Into the Depths

Harry woke once again to the sound of whispered voices, he slowly opened his eyes but was only met with blurriness that prevented him from seeing, if only he had the glasses his aunt had forced him to wear so he could see what he was doing around the house. He however found that he did not ache as much as he had before and it was not hard to move either. He however tensed when someone noticed that he was awake. The voice of the dark man sounding this time from the left.

" Your awake…good here these are for you, your other glasses were unfortunately left behind when I took you and I have no desire to revisit that…place" Severus stated as Harry was sat up gently and something was placed on his face. His once blurred vision was now crystal clear, and so much better than it ever had been before. His eyes widening in awe as he looked around for the first time in forever at all the colors. The only real colors being the stark white of the infirmary beds and the man in black that was seated next to him. Harry had never seen anything this clearly before and tears came to his eyes as he looked down to the stuffed bunny in his arms and marveled a the blue he had never seen before.

"Wow" was really all the small boy could say as his eyes watered.

"Thank you dark man" he whispered as he tugged the bunny tight flinching as Severus reached out and caressed his head gently but then he found himself actually melting into the warm and gentle touch as he leaned unconsciously towards the older man.

"Your welcome Harry. Now that you can see perhaps you will not be as scared of myself and Poppy…she is the one who has been taking care of you while you have been sick…" he stated as the older woman bustled over and gave Harry a kind smile and Harry could not help but return it timidly as he but his lower lip nervously.

"I's not going backs to aunty and uncles ?" he half whispered his eyes wide as he looked at the vibrant colors of the vials that the older woman had brought over as well as the stick she had sitting on the small table as well.

Poppy snorted as she shook her head.

" Not if I have anything to say about it…no Harry you are not…Professor Snape here is going to take care of you once you are well enough to leave this infirmary." She stated as she motioned to Severus as Harry looked back to him with wide eyes.

"Fessor?" he asked and Severus nodded.

"Yes, I am a Professor…or a teacher…did you attend school Harry?" he asked but the small boy only shook his head.

"Duddy did, freaks don't go to school!" he recited but cowered back into the pillow as Severus suddenly growled.

"You will never call yourself that ever again Harry…You are not a freak, you are a little boy!" he stated. Harry of course could only look at him in fear at his sudden change in demeanor. Taking a deep breath Severus calmed himself as he turned his attention back to Poppy and took a vial in his hands and moved to come closer to Harry his voice softer.

" I am sorry Harry, but I just do not liek you putting your self down like that" he said as he held out a small vial.

"I need you to drink this…it will help you get better…I know if I were a young man like you I would not want to be cooped up in a bed all day I would want to be running around and playing outside" he said as the boy blinked up to him a bit in confusion but took the vial and drank it. His face contorting in disgust at the taste.

Severus chuckled as he took the vial back and then handed him a blue one.

"They do not taste very good but you will start to feel better soon" he stated as Harry drank it down as well it did not taste as bad as the first one but it still was bad. The last vial was a bright purple and harry hesitated to drink it but Severus was patient with him, waiting with a glass of water for when he was done. He almost gagged on the last one as it tasted like dirty socks smelt and was grateful for the glass of water he was soon given as he sipped it thirstily. He relished in the coldness of it as he only ever was allowed to have luke warm water at his aunt and uncles. He was extremely happy when they allowed him to have yet another glass after that of ice cold water.

"Now let me run a scan and see how the healing is going, and then we will see about getting some food into you" Poppy stated as Harry looked on wide eyed He was given medicine, he could see clearly, cold ice water that was delicious and now talk of food. Oh he was over whelmed he had never had all of this at one time before, not as long as he could remember.

"Food?" he asked timidly, hopefully as the matron and the dark man nodded to him.

"Yes…I am thinking a nice thick broth, nothing too heavy as your stomach will not be able to handle that yet. Harry of course had no idea what they were talking about but the sound of food just made him happy as he nodded and hugged his bunny tighter and whispered.

" Hear that Bobbity…we gets food!" he said as he could not help but smile.

Severus could not help but have heart ache at the simple words of the child his hand gently reaching over and caressing his hair which still made the boy flinch.

" Yes…and you will never be denied food ever again!" he said as he caressed his soft hair. Harry looked at him with those wide green eyes as he gently held out his arms to the man. Severus blinked for a moment and then stood and picked the tiny boy up before settling on the bed himself with him as Harry snuggled into his warmth. Harry could not really explain why he was comfortable with this man.

"You saveded meh and Bobbity" he said simply, it was not was question but Severus nodded.

"Yes" was his simple answer as Harry buried his head into his chest and robes.

" Bobbity likes you" he said softly as Severus could not help but smirk down at the child who watched as Poppy waved her wand and gave a nod.

"Everything looks much better, I would prefer to keep him a day or so more before you take charge of him Severus, but I know he would be more comfortable now in your care…so he is free to leave with you as soon as he eats a good helping of nutrient broth" she said as she of course summoned a house elf to take the order. Harry looking wide eyed at the strange creature but burring himself more into the safety of the dark mans robes.

Once Harry had eaten his fill which of course had not been much but it had satisfied the matron Harry was free to go. Severus of course had pulled out a pair of pajamas for the child as he would not be going out anytime that day, he was sure with the change of location to a new area and his daughter that Harry would be over whelmed and anxious as it was so the soft light blue material with little dragons on it was perfect for the child. Harry of course was reluctant to put them on but as soon as they were on the boy looked thrilled and in awe of the pattern. Severus of course carried him in his arms slowly through the school as he pointed to the moving paintings. Severus of course explained them to the boy who just stared in awe. Once down in the dungeons and inside of his chambers Severus gently sat Harry down on a very comfy couch in front of a large fire place. It was rather cool in the dungeons year round so the fire was small just to keep the chill away. Harry looked around in wonder but hugged Bobbity tight as he was scared and the shivering showed it clearly as did his face.

" Harry, this will be your new home. I have not had time to set up your bedroom yet so I will do that now" he said as Severus then called out to his daughter who appeared through a door to the left. Harry of course curled up a bit at the entrance of someone new. The girl however smiled happily at him with a small wave as she went back into her room but came out a gain with two kittens. Harry perked a bit. Mrs. Figg across from his uncles had kittens once and he had been allowed to pet them.

Chrystian was slow to approch him and sat on the plush rug so she was lower than him as she sat the kittens down. She then held out the white one.

" I got you a kitten as a welcome to the family present!" she said as she gently held out the kitten to Harry who blinked wide eyed at her and then the tiny which fluff of fur as he gently sat Bobbity aside and took the kitten who meowed to him as he gently held the tiny animal close.

" Mines?" he asked and Chrystian nodded.

"Yeap… and you get to name him…mine is a girl and her name is Eros" she said as she held up the pure black kitten that meowed softly as well. Harry gave a small smile but it faded as he thought for a moment.

" I never had a kitty before…" he said softly as Chrystian gave him a gentle smile.

"Well I can help you name him if you want?" she stated as he nodded his head gently. She of course thought for a moment as she looked at the white ball of fluff.

"How about Neve…it means snow…and he does look like a large white snow flake" she said with a giggle as Harry seemed to like it as well.

" Ne…Neve" he tried it out and nodded happily.

"Pretty name" he said simple as the kitten meowed happily up to him and began purring as harry loved this. Hwas was so entranced byt the small kitten he did not notice Severus return until the tall man spoke.

"I see you have met your new friends?" he asked as Harry looked up to him shyly and held up the kitten.

"Neve!" he said happily as Severus rose a brow and gently reached to pet the kitten.

"A fitting name…did Chrystian help you with it?" he asked as Harry gave a nod.

"Chryssi nice!" he stated as Chrystian flushed a bit at the sudden compliment and Severus gave a nod.

" She is…now..would you care to see your room?" he asked as Harry frowned a bit.

"Cupboard?" he asked tentively, Chrystian gasped softly but Severus shook his head.

"No Harry…a real bed room…and when you get older you can decorated however you want" he stated as the small boy looked up at him as the older man offered him his hand. He handed Chrystian back the kitten and grabbed Bobbity before taking the hand and being led towards a room. His eyes widened at the size of it. Looking up to Severus he whisperd.

"Mines?"

Severus gave a gentle nod and stepped in with him.

"Yes Harry, this is yours…you have a nice comfy bed, a night light…and toys" he motioned to the toy chest and shelves that house some books and toys and then opened the closet as everything was hung low so the boy could get to it.

" This is where your clothing goes when it is clean and when you get something dirty it goes in here" he motioned to a basket that was empty.

" You will be in charge of making sure your room is tidy at the end of every day…understand?" he asked softly as Harry nodded his eyes however lingering on the toys as Severus smirked and led him over to them.

"These are yours…I figured your friend Bobbity would like a few friends" he stated as he motioned to the other stuffed animals. He then motioned to the bed and the pet bed beside it but knew that the kitten would most likely sleep with the boy as he placed the pet bed onto the larger bed.

" Neve and you will sleep here every night" he said as Harry suddenly looked panicked.

" I's nots allowed on the beds" he stated as he shook his head and back up a bit but Severus picked him up and placed him to sit on the bed.

"This is your bed Harry and you can sleep on it all you like…is it comfy?" he asked as Harry was hesitant to even move on it but when he did he gave a soft nod. He of course looked almost ready to go back to sleep so Severus moved to tuck him in and gave him Bobbity as Chrystian placed Neve on the bed with him as the tiny kitten moved to the top of the pillow and made himself a small nest as the kitten bed was ignored. Harry fell asleep to the gentle purrs not long after as Severus ushered his older ward out and closed the door to be cracked.

Harry woke after about three hours and slid off the large bed as Neve followed him, Harry having to help the kitten down to the floor as he sat down on the plush carpet by the toys he had been shown was still dark in the room but he didn't mind as he was used to playing in his dark cupboard. He however reached for a book instead. He could not read but the pictures were nice, gently he put the book back and reached over to pick up a dragon plush toy as he smiled and looked to Bobbity.

"Look Bobbity a new friend…what shall we name him?" he asked and then nodded as if the stuffed rabbit had said something.

"Snufkin…I like it!" he stated and looked to the dragon.

"You hear that…your name is Snufkin and your our friend now!" he said softly as he hugged the dragon plush tight to him and started playing quietly. It was only a few minutes after that did the room lighten and Severus was leaned against the door watching. Harry looked up and flushed as if he had been caught doing something bad.

"I sorry!" he said as he stood and grabbed Bobbity but Severus shook his head.

"You have done nothing wrong Harry…this is your room and those are your toys to play with…I see you like your toy dragon…have you named him yet?" he asked as he stepped in and looked down to the boy who nodded and moved back to sit on the plush rug as he picked up the dragon and hugged him too.

"Snufkin…he a nice dragon…and he mine and Bobbity's friend!" he said shyly as Severus gave a soft smile.

"Well…that is good, I would hate for the others to feel left out however" he said as he motioned to the other plush toys and Harry nodded.

"They will all be our friends too!" he said as he went and gathered them all in a circle. Neve of course pouncing on one of them as Harry giggled softly. Severus felt his heart sore at the sound.

" DO you need to use the loo?" Severus asked as Harry looked up and nodded. He had not been in a few hours and playing he had forgotten he needed to go but now that the dark man had reminded him he nodded and got up holding his hand up to Severus who led him to the loo.

"If the door is closed…knock…we live with a female and it is not nice to barge in on them" he stated as Harry nodded but didnt understand, not that Severus thought he would. It did not take long for Harry as he was used to being fast.

"Did you wash your hands?" he asked as Harry held up his hands to show him how clean they were as Severus gave a nod.

"Good…it is not quiet time for supper so why don't you go get your toys and play out here in the the living area?" he asked as Harry gave a bright but shy smile as he went and grabbed some of the plush toys and brought them out to rug in front of the fire sitting and playing quietly gently whispering to his toys as Chrystian was stretched over a plush chair reading as Eros was curled on her chest as she read. Neve however was actively exploring the rooms and running up taking out one of the plush toys causing Harry to giggle as he did this.

Chrystian would glance up from her book when this happened and rose a brow before going back to her reading. It however was not long until the book was forgotten and she lay on the carpet playing with Harry making different voices for the plush toys. She had never had a sibling to play with before. Severus of course kept an eye on them as he sat on the couch reading his own book shaking his head at the almost sixteen year olds antics, a smirk playing on his lips however. Yes, he was sure the boy would be fine and thrive down here after all.