Title:
A few days more

Sequel to:
Twenty-one days

Author:
evil minded

Date:
November, 17th 2010

Timeframe:
Fourth year at Hogwarts

Summary:
"A few days more" is the sequel to "Twenty-one days" – read and review this first or you wouldn't understand all that happens in this story.
The fourth year Slytherins and Gryffindor have survived their imprisonment in the potions classroom situated in the dungeons. How will they go on in all-day life after their survival? How will they manage to reintegrate into the castle's routine and their classes? How will they be able to go back to life at all? Watch how those who survived fight for their lives and for their peace.

Disclaimer:
Did you see Severus alive at the end of 'The deathly hallows'? no?
Do you think I would have had him died if I had written those books? no?
Then you know that 'Harry Potter' does not belong to me … nor does Severus … regrettably …
But Hereweald Hrothgar does …

Rating:
M – Not suitable for children or teens below the age of 16

Author's Notes:
Uhm … alright … I have to admit … English is not my language by birth … so … please do not kill me while reading … neither for the – perhaps – sad language, nor for the subject of my writing …
Also, this is a story written for NaNo, a story written within thirty days only and even though I go over the chapters before uploading them – I do apologize if it might not have the same quality at one point or another than those stories of mine you are used to by now … thank you …

Warning:
Story contains bad language and swearing.
Don't ever use such, it's neither good manners nor proper use of language and never mind how 'cool' it might sound, it surely isn't a sign of intelligence. It won't get you anywhere and people will think less of you if you are unable articulating properly.
Story contains references to child neglect.
Child neglect is a really, really serious thing, and there are a lot of children in our world that are neglected, children that lack food, clothing, often love, and perhaps even a roof over their head – and closing our eyes, and pretending it does not exist – is no solution …
Story contains references to child abuse.
Child abuse is one of the most evil things, and there are a lot of children in our world that really would need help but have to live without hope – and again, closing our eyes and pretending it does not exist – is no solution … instead show sympathy, and understanding … and handle people, children as well as adults, which are showing any signs – whichever – of once having been abused … with understanding and with help …
What does not mean I am not as evil as I pretend to be … ^.~ … believe me – I am …

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Previously in A few days more

"Harry." He said, leaning closer. "There will be no need to fear a lesson ever again, child. Neither a lesson from me, nor from any other teacher, do you hear, child? I do not care if it is Moody, Creighton or Septima, Vector. If there is a problem, then I expect you to come and inform me so that we can find a solution, whatever solution that might be. You are to learn without fear and I can only apologize again for having mistreated you during the past three years the way I have, having taken that chance from you, to learn in peace and without fear."
It wasn't long after and he had a sleeping child, but he felt unable to get up and go for his own bed, his eyes glued to the small and thin form beneath the covers.
How was it that he felt so deep when it came to this child now? And how was it that he had not seen it in the past, that this was just a child? How was it that he felt so warm while watching a child sleeping? The pale face peaceful for once, the thin fingers relaxed for once, and the breathing calm and regular for once?
How was it that he felt so desperate and so helpless while thinking about how much this child had suffered? At the knowledge that he couldn't do much to make it alright? At the knowledge that this child rather suffered silently instead of bothering anyone?
How was it, that he felt so deep at the knowledge that this child – was his son?
He had no answer to that, but he started to understand what fatherhood meant, what family meant, what it meant to have a son, a child.

A few days more
Chapter seventeen
The mutt, the wolf and the snake

Severus nervously paced the parlour, running his hand through his hair every now and then, an uncharacteristic sign of just how nervous he was.

The day had gone exceptionally well. Herbology had been no problem at all, but he hadn't expected any problems to begin with during a lesson from Pomona. He had worried about Septima and Harry being in her arithmancy class, the boy only recently having learned how to do math to begin with, and he knew that Harry lacked any basic knowledge when it came to that area – and Septima was impatient at the best, these days. So yes, he had been worried.

But nothing had happened. Septima had ignored Harry, Draco, Theodore and Adrian, according to Cameron – something these boys had been glad for, but it surely was no solution, and he would have another word with the teacher. Ronald was a different matter. Septima apparently had not forgotten about the detention the boy had gotten out of because he, Severus had taken him from her classroom, but that didn't mean that he would stand for her throwing nasty glances at the boy whenever she saw him. It had not been Ronald's fault but his, Severus', and he would not allow her to hurt any of his students, even if it was Ronald Weasley.

Not to mention that the boy had behaved well so far.

No, he was rather worried because Harry currently was – visiting his god-mutt.

He had wanted to accompany the boy, it was the first meeting between the two after all, but Albus had suggested that he allowed the boy and the mutt that private moment.

Flashback

"I demand being present during that meeting, just to make sure that Harry will leave his god-mutt unharmed, as sad as it is that someone has to keep an eye on the boy's godfather so he wouldn't hurt him."

"If there is someone who harms my godson, then it is you, Snivellus." Black growled back at him, a sound that didn't really bother him. "Knowing Snape, he will use the boy for his dark potions, Albus."

"Of course, because cutting children in tiny parts and then drinking their blood is so much fun, Black." He sneered.

"Enough, both of you." Albus called out, getting off the chair behind his desk and he scowled at the headmaster. "You two will stop that annoying fighting immediately. You both claim that you love Harry, then act like it and stop your fighting for the boy's sake. Sirius, for now I expect you to ask for Severus' permission if you wish to see Harry, seeing that he is Harry's father and Severus, I expect you to allow Sirius seeing Harry alone if there is nothing that speaks against it at the time."

"Very well, then that meeting is cancelled, as there are a lot of things speaking against it." He said, smirking in satisfaction. Of course, he knew that he wouldn't get away with it easily, but he enjoyed Black's enraged face the moment he got off his chair to leave Albus' office.

"Severus!" Albus called out and he could hear the anger in the older wizard's voice.

"It was worth a try." He said, slowly turning back to face the mutt. "Very well, but Black, do not even think about telling this child that I wouldn't care about him."

"Or what, Snivellus?" The mutt asked, smiling at him nastily.

"Or you would hurt him with your words." He answered, keeping his face stony, while he watched the mutt's smile faltering at his words, before he left the office, the mutt surely having expected a threat coming from him.

End flashback

Of course he knew that Black didn't want to hurt Harry, Black might be a bully and he intentionally might hurt someone he didn't like, but Black would die for the people he loved, and surely he wouldn't go so far to say that the mutt didn't love the boy, even if they had only met once last year, and under dire circumstances. Except of that they had never met – could one speak of love in such a situation?

But regardless of the man's intentions, what he knew was that Black would do so anyway, that he would hurt the boy, because Black wouldn't think about his words before uttering them, he wouldn't regard Harry's feelings.

Huffing he poured another cup of coffee. He didn't drink a lot of coffee in the evening … normally, but today was an exception, today he just needed another cup of coffee – and let's stress the word another cup, because it clearly wasn't his first one tonight.

He had brought his son to the unused classroom where Harry and Sirius were to meet in secrecy and away from the eyes of the other students, and he had left him there, reminding Harry to come for him the moment he needed him and throwing a nasty glare at the mutt that would tell him – 'hurt Harry and I'll hurt you'.

He doubted that the idiot man had known what his glare had meant, but well, he had tried.

And now he could only hope – hope that either Black wouldn't hurt his son or that Harry would come home should Black do so.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

To say that he wasn't nervous would be an understatement.

He had, of course, been looking forward to seeing Sirius again, but he didn't really know how to handle the man – nor Remus, now that they – what? Lived together? Were together? He didn't really know the situation and he didn't know how to act – or react for that matter.

Not to mention that every now and then, Sirius tried to – to get between Severus and him, and he didn't know why, or how to handle it.

"Did that overgrown, slithering beast not feed you or did he suck your blood for one of his nastier potions?" Sirius had asked when he had come into the unused classroom and after Severus had left. He hadn't commented on it though, but it wasn't the only comment his godfather had made so far. There also were the "this overgrown dungeons bat doesn't even know how to care for children, one just has to look at you, you're bones and skin" and the "only a cruel person like Snape is able to watch children suffering from hunger, or you wouldn't be bones and skin only" and the "if you lived with me, then you would be healthier than that".

Of course, he had tried to explain to Sirius that it wasn't Severus' fault, but somehow it was in vain, the man didn't understand. Or didn't want to understand. And Remus wasn't much better.

Remus hadn't said anything about Severus being his father, and he hadn't expected him to, Remus was much calmer than was Sirius, he had noticed that quite soon, but that didn't mean that it was easy. Remus watched him, always, never leaving his eyes off him and that made him uncomfortable, it was scary.

"You know, Harry, Dumbledore said he would have the Wizengamot re-opening my case." Sirius said excitedly – again. "You know what that means, don't you? You can live with me! I'll be your legal guardian as soon as I'm free."

"But we don't know each other ..." Harry said, looking at his godfather, scared. He did not want to appear ungrateful, he liked Sirius, really, but he did not really know how to balance yet another adult in his life, and his godfather that wanted to become – what? His father? His stepfather? His foster father? What did Sirius want? Why did he want to become his something anyway? Not to mention that he did have Severus and he did not want to have another guardian. Severus was his father, he didn't need another guardian.
Sirius was his godfather, and not his father.

He was just scared.

"Harry." The man said, reaching out to touch Harry and he pulled back a little. He averted his eyes when Sirius' face fell. "We'll get to know each other, and you'll live with me, don't worry, really. Your parents made me your godfather and I'll adopt you the moment I'm finally free."

Well, the only thing Harry was feeling right now – was the panic building up in him.

He liked Sirius, the man was alright to be around him for an hour or two, but to live with him? That would mean leaving his father, leaving the one person who had kept him not only alive but sane as well during the past two months now, the one person that looked out for him, the one person who kept him going, the one person who ... no, he couldn't do that, wouldn't do that.

And surely, he had a say in this, too? Surely, he would be asked what he wanted? And Severus? Wouldn't Severus be asked, too?

"I ... I have Severus ..." He started, but he was interrupted by Sirius frowning at him.

"Snape isn't the father you need, Harry!" Sirius seriously said. "Anyone could do better than that sniveling and slythering no-leg! And he is too harsh with you anyway! He punishes you ways too often!"

"He hasn't punished me at all so far, and he loves me and ... and I love him." He protested, not knowing why Sirius was so persistent on this and why he denunciated the Potions Master so much, why he called him names he didn't even know what they meant. "He is good for me, Sirius ... you know how my life was before him ... my relatives ... I was only a burden to them ... but Severus cares for me, and for what I do, and that I'm happy. He only wants me to be safe and to be healthy and ... and to learn. He is a good father. Even if he tells me what to do and what not to do."

"Harry, you don't have any experiences with having a father ..." Sirius protested.

"No, but I talk with my friends, you know?" He shook his head. He wanted to go home now, and away from Sirius. He was scared and his stomach hurt. "I know that Mr. Weasley, too, tells Ron what to do, sometimes ... as does Hermione's father or any other father, Greg's and Vince's ... I like what I have."

"But ... I'll treat you better." The man promised and Harry's stomach aches grew. "And surely you won't compete with scum like Crabbe and Goyle! And I'll never tell you when to go to bed, or take your broom away or punish you ... I'll always make you happy ... you'll see! You'll live with me soon, and then you'll see."

"But I have to take potions and ..." He said, running his hand over his cramping stomach. "And I need ... I can't live with you ..."

"I will ask Dumbledore if you could live with me and Sirius." Remus said, dropping down beside Harry. "We also could arrange for a nurse to come and give you your potions. Sirius would be so happy then."

"But ... but don't you care about if I'm happy, too?" Harry choked out, gliding as close to the banister as he could. He always had liked Remus, as a teacher, but he didn't want living with the two, he wanted to stay with Severus and he nearly cried with the desperation he felt, and with the stomach cramps.

"You can't be talking about staying with Snape?" Remus looked at him, piercingly. "Harry, Dumbledore placed you there because Snape isn't useful to the Order, now that his cover is blown, but it was a temporal solution only." Remus said, taking Harry's hand. "Snape doesn't care about you anyway, he just took you because he had to."

"No!" Harry nearly screamed, pulling his hand back. "You don't know what you're talking about. Severus takes care of me better than anyone else ever has. Ever! For the first time I have clothes that fit me and a room that I can call my own."

"It's Severus now, is it?" Sirius growled at him, looking at him darkly and he nearly flinched back.

"Of course it is, he is my father, he has adopted me!" He tried to explain, desperately, pressing his hands over his stomach. If only Severus would he here now.

"He's your professor, Harry, and you're his student." Remus chided, looking at him sternly. "You shouldn't have grown so close to him."

"I don't see a reason as to why not, Professor." Harry answered, stretching the word professor. His heart was racing with thousands of beats per minute, fearing that any moment either Remus or Sirius would hit him, but he didn't care, as long as he wasn't taken from Severus.

"I – am not a former follower of Voldemort, Harry." Remus said, slamming his fist at the table and Harry jumped back, looking at Remus, startled. That was it now, he knew, they would hit him. They would beat him and then they would lock him up in a cupboard to keep him from going back to Severus!

The moment Sirius got to his feet Harry turned and ran out of the classroom, his fist gripping the shirt over his stomach that hurt with the cramps more and more, and straight to the dungeons, nearly crying desperately. His worst fear had come true – he would lose Severus. Sirius would take him away and he would lose Severus!

He could barely breathe with fear the moment he ran into their quarters and when he caught sight of the Potions Master he actually thought he would suffocate, grabbed the shirt over his chest, too, in an attempt to get a breath into his lungs – one way or another.

"You are early, any problems at the meeting with Black?" He heard the man asking, and he was glad to hear the calmness and worry in his voice instead of the usual sarcasm he had expected at arriving home out of breath and with slamming the door, but at the same time this was his undoing. After Sirius and Remus had said that Snape wouldn't care about him ... well he just wasn't able to keep his damn tears from falling at the man's always so calm – and caring – voice.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Severus left the kitchen the moment he heard the door to their quarters banging open violently, and with a scowl on his face he went into the parlour, ready to scold Harry for the racket he was causing but when his eyes fell on the boy who was barely able to breathe, pulling his T-shirt in an attempt to take a breath while at the same time pressing his other hand over his stomach like he always did upon having cramps, the face pale and a mask of distress – he quickly started walking towards the teen, crossed his arms in front of his chest so that the boy would not be scared of his hands, and he looked at Harry, looking for an answer to his unspoken question as to what had happened, on his face.

His first impulse had been to take the boy and to pull him close, but he didn't like the distress of the child, didn't like the dilated eyes, knowing that he would just have to deal with a panic attack if he acted too quickly now. He had to act calmly and slowly now – blast that imbecile of a god-mutt for distressing the boy like that!

"You are early, any problems at the meeting with Black?" He asked, and a moment later the bloody boy actually started crying, worrying him nearly out of his wits. He knew – if Harry cried, then he had a reason, especially if he was crying like this, so desperately. The boy had nearly died just a month ago and even back then he had not cried. They had been locked into the potions classroom with barely anything edible and for three entire weeks, and even back then the boy had barely cried. So – what horrifying thing had happened right now that the child lost it and actually choked on his sobs?

Slowly reaching out and taking the teen by his shoulders he steered him to the sofa to sit him down there, the boy allowing him doing so without a fuss for a moment, but before he had the boy sitting on the sofa Harry leaned against him, his face smearing snot and tears at the shirt over his stomach and he folded his own arms around the shaking shoulders, holding the child until the sobs subsided, only running calming circles over the still so bony back.

"What happened, son?" He asked when he thought that Harry was getting himself back under control.

"Sirius is going to take me away!" The boy cried out, fear and desperation clearly audible in his voice, and he was nearly back to gasping for breath. "The adoption ... it's permanent, isn't it? He can't take me away ... can he? Dad? Please?"

"He wants to take you away?" Severus asked startled, his brows furrowed. He had expected many things when he had agreed to the boy visiting that damn fleabag for tea once a fortnight, but surely not that! Of course, Harry would panic upon such a comment from the mutt – and his face darkened.

"He said that ... that my parents named him my godfather, and that once his name is cleared he would adopt me and take me away with him ... that he would take me away from you ..." The boy hitched out, and Severus finally took Harry to the sofa and sat him down, before he went back into the kitchen to fetch a cup of tea and added half a vial of a calming draught to it. He took it back to Harry and made him drinking it in slow sips.

"Do not worry, child." He calmly said, simply keeping his hand laying on the boy's shoulder blade while thinking of all the most evil things he would like to bestow upon that blasted mangy mutt. "The adoption is valid, and Black can do nothing to get you away against your wish – not to mention that you are old enough for any judge to decide for yourself whom you want to live with."

"But he said ... he said he could do it ..." The boy gasped, looking lost for all that was worth.

"He can't." He repeated. "Black can do absolutely nothing to take you away, and now calm down, child. What's wrong with your stomach?" He then asked, gently taking the thin wrist of the hand Harry had pressing over his stomach.

"Hurts." The boy just sobbed, and it was clear, the mangy mutt had upset the child enough to cause new cramps.

"Let me help you with this." He softly said while starting to gently run his hand over the boy's stomach, easily finding the cramping knots and massaging them away. "The calming potion will help with that, too, just calm down and trust me, child, you are absolutely safe, Black can do nothing to take you away, trust me, everything will be alright." He could feel the cramping knots loosening slowly, too slowly for his liking, but they did loosen.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Harry had exhausted himself until he had fallen asleep while Severus had held him all the time, over and over again reassuring him that Black wouldn't be able to take him away, that he was safe, and he had held him for a while longer when he had fallen asleep. He had left him on the couch, covered with a blanket he had taken from the backrest, while cursing Black to hell and back.

The moment he was sure that the boy was deeply asleep, he told Ronald and Cameron that he would be back soon, and that they were not to worry, and then he left their quarters and quickly hurried down the corridor to the idiotic man's rooms, his cloak billowing behind him dangerously enough so that students on their way through the castle's corridors left the line of his path quickly. He would set an end to that before the damage Black caused for his son was too deep.

Rounding the corner of the hallway he was hurrying along, he could already hear the voice of the man he had been in search for.

"If Snivellus doesn't keep his fingers off my godson I'll give him a piece of my mind!" The blasted mutt was saying to most likely the wolf.

"Careful, mutt." He drawled, approaching the dog and the wolf – he had been correct, of course it was the wolf. "You do not have enough mind for sparing even one cell of it."

"Snivellus!" The dog growled. "We've just been speaking of you."

"As have Harry and I." He growled darkly. "Come with me, Black."

"Why should I, Snivellus?" The blasted man asked, actually sounding daring and he leaned closer to the idiot man. He was angry and he surely wouldn't play the man's games right now.

"Because I could arrange an appointment with a few dementors for you, Black." He angrily snarled into the man's face.

"You wouldn't dare ..." Black started, straightening up in front of him to be a bit more intimidating. "Albus ..."

"Sirius, please!" Lupin said, trying to get the other man to reason but Severus wasn't interested in the wolf.

"Do not tempt me, Black." He growled darkly. "Because I will do so if you won't leave my son alone, and I don't care if you have Albus wound around your fingers."

"Harry's not your son and you have no right over him!" Black said and the Potions Master took a deep breath.

"Actually Harry is my son, or have you already forgotten about what the headmaster has told you just the night before?" He hissed at the man. "And here I already told you – be careful mutt, because you do not have enough mind for sparing even one cell of it."

"I want to have him in my care as soon as possible, Snivellus."

"And I want you rotting in hell – unfortunately we rarely get what we want." Severus hissed angrily.

"Severus, please." The wolf now tried to reason with him, after he had noticed that he was unsuccessful with Black. "Sirius is Harry's godfather after all."

"I do not care who or what he is." He hissed angrily. "The last thing Harry needs, is Black rolling into his life and then disappearing behind a golden snitch or some skirts after he has hurt the boy over and over again."

"You bastard!" Black now hissed, reaching out to him, Snape, his hands aiming for his throat, but the Potions Master was quicker and a moment later he had grabbed the mutt's shirt and thrown him against the next wall, his wand pointing at his throat.

"Actually – both my parents were married before my conception – to each other … again, you do not have enough brain cells to spare just one piece of it for me. And now, you will leave my son alone, Black!" He very quietly and slowly said. "Because the last time you talked to the boy, he cried himself to sleep. You are not to be near my son ever again! Do not forget – you are still an escaped convict after all, and therefore yes, I will be able to keep you away from Harry."

"Is that a threat?" Black asked, nearly laughing, and it was clear that he thought this was one big joke, like he always had seen life as one big joke.

"Absolutely not." The Potions Master answered, seriously and calmly. "It is a promise – and I do tend to keeping my promises."

"You know, James would turn in his grave if he knew!" Black called and for a moment he wondered what the man was aiming for with his comment, seeing that he'd never been a friend of James Potter. "You of all people adopting his son, James would never allow that!"

"Potter's dead, so it hardly matters what he'd allow." He returned coldly.

Well, that comment apparently had been too much, because Black gave a strangled cry away and then pulled out his wand, aiming it at Severus.

"I'll see him taken away from you." Black howled. "And if it's the last thing I'll do, but I'll see him taken away from you."

"Do you hate me enough, Black, to hurt Harry?" He asked. "Are you really ready to risk hurting Harry, Black, to hurt Harry badly, just to get to me? Is that worth it, Black?"

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

"Severus!" The wolf called when he left the corridor, coming after him.

"Spare your breath, wolf." He growled. "I won't change my mind, Black either leaves my son alone, or I will pull in the aurors. You know what that means, Lupin, don't you?"

"That was not what I wanted to talk to you about, Severus." Lupin said and he lifted his eyebrow.

"It isn't the full moon yet, wolf." He growled. "And so, there is no need for your little potion yet."

"I don't care about that potion either." The man said and he narrowed his eyes. It had to be something quite important if he was ready to risk his potion that would keep him sane once a month during his transfiguration into the werewolf. "I want to know what kind of tricks you are plying with Harry."

"Trick?" He asked, lifting his eyebrow at the man.

"Your scent is on Harry's clothes." The wolf accused and for a moment he didn't know if he should feel offended or if he should rather laugh at the wolf's stupidity. "On his hair, on the entire boy!"

"Of course my scent is on him and his clothes, wolf." He hissed, taking a step towards the man. "He is my son, and he is living with me, Lupin, what did you expect? My scent is on him, as is Ronald's, Hermione's and Draco's, you imbecile, seeing that we all are living together. Use your brain, Lupin, please, before you jump to conclusions that only makes an idiot out of you."

"I don't buy your story about suddenly loving Harry, about suddenly caring for him, you of all people, as if you hadn't bullied him for the past three years." Lupin said, not giving in. "And I don't know how you have done it, but somehow you have meddled with his brain, and he has fallen for your delusions. I'm going to visit Albus and ask him to check your wand for the use of the imperious."

"You can do what you want, Lupin, I couldn't care less." He said. "As long as you get out of my way, because I have an upset son whom I have left alone for long enough tonight."

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Yawning and stretching he looked through the parlour.

Merlin, he had fallen asleep on Severus again, crying all over the man again, but he had been so scared that maybe Sirius could really take him away from Severus, he had been so desperate, his stomach still hurt and cramped at the thought. Not as bad as it had before, after Severus had massaged his stomach and had given him a potion, but it still hurt. But well, he was used to that now, wasn't he?

Getting off the sofa he looked around, looking for the man but didn't find him. Of course, it wasn't that he couldn't be alone, he was fourteen after all, but he wanted his father right now. He'd been without a father for long enough, and now he had one, and now there was Sirius who wanted to take it away from him – he just wanted the man now.

Well, he also could have just gone to his room, he was sure that Adrian would be happy about it, or he could visit Draco or Neville in their rooms, but he didn't want to, and neither did he want to sit with Vincent and Gregory whom were sitting on one of the sofas.

What he wanted, what he felt he needed right now, was Severus.

Vincent looked over at Harry, frowning.

Of course, he knew that there was Cameron now, and that there was Severus now too, and the other teachers, but still he felt responsible for Harry somehow. Severus had asked him to take care of Harry, even though only if something happened to the teacher, back then, in the potions classroom while they had been locked, but he had asked him, and he had agreed, and now, even though there were all the other teachers and Madam Pomfrey, too, he still felt responsible for the smaller boy.

His frown deepening he – and not for the first time – wondered how it was that Harry was so small. He wasn't stupid, despite what some of the other students and teachers said, he just was intelligent enough to know – if he didn't give away that he was intelligent, so no one would expect anything of him while at the same time he did no harm in playing dumb, he always could change it after all, it wasn't as if it were the other way round. However, he wasn't stupid and so, of course, knew that the muggles had starved Harry for a long time, for years, that they had locked him away in a small cupboard, and it was like with his rats. He'd had magical rats, and two of them had been in a too small cage, because they hadn't gotten along with the other rats in the large cage, but even though they all had been the same age, the rats in the small cage hadn't grown as large as the rats in the large cage, even though he had fed them the same and even more than the other rats, and even though he had taken them out more often than the other rats to play with them and to carry them around, and anyway they always had been smaller and they had died sooner, too.

So, of course, Harry would be smaller than the other children his age, not to mention that they had starved him for a long time, he had heard Severus talking about it and even if he didn't like what his own father did – while thinking about it, about what these muggles had done to Harry, he could, at least, understand why his father hated muggles as much as he seemed to do.

"Harry?" He asked the boy who looked as if looking for something – or someone, most likely Severus.

"Hmm?" Harry made back, slowly coming over and he noticed that the other boy looked still tired. "I'm looking for – Severus." Harry then added and he noticed the small pause before saying Severus' name.

He was sure that Harry wanted to say 'dad' but hadn't dared doing so because Severus had been their, the Slytherins', head of house at first, before all of this had happened with the potions classroom. Harry never did if he was talking about Severus with them, or at least he rarely did.

"Severus left." He said, not sure how much information he should give Harry, about how angry Severus had been. "Shortly after you fell asleep."

He had of course witnessed the scene when Harry had come back from his meeting with his godfather – and yes, they knew about it, Severus and Harry had told them in their meeting on Sunday forenoon and he was sure that they had told them so that they would understand one or another situation – like the one this evening – instead of going for a ghost hunt with Black, or a dog and a wolf.

However, Harry had been really upset, really, really upset, when he had come back earlier, and Severus had been really, really angry when he had left.

"Ok, thanks." Harry said and he turned in his seat.

"I don't think you should go after him, Harry." He said. "He's been in a pretty bad mood already and it's close to curfew, too."

Well, Harry just gave him a curt nod and then left their quarters anyway. For a moment he wondered if he should go and call the smaller boy back, but then he noticed movement out of the corner of his eyes, catching a glimpse of Diagon scurrying out of their quarters, too, and he smiled.

Harry would be safe.

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He had taken a moment outside, taking a deep breath in the fresh air to calm his nerves before he would go back to the dungeons. He would just startle the children, and first of all Harry if he was awake already, what he was nearly sure of, if he came back with a temper like that. He also noticed that he needed a moment outside to take a deep breath of fresh air more often now than during the past years, and he growled at himself and his weakness. And nothing else it was, he knew that, because in the past he would have had a grip on himself, whereas now he was unable to, the locked dungeons classroom coming to his mind whenever he was unable to take a breath of fresh air if needed, whenever he was unable to walk a few steps in the fresh air if needed.

It was weakness because in the past he would have huffed at himself and then he would have turned and gone to his office, to his classroom or to his quarters, anyplace down in the dungeons as long as it was away from the crowd of students and teachers. Now, he was unable to, since ...

"One minute he hates you, then he has the chance to have you in his dungeons, and with no supervision at all so that he can do with you whatever he wants, and then – just all of a sudden he cares about you? Loves you even? That is not possible, Harry!" He heard Black's voice, and with his blood running cold he turned and ran inside the castle, just to see the mutt with his hands on Harry's shirt, shaking him roughly.

He watched Harry trying to throw Black's hands off, but Black didn't seem to even notice.

"You better get your hands off that child, Black!" He hissed, calmly, softly, but he was heard as clearly as if he had screamed his command and already there were a few students coming closer. He didn't care about them right now, he would care about them later. Right now, he just wanted his son out of Black's grip.

A moment later there was a shadow, falling over the great hall, darkening the very air around them, and he held his breath, trying to keep Harry in sight. The shadow was followed by a small cry of pain, a cry not from a child however but from a man, and he frowned, taking another step forwards, trying to make out what had happened in the darkness that cleared.

Well, Black had apparently loosened his hold in surprise when a large baby wolf had jumped him, running its claws deep into the man's shoulder and sharp little teeth into the man's neck. Harry had taken that opportunity to wriggle free, and he waved the boy over without getting his eyes off the mangy mutt – and neither did Diagon, the animal standing between the two front lines, her stance ready to attack, her head lowered in clear warning, while the eyes were fixed on the mutt, warily, with a hint of – satisfaction.

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Harry took a deep breath the moment he heard the deep and velvet voice calmly ordering Sirius to release him. He knew that voice. He would know that voice anywhere.

That was the voice he heard in every potions lesson, at home and at their new house table, it was the voice that had reassured him down in the dungeons classroom for three weeks, that had kept him sane and ... it was the voice he heard whenever he needed someone to talk – or to just hold him and it was the voice that soothed him when he was scared, that gave him these small noises of approval when he had done something well, and it was the voice that said that he was proud of him, the first voice ever telling him that he was proud of him. It was Severus' voice, his father's voice.

"Don't, Harry!" Sirius growled and he jumped back, away from the man – unfortunately away from Severus a bit, too. "Snape doesn't care about you, that's impossible!"

But surely it was possible, wasn't it? That Severus cared about him? That he loved him? Maybe? That he, at least, cared about him? Severus had said he did, hadn't he? But what if Sirius was right? And what if ... suddenly a hand gripped his shoulder and for a moment he had the irrational feeling that he was in trouble, but when he turned to see Severus' face – his father didn't look at him angrily, but his angry black eyes were fixed on Sirius.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

"What did you just say to my son?" He hissed, pushing Harry behind him a bit, out of Black's reach, holding the boy to his side while he stood between his son and the mutt. "Did you just tell my son that it would be impossible for anyone to care for him? That no one could love him?" Severus then thundered, and for a moment Black actually backed away.

"Sorry." He heard Harry murmuring, feeling the child clutching his robes in a nearly desperate grip, and he tightened his own grip on his son, pressing the boy's head against his side securely. "Sorry, 'm sorry, sir." The boy murmured on, clearly unable to get any other words out and he ran his hand over the tense shoulder in a gesture he hoped would be calming.

But well, apparently it wasn't calming for Black.

"Let him go, Snape!" The man hissed. He opened his mouth, maybe to say more, but Snape's eyes narrowed, and the mutt's face fell. Instead, the idiot drew his wand, pointing it at him and he straightened.

"I suggest you take reason, Black, instead of starting a fight in the midst of the entrance hall, and with a dozen students watching – not to mention with Harry nearby." He calmly said. "I will take my son now, and leave for our quarters, Black." He just as calmly added, already turning, still keeping his body between Harry and Black.

"You won't, you bastard." Black hissed, and he could feel the man taking a step closer. "You will get your bloody hands off my godson, that's what you'll do!"
Slowly he turned, lifting his eyebrow at Black and slowly he put his hand on Harry's shoulder, ready to push the boy out of harm's way while hoping that the child's grip on him wouldn't keep him close then.

"Don't touch him, you filthy bastard!" Black screamed at him, and he could see a vein pulsing on the mutt's forehead. "He doesn't want you anyway! He's my godson! Get off him! Harry! Get away from him, Harry, he's ..."

"Sirius!" Albus' voice rang through the entrance hall, and he nearly breathed a sigh of relief, nearly. The mutt did still have his wand pointed at him – and still Harry was close by and therefore in danger, seeing that the child refused to let go of him, of his robes.

"Sirius! Don't!" Came Lupin's voice, the wolf running after Albus, trying to catch his breath. He had known that the old headmaster would outrun a much younger person.

"Go on, back to our rooms, Harry." He softly said. "I'll be down in a moment, I will just make sure that your god-mutt won't try something like that again."

"No ... please ..." The child murmured, tightening the hold he still had on him, around his waist, on his robes, and he sighed. If it were possible, he was sure that the boy would slip into him, for Merlin's sake!

How startled did the child have to be so that he refused to let go of him? He clearly needed to have a serious word with the child, about obeying his orders in dangerous situations. On the other hand – if it was a simple dangerous situation, then the boy did obey, he already had learned so during their stay in the locked classroom – and if it was a more complicated dangerous situation during which the child was scared, then he wouldn't be able acting any different from this here – never mind how many serious talks he'd have with him.

"Will you finally get your dirty hands off my godson, you slithering monster?" Black called again and he nearly growled at the man.

The child was scared of losing him, scared of his godfather who had shaken him, and he reacted in the only way he was right now able to, after he had been denied such particular reactions for all his life – with clinging to someone for help.

"Who is holding him?" He asked, calmly, lifting his hands off his son's shoulders for a moment to show Black both his palms. "My son is clinging to me because he is scared of you, Black. I do not have to hold him because he seeks safety in my person – because he knows that actually, I do care, you imbecile. It is you who hurt him!"

"Severus?" Albus asked and he nearly rolled his eyes, he would definitely have done so, if he weren't Severus Snape, but Severus Snape didn't roll his eyes – clearly not!

"He has in unmistakable terms told my son that I am incapable of any emotions towards the child, unable to care for him, and only using Harry for my own dark intentions." He said, placing his hands back on the child's shoulders to give what reassurance he could give. "And if you will now finally allow me to get my son home so that, perhaps, he could finally find some rest and peace, I would be so very grateful."

"Of course, Severus." Albus softly said. "Just take your son home, I'll care about the situation here."

"Good, because you'll have both hands full of work to keep Black out of prison this time." He growled angrily, tiredly. He wanted his son home and safe and he wished to go home himself. "I don't care how you keep the mutt from my son, as long as you do. Let's get you home, Harry, it's late and surely you don't wish losing house-points because you are out in the corridors after curfew – and that goes for you other imbeciles, too." He then added first to his son, and then to the other students still standing around, looking.

"You're not Harry's boss, Snivellus!" Black called out, even while the wolf tried to calm the mutt.

"No, but I am his father! Diagon!" He hissed back, turning, calling the wolf to follow them, and without another word he led the child and the animal – a wolf with a tail held tall and proud – through the entrance hall and then down the staircase that led towards the dungeons and their home.

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It was late in the night when he was woken by movement and without sitting up he slowly ran his hand beneath his pillow. He already had his wand held in his hand when he noticed that it was only Harry, slipping into his bedroom, slowly, unsurely, coming closer to his bed, and with releasing his breath he'd held for a moment he released his wand, too, and reached out instead to pull the child close.

And like back then, in that locked classroom where they had come close to begin with, he held the child in his arms, the boy's head resting on his upper arm like on a pillow and he listened to the hitched breathing getting regular, to the frantic heart beating getting calmer, until Harry had fallen asleep in his arms and he closed his eyes himself. Harry was safe from the mutt ... for now.

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To be continued

Next time in A few days more
sleepless sorrows and dry skin

Added author's note
thank you for reading - and yes, I would be glad if you took the time to review this chapter, thank you
also, of course I have re-installed the house cup – with each review, please state your house, so that your house can get a point. There won't be loss of points, only gains … may the best house with the most reviews win …

House Cup:
At the present time it looks like this:

Slytherin 98
Gryffindor 53
Ravenclaw 27
Hufflepuff 14
Hogwarts 21
Durmstrang 04
Tennessee Institute of Magic & Technomancy 01