Whelp II The Wrath of Snape

'They'll be just fine,' Molly said, as if Severus needed her reassurance.

'I know,' he said into the cup of tea she pressed into his hands as soon as he sat down.

'And Harry certainly knows the way back inside, if he needs to see you.'

'Yes, of course,' he agreed.

'This morning, I'll let him just get used to the place, play with the others; we've even got a Quidditch pitch out back. Small one, but my boys seems to enjoy it well enough. This afternoon, I have some chores need doing, and thought Harry could pitch in. Pumpkins need to be thinned, and--'

'No.'

'Pardon?' Molly asked, taking a sip of her own tea.

'I don't want him doing chores.'

Her eyebrows shot up. 'Whyever not? I've always found chores to be a great way to build a sense of responsibility and it certainly helps keep this fam--'

Severus cut her off again. This was an issue he was not going to budge on, but he would try his best to make her understand. 'Harry was treated worse than a House Elf by his relatives. They worked him like a slave, with food as his only reward, though starvation was the norm, and beatings as punishment if he did not get their impossible-to-finish lists done. I won't have him think he's gone back to that now.'

'But Severus, you know we would never--'

'I know you wouldn't treat him like that, of course not, and neither would Arthur. But Harry doesn't know it. He doesn't know you well enough. All he would understand is that I had left him somewhere, and he's being told to work again, by people he has to obey or else.' He kept his tone as steady as possible, but he could feel his anger rising. Could she not understand? His fingers clenched around the teacup. 'I will not let him think for one moment that he has gone back to being someone's slave, not for a heartbeat, even if I know it isn't true.'

Her blue eyes narrowed as she peered at him, trying to read something in his expression. Whatever it was she was looking for, she must have found it because she nodded shortly and said, 'Very well. I would, however, like to revisit the possibility of chores at some later date, Severus. I still believe they are a good learning tool.'

'Perhaps,' he acquiesced, 'once he no longer has nightmares about those horrible Muggles.'

'Every night still?' Her moment of pique vanished and she was all concern again. When Severus nodded, she sighed. 'That poor boy.'

'Indeed.' He smiled a little into his cup as he considered her words. Frankly, he thought Harry was one of the strongest willed people he knew, or had ever known. In spite of all he had gone through, he still had the ability to laugh and smile, to trust and to love. His son's resilience was both humbling and awe inspiring. Harry made every minute of lost sleep worth losing and every moment of worry worth dealing with, so long as he was allowed to spend time with his son, the greatest gift he had ever been given.

TBC . . .

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A/N: Thank you to everyone who offered me condolences about my job, and some good news: I'm re-employed! My new position starts January 7th, and is with the local school district. Yay!

Happy holidays to all -- mine is a whole lot happier, what with the new source of income and all -- and big ol' Snapey and Harry hugs all around!

*Chapter 15*: Chapter 15