Never Too Late
DISCLAIMER: JKR owns all (except the Healers Barnes who are Raven Dancer's wonderful creations).
A/N Thanks to excessivelyperky, my beta
Chapter 29 - Holiday Plans
Albus Dumbledore woke to find two green eyes staring at him. It was almost six thirty in the morning and the sun was just beginning to rise.
"Harry?" he said groggily. Harry merely reached up his arms. On closer inspection, the child appeared to be shaking. Albus lifted him up and tucked him in beside him.
"What's the matter, my dear boy?" he asked gently. Harry did not answer but cuddles closer to the old wizard. Dumbledore stroked the untidy raven locks and let the boy take all the comfort he needed.
"Geen," Harry finally whispered. Dumbledore was momentarily confused.
"Green, Harry?" he responded softly.
"Bad geen," Harry whispered and Dumbledore realised, with sudden jolt, what had happened. He pulled the child closer.
"Was it the green light, Harry?" Harry sniffled and nodded into his chest. He then put his hand on his forehead and rubbed it.
"Does that hurt, my child?" Albus asked, now extremely worried. Harry shook his head "no" and Dumbledore let out te breath he was holding.
"Geen light put it there," Harry muttered.
"Yes, my darling. It did," Dumbledore whispered, his eyes suddenly moist. He cuddled the toddler and rubbed the tiny back.
"It will be all right, Harry," he soothed, promising himself once again that he would help Harry as much as he could and give him the honesty he deserved when he was re-aged.
Two hours later Dumbledore woke up again to the feeling of someone tugging his beard. He opened his eyes and saw Severus standing beside the bed, a pleading look in his eyes. Yawning, he pulled the boy in beside him. Severus said nothing but sighed with contentment and curled up against him, quickly falling asleep.
Breakfast was a quiet affair. Both children sat on either side of Dumbledore, eating slowly. Albus found himself feeding each boy the last few spoonfuls of porridge. They were still a little tired.
When Minerva arrived she settled Harry and Severus on the couch with a few books so she could speak to Albus.
"We don't have much time left with the little ones," she said softly. Dumbledore nodded sadly.
"Yes I know," he agreed and then he smiled slightly, "I have had an idea, however".
Minerva looked at him quizzically.
"I was thinking it is very likely that neither child was ever taken on a holiday before".
"Yes, go on".
"Well I thought that we could go away for a few days. As you know, I have a lovely cottage in Ireland. It is right beside the sea and I think it would be wonderful for the children.
Minerva smiled, " That is a very good idea".
"I do have them sometimes, you know," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "The boys need some fresh air. They have been inside too much since we have to keep them away from prying eyes. This would be the perfect opportunity. My house is close to a Muggle village. We will not be recognised there".
"Just so long as you don't wear one of those garish Muggle outfits of yours," Minerva said dryly.
"You do not care for my orange suit then?" Albus said in mock horror. They both dissolved into laughter.
They sat making plans until Dobby and Winky arrived with the lunch trays. Albus pulled the two little elves aside and whispered some requests. Both beamed and bounced around happily.
"Headmaster Dumbledore Dobby and Winky are very happy to help".
Dumbledore thanked them and joined Minerva at the table.
"Come on boys. Time for some food," Minerva called and soon had them seated at the table. Harry tried to sneak a salad sandwich onto Severus's plate. He hated lettuce.
"No Hawwy. Don't want!" said the dark eyed child indignantly.
Albus was about to admonish Harry when he realised that Severus had spoken for the first time in days. He found himself laughing instead and the children quickly joined him.
"Honestly, Albus. You shouldn't encourage them," she scolded but there was a smile in her eyes.
After they had eaten the boys played with their toys together while Albus read his mail and Minerva worked on the new timetables for the upcoming school year. After an hour or so Dobby and Winky appeared with two packages. Albus thanked them and they left. He called Harry and Severus over and they sat on the couch. He gave each boy a parcel. They ripped them open with great enthusiasm but looked up at him with confusion when they saw what was inside.
"What this?" asked Harry as he pulled out a funny square shaped thing with a long handle.
"That is a spade, child," explained Albus, "It is for digging".
"In the sand?" asked Severus, suddenly remembering the Room of Requirement playroom.
"Yes, clever boy," Minerva ruffled his hair, "Tomorrow we are going to go on holiday. We are going to the beach where there is lots and lots of sand for you to play with all day".
Severus looked dismayed. Were his protectors going to send them away to a strange place?
"You 'tay with me and Hawwy?" he asked, his lip trembling. Dumbledore pulled him into his arms.
"Of course we will, darling," he soothed, "We are all going together and we will have such fun".
Minerva dug out a book with pictures of the beach in it. As it was a magical book the children could watch the waves crashing against the shore and people running along the sand or building sandcastles. Severus seemed to accept Dumbledore's assurances and joined Harry, who was looking at the pictures curiously.
"Funny birdie, Abus," he giggled and pointed at the picture.
"That is a seagull, Severus. They are very noisy birds. You will hear them when we go to the beach".
"We go to beach now?" asked Harry, bobbing up and down with excitement. Aunt and Uncle never took him away with them.
"We shall go tomorrow, Harry," Minerva said, "Just one sleep first".
Harry accepted this and he and Severus played with the new toys. They quickly found that the buckets were more useful than the spades with no sand around.
"Dobby and Winky got those toys, didn't they," asked Minerva.
Albus nodded.
"They are magical then?" Minerva was curious.
"Indeed they are, my dear. You will see when we are at the beach".
They packed a few things for the boys and Professor McGonagall went to her room to pack her own things.
By dinnertime all the preparations were finished and they children had grown tired of the toys. They began jumping on the sofa their energy returned. They were delighted that their magic allowed them to jump high into the air. Albus would have stopped them but Fawkes seemed to be doing a very good job of keeping an eye on them and making sure they were safe.
"I think you two will sleep well tonight," Albus smiled as he tucked them into bed that night, "Goodnight, my little kangaroos". He kissed both boys on the forehead.
"I not kangoo. I a seagull," Severus corrected. Dumbledore was amazed by the boy's intelligence and memory.
Goodnight, my little bird," he chuckled warmly, "You need to rest your wings for the morning".
Harry and Severus were asleep before he closed the door.