Harry Potter's Real Dad

Harry hid his face in the crook of Severus's neck, clinging tightly to the man with his arms. Severus gave everyone an apologetic look as he patted Harry's back. He was glad he had picked Harry up before entering—he had a feeling the child may have bolted. There was an awkward but understanding pause from everyone as Severus reassured Harry that everyone here was a friend.

"It's okay, Harry," Severus whispered. "Addie is here, you remember her. And her husband and youngest daughter, who brought her kids along. And then it is just Nami and Pappy. They all came to meet you and to get to know you better."

"I don't want to meet anyone."

"Are you sure? I think they might have even brought gifts for you."

"I don't get gifts."

"Says who? We are celebrating today in your honor to welcome you to the Snape family. Didn't you want Snape as your last name?"

Harry thought about it for a second before he nodded.

"Well, you have to meet everyone else, too."

A hand tapped Severus's leg and he looked down at a little brown-eyed, curly haired boy. The child smiled at Severus before tapping Harry's leg. Harry peeked down.

"Hi, Harry," the boy said, "I'm Joshua. Want to play monster trucks with me?" Joshua held up two large trucks with bright colors and decorations.

Harry looked around comically before pointing at himself. "Me?"

"Yes, you," Joshua laughed. He waved Harry down. "Come on!"

Harry squirmed in Severus's arms until he was put down. He chased after Joshua into the large living room space, and they were quickly followed by Iris and two other girls, one six, and the other three.

Severus breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Addie's daughter, Tori, who gave him a thumbs up. He muttered a thank you to her as he walked over to the dining table where the other adults have settled down into chairs. Tobias pulled out a deck of cards and began shuffling it, figuring they would give Harry some time to relax and open up to the idea of a party. Severus eyed the small table set up behind the dining table, where a small cake with the words "Welcome Harry" in blue frosting waited to be cut into. Colorfully wrapped boxes and bags, large and small, surrounded the cake.

"Poor kid," Tori said, using a hand to push back her brown coils so she could clearly see her kids and Severus's kids playing in the living room. "I don't think I've seen a child who didn't jump on a pile of presents with his name on it."

"I've told you what that awful woman did to him," Addie spoke up, raising a glass to her lips. "It still makes me so angry just thinking about it."

"How is he adjusting?" Eileen asked, leaning into the table to see Severus better from where she sat next to Tobias.

"At home, pretty well," Severus said. "But he isn't letting go of his old life so easily. I mean the second day I had him, he climbed up my chimney and took off."

"Mama told me about that," Tori said. "My husband nearly choked on his tea. He was rather impressed and wanted to see if Joshua would fit up our chimney." Tori rolled her eyes. "Sometimes I wonder how we got this far in our relationship."

The adults shared a laugh while Tobias started dealing for Nap, sending five cards to each player. When the cards were dealt and everyone was judging their hand, Eileen spoke.

"Are you really taking him to see that wretched woman? A prison is no place for a child. And seeing her could set him back emotionally and you've been working so hard on getting him settled and comfortable in his new home."

"I'm afraid I don't have much choice," Severus answered. "Knowing he has that visit is the only thing keeping Harry from running off and trying to find his way back to Surrey. He doesn't understand the gravity of the situation with the Dursleys, and I'm still not sure if he understands that he is living with me now permanently. Petunia had him wrapped around her finger and he's brainwashed into believing that she truly loved and cared for him and that everything that happened was acceptable. The trial will begin soon—he's going to end up praising Petunia on the stand in front of a jury."

"I'm sure the jury will see what is wrong with the picture though," Tobias said. "No one in their right mind would force a small boy to climb up a chimney, or sleep in a cupboard when there were clearly more bedrooms available in the house. Even if he is sympathetic toward his aunt, the jury will not be."

"Regardless of what the jury thinks," Addie's husband said, "the judge has the final say if the jury doesn't rule in favor of the law, and I know Judge Meyer. He has a soft spot for kids."

Severus set his cards down and looked back at the kids. Harry and the older boy were playing with the trucks, while Iris and Ruth were busy putting nail polish on the three-year-old girl. He smiled at them.

"Has he been registered at the school yet?" Addie asked.

"Not yet," Severus said. "The paperwork is in processing and I'm still waiting on his previous muggle doctor to send me medical records."

"What will you do tomorrow, then?"

Severus sighed, leaning into his elbows as he rubbed his face, his hair falling forward slightly.

"I guess I'm taking him to work with me. There's no way Albus doesn't know that Harry is with me by now, and I'm sure he's just dying for me to get back to Hogwarts."

"What do you think he'll have to say?" Tobias asked.

"Who knows?"

"You know who will be jealous that she's not going to Hogwarts?" Addie pointed out, changing the subject off of Albus.

"She's been to Hogwarts a million times," Severus reasoned. "She'll live."

"She won't think so," Addie smirked, while the other adults shared knowing smirks.

....

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