Severus was furious with himself. He had tried to get into the bloody wheelchair, so he could possibly go out by the water, and he had fallen. He had never done it in the hospital, he refused to leave the room, whenever the staff suggested it. He had known they wanted to take him to rehab, and he refused, he wouldn't cling to the hope he may get his legs back. He could admit, he had some feeling in them, but he still couldn't move it. Dotty had managed to get him back into bed, but he was in pain, and Dotty insisted on getting Harry for him.

Harry headed for the manor, not sure what was going on with Severus. He knew something must be wrong, if the man allowed his elf to call for Harry. Harry had told him, other than during the week, he'd not be there often.

Harry looked at Teddy when they arrived. "Do you want to make a sand castle?"

Teddy nodded. "Daddy help?"

Harry shook his head. "I will in a bit. I just need to check on something in the house."

Teddy pouted. "Daddy."

Harry called Kreacher. "Kreacher will help you, and when I'm done, I'll come."

Kreacher smiled. "I help little master. I have bucket."

Teddy smiled a bit. "Daddy quick."

Harry nodded. "I promise, daddy will be quick."

Kreacher took Teddy by hand. "Little master come. We build big."

Harry shook his head. "Sirius would never have believed me, if I told him."

Dotty appeared. "Healer Black, Master in his room."

Harry headed down the hall. "What happened to him?"

Dotty explained as he went, that Severus had tried to get out of bed, and had fallen. Harry wasn't surprised, and didn't have to ask. He knew Severus hadn't left his bed often if at all, when he had been in the hospital. He knew the man had refused to go to the rehab room, and work. And he had seen, when Severus got into the chair, he hadn't done it often. He had nearly fallen that time as well. Harry had tried to make the bed as best as possible with spells, to make it easy for the man to get out, but Severus was stubborn. He always had been, but worse now.

He found the man in bed, gritting his teeth, in obvious pain. Harry knew better than to comment, so he went to work, doing an exam on him. He found the man had just bruised badly. He made Severus take a potion, smiling a bit, from the grimace on the man's face.

Severus glared at him. "What are you grinning about?"

Harry shrugged. "Potion taste good?"

Severus smirked. "Like owl piss."

Harry laughed. "How would you know? But good revenge, after all those I took from you."

Severus glared. "Poppy administered them, I just brewed them. You were the klutz."

Harry reminded him. "It was normally not my fault. But I guess I get to play you and Poppy now."

Severus stared at him. "You didn't?"

Harry looked serious at first but broke into a grin. "No. The potion came from the hospital stocks."

Severus slumped back. "The only thing worse would have been Neville."

Harry shrugged. "Neville would be sad to hear that. You know you were always his favorite professor."

Severus gritted his teeth. "If he wasn't blowing up cauldrons, he was crying. How he ever passed school is beyond me."

Harry pointed out. "Did better in other classes. He is taking over herbology in the fall, as Sprout retires this year."

Severus switched topics. "Surprised you came. I thought you were busy with the kid."

Harry reminded him. "I promised if you needed care, I'd come. Besides Teddy is here with me."

He could see the man's shock, when he admitted Teddy was at the house. He hadn't brought Teddy into the room, for two reasons, this was one. The other was, Teddy was two and he didn't watch what he said, and Harry knew he would talk. He was reminded, Teddy spent a lot of time with the Malfoys, a fact which he had just learned the extent of. He may not know who Severus was, but he could say enough.

Harry said. "The adoption was final today."

Severus had been told he was adopting Teddy. "I am sure Remus would have been happy."

Harry smiled a little. "I hope. He calls me daddy already, but he'll always know about them."

Severus shook his head. "I knew him. He'd be pleased, his son had a dad, unlike you growing up."

Harry agreed. "He reminds me of both of them."

Seeing Harry now, grown up and not only a healer but a dad, was a change for his old professor. He was no longer the obnoxious teen he remembered. He could admit, maybe there was a bit more of Lily in him, then those eyes. But there was still far too much of James in there, he told himself, then Severus wished. Too much influence from Sirius as well, he thought.

They were broken out of their thoughts by an elf. "Master, you have a floo call in the living room."


Harry had to leave the room for a few moments. He had received word from an elf, that Molly had placed a floo call, to speak to him. He had a feeling it was about what happened with Ginny earlier. He loved the woman, but she often seemed to think she was his mother, or had the right to interfere. But he knew it best to speak to her, and then he could focus on his son, as he was nearly done with Severus.

Severus was lying in bed with his eyes closed. He hated to admit it, but the potion was helping some. For a person who had spent his adult life brewing potions, he had never been one for taking them. He had a high tolerance to pain, from his years as a spy.

He heard steps though silent. "You don't need to sneak up on me, I'm not asleep."

A little voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Who you? Where's daddy?"

Severus opened his eyes and peered at the little boy in the door. "Better question, who are you?"

Teddy moved towards the bed. "Teddy."

Severus looked at the little boy, who definitely did look like a Lupin. "Indeed."

Teddy cocked his head to the side. "Where's daddy?"

Severus had no idea. "He'll be right back."

Teddy kept watching him. "Why you in bed? Tired?"

Severus shook his head. "No. And you ask as many questions as your daddy."

Teddy clambered right up onto the bed, though hard, as it was raised. "Tell me a story."

Severus stared at the boy in bewilderment. "Why would I do that?"

Teddy smiled. "I like stories."

Severus shook his head. "Well I don't know any."

Teddy pushed. "About a wolf, or doggy."

Severus smirked. "I should have known."

Teddy put on the biggest pout. "Please."

Severus smirked. "Does that work on your daddy?"

He thought it likely did. Harry had such a soft side, he likely melted for the little boy, whenever he pouted. He knew Harry would try even harder, to be a good father, than most. The death of his own father and two godfathers, and the Uncle who raised him, would have seen to that. As he looked at the boy, he found himself making up a story. He told himself it was to stop this obnoxious child, from crying.

Harry had come and stood in the doorway, as he listened. He had been freaked, when he went to see his son, and didn't find him on the beach. Kreacher had told him though, Teddy had come inside looking for him. Harry was surprised to see them together.

When the story finished Severus noticed him. "And now there is your dad."

Teddy turned to look at him. "Daddy."

Harry went to scoop him up. "You're supposed to be on the beach with Kreacher."

Teddy shook his head. "I show Daddy. But he tell good story."

Harry looked at Severus. "Should I worry what you told my son?"

Severus smirked. "I didn't ask for him to wander in."

Harry kissed his son. "How about you go with Kreacher? I will be out soon."

Teddy shook his head. "Stay. Mr. Toby tell me another story?"

Harry noted Severus had used his cover name. "I think Mr. Prince is a bit tired. Maybe another time."

Severus grimaced. "I look forward to it."

Teddy didn't understand sarcasm. "I bring book next time. One about snakes."

Harry handed his son off to Kreacher. "I will be with you soon."

Severus stared at him when Teddy was gone. "I thought you loved your son."

Harry knew what he spoke of. "Kreacher is as devoted to Teddy, as Dobby was to me."

Harry had a number of elves, and though he didn't have a nanny one, Wobbi helped with Teddy usually. But Kreacher had become entirely sane since the painting was asleep, and he had a master to care for. And though he took good care of Harry, he was quite infatuated with Teddy. Teddy had been made heir to the Black estate already, since his mother had been a Black, and it made sense to Harry. He hoped to have at least one or two more, and the Potter, and his personal money including a reward from the war, would go to them.

Severus glared. "You swore you'd tell no others."

Harry shrugged. "I didn't."

Severus pointed. "And your son?"

Harry reminded him. "He wandered in, besides he is two."

Severus wasn't convinced. "He could tell others."

Harry shook his head. "You didn't tell him your real name."

Severus wasn't entirely convinced. "I will not be a baby-sitter."

Harry laughed. "I thought it would give you something to do. You seemed to do well enough."

Severus was not amused. "I made up a story about your so called fathers. I doubt he was well amused."

Harry admitted. "He warmed up to you quicker than some. Didn't put taffy in your hair."

Severus grimaced at the thought. "The lucky recipient of that was?"

Harry admitted. "Ginny. He hasn't seemed to warm up to her."

Severus shrugged. "Kids are said to be a good judge of character."

Harry pointed out. "I used to think you were a sociopath out to kill me."

Severus grunted. "Maybe only half true."

Harry didn't buy it. "I may have to bring Teddy back. He seems to be good for you."

Severus didn't think he had ever heard such a preposterous idea before. He had told the boy a story, to keep him from having a tantrum. He had been hands on with Draco when he was a child, but that was much different. It was bad enough he had to put up with Harry, but Teddy was another story all together. The child may be well behaved, but he was no baby-sitter, or story teller.

Harry called as he went to join his son. "It seems your mysterious charms work on both Lupins. Now I just need to find them."

an: I hope you enjoyed the first meeting of Teddy and Severus. I promise it will not be the last, and you won't have a long wait till the next. Teddy's reaction to him, will help with the Ginny situation.

Please continue to review.