Chapter 11: Scary Man
Routine had settled in the manor.
The benefit of having so many people working in the Ministry was the ability to change up schedules as necessary. Hermione and Draco had taken to staying in the manor to help raise Harry safely away from prying eyes.
Hermione had taken morning duty, whisking the child to the library or the new playroom after breakfast. Despite his age, Harry really loved the stories in the books and would generally sit still for the girl.
After lunch, Severus would come up from the potions lab and take over the child's care so Hermione could go to her job at the ministry. Draco would join an hour before their dinner was served, and Tom and Hermione would return from the ministry together. Sirius and Remus visited frequently.
Thus far there hadn't been any reactions that raised alarm from Harry's curse, but the habits were hard to miss. The child feared being dunked under the water, as if they would drown him for fun if given the chance. A few portraits of larger set men had to be hidden from view, as Harry would always bury his face in the robes of whomever was closest. Although the child found magic fascinating, he would flinch whenever a wand was pointed his way. This was proven when he'd taken a health exam.
Harry was also desperately attempting to be independent.
The amount of time outs that had been given were astounding. Harry often fighting to do things on his own, even when he didn't know what he was doing.
Due to the lack of reaction from the child, most of the death eaters breathed easier as their dark lord stepped back from breathing down their necks. While Dumbledore was still a priority, he was no longer the singular focus.
Five years had passed but a lot of work still went into managing the wizarding world.
In fact, this was the first weekend since they had received Harry that both Tom and Severus wouldn't have to work. It was December, and everyone wanted the child to have the best holiday.
Stepping from the floo after an extremely long day, Tom sighed at the darkness in the hall. He'd asked Hermione to warn everyone he'd be home late, so it was no surprise everyone was asleep. It surprised him that he felt a pang in his chest from not hearing Harry's little voice calling for his papa. Tom was taken with the boy.
A rare storm had hit the manor that night, the soft pattering of the rain against the window soothing. It was clear way to snow, and soon there would be no turning the little boy away from going out in the cold.
Handing his things to a house elf that had appeared, he made his way to the kitchen, a little surprised to find a small light shining out.
Severus looked up from where he was reading, a smile lifting the corner of his lips. "You're home."
The red eyes warmed at the sight, leaning forward to plant a kiss on his husband's mouth before turning to the plate that had popped up on the table. Tomato soup and a grilled cheese. He raised a brow and glanced at an amused Severus.
"Harry convinced the house elves to make it again. He said the cheesy bread and red foodwas yummy." He snorted, "as soon as he can start talking coherently we're going to have to be vigilant. He's definitively showing his Slytherin traits."
Tom grinned, sitting at the chair and starting on the meager meal. A light dinner was good with how late it had been.
"I told Harry that we're going to put up decorations tomorrow. He was so excited it took an extra hour to put him into bed."
Again Severus snorted, earning a laugh from his husband who never imagined his life would be so cozy. To think that a child he had tried so hard to kill was going to be the one to make everything feel like his dreams had come true. A family, the wizarding world as his feet, love, and respect.
"Well, that means he'll be up early. Should we go to bed?" He stood, the small bowl of soup gone as he stuck the melted cheese in his mouth. Taking the other man's hand the two excited the kitchen, walking towards their room.
"Papa!" The little voice was unexpected, making both men jump and remove their wands. "Daddy!" The voice screamed again.
Spinning in his step Severus felt his shoulders droop as he noticed the little boy all but running towards them. However, he noticed that the child's eyes were red, tear tracks marking his little cheeks.
Tom crouched, opening his arms to catch the boy and lift him up. Immediately the child stuck his face into the man's robes, his little body shaking terribly as he started to cry again.
Frowning but following after Severus, the men turned on the dim lights in their room and closed the door. The little child allowed himself to be passed to Severus so that the other man could change into his night robes.
Severus took his little boy to the bed, settling Harry on his lap as he put his back to the headboard. Harry had seemed to calm down, his big green eyes twinkling as he finally gazed up at his father. A hand rubbed his back, trying to comfort him.
"What happened little one?" Severus spoke gently.
"Scary man!" Harry pointed at the door, towards his own room. "Scary man! Daddy!"
Wondering if this had been another nightmare from the boy, Severus tilted his head. "What did the scary man look like?"
Harry paused, as if trying to process exactly what was asked. When he understood the child made a motion of a large beard. "Scary man has silly colors daddy! He say Harry bad! Take Harry away!" With a shake of his head the boy was crying again, burying his face in his father's robes as Tom returned.
Observing his family in the bed, Tom tilted his head at Severus.
"I think he dreamt of Albus," Severus explained.
However, the words were contradicted when Harry once more shook his head. "No daddy! No dream! Scary man!"
Tom froze, even Severus did, but it wasn't possible. Albus wouldn't be able to get past their wards. He pulled out his wand and made for the hall, wanting to check that everything was fine.
Finding Harry's room in disarray, he found nothing that would prove to be an indication of a wizard having entered. It had to be a nightmare.
With a sigh the man turned back to the door and froze, the cold breeze from the outside hitting him like a bag of bricks. Head turning to the side Tom froze when he noticed that the window to the room was open, and wet footsteps leading to the child's bed marked the carpet.
Cursing in every language he knew the dark lord flew into a frenzy. The grounds would be checked, the wards would be hardened, and he'd catch the dead wizard before he escaped.
With a grow that was without a doubt inhuman, the dark lord disappeared into a raged frenzy. It took nearly four hours before the house had been checked from top to bottom, every nook and cranny, every cupboard.
Albus was gone.
When Tom returned to the room it was to find that Harry had fallen asleep atop his husband's chest, little body curled tightly as if the lack of size would protect him. Instantly, as they two men made eye contact, they knew that Harry wouldn't be returning to his room for a while.
Quickly dressing for bed, the dark lord joined his husband, watching as Severus carefully placed the little black-haired boy between them. Instantly the child curled closer to his papa, a hand still holding his daddy's robes tightly.
"The man is deranged to target this family," Severus murmured softly. "If he ever comes near him again…." He trailed off, the threat evident without the words.
Tom reached an arm over the little boy, squeezing the man's arm in reassurance. However, the movement caused the child to groan between them, a little whimper. Both eyes traveled to the little boy, whom while asleep began to murmur.
"Daddy…. Papa….. pwease, no leave Harry! Pwease!" His little hands had tightened where they held onto Severus.
"Harry," Tom murmured gently, burying his face in the boy's hair. "Harry, we're right here. We'll never leave you."
Inching closer so that Harry had physical contact with both men, they both relaxed when the soft words from the dark lord appeased the boy. His body instantly relaxed, little face softening as he sunk further into sleep.
"I love you Harry," Severus whispered, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead as the lights of the room dimmed. While the night had been a bit frightening, they'd make the child forget it with the Christmas decorations. "I love you," Severus repeated.
Next chapter should be a little more happy! Hopefully more family time :)