Chapter 9: The Mouths and Quidditch

Finally, the Saturday that they had all been waiting for had arrived. Harry's very first Quidditch match. Severus was extremely excited about it, but at the moment, he was irritated and highly dangerous.

He had finally spotted Quirrel and was trying to catch up to the evasive man, but his damn leg was still wonky and slowed him down quite a bit. Just then, the other professor must have realized that he was being followed because he sped up and disappeared into a crowd of passing students heading outside.

Severus followed only to find that Quirrel had successfully gotten away. He growled under his breath and was about to turn around when he noticed a certain group of three Gryffindor first years that had exceptionally guilty looks on their faces.

When he reached them, he meant to ask Harry, at least somewhat nicely, about the book he was holding. Instead, it gruffly came out, "What's that you've got there, Potter?" Harry showed him the book and Severus saw that it was Quidditch Through the Ages.

Although Severus wanted to have a nice conversation with his son all about this wonderful book (which he had read himself), he noticed Quirrel returning to the building and knew that he had to end this quickly. He thought of something quickly and what happened next made Sev feel terrible.

"Library books are not to be taken outside the school. Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor." He took the book and turned in the direction where he had seen Quirrel disappear to. Merlin, Sev! he thought, Is it really that difficult to say something nice to the boy?!

"Oh, shut up," he mumbled to himself, earning a couple strange looks sent his way from some passerbyers.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Unfortunately for the Potions Master, Quirrel was nowhere to be found that night. So, Severus had thought that maybe the DADA professor had gone after the Stone again.

After reaching the third floor, Severus thought he heard some sort of noise behind the door that didn't sound like the huge dog creature at all. Maybe that's him, he thought. And like a fool, he entered the room to find what he hoped was Quirrel.

However, Quirrel had outsmarted him for once and as soon as Severus entered the small room, Quirrel somehow quickly slipped past him and pushed him into the monster, leading to the awakening of The Mouths (the name that came to Severus' mind every time he thought of the monstrosity).

He cried out and tried to limp out, but Quirrel shut the door in his face, slowing him down even more.

And of course, the dog just couldn't help itself … could it? No. It couldn't. Once again, it bit into his leg.

Severus felt as if his leg was on fire. It was the already injured leg that the beast had chosen to gnaw on and now it would be hurt even more. The middle dog (the one with Sev's leg in its mouth) raised its head up, taking Severus with it.

The man desperately tried to get away but it was hard to concentrate when his leg was in pain and he was dangling in the air trying to fend off the other two heads.

Thankfully, a successful "Petrificus Totalus" worked and Severus fell to the floor. He crawled out of the room and slammed the door shut. He was trying to calm himself when Argus Filch ran into the room, looking for the trespasser. "Who's there?" he called out.

Although Argus was a bit annoying and shallow, he wasn't as stupid as the students thought and Severus knew that he could trust him. "It's me, Argus. Severus."

Filch ran to the professor's side and said, "Here, Professor. Let me help you." Severus nodded his thanks and allowed Argus to half carry him to the staff room.

"I'll fetch the bandages," Argus stated and had returned with them only a few moments later.

Severus groaned and said, "Blasted thing! How are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?!"

Before Filch could answer, they both heard a noise and looked towards the door. There, trying to quietly close the door, was Harry.

"POTTER!" Severus cried out and he quickly dropped his robes to hide his wound.

"I just wondered if I could have my book back," the boy asked softly. Severus was furious … not so much at Harry, but at his entire day in general and he couldn't help that his mind was automatically using him as an outlet for his anger. "GET OUT! OUT!"

After he left the room, Filch continued to face the door and shook his head, "Damn Potter! Thinking that he can gallivant throughout the school any way he wants, demanding attention wherever he goes. Oh well. Guess it can't be helped." Then he directly addressed Severus, "Well, must be going Professor. Hafta keep patrolling the halls."

Severus wanted to defend Harry. He wanted to tell Argus that Harry wasn't a bad kid, not at all. But he had to keep his cover and settled with nodding his head in acceptance.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The next morning, Severus waited until everybody was at breakfast and he snuck into Gryffindor Tower. He walked briskly into Harry's dormitory and placed Quidditch Through the Ages on young Harry's bedside table. He scrawled a quick note in Dumbledore's writing saying:

Harry,

I spoke with Professor Snape and have convinced him to return your book. Enjoy!

Albus Dumbledore

Satisfied, Severus hurried towards the Quidditch field to watch his son's very first match. How he wished that Lily could be there with him.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Severus sat in his seat and didn't fail to notice that Professor Quirrel was sitting behind him. He had hoped that Quirrel wouldn't show up so that he could actually enjoy Harry's game, but … of course not.

Madam Hooch blew her whistle and the match began.

Severus couldn't believe it. For the first time in a long while, he felt happy. His little boy was playing in his very first Quidditch match and when he smiled and waved at Dumbledore, Severus allowed himself to smile a little, pretending that a son was greeting his father.

Severus actually found himself chuckling at some of Lee Jordan's comments about the game and the players. He also had to stop himself from cheering when Gryffindor scored and had felt a sense of pride when he witnessed Harry completed a couple flawless loop-the-loops. There was no way that Severus could do one of those now, but when they were young, it was always funny to startle Lily when he performed a few. She always claimed that he would break his neck someday.

"Wait a moment. Was that the Snitch?" was suddenly heard throughout the stadium and the excitement could be felt everywhere as Harry and Terence Higgins hurtled after the little gold ball.

Then, the devious Marcus Flint blocked Harry and Severus found himself standing with a few other teachers to protest the cheating. Then, remembering himself, he quickly sat down and tried to look annoyed at the idea of one his students cheating.

After a penalty shot, the game continued with Gryffindor in possession. Severus decided that he definitely needed to control himself a bit more.

That's when Severus realized that a multitude number of people were pointing at something in the sky. He blanched when he realized that Harry was dangling from his broomstick as it continued trying to buck him off.

He heard a slight muttering behind him and immediately knew why Quirrel had attended the match. Well, there was no way that he was going to let anyone hurt his family. He began to mutter his own counter-curse, praying to whoever was listening that it would keep his son safe.

For some reason, Severus felt the strength of the Dark magic lessen. Then, his injured leg felt like it was burning … really burning. He cried out and jumped up, looking down at where he had felt the sudden burst of pain.

Deciding to ignore whatever had caused the incident, he looked back at Harry and saw that he had climbed back on his broom and was now hurtling towards the ground entirely by his own free will. Severus was concerned as it looked like the boy was going to be sick. He didn't blame him of course. He would be surprised if anybody would be okay after something like that at his age.

Then Harry coughed and "I've got the Snitch" could be heard echoing around.

Gryffindor won by 170 points to Slytherin's 60.

Severus was happy that his son had won his first match … even if it was against his own House.

He was heading towards the Headmaster's office when he heard someone call after him. He turned to find Minerva smirking at him.

"Haha Mr. Severus Snape! No more gloating for you. Slytherin finally lost a Quidditch match." She definitely seemed very happy and Severus didn't want to ruin it for her in any way, but if he didn't say something, then she would be suspicious and question him. He didn't feel like being interrogated just then

"A minor setback, Minerva. Gryffindor got lucky," he retorted.

She merely smiled. "I highly doubt it, Severus. I think Mr. Potter is a definite asset to the team. You better tell your team to watch themselves."

Severus half-smiled and nodded his head towards her, "Only if you do the same for yours."

She nodded her head in return and headed for Gryffindor Tower, probably to congratulate the team once more.

Severus enjoyed the banters that he had with Minerva. They were rare and happened only in private, but he enjoyed them nonetheless.

When he reached the Headmaster's office, he found Dumbledore expecting him.

"I'm assuming that you know who was jinxing young Harry's broom stick, Severus?" Albus questioned even though he knew that he was right.

Severus curtly nodded and sat in the chair across from Dumbledore's desk. "It was Quirrel, Headmaster. I was able to say my own counter-curse, but I don't know if that is what saved him."

The blue eyes twinkled with mischief behind the crescent moon spectacles. Severus added, "But you do?"

Albus pretended to be confused, "I have no idea. I mean to say, I may or may not have seen Ms. Granger briskly walking away from the scene of the crime. I'm getting older, as you know Severus, and I could have been hallucinating."

Severus chuckled and quietly said, "Although I believe that they are under the impression that I am to blame for the incident, I am glad to know that he has found such trustworthy and loyal friends."

"I agree," Dumbledore stated and continued, "There is nothing more that we can do with this Quirrel business, I'm afraid. Continue to watch him, Severus, and keep a specially close eye when Harry is around. I think that this is further evidence to support our theory that Lord Voldemort is indeed attempting to return."

Severus looked determined to say the least and nodded once more. Dumbledore motioned towards the door and said to the Potions Master, "You are dismissed, Severus."

Then he added, "And please, try to get some sleep. You look terrible" as Severus walked out the door.

The man allowed himself half-smirk of amusement as he made his way to his chambers, thinking about the best way to catch Quirrel and find out for sure what was going on.

A/N: I know it's been awhile, but at least it wasn't another 7/8 months right? *hopes that works*

Once again, I have no real explanation besides pure laziness. I'm ashamed of myself. First, I couldn't think of how to make Snape not look so bad when the POV in The Sorceror's Stone makes him look like a bad guy. Then I was too lazy to really think about it so I worked on bothersome summer homework instead since writing wasn't really an escape like it normally is.

And now I'm rambling. I'm sorry.

Anyway, please leave me a review. I love them and reading the ones from the last chapter helped give me the will to write out this one.

Hope you liked it! See you next update!!