Hogwarts
Avi looked around the room at all the gathered professors. The meeting room had a large red oak table with an ornate crest carved in the center. As he followed his father through the room to some open chairs, he noticed that every leg of the table was carved to look like a part of an animal. One was a large lion paw, another was a talon, and the third was a dark-clawed paw with black fur and five toes with wicked claws. The last, the one they were seated by, was the head of a snake. Avi stroked the intricate scale patterns and looked down at the open mouth stretched wide to reveal wickedly sharp fangs posed to strike.
Severus tapped his elbow under the table, drawing his attention to the people gathered around it. The lady on the other side of his father had kind yet piercing eyes. She was dressed head to toe in a green so dark it could easily be mistaken for black in different lighting. Her skin was a beautiful shade of ebony, and her dark curls were slicked back in a tight bun at the nape of her neck, a few neat strands left to frame her warm dark eyes. Avi nodded at the pretty lady politely, not exactly sure how to greet adults in a formal setting. The Dursleys had never taken him anywhere if they could help it, and Severus had been forced to keep him mostly at home up until now.
The woman’s lips twitched in a subtle smile as she nodded back. “I’m Aurora Sinistra. Pleasure to meet you, young man. Your father had been positively secretive about your presence these past few days.”
A stern-looking woman across the table huffed, “As if a secretive Slytherin is anything new.”
Sinistra stiffened and gave the older woman a withering look. “Minerva, this is hardly the time for house rivalries.”
The heavy doors opened to reveal an old man with a gentle smile. “Now. Now, Professor Sinistra. I’m sure Minerva didn’t mean to ruffle any feathers,” he chuckled to himself, “Or rather ruffle any scales.”
Avi watched the man as he settled himself at the head of the table, being careful not to meet his gaze. Severus had already explained to him how truly powerful Dumbledore was, both magically and politically. The man was known for his nearly single-handed defeat of the Dark Lord Grindelwald. He was world-renowned in transfiguration and charms. One of only three living people in England capable of casting the Fidelius Charm and the only one in the country powerful enough to enact a familial contract on a Phoenix. Not only that but the man held nine of the twenty-eight seats on the Wizengamot, more than any other member. This was partially from his political ties and his position as Headmaster of Hogwarts, but most of the seats had been bequeathed to him through the wills of his fallen Order members. As the wixen with the most influential vote, he was named Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot after the recent wizarding war. Then he had used his new title and the fear of the public against “dark creatures” to instate himself as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. A position never before held by someone who was not labeled a creature, as the International Confederation was meant to advocate for all magical beings.
No man that powerful could possibly look so unassuming and benign without it being a facade. His magical signature alone should have been giving off excess energy, but he was continuously suppressing it to appear like a doddering old man. No one who lied that much with their body language could be trusted. The dichotomy of the grandfatherly visage and the powerful sorcerer behind the mask set Avyaan’s teeth on edge.
Dumbledore smiled down at Avi like an indulgent grandfather. “Now we have all gathered here today to welcome a new addition to the Hogwarts family, Avyaan Taran Snape!” Avi did not particularly like the way he spoke as if Avi was a new mascot for the school. “I know what many of you are thinking,” the Headmaster said, already smiling at his own joke. “But I can assure you that Severus will be a wonderful father. He may not have had the best role model-” Avi felt more than saw Severus’ flinch at the reminder and had to bite his tongue until he tasted blood to keep from glaring at the old man. “-but that just means that we as a family will have to support him in any way we can.”
The Headmaster clapped his hands together and the table filled with an assortment of foods and soft music began to fill the room from an unknown location. Soon the professors were up and milling about in a stereotypical staff party sort of way, that lacked much of the enthusiasm of a regular party among friends. Severus took him to an out-of-the-way corner where they were joined by Professor Sinistra. The others hardly noticed their absence.
Aurora lifted her glass in Avi’s direction, “Welcome to the Slytherin introvert corner. It’s nice to finally have another member other than my former Professor.”
Avi looked up at his father in interest. Severus sighed dramatically, “Must you say that in such a way that makes me sound like I’m 72, instead of my actual 27 years of age?” Honestly, that still sounded old to Avi, who was only 7, but he would never dare say that out loud.
Severus looked at Avyaan like he knew exactly what he had been thinking and glared. “Aurora was only three years my junior when I graduated and I taught her in her seventh year as my first year as a Professor at Hogwarts.”
Aurora snickered into her glass. “He was so serious about it, too! If even one of us dared to address him as Snape without his ‘proper title,’ it was an automatic detention.” She shivered dramatically, “You don’t even want to know what he did when I accidentally called him Severus in the halls…”
Avi couldn’t help the giggle that burst from his chest at that moment, shaking his shoulders with mirth and causing several people nearby to stop and stare. A big hairy man looked at him in shock and muttered, “re we sure they're related? I don’t think I have e’er seen Snape laugh in my life.”
Avi took a step back as if struck and Severus glared at the man in question. A kindly looking old woman nearby stamped on the big man’s foot with her cane. “Rubius! Watch your tone!’
The big man ducked his head like a chastened child and mumbled, “Yes, ‘m…”
Another woman with big bug-like glasses began to screech from across the room, “The laughter of a child of darkness spells disaster for us all!!! Doom! Doom, on all our heads!!!”
Avi stared at her in shock, unsure what he had done wrong.
“Don’t let her antics bother you youngling,” said a gravelly voice by Avi’s elbow, making him jump. “She is dramatic as always, but she is harmless really.”
The man looked much like the goblins he had met at Gringotts, but he had a thatch of curly brown hair and a large mustache. None of the other goblins he had met had any hair, not even the women. “I’m Filius Flitwick. Pleased to meet you.”
Avi tilted his head in a slight bow with his fists together in front of his sternum like he had been taught by the goblins. “The pleasure is mine, Professor Flitwick. May your gold ever overflow.”
Flitwick’s eyes widened in surprise and he smiled revealing wickedly sharp teeth. “And may your enemies fall under your own claws,” he answered in kind. “What a polite young man. Wixen children are not permitted to learn more than a few household charms until they turn 11, but goblin kind has no such rules. If you ever want to learn a few tricks, stop by my office at any time.”
Severus nodded and placed a hand on Avi’s shoulder. “That would be appreciated, Filius. Avyaan is a voracious reader and has already started an extensive self-study, but he could always use something else to occupy his mind to keep him out of trouble.”
A man leaning against the opposite wall barked with harsh laughter. “As if a snakeling running around underfoot could be anything but trouble!” He pushed off the wall and stalked closer, his hand running through his long bangs. He had cold-looking brown eyes with bright auburn hair pulled back in a wavy ponytail. He wore a black fedora with different monster fangs embedded in the red leather trim that circled the entire hat. He stopped right in front of Avyaan and glared like a hunting dog cornering prey. “This runt may not look like much, but baby snakes are often more poisonous than their adult counterparts.”
“Venomous,” Severus corrected casually. “Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. But I would be happy to introduce you to some of the potion ingredients in my stores for a comparison, Markhart.” His father leaned back casually against the wall in a way that hid how his hand was now gripping his wand, waiting to strike if the idiot dared make a move against his child.
Filus stepped forward, “Ahron, I hardly think picking a fight with an old classmate on your first day is the way to start off professional relationships.”
The man sniffed and crossed his arms, much like a toddler in Avi’s opinion. “It is when you’re a former Hit Wizard and the new Defense Professor, and the man in question is a former Death Eater.”
Avi blinked at the unfamiliar term but knew better than to ask in this situation. A plump woman with graying hair and kind green eyes came up to step between Avi and the man. She bent down and patted Avi’s cheek in a grandmotherly gesture, “Don’t let this big idiot bother you, child. I think all the Auror Academy training built up his muscles, but atrophied his brain. I know Minerva raised him with better manners than this.”
She flipped around so fast that Avi’s head spun. Her voice completely changed as she poked her finger into Markhart’s chest. “Now see here, young man! That precious boy has done nothing to you, and if I catch you harassing him again, I’ll use my trowel to turn you into fertilizer for my fanged geraniums!”
Avi swallowed. Never mind. That woman was terrifying. Flitwick chuckled when he saw Avi’s face. “Pomona embodies her house emblem well. Unassuming and docile at first glance, but mess with anyone under her care and you’ll leave bloody. Best remember that once her little badgers are back in school.”
Avi nodded emphatically. Not that he planned on picking fights with any of the older kids once they arrived.
The rest of the welcome party was relatively uneventful. However, Avi could feel the Headmaster’s eyes following everywhere and Severus stuck to his side like glue.
***
A few days later, Avi sat fidgeting next to his father at the head table for the welcome feast. He could feel the eyes of all the students watching him curiously and he struggled not to shrink into his chair. If he thought he could get away with it, he would probably have hid under the table. He hated all the attention. Uncle Vernon would have blown a gasket if Harry had drawn this much attention in public in his old life. He sighed. Would he ever be able to get past all the rules the Dursleys had beat into his head?
He stared at his hands in his lap as the new students were sorted, but as the Headmaster began his speech about the rules his father placed a calming hand on his shoulder. Dumbledore paused dramatically before continuing, as if trying to impart the importance of the rules, but his jovial expression made it come off as condescending instead. Honestly, Avi was so nervous he didn’t even remember a single one of the rules mentioned.
Dumbledore smiled and made a sweeping gesture to the staff behind him before continuing. “Now I have only one more announcement before you can all fill your bellies. We have two new faces at our table as you have no doubt noticed already. The first is Professor Markhart, a former Hit Wizard, who has agreed to take over the Defence Against the Dark Arts position that was vacated by Professor Rakepick unexpectedly last year.” The man in question stood and tipped his hat to the crowd. Then the Headmaster gestured to Avi, who immediately ducked and tried to look unassuming. “Then I have the pleasure of introducing you to the son of our own esteemed potions master, Professor Snape.” There were shocked gasps around the hall as the students gaped at him like zoo animals. The headmaster smiled fondly at the gossiping students but made no attempt to bring them to order. “Yes, it is true that Professor Snape did not know of his son until recently, but the two were happily reunited this summer. Let us offer them congratulations and a warm welcome.”
Avi glared at the back of the old man’s head. How dare he share such personal information without Severus’ permission! It wasn’t like Avi wanted to be a secret, but there was no reason to air the man’s alleged indiscretion and brand Avi as an illegitimate child to the entire school! Avi felt the uncomfortable squirm of guilt in his stomach as he realized that Severus would not need to put up with this undeserved slight to his reputation if he hadn't decided to take Avi in. Only a few of the students even pretended to clap politely, most of which were dressed in green. The rest just muttered amongst themselves glancing between Avi and his father accusingly.
Avi didn’t meet anyone's eyes as the meal commenced and hardly ate a thing during the entire feast. Severus watched him worriedly out of the corner of his eye but did not try to comfort him in such a public place. He did, however, discreetly pass Avi his nutrient potion under the table. He swallowed the thick pink liquid as fast as he could, hoping no one would notice, but of course, Professor Markhart did.
The red-headed man was sitting two seats down from Avi, on the other side of Professor Flitwick. He glared at the small boy and smirked like he had learned a scandalous tidbit of information. “What kind of potion was that little snakeling?” he mocked. “Is your daddy embarrassed by your puny stature and forcing you to drink fowl concoctions to make you look less like the runt of the-”
Professor Flitwick slapped his palm on the table and interrupted the man with a growl. In a deadly calm voice, the half-goblin asked, “Do you have a problem with short people, Markhart? Because I would be happy to teach you otherwise in a duel.” When the man didn’t immediately answer, he continued, leaning threateningly into his space. “Or are you just so insecure in your own self-worth that you feel the need to mock a defenseless child to feel better about yourself?”
Ahron Markhart glared at Avi over the half-goblin’s head before pushing himself violently out of his chair and stalking out of the room. Avyaan sighed in relief as the man stomped out of the side door, and turned back to the smaller professor. “Thank you for that,” he whispered.
Flitwick waved off his gratitude, “Think nothing of it. Ahron was always a bully, even when he was in school. I hardly think the taste of power he got as a Hit Wizard helped matters. It’s about time he learned to treat others respectfully, instead of like objects he can push around to get his way.”
Avi nodded. “My cousin was like that,” he admitted. “He was always chasing me around with his friends so they could hurt me. Called it Ha- Avi Hunting,” Avi flinched. The memories were so vivid in his mind he almost slipped up and used his old name.
He need not of worried, Filius looked horrified as he gasped, “Children hunting children. What is this world coming to!”
Avi shrugged, “It wasn’t so bad, just some broken bones. After the first few times, I learned to run faster. They hardly ever caught me once I turned four.”
The professor looked sick, “And where were your Aunt and Uncle?”
“They were usually watching from the window,” he shrugged again not meeting his eyes. “They never wanted me around anyway so what did it matter if I got a little hurt?” Vernon’s punishments for the neighbors seeing the fuss and “making Dudley look bad” were always far worse than anything a group of six-year-olds could possibly do. He learned pretty quickly to run into the woods or deserted allies so that the neighbors wouldn’t see him being chased.
Avi was so lost in thought he didn’t notice Filius looking over his head at Severus. “I took care of it,” said the potion master, with an air of finality.
“Good,” the half-goblin growled.