The Romanian Puzzle Box

by Maegykie

On their first Christmas together Severus gave Hermione a Romanian Puzzle Box, an ornately decorated wooden box in which she has kept nineteen years of memories. Now, as the first winter snow coats Spinner's End, they sit with their children and reminisce about their time together. This is a sequel to 'In Half-Light and Shadows.'

1. The Trouble With Isaac

The Romanian Puzzle Box

A/N: This is a sort of sequel, sort of prequel to In Half-Light and Shadow. I would probably recommend reading that story first, but I don't suppose it's essential. At the end of that story Severus, Hermione, and their children sit down to go through Hermione's memory box, the Romanian Puzzle Box. This story tells of what they found in there…

A/N II: There are Cursed Child spoilers ahead, however, because obviously Severus is alive, and he's with Hermione, Cursed Child couldn't have ever really happened in this universe, so really I've just incorporated the odd thing from here and there. I'd actually written most of this first chapter before I read The Cursed Child and now I fear there are some unintentional parallels between them. But hey ho…

A/N III: As mentioned briefly during an author's note on In Half-Light and Shadow, it is the minutia of Hermione and Severus's relationship (and their relationship with their children) which interests me, and even more so than In Half-Light and Shadows, The Romanian Puzzle Box will explore this. It's very… domestic.

~oOo~

Chapter One: The Trouble with Isaac

A fine snow was beginning to settle on the roofs in Spinner's End; the crisp whiteness contrasting against the perpetual grey of the place even as the last light of day faded from the wintery sky. Severus glanced down the street to where a small group of Christmas carollers shuffled from door-to-door, huddled together for warmth as their breaths rose is wisps of cloudy air. Severus didn't think many residents of Spinner's End would appreciate Christmas carols, him amongst them, and so it was with grim satisfaction that he closed the living room curtains, and with them closed out the world.

In here it was just him and his little family; a more wholesome scene than he could have ever imagined himself to be a part of. Hermione sat squashed against the arm of the settee, wearing one of his old knitted jumpers despite the fire which roared in the hearth; Nathaniel sat beside her, not too old for a hug from his mum now that there was no chance any of the local kids might espy it through the window; and beside him was Isaac, who had his arm elbow deep in the ornate Romanian Puzzle Box. Severus lodged himself back into the remaining sliver of settee beside his eldest son.

'Come on!' Nathaniel urged his older brother impatiently, nudging Isaac's arm, 'pick something!'

Isaac frowned as he rummaged around inside the box. Hermione's little expansion charm, the same she'd used on her purple beaded bag in the last year of the war, meant that nineteen years worth of memories were easily stored inside.

'Alright, this,' Isaac said at length, withdrawing an envelope at random. It was addressed to Mr. S. Snape and Ms. H. Granger, and the broken wax seal bore the Hogwarts crest. 'Or maybe not,' Isaac continued, hastily trying to push it back inside the box.

'Hang on a minute,' Nathaniel protested, plucking the envelope from his brother's fingers and managing to hold it just out of his reach. 'This is about what happened last year, isn't it?'

'Why would you keep that?' Isaac addressed his parents, flushing slightly and folding his arms across his chest.

'Perhaps to remind us all in the years to come that you're not quite so perfect after all!' Nathaniel suggested with a grin.

Isaac scowled at his brother in a way which made him look uncannily like his father. 'Let's look at something else,' he said, rather feebly.

'No! I want to know the full story. No one ever told me anything, all I know is what people at school say about it,' said Nathaniel, 'and I know some of that can't be true, it's ridiculous!'

Hermione sighed and took the envelope from Nathaniel. 'This isn't what I envisioned when I suggested we sit down and go through this box,' she said, 'but Isaac, maybe it would be best if Nate knows what really happened, then perhaps he can help put to rest some of the rumours?'

'What? By telling everyone what an absolute loser I am?' Isaac grumbled.

'Oi,' Severus chided, 'no one thinks that. As much of a nightmare as you were, we're all capable of doing stupid things when we're young,' he reminded them. Severus had been in equal parts infuriated, mortified, and disappointed by Isaac's behaviour around Christmas last year, but with hindsight, he couldn't forget that when he'd been Isaac's age he was preparing to become a Death Eater, and he felt a certain gratitude for the fact that he wasn't having to deal with anything so frightening as that.

'I don't need my little brother to protect me,' Isaac said.

'He'd just be looking out for you,' Hermione reasoned, 'as I'd expect you all to be doing anyway.'

'Please tell me! You're scaring me now!' Nathaniel implored, issuing his brother a concerned look.

Isaac looked between his parents and his brother and then relented with a rather unenthusiastic, 'fine!'

'Alright,' said Hermione, 'well, it all started one morning after we received this letter…'

~oOo~ One Year Earlier ~oOo~

Severus watched Hermione carefully over their half-eaten breakfasts, forgotten the moment the impudent tawny owl had first scratched its talons against kitchen window to gain their attention. A letter from the school had sent Hermione into immediate panic; perhaps one of the children was ill or hurt. But as she'd torn open the envelope and begun to read the contents her entire countenance had shifted to something Severus couldn't quite interpret.

'What is it?' he enquired, but she dismissed him with an impatient wave of her hand as she continued to read. He gave her another moment and then tried again: 'well?'

'It's Isaac,' she finally replied, 'there's been some kind of bother.'

Seeing that Hermione was unlikely to enlighten him any further in her current state, Severus got to his feet so he could read the letter over her shoulder. After giving it a thorough going over he sat back down at the table somewhat perplexed. 'If it was Erin, I could believe it,' he said, brow furrowed, 'but Isaac…' he trailed off, shaking his head doubtfully.

'But what on Earth could he have done?' Hermione wondered aloud, re-reading the letter, 'it sounds so serious: I kindly request your attendance at the school to discuss your son's behaviour. What kind of things do they get parents in for?' she asked.

'It took quite a lot in Dumbledore's day, otherwise your parents would have been called in every other week!' Severus said with a smirk.

Hermione clearly wasn't in the mood. 'Are you suggesting that this is somehow my fault?'

'What? No, I was joking,' he replied, '…my apologies.'

'Sorry,' she said, 'I'm just worried. This isn't like him at all.'

'They got Sirius Black's parents in when he tried to kill me.'

'Sirius didn't try to… - are you suggesting Isaac has tried to kill someone?'

'Hermione!' Severus exclaimed, 'calm down! What can he possibly have done that's that bad? This is Isaac we're talking about.'

Her shoulders dropping and a worried expression marring her features, Hermione returned to the table and situated herself across from Severus. 'My concern is that some other kids have got him involved in something. Isaac's… impressionable,' she said with uncertainty.

It was not something she liked thinking of her son, but it was true nonetheless. He was easily influenced. At home it was usually Erin leading him into mischief, whether it be staying out past their curfew, wandering into parts of Cokeworth their parents really rather wished they wouldn't, or there was time she'd encouraged him to get steaming drunk at a friend's house party. But it was all fairly typical, nothing that had ever warranted more than a good telling off, the pair of them being banished to their rooms, or, in the case of the party, nothing a particularly fine hangover had not resolved. But at Hogwarts, away from his parents' protective gaze, and amongst his Slytherin peers, there was no knowing what Isaac got up to. And Isaac himself was always so reticent on the subject of his time at school; he seldom wrote, and when asked whether he'd had a good term or was enjoying his classes, his answers were typically monosyllabic.

Severus sat with his lips tight closed; he looked as though he wanted to disagree with Hermione but couldn't quite bring himself to because he knew she was right. 'That's possible,' he said at length. 'Worryingly, it's perhaps the best we can hope for.'

'No, the best we can hope for is that this has all been some terrible misunderstanding,' Hermione corrected him.

'Mmm… unfortunately I find that unlikely when it's Minerva that's investigated it herself.'

~oOo~

As her letter had instructed they ought, Hermione and Severus arrived by Floo directly into Headmistress McGonagall's office at precisely twelve o'clock the following afternoon. The sky outside the windows was a similar shade of grey to the castle's brickwork, and leant an ominous, chilly atmosphere to proceedings.

'Hermione. Severus!' Minerva welcomed them with a contrasting warmth, striding over from her desk with her hand outstretched. They each shook it in turn, and as they did Minerva placed her hand hand gently on top in a gesture which told them that they were not going to like what was to come, but reminded them also that Minerva was merely paying due diligence to her job. 'It's been a while,' the older witch continued, 'I'm sorry we're meeting on this occasion under such sorry circumstances. Please, take a seat.'

She gestured towards those ancient, overstuffed armchairs which sat opposite her desk. Isaac already occupied one of them, looking slightly withered. He glanced up at his parents as they approached, and then quickly trained his gaze back on the floor. Severus and Hermione flanked him, each taking a seat on either side of him. Hermione noticed the blank canvas above McGonagall's head. The last time she'd been in this room it was to beg Dumbledore's portrait to give evidence at Severus's trial, and though they had succeeded, she was glad it was empty today.

'Your letter wasn't really clear about what's happened,' Hermione said once they were comfortable.

'No,' Minerva conceded, 'I felt it would be best to discuss this in person, considering the severity of it. You see, since the beginning of term we've had a somewhat persistent problem with contraband potions being brewed and sold within the school. We had, until the day before yesterday, been unable to determine the culprit,' Minerva explained, concluding with a pointed look in Isaac's direction. Hermione and Severus shared a brief glance between themselves and then turned to their son in tandem. 'This is what we have managed to confiscate,' Minerva said, gesturing towards eight large crates of potions which had gone unnoticed by either of her guests.

'Isaac?' Hermione asked.

He turned his head towards her slowly and, still avoiding her eye, muttered an apology.

'What kind of potions?' Severus hissed through clenched teeth, a telltale muscle twitching in his jaw. Hermione alone observed the panicked glint in his eye and knew what he was thinking; he was wondering whether those potions were Dark Magic.

'It would seem Isaac began by taking orders for all manner of potions. He's a very skilled potioneer, of course,' Minerva replied, with a fond look in Severus's direction, 'quite competent enough to make potions that would be a struggle even for the seventh years, but still unqualified to be selling his wares. And the odd healing potion or Pepper Up here or there might have gone unnoticed, but then, Isaac perhaps got a little too cocky. He started making batches of other potions to sell. Polyjuice, there was even a rather diluted Veriteserum going around at one point, and I'm sure you can understand why I can't condone that? Then there was the love potions; fairly innocuous in and of themselves, but they were quite potent - practically Amortentia - and in a school… well I'm sure you can imagine… we've had to reinforce the contraceptive charms cast on the castle just in the case. That was quite a big job.'

'Has anyone been hurt?' Hermione asked.

'Not permanently,' Minerva admitted, 'we've had a few students come out in strange rashes that have been rather difficult to clear, and a couple who've had their hair fall out after using Isaac's own version of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, some that have had vomiting spells.'

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. 'Do you have anything to say for yourself, Isaac?'

Isaac merely shrugged and the muscle began to dance in Severus's jaw once again.

'He's also neglected his studies,' Minerva continued after a moment. 'His grades have dropped considerably, which is disappointing, Isaac, at such vital stage of your education.' Isaac seemed to recoil further into himself under her gaze as Hermione looked over the grade sheet Minerva had handed her. Isaac could be relied on for straight O's. He had so many options waiting for him once he'd finished Hogwarts that he couldn't make his mind up. Severus reached out for the grade sheet and his expression darkened as he read it.

'This is ridiculous!' he grumbled, 'how can you have dedicated so much time brewing this rubbish' - he gestured towards the crates - 'that you've allowed your actual Potions grade to dip to a P?' Isaac scowled in that way that made him look eerily like Severus and maintained his silence. Severus glared at him for a long moment and then looked back at McGonagall. 'Fine. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Minerva. You can be assured that as soon as he comes home at Christmas he won't know what's hit him. In fact, as far as you're concerned,' he turned back to his son, 'Christmas is cancelled!'

'I'll just stay here then,' Isaac mumbled, folding his arms and half-turning away from Severus.

'Well, that's just the thing,' Minerva said before Severus had chance to retaliate. Apparently she was about as good as Hermione at reading when Severus was about to lose his patience. 'This all started right at the beginning of the year. For all that time we've given whoever was behind this the opportunity to stop what they were doing, and they have refused. This could have been so dangerous, Isaac. You're lucky, if anything, that no one was more seriously hurt. Professor Hyde - that's our Potions Mistress - looked over one of your Felix Felicis brews and it could have made anyone who used it quite ill.'

'So what are you saying?' Hermione urged.

'I'm afraid I have to be quite firm on this. I have no choice but to exclude Isaac, at least until after the Christmas holidays. Perhaps if he has the decency to display some remorse between now and then, he can return,' Minerva said firmly.

'Hang on, Minerva,' Severus said, sitting forward in his chair. 'That will go on his record. It could effect University applications, apprenticeships… jobs.'

'I'm sorry, Severus. But he's risked people's lives.'

Severus looked quite literally as though he was biting his tongue to prevent himself from saying something he might regret, but Hermione knew he had too much respect for Minerva to push her too far on this.

'Minerva,' she said instead. 'It doesn't seem fair to jeopardise his entire future because of one stupid mistake.'

'I'm sorry, Hermione. I'm sorry to all of you; you included Isaac. But this isn't one stupid mistake. He could have stopped this months ago and chose to continue. He's taken money for these potions from much younger students who've then ended up in the hospital wing. How can I explain to their parents that we let him off with a few evening's detention? I'm sorry, but I simply cannot budge on this,' Minerva said, with an air of definitiveness that confirmed to Hermione and Severus that their protestations were useless.

Severus inhaled through his nose. 'You proud of yourself?' he asked Isaac.

'Let's just go,' Isaac then said, getting to his feet. 'I hate this place anyway.'

'Sit down, Isaac!' Severus snarled, tugging on Isaac's robe sleeve. Isaac snatched his arm away and strode over to the fireplace, pulling his already packed trunk along behind him. He grabbed a handful of Floo powder from the mantlepiece on his way. 'Don't you dare!' Severus snarled. Isaac hesitated with his hand poised over the fire, perhaps sensing that to make another move would send Severus into a rage.

'I'm so, so sorry, Minerva,' Hermione found herself saying, almost pleadingly. 'I promise we'll get to the bottom of this and Isaac will be back next term with a better attitude.' She got to her feet and made her way over to Isaac. 'Come on then. Home,' she snapped, showing that she in no way condoned his behaviour. Isaac dropped the powder into the flames, which flared green, and they both stepped inside. 'See you in a minute?' she asked Severus, who nodded once affirmatively. 'Number seven, Spinner's End,' she said, and with slight whooshing noise they were both gone.

Severus walked over to the fireplace after them but stopped just short of grabbing the Floo powder. He turned to his old colleague. 'I know better than anyone what it's like to carry around the consequences of stupid mistakes you made when you were a teenager.'

'Being an ex-Death Eater and having a temporary exclusion on your school record are hardly the same thing, Severus,' Minerva replied, issuing him a sympathetic look from across the room. 'Let me ask you this: had it been you in my position, or it had been someone else's son, would you have hesitated to do what I have just done?' Minerva asked.

As he considered his answer something caught his eye above her desk. Dumbledore, slinking back into his frame. It had been sixteen years since he'd been face-to-face with his old master, and it brought back emotions he hadn't felt in just as long. Severus was wrong if he thought his anger at the old man might have subsided with time.

'Severus…' the portrait began, but trailed off as Severus looked away, unresponsive. He didn't have the emotional capacity to deal with Dumbledore at the moment.

'I just wanted him to have an easier life,' he said instead, in answer to McGonagall's question.

'That doesn't mean clearing up after him all the time,' she said, smiling at him fondly, 'he has to learn from his own mistakes.'

Severus bowed and then shook his head, defeated. 'He'll be back after the holidays then.'

~oOo~

Stepping out into his living room in Spinner's End, Severus found the house apparently deserted. Hermione's travelling cloak had been thrown on the settee and following the trail of discarded scarves, gloves, and boots, he deduced that they must have gone upstairs. Severus took off his own boots and followed them, passing a line of photographs which hung above the stairs and showed the children at various ages. The most recent showed Isaac, his brother, and his sister in their school uniforms. Two Gryffindors and Isaac, the sole Slytherin. He was generally much more reserved than either of his siblings, bookish, perhaps somewhat awkward, but he was also gentle and kind, and so it was that his recent behaviour was so utterly out of character. With a shake of his head, Severus moved on up to the room which Isaac and Nathaniel shared, to find Hermione and his son inside.

'Have some of the other kids got you mixed up in something, Isaac? Are they making you take the blame for this?' Hermione implored, sat on Nathaniel's empty bed. Isaac was making an evidently conscientious effort to ignore her, unpacking his trunk, which lay on his own bed, with a purpose. 'Because if they have, we can sort that out. You just have to tell us and we can sort it.'

Isaac ignored her, and watching the scene from the doorway Severus knew Hermione's campaign would be futile. He'd leant against this doorway numerous time when Isaac was younger, worrying about his ability to be a good parent. He'd watched Hermione with Isaac and envied the ease with which she could sooth his cries or talk him round from a bad mood, but in time Severus had developed his own methods of achieving these things, it had just taken him a little longer, and the result was that of all his children, Isaac was the one who would seek Severus out when he was upset or needed help or merely wanted to talk. Hermione would often tell Severus how alike he and Isaac were but Severus couldn't see it himself; he thought Isaac was wonderful.

Anyway, as he stood here now Severus felt at a complete loss.

'Isaac,' Hermione was practically pleading, 'talk to us!'

Isaac's mouth was a tight line of defiance as he dropped his now empty trunk onto the floor and kicked it under his bed before throwing himself on top his covers, laying on his back with his arms folded across his chest.

'Your mum asked you a question,' Severus said, coming into the room but remaining on his feet. 'Isaac!' he shouted, losing his patience.

'I get it, you're angry!' Isaac groaned back, breaking his silence at last.

'Clearly you don't get it!' Severus roared in return, 'I'm beyond angry; I'm disappointed. I expect better from you.'

Isaac stopped in his tracks and looked up his father a little sadly. 'Then I'm sorry I'm such a disappointment,' he said petulantly.

'That isn't what I said and you know it,' Severus returned. Isaac huffed but said nothing. 'Right, if this is how you want it,' Severus continued, 'you're grounded. You're not to leave the house. You don't listen to music, you don't read any books that aren't relevant to your school work, and you don't write to anyone. Understood?'

'Whatever.'

'Isaac…' Hermione tried one last time, but he was clearly having none of it as he pushed himself further against the head of the bed as if desperately trying to get away from his parents.

'Leave him,' Severus insisted, gesturing to Hermione to follow him out of the room. With one last, sad look at her son, she acquiesced.

'I have to get going,' she declared once they'd made their way back to the living room. 'You'll be OK?'

'I think I'll manage,' Severus grumbled.

'Of course you will,' Hermione replied, managing the smallest of smiles.

Severus bowed slightly and kissed the top of her head. 'See you later.'

~oOo~

It was evening before Severus saw or heard from Isaac again. He was in the living room finishing off reading today's Prophet when the boy sloped in, hands in pockets. 'Where's mum?' he asked, sliding slowly over the arm of the settee until he was laid down on his back, his feet dangling over the edge.

'Work,' Severus replied without looking up from the newspaper he was reading, 'the world doesn't stop because you can't behave yourself.'

'It's late for her to be at work.'

'She's working on a big project at the moment. She's having to do extra hours. Perhaps if she hadn't been dragged into school about you, she'd be home by now.'

Isaac sighed loudly, which Severus ignored. 'Can I go out?'

'Are you struggling to understand the concept of "grounded?"' Severus asked.

Isaac sat up and looked at his father aghast. 'You can't seriously expect me to spend the next three weeks in the house? I'll go mad!'

Severus peered over the top of the newspaper now, removing his reading glasses so he could observe Isaac a little better, and raised an eyebrow. Isaac knew all too well how Severus had been forced to spend six months locked in Spinner's End under house arrest, and he seemed to understand immediately what Severus's look implied. He averted his gaze, looking slightly embarrassed, and said nothing.

'You don't have any school work to keep you occupied?' Severus asked.

'I've finished it.'

'No books you could read in preparation for next term?'

A noncommittal shrug.

'That's fine. There's plenty of stuff you can be doing around the house. The bathroom needs cleaning, there's dirty pots in the sink, I have cauldrons in the cellar you could scrub out for me… although I'm not sure if you're to be trusted near my potions ingredients!' Severus suggested.

'What?' Isaac practically snarled, 'you want me to do all the stuff you should be doing while mum is at work?'

Severus scowled at him, feeling his temper flare. 'Watch your mouth!'

The argument was on the brink of escalating when the front door clicked open and a harassed sounding Hermione came in through it. She entered the living room still in her thick woollen winter robes. She eyed Isaac somewhat warily before leaning in to kiss Severus on the cheek. 'Sorry I'm back so late,' she apologised. 'Hell of a day. Pecksniff managed to lose an entire cabinet full of regulations for keeping pet Crups, and I think the snow in Scotland has brought out the Sylphs, so there's been goodness knows how many Muggle sightings of those, on top of everything else we've got going on…' she paused, apparently sensing the tension in the room, '…anyway, I'm home now.'

Severus wrenched his glare from Isaac and finally turned his attention to Hermione. 'Tea won't be long,' he said, his tone as mild as he could force it to be.

'Right,' said Hermione, 'and are we any closer to discovering the motivation behind this one's,' - she nodded her head in Isaac's direction - 'recent behaviour?'

'No,' Severus replied, 'although he's had plenty to say on the topic of my contribution to the household,' Severus said.

'What?' Hermione enquired, looking between them both perplexed. She sighed resignedly when neither of them spoke. 'I'm going to get a bath and put my pyjamas on,' she said, 'then we're going to have tea!'

~oOo~

The house in Spinner's End was perpetually cold in winter. No matter how many times the engineer from British Gas had been out to check the boiler, or how many warming charms were cast upon it, from the beginning of November until mid-March, there was an immovable chill in the air. And so, it was with that, that Severus and Hermione found themselves huddled together in the middle of their bed later that evening.

'It's freezing,' Hermione complained, snuggling into Severus's chest. They both wore pyjamas and old, bobbly jumpers.

'Maybe we should look into wall insulation again?' Severus suggested.

'Maybe… so… he hasn't said anything about why he's done all this?' Hermione asked, getting down to what they both really wanted to talk about.

'I've barely seen him all day. He came down from his room about ten minutes before you came home from work, wound me up, and then went back to his room after tea, which you were here for. He's said nothing.'

'I can't see that he wouldn't just tell us if he wasn't covering for someone…' she replied, trailing off as she felt Severus flinch beside her. 'What's wrong?' she asked.

Severus signed, his expression somewhat pained. 'Don't… I don't like that thought… what you said before, about him being impressionable, it terrifies me. That's just how I was…'

'He hasn't got himself caught up in Dark Magic,' Hermione replied, sounding as much as if she were trying to convince herself as Severus.

'Yet,' Severus replied, 'just because the potions weren't Dark Magic doesn't mean his reason for making them wasn't something sinister.'

'There isn't Dark Magic at Hogwarts, Severus. Not any more.'

'Course there isn't.'

Hermione shot him a warning glance before saying: 'Isaac wouldn't get himself mixed up in anything like that. I was just thinking that maybe some older kids were taking advantage of his potions skills or something… Hey, maybe tomorrow you could do something nice together?'

'Nice?' Severus scoffed, 'he's supposed to be being punished!'

'I know that,' Hermione replied, twiddling a bobble on Severus's jumper between her forefinger and thumb. 'I just think it's more important that he feels he can tell us what's bothering him, then we can worry about punishments later. Maybe you could hike up Mam Tor? It'd probably be good for you both to get some fresh air.'

Severus sighed. 'Fine,' he said grumpily, 'if it'll stop you jabbering,' he continued, closing his eyes and drawing her closer to him. She poked him in the ribs for his comment. 'I need to go to Diagon Alley anyway. He can come with me,' he continued, 'he likes looking in the apothecary doesn't he?'

'Yeah. And then maybe he could help you make your next batch of potions when you get back?'

'He isn't seven!' Severus protested. Chopping ingredients while Severus brewed was something Isaac would have spent hours doing when he was younger, and Severus had enjoyed that he had this in common with son, but he imagined he might have a little more trouble engaging a sixteen-year-old Isaac in the same activity.

'Just try and talk to him,' Hermione said with a yawn. 'You two have always been close.'

~oOo~

Hermione left early for work again the next morning, well before the weak winter sun had properly risen. Severus rose with her and after she was gone busied himself for an hour or so in the cellar, making no effort to be quiet despite Isaac still sleeping upstairs. Isaac had thus far caused his parents to lose enough sleep, it only seemed fair that he wasn't afforded the privilege of a morning in bed for his efforts, and so it was not much later when Severus went to Isaac's room.

'Up,' he said, ragging back the curtains so that the rose gold light of winter dawn spilled into the room. Isaac flinched at the brightness and huddled under his duvet. 'I said "up,"' Severus repeated, moving over to the wardrobe and pulling out a jumper and pair of jeans. 'Get dressed,' he added, throwing them onto the end of the bed.

'What time is it?' Isaac groaned, his voice muffled by his pillow.

'Seven. Hurry up. We need to get going. I want to miss the Christmas crowds.'

'What? Where are we going?'

'Diagon Alley. I need ingredients, so the apothecary and nursery,' Severus replied.

Isaac scowled up at his father and then dropped his head back onto his pillow. 'I can stay here,' he moaned.

'Yeah,' said Severus, in a tone which made clear he was in no mood for Isaac's attitude. 'You could, only clearly I can't trust you to stay here on your own, so you're coming whether you like it or not. Now get up,' he said, pulling the covers back off the bed. 'You've got ten minutes,' he added.

'I don't want to.'

'Tough!' Severus said with some finality, issuing Isaac a firm glare before stalking out of the room. He waited impatiently at the bottom of the stairs, rapping his fingers on the bannister and sighing deeply every so often. Isaac emerged, dishevelled looking but at least dressed, about twenty minutes later. He yawned wildly for dramatic effect and then lumbered to the bottom of the stairs and sat down. Severus remained silent as the boy slowly pulled on his shoes and did up the laces.

'Don't wind me up today,' Severus warned as Isaac finally got to his feet again and gestured that he was ready.

In response, Isaac shoved his hands deep in his coat pockets and said nothing. He trudged behind his father into the living room where they Flooed in unison to The Leaky Cauldron. The bar was empty save a few customers enjoying an early breakfast before they braved the cold and the crowds in pursuit of their Christmas shopping. Severus walked through the inn with his head down. This was his usual posture when out in public; people still recognised him, even after all these years, and it made for an easier life if he could keep this to a minimum, but especially today, with Isaac trailing after him, dragging his feet, and out of school in the middle of term time, it would be preferable if any enquiries into how the family were doing were non-existent.

He moved briskly out into the courtyard and then through the brick wall into Diagon Alley, urging Isaac along with a firm hand on his back now, though Isaac quickly wriggled away and walked a few paces aside from his father. Much to Severus's relief it was still relatively quiet and they were able to reach the apothecary without being accosted. Inside was cold and dark, but most importantly, save for the owner, completely empty.

'Ah, Mr. Snape,' said the proprietor, a wizened old man in dusty robes. 'And your boy! It's been a while. You're looking and more and more like your father the older you get. And you still have the same passion for potions? I remember you used to want to take over the family business one day.'

Isaac looked thoroughly unimpressed by the shopkeeper's assessment. 'Not really,' he said bluntly.

'Still. Time flies but… you can't be out of school yet, surely?' the shopkeeper continued, apparently undeterred by Isaac's hostility.

'He's been unwell,' Severus replied at precisely the same moment Isaac said: 'I've been excluded.'

The shopkeeper looked between them, apparently unsure how to respond to that. 'I… I have your order in the back, Mr. Snape. If you just give me a moment I'll go find it out,' he said eventually, scuttling into the back room out of sight.

'There's some other bits I need,' Severus said, ignoring Isaac's impatient sigh. He moved off the peruse the shelves of bottled and packaged potions ingredients.

Isaac shifted over to the opposite side of the shop. 'This is boring,' he said after barely any time at all, shaking up a jar of pickled bat's eyes so that the contents bobbed around inside in a most unsettling way. 'How much longer are you going to be?'

'I'll be as long as it takes,' Severus replied amiably, continuing to browse a shelf of various dried insect wings. However, when the old wizard still hadn't returned with his order after another minute or so, Severus did turn his attention, clandestinely, to his son. He could have been watching himself, so like him in appearance as Isaac was. He'd always been a scrawny thing, small for his age until last summer when he'd sprouted up to almost Severus's height, and his hair had always been as stubbornly greasy, though he kept it shorter and so managed to get away with it. This was the boy who had crawled into his parents' bed during storms, the child who wouldn't let go of Hermione's hand on the first day of primary school, who collected bugs, and cried when he thought he was going to get into trouble for the slightest misdemeanour. And now Severus observed a downy coat of black hair on Isaac's chin, and realising he was going to have to teach him to shave soon, wondered where that little boy had gone. It was an oddly depressing, yet simultaneously joyful, thought to think that seemingly just last week he had been teaching the boy to read, and now he would need to teach him to shave…

'What?' asked Isaac, suddenly realising Severus had been watching him.

'Nothing,' Severus replied, unable to suppress a small chuckle. 'Do you want to go and get something to eat after we've been to the nursery?'

'I'm not hungry.'

'You must be. You didn't have any breakfast.'

Isaac looked as though he might be begrudgingly considering the offer and Severus suspected his appetite would win out in the end. 'Alright,' the boy acquiesced at length. The shopkeeper returned shortly afterwards and after a quick trip to the nursery to pick up a packet of dittany seeds, Severus and Isaac found themselves at a table for two in a shadowy corner of Duffin and Dobbins Delectables. It was both of their's favourite café in all of Diagon Alley if for no other reason than their preposterous portion sizes, but whilst Isaac ordered his customary full English breakfast, Severus settled for a bowl of porridge. As they ate Isaac didn't say very much, but at least he wasn't being unpleasant, Severus thought, enjoying the relative calm that had washed over them since they'd come in here. Then the tinkling of a bell over the door announced the entrance of a group of men: Ministry workers by the looks of their shabby suits, and then from the back of the gathering, beaming maniacally and now sauntering over to their table was Harry Potter.

'Oh, Merlin!' Severus grumbled under his breath, which caused Isaac to smirk. Severus wiped his mouth on a napkin and then turned to face his old foe. 'Hello Harry,' he said, more loudly and quite cheerful sounding now.

'Hello Severus,' Harry replied by way of greeting, and then turning to Isaac, 'and, ah, if it isn't our very own Walter White,' he said, grinning at Isaac and punching him jovially on the shoulder.

Isaac scowled. 'I have no idea what that means,' he grumbled.

'He was a sort of… drug dealer in an old TV show…' Harry said with a frown. 'Bad joke,' he added. 'Your mum told me what happened at school,' he continued, changing the subject quickly upon also seeing Severus's sour expression.

'So?'

'Yeah,' Harry continued with a strained smile, 'she also mentioned your complete personality transplant.'

'It's got nothing to do with you,' Isaac retaliated.

'Isaac!' Severus growled.

'I'm sick of this. Look, I don't see what the big deal is,' Isaac continued undeterred, pushing away his plate of unfinished food. 'It's no worse than anything the Weasley twins used to do at school. You've bored us all a million times with stories about their Skiving Snackbox experiments. No one kicked off when they put kids in the hospital wing.'

'Course they did!' Severus replied. 'They were never out of detention, usually with me!'

'And none of them were my son,' Harry said. 'James was really ill after trying your Veritaserum. Of course we didn't know it was your Veritaserum at the time.'

'I don't care. It's not my problem,' Isaac replied defensively. 'I didn't force anyone to use them,' he added, more quietly.

'And what if it had been Erin or Nate?' Harry asked.

Isaac shrugged.

'I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't care if your sister or your brother had ended up getting sick.'

'I don't think he cares about anyone but himself,' Severus replied when Isaac remained stubbornly silent, his lack of response perhaps speaking volumes.

'I don't know what's got into him,' Harry agreed.

At that Isaac stood suddenly, snatching his jacket off the back of his chair. 'I'll wait outside while you two finish up talking about me as if I'm not here,' he grunted, before marching between the tables and out of the café, the bell signally his exit just as it had heralded Harry's entrance. Both Severus and Harry watched Isaac for a moment as he paced in front of the window and then wandered off down the street, his hands back in his pockets and his shoulders hunched.

'Seems like you have your hands full,' Harry said, occupying Isaac's vacated seat. 'Although, I wouldn't have thought it would be too much trouble for you,' he continued, smirking in a way Severus hated. 'Discipline was your speciality when I was Isaac's age.'

'It would seem it's different when it's your own kids you're disciplining,' Severus reluctantly admitted. 'Hermione doesn't think it's discipline he needs, anyway.'

'Mmm… Ginny was like that when we had that trouble with Albus the other year. She wanted me to talk to him, but every time I tried it just seemed to make matters worse,' Harry replied.

'Well let's hope this doesn't turn out like that turned out,' Severus said, eyebrow raised.

'No, let's not,' Harry said seriously.

'Got you your coffee, boss,' one of the men called over to Harry, interrupting the tension. There was a flicker of recognition that crossed his face as the man noticed who Harry was talking to, but perhaps sensing the frustration in Severus's body language he refrained from acting on it.

'Coming,' Harry called back. 'Fresh meat,' he then said, turning back to Severus. 'They're just finishing up their first term of Auror training.'

'Ah. Should we be worried?'

'Let's just say they're yet another reason to be thankful that Voldemort is gone,' he said with a chuckle as he got to his feet. 'Look, for what it's worth, Ginny was right. After everything we went through with Albus, it was talking to him that worked in the end.'

'Well,' Severus replied with a sardonic look on face, 'thanks for that… profound parenting advice.'

'You're welcome,' returned Harry, grinning again. Whilst their relationship might have ameliorated into something akin to friendship in the years since The War, Severus still got the distinct impression that one of Harry's favourite past times was finding new ways to annoy him.

As Harry rejoined his colleagues Severus pulled out some coins from his wallet to settle the bill and then made his way back onto the frosty street to find Isaac. 'Come on,' he said, spotting him looking through the window at Eeylops Owl Emporium, 'home.' And with that he clutched at Isaac's forearm and Apparated them directly back to Spinner's End.

~oOo~

The moment they landed back in their living room, Isaac began a hasty retreat upstairs. 'Wait,' Severus said before he had chance to disappear. 'I want a word.'

Isaac huffed and turned back from the doorway to face his father. 'What?' he snapped.

'Your behaviour just now was embarrassing,' Severus said simply.

'A disappointment and an embarrassment,' Isaac replied, nodding with an exaggerated expression of thoughtfulness on his face. 'What a productive week I'm having!'

'This isn't funny,' Severus said, exasperated. He paused, took a deep breath, remembered what Harry had said, and started again. 'Look, all me and your mum have ever wanted is for you kids to be happy, and it's clear that you aren't. What's going on inside your head?'

'If you're so ashamed of me, why can't you just leave me alone?'

'I'm not ashamed of you, I'm ashamed of your behaviour! We're trying our best here, Isaac, that's all we've ever done-'

'-Well, maybe your best just wasn't good enough?' Isaac hissed, 'anyway, I'm of age in a few months and then I won't be your concern… and you won't be able to tell me what to do!'

Severus felt momentarily stunned into silence. He glared down at Isaac, who was mere inches shorter than him, and Isaac glared back up. There was a long, deafening silence and then Isaac made a scoffing noise, issued from the back of his throat, and turned to leave again.

Severus's nostrils flared and before he could quite think about what he was doing he had grabbed Isaac roughly by the collar and pulled him so close their noses were practically touching. 'Of age or not, while ever you are under our roof you will do as I, and your mother, say!' he spat. Isaac began to writhe within his grasp, which only caused him to tighten his grip. 'And you will always be our concern! Actually, it terrifies me, Isaac, that you're of age in a few months and you think this kind of behaviour is acceptable, and not just the potions, the way you speak to people! I don't know when you became such an ungrateful brat, but it stops now…' It was in this moment that he noticed something which horrified him; a familiar look of terror in Isaac's eyes and he realised now that he was holding him so tightly his knuckles had gone white. He released his grip and watched Isaac stumble away from him, his expression still fearful. 'Isaac, I…'

But Isaac wasn't listening. He fumbled with his clothes, trying to straighten them out while he gathered his wits and then he turned to leave once more. 'Isaac,' Severus pleaded. Following him out into the hallway Severus reached out for Isaac again as he took the first few stairs, recoiling as the boy flinched slightly when his fingertips brushed his arm.

Then the front door opened and they both stood stock still, observing Hermione coming in out of the snow. 'Am I interrupting something?' she asked as the door closed again behind her, looking quizzically between Isaac, who had stopped halfway up the stairs, and Severus who remained at the bottom.

'Only him being a complete dickhead,' Isaac spat.

Severus jerked in Isaac's direction, but Hermione was faster. 'How dare you speak about your father like that?' she screeched in a tone of voice which seemed to surprise even her. 'Get out of my sight! Go on. Go to your room!' Isaac hesitated for just the briefest of moments, his expression stricken. He opened his mouth to speak but Hermione had heard enough. 'I'm not interested in anything else you have to say! I don't know what's got into you Isaac but I am sick of having to put up with this vile behaviour from you. Now go!' She flicked her hand abruptly and dismissively in Isaac's direction and he turned and fled, slamming his bedroom door behind himself.

Hermione and Severus remained on the stairs for a moment longer; both breathing heavily as they attempted to compose themselves.

'I…' Severus began, but stopped when Hermione walked away from him without a word. He inhaled a deep, steadying breath and followed her into the kitchen where she was pouring herself a large glass of red wine. 'You're home early,' he stated.

'I'm owed some hours so I thought I'd come home and try and get this sorted. What were you arguing about before I interrupted?' she asked after gulping several large mouthfuls of the plum-coloured liquid down.

'Bit early for that, isn't it?'

Hermione issued him a glare which was enough to silence him. 'It's after twelve. What were you arguing about?'

'The same thing we're always arguing about,' Severus replied, 'his damned attitude!'

He watched Hermione, who appeared to be in deep thought, for a long moment. 'I don't think I can take much more of this,' she said, sounding utterly exhausted. 'Everything going pear-shaped at work, you being ill, all this with Isaac… you know I've gained half a stone recently?'

'Err…'

'I would never have spoken to my parents like that,' she continued.

'Ha!' Severus gave a small shrug. 'I would have!'

'Completely different situation,' Hermione replied. 'I can't think what reason Isaac has to be so angry at us.' Severus said nothing. 'He doesn't know how good he's got it,' Hermione concluded, refilling her glass. She took another mouthful and dropped into one of the seats around the kitchen table.

Severus merely watched her. An uncomfortably lump in his throat suggested the truth about to erupt from inside him. He swallowed in an attempt to suppress it but before he quite knew what was happening the words were out of his mouth: 'we weren't just arguing about his attitude,' he said, a little frantically.

'What?'

Severus groaned and sat across from her, his head falling into his hands. 'He wound me up, he was utterly vile and… and I just snapped. I'm not proud of myself and I shouldn't have done it but… you know what he's been like recently-'

'-Severus, what did you do?' Hermione asked, sitting forward suddenly.

'Well… I didn't hurt him if that's what you're thinking…' he explained. He saw Hermione relax a bit and felt the knot in his chest loosen slightly in response. 'I think I just… I might have scared him a bit.'

'What did you do?' she asked again, growing impatient.

'I grabbed his collar, maybe I shook him a bit… I just… lost my temper. But the moment I realised what I'd done… when I saw how scared he was, I let go! I…' he paused, growing frustrated with himself. 'I promised myself I'd never hurt them and in that moment I reminded myself so much of father. I-'

'-Oh, stop trying to make this about you!' Hermione growled. 'Stop blaming your father every time you mess up and start taking some responsibility! You've probably terrified him. He won't ever tell us what the matter is now.'

'I… I can't tell you,' a murmuring voice suddenly sounded, barely audibly, from by the kitchen door. His parents hadn't even realised Isaac was standing there but they both swung round to look at him now. 'I can't tell you because its a stupid reason and I don't want to say it out loud,' he said.

Hermione stood and frowned worriedly, reaching out comfortingly for Isaac's shoulder but stopping just short of it, apparently not sure he'd want her to touch him. He looked suddenly solemn, like he might be on verge of crying and his arms were folded across his chest, the way they always were when he was attempting to protect himself from some internal pain.

'Sit down,' Hermione said sympathetically, reaching out after all and guiding him towards the kitchen table. He sat down stiffly and then tucked his knees under his chin as his parents sat across from him. 'Was it the money?' Hermione suggested, 'because I know we're not exactly… flush, but it's not like you've ever gone without!'

'No,' came the hasty reply. 'I didn't even make a profit. The money just covered the price of ingredients.'

'Right,' said Severus, confused. 'So..?'

Isaac looked at the floor and chewed his bottom lip.

'Isaac, there's nothing you can say that will make us think any less of you,' Hermione assured him, 'but its time to tell us the truth now.'

Still nothing. Tears appeared to well in his eyes but he wiped them away before they had chance to fall.

'Was someone else involved? Maybe a friend that you're covering for?' Hermione asked with a sideways glance at Severus who looked back at her slightly disdainfully.

Isaac shook his head.

'Look, if you're not here to tell us what's being going on, I suggest you get back to your room,' Severus said when the silence had gone on too long.

'Severus…' Hermione implored, apparently sensing that he was sabotaging Isaac's efforts to finally tell them truth.

But Severus had had enough. 'No,' he said, 'I'm sick and tired of it. You're not here, all day, every day while he's spilling forth his vitriol. I don't know who he thinks he is to speak to us like he does, to behave the way he does!'

'You've already admitted you were worse than him when you were his age,' Hermione said. 'Just give him chance to speak.'

'How many chances do we give him before we do something about it? Because grounding him hasn't worked, shouting at him hasn't worked, talking to him hasn't worked-'

'What do you propose then, Severus?' Hermione asked, her voice becoming painfully high-pitched and it was evident from her expression that she was referring to Severus' earlier admission about grabbing Isaac's collar. He felt wounded by the intimation, she knew how awful he felt about what had happened, and she knew he would never have hurt Isaac, but he could also appreciate her concern and without a suitable comeback his response was merely to throw up his arms and sit back in his chair. 'Maybe you should go if you have nothing positive to contribute?' Hermione continued, 'Isaac might feel better talking to me seeing as the two of you don't seem able to do anything but fight these days?'

Severus glared at her for a long moment and then made to stand.

'No,' Isaac said, interrupting his parents' spat. He looked between them with a slightly panicked expression. 'Stop arguing. I'll tell you,' he said, as though building up to something momentous. Severus lowered himself back into his chair. Isaac looked apologetic. 'It…' he paused, screwing his face up like it pained him to say it, 'it made people like me,' he said at length, as though the words had been pulled from him against his will.

Severus and Hermione looked from Isaac, to one another, and then back at Isaac. Something passed between them during this brief glance and without a word being spoken they both knew they were back on the same side. Unspoken apologies were offered and accepted and they shared a common goal once more.

'What do you mean?' Hermione asked, clearly uncertain about how best to approach this.

'I… when I made potions for people,' Isaac explained, more clearly now, 'they wanted to hang out with me; they invited me to Hogsmeade, and Quidditch matches with them; they wanted to work with me on group projects…'

Hermione shook her head. 'So… it made you popular and that was something you wanted?' she asked, confused.

Isaac shrugged. 'No. I just wanted some friends.'

'I still don't understand,' Hermione said, 'you have friends. You tell us about them, sometimes, when we can get you to say anything. You go to parties… people come to your parties.'

'They're Erin's friends, mum! We're twins, we share parties! The only friend I have is Adam and I never get to see him because I have to go Hogwarts. I begged you to let me go to Cokeworth Comp.'

'That was never going to be an option, Isaac, and you know why,' said Severus, finally finding his voice. As introverted as he was, Isaac had always struggled to socialise. It was something that had concerned his parents when he was younger and had attended the local primary school, but they'd reasoned that he was shy, that he seemed happy playing on his own, that Hermione had been much the same when she was his age, but she'd found her way when she'd got to Hogwarts and met Harry and Ron, and Isaac seemed to do the same. This was certainly the first they were hearing of this. 'We've asked you before whether you were being bullied and you said "no,"' Severus pointed out.

'Well, I'm not. No one bullies me, exactly… they're just not…,' he paused and then his voice went quiet, 'they're just not my friends either. It's… ugh… it's tragic, but… I get a bit lonely I suppose.'

'Oh, Isaac!' said Hermione sadly, moving into the seat beside her son. 'But, you know… anyone hanging around with you because you made them potions they… you know they weren't really your friends, don't you? Those people will have known that if you got found out you would have been in serious trouble and real friends wouldn't do that to you.'

Isaac scowled and shifted away from Hermione slightly. 'I know that,' he said glumly, 'but it just… felt good. It was at least… it was closest I was ever likely to get to having some friends.'

'What about Erin and Nate, though? Or your cousins. You get on with James and Albus and Lily just fine,' Hermione reminded him.

'But they're in other houses. I either barely see them, or when I do they're not interested in hanging around with a Slytherin.'

'Not Albus. He's in your house,' Hermione reasoned.

'Albus is a bit… miserable,' Isaac said, choosing his words carefully. 'Don't get me wrong, he's alright, but him and Scorpius Malfoy don't really let anyone else… in. There's just certain… politics at school. Stuff everyone just sort of… abides by. And the other houses avoiding Slytherins is just the way it is.'

'And Erin and Nate?' Hermione asked.

'It's not their fault. Like I say, it's just the way it is,' Isaac replied.

'It shouldn't be though,' Hermione replied, 'Professor McGonagall changed the entire curriculum to try and even things up between the houses. I remember once saying to her that I was glad that by the time you and Erin started Hogwarts it would be a fairer place.'

'And she probably has evened things up a bit,' Isaac said, 'but it's going to take longer than one generation for it to go away completely. Half the school, their parents fought in the war, and they've told their kids how most of those involved on Voldemort's side were Slytherin. I'm not the only Slytherin with this problem.'

Hermione sighed sadly. 'It just frustrates me that there's still things from back then - before the war - that are effecting you lot. That isn't how it was supposed to be. Still,' she said, 'it doesn't explain why you apparently don't have friends in your own house.'

'Well if I knew that, maybe I'd have some,' Isaac said, biting his lip as his tone became slightly agitated again. He waited a moment before speaking again, apparently to calm himself. 'I don't know,' he groaned, 'I don't find that I have much in common with them and I never know what to say and… ugh, look, I've said it before and I'm sorry but… it's not easy being in Slytherin and being your son,' he said quickly, gesturing in Severus's direction. 'Not everyone thinks you're some hero.'

'Don't I know it,' Severus replied with a wry chuckle.

'I just wish you'd said something sooner,' Hermione said, addressing Isaac.

'What were you going to do? Make people be friends with me?' he responded.

'I don't know what we would have done, but I like to think we would have done something,' she said. 'I'm sorry.'

Isaac screwed his face up and looked away from her. 'You don't need to be going into school, or telling Erin and Nate, and especially not James and them lot, to be nicer to me or something.'

'I certainly will be having a word with Erin and Nate,' Hermione said, 'what use is Professor McGonagall's new curriculum if the students can't be bothered to put theory into practice? And if you ask me there's no one better to be doing that than the kids of a Gryffindor and a Slytherin - dare I say it, the kids of Severus Snape and Hermione Granger!'

'Mum!' Isaac complained.

'Your mum's right, Isaac,' Severus interjected, 'but look… I'm sorry that this is the case and I'm even more sorry that you didn't feel you could tell us sooner, or that we didn't pick up on it, but… we have strayed a little from the actual problem here.'

Isaac sighed. 'I never meant for anyone to get hurt, but I got sloppy. The more people started talking to me, the more potions I wanted to churn out. I must have made mistakes. I'm sorry.'

'Don't apologise to us. It's those people you put in the infirmary you need to be apologising to, and Professor McGonagall for that matter,' Severus said.

'Yeah,' Isaac agreed.

'And you're still grounded-'

'-But-'

'-No buts. This doesn't change the fact that what you did was irresponsible and dangerous. You're grounded until Erin and Nate get back.'

'Fine.'

'And… and I am also sorry. For grabbing you the way I did. I shouldn't have done that,' Severus said, his voice low and he couldn't quite bring himself to look Isaac in the eye as he said it. He looked up in time to see Isaac shrug, however. 'It matters,' Severus said, 'it shouldn't have happened.'

'It's fine.'

'No. It isn't.'

'OK, it isn't,' Isaac said with another shrug, 'but I shouldn't have said that stuff either.'

'Agreed,' said Severus, 'perhaps we can just… move on?'

'Yeah,' Hermione agreed, 'let's move on from all of this. We don't pretend it hasn't happened, but from now on it doesn't consume our lives. Yes?' Isaac and Severus both nodded. 'Good,' Hermione continued, sighing as though shaking off the last of the tension that had been pent up inside her. 'I'm glad we got this sorted, Isaac,' she said, standing and kissing him on the top of the head. He squirmed slightly but didn't complain. 'I don't feel like cooking tonight. Take away?' More nods from the boys. 'I'll find a menu then,' she said, wandering out of the kitchen after issuing Isaac another squeeze of his shoulder.

It was a long moment before Severus realised Isaac was watching him, his brow furrowed, from the opposite side of the table. Severus looked back over at him questioningly.

'Dad?' Isaac began tentatively.

'Mmm?'

'Are you OK?'

Severus frowned, confused. 'Err… yeah?' he replied.

Isaac's worried look failed to dissipate. 'I… sorry… I heard you talking before when I was upstairs. I… I was listening in, but only because I thought you were going to be talking about me… I heard what mum said… about you being ill again…'

'Oh, that,' Severus replied, glancing over at Hermione who had returned with the take away menu. 'That's nothing to worry about.'

Isaac nodded but looked unconvinced. 'But mum's worried.'

Severus inhaled deeply and resignedly and with a nod of a assurance from Hermione decided to explain. 'It really is nothing for you to worry about,' he prefaced, hoping this would get rid of the crease between Isaac's eyebrows. Severus had assumed he would tell the children at some point about the recent developments in his condition, but he hadn't wanted them worrying about it when they had other such pertinent matters to worry about as NEWTs and such. 'You already know about how I take the anti-venom to lessen the side-effects of Nagini's bite.'

'Yeah… has it stopped working?' Isaac asked, starting to sound almost frantic.

'No! It works fine. Honestly,' Severus assured him. 'But after I was bitten there were a few years before I had access to any anti-venom, you know that too, and I got quite sick… and there was the time about a year before you were born, when I ended up in hospital again.'

'Yeah. And then Professor Longbottom sorted you out with the Snowdonia Hawkweed, it made the potion stronger and you were fine again.'

'That's right, but those times when I was ill before, it turns out they… they took a toll on my heart. Weakened it, is the best way I can describe it, so sometimes it struggles to, well… struggles to do what it's supposed to do.'

Isaac looked pale and panicked, which is precisely why Severus had been reluctant to disclose all this in the first place. 'So what does that mean?' he stammered.

'It doesn't mean much,' Severus said with a shrug which he hoped conveyed a certain level on nonchalance. 'I have some pills from the Healer, which are working, and I just have to drink a little less and lose a little weight,' he added, patting his slight middle-aged paunch. 'Oh, and I'm under strict orders from the healer, but primarily your mother, to rest up and avoid stress. But I am fine!' he reiterated.

Isaac sighed and looked as though he might be about to cry again. 'I can't have helped with that last part,' he sighed, barely audibly. 'Sorry,' he choked.

'Now listen,' Severus replied firmly. 'This is not your fault and it really is nothing for you to worry about.'

'But I do worry about it. I know how strong that anti-venom is. Erin and Nate might not realise but I understand potions… I know how bad your side-effects must be if you need it. I notice when you're feverish and have to stay in bed, or when mum writes to us at school and says how well you are, it's obvious that she's over-compensating because you've had some sort of turn… or when we go hiking and you can't catch your breath, I know that that's related.'

Severus watched Isaac closely, marvelling somewhat at the boy's skills of deduction. 'OK…' he said eventually, 'I hadn't realised that you were so aware of all that. I suppose I don't really feel that it does impact my life very much.'

'And it probably doesn't,' Isaac replied, 'I just… notice when it does, that's all.'

'You should consider becoming a Healer, Isaac,' Hermione said, 'you'd be very good.'

'Mm,' Isaac murmured, clearly unconvinced, 'if they'll even have me at St. Mungo's now I have an exclusion on my record… or with my grades,' he added, sounding full of self-loathing. 'I've messed everything up.'

'You still have time to turn your grades around,' Hermione assured him.

'When you get back you just keep your head down,' Severus advised.

'I suppose I won't have any distractions now I'm not making the potions anymore… it's not like anyone is going to be inviting me to Quidditch matches or anything anymore.'

'Isaac?' Severus said, commanding his son's attention. 'You hate Quidditch.'

Isaac frowned. 'That's true,' he said, smiling his first genuine smile in a long time.

~oOo~ The Present ~oOo~

There was a long moment of silence as Nathaniel digested the story. He looked slightly pained as he eventually spoke: 'But I speak to you at school,' he said, looking up his brother sadly. 'At least… I don't mean to ignore you… I'll make more of an effort when we get back.'

'See, this is precisely what I didn't want,' Isaac replied, 'people talking to me because they felt sorry for me.'

'I don't feel sorry for you,' Nathaniel quickly said. 'I didn't really listen when mum told us we should make more of an effort to talk to the Slytherins last year,' he continued, with a sheepish look in Hermione's direction, 'but I never really thought about why I wasn't talking to them in the first place. I certainly never considered how the Slytherins might feel about it. I was just doing it because everyone else was and my least favourite thing is conformity.'

'It isn't fair that they should be blamed for things that their parents did,' Severus said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He might have been talking in general terms but the applicability of what he was saying to their own situation was lost on no one present.

'Well, I'm going to make more of an effort to talk to all the Slytherins,' Nathaniel said with a firm nod. 'Still, I can't believe it was you making those potions! Or that practically everyone knew and I didn't! Or that you didn't tell me you weren't well!' he then exclaimed, frowning at his father.

'As we explained in the story. I'm not ill,' Severus reiterated firmly.

'You were too young,' Hermione attempted to reason with Nathaniel.

'You always say that,' Nathaniel said grumpily.

'Thus far, it's always been true,' Hermione said, pulling her youngest into another hug. 'I'm keeping you my baby,' she added, and Nathaniel only protested mildly.

'By the way, are your grades back where they need to be?' Severus asked Isaac.

'Getting there,' Isaac replied meekly with a small smile. 'They will be,' he assured his parents. 'Anyway, in the continued spirit of moving on, it's your turn to pick something, Nate. He handed the wooden box over to his brother who cheered up immediately as he took it and plunged his hand into its depths.

'I'm going to find something about me!'