Harry Potter and the Vulnerability Charm Part II

Chapter 3: The Injury

A reminder. If you wanna read my original stories on my non-ageregression account the account is @ValidEffort

The next evening, just after Harry's quidditch practice, Snape arrives alongside Lupin to pick him up. Of course, their ulterior motive is to discover more about Lestrange's 'son' but that motive gets balled up and thrown out the window when Lestrange rushes up to them in distress. "Oh, thank goodness you're here, we've been trying to call you!" she exclaims, maniacally as ever. The other parents are giving them concerned, disapproving looks.

"My phone was off..." Snape admits, having turned it off because he was grading papers and he needs absolute silence when he's doing that. "But his wasn't!" He blames Lupin.

"Mine was," Lupin admits with a sigh, earning an angry glare from Snape similar to the ones the parents were giving the potions master. "I was with you and I knew you'd be annoyed if it rang!" He defends unsuccessfully.

"Are you insane?" Snape stands back and even though Lupin is taller, the Professor looks more intimidating.

"Why were you trying to phone me?" Snape suddenly snaps at Lestrange.

"Follow me," she leads them to the little changing space at the end of the field - where kids get changed in and out of their Quidditch uniforms. Harry is sitting there sniffling with dried tears on his cheeks.

"Da- Daddy!" He cries once he sees his Daddy and runs into his arms. Snape rubs Harry's back and can't deny he enjoys the feeling of being needed by his son who's grown up too fast. Most parents have 6 years of parenting experience when their son is 6. He's only had 3 years with Harry.

"Aw little one, what happened to you?" He asks Harry softly, but look sternly up at Lestrange in demand of an answer. He should never have let Harry return to this club. He's too young to be playing Quidditch even without flying - it's too dangerous!

"Harry bumped into another boy by accident and the boy pushed him. He fell and has some scrapes. I'm very sorry," she apologises - not sounding very sorry at all.

"Which boy? I demand to speak to his parents!" Snape crosses his arms over his chest indignantly. From behind Lestrange, a small head peeks out followed by the rest of the child dressed in the same Slytherin-themed robes as Harry.

The boy has straight, mousy brown hair in a page boy cut and a pasty complexion. Dark circles rim his eyes. Something about him is awfully familiar to Snape. "I-I did," he squirms.

"This is Tommy," Lestrange explains with a crooked smile. Snape stiffens and exchanges looks of unease with Lupin. The coach doesn't notice their discomfort and continues. "What do you say Tommy?"

Harry looks down at him expectantly from his Daddy's arms.

Tommy wrings his hands. "M'sorry Harry," he stares at his feet, kicking up the grass a little. Harry wriggles down from Snape's arms and stands before Tommy.

"Can us um, still be friends?" Harry asks. Snape raises his eyebrows, impressed by his son's empathy.

"Yeah Harry. Thank you!" Tommy reaches out and cuddles him close. Harry returns the hug and all seems resolved even if Tommy gives Snape the creeps.

"Well done Harry, that was very nice of you to forgive him," Snape praises, patting Harry's back. He's stopped crying and just sniffles a little. "How is your boo-boo feeling now?"

"Still hurts.." Harry pouts, more just sad than in pain. Snape hums to himself, getting an idea.

"Would a trip to Honeydukes make it feel better?"

"Mmmmaybe," Harry smiles, taking Lupin's hand and his Daddy's too, waling in between them. He turns around and waves to his friend. "Bye-Bye Tommy!"

"Bye-bye Harry," Tommy quips with a smile. Harry turns back around and they reach the edge of the field, ready to apparate away.

Lestrange watches them leave too, sadistic measurement in her eyes. "Bye-Bye, Severus..."