Severus Snape was correcting essays in his classroom, when he heard some weird gurgling noises. Startled, he decided to investigate. He got up, wand in hand, and went around the room.
He finally discovered the source of the noise. Of course it had to be that blasted child. Damn James Potter to hell for leaving his child where he had access to him.
"How did you even get here brat?"
He picked the toddler up and set him up on the table. He was just about to send a patronus to Minerva when the baby raised his arms.
"I'm not picking you up brat."
The baby's eyes widened and he started to wail.
Seeing as there was nothing else to do, Snape picked up the child and cradled him in his arms.
"Hush brat. There, there. It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."
He gently rocks him to sleep. And sends a patronus to Minerva.
He stares at the little boy. He surely can't be all James Potter, can he? There has to be some Lily in him. He can't be exactly like James Potter.
"He isn't just James' son you know."
Startled, Snape turns around to see Minerva smiling coyly.
"And how long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough." She smiled.
"Here. Take the brat. And I do believe I told you to keep him away from me."
"Severus. Don't you think its time you let go of all the anger you have towards James? Harry is Lily's son too. And I know she was your best friend. Do you think she'll be happy to see how you're treating her only child? I'm going to raise him right Severus. Don't worry. He'll be just like Lily and will have all the good parts of James. I did not save him from going to an abusive home just so you could abuse him here."
"I'm sorry Minerva. I'll try to be better to him."
"That's all I'm asking Severus. We'll be back."
"I look forward to it Minerva."
When Minerva had gone, Severus sat down in front of the fireplace and thought long and hard about what he was doing. He shouldn't be treating the little baby as if he was his dad. God knows he had to go through enough bias because of his father. No. he wasn't treating the kid right. He needed to change, if only to be able to show Lily his face when he finally died and could ask her forgiveness again.
Around 5pm, Severus heard a knock on his door.
"Enter."
Who should it be but Minerva and her new charge.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Minerva?"
"Will you help me out Severus? No one is in the castle and I have to go to the Ministry for something urgent. I need someone to watch over Harry for a bit. Don't say no Severus. I have no one else. Please help me out."
"Okay fine Minerva. I'll watch him for a bit. But just a bit, mind you. Longer than that, and I'm dumping him somewhere."
"Oh fine Severus. Only 2 hours. I think even you can manage that long."
So saying, Minerva hands him the baby and the bag containing his supplies and leaves.
"Well, it seems like I'm stuck with you."
Harry just gives him a big smile and Snape sets him down in his playpen and sets up an alarm to alert him if something goes wrong and goes back to correcting his essays.
Half an hour later, he hears a a loud cry and goes over to investigate.
Harry is crying. He picks him up and tries to get him to stop crying but to no avail. Harry points towards the door and Severus walks towards it and opens it. Harry points down the corridor and reluctantly, snape takes him out towards the grounds.
He finds Madam Hooch counting the brooms and seeing Harry crying she hands Severus a toy broom and they both strap Harry on it and he happily zooms around the grounds.
After playing for an hour, tired and exhausted, both head up to Severus' rooms and Severus and Harry fall asleep on the sofa.
And that's how Minerva finds them when she returns and she leaves them both in that position, but only after clicking a picture of how cute the two of them looked.
Three hours later, she is recieves a patronus saying she needs to collect Harry and so she goes over to Severus and he hands her the still sleeping baby and his bag.
"Well how was your day Severus. Had a nice nap?"
Severus goes pink. "Oh shut up Minerva. Out of my sight both of you."
A smiling Minerva takes baby Harry and leaves his office, leaving behind a still blushing Snape thinking the baby was alright.