The Half-Blood
Rated T
I don't own nuthin', except maybe Zeva, but yeah… not mine. No money made.
HBP AU. What could have happened if things had gone slightly different in HBP? Who would be around? What would have happened? How would people change?
A/N: This popped into my head one day in a cooking class when I was 17. I'm 23 and it's still rattling around in there, so I've decided to get my butt into gear and actually write it.
This is an AU story. As you can tell by the title, it's an alternative to HBP. However, the Half Blood and the Half-Blood Prince are two different people. I guess you could say that it's the way things could have been, and I'm probably going to have to write a sequel, but everything up to HBP is normal… except one small minor detail that many of you probably don't know anyway….
HBHBHB
When one is Chosen from birth
To do what all think is impossible
One of half blood will rise up
One who is the fourth side of a triangle
And will channel the powers of the three
To stop the world falling into darkness
But hark! The One will need a reason
Or the One shall fall
Guard well the One for without the One
The one who is Chosen may not succeed
And the One shall depart from this world
Love the One, for the One is necessary…
- 7th Prophecy of Xandara
HBHBHB
It was the start of a new year. Students were sitting at their tables, waiting for the Sorting to begin, when the doors of the Great Hall opened, and a slight figure dressed and hooded in green walked up to the Head Table, a young wolf at their heels. When they reached Professor Dumbledore, they pulled their hood back, revealing a wealth of auburn curls.
"Sorry I'm late." She announced in a clear voice. "The weather was terrible, and Lupa nearly refused to come with me." The wolf at her heels put its tale between its legs at the mention of its name. "She can be quite difficult when she chooses to be, but I love her anyway." She reached down and rubbed between the wolf's ears.
"No worries, my dear. Please, take your seat." Dumbledore gestured to the only empty seat, between Professor Snape, and Professor Sprout.
"Thank you, Professor." She moved to her seat, Lupa following her, seemingly oblivious to the whispers flying through the Great Hall. As she was taking her seat, Professor McGonagall led in the First Years for their Sorting.
As she sat and listened to McGonagall's speech, Snape looked down at Lupa with a scowl. The woman looked at him with twinkling blue eyes. "She's just wet. Normally she doesn't smell much at all."
Snape just snorted and turned to see the first student being sorted.
Zeva couldn't help herself. She remembered this man, even if he apparently didn't remember her, and she couldn't help but rile him up a bit. As the Sorting Hat was placed on the first's student's head, she leaned toward him and whispered, "Hufflepuff."
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The Hat yelled. Snape turned to her with an eyebrow raised. Zeva smirked. "Want to place any wagers on the next one? I say Slytherin."
Snape looked at her disapprovingly, and turned back to the student as the hat yelled "SLYTHERIN!" Professor Sprout tried to stifle a smile.
And so it went, Zeva whispering which house the student would be placed in before the hat itself even could. Sprout was looking at her in wonder, and about halfway through, she felt a familiar nudging at her mind. Adjusting her shields to allow him in, she heard Dumbledore's voice. "Really, my dear, that's quite bad form. Although it is amusing to see Severus off guard." She heard the Headmaster chuckle softly. "Tell me, which one is this one going in?"
Smiling, she mentally answered, "Gryffindor. And the one after Ravenclaw."
"You know, you shouldn't be doing this? Using your skills in this manner is frowned upon."
"Can I claim racial immunity?" Dumbledore chuckled again.
And back and forth it went, Dumbledore guessing, and Zeva either agreeing or correcting him. After a few minutes, Snape whispered to her, "What, got tired of an uninterested audience?"
"No, just found one that was interesting." And she turned back to her silent conversation, ignoring him.
Finally, the Sorting was over, and Dumbledore stood to give his start of term speech.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. For many of you, it is the start of another year. For some of you, the start of a new adventure. Remember to always stick together, no matter what. Dark things are afoot, and it wouldn't do to have everyone divided. Divided, we stand alone. United we are unstoppable. I should also add, that the Forbidden Forest is forbidden to all students, who do not wish to die a painful death. And last, but certainly not least, I wish to introduce you all to our latest Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Zeva Emaris, who has recently returned from researching abroad in Egypt. Please, join me in wishing her a very warm welcome." The students clapped. "And now, tuck in!"
Food appeared on the tables, and everyone began to eat. Zeva chatting idly to Sprout, until Snape leaned towards her and asked, "What were you researching in Egypt?"
Zeva smirked again, her blue eyes twinkling. "That's for me to know, and you to find out." Snape scowled and turned back to his food. There was something a bit strange about this woman… and familiar…
HBHBHB
Snape sighed and sat back further in his chair in the corner of the staffroom, if that were possible. He hated staff meetings, and why there needed to be one the night the students returned was beyond him. If you weren't prepared by now, chances are you wouldn't be by the next morning.
His curiosity was piqued when he saw Zeva, that new teacher, arrive chatting animatedly to Minerva. What made him even more curious was that Zeva called the older woman 'Godmother.' Minerva was a godmother? He tuned in to their conversation, all the while maintaining his bored exterior.
"You look so much like your mother, dear." Minerva said, a slightly sad smile crossing her face. "Though you do have your father's eyes."
Zeva also smiled sadly. "I just wish I could remember her, Godmother."
"Now now, dear, none of that 'Godmother' while we're here. It's Minerva. And you were far too young to remember Xara. No one can expect you to remember a mother that died giving you life."
"I know. It's just… you know. And it's going to be difficult, calling everyone by their first names, especially, well, you know…"
Minerva laid a hand on the younger woman's arm. "I know dear. After all, he is your-"
Hagrid's loud arrival cut off the rest of Minerva's sentence, and Snape inwardly cursed the half-Giant. He could have just found out an interesting piece of information if not for that oaf. He sighed, and settled in for a long and boring meeting.
About halfway through the meeting, he stifled a yawn, and decided to do a sweep of the room for two reasons: one, it kept him awake and in practice, and two: ever since Moody's year long replacement, he did legillimency scans regularly, to make sure there were no imposters. The benefits outweighed the negatives, especially if it kept him awake.
When he got to Zeva's mind, he was surprised to find a firm Occlumency shield in place. It was as strong as Dumbledore's, or even the Dark Lord's himself. Suddenly, he felt another presence in his mind, and realised too late that she had traced him, and used that to enter his mind. Her voice sounded slightly amused in his head as she admonished him. "That's not very polite, you know."
"Perhaps not polite, but an unfortunate necessity."
"Not true. It is a necessity, but you also do it to keep yourself amused."
"And your name isn't really Zeva."
"No, it isn't. Close though." She was being evasive.
He tried another tact. "How did you become such an accomplished Occlumens?"
"I was born that way. How did you become so accomplished?"
"Practice. It's important to keep in practice too, or you lose your skills."
"I know. Try to get in my head any time you want. You won't succeed. No one ever has gotten in without my permission. Thank you for giving me a glimpse into your mind. I know its imprint now. It'd do you good to remember mine."
And she was gone from his head, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get back into hers. And the smirk on her face, as well as what had come across during the conversation, proved her to be correct. No one could get in without her permission. And what had she meant by 'imprint'?
A/N Well, that's the prologue. If anyone's interested, 'Zeva' is Hebrew for 'wolf', 'Lupa' is Latin for 'she-wolf' and Zeva Emaris isn't her real name, although her real name will be revealed later on. And she was telling the truth: it is close. The reason for her hiding her name will also be revealed later, and Dumbledore does know her real name. Also the meaning of 'imprint' should be obvious from her discussion with Dumbledore.
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