Severus and Harry had arrived three days before the students would arrive for the start of term. Harry's guardian, clearly aware of Harry's still unease about what the term would bring, made every effort to spend most of their time together. Severus had, Harry realized, quite a lot to do before the term began. He supposed that all teachers did, that they didn't just arrive at school on the first day--witch, wizard, or Muggle. But Harry noticed that his guardian and the headmaster were the only teachers he saw during the first two days.
The first full day, the one after they had arrived, Severus and Harry visited Madam Pomfrey with all of the potions Severus had brewed during the summer. It hadn't seemed like a lot when they had arrived, but this was because Harry's guardian had used an Extension Charm on the trunk. Once in the hospital wing, and helping his new dad with unpacking, Harry could appreciate not only the usefulness of such a charm, but how much work he put in. Harry also felt rather guilty upon hearing things like, "I'll brew more of the Bone Restoring Potion next month" or "Goodness knows, this Pepper-up won't last until November!" and other such comments. His dad hadn't been able to brew as much because of him--because caring for Harry had taken up so much of his time. When they left, Harry felt very bad, indeed.
His guardian immediately picked up on his change of mood. "Let's have some tea," he offered, putting an arm around Harry's shoulders.
"Okay," Harry said, in a small voice.
Once they were back in their quarters, Severus had Harry sit down on the couch. Then, he went into Harry's room, and Harry was momentarily confused until he returned with his favorite blanket and wrapped it around his shoulders. Severus gave Harry's shoulders a squeeze.
"I'll have the tea ready shortly, child," he said, softly.
Harry nodded, and occupied himself by watching the magical creatures playing on the blanket. A pair of Kneazles were grooming each other, and a Crup looked on, then began to chase its tails. Harry let out a laugh. Even magical dogs chased their tails, it seemed.
Severus chuckled, causing Harry to look up.
"Ah, yes. Crups do tend to run around in circles, just like Muggle dogs." Severus handed Harry a mug of tea, then sat down next to him. He placed an arm around his shoulders, and Harry leaned in, a bit, before taking a sip.
The drink was soothing, like he knew it would be. After several sips, he looked up at his guardian, waiting for him to speak.
"I have an idea as to what's on your mind," he began. "Shall I venture a guess?"
"Yes, please," Harry said, taking another sip.
Severus shifted, slightly, moving so he was almost facing Harry. "You are uneasy because I was unable to brew as much this summer."
"I feel guilty," Harry clarified. "It's my fault, isn't it? And when kids get sick, and Madam Pomfrey doesn't have enough on hand..."
He trailed off, feeling a lump in his throat.
Severus gently put aside both of their mugs with a flick of his wand, and then pulled Harry into a long, warm hug. Harry hugged him back, tightly, not wanting to let go. Not yet.
His dad understood, and did not push him away. They stayed like that for several moments, at least, until Harry let go. Even then, even after their mugs were back in their hands, Severus kept an arm around Harry as he spoke.
"The headmaster was fully aware that, by placing you in my charge, I would not be able to brew as much," Severus began, "as did I. While I initially would have preferred not to have a child live with me during the summer holidays, I knew that my responsibilities were for your well-being, and I came to care for you and love you quite soon." Severus smiled as he tucked a piece of hair away from Harry's face. "Moreover, I was always rather ambitious in the past with my brewing. Madam Pomfrey saw my stores each year, and came to expect from. I was still able to brew quite a lot, just not as much as usual.
"Now, I shall make up the deficit, and with ease, during my free evenings. Yes," he added, as Harry opened his mouth, "you may aid me, if you choose. But you ought not to feel obligated to do so. Moreover, owlet, Madam Pomfrey can brew, and if there's anything lacking in the meantime, she shall. So, please, do not worry about the students not receiving the care they need."
Harry nodded, slowly. "Okay." Then, because he thought he should, and also because he really wanted to, he added, "Thank you."
His dad smiled. "You're most welcome. Now, it's still rather early for lunch, so shall we do a bit of exploring for the next hour or so?"
Harry grinned as he nodded.
Exploring took up a good amount of their free time during those early days. When they were not eating, or his dad was not setting up his classroom or office (with some help from Harry), they wandered the halls around the area of their quarters. The Dungeons, which were right next to Severus's office, were quite close to the Great Hall, closer than any of the other house towers, and it was Severus's goal that Harry would be able to get from them to the Great Hall and back before the term started. After accomplishing this on the first day, they began to expand their exploration to the adjoining hallways.
It was exciting, but rather overwhelming. Harry's dreams were filled with him wandering around the castle, sometimes getting lost. They were not nightmares--they felt too exciting to be nightmares--but he was always relieved to wake up in his bedroom, with his dad in the room beside him, or already up and preparing breakfast.
Then, it was the day of the start of term, which meant the Sorting and the Start of Term Feast. Harry knew that only students and staff were typically allowed to come to the Start of Term Feast, so he was very excited to hear that he would be allowed to come and sit by his dad's side at the staff table.
"Really?" he asked, grinning widely after Severus shared the news. "I can go to the Sorting? And the feast?"
"Yes, really. To both," Severus answered, with a chuckle. "Are you certain you want to go? It can go on for very long, and I'll need to take you back to our quarters before I give my welcome speech to the new Slytherin students."
"I'm sure! I don't want to stay here all evening by myself," Harry answered, still grinning. "Besides, you only told me a million times how good the food was."
"The food is quite tasty, yes," Severus allowed. Glancing at Harry, he added, "The students arrive in uniform, but everyone else rather dresses up. I expect it would be good form to wear your dress robes. It will continue past your bedtime, so I think a nap would be appropriate."
So, after lunch, Harry happily changed into one of his night shirts, then curled up under his warm birthday blanket, and another blanket underneath for extra warmth, on the couch. A moment later, his dad joined him, then began to card his hair. It felt so nice that Harry fell asleep almost immediately.
A few hours later, he rose, bathed, and put on his new dress robes. Severus smiled and said he looked very nice, and then, they headed to the Great Hall. He sat very straight in his new dress robes next to his dad at the staff table. Not because the robes were enchanted to make his posture upright, of course, but because he wanted to do everything right at his first feast. If he was very good, he might be allowed to attend other ones.
On one side was his guardian, of course, and from the corner of his eyes, Harry could see his impassive mask firmly in place. It was (almost) scary...until he felt his guardian squeeze his hand under the table. That reassured Harry considerably. The other chair was currently empty, as it would soon contain Professor McGonagall, but she was outside of the Great Hall, telling the new first year students about the Sorting. Other teachers looked a lot happier, and smiled kindly at Harry. The other students were already seated, from years twelve to nearly eighteen, assuming none had been held back. It happened, on occasion, if you failed your end of term exams, or missed a great deal of school due to illness. But most students went on to the next year. Harry could feel their eyes on him, and reckoned that some were nearly as tall as his guardian. Even the smallest of the bunch were probably twice his size.
That frightened him, but he remembered that he wasn't a student yet, and still had a lot of growing to do. A few years of good food, and he'd be as big as any first year boy.
In the meantime, one advantage to being so small was getting to curl up in Severus's lap. Eight was generally too old and too big for that, but his new dad said it was fine, because Harry fit nicely, and his wretched aunt and uncle had never allowed it, so he ought not be denied this basic part of childhood. Harry allowed himself a small smile. Probably, none of the students could imagine that their strict teacher could be so kind to Harry! Perhaps, as Severus darkly teased, they thought if it was any other child, he was secretly using his hair and toenails for potions! Not that Harry would have cared if he was...just as long as HE didn't have to drink them! But the hair from his brush and finger and toenail clippings always went straight into the rubbish bin.
"Is that Harry Potter?" one of the students asked, rather loudly.
"Do you wish to begin this year serving detention, Clareborn?" his guardian answered, acidly.
The dark haired student visibly gulped. "No, sir."
"Then, I suggest you refrain from loudly vocalizing your observations," he returned.
At Harry's old school, kids would have snickered, but here, no one dared.
He felt rather proud on his dad's behalf...and a bit scared, too.
It's an act, he reminded himself.
Soon, his thoughts were elsewhere. A large group of boys and girls came in, and he thought that while they were bit smaller than the smallest ones already there, they were all much, much deal taller than Harry. Even the shortest of the bunch! They looked fearful, though, as they peered at the hat in the middle of the room, and began to whisper amongst themselves. No one reprimanded them, perhaps because they weren't students yet, or perhaps because the teachers understood (or encouraged) their anxiety. Then, to everyone's amazement, the hat opened its mouth and began to sing!
Several mouths, all first years, opened in astonishment, and Harry had to work hard not to do the same. He leaned forward in his chair, not wanting to miss a word of the song.
Would there be a new song each year, or was it the same? Or, perhaps, it had a collection of several it chose from. The song told about the hat and the school's history, first, and then a line or so about each house. Then, as suddenly as the song started, it ended, and everyone began to clap. Including the staff, so Harry immediately followed the example.
Then, Professor McGonagall removed a scroll from a pocket of her robes, and began to read the names. Harry watched with rather the excitement Dudley must have when he saw a favorite show on the Telly. The first student, a girl with sleek, black hair that reached past her waist, was immediately sorted into Hufflepuff. The next, a blonde with pigtails, became the first Slytherin. On and on it went. Sometimes, Harry noticed, the hat announced the house quickly. (With one freckled girl, the hat hardly touched her blonde hair before placing her in Ravenclaw.) Other times, it took a few seconds. And twice, it felt like ages. (One such time, the boy ended up in Slytherin, and the second time, the girl went to Ravenclaw.) Too soon, it seemed, the Sorting was over. Professor McGonagall took her seat next to Harry, and gave him a smile. Then, Professor Dumbledore stood and spoke a few words of welcome, and as soon as he stopped speaking, the food appeared.
More food than Harry had ever seen, and all sorts of food, too! But he remembered his manners, and didn't reach over and grab a lot at once, or chew it too quickly. After all, it wouldn't disappear if he didn't finish in a few minutes. And it was so delicious that Harry wanted to savor it. After a look at his guardian once his plate was cleared and he still had room for more, Severus gave him a smile.
"Remember to save room for dessert," he added, softly.
Harry didn't fill his plate the second time.
When the desserts appeared, he felt a bit nervous. At home, desserts always followed dinner, and there was always a choice, but there was never so much at once. And he wasn't sure how much was allowed. Harry cast another uncertain glance at his guardian, whose expression softened.
"Take whatever you like. It's a feast for a reason. Just don't eat past feeling full, child," Severus said, softly.
"Thank you, Dad," Harry answered, just as softly.
Then, Severus placed a tray of something that looked like a brown pie. "Your mother and father loved this. Try a bit, if you like. It's treacle tart."
Harry took a small piece, making sure to leave room for other treats. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Professor McGonagall watching him as he took a bite.
It was incredible! The main meal had been very tasty, but the treacle tart was easily his favorite part of the feast! He ate it rather quickly, and was a bit disappointed when it was all gone.
"Good, eh?" Severus looked pleased. "Would you like a bit more?" At Harry's enthusiastic nod, he placed a second, larger piece from the serving plate onto Harry's.
Harry truly savored the second piece, feeling very full afterwards, but not to the point of a stomachache.
Then, the headmaster made a few more announcements, and they sang the school song. The words appeared in the air, and Harry joined along. He felt very sleepy by the end, and dragged himself to his feet. He saw a very pretty woman with long, dark curly hair, wearing light purple robes, standing next to Severus. She smiled at Harry.
"Harry," his dad said, placing a hand on his shoulders. "This is Professor Burbage. She will escort you to our quarters, as I must have a few words with the Slytherin students. She'll remain until I return--it shouldn't be long."
"Yes, Dad," Harry answered, sleepily. "Hello, Professor."
"Hello, Harry. It's very nice to meet you," she said, gently.
They shook hands, and then, the teacher gently placed a hand around his shoulders.
"How did you like your first Sorting?" she asked, as they made their way to the dungeon.
"It was incredible! Does the hat always sing the same song?" he asked.
Professor Burbage laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, no, it's a new one each year. I expect the hat spends most of the year thinking up a new one. I always look forward to hearing the new one."
"And the food was really good! I mean, my dad is a great cook," Harry added quickly.
"I wouldn't expect anything less. Severus is an expert in Potions, and there are similarities to cooking. But a feast is something else entirely," she laughed. "I am glad you were able to join us, Harry."
She placed her wand on the door, and they entered. "Severus says you can bathe on your own, of course, so I will just be in the sitting room in case you need me. He'll be in shortly, I should think."
"Yes, ma'am."
He didn't say that he had already had a bath that morning, for it was rude to correct adults. Harry simply went to his room and changed out of his new robes, then carefully hung them up in the wardrobe, before putting on his night shirt. After brushing his teeth and hair, and putting on a lovely pair of warm slippers, he wasn't sure what to do. Severus hadn't told him to stay in his bedroom, but did he want Harry to stay up and talk to the teacher until he returned?
But before he could think too much about it, he heard his guardian's voice. Harry left the bedroom to greet him, and the man caught him in a fierce hug.
"Thank you for bringing Harry back," Severus said, after Harry let go.
"It was no trouble, Severus," she assured him. "Good night, both of you."
"Good night," they echoed.
Once she left, Harry's dad's face relaxed, and he smiled at Harry, guiding him into his room.
"All ready for bed, then?" At Harry's nod, he added, "And what did you think of your first Sorting and feast?"
"I loved it, Dad." He wanted to say more, but he suddenly felt almost too tired to speak.
"Tell you what," Severus murmured, moving back the covers. "If you go without a chapter tonight, I shall read you two tomorrow. And, if you like, I can stay with you tonight, if you can stay awake long enough to wait for me to get changed."
Harry wasn't sure he'd be able to remain awake long enough to be read to, and he reckoned his guardian already knew.
"It's a deal," he murmured.
Severus tousled his hair. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
Harry climbed into bed and let Severus pull the covers over him. He wouldn't close his eyes, though. It would be too easy to fall asleep.
Before too long, he returned, wrapping his arms around Harry, securely but not so tightly he couldn't move around a bit. Harry turned so his face was partially against his guardian's night shirt, and breathed in deeply. Severus always smelled a bit like the nicer smelling ingredients he used to brew. A bit like cinnamon. He could hear the man's heart beating, and it soothed him almost as much as the warm blankets and feel of his arms around him.
"Thank you for letting me go to the feast," he murmured. "And thanks for the treacle tart. It was so good."
He heard Severus chuckle, and felt the movement from his stomach. "You're welcome. I knew that, with your mother and father loving it so much, you would as well."
Harry smiled, curling in closer. He then felt one of Severus's hands on his head, first carding his hair, then gently kneading at his scalp. He let out a deep sigh of happiness, feeling himself become even more sleepy and more comfortable as he slowly feel asleep.
Author's note:
Harry upon seeing the first year students: They're so BIG!
Every other student upon seeing the first year students: They're so TINY!
I need to make a correction regarding my last chapter. On a couple of occasions, I referred to a Healer, implying that Harry had seen one. This is not the case, and I have made the changes. But if you already saw the older version, that's why.
Next up: A trip to Madam Pomfrey reveals the need for glasses...but it's not all bad news.
