Title: Inverse Theory
Author: DhampyrX2
Genre: X-over
Series: Sorcerous Solutions
Rating: PG-13, just to be safe
Summary: In the last moments of the final battle several things have been resolved, including Severus Snape's loyalty. As the last blow is struck in the fight between Harry Potter and Tom Marvolo Riddle, all present must ask themselves if any of the devastation and pain that brought them there could have been prevented if they had just seen it coming in time. Severus is about to find out...
Timeframe: First at the end of Book Seven, Post-HBP; then MWPP, fifth year, just as Sirius and James hang Severus upside down.
OOC: I'm not too pleased with this part, but I'm posting it anyway. Let me know if it it's rubbish.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Don't sue me, I'm poor.
After the first fifteen minutes of actually having to sit in the chair on front of Albus' desk, Severus could unequivocally state that while it might be worth it just to see the old man alive again; the indignity of being dragged there, on top of having to use his occlumency skills to throw off the Headmaster's mental probes, left him feeling like it was not.
The distinct lack of a twinkle in Dumbledore's eye to show how disappointed the old man was wasn't helping either.
"Severus," Albus began with a resigned tone.
"Yes, Headmaster?" the young scion of the House of Inverse asked in his usual imperious tones, before regretfully realizing that the hard earned aloofness of a seasoned spy and warrior in his early forties should not have been seen on the face of a fifth year student. Even one like Severus Snape. The Half-Blood Prince valiantly suppressed the wince he wanted to let loose as Albus' attempts at legilimency doubled in intensity without changing anything in the older man's façade.
"I understand you had a bit of an… altercation with some of the other students after your DADA O.W.L. today," the old wizard ventured.
"If by altercation, you mean that James Potter and Sirius Black ganged up on and attacked me without provocation, while a /prefect/ in the form of Remus Lupin did nothing to intervene in the matter. After which I was dragged off to you to be punished after I successfully began to defend myself from said unsolicited attack while they were simply sent to be patched up by Poppy without so much as an unkind word, then yes, you could say that," Severus blandly returned.
The utter lack of emotion in his words made Minerva and Albus share a worried look. It just wasn't natural to say something like that without some sadness or anger in your voice. Doubly so for a child. This was more troublesome than they had fist thought, if that were possible.
"And just how did you… defend yourself, Severus?" Dumbledore asked in his usual kindly old grandfather type of way.
Snape actually smirked devilishly as he responded, "I think you know already, old man. You think I failed to see Lupin take off like he did? I imagine you could repeat the spell word for word if you wanted to. Because it's not the unrefined burst of power I used to break the body-bind and levitation charms that concerns you, now is it? It's the bit of an old puzzle my mother left by marrying a muggle falling into place that had you send the Deputy Headmistress out to drag me off to you like some kind of ill tempered ragamuffin."
Albus was silent and contemplative again for several moments, even as Minerva stiffened at the implied displeasure Snape alluded to in her treatment of him. "Then you no doubt see my dilemma," Albus finally said.
If he thought his words would dampen the grin on the face of Eileen Prince's only son, he was gravely mistaken. If anything, Severus' grin just grew from devilish to smug, bordering even on content. It almost seemed as if the boy had been waiting decades to have something over on the Headmaster, and he was finally about to make his play.
"You will do… absolutely nothing," Severus stated with proud certainty.
McGonagall let out an outraged squeak at the boy's smarmy cheek toward Albus' authority as she stated, "Now see here, young man!"
Her coming tirade of maternal discipline was cut off, however, with a gesture from Dumbledore. "Let the boy speak, Minerva," Albus commanded with an even timbre. This conversation grew more and more interesting, and he wanted to see where the young Slytherin was heading with it. "He knows as well as anyone the punishments for using, and concealing, sorcery in the Wizarding World."
"Indeed. Expulsion, banishment, loss of my wand, the terrible scandal it would cause for the school to have allowed a sorcerer to even be touched by the oh so pure light of wizardry. Please spare me the histrionics. I'm not fool enough to imply the scandal alone will keep your silence. Rather, it's what I know that will keep this under the proverbial rug," Snape returned blandly, as if the entire conversation was too bothersome to follow with his whole attention.
"And what precisely do you think you know?" Albus inquires seriously.
"Quite a lot of things. The wizard terrorist Voldemort's real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, you have a scar that doubles as a map of the Muggle London Underground on your leg, McGonagall occasionally secretly goes trolling for rats in her animagus form with Filch's cat on nights where she is not patrolling, you knowingly endangered every student and teacher here by allowing an undeclared werewolf in the form of Remus Lupin to study here unsupervised, and even went so far as to cover for his unregistered animagus friends, the location of the kitchens is behind the portrait of the fruit bowl, and you have to tickle the pear to get in…" Severus prattled off as he watched both teachers go ashen at his some of his declarations.
"I think I have heard enough," Albus declared in shock.
"Yes, knowing the boy you were about to bully into something you wanted done, one whose occlumency is such that you can't pull things from his head, has enough information to have you both fired, and the Headmaster placed in Azkaban for a minimum of five years must quite trying for you," Severus returned with false sympathy.
"Is that a threat?" Minerva bristled.
"No," Snape declared flatly. "It's an understanding. If I was to be truly expelled, I would not have been brought here to stew. You'd have snapped my wand and sent me on my way before the door to the Headmaster's office had finished closing. Instead, you wanted to blackmail me into something I would normally refuse. Probably something you need ears in Slytherin for. Possibly relating to mister Riddle. I am simply showing that I will not be bullied. Nor will I have anything to do with that madman or his ideals because you want to place someone close to him. We are on an even kilter here. You have knowledge that puts me in danger of ruining my life within the Wizarding World. I have information that does the same for you. That is why nothing will be done. We are at a stalemate," he explained.
"You seem privy to quite a bit of information. One might inquire where you got it," Albus finally said as he sat back a bit more in his chair and looked the boy over more carefully than before.
"I'm a Slytherin. The utter ruination and slander of our house reputation for centuries has forced us all to become survivors over the years. After all, you'll never hear about the likes of a Mad-Eye Moody or a Molly Prewett being Slytherins after they leave Hogwarts, just as you never hear that Grindewald was a Gryffindor. Most of us have to shed our very pride to survive in the world beyond these walls, but we learn to survive before we ever do. Information is a handy thing to keep you alive. As this little conversation proves," Severus replied.
"Indeed," Albus returned, a bit non-plussed.
After a pause to let what he had said sink in, Severus gave the Headmaster a shrewd look as he said, "There is something else that I know you might be interested in, Headmaster."
"And what is that?" Albus asked with a raise of his right brow.
"I know how to brew the Wolfsbane potion properly. Something Professor Slughorn can neither do for you, nor would he leave it unreported if he could," Severus said.
After a moment to contemplate what the young man was saying, he inquired, "Assuming I believe you capable of such a delicate potion, why would I believe you would supply it to me young man? What would you require for this… service."
Severus snorted, as if insulted Albus would think he wanted to blackmail him for the wolf's medicine, even if he knew this Albus lacked the reasons to trust him the old man had in his own history. The fact he offered it like that should have told him volumes. Gryffindors just didn't understand subtlety at all. "If you think I'm soliciting bribes from you, you are mistaken. All I would /require/ is a private lab space protected by a password and free of House Elf interference, the ingredients and tools to make the potion, and free time to brew it. What I will /ask/ for on top of that is time to do independent potions research without my head of house about to gush uselessly and distract me, your assurance the bloody wolf takes his medicine religiously, and the right to ask Lily Evans to assist me in brewing."
"The first parts seem simple enough. May I inquire as to why you asked for the last?" Albus asked as the twinkle returned to his eye.
"Nothing you're implying is remotely related to the request, I assure you," Severus stated flatly in that too adult tone that worried both professors immensely. "She is the most competent potion student here beside me, we work well together in class, she's a Gryffindor so she can assure Minerva I'm not trying to poison one of Potter's friends, if she learns to brew it you won't have to rely on me as your only source for the potion, and finally… she is my friend. I trust her. I hope you know enough about Slytherins to know just what that means," he added with a nod of satisfaction.
"I do. Certainly not as well as you, or Professor Slughorn, would but well enough. In fact, Alastor Moody, whom you mentioned earlier, once said the same regarding me. Although I'm a bit shocked you know of him. His days being praised as a hero to young Slytherins passed when he lost his eye, as I understand it," Albus ventured.
"True Slytherins don't forget their own. Not the ones of us worth remembering, anyway," Snape explained uncomfortably.
"Minerva and I will have to discuss your terms, but they don't seem unreasonable. You'll have an answer about them later in the week," Albus declared.
"You can not be serious, Albus! He's threatened us, and he used sorcery in from of dozens of students. Do you really think no one will notice that?" Minerva asked incredulously.
Snape snorted as he responded, "They'll see what they want to see. Wandless magic. The only students that could possible recognize structured sorcery for what it is are the ones that have sorcerous ancestors themselves, and they'll keep silent to avoid their own expulsion. For hell's sake, 90 percent of the first years are asleep for the /one sentence/ Binns devotes to the differences between Wizardry and Sorcery. I doubt most of the dunderheads awake for that sentence even understood it. You have little to fear from a single leak getting back to the Ministry. A few well placed rumors and it will be written off. I have more to face than you. My fellow Slytherins will be more curious than the other three houses."
"An interesting and insightful point, Severus," Albus cut in with a smile before Minerva could tear into the lad for swearing at her. "Now then, we have much to discuss, and you have earned a respite after your O.W.L. Please try to stay out of trouble," he added as a dismissal.
"I normally do. Maybe more a bit more 'constant vigilance' within your shared house would improve my efforts," Severus responded with a snort as he rose to leave. He nodded curtly both to Albus, and then to Minerva, as he said "Headmaster, Professor," and made his exit. As he left, he let his mental shields lift just enough that Albus could hear one thought. It was worth this just to see you alive and well again you barmy old coot. Even if you are a manipulative general in grandfather's robes.
L-sama's chosen sorcerer managed perhaps a dozen steps out of the Headmaster's office, his head down looking at his feet as it tended to stay whenever he felt marginally safe from Marauder attack in his youth when he was forced to stop. There in front of him were a pair boots and the hem of a Hogwarts robe he knew all too well.
"Sev, I think we need to have a little talk," a dulcet voice sing-songed from a perfect pair of ruby lips.
Severus, who wanted to avoid this particular confrontation for as long as possible so he could organize just how he would approach it decided the best methods to use to make his escape were the classics; feigned ignorance and diversion. "Hello, Trixie. You're looking ravishing as always," he returned with a wide, childish grin. Bellatrix /loathed/ being referred to as 'Trixie'. this would certainly take her min doff of her intended path of conversation so that she could hex him. The compliment would only further confuse her. He never paid attention to her looks, despite her status as the most attractive Slytherin girl in their year.
Anger flashed across the heavily lidded eyes of Bellatrix Black for a moment, before she fell into a seductive grin that would make most young men her age throw themselves to the ground to lick at her heels. She knew it wouldn't affect her friend like that, of course, but it showed she had total control over emotions. "Nice try," she complimented with a lick of her lips.
Severus looked into her eyes for a moment before cursing to himself. "Bloody hell Bella! I get your point. I wont' fall for the sultry vixen pose anymore then you'll fall for my compliments. Now stop looking at me like that, you psychotic tomboy. You look like a constipated Hippogriff," he spat in annoyance.
Bella let out a little huff as she began to reach for her wand to teach her dear old friend some manners. In fact she had her hand on it before she checked herself and chuckled. "Again, nice try Sevvie-poo. You almost had me with that one. If I were Cissy you'd have pulled it off," she praised.
Severus rolled his eyes as he responded, "If you were Narcissa, I wouldn't have needed to go past the compliment."
"True enough," Bella agreed with a bell-like little laugh that warmed Severus' heart as he finally realized he was seeing Bellatrix as she was meant to be once again. A proud and beautiful young woman, not the half-mad Azkaban escapee of her later years. "Now walk with me, oh glorious Half Blood Prince. We have… /thing/ to discuss," she commanded as she began to walk toward an unused tower hallway they made use of for more private conversations. Delicate information was never shared in the Slytherin common room. It was called the 'Viper's Pit' by the students of Hogwarts for more than just the serpentine mascot of the Slytherin house, after all.
The pair walked for a good while before Bella finally grew frustrated enough to snap, "Well?"
"It's not like you ever mentioned you were from a sorcerous line either, Bella," Snape responded finally. He was furiously trying to think of a way to play this conversation to his ultimate advantage, and to further his ultimate goals. Namely, save Bella, keep Lily alive, and /try/ to save Lucius if at all feasible.
"How?" the youngest Black daughter asked incredulously.
"I'm well enough trained to sense it in you, Bella," Severus explained. A part of him wanted to leave it at that. But another, deeper part felt that wasn't the right path. L-sama only set two rules for me. Don't prevent Potter's spawn from being born, and don't kill Riddle until Harry has been marked. Would it be worth it? Could it save her? Maybe this is how it should be done. he mused in his head.
"What are you thinking about so hard, git?" Bella asked playfully as she read the expression on his face.
"What I can safely tell you. I've come into some delicate information, and I'm not sure what's safe to reveal yet," Severus admitted.
"You'll tell me everything," Bella confidently responded.
"Oh?" Severus asked with a teasing grin spawned by her attitude.
"Yes. I'm a lady of the most Noble House of Black. You will bend to my every will and desire, lowly peasant half-blood." she teased.
"I'm no peasant, Bella. And my father's no true muggle. Surely you can see that now," Severus replied with a smirk.
"And yet, I am still your queen there to command you," Bellatrix shot back haughtily.
Severus stopped to look deep into her eyes for several tense moments before he finally cracked into a grin, followed by a smile, then a chuckle, and finally full blown laughter.
Bella tried to keep up her serious act in the face of her friend's growing mirth, but it was a loosing battle lost in a matter of seconds. Soon she was laughing as well. "You should laugh like that more often," she advised with a nudge to his hip after they calmed a bit.
"As amusing as the heart attacks most of the people outside of Slytherin would develop over that sight, you know I can't show that kind of weakness. I'm in a four to one war right now. Well, two and a half to one, plus one spectator in Lupin, but you know what I mean," Snape returned ruefully.
"Oh bollocks. You proved your strength plenty today. Its' about time you stood up to my arse of a cousin and his bun-buddy like that," Bella retorted. "Granted, I expected it to come from a Sectumsempra or an untraceable poison, but a fireball and a Mono Volt works too. I'm just shocked your pet mud blood didn't freak out on you. She actually looked pleased from what I saw from the back of the crowd. Even proud of you. You been practicing Imperious without me or something?"
"Perish the thought," Snape replied with an eye roll. "You're one of a handful of students here that thinks, Bella. Do try to employ that brain of yours. If I'm mislabeled as a half-blood, who's to say what other skilled 'mudbloods' might have slipped through the cracks?" Severus inquired leadingly.
"You mean?" Bella inquired with wide eyes. This would vastly change her world view if Severus confirmed his hints. After all sorcerers didn't distinguish between pure bloods and mixed bloods. You either had the talent or not. Therefore all sorcerous descendants by way of tradition were not muggle. They were considered as magical as any pureblood no matter their pedigree or skill levels. It was a tradition that predated Merlin himself by millennia.
"Indeed. In fact she even trumps our own bloodlines. She is the youngest heirless to the house of Sailoon. And has the talent for white sorcery to back it up," Snape confided in low whispers.
Bella's reaction, however, was not nearly so subtle. She slapped Severus as hard as she could on the arm, eliciting a squawk of pain from him as she hissed, "And you let me call her a mudblood? You bloody let he harass you for talking to her? You arse, I've made an absolute harpy out of myself because of you."
"It wasn't my secret to tell, Bella. And I had no idea how to bring it up. Besides now you know," Severus replied in a placating tone.
"Then why are you telling it now?" the girl asked anxiously after she thought over his response.
Severus sighed in self-defeat as he replied, "Because I have a great deal more to tell, and it will involve her as well. Meet me in the old Occlumency room in two hours, and I'll fill you in."
"What? Why two hours? Why not now?" Bella asked in shock.
Severus smiled a smile of resignation as he responded, "Because I have to sneak into the Gryff common room and inform her Majesty so she can join us. If I'm telling this tale, I only intend to tell it once."
And with that he turned back out to exit the corridor and left Bella to her thoughts.
END PART THREE