AN: I have two more chapters but I'm running out of ideas…feel free to send suggestions on possible story plots : D

Chapter 3

After Harry was cleaned up, both he and Minerva had some breakfast in her quarters. Harry then rested on the living room couch while Minerva did some more paperwork nearby. By lunch, Harry was restless and wanted to leave the quarters that he was confined to during his illness. He wanted to go out and play but the frown on his Gammy's face when he asked told him the answer before she even spoke it. Sensing his disappointment, Minerva decided to take the boy to lunch in the Great Hall instead.

Harry was used to being doted upon by the other professors in the school. However, due to his absence for the past few days, the professors fussed more than usual over the boy. All eyes turned to him as he tottered across the room. Uncomfortable with the attention, he tried to hide in his Gammy's robes. This greatly hindered Minerva's ability to move and forced her to pick up the child and carry him to the head table.

Even in the safety of his Gammy's arms, Harry still wrapped his arms tightly around her neck and buried his face deeply in the space between her shoulder and her chin. Anyone who had thought about approaching the Harry quickly changed their mind as they saw the discomfort the boy had with the unwelcome attention. The staff proceeded through the meal as normal. Even so, Harry still refused to leave Minerva's side. When she started to set him in his seat next to her, he began to fuss and refused to unwrap his arms around Minerva's neck.

"stay wi' you," Harry whined to his Gammy. Harry knew that his grandmother disapproved of whining but at that point he did not care. Eating with people who often glanced at him with concern was not his idea of enjoying his time out of the apartment.

Minerva was known to be strict with her students and this did not change when it came to her charge. Even at his young age, Harry had been told that whining will not get him what he wants under normal circumstances. Of course, illness and discomforts were not considered normal circumstances.

Instead Minerva tried to reason with the boy still in her arms that it was terribly rude to eat from her lap in front of all these people. When that did not work, she considered taking the boy back to her quarters for the rest of lunch, but was stopped by Albus.

"Come Minerva. I don't know about the rest of the staff, but it's been awhile since the hall has been graced by your presence, not to mention Harry's as well."

Seeing the agreeing nods of the other members of the staff around the table, Minerva had no choice but to relent to their wishes, but not before reminding Harry not to make a habit of such action.

As the meal started, she heard Severus, who was seated next to her, mutter not-so-softly that the boy was already being a "terribly spoiled brat just like his father."

Unfortunately for Severus, Dumbledore, who was seated on the other side of Minerva, heard the comment also and gently chided the potions professor for holding a childhood grudge, and encouraged him to keep an open mind towards Harry. Minerva, meanwhile, just glared at the man.

Honestly, some men just never grow up, Minerva thought in her head.

Fortunately, the rest of the meal proceeded smoothly. Harry ate little but enough to satisfy Minerva. After lunch, Minerva and Dumbledore decided to take Harry out for a stroll by the lake. The boy was very excited and proceeded to run ahead of his guardians.

"Harry, you just had lunch. Please do not run and make yourself ill," Minerva called after the boy.

Only giggles were heard from the child, and Minerva proceeded to comment again when she heard the headmaster chuckle from behind her.

"Is something the matter with me, Albus? I would prefer to know it rather than have people such as yourself laugh at me behind my back."

"There are events in life that surprise us all, Minerva. I, for one, never imagined you chasing after little boys. Granted, you have always shown great concern for your students but never have you openly express such concerns to anyone. I see how special Harry is to you, my dear lady, and how fortunate the boy is to have you. Let boys be boys, Minerva, for it is not often that we see such innocence at Hogwarts."

Minerva silently agreed with Albus but could not refrain from also pointing out his favoritism towards the boy. "You too, Albus, adore Harry. He already has you wrapped around his little finger! Perhaps Severus was right. With so much lenience surrounding the child, I would not be surprised if one day, Harry takes advantage of his upbringing at Hogwarts."

Dumbledore chuckled, offered his arm to his deputy, and the two strolled slowly after Harry. "With you as his guardian, Minerva, I have no doubt that you would not allow such horror to come to the boy."

Minerva didn't say anything but Albus sensed that she was pleased with the compliment. With so many years of friendship between them, the two could often tell what the other is feeling without vocalization. Before Minerva could change the subject, she heard Albus call out with unusual alarm "Harry!" and run after the child.

A few feet away from the professors, Harry was on his hands and knees, retching up his lunch all over the grass.

Albus quickly reached the boy and sat down behind him for support and comfort. With the wave of his hand, the wizard cleared the mess and conjured up a cool cloth for the child. Harry, who was exhausted from the episode, was leaning against Albus's chest, teary-eyed. If it hadn't been such an unwelcomed situation, Minerva would have surely conjured a camera to record the touching scene before her eyes.

With an arm around the child supporting him, the headmaster gently applied the cool cloth against the toddler's forehead. He murmured soft words of comfort to soothe the distraught child. Harry, confused and frightened, wanted to be held. He grabbed a hold of Albus's robes and was softly crying into them.

"Shhhh….my boy. It's alright. It was my fault that you were not better looked after…shhhh, Harry. I've got you. You alright now."

Unwilling to disturb the two, who seemed to take comfort from each other, Minerva gently approached the two and set her hand on Albus's shoulder. When she caught his eye, she mouthed "What happened?"

Not wanting to alarm the child, Albus maintained his soft comforting tone as he told Minerva that the boy did not have a fever and the sickness seemed to be exercise-induced.

"Are you feeling better now, Harry?" Albus asked.

Minerva saw Harry nod slightly, his body still resting against Dumbledore's chest.

"Next time, both of us should listen to your grandmother's words of wisdom and not run after we eat, alright?" Dumbledore gently added, to prevent Minerva from lecturing later on, both to Harry and to himself.

Minerva knew what the headmaster was trying to do and gave him a half-hearted chastising look. Seeing Harry already so miserable, she decided that his intentions were right. "Alright, you two. Let's get you inside and cleaned up."

Dumbledore proceeded to get up but when Harry didn't let go of his robes, he picked the child up and cradled him against his chest as he brought him back to Minerva's quarters.

After setting the boy down on sink counter while Minerva filled the tub, Albus then returned back to his own room to clean up himself. He informed Minerva that he would visit the two after dinner to see how the boy is doing.

Harry was still a little submissive and quiet after his bath. As a result, Minerva sent for Madam Pomfrey, who had returned from her brief vacation. Although the matron declared the boy to be perfectly healthy, the protective professor still decided that the child should take it easy for the rest of the afternoon. She read two stories to the boy, who promptly fell asleep halfway into the second story.

She then proceeded to finish the rest of her grading but it took a lot longer than usual due to the frequent trips to check on the child. Someway, somehow, protecting the small orphaned boy had become her top priority. She knew that the child had dug the same deep tunnel into Albus's heart as well, and was glad of the fact that if Harry was ever in danger, he will have aid from people other than herself.

Besides, she thought to herself. With Harry being James's son, I can use all the help I can get!