The following three weeks passed very quickly. Harry and his guardian continued to visit various children from magical families, among which were Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley, Millicent Bulstrode, Hannah Abbott, and the Patil twins. All of them still had living parents, and unlike Susan's aunt, they rather acted like, Harry thought, they would around someone famous. Which he supposed he was, but he wasn't a movie star or the lead singer in a musical group. In fact, Draco Malfoy had commented that Harry was "so ordinary!" and Harry had been uncertain whether this had been meant as a compliment or an insult.

Truth be told, it could be a little tiring. Not so much spending time with kids his own age-he liked that part-but how the parents acted. Sometimes, Harry rather felt as though the parents were watching him like a zoo animal. Or how he imagined a zoo animal would be watched, as he'd never been to one.

His guardian, fortunately, tried to keep this to a minimum. When Mrs. Patil appeared at the bedroom door for the fourth time to ask Harry if he was sure he wouldn't like something else to eat...well, Harry was not sure what his new dad told her, but the inquiries stopped. Severus sure was in a bad mood after they left, and told Harry to go outside and fly, because he needed to "get his temper under control." Severus did hug Harry, though, so he knew he wasn't in trouble.

Harry had very much enjoyed his time with the Weasley family. Ron seemed nice, and the twins were really funny. They were ten years old, so they wouldn't be starting school until the following year. Harry thought that his dad was rather relieved about this. Percy, Bill, and Charlie were already at school, and Harry knew that Severus liked them well enough. Of course, Bill and Charlie, Ron had pointed out, would have finished by the time they started. Ginny was a year younger than Harry, and barely said anything during the visit, just stared at him when she thought he wasn't looking. Once, he caught her and grinned, and even though she turned beet red, she managed a smile in return. Mr. Weasley was at work when Harry visited, but Mrs. Weasley seemed pretty nice. His dad later commented that she seemed rather frazzled at times, but there were seven kids at home at once.

"At least they're all past the age of needing diapers, or so one would suppose," Severus had said later, teasingly.

Harry had giggled at the mental image.

Aside from his visit to Susan's house, the visit to the Weasley's had been his favorite. It had been the last one. They had practiced Quidditch part of the time, and the twins thought Harry was quite good. He was the only one using a child's broomstick. Bill and Charlie owned Cleansweep Five's, which weren't the latest model, but far faster than his own broom. Percy wasn't interested in flying, so Bill and Charlie took turns with the twins. Ron had a child's broomstick, like Harry, but it was the age five to eight model. Flying with others had been a lot more fun than flying on his own, and they used apples instead of the traditional Quaffle.

Now, though, the visits were over, probably until the next summer holidays. Severus had explained that heads of houses were expected to remain at school during the holidays, unless no student from their house chose to stay behind. This also meant that, while Harry could bring his broomstick, he had to leave his playground behind.

"Professor McGonagall can set up another one for you, by the Quidditch pitch," his dad promised, "but you will have to share it with the other students."

"That's okay," Harry answered, feeling rather happier upon hearing this.

And yet, as the days before they would leave dropped off into the single digits, Harry felt himself getting more and more uneasy. He told himself not to be silly, but a part of him felt like he was losing his home, and even his new dad.

Privet Drive had been home before this. A dreadful home, one where he hadn't been loved, but a home all the same. Then, the Dursleys had died, and he'd been taken to live with Severus. For the first few weeks, it hadn't quite felt like a home, and Severus certainly hadn't felt like a parent, because it had been meant to be temporary. Only, it hadn't stayed that way. Now, Harry and his dad weren't just moving to another house, but he would be teaching at a job. His guardian would be away from Harry for nearly all of the day. Much like Uncle Vernon had been-rising the same time as everyone else on the weekdays, leaving just after breakfast, and returning a bit before dinner. But Harry's new guardian was a teacher, and brewed potions for the students at school, so he would likely be away for even longer. At this realization, Harry suddenly felt incredibly lonely.

At least Dudley won't be there, he thought, as he tried to fall asleep.

But sleep wouldn't come. The day after tomorrow, they would leave Spinner's End and go to Hogwarts. Harry wouldn't see the house for as long as ten months, and only small amounts of his dad before then.

The tears came, and then, he was sobbing. But, then, his dad was there, holding him, and running one hand over his back in small circles.

Harry clung to him, grabbing onto his robes with a fist, as though someone or something would force his dad apart from him.

His dad let him cry until Harry thought that the tears were finally gone, and then gently removed Harry's hands from his robes until he was sitting in Severus's lap.

"Please don't leave me," Harry whispered, staring at the bed.

"I won't, child," his dad promised, but even Harry could hear the confusion in his voice. "Did you have another nightmare?"

"No. I-I couldn't sleep."

"What's troubling you, Harry?" He removed Harry from his lap, then positioned himself so they were face to face under the covers.

"I'm afraid of leaving here," Harry admitted. "And I'm scared I won't see you when we're at school."

"Oh, Harry." Severus hugged him, a good, long hug. "I promise, you will still see plenty of me. Not as much as we're used to, I dare say, but you will hardly be alone, even then. I shall arrange my schedule so that we will have plenty of time together."

"Really?" Harry asked, hiccuping a bit.

"Really." Severus gently pulled Harry into his lap, then wrapped both arms around him. Harry let out a small sigh, feeling safe, protected. "I will not neglect you during the week, and we shall have extra time together on the weekends."

Harry felt himself relax, at least a little. He turned a bit, resting his head on his guardian's shoulders. Severus held him close with one hand, and made small circles along his back on the other.

Slowly, he fell asleep.

They began packing the next day. Harry packed up all of his clothes except the night shirt he would be wearing that night, the robes and (underwear) he had was currently wearing, and another pair for the following day. He also left his stuffed bear, which was still lacking a name, on his bed. His dad had said that he could either carry it in his arms, or he could put it in the trunk the next day.

Stuffed animals weren't harmed by Apparition.

Harry looked at his mostly empty bedroom, and felt a sense of loss. But then, his dad was there, an arm around his shoulders, and Harry knew that it was going to be okay.

All the same, after two chapters of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," and even tucked into his dad's side, Harry couldn't sleep. He was tired enough, and yet sleep wouldn't come. He was comfortable, but on edge.

After a few minutes, Severus rose and lit the lamp with his wand. "Is there anything troubling you?"

His voice was so gentle, and Harry was glad that he could truthfully shake his head. "I can't fall sleep."

"Hmm." His dad felt his forehead. "You're not ill. Just anxious, I expect."

"I don't mean to be," Harry whispered.

"Oh, child, I know." His dad hugged him. "Would you like me to rub your back?"

Harry nodded. He expected his guardian to begin to make small circles, but he spoke again.

"I don't want to pull up your night shirt-it would not be appropriate. I am going to perform a charm to cut it along the side, and once you are asleep, I will repair it," Severus explained. "Is that all right with you?"

"I think so."

"Good, now lie down...yes, just like that."

Harry heard, then felt, the separation of fabric. Then, his dad's hands were on his shoulders. His hands were a little rough-all that time spent cutting up and grinding ingredients for potions-but warm. They began to move up and down, sometimes moving in circles, sometimes just pressing down on his skin. It was so different from when his dad made the small circles. That was mostly soothing, and so was this, but it felt so, so good. His dad's hands moving downward to just above his waist, and then back up, and then down again. Harry realized how predictable it was, in a good way, and after a few moments, he knew what his dad would do next.

Slowly, he felt his eyes close, and his breathing slow down. Yet, the movements, the light pressure, on his back went on in a steady manner.

When Harry woke up, his dad was holding him tightly, his night shirt was back to normal, and he felt as though he had never slept so well before.

"Thank you, Dad," he said, when his guardian's eyes opened. "That felt so nice."

Severus smiled, and gave him a gentle squeeze. "I'm glad. I'll do it again...not every day, but not infrequently," he promised. "Now, shall we have breakfast and head to the castle?"

Harry nodded, feeling the beginnings of excitement.

Author's note: I think that Harry's fear of being abandoned or neglected, especially in light of his relatively short time in Severus's care, is a very real one. His guardian cannot, of course, quit his job to spend all of his time with Harry-nor would that be emotionally healthy for either. But Severus is going to make every effort to be there for Harry, and when he's gone, Harry will be in the care of teachers and other Hogwarts' staff.

Time to move to Hogwarts!

If you're enjoying this, please let me know. Likewise, if you have ideas for future chapters in this piece. :)