Please...

Chapter Thirty One

"Severus, you're more worried than Harry is!" Remus exclaimed. "It's only for the afternoon, he'll be okay!"

"What if he isn't? What if he needs me? What if he gets hurt!?"

"Severus-"

"Lucius was right, I've gone soft!" the other man groaned. "I'm such a pansy!"

"You are no such thing, Sev. You're just worried, and that's okay, but you need to calm down. Harry'll be perfectly okay. He loves Draco, and Narcissa will be watching them the entire time." Remus ran his fingers through Severus' hair. "And we can go out again."

"What if Narcissa lets them ride on brooms!?" Severus exclaimed in horror. 

"We'll let Narcissa know what Harry is and isn't allowed to do. She'll respect what you say, Sev. Neither of them are who they were back at Hogwarts, they respect people and their rules. Harry'll be fine, he'll have a great time!"

"He's never gone anywhere out of Hogwarts without at least one of us!"

"But he has been with other people while we aren't at Hogwarts. So it's sort of the reverse this time, right? Right."

"...He's never been away from here without us though..." Severus whispered. "Not since I... Not since I found him. I just want him to be safe."

"And he will be, I swear to it." Remus held Severus close. "I think you need to think about this. Actually think about this, rationally and calmly-"

"Daddy, Pappy, can I go yet!?" Harry ran into their room excitedly. "When, Pappy, when!?"

"Not for a little bit, cub. You should take a nap before you go, or else you'll be very tired at Draco's and won't be able to play," Remus explained. 

Harry gasped like it was the most terrifying thing in the world. "No!"

"Yes!"

"I'll nap!"

"Come on up here, cub. Want to sleep with Pappy and Daddy?" Harry climb up into the bed. Remus leaned down, so he could whisper in Harry's ear without being heard by Severus. "I think Daddy could use a big hug, Harry."

Harry climbed in to Severus' lap and frowned. "Daddy's sad?"

"No, honey-"

"Yes you is, you cryin'!" Harry exclaimed. "Why's Daddy crying!?"

"I'm okay, Hare. C'mon, let's go down for a nap, yeah? I'm tired, too."

"Nuh-uh!" Harry threw his arms around Severus' neck. "No sad!"

"Harry..." Severus mumbled. "I'm okay, I promise. Just... got a little scared, okay?" He slowly pulled his jumper off, leaving him in a tank top. "Let's take a nap. I'm tired."

"Ca' Lily come?"

"Sure, bambi."

"I'll grab her, I want something to drink, anyway," Remus said, standing. "I'll be right back."

Severus and Harry laid on the bed side by side, Harry looked intriguingly at Severus' tattoo. "Daddy?"

"Yes, bambi?"

"Why's there a snakey on your arm?"

"It's a tattoo I got when I was young and stupid. Please don't tell anyone I have it, okay? It's a secret." 

"Okay, Daddy."

"Time for naptime, Hare. Blanket or no?"

"Blankie!"