bike next to his daddy's chair.
Severus could tell Harry was starting to feel ill again and patted his lap for the boy to climb up on. "Perhaps a nap before supper would help?"
Harry nodded his head as he leaned his head against his daddy's chest, calmed by the sound of the strong heartbeat against his ear.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Severus was very grateful that Narcissa had answered his owl without a fuss. He had fully expected his owl to return with a note filled with accusations since he had not shown up for lunch yesterday. He had sent a note asking her to take Charlet out to supper and to keep the girl overnight. Narcissa was actually quite polite in her return missive as she willingly agreed.
Draco and Charlet had just left to have supper with Narcissa at Chandon when the floo turned green once more. Harry was still asleep on Severus' lap as Ginevra Weasley's head came into view.
"Hello Professor," greeted Ginny as she took in the sweet scene before her. Harry looked adorable sleeping with his head tucked under the Professor's chin and his fist holding onto his pony.
"Good Evening."
"We were just wondering if we could see Harry, but I see he's napping," Ginny said with disappointment.
"We?" asked Severus.
"Yes, myself, Hermione and Ron. I told them what happened to Harry and they came home early from Hermione's grandparents house. We're all worried about him."
"The child is sleeping. I shall floo call you when he awakes."
Harry's eyes fluttered open but he quickly went into panic mode when he saw Ginny's head in green flames. "Ginny!"
He jumped off Severus' lap as he lunged at the fireplace. Severus grabbed him just in time before he fell through the floo.
"Cease, this behavior!" Severus pulled the child back before Ginny came rushing through the hearth.
Harry pulled away from Severus and leapt into her arms, "Ginny are you hurt!?!"
Ginny picked Harry up, "Harry, I'm fine. See no burns." She held her arm up for Harry to look at.
Just then the floo turned green once more and Ron and Hermione came through. Hermione squealed when she caught sight of the little boy Ginny held.
"Harry, is that really you?" Ron asked. "Blimey, you're so small!"
"Mr. Weasley," came Snape's sharp warning.
Harry wiggled out of Ginny's arms and went to stand by the chair Severus sat in. He pressed his face into his daddy's arm, feeling ashamed for being so small. Uncle Vernon liked to call him a runt and Aunt Marge always said she had to drown the runts when they were born.
Hermione knelt before the little guy, "You're not small Harry. Ron was just teasing, right Ron?"
Ron felt horrible for making his best friend feel bad, "Yeah, I was just joking. I'm sure you're the prefect size for a-a … four year old." He took a step back when Snape literally growled at him.
Harry balled up his fists and faced the teenager, "I'm six, my daddy says I'm six!" He knew he was being naughty but he hated it when Dudley and Uncle Vernon made fun of his small size. He felt like he might cry and didn't want to do that in front of everyone. Ignoring the girl with bushy hair with her arm stretched out to him, he turned and ran from the room.
Severus immediately stood up, a glare sweeping the room and stopping on the male Weasley, "Idiot. You may see yourselves out." He swept from the room with robes billowing in his wake. As he turned down the hallway he heard Ginevra yelling a string of profanities at her brother. It made him feel somewhat less angry.
It didn't take him long to find the child. The boy was back on that chair in Severus' own bedroom. He silently picked the boy up then sat down in the same chair.
Harry curled up against his him.
"Why am I so small? I hate it! Everyone always says it too!"
Severus tilted Harry's chin up to face him, he could feel the heat from the fever, "I promise you, you will grow to be almost as tall as I am."
"How do you know, Daddy? Dudley says that I'll never …"
Severus quickly cut him off, "I've already told you what I think of Dudley's opinion."
"Oh yeah, you said Dudley's a dim-wit. But are you sure I'll grow big as you?" Harry looked a bit skeptical.
"Harry, I would not willingly lie to you. You have my word that you will indeed grow to be as tall as all the rest of your peers. Even taller than most," Severus said in a solemn voice.
That seemed to settle the child somewhat. Severus placed a hand to the child's face and felt the fever blazing to an all time high.
"Shall we go rest in the living room once again?" Severus asked. He knew how much Harry enjoyed looking at the tree.
"Is Ginny still here?" Harry sheepishly asked, ashamed of running out of the room.
"No, I sent them home."
"Okay, then." Harry held onto his daddy's strong shoulders, thoroughly enjoying being carried around like Uncle Vernon did to Dudley.
Once they settled into the chair by the fire Severus advised, "Why don't you rest while I tell you a story about a vampire I once knew?"
Harry's head was swimming with dizziness. He whispered out, "Vampires aren't real silly."
"Oh, but I beg to differ. Hush now so I may begin," Severus said. He was only at the beginning of the story when he noticed the boy's eyes fighting to stay open. Within moments Harry's eyes fluttered closed and his breathing evened out. Severus stopped talking and just stared at the child. His heart twisting in an uncomfortable way he was not used to feeling. Unsettling as it was, he realized he loved the child beyond reason.
XXXXXXXXXXX
After a short time, Headmaster Dumbledore unexpectedly came through the floo. The Headmaster wore a grim expression as he took a seat in the chair opposite Severus.
"It is time," Albus said with a tinge of regret over interrupting this rare scene before him.
Severus placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and pulled the boy closer. "Is Black capable of casting the spell without botching it up?"
Albus nodded, "It must be done."
Severus moved his hand to the child's forehead and could feel the heat radiating off the boy in waves. "Yes, I know. Will Black come here to do this?"
"Severus, both Healer Fairchild and Remus think it is best if I take the child to Grimmauld Place … without you. They feel your presence would upset Black to the point of regression. He must stay rational until we know with all certainty that the spell is truly broken."
"No, I want to be there when Harry returns to his real age. I do not want him to think I have abandon him once again. It is bad enough he will remember the lies I told him whilst he was six," Severus said as he carded his fingers through the child's messy mop of hair.
The Headmaster shook his head, "I am sorry but we must not take the chance of Black seeing you and losing his thin grasp of reality once again. I will inform Harry about the situation as soon as he is able to comprehend his whereabouts. I fear it may take some time for him to fully come back to us. These spells are… rather tricky."
"Tricky? Is my son in danger?"
The dangerous edge in the Potion Master's voice was not lost on the headmaster, making him more certain than ever to keep Severus away from Sirius.
"It may take several attempts to bring Harry back to his rightful age. We will be keeping a close eye on the boy Severus. I expect it may take several hours to be sure we do not require Sirius' magic. I will come to get you as soon as Sirius returns to saint Mungo's."
Albus stood up and walked to the fireplace.
Severus begrudgingly agreed, he knew that Black was unpredictable. He accioed the valuable potion from his cloak pocket that still lie on the study floor.
Severus looked down at the child clinging onto him in his sleep. He could feel the boy grip his robes tighter as he stood up and walked to the fireplace. He handed the potion to Albus, "Give Harry the entire bottle right before the spell is cast. Make sure Black casts the spell immediately after you give this to him."
Before he let his emotions take control he kissed the boy on the top of his head, then quietly whispered, "Please forgive me son, I had no idea you would have to return to that dreaded place. I never meant to lie to you."
The Potion Master handed the child over to Albus. Without waiting for the headmaster to leave he turned on his heel and strode away.
It was perhaps the hardest thing he had ever done in his life.
XXXXXXXXXXXX