Chapter 8

When he made it back to the Headmaster's office, Sebastian was still there apparently bored enough to start making lemon drops dance in the air.

"Sebastian" Harry called softly. Abruptly the lemon drops clattered to the floor. With a sigh Harry conjured a small chair and straddled it in front of the boy his arms resting on the back. "So are you going to tell me what has got you blowing up potion cauldrons and picking fights this past week or are you going to make me guess?"

A huff. So the silent treatment then. "There are better ways to gain my attention you know instead of throwing a hissy fit. An owl's perfectly acceptable; preferably not one from the deputy- Headmistress but what I want to know is what you have against our new tenant, considering that is what has gotten you riled up."

Sebastian stiffened and his knuckles clenched around his wand. "You never said he was one of them."

Harry stayed silent, giving him that look that only parents can truly achieve that said: your reasoning doesn't impress me.

"You promised!" Sebastian bit out. The words hung heavy in the air and silence reigned.

Sebastian was the third child Harry had taken it. He was a year younger than Damian and had suffered nightmares and panic attacks. When he was eight, himself and his family had been attacked by one of Greyback's packs. At the very end of the War, 'werewolf' was scarier than 'death eater' and Greyback was Voldemort's right hand man. Other packs had remained neutral and went underground. Sebastian was the only survivor of that attack and had lived with his grandmother and a live in physiatrist. His grandmother died when he was ten and he was brought to Harry. After two years, he transferred and lived at Hogwarts with the older Riley (a 3rd year Gryffindor at the time) by his side. He was a quiet kid that spent hours in his drawings with big dreams. He hasn't had a nightmare in years but was left with a permanent fear and hatred of werewolves, the only exception being his Granddad Remus who was gentle enough to mollify him.

Harry uncomfortably just remembered that had promised him when he was ten that he would not take in any werewolves as tenants. Four years later that's coming back to bite him in the arse.

"Draco's… different." Harry said slowly. He had been called to Hogwarts because his son had thrown a temper tantrum of sorts. He'd somehow found out that Draco had arrived and to show his displeasure had sulked around, talked back to teachers, blew up a cauldron and picked on his classmates. Overall he was being a brat.

"He's a werewolf."

Harry rubbed the back of his neck feeling slightly guilty. "He didn't want to be."

"He's dangerous."

"Niki trusts him" Harry saw the boy falter. Niki's judgment was golden. If Niki liked him, he had to be a good person.

Sebastian held up his chin in the air and Harry remembered Draco did that a lot when he was that age.

"I don't like him"

Harry blinked at the comment and threw up his hands, exasperated at his son. "For Godric's sake, you've never met him! Sebastian, you're fourteen and you're acting like you're four. You're afraid of a man you've never met before and who is scared of his own shadow. He was unwillingly turned and his making the best of it. I knew him from when we were kids. I may not have liked him but I know him better now and I think you and him have a lot more in common than you would like to admit." I just realized that my own son is a mini Draco Malfoy and I have to deal with it. Only I can't punch him out like I did the other one.

Sebastian had gone back to playing with the lemon drops. "What about your promise?" he murmured.

Harry felt terrible. "He needs me and I also promised to help anyone who needs me."

The lemon drops pattered to the floor again. Sebastian blinked slowly and Harry saw the shimmering of tears held back. "I still need you."

Harry, doing what any father would do, got out of his chair and wrapped his arms around his son. "Hogwarts is your chance to have a normal life but that doesn't mean everyone from your old one is gone. I'm still here remember? All you have to do is visit. You got permission from the headmaster to use the floo at any time. I'll always be here for you."

Sebastian blinked back tears reminding himself that Slytherin's don't cry. A tear slipped out anyway. "It's okay to cry Seb." Harry whispered softly seeing the emotions run across his face. "I just saw the scariest, snarkiest, cold-blooded grown Slytherin bawling."

Sebastian drew back quickly. "Professor Snape cried?" Harry grinned. Even his students recognize the description. "Ya, I couldn't believe it either. Draco is his godson and they haven't seen each other in seven years. I left him down there so they could catch up."

Sebastian's eyes narrowed his sorrow forgotten. Seven years…. Godson…Slytherin… Draco…where had he'd heard that name before?

Sebastian's jaw swung open. "That death that was the turning point in the war… was that Draco?" Harry smiled softly. Out of all his kids, he would've bet his entire fortune that Seb would've figured it out first. "Draco had disappeared in our sixth year under the pretense of suicide. I still don't know what happened but all I know is that he was brought in by Kingsley a few months ago, mute and furry." Harry sobered up. "You have to promise not to tell anyone. Not even his name. Use Drake if you have to. No one must know he's alive."

Sebastian nodded. "I promise Dad." Harry smiled a little proud that even though his son was still a kid; he'd also grown so much. Some would say Harry was a fool for getting too attached to his mental patients. Harry doesn't believe himself to be a fool. And even if he is, it's worth it. "Good. Now get out of here. You're wasting your Saturday." Harry got up to go get Draco.

Seb got up too. "Can I come with you?" Harry glanced behind him. Sebastian was about as tall as his shoulder. He smirked. "As long as you keep a straight face when you see Snape. I swear that man can read minds."

Harry knocked on the door a few minutes later and gently opened it.

Draco was sitting on the other side of Snape's desk, scribbling furiously, a plate of biscuits in between them. Professor Snape was virtually the same as always with a few minor differences. His hair had a twinge of grey to it, with a few extra lines on his face. He had a slight tumor in his left hand from the poison of Nagini. She had attacked him during the final battle when he showed his true colors. After he had recovered, he had given Harry a bottle of pensive memories that he ordered Harry not to view until his death. Harry still kept that promise in a drawer in his study.

The major difference with the Potions professor (who agreed to step down from defense since the war had passed) was his entire demeanor.

He was smiling. It was saying like he was secretly a potato farmer. It was bizarre.

It was a small smile, barley there but full of kindness all directed at the blonde at the desk, scribbling and talking in broken sentences, bright and happy and Snape just listened like he always had, with dry withering comments here and there that the blonde took as his approval.

Harry was struck. It reminded him of a picture Hermione had taken of him once. It was on a Saturday with the entire Weasley family and the entire Potter family all together and harry off to the side, smiling in contentment of the family he was happy to have.

Harry was struck by really how bitter Severus must be. He was in a drafty castle, teaching children that he hates and that hate him, no family or other to speak of. Severus just had his godson and for the last seven years he'd thought that his only family was gone forever. That his only family had left him by choice in a fiery death. The strength it must've taken for him to continue teaching when there was no point. He was probably too stubborn and too proud to do that. Let no one see your weakness. Or maybe it was the familiarity that came with teaching. Same thing every day. Every week and every year. Routine didn't give you time to think about what you had lost.

Harry wondered if Draco knew how badly it had effected the people that cared about him.

But then again, if he was at that stage where you give up on everything, he probably thought no one actually cared.

Harry could've stood in the doorway for hours just thinking about that one moment but Sebastian had no such qualms and was eyeing the cookie tray.

Harry knocked on the doorframe and Draco jumped. "It's time to go home Draco."

Draco's face twisted and he bit his lip and… the man had the most pitiful puppy-dog face Harry had ever seen. Harry was reminded that Draco was still Slytherin to the core. He was not; he was NOT going to be taking down by puppy-dog eyes. He was the savior of the Wizarding world dammit! Draco's lip began to tremble. Oh Godric he was screwed.

"You really must go Draco." Snape murmured quietly and Draco didn't dare use the look on his godfather. It would just annoy him. He nodded and much to the professor's mortification hugged him again and then went to stand by Harry. Harry nodded curtly under Snape's gaze resisting the urge to squirm. "You can visit anytime you want. I'll open the wards to you. I also imagine you'll be getting numerous letters."

Snape returned his cool nod. "Thank you Potter. Good-bye Draco" The blonde shyly waved and followed Harry into the corridor. While there, Harry redid Draco's glamor and stopped to face the two others. "Sebastian, Draco. Draco, Sebastian."

Sebastian stuck his hand out and hesitantly Draco shook it. "Seb." He said slowly. "Seb-as-ti-an. Sebastian." He smiled shyly. "Hello Sebastian."

Hesitantly, Sebastian smiled back.

Harry practically hummed the rest of the way. Sebastian left them in favor of his friends and Harry led Draco along the corridor.

Draco glanced out the window to the forbidden forest and flinched. The sunset looked like the entire forest was on fire. Fire. Burning, tearing at his skin, smoke burning his nostrils and scorching his lungs… He kept walking and his flinch had gone unnoticed. He didn't look outside again.

Instead he reached for Harry's hand and felt the familiar squeeze back. It was warm, soft, comforting and safe. Harry was his lifeline.

He didn't let go until they got home. And even then, he could still smell Harry on his hand. And later, he sensed Harry making his nightly rounds to check on them.

And high off the ground, warm in the blankets, with Harry's old t-shirt to ward off the demons that came with sleep, the felt safe.

He also felt like there was something missing.

Well that was more draining than I thought it would be. Oi… exams are killing me here. Finals… almost done with school though! And entire summer to write and write and write…

What did you think! Tell me! And REVIEW! Reviewing is good for the soul. Honestly I'm out of bribes without giving the story away. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!