Daddy Dearest II

The Reaction

Scorpius didn't have long to wait before the Headmaster showed up, this time after curfew, poking him with a long, pale finger as he slept. The blonde wizard opened his bleary eyes, then sat up as the blurry image before him focused into the pinched face of one Severus Snape.

"Get up!" Snape hissed at him.

Scorpius quickly sat up, dressed in silk green and silver striped pajamas. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at the wizard.

"I see your first attempt at asking Jaden to the dance was a dismal failure. You are going to have to use more charm next time," Snape said to him with a frown. "And why did she slap you? Did you say something . . . inappropriate?"

Snape's face was twisted slightly. If he had spoken rudely to Jaden, he could count on more than a slap. Just because he had permission to take Jaden to the ball didn't mean he could address her disrespectfully.

"Um, actually, that slap was for you, Headmaster," Scorpius said, a bit fearfully.

"Me? What do you mean it was for me?" Snape demanded, snarling now.

"Well, when she gave me her answer, I couldn't help looking at you for a moment, and she saw you watching me, and . . . and figured out you put me up to asking her. She said the slap was for you."

Snape's mouth worked for a moment as if he were masticating on a full pack of gum. Jaden said the slap was for him? This wasn't good.

"You idiot!" he hissed, grabbed Scorpius by the collar of his pajamas and shaking him roughly. "I told you not to let on I was involved. Of course she'd say no if she knows that!"

"But, but she didn't say no because of you, Headmaster," Scorpius replied. "She said no before she even suspected you had anything to do with it, sir. She has someone else taking her."

Snape released him, shocked.

"Someone else? Who in the world would have the nerve to ask her to the ball, knowing what happened to Potter?" he demanded. "Did she say who was taking her?"

Scorpius swallowed, then nodded slowly.

Snape waited, but the seventh year didn't offer anything more.

"WHO IS IT?" he snarled at Scorpius, his face reddening with rage.

Scorpius leaned back a little, hoping to avoid the wizard's hands in case he tried to wrap them around his throat in reaction. He wasn't going to like this.

"James Potter," Scorpius replied, cringing.

Snape's black eyes seemed to dilate as he stared at Scorpius.

"You mean to tell me," he said in a soft voice that was even more terrifying than if he were screaming at the top of his lungs, "that James Potter had the unmitigated nerve to ask my daughter out after he's been warned to stay away from her? Is the boy absolutely insane?"

Scorpius looked at him, and decided against his better judgment to answer him. He knew about dominating dads and how wrong they got things on their own.

"No sir. I think he may be in love, sir," Scorpius said softly. "A wizard will go through nearly anything for love."

Snape straightened and stared down at him.

"Love? A boy that age doesn't care about love. All he cares about is spread thighs and boasting rights. His pursuit of my daughter has NOTHING to do with love. He sees Jaden has some interest in him, and is trying to use that interest to get under her robes. I won't stand for it!" Snape hissed.

Then he looked down at Scorpius.

"You did what you could, so forget about serving an extra term," Snape said to him.

Scorpius slumped in relief.

"Thank you, sir," the young wizard replied.

"You're welcome," Snape responded, pulling out his wand.

Scorpius' eyes went round with shock.

"Obliviate," Snape hissed, removing Scorpius' memory of his assigning him to ask Jaden out, and this conversation as well, leaving the actual asking intact.

He wasn't taking any chances that Jaden would find out the truth from him.

Snape left Scorpius' room and headed for his quarters, angry and thoughtful.

Love? Pah. He didn't believe it for a second, and even if it James bloody Potter thought himself in love with Jaden, he would have to find some other witch to focus on, and before Jaden turned seventeen. There was no way his daughter was going to marry a Potter. Not if he had anything to do with it . . . and he would.

That Slytherin mind began percolating. He couldn't actually forbid Jaden to go to the Ball with James Potter. She and her mother would make life a living hell for him. In fact, he suspected Hermione already knew about Jaden's belief he made Scorpius ask her out. With the boy Obliviated, he could bring Jaden to him and allow her to question him. Scorpius would be bewildered at her question, and say he had nothing to do with it.

He would be convincing, because he would have no remembrance, then Jaden would have to apologize for even considering such a thing.

Snape had been staying at the castle, rather than Apparating home to sleep on the couch. This had the effect of making Hermione even angrier at him, since she couldn't enjoy his discomfort or parade around maliciously in sexy little nightgowns to make him suffer more. She had a mean streak as big as Hogwarts sometimes. He wasn't willing to go through the torment. He wasn't making things better, but at least he could think of other things than Hermione.

Things like what to do about his daughter Jaden.

Well, he had a bit more than a month to come up with something. Something devious. Something to break the spell James Potter had over his daughter.

He just needed to think.

By midnight . . . he had it.

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A/N: Lol. Now what is he going to do? It can't be direct. Well, we'll see what happens. ;) Thanks for reading.