I think I need to let you know that my grammar/typographical error beta (Raya) has been buried in work and is only on Chapter 5 of "A Place". Eflina (the one that checks for my characterization) has agreed to help out, but unfortunately she is cursed with the same problem I am. My mind automatically fixes errors and does not let me know about the mistake. I can literally read the same mistake over ten times and never notice it. So, please be kind as we wait on Raya's life to let her catch up. If you spot something that is glaringly wrong, PM me and I'll fix it.
Thanks,
Ree
Chapter 2: Not all Puffs Cry
Severus swept into his first year Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw class. Spinning about at his desk, he let his glare rake over the group. Somehow, Dumbledore seemed to think that these two would work well with each other. And they could, but he would rather have the Ravenclaws with the Slytherins. He didn't need two volatile groups together and two calm ones together.
His eyes landed on Grayland sitting in one of the front seats. He was a bit of yellow and black in the midsts of blue and bronze. The rest of the Hufflepuffs were in the back of his room as normal. Brown eyes met black for a moment, before Severus shifted his eyes away to take in the others. "Today, you shall be learning about one of the most subtle of magics, one you might not even consider magic as you will not be waving your wand about chanting incantations. No, if you pay attention in this class you shall learn about the magic inherent in the plants, animals, and minerals to create something that can stop death, cause sleep, and cure the most...stubborn of illnesses."
He paused to let his words sink in. He had been working on his opening speech, and he checked their faces to see the impact of his words. This one was still lacking the attention grabbing quality he wanted, but it was better than last years. Smirking lightly he flicked his wand towards the board. "Start making the potion of page ten. It is a simple boil cure." He gestured to the ingredients cupboard. "The ingredients are in there, you may begin."
As he walked about the room, he let his scathing comments rain down on the heads of the dunderheads he felt deserved it. If that was a proportionately high amount of Hufflepuffs, then it was the same as other years.
By the end of class, he had reduced two of the Hufflepuffs to tears. He felt proud that Grayland wasn't one of them. No matter how much he had criticized the boy, Grayland had looked him in the eye and then turned back to his work. It was obvious to Severus that the boy was taking what he had said, picked out the information, and discarding the insults.
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Eric slammed his hand down on the table. It was frustrating enough that every first, second, and third year Hufflepuff was terrified of Professor Snape, he didn't need to hear it from a group of Gryffindors too. "If you listened to what Professor Snape said, you would know the answer."
Alexander crossed his arms. "All that bat does is spew insults. He doesn't explain a thing!"
Thomas nodded in agreement. "He's frightful and a git."
Eric closed his eyes slightly, fending off a headache and the doubts that had been attacking since the beginning of school. Christmas break was starting next week, and he had spent the entire term trying to tell what Professor Snape was thinking, trying to tell if the man cared a bit. He had known it was going to be hard, that the man hid everything, but this was impossible. Opening his eyes, he grabbed his books off the table. "I thought you were Gryffindors, brave, courageous, not afraid of anything or anyone." Clutching his books close to his chest, he spun about to face the library door. "Instead I see you are scared of a man that glares and and insults you. And since you are scared you can't see that the information that you need to learn is put in those insults." He strode out of the library, his back straight, his eyes unseeing.
The bookshelf that Sevreus had stopped behind when he heard Grayland start in on the other boys hid him while he thought about the boy. He had spent most of the term walking a fine line with the boy. He couldn't be perceived as liking anyone but a Slytherin, but there had to be a way to reassure the boy that he hadn't forgotten him. Slipping out of the library, he wondered where Grayland had headed off to. He was distracted from his thoughts when he heard the sounds of a spell being cast in the hallway.
Turning the corner, he slowed his gate until he was striding up behind the very student he had been looking for. 'And this is a perfect opportunity. No one will doubt that I protected a Hufflepuff just so that I could take points from the Gryffindors.' He stopped behind the small first year. Crossing his arms over his chest with one hand on his wand, he glared down at the third year Gryffindors that had their wands drawn.
"Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Berry and Mr. Dobbs thirty points each from Gryffindor and detention with Filch tonight."
Eric was surprised to hear that soft dangerous whisper come from behind him. He watched as his attackers fled down the hall. He stood still as the Potions Master circled around him stopping in the spot his attackers had recently deserted.
Severus looked down at the brown eyes that were looking at him with uncertainty in their depths. "Are you hurt, Mr. Grayland?" He let his eyes check the boy out, looking for any damage from the spell he heard cast.
Eric searched the black eyes that were looking over him. In their depths he could see the concern that he could not hear in the professor's voice. In that moment, his world righted itself. His doubts were laid to rest. 'I knew he was good. I knew he had to act then, and that he has to be still by the look of things. I can't doubt him anymore.' Taking in a settling breath, he nodded. "I'm fine, Professor Snape."
Severus watched as the uncertainty faded from the boy's eyes. "Then until later, Mr. Grayland." He nodded his head slightly before turning to leave. Before he had taken a step he heard the boy answer him back softly.
"Until later, Professor Snape." Eric watched the tall man stride away, his robe billowing behind him.
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Severus watched as the carriages left at the end of the year. He had protected Grayland three more times that year. Twice more from Gryffindors and once from Ravenclaws. 'That boy needs to learn discretion.' Smirking a bit, he wondered what the next school year would bring.
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Severus protected the boy though out his second and third year, breaking up small squabbles here and there. Finally at the end of the third year, he held the boy after class. He was amazed to see the vindictive looks that were on his class mates faces. He waited for the door to shut before he cast a silencing charm.
"Mr. Grayland, I appreciate you attempts to get your fellow students to pay better attention in my class." He watched as the boy's face lit up. "But, I must ask you to be a bit more discreet. This coming school year I shall be leaving you to clean up your own messes."
Eric frowned slightly. 'His coming to my aid must be getting the wrong type of attention.' Nodding, he looked up at the professor. "So, I have to take care of myself. Understood, sir."
Severus gestured towards the door, removing the spell. "Do not be late to your next class, Mr. Grayland."
Tightening his hold on his backpack, Eric sprinted out of the room.
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Severus was pleased at not having to save the boy for the next year and a half. Instead, Grayland had toned down his defense. He now subtly defended the Potions Master. The boy also paid close attention in class and was out doing the Ravenclaws.
As he was completing his normal curfew classroom checks, he spotted the fifth year Hufflepuff asleep on a pile of parchment, quill resting in his fingers and an open bottle of ink nearby. There were books scattered over every part of the long table the child was currently sleeping on. 'He must have fallen asleep while revising. I wonder why he isn't working with the other Hufflepuffs. I know he has been pulled back into their group since he is no longer trying to get them to see me in a new light.'
Skimming the parchments, he felt his eyes widen. The boy was studying potions and had almost got to the heart of the concept that he had introduced in class that day. Scanning the parchments closer to Grayland's hand, Severus realized that he had researched all he could on the subject with the materials that were available through the school. 'He has gone past the OWLs level and started on the NEWTs level of understanding.' Sitting down across from the student he wanted to take in and mentor, he contemplated how he could foster the boy while appearing to be doing the Dark Lord's work. Dumbledore was sure that his old master wasn't completely gone so he had to maintain his facade. Looking back at the parchments, he let a true smile slide onto his face. 'I might not be able to be seen mentoring a Hufflepuff, but I can be seen mentoring an up and coming Potions Master no matter what house.'
He let his smile fade to his habitual smirk. "Mr. Grayland." He waited a moment before calling out the boy's name again. "Mr. Grayland, you need to wake up."
Eric blinked and stretched. He hadn't meant to fall asleep while studying. It was just that the idea was starting to make sense, and he wanted to figure it out completely. Blinking again, he focused on the person sitting across the table from him. "Professor Snape?"
Severus smirked at the sleepy sounding question. "Mr. Grayland, you need to return to your dormitory. I assure you that your bed will be more comfortable than the table." He waved his wand, causing the scattered materials to stack themselves neatly. "Also, you shall not find the answer to your question in these books. Stop by my office tomorrow. I'll lend you a book that will help you."
Eric gathered his stacks and headed to the dormitory. It wasn't until he was settled in his bed that he realized what Professor Snape had offered.
Eric slept in the next morning as it was the first day of Christmas break. Gretchen and Marie were expecting him sometime that afternoon to help them with their homework. He was helping them instead of Mr. Fuller, their guardian, since they couldn't go home this year. Mr. Fuller had been called out of country unexpectedly.
'Did I dream that last night? Did Professor Snape really ask me to come by his office?" Worrying his stone between his fingers, he headed towards the dungeon office. He had to chance it. There was no way he could ignore the possibility that it had been real.
Severus was slowly stirring the experimental potion that he was testing for the new division of his potions company, Aconite, Supplier of Potions. He glared at the door when he heard someone knocking. It took him a moment to remember that he had invited Grayland to stop by. Looking at the color of the potion, he knew he couldn't stop at that moment. "Enter."
Eric opened the door and slipped through. He had never been in this office and was just a bit wary. His house-mates told horror stories about what was behind that door. His eyes darted about, taking in the potion ingredients and the cauldron that Professor Snape was currently stirring. Wandering over, he watched as the Potions Master stirred with a slow regular motion. It was nothing like his attempt at that.
Severus felt the boy's scrutiny. Glancing over at him, he noticed that Grayland was totally focused on how he was stirring. Holding in a smirk, he continued until the color was right and then he hung his stirring rod so that it would drip into the cauldron. "Thank you for waiting."
Grayland looked up at him. "It was no problem, sir. How do you learn to stir like that? Each one was exactly the same speed and motion as the last."
Severus walked over to his bookshelf and pulled a medium sized book off of it. "Practice, . You have to find a comfortable way of holding the stirring rod and then practice until you have the pattern down." He held the book out to the boy. "This book will have the explanations that you were looking for. I expect it back in the same condition that I lent it to you in."
Grayland took the book from him and held it close. "Of course, sir."
Severus waved him towards the door. "Have a good day, Mr. Grayland." He turned back to the potion, holding the small slugs ready to add to the mix. He heard the door open before he continued. "And Mr. Grayland, do not forget to study all your subjects."
"Yes, sir." Eric closed the door behind him.
The rest of the break was a time period of happiness and fear. Eric was thrilled to read the book that Professor Snape had lent him. It made a lot of the concepts they had been talking about make sense. He was able to explain them to the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors who were still there. He studied with them since Gretchen was a Gryffindor and Marie was a Ravenclaw. But that is what lead to the fear part. Both groups wanted to borrow the book, and Jarret Thompson, one of the upper year Ravenclaws tried to take it from him.
Holding the book close to his chest, Eric stood before Professor Snape's office door. It was the last day of Christmas Break, and he didn't want to chance keeping the book any longer. Knocking, he waited a moment to see if there was an answer. 'He isn't here. Where can he be? I don't want to just set the book down, anything could happen to it.'
Leaning against the door, he tried to get his hunches to work for him. Following his feelings, he headed down a small side hallway and delved deeper into Slytherin territory. He stopped at a door that felt right. With a tentative hand, he knocked. No one answered. 'I know he is there, but he might be busy. I'll sit here next to the door and wait. He'll eventually come out.'
Severus heard the knock on his lab door. He waited for whoever it was to start pounding like some of the other teachers tended to do when they thought he was ignoring them. When none came, he finished what he was doing and head over to answer it. He could still feel his wards tingling, warning him of a person's presence. Looking out the door, he didn't see anyone. Shifting his eyes to the floor, he raised an eyebrow at the sight that greeted him. "Good morning, Mr. Grayland. What brings you to sitting outside my door?"
Eric looked up into the black eyes that were welcoming him. "I needed to return your book." He held it out towards the professor.
Severus waved the student through the door. "Come on in. How did you find me?"
Eric contemplated what to say. He hadn't told anyone, not even his sisters about his hunches. Looking up into those black eyes, he decided not to lie. "I get feelings on occasions that can lead me places or warn me of things that are about to happen." He waited for the scoffing retort.
Severus studied the boy for a moment. "Why are you not taking Divinations then?"
Eric felt his eyes widen. Snape knew his schedule. "I hear that the teacher teaches about reading tea leaves and crystal balls...neither have anything to do with my feelings. And I wanted to take Runes instead."
Severus nodded. That was sound reasoning. He reached out to take the book.
Eric pulled the book back for a moment and drew in a deep settling breath. He had to tell him about the skirmish. "Yesterday... one of the Ravenclaws tried to take the book from me. They were tugging on it hard. I didn't see any damage, but there might be some." Slowly he held the book out to the dark eyed man.
Severus held the boy's brown eyes with his as he took the book. Breaking their gaze, he looked over it. He had seen the skirmish yesterday, but didn't interfere when he saw that Grayland was holding his own, and protecting his book quite adequately. He had held up the agreement they had made at the end of the boy's third year. "It is in good shape." He placed it on a shelf that was in the back of the room. When he turned back, he noticed Grayland looking around his lab, curiosity written on his face.
Eric was mesmerized by the cauldrons that were set up around the room. All of them were in some stage of brewing. "Can I help?" The question slipped out before he could filter his words. His face flushed in embarrassment. You just did not as a Potions Master to help in their lab.
Severus looked at the table that was nearest the boy. "Those daisy roots needs to be cubed into quarter inch cubes, and set in two equal piles. If you think you can do that, precisely, then you can help. There is a ruler on the side table if you feel like you need to check your measurements." He waited to see what Grayland would do.
Eric tried to keep the amazement off his face. He was being taken up on his offer. Sure, it was just slicing roots, but still, it was more than he had ever expected. Crossing over to the table he picked up a knife after he grabbed the ruler. Professor Snape said precisely. He was not going to take a chance on estimating.
Severus smirked. He always knew that there was a hidden Gryffindor in that Hufflepuff. "Do be careful with my knives. I keep them very sharp."
"Yes, sir." Eric figured out just how sharp when it slid through the root like it was hot butter. With almost comical concentration he completed his task.
Severus kept an eye on Grayland while he worked on the next stages of several other potions across the room. When the boy had finished, it was time to add the roots to one of the two potions that required them. Crossing over to where his student was, he handed him a stirring rod. "You will stir the potion on your left three times clockwise and then drop five pieces of root over the surface. You will then repeat your actions until I tell you it is ready."
Eric took the stirring rod and did what he was told. It was hard not to shake with the sharp eye of the professor watching him, but he refused to show his nervousness now. As he worked the potion turned from a dark blue to the palest lavender.
"Stop."
Eric stopped the stirring rod the moment the word left the Master's lips.
Severus leaned over the cauldron and took a breath. It was just right. With a flick of his wand, the fire went out that was under the cauldron. "Repeat the process with the right hand cauldron." He stepped back and waited.
Eric did exactly as he had done before. He scooped up the last pieced of root and held them over the cauldron.
"Stop. Do not add those to it, Mr. Grayland." Severus smirked as the boy jumped slightly but did not drop any of the root.
"Why not, sir?" Eric looked down at the potion, trying to see what Professor Snape seen.
"Look at the left hand cauldron. Now look at the one you are working with. What do you notice?" Severus waited patiently after he had put out the flames.
"They are the same color." Eric raised his eyes to the black ones that were waiting patiently for him to make the connections. "But I didn't add all the root. How can it be done if it doesn't have all the ingredients in it?"
Severus smirked. "Most ingredients are or were living things. They will have different amounts of magic, chemicals, and sustenance that work together to create the potion. The nonliving items also have different amounts in them. Since that is so, can you tell me why the amount of ingredients might vary?"
Eric looked at the pale lavender surface as he set the last of the daisy root on the table. "Because the variation in the ingredient will cause a variation in the amount needed to make the potion correctly. So, we have to judge by color, texture and smell?"
Severus nodded and then pointed to another set of leaves. "Slice them up in half inch slices." Turning away, he headed to the cauldron that he had been working on earlier.
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The OWLs came and went. Eric was glad that he had helped that day in Professor Snape's lab. Just the understanding about the variations of the ingredients and the need to watch the potion not just the material pile saved his potion. The idea that magic could be in different amounts had him approaching the other practicals differently. His spells had a bit more finesse compare to the others.
When he entered NEWTs potions, Eric smirked at the potion they started with. He was the only one to stop when it reached a pale lavender color, a bit of daisy root still on his table next to his cauldron.
Severus watched as Grayland worked his way through his NEWT courses. The teen would periodically stop by his lab to watch or offer to help. Not one of the former Death Eaters brought up his association with the Hufflepuff. None of his Slytherins seem to even know that one of the Puffs had found their way and made a home in their territory.
As graduation rolled its way around, Severus waited for the teen to ask for a letter of recommendation to a Potions Master that he wanted to apprentice to. It never came and he never asked why.
At the graduation ceremony, Severus stood with the other Heads of Houses on the dais. They were there to had out the diplomas to their houses and see them off into the world. Vector stood in Minerva's place since she was calling the students names.
Soon, the faces were blurring together, only the ones that were either Slytherins or in his NEWTs class made any impression. Then a set of brown eyes met his. They stared at each other for what seemed like minutes, but in all actuality was seconds. Severus offered his hand to the teen.
Eric looked into the black eyes, wondering if he would ever see them again. He knew he was supposed to shake this man's hand, but for some reason he held his at his side. Not once had they ever touched. The only connection they ever had was the meeting of their eyes. Part of him was worried what would happen if they actually did touch.
Severus caught the hesitancy and held in a smirk as he discerned the reason behind it. "You won't go up in smoke if you shake my hand, Mr. Grayland." He saw Pomona's scowl at his comment, but he felt a slim calloused hand grip his. Leaning forward just a bit, he spoke in a voice that no one else could hear. "I hope to see you again, Mr. Grayland." He leaned back and let go of the teenager's hand after he shook it.
Brown eyes held the black for a moment longer. Eric hoped Professor Snape could read that he also hoped to see the Professor once again. Turning, he walked off the dais. He was surprised when he found out that he was up there just the same amount of time as everyone else.
Severus watched the teenager's brown hair as it threaded its way through the crowds. No one would know that he almost considered that boy his son. He thought that this was how Mr. Jameson must feel about him. He knew it was a connection that had started when he saved the boy's life, but the boy had continued it once he came to Hogwarts. And then they both had nurtured it. Severus already knew how he would keep informed on what happened to quiet Hufflepuff.
