He opened his dark eyes and gazed about his room for a moment, wondering how he had ended up in bed, and if he had overslept.  He sluggishly sat up in bed and swung the covers that he did not remember draping over himself the night before from his body.  He realized that he was still dressed in the clothing he wore yesterday.  With a self-berating sneer he rose from the bed and went straight to his wardrobe, past the cradle in the center of the room.  He quietly opened the doors and removed new clothing for the day, which was not dissimilar from those he wore from yesterday, with maybe different embroidery on the sleeve hem, or it was a very dark shade of purple that seemed like black to those not looking carefully enough.  Despite what some people thought, he did enjoy color in his clothing choices.  He closed the wardrobe and made his way into his bathroom intent on a shower.  Just to be sure, he changed his direction and walked to his desk to consult his quietly ticking desk clock for the time.  It was 7:30 AM.  Plenty of time.  He turned from his desk and faced the cradle for a moment.  He heard no disturbances, no shuffling, just the peaceful noises of sleep, of breathing.  He walked into the bathroom to shower before he had to go to the Great Hall and suffer through breakfast.

Remus opened his eyes at the quiet sounds of the neighboring room, made easily heard courtesy of the grating between the two fireplaces that split the rooms.  With a sigh, he climbed out of bed.  He looked down and realized that he did not have a change of clothing.  Sighing again, he picked up his wand and pointed it at his own clothing, muttering a cleaning spell.  Instantly, soap bubbles grew from the fabric of his clothing as they scrubbed his clothes clean.  It also served to clean his body underneath the clothing, since it penetrated all of the fabric.  It wasn't his first choice of bathing, but it was the best he could do without a change of clothes.  He applied another spell to himself after the scrubbing bubbles had finished their task, a drying spell.  Then, he left the room and walked into the parlor. 

He stopped at the fireplace and decided that a little warmth was in order.  He lit the fire and continued through the suite.  He made his way through the spacious parlor and into the kitchen.  He saw the bar of soap beside the faucet of the sinks and walked directly to it.  He turned on the water and worked the soap into a foamy lather before he vigorously washed his face.  He let out a refreshed breath and then began to rummage around the kitchen for something to eat.  He knew that he would not be able to attend any meals in the Great Hall, since his presence was neither requested by the headmaster, nor was it known to anyone but Severus and Professor Flitwick.  He wished he were free to roam the halls of the immense building that had been his home for seven years, but some things needed to have a compromise.  There could be benefits to living here, taking care of the boy while Severus taught.  At least he wouldn't have to wait nervously every month to see if Severus remembered to send the new batch of Wolfsbane Potion.  He could simply get it right here. 

Remus quickly located an assortment of fruit on the counter, deciding that he could settle for that for now.  With practice from the years of repetition, he set about making some tea for himself.  He would never admit it, but Remus Lupin had a borderline obsession with tea.  If he could not think of something to do, he had tea.  If he was enjoying a good book, he had tea.  If he was deep in thought, he sipped on some tea.  He had tea in the morning, afternoon, nighttime.  He would drink tea constantly if he could.  He was convinced that there was nothing in the world that could not be cured with tea.

Except lycanthropy.

He was in the midst of pouring the hot water into a cup when the Floo suddenly flared to life, scaring him.  The steaming water spilled and scalded his hand, causing him to let out a sharp cry.  He tried to scramble out of the way so that the visitor would not see him, but in his rush, he tripped backwards and landed on the floor staring through the legs of the chairs and the table as a small figure came rushing towards him.  It was Professor Flitwick.

"Oh!" he squeaked in a high pitched alarm.  "My boy, did I frighten you?  So sorry!"  Remus managed to sit himself upright, grimacing and holding his burned hand.  "Oh!  You burned yourself!  Was that my fault too?"  He made a few disproving noises as he brandished his wand and aimed it at Remus' hand, murmuring a quiet cooling charm.  The pain began to fade as the charm did its work.  "Now, stand up.  I have something for Severus." 

Remus struggled to get to his feet.  The fall had made him land more awkwardly than he cared to admit.  When he finally did, he saw that Flitwick had already levitated himself onto the kitchen counter where he had wiped up the spilled water and was now preparing Remus' tea for him.  "Thank you."  Remus accepted the offered cup from Flitwick with a nod.  "Now, what do you have for Severus?" 

Flitwick grinned proudly as he searched in his robes for something.  "Well, I was working on this all night and I finally perfected it."  He held out his hand to reveal a jagged clear quartz stone, small enough to easily fit in someone's clenched hand.  "This is a way for him to not worry about his son while he teaches." 

"Conspiring against me, Professor?" came the voice of Severus from where he was leaning against the corner of the bookcase near the kitchen.  He had a smirk on his face.  His hair was still wet from bathing, and hung around his face, dripping every once in a while.  His white towel hung from his neck like a scarf, and he wore a white shirt, and dark trousers.  His feet were bare.  To Remus, it was unusual to see him so unrestrained from his dark clothing.  The other man could not help but look at his friend curiously. 

"No, no, Severus," said Flitwick.  He gestured the young man closer as he held out the quartz.  Severus took it and began inspecting it carefully as Flitwick continued speaking.  "It's like a Muggle baby monitor for Tevin so you do not have to worry about him while you teach.  And Remus and I have come up with the idea of him babysitting while you are in classes."  Severus looked at Remus, who nodded, confirming the older professor's words. 

"And how does this work?"

Flitwick laughed merrily.  "Well, it has been spelled to change color whenever your son's mood or situation changes.  For example, if he is in danger the quartz will turn black.  Red for when he is upset, angry, or throwing a tantrum.  Green for when he is happy.  I've written up a list for you."  Flitwick swished his wand and a piece of paper materialized, which he handed to Severus, who consulted it. 

Monitoring Quartz Color Key

Black................................................................In Danger

White...................................................................Sleeping

Grey.......................................................................Scared

Brown.............................................Stubborn & Disobedient

Red................................................Angry, Temper Tantrum

Orange......................................Uncomfortable, In Distress

Yellow...........................................Missing, Run Off, Injured

Green..............................................Happy, Playing, Content

Blue...................................................................Crying, Sad

Purple........................................Safe & Calm (Do Not Worry)

Pink.............................................................Wanting Parent

~ F. Flitwick                        

Severus looked questioningly at Flitwick.  "But, how does it work?  How will I know what he is doing?" 

Without reclaiming the stone or any indication of what he was about to do, Flitwick pointed his wand at the stone in Severus's hand and shouted a spell.  "Diffindo!"  The stone in Severus's hand split in two.  Flitwick took one of them and tossed it into the air.  With a banishing charm, followed immediately by a placement charm Flitwick made the stone stick to the center of the ceiling in the parlor.  "That placement charm will need to be renewed every five days." 

"Why the ceiling, Professor?" Remus asked. 

"It is the central place in the suite, and the boy will most likely spend a great deal of his time in the parlor while he is awake.  There are not many things that he can injure himself with in here.  It will be able to sense the boy's moods far easier in a central location than in, for example, Severus's room." 

"Fair enough, sir," Severus agreed.  "Thank you."  Remus had wandered into the parlor, staring up at the quartz stuck to the ceiling.  "Well, Remus, are you ready to begin babysitting?"

Remus looked at Severus with a grin.  "I suppose I have no choice." 

Just then, Severus noticed that the rock had changed a new color.  It was no longer clear, but it glowed in a soft rose.  Severus's eyes immediately darted to the paper he still held to find out again what pink meant.  ‘Wanting Parent,' it read.  Severus set the paper down on the table and put the stone in the pocket of his trousers as he walked into the bedroom connected to his own. 

He walked into his bedroom and saw the boy sitting up in his cradle looking around calling for something...someone.  "Daddy!"  He was facing the desk, which was opposite the door in which Severus stood, and did not see him.  "Daddy!" 

By this time Severus had crossed the room and lifted the boy in his arms.  "It's alright, Tevin," he reassured.  "Daddy's here."  The little boy threw his tiny arms around Severus's neck and held on tight.  Severus looked at his desk to the clock.  It was ten minutes until eight o'clock.  He needed to get to breakfast, or else Dumbledore would come looking for him, which he did not want. 

Severus walked with Tevin into the parlor where Remus stood, now nursing his tea.  Flitwick was nowhere to be seen and the Floo was now dark again, indicating that he had left for breakfast and Remus had closed the Floo after he left.  "Tevin, I have something to tell you."  Tevin drew back a little to look at Severus's face.  "I have to teach and cannot stay with you all the time during the day."  From the expression on Tevin's face, it was clear that he did not understand. 

"Go?"

"Not for a very long time.  Just for a few hours."

"Me?" 

Severus took a wild stab at what the child possibly meant by this.  "You will stay here with...your godfather."  He looked at Remus and could not help but notice the smile that began to spread on the other man's face. 

Tevin perked up, his eyes going wide in excitement.  "Surrus?"

"No.  Remus."  

Tevin tilted his head to the side in confusion.  "Waymus?"  He began looking over Severus's shoulder for Remus and then to the sides.  At a look from Severus, Remus put his cup down on the table and went to the two, getting in view of the boy, who spotted him quickly.  "Waymus!" he shouted, flinging his arms out toward the other man indicating his request.  Remus looked to Severus for permission before he took the boy from the other man's arms.  Tevin began giggling as he recognized another familiar person. 

"Tevin," Severus tried to get the boy's attention.  "Look at me."  It was only when Remus pointed to Severus that Tevin looked where he was supposed to.  "Do not give Remus a hard time.  Behave."  Tevin flashed a smile at Severus before letting out a sound that seemed a mixture between a harsh exhale and a short laugh.  Whatever it was meant to be, it satisfied Severus. 

He gave a nod and looked to Remus.  "I'll return at some point during lunch, and for tea later.  You should remember the break right before dinner.  I also spend that here.  I very rarely will return here through the portrait.  I choose to come through my office.  It makes it easier."  He tried offering Remus a lopsided grin, but it was clear that he was nervous.  "If anyone is trying to enter through the portrait deny them entrance.  And do not open the Floo Network.  The last thing we both need is for the headmaster to unexpectedly visit and wonder why you are here." 

Remus smiled.  "Severus, I'm not one of your students that you have to tell to beware of strangers.  Everything will be fine." 

"I know.  I just..."

"You're nervous."  Remus stated this rather than asked it.  Severus nodded.  "Don't be.  I hope you have a supply of food in here.  I have a suspicion that if I asked the House Elves for anything they would report my presence here immediately." 

"There is enough food here, yes." 

"Then, everything will be fine."  The clock in the parlor struck eight o'clock.  "Time to face the little demons," he said.  Severus looked at him with a challenging glint.  "What?  They aren't demons are they?"

Severus walked towards his room to finish dressing for the day, mumbling to himself, "They are when the day starts with Slytherin and Gryffindor Third Years."

Remus let out a loud, boisterous laugh.  Seeing that Remus was laughing, Tevin decided to imitate him and began to add his innocent voice to the older man's amusement.  Remus looked down at Tevin, whose face glowed with laughter.  With the sounds of laughter behind him, Severus finished dressing, left his suite, and entered his office to head to breakfast, which he would spend preparing to face the first group of students he would see since he had claimed his son. 

Severus was having a difficult time keeping his nerves to himself.  It was still ten minutes before the Third Year Slytherins and Gryffindors were scheduled to arrive for class.  He had done a cursory inspection of the Potions Lab, since he had not taught since the previous Friday.  He did not even know if someone filled in for him and taught in his stead, nor did he particularly care, so long as none of the ingredients from his private stores were disturbed, and chaos did not reign during his absence.  After he took his place at his desk, his thoughts began running wild again.  These students saw him being forcibly removed from the castle only two nights ago.  They did not particularly like him before he was accused of being a Death Eater.  What would they think of him now?  Not that Severus Snape was really a man who valued the opinions of others towards him, but when it came to having a firm ruling over students, they needed to obey him.  Detentions could only discipline a disobedient student so much.  And he feared that if he did not settle these rumors about himself quickly he would be spending eternity with students in detentions.  He sighed heavily resting his head in his hands, his fingers raking through his hair.  How to solve this?  He did not know. 

Gathering himself, he reached into his pocket for the quartz.  He placed it on his desk near his inkwell and quill, taking note of the color.  It glowed soft green with an inner concentration of purple.  Happy, playing, calm, and safe.  "Good," he whispered to himself.  Knowing that his son was fine put his mind at ease a little more.  And now to prepare for the Slytherin and Gryffindor students to arrive.  Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.  If the students were either afraid of him for the accusation of being a Death Eater it may not play out as he originally thought.  They may be even more terrified of him and not dare to defy him for fear of whatever dark curse he could punish them under.  He smirked to himself as he thought of this, not noticing that students had begun to file into his classroom, and that their first sight they saw of their Potions Master in this room in nearly a week was the man sitting at his desk with a pleased smirk on his face. 

The classroom was silent for a long while until he suddenly realized that everyone had gathered in the room, were sitting in their places, and were staring at him, waiting for instructions.  Their books rested at their stations before them, unopened but still there.  Each pair of students had a cauldron set up waiting to have foul mixtures ruined inside of them.  But the silence was deafening.  Neither the students nor their professor were sure which would make the first move. 

In the end it was Severus.

"Before any of you decide to delay this class with endless and pointless questions, I will say this and only this.  Yes, I was taken from the grounds on the charge of being associated with Death Eaters.  Yes, I was found innocent of that charge and allowed to return to this classroom where you all find me.  This is all I will answer pertaining to my absence from this room in the last few days.  If anyone has any questions, you are free to devise your own version of events.  I am required to teach, not to indulge and encourage the morbid fantasies of schoolchildren."  He looked around the class to see all of his students staring at him, all with slightly raised eyebrows clearly showing a mixture of surprise and uncertainty in regards of what to think of what their professor just related.  While this sight amused Severus, he did not allow himself to grin or even smirk.  He maintained his stoic expression as he slowly and carefully met the eyes of every Gryffindor and Slytherin student in the room daring them to speak.  None dared.

"That being handled, you are all to redo the last potion assignment since we were in the middle of it when I was absent."  He saw a brainy Gryffindor raise his hand, but chose to ignore it.  "For some of you, this will be a second chance to improve your potion.  The rest of you who were well on your way to managing a somewhat functional brew, I expect the same quality of your work."  The same Gryffindor started waving his arm about like a soldier trying to signal a white surrender flag to an enemy about to kill them.  "What, you silly boy?" Severus hissed. 

"Professor Flitwick came and marked our potions when you were gone."

Severus allowed his lips to then curl into a twisted smile.  "Well, is he your Potions Professor?"  The Gryffindor boy shook his head.  "Then his opinion on the satisfactory completion of a potion is insufficient, and therefore irrelevant.  You will redo this potion and turn it into me by next class.  Begin."

After Severus had spent a great deal of time pacing the room staring into the toxic and questionable creations of his third year students, he swept back to his desk.  His eyes immediately went to the quartz by his inkwell.  He saw the color had changed - it was now a deep red.  With a quick glance at his working students, he discretely took a glance at the color key for the stone which he snuck out of his robes just enough to find what red meant. 

Red................................................Angry, Temper Tantrum

‘Fantastic!' Severus thought to himself.  ‘Leave my son with Lupin for barely an hour and he's already throwing a tantrum!'  He was so preoccupied with his thoughts on how he would toy with Remus's mind after he was finished teaching, that he did not even notice one of his Slytherin students approach his desk until she whispered his name.  He whipped his head around, his hair streaming from the motion, to meet the eyes of the hesitant girl. 

"Professor Snape, sir, class has been over for several minutes...but...I was trying to get your attention to check my potion.  You were-"

"I was thinking.  I expect it would be obvious that I did not really wish to be bothered."  She held her ground and just looked at him.  They had a contest of wills for a moment before he relented.  "But very well, let me see your potion."  He began to stand but froze when he saw the girl's eyes focus on the quartz on his desk.  It was changing colors right before their eyes from the harsh red to a soft blue.  Severus looked at the stone, then at the girl, his thoughts running wild.  Surely this girl would not know what this was for.  She couldn't possibly know.  As though she felt his gaze burning into her, she looked up at him.  Immediately, her eyes went to the floor as though she were ashamed of being caught or embarrassed to have found something besides potions class fascinating. 

Without a word, she turned and headed to her station.  Severus followed her.  While he was examining her brew he noticed her gaze had slid to the quartz again.  He also knew that she had more tact than to directly ask about it.  "Was there something else you wanted to ask me about?  You knew your potion was satisfactory so far."  She nodded.  "Well?  What is it?"

"Sorry, professor, but..."  She pointed feebly to the quartz on his desk.  "I've been wondering what that is the entire class.  It's never been there before and I was just wondering what it was for." 

He schooled his features into an unreadable expression.  "That is a quartz and is charmed to inform me of the status of a being under my care." 

"Like, its moods or something?"

"Emotions and feelings."  He paused for a second.  Had he told this student too much already?  "But, is this really pertinent to potions class?"

"No, sir.  I was just...curious."

"Well, I believe your curiosity has been adequately satisfied."

"Well enough, Professor Snape."

Just this once, he allowed a small grin.  "Your potion is coming along well.  Go to your next class.  I don't want to try to explain giving a detention to a student who has yet to fail an assignment and behaves well in my class." 

She gathered her satchel and slung it across her chest.  "Thank you, Professor."  She began to leave the classroom.

"Are you not forgetting something?" Severus called to her. 

She stopped and faced him again, giving him a confused look.  He slid his eyes to the cauldron, giving her a hint.  "Oh!  Sorry, sir," she exclaimed.  She drew her wand and aimed it at the cauldron.  She muttered the phrase for a Stasis Charm to keep her potion at the stage it was to allow her to continue it later with it having no damaging effect on it between classes.  She turned around again at the doorway.  "I'm glad you're back, Professor Snape."  Before he could reply, she dashed off to her next class.

"Come on, Tevin, just one bite."  Remus tried to coax the child into eating the foul-looking puree on the spoon.  Tevin glared at it disgustingly, refusing to even open his mouth, having learned his lesson from Severus's charmed spoon trick.  Remus's head thudded onto the table.  "Please, Tevin.  Your father will kill me."  He peeked a glance at the boy, who was smirking arrogantly at Remus, looking exactly like Severus when he was trying to prove a point.  "Are you trying to make it difficult for me to be your godfather?"  Tevin shook his head, still smirking.  Remus let his head fall to the tabletop again, his spoon hand still poised to attack the youngster's mouth.  "For not trying you're doing a fine job of it." 

The sound of the door to the suite opened and it instantly caused Remus to perk up.  Almost instinctually, he performed a Disillusionment Charm on himself and Tevin.  He picked up the boy and held him to his chest protectively.  Tevin began to cough.  Remus immediately put a Silencing Charm on the boy.  The last thing they needed was for a disembodied cough to give them away to some mysterious intruder.  In a moment, though, his nerves settled when he saw Severus strip off his outer robes and sit in the armchair in front of the fireplace, removing his wand to light the candles on the mantle, preferring not to open the Floo.  Remus did not dare make a move.  What if this was someone under Polyjuice Potion to look like Severus?  He was not about to mess up this whole situation because of a simple Polyjuice disguise!  So, he did not move.  "Remus," Severus said, sounding tired.  "Take off your Disillusionment Charm and let me see my son, Tevin." 

That was evidence enough that it was Severus.  Clever, and as far as Remus knew, one of two or three people knew Tevin's real name and that he was Severus's son.  Remus removed the charms and approached him.  "I wasn't sure if it was really you." 

Severus looked at him with one raised eyebrow.  "Do you really think someone would disguise themselves as me, know the password to my chambers, and know the name and relation of that boy to me?" 

Remus huffed.  "Well, I would think you of all people would appreciate caution before blind trust in the case of your son."

Severus nodded.  "Yes, that is true."  At that moment, Tevin reached his arms to Severus.  Remus transferred the boy to his father.  Tevin grabbed hold of a handful of his father's dark hair and yanked hard, causing Severus to let out a small gasp.  As he struggled to gently pry the little fingers from his hair, he spoke.  "Was he this troublesome for you all day?"

Remus threw himself onto the sofa.  "You have no idea.  First, he was fine.  He was having a good time coloring in his books." At Severus's alarmed expression he quickly added, "Not your books, Severus, the Muggle coloring books that I sent to you.  Then, he thought you abandoned him or something, because he realized that you had been gone for a little while and he started to throw his - what are they?"

"Crayons?" Severus guessed.

"Yes!  Crayons!  He started throwing them all over the parlor.  He almost hit me in the eye with one!"  Remus put his arm over his eyes as he reclined on the sofa.

Severus looked at his son.  "He has good aim," he said, almost proudly.  "He'll be good in defense class." Tevin smiled at him, displaying his tiny gums and teeth, as though he understood what defense class was.

Remus sighed.  "After that little tantrum I took away his...crayons...and the books and he started crying.  Crying!  He was so loud I thought someone was bound to hear him through the portrait!  Do you know how horrible that would be?  Someone would think you were torturing some poor creature in here." 

"Then, some sort of spell would be useful.  Muffliato, perhaps?  I did create it for a reason."

Remus gave Severus an exasperated look.  "I know, Severus, I know.  But the first thing I thought was to calm him down.  And the only thing that finally worked...was to put him to bed, give him his bear...and..."  He mumbled the rest of the sentence.

Severus looked at Remus.  "What was that?"

"I had to...sing to him."  Severus's eyebrows shot up.  "I know, and yes, I sang.  It was humiliating." 

Severus looked at Tevin for a moment, studying him.  "You managed to coax Remus into doing something he hasn't done since - when were you in Choir, Remus? - First Year, Second Year?"  Tevin giggled.  Severus laughed quietly.  "Already persuasive."  He studied the boy.  "Yes, we will make you into a proper Slytherin yet."  Tevin hissed before he began to giggle, causing his father to join him in a soft chuckle. 

"It's like you two are conspiring, Severus.  Don't corrupt him until at least one person from another House has a fair shot at him."  Remus struggled to sit up. 

"I'm his father, Remus.  In theory, I'll have the most influence on his life."  Tevin chose that moment to yank hard on Severus's hair, causing the older man to gasp at the pain in his scalp again. 

Remus laughed, boisterously.  "What would you do, Severus, if he rebelled against you and ended up in Gryffindor?  How would you feel then?"

Severus managed to detangle the little fingers from his hair.  He looked at Tevin, who was grinning innocently at him.  Severus sighed.  "I secretly pray, Remus, that that day never comes.  But, as Lily would...I would love him just the same, no matter what House he ends up in."

"Even Hufflepuff?  A Snape in Hufflepuff?  Can you imagine it?"  Remus could barely contain his laughter. 

Severus smiled.  The first true smile on his face in a very long time.  "Yes.  Even in Hufflepuff."