Chapter 12: Little Lion

Summary: Minerva takes matters into her own hands.

Notes: I'm really sorry I made you wait. I was planning on updating a lot sooner, but didn't find the time. I hope you like this chapter.

...

Minerva McGonagall was beyond furious. She had learned early on in her career that she could not expect the students to behave like responsible adults. Whether she liked it or not, there were always going to be those who didn't obey the rules or didn't use their full-potential. The students could be awful and sometimes cruel to one another and there would always be fights over the most ridiculous matters. She had to deal with all that every year as part of her job. This however, she could not tolerate. She had not asked to have an eight-year-old in her care but for better or worse the boy was her responsibility. Seeing him helpless and venerable like that had broken her heart and she'd be damned if she let it happen again.

Determined, Minerva summoned the four first year boys who were no doubt the source of Severus' melt down and drummed her fingers on her desk as she waited. The group arrived together and stood before her. She didn't say anything for a few minutes, letting them squirm and fidget in worry as she glared down at them.

"What did you do to that boy?" she asked, her Scottish accent showing.

"Severus?" said Remus Lupin, biting his bottom lip. "Did something happen? Is he alright?"

"He is not alright, Mr. Lupin. As for what happened, I'm expecting you to explained that."

"I haven't talked to him all day, Professor." said the boy, looking mournful.

"And the rest of you?" pressed Minerva.

"I don't know what he told you, ma'am but we didn't do anything to him." said James Potter, defiantly.

"He said you killed his pet!" snapped Minerva. Lupin gasped in surprise and turned to glare at the other boys. Black flinched, Pettigrew who had been playing with his robes' sleeve went still but James seemed unfazed.

"It wasn't a pet. It was just a charmed matchstick." he said.

Minerva's face hardened. She happened to like James. The boy was talented and charming and son to one of her dearest friends. She had never seen this side of him. "Yet, you knew he was keeping it as a pet, did you not?" she snapped.

"It was an accident." said Black, quietly. "James dropped it on the flour and I went to pick it up. I knew it was important to Severus. I stepped on it by accident. You have to believe me, Professor."

He seemed sincere and Minerva could hear the regret in his voice. "I believe you, Mr. Black. However, I'm certain that incident was not the only reason for Mr. Prince's distress. He is the friendliest, most positive student in your year, what did you do to that child to make him this upset?"

Black dropped his head in shame but didn't say anything. To her surprise, it was the timid werewolf who decided to speak up.

"Last night, when I came back from … my visit home, Severus was hiding under his bed. He said he saw James, Sirius and Peter bullying some students and laughing at them. It really scared him. It was obvious it wasn't the first time they've done something like that." explained Lupin. "He was mad at me, too because I wouldn't stand up to them. I just wanted to get along. I never meant to upset him."

Minerva closed her eyes for a second. Imagining the poor child, scared to the point of hiding from his roommates. She didn't know much about Severus' past but she knew enough to understand his reaction. "I'm disappointed in all of you. Mr. Lupin, you are Mr. Prince's close friend from what I've seen and you abandoned him when he need a friend most. And you three." she added, turning to the other boys. "You've been in this school for all of a few weeks and you've already made a habit of bullying your peers? I'm appalled! Hogwarts is a place of education. This kind of behavior is not acceptable."

"It was just a prank. We charmed the floor, so that people would sink in. It was for fun." protested James.

If this was any other time, Minerva would have been impressed with their work and the amount of effort they had put into learning a spell like that as first years, but the situation being what it was, she couldn't afford to encourage them. On the contrary, she needed to nip it in the butt, else there would be a repeat performance. "It didn't seem to be much fun for Mr. Prince and I'm pretty sure it wasn't fun for the students who suffered through your prank. I'll be writing to your parents and informing them that if this ever happens again, you're going to have to seek education elsewhere." she said.

"You'll expel us? For playing a joke?! Headmaster Dumbledore won't allow it."

"Don't be so sure young man. As your Head of House, I have every right to expel you if I deem your behavior unsuitable for this school with or without the Headmaster's blessing. You'll do well to remember that." she warned. "Furthermore, the four of you are going to serve detention with Mr. Filtch every Saturday until the end of the term, starting tomorrow."

A few groans were her only response.

"Now, get back to your class." she added in the way of dismissing them.

"Professor? Where is Severus?" asked Lupin, when the others left.

"He's at the hospital wing."

"Is he hurt?"

"No, he's not. He was distraught when he came to see me. We gave him a calming draft and a sleeping potion."

"Can I see him?" he asked nervously.

"After your classes. He needs his rest." said Minerva. "Now, run along. You're don't want to miss more of your class." she warned and watched him hurry away.

She left the office as well, not able to delay her afternoon classes any longer. She managed to write and mail the letters to Potter, Black and Pettigrew families in her free period and when the last class was done, she locked up her classroom and went to the hospital wing.

Minerva smiled to herself when she saw Severus sitting cross legged on his bed with his nose in a book. He looked peaceful, as if the ordeal hadn't happened.

"How are you feeling, Mr. Prince?" she asked as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

"I feel OK." he said with a small smile.

"I want you to know, I talked to your roommates. I made it perfectly clear that they're not allowed to bother you or any other student." she said, putting a comforting hand on his knee. "You're still going to have to stay in the dorm with them, that's just the way it has to be. But there's no reason to be scared anymore."

"Who told you I was scared?"

"Mr. Lupin did. He also told me about what your other roommates were up to. He was worried about you. I think he feels sorry about not supporting you before."

"Really?" asked Severus hopefully.

Minerva nodded. "Poppy said you can go back to your dorm if you want." she said.

"Can I stay here? Just for tonight?"

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "You'd rather stay in the hospital?" she asked skeptically.

"I like the hospital. It's safe and warm."

Minerva reached over and cupped the boy's cheek, wondering what he had suffered in his short life to consider a hospital room warm. "Just for tonight." she allowed. The relief in his eyes made her heart ache.

She pulled back when she heard footsteps approaching. It was Remus Lupin. The boy came closer and sat by the bed gingerly. "Severus, I'm sorry." he whispered.

He didn't have time to react as Severus pulled him in a fierce hug. Lupin looked taken aback but put his arms around the shorter boy and closed his eyes as if in pain.

Minerva stood and left quietly, praying things would get better for her little lion.