Hot cocoa
“Potter, what is wrong?” Severus asked his charge, who had pretty much been sulking since his friends left for Christmas break.
Severus took Harry in pretty recently. Soon after his first year started, when they found out about the Dursleys behavior, they were still getting used to the whole guardian idea.
Severus had no clue how to care for a boy, let alone this boy. This boy he planned so hard to hate, who he now somehow got roped into caring for.
“Just miss Ron and Hermione is all,” Potter mumbled, making Severus sigh, “well they will be back before you know it. Besides it’s christmas break, this is a happy time of year or whatever.”
Potter looked up and glared, “right because anything about Christmas is happy,” that’s when Severus finally frowned.
Potter had never had a decent Christmas break, and now it was his responsibility to give him one. He had no idea how to do such a thing, but it was about time he figured it out.
-
“Dumbledore,” Severus said stiffly, as he entered the headmaster's office, “Severus my boy, what can I do for you?” Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling a bit.
“What do I do with the boy for Christmas break? He’s sad or whatever, about Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Granger leaving. How do I fix him?”
Dumbledore couldn’t help it, he laughed hard. Practically wiping tears from his eyes as he did so, “I’m sorry, sit back down,” he rushed out through the laughs, when Severus tried to stand to leave.
“Harry is not an object to be fixed, he’s a child, with emotions. He hasn’t had many people to be close to so of course he is upset at his friends leaving,” Dumbledore took a deep breath to settle himself, “take him out, give him cocoa, whatever you think will make him feel better.”
“If I knew what would make him feel better I wouldn’t be here,” Severus basically grumbled out, “right you are my boy, right you are. Parenting is something you have to trial and error to figure out. You lads will have good days and bad, just play around a little and figure out what works.”
Severus stared blankly at the headmaster, “right, thanks so much for your help, Albus,” Severus mumbled, standing up and leaving the office, grumbling under his breath about loony old men.
Severus arrived back at the dungeons soon after, looking around for Harry. He found him lying in his bed asleep. His lips turned up in a brief smile, relieved that the child was taking a nap. He had time to get some stuff set up
-
When Severus went to wake Harry up, the boy groaned and hid his face in his pillow. Severus chuckled a bit, shaking him again, “up Potter, or you’ll be up all night. Plus I made dinner.”
Harry groaned again, but sat up slowly rubbing his eyes. Seeing him now, in such a peaceful setting, Severus was able to remember for the first time that this boy, this child, was simply that.. a child.
A child who was abused, neglected, and starved. A child who belonged to his one and only childhood friend, regardless of who his father was. A child who never even got to meet his father, so how could Severus pin all that blame on him. On this child.
Severus shook the thoughts out of his head, there was nothing more he could do now about the past. He could only give Harry the best childhood and future he could manage. That was it.
When Harry got up, he was welcomed in the kitchenette with a beautiful dinner. “Thanks,” he said sleepily, rubbing his eyes. Severus nodded, “of course, eat up.”
They ate in relative silence, only making small talk here and there. Mainly about school work. Severus noticed Harry was still in his ‘magic is amazing’ phase, and couldn’t help but smile slightly. The boy had not yet been ruined by their cruel world who expected far too much of him.
Severus truly cared to keep him in that phase as long as possible. When they finished eating, Severus cleaned up, and signaled for Harry to follow him to the sitting area. He had a game of chess set up, and two mugs of hot cocoa appeared on either side of the board.
“Cocoa?” Harry asked, with his head tilted. Severus nodded, “one of my favorite winter drinks, it’s peppermint.”
“I’ve never had it,” Harry said, picking up the mug and smelling it, “peppermint cocoa?” Severus asked, and was surprised when Harry responded, “no, I’ve never had cocoa in general,” he took a small sip and smiled, “this is really good though! Thank you.”
Severus stood silently for a minute, just staring at the boy, “yes, you’re welcome.. and Harry?” Harry looked up with surprise at his first name, “hm?” He responded nervously, “you’re welcome to have hot cocoa anytime now, okay?”
Harry smiled, nodding before taking another sip, “thank you Severus, for everything.” Severus smiled bleakly, clearing his throat, “now, let me kick your arse in chess.”
-
Severus laid awake late that night, pondering over what to get the child for Christmas. He couldn’t understand how someone took in a child and couldn’t even bother to give them a damn mug of hot cocoa.
He shouldn’t be surprised, considering they starved him. Now it was his job, and until today he hadn’t taken to that task happily. Now he had a different point of view, a sad one that reminded him all too much of his own childhood.
A boy, neglected and abused, just looking for something or someone to take care of him. Severus could try his best to be that person, he’d done much harder things in his life.