WHO: Severus and Kaleigh visit Teddy.
WHEN: Sometime over the weekend.
WHERE: Teddy's flat
WHAT: Catching up.
RATING: PG
STATUS: Done.





Even though Kaleigh helped decorate the flat, Teddy was still anxious to prove he was capable of living on his own. He had spent most of the weekend perfecting his cleaning charms and making sure the place looked "cozy" enough to assuage any of his mum's worries. Of course, Teddy was worried about her living alone, but Kaleigh refused to move in with either him or the Malfoys. He admired Kaleigh's independence, but that didn’t stop him from hating the idea that she might be lonely. Nonetheless, Teddy's frantic cleaning didn't just have to do with his mother's pending arrival. It was going to be the first time Severus Snape saw the place. Teddy hadn't minded Kaleigh's suggestion to invite his former professor since he really owed Snape quite a bit, but he suddenly felt like a little boy awaiting approval from his Head of House again.

Severus knew, logically, that he shouldn't have been this nervous. He had known Teddy all his life and his mother a number of years longer than that. Still, ever since Lupin's hypothetical regarding whether he would try to prevent Kaleigh from acting as a spy, he had been feeling a bit off kilter, and he had not been entirely sure why. This being his first visit to Teddy's new flat, he had also wanted to bring the boy a house warming gift, but he had no idea what to get him. None whatsoever. It was a rather painful realization that while he knew Kaleigh relatively well, he feared that he did not know her son at all. In the end, he'd settled on a nice bottle of wine, but even that felt a little too much like defeat. Shaking his head for probably the twelfth time at how foolish he was being, Severus reached up to tap the knocker against the door.

On hearing the knock, Teddy took a deep breath. With any luck, his mother would arrive first. Or, better yet, with Severus even though the likelihood of that was slim given their respective locations. Knowing it was then or never, Teddy hurried to the door, peering through the peephole. If Kaleigh had her way, his door would be warded tighter than the Ministry, but Teddy thought a few simple ones sufficient.

He wasn't all that surprised to see the flash of black outside his door. Severus, if nothing else, had always been punctual. After one last glance over his attire, Teddy opened the door. "Hello, sir." He smiled and held a hand out. Severus had always made him nervous, but he was Draco's godfather, and thus, Teddy wasn't as fearful as others might have been. He knew Severus was a good man even before his true allegiance shone through. "Thank you for coming. Mum really wanted you to see what we did." He rolled his eyes. "I think she hopes you'll keep an eye on me."

"Good evening, Teddy," Severus answered, after giving the boy's hand a firm but warm shake. "Thank you for inviting me," he added, stepping inside and offered the wrapped box containing the bottle to the boy before starting to strip off his cloak. When Teddy mentioned his mother wanting Severus to keep an eye on him, he said, "Of course she does, even if she would never ask such a thing." Well, it was a little white lie, since she had in fact asked, but still, no harm in that. "No matter how old you get, you will always be her little boy." He wondered briefly, as he draped his cloak over his forearm, if the same thing applied to one's Head of House. It must have, he supposed, because in some ways he himself still seemed a bit too concerned how Professor Slughorn viewed him, when compared to other members of the staff.

Had Teddy been able to read Snape's thoughts, he would have agreed with his entire heart about Heads of Houses since Severus' opinion still weighed heavily for him as well. Teddy had been lucky to have two attentive parents, but that didn't mean Severus didn't serve as a father figure of sorts. Remus had also helped filled the void that Angus left, but Severus had known Teddy most of his life and it was a bond that wasn't easily dismissed even if it hadn't been as nourished as, say, Draco and Severus'. "Thank you," he said on taking the bottle. "Would you like anything? I set out some snacks." He waved a hand toward his sofa and table. "And sit, please. Or do you want a tour?" It wasn't a very big place, but Teddy was still proud of it.

"That depends," Severus answered with a small smile. "Would you feel comfortable showing me around yourself, or would you prefer to wait until your mother arrives? She isn't here yet, is she? I am a bit early, I think." As usual. Of course, considering how Teddy used to act around him, he took it for granted that he would prefer to wait for Kaleigh to arrive. So without waiting for an answer, he went in the direction Teddy had indicated and took a seat on the sofa.

"Comfortable, sir?" Teddy felt guilty over the question. It wasn't a misunderstanding since Severus had assumed correctly, but Teddy still felt badly about it. "I mean...she's seen the place. Helped me decorate. If it wasn't for her, I'd probably still be living out of cartons." He followed Snape, sitting across from him in a nearby chair. "Sorry," he mumbled though why he wasn't entirely sure.

"No need to apologize," Severus said, shaking his head with another smile. "I'm sure she is every bit as proud of her hard work decorating as you are of having your first flat. Which is why a joint tour is likely the best option, all 'round." He couldn't certainly see the marks Kaleigh had left on the place, even from his limited vantage point on the sofa, and he only hoped those touches might help Teddy to feel more at home.

If Kaleigh's finishing touches didn't serve to make Teddy feel more at ease, the little companion who attacked Severus' feet certainly did. "Kala!" Teddy called. "No. No..."

Severus chuckled softly, looking down at the cat. He had never been especially fond of them as a rule, but after many, many, many years of students having them, he had grown accustomed. Still, that hadn't stopped him from lobbying Dumbledore for leather sofas in the Slytherin common room to minimize the amount of cat hair he might get on his person whenever he visited. "Don't worry, Teddy," he said finally, shaking his head. "I can hardly feel the claws through these boots." Then he began to alternate raising the toe of each boot to tease the cat, and Kala pounced on each in turn.

Pleased at the interaction, Teddy actually beamed. If there was anything he was proud of, it was his cat. It was silly, but he really did feel like a father for the animal. Besides, Kala was an excellent companion. She was so gentle and always knew when Teddy or Draco needed her...of course, Draco pretended he wasn't fond, but Teddy knew better. "I think she might have missed you, Professor." The term slipped; it was odd to think of Snape as anything else really.

"I think you can call me Severus now, Teddy," he said, finally looking up from teasing the cat just long enough to take in the boy's smile. "She might have, now you mention it." He hadn't much experience with former students after they had left Hogwarts, let alone their pets, but he imagined it was possible. He looked down again at a somewhat pitiful, "Mrow!" It only just dawned on him then that he'd stopped moving his feet, and Kala wasted no time in protesting. "She still acts just like a playful kitten," he added with another quick glance at Teddy and a smile. "Rather makes me wish I'd brought along a ball of yarn." Of course, now he knew what to bring the next time he visited: some sort of toy for the cat.

"I'll try," Teddy promised. "Remus said the same thing. It's odd thinking I'm an adult sometimes though. Sort of like I'm just playing pretend, you know?" He watched his cat proudly, glad that she was acting friendly toward the man. Kala was a good cat; who needed a kitten when he had her? "Oh...here!" Teddy flicked his wand, summoning a small ball laced with cat nip. "She loves that one."

Severus caught the ball Teddy summoned, or rather he made a grab for it and caught it by the string, and then held it up and gave it a small shake for Kala to get a good look. If she hadn't already been at full attention from a ball with a string attached whizzing through the air from another room, the bell that sounded when Severus shook the thing no doubt would have caught her attention. "I know exactly what you mean," Severus answered, now dangling the ball in front of Kala's eyes, or just out of reach of her front paws when she went up on her back legs. Every time the excitement became too much and she leapt for the ball, he gave the string a tug to pull the ball out of her reach. And he did understand all too well what Teddy meant. In fact, he'd been named Head of House before he ever felt like a proper adult.

"You do?" Teddy couldn't help asking as he looked up from Severus playing with the cat. He couldn't imaging his composed professor feeling anything for the sort. He knew Severus was a wizard just like anyone else in their world, but he seemed so past those sorts of feelings.

"I do," Severus answered, nodding, and he took his attention off Kala and the ball just a second too long. The cat pounced and pulled the ball to the ground, rolling atop it and clawing at the sisal with all four paws at once. "Do you know, in my first year of teaching, the seventh years had been first years when I was a seventh year? They remembered me, and they tried everything they could to break me. I felt completely out of my depth." He shrugged a little and, when Kala had grown complacent for a second too long, he gave the string a tug, pulling the ball back out of her reach. "I never felt like a proper adult until I was named Head of House at thirty," he finished with a small smirk.

Teddy laughed as Kala looked at her then empty paws in puzzlement. She finally pounced again, paying no heed to the voices around her. "Thirty, you say? Oy, that's a far way off. I don't know if I can last feeling in limbo so long!" For the millionth time, Teddy thought of Angus and if growing up would feel easier had he not been killed. He shrugged off the foreboding feeling, hoping Severus didn't notice anything remiss. "And what luck for the rest of us," Teddy said. "Ah, there you go, Kala! Looks like you lost, Severus." He watched Kala vanish into one of her favorite "hiding" spots just as a knock sounded. "Looks like Mum is here."

Ah, the impatience of youth. "It will be here before you know it," Severus answered, smirking again. He barely noticed the cat streaking from the room at the knock on the door, however, since his chest had chosen that exact moment to erupt in little electrical type shocks. Though honestly, that shouldn't have anything to do with Kaleigh's arrival. He had known her forever, after all, so it seemed a bit silly to think about his heart leaping in his chest at the prospect of seeing her again. He was far too old for such nonsense. It must have been static electricity from the carpeting and playing with the cat. Or something. Yes, that's what it was. Had to be. The idea of it being anything else was positively ludicrous.

Teddy didn't notice anything off about the man as he went to greet his mother. To satisfy her caution, Teddy feigned a great screening process as he looked through his peephole. "Tell me something only my mum would know!"

Outside, Kaleigh beamed at Teddy following her advice. "You have the most adorable birth mark under your left bum cheek!"

Teddy's face burned. Why did she...how could she..."Oh, Mummmmm!" Teddy groaned as he tried to think how he was ever going to turn around and face Severus Snape again. He opened the door though he was pouting. "Mum!"

"What?" Kaleigh asked. "It's true and it is!" She enveloped the young man into a tight hug and smothered him with kisses. "Hello, darling! I brought you a whole basket of your favorite foods." She flicked her wand, banishing it to the kitchen. "Severus! Hello! I am so glad you made it!" She swept over to kiss his cheek. "Are you well?"

Severus couldn't help sniggering, just a little, though he bowed his head as well to keep from subjecting Teddy to his smirk, at the very least. He stood as Kaleigh approached and gave her arm an affectionate squeeze when she kissed his cheek. A sudden frisson of tingles across his skin followed as she pulled away, and he gave her a small smile. "I am the same as usual -- perfectly wonderful," he added at the last second, hoping the attempt at humor might take some of the attention off Teddy's backside and any endearing marks located there.

Severus saying he was "perfectly wonderful" made Kaleigh laugh. It wasn't that she didn't want that to be true, but somehow it seemed something Severus wouldn't actually ever admit to if he did feel such. "Perfectly wonderful?" She teased. "Did you inform your students? I bet they'd like to take advantage of such a mood!"

Teddy also chuckled at the banter. "Which is precisely why you can't tell them, Prof...Severus."

Severus started to raise an eyebrow at the boy's aborted "professor," and then gave him a gentle smile when he remembered and corrected himself. "Well, they won't be my students for much longer, Teddy, so I probably should tell them," Severus answered, looking from him to his mother and back. "Give them a chance to get in any last pranks before I retire and all." Kaleigh already knew of his plans, of course, though whether she had passed the news along to her son remained to be seen.

Teddy's smile faltered at the news. He had known the man had been considering it, but to hear he was actually doing so felt so completely final. It was almost like everyone was moving on and nothing was the same at all, not even Teddy's family and friends. "It will be a loss," he said softly.

"They will get another professor, love." Kaleigh gave her son a reassuring smile. "Severus deserves time to do what he wants now, don't you agree?" She looked back at the dark figure and squeezed his arm with a gentle hand. "Though if you let them perform some pranks, Severus, darling, please take a photograph for Narcissa and myself?" A mischievous glint shone in her eyes as she squeezed again.

Though he frowned slightly at how Teddy took the news, Severus recovered momentarily and gave his mother a small smile. "Absolutely not," he answered, giving his head a shake. "You and dear Narcissa have seen me embarrassed quite enough over the years, I believe." He then turned back to Teddy and gave the boy a small smile. "I also believe I was promised a tour, was I not?"

Despite the sour news, Teddy managed to appear cheery again as he nodded. "It won't take long," he kidded. He waved his hand around their current room. "The living room. Notice the photographs. Mum and Mandy Brockledhurts are to thank."

Kaleigh playfully swatted Teddy's arm. "If it wasn't for us girls, you'd be living in a mass of nothingness."

Severus smiled at the interplay between the both of them. Mother and son quite clearly adored one another, and it was so far removed from how he and his mother had behaved with each other that it was sometimes shocking. And, of course, if he had had children of his own, he would have liked to think they would have got on as well with him. If nothing else, he had good counterexamples of how not to parent.

"Don't listen to her, Teddy," he said after a moment, shaking his head. "Four walls, a bed, a chair, and a table are all one ever really needs." Well, if one wanted an entirely Spartan existence, such as he'd had when he was fresh out of Hogwarts, but he made do. "Not that I don't think the photos are lovely, of course, Kaleigh," he added quickly, with a smirk.

Kaleigh sputtered and huffed in that way she always did when she wasn't really mad, but exasperated. "Oy, you, don't go spreading such lies around this flat!" She covered Teddy's ears which earned her another groan and loud protest of "Mum!" "Oh, what? Like I don't know you can actually still hear me?" She winked at Severus. "So touchy."

"Lies? Why, they were nothing of the sort," Severus protested half-heartedly. "Merely offering the boy a different perspective." He was tempted to return the wink, but he imagined neither of them would have recognized him, if he had. Instead, he merely smirked and nodded toward what he assumed must be the kitchen. "Shall we continue the tour?"

"Hmmm," Kaleigh said knowingly as Teddy moved toward the kitchen area.

"Shhhh," the young man scolded. "Everyone needs to listen to the guide!"