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Glass shattered across the classroom floor. Immediately, a cry of your frustration followed, echoing against the walls of the otherwise empty room.
"Merlin's beard, I am not redoing this potion again! Ugh, I'm so done!"
Tears were already streaming down your face. You had spent hours hovering over this potion, watching its every move in order to insure its success, and after being only partly successful in brewing a usable potion, you had carelessly dropped the entire vial onto the floor.
"I can't do this, Merlin's beard, I can't do this," You rocked back and forth on your feet. Every feasible negative thought swarmed your mind, and all you could even think to do was sink to the floor and sob.
So that's exactly what you did, slumping to the floor in rage and muttering swears to yourself about your carelessness. Your fists balled as you curled inward; you couldn't even register how quickly you were slipping into little space. But there you were, slamming your fists to the ground angrily and whimpering through tears like the angry, exhausted child you had internally become.
Over your wailing, you couldn't hear the classroom door creak open, nor the clack of premeditated footsteps approaching you. You could only hear the thudding of your feet and the pounding of your hands and your shrieking that filled the entire room. But then his voice came, temporarily averting your attention from the tantrum you hardly realized you were throwing.
"What has happened here, child?" It was Severus, looming above you with concern. His eyes scanned for possible injuries as you continued your fussing. "It appears to be just a spill. Not to worry-"
You perked up at this statement, only to angrily strike a fist against his shoe. "WAS. NOT. JUS. SPILL! Is all ruin, all gone!"
Severus gently bent down to your level on the floor, lifting your chin and guiding you to look at him. "There, there, little one. There is no need to worry about the potion at the moment, we will discuss it when you are no longer regressed." His arms then wrapped around your torso and he lifted you up, holding you to his chest.
Almost instinctively, you pressed your face into him and sucked in a shaky breath. Severus's hand rubbed the small of your back to ease your soft cries. He began to bounce you a little, and, with gentle fingers, swept a lock of hair out of your weary eyes.
"Although rather careless of you, dear, you have been stressing far too much over this one potion." From his lips came the same monotone string of words that always did, but this time, with a more forgiving demeanor. "We simply cannot let it become so strenuous on you to where you are throwing a fit on my classroom floor."
You knew he had a point, but you couldn't help but crinkle your face into a pout against him anyway. He must have felt your brows furrowing, because he continued to speak, almost as an afterthought. "Though I suppose that is what littles will do, yes?"
The words blurred together in your small mind, but you thoughtlessly nodded in agreement. You felt the faint hum of approval vibrate throughout his chest. Severus lifted you up closer to him and planted a soft kiss on the top of your head. The faint swishing of his wand followed, and you finally found yourself drifting asleep.
You woke up to the smell of brewing herbs and firewood, a soft blanket resting on top of you and your weight pressed into the couch. Your eyes, still blurry from sleep, glanced across the room to the dark figure standing at the kitchenette.
"Sevvy?" You lifted yourself up with wobbly arms.
He only hummed in response, not turning from the counter to face you. You tilted your head and repeated yourself, unhappy with his lack of words.
"Sevvy, can c'mere?"
"In a moment, darling, the tea is almost ready." A faint pouring noise came from in front of him.
You blinked in confusion. "Tea?" It wasn't a common drink for you to enjoy while small; it was much too hot. Though, now thinking about it, you did enjoy the thought of Severus blowing on a warm cup of it, just to be sure it was cool enough for you to drink before lifting it to your lips.
"Mhm... Perhaps you'd like to try it?" Finally, he turned to you, holding a single teacup.
You reached out to him with grabby hands. With that, he made his way towards you, sinking into the couch and setting the teacup down in front of himself. As you reached out to take it, he gently grabbed your wrist.
"Ah-ah, little one, we need to wait for it to cool." Noticing your frown, he continues, "But, you may sit on my lap in the meantime, if you wish."
You nodded, easily pacified by the thought of the warmth of his arms. He seemed to have a way of grounding you, just by holding you close to him. It surely wasn't an offer you were going to pass up either way.
He reached out and lifted you up onto him, allowing you to rest your head on his chest again. You babbled a few half-words in thanks. Severus began to run his nimble fingers through your hair, earning another nuzzle against his chest. Sometimes, no words needed to be said between you two; the way he protected you in this most vulnerable state, when you entrusted your regressed self to him, spoke volumes.
Just as easily as you were distracted from the tea, you drifted back into a light slumber. He wrapped a firm arm around your waist as his hand continued stroking through tangled locks of hair. Before finally drifting off, you pressed your lips against the fabric of his vest. "Tank you for helpin, Sev.."
He softened his voice as though not to stir you. "Always, little one. I promise to keep you safe."