A/N: I'm happy for every feedback and constructive critisism but I will not respect straight out hate or trolls in the comments.
This is an M/M story with mentions of infidelity, violence and abuse (all of which I don't condone).
DON'T LIKE DON'T READ!
Thank you for all the reviews, follows and faves!
randomplotbunny: Yeah I was sitting on a train chuckling about that when I wrote it :D
Mila Pink: All will be revealed in due time ;)
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling - I just played a bit in her universe.
Thanks to miu-sama95 for prereading, betaing and helping with the storyline ;)
Chapter 4: Waking up to a Dad
Words: 1320
The first thing he noticed were voices, quietly talking. It was just a jumble of murmurs he couldn't understand. Harry tried to concentrate on them but they were too far away, so instead he started taking inventory of his body and his surroundings before even attempting to open his eyes. They were rather heavy anyway.
From the feeling of the sheets and the antiseptic smell he concluded that he was in the infirmary. That meant that he was safe and could relax while counting his injuries. He could feel a headache, dulled by pain potions, his stomach felt rather unsteady and his right leg was bandaged, so he guessed there was some kind of injury there. It must be where the spider got him when he defended Cedric… Cedric ...Cedric was dead.
And it all came back to him. Snape..no Severus was his father and Voldemort was back and his ...Stepfather? and Cedric dead. When it all came crashing down on him he couldn't suppress a gasp that quickly turned into a sob. And another one and before he knew it he was fully crying.
Harry was startled when strong arms wrapped around him and started rubbing up and down his back.
'It's okay, Harry. I'm here. You can let it all out. I've got you, son.' came the soothing voice of Snape - his father - from somewhere above him. The endearment son was his undoing and Harry burrowed deeper into the soft robes that held him and sobbed.
Harry let it all out. Everything that ever happened where he hadn't been allowed to cry or grieve properly. He cried for every time he had been hurt and no one comforted him. For every time someone called him names or reprimanded him for things he didn't do. He cried for his parents, for Cedric, the betrayal of Pettigrew and him killing Quirrel. No one ever asked him how he felt after killing Quirrel. They even congratulated him - a then 11 year old - on killing a teacher.
Harry got rather hysterical after that and started hyperventilating. It was just too much for him.
'Harry! HARRY!' Someone was grasping his face and tilting it upwards so they could see his face.
'Harry! Look at me! Come on, son. Do it with me, okay? Deep breaths. In and Out.' After a few minutes, when Severus saw that Harry started breathing normal again, he could feel the tension leaving his body.
Him and Poppy had been pulled out of their talk when Harry started sobbing and Severus had rushed to his son's side to comfort him. But when he started hyperventilating Severus had gotten rather scared.
Poppy had retreated to her office to make the changes to Harry's file that they had discussed and had given them some room. She had been surprisingly supporting and had told Sev that she had had her suspicions about Harry's upbringing especially after the Headmaster forbid her to do a full medical exam on Harry when he started Hogwarts. It was not mandatory but she usually did it on all children not growing up in the wizarding world to get their medical history for the files. The potions master still had to count to ten to calm himself down when he thought about the second file she had shown him. He knew what it meant since she had talked to him a few times about his own file after he came back to Hogwarts as a teacher. He had nearly ordered Poppy to do the full medical exam as soon as possible.
Harry managed to get his breathing under control again fairly quickly and after giving Severus a quick hug he pulled free completely to look for his glasses. He wanted to be able to see his father's expressions when they talked.
Noticing what Harry was looking for he handed him his glasses.
'Thanks.'
'Feel better now?' Severus asked.
'Yeah Sorry 'bout that. I didn't think I'd lose it like that.' The teen murmured while blushing and looked down at his hands that were nervously fiddling with the bedsheet.
'Harry look at me, please.' At the please the boy looked up surprised, 'You don't have to apologize for crying, ever. I completely understand that you have to work through what happened and I'd rather have you crying than getting angry or self destructive. I also know that nobody ever gave you time to work through your feelings, but I promise I will do everything I can to help you in any way possible. If that means holding you while you cry, then that is what I will do.'
'Thank you, Professor.' came the shy answer.
'Severus, Harry. At least when we are alone.'
'What about… what about Father or… or Dad?' Harry asked rather reluctant after gathering all his Gryffindor courage but still afraid of the answer.
At the Professor's gasp he looked up to see a single tear trailing down his cheek.
'I would be honored if you want to call me Dad or something alike. I didn't want to pressure you into anything. Please refrain from calling me Father. I have too many painful memories connected to that term and it is rather formal. Also please remember to only use those names in private, though.'
Harry looked deep in thought as he mulled over the possibilities and Severus didn't dare to interrupt, although his heart was beating a mile a minute with suspension.
'I quite like Dad. I never had anyone to call MY Dad.' Harry concluded and smiled up at Severus.
The potions Master's mouth turned into a face splitting grin and he hugged Harry again and whispered a thank you in the boy's ear.
A throat clearing behind them alerted them to Madame Pomfrey's entrance.
'Severus, Harry.' she said with a nod at them both. 'I won't be able to keep them all out forever and since Harry only needs a lot of rest I don't see any problems in releasing him into your care Severus. It would be great if you could find someplace safe for him to hide for the last week of school. I will free him of all classes.'
Before the other adult could reply the teen spoke up.
'So I'm all healed up?' he asked with a grin and Severus answered him before Poppy could.
'Yes, you just need rest and maybe a headache potion or two for the concussion.' turning to the Medi-witch he informed her of his plan.
'I thought that Harry could stay in my quarters for the next few days. That way I could keep everyone out and we can easily keep an eye on him. What do you think, Poppy?'
'Yes, that seems like a great idea. I will simply tell the Headmaster that Harry is in a safe place and recovering.'
'Great. Is that okay for you as well, Harry?' Severus turned to his son, knowing that he hated being left out of decisions concerning him.
'Yes that sounds fine. Can my friends come visit? Please?'
'As long as they keep their mouths shut over where you are it should not be a problem. Okay then, let's move you before you take your next headache potion.'
Before Harry could say anything Severus had scooped him up in his arms and walked to the fireplace. He noticed how thin his son was and made a mental note to get him fed properly. Harry wanted to protest that he could walk on his own but firstly it felt nice to be carried and secondly he was still rather tired and his whole body hurt. So he snuggled further into his father's embrace and scooped up a handful of floo powder and threw it into the fire because of course his dad's hands were full.
'Severus Snape's Quarters, Hogwarts!' said Severus loudly before he stepped into the green flames, his son held tightly in his arms. One last look at Poppy and they were gone.
TBC
First posted on: 02. April 2017
Next update planned: 09. April 2017