Chapter 8: Terrible Two

Carrying Harry down the hall, the men watched the little boy for any adverse reactions to the spell that had been cast upon him. Considering they too had been worried about what the spell could do, it seemed like the child was doing fine in their possession.

While he hadn't lifted his head from his perch on Severus' shoulder, the green eyes had peered at all the surrounding paintings. He also seemed a little leery of Tom, even though he didn't fight the man's presence.

The only things keeping the dark lord from turning foot and heading to the library to check up on the spells was that his husband needed him, and that Granger soon-to-be Malfoy would most definitively be doing the research herself.

Reaching their bedroom, Severus cleared the room and moved directly to the bathroom. Tom paused only to conjure soft black slacks, a cotton shirt, and a green pullover. The dragon pattern on the bottom of the sweater was enchanted to breathe fire, to walk around the bottom from front to back.

Little Harry would love it. Plus, it was the Slytherin colors. Another thing the dark lord hoped to change, the child's preference of toys. He'd noticed that Harry had left behind the stuffed lion without noticing, and figured he'd let the child pick out a new toy. In fact, it was likely better as the thing had probably been enchanted in some way by Dumbledore.

With a flick of his wrist he performed some wandless magic, banished the toy to a different location from the bed.

By the time Tom had made it into the bathroom, Harry was already splashing in the tub. His hair was covered in suds from the child shampoo, and his little hands clutched at a ball that he threw in and out of the water.

Severus kneeled next to the tub, water had already soaked his robes although he didn't seem to care about it. Instead, his hands were brushing the child, getting any dirt off of him. Severus was also taking the moment to check Harry over for any signs of abuse or hurt. He didn't trust Dumbledore as far as he could throw him…. Physically anyway.

"Close your eyes," he commanded softly. Harry instantly did, sputtering when water still landed on his face despite his father's hand on his forehead to stop some of the flow.

"Daddy!" Harry whined.

Opening his eyes, Harry glanced over to see Tom standing behind his father. When the little child realized that Tom still had some of the food on his robes, he raised a hand and instantly water sprayed the dark lord.

"Diwty!" Harry exclaimed. "Papa clean!"

Severus had twisted from his kneeling position on the floor. He would reprimand Harry, but he couldn't help but withhold a chuckle at the look of shock on Tom's face. Apparently their boy would grow strong, as his accidental magic seemed strong. If not on purpose.

"Clean!" Harry squeaked, clapping his hands happily before turning back to his toy as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Tom finally snapped out of his stupor to wave his wand and dry himself and a quick scourgify to clean himself and the room. He then turned to grab a towel and held his hands out to take Harry from the tub.

Seeing the movement, Severus finished the child's hair and lifted Harry into the waiting towel. He was glad to see that Tom didn't seem disturbed by the child's messy self. Instead, the dark lord nodded for his husband to take a quick shower himself before carrying Harry to the toilet and sitting down. He began to dry and dress the giggling child as his husband stepped behind the curtain and got himself clean.

"So Harry," Tom spoke gently. It was a tone that hadn't been heard by anyone but Severus. "Why don't we go flying today?" He asked gently.

"Fly?" Harry's big green eyes looked up at his papa, the child having settled on the dark lords lap.

"No," came the strict voice from Severus. "No flying. Not yet."

Tom frowned, knowing how worried his husband was about his child's health. Harry was new in their life, despite everything in the past, and Severus would want to keep him safe and healthy. Chances were the man would be overprotective considering he'd lost Harry for several years, believing him dead.

"Daddy!" Harry understood the term no. His quivering lips and big eyes turned to the curtain.

"No," Severus repeated.

There was a reason the age was known as the terrible twos, as instantly what had been a calm child turned into a screaming banshee. Harry's face turned red as he threw his tantrum, struggling to get out of Tom's arms.

With a growl the dark lord stood up, "stop this now Harry, or you'll get a time out. If you don't stop then, you'll get a spanking!"

"No!" He got back from the screaming child, who now looked so red in the face they were worried he wasn't even breathing.

"Time out!" Tom carried the child from the room and put him in the corner of the room. He pressed the boy's nose right into the wall and spoke calmly. "Five minutes," he stepped back and crossed his arms.

Harry, as stubborn as his father, turned and crossed his arms. He refused to listen to the dark lord, instead moving forward. "No!"

Severus had followed them into the room, donning his slacks as he hadn't had time for more. "Harry, listen to your papa."

"No!" Harry stuck his tongue out at the older man. "No!"

With a frustrated sigh Severus turned the child again, only to have Harry squirm away and glower at them from a few steps away.

Tom, having had enough, walked up to the child and delivered a quick smack to his behind. He wasn't surprised when the little boy yelped and started to cry, which only sent him into the corner. Both men left the sniffling child in the corner for five minutes before Severus grabbed him.

"Are you going to listen to daddy?" Severus was crouched on the child's level. When he got a sniffle and a nod, he pulled Harry into his arms to hug him.

"Why don't we go pick out a new toy?" He suggested gently, glad when the little boy didn't argue and simply allowed his father to pick him up.

"Harry," he murmured. "What's your favorite animal?" He wanted to change the subject. While Harry was still learning, they didn't have to focus on a problem forever.

Knowing he'd get the brunt of the child's fear if he didn't do something, Tom stepped forward and took the boy into his own arms. "Harry," he murmured. Using a hand he lifted the child's face to stare up into his own eyes.

"Papa loves you very much. But you have to listen when we say no, okay?" He waited until he got another sniffle and a slight nod before letting go of the boy's face.

He turned towards Severus, allowing Harry to lay his head to rest on the man's shoulder. "Why don't we go to the garden? We won't go… F.L.Y.I.N.G. but we can play with a snitch." He was glad the child couldn't spell.

Severus nodded, only happy to see that his husband was actively being a good parent rather than fighting the situation. While they were close to the holidays and the men were pretty free on their time, soon both would have to start working again. Fortunately, the potion's lab had an area that could contain his child for the day. And Tom had grown a little soft and would give people days off when it came to the holidays.

They took the boy into the indoor garden, one that was enchanted to keep plants year round. And while part of the garden was completely off limits to Harry (as most things in the place were there for Severus' potions) it had enough room for him to run.

Setting the two year old down (whom appeared to have forgotten about his punishment), he watched as the child instantly started to wander to the flowers.

Summoning a small chest, Tom reached in and picked up a ball the size of his hand. It was a practice snitch for little ones, and never flew too far from the child as they wouldn't be able to fly after the enchanted ball.

"Harry," Tom murmured softly.

When the child turned to the two of them, he released the ball. Instantly Harry's face lit up as he gave chase, running into the garden with reckless abandon.

Grabbing Severus by the forearm the dark lord led his husband to a set of chairs, a set of tea instantly filling on the table before them. "Relax, he's alright. The worst thing he can get into is behind us, and we won't let him go that way."

"But what if he falls? What if he cuts himself?" Severus was trying to keep track of the larger golden ball floating around the garden.

"Then you get a chance to be a mother hen, settle down, husband." Tom handed the man a cup of tea and also turned his attention to the ball. While he looked relaxed, if anything happened to the child he'd lose it. Severus had been in enough pain, it would not happen again.

The two finally relaxed, hearing the giggling. However, both men soon became concerned when silence followed. Severus was going to stand when a very happy Harry bound out from the bushes on their right, Tom quickly hiding that he had pulled out his wand.

"Daddy! Papa!" In the child's hands that were now covered in dirt, two large flowers.

The little boy ambled his way to the front of the chairs and held out the flowers. One to Severus, one to Tom. His little eyes had lit up as if he were handing them the world.

"Hawwy found pwetty!" He exclaimed, glad when Severus reached forward and took both flowers. He then proceeded to climb into Tom's lap, who barely had time to set down his tea.

"Thank you Harry, I love it." Severus wasn't quite sure what to say, shocked that his child seemed so sensitive.

Tom nodded when the child looked at him for confirmation, before cheering and hugging the dark lord. His hands were again cleaned by magic along with Tom's robes.

"Excuse me, sir." A squeaky voice interrupted the quiet moment between the trio. A house elf stood by the table, its big ears twitching as it tried not to stare at the little boy.

"A visitor is here to see you sir, would you like Ixy to bring him to the garden?" Unlike what Harry had seen growing up, the house elf was well dressed. Looking clean and healthy. Hermione had had some affects.

"Who is it Ixy?" Severus drawled.

"'Tis the wolf and his dog sir," the elf squeaked.

Severus groaned, Tom rolled his eyes, and Harry clapped his hands in excitement at the thought of meeting a canine or two.

I got excited, notice the chapter title has more than one meaning? ;)