Amor Vincit Omnia
Chapter 3
Harry's eyes darted around the room, fear clearly in them. When his eyes landed on Severus Harry's fear increased. "Please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me"
"Harry child" Severus said softly "you're safe here"
"Please please I'll be good I'll be good"
"Harry child please calm down, I promise you're safe here"
Harry brought his knees up tho his chest and started to rock back and forward, struggling to breathe Harry started to have a panic attack.
Severus stood up and sat on the bed directly in front of Harry "child please look at me, everything will be okay. You just need to look at me"
Harry could feel his chest start to go tight and his eye started to go blurry, he was trying to breathe he really was, but he couldn't. He was so scared, he didn't know where he was, and his uncle was going to kill him.
Severus started to get worried Harry's panic attack was getting worst and it wouldn't be long before he passed out. Doing the only thing he thought he could do, he moved closer to Harry and placed the small child in his lap. Rubbing soothing circles on he back. "It's okay Harry, just breathe with me"
Severus breathed in and out showing Harry what he wanted him to do, still rubbing circles on his back. Harry looked in to Severus eyes, and started to copy Severus in his breathing. "That's it Harry, good boy" it took a further five minutes, but Harry was finally breathing properly. Still sat on Severus lap enjoying the comfort he had never been given.
"I'm sorry sir" Harry said looking down at his hands
Severus stroked Harrys hair softly "oh child you have nothing to be sorry for, never apologise for crying Harry"
"but I'm not allowed to cry sir it's against the rules"
"what rules?" Severus asked
"uncle Vernon and aunt Petunia said its against their rules sir. i'm going to be in trouble when I go back to them"
"you won't be going back to them Harry you have no need to worry"
"what do you mean sir, where will I go?" the concern deep in the child's voice
"Harry child how your aunt and uncle treated you was very wrong. You don't treat children like that, do you understand what I'm telling you?"
Harry shook his head "but sir, I'm nothing but a worthless freak I deserve everything I get"
Severus put his thumb on Harrys chin and locked his eyes in with Harrys "you are not a freak Harry and you are not at all worthless. I don't want you calling yourself that child do you understand"
"I'm sorry sir"
"there is no need to apologise Harry, now to answer the second part of your question if you would like it to be so Harry I would like you to come and live with me"
"really sir? Why would you want a child like me?"
"because you're a very special boy Harry and you deserve nice things and you deserve to be loved"
Harry chewed his bottom lip not sure what to reply to that statement, no one had ever told Harry he was special, and no one had ever loved him. Harry felt warm in Severus's arms. it had been a long day for Harry and he was incredibly tired. A big yawn escaped from Harrys mouth.
"would you like to get some sleep Harry child?"
"yes please sir"
Severus moved Harry under the covers and tucked him in to bed, within moments Harry was fast asleep with Severus by his side.
Dudley was walking around his new room nervously, he wasn't sure what to think. He was only five after all, everything he had been told by his parents seemed to be wrong and now he had a new family he had to live with.
"Dudley dear, are you okay"
The 5 year old looked up at his new 'mother' and chewed his bottom lip "I don't know"
"that's okay sweetie, how about a nice hot chocolate and a story before bed"
"yes please, umm whats your name?"
"my name is Andromeda but you're very welcome to call me Andy"
Andromeda left the room and went downstairs to make a hot chocolate for Dudley, at this moment her husband Ted had come home.
"hello dear, is the young boy upstairs?"
Andy nodded her head "he's scared the poor dear, everything his parents has told him has been a lie. They've brought this child up think that hurting another child is fine"
Ted rubbed his thumb across Andy's cheek and placed a soft kiss on her lips "I know, but he'll be okay, we can teach him right and wrong. He's only five, we can fix that damage those rotten parents have done to him"
Andy smiled at her husband and walked up stairs to give Dudley a hot chocolate which she had laced with a calming draught. "there you are Dudley dear, be careful it's not too hot."
"thank you, Andy" Dudley said taking the hot chocolate. After taking a few sips Dudley instantly felt better. Once he had finished with his hot chocolate he passed the cup back to Andy and got under his covers.
"how about I read you one of my daughter's favourite stories, does that sound good Dudley?
Dudley nodded his head and listened as the Andy started to tell him a story. Within minutes Dudley had fallen fast asleep. Andy placed a soft kiss on Dudley's head and left the room.
What a mad day Andy thought to herself, she only hoped she could care for this child and he wouldn't be to damaged from his parents behaviour.
The next morning Harry woke up early and noticed the man that he was with yesterday was asleep by his bed. Harry still didn't know the mans name which made him feel bad. Looking around the room Harry couldn't see what work needed to be done. And where was the oven so he could make breakfast. Harry started to get worried if he couldn't do the work then would the nice man send him away? His aunt and uncle would kill him for being away so long when there was work that needed to be done.
"Harry are you okay" Severus asked now awake
"where's the oven sir?"
"the oven child? What ever do you mean?" a confused Severus asked
"so, I can make breakfast for everyone"
"Harry that's not your job, we have house elf's that do that for us. Now that we are both awake I shall call one of the house elves to bring us up some breakfast"
"zinx" Severus spoke and a second later a house elf appeared
"what can zinx be doing for master Severus"
"could you bring me and Harry here some breakfast, and one of the nutrient potions from my cupboard"
"I be doing that now sir" and a second later the elf disappeared
"that's a house elf Harry, they do the cooking. Not little boys"
Harry just nodded his head "sir, I never asked you yesterday but what is your name"
"my name is Severus child, but you are very welcome to call me Sev"
"okay Sev" Harry moved slightly and hissed in pain
"are you okay Harry?"
"I'm just a little sore. I'll be okay"
Severus summoned a pain reliever potion "here take this, it will help with the pain. I'm afraid for the next few days you'll be in a bit of pain. So you will have to stay up here in the hospital. But once you're better I shall take you down to quarters, then we can go out shopping for some clothes and toys and stuff for your new room"
"but sir, I don't have any money"
"that's not for you to worry about Harry"
Zinx returned bring breakfast for the nutrient potion that Severus had asked for. "that shall be all thank you Zinx"
Picking up the nutrient potion Severus handed it to Harry "I'm afraid you're going to have to take one of these with every meal Harry. It will help undo the damage done to your body from the lack of food and it will help you put weight on"
Harry took the potion from Severus holding it in his hands for a few moments before he brought the potion to his mouth and swallowed it. It was the worst thing Harry had ever tasted and Harry shuddered from the taste of it.
"I'm afraid they don't taste very nice Harry, how about some breakfast to get rid of the taste"
Severus placed a bowl of porridge, a bowl of fruit and some toast in front of Harry. Along with a glass of milk and a glass of orange juice. "I know it is quite bland food Harry, but I don't want you to get sick. Please try and eat as much as you can" Severus was thankful that his breakfast was much the same to Harry apart from Severus had coffee instead of milk and juice.
Harry had waited until Severus had begun to eat some of his food before he touched any of his, an action which did not go unnoticed by Severus. Harry had managed to eat, all of his fruit, a piece of toast and half a bowl of porridge. "good job Harry, I'm very proud of you"
"thank you for the food sir. That was very nice of you"
"Harry its not nice of me to give you food, you deserve food"
"I'm sorry sir" Harry said deflated
"its okay Harry, you don't have to call me Sir. Sev is okay."
"okay Sev" Harry said smiling shyly at the older man
Even though both Poppy and Severus had put cleaning charms on Harry he was still dirty and need a good bath. "once your breakfast has settled Harry I'm going to run you a bath"
"noooooo please sir im sorry im sorry, I'll be good I promise"
"Harry child it's okay. Just calm down. You're not in trouble, you're a good boy. Tell me what's wrong"
Harry was curled up in a ball "baths always burn, and I can't breathe"
"Harry, I promise baths are not meant to hurt. I'd never hurt you"
"d-d-do you promise sir"
"yes Harry I promise, if you come with me I'll show you"
Harry uncurled from a ball and turned to face Severus his eyes red from where he had been crying. Severus held a hand out to Harry. Harry looked at Severus hand for a few moments before he put his hand in Severus hand. Severus took Harry in to the bathroom and started to run a bath for Harry. Rubbing circles on the boys back to keep him calm. Severus added a colour changing potion to the bath, along with an extra bubbles potion and the potion to help with the scaring on Harrys back. Once the tub was full Severus placed his hand in to the water to show Harry it wouldn't burn him. Harry cautiously put his hand in the bath, and to his surprise it was nice and warm.
"are you ready to go in Harry"
Harry nodded his head, and started to undress. Harry didn't know what to think everything had changed so quickly. 24 hours ago, he was with his aunt and uncle and now he was with a nice man about to take a bath. Once in the bath Harry noticed that the water kept changing colour and couldn't help but giggle. The small giggle warmed Severus's heart. Carefully not to hurt the boy Severus washed the boy. Half an hour later a very Clean Harry got out of the bath, Severus dried Harry and dressed him in a fresh pair of pyjamas. The child really needed some new clothes as he had none. When Harry was all dressed and his hair was brushed Harry returned to his bed with Severus by his side.
Albus walked in to the infirmary to see Harry "hello Harry my boy, how are you feeling"
"I'm okay sir thank you"
Albus who was holding a toy phoenix placed it in front of Harry, "there's a toy for you Harry, I know how awful hospitals are"
"thank you, sir" Harry said picking up the toy and snuggling down deeper in to his bed.
"Albus, I was wondering if you get me adoption papers. I would like to adopt Harry"
"of course, Severus I shall get them to you by the end of the day"
Severus looked at Harry and saw that the child was still tired "How about you take a nap Harry, your body will still be really tired for the next few days"
"okay Sev" Harry yawned his eyes shutting
"will he be okay Albus"
"in time I hope so"
Dudley slept in until 10 the next day, it took a few moments to remember that he was not at his home with his parents, but at a new home with a new family. Dudley walked downstairs to see that Andy was already up. "good morning sleepy head"
"morning Andy" Dudley said sitting at the table
"would you like some breakfast Dudley?"
"yes please Andy"
Andy fixed up some scrambled eggs and toast for Dudley along with a glass of milk. "my husband will be home earlier today Dudley, once home we're all going to sit down and talk about the rules"
"okay Andy" Dudley hoped that Andy's husband was as nice as she was.
Once Dudley's breakfast had settled, Andy ran him a bath and got him all washed up. Andy noticed the child was overweight, so she would have to watch what he ate. Sending the child outside for some much-needed exercise, she sat down and began to write a letter to her daughter who was now in his first year of Hogwarts. A Hufflepuff like her father, she began to explain their new situation. Telling her daughter that she had a new brother and she would get to meet him over the Christmas break.
That's it for this chapter. Next chapter ted and Andy will talk to Dudley, we get to see Nymphadoras reaction. Severus will adopt Harry, I'll go over the next few days and we get to see Severus and Harrys shopping trip. Please read and review.
Also do you want to see Dudley with Magic?
Do you like the idea of good malfoys?
Do you want me to save Sirius from Azkaban?
Do you want to Remus any time soon, or should he keep his distance.
Let me know what you think, next chapter to be posted Wednesday