Readers,

I am continuing to write one-shots based on suggestions. I was asked to write about Ephraim rebelling a bit (so I hope this delivers). The next one-shot I plan to write will be about Rose and Severus reconnecting after the complications with Tobias. Please continue to review and suggest one-shot ideas.

Thank you for your support!

Thora Jane

XXX

Favoritism:

Severus had his back to the class as he pointed his wand at the blackboard and a list of potion instructions appeared.

He whipped around and with a swish of his wand a folded piece of parchment came zooming forth and he caught it in his fist. Severus unfolded the note and sneered as his eyes scanned the page. His gaze then fell upon Ephraim, peering at him from the end of his hooked nose.

Ephraim's face became very white.

"It appears, Ephraim," Severus said to his son in a carrying voice for the whole class to hear, "that Ms. Vickers has accepted your invitation to meet at Hogsmeade over the weekend."

A blonde Ravenclaw girl sitting two rows behind Ephraim turned a deep shade of pink.

"That is," Severus continued, "if you don't both receive detentions for passing notes during my lesson."

Severus glared from the embarrassed girl to his son.

Ephraim glared right back at his father.

With narrowed eyes Severus looked back at the note. "Ms. Vickers," Severus addressed the girl drily, "Ephraim will have adequate time to discuss," his eyes flicked to the note again, "'the details of your relationship' after class."

A few students sniggered.

"Silence," Severus hissed.

The room immediately fell quiet.

"May I proceed teaching?" Severus asked sardonically.

The Ravenclaw girl nodded feverously.

Ephraim scowled deeply at his father, steaming.

Ephraim did not speak to his father the rest of the day, but he couldn't avoid him on the walk home. Despite being in his seventh year, Ephraim still preferred living at the cottage. The mild teasing he received about it from some of the Slytherins in his year was a small price to pay to have his own bedroom and live with his parents and sister. Today however, Ephraim had decided that he would rather life in the Slytherin dormitory than have to sleep under the same roof as Severus Snape.

"I can't believe you did that!" Ephraim exclaimed. He had been silently trudging in the snow, slightly ahead of his father for most of the walk from the school. Now that their cottage was in sight Ephraim felt that he couldn't take it any longer.

"I see you are speaking to me again," Severus said casually.

Ephraim rolled his eyes.

"Do not roll your eyes at me," Severus reprimanded.

"Mum rolls her eyes at you all the time," Ephraim shot back. "You never tell her off for it." Ephraim took long strides towards the house away from Severus.

"That is an entirely different situation," Severus said at his son's back.

Ephraim swung the door open.

The cottage was warm and inviting with a fire in the heath. His mother was still in her purple healer's robes, the whisper of a bump showing around her abdomen.

Rose grinned as she saw her son and husband enter, but her smile was short lived as she took in the looks on both their faces.

"Hello," she said hesitantly.

Both Ephraim and Severus knelt slightly to allow Rose to kiss their cheeks in turn.

"Hello," Severus replied drily.

Rose shot him a questioning look.

Severus shook his head and then threw a glance at Ephraim who was determinately not looking at him.

"Papa," Esme cried, running into the room.

Severus scooped her up and Esme wrapped her arms around his neck. "Promise me that you will never stop being this excited to see me," he told his daughter, pressing his lips into her soft hair.

"Okay, what happened?" Rose asked with exasperation.

"Ask him," Ephraim said, nodding pointedly towards Severus.

Severus looked at his son with raised brows at being addressed as 'him.'

Rose sighed and turned towards her husband.

"Ephraim is upset with me because I caught him passing notes with his girlfriend during potions class."

"Wait." Rose looked at Ephraim. "Since when do you have a girlfriend?"

"I don't," Ephraim replied coldly. "And I probably never will now."

"I don't understand," Rose said.

"I asked my friend Emily to meet me in Hogsmeade this weekend," Ephraim huffed. "I wanted to take her on a date."

"And you picked the most 'opportune' time to ask her," Severus interjected, "right in the middle of my lesson."

"You didn't have to read the note to the whole bloody class," Ephraim retorted.

"Severus you didn't," Rose groaned.

"Yes, he did," Ephraim said roughly.

"In my defense," Severus said coolly, "I didn't read the entire thing. It was rather lengthy."

"You didn't have to read it at all!" Ephraim half shouted.

Esme asked to be put down, not wanting to be in the middle of this. Severus placed her on her feet, and she went to stand by her mother, watching apprehensively while gripping Rose's robes.

"Ephraim," Rose tried to say calmly before Severus could say anything else. "What ended up happening after class with your friend. Did you resolve things."

"She said she would meet me tomorrow," Ephraim said.

"Well there you go," Rose encouraged.

"Dad completely embarrassed her," Ephraim said. "And me," he added.

"I did exactly what I would have done with any student," Severus said. "Actually, any other student would have gotten a detention."

"For passing notes?" Ephraim said indignantly.

"You and Ms. Vickers have been tardy for my class every day for a week," Severus explained roughly.

Rose eyed her son wearily, wondering what he could have possibly been doing.

"Five minutes late at most," Ephraim said heatedly.

Ephraim was of age technically but 17 was really not that old at all. And since Ephraim had not shown interested in dating anyone, Rose had neglected to talk to him about…she didn't even know what. Ephraim had only been her son for 6 years; she was not prepared to have such conversations with him yet. And she knew that 'she' would have to do it. She was the one who had to have the conversation about a growing man's changing body with Ephraim when Severus hands down refused.

"The amount of time makes no difference," Severus said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Well it's no excuse for you to be so spiteful," Ephraim told his father.

"Ephraim, that's enough," Rose warned firmly.

Ephraim pressed his lips together. His mother hardly ever told him off unless he was really out of line.

Severus gave Rose a look of gratitude, thankful for her defense.

"You're on his side, then?" Ephraim asked scandalized to his mother.

"Perhaps I should issue you a detention for talking back and you can spend tomorrow gutting salamanders in my office instead of spending the day in Hogsmeade," Severus said.

"You can't give me a detention outside school," Ephraim said.

"Shall we test that theory," Severus said coarsely.

"Ephraim, you shouldn't have been passing notes in class and Severus, you shouldn't have read the note," Rose said reasonably. "You both were in the wrong but now you're even. Shake hands and make up."

Severus and Ephraim just looked at each other with identical scowls on their faces.

"Now," Rose said sternly.

Severus extended his hand first and Ephraim took it reluctantly. Their hands fell apart almost as quickly as they had touched.

"Okay," Rose breathed, "good enough."

Rose and Esme tried their hardest to carry some sort of conversation during dinner. Ephraim shoveled down his food and then announced that he needed to study for his N.E.W.T.s. He shut his bedroom door loudly.

Rose and Severus stared at each other.

"So, this girl," Rose pressed. "Is this a serious thing, you think?"

"No idea," Severus said bitterly. "Probably not. Just last year he was still asking you stay with him until he fell asleep. He's still a child."

Rose narrowed her eyes at her husband. "Don't be cruel, Severus," she scolded. "You know very well that that didn't happen often, and you know why it happened.

Severus sighed and briefly closed his eyes. "I know," he breathed regretting his words.

"He's of age now and next year he will be off on his own. Don't you think it's about time we talk to him about," Rose paused and looked at their five-year-old daughter, "Uh …wand safety."

Severus just stared at Rose.

"Maybe you can teach him how to brew a certain potion," Rose suggested.

"What potion?" Esme asked.

"Never you mind," Severus answered, still gazing at Rose. "The issue at hand is that he is not being attentive to his schoolwork when he should be focused on his N.E.W.T.s. And he is being disrespectful to his teacher."

Rose gave Severus a little smile. "In general," she said, "he's a pretty good kid."

Severus frowned. "I am treating him like any other student."

"Yes, but Ephraim isn't like any other student. He's your son." Rose said. "I don't think anyone would blame you if you showed him a bit of favoritism once in a while."

"In turn, it wouldn't hurt Ephraim to show me a bit of favoritism," Severus said roughly.

"Ephraim loves you," Rose said. "And he wants you to be pleased with him."

"A majority of the time I am," Severus said.

"I know that," Rose said. "Maybe you should let him know that. Yes, he messed up, but you can give him some leeway."

"Sometime, he can just be-"

"Exactly like you," Rose finished.

Severus chewed the insides of his cheeks. "I'll talk to him," he sighed.

"That's probably a good idea," Rose agreed.

"We will see if I get anywhere with him when he's being difficult," Severus said.

"Where do you think he gets that from," Rose mumbled. "Just say to him what you would need to hear in this situation."

"I wouldn't be in a situation like this," Severus said as he stood, "because I wouldn't have been so tactless."

Severus shook his head and exited the kitchen.

"What is papa going to talk about?" Severus heard Esme ask as he walked towards Ephraim's room.

He knocked on the door.

"I don't want to talk," Ephraim called at once.

Severus opened the door. "Good," he said firmly, "You can just listen then."

Ephraim was laying on the bed glaring at his father.

Severus arched his brows at his son, stepped over the threshold, and shut the door behind him. Severus grabbed the chair from Ephraim's desk and set it right in front of him and sat down.

"Sit up," Severus told Ephraim. "We are going to have a conversation."

Ephraim looked at Severus for a long moment, considering whether to refuse or not. Deciding not, he sat up slowly.

Severus considered Ephraim for a moment. "When we are at Hogwarts, I strive to treat you in the same manner as I would any other student."

"Yes," Ephraim interjected. "You already said."

"Listen to me," Severus hissed. "I know from your perspective it does not appear to be so, but it is good for you not to be overly privileged."

"Believe me," Ephraim said, "I don't feel overly privileged."

"However," Severus continued bitterly, "Once in a while it wouldn't hurt for me to show you a bit of favoritism," Severus's face softened slightly, "because you are my son."

Ephraim glanced off at the far wall for a moment. "Did mum tell you to say that?" He turned his attention to his father again.

"Yes," Severus said bluntly. "But your mother has a fair point."

"So, you admit you shouldn't have-"

"Yes," Severus said exasperated, "I shouldn't have read the bloody note."

Ephraim surveyed his father. "I'm sorry," he said. "I should have been paying attention in your class."

"Thank you," Severus said, standing up.

"I know I need to be focusing on my exams, I just..." Ephraim trailed off and looked to his father desperately. "What do you think she meant by us needing to discuss the details of our relationship?"

Severus just stared down at his son for a moment before saying, "no idea." Severus's eyes flit to the door.

"I mean," Ephraim continued. "I've always kind of liked Emily. We've been friends. But I had no idea that she liked me in that way until one of her mates told Marcus to tell me."

Severus said nothing.

"And guess where she wants to go tomorrow."

"Where?" he asked dryly, taking a seat again.

"Madam Puddifoot's!" Ephraim exclaimed. "Have you ever been in there?"

"No."

"Neither have I," Ephraim said. "But I know what happens there." His eyes got wide. "What if she is expecting me to snog?" At his words, Ephraim's face got rather red but his need for advice overpowered his embarrassment.

"Perhaps-"

"Even if she wants me to snog her," Ephraim continued, "how do I know that she does or when the right moment is to do it? Or what if I think she does, I go to do it, and she rejects me? Or what if we do kiss and bad at it."

Severus had been about to say, 'perhaps we should get your mother.' Although, Severus knew that this was the type of situation that Rose would encourage Severus to handle on his own. Ephraim was looking at him expectantly. Severus almost felt flattered that his son 'actually' thought that he could contribute any meaningful advice on this subject. Severus brought his hand to massage his temple. "Ephraim," he said, lowing his hand. "Your mother and I have spent nearly every day together for the last 6 years. She tells me everything, even things I don't need to know. Despite all of this, I cannot pretend that I understand her half of the time."

Ephraim smirked slightly.

"That being said," Severus continued, "If she really wants something from me, she just tells me directly."

"So, you're saying to just be upfront with Emily?"

"I suppose," Severus said. "At the very least, I believe that is what your mum would tell you to do. I am not good at this sort of thing at all."

"Pursuing women or talking about them in general?"

Severus's mouth twitched slightly. "I got your mum to marry me, haven't I."

Ephraim laughed.

"Look," Severus said, getting to his feet again. "Based on that ridiculous note, she clearly likes you. Chances are you probably will survive your date."

"Right," Ephraim said nervously.

Severus made his way to the door. He paused with his hand on the knob, thinking about Rose's comment about 'wand' safety. "Ephraim."

"Yes, Dad?"

Severus opened his mouth and then closed it again. Then shook his head. "Your mum needs to talk to you about something as well." With that he closed the door behind him.

XXX

Thank you for reading and have a very happy New Year!