As much as I wish it to be so, I am not JK Rowling.

A/N: This is a stand-alone tale, but is a sequel to my stories "Dragon Plague" and "Antidote to Darkness." I anticipate a total of eight chapters with weekly updates.

"The end is never the end. It's always the beginning of something." - Kate Lord Brown, The Perfume Garden

Chapter 1 – When an Owl is Not an Owl

Minerva McGonagall briskly strode down what some would describe as a perfectly ordinary street, passing small, unremarkable houses. Any observant muggle saw a distinguished woman dressed in a slightly out of fashion dress and wearing sensible shoes. Where Minerva was going was also perfectly ordinary – at least to any British witch or wizard. The Hogwarts Headmistress smiled to herself as she arrived at the address shown on the letter in her hand. She walked up the pathway and knocked firmly at the door.

The woman who opened the door was short, with shoulder length wavy brown hair and blue eyes that lit up when she saw who had come. "Minerva!" she exclaimed in a soft Irish lilt, "I was hoping we'd see you before school began!"

A thunder of footsteps grew louder until a lanky boy of eleven appeared from the hallway. He brushed his black hair away from his dark eyes and anxiously looked up at the familiar face. "Headmistress! Did you know it's my birthday today?" he asked excitedly. "I'm expecting a letter from the school. Did you spot any owls heading this way?" he added as he searched the sky.

"Stephen!" chided his mother gently. "Mind your manners. Let's invite the Headmistress in and ask how she's doing before you start any interrogation."

Minerva smiled. "Ach, it's fine, Nuala. It's not every day that a young lad receives his invitation to attend the finest wizarding school in the world." She turned to the boy. "No, I didn't see any owls." At the boy's crestfallen expression, she added. "But I might just happen to have a letter addressed to a certain Stephen Snape." She raised her hand with the much anticipated letter in it.

"Brilliant!" the boy whispered, barely audible as he looked at the envelope. He reached for it with slightly shaking hands.

Nuala shook her head, but smiled gently. "Won't you come in, Minerva, and have a spot of tea?"

"I'd love to." As the three walked towards the kitchen, Severus joined them, drying his hands on a towel. "Headmistress, you're a welcome surprise," he said dryly. He looked down at his son still holding the envelope in his hand, staring at it, and then back to Minerva. "I assume you played owl?"

"Da!" Stephen began, "It's …" He was interrupted as a young boy came barreling into the room. "Mum! I'm hungry."

Nuala looked fondly at her son. "Come join us, Patrick. We were just about to have some tea and biscuits in the kitchen. Wash your hands. Then congratulate your brother – he just received an important letter."

"Let me see, Stephen!" The younger boy jumped up trying to reach the letter which Stephen now held above his head. "'C'mon, let me see it!"

Stephen gave Patrick a slight push. "In a moment. Let me read it first."

"Go ahead and open it, boyo" urged Nuala as she put the tea kettle on the stove.

Stephen took a deep breath and carefully broke the seal. A wide smile broke out on his face. "Dear Mr. Snape. We are pleased to inform you …"

Nuala embraced her son in a snug hug. "I knew you'd be going, son. I'm proud of you."

When Severus and Minerva added their congratulations, Patrick chimed in with a "Yay, Stephen."

Nuala took out the plates as the others sat down at the small table. Stephen stared at the letter until he had it memorized. Patrick took a look at it, but decided it was boring and went to wash his hands. Severus faced Minerva. "Thank you for delivering the letter in person. Stephen could hardly sleep last night even though I told him there was no doubt he'd get his letter today."

Minerva smiled, and took a biscuit. "It's nice to have an excuse to leave the castle. It's too quiet during the summer. Filius can certainly handle anything that comes up this morning."

"I assume the professors will be returning next week," Severus stated.

Minerva nodded. "Hagrid and Aurora spent the summer at the castle, as always."

Severus reached for a biscuit and put it in front of Stephen, who was still staring at his prized letter. "Aurora always did say it's the best place to observe the stars with it being so far away from any muggle lights."

"Neville, of course, pops in almost every other day from Hogsmeade to tend to the greenhouses," Minerva went on. "Bill has been a frequent visitor over the summer as well as he prepares to assume his additional role of Gryffindor Head of House. He certainly has the DADA curriculum down pat by now."

"Does he have any trouble teaching any of his Weasley and Potter nephews and nieces?" Severus asked out of curiosity.

"Not at all. In fact, because he knows them so well they can't get away with anything." She snorted. "None are them are as bad as Fred and George were with their pranks."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "That you know of, anyway," he smirked. "Have you been satisfied with how Warmson is teaching Transfiguration?"

Minerva swallowed. "Aye. It was hard to give up teaching, but since I had to turn over the position because my Headmistress duties were becoming too much on top of it, I was pleased that Hecate was available. She's talented and can relate to the students being young herself. How about you, Severus? You can't tell me you don't miss it."

Snape scoffed. "Hogwarts, yes. Teaching, no. Too many dunderheads don't care about learning. I'm happy brewing potions at home." He reached over and gently put his hand on top of Nuala's.

Nuala shook her head. "I wouldn't know what to do if you weren't here when the wee ones display accidental magic. Usually it's something little, like finding a stuffed animal zooming across the room, but once in a while I'll find something destroyed, especially when the boys get into it." She gave Stephen a glare.

Stephen broke out of the stupor he'd been in since opening the letter. "Ah, mum. It was only once or twice, and it was Patrick's fault that …"

"Hush now, boyo. Don't air dirty laundry in front of guests," Nuala admonished. She got up to get bring the tea to the table.

"Does Felix ever contact you about the Slytherins?" Minerva asked Severus, breaking the awkward silence.

Severus Summoned a bottle of chocolate milk from the fridge and two plastic cups from the cupboard. Directing the milk into the cups, he nodded. "Now and then. Pucey also owls me periodically to ask about potion articles." He smirked. "I never tell him when I'm the author and using a pseudonym. I do mention how brilliant the research is." He looked over at Stephen. "I expect you to express no knowledge of the fact either," he continued firmly.

Stephen nodded vigorously. "Aye, Da. And no showing off or being a know-it-all, no matter how tempting it is. And no unsupervised potions work."

"Exactly. Mind your professors." Severus' face was stern.

From down the hall came a soft cry, and Nuala got up to fetch the baby.

Stephen eagerly turned to Minerva as he remembered a pressing question. "Is Flinn Fleet going to be the new flying instructor? I heard he was being scouted for the position in Quidditch Quarterly. He'd be brilliant – took England five times to the European Championship and twice to the World Cup. Did you know he has a Chaser's move named after him?"

Minerva smiled at Stephen's enthusiasm. "Aye, he signed the contract several weeks ago. He has lots of exciting ideas for the year."

Severus looked at his son strictly. "Remember – First Years can't bring their own brooms and aren't allowed on the House Quidditch teams." He glared pointedly at Minerva, who looked slightly guilty as she remembered the well-known exception she had made in the past in her exuberance of discovering a naturally talented new seeker.

Stephen nodded firmly. "But I'm going to practice as much as I can so I'll be sure to make the team Second Year."

"Can I ride your broom while you're gone?" asked Patrick suddenly.

"Absolutely not," responded Severus and Stephen together. "If you're good, I'll get you a training broom when you turn six, just as I did for Stephen. Flying is dangerous if you don't know what you're doing," Severus added. He made a mental note to put Stephen's broom behind strong wards. He turned back to Minerva. "I heard that this may be Vector's last year."

Minerva took a sip of tea. "Aye, I'll confirm that rumor. I'll be looking for a replacement for Septima during the year. Let me know if you hear of a good candidate." She grimaced. "Padma tells me that I won't find the ideal candidate until just after the summer solstice. I'd hate to just start salary negotiations then. It would put me in a bind if we can't come to an agreement."

Severus frowned. "Divination is never cut and dry. I know Miss Patil is far better at reading portents than Trelawney ever was, but it's somehow it's usually only after the fact that what the omen is trying to tell us becomes clear."

Minerva sighed. "That's why I hope she's misreading the signs. At least Padma knows that teaching Divination to those without an innate talent is a waste of time and weeds out students quickly. Her classes tend to be very small."

Nuala returned with Fianna in her arms. Minerva stood up. "Just in time! I need to be getting back to the school, but may I hold the wee bairn for a bit?"

Smiling, Nuala handed her over. "Of course! It's always lovely having you over. Please stop by anytime for a cup of tea when you need a break."
Minerva beamed as she hugged the baby. She kissed the crown of Fianna's head and reluctantly handed her back. She looked down at Stephen. "I look forward to seeing you in a few weeks. I know you'll do well at Hogwarts, and have a great time." She gave him a mock glare. "I just don't want to see you too often in my office, now."

"You won't," Severus responded as he put his hand firmly on his son's shoulder.

"No, ma'am," confirmed Stephen. "That's another of Da's rules," he said with a sigh. Minerva had the impression that he'd had to stop himself from rolling his eyes.

Minerva snorted. "You'll do fine. Nuala, Severus, thank you for the tea. Stephen, see you soon. Patrick, mind your folks, now." She walked briskly down the walk, and by the time she got to the Apparition point her soft pop could not be heard by the Snapes.

ABSABSABS

The next two weeks passed agonizingly slowly to Stephen but all too quickly for his parents. At Severus' insistence, the first stop on the family trip to Diagon Alley was the bookstore to buy the required textbooks and where Stephen used his own money to buy Quidditch Quality Moves. After that was a stop at The Magical Menagerie.

"Wow," Patrick breathed as he caught sight of a particularly large Eurasian eagle-owl. "Can we get that one?"

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Rather ostentatious, wouldn't you agree, Stephen?"

Stephen took a last regretful look at it. "Aye, it is." He turned his attention to an inconspicuous tawny owl. "How about this one, Da?"

Snape nodded. "What will you name him?"

Stephen eyed the cage as they left the shop. "Mum, how do you say 'smart' in Irish?"

Nuala nodded approvingly. "That will be a fine name for your friend. Ciallmhar."

"Ciallmhar," repeated Stephen slowly, liking the sound of it as it rolled out his mouth. "Ciallmhar," he said again, this time reaching through the cage to scratch his new owl under its chin. The owl softly hooted in approval.

Stephen was distracted from his new friend when Patrick pulled his arm. "What did Da mean by 'stayshus'?" he asked his older brother in a whisper.

Both boys were awed by Ollivander's Wand Shop. At the fourth try, Stephen found his wand, an eleven inch Applewood with a White River Monster spine as its core.

At hearing this, Nuala was alarmed. "A monster? I don't like the sound of that!"

Quirino Ollivander, Garrick's son, reassured her. "Not to worry! The White River Monster is merely a type of magical fish. Your son is very fortunate that this rare type of wand chose him. It suits a boy with high aims and ideals. You have a lad here with a promising future."

Nuala nodded thoughtfully, "He does want to be the youngest Potions Master ever, and a star Quidditch player."

Quirino laughed as he boxed up the wand. "Most children want the latter. It's the former that's more unusual."

"Aye, but he takes after his father."

Severus nodded proudly. "But we'll support his decision should he decide to go into another field," he said, ruffling Stephen's hair. "He'll need a wand holster as well."

Stephen was unusually quiet as they made their way to the floo at the Leaky Cauldron and from there back home. That evening, after a nudge from Nuala, Severus knocked on Stephen's bedroom door. He sat down on the desk chair and looked at his son sprawled out on the bed. "Is anything bothering you?"

"Nah. Well … maybe." Stephen absentmindedly played with a loose thread on his quilt. "Da … you said you'd support me even if I don't become a Potions Master. Did you really mean it?"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "I do. I have to admit I'd be surprised because you've been eager to help me brew potions since you were six and have shown a natural instinct for understanding the properties of various ingredients. I'd encourage you not to make a final decision about Potions until your Fifth Year. You have to take Potions until then anyway, and …"

"No, Da. It's not that. I do want to become a Potions Master. It's just … what if I don't get into Slytherin? Would you be disappointed?"

Severus moved over to the bed and sat next to Stephen. He pulled his son to his side. "Every house has its good points and its bad points. Good wizards have come from every house, as have evil ones. I'll be happy wherever you're sorted. I suspect you would fit into any of the Houses. You're ambitious, which is very Slytherin, but you're also loyal to your friends, which is a Hufflepuff trait; smart and curious, which mean you'd fit in well in Ravenclaw; and can be daring, which is typical of Gryffindors." He paused. "I'm a proud Slytherin, but in some ways it would be easier for you to be in a different house, and not be burdened by my reputation."

"You mean from the war? But you're a hero! Even Mr. Potter says so, and he's a Gryffindor."

"You'll find many people who disagree with Potter's opinion. It's been a generation since the war ended, but people have long memories and associated prejudices. Many students will have grown up hearing about relatives lost, and not just to the Death Eaters, but also to Ministry Aurors if their family supported the Dark Lord. That's why I need you to promise me that you'll strictly mind the rules. They're there to keep you safe. More importantly, if people see you breaking those rules, they'll be quick to judge you based on their negative opinion of me and you may get a reputation you may never recover from. It's not fair, but life's not fair."

Pausing to collect his thoughts, Severus absentmindedly rubbed his left forearm. "Peer pressure can be a terrible thing if it results in you making bad decisions. Stephen, we've tried to raise you to think for yourself and to consider the impact of your words and actions. I made one thoughtless comment when I was sixteen and the effects cascaded, causing me to make a terrible decision which still affects my life today. If someone had stopped me at any point along the way, my life would have been much easier. If you know you're getting too deep into something, let someone in authority know before it's too late."

Please review!

My thanks to my husband for being my beta, and to the marvelous writer excessivelyperky for her encouragement.