I must say I am quite flattered with all the kind comments towards this story, both left as reviews, or sent to me privately. Apparently I thought I had turned the  'anonymous reviews not accepted' button off after posting the last chapter, but I did not (apparently I didn't click on "save changes"). I apologize again to those who tried to review but couldn't. Please give it one more try! I suppose I am more technologically challenged than I thought. A big thank you to Barbara Kennedy who pointed out that the reviews still weren't being accepted.

One more note. I am coming soon to the point where we will find out what happened to Severus' voice, as well as a few more revelations about Sev's childhood that will change the course of his future. If there's anything you would like to see little Snape do (I am thinking particularly of revenge, but I'll entertain all ideas) please pass them along now. He will not be staying small forever.

Chapter 4 – Do You See What I See?

Albus Dumbledore hurried through the Ministry's corridors as fast as possible. He had been in this infernal building for nearly sixteen hours now. From hearing to commission meeting to inquisition he ran, trying to either bear witness or at least lend support in the many activities of the day. "Who in their right mind had decided to try every single surviving Death Eater in a single day?" he wondered aloud to Arthur Weasley, and not for the first time.

Arthur just shook his head. "Albus, it's all for show. Everyone knows it. They have all been found to have been wearing the mark, and this time the 'Imperio Defense' has been ruled invalid. They just want to get this wrapped up and over with."

Dumbledore stopped short and peered at the younger man over his half-moon glasses. "Justice is not a play to be performed for the pleasure of the audience."

Arthur had the good grace to blush. "I didn't mean to say I agree with it Albus. But without the dementors guarding Azkaban, or the use of the Kiss anymore, it's not quite so bad."

Dumbledore shook his head. The vote of the Ministry last week had just barely defeated a ruling that would have reinstated the use of the veil. A return to the wizarding death penalty. Albus suppressed a shudder at the thought. "I am sorry Arthur, I know you don't support the miscarriage of justice. I just would have liked to see the magical world take a bit more time with wrapping up the war. Perhaps if we thought about how we got to this point, we would be less likely to find ourselves in this situation again. Tell me Arthur, have you ever wondered why, despite the ability to live twice as long as muggles, there are few of us who reach my age?"

Arthur shook his head. "I don't wonder Headmaster. I know why. We kill ourselves and each other. We are a jealous and intolerant lot. We think ourselves immortal, we do. I know Molly lays awake at night worrying about Fred and George blowing themselves up, or Charlie becoming the equivalent of a sausage for a Ridgeback. I won't even go into Bill working as a curse breaker."

Albus smiled. He could picture Molly staring at the ceiling and keeping poor Arthur awake at night, rambling on about all the things that could befall their beloved children.

And it was that thought containing the word 'children' that brought back to mind Severus, and the fact that he had been left in the care of Hermione Granger for the entire day. The usually caregivers, Minerva and Poppy, were all at the Ministry providing testimony, and Dobby was no longer a possible babysitter, ever since Severus discovered that Dobby was frightened by loud noises (Albus had found him shaking in a corner as Severus clanged every piece of metal together he could get his small hands on). Luckily Ms. Granger was remaining at the castle over the summer, in order to prepare for teaching the lower forms' potions classes in the fall, and therefore was available for such services. Still, Albus didn't feel comfortable leaving the boy in her care for such a long block of time. Whether he was more concerned for Ms. Granger's well being, or for Severus' he wasn't quite sure. She was a perfectly capable young woman, but she and Professor Snape had a very heated falling out with one another in her sixth year, one in which landed Ms. Granger in detention for the remainder of the term, and though they eventually had come to a truce, Albus wasn't sure all was forgiven.

"Arthur I am afraid I can remain here no longer. The only inquiry left concerns Artiste Dubois; and as I had no dealings with him, and his children attended Beauxbaton, I doubt I would be of any help or comfort. I am going to return to Hogwarts."

Arthur nodded. "Will you come and join Molly and me for supper sometime soon, now that the term is ended? You are welcome to bring that little fellow with you. You know how Molly loves the little ones."

"I will Arthur. Thank you." And with that Albus ran down the Ministry hall towards the exit floos.        

Once back at Hogwarts Albus Dumbledore coaxed the staircases into allowing him direct access to the corridor which led to his chambers, and then bound up the stairs far to quickly for a man his age. He passed through the main office, through his study and then into the guest room which had been converted into a nursery for his charge. It was empty.  Albus looked around carefully – something about the room was not right. He thought for a moment before realizing that near all the smaller items in the room – books, toys, glass vials and bowl, where in different places than they usually were kept. He thought it odd, but concern for Severus and Ms. Grangers' whereabouts pushed that particular concern into the back of his mind. He checked all the other rooms, and not finding them there returned to the main office. He was even more concerned to realize that Fawkes was not on his perch as well.

He addressed the portraits, "Does anyone know where Ms. Granger and Sebastian may have gone?"

The portraits all yawned and stretched, for it was going on midnight now, and looked at him quizzically. All but one. It seemed that not sleeping was a Slytherin trait. "Do you know where they might be Phineas?"

"I assure you, I have better things to do then follow around an adolescent girl and her dubious charge."

Albus sighed, closed his eyes, and sent a message to Severus. "Where are you?"  He was met with pictures of vials of colored liquid being poured together. That was surprising because Albus had just seen Severus potions set in the nursery. Still, the scene Albus was viewing did not change.

The headmaster was growing both weary and worried. He decided to take a Slytherin tactic. "Well, I suppose I cannot expect former Headmasters to remain aware of the current goings on in the school. That is simply beyond their scope."

Most of the portraits looked a bit put out at his pronouncement but Phineas simply snorted. "If you wish to manipulate a Slytherin, you will have to do better than that."

Albus thought for a moment. "I will add a portrait of you in the Entrance Hall?" Phineas had been pushing for one for quite a while.

"We have an agreement then. You will find them in the library."

"The library? I should have guessed with Ms. Granger," Albus murmured to himself.

When he arrived at the library, Albus found himself wishing for young Mr. Creevey's camera. Severus was fast asleep on a blanket, with books carefully piled around him which prevented him from rolling anywhere. Fawkes was on a nearby shelf, watching Severus as carefully as a sentry guarding his gate. Ms. Granger meanwhile was surrounded by another pile of books and was scratching out notes furiously on a nearby parchment. She looked up and smiled at the approaching Headmaster.

"Good evening, Sir. How did it go at the Ministry?"

"It was simply horrible, although I suppose you could say it was inevitable." He crossed the room and bent over the sleeping boy. "So, we even dream about potions, do we?" He gave the child a gentle pat on the head and stood back up.

"I apologize for being so late. I hope Sebastian wasn't any trouble," Albus smiled warmly at the girl. "Why don't you get some sleep yourself? You have the entire summer to prepare for your classes Ms. Granger, school has only been out a week."

"I am not preparing my curriculum, Sir. I had a…well, an idea concerning Sebastian."

"What sort of idea, my dear?"

"Why he always stares at things the way he does."

"Please, go on." Albus' interest was certainly piqued. He had been pondering that very thought himself when not dealing with school or Ministry matters.

""I think he's trying to use magic. Today I saw him staring at Fawkes. When Fawkes flew to him he became very excited. He actually smiled."

Albus nodded, this was indeed a big development. There had been some definite smirks, but they had yet to see a real smile out of the boy. "Please continue Ms. Granger."

"Well, I thought I would try an experiment. Whenever I saw him staring at something, I whispered my own spell and had it come to him. He loved it. We went into the nursery and he tried to move nearly ever object he could think of. I'm convinced he thought he was doing magic."

Albus sat down on a chair directly across from his former Head Girl. "Your theory sounds plausible. Tell me what have you found that pertains in your research." He waved his hand to indicate the surrounding books.

"It seems that wandless magic is usually directed through an outstretched hand, which was the original idea behind the wand. Focusing what comes out of the fingers naturally. But there have been cases where the eyes were the main source of magical energy. It usually is indicative of great power."

Albus nodded. "Indeed. One of the most famous of wizards was known for emanating magic through the use of his eyes."

Hermione took in a deep breath. "Yes, Merlin."

Dumbledore nodded. "As you said, it is thought that this type of ability indicates tremendous power. I must say however, I never saw that type of power our Sebastian. He was average at charms and horrible in transfiguration. Professor McGonagall told me once that she spent an entire night trying to undo the damage he did to a hedgehog that he attempted to turn into a teapot. Of course on the other hand, he was brilliant in potions and quite adept in the Dark Arts as well. But neither of those require powerful magic. Intelligence of course, but only low levels of magic."

Hermione was confused. "What do you mean Sir that the Dark Arts doesn't require much magic? All those hexes are as complicated as charms."

"The Dark Arts are considered Dark, not so much  because they are bad or dangerous, but largely because they are created differently. Charms and simple spells result directly from internal magic. The magic comes only from the person releasing the spell. Dark spells, such as hexes and Unforgivables, are drawn from the magic in the air. This makes them far more unstable and unpredictable. They were created, usually as a potion, long ago, and then released by a powerful wizard or coven into the world to be drawn upon by those with the proper ability. I am not saying it is not an important magical skill, just a different one." At this point Albus paused and looked over at the sleeping child. "He had that skill. As well as the brilliance to excel at potions. But he could not perform more than the standard set of charms."

Hermione nodded her understanding of what the Headmaster had said, but she still wasn't quite satisfied. "But why then Sir, would Prof…I mean, Sebastian think he could do magic with his eyes. At his age he should be able to only do an accidental charm or two if he could get his hand on a wand. Unless he were angry of course. But he wasn't angry at all. He just kept trying to move everything with his eyes."

"I don't know Ms. Granger. Perhaps he had a bit success once and never forgot it. Sebastian has always been persistent. Still, if you'd like to do a bit more research into the matter, I have no objection."

Hermione agreed and the two of them returned the books to the shelves with a few wand waves, and then Albus and Fawkes said their goodnight as they parted in the hallway.

Albus carried the sleeping boy back to his room and laid him in his cot. He placed his hand over the heart of the sleeping child and felt the steady beat below his wrinkled hands.  He spoke in a soft voice so as not to wake the boy. "I am glad you were not at the Ministry today, my boy. Seeing all those acquaintances of yours, offering testimony against them. It would have been one more nightmare to hold at bay."  The boy wriggled in his sleep, and turned onto his side. "I don't know if Ms. Granger is right or not, but there is something about you that I cannot place my finger on. Wouldn't care to tell us what it is, would you?"

The boy didn't even stir. Dumbledore chuckled. "Didn't think so. You always were a tight lipped one. Well, if anyone will get to the bottom of this it will be Ms. Granger. In the meantime, sweet dreams."

With a wave of his hand the wall sconce dimmed back into blackness and Dumbledore gently shut the door, leaving Fawkes to stand guard over the cot and trill a Phoenix lullaby.

Authors note: I apologize for the lack of Severus (at least an awake Severus) in this chapter. There was just too much background information I had to provide to be able to keep a good eye on him at the same time. There should be more of him next chapter.