Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 20 ~ Aftermath
After about half an hour, the two wizards made their way back to the castle, both in bad shape and covered in dirt and blood. Justice had a strip of robe tied around his head, holding his broken jaw in place. Another strip was bound around his midsection to hold one cracked and one broken rib in place. His lip was badly split and two teeth were knocked out. His face was badly bruised and one arm hung limply.
Severus' nose was broken and one eye swollen shut. His shirt was ripped up the back, his lip split, and a knuckle pushed back from breaking Justice's rib with several vicious punches to his side. The Potions Master was hopping on one foot with the aid of a branch from the Forbidden Forest…the other foot was probably broken. He had blue-black finger marks around his throat. Justice had tried his best to choke him to death. Breaking the Auror's jaw with a well-placed roundhouse kick ended the fight, though the broken rib slowed him down quite a bit.
Now the two made their way back to Hogwarts. Instead of using the main entrance, Severus led the Auror to a little used entrance covered by vines that led to the dungeon corridor. Leaning on the branch, the Potions Master pressed a series of bricks and the wall slid inward. He hobbled through, followed by Justice.
Mathias happened to be heading for Slytherin house, accompanied by Jasmine when the two wizards appeared in the corridor. He was carrying her backpack as well as his own.
Mathias didn't have the slightest idea why he did anything for Jasmine. It just felt like he should do what she asked him when she turned those blue eyes on him. She had very pretty eyes. Besides, Jasmine didn't ask him to do anything that was difficult. Carrying her books wasn't a problem. Boys were stronger than girls after all, though her books really didn't weigh that much. She could probably carry them herself but Mathias didn't mind. He didn't mind her arm looped through his either, because he knew somehow that Jasmine Malfoy wouldn't loop her arm through just any wizard's arm. He kind of liked that.
Mathias and Jasmine both stopped and stared at the two wizards, their eyes wide with shock. Mathias did a double take as he recognized Justice Forall. He released Jasmine and ran up to the wizards.
"Professor Snape, what happened?" he asked the wizard. With the dried blood and dirt on his face and shirt, he looked like he'd been in a war. Mr. Forall looked much worse however.
"Just a difference of opinion, Mr. Granger. Go to your house," Severus said, wincing as his split lip burned. Both he and Justice headed for the Potions office.
Mathias stood there.
"Why were you two fighting?" he asked.
Severus glared at the boy.
"Mr. Granger, my private affairs have nothing to do with you. Ten points from Slytherin for nosiness," Severus snapped at him, then he looked at Jasmine. "And you will both lose fifty points apiece if I hear a word about this incident being spread about. Now get to your house!"
Mathias stood there a moment. Jasmine walked up to him.
"Come on, Mathias," she said, taking him gently by the arm. The young wizard looked at her, then back at the two broken wizards. He wished he could have seen the fight. Mr. Forall was an Auror, so he knew Martial Arts. But the way he was beaten up, Professor Snape must be a fighter too. Justice was bigger than the Potions Master, and looked like he got the worst of it the way he was bound up.
"Ok," he said to Jasmine, and they both walked up the hall as the wizards entered the Potions Master's office.
Justice fell into the rickety chair in front of the Potions Master's desk, while Severus grabbed his wand went to his stores and retrieved his special healing potion. He sat down on a stool in the class and slowly took off his boot and sock. He pointed his wand at his foot and said a bone-mending spell.
Over the years Severus had picked up some spells from Poppy. The medi-witch said that it made sense for him to know them in case he was in a bad way and needed mending before he could make it back. His foot healed, but it was very painful as the bones knitted back together. He held his nose as straight as he could then drank the healing potion. His lip, nose and eye healed, but there was still a great deal of bruising around his eye, nose and throat. The wizard would have to wear a glamour until it cleared up. Then he scourgified his body and torn clothing.
Better for wear, he entered the Potions office and found Justice still sitting there. The wizard couldn't speak because of his broken jaw. The Auror looked at the wizard expectantly. Severus scowled at him and handed him his wand.
"Surely you don't expect me to heal you, Mr. Forall," he said, "because if you do, you are sadly, sadly mistaken. I have met your insane need for a testosterone-based battle. Now leave my office, sir, and don't come back…or I guarantee you, next time we will duel with only one of us walking away. I don't make a habit of handling situations physically when a wand can handle it less painfully."
Justice's eyes narrowed, but he was so broken up it was a wasted effort. He stood with difficulty and limped out of the Potions Master's office. He gestured to the wizard and pointed down the corridor. Severus looked at him a moment then realized he wanted to use the secret exit. Yes, that would be wise. No questions about why a man half beaten to death was strolling the halls of Hogwarts. Severus walked out into the corridor, pressed the proper sequence of bricks, and let Justice out…feeling like kicking him in the ass as he did so. Let him hobble to St. Mungos. Idiot.
His newly repaired nostrils flared, Severus waited for the wall to close back, then went back to his Potions office. He closed and locked the door, then opened the wall to his private rooms and entered, heading straight for the bathroom. The Potions Master looked in the mirror, brushing his black hair back, craning his neck and scowled at the bruising on his face and throat. He felt like taking off after Justice and hexing him to bloody bits. It had been a hard fight though. The wizard was skilled and enraged. He must be an Auror. Severus recognized some of the moves. A few Order members were Aurors and he sparred with them on occasion.
"Well Hermione, looks like eleven years of ignoring you and Mathias finally caught up with me," he said as he stared at his bruises.
A small part of him wondered if he didn't deserve it.
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Mathias was scowling as he and Jasmine entered the common room. He wanted to know why Professor Snape and Mr. Forall had a fight. A few ooh's went up from the students congregated there as they saw Jasmine on the wizard's arm. He removed the witch's arm quickly and handed Jasmine her books.
"I'm going up to my room, Jasmine. I'll see you later," he said heading for the boys' dorm.
"Wait, Mathias. Aren't you going to study with me?" Jasmine asked him.
Mathias looked at her.
"No," he said shortly. "I prefer to study alone. No distractions."
He walked up the stairs, Jasmine scowling after him. It seemed she didn't have the wizard wrapped around her finger after all. Well, she'd work on it.
Mathias headed up the stairs. Jasmine was nice but he wasn't going to spend all his time with her. She'd quickly become an annoyance if he did. His time was important. He entered his bedroom. Thankfully none of his roommates were there. The wizard put his books on his bed and opened his wardrobe, ready to remove his robes and get comfortable. All his clothes were gone. He opened the lower drawer. His socks and boxers were gone too. He opened his nightstand drawer. His books were gone.
Scowling, Mathias grabbed his backpack and headed back for the common room. When he and Jasmine first entered, he saw Boyle sitting near the wizarding chess tables watching Gerald and Charles play a round. He was going to find out what happened to his clothes.
Mathias walked back downstairs, and Jasmine's face lit up until she realized he wasn't coming over. The wizard walked over to his roommates. He stopped in front of Boyle, his black eyes glittering.
"What happened to my clothes," he asked Boyle who blinked at him stupidly.
Gerald answered.
"I don't know. I went in the room earlier and some house elves were cleaning out your things. I didn't ask them what they were doing. Creepy little buggers. They look like miniature demons or something," Gerald said with a shudder.
House elves? Then Mathias realized that his private room probably came through. He gave a small smile.
"So you moved out?" Charles asked him.
"Yes. I think my private room came through," Mathias said.
All three boys looked at him enviously.
"Told you he thinks he's better than us," Boyle muttered, his brutish brow furrowed as he looked at Mathias.
"Why do you say that? Because I want privacy? Shut up, Boyle," Mathias said.
Boyle bristled but he didn't do anything. One ass-kicking from the smaller wizard had been enough.
"Well, good riddance," he said nastily.
Mathias scowled at him and headed for the common room exit. He needed to talk to Professor Snape and find out where his new room was.
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Severus was back in his Potions office, reading the rest of the questionnaires. He was now looking at Boyle Goyle's parchment, shaking his head.
First Year Questionnnaire
Slytherin House
Head of House: Professor Severus Snape, P.M.
Student Name: Boyle Goyle
Age: 11
Father's Name: Gregory Goyle
Father's Occupation: Custodian at Ministry of Magic
Mother's Name: Matilda Goyle
Mother's Occupation: Seamstress
First Contact: Barrister Goyle
Second Contact: Anna-Marie Goyle
Favorite Subject: Transfiguration
Secondary Subject: Charms
Hobbies: Wrestling
The Person You Most Admire: Hulk Hogan Muggle Wrestler
Trait You Most Admire: Good Fighter
Your Current Goal: To be a bodyguard
Why Do You Think You Were Sorted into Slytherin House?
The hat put me here.
Describe Yourself:
Big. Strong. Tough.
What Do You Believe Slytherin House Can Do For You?
Help me graduate.
Severus shook his head. Boyle Goyle was going to be a challenge as well, the challenge being getting him through to his seventh year and out of Hogwarts. Well, he'd do his best to help the boy. Gods knew he'd need it.
Severus was about to read the next parchment when there was a knock on the door. He pulled out his wand and unlocked it.
"Come in," he said.
The door opened and Mathias walked in. He walked in front of the Potions Master's desk, but didn't sit down.
"Sorry to disturb you Professor," Mathias said, studying the wizard's face. He looked much better but his face and neck were bruised. "I've been moved from my room but don't know where my new room is."
Severus looked at his son.
"Your room is on the second level of the dorm. The last one on the right," the Potions Master said.
"Thank you, sir," Mathias said, making ready to leave the office.
"Mr. Granger, have a seat," the Potions Master said. He had noticed Jasmine on the boy's arm earlier. He seemed a bit young for that.
Mathias sat down.
"Mr. Granger, I was wondering…how much do you know about sex?" the Potions Master asked him.
Mathias' eyebrows went up. This was a taboo subject as far as his mum was concerned. He looked at the Potions Master with interest.
"Sex sir?" he asked the wizard, wanting to confirm the topic.
"Yes," Severus said, his eyes resting on the boy.
"Well I know a wizard sticks his penis into a witch," the boy said.
Severus' eyebrow arched. Well, he knew the basics, that was for sure.
"Yes, that's correct, but there is a bit more to it," the Potions Master said. "I notice Jasmine Malfoy has taken a liking to you…"
Mathias just looked at him.
"I just want to let you know, Mr. Granger, that sex is something to be engaged in when you are of an age to understand the intricacies involved, and not entered into lightly. There can be…repercussions. Children. Unwanted children," the Professor said evenly, thinking about Hermione.
Mathias studied the wizard.
"I don't want to stick my penis in Jasmine or anyone else, Professor," the young wizard said. "It sounds nasty."
Severus smirked. If it were done right…it was nasty, in a very, very good way.
"Mr. Granger, I assure you as you grow older, it will seem less nasty and more appealing, as will Miss Malfoy, who comes from a long line of femme fatales. I just want to make you aware of this, and tell you to be careful and exercise restraint when you find yourself attracted to her or any witch in such a way. If you need guidance, come to me," the Potions Master said.
Mathias looked at him as if he wanted to ask a question.
"You want to ask me something, Mr. Granger?" Severus asked the boy.
"Well…I don't understand why I would want to stick my penis in a witch, Professor. It's perfectly fine as it is," he said, looking at the wizard for clarification.
Severus considered the best way to explain this.
"Well, Mr. Granger, it has to do with an urge to continue the species. We all have a mating instinct that shows itself as a desire to…use your penis in such a way on a witch. In animals, this occurs at a specific time, but with humans it is different. We find sex a pleasurable activity, so engage in it frequently, rather than wait for the proper time to mate."
"An attractive witch will make you want to mate with her without trying. Actually, she may not be attractive at all but you may still be driven to mate with her. The urge is just Nature trying to continue the species. But for you it will be because you will want the pleasure that comes from being with a witch. Unfortunately, whether or not you will mate with the witch is entirely up to her. She has to accept you…and therein, my boy, lies the problem."
"Wizards do insane things to make witches accept them. And some witches will make you do insane things just for a chance to have them in such a way, and still not accept you. Miss Malfoy will eventually become one of those kinds of witches. She is bred to be that way, believe me. You have to make sure she doesn't control you in such a manner, Mr. Granger. Let no witch control you that way," the Potions Master said.
Mathias was almost sure he wouldn't want to stick his penis in anybody, but Professor Snape was a wizard of the world. He was sure the Potions Master wouldn't sit him down and tell him this if it wasn't a possibility. He'd pay attention to it. If he did start feeling the "mating instinct" he'd have a heads up on how to handle it. He wouldn't be controlled.
"Yes sir," Mathias said.
Severus looked at the boy.
"You may go, Mr. Granger," he said.
Mathias rose.
"Professor, about the fight you and Mr. Forall had," the boy began.
Severus scowled at him.
"I already told you, Mr. Granger, that it was none of your concern," the wizard said, "Do you want to lose more points?"
"No sir. I only wanted to know…to know who won, sir," the boy pressed.
Severus looked at him.
"I did. When I broke his jaw," the Potions Master replied, his black eyes raking over the small pale wizard.
Mathias gave a satisfied smile.
"I thought you did," he said. "Good-bye, Professor."
"Good-bye, Mr. Granger," Severus replied. He watched as the boy exited the room, still smiling.
It seemed Mathias didn't care much for Mr. Justice Forall. Well, he didn't have to worry about the Auror any more. It was quite likely he and Hermione were finished for good.
Severus sat there a moment, realizing he had just had his first Father/Son talk with Mathias. It had gone rather well considering the boy had no idea he was his father. Severus thought it might be wise to get all his advice in before the truth came out.
It was very likely Mathias wouldn't listen to anything he said after that.
The wizard picked up the next parchment on his desk.
Back to work.
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A/N: Well, we didn't see the fight, but we saw the aftermath as did Mathias. Interesting chat between Severus and Mathias. Please review.