Daddy Dearest - (No Update, Edit)

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
*******************************

Chapter 33 ~ A Surprise Visit

Two days after the Potions class with Albus found Mathias in a somber mood as he sat in the common room at one of the chess tables and idly played with the pieces, making them fight each other by moving them in close proximity. The knight had just run the rook through, when Jasmine sidled over and sat down across from him.

"You seem down, Mathias," she said, looking at the pale wizard, her eyes sweeping over him. He really was quite cute in a dark, brooding way. Jasmine thought he would turn out to be tall and gorgeous when he got older.

She'd be waiting for that day.

"I am," the boy replied distractedly, surrounding the queen with pawns, who all immediately jumped her. It didn't look as if they were trying to run her through in the conventional sense as they wriggled all over her. Mathias swept them away.

"It's Professor Snape, isn't it?" Jasmine said, her ice-blue eyes resting on him.

"Yes. Class isn't the same without him," the boy muttered.

Jasmine rolled her eyes in agreement.

"I'll say. If I hear another word about the properties of lemon drops, I'll scream," she said, frowning.

Albus was extremely focused on lemon drops. He had them make up a batch today. Someone added too much citric acid however, and when the Headmaster tasted one, his face was stuck in a pucker for at least three minutes.

"The Headmaster said he might not come back," Mathias said glumly.

"Well, if he doesn't, they'll get a good replacement for him, Mathias. It's not that big a deal," Jasmine said, "He's mean anyway, and it's hard to get anything past him. Another Head of House would be much better in my opinion."

Severus did not kowtow to Jasmine's wishes or demands. She threw a tantrum in his office when she demanded another Slytherin's private room because it opened up facing the Quidditch pitch and she wanted to be able to watch the practices. Instead of moving the offending student and handing over her room, Severus took twenty-five points from Jasmine. She hadn't forgiven the wizard for that.

Now, if Jasmine had a team of coaches training her what to say to get Mathias mad, they couldn't have told her anything to top that statement.

"No one could replace him," Mathias said, his dark eyes flashing at the witch. "He's the best teacher in Hogwarts!"

Jasmine snorted.

"The best teacher? He's the meanest, most sarcastic and not to mention the ugliest Professor in the school. He always gives homework, even on the weekends and holidays, he never gives partial credit or extra credit work. He yells at us like we're peons, and he NEVER gives me what I ask for," Jasmine said angrily, "I know he's our Head of House, Mathias, but he's nothing to brag about, believe me. He might be my grandfather's associate, but I'd be glad to see him gone."

Another Slytherin, second-year Andreas Mbutu walked up to the pair and looked down at the chessboard, then at Mathias. Andreas' family was of African descent and the wizard was very dark and spoke with an accent. Andreas came from a long line of pureblood wizards, and wand magic wasn't the only thing he could do.

"Game?" he asked Mathias.

"Jasmine, you're an idiot," Mathias snarled at the witch. "Professor Snape is a good teacher and Head of House. No one can replace him, you chit!"

Andreas' black eyes widened as the wizard addressed Jasmine Malfoy. No one talked to the witch like that. Her father was a very powerful wizard and could make trouble.

"How dare you call me names!" Jasmine said to Mathias, aghast. "I have my right to my opinions, Mathias Granger!"

"Well you can keep your stupid opinions to yourself Jasmine. I want Professor Snape back, even if you don't!" the boy snapped at her.

"He is back," Andreas said quietly, twirling one of the chess pieces in his hand. "He's been back for two days now."

Mathias looked at Andreas in shock.

"He's not back," Mathias said in disbelief, all the while hoping the black wizard was right.

"Yes, he is back. Just not in class," the boy said obliquely. "He's in the infirmary."

Mathias blinked at him a moment. Jasmine was scowling at Mathias, but he didn't notice or care.

"How do you know?" Mathias asked the wizard.

"I was bored, so I used the divination of my people to find out where he was, just to see if I could. I can locate people easily with the Old Arts. They don't teach them here at Hogwarts," Andreas said. "Game?"

"No," Mathias said, "I have to go do something."

Jasmine's eyes narrowed.

"It's getting close to curfew. I know you're thinking about going to the infirmary. You'll get in trouble. I'll tell," she said.

Mathias turned on her, his face terrible. Jasmine drew back. She had never seen anyone look angrier.

"You go ahead and tell, Jasmine, and I promise I will never speak to you again. Ever," Mathias said, his eyes cold and intense.

Jasmine looked at the young wizard. Something in his eyes told her he was speaking the truth. She didn't want him to stop talking to her. It would ruin her future plans and her father would probably be very displeased.

"Fine," she snapped, "You'll probably get caught by Filch anyway."

She stood up and stalked away from the table in a temper.

Andreas watched her go, shaking his head.

"Jasmine is a pretty girl, but too bossy. I would trade her for three cows in a second," he commented.

Mathias grinned at the wizard, he couldn't help it. Trade Jasmine for some cows? Now that was a funny thought. She'd be outraged.

"I have to go, Andreas," Mathias said to the wizard, "Thanks for telling me where the Professor is."

Andreas looked at him intensely for a moment.

"You like the Professor a lot, Mathias," he stated.

"Yeah, I do," Mathias admitted to the wizard. For some reason he didn't mind telling the boy. He wouldn't have told anyone else.

"That is a very good thing," Andreas said sagely, nodding his head.

"Why?" Mathias asked him curiously.

Andreas gave him a lofty look.

"You'll find out soon enough, and when you do, I want a game," the wizard said, smiling and walking away.

Mathias looked after him, then shrugged and exited the Slytherin common room quickly.

Andreas Mbutu came from a long line of African wizards. Divining secrets was one of his spiritual gifts. But with the gift came the wisdom not to reveal all one knew. Life needed to play out. The wizard knew what the secret surrounding Mathias Granger was, but that secret was meant for others to reveal.

Andreas wouldn't say a word.

*****************************

While walking down the dungeon corridor, Mathias cast a disillusionment spell on himself and moved stealthily through the castle, entering the main hall and taking the main stairwell to the shifting staircases. He made little noise as he walked. He was almost as quiet as his father.

Mathias arrived at the infirmary level and quickly took off down the hall, arriving at the great double doors. He paused and put his ear to one of the doors to listen. He didn't hear anything. Slowly and carefully he opened one of the doors and sidled in, closing it behind him. He began to walk up the aisle. Most of the curtains were pulled back, revealing the cots, but several were closed.

He eased by Poppy's office, looking in. Poppy was seated at her desk, her head thrown back, her mouth open, snoring. Mathias hurriedly tiptoed by and went to the first drawn curtain and peeked in. A male student was in there with what looked like an onion growing out the top of his head. Mathias had no idea what that was about, and withdrew his head, crossing to the next drawn curtain.

Behind this one was a young, blonde-haired witch, her feet sticking out from under the covers. She was sleeping. She looked fine. But then Mathias noticed that her feet were wrong. The right foot was on the left leg and vice-versa. He blinked, then continued on.

Behind the third curtain was the Professor. He looked terrible.

Mathias eased his way in, walked over to the cot and looked down at the wizard. He looked like something tried to kill him. He was black and blue all over, and he had wounds that were healing, slits as if he had been cut. His nose was bandaged up, and his face swollen. Mathias stared down at him worriedly.

Then the Professor groaned and opened his eyes. He made a weak motion toward the pitcher on a table near his cot…but he couldn't reach it.

Mathias, not thinking, walked over to the table and poured some water into a glass, then carried it over to the wizard.

To Severus, it looked like the pitcher lifted itself and poured water into a glass. Now the glass was coming toward him. He squinted and made out the small shimmer.

"Who's there?" he rasped softly.

Mathias remembered he was disillusioned and removed the spell, then brought the water to the Potions Master.

Severus was rather startled when Mathias appeared, and struggled to sit up. Mathias helped him as best he could, and handed the wizard the glass of water. He saw the Dark Mark on his forearm, and his brows went up. The Professor was a member of the DKV? His mum had told him it was an evil organization. The Professor wouldn't be a member of an evil organization, would he?

Then again, this was the Professor. Maybe he would.

Severus finished the water and handed the glass back to Mathias.

"Twenty points from Slytherin," he said quietly, "For unauthorized visitation, Mr. Granger. How did you know I was here? Your mother?"

Mathias looked at him. His mum knew the Professor was in the infirmary? How would she know?

"No sir. Andreas Mbutu told me," Mathias replied, setting the glass back on the table then returning to the wizard's bedside.

"Ah, Mr. Mbutu. A very talented young Slytherin. He has extraordinary gifts," the Potions Master said, his eyes resting on his son, noting the concern on his face.

"What happened to you, Professor?" Mathias asked.

"Something that was a long time coming, Mr. Granger," the wizard replied, wincing a little as he shifted in the bed.

"Maybe you should lie back down," Mathias suggested.

"No, I'm fine," Severus replied, "Why are you here?"

Mathias looked at the wizard.

"I was worried about you I guess," Mathias admitted, "The Headmaster said you might not come back. When Andreas said you were here, I wanted to see you…just to make sure you were all right."

Severus studied the boy, and his Adam's apple began to move quickly for a moment.

"Well, you can see I'm all right. I just need a few days to heal up," the wizard replied. "Now go back to your house."

Mathias stood there stubbornly.

"But what happened to you?" he asked.

The boy's chin was stuck out just like his mother's when she was being stubborn. Severus recognized the look and sighed.

"Mr. Granger…Mathias," he said softly, "I promise I will tell you what happened to me in good time. Not now, but soon. Is that enough to get you out of here so I can get my rest?"

Mathias nodded. If the Potions Master said he would tell him, he would.

"Good, now go before Poppy catches you and I am forced to deduct even more points," Severus said.

"Yes sir," Mathias said, disillusioning himself with ease. Severus was impressed.

"I'm glad you're back sir. No one could have replaced you," Mathias' voice sounded. Then the black curtain rippled and the boy was gone.

Severus stared after him.

He could hardly believe the boy came to see him. That he actually disillusioned himself, and stole into the infirmary right before curfew. Of course he had to take points from the boy, he had broken the rules after all.

But still, Mathias was worried enough to come see how he was.

Severus shook his head.

The Potions Master sincerely hoped the boy would be able to handle the truth that he was his father and not change too much.

The wizard would hate to see him change.

********************************
A/N: So Mathias found out Severus was in the infirmary. I have a feeling Andreas Mbutu would make a fine friend for Mathias. And lol at Jasmine, Andreas saying he'd trade her for some cows. Lol. She certainly pissed Mathias off. She's lucky she wasn't hexed. The visit in the infirmary was short and sweet, although Severus took points. All in all this was a fluffy little chapter. Please review.