I do not own Harry Potter, this is only a fan fiction.
The next morning Professor Snape was doing no Gryffindor would actually expect the Head of House Slytherin to do. He was actually punishing a member of his own house, and it was none other than Draco Malfoy. It seems that Draco managed to splash Hermonine Granger within potion that made her grow some tremendous looking pimples, and her nails grow so long that she could not even hold a cup of juice. Serverus simply assigned him a week of cleaning bed pans in his the school clinic. He said it might help him obtain some humility.
Serpentus did as any other member of his house would do, analyze the situation and weigh the cost and benefits of each possible action. In the end he figured that the risk was simply to great of upsetting his father, and so he decided to let Draco, endure the consequences of his actions, with a little hard work he might even treat his family's house elf a little better. Winky simply adored Serpentus ever since he gave him a potion to cure some rather nasty injuries that Mr. Malfoy had done, simply because he did not bring him the right book.
The classes became a routine, every day he would hear about things from his teachers, and every day he would expect that he was going to end up helping one of his classmates. This day was different, this was the day he would take his first lesson from Madame Hooch, the class where he would finally be able to fly. Granted Serpentus was an avid broom racer and there was simply no year in his childhood when he and his father did not race against each other, they even played some quidditch with some other families.
"Now I want you all to stand next to your broom, and say up, if done correctly the broom should do exactly as you imagined." Serpentus, Draco and most of the class did not have a hard time, except for Neville Longbottom. Serpentus simply not wanting to give the class bullies any chances to humiliate and injure their favorite victim, he decided to tell Neville to be more confident. Neville looked at him with an utter look of shock, "why are you even trying to help me? I am not a member of your house?"
For a second Serpentus wanted to lie and tell him because he was holding the entire class and preventing them from getting to fly, but deep down he decided to tell him the truth. "I hate bullying and if I can do something not to see it happen, I will. Now come on, you surely want to know the sheer thrill of flying right? If you do, then listen and do as I do." Serpentus gave clear instructions to Neville, and sure enough Neville was actually doing rather well, or at least better than his classmates thought he would.
But Malfoy was not one to stay out of trouble, and so he decided to play a prank on his favorite victim, and she Neville dropped his grandmother's gift. He had the perfect chance to show all, that Longbottom was as weak and foolish as ever. Draco got on his broom and dove and picked up the rememberall. He flew really high, ignoring the shouts from Madame Hooch to come down. He told Neville to try and take the ball back. Neville was not about to do something that was clearly against his teacher's decisions.
Serpentus watched as he saw Draco throw the ball high in the air. From that where he was doing that could either really injure someone, or cause the ball to crack into a million pieces. So he took off in his own broom and caught the ball as it fell, then decided to toss it to Neville, who of course caught it. "If you three are quite done with this little demonstration of your quidditch skills, I would very much like to continue the lesson, or would either of you prefer to continue to show off, at the cost of two days detention?"
Madame Hooch was a very kindly spoken and respectful witch, but that did not mean that she was a pushover when it came time to apply a little did discipline. The rest of the class was told to ask any questions they had about flying to their classmates that just finished their little demonstration. If the questions had been on class material, or even quidditch. Serpentus would have been very glad to answer, but a few of his classmates were asking questions, that could only be called embarrassing.
Daphne looked like she was about ready to kill a few of them, I mean really, they were practically hitting on Serpentus none stop. He was a decent flier, but did these girls picked a guy to be a potential boyfriend just because of his potential to play quidditch. Daphne of course was not admitting, at least not openly, that the reason for her anger was quite obvious, if anyone was going to date Serpentus Snape, it would be none other than herself, and she was not going to let anyone else have him.
The class was really fun for Neville, Harry and most of the class. For Draco not so much, he had hoped that by showing off his flying skills, that maybe he could get Daphne Greengrass to focus on him instead of the one that she was so clearly wanting to make her boyfriend. Serpentus did the only thing he could, try and be honorable, maybe them people would stop all the dark rumors and whispers about his family. He knew deep down that was far less likely than Dumbledore openly admitting that he was gay.
As the members of his year returned to their common room, after yet another wonderful meal. Serverus Snape was waiting for them, and told them to sit down he had decided to make an announcement, one that would clearly was important. "It has come to my attention that two of my house, decided to show off their quidditch skills, in light of their obvious skill, I have decided to allow these two brave students the privilege of trying for our house team. They will see what position they will be placed, next Sunday. I do hope you both are rested, Draco your father has told me he will send your broom with tomorrow's mail.. Serpentus you stay I need to have a word with you in private."
Draco looked particularly happy as they left Serverus and his son alone. Serpentus waited for his father to sit down next to him, and waited for him to tell him what he had done wrong, I mean a private talk like this would make anyone think the same. "Now Serpentus, would you mind telling me, what compelled you to help, Neville Longbottom of all people a Gryffindor?" Serpentus told him what Draco had done, and that it would only cause him problems if anyone in the class was injured by this foolish attempt to show off. "So you did it to prevent me problems? Come on, son. That excuse is pathetic. I know full well you hate bullying of any kind."
"Father, if you know why ask? I am not very happy to see said bully, be rewarded for doing something that shames us all. If you think I did wrong, the punish me. I will happily go and endure said punishment, rather than see Draco think that he can get away with bullying a fellow student." Serverus explained to his son that while he did an honorable thing, if he were to punish both of them, Lucius Malfoy would use his political influence to make like rather difficult or just unpleasant for him and his entire family.
"So basically because he used his money to bribe a lot of ministry officials and people in the board of governors, he pretty much can pressure teachers into giving his brat, my cousin good grades without him even earning them!?" Serverus told him that drpended on each teacher, but technically that was correct. He told him however Draco's father would never actually interfere in his son's education. What father would not want their son to feel that those good grades were earned instead of it being a handout?
"Don't worry, son. The time when gold control the hands if justice will soon come to an end, and those that got rich on the misery of others will receive their just punishment. But I need you to be strong,Serpentus. You will one day be a major figure in the forces that make this happen, and for that you will need to be smart, cunning and powerful. But thus fight will be a deadly battle, so get ready to fight with everything you have, and start looking for allies. Use the popularity of your quidditch victories to attract people, and find those allies."
Serpentus knew his father spoke the truth, but something in the back of his mind said something else. "Beware, for sometimes the victorious revolutionary, can become ever a worse tyrant than the one he defeated." Serpentus that night decided to take a stroll through the castle. It was on the third floor corridor that he found something truly unexpected, a massive three headed dog, guarding a trap door.
The dog look in a real bad mood, but he saw him as a puppy that was simply lonely. He did something that others would either consider crazy or plain stupid. He began to slap his legs and began calling to the dog, "ah, who is the cute little puppy, who is the cute little puppy..." The dog ran towards him tackled him and Serpentus began to rub his tummy. The dog calmed down and Serpentus began to rub his ears. In a matter of a few minutes the dog looked as happy as he could possibly be.
"Alright, Fluffy, time for dinner." Serpentus was surprised when he saw the groundskeeper Hagrid bringing in a huge stack of steaks. "Now, If it isn't Snape's boy. Kid what are you doing here? Don't you remember this room was supposed to be off limits. And what are you doing to my dog?" Serpentus decided to introduce himself, and said that he was simply out for a walk, and then he met this adorable puppy all alone, and sad. So he decided to cheer him up and play some fetch with him. Fluffy indeed looked happy.
"While I don't mind him being happy, you know he is a ferocious guard dog, he could have eaten you whole." Serpentus told him that Fluffy was guarding something, but he had no intention of going anywhere near the trap door he was guarding, so he was in no danger at all. He gave each head a hug and rubbed behind the ears. "Enjoy dinner Fluffy, I might come and play with you some other day, but I need to get some sleep. Have a nice evening, Mr. Hagrid." Hagrid began placing the steaks on a big plate and Fluffy began to eat them, "Strange kid to be sure, but at least he is friendly."
He went to bed only to hear his friend and familiar, complain about the dangers of playing fetch with a dog big enough to use him as a chew toy. Serpentus told her that as long as he did not try to go anywhere near the thing he was guarding, he was in no danger at all, besides a dog that size was still a dog, and he needed to have a little fun and exercise. She then complained that she too needed some fun and exercise. "Don't you worry, I was planning to pay your uncle a visit anyways, but the people of this castle need to trust me first, or they will lynch me for visiting your uncle."
A good night sleep, and a warm breakfast later he was called to see Dumbledore, it seems Hagrid told him about his time playing with Fluffy. He was escorted by Professor McGonagall. The corridor led to a pair of stone gargoyles. Minerva whispered the passwords. As he stepped into the office he saw a lot of interesting things, a phoenix that looked a few moments away from dying, and sure enough the bird burst into flames.
"Nice to see you, Serpentus you don't mind if I call you by your first name?" Serpentus told him that it was no problem at all. "I hear that you had a rather interesting evening. I do remember telling students to stay out of that corridor, something about a gruesome death, lemon drop?" He looked at the piece of candy, "No thank you, I just had breakfast, I found a poor lonely pup, and decided to let have some fun was the most efficient way to work out his stress. He was such a playful little pup that I simply lost track of time."
"That dog is guarding something very valuable for my dear friend. I would hate for someone stealing what he is guarding." Serpentus sat down and helped Fawkes get free from the ashes, Minerva could hardly believe it. Dumbledore smiled. "I know about Nicholas Flamel and what that dog is guarding. I been trying to make one for a couple of years, but then I found out what ingredient I was missing, and pretty much put a stop to my dream of making a philosopher stone of my own."
"Why would you want a philosopher stone?" Serpentus told him he had a relative that had received the bite from a werewolf when he was young, and so since he found out, he has been trying to make improvements on the current potion. But the duration was always an issue with his potion, It would only work for a few days, the philosopher stone could in theory augment the potion to make the effects last longer, if he could make it last a year, his relative would be able to gain steady employment and improve his quality of life.
"Admirable goal, but sadly the stone being guarded is the only one my friend has and without it he and his wife will die." Serpentus told him he had no interest in stealing anything from the castle. This made Dumbledore relax somewhat, but he asked that he keep what he knew about the stone and the dog a secret, Serpentus told him he would do so but not for free. Dumbledore looked at him with a rather harsh stare, "What do you want in exchange for you keeping the secret?" Serpentus began to laugh, "Nothing that would cost you a single coin, simply for you to let me play with Fluffy sometimes, and for you to trust me."