He carried Conner back downstairs to the kitchen and put him down. It was time for lunch so he went to the kitchen fireplace to Floo the school kitchens.
"What would you like to eat, Conner?" he asked the little boy.
Conner didn't respond. In fact, he didn't even turn towards Severus when the man spoke. He kept staring at the painting of a fruit bowl on the wall.
"Conner," the potions professor said loudly while touching the boy's shoulder. Conner started and turned around quickly. "Calm down, now, I would just like to know what you want to eat for lunch."
Still, Conner didn't say anything. He moved his hand in what Severus thought was an odd gesture but he didn't say a word. Severus resigned himself to finding something for the boy to eat and if he didn't like it, that was too bad.
"Kitchens" he called and stuck his head in the fire. An elf immediately answered and Severus realized he didn't have a clue about what a 4 year old would eat. "Do you know what a small child would like to eat?"
"No, sir," the elf replied. "Tippy is sorry, sir. Tippy has always worked in the school since she was a young elf. Tippy does know one elf that lived with a family that had a little child though. If sir could wait a moment, Tippy will go get him."
"Yes, yes, alright," he sighed. The elf disappeared only to return a moment later with another elf that looked vaguely familiar.
"This is Dobby, sir," Tippy said. "He should know what a little child would want to eat. He worked for a family with a little master called Draco for many years."
"Ah, you were Lucius' elf, weren't you," Severus asked rhetorically. "What did Draco like to eat when he was about 4?"
"Dobby remembers Draco eating chicken soup and cheese sandwiches that were toasted in butter on a pan in the fire," the elf called Dobby said. "He also liked pieces of chicken that were dipped in a batter and cooked in hot oil and fried potatoes. Little Master liked pumpkin juice to drink as well as milk. There are many other things but Dobby would have to think more and could make a list for Professor Snape, if Professor Snape wishes."
"Uh, excellent, could you fix the first one for my son, Conner?" the Potions Master requested. "And a list would be fine."
"Yes, sir, Dobby will have it right away. And what would Professor Snape like to eat for lunch, sir?" the elf beamed.
"I would like a roast beef sandwich with provolone cheese, toasted, a cup of gravy and a small side salad with French dressing," he replied.
"Right away, sir!" the elves squeaked.
Severus pulled his head from the fire and got some silverware and napkins out. By the time he got them to the table, the food he had order had appeared. He motioned to Conner to sit down and the child complied. He began eating and so did Conner. Severus noted that he would have to work with Conner on table manners. He was also glad to see that Conner seemed to greatly enjoy his lunch.
After lunch, Severus went into the living room and began reading a new edition of his favorite potions journal. Conner trailed behind Severus, not sure of what he was supposed to do.
Severus didn't realize Conner had followed him at first. When he did, he wasn't sure what to do. Weren't children supposed to play? Why wasn't Conner?
He didn't have any toys. That's what he wasn't playing. They would need to go get him some toys. Where would he go to get toys? Was there some place in Hogsmeade or would they have to go to Diagon Alley? What else did a four year old need? Clothes obviously. Shoes. Under garments. What else? Who would know what he needed for Conner? Did he know anyone with children?
Yes, he knew one person.
Potter.
It was true that he didn't hate the boy as much as he had when they were student and teacher but he still didn't particularly like him. However, he was the only person that Severus knew had had young children before this Ministry decree had been passed. He would just have to take Conner over there and ask what to get.
"Conner, we are going to go shopping for some things that you need," Severus said to the small boy in front of him. Conner walked over and took Severus' hand and the pair left to go to the Potter's quarters.
The walk to the 3rd floor where the Potter's lived wasn't a long one. Severus and Conner made the trip in less than 10 minutes and soon arrived at the painting hiding the door to the Potter's home.
Severus knocked on the frame and waited for someone to answer. A moment later the painting swung inward and a very, very pregnant Ginny Potter stood in the doorway.
"Hello, Mrs. Potter," Severus said rather stiffly.
"Hello, Professor," she replied with a smile. "You don't have to call me Mrs. Potter, you know. You can call me Ginny."
"Er, yes, well," he stammered. "I need some…advice about my son. I was hoping that you and your husband might be able to help. You are the only people I know that have children my son's age."
"Oh, of course!" she said, moving for him to enter the room. "Come in, come in. Let me go get Harry. Have a seat."
She walked—or rather waddled—off to get her husband. Severus led Conner to a couch and the pair sat down and waited. The next moment the Potters came into the room, Harry carrying a child that looked about 4 or 5 years of age who was alseep.
"Professor, Ginny says that you need some advice about children," Potter said.
"Erm, well, yes, I do. I adopted Conner this morning. He is four. I don't know anything about children," he admitted. I was hoping you might be able to tell me some things about child rearing as you are the only people I know with small children."
"Oh, sure," the 24 year old responded. "To be completely honest, I would have expected you to adopt an older child."
"I had expected to, as well," Severus said without elaborating. "Conner has no toys or clothes or shoes other than what he had in the orphanage. I do not know where to get these things, what to get, what sizes, anything."
"Well, the best place to go would be Diagon Alley," Ginny answered him. "There isn't really anyplace in Hogsmeade. Gladrags is the only clothing store and they barely have a children's department. There are a few stores that cater only to children in Diagon Alley."
"Plus, there is a terrific toy store," Harry said. "I found it when I first got Daniel and he absolutely loves it. You can find any type of toy a kid would want."
"When you got Daniel? He isn't your natural child?" the potions professor asked.
"No, he is my cousin's natural son," the male Potter replied. When Daniel was 6 months old, he levitated all the jars of baby food and formula. Dudley's wife nearly had a heart failure and though she'd gone mad because Dud had never told her about me or wizards and all. He, of course, cannot stand magic and couldn't stand having a child that was magical and his wife agreed that she didn't want a baby that was' quite obviously evil because he could do satanic witchcraft things'. They got ahold of me and told me that if I didn't take him, they were going to leave him in an alley in the seediest part of London they could find.
"Obviously, I couldn't take the chance because I am almost certain that they would have done that. I took Daniel with me and have been raising him since then. I adopted him a few months later and Ginny adopted him two and a half years ago when we got married."
"Oh, I see," Severus said awkwardly. He wasn't going to tell Potter that he knew people like that, that he was sure his father would have done that with him if his mother hadn't been more powerful than him. Severus's mother had not told his father she was a witch until after they had married and he was not happy about it to say the least.
"Darling, why don't we all go together?" Ginny exclaimed. "We need to go to get things for our new children and we can show Professor Snape where to shop and what to get."
"Oh, that's perfect, Gin," Harry replied. "And that will give Daniel and Conner a chance to get to know each other. Is that alright with you, Professor?"
"That would be helpful," Severus admitted. "And I suppose that since we are now colleagues, you may call me Severus."
Harry smiled at his least favorite professor and said, "Alright, but only if you call me Harry." Severus nodded in acceptance and Harry continued, "Gin, would you mind getting the other kids?"
"Course not, love," she said brightly and waddled off again.
Harry then woke the child sleeping on his lap. The child groggily began moving his hands and Harry moved his as well. The child got off the couch and walked over to the door where some pairs of shoes were sitting on a mat. The child then brought back two pairs, climbed up next to his father, and Harry began putting the shoes on the boy.
Conner, who had been sitting swinging his legs, jumped up and ran over to the elder Potter. He tugged on his shirt. Once the older man looked down to him, Conner began wildly moving his hands. Harry grabbed the boy's hands and made some sort of gesture back towards Conner. The boy again began moving his hands, this time slower.
"Severus," Harry said. "Did you know Conner was deaf?"
Severus was speechless. Deaf? Conner was deaf? Neither orphanage people nor the doctors the child had seen had discovered that the boy was deaf.
"No," he said in disbelief. "I had no idea."