Severus reached the boy before Minerva did. "Harry! Harry. It's okay… You're okay… Breathe. Deep breaths. That's it." Severus grabbed Potter and brought him against his chest, rocking him back and forth. He- he hadn't known about Potter's home life. Hadn't cared to know, entirely sure the boy was pampered and lavished on. He ignored the looks Minerva was sending him, daring her to say a word.

He subtly used legilimency on the young boy being as gentle as he could, disregarding Minerva's outraged look.

Severus said nothing, as Potter slowly stopped struggling and just started sobbing. He clung to Severus's robes, upset that his family didn't care about him, and afraid of all these strange people. Severus said nothing, just held the boy tighter. He heard his godson whisper to Granger, "I told you Uncle Sev was nice," but didn't see the appraising look the girl gave him or the small smile she gave Draco.

He ignored Minerva's smile that she attempted to hide behind her hand, but gave her a nod, agreeing with her unspoken comment.

XXX

Albus Dumbledore was stumped. He had contacted the children's parents and only the Malfoys had expressed concern. He figured the Dursleys would be alright with Harry as he's a young boy again, but they were terribly upset.

Hermione's parents had been more than a bit shocking.

"What do you mean they won't take her back Albus? She's their daughter!" Minerva was furious, rightfully so in his opinion. They had no idea on how to fix the children, as the thing that changed them was accidental entirely.

Dumbledore thought it would be best to send them back to their parents, but the Grangers were not having it.

He gave Minerva a look as Severus walked in carrying a much-subdued Harry; Draco and Hermione trailing behind holding onto his robes as they looked around in awe. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at the sight. Severus sneered at him as he set the boy down carefully.

Dumbledore cleared his throat, smiling softly at the young girl. "Miss Granger? I'm afraid you won't be able to go home with your parents for a while." He paused at how her shoulders slumped as though she were relieved. "Yes sir." She said quietly.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, leaning back as he put his hands behind his back. "I understand you do not wish to go home Miss Granger?" The girl's eyes snapped up to him, startling him with their intensity. She looked back down. "Yes sir."

Minerva stepped forward, concern shining clear as day on her face. "Miss Granger is there something wrong at home?" Dumbledore frowned when Hermione shrank back, hiding around Severus's robes. "N-no ma'am, there's nothing wrong at home." He was surprised when it was Severus who crouched down in front of the child.

"Hermione. No one here is going to hurt you. You do not have to lie. Tell the truth." Dumbledore was about to scold Severus for his tone of voice, when the girl only nodded meekly. She looked at him, with an expression he couldn't place. "My… mother and father don't like me around them. They prefer me to stay away if they are home. I- I scare them sir." She took a step back at Minerva's outraged expression, fear on her face. Severus glared at the older woman, stepping in front of Hermione. Dumbledore was surprised at the ferocity on the man's face.

He put a hand gently on Minerva's shoulder. "What do you mean by that Miss Granger?" He asked the girl gently. She looked nervously at Minerva, hiding behind Severus's robes again. "I made all of the glass in the house break when father was fighting with mother. When I get really mad or upset, I make things happen. It scares them." Dumbledore frowned, stirrings of unrest forming.

Severus motioned for the girl to continue. She hesitated for a moment, grabbing for Harry's hand. "They hide me away in the library when they have guests over, but I don't mind. I love to read." She said enthusiastically, not noticing the concern on their faces. She smiled at Harry, before looking back to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore stroked his beard, retaining his composure inwardly thinking of looking more carefully into her home situation. This was proving to be… disturbing. "I see. There is no one else who would take you in?" At that Hermione ducked her head looking carefully at the ground. "No sir."

Severus moved more directly in front of her blocking her from Dumbledore and Minerva. He wasn't sure what idiocy struck him at that moment, but he straightened up and stared at the strangely quiet children. He felt something akin to pity, knowing now what he did.

"If it's no issue with you Minerva I could take care of Mr. Potter and Miss Granger. As their Head of House, it falls to you. I very much doubt those types of environment would be good for any child."

Dumbledore looked at Severus confused. "Mr. Potter would be returning to the Dursleys Severus. There would be no need for you to take care of him." He was completely shocked when Severus actually growled at him. He saw Harry go pale in his peripheral vision, but he was more focused on Severus.

"He is not going back there Dumbledore!"

He said nothing in response, knowing it would only increase Severus's ire. Dumbledore stared at the children, who were shooting hopeful looks at Minerva, perhaps knowing it fell to her.

The woman in question spluttered. "You couldn't possibly take care of two children by yourself! You still have classes to teach, not to mention you have to work on the potion to fix this mess!" She received a wry smile as he motioned to the clingy five-year-olds who latched onto him thanks to Draco. They were whispering to one another, amusing Dumbledore greatly.

"They won't detach from my person."

XXX

Harry looked at the room around him in complete bewilderment. The paintings moved, all on their own! They had come up in this strange elevator thing that had a statue gargoyle. Uncle Sev had Madam Pomfrey check over them all again, with this weird stick that lit up and said it was magic. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia always said magic wasn't real though, so he didn't believe them much.

He looked at the man Draco called Uncle Sev. He had been nice to him and even held him when he cried. No one's ever done that. He was scared of the man at first but he held him. Him. He looked really mean but he wasn't at all. He flinched a few times, thinking he was about to get hit but he was met with an odd stare from the man each time. He finally agreed with Draco and Hermione about him not being a bad person. He got the feeling Hermione was learning that too.

Harry was surprised when his new uncle agreed to carry him, as he had reached out automatically asking to be carried. He half expected to be yelled at but was met with another odd look and the man saying yes.

Hermione grabbed his hand interrupting his thoughts. He stared at her with admiration. She was being weirdly quiet now, but she made sure he was okay with Madam Pomfrey being so close. She was bossy and demanding but she was really nice too. He gave her a shy smile, delighted when she smiled back.

Draco made a face at him, making him giggle. He made a face back before Hermione motioned for them to be quiet. He gave her a questioning look and she mouthed for them to listen. Draco rolled his eyes but stayed quiet, and Harry followed suit.

When he heard he had to go back to the Dursleys he realized why Hermione told him to be quiet. He felt strangely lightheaded. He heard Uncle Sev growl at the man, but it felt like his stomach was made of metal. He stared hopefully at the old lady Uncle Sev called 'Minerva', since it seemed she would be the one who said he had to go back.

He didn't want to return to the cupboard and be yelled at for being a freak.

"If the old bat says yes to Uncle Sev I can see you two all the time! Wouldn't that be great?" Draco whisper yelled to him and Hermione. Harry gave a small smile. Draco was nice, and he seemed like he would be an awesome friend.

"But what if she says no? I don't want to go with anyone but Uncle Sev!" Hermione said on the verge of tears. Harry felt the same way. He wanted to stay with Draco and Hermione which seemed like it would only happen with Uncle Sev.

Draco squeezed Harry's hand and looked at Hermione seriously. "If she says no, just cry as loud as you can until they agree. It always works on the adults." Harry really didn't think so as crying loudly only earned a rather fierce beating but didn't say anything. Maybe that worked for Draco. He definitely wasn't a freak like him, so it probably did work for Draco. Hermione looked unsure as well but nodded.

All three looked up guiltily when they heard an amused Dumbledore clear his throat. "There's no need for that now. If Severus insists-," he ignores the coughed *I do* and continues, "-then there is no issue with that arrangement." He smiled seeing the children brighten at that. Harry squirmed when the old man leveled a hard stare at him. He didn't like the attention.

"Mr. Potter. I feel the need to ask why you should not return to your aunt and uncle? I would've thought you to be more comfortable with people you know rather than those you don't." Harry's face flushed as he looked at the ground, not wanting to see their faces when he tells them its cause he's a freak. He didn't hear Uncle Sev's growl to Dumbledore.

What if they didn't want him to stay anymore? They had been much nicer than his family, but they could change their mind!

"Harry?" The old man, Dumbledore his mind provided, prodded. Harry felt his face burn and his eyes began watering. "Aunt Petunia says I'm just a freak who doesn't need nice things and if I go back when they got rid of me, I'll be locked in the cupboard again." He would also get beat really badly and he wouldn't be able to eat for a week at the least.

He didn't say that. That was one of the first things his aunt told him to keep his mouth shut about.

Harry looked up at the old man pleadingly. "Please don't make me go back! I'll be good I promise! I can clean and cook, just please don't make me go back!" He missed the sharp look Minerva and Uncle Sev shared when the latter picked him up.

"Don't worry Harry, you will NOT be going back there anytime soon. I can promise you that." Harry clung tightly to him ignoring the harsh tone and focused on the words. He felt a large hand run through his hair, and he felt something in him let go. He started sobbing, feeling Uncle Sev's hold tighten on him.

xXx

Dumbledore sighed at the apparent abuse Harry had gone through with the Dursleys. The boy never told him and judging by Minerva's tight expression, he had never told her either.

Severus gave him a rather severe look, his lip curling in disgust. "If that would be all, Headmaster, I have children I need to help settle in." Dumbledore nodded his head in acquiesce watching as Hermione and Draco shot him scathing looks before grabbing onto Severus's robes again as they left the room. They reminded him of little ducklings…

Minerva gave her a fierce glare and he mentally prepared himself for the tongue lashing the witch was sure to bestow upon him. Merlin, help him.