DISCLAIMER!! Halo Spencer belongs to me, so does the story and plot. Everyone else belongs to J.K Rowling, though the descriptions of a few of them are my own. This is an A/U from my other Halo/Snape stories, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. –Gadget
The Greyest of Blue Skies
"A moth into a butterfly and a lie into the sweetest truth, I'm so afraid of life. I try to call your name but I'm silenced by the fear of dying in your heart once again. I see the seasons changing and in the heart of this autumn I fall with the leaves from the trees. I play dead to hide my heart until the world gone dark fades away. I cry like God cries the rain and I'm just one step away from the end of today." H.I.M. 'Play Dead.'
Chapter 1: First Year
1969
Platform 9 ¾ was bustling with people. A good number of them were parents seeing off their children while an even higher number were the children themselves. They were boarding the Hogwarts Express, transportation for some and a way to freedom for others, but always a path to greatness.
Eleven-year-old Severus Snape was all by himself on the platform. The year before his mother had passed away and his drunkard of a father "couldn't be bothered with such nuances as taking his brat son to King's Cross." Always resourceful, Severus had Floo-ed himself to his aunt's and she had taken him as far as the Muggle doorway but she hadn't stuck around to see him off. No-one ever just 'stuck around' for Severus and he'd eventually learned not to expect- or hope- for that simple curtsey. He saw no reason to treat anyone else any other way but with cruelty and indifference.
For Severus Snape, other people were just bystanders, witnesses to the unfolding of events and nothing more. He had once seen a Muggle movie that had depicted the development of a hive-mind on a large scale; "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" had been the title and it had opened the door to the truth for Severus. People were drones to be used for the attainment of his goals. At Hogwarts, he decided, he would rise above the marionettes that were his classmates and attain his goals by any means necessary.
Severus looked up sharply as the compartment door slid open. He had been reading Hogwarts: A History for what had to be the tenth time since he'd bought it in Diagon Alley. But now he set it across his knees to glare up at the intruder. He had wanted to be alone for the ride if only to watch the passing scenery in silence but the person that stood in the doorway made him rethink his earlier wishes.
It was a boy his age, already in his school robes. Severus looked up at the boy that could very well be his lost twin. Like Severus the boy was small for his age with a skinny form, but most of the similarities ended there. The boy's black hair fell in waves to his cheekbones with the bangs hanging artfully over his large eyes. And where Severus was pale as marble, this boy had a natural tan that left him the color of honey. The boy pushed his long bangs to the side and Severus was shocked to see three differently colored irises around almond shaped pupils.
"Sorry, I thought this compartment was empty." The boy said with a soft accent that Severus couldn't place at all. "There's no place else I can sit, so do you mind if I sit here with you?"
Severus feigned a shrug of indifference while he really did want the boy to stay, if only until he got an explanation about those strange eyes.
"Thanks man," He said and slid the door closed. "Are you a first year too?"
Severus nodded.
The boy let out a relieved sigh. "Thank god, name's Halo Spencer by the way."
"Severus Snape."
"It's nice to meet you." Spencer said and sat pressed up against the window across from Severus.
"Hmmm," Was all Severus said, turning his attention back to his book, wanting to distract himself from the strange eyed boy.
For a time no one else came to their compartment until a middle-aged witch pushing a trolley knocked lightly on the door and asked if they wanted any sweets. Severus told her that he wasn't, the truth was that he didn't have any money in his pockets; all his money, though it was a small amount, was in his suitcase. But Spencer stood and bought a few things, mostly lollipops and pasties.
"Where are you from dearie?" The witch asked him, obviously noticing the same accent Severus had.
"I'm from America," Spencer said, handing her a few sickles. "Thank you ma'am."
Severus could actually smell the sponge cake pasty and he planted his nose in his book, trying desperately to ignore his stomach. He hadn't eaten since supper the night before and it had been quite a dismal meal at best.
Spencer looked up suddenly, his large eyes squinted. "Hey Severus, catch."
A chocolate frog landed in Severus' lap and he looked at the other boy, mild surprise stretched across his features.
"Eat it man," Spencer urged, taking a bite from his pasty.
Severus turned the chocolate frog over in his hand, ready to offer it back. "I'm not hungry." He lied.
"Bullshit, I heard your stomach growl from over here."
Severus' arched high on his forehead, he had only felt his stomach churn, that Spencer had heard a sound made him wonder if the boys eyes were the only strange thing. He didn't think before he asked- "What are you?"
"I'm a boy." Spencer looked genuinely confused. "What are you?"
Severus glared at him, realizing that he should have thought before he spoke rather then wanting an explanation for the boy's strangeness. "I'm a wizard."
"First years!" A voice boomed. "First years, this way! Follow me!"
Severus stood next to Spencer, who was looking about him like he was in a magical kingdom. Severus wondered if he had met a Muggle-born like himself. He nudged Spencer's shoulder and they followed the rest of their fellow first years down a winding and confusing path that led to a black shoreline. The ominous looking water was made purple by the starlight and in the distance he could see a large castle. It wasn't the biggest structure Spencer had ever seen, he'd grown up near Seattle's Space Needle back in Washington State but the glimpse he'd gotten of the castle was enough to make him stare.
"Come on now!" The unseen voice boomed again. "Four of you to a boat!"
Severus and Spencer sat in the same boat, both boys willing to stick together until they were forced to separate. They were joined by a sickly looking boy with mousey brown hair and a pretty blonde girl who smiled sweetly at Spencer. They didn't speak to each other, all of them looking at the far off castle with expression of awe. Their destination was reached in a few minutes and they exited the small boat, walking up yet another winding path until they reached a set of large doors. Beside Severus, Spencer stood on his toes to see over everyone else's heads as the door swung open to reveal a severe looking witch.
"I'm Professor McGonagall, please follow me." She said, turning on her heel to lead them into the castle.
Spencer looked to Severus as if waiting for him to impart some tidbit of knowledge about what was going on. Of course, Severus was as much in the dark as the American; he shrugged and followed the Professor with Spencer trailing behind him. The first years crowded around her when she stopped outside two more very large doors; Severus could hear other students talking excitedly on the other side of those doors.
"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." She said, her voice amplified by the size of the antechamber. "The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend your free time in your house common room."
She paused, looking around to make sure she had everyone's attention. "The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule breaking will loose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."
Professor McGonagall turned and went into the Great Hall, Severus heard someone whisper a nasty comment behind him and Spencer hissed for the person to shut up out the corner of his mouth. The Professor came back and led them all into the Great Hall; Severus looked at the ceiling and found the night sky in its place. For just a moment, he had stared before remembering that he'd read about the ceiling's enchantment while on the train.
A mangy old hat was waiting on a flour-legged stool at the very front of the room but before the table where the staff all sat. Beside him, Spencer cocked his head to the side and tapped his foot on the floor as if he were waiting for a rabbit to burst from the hat. That was when the hat twitched and began to sing.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
but don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
a smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor
Where dwell the brave of heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
These patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
Everyone in the Great Hall applauded as the hat finished its song. Severus had never seen anything quite so odd or amusing in his life, he looked to Spencer who just shrugged. Apparently the strange eyed boy hadn't either; the slight smile on his lips was evidence enough.
"When I call your name," Professor McGonagall said, holding what looked like a large scroll. "You will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Avery, Mikael!"
A small boy with dark blonde hair sat on the stool and less than a minute later- "SLYTHERIN!"
"Black, Narcissa!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Black, Sirius!" Was the boy that Spencer had told to shut-up; he became the first Gryffindor. Severus saw the American wince at the volume of cheers that erupted from that table.
"Evans, Lillian!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Severus started to zone-out, listening with only one ear while he waited for his name to be called. He wasn't really thinking about anything, he didn't care if he fit in or if he even made any friends. He just wanted to complete Hogwarts and all his goals with limited interruption.
"Lupin, Remus!" ... "Nott, Theodore!"... "Pettigrew, Peter!" ... "Potter, James!" ... "Rosier, Evan!" ... "Snape, Severus!"
Severus turned to Spencer, looking up into the slightly taller boy's strange eyes. "I guess this is where we part ways." He said.
Spencer just shrugged. "Maybe," His tone was nonchalant.
Severus went to the stool and sat down and Professor McGonagall set the hat on his head. He tried not to fidget but he could actually feel the magic inhabiting the hat and it was powerful stuff.
"Hmmm," The hat murmured. "Not hard to figure this out. SLYTHERIN!"
Their weren't any cheers from his new house, for the entire sorting no one from Slytherin had cheered for their new first years. Severus took a seat near Rosier and Avery both of whom already seemed to dislike each other.
... "Spencer, Halo!" The Professor yelled and the boy he'd met on the train stepped from the remaining crowd of first years. Though they had barely spoken to each other, the few observations he'd made told him that Spencer would likely be a Gryffindor.
"My oh my," The hat atop Halo's head muttered. "A child of a Sidhe and a witch; what an oddity you are."
Halo didn't comment, truthfully he didn't comprehend what was just so odd about him. Sure he knew that he was stronger and faster than most children his age, and, his eyes notwithstanding, he'd always considered himself very normal. However, Grandmother had warned him about such things as this. It wasn't that he was strange; it was his origin that most in the wizarding world would find unusual.
"Hmm, there's a lot of power inside you, a lot of potential. You've got courage and an iron will; such intelligence too. How about Ravenclaw?"
Halo gave his head a shake. "No..."
"You're right of course, of course. Not a chance for Hufflepuff. ... You're a protector, a guardian with a pure heart and soul. Gryffindor?" The hat asked.
Another shake of his head. "I don't belong there."
The hat actually seemed to sigh. "I see your point, it's all here in your head young Sidhe. You're just ruthless enough for SLYTHERIN!"
Halo hopped off the stool, wondering why the hat seemed to take so long in placing him, it hadn't seemed to take so long with the other students. He took a seat next to Severus, smiled slightly at the pale boy.
"Looks like you're stuck with me." He said.
Severus was silent.
Lucius Malfoy had not been surprised when he received his prefect badge over the summer. It was only fitting that he, Pureblood Prince of Slytherin, would be a prefect rather than Wilkes or one of the Lestrange twins, those crazy bastards. He was surprised at the small amount of Slytherin first years, his class had been so much larger, but there were only eight first years this time around. Five boys and three girls total.
After the feast, he gathered the boys together while Angie Parkinson took the girls back to the common room. He took the boys to a separate dormitory, Merlin he had hated living in a dorm with other people. The prefect's private rooms were more his style anyway.
Hogwarts always seemed to know how many students were arriving and the dormitories were no different. There were five four-poster beds spread along one wall of the room, the curtains were opened to reveal Slytherin green, silver and black comforters on each mattress. On the bed nearest the wall sat an orange and gold furred, leanly muscled cat with expressive green eyes.
"Who's familiar is this?" He asked, turning to glare at the first year boys. Usually, a wizard wasn't aloud to bring along their familiar until their second year, but it seemed there was an exception this year.
One boy with wavy black hair and large eyes hidden behind long bangs clicked his tongue twice and the small cat darted to his side and rubbed affectionately against his leg.
"Momotaro is mine." He said.
What kind of name is 'Momotaro'? Lucius wondered. "Whatever, names?"
"Halo Spencer," Said the boy with the cat.
"Severus Snape." Was a boy with lank black hair falling to his shoulders and a large, beaklike nose.
"Evan Rosier," Had short red-brown hair and hazel eyes and was also his mother's cousin.
"Mikael Avery," Was dark blonde with blue eyes.
"Theo Nott," Said the last boy, who Lucius didn't even really look at.
"Right," Lucius said. "I'm Lucius Malfoy, prefect and Quidditch Captain. Basically just stay out of my way and win us house points no matter what it takes. Have you got all that then?"
The boys all nodded. Merlin, they're all so small. Lucius thought. I don't remember ever being that little.
"Good. Be in the Great Hall every morning at six for breakfast. Don't be late and don't dare shame our house by showing up any less than wide awake or don't even bother to show up at all. Now get to bed and let's hope I don't ever have to deduct house points from you because if I do, you're sorely regret it."
"What a prick," Rosier said. "Just because his father works for the Ministry doesn't mean he can boss us around."
Severus shrugged, he didn't care about the prefect's attitude, and he probably wouldn't have to deal with the boy again anyway. He looked around the dormitory and saw his luggage sitting on the bed next to the one Spencer's cat had been lounging on.
"House Elves bring everything here from the train," Avery said, obviously he had noticed the luggage on each of the beds too.
"Disgusting creatures, House Elves." Severus heard Nott grumble.
"Are they like the Sidhe?" Spencer asked and everyone looked at him, Severus included. Momotaro sat on his shoulder as he pushed the heavy four-poster bed against the far wall.
"What are you doing?" Rosier demanded.
"I'm re-arranging things to my liking." Spencer said dryly. "So are House Elves similar to the Sidhe?"
Avery let out a barking laugh. "No, Unseelie Sidhe maybe." He laughed again. "But Sidhe don't exist anyway, they haven't for millennia."
"Yes," Spencer growled and Severus thought he felt something strange crawling over his skin but there wasn't anything there when he looked. "The Sidhe do exist."
"How do you know?" The blonde boy challenged, stepping up next to Spencer and invading his personal space.
The wavy haired boy dismissed the other boy by turning his back to set his wiry cat down on his bed, but when he turned back to Avery, Severus felt like he was watching two circling beasts. "I know," Spencer told him. "Because my father was a Sidhe."
Nott burst out laughing. "You're full of it mate." He said. "If you were a Sidhe then you wouldn't be at Hogwarts!"
Spencer turned to glare at the taller boy. "I never said I was a full-blooded Sidhe. My mother was a witch, Grandmother said she had an affair with a Seelie Sidhe and that I was the issue."
Avery crossed his arms over his chest. "Prove it Spencer." His tone was scathing and Severus wondered just what a Sidhe was. The other boys spoke of them as if they were things to give a wide berth to, something to be feared but also something unclean and unworthy.
"Fine then, I'll prove it."
Severus watched as Spencer pushed his bangs behind one ear and revealed his odd eyes to everyone. Where he'd really only been able to discern their shape back in the train, now in the ample light of the dormitory, he could see their color. There were three intersecting irises, the first was gold, the second was orange and the last was yellow with black spines coming from the almond-shaped pupil.
"Yeah," Rosier said, he had stepped closer while Severus was busy admiring the colors. "Those are Sidhe eyes all right."
"What are the Sidhe?" Severus risked asking; Spencer turned to him.
"The Sidhe is the proper name for the Fey Folk, Seelie for the day and Unseelie for the night." He said. "They were guardians of the forests and sacred areas where the ancient gods spoke to their believers. They first brought magic to humans, some of them fell in love with the humans they protected and they took men and women as their pair-bonds. They bred magic into the mortal bloodlines. The Sidhe are the ancestors of witches and wizards, they gave us the ability to perform spells and talk to the elements."
"I don't believe it." Avery grumbled.
Spencer shrugged. "You don't have to believe it Mikael, but it's true. The Sidhe still exist."
Rosier's bed was on the opposite side of Severus' and across from their beds were Avery's and Nott's. Nott claimed to be allergic to cats and took the bed nearest the door; Avery said he just didn't like them and Momotaro had hissed at him.
"He doesn't like you either," Spencer told him as he put away his few possessions.
"What does Momotaro mean anyway?" Rosier asked, he too was putting away his things.
"It loosely translates to 'peach boy'. My Grandmother named him after the Japanese story of an old woman that found a giant peach floating down the river, when she went to eat the peach she found a baby inside. The baby boy told her that he had been sent from Heaven to be her son; she named him Momotaro because it was tradition to name the first son of a family 'Taro'. Years later, Momotaro left the woman's house to kill a marauding dragon and his demon army. He won of course; it was a bedtime story she used to tell me when I was younger."
"Why did your grandmother tell you stories instead of your mother?" Avery asked incredulously.
"My mom's dead," Spencer said simply and Severus felt a pin in his chest at learning he wasn't the only one to loose a parent.
"What about your Sidhe father?"
Momotaro hissed at Avery. "I've never met him."
Severus was startled awake in the middle of the night. Momotaro sat on his chest, the cat's large green eyes peering into his. He pushed the cat to the side so he could sit up and look around him. The fire was still giving off embers in the hearth and as far as he could tell, everyone was asleep.
"What do you want furball?" He whispered.
The orange cat only meowed softly and walked closer to sit in his lap.
"What do you want?" He asked again.
"You were having a nightmare," Came Spencer's voice from somewhere near his bed and Severus startled again. "He woke you before I could get up... Are you alright now Severus?"
He nodded and realized the other boy couldn't see him. "Yes, yes I'm fine but take your cat please." He handed the small creature to Spencer, whose hands seemed to materialize from the darkness.
"Come on, Momo, g'night Severus."
"Yeah, good night." Severus muttered, falling back against his pillow when he heard Spencer pull the curtains closed around his bed.
Another nightmare... It wouldn't be the last either, he'd been having them ever since his mother died. He tried not to recall the images in his mind, images of his mother and her murder at his father's hands. But no-one here needed to know those things about him. Not even Spencer, how the open and trusting boy had become a Slytherin was beyond him. Was it just his fey blood? Or was there something else underneath the surface? Severus knew time would tell, that the pieces of the puzzle would all fall neatly into place if he was only patient.
Author's Notes- McGonagall's speach and the hats song are both from the first book. I just borrowed it for this chapter alone. -Gadget.