"Sarky"
by Ada Kensington
Author's Note: This is sort of a prequel to "Order of Draconis." But don't bother reading that, as I'm going to totally revise that story and continue with it after I've finished with this one. Hopefully, this will fulfil its purpose in giving me a sense of direction with the Order of Draconis. As you may notice, in the first chapter, I've borrowed from the flashback scene of the first story, but altered it quite a bit. The credits for this still apply as to the Order of Draconis – but starting afresh, and all that jazz… * sighs. * I actually own none of the characters in this chapter, now and future chapters. As in previous chapters, all you see and recognise as belonging to JK Rowling the Great, belongs to her. All the others you don't recognise – don't, aka Coin, William, John, Claire and Yoshi. I wonder if you can guess where some of them are borrowed from.
After a rather average day, teaching average students, eating an average meal – whilst marking a pile of average homework – Severus Snape placed his quill down on the desk, and yawned quietly, stretching his long arms out in front of him. He rose wearily from his chair, and began to stack up the various piles of parchment – the Slytherins gaining the highest marks as per usual. The Gryffindors, in his opinion, had never really had a knack for potions. They were just far too boisterous and ignorant to appreciate what merit studying potions really had. The Ravenclaws, understandably, gained high marks in his classes. They were just too afraid to fail and disgrace the reputation of their house.
He sneered slightly, and tied a neat loop with a smooth, sleek black ribbon to bind the sheets of parchment together. The Hufflepuffs, well, there was never much hope there. He smirked, and neatly squared up the bundles of homework and laid them on his desk. Now, the Slytherins, however, seemed to have the innate ability, skill and patience to concoct a fairly effective potion…
Sighing heavily, and muttering dark remarks about the standard of the Gryffindor's work, he left the confines of his office, and started down the cold, dungeon corridor towards his quarters. Upon reaching the green (decidedly Slytherin) dread portal door, which led to his bedroom, he whispered the password, and entered.
The room wasn't especially grandiose. A low stone ceiling – characteristic of the dungeon rooms in which he spent his days – with mahogany coving skirting the lengths and breadths, and the draughty rafters stretching into the darkness - gave no real comfort or warmth. An extremely old wardrobe held the few material possessions he had, namely clothes and a few other odds and ends, for he kept all of his working materials in his office. A large forest green rug spread out to the corners of the room, stopping at the ornately carved fireplace – the only source of warmth in these cold surroundings, and bookshelf, upon bookshelf lined the walls from floor to ceiling, sporting all kinds of titles; "Advanced Charms" by Gertrude Flammble, "The Ogrion Theorem in Practise" by Vindictus Viridian, an extremely old copy of "A History of Magic" by Bathilda Bagshot and his own battered copy of "Most Potente Potions". However, there were also a few of more questionable origin; "Summoning of the Shadow," "The Rise of the Dark Arts," various studies on the physical and mental effects of the Unforgivables - well thumbed through, and his own banned copy of "The Coming of Grindlewald."
Next to the fireplace, sat a battered and frayed armchair, in the state it was through years and years of good use. Furnished, unlovingly, with only a stark mahogany writing desk and chair, which sat across from his shadowy four-poster bed. Upon it, draped heavy black curtains, trimmed with green and silver – and the bedclothes much the same.
Trudging over the rug, he pointed his wand at the fireplace, muttered the charm, and with a muffled "whoomph," the fire sprang to life. He walked, wearily to his bed, and after pulling his grey nightshirt off of the clothes hanger; he started to undress, unfastening his cloak from around his neck, letting it flutter down to the floor. He unbuttoned his robes and let them slide off, replacing them with his long, grey nightshirt and climbed into bed – inserting himself between the silk sheets, and trying desperately to get comfortable.
It had been end of a long and ridiculous day after the end of a long and ridiculous week. He wondered how Yoshi and the others were faring in their little home deep in the forest.
Must be near freezing out there… he wondered idly, as he started to slowly drift off to sleep.
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Knock, knock, knock…Severus stirred and opened his eyes blearily.
"Who in the name of Merlin calls at this time in the morning," he muttered angrily, as he threw open the tie-backs of his bed and swung his legs over the edge, running a tired hand through his hair so that he didn't look too scruffy.
If this is another bed-wetting first year, I swear I'll make sure that this time, the whole common room knows about it…
Stalking over to the door, with his most fearful sneer lodged firmly into place, he irritably pulled back the bolts and locks of the door and threw it open with a bang – ready to scream at the student in question for disturbing his most needed rest…
But there was no-one there.
He poked his head out of the door, looking this way and that down the dark, forbidding – and above all – deserted corridor. Not even a soul. Puzzled, he listened for a few moments, trying to make out the sound of retreating footsteps, or muffled laughter, so that he could stride out and catch the perpetrator in the act - and give them a year's worth of detention to boot.
But there was no one there.
Furious, but also a little bewildered, he slammed shut the large, heavy door and forced down into place, all the locks and bolts, whirling around, exasperated, he started to march back to bed when…
BOO !!!A dark form, loomed out of the shadow, and with a yelp, Severus stumbled backward, tripping over the edge of the rug and crashing into the nearest bookshelf – which rocked ominously back and forth when he hit, books beginning to topple out of their places. In one fluid motion, Severus reached for his wand, which he always kept inside his nightshirt, and pointed his wand at the fireplace, where flames suddenly erupted.
The flames that began to dance happily in the fireplace, illuminated the face of one, Yoshimitsu, whose face wore an expression undecided on whether it should be amused or afraid. Eventually, he just smiled sheepishly, and jogged over to where Severus Snape was sprawled on the floor; his face slightly red with anger, his greasy, black hair tousled, and surrounded by fallen books – and grasped his arm and pulled him up from the floor. When Severus was again upright, he dusted himself off fastidiously, folded his arms, and then fixed Yoshimitsu with one of his most severe stares.
"Well. I'm waiting," he said coldly.
Yoshi merely smiled at him, and spun round and headed for his bed, dancing over the soft, green carpet and bounced onto his bed, grinning happily.
"Nice bed, Sarky," he commented, busily fluffing up the pillows.
"I'm still waiting," Severus said, unmoving.
"…a whole lot better than the feeble pile of firewood that I have to call a bed…"
"…Why are you HERE !?!" Severus yelled, raising his hands to the ceiling in exasperation.
"Why," said Yoshi, looking hurt, "I just wanted to see you. I know that the last time I saw you I said tomorrow, but…but something came up that I had to deal with – so I couldn't come to visit you. But I'm here now."
Severus sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging.
"I know," he said. "I-I apologise. I shouldn't have yelled."
"Too right," Yoshi said finally, smiling a little. "Now, what has Sarky been up to lately?" he intoned, shifting slightly on the bed to accommodate Severus.
Severus picked up the fallen books, slotting each one back into place, straightened the rug and trudged over to the bed where he slumped down into the mattress, staring blankly at the dark mahogany roof of the bed, and sighed.
"Treating some idiotic little first years to a dose of my namesake," he sneered.
At this comment, Yoshi laughed softly. "Ah, the life of a teacher," he sighed. "Full of happiness and fulfilment."
Severus snorted, and continued to stare at the overhanging darkness of the drapes above, and the conversation descended into silence. For a moment, neither of them moved nor spoke. Severus still staring and Yoshi sitting hunched over on the bed, gazing absently at the roaring fireplace.
Then suddenly, Yoshi spoke – his soft voice filled with a quiet, and surprising tone of resentment – his gaze never leaving the fire. "It must be a lot better than my miserable existence. I would have loved to have been a teacher…"
"…it's not all it's cracked up to be you know," Severus started, a little concerned at his friend's tone. "The work is…"
"…but no," Yoshi overrode him. "Born into the world of broken dreams. The land of unfulfilled opportunity…"
Yoshimitsu trailed off, and turned to face Severus, who noted, with a slight sadness, the beginnings of tears shinning in his eyes.
"I was born in the forest of the Manji, upon the slopes of Mount Fuji," he explained. "Born a small tribe of highly trained, fighting thieves, we would systematically loot the reserves of wealthy bureaucrats and businesses – although never taking for ourselves. It was our custom, since the days Master Mano, to distribute the wealth amongst the most needy. So we would ride far and wide to hand out money and supplies to the peasantry of the country."
He smiled slightly.
"That part I didn't mind so much. I was always glad of an excuse to get away from my grandfather."
"Your grandfather?" Severus enquired, inwardly seething with anger.
If his grandfather was anywhere near as bad as my mother, then I pity him.
His suspicions were about to be confirmed.
"My grandfather, or Master Yoshihiro, as everyone had to address him, had never knowingly wanted anything to do with me at first," he sighed. "My mother fell pregnant with me after a brief liaison with an unknown man. My grandfather practically disowned her after he found out, as tradition frowned heavily upon unmarried women. It still does. However, being the daughter of the Master, he could not abandon her to ruin, and risk his 'oh-so-wonderful' reputation. So he decided to let her stay, although under his tight control. The very instant I was born, I was treated as a terrible burden by all of my known relatives and fellow Manji."
Sneering slightly, he added: "The graceful little bastard, they used to call me."
"But my mother wouldn't tolerate it. She was always the only one who would stand by me. When I came home crying, not being able to take anymore, she was the only one who would comfort me. And when I was born, she gave me Ose…"
"Ose?" Severus asked.
Yoshi smiled and reached with one arm, back over his head, and smoothly pulled, a long, glittering blue-black blade out from it's sheath, Severus only now noticing how cunningly it had been concealed on his person - inwardly kicking himself for not noticing it earlier. He laid the blade down carefully upon the bedspread, and ran his finger down its considerable length, and he jumped slightly as the blade crackled and sung, revelling in Yoshimitsu's soft touch.
"Do you like it?" Yoshimitsu asked. "She said my father left it for me."
"Yes," replied Severus, despite his true feelings.
For some reason he couldn't explain, he felt a little uneasy in the presence of the blade. As he gazed, his eyes fixed irreversibly upon it, he felt its presence piercing his inner soul, prying open the contents of his past – judging him. As he beheld the blade, he realised, with the feeling of unease increasing, that it was no ordinary blade. There was something about the blade. Something ancient. Something powerful. A nameless wonder…
Severus was snapped out of his reverie as Yoshimitsu continued his purge of suppressed memory…
"She died, mysteriously when I was around six years old. Ever since then my grandfather entered me into exhaustive training, making me fight up to six hours a day, sometimes lecturing me, sometimes being a little more physical…"
Yoshimitsu did not have to elaborate for Severus to guess what kind of treatment he had received from his grandfather, as he had received the same himself. The same abuse. The same torment. He placed a reassuring hand on the shoulder of his friend – empathising deeply – but at a complete loss as what to say.
"It was not until I was twelve years old that I displayed my powers openly. Ever since I can remember, I was able to move objects around with telekinesis, and could apparate from the forest floor to the tops of trees through willpower alone – but I had always thought that everyone was trained to develop their psychic ability… But it turned out that I was wrong."
He smiled grimly, staring darkly into the fireplace.
"During the trials – those were the tests that every twelve year old child had to undertake to confirm whether they were of warrior class, or not," he explained. "There was another boy, Tatsumaru, who everyone thought was destined to succeed my grandfather. He was strong, powerfully spiritual for someone of his age, handsome and intelligent. But his head was full of his own praise, and he was one of my most frequent tormentors in childhood. Predictably, my grandfather had placed me in the ring, armed only with my fists, as I was forbidden to fight with Ose, and paired me with Tatsumaru, obviously wanting to publicly humiliate me through my potential loss against him…"
"Yes?" Severus prompted, a little unnerved by this sudden outpouring.
Yoshi turned round to face Severus, his face a mask of genuine bewilderment.
"I…I couldn't honestly tell you what happened," he said. "He was just there – in front of me. Smirking. Mouthing insults at me. I just wanted to show everyone that I wasn't just the "graceful little bastard" – that I could be something else. Something good," he explained. "My grandfather was just about to start the fight when…when he said something about my mother…"
His face darkened considerably, and Severus detected a hot flash of anger glittering in the eyes of Yoshimitsu.
"…and I just lost it," he said whispered. "Something inside me just…snapped. One minute he was there, smirking and sneering at me – insulting my mother's memory – and then the next, he was lying on the grass, not moving…" he trailed off, and suddenly – his eyes filling up with tears, he turned to face Severus, his beautiful green eyes filled with terrible grief and pain.
"I killed him, Severus. I killed him. Just like that. And I've never been able to live with it. Not ever," he said miserably.
"My grandfather told me that there had never been such power in one since the Great Master Mano, himself – and he didn't seem to care about his beloved Tatsumaru's death – or that I had somehow caused it. From that moment on, he only had eyes for me."
Abruptly, he turned his head again to the fireplace, not wanting to look Severus in the eye.
"But I didn't want his love. I didn't want the love of one so shallow and driven with ambition and hate. When I was fifteen years old, I ran away, ridden with fear and guilt with the fact that I had killed Tatsumaru. Taking all of my few belongings, some savings and Ose - I boarded a ship and went wherever it took me.
"I travelled extensively over the years, finding work in several countries, and meeting with several people along the way. Two of them being John and Will," he smiled now, dredging up more happy memories from the depths.
"Later, upon coming through France, I landed in Dover and came up to Scotland with John and Will after a little bit of trouble on the way with Monsieur You Know Who…"
Voldemort…
And it was in Hogsmeade that we met Claire and Coin – at Madame Rosmertas of all places…"
"Voldemort?" he said quietly.
"Yes, Voldemort," Yoshi laughed incredulously, clearly feeling better after speaking to Severus. "You know, you really are something else, Sarky, because I'd always thought that you wizards feared to speak his name…"
Yoshi trailed off upon seeing the look on his friend's face.
It was always difficult to decipher what was hidden under the sneering façade of Severus Snape and the cold, malevolent indifference, which seemed to all but characterise the bitter Potions Master. But sometimes, if you looked hard enough, you could get just a glimpse of what was hidden beneath the veneer.
This time, it was his eyes that gave him away. The cold, hard, black eyes, which usually glinted with malice and scorn, and his lips, more often than not, modelled for arrogance into a fearful sneer, effectively pushing those away who tried to make the effort to get closer, were replaced by a deadened, hollow gaze – staring blankly into memories long since gone – but certainly never forgotten. His beautiful obsidian eyes filled with a terrible pain and regret - and what Yoshimitsu did not notice, was that his long, thin fingers, gracefully wrapped around his left forearm, were slowly tightening their grip.
"I'm guessing you've had your share of the Dark Lord too?" Yoshimitsu whispered in his soft, warm tone.
Share? I've had more than my share of the Dark Lord.
"I don't want to talk about it," he snapped, turning away from Yoshimitsu, his arm now numb from the force of his grip.
He sat, rigid, staring hard at the fireplace, diverting all of his concentration onto the pretty, flickering flames which were dancing merrily in the hearth – squeezing his forearm crushingly in self loathing.
I can't do this to him. I can't bring him down with me. I can't. He's been hurt too much already…
"Severus?" said Yoshi nervously from behind.
"I don't want to talk about it!" he snarled, staring ferociously at the fireplace until he began to feel slightly dizzy.
"Fine," Yoshi said abruptly.
Severus felt Yoshi pushing himself up from his relaxed slouch upon the bed, grabbing his sword from atop the bedcovers, and heard his quick, light footsteps make for the door. Severus didn't even turn round when, against all probability, he managed to open the large, heavy door with one soft click. He still didn't stir when he heard his soft footsteps cross the threshold out of his door – and pause.
"I've never met anyone like you before, Severus. But I think that I've found out where you're coming from. I don't know what you've been through – and it must have been really terrible for you – and I can empathise with that, as you already know, I've been through many horrible experiences myself. But I've turned out all right. I've managed to forget the past, and try to live…"
"Easier said than done," he said numbly, still staring blankly into the depths of the fireplace.
"…I know that. I've had to do it myself. But that's no excuse to push me away. I don't need shielding from the darkness. I've come up against it, and won. I know you have the strength, Severus. Good night."
Severus heard Yoshi's footsteps begin to retreat down the corridor. Something about Yoshi's words stirred in his heart, and deep down inside, something shattered.
I know you have the strength…
"Wait," he said hollowly.
Yoshi's light steps halted after only a few paces, and he quietly opened the door to see the gaunt silhouette of Severus Snape, still sitting up, rigid and cross legged upon the bed, the peaks and curves of his angular features softly illuminated by the flickering light of the fire.
"Yes?"
"I was a Death Eater," he said distantly. "I served Voldemort for a number of years, killing and torturing Muggles and all those who defied the Dark Lord."
He paused for a moment, stopping to catch his breath, seeming to be working up the courage to reveal what had lain hidden for years under his cold veneer…
"S-Something happened…my friend…Lily…she was killed. By Voldemort. A few years before the fall of the Dark Lord, I turned from him, and became a spy for Albus Dumbledore…"
A long pause followed, in which he heard Yoshimitsu re-enter the room, and place a hand softly upon his shoulder.
He felt suddenly and idiotically grateful. Grateful for all of the undeserved kindness Yoshimitsu had shown him over the past week. For Merlin's sake, he hardly even knew him, and still he was treating him as an old friend.
"Great man, that Dumbledore…" Yoshi said.
"You know Albus Dumbledore?" Severus asked, surprised.
"No. But Hagrid keeps telling me down the pub," Yoshi laughed.
"You know Hagrid!?" Severus asked incredulously.
"Yes. He's one of the regulars at Rosmerta's," said Yoshi, smiling.
"Now, I'm going to have to go soon. If I don't get back by the morning, people are going to be missing me…" he said, and Severus noted, with a touch of anxiety.
"Well…good night then," he said quietly. "And th-thank you. For everything."
"No problem, Sarky," he smiled, and for the second time that evening, he turned and made for the door, and for the second time that night, he turned round and came back in…
"Oh, yes! I'm sorry. I'd totally forgotten," said Yoshi, turning round suddenly. "You are the Potions Master, right?"
"Yes…" he said suspiciously, narrowing his eyes slightly, knowing what was coming.
"Well, William had asked me to ask you to do us a little sevice…"
Severus sighed, his suspicions confirmed.
"Well, alright. What is it you want made?" he asked in exasperation, as it seemed that, no matter who he got to know, that he would always be destined to brew potions for them at some point in time.
"Errrrr…well…some poisons and a few other potions that maim and disfigure should do nicely."
Severus knew better than to ask any questions.
"Fine. They'll be ready soon," he answered – already forming a list in his mind. Anything to drive him to distraction…
"Thanks," said Yoshi, cheerfully. "See you later, Sarky," and with a blinding flash a light – he disappeared.
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It was very close to morning when Yoshi and left Severus's bedroom, and he had managed to catch measly few hours of sleep before the next day's grind. He had climbed into bed, feeling more content than he had been since he could remember, and eternally grateful for the circumstances in which he had been presented with this strange and unlikely, but sound new friendship with Yoshimitsu.
He had extinguished the fire with a flick of his wand, and for the first time in years, he slept well.
Ada Kensington.Well, well, well. What a strange story. Severus? A friend !? But don't worry. This is not the end. There will be many, many more adventures to come, including missions to stop Voldemort and more angst. In the next chapters, there will be much more revealed about these mysterious people hiding out in the Forbidden Forest.
Ahh…poor, poor Yoshimitsu. Yes, he is also an abused child. And, no – I am not sadistic. I just like torturing my characters to highlight the tragicness of Severus's tortured existence. * Readers look puzzled: But that is Sadism * Yes, I know, but It's really all about Severus, and I'm sorry if I went on for a little too long about Yoshi, but I felt that we needed to know a little bit more about him. He's more like Severus than you would first think.
Also, more details will be revealed on Will, John, Claire and Coin a little later – but perhaps not in so much detail as poor Yoshi there. * Hears readers sigh with relief. *
If you are wondering about Ose, yes, it was left to him by his father, and I've given small hints as to who this may be, and he may be included more in later chapters – depending on how the others go.
I'll probably update either every week, or every two weeks, depending on how inspired I am, or how much of a stressful workload I have for exams * shudders *.
Did you like? If you did, please, please, please review. If you didn't, review all the same. Although I don't really care either way for flames, constructive criticism would be better appreciated.
Thanks.