CHAPTER 3

Slowing opening his eyes, Harry found himself laying on the couch in the quiet living room. He turned his head to the side to find Severus reading a book and Sirius staring out the window. He shifted around so he could sit up on the couch, stretching his aching muscles. He really needed to stop falling asleep on the couch.

"How are you feeling?" Sirius asked, noticing Harry was finally awake.

"What happened?" Harry lifted a hand to his booming headache, confused as to how he ended up on the couch asleep.

"Panic attack," Severus said without taking his eyes off the book. "I gave you a Calming Draught but it seemed to work a little too well. You've been asleep for four hours."

"What caused the panic attack?" Harry asked as he tried to remember what happened this morning. The memories were just out of his grasp.

"You showed me the memory of the Weasley's and Granger talking after the battle had just ended," Sirius whispered, his eyes glazing over. "You learnt how they were being paid to be your friends. Paid off with your own money."

"Oh," Harry quietly said.

The three settled in to a silence as Harry remembered what had happened that day. One of them must have placed the memory back inside his mind while he was asleep. He could see it all clearly, unlike how some parts were foggy after the memory was taken out. Harry frowned, trying to think of something else before he got upset again.

"You need to go to Gringotts," Severus broke the silence. "Talk to the goblins about this despicable situation."

Harry nodded his head solemnly. It felt, in a way, almost wrong to take action against his friends. But then his mind brought the memory back up where they claimed they were never friends. Harry sighed, looking at Sirius for support.

"I can come along if you wish," Sirius smiled.

Harry nodded again, with a smile on his face. His smile soon dropped as his heart sped up. Should he ask? What if he was rejected? Harry felt like he wouldn't be able to handle any form of rejection, even if there was a reasonable explanation. He took a deep breath as he got ready to ask.

"Can you come as well Severus?" Harry asked hesitantly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Severus looked up from his book. His left eyebrow raising was the only sign he was surprised at the request.

"I would appreciate the extra support," Harry almost whispered, feeling stupid for asking.

"I will," Severus replied as he gave a curt nod, before returning to his book. "It will have to wait until tomorrow unfortunately."

"That will give me some time to prepare for it, get my emotions under control," sheepishly said Harry, looking at Severus.

Severus nodded, showing he had heard him yet his eyes never left the pages in front of him. Harry wondered what he was reading as he tried to make out the title on cover. God his eye sight was only getting worse with age. He really needed new prescriptions as these glasses had never actually fit his needs.

Harry got up and went in to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. He gulped it down before refilling it half way. As he was sipping on it, Harry could hear a soft tapping noise on one of the windows. He went over to the curtain covering it and pulled in to the side. A brown barn owl sat on the ledge, tapping the window with his beak. Harry opened the window and the owl instantly flew in. It landed on the counter and lifted it's leg towards Harry, waiting patiently.

Harry frowned as he unravelled the letter and saw his name written in neat handwriting. As soon as the letter was detached, the owl flew out of the window without hesitation. Obviously the sender of the letter didn't need a reply straight away. Harry took his glass of water out in to the living room with the letter. He sat down on the couch and begun to open it.

"Who is it from?" Sirius asked, noticing the envelope in his hands.

"I don't know yet," Harry said distractedly as he opened the letter.

Dear Harry,

I wanted to let you know that Teddy is safe with me still. I've been trying to get in contact with you for a few days, but nothing is working. I hope this owl gets to you. None of your friends know where you are, they don't seem to be in a rush to search for you either. I am pleading to Merlin that you are safe and okay, Teddy needs his Godfather.

Anyway, if this reaches you, I have some other news. Ted's, Nymphadora's and Remus' wills are going to be read next Saturday. Please come along, it'll be good to see you and make sure you are okay. I believe a letter will be sent out to in the next few days to everyone invited to the reading. If you need a support person, you can bring one person with you. Although I am presuming most of the people you might want to bring will already be there.

Please stay safe and healthy. If you need anything, let me know and I'll try my best.

Much love from Andromeda Tonks.

Harry closed his eyes, allowing the tears to fall down freely and silently. The letter fell from his hand as the world around him faded away.

"Harry?" Sirius asked as he quickly stood up and came to sit beside Harry.

Harry opened his eyes and looked at Sirius with his sad, teary eyes. Severus looked up from his book to see Harry once again breaking down in tears for the second time today. He saw Sirius pull the younger to his chest while staring at the fallen letter. Sirius made eye contact with Severus and nodded his head to the ground. Severus took the silent message and came over to grab the letter. Severus read through it with a frown.

"What does it say?" Sirius asked after a few seconds.

"Here," Severus held the letter out for him to take.

"Can you take him for a second?" Sirius gestured towards Harry who was crying his heart out as silently as he could against Sirius' chest.

Severus stood still in shock for a second, not knowing what to do. He slowly sat down on the other side of Harry and pried him out of Sirius' arms and into his owns. He wrapped both arms around the shaking frame and rested his head on the top of the messy hair. He inhaled sharply as he felt thin arms slowly wrap around his own sides and Harry's head nuzzling into his neck before resting against his chest. Severus cursed himself as he stayed still, trying to control his heartbeat and breathing as to not give him away.

Harry felt strong arms wrap around him before a strong musky smell hit his nostrils. He felt the urge to cuddle in to whoever was holding him, feeling safe in those arms and surrounded by that smell. He tried to hold back the moan that wanted to come out. If he wasn't so upset from the letter, then his body most certainly would have betrayed him. As time passed slowly in the safe embrace, Harry felt his emotions settle and his senses return slowly.

"Can I invite her and Teddy over?" Sirius immediately said.

Severus nodded, so caught up in his own thoughts that he barely registered the question. He watched with dazed eyes as Sirius got up and knelt in front of the floo. His attention turned from his former nemesis to the little brat in his arms. He wished he could see Harry's face, to study it while eyes weren't watching him. His heart truly shouldn't be skipping beats over a seventeen – nearly eighteen – year old. He was 20 years Harry's senior for Merlin's sake. The strong scent of strawberries, honey and oak filling his nostrils once again like this morning. Severus had to stop himself from moaning. Who knew someone could smell so sweet?

Severus was brought out of his thoughts as his fireplace came to life and a second later his ears were filled by a wailing and a screech. He looked over to see Andromeda Tonks standing in shock while holding a tiny bundle in her hands. Severus realised that the screech had come from the woman as she saw for her own eyes that Sirius was indeed breathing and alive. Teddy continued to wail and wiggle as Andromeda stood in shock.

"Sirius? It's really you?" she whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"Yeah, it's me," Sirius responded as he stepped closer to engulf her in a side hug, staring down at the little bundle. "You must be Teddy!" Sirius cooed, moving some of the blanket away to take in the beautiful face of his best friend's son.

"But how?" she asked after a few seconds of shocked silence.

"How about you sit down," Sirius said with a grim look on his face. "There's a few things we need to discuss. How about Harry takes Teddy while we talk?"

"Harry?" Andromeda asked before she caught sight of the young teenage crying softly in to the chest of a familiar face. "Is he okay Severus? What's happened?"

"Unfortunately it's been quite a massive day with lots of information coming to light for the three of us," Severus said quietly, slightly embarrassed to be seen in such an intimate position with another person. "Harry? Harry, sit up so you can hold Teddy."

Harry sighed before he reluctantly sat up, leaving the warm embrace. He quickly dried his eyes before smiling sheepishly at Andromeda. He watched with sparkling eyes as the heavy, wiggling bundle was placed in his arms gently. Harry looked down at the his Godson for the first time, feeling his chest tighten with happiness.

"Hi there," Harry couldn't help but coo, immediately bouncing his arms slightly to comfort the crying child. "It's okay, you're okay Teddy."

Severus felt a smile bubble up under the surface under his mask. He withheld it but allowed the corner of his lip to twitch. He lent over towards Harry and looked at the little baby boy in his arms. After a few seconds of comforting Teddy, he settled down and stopped crying. He begun to sleep again, his features taken over by a peaceful look.

"I can't believe he is three weeks and two days old," Harry smiled down at the little one, before looking up to Andromeda.

"It feels much longer," Andromeda sighed, taking a seat in the armchair Sirius signalled to while he himself sat down in Severus' usual armchair.

"I'm sure it does," Sirius grimaced. "How have you been holding up?"

"I've been trying my best," she sighed, relaxing back in to the chair as exhaustion took over. "I don't think I've truly accepted that they are both gone. I have been so caught up in taking care of Teddy."

The four settled in to a sombre silence, each thinking back on the war and the ones they have lost. Harry felt a tear fall down his face. He quickly wiped it away before it could land on the baby. Harry couldn't help but smile after Teddy yawned.

"Let me know if you ever need a break," Harry said without looking up. "I'd be happy to look after him."

"As would I," Sirius said immediately.

"Sirius Black looking after a baby?" Andromeda snorted. "I don't think so."

Severus snorted as Sirius' face begun to turn a red shade. Harry shook his head and nudged Severus gently with his elbow.

"What?" Severus asked, looking down with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Stop enjoying yourself at his expense," Harry smirked, knowing the man all too well.

Severus smirked before turning his attention back to the others. His mind, however, never straying far from the smirk Harry directed his way. After catching himself spaced out, Severus mentally slapped himself as he re-joined the current argument Andromeda and Sirius were having over the latter being able to babysit.

Instead of listening to the conversation, Harry paid attention to Teddy, seeing him start to wake a little in his arms. He begun to sway him gently to soothe him back to sleep. He too begun to feel tired and couldn't help the yawn that escaped him. Harry looked around on the couch before shifting down a little. He adjusted Teddy in his arms so his little head was resting against his chest, with his hands supporting the head, neck and back. He swung his legs up on to the couch and slowly laid down with his head resting in Severus's lap.

Severus stiffened as he felt a head on his lap. He looked down to find Harry staring up at him with a smile and Teddy resting peacefully on his chest. His heart skipped a beat or several before he forced himself to relax. Severus tried his best to ignore Harry as he turned his attention to thinking of gross potion ingredients. He slapped himself mentally again for allowing any arousal to surface at all.

Harry looked at Teddy one last time before he closed his eyes as the tiredness took control. He slowly drifted in to a peaceful sleep just like his little Godson was. He didn't even stir when Andromeda floated a blanket on top of him and Teddy to keep them warm.

"How is he?" she asked grimacing at the anticipation of the answer.

"Not good," Sirius sighed, running a hand down his face. "You were right, by the way."

"About what?" she asked with frown.

"His friends not knowing where he is or in a hurry to find him," Sirius said. "He's been here for a week and three days and no contact, no letter, no search. After he left Hogwarts, he spent a week on his own with no food or water. It's a miracle he is here."

"Merlin," she whispered, staring at the young adult with sad eyes.

"But he has showed us a memory today," Sirius continued after a few seconds of silence. "After the war ended. He was in the Great Hall when he overheard a conversation between the Weasley's and Hermione Granger."

Both Sirius and Severus had to stop themselves from sneering. Andromeda looked between the two of them as she sensed the flare in magic and the entire mood of the room change. She noticed that Severus had subconsciously begun to run a hand through Harry's hair while he tried to reign in his magic.

"What happened?" she asked with caution.

"It was revealed Dumbledore paid both the Weasley's and Ms Granger with money to be Harry's friend," Severus said with a small growl in his voice, sneering out of disgust. "The payments were taken out of Harry's own account unknowingly."

"Are you serious?" she cried out in shock before adjusting her tone as to not wake the sleeping boys. "Is he going to Gringotts?"

"Tomorrow," Severus replied, nodding sombrely.

"The poor boy has been through enough loss," sadly said Sirius as he shook his head. "Now he finds out his two best friends and their family were paid to be kind and help him."

"I couldn't even begin to imagine how he must be feeling," Andromeda sighed.

They settled in to a small silence, all of them looking at Harry sleeping peacefully.

"Dumbledore must have been his magical guardian to have access to the accounts, right?" Sirius suddenly said as something dawned on him.

"Obviously," Severus rolled his eyes. "Did that only just occur to you?"

"Yes," Sirius frowned, ignoring the comment. "But something else just occurred to me."

"Do tell," Severus said as his interest peaked a little.

"Did either of you attend the will reading of James or Lily?" Sirius asked slowly.

"No," Andromeda frowned, wondering what direction this conversation was heading.

"I assumed I was not invited due to my falling out with Lily," Severus responded with a frown.

"I know for a fact both of you were included on the list of attendees," Sirius continued slowly, gathering his thoughts. "Unless it was changed, but even I did not receive a notification of the will reading while in Azkaban. I know James and Lily made it clear that the secret keeper was Peter Pettigrew and not myself."

"How odd," Andromeda said as she tried to figure out why none of them were notified.

"Unless of course, a certain someone stopped the reading and allowed me to rot in Azkaban so Harry couldn't be left with me to raise," Sirius whispered loud enough for the other two to hear.

"Dumbledore," Severus whispered quietly.

"My thoughts exactly," Sirius nodded with a frown. "But why?"

"He was always going on about 'The Greater Good' and that he must do what is necessary because he knew the Dark Lord was to return," Severus replied with a frown of his own.

"What is necessary?" Sirius asked. "Do you know what he meant by that?"

"I have a suspicious it has something to do with Harry being raised at the Dursley's," said Severus. "I have come to learn that his home life at the Dursley's were... not suitable. But to what extent, I do not know. Only rumours."

"Rumours of what?" Andromeda budded in to the conversation.

"I heard reports of Harry being locked in a bedroom with bars on the window so neither he or his owl could espace. The Weasley twins pulled the bars off during his second year with their fathers' magic car," Severus replied grimly. "I heard of a mention his belongs were often locked under a cupboard under the stairs. When those were recovered one time, there were drawings from a little child and broken toy soldiers. The rumours have spread in the order meetings that he did not always stay in that bedroom upstairs."

"Merlin," Andromeda whispered, looking at Harry with sympathy.

"Like I said," Severus begun, "they are only rumours I have heard. And most from the twins who are known to exaggerate."

"I hope to Merlin they are only rumours and not real," Sirius shuddered. "Even a small fragment of truth would make me sick."

"Indeed," agreed Severus.

The three settled in to an uncomfortable silence as all the information whirled around their heads, trying to process everything.

"I suggest looking in to the will when you are at Gringotts tomorrow," Andromeda broke the silence, standing up and straightening her dress.

"Don't you worry, I will be doing that," Sirius said with a fire in his eyes.

"I must go," she said approaching the couch. "It is about dinner time for Teddy and soon his bed time."

"Harry," Severus said gently, realising his hand was still carding through the soft hair. "Harry, wake up."

"Mmmmm," Harry groaned yet didn't open his eyes.

"Harry I have to go home now with Teddy," Andromeda smiled down softly at him.

"Mmmm," Harry groaned as he slowly opened his eyes and sat up.

Harry stood up after a few seconds and gently passed over the still sleeping Teddy. He smiled down at his Godson before placing a gentle kiss on his forehead.

"Be a good boy," Harry whispered as he straightened up. "And floo me anytime if you need me to look after him."

"Thank you dear," she smiled as she walked over towards the fireplace. "Take care of yourself, Harry. Teddy needs a strong and healthy Godfather."

Harry smiled and nodded, watching her disappearing in flames. He sat down with a sigh before laying back down on the couch, resting his head back on Severus's lap. He pulled the blanket back over him and turned on his side, facing the couch's back.

Severus shook his head while staring at the other in his lap. He looked up at Sirius and saw a frown on his face. He quickly looked away, not wanting to understand what was going through his mind.

"Dinner time," Sirius said as he stood up and stretched his back. "What do you want, Harry?"

"Tired," Harry mumbled, squirming a little more to get comfortable.

"Huh?" Sirius asked. "What did you say?"

"Too tired to eat," he mumbled again, this time a little louder.

"Don't be a brat," Severus said. "No more skipping meals. Now what do you want to eat for dinner tonight?"

"Not a brat," he huffed before sighing as he gave in. "Some steak and vegetables."

"Alright," Sirius smiled. "I'll order from Tommy's because I feel like a parmigiana. What do you want from there?"

"A steak and a salad will be fine, thanks," Severus replied, watching the other go in to the kitchen to order the food.

"They said twenty minutes," Sirius replied as he summoned his coat from upstairs. "But I'll head down now. I need a walk after everything that has happened today."

Severus nodded his head to acknowledge he understood. He watched Sirius leave the house, before sighing. He relaxed a little in to the couch and let his head fall back. He heard Harry sigh as well before shifting slightly on his lap. He bit his lip to stop any moan escaping.

"Don't get too comfortable," Severus said, looking down after a minute of Harry moving around. "Dinner will be here soon."

"I don't care," Harry sighed as he looked up at Severus with tired eyes. He bit his lip as he contemplated asking the question on his mind. "C-Can you rub my head again?"

Severus froze in shock. He let the question process as he stared at the worried green eyes.

"It's just that you doing that helped me relax earlier," Harry said, biting his lip harder. "And I'm not used to kind touches like that."

Severus continued to stare into the green eyes, trying his hardest to not look at the bit lip or allow his arousal to surface. He nodded slowly before lifting his hand and ran it tentatively through the soft hair.

Harry instantly sighed as he felt the touch. He closed his eyes and shifted around again to get in a position he could completed relax in. He ended up snuggling all the way in to Severus' hip, liking feeling close to him.