When Severus awoke in the hospital wing (again) he was in a foul mood. What difference did it make coming back here, suffering marauders and stupid Gryffs and still being a regular in Poppy's care? He hated its smell, ammonia, and cleaning potions that bothered his sensitive nose, the wards which bothered what he now knew as perception, and its food.
His mood got worse when he saw the fat arse of Pettigrew in a bed near himself. It seemed he had his first delightful taste of Slytherin brotherhood, named itching powder.
Then he turned to the other side and saw Frank and Charity, nearly half asleep.
Charity, sensing him moving, shook Frank.
" hello, sleeping beauty! You missed dinner and the head girl. visit and twins visit and Marlene visit and Lily's visit and Madam Pomfrey saying she might as well set your nose and everybody saying our Head had slapped McGonagall!"
Frank put a hand on Charity's back "Breath you hugger girl."
Charity, reminded that she actually hugged a cat-like professor, blushed.
Frank beamed at him" congrats on your new nose! It's awesome! Better than the Potter piggy one anyway!"
Then handed him a mirror.
Severus saw his reflection, he had a perfect Roman nose, a bit on the big side, but not crooked, and two sizes too big for his face.
He actually seemed cute now( much as he loathed) with large eyes, curly wurly hair, and his nose. He looked like an anime character.
His eyes teared up.
Charity scolded Frank" you should have waited! Looks like he is upset!"
Then hugged him. Frank hesitated at first, but he joined him on the bed, hugging both of them.
"Shush...cuti boy. None of that! You look like a regal Italian girl killer now! "
They remained for some minutes like that, then Frank handed him a chocolate frog.
" saved it for you! Dinner here sucks, but I hope you like this"
Then kissed his forehead and ran along Charity, because it was almost curfew.
Severus smiled, maybe this new chance was worth it.
He was smiling when his good mood was interrupted by a sniff.
He rolled his eyes, Pettigrew again.
(He felt sorry for the sod, he was now in a position he had at last time he lived, bullied by both marauders and snakes, and him being a snake...and Severus had been headmaster and head of Slytherin for so long, old habits die hard, eh?)
He got up and slowly went to his bed.
He sensed him, and maybe was terrified.
" whatu doin' here Snape?"
(Eyes red, nose puffed, crying?)
"To see if you are Ok"
Pettigrew seemed angry" don Wan yes pitty, you half-blood twat. Bragged about saving a snake much and got punched in the face?"
(So He did not know about Minerva. )
" not pitty, and no, I got here because a teacher saw fit to scare a Hufflepuff to death, maybe she saw it funny or sth"
Pettigrew's eyes widened "wha..?
So he told him the whole thing.
Pettigrew looked sad" it is not OK to scare kids, and a deputy too, sorry I lashed out"
( maybe this child was not beyond saving yet. He still had sympathy. And he was a kid. In a new world with no backup and no friend...)
He offered the chocolate frog.
"We can be...( he could not say friend, snakes did not have friends these days) Allies, I don't let others bully you, you don't let snakes get my friends? we can study too"
Pettigrew pondered but hesitated" if others know...I have a grandma who is a muggle-born and they don't accept me, but you have a muggle father...but if ..."
Severus sighed" we can talk in private?"
Pettigrew got the frog and smiled at him.
(Severus's old heart warmed a bit, fuck his sensitive heart and his head duties!)
Tomorrow came with bright colors.
Severus with his new nose, walked into the hall for breakfast, when he noticed the head table.
It was covered in cat hair, with cat paws all over it, and the teacher's affords to scorgify or banish that, was in vain.
It was truly a piece of wand work.
Marlene stepped behind him (which scared him shitless) putting her hands on his waist.( what the damn girl means!?)
Whispered in his ear " my idea, and twins work. hope you liked it"
Then squeezed his waist a bit and went to her own table.
Ravens were weird.
Severus smiled, the Prewatts were really a pair of good friends.
Minerva was not having a good day.
The incident has spread, and now other heads were giving her a cold shoulder. And perfects looked at her like she was a kind of monster waiting to attack.
Now this shit is called the head table!
The headmaster arrived and started to pop lemon drops and chat with Pomona as if he had the gall to scold her( he was more biased against other houses, anything not collared in red and gold).
" Pomona dear, do you really want the boy on the team?"
Pomona scoffed" him or no one, and it means
no PRECIOUS QUIDICH MATCH.."
(Who was the boy? And the way she said precious Quidich was as if to taunt her...)
"Well if you are sure, he is a first-year after all"
(No nonnnonoo there was only one firsty who was qualified to be on the team and Merlin's hairless ass! How was Minerva supposed to assure the boy's, Snape boy safety!)
She wanted to protest but it was late. Albus gleefully put his absurd signature on Pomona's request.
Minerva was doomed.
Albus then had the gall to wink at her, wave a hand and the table was paw and fur-free.
Minerva swore one day, she would poison his lemon drops to make him suffer.
It was Severus's first potions class. He was so reluctant to go. What was there for him? Sluggy had already found his pet in Lily, and Horace did not pay an eye on him and he was a Slytherin then.
Now as a Hufflepuff?
No way!
So he did not pay attention to his speech. Just got what he wanted and got to his station (they had to work alone at first, to be evaluated and grouped better)
He did as he wanted, the potion normally needed about an hour but he could do it in 30 minutes. It was one he changed after the purple pimple accident 6 years ago so it was more potent and quicker to brew. Also, no one but him knew the recipe.(using chamomile and rose water was not in the recipe) and I did not look at the useless book.
When he was finished, he bottled it and put it aside, then got his notebook.
Help Andromeda
Find something to do about squibs
Do something about fertility
When he was interrupted by Slughorn .
" Mister Snape is it? I am aware of your spectacular performance in charms and flying, but that does not give you permission to ignore a class you dont not feel as important. I have you know potions is a subtle art that is often neglected, but it is potions which heal you...
(God! Morgana and Merlin elbows! WAS HE BEING LECTURED ABOUT POTIONS IMPORTANCE BY SLUGHORN!!!!!!!)
" professor, if I may, I have finished "
Slughorn astounded into silence for a second
" what? It is just half passed..
And hurried to his station. Picking a spatula to test his potion.
" My! The consistency! The technique! The time! You are a genius, my boy! Is it rose water? I've never seen it used as a basis for this! have you used some other book?"
" I tweaked it myself professor "
" how...how...Merlin's beard!son!
Then he hugged him.
Actually hugged him.
( fuck this timeline making him a cute huggable teddy bear)
Minerva was more annoyed, if possible, at lunch that day. It was not enough, the boy had perception, was awesome in charms, great flyer turned to fucking youngest seeker in a century, he had to be exceptionally gifted in the sodding art of potions!
Sluggy was still raving mad" Ooh, putting rose water and chamomile! I will register it in his name when I have time! He is a precious gem! I bet every potions and charms master would beg at his feet to take them as a master!"
(Yeah yeah, fuck me again and again...)
Pomona added," He can be a Quidditch player too, Horace, don't limit his options just now!"
(LA LA Lal LA lllaal I don't hear I don't hear )
Albus pats her on the back
" dear Minerva it seems you've lost to Hufflepuff prodigy, and the years to come sound exciting, does it not?"
(When later that day, Albus was sitting in a hospital wing bed, puking his guts in the bucket while Poppy lectured him about "the dangers of pocking an angry wild Cat" he genuinely thought that maybe the pat was a tad too much for Minerva to take"
Chapter End Notes
Albus talking to Fawks the Phoenix: "Do you really think I was out of line? I mean Snape touched Minerva's bum, how was I supposed not to laugh?
Fawns fluffs his feathers, giving no mind.
Albus continues: "And she was wrong about the potion prodigy of the year too, and those furs and paws...
Fawkes gives him a look.
Albus: eh...right, maybe I shouldn't have added the furs to the twins' design?
Fawks glares.
: the bit about signing the quidditch thingy?
Albus sighs: but she poisoned my lemon drops! My pride and joy! It is like when someone takes a wand from a charms master, or a broom from a player...
Fawks tired from his whining goes to pick a basilisk eye out, it sounds much better!