The Boy Who Found a Home

Severus' relationship with his fellow students did not improve over the next several weeks. Patterns established those first weeks could not be changed. James joined in his roommates' instant dislike of the misanthropic and socially inept Severus Snape. The Slytherin's response to the hostility was two fold: to fight back with a vitriolic fervour, and withdraw further within himself.

Severus, James, Sirius, and Peter had words both before and after their History of Magic class. The trouble had begun when Severus roughly pushed Peter as they were entering the classroom. James then knocked Severus' books off the desk to the floor. Professor Binns arrival put a stop to the boys bickering. Once the class had been dismissed and the students entered the corridor, the trouble began again.

"Can anyone tell me what the Insurrection of the Black Forest trolls was about?" Peter began, imitating the whine of Professor Binns' droning voice.

James altered his voice to mimic Severus' and raised his hand. "Oh, call on me, Professor. I know all the answers."

Severus, who had been walking in front of them, stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around.

"Sir, wasn't the Insurrection an attempt to remove all the snakes in the Black Forest?" Sirius asked in an imitation of the dark haired boy.

"No, no," Peter continued. "The trolls were rising up to halt the domination by the vampires."

James, Peter and Sirius began to laugh hysterically. Remus' face began to show discomfort with the direction the conversation had turned. Severus' face grew very dark and menacing.

"Where were these vampires from, Mr. Snake?" James joined in taking over Peter's place in the conversation.

"Sir, I believe they came from my family's estate," Sirius mockingly replied. The other students still in the corridor began to giggle.

"What, Black?" Severus asked in a dangerously quiet voice. The majority of the students in the corridor backed away from the small group.

"Sirius..." Remus was increasingly uncomfortable with the direction of the teasing. He put a hand out to block the boys from one another.

"Stay out of this, Remus," Sirius said glaring at Severus. Remus backed from the testy situation.

"What did you say about my family, Black?" Severus was very pale except for two spots of red on his face.

"Everyone knows your family is a bunch of vampires, Snivellus," James spat viciously. Severus responded with a look of complete loathing.

"No one here has ever seen you eat in the Great Hall," Sirius continued.

"Or has seen your reflection in a mirror," James added.

"I bet the Slytherins get nervous at night that you'll rise from your grave. If they weren't all such a bunch of evil gits they would hold up a cross in front of you, but the lightening strike might just kill them all," Sirius said maliciously.

The confrontation got totally out of hand at that point. By the time order was restored by Binns, Professor McGonagall and several of the prefects, fifteen students needed to visit Madam Pomfrey to have boils cured after someone got overexcited and threw a curse. Lily Evans, who had been standing on the outer edges of the fight, got a rather nasty bump on her head after Sirius Black punched at and missed Evan Goyle.

Professor McGonagall was rigid with outrage at the behaviour in the corridor. She looked over the top of her glasses and down at the subdued group.

"Professor McGonagall," Severus spoke out. "They started it!"

"I don't care who started this trouble. Look at the lot of you, behaving like a bunch of savages!" Minerva was stiff in her anger.

"Snape's a pain in the arse," Sirius argued combatively.

"Mr. Black, please kindly refrain from offering your opinion when it has not been asked for," she snapped and turned to the ghostly professor floating beside her. "Professor Binns, did you or did the prefects see any of these students hexing one another and fighting?" she asked looking to the two prefects and Binns for an answer.

The consensus was that Snape, Potter, Black, Goyle, and Flint had indeed been fighting. Neither the prefects nor Professor Binns could agree who had sent a hex, yet the evidence proved at least one had been thrown. Professor McGonagall looked pointedly at Severus, Evan and Marcus, believing they were responsible for the wayward curse.

Tsking under her breathe, she said in a very annoyed tone, "Five points will be taken from Snape, Goyle, and Flint."

James and Sirius smiled smugly.

"Potter, Black, and Pettigrew, you will also have five points taken. All of you will serve detention for a week with Mr. Filch. I hope he has something very messy for you all to do."

James and Sirius' smiles vanished, and their faces drained of colour.

"The Headmaster warned you not to use magic in the corridors. You five go to Madam Pomfrey for those boils." She pointed to Marcus, James, Severus, Sirius, and Evan. "If there is any report of trouble from any of you before you get to the infirmary..." Minerva held the threat over their heads.

Two days later Severus still felt irked at the minimal punishment for the Gryffindors. Entering the Great Hall, Severus went to the Slytherin table and sat down. Most of the food was too rich for his stomach so he took a plain slice of toast and poured himself a cup of pumpkin juice. He'd been used to far less extravagant food in his parent's home; in fact, the meals his mother's house-elf served him were very bland.

Evan Goyle sat down next to him. "Aren't you going to put some butter or jam on that?"

"I like my toast dry," Severus replied, taking a bite.

"This is news worthy," Lucius Malfoy said and sat down opposite Severus. "Severus Snape talks! When was the last time Snape talked at a meal?"

Severus continued to eat his toast, and finishing it, he reached for a second slice. Those sitting near him openly stared.

"Severus!" Evan gasped. "I never have seen you eat two pieces of toast before. You must be feeling better."

"What do you mean?" Severus turned slowly to Evan. If this were a continuation of what Black, Pettigrew, and Potter had begun a day earlier; someone was going to get hexed!

"You're known for the food you don't eat. You've been looking really awful since classes began," Evan commented.

"I have not, Goyle," Severus growled.

"Yeah, you have," Lucius commented picking through the donuts.

"You walk around all pasty, pale, and gaunt. You don't look like you've even been washing your hair. You really have to pay attention Sevie-boy. The Gryffindors have been calling you 'the oily haired vampire.' While it may not bother you, the rest of us have some pride in our House," Lucius said in a lazy drawl.

Severus looked across to the Gryffindor table feeling his anger flashing wildly. Peter Pettigrew and James Potter were laughing again, probably at him. His temper flared red hot and the blood roared in his ears. He wasn't even aware he was standing on the bench with his wand out. He just aimed it at James and Peter calling out, "Debilis!"

James and Peter both doubled over as if they had been punched in the stomach. James had his wand out quickly, even though he was bent over, and aimed at Severus, who was still standing on the bench.

"Expelliarmus!" James cried out.

Severus was knocked off the bench, and into the wall behind the Slytherin table. As his wand left his hand, it hit Goyle and bounced back toward him. Grabbing it quickly, he scrambled to his feet and aimed the hemlock wand at James when he felt his wand ripped from his hand. Severus began to climb across the table towards the Gryffindors.

Hands pulled him off the table and back to the floor. Severus tried to escape the strong hands that held him, but they were like iron bands.

"Stop it!" a voice called as if through a fog.

"Stop this now," Severus heard the voice say more clearly. His struggling lessened and he found himself being dragged from the Great Hall.

Severus' ears were still ringing and he felt suddenly drained. The hand holding onto his arm and pulling him through the corridors was strong. Approaching the statue outside of the Headmaster's office, Severus heard, "Lemon Wizzies." The stairs were revealed, and he was pulled up to the office.

"Headmaster!" the voice called out.

Severus recognized that the voice belonged to Hagrid. The implication of what he'd done began to clear the fog from his mind and he went limp.

Hagrid felt the boy stop fighting him and relaxed his hold slightly. Daft boy, wha' was he thinkin'?

Albus Dumbledore turned from his bookshelves and looked over the top of his glasses at Hagrid and Severus. He gestured to Severus to sit in a chair opposite him.

"Alas, Mr. Snape, you have run into some difficulty this morning."

Hagrid put Severus' hemlock wand down on the desk in front of Professor Dumbledore. Severus could not look at the Headmaster and stared down at his hands. His chest felt hollow.

"Thank you Hagrid. I will take care of Severus now."

"Righ' Headmaster. I'll be goin' then," Hagrid turned to leave.

"Would you mind waiting for Mr. Snape at the bottom of the stairs, Hagrid?"

"Righ' Headmaster," Hagrid disappeared down the stairs.

"Would you tell me what happened in the Great Hall this morning, Severus?" Professor Dumbledore asked quietly.

Severus continued to study his hands.

"I understand it is difficult for some students to fit in when they first begin at Hogwarts."

Severus looked up quickly and held the sage wizard's penetrating inspection for a moment before lowering his eyes again.

"I know your parents expect a great deal from you, Severus." The Headmaster saw the boy shake slightly. "I am aware that you were tutored privately at home. Did you ever have much opportunity to have companions your age play with you?"

Severus shook his head puzzled by the question.

"It really is too bad that you did not learn how to play with other children. It would have helped to make your experience here at Hogwarts less painful -- for everyone."

Albus watched Severus sit without saying a word for several minutes. Severus brought a hand to his mouth and began to chew at a fingernail with great ferocity. The finger began to bleed slightly.

The old wizard rose from his chair and crossed to the chair next to Severus' and sat down. He slowly reached out and took the boy's hand into his. The Headmaster observed the sudden stillness in the hand and the child's fearful eyes on him.

"Professor Warwick tells me you are very good in his Potions class," Albus saw the fear battle with wariness on the boy's face. "He thinks you are, in fact, possibly the best he has ever taught."

"He said that, sir?" Severus asked, managing to whisper in wonder.

Well, he finally has said something, Albus thought to himself.

"Yes, he did. Severus, I know that it is difficult for you to understand that other students do not share your unique concentration in class. It is very hard for some of them to understand the work at times."

"I understand the lessons, sir," Severus said.

"I know you do. You intimidate the other students, Severus. They don't understand someone who looks like them, talks like an adult, yet behaves likes their misbehaving younger siblings. You lost your temper in the Great Hall, didn't you? Will you tell me why?"

Severus looked away and around the room. The Headmaster was waiting for him to answer. He glanced back at the old wizard who sat patiently waiting next to him. The awkward boy sighed deeply. "I-I can't explain it, Headmaster. Luc- someone told me that the Gryffindors said I -- and I-I..."

"I see. Is that why you hexed Mr. Potter and Mr. Pettigrew?"

Severus couldn't vocalize a response.

Albus sighed, "Was it because they were convenient?"

"No, I can't explain why, Headmaster," Severus said softly and returned to studying his hands.

"I am taking twenty points from Slytherin for your lack of judgment. You are not doing yourself any good when you hex someone. If you come before me again for hexing someone, I will take very strong measures, Mr. Snape. Do I make myself clear to you?"

"Yes, Headmaster."

"You will also serve a month's detention with Hagrid. Mr. Potter is not getting off free, Mr. Snape. He will serve a week's detention, and I am taking ten points from Gryffindor. This may seem unfair but you were the first to send a hex. I do not take the use of hexes lightly.

"Now, would you please go down and ask Hagrid to come up here? I would like you to wait for Hagrid to escort you back to your House. You will remain there today except for meals."

"Yes, Headmaster."

Watching the young wizard leave his office, Albus pondered. He is an unusually quiet child. Hagrid did mention the boy behaved like a beaten animal. I must remember to ask Minerva and the rest of the staff if they have noted the phenomenon, too. He will require watching.

"Yer wanted ter speak ter me, Headmaster?" Hagrid filled the room.

"Ah, yes Hagrid. I am afraid I must ask you if you'd...?"

"...wa'ch over the lad?" Hagrid finished Albus' question with a smile.

"Severus needs the sort of help only you can give him or I am very much afraid he will fall into the hands of the worst sort of wizards."

"I understand," Hagrid shifted from one foot to the other. "I have another young 'un tha' needs watchin' over. Tha' little rejected unicorn foal."

Albus smiled at Hagrid. "Thank you Hagrid. He may find that he needs that foal more than it needs him."

A short while later Hagrid reappeared at the bottom of the circular stairs. "All righ' Severus? Let's get you back ter Slytherin then." The young wizard looked up at the immensely tall man uneasily.

"Yer're ter do yer detention with me, then. Come down ter my hut tomorrow after classes an' I'll show yer what ter do. Headmaster said yer're ter be with me a month, Saturday's and Sunday's, too. It'll be hard work."

***

The next day after classes, Severus walked down to Hagrid's hut with his book bag over his shoulder uncertain exactly what the Keeper of the Keys and Grounds had in mind as detention. Hagrid was waiting for him with a bottle in his hands.

"Come on, we're goin' ter the stable." The large man's stride made the younger boy trot to keep up.

The barn was behind the paddock and had a big padlock on the door. Hagrid handed the bottle to Severus while he dug through his pockets looking for the key.

"Here it is. Yer go' ter keep it locked. Don't wan' just anyone coming'in here."

The lock was removed, and Hagrid pushed open the doors. "Come on," he said, walking into the dark barn.

Severus dutifully followed Hagrid. The large man had stopped, lifted something and fiddled with it until a dim light shone. Holding the lantern aloft, he opened the door to a stall.

"Come over here slowly. Try not ter make any loud noises. It's jus' a babe."

Severus carefully walked over and looked into the stall. His eyes grew large. "Is that a unicorn foal?"

"Yeah, its mum left it, so yer got ter care for it."

"Me? I don't know anything about foals, Hagrid. I-I'm not very good with animals, my owl bites me," Severus said embarrassed.

"You'll learn, I'll teach yeh how ter take care of it. See? It's hungry," Hagrid instructed. "Yer've got ter give it the bottle."

Severus placed the bottle down on the barn floor in front of the foal.

"You've go' ter hold the bottle for it." The young wizard held the bottle upright.

"No, not like that, like this." Hagrid corrected the angle of the bottle. The foal was skittish and wouldn't come to Severus.

"It isn't hungry, Hagrid."

"The foal don't know yer yet. Jus' stand still and be patien'. Yer just have ter be patient with animals, Severus."

The foal walked to Hagrid and nosed his hand. "No, Severus got the bottle. You've got to go to him."

"I don't think it likes me, it won't come over."

"I've got ter check on the chickens. You'll be all right."

"You're going?" Severus asked, his voice rising.

"I'll be righ' back."

What if the foal never comes to me? I'll really be in trouble with the Headmaster then. What do I do? He looked in panic around the stall.

"Do you want some hay instead? Where did your mother go? I bet Hagrid could find your mother for you," Severus rambled to the foal. Slowly, the foal came to within two feet of Severus.

"Here, you want some milk? Your haven't got a horn yet, do you? I guess they have to be when you're born." Severus looked uncertainly around the stall. Were you supposed to talk to a unicorn? The foal came up next to him and shook its head and snorted softly. The unicorn pushed at his arm with its muzzle.

"Do you want me to leave?" He began to back away out the stall. The foal followed him and pushed its nose into the crook of his arm where the bottle rested.

"Oh, you want some of this now?" The foal was stretching its neck to drink from the bottle. Its need to drink supplanted its fear of Severus.

"Yer're going ter have ter kneel, yer're too tall. Tha's righ'," a quiet voice behind Severus said. Milk dripped down Severus' arm, soaking his robe sleeve. The foal drank eagerly, pushing at the bottle, finishing it quickly. The foal folded its long legs and dropped to the straw covered floor.

"It'll sleep fer a couple of hours then yer've got ter feed it again, Severus. You can study in here while the foal sleeps. I'll bring you down another bottle in a few hours. Tomorrow, I'll teach you how ter clean the stall. When you get tired, lie down there." Hagrid pointed to the straw in the stall. "It likes ter have sommat near it at nigh'. I'll be in my hut if yer need me."

Severus looked sceptically at the stall and the foal.

The foal watched as Severus took out his books and began to read. It nickered at him and its eyes began to close and soon all Severus could hear was the soft breathing of the animal.

Several hours later, Hagrid entered the stable with a bottle for the foal. He saw Severus studying. "Here's the bottle for the baby. There's some straw over there yeh can put down for it. I'll be back in three hours with the next bottle."

Severus was still awkward at feeding the foal, but it finished the second bottle more rapidly than the first.

He went to get some fresh straw from the bales at the back of the stable. While Severus was gone, the foal whinnied shrilly until he returned. Yawning widely, Severus put the straw down in a large pile. The unicorn stood staring at him when he sat back down to study.

Three hours later Hagrid entered the barn and found the foal lying in the straw, resting. Severus was sleeping outside the stall with his head against the wall. The foal lifted its head as he entered and then rose on its spindly legs and teetered over to him. Hagrid rubbed the foal between its ears. "Yeh takin' good care of him, are yeh?"

The unicorn pushed at Hagrid's hand, begging for the bottle. Once the foal finished suckling it lay back down with its head facing towards the sleeping Severus. Hagrid took the blanket he'd carried in and covered the sleeping boy. As Hagrid shut the stall door, Severus roused slightly.

"Is it time to feed it again?" The boy's voice asked, heavy with sleep.

"No, I just fed the foal. Go back ter sleep," Hagrid answered softly.

The young wizard's head fell back against the wall. Hagrid watched the two young creatures sleep. Look at the two of them, curled up together.

Hagrid shut the stable doors and slowly walked back toward his hut when he spotted Professor Dumbledore.

"I just thought I would stop down to see how the young foal is, Hagrid."

"They're both sleeping. That foal will get him sleepin'with it by weeks end," he smiled at the Headmaster.

"That foal might just be the best thing for him, Hagrid."