Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
The Keeper of Secrets.
Once they finished their lunch, Zach went to his room, and after checking the book and taking some money from his trunk, he went back to the living room, where his father was waiting for him.
"Ready to go?"
The teen nodded and followed his father outside. They quickly made their way to the town in silence. Once there, Snape placed a gentle hand on his son's back, trying to ignore the curious looks the people were sending them. For a moment, Severus hesitated, but finally he decided to go with his son to the Three Broomsticks, where Ron was supposed to meet them, just to make sure the other teen was there. Zach didn't seem to mind as he led the way to the building, leaning a bit against the hand gently guiding him inside.
Once his eyes had gotten used to the dimness, Severus immediately located the redhead sitting in a corner facing the door. He was smiling at them, only reaffirming what his son had told him about the other Gryffindor's reaction. Zach finally parted from his hand and went to hug his friend, who had stood up to greet them. Severus watched in amusement as the two young men parted and started to speak excitedly about how much they had changed, especially Zach of course. Before they had the chance to get carried away, he spoke.
"Zach."
The teen turned to him, a smile on his lips. The other teen also turned to watch him curiously, no trace of the disgust he had seen the year before in his eyes. "I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to pick up some things, will that be ok?"
The boy nodded. "Of course, Papa, that will be fine. When should we meet you?"
If Severus noticed the shocked look Ron threw him at being called Papa, he didn't mention it. "How about we meet here at six to have some dinner? Will that be ok with you, Mr. Weasley?"
The redhead nodded slightly, still in shock at the changes his professor seemed to be going through. "That will be fine, Professor, but I will need to get back home after that."
The Potions Master nodded, and after squeezing Zach's shoulder once, he left the crowded establishment. Ron turned to watch his friend in shock. "He allows you to call him "Papa"?"
Zach laughed and sat down at the table his friend had been sitting before. "Surprising, isn't it? I thought he would bite my head of the first time I called him that, but he has been really nice about it."
Ron shook his head, still amazed at what he was hearing. "The Potions Master, nice? There's many things I would call him, but that wasn't one of them."
His friend threw him an annoyed glance. "Ron, don't start. I know he has not been easy to get along with, but he has changed since I came to live with him. He really seems to care."
The redhead shrugged slightly, but a smile danced on his lips. "As long as you're fine with him, I don't care. So, what should we do? Are you up to go shop for a bit? I need to buy a few things Mum asked me to."
The shorter boy nodded in acceptance and waited till Ron had drained his glass before standing up. Both teenagers left the Three Broomsticks and headed to Honeydukes, Harry relishing in the feeling of not being stared at. They didn't spend much time in the shop since Ron didn't have much money with him, and Zach didn't really want many sweets.
Ron teased him about that, stating that he was getting more like his father everyday, but Zach didn't take offence, just letting the words pass over him. Once they had finished buying things in Zonko, where Ron had spent most of his money, while the other teen just looked around a bit, Zach dragged the protesting teen to a new bookshop. The red-haired Gryffindor protested that he didn't need anything from that place, but Zach paid him no heed, saying that he wanted a few books.
Neither noticed the tall man standing near them looking through a potions magazine. The man looked up when he heard them, raising an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn't expected to see his son and his friend there. He watched curiously as they separated and Zach approached the defence section and picked up one of the books. Seeing the boy hadn't noticed him, he returned his attention to the magazine.
Nearly ten minutes had gone by before Ron approached Zach again.
"Are you done? I need to buy those things for Mum."
The black haired teen looked up and smiled slightly. He put the book he had been looking at back in his place. "Just a minute, Ron, I want to see if they have that book on healing potions I was telling you about last year; I haven't had the chance to buy it yet, and I've been dying to read it."
While those words shocked the Potions Master, Ron didn't seem surprised at all. "Honestly, will you ever get over your obsession with Potions? I really don't see why you find them so fascinating. Besides, your father probably has it already."
Zach rolled his eyes. "He doesn't, I already checked. And I don't think I'll ever get over my obsession in potions, as you call it; I just like it, it's relaxing."
Ron snorted as he followed the other teen towards another side of the bookstore. "Oh, sure it is. Especially when you blow up your cauldron."
The Potions Master's son whacked his friend around the head. "I haven't blown up a cauldron since that time Malfoy dropped salamander scales in my cauldron last year."
Ron raised his hand in mock surrender. "I know, I know, you are a genius in Potions, your father just refuses to see it." When he saw the light hurt pass through his friend's eyes, Ron put an arm around his shoulders. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Let's go get your book, ok?"
Zach nodded and silently started to look for the book. Unluckily, they didn't find the book in the shelves and after asking the man seated behind the counter, he told them the new edition wouldn't be there until next week. Sighing sadly, Zach followed his friend outside.
Ron, seeing the mood the other teen was in, tried to cheer him up. "Come on, buck up, mate, you can just ask your father to take you again next week and get the book."
Zach snorted. "Yeah, sure, I can hear the conversation already. 'Hey, Papa, can you stop brewing potions for a few hours to take me to Hogsmeade to buy a book? A potions book no less.' That would go over well."
The answer was lost to the Potions Master as the two young men left the shop. If everything he had heard was true, he might have misjudged his son on this matter. He had never considered that Zach might be good at potions. Frowning, he headed to the back of the shop, were an old man was looking through a box.
"Hello, Nathan."
The old man looked up sharply and then a small smile graced his old face. "Why, if it isn't young Severus. How are you doing, my boy? I haven't seen you in a long time."
The younger man smiled gently down at the man. He had known him since the first time he had gone to Hogsmeade as a student; he had always been fascinated with all the books the man sold, and Nathan had always made time to talk to him. When he heard that the man wanted to sell his shop due to money problems, he had decided to help him, offering him this place to set the shop up. "I'm doing fine, Nathan. Still teaching at the school. I see you've settled in alright."
The old man looked at him intently. "I can't tell you how grateful I am about this place, Severus, it's much better placed than before; it's much brighter and people love to come in here now."
Snape waved his thanks away. "There's no need to thank me. I had no use for this old place, and you helped me more than enough when I was a child."
For an instant, it seemed like Nathan was going to dispute his words but then he merely shook his head. "If you say so. But I'm guessing you didn't only come here to chat, what is it you need?"
Severus looked at him seriously. "Can you tell me what book those two teenagers wanted?"
Nathan frowned. "It wasn't anything dangerous, Severus, I don't see why you would be interested in them."
Seeing that he would need to explain if he wanted an answer, the younger man sighed and leaned against the counter. "One of those two was my son, and I want to know which book he wanted so I might give it to him. I owe him several birthday presents."
Nathan was looking up at him with a slight surprise in his eyes. "Well, that was certainly unexpected. I guess you mean the dark haired young man?" When Severus nodded he continued. "Now that you mention it, he kind of looked like you. He wanted the new book from Mariele Dantiane, The Finer Points of Healing Potions. I was a bit surprised that such a young boy wanted it, but if he's your son then it's not so surprising."
Snape merely nodded, his mind working furiously to try and process the fact that his son might be much better at potions than he ever had suspected. That knowledge saddened him greatly. Had he really tried so hard to ignore the boy that he had missed his talent? The Weasley boy hadn't been surprised, meaning that Zach hadn't made it a secret, at least from his friends, but try as he might, he didn't remember him being good in class. Sure, he knew the boy was not as bad as he made him out to be, but he would have defined him as a normal student, competent enough to make the potions without blowing anything up. As long as there were no Slytherins around, of course.
"Severus?"
The younger man blinked and looked down at Nathan. "Sorry, I was lost in thought, what did you say?"
The old book seller chuckled. "You're getting old, Severus. I was merely asking if you wanted me to send you that book when it arrives."
Severus nodded absentmindedly. "I would be grateful if you could. I believe I owe Zach several apologies."
Nodding goodbye to the old man, who was looking at him puzzled, Severus left the store, heading to the Three Broomsticks where Ron and Zach should be waiting for him.
To be continued...
A/N: Thanks for all reviews and thanks to my beta, Vinnie.
