Chapter 4

Snape read the letter the owl had delivered with rising concern. Draco was not one to overreact, but it sounded like Harry was having real problems. He read the letter carefully once again.

Harry's pregnancy had been a shock to Severus Snape, but Draco and Harry had been overjoyed. Finding themselves ostracized, they had turned to him, and he had given all the support to the young couple that he'd been able to. In gratitude, they'd made him godfather to his young namesake.

He called to his house elf, Scritchy, and had him pack his belongings into a satchel. He also wrote a quick note and sent it by owl. Hopefully, the answer would come soon. Then, gathering up a few potions he thought he might need, not knowing the state of the Potter-Malfoy kitchen, he snatched up his bag and apparated to the house.

Harry answered the door on the fourth knock. Snape was startled by the change in the young man. His once crisp black hair fell in greasy strands about his face and he had a few days growth of beard. But it was the eyes that frightened Snape most. Harry's eyes had always been bright and snapping with life. Now the regarded him with no interest whatsoever. They were flat, defeated.

"Hello, Severus," Harry said blankly.

"Hello, Harry. Are you going to invite me in?" Snape asked, looking deeply into Harry's face.

"Sure," Harry replied, opening the door wide enough to admit his visitor.

Snape strode through the house to the playpen where his godson waited. Reaching down he tickled the baby and lifted him up above his head.

"And how are you, young man?" he asked, wiggling the baby. Small Sevy giggled and waved his hands about. Snape settled the baby comfortably in the crook of his arm and turned back to face Harry.

"Well, Harry, how are you feeling these days?" Snape asked, looking at Harry carefully.

"Fine, Severus," Harry replied automatically. "What brings you by?"

"Oh, I just wanted to see how you were doing", the older man replied. "How's Draco?"

"You know Draco, he's just perfect," Harry said sarcastically.

Snape put the baby back into the playpen and sat beside Harry. He looked at his young friend with sympathy.

"Harry, sometimes having a baby can put an extra strain on a relationship. You're tired and Draco's having to make some big adjustments in his life. You are the first person he's ever truly loved, and now he has to share you with little Severus. It's hard for him."

Harry snorted. "He should have thought about that when he got me pregnant! I mean, what am I supposed to do, put the baby down every time he walks in the door? I didn't have any love as a child either, Severus, so don't put all this on me!"

Snape turned away from Harry for a moment. Then he faced him again. "Harry, have you been sleeping?"

Harry stared at him. "I have a baby! I don't sleep!" His eyes narrowed and he started to laugh. It wasn't a good laugh, it was bitter and full of pain.

"Draco told you I was crazy, didn't he?" he asked. "That's what all this is about! There's nothing wrong with me, Snape. I'm tired, I've been cranky, there doesn't seem to be enough time to get everything done, and all Draco wants to do is complain! I'm not affectionate enough, the house is never clean, I can't cook! If you need to talk to someone, talk to him!"

Severus nodded. "I understand, Harry. Really I do. You have a lot to deal with. And Draco can be, well, insensitive sometimes."

Harry turned and stared at his former teacher. "Don't talk about him that way! He's good to me and Sevy. It's just that, well, oh, hell, I don't know." He stopped, startled by a bang from the kitchen. Sevy started crying and Harry rushed to pick him up and soothe him. With the baby in his arms he went into the kitchen.

"Harry, I have to tell you, Draco did write to me. I made a few arrangements..." he broke off, blocked from the kitchen by Harry's body in the doorway.

"You did not bring house-elves into my house!" he screamed, turning to face Snape. "I will NOT have house-elves!"

"Hello, Harry Potter," came Dobby's voice from the kitchen. "Winky and I have been hired by Professor Snape, sir. We have come to help Harry Potter."

"Get them out!" Harry snarled at Snape through gritted teeth. "I will not do this."

"And Winky is very good with children, Harry Potter. Winky will look after your baby, sir." Dobby continued, oblivious to the anger in Harry's voice.

"Take them and get out of my house!" Harry yelled, stalking off. Sevy screamed again, and Harry took him upstairs to his bedroom.

"Harry Potter is not happy with us?" Dobby asked Snape. Snape looked after Harry with understanding in his eyes.

"Harry is not happy with many things right now, Dobby. I will talk to him. You and Winky understand what I want you to do?"

"Yes, Professor Snape. Dobby and Winky will be so quiet that Harry Potter will not realize we are even here." Winky, standing behind Dobby nodded in agreement.

"Yes, we is to be proper house-elves once again," she said. The change seemed to agree with her, although she looked down at her gingham dress with disdain. "Winky will begin to prepare dinner, sir, and Dobby can begin the other chores." She continued to mutter to herself as she opened cupboards and drawers silently. Dobby disappeared and Snape nodded to himself. He heard the front door bang and went back out of the kitchen to meet Draco.

"Severus, it's wonderful to see you!" Draco exclaimed. "Where's Harry?"

"Upstairs." Snape said quietly. "Come with me, we need to talk."

Draco hung his coat up and followed Snape into the living room. To his surprise, a tray of tea and sandwiches sat on one of the side tables. He sat down and poured tea for Severus and himself. Picking up a sandwich he bit into it hungrily.

"Sorry," he mumbled through crumbs, "I missed lunch today."

"Not at all, Draco," Snape told him, sipping on his tea. "I must confess, Harry is not happy with either of us right now."

"What's wrong with him, Severus? Is he going crazy? I've tried everything, but all he does is cry or yell at me. I can't do anything right with him." He took a sip of tea and then realized where it had come from. "He agreed to house-elves? How did you do it?"

"No, he is adamant that I take them with me. But I'm not going to. They have their instructions, and once Harry gets some rest, he should calm down. Dobby and Winky will be as unobtrusive as possible."

Draco looked at Severus over the rim of his cup. "This feels like lying, Severus. Harry is going to notice that the house is cleaning itself."

Severus gave Draco a rare smile. "Distract him." Draco looked at him uncomfortably. "Will that be a problem?"

Draco shifted in his seat. "To be honest, Severus, it doesn't matter what I do, he's just not interested." He put down his cup and pushed his light hair back from his forehead. "I wonder if he'll ever go back to being himself."

Snape reached across to pat the young man on the leg. "Don't worry, Draco. Harry will be alright. I'm almost positive he's suffering from post-partum depression."

Draco stared at him. "He's what?"

"It happens after someone has given birth. No one is quite sure what causes it, most likely the stress of having a baby, hormones, the lack of sleep. It can be controlled, though," he finished quickly as Draco's face took on a look of horror.

"He'll be like this forever?" Draco asked, his face pale.

"Oh, no, it'll will end eventually. But it will be up to you to look after both Harry and the baby. First we'll work on getting Harry some sleep. That should help. And there are certain potions that can help." He sighed. "The hardest part will be explaining what's going on to Harry. You may be in for some rough times in the next little while, Draco."

"If it will help Harry, I'll do anything," Draco told him, a tender look in his eyes.