A/N: This is mostly fluff, with a little character development and plot hidden inside. I had my Slytherin proof-read the chapter, and she said it was adorable. She was especially fixated on the marble, so I guess that was an accurate choice for her character. ;)
Just as a general warning, some canon characters in this chapter may seem a little OOC, but it's highly possible anyway since "Harry's about as observant as a brick wall."
[Chapter 4]
Midnight rolled around, and Jeremy was still awake. The Hufflepuff common room and dorms were warm and welcoming, but he felt cold and empty. He clutched his stuffed panda to his chest, staring up at the ceiling. The other first year boys snored in the beds around him.
He missed his quiet room, his house, his home, and his parents.
He hadn't seen his parents in more than a day, but it already felt like forever.
Jeremy made up his mind to seek out Ivane about it. She would probably tell him something to cheer him up, and she had said they would look out for each other.
He reached into the pocket of his robes, remembering the little marble she had slipped him as they followed the prefects to their common rooms. There had been a note wrapped around it- the marble would lead him to her if he really needed her.
As soon as his finger touched it, the marble began to warm. He quickly pulled on his slippers as he saw it float out of his robes. The marble drifted towards the door, and he chased after it.
The brunette followed the marble through several dark corridors and down a few flights of trembling stairs. He was terrified the stairs would start to move and he would loose the marble, but Hogwarts itself seemed to be helping him get to Ivane.
Finally, the marble bumped into a certain point on the stone wall and fell out of the air. He quickly caught it and held it to his chest. Was this the entrance to the Slytherin common room?
"Ivane?" He whispered as loudly as he dared. Nothing happened. He knocked gently at the stones, feeling staticy tingles run up his fingers.
After a long moment, the stones tore aside to reveal an imposing professor. Jeremy jumped back in surprise; he quickly wiped at his eyes, trying to hide the signs of his frustration. The professor sneered down at him, and he almost ran down the hallway.
"You're that Hufflepuff that tripped, Brotenroad, was it? What are you doing here at this hour? It's past curfew," the man snapped. Jeremy flinched and tugged at his hands anxiously.
"Um, it's Bitherway, sir. A-and I... I wished to speak to Ivane? I-I mean, Ivane Fustre?" The eleven year old pleaded.
"Ms. Fustre is asleep at the moment. You may speak to her on your own time, not after you're supposed to be in bed," the teacher scowled.
"Please, sir," Jeremy begged, reaching out slightly. "S-She's my only friend s-so far, and I... I just thought-"
"You should not so lightly assume," the professor hissed and grabbed his arm. "Why you do not go to your Head of House for your homesickness is beyond me, but I will not have you breaking the rules like... like some Gryffindor!" As he spoke the professor marched him down the hall towards the stair case.
"I'm sorry," the brunette whimpered and tried to pull his arm away. He gasped when the professor tightened his grip. "Please!"
"Please, what?" The man stopped to growl and glare at the first year.
"You're hurting me," Jeremy tried to pull his arm away again. This time he was successful. The man sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Bitherway," he apologized as gently as he was able. Jeremy rubbed his arm for a moment.
"'T's okay," he murmured. "I forgive you." He looked up into the teacher's eyes, missing the man's sharp intake of breath.
The man knelt down to the boy's level. "I guess I have not introduced myself properly. I am Professor Snape, the Head of Slytherin House and Potions Professor here at Hogwarts."
The boy's green eyes lit up like stars. "Ivane told me all about you on the way here!" He exclaimed. "You're a Potions master! And you're one of the best teachers here, and you take care of all the Slytherins really well! I wanted to meet you!" There was a shocked silence for a moment before the boy started to blush and backed up a step. "'M sorry."
"No, it's... alright," Professor Snape hesitated. "Were you really so homesick as to seek out your friend in another part of the castle?"
"Ivane is just... really smart, and I was getting lonely thinking about my parents, and I just... just thought she might know what to say... She gave me this if I needed to find her," the eleven year old revealed the marble. The professor quietly examined it before he let out a short chuckle.
"This day and its events continue to surprise me." He hesitated before offering, "I suppose you won't be getting any sleep tonight any way. Why don't you come with me and we'll see what we can do about that homesickness?" The boy nodded quietly, his mind drifting back to his parents and home.
The professor led the boy back to the Slytherin common room with a hand resting lightly on his back. The Slytherin first years looked a bit surprised to see him, but they allowed him to sit with them. Professor Snape gave Jeremy a mug of hot chocolate, just as with all his own first years.
The man sat in an arm chair across from them and began to speak. This evening was to be their little secret. Couldn't have them ruining his terrible image now could he? He regaled them with the many adventures that had happened within the walls of Hogwarts.
One petite witch timidly asked about Harry Potter, and the man surprisingly began to answer. He told them about Potter's amazing defeat of the monster in the Chamber of Secrets. He also told them how the third year was terrible with potions, had a habit of attracting unwanted danger, and generally caused a ruckus around Hogwarts.
When some of the first years began to run out of chocolate, someone appeared from on of the tables behind them to give them a refill. He was an older student, and Jeremy was startled to see him. He hadn't realized he'd been sitting there.
"Ah, thank you, Mr. Malfoy," Professor Snape nodded once the boy sat behind them again. "That's Draco Malfoy, one of our third year students. He probably doesn't want me to tell you this, but on his first night, he was sitting exactly where you are."
"Draco Malfoy? Really?" One of the young wizards questioned.
"It wasn't out of any homesickness of my own," the older boy scoffed, and several of the first years turned around in their seats to watch him. "I simply wanted to help my fellow Slytherins." The thirteen year old turned his nose up. Jeremy giggled into his mug.
"Ah, yes," Professor Snape grinned, as though he knew a secret. "And he's been helping me with homesick Slytherins ever since."
"That's nice of you!" A dark haired witch exclaimed with a toothy smile. A few others nodded. The third year coughed to hide a blush.
"It's nothing, really."
A wizard who was tall for his age turned the conversation back to Professor Snape, asking for more stories about Hogwarts. Jeremy wouldn't return to bed for another hour, but he felt no homesickness when he did.
A/N: Was it cute, or is Jeremy becoming a Gary Stue?
QUESTION OF THE UPDATE: If you could have a hot chocolate in the common room of any house, other than your own, which would it be? I would prefer Slytherin or Ravenclaw. I have nothing against Griffindors, but that can be... a little scary.
