A/N For all those who commented: Yes, another kidfic. Apparently kidfics are highly addictive. I couldn't help myself. But, if you want me to write another genre…I'm open to suggestions.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER!"
The young man so named froze in midstep and gulped. He knew that voice all too well.
Hermione Granger stormed up to him, dropping her bags carelessly on the floor of the Entrance Hall.
"NEARLY A YEAR!" She raged at him, "Nearly a year, and no word, no return owl, refusing to see us…"
She raised her hand to slap him, when she caught the sad and ashamed look in his eyes.
"Harry," she whispered, and enfolded him in a hug.
He sighed into her hair. "I'm sorry, 'Mione."
"Yeah, well," the witch managed through her tears, "you better have one hell of an explanation, or I'll sic Ron and the twins on you. Or Molly."
She felt him shiver and chuckle at the same time. "Not Molly, please, not Molly," he pleaded.
"I promise I'll owl them all. Honestly. I just…" he stared at the floortiles, "I was so embarrassed."
"At what, Harry?" Hermione asked gently, "at being wounded?"
"Needing care," he bit his lip as it trembled, "not being able to walk. Not being…for Merlin's sake, Mi, for months I had to wear diapers because I couldn't feel…couldn't…"
He sobbed softly, and rested his head on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry."
Hermone stroked his hair. "We would have been there for you, and we wouldn't have cared. Please, Harry, don't disappear on us again."
Harry snickered. "No chance, Mi. We're going to be colleagues, didn't you hear?"
Her eyes widened. "But…I thought Mad-Eye was going to teach DADA?"
"He is," Harry confirmed, "Albus asked me to teach History. He needs you for Potions."
"You know, he wrote that," Hermione frowned, "Is something wrong with Snape?"
Harry hesitated. "I think I better let the Headmaster explain."
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"Bloody, stupid…by Godric's beard," Harry moaned, "I'm getting fed up with this. Dobby?"
He leaned against the wall where he had collapsed. His legs had given way from under him once again – the travelling and stress of moving had probably tired him more than he had realized.
"DOBBY?"
A tiny house elf appeared. "Dobby is not being in the castle, sir, Dobby is…MASTER HARRY POTTER!" the tiny elf grabbed his hand and pressed kisses on it.
"Winky?" Harry asked, gently getting the elf to release his hand, and studying her.
She was looking healthy, clothes clean, and no longer smelling of butterbeer.
"Where's Dobby, Winky?"
"Dobby is being out, Master Harry, shopping for Headmaster's baby. Dobby is liking babies. Can Winky help Master Harry?"
Harry sighed. "My bag," he pointed to the small backpack he carried around, "when I fell, I dropped it. It's out of my reach. My braces are inside. I can't walk to my rooms to rest without them."
Winky nodded, and quickly retrieved the bag.
"Winky will do that," she said, when Harry made to take the shrunken braces.
The little elf quickly returned them to their original size, and put them on. Harry, who had his eyes closed, looked up in surprise.
"That didn't hurt," he checked his legs, "they're perfectly in place. How did you do that?"
The elf shrugged, "Winky knows these things," she said shyly, "Winky was training to be a Healer Elf once, before master Barty…"
She didn't cry, but looked decidedly depressed.
"Can you help me to my rooms, Winky?" Harry asked, smiling encouragingly.
Walking with the braces was awkward, but after months of practicing, he managed well. Winky kept by his side, ready to help him if he needed it.
"Master Harry needs to go to bed," she said sternly, when Harry made for the couch.
"I need to…erm…you know," Harry blushed.
Winky nodded in understanding, and waved her hand. Harry blinked as his bladder was suddenly empty. He quickly checked his pants for stains, but found none.
Winky grinned. "Healer Elves learns that spell first," she smirked. She pulled him up and helped him to bed without fuss, so that Harry hardly noticed he WAS being helped.
After some final instructions, Harry sighed softly and was asleep before Winky had expertly removed the braces from his legs.
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Dumbledore was a bit stunned at the large supply of baby things that had appeared in his office, accompanied by Dobby, but he simply thanked the elf for his troubles and asked him to quietly set up the crib in the small room that used to be his guest room, and would now be the nursery.
Severus had woken up while they were doing that, crying loudly.
"He is being hungry," Dobby said in sympathy.
"As he should be," Dumbledore commented, over the wailing, "but he definitely needs a clean nappy first."
Dobby had moved the changing table to the nursery, and brought in a clean nappy, wipes, a romper suit and a small, green, footed pyjama.
Dumbledore quickly remove the dirty nappy, cleaned the infant up and put on the nappy and new clothes.
Severus's wails had lessened after his clean-up, but he still fussed a little, trying to suck on Dumbledore's robes.
"Dobby…"
"Bottle is ready in the office, Headmaster sir," Dobby responded.
The headmaster settled on the couch, Severus in the crook of his arm, and picked up the bottle.
"Charmed," Dobby bounced happily, "will always keep the formula at the perfect temperature. Leak proof. Lady in shop said so."
Dumbledore rested the nipple against the lower lip. The small mouth opened eagerly and took the nipple, sucking away happily. One tiny hand rested on the adult one holding the bottle and the half-closed eyes observed Dumbledore in contentment.
A knock on the door, and the Deputy Headmistress entered.
"Albus, Poppy said…" she took in the scene before her, and pressed her lips together.
"It is true, then."
"If Poppy told you that this baby is Severus, yes, it is true."
The witch eyed the baby curiously. "Apart from the black hair, he doesn't resemble Severus much."
Pausing a moment to let the little one burp, Dumbledore shrugged a bit. "His eyes aren't black yet, of course. They probably will be in a few weeks to months."
"Poppy says you're planning on raising him yourself," McGonagall commented, "how are you going to do that, with all your duties as a headmaster?"
"You are here," Dumbledore pointed out, "Hermione probably won't mind helping. She can take over some of your Head of House duties should you wish it."
Lips still thin in disapproval, the Transfigurations teacher nodded, and took her leave.
Dumbledore cuddled the now burped baby close.
"They'll get used to it, my boy, won't they? Hmmm, yes they will, my precious, they will."
Winky appeared.
"Headmaster, sir," she said softly.
"Yes, Winky?"
The little elf blushed. "Could Dobby be here too, headmaster sir? I has a message from Harry Potter sir."
Dobby poked his head around the door.
"Harry Potter sir asks Winky to be his elf," the little elf straightened proudly, "and asks that Winky helps take care of Hary Potter sir. Harry Potter sir says if Dobby and Headmaster sir wishes, Dobby is free to help Headmaster sir with the little baby as much as Dobby likes."
Dumbledore smiled; that was a thoughtful gesture of the young man. Dobby certainly liked the baby.
"Absolutely, Winky, I think we are all pleased with that arrangement. Has Harry said anything else?"
Winky lowered her eyes.
"Winky?"
"Harry Potter sir is too good for Winky," the elf mumbled, "Harry Potter sir asks headmaster to let Winky go back to Healer Elf school."
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The next day, Harry sat in his new classroom, magicking Binn's old stuff away, and putting up new, interesting things to use in his classes.
"Harry? I mean, Professor Potter?" the headmaster's eyes twinkled.
Harry smiled. "Hello sir. I hope you don't mind that I'm updating the classroom a bit."
"Not at all, dear boy, not at all."
"I'd also like to take some lessons outside. I find that learning about great battles is much easier when we're allowed to re-enact them."
"Certainly. I'm sure the students will appreciate the changes."
Harry chuckled a bit, remembering his own History classes, and moved on to create a living timeline on the back wall of the classroom.
"I must thank you, Harry, for your arrangements with Winky and Dobby," Dumbledore settled on one of the tables, "that was most thoughtful."
Harry shrugged. "Dobby means well, but he never quite got the hang of caring for me. Winky managed to put my braces on and off yesterday without hurting me. This arrangement is mostly for my own benefit. And of course, it wouldn't do for you to get overworked."
The old man's twinkle increased. "Of course, my boy, whatever you say."
When the old man had left, Harry scowled, and threw Merlin to the wall with such force that the wizard glared at him.