Lost and Found
Disclaimer: I own Canan. That is all. Everything else is JK Rowling's.
Chapter two: Delivered from Evil
After apparating from the MacSwan residence to the grounds of Hogwarts, Severus escorts the child to Dumbledore's office to make arrangements for accommodation until Canan could be sorted and to determine plans for a trip to Daigon Alley to acquire his school supplies. The castle, they had been informed, had already configured a room for the boy attached to Severus' quarters. This came as a surprise to everyone, since the potions master wasn't the type to host another graciously, but Hogwarts always seemed to know what was best. Not questioning her decision, Dumbledore decided that Severus would accompany Canan in his shopping. Since Canan was a ward of the Ministry of Magic his supplies and anything that the staff of Hogwarts determined necessary would be payed for by the Ministry.
That night, Severus took Canan to his quarters to treat his sunburn with a burn salve, have him clean up, and discuss his injuries. After transfiguring several articles of clothing for the following day and a pair of pajamas into a smaller size, since all they had bothered to pack were under garments, shoes and socks, he sends the child to wash up, leaving him a towel and clean pajamas.
After Canan had cleaned himself up, they sat at his table to speak with a plate of supper brought by the house elves, seeing as his mother somehow found it suitable to deprive the child of his meals. Canan was evasive of his questions though, and he had an excuse for the bruises and scrapes on his overly small limbs. Apparently he has fallen on his rollerblades. Severus wasn't foolish enough to buy this excuse, seeing as the injuries would be on his knees rather than his shins and calves, and the injuries on his arm would be on the bottom side, palms and elbows rather than the forearms and shoulders. While Severus could have easily entered his mind and discovered the truth behind his injuries, proving himself untrustworthy would do nothing to help an abuse victim. In fact it would only set things back. So instead of pushing it, Severus let him eat his roast beef dinner and go to bed with his bear, Snuggles. He could only be glad that the ministry saw it fit to remove the child from those evil muggles and deliver him to Hogwarts. He snorts remembering a line from a prayer his muggle father taught him. '...Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil..."
Severus found it ironic that the ones who taught that prayer gave into the temptation to harm a child, thus becoming the evil those who were taught to pray that prayer were hoping for deliverance from. It was disgusting really, the treatment muggle born wizards and witches received when they hailed from religious homes that made no effort to understand why their child was different. And those who payed the most dearly for it were innocent. They payed solely based off the fact that they existed, much like his own child had payed at the hand of James.
Severus was pulled from his thoughts at the sound of a soft rasp and looks over at the child and sees that he had fallen asleep, roll in his mouth, and fork still in hand. It appeared as though he was a loud breather in his sleep. After spelling the food from his mouth so he didn't choke and removing the fork he picks him up and lies him in his bed in his room. It would be best to allow him to sleep when he clearly needed it, though most children his age looked forward to late nights during the summer holiday. None the less he had a long day ahead of him tomorrow with his trip to Daigon Alley. Severus would much prefer to have the child well rested than to deal with one in a foul mood due to sleep deprivation. He wouldn't know how to handle it if Canan made a scene.
About an hour after Canan went to bed, Severus went to his own chambers to rest for the night. The plan he had made for the following day was to eat breakfast upon waking, then to take the child to Daigon alley and get him the things he needed for school. Then to start some basic training in regards to controlling his magic just outside the Hogwarts grounds because the wards at Hogwarts stopped accidental magic. It wouldn't do to have his magic lashing out where he was unable to control it during the summer, wherever the child may be then. He would have to contact the ministry to arrange for him to have a guardian during the summer, so he added that to his list of things to do.
The next morning Severus awoke and dressed in his standard black robes, summoned a house elf to bring breakfast and this mornings edition of the daily prophet, then went to wake Canan. When he entered the room, a few books were floating around as he slept, hugging on Snuggles and one leg sticking out of the blankets. He spelled the books back to their shelves and contemplated the best way to wake a child without putting him in a bad mood. After biting his lip and thinking about it for a moment, he elected to enchant the bear to do it for him. He wouldn't have to deal with any foul moods and any child would enjoy waking up to their teddy bear coming to life, as such he should be in an agreeable mood for Severus. He points his wand at the bear and murmurs, "Ad Vitam." To bring the bear to life, then tells the bear, "Wake him and ensure he's dressed for the day in the clothes on the dressing table." Then goes to read his copy of the Daily Prophet.
Not 10 minuets later Canan emerged wearing a pair of casual black slacks, a grey button down shirt under a green button down robe, and carried a black cloak in his hands. A vast improvement as to what he wore the prior day. "Take a seat and help yourself to as much breakfast as you please. Today we'll be going back to school shopping so please eat your fill. I have no desire to have you snippy because of something easily prevented." He says, pouring them both breakfast tea as Canan reached for the Coffee. Severus takes the pot before his hands could reach it. "Your far too young." His voice left no room for argument, so instead Canan reached for some eggs and sausages and munched on them, but didn't take as much as a child his age should. "Those are not healthy portions Canan and your obviously under weight." He says, taking his plate and placing a healthy portion of eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, baked beans, grilled mushrooms and a grilled tomato. A full English breakfast should tide him over until lunch and help him to gain weight. The child opened his mouth to protest but Severus held up a hand to stop it. "I want at least half of it eaten. I will not be inconvenienced by you fainting during our shopping. When your done brush your hair and teeth, then put your shoes on." He says and eats his own breakfast.
Within the hour they were ready to go and Severus walked to the fire place and pulled Canan in with him. "Take firm hold of my arm. We'll be using the floo network as transportation, but I would rather you not floo alone. If you do not speak clearly you may end up at a different location all together." He says, announcing their location and keeping a firm hand holding onto the child as they were pulled through and exited the floo for Canan's first trip into the wizarding world.
They stepped out of the fire place and Snape let the child go. "Stay close to me. It wouldn't do to have you get lost. Like in the muggle world, there are those in the wizarding world who have less than noble motives and it would not do to have you running into one of them." He says, planning their route. The nearest shop Ollivander's, so their first stop would be to get his wand. The next place on their list was the Magical Menagerie, where they would get Canan a pet. He figured it would be helpful for him to have a companion in the dorms and therapeutic after all that he had been through. Not that he would ever admit to caring for anyone. No way. Across the street was a shoe store where he would purchase shoes for Canan, as the ones he had now were far from proper for anything more than the garbage. Perhaps that's what contributed to his strange walk, and after shoes would be robes from Madam Malkins. The next stop would be Flourish and Blotts to purchase his books, then immediately next door to acquire his stationary and quills. Across the street they would get an owl for any correspondences he may require, then a few shops down purchase a cauldron, and then supplies from the apothecary across the street.
"It looks like the first stop is to get your wand. It's not far." He says, leading him past one shop to the one next door. When they entered Canan looks around in awe at the shelves stacked floor to ceiling with boxes containing wands and Severus turns to Ollivander. "The ministry has sanctioned an early education for young Mr. MacSwan, and as such, he will be requiring a wand to attend Hogwarts. Your assistance would be much appreciated." Says Severus. The elderly shop keeper looked Canan over and had to do a double take looking between the two, but wisely kept his mouth shut. The abduction of Snape's child had made headlines and despite the resemblance, it would be wise to keep his mouth shut. The resemblance would have to be a strange coincidence, as the prophet said that a reliable source indicated the death of the child. "Of course Professor Snape. Hmmm. What to do for you?" He asks nobody in particular, looking through the shelves and selecting a box.
"Why don't you give this one a try." He says, taking a 9 inch wand made from ash wood with a veela hair core and placing it in his hand. "Go on. Give her a flick." He says. Canan gives it a small flick of the wrist and manages to somehow flip every item of furniture in the shop upside down. "Well that's clearly not the one." He says, waving his own wand to right the furniture. "How about you give this one a try." The next was a 10 inch ebony wand with a Phoenix feather core. He gives it a wave and cut the front desk in half. "Nope. Not this one either." He says, while Severus raised an eyebrow at the destructive nature of his magic. "Hmmmm. I think maybe dragon heartstring would be the best core for him. He seems to be very good at jinxes and hexes." He mutters. "But what to do for wood? The shorter ones aren't working for him. He must have quite the ideals hidden away somewhere. Yes a longer wand of acacia or vine should do. Maybe yew." He says, pulling boxes off shelves then he pauses, "I wonder... This wand has been sitting on the shelf for three hundred years." He says, going to a shelf in the back after dropping the boxes he had been holding on a table and retrieving a box.
"An odd one this is. My great grandfather's great grand father created this wand. A masterpiece, but an very strange wand it is." He says, placing it on the working half of the checkout counter and opening it. "This wand is a highbred of sorts. As such it's highly temperamental. It has great power, but is so selective it's never chosen a master." With that he withdraws a wand that was 14 inches long from the box that had two pieces of wood twisted around each other in a narrow, interlocking spiral. One was the color of chocolate, a rich, deep brown, while the other a lighter color, a warm, golden shade. Carved into the spiral was a vine that had thorns and leaves sprouting from it, and the base of the wand formed a Celtic knot where the two varieties of wood joined. Severus, despite his opinion that wands were over used, couldn't help but be intrigued. Canan gave the wand a wave, and soft, but eerie music could be heard in the background.
"I do think this is the wand for you Mr. MacSwan. It's quite temperamental as the shaft is half acacia, but it's also half vine, so it's incredibly sensitive to its owner. Acacia is picky and can be stubborn, but the vine will make it cooperate with you easier, though to use the wand, both woods have to be comparable. The wand chooses the wizard, and a wand that's as rigid as yours will not work for anyone else. Usually a wand with a dragon heartstring core can change allegiance, but the wood is so loyal yours will not. None the less this will learn quicker than other wands, and produce very powerful spells. As I said before, wand chooses the wizard. Use it well." He warns, knowing that dragon heartstring was the most accident prone core of the three cores he crafted and sold. And he had his worries with what Severus told him of the child's accidental magic, but it seemed him and the wand were kindred spirits. So with that, Severus purchased the wand for him.
Next he took Canan to the Magical Menagerie, where an large cat crawled out of its display and started rubbing on Canan's thin legs. The cat was to his chest when it placed its front paws on him while reading up on his back legs, and started to purr as Canan petted the feline and it began to lick his fingers. Speaking of fingers, the animal had a pitch patch coat, and it's orange face had a white marking on it that looked curiously like a middle finger. Something Severus couldn't help but find irony in since the animal clearly was of a disposition that was unusually affectionate for a cat, rather than snarky. "It seems your familiar has already chosen you. I do believe this cat has been here since he was a kitten. Three years if I do recall." Says Severus. "Your familiar is more than a pet to you. It's your friend and your partner. It's a very unique bond that you will come to understand with time." Explains the processor, purchasing the cat and the necessary items for its care before walking across the street to get him some suitable shoes that would hopefully make walking more comfortable for him. He had noticed that in their walking around Canan had a peculiar shuffle to his gait.
When they walk in Severus spots two familiar heads of blonde hair. It seemed as though his godson had outgrown another pair of shoes. They did tend to hit a growth spurt around 7. When Lucius spotted his friend he grins and says, "Severus, what a pleasant surprise! I wouldn't have expected to have run into you here." He says. "Indeed. As it happens I've been charged with the care of a student who's shoes don't happen to be fit for anything but the garbage, and requires shoes for athletic, dress, and every day use that won't disturb the way he walks." He says, gesturing to Canan, who had been shuffling along behind him. Lucius, who walked with a cane, observed the child for a moment and frowns. Contrary to popular belief, the patriarch of the Malfoy family was a deeply imbedded spy during the wizarding war, and that, rather than the claim he was being controlled by the imperious curse, was what saved him from Azkaban, though that information, along with his compassionate nature, were bits of information not privy to the public.
Glancing at the child, he says, "Come here child and allow me to introduce myself. I'm a friend of Professor Snape's, Lucius Malfoy." He holds out his hand and Canan shakes his head and returns the introduction. "Canan MacSwan. It's nice to meet you." With that he shakes his hand. "Canan, I couldn't help but notice the way you walk, and I think that perhaps you hurt your right leg in the past. Can you put your weight on your left leg and straighten it for me?" He asks, offering his hand for support. Canan does as asked and when his left leg is straightened, his right one was lifted about an inch off the floor. "It's not the shoes Severus. It's the legs themselves." He says. "Supportive shoes will help but the leg healed like this so there's not much that can be done except for perhaps allowing for him to have a cane to assist. That may not be necessary for a while though." He says.
"I see. Well I'm not surprised to learn of an injury. Have a clerk come over Lucius so that his feet may be sized while I find suitable designs for him to wear." Says Severus. The blonde nods and finds a sales associate while Severus chooses several pairs that would serve their purpose while looking proper with more than one outfit. Within the hour, he had shoes that fit him properly and was ready to move onto the next location. So with three pairs of shoes, all charmed to repel water and keep his feet warm, they bid goodbye to Lucius.
The next stops were uneventful, picking up a new wardrobe, purchasing text books, picking up quills, and stocking up on paper. Picking his owl was a quick affair and he chose a dusky barn owl and the food and supplies needed for his care. Severus had little doubt there would be those Canan would have to make regular contact with, most likely in the ministry, so having his own owl would be sensible. The last two shops were the two Severus frequented and had the most knowledge regarding the items to be acquired. With in minuets, Severus found all the required items for his class and they were all of enviable quality. The ingredients he picked from the apothecary across the street were also of outstanding quality.
After the end of their trip, when they made it to the Leeky Cauldron, Canan was very well exhausted, and stepping into the floo, Severus decided that he would owl the Ministry with regard to his arrangements for the summer. After all there was still plenty of time for that.
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