Summary: Pulsing was nothing short of Dark, highly addictive, and drew upon the life and magic of the practitioner. It was only natural for it to take the magical world by storm. Apprentice/Guardian, not slash
-~PULSE~-
Chapter One
The Minister of Magic looked positively smug as he slapped his file of papers down upon the headmaster's desk.
A visit from the Jack Russell of a minister was the best way he could imagine beginning his summer. Dumbledore strove to maintain his genial expression in the face of the new head of state, but the task was becoming increasingly difficult with every passing moment. These days he found himself missing former Minister Fudge. The man was an idiot, but a predictable one nonetheless. Fudge did favor his benefactors, Lucius Malfoy in particular, but he nevertheless kept any unbiased actions away from public view.
Minister Oramando Heller, on the other hand, hated any and every person who could possibly threaten his power, and he did not hesitate sharing his feelings very publicly. His election to office was still a mystery to the headmaster, a mistake brought about by the windfall after Voldemort's demise, courtesy of the headmaster himself. And now, even the Malfoys faced Heller's wrath.
Dumbledore perused the thick packet seemingly at his leisure, and yet Heller's haughty smile never wavered. He merely clasped his hands behind his back and observed as Dumbledore's frown grew.
"Surely you cannot expect this to go unchallenged?" Dumbledore asked.
The smile grew, "Honestly, Headmaster. The punishments for those involved in this horrific incident are nothing if not justified. Surely you do not wish to hold them above school rules. Those on the list were proven to have left school grounds with neither permission nor supervision and then broke into the Ministry, leading a horde of Death Eaters in with them. They then helped wanted criminal Sirius Black to escape. They are lucky to not be facing criminal charges and proceedings. Given that they are so young, however, I succeeded in convincing the Wizengamot sub-committee and the Board of Governors to allow this specialized form of punishment. You have no basis for challenge."
The headmaster scowled, "And why, then, is Draco Malfoy on the list? He did not attend the ministry."
"But he was integral in their escape from Hogwarts. Especially as the leader of the former Inquisitor's student based foundation group, his actions are more than fraudulent."
"In what way? I would like copies of your evidence against the entire list before I allow this arrangement. Mr. Malfoy, in point, as you said, was even a favored of the Ministry's representative here last term."
"A former ministry, Headmaster," Heller snapped, before his face instantly reverted back to arrogance with a tad of calm. "The matter of the arrangement has already been settled; you are to take steps immediately so that once term begins the delinquent individuals will not negatively affect the rest of the student body. If you so desire, I can return Madame Umbridge to your employ?"
Dumbledore nodded his refusal. This set up was more than enough punishment for his staff without further exposing them to that harridan. The Ministry was already taken unprecedented liberties with their right to chose, or to not chose, an apprentice.
"Very well, then. You will receive copies of the evidence, post haste, but head my warning, do not wait to make action upon this. You have the list of professors approved, one for each student. The main requirement is no Head of House is to be placed with a member of their house. Good day, headmaster."
Heller turned to leave, pausing momentarily at the doorway and half-turning back to Dumbledore. "Do not think of this as a punishment for the children. It is a chance for guidance and to grow into well rounded individuals, to be guided away from this natural aptitude for crime."
Once the flames settled, Dumbledore sighed, placing the list of students next to that of the lucky teachers approved for the task. He wasn't sure which he looked forward to less, telling the professors or the students.
Smirking to himself, he visualized the perfect (if a bit cowardly) way to inform his professors without facing their collective wrath all at once. He removed several sheets of parchment from his desk and set to penning their notices.
To my esteemed staff,
On the subject of apprentices….
-~PULSE~-
"Headmaster, are you in here?"
Dumbledore cringed at his deputy's question, scowling to himself as she led two of his other Heads of Houses as well as his Arithmancy professor into his office. He hoped the knowledge that the professors would be forced to take on apprentices would be shock enough to keep them from organizing their questions and arriving en masse. Alas it was not; he quickly began mentally drafting his will. Hopefully, Minerva would forgive him enough to perform a touching eulogy. There would probably be a mad fight for his office.
'But Ministry, I cannot possible take on an apprentice with all my new duties as headmaster/headmistress,' they would no doubt say as they fought to avoid the Ministry's arrangement.
"Headmaster?" McGonagall intoned, though not in the fond manner he'd become accustomed to.
"My lemon drops would probably get quite lonely all by their lonesome. I shudder to think of their fate should something tragic happen to me," Dumbledore mentioned offhandedly.
"How can they do such a thing?" McGonagall demanded, slapping the packet of the Headmaster's letters onto his desk. He was lost for a moment thinking she meant the candies.
The tiny charms professor stepped forward. "I quite agree," Flitwick's old voice squeaked, "The bond between Master and Apprentice is not to be taken lightly or to be forced upon us by outside forces!"
"Honestly," McGonagall continued, "These children were certainly out of line, but they were well intentioned. Why is the Ministry interfering with their punishment at all? And why penalize us in the process? Had it not been for that sorry excuse Umbridge, they would have never been able to leave in the first place. And even without that little fact, the children's misbehavior sparked the downfall of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named."
Dumbledore wondered if Voldemort's old name should now be put into past tense but wisely refrained from voicing it. He dove into the matter at hand. "Officially, the method will best involve us in correcting their behavior," the headmaster pinched the bridge of his nose, "Unofficially, Malfoy Sr.'s attorneys brought down Heller's attention and wrath. In an attempt to excuse his presence, they mentioned our lack of supervision."
"Oramando Heller is simply a petty little bastard of a man who envies those with more intelligence than he!" Pomona claimed vehemently. The other teachers turned to her with surprised expressions, she shrank further within herself, "Well it is true. He was the same way while we were at Hogwarts together. He takes the most pleasure in making those who challenge him quite uncomfortable." She nodded for emphasis.
"Nevertheless," Dumbledore regained their attention, "I have Hogwarts' retained attorneys going over the demands, but it does not look promising, their preliminary judgment is that we must comply. Furthermore, the Ministry demands immediate action. We must divide the students amongst you and inform their parents."
The professors looked ready to start round two with their employer. The headmaster spied the Arithmancy professor looking around the room questioningly.
"Problem, Septima?" he asked.
"Where is Severus?" Professor Vector questioned, "I thought he'd be the first to bang down your door."
"Ah," Dumbledore flushed slightly, "He has been excused from this matter."
"Excused?" McGonagall asked hotly.
Dumbledore flushed lightly, "Heller seems to believe Severus would not be the best suited for this arrangement."
"We are all not suited for it," McGonagall countered, "This entire ordeal is completely illogical!"
"Minerva!" he chastised, fixing her with his gaze, silently telling her to drop the subject.
"Fine," she relented with bad humor, "I'm sure Severus will be pleased to be placed so high above the rest of us."
"Well," Vector intervened, "the list of students could have been worse. Both Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy are excellent in my class. In fact the only students who are even average in any of their classes are the two Weasleys and Mr. Potter." She picked up the letters, including the master lists from the Ministry, "Mr. Longbottom could go with you, Pomona. Oh, and Miss Weasley to you Filius? Minerva, due to the head of house restriction, you will need either Mr. Malfoy or Ms Lovegood."
McGonagall grimaced.
"Perhaps Mr. Malfoy, then? And Ms Lovegood should fit well with Professor Sinistra. Yes, Aurora and she will do quite well together." Her brows furrowed, "Moody is returning to teach defense? Well Mr. Potter or Mr. Weasley would both do well with him, leaving the other with, Hagrid. Poor lads. It's almost like losing a prize by being placed with Hagrid."
"Does seem rather unbalanced," Dumbledore conceded. "I will speak with the Minister's 'committee' about that. No offense to Hagrid, you understand, but he is not at all qualified for the role. They haven't even recanted his magic-ban. Let's keep his name from being mentioned as a Master," he met the other professor's gazes. They all nodded in agreement. None of them wished to hurt the gentle half-giant.
The other professors took leave of the headmaster, accepting defeat temporarily. Most of their fight was on principle as many of them hadn't taken apprentices in a very long time leaving them rather open to the idea. McGonagall remained behind to confront the headmaster individually.
"There must be something we can do, Albus? This is an invasion both the staffs' and the students' rights."
Dumbledore nodded before smiling, the previously absent twinkle returning full force, "Are you not just upset to be pinned with Mr. Malfoy?"
Her lips pinched, "Speaking of Slytherins, why is Severus excused from this charade?"
Dumbledore's eyes turned sad, filling with disappointment directed just as inward as at the situation. "I have not asked the Minister specifically, but he has made it no secret his derogatory opinions of Severus."
"He doesn't like him?" McGonagall practically screeched, that is it would have been a screech if her prim demeanor actually allowed for such an act, "Severus escapes possibly the most unprecedented and invasive stampede through our privacy as a reward for being, on the whole, an arrogant bastard?"
"Minerva," Dumbledore chastised gently, "It is hardly in his favor that Hagrid was chosen before him in this intellectual arena, as it were. Poor Severus seems to have drawn the short stick once again. I had so hoped things after Voldemort's demise would be different for him. Poor Mr. Weasley as well."
"Then you plan to put Mr. Potter with Alastor?" McGonagall asked skeptically. "This is not one of your better ideas, Albus. Mr. Potter does not have the best repertoire with Alastor, nor does he wish to become an Auror. Mr. Weasley, however, does."
"Harry needs the defensive training. There are many Death Eaters waiting to avenge their Lord, or even to try to bring him back. None of our students are precisely taken with Care of Magical Creatures, and after all Harry has done for us, does he not deserve the better of the two remaining Masters?"
"Mr. Weasley was alongside Mr. Potter almost every step of the way. For every real challenge, he was there," McGonagall pointed a stern finger harshly against Dumbledore's wooden desk, "Every single one of these children has, in one way or another, had their childhood ripped from them. None of them deserves to be treated better than any other." She grimaced lightly, "Mr. Malfoy does not fall neatly into the group, however."
"That's your apprentice you are demeaning," the headmaster smiled before rubbing his beard speculatively, "Severus is by far a better candidate for a Master. He could offer an apprentice instruction in Potions, of course, perhaps defense, or even charms. A refresher in that area would be necessary, I suppose."
Minerva straightened her robes. "Yes, yes, he is one of the most multi-faceted professors on staff," she agreed with excess nonchalance. "If you cannot convince the Minister to change his list, what relevance are his qualifications?" she challenged.
Dumbledore grinned mischievously, adding an odd aura of youth to his worn face, "I believe I may know of a way for the minister to be persuaded." He leaned his forearms upon his desk, "Heller is a fool many times over, but he is not without a mind for strategy. I'd be hard to convince he did not anticipate the way we paired off our masters and apprentices. And so he knows Harry will either be placed with an Auror he is not suited for or a Professor whose only knowledge to pass on is not suited for him either."
"Mr. Weasley wants to become an Auror," McGonagall mentioned once more; she knew it would be torture for all those involved to place Harry in any sort of partnership with the old Auror.
If the headmaster heard her or not, he showed no sign. He rubbed his hands slowly together as McGonagall looked on in confusion, "Yes, Heller will definitely go for it. First, we need to have all of the apprentices brought to Hogwarts."
-~PULSE~-
Five of the ministry six, six of seven if you counted Malfoy (which most wouldn't) sat around the staff meeting table. Ron and Hermione whispered to each other, wondering where the third part of their trio could be. Neville and Ginny openly stared at Malfoy Sr. and Jr., wondering why they were present. The Malfoys wondered them same. Luna merely sat calmly between Neville and Ginny, wondering why the Nargles were mysteriously absent.
The Headmaster, accompanied by his deputy as well as the Minister joined the party scarce minutes later.
"Where is Harry Potter, Headmaster? Trying to exclude your Golden Boy?" Heller accused, quickly noting the Boy Who Lived's absence.
Malfoy Sr. stepped forward before Dumbledore could answer. "I demand to know the meaning of all of this!" he tossed the incitation upon the table with so much force is skidded to the center.
"Straight to the heart of the matter then?" Dumbledore inquired genially. "And no, Minister, Mr. Potter could not make it to this meeting, but, never fear, he will be included." He turned to address the table fully, "As outlined in your invitations, resulting your behavior surrounding the events of the Ministry, it has been decided you all require more guidance than Hogwarts has previously provided."
"It was because of us you were there to take down Voldemort," Ron blurted out, earning a stern look from his head of house.
The headmaster smiled, "None of us here doubt the worth of your bravery. However, certain parties worry without interference, negative characteristics of your actions will easily flourish within all of you." The apprentices appeared confused.
"Interference?" Hermione questioned.
"An apprenticeship," Dumbledore responded simply.
The reactions varied greatly. Luna remained unperturbed, Hermione looked gleefully expectant, Neville was confused, and surprisingly enough Ron, Ginny, and Draco shared the same disturbed countenance.
"My son will not be forced into an apprenticeship!" the long-haired Malfoy thundered.
The Minister sneered, "Your son is lucky to not be charged criminally. And as I am sure you already are aware, your lawyers arguments against this were all overruled, though I do commend them on their filing speed. Young Mr. Malfoy will be included in this course of action."
The vein at old Malfoy's temple pulsed, "Then I demand to know why there is not one suitable Master on the list?"
Dumbledore placed a subtle hand on McGonagall's wrist to calm her temper while, mentally, he grinned from ear to ear. He always could count on Malfoy.
"I believe he means, why are there no Slytherins? Really, Lucius, I thought house trivialities died with Voldemort." Mind-Dumbledore sat back and rubbed his hands together with glee. The apprentices turned their heads back and forth as if at a tennis match, watching every turn.
The Minister glared at the Headmaster and Malfoy Sr. in turn, "There is a noticeable shortage of Slytherins on Hogwarts staff."
"And what of Severus Snape?" McGonagall piped in.
Heller looked ready to argue before L. Malfoy joined in, "Why has Severus been excluded? He is by far more qualified than the rest of your list."
"That is precisely why," Heller lied smoothly, "I did not wish to give an advant-"
"I demand Severus be one of the choices. It is outrageous you would exclude a war hero based on old prejudices!" And Lucius's ire had nothing to do with not being able to have Severus as Draco's Master. Although, as a side advantage, he figured he could convince the other Slytherin to botch or disregard the Master/Apprentice bond whereas any other professor was too straight-laced to even consider lying to the Ministry.
It was simply unfortunate Lucius was not aware Severus' head of Slytherin status kept him from Draco even if he was on the list.
Heller's jaw visibly clinched, "Fine, you want Severus?" He grabbed the list of Master/Apprentice pairs he forced the Headmaster to provide. Dumbledore's inner glee faded slightly as he thought of the Masters' and Apprentices' reactions to the list. A small smile graced Heller's pudgy features as he tapped the list. The parchment glowed briefly.
"There is your finalized list," he addressed the apprentices next, "Enjoy your summer becoming acquainted with your new masters."
-~PULSE~-
There was something equally soothing and frustrating about waiting for a kettle to boil. The tiny bubbles that eventually sprang from the depths of deceptively calm water could bring forth such a feeling of primal accomplishment for you had conquered natural energy and transferred it in accordance to your will. As the tiny bubbles gave way to a rolling boil within his clear pot, he believed he was perhaps becoming odd as Albus.
Once the kettle had sat upon his Muggle style burner as long as it could without defying some physics, it finally started to wail. Severus removed it and set to preparing his teapot and cups.
Several minutes later, he was finally able to sit upon the worn but well taken care of couch in his quarters with a cup of his favorite tea. His was by far the best prepared by any of the teachers within Hogwarts, a fact he accepted with little grace and accredited to his more Muggle method of preparation, instilled in him by his mother at an early age.
Perhaps it was the distinctive smell of the tea or the coming down from the stress of the end of the dark lord rolled with the end of another school year, but Severus found himself feeling quite reminiscent in the scarcely lit room.
His childhood before Hogwarts, and every summer thereafter, had been nothing short of odd by all standards.
Severus' father had been a Muggle himself but with supreme interest in the occult. Tobias Snape was a harsh man dissatisfied with his rewards in life and full of envy for his magical wife and son. When Severus was young, Tobias had been cold, not allowing them to form much of a bond.
As a teenager, Severus came home one summer to discover his father had developed his own sort of magic. The process, which he'd been overjoyed to share with Severus, was nothing short of Dark Magic. It was called Pulsing and drew upon the life and magic of the practitioner. It was very risky for a Muggle to do.
He took a sip of his tea, and it burned him.
But Tobias Snape became a new man after learning how to Pulse. He was less angry with the world for making him without magic. He stopped drinking and smoking, they were useless vices not that he'd found his newest drug.
At the tender age of thirteen, Severus was just happy he finally had a real father. His mother, even with the worry Severus could see in her eyes, was happy as well. For a few blessed years, everything seemed perfect, and it was all thanks to pulsing. Dark magic though it was, pulsing gave Severus a family. He spent hours practicing with his father expelling the addictive and powerful pulses.
Halfway through his sixth year, his father fell into a coma. Unable to meet the rising medical and living costs, his mother moved back in with her parents. Pre-pulse Tobias Snape was nothing compared to Grandfather Prince.
Severus spent most of his time away from school at his father's bedside, helpless to help the man he'd grown to love. He could not bear to be powerless. He grew angry with the doctors when they couldn't wake his father, angry with his mother for not grieving more than she did, and angry with his grandfather for banning him from pulsing.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose against the migraine brewing.
The three and a half years spent with his Muggle father performing Dark Magic were not worth the decades Tobias rested unaware nor the decades Severus spent as a Death Eater.
A familiar sensation pinched at his fingertips. Ice crystals floated at the top of his tea. Abruptly, he placed the cup upon the coffee table and rose to pace. Seeing his dueling partner in his mind's eye, he spun clockwise on his heel at the far side of the room, shoulder to palm outstretched in a perfect line. His cup exploded, ice shards all flying away from him and into the burning log, cutting through the flames in the grate. Smoke and steam flew away in tandem.
His heart beat its strong rhythm deep within his chest, and he ached for it to settle.
A knock sounded from his door. His jagged senses felt about and came back with muddled results.
Dumbledore, then, he concluded. "Come," Severus called out, flicking his wand to lower the wards.
"How are you doing, my dear boy?" the wizened old man asked.
Severus sneered, "Quite well, dear old man, and you?"
Dumbledore chuckled and invited himself to sit. Severus rolled his eyes and joined him.
"Am I missing something?" Severus cocked his head quizzically as he repaired his teacup.
"Paranoia is most unbecoming, Severus," Dumbledore admonished.
"So is meddling, but you haven't given up your hobby. Why should I relinquish mine?"
"Paranoid delusions are hardly a hobby."
Severus grinned thinly, "But enjoying them is. What brings you down here? Usually you call me to your forsaken tower."
The headmaster sighed, and Severus felt caught in the eye of a hurricane, the storm forming around his point whilst he waited in ignorance.
"After everything you did for the light during the war, my chest feels heavy with how I must trouble you once more, my boy."
Severus leaned forward in concern, "Do you need me to hunt down the rogue Death Eaters? Is there a chance of Him returning?"
"Severus," Dumbledore stood and walked to the Potions Master's chair, placing a hand upon each shoulder, "Severus, I need you to take Harry Potter as your apprentice."
TBC…
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