Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
"Oh, Severus! You must have been so worried!" Molly gasped after Snape told her, Sirius, and Remus about Harry almost being kidnapped by Nott and Parkinson. He had brought Harry to visit his godfather and Ron and told them how Harry had almost been taken. They needed to know that knowledge of Harry's de-aging was now known.
"Merlin, he could have been taken straight to Voldemort!" Sirius exclaimed. He gave Harry a mild glare. "What were you thinking? Do you have any idea -"
Harry's eyes widened and he took a step closer to his Nape. Padfoot had never been mad at him before.
"Black, he has already been dealt with," Snape interrupted coolly. "He has learned his lesson."
Sirius faltered, giving Harry a weak smile. He hadn't meant to snap at his pup, he just felt fierce fear at the thought of him being kidnapped. "Sorry pup. I'm just worried about you. Old Snape wasn't too hard on you, was he?"
Snape scowled. "We're the same age, mutt." He muttered.
"I's gots into twouble," Harry said, pushing out his lower lip.
"Aww," Sirius gave Snape a reproachful look as he hugged Harry. "You feel bad about running off, don't you?"
Harry nodded sadly.
"Everyone makes mistakes," Sirius said soothingly. "It's okay."
Snape raised an eyebrow and caught Harry giving him an impish grin. Little brat, he thought in amusement.
"Hwarry, pway!" Ron held up a toy from across the room.
"Kay!" Harry toddled off to his friend.
"They are so cute, I can't stand it," Molly said fondly.
"So, I received some good news today," Remus said, leaning back in his chair. "I got my job back at Hogwarts."
"Teaching Defense? That's great, Mooney!" Sirius beamed.
Snape sighed. It looked like these two idiots were going to be a part of his life no matter what. If he wanted to be a guardian to Harry, he had to put up with them. At least Lupin wasn't as much of an idiot. Well, as long as he took his Wolfsbane Potion.
Sirius looked at Snape with a grin. "You okay about that? Not going to stage a protest?" he teased.
Snape rolled his eyes. "No, mutt. At least he won't slice up the students' hands like the previous professor."
"What?" Sirius stared at him. "What did you say?"
"Umbridge was making students use a blood quill in detention," Snape said quietly. "Harry had numerous detentions with her."
"She made him use a blood quill?!" Sirius roared.
"Padfoot, hush!" Remus hissed, looking behind him where the toddlers were staring at them with wide, frightened eyes.
"Boys, in the kitchen there are fresh chocolate chip biscuits," Molly said, keeping her voice cheerful. "Wait for me in there and I'll get you some milk to go along with them."
Harry and Ron's eyes brightened, and they eagerly ran into the kitchen.
"Unbelievable woman," Molly said in disgust. She shook her head. "Poor Harry." She murmured sadly before heading to the kitchen.
"Once he is a teenager again, I will check his hand to see if there is any permanent scarring," Snape said.
"Why didn't he tell me?" Sirius paced. "He could have written to me! Or told Minerva."
"Harry thinks he has to suffer alone," Remus said sadly. "It's like he thinks he can't go to anyone for help."
"He will learn otherwise once he is a teenager again," Snape said firmly. "I will make sure of it."
HP
The next day, Dumbledore visited Snape. "The school is buzzing with the news that Harry is a toddler," He said after Snape served him a cup of tea. "And many have deduced that Ron is one as well."
"They know he is a toddler, but they don't know where in the castle he is," Snape said. "I highly doubt they will guess he is with me." He glanced over to the kitchen where Harry was sitting at the table, happily drawing.
"No, the rumor is that Harry is residing with Minerva," Dumbledore said. "I'm sure the students would guess Harry would be with Mr. Filch before believing he is with you." He chuckled.
"Hilarious," Snape rolled his eyes. It was true, though.
"Perhaps he should be seen out and about, with Minerva," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "That way everyone will believe he is staying with her. In case any students get the idea to kidnap him, they would be looking in the wrong place."
"I don't know," Snape frowned. He didn't want to risk Harry's safety.
"He would be safe, Severus. Minerva is quite capable of defending him if it came to it." Dumbledore said gently. "I know Mr. Nott and Miss Parkinson found him in the dungeons, although they believe he wandered there. But just in case…"
"I suppose," Snape sighed. He suddenly grasped his arm. "He's calling," he said through gritted teeth.
"He will have heard about Harry being a toddler," Dumbledore said, concern in his eyes.
"I know," Snape said, breathing through the pain. "He's angry, I can feel it." Suddenly his eyes went wide. "Harry! Will he be able to still feel his emotions?"
Both men hurried into the kitchen to find the little boy crying and rubbing his forehead.
"Nape," Harry wailed. "My head hurts!"
Snape picked up Harry, examining his scar. It was red and inflamed. Snape let out a frustrated breath. How could Harry occlude at this age? "Shh, little one," he soothed. He summoned a cloth and cast a cooling charm on. He pressed it against the scar. "Harry, you like flying right?"
"Yeah," Harry sniffled, relaxing a little as the cool cloth eased his pain.
"What do you like about it?"
"It's fun!"
Snape chuckled. "Imagine you are flying outside. You feel free and light, the breeze in your face."
"Yeah," Harry said happily, imagining it.
Snape summoned a pain reliever; one he had tweaked to be safe for a toddler and urged the boy to take one swallow.
"Yuck!" Harry exclaimed, making a disgusted face.
"I know," Snape said in amusement. "Does your head feel better?"
"Yes," Harry laid his head on Snape's shoulder.
Dumbledore watched with a smile. "You're very good with him."
"At this age," Snape agreed. "But when he re-ages...I hope he will still accept me."
"He will," Dumbledore said confidently. "How are you on the potion to fix him and Mr. Weasley?"
"Something's missing," Snape said in frustration. "I feel like I am close but missing one important piece."
"Maybe I can help," Dumbledore suggested.
"Perhaps," Snape handed Harry to Dumbledore. "I must go. He only allows me a short time to be late. Will you stay with Harry?"
"Of course," Dumbledore said.
"Nape leaving?" Harry pouted.
"I'll be back soon," Snape told him before heading to the floo to stop by his home in Spinner's End. He would change into his death eater outfit there.
HP
"Master, forgive my tardiness," Snape said as he entered the Malfoy Manor, where Voldemort was now residing.
"Severus, we were just talking about Potter," Voldemort said with a fake smile.
What else do you talk about? Snape thought sarcastically. "I presume you know of his de-aging."
"You had to have known!" Voldemort snarled. "Why did you not tell me at our last meeting?"
"Master, I only recently found out. Dumbledore lied about him going home to his relatives. I have been trying to find out where he is being kept in the castle before informing you," Snape said smoothly.
Voldemort glared at him. "And have you?"
"His Head of House is enjoying playing grandmother to the brat," Snape said in disgust. He hated, detested, speaking of Harry this way. Now that he knew the child, now that he cared about him…
"Can you get to him?" Bellatrix asked eagerly.
Snape gave her a scathing look. "Don't you think it would look suspicious if I suddenly asked to babysit Potter? My hate of that boy is known by everyone."
"Doesn't the Headmaster trust you?" Lucius challenged.
"He trusts me, but I can assure you McGonagall does not," Snape lied. "Dumbledore believed me when I said I wanted to change sides, but the rest of the staff has always regarded me with suspicion. The Order too, especially Moody," he scowled. "Of course, it doesn't help that Nott and Parkinson tried to take him in front of the gamekeeper." He glared at the parents of the two Slytherins.
"They told that oaf they were taking him to McGonagall." Mr. Nott huffed.
"Yes, and they were so believable." Snape rolled his eyes. "That little menace is now even more protected."
"Well, you can't hurt him while he is a toddler," Pettigrew spoke up. He flinched under the glare of Voldemort. "I – I mean it wouldn't be that big of a deal, to see you kill a helpless toddler. A teenager you've already fought and lost to, on the other hand – ahhh!" He crumbled to the ground as Voldemort cast a Crucio on him.
"If you value your life, you will not speak another word!" Voldemort hissed. He paced back and forth angrily. Pettigrew did have a point; it wouldn't be impressive to kill a stupid toddler. He needed Potter back to his true age. He narrowed his eyes at Snape. "When will he be re-aged?"
"I am working to fix whatever those two boys did," Snape said, smirking at Pettigrew who was still groaning in pain. Served the little rat right. "It has been difficult to determine what the two idiots did during their detention to cause a de-aging."
"When you know you can fix Potter, bring him to me first. Once he is a teenager again, I will kill him immediately." Voldemort said with a gleeful expression on his face.
Snape gave an approving nod, although inside he was furious. He couldn't wait until they were all rid of this monster. "I will enjoy using the Weasley boy to test on." He said with relish.
Bellatrix cackled with insane laughter.
"Once I kill Potter, everyone will know I am the greatest wizard to ever live," Voldemort said, a gleam in his eye. "And you, my faithful followers, will be by my side as we watch the life fade from his eyes."
Snape kept his thoughts occluded and forced himself to laugh with glee along with the rest. You will not touch that boy, he thought fiercely. Not as a toddler or a teenager.
HP
"Are you okay, Severus?" Dumbledore asked in concern as Snape stumbled through the floo.
"Yes," Snape dropped into a chair, taking deep breaths. "I just need a moment. Where is Harry? I don't want him to see me like this." He was still shaking from the multiple Crucio's that Voldemort had cast on him and the other death eaters before they had taken their leave.
"He is in his room," Dumbledore assured him. "Voldemort was angry with you?"
"Irritated but realized killing a toddler wouldn't be a grand enough gesture," Snape said in disgust. "He wants me to make the potion to cure him, then take Harry to him to take the potion so he can kill him right when he is back to a teenager."
"Well, obviously that won't happen," Dumbledore said. "Are you feeling better? Do you need Poppy?"
"No," Snape said as he waved his wand and summoned potions that would rid him of the shaking.
"What did you say about where Harry is staying?"
"I said that Minerva was enjoying playing grandmother," Snape rolled his eyes as he downed the anti-cruciatus potion. He sighed in relief.
Dumbledore chuckled. "And you didn't even have to lie."
"Nape!"
Harry ran into the room and jumped onto Snape's lap.
"Oof!" Snape quickly put his arms around him. "You have too much energy for this late in the evening," he said, giving Dumbledore a suspicious look. "Did you give him candy?"
"Uh," Dumbledore averted his eyes. "Maybe a little chocolate."
"Wonderful," Snape groaned as Harry began chatting excitedly.
HP
The next day, McGonagall took Harry for the afternoon, this time with no glamour. Of course, she had had to assure Snape that she would be very careful and not let Harry wander off. It warmed her heart to see how much Severus had come to care for the child. After assuring him that Harry would be safe with her, she began walking to the Tower, to let Harry see the Gryffindor dorm. On the way, they met with several students who were hanging around in the corridors.
"Aww, Harry is so cute!" Lavender Brown cooed when she saw them.
"He really is a little kid!" Ernie Macmillan gasped.
"A little brat," Theo muttered as he strode down the corridor, pausing to glare at Harry.
McGonagall held Harry's little hand. "As you can all see, there was a slight incident and Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley are toddlers."
"Where's Ron?" Lavender asked.
"He's with his family."
"Why isn't Harry?" Another student asked curiously.
"Well," McGonagall cleared her throat. "His relatives are muggles, and this might be too confusing for them, so he is staying here."
"His relatives hate him," Theo spoke up with a smirk. "They don't want him and honestly, who can blame them?"
"That is enough, Mr. Nott!" McGonagall snapped. "Do you need a detention with Mr. Filch to remember your manners?"
"No, Ma'am," Theo said quickly and hurried away.
Neville stepped forward. "Hi, Harry! I'm Neville."
"Hi," Harry said shyly.
"How long will he be like this?" Someone else asked.
While McGonagall was answering the students' questions, someone tapped Harry's shoulder. He took a couple of steps away from Gwandma and turned around.
"Hi, Harry! I'm a friend!" a tall, skinny blond boy said. "I have a present for you."
"Pweasent?" Harry asked, his eyes brightening. He idly noticed the boy was wearing a yellow and black tie.
"Here. But it's a secret present," The boy said, handing him a long, slim box. "Open it by yourself, okay?"
"Kay," Harry said happily.
"Put it in your pocket for now," The boy said. He smirked when Harry obeyed. "Hope you enjoy it." He sauntered away.
"Ready to go, Harry?" McGonagall asked, turning to him and taking his hand again.
"Yes, Gwandma!"
TBC: