Snape Revealed Shorts, Story ONE:
Lost and Found
Part 5: Polonius Ohlms
AN: JK Rowling created most of these characters and the universe from which they hail…
Okay, we all knew this was coming. Even before I got pregnant I thought about writing a Snape and baby story. This takes place about 2 yrs after Severus arrives at Hogwarts to teach. He's had roughly 22 months to mourn for Lily and his involvement in her demise and has been having a very rough go of it. Some other tragic things have occurred as well since Lily's death that he's also trying to cope with.
(I'll be perfectly honest with you; I've forgotten a lot of what I wrote in part II and what I did write in part III of Severus Snape Revealed. I'm confused if I wrote things, or meant to, and don't have the time to go back to research. If I make a blatant mistake that goes against canon or against my own canon and someone calls me out on it, I'd really appreciate it, and I'll go back and correct it.)
This is not beta'd…
The next morning Severus sat across from Polonius Ohlms in his office. Severus sat still with his hands crossed on his desk, staring at the boy, who slouched in his chair and avoided eye contact. After a few seconds Polonius exhaled and then rolled his eyes.
"Something vexes you?" Severus asked.
"Why am I here?"
"Because of what you've been saying about me."
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"Oh let me see, where to begin? Well let's start with me being a coward."
"You are."
"This is based on what exactly?"
"I think you know," Polonius said with his arms crossed at his chest with great disdain.
"No, enlighten me. What cowardly acts have I done?"
"What happened to her was your fault!"
"I'm not telling you again. It was not my fault. Need I remind you what I did to Professor Bagans?"
"I have no proof of what you claim you did to him, nor do I believe that he had anything to do with what happened to her!"
"Oh? What happened to him then? He just decided not to show up for work one day?"
"Everyone knows the Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher never finishes a full year here at Hogwarts," Polonius said in jest.
"You have a point. Well I can assure you he won't be walking right or looking right for quite some time. And he is the one to blame for your sister's…accident."
"Accident? Are you kidding me?"
"I don't want to discuss your sister…"
"You won't even say her name!"
"Ophelia! Okay? I'm not going to discuss Ophelia right now! We both know what really happened to her and we agreed not to talk about it to other students."
"I don't tell them anything, other than you're a coward…"
"Who dated her apparently?"
"You did!"
"I never went on a date with your sis…Ophelia."
"And what happened in Norway? Or am I making that up?" Polonius asked. Severus took a deep breath. He needed to be careful around Polonius.
"Let's not do this…"
"See, coward. You won't even talk about it."
"I'm no coward. I never dated your sister."
"That's not what she said!"
"Well then she lied."
"Why don't I go and ask her then?" Polonius asked as Severus almost lost complete control.
"We both know you can't do that."
"Oh, but I can."
"I won't allow it."
"Why? She's my sister!"
"You can't talk to her. I'm not sure why you think you can just go in there and…"
"What? You just admitted that I can, since you won't allow it. I don't have to listen to you."
"You are mistaken about that. I can assure you she's…"
"I know I can talk to her!"
"Fine! Go talk to her. Figure out how and talk to her. Tell her I said Hi."
"You're such an asshole."
"You will stop telling students falsehoods about me this instant or I'll have you removed from Hogwarts."
"You wouldn't dare."
"I don't make threats. I don't know how else to get through to you Polonius. I told you if you wanted to be angry at me, you could be, but not to slander me to the rest of the school. You don't know the whole truth, okay? Trust me. If you don't think what happened to her as affected me deeply than …"
"Master," Mini interrupted, entering his office through a little door made especially for her.
"What?" Severus shouted.
"Mini is sorry!" she quivered and began to shed a tear.
"For Merlin's sakes, what?"
"Master Rhys is crying and he's all red, all over, and he needs his mummy!"
"Who?" Polonius asked.
"Merlin knows he needs his mummy Mini," Severus replied.
"Mini meant you sir," she smiled and then left as soon as she entered.
"What?" Polonius asked.
"None of your business. Get out of here," Severus said in a disgusted tone as he rose from his seat and then slammed his chair against this desk. Polonius jumped a little when he saw Severus's anger. Severus entered his quarters to find Rhys, again naked, crawling around on the cold, hard, stone floors, crying. It appeared his bottom had a rash. As soon as he saw Severus, he sat straight up and pulled his arms out. Severus felt very bad for the little baby.
"I have salve for that tender bottom of yours," he said to the baby. "Mini, it's in a dark blue vile in my personal lab, on my desk, please bring it," he asked the shy elf. "Rhys, what are we going to do with you?"
"Maaa," Rhys said. It was the first discernable sound Severus had ever heard him make. "Mmmm-maaaa, mmmm!" the baby spoke, and then smiled, looking awfully proud of himself.
"No, Sev," Severus corrected and then smiled. "You must stop crying all the time, it upsets Mini, she's a very fragile elf," Severus spoke as the baby just stared deeply into Severus's black eyes. Severus stared back into Rhys's green eyes and saw an instant flash of a woman. "Oh my God," Severus said aloud. Perhaps the woman he saw was the boy's mother.
"Salve sir," Mini said entering his quarters again.
"Wipe it all over his bottom and nappy him," Severus instructed, handing the baby to the elf. Severus ran to the desk at the far end of his sitting room and grabbed a parchment and a quill and scribbled down an image of the woman he saw in a flash.
She was young, very young, had blonde hair, and striking brown eyes. Her hair was wavy and shoulder length. It was a woman he'd never seen before. She looked to be no older than twenty, and he knew he'd never attended school with her. The second-long glimpse he had of her, she was not smiling, in fact, she didn't look happy at all. Severus drew the picture as best he could when he realized he was late for his first class.
Severus entered his classroom to find the second years already seated and quiet, just as they should be. Severus decided not to apologize for his tardiness but to begin the lab as if he arrived right on time. Between Polonius and the image of who he assumed was Rhys's mother, Severus could not concentrate during his class, so it came to no surprise to him when a Hufflepuff burnt her finger on her cauldron. After taking away five points for incompetence he made sure her wound was not too severe and then sent her to Madam Pomfrey.
"I've never seen this girl before," Dumbledore said, gazing upon Severus's drawing later that evening.
"Crap."
"Literally?"
"Huh? No, his nappy is dry," Severus said, feeling Rhys's butt for extra squishiness. Dumbledore smiled and then glanced around the room.
"I can't help but notice your quarters look slightly different than they did a few days ago."
"What? I Transfigured some toys for him. He needs the distraction."
"Of course he does."
"I know babies unstack rings but I was shocked to see him stacking them earlier."
"Really?" Dumbledore asked in a moderately sarcastic tone.
"It's very impressive in one so young. I showed him once how to put a toy back into the bucket and he started to do it. I also saw him walking using the sofa as an aid."
"You must be proud."
"I…I think his parents would be proud. We need to find them!"
"Any word from Lucius?"
"None. I'm seeing him later tonight though. I'm going to show him the picture."
"See anything else in Rhys?"
"None. He said Maaa and then I saw that face."
"That's sweet."
"That's sad. He misses his family, even if they don't miss him."
"We'll find them, don't worry. By the way, Mr. Ohlms visited me this afternoon, he said you threatened to expel him and also asked for access to Miss Ohlms old room."
"That boy, I swear," Severus griped, rolling his eyes. "I hope you told him no."
"I told him only you could grant access. I also told him to be more respectful of you. I know you'd not threaten him unless you felt you had no other choice."
"He's being a total…"
"What?"
"Prick."
"Ah, I see. Well, he's been through a lot. But he needs to respect you, especially around other students."
"So you've heard what he's been saying?"
"He told me, and I believe him. He doesn't truly blame you; he just thinks you could have done more."
"I know. I know," Severus said, glancing down at Rhys who was sucking on his thumb and banging a large ring onto the floor to hear the sound. Severus couldn't help but smile. "We need to find this boy's mother."
"Yes Severus. I know. I'm working on it. You're doing a fabulous job by the way."
It was no consolation to Severus though.
"Never seen her before in my life Sev, but she is rather pretty," Lucius said, sipping his Scotch and admiring Severus's sketch.
Severus had done the unthinkable. He brought a baby, to a pub. The pubwas in Wales and he was fairly certain he'd not run into anyone he knew there.
"The child resembles the mother."
"Really?" Severus asked, turning Rhys to face him and staring into his green eyes. "I hadn't noticed."
"Same face shape, eye shape, small lips."
"Hmm, so he does," Severus replied as Rhys made a face as if he were about to cry. Severus instinctively bounced his knee to calm the child.
"Why is he here again?" Lucius asked.
"Because my elf is not good with babies and he seems to like me."
"But, you brought a baby to a pub Sev."
"I am aware of that, I wanted to meet in a café but you insisted you needed to consume copious amounts of alcohol."
"Sure, blame me then. I didn't think you'd bring the child. He's almost as cute as Draco at that age," Lucius noticed as Severus fought hard not to make a face. Draco was a hideous baby and as far as babies were concerned, Rhys was one good looking tiny human. "He's leaking…from the mouth….teething?"
"Yes, he has eight teeth I noticed this morning and it appears six more are headed his way."
"Amazing. Draco still barely has that many."
"He's highly advanced; he says Maaaa and cruises around on furniture…"
"You must be proud," Lucius quipped.
"Exceedingly. Well, what do I do with him?"
"I hate to tell you this, but he doesn't exist."
"Come again?" Severus asked as Rhys began to smile at Lucius.
"He exists not…at least, not in our world. He had no registered birth and as you know, all magical births are registered."
"That's why Dumbledore has found nothing. He must be a wizard though! He had magical nappies and no Muggle knows of Hogwart's existence."
"Perhaps a magical family found him and dropped him off?" Lucius asked. Severus hadn't thought of that.
"Shit."
"Yes, you are in a world of it, hi! Hi there!" Lucius said, turning his attention to and waving to Rhys, who waved back and smiled.
"You need to go to sleep," Severus said to the boy who started to giggle at Lucius, who was making green and blue lights flash from his wand and swirl around the child. "It's late Lucius, he needs to fall asleep."
"He's in a pub Sev, he won't sleep, will you? Say No, I don't like sleep!" Lucius smiled at the boy.
"What the hell is that?" Walden Macnair asked staring at Rhys with a perplexed look on his face. He sat down next to Lucius with his glass of ale and continued to stare at the child.
"Macnair," Severus acknowledged, embarrassed to be caught in a pub with a baby.
"Why are you in Wales Lucius, and what's that on Severus's lap?" Macnair asked sipping his ale.
"I'm in Wales visiting my friend and that thing on Severus's lap is a baby," Lucius replied in a disgusted tone.
"Why?" Macnair asked staring back at Severus. "Potion's ingredient or something?"
"Yes Walden, babies make the best potion's ingredients, I picked this up in Knockturn this morning for quite a bargain."
"Which potion?"
"I'm joking!" Severus snapped. Lucius rolled his eyes as Macnair finished his ale and then stood up.
"Well I gotta run."
"Good," both Lucius and Severus said at the same time.
"Is he retarded?" Severus asked as Macnair walked away.
"He's…Macnair. Anyway, about the child, I have no idea what to tell you. I will tell the Board it's unfair of Dumbledore to force you to keep this baby, we'll send him to an orphanage or something."
"Hold off a few more days, we'll see what Dumbledore comes up with."
"Why? Why trust him to do anything to help you? Is he brainwashing you or something?" Lucius sneered.
"No, but I have to appear to let him think I trust him."
"Why are you still there? It's absurd!"
"I'm not telling you again…the Dark…"
"Hush!" Lucius snapped and then looked around to make sure no one was in ear shot. "I'm on the Board, I could have the board remove you and there's nothing your precious Dumbledore could do to stop me!"
"I'm sure you can, but I don't think it's a wise idea to do so. He will return and when he does, I want him to know how loyal I am, unlike some others," Severus said coolly. Lucius glared at Severus and then took a deep breath.
"I've done all I can in regards to the child. When you want me and the other Governors to act on your behalf, just inquire," Lucius said, throwing several Galleons down on the table. He stood up quickly and turned so fast his robes nearly whipped Severus in the face. Severus snickered and then glanced down at Rhys, who was asleep in his arms.
AN: Okay, guess I'm a tad bored. I started a fan page on Facebook for Severus Snape Revealed and Shorts. Just search "Severus Snape Revealed" on Facebook and 'like' the page for updates and polls and such. ;-)