"Are you ok Sev?" Michael asked when he walked back into his room. Severus was sitting on his bed looking decidedly worse for wear.
"I'm fine. Leave me alone.." was the whispered answer and Michael rolled his eyes. Typical Severus. He walked over to the pale boy and sat down on his bed next to him.
"Severus I'm only trying to be your friend. Stop trying to push everyone away from you. Not all people are like Sirius and James." he said, putting his arm around Severus' shoulder. To his utter amazement, Severus leaned into him and started to...cry? After getting over the initial shock of having his stony Potions professor crying on his shoulder, Michael wrapped his arms tighter around the boy, whispering soothing words to him and stroking his mass of messy black hair. He was used to people breaking down on him, it had happened so often during the war that it was now expected, but Severus? No, this isn't the Potions Master that hates you with a passion. This is a young boy who has never been loved, who has never been shown compassion of any kind.
"I-It's just so hard. All I ever wanted was to fit in with them, but all they do is mock and ridicule me. I just want a friend." He whispered into the crook of Michael's neck and Michael smiled.
"I'll be your friend. You just have to let me in. I'm not going to hurt you, you need to trust me." Michael whispered soothingly and Severus began to cry harder, gripping onto Michael's shirt as if he was the last person in the world and would disappear if he let go.
Michael walked into the Great Hall the next day, his arm draped protectively around Severus' shoulder, glaring at anyone who dared to threaten his new friend (i.e. Sirius and James). Severus was looking shyly at his shoes, trying hard not to blush from all the stares they were getting. Michael plopped down at the end of the table, pulling Severus down next to him and smiling brightly. Severus' eyes grew to the size of saucers when Michael began piling pancakes and strawberries and whipped cream onto both of their plates. "Look you half-starved little scare crow, you're my friend now and I'm gonna fatten you up if it's the last thing I do." Michael said, smirking evilly, then digging into his own mountain of food. At first Severus just picked at it lamely, but after awhile he began to scarf it down as if he had never eaten before in his life .Michael smiled and poured him a glass of pumpkin juice to wash it down with.
Michael watched Severus thoughtfully as he scarfed down his food. He's not to bad looking. I'll bet with a little help from me the girls will be all over him..he thought, then smiled and began to finish off the sticky mountain of white and red that was his breakfast.
When Severus had finished his third helping of breakfast, Michael got up and yanked the pale boy up with him. "Come on, I have an idea." He said, taking his hand and dragging him out of the hall, ignoring the cat-calls and wolf-whistles.
When Michael walked proudly into his Potions class, dragging Severus behind him, he smiled in satisfaction at the gasps that echoed throughout the room. He thought he had done rather well and the silence in the room only proved him right. Severus was now only about an inch shorter than Michael himself, his hair was no longer the greasy black mess that it had once been, but a shining raven color that turned blue in the sunlight. It was thick and wavy, falling to his shoulders gracefully. Michael had shrunk his nose so that it was a normal size. (A/N: Hey, everyone always said he had an abnormally large nose...) His skin was still pale, but instead of the clammy white, it was now a creamy color. All-in-all Michael was pretty proud of his work. All of the changes were permanent and when he tried to remember his Professor as he used to be, he saw a handsome man in the place of the decidedly ugly one that had once been there. So he had changed the future after all. He thought with a smirk. Dumbledore was going to kill him..
"Snivvily!" James asked, bemused.
"It's Severus, Potter." Michael said, rolling his eyes at the shock that was plainly visible on James' face and pulling Severus into a seat at the back of the class. Sirius was also staring at them in shock, as was the rest of the student body. Michael raised an eyebrow and smirked the trade-mark Slytherin smirk. "My boy cleans up nicely, doesn't he?" Michael asked, looking proudly at the blushing boy beside him. "Michael!" Severus whispered pleadingly. "Sev you really need to take care of that confidence issue. Stop being embarrassed. Look it. You've shocked and awed the whole seventh year potions class into silence, simply by walking into the room. Even Potter and Black don't have anything to say!" Michael said, placing an arm around Severus' shoulder. Severus smiled shyly and was about to answer when the Potions Professor walked in.
Michael couldn't believe the progress he had made in just a couple of days. But, then again, he had always been able to accomplish great things in a short amount of time, be it socially or magically. He was Harry Potter, after all.
Michael smiled to himself and made his way out to the quidditch pitch with a borrowed broom slung over his shoulder. He was just about to walk out onto the grounds when he felt two pairs of strong hands dragging him into a nearby empty classroom, where he was thrown up against the wall, a hand at his throat. "Who are you?" A fierce voice whispered and Michael smiled at his future Godfather. "Michael Crawford" he said simply, knowing it would seriously peeve the other boy off. "Don't get smart with me! How do you know so much about us? No one knows about Remus, or the map except ourselves! How do you know?" He snarled and Michael laughed. "I can read your minds." he said, which was actually true. Snape had taught him how to a year ago. It had taken forever to learn, though it was worth it. "Oh ha ha. Veeeery funny Crawford. The truth!"
"I AM telling the truth you twit! I can read your minds, though not very much. I only catch little things every once in awhile. Your minds are pretty well blocked. For instance, a different word just crossed across each of your minds. Remus, you just thought 'Beautiful' I'm flattered, really, but you're pretty damn beautiful yourself." He said winking at the werewolf hiding in the shadows. "Sirius just thought 'Sexy'. Man I'm really a hit with you guys, aren't I? And James, you just though 'Liar'. Oh you CAN'T be serious.." he said, looking at Peter. "Petigrew just thought 'Cheese'" Michael finished, nearly falling to the floor laughing. The four Marauders all looked at each other and gave shy nods of approval. Sirius let go of the still sniggering Michael and stepped back, chuckling a little despite himself.
"So you're...you and Sni-Severus, you're-?" Remus stuttered from the corner and Michael gave a great bark of laughter that strangely enough, reminded the Marauders of Sirius.
"No, me and Sev are NOT a couple!" Michael said, exasperated. Suddenly there was a tug at his ankle and Michael looked down to see Padfoot chewing on his pants. Padfoot looked up at him and bared his hackles, obviously hoping to scare Michael, but Michael merely rolled his eyes and two seconds later there was a great black panther with sparkling emerald eyes in his place, swishing it's tail and purring slightly. The other Marauders all gasped and Padfoot gave a bark of approval. Michael crouched down and growled a little before pouncing playfully on the great black dog in front of him. Padfoot and Michael began to roll around, fighting playfully. He had been accepted! They didn't hate him anymore! He was playing with his Godfather like he used to before Sirius had fallen through the veil! God was he happy.
Ok so second Chappie. A lot is happening, I know. Tell me what ya think!