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Hermione let out a weary sigh as she overheard Ron and Harry embroiled in yet another argument with Draco Malfoy. Merlin, those three just can’t help themselves, she thought, the corners of her mouth tightening in frustration. She knew it was only a matter of time before Professor Snape intervened.
"Mr. Potter! Mr. Weasley! Detention!" Snape's voice sliced through the air like a whip, his tone icy and filled with disdain.
And there it was.
"B-but, Professor —" Harry interjected, his voice tinged with a mixture of defiance and desperation, but Snape cut him off with a sharp look that could freeze the sun.
"Ten points from Gryffindor!" Snape snapped, his dark eyes glittering with satisfaction as Harry glared at the floor, his shoulders tensing with barely contained anger. Ron, beside him, scowled deeply, his expression dark as he mimed slicing his throat, a silent promise of what he'd do if he ever got Draco alone.
"Tough luck, mate." Neville muttered sympathetically, patting Harry’s shoulder with a hesitant, comforting hand.
"I'm going to kill him," Ron growled, his voice low and dangerous, filled with a simmering rage that Hermione knew would only lead to more trouble.
"Focus on your potion, Ron!" Hermione whispered urgently, her eyes darting towards Snape, who was prowling around the classroom like a predatory cat, ready to pounce on the first sign of disobedience. Ron muttered something unintelligible but reluctantly turned back to his cauldron.
"It's not fair!" Harry whined as he chopped his newt spleen into irregular pieces.
Snape’s shadow loomed over him, and he smirked with cruel delight. "Five more points from Gryffindor for complaining like a petulant child," Snape drawled as he continued his rounds, leaving Harry fuming, his face flushed with anger.
Harry almost leapt out of his seat to throttle Snape, but Hermione yanked him before Snape could see.
"Just. Stop," Hermione hissed. Her voice was urgent, pleading with him to let it go before they lost even more points.
"But, Mione —" Ron growled.
"Don't talk, Ron," Hermione warned, her tone brooking no argument as she forced herself to focus on her cauldron, her mind buzzing with the tension simmering in the room.
The classroom felt like a tinderbox, ready to explode, and Hermione's heart pounded in her chest, a mix of anxiety and dread twisting in her stomach. They were reviewing the Ageing Potion — they'd made it in their fourth year, but Snape wanted to see how many dim-witted fools had forgotten the simple steps.
Snape walked over to Neville's cauldron where the poor boy sat trembling beside Seamus.
"SEAMUS, NO!" Hermione suddenly shrieked, her voice piercing the tense atmosphere as she bolted out of her chair, her eyes wide with panic.
Professor Snape whirled around, with bated horror, as Seamus started to add the wrong amount of Ghast Tears to the potion. Snape reached Seamus' side just as the vial fell into the cauldron with a soft plop.
The rest of the class ducked before they could be hit by the maelström of destruction Seamus had inevitably caused.
The air crackled with energy, as the cauldron exploded with a loud bang and showered its contents upon Snape. A soft, pea-green mist enshrouded him from head to toe. When the mist cleared, Severus Snape had disappeared.
In his place sat a bewildered, black-haired, three-year-old child with dark eyes and sallow skin, oversized black robes sprawled around him.
"The hell?!" Ron barked as he stared at the child with disbelief.
The child scrunched up his face at Ron’s outburst but stubbornly held back the tears threatening to spill over.
"Is that.. Professor Snape?!" Pansy whispered as she peeked over her desk at him.
Hermione’s heart twisted as she saw the other students snickering behind their hands, their laughter cruel and mocking. "Don't mock him!" she snapped, her voice sharp as she shot them a fierce glare, daring anyone to make fun of the defenseless toddler who now sat nervously, fidgeting with his oversized robes.
"Brilliant! He's a kid!" Harry cackled.
"Stop it, Harry!"
Hermione walked over to the toddler and crouched in front of him.
"P-Professor?"
"My n-name is Sevelus.. what's a plofessor?" he whispered, as he fidgeted with his hands nervously.
"Um, it's a word for 'teacher'. How old are you, Severus?" Hermione gently asked.
"I'm thlee years old," Snape murmured shyly, as he glanced up at Hermione.
"I'm Hermione Granger. Will you please come with me, Severus? We should go see the Headmaster."
Snape suddenly stiffened and clenched his hands by his side. His eyes scanned the room for an escape route.
"Where's Mu — my mother?"
"She's not here, but I promise you'll be okay. I'll take you to Professor Dumbledore. He's a very nice man," Hermione encouraged him.
"You stay wif me?" Severus asked, his voice small and tentative, his dark eyes filled with a glimmer of hope as he looked up at her, searching for reassurance.
"I will. Come." Hermione offered her hand to him.
Severus stared at her hand with wonder and awe. It looked so soft and smooth. He glanced at her, confused.
"Oh, sorry! Hold on," Hermione mumbled as she gathered his robes.
"That's never going to fit," Snape remarked as he stared at the clothes.
"Well, we'll make them fit you. Here!" She waved her wand and Reduced their size for him.
Severus watched in awe as the robes shrank before his eyes, a look of amazement spreading across his face. The transformation was like magic to him—a new, exciting discovery.
She barked at the gaping students behind her, "Stop staring at him! Give him some privacy!"
Quickly, everyone turned away, except for Draco.
"I'm the Head Boy! I should escort my Head of House to Dumbledore, don't you think?" Draco grumbled as he strolled over to them.
"Fine! Would you like to go with Draco, Severus?" Hermione asked the now-dressed child.
"You come, too," Severus demanded.
"He's a kid and he's still ordering you around?!" Ron cried, annoyed.
"Stop it, Ron!" Hermione called out over her shoulder.
"Let's go, Granger." Draco walked towards the door.
Severus looked up at Hermione and asked, "Why you gave me your hand?"
"Oh, to hold your hand."
"Can I hold your hand?" Severus cocked his head to the right as he gazed up at her adoringly.
"It's may I — but, yes, you may." Hermione held out her hand again and Severus shyly took it. It really was as soft and smooth as it looked.
"Okay, that is cute! Why is he cute?!" Pansy was stunned at having to use the adjective 'cute' for Severus Snape.
The students all watched as Hermione and Draco walked Severus out of the classroom.
Draco yelled, "Blaise, you're in charge!"
Blaise turned to the others, a wicked smirk on his face, while the others all groaned.
"What do you mean you'll be taking care of him? Do you mean 'together'? As in together–together?" Draco stared at Dumbledore with disbelief.
"Yes, Mr Malfoy. You and Miss Granger are the Head Students and, therefore, will be taking care of Severus together — until we find a cure. I'll Floo Horace to see if he has any Ageing Potion," Professor Dumbledore replied as he sipped on his tea.
Severus sat nearby, his mouth agog as he stared up at the paintings of the Headmasters, a lemon drop in his mouth.
Hermione scowled at Draco.
He rolled his eyes, and said, "Really, Granger — you're responsible, I'm not. You'll be better at caring for him."
Dumbledore shook his head and, in a low tone, said, "Mr Malfoy, he needs both of you."
Draco sighed but agreed, while Severus watched the scene with curiosity.
"This is your room, Severus." Hermione smiled as she showed him around the room Hogwarts had magically provided in the Head's quarters.
"My? I'll not sleep on da couch?" Severus goggled at the large bed in the middle of the room.
Hermione was stunned. The couch?
She shook her head and said, "No, you'll sleep in here. Okay? Now, it's getting late. How about we go get something to eat and then, I'll tuck you in?"
"What's 'tuck you in'?" Severus cocked his head to the side. It sounded nice.
Hermione's heart broke at his innocent question. Didn't his parents ever tuck him in?
"I'll show you after dinner, okay?"
"Okay."
They had dinner with Draco in the Head's common room. Severus carefully ate everything he was offered, to Hermione's surprise. Even she, as a child, hadn't eaten everything.
Draco noticed it, too. He glanced at Hermione, confused, when Severus silently ate his vegetables. Severus was… a very unique child, it seemed.
After dinner, Hermione said, "Come on, I'll tuck you in now."
Severus quietly walked into his room with Hermione right behind him. Draco followed at a sedate pace. Severus crawled up onto the bed without Hermione's assistance. Hermione bent down, gently helped him under the covers, patted his head, and wrapped the covers around him firmly.
"Is nice," Severus mumbled shyly, as he gazed up at Hermione. Why wasn't she his mother?
"Yeah? If you want, we'll tuck you in tomorrow, too," Hermione suggested.
"Okay, tha's good," Severus whispered as his eyes fluttered shut.
Hermione and Draco backed out of the room and shut the door. She turned towards Draco and whispered, "Did you see that, Malfoy?! He didn't even know what being tucked in feels like!"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Merlin, Granger. Mother didn't tuck me in, either — my house-elf did. Don't start feeling sorry for Snape. Once he's normal, he's going to kill you if you act all motherly towards him."
"We're supposed to be his caretakers for now, Malfoy! Will it kill you if you act nice towards him? He's just a kid!"
"It's Snape, Granger. Not just a kid — Snape. You know who I'm talking about, right?"
"I don't care if it's Snape or even You-Know-Who himself! That's a kid who obviously needs love and affection, and I'm going to give it to him!" Hermione stomped her foot.
"Ugh — you Gryffindors are such goody two shoes!" Draco whined, but he knew he would have to go along with her plans.
Somehow, she always managed to win every argument against him. Maybe it was because he secretly didn't like seeing her hurt or disappointed because of him, or maybe it was because he knew she was right. Probably the former, if he were being honest.
Razing windstorms flayed the trees outside as lightning enflamed the pagan-black sky. The first splatter of raindrops fell after a sonorous and stentorian thunderclap. It was the first thunderstorm of the year.
Heart thundering along with the turbulent skies outside, Hermione woke with a loud gasp and glanced at the window. She'd been scared of thunderstorms ever since she was a child. She'd never been alone during one, but this year, she had her own room — but no one else in it.
She heard a soft pitter-patter of feet outside her door, but no one knocked. She went to open the door. Outside, Severus stood, his eyes filled with silent tears.
"What's wrong, Severus?" Hermione quickly forgot her own fears and squatted down beside him.
"I c-c-can't s-sleep," Severus whispered and sniffled.
"Is it the storm? Did it scare you, honey?" Hermione moved to touch his cheek, but to her horror, Severus flinched.
"N-no, am a b-blave boy," Severus argued, despite the obvious terror in his eyes. He didn't want her to think he was a stupid brat, like his father often called him.
"What's going on here, Granger?" Draco yawned and stretched his arms over his head, lazily.
"Pro — Severus can't sleep," Hermione explained.
Before Draco could say something scathing, lightning flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled in the distance. Hermione and Severus both jumped and attempted to calm themselves.
Draco thought, 'Merlin, I can't believe I'm doing this! I must be out of my mind! Curse Granger for being so — so pretty!'
He cleared his throat and, pretending to be indifferent, drawled, "I'm not singing you two a lullaby — but get into my bed. I've heard that being warm and toasty helps you fall asleep faster."
Hermione opened her mouth to reject his order, but then, Severus said, "It's okay, I'll sleep under da bed."
Draco's eyes almost popped out of his head at the suggestion.
Hermione wailed, "No! You're not sleeping under anyone's bed, Severus!"
Draco nodded; for once, in agreement with Hermione. What kind of people did his professor grow up with?
"Granger, get into bed."
"I'm not sleeping in your bed, Malfoy!"
"I want bof of you," Severus argued.
"I'm not sleeping in your bed, Granger — Merlin knows how much that beast sheds!" Draco snapped, his fists balled by his sides.
"You love Crookshanks — don't lie! I saw you cuddling with him a week ago!" Hermione barked at him, her eyes narrowed with fury.
"Your cat's hair is more manageable than that Hippogriff's nest you call hair!" Draco retorted, his arms crossed over his chest petulantly.
"At least I don't preen in front of my mirror like a stupid peacock!"
"Perfection takes time. I don't expect you to know that." Draco smirked as Hermione's face turned purple with rage.
Severus suddenly whimpered and covered his face with his hands, silencing Hermione and Draco immediately.
"What's wrong?" Hermione questioned, worriedly.
"He's goin' ta b-beat you," Severus whimpered, as his tears flowed.
Draco gasped, stunned. Did Severus really think he would lay a finger on Hermione? Hermione would beat him senseless, instead!
Hermione's own eyes filled with tears. "No, sweetie. Malfoy won't beat me — I'll hex him, if he does."
"B-but he's big than you? He c-can hult you," Severus whispered, scared. He was worried for her.
"Listen, kid"— Draco squatted down —"I'm not going to hit Granger, even if I'm bigger than her. A real man doesn't hit a woman, okay? No matter how much he wants to hit her, he won't. Got that?"
Severus nodded quietly as he thought about his own parents; it seemed as if his father wasn't a real man, then. I want to be just like Mr Malfoy when I grow up! "I'm tiled now," he whispered.
Before the two could start arguing over whose bed to sleep in, Severus continued, "We sleep in my bed? It's soft!"
Draco and Hermione hesitantly agreed and followed little Severus into his room. Hermione helped him up onto the bed and turned to Draco.
"I'm taking the right side!" Draco interjected before she could speak. Hermione scowled, but, as she was too tired to argue, agreed.
The two Head students awkwardly slipped into bed on either side of Severus, as thunder and lightning made a deafening ruckus outside. Severus swallowed and grabbed Hermione's hand in his.
'Only in Hogwarts would I be in bed with Snape and Malfoy at the same time!' Hermione thought, amused.
"Are you scared, kid?" Draco asked, his arm thrown over his face, tiredly. He was in bed with Snape and Granger — what a day!
"Am not scaled! Am a big boy!" Severus cried, just before thunder boomed again. He whimpered as his tears streamed down his face. "Am a b-big boy," he repeated to himself, with his eyes clenched shut.
Hermione scowled at Draco and mouthed, "Don't embarrass him!"
Draco rolled his eyes at her, but knew he had taken it too far.
Softly, she said, "Okay, Severus, I'm going to wrap my arm around you. Are you okay with that?"
At his slight nod, she slid her arm around him and pulled him closer. He mumbled sleepily, "Wha' you doin'?"
"Cuddling. Don't.. don't your parents cuddle you, honey?" Hermione hesitantly asked.
"Don't," Draco mouthed at her over Severus' head.
"Mmm, no… is nice, I like it," he mumbled as he shifted closer and closed his eyes.
"Goodnight, Severus," Hermione whispered against Severus' hair, but he was already asleep.
Once sure Severus was really asleep, Draco hissed at Hermione, "You know he'll remember this when he's normal? What then? Do you think he's going to spare you? He's going to give you detention for the rest of the year!"
"I'll manage. Malfoy — I think he was.. abused…"
"You can't tell anyone, though. He'll torture you," Draco warned.
"You care for me!" Hermione teased.
"Oh, sod off, Granger!" Draco grumbled before he rolled away.
Hermione chuckled softly at his reaction. As she gazed down upon the pale visage of the child in her arms, she thought, 'I'll give you as much love as I can — it won't be enough, but at least you'll have a better childhood this time. I'll make sure of it.'