AUTHOR'S NOTE:
THank you to everyone who has left such wonderful reviews! I really love hearing from you and I'm so glad you are enjoying this story.
Downstairs, Snape sat in quiet contemplation while sipping his tea. Somehow having this boy…his son he had to remind himself…had opened up an emotional portal to his former life. Memories of life at Hogwarts that he had successfully blocked out for years, were suddenly flooding back.
"Father?"
Snape's stomach dropped at the word and he was brought sharply back to reality as he turned toward the pale little boy standing near the doorway.
"Do not shout at me from the doorway, I am not a playmate you're calling into the street. If you wish to speak with me, you will have the decency to present yourself in front of me."
Soren shuffled further into the room, but still kept his distance. "I'm cold."
"Then put on a jumper. I'm sure you're old enough to manage that on your own, you're not an infant."
Though he sounded nonplussed, Snape pulled his wand out from his left sleeve and added several logs to the fire for good measure. He was quite used to the cold, and since he continued to dress in thick wool clothes, including his favorite frock coat that went from his neck all the way down his arms and halfway down his legs, he was always warm. But one quick look at the frail little boy in his thin cotton clothes and he felt a small pang of guilt. Had he not realized how cold it was?
"I don't have a jumper. And my hands and feet are numb."
"Well, then perhaps you ought to sit closer to the fire and have a cup of tea, whinging about it certainly isn't going to make you any warmer." Snape said dismissively, as he pointed his wand lazily at the rug in front of the fireplace before returning to his book.
Soren sat down on the ancient, worn and soot-stained Persian rug and pulled his knees up, shivering slightly as he waited for the flames to warm him up, his hands out in front of him to soak in the heat.
Another few minutes went by, the parlor silent except for the occasional sound of a page turning and quiet sniffs coming from the little boy's runny nose. After the third one, Snape looked up ready to tell him off for his incessant sniffling, when he realized the boy was still shivering, his lips looking slightly blue. He put his book down and paused for a moment before snapping his fingers, calling for Tinny.
The house elf appeared immediately. "How can Tinny help, sir?"
"Bring me one of my thick wool jumpers, along with a pair of woolen socks and my slippers."
"Yes, sir!" Tinny then disappeared with a pop, returning moments later with the items in hand.
Snape crooked a finger and called to Soren. "Come here."
Soren pushed himself up from the floor and scrambled over until he was standing in front of his father, fidgeting nervously with the hem of his shirt, unsure if he was about to be in trouble again for an offense he hadn't even known he'd committed.
Snape grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him closer while he helped him into the oversized sweater, dressing him like one would a small child. "Lift your foot," Snape said as he slid one of the giant socks over Soren's threadbare ones, then tapping his opposite leg so Soren would repeat the same movement with his other foot.
Once the garments were in place, he held tightly to Soren's arm and pointed his wand, shrinking the items of clothing one at a time until they fit perfectly.
"Now you may step into the slippers." Snape continued to keep a tight grasp on the boy's arm while repeating the same movements of his wand until each of the slippers were snug on the little boy's feet.
"Thank you, sir." Soren said, the color returning to his face as his body warmed instantly. He wondered for a moment if Snape had cast a silent warming charm as well, as the feeling had returned to both his fingers and toes in a matter of seconds.
After letting him go, Snape cupped the boy's chin in his hand so he could look him in the eyes. "The stone and wood floors can be quite slippery, so I had better not see you ever walking, skipping or Merlin forbid, running around the manor in just your socks. If you disobey me and I have to heal any injuries as a result, rest assured you will not get the benefit of me healing your backside when I'm done with you."
"Yes, sir." His face flushed slightly at the warning.
Snape put a quick hand on his forehead to make sure he wasn't feverish. "Are you unwell?"
The boy shook his head.
"'No, sir,' is the proper response," Snape said, exasperated. "Next time you fail to respond or address me properly, you'll go to the corner. Let's try again…are you unwell?"
"No, sir."
"Let's hope not. Based on the look of you, I imagine you're quite anemic, so I expect to see you eating properly at supper tonight. I will make sure Tinny prepares iron-rich meals moving forward. And you would do well to eat them," Snape scolded, looking down at the boy with piercing dark eyes. "There will be no more of this 'I'm not hungry' business or you'll be getting a lot more than just a nutrition potion after your meal. Am I clear?" He narrowed his eyes to make sure his threat was being clearly understood.
"Yes, sir," Soren said, trying not to smile. Even though his father was still managing to scold and threaten him at every turn, there was something reassuring about the gentle way he'd dressed him and made sure he was warm—it made him feel truly cared for, for the first time since he arrived. It was certainly miles better than every other interaction he'd had with the man thus far.
"Your new clothes should arrive in a few days, until then, you may borrow these. I'll also make sure Tinny keeps the fire going in your room at night, it won't do for you to come down with an illness just as we're about to start your lessons. You're behind enough as it is. Now then, sit down and drink your tea." Snape sent him on his way with a gentle push between his shoulder blades. "One biscuit only, you will eat your supper tonight."
As soon as Soren was on the couch, Snape lazily flicked his wand and a blanket came flying out of nowhere, laying itself on top of his lap. Soren smiled, feeling warm and cozy as he enjoyed his tea and the one biscuit he was being allowed so he didn't spoil his dinner. It was the first time he believed that maybe he would be OK here.
Just as Tinny was about to clear the tea service, the floo whooshed and Marie appeared in the green flames. Snape stood and extended a hand to help her step over the hearth. To his surprise, she took hold of it gently while she stepped out, letting it go a moment later as she dusted herself off.
"Ah, Ms. Cloutier, just in time, we were just finishing our afternoon tea. Would you care for a cup before we clear it?" Snape asked, politely.
"No thank you. I'm eager to get settled in if that's alright. It's been quite a long day." She looked up and was surprised to see Soren sitting on the couch, looking much happier than the last time she'd seen him. "Hello Soren, how wonderful to see you again."
Snape shot Soren a stern look.
After taking a small breath, the little boy unwrapped the blanket and climbed off the sofa, walking directly toward Marie. He put out his hand and looked up at her kind blue eyes. "It's nice to see you, Ms. Cloutier. I'm very sorry I was rude before. I won't do it again." Soren flashed a quick glance over at Snape who nodded in approval, which caused his ears to flush and his gaze to drop to the floor.
Marie leaned down and brought him into a tight embrace. "All is forgiven, Soren. I'm looking forward to us getting to know each other. Thank you for giving me a chance."
Soren fell into the hug, not realizing how much he'd missed having someone hold him. He wrapped his arms around her neck and she squeezed a little tighter before letting him go with an affectionate pat on the shoulder.
Snape was quietly pleased, in fact, he had to control himself from sending an arrogant smirk toward Marie as if to say "See, I told you my methods worked."
Instead he kept his face neutral as he focused his attention softly in her direction. "I can show you to your room and you can settle in and take some rest. Then we can tour the manor whenever you're up for it, either before or after dinner."
"Thank you, that would be lovely."
"Soren, you may come along," Snape clicked his fingers at the boy, directing him to follow.
Snape took Marie up the stairs and to the right. "This is the West wing—your bedroom, Soren's room, and the classroom are all in this Wing. My bedroom and my personal study are in the East wing on the opposite side of the staircase. But barring an emergency, I see no reason you should ever need to be there."
"Unless you're in trouble." Soren chimed in from the steps below.
"Pardon?" Snape said, glaring down at the boy from the top stair.
"You said any more misbehavior will be dealt with in your study. So I'm just telling Ms. Cloutier so she knows too. You don't want to go there."
"That was meant as a warning for you, Soren, not Ms. Cloutier. She's an adult."
Marie let out a hearty chuckle before bringing a hand to cover her mouth. "I'll do my best to not to misbehave, Soren, thank you for the warning. Hopefully neither of us will need a trip to your father's study anytime soon."
Soren laughed along with her as he bounded the rest of the way up the stairs to her side.
Snape paused to turn and raise an eyebrow at both of them. "I can promise you, if you're asked to see me in my study, it will not be a laughing matter. For either of you."
His eyes darted between them ominously, working hard to keep his sternest face on while they both attempted to stifle their giggles. He could see the two were conspiring already, but seeing Soren smile and hearing his laugh for the first time put a tiny crack in his steely facade.
"Well then, everyone on their best behavior then, right Soren?" Marie winked at the little boy and smiled down on him as she took his hand, following Snape into the West wing a few paces behind.
"This is Soren's room," Snape pointed to the right. "And across the hall, Ms. Cloutier, this will be your room. I hope it is to your satisfaction, but you are welcome to make any magical modifications and if there's anything you need, please let me know. It is of the utmost importance to me that you are comfortable here. You do not need to be a martyr, if something is lacking or not to your liking, we will remedy it straight away."
Marie walked in and took a quick look around. "Oh my, this is beautiful. Thank you Lord Kent, this is more than adequate, it is truly luxurious."
"I'll just show you the classroom and then you can take some time to settle in."
Snape walked a few more paces down the hall until they reached the large room on the left. "This is where you and Soren will work each day. It is set up to function as both a muggle and magical classroom, but again, anything else you need, I will arrange it."
Marie stepped-in and walked around, carefully taking it all in. She was impressed; every detail was in place, it was as if the man had thought of everything. He'd even laid it out in a way that only a teacher would think to do. She wondered who he'd consulted when he had put it together.
Soren wandered toward one of the cabinets, curious about what he would find inside, but just before he could open it, Snape clicked his fingers loudly and shook his head. The boy retreated immediately and slid his hand back into Marie's.
"This is brilliant, Lord Kent…the only question I have is where does Soren play? Does he have another room with his toys and art supplies and things he can explore for fun?" Marie asked as they walked back into the hallway.
Before Snape could respond, Soren spoke up, repeating his father's earlier words with startling accuracy. "My father is not paying you to play with me. If I want entertainment, I can go for a walk outside or read a book. He doesn't want my brain to rot from useless toys."
"Soren, that's enough." Snape said, staring down at the boy with an edge in his voice. "Ms. Cloutier was addressing me, not you. Control your outbursts."
Marie might have laughed at the little boy's honesty if she hadn't been struck by how incredibly sad it was that he was being denied things to play with. "Sir, he's only seven. Playing is an important part of his intellectual, physical, and social development. At his age, he will get much more learning out of play than from only reading from books. May I request some educational toys for him? He can't be expected to only read and study all day."
Snape's face froze in deep displeasure. Without acknowledging Marie, he turned to his son. "Soren— go to your room. I need to speak with Ms. Cloutier, and she needs to unpack and take a rest. I will come and get you shortly."
"But I've been in my room all day! Why am I in trouble, that's exactly what you said!" Soren's voice was dripping with indignation, he thought his father would be impressed that he had remembered every word he said, but instead he was being sent to his room. It was completely unfair!
Snape put his hand on the back of Soren's head and guided him several steps down the hall in the direction of his room. "You are not in trouble, presently, but if you continue to argue with me or speak to me in that tone, you absolutely will be. Now go to your room, close the door, and find a way to entertain yourself until I call for you."
Soren turned around to argue, an impressive scowl on his face, but Snape shot him his most dangerous look yet. "Keep your mouth closed unless you'd like to finish this discussion in my study."
That was all the convincing he needed. Soren turned around and walked silently to his room, upset that his father had ruined everything again. He considered slamming his door, but quickly thought better of it, knowing without a doubt that it would end very badly for him.
Snape took a breath and returned his attention to Marie. He wasn't angry, but he wanted to make it clear that he was not to be constantly challenged. He hardened his voice and spoke to her like he would an errant student. "Ms. Cloutier, while I respect your opinion as an educator, I will decide how I want things done in my home. You are here to teach him, and there is a lot to do. He is barely literate and has almost no formal education. Now is not the time to distract him with toys, no matter how "educational" they're purported to be. I would also appreciate it if you did not question my decisions in front of my son. If you wish to speak with me or engage in a discussion about how things are done, you may request to do so after he has gone to bed. Have I made myself clear?"
Marie was not finished with this discussion, but she didn't want to argue, not like this. She would get her way, eventually, but right now she just wanted to take a moment to rest and settle in, maybe take a bath and relax before dinner. "Yes, sir. I understand. I apologize, I didn't mean to question your decision in front of Soren. I won't let it happen again."
With a nod of his head, Snape ended the conversation. "Very well. Take your time getting comfortable. We will see you at 6:30 downstairs for supper. My house elf, Tinny, is available should you need help with anything."
After closing the door to her room, Marie fell back on her giant bed, allowing herself to drown in the fluffy duvet and mountain of pillows. "My god that man is wound tightly."
Snape was halfway down the stairs when he remembered Soren, and although he would have enjoyed a few extra minutes to himself, he didn't want the boy to feel he was being punished for no reason.
He returned upstairs and knocked briefly on the boy's door before entering it.
Soren was back moping on his bed, cuddling his rabbit and staring at the wall.
"You may come downstairs now," Snape said, not really in the mood to deal with more drama.
"I don't want to," Soren whined, clutching his rabbit and refusing to make eye-contact with his father, the hurt evident in his voice.
Refusing to indulge the boy's tantrum, Snape responded coolly. "Very well, I will send Tinny to fetch you when it's time for supper." He turned to walk out the door.
Soren sat up and narrowed his eyes in a way that made him look very much like his father, "I'm not coming to dinner. I'm not hungry."
Snape stopped, turned on his heel, and hardened his face into a scowl as he stalked toward the bed. "I beg your pardon?"
"I don't feel like eating." Soren was angry and upset, and he knew this was the one thing he could say and do that would cause his father to be concerned. He wanted to feel loved and cared for again, and the only way he knew how to do that was by making his father worry about him, and he figured if he refused to eat, he would accomplish just that.
"Very well," Snape said matter of factly, "Then after Ms. Cloutier and I finish dinner, you will report to my study for a dose of nutrition potion and the slipper."
"That's not fair! I'm not feeling well!" Soren had just lost control over the situation and panic was rising in his chest. This wasn't how he imagined it going at all.
Snape leaned in and spoke slowly, articulating each word. "Do you think I'm a fool? Do you think you're the first child who has ever tried to manipulate me in this way?" Snape shook his head thinking about how many times he dealt with students faking illness for one reason or another— they wanted a lie-in, they wanted to get out of an assignment or test, they wanted pity or sympathy, or to get out of trouble. This was not a new tactic for him.
"Listen to me very carefully. I'm going to give you several options, and I suggest you choose wisely. First, you can rethink this infantile ploy for attention and come down for dinner without any further incident, and I will graciously file this away as an unfortunate miscalculation in judgment whilst you eat a proper meal and we all move forward with our evening. Or you can continue to insist you're unwell, I will run a diagnostic spell, and when it comes back that you are in perfectly good health, I will take you over my knee and spank you for lying and then give you the opportunity to eat your supper. If you still refuse to eat after that, when the meal has finished, I will take you to my study and slipper your backside soundly before putting you straight to bed. We will continue to do this for every meal until you decide you're ready to eat. Believe me, your backside will wear out long before my resolve."
Soren's mouth went dry at the thought of it, he had no doubt his father would follow through and there was no way he wanted any of that. "Fine then, I'll eat."
"Go face the wall." Snape clicked his fingers and pointed toward the corner to his left. "You do not speak to me in that tone or in that manner. I've also told you at least a dozen times today how you're to address me, so there's no more excuse for your insolence."
Soren's eyes filled with tears as he pushed himself off the bed. Before he could walk to the corner, Snape's hand reached down and snatched the stuffed rabbit out of his arms. "Your rabbit didn't misbehave, so he will stay on the bed. You will also not take him out of this room again, do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," Soren said quietly, tears streaming down his face as he walked quickly to the corner, feeling particularly sorry for himself that his plan had backfired and now instead of being doted on and fussed over, he was in trouble. Again.
Snape followed him to the corner and spoke to the back of his head. "You will stay there for the next 15 minutes. I will send Tinny when your time is up, at which point you are welcome to come downstairs—with a much more pleasant attitude. Then, if you've decided you're done playing silly little games with me, you will eat your dinner and we can have a much more pleasant evening. It's completely up to you, I've made your options very clear."
With that, Snape stalked out of the room, leaving the little boy crying quietly in the corner.
A few minutes before 6:30, Marie came down the stairs feeling rested and fresh. She found Snape reading in the parlor, quietly.
"Where's Soren?"
Snape looked up at the clock on the mantle. "He should be here shortly. I will have Tinny fetch him now."
WIth a snap of his fingers, Tinny appeared "Please fetch Soren, tell him he has 3 minutes to tidy himself and be down for supper. Let him know if I have to come up there, any amnesty we discussed will be off the table."
Tinny disappeared with a pop and Snape redirected his attention to Marie, who was doing her best not to look invested in what the man had just said to his house elf.
"Did you have a chance to rest, Ms Cloutier?" Snape asked, keeping his tone light and friendly, "Is the room comfortable?"
"Very much so, thank you. The bed was like sleeping on a cloud. I really appreciate you for arranging such a nice space for me."
Snape nodded. "Good."
Two minutes later, Soren came slowly down the stairs, looking as sullen and dejected as ever. Marie noticed right away and wondered what had possibly transpired during the time she'd been resting in her room.
"Are you feeling alright, Soren? Is something wrong?" Marie could see that his eyes were red and his face swollen from tears.
"He's absolutely fine, Ms. Cloutier. Pay him no attention, he's just sulking because he was sent to the corner for being impertinent." Snape clicked his fingers and pointed to a spot in front of him. "Come here, Soren."
The boy walked slowly to his father, hoping he wasn't about to get told off again in front of Ms. Cloutier. He put on his softest voice and most innocent eyes, not wanting to dare risk being told he had a rude tone. "Yes, Father?"
The word hit Snape again like a punch to the gut, but he composed himself and continued. He reached out and pulled the boy closer so he could speak in a low tone. "I hope you've had a chance to think about our conversation. Is there anything you wish to say?"
"Yes, sir. I'm sorry." Soren made a deliberate effort to make eye contact, even though he was embarrassed to do so.
"Very well. Are you planning to join us for supper this evening or do I need to run a diagnostic spell because you're still not hungry?" Snape raised an eyebrow as if to caution him to answer carefully.
Soren's ears and face burned bright red. "No sir, I'm feeling better. Please, sir, I'd like to eat."
"Good. Now fix your face and show Ms. Cloutier to the table and let's have no more of your nonsense this evening, hmm?"
"Yes, sir."
Snape tapped him twice on the side of the thigh. "Off you go."
It wasn't exactly the most loving interaction, but Soren still felt relieved, and at least his father hadn't seemed angry anymore. Hopefully if he did everything right, he could end the day on a much better note.
"Come take my hand, Soren, and show me where we're going." Marie smiled at him and put her hand out, and Soren walked over to grab it, immediately feeling more relaxed. When she was sure they were alone, she bent down and whispered in his ear. "I hope there will be something delicious for dessert, its my favorite part!"
Soren looked up at her and smiled. "Me too."
It was an odd experience having two other people at his table, and truthfully, Snape wasn't quite sure how to proceed. Six years of eating alone had suited him just fine, but alas, nothing good could ever last. He tapped his wand and the food appeared.
"What a lovely spread!" Marie exclaimed, looking over a table with a full roast, mashed potatoes, along with green beans, roasted brussel sprouts, and sweet potatoes.
Snape had also brought out one of the better Cabernets from his small collection and he offered some to Marie. "Would you care for a glass of wine?"
"Yes, please. Just a small glass, tomorrow is a very important day."
"Since I have you both here, perhaps this would be a good time to talk about expectations moving forward," Snape said, setting Marie's wine goblet down and pouring himself a glass. "Soren, sit up properly, and keep your arms off the table."
Soren slid his hands into his lap and sat up straight.
"We will have breakfast at 8am tomorrow. I expect everyone to be on time, tardiness to the table will not be acceptable. Ms. Cloutier, you are responsible for yourself, but also for ensuring that Soren is awake, properly dressed, and put together before breakfast. Unless you are gravely ill, I expect everyone at the table for meals. Am I clear so far?"
"Yes, sir," echoed both Soren and Marie in unison.
"Lessons will begin at 8:45, this should give you a few minutes to clean up after breakfast and get any of your things together and take care of any personal needs. Soren, you are to be on time, in the classroom before the clock strikes 8:45. Ms. Cloutier, if he is late, you will let me know. I would like you to keep a daily log, including any notes on his behavior and performance. I will review it at the end of the week and deal with any issues that need to be addressed." He shot Soren a look. "Of course if at any point in time he is grossly out of line or unmanageable, you may to come to me immediately. But otherwise we will address any serious misbehavior in the evenings."
"Ms. Cloutier, you have full domain over your classroom, so I will not interfere, however, I expect to be updated weekly on what he is learning and how he is doing. If he is struggling or excelling, or not paying attention, I want to know."
"Yes, of course, Lord Kent."
"Soren, Ms. Cloutier has my full support in how she handles your discipline in the classroom, however, if I find out you've acted in a way that I feel is unacceptable, you can expect to be punished by me as well. I suggest you behave, I will not take kindly to any negative reports about your behavior."
Soren blushed. "Yes, sir."
"I may pop into the classroom on occasion, but otherwise I shall be occupied with my own work. We will convene for lunch at precisely 12:30pm. After lunch, Soren will have one hour of quiet time to rest before you resume your afternoon coursework at 2pm."
"But I'm too old for a nap," Soren complained.
Snape set his goblet down dramatically and stared at the little boy. "Do not interrupt me. This is my house, I make the rules, and you will obey them. Whether you sleep or not is up to you, but you will take an hour to rest so that your mind is fresh for an afternoon of learning. One more word out of turn, Soren, and you will be asked to leave the table."
"Yes, sir. Sorry."
"Besides, it is not just for your benefit. Ms. Cloutier also deserves to have some time for herself between lessons," he added, knowing how draining it could be to teach all day.
"In the afternoon at some point, I would like it if Soren got outside for a bit of exercise. A walk on the grounds might be nice, you are welcome to turn it into an educational outing. I have vast gardens with many magical plants and potions ingredients, this might be a good time to begin teaching Soren how to identify some of them. However, I will leave it at your discretion."
"Lord Kent, how much would you like us to focus on preparing him for his magical education, or are we only doing Muggle work for now?" Marie asked, sliding some of the roast and veggies onto her plate before lifting her glass for a small sip of wine.
"I want him learning theory, but of course, at his age, there will be no practical magic."
Snape turned to Soren. "Do you understand what that means, Soren?"
"Yes, sir."
"You will never, ever, ever attempt magic on your own or outside of a lesson with Ms. Cloutier or myself. While you will never be punished for accidental magic, any deliberate attempt to cast a spell, create a potion, or otherwise invoke your magical ability with purpose is strictly forbidden. And it goes without saying that you are to never touch our wands. Ever. You will also stay away from the potions lab and the dungeons where I do my work. Magic can be extremely dangerous, as you well know." Snape emphasized, knowing the boy's mother had essentially blown herself to pieces due to a failed healing spell/potion combination.
"Sometimes my mum let me practice with her wand. Just little spells. I can do lumos and nox," Soren said proudly.
"Incredibly irresponsible." Snape shook his head and leaned in closer. "Let me be clear…if I find out you've touched a wand without permission before your 11th birthday, it will be the biggest regret of your young life. Do you understand me?"
Soren nodded his head before Snape glared at him and he added an emphatic "Yes, sir."
"Good, now put more vegetables on your plate. That is hardly adequate." Snape said, looking down at the boy's measly plate of food.
"Yes, sir." Soren reached for the sweet potatoes and then put a small portion of green beans, hoping that would be sufficient. He'd already eaten a good dose of the roast and he was feeling pretty full, but there was no way he was going to risk being punished again today.
"To answer your question, Marie, I want him to begin becoming familiar with concepts of magic, magical plants, and important principles behind the theory of magic. You may demonstrate these concepts for him, but you will not be teaching him how to do any magic at this point. Perhaps an hour of this a day, the rest of which will be devoted to basic studies such as reading, maths, and geography, with a high priority also on introducing him to Latin."
"Sir, I was thinking we might move supper a bit earlier so that Soren can have time after dinner to bathe, read, and unwind. He should be in bed between 7:30-8pm."
"Yes, I agree. I will make sure Tinny has food prepared tomorrow at six."
Soren scowled but didn't dare to offer his opinion on that.
After dinner, Snape cleared the table and sent Soren to bathe and get ready for bed. Marie took him upstairs and helped him fill the tub.
"Are you able to bathe yourself or do you need help?" She asked gently. With her wand, she filled the tub with bubbles and Soren smiled at her in delight.
"My mummy used to help me wash my hair."
"Why don't you get in the tub and play for a bit, and then I'll come back and wash your hair."
Opening the cupboard, she pulled out several unopened bars of soap, and transfigured each of them into a small bath toy, tossing them into the water. "Don't tell your father, it will be our secret." She winked at him and left him to play.
Twenty minutes later, she returned and helped him wash his silky dark hair, rinsing him gently so as not to get soap in his eyes. She helped him out of the tub and into a giant fluffy towel.
"Brush your teeth and get into your pajamas and I'll come back and read you a story before bed."
Marie went downstairs to find Snape sitting in his armchair, reading a book. "Did you say there was a library in the house, Lord Kent? I'd like to get a book to read to Soren."
"Yes. I meant to give you a full tour earlier— I apologize. We can do it tomorrow morning, but I'll show you to the library now." Snape closed his book and stood, Marie following directly behind.
When they walked in, Marie nearly gasped. The library was impressive- it had tens of thousands of books, stacked neatly on shelves that went all the way up to the 14 foot ceilings. There was a rolling ladder attached to a frame so that even the books on the highest shelves were accessible (not as important for people with magic, but very helpful for the muggles who had designed it).
"This is incredible."
Snape nodded. "Many of the books were here when I inherited the house, but I am constantly adding to the collection. I keep most of my magical texts in my study, and many of my scientific texts in the potions lab in the basement. You are welcome to borrow any of the books you see here, but if there's something specific you're looking for, let me know and I will acquire it for you."
"Thank you. Perhaps you can help me pick out a book for Soren? I'm sure he'd enjoy having you read to him some nights as well," Marie pitched subtly, knowing the boy was starving for positive attention from his father.
"I will leave that to you, Ms. Cloutier. But just know you are not obliged, he is perfectly capable of reading to himself in the evenings. It will be good practice for him."
"He's only seven, sir, I think most children that age enjoy being read to. It helps them relax and feeds their imagination." Marie had a lot more she wanted to say but she was trying to control herself, she was quickly realizing that this was a difficult man, and if she wanted to be successful she would have to be patient.
"In that case, I would choose one of the classics. Oliver Twist or David Copperfield for example. Perhaps reading books about less fortunate boys might serve as a subtle reminder of how lucky he is that he ended up in a manor house instead of a workhouse, lest he begin to indulge in self-pity."
"Oliver Twist is a wonderful idea, sir, we'll start there," Marie said, choosing to ignore the last comment. "Perhaps after reading some English classics, we can move on to some American ones. I'm sure he'd love The Adventures of Tom Sawyer."
"Let's stick to Dickens for now, Ms. Cloutier, I wouldn't want him to get any bright ideas. Tom Sawyer is one of the most misbehaved boys in all of literature."
Marie wasn't sure if he was being serious or not until she saw a slight edge of the man's lip curl upward, and she gave a little chuckle. She was also impressed that he knew his muggle literature. Not many wizards were familiar with the books, but she could tell this man, despite being of some privilege (and probably from an important wizarding family), was an avid reader. "I loved those books as a kid, Tom Sawyer was my absolute favorite."
"And did it inspire any naughty behavior on your part?" He raised an eye-brow in mock sternness.
"I only played hooky from school a few times…unlike Tom, I was smart enough not to get caught." She gave him a mischievous grin.
Snape tutted at her. "Tsk tsk tsk, you would not have gotten away with that in my class, Miss Cloutier. I look poorly on students skiving from their studies. Any student skipping my class could expect to serve several very unpleasant detentions."
Marie laughed out loud at the thought of it. "Yes, I can't imagine you'd let students get away with very much. It's probably a good thing you were never a teacher, then, I can't imagine you'd have the constitution for a room full of rowdy children. I'm a pretty patient person, and even I have a hard time with it sometimes."
"The key, Ms. Cloutier, is a firm hand and a good dose of fear and intimidation. It can go a long way to keeping unruly children in line."
"I must have missed that lesson during my education degree," Marie countered.
"Yes, you must have. An unfortunate result of skipping class instead of showing dedication to your studies." He made sure to sound extra patronizing, but he was enjoying this little repartee.
"And yet somehow I managed to turn out all right in the end. I came away with almost all O's on my N.E.W.T.s."
"Almost?"
"I got an "E" in Divination and Charms. But I was still top of my class at Beauxbatons."
"Which is precisely why I selected you." Snape looked at her briefly before striding across the library and pulling a book from one of the shelves. "Here we are, Oliver Twist. This edition even has a few pictures in it," he said, flipping through it gently. "Make sure Soren takes good care of it, I do not take kindly to people who mistreat books. If I find he has creased or torn any pages, he will lose the privilege of borrowing in future." He glared at Marie, making it clear that their banter was over and that the message was for her as well.
"I'll make sure it is returned in pristine condition, sir."
"See that you do." He handed the worn, leather bound book to Marie. "And remind Soren that lights are out at 8pm, and he is not to leave his room for any reason."
"Maybe you can go up and say goodnight to him just before lights out. I'm sure he would appreciate a tuck-in from his father."
"I think not, Ms. Cloutier. If I have to come up to his room at bedtime, it will not be for pleasant reasons. I shall leave the nightly tuck-ins to you."
"Very well. Goodnight, Lord Kent."
"Goodnight."
With the book in hand, Marie returned upstairs, smiling to herself. She didn't know why, but something about the man intrigued her. That whole conversation in the library had given her butterflies in her stomach, it felt both dangerous and intimate, somehow. She wanted to hate him, and she certainly was not a fan of the way he parented Soren, but she couldn't help wanting to earn his approval. What is wrong with you! The man is a beast. Except there was something kind of hot about how he carried himself with authority and intelligence. She didn't know much about his background, but she was sure he was a smart and powerful wizard, she could just sense it, somehow. But she reminded herself she was only here for one reason, well, two maybe. She needed the money, and there was a little boy without a mum who desperately needed her attention and affection. Focus.
AUTHOR'S END NOTE:
Hope you enjoyed! Please please please review, let me know what you think! We're JUST scratching the surface for what I hope will be a fun ride. What did you think about that little exchange between Snape and Marie?