Once Again, the random ideas refuse to leave me alone.. This is my first Harry Potter fic though :) I hope it turns out well.
*Fic Spoilers - if you can't wait a few chapters to see the background to this:* The idea is that Severus Snape's grandmother on his father's side is Japanese, she married a British 'tourist' (what's the right word for it - someone who travels and stays in another country as more than a vacation and less than actually moving there?) their son was Tobias who was rebellious of Japanese lifestyle (he didn't look Japanese and felt that he never fit in) and moved to his father's motherland (Britain) and that's where he met Eileen and had Severus. The grandparents wanted to meet their only grandchild, and since money was kind of tight, they sent Sev to Japan to live with them shortly after his birth, where he was raised for 4 years, until his parents took him back, and he learned English language and customs from then on out.
I thought he'd make a good part-Japanese b/c (1) his hair is like naturally black, which is rare (if not unheard of) for white people (Hey, I'm white too, so I'm not being racist, I'm just stating a fact), (2) He's always so serious and honor-bound... I thought it fit the Japanese stereotype. ^^" *Makes decision in accordance to Hetalia stereotypes*
Well, I hope you enjoy~
A large, ancient-looking book was tossed at him. It was hard covered with non-English characters adorning the front cover.
"Severus, you are the only one with a chance of understanding even a smidgen of what's in that book," a raspy voice told him.
"My lord," he replied "I'm afraid that I won't be of too much help. It's been years since I've practiced this language and it being about ten times more difficult than English… I'm not sure how much I'd be able to successfully translate that'd be of use to you."
"I thought it may be. So I have something that'll help."
He snapped his fingers and Wormtail brought in a small vile of a silver-tinted liquid. "Be warned though, do Not drink the entire vial in one go, only place one drop on your tongue – just one little drop is powerful enough to take years off your life, thus resetting your memory just enough to be able to remember the language better, but not enough to that your mind regresses with your age; also, that much all at once will delay you transforming back. So remember one drop."
Severus Snape sighed; it didn't look like he could get out of this one.
"Yes my lord."
He took the book and the vial and apparated back to Hogwarts. He didn't actually need the potion, he knew how to read that language, he spent the first few years of his life speaking, reading and writing it, and though complicated it was hard to forget. He didn't think it was a good idea, however, to be translating a book titled "1001 Forbidden Spells Worldwide" in English. He consulted with Dumbledore who told him that the best thing to do would be to translate the book, but make a side list of the spells that Voldemort took an interest in so that they'd (the Order) be able to find some sort of counter or shield to it.
Deciding to get started, he sat down at the desk in his potions classroom, resting the vial on the side, and started translating and noting the chapters in the book. 1001 spells to translate… less than a week to do it. Life sucked.
XxxXxx
He worked for about two thirds of the night, getting only 37 done. *Sigh* And he has classes today – red and green will soon be gathering in; oh joy.
(Time Lapse)
Both houses were steadily working, surprisingly, without incident; it was a miracle. The professor enjoyed the sweet, non-commotion with a cup of tea.
Near the period's end a young Ravenclaw student ran into the classroom calling professor Snape; apparently there was a fight going on down the hall, and someone had been knocked unconscious. The professor gave an irritated sigh but told the classes to stay put as he followed the boy down the hall.
Everyone else took this cue as their 'Break Time' and commenced chatting and playing around.
"I wonder if Snape has the answers for that test he gave last week," asked Ron.
"Why don't you go see; look around his desk," a boy named Harry said.
"What? Why me? You should go do it."
"You were the one that brought it up in the first place."
"Harry, Ron, don't even think about it!" the yell came from a brunet at the table next to them, named Hermione.
Just when the two were about to respond that they didn't really mean it another voice spoke up. "They wouldn't actually do it, they're too scared to."
The voice was smug and mocking, and belonged to a blond boy by the name of Draco Malfoy.
"Who's scared; Not us!" the red head roared, "Right Harry?"
"Right," the other agreed.
"Prove it then…" the class was all ears and eyes now.
"Fine," the two said in unison, then glanced at the door for any sign of Snape.
Moving over to the desk they began browsing the papers there – notes on potions or spells, graded class work, lists of ingredients, etc. Nothing too interesting caught their eye, until one of them noticed the mysterious vial.
"What do you reckon this is?" Ron asked, holding it up.
"Dunno," Harry replied "I'm not sure I've ever seen a potion that color before."
"Maybe if you pour it in his drink you'll get to see firsthand what it does," called a voice from across the room.
"And have Snape kill us?" Ron freaked.
"You're already at risk now and for something not as interesting; why not raise the stakes a little more? Come on, I dare ya," yet another voice. Soon chants of 'do it' were echoed throughout the room.
Harry gulped but decided that since Snape hates him anyway, then 'what the hell'; he took the vial, uncapped it, and poured it into the tea sitting on the desk.
Everyone was either shocked or overjoyed at what he did. The two sat down and waited for Professor Snape's return.
About 10 minutes later he was finally back; he glided in with an exhausted sigh and back down. Everyone pretended to be interested in their work but kept a side-eye on their teacher. When they saw him reach for his tea cup they all held their breath; he drank it, all of it, as there wasn't much left in the cup and he was parched after breaking up an intense fight and going detention-ballistic on the group of fighting students.
A little over a minute had past and nothing seemed to happen, the students were beginning to think that the potion wasn't anything spectacular, until Snape started coughing. The coughing turned into hacking, and a bright, white glow glossed over his skin until the glow became supernova-in-comparison bright, then disappeared in a few seconds.
The students wondered what the purpose was of the glow, but their wondering ceased as they laid eyes on a small, black haired boy in oversized clothes, standing right where Professor Snape had.
"Oh my-"
"Somebody go get a teacher!"
"I-Is that Snape?"
"I can't believe it…"
"We are all so in trouble!"
The shouts of panic increased and the child professor's eyes were wide with fear and confusion.
"Do you think he remembers anything?"
"Not sure…"
"Go check."
"Hell no; he might attack me and eats my soul."
"…"
"Oh for the love of…"
"I'll ask him."
The boy who lived walked up to the now miniature professor; "Um, professor…?"
The little boy looked upon him with slight curiosity. 'Is he speaking to me? I don't know what he's saying.'
"Professor Snape?" He tried again.
"Wakaranai desu" (I don't understand) the boy responded.
"Huh?" Harry was surprised, it wasn't even English. "Do you speak English?"
The boy only once again repeated "Wakaranai desu". (I don't understand)
Others were looking on now, curious at the new little fact that their professor didn't understand English at this age.
"Doko desu ka? Otetsudai shimashouka?" (Where am I? Can you help me?)
Blank stares were all that greeted the little boy; he was becoming frustrated and tears began to gather in his eyes.
"Uchi ni kaeritai desu." (I want to go home)
Tears began falling and loud sobs followed; once again the students were in a panic. How could they try to get him to stop if he couldn't even understand them?
"What is going on in here?" A voice yelled from the door way. Professor McGonagall entered in with Professor Dumbledore and a student from the class who had left to find some help. When they saw what had happened to Professor Snape they immediately rushed over – Dumbledore leaning down to try to comfort the child and McGonagall facing the class and demanding to know what happened.
Harry, who was still by the mini professor, mentioned to Dumbledore the problem of Snape not being able to speak or understand English.
"Not to worry my boy, I know a little Japanese-"
'So that's what he was speaking…' Harry thought.
"And for everything else, I have a charm for that. Now," The Headmaster turned to Severus "Konnichiwa, osanago." (Hello, little child) The boy looked up at Dumbledore now. "Wakarimasu ka?" (Do you understand me?)
Severus nodded, "Hai". (yes)
"Yukkuri shabette kuremasuka? Watashi wa jouzu nihongo ga hanase masen." (Can you speak slowly? I don't speak Japanese well.)
The boy nodded once again. "Namae wa nandesu ka?" (What is your name?) He asked slowly.
Dumbledore smiled, "Watashi no namae wa Dumbledore Albus." (My name is Albus Dumbledore)
Child-Snape's eyes widened, "Dumbledore-san?" He had been told about Dumbledore by his mother and he knew that he had somehow ended up at Hogwarts.
The two talked about small things for a while, until the conversations started becoming too complicated for Dumbledore and he asked Severus if he could cast a translation charm on him so that he could understand him, and everybody else in the school, in English. The boy agreed.
The spell was casted: "Can you understand me child?"
"Y-yes, I can. I am speaking English, yes?" Little Snape asked.
"Correct my boy. Now, we will discuss why you are here up in office with a cup of tea. How does that sound?"
Meanwhile McGonagall busied herself with getting the full story, in order to fill Dumbledore in later, and know who to punish for a month…
This was going to be interesting.
Well? Whatcha think?