Harry Potter's Real Dad

Severus had still been awake when Harry began coughing in his sleep. He had been just about to ready himself for bed when Harry's dry, wheezy cough started up. Severus almost went to the boy immediately, but he stopped himself and decided to take note. He listened to Harry's struggle for nearly thirty minutes, mentally reminding himself of how it sounded and how it persisted. The wheezing only worsened and Severus finally broke and headed to Harry's room.

Harry was lying down under the covers in a poor attempt to muffle his coughing. Severus pulled the blanket back and gathered Harry in his arms, patting the boy's back while he carried him downstairs.

He set Harry down on the kitchen counter and summoned the potion he had given Harry earlier.

"I don't want medicine," Harry said with a pout before coughing again.

"I know," Severus said. "But you need it."

"No," Harry argued. "Aunt Petunia just gives me a lot of cough drops and sometimes tea. She says if that doesn't help then I can croak."

Severus's eyes widened at that, and he was glad Harry was busy coughing into his hands to take note of his expression. Petunia had actually told Harry that to his face? By the way Harry nonchalantly said it, the young child clearly did not understand the implication. Severus sighed and waited until Harry looked back up at him.

"Can I just have cough drops?" Harry asked. "They help."

"I highly doubt that," Severus said. He held the vial close to Harry's lips. "Drink a sip for me."

"No," Harry turned his head away.

"You need it."

"No. I need cough drops."

"I do not want to stand here all night arguing with you. So let's save us both the trouble and take the potion."

"Potion?" Harry asked, frowning at the vial. "Like magic?"

"Yes. It is exactly like magic."

Harry hesitated. It wasn't medicine but instead a potion. That was fascinating. Severus held the vial closer and Harry slowly allowed Severus to give him a sip. As soon as the taste hit Harry's tongue, he swung his head away and gagged. Magic or not, it did not taste good.

"You better have swallowed that," Severus said, watching Harry closely.

"It's yuck!" Harry cried, though he did manage to swallow the potion. He gladly accepted the glass of warm milk from Severus and sipped it gratefully.

"It will help you," Severus said. Harry's cough was all ready gone.

"I hate potions," Harry said, his lower lip trembling.

"Cry it out to the potions master," Severus muttered as he sent the vial flying back to his lab. He leaned against the counter as he watched Harry finish his milk, folding his arms. "Harry, you might have to take medicine every day. You can't fight with me every time, you know."

"I don't need medicine," Harry said, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

"Hmm," Severus said, smiling softly at Harry. He picked Harry up, the child's arms instinctively wrapping around his neck, then, he carried Harry back up the stairs. "I disagree. It can't be pleasant coughing all night."

"I can take cough drops," Harry said. "The yummy kinds."

"You can have those if you want," Severus said, walking into Harry's bedroom and lying Harry down on the bed. "But you might also have to take medicine. And that's final."

Harry nodded and yawned into his pillow, his eyes already closed. Severus snorted and tucked the boy in.

The next morning, Severus had dressed in muggle wear and made some quick phone calls and then floo called Albus Dumbledore to cancel his Friday classes. When Albus questioned the action, he had informed Albus that Iris wasn't feeling well, and the headmaster accepted the excuse. Severus wasn't ready to deal with the odd pictures Albus had taken for him over the years or to know what the man's involvement was with Harry's upbringing thus far.

Now that everything was taken care of, he had to wake his two children.

Harry staying with him had not been a hard decision to make. He still didn't feel ready to raise two kids, but he knew he wouldn't allow anyone else to have his son. He made the mistake of giving him up once, he would not make that same mistake again. Severus left his study and made his way to the kitchen, pausing when he saw Harry standing on the step stool and stirring eggs on the stove. Harry spotted him and smiled.

"Good morning," Harry said softly.

"Morning," Severus returned, standing behind Harry as he ruffled the boy's hair, looking over his son's shoulder. "I see you're making those famous scrambled eggs you were talking about yesterday."

"Is Addie coming over?" Harry asked, reaching for the carton of eggs. "Should I make more?"

"What you have is more than enough for two," Severus said. "Addie eats breakfast with her family. And next time, please ask me before coming down to make breakfast. Can we agree on that?"

"Two?" Harry asked. "But there's three . . ."

"Iris does not like eggs," Severus said.