Chapter 16
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When they arrived at the Manor, Harry's full Healer team was again waiting. Hermione and Neville stood nearby, Poppy behind them. All three had tears welling in their eyes, but was belied by a look of determined business on their faces. Severus held Harry gently against his chest as he appeared firmly on his feet, as though he had just entered the front doors rather than Apparating into the main hall.
As soon as they saw him arrive, the three Healers disappeared up the stairs to Harry's rooms. Lucius and Sirius both stepped toward Severus to relieve him of his burden. Severus turned and headed up the stairs, two at a time, elegantly avoiding relinquishing Harry to them. The men stood at the bottom of the stairs for only a moment, staring at each other in shock. Sirius raised an eyebrow, stepped back, and motioned Lucius to precede him.
"After you, Cousin. He is after all, our family."
Everyone ascended the steps as quickly as they possibly could without resembling a rabble. When they entered the rooms, they were wise and stayed to the parameters, knowing how busy it would be. And, because Healer Granger-Weasley wouldn't hesitate to hex anyone that interfered with the care of her patient--and best friend.
The house elves had moved the additional seating to an alcove of windows on the other side of the room, where everyone could wait and still see what was happening. They hastily seated themselves, as tea and sandwiches appeared on the table, but it was ignored as all eyes were on the privacy screen that was currently around Harry's bed again.
Bill ran his hands through his shaggy shoulder-length hair, then leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and looked at the men sitting around him.
"Who the bloody hell was that, if it wasn't Draco?! Bugger me silly if it wasn't his bloody twin!"
"Lucius, do you have any nephews we don't know about?" Sirius added.
"I almost wish I could say 'yes', but sadly, my brothers' children of that age are all witches." He reached up an elegant hand to rub the space between his brows.
"He was familiar…" Remus pondered. "…His scent…"
"A former student, possibly?" Lucius asked, as he grimaced. The way he was massaging his temples with his fingertips, it was obvious he had the beginnings of a massive headache.
"Well, he did address Remus as Professor Lupin, and, identified him as the former DADA professor." Bill looked thoughtful.
Sirius turned to the youngest Weasley brother, "Ron, what about anyone that was in your Year at Hogwarts?"
"Been trying to think, but no one comes readily to mind." Ron looked frustrated, his cheeks flushing, as he ran all the names through his head, of everyone in the same year as Harry and him.
A few moments later, as the men continued to puzzle things out quietly, Severus glided almost silently into their midst, and a potion vial appeared under Lucius' regal nose.
"I do believe this shall eliminate that headache to your satisfaction."
Reaching up, Luc took the vial and swallowed it without hesitation and handed it back. Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes to wait the few minutes for the potion to work it's magic.
"Thank you, Severus."
"You are welcome Lucius. There is no need to suffer when there is a capable Potions Master in residence."
"Indeed." Lucius sighed and smiled as the pain receded. "Have you worked your magic on our Harry as well?"
All eyes focused on the dark man, awaiting his reply. "Healer Granger-Weasley gave Harry a Calming Draught, so they could examine him thoroughly for physical injuries." He held up a hand to forestall questions. "Thankfully, he has only bruises, cuts, and some strained muscles. His magical level is down a bit due to the release of his wild magic, but it is not anywhere near a dangerous level. He has been given Dreamless Sleep and will be out until tomorrow morning. They will decide then, if he needs a Healing Sleep and/or other treatments. The Healers will be staying with him again in rotating shifts."
"Did he...?" Remus began.
"There was no evidence he was assaulted or taken against his will, thankfully." Everyone sighed in relief at that. "But, I daresay the psychological and emotion damage is much more serious."
"How bad is it, Severus?" Sirius asked, his eyes reflecting his concern.
"When she first Ennervated him, he was mumbling about Draco being angry with him for leaving the Manor." Severus shook his head as heAccio'd a chair and sat down. "We tried to explain that it was not Draco, and that Draco was still confined at the Ministry. I even tried to remind him that Lucius had lifted the spell. But, he was so far gone in his terror; he couldn't grasp what we were telling him."
"I'd best send for Psych-Healer Ruffino then." Lucius snapped his fingers and a house elf appeared immediately at his elbow.
He spoke quickly and quietly to the small creature, who when Lucius was finished, nodded once and was gone. He leaned forward and poured himself a cup of tea.
"Please, everyone, refresh yourselves. We will be here for a while."
"Thank you." Fred poured two cups of tea, added generous amounts of sugar to both, then handed one of them to his twin. "Well we know one thing--we can't let him wake up alone."
"Agreed. We must assist Harry to feel safe once more and nip his fears once and for all, before he decides to never leave the Manor ever again." Remus added, as he took a newly filled cup from Sirius.
Lucius surveyed his companions to see that they all had something to eat and drink, before placing his tea on the table. He rose, smiling at the questioning looks.
"I will only be a moment. I feel a need to check on Cissa."
"She is in the Blue Room with Sebastian. Hermione gave him a small dose of Sleeping Draught."
Lucius inclined his head slightly in gratitude before turning and moving swiftly across the room and out the door. The men ate and drank quietly, only speaking occasionally, between glances toward Harry's bed. Hermione and Neville finally exited the screen as Healer Blunt left the room. They approached the group, looking weary. Lines of worry creased their brows. The twins rose and summoned chairs as Remus poured each of them a cup of tea. Fred and George each planted a kiss on their wife's cheek before returning to their own seats.
Harry was running. He could feel his attackers closing in on him. Feel their hot breath down his neck. He had to run faster. He could do this. He could outrun Dudley on a bad day. He was strong, was always strong. He had to just keep on going and he would be free.
Until he felt a hand grab him around the neck...."NO!" he screamed.
Harry shot up in the bed as he screamed. His body was slick with sweat, his heart pounding a staccato beat, and he was gasping for breath. He nearly bolted out of his skin when he felt the gentle touch of a warm hand on his arm.
"Harry?" A deep voice whispered.
He closed his eyes and slowly brought his breathing under control. The deep voice was soothing. Merlin, it had only been a week since he was attacked by Creevey on his outing with Sebastian and his friends. He looked up to see onyx eyes, filled with concern, staring back at him.
"A bad dream... Nightmares..." He managed to get out between breathes, as he looked at Severus, faintly silhouetted in the candlelight.
"Hawwy?" A sleepy little voice spoke from beside him.
Harry looked down on his other side to see a smaller and almost identical pair of eyes looking at him. "Sebastian?"
The little scamp wiggled until he was sitting across Harry's lap with his head of wild tawny curls against the young man's chest. "No bad man take Hawwy while Sebas'ian here."
Harry smile down at the boy as he held him close, leaning back against the pillows. "Ah, not only are you my Prince, but my little guardian as well. I feel very safe now."
Sebastian smiled and snuggled into Harry, tucking his head under Harry's chin. Harry looked back at Severus. The solemn man was studying them, dark eyes watching and taking in the attachment that had formed between his son and the young man Severus had known for years.
Severus felt his own growing attachment as well; it's beginnings niggling at his emotions, had been pushed to the fore. The terror that filled him when the Floo call came. His child was in danger, something that had always broken through his granite exterior. But this--this was new--fear for the well-being of another--other than Sebastian. He hadn't felt that before or since his beloved Davidh.
Severus never thought of having another relationship. He had felt his heart go with Davidh, when the man died. He shook his head. No. He was just getting accustomed to how much the young man had matured. He saw him now for who he really was, in total opposition to the miniature of James Potter that he only saw for most of the years they spent as Professor and student. The young man had many positive qualities, like his mother, which he found reassuring, since his son seems to have developed a serious bond with him. He now, at least, would be an acceptable influence on Sebastian.
Harry had finally closed his eyes. Relaxed and calm again, he had fallen back to sleep, Sebastian snoring away quietly as well, as he was still curled up against Harry's chest. Severus sat back in his chair and watched Harry's breath stir the waves and curls of his son's hair. They looked so peaceful... so right... like that. Shaking his head, he closed his own eyes. They were burning from lack of sleep. He leaned forward resting his elbows on the bed, his face in his hands; he pushed his palms against his closed lids, trying to ease the discomfort.
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When Harry awoke again later, it was still dark, but the view from the windows indicated that dawn would not be far away. Sebastian was no longer in his lap but curled up against his side, his head on Harry's chest. One lone candle burned, the light casting pale highlights in Sebastian's hair. He reached up and gently stroked his fingers through the soft strands, carefully as not to disturb the sleeping child. Looking to the other side of the bed, his eyes widened momentarily, when he realized Severus had fallen asleep in the chair, leaning forward, his head cradled on his folded arms, on the edge of the bed near Harry's hip.
The man was still, his back rising rhythmically with the slow cadence of deep sleep. His clothing was slightly wrinkled from long wear, his robes thrown over the back of the chair. Harry studied the man as he had never been able to do in the past. Severus' complexion was still fair but now showed the kiss of sunlight and fresh air, as did his dark hair. The candlelight highlighted the variances in the ebony strands. Harry was surprise to notice the slightest beginnings of silver at the man's temple. But his lashes on the other hand, were thick and dark against his skin. His face, in repose, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and mouth softened, made him look younger, and his lips were fuller than they appeared when he was awake. Severus had, after the end of the war, followed Wizarding Tradition and allowed his hair to grow. The long braid, almost undone from the activities of the previous day, and now, in the man's unexpected sleep, lay over Severus shoulder and across the comforter, within easy reach.
Harry's fingers were still lightly fingering Sebastian's hair, comforted by the feel of the child against him. He looked down at the strands slipping through his fingers, then looked over to where Severus' hair lay on the comforter, near Harry's hip. Was the father's hair as soft as the son's? Severus had stopped wearing the Hair Protection Potion after the war, replacing it with a spell. His hair always appeared clean and shiny after that. But, Harry had never been this close to the man before, and not in a situation like this, no raised eyebrow and piercing dark eyes to chastise him for unacceptable behavior.
He extended his hand slowly toward the dark braid lying so close. Running his fingers along it, from where he could reach, all the way down to the end. His mouth formed into a small 'Oh' of surprise at how silky it was. He lifted the fringed end of it and rubbed it gently between his fingers. Yes, it was just as soft and fine as Sebastian's, though the thickness of the braid was deceiving. Despite the hair being very fine, Severus had a lot of it, as evidenced by the thickness of the braid.
A short time later, Neville came around the screen to check his vitals, and was surprised at the scene before him; a sleeping Harry, with one arm wrapped around a sleeping Sebastian, who was snuggled as closely against Harry as he could get. That didn't really surprise him considering how attached the two were to each other. What did surprise him, was Severus Snape at the side of the bed, head cradled on folded arms on the edge of the bed, sound asleep, the end of his long braid grasped firmly in Harry's other hand. He ran the diagnostic scans as quickly and quietly as he could and slipped back out with a smile, without disturbing the sleeping group.
Tbc...