Once back at Hogwarts, before the feast started, Dumbledore stood.
"Welcome back, students. Now, before we eat, Professor Snape has an announcement."
Snape stood.
"About two years ago, during the summer, a four year old boy showed up at my home, badly beaten. I later discovered that his father had beaten him."
All the students made angry noises.
"He is a muggle-born, and his father didn't want him to be magical and thought he could beat the magic out of his son. I cared for the boy, and by the time he was well enough to go into foster care he had... wormed his way into my life and... my heart."
A collective 'aww' came from the females, causing groans from the males and an eye roll from Snape.
"This past summer Harry Potter somehow found his way to my home, also beaten. I have taken him in as well. Harry Potter is now... my son."
Harry came into the Great Hall with Jimmy. He took his place next to Hermione with the twins moving down so Jimmy could sit down then cheerfully greeting the boy.
Snape sat back down, and Dumbledore rose.
"Tuck in!"
Harry was about to dish food onto Jimmy's plate when the boy spoke.
"Harry, can I sit by Draco?"
"Well, ask him first, but if he says no come back here."
The child nodded.
"Okay."
Draco Malfoy was currently talking to Pansy Parkinson when he felt a tug at his sleeve. He turned to see Jimmy.
"Hey, squirt."
"Draco, can I sit with you?"
He smiled.
"You sure can. Goyle, move down."
His friend grumbled but did so, and Jimmy settled happily next to the Slytherin. Draco dished some food onto the boy's plate.
"He's a Mudblood, Draco."
"Shut up, Pansy. Muggle-born or not, he's still Professor Snape's son. Besides, he's adorable," he said, giving the child a hug, earning a cute giggle.
Jimmy ate happily, and Pansy said no more against him.
"Draco?"
"Hmm?"
He looked at Jimmy.
"Can I have a treacle tart please?"
"Uh,... that's up to Professor Snape."
He caught his godfather's gaze and lifted said dessert, pointing to Jimmy. Snape nodded but held up a finger signaling to Draco that his son was only allowed one.
"He says you can have only one."
The boy ate it happily.
"Man, you were hungry weren't you?" Draco teased.
"Uh-huh. Do you think I can go to Daddy now?"
The Slytherin looked at the Head Table.
"I don't see why not, just don't run."
Jimmy went to his father, who scooped him up onto his lap.
"Did you enjoy your dinner?"
"Yeah. It was yummy."
Snape smiled.
"Well aren't you a cute one," Dolores Umbridge said.
The potions master frowned at the woman, who gave him an uneasy feeling.
"Thank you," Jimmy said shyly.
"Jimmy, why do you go see Grandpa Albus? I'm sure he's dying to see you."
The boy hopped down and went to the Headmaster, who smiled and lifted the boy onto his lap. Jimmy giggled and hugged him. The staff of Hogwarts was like his family, and he called them such.
"Draco?"
Draco turned to Harry.
"Hey, Potter, get out-"
"Crabbe, stop."
The boy blinked but said nothing else.
"Where's Jimmy?"
"At the Head Table."
Both boys looked at Snape and felt a moment of panic when they saw Jimmy wasn't by him, but they relaxed when they saw him with Dumbledore.
"Well, at least we know he couldn't be safer," Harry quipped.
Draco snorted back a laugh.
"You're telling me. Now that everyone knows about him what are the chances of us getting saddled with him during the year?"
Harry looked at his new friend.
"Very likely. I'll see you tomorrow in class."
Draco nodded, and Harry went back to the Gryffindor table.
"Oi, mate, what's with you being all friendly to Malfoy?" Ron asked.
"His name is Draco, and he's not that bad actually. He just had to act like that because he and his family were high up with the Death Eaters. Now that they've joined the Order and Sirius and Remus are helping to protect his parents, he doesn't have to be like that."
As the weeks passed, Jimmy often wandered Hogwarts with Harry or Draco and sometimes both. One fall afternoon, Harry, Draco, Ron, and Hermione all sat under a tree studying. Jimmy played nearby, with one of the teens glancing up to make sure he didn't run off. Draco lay on his stomach, Hermione sat to his left, Harry lay on his side to his right, and Ron lay on his back across from him.
"It's weird; the four of us hanging out."
"I'm used to it, Ron."
Draco rolled onto his back, sat up, and faced his Gryffindor friends.
"If it wasn't for Uncle Sev adopting Harry we'd still be enemies. I like this better."
The others nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. Now if we could only find the Professor a date," Hermione said.
They stared at her in silence then all four started laughing.
"Yeah, Mione, he'll find a date... when centaurs fly!" Harry laughed.
His comment caused Draco to crack up even harder, falling over. Ron was rolling on the ground laughing, and Hermione was having trouble staying up right.
"Yeah, Hermione. I have a better chance of getting a date with you than Uncle Sev does of getting a date with... anyone!" Draco laughed.
Finally they all calmed down and agreed it was time to head back inside. They got up and looked around for Jimmy.
"Jimmy?"
There was no answer.
"Jimmy?!"
The boy was nowhere to be seen.
"Jimmy!"
The four friends shared looks of horror.
"I'll get Fred and George to help look around inside," Ron said.
"Hermione, Draco, and I will look outside."
They all ran off.
"Hermione, take the left side. I'll take the right. Draco, tell Hagrid then look around."
The three split up.
"Hagrid! HAGRID!" Draco screamed as he dashed to the half-giant's hut.
"Draco, what's goin' on?"
The boy skidded to a stop in front of the Care and Study of Magical Creatures Professor.
"Jimmy's missing!"
"What?!"
The fifth year was on the verge of panic.
"We can't find him!"
"I'll help ye look."
Draco ran off, shouting for Jimmy as Hagrid and Fang began looking as well. Meanwhile, Ron, Luna, Fred, George, and Neville were searching the castle. Seamus and Dean had gone outside to help the others.
Snape heard Neville calling for his youngest son. He got up from his desk and went out to confront the Gryffindor.
"Mister Longbottom."
He whirled, but to Snape's surprise he looked relieved to see him.
"Professor! Jimmy isn't with you is he?"
"No. He's with Malfoy, Potter, Weasley, and Granger."
Neville's face fell.
"Actually, sir, we... we can't find him... anywhere."
Snape felt like someone had punched him in the stomach.
"What?"
"They were laughing about a joke, and he must have wandered off while they were laughing. Draco, Harry, Seamus, Dean, Hermione, and Hagrid are outside looking right now. Ron, Luna, Fred, and George are searching the upper floors, but so far we haven't found him."
He stared at his student in horror.
"Keep looking, I'll inform the Headmaster."
He ran off to tell Dumbledore as Neville ran deeper into the dungeons calling for the child. It was good to know that there were students who cared for his son. He dashed into Dumbledore's office.
"Jimmy's missing!"
The Headmaster stood with speed that defied his age.
"What?"
"He's missing."
Dumbledore paled and went to his fireplace.
"I'll floo Remus. He'll get some of the Order to search for the ForbiddenForest."
Soon Remus, Moody, Tonks, Lucius, and Sirius, as Padfoot, stood in the office.
"Search the Forbidden Forest for Jimmy."
They all dashed to the Forest and split up.
"Jimmy!"
Meanwhile, Harry and the others had regrouped in the Great Hall.
"Anything?"
"Not a peep, mate."
Dumbledore came in.
"Professor, Jimmy-"
"I know, Harry. Severus informed me. Members of the Order are now searching the ForbiddenForest and professors are searching Hogsmeade. He will be found."
The students ran out with Dumbledore trailing close behind. They could faintly hear Jimmy's name being called.
"Jimmy!"
"Help!"
Sirius froze and listened.
"Jimmy! Jimmy, if that was you I need to yell to me!"
"Here!"
He smiled.
"That's good! Keep yelling, and I'll find you!"
He followed the boy's yells until he reached him.
"Oh. Oh, you poor tyke."
Jimmy was bruised and cut, bleeding in a few places. Sirius made another sympathetic noise then shot red sparks into the air.
"Now the others will know you've been found. Lets get you back to your dad, okay, pup?"
The child nodded vigorously, and Sirius gently picked him up.
"Jimmy! Thank God!" Snape said as Sirius emerged from the forest with the boy in his arms.
"Daddy!"
The potions master took his son into his arms, his face and posture showing the relief he felt at seeing his son safe and holding him.
"He's a little beat up, but Madam Pomfrey should have him up and running in no time," Sirius said.
Severus allowed Harry to take Jimmy and turned to Sirius.
"Black."
They locked gazes, and he held out his hand.
"Thank you."
Sirius smiled and shook his hand.
"No problem, Snape."
Once back inside, Snape took his son.
"Don't you ever run off like that again!"
"I'm sorry, Daddy."
He hugged the boy.
"I'm so glad you're all right. You scared everyone."
Jimmy looked meekly at his father.
"Even you, Daddy?"
"Especially me. I was so worried."
The child hugged him, and the potions master held him until he fell asleep, safe in his father's arms.