Chapter 3-Meet the Parents
When little Severus awoke the next day the first thing he noticed was that he was lovely and warm. "Why?" he wondered. "Mummy only ever gives me one blankie." He opened his eyes and looked around. "Hmm, not my room," he thought. Then he realised someone was holding him and remembered, "Oh yes the nice old man who calls me "child" and lets me play." He looked up into a pair of twinkling blue eyes.
"Hello my little Severus," the nice man smiled, "Did you sleep well?" Severus only yawned and snuggled into Dumbledore's robes once more.
"Still tired hmm?" Dumbledore asked gently as he sat up putting pillows behind him and rocking the little boy back to sleep. That done he turned his attention to the owls that had flown through his window and the cup of tea care of Sparkle.
When Severus woke again an hour later Albus carried him into his bathroom. He changed him and bathed him in the baby bath Minerva had provided, letting the child play and splash in the warm water.
Half an hour later both headmaster and toddler were washed, dressed and entering the great hall for breakfast. The students stopped talking and stared, open mouthed at them.
"Minerva you really are a marvel." Dumbledore beamed gratefully at his deputy headmistress as he spotted the high chair that sat beside his place at the staff table. Minerva blushed and replied, "I do my best Headmaster." Carefully Dumbledore set Severus into the chair and turned his attention to the still silent students.
"I'm sure you are all aware of what happened yesterday at dinner," he began, "As a result of a prank played on Severus Snape he is now two years old. This will probably only last another day or two but I expect you all to be careful when I bring him around the school. No running or foolish behaviour please." He fixed them all with one of his trademark penetrating stares, "I should warn you that any more pranks of this nature would have very serious consequences for those involved. I hope I make myself clear."
The students nodded. "Good," said Dumbledore brightly, "Lets have breakfast."
"Who's looking after Severus?" Petula Parkinson, a Slytherin in Snape's year asked boldly.
"Severus will be in my care until the potion wears off, " said Dumbledore calmly and turned his attention to the little boy sitting next to him. He failed to notice the angry mutterings coming from the Slytherins. Petula looked outraged.
"Don't worry Petula," Lucius told her smugly, "I wrote to father last night and told him about what happened. Snape's parents are good friends of Father's and he's bound to tell them. Lets see how that nutty old fool deals with them."
They shared a quick smirk at the thought. Back at the staff table Dumbledore gave Severus a little spoon to eat his cereal with. He knew better than to try and feed the independent little boy.
"Headmaster," Atwood turned to Dumbledore, "I analysed the potion last night. I estimate that, given the dosage Severus received, that it will only last another day or two days at the most. You will know when it is about to wear off as a faint blue light will appear around him."
"Thank you Adam. At least there were no side effects."
"Yes Potter and Black are obviously very adept at potions," Atwood answered dryly, "It's a shame they don't put their abilities to better use in my classroom instead of fooling about. They will be doing their NEWT'S next year and sometimes you would think they were back in first year."
"Maybe they will learn a lesson from this," Albus looked Amused, "Well, either that or from all the cleaning the will be doing in the next couple of weeks. I've never seen the trophy room shine so brightly." They laughed.
"Here Abus!" a little voice interrupted their conversation. Dumbledore's jaw dropped on hearing the two-year-old say his name almost perfectly and suddenly found a spoonful of baby cereal in his mouth. He choked.
The other teachers dissolved into helpless laughter as did the students who had seen it.
"Severus won't let ye go hungry Professor Dumbledore." guffawed Hagrid.
"Yes Albus. You really should have been eating and not talking." laughed tiny Professor Flitwick who had almost fallen off his chair.
"Shh, all of you!" hissed McGonegall.
"My dear Minerva they wire only j.." Dumbledore trailed off as McGonegall drew his attention to Severus. The child was sitting rigidly in the chair, eyes wide and frightened once more. The noisy laughter together with the headmaster's reaction to the situation had sent the young child into some sort of flashback.
"Severus?" Dumbledore managed to keep his tone calm despite the worry he felt, "Little one? It's all right. Look at me love. You are safe. No one is angry with you I promise."
It took a while before Severus finally focused on him. Albus continued to speak in gentle tones until the toddler recognised him and reached his little arms out. Albus picked him up and cuddled him as he cried.
"Did all the noise frighten you little one," he whispered in the child's ear as he rubbed comforting circles on his back, "I know. I know. I'm here. I've got you Severus. Shh."
Severus finally calmed down and allowed Dumbledore to give him a drink of juice. "You are a very clever little boy Severus, saying 'Albus' like that." Minerva cooed at him.
"Abus," murmured the child snuggling further into Dumbledore's arms. The headmaster kissed him on top of his head.
"My clever little boy." he murmured and only Minerva heard. She just smiled knowingly.
When breakfast was over Albus decided to take Severus outside. It was a sunny day and the students were all in class so they wouldn't be disturbed. He showed Severus Hagrid's hut and Hagrid had a wonderful time showing him the magical creatures he had for each lesson today. Severus was fascinated. Next they walked around the grounds and the headmaster conjured up a small sandpit for the little boy with some buckets and spades. He was just adding some flags to the sandcastle he and Severus had made when he heard quick footsteps behind him. He turned to see his deputy headmistress running towards him, looking frantic.
"Albus you must come quickly!" she gasped, "The Snapes are here."
"Oh no," moaned Albus rubbing his eyes, "I forgot to write to them yesterday. How do they know?" he added in an afterthought.
"Well you know how word gets around," Minerva was trying to catch her breath, "The Slytherins were very unhappy this morning. One of them probably wrote to Salazar and Jasmine."
"Yes, " sighed Dumbledore running a hand through his beard, scattering sand around in the process, "Well we had better get back up to the school." He cast a quick cleansing charm on himself and the sand disappeared.
"Severus, Child? It's time to go." he called.
"Don't want to." Severus complained.
"I know," answered Dumbledore "But we'll come back and play in the sand another time."
Seeing that he wasn't going to get his way Severus got up and toddled over to Dumbledore grabbing his hand.
"Minerva could you please take Severus to your rooms while I meet his parents? I don't want him to be there. It would probably affect him badly."
"Yes you are right." said Minerva, "Do you want to come with me for a little while pet?" she asked Severus, "We could see some of the other toys I bought for you."
Severus looked a little worried but Albus smiled at him. "I will be back very soon little one. I just have something to do first, all right?"
Severus nodded and allowed Minerva to pick him up. Albus stroked his cheek and thanked Professor McGonegall before starting back towards the school.
Entering his office he found two very angry Snapes. Salazar Snape was over six feet tall and tended to use his superior height to full effect. He had long black hair and a long nose. His eyes were pale blue and held nothing but malice. His wife Jasmine was smaller but she too had a menacing presence with her blood red hair and her hard black eyes.
"Well Dumbledore," barked Salazar his eyes cold, "What's this I hear about my son being turned into an infant? I trust the students involved have been expelled."
"They have been severely punished certainly," Dumbledore answered quietly, "However I don't feel that expelling them would teach them to learn from their mistake."
"There is only one way to teach little brats like that," Salazar said darkly, fingering the leather belt he wore around his waist. Dumbledore allowed himself a mental shudder.
"I apologise for not writing to you sooner. Young Severus has been keeping us all occupied."
"Is that so?" drawled Salazar, "Thankfully Lucius Malfoy wasn't so 'occupied' then. He wrote to his father who informed us. Can you imagine how worried we were?"
Dumbledore was quite sure he could imagine the level of anxiety they felt about Severus. On a scale of one to ten he was thinking minus five. He bit back any such replies and said.
"Again I apologise to you both but I assure you, Severus is in excellent health and will only be in this state for another two days at the most."
"Where is he?" snapped Jasmine, her squashed nose wrinkling in disgust, "As if I needed to look after a little brat again. Do you think I enjoyed it the first time? "
"Jasmine," warned Salazar through clenched teeth, "You must forgive my wife Dumbledore. This has been very upsetting for her. What she means is that we are very busy people and it was not easy caring for a young boy the first time let alone doing it again." he said silkily.
"Ah but there is no need for either of you to worry about caring for him this time." Dumbledore radiated innocence; "He will be cared for here until the potion wears off. He can then continue his classes until the end of the year."
"And who might I ask is looking after him? You Dumbledore?" Salazar gave the headmaster a nasty smile.
"At the moment yes." Dumbledore stared into those ruthless empty eyes with his own fierce blue gaze.
"We will take him home now." said Salazar, his face stony.
"What?" shrieked Jasmine, "Have you lost your mind Salazar? Let the old fool look after him. I'm not taking care of a child again. You were no help to me the last time."
"It's not a man's job." muttered her husband in fury.
"Your wife doesn't seem to agree with you," Dumbledore smiled placidly, the twinkle returning to his eyes, " I couldn't possibly send a young child home with parents who have told me they are too busy and too unwilling to take care of him. How would I explain it to the ministry if anything happened."
Salazar glared daggers at his wife.
"You will write to us the minute that potion wears off Dumbledore. If you don't," Salazar's eyes were like shards of ice, "I will be making my own complaints to the ministry."
He grabbed Jasmine roughly by the arm and stormed out of Dumbledore's office. The headmaster sighed with relief as the door slammed behind them.
"That was a little too easy" he thought, "I have a feeling there will be more to this story."
With that he set off to Professor McGonegall's office to collect Severus.
TBC
When little Severus awoke the next day the first thing he noticed was that he was lovely and warm. "Why?" he wondered. "Mummy only ever gives me one blankie." He opened his eyes and looked around. "Hmm, not my room," he thought. Then he realised someone was holding him and remembered, "Oh yes the nice old man who calls me "child" and lets me play." He looked up into a pair of twinkling blue eyes.
"Hello my little Severus," the nice man smiled, "Did you sleep well?" Severus only yawned and snuggled into Dumbledore's robes once more.
"Still tired hmm?" Dumbledore asked gently as he sat up putting pillows behind him and rocking the little boy back to sleep. That done he turned his attention to the owls that had flown through his window and the cup of tea care of Sparkle.
When Severus woke again an hour later Albus carried him into his bathroom. He changed him and bathed him in the baby bath Minerva had provided, letting the child play and splash in the warm water.
Half an hour later both headmaster and toddler were washed, dressed and entering the great hall for breakfast. The students stopped talking and stared, open mouthed at them.
"Minerva you really are a marvel." Dumbledore beamed gratefully at his deputy headmistress as he spotted the high chair that sat beside his place at the staff table. Minerva blushed and replied, "I do my best Headmaster." Carefully Dumbledore set Severus into the chair and turned his attention to the still silent students.
"I'm sure you are all aware of what happened yesterday at dinner," he began, "As a result of a prank played on Severus Snape he is now two years old. This will probably only last another day or two but I expect you all to be careful when I bring him around the school. No running or foolish behaviour please." He fixed them all with one of his trademark penetrating stares, "I should warn you that any more pranks of this nature would have very serious consequences for those involved. I hope I make myself clear."
The students nodded. "Good," said Dumbledore brightly, "Lets have breakfast."
"Who's looking after Severus?" Petula Parkinson, a Slytherin in Snape's year asked boldly.
"Severus will be in my care until the potion wears off, " said Dumbledore calmly and turned his attention to the little boy sitting next to him. He failed to notice the angry mutterings coming from the Slytherins. Petula looked outraged.
"Don't worry Petula," Lucius told her smugly, "I wrote to father last night and told him about what happened. Snape's parents are good friends of Father's and he's bound to tell them. Lets see how that nutty old fool deals with them."
They shared a quick smirk at the thought. Back at the staff table Dumbledore gave Severus a little spoon to eat his cereal with. He knew better than to try and feed the independent little boy.
"Headmaster," Atwood turned to Dumbledore, "I analysed the potion last night. I estimate that, given the dosage Severus received, that it will only last another day or two days at the most. You will know when it is about to wear off as a faint blue light will appear around him."
"Thank you Adam. At least there were no side effects."
"Yes Potter and Black are obviously very adept at potions," Atwood answered dryly, "It's a shame they don't put their abilities to better use in my classroom instead of fooling about. They will be doing their NEWT'S next year and sometimes you would think they were back in first year."
"Maybe they will learn a lesson from this," Albus looked Amused, "Well, either that or from all the cleaning the will be doing in the next couple of weeks. I've never seen the trophy room shine so brightly." They laughed.
"Here Abus!" a little voice interrupted their conversation. Dumbledore's jaw dropped on hearing the two-year-old say his name almost perfectly and suddenly found a spoonful of baby cereal in his mouth. He choked.
The other teachers dissolved into helpless laughter as did the students who had seen it.
"Severus won't let ye go hungry Professor Dumbledore." guffawed Hagrid.
"Yes Albus. You really should have been eating and not talking." laughed tiny Professor Flitwick who had almost fallen off his chair.
"Shh, all of you!" hissed McGonegall.
"My dear Minerva they wire only j.." Dumbledore trailed off as McGonegall drew his attention to Severus. The child was sitting rigidly in the chair, eyes wide and frightened once more. The noisy laughter together with the headmaster's reaction to the situation had sent the young child into some sort of flashback.
"Severus?" Dumbledore managed to keep his tone calm despite the worry he felt, "Little one? It's all right. Look at me love. You are safe. No one is angry with you I promise."
It took a while before Severus finally focused on him. Albus continued to speak in gentle tones until the toddler recognised him and reached his little arms out. Albus picked him up and cuddled him as he cried.
"Did all the noise frighten you little one," he whispered in the child's ear as he rubbed comforting circles on his back, "I know. I know. I'm here. I've got you Severus. Shh."
Severus finally calmed down and allowed Dumbledore to give him a drink of juice. "You are a very clever little boy Severus, saying 'Albus' like that." Minerva cooed at him.
"Abus," murmured the child snuggling further into Dumbledore's arms. The headmaster kissed him on top of his head.
"My clever little boy." he murmured and only Minerva heard. She just smiled knowingly.
When breakfast was over Albus decided to take Severus outside. It was a sunny day and the students were all in class so they wouldn't be disturbed. He showed Severus Hagrid's hut and Hagrid had a wonderful time showing him the magical creatures he had for each lesson today. Severus was fascinated. Next they walked around the grounds and the headmaster conjured up a small sandpit for the little boy with some buckets and spades. He was just adding some flags to the sandcastle he and Severus had made when he heard quick footsteps behind him. He turned to see his deputy headmistress running towards him, looking frantic.
"Albus you must come quickly!" she gasped, "The Snapes are here."
"Oh no," moaned Albus rubbing his eyes, "I forgot to write to them yesterday. How do they know?" he added in an afterthought.
"Well you know how word gets around," Minerva was trying to catch her breath, "The Slytherins were very unhappy this morning. One of them probably wrote to Salazar and Jasmine."
"Yes, " sighed Dumbledore running a hand through his beard, scattering sand around in the process, "Well we had better get back up to the school." He cast a quick cleansing charm on himself and the sand disappeared.
"Severus, Child? It's time to go." he called.
"Don't want to." Severus complained.
"I know," answered Dumbledore "But we'll come back and play in the sand another time."
Seeing that he wasn't going to get his way Severus got up and toddled over to Dumbledore grabbing his hand.
"Minerva could you please take Severus to your rooms while I meet his parents? I don't want him to be there. It would probably affect him badly."
"Yes you are right." said Minerva, "Do you want to come with me for a little while pet?" she asked Severus, "We could see some of the other toys I bought for you."
Severus looked a little worried but Albus smiled at him. "I will be back very soon little one. I just have something to do first, all right?"
Severus nodded and allowed Minerva to pick him up. Albus stroked his cheek and thanked Professor McGonegall before starting back towards the school.
Entering his office he found two very angry Snapes. Salazar Snape was over six feet tall and tended to use his superior height to full effect. He had long black hair and a long nose. His eyes were pale blue and held nothing but malice. His wife Jasmine was smaller but she too had a menacing presence with her blood red hair and her hard black eyes.
"Well Dumbledore," barked Salazar his eyes cold, "What's this I hear about my son being turned into an infant? I trust the students involved have been expelled."
"They have been severely punished certainly," Dumbledore answered quietly, "However I don't feel that expelling them would teach them to learn from their mistake."
"There is only one way to teach little brats like that," Salazar said darkly, fingering the leather belt he wore around his waist. Dumbledore allowed himself a mental shudder.
"I apologise for not writing to you sooner. Young Severus has been keeping us all occupied."
"Is that so?" drawled Salazar, "Thankfully Lucius Malfoy wasn't so 'occupied' then. He wrote to his father who informed us. Can you imagine how worried we were?"
Dumbledore was quite sure he could imagine the level of anxiety they felt about Severus. On a scale of one to ten he was thinking minus five. He bit back any such replies and said.
"Again I apologise to you both but I assure you, Severus is in excellent health and will only be in this state for another two days at the most."
"Where is he?" snapped Jasmine, her squashed nose wrinkling in disgust, "As if I needed to look after a little brat again. Do you think I enjoyed it the first time? "
"Jasmine," warned Salazar through clenched teeth, "You must forgive my wife Dumbledore. This has been very upsetting for her. What she means is that we are very busy people and it was not easy caring for a young boy the first time let alone doing it again." he said silkily.
"Ah but there is no need for either of you to worry about caring for him this time." Dumbledore radiated innocence; "He will be cared for here until the potion wears off. He can then continue his classes until the end of the year."
"And who might I ask is looking after him? You Dumbledore?" Salazar gave the headmaster a nasty smile.
"At the moment yes." Dumbledore stared into those ruthless empty eyes with his own fierce blue gaze.
"We will take him home now." said Salazar, his face stony.
"What?" shrieked Jasmine, "Have you lost your mind Salazar? Let the old fool look after him. I'm not taking care of a child again. You were no help to me the last time."
"It's not a man's job." muttered her husband in fury.
"Your wife doesn't seem to agree with you," Dumbledore smiled placidly, the twinkle returning to his eyes, " I couldn't possibly send a young child home with parents who have told me they are too busy and too unwilling to take care of him. How would I explain it to the ministry if anything happened."
Salazar glared daggers at his wife.
"You will write to us the minute that potion wears off Dumbledore. If you don't," Salazar's eyes were like shards of ice, "I will be making my own complaints to the ministry."
He grabbed Jasmine roughly by the arm and stormed out of Dumbledore's office. The headmaster sighed with relief as the door slammed behind them.
"That was a little too easy" he thought, "I have a feeling there will be more to this story."
With that he set off to Professor McGonegall's office to collect Severus.
TBC