Disclaimers: See Chapter One

Summary: the unusual past of Severus Snape is explored and his relationships revealed.

And THANKS to my beta reader Sanguine Tear, without her you would be forever plagued with misspellings and run on sentences, and missing words.  ^__^

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Blood Lines

Chapter 2

It was a lovely day as Albus Dumbledoor walked through the gardens at the Ministry Headquarters.  He was watching a little bird learn to fly when something in among the shadows caught his eye.

"Hmmm." Curiously he went to investigate the movement.

Severus loved being outside among the flowers and animals, the only draw back he thought as he turned his gaze to where the sun shown brightly was that the light hurt his eyes, but he quickly decided he could live with that little in convenience.  Severus was watching a family of squirrels when he heard someone enter the garden.  Silently he crept to see the stranger.  The man was not like anyone he had ever seen, not that he had seen too many other people save Master Lavienth, Mistress Marlena, and of course Uncle.  Quietly Severus stalked the man trying to get a better look.  The old man came and sat on a bench near where he was stationed, watching the birds quietly as the wind gently ruffled through his long silvery hair and beard.  After a few moments the sparkling blue eyes turned in the boys direction before speaking.

"You can come out now, I won't hurt you."

Severus bit his lip nervously as he decided whether or not he should go, when he suddenly found himself face to face with the elder wizard.  Dumbledoor chuckled pleasantly as the child scooted franticly back against the large tree, and spoke to the surprised boy.

"I daresay this isn't near as pleasant as my bench but it will do quite nicely," he smiled and continued "and what are you doing out here my boy?"  Severus just blinked at him.

"Okay," Albus continued good naturedly, " my name is Albus Dumbledoor. What is yours?"  Once again he was only answered by the boy blinking those large onyx eyes at him.  He studied the boy before him.  The large black eyes were set in a fair complected face and framed by hair that rivaled the black of his eyes.  The child was fairly small but emanated a great power, but what struck Dumbledoor so intriguing were the eyes, they were as if the child could see directly into his soul, and for some reason he wanted to tell this boy things he had never told another.  Albus was finally freed from the pools of black ink when the child abruptly turned his head away looking toward a cry off to their right.

"Severus!" came a woman's cry.  Albus started up but much to his surprise the boy easily pulled him down raising a finger to his lips signaling for silence, Albus complied with the request.

"Severus where the hell are you boy?"  The look of fear passing the boy's features were not lost on the older wizard.

"Lavienth have you seen that wretched creature." The woman had been joined by a pleasant looking man; "He's going to make us late."

"Marlena don't worry when he is done he will come." Giving the woman a peck on the cheek he rushed off looking at his watch. Quietly the child rose and walked the woman, as Albus stayed hidden.

"How dare you make me wait you wretched child.  Lavienth is too easy on you." She scolded as the object of her anger approached her, and with a crack of hand meeting skin, he fell to the ground.  "That is for making me wait for you." She fairly spit the word 'you' contempt seething from every pore as she turned from the boy with a command. "Come!"  Calmly Severus gathered himself from the ground and followed after the woman he called mother. Albus frowned at the interchange between the two.  He hated nothing more than adults who did not realize how precious a commodity children were, however his thoughts did not dwell long on the scene as they were interrupted by a familiar voice a few moments later.

"Headmaster? Are you out here? Albus?" the Headmaster of Hogwarts smiled as his dear friend searched the garden before stopping before him in defeat, she nearly jumped six feet when he stood up abruptly with a sharp "BOO!"

"ACK! Albus Dumbledoor! Really the Headmaster of Hogwarts crawling around on the ground in a garden, what were you thinking?"

"My dear Minerva you are extremely too serious for your own good my dear." He chuckled as she smoothed her hair, and continued.

"Be that as it may, "she shot him a doubtful look, " you are going to be late for your lecture if you do not hurry."

"Then shall we?"

"Of course." Replied the exasperated woman as the two friends headed toward the conference.

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It was a lovely day as Thomas Riddle lazily strolled up the front walk of the looming residence of the ancient Butrard home. Yes he had been from England far too long, he thought as he knocked soundly with cast iron knockers on the front door and waited patiently.

"Lavienth old friend how are you?"  replied Tom Riddle with a rare smile as he stepped in and shook out his cloak in the foyer of his old friend.

"Splendid and yourself."

"Wonderful as always. And my dear Marlena how are you fairing?"

"You find me well this day Thomas."

"Good, good."  Riddled motioned for the house elf to come and take his cloak as he removed a package from the pocket. "And how are things coming along in our plans?"

"Smoothly, everything is falling into place.  Our comrade should be in place at the ministry with in the year."

"Wonderful." He shot Lavienth an evil grin, who returned it with equal malice.  " Now where is my brilliant Severus? I have brought him a gift."

"He is in the garden should I fetch him."  Asked Marlena as Lavienth took her arm and began leading the way to the garden.

"No no I do believe I will join him there, you do have the best gardens in all of England and I do feel like a stroll."

Tom Riddle rarely found the time to enjoy something so simple as a garden in the summer.  Quite frankly he found such things to be a frivolous waste of time.  He allowed a rare smile to grace his lips as he spotted his nephew walking among the flowers inspecting and the placing the chosen carefully in a basket on his arm.

"Severus child." The small head popped up at the call of his name.

"Uncle?" Severus allowed a smile to spread as he calmly walked toward his only living blood relative. "How have you been uncle?" he asked as he hugged the older man.

"Splendid child and you?"

"Fine as well.  Where did you go?  You were gone quite a long time."

"Romania, it was quite boring sadly.  But it was not a total loss; here I have brought you a gift.  Let's say it is an extremely late birthday gift."

"A gift?" he chirped excitement very evident in his small face.

"Yes." He handed the boy a small box. Carefully Severus felt the paper and biting his lip eagerly he removed the packing and opened the box to reveal the softest and most beautiful egg he had ever seen.

"What is it?" he looked expectantly back at his uncle who chuckled.

"That my dear boy is the fun.  You won't know until it hatches."

"But will mistress Marlena let me keep it." He frowned at the thought.

"Ah don't worry you will be allowed to keep it." Thomas Riddle sat watching the garden around him as Severus went about collecting his various potion ingredients while being quite careful of his new charge.  Severus was still holding the egg gently as dinner was announced and they headed in. After dinner they retired to the library, the adults in large wingbacks and Severus curled up on a fur drawing while occasionally stopping to turn his egg over to give it equal warmth.  It was rare indeed that Thomas Riddle ever felt himself relaxed enough to just have pleasant conversations, but Lavienth and Marlena Butrard were two of his oldest and most trusted friends, and therefore he valued their opinions above all others, which is one of the main reasons he had given them the boy.

"Given his background one would never guess he would be a nurturer." Commented Tom as he sipped his brandy and glanced at his nephew.

"Given that his mother was a healer as well would tend to lead toward that trait.  Besides that is an admirable trait.  It has tendencies towards loyalty and that is something we will need in the future."

"Hmm perhaps. How are his studies?"

"He is in a word brilliant, far beyond his peers. But we must discuss something."

"What?" Riddle looked from his book to his friend.

"This.  This came for Sev." He handed Tom the familiar letter.

"Ah so Hogwarts has extended an invitation.  It was expected."  He sat back and contemplated this turn of events, should Severus go to Hogwarts?

"Tom it will be odd if he does not attend."

"Yes I suppose you are right and therefore the only logical thing to do is to let him decide for himself.  Severus child do come here for a moment I wish to ask you a question."  Obediently Severus left his warm spot on the rug and came to stand beside the adults.

"Severus you have a decision to make." Lavienth smiled as he began, " you have been invited to attend Hogwarts, would you like to attend or no?"

Severus bit his lip as he thought it over, this was a big decision, he had always wanted to go to Hogwarts and learn from the best, he even secretly longed to one day teach at the prestigious school, how wonderful it would be to teach potions.  But he began to chew on his little lip, he had never been away from Master Lavienth and Mistress Marlena, but oh what he could learn.  Nervously he looked at the three adults before him, it was decided.

"I would very much like to attend Hogwarts if it is acceptable to you." He looked hopefully at his uncle and Lavienth.

"Fine then it is decided you will attend Hogwarts in the fall." Severus gave a large smile as he flung himself in Lavienth's arms and then Tom's, he merely grinned at Marlene who was sneering at the boy in disgust, when Riddle broke in.

"Oh I have something I wish to give all of you."

"Another gift uncle?"

"Yes but this one is not quite as pleasant as the last one.  But it will allow you to know when I wish to see you, or need to speak with you." He summoned a silver knife off of he desk nearby, "Now Lavienth being head of this house you will go first.  Please hold out your left arm."

Dutifully he held out his arm as he watched with a raised eyebrow, as Riddle sliced his thumb before pressing it into his own arm, where an image appeared.  A skull with a serpent coiling itself around it staring and flicking its tongue angrily.

"Isn't that attractive."

Riddle just smiled at the sarcasm as he replied, "I'm glad you like it you are getting one just like it.  You should be honored only a select few will receive this particular design.  And it is not replicable by Polyjuice Potion or by any other means."

Lavienth watched carefully as the knife was brought deep into his left forearm before it was pulled and in its place Riddle's still bleeding thumb was applied, the wound soon began to sizzle as he could feel the spell course through his veins as it began to heal, and in its place a mark identical to his friends appeared.

"Well that was pleasant." He replied through gritted teeth, as Marlene received her mark, then it was Severus's turn.

"Now my boy you will never forget to whom you belong." Commented Thomas as the two black eyes never left his emerald green ones.