A/N: Please note that this is of course Fan Fiction, therefore the events described would be slightly deviated from the orginal telling.
And nope, I in fact do not own Harry Potter or anything else I write about.
Fastforward a year and a half in time.
Chapter 2
Severus Snape apparated nearly a block away from the Mericem Home for Delinquent Boys on the morning of July 31st. He looked around to observe the miserable, squalid area. The overcast grey skies above did little to improve the general image either. He began walking past the abandoned shops and warehouses until he reached the gates of the orphanage. The tall rusty iron gate was locked at all times to prevent the troubled youth from so easily escaping. Therefore Severus was subjected to ring the buzzer and wait for someone to come out and grant him admission. 'And to think that people would come here looking for a child?' Severus muttered.
After a minute of waiting he pressed the buzzer again and let his finger linger on the button. Finally the door opened and a timid looking boy who was no older than six stumbled down the porch steps towards him. His clothes were baggy and he had almost as much grime attached to him as a chimney sweeper.
"Yes Sir, how may I help you Sir?" the boy said.
It was obvious to Severus that he was trying to put up his best front. Just a look into the child's eyes would show that he hated every word he just said. In return the boy began to size up the stranger behind the bars. His eyes searched for openings in his stark black robes, looking for folds and creases where the man might hold something valuable.
"Take me to your director," Severus said curtly.
"I am sorry Sir, but meetings with the director are by appointment only Sir," said the boy.
Severus's eyes rolled back slightly. "Of course I have an appointment boy, now will you open the gate!"
The young child tensed up for a moment before he nervously searched in his pockets for the key. Jumping up on the lowest bar for height, the boy slid in the key and heard a loud click before swinging the door open. Severus quickly walked past as he heard the gate close and lock behind him. The boy ran to catch up with the fast moving potions master.
"His office is on the fourth floor Sir. I can take y-" the boy began before being interrupted by a staff member.
"Oh no you won't you little thief. Now get back to yer work," a man that worked on the staff said sternly, watched the kid quickly trot away.
Then the staff member dressed in grey observed Severus for a long moment.
"I take it that you're not here to adopt, right?" he said in a cheeky fashion.
"Simple deduction," Severus replied through pressed lips. "I have a meeting at nine with your director."
"Right..." the man said, keeping his eyes painted to the pale man in black.
"Time is of the essence," Severus said. So far this muggle was even worse than the kid.
"Right then, follow me will yer," he said turning away.
Through long corridors and four flights of shakey stairs, Severus followed the man. All the while taking in the grim condition of the place. He knew full well the identity of the child who he was to meet today. Which made it all the more understandable on why Dumbledore chose him of all people for this task. But it true regard it was a feeling of anxiousness that prevailed over him at the moment. The thoughts of seeing a true monster with the face of the Dark Lord leering at him was in the forefront of his mind. After all, growing up in places such as this, he must have already developed his attitude.
"If you're from the government, tell em two things. One, we need more funding. And two, to stop throwing more of em on top of each other in here, jus send em somewhere else, got that?" said the man when he knocked on the door at the end of the fourth floor corridor.
Severus ignored him completely, as footsteps were heard approaching from the opposite side of the door. An eye appeared at the peephole before another click was heard that released a lock and the door opened. A somewhat burly older man stood at the threshold wearing a distasteful expression and suit to match.
"Your nine o' clock Sir," said the staff member in formal tone.
"Ah yes," the director said as he reacted to Severus the same way as all the other muggles. "Well come on in," he said a moment later, waving the staff member away and shutting the door, being extra sure to lock it back. Severus took a seat as the older man circled around his desk to do the same.
"Now who did you say that you represent again?" said the older man, not bothering to have introductions.
"A private boarding school that has extended a scholarship to one of the orphans residing here," Severus said.
"Jack Kian, is it?" asked the director.
"Correct, that is the boy in question," responded Severus.
"Now tell me, how does someone from here get selected for this 'scholarship?'" the director asked.
"It is a new program from the ministry of education to help troubled youth," Severus smoothly lied.
"Look, I don't care either way. Just tell me if we become responsible should an incident occur while he is on your watch?" came another question from the director.
"You will have no liability once the boy enters our custody," coldly answered Severus to the old man's impassive stare.
"His complete case file that you requested," the director said as he lifted up a stuffed folder and extended his arm out.
Severus leaned forward and took it. Flipping open the first page and quickly scanning through the next few, he noticed a set of eerie similarities. The life of Jack Kian was summed up in a few words. Most notable among them was the word 'emotionless.'
"I have been running this establishment for nearly thirty years now," said the old man suddenly. "And that boy is one of the strangest I've ever seen. If you can give opportunity to a boy here, I suggest you choose someone else."
"Tell me what type of behavior that you have seen," Severus asked, closing the folder and looking back up at the director.
The old man leaned forward slightly onto his desk and laced his fingers together. "The boy is just so...odd," he said. "He won't mingle with the other orphans or even acknowledge them most of the time. He has no ability to connect with anything, and yet should he become offended, lash out violently. Not to mention the deaths."
"What deaths?" Severus asked, slightly suprised but not at all shocked to hear that word come up.
"His name was cited in two deaths of orphans. One was when he was seven at another orphanage. A boy broke his neck in the shower room, several others testified against him but nothing could be proven. The other happened here nearly two years ago now. The official report listed the cause of death as organ failure. But I have never seen a healthy twelve year old boy just up and die from such a thing. The aftermath played out the same as the first.
Also the snake that the boy keeps. Some of the others say they have heard him talk to it. The boy does not need a scholarship, he needs a decent institution," finished the director.
"Where is the boy now?" Severus asked.
"Top floor, it is where we keep our liabilities. They all have their own room and are kept alone most of the time," said the director.
Severus stood up from the chair to indicate he was ready to go.
"Very well," said the director as he kept that same glare on Severus that he had already grown accustomed to in this place. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
End of Chapter 2
