"The Potions Master and the Know it All" by Antigonesev
(A/N : much thanks to my beta, Keita! thank you! Also, the standard disclaimer: Sev, Hermione, and all others belong to J.K. although I'm having a bit of fun with them!)
Jamie Potter glared at the small sixteen year old Slytherin Prefect, his overlarge hooked nose stuck in a book as he stalked down the corridor, his book bag at his hip and his robes flaring around his slim frame. He had detested the boy ever since he could remember. Glancing to make sure Professors McGonagall and Snape weren't watching, he deftly stuck out his foot and tripped the Slytherin, who went sprawling across his books, scrolls scattering everywhere as the boy smashed his nose on the stones. A resounding crack echoed in the hall as he disappeared.
"What did you do, you foolish boy?!" McGonagall shouted, attracted to the noise, which sounded much like someone Apparating. McGonagall dragged Jamie Potter all the way to Dumbledore's office, fuming over the fact that one of her own Prefects had dared hex a Slytherin Prefect, much less the son of a professor, even though the aforementioned professor wasn't very much liked.
"Well, we'll have to see what developments occur. Mr. Potter, you may go. Minerva, you had better go inform the Snapes of the occurrence concerning young Mr. Snape." Dumbledore said with a thin smile on his lips. After he dismissed Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley's brash, young, seventeen year old son, James Potter II. Minerva McGonagall went off to inform Severus and Hermione, for the two would be distraught at the lack of their son's presence in the Slytherin common room. Minerva detested being the bearer of sad news, but someone had to do it.
The boy moaned quietly to himself, gathering up his books and scrolls, staggering up to a standing position, leaning slightly at the wall. He was fuming, how dare the git Potter pull such a dirty trick? Well, he'd had it, he would go straight to Dumbledore and insist that Potter, Weasley, and Longbottom were to be expelled this instant. The sixteen year old Prefect shot a dark glare which sent Mrs. Norris skittering in the opposite direction as he shouted the password to the gargoyle. Nothing happened. He knew the password was correct, his father had given it to him earlier this morning.
"Snowcone! Gumdrop! Jawbreaker! Snickers!" the boy screamed at the gargoyle, nearing tears, an ugly bruise on his cheek, his raven hair unkempt in strands around his face, his black robes billowing about as he flailed his arms in anger. Finally, after a long thought, the boy whispered the failsafe password, and the gargoyle opened to reveal the staircase to Dumbledore's office. The sixteen year old youth breezed right in the office, demanding that Potter, Weasley, and Longbottom be expelled, they were poor excuses of Gryffindors. Dumbledore merely gazed at the boy, his eyes wide as he was sucking on a lemon drop.
"Well, have a seat, my boy, and let's get acquainted."
"Huh? Albus, can't you do anything?"
"My boy, I cannot do anything until you tell me of your name."
"It's me, Saxen Lupin Snape, don't you remember?" the boy said, frowning at Albus Dumbledore. " I was born, right in the middle of the final battle against You Know Who, no less."
"However, how could this be possible?" Dumbledore asked as he offered Saxen an cup of tea, the boy accepting the tea and explaining his theory, his time-turner had broken upon his fall and a hex inflicted by Jamie Potter.
Dumbledore spoke quietly after a quiet pause, looking over the boy with a critical eye, fingering the calendar on his desk. "When were you born?" Dumbledore asked with a small tremor in his voice, he did not want to think of a final battle against Voldemort coming up soon.
Saxen said in a whisper. "I was born in January 2004."
"Oh dear." Dumbledore said with a small sigh as he glanced at the date on the calendar with a frown. "I guess you will be here for a while until we can rouse up another time turner. Meanwhile, why don't we get you Sorted and continue your education."
"Yes, sir, that would be wise." Saxen said with a sharp nod of agreement as the Sorting hat was put on his head, confident he would end up in Slytherin, after all, he was a Slytherin Prefect in the year 2020. Saxen's face contorted into a mask of rage when the hat declared him perfect for Gryffindor. Saxen muttered a few choice curse words as he threw the hat to the ground. Dumbledore merely tsked quietly at the sixteen year old, whose robes had changed to accommodate his current House and Era. Saxen hissed through his teeth sharply, Just like Severus, Dumbledore thought offhandedly as Minerva McGonagall had entered to escort Saxen to Gryffindor Tower.
"Minerva, this is Saxen Lupin Snape, and he will be temporarily staying with us."
"I see. I must ask, a Snape in Gryffindor?" McGonagall asked Saxen, a curious look dancing in her eyes. Saxen scowled, and pinched the bridge of his nose much like Severus did when he was annoyed.
"My mum was a Gryffindor, back in her day." Saxen said ever so quietly, quirking his eyebrow and laughing weakly as he was led by McGonagall to Gryffindor Tower, McGonagall studying Saxen out of the corner of her eye. He was used to that, she always did that back in his day, only it was usually aimed at his brothers.
"I would like to introduce to you a new classmate, Saxen Snape. He has transferred from a private academy..."
"Academie d'Merlin." Saxen replied in a slightly haughty voice, he had always wanted to go there, but his father refused, being the git he was, and his mother also had refused, she didn't want to let go of her sole rule-abiding son, the only one who actually earned House points instead of losing them daily.
Harry then introduced himself and his two friends, eyeing the young Snape, who scowled down at Harry, he was still an inch taller than Harry, and hovered above Hermione, but couldn't manage to beat Ron Weasley in the heighth department. Snape scowled down at Harry.
"Potter." Saxen said, shooting an icy glare at Harry, a sharp tremor shooting down his spine as his mouth went dry. Turning to Hermione, his mouth fell slightly open, his eyes studying Hermione's face with an half-concealed interest. His mother looked just like she did this morning, nothing had changed about her, except for the fact she no longer sported her wedding ring and her hair seemed frizzier than usual. "Pleased to meet you, M... Hermione." Saxen said as he bowed down to kiss Hermione's hand in a chivalrous gesture, but was stopped by Harry and Ron.
"Why would she want to be kissed by a greasy Snape?" Ron asked sharply.
"Potter, Weasley... " Saxen said in a chilling tone as he straightened himself up and stalked off to the boys' dormitories in a fit of rage. How dare they tell him that he could not greet his mother in the proper fashion? Of course, they didn't know, but it wouldn't be chivalrous if he hadn't properly greeted her, after all, the Snapes had not been raised in a barn, unlike the Weasleys and the Potters. Saxen scowled as he received an owl with his timetable later in the afternoon, and wonderful, he had Potions first thing in the morning, with BOTH of his parents in the same room. Joy, utter joy, Saxen thought to himself, his thought-voice dripping with sarcasm.
The next morning found Saxen sitting at the Gryffindor table at 6 am, his overlarge and hooked nose in "Hogwarts, A History" for the twenty millionth time during his stay at Hogwarts. He simatenously drank a cup of coffee and began working on an Potions essay, as he knew his father's curriculum by heart, and he knew he would have not changed it one bit in sixteen years. Saxen looked up, startled, when someone finally took a seat near him. For a moment, he thought he was back in his own time. His mother and himself usually shared a quiet moment such as this once in a while in the mornings, away from his grumpy father and annoying siblings.
"Hogwarts, a History?" Hermione asked, her voice revealing interest. "I've read it only a million times, how about you?"
"About the same." Saxen said, chuckling, as he turned the page and took a sip of his coffee, dripping on his parchment. Saxen scowled, and flicked his wand to clean it up. Hermione raised her eyebrow at Saxen's essay.
"How do you know the curriculum ahead of time, when you only arrived yesterday?"
"Albus had the professors owl me the assignments." Saxen lied through his perfect white teeth.
"Oh?" Hermione said, obviously not believing him, but not pressuring him for an answer. For that, he was grateful. The two fell into a conversation, and it was rudely interrupted by the arrival of Potions class. Saxen sighed and gathered up his things, heading down to the Dungeons, unaware that Hermione was studying him with a curious look in her eyes. She was quite surprised that the new boy knew his way around the dungeons as well as any other sixth-year. She arched her eyebrow at Saxen in a quiet question as she took a seat next to him, her curiosity of the boy was piqued when Saxen paused, and then nodded sharply, clearing a place for her.
Snape breezed in the classroom in his usual fashion, beginning the lecture immediately. Saxen immediately began taking notes furiously, and when Snape asked a question, his and Hermione's hands were first in the air.
"Ah, another eager student." Snape said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as his eyes fell on Saxen, who shivered slightly under his father's dark gaze. Saxen smiled and answered the question sharply, with an arch of his eyebrow, almost a challenge. Snape narrowed his eyes. "You've only arrived here yesterday, so I have heard, and I strongly discourage know-it-alls in my classroom, two is two too many, Mr. Snape." Snape snapped as Saxen scowled up at the dour potions-master, the class having gone quiet, not daring intrude and make him more livid than he was right at the moment, staring down at the small sixteen year old boy who looked extraordinarily like the Potions-Master.
"Yes, sir." Saxen snapped as Snape ordered the class to begin their work. Saxen scowled up at his father, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
Saxen frowned sharply as he put together his potion with Hermione, scowling deeply as he and Hermione deftly compared notes. He couldn't help but notice how similar he and his mother were in their studies, they had finished their potion ahead of the class. Saxen smiled, he was fully in his element in this class, having been raised by a Potions-Master. Saxen quietly conversed with Hermione, his heart in his throat the entire time, fearing he would let slip a secret, he already had messed up and given his name, he didn't want to alter the future.
Snape walked up to their table, demanding to know why they were dilly-dallying around their potion, and not working at all. Saxen smiled coldly and declared that he and Hermione had made the potion in question.
"You cannot, not in a half-hour." Snape said in a sharp, malicious voice.
"Yes you can, if only you add doxywings and then stir counterclockwise three times, and then add ferret dung." Saxen said, his eyes glittering at Draco Malfoy, his parents had told him the story of Draco Malfoy, the Incredible Bouncing Ferret Boy. "Since my father's intelligent enough to educate me in the finer art of Potions, I chose to learn some advantages such as this." Saxen said sharply as Snape ordered them to try their veritaserum, handing a vial filled with their potion to Saxen, obviously indicating that Saxen should be the one to test it. Saxen blanched, going white, but then frowned, gently taking it from Snape, and downing it with a full gulp. Snape grinned maliciously and began his interrogation. Saxen smiled coldly and gestured for Snape to begin. Snape narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"Where were you born?"
"Palais d' Mal Foi." Saxen said, giving the French name for Malfoy Manor. Snape's eyes widened ever so slightly, he and only a select few knew of the alternate name. Snape's lips tightened sharply, almost holding back the next question.
"Who are your parents?" Snape asked sharply, his eyebrow raised high on his forehead, giving him a sinister appearance. Saxen growled, biting back his answer, fighting the Veritaserum, staring at Snape and then Hermione, biting his lip just like his mother usually did when faced with a challenge. Saxen closed his eyes for a moment, his head spinning. "you do not have anything to hide...." Snape said in a cold tone as Saxen promptly passed out from the effort of blocking the veritaserum, hitting his head on the table as he went down, only to be caught deftly by Snape and Hermione. "Class DISMISSED!" Snape barked as students hurried out of the class, shooting looks at the pale young man unconscious on the ground of the classroom.
Saxen opened a single black orb, and then another followed. He was now fully conscious, although a bit groggy. Hermione was sitting at his side, glancing concernedly at him as Snape stood foreboding above him, arms crossed, with McGonagall and Dumbledore at either side of him. Saxen forgot everything, thinking it was only a strange dream.
"It was so odd." Saxen mumbled, shaking his head gently. "Mum, she was only sixteen, a student of Papa's.. and Papa made me test out the veritaserum... Grandpa Albus and Aunt Minerva didn't know me either, it was just so funny, and… " Saxen spat out the name, "Potter... was there, just... degrading." Saxen added, glaring at a stunned Hermione, her face pale beyond belief.
"Mum, are you all right?" Saxen asked gently, taking her hand into his. Saxen moaned to himself, pinching the bridge of his nose much like Snape did.
"Oh, sweet Circe, so it wasn't a dream... I'm really... here..." Saxen whispered sharply, swinging his bare legs over the bed, revealing a nasty scar on one of his legs, a jagged red welt angrily glaring up at everyone in the room.
"How did you get that?" Snape asked, surprised that a boy this young would sport such ugly scars, unless he was the cause, Snape inwardly blanched at the thought. Saxen glanced down at the scar in surprise, and then sighed ever so quietly, giving them the barest details of an injury gained when he was a boy, exploring while his parents were away, and gaining an unwanted visitor in the form of Harry Potter. Saxen quickly stopped after mentioning Harry, and hastily threw on a pair of trousers, and left on the hospital gown over his trousers. He wasn't going to take off his shirt, he knew that if he did, his father would go ballistic at the sight of the smooth red welts on his chest, torso, and back. Saxen just couldn't explain to Hermione Granger that her best friend was a monster, an angry man bent on revenge on the man who stole Hermione from him.
"Um... I'd better get going, unless Albus has found a way home for me?"
"Not yet, I'm afraid." Albus Dumbledore said with a silent shake of his head. Saxen released a breath he hadn't known he had been holding for quite a while. "But perhaps it would be best for you to stay with Severus, perhaps?" Dumbledore said as he gently put his arm around Saxen, who stiffened ever so slightly and nodded sharply at Dumbledore. Snape looked down at the pale sixteen year old, whom was a carbon copy of himself. It was obvious that the boy had suffered, and Snape prayed that it wasn't by his own hand.
Snape headed down to his private rooms with Saxen, noticing the ever so slight drag of his left leg, where the scar was located. Snape quietly inwardly seethed at the thought of Harry Potter laying a hand on his child. Snape harshly threw open the portrait and showed Saxen around his rooms, conjuring up a bed out of his sofa. Saxen thanked Snape, but then stopped Snape with a small whimper.
"You didn't do anything, it isn't your fault, you know." Saxen said in a quiet tone as he sat on the bed, staring into the fire, retelling Snape the true story of how he had gotten the scar. Harry Potter had gone round to attempt to collect Hermione, demanding that Hermione couldn't be in love with a git like Snape, and throwing Saxen into a tall bookcase with a glass door when Saxen attempted to block Harry from entering the home. Saxen had been five years old. Snape stood still, eyeing Saxen quietly, and then moving to pour himself a shot of firewhiskey, vowing he would tear Harry Potter from limb to limb given the soonest opportunity. When he was certain the boy was asleep, he headed straight over to Dumbledore's office, where Miss Granger was currently sitting in an overstuffed chair next to Minerva.
"Albus, Saxen just has enlightened me as to the situation he has gained his injury." Snape went on to inform Dumbledore that he had noticed that Saxen had numerous scars all over his chest, torso, and back, from what seemed to be an long-ago incident, Snape decided to save most of the details for when Hermione wasn't there—he couldn't bear for her to hear the dark news.
"Miss Granger, you may go to your dormitory. Severus, have a seat." Dumbledore said gently, knowing what a serious issue this was. Snape nodded as he took a seat across from Dumbledore, and watched Hermione leave the room with McGonagall. "Now, I think you should inform me everything as to what Saxen informed you as to the nature of his injuries." Dumbledore said with absolutely no trace of his usual jovial twinkle. His blue eyes were cold and hard, something Snape was grateful for. Snape retold every single story Saxen had told him, beginning with the encounter of when Saxen was five, and ending with the most recent encounter at Hogwarts while Harry was on a visit to see Hermione a few weeks earlier. Dumbledore sat there, watching young Severus Snape quietly seethe.
The next day, Saxen woke up to the smell of coffee and breakfast. Saxen smiled, knowing how much his father loved to cook. Saxen headed over to the small kitchen and sat down at the table, and promptly began to stuff himself full of the wonderful food. When he was fully satisfied, he looked at Snape, who was looking down at him with the strangest expression in his eyes.
"You'd better get going to classes."
"Yes, I should." Saxen whispered as he picked up his oversized book bag and headed up to the Great Hall to put in an appearance for breakfast.
***to be continued****
(A/N : much thanks to my beta, Keita! thank you! Also, the standard disclaimer: Sev, Hermione, and all others belong to J.K. although I'm having a bit of fun with them!)
Jamie Potter glared at the small sixteen year old Slytherin Prefect, his overlarge hooked nose stuck in a book as he stalked down the corridor, his book bag at his hip and his robes flaring around his slim frame. He had detested the boy ever since he could remember. Glancing to make sure Professors McGonagall and Snape weren't watching, he deftly stuck out his foot and tripped the Slytherin, who went sprawling across his books, scrolls scattering everywhere as the boy smashed his nose on the stones. A resounding crack echoed in the hall as he disappeared.
"What did you do, you foolish boy?!" McGonagall shouted, attracted to the noise, which sounded much like someone Apparating. McGonagall dragged Jamie Potter all the way to Dumbledore's office, fuming over the fact that one of her own Prefects had dared hex a Slytherin Prefect, much less the son of a professor, even though the aforementioned professor wasn't very much liked.
"Well, we'll have to see what developments occur. Mr. Potter, you may go. Minerva, you had better go inform the Snapes of the occurrence concerning young Mr. Snape." Dumbledore said with a thin smile on his lips. After he dismissed Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley's brash, young, seventeen year old son, James Potter II. Minerva McGonagall went off to inform Severus and Hermione, for the two would be distraught at the lack of their son's presence in the Slytherin common room. Minerva detested being the bearer of sad news, but someone had to do it.
The boy moaned quietly to himself, gathering up his books and scrolls, staggering up to a standing position, leaning slightly at the wall. He was fuming, how dare the git Potter pull such a dirty trick? Well, he'd had it, he would go straight to Dumbledore and insist that Potter, Weasley, and Longbottom were to be expelled this instant. The sixteen year old Prefect shot a dark glare which sent Mrs. Norris skittering in the opposite direction as he shouted the password to the gargoyle. Nothing happened. He knew the password was correct, his father had given it to him earlier this morning.
"Snowcone! Gumdrop! Jawbreaker! Snickers!" the boy screamed at the gargoyle, nearing tears, an ugly bruise on his cheek, his raven hair unkempt in strands around his face, his black robes billowing about as he flailed his arms in anger. Finally, after a long thought, the boy whispered the failsafe password, and the gargoyle opened to reveal the staircase to Dumbledore's office. The sixteen year old youth breezed right in the office, demanding that Potter, Weasley, and Longbottom be expelled, they were poor excuses of Gryffindors. Dumbledore merely gazed at the boy, his eyes wide as he was sucking on a lemon drop.
"Well, have a seat, my boy, and let's get acquainted."
"Huh? Albus, can't you do anything?"
"My boy, I cannot do anything until you tell me of your name."
"It's me, Saxen Lupin Snape, don't you remember?" the boy said, frowning at Albus Dumbledore. " I was born, right in the middle of the final battle against You Know Who, no less."
"However, how could this be possible?" Dumbledore asked as he offered Saxen an cup of tea, the boy accepting the tea and explaining his theory, his time-turner had broken upon his fall and a hex inflicted by Jamie Potter.
Dumbledore spoke quietly after a quiet pause, looking over the boy with a critical eye, fingering the calendar on his desk. "When were you born?" Dumbledore asked with a small tremor in his voice, he did not want to think of a final battle against Voldemort coming up soon.
Saxen said in a whisper. "I was born in January 2004."
"Oh dear." Dumbledore said with a small sigh as he glanced at the date on the calendar with a frown. "I guess you will be here for a while until we can rouse up another time turner. Meanwhile, why don't we get you Sorted and continue your education."
"Yes, sir, that would be wise." Saxen said with a sharp nod of agreement as the Sorting hat was put on his head, confident he would end up in Slytherin, after all, he was a Slytherin Prefect in the year 2020. Saxen's face contorted into a mask of rage when the hat declared him perfect for Gryffindor. Saxen muttered a few choice curse words as he threw the hat to the ground. Dumbledore merely tsked quietly at the sixteen year old, whose robes had changed to accommodate his current House and Era. Saxen hissed through his teeth sharply, Just like Severus, Dumbledore thought offhandedly as Minerva McGonagall had entered to escort Saxen to Gryffindor Tower.
"Minerva, this is Saxen Lupin Snape, and he will be temporarily staying with us."
"I see. I must ask, a Snape in Gryffindor?" McGonagall asked Saxen, a curious look dancing in her eyes. Saxen scowled, and pinched the bridge of his nose much like Severus did when he was annoyed.
"My mum was a Gryffindor, back in her day." Saxen said ever so quietly, quirking his eyebrow and laughing weakly as he was led by McGonagall to Gryffindor Tower, McGonagall studying Saxen out of the corner of her eye. He was used to that, she always did that back in his day, only it was usually aimed at his brothers.
"I would like to introduce to you a new classmate, Saxen Snape. He has transferred from a private academy..."
"Academie d'Merlin." Saxen replied in a slightly haughty voice, he had always wanted to go there, but his father refused, being the git he was, and his mother also had refused, she didn't want to let go of her sole rule-abiding son, the only one who actually earned House points instead of losing them daily.
Harry then introduced himself and his two friends, eyeing the young Snape, who scowled down at Harry, he was still an inch taller than Harry, and hovered above Hermione, but couldn't manage to beat Ron Weasley in the heighth department. Snape scowled down at Harry.
"Potter." Saxen said, shooting an icy glare at Harry, a sharp tremor shooting down his spine as his mouth went dry. Turning to Hermione, his mouth fell slightly open, his eyes studying Hermione's face with an half-concealed interest. His mother looked just like she did this morning, nothing had changed about her, except for the fact she no longer sported her wedding ring and her hair seemed frizzier than usual. "Pleased to meet you, M... Hermione." Saxen said as he bowed down to kiss Hermione's hand in a chivalrous gesture, but was stopped by Harry and Ron.
"Why would she want to be kissed by a greasy Snape?" Ron asked sharply.
"Potter, Weasley... " Saxen said in a chilling tone as he straightened himself up and stalked off to the boys' dormitories in a fit of rage. How dare they tell him that he could not greet his mother in the proper fashion? Of course, they didn't know, but it wouldn't be chivalrous if he hadn't properly greeted her, after all, the Snapes had not been raised in a barn, unlike the Weasleys and the Potters. Saxen scowled as he received an owl with his timetable later in the afternoon, and wonderful, he had Potions first thing in the morning, with BOTH of his parents in the same room. Joy, utter joy, Saxen thought to himself, his thought-voice dripping with sarcasm.
The next morning found Saxen sitting at the Gryffindor table at 6 am, his overlarge and hooked nose in "Hogwarts, A History" for the twenty millionth time during his stay at Hogwarts. He simatenously drank a cup of coffee and began working on an Potions essay, as he knew his father's curriculum by heart, and he knew he would have not changed it one bit in sixteen years. Saxen looked up, startled, when someone finally took a seat near him. For a moment, he thought he was back in his own time. His mother and himself usually shared a quiet moment such as this once in a while in the mornings, away from his grumpy father and annoying siblings.
"Hogwarts, a History?" Hermione asked, her voice revealing interest. "I've read it only a million times, how about you?"
"About the same." Saxen said, chuckling, as he turned the page and took a sip of his coffee, dripping on his parchment. Saxen scowled, and flicked his wand to clean it up. Hermione raised her eyebrow at Saxen's essay.
"How do you know the curriculum ahead of time, when you only arrived yesterday?"
"Albus had the professors owl me the assignments." Saxen lied through his perfect white teeth.
"Oh?" Hermione said, obviously not believing him, but not pressuring him for an answer. For that, he was grateful. The two fell into a conversation, and it was rudely interrupted by the arrival of Potions class. Saxen sighed and gathered up his things, heading down to the Dungeons, unaware that Hermione was studying him with a curious look in her eyes. She was quite surprised that the new boy knew his way around the dungeons as well as any other sixth-year. She arched her eyebrow at Saxen in a quiet question as she took a seat next to him, her curiosity of the boy was piqued when Saxen paused, and then nodded sharply, clearing a place for her.
Snape breezed in the classroom in his usual fashion, beginning the lecture immediately. Saxen immediately began taking notes furiously, and when Snape asked a question, his and Hermione's hands were first in the air.
"Ah, another eager student." Snape said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as his eyes fell on Saxen, who shivered slightly under his father's dark gaze. Saxen smiled and answered the question sharply, with an arch of his eyebrow, almost a challenge. Snape narrowed his eyes. "You've only arrived here yesterday, so I have heard, and I strongly discourage know-it-alls in my classroom, two is two too many, Mr. Snape." Snape snapped as Saxen scowled up at the dour potions-master, the class having gone quiet, not daring intrude and make him more livid than he was right at the moment, staring down at the small sixteen year old boy who looked extraordinarily like the Potions-Master.
"Yes, sir." Saxen snapped as Snape ordered the class to begin their work. Saxen scowled up at his father, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
Saxen frowned sharply as he put together his potion with Hermione, scowling deeply as he and Hermione deftly compared notes. He couldn't help but notice how similar he and his mother were in their studies, they had finished their potion ahead of the class. Saxen smiled, he was fully in his element in this class, having been raised by a Potions-Master. Saxen quietly conversed with Hermione, his heart in his throat the entire time, fearing he would let slip a secret, he already had messed up and given his name, he didn't want to alter the future.
Snape walked up to their table, demanding to know why they were dilly-dallying around their potion, and not working at all. Saxen smiled coldly and declared that he and Hermione had made the potion in question.
"You cannot, not in a half-hour." Snape said in a sharp, malicious voice.
"Yes you can, if only you add doxywings and then stir counterclockwise three times, and then add ferret dung." Saxen said, his eyes glittering at Draco Malfoy, his parents had told him the story of Draco Malfoy, the Incredible Bouncing Ferret Boy. "Since my father's intelligent enough to educate me in the finer art of Potions, I chose to learn some advantages such as this." Saxen said sharply as Snape ordered them to try their veritaserum, handing a vial filled with their potion to Saxen, obviously indicating that Saxen should be the one to test it. Saxen blanched, going white, but then frowned, gently taking it from Snape, and downing it with a full gulp. Snape grinned maliciously and began his interrogation. Saxen smiled coldly and gestured for Snape to begin. Snape narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"Where were you born?"
"Palais d' Mal Foi." Saxen said, giving the French name for Malfoy Manor. Snape's eyes widened ever so slightly, he and only a select few knew of the alternate name. Snape's lips tightened sharply, almost holding back the next question.
"Who are your parents?" Snape asked sharply, his eyebrow raised high on his forehead, giving him a sinister appearance. Saxen growled, biting back his answer, fighting the Veritaserum, staring at Snape and then Hermione, biting his lip just like his mother usually did when faced with a challenge. Saxen closed his eyes for a moment, his head spinning. "you do not have anything to hide...." Snape said in a cold tone as Saxen promptly passed out from the effort of blocking the veritaserum, hitting his head on the table as he went down, only to be caught deftly by Snape and Hermione. "Class DISMISSED!" Snape barked as students hurried out of the class, shooting looks at the pale young man unconscious on the ground of the classroom.
Saxen opened a single black orb, and then another followed. He was now fully conscious, although a bit groggy. Hermione was sitting at his side, glancing concernedly at him as Snape stood foreboding above him, arms crossed, with McGonagall and Dumbledore at either side of him. Saxen forgot everything, thinking it was only a strange dream.
"It was so odd." Saxen mumbled, shaking his head gently. "Mum, she was only sixteen, a student of Papa's.. and Papa made me test out the veritaserum... Grandpa Albus and Aunt Minerva didn't know me either, it was just so funny, and… " Saxen spat out the name, "Potter... was there, just... degrading." Saxen added, glaring at a stunned Hermione, her face pale beyond belief.
"Mum, are you all right?" Saxen asked gently, taking her hand into his. Saxen moaned to himself, pinching the bridge of his nose much like Snape did.
"Oh, sweet Circe, so it wasn't a dream... I'm really... here..." Saxen whispered sharply, swinging his bare legs over the bed, revealing a nasty scar on one of his legs, a jagged red welt angrily glaring up at everyone in the room.
"How did you get that?" Snape asked, surprised that a boy this young would sport such ugly scars, unless he was the cause, Snape inwardly blanched at the thought. Saxen glanced down at the scar in surprise, and then sighed ever so quietly, giving them the barest details of an injury gained when he was a boy, exploring while his parents were away, and gaining an unwanted visitor in the form of Harry Potter. Saxen quickly stopped after mentioning Harry, and hastily threw on a pair of trousers, and left on the hospital gown over his trousers. He wasn't going to take off his shirt, he knew that if he did, his father would go ballistic at the sight of the smooth red welts on his chest, torso, and back. Saxen just couldn't explain to Hermione Granger that her best friend was a monster, an angry man bent on revenge on the man who stole Hermione from him.
"Um... I'd better get going, unless Albus has found a way home for me?"
"Not yet, I'm afraid." Albus Dumbledore said with a silent shake of his head. Saxen released a breath he hadn't known he had been holding for quite a while. "But perhaps it would be best for you to stay with Severus, perhaps?" Dumbledore said as he gently put his arm around Saxen, who stiffened ever so slightly and nodded sharply at Dumbledore. Snape looked down at the pale sixteen year old, whom was a carbon copy of himself. It was obvious that the boy had suffered, and Snape prayed that it wasn't by his own hand.
Snape headed down to his private rooms with Saxen, noticing the ever so slight drag of his left leg, where the scar was located. Snape quietly inwardly seethed at the thought of Harry Potter laying a hand on his child. Snape harshly threw open the portrait and showed Saxen around his rooms, conjuring up a bed out of his sofa. Saxen thanked Snape, but then stopped Snape with a small whimper.
"You didn't do anything, it isn't your fault, you know." Saxen said in a quiet tone as he sat on the bed, staring into the fire, retelling Snape the true story of how he had gotten the scar. Harry Potter had gone round to attempt to collect Hermione, demanding that Hermione couldn't be in love with a git like Snape, and throwing Saxen into a tall bookcase with a glass door when Saxen attempted to block Harry from entering the home. Saxen had been five years old. Snape stood still, eyeing Saxen quietly, and then moving to pour himself a shot of firewhiskey, vowing he would tear Harry Potter from limb to limb given the soonest opportunity. When he was certain the boy was asleep, he headed straight over to Dumbledore's office, where Miss Granger was currently sitting in an overstuffed chair next to Minerva.
"Albus, Saxen just has enlightened me as to the situation he has gained his injury." Snape went on to inform Dumbledore that he had noticed that Saxen had numerous scars all over his chest, torso, and back, from what seemed to be an long-ago incident, Snape decided to save most of the details for when Hermione wasn't there—he couldn't bear for her to hear the dark news.
"Miss Granger, you may go to your dormitory. Severus, have a seat." Dumbledore said gently, knowing what a serious issue this was. Snape nodded as he took a seat across from Dumbledore, and watched Hermione leave the room with McGonagall. "Now, I think you should inform me everything as to what Saxen informed you as to the nature of his injuries." Dumbledore said with absolutely no trace of his usual jovial twinkle. His blue eyes were cold and hard, something Snape was grateful for. Snape retold every single story Saxen had told him, beginning with the encounter of when Saxen was five, and ending with the most recent encounter at Hogwarts while Harry was on a visit to see Hermione a few weeks earlier. Dumbledore sat there, watching young Severus Snape quietly seethe.
The next day, Saxen woke up to the smell of coffee and breakfast. Saxen smiled, knowing how much his father loved to cook. Saxen headed over to the small kitchen and sat down at the table, and promptly began to stuff himself full of the wonderful food. When he was fully satisfied, he looked at Snape, who was looking down at him with the strangest expression in his eyes.
"You'd better get going to classes."
"Yes, I should." Saxen whispered as he picked up his oversized book bag and headed up to the Great Hall to put in an appearance for breakfast.
***to be continued****