Severus' and Harry's Family Experience
by Healer Teddylonglong

All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

COMPLETELY AU! Partly OOC! sick!Harry, sick!Severus

It is my story, and I intend to write it the way I want it. If you don't like it, don't read it.
Reviews are very welcome, as they inspire my muse. Thank you so much for your kind reviews!

When Poppy returned to her office, she noticed horrified that Albus was not in his playpen. Seeing that Harry was awake in spite of the sleeping potion she had given him earlier, she sat down on the edge of his bed and asked, "Harry, do you know where Albus is?"

Harry nearly jumped in horror and replied, "No, he wasn't here when I woke up. I thought he was with you." Noticing Poppy's terrified expression, he quickly scrambled out of his bed and reached for his robe pocket. Quickly activating the Marauders' Map, Harry groaned. "Oh no! He seems to be flying over the Quidditch pitch. I'll be back soon."

Albus was just on the verge of passing out from the cold and the exhaustion, when Harry managed to grab him from behind. "It's all right Albus, I'll bring you safe to the ground," he promised hoarsely, when he went into a dive straight to the ground.

HP

Harry and Albus spent the next few hours asleep in the hospital wing, until Severus returned from class and took Albus with him to look after him during the evening. Albus threw a huge temper tantrum, because he wanted to stay with Harry but noticed soon that everyone was extremely angry at him. Severus even gave him five swats on his bum and ordered him to stand in the corner for the remaining thirty minutes until dinnertime.

After dinner, Minerva joined Severus and helped him to bathe the boy and put him to bed. When she gently tucked him in, he cuddled his Baboo close and gave Minerva a hesitant look. "Harry always reads me a story," he whispered sadly, missing the boy immensely.

"I can read a story for you, Albus," Minerva replied gently and let the child choose what he wanted her to read. Later, she kissed him on the forehead and said, "Good night, Albus. Sleep well. Tomorrow is Friday, and I'm sure that Poppy will let Harry come back here after Severus' last class."

In the middle of the night, Severus was alerted by an alarm that someone had just left or entered his quarters. By the time he entered the living room, no one was to be seen, so he decided to look into Harry's room, and what he saw met his expectations. Albus' bed was empty.

Groaning, Severus left his quarters and headed up to the hospital wing, not surprised to find the child lying in bed with Harry, who had gently put an arm around the small boy. Too annoyed to wake up Albus and deal with him right away, Severus decided to leave him there until the morning and returned to his quarters.

HP

Poppy was already very annoyed at the little tyke, who always got himself – and most times Harry as well – into trouble, but when she found him in bed with Harry, who was so ill that he really needed his rest, she became extremely angry.

'I can't give him his potion right away; he needs another Pepperup potion first,' she mused. 'But I will give him a double potion in the afternoon, so that he'll age up to nine years. It won't kill him, and the earlier we get him back to his normal age the better.'

When Severus entered the hospital wing and brought clothes for Albus to get him ready for breakfast and classes, he agreed to Poppy's suggestion immediately.

"Is he well enough to attend classes?" he asked, clearly not looking forward to having the child in his class again.

Poppy sighed. "He is still running a slight temperature, but since he can rest in his playpen, I think it would be the best if either you or Minerva took him to class. I don't know when I'll be called away, and I definitely don't want Harry to look after him today. He needs to rest." She spelled a potion straight into Albus' stomach, causing Severus to grin at the steam that came out of the boy's ears.

"Well, I'll take the little troublemaker to breakfast and ask Minerva," Severus replied thoughtfully, while Poppy gently pried Albus out of Harry's arms without waking Harry up.

To Severus' great relief, Minerva offered to take Albus with her, and everyone proceeded to ignore the child's vehement protests against the adults' plan. Albus wearily followed Minerva into the Transfiguration class and sat down on the chair in the first row, where he had sat together with Harry a few days ago.

Minerva quickly conjured a children's desk with a small chair right next to her own and motioned Albus to sit down and stay put. "Otherwise I'll put you in your playpen," she threatened, giving the boy an extremely stern look, while she put a few books as well as parchments and crayons on the desk.

'I don't like her to speak in such a voice with me,' Albus thought sadly. 'I promise that I'll behave. If I only had my Baboo.'

During the morning classes, Albus behaved for once. He read the books on his desk and occupied himself drawing pictures of his Baboo. On top of the first picture he wrote 'For Mineva' and on the next 'For Harry.' Finally, he leaned back in his seat and gave the two pictures a close look, causing the cats on the pictures to move around and interact with each other.

"You did that really well, Albus, thank you," Minerva commended him, looking at the picture in awe when Albus handed it over before they left the classroom at lunchtime.

"Can I take this to Harry?" he asked, giving Minerva a pleading look.

"No Albus, you can give Harry his picture in the afternoon after classes, not now," she replied sternly, leading him firmly down to the Great Hall.

After lunch, the Gryffindor and Slytherin fifth years had their Transfiguration class. Albus once more tried to sit down right next to Hermione, but Minerva only had to glare in his direction to make him move back to his own chair in the blink of an eye.

This time, the students once more had to transfigure plush cats into living cats and stun them, before they were told to transfigure them into monkeys and finally back into plush cats. Hermione was the first to manage the transfiguration, followed closely by Draco. When Hermione turned to Ron in order to help him with the task, neither she nor anybody else noticed the plush cat vanish from her desk.

Albus held the plush cat on his lap waving his right hand at it. Seconds later, he gently stroked the grey cat's head, causing her to purr contentedly. "You're so pretty and fluffy, I like you so much. You will be my pet now," he whispered into the small cat's ear. 'What shall I call her?' he mused. 'It should be Minnie, but Minerva could become angry if I called the kitty after her. Maybe Fluffy.' "I'll call you Fluffy; do you like that?" he whispered again.

The cat obviously didn't mind her name and continued to purr, sounding very relaxed.

"Albus, what are you doing under the table?" Minerva's voice all of a sudden penetrated his ear, sounding very impatient.

Albus slowly raised his head, allowing the professor to get a glimpse on his small cat. "This is Fluffy," he said softly, throwing the woman an innocent glance.

"An interesting name," Minerva commented dryly and ushered the small boy out of the classroom, groaning inwardly at the sight of Albus toddling behind her with the grey cat on his arm. "Albus, I don't know if Severus and Harry will allow you to keep the cat. Since you're staying in their quarters, you will have to ask them."

"All right," Albus agreed, feeling a bit anxious what Severus' reaction might be.

To his great relief, Severus and Harry, who were sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace quietly talking to each other when Minerva arrived with Albus in tow, didn't mind the cat staying in their quarters for a few days.

"Albus, do you remember who Fluffy is?" Harry laughed. The thought about the fact of a cute little cat having the same name as Hagrid's three-headed dog, made it impossible for him to stop laughing, until he ended up in a coughing fit.

"Oh, I didn't think about that," Albus admitted, only to add thoughtfully, "Then I have to call her Minnie."

Noticing the angry glare Minerva threw at the small boy, Severus suggested, "Why don't you call her Pussy? I believe that is a much more adequate name."

"All right," Albus agreed happily, holding the cat out for Harry, so that they could play with her together.

A few minutes later, Poppy stepped out of the fireplace. She quickly checked on Harry and sent him back to bed, before she turned to Albus. "It's time for your next dose of the aging potion," she said gently.

"But only with Harry," the child replied frightfully, dashing into Harry's room.

"It's all right, sweetie; come lie down here next to me," Harry told the boy softly, cuddling the child close.

Poppy waved her wand at Albus, charming his clothes to grow with him, before she asked, "Do you want to drink your potion, or shall I spell it into your stomach, Albus?"

"Into my stomach please," he replied anxiously, nestling deeper into Harry's embrace.

A few minutes later, Albus was eight years and ten months old, and his joints ached so much that he whimpered in Harry's arm, until Poppy spelled a pain relieving potion into the child as well as a nutrient potion, knowing that he wouldn't be able to attend dinner tonight.

Later in the evening, when Harry and Albus were awake at the same time for once, they talked for a while. After Albus happily told him that Pussy had been Hermione's plush cat in the Transfiguration class, Harry asked softly, "Albus, may I ask you something?"

Albus looked curiously into Harry's green eyes and replied, "Of course."

"Could it be that you like Professor McGonagall?"

"Yes, I love her," Albus replied hesitantly, still feeling drowsy enough by the potions to answer the question. "I've always loved her, but I don't think that she has any feelings for me. And I'm more than twice as old as Minerva."

Harry laughed. "Well, yes, you really look twice as old. I'd rather say she's about six times as old as you."

For a moment, Albus' eight-year-old mind took over. "I will write her a letter and ask," he stated, scrambling out of his bed.

'Oh no; he will be so embarrassed later on if he does that,' Harry thought and spoke up, "Albus, I wouldn't do that. Why don't you ask Madam Pomfrey? She is Professor McGonagall's best friend and should know her better than anyone else."

Albus' hundred-and-fifty-year-old mind took over again, causing to reply pensively, "You're probably right. I'll go and ask her." Before Harry could hold him back, he left the room.

Harry's first thought was to get up and follow the boy, but then he decided, 'No; we're at Hogwarts, and he knows his surroundings well enough to find Madam Pomfrey. I'll try to sleep a bit more.'

While Harry went back to sleep, Albus had a confidential conversation with Poppy. "Well, Albus, Minerva definitely has feelings for you; however, if I was you, I wouldn't speak with her about the matter until you're re-aged."

"But then I'll be much too old for her, won't I?"

"Who says that we have to age you back to a hundred and fifty? We could make you become seventy and leave you at that. You're having all your memories anyway," Poppy suggested and noticed that the small boy's eyes began to twinkle happily.

"Can we do that immediately?" Albus asked, getting extremely excited.

"Do what? Age you up to seventy?" Poppy asked incredulously. Seeing Albus' hopeful expression, she explained gently, "No Albus; I will give you the potion to age you up to eleven in the morning; then you will be seventeen, and on the next day, you'll be able to take the final potion. So you have three more potions to take. Maybe in the meantime you try to behave yourself instead of making everyone even angrier at you," she suggested softly. "And now I will take you back to bed. It's nearly midnight."

HP HEALER POMFREY HP

In the morning, Poppy entered Harry's room to check on him and give Albus the potion. 'This will be the last time he needs me to cuddle him,' Harry mused when he held the younger boy tightly in his arms.

"Eleven years and six months," Poppy announced. "Congratulations Albus."

"Thank you," Albus replied happily and turned to Harry. "Harry, can we go flying please? I promise to be good."

"No." Poppy shook her head. "Harry, you may get up today, but you have to rest a lot, and you will definitely not go flying."

"Look at me please, Albus," Harry asked and when the boy complied, he told him in a gentle but firm voice, "You were very naughty the day before yesterday, when you took my broom and went flying without my permission. Therefore, you will be grounded to day. I'm going to stay here in our quarters and try to catch up with my school work, and I think my father has enough books to keep you occupied for the day."

"I'm sorry Harry," Albus apologized with a terrified expression on his face.

"I hope that you're sorry, Albus. And I suggest that you apologize to Professor McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey, and my father as well for being so naughty while you were smaller. Now let's get up."

The two boys spent the day in the living room sitting in front of the fireplace. While Harry read through his school books and Hermione's notes, Albus used the time reading, playing with Pussy, and thinking. When Minerva stepped out of the fireplace in order to see how they were faring, Albus jumped startled, and Harry couldn't help laughing at his expression. 'Well, he definitely was thinking about her, when she showed up,' he mused.

"Is your father in the lab, Harry?" Minerva asked, looking around.

"Yes, he has to brew something urgent for Madam Pomfrey," Harry replied, offering the professor a seat.

"How are you faring, Harry?" Minerva enquired gently, sitting down on the sofa. "Do you need any help?"

Harry gave her a questioning look. "Do you mean with my studies or with your older colleague?"

"I'm not her older colleague. I'm younger than you!" Albus jumped into the conversation.

"Oh right, excuse me, Mister," Harry replied tiredly.

"Both I meant," Minerva explained, looking at her student in concern.

"Thank you Professor. I've already read Hermione's Transfiguration notes, but I've many questions," Harry answered uncertainly.

"I will help you. However, you look as if you already studied enough for the day."

"I'm a bit tired," Harry admitted in a small voice.

"All right then. I will take Albus to the Headmaster's office in the morning, when he'll be seventeen, and explain what happened during his absence, so that he can occupy himself in his office during the afternoon. That will give us some quiet time, during which I can help you with your studies."

"Great Professor, thanks a lot," Harry said in relief, suddenly wishing nothing more than to take a nap.

"You're welcome Harry. Go and sleep for a while. I will stay here with Albus until your father returns," his Head of House promised gently.

HP HEALER POMFREY HP

In the morning, Albus was aged up to seventeen years and two months. Against Harry's expectations, eleven-year-old Albus rushed over to him, cuddling close into his arms as soon as he saw Poppy enter the room.

"All right; I want to see both of you at breakfast in the Great Hall," Poppy told them and left the room.

"Albus, you're going to spend the morning with Professor McGonagall," Harry explained gently. "Please behave yourself, so that you won't be embarrassed when you're back to your normal age."

"I won't become a hundred and fifty again," Albus admitted in a soft voice. "Madam Pomfrey suggested aging me up to seventy, so that I'm going to stay seventy."

"Oh, that's a good idea," Harry said thoughtfully. 'Well, that's about McGonagall's age,' he thought in amusement.

HP

After breakfast, Minerva took Albus with her into the headmaster's office and occupied the seventeen-year-old until lunchtime. Albus sighed at the pile of parchments, knowing that he had to get back to work as soon as possible. However, listening to Minerva's explanations for a while, his thoughts slowly drifted off. 'She's so wonderful. Why didn't I ask her much earlier?' His one hundred and seventy old mind replied, 'Because you were afraid of her reaction. Maybe you should ask her as long as you're young. Otherwise, you might never be able to.'

"Albus, are you listening at all?" Minerva all of a sudden asked in exasperation.

"Yes my dear, I am listening. However, I need to ask you something first to ease my mind."

"Well, go ahead," Minerva returned, getting impatient.

"I love you Minnie," Albus whispered. "Poppy will only re-age me up to seventy tomorrow." He slowly trailed off uncertainly.

'I can't believe it. He managed to tell me,' Minerva thought in amazement. However, she put up a stern expression when she replied gently, "If you still think so when you're seventy, we can speak about the matter again. And now please let's go on with these parchments."

HP

Albus spent the afternoon alone in his office, thinking about what he was going to ask Minerva in the morning. He couldn't wait for the next day to come. At five o'clock in the morning, he shook Harry awake and said urgently, "Get up Harry; you have to accompany me to the hospital wing."

"What's wrong? Are you feeling ill?" Harry asked in concern, scrambling out of his bed.

"No but I want Poppy to give me the aging potion. Can you please come with me? You know that I need you to be there with me."

"All right," Harry groaned, feeling very annoyed but at the same time glad that Albus would be back to normal soon.

Twenty minutes later, he was back to seventy, and while Poppy was spelling a pain relieving potion and a calming draught into his stomach to ease the pain in his joints, Harry sat on the edge of his bed speaking with him in a calming voice. Suddenly, Albus sat up excitedly.

"Please excuse me. I have an urgent errand," he said in determination, while he got up and rushed into the fireplace, shouting, "Minerva McGonagall's quarters."

"Oh, I don't think he learned anything by his de-aging experience," Poppy groaned. "He seems worse than before."

Harry chuckled. "I can't wait to see if these two will be getting together."

Poppy gave him a gentle smile. "Believe me, they will, Harry, provided that Albus manages to ask Minerva."

HP

Minerva jumped startled when Albus stepped out of the fireplace at six o'clock in the morning. "Good morning Albus. What happened?" she asked in concern.

"Nothing my dear, except for the fact that I'm not a child anymore," the Headmaster replied gently. "However, I wish to give you this..." He held out an extra large lemon drop.

Minerva took the lemon drop, and noticed that it wasn't a sweet at all but a small box that could be opened at one side.

"Minerva, I want you to become my wife," Albus said softly, while she looked at the beautiful ring inside the box in amazement.

"This is beautiful," Minerva gasped, wondering aloud, "Where did you get this?"

"Oh, this has been in my drawer for nearly forty years. Ever since it bought it I wanted to ask you but I never dared speaking with you because I thought you might think I was too old for you."

Minerva let out a snort. "I would have answered your question positively, if you had asked me forty years ago," she replied softly. "How old are you now, by the way?"

"I'm seventy. It was Poppy's idea," Albus admitted.

"I thought you looked much younger than before, although your age wasn't a problem for me." 'Who else could get the same idea, which I had a few days ago if not my best friend,' she mused and gave the man in front of her an amused smile.

"And do you think you could still say 'Yes'?" Albus enquired, gently putting his arm around her shoulders.

Minerva happily leaned into the embrace and replied firmly, "Yes."

HP

In the evening, Severus and Harry were drinking tea in front of the fireplace. "Now are you glad that we have your quarters back for us?" Harry asked, smirking.

"You can believe that," Severus replied, letting out a relieved sigh. "By the way Harry, I know that Madam Pomfrey allowed you to go back to classes from tomorrow onwards; however, I'd like you to remain here for a few more days instead of returning to your dormitory so soon."

Before he could even explain his reasons, Harry agreed. "I'd like that too, Dad. I have a lot of catching up to do, and I can work much better here, where it's quiet."

Looking pensively into the fireplace, Severus said, "I'm glad that Albus and Minerva got together. At least his de-aging had something good."

"That's true. I always thought that the two of them behave like an old couple. And Albus was really annoying, but he was very cute as well," Harry replied thoughtfully.

The End

Thank you all for your kind comments throughout this story!