Work Text:
Regulus opened the door to Harry's room. The toddler was sitting up in bed, rubbing at his eyes, still crying. He looked so miserable and tired, bathed in the moonlight.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Regulus said, crouching next to the toddler's bed. "Did you have a bad dream?"
Harry nodded, reaching out for Regulus. He hesitated, but in the end gave in and got into bed. It was a tight fit in the tiny bed, but they made it work.
"Papa song?"
Inwardly, Regulus groaned, but who was he to deny the kid? "Would that make you feel better?"
Harry nodded, snuggling into Regulus, closing his eyes.
"Long may you reign.
You're an animal.
You are bloodthirsty.
Out window panes talking utter nonsense.
You have no idea.
Strings tied to levers, slowed down clocks tethered, all this showmanship
To keep it, for you, In sweetness
Way to go tiger
Higher and higher
Wilder and lighter
For you"
Regulus managed to extract himself from beneath the toddler and attempted to go back downstairs. On his way out, he tripped over one of Harry's toy dinosaurs and hit the wall with a thud. Wincing at the soft sound stirring in the background, he slowly turned around. Sure enough, there was a tiny figure sitting up in bed with a betrayed look on his face. Regulus sighed, rubbing his face. "Come on, Harry, you can come hang with me until mama and daddy get home."
Regulus tucked Harry in on the couch with his favorite stuffie and blankie and walked over to the piano in the corner of the room.
"Now where were we..."
He sat at the piano and started to softly play.
" Long may you roar
At your dinosaurs
You're a just ruler
Covered in mud, you look ridiculous
And you have no idea
Buried down deep and out of your reach, the secret we all vowed to keep it, from you,
In sweetness
Way to go tiger
Higher and higher
Wilder and lighter
For you
You got the dragonflies above your bed
You have a favorite spot on the swing set
You have no room in your dreams for regrets
You have no idea
The time will arrive for the cruel and the mean
You'll learn to bounce back just like your trampoline
But now we'll curtail your curiosity
In sweetness
Way to go, Tiger
Higher and higher
Wilder and lighter
For you"
Regulus finished the song, and Harry was out cold. Regulus went over to join him on the sofa. In his sleep, Harry managed to find his warmth and snuggled into him. Regulus smiled, looking down at him. Not long after, he ended up also nodding off.
James and Lily walked into a quiet home after getting back from their concert. It was a little too quiet. Granted, Regulus is a quiet individual 99% of the time, though. They had walked to the living room, noticing the light was still on. "Should we wake him?" James whispered, not taking his eyes off his husband and child.
"No, I think we should let them sleep. Regulus hasn't been sleeping much either the last few nights, and I don't want waking him up to mess with that." Lily said, taking her phone out of her purse. "But first," she snapped a photo of the two.