Little Lamb
The corner of Edmund Street was quaint, in a pleasant neighborhood with a library and a market both just within a few blocks. The white brick two story house of #13 was just as normal as that of #12 or #11; at least on the outside it was.
#13 was the home of Mara and Hadrian Mortifer.
Eleven year old Hadrian or Harry for Short, sat alone in the living room doing his assignments, labeling the anatomy of the human body. He had already finished the male form, but was currently stuck on the female form. The male one was easy, having recognized a lot of the parts that he himself had; but the female one was giving him some trouble, not having any reference other than his weekly readings.
‘Maybe a small break will help me, since I can’t use my book.’ Hadrian sighed as he stood, and moved to the sofa to observe the world through the sheer curtains.
‘There goes Mrs.Walker to pick up her weekly groceries.’ Hadrian observed, watching as the strawberry blonde thirty-some year old housewife passed by as she promptly did every week; it was one of the main things his mother had taught him.
‘Never be predictable, little lamb. Predictability gets you hurt.’
Hadrian smiled remembering his mother’s words; he loved his mother, he couldn’t imagine a life without her. She had saved him when he was just known as Freak, and had raised him up: teaching him how to be worth something more.
He could remember the day he first woke up to her as if it was yesterday, was one of his fondest memories in fact.
~~~~~Flash Back~~~~~
Green eyes cracked open, only to snap back closed with a groan. He hurt, whimpering as his nerve endings all started to scream out in pain.
“Ah, you’re awake little lamb. You must be sore, here let's sit you up.” a woman’s voice cooed. Faint footsteps approached him.
Once more eyes cracked open, with a blink the fuzzy image of a woman was now seated beside him. A warm hand slipped beneath his head and helped to sit him up, and not long after a spoon was soon pressed against his lips.
“Now drink up, but just as a warning it won’t taste pleasant. However, you need to drink it all for the pain will go away.”
The boy was so parched that he was so sure anything would help…
He was so very wrong.
The liquid in the spoon was thick and was the foulest thing he had ever tasted like rotten fruit boiled with sugar. His little body gagged at the foul taste and was about to spit it out.
“Dont.” The woman scolded, pushing the spoon fully into his mouth. “Be a good boy and drink, it will make you feel better. Drink it all and afterwards you can have some juice.”
‘Good boy’ the words echoed in his mind, words he had only heard his aunt and uncle say those words when speaking about Dudley, no one had ever said anything of the sort to him. Freak or Boy was the only thing he was ever called. In Fact this was the first time he had ever been talked to, not yelled at; even her scolding was kinder than he had ever heard.
So focused on his thoughts, he didn’t taste the rest of the foul medicine, or the juice that chased away the lingering horrid remnants. A tiny hiccup escaped as tears began to stream down gaunt cheeks.
“Shh little lamb it’s done. Such a good little one.” the woman cooed gently. Her soft warm hands came up to cup his cheeks, and the pads of her thumbs brushing away his tears.
Once his tears had slowed to sporadic sniffles, she inquired, “What’s your name, little lamb?”
“Freak or boy.” he sniffled.
“Tisk, no that won’t do; won’t do at all.” the woman scowled, “Not for such a special little lamb.”
“B-but I’m n-not..”
“Shh, perhaps not now little one, but you will be. Now is there anything you would like to be called?”
The flash of green, and an echoing feminine scream of “Harry!” flashed across his mind.
“Harry?”
“Harry...Yes, that might do....Ah I have just the name, Hadrian Tueur Mortifer.” The woman insisted. “A new name for a new life. I am Mara, but you may call me mother.”
Hadrian was eased back into the soft bed, and as she tucked the warm blankets around him his eyes began to droop. The woman sat back down beside the bed and began to stroke his hair.
Mother, he had a mother now.
“Sleep well my little lamb. Let mother take care of you.” she crooned before she began to hum. Soon Harry was fast asleep, a smile plastered on his face.
~~~~~~End of Flashback~~~~~~~
Hadrian was brought out of his thoughts at the sound of a brisk rapt on the door. The knock sounded as if it was from someone strict. A quick peak proved his suspicions correct. There standing on the stoop was a man, dressed in pitch black slacks and a white button up shirt with a tight collared neck.
‘Reminds me of Mum’s Undertaker friend.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Severus Snape was not a happy man. He detested muggleborn introductions; it was by far his most tedious and complicated affair.
‘Thank Melin, Hadrian Mortifer is my last one for the year. Honestly Minervia or Pomona are more qualified for pandering to muggles, muggle-born children and their endless questions.’
Raising a pale hand he sharply rapt on the door of the boring unassuming suburban home. Honestly, the whole neighborhood was all lackluster, people just passing by not one paying him any mind.
He turned back just as the door cracked open and a young elegant voice spoke, “Yes?”
Avada Kedavra green eyes stared back, the image of Lily came to mind and caused his heart to clench. Snape shook his head to focus on the child.
The boy was thin, lacking most of the baby fat that most eleven year olds had yet to lose, with thick pitch black hair that created a halo of curls about his face and killing curse green eyes that seemed to stare into his very soul.
Upon closer inspection the boy had a ring of silver around the pupil and around the outer ring of the iris.
“Hadrian Mortifer?” Severus inquired.
“...Who’s asking?” the child narrowed bright green eyes and shut the door a fraction; so the door could be closed quickly.
‘Clever child.’ Severus thought. “My name’s Severus Snape and I’m here on behalf of Hogwarts School.”
“I’m not enrolled in any school. My mother homeschools me, so nice try. Have a nice day.” Hadrian scoffed and promptly shut the door.
A dark brow twitched in annoyance; the impudent child just slammed the door in his face. Just as he was about to knock again, a woman spoke up from behind him.
“Can I help you?”
Severus whirled around, heart thumping loudly in his ears. This petite redhead had managed to do what no one, not even the death eaters ever had...crept up behind and startled him.
The redhead was short, standing, a good head shorter than him, around 5 foot tall give or take a few inches. He almost mistook her as a nosy teenager, what with her lean slim build.
She was dressed in a deep ruby red sundress and dainty feet in a pair of peep toed black wedges. However those sharp, cold, hooded silver eyes spoke of worldly experience only those who grew up in a cruel atmosphere could possess.
Those eyes had seen the world’s cruelty in its many shapes and forms; but instead of wilting, learned to survive and flourish. This woman was a razor's edge, innocent and pretty at first glance, but dangerous if handled wrong.
“My, you sure are jumpy...now what do you want with my son?” The woman demanded, crossing her arms as she stared him down; a mighty feat considering she was a good head shorter than him. Her unwavering gaze unnerved him, she had nearly the same aura of danger as the Dark Lord.
“Madam Mortifer?” Severus questioned, choosing to treat this woman with respect, he has been called many things, but a fool was not among them. “I’m Severus Snape, a Professor at Hogwarts. May I come in and speak to both you and your son?”
“Mara then Professor. I suppose you can come in, but I am fairly certain there is not much your school can teach my son that I can not.”
Severus took a step back to allow the woman to walk past, walking in behind her, as she motioned him in.
“Mum?”
Both adults looked up to see Hadrian staring at Severus with narrowed eyes, and body tense. The boy looked as if he wished Severus would either disappear or spontaneously combust.
“We’ll hear him out, my darling. Now show him to the living room then come help me fix tea.” Mara spoke, brokering no argument, as she strode past Hadrian and further down the hall without nary a backwards glance.
“Yes mother.” Hadrian nodded and silently motioned for Severus to follow him.
Severus followed the boy to the sitting room, observing the house as they walked.
The house was clean, orderly and completely sparse. There were no family photos or overly personal items to be found. If he were to compare a photo of the house to one in a furnishing magazine they would be nearly identical. The only disorder to be found were papers scattered about on the top of the coffee table in the living room.
“Have a seat, Mother and I will be with you shortly.” Hadrian gave a curt nod before spinning on his heel and striding out of the room.
Severus sat down on the loveseat and reflected on the Mortifer family. The two were strange, but far more in his zone of comfort.
Neither one is overly talkative, overly friendly or trusting. In fact the pair reminded him of the Malfoys quite a bit, but he’d cut out his own tongue before he spoke a word about it to Lucius, lest he give his friend a heart attack.
His attention turned to the papers on the coffee table, curious. It was anatomical study sheets. Interest peaked, he looked at the handwriting; the penmanship was neat, a bit of a curved slant, and overall elegant.
“Now what can we do for you Professor Snape?” the redhead inquired striding in with a teatray, Hadrian following behind her with a plate of sandwiches. The papers were soon put aside and the two Mortifers sat down across from him on the sofa.
“I’m here as a representative of Hogwarts School. You may not have heard of it as it is a private boarding school that teaches magic.” Severus spoke, pulling out his wand and levitating the teapot to fill all three cups.
Much to his shock there were no gasps, no exclamations of surprise. Instead Snape was treated to Hadrian’s bright eyes widening and watching in silent awe, and Mara just watched face blank and a single slim arched brow.
As odd as their reactions were, it unnerved him how calm the two were. Had they seen magic before?
“Hum, your school might be able to teach my son something I can’t after all.”
‘That was it? Seriously?’ Severus was dumbstruck.
“Speaking of which,” the woman turned to her son, “Have you finished your assignments?”
The boy pouted and handed the stack of papers that had been on the coffee table to her. “Sort of…”
Severus’ eyes widened, the immaculate penmanship was the boy’s?!
“Still having trouble with the female I see. Go grab your book, you know the drill.”
“Yes mother.” Hadrian sighed and stalked out of the room with a pout.
“Apologies, but my son’s education comes above all else.”
“Quite alright. May I inquire as to why an eleven year old boy is studying attomay?” Severus
“Not at all. It helps him to understand his other lessons. Self Defense, and body language only go so far without physical understanding of the human body.”
Severus blinked, those were not the typical lessons one teaches a child.
“Not normal lessons I know, but I want my son to be able to take care of himself if I am unavailable. The world is a cruel place and I refuse for him to be ill prepared for it. My son is also ahead in his academic studies, and needed something to occupy his sharp mind.”
Severus was silent as he processed the information, choosing to silently sip his tea. It wasn’t long after that Hadrian came back, a large heavy tome in his arms.
“Now, what exactly does my son attending Hogwarts entail sir?” Mara inquired calmly, as Hadrian sat upon the floor at the coffee table to work on his anatomy sheets.
Severus cleared his throat, avidly watching as the woman calmly fixed her tea and took a dainty sip. It perturbed him how calm the muggle woman was.
“As I stated before it is a boarding school, located in the Scottish countryside. The school is divided up into four separate houses. Each student gets sorted by their personality and attributes. Slytherin for cunning and ambition, Ravenclaw for wisdom and knowledge, Hufflepuff for loyalty and hard work, and Lastly Gryffindor for bravery and courage. Each house is overseen by a professor, I am the head of Slytherin House.”
Severus tried to keep the scorn from his voice as he spoke of Gryffindor, but Mara and Hadrian must have heard a slight inflection in his tone as both arched a brow.
“I see. Bravery and courage...also reckless and foolhardy as well, yes?” Mara inquired, sitting her teacup down silently.
‘Damn’ Severus cleared his throat. “I try not to think ill of students, but you are correct madam. That house tends to spawn brats that are foolhardy, reckless dunderheads and quite a few are bullies.”
“And the other houses?” Hadrian piped up, tone curious.
“Hufflepuffs are the nicer lot, always friendly, and...meeker. Ravenclaws are intellectuals, nose stuck in a book more often than not. Slytherins are...aloof, cunning, and ambitious individuals that value knowledge and power equally. Majority of Slytherin come from old families, purebloods if you will, very few half-bloods or muggle-borns have ever been in slytherin.”
“Let me guess the magical side values old blood and money?” Mara hummed.
“Unfortunately yes.” Severus agreed.
“Then I am sure my son will be under your care sir. We value power and knowledge in this house; even if we are scorned for it.” Mara smirked darkly.
Severus withheld a shiver of dread at that smirk. It was cutting and cold like a blast of arctic wind and her silver eyes resembled one of his razor sharp silver potion knives shining in the moonlight.
“Yes well I have here a few pamphlets for you and your son to read through. The basics of the magical world and all about Hogwarts and what that entails. Then I can perhaps later this week, whenever is convenient, escort you both to Diagon Alley to shop for your school supplies.”
“Of course, thank you for your time. Just allow us the night to review these. I am done with work currently, in fact you came at a perfect time, another week and we would have moved.”
"Do you move often?" Severus questioned before he could stop himself. "Apologies, that was out of line."
"Perfectly fine, we do move often. We go where I get work. I'm a...hired hand of sorts."
"It has been a pleasure to speak with you both, but I must take my leave." Severus inclined his head as he stood, and motioned for the two to remain seated. "I can see myself out, thank you for your time, would two days from now say 9 am sharp be good to meet for Hadrian's school shopping?"
"Certainly."
"Then I shall see you both then. I shall owl you the location of a cafe near the entrance of Diagon alley."