Chapter Text
Hours passed by, turning into days as Severus had movers in and out of his home. Packing and unpacking his parents belongings into storage units seemed to consume his time. Once everything was done, with a suitcase of his own clothes, Severus finally moved into Malfoy manor on July 29th.
Setting himself up in the guest wing of Malfoy manor was for the better part, exhausting. With little Draco running about and exasperating him from question after question, but Severus didn’t mind his exuberance. Unlike most Black or Malfoys, Severus was pleased to see the childlike wonder in him. Draco and other children of his generation would never have to experience the stress and misfortune of war.
On the morning of the 30th, Draco came bounding into Severus' room with a peal of laughter. The darkening of the little boys under eye gave Severus a deep understanding of the situation.
“Draco, did you sleep last night?" He asked with a tilt of his head, Draco stopped what he was doing and adorned a sheepish look.
“Please don’t tell on me,” Draco said with a pout to Severus' consternation. Contemplating his next words, Severus pursed his lips.
“Hmm, I won't tell on you. But Draco, you won't be able to keep it a secret. Your eyes are almost purple,” Severus says
“You could give me a pepper up potion?” The child says conspirationally, Severus only shakes his head.
“Sorry bud, no can do. If your mum finds out, we’ll both be in trouble and I just won’t be a part of that. Your mum can be terrifying when she wants to be. Go and get dressed and I’ll meet you down stairs for breakfast.” Draco frowned viciously with a fierce pout as he hung his head and shuffled from the room.
Once Severus himself was dressed, he made his way into the dining room. The sound of Narcissa scolding Draco and his poor sleep seemed to be the soundtrack of the morning. Draco’s accusing eyes found him from across the room.
“You knew you’d be off today, Draco. I can’t send you like that. Imagine you're too tired to floo properly, you could hurt yourself or mispronounce the address and end up somewhere completely different!” she harped on, her usually tidy hair seemed to become dishevelled as she shook her head.
“But mum, I was too excited to sleep! I can just have a pepper up potion and then I’ll be right as rain,” He interrupted, to her consternation.
“No, I should just send you back up to bed. Pepper up potion, I don’t think so. You can go as you are, and if you fall asleep before everyone else, well you only have yourself to blame,” She huffed in annoyance,
“Go up stairs and grab your things, Draco. You’ll be off in a moment.” Narcissa said as Severus filled his plate with eggs and toast. Narcissa turned to Severus and Lucius with distress.
“What are we going to do?” She asked, Lucius put down his paper and smiled at his frustrated wife,
“I could go with him? He won’t get lost or hurt Cissy, He’ll be fine.” She frowned at her husband with her hands on her hips,
“You can’t, you’ll be late to work at this rate. Finish up and head off. Severus, could you take him? I would but I’m late for my appointment at Twilfitt and Tattings” Dread filled him as he looked up from his full plate, not a bite had touched his starving mouth. Of course she had to ask him, and right as he was about to have breakfast. But Severus couldn’t deny her, she had opened her home to him at a time of need.
“Ok Cissy, I’ll go wait at the floo for him.” Severus said, covering the trepidation.
Minutes seemed to tick by like seconds as Draco rushed into the floo room, bag in hand. He stopped short, as soon as he saw Severus. A pout found its way back onto his face as the earlier betrayal made itself known.
“Uncle Sev,” He said,
“Draco,” Severus replied, trying to mask his endearment. With a conspiratorial look, Severus pulled a potion from his pocket and handed it discreetly to his godson who perked up immediately.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Draco jumped up and down as he whispered his thanks,
“Don’t tell your mum or your dad, and make sure not to tell your friends ok?” Severus told his godson. Narcissa wouldn’t know, anyway. It’s not like she’ll notice if Severus gave Draco a pepper up potion, he’d be staying with a friend and by the time he came back, the evidence would be all gone.
“Why come you’re here? Is it just for the potion?” Draco asks after drinking the potion,
“No, I have to take you over because you’re too tired to floo alone. You heard your mum, anything can go wrong in that state,” Understanding dawns on his little face,
“Oh, ok.” He said, grabbing onto Severus' arm as they stepped into the floo.
“Draco, I need the address. Otherwise I don’t know where we’re going,” He said slowly
“Right, ok. Um it’s Potter Manor, Morham.”
“In Scotland? Morham, Scotland? Is that the right address?” Severus asked, to Draco’s nod, Severus grabbed a handful of floo powder and spoke clearly.
“Potter Manor, Morham, Scotland.” As the flames around them grew, a whirling feeling filled his empty stomach.
Only moments later, Severus and Draco were standing in the foyer of Potter Manor. James Potter stood tiredly, sipping coffee as his son bounced where he stood, beaming at the floo. James straightened where he stood, shock dressing his face.
“Snape?”
“Hello Potter,” Severus said as Harry and Draco rushed off after a quick goodbye to both men.
“Sorry, Draco hasn’t had any sleep and Narcissa was worried he’d mis-floo to the wrong location. I brought him so that wouldn’t happen,” Severus explained to the other man.
“Oh no, that’s fine. The other children have just sat down for breakfast, would you be able to go over any allergies or dietary requirements with me?” Just as Severus was about to decline, his stomach grumbled ferociously.
“You could join us for breakfast?” He said with a small smile on his lips as Severus flushed at his moronic body.
“Sure, something to eat sounds good about now.” Severus said.
With trepidation, Severus followed James into the Potter family's dining hall.