Shaun Snape, Age 8
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 who likes to twist plots and play with characters, so enjoy.
AN: I have had a few requests for the complete list of the students currently enrolled in the day school. They are Sean Snape, Neville Longbottom, Terry Boot, Luna Lovegood, Blaise Zabini, Susan Bones, Hanna Abbot, Padma and Pavarti Patil, and Ernie McMillan, and the last addition, Fred and George Weasley. The voting for adding Hermoine is 18 for, 6 against, and 12 expressing a wish to either have her change dramatically or leave it up to me. I also appreciate the many names suggested for the two animagus forms, they were brilliant, well some of them!
Chapter 12: Rituals and Rites
Albus had been meeting with the portraits of the Four Founders over many long hours during the fall term and had finalized plans for the new rituals and rites that would bring the wards guarding Hogwarts and its grounds better than any time in its past, even during the time of the Founders. The portraits had been able to help a search party of Albus, Minerva, Severus, Remus and Sirius in finding the long forgotten private quarters of Rowena and Helga but they had been unable to find the old entrance of the Chamber of Secrets that had been Salazar's private domain since the addition of modern plumbing almost a century ago had destroyed the secret passage he had designed to keep his most dangerous potions and experiments safe for the rest of the castle. He had been very upset to find that even the existence of the Chamber had long ago faded to the category of myth. Of course Albus' current quarters had been Godric's chambers as well as every Headmaster or Headmistress that followed over the long century of the school's existence.
Several new wards had been created with the help of the portraits and even Merlin after Severus' new ability to join his son in his mind had manifested. The old wards were adequate against random attacks of wizards, muggles or random magical creatures, but they had not faced an evil that had managed to ally itself with so many dark creatures at once. With the knowledge that was available from the greatest minds in history as well as the ones currently available, a complicated ritual designed to form an impenetrable ward around the school and its grounds had been designed, but it couldn't be implemented until all of the students had left for the Christmas holidays that would begin next week. Arrangements had been made for alternative accommodations for the nine students who would be unable to go home and had planned on staying at school over break.
Shaun was almost jumping up and down in his excitement. He loved the castle; it had been his home for as long as he could remember. He still had infrequent and often horrifying nightmares about his home life before finding his new father, but as his Occlumency and the organization of his mind and memories became more automatic, the dreams disturbed him more and more infrequently. He of course knew of the upcoming rituals and was actually looking forward to them because he had been invited to spend the three days he would need to be out of the castle at the Weasley's home. He had become very close friends with Fred and George, particularly since they shared such a love of potion making and pulling pranks.
He knew Bill, Charlie and Percy too, though not as well, and except for Percy, he liked them all. Percy was too involved with following the rules for the three pranksters to actually like him very well, but Shaun was sure that the two children he hadn't met yet would be fine. He knew that Ron was eight like him and their only sister; Ginny was seven but already in the community day school program so he was looking forward to a lot of fun.
He packed up clothes and books for a three day stay into a small backpack and ran out to say good-bye to his Uncles Remus and Sirius before running down the stairs to the dungeons to find his father who would be taking him to the Burrow where the Weasley family lived.
He stopped just inside the door, watching as his father calmly finished brewing the complicated Skele-grow that Madame Pomfrey used to re-grow bones too damaged to be repaired with a simple spell and smiled at the man he loved so much.
He ran in as his father cast the stasis spell that signified he was finished and gave him a smile and a small hug, he was eight and a half after all, almost too old to give hugs. Severus would have none of that and pulled his son into a hug while throwing him up into the air so that he could kiss the soft cheek of the boy.
"Are you ready to go to the Weasleys?"
"I'm all packed, clothes, books, toothbrush, even a hairbrush. And Aunt Poppy made sure I had a new inhaler in case I need it. She also taught Mrs. Weasley the breathing spell she uses on me. I'll be fine, Dad." He rolled his eyes at the man's over protectiveness. His memory flashed back uncontrollably to the thought of how his father had saved him just last summer and squashed the unwelcome thoughts back into their proper space and locked them down.
Severus had noted the small flash of worry and pain that flickered across the usually smiling face and came to the wrong conclusion. "You will be just fine, it's only three days and you know most of the Weasleys. If you get too homesick you can of course fire call and speak with me at any time when I am not busy with the new rituals."
Shaun looked down at the floor and shrugged his shoulders before looking up at his father and meeting the man's dark eyes. A glimpse of the pain that had haunted the small boy was clearly visible for several long seconds. Severus felt his heart skip as he registered the deep pain and agony that his son had already witnessed in his short life. He almost decided to tell Albus that Shaun would not be leaving no matter what when Shaun's normally sparkling green eyes blazed once again. Shaun looked up at his father and whispered softly but clearly. "I just wanted you to know how much I love you, and how it helped so much last summer at the…Malfoys…when I knew that you would never give up and that you would bring me home and make everything…all right again."
Severus felt his breath hitch as he was filled with an overwhelming sense of love coming from his son and kneeling down quickly, he scooped his boy up and held him close to his chest, his heart beating fast and furiously as the memories of the kidnapping and the hopelessness of feeling completely helpless to save his son's life surfaced in his own mind.
Shaun squeezed his arms around his father's neck before pushing on his chest and complaining, "Dad, I'm eight and a half, I'll be all right. It's only three days and I really like the Weasleys, well not Percy so much, but the twins are awesome!"
Severus forced his face back into a more neutral expression and let his son go. "I expect you to mind Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and not let the twins lead you into troublemaking." Under his breath he muttered, 'Or lead them, either.'
Shaun's feet had barely touched the ground after his father apperated them to the Burrow before the twins rushed up and then terrible trio, as Severus had dubbed the three young troublemakers took off up the stairs and into the twins' room, where a small cot had been placed for Shaun to sleep on. Mrs. Weasley had originally wanted to have Shaun sleep in Ron's room; after all he was the same age and had a single, although somewhat smaller room. But both the twins and Severus had finally convinced the matronly and somewhat overprotective mother that Shaun would much prefer to sleep with the twins as he was already very good friends with them and Ron was almost completely unknown to the somewhat still shy boy.
Severus squashed a smile as the three took off, each finishing the other's sentences. He looked at Molly Weasley in sympathy. "If he gets to be too much with your crowd, don't hesitate to call me. After working with the three together each Saturday you have my deepest sympathy and respect for volunteering to add my incorrigible troublemaker to the two you already have."
Molly smiled at the dark haired man as she motioned for him to join her in a cup of tea at the kitchen table. Severus gladly sat down; the morning had already been quite long between Shaun's excitement and the complicated potions he had been brewing. All of the other children had followed the trio up the stairs already, though at a somewhat slower speed. Charlie knocked on the twins door before opening it and leading his brothers and sister in to where the three had their heads together already planning some mischief. Percy just rolled his eyes from the doorway, listening for several moments before shrugging in disapproval and disappearing into his own bedroom to study.
"So, guys, what have you planned and can we help?" Bill sat down beside his brothers and looked interested in their whispered discussion.
Charlie sat on the other bed and started laughing before the five who attended Hogwarts began telling Ron and Ginny about all of the pranks the three had been pulling all year. Soon everyone was unable to speak without gasping through their uncontrollable laughter and tears. Ginny had originally been a little shy, but the new boy seemed to be just as shy as she so she soon joined in wholeheartedly with the shared mirth. Ron was still somewhat jealous about his brothers being schooled at Hogwarts but after hearing about some of the very difficult things that they had been studying, he quickly decided he liked his day school and the friends he had already made there, thinking to himself, 'Studying is okay I guess but I'm glad I don't have to learn everything they do.'
Molly took the last pan of hot and delicious chocolate biscuits from the oven as she smiled at the merriment that was audible from up the stairs as Severus just dropped his head into his hands and muttered. "Molly, you have my deepest sympathy and I can only hope the Burrow is still standing when I return on Christmas Eve to fetch my brat. How you manage seven is beyond me. You and Arthur should be nominated for sainthood at least. I have enough trouble managing one even with all of the other staff helping. How do you keep your sanity?"
Molly leaned her head back and added her own bright and musical laughter to the sounds of the children's. "Why Severus, whoever claimed that I was sane?" She continued to chuckle at the poor man's gobsmacked appearance as she finished packaging up a plate full of the hot cookies to take back to Hogwarts.
The next morning every house elf had been removed to a temporary home at Sirius' old family home. They had been given free reign to do anything they wanted at the decrepit and dark old mansion. The almost one hundred house elves grinned and talked amongst themselves as they popped out of sight, looking for the entire world as if they had just been granted their every Christmas wish.
"Why am I afraid of what that old wreck will look like by next week?" Sirius said though he didn't really look all that upset. He had only returned once or twice since he had been cleared of all charges four years ago. The dark house had so many hurtful and hate-filled memories that he almost hoped they just razed it down to the ground and started over.
Remus just clasped his oldest friend on the shoulder and whispered. "You know that it can't be any worse than what it already was and it would be nice to have somewhere to go other than the castle sometimes, now wouldn't it Padfoot?"
Sirius just nodded and turned his attention back to the Headmaster as he was issuing instructions to each individual staff member. They had leaned their parts and memorized their incantations for the ritual, but there were always some last minute instructions to anything as complex and complicated as what they were now attempting.
"Filius, have you charmed protections over all of the portraits that have no other frames they can transfer themselves to? Minerva, the ghosts have all been reminded to stay out at the Shrieking Shack during daylight hours today and tomorrow? Poppy and Severus, all potions and ingredients that might be affected have been removed for safe storage?" Albus was in his element, his eyes twinkling so brightly that Severus was muttering about needing Muggle sunglasses to be around the excited man.
As each singled out staff member assured the anxious Headmaster that all the necessary precautions had been completed, he waved his arms majestically and intoned. "Let all those gathered here succeed in this mission and charge to keep our children, our hope and our future safe and secure."
With nods of agreement and anticipation the others spread out into the formation designed for the first ritual, the strengthening and reinforcement of the already formidable Hogwarts wards. Albus stood in the center as the Headmaster and anchor of the wards, his feet touching all four house symbols in the exact center of the Hogwarts shield emblazoned in the tiles of the emptied and echoing Great Hall, the center of Hogwarts castle. Minerva stood on the point of the shield, her position in the center of the Golden Griffin that symbolized the Gryffindor House. Severus stood on the south, the glittering green of the Great Serpent of Slytherin, his proud house beneath his feet. Pomona Sprout was proudly standing to the east upon the deep brown and gold of her houses badger symbol, her shoulders squared, the large woman's face set in determination and resolution. Tiny Filius Flitwick was having trouble standing still on Ravenclaw's majestic eagle, but the anticipation and the honor involved in participating in these historic rituals was almost overwhelming to the tiny wizard.
At the outer circle of tiles, Professor Vector stood at the midpoint between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, Sirius on the midpoint between Minerva and Pomona at the exact northeast point. Poppy Pomfrey stood, a little uncomfortable out of her usual uniform and dressed in the simple yet elegant white robes that everyone was dressed in. She stood between Pomona and Severus and Professor Sinistra taking the last space, the southwest point between Severus and Filius. All the ancillary staff members ranged in a protective circle around the two core groups, a unique and unusual group from Madame Hooch, Professor Kettleburn and the other teachers to Hagrid and Filch as well as Ogden the Head House Elf of Hogwarts.
Albus raised his wand over his head and began incanting "Oh spirits of Hogwarts, grant us the power and the wisdom to mold all those who come seeking knowledge; to ease the suffering of those needing comfort; to shelter those needing protection and to guide and nurture the children who are our future. So mote it be!
A beam of bright white flared up and overhead, disappearing into the oddly blank grey stone ceiling as the enchanted ceiling had been cancelled for the rituals. The light hit the ceiling and spread out like a liquid waterfall of light until the entire ceiling was covered before the light spread quickly and blindingly down the walls and disappeared down through the floor and through the castle, out of sight. The entire castle seemed to shudder, the very stones shivering in anticipation of the strengthening that was to come.
Minerva raised her wand and began her incantation. "Oh spirits of Hogwarts hear the plea of Gryffindor to strengthen these wards, to give courage and strength to those of stout heart and bravery to defeat and destroy all those who wish harm upon this castle and all those who reside within it. So mote it be!" Her wand glowed from bright scarlet shading through the spectrum to almost pale pink before following the path of Albus' white light.
Pomona took a deep breath and intoned her voice deeper than her normal tone with the gravity and responsibility she felt deep in her soul. "Oh spirits of Hogwarts hear the plea of Hufflepuff to strengthen these wards, to give steadfastness and endurance to those of loyal heart and fortitude to resist and repel all those who wish harm upon this castle and all those who reside within it. So mote it be!" She let out her breath in a sigh at the completion of her portion of the ward ritual. Her wand shot forth with a glorious rainbow of browns from rain soaked earth to pure gold and spread rapidly to mingle with the white and reds already covering the ceiling and walls.
Severus' face held none of his usual sarcasm and rancor as his deep silky baritone called upon the magics of the castle to answer. "Oh spirits of Hogwarts hear the plea of Slytherin to strengthen these wards to give cunning and ambition to those of strategy and intrigue to uncover and counter all plots from those who wish harm to this castle and all those who reside within it. So mote it be!" His wand glowed from pale greens the color of new grass in the early spring shading to a deep emerald that blended and countered the reds and browns already present.
Filius tried his best, but his voice still squeaked in his excitement. "Oh spirits of Hogwarts hear the plea of Ravenclaw to strengthen these wards, to give knowledge and wisdom to those with a thirst to learn and the focus to counteract every threat to this castle and all those who reside within it. So mote it be!" His wand spewed blues from the palest baby blue to the deepest blue of midnight, completing the glorious rainbow that bathed the entire Great Hall with a moving, almost fluorescent light show.
The people of Hogsmeade stopped and pointed at the sight of the entire structure of Hogwarts that was glowing in the sunlight, a living, swirling glow of colors almost painful to the eyes. As they watched in silent awe, the sphere encompassing the castle grew until it covered the entire grounds, the great lake, the forbidden forest and beyond before softening and disappearing, leaving spots on the eyelids of all those who had witnessed the unbelievable sight.
As one, everyone within the Great Hall raised their wand or their right hand, a multitude of different colored lights joining in the joyous rainbow already covering the Great Hall and spoke, "So mote it be." The lights present seemed to sink into the very stones of the castle, the ordinary winter daylight seemed unnaturally dim after the magnitude of the display they had witness in awe and wonder.
As the five on the shield lowered their wands in exhaustion, the others rushed forward to grab at the five who had performed the actual rite. Poppy handed out pepper up potions to be administered to the five as they were laid down upon the stones of the Great Hall, their robes iridescent in the rainbow of colors that had just faded into the walls, ceiling and floor. As one, the five opened their eyes, varying degrees of wonder upon shocked faces, the power and love of Hogwarts for her protectors rushed up through the floor and replaced and replenished the energy they had expelled upon her behalf.
The others pulled back in wonder as Albus, Minerva, Pomona, Severus and Filius appeared to glow with power, their eyes burning in intensity and ecstasy at the pure power being given willingly and lovingly to them.
As they all lay upon the floor, unwilling to sit or stand and break the wondrous connection they all felt to the castle, Fawkes and Niveus flashed into view above them and began a glorious song of peace and tranquility.
AN: Hope you enjoyed this chapter; let me know if you enjoyed the ritual. The next chapter will go back to mischief and high jinks at the Burrow, sorry I forgot to get to Shaun and Severus' animagus, but this just seems to be the right spot to stop this chapter. I wouldn't want to spoil the image of the ritual with more mundane occurrences. Thank you for all who have read this series and especially big thanks for all of those who have reviewed.
