Prince Manor
Severus landed at Prince Manor and shuffled Harry inside quickly. He did not need any prying eyes determining that he had the Boy-Who-Lived before he had a chance to set up proper wards and precautions. The manor was already safeguarded, but one could never be too careful.
“Alright, Mr. Potter. I assume you have not eaten dinner.” Severus announced. Harry shook his head mutely, clutching his dragon. “Mipsy!”
A pop sounded and Harry jumped back as a house elf with large blue eyes and a blue tea towel wrapped around her form looked up at Severus. “Yes, sir?”
“Mipsy, Mr. Potter and I require a light meal as soon as you can manage.” Severus requested.
Mipsy nodded and Harry worried that her large head might snap from her tiny body. She popped away, though, and Severus took Harry’s hand and began leading him through the house. He mentioned rules as Harry looked around in interest. “You will not attempt to enter any room that is locked.” “If a book does not leave the shelf, it is not for your eyes.” “Do not enter my labs or study unless I am present and you have permission.” “If I am not present, Mipsy will help you and you will obey her.”
Harry’s mind was spinning and he had a million questions, but it seemed as if this new man liked him at least a little more than the Dursleys ever did so he didn’t want to ruin it by annoying the man and breaking the rule he’d had since he could remember. So, when Severus asked, “Do you have any questions, Mr. Potter?” Harry shook his head mutely.
“I prefer verbal responses.” Severus informed the boy. When Harry looked up at him with wide, confused eyes, Severus sighed. “It means when I ask you a question you should respond with words. ‘Yes, sir.’ or ‘No, sir.’ Now do you understand?”
“Yes, sir!” Harry answered.
“Excellent. I am pleased you listened so well.” Severus told him before turning to the dining room to avoid another smile from the clearly affection-starved child.
Harry followed and sat gingerly in the chair at the table that Severus informed him would be his spot for meals. Severus grumbled as he set the dragon in the chair next to Harry. He looked with wonder as food appeared on the table and Severus put a serving of chicken that he cut up for Harry and some carrots that Severus noted with a sigh were glazed. It appeared even his house elf would spoil the boy if he wasn’t careful.
When he set the plate in front of the boy, he was pleased that Harry waited for him to plate his meal. But when he started eating, he noticed Harry hadn’t taken a single bite. “Why aren’t you eating? You will find I don’t make special meals. We eat what Mipsy serves us.”
“Is Harry ‘llowed?” Harry asked in wonder.
“Are you allowed?” Severus asked slowly, trying to let his rage at those words simmer before he responded. But the quick nodding told him all he needed. “Harry, you will eat three square meals each day. It is a rule. Three meals for growing little boys. I might even see about snacks and special treats every now and then. Eat your dinner so we can get ready for bed.”
Harry blinked but when Severus went back to eating with a purposeful nonchalance, Harry reached a hand out and shoved a piece of chicken in his mouth quickly, as if afraid it would be taken from him. “Harry, no. Use a fork.” Severus instructed. He cringed at the poor form as the boy fisted it in his hand, but Harry speared a carrot, and after a pleased smile from the nod of approval Severus gave him, put the food in his mouth.
“Good boy.” Severus told him. And just to stop the practical vibration of happiness at that, Severus told him, “Eat with your mouth closed, you are not a dragon, Mr. Potter.” Harry clicked his mouth shut and soon enough, they were both finished.
If Severus thought they would leave the table without further incident, though, he was wrong. Another soft pop lead to the table being cleared of their dinner and in its place was a pudding. Severus could not help the groan he let out as he saw this. But when he saw Harry’s shining eyes of hope and longing he couldn’t bring himself to disappoint the child.
So, telling himself it was merely to avoid what he was certain would be a childish tantrum, he gave Harry a small helping of the treat and sat back with a cup of black coffee for himself. The boy just looked at him for a moment before digging his spoon into the treat eagerly. Harry grinned at him and Severus winced at the pudding stained teeth. “Eat with your mouth closed, Mr. Potter.” Severus snapped at him.
It did not detract Harry’s glee, it seemed, as the boy merely nodded and said, “Harry not a dragon. Harry listen good.”
“Indeed.” Severus admitted. Once Harry finished he looked at the pudding longingly again and Severus sighed before giving him another serving. “Don’t expect sweets at every turn, Mr. Potter. Your teeth will fall right out of your head.”
Harry gasped and covered his mouth, as if his teeth would come out right then. “No more sweets, sir!”
Severus cursed himself. “One more serving will not cause your teeth to fall out, Mr. Potter.”
Harry looked at him skeptically but the lure of more pudding was too strong and Harry quickly got over his fear and made short work of the dessert. Severus nodded and stood, Harry followed, grabbing his dragon.
Severus took Harry to his bedroom with en suite bath and watched carefully as Harry brushed his teeth. He tried not to laugh as he spotted the boy wiggling his teeth in the mirror when he thought Severus wasn’t looking.
Severus found an old night shirt that Harry could use but it was much too large on the boy and Severus didn’t like the strange feeling of warmth he got as Harry’s tiny frame peeped through the shirt. He shrunk it, chastising himself for his soft thoughts on the boy. He was Severus Snape, Feared Potions Master of the Dungeons, known to strike fear in the hearts of even the bravest Gryffindor and he did not find things ‘cute’.
“Alright, Mr. Potter, it is time for little boys and dragons to be in bed.” Severus announced.
Harry looked around and Severus cursed himself as the boy tugged his dragon closer and began walking towards the wardrobe. He halted him as the door was pulled open. “No, Harry, another rule in my house is that all little boys must sleep in a bed.”
Harry turned to him with his eyes wide again. “Harry’s never been in a bed.”
Severus picked the far-too-light-boy up and carried him to the turned down bed. He tucked him in and said, “You did when you were even smaller than you are now, with your parents.”
“Really?” Harry asked in awe.
“I do not lie, Mr. Potter.” Severus told him, lying through his teeth. But, he wasn’t a spy for nothing and kept a straight face. “Yes, you used to sleep in a bed every night. Your room was hideously decorated with too much quidditch and Gryffindor paraphernalia for my taste.”
“Did you know my mummy and daddy?” Harry asked softly.
Severus nodded. “I did. If you close your eyes, I will tell you a little.” Harry squeezed his eyes shut very tightly and Severus pushed the irritating feeling of warmth away again as he gently took Harry’s glasses from his face. “Very well, I shall tell you about your mother. Her name was Lily and she was the most beautiful woman I had ever met. She had hair like fire and a spirit to match. And her eyes, were just like yours.”
Harry popped his eyes open. “They were?” He asked excitedly.
“Do I see a little boy’s eyes open?” Severus asked, to which Harry quickly scrunched his eyes shut again. Severus stifled a smile and continued, but it wasn’t long before the boy was asleep and he left for his own quarters and a well-deserved shot of firewhiskey. Tomorrow he would have to explain much to the boy, and it was certain to be an even longer day than this one.