Chapter 6-Back to Normal
Dumbledore woke the next morning to sunlight streaming through his window and Sparkle bustling about with the breakfast tray. He was not surprised that Severus remained sound asleep, it was still early and the shock of the previous day had taken its toll on the little boy. Carefully he laid Severus on the bed beside him and stretched his sore arms before eating his breakfast. It suddenly occurred to him that the de-ageing potion could possibly wear off that day so he would have to keep a close eye on the child. He went to his bathroom to wash and dress and returned quickly to the bedroom upon hearing a little cry. He found Severus sitting bolt upright in bed, his eyes full of tears.
"Shh my darling child. I'm here," he crooned as he gathered him up in his arms, "Did you wake up and think I'd left you love?" Severus sniffled.
"Why don't we get you ready to have some breakfast hmm?" Severus just lay his head on Dumbledore's shoulder and put his fingers in his mouth. Dumbledore continued to cuddle him and to speak gently.
He carried Severus to the bathroom for the usual morning routine and soon had him dressed in dark blue robes (care of Minerva) that made him look very smart. Albus took him to stand in front of the mirror.
"Well who is this handsome little boy?" the mirror asked.
"This is Severus." Dumbledore answered.
"Hi, hi" Severus called, "Abus, lady in mirror!"
"No little one. The mirror is talking." Dumbledore explained with a chuckle.
Severus did not understand however and started to knock on the mirror.
"Hi, hi" he shouted again, "Come out lady."
"Stop that!" the mirror snapped.
"Come on child. Let's get you some breakfast." Albus took Severus by the hand and brought him to the table. He could feel the child tremble a little as he set him in his high chair. He had suspected that the mirror's irritation would frighten him.
"Well now, what would you like for breakfast?" he asked as he stroked the child's hair, "Some cereal perhaps?"
"Yeah ceral." agreed Severus happily.
After Severus had eaten Albus gave him another dose of the energy potion. Setting him on the warm rug in his study with some toys he got up to go to his desk. He had a lot of letters to answer. His was stopped again by a little cry.
"No Abus!" Severus's lip trembled and he reached his arms up to be lifted.
"Oh Severus." Albus sighed but he complied and brought the child with him. He used his wand to bring the high chair over beside him and gave Severus some blocks to play with.
"Now little one, Happy?" he asked and Severus smiled angelically at him.
"Good, now I have to do some work." He started to read the letters and was so engrossed in the task that he did not notice two little hands reaching for his spare quill and one of the letters. As the pile of letters decreased Albus looked around for the missing one that he knew to be from Salazar Snape.
"Where did I put it?" he mused. He turned suddenly to a scratching sound. Severus was happily scribbling over his father's letter!
"Severus! What are you doing?" Dumbledore quickly removed the letter from the child's hands.
"Witing." Severus answered with a pout and looked at the headmaster as if to say 'What a stupid question.'
"Ironic that you should pick that letter to write on child." Dumbledore said as he tried to make out what Salazar had written through the scribbles.
".potion worn off yet?.inform me immediately.consequences." Calmly he wrote a similar response to those he had given to the previous daily letters from the man (No the potion had not worn off yet. You will be the first to know, I assure you). It was obvious that Severus was getting bored. Albus quickly tied the letter to an owl's leg and sent it off.
"All right child. I'm finished now." He told Severus as he started to clean ink off the little hands and face. Severus did not enjoy this procedure.
"I work." he told Albus proudly when it was over.
"You certainly did." laughed the headmaster.
Sparkle arrived with lunch and afterwards Albus decided to take Severus out into the sunshine. Hagrid came striding towards them as Dumbledore crossed the grounds with Severus trotting beside them, holding his hand.
"Allo Professor Dumbledore sir, " he greeted him cheerfully, "Come and see what I made for the little 'un."
"You made something for Severus?" the headmaster enquired, "That was very thoughtful of you Hagrid."
"Come and see." Hagrid sounded like an excited child and Dumbledore couldn't help smiling. He led them to a small patch of grass close to his hut. Albus gasped when he saw what Hagrid had made. It was a beautiful wooden swing painted in bright colours.
"Oh my!" Dumbledore exclaimed, "It's wonderful Hagrid."
He brought Severus over to it.
"What dat?" Severus asked in fascination.
"That is a swing little one. Hagrid made it just for you." Dumbledore felt a little pang in his heart as he was again struck by another glimpse of Severus's unhappy childhood. Most young children would recognise a swing immediately.
"Would you like to sit on it?" he asked and the child reached up his arms in response. Dumbledore set him into the swing, which had holes for his legs and a high back. It also had straps to prevent him from falling out.
"Had to use my umbrella a bit." admitted Hagrid.
"I have gone temporarily deaf and have no idea what you just said." Dumbledore smiled and looked up at the sky.
"Do ye want a push Sev'rus?" Hagrid asked. Severus looked at him curiously.
Hagrid pulled the swing back a little and let go. He pushed the swing to keep it at the same speed and Severus laughed gleefully.
"Again Hagrid." He called and Hagrid pushed him a little higher.
As Severus enjoyed his first time on a swing Hagrid and Dumbledore talked about some of the magical creatures Hagrid had recently found in the forest and was now caring for. It never ceased to amaze Albus what his gameskeeper considered to be 'sweet'.
"I'm glad Sev'rus likes the swing." Hagrid changed the subject, "Don' reckon those rotten parents gave him much."
"No." said Albus.
He turned to see how Severus was and found the child slumped forward on the swing with his head on his arm. He had fallen asleep.
"Goodness!" he exclaimed as he carefully unfastened the straps and lifted the toddler out, "He usually has a nap around this time. The swing must have been very soothing for him."
He thanked the delighted half-giant and returned to the school with the sleeping Severus in his arms.
Arriving at his office he found Professors Flitwick and Binns waiting for him. "Headmaster we just wanted to discuss some of the examination results with you." Flitwick said.
"Of course. Do sit down. I'll be with you as soon as I've put Severus to bed."
He laid the child in his cot and tucked him in snugly. The next hour was spent discussing exams and marking. The teachers had not left long when Albus heard noises coming from the bedroom. Running in he was amazed to see, not a crying child but one who was singing to himself and tapping the mobile to make it play.
"Look Abus. I pay Tinkle Little Star." said Severus happily.
"Well aren't you clever?" Dumbledore was very pleased that Severus had lost some of his fear and trusted him not to abandon him at last. Going to him Dumbledore kissed his forehead and asked him if he slept well.
"Dinner now Abus?" asked Severus.
"Are you hungry child?" Albus called Sparkle and ordered their dinner.
Just as Severus finished his food Dumbledore noticed a pale blue light surrounding him. He quickly took him out of the high chair and charmed his robes to grow with him. All he could do now was wait while the potion wore off.
TBC
AN: Much lighter than the previous chapter. I'll dedicate the next one to the first reviewer who spots Dumbledore's line taken from the Harry Potter books and the book it's from.
Dumbledore woke the next morning to sunlight streaming through his window and Sparkle bustling about with the breakfast tray. He was not surprised that Severus remained sound asleep, it was still early and the shock of the previous day had taken its toll on the little boy. Carefully he laid Severus on the bed beside him and stretched his sore arms before eating his breakfast. It suddenly occurred to him that the de-ageing potion could possibly wear off that day so he would have to keep a close eye on the child. He went to his bathroom to wash and dress and returned quickly to the bedroom upon hearing a little cry. He found Severus sitting bolt upright in bed, his eyes full of tears.
"Shh my darling child. I'm here," he crooned as he gathered him up in his arms, "Did you wake up and think I'd left you love?" Severus sniffled.
"Why don't we get you ready to have some breakfast hmm?" Severus just lay his head on Dumbledore's shoulder and put his fingers in his mouth. Dumbledore continued to cuddle him and to speak gently.
He carried Severus to the bathroom for the usual morning routine and soon had him dressed in dark blue robes (care of Minerva) that made him look very smart. Albus took him to stand in front of the mirror.
"Well who is this handsome little boy?" the mirror asked.
"This is Severus." Dumbledore answered.
"Hi, hi" Severus called, "Abus, lady in mirror!"
"No little one. The mirror is talking." Dumbledore explained with a chuckle.
Severus did not understand however and started to knock on the mirror.
"Hi, hi" he shouted again, "Come out lady."
"Stop that!" the mirror snapped.
"Come on child. Let's get you some breakfast." Albus took Severus by the hand and brought him to the table. He could feel the child tremble a little as he set him in his high chair. He had suspected that the mirror's irritation would frighten him.
"Well now, what would you like for breakfast?" he asked as he stroked the child's hair, "Some cereal perhaps?"
"Yeah ceral." agreed Severus happily.
After Severus had eaten Albus gave him another dose of the energy potion. Setting him on the warm rug in his study with some toys he got up to go to his desk. He had a lot of letters to answer. His was stopped again by a little cry.
"No Abus!" Severus's lip trembled and he reached his arms up to be lifted.
"Oh Severus." Albus sighed but he complied and brought the child with him. He used his wand to bring the high chair over beside him and gave Severus some blocks to play with.
"Now little one, Happy?" he asked and Severus smiled angelically at him.
"Good, now I have to do some work." He started to read the letters and was so engrossed in the task that he did not notice two little hands reaching for his spare quill and one of the letters. As the pile of letters decreased Albus looked around for the missing one that he knew to be from Salazar Snape.
"Where did I put it?" he mused. He turned suddenly to a scratching sound. Severus was happily scribbling over his father's letter!
"Severus! What are you doing?" Dumbledore quickly removed the letter from the child's hands.
"Witing." Severus answered with a pout and looked at the headmaster as if to say 'What a stupid question.'
"Ironic that you should pick that letter to write on child." Dumbledore said as he tried to make out what Salazar had written through the scribbles.
".potion worn off yet?.inform me immediately.consequences." Calmly he wrote a similar response to those he had given to the previous daily letters from the man (No the potion had not worn off yet. You will be the first to know, I assure you). It was obvious that Severus was getting bored. Albus quickly tied the letter to an owl's leg and sent it off.
"All right child. I'm finished now." He told Severus as he started to clean ink off the little hands and face. Severus did not enjoy this procedure.
"I work." he told Albus proudly when it was over.
"You certainly did." laughed the headmaster.
Sparkle arrived with lunch and afterwards Albus decided to take Severus out into the sunshine. Hagrid came striding towards them as Dumbledore crossed the grounds with Severus trotting beside them, holding his hand.
"Allo Professor Dumbledore sir, " he greeted him cheerfully, "Come and see what I made for the little 'un."
"You made something for Severus?" the headmaster enquired, "That was very thoughtful of you Hagrid."
"Come and see." Hagrid sounded like an excited child and Dumbledore couldn't help smiling. He led them to a small patch of grass close to his hut. Albus gasped when he saw what Hagrid had made. It was a beautiful wooden swing painted in bright colours.
"Oh my!" Dumbledore exclaimed, "It's wonderful Hagrid."
He brought Severus over to it.
"What dat?" Severus asked in fascination.
"That is a swing little one. Hagrid made it just for you." Dumbledore felt a little pang in his heart as he was again struck by another glimpse of Severus's unhappy childhood. Most young children would recognise a swing immediately.
"Would you like to sit on it?" he asked and the child reached up his arms in response. Dumbledore set him into the swing, which had holes for his legs and a high back. It also had straps to prevent him from falling out.
"Had to use my umbrella a bit." admitted Hagrid.
"I have gone temporarily deaf and have no idea what you just said." Dumbledore smiled and looked up at the sky.
"Do ye want a push Sev'rus?" Hagrid asked. Severus looked at him curiously.
Hagrid pulled the swing back a little and let go. He pushed the swing to keep it at the same speed and Severus laughed gleefully.
"Again Hagrid." He called and Hagrid pushed him a little higher.
As Severus enjoyed his first time on a swing Hagrid and Dumbledore talked about some of the magical creatures Hagrid had recently found in the forest and was now caring for. It never ceased to amaze Albus what his gameskeeper considered to be 'sweet'.
"I'm glad Sev'rus likes the swing." Hagrid changed the subject, "Don' reckon those rotten parents gave him much."
"No." said Albus.
He turned to see how Severus was and found the child slumped forward on the swing with his head on his arm. He had fallen asleep.
"Goodness!" he exclaimed as he carefully unfastened the straps and lifted the toddler out, "He usually has a nap around this time. The swing must have been very soothing for him."
He thanked the delighted half-giant and returned to the school with the sleeping Severus in his arms.
Arriving at his office he found Professors Flitwick and Binns waiting for him. "Headmaster we just wanted to discuss some of the examination results with you." Flitwick said.
"Of course. Do sit down. I'll be with you as soon as I've put Severus to bed."
He laid the child in his cot and tucked him in snugly. The next hour was spent discussing exams and marking. The teachers had not left long when Albus heard noises coming from the bedroom. Running in he was amazed to see, not a crying child but one who was singing to himself and tapping the mobile to make it play.
"Look Abus. I pay Tinkle Little Star." said Severus happily.
"Well aren't you clever?" Dumbledore was very pleased that Severus had lost some of his fear and trusted him not to abandon him at last. Going to him Dumbledore kissed his forehead and asked him if he slept well.
"Dinner now Abus?" asked Severus.
"Are you hungry child?" Albus called Sparkle and ordered their dinner.
Just as Severus finished his food Dumbledore noticed a pale blue light surrounding him. He quickly took him out of the high chair and charmed his robes to grow with him. All he could do now was wait while the potion wore off.
TBC
AN: Much lighter than the previous chapter. I'll dedicate the next one to the first reviewer who spots Dumbledore's line taken from the Harry Potter books and the book it's from.