Frange et Maledictionem

"Please Harry, think of it as a… costume." Snape tried to reason with the child.

The little boy avidly shook his head, arms crossed stubbornly over his chest as he once more backed away from Severus. "No! I don't wanna!" He shrieked.

"You shouldn't have told him," Tom drawled behind the crouching man. He was amused as he watched the child argue with his husband. They needed to go to Diagon Alley to get the child some necessities, and while they could have easily sent someone else to do it, Severus refused to miss out on his child's life a second time.

"Please Harry, it won't hurt."

The boy shook his head again, his lower lip quivering as he got closer and closer to throwing a tantrum. Seeing the situation escalate, Tom immediately stepped forward.

"Harry James Potter, you will listen to your father." It was strict and automatic, but seemed to only worsen the inevitable melt down.

The child started to wail, his hands falling to his sides. "He's not my dad!" He screamed. "I want my dad! I don't wanna look different!" Big fat tears rolled down his face, face turning bright red in his stress.

Sending a scathing look at his husband from over his shoulder, Severus ignored the pang in his chest and reached forward for the child. Ignoring the snot and tears as he wrapped the boy into a hug. Standing with Harry, the man began to rub soothing circles on his little back.

Harry wore an oversize shirt and nothing more, as Severus had refused to keep the outfit the old coot had placed on him. In fact, the second he'd given the child a bath, a house elf had taken the pajamas to burn.

It took several minutes for Harry to stop crying, but once the tears started to lesson into sniffles, he buried his face into Severus' neck. Exhausted by his own meltdown, Harry instantly slumped into the older man, sucking on his thumb once more.

"Okay," Severus' murmured softly. "We don't have to change anything." He didn't like lying to his son, but at the moment it would be best if Harry didn't know about the precautions they had to take. With a flick of his wrist, Tom easily changed the boy's raven hair to a light blond, making it a bit longer so that it would easily hide his scar.

While most of the order had turned their back on the old man's cause, realizing exactly how violent he truly was, some still remained. They had gone into hiding, but had no qualms of randomly attacking when the dark lord made a public appearance. To hide Harry from them until they were ready to introduce the boy again meant changing his appearance in public.

With a shrug, Tom donned his cloak, watching as Severus' did the same before taking the child and wrapping him inside the cloak for warmth.

"Let's travel by floo powder, it'll be easier on him."

With a nod of his head Severus' allowed Tom to go first. He wasn't surprised when he heard soft snores coming from the little figure. Gingerly tossing the powder, he spoke clearly but just loud enough so that Harry wouldn't wake, "the Leaky Cauldron."

Since it was early, when he stepped from the fireplace it was rather quiet. No one glanced up as their dark lord had already made his appearance.

Nodding at Tom, Severus followed the man out towards the Alley, glad that they had come early enough that the lunch crowd had arrived yet to start their shopping.

Their first stop had originally been Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, but since Harry was sleeping, they figured a stop in Knockturn Alley was called for, as Severus' wanted to brew some darker potions immediately. He would make sure that if there was a blood adoption on his child, it would become voice. Harry would also need a blood adoption that would follow for Tom, as the dark lord had the full intention of making the child his in more than name. They'd also have to check for any binds that Dumbledore had possibly put on the boy.

The witches and wizards that passed them in the alley didn't dare step in the dark lord's way. While Voldemort had become a treasured leader by most, they did not dare step over their boundaries with the man. However, they couldn't help but gaze at the little blond cherub that slept so soundly in the cloak of Severus Snape. The child's little face barely peaked out from beneath the cloth.

Entering the shop Severus' turned towards his husband, gingerly uncurling Harry from his arms. "Tom, would you mind?" He nodded towards the little boy.

In a move that would have caused quite a scene years prior, the dark lord reached forward and gently lifted the sleeping child from the man. He settled Harry onto his hip, letting the boy curl his face into his neck as he continued to sleep soundly.

Tom wrapped his own cloak around the small body, hiding his face from onlookers.

When Severus was sure that Harry wouldn't wake and panic, he turned and began placing different potion ingredients onto the counter. There was no protest or questions from the clerk, who placed the items into a shrinkable bag.

He paused, staring at a potion that had been premade. It was one that he had forgotten existed, as use of it could mean success, or failure with the worst of consequences. Created by Merlin centuries prior, the potion claimed to cure all illnesses, break all curses. And while Severus' would never trust the one sitting on the shelf (as they did have expiration dates), he could always brew it himself. It was a surprisingly easy potion to brew, fast, but the ingredients were extremely hard to come by.

Turning to the clerk, he didn't hesitate to ask. "I want the ingredients for the Frange et Maledictionem." Hearing those words, the man behind the counter grinned. With a wave of his wand several bottles appeared on the counter, the price of all the potions together meant a fortune.

"The only thing which I do not have is the bone of a Basilisk," he added.

Severus' grinned, knowing full well that his husband had access to the bones contained in the Chamber of Secrets. He had taken Severus' to the underground chamber only a year prior, and while they hadn't touched the remains of the snake, the Potion's Master had known it would come in handy.

"Here," Severus' threw down the several galleons onto the counter, not bothering to collect the change as he lifted the ingredients bag and shrunk it, sticking it inside his inner pocket.

Turning to Tom, he nodded in affirmation that they were done and both men started towards the clothing store.

When Madam Malkin noticed the sleeping child, she had only smiled gently before motioning the two men to walk into the back so that onlookers wouldn't peer at the child. Reaching forward Severus gently nudged the child, waking him slowly.

"Daddy?" Came Harry's little voice, head lifting from Tom's shoulder as he rubbed at his face. "I'm hungry daddy."

"Little one," Severus started, frowning when he noticed the little boy's shoulder slump over. Harry did not look pleased that they were not the man he was expecting. "Little one, we're going to get you some clothing okay."

The currently blond child pouted, "But I already have clothes. I don't want more clothes. I want my dad."

"We didn't bring your clothes, so we just have to get some for you until your dad comes to get you, okay?" Severus' didn't mind speaking gently, knowing that Tom wouldn't be able to be as kind in the public eye. He was charming, but melting for a child might show a weakness to the public.

"Okay," the little boy finally agreed, even though he didn't look quite happy about it.

Tom leaned down, placing the little one on his feet before stepping back. They had to keep his name quiet, not wanting a single clue to be had by anyone that the boy-who-lived was among them. "Stand still and Madam Malkin is going to see just how big you are."

Harry nodded, standing still. He couldn't contain a childish giggle as he felt the measuring tapes that had appeared wrap around his body. Madam Malkin explained the process, having been someone whom dealt with children for most of her business.

"And… all done! Would you like something for him to wear for outside of the store?" She turned towards the two men that had been hovering in the background. At the affirmation from Severus, she quickly conjured a pair of black trousers, a shirt with a green sweater, and little black shoes. There was no protest as she helped the child dress.

"I trust you'll send the rest with an elf?" Tom lifted a brow.

"Absolutely sir, it would be my pleasure. I'll have a whole wardrobe in a few hours," she smiled.

"Thank Madam Malkin child," Severus' gently asked of Harry. He was glad to see the little boy wasn't too afraid as he turned towards the woman. He couldn't see her, but again the bright expression of joy filled his eyes.

"Thank you Madam!" Harry spoke sweetly.

Immediately the woman melted, the small child was a delight. Not only did he look like a cherub, but he hadn't complained once when she had started to fit him with clothes.

Picking the boy up, Severus and Tom thanked the one before leaving the store. No longer hiding the now awake Harry, the former professor turned towards his husband with a smile. "How about I take Harry with me, while you go get my missing ingredient? Meet you back at the manor?"

Tom nodded, he had other business to attend to, including a stop at Gringotts in order to make sure that the Potter vault remained frozen from the crazy old bat. "See you at the manor," he grinned.

Both men turned in opposite directions, Harry clutching Severus' robes with his little face once more buried in the man's shoulder. There was one other person that the Potion's Master could check with to see if the potion he was intending to make might work. And while he didn't want to spread word that he had gotten Harry back, there were two people that would set the boy at ease. Perhaps distract him from the missing old bat.

Entering the colorful store, he ignored the young witches and wizards that moved through the merchandise with childish glee. He had no intention of allowing Harry to take anything, never one for such items.

"Welcome to the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes!" A voice shouted from his left.

"What can we get for you professor?" The voice from his right.

Snape sighed, already knowing that these two would be trouble, even as Harry perked up at the sound of the strangers voices.