Three Gryffindors and a Baby
::celeste::
Fanmail to celestialsilence@mchsi.com
Disclaimerness: I don't own Harry Potter (duh) that honour belongs to Rowling, the genius that she is. I'm just borrowing her people and locking them in little cages for my (and your?) amusement. I promise to give them back relatively unharmed. Well, Snape may need some serious counseling after this. Anyhoo I make not one penny off this story, and I don't even have a penny so it's quite pointless to sue. Thanks.
Summary: An accident in Potions (where else?) turns Snape into an infant. Dumbledore in his glorious wisdom (and because it makes a nice plot) leaves him in the care of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Dedication: To Kayla, my cousin Rhonda's daughter, who is the most adorable little thing alive. And yes, I am a bit biased about that ^.^ Also to Rowling- hoping her current pregnancy is a wonderful experience.
Special Thanks: My eternal gratitude to my four Beta Readers: Kerguelen, Aemos, Ms. Prongs, and Sharon. Without whom, this story would be filled with too many errors to count. Also to the reviewers, who make it all worth my while.
Apologies: Sorry it's taken sooo long to get this chapter out. Various re-writes, hiatus, PC probs, business deadlines, and overall laziness. Have no fear, this story will be completed. Seems a shame to plot out the entire thing and not finish it. Besides, I got some great lines written for the final chapter. ::insert evil laughter here::
Special Note: Want to see an adorable piece of Fan Art inspired by this fic? Check out http://members.tripod.com/kaga12/images/Cookies.jpg Sevvy drawn by Kage entitled Cookies! SQUEE!! *faints from cute-ness overload* If you take the time to put pen/pencil to paper and sketch something- pwease send it to me :D I'm not talented enough to draw or I would.
Chapter 6
Thuntherheaths
Harry refused to give an answer to Ron's many questions regarding the seven yearbooks piled onto Harry's bed. Ron was finishing changing Snape, while Harry flipped through the yellowed pages. Each picture was filled with portraits of the students, but what worried Ron was the fact Harry was concentrating in the Slytherin section.
"I can understand wanting to see more pictures of your Mum and Dad. But why you are going through those Death Eater wannabe's is beyond me." Ron flopped Snape onto his back in the crib before sitting next to Harry on the canopy bed. He glanced at a few of the pictures before propping himself against the wall.
Harry glanced at him before flipping the page and finding a thirteen year old Snape looking back. The picture glanced at him warily before seeming to withdraw into the frame. A hand absently flipped the shoulder-length black hair forward until most of his face was covered from Harry's view. Still, he could see the pale skin and large nose which caused Snape to scowl back at Harry as the picture noticed the intent study.
"He looks shy." Harry murmured before flipping back to the index in the back and seeing there were only four other pictures of his Professor. He flipped to the next on the list, and saw Snape in the potions classroom. Even among the other students, it was easy to pick out the skinny boy with shiny black hair avoiding another boy with silver-blonde hair attempting to talk with him. "Malfoy."
"Huh?" Ron sat up and gazed over Harry's shoulder. "Well that's not surprising since they both ended up in You-Know-Who's inner circle. Must be old pals. Chumming around while they rape and pillage." He gave a snort of dismissal.
Harry shook his head in doubt as he noticed the way Snape kept slowly edging away from Malfoy. "I don't think they were friendly, Ron." He continued to watch with facination. Snape had backed so far away he was almost in the aisle. Malfoy continued to give what must have been a grin, but looked more like a demonic jester's smile. Suddenly a burly boy stuck his foot out- sending Snape sprawling into the Gryffindor's table. A pretty girl with red hair cried out as the cauldron's contents splashed over her.
The picture Snape got awkwardly to his feet and attempted to apologize whilst simultaneously trying to wipe the substance off her robes with his bare hands. As they grazed her chest, she squealed even louder. Three other boys behind her pounced viciously onto Snape. The scene ended with Snape and the other three (one with glasses and dishevled hair eerily similar to Harry's) being led out of the room by the Professor.
Harry frowned and folded the book shut. Things were becoming quite a bit clearer.
He picked up another volume, dated around Snape's own fifth year. His portrait was once again wary of Harry's scrutiny, but did not withdraw onto itself. Instead, it gazed defiantly back, and the triangular chin jutted upwards in defiance. His eyes seemed to dare him to try something while his mouth formed that familiar sneer.
Harry flipped to another picture of the Slytherin Quidditch Team. He almost died of shock when he noted the smiling boy holding a bat near the edge. Taller than most of the others, and definitely thinner- his face glowed with exuberance and pride. A stray lock of Raven black hair was smoothed behind his ear.
Flipping through the pages another time, Harry frowned when he found the same cheerful boy in the crisp white bed of the Hospital Wing. Both legs were suspended magically in the air with white bandages covering them up to his thighs. His head was also bandaged and he grimaced from the photo. The saddest thing Harry noticed, was the single get-well card on the stand next to the bed.
Remembering the overflowing assortment of cards and candy Harry had received in his own Hospital stay, he almost wished he could go back in time and send a box of Bertie's Every Flavored Beans to Snape. Harry snapped the book shut and gazed over to the crib. Snape wouldn't want his pity, but Harry couldn't help empathizing with Snape's lonely existence. He certainly knew enough about it from the Dursleys, and thanked every star in the sky regularly for his friends at Hogwarts. But it was becoming quite clear that Snape himself didn't have that same companionship during his stay at Hogwarts.
Reluctantly he picked up another Album from Snape's final year and flipped through the pictures. He noticed a Yule-tide Ball scene that featured a room full of happy party-goers. Harry frowned when he failed to see Snape in the crowd, and then on instinct checked the shadowed corners. Soon, the lone figure of Snape emerged from the opposite side of the room came to his attention. The look of longing on his face as he gazed out at the dance floor caused Harry to snap the book shut.
"He didn't have anybody." Harry turned to Ron. "Not a single friend all seven years, Ron."
Ron snorted. "Well with his attitude that's not much of a surprise Harry." Ron propped himself up on his elbows. "Why do you care anyway?"
Harry sighed as he cleared the Year Books off his bed. "Because I want to know what he was like. I think I've got a pretty good idea now."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Getting to know Snape. Are you feeling alright, Harry? Did you hit your head or something? He's the cruelest, most ill-tempered, ugly Git at this school. What more do you need to know?"
"Why he's so cruel for one. Why he joined Voldemort-" Harry noticed Ron's flinch, "and why he hates me."
"Is that all?" Ron replied. He brought his hand up and began to tick off fingers. "One, he's never gotten laid. Two, he enjoys the company of other murderous Bastards. Three, you are the most famous kid in the wizarding world. Simple as ABC."
Harry glared for several minutes, causing Ron to squirm under the heat. "What?"
"Nothing is ever that simple." Harry said before turning back towards the crib. "Especially with Snape."
"Fine." Ron pushed himself out of Harry's bed and returned to his own. "You go ahead and ponder it till the Gnomes come home. I'm going to sleep, which I recommend to you too. You've got a game tomorrow. Or maybe you're thinking about switching teams, since your chumming up to the Slytherin Head of House." With that, he snapped the curtains shut and left Harry to his thoughts. Just as Harry was rolling his eyes Ron gave one final comment. "Oh, and you can read to him tonight. We never finished Mr. Tippy the Curious Kitty, so I suggest you read that one."
"Any suggestions for the ending?" If sarcasm was tangible, they would have mopped Harry's question off the floor.
"Ya- Mr. Tippy gets eaten by a particularly nasty three-headed-dog named Fluffy. Should bring Snape some pleasant memories, that."
And with this charming note the conversation ended.
Ron and Snape were the only two left in the Great Hall as lunch came to a close that next day. Ron was in a very nasty mood for a few reasons. The first was because Harry had stopped talking to him. The second was because he already missed ten minutes of the first Slytherin versus Gryffindor match of the Quidditch season. The cheers and boos of the crowed made their way into the Great Hall, causing Ron to regard Snape with utter contempt. A look that was mirrored in Snape's own face.
"You stupid, stupid, stupid git!!" Ron shouted in frustration. "Just EAT. Please!! I would've thought you'd want to be at the game too, even if your house is going to loose."
Snape then opened his mouth and allowed Ron to plant some of the pear sauce onto his tongue. Snape remained motionless while Ron held his breath and begged silently for him to swallow. Just as he though Snape was about to swallow it, the Potions Master's face contorted and he spat it out- the remains landing on Ron's face.
"AAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!" Ron screamed as he picked up the dirty napkin and added another pulpy blotch to the quickly filling cloth. "I hate you!"
Snape smirked.
"Ya, you keep that up. Just remember- I'm bigger than you." Ron muttered before tossing the container across the room. The contents splattered against the far wall and gave Ron a strange satisfaction. He returned Snape's smirk. "Well, I guess were done then, hmm?"
Snape glared.
"Well, you can scream all you want to at the match, but no one's going to notice over the cheering when Harry catches the snitch." Ron stood up, unlatched Snape and was about to lift the tray when a white owl flew into the room. Ron immediately recognized Hedwig and waited for the owl to drop the note in front of Ron. Hedwig hooted before coming to rest on Snape's tray.
With some surprise, Ron noticed the message was addressed to him. He gave Hedwig a curious look, which the Owl failed to answer. Not that Ron expected her to. "Thanks." He muttered before lifting the top of the envelope.
The letter had came from Ron's Mum. She explained that Pigwidgeon had accidentally gotten into a bowl of Mrs. Skower's All Purpose Stain Remover and lost all his feathers. She had received a letter from Harry- about Snape- and was concerned with how their Professor was fairing. Ron sighed as the motherly threats rolled off the parchment.
As Ron's attention became diverted to the letter, Snape began to poke Hedwig. The owl blinked a few times and gave a warning nip near Snape's hand. "Annoying little bugger, isn't he?" Ron commented from behind the letter. "I wish you would take him to the Burrow and get him out of my hair."
Hedwig hooted in acknowledgement, and before Ron could realize the horrible mistake he had just made, Hedwig stretched out her wings and hopped onto Snape's Shoulders. Her talons gripped both of them and in the next instance they were in the air, soaring over the tables of the great hall and headed towards the ceiling window.
Ron sat rooted in shock for several seconds before the klaxon went off in his brain.
"BAD BIRD!!! HEDWIG!! I WAS KIDDING!! COME BACK!!"
Ron leapt back so fast the long bench crashed with a bang to the floor. He sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him out of the Great Hall. He rounded the corner, flying past the armored suits and through the twin oak doors.
"Looks like Angelina just took a nasty bludger to the elbow! That had to hurt!" Lee Jordan's voice carried through the hissing crowd of Gryffindors as they cried out for justice. Bole had made no foul, and so Madam Hooch remained silent from her perch on the broom.
Harry slowly rounded the pitch, Malfoy keeping a good distance behind and a little lower in altitude. So far it had been the normal carnage the Slytherin and Gryffindor matches were known for. Their new Keeper, Katie Bell former Chaser, had been elbowed by Derrick and was still wheezing in pain.
"Montague is now in possesion of the Quaffle. Flying towards the Gryffindor Keeper, Bell, who doesn't look like she's in much of a position to block. Nice batting by Fred Weasley, but Montague rolls out of the way. He's moving up for the throw and SCORE!! Bell unable to block! TEN POINTS TO SLYTHERIN-- the slimey bast-- sorry Professor McGonagall."
Harry's jaw clenched as Malfoy smirked towards him. He continued to fly around the pitch, looking for the golden sparkle of the Snitch. Instead, he noticed the red hair of Ron as he sped out from the front entrance of Hogwarts. He was racing across the lawn waving his arms franticly. "Where's the fire?" Harry wondered.
"Slytherin still in possesion. Montague again making a mad dash for the Gryffindor Goals. George Weasley hits a bludger towards him…and CONTACT! Johnson has the Quaffle- she's dodged another bludger from Bole, once is enough for her. She's near the--- hold on--- there's an owl headed this way. It looks like it's carrying something."
Everyone's attention briefly focused on the owl, trying to discern what exactly seemed to be in it's talons. Jordan grabbed Hagrid's binoculars and focused in. "MERLIN'S TEETH, IT'S A BABY!! HEY SOMEONE STOP THAT OWL!!"
Harry sat still before connecting the dots and quickly zoomed off towards the snowy white owl. He then recognized it with horror as his own, Hedwig. With Ron screaming like a Banshee and a baby being carried, he soon realized that Snape was heading right past the Slytherin Goals and onto the pitch. He leaned his body forward and urged the broom to go faster.
"LOOKS LIKE HARRY POTTER IS AFTER THE BABY! I ONLY KNOW ONE BABY IN SCHOOL AND THAT'S PROFESSOR SNAPE!! HE'S WOKEN ME UP ENOUGH TIMES!
UH OH! A BLUDGER IS HEADING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE OWL!! THAT OWL LOOKS PISSED!"
Hedwig sqawucked and swooped down as the bludger came upon her. It passed over Hedwig's head-- missing her by a hair.
Malfoy had been closer than Harry, and gaped bug-eyed as Professor Snape drew closer-- screaming in terror. "What the?" Blinking, Malfoy's head followed mechanically as Snape glided past him, his gaze still glued to the gurgling Potion Master.
Malfoy failed to notice the bludger had turned until it smashed smartly into his abdomen.
He doubled over on the broom in pain and spiraled out of control. The crowed gasped as Malfoy fell from the sky, only to be slowed right before he hit the ground.
"MALFOY IS DOWN! DISTRACTED BY SNAPE A BLUDGER TOOK HIM OUT! POTTER IS STILL HEADING TOWARDS SNAPE-- THE OWL IS ALMOST ACROSS THE PITCH AND HEADING TOWARDS THE FOREST."
Harry clenched his teeth together and urged his Firebolt to it's maximum speed. If Hedwig made it to the Dark Forest, Snape would be outside the safety of the school's wards. He was close enough now that he could hear Snape's cries. Harry briefly noticed through the panic that Snape's hand stretched out before him, grasping for something. They were almost out of the pitch now.
Harry was finally within reach. His arm whipped out in front of him and he curled his elbow just as he came up to Hedwig. Hedwig hooted in fear before Snape's shirt ripped, causing Snape to slip from Harry's grasp.
"HE'S FALLING!! OH I CAN'T LOOK!! I CAN'T LOOK!!!"
Acting on adrenalin and reaction, Harry dove. Even the cries of horror failed to reach his ears as his sole concentration became the squirming mass in front of him. He stretched his arm as far as it would go, noticing with growing alarm the ground becoming closer. In a few seconds it would be too late. He closed his fist in a last desperate attempt.
"GOTCHA!" Harry cried as the back of Snape's shirt bundled in his clenched fist. He pulled up as hard as he could on the broom and managed to keep them both from splattering the ground.
Snape began swinging his arms franticly, screaming in alarm. Harry yanked him up and drew him tightly against his chest as he touched the field. Snape continued to scream into his Gryffindor Robes for several seconds before calming down.
The cheers which erupted from the stands were deafening. Harry blinked up a few times before pulling Snape from his chest and smiling down at him. "Hear that, Professor?"
Snape quieted and waved his fist. Which curiously had silver wings flapping from between the closed hand. Harry blinked in wonder before recognizing the Golden Snitch clutched tightly by Snape. "You caught the Snitch!!"
Laughing with the absurdity of the game's end, Harry held Snape triumphantly over his head with both arms. The crowd's cheers grew more frantic- as if he held the Quidditch Cup. Even the Slytherins were roaring.
"PROFESSOR SNAPE HAS THE SNITCH! This is certainly unprecedented!! What do you say Madam Hooch?"
Jordan and the rest of the school waited for Madam Hooch's decision. She flew down and landed next to Harry and Snape, followed closely by the other two teams- except for Draco.
"Harry caught Snape, who caught the Snitch. And since Snape isn't on the Slytherin team, Gryffindor should receive the points." Johnson folded her arms after her argument. Madam Hooch rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
Harry remained very silent. Secretly, he wanted to give Snape the credit he most certainly just earned. Yet, the look on his teammates' faces led him to believe they wouldn't welcome that comment.
Montague shook his head, sneering at Angelina. "Snape is a Slytherin, and HE caught the Snitch."
"Well, the only other time a non-seeker caught the snitch was when a beater found it lodged in his robes. The points were awarded to their team. I don't think there's ever been an occasion where a non-player has caught the Snitch." Hooch pursed her lips. "Since Harry caught Snape, I'm making the call that Gryffindor side is awarded the points." Hooch, ignoring the glare from Montague and Snape, blew her whistle. "GRYFFINDOR WINS!!"
The Slytherin team looked as if they wanted to throw their brooms onto the ground and stomp off. Instead they glared as they shook hands with the victors, and held their heads high as they stepped off the field. Malfoy was carried back to the Hospital Wing on a levitating stretcher by Madam Pomfrey.
The rest of the crowd rolled onto the field, cheering with excitement as they congratulated Harry and hoisted him above their heads. He still held Snape close, and smiled at Hermione who looked greatly relieved.
Before the crowd marched him towards the Great Hall, Harry noticed Ron leaning against the stone wall, peering at him with apologetic eyes.
Harry didn't see Ron again until much later in the Common Room. He was busy tickling a giddy Snape, sprawled underneath his chest while Harry's weight was supported with his elbows. Watching Snape laugh with each new spot caused much more fun than Harry would've guessed. So far, he discovered that Snape was ticklish not only on his feet and armpits, but also his inner elbow, thigh, the small of his back, and under the rib cage. His neck didn't seem to be especially sensitive, to Harry's surprise.
Ron wandered in to the astonishing sight and nearly collapsed in shock. "Holy crickets." He grimaced and sat near the pair on the sofa, looking down with confusion.
Harry paused and pushed himself to his knees, glaring angrily at Ron. How Ron could have allowed Snape to be lifted away was beyond his comprehension. After several minutes he vocalized that thought.
Ron rubbed the patch of skin between his eyebrows in frustration. "I was just kidding around with Hedwig. Is it my fault owls have no sense of humor?"
"Yes." Harry muttered. "He could have been killed. He could have been captured by Voldemort." Ron blanched before regaining his composure and remained silent. Harry continued in his tirade. "It would have been your fault, you know. Hermione is furious, you're lucky she's off in the lab working on an Aging solution. I realize you don't like Snape, but for Merlin's Sake Ron, why would you want him dead?!"
"I didn't mean to kill him Harry!!" Ron hissed back. "Sure I toss the idea around in my head at night, but I'm not serious about it! Look, I said I'm sorry. Can we just drop it?"
"No, you didn't say you were sorry. And we're not going to just drop this. Hermione and I discussed it, and we both think that you aren't capable of properly looking after Severus."
"SEVERUS!!" Ron then went into a slew of indecent speech that made Neville blush from the armchair next to the fire. "What is WRONG with all of you! WE HATE SNAPE!! WE'VE ALWAYS HATED SNAPE!" Ron's face was growing more red with every passing second. "Especially you! And now he's Severus?!!" Ron spat out the word as if it pained him to even say it. "Merlin Harry just listen to yourself! And I've been telling anyone who would listen for days now that I'm not up to looking after Snape! S-N-A-P-E!!" Ron stood up and stomped towards the stairway. "I'm freaking sorry, alright! And I hope that He-Who-Must-Be-NUTS floos in the fireplace and crushes Snape with his bare hands. Because if he doesn't, I'm this---THIS--close to doing it myself!!"
"Ronald Weasley!!"
Ron paused mid step as his sister's voice rang out. He turned and crossed his arms in front of his chest, as if to shield himself from his Ginny's wrath.
Ginny had quickly grown into a formidable Weasley to reckon with. All Gryffindors feared her logical taunts and heated (often one-sided) arguments. Fred and George had started comparing her to their mother, when Ginny wasn't listening of course. She indeed was a mirror in personality to the benevolent, but strict Mrs. Weasley.
Now Harry watched with amusement as the tiny girl crossed over to her brother and struck him with her finger. It landed dead center on the collar bone- making him wince.
"You're being immature Ron. The only person who's got something wrong with them here is you." She placed her hands on her hips and glared back. "Professor Snape isn't capable of defending himself right now, and the Headmaster made it your job to do so. If anything else happens to him-- if he so much as gets a rash-- I'm telling Mum!"
"Gaa gaa!" Was the extent to Snape's opinion on the matter. Harry patted him on the head.
"You tell him Professor." Harry said before picking Snape off the ground and standing next to Ginny. Now facing all three, Ron sighed and collapsed with a thud to the steps. He put his head in his hands and shook it several times.
"Everyone has gone totally insane." He muttered into his palms. "Stark raving mad. I'm lost in a looney bin. And I'm going to join them because I think I'm about to have a nervous breakdown!"
"Cheer up, Ron old boy." Fred muttered from the game of Wizard's chess he was playing with George. "At least Percy isn't here to make sure you kiss Snape's arse. Proper respect and all that nonsense." Fred winked.
Ron groaned.
Just then the door to the Common Room opened and slammed into the side wall, causing everyone to jump. "I've done it!!" Hermione squealed as she ran in. Harry immediately knew what she was referring to.
Ron lifted his head and looked at Hermione as if she was the most beautiful sight in the world. "Oh thank Merlin!"
"You sure Hermione?" Harry asked, adjusting Snape in his arms. Hermione nodded, excitement beaming from her face. Harry could tell that she had indeed stumbled onto something.
"Bring him to the lab." She replied before turning on her heel and walking back out.
Glancing back and forth, Ron and Harry shrugged-- tirade forgotten-- and followed.
The small lab Lupin had set aside was sparsely decorated, except for the rows of tables placed against the walls. Three sets of cauldrons bubbled with a plum potion. Pickled ingredients lined the far side, while meticulously sliced ingredients were arranged on either side of the cauldrons. Harry recognized a few-- mandrake, eel, toad.
Hermione took out a gilded cage filled with several mice. She withdrew one and took a vile of a purple potion from the stand. "Watch."
She took a dropper and let a generous amount slide into the dropper. She began to speak as she coaxed the end of it into the mouse's mouth. "I managed to successfully create the potion Neville stumbled on. A mixture of shrinking solution and the aging potion we were supposed to have created. The key ingrediant was the eels, I guess their properties counteracted the aging mechanism."
She squeezed the entire contents of the dropper into the mouse, and the pair watched with amazement as it shrunk in size, and lost most of it's hair. Soon, it was a tiny shivering dot of skin. Hermione nodded as she held it up for their inspection.
"So your big discovery was a Potion Neville already created? Now what, do we create a colony of shrunken mice?" Ron asked, disapointment etched into his features. "Filch is going to go crazy setting up a bunch of mouse traps."
"No idiot." Hermione snapped. "I had to create the same condition in the mice that turned Sevvy into a baby." Ron flinched at the name as if she had just said Voldemort. Hermione ignored it and continued. "That way I could see if the aging solution would work." She placed the penny sized mouse on the counter, and continued to transform three more mice into babies.
She then picked up the first mouse that had been transformed and took out a different dropper filled with a red potion. "This is the normal Aging solution Fred and George created. The more you take, the more you age." To demonstrate, she squeezed the entire contents into the tiny mouse. It soon popped back to it's original state.
"Well then lets just make a barrel load and feed it to Snape."
Hermione shook her head. "Just watch."
They waited fifteen minutes, staring at the mouse. It scuttled back and forth in the magically encased space until it gave up on trying to escape and laid back down. Snape kept trying to poke at it, but Harry held him away. After twenty minutes passed by Ron was shifting back and forth.
Suddenly the mouse squealed and shrunk back to the tiny penny-size it had been.
"The effects aren't permanent." Hermione concluded. "That's why Dumbledore didn't even suggest it as a solution."
Ron sighed and transfigured an empty jar into a stool to sit on. Harry did likewise- sensing a long lecture was about to be given. "So what did you figure out? Where is Hermione's magical cure?"
Hermione indicated the plum potion. "This is what I've come up with. I've tested it a couple of times and the effects seem to be permanent. The key ingredients are substituting the baby eels with mandrake. The other is aged troll eyes. Watch."
Hermione picked up a different mouse and squeazed the plum colored solution into it's mouth. Like the first potion, it quickly morphed back into an adult. She placed it in the same barrier and they waited for it to turn back.
After an hour, both Ron and Harry were smiling.
"I'll hold his mouth open and you shove it down his throat." Ron said, grinning from ear to ear. He reached out for Snape, but Harry pulled him away.
"Hold on, are you sure that stuff is safe?" Harry asked, lifting an eyebrow.
Hermione nodded. "The mice have shown no adverse effects. Of course, long-term results could take a few weeks of observation, even a month. The only potential danger is the Troll Eyes. As long as the dosage is calculated correctly there should be no problems. I could wait another month to attempt-"
Ron cut her off. "No way! That mouse looks okie dokie to me. Give me the bag Harry. How much do we give him Hermione?"
Harry was hesitant. He had no doubts about Hermione's abilities, but he was uncomfortable about giving Snape such an experimental potion. Especially one that could poison him. "Do you have the antidote?"
Hermione nodded and held out her arms as Ron pulled out one of the bottles. "Trust me Harry."
With some reluctance, Harry handed Snape to Hermione. She laid him on the cleared space and took the bottle from Ron. "Let's see, according to my calculations…" She trailed off as she consulted the parchment in front of her and filled the bottle halfway. "Now, if this doesn't work for some reason, we won't be able to attempt it again until the Troll Eyes are completely out of his system."
"How long would that take?" Harry asked.
"I wouldn't worry about that Harry." Hermione answered, again taking Snape into her arms. She picked up the bottle. "This should do it."
"Hold on!" Ron cried out as she drew the bottle close. Hermione stopped and regarded him. "Won't he, ah, bust out of that outfit?"
Harry saw what Ron was talking about. If Snape returned to normal size, his baby clothes would definitely not be enough to cover him. "Take it off Hermione."
Hermione blinked for several seconds before complying. Once the shirt and trousers were off, she handed them to Harry. Harry took them and transfigured the blue shirt decorated with jumping lambs into a large black robe that was close to the billowing ones his professor normally wore. "What about the nappy?" Harry asked, glancing at the prancing Unicorns.
Ron's eyes glinted with a mischievous twinkle. "Leave it." He took his own wand and pointed it at the nappy. He muttered a charm and a soft blue twinkle surrounded Snape, causing him to giggle. Ron winked at Harry. "Charmed to expand with Snape. I can't wait to see the look on his face!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and presented the bottle to Snape. "Please Professor. It won't taste that great, but you've got to drink it."
To everyone's surprise Snape accepted the bottle with very little fuss. Harry once again wondered how much Snape actually understood was going on around him. They waited with baited breath as slowly the plum potion disappeared.
After ten minutes Snape had completely drank all of the potion. Hermione took the bottle away and the three watched expectantly. She laid him onto the table, and held her breath.
A few minutes passed with Snape gazing back at the trio.
Then he burped.
Ron slumped. "Well that was rather anti-climactic."
Hermione sighed heavily and went to grab the parchment, intent to figure out what had gone wrong, when Snape began to lengthen. His face contorted into a grimace of pain as his arms and legs grew. His head also expanded, along with his body. They watched silently while Snape grew longer and wider with each passing second.
After a full minute, Snape stopped. He gazed up at them with clear black eyes and his lips pressed firmly together- drawn into a taught line. It was apparent, however, that he was still a baby. Just a larger baby, and definitely not a man.
Snape looked up at them for several seconds before his mouth opened, and actual syllables escaped.
"Thun-ther-hethsss."
They all blinked collectively. "What?" Ron asked. "Someone translate please? I never took gibberish."
"I think," Harry began slowly, "that he just called us 'dunderheads'."
"Sssthuupid Weezzy." Snape added, his eyebrow lifted in an uncomfortably familiar way.
Ron grimaced. "Bloody hell."
Author's Notes: Uh oh. Snape is now capable of speech-- um somewhat. I have also discovered it is very difficult to write a Quidditch match. Go Rowling, once again proven the most creative person on the planet.
Snape is now around fourteen months old- if you are keeping tabs. It's hard to tell where magical babies are concerned. And just how much does Snape remember? It's obvious he knows names. How much more will he reveal?
Thanks to Shamenka who gave me the final push I needed in order to give Snape speech. Thanks to the rest who have suggested it.
Also I will probably cause Snape to age through several stages of adolecence through the next chapters- till the end. We'll have to see how long it takes for Hermione to perfect the Potion.
Reviews are appreciated and fawned over for many hours. I'm not above begging ^.-
Next Chapter:
Our heroes must now deal with a talking, walking, and crawling Snape. Will Ron loose it entirely? Will Hermione figure out what went wrong? Will Harry continue to unravel Snape's past? Find out in the next exciting Chapter- From the mouths of Babes.