Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
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"What exactly are you doing?" Snape asked his ward in surprise as he returned to his quarters after the death eater meeting.
"Making a potion!" Harry said happily from where he sat on the floor.
"Oh really?" Snape looked doubtfully at the mess his ward was making. A tiny cauldron with a sticky mixture in it. "Who gave that to you?" At least someone had the sense to put out a mat for Harry to sit on while he played.
"Gwandma," Harry answered with a grin.
"Of course," Snape groaned. He was sure Minerva had taken great delight in giving Harry this candy-making kit.
"I make a potion like Nape!" Harry said, beaming.
"I see," Snape said dryly.
"He's been having a great time," Hermione said brightly from where she and Draco sat on the sofa.
"And I am sure you will have a great time cleaning it up," Snape said smoothly.
Hermione exchanged an amused look with Draco. "Of course, Professor."
Draco fiddled nervously with his quill. "What happened at the meeting?" He asked after a moment.
Snape raised an eyebrow. He had wanted to speak with Albus about it first. "The dark lord is looking to capture Potter," he said slowly.
"I wasn't mentioned?" Draco asked suspiciously.
"He's not pleased about your defection," Snape said.
"Whatever was said, I can handle it." Draco insisted.
Snape sighed. "Lucius is to lure you home where you will then be taken to the dark lord. He wants both you and Potter."
"Oh Merlin," Hermione whispered.
"Well, nothing will make me go home," Draco said with a huff.
"He will write to you, try to make you go," Snape warned.
Draco shrugged. "I won't even open anything he sends. He won't get me or Harry."
"No, he won't," Snape agreed, glancing at the toddler. He would protect the child with his life.
"Nape like my potion?" Harry asked, holding up his tiny cauldron full of a candy mixture.
Snape peered at it, scrapped some off the side with his finger, and put it in his mouth to taste it. Hmm, it wasn't too bad. "I'll give it an E." he announced.
Harry beamed even though he had no idea what that meant. But Nape was smiling so it had to be good!
"Good for you, Harry. You finally got an E on a potion," Draco teased, causing Hermione to chuckle.
"I make good potions," Harry bragged.
Snape smirked.
HP
The next day, McGonagall decided to make a quick visit to Snape and Harry.
"So he enjoyed the potion kit?" McGonagall asked mischievously once Snape opened the door.
"Yes, thanks so much for that," Snape said with sarcasm. "Did you want to come in?"
"No, I just wanted to see if Harry liked my gift," McGonagall chuckled.
Snape had stepped out of his quarters to speak with her, the door still open behind him. He didn't notice Harry come up behind him, peering out.
Harry looked around the corridor, his eyes going big when he saw several students in green robes and holding brooms turning a corner. They had brooms! They must be going flying! He bit his lip and looked over at his guardian. Nape was still talking with Grandma. With another quick glance at his Nape, he crept down the corridor and followed the big kids.
HP
Harry was having a hard time keeping up with the broom kids and made some turns, hoping to see them but he didn't see anyone. He froze, realizing he didn't know where he was. I shouldn't have left Nape, he thought worriedly. He wasn't allowed anywhere by himself, he had been told that. "Nape?" He called out nervously. "Nape!"
"What is this? A Gryffindor's grandson in our dungeons?" Theo smirked. He slowly frowned. "Wait. This is a different kid."
"This kid has a lightning bolt scar and green eyes," Pansy stared at the little boy. "It's Potter! They must have glamoured him before." She said in realization.
"Potter?" Theo took a step toward him. "How did you get like this?" Amusement showed on his face.
"Wh-what?" Harry stammered. He remembered these two, he didn't like them! They had wanted to burn his broom!
"Some sort of de-aging spell?" Pansy suggested.
"Something like that, probably," Theo began laughing. "He's a baby!"
"Theo, we can take him to the dark lord!" Pansy said gleefully. He would be easy to smuggle out at this age.
Harry watched them nervously. Who was the dark lord?
"Come here, you little brat," Theo said, making to grab the toddler.
"No!" Harry kicked him in the shin and took off running.
"Get back here!"
Harry ran as fast as his little legs would let him all the way down the corridor. He had no idea where he was going and just kept running and turning. He ran past other big kids but he didn't ask for help, he was afraid they would want to hurt him too. His eyes brightened when he saw a large door that was open, the sun shining through. He ran outside and followed a familiar dirt pathway. Hawgid's hut! Mione had brought him here before! He banged his little fists on the door. "Hawgid!" he cried.
Hagrid opened the door. "Harry? What are yer yeh doin' out here?" he asked in surprise.
"Help me!" Harry sobbed.
Hagrid picked him up and cuddled him. "It's all right," he said, eyeing the two teens who were running down the pathway. They suddenly stopped running and stared at him, both panting from exertion.
"We, uh, were going to take him to Professor McGonagall," Pansy said with fake sweetness once she had caught her breath.
"Yeah, hand him over," Theo demanded. He paled when the giant took a threatening step closer.
"Get out of here," Hagrid rumbled. "You aren't taking him anywhere. Now get!"
With a glare at the game's keeper, they left.
HP
Snape was frantic. He couldn't find Harry anywhere! At first, he had thought the child was hiding somewhere in his quarters as a joke but soon realized that Harry was nowhere to be found. He immediately started searching the castle, alerting McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Poppy to search for him as well. What shocked him was seeing Hagrid enter the castle holding a crying Harry. He never thought the child would have managed to get himself outside!
"Harry?" Snape rushed forward.
"Nape!" Harry wriggled out of Hagrid's arms and ran straight to his guardian.
Snape snatched the little boy into his arms, hugging him tight. "Where were you? Why did you wander off? Are you hurt?" he demanded.
"He ran to my hut," Hagrid spoke up. "He was terrified. Nott and Parkinson were chasing him."
"They wanted to take me to a dark lord," Harry buried his face in Snape's neck. He finally felt safe.
"No one is going to take you anywhere," Snape said fiercely. He nodded at Hagrid. "Thank you for bringing him back."
"Of course," Hagrid smiled softly. "He's adorable at this age. Still manages to find trouble though," He chuckled.
"Yes," Snape agreed, tightening his hold on the boy.
HP
"Why did you wander off?" Snape asked sternly after they returned to their quarters. He set the little boy down in front of him and knelt down to his level.
"I wanted to watch the big kids," Harry sniffed. "They had bwooms! So I twied to follow them."
Snape shook his head. "You never run off like that. Ever. Something very bad could have happened to you," he said, his heart squeezing at the thought of what Voldemort would do to this child if he got his hands on him. "If Hagrid hadn't been home, you would have been kidnapped!" He couldn't help but snap.
Harry burst into tears.
Snape shut his eyes for a moment, trying to calm himself down. He had been terrified to find Harry gone, his mind thinking of all the ways the child could get hurt in a castle like this. And to have two of his Slytherins try to take him, what Voldemort would have done to him..he shuddered at the thought. He could have lost the boy for good!
"Sworry, Nape!" Harry said, still crying.
Snape took his chin in his hand and made eye contact. "I make rules to keep you safe," he said sternly. "You disobeyed me by going off on your own and you almost got hurt. You were very naughty to run off like that. I am going to give you dinner and then a bath. Then you are going straight to bed. No dessert and no story." He hardened his heart at the sad look on the toddler's face. After the boy ate, it would almost be his bedtime anyway and he was sure Harry was exhausted from the stress of the evening. He would have likely dozed off during a story anyway. With a sigh, he reached out and swatted the boy firmly on the bottom, twice.
Harry yelped and then began crying again.
"Are you going to ever run off again?" Snape asked, keeping his voice stern.
"No, Nape!" Harry cried. "I be a good boy!"
Snape's expression softened. "You are a good boy. You just did a naughty thing," he picked up Harry and took him into the kitchen, and sat him down in a chair. He summoned a cloth and dampened it with a spell, wiping the tears off Harry's face. He then got the child a glass of juice. "How does chicken noodle soup sound?"
"And cwackers?" Harry asked hopefully. He loved dipping them in soup.
"And crackers," Snape agreed as he summoned the ingredients he needed and began to cook.
While Harry was eating there was a knock on the door and he opened it to reveal a worried-looking Hermione and Draco.
"Is he okay? Everyone is talking about him. They know he is a toddler!"
"He ran off and ended up outside. Parkinson and Nott tried to take him," Snape said. "Hagrid was able to intervene."
"He knows better than to run off!" Draco said. "He could have been -" he shook his head, not wanting to think about what could have happened.
"He's just a toddler, they do things like that," Hermione said, putting her hand on Draco's arm. "He's safe, that's what matters."
"Dwaco! Mione!" Harry said, running over to them.
"Harry!" Hermione gave him a hug. "We were worried about you."
Draco crossed his arms and stared down at him. "You ran away?"
Harry bit his lip. "I wanted to see big kids on bwooms," he explained.
Draco just shook his head.
"I's sworry," Harry said, giving them both a pitiful look.
Draco bent down to hug him. "Don't do it again," he said gruffly.
"I won't."
"Did you finish dinner?" Snape asked him.
Harry nodded.
"Then it is time for a bath and then bed," Snape said, picking the boy up. He addressed the teens. "Thank you for checking on him but you should go back to your dorms."
"See you tomorrow, Harry," Hermione said with a soft smile.
"Good night," Draco added before taking Hermione's hand. "I'll walk you to your Tower." He told her.
Snape watched them leave with amusement before shutting the door. He gave Harry his bath and then once he was in his pajamas, he tucked the little boy into bed.
"Nape mad?" Harry asked with a yawn.
"No," Snape said softly. He wasn't mad anymore, he was just relieved that his little boy was home and safe. He paused. His little boy. Oh, Merlin. He didn't even know when he had started thinking of Harry like a son. And while toddler Harry wouldn't mind it, he wasn't so sure about teenager Harry.
HP
The next day after leaving Harry with Draco and Hermione, Snape stood in Dumbledore's office to talk about what had transpired. Naturally, word of Harry's deaging had spread like wildfire throughout the school. They were discussing how to handle it when the Headmaster's office door burst open and Umbridge waddled in.
"Do you not know how to knock?" Snape asked her sarcastically.
Umbridge glared at him before focusing on Dumbledore. "I have heard that Potter is not only still in this castle but a toddler!"
"Yes, there was an incident with a potion," Dumbledore said calmly.
"Why was I not told the truth? What about the Weasley boy?"
"He was affected as well and is with his parents until the deaging can be reversed," Dumbledore said.
"Then why is Potter not with his relatives?" Umbridge demanded.
"They are muggles and may not understand or be able to handle what has happened to Harry," Dumbledore said smoothly. "He is safe here at the castle."
"No. Either he returns home or into the ministry's custody until he is back to his normal age," Umbridge said curtly.
"No." Dumbledore responded.
Umbridge's face turned red. "I have been sent here by -"
"Do not test me on this, Delores," Dumbledore said in a low, threatening voice. "Harry is not returning to his relatives and he is not going into the ministry's custody. Am I clear?"
Umbridge cleared her throat. "Well, we will see what Cornelius thinks about this." She said in a huff before taking her leave.
"You need to get Harry to his right age as soon as possible," Dumbledore said after a moment. "If Cornelius kicks up a fuss -"
"I will take Harry and disappear before I let that idiot take him," Snape snapped.
Dumbledore looked at him in surprise before understanding filled his eyes. "I always told you Harry was an endearing child," he teased.
Snape rolled his eyes.
"She does not know he is residing with you and your quarters are warded," Dumbledore said. "Harry is safe with you."
"He wasn't when he ran off," Snape said with a sigh.
"He's a little boy, curious and impulsive," Dumbledore chuckled. "Just like when he is a teenager."
"I want to stay his guardian even when he is a teenager," Snape said quietly.
"Of course, Severus. I never thought you wouldn't," Dumbledore said smugly.
"Old coot," Snape muttered.
HP
When Draco had heard Hermione had received detention from Umbridge he waited outside the classroom for her. He didn't trust the woman, there was something very off about her.
Hermione walked out of the classroom, an irritated look on her face that changed to surprise when she saw Draco. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard you got detention from that cow," Draco said. "Are you okay? Why did she give you detention?"
"I wouldn't tell her where in the castle Harry was," Hermione said. She was holding her right hand.
"What…?" Draco took her hand and peered at it. There were words carved in. I must not tell lies...
"I can't believe she dared to use a blood quill on you," Draco seethed as he inspected her hand.
"She's done it before. To Harry!" Hermione said, clearly upset. "She told me she couldn't wait to give him more detentions so she could have him carve these words into his hand. She even said she would do it to him as a toddler if she could get her hands on him!"
Draco's eyes flashed furiously. "We are getting that cow thrown out of this school." He put his arm around Hermione. "Come on. Let's go see Madam Pomfrey and then Professor Snape. He will help us."
HP
"A blood quill?" Snape was furious, his eyes going to Hermione's bandaged hand. "And she said she did it to Harry?"
Hermione nodded. "He had several detentions with her. He never said anything about the blood quill, just that she had made him write lines. But he was always so quiet when he returned to the Tower, and angry…" she trailed off. "He must have glamoured his hand."
Snape took a deep breath. "I'll have to wait until he is back to fifteen to check how bad it is."
"We are having other students write to their parents about Umbridge," Draco said bluntly. "Even some of the Slytherins, like Blaise and Daphne are doing it."
"Very good," Snape said in satisfaction. The ministry couldn't ignore complaints from parents, not if there were a lot. Umbridge's days were numbered.
"So she'll be gone?" Hermione asked hopefully. "We really need a decent Defence teacher."
"And one who doesn't torture the students would be nice," Draco said dryly.
HP
Dumbledore was furious that a blood quill was being used on his students and after hearing that students were writing to their parents, sent a message to Fudge as well as Umbridge.
"Come in," Dumbledore said when there was a knock on his door.
Umbridge sauntered in. "Hello Headmaster. I assume you are finally ready to hand Potter over?"
"Not at all."
"He either goes to his relatives or to the ministry. For his safety, of course." Umbridge smirked.
"You will not take Harry out of this castle," Dumbledore said in a pleasant voice. "And you will never make him, or any other student, write with a blood quill again."
Umbridge paled. "I have the authority -"
"You have nothing." Dumbledore interrupted. "I've allowed you here to appease Cornelius while he refuses to see reason but that is done. You are fired."
"You can't fire me! I am here on behalf of the ministry!" Umbridge sputtered.
"Yes, I am sure Cornelius will be thrilled to take responsibility for hiring someone who used a blood quill on several students," Dumbledore said calmly. Several Gryffindors and a few Hufflepuffs had come forward to say they had also had to write with the blood quill during detention.
"I have not!" Umbridge lied.
"I have students prepared to issue a formal complaint, as well as some very angry parents," Dumbledore smiled in satisfaction as Umbridge paled even more.
Another knock and Dumbledore called, "Come in, Cornelius."
Fudge entered. "Albus," He said in a tense voice. "Delores. I have heard some very unfortunate news."
"Yes," Umbridge cleared her throat. "Potter is in this castle as a toddler. He should be returned home or put in the ministry's custody."
"That will not happen," Dumbledore said quietly. "Will it, Cornelius?"
Fudge wiped the sweat off his brow. The letters from parents, several of them Howlers, had made his morning quite an unpleasant one. And Dumbledore's letter had very strongly encouraged him to support Potter. "No, of course not. I'm sure Potter is being very well cared for."
"What?" Umbridge gasped. "But -"
"And I have never supported blood quills," Fudge glared at Umbridge.
"You wanted me to put that brat in his place!" Umbridge hissed at him.
"I – uh, no, that's not true," Fudge stammered, giving Dumbledore a nervous glance.
"You told me -"
"Delores, your services are no longer needed here," Fudge burst out.
"You're firing me?" Umbridge's eyes went wide.
"Yes. Blood quills are never acceptable," Fudge said. "Please gather your belongings and leave the castle. An Auror will likely be contacting you as well, students have complained to their parents about you."
Umbridge looked like she might faint. She then gave Dumbledore a glare and then stalked out of the room.
TBC: