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The potion accident had been something none of them had expected to happen, especially as Snape was a hard taskmaster. It was something that most of them were willing to forget, but ever since Several Snape became Hogwarts’ Potions Master, there had only been three accidents and none of those were lethal.
In fact, the professor seemed to be stunned that something like this had happened. Looking at the people in his classroom, looking from one person to the other, trying to see if there was anyone not present.
“Where is Mr. Potter?”
Ron and Hermione, both seated close to Harry, looked around from where they had been working on an anti-aging potion. Neither of them saw their best friend, much to their horor.
“Professor, Harry isn’t here.”
Snape pursed his lips but approached, not seeing Harry Potter anywhere. Had something happened to the Gryffindor, what could have happened that made a teenager disappear from right in front of them.
A yelp from the Slytherin side of things had them all looking up to see Draco grumbling about something poking him in the side. Looking around nothing could be found there, none of them could see anything around the Slytherin. That together with Harry still missing was making them anxious. What was going on here?
“Professor Snape, something poked me too!”
A scream from Pansy had all of them looking back at the Slytherin side. The dark blond girl was freaking out, going by her face, no doubt because of what she was feeling but not able to see.
The man came closer to see what was going on, but didn’t notice anything either.
It was only while he was standing close to the desks, that he heard someone giggling. Looking around all of his students were looking rather shocked, not at all seeing one of them that could be giggling about what was going on. His Slytherins were yelping one after the other as something poked them.
The Gryffindors at the other side were looking around in an effort to see Harry Potter, who was still nowhere to be seen.
A tug on his robes had him looking down, to see himself looking into green eyes, Lily’s green eyes. Blinking a few times, he had to shake himself out of his stupor. Trying to make sure that he did indeed see a 4 year old Harry Potter standing next to him. The mischievous grin that was looking back at him more than telling about who had been poking his Slytherins.
“Mr. Potter?”
The child nodded, tugging at his robes once more, but not saying anything while he was looking around. The childlike wonder in those green eyes was telling enough that something was indeed different from this Harry Potter and the one that normally took his class.
Sighing, Severus pinched the bridge of his nose as he took in the child standing there.
“Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, please escort Mr. Potter to the Infirmary. I’m guessing that whatever went wrong made this inte a de-aging potion.”
Turning to the others, he added, “All the rest of you, get out of my classroom. Leave everything as it is and head to the Great Hall, if anyone asks I dismissed you early.”
As they all left the room, he turned towards the station Potter had been seated, trying to gauge what had been used to put into the potion and how it had impacted Mr. Potter. Once he was sure what it was, and how much it had been, he could calculate how long this would take. He hoped not too long, he didn’t want to deal with a 4 -year old running around.
—-
Luckily it was just a small mishap, and one that wouldn’t take more than a day - at most. Making his way to the infirmary, he went to share the news with Madam Pompfrey and the headmaster who had been called when Mr. Potter had been brought in.
Entering the room, he had to bite back a smile at the child sleeping in one of the cots, he was sure by the time the brat woke up he’d be back to normal. Sharing that news, everyone was more than happy, as it had taken quite a lot out of everyone. Somewhat nice to know that Harry Potter did indeed have a mischievous streak.