(Story continues after Review Replies and Author's Note)
Review Replies:
stixx17: Thank you for being the first to review. =) Hope you like this update.
klester1987: *Igore accent* Yes Master… *Posts new chapter* ;)
Higurashi-Naku: Thank you. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought it was a good idea. ^^
Sithtar: Ah ha! So I'm not the only one who thought along those lines. Yes the dark eyes and dark hair combo makes you think that someone in his family must have those kind of roots. Yes, I know my intro to them was bad – I had re written it like four times before I was like 'screw it', and just wrote it like that. Sorry about that. ^^" That's just my laziness. Glad you enjoyed it otherwise.
Yashida: Thanks. I know de-ageing is way overdone, but I thought I'd try something different with the Japanese element; after all, that's more so of what the story is about – exploring another culture. De-aged Snape is a good way to access it, lol.
shadow83: Haha, well in this story he is definitely part Asaian – dark eyes and dark hair, he was asking for this kind of story to be written about him.
Wow, finally got an update in; hope I didn't keep anybody waiting too long. :) On with the fic!
Dumbledore set the mini professor up with a cup of tea and small plate of cookies. They were seated across from each other; the boy indulging himself on 'foreign' treats, and the Headmaster thinking over the best way to tell the child how he ended up this way (which he will hopefully find out from Minerva) and how to tell a three year old that he is actually was actually in his thirties just twenty minutes ago. The old wizard gave a silent sigh.
Minerva McGonagall walked in moments later with two guilty looking Gryffindors – Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. She explained the encouragement of the prank from the other students, and that these two were the ones to actually put the words into actions.
"I must say that I am quite surprised at you both," Professor Dumbledore's voice carried a subtle but obvious tone of disappointment in them. "You did not know what could have been in that vile. What if it had been a poison; Professor Snape could have died, and you two would have been responsible for his death."
Ron paled, and Harry looked remorseful. "Please sir, I was the one who listen to them and poured the vile into Professor Snape's drink. Don't blame Ron." He didn't think Ron would be able to handle thinking about how he could have almost killed someone.
Dumbledore looked over at the now chibi professor, who wondered exactly what they meant by that whole conversation, and sighed (again). "Well, no harm done, I suppose. And I will let Professor McGonagall decide your punishments."
The two weren't sure what to think so they just remained silent.
"Dumbledore-san?" Severus still added the honorific because the translation charm couldn't exactly translate them into English.
"Yes child," Dumbledore asked him, but knew what he was going to ask.
"The tea and snacks were good, but may we please discuss why I am here? I know you know why."
Everyone aside from the Headmaster looked surprised at how blunt and, well, correct the child was.
"You always were a smart one. Alright Severus, but promise that you'll have an open mind about what I tell you, okay," Dumbledore told him, and then thought about how to go about this.
The mini professor looked expectant.
"You may want to sit down-" Dumbledore then noticed that he was sitting, "Or perhaps lay down, for this."
"No thank you Dumbledore-san, I don't want to turn into a cow," the three year old said with a smile. (1)
The other professor and the two students looked confused but Dumbledore chuckled, "Ah, of course, I forgot; my apologies Severus.
"Now, how to start? You obviously know that something strange did indeed happen here. You are open to that, yes? So, what if I tell you that up until you were 'found' by the students, you were an adult teacher here?"
The child stared at him for a moment before saying, "Well, I guess with magic… anything is possible."
Dumbledore smiled, "Good, because the truth is quite a tale. You see, we are in a pre-war sort of state right now…"
He continued telling about he was a spy for their side, and that the other leader had given him a potion that alters his age so that he could remember how to speak Japanese and translate a book full of dangerous spells for him. After a 'mishap' with the students, namely the two sitting in the office with them, who mentally shrunk down to about two inches tall when the spotlight was put on them, he overdosed on the potion and de-aged too much, turning him into a three year old.
"Interesting," the boy thought "it's a crazy story but, I don't think you're lying. And there is no other way I could get all the way from Japan to here outa nowhere. So, I believe you."
Both smiled, "I'm glad. Now, while I get someone to figure out what was in that vile and brew an antidote for it, you will have to stay with us. Will you be alright with that?"
The child looked excited but then frowned, "Ano, (um) what is the date?"
"November 5th. Why?" Professor McGonagall beat the Headmaster to it.
"Oh, it's nothing. I had just been waiting for November 15th of this year so I could go to 'Shichigosan' this year, but, I guess that wouldn't happen anyway… or etto (uh), did happen.
"Yes, yes I'm fine with it." He concluded lamely.
"Excellent." Dumbledore planned his living arrangements.
XxXx
By the time Ron and Harry got out of detention with McGonagall it was late and they were beat. Hermione met up with them in the common room.
"I hope you two have learned your lessons," Hermione stated superiorly in an 'I knew it' tone.
"You're telling me. Her punishments, when she's angry are worse than Snape's or Filch's. I can't feel my hands or my knees," complained Ron.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
Harry looked down at the floor, "I do feel bad. I mean what if he had died instead of turning into a little kid?"
"And a strange kid at that. Do you think all Japanese people are like that?"
"Ron!" Hermione scolded. He blushed and she continued. "Besides, the Japanese are very interesting people-"
"Here we go~" Ron sang and mouthed at the same time as she said,
'I've been reading about them'.
Harry laughed quietly but listened.
"They are well known for their politeness, they have etiquettes of all types…"
They half listened to what she found out about it.
"-Cultural achievements. Oh, another thing they have is on November 15th called 'Shichigosan ' where-"
"Wait," Harry called, "what was that; 'Shish – ee – go –san'?"
Hermione nodded.
"Wasn't that, that thing Snape said he wanted to go to?" Ron asked him.
"I think so."
"Oh, well it's pretty obvious why," Hermione said. "It means 'Seven Five Three'; it's when younger children –girls ages three and seven, and boys ages three and five – are celebrated. They visit a 'Shinto Shrine' while dressed in kimono and are given bags of candy with turtles and cranes decorated on them – both symbolizing 'a long life'."
"Ohh," Harry felt a little bad that the child wouldn't be able to attend it this year.
XxXx
The next morning at breakfast, with Severus sitting at the staff table talking to Dumbledore, Harry glanced over at the child. Hermione was right about the etiquette thing, he'd never seen a more table mannered child.
Food was placed out, but there were other cuisines among the usual breakfast foods;(2) a bowl of rice, some kind of soup with seaweed and stuff in it, some soy beans with soy sauce and other toppings, rolled seaweed with rice inside, a rolled up omelet, some salmon, and pickles. It was a very odd assortment of dishes, but he figured must have been done for chibi Snape's enjoyment.
Dumbledore stood up and called everyone's attention. "I'm sure you all have noticed the interesting new foods on the table, as well as the, erm, revised edition to our staff."
Everyone whispered, the news had spread like wild fire yesterday so there wasn't a single soul in the castle who didn't know what happened to Professor Snape.
"Yes, news sure does spread fast. Now, the point of the dishes is to make Severus feel more at home here, until his problem can be fixed. He was originally raised in Japan for the first few years of his life – living there with his grandparents. He has a charm cast on him so that he can speak and understand English, so rethink any comments that you may have thought to make towards him." Many students shrank down in their seats.
"And please do us a favor, and help him feel more at home here at Hogwarts, as well. It looks like we're in for quite a bit of culture change this year. (3) Also on that note, I will be bringing back Professor Lupin temporarily to fill in for Professor Snape. Before anyone starts objecting, he will leave a few days of every month and return after those, ehem, 'problem days' have passed; there should be no dilemma this way."
Remus Lupin came through the doors and strolled right up to Dumbledore, shaking his hand with a happy smile, and sat down (ironically) right next to Severus.
'This must be a sign' thought Harry. And he had an idea.
XxXx
After breakfast he walked over to the staff table, stopping briefly to hug Remus, but then strolling over to Dumbledore.
"Professor, I know something we can do to make Professor Snape feel more at home."
(1) There is a superstition in Japan that if you lie down after eating, you'll turn into a cow. – My attempt at humor. ^^"
(2) The 'Unusual Breakfast Foods", I took from a site where I got 'Traditional Japanese Breakfast' info: (In order of listing)
Steamed Rice,
Miso Soup – common ingredients include tofu, green onion, and seaweed.
Natto – fermented soy beans, placed in a bowl and seasoned with soy sauce and other toppings
Nori – dried seaweed dipped in soy sauce and rolled with some rice
Tamagoyaki -rolled omelet
Broiled/Salted salmon
Tsukemono –pickles
(3) Well they needed somebody to fill in for Snape, why not Lupin? Especially with my 'He'll leave before the full moon, and return after' loophole.
Reviews are appreciated ^^