Childlike Innocence
Chapter 3: Something Familiar
Professor Dumbledore led Remus down a corridor and stopped as he came to a door with an engraved silver handle.
"Ah yes, here we are. He shall be quite safe in here, and I believe a good night's rest will greatly improve his disposition." Dumbledore said softly as he turned his twinkling gaze on the small sleeping figure currently wrapped in Remus' arms, his cheek resting against the mans shoulder and long dark lashes fluttered across his cheeks as he slumbered. Dumbledore opened the door, revealing a darkened chamber.
As Remus entered behind the headmaster, he noted, by the soft glow of moonlight steaming in through two windows on the wall to the left of him, that the room contained a large four-poster bed which was positioned facing the door, two high, wing-backed chairs, a bureau with a mirror hanging over it and a tall bookshelf which currently contained dusty novels of no importance. Dumbledore conjured up a silver candelabrum, which he set on a small round table next to the bed that Remus had not noticed. He gestured for Remus to bring Severus over to the bed. When Remus began to lay the sleeping figure down, the headmaster motioned for him to wait and, with his wand, he cast a quick cleaning charm on the covers followed by a warming charm directed towards the sheets.
He then pulled a small purple bag out from the confines of his robes and dumped the contents unceremoniously on the bed. A small pile of black pebbles was what they looked like to Remus. The headmaster deftly picked one up and waved his wand over it, transforming it into a little pair of dark blue pajamas with dancing silver stars. He placed them to the side and picked up another pebble and, with another wave, it transformed into a small pile of little white knickers. He repeated the process until there was also a small pile of socks, two little pairs of blue jeans, a little pair of black dress trousers, a little pair of sneakers, a little pair of knee boots, and three little shirts. He then directed the clothing towards the bureau with his wand and all the items with the exception of the pajamas and a pair of briefs flew over to the bureau and folded them selves neatly in the drawers. With the utmost care not to wake him, Remus gently laid the sleeping child on the bed. The two men began undressing Severus and then carefully dressed him in the pajamas. They then slipped him under the covers; he barely stirred but let out a little contented sigh as the headmaster gently brushed a stray lock from the boys face.
Remus pensively watched the headmaster and Severus.
It was obvious that the headmaster cared greatly for the man…well boy, now at any rate.
He thought back to earlier that evening as they had left the great hall.
ooO0Ooo
The headmaster had been carrying Severus, until the latter had insisted on being put down.
When they reached the stone guardian, Severus clapped his small hands in delight and said "Candy!" All three adults looked at him in surprise.
With raised eyebrows, Dumbledore uttered the password "Ice-Mice." As the Gargoyle leapt aside, Severus let out a little shriek and dove behind the headmaster.
Dumbledore turned and gathered the small child up in his arms and explained that it was not going to hurt him and that he was quite safe, and when Severus was sufficiently calmed, he swept into the office with McGonagall and Remus in tow. The headmaster had conjured up a small pile of toys, which Severus became quite captivated by with a little encouragement. Fawkes had been away; otherwise, Remus was sure that the creature would have captivated Severus as well.
After Remus had reported his information regarding the death eater movements near London, they moved on to the subject of Severus. The Headmaster told Remus that from what they had been able to deduce, Severus had set an extremely volatile potion somewhere near the tub that he had been bathing in and somehow it must have fallen in the bath, changing Severus into his current form and exploding the bathroom. Severus had been taken to the hospital wing immediately and Madame Pomfrey had examined him saying he was in perfect health and everything to be fine, with the exception that he was unconscious and much younger than he was supposed to be. In regards to his mentality, Madame Pomfrey had said that he is the same in mind as he is in body; he still had all his memories and knowledge, but it was all repressed, and while he may not recognize someone, he would feel instinctively trusting towards someone he may have liked when he was his normal self and other such things.
While Severus was deeply engrossed with a toy cauldron, which changed colors and made funny noises each time he shook it up, they discussed what would be done with him. His mother had died a week after his birth, having taken a fall down the steps, and his father had completely ignored his son, leaving him to the servants to be raised. Two weeks after Severus' graduation from Hogwarts, his father had died mysteriously. The headmaster had also told Remus that he had been a friend of Severus' maternal grandfather, and had had the pleasure of meeting with young Severus, which was probably why the boy was so at ease with him.
While they had been talking, Severus had lost interest in his toy and much to the Lycanthrope's surprise, climbed into Remus' lap and fallen asleep. The headmaster had decided it was probably time to put the child to bed and had asked Remus to follow him.
ooO0Ooo
"I believe that a redecoration is in order for these rooms," Dumbledore said smiling softly, breaking into Remus' thoughts.
The headmaster pulled out his wand and began waving and muttering as Remus watched. When he was done, Dumbledore stood back to admire his handiwork. The room was now decorated in soft blues and yellows, with light oaks. The furniture had transformed itself into that more suited to a young child, the bureau now featuring smiling sun and moon knobs and the mirror had reshaped itself into the outline of a duckling.
The bookshelf had replaced the boring, dusty tombs with a variety of children's books, written by both muggle and wizarding authors. One of the wing-backed chairs had been changed into a comfortable rocker and the other had completely transformed into a small table and two tiny chairs. Severus was now snuggled in a sleigh bed with fuzzy yellow blankets and fluffy white pillows. The walls were now adorned with paintings depicting fairytales such as Snow White and Rapunzel. The toys that Severus had been playing with earlier were now stacked up neatly in a corner.
The headmaster seemed satisfied with his work, and with one final flick of his wand, a fuzzy, little, blue elephant appeared on the sleeping child's chest, which the child instinctively wrapped his arms around and mumbled "Bweu epant," and began sucking his middle and pointer fingers as he slept. Remus and the headmaster quietly exited the room.
After the headmaster had set the password, Wee Willie Winkie, he lead Remus back to the main hall. "Remus, I think it would be best for you to stay here at Hogwarts until we figure out what is to be done about Severus. The full moon is a few days off and you should rest," Dumbledore said as they came to a stop in front of the entrance to his office. He held up his hand to forestall any argument. "I really must insist Remus, at least for one week."
Knowing it was quite fruitless to attempt to argue with the headmaster, Remus acquiesced. "Alright then, I could use a bit of a vacation," he said with a faint smile. One week, and then he would return to the grim job of searching out information for the Order.
(End of Chapter)
