Draco and Lucius shared a look over the words of Teddy. They could see from the reaction on Harry, that it wasn't an innocent mistake. They could see that Harry was hiding something from them. But Teddy's words made absolutely no sense to either of the Malfoy men. There was only one person that Draco ever referred to as his Uncle. Well two, but one was sitting at the table, and Teddy called Grandpa. Lucius had no brothers or sisters by blood, but he did give Draco an Uncle. But he had died in the final battle, and Harry knew that better than anyone. But Lucius had a nagging doubt in the back of his dead. There was a reason he had asked about war victims, when he had been on the hospital tour.

Harry was trying hard to come up with a way to explain this all. He had sworn to Severus that he wouldn't let them know. He hadn't, he hadn't broken his healer's code, his son had told them. But he didn't think that was going to help anything here and now.

Harry tried to cut in. "He didn't mean…."

Draco looked at Teddy. "My Uncle?"

Teddy nodded. "Mr. Toby."

Lucius had come around. "Why would you think your dad's patient was family?"

Teddy grinned. "I see photo."

Draco looked at Harry and back. "What photo?"

Teddy explained. "On fire at Uncle Luc's home."

Harry shook his head. "He looks a bit like him."

Lucius shot a look. "Toby, as in Tobias?"

Harry tried to stop him. "No his name is Toby Pri….." Harry cut himself off. He knew he said way too much.

Lucius finished for him. "Toby Prince. As in Severus Tobias, the heir of the Prince family."

Draco looked at Teddy. "Why do you think he is my Uncle? Just because of the photo?"

Teddy shook his head. "Daddy say."

Andromeda came to their side. "Perhaps we should take this inside."

The Malfoys seemed to remember they were surrounded by people. It was Harry's birthday and likely not the best time for this kind of talk. But they needed to find out what the little boy meant. Maybe he was confused. Lucius had told himself he was crazy, when he looked at the hospital. Harry had made sense, if he was alive, he'd have come back by now. His brother loved him and Draco, he would have come back for them. He truly believed this had to be some kind of mistake. But Teddy seemed to be so sure about this all.

Dinner was done and the cake would wait. Harry's friends headed out, and said they would meet him at the bar later. George told him to send his elf if he wasn't coming. Harry found himself alone with the Tonks, his son, and the Malfoys.

Harry looked at Andromeda. "Maybe you should take Teddy home."

Draco cut in. "So you can continue to hide it from us?"

Lucius was furious. "Is he alive?"

Harry shook his head. "I can't."

Draco didn't let him get away with it. "Is he?"

Harry wished he could. "I can't. I'm a healer."

Lucius looked at Andromeda. "Where is that house?"

Harry tried to stop him. "You can't go."

Andromeda shook her head. "Lucius, the house belongs to Harry, and the wards….."

Draco looked at his Aunt. "It's a Black home. You know what he means to me."

Harry tried to stop them. "You can't go."

Lucius looked at him. "How would you feel if that was Remus and we knew?"

Harry sunk down onto a bench and he was so conflicted. He had sworn to Severus that he would not tell the Malfoys where he was. He was a doctor and it was part of his oath as well. Teddy had told them, so he wasn't breaking any oath. But he kept picturing the man. And though he kept telling the man he had to come back, but held back. He could have allowed Severus to be found in the hospital but warned him.

Lucius and Draco were angry but they knew Harry. They knew he was a healer, and he wouldn't have lied to them to hurt them. He was also their family and had a big heart. But they were having trouble making sense out of any of this either.

Lucius sat. "How?"

Harry sighed. "He was saved by a veela."

Draco was upset. "He has been alive all this time? Does he have amnesia?"

Harry wished he could say it. "No."

Lucius looked at his son. "He must have had a reason."

Draco was irate. "What reason? He let me think he was dead."

Harry admitted. "He's been paralyzed. He was confined to a wheelchair until recently."

Draco sunk onto the table. "So? We would have stood by him."

Lucius laughed. "You know how stubborn he is. He probably thought he'd be a burden."

Harry confirmed it. "He believes you're better off thinking him dead, then like this."

Draco shook his head. "That's ridiculous. He is family."

Lucius looked at him. "You said he was."

Harry confirmed he had been working with the man. He knew he shouldn't, but explained Severus was using crutches now, and would likely soon be able to use a cane. But that it would take time, and the man still refused to admit that he was making any progress at all. And as long as he didn't think he'd get better, he refused to come back. He was certain the Malfoys had moved on with their lives without him.

Lucius stood. "You tell that brother of mine to get his ass back here, or we will hunt him down."


The Malfoys had agreed to wait for a few weeks. They wanted to storm the house and see Severus, and Harry couldn't blame them. He didn't think he'd have waited, if it was Remus. He had felt such guilt, and he knew they were right to be upset with him. But he had done what he thought was the best. And he had been keeping his healer oath as well. Draco had come with him to the bar to drink with his friends later. None of the others had asked about Severus. They hadn't wanted to know really, and had chosen not to push him.

Harry headed for the coast, and knew he had to reason with the man. He was taking a chance, Severus could just pick up and leave. He knew he could put Severus in another home. But the man would leave, and not only the Malfoys would lose him.

Teddy was with him. He smiled when he saw Severus. "Mr. Sev."

Severus' head snapped up. "What did he call me?"

Harry sighed. "It's what I came to talk to you about."

Teddy beamed. "Mr. Sev. Uncle Sev."

Severus glared. "How does he know?"

Harry shook his head. "I told you about the photo."

Severus grunted. "He hasn't called me that till now."

Teddy was oblivious. "Draco call you that."

Severus went pale. "Draco? Draco?"

Harry tried to calm him. "It's not what you think."

Severus was furious. "You opened your mouth didn't you?"

Teddy voiced up. "I say. Uncle Draco ruin game."

Severus stood. "I knew I shouldn't have ever trusted you."

Harry knew that he had to stop him from leaving the room. He knew if the man left the house, he may never see him again. The Prince family had a number of homes, and most of them were not known. Even the Malfoys wouldn't be able to find out where the homes were. The man would disappear, and the Malfoys would never see him again. And neither would Harry or Teddy for that matter. He tried to tell himself it was just about the blondes and his son. He knew how much Teddy cared about the man, and he'd be upset if he was gone.

Severus went for his wand. He would summon the damned bus, and he would head to the Prince home in Northern Scotland. He had put it under the Fidelius years ago, used it as a safe home, when he got it. Albus had been his keeper, so no one could find it.

Harry tried to stop him. "You can't just leave."

Severus smirked. "Watch me. You swore you'd not tell them."

Harry tried. "I didn't."

Severus looked down at Teddy. "No, you trusted a two year old."

Harry called. "Where are you going?"

Severus sneered. "Somewhere far away from you."

Harry tried. "The Malfoys want to help. There are people who care about you."

Severus turned away. "You can tell them you tried to stop me."

Harry called. "They're not the only ones you're leaving."

Severus didn't turn back. "I am sure you have other patients."

Harry walked towards him. "You're more than a patient."

Teddy was in tears. "Mr. Sev no go. No go."

Severus looked back a bit. "I was a fool to trust you."

Harry had to stop him, he couldn't let him go. The kiss kept running through his mind, as much as he tried to say it wasn't part of this. He hadn't betrayed the man. He hadn't told the Malfoys he was alive, no matter how hard it was. He had watched Lucius and Draco, and hadn't told them. Severus had to realize how many people he was hurting by walking out. And the number had only increased in the past few months.

Harry called. "Fine walk out."

Severus smirked. "I told you reverse psychology doesn't work on me."

Harry said. "How are you going to convince yourself now, that it is for the best?"

Severus stopped. "I don't have to convince myself."

Harry smirked. "Lucius and Draco know you're alive. You're not 'protecting' them anymore."

Severus went to leave again. "They are big boys."

Harry pushed. "And what about Teddy?"

Severus shook his head. "He is yours not mine."

Harry called. "I thought you a coward before, but more now."

Severus slammed the door with a crutch. "I am not a coward."

Harry went to his side. "Any time anyone gets close you run. You're scared to let anyone care about you."

Severus tried to move. "You have no idea what you are talking about."

Harry moved but said. "You refuse to admit the Malfoys might mourn you. Or that Teddy will miss you. Or that I…."

His voice trailed off as the man headed through the door. He didn't know how he was going to finish the sentence. He wasn't sure he cared about the man as anything other than a patient or perhaps as a friend as well. The man was a coward, who was afraid to trust anyone at all. He didn't care he was hurting anyone who ever cared about him. He would rather push them away, before they had the chance to hurt him first.

Harry went to leave. "Run, it's the only thing you're good at."

Severus grunted. "Glad to have your approval."

Teddy was crying. "No go, no go."

Harry held him. "Daddy will have to read to you."

Teddy sobbed. "Mr. Sev tell me snake story. Mr. Sev."

Harry looked at the man. "I am going to Malfoy Manor for dinner."

Severus continued walking. "Good for you."

Harry said. "You leave and you will no longer be able to fool yourself, that they are better off without you."

Severus stood in the hall, and he listened to the boy. He had the kiss in his mind for a half moment. But he had trusted the boy. He had trusted him, that the Malfoys wouldn't learn that he was there. And now Lucius could be coming here any day. The Malfoys had been better off when they thought him dead. They had moved on without him. Any pain they had now, was because Harry had told them. This was why he didn't come back. He had been a fool to trust the boy. He had thought he could trust him because of Lily. He should have known never to trust a Potter.

Teddy sobbed over his daddy's shoulder as Harry went to leave. "Mr. Sev, no go, Mr. Sev."

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