Harry Potter and the Father
Chapter 28
Getting well
"Hello sweetie, how are you feeling?" asked Poppy kindly, kneeling in front of Harry, who was sitting on the sofa. He had three covers over him, and more pillows than a child could possibly need at his back. To the relief of them all, Harry seems on the mend, which to all of them was a godsend. They were more relived, than they could express that Harry was recovering from Wizard Flu, as soon as Christmas was over Poppy planned on giving him the vaccine. He would never get ill like that again if Poppy had anything to say about it. Although most children did not like getting their shots, she hoped Harry would talk to her afterwards. Most children did not like her after that, they hated coming to her for any reason. It was why she had opted to go to Hogwarts; children didn't need shots unless they were muggle born and were older. "I'm going to check you alright? Just to make sure everything's okay."
"Okay," said the small boy staring solemnly at Poppy. As usual Severus was right next to him, it was a good thing it was Christmas. She dreaded to think what Dumbledore would be trying if it wasn't, for a moment there, when Sirius had first escaped they had been joined together in keeping Harry safe. As soon as that crisis had ended Dumbledore had basically reverted back to his old self. He had been spending too much time at the Ministry for any of them to feel comfortable. Poppy shook of her thoughts and used the spell, reading the results she smiled in grim satisfaction. The last of the Wizarding flu was gone from his system - he was truly on the mend.
"He's recovered Severus, the flu is no longer in his system, I'd say he will be fine within the next few days," said Poppy.
"That's good news Poppy," said Severus, who had already had that idea but was relieved to have it confirmed once and for all.
"So which one do you want Harry?" smiled Poppy holding up four lolly pops. There was a yellow, green, blue and red one for each house ironically enough. Harry took the yellow one, he wanted to try that one he had already had the green, blue and red one.
"Would you like to stay for breakfast Poppy? I'm pretty sure Minerva is joining us," said Severus smoothly.
"I'd be honoured," she said smiling happily. She didn't get asked very often, well until Harry had moved here. Since then she had been offered a few times, she had accepted unless someone was in the hospital wing. Those times she usually ate in her office, after giving her patients their own food.
"Good," said Severus.
"Well Harry, twenty three days until Christmas are you excited?" asked Poppy sitting next to him.
"I guess," said Harry softly. He had never really had a Christmas before; he had spent it from the cupboard listening to them singing badly to the Christmas songs. Ignoring the Christmas carollers, saying he refused to give 'beggars' money when they weren't beggars at all.
"You'll have fun! Guess what?" said poppy gasping softly in shock as if she had forgotten something.
"What?" asked Harry eagerly his eyes wide.
"It snowed last night," said Poppy.
Harry shivered at the thought; he hated snow his aunt had left him out there for hours wanting him to be 'clean' as she termed it.
"Don't you like the snow? How about when you're all better we go and make a snowman? Me, your daddy, Sirius, Grandma Eileen and Minerva? See if we can get Filius to join in too?" suggested Poppy, the poor boy, he deserved to see just how fun Christmas could and should be.
"Snowman?" questioned Harry confused.
"Yes, a snowman, you make the snow into the shape of a man and have fun with him, decorating him with things." said Poppy, her heart lurching in agony. How did Severus stand it? Seeing Harry not understanding things such as a snowman. She could kill the Dursley's for what they had done to this precious soul. One she had brought into the world, one that had always been loved by everyone.
"Oh," said Harry wondering why people would want to get freezing cold playing in the snow to make a snowman. It all seemed so strange to him, but if they wanted him to do it he would.
"Harry, come on over here son," said Severus who was standing next to a red, decorated with Santa's and things Harry now realised were snowmen. They had pockets and each and every one of them were numbered, they were small too he would be lucky enough if he could get his hand into it. "Do you know what this is?" he asked once Harry was beside him.
"No," admitted the child.
"It's an advent calendar, it counts down the days to Christmas," said Severus. "Each day, you see what's inside; this is how it's done here. From what I gathered from your mother, it's usually chocolate inside these in the Muggle world."
Harry nodded, he had seen Dudley eating an entire advent calendar in one day, then going to the fridge and eating everything in it.
"Why don't you see what you've got," said Severus softly, pointing out the number one for him, he was too young to read yet.
Harry looked at Severus curiously, before he put his hand in, expecting something small. He was surprised when his hand went further than possible. It must have been magic, he felt something soft and fluffy, and grabbing it he pulled it out. He looked at it utterly speechless. It was an owl, fluffy in most places, but his wings were half open and they had feathers on them. They were real, he knew, because he had stroked Hedwig before. He didn't get to do it often but when he did he cherished it. Now he could stoke this owl and know what it feels like. It looked like Hedwig too; pure white and Harry absolutely loved it.
"Thanks daddy," said Harry his voice full of awe and happiness. He lent forward and hugged him, keeping a tight grip on his new owl.
"No problem little one, Santa does have a lot to make up for." said Severus smoothly.
Harry smiled from where he was hidden in his father's soft black robes.
"He does indeed," said Poppy discreetly wiping away her tears. Harry was such a beautiful little boy, she had seen his face when he saw the little teddy owl his father got him. He was so awed, happy, and surprised. Not many children were like that, and it saddened her that Harry was so jaded at such a young age. There was hope though, that Harry would forget the Dursley's and grow up a loving young boy who only remembered his daddy - Severus.
A knock surrounded Severus and Harry's quarters, the door opened automatically after sensing Minerva's magic. Only Minerva and Poppy could come through his door, his floo only let Minerva, Sirius, Filius, Poppy, Eileen and the Malfoy's when he was in the mood.
"Minerva, you are early what's wrong?" asked Severus, he hadn't expected her for another fifteen minutes.
"Remus Lupin died last night," said Minerva emotionlessly handing him the paper.
That surprised Severus, he hadn' expected Lupin to die so quickly. Although it had been inevitable, as he was a werewolf, and as strong as it was. It would not, have been able to break out of Azkaban. He probably seriously wounded himself trying to break out, and once he turned human his wounds untreated it was only a matter of time really.
"Did you hear that Harry?" asked Severus quietly.
"Yes," whispered Harry very softly.
"He's gone, he can never hurt you again, ever." said Severus smoothly, emphasizing on the last word.
Harry wasn't sure how to feel about that, instead he buried his head in his daddy's robes. Content just to stay there, he was safe in those arms, nobody would hurt him. That must he was sure off after living here for as long as he had.
"Has the Crouch's trial been released?" asked Severus.
"What do you mean?" asked Minerva.
"Junior, did he do anything other than stay in that house?" asked Severus suspiciously.
"He was under the imperious Severus, he couldn't have done anything. I'm sure it would have been in the paper if he had done anything. However, no suspicious activity or Death Eater activity has been seen since poor Frank and Alice," sighed Poppy sadly.
"Indeed, if Bellatrix had ever trusted me it would not have happened," said Severus curling his lip he obviously blamed himself for that.
"You cannot blame yourself, Lestrange probably doesn't trust anyone, she's insane Severus!" cried Minerva.
Causing Harry to jerk awake staring around the room, but was quickly soothed with Severus' long fingers carding through his hair. It wasn't long before he fell back asleep, yawning quietly against Severus' throat.
"Perhaps," mused Severus quietly, putting Harry carefully on his side of the couch. Covering him up and snuggling him in. Even in sleep Harry refused to let go of his stuffed animal, Severus smiled softly. Harry was so worth it, not even brewing potions all weekend could be considered better than him. Everyone knew how much Severus loved his potions, and they would realize just how much this small soul meant to the surly man.
"Harry's making a full recovery," said Poppy once Severus had sat down.
"Oh that's good news!" said Minerva looking relieved. She was quiet now, after nearly wakening Harry up.
"Yes," sighed Severus.
"You took my advice Severus?" asked Minerva surprised.
"Yes," said Severus without blinking.
"I'm glad," said Minerva.
"Has anyone figured out what Dumbledore is up to?" asked Poppy cautiously.
"No, nothing" sighed Minerva grimly.
"Whatever he is doing, we can just be grateful we at least have Minister Fudge and Madam Bones on our side." replied Severus. He didn't care what Dumbledore attempted, he'd run away with his son should it be the only thing to be done. Dumbledore would never get his hands on his son, not just to place him back at the Dursley's.
"People are very fickle Severus, we cannot always rely on them, especially if they can be swayed," said Poppy.
"Not important Ministry workers, I don't think either like Dumbledore much, or what happened wouldn't have made the papers like it did," said Severus, since then Dumbledore had lost popularity, he had many pranks pulled on him. He now refused any mail while in the Great Hall. Instead opting to redirect them towards his office along with everything else, so he was no longer embarrassed in front of his students.
"He does raise a valid point," mused Minerva.
"Breakfast sir," said Blinky popping in, sliding the tray across the wooden table and popped away.
"So what? We do nothing find out what he's done the hard way?" asked Poppy, she didn't like that at all.
"We know he cannot get custody of Harry, Lily ensured that, unless of course he kills me. Unfortunately for him, I am too valuable to completely knock off yet, he would never find another spy in the Dark Lord's inner circle." said Severus a twisted smirk on his face.
Poppy and Minerva no longer minded Severus calling Voldemort 'The Dark Lord' it was better than the prospect of slipping up. They had also learned that the mark burned viciously when the name was mentioned. So both women took to avoiding his name, at least when they remembered anyway.
"Still I'd prefer to know," sighed Poppy digging into her breakfast.
"I know, perhaps Black might have an idea," said Severus smoothly. He didn't say Black was the usual distain he had used for years. However, it wasn't that easy to become friends with a man who had nearly killed him, and made his childhood a misery. Black was better than him just telling the man he didn't want to see his face again.
"He's back as an Auror?" asked Minerva taking aback.
"No but he had to get control of the Black accounts, go there to sign himself up, he is an animagus after all. He has bound to have some friends left who could perhaps confide in Black." said Severus.
"That way we will be prepared for whatever Dumbledore threw at us," said Poppy looking happier already.
"I suppose it cannot hurt," conceded Severus.
"Thank you Severus!" smiled Poppy gratefully as she dug into her breakfast. She didn't want to see anything happening to Harry, and if it came to anything happening to Severus she would take Harry herself. Dumbledore wasn't getting his hands on Harry, he was too beautiful and humbling to be let hurt and abused anymore. She couldn't understand how the Dursley's could do it, they made her physically sick.
Minerva and Severus shared amused but concerned looks at one another, despite their conversation that everything would be alright. They were just as concerned as Poppy, but not used to sharing it really. So it made sense that Poppy would be the most vocal out of them all, Minerva was as tough as nails and Severus was un-bendable as steel.
Between them they would keep Harry safe from Dumbledore's machinations.
Is Remus dead or let loose by Dumbledore? will this end well for severus or will he loose Harry? this time for good? what will dumbledore be up to? other than that? is he willing to risk Crouch Jr gettin loose to kill severus and back fire on Harry? R&R please