Boy-Snape

Hi, everybody. It's been quite a while since I wrote and finished Boy-Snape. I very much enjoyed writing the story then. Recently, thanks to a lovely idea from Ailec_12 in a comment on Boy-Snape, I was inspired to write a sequel! The first chapter of the to-be-named story should be up sometime late September. In the meantime, enjoy this little bonus story set in the future of this 'verse.

Jimmy don't go in the forest. It is dangerous.

Jimmy had discovered the warning written on his family's phone pad one strange afternoon when he was eight. It had appeared after his dad brought up three odd kids into their flat and yelled into the fireplace to one of his cousins about the oldest boy of the group being a missing student. Jimmy hadn't understood any of it then. He had also been right cross about it all when his dad refused to explain anything.

Now, however, Jimmy understood a lot about that day. His dad's family was mostly magic (except for Dad, and before him, Gran), including Jimmy. His dad hadn't been yelling into the fireplace, he'd been making a firecall. Those three kids, or, rather, the oldest boy, had been a Hogwarts student who disappeared during a visit to Hogsmeade.

There were things Jimmy still didn't get, though. Like who those other kids with the missing student were. Or who'd left him the note. Why the forest around the village was dangerous. He never bothered to ask his dad those questions. Jimmy didn't think he'd have known the answers. Instead, he'd just done his best to follow the advice given to him. Obviously one of the kids left him the note — and for good reason, he bet. They'd looked a bit roughed up and later, Dad had told Jimmy they'd come from the forest by the bus stop.

He figured it had worked since he was alive and starting his third year at Hogwarts.

Most of the time, Jimmy didn't think of that day. It'd been strange, but not unsettling. He usually only thought of it on occasion when he couldn't sleep. He'd brought it up a time or two when sharing interesting stories with mates. They never thought the story was half as odd as him, though. The one thing that really made Jimmy remember the event, though, was the Sorting Ceremony.

The boy who'd been with the teenagers looked to be near Jimmy's age. He always paid close attention during the Sorting these days, searching for a pale, sharp face framed by straight black hair with beady black eyes. As this year's ceremony drew to a close, however, Jimmy slumped in his seat among his fellow Hufflepuffs. There hadn't been any faces that looked quite like that boy's.

Jimmy was beginning to suspect he'd never see it. Perhaps he wasn't magic, but a squib, like his Gran and Dad. He hadn't looked that much younger than Jimmy that day, and certainly not older than him. If he wasn't sorted next year, Jimmy was going to have to give up looking for him.

At some point, the headmaster finished his welcoming speech to all of the new students and three new professors rose from their seats. Jimmy's eyes passed right over the short, mole-covered man that Professor Dumbledore introduced as their new Defense teacher. There was no need to pay him any care, he'd be gone by next year.

He also didn't spend a lot of time looking at the dark-skinned witch to the Defense professor's right. Jimmy suspected she was going to be their new astronomy professor if the star and moon charm hanging from the tip of her hat was any indicator. The air from his lungs felt as if it'd been vanished when his eyes landed on the last new professor. He was a wiry, pale man with lank black hair and strong features. The most shocking thing about him, however, was his shiny, beetle-black eyes. He looked so much like that boy from the odd day!

Could they be family?

Jimmy listened carefully as the headmaster introduced him. His name was Severus Snape and he was to be their new potions professor. Professor Dumbledore soon concluded his speech and announced it was time to eat. Over dinner, Jimmy couldn't help but look now and then at the new professor. At one point, he was pretty sure he saw the wizard stare back at him, thin brows furrowed. Jimmy felt his face grow hot and he kept his eyes on his plate after that. He was curious, but not curious enough to be noticed for his looking.

Later, when Jimmy was in his dorm room, he laid awake in his bed while his housemates slept easily around him. He'd kept the message left to him from that day over the years. He'd even brought it to Hogwarts with him. Tonight, he had it in his fingers. Jimmy was nervous, but he knew what he had to do.

Tomorrow, he would ask Professor Snape if he had a little brother or cousin about Jimmy's age.

-o-O-o-

Jimmy packed his textbook, quill, and ink slowly back into his bag. Around him, classmates hurried to get up and out of the potions classroom. As he putzed, his mate, Gwenog Jones, and one of Hufflepuff's best beaters, frowned at him.

"Everything okay, Jimmy?"

He smiled at the girl. "Yeah," he replied. "Go on," he urged. "I'll be a minute, that's all."

She twisted her mouth into a doubtful frown. "Uh-huh," she answered. Finished with putting away her own things, she stood up from her seat in the row in front of him. "See you in Transfiguration," she said before she turned and left, dark brown curls bouncing off her shoulder-blades.

He waved absently at her retreating back. When finished packing, Jimmy was happy to see it was just him and a stoic Professor Snape in the classroom. This was only his first class with the man, but he had a feeling it was going to be nothing like Professor Slughorn's lessons. Snape seemed to take potions very seriously.

Getting up from his seat, he felt suddenly shy. Professor Snape, however, appeared to decide he had no time for Jimmy's reluctance, as he approached him and said, "Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Cattermole?"

Jimmy blinked. "Sorry," he said. "Cattermole was the boy I was sitting next to. I'm Jimmy Lynch."

Snape's jaw tensed briefly. "My apologies," he muttered, sounding far from happy.

"It's okay," replied Jimmy, offering a weak smile. He wasn't sure he was getting off to a good foot with the professor. "It's your first day teaching."

Snape's face stayed displeased, but he nodded. "What can I do for you, Mr. Lynch?" he demanded.

Jimmy's hands fluttered around the pocket he had the note in. "I was, um, wondering," he mumbled. "Do you have a little brother or cousin maybe? Near my age?"

Something sparked in the professor's black eyes, but he shook his head. "No, I do not."

His shoulders fell. Maybe he was lying? Why else did his eyes change like that? Jimmy had learned over the last couple of years that people had issues with squibs. Some families were so ashamed of them they disowned them. Maybe Snape's family was like that.

"Oh," he said. "It's just I met a boy who looked a lot like you a few years ago."

"Did you?" he said, voice far away.

Jimmy eyed the new professor. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the note. Holding it out for Snape's inspection, he explained, "It was really brief." As Professor Snape took the note and read it, he said, "He was with a couple of teenagers. They showed up at my dad's pub and he helped them get where they belonged. After they left, I saw one of them left me this note."

Snape gave him back the note. "I am my parents' only child and I have no cousins," he told Jimmy. He couldn't place why, but something about the professor's tone sounded strained. "As for your note, the advice is sound even for Hogwarts."

Jimmy stared at his worn note with fresh wonder. "Oh yeah?" he said.

"The Forbidden Forest has many dangerous things inside," explained his new professor. "I highly recommend you stay away from it without a professor until you are a grown and more experienced wizard." There was a beat of hesitation, then, Snape said in a quieter tone, "I am inclined to believe by next summer your village's forest will be safe to explore again, however."

Jimmy blinked. He didn't quite know why, but something about that statement sounded strange to his ears. Jimmy hadn't mentioned he lived in a village, had he? He opened his mouth, only to shut it and cross his arms.

Professor Snape sighed. "I see I made a mistake," he admitted.

"Mistake?" he echoed, confused. Had the professor been lying about a younger sibling or cousin?

Snape nodded his head. "Magic is capable of doing… Remarkable… things," he explained. "I am sure you have been told or figured out the teenage boy of the three was a missing Hogwarts student?"

Jimmy made a noise of agreement.

"The little boy was too," he said.

He couldn't help but pull a face at that. "What?" he said. "How—"

Snape turned his head and fixed his gaze on something on the right side of the room. "A pair of spells crossed," he explained. "Then, we found ourselves in the forest your village is near. In the forest, we met the girl and she led us to the village and your father."

He found himself shaking his head in disbelief. It had taken a moment, but he thought he got it now. The we Professor Snape was talking about was the teenage boy and the little boy, or, rather, him. "That's mental," he said. "Magic did that to you?"

"Yes," he replied, still not looking at Jimmy.

He returned his attention to the note still in his hand. "This message—"

"The girl we met in the forest, she had it on good authority that the werewolf Fenrir Greyback was interested in turning you into prey, and, perhaps, his new toy."

All the blood drained from Jimmy's face and he felt his hands start to shake. He'd heard about werewolves in defense class. They sounded utterly terrifying. He didn't know anything about a Fenrir Greyback, but to know he'd been this close to being a victim of his… Well, Jimmy was relieved one of them left the note. "The n-note," he stuttered.

"It was from me," replied Professor Snape. "I did not want you to be hurt or killed by Greyback."

He swallowed and bowed his head. Eying the message, Jimmy found he believed his new professor entirely. It did look a little block-ish. Like the writing of a kid. It also explained why Snape had seemed so familiar when he first saw him as well as knew Jimmy lived in a village. "Thanks for leaving this," he said, lifting his face to return his gaze to Snape's face. "I'm glad I listened."

The professor finally met his stare. His black eyes appeared to be genuinely relieved. "Yes," he said. "I am too."

Jimmy ran a hand over his buzzed head. "Um," he mumbled. "I guess thanks for clearing up this mystery for me?" he offered with a small smile. "It's just always something I've kind of had itching in the back of my mind."

Professor Snape dipped his chin in acknowledgment. "You are welcome," he said. "I am quite pleased to see my note worked."

His smile broadened at that. "I guess we were lucky things went the way they did, huh?"

"Yes," he said. The Professor then made a face and remarked, "I do believe you have a Transfiguration class in ten minutes."

Jimmy froze. "Oh no," he whispered. He was never going to make it there on time. It was nearly halfway across the castle!

Snape turned around and reached across his desk for a quill and piece of parchment. He scrawled across it and then handed it to Jimmy. "Give this to McGonagall, she will forgive you no doubt."

Jimmy took it gladly. He glanced over the message. It was standard professor stuff, but what interested him how small his writing was. The message the boy version of his professor wrote was also made of small handwriting. He tallied it up as yet another bit of evidence that what he'd been told was the truth. "Thanks, Professor," he said.

"Goodbye, Mr. Lynch," said Snape, eyes trained on the open doorway of his classroom. "You are not the only one with a class soon."

He looked over his shoulder. Sixth-year students were trailing in. He nodded. "See you next time," he concluded before darting off. Elbowing his way past a pair of sixth-year Ravenclaws, Jimmy was soon out in Hogwarts's corridor and on his way to Transfiguration. He grinned to himself. Was he going to have a story for Gwenog and the rest of his mates later!

Idk if anyone cared that much about Jimmy from ch. 9, but I thought for those of you who were concerned, this would be a nice little bonus story. He's okay. He's growing up and even knows it was Severus who left him the note :)

Thanks so much for reading and be sure to keep an eye out in the near future!