Chapter Four: Severus's Son at School:
Little Max was excited, he was going back to Hogwarts and was going to live with his father for a time at the school! He did not fully know this was to keep him safe, as it was not clear if Grimmauld place was still safe place as Bellatrix had been there as a child and knew where it was, though she had been cast out of the family she still had Black blood and the blood ward would not work against her. So Max would stay with his father in the castle, and still be tutored by Remus Lupin. His trunk packed and sent to Hogwarts he waited with his stuffed panther near the floo, Molly Weasley by him.
He was clad in his navy dress robes and had his long wavy black hair tied back. Molly threw floo powder on the fire, scooped up little Max and shouted out Hogwarts before she went through with him. They exited in McGonagall's office and Max wiggled out of Molly's arms seeing his father in the room. Severus crouched down and the boy ran to him with joy and threw his arms around his father's neck.
"Daddy! Daddy!" He squealed in delight.
"Hello little one." Severus said. "You ready to stay here?"
"Yes, I will be with you and uncle Moony!" Max replied.
"Yes you will Shrimp." Sirius said from the doorway, arms folded even with his heavily bandaged hands. "I guess I don't count?"
"Hi uncle Siri." Max said then at seeing his hands. "What happened to your hands?"
"Bellatrix said no to my proposal to marriage. "Sirius said. "I mean when I ask Minerva to marry me she does not break my hands!"
"No she just waits until you turn to Padfoot and then she turns to Tabby and chases you down." Max said looking up at him solemnly with his soulful black eyes. "Then she shreds you up."
"Okay that is it Shrimp, you are gonna get it!" Sirius said grinning at the young boy's wit.
"Uncle Moony will protect me!" Max said. "As will daddy!"
"It's true I will protect the little guy, people with brains have to stick together." Remus said.
"Agreed." Severus said.
"I am outnumbered, I am going to see Harry, at least he will be on my side!" Sirius said pouting.
"Doubtful, even he has more brains than you." Severus countered.
Max laughed and Severus scooped him up and carried him out. He put the boy down outside the door, holding his hand so he could walk. Severus did not care there were students out and about seeing him share a moment with his son. He was so very proud of Max and he did not mind the stares as he walked his son down the stairs. Most people knew he had a son but they would not ask him about the boy, as they wanted to keep house points. Severus kept a stern look on his face but Max knew even at his tender years that his father was in "teacher mode" now. Severus was walking his son down to lunch when he ran into Draco Malfoy.
"Professor Snape." Draco said then looked down at Max and grinned. "Hey Max, you want to sit with me at lunch?"
"Can I daddy?" Max asked really liking Draco.
"Of course, but you must be good." Severus said then giving Draco a stern look. "You will behave yourself Mr. Malfoy."
"Yes sir." Draco said.
He held one of Max's little hands while his dad held the other. They came to the great hall and Severus allowed Draco to take the boy to the Slytherin table as there was not any place for a child at the head table. Harry looked over at the Slytherin table and Draco smirked at him as he conjured up a booster seat for Max. The rest of the students in the hall were naturally curious about this little guy and the word spread that the boy was Severus's. Severus needed not worry about his carefully honed reputation in the school. The older students knew how much he cared and would continue their tales of the "evil vampire of the dungeons" to the first years. They respected him so much especially after the battle last year when he had fought on their side.
"Is he staying here?" Ron asked Harry.
"Yea, Grimmauld place may not be safe." Harry replied. "It's good he is here, he can help me with my potions homework."
"Harry!" Hermione snapped at him.
"Oh fine I will continue to ask Luna for help." Harry groused. "She passed her OWLS in potions in her fourth year!"
"Yes, however Hermione is the smartest in our year" Ron said.
"With Draco second smartest in our year." Neville said. "It's not fair Max is with him, we should have him."
"Severus is Draco's godfather you know." Harry said. "Besides we have plenty of time to get him back."
"Yea we do at that." Ron said. "Can't have him corrupted by Slytherin now can we?"
After lunch Remus came to take care of Max as Severus trusted him and he was Max's tutor to boot until it was safe for him to go to a muggle school. With Bellatrix out there she would do anything to try and hurt the boy. Sirius longed to swing Max up but with his bandaged hands he could not manage it. Remus did swing Max up getting a laugh out of the little boy. This got several students walking by to smile and stare at the sight. That is until Severus gave them glares that got them scurrying to their next classes.
"Mind if I take him outside?" Remus asked Severus.
"No, it would be good for him." Severus said. "Do keep him on the grounds though."
"I will, Sirius you want to come?" Remus asked.
"Yes but I cannot come as Padfoot, not until my hands heal." Sirius said.
"That is okay uncle Siri, you will get well." Max said.
Severus watched his son leave the school and went down to his dungeons and classes. He glared at the first years who looked up at him in terror, despite the fact his son had been at lunch they still feared him. Ah yes his reputation was intact and he knew he had the older students to thank. Mean time little Max was running ahead of Remus and Sirius out in the glorious end of summer day. He stopped just by Hagrid's house and stood frozen in interest at what he saw before him. Remus and Sirius came up and saw the Thestrals standing looking at the little boy. The grown wizards realized with a shock little Max saw them too.
"What are these?" Max asked as he had never studied or knew anything about Thestrals. "They look kind of funny, can they see?"
"Yes, yes they can." Remus said doing his best to not show the shock he felt. "They are very useful, the coaches are pulled by them."
"Never saw them in school." Sirius said. "Saw them first time I came back, after I escaped."
"Why did you not see them before?" Max asked curiously.
"Well we better let your father explain that." Remus said. "He knows more about them."
"Because he has worked here for so long?" Max asked.
"Yes, that would be it Shrimp." Sirius said grinning to hide the pain and horror he felt. "Why don't we see if Fang wants to play fetch?"
Later that evening, after Severus had tucked his son into bed he met with Dumbledore in his office. Remus had filled him in and he had never seen such pain in Severus's eyes. There was no doubt that Max had seen his mother die, but how could he not remember that? Unless his memories had been altered or Oblivated. Severus took a seat and Sirius wanted to comfort him but was not sure how to. This was the man's son who had seen what no-one had thought he had! What was worse was the fact that he understood the death of his mother even if he did not remember seeing it and that hurt Severus the most.
"Who found him?" Severus asked.
"She had something set up, a letter that went to the Auror office." Dumbledore said. "I think she expected something like this."
"Because of me." Severus said.
"No, no I don't think so, if that were the case the boy would have been killed, someone wanted her dead but spent the time to wipe the boy's memories." Dumbledore said standing up. "But why and who would do that?"
"I plan to find out." Severus said. "At the same time Max does not need to know does he?"
"If you could look into his mind, see if there is anything there remaining." Dumbledore asked. "If there is we can remove it and put it in my pensive."
"I will prepare him for that in the morning." Severus said looking much older than his years at the moment. "He is just a boy, he does not need this at his young age!"
"Severus we are there for him, you are there for him." Remus said. "He is a strong, good kind boy and he will get through this."
"Wolf for once you show wisdom in your words." Severus said.
He knew he would face whatever came next, he had friends and extended family to help him raise Max and help him too. Severus knew without others to help him and his son this last year he would not have survived. Sirius put a bandaged hand on his shoulder and Severus looked up at him. Sirius did not say a word, but Severus knew he was trying to show his support. For that he was grateful, it was truly a miracle that these two even got along as well as they did. Sirius promised himself once Severus was not so worried to get right back to annoying him, as that was his job in life now…
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Yes Max has seen the death of his mother. I wanted that to be made clear, as to how he does not remember, well that will come later! As for the students seeing Severus's son? It would give even more respect to Severus as the students would see he did have a heart and cared so much about others too.
As always do review!