Chapter 18 - After dinner

The dinner was delicious. The adults were chatting happily while the kids were eating eagerly. Only one was leaning close over his plate trying to avoid being drawn into the conversation. Harry just wanted to be left alone. The last years of training for the battle and the final battle as well had taken a toll on him. His body hurt. Especially his left leg, where an unknown curse had hit him. His hands often started to tremble out of the blue. Nightmares hunted him every night, and he had problems enjoying his life and having social interaction. At least Severus had invented a potion for him to lessen the pain before he was forced to be de-aged. Harry felt guilty for this. Severus had helped him so often, and without him he would have never been able to defeat Voldemort. And still the damn Ministry had to force the Professor to make this decision. From time to time during the meal Harry peeked over to the small child Severus was now. During his Occlumency training he had a glimpse of Severus' first childhood and hoped that the abuse had started later than the age he was now. Harry hadn't seen any memories of such a young child in his Potions masters' mind.

Severus also glimpsed at Harry. Sometimes their glances met and they looked down at their plates quickly. He looks really sad and in pain. Maybe Minwa should cuddle him and Aunt Poppy should give him some of her odd liquids, Severus mused. Aunt Poppy can make anything better.

"You should visit me in the castle, Harry! You have to see my quarters. Alastor is asking for you every time I see him. He would love to see you again," Charlie tried to make conversation with the drawn back young man.

So much for keeping myself out of the conversation. Harry liked Charlie. He never looked unsurely at him like Ron, and worriedly like Hermione. It would be a nice change from the Burrow. "I have an appointment with Poppy tomorrow morning. I could come by then."

"Yeah, that would be great," Charlie said cheerfully, even when he saw that Harry had leaned sullenly over his plate again.

"We would really love it if you would eat with us in the Great Hall, Harry. What do you think? I'm sure Filius, Hagrid and all the others would like to see you again, too," Albus said, in the hope to get the depressed young wizard out of his hiding place for some time.

Harry sighed. "If you insist."

"No, I don't insist. I just ask you to accompany us. Young Severus here is always happy to have someone around him who isn't old like me, and closer to his age compared to the other Professors in the castle." Albus patted Severus' head.

"Manipulative as always, Headmaster," Harry said grumpily. Seeing Severus beaming expression at the mention of him joining them at dinner, Harry added, "But I think I will come for dinner."

"Fantastic," Albus said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"So, Sev, have you already brewed with Charlie?" Fred asked.

"Brewed?" Severus asked confused.

"Don't distract Severus from eating!" Molly berated her son. Looking at Severus' empty glass, she asked, "Some more juice, darling?"

Severus had already shoved more of the spaghetti in his mouth, and so just nodded his head.

"Of course I didn't brew with him and you two will stay away from him as well. He is four years old and will stay away from bubbling cauldrons for some time," Charlie said sternly, sending a glare at his twin brothers that could match one of their former Potions Master's.

Severus gulped down the food in his mouth and quickly said, "I would like to brew, ‘Arlie."

Hearing Severus' name for Charlie made the other Weasley's grin. Bryanna and Kenneth also had problems with Charlie's name for some time.

"Yeah, I'm sure you want to but brewing is for big boys. So you should eat and not speak so you will become a big boy soon," Charlie replied.

Severus sighed disappointedly, but started to eat again.

Soon the meal was over. "The men will clean the table, and Hermione and I will take the kids to bed," Molly announced.

That made Bryanna and Kenneth protest, and Severus push his bottom lip out.

"But we want to play with Sev," ´Kenneth said to his grandma.

"You will have enough time to play after your nap," Molly said sternly, and Kenneth knew that there was no chance she would change her mind.

"Will Sev sleep with us?" Bryanna asked hopefully.

"So that you won't close your eyes for a second and talk all the time? Oh, no, my dear, not today," Molly said and went over to Severus. She took the napkin and cleaned him with the experience of a mother of seven children and then lifted him in her arms. "I'll take Severus here and, Hermione, would you please take the twins."

"Oh, yeah, Hermione..." Fred started.

"..Take us," George finished while both were grinning wickedly.

"Charlie would you take care of your stupid brothers," Molly said and went to Hermione. "Don't let them mock you."

"I've lived here long enough to know how to take what they say, Molly," Hermione said, glaring at Fred and George. Seconds later, she left the kitchen with Bryanna and Kenneth holding her hands.

It was hard for Minerva to let Molly take care of Severus. Albus knew this and laid a calming hand on hers. Arthur also felt the tension and distracted her with conversion.

Molly and Hermione meanwhile were washing the children, and then Hermione brought the twins to their room while Molly brought Severus to the guest room.

Severus looked around, frightened. He was sure he could not sleep here. Why aren't Minwa and Albus here? Have they left me alone? The sad and scary feelings overcame him, and he started to sob in Molly's shoulder while she carried him over to the bed. "Oh, Severus, what's wrong?"

"Minwa and Albus gone?" Severus asked while clawing Molly to prevent her from laying him on the bed.

"They are still down in the kitchen, Severus, and they will wait for you there until you finish your nap," Molly said calmingly.

"Don't want to nap," Severus said and shook his head as much as he could while pressing it in Molly's shoulder.

"Severus, all children have to nap. So you will have much more energy to play with the twins after it. I will read you a nice story and will stay until you fall asleep."

"Can't fall asleep," Severus said miserably.

"We will see, Severus, I will just start reading and will stay here, okay?" She pried his hands from her neck and placed him on the bed. Quickly he dressed him in pyjamas and tucked him in.

The bed was cozy, and Severus snuggled into the bedclothes while listening to Molly's melodic voice. She could read very well. Soon Severus' eyes closed, and he fell asleep.

Molly placed a spell on the room so that she would be informed when Severus woke up and left heading to the kitchen.

One quick glance around the room showed her that Harry had already left. She sighed sadly and went over to a worried looking Minerva. "He is fast asleep, Minerva. Don't worry."

"What if he wakes up and is scared. He isn't used to the room," Minerva asked, worried.

"I have placed an alarm on the room that will inform me when he wakes up. Severus has to get used to us and the Burrow as he will spend so much time here in future, Minerva. That's the reason for this meeting isn't it?" Molly tried to calm Minerva. She could understand how Minerva felt. "I understand your worries, Minerva, but they aren't necessary." Molly smiled warmly at Minerva.

"I know, Molly, but it is so hard to let someone else take care of him," Minerva stated.

"That's how a mother is meant to feel," Molly said and laid a calming hand over Minerva's. "He is okay."

An hour and a half later the alarm on Severus' room informed Molly that Severus had woken up. "I will go and check on him. Maybe he will go back to sleep again. Otherwise I think it won't hurt to only have a short nap this time for the kids. They are so eager to play. Is that okay for you Fleur?"

"Sure, Molly, you know I trust your judgment," Fleur said, smiling. At home the twins never sleep as long as they do at the Burrow.

When Molly entered the room, she only saw a big bulge under the bedclothes. "What are you doing Severus? Already playing hide and seek?"

Hearing Molly's voice he carefully peeked out from under the bedclothes. "Don't want to sleep anymore."

Molly went over and sat down on the bed. She arranged the bedclothes so that Severus' face was free and the rest of him was nicely tucked in. "Why don't you try to sleep a little longer, Severus. Normally a nap time is longer, you know?"

"I'm not tired. I want to play with Bree and Ken, please," Severus begged. He didn't dare to use his puppy-look because he had the feeling it wouldn't work on Molly.

Molly stroked his hair and said, "Only half an hour, Severus. I could sing something for you. How would you like that?"

That's not fair. Severus didn't want to nap any longer, but he also would really like to hear Molly sing. He pondered hard about it.

Molly smiled seeing Severus' concentrated expression while he pondered about his decision. "I will start, and we will see if that helps you to sleep again."

Great. So I can hear her sing and then I can get up because I haven't fallen asleep, Severus thought happily.

Molly sang a song she had often sung to her own children and slowly stroked Severus' face and hair.

She sings so nice, Severus thought while struggling to keep his eyes open. After a moment he lost the battle and was asleep again.

The next time the alarm went off forty minutes later. The adults had already moved into the living room, and Molly and Hermione went up to get the kids out of bed.

Minerva was overwhelmed when Severus came running into the room after Molly had changed him into his clothes again and had washed his face.

"Minwa," Severus shouted and hugged his stunned adoptive mother. He was so glad that Albus and Minerva have waited for him.

When she had recovered from her first shock, she said, "Have you slept well, Sev?"

"Yes, Aunt Molly read and sang," Severus told her eagerly.

"So you like it here?" Minerva asked.

Severus looked at her and then asked cautiously, "You don't want to leave me here, do you?"

Minerva hugged him again, and when she wasn't able to answer his question because she fought with her tears, Albus took Severus in his lap.

"No, Severus, we won't leave you here. You live with us at Hogwarts and that won't change. But we already told you that you will stay here during daytime when school starts again," Albus explained calmly trying to stop Severus from turning around to look at Minerva.

Severus had noticed that something wasn't right and so tried to look at Minerva even when Albus tried his best to prevent it. "Minwa sad?" Severus asked, worried.

"You know that Minerva is sometimes a little sad Severus, but right now she is just happy to see you again," Albus explained and gave up hindering Severus' view of Minerva.

"But Minwa crying," Severus said confused. Why would she cry if she is happy to see me?

Albus was at a loss for words, and Minerva still was drying the tears on her face. So Molly tried to intervene. "Sometimes mothers are a little worried when they don't see their children for some time, and then they cry because they are so happy to see their children again."

Severus looked at Minerva and then crawled on her lap. "I'm here, Minwa. You don't have to cry anymore. If you want I will stay here with you."

"Oh, no, Severus. I'm just a sentimental old witch. I'm very happy you were so nice and had a good nap. Aunt Poppy will be proud of you, as well. Now you will go playing with Bryanna and Kenneth. I'm sure they are already waiting for you," Minerva said and kissed Severus' forehead. Then she placed him on the ground and playfully patted his behind. "Go and play."

She didn't have to tell him twice. He would have stayed with her if that would make her happy, but he would prefer to play with the twins. Seeing that Minerva was smiling again, he followed Molly out of the door.

The playtime with Bryanna and Kenneth was great. They showed him a lot of games and they were patient and didn't call him bad names. From time to time one of the adults came in and also played with them. It was great. The greatest time of Severus life besides the first time Minerva and Albus had brought him into bed and read for him, or the time where he saw his room for the first time.

Bryanna wasn't like the girl he met at his parents' home. She was nice and not so dolly-like. When they played tag, Severus was very shocked and scared when he pushed Bree too hard and she fell, but she just laughed and used his shocked state to touch him and say "Your turn again!" and ran away again.

Kenneth was very funny and often rolled his eyes when Severus was too cautious or feared he would do something wrong. "Just try it" or "Get a grip" was what he said at those moments and then showed Severus what to do. Severus was so glad to have friends.

When Molly came and said that Severus had to go home, all the children protested.

"Come on, Severus, you parents are waiting downstairs and want to have some time with you as well," Molly said encouraging.

Shortly Severus stiffened at the word parents, but then he realized that Molly meant Albus and Minerva. And home was now the castle and not the Manor.

They all went down to the living room and were saying their goodbyes. Harry hadn't shown up again, but the rest of the family was there. Severus hugged Bree and Ken and promised to come back soon. After that he went over to Minerva, took her hand and said, "Let's go home, Mummy!"

Minerva's mouth fell open and before Severus could realize her reaction, Albus took him in his arms and said, "Yes let's go home, my boy."