Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had been three years since the war ended. Three years since his trial. Three years all alone on the frigid streets.

Severus usually liked being alone. But now that he’d been by himself for three years, he desperately needed somebody. Somebody to hold him, tell him everything was alright. Someone to comfort him after the nightmares prevented him from sleeping. He’d never been this weak before, never needed anyone. He blamed it on the lack of suppressents. Without them he was just a weak baby.

Severus had started crying yesterday because he’d been without food for weeks. Even in his childhood that didn’t happen and he’d gone far longer without something to eat. If only he had any money, this would be different. But this was his sentence, everything taken from him, including magic.

Chapter Text

“Severus,” a voice hissed, “You have been a faithful servant, but only I can live forever.”

Sharp fangs suddenly pierced his flesh. A scream rang out, his scream, and he was on his knees. Nagini pushed him over, slithering back to her master. He looked onto Voldemort’s red eyes as he disapperated with a smile on his lips. He lay bleeding out on the floor of the shrieking shack, terrified, knowing he was going to die.

Severus startled awake, panting heavily. He picked himself up, wincing as his legs brushed together. The sun had yet to rise above the buildings in muggle London, Severus was happy about this. He could walk around to clear his head without anyone yelling at him to get off the street. He started off, planing to go once around the square then head back to his alley.

It was extremely uncomfortable to do this since he had no shoes, wet trousers, and nothing but rags to wear in the middle of January. He walked to the end of the street and turned left, trying to use the non-magical mind clearing exercises he knew. He made another left, feeling his heartbeat slow down. He made his last left and dashed across the street to the safely of his alley-or so he tried. Halfway through he felt something ram into his side, propelling him to the ground.

Chapter Text

Dr. Smith looked up at the car incident patient. No one knew who he was. The most information she had gotten was from a café owner who complained about him digging through her dumpsters. She wanted to know why he was out on the streets in the first place, especially since the blood results showed he was a little. Where were his parents and what had they done to him? It was obvious that this little boy had been abused. The overlaying belt marks on his back were more than enough proof.

She watched his chest rise and fall. He’d have to stay for a couple days, just until he was healthy enough and so they could find him a caregiver. They wouldn’t need to bathe him; they’d already given him a sponge bath. All they really needed to do was feed him, treat his injuries, and change his diapers. She didn’t know how often they needed to though. They’d have to find out how little he was first.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Severus’ head was spinning, he felt disoriented. He slowly opened his eyes and found himself in a white room. He was inside, and better yet, he was in a bed. He turned to examine the rest of the room when a sharp pain in his side caused him to freeze. He’d been hit by a car, that’s why it was hurting. He pulled down the thin sheets to see how bad of a mark the vehicle had made. That’s when a woman in a lab coat and a nurse walked into the room.

The doctor walked over to him and finished pulling down the sheets. Reveling a weird sort of footed sleeper attached to his body. She grabbed one of his sleeves and Velcro’d a blood pressure cuff to him. She started pumping and moved her stethoscope near it. She said something to the nurse, who scribbled a note down on her clipboard.

The doctor then unbuttoned the top of his sleeper and stuck her stethoscope onto his bare skin. She then moved it to his back which was even colder. While the nurse was scribbling some more and the doctor had her back tuned, Severus to the chance to examine his torso. He had bandages wrapped around his navel and bruises all over his chest.

The doctor then turned back around to him. He was then laid down and the rest of the sleeper was unbuttoned and removed. The doctor moved around him grabbing a container of cream. She then started unwrapping the bandages. Severus was watching her every move until he felt his legs being lifted up causing him to look down. What he saw shocked him.

He was wearing a nappy, a very wet nappy and it was currently being changed by a stranger. He didn’t know who to watch. The doctor, who was near all his injuries, or the nurse, who was violating his privacy. When both of the horrible experiences were over, the sleeper was left off. The doctor then moved to sit in the chair by his bed.

“Hi there little guy,” she said in an annoyingly high pitched voice, “could you tell us your name?”

He don’t know what caused it. Maybe he was too hungry, maybe he was upset, whatever the reason was, he couldn’t stop it. He started crying. Not the kind with just tears, he was full on wailing. He hated what was happening. Hated the fact that when littles cry, they sound like babies. But not only was he crying like a baby, he was crying like a baby in front of two strangers.

Chapter Text

Harry walked briskly down the muggle streets of London, dodging in and out of the hustle and bustle of the weekends. He’d come into town to scratch and itch, an itch only caregivers could understand. Ever since the war, he’d been lonely, but today he wanted that to change. That is why he found himself on the step of Mrs. Foster’s Foster Home.

His eyes scanned the canary yellow walls, lined with handfuls of pictures. Depictions of children and littles with new families. Those pictures gave Harry more confidence as he approached the Receptionist’s desk. She looked up from her blocky computer, “Hi, how can I help you today?”

Harry smiled back at her, “I’m looking for a little one to adopt.”

”Alright sir, we just need you to fill in some basic information first, then we can start looking for one.” 

She handed over a thick stack of papers, gesturing that he should sit down in one of the many plastic folding chairs surrounding he desk.

---

When Harry had finished all 14 papers his wrist was aching. She looked through each and every one of them, taking her merry time. He almost hugged her when she finally looked up. Grabbing yet another paper, she straightened up. “Thank you very much for doing that for us. Now what kind of little one are you looking for?”

“Well I’m looking for a little and I’d prefer it if he had a younger headspace.”

She bit her lip starring off into the distance, deep in thought. “We don’t have any little boys right now, but there is a little guy that will come here after the hospital clears him. For legal reasons you’d have to foster him for 2 months before adopting.”                                                                                        

Harry grinned, “I’ll take him.”                                                         

 “Okay, you’ll need to take this paper in order to take him home. And you’ll want to take him a change of clothes. You also will need to get a car seat; it’s illegal if you don’t. You also need to fill out these foster care forms.

---

Harry had just finished shopping. Leaving his last stop with a spring in his step. He couldn’t wait to go meet his little tomorrow.

Chapter Text

Severus was roughly jerked awake. That nurse was at his feet again. This had been happening every three hours for the two weeks he had been here. He had become very annoyed with being woken up or unexpectedly having his legs raised in the air, just to have his diaper changed. He wanted her to know that he was annoyed. 

As soon as she untapped it and pulled the front down, a yellow stream shot up at her, hitting her straight in the face. He giggled as she went to the other side of the room to get a towel. After her face was dry, she started the task again. Cold wipes were dragged very thoroughly across his skin. Severus tried to kick her when she lifted his legs to get his backside, but she grabbed both his feet which one hand. 

He didn’t get the chance to free them when his attention turned to the footsteps on the other side of the door. It opened and in came the doctor, followed by a tall man. Severus rubbed his eyes, trying to clear them of the blurry vision he still had from sleeping. He looked back up and was horrified for whom he saw. 

Harry Potter. Harry bloody Potter was standing over his bedside, watching his diaper be changed. The bespectacled man smiled down at him moving his hand to pat gently on his chest. Severus natural response to that disgusted him. His body relaxed and he closed his eyes, he probably would have fallen back to sleep if the nurse wasn’t rubbing cream all over his genitals. 

---

Harry looked down at his old professor. To say he was shocked was an understatement. He never thought that Snape might be a little, let a lone have to foster him for two months. Harry would still care for him though, especially after what the doctor had told him. 

He had to lift up his hand for the doctor to change the bandages. That was followed by a small noise of protest from the patient on the bed. He moved to the foot and examined the changing supplies under the bed. Finding what he wanted, he quickly scribbled something down on a sheet of paper, which disappeared just as fast into his pocket. She started speaking to him when he straightened up. Telling what she wanted him to get out of Snape and whatnot. 

When she was finished, the doctor left him which a bottle and instructions on how to feed the little. Then they were the only ones left, both studying each other very intently.

 

Chapter Text

Black and green stared into each other for what felt like hours. The tension in the room could have been cut with a knife.  Harry finally moved over to Snape, holding out the bottle. Snape glared at him but took it. 

“Why are you here?” Asked Snape. 

Harry studied his face for a moment before replying, “I’m going to be fostering you for a couple months.”

”Why? I don’t need anyone to take care of me, I’ve been doing it for myself since I was born.”

”Well, wether you like it or not, you will be staying with me until the foster home needs to speak with us again.”

Snape glared at him pulling up the sheets to cover his bandages. “Are you cold?” Harry asked. The little shook his head, but Harry grabbed a discarded onesie and advanced on him. Snape tried to crawl head first under the covers, but Harry was too quick. He grabbed him by the ankle and pulled him out. Turning him over onto his back, Harry gently wrestled the pajamas on him. 

When all the buttons were done up, he pulled Snape onto his lap. Black orbs glared up at him, as he tried to hold him still. Harry reached for the bottle of milk and brought it down to Snape’s lips. The boy turned his head away from it and glared at the wall. 

Harry took the time to pull down the back of the onesie, and once again brought out the little paper and scribbled upon it. He was caught off guard when his attention turned back to Snape; the little was suckling on the nipple of the bottle. Harry adjusted him in the crook of his elbow, trying to make him more comfortable and started rocking back and forth. He wasn’t sure just when Snape fell asleep, but the bottle was never finished. 

 

 

Chapter Text

Harry browsed the little section of the department store. Going through racks to try and find the right size. He glanced back down at the notes he had scribbled down while he was at the hospital. 

XXS-Diapers (Day + Night)

XS-Sleeper

Surely they had something in those sizes. “Excuse me sir,” a voice behind him said, “can I help you find anything?” 

Harry turned around to face the young woman. “Yes, I do actually. Do you carry any extra small or extra extra small clothing?”

The worker flipped through the rack he was just examining. The last three or four pieces being the size he was looking for. “Any XS or XXS will be at the very back.” He gave his appreciation and followed her advice. 

He ended up with seven outfits and five pairs of pajamas. Harry hoped that Snape wouldn’t completely hate them. Moving on to the diapering supplies, he found several things he was going to need. After a few last purchases, Harry made his way home to Grimmauld Place to finish setting up the room Snape was going to be staying in. 

 

 

Chapter Text

When Severus awoke he was extremely cold. He could not figure out why he was so, until something soft wrapped around his privets. He opened his eyes, expecting to see the annoying nurse that did it every time, but instead, was greeted by the sight of Potter. The little’s face turned beet red. 

The Gryffindor smiled at him coming up towards Severus’ face. Potter then grabbed him by the armpits and pulled him to a sitting position. Although the gesture was a little rough, it was far gentler than he’d ever been handled by anyone. The man then took the bedside chair and held up a clipboard. 

“We have to fill some stuff out before you can leave,” He explained. Severus scooted closer, trying to get a good idea of what information they had to put down, when he was lifted up. He was sat down on Potter’s lap, with a pat on his exposed nappy, making his face turn red again. 

They started going down the first page, Potter raising his eyebrows several times (apparently it was surprising that he went by his middle name.) They repeated the process until all nine pages had been filled out to the best of their ability. Severus was rewarded by a warm bottle of formula, while the doctors looked over all the information. 

Dr. Smith met Potter’s eyes, “You can take him tomorrow morning. He was cleared to go last week but we were waiting for someone to care for him. But you still will need to apply this cream to his bruises for at least 10 more days.” 

Severus was thrilled to be leaving the hospital, he just had to get through Potter, then he might be able to go back to how life was for him before the war- or at least as close as he could get. 

 

Chapter Text

Severus was awake this time when Potter came into the room. Across the tall man’s shoulder was a baby blue backpack, that was placed on the bedside chair. When the covers were pulled off, Severus tried to kick him, but it was all for naught. Potter easily grabbed his ankles and held them in one hand while the other started undoing the buttons on his sleeper. 

When the pajamas were off, his legs were put back down on the bed-but for only a second. They were in the air just as quickly as Potter had unfastened the tapes. Severus did as best he could not to whimper at how cold the wipes were. It was January and here he was completely naked, with freezing wipes being dragged across his exposed skin. 

After some powder and cream, a new garment was pulled up over his groin and the tapes were fastened. Then, Potter moved over to the bag and out came a gray article of clothing. When it was brought closer Severus could see a very cartoonish dragon printed on the front. He was zipped up in the sleeper, surprised at how much more comfortable it was compared to the one that was just taken off. 

Potter slung the backpack back over his shoulder. Folding his arms around Severus, the little was lifted up and sat on the younger man’s hip. Severus instinctively wrapped his arms around Potter’s neck, earning him a pat to his padded rear. The boy scowled at him but made no move to remove his arms. 

In this fashion, they descended the floors of the hospital to the lobby. Potter signed him out and they were out the front doors. Relief washed over Severus as they moved further away from the building with every step. 

---

Harry adjusted the rear view mirror to see Snape more clearly. The little guy had fallen asleep a couple minutes after they pulled away from the hospital. It was probably the fight he had put up against Harry when he was trying to buckle him up. He was glad that the contraption was child locked-he didn’t want to be pulled over just because Snape had gotten out of his car seat. 

They weren’t in the car for long (it was only a fifteen minute drive from Whittington Hospital), but Harry didn’t have the heart to wake the baby. When they arrived, he gently unbuckled him and took him to the house. Venturing up the stairs, Harry made his way to the room that had been set up for Snape.

He had purposely used the room across from his own, just in case the little ever had a nightmare. He laid the boy down and removed his thumb from his mouth, replacing it with a pacifier. Harry tucked the blankets around Snape. With a soft kiss placed on his forehead, Harry left the baby to sleep. 

Chapter Text

Severus stretched and rubbed his eyes. There was something in his mouth. It felt like the nipple of a bottle, but when he reached to touch it, there was nothing there. He felt around on his face to find what it might be. Over his mouth, his fingers met a hard plastic. Taking the object out, he opened his eyes. It was a pacifier, baby blue in color, the perfect size for him. 

Slipping it back in, he took a gander around. Severus was in a cage. White bars surrounded him from all sides. Grabbing one, he shakily pulled himself into a sitting position, wincing in discomfort as pressure was put on his soggy diaper. Observing the rest of him tangled up in a soft blue blanket also brought the realization that he was in a crib, not a cage.

Severus pondered whether to try and get out or not. He still couldn’t stand with his injuries from the car crash, he knew that from trying it out. He would just have to sit here until somebody got him. The little’s attention turned back to the room, where blue and white seemed to be a common theme.

Halfway up the walls was a light shade of blue, the other half was a soft cream color. Sitting on the oak floor was a fuzzy white rug, with a blue toy chest placed on top of it. Along the wall was a white changing table and matching wardrobe. In the corner sat a lone rocking chair, a small bookshelf accompanied it. Finally, he looked up to see a mobile with blue and white stars hanging down from above his head. 

Footsteps in the hallway forced Severus’ attention to the door. It slowly creaked open, reveling Potter’s face. When he realized the little was awake, he stopped attempting to be quiet. 

“Good afternoon, sleepy head,” he said as he made his way over to the crib. Reaching in, he pulled Severus out and sat him on his hip.

“I’m glad you like it,” he gestured to the boy’s mouth. Severus blushed, only now realizing that he had been sucking on the pacifier. The blush reddened even more when Potter prodded his nappy. He was then carried out of the room and across the hall. 

They stepped into a bathroom and Potter sat Severus down on the counter. He then moved over to the tub and turned on the water. Severus’ heart was racing, was Potter going to give him a bath? The caregiver came back over to the vanity and started unzipping the sleeper, which soon landed in a laundry basket across the room. Next, the bandages were unwrapped and, accompanied by the wet diaper, vanished at the tip of Potter’s wand. 

Severus was picked up again, this time he was placed in the warm water. The tall man began scrubbing his torso. Severus could tell he was trying to be gentle, that didn’t stop his eyes from watering though. When the cloth touched his navel, he lost it. Tears streamed down his face as wailing emerged from his mouth. Something was pressed against his lips, he parted them, sucking on the pacifier to try and calm down. 

After everything else was thoroughly clean, the pacifier was removed again so Potter could reach his face. He then dipped a cup into the water, and tilted Severus’s head back to pour it over his black locks. His hair having been cut in the hospital, was now significantly shorter than it had ever been. At least his bangs had been trimmed though. 

When the bath was over, Severus was carried back into the nursery and laid down on the table. Potter took the warm towel and gently dried every inch of his skin. The little’s legs were then lifted up and a nappy was placed under his buttocks. Another coating of powder and cream and he was wrapped in a fresh diaper. Whatever the doctor had given Potter was applied to his injuries and covered in bandages. He was then picked up and held tightly against the caregiver’s chest. His hair was smoothed beneath Potter’s fingers, and a feeling of content washed over him. 

Chapter Text

It had been a week since Severus had started living with Harry. They seemed to be getting along fairly well; Severus had even regressed for him a couple times. Harry needed some age appropriate toys for whenever he was in headspace, so he decided that they would go on a little trip to the muggle shops around Islington. 

Harry crept into the nursery, heading straight for the crib. He paused for a second, smiling at the little boy peacefully asleep. Reaching a hand down, he gently started making circular motions on his stomach. 

“Severus,” he whispered,”it’s time to get up.”

A single black eye greeted him. It blinked a couple of times before two long-fingered hands rubbed it and its counterpart. When Harry thought he was well enough awake not to startle him, he lifted the former professor into his arms and carried him over to the changing table. 

Making quick work of the soiled nappy, Harry started dressing him in a dinosaur onesie, and blue, footed sweatpants. Then, they were down the stairs and into the kitchen. Harry sat Severus in a chair while he prepared breakfast. Scrambled eggs for the both of them and bacon for himself. 

After they were through, Severus was wrapped up in a blanket and carried out to the car. Buckling him into the car seat, Harry gently tucked the cover around him and set the blue diaper bag beside him. He pulled off, adjusting his mirror so he could clearly see the little boy behind him. 

“We’re going to go get you a coat and a pair of shoes, and if you’re a good boy for me, we can also look for some toys.”

Harry of course, would get him toys whether or not he behaved, but so far, he had no issues with Severus’ attitude. A twenty-five minute drive to the shopping center, and the two wizards headed inside. Harry sat Severus down in the children’s seat in his shopping cart. Their first stop was the shoe section.

The little boy’s foot was measured and a pair of warm, black boots and blue, velcro trainers were bought. In the little’s department, they found a tricolored coat and Harry also found a few more outfits, and a couple items he made sure Severus didn’t see. Lastly, they browsed through the toy portion of the store. 

Harry grabbed a couple baby toys, then brought Severus in front of the stuffed animals. Harry noticed his eyes locked on a little green dragon. Picking it off the shelf, he sat it in the little boy’s lap. Severus reached a hand out and gently stroked the soft fur. They items were paid for, and they pulled off again.

---

Severus observed Potter from the stupid contraption in the back. He wasn’t sure how he felt about him yet. He never liked him when he was his teacher, but now he was being nice. He’d even bought him a dragon. Severus both wished he had and had not done that. 

It was one of the most babyish animals on the shelf. How was he going to get Potter to tell the foster home he could care for himself, if he kept longing for childish things?

“Severus, would you like to go and eat out somewhere?”

He met Potter’s eyes in the mirror and nodded. He went back to his deep thinking, but was abruptly pulled when Potter said,”is that alright with you?” He nodded again, hoping he wasn’t agreeing to something he’d regret. 

Whenever they got there, Potter came around and unbuckled him. Before he was lifted up, the man checked his nappy. Severus was carried around to the opposite side of the car. He was laid down on a mat that was put over the seat. Potter quickly changed it and put him in his new coat and shoes.

The entered the restaurant, with Severus on the caretaker’s hip and the blue bag on his back. As they were taken to their table, the boy saw pasta on several peoples’ plates. It was an Italian restaurant, he was fine with that. The waitress sat a single menu down then rushed out of sight. Severus expected Potter to take a seat, but he remained standing. 

The woman came back with what Severus thought was a wooden stool. She placed it in between the two chairs already at the table, introduced herself, and left. Potter lowered him down onto the wooden thing. He realized what it was when he was buckled in. It was a high chair. Why did he have to be buckled into everything today?

He never noticed when Potter ordered, both times. Severus wondered how he possibly could have missed something like that. The waitress brought two cups. One glass with water, and one small paper cup. Potter inserted a straw trough the lid for him. Severus took a drink, expecting water to enter his mouth. Cold milk washed over his taste buds. It tasted a little weird since he’d only been drinking formula for two to three weeks. 

The waitress came back a second time, with a single plate on her shoulder. He was curious as to what Potter had ordered for them. He turned his head back around to find a noodle being held up to his lips. He closed his mouth around the fork, watching Potter lay it to the side and grabbed his salad fork. He ate his lunch, pausing every once in a while to feed Severus more pasta. 

 He tried as best he could to keep his eyes open on the way to Potter’s house. Severus caught himself several times before he was able to fall asleep. He was barely awake when Potter unbuckled him. He felt clothing be removed from his body and he was laid down. The last thing he felt before drifting off was a small kiss on his forehead. 

Chapter Text

“Severus,” the man pleaded, “Severus, Severus….Please.”

He was begging him, pleading him to do what he asked. He wouldn’t, he couldn’t. He couldn’t bring himself to comply with the wishes of the only one who trusted him, who knew what he was doing. Those blue eyes, the eyes that had twinkled at him for years, now begged him to do it. 

He raised his wand, “Avada Kedavra!”

Green light shot out from the tip of his wand and hit the old man straight in the chest. It felt like time was slowing down around him. He watched the body slowly fly off the tower. It appeared to hang for a minute, before limply free falling. He had done it, he was now an official murderer with no one left to confide in. 

---

Severus woke up screaming. He felt hot tears fall down his cheeks as he cried. He cried for killing his only friend. He cried for putting the Order at war with him. He cried for using his first unforgivable.

Severus felt arms wrap around his skinny frame. He was gently rocked back and forth. Words he couldn’t make out were whispered to him. It felt like he’d cried for hours, it could have been just a couple minutes, but he cried until he tasted bile in the back of his throat. 

The boy’s shaky breathing echoed in his ears. Something was pressed against his lips. Severus parted them, allowing the rubber nipple access. He looked up as he leisurely sucked the bottle, meeting Potter’s blurry face. The caregiver cradled him with extreme care. He was held in the crook of the man’s arm, swaddled in a soft blanket while huge fingers ran through his hair. The repetitive motions of the rocking chair made him drowsy. 

Severus clutched his new dragon close, seeking all the comfort he could get. When all the formula was gone and his eyes drooped, he was carefully placed back in his crib. He was given his pacifier and the blanket was tucked around him. A small peck was placed on his forehead before he slipped into a deep sleep.

---

 Rus clutched the stuffed animal to his chest. He liked the soft green fabric that covered it. It made the dragon’s tail much more fun to chew. He bit on the tip of the tail, but stopped soon because of how much it hurt his mouth. 

The man then walked into the room. He was much nicer than either Dada or Mummy. He didn’t hit him or scream at him and when he gave him a bath he didn’t hold him under. The big man walked over to him and lifted him up. He tried to say something, but Rus was too little to understand. 

While his nappy was changed, he told the man all about his dragon. He didn’t appear to be listening though. He tried again when he was taken downstairs and seated at the table but he didn’t even look at him. Rus needed to get his attention. He could say his name, but he didn’t know it though. The only other man’s name he knew was Dada’s so he’d have to use that. 

“Dada,” he said quite loudly. The man finally looked at him with a shocked expression on his face. Rus smiled and told him how nice it was to chew on his dragon. The man nodded and said something, kissing the little on the forehead. 

It made Rus feel all warm inside. Whenever Mummy or Dada touched him it never felt good, but with this man, every touch gave him a feeing of safety and security. He was glad they were gone; he liked his new Dada much better.

 

 

Chapter Text

Hermione triple checked her bag, making sure she had everything she’d need for the week. With one last glance around her apartment, the witch threw a handful of Floo Powder into her fireplace, “Number 12 Grimmauld Place, Islington.”

Coughing, she stepped into the recently redecorated living room. “Hermione!” Harry walked towards her with open arms. She returned the embrace, leaving a small peck on his check. “Thank you so much for doing this for me, I hope my little guy won’t be too much trouble for you. Feed him soft foods for breakfast and dinner and formula for lunch. He’ll take a nap from about 12:30-2:00. Oh-and if you have any trouble with getting him to go to sleep or if he has a nightmare or something, then you could give him another bottle.” 

Harry then disappeared upstairs, returning a minute later with a little in his arms. Hermione sharply inhaled, she was a caregiver herself but she’d never had any experience before. Making sure she wouldn’t do anything wrong, the woman had read at least ten books on taking care of littles before she’d arrived. 

She was then given a full tour of the kitchen. Immediately after, they moved upstairs, first going into the baby’s room, then into the room she’d shared with Ginny many years ago. She unpacked while Harry moved out into the hallway for a moment. She heard whispering and then, very clearly, “Daddy’s going to miss you.” 

When Hermione left to join them, the little boy was held out towards her. She tentatively pulled him to her, placing him on her hip. She was surprised at how light he was, but then remembered that a little’s bones were less dense than the rest of the classifications. Harry said his goodbyes and then she headed downstairs. 

She prepared the formula before heading to the couch. Laying the boy on her lap, she settled into a comfortable position. Hermione almost dropped the bottle when she saw his face. Even with his hair cut shorter, his black eyes and hooked nose were unmistakable. She had to babysit Severus Snape for an entire week. 

 

Chapter Text

“Sh, sh. It’s okay,” Hermione rubbed the little boy’s back, desperately trying to get him to stop crying. “I want Dada!” He sobbed. The witch paced about the room, bouncing the small man in her arms. All littles were smaller and considerably lighter than other classifications, but it was still difficult to carry one that moved around so much.

When his cries had quieted, Hermione placed his pacifier between his lips, not wanting another fit before he went to bed. This was the third time this week that he’d done that. He was fine all day, but when she went to lay him down for the night, he would call for Harry. She didn’t think she could put up with four more days of that. 

His breathing had gotten deeper, and his head was now resting upon her shoulder. Poor baby had tired himself out from all that crying. Hermione layed him in the crib, tucking the blanket around his thin frame. She peered over the bars to watch has chest rise and fall. 

It was still hard to believe that this was her nasty potions professor. The man who had pretended she was invisible for six years. If someone had told her in her school days that she would see him a decade later, suckling on a pacifier and cuddling a stuffed dragon while laying in a crib, she would have thought that person was crazy.

Now she didn’t know what to think of him or call him. Firstly he had been a terrible person to her for years, and then he had seemingly murdered Dumbledore, only for them to find out a year later that he’d been of their side all along and now, she was babysitting him. Then there was the name problem. Severus seemed too personal, but Mr. Snape seemed too formal. 

So, Hermione was stuck with this child for a week who she didn’t known how to treat or what to call. She hoped Harry would be back before his estimated time, he’d never been much good at maths anyway. How long could a trip to all of the wizarding communities in Britain be? If he only gave short speeches, then he wouldn’t take up the entire week, but if they were long, then it could go past that. She needed Harry to get back as soon as possible, to help her with his little.  

Chapter Text

Severus sat in his crib, lazily suckling a pacifier. He was waiting for Ms. Granger to come and get him, whenever she bloody well felt like it! He’s been awake for what seemed to be ages, and he’d heard no sounds in the hallway whatsoever. The boy shifted uncomfortably. His soaked nappy was well beyond the cold point and the itching was starting to burn.

Dada-no Potter (he would not stoop so low as to actually get attached for his short stay) would never leave him for this long, especially with how much he wet during the night. Then there was her problem with being around him. Severus didn’t know if she was scared of him, of breaking him if she did something wrong, or of Potter getting mad at her for the slightest mistake, but the witch did not act like he was another human, but rather a priceless artifact that she shouldn’t touch. She hadn’t spoken a word to him since she’d been here, and likewise, he hadn’t said a thing back. She also acted with extreme caution whenever she needed to physically touch him. Diaper changes, meals, even just carrying him around, all movements seemed awkward and unsure. Severus was eager for Potter to get back. Don’t misunderstand what he’s saying, he just wants to be treated like someone, rather than something.

The little stilled when he saw a shadow under the threshold of the door. The hinge was pushed open and Ms. Granger finally came inside! Making her way over to the crib, the bushy-haired woman hesitated before picking him up. Acting as if she was making a life or death situation, she took her merry time. After an eternity of waiting, she eventually sat him on her hip. Instead of heading to the changing table, the witch slipped out the door and went across the hall, to the bathroom. Severus was sat on the counter as she messed with the taps. Turning around, his full nappy was eventually removed revealing his irritated skin, rubbed raw with how long he’d been trapped in the padding.

The scalding hot water did nothing but aggravate his already agitated privets. The pale woman scrubbed way to hard; the scabs lining his chest were opening, causing the water to stain red. The little was just wrapped in a towel when he heard the front door slam shut, “Hello, I’m home!”

Severus slipped free from the towel and ran as fast as he could down the stairs. He leapt into the tall man’s arms, “Dada!” He was adjusted to sit on the caregiver’s hip, “Hey baby, I missed you too.”

The little boy watched as Ms. Granger came down the stairs with her hands on her hips. She glared at him before smiling at Potter, “Welcome back, Harry. I hope all those speeches you had to make didn’t bore you the entire time you were gone.” Severus frowned, speeches? What speeches? The man grinned back, “As much as I dislike traveling to ensure people of Voldemort’s demise, it was a lot quicker this year than the past three. He ran his fingers through the little’s still-dripping hair.

“Let’s go get dressed before you make a mess all over the floor.” They all proceeded to the nursery and Severus was laid down on the table. Potter frowned when he saw the raw skin covering his genitalia, but didn’t say a word as he applied cream and taped him in a fresh nappy. He was placed back in the crib, again , while the two caregivers made their way into the hallway. Severus frowned as he heard the distinct buzzing of Muffliato . Looks like he’d be here for quite a while.

Chapter Text

Harry yanked the door shut and spun on Hermione, “What did you do to him?”

“I didn’t…H-he’s so hard to take care of! Surely you understand the difficulties I had?”

“That little boy has barely talked since I brought him home on the 19th of January! He hasn’t caused one bit of trouble! You expect me to believe that you, Hermione Granger , are lying to justify your actions against a minor ?”

“You don’t understand Harry, I mean, I’ve had all these nightmare’s from the war, and with work at the ministry piling up, I’ve been on pins and needles.”

“That is no excuse for neglecting a baby . That is all he is. Not our old professor, not a Death Eater, just a baby boy who has been out on the streets of London for three years. He’s been without food, without clothing, without shelter. His magic has been stripped from him, as well as his home and his place in the wizarding world. He has nothing, and I will not stand by and watch you treat him like you can’t provide him with even enough care to not leave him in his own waste for hours on end.”

“Please be reasonable Harry, he cried almost the entire time you were gone!”

“I wonder why that is?” Harry growled.

The woman whimpered, “I-I didn’t do anything to him!”

“Really? You really expect me to believe that his diaper rash just popped out of nowhere?”

She didn’t even bother to answer, instead she was studying the lines in the wooden floor.

“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!”

He glared at her retreating figure, not daring to move until he heard the front door slam. He removed the Muffliato, and slipped back into the nursery. He lifted Severus back on his hip, startle when he noticed his chest bleeding.

“What happened, baby?”

The little boy lisped around his pacifier, “When she gave me a baf she scwubbed too hawd.”

Harry sighed and carried Severus to the bathroom. Opening the medicine cabinet, he grabbed the Neosporin and some bandages. He wrapped him up, dressing him in a lion sleeper. He frowned at the obviously Gryffindor-themed outfit, but didn’t say anything about it.

“Did she not feed you breakfast?”

The little boy shook his head. Harry frowned, carrying him down to the kitchen and placing him in his high chair. “When is the last time that she fed you?”

He chewed on him soother for a while before responding, “Wunch.”

“How about a bottle for dinner then? If you haven’t been fed since lunch yesterday then you’ll need something a bit more substantial.”

He prepared some vegetable beef stew for the both of them, making sure the pieces of meat were small enough so Severus didn’t choke. Harry sat a small bowl on the tray of his highchair, shocked when he started inhaling the contents. “You weren’t kidding, were you?” The little boy just continued eating, at a slightly slower pace.

Harry began his own bowl of stew, swirling his spoon around the broth, causing the contents to dance around each other. It was missing something. The stew he ususally made didn’t taste like this. He went over the ingredients in his head: beef, corn, peas, carrots, onion, parsley, thyme, salt, pepper, chicken stock, and…something. There was one more ingredient, he was sure of it! What could it be? He glanced back over at Severus, who had finished his bowl and had his eyes closed, softly sucking on his pacifier. That’s it! He’d used the last of the milk to make Severus’ evening bottle and hadn’t had any to put in the stew. Gosh, he was getting old. Was this how Neville felt all the time?

Harry cleaned the kitchen and washed the dishes before lifting Severus out of the high chair. He made sure to avoid all the creaky steps as he made his way up the stairs and into the nursery. He tried to lay the sleepy little in the crib, shocked when the thin arms around his neck gripped the back of his dress shirt. “No, dada!”

“Severus baby, it’s nap time, you need to go to sleep.”

“No go!”

Harry’s heart clenched at those words. The last time he’d left his little boy, he’d been neglected for a week. Of course he didn’t want Harry to leave. “I’m not going anywhere buddy.”

The caregiver frowned, wracking his brain on how to get his exhasted little boy to go to sleep. “How about I read you a story?”

Severus nodded at that. Harry settled himself in the rocking chair, the little boy still clutching his shirt. He opened the cover and began to read;"Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it. And then he feels that perhaps there isn't. Anyhow, here he is at the bottom, and ready to be introduced to you. Winnie-the-Pooh."

Chapter Text

Harry smiled down at his little boy over the edge of his book. It was adorable how extremely focused he was on one drawing. He was completely silent, with his eyebrows furrowed together. Severus’ motions were slow and deliberate, carefully holding down the paper in his right hand, while gently scribbling with his left. This was how he’d always imagined Michelangelo or Raphael to look while they were working on their “masterpieces”.

Harry stood up from his arm chair, stretching as he made his way over to the living room table. He sat down, cross-legged, to the right of Severus and peered over his shoulder. Random scribbles covered the entire sheet. He angled his head, trying to find some clue as to what it might be. Harry watched as he finished his drawing, placing the green crayon down. Wide, black eyes met his own green, “Da’a!”

“Hey baby, watcha got there?”

The little boy just stared at him, drool running down his chin. The man planted a small kiss on his messy hair. He tapped the sheet of paper, “Can I see?”

Severus had a very blank looking expression on his thin face. He’d look at it later, he was famished. Picking up the small boy by the armpits, Harry carried him to the kitchen. The man stripped him down to only his nappy and placed him in his high chair. Tieing a bib around his neck, he sat a bowl of mashed peas down on the tray, smiling as he stuck his hands in the mush. Harry began eating his dinner while watching his little boy attempt to shovel his meal into his mouth. It would be a wonder if any of it actually was eaten, based on the green mush coating his face, bib, chest, and even his hair.

Harry unbuckled Severus and carried him up to the bathroom. Waving his wand at the tap, the tub began to fill itself with water. He then removed the little’s diaper and placed him in the bathtub. Harry knelt down beside him, washcloth in hand. He reached for the soap when a large bout of water splashed over the wall of the tub, soaking his shirt and trousers. Severus giggled at the now-wet man, continuing to make small splashes in the water.

Harry applied soap to his cloth and began to scrub the boy’s prepubescent body very thoroughly, making sure to wash dinner completely off. Then, he moved on to his hair. Grabbing the cup he kept near the counter, the caregiver filled it with water and poured it over Severus’ head, blocking the water from burning his eyes with his large hand. He lathered his hands with baby shampoo and worked it into the sensitive scalp. Harry grabbed the cup again and rinsed all the suds from his hair. The man lifted the little out of the water, wrapping him in a warm towel before carrying him to the nursery.

He laid him down on the changing table, pulling out one of Severus’ thick, night-time diapers. Harry raised the boy’s legs, placing the puffy padding underneath his buttocks and generously powdering him. He wrapped the nappy snuggly around his waist and moved over to the wardrobe, to find some pajamas when there was a knock at the door. That couldn’t be just anybody; either one of his friends was giving him a very late house call, or it was some old supporter of Voldemort’s. Abandoning his task, Harry scooped Severus up and took the stairs two at a time. Another knock sounded at the door. Whipping out his wand, he threw open the door, ready to blast the person on the other side with the strongest stunning spell he could.

“It’s nice to see you too, Harry.”

Harry lowered his wand, “I thought you were coming home next week.”

He studied the beautiful woman before him, her gorgeous brown eyes, wonderfully athletic body, and perfect red hair. “Welcome back, Ginny.”

Chapter Text

Severus stretched his arms out above his head. He lay on his back for a few moments, letting the fuzziness of his little space go away. When his mind was cleared, he opened his eyes to find someone staring down at him. The little rubbed his eyes, confused at what he saw before last nights events came rushing back to him. They were a little hazy since he was very young but he could still remember Dada opening the door and letting Ginny Weasley inside.

R us laid his head on Dada’s shoulder, attempting to get his attention back. He just kept ignoring him in favor of this lady. The little boy whined; he was cold and tired and he just wanted to sleep. The woman’s eyes met his, she was laughing at him, as though he had done something wrong. “Da’a,” he whined again. His caregiver just patted his back and continued talking. Rus wished he were bigger, then he could understand what they were saying, but he wasn’t, he was way too little.

The former professor frowned at her, “What do you want?”

The red-head smirked at him, “Someone’s still grumpy, I see.”

He glared at her, preferring to keep his mouth shut as he’d been doing lately; if you didn’t talk no one had to talk to you.

The Weasley girl sighed, “Harry had to go check in on his aunt and asked me to get you ready, so whether you like it or not, you have to deal with me.”

Severus frowned, was Dada going to leave him again? He stared at her for a long time before sitting up and raising his arms to make it easier for her to pick him up.

“Oh-uh…I’m not sure if I can lift you.”

How stupid was this girl? Did she learn nothing of other classifications? He opened and closed his fingers, hoping that she would at least know what that meant. Weasley apparently did. She very cautiously placed her hands under his armpits and lifted him into the air. Severus was almost dropped by her shock. The woman held him very awkwardly, with one of her arms curled around his leg. She carried him over to the changing table, seemingly glad at no longer having to hold him.

Now, she seemed at a loss on what to do. How is she the child of Molly Weasley? She has no idea on what to do with minors. I hope this woman isn’t a caregiver. The young woman finally set about undoing his sleeper, removing it before untaping his nappy. She did a pretty decent job of cleaning him up, for her first time. When she’d finished changing him, the young woman disappeared behind the wardrobe. She riffled through it for a few minutes before coming back to the changing table.

“This is adorable!”

Severus was horrified by what she was holding. A sailor suit and a matching hat. There was no way he was willingly going to wear that. She tried to put his arms through the sleeves but he thrashed around. He would not be put in something that babyish. Dada never took him out in public in anything other than a onesie and trousers, he wouldn’t change that just because of Weasley’s appearance. It did make him wonder though, why did Dada even have that? Did he expect him to wear it at some point?

Just then, the man himself walked in, stopped immediately by the wrestling scene in front of him. “Ginny, you don’t honestly expect him to wear something like that, do you?”

Before he got a reply, the man burst out laughing. Severus glared at him, waiting for him to calm himself down.

Dada walked over to the changing table and picked up the discarded sleeper,  “He can wear this to the healer’s; what’s the point of dressing him in that if we’re just going to take it off once we get there?”

The little boy allowed the man to redress him in his deer pajamas. He was then carried down stairs and sat down in that stupid highchair. A mixture of cereal and blueberries were scattered over his tray and he began to eat breakfast. Severus glanced up at the two seated at the table, only to immediately turn his attention back to his food. He couldn’t eat while watching them suck each other’s face off.

After he was through eating, he was buckled into his car seat. He watched the buisnesses and shops go by as they went wherever they were going. They crossed the Thames, and passed the Globe, almost as if they were going to Diagon Alley, but they made a sudden turn. They arrived at a building that looked like nobody had entered it in about 50 years. The roof was collapsing and paint was peeling off of the outside walls.

Dada opened the car door and slung his backpack over one of his shoulders. He the unbuckled Severus and sat him on the opposite hip. The three of them proceeded into the crumbling wreck, the bell on the door still ringing as they entered. The little frowned as they went inside; he was so unused to not having his magical core. It was obviously a wizarding building, bright pastel colors and magical creatures running about the walls, something that he would have been able to feel from kilometers away three years ago.

Severus was passed over into Weasley’s arms as the caregiver went to go sign him in. He was bounced around a little by the athletic witch before being placed down on the floor, near some baby toys. There was a young man, around his age, giggling very loudly while playing with some sliding beads. He looked back at the woman, making grabby motions with his hands. He’d never been around another little before. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do. The bloody witch just smiled at him and gave a little wave from where she sat.

Severus whined, attracting the other boy’s eyes. Wet, slobbery hands were in his hair the next minute. He shoved the baby, wanting him to stop pulling his hair. The little slapped his face in return. Tears welled up in his eyes, that really hurt! He was saved from having a complete meltdown in front of the entire room when someone called his name. He was pulled away from the mean boy and carried down a long hallway. Now, all he had to do was face the healer.

Chapter Text

They stopped a little ways down the corridor. Severus was then stripped down to his nappy and set on the ground. The woman, who had called his name, instructed him to stand with his back against a stadiometer on the wall. She waited until he straightened up to his full height before lowering the top piece onto his scalp.

“Four feet, eight inches.” 

Then he had his nappy removed. The little stood red faced, completely naked with a dozen people milling about the place. He moved where the woman asked, onto the scale and waited until he heard the scribbling of her quill.

“Twenty seven kilos,” she read, and then they were off.

Severus was carried down the long hallway and into a small room. The wizarding nurse had Dada lay him down on the examining table and hold his hand, for some reason. It was only when she lifted up his legs did he realize what she was doing. His caregiver had to hold him down while she took his temperature. He hated the way it felt, and it was so disgusting. How many other littles had that thing been into recently? Severus whined as she waited an agonizingly long time before removing the rectal thermometer, which caused Dada to rub his tummy and whisper to him. The world was getting fuzzy, and his head was spinning.

A man came into the room. He was wearing robes with magical creatures on them. The little boy made grabby hands at him but then he quickly shook his head, getting rid of most of the haziness. He’d prefer to be examined by a stranger when he new the difference between left and right. Severus wiped at the drool that had previously been running out of his mouth. He just watched while the healer talked to Dada and Ms. Weasley, only catching little snippets, “…malnourished…abuse…breastfeeding…”

The man finally came over to him. He was tall, not tall enough to be a caregiver but still pretty up there, and was wearing a poorly hidden toupee. The healer pressed his stethoscope to Severus’ chest and then his back, listening to his lungs. He then checked his eyes, ears, and throat, before finishing off-rather touchy-with his privets. The man left and Severus was rediapered. He was sat on his caregiver’s lap as though they were waiting for something.

A couple minutes later, two different women came in the room, with a small silver tray. They both stretched latex gloves over their fingers, before advancing on him. Dada pulled him a little closer and nudged a pacifier in his mouth. His thighs were wiped with a cloth that smelled strongly of rubbing alcohol and both women were each flicking a syringe. Severus tried to move but his caregiver wouldn’t let go. He didn’t want a shot! He didn’t need one, much less two. He gave a cry of surprise when both needles were jabbed into his thighs at the same time. Then the pain set in. He sobbed harder than he’d had in a while, burying his face into the wizard’s neck. He clutched on, as if that were the only thing grounding him. He tried holding on, but his mind was already fuzzy, soon he found himself drowning in the haziness. A ship lost in the sea of his own mind, and then, Severus was pulled under, into the depths, not knowing when he’d come back up for air.

---

Rus reached his hand out again, hoping this time he would be able to touch the pretty fish on the other side of the glass. All of them were very pretty behind this glass. One was yellow, and that one had stripes, and that other one was swimming upside down. Dada wouldn’t let his touch them. he kept reaching his hand out, only to have it pulled away, and then they would move and see other fish. They took a break from looking and went into a place filled with lots of people. Dada handed him to his friend and walked away.

“Da’a!”

The woman shushed him and bounced him around, before sitting down at a table with him in her lap. The little boy whined, he wanted to go see the fish, not sit here without Dada! The woman lifted him onto one of her arms, causing him to no longer be able to see what was happening around them. His next whine was met with his bottle. He sucked greedily, not realizing how hungry he had been from being so interested in the fish. As he got near the bottom of the bottle, Rus’ eyes started to droop. He finished the last of his formula, and drifted of to sleep.

---

Severus jolted awake. He looked down, wondering why his lower region was extremely cold, when he saw his bare legs raised in the air. Looking past his limbs, he saw Dada’s girlfriend, humming to herself while she wiped him down. He glanced to his right, not wanting to look at the ceiling when he saw a little girl staring at him. She had to be around four or five, and was holding the hand of a woman who Severus assumed to be her mother. She was whispering and pointing at him, seemingly bewildered that he was there. Little weren’t that rare. Surly she’d seen one before?

The former professor frowned when her voice got loud enough to make out slightly, “Well, I want to know why he looks like that. Uncle Matt’s a lot bigger than that.”

“Well sweetie, little’s usually don’t get as tall as Uncle Matt.”

Weasley had just finished tapping up his diaper, when the woman and her daughter went over to the basin to wash their hands, apparently still debating about how it was weird for littles to be short when they were the same age as other men. His arms were pulled through sleeves and his legs were pulled through trouser legs, like he was being put into a sleeper,  but the fabric was to stiff to be one.

Severus glanced down as she did up the buttons; he was wearing that stupid sailor suit. It was shortsleeved and had a navy neckerchief. The long white onepiece was broken up by the navy stripes around the wrists, collar, and ankles and a little red anchor embroidered on his chest. Once he was fully dressed, the red headed woman carried him over to the basin to wash her hands, right next to an elderly lady.

Severus cursed the fact that he was a little as his cheeks were pinched and he was cooed at. Didn’t anyone respect personal space? Apparently not 82 year old women in aquarium bathrooms. That was the fact he hated most about being little. He could deal with the incontinence, the babyish mannerisms, the particle control of his brain, even some of the coddling, but he absolutely loathed when people walked up to him, as if he was nothing more than an incompetent infant, and tickled him, pinched his cheeks, or touched him anywhere else.

He wished he wasn’t one. Then he could live by himself, and wouldn’t need suppresents to have a basic capability of potty training. The diapers he’d been wearing for a month were pretty new. He’d never worn any before, willingly. There was that one time where he’d been so sick in the hospital wing and couldn’t sneak in one of his pills. Poppy had diapered him, and made sure he wore some form of protection to bed after that one instance.

Since the moment he was brought home by James Potter’s son he wanted to convince him he didn’t need anyone and would be out by himself again by the end of March. But now, now he didn’t mind being cuddled or held, he now craved for the attention he’d never had before in his life. Would he give up on his goal and be the baby everyone always told him he was, or would he remain to live his life in a mature solitude?

Chapter Text

Harry smiled lovingly at his girlfriend, who he had dearly missed during the quidditch season. He felt like he hadn’t seen her at all recently, with the war and her immediate contract as a chaser with the Holyhead Harpies, it had left very little time for them to be together. That’s why he’d settled for foster care, so he could have some company. But, in two weeks she’d be off again, just in time for her next game against the Ballycastle Bats.

The only reason she’d come home during the season was because he was leaving in four days on another one of his “speech tours.” The Ministry insisted he do them to every large, important city throughout Europe in order to squash whatever tiny population of people still thought that after three years Voldemort could come back. He’d covered most of Europe already, he just had all the countries in the west now. In a few more years he should have all of it done, unless of course the ministry wanted him to do it a second time, like they did last month with Britain, which he would probably turn down seeing as Ginny would be resigning from quidditch so they could get married soon.

“You know, you’ll have to give him some attention while I’m gone.”

“I have one question Harry; why Snape?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, of all the littles in the Wizarding World, you chose Severus Snape to be yours.”

“I don’t really know, I mean it was kind of a surprise to be honest. I just wanted a muggle little, you know so I didn’t have to worry about accidental magic and I just signed some papers for the only little boy they had. I could have said “no” when I knew who it was but I just couldn’t. No one, including me has ever treated him fairly, so I guess I just wanted to take another go with his trust.”

“He never treated us fairly either.”

“Yeah well, that’s the thing. I’ve noticed that he treats people the way that they treat him. Like Dumbledore, since he was one of the only people who trusted Severus, Severus put his whole trust in him. But students on the other hand, well, something must have gone terribly wrong with his first years of teaching.”

“I see your point. He’s been hesitantly warming up to me ever since I dropped in on you.”

“Just treat him well while I’m gone, I know you will, that’s why you’re here, but make sure he sees that.”

“Who did it last time?”

“I don’t like to think about that, I’ve never been truly angry at her before, until last month when she pretty much neglected Severus and reopened some of his scabs that were just finally getting to healing.”

“Isn’t Hermione a caregiver though?”

“I never said it was Hermione.”

“You implied it, Harry.”

“Well she’s not very good at caring for littles. She acted scared whenever I handed Severus over to her and she didn’t feed him well.”

“Maybe that’s why the healer said he was malnourished.”

“Yeah, well anyway, there’s milk in the fridge and formula in one of the cabinets. I already put instructions on how to make both on the refrigerator. He eats solid food for breakfast and dinner and takes a bottle at lunch-”

“Whoah there, Harry. You’ve still got four days left, you can tell me bits and bobs of it before you go, but Snape is going to be just fine.”

“I know, I just want my baby boy to be okay.”

Chapter Text

Severus’ heart was pounding. He didn’t want him to go. The last time dada left it’d been awful: he hadn’t been fed, he’d been left with out a nappy change than was healthy, and he’d been scrubbed so hard during a bath that his newly closed injuries had opened again. The former professor clung tighter to him, clutching the back of his robes, willing him to stay. Severus felt a kiss placed on the top of his head, along with fingers running through his messy hair.

“Noooo,” the little whined, “Don’t go, Dada.”

“I don’t want to, baby, but I have to go.”

The man felt a second set of arms wrap around him. “Let go, Severus. Dada has to leave.”

He pressed his teary face into his caregiver’s chest, holding on as tight as he could.

“Hey, look at me.” Severus hesitantly glanced up, pulling away from the younger man for just a second. Dada smiled at him, “That’s a good boy…I love you, Severus. I’ll be back before you know it.”

He planted a big kiss on his cheek, before the little was pulled away by Weasley. He reached out as the few steps to the door were made, but he was never taken back. Dada waved, but he couldn’t find the strength to wave back. He just simply watched as the front door snapped shut. He was gone. He’d just left him alone…again.

Severus felt like crying again, but he’d already embarrassed himself in front of Weasley this morning. The witch just bounced him up and down, like Dada would be back in 10 minutes instead of 10,080. He glared at her, blinking back tears, “Put me down!”

The ginger seemed to be deaf because she just continued bouncing him. “What do you want to do, little guy?”

“I want down!”

Weasley still didn’t do what he asked, instead, she carried him over to the kitchen and strapped him in that stupid high chair. Severus thrashed against the tray, desperately wanting to get away from his former student, but all he got out of that was a strong scolding. The witch tied a bib around his neck and started inching a spoonful of applesauce towards his mouth.

He turned his head, “I can feed myself.”

She gave him a cautious look, before giving him the spoon. Severus ate the applesauce very slowly, trying to think of a reason the ginger haired woman might leave him alone, exited when he thought of something. Naptime; She’d leave him alone to sleep. The little continued to eat the applesauce but kept rubbing his eyes or yawning in between bites. When the small cup was finished, he was carried to his nursery, just like he hoped. The witch placed him in the crib, before shutting the door on her way out. He sat up, propping himself against the crib bars.

He didn’t like how easily Dada was able to leave him. Like he was just running to the supermarket, instead of going to a different country. He was probably already in the far east by now, with magical transportation and a couple of hours, you could be anywhere in the world you wanted to be. With all this quick leaving, Severus wondered if Dada liked being his caregiver at all. He seemed to like him, cuddling him, playing with him, making time for him, but he wondered why he was able to just leave with a quick “bye.” Maybe Severus was the problem. Maybe he’d gotten attached to quickly and misunderstood something. Whatever the case was, time was running out. He’d have exactly a month to decide if he should stay or go.

Chapter Text

Severus peered over the bars in his crib, staring at the door. He waited until the footsteps in the hallway were too quiet to hear before he allowed himself to sit down. He reached for Dragon, but found that he wasn’t there. He didn’t grab him from the living room table before he’d been brought up. 

The little felt tears welling in his eyes and made no effort to stop them now that he was away from everything. He buried his face in his light blue blanket, sobbing as quietly as he could. 

Why did Dada have to leave? Why couldn’t he stay, or take Severus with him? And why did he have to leave him with people that hated him?

He cried for what felt like hours, longing to have Dragon or to be held and have his head stroked by his caregiver, but of course none of that happened, they were just wishes. The ex-professor didn’t stop sobbing, even after he felt ill from doing it for so long. He cried until he was so tired he couldn’t think anymore. And even then he didn’t stop. Relief only came when his body decided it was too tired to continue. 

---

Severus startled awake, groaning into the darkness of his room. He wondered what had awakened him, feeling more tired than he had in a really long time. A squeak of the floorboard caused him to sit up, breathing heavily. He glanced around, but found no one who had made the noise. 

The wind whistled from the window behind him, a scraping noise sounded from the wall. He tried to keep his breathing steady, he attempted to ignore the darkness and the wind and the strange noises that were all around him. But he was so tired, too tired to think rationally. 

The little found himself screaming, calling out for someone–anyone at this point–to hold him close and tell him that it was alright. His mind sank deeper into the fog that was slowly enveloping him, dragging him under like a siren out at sea, beneath the waves of adulthood. 

Rus clutched at the bars of the crib, crying because he was scared and he was wet, but most of all, he sobbed for Dada. He’d gone bye bye again and left him with a lady, again. He didn’t like her, not as much as the mean one, but she still didn’t like him very much, so Rus didn’t like her. 

---

The little boy wailed into the early hours of the morning, neglected for the silencing charm that remained around the guest room, unbeknownst to anyone. 

Chapter Text

Ginny sighed as the pale yellow sunlight shined brightly against her eyelids. She squeezed them tightly shut, not wanting to get up yet. She would have loved to stay there, laying in bed all day and enjoying her short break from quidditch, but she had made a promise to Harry and he had mentioned that Snape was a bit of an early riser. 

The witch slipped out of bed, pausing and listening to see if the little was awake yet. It was completely silent, just like last night. Her old professor must have been exhausted last night, because he’d never made a sound once she laid him down. 

Since she was in no need of immediately checking on him, she decided to take advantage of Grimmauld Place’s incredibly large guest bathtub. She had a nice long soak, only about 15 minutes before reluctantly hopping out to check on the baby. 

She scoffed to herself. Now Snape was a “baby” as though he were something cute and desirable to be around. But he wasn’t just any baby, her mind reminded her, he’s Harry’s little boy. 

She hurriedly got dressed and moved out of the guest room, flinching as she stepped into the hallway, ears popping. That was strange. Ginny took a few steps to the nursery door, pausing when she heard a noise like a wounded animal. The red head frowned, before realising that the noise had come from within the nursery. 

She suddenly felt worried. Why hadn’t she been able to hear him before now? She quickly pushed open the door, sucking in a deep breath at the loud creak. What the young woman saw made her heart clench. 

Snape’s sallow face peered between the bars of his crib, red-rimmed eyes and a pink nose. He was having difficulty breathing, taking in big shudders of air. His face was streaked with tears and snot ran down his face, his lip quivered as she moved towards him. 

Ginny reached into the crib, lifting the baby up and setting him on her hip. He immediately buried his face in her chest continuing with those hoarse sobs. She rubbed his back, attempting to calm him down, but to no avail. 

The witch sighed, laying the little down on the changing table. She quickly changed his nappy, which she would soon regret. Instead of helping like he would usually do, Snape seemed to freak out. His momentary lapse in wailing resumed, causing him to croak out breathy sobs. 

The young woman was at a loss for what to do. Harry hadn’t said anything about him reacting like this. She tentatively rubbed his bony tummy in between changing his diaper. After she was done, Ginny lifted him into her arms, holding him close and rubbing his back–but even that didn’t do anything to stop his crying. 

“Hey…uh, baby. Shh, you’re okay, it’s okay. Can you tell me what’s wrong?” 

She hadn’t really expected a response, but was still slightly frustrated when he continued to sob into her fiery hair. Maybe he’s just hungry, she thought. Harry had already fed him dinner last night, so he wasn’t fussy then. Ginny carried him downstairs to the kitchen, hoping that she was right. 

The witch bounced the little on the way down to the basement, attempting to calm him down enough so he could actually eat. Something seemed to be working because he was no longer sobbing continuously, instead letting off breathy hiccups. It was all going smoothly until she attempted to place him in the highchair, and Snape began screaming and gripping the back of her blouse so tightly she thought he’d rip it. 

Instead, she grabbed a spoon and a package of applesauce from the fridge and settled herself into one of the dining chairs, the little boy still clinging to her for dear life. She mildly wondered if she should grab a bib, but thought against it as she didn’t know how he’d react to her moving again. 

“Hey, baby can you look at me?”

Snape didn’t move an inch from his cocoon, his face still buried in her neck, arms and legs wrapped around her torso. 

“...Severus…”

At the mention of his name, two red rimmed-onyx eyes met her own brown ones. 

“Good boy. Are you hungry?”

All she received was a high pitched whine, to which she responded with more shushing and rubbing his back. 

“Let’s eat something, okay? Say ‘ahh’ for me.”

He didn’t open his mouth until she’d brought the spoon to his lips, seemingly too little to understand her. Ginny fed him as much applesauce as he would eat, and then began to head for the stairs. 

The now-calm little boy began fussing again as they passed through the sitting room. The young woman tried to quiet him again when she spotted what he was making grabby-hands towards. She bent down, picking up his pacifier and stuffed dragon from the living room table and handed it to him. Snape immediately relaxed, cuddling against her with his soother in mouth and stuffed animal clutched tightly. 

She headed for the nursery, pausing when she got inside. He was obviously tired and rest would do him good, but Ginny wasn’t sure about leaving him on his own after such a hectic morning. Instead, she grabbed his blanket from the crib and headed to the guest room. 

She lay him down on the bed, before wrapping him inside his baby blue blanket, basing it on what she’d seen Tonks do to Teddy when she was still here. The young woman wasn’t sure how he’d feel about being swaddled, or even if she’d done it properly, but the baby simply closed his eyes. She lay down beside him, pulling out a book on quidditch and began to read, but the words stopped making sense before long, and she was left pondering the events of the morning. If all week would be like this, she might have bit off more than she could chew. 

Chapter Text

Severus awoke groggy and disoriented. His head was pounding and his mouth felt like it had been stuffed with cotton. His clothes stuck to him with perspirant, but he could feel the goosebumps coating his arms and legs. The man turned his head, attempting to wriggle out of whatever was pinning his body tightly, when he felt a hand laid on his chest. He stopped to look into the gentle brown eyes of Ginny Weasley, before giving her his best glare.

“Get me out of here!” He said–or he tried. It came out all raspy and breathy, scratching the inside of his throat. 

Apparently, whatever was wrong with his voice made it difficult to understand him, or Weasley was just deaf. Instead of unpinning him from whatever was holding him captive, the witch began shushing him and rubbing his chest–two things he was not very happy about.

The red-headed woman lifted him up, carrying him to the familiarity of his nursery and laid him on the changing table. She finally removed his prison, which turned out to be his blanket, and unzipped his sleeper. 

He shivered at the cold air on his sweaty skin, it didn’t help the coldness he felt everywhere else. Severus was her frown as she laid her hands on him, touching him in a bunch of random places; his back, neck, under his armpit, and finally his forehead, each one colder than the last.

She quickly changed his wet diaper, before placing him inside the crib, without redressing him. He shivered as she draped his blue blanket over him and handed him Dragon. She popped his pacifier into his mouth before running her fingers through his hair, which was supposed to soothe him?

Unlike when Dada did it, he felt anything but calmed by her actions. She didn’t know how to do it properly, or didn’t care. You were supposed to whisper while you rubbed his chest and tummy, even throwing in a little tickle every once in a while. You weren’t supposed to shush like a librarian, instead it was to be gentle, soft, comforting…like Dada. You were supposed to cuddle him, hold him tight until he felt like all was fine, like the world wasn’t going to crush him beneath its weight. Run your fingers through his hair until his scalp felt so nice. Bounce him until he felt lighter than air, rock him until all the monsters went away, play until Severus laughed, laughed harder than he’d ever done before he’d wound up in that muggle hospital. 

Weasley couldn’t do any of those things, only Dada could…then why had he left?

Dada wasn’t supposed to go away. He was supposed to stay, stay when Severus needed him. Needed him…he’d never thought about that before. Severus did need him. He needed his laugh, his comforting hands, his gentle praise, but most of all, he needed his love. Sure he needed diapers and formula and other babyish stuff like that.  But he didn’t really want them. He did want to make Dada proud, be his good boy. Maybe Severus would stay after all, especially if this ache was how it felt to be alone.