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Harry Potter And The Father
Chapter 9
Getting Better
It had been two weeks since he had been rescued, his routine was the same. He would get potions that would make him better, stronger, calmer. He had never been allowed medicine to help him get better before, so he was hardly in the position to complain. Then he would get a bath, which was more fun when he could play with a few toys his 'Aunt Poppy' had brought him. He was still very unsure of what to make of them both, but they hadn't hurt him so he was going to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Then he would get breakfast, then promptly fall asleep, wake up for lunch, have his black man read to him. Then later on at night he would get dinner, then more potions a bath then into the softest night clothes he had ever had and tucked into bed. Which was in the corner of Severus' room, a proper bed and Harry couldn't believe it. He had never had a proper bed before; the fur blanket was the best thing of all. He loved his new bed and never wanted this to end.
Harry mostly got soft foods, he didn't complain about getting the same usual food. He seemed to savor every bit he was given, even if he couldn't eat it all. However, more than not Harry was eating everything he was given these days. His stomach was finally expanding to allow room. Severus noticed also that Harry wouldn't stop until he had finished it; he ate like a dog, eating everything as if he was worried about getting fed again. It broke Severus' heart just watching it, but like everything else it didn't show.
Harry was going to have to learn that lesson by himself, but in the end it would be a lesson worth learning. The lesson being that he would always get food, and eating everything and making himself uncomfortable wasn't any way to eat. Severus hadn't thought you could eat fast and savor anything in one go - he had stood corrected.
"How are you feeling little one?" asked Severus, as soon as he realized Harry was awake.
"Tired," mumbled Harry rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Breakfast time," said Severus, softly.
Severus had Harry's attention with that.
"Sausage, egg, pancakes," said Severus, the meal sounded mouth-watering. It smelt even better, Harry agreed with him, silently of course. Harry didn't speak a lot, he replied when he was directly asked something but other than that he didn't speak. He had yet to ask who Severus was and why he was here. Severus was waiting on Harry asking, he watched every day as Harry got more and more conflicted. However, he wouldn't break Harry would ask him and let Harry know he, Severus Snape would always answer any question he had.
Severus had the same, but his portion was much larger than Harry's. Harry sat down in the corner of the couch; his food was in a bowl so he could eat it easier plates slid of his lap. Harry ate it all and much slower than he usually would. Severus felt a proud smile bloom on his face; he knew Harry was beginning to trust him. Otherwise he wouldn't be eating so slow, Harry managed it all.
"Well done little one," said Severus.
Harry smiled shyly at him.
"Would you like something else?" asked Severus softly.
Harry didn't answer him; it was as if he was afraid.
Severus just ordered something else for them Ice cream, Vanilla for him. However, he made sure Harry had a few to taste. Honeycomb and chocolate first, he had all the time in the world to try the other flavours. It had nothing to do with chocolate and honeycomb being his favourites - nope not at all. It might be morning but Harry deserved a treat, and he was going utterly soft.
When Harry tasted it, the look on his face did break Severus' heart. His green eyes lit up brighter than a Christmas tree. Harry looked as though he didn't know what to do; he scooped another bit up and put it in his mouth. Swallowing it, he licked his lips, when Harry finished with the bowl there was no trace of ice cream to be had. Grinning happily at Severus.
His teeth had finally been fixed, half of his teeth had been broken the root still in the gums. It must have been excruciating, he had untreated abscesses as well, now all was clear. The roots were removed, and they had fixed what they could of his teeth. Unfortunately until his adult teeth came his food was always going to have to be cut up into pieces for him. They couldn't magically make teeth appear, so for the next few years he would have to put up with it.
"Did you enjoy that?" said Severus softly coming out of his depressing thoughts.
Harry looked at him for a minute before jerkily nodding his head; yes he had liked it very much.
Severus smiled, he knew this was going to be a very long and hard progress, to get Harry to trust him but he felt in the end that it would be worth it. Severus was still getting used to having a son around, his son it still sounded so weird and surreal to him. The worst thing was he hadn't told Harry yet, he was determined to hold out until Harry asked.
Severus snapped himself out of his thoughts; looking over at Harry he saw the child was asleep. Smiling he looked at the picture his little one made, ice cream all over him, spoon still in his mouth and bowl in a tight grip in his hand.
Severus had to take a picture of it; he had some pictures of Lily, and got some pictures of Harry and Lily or just Harry. He didn't have a picture of James Potter to be seen, he would give Harry a picture of James if and when he asked for it. However, until then he wasn't going to have pictures of James Potter lying around his quarters. Once the picture was taken, he took out the spoon and cleaned up his son's face. Harry put up a fight for the bowl, which was empty but Severus won in the end. Thankfully Harry didn't wake up, he needed a good sleep. Then he was cuddled in, and a cover was tucked in around him, and was sleeping silently.
'Knock' 'Knock'
"Severus how is things?" asked Poppy when Severus answered the door.
"Good," said Severus sitting down, and ordering coffee for the two of them.
Minerva joined them, coming out of the floo quietly and proudly three minutes later.
"Ah Poppy, Severus I just came down to see how things were going" said Minerva smiling softly. Severus knew with those two people by his side he would be able to raise Harry to be the best he can be.
"He's getting better," said Severus.
"I'm glad, he definitely looks it" commented Poppy, looking at the pink flush on Harry's face. He also looked as if he had a good bit of meat on his face now which meant there was meat everywhere on his body. So he was finally beginning to file out, potions could only do so much the rest had to be accomplished by Harry.
"He's eating slower now, he's beginning to trust me, he still savors every bite" said Severus, he said that with so much pride that Poppy and Minerva smiled at him. They knew there and then that Severus was going to be a great father.
"Ah, does he have anything to play with yet?" asked Minerva.
"No, I'm going to wait until he is up for it and take him with me" said Severus.
"Why? He won't choose anything" said Poppy confused.
"No but he will realize I'm giving him a choice, and maybe he might trust me enough to tell me what he would like. Sort of a test and I'm going to see what he's like in public, and let him learn that I'm not going to abandon him" said Severus.
"That's a good idea," agreed Poppy, she had read books about abused children, when she first started it had helped a lot. Severus knew a lot about abused children too, so that said it's what he was going to do.
"Here" said Minerva transfiguring a pebble into a big cuddly panther. With beautiful green eyes.
She gave it to Harry, Harry upon feeling the softness curled it around his hands and refused to let go. He was in for a nice surprise when he woke up that was for sure. He hadn't got toys or teddies yet; he had been spending the last fortnight sleeping and eating. Severus had held out so Harry would at least be conscious when they went for his toys. He hoped Harry would open up even more and begin trusting him enough to actually outright ask for something.
There we go! will he get better sooner rather than later? will he be introduced to his grandmother and hagrid? R&R