Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter 7

Severus was not completely surprised when Potter came back with Shacklebolt in tow to collect him during the night. He heard the commotion outside their bedroom and pretended to still be asleep like the other boys in here since he heard the headmistress's voice along with Potter and Shacklebolt.

In the middle of the night? Well, not quite the middle of the night, but after all their bedtimes. It was rare, but when it did happen, it was quite disturbing to the other children to wake up and find one of them missing.

So Potter wanted some drama? Severus could give him drama, or at least he could till he was silenced or stunned. That would make a lovely photo for the press circus that followed Potter around.

The headmistress tried to wake him in the dark, silently with a nudge, and a whispered, "Get up, Severus. It's time to go."

Faking confusion in the dark room, Severus slid out of bed, exclaiming while clinging to the headmistress's robes, "Mother, you found me!"

Kingsley had not expected such a high-pitched voice. Why was he addressing the headmistress by the title 'mother'? It might help a child short-term, but that would have to be confusing.

"No, Severus. You've been adopted."

All the lights came on brightly in the room. Severus did not want them to miss the look of horror on his face before he loudly disputed, "No! My mother will find me!"

"Severus -"

"No, she's smart. She'll find me," he asserted as he twisted from her grasp.

"Your mother is not coming," Kingsley stated. Sometimes it took a strong man saying something to get a message through to a child.

The Minister knew it was meant as some insult when Snape pointed his finger at him and let out some horrible noise that was soon copied by the rest of the inmates in this room. Merlin-blasted children.

Harry found this somewhat disturbing. Why didn't Severus accept that his mother was dead? Why did they let him keep thinking that his mother was looking for him?

"Stop it! All of you!" the headmistress urged as all the young boys in this room were making a spectacle of some sort out of the Minister.

Severus grabbed the bar of his headboard and stuck his hand to it magically. Harry bloody Potter could not drag the Minister here in the middle of the night to get his way so easily. What next, was Potter going to throw himself on the floor and try to have the best temper tantrum ever seen here to get his way?

"Come on. You need to get dressed."

"No."

The headmistress ignored the boy's denial and put her wand in motion to take out his robe to dress him in it.

Things degenerated further. There was crying from half the boys in the room, others protested. Other children had left their beds in neighboring bedrooms and were in the hall to watch. There was more pointing at Kingsley. Pointing at Potter.

The headmistress lost her temper. The older children who were supposed to be keeping order protested, rather than helping. By the time Severus was charmed into a Ministry-lavender robe and a pair of shoes, she simply wanted to pull him downstairs where at least some calm could be restored, the bloody Minister and Harry bloody Potter could get out of her school, and she could restore order to everyone they upset by doing this.

Of course, the first step of getting Severus out of this room and downstairs was thwarted because he would not release his death grip on his bed. Attempts to pry his fingers loose finally worked, but the headboard bar was stuck to his palm.

Harry did not know whether to cry or applaud. Severus was already proving a challenge, and Harry was not even alone with him yet. He did consider joining all the screaming children since by now a bunch of younger children had wormed their way in here.

Kingsley stood still amidst the sea of chaos. It was reminiscent of a heated debate amongst the Wizengamot.

It was slow going getting Severus freed from the bed, children chased out of the way, instructions given to the few adults and teens to get everyone where they belonged, and heading downstairs to the floo.

When they reached the grate, Harry shook Kingsley's hand and thanked him for his help. He had a moment of trepidation when the headmistress thrust Severus's hand into his. What if Snape stuck the two of them together? Not on purpose, but accidental magic was not on purpose, was it?

The headmistress was happy to see the back of Harry bloody Potter as he got into the green flames with Severus, announcing, "The Burrow."

Severus felt Potter was a ponderous clod as he fell out of the kitchen grate at the Weasleys, dragging him along.

"Oh now you're here," was Mrs. Weasley's impatient greeting. No floo call, Ron claiming he had no idea where Harry was, or if he'd be home for dinner.

"Sorry, Mrs. Weasley. I got uh … held up somewhere."

Ron had been having a bit of a late, post-dinner snack when Harry arrived. Afraid of dropping it, he put down his bacon sandwich. Harry had something with him. A feeling of dread washed over Ron at the sight of the horrible mane of black hair. The robe was hideous, but not recognizable as something he found traditionally repulsive like black, bat-like robes with over a hundred cloth-covered buttons.

Harry's best friend breathed, "Is that him?"

"Who is that?" Mrs. Weasley asked. She had been waiting for Harry to introduce the child he had with him, but her son's question was vague. The only thing recognizable was the shade of lavender. Ministry purple.

"It is," Harry answered Ron, then explained to Mrs. Weasley, "I guess I owe you a longer explanation Mrs. Weasley but um … I guess I should put him to bed since he was asleep when Kingsley came with me."

"What did'ja involve him for?" Ron asked.

"Well um, I can explain later. Probably tomorrow."

Severus was not going to volunteer anything to make it easier for Potter. If he wanted to be continually impulsive, Potter should get better at justifying his idiocy. Bringing a boy home was not the same as picking out a puffskein. Besides, he should get them used to good behavior here, and save up his antics for important things. Throwing a fit now was not going to get him returned to the orphanage.

Harry realized how awkward this was. He had only told Ron he was going to take a look, not bring Snape back to the Burrow if he found him.

"Maybe you can fill your mum in while I take care of him?"

"Fill her in on what?" Ron exclaimed. This … adventure was Harry's alone. Snape looked sort of healthy. He had all his limbs. Why bother moving him out of the orphanage? Ron could only assume that's where Harry found him by the ugly robe. Ugh, the little git just looked his way. Same creepy black eyes.

"The basics, Ron. I don't know a lot myself, but Sss … he knows even less, and I'm not sure what I should say. You know?"

Ron snorted. If Harry did not know how idiotic this was, wait till Hermione and Ginny found out. Oh no, would he make Snape call him daddy and Ginny mummy? Nah, Harry probably had some idea of leaving the git with his parents. With a glance at his mum, before picking up his sandwich, Ron was positive his mum could sort out the little git. Maybe not so much that he'd be sorted into Gryffindor, but maybe enough so Snape could be a Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. Perhaps Ron should buy her some new wooden spoons for Christmas.

Being surrounded by so much stupidity was going to be painful, Severus thought to himself. Unlike the orphanage where he had been a popular boy, it would be better to revert back to being a loner here since he doubted he could act as dumb as a Weasley child … or supposed adult.

Over time, he might convince Potter to move out of the Burrow, but Severus would have to wait and see. Being alone with Potter would be pretty dull. Once he was out from underneath Molly Weasley's watchful eye and being a hero, Potter might have a parade of willing chippies marching across his bed, and even toying with them would grow old fast.

Potter was rambling in noncomplete sentences about the house. It was a magic house? No shit. There was not enough duck [sic] tape in England to keep this pile of crooked boards and half-knit jumpers together. The fact that Potter was staying in Percy's old room did not impress Severus since he remembered who Percy Weasley was.

When Potter opened the door along the stairs with a flourish, Severus found it hard not to make a face or roll his eyes. There was nothing special about this room. Unless one considered the famous Harry Bloody Bollocksy Potter slept with his head on that very pillow … oh, the excitement! Luckily his heart was now as young as the rest of him and he did not keel over due to palpitations.

Potter's babble stopped with a long "Uh ..."

That's right. Gryffindors could not think and talk at the same time.

Severus walked into the room and looked about. He had never been in Percy's bedroom so it was new to him. Like the rest of the Burrow, it was not safe structurally but magic held it onto the side of the house like a barnacle.

Since the silence lengthened, Severus considered that Potter was still trying to think. Slack-jawed dunderhead that he was. Due to Severus wanting to have some say in things, without seeming to, he asked, "Does it get much colder in here?"

"Huh?"

"There's a draft on the floor, and there's a gap along the window. Am I sleeping on the floor in here, or down in the kitchen by the stove?"

"By the stove?" Potter repeated.

"At home, when it was cold, I slept by the stove. When it was coldest, I'd sleep between my parents."

"You don't need to sleep on the floor. Either in here, or down by the stove."

That was mighty big of Potter. At least now the moron was thinking in the right direction, rather than thinking Severus hung by his feet from a pole in the closet upside down like a bat at night. He could attempt to conjure another bed, since Severus recalled Potter had taken some NEWT level Transfiguration, however he probably never thought of applying any of the knowledge he could have learned, and may not have bothered at all, hoping that NEWT requirements would be waived since it was terribly unfair to expect Harry bloody Potter to follow any sort of rules or expect the Ministry to have their aurors, still legally the only ones allowed to cast Unforgivables, meet any minimum requirements for the position.

Harry had been about to conjure up a bed. It did get a bit cold in here. He did not wake up seeing his breath puffing in the air in front of his face, but it was chilly. The floor was drafty. Maybe it would get colder in the next month or two. For the beginning of December, it was not too bad now.

Since Severus's expectations were low as to where he'd be sleeping, Harry gave that last bit a little thought. That sounded sort of nice … with his parents, not Snape's, but would he? Not that Severus had to, but it couldn't hurt to suggest, and the room wasn't all that big to begin with to be sticking a second bed and a second one of whatever he needed in here. Temporarily. Harry had not given any thought to where Severus would sleep when he impetuously insisted on adopting him earlier today. Harry could sleep with Ron, and let Severus have this room, but first he'd ask, "Um, maybe it's too cold. You're right. I didn't uh think about that so um, if it's all right with you, maybe we can give that last bit a try? You sleep with me?"

Sleep next to Potter? Oh Merlin. At least Severus was reasonably sure Potter was interested in nubile curvy girls who were incapable of intelligent conversation.

Harry released a breath that he did not realize he was holding when Severus simply replied, "All right."

Actually, it felt pretty good. Harry had overcome his first obstacle without having to resort to anything crazy or a long drawn out negotiation. At what age did Snape become a difficult git?

He stood frozen as Severus removed his shoes and got into bed.

"Um ..."

"I washed and brushed my teeth before I went to bed earlier," Severus explained.

"Right," Harry agreed. That should have been what he was going to ask about. Since Severus only put the robe on a short while ago, it was clean so he could worry about more clothes and pajamas tomorrow. "Um, I'm going to stay up a little longer, if that's all right?"

"You are an adult."

"Yeah," Harry agreed, opening a drawer, deciding to change in the loo and sneak down to add a few words to whatever Ron explained to Mrs. Weasley.

"I'll just um … dim the lights in here for you," Harry explained unnecessarily, then added, "I'm just going to change, and maybe get a drink first, but I won't be long at all, but it's all right if you fall asleep. Okay?"

Severus simply replied affirmatively, "Hmm."

Remaining awake for however long it took Harry bloody Potter to slip into bed next to him was not a priority. Being rested enough to jab the conceited moron during the night with his elbows and knees was more important.

Harry hovered, wondering what the right thing to do was. He couldn't kiss him good night, even on the forehead. Besides, he was coming back in here. So that would be weird. Harry settled for patting Severus on the head, and murmured, "Good night."

After quietly closing the door, Harry went downstairs to the kitchen.

He did not even wait for the first question, but entered with the explanation, "Okay, okay, I know it was impulsive, but you had to be there. Lucius Malfoy funds the orphanage, even though it's the Ministry's, and I thought he might realize who Severus was."

"Why?" Ron challenged.

"Because of his name, the way he looks, and he's doing a lot of accidental magic. Even if you don't know who he is, his drawing and coloring makes him stand out."

"That boy's name is Severus?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Didn't you tell her anything?" Harry accused Ron. "Were you just going to go to sleep and not tell her who I brought home with me?"

"I thought you said he doesn't remember anything. He's dangerous?"

"Not more than a magical child would be, but he can get quite emotional. Severus is confused about his parents and stuff."

"Why? Dumbledore lost him months ago."

"Yeah, and he's been waiting for his mum to find him at the orphanage. He didn't want to get adopted because of that."

"Should have left him then, mate."

"Didn't you just hear me? Malfoy? Severus was like the star pupil in his class?"

Ron scoffed, "He's no Hermione."

"I didn't say that –"

"He's Severus Snape?" Mrs. Weasley interrupted.

"Yes, he appeared with Dumbledore in the Shrieking Shack, and then Dumbledore was in such a hurry to get up to the castle to help me, that he lost him. The problem is Snape does not remember being an adult."

"What are you going to do with him, Harry?"

"Well, I got him out of the orphanage by adopting him -"

"Adopt? You adopted Severus Snape?" Mrs. Weasley asked, not too loudly, but it was obvious she was upset.

"You're mental," was Ron's contribution.

"Well yeah, I know, it was you know … but if someone else found him, especially since I had asked Kingsley to find him, and the couple people he had working on it were too stupid to look in the Ministry's orphanage. He's been there for months."

Mrs. Weasley's finger pointed upwards and in the direction of the stairs, "You cannot adopt him."

"That's what the headmistress at the orphanage said, but then I got Kingsley there, and it all got sorted, once we got Severus from sticking himself to big things in his room."

In case Harry did not hear him the first time, Ron repeated, "Mental. Absolutely mental."

"Yeah, I know," Harry agreed, "but he's saved my life enough times that I thought I should do something."

"Do something as in tell the Ministry, and not get involved," Mrs. Weasley explained. "You've done that bit, Harry. No need for you to take on this extra burden. He'll ruin your life. Severus Snape may look like a boy, but it's still Severus Snape."

Harry's face twisted into a mask of disbelief. Ruin his life? That was a bit over the top.

Ron nodded and added another, "Mental, mate."

"So I've heard. Anyway, he's here now."

"Where'd you stash him?"

"In my room, I'll sleep with him tonight-"

Harry was distracted by the look of horror on Ron's face, and added, "Don't be a git. He's eight. He does eight year old things, like coloring and playing four corners. Their headmistress at the orphanage says he needs a tutor that'll keep him busy since he's pretty much ready for Hogwarts except for his penmanship. I thought I'd talk to Hermione first to see if she can figure out what he should learn. Maybe she can interview people with me."

"You're going to hire him a tutor?" Ron asked with a bit of disgust.

"Uh, well, I didn't want to assume," Harry glanced in Mrs. Weasley's direction, "that uh … you know you're saying I made a mistake adopting him, but he shouldn't be punished for that. And it's you know … a short bit off till the holiday break so with the … you know, everyone else taking off for a bit, he could take it easy, then get you know … I could uh ..."

"Think for once?" Mrs. Weasley suggested.

"Well yeah, but with Hermione here, I wouldn't have to tax myself too much," Harry muttered. He felt he was not going to be able to talk himself into a better position, so he might as well cut his losses and get back upstairs. "Well, um, good night."

"Wait," Ron cried. "He's not going to be allowed to roam about the house is he?"

Harry looked puzzled by that question, then thought it was a stupid question so ignored it. Roam around the house. Roam around and do what? Deduct points from Gryffindor and hand out detentions? Why not brew potions in the chicken coop?

When Harry finished getting ready for bed, he went back to Percy's, or his, room. He uttered a low, "Uh ..." in the direction of the bed.

"I'm awake still."

"Oh, well, I didn't ask before but did you want me to sleep next to the window?"

"It's not bad. Do you get up early?"

"Yeah, so I guess until it gets colder, I'll sleep on the outside … I mean the outside in order to get up, not next to window and wall."

"All right."

"There's enough blankets then?"

"Yes."

What else should he ask? Harry knew he was new to this, but he did not want to overlook something really stupid.

"Oh, I didn't mention … if uh … you need um … the loo, it's across the hall and down a half-flight of stairs, and the door's usually open if no one's in it."

"All right," Severus replied, considering that with the number of people dwelling here, it was likely the door would usually be closed.

For lack of anything else to say, Harry sighed, looked around the dim room, then lifted the covers and got into bed. Once settled, he cast nox, but then realized it was almost completely dark and asked, "Do you need some light?"

"For what?"

"Whatever."

"No thank you."

Harry lay quietly. He could feel Severus next to him. Not quite touching, but the bed was already warm. Kind of nice, like he had cast a warming charm on the sheets ahead of time … ooh, should Harry have done that for Severus earlier? Too late to do that tonight, but tomorrow, he should.