Harry went to sit at the table in the dining alcove while his father headed for the fireplace to order their dinner.

"Is there anything in particular you'd like?" Severus asked over his shoulder.

"Anything is fine, thanks," Harry mumbled, staring down at the table. Actually, he wasn't sure if he'd be able to eat much at all, knowing that they would be discussing the slavery spell. Talking about the spell, even thinking about it, tended to kill his appetite.

Severus came to join him, taking the chair beside him. Harry could sense his father studying him and he raised his head and tried to smile, but a moment later it faded and his gaze slipped downward again.

Severus reached for his hand. "Are you truly so upset at the prospect of talking about the spell with me?"

Harry gave a small shrug. "I don't know. I guess so."

His father was silent for a few minutes, lightly squeezing Harry's hand between his own. Then he said quietly, sadly, "It still hurts you a great deal, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Harry whispered in a thick voice.

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, I know," Harry whispered again. It was all he could say, but he did twine his fingers through his father's and return the gentle clasp.

"You handle it very well, though, maybe too well. You are so strong and so brave, Harry, but I don't want you to ever feel that you have to hide your emotions or pretend that things are all right if they're not. Do you understand?" Severus questioned softly.

Harry nodded. He looked up to see such concern and love in Severus' dark eyes that it brought another lump to his throat.

"And I know that the slavery spell is a painful thing. You have every reason to be upset and angry and hurt," Severus told him. "But at the same time, Harry, remember that you are a wonderful person. I've never known anyone as kind-hearted, as courageous, as noble as you. The slavery spell does not make you any less."

Harry nodded again, but it was a much more half-hearted nod than before.

Severus spoke firmly. "It's true, child. Why can't you believe it?"

Harry looked up at him and gave him a wan smile. "Thanks, Severus, but it's easier to believe all the bad stuff."

His father looked at him sorrowfully, and then moved from his chair to give Harry a quick hug before sitting back down and resuming their conversation. "Nonetheless, the good stuff is true and I want you to work on trusting in it. You promised you would. All right?"

"All right," Harry said quietly.

Severus took a deep breath and continued more briskly. "Now, as I said, the last thing in the world I ever want to do is to cause you any more pain, but the simple truth is that there are some practical matters to the slavery spell that you need to know. But first, do you have any questions about it?"

Well, Harry supposed that there were things about the spell he didn't know, but he knew enough...the basic rules they had to live by, and he really didn't want to think about it any more than he had to. He stared down and silently shook his head.

Severus started to say something, but just then their dinner arrived...plates of roast beef, potatoes, and peas, as well as glasses of ice water and pumpkin juice, floating up through the table just as they did in the Great Hall. The professor slipped his wand from his sleeve and summoned table napkins and sets of silverware from the drawer of a tall cabinet, and they set to eating.

Or rather, Severus did. Harry just nibbled at his food.

After a few bites, Severus continued. "Well, for one thing, you mentioned my selling you or giving you away. Besides the fact that you are my son and I cannot live without you, the magical contract binds you to me and we do not know of any way to change that. Now, it is possible that there is a way for the contract to be transferred to someone else...one can sell or give away house elves, for instance, and it seems likely that the ancient wizards who created this spell would have provided for a way to sell slaves if they wished...but if there is a way, it is not stated in the Malfoy book, and Albus and I have not discovered any other mention of this spell that you and I are under."

He reached to rest a hand on Harry's shoulder for a minute. "So no, I could not sell you or give you away. But Harry, I would never do that anyway, even if it were possible. You are my child and I love you with all my heart."

Harry swallowed and nodded his head once, in a short, jerky nod. It was all he felt capable of at the moment.

Severus sighed. "You should also know that upon my death, assuming I pre-decease you, that you will be free again. You know that one of the conditions of the spell is that you would be killed if you ever tried to physically attack me. I suppose that was the ancient wizards' way of protecting the master. But you will be free after my death."

Harry looked at him, stricken. "But I don't want you to die."

His father raised an eyebrow at him. "That's fortunate," He commented in his sardonic drawl. "Because I have no intentions of dying anytime soon. On the contrary, I plan for the both of us to live for the next two hundred years, at least, and be little old men with grey hair and wrinkles and beards down to our knees."

Harry had to laugh, as he suspected that Severus had wanted him to. Feeling a bit more light-hearted in spite of himself, he smiled at his father. "Will you still be calling me ‘child' then?"

"Probably," Severus deadpanned before going on, "But seriously, you are my heir now. It was mentioned in the adoption papers and I've already had my will changed, too. When I die, you will be free and able to own possessions again. Then everything I have will be yours, in name as well as in spirit. In the unlikely event that that should happen before you come of age, I have appointed Albus as your guardian and the manager of your legal affairs."

"I wondered how I could be your heir," Harry murmured, remembering how he had noticed that phrase in the adoption papers. He looked back at Severus, suddenly feeling a bit sad again.

"But I don't want you to die," he repeated. "I want to be free, but not like that. Even if it meant that I was never free again, I don't want you to die. I can't live without you either."

Severus seemed to find it difficult to speak for a moment. Then he cleared his throat harshly and said in a voice that was gruff with emotion. "Thank you, Harry."

"Guess it's a good thing we're going to live to two hundred then," Harry tried to joke.

"Yes, I thought it was a good plan," Severus agreed dryly. "Also, you should know that Albus has spent the summer translating the rest of that cursed Malfoy book to see if there was any more information about the slavery spell, such as a way to cancel it, but he has not had any luck there, I'm afraid."

Harry sighed, even though that news came as no surprise, at least not the part about there being no more information about the spell. If Dumbledore or Severus had happened to find a method to free him, Harry knew they would have already done it. But it was nice to know that the headmaster was really trying.

Thinking about Dumbledore reminded Harry of something else Severus had just said, about the older wizard being his guardian if, God forbid, anything happened to Severus. Harry didn't think he entirely liked that idea. He understood Dumbledore's reasons for leaving him with the Dursleys all those years, and for preparing him to be a warrior in the fight against Voldemort. Dumbledore had believed that he hadn't had any choice in the matter, and maybe he really hadn't. Harry didn't blame him, not exactly.

But he didn't think he wanted Dumbledore to be his guardian either.

"Severus?" He turned to his father.

Severus looked at him, eyebrow raised. "Yes, Harry?"

"Well, I just wondered...I mean, I can't stand to think about anything happening to you, really. I think I would die, too. But just if I didn't, does Dumbledore have to be my guardian?"

"Professor Dumbledore," Severus automatically corrected. He looked at Harry quizzically. "Whom would you prefer then?" He paused and added. "Werewolves are not allowed to have custody of children, Harry."

"I know," Harry responded. Remus and Sirius had explained all that to him a long time ago. It was the reason why only Sirius had been his godfather. He hadn't been thinking of Remus, anyway. Remus probably wouldn't want him in any case. He hadn't contacted Harry for months, not since Sirius' death. But Harry pushed those thoughts away. Remus' disappearance from his life was just one more painful thing and he didn't want to think about it now. "I was thinking maybe the Weasleys."

Severus didn't look pleased about that, for some reason. "The Weasleys already have quite a large family, Harry. Wouldn't you rather have someone who could provide you with undivided attention?"

Harry wasn't really sure that Dumbledore would provide him with undivided attention either, with all the commitments and obligations the headmaster had. Nor was he certain that he wanted Dumbledore's undivided attention.

But Severus was right. The Weasleys did have a large family. Why would they want to add him to it? It was one thing to allow him to spend holidays with them...they were good friends, after all. But that didn't mean they would want him around all the time.

"I guess you're right," he mumbled, looking back down at his dinner plate. Without much interest, he picked up his fork and knife and cut a small piece of the roast beef.

"Harry, I was wrong." Severus reached over to pluck the utensils from Harry's fingers and held his hand tightly. "The Weasleys love you very much and they would be delighted to have you in their family. In fact, I heard Arthur Weasley mention once that he and Molly had wanted to adopt you for years."

"Really?" That made Harry feel better. But then he looked at his father with a curious frown. "But why didn't you want them to be my guardians then?"

It was Severus' turn to stare down at his plate and Harry thought he seemed uncomfortable.

"I suppose I was...envious," Severus admitted.

"Of the Weasleys? But why?" It was hard for Harry to imagine his father being jealous of the Weasley family.

"Because you are close to them. I am aware that you have regarded Molly and Arthur Weasley as surrogate parents for some time, and after I began to care for you and to think of you as my son, it was...difficult for me to know that you saw some one else in that role, to think you would prefer to live with them if you could," Severus answered in a low voice, still not meeting Harry's eyes.

He shrugged. "It is not a very mature response, I know."

This time Harry reached to give Severus' hand a comforting squeeze. "Severus, you don't have to be jealous of the Weasleys. You're my father and I love you more than anyone."

Severus looked at him wonderingly. Then he stood and swept Harry into a long, joyful embrace. Harry hugged him back tightly and it was a good while before they returned to their chairs.

"Perhaps we should have waited a bit to eat," Severus remarked ruefully as he cast warming spells over their plates. "We're probably the only family who repeatedly hops up from the dinner table to hug one another."

Harry grinned at him. "I don't know. The Weasleys might."

Severus' lips quirked upwards. "You may be right." He nodded. "Very well, Harry. I will change my will and appoint Arthur and Molly Weasley as your guardians."

"But nothing's going to happen to you," Harry insisted, feeling slightly anxious again.

"I am young and in good health," his father reassured him. "Now that you have defeated Voldemort and most of the Death Eaters have been captured, I fully expect to live a long life. But a responsible parent prepares for his child's best interests, just in case."

He took a bite of potatoes and then a swallow of water. "One more thing that I can think of for now, Harry. I told you Albus had not any luck with the Malfoy book, but he has contacted the leading historians on ancient wizarding cultures, asking them to send him copies of any texts they have. Once these books and documents arrive, he and I will devote time each day to studying them. We are very serious about doing everything we can to help you. If there is a way to free you, we'll find it."

Harry's eyes filled with tears. He'd known that Dumbledore and Severus would do all they could; he'd never doubted it, but somehow hearing it...well, that meant a lot.

His voice choked up again, but this time it wasn't from sorrow. "Thank you."

But Severus just shook his head. "You don't have to thank me, child. When you hurt, I hurt. I want you to be happy again."

"Severus, I am happy, at least sometimes," Harry told him. "I mean, yeah, the slavery spell is really hard, and I do want to be free, a lot. But I am happy to be with you."

He frowned slightly. He wasn't doing a very good job of explaining his feelings, but then, he wasn't sure if he really understood them himself. It sounded crazy to say that he was happy and unhappy at the same time, but Severus seemed to understand what he meant.

"And I wish that you could be free again, too, but I will always be grateful and glad that you came into my life and that you are my son," his father said gently.

They smiled at one another, and then Severus gestured towards Harry's plate. "Now, why don't you try to eat a bit more before we order dessert?"

***

The final two days before the term officially began flew by on wings. Harry spent the better part of the morning alone because Severus had staff meetings. But he actually enjoyed the time. He slept in both mornings because the elves at Hogwarts didn't mind sending breakfast anytime he ordered it and Severus seemed willing to allow him the little luxury, though he did comment dryly that Harry shouldn't get used to it as classes were about to start.

‘Hedwig' continued to give him a gift each day, a wrapped package waiting on the desk when Harry awoke. One day he received a set of new quills and the next a thick book on advanced defensive magic. Harry was thrilled with the book especially, and tried to thank Severus, but his father insisted on continuing with the charade and Harry soon gave up. Nonetheless, he thought Severus seemed pleased.

Once he was up and dressed, Harry went down to the Quidditch pitch and practiced flying for a couple hours, coming back inside in time to clean up for lunch. He made sure to either tell Severus where he would be or to leave a note. It was slightly odd still, to know that someone cared about his whereabouts and wanted to keep up with him, but it was all right. Harry understood that Severus wasn't trying to be oppressive; he worried about Harry because he cared.

Harry ate lunch with Severus and the other professors in the Great Hall. He felt a little awkward at first, knowing that he'd caused a disruption when he'd forgotten to leave a note that first day back. He did attempt to apologise when some of the other professors greeted him, but they all seemed to shrug it off good-naturedly and just inquired about his holidays, congratulated him on defeating Voldemort, and told him how happy they all were that he had recovered and was doing well now.

In the afternoons he and Severus were down in the dungeons, either in their quarters or in the potions classroom. Severus was planning lessons, checking his stock of ingredients, and preparing for the year ahead.

The first afternoon Harry read, curled up on the sofa in the parlour, while Severus sat at the dining table with textbooks and scrolls of parchment spread about him. They read and worked in silence for a couple of hours; then Severus cleared the table off and stood.

"I need to go to my office and check on the inventory of potions ingredients, Harry. I'll be back by dinnertime."

Harry looked up from his book. "Can I come with you?"

Severus looked surprised. "Of course, if you wish. I'm aware that my classroom is not your favorite place, and especially after you were injured in my laboratory at home, I've thought that you would probably avoid anything to do with potions unless it was absolutely necessary."

Harry gave him a bemused look. "I'm not that fragile, Severus. I can handle being in the potions classroom. I'd better be able to, anyway. Classes start on Monday."

"Actually, sixth-year potions won't meet until Tuesday," Severus said with a slight smile. "But yes, I understand that you are not fragile. On the contrary, as I said before, you are very strong indeed."

He hesitated and looked more solemn. "However, I also know that my classroom holds a lot of bad memories for you. Your friend Mr. Weasley did not mean to let this slip in my presence, but I did overhear him say that in the past you were ill before every potions class. Harry, I am sorry, truly, about the way I used to treat you. Or mistreat you, actually. I promise you that potions class will be different from now on."

He looked so serious and sorrowful that Harry promptly lay his book down and went to him.

"I know, Severus. I know you're sorry, and I know things will be different now. I really do." He smiled at his father. "I trust you."

Severus placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Harry."

"So, is there anything I can do to help? I promise I won't make anything explode," Harry said with mock seriousness.

"Don't make promises you can't keep," Severus responded dryly. Then he smiled. "But I suppose checking inventory is harmless enough. Come along, then, if you're certain you don't mind spending the afternoon counting jars of flobberworms."

"Um, is it too late to change my mind?"

Severus looked uncertain, so Harry grinned at him. "I'm just kidding. I'd like to help you, really."

So they spent the next hour in Severus' office and even finished early enough to have a game of Exploding Snap before dinner.

They ate dinner in the Great Hall, too, and then retired back to their rooms, playing chess or card games or reading in the evenings until time for bed. It was a happy, peaceful interlude and Harry enjoyed it, though naturally he kept thinking often of the year ahead. Most of the time he was excited and eager for it to begin. It would be fun to see his other friends, like Neville and Luna, and he had Quidditch to look forward to again.

Best of all, he and Severus were father and son now and things between them were completely different then they ever had been before. Harry no longer had to dread potions, waiting on pins and needles to be humiliated and ridiculed. There would be no more unfair detentions, or the professor sneering or glaring hatefully at him.

No more of that.

Instead Severus loved him and he had a real home. After all the years of dreaming and longing, Harry had someone of his own, finally.

There was one more good thing, too, a very good thing. Voldemort was gone, and many of his Death Eaters were in Azkaban. Harry wouldn't have to spend the year dreading and anticipating some evil plot to capture and kill him. There would be no stone to save, no basilisk to fight, no Triwizard Tournament, no conflicts with the Ministry.

No more war.

In fact, the only dark cloud in Harry's life was the slavery spell, and he was trying to be hopeful about that as well. Severus and Dumbledore were working to find a way to free him. They were both so clever, so powerful and skilled, maybe they could do it. Maybe.

Harry really, really hoped so.

In the meantime, he would pray that it stayed secret and he could finally have a normal uneventful life, like everyone else. There was no reason for anyone to discover the slavery spell, after all. Only a handful of people knew and they were all trustworthy.

There was no real reason for Draco Malfoy or anyone else to be suspicious of the spell the Slytherin boy had cast against Harry at the end of last term. Probably everyone had forgotten it. Students cast hexes and jinxes against each other all the time, after all. No, no one should give the matter a second thought.

Harry refused to think otherwise.

He wanted to just be able to be an ordinary kid, to study for his NEWTS, to complain about homework, to enjoy the Quidditch matches and Hogsmeade weekends and hanging out with friends.

And he wanted to come to school on the Hogswarts Express.

It had never occurred to Harry that Severus might have reservations about him riding on the train and he was surprised when his father grimaced and was silent at his request.

It was evening and they were in the parlour, in the middle of another epic chess match...Harry thought his skills had definitely improved since he and Severus had begun to play against each other. Severus had been about to make a move, but when Harry mentioned the Hogwarts Express, he stopped, frowned, and looked away.

"I don't know," he said finally.

Harry stared at him in amazement. "But why not? I know you'd have to Apparate me to King's Cross, but it would only take a few minutes, wouldn't it? If you're too busy, maybe Dumbledore could do it, or is there a way to Floo, or..."

"Harry, it is not that I'm too busy or that the time would be a factor," Severus interrupted. "I'm just not certain that you being on the Hogwarts Express is a good idea."

Harry wanted to argue, but fortunately he thought better of it. He didn't want to act childish or like a spoiled brat. He wanted to be mature, especially since Severus was always so wonderful to him now.

But he really wanted to ride on the Hogwarts Express, too, and he couldn't understand why in the world his father had a problem with it. Surely, riding on the train with his friends was a harmless enough request. All the other students would do it. Why couldn't he?

He gazed at Severus pleadingly and repeated. "But why not?"

Severus stared at him intently. "Because you are likely to see Draco Malfoy there, and I think it would be wise if I were present when the two of you meet again."

"But I wouldn't do anything..." Harry began and then stopped, because he wasn't sure if it were the truth. Somehow he had not thought much about seeing Malfoy again, but of course it was inevitable.

And Harry really wasn't sure how he would react when he came face to face with the other boy, with the person who had enslaved him.

He wasn't sure how Ron and Hermione would react either. He had meant what he had said earlier in the summer. He didn't want his friends trying to take vengeance for his sake. It wasn't that he was so concerned for Malfoy. He really didn't care a bit what happened to the Slytherin boy. Harry was honest with himself about that.

But he did care greatly what happened to Ron and Hermione, and he was afraid that they might go too far, simply because they loved him so much and they knew how much Malfoy had hurt him.

Of course Ron and Hermione would likely see Malfoy on the train whether Harry was along or not, but he had an idea that his friends might be even more reckless if Harry were there.

Well, he would see if he could firecall Ron at the Burrow and tell him that he would just have to see them at school. He'd ask Ron not to go overboard with Malfoy, too, while he was at it.

Harry realised that his father was studying him and he nodded. It was silly to be so upset over a stupid train ride, he told himself. He'd see his friends at the Welcoming Feast tomorrow night, and then all year long.

So he took a deep breath and said quietly. "Yes, sir. I guess you're right. May I be excused please?"

He must not have done a very good job of hiding his disappointment because Severus reached over to stop him from rising.

"Wait," his father said softly. "I might have an idea."