Author's Note: A late upload. I know I had promised to upload twice a week, my schedule was blooming on work, gym, and attending family reunions, it was catastrophic for me. Anyway, here is the switch POV from Damian to Severus and vice versa, this is only the first week for Damian, the upcoming weeks will begin my AU of Philoshoper's Stone, as we will see his first Quidditch, his detention with Professor Potter (which is getting closer that they will inevitably reunite), and his first great adventure, oh Peter will show up on on the end of next chapter, because a surprise return of a character which I am very excited to write, so without further a do, here is Chapter 12.
Chapter 12
1st of September1991
Hogwarts
The sun shone brightly, and Damian woke up early as usual
He was satisfied to see him waking up as he was used to do, because all the students there are still sleeping
He stood up and brought his towel on the closet, so he can have his routine morning showers
After spending not more than 10 minutes showering, he brushed his teeth, and he opens the door to see only Seamus waking up
"Good morning" Damian says
"Good morning" Seamus replies, but with a yawn
He chuckles a bit, and went to his closet for wearing the robes, he took it and went to the other room where he can change, without anyone would see it
After neatly wearing and combing his hair, his best friend Ron finally woke up, along Neville
"Morning you two" Damian laughs politely
"Morning Damian, you are bright and early" Ron smiles
"I am always bright and early Ron; you are just too thick to sleep" Damian said matter of fact
"Git" Ron mock glares
Damian laughs and pats his friend on the back
"See you in the grand hall for breakfast" Damian said
Mentioning the word breakfast seems to do the effect on Ron and Damian was thoroughly amused about it
He left his friends to do their routines while he left his room and sees Hermione sitting on the chesterfield, reading a book
"Good morning, Hermione" Damian said
He felt her flinch a bit, but her eyes soften and widen a bit, 'must be surprised to see one of her friends are an early riser'
"Oh hi Damian, never thought you are one of those who wakes up early" Hermione said
"I had heard that from Ron" Damian chuckles
"See, my point, Walk with me to the grand hall?" Hermione asks
"I thought you would never ask, sure, let's go while the rest of our friends catch us up" Damian accepts
Damian walked toward the portrait hall, and went to the staircase that must be moving in any second
He took the one that was moving a bit quickly, and it brought him and Hermione in a strange floor
There was a door, a locked door on the floor, and the door was huge, made up of oak wood
It caught Damian's attention for a moment, but the staircase moved again, transporting them into the main hall
They walked where the students were heading and then they finally manage to find the main hall
It was bright and white, thanks to the enchantment which Hermione had specified last night
Damian manages to chance a glance, to see if his father was there, and he was, but was speaking with Professor Potter. He knows that his father is very close to Professor Potter, thanks to his mother saying
His mother told him that they were best friends, until they left to their own lives
Damian felt a bit closer to Professor Potter, like as if he had known her a long time ago
He was snapped by his friend, Hermione and she told him to eat, in order to get ready for the day
Damian stared at the table, and there were boiled eggs, bacon, and cheese
He politely took two boiled eggs, and generously took 5 bacons
He took a quarter of cheese, and lastly found a milk carton, politely took a glass of milk.
He sat on the Gryffindor table, and began to eat his breakfast
Minutes later Ron and Neville showed up, and he waved at them to sit on the middle of the table
They sat on a peaceful breakfast morning, giving small talks, and occasionally laughing on some jokes or two
It is time for schedules, and Damian sees his best friend Heather, waving at him, and he waved at her back.
Professor McGonagall handed over the class schedule, and Damian smiles for the schedule which it states
Monday
9:00 to 9:50 Transfiguration
9:50 to 10:40 Charms
11:00 to 11:30 Break
11:30 to 13:30 Double Potions
14:20 to 15:30 Herbology
Tuesday
9:00 to 10:00 Herbology
10:30 to 11:30 Potions
11:30 to 12:00 Flying class
12:05 to 12:55 Charms
13:10 to 15:15 Double Transfiguration
15:30 to 16:35 Defense Against the Dark Arts
Wednesday
9:00 to 11:00 Double Potions
11:20 to 13:20 Double Defense Against the Dark Arts
13:30 to 14:35 Charms
14:40 to 15:55 Transfiguration
16:15 to 17:25 Herbology
Thursday
10:00 to 11:30 Transfiguration
11:30 to 12:30 Defense Against the Dark Arts
12:15 to 13:15 Charms
13:30 to 14:30 Herbology
14:45 to 16:55 Double Potions
Friday
11:00 to 13:00 Double Potions
13:15 to 15:15 Double Transfiguration
15:20 to 16:20 Herbology
16:30 to 17:30 Charms
Saturday and Sunday Weekend Day off
"Looks like today I have double Potions" Damian said
"Me too mate, oh boy" Ron replies
"I only have double Herbology on that time" Neville said
"My schedule is the same as you Damian" Hermione said.
Damian thinks only Wednesdays and Fridays are the heavy days, with repeats of double subjects.
He does look forward to seeing what his father can do on teaching potions, so it might be something to look forward
He asks Hermione for a time, and she couldn't tell him, because her muggle watch cannot work on Hogwarts, so he sees students leaving, and it must be approximately 9 AM right now
They managed to go on time and sat on the desk. Waiting for the professor to show up
It had been 5 minutes, and the professor hadn't showed up
It led Ron to talk a bit loudly
"We came early, and the professor hadn't showed up, there must be something wrong" Ron said
Damian almost nods, but notices a cat, sitting on the table, and the fur strikingly resembles the robes of the professor wearing
With a second, the cat transformed into a tall, stern professor
"You are exactly right Mr. Weasley, which is why I suggest you to sit down" Professor McGonagall said
Damian nods, and sees his friend, flushing deep red
"You are experiencing an animagus, unfortunately I cannot teach you on your first years, because this is of a third-year curriculum" Professor McGonagall said
Damian felt a bit disappointed and excited that he will be learning to become an animagi.
"But for today, I will simply welcome you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, my name is Professor Minerva McGonagall, and I will be your Transfiguration teacher for the next 7 years" the professor said
The professor had rolled the names parchment, and everyone said present, in which she began to speak
"For today's class, I am examining your will and determination, but I want to ask you a question, what can you know of transfiguration?" the professor said
Damian raises his hands, but felt Hermione already rose her hands before him
"Yes Miss Granger?" The stern professor asks
"A transfiguration is one of the family of magical spells that are used for changing objects from one type of thing into another" His friend said
"Very good, 5 points for Gryffindor" the professor smiles a bit
"Now what can you tell me the forms of Transfiguration?" the professor asks
Damian felt this is the time for him to answer on this, and so he raised his hands but was once again beaten by Hermione.
"Only four forms professor" Hermione said
"Very good, what are they?" Damian can tell the smile of the stern professor never left away.
"They are Vanishment, Transformation, Conjuration, and Untransfiguration" Hermione said in one breath
"Excellent answer Miss Granger, 5 points to Gryffindor" the professor said
Damian turns to see the very happy girl smile, he admits that he is a bit jealous because he wants to prove everyone, including the ones who spoke ill for his father, that he is an intelligent boy
He must have felt the professor staring at him with such intent, and he was right about that
"I know you had been beaten by your classmate Mr. Snape, and that's normal. With this, I will simply give you an easy task" The professor said
She brought a nail on her pocket and duplicated it for the students to receive the same copy.
"I want you all to transfigure this nail into a match, let me show you" The professor said
With a swift wand work, the nail had been changed into a match, with ease.
It captivates the students, and led them into starting to work right away
It took several tryouts for Damian. He did manage to transfigure the nail, but the match had a metallic spike on it
The professor told Damian to try again next time, and he puts a mental note to try it on the evening.
Only Hermione, Heather, and Anthony Goldstein had managed to do it correctly.
He sees Ron frown, the nail was wooden, but there was no match, and for Neville, it barely had some wood on it.
The class ended, and they ran towards the other hall for their Charms class
They greeted Professor Flitwick, and the short professor was squealing in joy to see new students
He had made a similar name roll call, and began the class right away
It was about levitation, the words they had to memorize was Wingardium Leviosa
They were given a feather, and Damian managed to do it in one take.
His mother's favorite class was Charms, and he had seen her doing some levitation several times.
He was greeted 5 points from a squealing professor, and then later, the professor paired him with Heather
"Hey" Damian said
"Hey again" Heather said
"I know it is early, but how do you like it so far?" Damian asks
"It is pretty solid, I mean, doing magic sounds easy, but to actually do it is hard as nails" Heather said
"Tell me about it" Damian said
"And you Mr. I am offended by a girl being smarter than me, how did you manage to levitate this feather? I have been trying to levitate it, but it did not work" Heather pouted
Damian chuckles of her frustration, and so he helped her to do the wand work correctly
"And you have to do swish and flick, and then utter Wingardium Leviosa" Damian said
She did it in second take, and she hugged Damian in which he flushes out of embarrassment
Damian sees Ron getting annoyed by Hermione, and Neville wipes the smoke out of Seamus
He sighs a bit, wondering how they could be born by magical families, yet they do not know simple spell
But then again, he was raised by Severus Snape, the name that inquests fear and respect
He tried to not let it be the best of him, but he found his father is a bit right of how they are so far behind, or maybe they are that way
The class ends, and they were in the great hall for lunch
Damian helped himself some chicken and rice, while Ron pretty much grabbed everything he sees on sight
He sat on the table and eats quietly. He felt the soft nudge on his shoulder
"May I sit here?" Heather asked
"Sure, couldn't find friends?" Damian asks
"Git, no. I just feel a bit overwhelmed you know" Heather said
Damian finds himself nodding, because it does indeed feel overwhelming.
He still remembers when his father told him he was a wizard when he was 5.
He did an accidental magic, and was unaware of his heritage, until his father blatantly told him
His father told him not to tell anyone about his powers and what he can do
To this day he wonders why, but this is his father, and he cannot argue with his father.
"I know it can be too much, but you got to be you Heather, show the world what you are capable of, and I will always be on your side." Damian said
"When did you be so wise?" Heather smirk for a moment
"Since hanging out with you and Gareth, I pretty much had absorbed your wisdom since then" Damian smirked back
"Oh get a room you two" Ron yells a bit
"Why so we can argue and bicker like you and Hermione?" He sees Heather smirking
Damian chuckles and sees Ron's ears flush in red
"Yeah, you two had been rambling about something about you failing, and she had been trying to help you" Heather said
"What I had been helping with?" Hermione said, bringing a light plate of chicken, potato, and rice
"Oh, speak with your boyfriend, he annoyed me, because I was minding my own business" Heather smirk
"Ron is not my boyfriend! And what gives you a right to say that? We are 11 for Christ sakes!" Hermione looks scandalized
Damian, along Ron, found themselves laughing, and then the laughter died down, due to the death stare from their friends
"I am just teasing with you; besides, we are far too young to even date, my daddy would murder anyone who would touch his favorite princess" Heather said
Damian cringes a bit, he did remember Mr. Owen Haddock staring at him and Gareth with a glare.
They were coming to often play toys with her or studying.
He couldn't blame Mr. Haddock; his daughter is a walking time bomb. He remembers she cried when Gareth broke her doll by mistake, and the glare her father had done, made him fix the doll and apologize to her immediately
Damian knew she broke the doll at first, and Gareth continued thereafter, he knew how mischievous she could be.
The embarrassing talks died down, and they were having their small talks until the clock ticks, telling them they are heading to their class
"I have double potions and with…(gulps) Slytherins" Damian swallows
"Oh Merlin, let's hope it is from Professor Potter, not Professor Snape" Ron pats Damian's back
"I have Herbology, so see you guys later" Heather said, waving them bye
Damian and his friends, walked into the dungeons, and knocked the door politely
The soft sound of 'come in' was not the rough sound Damian was used to, it was in fact soft and eerily familiar
The redhead professor was examining the students coming inside, and he sat right close to the ferret, Draco Malfoy.
"Good morning students, my name is Professor Lily Potter, and I will be your Potions teacher for this time, Professor Snape will cover the rest after we take a short 10-minute break" Professor Potter said.
"Welcome to the beautiful arts of Potions. It is magical no pun intended. I can teach you to be a potions master should you choose this career. I could give you all tips on how to brew correctly, and teach you all how to heal the sick, ensnare the witches or wizards and etc…" the professor said.
"Bonus points to you all, where can I find a bezoar?" The professor asks
No one raises their arms except Damian and Hermione, and the professor seems to choose Damian first
"Yes Mr. Snape?" the professor said
"You can find it in the stomach of the goat professor" Damian answers
"Very good, 5 points to Gryffindor"
"Then explain what we can do when we have powdered root of asphodel, the infusion of wormwood, and the Valerian Root?" Professor asks
Damian got confused a bit, but then he remembers last year when he read about it, and asked his mother about it, she had told him how it is made
With that, he raised his hands again
"Yes Mr. Snape" this time the professor smiles
"You will be brewing the Draught of the Living Dead" Damian answers proudly
"Very good, your mother must have taught you the subtle arts of potions Mr. Snape, 5 points to Gryffindor" the professor beamed
Damian smiles proudly for being the top at least, he sees Hermione smiling proudly toward him, and the absurd look from Ron and an amused look of Neville
"For today, I will assign you into a group for this task, brewing treatments for the boilers, so open your textbooks, we will read the ingredients, and listen what I say when I brew it, understand?" the professor asks
Somehow the students got interested on the professor's teachings. It didn't surprise Damian; he had heard a lot of stories of how students are afraid from his father
They had spent the first half an hour listening the beaming professor, and they had formed as groups, Damian paired with Neville, while his friend Ron paired with Hermione.
Neville was a bit clumsy and reckless on setting the ingredients right, and the cauldron was boiling profusely, but Damian manages to simmer the screaming boilers by adding the needed ingredient, the blood of the lizard, and it cooled down
"I am sorry, I am not that good on Potions" Neville looks at the floor with shame
As if the professor had heard that, she looked onto Damian and Neville's cauldron and lets out a warm smile
"Good job for making it sizzle, otherwise it would've had a glowing orange, the potion which I had made was pale" the professor said
Her words must have brought panic to the boys, more onto Neville, and they saw her laughing politely
"It is still simmering, give it time, and you will see, and Mr. Longbottom, don't ever say that your mother was excellent on potions, you could ask her help" the professor said
With that she left, leaving the boys to stare at the cauldron once again, and Merlin the professor was right, it slowly simmered into pale orange
The professor gave them a 15-minute break for the other professor, his father, to fill for the last one hour
Damian turns to have small talks with Hermione about swapping notes, because he had missed only few
He was glad to fill for it, and then the unexpected thing happens
The loud sound of Draco, really made it unbearable
"I don't understand why would we be learning from her? Professor Snape is far better than her, what does she have than the esteemed professor" Draco blabs
The loud gasp came from the students, and Damian felt the surge of anger, blinding him
He wanted to give the ferret a piece of his mind
He felt hands from Hermione on his shoulder, signaling that it is not worth it
But Damian shrugged it off, no one would dare to insult Mrs. Potter.
He turned to speak loudly, directing to Draco
"If she bothers you, then you cand drop this class then" Damian said
"And why should I? it is Potions Snape; your father is much more capable than this…. Professor. I had heard a lot of feedback from Flint about how he teaches real potions to the students" the pointy face said
"And how he scolds people like you. You are disgrace to be in Gryffindor, no wonder your father is ashamed of you. I am sure the professor is in Gryffindor, because she answers to you. Oh, I do remember Professor Potter" Draco continues
"Father told me she is a mudblood, marrying Lord Potter for power and recognition, frankly Lord Potter deserves a better Pureblood than washed up mudbloods like her" Draco stepped out of a line
As if a nagging impulse to punch the ferret's face
Damian lunges over the smirking boy, and punched the boy's nose hard, where blood oozed
The boy also fought back, but Damian was faster
The screams of fight were deafening, and it escalated into a heated brawl between Damian and Draco.
The audible yell of Professor Potter stopped the fight, and Damian flushed out of embarrassment that on his first day, and he is in big trouble
"What in the Merlin is this? And why did you attack Mr. Malfoy Mr. Snape?" The professor asked in a steel tone
"Yeah, why did you attack me Snape, seems like your pro…..." Before Draco goes further, he was interrupted by the angry professor
"Keep your tongue out of this Mr. Malfoy, I am not done in you, now care to explain?" the professor said, pointing to Damian
Damian gulped a bit; he had never seen Mrs. Potter angry like that
He had always seen her calm, reserved, and collected
It led him that there is a harsh interior over this kindness she has
"I am waiting" the professor crossed her hands
Damian took a deep breath and spoke
"I was swapping notes with Hermione Professor, because I had missing two notes after you had given us 15 minutes break Professor" Damian starts
"Draco had begun to insult you and mentions my father that he is better than you on teaching" Damian continues
He sees the professor, turning to look at Draco, and he sees the professor being amused for the remark
"He also insulted your…. Your…. Your bloodline" Damian tries to let it out, but he would never ever use this vile word
"And what did Mr. Malfoy say Mr. Snape?" The professor asks
"He said that you are M…M…Mudblood" Damian stutters again
He looks at the professor's eyebrows widen in shock, and he sees the professor turn to the annoyed boy
"Is this true?" the professor asks toward Draco
Damian knows Draco would lie, but he was afraid of the glare which the professor would do
"Is this true Mr. Malfoy?" the professor asks again, with force
Damian turns to see the pointy faced boy blush and made a quick nod
"Then, you lose 30 points from Slytherin, and have a detention with me this Friday, as for you Mr. Snape, you lose also 30 points, for attacking the boy. I know what he had done is vile, but you should not take the rules of attacking a student by your hands, both of you will have detention with me, no buts" The professor said
Just the things got worse, he heard a billowing cloak coming, shutting the doors, and turning to face them with a glare, especially him
Damian gulped, because he knew he is in trouble this time.
An hour ago
Severus just came back from his daily meetings with the headmaster
They were discussing on the possibility that the Dark Lord is here, in Hogwarts
It was a long speech about not using llegimincy and Severus grunted a bit
He did offer by using it, because he knows the Dark Lord cannot be penetrated by probing through minds
But the headmaster spoke nothing, because for one, it is illegal to invade the minds of students and teachers and two, it would be next to impossible.
Severus agrees about it but kept his mind sharp on what to expect.
He was thinking about the words Lily had just said, and how it is officially over between them
The thing is, she is right, merlin she is right, because despite how he had mellowed down, he is still the brooding, showing favoritism on the Slytherins, and a cold professor
Although he had stopped being violent and hateful, but the cold interior is still there.
But he argued a bit that she does not know why he is like that.
No one needs to know that he was abused
He was abused by his drunken father, Tobias Snape
He was violated by his uncle Gregory Snape
He would never forget how creepy Uncle Greg would do to him
It made him cry and lie to his parents that his uncle is assaulting him, and that was before he discovered that he is magical
He had to bite his tongue or else his uncle would reveal to everyone how he is a willingly accepting his path like that
It killed him, and the worst part is, his uncle is still out there, roaming for Merlin knows where, and preying on innocent children
Which is why he becomes slightly strict to Damian
He doesn't want his son to be a victim just like he was
Lily should be grateful a bit that her son does not experience child assault like he had
If he had told her, she would be pitying him or worse, shun him
Which is why he left it out on the heated conversation last night
For some odd reason he felt pity towards Wormtail, he was received a small letter from the rat's mother, the strange thing is, she had sent the letter towards him, yet he had never met Pettigrew's mother, nor knew that she is alive.
The letter was short and simple, it explains that her son had been anti-social all his life, but Severus had been anti-social all his life. There are some uncanny resemblances between Severus and Peter.
Well, he will delve on Peter later, because for one, he must find the cowardly rat, and corner him about how and why, he did corner the coward man, but for sport, not for real confrontation.
He was on his way to start his dreadful class, and when he attempts to knock, he heard an unmistakable sound of Lily yelling toward a student.
He grew alarm, and knocked where he could've heard 'come in'
He entered to see what the fuss is about, and was surprised to see his son, with gashes on his son's cheeks, and Draco, with blood oozing on the pale blond boy's nose
The class did not seem to notice he was there, most because of what happened between his son and his 'god son'
He heard his son began to explain on what's going on.
He winces about Draco mentioning a foul word
He suddenly felt her piercing emerald eyes turning to stare at him, but he ignored it
Later he turns to see Lily asking Draco if it was true
He turns to see the heir of Malfoy flushes out of embarrassment and manages to nod yes.
He sighs internally, because for big guess, it will be a long day to sort this out
He heard Lily giving detention to Draco, and the same for his son
That was until he turned to chance a full glance over his son and give a mixture of sad and disappointed expression.
The class went full silence, and then within a second, his colleague, Professor Potter excused herself, and welcomes him for the other half
He felt broken a bit to hear her speaking like that, on her first day, and giving detention on her son, her firstborn.
The class began to whisper, and he tapped his wand a bit harshly and they remained silent
"I see some of you was amused for this 'parade' to happen" Severus begins
"Mr. Malfoy, I noticed your cauldron is dark orange, 10 points for Slytherin" Severus begins
A collected gasp from both Slytherin and Gryffindor students
Severus had begun his harsh exterior, and will show no mercy on everyone, most probably what happened to Lily had made him act like that
He turns to inspect the Boilers potion and was surprised to see Mr. Zabini's cauldron was pale orange, but it didn't sizzle as he wanted, so he gave a drop for Zabini 3 points from Slytherin
He turns to inspect on his son, who was working with Mr. Longbottom, it almost worked, but it didn't sizzle, the same mistake as Mr. Zabini, so he dropped 3 points for Gryffindor to each
He turns to see Ms. Granger, and her cauldron is perfectly pale orange, with bubbles that are sizzling. He did not react; he must have given her the signal that he is approving
He is too angry for everything now, angry on his son's behavior, angry on the heir of Malfoy to act like that, angry that Lily would never talk to him again, and angry that this is all his fault.
He sat on the desk and began to tell them to write a 3-page essay on boilers, what are their uses, their side effects, and how to treat it.
The class ended much earlier, because he couldn't bare seeing those children now, they all left, and he turned to stare at his son, giving him a cold glare, signaling that the boy to come to his room now.
Snape Dungeon, Slytherin
Severus did not speak to his son, nor even look at him. He was preparing his papers and offered his son pumpkin juice, and his son accepts it
He closes the window, and then sat on his chair, facing towards his son.
He stares at his son with such content, and continued to give his son a cold shoulder silence
Seconds later, his son spoke
"I am sorry father, I really am" Damian said
Severus did not respond; he lets his son doing the pleasantries first
"I know I shouldn't approach Mal…. Draco in an offensive way" Damian said
Severus almost snorted, because his son acts exactly like his real father, James Potter
"I did it because he was insulting Mrs.…...Professor Potter. I couldn't allow that father; I know I should've approached it in a safe way by speaking to you or Professor Potter, but I couldn't let him father" Damian said
"Couldn't let him what?" He finally spoke
"I couldn't let him insult her like that, I know the word thanks to mother, I know how this word affects the muggleborn like my mother" Damian said
"And why would you think like that Damian?" Severus asks
"It shows that they are beneath everyone. I was taught to never judge a person by his or her blood status" Damian said
Severus felt a mixture of proud and sad. Proud that beneath the boy's father's cockiness, he is kind like his mother, and sad that he did not raise his son fully, it was all of Olivia's hard work and dedication
"I understand that you are disappointed from me father, on my first day and I act like this, in trouble. I just wanted to see that we do not discriminate over others, it kills me to see that we are all the same, yet we fight each other" Damian continues
"It also kills me to see that people like Voldemort had instilled fear and superiority rather than just and generosity" Damian said
"It makes me sick to see that father, that's why I attacked Draco, I couldn't let bullies like him, get what they want because they think they are better than us" Damian concludes.
Severus sighs, and manages to rub his temples for a minute and then turn to look at those innocent emerald eyes hidden beneath the violet eyes
He will have to punish his son, he cannot show favoritism, he needs the boy to grow up, but at the same time. They are re-establishing their connection which was beginning to lose for the past couple years
He took a long exhale and then spoke
"Damian, I understand you are doing this to protect Professor Potter, and all muggleborns who are having the same problems, but you have to understand that rules are rules Damian." Severus starts
"You cannot start a fight on a student, no matter how badly you want if that same student would do the unthinkable" Severus continues
"You are lucky that Professor Slughorn did not show up, I know the grouchy professor isn't strict, but a student fight violence does count as rule breaking, which normally excludes expulsion. Professor Slughorn is the head of the Slytherin house" Severus said
"But father…..." Damian tries to reason, which Severus interrupts
"What did I say about manners Damian, let me finish and then I will let you speak" Severus frowns. He did not mean to raise his voice, and it seem to work on flinching his son.
"Sorry father" He sees his son looking at the floor
"That is ok Damian, as for what I have inferred, you had attacked a student from Slytherin, if you had approached it in a way which you had explained earlier, you wouldn't be having a detention right now" Severus said
"While I do not encourage what you have done, I am proud that you can stand up and protect what's needed" Severus concludes, giving an effect of his son to look at him
He was smiling, giving a rare smile.
"I cannot deny it, I am incredibly proud of you, you are becoming a man, but you need to control your temper, and always play by the rules, even if it swallows your pride" Severus said
He sees his son slowly smiling and then nods of what he had just said
"Now come here" Severus offers
His son came close, and they had embraced a tight hug
He gave a small kiss on his son's forehead and told him to leave, asking if he had a class coming, and his son replies that he is having Herbology, but looks at the time, his son went into a panic mood
"Don't worry, I can vouch you with Professor Potter, Professor Sprout likes Professor Potter, now go. Leave me in silence for a moment, oh I will write a letter to your mother." Severus smirks
He enjoys seeing Damian widening his eyes, which made him make a polite chuckle
"I don't need to look into your mind Damian, you know that it is illegal, but I can tell from your face, now leave, I will write as soon as I drink my tea" Severus said
His son nods and left the room quickly.
Severus stares at the door for minutes, the memory of Lily's talk is still fresh in his mind, he almost forgot on invigilating any presence of the Dark Lord, in which he will begin tomorrow morning, but for now, he needs a good rest, and without a second thought, he took a parchment paper, and began to write.
After leaving the Snape Quarter, Dungeon
Damian ran to the greenhouse class outside, and almost lost in breath
Professor Sprout looked at him, amused, and then he made a small apology in which she seems to be ok with it
He sat on Heather's right, and she looked at him in a concern, he mouths 'later' and then he begins to scribble the missing notes for the class.
The class ended very quick, and the professor had given them a hefty assignment that will be delivered a week by now.
It was lunch and Damian felt his stomach growling in which he went to the main hall and helped himself some roasted chicken
He sees Heather coming toward him and he gave her a seat in which she gladly accepts
"Now what's up?" Heather asks
"Why do you think I am in such trouble?" Damian chuckles
"Because I know you Damian, it is not that you look for trouble, trouble seems to find you" Heather laughs
"Says a Ravenclaw student, who seems to like spending time with the Gryffindors" Damian smirk
"Prat, and for your information I am enjoying there, I had made friends with Mandy Bronklehurst, she is a nice friend, a bit obnoxious but a great friend" Heather smirks
"And two, I haven't spent much time with you since you did not even bother to send me a letter" Heather said, punching his chest lightly
"I am sorry for that" Damian said
"That's ok, none taken, oh did you get your pet?" Heather asks
Damian almost swore out loud but kept it
He remembers that his mother was supposed to bring him a pet, he made a mental note to send her a letter tonight about where is the present
"No, my mother says that she is buying me a pet, I did not hear from her today, I will probably send her a letter tonight" Damian said
"Nice try Damian, you thought you can fool me, now tell me what happened" Heather did the look and Damian had to tell her, she is his best friend, his confidante.
"Ok, I just… I had engaged a fight with Draco Malfoy" Damian blurts out
"You did not" Heather was shocked
"Oh, he did" Neville said
"He smeared the prat's nose. Great right hook Damian" Ron winks
"Ughh boys" Hermione rolls his eyes
"So, you actually smartened up and shut the ferret, what did he do?" Heather asks
"He… He insulted Professor Potter" Damian said
"The potions professor? I will attend her class tomorrow" Heather said
"Yes, that's her. He insulted her by calling her mu….mu…mudblood" Damian said
"A what?" Heather asks
"Allow me Damian, so you know you are a muggleborn right?" Neville asked
Damian watches his best friend nodding a bit quickly
"Then Draco there is a pureblood, he thinks his blood purity should be superior when you are a pureblood" Neville continues
"So, these blood elitists think that only them should be possessing magic" Neville said
"That's absurd" Heather spoke
"Of course, it is, for people like me, a pureblood, I do not believe anything of their nonsense, anyone can be magical, it doesn't matter if you are a pureblood, half-blood, or even muggleborn" Neville concludes
"So, he insulted Professor Potter because she is a muggleborn?" Heather asks
"Well partially" Ron spoke
"What?" Heather asks
"I think he puts an emphasis that 'people' like her shouldn't be marrying a wealthy purebloods like Lord James Potter" Ron said
"That's preposterous!" Heather yells
It made the students look at her, and Damian shushes her in which he made a small chuckle that she was flushing.
"Sorry" Heather said
"None taken, I had to do it Heather, I couldn't allow bullies like Malfoy to do that, he is much worse than Dudley, at least Dudley picks on me, rather than insulting teachers, and I cannot believe I said that" Damian said
"Professor Potter has given me a detention" Damian concludes
"Why?" Heather asks but keeps her tone controlled
"Because I attacked Malfoy Heather, I know I should've approached my father in a safe way, but I acted through my brain rather than my heart" Damian answers.
Damian expecting scolding from his serious friend, but he didn't expect a hug that came from her
He was confused because he knows that he is wrong, yet he gets a hug, he should be ashamed of himself
"Why am I getting a hug?" Damian nagging thoughts asked
"That is because you finally stepped out of the shadows and did the right thing, the action was wrong, but the intention was right" Heather said
"Yeah Damian, I know the consequences are dire, and you will probably spend the whole weekend with Professor Potter, but you had shown gits like Malfoy that not everything has to be bought" Ron said proudly
"I may have been scolding you for your behavior, but you have indirectly protected me" Hermione said in a low voice
"I am a muggleborn, and so is Heather, I am sure it will never stop from those blood elitist, like Heather said, the action what you did was unacceptable, but your intentions were right" Hermione said
Damian was overwhelmed with praises and compliments, he turned around for a second and chanced a glance over his father, his father stared back, wondering why his eyes speak volumes? as if too much praises could cut him if praises were like a knife.
He made a quick change into a 'everything is ok' look and his father did not change his stature, he went on to glance over Professor Potter who was chatting with the short professor, Professor Flitwich
He was wondering if Hermione was right, this is not the end of the case which he had done, it is just the beginning and it might get better or get worse, which is why he is determined to make his name, the 'Snape' name to be for the good.
He had heard a lot of stories of his father's name, mostly from the Weasley twins, he had heard how one-sided his father is, and the Slytherins.
He was judged not to look on any one's belief nor blood status, but rather on the personality and just
He knows Draco is acting this way because he knows the boy was taught that way, the way to show superiority
He is much more determined to change that, but he needs help, he needs people to trust him
It is still a thought, so no guarantee on actions to be made, and it is still his first week, he does not need more trouble that he is already in there, spending a detention night with Malfoy, and the thought alone makes him gag
The lunch had ended and he bid goodnight to Heather, he was escorted by Percy back to his Gryffindor common room
They sat on the chesterfield, engrossed by the comfortable feeling of the common room
He couldn't admit that it looked magical, no pun intended, but it felt that he belonged to this place
It quickly became his third home, and it took quite a bit of convincing for Damian to actually like a place, let alone adding to his list of favorite places.
He was nudged by Percy who was whispering him to follow and so he followed the prefect
Percy stood in the first years room and he went to his room where he found a huge present with his mother's name
He inspects the present and almost flinched to see the present move which made him flinch a bit
Curious to open the present, he saw a letter on his bed, he took it and read his mother's first letter toward him
My beautiful son Damian,
Congratulations to be in Gryffindor Damy. I just got a letter from your father while I was almost finish writing this letter which you are reading right now. He also told me that you had engaged a fight with heir Malfoy and how Professor Potter had given you a detention, I may have not accepted what you had done my boy, but I am incredibly proud of a young man you are becoming, but in all seriousness. You must control your emotions Damian. I had learned that anger does not solve all our problems, and I am sure you will figure it out because you are a smart boy, and I am very proud for that. As for the present, I had went to the pet shop in Diagon Alley with Molly and I saw this beautiful, snowy Owl. For some odd reason I had went in and bought the owl, you will love it because I fell in love on seeing the beautiful animal. I hope you like my gift and write to me my baby boy, I am expecting a letter by the end of this week, so enjoy your day Damian.
I love you
Love
Mum
Damian reread the letter again, and he finds himself slowly smiling, he went to open the present slowly and his mother was right, she was a beautiful owl to be seen, her snowy feathers speaks volumes and those piercing eyes that speak warmth and wisdom
He opened the cage, and the owl flew on his shoulder, and they are suddenly connected
He had to find a name for the owl, he looked at one of his books of Hogwarts, and found an odd but fitting name, the name was Hedwig
He whispers to his owl on by naming it Hedwig and the owl hooted which means she liked the name
It was a blissful moment and the hearings of Ron came close and he shows his present to his friends
"Oh Merlin that is a beautiful owl Damian" Ron said
"Yeah she is" Damian answers
"What did you name her?" Neville asked
"Hedwig" Damian replies
"Wicked name" Seamus said
"I wish I have a pet, my cat does not count" Dean said
"You could bring a kneazle Dean" Neville said
"A what?" Dean asks
"A magical breed of cats" Neville replies
Damian tunes out for the small talk and kept on staring at the beautiful owl
It was getting late, and tomorrow would be much more hectic, but for now, he is setting the owl on the cage and began reading his nightly novel reading before sleeping
His friends already delved in, and Damian finished reading a chapter, he turns off the light and went into a long sleep, a dream-less sleep.