Harry was filled with such dread as he came through to the hospital. He had faced a lot, but his son had never been in the hospital. The only time he had felt this kind of fear was when his son was abducted. He had no idea how this was happening, whatever it was. He had sent his son with his grandparents to Malfoy manor for dinner. He went there all of the time, and he had never been in danger before. They all loved his son, and would keep an eye on him for Harry. Harry had no idea what was wrong with his son, and he needed to see him right now, know he was good. The worst ran through his mind, reminded Andromeda or Severus could have seen to him if minor.
Andromeda saw Harry, and she could hardly find the words to tell him. None of them had seen the little boy slip out of the room, nor notice he was missing until Kreacher had come. The last one to see him was Draco, and he was beating himself up badly.
Andromeda came to him. "Harry, thank Merlin Severus found you."
Harry's pulse was racing. "What is wrong with my son? He told me he had an accident."
Ted stood. "He wondered into the grounds after dinner."
Harry turned to him. "No one noticed my son was missing?"
Draco was feeling such guilt. "I told him I'd take him to see the horses after…"
Lucius tried to assure his son. "No one knew he'd slip out."
Harry didn't need excuses. "What happened to my son?"
Draco tried. "He was in the stables when we found him."
Harry's fists clenched. "One of the horses?"
Lucius sighed. "My big black. Teddy must have gone to feed him a carrot."
Andromeda reminded Harry. "Teddy has been on him before. The horses aren't a threat….."
Harry ground his teeth. "Aren't a risk? My son is in a hospital bed."
Lucius explained. "Black Mist likely saved his life."
Harry was utterly confused by all of this. It seems the little boy had found his way into the stall, and had been feeding him a carrot. They assumed so, since they noticed the bucket of carrots was knocked over. They found a dead snake on the ground, and guessed from there, what happened. It seemed the horse had seen the snake and stomped on it, saving Teddy. The snake was poisonous, and had been very close to Teddy, or where they found him. Teddy had not been struck by either the snake or the horse, they assured Teddy. He must have lost his balance, and he struck his head on the feed bin, probably scared by the horse. Kreacher wasn't with him, but the blood rite worked not only to tell where Harry or Teddy were, but alert if either were in danger. Kreacher had found Teddy, and come to find Harry.
Harry was reeling with the news, when one of his former teachers and soon to be colleagues appeared. Max Sharp was head of the pediatric wing, and would in fact be Harry's boss in the fall. He usually would not handle such cases himself, but because of Harry, he had.
Harry noticed him. "Max. How is my son?"
Max motioned him to come. "He has been moved into a private suite Lucius arranged."
Lucius saw his look. "It will allow you to stay after visiting hours."
Harry looked at his little boy in the bed. "How is he?"
Max assured him. "There are no fractures or breaks."
Harry was calming a bit. "There has to be something, or Andromeda would not have brought him in."
Andromeda explained. "There was a severe gash, and he didn't wake up."
Max went on. "He had some magic stitches, and blood replenishers."
Harry was slowly letting out his breath. "He's going to be okay right?"
Max put a hand on him. "He'll be out till morning, he has a nasty concussion though."
Harry reached to kiss his son. "He has to be okay."
Max went to leave. "I'll check on him later. He should be home soon."
Andromeda put a comforting hand on Harry. "You know he'll be okay."
Harry looked at his little boy, lying there in the bed. He knew the horse saved his son from a snake, and if Teddy wasn't alone, was safe. He had allowed his son to see the horses more than enough. But seeing his little boy like this, was too much. The only time he had ever felt like this, was when Ginny had kidnapped his son. He'd take the war over this kind of fear any day of his life. He had no idea how Molly survived, through two wars, with fear over seven children. Harry had Teddy, just Teddy, and he couldn't stand to lose him now.
Harry sat down. "I shouldn't have gone out."
Andromeda stopped him. "You aren't to blame."
Ted agreed. "You went on a date."
Harry was upset. "I thought he was safe."
Draco was still there. "I'm sorry, I thought he'd wait for me."
Andromeda reminded him. "Teddy likes to get his way. He does try things."
Harry snapped. "All the more reason one of you should have been watching him."
Ted held his wife. "Harry you know we love him. It was an accident."
Harry shook his head. "I want to be alone with my son."
Ted cut his wife off from protest. "We'll go out for a bit."
Andromeda kissed Harry on the head. "We love you both so much. We're just outside."
Draco looked at the bed. "I'm sorry."
Harry knew deep down that they were right. He knew Teddy liked to get his way, and Harry often let him have it. But his son didn't usually just wander off places. The day he had met Severus for the first time, Kreacher was with him. Kreacher hadn't been at the manor with Teddy, as the elf had other duties. He kept an eye on Teddy when asked, but Teddy had been with his family. He had come when Teddy was in danger.
He reached out and took his son's hand. "You can't keep giving daddy scares like this. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."
The waiting room had already been full, and had been getting fuller. Rick had not come to the hospital, but he had called as asked. George arrived, his wife staying home with the twins. And Molly and Arthur soon came, with their children, spouses home with the kids. Hermione had come though, Fleur had taken Alby from her so she could come. They were all anxious for news of how Teddy was doing.
George had wanted to go in, but he had stayed out when he was told. He knew like the others, that Harry was just scared for his son. He knew the couple and the Malfoys would never have put his son at risk. But right now he was just going through hell.
Lucius saw someone head for the door and stopped him. "I don't….."
Severus shook the man off. "He can yell all he wants."
George had come to their side. "It might do him some good."
Severus took a stuffed monkey George handed him. "Perhaps."
Harry didn't look up when he heard the door open. "I asked to be alone."
Severus cleared his throat. "I asked more than once."
Harry's head snapped up. "What are you doing here?"
Severus came across. "Exercise."
Harry smirked. "Always bring stuffed animals for it?"
Severus put the monkey down. "It's from George."
Harry looked back down. "I guess they are all here."
Severus grunted. "They all seem to like you and the boy."
Harry sighed. "I know."
Severus sunk down. "They seem scared to enter."
Harry didn't look up. "Shame you weren't."
Severus pointed out. "Used to your moods now."
If Harry hadn't been in bad shape, he would have a comeback. It was Severus who was usually in the bad mood, during their rehab. But right now Harry was in no shape to come up with some witty come back. He kept looking at his son, and he was just filled with such dread. Harry knew his family loved him and Teddy so much. And he felt bad for what he had said, but he was just so worried about his son. He knew deep down they felt enough guilt without him throwing it at them. Andromeda was kicking herself, for letting Teddy out of her sight.
Severus looked at the bed, and he could admit he was feeling as guilty as Draco was. The little boy had been asking for a story since he first came to the manor. Severus had put him off twice, and Teddy only asked about the horses, because he had.
Severus did take out something. "I don't believe he has this one."
Harry was shocked. "No. Why?"
Severus grunted. "I should have read to him."
Harry touched the book. "He likes you."
"His Mr. Toby." Severus smirked, but added. "I guess he has grown on me too."
Harry touched his son's curls. "I can't stand seeing my son in a hospital bed."
Severus reminded him. "No parent likes it. You spent enough time in the hospital wing though."
Harry reminded him. "I wouldn't know what it feels like to worry a parent."
Severus laughed a little. "Really? I think Molly and Arthur, and your dad if he was here, would argue that."
Harry shook his head. "It's not the same."
Severus cut in. "You're right, you didn't have your mum there, like Teddy. But you both have people to love you."
Harry was in tears. "I miss him. I want him, not just for Teddy…"
Severus took his hand. "He watches over you, just like your mum does."
Harry touched the place where his son's new scar was. "Really my son."
Harry had always sworn he would be a good father to Teddy. Remus had worried when he asked Harry to be godfather. It wasn't that he thought Harry wouldn't be a good guardian, just the opposite. But he worried about how young Harry was, and burdening him with it, if they died. But Harry had never looked at his son as a burden, not once. He was eleven when he first met the Weasleys, and for the first time had people who he could call his family. He had people to worry about him, love him. Molly wasn't his mum, like Remy became his dad, but she was there. He had sworn Teddy would never know the pain he had known. He swore Teddy would never long for a dad, even if his birth one was gone.
Harry held to his son's hand. "I swore he'd never feel the pain I did."
Severus got to his feet and managed to come to his side. "It was a bump on the head."
Harry struggled. "It's my fault."
Severus stopped him. "No."
Harry wasn't convinced. "If I said no more often…"
Severus pushed. "No. He is not even three. We should have been watching him."
Harry struggled. "If anything happens to him…."
Severus cut him off. "He is okay, it was a bump. He'll be asking for snake stories soon enough."
Harry struggled to control his emotions. "You don't need to be here."
Severus wasn't leaving. "I need a rest."
Harry didn't buy it. "I'll find you a wheel chair."
Severus grunted. "You shouldn't brood alone."
Harry pointed at the door. "I'm not alone."
Severus didn't buy it. "You're not going to let any of them in."
Harry shook his head. "If I won't let them sit with me, why do you think I'd let you?"
Severus wasn't certain. "You haven't kicked me out yet."
Harry grunted. "Because I know you'll leave soon enough. You always do, when things get personal."
Severus reminded himself Harry was in pain. "I'm staying here."
Harry turned back to his son. "For how long?"
Severus didn't answer, he simply put a hand on Harry's for a moment. Though he withdrew his hand, he remained in the chair. He remained through the night, awake even when Harry finally drifted off. Other members looked in, including George, but they kept their distance. He watched father and son sleep, unable to sleep himself. For some reason, the little boy wedged his way into his heart. And his dad too.
He looked at Teddy. "You get better for him, and Mr. Toby will read all the stories you want. Your dad sure needs you."
An: Happy Easter to all my readers. A little Harry/Sev, but no Teddy yet. I know how much you all love when I end chapters like this.
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