Folly, A Harry Potter Fanfic, Part Three

[terri_testing]

Summary: Snape’s life has been a series of spectacular errors of judgment, to put it kindly.

This has to have been his worst.

“She must learn to feel that she had been mistaken with regard to both; that she had been unfairly influenced by appearances in each…. There was nothing less for Lady Russell to do, than to admit that she had been

Comments

[mary_j_59]

I was smiling all the way through this. For whatever reason, Neville is acting like a baby Severus, isn't he? Is he actually modeling his behavior on Severus's, and, if so, what will his "dad" do when he figures this out?

And, of course, I loved the librarian. Good that Severus is actually developing some relationships in the everyday world, however reluctantly.

I'm a bit apprehensive about the meltdown, which hasn't happened yet. Is it related to a failure to visit St. Mungo's? I'm also quite worried about what Sev and Neville will do when it comes time for Severus to go back to Hogwarts. So - waiting eagerly, but with some apprehension, for the next installments!

[terri_testing]

Canon Neville is a nerd. He reads books (Magical Water Plants of the Mediterranean) for pleasure, he's clumsy and uninterested in sports, he tries hard to act as others expect but is nonetheless Omega among his peers, and he'll stand up doggedly for others, but never for himself. (Unless he's told to!)

And here, he's suddenly being rewarded with positive attention for doing what he'd comfortable doing. Instead of being reminded, yet again, of what a pathetic replacement for dashing, athletic, brave Frank he is.

[dreamingjewel]

Enjoying this so much.

[terri_testing]

Thanks!

[lynn_waterfall]

Okay, I have to ask: why did the librarian start laughing so hard when Severus told her that he was teaching Neville to read and write? Did she assume that Neville must have already learned the alphabet? I don't *think* five is too old for that, or too young. I'm sure I've missed something obvious.

[oryx_leucoryx]

I think the laughter was about the priority, almost urgency, Severus gave to teaching Neville. He only just got to know the boy, and his age is such that he would be starting school in a month anyway. The average parent would emphasize getting opportunities for play and doing fun things together, thinking starting academics a month ahead won't make a difference. But for Severus of course he would connect with his son through academics. (And yes, reading is fun!)

[terri_testing]

Yes, as the others said. The real joke is that Severus imparts this to Miss Platting as news.

Stop the presses! Bibliophile teaches son to read!

[mary_j_59]

Oh - that didn't bother me! I just assumed she was laughing because it was so *typical* of Severus to be teaching his boy early.

[ioanna_ioannina]

Me too. :-)
And my most beloved line is "Push me, Dad!" So nice to see Neville having happy time with his family. <3

[terri_testing]

Yes. But....

Neville is afraid of heights. Of falling. Of vertigo.

He doesn't like swinging for that.

What he likes is... for a child that hasn't learned to pump?

The parent is tied to repeatedly pushing the child.

As opposed to those other rides, where a parent could sit down and read a book while their child played without their input.

[ioanna_ioannina]

Yes, of course. :o) That is exactly what I like in it - that Neville enjoys the very thing he would be afraid of - flying in height - just because there is Severus playing with him. It shows, how much Neville trusts his new Dad and how much he wants to spend time with him.

[oryx_leucoryx]

Loved this! Neville isn't comfortable with heights - no wonder after his experiences at the hands of Algie (and perhaps others).

While Sophy doesn't know some details, what she does know and what she thinks must lead Severus to rethink Hogwarts, and especially Albus. Both in the 70s and in the present. (Oh yes, Severus, your greatest talent is for acting, and you never stop. You can't ever stop. Not as long as you live in Britain and your masters live. But nice to at least be pointed to the idea of alternative careers.)

Severus should be seeing more of the librarians, too bad he is away for most of the year!

So what will he do in September? How safe is Hogwarts for a boy who has shown no magic yet? His cover story works as long as Neville doesn't show magic. But if/when he does - Severus' game is up - the boy shares a first name and birth date with a boy thought to be dead, and there is no record of another magical birth that day. Maybe Severus can claim Neville was born abroad, outside the quill's reach?

[malic_ba]

Oh yes, I loved him hearing an outside perspective on Hogwarts too. The first few years? Love the way that hints naturally at a complex past, as do so many things back in Severus' home town. Meeting his father's friend was great, hinting that his dad wasn't just an ogre. And Severus shows some understanding of him, too, (a normal son, an annoying expression) which seems amazingly mature to me. Love the way this has been written. So many layers.

But back to the point. September? Yes! He wants to give Neville the ability to make his way in the Muggle world, so he needs a Muggle education. How he manages that will be interesting. If he home schools him - how does Neville deal with living as a Squib at Hogwarts? (How does Filch react?) And if he does turn out to be magical, does he want to go back to his Gran?

Really looking forward to the next instalment! Thanks, Terri!