Are you finished? If so, I will escort you back to your common room," Snape said.
Harry shook his head.
"We have been through this already. I will not allow you to roam these corridors –" he began.
"–It's not that. I just… if it's okay, I thought… can I stay here with you tonight?" the boy asked, softly. "It's just, I barely saw you all week."
Whose fault is that? Severus wanted to ask, but instead: " 'May I', not 'Can I', and yes you may."
Smiling, the boy disappeared into his bedroom and peace once again resumed momentarily – in fact, Severus Snape had gotten through a whole paragraph of the article he was reading before the boy once more appeared at his side, now dressed in his nightclothes.
Giving up, the potions master folded up his newspaper and discarded it, and that was when the little brat seized his opportunity, tugging on his arm and scooting in close beside him.
"I rather think you should be in bed," he observed, seeing the boy stifle a yawn.
"Just for a bit," Harry mumbled, resting his head against Severus' chest.
Severus Snape saw little point in rebuking him. By now he knew that a quiet life was more easily obtained by giving the boy what he wanted and that, he told himself, was the only reason he allowed it.
His arm around the boy's shoulders and his hand rubbing warm circles on his back were, of course, all part of that masterplan.
"Night Dad…" Harry mumbled into his robes, already half asleep.
Swallowing thickly, the potions master's hand moved to stroke the boy's hair.
"Good night, son."
Perhaps he could do this, after all.