Severus gave the crying Harry one last hug and a kiss on the forehead before pulling away with an almost pained expression. Turning to Lupin who was trying to calm the child, he gave a brief nod before stepping into the bright green flames. "Hogwarts!" was heard from the Potions Master, and in a flash, he disappeared.
xxxxx
"Severus, my boy!" came Dumbledore's jovial greeting as the man stepped into the staff room. Equal words of welcome came from his colleagues, but only Minerva McGonagall stood and gave him a motherly hug. All others didn't want a death wish so soon in their lives. His body was stiff as always, but he raised a hand to pat the witch on the back.
"Good afternoon, Headmaster. Everyone," he spoke in his low, velvet tone, taking a seat beside Flitwick – the Charms professor. A goblet of Ogden's finest appeared in front of him, and he inwardly thanked the house elves for the beverage. It would perhaps be the only thing to keep him from having a throbbing headache from all the 'socializing'.
The meeting began, and he tuned out everything that didn't concern him, giving only an occasional nod and a hum in assent when needed. Sipping the fiery drink, he allowed his mind to wander, remembering how he met Lily, barely even feeling the pang in his chest. His attention was captured when the other professors scraped back their chairs and trickled slowly out of the room. Dumbledore's voice stopped him from following the others out.
"Did you have a nice summer, Severus?" Dumbledore asked as they were seated in his office. A cup of tea was held by the Potions Master's long, slim fingers, but not one sip was taken. The man knew better than to drink the Headmaster's sickly, sweet brew.
"Adequate," he answered, staring impassively at his mentor. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles as he regarded the younger man. "Did you do what I asked you to?" His question was met with a snort and a monosyllabic "Yes." Realizing that he could get no more from the Potions Master, Dumbledore sat back with a smile sigh. He would have to find another way to get the acerbic man to reveal what he found out in the Dursley's.
"If that is all, Headmaster, I have a jar of turpentine left to add to a batch of potions I am brewing for the Hospital Wing." Severus spoke, putting the teacup on the table. He stood and made his way to the door, noting how the twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes vanished before he answered. "This is not the end of it, my boy."
Only the sharp tap of the Potions Master's shoes on the stone stairs were heard as Severus descended, knowing it would be hard year for him and his newfound son. Especially with Albus – the meddling old bastard – on their heels.
xxxxx
Harry was still crying when the flames on the hearth died out, his face buried in the folds of his uncle's robes. At first, the man was perplexed with no knowledge on how to calm down the child, but after a few futile attempts, he decided to let the boy 'cry it out'.
A few sniffles signaled the closing of the waterways, and Remus carefully nudged his bestfriend's son. "Do you want a cup of hot chocolate?" he asked, looking at the small, tear-streaked face. A nod answered him, and he lifted a cup to the boy's mouth. Hiccupping lightly, Harry sipped the drink, pausing to suck on the marshmallows before swallowing them.
"Will my Daddy come back, Uncle Remus?" a small voice piped up, filled with sadness and apprehension. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he brushed away the boy's hair from his forehead. "Of course, Harry. Daddy said that he would be here to send you off on your first day of school, right?" The child nodded, but his lower lip quivered in silent protest. "But… tha- that's fifteen days away!"
"I'm sure we'll find fun things to do," the werewolf said in a soothing voice as he tried to console the little boy.
That night, Remus heard feet shuffling in the hallway. Harry's room was a few doors from his, and he snatched his wand, stealthily moving toward the door. The noise stopped, and he threw open the piece of blockage before casting a hasty "Lumos".
There, swaddled in his duck-printed blanket looking scared and forlorn cradling the bear Severus had transfigured from an old tea rag, stood Harry. Remus blinked a few times before he put out the light and kneeled on the floor.
"May I sleep with you, Uncle Remus?" the boy asked with a small yawn. Casting a quick "Tempus" to check the time, he found out that it was just a little after one in the morning. Realizing that perhaps Harry had a nightmare and couldn't sleep, the wolf took him in his arms and carried him to the bed. "Of course you can, pet." Harry mumbled a barely audible thanks before snuggling into the werewolf's side and falling asleep.
xxxxx
A whole week passed, and Severus found himself nursing a bottle of Firewhiskey again. Just 8 days more before he was scheduled to return home and bring Harry to school. Home. It was almost strange that he was referring to Spinner's End as something more than a hovel to hide himself in the summers. The arrival of Lily and James' son certainly made him soft. He was busy marking papers when a knock came from the door of his office. Pulling it open, he came face to face with the Headmaster, and he stepped aside for the man to come in, knowing it would be fruitless for him to close the door in the old codger's face. "What do you want, Albus?" he snapped, giving a Hufflepuff's essay a D. "I want you to chaperone the Hogsmeade weekend, Severus, and also teach Minerva's classes on Monday," came the answer, twinkling blue eyes hiding the severity of the words.
"I'm afraid that I cannot, Albus. I have something scheduled on those days, and I was going to tell you of my absence on Monday tomorrow," he said, frowning. "What could be so important as to warrant your presence away from your classes, Severus?" the Headmaster asked, raising a brow. "Nothing that concerns you, Headmaster," was his response, only to be waved away by the man in half-moon spectacles. "Nevertheless, I am expecting you to report to your duties on those days. We simply need you here, especially since Minerva will be going home to visit her ailing mother."
He was left with an unsaid retort as Albus smiled and disappeared from his office victorious. Walking back to his desk, he pushed aside the essays and began writing a letter.
Remus,
I cannot make it to Harry's first day of class as Albus has made me teach Minerva's classes and chaperone Hogsmeade weekend as well. I am sending a box of Honeydukes chocolates I would have brought over myself. You are welcome to a fine share of it, as it is both yours and Harry's. Do make sure that he doesn't get sick over the sweets.
Tell him that I am sorry and will do my best to visit him on another weekend.
Severus
Tying the note around the owl's leg and attaching the parcel, he watched as the bird flew out of his office and straight into the setting sun, heading for the house his "son" shared with the werewolf. The young boy would be devastated, but there was nothing he could do to change the Headmaster's decision. Perhaps it was not the right time for him to visit Spinner's End. Maybe it was fate pushing him away from the direction that would one day lead him and Harry to a dire situation. Whatever it was, he didn't know how it would affect his life just yet.
He had no idea what was coming, but something was looming on the horizon… something neither he nor the Headmaster was expecting…