Disclaimer: NOT MINE! NOT MINE! NOT MINE!
Unbeta-ed so don't mind my grammar mistakes.
Spoilers: Books 1-4, ignore Book 5
Pairings: NO ONE ATM!
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9. Great Hall
(Posted 10/02/04 - Saturday)
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"Pouting does not become of you," said Ginny, piling food onto her plate.
"But it's not fair," said Ron, sliding down his seat in embarrassment after his shout. "Just because Percy's here, Severus completely tossed us aside. And what's this with him being our new Potions Master? It's weird. And how did he get his teaching license when he spent almost all his waking minutes at the Ministry?"
"Percy does a lot of stuff in secret," said Ginny. "He's a very private man."
"Too private," muttered Ron.
"Let's not forget that you're not the only person who wants Severus to eat with us," said Hermione. "I have so many questions to ask him."
"Questions about what?" said Harry.
"Magic," Hermione said fervently.
"But you already know about magic," injected Ron.
"In a sense, yes and no," said Hermione. "We know how to use a wand and say the right incantations, but we don't know why. Why something happens when we say a certain word or words but Severus does, or at least more than us."
"So he's brilliant," said Ron. "We've known since summer."
"The understanding of how magic works is more complex than we could ever imagine," said Hermione. "Severus has this knowledge, or partially, and he's seven. He's not only brilliant; he's a genius surpassing geniuses."
"Your eyes are shining rather demonic Hermione," Harry commented, looking at the teacher's table. "I, for one, think Severus is having a ball with Percy."
"Having a ball?" said Ron.
"Muggle phrase," said Hermione. "It means Severus is having fun with Percy."
Ron covered his ears. "Ah! Percy and fun are words that don't belong in the same sentence."
"How about a group picture for the new school year?" a voice said before a bright flash of light nearly blinded the Gryffindor group. Once the black spots faded away, they saw Colin Creevey grinning and holding his dreaded camera. A Gryffindor in Ginny's year, he idolized Harry and was hardly seen without his prized camera glued to his hand.
"I need a group picture too," said Colin's younger brother, Dennis.
"NO!" screamed the group.
Dennis was a carbon copy of his brother, though more sane.
"You could make have Colin develop copies of the picture he took," said Harry. "I'm sure with his skills, they'll turn out great."
"Thanks for the compliment Harry," said Colin. "You're too kind. How about I take a picture of you and Professor Snape together? It'll have a special spot in my photo album."
"His name's Severus," said Ron and Ginny.
"I want a picture of him wearing Gryffindor colors," said Dennis. "Or perhaps he could hold our flag during a Quidditch game against Slytherin. That would be awesome."
"That's my little brother and his smashing ideas," Colin said proudly. "The snakes would be so sore if their Head of House was cheering for the opposite team."
"You are not going to use Severus to piss off Slytherins," Ron said, crossing his arms akimbo and glaring at the Creevey brothers. "You use him for things like that and I swear your precious camera would never take another picture again."
"Ron!" reprimanded Hermione.
"He's right," Ginny said, first to support her brother. "Do anything like that and you'll have to answer to the Weasleys. That's me, Ron, Fred, George, and Percy. As you can probably count, you're outnumbered."
"Okay, okay," said Colin. "Dennis and I promise not to mess with Professor Snape."
Dennis nodded. "But it wouldn't hurt to ask."
He was in the receiving end of the infamous Snape sneer from the two youngest Weasleys.
"I wouldn't go close to Severus if I were you," said Ron, his overly-protective streak emerging from its dormant state.
"I expect you value your own life more than manipulating Severus for your sick pleasure," said Ginny. "Even though I'm positive your chances of using him would be nil. He knows more hexes and jinxes than any fifth year and is equipped with a wand given to him by the Headmaster."
Dennis gulped. "Okay, no going near Professor Snape."
"Good decision," said Ron, then eyeing the rest of his table. "And that goes for the rest of you."
By this time, most of the table's occupants were paying attention to their conversation. With that warning, everyone mumbled an affirmative and averted their gaze from Ron. Even Harry was impressed by his best friend's impersonation of their former Potions Master.
"How about a picture of your dog Harry?" asked Colin.
"Sure," said Harry. "Err, where he go?"
After eating the food the students gave him, Snuffles sneaked away from his godson to the teacher's platform. His intent was to be spoiled and pampered by his old school friend Remus Lupin, affectionately nicknamed Moony. As a bonus, he got to eavesdrop on his old enemy's conversation with one of Molly's brood.
"And then I lied to Big Brother Lu's son," Severus said, giving Percy and Dumbledore a blow by blow account of his trip to Diagon Alley.
Percy frowned. "Lying is bad."
"I know," Severus said, pausing as he drank from his goblet. Talking was thirsty business and it was rare for him to talk so much. "But he was such a nasty boy, a bully really. I don't see the harm in lying to make him start thinking twice about picking on people."
"Severus," Percy began.
"Now, now," said Dumbledore. "Severus is right. If a lie can change a person for the better, than perhaps it is exceptional."
"Not you too Headmaster," Percy said, looking scandalized. "How am I supposed to raise him to be an honest man when you fill his head with these ideas?"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled like no tomorrow. "Why, young Percy. I didn't know you had attached yourself so strongly to Severus. To be thinking of his future, one would mistake you as his father."
Percy flushed at his slip.
"Would they really?" asked Severus, a look of wonder on his face.
"Would they really what?" said Dumbledore as Percy was not himself at the moment.
"Would they really mistake Percy as my father?" Severus said fearfully as if afraid of the answer.
"Well, Percy is too young to have a child your age," said Dumbledore, taking note of Severus' disappointment. "But the chance of him being mistaken as your older brother is very large."
Severus perked up at that.
"And there's also Ron, Ginny, and the twins," said Percy.
"I like Percy best," Severus said sincerely.
The new Potions Master blushed again. Remus, sitting next to the redhead, chuckled behind a hand.
"Straightforward as always," said the DADA professor.
Snuffles growled even as Remus petted his fur. Severus lifted the tablecloth and peered underneath. The former Marauder saw the inquisitive child's eyes and growled more loudly. Severus stiffened and dropped the cloth.
"Bad dog," lectured Remus. "I apologize on his behalf. It seems Snuffles needs more training. Maybe a night tied to a pole would soften his personality."
Snuffles whined pitifully.
"No need for that, although a tamer dog would be highly appreciated," Percy said, allowing Severus to climb onto his lap. "He has enough fears as it is and it would be problematic if canines were added to the list."
"I'm not scared," Severus said, burying his face into Percy's soft robe. "He's just a mean old dog who acts nice when Harry's near. Who would think that a dog that can act existed?"
"As the boy's dormitory has limited space, and with Severus staying there, Snuffles will be staying in my quarters," said Remus. "Believe me when I say that after tonight, he will be a whole new, tamer dog."
"Wonderful," said Dumbledore.
"Ah, forgive my rudeness Professor Lupin," said Percy, polite as ever. "I forgot to thank you for giving me your seat next to Severus."
"Oh, please call me Remus and giving you my seat was nothing," said Remus. "Everyone in the Great Hall could see Severus' delight at your entrance."
"Hey, what happened to Severus?" Ron said, walking bravely to Percy while feeling the curious stares sending tingles through the tiny hairs on the back of his neck.
"Harry's pet gave him a scare," said Percy. "Nothing I can't handle so you needn't bother to come over here."
"Of course," said Ron. "But it's late and past Severus' bedtime. As I'm a prefect, I know the password for the Fat Lady so I'll be taking him to our room now."
"I'm not sleepy," said Severus, eyes drooping on their own accord.
"Yes, you are," said Ron. "If you want to be alert and awake for class tomorrow, you need to have a good night's sleep."
"Don't want to leave Percy yet," Severus said truthfully.
"You'll see him at breakfast tomorrow," said Ron, making a pained expression.
Severus shook his head. "I'm not tired. I slept on the train ride."
"That was a nap and doesn't count as real sleeping," said Ron, using all his restraint from yelling.
"That's right," said Ginny, appearing behind Ron and taking a firm hold on his arm. "Besides, don't you want to have Hermione read to you before you fall asleep?"
"Nobody reads as well as Percy does," said Severus.
The redhead mentioned held the precious child closer.
"Headmaster, a little help would be nice," Ron requested.
"Yes, yes, it is getting rather late isn't it?" said Dumbledore, clapping his hands together and addressing the entire Great Hall. "Off to bed, all of you. Tomorrow is the start of a new term and I want to see eager bright eyes from the children. That includes yours too Severus dear."
"Fine," Severus said sulkily, hopping off Percy's lap.
Ron fought the urge to roll his eyes and thought, "Of all the times to act his age, it had to be around Percy."
Ginny sighed and she herself thought, "The infamous Weasley green-eyed monster rearing its ugly head out from its cage."
Hermione, with Harry and Neville's help, herded the younger Gryffindors into a pair of lines and led them to their tower. Ron, seeing right through Severus' attempt at looking energetic, scooped him into his arms and carried him. The house-elves were smart, putting Severus' new bed between his and Harry's.
"Not sleepy he says," Ron mumbled unconsciously, changing Severus into his pajamas. "Not tired he says."
By the time they reached the fifth year boys' bedroom, Severus was out like a light. Hermione's service as reader was postponed for a night.
"You're being mental Ron," said Harry, discarding his uniform for sweats and a T-shirt. "You should be happy he's getting along with the rest of your family."
"What are you babbling about?" said Ron, carefully tucking Severus in.
"You're jealous, plain and simple," said Harry.
"You're nutters," said Ron. "Who am I jealous of?"
"I think Harry means your brother," said Neville from his bed across Harry. He had changed some during summer, both physically and mentally. No longer a hazardous klutz, though still a bit shy and absentminded, and a growth spurt that rivaled Ron's height.
"You're all crazy," said Ron, changing himself.
"And you're blind," said Dean. "Everyone could see you and your brother fighting for the spot as Professor Snape's number one caretaker."
"I'm not listening to this rubbish," said Ron, getting under his covers. "Goodnight."
He buried himself with his blanket, planning on ignoring them. Harry, Dean, and Neville shared a look and all shrugged. Seamus couldn't care less about the evil, greasy git who was in the same room as him as a child and was the first to fall asleep. The others followed shortly. Ron had a hard time doing the same. He knew his friends were right but he was in deep denial. He could admit his desire to protect and care for Severus but the part about him going head to head with Percy for the title of favorite was out of the question. It wasn't until really late that his mind gave up and surrendered to the beckoning sandman.
"Ron! Wake up!"
Someone, probably Harry, was shaking his shoulder. Hard.
"What?" Ron said, trying to remove the hand. "You're making my teeth chatter."
"WAKE UP! SEVERUS IS MISSING!"
That woke him up.
"What?"
"He wasn't in his bed when I woke up," explained Harry. "He's not in the common room and his dot didn't show up on the Marauder's Map,"
"WHAT!!!"
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I'm baaaaaaack