Not bothering to check whether Albus was in his office or not, Don used the Floo Network to enter his office as soon as he reached the fireplace. Upon arriving at the Headmaster's office, he felt a tinge of irritation that the man was not there as he had hoped. The rational part of his mind knew that Albus was a busy man, but the worried side just wanted answers from him.
Sighing, Don sat down in the visitor's chair to wait for the older wizard. He had a feeling that Albus could arrive at any moment, and he was too anxious to discuss the matter with him to wait for another time. This was important and concerned the health of the child under his care.
As Don settled down to wait, he closed his eyes for a brief moment, intending to rest them just for a second. Surprisingly, he found himself being gently shaken awake by a hand. Had he really fallen asleep? Opening his eyes, a wave of relief washed over him as he saw Albus standing before him, his gentle hand resting on Don's shoulder.
"Don," Albus inquired with a hint of amusement in his voice, "may I ask why you've chosen my office as your impromptu resting place?"
Becoming more alert, Don shook the gentle hand from his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Albus. I came to speak with you about something and thought I had just closed my eyes for a moment. I guess I should have listened to Pam this morning and taken that nap she kept pestering me about."
Albus nodded but continued to scrutinize the Healer. He could tell something was amiss with the man. Inwardly sighing, Albus sat down in the chair next to Don's, resigned to the prospect of more bad news.
"I'm sorry, Don; I was trying to get the adoption papers in order for Severus and Harry. What was it that you wanted to discuss?"
Don sighed and looked up at Albus, trying with all his might to suppress the worry in his heart. "There was an incident with Harry today on his way to Charms."
Albus nodded again. "Filius informed me that Harry never made it to class. I assumed he might have just gone down to the dungeons. I take it that's not the case?"
Worry was now creeping into the old man's voice, and Don partially regretted bringing up this subject. Nevertheless, Don pressed on and told Albus about the day's events, including sending Severus back to his classes and Harry recounting the voice he had heard.
As Don spoke, Albus sank back further into his chair, deep in thought. When the Healer finished speaking and looked at Albus expectantly, the old wizard sighed and voiced his thoughts.
"I think I know what might have happened, but I need to see Harry before I can be certain. I don't believe it's schizophrenia, but I don't want to divulge too much before I know for sure."
Don nodded in understanding. There was no need to worry about something that might not be true in the first place, and he felt slightly grateful that the older wizard had decided not to burden him with potentially unfounded concerns.
"Harry is asleep in his room. He should wake up in an hour or so, around the time classes end."
Albus rose from his chair. "Then now might be the perfect time."
Don stood up as well, but was somewhat confused. Albus wanted to talk to Harry, didn't he? If so, he would have to wake the boy up. Sighing, Don decided to just go along with the man's plan for now, at least.
The two quickly used the Floo Network to travel to Severus's quarters, and upon reaching Severus's rooms, they proceeded to Harry's. Before they reached Harry's room, though, Don placed a hand on Albus's shoulder, prompting him to turn and look at him.
"Are you going to wake him? I gave him a pretty strong sleeping potion."
Albus shook his head sadly. "No, I won't wake him. I plan to look inside his mind, and it's better if I do this while he's asleep. He can dismiss it as a dream if he remembers my presence."
Don raised an eyebrow. "You're going to perform Legilimency on the boy? Could that be dangerous?"
Albus shook his head again. "If he were awake, it would be, but since he's asleep, he'll be fine. I'm just going to look into his mind and see exactly what happened and what he heard, nothing more."
Letting out a sigh of relief, Don nodded. Hearing the sigh, Albus turned and looked the Healer in the eyes, placing a calming hand on his shoulder. "Would it make you feel better if you watched over us?"
Don nodded, and Albus gently led the man into the child's room and to the chair by Harry's bedside. While Don was getting settled, Albus sat next to the boy on the bed and carefully ensured he was tightly wrapped in his blankets. He intended to place Harry on his lap to make the process easier for both of them but didn't want the boy to catch a chill. In the next moment, Albus picked the boy up, blanket and all, and gently positioned him sideways on his lap. With his free hand, he expertly lifted the boy's eyelids and muttered the spell that would allow him to enter Harry's mind.
As Albus opened his eyes, he found himself enveloped in darkness, save for a dim light emanating from the ceiling. It appeared to be a bare bulb with a simple drawstring for turning it on and off. He shifted his focus, searching for Harry. The boy must be in this room; after all, this was his mind they were navigating.
"Harry?" Albus called out cautiously.
He received no response, just a small, chilling gust of wind. Undeterred, Albus called out again, and this time, a faint whimper reached his ears from somewhere to his left in the murky shadows. His concern escalating, Albus hastened toward the source of the sound.
"Harry, child, is that you?" The urgency in his voice was palpable.
What the Headmaster discovered sent a shudder down his spine. He found Harry curled up in a tight ball on the cold floor, seemingly trying to shield himself from harm. Kneeling down, Albus gently picked the boy up and placed him on his lap, wrapping his arms around him in a protective embrace.
"It's Professor Dumbledore, Harry. You're safe here. No one will hurt you."
Albus felt a small measure of relief as Harry's tense body relaxed slightly upon recognizing his voice.
"Uncle?" The word was barely audible, laden with fear.
Albus sighed deeply, and for the millionth time since the beginning of the year, cursed himself for ever placing this child with those despicable people.
"No, Harry, your uncle is not here. And rest assured, if he were, I would never let him come anywhere near you. I promise you, I will never allow anyone to hurt you again." The conviction in his voice carried the weight of his determination to protect the young boy at all costs.
Harry nodded and sat up in Albus's lap but still clung to the man as if his life depended on it. Getting a better look at Harry, Albus realized that the child in Harry's mind appeared much younger than the real-life Harry. He had only heard of this happening in people who hadn't had proper childhoods growing up; they needed to relive what they lost in their own minds to stay sane. Albus cursed himself once again.
All those thoughts ceased when Harry looked at him with bright green eyes. They were beautiful and not dulled by witnessing so much hurt in his young life. If only the outside Harry still possessed that innocence. Gently smiling, Albus brushed back the hair that kept obstructing the boy's face.
"Hello, Harry," Albus greeted the child warmly. "May I ask how old you are?"
Harry pondered for a moment, looking down at his hands. Then, with a tentative gesture, he held up four small fingers.
"I'm this many," he said softly.
Albus couldn't help but sigh. Nothing could ever be simple, could it? However, looking back down at the child, he offered a reassuring smile.
"Very good, Harry! Now, would you mind answering a few more questions for me?"
Harry nodded but seemed a bit apprehensive. To reassure him, Albus gently hugged the child a little closer.
"It's alright, Harry. I'm just curious to know if there is anyone else in here with you. Do you have any friends who visit from time to time?"
Slowly, Harry shook his head, and Albus let out a small sigh of relief. That meant the child wasn't schizophrenic. It must be something else, then. It was time for plan B.
"Thank you for telling me that, Harry. Now, just one last question. Could you show me where you keep the memories from earlier today?"
Harry looked down at his lap. "You want to see what happened before Charms today."
Albus was impressed by the boy's perceptiveness. "Yes, child, I do. I want to understand what happened so that I can help you."
Harry's eyes, filled with fear, met the Professor's. "Do... do I have to watch too?" he asked hesitantly. He didn't want to hear that voice ever again.
Albus reached down and rubbed the boy's back soothingly. "No, child, you don't have to watch."
Harry nodded with relief and made to get off the man's lap. "The door is this way." Harry pointed to the right, and the light from the ceiling swung back and forth a little, making the room brighter in some places and darker in others.
Frowning, Albus got off the ground and looked down at the small boy who was still in his arms. "May I ask where we are, child? I fear I have never seen this place."
"We're inside my cupboard. That's where ungrateful freaks sleep; they don't deserve a good boy room."
The matter-of-fact way Harry told Albus where they were made Albus close his eyes for a moment and let out a small sigh. Gently, he scooped the small boy into his arms and hugged him close to his chest. What on earth had they done to this child?
"You still don't believe that you are a freak, do you?"
Harry looked down and gave a small nod. "I know Sev'rus says that I'm not, and so does Don, but I know I am. Even the teachers at school said I was a freak, and I was dumber than a rock."
Albus hugged the boy a little closer to his chest. "Child, those people were lying to you. You are not a freak by any means, and you are very smart. I know it's hard to believe us right now, but I hope one day you will."
No response came from Harry, and Albus just pushed the child's cheek down to rest on his shoulder. With his arms full of Harry, Albus took a clump of lint from his pocket and transfigured it to look like the stuffed cat Severus had given him. Very gently, Albus put it in the boy's hands, and he was glad to see Harry clutch onto the small toy.
"Come on now, child. Can you tell me where to go? I promise you I will leave you where you cannot see anything."
Harry nodded against the man's shoulder and pointed up ahead. "Just keep following the broken toys, and you will come upon a door. The door opens quickly, so don't get your fingers caught in the hinges."
Albus nodded. "Do you want to stay here, child, or would you like to come with me to the door?"
"I'll stay here; I don't want to hear that voice again."
"Okay then, let's put you down now. Do you have anywhere soft you can lie down?"
Harry gave a small nod and pointed to a small lumpy mattress that barely looked big enough for a baby. Sighing, Albus put the boy on his feet, but before he turned to follow the trail of broken toys, Albus pointed his wand at the boy's 'bed' and made it more comfortable for the child and enlarged it.
"There you go, Harry. Why don't you go play with Shadow now?"
Harry nodded and happily ran over to his new, comfortable bed with his new toy. Albus let a sad smile grace his face and then started to follow the broken toys, as the child had instructed him to.
As he followed the trail of toys, Albus sighed at the implications that in Harry's mind, either everything was dark or it was broken and shabby. Albus decided that he couldn't dwell on it too much, at least not now. Having an overly emotional wizard in the mind of a child was not the best thing for the child's healing process. In fact, if his magic got out of control in here, it might cause the child to go insane. Magic had strange effects sometimes.
Reaching the end of the trail of broken toys, Albus looked up and saw the door, sighing when he noticed the chains that were locking it. Carefully, the man placed a hand on the lock that was holding the chains in place and called out to Harry, asking him to open the door just for a moment so that he could see what had happened and help him.
To the man's great joy, it seemed that Harry had somehow heard his request, and there was a soft clicking noise that signaled the lock unlocking. Opening his eyes and removing his hand, Albus gently untangled the chains and opened the door just wide enough for him to enter.
Inside, Albus was amazed by the utter chaos of the thoughts rushing by him in great flashes of light. Gathering his wits, Albus blinked his eyes and looked around again to see whether he could step forward to find what he was looking for. It was a good thing that he had looked too, for it seemed as if he was standing on the edge of a cliff, a very steep one at that.
Again, the man sighed and resigned himself to stand there, trying to search through the memories where he stood. He wouldn't invade the boy's privacy; as much as he would like to satisfy his curiosity, he didn't want to make the boy distrust him, and he knew that peeking would start that slippery slope.
So, very carefully, Albus pulled out his wand and called, "Accio memory, today after Transfiguration." He didn't know how specific he had to be, so he thought he would play it safe. Fortunately, he had called the right memory to him, as he could see the faint glint of the hall where Harry was found.
With another sigh, Albus placed his wand in his pocket and pulled the memory closer to his face. Then, without further hesitation, the man placed his head into the memory as if it were a vertical plate of water. Silently, he stood there and watched the entire incident unfold. When he had finished watching everything
that happened, Albus pulled his head out of the steady stream of thoughts and let the memory return to whizz around with the others.
Carefully, the man took two steps back and stepped out of the door. He then made sure the lock and chains were as he left them and leaned heavily against the
door with his eyes closed.
Since he had been inside Harry's memories and Harry could speak Parseltongue, Albus could understand everything the snake had been saying. He also knew that it was indeed a snake that had been talking; it had been obvious how it had practically hissed out the words.
To say the least, this latest development frightened Albus, not only for Harry, but also for what it meant for the school. If that snake was what he thought it was, they would have to shut down the school before anyone was petrified or even killed. At this moment, Albus was connecting the dots, thinking of the events that had taken place long ago. Then too, the birds had disappeared suddenly, and there was not a rat nor spider to be seen.
Sighing one last time, Albus followed the trail of broken toys to where little Harry was. He wanted to make sure, one last time, that Harry was safe and sound. No wonder the child had been so upset after what had happened in that hallway. Merlin, he would be upset if he had heard that.
As Albus approached the spot where he had left Harry, he couldn't help but smile upon seeing the boy on the bed, thoroughly engrossed in playing with the small toy he had conjured for him. Taking a moment to appreciate the sight, Albus broadened his smile and moved to sit down next to Harry on the bed. Suppressing a chuckle, he noticed Harry attempting to hide his toy and blushing in embarrassment. Gently, the wise wizard retrieved the toy from behind the boy's back and placed it back on Harry's lap.
"No need to hide your toy, Harry," Albus reassured him. "It warms my heart to see you enjoying it."
Harry looked down, blushing even more. Albus couldn't contain his smile as he wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulder.
"I must be on my way now, Harry. Remember to keep Shadow safe for me, and don't forget that all of this has been a dream."
Harry nodded hesitantly. "Will Shadow go away when the dream ends?"
Albus smiled tenderly at the boy. "No, Harry. Shadow will remain with you even after the dream is over."
"Thank you, sir," Harry murmured gratefully.
"You're very welcome, child. Now, I must take my leave."
Albus gently unwrapped his arm from around Harry's shoulder and stood up from the bed. Casting one last affectionate glance at the young boy, he nodded his head, closed his eyes, and carefully exited the child's mind.
As Albus was slowly waking up from his legilimency haze, he began to recognize his surroundings. Sometimes after visiting someone's mind, it was hard figuring out where you were, just like when you traveled all the time and woke up in the middle of the night trying to figure out what city you were in. First, the Headmaster felt the slight weight on his lap of the small child and then the tingling of his fingers that had fallen asleep holding Harry's eyes open. As he felt the tingling sensation, he gently drew back his hand and let the boy's eyelids fall back into place. Then, noticing that his whole body was stiff and sore, the old man attempted to move Harry back onto the bed, but before he could move a muscle, Don was by his side, moving Harry for him.
After moving the boy, Don gently helped the old wizard stand up and took much of his weight on his shoulders, as his legs were not quite awake yet.
"Take it easy there, Albus. You haven't moved from that position for more than half an hour. Come now, let me get you to a comfortable chair and a glass of water."
Albus simply nodded in consent, accepting that sometimes, in his old age, he could use some help. Don saw the small nod and began to lead the man out into the living room so they could sit more comfortably. When the Healer managed to get the older man in his seat, he quickly called a house elf. Fortunately for him, he didn't need to tell Tippy anything, as she had been watching and popped in with a glass of water already in hand.
After thanking the elf, Don took the water and handed it to Albus.
"Drink some, Albus, and then please tell me what you learned."
Albus took a big sip and slowly nodded his head. "Do you want the good news, the slightly concerning news, or the bad news?"
Don heaved a sigh and looked at Albus. Might as well get the bad news out of the way. "What is the bad news?"
Taking another sip of his water, Albus looked at Don sitting next to him. "Well, I guess the good and the bad intertwine, so I'll tell them both to you. The good news is that Harry does not have any mental disorders; he is not 'hearing voices' in his head. The bad news is he is hearing the ramblings of a snake, meaning that he is a Parselmouth. That is not really bad news, but if the snake I think Harry is hearing is here at Hogwarts, we will have to close down the school until it can be found."
Looking at the Healer, confused, Don arched an eyebrow. "What do you think Harry is hearing?"
Piercing the Healer with his bright blue eyes, Albus hesitantly answered his question with a question. "Have you ever heard of the Chamber of Secrets?"
Slowly, Don shook his head. "Not much, only that it was opened some years back."
Albus's eyes grew hazy as Don assumed he was being pulled back into his past. "Yes, it was opened. Fifty years ago. I was still just a teacher when it was opened; a girl died, and lives were ruined that year. I don't know much more about the creature than that and that somehow it can get around the castle without being seen."
Don looked at Albus, half in shock and half in fear, not just for the small boy on the bed but also for the students who might make a chance encounter with the beast. Slowly, Don closed his eyes and lowered his face so that it rested in his hands.
"What are we going to do?"
Albus sighed as he was shaken out of his memory. "Well, for this week, we will act as normal while I start to send out letters to parents explaining that next week the wards will have to be renewed, so everyone will have to be sent home for a short amount of time. With Harry, that is up to you, my dear friend."
Albus looked up at Don with a small smile. "You know I can only do so much to help a hurt child."
Don nodded his head and sighed. "Why do you always leave me the hard jobs?"
"Because you're good at it, Don."
Don sighed again and shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder if you chose the right person to watch over your boys."
"Don, look at me!"
The Healer slowly raised his head to look at the man in front of him and winced slightly when he saw the determination in his eyes.
"I chose you over every other Healer at the clinic for one reason, and one reason only. You are the best at what you do. Have you spoken with Quin since we visited the Dursleys?"
"Thank you, Albus, and yes, I spoke with Quin that night."
"Good, now Severus will be back from classes soon. How much do you want to tell him? How much do you think he can handle?"
Don looked at Albus and gave him somewhat of a scolding look. One of the older wizard's faults was trying to keep things from people. The Healer knew that it was mostly out of good intention and that he hated to worry people, but it was a bad habit. People do not like being lied to or manipulated.
"We are telling him everything, Albus. He has a right to know it all."
Albus sighed. "You are right, Don. Do you want me to stay or do you want to inform him on what is happening by yourself?"
"It might be best if you stayed. He is likely to become upset, and I might need some help."
Albus nodded. "That is fine. Do you mind if I just go grab the adoption papers? Maybe I can finish those while we wait."
"Go ahead, Albus. I'm going to go sit with Harry."
Albus stood up while nodding his head. He then walked over to the floo, but before he left, he turned around and looked at Don.
"I'll be right back. Do you want me to get you anything?"
Don started to shake his head, but then nodded. "Actually, can you grab some of that calming tea you keep in your office for Severus? I think we're going to need
some."
Another nod came from Albus, and then he flooed to his office, only to return minutes later with the paperwork and tea in hand. When Albus had come back through the floo, he saw that the room was now empty, as Don had gone into Harry's room to watch over him. So with a small sigh, Albus sat down in front of the coffee table and laid out the paperwork he had yet to complete. When he had everything on the table, Albus summoned Tippy and asked him to bring a teapot of hot water so that he could brew the tea.
Before the elf could pop back in with the teapot, though, Severus came rushing into the room.
"Albus, why are you here?"
Albus let a small smile grace his face as he gently patted the seat next to him. The elf had popped back in, and Albus took his time adding the tea to the hot water. Before Albus could finish what he was doing with the tea, though, Severus slammed his fist down on the table.
"Dammit, Albus, tell me what is wrong with Harry already!"
Calmly, Albus set down the tea and cast a cleaning spell on what had spilled onto the floor and table. He then looked up at Severus and gently placed a hand on Severus's.
"Calm down, my boy. Don will be here in a moment, and then we can calmly discuss what happened in the hallway."
Severus closed his eyes, and Albus could tell that the man was trying to control his breathing so that he would not explode. Finally, after a few moments, Severus opened his eyes again and gave a small nod.
"I'm sorry, Albus. I'm just worried; he... he was bleeding so much."
Albus gave the man a gentle smile. "I know, my boy. Why don't you have some tea? It will help you relax."
Severus nodded and carefully accepted the cup of tea that Albus handed him. After a few sips of tea, Severus looked up to find that Don was now sitting across from him in a chair. Before Severus was even able to open his mouth to ask how Harry was, he was stopped by Don, who raised his hand to silence him.
"Harry is fine, Severus, and I have a monitoring charm on him so that I will know when he awakens. After you finish that tea, I'll tell you more about what happened."
Severus nodded and started to drink more of his tea. He was annoyed that they weren't telling him anything without making him drink this damn tea, but deep down he knew that if they wanted him to drink the tea first, this must be something significant.
When Severus set down his teacup, Albus poured some more into it and gave the man a small smile when he saw Severus scowl at him.
"Do I have to drink this too before you tell me what is going on?"
Don smiled at Severus while he shook his head. "No, Severus, just sip on it. It will keep you calm."
"Fine, then. Now will you tell me what the matter is?"
Don sighed and looked up at Severus. He then began to explain very carefully what had happened to Harry and all about the voice he had heard. Albus then explained about going into the child's head and seeing what had happened in that hallway. When the two were finished filling Severus in, the man sank back into his chair and closed his eyes.
"I'm taking Harry home, and that's final."
Albus nodded; he had expected Severus to react this way. "Okay, Severus, you can take him home in the morning. Let me go and make the house ready tonight first. I still have to do some things to make sure Harry will be comfortable there."
Severus nodded. "Can I go sit with him?"
Don nodded. "Yes, Severus. Before you go, though, I wanted to let you know that Mrs. Landow has agreed to have tea with the two of you this Saturday. Do you think you still want to meet up with her after today?"
Severus sighed softly and gave a hesitant nod. "I believe Harry would benefit even more from the meeting now."
"Very well. I'll write down her address for you."
"Thank you," Severus replied, before standing up and making his way to the bedroom where Harry was resting. After the man had left, Don turned to Albus.
"That went more smoothly than I anticipated."
Albus revealed a small vial of half-empty calming potion, causing Don to raise an eyebrow and shake his head. Albus merely returned the raised eyebrow with one of his own and an innocent shrug.
"What can I say?"
"You're one cunning old man. Wise, but cunning," Don commented.
Albus grinned and pocketed the vial. "Will you be all right here with Severus and Harry? I need to complete this paperwork and send out letters to the parents."
"Yes, Albus, go ahead. I'll ensure these two have something to eat, even if it's just soup."
As Albus rose from his chair and moved towards the Floo, he placed a gentle hand on Don's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"Call me if you need anything."
"I will, Albus. Don't forget to get some rest tonight," Don reminded him.
Albus just nodded his head before he walked through the Floo. He knew he wouldn't get any sleep tonight. As he sat down in his chair behind the desk, Albus sighed. He had not yet shared all the news that the Healer should know. The man already had too much on his plate tonight; he would share the concerning information about the broken toys and the dark cupboard tomorrow. There was little they could do now anyway.
After Albus left Severus's rooms, Don got up and walked quietly to where his two boys were in Harry's room. Stopping in the doorway, Don smiled as he watched Severus run his long fingers through Harry's hair and gently caress the boy's cheek occasionally.
Smiling, Don entered the room and came to sit in the chair by Harry's bed, as Severus was sitting on the edge of the bed.
"How are you feeling, Severus?"
Not stopping the soothing of the child, Severus looked over at Don.
"I'm scared, Don. I know we were only joking about keeping Harry out of trouble, but he really is a magnet for danger. How am I supposed to keep him safe? He was only walking to his class, and this happened!"
Don placed a calming hand on Severus's back. "You have help, Severus; you're not alone."
Severus's hand stopped soothing the boy, and it came up to cover his face. Don felt, under his hand, Severus's back heave in a silent sob. Sighing, Don got up while removing his hand from Severus's back. He then gently lifted Severus up onto his feet by his armpits and let the man turn and collapse into his arms.
Gently, Don rubbed soothing circles on the man's back as he quietly cried out his fears.
"It's okay, Severus; it's okay."
For ten minutes, the two men stood that way. Then, Severus pulled back and silently wiped away the tears with a handkerchief he had dug out from his pocket. Don let him, but still kept Severus close. As Severus tucked the handkerchief back into his pocket, Don could clearly see the man's red-rimmed eyes. With a small smile, Don placed a hand on Severus's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Feel better now?"
"Thank you, Don."
"You know that is unnecessary, Severus, but you're welcome. Now have a seat, and I'll go get something for you to eat. Harry should be waking soon, but I don't know whether he will be up to eating anything just yet."
Severus did as Don told him and sat down in the chair next to Harry's bed. The next moment, though, it seemed that Don did not have to leave or call a house elf because Tibby had already popped in with a tray in her arms.
Don smiled down at the elf as he accepted the tray. "Thank you, Tibby, and please extend my gratitude to the Headmaster as well."
"Tibby will, sir! Does Master Healer require anything else?"
"No, Tibby, but I appreciate your assistance."
With a nod, the small elf disappeared with a pop, leaving Don to carry the tray over to Severus and place it on his lap.
"Drink your potion, Severus, and then please attempt to eat at least a little something."
Obediently, Severus downed his potion and picked up his spoon to dig into the stew the elf had provided. As he did so, Don pulled up another chair and placed it next to Severus. Sitting down, he observed Severus merely playing with his food, rather than eating it.
"Severus, I must ask you to stop toying with your food."
With a sigh, Severus lifted the spoon and took a mouthful. After a few more bites, he put the spoon down and pushed the bowl away, releasing another weary sigh.
"Is your stomach causing you discomfort?"
Severus nodded slowly. "Please, don't make me eat any more."
Don sighed, relenting. "Alright, Severus. In that case, would you be willing to drink a nutrient supplement for me?"
Severus nodded while he banished away the tray. He would have done it before, but he knew doing so without Don's approval would have left him with a lecture from the Healer. As Severus closed his eyes and took a deep breath to try to calm his stomach, Don stood up and went into the other room.
When the Healer came back into the room, he had two vials of potions in his hands. Coming over, he sat back down next to Severus and placed a gentle hand on the man's arm.
"I have a stomach soother here for you, Severus."
Opening his eyes, Severus grabbed the potion and downed it in one go. Don really hated seeing Severus like this. Whenever the man became this upset, his emotions went haywire, making his body react along with the upset. When Severus did something, he never did anything half-heartedly, that was for sure, and this was no different.
"Alright, Severus, now the nutrient potion."
Severus nodded, taking the nutrient potion and quickly consuming it. He handed the two empty vials back to Don, his gaze returning to Harry. Don sighed and placed a comforting hand on Severus's arm, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Everything will be fine, Severus. Do you have any papers to grade?"
If Don could distract Severus, then he would. It wasn't healthy for him to worry so much.
"No," Severus replied, shaking his head.
Don sighed again, leaning back in his chair. "Alright then, Severus."
An hour later, Harry stirred slightly in his sleep, his small hands clutching at the sheets. Instantly, Severus snapped out of his daze and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Tenderly, he brushed the boy's hair back from his forehead. Within a few moments, Harry's eyes fluttered open and looked up at Severus with fear.
Seeing the fear in the boy's eyes, Severus whispered gentle reassurances, his voice soothing and calm. Harry's tension slowly eased, his body relaxing.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, child?"
"Are you mad at me?"
Severus sighed but offered the child a weak smile, his eyes softening. "No, Harry. What makes you think I would be?"
Harry's gaze shifted to the wall, and his eyes clouded over, a vulnerable expression crossing his face. "I... I did something... strange."
Severus furrowed his brows in confusion and exchanged a glance with Don, seeking any indication that he knew what Harry was talking about. When the Healer subtly shrugged his shoulders, Severus turned his attention back to the boy.
"What do you mean, Harry?"
"Are... are you going to send me back to the Dursleys?" Harry asked hesitantly, his voice trembling slightly.
Bringing his hand up to cup Harry's cheek, Severus turned the boy's head so that he could only look into his face.
"I will never send you back there, Harry. I promise you that, and I do not make promises I cannot keep."
Tears welled up in Harry's eyes. Severus sighed and was grateful that Harry was still wrapped up in the blanket Albus had him wrapped in when he lifted him onto his lap. Gently, Severus lifted Harry up and deposited him on his lap, hugging the child tightly. He comforted the child while also making sure that Harry was truly all right for himself.
Harry comfortably laid his head on Severus's shoulder. "There's something wrong with me. Why was I hearing that voice?"
Holding the child close to him, Severus looked Harry directly in the eyes. The three had not discussed what they should tell the child about his newfound ability, so Severus tried his best to explain the situation very gently.
"It's complicated, Harry, but there's nothing wrong with you. It seems that you have a special gift. You're a Parselmouth, meaning you can talk to snakes."
"Not... not everyone can do that?"
"You knew that you could speak to snakes?"
Slowly, Harry nodded his head. "When... when I went to the zoo with the Dursleys, a snake talked to me, and I accidentally set him free. That means I'm even more of a freak, doesn't it?"
Stroking the child's back gently, Severus shook his head. "No, Harry, you're not a freak. This is a gift, a very special gift."
Tears threatened to spill from Harry's eyes again, and the child turned to bury his face in Severus's robes.
"Hey now, everything is okay. There's no need for tears, child."
As Severus was trying to comfort the child, Don came over and sat next to the two on the bed. When he felt that the child was calm enough, Don placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. Harry turned his head and looked over at Don.
Smiling warmly, Don looked into Harry's eyes. "Hi there, Harry. How are you feeling?"
"I... I don't know."
Gently, Don patted the boy on the shoulder. "That's okay, Harry. I wanted to tell you that tomorrow, you and Severus will go home for a few weeks. Albus has gone to prepare your room and get everything ready."
Harry gave a weary nod against Severus's shoulder. "So... what was the voice? Was it a snake?"
Both the Healer and Severus gave a small nod, but it was Don who continued for Severus, as the man seemed unable to at that moment. "It was a snake, Harry. A very large one, but I don't want you to worry about that, okay?"
Again, Harry gave a small nod. "I... I can't go back to school?"
Don sighed and shared a look with Severus. "Harry, everyone will be going home next week. That snake that was talking is very dangerous, and thanks to you hearing it, we know that it has been let loose."
Harry gave a small nod once more, his eyes searching Severus's face for reassurance.
"Daddy, will you still be teaching?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
Severus glanced over at Don and then nodded, his expression softening. "During the day, I will teach, but Pam or Don will come by to stay with you, so you're not alone. Maybe we can use this time to catch you up even more on your studies and help you explore your interests."
Hearing this, Harry relaxed further in Severus's arms, the corners of his mouth lifting into a faint smile. The man couldn't help but smile back, his heart swelling with love for the boy.
"Are you hungry, child?" Severus inquired, noticing the way Harry's stomach gave a quiet rumble.
Harry nodded slightly, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "A little," he admitted shyly.
Severus patted Harry's back gently, reassuring him. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about, Harry. Let's get you something to eat, alright?"
Severus smiled down at Harry. "Why don't you get cleaned up, and then we'll sit down at the table and have a little something to eat? Your tummy must be hungry; you haven't had anything to eat since this morning."
Harry made a move to get up, so Severus helped him get untangled from the blanket and then down onto his feet. Severus then got to his own feet and gently pushed Harry towards the bathroom.
As soon as Harry left the room, Don placed a gentle hand on Severus's shoulder. "You did well, Severus, but you know he's going to ask questions."
Severus sighed. "I know, and I'll tell him what we know. I want him to feel comfortable enough to ask, though, instead of me overwhelming him with information."
"And that is why you are the best person for Harry. Now, do you think you can eat a little more since Harry is going to eat at the table?"
Again, Severus sighed. "I'll try."
Don gave Severus's shoulder a small, comforting squeeze. "Let's go and ask the elves for something then."
Severus nodded, and the two started to walk towards the table. When they reached their destination, they both sat down, and Don called Tippy for some food. After the elf smiled knowingly, nodded, and then popped away, food appeared on the table, enough for all three of them.
Moments later, Harry emerged from the bathroom and sat down in his chair, dressed in new clothes and with a wet head of hair.
Smiling at Harry, Severus pushed the plates of food a little closer to the boy. "Go ahead and eat, Harry. You missed lunch, and you need all the food you can get."
Harry nodded and, after drinking a whole glass of milk, picked up his fork to eat. While the boy was eating his food, Severus threw him small glances between taking bites of his own food. When Severus saw that Harry was almost finished, the man put down his fork and looked over at Harry.
"Harry?"
The child looked up at his guardian curiously.
"I know you must have questions, Harry. You can ask me anything you want anytime, okay?"
Harry gave a small nod and picked up his fork to eat some more of his food. Don looked over at Severus and gave the man a nod of approval. He knew that Severus didn't really want to answer those questions, but he would, and he was proud of him for doing so.
The rest of the meal went without incident, and Don left shortly after, knowing that Harry was in good hands and that Severus would call him if he needed any help. After banishing the plates away, Severus pulled out the paper Minerva had told him about from Harry's bag and placed it in front of Harry.
"Why don't you work on this for a little bit, and then we can play a game of chess? Alright? Pam is not coming by tonight, but you'll see her tomorrow."
Harry gave a small nod and glanced down at the paper. As he did so, Severus let a small sigh escape his lips.
"Do you need help reading the book?"
Nodding, Harry looked up at Severus, a little ashamed. Severus only smiled down at Harry and moved his chair a bit closer to the boy.
"No need to be ashamed, Harry. Why don't you read the chapter to me out loud?"
Harry opened the book to the right spot and started to read to Severus. The two continued to read and work on Harry's Transfiguration work for a while until Severus noticed Harry's eyes drooping. Although Harry had slept for a while today, it had still been a stressful day for him, and he was bound to be tired.
After letting Harry finish his homework, Severus placed a gentle hand on Harry's. "I can see you're sleepy, Harry. Why don't we postpone our game of chess till tomorrow?"
Harry let a yawn escape and nodded with a small smile.
"Go get in your pajamas, Harry, and I'll be in to tuck you in in a few moments."
Harry nodded and packed away his school things in his bag before hopping down off the chair and running off to his room.
Severus just smiled and shook his head after the boy. One moment he was a scared little boy, the next he could be a child who knew more than he should, and then there were moments like this where he acted his age. Those moments when Harry acted like any other boy his age warmed Severus's heart and made him wish that he could act that way all the time.
With another smile, Severus shook himself out of his thoughts and started to walk to Harry's room. When he entered, he was pleased to see Harry getting into bed and pulling up the covers over himself.
Severus walked over and sat on the edge of Harry's bed, carefully tucking the covers up to envelop the boy's shoulders, making sure he was cozy and warm.
"Sweet dreams, Harry," he whispered affectionately.
"Goodnight, Daddy. I love you," Harry murmured, his voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and sincerity.
Harry held his breath, anxiety tightening his chest as he awaited Severus's reply. He had never openly expressed his love before, and he was a little scared that the man might not reciprocate.
Severus, however, offered a tender smile and leaned down to plant a gentle, loving kiss on the boy's forehead.
"I love you too, Harry," he reassured, his voice warm and comforting. "Now go to sleep; tomorrow you'll get to see your new home, and we'll start our life together in a place filled with happiness and love."
Reassured by his father's words, Harry's heart swelled with warmth as he closed his eyes, ready to drift off into a peaceful slumber.
Harry nodded and closed his eyes sleepily, while Severus smiled and pulled both the small black cat plushy and lion plushy close to the child so that he could hug them if he wanted. The man was rewarded when Harry reached out and drew the small cat close to him, then rolled over and fell asleep almost immediately.
Severus smiled at the sight and gently brushed the hair out of the sleeping child's face before he got up from the bed and headed towards the door. When he was just about out the door, Severus extinguished the lights and cracked the door slightly, but not before placing a monitoring charm on Harry so that he would know whether the boy woke in distress.
When he was outside, Severus sighed and rubbed his eyes. It had been a long day, and he needed some rest himself. So, Severus walked to his own room and got ready for bed, falling asleep just before his head hit the pillow. Unfortunately, Severus would be getting little sleep tonight as well.
snakes