Chapter Text
Albus Severus Potter was sitting calmly in the Slytherin common room reading his beloved, well-worn copy of Potion Opuscule. For the past term, he'd been getting to know the grand portrait of Severus Snape which hung just above the entrance to the dormitories. The conversations the two had were enriching and wholesome for the both of them. His best friend, Scorpius, was at home for the Christmas holidays with his family, so he was alone.
Albus and his brother, James, would have also been home if it weren't for their father having to go away for some Auror business. Their mother said that she would prefer if they stayed back since the business that their father was dealing with was dangerous, and she didn't want to get them involved. She had already sent their sister, Lily, to the Burrow to stay with Grandmum and Granddad Weasley two days prior.
"So, Mr. Potter. When did you acquire Potion Opuscule?" the portrait asked.
"My eleventh birthday, sir. It was a special gift for me since eleven is the age that you start at Hogwarts. My dad also gave me a room where I can set up my own lab."
"Lucky child, you are. Having loving parents who care for you above everything else."
"My brother and sister, too," Albus added.
"Yes, right. What is it like, having parents who dote on you? How does it feel?" Albus could tell that Snape's curiosity got the better of him.
"What do you mean, Professor? Didn't your parents love you? I'm sure they did."
"My mother did," Snape corrected. "But even then, we weren't well-off. My parents didn't have the means to shower me with such luxuries."
"Oh. Sorry."
"There's no fault in your asking. You were just curious. I'm sure I would have done the same thing in your position."
"Well, Professor, it's very nice, to say the least. Getting 'doted on' in your words. I guess my mum and dad want us to be happy. But it really isn't much compared to how much love, kisses, and hugs I get from them. That matters most to me. If they stopped loving me, I wouldn't know what to do."
"Wisely said. Well, I must get going. Albus the Elder told me that he wanted me to visit Minerva's office, so I'll have to endure the idiocy and inaneness of the other headmasters' chatter. Good evening, Mr. Potter."
"Bye, Professor, and good luck!"
Snape smirked, and then he walked out of the frame.
Just as Albus was about to head back to the dormitory to catch an early night, he heard someone come through the stone patch. It was the female sixth year prefect, Hadley Jones.
"Albus, your brother's outside, waiting for you. Don't know what he wants, but I think you should go talk to him."
"Okay, Hadley," Albus replied. "Thanks." He set his Potions book down and walked to the entrance. After he stepped out of the stone, he greeted his brother.
"Hey, James. What's up?"
"You don't know how long I've had to sit here," James complained, standing up and stretching his arms.
"Sorry. Didn't know you'd come. Glad Hadley told me before you fell asleep."
James laughed. "Yeah, me too. Listen, come with me to the library. There's something really wicked I found in there!"
Albus smiled. "Really? Cool!" He felt a weight lifted from his chest which was replaced with anticipating excitement. For the past few months, the two brothers weren't able to talk to each other much since the start of the school year with Albus being Sorted into a different house. The young Slytherin was sincerely glad that his brother didn't immediately ditch him as soon as he was Sorted, for his older brother frequently teased Albus about his Sorting prior to boarding the train.
"So, gonna tell me what it is?" Albus asked.
"C'mon, Al! I want it to be a surprise!"
"All right, all right, you git. I'll shut up."
James playfully smacked his little brother's arm. "I'm no git!"
"Yes you are, and you know it. You actually sent Lily a toilet seat! C'mon! Which person does that and isn't classified as a git?"
"So you're calling Uncle George a git, too?" James smirked, proud of his rebuttal.
"He didn't actually follow through!" Albus retorted. By this time, both brothers were laughing heartily. It was something they hadn't done together in a long time. Out of the two brothers, Albus was the sensible one, but when it came to a gold-quality harmless prank or two, the young Slytherin was all game.
"Not with Mum, but didn't he and Uncle Fred send one to Dad at the end of his first year?" James wiggled his eyebrows.
Now it was Albus who smirked. "Madam Pomfrey intercepted it, and Dad never got it."
James sighed, knowing he lost the battle. By this time, they reached the library. James's voice dropped to a whisper.
"All right, Al," James said. He pulled out his Invisibility Cloak that their father had given him during his first year at Hogwarts from his robes. "Get under."
Albus nodded, and he got under the Cloak beside James. Then, the elder Potter opened the door as quietly and as slowly as he could. Fortunately, the door didn't creak, and the boys successfully got inside. When James closed the door again, he led Albus straight to the Restricted Section of the library.
"Why're we going to the Restricted Section?" Albus asked nervously.
"Relax. What I'm gonna show you is completely harmless."
Albus sighed. "If you say so, James."
James went through many different book aisles and past different shelves. At long last, James pulled off the Cloak and set it on the end of a nearby table.
"Lumos," James whispered. He turned to Albus. "Stay here."
Albus watched James as he scanned the bookshelves and different books until he gave a whispered "A-ha!" and pulled out a book.
James hurried back to the table and set the book down in front of his brother. Then, he sat down more towards the middle of the table and motioned for Albus to do the same.
"Light your wand," James whispered.
"Lumos." Albus held up his wand. "All You Need to Know About the Space-Time Continuum? Isn't that a Muggle subject?"
"There's more, Al." He flipped to the end of the book. There was a gold chain sticking out of the little pocket at the end. He pulled out the chain. Both boys held up their wands to it. It was a mini hourglass with golden dust inside. The hourglass was situated inside a circle. The dust twinkled from the wands' light. The brothers were, in a word, mesmerized.
"What is it?" Albus whispered to James. "Haven't seen anything like this before."
"I know!" James whisper-shouted back. "I was looking for some books on Astronomy when I found this."
"You?" Albus asked. "Looking for books?"
"Rose's insistence. She really rubs off on you." James grimaced. "But I'm glad she made me, or else I wouldn't have found this beauty!"
"Why aren't you showing Rose this?" Albus asked.
"Al! You really need to ask? She may be family, but you know how she is. Besides, I never get to spend time with you anymore since I started at Hogwarts. Couldn't this just be between us?" James asked. "It wouldn't be the same with Rose here."
Albus smiled. His brother never sounded so sincere in his life. Was this what they called brotherly love? Feeling the need to even exclude their closest cousin? "All right. It's nice, you know. Ever since I was Sorted into Slytherin, I missed you a lot, more than I did back home. So thanks."
"No problem. Now, let's see how this thing works, shall we?" James asked conspiratorially, wiggling his eyebrows again.
"Right. Let me see this hourglass thingy," Albus replied.
"Sure." James handed the necklace to his brother and let him examine it. Albus spun it, and he spun it again.
Albus chuckled. "This is quite satisfying."
"Lemme see it, Al," James said. He spun it a few more times. "Huh. Nothing. This thing is useless. Want it, Al?"
"Sure." Albus held out his hand, and James placed the hourglass necklace into the palm of Albus's hand.
Once the boys got up and started to head out, James gasped. "Al! My Cloak! It's gone!"
Albus ran to catch up with James, and his eyes widened. "Oh, no! James, Dad's gonna kill you!"
"I know! How could I have been so careless? I thought no one else was here."
"Evidently, someone was," Albus replied darkly. "Don't worry. We'll look for it tomorrow." Albus yawned. "I'm sleepy. Let's get to bed."
The boys tried their best to creep out of the Restricted Section when they felt a hand grab each of their robe collars.
"And what should two young students such as yourselves be doing in the Restricted Section of the library when you should be in class?"
Albus's head perked up. He knew that voice, but why on Earth would he be right behind him? He couldn't touch him physically! He craned his head around to confirm his suspicions, and he gasped.
"Professor Snape! You're alive!" he exclaimed.