A Proposition
Harry was ashamed, mostly because he didn't have the energy to be angry, which he surely had been any other time Snape tried to use legilimency on him. Right now though, he just felt defeated.
"I'm sorry I had to do that, Harry. Thank you for giving me permission to use such invasive techniques within your mind; it helps me to understand more – understand you more. Are you alright?" Severus asked, reeling his emotions back in when he noticed the child's face. He looked dejected and sad. Severus decided to have a talk with the headmaster, but for now, Harry needed him.
He walked around the table until he was as the boy's side, where he softly spoke his name. "Harry, it is okay to be sad you know. You don't need to be ashamed or scared here, not with me especially… not any more. I promise you, child, that I will do my level best to get you through this and out of that shi-… place. I owe it to you, after two years of treating you poorly. It cannot have helped the situation, and for that I apologise. I will endeavour to change, even if it puts me out of spying on the Dark Lord for that barmy old coot. Your safety and happiness by far holds precedence."
By the end of what the professor would later look back on as an asinine ramble, both occupants of the small kitchen were fighting back tears. This was all too real, and neither of them truly knew what to do.
That was until Severus had an idea, a lightbulb moment, if you will. He needed to talk to the boys – his boys…
-0-
"Draco, would you mind calling Wally to bring us tea? We need to talk," Severus called as he and Harry entered the living room where the blond was sat, working on his homework. Draco nodded and clicked his fingers, summoning his godfathers personal house elf to him and requesting refreshments for the three of them.
The sickly green, bulbous eyed creature nodded, large ears flapping around as it hurried to do as it was asked. Wally loved master Severus, and his godchild, but he wasn't too sure about the dark boy.
"Thank you, Wally. We appreciate your help," Harry said, noticing the sceptical look the little elf eyed him with. He seemed to distrust Harry, and Harry could understand that. He was new, after all. New people were unknown and therefore untrustworthy until proven otherwise, which is why Harry thanked the servant, hoping to prove that he was nice enough for his friendship, or at least trust.
The little green beast squeaked. A thank you? That was unheard of… unless this was the boy Dobby talked about? It must be, look at the scar! It was Harry Potter!
"M-mr. Potter! Thank you, thank you. No need to thank me, it is I's job to help, after alls. You is Dobby's friend, yes. Wally knows lots about you, yes he does!" The scatter-brained creature gushed. Harry Potter was a lovely boy, according to Dobby – a boy worth respect.
-0-
Harry had met Dobby over the summer, after the elf popped in during Uncle Vernon's dinner party with his Grunnings colleagues. The elf had scared Harry, as he was in his cupboard at the time, one with not enough room for him alone, let alone another. It was dark in his cupboard, so all Harry saw were gigantic, bright blue eyes staring back it him. He fought back a scream, knowing that if he did, he would ruin his Uncle's evening and pay dearly for it, after the guests had gone, that is.
Dobby had come to tell Harry not to go back to Hogwarts, that there was danger and he wouldn't be safe. Something about a dark man and the leader of the light… Harry couldn't remember exactly what was said.
The little elf left when asked, but left Harry with a warning. This, he did remember: "Choose wisely between what you think is good and what you think is bad, Mr. Harry Potter, sir. This year will be different. Things will change, but only if you let them!" And with that, he had disappeared with a 'pop'.
-0-
Once Wally had finished bowing to Harry and making the tea, he was told to go back down to the kitchens. Severus didn't want this conversation overheard – by anybody.
-0-
The two young men sat in silence, sipping at their drinks and waiting for their professor to begin. Of course, both were very curious, but both also knew not to interrupt or ask what it was Snape wanted to say. He would start in his own time, when he figured out exactly how to put what it was he wanted into words. Words that the boys would understand and, hopefully, agree to.
Once he'd mulled it over for a while, sipping his own drink, Severus began. "I want to help you both out of your situations. I can figure out only one way to do so, and that is to have you taken in as my wards. That would mean adoption," Snape clarified, noting the boys shared confusion.