The Talk

A Sam Snape Missing Moment

This is a story based around the characters and events of our PFW forum RPG. At one point recently we ‘jumped’ the story ahead by ten years, to give people a chance to play more aspects of their characters.  It actually has two possible versions—one taking place when Sam was nine, and one at thirteen, just barely before everything resumes after the Jump.  This version, age nine, was already posted on the forum itself a while ago, but I figured having it here would give people easier means of comparison. Enjoy!

Severus Snape sat down gracefully across from his daughter, his usual fluidity of movement doing little to mask the profoundly uncomfortable expression on his face. This was something for which he had no experience, no potion to whip up or ingredient list to memorise. Well, there was a related potion, but one he dearly hoped he was not called on to make—or rather, he would make his usual batch for Madam Pomfrey, and never be aware of it if his daughter made any use of the supply.  He rather thought he would make a special request to ensure that he did not know.

Nevertheless, the position he now found himself in seemed to be unavoidable. He and Ros had agreed this was a necessary discussion, she had given him a significant look, and was now mysteriously nowhere to be found. Severus was certainly enough of a Slytherin to read the signs.

He cleared his throat, another thing he rarely found the need to do. “Samantha,” he said firmly, “we need to have a talk.”

“Is this about the turning Uncle Remus’ hair green? Because—”

“No,” he said swiftly. “It has nothing to do with that.”

“Oh. Is it—” Sam paused. If it was about one of her recent pranks, Daddy’d tell her that. If it wasn’t, there was no need to reveal any he didn’t know of yet. “What is it about, then?”

Severus swallowed. “Well. Seeing as you are—the age you are, if you haven’t come to notice…other young people in a…different way, you—” he stopped, and cast about in his mind. His throat seemed to tighten at the most inopportune moments.. “You often visit the Riddle manor, or live there for stretches of time, of course. So you may be near others closer to your age, and care for those younger than you. Surely you must have noticed that to—for younger children to appear, there is a certain—process that must unfold.”

Sam relaxed. This wasn’t too bad! Though Daddy was acting very funny. “Sure!” she chirped, wanting to put him at ease and leave before he caught on to any pranks. “The mummy gets fat and sometimes feels bad, and then she says ‘Oops, it’s time’ and comes here, and Madam Pomfrey takes it off and makes a baby out of it!” She paused. “Sometimes there’s enough for two.”

Severus’ forehead clenched. “Well…not exactly. You see—well, first there’s—it—” He faltered.

“Yes?” said Sam.

Severus reached for the headache potion.