Snape's Busy Day


Time: Harry's 6th year

Note: The take off point of this story is ripped off, err, err, adapted from the fic Bouncing Baby Boy. Ah forget who wrote it so if it's yours please PM me and Ah'll note you.

Over the years since the time of the marauders the houses have become more and more polarized. By the time of Harry's sixth year it's become near open warfare with Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw on one side and Slytherin on the other. Snipers lurked behind statues and suits of armor in the halls hurling hexes and curses at passersby. Nurse Pumphry was kept busy trying to put them all back together. Sometimes she couldn't.

Ginny was walking to charms class with a group of fifth year girls (nobody was out in the halls alone these days) when Draco, Pansy and a few other snakes ambushed them from behind the tapestry of Igor the Drooling. They unleashed some pretty potent magic, but the girls gave a good accounting of themselves.

One of the girls was caught by an aging spell and nearly disabled in a matter of seconds. Ginny tried to cast a rejuvenating spell but had to jump to avoid an attack. Her aim was wild and the spell bounced off of a mirror and hit Draco. As he thrashed about on the floor his comrades panicked and fled.

With the attack broken off the girls helped their stricken members to hospital wing but Ginny stood staring at the results of her spell. From under a crumpled up pile of black fabric came the high pitch wail of a toddler. Pulling away the robe and hat she found a boy barely three years old with platinum blond hair and silver eyes. He kicked her in the shins.

"WAHHHH! You BAD lady. Me Want Uncle Sevie! ME WANT UNCLE SEVIE!!"

*******

Dumbledor sat behind his desk looking wearily at the intruders of his solitude. Snape and McGonagall stood glaring daggers at each other while Nurse Pumphry struggled trying to calm the hysterical child. Ginny was trying his best to become invisible without actually using magic. "ME WANT UNCLE SEVIE!! ME WANT UNCLE SEVIE!!" the boy screamed.

"Professor Snape, do I need to guess who this 'Uncle Sevie' is?"

The potions master's face briefly changed from rage to embarrassment. "I must admit, Headmaster, I am Mr. Malfoy's godfather. I was a frequent visitor of Malfoy Manor during his formative years and he seems to have reverted to those early memories." The nurse shoved the child into his black clad arms where it suddenly quieted.

Dumbledor turned to the Nurse. “Poppy, how soon can we expect Mr. Malfoy to, err, return to his normal self?”

“I’ve no idea, Headmaster. I’ve never come across this situation before. All of the counter curses I’ve tried have had no effect.”

Snape’s face looked oddly pleased watching the cooing infant. When he noticed people watching him he was his usual discontented self. “Well, I can’t stand around all day holding this infant. I have classes to prepare for. And as it’s plain that Miss Wesealey is at fault, I’m happy to hand over the responsibility.” He thrust Malfoy into her arms.

“I’m afraid I must agree.” said Dumbledor. “Although it was Mr. Malfoy’s attack that caused the predicament, he cannot be expected to care for himself in his present condition.” The toddler glared up at Ginny but uttered not a sound. “However, Professor Snape, since the child responds to your attentions I will require you to put in some time in his care. That way we all might get some sleep.”

He took off his half moon spectacles and wiped them on the sleeve of his robe. “I suppose it is pointless to ask the two of you to try to curb you charges natural inclination toward pre meditated mayhem?” Both heads of house began to protest that the whole thing was the other’s fault and their students were only acting in self defense. Dumbledor held up his hand in a gesture for them to stop. “I suspected it would be useless. Very well then, you two get on to your classes. Miss Weselaey, you and the Nurse may take Mr. Malfoy to hospital wing and tidy him up. Review S.O.P. for caring for such young children. Then you may take him back to your dorm.” Ginny thought the whole thing monstrously unfair but knew there was no point in arguing.

They all left the old man to brood. Sensing something most people, even magical people, would never have noticed, he went over to the French doors to the balcony and pulled them open. There was a face that filled the opening. It was reptilian, but was also rather dog like and covered with lush white fur. Though it was several stories up in the air there was no flutter of wings. From around its neck hung a pair of fuzzy dice such as Americans of the nineteen fifties hung from their rear view mirrors.

The huge blue eyes were filled with love and wisdom. "Tough day, Al?"

"You said it, Lucky. These people seem bent and determined to drive me out of my gourd."

"Well, I wish you luck. Gotta go." And the great beast was gone.