Chapter 23: Nature V.S. Nurture

{A/N Late Post...hopefully it makes sense...}

My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy S.S.

Unknown Location, Unknown World...(1981)

Ice and snow surrounded the home of a boy thin to the point of seeing his ribs through his ghastly pale flesh and his clothes were as thin as rags not much different than a brown potato sack as he scurried without shoes along the cold stone floor of his father's quarters. His face was a thin as that of a common rat plaguing the streets but his nose had been about the largest thing on his battered and bruised little body.

His raven hair had been lank and covered his face as he did his best to keep the quarters tidy despite his trembling hands weak from hunger and exhaustion. His father had hated it when he was being lazy, sleeping was for the weak. He had not wanted to be considered weak again or else he would receive more lashes. His tiny pale back had been riddled with scars, a constant reminder to his numerous mistakes and how his father would make him pay.

As the boy scrambled to keep the quarters clean for the impatient and vicious Headmaster, the door opened and fear filled him once more.

The imposing figure known as Igor Karkaroff entered the room his narrowed dark eyes and grim expression only reinforced what the boy already knew.

Without a word Igor struck him across the face. A silent cry fell from his small pale lips and he scrambled up off the floor as another blow came crashing against his face, heating his chilled flesh in the wake of the impact.

"STUPID USELESS LITTLE WORM!" shouted Igor angrily. "Just who in the fuck do you think you are?"

The trembling boy could tell that Igor had been drunk. The glaze look behind his cold dark eyes indicated as much. It made no difference wither the brute had been drunk or otherwise. Igor always seemed to find fault with him.

"Failure is not to be tolerated!" shouted Igor angrily. "How many times do I have to tell you before you get it right?"

The boy had not been given a chance to answer before he felt the magical lash upon his formerly young skin.

"What have I told you about weakness in my presence?" huffed a furious Igor with his eyes blazing.

"N-Never show weakness in your presence." said the stammering wounded boy.

Igor struck him again.

"See that you never forget it." he said cruelly.

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Unknown Location, Unknown World...

The charismatic and insane masked leader of The notorious S.B.D glared rather murderously as he stormed the throne room of his hideout. He smashed walls and broke everything in his path as his temper only seemed to worsen. In an instant he murdered two of his followers due to their numerous failures.

The rest of his group looked on in absolute terror as flames radiated off his ebony clad form in droves. The scene had been a good indicator of what was brewing well within the confines of the masked monster's heart as he glared murderously at them.

"Failure is not to be tolerated!" said Arcturus in a chilling tone. "It's time we brought the wizarding world to it's knees...get me Harry Potter."

Without hesitation his masked fellows did as they were told and he turned his attention to a nearby fireplace. He would have his revenge upon the enemies of Severus Snape and he would start with Harry Potter.

Throwing a bottle into the fireplace, he watched as the flames rose devouring everything in their path. A dark cloud was on the horizon. He would have his vengeance and those closest to Harry Potter, those that protected him, those that lied for him would find themselves in a world of agony that they couldn't escaped with all the magic they could muster.

Arcturus tightened his fist as it bled from the cut of the shattered glass that he broke within his grasp. He aimed to make what Voldemort did to the wizarding world mere child's play within the minds of the survivors.

Failure was not to be tolerated.

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Open Sky...

The great beating wings of Icarus had been the only sound aside from the rumble of thunder that Harry Potter and Hermione Granger could make out as they were flown to the muggle world far from the threat of the S.B.D.

Neither of them had been accustomed to visiting the former home of their deceased former Potions Professor and due to this had no idea where they were headed. The injuries sustained while doing battle with Arcturus had been in need of tending and it was good to get some distance from their enemies.

Hermione found herself in quite for quite the shock as they landed in Spinner's End before a dilapidated brick house.

Icarus let out a shrill call and the door to the last house on the seemingly abandoned street opened revealing an eleven year old boy with emerald green eyes.

"ALBUS SEVERUS!" shouted Hermione stunned to find her nephew in this strange location.

The green eyed younger wizard simply assisted the two of them as they entered the home of Severus Snape.

Harry Potter could not see for lack of visibility given his cracked glasses but he caught the scent of herbs and fresh earth that had been quite familiar.

"Snape." he said confused. "We're at Snape's home then?"

"Yes." replied Hermione. "And Albus Severus seemed to have been here all along."

"What?" asked Harry stunned. "W-Why would he come here?"

The three of them continued into the house noting the massive shelves of books that lined the walls. Old leather had been the most dominating scent the further they went inside followed by dust and sweat.

Hermione had been the first to notice that Regulus had been passed out on the threadbare sofa near the fireplace.

"Regulus?" she said confused as she further ventured into the sitting room.

"He's asleep." said Albus Severus without emotion. "He was having too many night terrors and needed the rest."

Hermione loosed at the boy with a confused expression on her face. She drew her wand and with a quick spell roused the raven haired wizard.

He groaned and began to shake the fog from his head.

"That little imp is..." he began trying to compose himself. "What the hell are you two doing here?"

"Icarus saved us from Arcturus." explained Hermione. "This is where you live?"

"Icarus?" asked Regulus getting to his feet and enduring a wave of dizziness. "What was Icarus doing being summoned into a battle and who the hell is Arcturus?"

"He's the leader of The Serpent Brother's Of Destruction." replied Harry still doubled over in pain.

As he talked Albus Severus healed both him and Hermione.

The witch had been stunned the boy knew such advanced healing spells, but didn't say much given she had been an avid student as well...but he seemed to have perfected his charms while practicing underage magic.

Hermione took the time to repair Harry's glasses as usual.

Regulus rolled his eyes as he met Harry's emerald green eyes.

"Great you're all healed not take the imp and leave I've got pressing business." he muttered before getting back to lying on the sofa.

"I wish you'd reconsider your opposition of Harry." said the amber eyed witch sadly. "He's always felt terrible about what happened to your father and would like to get to know you."

"Not interested." replied Regulus coldly. "You can see yourselves out."

Harry signed.

He had not known what Snape's absence had done to Regulus but he had not known a thing about it...he believed Snape to have been his most hated enemy during his time at Hogwarts.

"Sooner or later you're going to have to stop blaming me." said Harry sadly. "I never wanted..."

"DO NOT LIE TO ME!" said Regulus showing a hint of fury that seemed to intensify as he leapt from the sofa and instantly found himself in front of a stunned Harry Potter.

It oddly reminded the former Gryffindor wizard of the Potions Professor during the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

"I know you wished him dead." hissed Regulus bitterly. "You wanted it almost as much as you wanted Voldemort gone...but it was my dad you hated most...you sicken me standing here like you're so sympathetic and understanding...you geeky little shit you have no idea what he sacrificed to keep you from harms way...you have no idea what it's like to know that your father died hated by the entire world...alone and forgotten because he wasn't your precious Godfather."

"That's enough." said Hermione getting in the middle as Regulus' eyes blazed with fury. "It seems you have somethings to work out...and we should be going any way."

"By all means." replied Regulus bitterly.

Hermione pulled Harry always from Regulus and dragged Albus Severus along. They would sort out the business of him being at Spinner's End later.

No sooner had they left, Regulus encompassed by fury began to destroy his father's sitting room in the wake of his rage. When the furniture was toppled and the he was drenched in sweat in the wake of his fury, He shattered a wayward glass cutting his hand in the process.