Childlike Innocence
Chapter 9: Bring On The Lovers, Liars And Clowns!
"Will
you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail
"There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on
my tail
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all
advance.
They are waiting on the shingle - will you come
and join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't
you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will
you, won't you, won't you join the dance?
-Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland"
Remus smiled to himself as he listened to Severus singing softly while he played in the bath. Remus had discovered that if promised playtime at the end of a bath, Severus was much more cooperative with being washed. After selecting fresh clothes and laying them out on the bed, Remus grabbed a fluffy towel and warmed it with a quick spell. He entered the bathroom, slinging the towel over his shoulder, and plucked the sopping boy from the cooling bathwater. He carefully set Severus on the bathmat, wrapping him loosely in the towel before beginning to rub him dry.
"You're as wrinkled as a raisin." Remus muttered.
"Prune, wrinkled as a prune." Severus corrected.
"No, raisin. You're too little to be a prune, not to mention the fact that prunes are nasty and you're cute and sweet."
Severus giggled at this speech as he was scooped up, wet towel and all, and carried into the bedroom. After being dressed in trousers, a white top and a little, light blue robe, Remus once again picked him up. He shifted Severus to his left hip and grabbed the duffel he had packed while Severus was in the tub, before heading down the stairs.
Once in the kitchen, Remus instructed Severus to hold on tight and close his eyes before grasping the small red scroll and murmuring the activation "Noble House." He felt the slight jerk behind his naval as the portkey whisked them away.
They landed on a dilapidated street in front of a row of ominous looking houses, one of which was number 12 Grimmauld Place. Severus had opened his eyes and was looking around rather curiously. It was quite filthy, and unlike any place he had ever seen before. Remus quickly climbed the front steps and banged the heavy knocker against the door. He could hear old Mrs. Black's portrait awaken and commence screeching her profane diatribe. A few moments later, the door unlocked and swung open to reveal Tonks who beckoned them inside.
Once the door had been resealed, she turned to the pair and shouted, "Hiya, everyone's waiting in the kitchen."
ooO0Ooo
"Ah Remus, Severus, please come in." The headmaster greeted them as they entered the kitchen. Remus nodded and seated himself with Severus comfortably situated on his lap. It took a moment for it to click, and then suddenly everyone was speaking at once:
"Severus, as in Severus Snape?"
"What the devil happened?"
"Is this a joke?"
The last remark had been one of the Weasley twins, who were now old enough to join the order. The headmaster raised a hand for silence. "This is one of the main reasons for our meeting this evening. Due to a potions accident, Severus has been reverted to his four year old body and for the most part, mind." He explained calmly. He went on to tell the details of the incident. "…and so until we figure out exactly why the potion did what it did, we will have no antidote and Severus will remain a child."
"What is being done help?" Shacklebolt asked, being the first to gather his thoughts and formulate a sensible question.
"Well I have made arrangements to keep Severus safe for now. Remus has agreed to care for him as long as necessary. If I need Remus to run a mission for me during the school year, the child can stay at Hogwarts under the supervision of me or another trusted member of the staff. As for the potion, I have sent samples as well as Severus' notes to a trusted colleague who is working on the matter."
Remus had remained silent throughout the whole of the meeting, choosing instead to observe the reactions of those around him. Tonks gave Severus a warm smile and an encouraging wink, which he reacted to by hiding his face shyly in Remus' robes. Moody was glaring unreservedly at the boy as if he had caused the whole mess on purpose. The Weasley twins had identical expressions of wary fascination while their brother Charlie looked indifferent. Bill seemed like he was still making up his mind and Mr. Weasley looked bewildered. Remus was grateful that there was only a select few here tonight, otherwise it would have been absolute bedlam.
"Well then! Now that business has been taken care of, let us adjourn to the dining room. I believe Mrs. Weasley has sent a hearty meal for everyone's enjoyment." The headmaster said as he stood.
The group was soon situated in the dining room eating at a table covered in food. After serving Severus, Remus turned his attention to his own food and the question being directed towards him. The meal progressed pleasantly, everyone enjoying the good food and conversation.
Severus had finished all of the food on his plate, but wanted some more mashed potatoes. Remus was busy talking to someone and Severus knew that it would be rude to interrupt, so he decided to wait until Remus finished his conversation. Five minutes later, Remus was still busy talking and Severus was getting tired of waiting. The bowl of potatoes was too far away for his short arms to reach, so serving himself was out of the question. He could interrupt Remus, but he didn't want to get in trouble. Severus turned his gaze to the person sitting next to him. He had really long hair and a fang earring. Since he wasn't talking to anyone at the moment, Severus decided to ask him for assistance.
Bill Weasley was quietly eating his food, listening to the conversations around him. It was rather weird, the whole situation with Professor Snape. As a student, Bill had hated him along with the majority of the student body. As an adult, working in the order with Snape, he still thought him rather horrid but could also recognize his intelligence and loyalty to the Order. Now, however, he didn't know what to think. It was easier to think of it as two separate people, the cute little kid named Severus and Professor Snape, the greasy git of a potions master. He was brought out of his reverie by a light tug on his sleeve.
"Excuse me mister, but can you help me get some more mashed potatoes?"
"Oh…yeah sure." Bill said and reached for the heavy bowl.
After giving the boy two rather large spoonfuls, Severus gave him a charming little smile, "Thanks."
"No problem." Bill replied with a small grin.
"Are you related to the other people with red hair?" He asked before shoving a huge bit of mashed potatoes into his mouth.
"All the ones here." Bill responded. He began to tell Severus about his own large family, which the child found absolutely fascinating.
Severus told Bill about his stay at Hogwarts and living with Remus, "…It hurted really bad, but then Miss Welch came and made it better…and I got to have cocoa!" Severus prattled on excitedly, recounting his leg injury. Bill suddenly became aware that everyone's attention was now fixated on his conversation with the boy.
"Did you really level half of the quidditch stadium?" One of the twins asked, wide-eyed.
"It was an accident." Severus muttered with a small pout.
"And one that is already on the mend. Not to worry gentlemen, it shall be good as new in plenty of time for the first game of the season." Dumbledore cut in jovially. The Weasley children continued chatting with Severus as the adults looked on. Finally, when everyone had eaten their fill and Severus began yawning every two minutes, the party dispersed.
"Severus can stay with you in your old room Remus." Albus said as he followed them into the hall.
"That's fine. Who else is staying the night?" Remus asked as he adjusted Severus' half-sleeping form in his arms.
"I believe only Bill and the Twins for tonight, but tomorrow we shall have a full house. The rest of the Weasley family will be coming along with Ms. Granger by lunchtime, and Mr. Potter will arrive after dark."
Remus, who had nodded tiredly in response, began heading for the stairs when he suddenly stopped and turned, "Wait…you said Harry is coming here tomorrow?"
Albus nodded pleasantly.
"Umm…are you sure that's wise headmaster? Perhaps I should leave with Severus tomorrow morning."
"Not at all, I believe it will be good for young Harry to see Severus in, shall we say, a different light."
"But headmaster, Harry loathes Severus and I seriously doubt he will be able to separate the child from the adult. The last thing we need is for Harry to become a bully."
"I agree. You and the other adults present will be responsible for disciplining any inappropriate behavior. Harry needs to learn where the boundaries are." The headmaster gave Remus a wink, and swept out of the door without another word. Remus blinked a few times, and then turned to climb the flights of stairs up to his assigned bedroom. Tomorrow would most likely end in disaster, and right now all Remus wanted to do was crawl into a comfortable bed and curl up under the covers.
(End of Chapter)
