Chapter 4-Marauders and Quidditch
Sirius Black and James Potter were not having a good week. Professor McGonegall had been very angry with them after the prank and had ordered them to report to Filch every evening for detention. This usually lasted around two hours and involved far too much cleaning for their tastes. They had also been told to write an essay for Professor Atwood on the laws regarding underage wizards and potions making.
"Well you can't say you didn't deserve it." said Seri.
"Thanks a lot," huffed Sirius, "My wrists are killing me from polishing those suits of armour."
"And those stupid trophies in the trophy room," added James, "If I have to polish Tom Riddle's award again I'll go insane. I bet he was a real goody two shoes teacher's pet."
"Seri is right though," Kitiara Winter was very knowledgeable about potions and their uses in healing, "What if you hadn't made the potion properly. You could have really hurt Severus."
"Well we didn't and he is fine," said James crossly, "Some would say he's much nicer as a two year old anyway."
"Oh he's so cute!" gushed Lily Evans, "Did you see him this morning at breakfast when he fed Professor Dumbledore that cereal?"
"That was really sweet." agreed Seri enthusiastically.
Sirius and James frowned and Sirius muttered something like "Women! I'll never understand them as long as I live."
Just then they heard a meow and turned to see a scrawny grey cat with huge, lamp-like eyes walking towards them and staring at them with what appeared to be disapproval.
"Oh for Merlin's sake! He's sending Mrs Norris to get us now." Sirius said in exasperation.
"We'd better go," said James, "Let us now when you get back into your right minds girls. All that Snape is cute rubbish. He's just a much younger slimeball than he used to be."
Seri look outraged and was about to give James a good telling off when Filch arrived.
"Hurry up you two." he growled at the boys, "The sooner you start the sooner you'll finish." He smiled grimly.
"I'm sick of them making fun of Severus and playing jokes on him." Seri hissed.
"Well it's not all one sided you know," said Kit reasonably, "He's been mean to them too."
"I'm going to the library." Seri marched off, still angry.
"I think she likes Severus." observed Lily.
"I think you're right." agreed Kit and they walked back towards the Gryffindor common room.
The two girls were sitting in comfy chairs by the fire when Remus Lupin joined them.
"Hey I've just seen Seri going off to the library. Exams over so what can she be studying for."
"She's preparing for her magical healing exams." explained Kit.
Well she was not in a very good mood," Remus told them, "Did something happen?"
"It's a long story but basically she's not too happy about the de-ageing prank."
"Oh," said Remus, "I think it might be good for Severus. Dumbledore is looking after him and you can tell he really cares about him."
The others agreed.
That night Dumbledore walked back from McGonegall's office with a very sleepy toddler in his arms. He had decided it would be easier to spend the rest of the day in Minerva's rooms rather than having lunch and dinner in the great hall with the questions of the Slytherins. He filled her in on what had happened with the Snapes.
"Well at least they weren't insistent on taking Severus home." Minerva said.
"Salazar was," remarked Albus, "He would have tried to force me to hand Severus over if Jasmine hadn't objected so strongly."
"Ironically her complete lack of maternal instinct helped her child for once." observed Minerva.
"It all gave me a better understanding of Severus's home life," mused Dumbledore, "Small wonder he is such a frightened child and angry teenager."
"Yes," agreed Minerva, "But remember Albus, you can't change the past, only the future. Strict time travel laws prevent it. The best thing you can do is make little Severus feel loved and wanted."
"You are right my dear," Dumbledore allowed himself a smile and patted McGonegall's hand.
Severus was sitting on a beanbag at their feet looking at one of the books Minerva had bought for him.
"Boy in sky," he said excitedly pointing at one of the pictures, "Look Abus. Look 'Nerva."
"He said my name," Minerva gushed, her happy expression making her look years younger. Albus laughed merrily.
"That boy is flying on a broomstick Severus," he told the child, "He's playing Quidditch."
"I play kiddich?" asked Severus.
"When you're older little one." answered Albus.
Minerva however, went over to a cupboard beside her large desk and brought out a toy broomstick.
"This belonged to my grandson. It should still work." she said.
"Kiddich1" shouted Severus running over to her. She helped him onto the broomstick and cast a spell to keep him on it.
"Now hold on pet." She put his hands in their proper positions and tapped the stick with her wand. It floated up a couple of inches from the ground.
"I flying." cried Severus with delight. Another spell and he was travelling towards Albus who turned him around sending him back to Minerva. They continued their game for a while until Severus grew tired.
"You could play for the Slytherin team my boy." Albus smiled as he helped the toddler off the broom.
"He already does remember?" said McGonegall.
"Sithanon" Severus slurred in an attempt to say his house name. The adults beamed at him.
"His speech really is amazing." Dumbledore remarked.
"You'll have to be careful what you say in front of him Albus," laughed Minerva, "He repeats everything."
Severus was tired and walked unsteadily towards Dumbledore pulling on his robes.
"Up Abus." he commanded and Albus picked him up. The child yawned widely and put his thumb in his mouth, closing his eyes.
"I think that means 'I'm tired Albus' " said Minerva wryly.
"Yes and he's not the only one," said Albus trying to stifle his own yawn, "I have to be up early for a meeting at the ministry tomorrow. Oh goodness! What will I do with Severus while I'm away?"
"Well the teachers won't be able to care for him. They all have tests to mark. What about getting a couple of the prefects to watch him?" suggested McGonegall.
"An excellent idea! Perhaps Remus Lupin and Lily Evans. They have never shown any animosity towards Severus."
"They are very mature and responsible," continued Minerva," They are a good choice."
Dumbledore got up to leave.
"Again I have to thank you Minerva. I don't know what I would do without your help."
"Oh don't be silly Albus." she said briskly although a faint glow crept across her cheeks.
"I'll send Remus and Lily to your office immediately after breakfast."
TBC
Sirius Black and James Potter were not having a good week. Professor McGonegall had been very angry with them after the prank and had ordered them to report to Filch every evening for detention. This usually lasted around two hours and involved far too much cleaning for their tastes. They had also been told to write an essay for Professor Atwood on the laws regarding underage wizards and potions making.
"Well you can't say you didn't deserve it." said Seri.
"Thanks a lot," huffed Sirius, "My wrists are killing me from polishing those suits of armour."
"And those stupid trophies in the trophy room," added James, "If I have to polish Tom Riddle's award again I'll go insane. I bet he was a real goody two shoes teacher's pet."
"Seri is right though," Kitiara Winter was very knowledgeable about potions and their uses in healing, "What if you hadn't made the potion properly. You could have really hurt Severus."
"Well we didn't and he is fine," said James crossly, "Some would say he's much nicer as a two year old anyway."
"Oh he's so cute!" gushed Lily Evans, "Did you see him this morning at breakfast when he fed Professor Dumbledore that cereal?"
"That was really sweet." agreed Seri enthusiastically.
Sirius and James frowned and Sirius muttered something like "Women! I'll never understand them as long as I live."
Just then they heard a meow and turned to see a scrawny grey cat with huge, lamp-like eyes walking towards them and staring at them with what appeared to be disapproval.
"Oh for Merlin's sake! He's sending Mrs Norris to get us now." Sirius said in exasperation.
"We'd better go," said James, "Let us now when you get back into your right minds girls. All that Snape is cute rubbish. He's just a much younger slimeball than he used to be."
Seri look outraged and was about to give James a good telling off when Filch arrived.
"Hurry up you two." he growled at the boys, "The sooner you start the sooner you'll finish." He smiled grimly.
"I'm sick of them making fun of Severus and playing jokes on him." Seri hissed.
"Well it's not all one sided you know," said Kit reasonably, "He's been mean to them too."
"I'm going to the library." Seri marched off, still angry.
"I think she likes Severus." observed Lily.
"I think you're right." agreed Kit and they walked back towards the Gryffindor common room.
The two girls were sitting in comfy chairs by the fire when Remus Lupin joined them.
"Hey I've just seen Seri going off to the library. Exams over so what can she be studying for."
"She's preparing for her magical healing exams." explained Kit.
Well she was not in a very good mood," Remus told them, "Did something happen?"
"It's a long story but basically she's not too happy about the de-ageing prank."
"Oh," said Remus, "I think it might be good for Severus. Dumbledore is looking after him and you can tell he really cares about him."
The others agreed.
That night Dumbledore walked back from McGonegall's office with a very sleepy toddler in his arms. He had decided it would be easier to spend the rest of the day in Minerva's rooms rather than having lunch and dinner in the great hall with the questions of the Slytherins. He filled her in on what had happened with the Snapes.
"Well at least they weren't insistent on taking Severus home." Minerva said.
"Salazar was," remarked Albus, "He would have tried to force me to hand Severus over if Jasmine hadn't objected so strongly."
"Ironically her complete lack of maternal instinct helped her child for once." observed Minerva.
"It all gave me a better understanding of Severus's home life," mused Dumbledore, "Small wonder he is such a frightened child and angry teenager."
"Yes," agreed Minerva, "But remember Albus, you can't change the past, only the future. Strict time travel laws prevent it. The best thing you can do is make little Severus feel loved and wanted."
"You are right my dear," Dumbledore allowed himself a smile and patted McGonegall's hand.
Severus was sitting on a beanbag at their feet looking at one of the books Minerva had bought for him.
"Boy in sky," he said excitedly pointing at one of the pictures, "Look Abus. Look 'Nerva."
"He said my name," Minerva gushed, her happy expression making her look years younger. Albus laughed merrily.
"That boy is flying on a broomstick Severus," he told the child, "He's playing Quidditch."
"I play kiddich?" asked Severus.
"When you're older little one." answered Albus.
Minerva however, went over to a cupboard beside her large desk and brought out a toy broomstick.
"This belonged to my grandson. It should still work." she said.
"Kiddich1" shouted Severus running over to her. She helped him onto the broomstick and cast a spell to keep him on it.
"Now hold on pet." She put his hands in their proper positions and tapped the stick with her wand. It floated up a couple of inches from the ground.
"I flying." cried Severus with delight. Another spell and he was travelling towards Albus who turned him around sending him back to Minerva. They continued their game for a while until Severus grew tired.
"You could play for the Slytherin team my boy." Albus smiled as he helped the toddler off the broom.
"He already does remember?" said McGonegall.
"Sithanon" Severus slurred in an attempt to say his house name. The adults beamed at him.
"His speech really is amazing." Dumbledore remarked.
"You'll have to be careful what you say in front of him Albus," laughed Minerva, "He repeats everything."
Severus was tired and walked unsteadily towards Dumbledore pulling on his robes.
"Up Abus." he commanded and Albus picked him up. The child yawned widely and put his thumb in his mouth, closing his eyes.
"I think that means 'I'm tired Albus' " said Minerva wryly.
"Yes and he's not the only one," said Albus trying to stifle his own yawn, "I have to be up early for a meeting at the ministry tomorrow. Oh goodness! What will I do with Severus while I'm away?"
"Well the teachers won't be able to care for him. They all have tests to mark. What about getting a couple of the prefects to watch him?" suggested McGonegall.
"An excellent idea! Perhaps Remus Lupin and Lily Evans. They have never shown any animosity towards Severus."
"They are very mature and responsible," continued Minerva," They are a good choice."
Dumbledore got up to leave.
"Again I have to thank you Minerva. I don't know what I would do without your help."
"Oh don't be silly Albus." she said briskly although a faint glow crept across her cheeks.
"I'll send Remus and Lily to your office immediately after breakfast."
TBC