I Don't Want to be a Hero - Second Year
Chapter Forty-Four
Substitutes
That late evening Harry and Severus had polished off their grand omelettes but the hearty meal had brought along plenty of yawns from the long day and night. With an unspoken acknowledgement they had both gone to bed, and each had slept until almost noon the next day.
Harry had awakened to a nearly empty cottage; there had been a note. He had crumpled the note, stuffed it in his pocket, grabbed his broom, and went flying over the water, and around the lamp house of the lighthouse.
Dinner had been an odd, quiet affair in which as soon as Harry had finished his father handed him the portkey, and he was back at Hogwarts.
29 Mar 1993 - Monday
Draco had not come back to school, and neither had Professor Malfoy. The Headmistress had arranged a substitute, and Harry had entered Defence Against the Dark Arts wondering who their teacher would be until the end of term.
Harry had spoken to his friends at breakfast that morning, and answered questions about the new Malfoy twins but by his ever-increasing silence he had made it clear that he wanted to be left alone.
That same desire to be isolated had appeared in his classes, and so when he arrived at Defence Against the Dark Arts, five minutes late, he sat at the back of the class.
"Five points from Gryffindor for being late, Mr. Snape," intoned an all too familiar voice. Harry's head shot up from looking through his bookbag, and found his father glaring down at him. "I expect you to be on time for my next class, Mr. Snape. Am I clear?"
Harry nodded, but when his father's glare darkened he coughed out, "Uhm… yes, da… sir, I mean. Yes. Sorry. Won't be late again." Severus nodded to his son, and with the start of his lecture, and what he expected from the class, he strolled back up to the front of the class. Harry let his forehead clunk to the surface of the desk but only for a second. He then raised his head, and listened.
Harry had one more class after Defence Against the Dark Arts, and then he was free for an hour before dinner began. Instead of going to study with Luna and Hermione, who were probably going to ask him mushy questions about the new Malfoy twins, he headed to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.
Upon arrival Harry stood in the doorway of the classroom, and watched as his father sat at Professor Malfoy's desk, his head bent over the last of the essays that teacher had assigned, and collected, before the births of his sons.
In that moment Harry rather missed seeing his father in a classroom. He knew his father was much happier with his Apothecary at Port Murem, and his private brewing at home on Prince Lighthouse Island. Still, Harry admitted to himself, he liked having his father near at school, and for that he missed him. Realising how much he missed his father Harry forgot that the wizard might be angry at him, and smiled when his father looked up from his grading. Severus returned the smile with one of his own, a usual brief, wisp of a smile.
"I think you are a bit early for the next class, Harry," quipped Severus.
"Ha, ha, dad," smirked Harry. "Why didn't you tell me you were subbing for Professor Malfoy?"
"And miss you stammering in shock at seeing me? I would not have missed that for the world," he deadpanned. With a wave of his hand the door closed, and Severus then conjured a chair. "Come. Sit down, Harry. We are long overdue for a talk."
Harry's heart suddenly dropped to his knees as he hesitated. Was he still in trouble? Slowly he moved forward, and then gingerly seated himself.
Severus disliked the sudden wariness in his son's frame; Harry was afraid. He had never meant to worry his son but in saying nothing to the boy he had done just that. "You are not at all in trouble, Harry. I ought to be for keeping as silent as I have."
"You're not… mad? But, all this time… you haven't said a word to me since we left St. Mungos!" Harry accused sharply.
"I know, and…"
Harry spoke roughly over his father's apologetic tone, "All this time I thought you were mad at me, or… jeez, even hated me! Dad, you can't do that to me! It's not fair!"
Severus came round the desk, and crouched down in front of his son catching his flailing hands in his own. "I was wrong, Harry. I am sorry for that. You caught me off guard at St. Mungos, and I simply did not know how to reply, or even if I should say anything at all."
"Well you didn't say anything, dad, and that hurt," Harry caught a telling sniffle.
"I know," sighed Severus as he stroked a thumb down his son's cheek. For a moment they both watched each other. "What do you think of Poppy, Harry?"
Harry frowned in puzzlement, and hesitantly answered, "She's a good Healer, and makes good…"
Severus shook his head, "No, son. Not as a member of staff here at Hogwarts. What do you think of Poppy as a person. As someone who is… with me?"
Harry smiled slightly. "You mean what I think about you and Madame Pomfrey being together. When you told me you were going to court her I thought you understood I was okay with that."
Severus rose to his feet, and leaned his hip against the edge of the desk. "I do understand that, Harry, but I am not sure if you understood that I wish to marry Poppy."
"Of course I do, dad!" Harry fairly grinned. "I think that would be great if you did 'cause I really do like her."
"And, you would not feel slighted if we were to have our own child together?" he asked shrewdly as he carefully watched his son for any sign that he might object but not say so openly.
"No," Harry replied firmly, and nearly instantly. "I meant what I said in hospital. I'd like to have a brother or sister."
"You are not jealous of Draco are you, Harry?"
Harry shook his head. "I think it's neat that he's got little brothers, dad. Especially since Fred and George think that Alaric and Alexander are going to be just like them." He chuckled as his father rolled his eyes.
"Merlin forbid! I am so very pleased to have retired from teaching when I did," and then he chuckled briefly beneath his breath. "So, you would indeed like to be a big brother?"
"Yeah. So, are you going to marry Madame Pomfrey?"
"Well," he began as he casually sent the test he had been grading into the desk. "You see the day that I meant to take Poppy to dinner you were to come with us so we could share some news that she imparted to me a few days ago."
"That you were getting married?" asked Harry.
"Mmm, that and, Poppy is pregnant."
"Dad!" Harry tried to sound shocked that his father and Madame Pomfrey had been doing more than just the kissing he had caught them at once or twice. Unfortunately, he was just grinning too brightly to lend any weight to his feigned shock.
Severus smirked, and shrugged his shoulder in facetious shame. "Mayhap we should have that talk about the 'Birds and the Bees'?"
Harry laughed as he jumped up from his chair, and caught his father around the waist with a hug. "This is all so cool, dad! I'm getting a mum, and I'm going to be a big brother!"