I'm a Potions Master, Not an Art Teacher (5th year)

This was a nice little prompt that I enjoyed writing. It was a lot of fun. Feel free to suggest more!

Hailey had quite the eye, if she said so herself. Ever since the age of five Hailey had been able to pick up a pencil and draw something pretty decent. However the Dursleys had banned such nonsense and locked up any pencils or paper away from her. When Hailey was at Hogwarts, she happily picked up the old talent. It was something she kept secret until Dumbledore saw her drawing Minerva one day. He commented on the art work, and of course went he off and told every teacher of her hidden talent. Since then Hailey's carried around a sketchbook and pencil that Hermione had bought her.

"Sev."

There was no answer.

"Seeev."

Still no answer.

The now frowning teen groaned, rising from her chair with pad and pencil in hand. She walked over to where he sat and held the sketchbook in front of his face. He ignored it and pushed the book to the side, trying to focus on grading papers. Hailey now had a scowl on her face and forced it back in front of him.

"Help me," she demanded. "Or so help me I'll spell your hair hot pink right now."

That seemed to capture his attention quickly. Hailey smirked.

"Professor Dumbledore wanted me to draw him, and I have the base and all, but I need help with the shading,"

'What?' Was his first initial thought.

"I...suppose it could use more shading?" Severus replied, absolutely uncertain of what to say.

"Right, okay."

With that she returned back to her seat, at least for the next twenty minutes before she came to bother him yet again.

"Sev. I need help. I don't know how to shade his beard. His beard is white, but I don't get how to do it without making it look like I scribbled it in like a six hear old." Severus blinked, once again dumbfounded by the request. For Merlin's sake he was a Potions teacher, not an art teacher! Why on earth would this child come to him for help?

He opened his mouth to say something, but quickly beat him to it.

"I get it! I'll be real wispy with my charcoal! Thanks, Sev!" She scrambled back to her seat, nearly tripping in excitement. Severus stared at his ward, wondering what kind of sugar she got into to make her this bubbly (and annoying). And then he remembered that the Dursleys had banned such nonsense in their house, once again destroying a part of Hailey's childhood. Now here they were, many years later trying to make up for lost time and loss of innocence. It was moments like these that made Severus realize that Hailey was more like Lily than James. There were also times that he had to look beyond that and remind himself that Hailey was just Hailey. Neither her mother or father.

His gaze softened. If this is what it's like to raise a teen, he was proud to say that he fully enjoyed the experience, even if Hailey had her moment of stupidity, recklessness, and self sacrifice (which seemed to be most of the time).

"Sir, what are you looking at?" Hailey asked, glancing up from her work to see him staring off into nothing. His snapped back into reality and rubbed his forehead.

"I'm looking it the future to see how many years I have left before you give me a heart attack one of these days," Severus replied. "I have at least another good three years." The teenager rolled her eyes and grinned.

"You're so weird."

"Indeed. "

"Well I'm going to grab something to eat," Hailey declared, sliding off her seat. "Should I start up the kettle?"

"Yes, please. Clean up after you're done." Hailey smiled, nodding her head. She walked off to the kitchen with a little hop gracing her step. Severus glanced over to see her sketchbook hanging on the edge of her chair. He stood up and grabbed it before it could fall over.

Hailey was very secretive when it came to her drawings. Like most artists, she always criticizes herself over minor things. He knew Hailey didn't like to show off her drawings. Severus understood that her sketchbook was the equivalent to a diary, so why was the temptation to look inside so tempting? Surely one peak wouldn't hurt...

His fingers seemed to move on their own at this point by opening up the cover. The first couple of pages were just a few sketches of still life or students. The next were of her friends and the one of Dumbledore, which he had to admit, were rather impressive. Severus's lips twitched into a soft smile just as a page of her book came out. He kneeled down to pick it up. To his surprise, right on the middle of the paper was a neatly drawn picture of himself reading. No doubt it had been drawn today. Hailey must have been switching back and forth between the two. What captured his attention the most was the title.

'Dad.'

That's all it said in bold letters. His fingers traced over the artwork and lump seemed to have formed in his throat. Upon hearing the kettle let out a high pitched whistle, Severus quickly returned the sketchbook back to its normal state. He sat down and lifted his book, making it seem like he hadn't even gotten up. Hailey returned moments later with a tray prepared with tea and biscuits. The both of them silently sat there in comfort as they day rolled on by.

Hailey didn't even ask Severus to return the drawing that was sticking out of his pocket. She knew he'd deny everything, and that made her happy.

...

"I forgot to draw your grey hairs."