Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters places
settings etc which all belong to J.K. Rowling (The clever minx he he
I do however own Sebastian but you can borrow him if you
want to. But I doubt you would so just ignore that last sentence (author
receives large thump from character) lol!
Hopefully this will be a unique story, I haven't read any
stories so far about Snape having an identical twin, but I apologise in advance
if anyone has written such a story and believes I'm stealing their thunder. I'd
also like to apologise to any fanfic authors whose ideas I may have
subconsciously placed into my fic I didn't mean to really!!
Anyway, if you're still reading this I thank you for
listening to my insane ramblings (I'm not in an asylum-yet!) but before I go on
with the story I'd just like to point out that there are two obvious references
in here to a Shakespeare play- brownie points to any reviewer who points out
these references (I've got the idea of doing this from several other fics.
Anyway, enough from me, on with the story:
Chapter One:
The Reunion
It was a crisp January morning where snow lay thick on the grounds of Hogwarts. The tops of the trees of the forbidden forest were hidden under a cold white blanket, whilst tentacles of the giant squid could be seen to rise to the top of the lake to prevent it from completely freezing over. It was on this morning that Severus Snape, potions master of Hogwarts School, stepped out of the entrance hall and filled his lungs with the cold, thin air. Exhaling smoke, he walked towards Hogsmeade, past groups of babbling third-years shivering and chattering in the January air. Severus rarely felt the cold. Spending his life in the cold, dank underbelly of the school in which his potions lab was located, he had become used to an absence of heat. As a result, he only ever needed a thin overcloak to keep warm in the cold Scottish winters of Hogwarts. Chuckling to himself as the fifth-year Hufflepuff Ernie Macmillan fell into a particularly deep puddle of mud and ice, he walked on watching amusedly as he had to be heaved out and dragged back to the castle by two of his friends. Concentrating on where he was going again, he entered the main High Street of Hogsmeade. Despite Christmas being at least two weeks previously, the snow on the roofs of the houses and the steamed-up windows of the shops would have made the perfect Yuletide picture.
Pulling a stray strand of greasy hair out of his eyes, Severus entered through the door of Gladrags wizard wear, looking around to locate a free shop assistant. A middle-aged witch approached him wearing robes of a disgustingly lurid fuchsia with luminous green cuffs and collar. Trying to ignore her obviously hideous taste, he asked for two new sets of robes, silently praying that this woman wasn't supervising the magical tailoring of his new clothes. Severus very rarely wore anything other his trademark black robes, but since several of these had become to be tinged with grey through overuse he felt it was time for some new ones, despite the fact he detested shopping for clothes. The witch serving him today did little to improve is views on the subject. Potion ingredients on the other hand were a different matter. He could spend hours sifting through barrels of frogs legs for the best specimen, or holding vials of phoenix tears up to the light to find the perfect clarity. Like the actual brewing of potions, Severus saw the buying of the ingredients an art form, where accuracy and quality were of the utmost importance. The assistant with the lurid robes came back into the shop armed with a magical tape measure. She set it to work as she went into the storeroom once more, whilst Severus concentrated on trying to prevent it from measuring areas other than his arms, waist and hips. After five minutes of this uncomfortable measuring, the witch returned and noted down the tape's findings. Instructing him to wait in an area of plush chairs and old magazines she left the room to set about making his clothes.
In the half-hour wait he read an issue of 'Potions Today' in which he read an article about the thickness of cauldron bottoms, apparently adapted from a report written for the Ministry by one Percy Weasley. The article was one of the most boring things ever written, but it gave him cause to think of the boy. Hard to forget with all that red hair, he was completely different from his younger brothers who, quite frankly Snape hated due to their insolent and prattish behaviour. Percy however was never completely inept at potions as his brothers were, and unlike them actually made an effort to pay attention in class. Severus mentally reprimanded himself for thinking more highly of a Griffindor than he usually like to. Shaking his head he pushed away these thoughts as the assistant witch walked in his direction with the finished robes. Surprisingly, they were both well made and to the specifications he had wanted. Thanking her, and paying the twenty-five galleons his robes had cost, he made a swift exit through the door of the little shop.
Once again in the cold air, Severus felt relieved to be out of the robe shop as he made his way across the snow-covered street to the Three Broomsticks Pub. Thinking about the large whisky he wanted to order, he pushed open the door of the pub, coughing slightly as the smoky atmosphere assaulted him. Hearing a slight noise at the door, Severus turned, seeing his reflection in one of the steamed-up windows. His reflection moved its hand to wave at him, causing Severus to nearly faint in shock. His reflection was, in reality his long lost, believed dead twin brother, Sebastian Snape.
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'Sebastian?' Snape questioned his twin after several moments of shocked silence. Sebastian merely nodded and moved to embrace his brother with a long-awaited hug.
'You don't know how long I have waited for this moment Severus.' Said Sebastian, as he wiped a tear from his cheek, in a voice that threatened to burst into tears at any second. Severus pulled away form the hug to address his brother.
'But how?, where have you been for 15 years? They told me that … I thought you were dead.' Severus said to his brother, moving his eyes towards the floor to stop the flood of tears that would threaten to overcome him in a most un-Snape like fashion.
'All in good time brother' Said Sebastian as regained his composure and wiped the tears from his eyes. 'All in good time.'
Sebastian, like Severus had
shoulder-length black hair, which was almost as greasy as Severus', perhaps
indicating it was a genetic feature rather than a lack of personal
hygiene.
'I heard a rumour that you're teaching at Hogwarts now. So, can we go and get some delicious grub from there or are my sources incorrect?' Said Sebastian to Severus as he put his arm around the other man's shoulder and steered him again out of the door of the pub.
'They are correct brother. I'm teaching potions to the
abominable little brats at the school at the moment. You're probably a little
early for
' Why did you become a teacher if you hate the children so
much then Severus? I must admit was extremely surprised to hear of your new
career appointment. I had always envisioned you hovered over a dark
'Well my potions lab is dark!…' said Severus, prompting his brother to begin laughing again.
'It's good to see you again Severus. I don't believe I have as much as smiled for fifteen years, but within half an hour of seeing you again it is as if we're back in the old days, laughing at something we'd done around the old manor house.' Sebastian said with a small smile as he remembered some of the jokes they'd performed on the butler at Snape manor, their old ancestral home.
Being in separate houses,
Severus a Slytherin and Sebastian a Ravenclaw they'd not had too much
opportunity to interact at school. But at home they were almost one person,
where one was the other would surely be only a step behind. At home was the
only place Severus truly felt happy. Sebastian did indeed feel happier at home,
but unlike Severus he had enjoyed being at school, because he had been able to
make friends, rather than submerse himself in books as Severus so often had. It
was strange. Most people felt that the sorting hat had made
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'Are you ever going to tell me what happened to you for fifteen years or will you torture me forever Sebastian?' Asked Severus as they reached the entrance Hall of Hogwarts School, and he began to lead Sebastian down to the dungeons where his potions lab and rooms were located, with only a small hint of sarcasm in his voice. Sebastian looked at him with a wry smile.
'Food first brother, then I will tell all. You've waited long enough haven't you? I'm sure a further half-hour wouldn't kill you now would it?' Said Sebastian to Severus, proving that he wasn't the only one capable of using sarcasm. Severus merely raised his eyebrows to this, as her led his brother to his private rooms, and sat him down at an oak table with two handsome green fabric-covered chairs on either side.
'Wait here Sebastian, I'll be no more than 10 minutes with the food. Is there anything in particular you want?' Severus asked his brother, feeling very anxious all of a sudden that his brother would leave again for another fifteen years. Picking up on this, Sebastian moved his hand on top of Severus' in a comforting motion.
'I'm not going anywhere soon Severus.' Said Sebastian as he saw relief sweep over his brother's face.
'Now make sure you get me some Steak, roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings. And make it quick!' said Severus as his brother was leaving, raising his voice to ensure he heard.
'I'm absolutely starving!' he shouted
'Oh for God's sake you stupid elf. Bloody well watch where
you're going!' Screamed Severus as he hopped up and down on one leg with a
yelping elf attached to his painful leg.
'Get off my leg you bloody moron! What the Hell do you think you're doing?!' Shouted Severus as he shook the terrified elf off his leg. Seeing notes of anger in some of the elves' eyes he grabbed the food they had swiftly prepared, and made a swift exit through the Painting. Walking quickly towards the dungeons, Severus narrowly avoided tripping twice, finally arriving at his destination. He laid the massive feast of potatoes, steak, sandwiches, chocolate cake, and of course Yorkshire puddings on the table in front of his guest whose eyes grew to the size of saucers as he floundered for about ten seconds before beginning to devour the steak and potatoes. This frenzied feast carried on for about fifteen minutes, after which Sebastian sank back into the deep chair and rested his hands on his visually bloated stomach.
'That, my friend was a feast worth waiting fifteen years
for.' Said Sebastian as he began to tap a rhythm
'Since I have obliged you with such a delicious feast, it
can hardly be fair to keep me in suspense much longer can it Sebastian?'
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' I suppose this really all began sixteen years ago. As you know, I was an Auror, and it was on a particularly difficult mission that I was captured by Death Eaters. I must admit brother I was terrified. Never in my whole life had I been so afraid, I was so certain at that point that I was going to die. But do you know the one thing that comforted me?' Sebastian asked of his brother, who merely shook his head with shock.
'It was you. And the thought that if I died, some part of me would live on with you, such as a part of you would die with me. The bond that would ensure one of us could not truly live with without a part of the other was a comforting thought brother. Because I did not want to die. It was a selfish thought I know, but it is one that ensured that rather than dying I have been imprisoned by Lucius Malfoy for 15 years.'
Sebastian stopped as Severus made an audibly loud gasp, and adopted an extremely angry expression.
'I'll kill the bloody bastard!!' Severus shouted, as he stood up, walked around the room and bashed the table hard with one hand. Cursing as he realised how hard he had hit the table, he sat down and began nursing his hand. Next, he calmly asked
'How?'
So? What did you think? Is it complete crap? Why not
review and tell me what you reckon? (Hint hint!!)