Chapter 18: My lessons your lessons
{Kat and Sev's POV}
Kat walked back to the Slytherin dorms and stopped at Severus's on the way back to hers. She knocked on the door softly before walking in. She smirked, hoping that he or one of his roommates would have shouted at her if they were changing or something. She just wanted to tease them as usual. -"I need you to do something for me"- She said as she closed the door behind her.
Severus' roommates almost jumped up to the ceiling and covered their bodies when Kat walked in. They had just returned from the dueling club had they were changing into clean, comfortable clothes before Kat came in. Some were in their underwear and some were shirtless. They were completely red in the face as they stared at Kat.
Severus was reading at his desk. He turned to look at Kat when he heard her voice, then looked at his roommates with a sigh, not the first time this had happened. -"If you have time to cover up, finish getting dressed, instead of standing around half naked in front of my sister"-
They all managed to blush even more and finished dressing at full speed and then they each sat at their desks to study pretending that nothing at all had happened. But their nervousness was extremely obvious
Severus rolled his eyes before looking back at Kat. -"What do you need from me?"- He was used to all this, he knew that his roommates liked his sister since they first saw her, and he suspected that Kat knew it that's why he likes to tease them
-"I've known you guys for years, why do you still not know to just shout at me if I start walking into the room?"- Kat laughed jokingly, she'd known them since they got to Hogwarts, and she could tell a few of them had a crush on hers -"Alex is having yet another problem sleeping and dad said I need to give him Dreamless sleep potions with a higher dosage. I would do it myself, but we know you're much better and potions than I am, and I don't feel like messing up and having to deal with whatever the potions cause him to do. I need you to brew up and big batch for me"- She said quickly in one breath as she sat back on Severus's bed, tired for the day with Alex and that the day wasn't over yet.
Severus listened to her carefully before shrugging. -"Shouting is not their forte, they're very quiet boys and besides they find you cute so..."-
-"Severus!"- All the boys said at the same time while blushing again. That was supposed to be a secret between them.
Severus rolls his eyes, he decided not to tease them anymore, he thought they had been humiliated enough. -"Dreamless sleeping potions with a higher dosage, got it, it's not that hard, I can make a big batch after dinner, now, let's get down to business, did you get dad's permission, and what did you ask him for?"- He asked before turning around in the chair to face Kat squarely.
-"So letting me walk in when they're changing will get them a date with me?"- Kat joked -"Well either way, I don't know which one of you thinks that, but I'm flattered, thank you"- She laughed softly at her own comment before turning back to Severus -"Alright, thank you. Yes, I got permission, it was quite easy actually, but I told him that we agreed to work together, so someone is always watching Alex. Well he's going to teach me Occlumency and Legilimency, what did you ask him about?"- She said as she cocked her head to look at him curiously.
Severus' roommates blushed even more, but didn't say a word; they were interested in the Snape siblings' conversation. Although they felt a little bad about them, they were practically their younger brother's babysitters and their lives pretty much revolved around him. They liked Alex a lot and knew that the little boy was not to blame, it was a bit unfair, but they didn't say anything even when Severus complained about his little brother.
-"Mmm, Occlumency and Legilimency, those magics are very difficult, though I've read about Occlumency it doesn't seem that hard"- Severus shrugs. -"I asked dad's permission for professor McGonagall to teach me how to become an Animagus"- He turned his head as an owl flew in through the window, leaving a scroll on his desk. -"Cool, now I have my lesson schedule"- He smiled as he read the scroll.
-"I read up on it a lot, but dad seems worried that he's going to push me too far"- Kat said with a shrug -"Ooh exciting, what do you think you'll turn into?"- She asked, wondering if he had any hunches or wishes. -"Oh and dad will give me my schedule tomorrow then we can agree on when everyone takes care of Alex"-
Severus bowed his head -"Well, according to rumors, the student that dad taught him Occlumency or was it Legilimency, well it doesn't matter, the point is that according to rumors he pushed him to exhaustion, and the student quit the lessons"- He said as he crossed his arms -"Although they say that student was very arrogant and didn't follow dad's rules, but others say that dad was a real demon and the student suffered a lot. The version changes depending on who is telling the story, but I guess, he shouldn't push you too much as long as you follow his rules, oh and don't try to impress him just follow his instructions and study hard before the lessons, if he sees that you go well prepared the lessons will be easier, and he will be less strict"- He had already received, and still received them, lessons from his father during vacations and even before starting school, so he knew very well his father's temper when he gave lessons, and he is very strict, and more when they don't do what he says, or they make a mistake because they don't follow some instruction. He thought for a moment what animal he could transform into -"Maybe a panther or a snake, I have a slight feeling it will be something big or something very small"- He said unable to contain the excitement, but sighed at the end when caring for Alex appeared in the conversation, he said nothing just nodded.
-"I'll be fine, I can handle it, but thanks for the advices"- Kat said with a shrug, she knew how harsh their father could be, but she was strong and could endure it. But she also decided to take her brother's advices into account, since he was the only one of the three who had already received lessons from their father. Kat always preferred to study and practice on her own, this was the first time she sought help from their father to learn something. -"You better hope it's something small or Alex is going to find out pretty easily"- She said with a small laugh, though she really hoped it was something small.
Severus shrugged. -"Yeah, I guess you're right, though I'd rather it be something big it's more intimidating"- He smirks. -"Though if Alex were to find out what we're doing, let it at least be when we finish our lessons, so we wouldn't have to lose too much, because well, he has to find out at some point"- Though as clueless as their little brother is if they don't tell him, he may remain ignorant all his life.
-"I just hope I can get away without him finding out until I leave"- Kat said with a shrug -"You have three more years trying to hide it, I just hope I can make it through my last year"-
Severus shrugged. -"Well, what we want to learn isn't something that hard to hide, it's not like I'm going to turn into an Animagus in front of him. The only good thing is that if you become a master of Legilimency it will be easier for you to know what Alex is up to"- He thinks for a moment. -"Maybe I should learn Occlumency too, I don't want you inside my head"- He jokes, though it didn't seem like a bad idea.
-"True, it should be easy enough"- Kat says with a soft yawn -"Hey no, this is my thing. I'm also not going to use it on you unless I have a legitimate reason to, I'm not just going to dive into your head for fun, seems kind rude"- She said with a shrug.
Severus rolls his eyes and shakes his head. -"I hope so; I don't like it when people get inside my head"- He stretches. -"Speaking of Alex, is he still asleep? It's almost dinner time"- He was a little surprised that Kat hadn't told him to keep an eye on him.
-"No, he's awake, but locked in my dorm, he's doing his homework, but I'm sure he's bored out of his mind by now"- Kat said laughing softly remembering the kid was stuck in her dorm.
Severus smirks. -"Maybe he's so bored that he's destroying or making a mess in your dorm"- He laughs.
-"That kid is too scared of what I'm capable of to do that, he'd rather have you beat him up then me mad at him so that says a lot"- Kat said laughing softly as she stood up and got ready to leave his dorm.
Severus laughed louder -"Yeah, that kid hates it when you get mad at him"- He sighed. -"Next time you come knocking on the door, I'm the one who has to put up with their complaints when you leave"-
-"Yeah yeah, I knocked this time, just no one shouted at me fast enough, so I walked in"- Kat said laughing as she opened the door.
-"Oh, wait, before you go, you'll give the potions to Alex when he goes to sleep, won't you?"- Severus said before she walked out the door.
-"Yeah, I'll do it, with you, he'll throw a tantrum or you two will end up fighting, so I better give it to him or the kid ends up sleeping in my bed until summer vacation"- Kat says before turning to Severus' roommates -"Bye boys, I'll see you all at dinner"- She said with a wave and a wink to mess with them before turning and walking down the hallway, closing the door behind her.
Once Kat left the room, Severus' roommates surrounded him and began asking questions and complaining.
-"Oh, by Merlin"- Severus growled as he put his hand to his face.
{Kat and Alex's POV}
Alex had already finished all his homework and was rolling around on the floor of his sister's room bored, not knowing what to do. He sat up and decided to knit his sister the scarf. He didn't know how long he had been knitting, but by the time Kat was walking into the dorm, he had practically done half of Kat's scarf, his back was to the door as he hummed and was completely focused.
Kat laughed softly as she walked away because she could hear them harassing Severus the second she left the dorm. Walking to her own dorm and opening the door to see Alex sitting on the floor keeping himself busy -"It's almost time for dinner, is your homework done and are you ready to go?"- She asked as she closed the door behind her and went into her bathroom to check on the bruise on her cheek.
Alex jumped in surprise when Kat spoke to him, and pricked his finger with the needle. -"Ow"- He whimpered and put his finger to his mouth. -"Yeah, I've finished all my homework"- He stood up. -"I'm going to pick up my stuff, I'll leave them in my dorm, and I'll be ready"- He furrowed his brow as he pulled his finger out of his mouth and watched it bleed, he whimpered under his breath again, turning to put his finger in his mouth and start to pick his stuff.
Kat let out a sigh as she watched the kid put his finger in his mouth -"What did you do?"- She asked as she walked over to him, so he could show her. She loved him dearly, but sometimes his clumsiness was just exhausting.
Alex took his finger out of his mouth and showed it to his sister. -"I pricked my finger with the needle"- He whimpered again as he saw a small drop of blood running down his finger. -"I'm sorry, it was an accident, I didn't do it on purpose"- He said as he bit his lip, he had been doing so well, he didn't want to hurt himself, but in the end he failed as usual. For him, that was very frustrating.
-"It's alright; let me take care of it quickly"- Kat said as she grabbed a small towel from the bathroom and held it to his wound. She tended to it and used magic to heal it up, getting him ready to leave. -"Alright that should be better, are you ready to go now?"-
Alex nods -"Yeah, I'm going to leave this in my dorm and meet you in the common room"- He says smiling before tilting slightly his head. -"Did something good happen to you?"- Kat's magic looked unusually different today.
-"No"- Kat said with a shrug -"Who would you think that? I've been having the same exact day as always"- She said as she opened the door for him to walk out.
Alex walks out of the room and shrugs. -"Well, your magic feels stronger, so I thought you were in a really good mood, I guess I got confused"- He says before walking into his dorm and puts his stuff on the bed.
-"I don't know, just a normal day for me"- Kat said with a shrug as Alex walked into his dorm, she couldn't let him know about her lessons, or they would be cancelled. She walked out to the common room and waited for Alex there.
Alex takes his beanie and puts it on his head. He smiles broadly as he walks out of his dorm and heads to the common room. -"I'm ready"- He said, smiling at Kat.
-"Alright let's go"- Kat said as she glanced over at the kid before walking out of the common room -"You know it's not cold enough to be wearing that yet, it's not even winter yet "- She said as she turned back to face forward.
Alex smiled broadly. -"I know, but I still want to wear it, and I'll have your scarf ready soon"- He walks next to her. -"Besides, it's already starting to get a little cold, I already want it to be Christmas, it's almost December"- He said excitedly even though they were barely in the middle of November.
-"Yeah, me too, but I'm not so excited about going home"- Kat said with a shrug as they walked into the Great Hall. For her, there was still a long way to go before she could go home, though staying here or going home was pretty much the same thing to her.
Alex bounced as he walked. -"I do, I'm always excited, putting up the decorations, putting up the Christmas tree, it's all so much fun, I like riding the train too"- He smiles at her -"And I can give you all your presents"- He laughs.
-"That's good, all my friends are looking forward to their scarfs"- Kat said forcing a smile out for him, she loved the Christmas season, but it was always different at home. They did the normal things together that families would do, but after that they were kind of all on their own, her father would go to his office and work, Alex would entertain himself and Severus and her would just find things to do on their own around the house. It wasn't that she hated going home for Christmas; it was just that the celebrations only lasted about two days, the day they decorated and Christmas morning, after that it was like a normal day at home.
-"I can't wait"- Alex says happily before frowning. -"I just hope that person doesn't come this year, I don't want dad to be made this year"- He mutters to himself. Alex used to enjoy Christmas with his siblings, he always used to convince their father to at least decorate the house with them and open the presents, for him that was enough, as he usually saw their father when he was in trouble, so those moments made him very happy. Alex shook his head, he didn't want to remember last year's Christmas, it was from that year that he found out why his father used to be upset a few days before Christmas, a woman used to come and yell at him. Alex was very scared of that woman, so he ran away, and he could not know why that woman was yelling at his father and what she was doing there. -"I'm going to eat with my friends"- He said to Kat smiling, he had the illusion that this Christmas was going to be perfect.
-"Alright, sounds good"- Kat said with a nod as she watched him go over to his friends and then walked over to the table to sit with her friends. She tried to think about the mumbling she heard from Alex, she too had noticed that their father used to get mad a few days before Christmas, a few years later since their mother left. She didn't know why, but she came to the conclusion that it was because he had a lot of work and having to participate in Christmas activities forced him to overwork himself, that's why he was upset the closer it got to Christmas.
Alex and Kat talked to their respective friends while they waited for dinner to begin, but at that precise moment Severus walked in the Great Hall covering his ears while his roommates walked behind him.
