The Boy The Snake and The Stone

Chapter 21: Cuddles, Yule, and Christmas Healing

After getting back from the dinner, Harry had been completely shut down, the happy boy that they had grown use to now was completely numb. Severus sat Harry down on the couch and turned his back for a moment to fetch a calming potion, and when he turned back around the boy had disappeared. Severus was disappointed, the boy had taken off and hadn't talked to him, and it hurt him. He had shown the child that he had cared for him, and at the sight of those muggles, had Harry back into his shell hiding from everyone again. Severus went in search of the young dark haired wizard, determined to show him that he was such more than what those muggles said.

Harry had taken off to the only place he knew he was safe, a room that was given to him by the Malfoys. Of course, he never stayed in there seeing as he liked to sleep in Draco's room. Growing up all alone made him afraid to spend a night alone. Harry wedged himself under the bed, hiding from the world, making himself as small as possible. He thought that the world would be better if he was never found, that the Dursley's should have killed him. He had caused so much trouble for Severus and the Malfoys already, when he was just a freak. He had no mum or dad, and that the only family he had shown him no love, why would these people do something that his own family denied him for so long?

Those dark thoughts surrounded Harry and it felt like he was suffocating under the weight of the world; the memories of the only family and all those names just circled around in his thoughts. Then he felt a sharp pain in his hand and saw tiny sharp teeth drawling blood with the crystal blue eyes looking at him with both fear and anger.

"Neit, do you hate me that much?" Harry asked the small kitten, "You bit me and the look in your eyes says you fear me little one." Harry's voice was rough as his small chest heaved in gasps of air. The little black furball removed her teeth from her master's hand, sadness washed over her blue eyes. She began licking the wound she inflicted, feeling bad, but her human need it. She looked up into Harry's green eyes and gave a small mew before rubbing her face into his hand trying to show that she loved him very much. Harry gave a tight lipped smile to the small creature. It was hard to stay mad at her, she was just trying to cheer him up the only way she could. Harry picked Neit up and place her in his lap, "Thank you girl, I love you too." Harry said in a low voice, softly petting the black kitten.

"It seems as the bugger had beaten me here," Levi said slithering underneath the bed spying the kitten and the speaker, "She was worried when we felt your bond with us start to shake, and took off to find you as fast as she could. It seemed she showed that even though the world seemed that you are alone in this world you have us, your dark protector, even that blond boy."

"I-I know Levi, but I-I saw them again, a-and it scared me." Harry felt a shiver run down his body just thinking about them.

"I know little hatchling, but you do not have to worry about them anymore, you have a family that loves you. You have me and your little black fur fiend as well, so it doesn't matter about them anymore. Just forget about them! We will love you and take care of you, where those people have lacked." Levi hissed at the young wizard trying to get his point across, that this boy no longer had to worry about them, that if they ever tried anything that he would bite them.

"Thank you Levi, Neit, I don't know how I came to deserve you." The young boy said, looking close to tears at what the snake said.

"Harry are you in here?" Harry heard Severus open the door and call into the room. Harry couldn't hold it back any longer, he placed the kitten on the floor and crawled out from his hiding place, and as soon as he could, he threw himself in the potion master's arms. He bawled into those black robes, getting tears and snot everywhere his face touched; but the older wizard didn't seemed to mind one bit wrapping his large arms around the tiny, shaking body holding him close as possible, letting him get everything out of his system.