Strength of a Child's Mind
Summary: Disaster and Harry Potter does not bode well… at all. And this particular disaster is determined to change both Harry's and the greasy potions master's lives!
Pairing/s: None.
Warnings: Severus!Father, Child!Harry. Spoilers up to the fifth book? Sirius not dead. Maybe something else but you'll see that.
Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
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UPDATED 2011-01-02
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Chapter Four
"Who are we gonna see today?"
"Going to," Severus corrected absently as he walked down the corridor, Harry on his hip. "We are going to see Sirius and Remus today."
"Why are we going to see Sirius and Remus today?" Harry continued, making sure to almost spell the two words out for his guardian.
"Because they want to see you," the potions master said.
"Who are they anyway?"
"Let's just put it this way; they are kinda uncles to you, but not blood-uncles."
"Kind of."
"Stop correcting me. You're way too young for it."
Harry stuck to his favourite method; sticking his tongue out. Severus did it back and hitched the child higher up on his hip. They were going to Grimmauld Place as Sirius could not really go anywhere he wanted. Pettigrew was still free so he did not have much of a choice. Severus did not really want to go there but could not go on and refuse letting the two see the teen, eeh, child.
Harry put his head on the man's shoulder and wound his arms around Severus the best he could. The potions master patted his back as he walked up to the statue that led to Albus' office.
"Sherbet Lemon," he said and it jumped aside. Harry yawned and said:
"But we are we going so early?"
"Because I have things to do later," Severus said. It was a Monday but he had cancelled the classes for today as he was first going to Sirius and Remus and then later he had to meet up with Lucius. The blonde man had insisted, as Voldemort was growing angry of why Severus had not come to the last meeting. Severus dreaded the meeting with Lucius but knew he could not hide at Hogwarts forever.
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After only an hour with young Harry Remus had accepted his new role as 'Remy' and Sirius had laughed his ass off because of it. However, Remus got payback when Harry refused to call Sirius anything else but 'Sirri'. Plus it made the potions master's shoulders shake with suppressed laughter.
"A drink?"
"No, not this early in the day," Severus replied. Remus nodded and continued:
"Some tea then?"
"That would be fine."
"Anything Harry favours?"
"Chocolate, so don't give him any," the man said. "Merlin he is hyper-active as quickly as sugar enters his system…"
"I can imagine," the werewolf said as he sent Kreacher for some tea. "Harry was like that before as well; Hermione had her hands full keeping him calm. Ron found it hilarious."
The centre of their talking was currently being chased by Sirius, both acting like children. One had reason to, the other had not but hey… Sirius will always be Sirius. Harry's laughter could be heard from upstairs and Severus rejoiced in the sound. It sounded so free, just the way Harry should be… not weighed down by something he cannot even remember.
"Sweet music?" Remus mused, talking about the child's laughter. "I have never heard Harry laugh that way."
"Sometimes it's better to forget what happened in your life," the potions master said absently, accepting the cup of tea Kreacher gave him. The house-elf was not happy to have Sirius there but seemed not to mind Harry and Severus. He was neutral to Remus.
"Maybe," Remus agreed and smiled as Harry came running into the living room. "Does he always run barefoot?"
"What?" Severus said and looked at the boy. "Not again, Harry! Didn't we agree shoes on?"
He rose up and easily lifted Harry up. Sirius came into the room, breathing deeply and caught sight of the potions master who was now picking up Harry's shoes and helping the boy putting them on. It was a strange sight; the boy was sitting in Severus' lap and the bat to professor tugged on shoes on Harry like any responsible parent would do. It was something Sirius never thought he would witness.
Harry did not squirm around but let Severus tie the shoes, a bit tired from the chasing game. Instead of jumping down when the man was done the boy leaned back to his chest. Severus, used to Harry's need of cuddle, did not even react as he reached over and took his cup. Sirius grinned at Remus and fell down on a couch. Kreacher glared at him disapprovingly but opted to move back to the kitchen.
"When were you meeting Lucius?" Sirius asked after a few minutes.
"Lunch-time," Severus replied.
"Is Harry coming with you?"
"No, I'm going to leave him with the twins at Hogwarts. No offence, but they took first spot when it came to baby-sitting."
"Damn," the man muttered. "Oh well, can't do anything about that now. So we're second choice?"
"Something like that."
Harry had already untied his shoes and now they clattered to the floor. Severus sighed but said nothing as Harry curled up in his lap.
"We need to work on you having shoes on," the man murmured after a few minutes, stroking Harry's hair.
"I don't like 'em."
"Them."
"Them," Harry echoed obediently. "I do not like them."
Severus directed a half-hearted glare at Harry who stuck his tongue out. The normal response for Severus was to do the gesture back, but from the looks the two gave the potions master that was the last thing Sirius and Remus expected.
"Hungry," Harry declared.
"What have I said about that?"
"I am hungry, Sev'rus," Harry said. "That means I would like some food."
"By the tone of your voice you are rather tired of being corrected, right?"
"Maybe just a tiniest bit," Harry said and chewed on his lip.
"Alright, I'll try to hold back. Would you like some snacks? You're having lunch in two hours with Fred and George."
"Just something," Harry said and curled up tighter. "Hungry."
"I know you are. You always are. May I call for Kreacher?" The question he directed towards Sirius.
"Of course," Sirius replied, still trying to gather himself after the show.
Harry was allowed a sandwich and Kreacher rushed back to the kitchen to make it. Somehow he seemed to like Harry. The boy was not surprised seeing a house-elf, having caught sight of a few Hogwarts house-elves prior to this day.
While they waited, the three men talked while Harry had found a fascination with Severus' hair. After a few tugging the potions master clasped the small hand in his own and said:
"Is this your way to tell me I either have too long hair or I should take a shower?"
Harry blinked innocently at him.
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Severus kneeled in front of Voldemort, doing his best to keep his shaking at bay. Lucius of course had arranged so first thing Severus did when coming was meeting the Dark Lord. Oh, good lord… the blonde was insufferable at times.
"You have neglected my summons, Severus," Voldemort spoke silkily, making it impossible for Severus to work out what mood the man was in.
"My deepest apologies my lord," he spoke. "I have neglected my other duties in favour for my cousin-child."
"Cousin-child, Severus?"
"Yes, my lord. Coran."
"Coran," Voldemort murmured and looked away, his chin grasped in his hand. The potions master awaited the Crucio, as seemed all the other Death Eaters do. The man could feel Bellatrix's sick pleasure as she awaited him in pain, and mentally sneered at her. She was insufferable and crazy. "Severus, tell me about Coran."
Severus looked up at the Dark Lord but the man was watching him calmly. Without breaking eye contact, not really daring to as Voldemort seemed to want him to look at him, Severus spoke:
"He has lost both of his parents, hence the reason why he is with me. Although it was recent I took care of him, he has already been introduced to several Slytherins, Draco included. Coran seems fond of him."
"And Draco is fond of Coran," Lucius' silky voice broke in. "Isn't that right, Severus?"
"Yes, it appears to be that way," Severus bit out. Lucius had turned into a pain in the ass the older he got, the potions master decided. Why could not Lucius be a bit like his son? Draco was much better to deal with.
"Now, now don't argue," Voldemort said. "Severus, I will not punish you for your ignorance… if you let me meet Coran. If you refuse, then young Coran will have to wait up late for you."
"You mean at this moment?" Severus asked, his insides freezing. Had the Dark Lord gone completely insane? For this was not usual behaviour, and by looks of shocks of the Death Eaters around the room Severus knew he was not the only one with those thoughts.
"Of course. I will be waiting," the man said and sat down on the throne-like chair that had been put out for him. "You have ten minutes."
The moment after, Severus had already Apparated.
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"This is far too dangerous!" Moody hissed and glared at Severus. "Voldemort will have him killed!"
"He doesn't know it's Harry," Severus hissed right back, holding the child closer to his chest. Harry looked up at him and then back at the Order members, not seeing the importance of their conversation. He then clutched Severus' robes in one of his hands and closed his eyes, yawning lightly. He had been interrupted in his midday nap. "Either letting him meet Harry, or Poppy will have to have a bed ready for me."
"That bad?" the healer whispered.
"Worse," Severus said. "I have two minutes. Albus…"
"Go," the headmaster said. "There is nothing that can give Harry away. He knows he should listen to Coran?"
"He listens to that just as well as Harry," Severus said.
"Then go."
The man nodded and disappeared through the Entrance doors.
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Voldemort waited. Severus had thirty seconds left. Bellatrix was fidgeting, wanting to curse Severus herself. She had always hated him. Voldemort snickered mentally at that; she was powerful but oh, so pathetic at the same time. Being crazy was not always a merit.
"Severus," Lucius said. "Aah, young Coran. A pleasure to meet you again."
"Hello Lucius," Harry said timidly, looking around. "Who are all these people, Sev'rus?"
Voldemort sat up straighter and looked directly into emerald eyes. They were innocent, young… so unlike any other eyes he had seen. Harry barely blinked as he looked at the Dark Lord; he was not afraid. The red eyes that bore into his own did not scare him. The ominous magic around the man did not make Harry feel uncomfortable. The man did simply not feel scary… just lonely.
"These are people I know," Severus said quietly to the child on his hip. "And the man you are looking at, his name is Lord Voldemort. Treat him with great respect." And if the child calls the Dark Lord Voldy Severus was going to kill himself.
Harry was let down and Voldemort waved a hand, wanting the child to come closer. To their surprise, Harry obeyed. His small feet carried him quickly to the throne-like chair, Severus standing rigid and terrified, but they all were surprised even more when Voldemort picked the boy up. Harry let himself be placed on one of the arms to the chair, did not react at the thin hands resting around his small waist and did not flinch when he felt the power radiating from the man, almost choking the magic with its strength.
"Hello Coran," Voldemort said, tilting his head.
"Hello… my lord?" Severus mentally breathed out; Harry knew who to give nicknames and those who should be called by their right title.
"Exactly. My, you are a boy with manner. One of a kind," the Dark Lord praised him. "I would like to speak to him alone."
Severus felt his blood slowly freeze up. Leaving Harry alone with the enemy? If Voldemort did not kill him, then the Order would!
"Sev'rus?" Harry asked, unaware of Severus' thoughts.
"Yes, Coran?" he managed to say.
"You don't need to be nervous, I'll be fine."
The potions master closed his eyes, chuckling weakly before saying:
"Sometimes I forget you are the one who managed to throw a book wandlessly and nonverbally onto Draco's head."
Harry looked at Severus, and then over at a book in a shelf. They all watched as he narrowed his eyes and the book flew out from the shelf and landed right before Severus' feet. The man picked it up, ignoring everyone's stares and said:
"Oh my, you know my favourite book as well, Coran. Thank you. Shall I read it while you talk to the lord?"
"You can if you want to."
Severus could tell on the tone Harry had nearly said 'wanna' but corrected himself at the last moment. He calmed his nerves a bit, surely Voldemort would not hurt someone so young yet so strong (the man was acting strange already, not punishing the potions master and all that), and nodded to Voldemort.
"We cannot linger for too long, or else that blasted Order will become suspicious," Severus said with a pretty convincing sneer. "They know that Coran and my loyalty to you are the only two things keeping me at Hogwarts."
"Oh, I will not let them become suspicious," Voldemort said. "We shall make our conversation short, shall we Coran?"
The boy nodded hesitantly. It was with some reluctance Severus followed the others out from the room, and the last thing he saw before the doors shut was Harry watching Voldemort.
"Now we are alone," the man said. He wondered what he was doing. He had no idea what he was doing. He had no idea why he wanted to speak to the child, or why he had not punished Severus. He had a vague guess but did not linger for it for too long. It was not necessary. Or rather, it was weak. Lord Voldemort was not weak.
Harry looked at Voldemort silently, wondering who the man was and why he wanted to speak with him. It was not like Harry was special… no, he was just normal. There was nothing interesting about him… right?
"Why don't we start with talking how life with Severus is?" the man asked, and Harry shone up at the aspect of talking about 'his' Sev'rus.
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Severus came in twenty minutes later and Harry turned his head towards the door.
"Sev'rus!" he shouted happily.
Looking at Voldemort for confirmation, and getting it, the boy got down and raced across the room to be picked up by the potions master. The man hugged the child close and looked at the Dark Lord. Voldemort waved a hand and said:
"You are dismissed. It was a pleasure meeting you Coran; I hope we will be seeing each other again in the future."
"Bye-bye," Harry said, waving a hand before Severus bowed and Apparated.
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The Order seemed to want to examine Harry the moment Severus came to the headmaster's office but the potions master's nerves were too frayed to let anyone else hold him. Harry did not mind but instead wrapped his legs around the man, peering up at him. He clearly did not understand how close he had been to a half-crazy Dark Lord who usually killed children without thinking.
"What happened?" Albus said. Severus went stiff and wondered if he should tell them. But he had been gone for too long to be able to make up what they could have talked about, so it was with great reluctance he said:
"I am not quite sure."
"And why not?" Moody demanded, missing Harry throwing a glare at him. No one glared or shouted at 'his' Sev'rus; Draco knew that now. It seemed like more people had to learn it.
"I was not present," Severus clipped out. "The Dark Lord insisted on talking with Harry alone, and did so for twenty minutes or so."
"What?" most of the Order members bellowed. Harry wondered just how many he had to teach that they do not scream at his potions master. Draco learned it quickly so maybe they would as well?
"Calm down!" Albus shouted. "Harry, what did you and Voldemort discuss?"
"Sev'rus," Harry replied and looked around. "And our favourite foods."
"Favourite foods?" Albus echoed, faint shock showing on his face. He did not need to look around to know that was the face of all the others in the room. "That's all?"
"And he mentioned something else, but I promised not to tell."
"Harry… I know you don't want to break that promise, but we really need to know," the headmaster said. "If it wasn't necessary, I would not even ask you any of this."
"But I promised," the boy insisted.
"Alright," the potions master said. "Just tell me this, Harry; did he say anything that would bring harm to anyone?"
"No," Harry said.
"Was his secret about someone else, many people or himself?"
"Himself," the boy continued.
"Do Legilimens on him," Moody snapped out. "We have to know!"
"I will not attempt Legilimens on a child, and I dare you to try," Severus hissed before continuing with his questions to Harry, "Was it something deep, something you felt he wouldn't have shared with others?"
"I don't really know…" the boy trailed off. "He probably should mention it to a healer."
"Why?"
"'Cause he's sick," Harry said. "He wanted to see me again; can we go there again?"
"Why do you want to see him?" the potions master asked, desperate to keep the child away from the Dark Lord, not freely going to the manor with Harry!
"Because he's just lonely," the child said. "You didn't notice?"
"Didn't notice what?"
"That he's just sad," Harry mumbled before resting his head on Severus' shoulder. "Sev'rus, I'm tired…"
"You shouldn't be… Harry, did he give you anything to drink or eat?"
"Nope. He asked, and I said I had just eaten. He drank something though."
"What was that?" Albus asked gently. "Just answer this question, and then Severus and you are free to go."
"Smelt like a potion," Harry mumbled. "Y'now, like the one you made yesterday, Sev'rus…"
"I only made a blood-replenishing potion yesterday…" The man trailed off.
They all stared at each other. What was the meaning of this?
Tbc…
Aaaw, now we missed the twins watching Harry! Oh well, I just have to take it later. I know they watched him this chapter but it was such short time that I didn't write much more. Later you will have a full baby-sitting time with the three, I promise!
Also, I tried to make Voldemort really evil in this story but as with most of my HP-stories, I just can't. So we'll see how he turns out in this story, okay?
Chapter five: Harry meets Ron and Hermione in person, Draco takes Harry out flying and the twins has the best baby-sitting time ever… eeeh… kinda?
Until later,
Ja,
Tiro