Chapter 2
"Severus?" Harry asked to the waking form beside him.
"Harry." Severus replied sleepily and unusually happily.
"I've something I need to tell you." The young man stated. He had been home for a little while now, and today was the first day they were opening their doors to the public for the yearly side-practice.
Snape cracked an eye open. It was still quite dark outside, and he was astonished to know that so many more people were willing to help with that practice. This year he had himself, Harry, Lorraine, Draco, Dudley, Charlie, and Alden, while Luna was to stay with Lillian and Teddy while conversing with the other mothers to put them at ease. They had all been practicing over the last 3 days and Snape was again amazed that not a single one of them wanted money for their time. Not even Draco, and that was a first. He'd always demanded payment before. Charlie was good for him. "Conversations that start like that rarely end well."
"Yeah, well, you're right. I don't think this will end well." Harry admitted.
Severus raised his body up and blinked the sleep from his eyes. "You haven't started having second thoughts about us have you?"
"Good lord no!" Harry stated. "I'm not loony. No. It's nothing to do with us, or the family. It's all me."
"Well, out with it."
The young wizard sighed. "While I was with the Liridon clan we did a lot of hunting. They didn't exactly have grocers, butchers, or anywhere that we could go to get food, so we hunted. I've killed quite a lot of animals in the hunt for food."
The older man popped his neck and glanced to his husband. "That's nothing to be ashamed about. It was for food, something you needed to survive."
"That's not what it is. Sev, I was actively killing something every week. For 11 ½ months, I shed the blood of another living being. Every. Single. Week. I'm worried. I'm scared that now those weekly release session in the Room of Requirement simply aren't going to cut it anymore. The thrill of the hunt, the rush of the kill, it's a craving almost. A very frightening craving... I can actually understand now why Voldemort went crazy. I tried to stop hunting while I was with them and explained it to them, and I felt so awful after the animals died. Not awful because they died, I mean let's face it, needing food is kind of up there on the list of necessary evils. I felt awful because I enjoyed the act of killing. Severus, what if I can't control it? What if the release sessions don't stop the urge, and I wind up hunting people?"
Snape looked seriously at his lover, then pulled the young man into an embrace. "If, and I'm saying if now, if you get to the point that the release sessions don't stop the urge, we will figure something out. You'll be okay Harry. I won't let you turn into Voldemort."
"I'm scared... Not just for me, but for you too. I mean, something I didn't quite think about when I went into this was what might happen if I lose it again. I mean now, I'm a lot better fighter than I used to be, and now I can really fuck you up. I don't want to hurt you, I don't want to ki-"
"Shush. How many times did you lose it in the year you spent over there?"
"It was 11 ½ months, not a year."
"I'm rounding it off and you're avoiding the question. How many times?"
"Only twice..."
"And they both happened within the first two months, and I was able to pull you out of it both times. Meaning for 9 ½ months, you controlled that part of yourself marvelously. Yes you are a better fighter, yes you are probably stronger than I in ways I've never imagined now, but you are also capable of keeping yourself from going over the edge. If it does happen, if you do somehow manage to lose that control, I will not hesitate to step in and stop you. You have always stopped before you harmed me badly before, and I fully believe you will be able to do it again, should the situation arise."
"Thank you Sev." Harry whispered, giving a kiss to the man who was wrapped around him.
"Actually, I take that one part back. I have no intention of stopping you if we're going after someone like that Muertof fuck again." Severus amended.
Harry chuckled, then stopped abruptly. He listened for a second then settled his head into his husband's chest. "Alden's coming."
A knock came to the door and Snape smirked into Harry's hair. "Yes Alden?"
"How'd you know it was me?" The young man asked.
"Because you walk a certain way." Harry called out. "Come in."
Alden opened the door with a curious look. He walked in and plopped down on the bed, grinning from ear to ear as his parents looked on at him curiously. "Today's the day."
"Oh? And what day is that?" Harry teased.
"You know! The day that we start opening our doors for everyone. I get to stay up 3 days in a row!" Alden said triumphantly.
Harry laughed. "It's not all it's cracked up to be. I bet you'll be complaining by the time midnight rolls around."
"Will not." Alden huffed.
"I tried to get him to sleep when Luna sleeps, but he seems to think that he'd rather stay up the entire three days and share in our 'pepper-up-parties' as he calls them." Snape informed the young man.
"Mmm, well if he wants, I say we let him." Harry concurred, then glanced to Alden. "Which means that you are to stay up for the entire three days, with three meal breaks each day, no sleep, no naps, and running on potions. If you want to learn the hard way, then you will, and maybe next year you'll have some sense and sleep while you can, because once you hit 17 you won't get the luxury of sleeping during these three days every year."
"I'll be able to stay up without a problem." The teen assured them both. Severus and Harry shared an amused look.
(¯`·. Hp/Ss .·´¯)
"Your name please." Charlie asked.
The woman in front of him looked around in a slight bewildered state. "What is going on here?" She asked.
"Uhhh..." Charlie blinked a bit. "We are keeping the doors to the manor open for three days, we're on day 2 by the way, passing out herbal remedies for those who need them at no charge. The only requirement is that you fill out a form if it's your first time here so we can keep notes on what types of medicine you need. And to please have a muffin because they're absolutely delicious and everyone should try one at least once."
The woman let out a smile of relief. "Oh it's Mr. Snape's side-practice. Why didn't you just say so?"
"Uhhhh." Charlie repeated.
"Mrs. Balfit!" Harry cried out in surprise. "What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Well, the adoption sect sent me by to re-assess Ted Lupin's living conditions. Mr. Shacklebolt had tried to tell them it wasn't necessary, but even a man in his position can't escape the law."
"Oh that was sweet of him, but he really didn't need to try to convince anyone of anything, we don't mind you checking back in. Is there a particular reason, or..." He let his voice trail off.
"Your return is the occasion. When you had informed me last time of your later departure, I had to write it up in my report, and they sent me back when you came back to do a re-assessment." She explained.
"Well I guess it's to be expected, after all, not many adoptive parents go off to live with a clan like that for a year." Harry mused, minding his words around the muggles.
"Excuse me, Mr. Potter? Is that you?" A young girl interrupted.
Harry blinked a bit then glanced down at her. "Yes, what can I help you with?"
She grinned widely. "It's really you... Is... Is Mr. Snape around?" She asked excitedly.
Harry gave a confused look and nodded. "Yes he is, I can take you to see him if you'd like."
"I'd love that!" She exclaimed, grabbing on to his hand. "I'm going to see Mr. Snape with Mr. Potter!" She called over her shoulder to a smiling woman, who nodded at them. Anita followed, curious as to what was happening.
Harry, Anita, and the small girl slipped in to the room where Severus was administering a potion to an elderly man. "I'll give you some to take home with you, and remember, one tablespoon a day for three weeks. Got it Mr. Finkley?" Snape asked.
"Got it Dr. Snape." The man replied. "Thank you kindly."
"Yeah, get on." The dark wizard said. "Harry- Mrs. Balfit, what a surprise. What brings you around?"
"I've come to re-assess the living conditions for Teddy pending Mr. Potter's return." She stated, then glanced down to the girl. "But I believe this little darling wishes to speak with you first."
"Hello." Snape said crouching down at eye-level with the girl. "What brings you here?"
She squealed and pulled Harry down by the arm, wrapping her arms around both of their necks. "Thank you! Thank you both so much!" She said, squeezing them tightly.
"You're quite welcome." Harry said, semi-confused. "What did we do?"
Severus' eyes widened. "Mary? Is that you?" He asked, pulling away and looking the girl in the eye again.
"Mary?" Harry exclaimed. "Little new witch, Accio glasses, bear hitting Dudley in the head Mary?"
"You remember me!" She squealed, hugging them both again.
Harry's eyes quickly became watery and he hugged her back while Snape just stayed where he was, stunned. "Oh my god I never thought I'd see you again!" Harry told her.
"Helen, Mrs. Dunstan my adoptive mum, and the Ministry man who worked with us helped me track you down. I never got to thank you for helping me." She told them.
"What are you, 9 now?" Harry asked, looking her over.
"Yes." She said with a smile. "Helen says in 2 years that Mr. Snape will be my professor at Hogwarts."
Harry gave a grin. "So will I. I'll be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Really?" She asked in an astonished way. "You'll both be my teachers? I can't believe it. First you save me from that... place... then you'll be my teachers."
"You remember us..." Snape finally said.
"Of course I remember you. It might have been two whole years ago, but I was old enough to remember the people who saved me when mummy left me here."
"I was so sure you would forget who we were." Severus admitted to her.
"I could never!" She said with a shocked look.
"You've changed so much in the last 2 years. You hair's red now." Harry commented.
Mary grinned. "Yeah, that's a glamour that Helen put on me. We had tried out different hair colors until we found the one I liked best. She wouldn't let me have pink though, but red was the next best thing."
A knock came to the door, which opened directly afterward. "Dr. Snape, Ms. Vimes is up next." Lorraine told them.
"We have to get back to work Mary." Severus told the girl, then stood and looked to Harry. "Tell Mrs. Dunstan that she and the family can come back Thursday if they want, around noon." He ordered.
"I've got to admit-" Helen said when the three returned. "-when she started telling tales of being left in someone's manor with so many people running around and a doctor who gave out free medicine, I was skeptical to say the least."
"Well that's understandable, I mean how often do you hear about something like that happening?" Harry agreed.
"I've really got to thank you though. Without you and Mr. Snape, Corin and I wouldn't have little Mary with us now. We absolutely love her."
"No thanks necessary, it's really something that anyone in that position should do."
"Well, thank you anyway." She said with a smile.
"Severus said you and your family could come by on Thursday around noon if you like." The young man offered.
"We won't be able to, I'm sorry." Helen replied, which had Mary pouting. "We're moving in a few days, and we've got to get to work shrinking our belongings."
Harry's eyes widened and his hand made a very sharp, very quick movement. Everything got quiet for them. "Sorry, I had to cast a muffling charm. Most everyone here are muggles, and talking about wizarding things could very well turn out badly."
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know. I mean I knew Mary's biological parents were muggles, but I figured this might be an integrated community, what with- wait..." She furrowed her brow a tiny bit. "You just... both... wordless and wandless?" She asked in astonishment.
"Yeah." Harry admitted, looking a bit uncomfortable.
"Mr. Potter... Oh Merlin! You are Mr. Potter. The, Potter, oh my lord. You're Harry Potter." Helen said with a hand flying up to her mouth.
Harry winced a bit. "Yeah that would be me."
"Wait." Mary said with a confused look. "You're the one who killed the snake guy Corin told me about?"
"Oh god... Yeah I am." Harry admitted again.
"I can not... Words can... Oh my... I don't know what to say, or if I should apologize or what I should do." Helen told the young man.
How Harry hated this part of being who he was. He had hoped after spending a year with the werewolves that people might forget about him. It seemed he wasn't that lucky. "Don't worry, I'm just a normal wizard, masquerading as a muggle sometimes."
"You are so humble." The woman stated with amazement. "You are the most powerful wizard of our time. Possibly the most powerful since the founders era."
After a very long and awkward conversation, the woman finally left with her daughter. Harry and Mary had exchanged hugs again, and Helen had calmed down a bit, thank goodness for that too. Anita, however, was fixated on the ease in which Harry performed his magic, both wordlessly and wandlessly. Truth be told, she knew she was going to have to come back after they closed their doors to the town again, and there no reason to stay here today as they were fairly busy and unable to do much with a reassessment, but she really liked these people. They were one of two families that actually did help their community like so many of the adoptive parents she met claimed to do.
(¯`·. Hp/Ss .·´¯)
"That was EXCRUCIATING!" Alden complained, slumping down into a chair after the last person left on the third evening.
"We need to get some sleep guys. Mrs. Balfit's coming back tomorrow." Harry told everyone.
"I'm going to sleep with Mrs. Luna and the babies next year." Alden informed them. "I don't like staying up for 3 days."
Severus snorted lightly in amusement. He'd tried to tell the boy, but noooooo, Alden wouldn't hear any of it. "That's good to hear, because I think I can't put up with you for three days without sleep again. I might wind up sticking you to a wall in the back of the manor somewhere."
"Well it's nice that our home is ours again." Harry mused. The only ones left there were Harry, Severus, Alden, and Teddy. Everyone else had gone to their respective homes.
"Quite." Severus agreed.
"Absolutely." Alden added.
"Daddy dance!" Teddy demanded.
Harry groaned. "You have got to be kidding me. Teddy, daddy can't dance now. Daddy is sleepy."
"Daddy sleep."
"Yes, daddy sleep." Harry agreed.
"Papa dance!" Teddy tried.
"Papa sleep." Snape called out.
"Aldy dance?" Teddy asked.
"Let's all sleep." Alden said.
"Teddy not sleep." The toddler stated assuredly.
"Teddy better sleep, or Teddy will get a bit of a sleeping potion." Severus stated.
"No!" Teddy said, crossing his arms.
"Yes." Severus and Harry said together.
"NO!" Teddy screamed.
"I guess this is what they mean by the 'terrible twos'." Harry thought aloud.
"According to Minnie it gets far worse than this." Snape informed the young man, who groaned in response. "Time for bed."
"No no no no no!" Teddy chanted again. This was going to be a long night.