FIC: Starting School (PG)
Title: Starting School
Type: Fic
Age-Range Category: One
Characters: Severus Snape, Eileen Prince Snape, Tobias Snape
Author: goddess47
Rating: PG
Summary: It was Severus' first day of school.
"Severus! Time to get up! Breakfast will be ready soon!" Mam's voice drifted up the staircase to the second floor.
Severus was already up and dressed but he had to use the bathroom desperately. His Da had been in the bathroom as Severus dressed and Severus knew better than to disturb him.
It had been barely daylight when Severus woke but he was too excited to go back to sleep. So he crept around his small room and dressed in the clothes his mam had laid out the night before.
The black pants were second hand but they fit well. There was a new white shirt for the first day and two second hand shirts in the closet. Severus focused on getting the buttons done up right. He slipped the tie over his head, knowing Mam would fix it properly before he left.
There was a sweater he could wear but it was already warm, being early September, so he didn't think he would need it. Mam had said he could decide in the morning. He left it in the dresser.
He made his bed and checked to make sure that everything was put away, then he sat quietly in the chair next to the bed, waiting for Mam to call him to breakfast.
He heard Da finally leave the bathroom. Severus came out of the room and scampered to the bathroom. It was a relief to be able to piss in the toilet. He carefully washed his hands, there was no hot water, Da must have used it all. Finished, he went down to the kitchen.
"Good morning!" Mam said as she pushed a bowl of porridge in his direction.
Severus glanced around the table to see if maybe there was any honey but since the pot wasn't on the table, he knew there wasn't any. He ate the porridge while it was still warm.
"Doesn't Severus look grownup?" Mam asked.
Da glanced at Severus and grunted. "Uniforms cost money."
"We've already waited a year," Mam replied carefully. "We didn't send Severus to Reception last year when he was four but now that he's five, he does have to go to school."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Da replied. He returned his focus to eating the eggs and toast in front of him. "Don't know when I'll be home," he said as he drank down the mug of tea.
"Did... did you want to come with us?" Mam asked.
"Come where?" Da asked with a frown.
"To Severus' first day of school!" Mam replied.
"Why would I want to do that?" Da asked, shaking his head. "He can find his own way."
"I will take him the first day," Mam said firmly.
"Do whatever you want," Da said dismissively. "I'm going."
Da gathered up his cap from the hook in the front hall, fixed it on his head and strolled out of the house without a backward glance.
Mam sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"Is there any juice?" Severus asked quietly.
Mam looked at him. "No, but there is more milk. Do you want some?"
Severus nodded. The porridge had been cold and thick at the bottom of the bowl. Milk would help wash it down.
Mam poured Severus a glass of milk and he drank the first half of it greedily. He saved the rest to help with the porridge. It didn't take long for him to empty the bowl and the glass of milk.
"All done!" Severus announced.
"Good for you!" Mam replied. She put the dishes in the sink and looked up at the clock. "All right. Get your shoes on, it's almost time to leave."
The black shoes were also second hand but Mam had shined them up for Severus and he thought they looked like they were brand new. In any case, they were newer than any of the other shoes he had. He had outgrown the shoes he had last winter and Mam had taken them away.
Severus carefully tied the shoelaces, proud of being able to do that for himself. It was something he had learned during the summer.
"I'm ready!" Severus announced cheerfully.
"Good boy," Mam nodded. "Come here and let me finish fixing your tie."
Severus moved closer and she squatted down to put the tie to rights. "There you go!" she said when she finished. She patted him on the shoulder and kissed his forehead.
Mam had walked with Severus to the primary school several times over the summer, so he knew where it was. She had taken different paths, although he didn't understand why but when he asked, she said it was good for him to have choices.
They had spent a morning at the school last week when Mam filled out some papers. She said it was so he would get breakfast and lunch while he was at school. Severus had sat quietly while Mam talked to the other adults. But one woman had been kind and she had cheerfully taken Severus around the building. The first place she took him to was his classroom.
"You'll get a locker assigned to you on the first day," she explained. "So you can hang up your coat or leave your boots if it's wet or snowy.
"I don't have any boots," Severus admitted.
"Then we might see if we can fix you up with some," she went on practically.
She seemed pleased when Severus was enthused about the Library. There were two entire rooms, full of books that Severus could take home! That was even better than the playground.
"Can I take one now?" Severus had asked.
"Sorry, sweetie," the woman shook her head. "Not until your teacher brings you here and shows you what to do."
"I hope that's the first day!" Severus bounced on his toes.
"Probably not, but your teacher will be doing it soon," she promised.
Severus had talked about the library and all the books on the walk home with his Mam.
"Severus, let me talk to your teacher before you bring any books home," Mam said. "Your Da..." She took a breath.
"Oh. All right," Severus nodded. "Da might not like it." He tried not to do things Da might not like, and he was disappointed that books were one of those things.
"That's right," she replied sadly.
Severus didn't talk any more about the library but he also did not forget about it.
Today was already warm, so Severus was glad he left the sweater at home. As they got closer to the school, Severus saw more kids dressed like he was and a number of parents.
Just before they got to the school, Mam stopped and dropped to one knee to look Severus in the eye. She had her 'serious' face on, so Severus immediately paid attention.
"Now. You be good today," Mam said softly. So no one else might hear.
Severus nodded. "Be polite. Don't cry. Don't do magic," he quietly repeated the instructions she had given him. "I'll be good!"
"Excellent!" Mam smiled broadly. She took his hand. "Let's go meet your teacher!"