Tiny Troubles 5
DISCLAUMER: JKR owns all
Chess
Harry slept very peacefully in Dumbledore's guest room that night. He awoke only once when he heard Severus crying for his bottle. Albus seemed to deal with this very quickly and all was quiet for another couple of hours.
Emerging from the guest room that morning, Harry spotted Dumbledore carrying Severus out of the bathroom. He placed the baby in his highchair at the table as Dobby bustled about with breakfast.
"Ah, good morning, Harry," Dumbledore smiled, "did you sleep well".
"Yes. Thank you, sir," Harry answered.
"Come and have some breakfast, my boy". Albus began to feed Severus some porridge though the little boy seemed intent on grabbing the spoon. Chuckling, Dumbledore picked up another spoon and let him hold the first.
"Independent from a young age, hmm?" he stroked the baby's cheek.
When Severus had finished his meal Albus gave him a small bottle to drink and began to eat his own breakfast.
"What are your plans for today, Harry?" he asked after a while.
"I thought I'd get in a bit of Quidditch practice," Harry skewered some bacon and munched happily.
"An excellent idea!" said the headmaster, "It is certainly a good day for it. I think I will take young Severus for a walk around the grounds. He needs a bit of fresh air".
Severus watched the big people eating and talking. He was getting bored. He spotted something shiny on the table by Aby's plate. He wanted to see what it was. Reaching out a podgy hand he waved and they flew over to him. Now he could really examine them. Putting them in his mouth, he began to chew on them.
Seconds later, Albus put his hand down by his plate, absentmindedly feeling for his glasses. Finding nothing, he was about to check the floor when Harry stopped him.
"Severus has them, sir," he pointed at the baby who was now slobbering on the lenses, looking very pleased with himself.
"Gracious, how did he get them? Ta ta, Severus. Give those here. Good boy".
"Ta ta," repeated Severus but his eyes filled with tears when his new "toy" was removed from his grasp.
Harry quickly picked up a sparkling rattle from the table and shook it at the baby, calling his name. Distracted, Severus reached for it.
"Ta ta," he said. Harry laughed and put the rattle in the tiny hand.
"Thank you, Harry," Dumbledore smiled gratefully and turned to the now crowing Severus.
"Well, you are a clever boy, are you not?" he cooed, "Magic and a new word at ten months old. My my," he kissed the dark head and Severus reached out to him. Dumbledore cradled him in his arms.
He noticed that Severus was chewing on the rattle and dribbling freely.
"I think someone may be cutting some new teeth, hmm?" he mused, "Open up, little one and let Albus see".
Severus opened his mouth and Dumbledore saw the tips of two small white teeth at the front.
"Tow teeth, Severus, he said, "My word. I think you need a teething ring".
Severus leaned back against him and continued to chew on the rattle.
The sun shone brightly on the grounds of Hogwarts as Dumbledore wheeled Severus around the lake in his new pushchair. As it was the Easter holidays, many students had gone home. He spotted Hermione Granger reading a book on the grass. He waved to her and she returned the wave and smiled.
Severus shrieked with delight as a long tentacle came out of the water.
"Aby, Aby!" he babbled, his small arms waving with excitement.
"That is the giant squid, Severus. He is nice and shiny, isn't he?"
"Abababa," Severus babbled in response. After a few more turns around the lake, Dumbledore noticed that the child was trying to chew on the sides of the buggy.
"I think we need to see Poppy about those little teeth, my boy?" he turned around and began to wheel Severus to the hospital wing.
"Oh yes, he is certainly getting quite a few teeth, Albus," Madame Pomfrey put the light in her wand out and rummaged in her cabinet, "You should expect him to be quite cranky at times".
She gave Dumbledore something that looked like a Muggle pen.
"That contains gel to put on his gums when they get sore. I also have a teething ring for him. It is charmed to stay cool magically".
"Thank you, Poppy," said Albus with a grateful smile, "I have never cared for one so young before and it is all quite new to me".
"Well, not to worry. I will help you in any way I can. In any case he appears to be very healthy and happy so you are doing something right, Headmaster," she smiled briefly before her manner became brisk again.
"Now, when teething, babies also tend to get other ailments such as high temperatures and diarrhoria. I will gave you some fever potion for babies and cream for nappy rash".
"Goodness!" exclaimed Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling, "We have a bit of a battle ahead, do we not, little one?"
Severus just smiled angelically at him.
Madame Pomfrey's predictions came true more quickly than even she had anticipated. By the evening, Severus was not in good humour. His cheeks were red and Albus had to keep drying his bibs with magic with all the dribbling. He put some gel on the sore gums and gave Severus a teething ring. Pacing his study with the child in his arms, he spoke soothingly until the crying ceased. He was then able to feed the boy dinner and give him a bottle.
By the time Harry returned to the headmaster's tower, Severus was lying in the old wizard's arms listening to a simple story and chewing on his teething ring. Sometimes he would stop and look up at Dumbledore and babble something, his big dark eyes solemn. The headmaster would smile and respond to him as if what he said made perfect sense.
"Hello, my dear boy," Albus beamed at Harry, "Care for another game of chess this evening?"
Harry smiled and agreed but his look soon turned to worry again. Dumbledore eyed him shrewdly.
"You know you are welcome to stay here whenever you wish, Harry," he said kindly, "I enjoy the company".
"Thanks sir", Harry hesitated and then blurted out, "I feel a bit silly. Like I'm acting like a child or something".
Dumbledore gestured to Harry to sit down.
"I do not think you are acting like a child, Harry," he said seriously, "On the contrary, you have shown incredible courage in facing up to your fears and emotions. You have shouldered more burdens than any young man of your age and you have no need to berate yourself for how you feel. If you can find comfort and rest here then I am very glad that I have got something right".
He patted Harry's hand and looked at him with such sincerity that Harry knew it was all right.
"Now, perhaps you could call for Dobby and ask him to bring us up some hot chocolate. I always find it aids sleep".
Harry complied and soon they were sitting with a steaming mug each. Severus had ling given up the fight against sleep and Dumbledore had put him to bed.
"Sir," said Harry, "I was wondering. If Sna..Professor Snape is spying for Voldemort, won't Voldemort notice that he is not turning up for meetings?"
"An excellent question," said Dumbledore, "To answer it. Yes I am sure that Lord Voldemort has noticed. However I am sure he is aware of the reason for Professor Snape's absence".
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
"I believe he has his sources both in the Ministry and this school. Remember who was present when Severus had the accident".
"Oh! Of course! Malfoy would definitely have run home to his father with that news".
"Indeed," said Albus, "Though you might consider that in doing so he has done us all a great service, especially Severus".
Harry looked incredulous and Dumbledore laughed.
"But Voldemort will be really angry" said Harry.
"Yes, I imagine he will," the old wizard agreed stroking his beard, "but there is little he can do. Severus is of no use to him as a baby".
"But if he knows you are caring for Severus won't he suspect him as a spy?"
"Voldemort is too arrogant for that. I expect he will merely see my caring for Severus as a way to keep him from St Mungo's and the Ministry. He will believe only that I am trying to protect the Order's secrets, that I am just waiting until the potion wears off and doing what has to be done".
"So he won't know it is because you care about Professor Snape?"
"I would think not," said Albus, his tone surprisingly bitter, "I have made enough mistakes regarding Severus in the past to make Voldemort quite sure he hates me. Merlin knows Severus would have good reason to do so".
Harry looked at his Professor and was shocked to see tears in his eyes. He fumbled for something helpful to say.
"He doesn't hate you, sir", was the best he could come up with.
"Perhaps not," sighed Albus, "I was very foolish and thoughtless when he was at school. I know about your Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape. You have seen some of his childhood, how he suffered both at home and at school. I had a duty to help him if nothing else yet I was too busy playing house favouritism. A grave mistake indeed".
"You are making up for it now though," Harry was quick to reassure the old wizard.
"You are very kind, Harry," said Dumbledore softly, "You have a selfless and forgiving nature. You remind me so much of your mother".
Harry looked away, feeling embarrassed by that revelation.
"Why don't we have another game of chess?" Dumbledore said, lightening the mood.
They played several games before deciding it was time to go to bed. This time Harry did not wait to be asked if he could use the guest room, much to Albus's delight.
"Perhaps I can make up for things after all," he thought.
TBC