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: Sorry, fan-fiction-net will not let me do my normal line for a page break so you get zeros between scenes.
Chapter 14: The Dark Mark
The castle was once again cleared of all living and non-living beings that were not necessary for the upcoming warding ritual and the diverse staff and faculty had once again resumed their places around and upon the giant Hogwarts Crest in the middle of the Great Hall. The very air of the old castle seemed to quiver with magic and anticipation. The strengthening of the wards had renewed and recharged the ambient magic of the thousand year old building until the very walls shimmered with power and even the ancient floor tiles and the stone walls of her corridors gleamed as if they were new once more.
Albus looked around at the eagerly anticipating group and smiled. "This ritual has a duel purpose, no one bearing the Dark Mark who has not been specifically spelled into the wards will be able to enter the castle and no creature with malice, hatred or a wish to harm any inhabitant will be able to cross the grounds to gain entry into the school."
Because Severus had been publicly 'out-ed' during several death eater trials after the fall of Voldemort when Harry Potter had survived the killing curse, everyone there knew that he had turned and become a spy for Dumbledore and the light side. Since the protean charm that the Dark Mark was based upon had to be accepted willingly and completely, no one could be marked who was not fully committed to Voldemort. That made Severus' work so invaluable, the light side had to wait for a death eater to turn to their side, no one could fool the charm and take the mark just to spy, the application of the mark to someone for that purpose had resulted in the immediate and very painful deaths of the two volunteers who had tried to infiltrate the group.
Severus had truly regretted his rash decision to accept the mark when he was still in school, but he had really had no choice with the constant pressure of his uncle and his 'friends' in Slytherin, such as Malfoy and LeStrange, and unfortunately he had been too naive to fully understand all that bearing the mark meant before it was too late. He occluded his painful memories before his sense of guilt and remorse could interfere with the casting of the new wards, thankful that the Founders and Albus had been able to come up with a way of allowing him to continue to reside and teach at Hogwarts. He would have been willing to resign to keep the children safe if there had been no other way, he was just thankful the combined work of the five most brilliant minds in centuries had been able to work around the problem.
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Shaun and the twins crept down the stairs the next morning, worriedly looking around the newel post and into the kitchen while hiding on the bottom step. They were unable to gauge the mood of the two adults already in the kitchen before Percy spoiled the whole thing by calling out loudly. "Good morning, George, Fred and Shaun.", as he stepped over the three crouched down. Ron didn't help by whining, "I'm hungry, move off the steps so we can get past."
Charlie and Bill came up beside the now standing twins and black haired boy, laughing at their timidity. Charlie reached out both hands and smacked each of his brothers on the back of the head simultaneously. "It can't be that bad, Mum won't kill you in front of a guest!"
Fred rolled his eyes as George huffed a deep sigh. "Yeah, but he's going home tonight because it's Christmas Eve and Professor Snape wants him home for the morning."
Shaun looked over his shoulder, a mischievous grin splitting the 'oh so innocent' face. "What's the worst your Mum can do, it's Christmas tomorrow! She's got to be full of Christmas cheer, my Dad told me all Mums are!"
With that, the eight children stomped purposefully into the kitchen and took seats, the platters piled high with delicious food almost making the table groan under their weight. Shaun's eyes goggled as he took in the massive amount and variety of food being offered for a simple breakfast. "Wow, Mrs. Weasley, this looks better than Hogwarts food. No wonder your kids always talk about how wonderful a mum you are. Thank you!" Mrs. Weasley blushed with pride and reached over to ruffle the already messy black hair. She smiled around at her brood. George leaned over to whisper in Shaun's ear. "Thanks, she just might forget punishment altogether with praise like that!"
Everyone's appetite returned as the large family all started speaking at once, discussing the wonderful prank the twins had pulled and sharing tidbits and treasures of their school days and loving family life with each other and their parents.
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Draco looked around his bare room and squirmed. Uncle Ted sure had a strong hand and he hadn't hesitated to use it on Draco's bottom after his Aunt Andy had shown her husband what he had done to his possessions. His lower lip pushed out far enough for a frog to perch upon it, Draco surveyed his dearth of possessions and rethought his position. He was now the proud owner of exactly three outfits of clothing; the ones he had been wearing and the two sets that had been thankfully in the laundry. Nine books had escaped his wrath and just a handful of the least boring of his muggle toys sat forlornly on his mostly empty shelves. He shifted his weight again, trying to find a spot to sit upon that wasn't sore.
Uncle Ted and Aunt Andy had made him sign a contract and he had felt the wash of magic flow through him as he put his signature onto the yellow parchment so he knew that he was bound to what he had unwillingly signed. He furrowed his brow, his grey eyes clouded, threatening tears that he refused to shed. How dare they withhold his presents from him for three days, and then only allow him to open one each day if he was good and minded his aunt and uncle. And now he had a list of chores that he had to have done before Uncle Ted came home each night or he had to go to bed right after dinner, just like a baby! His mother and father had never made him do chores to earn the money to buy his schoolbooks and supplies! How dare Aunt Andy treat a Malfoy like that…well, if he was honest with himself, he was replacing things that he had destroyed, not buying anything original…but still…he shouldn't have to earn money like a servant! He slipped one hand under his bottom and rubbed it gingerly across the tough fabric of his jeans. He rolled his eyes and sighed, at least the material had stopped some of the spanking he had gotten.
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As the sun rose above the horizon and the clear winter light bathed the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall with a glorious wash of oranges, roses, and yellows, Albus raised his age spotted hands towards the sky and intoned, "Great spirits of Hogwarts bless and strengthen the magics of all those who reside within these walls. Grant them knowledge, wisdom and compassion to embrace the teachings of your Four Great Founders; to live in harmony and peace so that all may grow unimpeded and to the best of their ability in an atmosphere of nurturing and comfort without fear or pressure to pursue paths that will ultimately lead to devastation, corruption and death. Support these who mentor and nurture the young minds and hearts entrusted to our care and dispel and bar any who seek entrance to cause harm; forbid those with hatred in their minds and evil in their hearts from access."
As his words echoed throughout the large mostly empty chamber, a glowing golden aura spread upward and dissipated through the very stones of the castle and outward, a briefly visible barrier completely surrounding the grounds of the magnificent structure.
Severus, Minerva, Filius and Pomona joined hands around the old wizard who stood in the center of their ring of hands, his arms now slack beside him, his head bowed slightly but his blue eyes sparkling with power still.
Minerva took up the chant next, her hands gripping tightly to Filius on her right and Pomona on her left. "Great spirits of Hogwarts grant peace and joy from all attacks by creatures that creep on four legs that intend harm to any who reside within these walls."
Filius' voice quivered as he continued, "Great spirits of Hogwarts grant peace and joy from all attacks by creatures that come from above both day and night loving, which intend harm to any who reside within these walls."
Pomona's alto sounded clear and strong, ""Great spirits of Hogwarts grant peace and joy from all attacks by creatures that creep on six or eight legs that intend harm to any who reside within these walls."
Severus' deep and silky baritone finished the incantation, "Great spirits of Hogwarts grant peace and joy from all attacks by creatures that slither and creep on no legs that intend harm to any who reside within these walls."
Severus took a deep breath and added the final binding, "Great spirits of Hogwarts grant peace and safety from all attacks from wizard kind that bear upon them the mark of great evil that brands my soul and my magics, that no harm shall befall those who reside within these walls." He hung his head in shame for the mark he bore and all that it meant but the firm squeeze of his hands from Filius and Pomona allowed him to raise his head until he was looking directly into the clear blue eyes of the headmaster, his mentor and the closest person he had to a father. He searched Albus' eyes for any negative signs but all he could find in their blue depths was love and pride.
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Fred and George had had to help their father clean up his shed after breakfast and find Shaun's inhaler that he had lost in their mad run across the snowy yard the night before but after just an hour outside the three had rejoined the merry group in the kitchen who by then elbow deep in making Christmas cookies. Shaun, Ginny and Ron were wearing more frosting that the cookies, but no one seemed to care much as the older boys rolled the dough that Molly provided, Percy and the twins cut out the various whimsical shapes and Mrs. Weasley baked them in her magical oven before sliding them out onto the scrubbed table for the three youngest to decorate with frosting and shining variously colored small candies. Mr. Weasley grabbed the camera and had fun shooting pictures until Mrs. Weasley shooed all the children into the parlor so that she could make sandwiches for the crew before they could die of a sugar high from all the cookies and frosting that didn't quite make it onto the platters for later and for giving as presents.
After lunch Mr. Weasley and all of the children, including Shaun decorated a large tree that Shaun was certain wouldn't really fit into the house without magic while Molly read a series of both magical and muggle stories about Christmas. Mr. Weasley mostly took pictures but he occasionally picked someone up to fill an empty spot with the perfect ornament. Shaun particularly liked 'The Night Before Christmas' and made a note to ask his Dad to get the book so that they could read it every year.
When the children had hung so many ornaments that the boughs were beginning to sag, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley both pulled their wands and with a white flash, the tree was sparkling with thousands of glittering fairy lights. Mrs. Weasley shooed the children upstairs to play until dinner time. Shaun was so excited his feet barely touched the twisting steps of the old staircase as he climbed, surrounded on all sides by red headed friends. Everyone trooped into the twins' room once more, the others intent upon learning how Shaun made balls of magic without using a wand or saying a single word.
Mr. Weasley leaned over and rested his cheek on the top of his diminutive wife's head before turning his chin so he could plant a kiss on her flour smudged forehead. "Quite a nice crew you grew there, Molly, think we should keep them for another year?"
Molly chuckled at her husband, before swatting him with the dish towel she had stuffed through the tie of her cookie dough and frosting splattered apron. She leaned up and gave him a loving kiss before smirking, "The question is, shall I keep you?"
He wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her close before really kissing her, "Of course, my dear, of course!"
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Severus was worried. No one had anticipated that the dark mark, that had been invisible since the banishment of Voldemort on Halloween night so many years ago, would become clearly visible once more in his arm. He bit on the side of his lip as he contemplated how he would tell Shaun what it was, since there was no way the child wouldn't notice the ugly black and red brand burned into his father's forearm. "But Albus, he's sure to notice, how can he not?"
Albus steepled his hands; his elbows resting wearily on his desk before dropping his head into his hands in defeat, his shoulders slumping forward as he leaned forward in his seat. "No one realized that by tying the wards that banish those marked by Voldemort to your own mark; it would become visible once more. I am sorry, dear child; if I had anticipated the occurrence I would have never allowed the wards to use you to recognize the mark. Surely we could have found some other way."
The portraits of the former Headmasters and Headmistress' had all returned to their frames and many of them spoke up, defending Albus' decision to tie the ward to Severus' own dark mark. Headmaster Dippet was most vociferous in his support. As Dumbledore's immediate predecessor he felt most familiar with the twisted but charismatic teenager, Tom Riddle; who had used the most evil and vile dark magics to twist himself into the no longer completely human, Lord Voldemort. "Albus, you know everyone searched but there was no other way for Hogwarts to recognize that particular abominable fabrication of Riddle's. It is most unfortunate that Professor Snape's mark is now visible, but the benefit to the school far outweighs the inconvenience."
Snape turned to glare at the portrait, loosing what little temper he still had under his control, "Inconvenience, inconvenience! My son has been traumatized too many times by people bearing this mark and now he has to see it one his own father's arm! I have to find some way to explain it's presence to an eight year old who was orphaned by this mark, attacked brutally several times by this mark and only last summer, kidnapped and almost killed by those bearing this mark, and you call that an inconvenience!" As Severus got angrier, his voice lowered until it was no more than a menacing hiss. Dippet cringed into a corner of his frame, trying to back away from the dark man's overpowering anger.
Dumbledore looked around and glared at all of the portraits, daring them to make another unwise comment. He sighed and stood up, coming over to stand behind the man he called his 'son'. "Severus, yelling at a portrait will not change anything. It is my fault, I should have anticipated the reappearance of that hated brand and I did not. Can you forgive an old man's error?"
Severus leaned back, relishing the feel of the sturdy chest behind him as Albus clasped both of his shoulders tightly. "It is too much, Albus to deal with now, but we will deal with it when it comes up. But it is no more your fault than it is mine. I should also have anticipated its reappearance and frankly the possibility didn't even occur to me however fleetingly." He turned around, Albus releasing his shoulders just enough for Severus to turn, his arms still encircling the younger wizard before pulling him against his beard in a fierce hug.
Severus accepted the hug from his mentor for only a moment before occluding all emotion from his face and pushing himself back so that a reasonable space separated them once more. "I believe we have just enough time before we are due at the Weasley's for dinner." At Albus' nod of acknowledgement, Severus turned, his black teaching robes billowing out behind him in a trademark swirl before he swept out the door and down the circular staircase. Albus shook his head in sadness for causing Severus even more pain, and opened a hidden door to enter his own private quarters to change for dinner.
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Severus stepped out of the fireplace at the Burrow, but before he could even straighten up and brush the soot off of his robes he was staggered backward by an eight year old hitting him directly in the chest, his son's arms entwining around his neck underneath his shoulder length black hair. A slightly wet kiss was planted on his check before Shaun began telling his father about his stay with his friends. "We made Christmas cookies and I frosted them and put something called sprinkles on them and we made a snowman and had a snowball fight and George and Fred and I won 'cause we could send them with magic and no body else could and Mrs. Weasley read us stories while we decorated a tree…"
Severus smiled, sliding his son's body down onto the floor, the boy never missing a syllable in his tale. He pushed the hair off of his son's forehead, bent over and gave him a kiss on the forehead before muttering. "I missed you too, son." He wasn't able to move Shaun away from in front of the fireplace before a flash of green flame heralded the arrival of Dumbledore right behind them. The old headmaster actually stumbled into the back of Severus almost pushing him over onto his son's head before he could catch himself. He reached up and patted Severus' back soundly, chuckling as he chastised the man. "First rule of the floo, speak clearly. Second rule; move away quickly before someone else comes through…" Everyone in the room started laughing as a faint blush appeared on Severus' cheeks before he reached down and scooped Shaun up into his arms. He turned and thrust the boy into the headmaster's arms. "Teach those rules to Shaun; he's the one who didn't move." Now it was Shaun's turn to blush as even his grandfather joined in the laughter.
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It was a very tired and cranky Shaun that Severus put to bed that night. He had been carried home, his head resting comfortably on his father's warm shoulder and hadn't even really woken up as he was stripped, dressed in warm flannel pajamas and tucked into his own bed. He turned and nuzzled his pillow, a muffled, "Night Dad" the only sound before his steady even breathing let Severus know that he was once more asleep.
With a satisfied smile, Severus kissed the small boy good night and retired to his own bed, knowing Shaun would be up early for Christmas, too excited to sleep. Of course, Albus would also be too excited to sleep much past dawn.
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Severus groaned and pulled the heavy warm duvet over his head, wishing the whole crew of too blasted cheerful people in his bedroom would just disappear for several more hours. He snarled as he felt his covers disappear in the swish of a wand, wishing he had opened his eyes so that he could know which of the several miscreants now occupying his bedchamber had banished his duvet so that he could curse them into oblivion.
"Daddy, Daddy, Father Christmas came. He found me! Come on, come on, you can sleep later!" Shaun was tugging at his father's arm when his black silk pajama sleeve slipped up his arm and an ugly black mark appeared. Shaun looked at the raised and red rimmed horror in stunned silence. A deeply buried memory of his mother screaming followed by a green flashing light and then an agonizing pain that seemed to split his head in two appeared before his eyes. Shaun started trembling in shock, the others in the room ignored as he relived the horrible memory over and over. He screwed his eyes shut as tears streamed down his cheeks, starkly white as all the color in his face was leached out in shock. He moaned deep down in his throat, his scar split open and blood poured freely down his face, mingling with his tears. He gasped; his breathing beginning to speed up as he gasped smaller and smaller lungs-full of air in his full blown panic attack. His chest burned, his body shook, he shuddered and then, with a soft swish of air, he shimmered out of view followed by a soft pop that told the others he was no longer in the room.
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AN: Next, a very unusual Christmas for the Hogwarts family. Thank you for all of those who continue to read this story and a big thank you for those who take the time and make the effort to leave a review.
