They Didn't Know We Were Seeds

"It was terrible!" she sobs. "I just wanted to ask about a few more defense spells that could be used in duels…"

"Shh…" a voice Severus can distinctly identify as Narcissa hushes.

The other girl, who Severus still can't identify whimpers, "This is all my fault. I've seen the way he looks at some of our classmates. Merlin, a few even return those looks. Why shouldn't he have thought I was one of those silly girls?"

"No, Clara! Don't think that," Narcissa scolds. "Professor Higgs was hired to teach us, not chase the skirts of sixteen and seventeen-year-old girls."

"I still feel like a complete ninny," the girl, who Severus now knows is Clara Parkinson, hiccups.

"You shouldn't," says Narcissa in a gentle, sweet voice that he's only ever heard her use when talking to her infant son in their last lifetime together. "Have you thought about telling another professor? I hear Professor Sprout is very easy to talk to about girl problems."

"I can't. It's too embarrassing. Then there's my father… " Clara trails off for a moment. "He already screens all my letters when I'm home to make sure I'm only writing to respectable wizards and not trash like Weasleys or Scabiors. Can you imagine what he would do if he heard someone defiled me? He'd pull me out faster than you can say blast-ended skrewt!"

"While I understand your fears, the other girls need to know to be careful around Professor Higgs," Narcissa insists, voice taking on a stubborn edge.

"I'm not telling anyone, Narcissa. Full stop!" Clara pushes back.

For a few moments, all Severus can hear is the slightly hurried beating of his own heart.

Then, in little more than a whisper, Narcissa offers," "…What if I told other girls it was me he fondled instead?"

Clara gasps. "Have you gone spare? What happens when Lucius finds out you were 'fondled'? He could break off your engagement!"

"I'll write him," replies Narcissa. Confidentially, she tells the sixth-year, "He'll understand."

"Will he really?" Clara questions. "I don't know too many men who 'understand' things like this."

"Lucius is very good at trusting me when it comes to serious matters like this."

There's a bit more silence before, reluctantly, Clara agrees. "If you're sure…"

"I am, Clara," Narcissa replies with a finality. "Now, go up to bed. Everything will be better in the morning."

"Thank you, Narcissa. You're my favorite prefect."

"That's so sweet of you to say. You're my favorite sixth year."

Clara giggles. "Sure."

Severus stays rooted to his spot by the portrait for a few more minutes, listening, waiting, for any sign that the teenagers are still in the common room and not up the stairs on their way into their dorms. Finally, he shuffles into the dim light of the common room. Severus then goes stalk-still at the sight of Narcissa facing him, arms crossed.

"How much did you hear?" she asks.

Warily, Severus replies, "Enough."

Expression one of displeasure, she says, "I've told you before to be back in time for curfew."

Severus feels more like a little boy than he has in a great long while as he digs his toe into the grooves between the stones of the floor. "I know."

She sighs. "Five points from Slytherin for being out after curfew, Severus Snape."

He looks up. "I won't say anything to anyone," he tells her.

Narcissa's eyes soften a little around the edges. "Thank you." Uncrossing her arms then, she gestures for him to go ahead of her. "Now, off to bed."

Severus gives her a side-eye as he scurries past and up the stairs. Hurrying through his nightly routines, he tumbles into bed not ten minutes later. His mind is reeling from the things he just heard. It has always been rumored the reason Professor Higgs lost his job and was never invited back to teach in another position was because he had inappropriate relationships with a few of his students, but Severus never once thought any of his interactions had been less than consensual.

Professor Higgs is a young, rather dashing looking fellow (according to the Slytherin third-year girls) and for him to be forcing himself on girls… Well, Severus is rather glad Narcissa has a handle on things. Slipping into slumber, he wonders, had things happened this way the first time too? Is this one of those things that had gone on and he was just never aware? Or… Or has something he and Lily did in the name of a better future blossomed and caused Narcissa to want to help her fellow student?

No matter which, he's proud. Proud that his house looks out for its own – just as he always knew it was supposed to.

-o-O-o-

Annoyed, Severus shoves Sage away from his face. "No," he says for what has to be the fiftieth time. "I'm not going home for holidays to spend Christmas with your mother."

"She's insisting, Severus," the boy presses. Moving back into his original spot just centimeters away from his face, Sage holds up his clasped hands, eyes pleading. "Boyd says he'll let us stay with him in his flat if we humor Mother and spend Christmas with her."

"That's not as enticing an offer as you think it is."

Sage pouts. "I'm not supposed to say this, but Mother has invited your grandfather over for Christmas Eve dinner."

Severus blinks. "What?"

The boy nods. "You really don't want to give him a bad first impression by not showing up, do you?"

"Your mother had no right!" Severus snarls, getting to his feet. He really can't believe this woman. He's told her he doesn't want to meet the man— Even if she thinks he'll like him. Severus certainly won't like Demitri Prince. He'd disowned his mother.

Sage hurries to follow Severus out of their dorm. "Mother is very good at sticking her nose where it doesn't belong," he tells Severus. "The best way to handle it is to just go along with it. Someday, we can just leave. Like Boyd."

Turning around, he snaps, "I could leave right now! My mum is has been waiting for the moment I'd run back to her!"

The other boy's eyes go dark. "Please," he whispers. "Please don't."

Severus frowns. "Why in Merlin's name shouldn't I? Being a part of your family has been causing me just as much grief as being a part of mine own has. At least I know what to expect from my mother and father!"

Suddenly, Sage is clinging to him. "Don't leave me all alone with her," he begs. "She'll figure it out then!"

"Figure out what?" Severus demands.

Sage shakes. "Please, Severus," he whispers. "Don't leave me alone."

Severus doesn't quite know what to make of his friend's odd reaction, but it alarms him enough to settle a solid hand on the back of the boy's neck. Squeezing him lightly, Severus promises, "I won't. I won't leave you."

The boy sags. Burying his face in Severus's shoulder, he cries quietly. Severus holds on and fears that something is truly wrong. He wants to take a look inside Sage's head, but the boy won't be meeting his gaze anytime soon. When he does, he's sure whatever it is he doesn't want his mother to know will be buried deep in his mind once more. To try and pry it out will only cause more trauma and the last thing he wants to do is break his friend's trust in him by browbeating the truth out Sage by using legilimency on him.

Things have gotten a little darker this chapter. What do you think of these turn of events? Are you excited? Worried?

Thanks for reading everybody :)