Chapter Text
Harry ran. He couldn’t see where he was running, and it wasn’t until he stopped that he realised it was because the tears were clouding his sight. He didn’t want to think about why he was crying, so he just squeezed his eyes shut and tried his best to not think of anything.
That didn’t work, obviously, because once again he was faced with the fear that nothing had really changed. What proof did he have that Severus wasn’t just playing him? Waiting until the best moments to yell at him, and what if it didn’t stop there? What if Severus would start punishing him like the Dursley’s had?
He’d just been happy to get out from the Dursley’s and then so happy to have a family, a parent, but he wasn’t sure he could take it if Severus would start treating him like the Dursley’s had. Plus, what if he didn’t get his memories? What if he got them but thought it was stupid of him to have taken Harry in and decided to give Harry up?
McGonagall found him sitting by the lake, head between his knees and his thoughts spiraling.
“Mr. Potter? Harry?” she prompted and Harry was slightly surprised to look up and see her standing a good few feet away.
“Yes, Professor,” Harry stammered out, finding there wasn’t quite enough air in his lungs for a proper answer.
“Can I come closer?” she asked and for the second time in that day, Harry wondered why she asked, but he was very grateful that someone seemed to care enough not to just touch him.
“Yeah, but can you… can you sit a bit away still?” Harry answered, feeling like he might break down if someone touched him. He wasn’t even sure how he’d react, but he didn’t think it’d be good.
It was a sight to see Professor McGonagall sit down on the grass by the lake in her full robes, but Harry immediately felt better, safer when she was a bit lower.
Relaxing slightly, he realised he’d been feeling that strange feeling of his magic traveling up and down his arms had been there since he’d realised something was wrong with Severus.
“I don’t think my magic is doing so good, Professor,” Harry confessed and watched as McGonagall just smirked lightly and then tried to compose herself.
“No, Harry, I don’t think it’s very stable. Have you experienced anything more than your push at the Headmaster?” she asked and Harry bit his lip, not knowing if he’d be punished for that.
“Yeah, when Lockhart hexed Severus, I got really scared, but also so angry and then suddenly, his wand was flying out the window. Then down in the Chamber, he tried to grab Ron’s wand and it seemed that my magic reacted even though I couldn’t see them. That’s what caused the collapse of some of the tunnel we were in, closing me off from Ron and Lockhart. It also knocked Lockhart out.”
McGonagall stared at him, and then tilted her head at him, as if trying to see through him and then she opened her mouth to say something, but then they heard something that grabbed their attention.
“Harry, please, Harry!” Severus was running towards them, looking less dignified than ever before.
Harry scuttled backwards a bit, only stopping as McGonagall held out her hand, her eyes pleading with Harry.
“Harry, dear, I think you really should hear him out. If it makes you feel better, I can stay.”
Harry drew in a big breath, trying to think clearly. Despite his spiral earlier, Severus had always had an explanation for his mistakes. Not excuses, just explanations. It was probably best to hear him out. Harry didn’t want this to be the end of his new family.
He nodded to McGonagall and she moved behind him, and Severus slowed as he approached them, looking timid at the sight of them.
“Are you alright? Did Lockhart hurt you?” was the first thing to stumble out of Severus’s mouth. Harry was taken aback by the concern, as he had been sure that he would hear apologies and explanations and please for forgiveness, not this.
Harry recounted the night, confirming that Lockhart didn’t hurt him so much as Harry hurt Lockhart. He skipped over how, not wanting to have that conversation with Severus while things felt so horrible. He told him, them, about the Basilisk, about Tom and how Ginny had looked dead. He told them about the fang and the book and the bird that saved them.
Throughout his story, Severus seemed to be itching to reach out to him and offer comfort, but held himself back.
“I’m so sorry that you felt you had to do that on your own, Harry.” Severus said, when Harry finally finished his story. “And I am so sorry that I reacted that way, when you were only trying to help me. I have to admit, that in the last year, I’ve relearned a lot about patience and taking the time to think things through before I react. When I yelled at you, I didn’t have the memories of that, plus … to be perfectly honest, Lockhart doesn’t really bring out the best side of me,” Severus said, and his lips rose a bit, almost into a conspiratory smile when he mentioned Lockhart.
Harry nodded, knowing exactly what Severus meant about Lockhart, but still wanting to hear what else he had to say. It might not be logical, but Harry needed to know that he wouldn’t have done it with his memories. That he wouldn’t just wait until he could surprise Harry next and then yell at him again.
Severus scooted a bit closer, shooting Harry a questioning look, and Harry nodded again, not trusting himself to speak now.
“I’m so proud and honored that you’ve opened up to me in the past year, and that our connection has grown like it has and that you care for me enough to protect me from anyone, be it Lockhart or Albus. I’m so sorry if you feel like you can’t trust me now, Harry, because I certainly trust you with my life.”
Harry looked over at him, trying to get some kind of read on if he was serious. Severus looked right back at him, not hiding anything, his face pleading. It looked very out of character and for a second, Harry felt uncomfortable with it, before he decided that if Severus was doing something so strange, he must be honest.
“Trust isn’t … normal for me, I guess, but I’m going to try. I just don’t know if I can,” Harry meant to go on, but the thought of what he wanted to say, was too much.
**
Severus could barely hold himself together when Harry spoke the words. It seemed that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t spare Lily’s son pain. His son.
As he finally got Harry to consent to him drawing him in for a hug and nodding to Minerva, seeing her walk off, after glaring at him once more, Severus held him close and tried to commit his body, as well as his mind never to yell at the child ever again.
After a good while, he nudged him, getting them up and inside from the grass. What they needed now was some hot chocolate, Lily’s blanket and no other people that could possibly threaten them.
Severus was pretty sure he’d never open his chamber doors again.
He might be growing into a bit of a paranoid parent, but who could blame him? He was raising god damn Harry Potter. Everything tried to kill him. Severus reckoned he was in for quite a few more years of worrying.
**
They didn’t discuss anything more that day, nor the day after that. Harry went off in the morning to find Hermione and Ron and reassure himself that they were okay. It turned out they needed the same. Severus had been pacing his chambers the whole time Harry was gone, until he gave up and just started brewing a simple potion, trying to distract himself. That’s how Harry found him, when he sneaked in, keeping quiet.
“I’m glad you’re back. Mind grabbing the dried willow roots from that cabinet over there?” and so they had brewed together for the rest of the day, barely remembering to eat some of the offerings from the House Elves.
It isn’t until three days after the Chamber that Dumbledore sent them a letter by owl post.
Gilderoy Lockhart has been charged with Obliviating Professor Severus Snape, as well as dozens of wizards and witches during his adventures. He ’s been charged with child endangerment for taking Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley down to the Chamber of Secrets and blowing up the chamber around himself and Mr. Weasley.
In light of the collective trauma to the school and its pupils, Hogwarts is going on early Easter Holiday and we ’re encouraging all to go home for the duration.
Severus, you are exempt from your normal patrolling duties and I will only expect you back at work on the first day of classes after Easter. Have a good Holiday.
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
Severus and Harry looked at each other as they finished reading and smiled. It might be a bunch of lies, but Lockhart deserved to get a worthy sentence and they deserved the break.
“Can we go home now?” Harry asked and Severus thought his heart was actually growing bigger with this parent thing, because he ached at the idea that he at least hadn’t ruined things enough for Harry to doubt where he could go home.
“Yes, we can go home.” Severus said and then put his hand on top of Harry’s head, pulling him in close. He smiled as he noted that the hair was tidier than it had been in months.
He might worry, but he’d do anything for this boy. He knew that now.