The Boy Who Found a Home

Severus woke still feeling blurry and bewildered; he wasn't certain how long he'd been asleep. There was a vague sense of déjà vu and drinking a cup of rich cocoa.

He snuggled under the warmth of the duvet and rolled onto his side. The door had been left ajar, so he could see a crack of the room beyond it. There was a blur of movement. Shutting his eyes again, he drifted for another half hour under the warm covers.

Still in a doze, he heard movement within the room and sleepily cracked his eyes. Madam Pomfrey was opening the shutters.

"You need to wake and eat something, Severus. I want you out of bed, washed, and dressed in ten minutes. When you're ready, come to my office," she said pulling back the duvet. "Look sharp, up now!"

Frowning, Severus rolled over and pushed his head deeper in the pillow.

"Ten minutes, young man!" he heard her call as she left the room. He pulled the duvet back up over his shoulders.

"Alas, if remaining in bed could remedy all one's problems in life, I would never leave the comfort and sanctuary of my bed."

Severus heard footsteps crossing the room, and then felt a weight settle on the far side of the bed and a hand touch his shoulder.

"It would please me very much if you would join me for breakfast."

"I'm not hungry," he whispered.

"If I had the difficult last few days you've had, I probably wouldn't want to get out of bed either. However, Madam Pomfrey can be very insistent when she wants something. And alas, she desires that you get out of bed and eat some breakfast."

"I'm not hungry."

"So you have said. Still, it would please me very much, if you could get out of bed. Can you do that?"

Severus rolled over and looked up at the Headmaster, then nodded his head.

"I will leave you to wash and dress. Join us in the other room when you are ready."

Severus sighed. The weight lifted from the bed and he heard the door shut. Sitting up, he stretched. He pulled the pyjama top over his head and stumbled over to a basin. He washed his face in cold water and ran his toothbrush over his teeth. His robe had been cleaned and lay across the chair next to the bed. He pulled it over his head before he dropped the pyjama bottoms.

The young wizard nudged his boots out from under the edge of the bed with one bare foot. Tucked into each boot was a sock, well worn and stretched out from use. Such was Severus' distraction he did not observe that the hole that had been in the toe of one of his socks for a considerable time had been carefully darned by one of the house-elves. He pulled them on and shoved his feet into the boots, lacing them sloppily.

Slowly, he shuffled out into the main section of the infirmary where Professor Dumbledore and the witch stood waiting for him.

He heard the school matron's sigh of disapproval as she took in his thoroughly bedraggled appearance, but she was the sea of calm in the turbulent waters he was treading, and he clung to the serenity that surrounded her.

"Tonight you are to take a bath, young man, and you will wash your hair. Headmaster, are we eating in here or in your office?"

"I thought we'd eat breakfast al fresco this morning. It promises to be a lovely day. Hagrid and Mr. Filch have been kind enough to set up a table near the herb gardens. I understand Professor Pulmule has planted some rather interesting new varieties of herbs that you will be using in your Potions lessons in September."

Madam Pomfrey motioned him to follow the Headmaster out of the infirmary. He meekly trailed the two adults down the corridor, down several flights of steps to the main entrance corridor.

Mr. Filch grunted a cursory greeting to the Headmaster. He then turned and continued to direct the house-elves in the covering of the great chandelier with calico to protect it from the summer flies and other insects. He held extra sheets of calico in his arms to cover some of the other more fragile pieces of furniture.

During the long hours spent with Hagrid feeding the unicorn foal; the half-giant had told Severus about the infestation of Doxies and Boring Blinkers Hogwarts had suffered due to the unusually wet weather.

Hagrid had described how he and Mr. Filch had spent a great deal of time trying to locate something to eradicate the pests. They could not find a commercially manufactured product and because Professor Warwick had been away researching potions in New Guinea, they had attempted to create a potion on their own.

A highly embarrassed Hagrid told him about a conversation he'd accidentally overheard in the corridor outside the Charms classroom.

It seemed that when the instructors returned to prepare for the term, in mid-August, Professor Flitwick entered his classroom not knowing about the infestation and began to inventory his supplies.

Having suffered the loss of more than just a few cushions, due to over excited first-years; Flitwick opened the door to a tall cupboard with the intention of counting how many replacement pillows he needed. As the door swung out into the room a flurry of Boring Blinkers had swarmed the petite wizard.

If the young wizard recalled Hagrid's explanation correctly; Boring Blinkers live in a hive society not unlike bees.

Normally Boring Blinkers weren't dangerous. But Mr. Filch's and Hagrid's had concoction had adverse effects on the creatures and they had grown to a size previously unknown. The potion had also, somehow, altered their defensive nature into something considerably more volatile.

It seemed that once the unsuspecting professor opened the door, the Boring Blinkers saw it as a breach of their home and set to defend it. The natural reaction of the creatures is for one of the creatures to send an odoriferous sticky jet of fluid at the attacker in an attempt to drive it from their home. The wizard found himself surrounded by furious Boring Blinkers. They launched a unified attack and covered him in globs of a matter most often found in the bottom of a stagnant pond.

Being a man of intellect; the Charms professor ran from his classroom seeking fresh air. The Boring Blinkers pursued him. Pulling his wand, Flitwick sent the creatures back into the cupboard. His wand fell from his hand as he stumbled to a window for fresh air.

It was then that he saw Frederick Illingsworth leaning against the wall and watching him struggle to open the window.

"Would you assist me and un-do the latch?"

"A bit beyond your reach, Flitwick?" Frederick Illingsworth asked lazily.

Hagrid described how the Charms professor called his wand to his hand and pointed it at the latch. The frame lifted upward with a bit more force than necessary. The glass shattered as the frame struck the top of the window casement.

"You should get rid of the broken glass," Illingsworth commented idly.

"Would you be so kind as to assist me in removing the Boring Blinkers, Frederick?" Flitwick asked tersely and flicking his wand to remove the glass shards.

"It's your classroom."

"You are supposed to be the Dark Arts professor, Frederick," Filius Flitwick sharply reminded Illingsworth.

"And you are supposed to be a duelling champion! Really pathetic..."

Flitwick then illustrated just why he had been such a successful competitor.

A chuckling Hagrid had told Severus that Professor Flitwick had aimed some rather effective and highly embarrassing hexes at the Dark Arts professor. The young Slytherin then understood why his Head of House appeared to flinch whenever he saw the Charms professor.

This summer Mr. Filch was, again, attempting to prevent the invasion of the pests, but indications were that they would make a return. Filch had seen signs of wood dust in the Entrance Hall's panelled surfaces. He and the house-elves were placing bowls of steeped herbs around the immense hall, hoping to drive the creatures from Hogwarts.

The doors swung open to the morning sun as the small band approached them. Severus furiously blinked back tears as they left the dim interior for the bright outdoors. A light breeze moved lazily through the trees and played at hems of their robes, rippling them about their ankles.

As the Headmaster and the school's matron walked briskly down toward the greenhouses, Severus sluggishly trailed after them. The garden was shaded by towering yews. Holly shrubs lined the small garden of herbs, protecting it from the not-so-unusual gales of the northern areas of Britain.

Professor Pulmule had carefully designed the garden to maximize the potential output. The most sensitive plants had the greatest protection from the elements, while the heartier herbs surrounded them. That vegetation which tended to disastrously cross-pollinate was kept carefully separated from predatory pollens, both by distance and wind direction. The professor had managed to create an efficient and artistically planned space. He'd gone for function and beauty of design.

A cloth covered table with four chairs sat under the shade of the oldest and largest yew. Hagrid stood looking up at the edge of one of the greenhouses over the holly hedge and muttering about the nesting starlings. He just seemed to wish they were something more - exciting.

The Headmaster was wearing a pale green brocade robe, tied at the waist with a coral sash. The robes fabric was woven in a complicated Devil's Snare pattern, which twisted up from the hem in a complicated knotted design. Once at the table, he transfigured a brown holly leaf into a wide brimmed straw hat to protect himself from the sun.

Standing to the side, Severus had his hand up, shielding his eyes from the morning sun.

"Would you like to learn how to transfigure a leaf into a hat?" the Headmaster asked.

Shaking his head, Severus wrapped his arms about his torso and moved to sit on the ground under one of the holly shrubs, with its great sharp, poking leaves.

A popping sound heralded the arrival of a house-elf with their breakfast: toast, bacon, tomatoes, soft cooked eggs, porridge, strawberries, pumpkin juice, and tea. Albus, Poppy and Hagrid sat at the table and served themselves.

"Severus, come over and sit at the table," the Headmaster invited.

"I'm not hungry," Severus replied and laid his head on his knees.

Madam Pomfrey pushed back her chair and walked briskly over to him. "Severus Snape, you haven't eaten more than a sandwich in two days. You will get up this instant and march over to that table. I want no more nonsense from you! Now move!"

Severus, feeling like a beaten dog, went grudgingly to the table. Poppy pushed him into a chair. She spooned porridge into a bowl and placed it in front of the young wizard. "Eat!" she ordered.

He felt his lip tremble momentarily, but he took up the spoon and ate a small bite.

"Does it need sweetening?" the witch asked more kindly. He shook his head and continued to eat. Once the bowl was empty, he pushed the bowl away.

"It would please me if you would eat an egg," the Headmaster said and placed an egg cup in front of him. With a minimal wave of his wand, Professor Dumbledore cut the end off the egg. Severus picked up the small spoon and pushed it into the eggshell. The yolk and white portion were very runny. Grimacing as it ran over the shell, he took a small bite but all but choked on the viscous stuff.

"I-I don't like it," he said weakly.

Hagrid intervened and pushed his egg over to Severus. He'd already removed the top of the shell to reveal a more cooked egg. It did not have the revolting runniness the Headmaster's had. "I think I'd like sommat the berries an' cream with porridge, instead."

Picking at the egg for five minutes, he ate a small portion of it. The Headmaster poured a tumbler of juice and handed it across the table. Severus obediently drank most of it before placing the glass on the table.

He continued to poke his spoon into Hagrid's egg, doing his best to avoid eating it. Madam Pomfrey took a piece of hearty wheat toast and cut it into quarters. Reaching for Severus' spoon, she spread the egg yolk onto the toast. She held it out and he reluctantly accepted the bread and gnawed at a corner. The breeze blew dark bits of his hair into the yolk soaked toast. Professor Dumbledore reached out to move the strand aside.

Severus angrily slapped his hand away. Magic roiled and escaped with a shattering of crockery; he panicked feeling it rush out of him and pushed away from the table in his alarm. Hagrid reached out and caught his arm just as Severus felt the magic explode out of control. The half giant landed five feet away in the holly bushes.

"Child, Severus, child. You must calm yourself," he heard the old wizard murmuring as if from the end of a tunnel.

He felt himself begin to hyperventilate, unable to control his panicked emotional state.

"I know you are upset, Severus," Poppy inserted herself into the situation. "I would like you to listen to me; and breathe in deeply. No!" The witch's voice was calming.

"No, deeply. Don't look at Hagrid, he's fine. Just slow deep breaths. You are being very brave. That's a good boy. Breathe again -- slowly." Her voice was very serene.

"I am very sorry to have startled you, child," Professor Dumbledore apologised.

Severus wildly glanced at the Headmaster with alarmed eyes. Clear, gentle, blue eyes looked back at him in concern, mesmerizing and calming him. Having expended all his magical energy in the explosion, he crumpled to the ground in exhaustion. "I don't understand," he whispered.

"What don't you understand, Severus?" the old wizard asked in genuine concern.

"Why do things always happen to me? I miss... I wish the Muggles had left me in my mother's stomach, nobody would have missed me. Nobody here likes me. I try... I study hard. Everyone laughs at me. I don't understand."

"You're not a bad person; bad things happen even to good people, Severus," the Headmaster said delicately. He stood and walked over the child.

"You've just had several unhappy things happen to you in a brief period of time; how you react to them will make you either a weaker or stronger person, the choice is up to you. I don't think you are a weak person, Severus. You have a great deal of strength within - here." The Headmaster touched the young wizard's brow.

"You only need to see it within yourself. It is easy to give in to sorrow and anger, and allow yourself to wither and die in despair; yet like a flower in the morning sun you have it within yourself to bloom into something wonderful."

"How?"

"There are people all around you who will help you, if only you ask," Professor Dumbledore said reassuringly.

Severus' hand went to his mouth and he chewed at a cuticle. "I-I'm afraid..."

"I know you are frightened. I am not saying it will be easy, dear boy, but I believe you possess the strength to overcome all things."

Severus looked off toward the mountains beyond the school grounds. "I haven't anyone -- I am alone."

The Headmaster knelt, his robes folding beneath his knees as he dropped to Severus' level. "You will never be alone; I will always be here for you."

***

Some minutes later Madam Pomfrey escorted Severus into the building and up to the library. The witch was following the Headmaster's instructions, to find something to occupy the young wizard for several hours, while the available staff met to discuss the child's future.

His earlier outburst had made him malleable again and he had obediently followed the witch up several flights of stairs to the library. Poppy pushed open the doors to the large, empty, and silent room; Madam Pince was absent, as she was visiting a friend in Penzance for a month.

"Professor Dumbledore thought this might amuse you," she said holding up a rather battered copy of The Adventures of Martin. "Will you be all right on your own? I could ask Hagrid to join you, if you wanted company."

Severus didn't respond. He sat heavily onto one of the window seats and looked out the window. The highlands; where the dull green of the rising land met the blue of the sky at a hazy purplish horizon. He leant his forehead against the leaded window.

He heard Madam Pomfrey place the book beside him. "I'm off then; but I will return to take you to lunch." Severus kept his face turned to the window as the sound of heels clicked across the stone floor as the witch left the library.

The young Slytherin wizard did not hear the school matron stop to talk with the Bloody Baron just outside the library doors.

"My lord," the witch said and bowed courteously.

"Madam Pomfrey," the Bloody Baron gasped, returning her courtesy. "The Headmaster requested we keep watch over Mr. Snape while you all confer."

"It is a great relief to me to know someone is keeping watch over him," the witch said in some distraction.

"You needn't fear that Mr. Snape will take advantage of such a situation. It has been my experience that he tends to think through in his actions with great deliberation," he wheezed.

"Severus sometimes acts without thinking," Poppy reminded the spirit.

"As I have said, he tends to think through his actions," the Bloody Baron droned in reply before he floated through the wall into the library.

Drawing his legs up to sit cross legged on the window seat, Severus looked out through the small clear pane of glass, while his right index finger traced the lead holding the small bits of glass in place. Occasionally his routine varied and his index finger running over the pane.

He watched the sun move slowly across the hill, east to west, shortening the shadows as it reached its zenith. A beam of sun moved across the granite wall of the nearby Ravenclaw Tower; as it moved around the wall, the colour changed from a pale dove grey to an inky black.

The Bloody Baron drifted through the library to observe the young Slytherin still perched on the window seat. He glided lazily through the far wall and down to the corridor below. The Grey Lady silently wove her way past the Slytherin ghost along her own path up through the library.

Severus' leg fell asleep having been held in the same position for nearly two hours. He stretched it out and knocked the book to the floor. Looking down at the book that had fallen open on its back, an illustration caught his attention; it was of a wind-blown boy standing on a hill --- his hand to his eyes and his wand peeking out of his robe pocket --- and looking out over a wide, wild countryside.

With a wave of his wand, the book eased up off the floor and into Severus' waiting hands. He flipped the cover shut, but it caught on the edge of his robe. Opening the book to release his robe, he saw an inscription written in a looping old-fashioned scrawl:

5 July, 1841

Bussy: I hope you will enjoy reading about the adventures of Martin. Mummy

Severus rested the book against his knees. Who was Bussy and did his mother really love him? Or was she like his mother who hated and despised him?

He looked out through one of the amber panes; the world looked like a very different place when it had a warm golden cast on it. Moving slightly, he looked through a blue section of glass and saw that the world beyond the confines of the library looked to be a much colder place.

The sun had moved across the castles wall to the window where Severus was sitting. It pierced the glass and beat down on him. Warm. He felt warm, comfortable and safe here. A shudder ran through his body; he liked it at Hogwarts; he felt safe here; he couldn't bear it if he was forced to leave and never return.

A pop sounded, and the scent of tea permeated the area.

Bimney, the Headmaster's house-elf, put down the small tray he carried and bowed low to the floor.

"Master Severus, I bring you's tea to drink and to eat, shortbread," Bimney said in fair imitation of the Headmaster; in the manner of a house-elf having served someone for a long period of time.

"I'm not thirsty."

"Master Severus, Headmaster is wanting you to be drinking the tea I bring. He is very disappointed if you doesn't drink it."

With a shuddering sigh, Severus dropped his forehead to his knees. "I'm already a disappointment, what's one more thing?"

Bimney had heard that response from many children over the years but hearing a very different sort of desolation in the child's voice caused him to step backward, nearly causing him to trip on his large feet. One hand rose to tap his chin thoughtfully.

The Headmaster's house-elf saw and heard many things as he served the old wizard. He remembered five children often in the office this past term for misbehaviour, four Gryffindors and a lone Slytherin --- this boy.

Bimney knew the Headmaster liked the four Gryffindors; he found them amusing and bright, but also chaotic and undisciplined at times. He knew Professor Dumbledore had great hopes for them. The four boys were very vocal in their dislike of the Dark Arts and those who practiced them.

The Slytherin was bright but he did not amuse the Headmaster, he frustrated him. The boy was undisciplined in most things, especially in his dislike of the four Gryffindor boys - two of them specifically, and he would readily hex them, seemingly without provocation. Bimney heard the three Gryffindors claim the other boy had an inordinate talent and interest for the Dark Arts.

The students, almost to a person, paid little attention to the house-elves and would say and do things in front of them without any consideration of ever being observed or listened to.

However, the house-elves gossiped amongst themselves about the students, particularly about the frequent plotting between Sirius Black, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew to get the student from the other House in trouble. Their friend, the fourth boy, tended to remain in the background, not encouraging, but not discouraging them either.

Bimney, as the Headmaster's personal house-elf, heard his fellows talking and began to observe to the boys' interactions and came to a surprising conclusion. Rarely did the small dark haired boy appear to initiate the trouble, but he paid inordinately for striking back at them, while the three boys walked away with a humorous chastisement from the Headmaster.

"You's has the Headmaster's book. I see him looking at it when him figuring out his thoughts," Bimney stood beside Severus. "Does you like it?"

"I don't know."

"Only one way to finds out, open and reads," Bimney said firmly. He watched as the Slytherin flipped open the cover to the front illustration. The house-elf craned his neck to look at the page.

"Turns to the first word," he urged the boy, clapping his long-fingered hands in excitement. The sallow fingers turned the pages to the first chapter. "Read out louds!"

Two molten black eyes turned to the excited face but Bimney was hopping too much in excitement to notice.

"What it says?"

"Martin Prose stood at the gateway of a great adventure..." Severus began to read aloud to Bimney as the house-elf wedged himself beside the Slytherin on the window seat to listen.

"... Martin stood, boldly, between the dragon and the Muggle girl, Sally. His wand was pointed at the dragon..."

***

The Bloody Baron drifted through the library again and continued his travels.

"The end," Severus concluded softly, and closed the book.

"I likes that story," the house-elf said pulling his tea towel up on his shoulder. "You's like it?"

"It was all right," Severus replied softly, not meeting Bimney's large upturned eyes.

"You's reads Bimney another sometimes?" the house-elf asked hopefully. There was no answer, for the young wizard had turned back to stare out of the window and up at the purple smudgy mountains.

***

The discussion in the Headmaster's office, just after their late breakfast, was about the surprise return of a student. Attending the meeting were: Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Professor Pulmule, Poppy Pomfrey, Professor Sinistra, Professor Dubius and Rubeus Hagrid.

They'd all agreed to spend a portion of their summer holiday at Hogwarts once the Headmaster and Madam Pomfrey had explained the situation.

"What are we to do with Mr. Snape?" Albus asked. "Hydra Snape has refused to turn over the assets of Lenis' estate, or even a portion of them. I can arrange to pay for his tuition and extraneous expenses. But I hesitate to turn any child over to the Ministry," he continued ominously. The group nodded in agreement.

"Albus, the Ministry of Magic should hear about Hydra Snape's behaviour; it is a disgrace to the wizard community." The school matron spoke with an impassioned zeal.

Frowning, his Deputy Headmistress added, "Much as I hate to involve the Ministry, Severus needs to have a legal guardian appointed or he will be left in a legal limbo. It is unacceptable to expect the boy to remain on Hogwarts property for his entire remaining six years because he has no home."

"Headmaster, I know what it feels like ter loose yeh family like Severus done. The lad just needs ter have someone," Hagrid concurred.

Sorting through the pile of parchments on his desk, Professor Dumbledore removed a small stack of scrolls. With a flick of his fingers, one flew to each of the witches and wizards seated about the large desk. The portraits on the wall tried to lean from their frames to glance at the scrolls.

Sitting back in his chair Albus said, "As you see, I have begun to look into the child's family tree in an attempted to locate a relation who might be able to take him in."

The small circled group read the list.

"It's rather a short list, Albus," Professor Flitwick commented sadly. Pushing back his wizard's hat, he scratched his head thoughtfully.

"What about his mother's family?" Professor Warwick asked.

"She threw him out onto the street!" cried Professor Pulmule, the Head of Hufflepuff.

"I foresaw this happening," Bruce Dubius said airily. The Divinations professor half rose from his chair, waving his hands in a pseudo-mystical pattern.

"It might have helped if you'd shared your vision with the Headmaster earlier, Bruce. It might have spared the child some of this pain," Filius noted with an edge.

"I believe Horatio was referring to Severus' birth mother, Pulmule," Minerva said dryly.

"While it might be possible to give an orphaned wizard infant to a Muggle family; to give a child who well knows he is a wizard to people who do not believe in magic could be disastrous to the Muggles, the child, and our own kind," Albus pointed out.

Though he'd been invited, Severus' Head of House had declined to attend the meeting, stating he was too busy with his vacation to be bothered. The other Heads and professors noted his absence with irritation and disgust at his seeming lack of compassion for one of his own.

Sinistra, as the only other available Slytherin on staff, had been asked to join the discussion in the place of Illingsworth. "I agree, Headmaster. A wizard child, especially a Slytherin child, would feel stigmatized if he were given over to a Muggle family."

Phineas Nigellus, in his portrait, seconded Sinistra's words with a hearty, "Hear, hear!"

"This is completely irrelevant an issue," the Headmaster interrupted, "as the child's mother was old, even by Muggle standards when she became pregnant. She, like Lenis, was an only child. I do not want to see another Slytherin falling into a bad situation because of death or abandonment. We have to find someone on this list to fulfil the function of guardian."

"Most of the people on this list are quite elderly," the Potions professor said with a frown.

"Practically fossils," Flitwick agreed.

Minerva continued to peruse the list. "This says he is distantly related to the Prewett's. They might be willing to ask for guardianship."

"Would the Prewett's be willing to take on the expense of another child? They were never a wealthy family," Sinistra said while she studied the parchment as carefully as a star chart, tracing lines of the tree with her finger.

"Their last child, Molly, left Hogwarts three years ago," Minerva said defensively. "They are a solid, loving family and generous in their attentions to their children, even if they are not well off."

Grimacing, Sinistra shook her head. "Love does do a great deal. But do not overlook the fact the Prewett's have never had a member in Slytherin."

"What has that got to do with rearing a child?" Madam Pomfrey interjected. "As long as Severus has people about him who care..."

"It has a great deal to do with it, Poppy. Many Slytherins already feel singled out by the other Houses who equate Slytherin with the Dark Arts," Sinistra retorted testily. "Slytherin isn't exclusively Dark Arts, as you well know."

Albus raised his hand to silence the discussion and rang a small bell on his desk. "Tea for eight! We need to remain focussed on what is best for the child."

The Headmaster's house-elf popped into the office holding a silver teapot. Bimney snapped his fingers and teacups appeared before each person seated around the desk. Another house-elf popped into the office with a platter of tea sandwiches and a tray of tea cakes and biscuits. Snapping his long fingers again, serviettes landed on each and every lap.

"Is Severus still occupied reading in the library?" Albus turned to his house-elf.

Bowing deeply, the Bimney replied, "Him's still in the library, not reading, just sitting, and looking out the window."

"Since Madam Pince is away and won't know, I don't think it would hurt to take a cup of tea and a few biscuits to Severus in the library." Professor Dumbledore' house-elf bowed and vanished from the room.

The old wizard noted that Madam Pomfrey looked as if her patience was rapidly fraying and that she would readily hex anyone who might say something negative about the child. Her training as a school matron had covered many areas of childhood illnesses and mental conditions. The often prickly woman had, in no uncertain terms, expressed to him her concern that he was ignoring her urgent pleas to seek outside help.

Poppy explained that Severus was suffering mightily and was desperately in need of a guiding hand to help him through all the emotions he was wrestling with. While she could give him some of the mothering he needed, he still needed to have someone to father him through the next several years. He needed a fair and understanding hand to guide and discipline him.

"You cannot expect a child who has been through a traumatic event to just get on with it! He needs someone to give him order and focus in his life. I know you are tired of hearing me say this, Headmaster, but he needs someone to speak to who is not associated with any of us," an emotional Poppy said suddenly, breaking the silence.

"No."

Many eyebrows rose sceptically at Professor Dumbledore's blunt refusal to seek outside intervention. Albus sipped his tea while his other hand toyed with a glass globe on his desk.

"Headmaster, he needs to have an impartial ear to listen to him. He needs us to put him on a routine," the school matron continued to argue forcefully.

"Albus, I agree with Madam Pomfrey. Severus will not thrive without a routine. While formal lessons are out of the question, perhaps we could all arrange to spend time here over the summer, and have him assist us in cleaning our classrooms, and preparing for September," Filius Flitwick spoke out to bolster in support of the exasperated witch. "He has always been a willing student."

"Severus has been very helpful assisting me with my cataloguing of supplies. I can take him one morning a week, to help with correlating the medical records; if no one else has something for him to do, during the day, he may come to me," Poppy said realizing she could not sway Professor Dumbledore on outside assistance.

Minerva McGonagall let out a deep breath. "I know he sees me as the enemy, but I would be willing to have him work with me several afternoons a week. He could sort through my supplies and help me write up a list for September."

"Mr. Snape is very adept with potion brewing; I would appreciate having someone to help me with my inventorying of ingredients for next term. He could help me with filling Poppy's needs," the Potions professor mused thoughtfully.

Nodding agreeably, Professor Flitwick looked reflective. "Severus could research some Charms I haven't had time to look into; his essays are always well documented."

"I could have him helpin' wit' things aroun' the grounds. For all he raised the unicorn foal, he ain't much good wit' the animals, too nervous about hurtin' 'em. But, I like havin' him help, don't talk much, but when he does, he's full of interestin' facts," Hagrid said simply. He held his teacup delicately in the large fingers of his right hand while he gesticulated with his left one. Tea sloshed about the cup, threatening to splash over the rim and onto the oriental carpet.

"I will approach the Prewett's, and sound them out. If you are all agreeable, we should plan out a schedule for the boy. If you would, Minerva?" Professor Dumbledore asked, and then leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the polished wood of his desk.

The Deputy Headmistress pointed her wand to the quill and parchment scroll on the desk, and then called, "Dictatum!" The quill rose over the scroll.

"Does anyone else have specific days or times they could take the child?"

Professor Warwick scratched his chin thoughtfully. "If Severus is to assist me with brewing, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons would be the most efficient to the process."

"I'll take 'im Tuesday an' Thursday mornin's, more if I can," Hagrid said affably.

"I will take Severus Friday mornings," Professor McGonagall said, watching the quill write on the parchment.

"He should get outdoors everyday," Poppy added. "Could Severus help you in the gardens, Professor?" She looked to Pulmule who nodded in agreement. "Good, Pulmule will take Severus Wednesday afternoons. That leaves - Monday mornings and afternoons."

"I could have him help with my teacups, on Mondays," Dubius the Divinations professor enthused, clicking his long fingernails together excitedly.

Professors Warwick, Flitwick, and Pulmule grimaced.

"That might be too much excitement for the child. Minerva, would you entertain him for those afternoons?" the Headmaster interrupted quickly, delicately avoiding hurt feelings.

"Of course, Albus."

"That leaves Monday mornings with Poppy. I, myself, will find things to entertain the boy over the weekends."

"Albus, don't you dare have Severus organize your sock drawers," Minerva warned with a frown in her voice.