It had been approximately two hours since Tobias had tucked Severus and Harry into bed. From the absence of light and noise, Severus knew that everyone had now turned in. Quietly getting up out of bed, he began making his way to the door; before opening it, however, he turned and went to the bed on the opposite side of the room of the one he had just crawled out of. He wasn't sure if his brother was sleeping or not; although Harry's breathing appeared regular, Severus couldn't see his face. Making a decision, he shook his brother's shoulder to wake him.

"What is it?" asked Harry grumpily.

"Come on, get up," urged Severus excitedly.

"Why?" asked Harry, sitting up in bed and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"You'll see," he replied his tone held a impish quality and even though Harry couldn't actually see his brother, he was sure that if he could, he would see a mischievous smile on his face.

"Won't we get in trouble?" asked Harry, even as he followed his brother out of their shared bedroom at Order headquarters and down the hall until they came to the twins' room.

"Only if we get caught," answered Severus, pushing open the door to see the twins sprawled out on their respective beds, asleep. Severus quietly closed the door behind them. "You wake him up," Severus said to Harry, gesturing towards Fred, "and I'll wake him."

"Whatisit?" said George as Severus tried to wake him.

"Get up, I have a...business proposition for you," said Severus, shaking the older and much larger boy's shoulder.

At the words ‘business proposition', George sat upright in bed, wide awake. Grabbing a pillow, he threw it at his brother, barely missing Harry's head. "Come on Fred, we have some business to do."

Fred sat up as well and looked at Harry and Severus curiously. "What sort of business?" Very soon Fred and George were seated on the same bed with a calculating look awaiting their 10 year old potions masters ‘proposition.'

"Well," began Severus now that both twins were awake, "I have a plan, but I need your help. In exchange for your assistance, I have a potion you might be interested in."

Harry watched silently as the twins got matching grins on their faces and his brother smirked. Harry began to get the same uneasy feeling in his stomach as he did when Dudley was about to do something he would be blamed for.

.............................................

The following morning after Tobias woke up and showered, he went to wake up his sons. He was eager to eat breakfast and take his currently deaged sons home. He hoped that the medi-witches' diagnosis had been wrong and he would walk into a room with his son's back to normal, but another part of him wanted her to be right. This experience would be priceless. Severus and Harry would get a brief time to grow-up together and both could benifite from the experience. Not to mention the time he would get to spend with them. Tobias smiled at the thought. He would be able to take them fishing or possible camping. At age ten both his boys would be more inclined to spend time with their dad then they would be as teenagers.

"Rise and shine, boys, its time to get up," he announced walking in the boy's room and after several minutes of talking and gently shaking his now ten-year-old sons, Tobias was convinced they wouldn't go back to sleep. Satisfied, he left their room to finish getting ready himself.

Once Severus was sure that Tobias was a safe distance away, he asked Harry, "Do you remember the plan?"

"Are you sure about this Sev?" Harry wanted to fit in with his brother; he wanted to be loved and have someone to play with, but he wanted a dad too. He knew that if he ever did something like what they were planning at the Dursley's, he wouldn't eat for a week, at the least. He didn't want to get caught, because then Tobias would realize how much trouble he really was and send him back to the his awful relatives and the cupboard under the stairs.

"Of course, I'm sure." Severus rolled his eyes, plopping down on the bed next to his brother. "No one will suspect you at all; it's a perfect plan."

Harry hesitated, still unsure, before biting his bottom lip and nodding. "Okay."

"Great!" Severus jumped up from the bed, ready for the day to begin.

...............................................................................

Everyone, excluding Sirius who was hiding his room, was down in the kitchen eating breakfast and once they finished, Tobias planned on taking his deaged sons home. Something was going on though; he didn't know what, but he was sure Severus was responsible for it. Since they came down stairs to the kitchen, Harry was looking decidedly nervous. At first, he though he could chalk it up to being in a strange place without his ‘relatives,' but Severus's actions convinced him otherwise. Those who didn't know the adult potions master well might find it hard to believe that, as a child, Severus was nothing more than a ball of energy. An extremely hyperactive, can't stay out of trouble, or stay still ball of energy. So, seeing Severus coming down the stairs and sitting patiently at the table was unusual to say the least. If he had to guess, Tobias would say that Severus had formulated some sort of practical joke for someone and had convinced Harry to help him.

As Tobias was eating and trying to figure out what his son had planned, he heard various popping sounds all around the table. Looking around, he noticed that everyone except his sons, the Weasley twins, and himself had been changed into some sort of animal. Before he could fully comprehend what had happened, another pop was heard before he was changed into a bear.

Harry was sitting at the table with his mouth dangling open. He had been told about magic last night and seen some examples of it, but this was just unbelievable. Sitting next to him, Severus was beside himself with laughter, and Harry was worried he may fall out of his chair. The Weasley twins weren't doing much better; in fact, Fred had already fallen on the floor. Laughter, being the contagious thing that it is, caught up with Harry and he suddenly couldn't help laughing as well.

Similar to Fred and George's Canary Creams, the substance lasted only a minute before, with a pop, everyone was changed back into their normal selves.

Molly stood up from the table, determined to give her sons a proper chewing out for using their pranks at the dinner table, especially after last nights mishap, but she didn't get a chance before Tobias was speaking.

"What did I tell you last night?" Tobias wasn't yelling, but he was speaking louder then normal as he glared at Severus with a look that immediately silenced his laughter.

"Goodnight?" answered Severus with an exaggerated smile of innocence on his face.

"SEVERUS TOBIAS SNAPE!" bellowed Tobias, obviously not pleased with his son's answer.

"You said that I couldn't mess around with the potion that deaged me and Harry," Severus said, relatively unaffected by his father's yelling. Unlike Harry, who, even though Tobias wasn't yelling at him, was hiding his shaking hands under the table. "And I didn't find out anything about that potion. You can ask Fred and George if you don't believe me. In fact, I didn't touch any potions at all last night."

Tobias stared at Severus for a moment before turning his attention to Harry. "What part did you have in this?"

Harry simply stared at Tobias for a moment, unsure as to what to say. He couldn't tell him the truth, because he would just get into more trouble.

"He didn't make any potions or anything either," Severus answered for him.

Tobias turned his attention back to Severus, aware that everyone in the room had their attention focused on them. Molly had stopped mid-stride when he yelled at Severus and she hadn't moved from that position. Tobias realized that if he was going to find out what happened, he was going to have to talk to Harry without Severus influencing him. "Go stand in the corner, now." Tobias gestured to the empty corner to his right were he could still plainly see Severus, but Harry wouldn't be able to without turning around.

"But..." began Severus, but he was interrupted by his father.

"That was not a request, go now," warned Tobias.

Severus rolled his eyes but got up from the table and slowly made his way to the corner.

Tobias watched as his son before turning his attention, once again, to Harry. "Tell me exactly what happened, Harry." Tobias made sure to take some, but not all, of the edge out of his voice when talking to his youngest son. While he wanted to communicate that what he did was wrong, he didn't want to send the boy into a panic attack either.

Harry opened his mouth and after a few tries managed to formulate some words that came out in a low whisper. "He didn't touch any potions."

Tobias raised an eyebrow. "Did he tell you how to make them?"

Harry shook his head looking down at his hands. "No, sir,"

Tobias opened his mouth then closed it again looking at the twins who were watching their mother carefully. It seemed Molly had come to the same conclusion as him. "He told you two how to make it, didn't he? Then he had Harry come down and help set the table this morning, at which time," Tobias looked at Harry once more, "you managed to put something, which no one saw, on our plates."

Harry still refused to look up and meet his father's eyes. He was in so much trouble. He didn't want to be sent back to the Dursleys. Granted he didn't know his father and brother very well yet, but anything was better then his aunt, uncle, and cousin. Harry was so lost in thought he didn't realize that Tobias had gotten up and walked over to him until his father knelt down so he was able to look his boy in the eyes.

"Harry," whispered Tobias, "calm down. You're in a bit of trouble, yes, but no one's going to hurt you or send you back to the Dursley's, I promise." Tobias gave what he said enough time to sink in before continuing in a slightly harsher tone. "Now, go stand in the corner until I give you permission to leave."

"Yes sir," was all Harry could murmur as he slowly got up and made his way to the corner.

Tobias watched Harry as well, before, while forcing down a smile, he stood up and went back to his seat. Once sitting down he spoke to Molly with a nod of his head, "Your turn."

Though Molly's style was different from his own, Tobias had to say it was effective. He had to restrain himself from cringing away once or twice during her triad. Once Molly was done scolding her prankster sons, Tobias figured his boys had been standing in their respective corners long enough.

He called Severus over first. "Sev, come here."

Severus walked over to his father looking slightly more sedated then he had when he was first sent there. "Yes, sir?"

"No more experimental pranks. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," mumbled Severus with a slight scowl.

"And no more manipulating your brother into helping you."

"I didn't manipulate him!" Severus stated in such a dejected tone that Tobias almost believed him.

As it was though, Tobias merely raised an eyebrow and glared at his son.

Severus's shoulders slumped slightly as he replied, "Yes, sir."

"I have a couple chores for you to do today when we get home."

Severus scowled and glared down at the floor, but he knew better then to argue. "Yes, sir."

"Good, now sit down." As Severus took his seat Tobias called Harry over. Once Harry was standing in front of him, Tobias took the boy's trembling hand in his own, hoping to convey that though he was getting scolded everything would be okay. "You shouldn't have let your brother manipulate you like that. Believe me, if you had told him no, after a couple of minutes of sulking he would have gotten over it. Understand?"

Harry nodded, looking at the two large hands that were holding his own.

"Verbal answer, please," requested Tobias, giving his son's hands a slight squeeze.

"Yes," whispered Harry, not at all used to this sort of light scolding.

"Yes what?" Tobias allowed his tone to convey some of his impatience.

Harry finally met his father's eyes, "Yes, sir."

Tobias smiled a little, "Very good, you can help Severus with a couple of chores when we get home, as well. Now sit down." After Harry sat down, Tobias turned his attention back to Severus, with a dramatic sigh said, "Alright, boy, tell us how you did it."

Severus smiled and his whole face seemed to light up. "It was actually pretty simple..." began Severus, but was interrupted by Fred.

"Simple!" exclaimed Fred disbelievingly. "It took us three tries to get that potion just right."

"It may be simple for a child prodigy, but that's about it," grumbled George.

Severus rolled his eyes, "The actual brewing is difficult because the timing has to be perfect, but the concept and theory are really easy."

"He's got a point there, George," Fred said to his brother.

"I suppose, after all, it didn't take him long to explain the mechanics to us," replied George contemplatively.

"Anyway," continued Severus, "it was made based loosely off the potion used for a person to see what their animagus form is. The hard part was making it into a tablet that was tasteless and would camouflage itself."

"Camouflage itself?" asked Tobias taking a sip of water.

Severus nodded his head enthusiastically, "Yeah, it's a small tablet that when you sit it down takes on not only the color but texture of whatever its touching."

"I see," Tobias glanced around at the people at the table seeing the surprise that a ten year old would be able to make something so sophisticated. Tobias smirked; he might as well show them what his boy was capable of. "How'd you make it camouflage itself?"

"Salt."

"Salt?" repeated Tobias encouraging Severus to continue.

"And calcium."

"How does that make a camouflaging tablet?"

"Well," began Severus, gesturing wildly. He was thoroughly enjoying explaining one of his greatest accomplishments. Since his dad was a muggle, most of his potion knowledge was self-taught. His mom had shown him a few things before she left, but the majority of his knowledge came from books and the occasional experiment. "When you burn salt and calcium, you create a mirage of colors. The thing is, the calcium masks the true colors of the salt and whatever else it's mixed with, creating some wicked sights, and if you add pixie dust at just the right time, you can freeze the properties of the salt and calcium mixture, thereby allowing it to mask its true appearance."

"And he called you an insufferable little know-it-all," Ron said to Hermione. Though he tried to keep his voice in a whisper the shocked silence that descended upon the table after Severus's explanation made it possible for most of the table to hear him.

..........................................................

"Dad, do we have to? Harry and I just met last night; we should be getting to know each other, not doing chores." Severus had started pleading to get out of the chores almost the second they portkeyed home.

"You can get to know each other while you're sorting the laundry and sweeping. Now, I don't want to hear another word about it. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," mumbled Severus before he turned and started walking to the laundry room only to stop, turn around, and march over to Harry. Grabbing his arm he pulled his brother after him. "Come on, you have to help, too."

About an hour later, Severus found his dad in his room, going through all the cloths Molly Weasley had shrunk or transfigured for Harry and himself. Severus and Harry had finished their chores and were reporting back to their dad.

Severus suddenly stood up very straight and stiff with his feet together and brought his right hand up to his forehead in a salute. "All done, Captain. Permission to go outside and play?"

Tobias turned around to face his sons and striking the classic military pose he had taught his son at a very young age, he saluted back before answering. "Permission will be granted after I have affirmed the completion of your chores, Cadet."

"Aye, Aye, Captain," Severus was smiling broadly, finally bringing his hand down from his salute and clasping them behind his back.

Chuckling, Tobias left the room with Severus and Harry close behind, to make sure the living room and kitchen had been swept to his satisfaction and the laundry sorted, ready to be washed. Once he was sure everything was done, he turned back to his sons. "Okay, boys, you can go outside to play, but no..."

"We know dad," Severus rolled his eyes dramatically, "no going over the hill, into the forest, or beyond the stream."

"Watch your tone, boy, before you find yourself in trouble." Tobias's tone was firm and commanding, sending off a clear warning that he was to be obeyed, or else.

Severus sobered up a bit. "Yes, sir."

Tobias nodded, "Then what are you waiting for? Go! Make sure you're back for lunch!"

Harry followed as Severus ran out the door, deep in thought. They had hardly done any work. At the Dursley's, he did more chores than that on a daily basis, and much, much, more when he was in trouble. But if his new found father was going to send them outside to play after just an hour, he wasn't going to complain. Harry was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice Severus had stopped running until he ran into him, knocking both of them to the ground.

"Hey!" Severus shouted indignantly as he pick himself up off the ground. "Watch where you're going!"

"Sorry," said Harry quietly, picking himself up off the ground as well.

Severus brushed off the apology, and began walking away from the house. "What do you want to do?"

Harry stared at Severus for a moment; no one had ever asked him that. "I don't know, what is there to do?"

Severus shrugged. "We could go play on the tire swing?"

Harry shrugged, too, trying to appear like it didn't matter much even though he had never played on a tire swing before and the thought excited him. "Okay."

.....................................................

They were late. Tobias told them to be back in time for lunch and his sons were now fifteen minutes late. Just then, the kitchen door swung open to reveal two out of breath ten year olds.

"Where have been?" asked Tobias sternly, crossing his arms over his chest and staring down at his two boys.

"We lost track of time, dad, we're sorry." Severus's voice was quiet and he kept his head down, he looked for all the world like a thoroughly scolded and now repentant little boy.

Tobias didn't buy it for a second. "You know the rule Sev, if you're late for a meal, you stand for it."

Severus scowled, but said nothing.

Harry's eyes got wide and a look of absolute terror crossed his features. The last time someone told him he would have to stand for a meal it was because he had been beat with his uncle's belt. He shivered at the memory. He couldn't even remember what he had done ‘wrong' to warrant the ‘smacking' his uncle had given him, but he did remember not being able to sit down for several days. In a way, though, he was almost relieved. Since he had woken up as a recently deaged ten year old, he had been waiting for the other shoe to drop. It had all seemed just too perfect, so he shouldn't be surprised about something like this.

"Places," commanded Tobias pointing at the table before he started setting plates of food on it.

Harry's stomach grumbled as he followed Severus over to the table. Not knowing exactly what was expected, he simply copied his brother's actions. He thought it rather odd that their father was putting food on the table before having them lean over it for their smacking, but knew better then to voice this thought.

Once there was a plate of food in front of everyone, Tobias sat down at the table and started eating. Severus then picked his plate up off the table and expertly positioned it so that he could eat while still standing. Harry was confused. Weren't they going to be smacked? Not that he wanted a smacking, but his dad had said...

Harry's confusion must have shown on his face, because Tobias asked, "Something wrong, Harry?"

"I...it's just...I thought...you said we were going to stand for lunch because we were late."

A look of amusement past over Tobias's face, "You are standing, aren't you?" Tobias saw Harry's confusion grow and he realized what his son was asking. His amusement faded and was replaced with empathy and concern. "What did you think I meant, Harry?"

Harry couldn't answer; he seemed to have lost his voice. He simply looked at his dad, not knowing what to say or do.

Tobias noticed his son was beginning to tremble. "Come here Harry," said Tobias softly as he pushed away from the table, so he could turn to face Harry once the small boy had walked around the table to stand beside his father. Tobias took the child's hands in his own, a gesture that seemed to comfort him slightly. "Did you think I was going to give you a smacking?"

Harry started down at his father's hands and nodded slightly.

Tobias released one of Harry's hands in order to tilt the boy's chin up, so he could look at him while he spoke. "I'm not going to give you a smacking Harry. While I can't say I won't ever give you one, I guarantee you that you won't get one for being late. When I said that you had to stand for the meal because you were late, I meant just that. You have to eat standing up."

Harry still didn't seem relieved, so Tobias pulled him into a hug. At first Harry stiffened, but soon Tobias felt two thin arms wrap themselves around his neck and Harry seemed to melt into him though his body was suddenly wrack with silent sobs. Tobias just held his little boy, whispering soothingly in his ear and gently rocking him. Tobias caught a glimpse of Severus out of the corner of his eye. Severus was standing still, his plate of food forgotten, watching his father hold his brother, a look of horror on the boy's face. Tobias sent him a sad, but reassuring smile. "It's okay, Sev, finish your lunch."

Severus nodded and resumed eating at a sedated pace.

After a couple minutes, Harry calmed down enough for Tobias to push him away slightly. Reaching across the table he picked up Harry's plate of food and handed it to the small boy standing close to him. "Eat your lunch." Harry sniffed slightly, and with much steadier hands took the plate from his dad.

After about a minute, Tobias could no longer stand the silence that had descended upon the table, so he decided to bring up a topic he'd been thinking about since that morning. "So, would the two of you like to go camping tomorrow?"

"Yeah!" Severus said excitedly.

Tobias smiled at his son's enthusiasm, before turning to Harry. "How about you?"

Harry shrugged, still feeling uneasy do to the ordeal from minutes before. "I've never been camping before."

"Well, then it's time you to went, now isn't it?" smiled Tobias, glad to see the mood lighting up a bit.

After lunch Tobias had to go into the village to buy camping supplies, including a sleeping bag for Harry. He gave the boys clear instructions to remain in the house while he was gone.

Once their dad left, Severus collapsed on the couch, hanging his head off the edge studying his brother carefully. Harry was aware of his bother's observations and was slightly unnerved by it. He slowly made his way to the chair and sat down.

"Why did you think you were going to get a smacking?" asked Severus curiously, never taking his eyes off his brother. Harry shrugged, not really wanting to talk about it as he squirmed under Severus piercing gaze. He briefly wondered if his brother did that on purpose or if the ability to see through people was just a natural talent.

"There has to be a reason," stated Severus with conviction as he turned so he was lying sideways on the couch, his head propped up by his elbow.

"It's something my Uncle would have done," said Harry quietly.

"Oh," was the simple reply. "Dad won't give you a smacking. He might threaten occasionally, but I've only gotten one, ever."

"What did you get it for?" Harry was curious, after all if he knew what his brother got smacked for then all he had to do was not do whatever it was he did.

Severus blushed scarlet, and studied the couch in an attempt to appear nonchalant about what he was about to reveal. He picked off a piece of glitter, wondering how it got there before answering. "When I was eight, I found out where dad kept his gun, and even though I knew I'd get in trouble if he found out, I found the key to the desk draw he kept it in and took it out to look at. I had just gotten the draw open when dad caught me. He didn't yell or give me a chance to explain or anything, just picked me and turned me over his knee. It wasn't too bad though; it stopped hurting like ten minutes later. What about you? What did your uncle give you a smacking for?"

Harry scoffed, feeling more relaxed with his brother. "More like what didn't he give me a smacking for? I was always doing something wrong. A lot of the time I didn't even know the reason. He would just grab me, pull my trousers and shorts down and start wailing away on my backside. If I was lucky, he wouldn't use a belt." The bitterness in Harry's voice surprised even himself. He didn't know why he revealed all that to his brother, but for some reason he knew he could trust him.

"Dad would never do that," Severus stated firmly, surprised and disgusted that one person would treat another that way. "Wanna play a card game?" asked Severus changing the subject.

"Sure," said Harry, glad for the reprieve from memories better left buried. "I've never really played before, though."

Severus shrugged as he got up off the couch to go find the cards. "I'll teach you."