Whelp II The Wrath of Snape

Half of the boy's mouth turned up, but the smile did not seem real. The skin around his eyes tightened instead. 'Are we going back to Spinner's End?'

Severus wanted to quell Harry's obvious fear about returning to the place from where he had been kidnapped. At the same time, he didn't want the fear to fester into a phobia. He watched his son's expression carefully as he said, 'Not today, no. Perhaps we'll go tomorrow and collect our things before returning to school.'

The immediate tension in Harry's limbs was unmistakable. Voice still soft, Severus continued, 'You realize that the hospital Mr. Black is in, it's like a prison? He is unable to go anywhere on his own, except around the confines of his room.' It should be a stinking cell, his inner voice cried. He quite agreed. 'Not here, certainly, and not Spinner's End. He will not be able to get to you again, unless you wish to see him at some later time.'

'I . . . I know.'

What the head knew was not always believed by the heart, Severus mused. 'We'll wait until tomorrow before going back, all right?'

Harry nodded quickly, apparently unnerved by the idea of returning to the place where he had been taken, when once he had been so comfortable there. He did not meet his father's eyes. 'Will we sleep there, Daddy?'

'No. We don't need to stay away from the castle any more. I will return to teaching after tomorrow, and you will continue your lessons with Mrs. Weasley.'

As if he had forgotten his lessons entirely, Harry's mouth opened with surprise. 'Can't you teach me?'

Severus shook his head. 'I have Potions classes to teach.'

'I can learn Potions, too, Daddy. You said I could!'

'Of course you can,' Severus agreed. 'When you are old enough to attend Hogwarts, you will be in one of my classes--'

'But potions--'

Severus gave his head a sharp shake and Harry mashed his lips together. 'But, if you had not interrupted me,' he said quietly as Harry colored, 'I would also have said that I will teach you some potions before you attend Hogwarts, too, like we did just last week. Ones which are safe and will be helpful for our household. Some that are even fun. However, loath as I am to admit it, Potions is not the only subject you need to know.' He peered into Harry's eyes. 'Mrs. Weasley has explained as much to you, hasn't she? That you need to learn to read and write and do your numbers, too?'

'Yes, Daddy, but . . .' Harry's mouth closed so quickly Severus could hear the click of his baby teeth. He had an inkling of what Harry wanted, but he thought it would be better for the boy if he were to speak his needs aloud, something he had never been allowed to do before.

'What is it, Harry?' he asked. 'What do you want?'

Lips pressed together, Harry shook his head side to side, as if afraid he would let the words out otherwise. Fear rode in his eyes; fear he would be punished, fear he would be shunned or abandoned. Fear of hearing, 'No,' as he had always heard whenever he asked for something, before he had been taken from those loathsome Dursleys.

'Tell me, Harry. Please?'

With a hard gulp, Harry bleated out the words. 'I want to stay with you. I don't want to go to Wheezys. Please, Daddy, let me stay with you. I'll be good, I promise. Please.'

'Harry . . .' With that single word, as if he knew what was to follow, Severus saw his son's hope die and his face go blank, accepting the inevitable.

But Severus lived to foil expectations. Dumbledore would just have to deal with it or find a new Potions Professor. Harry needed him more. 'Harry, yes. You can stay with me during my classes for a while at least. I . . . I don't care for the idea of being away from you either.'

For the first time since this ordeal had begun, Harry offered him a honest -- though still tentative -- smile.

--WHELP II--