Harry stared around in wonder, he had never seen so many toys in all his life and he had grown up with Dudley. His hands were itching to pick up all of the soft ones and rub them against his cheek but he held himself back, he wasn't a baby. He felt someone nudge him forward and looked back too see Snape encouraging him to go closer to the toys. Snape was confusing him. He thought about it as he stepped forward. The man was all mean words but he seemed to almost care.

He could feel the bulky material of the nappy with every step, it was so large he had to waddle to walk. He wanted it off but he was afraid of getting in trouble again, he would take it off later when they weren't looking.

Excitement began to bubble in him as he walked along the shelves eyeing all of the toys. He had never had a new toy to call his own, he had only ever gotten the broken ones that Dudley didn't want anymore. Of course he didn't really want a toy, he was way too old, but he wanted to just look at them.

Something caught his eye and he turned there on a shelf just out of his reach sat a light green turtle a smile on its face. Harry looked at in wonder and began to stretch as much as he could his fingers wiggling as he tried to reach the toy but he could not get it. He felt a heavy sadness settle in him and his eyes began to water as he looked forlornly at the toy he wanted it so badly! He felt someone move just behind him and an arm shot out and grabbed the turtle placing it in his arms. Harry whirled around, Snape was looking at him.

Harry blushed and shoved the toy back on the shelf. He didn't know why he had reacted that way for a dumb turtle.

"I thought you wanted it," Snape growled snatching the toy back off the shelf and shoving it at the boy.

"No, I was only looking," Harry said trying to will away his blush.

Snape gave him a look and put the turtle in his arms, "don't lie,"

"I wasn-"

Snape raised an eyebrow at him. Harry cut himself off, and looked down, it really was a nice turtle.

He cuddled him close (for it was a him) and buried his face in it, breathing in its clean scent. He was perfect. He heard chuckling behind him and peeked up from the green fur, Madam Pomfrey was smiling at him. He felt his cheeks warm, he didn't think she was making fun of him more like enjoying the moment with him. He smiled gently at her and rubbed his nose along the turtles soft head.

"What will you name him?" she asked.

Harry blinked, he had to name him? He scoffed at the idea. He was way too old to something so babyish. But if he did...the name had to be perfect. He ran through a list of names in his head, then he thought of one.

"Er….Cesar yeah Cesar" He looked down at Cesar and knew he had picked the right name.

"That's a marvelous name, how about you pick a blanket now and then we can get you nice and settled?" Madam pomfrey placed a hand on his back and lead him over to a different part of the room. Cesar was clutched tightly in his hands, he checked behind him Snape was coming with them.

The walls were packed with piles upon piles of blanket in all colours and sizes Harry was overwhelmed with all of the choices. He walked over to the far corner and decided to start there. He didn't need a blanket, but he liked feeling all of the soft materials. He was walking along the wall trailing his hand on everything he could reach, when his hand came across something kind of rough. He stopped and yanked hard at the blanket pulling it free from the pile without dropping any others. It was just large enough to cover his body. one side had two teddy bears on it sitting in a hot air balloon it was really soft he flipped it over and saw that the other side was a bare cream colour and slightly rough but not unpleasant. If he need to pick one, this was it. He turned to the other two and held it up for approval.

He looked to Snape who was watching him with a guarded look. Harry walked over to him and shyly held out his treasures wanting the man's approval though for the life of him he could not figure out why.

"They are both lovely P-Harry." Harry's stomach did a flip flop, when he heard those words. He liked it when Snape was nice.

He walked with Snape and Madam Pomfrey out of the room and they led him back to the bed he had been sitting on before. Sitting down was worse, now he was very aware of the nappy all around his bits and bum, it wasn't unpleasant but he still did not want to wear it. What would Ron and Hermione say?

The nappy crinkled loudly as he shifted on the bed bringing his legs up and folding them underneath him, Cesar and his blanket held tightly in his arms.

"Now Harry we need to find you a Daddy or a Mommy, do you have anyone in mind?" Madam Pomfrey asked him, conjuring up chairs for her and Snape to sit on.

Harry thought about it, Remus was out of the question and he did not want anyone in his class, who else was there? They needed to be on the light side that was forsure.

Harry of course knew, that he should not want anyone, he was seventeen and he was old enough to take care of himself. However, he couldn't stop the butterflies of excitement when he thought about having someone.

He shook his head and waited, was there anyone who would even want him? He felt his heart sink, that was why they probably asked him. They knew no one would want him and they thought he could come up with something, no one had ever wanted him. He felt his eyes tear up again why was he crying so much?! The tears spilled over and he felt a hand turn his face up he looked into the calm face of Professor Snape,

"Hush, no more tears, we will find someone suitable." He said quietly

"But wh-who?" Harry asked his voice tearful.

"I am not sure yet." Snape let him go.

Snape began to talk but Harry wasn't listening he could feel his eyes slowly closing, he was really tired. He scooched over to the edge of the bed and rested his head on Snape, not really caring if he got yelled at. Surprisingly Snape let him, he even put a hand on his back gently rubbing it. Harry sighed happily, he hoped his Mommy or Daddy did this for him too. They sat like that for a while the two adults talking while Harry lightly dozed on Snape.

Someone was lightly shaking his shoulder and calling his name. Harry whined and pressed his face into the pillow, he was so comfortable, he hadn't had a good night's sleep in months.

The shaking persisted and Harry wanted to scream at them to go away, so he whipped his head up and his heart stopped. He wasn't lying on a pillow it had been Snape and Snape had been the one shaking him and now he was probably going to get detention for the rest of his life.

Snape stared at him and chuckled, he chuckled! What kind of game was he playing?!

"I never thought your hair could get messier." Harry stared at the man, was he making a joke? Severus Snape was joking around? With him?

Suddenly everything from the morning came back and he felt himself blush, he was doing a lot of that today. He looked down and saw that Cesar and his blanket were snuggly held in his arms it it had felt so good to sleep with them.

Harry looked around, Madam Pomfrey had left. He was sitting on the same bed, Snape next to him looking at him with an unreadable expression.

"What now?" He asked quietly almost afraid to hear the answer. What if they had couldn't find anyone? What if they want to send him back to his aunt and uncle? He wouldn't go, he would run away, where no one could hurt him.

"I am not sure." he looked up and saw that Snape looked almost kind of sad like he wished he had the answer. Did the man actually care?

"Will I...Do I have to go back too my A-aunt and Uncle's house?" Harry asked biting his bottom lip to keep it from trembling, he would do anything not to go back there.

Snape's nostrils flared, his eyes flashed Harry moved away from him afraid that he was in trouble, whenever Uncle Vernon got that look it was usually followed by a beating.

"Harry, you will never go back there so long as I'm alive, alright?" The man growled, his face dead serious.

Harry stared at him for a moment how did Snape know? No one knew had bad it really was there not even Ron and Hermione.

"Wha-how d-did you know?" He asked squeezing Cesar to his chest for some comfort.

"I began recognize the signs in your fourth year and Occlumency lessons showed me all I needed to know."

Harry looked away from the man his heart beating quickly what if Snape told people? What if the newspapers found out that Harry Potter couldn't defend himself against a stupid fat muggle?

A large hand grasped his chin and turned him to face Snape "Do not worry I will not say anything….I want you to know that what they did was not right, not any of it." Snape was looking at him with the most open expression Harry had ever seen on the man.

Harry leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the man and buried his face in his chest, his breath stuttering. This man had done so much for him and he kept continuing to help him.

The man smelled like vanilla and soap Harry breathed it in deeply the smell calming him. Snape's body started to relax a bit, his shoulders becoming less stiff. Snape hesitantly brought a hand to his messy head, petting his hair.

That was how Minerva Mcgonagall found them.

"Severus, I always knew you were a big softy," she teased.

Harry's head flew up at the sound of his old transfiguration teachers voice. His face turned pink, he hurriedly scooched away from Snape, hiding Cesar and his blanket behind him. He didn't want Mcgonagall to see him acting so babyish.

Mcgonagall walked forward her eyes focused on Snape. Harry looked at him and noticed there was a faint pink tinge on his cheeks, was he embarrassed? The man wouldn't look at Mcgonagall he looked just past her shoulder his face blank.

"Severus did I just see what I think I saw?" She had a smirk on her face.

"Minerva I-"

"He has been quite the help this morning I would not have gotten very far if it were not for him." Madam Pomfrey said walking over carrying a bottle filled with milk in it.

Harry's eyes widened when he saw it and he began vigorously shake his head no, he was not drinking out of a bottle like a baby.

"Now Mr. Potter we have been through this there is no need to be embarrassed." Madam Pomfrey held out a hand as she sat down in a very large chair, she conjured up. Harry noticed that it was built in such a way that one person could lie down with their head in the others lap. He crossed his arms and kept shaking his head, even as Snape forced him to face him with a hand on his chin.

"You need to eat, it is well past lunch and I know that you have not eaten breakfast." He looked stern.

Harry shook his head again, he didn't care if he was starving he was not drinking out of that thing.

"Potter," Snape growled loudly.

Harry shied away from him, he hated getting yelled at.

"Would you like to hold it?" Mcgonagall suggested.

Harry thought for a moment and then nodded that would be better than lying back and letting someone feed him. He reached out a hand and took the bottle from Madam Pomfrey. He looked away from all the eyes staring at him and ducked his head as he brought the bottle up to his lips. He put it in his mouth, he tried sucking and his eyes fluttered shut. This was one of the most amazing feelings he had ever experienced he never wanted to stop, but where was the milk? He felt someone take hold of the bottle and his eyes flew open Snape was tipping the bottle up forcing his head back. Harry scrunched up his nose, now his neck hurt he pushed the bottle completely out of mouth. Harry slid down the bed, resting his neck on the pillow and put the bottle back in his mouth beginning to suck again. He let out a sigh of contentment when sweet warm milk came flowing out of it. He wrapped both hands around it and let his body relax, the world fading around him. Why was he so against this again?

He felt his body being moved but he couldn't bring himself to open his eyes, this was the most relaxed he had been since sixth year.

He couldn't hold back his curiosity anymore and peeked up. Snape was holding him like one would hold an infant while feeding them his head was cradled in his left arm while his right held the almost finished bottle to his lips. Harry wanted to jump up and yell at the man. He wanted to tell him to never touch him again, to get the hell off his bed but he couldn't, not when he felt so safe and dare he say it wanted. He brought a hand up and curled it around Snape's much larger one. Snape stopped talking to Mcgonagall and looked down at him, his black eyes were warm as he gazed at Harry with something akin to affection in his eyes.

"Well I believe that settles it Severus." Harry heard Minerva say. He looked around and saw she was sitting close to his bed a small smile on her face as she took in scene in front of her.

"What are you talking about? We haven't solved anything yet."

"I have decided that you are the perfect candidate, Severus even you can't deny it." She nodded her head at the bundle in his lap still sucking on the bottle, making little noises.

"Well that is neither here nor-"

"Now Severus come on look at the way he looks at you how can you say no?" Madam Pomfrey said smiling down at an oblivious Harry, he only had eyes for his bottle.

"Will you let me-"

"No Severus it is not up for discussion you will take the boy. Good day." Minerva Mcgonagall stood up a smirk on her face as she walked away. Dumbledore had once told her a few years ago that Snape was meant to take care of Harry how right he was.