Disclaimer: Rowling has almost all.
Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote. Real life engagements have been keeping me busy. Have fun, and don't forget reviewing, because I love to read your reviews.
CRUMBLING MYTHS
The fire didn't linger for long in Severus' mind.
It was Christmas time after all, and he found himself packed and sent home for the holidays.
He had voluntarily stayed at Hogwarts the year before. During both Christmas and Easter, he'd avoided home, but his parents wouldn't have it this time.
Even so, it was not as bad as he had feared. In years to come, Severus would call on memories from those days for comfort.
During the first days, he was positively pampered by mum. She would go out of her way to concede to all Severus' wishes.
Merlin! The situation was so exaggerated, Severus would just nod to his mother's asking on his welfare (Do you want cake?; Do you want to go to Diagon Alley?) so that she would be happy. He went to the point (not with much difficulty) of letting her buy him a broomstick, so she'd feel she was pleasing him. He wasn't really thinking about using it.
Truly, Severus felt guilty on the pain he had caused to his parents and had promised himself he'd be the most polite and charming boy ever born, all over Christmas. Even if that meant going to parties at the Potter's House or at Malfoy Manor.
The sacrifice was not so hard. Social obligations demanded that father would attend a Christmas reunion at the Malfoy's on the first week, and Severus had to go with him and mum, but Lucius superior airs didn't bother him so much anymore. He spent the whole time ignoring the smug git anyway.
There was not a party or a courtesy visit to the Potters. Severus was curious. He wanted to ask mum what had happened. Why was she avoiding going there. He didn't ask though. He felt almost afraid of the answer. He didn't want to hear he was responsible for his mother's loss of her best friend. So he kept his added guilt to himself and smiled all day long.
Father told him then, Severus would get a facial cramp if he'd keep smiling like that.
Father was still a bit sore from Severus' flight from home in the summer, and from his returning straight to Hogwarts, frustrating his plans of having his son in Durmstrang. However he didn't talk about it. Father was being as polite as he could, and the mood in the Snape house was better than it had ever been before. Severus noticed the way his parents would smile at each other, and the conspiring looks they had in certain situations that had never been there before
On Christmas eve and day, they had a full house. Beloved uncle Belchior came with a German girlfriend called Sigrid, with whom he claimed he would marry and live with forever and ever, making as many children as he could to be young cousins to Severus.
Severus wasn't so sure if that was a good idea. He was pretty much used to being the little 'delfin' of the Snape family and young cousins had trouble written all over it. What was it that make people like children? He didn't. There were very few that he liked at his own age, and fewer still that were younger. The look father gave to uncle Belchior when he talked about his future offspring made Severus think he wasn't the only one who didn't like the notion of other Snape children. It was such a hurt glare, it even surprised Severus on its intensity. Severus had seen that look before but couldn't explain it.
With Uncle Belchior and his future wife, had arrived another uncle. At least father had said he was a uncle twice or thrice removed. That man WAS a vampire if anybody was. Very pale, eyes even darker than Severus', if that was possible. Didn't eat a thing all over dinner and left for an hour after it saying he was going to hunt. Mum had gone pale when he said that, but kept her thoughts to herself. Sigrid Bernhard seemed to take it easier. These other uncle would spend all Christmas night with the family but would hide away somewhere during the day. Severus looked after him and almost lost his mother's good grace when she understood what he was doing.
"Are you insane?" She demanded. "What do you think he would do to you if you disturb his sleep?"
"Nothing. I'm his nephew." Severus wasn't certain blood ties were enough to quell any murderous instincts the newly met uncle might have, but it was so easy to fall in a challenging mood with mum.
"Stiller!!! Come here and explain to your son what would happen to him if he disturbed you uncle!" She haughtily demanded of her husband, almost making him fall from the couch were he'd been dozing after the rich Christmas lunch.
"Well. He would probably kill you before you could call him uncle." He explained as if talking about the weather. Rubbing his sleepy eyes he continued. "Vampires are very zealous of their privacy."
Severus sat next to father.
"Isn't it illegal to give shelter to a vampire?"
"Isn't it immoral not to give shelter to an uncle? What would you think if we didn't let uncle Belchior in?"
"Uncle Belchior is a Damphir, not a vampire."
"Uncle Vladimir is a vampire, not a Damphir." Father retorted. "Poor bloke."
"Poor bloke." Repeated mum in contempt. "I don't even want to think what will happen if he murders someone, and we're connected to it!"
"He won't be here for long. I told you that already." He snapped.
"What if."
"Mandy, shut up!" Father rose from the chair rubbing his hair, thinking. "It won't be for long. I swear!"
Amanda Snape bit her lip in frustration, but let herself be hugged by father.
That settled the argument. Severus wouldn't search that particular vampire's lair. Anyway, that wasn't such a fascinating subject. Severus had grown up hearing father and uncle Belchior talking about vampires, even before they had confirmed his blood ties with them.
He changed the subject near his parents and talked for a while about any chit chat that came to mind, trying to seem a light headed child with no worries in the world, just glad to be with them. It sort of worked. They seemed to relax. When he left the room they were in each others arms, smiling and whispering sweet words to one another.
I'm living with teenagers.
Severus went to the common room and found a scene that looked very much alike the one he had just left. Uncle Belchior and the black haired Sigrid kissing each other.
"Sorry." He was ready to leave them to their privacy but was called by his uncle.
"Wait. Severus, you don't have to leave."
"Of course not." Agreed Sigrid. "I'm going to the kitchen. I have to ask that house elf about that meat roll." She got up of the couch and left.
"So. How are you?" Asked uncle Belchior smiling broadly, in his carefree manner. Looking so close, Severus couldn't help noticing his uncle's canines were so much more pointy than father's or his own. The vampire blood was so much more noticeable in him. Severus wondered how much trouble the mediwizard had gone through while growing and even now, due to his looks.
"I'm fine."
"Is there something I can do for you?"
The man could positively read through him! He'd have to learn to mask his intentions better. Being an open book was not conductive to becoming a rich wizard. Will Wilkes' partner or not. Not to mention, it was very un- Slytherin.
"Well."
"Shoot! You're my favourite nephew."
"That's because I'm your only one."
"Yes. Aren't you lucky? What is it? Do you need components to your potions?"
"No. I mean yes. I need floo powder."
Belchior's visage became darker.
"How come? Are you intending on running again?"
"No."
"You can tell me. We can work on whatever is the matter. What is going on?"
"Nothing uncle Belcky. I don't want to run away." Severus rose from the couch and went to the door to make sure they weren't being heard. "It's that something happened in the school and I need it."
"What happened?" Uncle demanded.
"Well. I stole a flask of floo powder from these Gryffindors. They had no time to complain but I'm pretty sure they'll be quite vocal, if not physical when the new term begins."
"So why don't you return it to them?"
"Its been all used."
"What?" Uncle Belchior shook his head confused. "If Hogwarts has half the blocking protection spells Durmstrang has, there is no floo powder that will breach the place. How could it be used?"
"It was not used to leave the school. It was used for my friend to get laid." Severus blushed deeply as he said this.
Belchior looked as if he had been electrocuted.
"Your friend?"
"Yes. A friend of mine."
"Who?"
"You don't know him. He's in Hogwarts." Severus said defensively.
"Well, if it is Sigrid Zinged it becomes my business as she'll be my step daughter." Belchior said earnestly.
"Really? Sigrid is Sigrid's daughter?" Severus looked again to confirm that uncle's girlfriend wasn't returning.
"Yes. She is spending Christmas with her father. Now who."
"It's not Sigrid. And It's not me. It's a very lucky and brazen faced bloke, who's name I'll not say under torture. The fact is I need the floo powder."
"Why won't you tell me his name?"
"He could tell things on me too." Severus said shameless.
"Why do you need the floo?" Belchior changed tactics. "So he can get laid? Does he do it inside a fireplace?" Uncle was laughing openly as he finished talking.
"Well, no." Severus smiled. "He has a 'friend' or 'friends' in every house team in school. Merlin, this boy is a machine and I won't tell you the details. I don't want the powder to help him. I don't intend to tell him if you give me the powder. He can work for his fun. I might need it for other stuff, and I don't intend on running away again. I swear."
Belchior looked to the firestone. There was not a flask of powder to be seen.
"I see your parents guard themselves against you."
"Sort of. They never left floo powder around anyway."
"You know how much I like you."
"But?"
"I won't get you any powder unless you spit it out. What do you want it for. And you'd better sound convincing."
"Uncle Belcky."
"Don't 'uncle Belcky' me."
"I want to give the powder back." He said sullenly.
"Why did you take it, then?"
" 'Cause they're Gryffindors?"
"Is that a reason? It seems your friend has 'friends' in all houses."
"Yes. And he is still a devoted Slytherin."
"Sure!"
Severus smiled to his teacher in sarcasm.
"If I'd give the powder to the gits I took it from, they'd feel free to do what they were intending to do with it."
"And?"
"For them to do what they want to do, they need to leave the school. They know how to do it. I need to learn how too."
Uncle Belchior was thoughtful.
"You mean, they know secret passages of Hogwarts?"
"Yes."
"I'll get you the powder, but."
"Yes?"
"You'll tell me about those passages when we meet next."
Severus didn't feel very comfortable about the conditions. What did a mediwizard needed to know Hogwarts' secret passages for?
"Uncle?"
"It's a deal?"
"I don't know."
"Don't you? Don't you want that floo powder?"
"I do."
"It's a deal then?"
"Why do you want to know that?"
"Adult stuff."
"You never treated me as child before." He said hurtfully.
"I don't mean to. But you don't seem to eager to tell me what I asked you to. You are my nephew and I always trusted you. Why don't you trust me?" If ever Severus had felt cold in front of his uncle, it was now.
"I do." He said softly.
"I'll get you the powder." Belchior smiled, and this time Severus didn't like it at all.
Hugs Aliera
Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote. Real life engagements have been keeping me busy. Have fun, and don't forget reviewing, because I love to read your reviews.
CRUMBLING MYTHS
The fire didn't linger for long in Severus' mind.
It was Christmas time after all, and he found himself packed and sent home for the holidays.
He had voluntarily stayed at Hogwarts the year before. During both Christmas and Easter, he'd avoided home, but his parents wouldn't have it this time.
Even so, it was not as bad as he had feared. In years to come, Severus would call on memories from those days for comfort.
During the first days, he was positively pampered by mum. She would go out of her way to concede to all Severus' wishes.
Merlin! The situation was so exaggerated, Severus would just nod to his mother's asking on his welfare (Do you want cake?; Do you want to go to Diagon Alley?) so that she would be happy. He went to the point (not with much difficulty) of letting her buy him a broomstick, so she'd feel she was pleasing him. He wasn't really thinking about using it.
Truly, Severus felt guilty on the pain he had caused to his parents and had promised himself he'd be the most polite and charming boy ever born, all over Christmas. Even if that meant going to parties at the Potter's House or at Malfoy Manor.
The sacrifice was not so hard. Social obligations demanded that father would attend a Christmas reunion at the Malfoy's on the first week, and Severus had to go with him and mum, but Lucius superior airs didn't bother him so much anymore. He spent the whole time ignoring the smug git anyway.
There was not a party or a courtesy visit to the Potters. Severus was curious. He wanted to ask mum what had happened. Why was she avoiding going there. He didn't ask though. He felt almost afraid of the answer. He didn't want to hear he was responsible for his mother's loss of her best friend. So he kept his added guilt to himself and smiled all day long.
Father told him then, Severus would get a facial cramp if he'd keep smiling like that.
Father was still a bit sore from Severus' flight from home in the summer, and from his returning straight to Hogwarts, frustrating his plans of having his son in Durmstrang. However he didn't talk about it. Father was being as polite as he could, and the mood in the Snape house was better than it had ever been before. Severus noticed the way his parents would smile at each other, and the conspiring looks they had in certain situations that had never been there before
On Christmas eve and day, they had a full house. Beloved uncle Belchior came with a German girlfriend called Sigrid, with whom he claimed he would marry and live with forever and ever, making as many children as he could to be young cousins to Severus.
Severus wasn't so sure if that was a good idea. He was pretty much used to being the little 'delfin' of the Snape family and young cousins had trouble written all over it. What was it that make people like children? He didn't. There were very few that he liked at his own age, and fewer still that were younger. The look father gave to uncle Belchior when he talked about his future offspring made Severus think he wasn't the only one who didn't like the notion of other Snape children. It was such a hurt glare, it even surprised Severus on its intensity. Severus had seen that look before but couldn't explain it.
With Uncle Belchior and his future wife, had arrived another uncle. At least father had said he was a uncle twice or thrice removed. That man WAS a vampire if anybody was. Very pale, eyes even darker than Severus', if that was possible. Didn't eat a thing all over dinner and left for an hour after it saying he was going to hunt. Mum had gone pale when he said that, but kept her thoughts to herself. Sigrid Bernhard seemed to take it easier. These other uncle would spend all Christmas night with the family but would hide away somewhere during the day. Severus looked after him and almost lost his mother's good grace when she understood what he was doing.
"Are you insane?" She demanded. "What do you think he would do to you if you disturb his sleep?"
"Nothing. I'm his nephew." Severus wasn't certain blood ties were enough to quell any murderous instincts the newly met uncle might have, but it was so easy to fall in a challenging mood with mum.
"Stiller!!! Come here and explain to your son what would happen to him if he disturbed you uncle!" She haughtily demanded of her husband, almost making him fall from the couch were he'd been dozing after the rich Christmas lunch.
"Well. He would probably kill you before you could call him uncle." He explained as if talking about the weather. Rubbing his sleepy eyes he continued. "Vampires are very zealous of their privacy."
Severus sat next to father.
"Isn't it illegal to give shelter to a vampire?"
"Isn't it immoral not to give shelter to an uncle? What would you think if we didn't let uncle Belchior in?"
"Uncle Belchior is a Damphir, not a vampire."
"Uncle Vladimir is a vampire, not a Damphir." Father retorted. "Poor bloke."
"Poor bloke." Repeated mum in contempt. "I don't even want to think what will happen if he murders someone, and we're connected to it!"
"He won't be here for long. I told you that already." He snapped.
"What if."
"Mandy, shut up!" Father rose from the chair rubbing his hair, thinking. "It won't be for long. I swear!"
Amanda Snape bit her lip in frustration, but let herself be hugged by father.
That settled the argument. Severus wouldn't search that particular vampire's lair. Anyway, that wasn't such a fascinating subject. Severus had grown up hearing father and uncle Belchior talking about vampires, even before they had confirmed his blood ties with them.
He changed the subject near his parents and talked for a while about any chit chat that came to mind, trying to seem a light headed child with no worries in the world, just glad to be with them. It sort of worked. They seemed to relax. When he left the room they were in each others arms, smiling and whispering sweet words to one another.
I'm living with teenagers.
Severus went to the common room and found a scene that looked very much alike the one he had just left. Uncle Belchior and the black haired Sigrid kissing each other.
"Sorry." He was ready to leave them to their privacy but was called by his uncle.
"Wait. Severus, you don't have to leave."
"Of course not." Agreed Sigrid. "I'm going to the kitchen. I have to ask that house elf about that meat roll." She got up of the couch and left.
"So. How are you?" Asked uncle Belchior smiling broadly, in his carefree manner. Looking so close, Severus couldn't help noticing his uncle's canines were so much more pointy than father's or his own. The vampire blood was so much more noticeable in him. Severus wondered how much trouble the mediwizard had gone through while growing and even now, due to his looks.
"I'm fine."
"Is there something I can do for you?"
The man could positively read through him! He'd have to learn to mask his intentions better. Being an open book was not conductive to becoming a rich wizard. Will Wilkes' partner or not. Not to mention, it was very un- Slytherin.
"Well."
"Shoot! You're my favourite nephew."
"That's because I'm your only one."
"Yes. Aren't you lucky? What is it? Do you need components to your potions?"
"No. I mean yes. I need floo powder."
Belchior's visage became darker.
"How come? Are you intending on running again?"
"No."
"You can tell me. We can work on whatever is the matter. What is going on?"
"Nothing uncle Belcky. I don't want to run away." Severus rose from the couch and went to the door to make sure they weren't being heard. "It's that something happened in the school and I need it."
"What happened?" Uncle demanded.
"Well. I stole a flask of floo powder from these Gryffindors. They had no time to complain but I'm pretty sure they'll be quite vocal, if not physical when the new term begins."
"So why don't you return it to them?"
"Its been all used."
"What?" Uncle Belchior shook his head confused. "If Hogwarts has half the blocking protection spells Durmstrang has, there is no floo powder that will breach the place. How could it be used?"
"It was not used to leave the school. It was used for my friend to get laid." Severus blushed deeply as he said this.
Belchior looked as if he had been electrocuted.
"Your friend?"
"Yes. A friend of mine."
"Who?"
"You don't know him. He's in Hogwarts." Severus said defensively.
"Well, if it is Sigrid Zinged it becomes my business as she'll be my step daughter." Belchior said earnestly.
"Really? Sigrid is Sigrid's daughter?" Severus looked again to confirm that uncle's girlfriend wasn't returning.
"Yes. She is spending Christmas with her father. Now who."
"It's not Sigrid. And It's not me. It's a very lucky and brazen faced bloke, who's name I'll not say under torture. The fact is I need the floo powder."
"Why won't you tell me his name?"
"He could tell things on me too." Severus said shameless.
"Why do you need the floo?" Belchior changed tactics. "So he can get laid? Does he do it inside a fireplace?" Uncle was laughing openly as he finished talking.
"Well, no." Severus smiled. "He has a 'friend' or 'friends' in every house team in school. Merlin, this boy is a machine and I won't tell you the details. I don't want the powder to help him. I don't intend to tell him if you give me the powder. He can work for his fun. I might need it for other stuff, and I don't intend on running away again. I swear."
Belchior looked to the firestone. There was not a flask of powder to be seen.
"I see your parents guard themselves against you."
"Sort of. They never left floo powder around anyway."
"You know how much I like you."
"But?"
"I won't get you any powder unless you spit it out. What do you want it for. And you'd better sound convincing."
"Uncle Belcky."
"Don't 'uncle Belcky' me."
"I want to give the powder back." He said sullenly.
"Why did you take it, then?"
" 'Cause they're Gryffindors?"
"Is that a reason? It seems your friend has 'friends' in all houses."
"Yes. And he is still a devoted Slytherin."
"Sure!"
Severus smiled to his teacher in sarcasm.
"If I'd give the powder to the gits I took it from, they'd feel free to do what they were intending to do with it."
"And?"
"For them to do what they want to do, they need to leave the school. They know how to do it. I need to learn how too."
Uncle Belchior was thoughtful.
"You mean, they know secret passages of Hogwarts?"
"Yes."
"I'll get you the powder, but."
"Yes?"
"You'll tell me about those passages when we meet next."
Severus didn't feel very comfortable about the conditions. What did a mediwizard needed to know Hogwarts' secret passages for?
"Uncle?"
"It's a deal?"
"I don't know."
"Don't you? Don't you want that floo powder?"
"I do."
"It's a deal then?"
"Why do you want to know that?"
"Adult stuff."
"You never treated me as child before." He said hurtfully.
"I don't mean to. But you don't seem to eager to tell me what I asked you to. You are my nephew and I always trusted you. Why don't you trust me?" If ever Severus had felt cold in front of his uncle, it was now.
"I do." He said softly.
"I'll get you the powder." Belchior smiled, and this time Severus didn't like it at all.
Hugs Aliera