- - - -The next morning at Spinner's End- - - -
Harry wakes up quite early and goes down into the kitchen. He starts making breakfast and Eileen is surprised to find breakfast ready when she comes down half an hour later. Smiling she comments "I could get used to that, coming down to find our breakfast already on the table. But you don't have to do it you know that right?"
Harry nods, answering politely "Good morning Eileen. I know I don't have to do this but I want to. As long as I have to stay I want to help. Otherwise I would feel like a burden." Eileen nods.
"Good morning dear. You can help if you really want to. I won't stop you but you don't have to. Don't forget that. I will go and get Severus now."
"Wait Eileen.You sit down, I will get Severus. Tea should be ready any minute." Eileen smiles and nods in thanks.y goes upstairs and finds Severus' door already open. He steps closer and hears Severus' frightened voice begging. Harry has heard enough to know what is going on. He storms into the room and sends Tobias flying against a wall. Harry kneels down in front of Severus.
"It's alright Sev. He won't hurt you. I'm right here and won't let him. You're safe." Severus looks up, scared and teary eyed. Harry opens his arms instinctively and Severus dives into him, clinging tightly to his shirt. Harry gets up and goes out of the room, the shaking Severus still in his arms. He goes over to his own room and sits down on the bed, leaning against the headboard, cradling Severus close. Harry starts humming a soft tune and just stays where he is. Eileen hears her husband connecting with the wall and goes upstairs. She calls for Severus, seeing her husband lying on the floor, unconscious. Harry hears her calling and answers "We're in the guestroom, Eileen." She goes over to them and sees that Severus isn't hurt but scared. She looks grim, goes into the bedroom, lets her magic pack Tobias' things and then goes over to Severus' room. Tobias is standing up when Eileen comes in, looking at him furiously. She throws the bags down in front of him, only saying one sentence before going out again "I want you gone in 5 minutes ad not another word to one of us or nobody will find your body." She goes and asks Harry and Severus to come down for breakfast while she's going down herself. Harry gets up, sets Severus down, takes his hand and goes down. Tobias on the other hand stands shellshocked in Severus room looking at the bags at his feet. Realising what is happening to him Tobias sighs, takes the bags and goes down. Looking one last time at his family having breakfast with Harry, Tobias leaves the house, not knowing that he changes the lives of a lot of people with that. Now there is more peace at Spinner's End and Severus can have a better life without getting pushed around by everyone.
- - - -At Hogwarts- - - -
When Hermione is finished with her homeworks, she gets up and lays Snape in his cradle, leaving the door open while going into her own room to unpack her trunk. She gets interrupted by silent sobbing, immediately thinking something happened to Snape. Hurrying over she draws her wand, expecting some kind of trouble.
"Severus what's the matter? Are you hurt or something?" Hermione asks, coming to stand right beside the cradle. Finding no scratch or wound on Snape she sheathes her wand again. Snape looks up at her with tears streaming down his cheeks. Suddenly he throws his arms up and cries harder. Hermione lifts him up and cradles him close.
"It's okay Severus. I'm here. Nothing is going to hurt you. You're safe. What happened sweetheard? Did you have a nightmare?"
Severus shakes his head silently.
"Okay. Were you scared I would have left because I wasn't in the room when you woke up?"
At first Snape doesn't react but after a while he nods reluctantly.
"Oh sweety...I won't leave you. I'll be near even if I'm not in the same room. No need to be scared." She rubs soothing circles over his back. Snape clings to her and cries silently.
"Shhh...I'm here. Don't cry. You're not alone."
Slowly Snape calms down and just cuddles with her before the adult in him notices what he does. He starts to struggle, blushing. Hermione chuckles softly and sits him down in his cradle. "Calm down Professor. Whatever happens in these quarters stays in here. I won't tell anyone. Not even Ron or Harry." He looks at her, clearly not believing her. She sighs and stands up straight.
"I, Hermione Granger, swear on my life and magic that I won't tell anyone about things happening in these quarters without the permission of Professor Severus Snape."
Snape looks at her with big, shocked eyes, not believing what just happened.
"Are you believing me now Professor?" Hermione smiles at him. He nods slowly, thinking how he deserves such a guardian, who makes such a strong vow just to help him feel comfortable. Severus holds out his arms to be picked up again.