Disclaimer: J.K.Rowling
is the creator and true owner of the characters of Hogwarts and the
wizarding world, and no infringement of copyright is intended. I'm just
playing with them for my own amusement; no money is being made. Written by Morganlefaye1958 and SeulWolfe Warnings:Slash Folks!
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Honor:
Chapter 4:Settling the Snakes and Bad Memories
2766 words
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"Asphodel." Whispered the Potions Master, as he reached the portrait guarding his office and personal rooms. The portrait Salazar nodded in response, before the door swung silently inward. Severus stepped through, and the door closed behind him as he moved through his office toward the entrance to his private rooms. He approached the bookcases on the back wall, reached up and pushed against a copy of Potions and Blood Magic, causing the bookcases to separate. A section of it swung away from him revealing a comfortable sitting room. When he had accepted his quarters, he wanted to be close to his Slytherins, but still retain his privacy.
'I will have to remember to show Remi how to access my rooms,' he thought as he moved to the drinks cabinet in the corner near the fireplace. Opening a door in the cabinet, he reached down into the dark, cool interior and selected a dark, heavy bottle bearing the ornate label of the Bianchi-Snape Vineyards. As he stood up, he studied the familiar label. It brought back memories and feelings of familial warmth and pride.
Much of his childhood and tutoring had been interwoven with the daily running of the vineyard and the winery. His mother, Luisa Bianchi Snape, had always taken personal interest and control of the running of the family business. Simultaneously, she supervised the tutoring of Severus and his older siblings, Ettore and Donata. When they were not with their tutors, they spent many hours at Luisa's side, as she walked the vineyards and monitored the progress in the winery. She told them all about grapes and wine, how the business should be run, and she also told them stories of their family's history and traditions. Her pride was reflected in her words and it was instilled in her children.
Severus sighed, and lifted two wine glassed and a corkscrew from a tray atop the cabinet, then turned and walked to the sitting area in front of the fireplace. He set the glasses on the low table between the chairs, pushing over the two books he was currently reading and a well-used chess set. Inserting the corkscrew into the cork slowly, he began to turn it, the movement prompting a forgotten memory.
Among the lessons Luisa had taught her children about wine, were the two accepted methods for opening a good bottle of wine. It was acceptable to open wine the Muggle way, with a corkscrew, or use a specialized low-level spell that had been created by a wizard winemaker in the Bianchi ancestry. Strong magic ruined wine, making it unfit to drink, but some wizards stubbornly insisted on using magic. This had prompted the creation of the spell. It was a small spell designed to focus only on the upper neck of the bottle and the cork, slowly spinning the cork until it was free of the bottle. It took some practice to get it just right, and 8-year-old Severus had been practicing for a couple of weeks. That day, he had just finished opening ten empty practice bottles in a row. He grinned at his mother in satisfaction. His mother smiled back and asked him if he would like the honor of opening the bottle of wine for their noon meal. As everyone moved to the dining room and sat around the table, Severus eagerly agreed. Ettore and Dona looked on in pride at their younger brother, noting his excitement that it was finally his turn.
The house-elves served the meal and it filled the table; antipasto, a large loaf of bread still warm from the ovens, polenta with herbs and cheese, a small roasted loin of pork with small herbed potatoes and asparagus, assorted fruit and biscotti, and two bottles of their best wine. The children eyed the small midday feast while stomachs rumbled their hunger.
Luisa handed one of the bottles of wine to her youngest son. He took the bottle firmly in his small hand, fingers wrapped around it at the lower portion of the neck. As his brow creased with concentration, and his mother and siblings watched silently, young Severus cast the spell. As soon as the magic touched it, the cork began to rotate. Severus smiled every so slightly.
"You are doing very well, my son." Luisa smiled at her youngest. Ettore and Dona smiled and nodded in agreement. Severus looked up briefly and smiled brightly at each of them.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang as the doors to the dining room slammed open behind Severus. Everyone jumped at the abrupt interruption causing the table to lurch and everything on it to rattle. Severus looked up to see the faces of his family go white; his mother's with surprise and anger, and his siblings' with wide-eyed fear.
"LUISA! The shipment for Vienna has not been sent AGAIN! Why is Antonio holding that shipment? He did the same last week also! Answer me woman!" Patrizio Snape yelled as he entered the room, his robes billowing and snapping behind him.
Ettore and Dona seemed to shrink back in their seats, and their mother's jaw clenched. Eyes wide, all color drained from Severus' face and the bottle of wine he'd been holding so carefully, slipped from his trembling fingers and crashed to the floor, glass and wine flying in every direction. Three pairs of eyes saw the fear crossing the face of the young boy, then moved quickly to gauge the reaction of the volatile man towering in the doorway behind him.
His mother was already rising from her chair and reaching into her robe, as Patrizio Snape took two steps toward the table, reached for Severus, and yanked him roughly from his chair. Severus raised his arms to protect his face and head as best he could as his father began to shake him and slap him hard about the head and shoulders. Ettore and Dona leapt from their seats, overturning the chairs, and started to move around the table, shouting at their father to stop.
"Foolish worthless boy! What do you think you are doing, wasting good wine! My wine! Who told you to touch those bottles?" He screamed as he jerked the small body around, landing another sharp blow to the tiny back. "Useless excuse for a wizard!"
Luisa Snape had risen from her chair and was glaring furious daggers at her husband, as two house-elves cowered in the doorway, and several vineyard staff could be seen watching from outside. "PATRIZIO! Put your son down, immediately!" She shouted as she finally got a firm grip on her wand, as she heard Severus whimpering.
"Useless excuse for a wizard!" Patrizio roared as he threw the child violently to the floor, causing him to land sprawling facedown amid spilled wine and glass shards. "Clean up that mess! NOW!"
"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Luisa lowered her wand and tucked it back in her robes, as her husband's body froze in mid-stride, a fierce scowl on his face, and dropped to the floor with a sickening thud.
"Bloody foolish man! He's been into the whiskey again! After all these years, he should know to stick to the wine." She stepped over the prone body, and reached down to pick up the huddled and shaking form of her youngest son. Ettore and Dona crouched down to either side of her, each resting a hand on their younger brother. Luisa gathered the small form to her, cuddling him to her breast, stroking his hair and speaking softly to him, as he sobbed against her body.
"Shhhhh…my sweet child. Your Mama has you now—you're safe. I am sorry my son. I was unaware your father had returned. He was not due home until the weekend, when you would all be at Nona's." She kissed the top of his head.
As she rocked her son, heedless of the broken glass and spilled wine, she addressed her older children, "Ettore, contact the local Caribanari, then firecall Granpapa Luigi and inform him of what has happened." She then turned to her daughter. "Dona, have Toria come and clean up the wine and set the dining room to rights so we may finish our meal."
"Yes Mama." Both responded in unison as they moved to do as their mother had bid them.
"Petro!" Luisa called. Two house-elves appeared with twin pops. Toria moved toward the table waving her small hand. The wine and glass disappeared. Chairs and dishes righted themselves. Toria waved her hand at the table, casting appropriate cooling and warming spells on the food and drink, in anticipation of the family's return.
Petro approached his Mistress and young Master as Luisa began to rise from the floor, bringing Severus with her. She leaned down, wiped the tear-stained face, and kissed both his reddened cheeks.
"I pledge a wizards vow to you this day, my precious son, that he will never touch you or any of us ever again! I love you dearly, my little raven. Now go with Petro and get cleaned up, so we may finish our meal, and I promise you may have some Spumoni after you've finished your polenta." Luisa then turned and swept into the parlor.
The house-elf took young Severus by the hand and led him from the room, carefully avoiding the prone body that still lay frozen on the floor. As Petro led him to the stairs, he could hear the stern voice of his Grandfather Bianchi speaking with his mother.
The Caribanari had taken his father away, but it was his grandfather and his uncles that returned the quiet ashen-faced man to the manor three days later. Life with Papa before that day had been full of terror except when he was gone on business. Mama had tried everything to protect them. That day had been a turning point. The man that returned to the manor that day was different. There was no fear in their home again. He never ever raised his voice or hand to any of them again. It remained so, till he died during Severus 6th year at Hogwarts. Severus never found out what had happened while Papa had been with Granpapa and his uncles, and Mama never said.
Severus shook himself from his thoughts, realizing he still held the bottle with the cork partially removed. He pulled the cork the remainder of the way from the bottle and lifted the damp end to his nose scenting the aroma, as he had been taught. He loved the scent of the wine. After placing the bottle and cork onto the table, next to the wine glasses, he turned to look at the clock near the fireplace. The hand pointed toward "Time to address your snakes."
He pointed his wand at the fireplace muttering a quiet Incendio, to bring a bit of warmth into the room before he returned. Exiting his rooms, he passed quickly through his office and into the corridor, spelling the door shut and locked behind him. He moved quickly to the entrance into the Slytherin common room, uttering the password as he approached. When he reached the door, it was already open and he stepped immediately through.
Students were sitting or standing in small groups throughout the room, the low murmur of conversation and quiet laughter drifted through the room. At the entrance of their Head of House, they all quickly gathered around him, older students herding the first years along in front of them. Severus stood near the fireplace and motioned the children to sit, surveying them as they settled themselves. Once all eyes were on him again, he pulled his robes around him, and folded his arms across his chest.
"Welcome to Slytherin House, and to my returning students, welcome back. I am your Head of House and Potions professor, Severus Snape. The Sorting Hat put you into this house based upon your strongest innate talents. Some from the other Houses will tell you Slytherin is evil and only bad wizards come from our house. History will show that is not, in fact, true. However, you will find student or staff does not always treat our house fairly. Hold your heads high and watch each other's backs. I expect all of you to work together to help those struggling with studies, or may need assistance in more personal or social areas. Your Prefects are also there to help you. Go to them if you need to. They will advise you if it is necessary to speak to me. My door is open to those of you who feel a need to speak to me personally. But be forewarned, if you bypass the assistance of your housemates or the Prefects, I will expect a sufficient explanation as to why you feel it is necessary. My office hours are posted clearly on the notice board behind you. We are Slytherin family while you are here. Remember that."
Severus finished speaking and paused to allow his words to have their impact, as he studied the faces of his charges. He saw different emotions reflected in their eyes, but nothing to cause him concern. He noticed a few of the first years yawning and beginning to fidget.
"If none of you have questions, it is time to retire to your dormitories. Morning will come quickly. Sleep well my snakes." The students started moving toward their rooms, and their Head of House turned to leave. Before he could take two steps, he heard a small voice behind him. "Professor Snape, sir?"
Severus turned and looked down to see a small boy, one of the first years, looking up at him with huge blue eyes full of curiosity. The boy was small for his age, with dark hair that fell in soft curls around his face and touched his collar in back. He was holding a grey and white Kneazle kitten in his arms. The kitten appeared to be about half-grown. It squirmed slightly until its owner reached up and scratched its ears. The child shuffled his feet slightly, but did not break eye contact with his professor.
"Jonas Wyle, isn't it?" The boy nodded. "What is it Mr. Wyle?"
"Sir…" The boy's adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, clearly nervous. "Can Bezoar sleep with me please, sir? Momma said he would watch over me for her. I've never been away from home before." There was brief silence, then the boy looked down and Severus could see the blush of red on his cheeks. He reached down, placed a fingertip under the boy's chin, and gently lifted it until blue eyes met black ones again.
"Mr. Wyle, why do you feel embarrassment for making such a request?"
"Because, sir, Papa says I must be brave…that a true Slytherin doesn't fear the dark…and … I should not be afraid. But… Momma says its O.K. to be afraid of the dark at first, but to keep Bezoar with me to feel safe. Then I won't be afraid."
Severus looked into that small face and a smile barely touched the corner of his mouth. He moved to the side and sat on the edge of one of the chairs, bringing the boy along to stand in front of him, so they were eye-to-eye.
"In a way, they are both right. A Slytherin should be brave when necessary, but at times will also be fearful. The key is to use the fear. Don't let it paralyze you. Examine it, contemplate it, and once you grasp it, in most cases, you can get past it. A true Slytherin will use whatever means are available to accomplish his or her goals." Severus reached out and started petting the Kneazle.
"If right now you need Bezoar here to help you face and overcome the dark and being alone, then that is exactly what you shall do, since familiars are allowed in the dormitories."
A huge smile spread across the boy's face as he looked at his Head of House. "Yes sir! Thank you Professor!" Severus gave the Kneazle one last scratch and patted the boy's shoulder as he moved to stand.
"Now off to bed with you! And remember, Mr. Wyle, you and Bezoar won't be alone. You do have six other year mates in there too, after all." Jonas Wyle flashed a last quick smile at his professor's raised eyebrow, and then headed off at a trot to join his year mates.
Severus glanced around the now empty common room, thinking of another small boy with large expressive eyes, and shook his head before exiting into the corridor and heading back to his rooms
TBC…
