The week following the end of school went in pretty much in same pattern. Harry would be woken up at seven-thirty for breakfast, which was cooked by either Tobias or Severus, usually after a night filled with nightmares. They never made him help cook, but all three took turns cleaning up after every meal. Harry was surprised yet grateful that he wasn't required to do massive amounts of chores like he was at the Dursley's. In fact the few chores he did do were usually done with help from either Tobias or Severus.  After breakfast, Tobias insisted that he study for at least an hour before he was allowed to do anything else. Harry had fought fervently against being forced to study, but after Tobias made him stand in a corner for twenty minutes, like a toddler, he realized that one way or another he would be studying.

He also found that studying wasn't too bad, especially when one has a potions master at their disposal. Severus had plenty of paperwork to do over the summer and after breakfast would usually go into the kitchen, where he could spread it out over the large table, and work on it. One day Tobias had caught Harry, who had foolishly left his door open, in his room playing a game instead of doing his schoolwork. Tobias had not been happy. After informing Harry that he would be spending three more hours doing his schoolwork he led him by the arm into the kitchen and sat him down at the table across from Severus. Severus had glanced up briefly at the disturbance before once again looking down at his papers and hiding a small smile as his father lit into the disobedient boy, glad that it wasn't him for once. During this time Harry began working on his potions essay. Coming across a particularly confusing part he ventured to ask Severus about it. Severus had refused to give him answers, but had given him some clues as to where to find the answers, amidst a few scathing remarks (old habits die-hard). After that day Harry made it a point to do his schoolwork at the kitchen table with Severus.

Since the day Harry had taken the counter potion to reveal his true appearance Severus had been unusually nicer to him. Granted the potions master still snapped at him from time to time, but it seem as though he were truly making an effort to be kinder to him. About two day's after taking the potion Severus had come to his room before bed one night and explained to Harry that he was a psychologist and that over the years at Hogwarts had helped many students from different houses. Much to Harry's surprise the potion master offered to listen to him if he ever felt as though he needed to talk about the Dursley's. Severus had surprised himself with the offer and could only justify it as a professional hazard. It was apparent, however, to Tobias, Harry, and even himself that he was beginning to like the boy.

After he was done studying, Harry would normally go find his father, and help him with whatever he was doing at the moment until it was time for lunch. It didn't take Harry long to find out that Tobias was a retired Naval Officer, but since Severus was about seven he had retired from the Navy and worked part time as an accountant for a local company. Two years ago he had retired completely. Harry was not entirely ready to just abandon James and Lily Potter as his parents, but more then anything wanted a parent and a real family. Harry took the time spent with Tobias to learn more about the man and his brother, but never really talked about his mother. After lunch Harry would usually go outside and explore a bit. Tobias had assured him that before the summer was over he would take him fishing and possibly camping. Except for when they arrived Harry hadn't gone into the village yet, but when Tobias noticed that his wardrobe was practically empty and that the cloths he did have didn't fit properly he told him he would take him that upcoming weekend to buy some clothing, which meant that Harry was going with his...father shopping the next day.

Tobias had planned to take Harry to buy new cloths Saturday, but Severus insisted they go Sunday instead, mainly because he had to attend an order meeting that Saturday. Since most of his clothing was destroyed in the fire, he needed new clothing himself, so Severus figured he would go with them shopping.

After Tobias woke him up on Saturday, Harry went to the bathroom first before going back to his room to change. Finding a suitable outfit, he began to undress, once he was down to his shorts he caught a glance of himself in the mirror and quickly looked away. It wasn't that he didn't like his new appearance, in fact, in a strange way, it sort of suited him better, but after spending so many years looking like a carbon copy of James Potter it was strange to look in the mirror and see someone else completely. Not only that but even to himself he looked...sick. Like a malnourished corpse. According to Severus it was because he was malnourished, his added height just made it more obvious. Almost every one of his ribs was visible and his skin was a sickly pale yellow in color. He dressed as quickly as possible avoiding the mirror. He then proceeded to the kitchen for breakfast.

After breakfast on Saturday, Severus and Harry were sitting at the dining room table working.

They had only been doing their perspective work for about ten minutes when Harry looked up from his work at Severus, "Professor?"

"Severus,"

"Sir?" questioned Harry slightly confused.

"As it has been pointed out to me on several occasions, we are brothers; therefore, as long as we are not in class you may call me Severus, Harry."

"Okay...Severus."

Surprised by this development Harry remained quite for a moment and went back to his work, but only for a moment. "I'm bored," stated Harry dropping his quill and looking expectantly at Severus.

Severus to his credit didn't even glance up. "I suggest you work on your school work and stop dawdling."

"I don't want to," Harry practically whined.

Normally, Severus didn't have any patience for whining brats, but had to admit he didn't really feel like editing potion articles today either. With a rather sly smile he got up from the table and went over to a cabinet draw looking for something. Finding the object of his search he proceeded back to the table armed with a deck of muggle playing cards. "Care to play?"

Harry smiled, a week ago he never would have expected his professor to be the sort of person willing to break rules in order to have fun, but his older brother continued to surprise him.

Harry and Severus had been deeply involved in their game for about fifteen minutes, before they heard someone clearing their throat. Looking over they saw Tobias standing in the archway watching them. Harry's eyes widened slightly as he realized he had just been caught playing instead of studying, again, and he didn't think his father would be as forgiving the second time.

Tobias walked over to the table, observing his two sons. Harry looked rather nervous while Severus appeared to be trying not to laugh. Glaring at both of them he leaned over Severus's shoulder to see what his hand looked like. Straitening back up, he walked over to a cabinet and pulled out some pretzel sticks, several pieces of hard butterscotch candy, pieces of small individually wrapped chocolates, crackers, and some bite-sized cookies. Walking back over to the table he divided some of it up so they all had the same amount of everything: 2 cookies, 5 butterscotch candies, 10 chocolates, 11 pretzels, and 20 crackers. He put the leftovers back in the cabinet before sitting down at the table.

Gathering up all the cards and shuffling them he began to talk, "The name of the game is Texas Hold ‘em: winner doesn't have to wash dishes tomorrow. Cookies are worth..."

Harry's mouth had dropped open and was dangling somewhere around his knees as his father said this, he had expected to be in trouble, but instead Tobias had not only started playing with them but also made the game more interesting.

"What's Texas Hold ‘em?" asked Harry.

Tobias and Severus explained the game to him and the three played for about an hour before Harry, Tobias blamed it on beginners luck while Severus suspected him of cheating, won the game. Harry was about to get up and put his books away, but was stopped by Tobias.

"Just where do you think your going?"

"To put my things away," said Harry as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Did you finish studying?"

"No, but..."

"No ‘buts', Harry, the rule is you study for one hour everyday, you had a bit of a break, but now I expect you to finish studying."

"But all I ever do is study," complained Harry resisting the urge to kick the table.

"An hour is not that long you have plenty of time to other things," Tobias's managed to keep his tone calm but was beginning to become annoyed.

Severus, who had started to gather his things up stopped what he was doing and was candidly listening to Harry argue with his father.

"Come, on, please. Its just one day. I have all summer. Not studying for one day won't hurt."

"No, Harry, you will study for one hour today. You can either do it now for an hour or if you continue to argue then do it for two hours."

"No, I..."

"Two hours it is then."

"That's not fair you..."

"Two hours today and two tomorrow."

Harry opened his mouth about to argue once more, but Severus spoke first. "Harry, just stop arguing before you get into real trouble."

Harry closed his mouth and just stared at Severus for a moment then Tobias. "Why should I? I shouldn't have to study if I don't want to. No one stands over me at Hogwarts and makes me study and my grades are still good." Okay, so maybe that wasn't completely true if Hermione didn't bug him so much his work probable wouldn't be done as often and his grades could be a bit better, but that was beside the point.

No one said anything for a moment. Tobias was glaring at Harry contemplating his next move, and Harry was glaring back.

Severus shook his head began to rise from the table, "You should have listened." As he said this Severus left the kitchen having a good idea as to what was in store for his young brother.

As Severus left, Harry was beginning to feel nervous. Maybe he had gone too far with his arguing, but there was no backing down now.

Part of Tobias knew that some of this was his fault. By not stopping the card game his sons had been playing he was just reinforcing the behavior of not studying. But it was the first time he had seen them truly get along. Yes over the past week they had begun to tolerate one another and maybe had even started to accept one another, but that simple card game was the first thing they had done together simply because they wanted to. Now he had to deal with the aftereffects of reinforcing negative behaviors. "You're grounded for a week. There will be no going outside, no TV, no games, just eating, sleeping, doing chores and studying. If you argue it'll be two weeks."

Harry didn't say anything just glared.

After a moment Tobias stood up and began to leave the kitchen, "I suggest you start studying now."

Harry was angry. Now he couldn't do anything for a week. It just wasn't fair. He did just fine without someone looking over his shoulder all the time making sure he was doing what he was supposed to. No one had ever done so before and he didn't need someone to do it now. With that thought Harry got up from the table and leaving his things where they were walked out the back door to go for a walk.

Fifteen minutes after he had left Harry in the kitchen Tobias stuck his head back in just to check up on him. Harry wasn't there though. He then went to check the boy's room thinking that maybe he hadn't seen him walk by, but he wasn't there either. Severus was reading a book in the living room, the bathroom door was open and empty, and a quick check confirmed that Harry wasn't in any of the bedrooms. That only left one option. He had gone outside.

Walking back to the living room Tobias asked Severus, "Do you know where Harry is?"

"I haven't seen him since I left the kitchen," replied Severus. "Why?"

"Because he's not in the house,"

Severus's eyes widened slightly before he mumbled, "...stupid boy."

Tobias began moving towards the front door. "I'm going to see if I can find him. If he comes back before I do don't let him out of your sight."

"Yes, sir," replied Severus. He knew his father was angry, but couldn't bring himself to feel sorry for Harry.

It took Tobias about twenty minutes to locate his son. Harry was in what used to be Severus's favorite spot by the stream. The best part about his particular area was that there were several large rocks to sit on while looking over the stream. Walking up slowly behind the boy Tobias cleared his throat alerting him to his presence.

Harry's head snapped around, and seeing whom it was his shoulders slumped slightly as he once again turned back to look at the stream.

Most of Tobias's anger had dissipated by now, but that didn't stop him from reaching out, grabbing Harry's overly thin left arm, pulling him up from the rock, and then landing one hard smack on the boy's backside.

"Oww!" Harry jumped more surprised than hurt. He had expected a lecture maybe even some yelling, but not that. Once his arm was released he turned back around to face his father stopping himself from reaching back and rubbing his backside. Before he could say or do anything else Tobias was speaking to him in a raised voice that was almost yelling.

"What were you thinking? Did you honestly think I wouldn't notice if you just got up and left? I have half a mind to turn you over my knee right now and give you a real smacking! You were already in trouble for arguing about not studying, but then you go and disobey me again by coming out here. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Harry shrugged. Now that he had calmed down he began realize that he had behaved stupidly, but he still didn't think it was fair.

"Answer me, boy!"

"It just isn't fair. Because I said I didn't want to study for one day I'm ground for a week."

"Life isn't fair, get used to it, but I don't think it happened quite like that, anyway. I gave you several opportunities, but you refused to stop arguing. When you first said you didn't want to study what did I say?"

"You should know, you said it," remarked Harry and almost instantly regretted it.

Tobias's eyes narrowed, and Harry came to the conclusion that Severus still had quite a bit to learn if he ever intended to match his father's glare. When Tobias spoke in was in a harsh whisper that was a thousand times worse then any amount of yelling. "This is your last chance, boy. Now, try again,"

"You said that the rule was that I had to study for one hour everyday," sulked Harry.

"Exactly and how many chances did I give you to stop arguing before I increased the time to two hours?"

Harry shrugged, looking down at the ground.

"A couple times, at least, right?"

"Yes, sir," mumbled Harry.

"When you wouldn't stop arguing what was the first thing I did?"

"Say that I had to study for two hours instead of one." Harry's voice was barely above a whisper and he stared down at the ground.

"And when you still continued to argue?"

"Two hours for two days," his voice still a whisper Harry shuffled his feet uncomfortably.

"After that?"

"That I was grounded." For reason's Harry didn't quite understand he felt his face flame as he said this. Granted it wasn't as embarrassing as being stood in a corner or smacked on the backside, but the way Tobias said it made him feel like a small child.

"So how many chances did you have before you got grounded? At least four, correct?"

"I guess," Harry didn't like this. Having to go over all his decisions again made them all look so stupid. It was easier to say that Tobias just wasn't being fair then to admit he was wrong.

"Everything you do or don't do has consequences. You've made several bad decisions today and you will face the consequences. Come." Tobias turned around and began walking back towards the house Harry following not too far behind.

Once they arrived at the house Tobias placed a hand on the back of Harry's neck and led him through the house all the way to the very end of the hall where he positioned Harry so that his nose was only a couple inches away from the wall.

Removing his hand from the boy's neck he gave a single command before turning around and going back to the living room, "Don't move."

Once Harry realized he was, once again, in time-out like a toddler he blushed fiercely, but remained where he was.

Severus watched his father leave Harry in time-out and walk back through the house and into the kitchen. After a couple of minutes Severus got up and followed his father into the kitchen.

In the kitchen Tobias was making lunch and didn't notice Severus until he was standing next to him.

"I'm too old for this,"

"Yes, well, if you don't want to be his father than stop acting like it. It only builds his hopes up," responded Severus as he started helping prepare lunch.

"What would happen to him if I didn't take him in?"

"I don't know," Severus, answered honestly. "Truthfully, though, he's been more well behaved in this past week then he has been all year."