Chapter 21
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Severus and Sebastian emerged from the Floo in the Entrance Hall. Sebastian nearly vibrated with excitement as he stood still waiting for his father to cast Cleaning Spells over their robes, and give him permission to go find His Hawwy.
"All right my son. You may go now--but--"
Sebastian had taken a step then stopped, and looked back at his father.
"Remember your manners, and do not run through the Manor." Severus admonished.
"Yes, Papa."
Severus lips tipped up into a warm smile, as he gently stroked his hand over his son's soft curls. "Off with you now."
He watched his son hurry up the winding stairs toward the private wings. He'd experienced a growth spurt in the few months since the Adoption Ceremony, which had necessitated having the tailor visit their home, since Sebastian still refused to set foot in Hampton Courtagain. He'd reached the maximum of the self-sizing robes he'd worn for the last two years. The tawny curls now touched the back of the boy's shoulders, but he still adamantly refused to let it be tied back on a daily basis. It looked so much like Davidh's had.
Severus sighed, as he followed one of the elves to Lucius' private office. They had several investments to discuss, and they would discuss his research into development of a potion or potions to treat Draco's madness. Healers Granger-Weasley and Longbottom would be joining them later to discuss possible Muggle research and treatments, which could possibly be used with Wizarding treatments.
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Sebastian hurried down the hall to Harry's rooms. One of the elves stepped out of the suite, closing the door behind her. Seeing the boy approach, she smiled and curtsied.
"Master Harry is in the Observatory, Master Sebastian. Flora will have tea and biscuits brought up."
"Thank you, Flora!" Sebastian said as he spun and headed for the stairs to the fourth floor.
Lucius' grandfather's great-uncle Caesarius Copernicus Bronte', had been passionate about Astronomy, prompting him to have the large roomy circular room and the tower it sat atop, built on the very back of the Manor. The man had been responsible for a substantial amount of information contained in some of the reference texts used at Hogwarts and Beaubaton's.
After the attack in Hampton Court, Harry had regressed and refused to leave the Manor again, not even to just go into the gardens. After consulting with his healer, Narcissa suggested opening the fourth floor wing to the observatory again. She decided, with the agreement of the psych-healer and Lucius, that if their oldest adopted son would not go outside for fresh air and sun, then the outside would come to him. With the walls covered with huge windows meeting a ceiling of windows, it let in plenty of sunshine and an unimpeded view of outside, when the window framing was charmed to become invisible.
Narcissa had instructed the elves to fill the room with living plants and small trees. Small planters of live flowers, many of them roses and lilies, were mingled in with the rest. She had personally transfigured cushy comfortable furniture in muted natural tones and rugged oak tables and cabinets. Large soft pillows in deeper and slightly brighter colors, lay on the couches and chairs and in small piles on the stone floor. A large round woven area rug covered the majority of the floor.
Small songbirds had been given free reign in the room, flitting from trees to bushes around the room, filling it with merry song. Spells had been cast to contain them within the huge room, provide for their every need, and to keep everything clean. The three Welsh Corgipuppies Sirius and Remus had gifted Harry and the twins with, after the ceremony, met Sebastian at the door, barking and wiggling with excitement.
"Down!" Sebastian commanded as he pushed the puppies down off of his legs. They were still being trained, so they did get down and stopped moving enough to allow their ears to be scratched.
"Hello, Sebastian." Harry greeting him from where he was curled up in one of the huge plush chairs near one of the windows.
Sebastian stood and walked across the room. "Hi Hawry!"
Harry shifted and held his arms out, prompting the boy to climb into his lap, and wrap his small arms around his neck. He hugged the child to him tightly, relishing holding one of the children he had come to care for very much. Feeling a sloppy kiss on his cheek, he smiled.
Sitting back, Sebastian studied his friend he hadn't seen for over a fortnight. Harry had filled out a bit, thanks to specially prepared meals, supplemented with Nutrient Potions. But he was a bit pale, and there were faint dark smudges under his eyes. He looked tired.
"You having bad dweams, Hawry?" Sebastian's dark eyes reflected concern. "I will ask Papa if I can sweep over wif you, K?"
"Thank you, Sebastian." He cupped the small face and dropped a kiss on the boy's nose. "I appreciate your concern, but you can't sleep here every night. Miss Hermione and Mr. Neville just need to have your Papa make me a different potion to help me sleep."
"K..." Sebastian looked crestfallen.
"But, I'm sure an occasional sleepover with the twins wouldn't go amiss. We could have the elves make a bed of comforters and pillows up here, so we can see the stars. I'm sure they would even provide a magical fire so I can make you MuggleS'mores after the twins are asleep in their cots."
"Really?" Sebastian's expression lightened considerably, then it became thoughtful with a slight frown. "What are S'mores?"
"Oh, they are a Muggle treat Miss Hermione introduced me to when we were in school together." He smiled to himself, thinking of that Summer Hols evening at the Burrow, where she had introduced him and all of the Weasley's to the treat.
"I certainly hope you were planning on informing me first, before you immerse my son in a sugar rush of epic proportions."
They both looked up at the serious purr of the deep voice, to see Severus crouched in the doorway, alternately petting the puppies. His expression was serious, but defied by the amused glint in his dark eyes.
"Papa! Hawwy's gonna make me S'mores an'--an' we're goin' to sweep hewre an' look at tha stars!" He wiggle excitedly where he sat onHarry's knee. "Hawve you had S'mores, Papa?"
Severus glanced at Harry, who gave him a small amused smile. He raised an eyebrow briefly then looked back to his son. "Once, my son. One of the few happy memories I have of my childhood, thanks to my dear friend, Lily."
Severus didn't need to look up to know that Harry's eyes had widened in surprise. He knew very few people had talked to the young man about his mother. Since his father had been so extroverted, everyone was quick to tell Harry about him. Perhaps it was past time he learned how special a person and how gifted a witch his mother had been. Severus knew he still missed his best friend dearly, even after all these years.
He strode across the room, Ceri, Harry's puppy, in his arms, and Seren and Alun following along, running circles around his feet. Sitting down in the companion chair, he settled Ceri on his lap and continued to pet him. A firm look from him had Seren and Alun laying down at his feet, heads resting on their front paws.
"Papa! When can I sweep over wif Hawry?"
Sebastian moved around until he sat sideways on Harry's lap, his head resting on Harry's shoulder, facing toward his father. Wrapping an arm around Sebastian, Harry slowly rubbed his hand up and down Sebastian's arm, as he leaned his cheek against the soft curls. His other arm was pulled across Sebastian's lap and he felt a small hand mimic the petting movement on his arm. He watched Severus out of the corners of his eyes, as he listened to the interchange between father and son. His eyes drifted closed as the familiar voices lulled him into relaxing completely.
When he awoke a few hours later, he blinked blearily. It would be another week before the vision in his damaged eye would revert again. Noticing Sebastian gone from his lap, replaced by a warm afghan, he looked around and noticed Severus still sitting in the same chair, all three puppies now asleep on his lap in a small puppy pile. Severus' elbows rested on the arms of the chair, his hands folded on his upper chest, as he leaned back, looking out the huge windows opposite, studying the now star-filled sky.
Harry shifted and rubbed his face. He frowned when he realized he'd been asleep for several hours, making him a poor host to his guests.
"Do you finally feel well-rested, Harry?" Severus spoke without taking his gaze from the sky.
"I apologize--"
Severus gaze moved to Harry immediately. "Don't. You obviously needed the rest. I've left your modified Sleeping Draught with Narcissa. Please contact me if you have any problems with it, or have any questions. Use the standard dosage as you did with the previous potions."
He watched as Harry's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Thank you, Severus." Harry spoke quietly. "Where's Sebastian?"
"When he also fell asleep, I took him to our room."
"He is such a special child, Severus. You are very lucky to have him as your son. Thank you again for allowing me to get to know him. Time spent with him gives me many happy memories to savor. He is everything I wish I'd been as a child."
"Thank you. He is very much like his Da... Davidh was also a very special person. I will be honest. At first I wasn't sure he should be troubling you during your recovery. But--when we realized, he was, in fact--helping--you in your healing process... well, I had to reconsider. I've noticed how close the two of you have become, and, it has been good for Sebastian as well."
Harry wasn't sure what to say. Luckily, one of the elves appeared, a large tray hovering at her side.
"Mistress has asked Fauna to bring the Masters the evening meal, so they may eat here. Mistress says the Masters are to enjoy their time in the Observatory. Master Sebastian is iating with the Master and the Mistress, and the babies."
She conjured a table and two chairs, and setting it quickly with the meal and tea, before disappearing without another word. The men stared at each other for a moment, a bit caught off guard. What was Narcissa up to? Severus lifted each puppy into his arms and rose, before placing them onto the warm spot left by his body heat. They whined faintly and burrowed back into a pile, drifting back into a deep sleep. He turned to Harry, and held out a hand to help the younger man up.
"Shall we then?"
Harry looked in surprise at the outstretched hand before grasping it and allowing Severus to pull him to his feet. "Smells wonderful. I wonder what the elves made."
Harry's stomach growled as they settled into the chairs on either side of the table. Severus smirked at his blush, as he banished the covers from the large dinner plates, and filled wine glasses from the bottle already open on the table. Neither noticed the falling stars that crossed the sky in that moment.
Tbc...
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Seren = Welsh female name, means 'star'.
Ceri = Welsh unisex name, means 'to love'. Harry's puppy.
Alun = Welsh male name, means 'handsome'.