I had a bad day at work... so I'm being mean ^_^. Maybe you should tell the kids to straighten up?
Enjoy!
Part 7/?
Severus stalked down the dark corridor.
"Professor Snape!" An Irish voice called from behind him.
Severus turned and scowled at the professor running up to him. "O'Feahr," he bit out in greeting.
"It's sorry I be to bother ye," Connor said, not sounding sorry at all. "But would ye be knowing where Harry is at?"
"At this time of night, I believe he's in bed, preferably asleep." Snape said in a bored voice.
The auburn-haired man shook his head. "He's not in his dormitory."
"Did I say anything about him being in the dorms?" The Potions Professor said coldly.
"Then where would he be?" Connor asked.
Severus started striding down the corridor, forcing the other man to scurry to keep up. "You would find, if you bothered to look, that the School Code allows for a student who is the child of a teacher to spend the weekend, including the nights, in his parent's rooms, if he so wishes."
"Did he eat with ye too? Noticed I did that he was na' in the Great Hall during meals today."
Severus stopped abruptly and turned, his robes swirling around his ankles. He felt malicious amusement as the usually graceful descendent of the Tuatha de Danaan almost stumbled, trying to stop and face him. None of that amusement showed in his expression as he glared menacingly at the other man. "And why were you paying attention?" he said in a low, dark voice. "I told you that he wasn't any of your business, did I not? I warned you about having anything to do with him outside of your duties as his teacher. Those do not include making sure he is eating or sleeping. Those are my responsibilities, as his father. Stay away from him. I will not warn you again." He turned back around and strode off down the corridor, leaving Connor standing behind him, staring thoughtfully after him.
Harry, meanwhile, was curled up in his husband's arms, sleeping better than he had in weeks.
Connor O'Feahr, descendent of the Tuatha de Danaan, in truth, of Nuada Silverhand himself, stared after the Potions Professor intently. The conversation he had just had confused him, as did most conversations he had with the dark and dour ex-Death Eater. He was not at all as he had expected, not as Dumbledore had painted him. He seemed to honestly care about the boy, but there was still something...
Nothing said had been a lie, Connor was sure of that; but if Harry was in Snape's quarters, why did Dumbledore not know where he was? From what he had learned, the Headmaster should be able to find the exact location of every student of the school who was inside the walls of the castle. And yet, he had admitted that he could not find the boy, although he was sure he was still within the building. His being within the Potions Professor's quarters should not explain that.
Connor did not like not knowing where the young boy was. He had been brought here for one reason, to protect the child from any who might wish to harm him, and that included his new father. Just because Harry trusted him, did not mean he could be trusted. But how could he protect him if he could not get close to him?
He had managed to meet Harry on the train as planned, but the child had refused to stay with him, instead taking him to his friends. While the conversation had been entertaining, and the young Miss Granger interesting to talk to, it had not gotten him any closer to his goals. Young Harry had not even paid attention, much less been intrigued, as he had hoped. Even if he had not been warned away from talking to the boy after class, the child himself would not allow it, always having one of his friends standing by through any conversation. He had spoken to the Deputy Headmistress and she had confirmed the bad experiences the boy had with past holders of his position. Therefore, he could not say that this paranoia was unwarranted. He had thought that this job would be a good way to get the Golden Boy's trust. Instead, it was just the opposite.
Snape was turning into a true challenge. Connor had no doubt that the dangerous wizard meant what he said. Of course, there were few potions that could truly adversely affect a member of the Sidhe, but then again, he was a Potions Master, and if anyone could make or create such a potion, it would be he. There were no real signs at this moment that the Headmaster's worries about the child being abused by his new father were true. He had not withdrawn from his friends, he was wary of strangers, but not of those he considered friends or family. He was much smaller than he should be based upon his age and what he had been told about his biological parents' stature, but there were several possible explanations for that. Still, Dumbledore had obviously been worried.
/Flashback/
It was almost two weeks before the start of the school year when Connor O'Feahr strode up to the front doors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Headmaster Dumbledore met him at the door, and after greeting him, lead the way up to his office. That gave Connor time to get used to how old the other man looked. Although he was part human and had grown up partly in the human world, things like that still surprised him, especially since he had friends in their hundred and fifties who looked only a little older than he himself. Of course, if he had been full-blooded he wouldn't have been here; being only sixty-four he would still have been considered a child for at least another couple of decades.
Connor looked around the office in interest. There were many people in portraits on the walls, many almost as old looking as the real human in the office. There was also a phoenix, a species of bird he'd only seen once or twice before. He hoped he'd get to hear it sing before he left. He looked across the office, to see Dumbledore smiling at him while he waited patiently for him to have his fill of looking around.
Once he sat down, the Headmaster offered him a sweet, which he declined, and tea, which he didn't. They engaged in small talk for a couple of minutes before Connor finally allowed his curiosity to take over, and asked why he was here.
Dumbledore sighed deeply. "I've heard that the Sidhe have an affiliation with abused children, and I am very afraid that we might have one here. Even worse, I have reason to believe it might be one of my teachers who is doing so. The child I'm speaking of is Harry Potter. I do not know if you've heard of him."
"Me mother is a witch of your sort," Connor explained. "I do know who Harry Potter be."
"Harry was raised by Muggles, so he came to Hogwarts knowing nothing about our world," Dumbledore explained. "He and Professor Snape had an adversarial relationship from the very first. Severus seemed to blame him for being James' son, even though Harry knew almost nothing about his father. I tried to mediate where I could, without undermining his authority."
Dumbledore looked worried as he continued. "Things changed last year. Although Severus had always given Harry more detentions than were perhaps necessary, it suddenly seemed as if there wasn't a day when the boy *wasn't* in detention. He'd give him weeks of detention instead of a single day. I'd call Severus in and force him to bring it to an end, only to have Harry get another one the next Potions class. Even more alarming, was the fact that Harry was withdrawing from his friends. He also seems to have lost all respect and trust for me."
"Then Lucius Malfoy got involved. I don't know exactly how, except perhaps through his son Draco, who was also spending a large amount of time with Severus, who is his Head of House. I admit I don't trust Malfoy; he has done all he can to force me to leave Hogwarts during critical times, and he was long a supporter of Voldemort. He says he helped to defeat him, but only he, his son, Harry, and Severus, who was Malfoy's best friend while they were both schoolboys here, know the truth."
"This summer, I tried to separate Harry from Severus, keeping my Potions Professor here with important work, while Harry went back to his relatives. About a month into summer, Harry disappeared from his Aunt's house. We tried to keep it quiet, not wishing to alarm the public while we searched for him. However, the first time he was seen was at Malfoy's Manor. The Manor was searched, but there was no sign of the boy. Severus, however, was there at the time. Harry was only seen twice more over the summer, both times in the company of Malfoy and Snape. Once, when he, in effect, forced the wizarding world to accept Malfoy as Minister of Magic. I can't believe he would do that of his own choice."
"The other was even more worrying. Three days ago he showed up at Diagon Alley. Lucius Malfoy announced that Harry had been adopted by Severus Snape," Dumbledore pulled out the issue of the Daily Prophet in which that was the main story, and handed it over. "There is something simply 'off' about Harry in that picture. I can't put my wand on exactly what is wrong, but he is not acting correctly. I can't help but consider that he was in some way forced into accepting this. Perhaps even compelled into it."
"He is currently here at Hogwarts; however, no one has seen him. He is locked into Professor Snape's quarters, and no one is being allowed in. Severus says that he is grounded. I have no reason or excuse for not believing Severus, or even for questioning him more strongly, but you can understand why I am worried, can you not?"
"Indeed, I can," Connor said thoughtfully. "So ye would be hoping that I find proof."
"I think Harry has been looking for a father figure, and perhaps grabbed onto Severus because there was no one else available. Perhaps you can be a better choice, get him to trust you, and help remove Snape and Malfoy's influence. If there is any sign of abuse, I need to know."
/End Flashback/
He'd highly enjoyed working with the children. Children were precious to a race that had very few. It's why they were known to take away abused children and raise them Underhill. He'd already noticed a couple of students that he would be watching closer, and suggesting several others also watch during the summer.
Harry, however, was still giving him mixed signals. He would continue to watch.
Part 8/?
Harry hovered miserably over the toilet bowl. He'd thought he was over this! The only good thing was that he'd thought to put up a silence barrier so he wasn't disturbing Lucius. He resolutely ignored the part of his mind that was saying that cuddles from his husband would feel really good right now. Then again, as wonderful as Lucius usually was, he wasn't sure he could actually see him taking care of him while he was sick.
"Mistress Jade?" a soft voice asked from behind him. "Mistress Jade is sick?"
"Hey, Cattie," Harry said weakly. "Yeah, I'm not feeling too well. I'll be okay, though."
Cattie looked Harry over and her large eyes widened comically. "Cattie help!" she said happily. She disappeared only to show up mere moments later with a tray.
"I don't know if I can eat anything right now," Harry gulped, his face whitening even more at the thought.
Cattie ignored him, pouring a cup of tea and handing it to him. "Drink! It help!"
Harry wasn't particularly interested in trying it, but the shy house elf looked so earnest he couldn't say no. He carefully took the cup and raised it to his nose, sure he'd be back over the toilet bowl immediately. But the tea smelled really good, some kind of fruity blend that didn't smell familiar, and it didn't make his stomach roil. He took a tentative sip, but it actually seemed to help. After several more sips, he was looking with interest at the plain toast that was also on the tray.
By the time Lucius was awake, Harry was feeling much better. He was still dreading breakfast though; just the thought of a normal fried breakfast threatened to send his stomach back to the toilet bowl, tea or no tea. Luckily Cattie seemed to know that; breakfast was porridge and fruit. Lucius was about to say something about it before he noticed the way Harry dug in.
Harry looked around the rooms after breakfast, during which Cattie was very solicitous of 'Mistress Jade'. "You know," Harry said thoughtfully, "I could probably keep Jade's clothes here. That way, they wouldn't be in my stuff if someone was looking, nor would you have a room at the Manor with girl's stuff in it."
"And of course, the fact that you would have them nearby, and a room in which you can wear them, doesn't have anything to do with it," Lucius teased gently.
Harry blushed and looked away.
"Harry, you know I have no problem with Jade. If you're missing dressing as Jade, then by all means bring your clothes down here." Lucius got up and went towards a small chest on one of the small tables scattered around the sitting room. He opened the box and pulled out a small pin with two snakes curled up in a double S pattern. "This will help."
"An emblem portkey?" Harry murmured.
"Indeed," Lucius answered. "This way, you can enter these rooms from anywhere, within Hogwarts or without. No one will be able to trace you to these rooms if you portkey in. The only real problem is making sure no one sees you leave."
Harry ran over, took the emblem and pinned it to the inside of his pocket, right next to the portkey to Malfoy Manor.
"Harry? Are you alright?" Lucius was suddenly worried as Harry paled and gulped.
Harry quickly reached for the tea that was still on the table. He really should have known better than to move so quickly, but he'd thought the nausea that had plagued him that morning was gone. Obviously, he was incorrect. Luckily, the tea was still working. He'd have to remember to get some to take with him, in case he wasn't over whatever bug this was by the time he left.
Two hours later, it was time to go. It had been reluctantly decided that Harry needed to be in the Great Hall for lunch, since he hadn't eaten there in a day and a half and it was going to get remarked upon. Lucius left, feeling slightly worried. The morning had been well spent, with Harry curled up in his arms as they talked, but there was something slightly off. He was determined to call Severus as soon as feasible, to point out his worries. He simply would avoid the fact that one warning sign was Harry's disinterest in early morning sex, something that had been a staple from almost the beginning.
Harry left the rooms reluctantly, taking with him a flask full of Cattie's special tea with a warming spell upon it. He was not looking forward to lunch. His stomach was feeling much better, but it wasn't perfect, still occasionally threatening to erupt at abrupt movements or strong smells.
Flick hissed a warning as he walked down a dungeon corridor. "Well, well, well, what have we here?" A taunting voice said from behind him.. "A lost little Gryffindor who thinks he should be a Slytherin?"
Harry looked around to see Pansy Parkinson, Gregory Goyle and a couple Slytherins he didn't know coming toward him. Flick was moving restlessly on his shoulder ready to take flight and defend him, and he was suddenly very glad she was there.
"What do you want, Parkinson?" he asked warily, his hand firm on his wand.
"Me, Potter?" Pansy said in mock innocence. "I don't want anything. I just thought you might be lost, that's all."
"Sure you did," Harry said sarcastically. "By the way, the name is Snape, not Potter. It's not that difficult a name, I believe you know someone else with that name, after all."
Pansy's face twisted into a sneer. "I don't know how you forced him into that," she growled, "or what you've done to Drakie, but once you're gone, they'll go back to normal."
"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, because I'm not going anywhere." Harry answered strongly, his eyes trying to watch all of them at once.
"Who said we were giving you a choice?" Pansy purred, pulling her wand.
That was as much as Flick would take. With a hiss she exploded out from under Harry's robes. The gathered Slytherins shrieked in fear as the flying reptile hovered menacingly in front of their faces. Those that weren't paralyzed by fear, which were those that didn't know what she was, backed slowly away. It was at that point they heard a sound that was even more fearsome than the hissing of the minidrag in front of them.
"Is there a problem here?" Snape's dark voice took up the job where Flick had left off.
Pansy shrieked out, "Professor! He's threatening us with a dangerous creature! Save us!"
"Miss Parkinson," Snape purred, walking forward. "Exactly what did you do to get threatened by such a dangerous creature?"
"I didn't do anything! Potter was down here where he doesn't belong, and when we told him so, that... that... thing jumped out at us!" She looked pleadingly at her Head of House, batting her eyes seductively. Her eyes went wide as a triangular shaped head poked out of her professor's robes.
"My son belongs where ever he wishes to go," was the Potions Professor's response. "It would behoove you to remember that his name is Snape, and he is to be treated as a *Snape*. Is that understood?"
With his tone of voice, they had no choice but to agree. Arguing with their Head of House when he spoke like that was not a good idea. He never took House points, but he had very *creative* punishments for members of his House that broke the rules he considered important. Obviously, bothering Harry now fell into that category.
"But what about that... snake?" Goyle spoke up.
"Flick, like Spitfire here," Severus responded as he petted the head of his own minidrag, "is not dangerous as long as you are not a danger to their bondmate. They will, however, respond appropriately to any threat. You don't need to worry, they've promised not to actually kill anyone. Of course, considering their venom is an acid, that might not be completely comforting."
With that he gathered Harry to his side and the two of them swept off, flanked by a flying pair of snakes.
Harry held his relieved chuckles in until they were out of hearing distance of the group, but he was also a trifle annoyed. "You could at least have taken points," he muttered. "They were threatening me, after all."
"Perhaps I could have," Severus agreed easily. "They would have preferred it to the punishment I will be giving them."
"Let me guess, a report?" Harry grinned.
Severus just smirked evilly.
Part 9/?
The next several days were... interesting, to say the least. The nausea continued, every morning and usually far into the afternoon, as did the tiredness. Cattie's tea was a lifesaver, and the flask rarely left Harry's side. Of course, that led to some interesting confrontations.
When Hermione inquired what was in the flask and asked for a taste, it was amusing. When Draco grabbed the flask to check it out himself, it was humorous. When Ron and Neville pulled their wands and demanded to know who he was and where the real Harry was, it got a little old. He just handed the flask over to his father before he could ask. Shadows of Moody abounded.
Parkinson, Goyle and their friends were looking as exhausted as he was feeling most afternoons. They were also going out of their way to stay out of his presence. He hadn't found out what their punishment was, but if the evil chuckle Draco gave when he asked was any indication, he might not want to know.
He found himself in the Chambers quite often, with or without his friends. Cattie was a godsend, not only because of the tea, but because she seemed to know what he wanted before he did. Even when he wanted something weird, she didn't seem to have any trouble filling the order. The bed was always turned down with fresh sheets, which was great since he seemed to need an afternoon nap every day. He was also spending most of his time there as Jade, although without the breast prosthetics; his nipples were still too tender for that.
He knew he should tell his father that he was still feeling sick. He didn't want to be grounded again, and he didn't want to have to do another report. He also didn't want to tell. In his head he knew that nothing really bad would happen if he told; he'd probably even be well by now if he had told in the beginning. His heart, however, was still screaming that he shouldn't be a burden by being sick. People didn't like people who were burdens. Of course, then he felt even worse, because he knew how Severus would take his feeling like that.
That's not to say Severus didn't know something was wrong. Of course he did. Everyone did. He wasn't hiding it nearly as well as he thought he was. Of course, that just meant that Harry was getting more edgy every hour, as more and more people were watching his every move. Even Lucius was calling both Harry and Severus more often. However, the only thing Severus was able to tell Lucius was that the pumpkin juice did, indeed, contain a potion. At least now they knew why there were no children having children in Hogwarts; the contraceptive potion in the juice made sure of that. It was also the sort of potion that would require only one extra ingredient, probably added to the juice at the Leaving Feast, to last over the summer vacation.
The real question was why wasn't Severus the one making the potion. It wasn't as if he had any ethical qualms over making it. Personally, he thought it was a good idea. Not only would students have a difficult time trying to learn while being pregnant, but the chances were great that their magic would begin to act up while pregnant, as the child's magic interacted with their own.
Connor was also becoming more worried. Harry seemed to be avoiding almost everyone. The only time he could be found was while he was in class, and only occasionally in the Great Hall. He was pale and not eating much. He was also avoiding eye contact with the Potions Professor, who seemed to be spending more time watching him. Harry would glance up at the head table and immediately look away if he saw he was being observed.
Things came to a head during Advanced Potions class. Harry had found a charm that turned off his sense of smell and used it religiously during meal times in the Great Hall. He did not, however, think of using it during Potions class. It was halfway through the procedure that they added the armadillo bile to the brewing potion. He suddenly turned and dashed for the door, but it wasn't quick enough.
Severus reached Harry almost immediately. He kneeled down next to him as he retched, rubbing his back and talking softly to him. Behind him, Draco had turned off the flames under both Harry's and his cauldrons.
Harry leaned into his father as his stomach finally completely emptied itself. Severus used his wand to clean up the mess and to bring in a cloth to wipe down Harry's face. Harry sighed happily before fumbling for the flask at his waist.
"What is that, Harry?" Severus asked in concern.
"It's a tea Cattie gave me," Harry answered without thinking. "It usually works at settling my stomach."
Severus glared slightly, very unhappy with what he had just heard, but too worried to respond as he normally would. "Are you telling me that you've been sick for a while and haven't told me about it?" he purred.
Harry froze, his mind working furiously. However, although he might hide things from his father, he wasn't going to lie. "Yes, sir. I haven't felt well since Saturday morning," he admitted, ashamed.
Severus shook his head. "What am I going to do with you?" he murmured.
"I'm sorry," Harry muttered.
"I'm sure you are," Severus answered. "You were sorry last time too; it doesn't seem to have done any good. I'm obviously going to have to find something else that will work. For right now however, you are headed to the Infirmary. Mr. Malfoy, will you please escort your fellow student there? I will come up as soon as class is over."
"Yes, sir," Draco answered immediately. He helped Harry to his feet and led him out of the room.
They walked slowly down the corridor and started heading up the stairs.
"Are you okay?" Draco finally asked.
"I'm fine," Harry answered immediately.
That answer was no surprise to the blond boy. He would have been amazed if the other had answered any other way. "You are in so much trouble," Draco said, trying to draw him out.
"I know," Harry groaned. "I know better than to keep something like this from him. Really I do. I was stupid."
"You're telling me," Draco responded with a small laugh. "I would have thought your last punishment would have driven you not to do this again. Severus is really, really unhappy with you. Maybe you should start hoping you're really sick. After all, he can't punish you if it's something serious."
"If it's something serious it'll be even worse, and you know it," Harry answered back with a sigh.
Neither of them noticed the DADA professor who had heard their conversation and was looking after them worriedly.
Draco and Harry finally reached the Infirmary.
Madam Pomfrey looked at the two of them. It was immediately obvious which of them was in need of her attention. She sighed, and in a deeply put upon voice said, "And what have you done *now*, Mr. Potter?"
"Snape," both of the boys muttered in unison.
"He was sick all over the Potions classroom," Draco explained. "And he admitted he's been sick every day for almost a week."
"Anything else?" the mediwitch asked, bustling forward and leading Harry to a bed.
Harry shrugged. "Not really. I've been really tired lately, and haven't been able to eat much, but I figured that went along with the 'being sick' thing."
Madam Pomfrey started a diagnostic spell and checked the results. Then she did another one. And yet another.
"Is something wrong?" Draco asked, not liking how long this was taking.
"I'm sure it's nothing," the mediwitch muttered. "I'll just be a minute." She bustled off into another room.
Ten minutes later, she came back out. Her face was pale and her hands were shaking slightly as she handed Harry a goblet. She looked at the boy with pity as he drank it down. He didn't notice, but Draco did and slipped away to see if he could figure out what she had given him. His quick glance around showed walls full of bottles and a fireplace that was obviously there as a Floo connection. There was an open bottle on the table in the middle of the room and he picked it up to look at the label.
It slipped from his fingers as he loosened his grip in shock. "No," he whispered agonizingly. He didn't even notice the bottle breaking all over the floor as he ran back into the other room. "NO! Harry! Don't drink it!"
He rushed into the room in time to see Harry lower the empty goblet. "What's the matter, Draco?"
Draco had tears in eyes that were dark with rage as he stared at the mediwitch. "How could you?" he demanded. He rushed over to Harry, trying to remember a spell to make a person throw up, or maybe something Harry could smell that would make him retch. Anything to get that potion out of him.
"It's for the best," Madam Pomfrey tried to explain.
"Draco!" Harry yelled, worried now, grabbing him. "What was that potion?"
Draco looked at his best friend and the tears let loose, scaring Harry more than almost anything that had ever happened to him. Draco didn't cry. Especially not in front of anyone else. Had Madam Pomfrey poisoned him? Was he dying?
Draco's voice cracked as he answered. "It's a potion to cause an abortion."
Harry's mind tried to understand what his friend had just said. An abortion? Isn't that what women had when they were going to have a baby they didn't want? Did that mean he was pregnant? He was going to have a baby? His mind was taken with that thought for a long moment, before everything finally connected together. An abortion? Lose his baby?
"NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"