On the night of Eileen's arrival, Tobias stepped out of Harry's room, having just tucked the boy in, and headed to his own room. Severus was already tucked in and fast asleep as Eileen had a few potions on her which were completely non-reactive so they wouldn't interfere with the potion that deaged him, that helped with his fever and upset stomach. The poor boy refused to speak to her when she came in with the potions and nearly fell off the bed trying to stay away from her. Tobias had to convince her to leave the room before Severus would take the potions and once he had downed the potions, Tobias stayed with him until he was asleep, which didn't take long.

Opening the door to his room, Tobias entered and was surprised at what he saw. Eileen was putting her things away. In his closet. Though she noticed him enter the room, she chose to ignore him.

"What are you doing?" asked Tobias in a neutral tone. He crossed his arms over his chest and simply watched as she continued to unpack.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Eileen responded in a slightly condescending tone.

"Just how long to do plan on staying this time?" Tobias almost rolled his eyes, his tone held only the slightest bitterness.

Eileen put the last of her things away and pushed her trunk against the wall, so that it was out of the way. She then turned her attention back to Tobias.

Tobias couldn't decide what she looked like more: a hungry tigress or a tempting serpent ready to lead him straight to hell. Either way, he was sure to enjoy the ride.

Once Eileen was close enough, she snaked her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. In a low, seductive voice she purred, "How long do you want me to stay?"

"I never wanted you to leave, love." For the second time that day Tobias's brain was deprived of much needed blood as he leaned forward to kiss the woman before him. He hands trailed down her body coming to rest on her nicely formed backside, which wasn't quite as firm as he remembered, but that hardly stopped him.

Several hours later Tobias bolted upright in bed and it only took him a moment to crawl out of bed and throw on his discarded sweat pants before rushing to Harry's room, where he was sure the scream had come from. Eileen only moaned and rolled over in bed slightly.

Looking around his son's bedroom, Tobias began to panic. He wasn't in bed . . . Harry was no where to be seen. Before he could form another thought he heard a whimper. "Harry, where are you lad? Harry." Another whimper had Tobias on his hands and knees looking underneath the bed.

Harry had woken up from a nightmare about his uncle. He hadn't meant to scream really, but he couldn't help it. Waking up he found he was not in his cupboard, but out in the open and had panicked. After so many years of staying in small spaces his room seemed to big, so he crawled under the bed and curled into to a ball. Part of him was afraid of what his father would do if he had woken up because of the scream and another, bigger, part of him knew that his dad wouldn't hurt him and wanted to be found. When he saw Tobias's head from underneath the bed he began to tremble and felt involuntary tears come to his eyes. Harry's voice shook with fear as he whispered, "Dad"

Tobias sighed and his heart went out to the boy, but there was no way he would fit underneath the bed. Reaching out a hand, he talked softly to his son. "Harry, give me your hand. It's all right, come on now, Harry."

Harry gathered up his courage and tentatively reached out a hand towards his dad, releasing a sob.

Tobias grasped the small hand as soon as it was within reach. Harry let out another sob as soon as his dad pulled him out from under the bed and to his chest. Tobias rocked his son, but he couldn't seem to calm the boy. Standing up, Harry securely in his arms, Tobias made his way to his room and the rocking chair. Sitting in the same way he had with Severus hours before, Tobias tried to comfort his son.

"It's okay, Harry, it was just a nightmare, it's all over now. Sshhhh...that's it, calm down." Tobias continued to comfort his son in a deep, soothing voice.

Eileen stirred in the bed, opening her eyes to briefly look over at her husband and son. "For Merlin's sake, Tobias, put the boy to bed."

Tobias ignored her in favor of calming his son. Eventually, Harry's sobs lessened and some of his fear returned, so in a scared voice he began apologizing. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Tobias stood up from the rocking chair and made his way back to Harry's room and put the scrawny boy in bed. Harry continued to apologize.

"Harry, stop," commanded Tobias. His tone was firm, but not unkind as he sat down on the bed next to his son pushing the soft black hair away from the boy's face. "There's no need for you to apologize. You had a nightmare, which is perfectly normal and unremarkable. Next time, just come get me and don't hide underneath the bed. I promise I won't be upset."

Harry snuggled into his bed the best he could; the blanket all the way to his chin. "Dad?" Harry's voice was small and unsure; it took all of his courage just to utter that single word and his voice caught in his throat preventing him from saying anything more.

"Yes, Harry?" Tobias's voice was filled with patience and understanding.

Gathering his courage about him Harry took a deep breath and closed his eyes tight before continuing in a whisper. "Please don't leave me."

Tobias laid down on the bed, on top of the covers, and pulled Harry close to him, so that his son's head was resting on his chest. "I won't leave you, Harry. I promise."

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

"I had presumed," Tobias heard Eileen purr while standing next to Harry's bed which he had fallen asleep on. "That you preferred my company in bed over that of a ten year old boy's."

Tobias gently maneuvered off the bed cautiously, so as not to wake Harry, and glared at Eileen to let her know he didn't find her amusing.

Eileen shrugged and wrapped her arms around his neck and giving him a good morning kiss.

This was the scene Harry awoke to. At first it caused him a bit of confusion. If this lady, his mother, had left his father, Severus, and himself, wouldn't Tobias be upset with her? It was obvious to Harry that Eileen didn't like him or his brother that much, but his father still seemed to be in love with her. As he tried to work this puzzle out in his head he watched his parents kiss and pull away from each other. As his dad turned around their eyes met and Tobias could only sigh at his son's questioning gaze.

Tobias suddenly smirked a bit and placing both of his hands on the bed he leaned over Harry and started bouncing the bed. "What are you looking at? Huh?" Tobias asked in a mockingly stern as Harry laughed. After a few moments Tobias stopped shaking the bed, and with a smile said, "Go change and wash-up for breakfast."

Harry crawled out of bed a smile still on his lips. "Yes sir." Harry dashed out of the room to the bathroom.

Tobias also exited his son's room with Eileen close behind, but went to Severus's room next. Severus was still asleep curled up under the blankets and still slightly pale. Tobias debated whether or not to wake him. The boy needed rest, but also needed some food and plenty of fluids in him also. Sighing and forgetting about Eileen who was waiting at the door, Tobias moved to his sick child's bedside. "Severus, Sev...come on Severus, wake up," Tobias's tone was quiet and low as he ran a hand through the boy's silky hair, noticing his fever was slightly lower.

Severus groaned and snuggled into the hand slightly, reluctant to leave his dreams and the comforting darkness of sleep.

"There's a good boy," prompted Tobias, with what seem like an infinite amount of patience. "Come on, now, open your eyes."

Eventually, Severus's eyes opened and locked with his father's. Slowly Severus reached both arms out to his dad. He still didn't feel good. His stomach was clenching painfully, his headache hadn't subsided at all, and now his throat was scratchy. "Dad," Severus's voice was small, and like all sick children when ill, he acted half his age.

Tobias immediately complied with his child's request and gathered him in his arms, comforting him.

Severus was content to just rest his head on his dad's shoulder forever, until he saw who was standing in the doorway. His mother was watching the scene with at most detached curiosity. Hiding his face in his dad's neck he held on tighter, hoping to convey the message that he didn't want to be anywhere near her.

After a moment or two Tobias pushed Severus away enough to look at him while speaking. "Go to the bathroom and wash up a bit, but go ahead and leave your pajamas on. After you eat a little breakfast, you can lay on the couch and watch TV, okay?"

Severus nodded rubbing his eye with a fist.

"Alright, let's go," said Tobias gently as he got up off the bed sitting Severus down on the floor in the process. He gently nudged Severus towards the door, but the boy refused to go further after about two small steps and stared at Eileen with an expression of rage mixed with anguish.

Eileen merely raised eyebrow and stared emotionlessly back.

Tobias cleared his throat, "Eileen," he suggested gently, "why don't you go into the kitchen and start breakfast?"

Eileen looked at Tobias, eyebrow still raised, with a look of slight surprise, but turned after a quick glance down at Severus and left the doorway.

After Severus had washed his face, brushed his teeth and hair, he went into the living room and sat down lazily on the couch shivering slightly until his dad came to get him. Tobias brought him into the kitchen and sat him down in front of a small plate of scrambled eggs and a glass of milk. Looking at the food made Severus's stomach roll.

Noticing Severus's dilemma Tobias said empathetically, "Just a couple bits of eggs, Sev, and drink a bit of milk. You need something in your system."

Severus nodded resolutely, ignoring his mother's gaze and picked up his fork.

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

After breakfast, Severus was curled up on the couch swathed in his blanket watching cartoons and dozing on and off. Harry had been sent outside to play for a while, albeit reluctantly since he didn't have his brother to play with. Tobias cleaned up the kitchen while Eileen watched from her place at the table.

"Do you think," began Tobias casually as he washed dishes, "that you could make a potion or something for Severus?"

"I could," stated Eileen with no detectable emotion. "But I won't."

"Why not?" Tobias's tone held a bit of resentment, but part of him also knew that if Eileen wouldn't make a potion then there had to be a reason.

"I don't know anything about the potion that deaged them," replied Eileen in a bored sort of way. "If I made him a potion, it might react with whatever deaged him and the results could be disastrous. The only thing you could give him is muggle medicine. What I gave him last night was basically just deluded muggle medicine, which in case you didn't notice, only helped marginally."

Tobias sighed. He couldn't take Severus with him to get the medicine because he was sick and he couldn't leave him with Eileen because...well the boy hated her. Not that he blamed him. Now the only question was how to acquire the medicine to make his boy well.

Outside, Harry was wandering around aimlessly just exploring a bit and being bored beyond belief. He had never had someone to play with before, so he didn't understand why, after only knowing his brother for a few days, he felt so alone without him. Kicking a rock out of his way, he followed it with his eyes, curious as to how far it would go; it was then he caught sight of the woman with long brown hair coming up over the hill towards the house. He tilted his head curiously and watched as she came closer to him.

Serenity smiled at the little boy who was watching her as she walked towards Severus's house. At least she thought it was his house. She had never actually been there, but he told her it was over the hill and this was the only house on the other side of the hill, so this had to be it. She was getting worried, she had tried calling yesterday morning, but no one pick up the phone. She knew he was supposed to be out of town Saturday and was concerned that something had happened while he was away. Taking a walk to Severus house, she hoped to find a clue as to where he had gone or something.

She stopped walking when she reached the little boy, who could easily be related to Severus, to talk to him. "Hello, my name's Serenity I was wondering if you could help me?"

Harry just watched her without saying a word. Serenity got the strange feeling he was reading her mind.

Shaking the thought away, she continued. "I was wondering if you knew anyone named Severus who lives here?"

Harry was silent and didn't make any movements for a moment as he studied her. She didn't seem mean or anything and she knew Severus, so she couldn't be evil or anything.

Harry's gaze reminded her of Severus and made her slightly uncomfortable. It was as though this small child could see straight through her.

Harry silently turned away and made his way towards the house. Serenity took this as that she should follow. Harry led her to a back door, which he pushed open to reveal two adults deep in conversation. The man, who must have been Severus's father, was washing dishes. He was wearing an old pair of jeans that were worn and fading with many stains and a red collard short sleeved shirt displaying muscular arms. His hair was cut so that it didn't go down past the tops of his ears and appeared to have the same silky quality as Severus's did. A small fringe on the left side was the only gray spot betraying his age. His nose was not large, but slightly more hooked then Severus's. When Serenity saw his eyes she realized it was genetic trait. They were a deep black and pierced right through to your soul. No wonder Severus had said it was impossible to hide anything from his father.

"Can I help you?" asked Tobias in a not-unfriendly voice, but one that said she had best tread carefully as he motioned Harry to his side.

Serenity swallowed suddenly nervous, but she smile before responding. "Yes, my name's Serenity and I'm assuming you're Tobias?"

"That my dear, depends entirely on why you're here?" Tobias's tone was still guarded. He didn't care if Severus was dating this woman. After all just because you sleep with someone doesn't mean they're trustworthy.

"Well, Severus said that he had to go out of town on Saturday, but promised to call when he got back that night. I tried calling yesterday, but no one picked so I came to see if everything was alright."

Fate is a fickle thing. Everyone in the kitchen would one day look back at this moment in there lives and wonder how things would have been had Severus come in the kitchen mere seconds later or if Serenity not had to stop on her way up the hill to tie her shoe causing her to arrive seconds earlier. However, as Tobias was assuring her everything was alright, that there had been a slight emergency Severus had to take care of before returning, and was about to usher her out the door Severus walked into the kitchen.

"Dad, I'm thirsty," said Severus entering the kitchen before noticing the women about to walk out the door.

Everything stopped for a moment. Maybe if Serenity hadn't know Severus had only one younger brother that was almost fifteen years old and she had met before, things would have gone differently. Maybe if Serenity hadn't know Severus fairly well from spending so much time with him things would have gone differently. And maybe, just maybe, if Harry hadn't remembered that he needed to tell his brother some trivial fact that seems so important to ten year old boys and consequently saying his brother's name, things would have gone differently.

As it were however, Harry did say Severus's name, Serenity had met Harry and knew Severus relatively well, so when she saw the young boy in the archway between the kitchen and living room she knew something was off. "What the bloody hell is going on?"

Tobias sighed and ran a hand down his face. "Why don't you have a seat and I'll explain everything." Tobias said this in a tired tone before turning his attention to Severus. Getting him a glass of water and filling it half way, he handed it to his son. "Alright Severus, drink it slowly and go watch cartoons. Harry, go with him."

Obediently Severus and Harry went into the living room to watch cartoons not caring about the adults in the kitchen and the situation they caused.

Tobias watched them go before sitting down at the kitchen table, forming a steeple with his hands in front of his face so that only the tips of his fingers touched and leaned on his elbows. It took nearly two hours, with only a few minor interruptions from the boys in the living room, for Tobias and Eileen to explain everything to Serenity. How magic was real - Eileen gave a couple demonstrations - how Severus and Harry were deaged, and the other basics. Tobias left out that Severus was a Death Eater and only briefly discussed Voldemort leaving Harry's involvement out completely as well as other more personal things. He was sure that Serenity knew he was leaving pieces out, but she seemed to understand.

Once Tobias finished and most of Serenity's questions answered he asked her for a favor. "As you probably noticed, Severus is sick and because of the deageing potion he can't be given wizard medicine, so if you don't mind, I would greatly appreciate it if you could run into town and grab some medicine for him."

Serenity no longer seemed shell-shocked and was looking intently at Eileen across the table from her. Eileen, expressionless as usual, merely looked back. Tobias raised an eyebrow questioningly, but said nothing.

Ignoring Tobias's question, Serenity, in a voice harsher then anyone thought her capable of, spoke directly to Eileen. "Severus said that you left when he was young and hadn't seen you since. Why are you here? Why did you come back?"

Tobias opened his mouth to say something, but didn't get the opportunity before Eileen responded in a cold voice. She didn't like to be accused of anything, even if the accusation was correct. "That is hardly any of your business."

"Like hell it isn't. What's happening to him now is more my concern then yours, and if you cared at all then you wouldn't have left...or at the very least you would have come back much sooner. You gave up everything when you walked out on him." By the end Serenity was shouting. She stood up from her chair and was leaning over the table towards Eileen, her eyes flashing wildly. Eileen remained calm, but her anger was quickly rising. Tobias leaned back in his chair, not willing to interrupt the two women and lose his head, or any other part of his anatomy. "What kind of mother does that?" This last question was asked quietly and hung heavily in the air.

It was quiet for several minutes as Eileen allowed herself to display a sufficient amount of anger. She stood up slowly, unused to having to look up at someone, and leaned in towards Serenity, who didn't cower away as Eileen expected her to. When Eileen spoke her voice was filled a quietly seething rage. "How dare you. You have no idea why I made the decisions I made. And even if I wanted to explain them to you I doubt that such a pathetic excuse of a Barbie doll such as yourself would understand."

"I don't want to hear your excuses and platitudes," Serenity was disgusted and her voice conveyed her revulsion. "Severus, however deserves a reason."

"You think you know him?" Asked Eileen a cruel smirk appeared on her face and her voice became a deadly whisper. "You know nothing about my son. You don't know what he is capable of, and you should pray that you never find out. You don't know what he has done."

Serenity leaned closer to Eileen and in a whisper just as deadly replied, "Neither do you."

Eileen leaned back slightly, aghast that anyone would speak to her in such a way. She opened her mouth to say another biting remark but instead found her head twisted sideways as a hand landed hard on her face. She went for her wand and had it trained on Serenity, a curse on the tip of her tongue, but her hand was lowered as she found Tobias standing in her way both her arms held by her sides. She didn't bother to fight and quickly replaced her mask of indifference.

After several moments of tense silence, Serenity spoke to Tobias, "What exactly is it that Severus needs? I'll be more then happy to get it."

Tobias cleared his throat and once satisfied that Eileen wouldn't attack made a list of children's medicine that would help Severus. Giving the list and some money to Serenity, he thanked her before she left for the village. Tobias knew that Eileen was still silently fuming and honestly didn't know what to do except to give her space. He watched silently as she stomped out the door.