Shaun Snape, Age 8
By Teacherbev
Summary: Part 3 in the Growing Up Snape series. Shaun is now 8 years old and dealing with his father Severus, loose Death Eaters, Merlin and magic.
AN: It is probably necessary to read the first two stories, Snape's Invisible Friend and Growing Up Snape in order to make any sense of this story. I appreciate all those who have read and enjoyed my stories, especially those who have taken the time to post a review.
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 who likes to twist plots and play with characters, so enjoy.
Chapter 11:
Over the next few months, life settled into a routine for the day school students and the staff of Hogwarts. The mysterious pranking continued, which no one seemed to mind too much since none of it was malicious and they seemed to be pranking everyone equally.
It had gotten to be so frequent that the students were running an unofficial poll on which pranks were their favorite and so far the time the Great Hall rained inside as well as on the enchanted ceiling was leading, though turning all the teachers' robes pink and their hair blonde with ringlets was a close second.
It had been almost a week since the last prank, the entire Ravenclaw house had shown up for breakfast as their own familiar, so pairs of owls, cats and toads had appeared in the room before the students had popped back to normal, allowing everyone to eat normally.
It was with a shiver of anticipation that the students ate, curiously glancing around the Great Hall as if expecting something dramatic to occur. And they were not let down. Just as Headmaster Dumbledore sat down, the tall chair he sat on rose above the table and he was suddenly dressed like Queen Victoria of England in her formal robes, including gaudily exorbitant crown, ermine lined red robes with high necked frilly collar, and necklaces and rings galore. The rest of the staff barely had time to register what had happened before they too were transformed into courtesans of old. Their robes were stylish and elegant for Victorian England but apparently hysterically funny to today's Hogwarts students, especially the male teachers' tights and large codpieces. The strains of 'Rule Britannia' wafted over the laughter and as Dumbledore's seat settled down to the floor once more, dinner appeared, roast suckling pig, elegantly decorated meat pies and all.
Dumbledore stood, swishing his elegant robes with one hand while he raised his royal scepter in salute to the elaborate and very successful prank. He waved his scepter, actually his wand had been illusioned to look like a scepter, and everyone's attire reappeared as normal. Even the dinner returned to the normal, although still excellent Hogwarts fare and everyone turned to the business of eating, merrily talking about this being the best prank so far!
Severus sat chewing his excellent kidney pie as he began putting clues together. Last fall, Shaun had created just such an elaborate illusion in his bedroom hadn't he? And none of the pranks, except the Ravenclaws turning into birds and molting had actually been more than illusion and simple charms like the levitation spell that had raised and lowered Dumbledore in his chair. He would have to have a long chat with his son this evening. Though he had to admit, none of the pranks had been harmful in any way, and it had really boosted everyone's morale.
Hmm, maybe he would pretend he didn't know who was behind them just to see what else his truly creative son could come up with. He was rather relieved to figure out that Shaun was behind them, he knew that Shaun's empathy would ensure that no real harm or even overwhelming humiliation would occur. His brow furrowed as he considered exactly who had been pranked so far. Now that he thought deeply about it, none of the truly shy students, the ones who would have been utterly mortified at being the center of attention and laughter had been pranked unless their entire house had been, and then they had been just one of many being spotlighted. He smiled to himself, yes; he would keep quiet for now and just make sure nothing got out of hand.
Shaun and Severus had both finally mastered voluntary transformations just last week. It had become something of a competition between the two, but Severus suspected that Shaun had held back somewhat so that they would succeed together. They were both excited because today would be the first time they would actually be allowed to fly as their animagus. Fawkes and Niveus were both on hand to give encouragement and instructions.
'First fledgling, you must learn to fly on your own and then we will teach you the glory of flashing.' Fawkes was circling overhead, encouraging Shaun to just flap his wings and get used to the feeling. Shaun could hear both phoenixes, but Severus could only understand Shaun so the boy was relaying information to his Dad.
'Just let the boy be; Fawkes. He must concentrate on the task at hand before learning new things.' Niveus was chiding the over exuberant fire phoenix. As a glacier phoenix, her personality was calmer, steadier than the sometimes fiery personality that matched the coloring and temperament of the fire phoenix.
Severus beat his wings, churning up dry leaves and pine needles as his mighty eight foot wingspan created small whirlpools. He looked over with pride at his son, now a juvenile phoenix. Albus had researched all of the admittedly scanty information he could find about phoenixes and had been unable to find any description that matched the boy's coloration. Shaun had glistening midnight blue feathers, so dark they appeared almost black at first glimpse. His under feathers glowed with pure silver; his feet and legs were also silver. He had retained his startlingly brilliant green eyes and a tuft of feathers stuck straight up over the top of his head.
As if by conscious thought both magnificent birds took one last strong beat of their wings and leaped into the air, circled around by the two adult phoenixes acting just like mother hens. A constant stream of encouragement and small suggestions kept flowing into Shaun's brain as he concentrated on keeping his wings steady and his path climbing.
With duel cries of joy and wonderment, the two new animagus lost the intense concentration on the mechanics of flying and reveled in the joy of flying. Loops, dives, glorious chases with the wind flowing through feathers and wings, the two managed to carouse together for an hour until they both landed, too exhausted to even stand up. Severus was first to be able to transform back, lying on his back, a smile from ear to ear as he just basked in the memories. He turned his head to find his son glowing with excitement beside him and reaching out an arm that seemed strangely too short now as he pulled the boy over beside him and hugged him to his side. Shaun snuggled deeply into the familiar smelling robes his father wore before closing his eyes in exhausted bliss. Neither one noticed the Headmaster laughing merrily at them both as he floated the two sleeping wizards in through a side door and off to their chambers.
Gradually, over the last two months, each professor had split up their students and paired them, seeming randomly between houses and gave them group projects. The end result was that each Slytherin student was now working with other students and none of the groups had students from only one house. And since no proper Slytherin ever wanted to be bested by anyone else, they had begun to work harder and harder so no one would find out how far behind they actually were. It had been painfully slow, but all six of the first year Slytherins had finally caught up to their class year and several had even begun to make friendships outside of their own house.
The headmaster had announced just this week that the rules requiring you to eat with your own house were going to be relaxed for breakfast and lunch so that anyone could eat at any table. He encouraged the practice, but cautioned that this privilege would be revoked if it was abused. Severus looked down at lunch on Friday and was encouraged to see four of his Slytherins were sitting with their project partners and joining happily with the conversations around them. He sighed, 'if only Flint and Pucey would join another group.'
Shaun was making slow but steady progress on his lessons with Merlin. It still surprised him when his father would occasionally enter his dream to join in, but he basked in the pride and praise his diligence earned him in his father's eyes.
Merlin had just shown Shaun a way to block incoming spells when the tall, dark wizard joined them, seemingly surprised to find himself in Shaun's dream this evening.
"Dad, Merlin's showing me how to shield from some spells, want to watch?" Shaun hugged his father, even though the man had just tucked him into bed less than an hour ago.
Severus nodded somewhat groggily. "I hadn't expected to be here. I must be asleep in my chair in front of the fire because I haven't even gone to bed yet. But I would be pleased to watch you, son." He smiled encouragingly and backed off a safe distance.
Merlin stood behind Shaun and held his right wrist, helping Shaun with the wand movement. "Just use a small circular movement in a clockwise motion, Shaun; holding your wand straight out in front of you. I want you to say the incantation aloud for now, but once you have it mastered, I want you to whisper it softer and softer until you can cast it soundlessly. All you need to do is have the incantation firmly and clearly in your mind and it will work. Now say 'fidem facere defendo'."
Severus came closer, very interested now in the totally unknown shield that Merlin was teaching to his eight year old son. Shaun was intently practicing the words, secure in the three years of Latin that he had been taught that his pronunciation was correct. He looked over his shoulder at his master. "So 'fidem facere' means to create, to cause, and defendo to repel or to ward off, right?"
Merlin nodded as he answered, "Just right, child, now practice the circular motion while saying the words together."
Shaun wrinkled his forehead in concentration and began to cast when he stopped suddenly and, eyes rolling up into his head, dropped like a rock onto the ground. Both men were so surprised it took a second for them to react before Merlin picked up Shaun and sat down on the ground with him in his lap. "Shaun, child, what is wrong?" He patted the boy's cheek gently, trying to wake him up. Shaun opened his eyes, tears leaking from the corners as he looked around wildly. With a cry of relief he launched himself at his father and flinging his arms around his dad's neck he started sobbing uncontrollably.
"I remember, I remember that night, when…when…Mum…said….those words…and then…green light…and…" He couldn't go on, but they understood and comforted the boy as much as they were able.
Severus held the sobbing child as close as he could, wishing he could remove the pain and suffering from the boy's life. "It's all right to cry, Shaun. I know that it hurts to remember, but I will always be here for you. I love you, child, and no matter what happens, remember that." His words were having a calming effect and Shaun lifted his tear streaked face and rubbed at his eyes with one clenched fist. He kissed his fathers cheek and hugged him once more, enjoying the feeling of comfort he always got when being held by this man, his savior.
Shaun had not wanted to try the spell again since it was apparently the ancient and forgotten spell that his Mum had found and applied to him to repel Voldemort's killing curse when he was only fifteen months old. Merlin didn't know anything about how the killing curse worked, he had only heard of it when Shaun was telling him of his life story when he had first appeared at Shaun's fifth birthday. And Severus had never heard of this particular shield, though after hearing Shaun's remembrance of his mother casting it and then his miraculous survival from Voldemort's killing curse, he was even more excited than Shaun. Could this shield actually protect someone from the killing curse? The side of the light would have a powerful new defense in their arsenal against the eventual return of Voldemort if it did.
Severus took Shaun to the DADA classroom on a regular basis as they each tried to learn the shield and Remus, Sirius and Severus all took turns teaching defensive spells to the eager young boy.
Severus knew that Voldemort was planning something because his left arm had started to itch right where the dark mark had once shown malevolently against his pale skin. It wasn't visible yet, though he was always aware of its existence and how much it had ruled his life. He worried about how the knowledge of his past, particularly his belonging to the group of evil wizards who had caused the deaths of his parents would affect his relationship with his son, because he knew with all of his heart and being that Voldemort would return, it was just a matter of time.
Severus, Shaun, Remus and Sirius were sitting in Remus' quarters after a grueling training session one Sunday afternoon and Severus was arguing good naturedly with the two Marauders.
"I understand that your names for your animagus forms were each given to you by the rest of the group and that you had no say in the matter. After all Black, would you actually have chosen Padfoot instead of something like 'Stud' or 'Macho'? But I refuse to answer to anything along the lines of 'Son of a Witch' or 'Yougit' and that's final."
Shaun was trying to muffle his giggles at the Marauders suggestions for his fathers name by burying his face into the side of his father's robes but it wasn't working. Severus glared down at him and snarled, "Just you wait, son, they want to name your phoenix too."
Shaun giggled harder, "Yeah Dad; but they really like me!"
Severus just smacked the back of his head in a playful manner while muttering. "I vote for naming you 'brat'."
Sirius and Remus spent the next half hour yelling out suggestions for Severus name that only got more outrageous as the group dissolved into mild hysteria.
"Long beak."
"Greasy Git."
"Bat boy."
"Doom of the Dungeon."
The suggestions became increasingly in poor taste but Severus finally stood and threatened them with his wand when Sirius suggested "No balls." Because a hawk really didn't have any, did they?
"You will cease and desist this tasteless attempt to corrupt my son. Come Shaun, it's time to head for the Great Hall for supper and perhaps some intelligent conversation."
With an identical billow of dark robes, the two Snapes swept out of Remus' quarters while the two left behind looked sheepishly at each other before dissolving once again in peals of laughter.
The Day School at Hogwarts had progressed further than any of the Professors could have predicted and were actually well ahead of the actual first years regularly enrolled. Albus and Minerva called the staff together at the beginning of December to discuss what was going to happen next year and even further into the future.
"Severus, I understand the children are successfully brewing potions more difficult than the first years?"
Severus nodded and expounded. "Yes and the potions they are brewing are actually good enough for Poppy to use in the hospital wing, freeing up some of my time to brew the more difficult ones she needs but has had to purchase in the past."
Poppy looked excited, "Yes, and I must admit I was hesitant at first, but it has worked out well and allowed me to stop buying some of the more difficult and costly potions. We might actually have a surplus in the infirmary budget by the end of the year."
Sirius added "The younglings are well beyond my first years and actually up to the second year's curriculum in History of Magic. Plus they understand that history in much greater depth than the others who like to just memorize facts and dates for the tests."
Filius was so excited he was practically bouncing in his chair in excitement as it came to be his turn to report. "Young Shaun's natural ability has spurred the others to heights of wandless magic that I haven't seen before in all my years at Hogwarts. I doubt there are a handful of wizards alive that understand magic to the depth that Shaun does. I suppose since no one ever told him what is impossible; he just works at it until he finds some way of making it happen. Not only has the group been learning charms at a remarkable rate, they are actually learning to combine multiple spells into one casting and have even developed some of their own new spells that I have never heard of before. Shaun has also taught them near silent spell casting without losing any of the power behind their spells." The little wizard was positively squeaking in excitement as his eyes glistened and he smiled broadly.
Minerva was more circumspect with her excitement but it was still there if you knew where to look for it. "I have had to deliberately hold them back on some things. They are all quite capable of passing the new end of year tests for the first years right now. I hesitate to begin on next years lessons simply because I may run out of things to teach them by the time they actually reach their own sorting. I have had to really stretch myself to keep them interested and occupied, they all seem to understand the very nature of their own magic to a degree not seen in most fully grown wizards."
Remus nodded in agreement. "And their confidence and ability to learn has spilled over into Muggle subjects as well. I have begun them on sixth grade math and science books which are typically used for ten to eleven year olds in Muggle schools. I have branched out into creative writing and even art and music to fill the days. I don't think these ten will fit into any regular classroom by the time they reach Hogwarts officially, Albus."
Albus looked thoughtful as he looked around the staff room and saw nods of agreement from everyone present. He nodded to himself as if coming to a conclusion.
"I don't want any of you to hold back on lessons for them. If they manage to complete their O.W.L.'s as third years and N.E.W.T.'s as fifth years, so be it. We can eventually branch them out into specific fields of study and then apprentice them as student teachers here at Hogwarts at the age of sixteen. We may have the youngest group of new Masters ever recorded."
"Now, how are the students at the community day schools coming, anyone that needs to be moved here for further challenge?"
Minerva shuffled the pile of parchments she had on her lap and selected one before clearing her throat and speaking. "Ah, a Muggle born student named Hermione Granger has potential, but it might just be book learning and memorization. Her teacher wants to wait until after Christmas to make sure it translates into magical ability. No one else appears to be well above the others in their age group. Bye the way Remus; how are the Weasley twins doing, seeing as how they are two years older than the others. Any problems with the age difference?"
Remus smiled and answered the stern Deputy Headmistress. "They fit in just fine, of course they have a younger brother and sister so they are used to having younger students around. They really haven't been interested in disputing Shaun's leadership of the group and actually they round out the groups dynamics fairly well. I am pleased to see that they have settled down somewhat from last years reports. They are having to stretch themselves into more acceptable outlets for their enthusiasm to catch up to the others. Severus, how are they doing in their private lessons with Shaun?"
Severus put down the earl grey tea had had been sipping and thought for a moment on how to answer the question. "They are soaking up information as fast as they can. With the right encouragement they could be the most prolific creators of new potions in several centuries, but I have to keep on my toes at all times. They have been known to throw random ingredients into a bubbling cauldron just to see what the reaction would be. Luckily Shaun has begun teaching them all he knows about how certain ingredients react together and they seem much more willing to listen to him than to an adult. I am actually beginning to enjoy watching Shaun teach them. I assume all three of them will become certified Potions Masters at a disgustingly early age."
He rubbed his chin in thought for a moment before deciding to bring up another subject. "What is your reaction to the series of pranks being pulled around the castle? Are they still harmless or should we put a stop to them?"
A spark of conversation spilled around the room as everyone began laughing and discussing their favorite prank so far. After a few minutes of letting every one talk at once, Albus raised his hand. "I have no problems with them at their current level. They have actually helped release some of the inevitable tensions normally present between different houses and differing groups of people. Nobody seems to have been singled out; they don't appear to have caused any lasting damage nor made anyone terribly angry. In fact, the students seem to eagerly anticipate the next one. Does any one have a differing opinion?"
When no one seemed to have any strong objections, Albus turned to Severus and queried, "Why, do you know who is doing them?"
"I have no proof other than strong suspicions, but I suspect my son is behind them and if I am not mistaken he has his band of fellow students helping him. He might also have some of the House elves in on it, but I'm not sure. That's why it has been so hard to pin on any one student because he just thinks them up and provides the means for the others to set them off."
There were several quiet looks of pride for the boy's creativity and imagination, but Sirius and Remus were openly and vocally proud of the boy for following in their footsteps.
Remus turned to Severus and offered sheepishly, "I am truly sorry, Severus for all that James, Sirius, Peter, and I put you through all of those years. I don't think we actually realized how much we hurt you by making you the bear the brunt of our pranks. And I am afraid that we only got worse as the years progressed."
Sirius hung his head in embarrassment. "I am truly sorry for goading you and leading you toward Remus on the full moon back in fifth year. I had gotten so used to being around Moony as Padfoot that I actually forgot how dangerous it would be to you. I swear on my oath as a wizard that I did it alone, Remus and James never knew what I had planned and as soon as James found out, he stopped us. He wouldn't speak to me for almost a month after that. Remus, too."
Severus was shocked and surprised that the two would apologize in so public a manner. He had put the past behind him in order to work with the two and for his son's sake, but now …now he felt some of the anger and resentment he had held to the men for decades finally begin to fade. With a genuine smile and nod of acceptance he offered them each a hand in true friendship.
AN: Just one or two more chapters at this age and then the sequel will begin with the group beginning at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, sortings, surprises and the first encounter with Voldemort! Thank you to all those who have read and a special thank you for your kind reviews.
AN: Do you want Hermione to join the group or anyone else? I am interested in having a couple of Muggle borns to round out the group, but am open to suggestions on which ones to add.
