Growing Up Snape
By Teacherbev
Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, I am not a multinational bookselling company, nor am I a multi-million dollar movie company, so I don't own anything that you recognize. I am a retired former teacher with a bizarre sense of humor, who likes to twist plots and play with characters' minds, so enjoy.
AN: To download any of my stories, click on my author name at the top of this page and then click on homepage. You may read messages, leave messages, and take the poll without signing in, but you must sign into Yahoo to download the stories. In the sidebar that says members only, just click on files and it will lead you to all three stories, each is available in PDF, e-book and mobipocket formats. Enjoy and please review!
'Italics' is mental speech.
Chapter 16: Meetings and Greetings
Shaun's dreams over the next weeks had helped him heal as Merlin stood beside the small boy, disputing and repudiating the words and harsh treatment he had received at the hands of his Aunt and Uncle. Shaun's dreams now revolved around his 'family' and friends instead of the traumas that had tormented his nights for so long.
Albus and Severus spent time each afternoon in the Chamber of the Founders, which now had a door in a previously dead ended corridor off the sixth floor, just past the gargoyle that concealed the entrance to the Headmaster's tower. With the help of Godric and Rowena, Albus and Minerva were planning to re-establish and greatly strengthen the wards around the castle, to make a solid fortress of security and safety for the children once again. Over the past century, some of the original wards had failed and the knowledge of how to cast them had been lost.
Severus and Salazar were holding a semi-civil conversation about the new werewolf cure that Severus was working so diligently upon. So far he had been unable to duplicate the healing power of the original one that Remus had accidentally been given.
"I have duplicated the potion completely, and it is much more powerful and strengthening than the original Wolfsbane potion, but it still lacks the curative properties of the one that Lupin took. And I am frustrated and stymied as to what I am missing!"
Salazar rubbed his face in deep thought as he pondered the frustrated words of the fellow potions master who was pacing agitatedly back and forth in front of his painting.
"Perhaps it is not what you are brewing, but how you are brewing it?" Salazar offered. "Or perhaps it requires some sort of empathy from Shaun to complete the brewing. Was he present, or did he touch the ingredients in any way prior to brewing?"
Severus plopped onto the ancient red leather couch and dropped his face into both hands, his elbows propped up on his knees as he thought back to everything that had happened during that hectic and stressful month. "Yes, Shaun was with me while I was brewing, and he had to have touched the phoenix ashes several times, first gathering them into his pocket and then again when he placed them into the jar. And in fact, I was slightly upset with him because he kept humming while I was brewing and it was terribly distracting to me." He raised his head and looked at the painting, "Do you think his affinity to the phoenix and touching the ashes could have the curative power that I cannot find?"
Salazar looked thoughtful before answering, "I know that he is much closer to the phoenixes than anyone I have ever seen before. Godric, Merlin's animagus form was a phoenix, was he able to communicate with the other birds while in human form? And did his animagus form have all of the magical properties of a real phoenix?"
Godric looked over from where he had been discussing ways to keep any unauthorized animagus from entering school grounds and blinked in surprise. "As far as I know, he had all of the abilities of a true phoenix, and I do know that he was very close to his familiar, whom I believe was an ancestor of Niveus. But I don't remember if he could talk to them in human form. Unfortunately, painted portraits don't have all of the memories of their mortal counterparts. We are but a shade, or an echo, of the person that we were in real life." He explained to the two men before turning to his cousin, "Helga, do you remember?"
The witch in the bright yellow robe looked up from the flower bed she had been tending in her portrait and looked dubiously at her cousin and fellow Founder, "I honestly don't remember either Godric, but it seems like he might have been able to. Why don't you ask young Shaun to ask him?"
Godric blushed slightly as he admitted sheepishly, "I forgot the spirit of Merlin is imbued within the Torque the child wears. Perhaps you might consult with the child for your answer, gentlemen."
Before they could act on the suggestion, or even discuss it, a flash of blue white light signaled the arrival of Niveus with Shaun giggling underneath her. He waited for the white and blue phoenix to disentangle her claws from his robes before rushing over to hug first his 'Grandpa' and then his Daddy. "Grandma Minerva says to 'get your carcasses out of this room and into the Great Hall for lunch!'" He giggled again and whispered conspiratorially, "She looks really red in the face because you forget that the Governors are here for lunch to discuss the budget and now you're late and she's starting to hiss like a cat at them!" He giggled once again as both men went pale and muttered under their breath in unison.
Without another word, Severus scooped up his son and followed Albus out of the door, their long legs making the long walk down to the Great Hall in near record time.
Shaun had been plopped unceremoniously into his elevated seat between his daddy and his grandpa as they made hurried apologies to their distinguished guests. Albus was soothing and trying to calm the irate Governors that had been waiting for him to appear for over half an hour. Even with the Torque blocking most of his empathic powers, Shaun was still experiencing the feelings of anger, frustration and downright hostility from some of the Board members. He shut his eyes tightly and called 'Merlin, are you there? Can you help me?' The emotional overload he was feeling was making his small stomach churn with nausea and it was hurting and burning.
The familiar and comforting form of Merlin appeared within his mind, calming the agitated child with his soothing presence. 'You can do it, child, just think soothing and peaceful thoughts. Think of sitting quietly, watching a smoldering fire, sipping hot chocolate while Daddy reads you a story. That's right, that's calm and soothing.'
Shaun's breathing deepened and evened as the small wrinkles of anxiety disappeared from his face. A small, satisfied smile barely touched his lips as he concentrated on the image that Merlin had called forth. With a shudder, the tension left his muscles and he relaxed back into his chair, at peace once more. 'Like that Merlin?' he asked.
'Exactly! Now, see if you can spread a little calmness to this room and help the others to feel good. That's it, just push the feeling out until you can feel it in your skin…just keep pushing gently…that's right…now past your skin and out into the room. That's excellent, my boy, just right. I'm so proud of you! You did that just right and on your first try too.'
'But isn't it wrong to make other people feel the way I want them to?' the small boy asked innocently.
'The people in the room are only being calmed, if they were intent upon staying agitated, they would be able to stay that way. It is much like a phoenix song, if someone truly does not want to be calmed, the trill of a phoenix will have no lasting effect upon them. You have that ability within you, just like all phoenixes' do. And I know that you will only use it to help people, because I can see within your heart and your soul and you won't abuse the power.'
'Why did you call me a phoenix? And why do Fawkes and Niveus call me 'hatchling'?'
'Because child, one day when you are much older, your animagus form will be a phoenix, just as mine was. That is why they call you 'hatchling' as they think of you as their child who cannot yet fly. And when you have matured enough you will become their 'fledgling child' just as I did. That is why you can understand their speech and why you can soothe and calm other people. Now why don't you eat your lunch and later we will talk about this some more.'
Shaun opened his eyes and looked around at the now calm group. The adults in the room were making civil small talk as they enjoyed the delicious lunch the house elves had provided and he noticed that both Albus and Minerva were looking very relieved at the now genial group. Shaun finished up his lunch, climbed up on his Daddy's lap and went to sleep as the very boring budget talk flowed uncomprehendingly through his flagging consciousness. He woke with his head on his daddy's shoulder as he was being carried back to his room, half listening to the adults talk as he decided whether he wanted to wake up fully or just go back to sleep.
Albus let out a deep, shuddering sigh as he placed a friendly hand upon his Deputy Headmistress' shoulder and turned to look at her over his half moon spectacles. "I do apologize, Minerva. Godric and I got deeply into the wards protecting Hogwarts and how we could update and strengthen them and I lost all track of time. I would not have left you to try to calm that pack of hungry wolves else wise."
She nodded her head, accepting his apology and shook her head in amazement, "I understand. I am somewhat shocked at how quickly the Board settled down once you arrived. And I am downright speechless that they approved the budget almost completely intact. You know I always overestimate everything in hopes of not losing too much when we negotiate, but it seems they didn't even want to negotiate this year; they just accepted it as submitted. Has that ever occurred before, Albus?"
"Not in my tenure as Headmaster, or I think in Headmaster Dippet's reign either. I would have to inquire of the portraits in my office to check further back." The old man chuckled and continued, "So what shall we do with the extra money that they agreed so heartily to?"
Severus had noticed his son's body was no longer slack against his shoulder and chest. "Shaun, were you all right with the emotions in the room when we arrived? I noticed you flinch when we entered the room but then I became too distracted to pay attention to you. I am sorry, I hope you know that you could have climbed up on my lap or gotten my attention if you needed to leave the room because of the emotions in it."
The three stopped walking down the corridor and all turned their attention to the small form still clutching his father's robes.
"I was at first, but Merlin came and taught me how to calm down and then how to calm down the room too. He said it was like a phoenix song." Shaun sat up on his daddy's arm as he remembered the rest of their talk. "Daddy, he said I was going to be a phoenix as my anim..ani…my animal like Moony and Padfoot have. He said that's why I can understand Niveus and Fawkes when they talk to me! And it's why they call me 'hatchling' all the time. I'm gonna be a phoenix!" All traces of sleep disappeared in the boy's excitement as he bounced up and down on his father's arm.
Albus placed a hand upon the boy's back as he asked, "So, he taught you to calm everyone down like a phoenix does? Shaun, you must be very careful how you use this power in the future, it would not do to influence people's emotions without their consent."
Shaun nodded in understanding, "That's what Merlin explained when I asked him if it was okay. He said that people could still choose to not be calm and so it was okay to use it, but I should be careful and only use it when everyone's really upset or angry so much that they aren't thinking right."
Minerva smiled as she noticed the identical proud expressions on the two men as Shaun explained that he had asked the same question of Merlin. She ruffled Shaun's hair as his daddy hugged him in approval. Albus looked thoughtful. "I suppose our answer to earlier has been answered. If Shaun has the powers of phoenix song than his humming as you brewed the Wolfsbane potion most likely transformed the potion into a cure for Remus. That is most likely the missing ingredient."
Severus looked immensely pleased as he looked down on the raven head snuggled against his chest. He took his free hand and used two long and elegant fingers to raise the small chin until the boy was looking directly into his proud eyes. "Well, Shaun, how would you like to help Daddy brew potions this afternoon? And you can sing all you want and Daddy won't say anything about it!"
With a wide giggling grin, Shaun nodded his head vigorously. "And I can sing Barney and Itsy, Bitsy Spider and…"
Severus rolled his eyes in defeat and heaved a long suffering sigh as he agreed and began walking down the corridor once again. The four had reached the portrait guarding the Snape's quarters as they talked. Severus waited a few moments, clearly waiting for Albus and Minerva to leave before saying the password but they didn't take the hint and waited patiently until with another exaggerated roll of his eyes he gave up and said the password. "Fluffy, pink bunnies!" His mouth twisted with disgust at having to issue such frivolity.
When Albus and Minerva burst out laughing, Severus muttered darkly as he carried his son into their home. "That's the last time I let the little brat chose the password!"
Classes with the day school were progressing as the children learned and played together. Sirius' history lessons never lost their magic of 'stories' and 'fairy tales' even though they were all fact. Remus had managed to catch everyone but Luna up on counting and simple additions. Luna was easily distracted and didn't see the need for addition beyond what she could count on her fingers until one day she was playing near Shaun and Blaise who were throwing a handful of stones at the Giant Squid in the Hogwarts Lake while being watched by Sirius and Grandpa Albus as all the children had taken to calling him after the honorific that Shaun had bestowed upon the elderly wizard.
Blaise was explaining to Shaun that he had won the game since he had skipped the stone three times plus two times plus two times and Shaun had only skipped it two times and three times and then only once. Luna stopped twirling with the butterflies that liked to swirl around her long wispy blonde hair and looked pensive. "Ah, three plus two plus two is more than two plus three plus one. Got it!" She went back to twirling and had no further problems with simple additions. Blaise, Shaun, Sirius and Albus all looked gobsmacked before laughing and continuing their game with the squid.
One of the rooms that had been magicked onto Remus and Sirius' quarters turned out to be an indoor playground complete with a heated magical water slide. Professor Flitwick had gone overboard in designing and conjuring the elaborate tubes, slides and pools that defied gravity. Soft pillars of air wafted the child from the floor effortlessly up to the top of the slides and then a twisting, turning, uphill and downhill path ended in a large splash into a body temperature swimming pool. It had taken several weeks to teach them all to swim but in the end they all became as lithe as little otters as they squealed and swam to their hearts content.
Sirius had been teaching them the basic elements of tae kwon do and Madame Hooch had turned out to be moderately proficient in muggle gymnastics which she readily taught to the eager students.
But Shaun thought the best class by far was potions with his Daddy. So far they had learned a lot about the different ingredients and why you stirred one way or the other, and how to be safe and all the other things his Daddy thought you needed to know. But today they were actually getting to brew something! Daddy was going to teach them how to brew a potion that made your hair turn funny colors! Daddy said he could use it on Grandpa but only if he could sneak it into his drink without him finding out.
Shaun was carefully chopping his dandelion root into equal and exact pieces as he glanced over and watched Luna and Terry drop too much snail snot into their potion, causing the cauldron they were sharing to explode into flying shards. Shaun flung his arms up and over his head, deflecting the hot potion from the other students and their cauldrons but he was too slow to completely shield Terry and Luna from the scalding hot liquid. Luna fell to the ground whimpering in pain at the burns on her arms and chest while Terry shrieked in agony as the potion had burned his neck and the side of his face.
Severus flicked his wand out of his arm holster and with a swish emptied everyone's cauldrons. His yell combined with Terry's loud cries alerted Sirius that something was terribly wrong in the classroom and he came running, yelling over his shoulder at Moony to get Dumbledore.
Sirius scooted all of the unhurt children into the indoor gym, leaving Severus to handle the two that had been burned. It took less than a minute for Albus to step through the floo after being called and he and Severus each carried a child down to the infirmary as Remus joined Sirius in distracting the five on the climbing equipment.
Poppy wasn't in residence at the castle, she had decided to visit her sister in Italy once again, but Severus was well qualified as a healer, after all it was a good portion of being Shaun's Daddy, that boy got injured and hurt more often than a professional Quidditch player!
After cleaning off the burns with a soothing wash of Murtlap Essence, a thick layer of bright orange Burn Paste was applied and the two nearly hysterical children were fed a mild calming potion and tucked into the hospital beds to heal while they slept. Albus left them in Severus' capable hands while he went to notify Luna's parents and Terry's mother about the accident.
Oddgard Lovegood arrived with Albus in less than half an hour, eager to see that his daughter was all right and he swiftly scooped up the sleeping child. He nodded to see that her burns were all healed, only a small amount of new pink skin showing where they had been. After receiving reassurances from both Albus and Severus that Luna would be completely healed he promised that she would return in the morning, after a long discussion about the importance of paying attention while brewing, that is. Luna was awake and calmly holding her father's hand as they left the infirmary to return home.
Melissa Boot ran frantically into the infirmary just as the Lovegoods were leaving and searched until she saw her son still sleeping, looking so small in the large white infirmary bed. She collapsed into the chair beside the bed, almost in hysterics about her son being hurt. Severus sat on the bed next to Terry's and took her hand into his as he explained what had happened and how he had treated the child's burns.
"Terry's burns were slightly worse than Luna's since most of hers were blocked by the fabric of her robes, but he will be completely recovered in just a couple of hours. Even the pink left on his neck and face will be faded by tomorrow and there will be no scars from it." Severus had stood up beside the boy to show his mother the slightly pink spots still left and was totally flabbergasted when the woman leaped from her chair, flung her arms around his neck and started sobbing gratefully into the shoulder of his robes. He stood for a moment, unsure of exactly what he should be doing until he thought of what Shaun liked him to do when he was so upset. He moved his arms awkwardly around the sobbing woman, tightened his grip slightly and began to pat her back reassuringly. "It's all right. He's going to be just fine." He didn't know where the comforting words were coming from, but apparently they were the right ones because Mrs. Boot was calming down somewhat.
She looked up at the tall, slender man holding her so comfortingly and blushed, trying to explain. "After Terry's father died last year, he's all I have. My parents died in the last war and my husband, Michael, was an orphan at the age of fifteen, so Terry is all I have. I just got a message at work that Terry had been hurt and the message didn't say how badly, or what, so I guess I just panicked and…" Her voice cracked with emotion and she looked away, trying to hide the tears that threatened to begin again.
Severus smiled down at the red eyed, much calmer woman and shrugged. "That's all right, I understand. I am new at being a parent, as I've only had Shaun for a year, but believe me, when he is sick or injured, I have been brought to tears myself, though I will deny that with my last dying breath if you mention it to another soul!" His eyes lit up as he saw a small smile creep onto the woman's face. He thought to himself of how pretty she was with her long deep brown hair pulled back from her face and her light brown eyes, even if they were slightly red and bloodshot from crying.
He stepped back from her and pulled a monogrammed handkerchief from his robe pocket. Wordlessly he offered it to her. She ducked her head and shyly wiped her eyes and face, grimacing at the smeared make-up on the pristine white of the fine linen. "Sorry, I don't usually become a fountain, I just was so worried."
Severus ran a wand over the sleeping boy and then nodded in satisfaction. "Nippy!"
"Yes, Master Snape, how's can Nippy serve you?"
"I need you to watch over Terry while he sleeps and come and tell me if he wakes up. He should sleep for another four hours with that potion, but you will notify me if he stirs."
Nippy nodded in acknowledgement of his orders before crossing his arms and planting his feet in a determined stance, ready to protect his young charge.
Severus bowed slightly, offering an elegant arm to the young widow. "Tea, Mrs. Boot? Nippy is quite good at babysitting as he is frequently in charge of my son, Shaun."
"Please, call me Missy, everyone does, and I would love to have some tea. Thank you, Professor Snape."
"Severus, please." The two left the infirmary, arm in arm, already talking pleasantly of the trials and tribulations of single parenthood as they walked to Severus' quarters for some much needed tea and understanding companionship.
AN: Sorry it's short, but I have been very busy. My husband's birthday was March 26th, my niece's was the 27th, my son's is April 4th, my grandson's is the 7th, and my daughter-in-law's is the 11th. So we had a house party for twelve all last weekend, Friday through Monday. Now I leave on a 7 am flight Thursday morning to Denver, Co for a week, fly on to Oklahoma City for another week and then fly home to Washington State. So it will be a while before I update.
AN: Who wants a budding relationship between Missy and Severus? Or would you rather she stay a minor character? Let me know which you prefer.