Chapter Text
At a staff meeting, everyone is waiting for Severus to arrive:
"We're only missing Severus, then we can start. How odd, he's not usually late." Dumbledore cast another tempus and frowned at the numbers.
Minerva snorted. "Usually? He's not ever late! Perhaps he had a Potions accident…"
"But he's watching Harry, he wouldn't be brewing now," Dumbledore protested worriedly.
Poppy stood up. "I'll check on him. Be back in a mo'."
Poppy floo'd from Dumbledore's office and found Severus in his quarters, sitting quietly on the couch with Harry in his arms. He looked up, looking unusually alarmed for a seemingly calm situation.
"All right, Severus? Did you get a note about the staff meeting?"
"Shh! Muffliato !" Nothing happened, since Severus' finger had only twitched away from Harry's back. The baby turned his head and smacked his mouth a couple times. Severus froze and stopped breathing.
"Er…Severus? Were you going to put Harry to bed and come to Albus's office? You know Mimsy will keep an eye on Harry."
"I can't move," Severus whispered, looking up at her. His hair was in his face, but he made no attempt to remove it. "I think he's teething, and he wakes up every time I stand up or try to put him down. I've been rocking him for three hours , Poppy. My arms are asleep." Severus looked down at Harry, his hair falling further in his face. "Plus I think his accidental magic has glued us together."
Poppy would not laugh. She admired and respected Severus as a new parent, and she would not destroy his confidence by laughing. She thought about wizard pox and infection and said, "all right, why don't I cast a little sleeping spell and you can put him down."
"No!" Severus yelped in a hoarse whisper. "Marley Ogleby's Guide to the Care of Magical Children and Infants says you shouldn't use sleeping spells for children under two, and he's only twenty-two months! They have to be able to sleep naturally! It's about trust, Poppy! What kind of parent would I be if I just spell my child to sleep all the time!?"
Harry murmured and opened and closed a chubby fist a few times. Severus froze again, then carefully tried to sway back and forth. With his stiff arms, he looked more like a dwelling dummy enchanted with a clumsy livening charm.
Poppy mentally listed the side affects of concussion potion and pulled on her best bedside face. "Severus," she began.
He glared ferociously.
She lowered her voice. "Severus, dear, I am quite sure Harry will be fine once you put him down. You know how deeply he sleeps after ten minutes or so."
He opened his mouth to argue. This time she glared.
"Fine. But if he won't stay asleep, I will simply have to bring him to the meeting."
"Of course, Severus."
They went carefully to the nursery and Poppy canceled Harry's (surprisingly strong) accidental sticking charm. She watched Severus put Harry down with as much care as his most delicate potions. He snuffled and began snoring.
"There," Poppy beamed. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
"I suppose," Severus admitted.
"Shall we?" Poppy indicated the door.
Severus started to nod, then stopped. "Excuse me!" He said, and dashed for the loo.
Poppy snickered. Ah, the joys of parenting.