Authors note:
Can be read as a stand-alone!
This is part of a Snape slowly adopting Harry one-shot series.
This is part eight of the series
A sudden thud wasn't something you usually wanted to hear when taking care of a young child.
Several ones even less.
Severus had been cleaning up after lunch when he heard it. Thud. Thud. Followed by the sound of small bare feet running over stone floors followed by soft giggles. If it had only been giggles he'd assumed Harry was only playing as usual. But there was something that made him think Harry was up to something he wouldn't approve of.
With a deep sigh, he made his way out of the kitchen. He approached the living room and peeked around the corner to see what Harry was up to without being seen. If he was only playing like usual he didn't want to interrupt.
At first, he didn't see anything at all as he scanned the room. Then he saw something move on the other side of the couch and heard giggles. He walked further into the room, keeping his steps soft.
Then, running out from behind the couch at surprising speed, came a short dark figure. He barely had time to stick out his hand to soften the hit as the figure ran straight into his legs. After a flurry of movements appeared Harry's smiling face, looking up at him with a big smile and giggling. He was dressed (drowning) in one of Severus' big dark teaching robes.
"Harry. What on earth are you doing?" he asked. He was sure his voice sounded a tad annoyed, but Harry didn't seem to pick up on it.
"I'm Batman!" the small boy shouted proudly, before running off again. Most of the cloak dragged behind him over the floor as he hurried on. He almost fell over twice from stepping on the hem of the cloak. That didn't seem to stop him though as he continued jumping around the place.
Severus winced at the sight of the wrinkly robes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Harry," he tried.
Harry didn't seem to listen as he struggled to climb on top of the sofa. Once on it he jumped and yell out something about transforming into a bat. Severus didn't know much about Batman (though he was familiar with the character's existence) but he was pretty sure that was more of a muggle vampire stereotype…
"Harry," Severus repeated.
Harry still didn't listen as he got off the sofa again to continue running around. Laughing as he flapped his arms, making the long black fabric move like huge wings.
"Harry!" he shouted, finally gaining back Harry's attention. "Are those my robes?"
He didn't get an answer, only a pair of green eyes guiltily flickering away from his gaze.
"What have I said about borrowing my things without asking first? I remember telling you not to," Severus said.
"But I'm Batman! Look!" Harry explained, lifting his arms as if to show Severus the obvious.
"Harry, you have your own toys to play with. I do not like when you take mine without asking," Severus explained trying to stay patient. "How would you feel if I took… one of your toys without asking you first?"
Harry looked even more guilty at that, as he thought over what Severus said. Severus crossed his arms.
"We'll… Are you going to give back my robes?" Severus asked, seeing as Harry's confidence in his behaviour was flailing.
"I wanted to be Batman. Like you," Harry said sheepishly.
Severus opened his mouth but paused in shock at the comparison made. His instinct was to deny it; which he did once he gained back his bearings.
"I am not… Batman!" Severus exclaimed.
"Batman!" Harry shouted, promptly ignoring Severus' denials as he flapped his arms again.
Severus had never in his life envisioned himself ever standing in line at a Muggle toy store. It was practically absurd to even imagine it. Fate was peculiar though. Or perhaps it was some odd sort of karma?
Either way, come weekend he stood in line to buy a Batman costume made for a small child. Harry stood beside him looking like a ball of energy, excitement and happiness.
He sighed heavily as he waited. The young clerk occupied with helping the customer in front of him in line with their purchase.
He'd eventually gotten back his cloak from Harry that day, but the boy had been practically miserable for a while after. He had tried to make him wear his own robes to play with, but it wasn't the same according to Harry. After an hour of excruciating sad puppy eyes, he had contemplated giving him one of his old cloaks. On second thought, seeing how big they were he feared Harry would trip and fall in them. He was good enough getting in trouble as it was, so he decided against it.
So there he was, dressed up in old muggle clothes he kept around for-
Well, not things like this. This was new. But for other muggle outings or when needed.
He didn't fidget, but he felt stiffer than usual where he stood from the odd situation. He wasn't used to being out of his long dark robes. At least the dark coat, that he had on against the chilly air outside, felt vaguely familiar. Still, he couldn't help but feel the ghost of old memories from his childhood. No matter if these clothes were the right size, whole and clean, the muggle world felt like another lifetime to him.
As they waited in line, Harry looked around the store with big shining eyes. He didn't stray from Severus' side and held onto his hand with a firm grip, but Severus could see the awe as he took in all the awfully colourful toys surrounding them.
A few children and their parents were browsing the store, but no one else was in line at the register. And when the man before them had paid and left Severus stepped up to the counter.
"Good day sir," the sales assistant said. Seeing no toy in sight she asked, "Anything I can help you with today?"
"Yes, my... son, would like a Batman costume. Do you happen to have anything of the sort?"
The clerk helped Severus and Harry to the corner of the store with the costumes. Severus might go as far as to visit a muggle toy store for Harry's sake, but he would not spend more time than necessary in there. His plan was to look for the thing they were searching for and leave as soon as possible. There were (believe it or not) more important things he'd like to do with his valuable time.
The sales assistant even helped show him a couple of Batman suits. Based on the size and age recommendations he picked out a fitting set. It consisted of a Batman mask and dark cloak (that wouldn't be too long or short for Harry).
Harry swayed from joy where he stood as he saw the costume, his smile shining up at Severus.
"This will do," he said.
The sales assistant left them to 'look around some more' before going back to the register.
Severus had no intention to 'look around', but when he turned Harry wasn't next to him anymore. Something off to the side had already caught his attention. Colourful puzzles apparently. He sighed and checked the wristwatch he had on.
Well, he had no place to be for quite some time. So he'd let Harry look at the puzzles for a while before leaving. It wouldn't hurt too much. (Well except for the sound of a toy with horrible speakers playing music somewhere in the store. His ears were dying.)
Only, next to the rack filled with puzzles stood a shelf with Duplo. And then came the aisle of dolls, followed by stuffed animals. Harry also found the toy instruments (the source of Severus' past, present and future torture) which he enjoyed trying out. Severus damned every 'Try Me!' button to hell and back.
After far more time than he'd like to admit, they finally made it to the register. In his arms, the costume was now also accompanied by a few more toys. He tried not to overdo it, but a few muggle toys—for education—wouldn't hurt…
After getting his own costume, Harry hadn't tried to steal any more of Severus' cloaks. Instead, he ran around the quarters every other day with his own cloak and mask playing Batman. Severus still didn't quite understand what this entailed, or what Batman's quest was, but as long as it keep Harry happy and—most importantly—preoccupied, it was all good to him. Thus far, he'd managed to persuade Harry to not wear the costume outside of the quarters. He was awaiting the day it'd be a losing battle.
So far it had been enough for Harry to show his new attire to any staff that came to visit them. (That being Minverva over and over again, since she came by far more often than what was necessary.)
Even so, Harry was happy and Severus had his clothes for himself.
Or… So he thought.
Until the day he found Harry playing in the living room. Much like any other day, playing like he usually did with dolls or action figures. Seemed innocent enough. That was until he took a second look.
"Harry. What are you doing?" he asked, more surprised than angry.
"Tucking them in!" Harry proclaimed.
Them being two toads. One green and one brownish in colour.
"Are those… My socks?" Severus said.
"No, it's sleeping bags," Harry said.
"Didn't I tell you not to steal my clothes?"
"They're not clothes. They're sleeping bags," Harry explained unbothered.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose.
"And where did you acquire the toads?"
"I found them," Harry said, whilst carefully putting down the toad he'd stuffed into a sock.
None of the toads seemed bothered, suffering, or suffocated. Both actually seemed rather at ease, or perhaps they were just extraordinarily lazy. His stretched-out and slimy socks would never be the same again though.
"Harry. You know those are my socks. I think I would remember if I gave you permission to play with them," he said. "I also don't remember allowing toads—or any other animals—into our quarters."
Harry looked up at him, looking like he didn't understand what he'd done wrong. Severus sighed.
"Let's just let the toads go for now. And don't take my clothes again. Understood?"
Harry nodded and reached for one of the toads to free it from the cotton prison sleeping bag he'd put it in. Severus took care of freeing the second one in the meantime.
After both toads were free Severus called for a house elf to return the toads to their owners. Best do that first, or else he'd never know where Harry might hide them. He honestly didn't know what to do about the child's admiration for animals. And stealing too, evidently.
Harry gingerly gave the socks back to Severus. Severus hoped that meant the message might have sunk in this time.
He held back a frown as he received the slightly slimy stretched-out green socks. He would definitely throw them away. But since Harry had so given them back, Severus settled for throwing them away later. Instead, he thanked Harry—though albeit a bit sarcastically—since he seemed to be waiting to see if he'd done the right thing or not.
Harry didn't notice the difference and smiled back. He stood up, about to run off on his next adventure. Luckily, Severus made him slow down long enough to wash any remaining toad mucus from his hands.
Harry went back to playing, this time with his own toys and non-living dolls. Severus watched for a while before he went to put a locking spell on his drawers and wardrobe.
He wasn't sure it'd stop a curious little Harry, but it would at least slow him down. (If he ever decided to play with Severus' clothes again.)
Hopefully, Harry would learn what was his and what was Severus'. He made a mental note to also keep an eye out so Harry didn't sneak more pets into the quarters in the future.
Though he wasn't even sure how the toads had gotten there in the first place…
Authors note:
Thank you for reading!
If you liked this one and haven't read the other parts of the series then check them out if you're curious :)
Severus should definitely watch Harry better when he plays… (but its for the plot, ok?) Lets just say he leaves for a minute or two and comes back to caos.
Also, I've noticed Harry 'borrows' stuff often… Which he dosen't do with any malicious intent. It probably comes from living with the Durselsys where he regularly saw Dudley steal others stuff. And now that Harrys in a better household and feels safer, he thinks that's just how one acts. Hopefully Severus has taught him right from wrong now.
