Sorry about the formatting issues folks. I try to wash the formatting when I bring it over, but for some reason that doesn't always work. hopefully this is easier to read?
and thank you to everyone who let me know, I really appreciate it x
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Severus found it hard to maintain his emotionless stoicism and keep to his role of the bitter and vicious dungeon bat in the face of Regulus' newly acquired charge. She had taken to the role of the heir of the most noble of all nobility like she was born to it, and Severus often found himself wondering if this wasn't a long play by his friend and she wasn't secretly an illegitimate child of his that he wished to bring into the fold. She was, after all, just as funny about creatures as he was, and of course an avid reader, and quite as generously spirited. Instead of making straight for young Malfoy or other easy connections, she had instead gathered Longbottom, Potter and Nott to her side, making alliances that were actually quite savvy and would be prosperous in the future for all they had been based off of Hermione's soft spot for rejects and outsiders, up to and including befriending the least popular Weasley child, who despite being far older than the rest of their clique had positively flourished with the role of mentor and older friend he had with the group.
Snape knew of course that Percy had done all the hard work himself, much like Severus himself had while he was in school. It was rather backbreaking work, trying to reclaim the threads of prestige that had been lost due to a forebear's actions or mistakes. Percy had long been comporting himself with as much propriety and dignity as he was able, and had been doing a rather good job of it, even if it was a little artless, based on theory as it was, for a subject that was better taught in person. However the boy had been...buffed and polished...by Regulus of late, and most importantly, with this attention from The Black, he and his ambitions had been given a legitimacy that he hadn't had before; and the difference was astounding. Severus watched him now, chatting to Miss Penelope Clearwater with an ease he had never had before, that made his movements more graceful, and leant a light to his eyes, that if the girl in question could be trusted was almost irresistible.
It was of course a Prewett trait. Severus remembered Gideon and Fabian Prewett, and even little Margaret had all owned A measure of that irrepressible lustre; a certain natural charisma. So too did both of Percival's older brothers Billius and Charlus have it in spades; though their stellar quidditch careers during their time at Hogwarts and their chosen trades, of course, gave them an extra rockstar appeal, that had always been a magnet for girls and boys alike. Percius had never seemed to have it, but now…
Snape knew he'd become a sentimental fool, because he found himself quite happy for the boy. Regulus was rubbing off on him.
He looked over at the Slytherin table to see young Theodore Nott, a boy who favoured his mother, the late Alana Nott nee Rosier almost entirely. Nearly every week Severus had to read about Theodore's father's disappointment at his son's scholarly bent (that was not the language Kalven Nott used in his letters, but it would do). The boy was currently smiling while eating his dinner and carrying on an animated conversation with Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis instead of stiffly hiding in plain sight, as he had been at the beginning of term. Severus was interested to see what would happen there. Regulus and Severus had both spoken to the boy, and part of the reason for his new found confidence was the security he had stolen when his father had sent him a letter congratulating him on sucking in the new Black heir, getting a head start on cultivating her for his own ends. Theodore of course had simply wanted a friend that liked books as much as he did, much like Regulus had in their time (which had made him relentlessly hunt Severus as a friend with a perseverance only found in annoying younger siblings, until he eventually gave up and allowed it), but what Kelvin Nott didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
Theodore was an incredibly bright boy, and his crippling shyness had been holding him back. However with the Midas touch that Regulus seemed to have miraculously passed on to his heir, it seemed Nott would be a more interesting piece on the Hogwarts chessboard than anyone had suspected.
Severus watched as Draco Malfoy watched Nott, Potter and Granger in turns, eyebrows knitting, and his frown enlarging; and felt a smile tickle at his lips. This was sure to be entertaining, at the very least.
He met Minerva's eyes, and when they sparkled with amusement, he turned to follow her gaze. The headmaster didn't seem the least bit as smug as he had been earlier in the school year. Severus found himself actually suppressing a laugh at the dinner table. What was the world coming to?
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Albus had to say that his plans that had been crafted so lovingly over at least twelve years (he would never admit it was far longer; people get shifty about that kind of thing) were quickly being toppled by the spectacle that was Regulus Black and his newfound quasi-fatherhood.
As far as Albus could tell, the young Lord Black hadn't even taken the girl on out of anything but concern for her immediate safety in BC the presence of that bloody troll. Magically claiming her in front of the troll meant the beast knew the child had a fierce protector with a strong magic, which in turn, in the mystery that was creature-gifts, that made the bond a reality. If he hadn't done so of course, the troll might have considered them to be unfit guardians and taken little Miss Granger away- not that Albus or any other faculty member would have let him, but even he had to admit that it had been the most direct course of action with the least amount of damage to property, and of course the surest path to keeping the child safe from harm.
It had once been a practice of Pureblood families to adopt muggleborns, back before Albus had fought so hard for muggleborns to be accepted as they were; and for this exact reason. The most powerful families would always seek out the most powerful children, and what a coup young Regulus had made in little Miss Granger. Albus had fully intended for her to be the plain sidekick to an ignorant and bumbling Harry Potter, ignored until Albus himself could quietly shape her to be the future, muggle friendly, politically Light, Minister for Magic!
Now he had no doubt Regulus would have seen the same potential in the girl, but with her as his heir, she already had too much power. It had only been a few months, and she was already changing the dynamics in the school in a greater way than any student had since Tom Riddle himself had attended.
Of course Regulus' brother Sirius had stirred the pot, but this went beyond the pranks and frivolity that the Marauders had brought to the school. Albus worried that young Hermione Granger-Black would soon be beyond his reach.
This was all very concerning. If Slytherins like Theodore Nott didn't show Harry how bad the world could be, who would he practice on so that he could defeat Voldemort? He needed to be tested and exposed to danger to unlock the power he knew not and instead, he was hiding behind Percy Weasley's proverbial skirts while the muggleborn took care of the troll—and in a peaceful way no less! This was unacceptable! Albus had hoped the two children would be friends, so that Hermione Granger would do his homework for him while he was busy with more important things like saving the school—but this ? This was not good. An educated Potter was a dangerous thing indeed. Charlus and Dorea Potter had been completely unmaneuverable, and it had taken a lot of work to get James Potter to a place where Albus could use him; and now it was all for naught.
The little tyke had been gaining weight, and had even begun to grow like a proper child. With a terrier like Percy Weasley on the case, he was taking his potion at every meal without fail, and the older boy even watched his portions, and made sure he had enough of his vegetables and other necessities for a balanced diet. That damn Molly Prewett had trained her children well. Even after the slow acting confundus charm he'd set on her and her husband to reject the Old Ways, Percy had somehow chased them down anyway, purporting himself with poise and grace, and was already being headhunted by certain high profile employers, rather than falling into the role of ministry stooge that would be easy to manipulate at a later time. Everything was falling apart.
Albus had spent so long building this plan that he didn't have too many contingencies. He'd have to think long and hard about this. The two snakes in his employ were rather precarious to balance with all of the rest, and he didn't want to end up bitten if he squeezed them too hard. He would have to watch and wait, to see how this would all pan out.
After all the Philosopher's Stone was still in the school, and there was Quirrell, who had not begun to play his hand yet. Yes, there was still much to watch to see how the chips would fall.
oOoOohello! Just throwing this up here, hope this finds you well!
every time I come across an 'Albus' section in this fic I'm like :| because I wrote him so camp and ridiculous in this story! I'm also well over this Albus-bashing phase, but it sort of feels weird if I just take these sections out, so sorry if it's annoying you too!
As I said this was one of the first HP fics I wrote, and so an over exaggerated, quirky and cruel, self satisfied Dumbledore was funny to me at the time. This whole cartoon villain type thing, and with the way that Rowling writes him, it's so easy to fall into that.
I do not like Dumbledore ever, and do find him annoyingly pleased with himself, but find this kind of bashing in my own work to be irritating all this time later.
that's unfortunately just one of the issues that crops up when you are this slow at writing and publishing. I honestly don't know how actual writers do it, for like years polishing and having their stuff edited and flicking it up. I'd hate everything by the time of publishing!