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Water
The afternoon passed somewhat more peacefully. Severus played with
his toys and Dumbledore answered his letters, gazing surreptitiously
at his Potions Master from time to time.
When Severus became more comfortable, he began to verbalise his play
ideas, as young children do.
"Big phoenix and little phoenix and littler phoenix. This is the
Mummy and this is the Daddy and this is the baby one," he chattered.
"And which one is Severus?" the Headmaster smiled.
"No, Albus, Sev'us is a boy!" Snape gave him an incredulous look,
which nearly caused Dumbledore to fall off his chair with laughter.
"I'm sorry Severus. I am very silly, no?"
Severus laughed a little.
"Now, I think we could both benefit from some fresh air. Why don't we
go and see Hagrid?"
The Headmaster collected his travelling cloak and an invisibility
cloak for Severus. He was certain that when the potion wore off the
surly professor would be very displeased to hear the students had
glimpsed his 3-year-old antics!
He helped Severus to his feet and wrapped the cloak around him.
"All gone, Albus!" Severus sounded a little alarmed.
"It is all right child. It is just the cloak. You are still there.
Don't worry," he held out his hand to the younger man and Severus
took it.
As they walked down to Hagrid's hut, Severus was so fascinated by
some of the magical plants and creatures that he let go of
Dumbledore's hand and ran off.
"Severus, Severus! Come back, Child!" Albus called. He was worried at
their close proximity to the lake.
He didn't have to wait long for his child's return. An invisible form
grabbed him and clung tightly.
"Big arm in the water, Albus," the voice wailed.
"That was a tentacle, my dear. It belongs to the big squid living in
the lake. You must hold my hand, Severus. It is too dangerous for you
to go off on your own, all right?"
He felt a small nod against his neck.
"Come on, my boy. Let's go on an adventure".
Severus began to cheer up and held the Headmaster's hand. Dumbledore
looked around to see if any students had witnessed their earlier
display. They had not. The grounds were quiet as everyone was
studying for their end of year exams.
As they approached Hagrid's hut they heard a commotion going on
inside.
"Buckb..Witherwings. Stop that thumpin' about. You're goin' ter ruin
my cabbages!" Dumbledore watched with amusement as Hagrid finally got
control of the Hippogriff and returned him to his patch of grass.
"Oh, ello Pr'fessor Dumbledore sir!" the half-giant called
cheerfully, "'Ee's jus' a bit high spirited s'all," he explained as
if in Buckbeak's defence.
"May we come in?" asked Dumbledore politely?"
Hagrid looked confused for a minute and then said, "Oh! O'course! I
was just about ter make a cuppa"/
They entered and Hagrid pulled out chairs for them at his huge table.
"Sit down Pr'fessor Dumbledore, Arry".
Dumbledore chuckled and removed the invisibility cloak. Hagrid looked
at who was under it and almost dropped the teapot.
"Pr'fessor Snape. I was expecting.."
Severus merely stared at the man as if confused. Who was Professor
Snape. He was Severus Snape?
"Severus," Dumbledore stressed the name, still smiling serenely at
his former games keeper, "Has had a little potions accident. He is
now 3 years old in his mind. I thought it would be nice for him to
come and see some of your magical creatures".
He gave Hagrid a moment to digest this information.
To his credit, Hagrid recovered very quickly.
"I've got a little owl that got injured flyin' here. I'm jus' lookin'
after im til he feelin' a bit better".
He brought over a small cage from the corner, near his glowing fire.
"Poor little thing. Hurt his wing. Doin' much better now though".
"So I see," smiled Dumbledore, "Is it possible for Severus to hold
him".
Hagrid nodded and Dumbledore turned to Severus.
"This is an owl, child. Would you like to have a look at him?"
Severus looked unsure.
"Why don't I hold him first then and you can stroke him?" Dumbledore
suggested kindly.
Severus nodded.
Albus held out his hands and Hagrid placed the small bird gently into
them.
It took a little persuasion but Severus eventually reached out and
stroked the owl's uninjured wing.
"Soft," he murmured.
"Yes e's lovely isn't e?" Hagrid beamed and the younger wizard gave
him a small smile.
"Why don't you hold him now?" Dumbledore said.
Hagrid positioned the man's hands properly and Albus placed the owl
into them. Severus looked a little worried at first but gradually
relaxed.
Hagrid spent an hour or so showing Severus his less dangerous
creatures. Of course, it was Dumbledore's definition of the term,
rather than Hagrid's own, which meant that Snape saw flobberworms
instead of Blast-ended Skrewts.
Soon, dinnertime arrived and Dumbledore wrapped the invisibility
cloak around his charge again, after informing Hagrid that he and
Severus would be eating in the Headmaster's tower.
"Bye Sev'rus!" said Hagrid as they left.
"Bye Hag'id," the potions master replied.
Dinner was a calm event, although Dumbledore ended up feeding Severus
once more. He wondered why the man was so reluctant to eat.
"Come on, young man. Three more spoonfuls and it's all finished," he
cajoled, holding out a spoonful of mashed potatoes. Snape reluctantly
finished his plate, gaining more praise from Albus.
Severus played on the floor again while the Headmaster finished his
meal. Dumbledore noticed that he yawned several times.
When the house-elves cleared the table, Albus reached down.
"Bedtime for you, child," he said softly.
"Not tired," said Severus, stifling a yawn. The Headmaster chuckled
and levitated the man into his arms.
He brought Severus to the bathroom and let him use the toilet while
he ran him a bath. Severus smiled as he was lowered into the warm
water, full of toys.
He was playing happily when Dumbledore gently eased him back to wash
his hair. Snape went rigid with fear.
"Shh, it's all right, Severus. I only want to put some shampoo in
your hair. It's fine. Just relax". He put a hand on the wizard's
forehead and whispered a charm. Snape stayed rigid for a scant minute
before he calmed down and leaned back.
"That's it. That's a good child," cooed Albus, gently working the
shampoo into his hair, "There, now. It is not so bad, is it? Yes,
we'll get this hair nice and clean, won't we? Do you like the
shampoo? It's strawberry. A very talented potions professor brewed
it. I think you might know him, child. Yes, lean back a little more.
That's the stuff!"
Dumbledore's soft litanies kept Snape calm until he was about to
rinse out his hair.
"No!" shrieked Snape, "I promise. I'll be good. No underwater. Don't
like it!" he shook his head wildly, causing soap to run into his
eyes. He cried out in pain.
Dumbledore was shocked at this turn of events. Why did Severus think
he was going to hold his head under the water?
"Gracious! Surely not!" he thought as the horrible realisation dawned
on him. He pushed away his disgust and anger at Snape's father to
calm the man in front of him.
"Se ve rus? Se ve rus?" he called softly, "It is all right. I am not
going to put you under the water. Open your eyes for me and I shall
wash that soap out, hmm?"
He gently wiped the soap off Snape's face before again coaxing him
into opening his eyes. Eventually, he was able to rinse the water out
with a gentle spell.
"My poor child," he crooned as he gently began to rinse the dark
hair, "My poor little innocent. I am not going to let anyone hurt
you. You are quite safe. There we are. Such a good child. Goood
Severus. Now, look at that lovely clean hair".
He let Severus play with the bath toys as he gently washed him. As
the water cooled, he brought Severus out and carefully dried him. He
dressed him in dark blue pyjamas and led him to his bedroom where he
conjured a bed beside his own. After what he had witnessed today,
Dumbledore did not want his child too far away.
"Shall I read you a story?" he asked as he tucked blankets under
Snape's chin. Severus gave a small smile in response.
"Let's see," Dumbledore waved his wand and a book glided into his
hand.
"The Little Hippogriff" he read.
Severus was almost asleep when the story was finished but as
Dumbledore kissed him goodnight and got up, he whimpered and held up
his hand.
Dumbledore smiled softly and conjured a chair beside the bed, where
he held his child's hand and soothed him into a peaceful slumber.
TBC
"Dear Rosaleen's readers,
Thank you for continuing to read this story, as I think it's one of the
sweetest, cutest, fluffiest kidfics ever written. As to the confusion
about the first paragraphs being nearly exactly the same as in my story,
that is because they belong to a challenge on Rosaleen's HPBabies group
that I answered. I just got round to posting it sooner. So don't accuse
her of anything. Laume."
AN Thanks, Laume. I am very flattered by your kind words. I hope everything is cleared up now, everyone :)