Welcome back! I am considering a name change for this story, something along the lines of Severus Snape and Three Wizard Tots. Thoughts?

Three Wizard Tots and a Potions Master

Chapter Three

Childhood Trauma

In shock, Snape gripped the paper, quickly skimming the article as the photograph memory of little Sirius trembled before the crowds.

"Last night while close friend to the family, Remus Lupin was looking after the boy-who-lived, Harry Potter. Sirius Black, escaped Azkaban prisoner, attacked them both. It is determined that he was working on you-know-who's orders at the time, not realising that the unknown spell he cast resulted in a reduction of age in all three."

Snape's eyes were dry from not blinking as he read the entirety of the article.

"Headmaster Dumbledore discovered them …. Is asking leniency toward Sirius Black due to the child being well before the age he was when he joined the dark lord … interest in the ability to reverse time is piqued at the Ministry … Harry Potter who was to be tried for underage magic use has had all charges dropped due to 'Being an Infant' … The Headmaster has taken all three into his care to work on reversing the effects …. He quotes:

'I am not certain why (you-know-who) has chosen to reduce the age of Harry Potter, but it likely is in regard to creation of vulnerability. As Harry and I have been telling the public for months, he is definitely back and with our hero at a weakened state we cannot allow our Ministry to also be. I am calling for the dismissal of Minister Fudge….'"

The article was lengthy, and what caught Snape's attention was the bolded quote from Sirius Black on asking why he killed so many people, "I didn't! I wanna go home, I'm scared! Please Please!"

Tossing the paper on the ground, Snape felt a migraine beginning. Dumbledore was a malevolent force but this was really reaching levels of cruelty he hadn't thought the old man capable off.

Unable to focus on research, he paced the room for half an hour before a knock heralded the return of his charges. Wrenching the door open, a blur ran past him and into the nursery.

"Sirius-" Snape called out after the small boy, not even realising his use of the child's first name.

"He's sad." Remus noted, untying his laces as he peered up at Snape with large golden eyes. "People were shouting at him today. Their faces were all twisted like this!" He scrunched his face into a fitting impression of McGonagall at her angriest before running off to play with the toybox.

"Yes." Snape drawled, turning dark eyes onto the headmaster, "Yes, I read."

Unaffected, Dumbledore placed Harry on the ground. The toddler lurched forward and attached himself to Snape's leg, quiet as usual. "We made a big leap for our cause." He began.

Snape rounded on him, "At what cost, Dumbledore? Throwing him to the dogs? With the state of wizarding England, that crowd could have lynched him! I'm surprised they didn't send the dementors after him!"

"My, I hadn't expected you to be so affected, Severus." Dumbledore continued serenely, "Have you come to care for Sirius so quickly?"

"What?" Snape spat, seeing red, "I could care less if you sent that mangy dog to be kissed, I WANTED that, didn't I? But, that is not him, is it? That's just a little child –"

"Something I didn't think you realised with what Remus told me." Blue eyes watched him coolly, and Snape felt himself flush. "I wouldn't have let them hurt him, of course. I knew what I was doing."

"But you will happily contribute to letting them view that boy as a Death Eater?" Snape fumed. "Do you care so little for anything but your personal agenda? If you're so fast to turn your back on one of your golden boys, I would hate to think what you would do to me if the situation required it!"

"That's enough." Dumbledore reprimanded, "We are in a difficult position. The Ministry has appointed the DADD professor this year – and I want to curb their influence as much as possible within the school. Sirius' reputation has been in tatters for years! When and if we can clear him, we shall - but right now we could use his appearance and this event as a clear sign of Voldemort's return. Sirius would be the first to volunteer for this had he the full use of his adult capabilities!"

Still angry, Snape lifted the mildly fussing Harry into his arms, the smell of powder and baby filling his senses and calming him just slightly.

"Uncle Snape!" Remus called loudly, falling onto the couch. "Can I have a bath, I feel tired."

Dumbledore turned to go, "Take care of the boys, Severus. I have much work to do to prepare the case for Sirius. I will speak with you in the morning." As he approached the doorway, his shoulder slumped. "Sometimes, Severus, in order to defeat a villain, one must be one as well."

Snape was suddenly struck with a realization of how frail the headmaster seemed in the moment before the portrait hole closed and he was left speechless.

Snape ran a bath for both Harry and Remus, deciding that at their ages it would be fine to share. He tossed in a few squeaky toys that looked more akin to something a dog would like and placed the two wriggling boys in the warm water. Harry immediately began making little splashes in the water, grinning at Snape.

"Remus, I want to check on Sirius, will you look after Harry?" Snape asked, "You musn't let him stand in the tub, alright? I will be back in just a few minutes."

"Okay but no peas tomorrow for lunch?"

Taken back at the shrewd bargaining tool, Snape found himself actually smiling. "If you're good all day tomorrow as well then yes, we will forgo the peas."

Remus nodded, deal made, and filled one of the cup like toys with water before pouring it on himself.

Leaving the bathroom door wide open, he stepped next door into the nursery. Inside, Sirius lay face down on the bottom bunk, shaking from what seemed like a very significant crying fit.

Sirius' coiffed black hair in complete disarray and his face buried in his pillow, Snape felt a strange pull in his chest. He had cried like this so many times in his own childhood, the pain was still an easy memory to trigger.

"Sirius?" He began lowly, sitting beside the trembling boy. "Are you alright?"

The three year old turned his face slightly to the side, tear tracks clearly visible on his soft reddened cheeks. "Was I bad?" He asked quietly.

"What?" Taken back, Snape gaped.

"Is that why you sent me there? With all the lights? And those people? I promise I won't be bad again-" He cried softly into his pillow, big gulping sobs that did nothing but make Snape feel like a terrible person. He used to laugh about collecting the tears of the students, but here, from such an innocent child, the tears were torture to see.

"I never sent you there." He defended, placing an awkward hand on the boy's back to provide a soothing pat. "I didn't know Dumbledore was going to take you there."

"E'vryone was screaming at me." Sirius sobbed, "shouting things at me and taking p'ctures. I just wanted to come ba-aaackkkkk-"

"Shhh. They…." Snape was at a loss of words, "They were bad people, yes. Do not cry, Sirius, I won't let them hurt you. You are back now."

"They all stared at me….they were so mean….I hate them!" He exclaimed into his pillow.

"It is hard for you to understand now, Sirius, but there was a reason that Dumbledore took you there. It was not because you were bad. You were… you were not bad."

"….I was bad this morning…." He said quietly. "You smacked me."

Snape felt himself flush, the familiar guilt pounding into him, "I …. You were just slightly naughty. I was a bit too hard on you this morning, I am sorry. Regardless, no matter how bad you are I will not send you to those people."

His tears had stopped and Sirius turned slowly, clambering up on the bed to look at Snape. "What about to home?"

"To home? Ah, no, not yet - you cannot go home."

"Can I never go home?" He pressed, staring up at Snape with dark eyes so framed by eyelashes that they would put even the Patil sisters to shame. "Can I stay here?"

Surprised, Snape frowned. "You don't want to go back to your parents? Why?"

Sirius blinked up at Snape for just a moment too long and suddenly Snape understood. Hadn't Sirius also been a quiet, sullen boy on the train so many years ago? He'd only gained his personality and light from under James' wing. Hadn't there been that time after he had almost killed Snape that he had begged Dumbledore with a type of terrified panic not to tell his parents? Hadn't there been rumors of him running away from home when they were in sixth year?

Sirius hadn't had a indulgent life as a child. He had had a childhood like Snape's. How could Snape not have realised it even with the portrait of Sirius' insane mother screeching vicious abuse at every moment?

Attempting to tread light, Snape asked: "Are your parents…hard on you, Sirius? Do they hit you?"

Sirius's face crumpled and the commonality they shared hit Snape hard. He wanted to inquire more but knew Sirius had already had an emotionally taxing day, instead, he reached out and touched the boy's small face, stilling it. "Do not cry. You can stay here. You won't see them again."

"Ever?"

"Ever."

"Even if I'm bad?" Sirius whimpered.

"Even if you're bad." Snape promised and was promptly hit so hard in the sternum by the child's exceptionally hard head that he was certain he would bruise. The little thing was actually hugging him!

It had been many years since anyone had hugged him and Snape found himself unsure of what to do. "Uh…"

"Thank you-" Sirius squeaked, rubbing his tears and nose on Snape's robes. It was thoroughly disgusting and yet Snape said nothing.

"Come," Snape began gently, "Let's get you cleaned up. Remus and Harry are having a bath and you must join them."

Sirius nodded tearily into his neck and somewhat bewildered, Snape carried his arch-nemesis out of the room.

The boys were all cooperative for different reasons. Sirius because he was traumatized, Remus because he was tired and Harry because he was … well, he was Harry. A lengthy bathtime later, Snape managed to put all three down for bed. The last day had felt like an eternity and the Potions Master found himself wondering how parents managed on a daily basis.

Poor sods. Who would choose this life?

His mind was also tumultuous with thoughts on how to reverse the spell, along with the discoveries he had made about Sirius in the day. It was tiring to have such revelations, and so, for the second night, Snape fell face first into his bed, wholly prepared to embrace sleep.

Waking wasn't as painful as it usually was. The chirps of happy children outside slowly roused him in a way that sunlight or alarm charms could not. Blearily, he got to his feet. Opening the door to his bedroom he greeted the elf. "Hello, Dobby."

Immediately, something caught him about the knees and Snape jerked, readying to kick it off him when he recognized the well groomed mop of black hair. "Er?"

Sirius gave him a toothy grin from below, "G'Morning!"

A second pair of arms enveloped his left leg and Snape started as Harry also attempted a hug, albeit a much clumsier one.

What the hell was happening?

Across the room, Remus seemed nonplussed, waving at him. "Hi!" As usual it was the werewolf who exhibited the most normal brain of the lot.

"Good Morning, children." Snape sighed, "Yes... you can… You can let go now … Okay…let go…" He began to try and make his way through the forest of arms, but they persisted, latching like heavy weights onto his legs.

"Potions Master made an oops!" Dobby nodded sagely, "Harry Potter and Little Master Sirius think it is a game now!"

"What? No, this isn't a game, I have to go to the toilet-" He tried to lift one leg only to have Sirius give a great giggle as he lifted with it. "Sirius, down."

It was then that another tiny giggle filled the air and with surprise, Snape found Harry smiling up at him, laughing openly.

And that was how Snape found himself playing his first round ever of Mr. Stompy.

While Dobby had fed the children (no peas for Remus as had been promised), Snape sent for Molly. Since the morning, Harry had seemed to decide he liked being wrapped around Snape's feet and no matter what, the boy clung to him like a starfish. It was altogether endearing, but not helpful toward his research.

Snape decided that while he visited Grimmauld place to determine parameters of the spell and its effects, Molly could watch the boys. It was only a plus side that he was certain all three little ones were close to needing to go number two and he figured that the witch could happily deal with it. Mwahaha.

A knock on the door had everyone's attention peaked. Remus ran to answer it excitedly before Snape gave a loud whistle, stopping him in his tracks.

"You do not answer the door, Remus. Not under any circumstance, am I clear?"

The little boy furrowed his brow as Snape got to his feet, "I answer the door at home!"

"Well, this isn't your home."

"Then I want to GO home!" Remus stomped his foot and Snape had sudden PTSD flashbacks to yesterday's meltdown over peas.

Grasping the handle of the door, Snape raised an eyebrow at the boy. "And miss out on your playdate with the Weasleys? Is that really what you want?"

The little face scrunched up, caught between his pride and his want to play. Taking the silence to quickly open the door, Snape scowled as Ron plowed right into him in his excitement to get inside. "Weasley!" He snapped.

"Excuse me, he is a child and as such will be called RON." Molly returned with a haughty sniff, breezing inside and inspecting the chambers with an air of disdain. "Ah, Harry!" She reached her hands out to the toddler, who balked, looking at Snape with some alarm.

Molly's face fell predictably and Snape smugly moved forward to pick Harry up. "He doesn't like strangers."

"Strangers! I am certainly not a stranger! Come to Aunt Molly, Harry darling-" She cooed, reaching for him again as Harry pressed tighter to Snape, burying his face into the man's neck and finally giving a little wail of stress as Molly's fingers wrapped about his small torso. "Oh…"

A flush spread across the redhead's face and she looked rather deflated. Snape, meanwhile was astonished. Harry had barely made any noise the last two days. Hearing the little wail was the loudest he had come to showing any displeasure. Voicing this comment to Molly, he sat down, the toddler still clinging to him shyly.

"That's not very good," Molly noted, "At that age he should be much more vocal. But then those horrid Dursleys likely trained him like this-"

"To be silent?" Snape wondered aloud before Ron appeared at his side, derailing his train of thought.

"I want to play with him!" He pointed at Harry determinedly.

Molly smiled, "I told Ron that Harry is his best friend. He was very eager to play with him."

Although he hadn't showed particular interest in Harry before, Sirius appeared immediately, frowning at Ron. "Me too! I want to play with Harry!"

Snape couldn't help the amusement that touched his lips at the boy's loud declaration. Harry also lifted his head at the statement, excitedly crawling off Snape in an effort to be included by the bigger boys.

Watching him with affection, the Weasley Matriarch hummed. "You must give Harry a lot of leeway. He really is too small, too shy … he was always such a timid mouse."

Snape snorted. "Harry Potter? A timid mouse? You've got to me kidding me, Molly!"

"I am certainly not!" She frowned, "Just because you saw what you wanted to, doesn't meant it was accurate. Now, you best go before they notice –"

Coloring a little, having already dealt with that revelation, Snape stood. "Right, I will be back after dinnetime. If you need anything-"

She raised an eyebrow at him and he coughed, reaching for his bound notes before making toward the door.

"Where are you going?!" A panicked voice reached his ears and Snape turned to find Sirius stumbling toward him, eyes wide and terrified. "Don't go!"

"I am just leaving for a little while, Sirius-"

"No, please!" Sirius's gray eyes filled with tears that dripped down his cheeks pitifully. "Please, don't go, I was good!"

Molly sent Snape a startled glance as they both heard the earnest fear in his voice.

"Sirius," Snape began lowly, crouching down to hold the boy firm by the shoulders. "I promised you yesterday that you won't be going near those bad people, didn't I? Just because I am not with you does not mean you will be taken there, do you understand? Molly is very, very strong and she is going to protect you today. I promise nothing bad will happen and I will come back soon."

Molly approached tentatively, "We are just going to stay here today, Sirius. We are going to play and make cookies later, won't you like that?"

Sirius looked unconvinced and his small hands reached for Snape's face, pushing his own forward so their noses touched. "Do you promise?"

"I promise." He returned severely and the little boy reluctantly let go off him, standing back quietly and watching him leave with an air of pained suffering.

Snape hurriedly walked out of his chambers, eager to leave before another child could cling to him, and even more eager to avoid Molly's kindly, approving smile.

Grimmauld Place had been a nice distraction. For a few precious hours Snape could almost pretend he hadn't become a harried father of three, and was simply just a double-spy for two of biggest powers in wizarding history. Yes, those were the simple good old days.

Using a derivative form of Prior Incantato amongst other tools, he was able to figure out relative parameters of where everyone had been when the spell hit. The excess Gummy Toadstool Spores had been collected and weighed, allowing Snape to attempt some significant mathematics to figure out the relative dispersion pattern of the spores that had been released.

He was in the middle of some long equations when he found himself wondering if Sirius was doing well. He had been here for much longer than he had expected, he hoped the boy hadn't lost his head.

Glancing up, Snape noticed it was dark outside. Yes, the boy would likely be distraught without him, it was best he leave immediately.

Gathering his notes, his mind drifted to Harry. Would the toddler have managed well with Molly? That poor little thing, so quiet and gentle, he hadn't even said a proper goodbye.

And what if Molly tried to give Remus peas?! She was so domineering and persistent that his subsequent fit may have just brought the whole place down ….

A sudden terrifying thought gripped his mind and Snape's eyes swung back to the window.

It couldn't be … they couldn't have forgotten …No...

In the sky the moon was fat, round and full.

To be Continued….

Uh oh. Will Snape get back in time? Or is it already too late? Will Harry ever open up? Do you think Dumbledore's actions were right or awful?

For my other stories, please see: Harry Potter and the Wish of Life and The Morning After.

Please take the time to leave a review! I am honestly unsure on whether or not this story is worthy to continue with, so please let me know if you are interested in hearing more. Likewise, I promise to always reply :)