Title/Link: Little League

School: Ilvermorny

Year: 3

Theme: Ilvermorny: Helena fell for Tom's charms and revealed to him what she'd revealed to no one else. Write about a character confiding in the wrong person.

Mandatory Prompt: [Dialogue] "I didn't leave because of (pronoun or name), but (pronoun) is/are the reason I never came back."

Additional Prompt: [Image] Disappointed Muhammad Sarim Akhtar

WC: 1364

Note: This is very AU and OOC, magic exists, Voldemort does not, everyone is happy and well-adjusted.


"Come on, Sev," Lily begged. She waved her wand around in precise motions, letting her fingers relax at the last second before gripping it tightly.

Severus' jaw dropped as his bags unpacked themselves. "Why are you being so nice, Lily?"

Lily scoffed and Severus raised his eyebrow. "Don't lie to me," he warned. "You even made Petunia make fresh croissants, and I know how much work they take, from all her endless complaining. She even made mimosas and you know she is a brandy on the rocks person!"

"Can I not be joyous that my best friend has left the clutches of school halls to work at the Ministry just like the rest of us normies? Besides, Petunia is just waiting to drag you to the movies again!" Lily exclaimed.

Immediately, Severus' eyes narrowed. "What did Regulus get you to ask me that he can't ask himself?"

Lily glared right back. "Why do you always expect the worst from us?"

"Because you being nice never bodes well for me," he said, taking a sip of the chilled mimosa that Petunia had dropped off just before Lily had arrived. The little hot pink umbrella was still resting on the rim of the class. He reached to twirl it, Lily always remembered his favourite things.

"So… about that; the Youth League for Ministry employees is starting up soon and once all the Hogwarts-aged kids leave, what will I have left?" Lily asked.

"Little kids with germs who like to pluck weeds as gifts?" Severus guessed.

"No, idiot. I have Quidditch moms!"

He choked on his drink. "Wait, isn't that sexist?"

Lily slammed her hands onto the kitchen counter. "You don't understand, Sev, these parents are terrible. Besides, I've seen you do classroom control during your teaching rotations at Hogwarts."

"Yeah, that still doesn't say much about what you're asking of me," Severus said, biting into a croissant. It was warm, absolutely heavenly, and Petunia had used the really nice fancy European-style butter.

"We just need another referee on standby for Little League. Just a bunch of seven-year-olds on toy brooms and all. All I ask is for a few hours a weekend."

"No, Lily," Severus said, a chill going down his spine. Although he was a teacher, hanging around children over the weekend was the last thing he wanted to do.

Lily grinned. "Oh Sev, I wasn't asking your name is already on the roster. I was telling."


Peter had tried to warn him about how bad it could get, but Severus scoffed. "I have impeccable classroom control. A bunch of parents can't be that bad!"

Peter sighed. "You don't understand. The Potters are on a whole other level. Their kids can't even be on the same team because it is too stressful for everyone involved. Think about it this way: if the Potters ever decided to have a quidditch team of kids, Walburga's screaming match with Dumbledore every week at school would start to look like a pleasant conversation."

Severus shrugged. "I went to school with those idiots. James and Sirius calmed down when they got married and had Grace and Harry. Their high profile Aurors. Them— as insane Quidditch mom's—have you heard of anything more ridiculous in your life? Besides, Walburga is absolutely lovely. How else do you think Slytherin managed to have any footing during the House Cup?"

Peter shook his head. "Listen to me, Snape. The Potters don't come to play. This might be Little League, but not a single game this year has ended because someone caught the snitch."

"Oh, hush. You guys didn't have me then and now you do."

Remus decided then to interject. "A tiny wager then. Ten Galleons on Severus here blowing the whistle for time-out before the five-minute mark."

"Hey!" Severus protested.

"That's unfair," Peter said, taking out the training brooms. "I can't bet against those odds. They're the reason you stopped refereeing games."

"I didn't leave because of the Potters, but they are the reason I never came back." He grinned.

Needless to say, Severus was feeling more betrayed by his weakness to mimosas, croissants and Lily the closer it got to game time.

Severus stood outside five minutes later trying to take in the celebrations. A shower of confetti and the most elaborate cheering set-up he had ever seen had taken over his side of the field. It was something out of a World Cup final. Streamers and banners draped across the field from both sides. Sirius Potter was playing the bagpipes with such enthusiasm that Albus Dumbledore bobbed his head in approval while James had gotten his side of the pitch doing coordinated war cries that wouldn't look out of place at Old Trafford.

Severus sucked in the urge to groan. He'd forgotten how absolutely obnoxious James and Sirius could be. He looked over at the children in front of him, who were now crowded around Peter. He could spot Harry who was dying of embarrassment as Dudley joined in Sirius' band with a tambourine in hand screaming Harry's name. Grace, on the other hand, was cackling so hard with laughter that she had dropped her broom.

Severus rolled his eyes and blew his whistle. "Silence for the ball release otherwise I declare the game forfeited."

That was enough for the avid quidditch parents to quiet down. The two teams stood across from each other. Severus had bet good money on the Weasley twins duo who were on Grace's team. They looked more ready to play dirty and pulverise Harry's team. The captains for this week, Grace and Harry, shook hands.

Severus took a deep breath and blew his whistle…only to blow it again five minutes later when James threw a glitter bomb at him, swearing furiously at what he perceived to be a wrong call. Sirius began arguing with James and throwing mud at his husband's face, which inevitably led to an all-out mud war.

Lily stood far away from this monstrous display, and Regulus was trying to separate the arguing Potters.

"You are all in time-out due to bad behaviour," Severus said, pinching the top of his now-muddy nose.

He turned to look down at the source of the tugging on his trousers. All he saw were watery green eyes and he knelt down to the childrens' level.

"Do not worry, Potter, you didn't do anything wrong," Severus said. He cleared his throat and muttered the Sonorous charm. "Okay, let's take a thirty-minute break. Remus has orange slices and water prepared."

The children, all under eleven, dragged themselves over to where Peter was busy handing out water bottles. Severus drew himself up to his full height and turned to glare at the parents. Particularly James and Sirius Potter, who were both splattered with mud and still weren't looking at each other.

He turned to see if Peter and Remus had the children sufficiently occupied before he hissed out, "I expected better."

Regulus let out a giggle, and Lily smacked him on the top of his head. "Ow, I wasn't the one who started the mud fight!"

"I swear that I am the backbone of this household," Lily replied. "You're supposed to be an adult."

Severus didn't care; none of them was setting a good example. "You're adults and you are all doing a terrible job helping these kids understand that learning a skill matters more than winning."

"I—" Sirius started, but Severus cut him off.

"I don't care what you think. Pack it all up or go home. You're stressing everyone out, distracting them from the game," Severus said, suddenly exhausted. "This is Little League, and you aren't even giving them the space to improve. So either leave or sit quietly and watch the game. The kids don't need this stress."

James blew a raspberry.

"Dammit, Lily I knew I shouldn't have said anything to you about recruiting Snape!" Sirius said.

"I did what you asked!" Lily defended.

Severus this time did let out a huff. "Maybe next time don't hold me hostage with croissants and mimosas. We're back on the field after the break, this game will end with a snitch catch even if we have to wait all day."