Hidden in Black Robes

Dependence

Severus sat on the couch with the box on the floor before beside him while Harry was nestled in his lap, snuggling into him. He reached into the box with calloused hands and took out the toys inside.

He had to give Harry something to entertain himself with while he prepared for his next potions class. Minerva had also insisted that he and Harry head to the Great Hall for dinner so that Harry could have some interaction with other people therefore he had to also give Harry a bath and dress him in new clothes. They're definitely going to diagon alley as early as possible.

Severus hated having meals in the Great Hall. It was always filled with loud and annoying dunderheads. He could not even have a remotely good time consuming his food. The staff and teachers always had things to share about their personal life or students. He for one, didn't care. It was an exasperating experience every time.

Severus silently groaned. They still had plenty of time until dinner so he showed one of the toys inside the box to Harry, planning to let him indulge in something fun while he was busy before bathing him. It was a muggle remote control race car. Bright red and all, gold stripes across its sides and front. The Headmaster really had to get things Gryffindor coloured. Now he had spurts of red and gold sprinkled around his monotone coloured quarters.

"Cwar!" Harry exclaimed in awe before realising what he had done, immediately apologising,

"Sowwy! No mean to!" shrinking into himself, preparing to get beaten.

"It's alright Harry. You can play with these toys here while I work. Preferably for an hour or two." Severus, placed the car on the couch and pointed at the array of toys on the carpeted floor, left arm snaking around Harry's back and rubbing it, attempting to calm him down after noticing how tense he was. He had already Potter proofed his quarters so it should be perfectly fine to leave him in the living room for a while. Harry glanced at the different items on the floor and blinked, confused and surprised eyes met onyx ones.

"Hawwy pway?" Sounding doubtful.

"Yes. You'll entertain yourself until I'm done working."

"Sev'us no stay? Sev'us weaving?" Harry panicked. Sev'us can't leave! What if he never comes back?

"Don't these toys look...interesting? It'll only be for a while." Severus struggled to find a word to describe the absurd choice of toys.

"You can find me in my bedroom study if necessary." Severus continued.

"H-hawwy no pway. G-go wif you p-pwease?"

Harry has shed tears way too many times to count in one day. Apparently, alone time was going to be a rare occurrence at this rate. Severus unwillingly compromised. He still needed Harry to be distracted after all. He was not going to be interrupted while preparing his lesson materials.

"How about you play on the carpet while I get work done on the couch?"

"S-Sev'us stay?" Severus made a side note to himself that he should get Harry to work on saying his name correctly even though it sounds mildly cute. Wait. What did I just say? Cute? Severus, get it together! He is not cute!

"You'll be able to see me from your position while you play." Face blank despite the internal conflict he just had.

"I'll get my materials. Stay there." Severus said as he lifted Harry off his lap and onto the soft carpet. Harry's expression looked anxious and scared at being left alone, even if it was only for a few moments. Severus strode to retrieve his materials in record speed, Harry didn't even have the chance to follow him although he was preparing to stand. He sat back down when Severus came into view again. Severus had to get Harry to be more independent. He was already 4 years old. Maybe work on his speech as well.

Stop! Stop! Stop! Why do I have the thought that I'll need to do those things?! This is temporary Severus! Temporary! Having a child in his quarters was most definitely messing with his mind. Yeah. That was it.

Harry faced towards Severus as he drove the red remote control car around. Making tiny 'vroom' sounds as he controlled the vehicle to drive in circles. Originally, he had trouble with the buttons but with a little guidance from Severus, he got the hang of it quickly.

Half an hour passed with Harry peaking up at Severus several times to check that he hasn't left. Severus also glanced at Harry a few times as he was marking potion essays. Not without noticing that Harry had only been playing with the same exact toy since the beginning. Surely he must be sick of it already.

When Severus and Harry made eye contact while they checked up on each other, Severus stopped his marking momentarily and decided to ask,

"Don't you want to play with something else? Surely that must be quite boring."

"Hawwy can pway other toys?"

Oh. Harry didn't even think that he was allowed to play with other things. He had probably assumed that the remote control toy car was the only thing he was allowed because that's what Severus offered to him earlier.

"Harry, you can play with the other toys. Not only the car."

"Weawwy? No lie wight? Hawwy pway with other toys?" Had his relatives tricked him into getting punished?

"Yes. You can. In fact, it would be preferred."

"Fank 'ou Sev'us!" Harry felt like he was dreaming. He had all these toys he could have fun with! Sev'us is so nice, letting a disgusting freak like himself touch these toys.

"Why did you ask if I was lying?" Severus wanted to know what happened with Harry and his relatives. It would give him a good gauge on what he should do to them should they have the joy of meeting.

"No say."

"Why not? You can tell me."

"Auntie and Unco say no say."

"They wouldn't know what you said to me ok?"

"Auntie and Unco scawy and mean. Huwt Hawwy. Lie to Hawwy. Make Hawwy have owies."

"Did they hurt you a lot?" Severus further questioned.

"Mhm. Auntie and Unco huwt a wot."

"Does anything still hurt Harry?"

"Nofin huwt anymwore." Harry said, giving Severus a small smile.

"That's good. I'll be done soon."

The comforting silence went on for another hour before Severus marked all of the potion essays. Their grades were less than satisfactory but he didn't have time to ponder about that. Harry had to have a bath.

A/N:
My hand is currently very sunburned right now so chapters will be quite slow. School camps suck lol. Probably going to have more fluff in the next chapter.