"It's been two weeks, you know," Remus mumbled after Harry was put to bed. "And?"

"Look, Severus. I've apologized. I know you didn't mean to it, and I know Lily forgave you. You do, too, just... you've been so... different. When I first came here I thought you hadn't been sleeping. Now it's obvious."

"Why do you care? What happened to Slytherins being evil and all that? I thought you were only here for Harry, not me." Remus shrugged. "Regulus wasn't that bad. And neither were you. I never bullied you, did I? When we were alone I asked them about it, and it was mainly you hanging around Malfoy."

"Still. You didn't care about me then and you don't care about me now." Severus busied himself in making tea so he wouldn't have to look at Remus. "Severus-"

"You are here for one person and one person only. Harry. Harry needs you. Desperately. If he didn't, you wouldn't be here and you know that," Severus snarled. "Why are you so mad all the time?! I'm trying to be civil, I'm trying to right my wrongs, and you push me away every single time."

"You hurt me, Remus," Severus whispered. "You were the only Marauder who knew. About my father, about my mother, and you knew I wasn't bad, yet you did nothing! You might've had a measly talk with them, but they didn't change until I wouldn't talk to anyone! I was alone! And you knew it! I was being bullied and degraded, at home and at school and what did you do?! You turned the other cheek! If I was an House other than Slytherin you would have stepped in!"

"What was I supposed to do?! Lose my friends, my respect, everything I had worked for?! And no, I wouldn't've! I just wanted to get through school without anyone finding out about my problem. I didn't talk much either. You know nothing about Sirius, so shut up about him. James I can't excuse. He was a downright prat, an arrogant one, but he was my mate."

"What did Sirius go through? Wasn't good enough for mummy and daddy?"

"His childhood was similar to your own. Except his parents had magic, and he had a baby brother to protect."

Severus' face paled. "W-What do you mean...?"

"He got Gryffindor. He was a Light and his Parents knew. His parents are Blacks, what did you think happened? They were oh-so proud?! I'm not going to say he got it worse. Abuse is abuse, but it still happened to him. Him bullying and not showing weakness was how he survived. I don't know why he didn't get Slytherin. Maybe he asked for Gryffindor.

"Those were his survival instincts. You had them too. You still do. You pushed everyone away. You had a short temper. You were always waiting for someone to leave, you watched everyone, like you were expecting something. If I wasn't helping Sirius I would've helped you, but I didn't know how to help him, much less help you as well."

"Can I tell you something?" Severus asked, handing Remus a cup and sitting across from him. "Of course."

"You're right. I haven't been sleeping or eating. I've had more nightmares again. About him. Then when I wake up, I don't fall back asleep. I'm so worried about Harry, I can't sleep, my students think I'm plotting world domination and destruction because I don't pull their hair out anymore."

"Severus, I know we didn't get along, but we need to become friends for Harry's sake. Not close ones, but friends of some sort."

They both heard small footsteps, and looked towards the hallway. Harry was standing there, glasses half on, holding Lily in his still too small hands. "Daddy? Moony?"

"Come here, honey. What's wrong?" Harry climbed in Severus' lap. "I'm scared."

"Why? Did you have another nightmare?"

"No... I just don' wanna sleep alone... Daddy's bed?" Harry asked timidly. "Me and Remus are talking, Harry. Do you want to go lay on the couch for a bit until we're done?" Harry shook his head.

"I... last weekend... both of you... Want both of you, Sev. Can I sleep with both of you tonight? Please? I'll be extra good tomorrow, I promise!" Harry cried, lower lip trembling. "Okay, Harry, okay. If Remus says it's okay, then I'm okay with it."

"I'm okay with it," Remus said. "See? It's okay. What scared you?"

"I don't know! 'M sorry." He cuddled his head into Severus' chest. "Like I said, it's okay. Me and Moony can finish our talk later." Severus gave Remus a look, signaling for him to follow. "Your room or my room, Harry?"

"Daddy's room."

"So?" Remus questioned after Harry was dozing peacefully once more. "Will you let me at least try?"

"I'll give you a chance, Remus. One chance. If you throw it away, then that will be it. No redos. There will be no bringing up what I did wrong, because I've had five years of practically isolation to think about it. Where were you, by the way?"

"Hiding. After Greyback got caught purposefully... eating... children... werewolves aren't exactly popular, and that stupid Umbridge woman thinks we ought to be rounded up and in kennels."

"He eats..."

"Children. On purpose." Remus visibly shuddered. "That's why I was hiding last year. I could have come out, but I knew I would've gone to Harry, and Wolfsbane was only just created. What if I hurt him? Or worse. What if I k-ki-..."

"You wouldn't've. I'll make wolfsbane for you once a month, I've heard it's rather expensive to buy from St. Mungos." Remus let out a sigh. "Thank you."

"You said we should try and get along. I can't let you go from paycheck to paycheck and not have a vital potion."

"Severus, you never told me what happened after I found you, you know..." Remus whispered after some time. "You don't have to, I was just wondering..." Severus thought for a moment before he decided to talk. "After you... found me, as you put it, Regulus and Lucius found me next. They took me to McGonagall, had her heal me, told her we got into a fight. She didn't believe them, or me, but she let it go. I stopped talking. All I wanted was to get through school and get a job, so I could have enough money to move. A few years later I got what I wanted. I moved out. Started renting a flat. Then I got a job here. I told her the truth. She knew. For a long time, a year after they took me to her that time. The Ministry didn't help. I was about to turn seventeen. Why would they care?

"I got therapy. I stopped going last year," Severus stopped talking, pace paling as he realized just how much he had said. "Dammit."

"You didn't have to tell me all of that," Remus replied softly. "McGonagall told me I should try and be vulnerable. I didn't realize I was rambling..."

"In all honesty, I like that you better than the other."

"Why?"

"Because feelings make you human. What, should I love someone who shows no emotion whatsoever, hides his personality, and is cold all the time?"

"Well, no, but-"

"I like people who feel, Severus. And maybe you'll like me better when you let your guard down a bit."

"You know..." Severus whispered. "At first I joined Dumbledore for Lily and only Lily... but now... the more I think about it... the Dark Lord is doing exactly what Harry's uncle and my father did; torturing innocent people to prove he has power, that he has control. I can't help someone who stands for that."

"You should go to sleep, Severus. You have a son now, you need energy."

"Yeah... sleep." He realized he hadn't slept in a week. "Yeah."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Daddy?" Harry mumbled. "What were Moony and you talking about?"

"Some adult stuff. Harry, do you want to go to a park today?" Severus asked, handing Harry and Remus both a plate of eggs. "Can we?!"

"I don't see why not. Today is Saturday, so I have no classes today. We'll go in a little bit, when it's warmer."

Breakfast was over soon enough, and Harry was full of energy. "Maybe we go in the morning instead?" Remus asked Severus as Harry started throwing a rubber ball at the wall, which would ricochet back to Harry, and the cycle would repeat. "There would be less people, and maybe it would get his energy out. I'm pretty sure he's denting your wall, Severus."

"He can't dent a stone wall, you doof. Crack, maybe. Dent, no. Harry, do you want to go now or later?"

"Now!"

"Then go get dressed. Make sure to have on a thicker jumper, it's getting colder."

Harry ran to his room after setting Lily on Remus' lap. "Good thinking, Remus," Severus mumbled as he got a start on dishes. "This is his first time really being out, besides two times we went shopping. More like one time, he had an attack the first."

"I'm ready!" Harry exclaimed. "Can we go now? Please?!" Severus nodded, letting out a chuckle. "Of course we can. We are going to apparate there, alright? But first we have to floo to the Three Broomsticks."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Have fun today, Harry?" Severus asked as Harry sat happily on his shoulders. "Yeah! And I beat you and Re!"

"Yes, you're very fast."

"Why did Moony have to go, Daddy?" Harry asked. His eyes were drooping slightly and his chin was resting on Severus' head. "He had to go home, bambi."

"Can he come live with us?"

"Honey, he has his own home. Maybe if he becomes a teacher, but I don't think that will happen."

"Nigh' nigh', Daddy."

Severus continued walking as Harry lightly dozed, the gears in his head turning. Maybe having a second person to support him would help? If having Remus there full time helped Harry's recovery, it was something he was willing to consider.