Thank you to the betas of this chapter, icedawn12193, and Willofhounds.
Chapter Twenty-Two - Trip to The Ministry Part Two
"Then the little golden pot danced with delight – hoppitty hoppitty hop! – on its tiny rosy toes! Wee Willykins had cured all the dollies of their poorly tum-tums, and the little pot was so happy that it filled up with sweeties for Wee Willykins and the dollies!"
"But don't forget to brush your teethy-pegs!" cried the pot.
"And Wee Willykins kissed and huggled the hoppitty pot and promised always to help the dollies and never to be an old grumpy-wumpkins again." Severus finished the story even though Harry was fast asleep but by the time he finished sentence two but in a silly way the childish story helped with Severus's nerves. He let out a small sigh as he closed the book up and set it down beside him before gently rubbing Harry's back, thinking back to when all of this began.
Severus could still remember that night as if it was yesterday. He remembered being in his lab working on one of his many potions experiments when the blood wards broke. He remembered quickly leaving his lab, not even turning off the flame as he apparated to Number Four Privet Drive and then the worst sight imaginable came. Harry…his boy trapped in a cage in a cold dark basement. Severus could still hear those tiny whimpers that came from Harry, the smell of the urine and feces that covered Harry.
Severus still couldn't believe anyone could be that cruel, to a child nevertheless. Even the Dark Lord had more mercy.
But it wasn't over, Severus soon found out the Dumbledore, the man he looked up to was behind it all. Harry was a powerful wizard and Dumbledore would stop at nothing to get that power.
He tortured Harry and used every trick in the book to get the boy's powers but he failed. Harry destroyed him in the same way he destroyed the Dark Lord that fateful Halloween night.
But it still wasn't over, after everything it still wasn't over. His son was taken away from him because of his past mistakes and tonight he may be going home without Harry and he didn't know how to deal with that reality.
The only time when he felt this much fear before was when he found out that the Dark Lord was after Lily. The pain he felt when he walked into the nursery to find her body lying lifelessly on the floor. His heart broke into a million pieces that night and he never felt he would be whole again.
He should have taken Harry right there and then, taken him from his crib and ran but he was to focus on himself that he didn't even think about the crying infant that witness the murder of his mother.
If he knew what he knows now he would have taken Harry and ran, he would have taken Harry far away from those muggles who dare call themselves Harry's family, from Dumbledore who only wanted him for his power, who wouldn't have cared less if Harry died.
"Oh, Merlin " Severus prayed, closing his eyes as a small tear made its way down his cheek.
"Please, You can't take Harry away from me. You don't know how much I need him." Severus cried, holding Harry tighter in his arms.
"I am able to protect him and care for him…he's my boy. I have never been able to do any good in my life and I know I don't deserve to ask but please don't take Harry away from me today. Please…." Severus whispered, laying his chin on Harry's head as he rocked the child.
Unknown to him Poppy and Minerva stood just outside the door as they listened to Severus prayer and once Severus was done both of them started to pray themselves to any God who was willing to listen.
There are only two ways this day will end, either Harry gets to come home with them and they get to put the past behind them or Harry is taken away once again and Minerva is left with a broken Potion professor.
The first time almost killed Severus, she couldn't think of what the second time might do to him…what it may do to her.
She could still remember the screams from Harry when the Auror's came to take him away. The child fought so hard to stay, she couldn't go through that again.
She already decided if Harry was taken away she would quit her job as Headmistress and Hogwarts would most likely be shut down.
Poppy signaled to Minerva to walk with her, leaving Severus with Harry until he was called in to hear the hearing that would change everyone's life forever.