Chapter 67: An Outing To Remember
{A/N: Here's Another Update...I know in previous chapter that Lily Potter is described as the baby daughter of Harry and Ginny but for the purposes of what is intended for this story and because I recalled her having to wait two years to attend Hogwarts during Albus Severus' first year, she is not a baby during Phaeron's first year at Hogwarts but rather making all the Potter children two years apart from each other, James will be 13 during Albus Severus' first year, which means Lily is seven at this time...If any corrections need to be made I will make them...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S
Diagon Alley, Wizarding World...
Having read more than her fair share of dark tomes to find out how to reverse the spell Severus used on himself to transport his soul from his body, Hermione decided to head to Diagon Alley to get more books on the subject. Phaeron had been with her and she had sincerely hoped her son did not ask too many questions about why they were going to Diagon Alley this afternoon. To her surprise he said nothing as they apparated to the infamous magical alley and ventured toward one of the local bookstores. He glanced briefly at Olivander's wand shop still owned by the old wand-maker after all these years, he reopened his shop shortly after Voldemort's fall and had remained open ever since. The Weasley brothers joke shop had been one of the brightest most impressive shops in the alley. Fred and George Weasley had apparently still been doing well with their business. Hermione had not spoken to or seen much of the Weasley family since the war's end.
Fresh snow fall had been added to the already visible piles that lined the streets in small white hills as they stepped crushing the icy water with the soles of their collective dragon hide boots. Hermione had been a sight to behold when she really got going, her steps reminiscent of the brisk long strides her husband use to take when he ventured through the corridors of Hogwarts, her ebony coat billowed behind her like his robes had done so many times as he stalked the youth breaking curfew.
Phaeron looked ever the spitting image of his father, a mask of indifference plastered across his sallow pale face. He did his best to keep up with his mother's brisk pace bundled up to his pale neck via an large wool ebony coat that had once belonged to his father. His mother had told him the story of how she believed his father to be cursing a friend of hers upon the Quidditch field and that she once set his cloak on fire while he wore that very coat to the game. Of course she told him that later she felt terrible about the ordeal as, The Potions Master was actually trying to save her friend's life.
The raven haired boy couldn't believe what he had heard.
His mother.
The great Gryffindor Hermione Jean Granger-Snape had set a professor ablaze at the age of 12. The very same Professor whom would become her husband in later years and the father of her child.
It was almost too rich not to laugh at how everything turned out.
His father's version of how things happened was almost comical, he let Phaeron know that he knew for years that it was Hermione that had done such a dastardly thing to him and often mention how very Slytherin it was of her. Given the state of his own humiliation he also let Phaeron see the memory of Hermione being turned into a cat via Polyjuice potion and admitted to "altering" the hair she used as punishment for her theft from his private stores.
The latter part of Severus Snape altering the once thought to be human hair sample so that Hermione would become a cat person. Was never discovered by Hermione, it was simply common knowledge between father and son. Like something of a bonding device.
In the present, Hermione Jean Granger-Snape's face had been just as indifferent if not intent on her mission to find a book related to her husband's condition and bring him home. She had not wanted the entire wizarding world to know anything about her future plans, in her mind her husband had given enough of him self for the ungrateful masses. The last thing she needed was for Dumbledore to turn this into a way for Harry Potter to be absolved of all his guilt when it came to what he had done back at the Fortress of Solitude.
The arrogant Potter had indeed intended to murder Severus that day, and he chose to do so in the most brutal of fashions. Using Severus' own manufactured spell to hurt him knowing full well just how devastating it would be since he had used it on Draco Malfoy in the boy's loo. That experience had supposedly traumatized Harry to such a degree that he and Ginny hid the book where no one else could find it, in the room of requirement.
With a sigh Hermione took in the sight of the ally. It had been a very long time since she ventured here. Mostly due to her wanting to avoid as many people as possible.
"Stick close to me." said Hermione in a warning tone that indicated she meant business.
"Yes Mother." replied Phaeron.
He recalled her behaving in quite a similar manner when he had to go shopping for his Hogwarts supplies.
She had not liked being open in the wizarding world, it was one of the reason why she moved herself and her only son to a flat in muggle London. There had been far too many memories that only made the anguish she felt at not having Severus anymore worse. Not to mention the all out adoration of the arrogant selfish backstabbing prat that took her Severus away from her, Harry James Potter.
The witch nearly spat as the name entered her mind in a sea of blackened ink riddled with disgust.
She ventured into the first book store making sure that Phaeron had been close behind her. She had mentioned nothing to him about research or about possibly helping his father reverse a dark spell, she wanted no part of dark magic anywhere near her son. She was no fool, she knew what kind of man her husband had been and how the darkness seemed to seep into his very being at times, the night of Dumbledore's supposed murder she had seen first hand just how much darkness was lurking beneath the surface of the dour wizard. And who could really blame him? It wasn't like anyone when out of their way to show him light.
Phaeron thought the bookstore they went into was teeming with mediocrity. It was a bright and vibrantly happy place not at all like many of the places he ventured to with his mother, the bookkeepers were as grim in expression and indifferent in their tone as she had been in those days, still all the books on magical youths below the age of eleven had been useful in his development, being Muggle-born, Hermione had only discovered her magic at the age of twelve and it had been spontaneous at best. She had no idea how to care for a baby gifted with magical blood from an ancient lineage, The Prince Family line had been nearly extinct with Phaeron being the newest addition to the old family and half-blood in status like his father before him had been.
"Welcome." said the rather cheerful book keeper. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Mrs. Snape...and my has that young fellow grown since last I saw."
Phaeron resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the cheery old fellow who had been of service to his mother a time or two in the past. It wasn't as if the young wizard did not know how to be happy, in fact he was quite happy much of the time, like when he got his hands on a few Toffee Nut Bars, or when he came across a new and exciting list of potions ingredients, there was even happiness in the Snape home whenever his father came in for a brief visit, but the happy this man projected made his stomach turn.
"Good day to you too, Mr. Kelvis." said Hermione being polite more so for the first time in years. "I was wondering if you could help me look for a certain book today, one that is well verse in ancient magics."
Phaeron arched an eyebrow at her request noting how deliberately cryptic she was being.
Mr. Kelvis nodded and motioned for her to join him in the restricted section of the bookstore.
The raven haired boy was no idiot. He knew all about how Dark Arts tomes were kept in the backs of book stores for educational purposes and that the readers were restricted from borrowing or purchasing them without special permission from the Minister of Magic and that it had been their duty to safeguard these tomes from youths who had not obtained permission or the right to have them.
Hermione looked over at her young son and ruffled his raven hair.
"I'll just be a minute." she said. "Go and browse for something of your own if you'd like, to pass the time."
"As you wish mother." replied Phaeron a little disappointed about how much she was treating him like a little kid.
Hermione sighed and made her way back toward the restricted section with Mr. Kelvis.
Phaeron turned his attention to the collection of magical books at his disposal. Nothing here seemed to hold any interest of him as he browsed the shelves in keeping with his mother's request. Still finding himself bored and in need of mental stimulation, the raven haired boy made his way toward the door.
The bright colors of the Weasley Brother's Joke Shop. It had been a rather intriguing sight and like with any child at the tender age of eleven, Phaeron found himself drawn to the delightful place. The colors, the scents, the incredible sounds had all been so inviting. Phaeron saw no harm in peeking inside for a bit, if only to sate his curiosity about the strangely vibrant place.
Weasley Brother's Joke Shop...
The first thing that caught Phaeron's attention, other than the impressive number of Hogwarts students that entered such a spectacular place was the scent of Toffee. There was a lot of other scents like butter, spicy cinnamon, and even raspberry. There was walls piled high with gags and various if watered down potions to soot any common needs and liven up any mundane day with jokes galore. Phaeron had thought it strange indeed that such a wondrous place would be located in an alley of all places.
The raven haired Slytherin entered the joke shop swept up in the wonder of it like many of the other young witches and wizards that had ventured passed the colorful doors. Fred and George Weasley had a pretty good read on those that entered their shop, they always knew when a new customer ventured passed those doors and into their world of pranks and manufactured happiness. It had been no surprise to them that they had managed to bring in a new face from the crowd.
"Hello mate." said Fred with a big smile plastered across his face.
"Welcome to the Weasley Brother's..." continued George with an identical smile plastered across his face.
"Joke..." started Fred.
"Shop." finished George.
Phaeron thought the two Weasley brothers had been the strangest men he had ever met thus far.
"Holy Hell." said Fred stunned as he looked upon Phaeron.
"It's a Mini Snape." said George in fascination.
Phaeron had not been surprised that they had known of his father. The man had been teaching at Hogwarts for a good number of years even before his mother got there. Not to mention his status as a War Hero.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day." said Fred unable to get his eyes off the raven haired boy.
"I'll say." agreed George.
Both Weasley men had a big smiled plastered upon their faces.
"Snape was the coolest teacher at Hogwarts." said Fred fondly.
"Let us prank quite a few staff members if I recall correctly." said George in an equally fond tone.
Phaeron arched an eyebrow at this.
"My father pulled pranks?" he asked.
Fred and George looked at each other in disbelief.
"Father?" they both said in unison. "Professor Snape is your father?"
"That..." started Fred.
"Means..." continued George
"Your..." said Fred
"Mione's..." said George
"Boy.." finished. Fred in awe of the young raven haired Slytherin.
"Well it's a bout time you came around." said George pleased to see the young Slytherin.
"I'm your uncle Fred." said Fred with a pricey grin. "Mione was like family to us way back when...and despite her dislike of our new brother in law...she's still family to us."
"I'm your uncle George." said George. "Mate, your dad was the coolest bloke I have ever known...Snape was king of the pranks...had quite a few nasty hexes we always hounded him to teach us..."
"Never quite got around to it." said Fred in an amusing tone.
"Always with the "I'm busy brooding in darkness..." said George in a pleasant mocking fashion.
"Or the "I hate Gryffindors...go bother someone else routine." said Fred mocking as well.
"Biggest prankster to date your dad was..." said George.
"You know he made the sorting hat put us in Gryffindor." said both the wizards in unison. "Said it would be the laugh of the century to have two Slytherins pose as Gryffindors...gave us quite a few house points if we got on Professor McGonagall's nerves a bit..."
Phaeron couldn't believe what he was hearing. Apparently he had gotten his mischievous streak honestly.
"Good fun that." said Fred.
"Indeed it was." replied George.
"You look just like him you know." said Fred observing the raven haired boy.
"It's rather uncanny." replied George doing the same.
The door opened and two new customers entered the store, well they weren't exactly new as it had been none other than Harry James Potter accompanied by his two sons: James Potter II and little Albus Severus, who had still been attending primary school.
"Fred, George." said Harry surveying the wild sea of endless witches and wizards in search of his brothers in law.
"Over here Harry." they both said in unison.
Phaeron stiffened at the mention of Harry Potter.
Harry sent both his boys off to do their own thing and headed over toward Fred and George.
"Hey guys what's up?" he asked casually.
"Nothing much Harry." replied Fred.
"Just having a chat with mini Snape." said George.
Harry looked over at Phaeron.
For a moment emerald eyes locked onto obsidian and the raven haired boy arched an eyebrow at the elder wizard much like his father use to on occasion.
"Your father was a great man." said Harry as a look of sadness filed across his face.
Phaeron nodded still not trusting the man his mother declared as an enemy.
"A-Are you interested in purchasing anything in the shop?" asked Harry. "Feel free to put whatever you want on my tab."
The raven haired wizard had not known why the elder Potter was being so generous, possibly had something to do with his mother hexing him at Hogwarts.
"No thank you." replied Phaeron. "I was merely curious about this place and now my curiosity has been sated."
"What's your hurry mini Snape?" asked George.
"Yeah you just got here." said Fred.
Harry knew exactly why Phaeron was all for leaving. Truth be told he was a little glad of it if only to avoid upsetting Hermione whom he had no doubt had been close by and armed with a few nasty hexes to boot.
"I think it is best if I go." said the raven haired boy.
Harry sighed.
"Let him go guys." he said. "I believe he has somewhere to be."
The Weasley Brother's shrugged.
"Soot yourself mate." said Fred sadly.
"But you know where to find us if you want to have fun." said George with a smile.
Phaeron nodded.
"I'll take that under advisement." he replied.
The raven haired boy met Harry Potter's gaze one last time making the hairs on the back of the elder wizard stand on end as he headed toward the front door. At that moment, Ginerva Potter had arrived with a seven year old Lily Potter leading her by the hand into the joke shop. Lily had been clutching her favorite teddy bear, a ebony bear with equally black eyes. She never liked to let the thing out of her sight and did her best to take it everywhere much to her mother's chagrin.
"STOP IT JAMES!" shouted Albus Severus Potter as he took off down the isles.
James Sirius Potter held a slimy frog in his hands and chased his younger brother.
"It's your dinner Albie go ahead eat up!" said James taunting the younger wizard.
"LEAVE ME ALONE STUPID JERK FACE!" shouted Albus Severus still running as fast as he could to get away.
Lily rolled her eyes as best a seven year old girl could as the boys zipped between the bystanders. James bumped Lily knocking her to the floor as Harry and Ginny Potter chased after him to get him to leave Albus Severus alone. Lily had dropped her favorite teddy bear and he slid beneath one of the counters. The brown eyed young witch tried her best to get the bear but it was to no avail.
Fred and George had been busy undoing the damage James II had caused to their respective shelves as he knocked them down as well.
Amid the shouting and bickering, Lily walked out of the shop in a huff. She couldn't stand James and hated the way the arrogant jerk treated Albus Severus. Now her favorite teddy bear was lost and no one was there to help her. The embittered girl stood in the snow as silent tears ran down her cheeks. As she stood letting the chill of the winter weather nip at her, she felt someone tap her on the shoulder.
"Did you lose this?" asked a raven haired boy draped in ebony.
Obsidian eyes met amber as Lily noted this boy held her teddy bear.
"Ozzy!" she said pleased to see her friend again.
Phaeron offered the little girl a rather shy smile and handed her the bear.
"Thank you." she said ecstatic hugging her teddy bear friend. "Thank you so very much."
Phaeron smiled shyly once more.
The beautiful girl took it upon herself to hug him for his efforts. In his own mind he had not done anything but retrieve an old bear from beneath the counter but to her it was the most heroic thing he could have ever done for her.
Having finally calmed her self, Lily Potter offered Phaeron a shy smile of her own.
"Thank you again for saving Ozzy." she said.
"Don't mention it." replied Phaeron. "Although I wouldn't call retrieval "saving" anything exactly."
Lily's brown eyes lit up.
"Your a strange boy...like Sevie.." she said pleasantly. "I like it."
Phaeron arched an eyebrow at this.
"Sevie?" he asked.
"Albus Severus Potter." said Lily mimicking her mother when she was handing down discipline. "My brother...well the only one I like anyway."
The raven haired wizard smirked at that.
"What a curious name." he said thoughtfully.
"My daddy named him after his heroes during the second wizarding war." said Lily proudly. "Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape."
"Severus Snape?" asked Phaeron with an arched eyebrow. "Why would your father name his son after my father?"
"Severus Snape's your father?" asked Lily in awe. "Wow...I'd bet you and Sevie get along...what's your name?"
"Phaeron." replied the raven haired Slytherin. "Phaeron Severus Sebastian Snape."
"Wow." said Lily amazed. "That's a long name, like Dumbledore's...my name's Lily by the way...Lily Luna Potter."
Phaeron nodded. Apparently, there were more Potters than just the prat James. However Albus Severus and Lily did not seem to behave like him or care too much for the elder Potter son's antics for that matter. The raven haired wizard supposed he could do worse in the way of company. At least they had a common enemy.
"It was father's idea to name me Phaeron." he explained. "He's a notorious Potions Master...he even taught my father how to make potions."
"So are you a Potions Master too?" asked Lily inquisitive. "You are named after two Potions Masters."
"As a matter of fact that is what I want to be." said Phaeron. "I just have to get through Hogwarts first."
"You go to Hogwarts?" asked Lily even more in awe. "What's it like?"
Phaeron simply shrugged.
"You'll know in a few years." he replied. "I won't spoil the surprise."
Lily giggled holding her teddy bear tight to her chest.
"Well thank you again Phaeron Snape." she said "It was nice to meet you."
"Likewise Lily Potter." replied Phaeron.
He watched the giggling girl make her way back into the joke shop and headed back toward the book store. He had arrived just in time before his mother's sixth sense about him being in the presence of a Potter kicked in, Lily had been a nice little girl and he would hate for her to see her father get himself hexed into next week for being around the son of Hermione Granger-Snape.
"Did you find anything to your liking?" asked Hermione observing the bored expression on her young son's pale face.
"Nothing at all mother." replied Phaeron. "Any luck on your end?"
"None at all." replied Hermione with an equally bored expression. "Come let's go have lunch."
"As you wish mother." replied Phaeron.
Both mother and son strolled out of the bookstore and passed The Weasley Brothers' joke shop where Phaeron caught sight of a smiling Lily Potter squeezing her teddy bear tightly to her chest as she watched them pass by. The Potters it seemed were a strange lot it seemed. Some more strange than the others.