Shadow and Light – The 2nd year of Apprenticeship

Disclaimer:

This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers like Scholastic Books, Raincoast Books , Bloomsbury Books and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made off this and there is no copyright infringement intended. This story was written for fun and not in any way for profit.

This story is based on 'Harry Potter and the Masters' written by Pose (the link is on my website - home.arcor.de/ljiomi/ - under HP/SS Gen Recs) and it's some kind of a sequel.

Pose created this wonderful AU and and most of the OCs used in this story. The main plot idea belongs to her. Since she never wrote a sequel and also mentioned, she had no intention to do so, I decided to borrow her universe like we all do borrow from JKR. I just thought the story deserved a sequel and since Pose has not written anything since 2003, I hope she won't mind. To make sure, I have contacted her and informed her that I'll write this story. I write this story just for fun and for the readers who enjoyed 'Harry Potter and the Masters'.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's notes:

This story plays in Harry's fifth year. It's an "Harry is Snape's apprentice" story and plays in the universe of 'Harry Potter and the Masters' (the link is on my website - home.arcor.de/ljiomi/).

I am not exactly sure in which year 'Harry Potter and the Masters' played but Harry already knows Sirius and it's somewhere mentioned that Harry is nearly fourteen, so I just assumed it was supposed to play in Harry's fourth year.

This is definitly AU. There was no Triwizard Tournament but it is mentioned that Voldemort has returned during the summer between fourth and fifth year.

There were no Death Eaters in 'Harry Potter and the Masters' but that is going to change. To make sure this story makes sense you should definitly read 'Harry Potter and the Masters' first.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1

Harry lay wide awake on his bed in the house of Terran's grandparents. He couldn't sleep because his stomach did flips in expectation of the next week.

These were the last days of freedom before he would return to Hogwarts on Monday and return to his training with Snape.

He thought about the last weeks with Terran, his new friend from the trials.

This summer was definitely the best summer he ever had. He was still surprised how his life had changed since his last summer at the Dursley's.

He remembered his first weeks as an apprentice and chuckled a bit as he thought about the difficulties with his first physical exercises, the first Latin lessons and how he disliked it to have to bow to the 'greasy git' and to call him 'my lord'. When Harry thought about it, it was quite a while since he had called Snape a 'greasy git' in his mind.

During the last year Snape had earned his respect and he knew that at least after the trials that he had also earned Snape's. He had performed well and for sure, high above Snape's expectations. He had learned that the world of Mastery was a complete other world and at the trials he finally accepted his position as a Master's apprentice.

During his first year as an apprentice, he might soon have realized that he had no choice, but that didn't prevent him to feel ashamed, whenever he had to bow to 'Master Shadowman' in front of his schoolmates and particularly when he was punished in public.

But after the trials he felt that there was nothing wrong with showing his respect to his master and he came to the realisation that he actually wasn't a Hogwarts student anymore but an apprentice. He just had the bad luck that his master held a teachers position at Hogwarts.

There was nothing to feel ashamed of. He knew that even after just one year as an apprentice and being just in his fourth year at Hogwarts, he would be able to beat anyone of his fellow students at school, from fourth to seventh year, and it didn't matter if he chose to use his wand or his fists. He knew most of them wouldn't last more than four weeks as an apprentice and Draco might laugh now, but in a duel he wouldn't stand a chance.

It actually made him proud to be an apprentice of Snape. He was surprised to see that Snape was well respected by the other masters and their apprentices.

This apprenticeship would keep him alive and now with rumours getting louder about Voldemort still alive, he anticipated that a war was coming and he would like to be prepared, just in case.

An apprenticeship lasted three years. Obviously three hard years but it would earn him a place among the most respected wizards in the magical world. It saved his future and he was glad that he had found a place where he did belong.

At first it was damn hard to submit to the rules of the Mastery and to swallow his pride. But it still felt good to have to answer to someone and to have someone to make the decisions. That was probably the job of ones parents but due to the lack of that, Harry was glad, that actually someone cared.

Snape had never said so, but Harry was sure he cared. At first Harry might have been an obligation to Snape, an order to fulfill, assigned by the Board of Masters. But after that year Harry trusted Snape and he was sure Snape trusted him as well.

The first year had been shadowed by the DADA teacher who had also been a master. Because of the rules, he had to obey Master Gray, like he obeyed Snape and he owed him the same respect.

Gray didn't like him and he used every opportunity to punish him. It didn't matter if Harry had actually done something. Snape had advised him not to give him any reasons to get punished but that was easier said than done. Because Gray didn't need any reasons…if there was no reason, Gray made something up.

Other than that advice Snape did not interfere. It was a matter of traditions. As long as the other master brought up a reason to punish someone else's apprentice, he had every right to do so.

But Gray was not going to be there! He would not return as DADA teacher this year.

Harry nearly smiled but was not fooled. There would be another Master who had taken over the DADA post. His name was Master Saldor. Harry had shortly talked to the man at the trials and his first impression was that he liked him.

He didn't make the mistake to think he would get any lenience from the man. He was sure the man knew how to make his point and how to raise an apprentice.

But Harry didn't look much for lenience; he looked for fairness. As long as the man would ask before he strikes, it would be all right.

And Master Saldor would bring his apprentice. His name was Ferraldin, Ferral for short. Harry had also met him at the trials. It would be nice to have someone else in the same position like he was. Things would be easier for him because his classmates didn't understand the tradition of the Mastery and Harry liked the thought of not being the only one who had to bow to someone before he was allowed to sit down and eat.

Harry rolled in bed and met the eyes of Terran who obviously was also still awake.

"Trouble sleeping?" asked Terran, "Worried about next week?".

"Sort of," Harry shrugged, "It's strange; four weeks of freedom and then back to be completely controlled by someone. But actually I am looking forward to be back. I really enjoy the training, even when I could forego the drills and occasional punishments.

Terran chuckled, "I feel the same but one more week of leeway and I have to start training from the beginning. My Master won't be pleased to find me completely out of shape."

It was Harry's turn to grin. "Yeah, same here. Snape will drill me like mad."

Harry laid back and stared at the ceiling. "I am curious about Master Saldor and his apprentice. It must be great to have a friend during the year that has the same problems and worries I have. You're lucky; you live in a community of other apprentices and Masters. I spent the last year with classmates who hadn't had a clue about what's going on."

"Don't worry." Terran sat up, "Ferral is nice. But be aware he is kind of rebellious and he has a liability to get in trouble. So you should try to stay away when he starts mutiny."

"Great, that's exactly what I need…" Harry groaned, "How's the Master?"

Terran thought about it, then shrugged, "Don't know. Harsh like all Masters. I think he uses the strap or the cane quite often, but he has obviously little choice with an apprentice like Ferral. Don't worry, I think he is nothing like Gray."

Harry sighed and closed his eyes, "Hopefully…" he murmured and faced the wall, deep in thought.

Snape was a strict but fair Master. Occasions when he used a strap or cane were rare but Harry didn't make the mistake to believe Snape wouldn't do it if he thought it necessary.

But actually, Snape believed more in punishment training and sharp words than in beatings and whippings alone. Harry wasn't exactly sure but he thought that was because of the treatment Snape had endured of his own master.

Harry also remembered the occasion on which he had a fight with Malfoy and his gang in Hogsmeade. He hadn't started it but had soon lost his temper and they brawled in the middle of the main street. To say Snape had been pissed was an understatement.

His Master had asked him if he had anything to say for his defence and Harry had refused to make excuses.

He hoped Snape would never repeat the punishment that followed. He had made Harry kneel at the shore of the lake during the entire night. But Harry knew his acceptance to that had earned him Snape's respect and trust.

Harry wasn't sure what the next school year would bring but he was sure he would learn a great deal and hopefully find a new friend.

With these reassuring thoughts he drifted of to sleep.

On Monday he would again be Aethernus, Master Shadowman's apprentice.

- - -

A huge thanks to Mistress of Eternal Night for BETAing this for me!