Like The Sky at Dusk
Chapter Two:
One eleven inch dragon heart string oak wand later, he and his father were on their way home. Severus was studying his wand intently. His owl, a silver-grey creature sat quietly in it's cage, looking sleepy.
Halfway through the coach ride, Severus supposed he should give it a name. Not out of affection, or a childish whim, but simply because he could not go about calling it "Owl". Argent was to be it's name; It fit. Argent was the Latin word for Silver.
At home, hours later, his father checked in on Severus. Feeling in a much better mood he laughed at the boy. Entering the room he said, "Severus, no matter how long you watch your wand, i promise it will remain the same"
Severus felt the blood rushing to his face. "I know, i just find it...interesting." he managed, as he turned it over in his hand.
His father nodded. "I'm pleased you like it. You will come to find there is nothing like the feel of your wand in your own hand. I expect great things from you, Severus" He stood solomly and patted his son's sholder almost affectionatly before he left the room.
Severus knew what was expected: Perfection. To be at the top of his class, head boy, eventually, expected to recall every detail, never make a mistake. He knew, and the burdon weighed heavily on his sholders.
Later that night, Severus began packing. Four black robes, a cloke, his books, his cauldrin, potion ingredents (his personal collection, courtasy of his father), and what not. His wand, he decided, should stay on his person. He was dieing to use it, but ministry laws would not allow.
It was his last day home, and there was to be a bit of a gathering. Severus headed downstairs that morning, dressed to impress in his new wizard robs. His father often wore pants and a shirt unless out in wizarding towns, and had encouraged Severus to do the same. Wearing the black robs over his cloths now felt foreign to him.
In the livingroom were his parents, his grandparents, and his aunt. All were dressed in wizarding robes. He knew the tradition; he bowed to each one, kissed his mother, grandmother and aunt on the cheek and took his seat. He knew the soul purpose of this lunchen was for them all to wish him well and give him gifts on his departure.
His mother's dark brown hair was up off her neck in a twist. It was traditional for maried witches to always wear their hair up in the wizarding world. At least, for all the pure blood families.
His grandfather looked somewhat like his father; the same nose and the dark hair, though his was greying at the roots. His grandfather was an even stricter man than his father, always critical and always expecting the best. His Grandmother was a quiet witch, perhaps a bit worn out, but her eyes spoke of intelegence though they were tired.
HIs Aunt Demona was a beautiful and haughty woman. Dark haired with small fetures. She was strict, but always fair, Severus liked her, he knew what to expcet from her. Perhaps even respected her.
After mindless chatter for an hour and a lite lunch the family gathered around the common room to give Severus his gifts. From his grandfather, a broom. He thanked him, though he couldn't talke it to school ("Why the Devil not?" his Grandfather had asked) as first years could not have brooms.
From his Grandmother, a new violin. His father eyes it with distaste; he had smashed the last one in a fit of rage when Severus had been up playing it at all hours of the night. His Grandmother had been an opra singer in her earlier days and insisted music was as important for the soul as magic.
His aunt gave him a journal and a blank book. The blank book, she had explained, was to keep all the handy spells he used often in, so he could have them wherever he went.
From his parents, a necklace. Not just any necklace, but the necklace, passed from his great grandmother to his grandfather (not the one present at the gathering) to his Mother and now to him. It was the family symbol: A Snake entwined with a Raven. The charm was black in color on a silver chain. He knew many protection spells had been placed on it over the years.
Raven and Snake, family symbols. Everyone on his fathers side and his mother's side had been in the houses Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Granted, they were concidered equal in greatness throughout the family.
He fastened it around his neck and put it under his robes. One by one he thanked everyone, as was customary. His Father then declaired it was time to get him to the train station. He orderd the house elf Dibber, to loar the trunk in the coach.
His Father climbed into the carrage with Severus for a moment, to speak to him, a large package in his hands.
"Severus, I know this is to be a happy day for you, but you know my standards, you know i expect tests and grades sent home monthly, and that i shall check up on you myself, i have sorces inside Hogwarts, i'll know any move you make." he paused to let this sink in, but Severus already knew it.
"This", he gestured to the package, "Is to keep you informed and...prepared. They won't teach you this in the classes, they refuse to, but damn it, you have to know it. Just because no one wants to accept the form of rule the wizarding world is under does not make it untrue. Never close your eyes to the truth, Severus." He added.
He nodded to his father.
"I expect you to be prepared for...whatever you may come against or need to know. This year, you needen't worry about getting caught up in it, no one will bother with you, you're too young. But if someone brotches the subject of supporting or joining the Dark Lord with you, or even asks your oppinion on such matters, you remain impassive, and you write to me immeditly. We must not seem supporters, and yet we must not oppose, stay in the background, don't take sides."
"Yes Father, i understand." He said calmly.
His father moved to speak but his owl hooted and brought him back to reality.
"off with you then" he said gruffly and stepped out of the carrage, leaving Severus alone with the package. The coach began to move and they were on their way.
Severus opened the brown paper around what he discovered were books. Three books. Common curses and hexes, Dark makrs, signs, and symbols, and the Dark Arts: An Education.
Severus knew what this meant; he had to be prepared for anything, his family was strong, and so he must be too.
Chapter Two:
One eleven inch dragon heart string oak wand later, he and his father were on their way home. Severus was studying his wand intently. His owl, a silver-grey creature sat quietly in it's cage, looking sleepy.
Halfway through the coach ride, Severus supposed he should give it a name. Not out of affection, or a childish whim, but simply because he could not go about calling it "Owl". Argent was to be it's name; It fit. Argent was the Latin word for Silver.
At home, hours later, his father checked in on Severus. Feeling in a much better mood he laughed at the boy. Entering the room he said, "Severus, no matter how long you watch your wand, i promise it will remain the same"
Severus felt the blood rushing to his face. "I know, i just find it...interesting." he managed, as he turned it over in his hand.
His father nodded. "I'm pleased you like it. You will come to find there is nothing like the feel of your wand in your own hand. I expect great things from you, Severus" He stood solomly and patted his son's sholder almost affectionatly before he left the room.
Severus knew what was expected: Perfection. To be at the top of his class, head boy, eventually, expected to recall every detail, never make a mistake. He knew, and the burdon weighed heavily on his sholders.
Later that night, Severus began packing. Four black robes, a cloke, his books, his cauldrin, potion ingredents (his personal collection, courtasy of his father), and what not. His wand, he decided, should stay on his person. He was dieing to use it, but ministry laws would not allow.
It was his last day home, and there was to be a bit of a gathering. Severus headed downstairs that morning, dressed to impress in his new wizard robs. His father often wore pants and a shirt unless out in wizarding towns, and had encouraged Severus to do the same. Wearing the black robs over his cloths now felt foreign to him.
In the livingroom were his parents, his grandparents, and his aunt. All were dressed in wizarding robes. He knew the tradition; he bowed to each one, kissed his mother, grandmother and aunt on the cheek and took his seat. He knew the soul purpose of this lunchen was for them all to wish him well and give him gifts on his departure.
His mother's dark brown hair was up off her neck in a twist. It was traditional for maried witches to always wear their hair up in the wizarding world. At least, for all the pure blood families.
His grandfather looked somewhat like his father; the same nose and the dark hair, though his was greying at the roots. His grandfather was an even stricter man than his father, always critical and always expecting the best. His Grandmother was a quiet witch, perhaps a bit worn out, but her eyes spoke of intelegence though they were tired.
HIs Aunt Demona was a beautiful and haughty woman. Dark haired with small fetures. She was strict, but always fair, Severus liked her, he knew what to expcet from her. Perhaps even respected her.
After mindless chatter for an hour and a lite lunch the family gathered around the common room to give Severus his gifts. From his grandfather, a broom. He thanked him, though he couldn't talke it to school ("Why the Devil not?" his Grandfather had asked) as first years could not have brooms.
From his Grandmother, a new violin. His father eyes it with distaste; he had smashed the last one in a fit of rage when Severus had been up playing it at all hours of the night. His Grandmother had been an opra singer in her earlier days and insisted music was as important for the soul as magic.
His aunt gave him a journal and a blank book. The blank book, she had explained, was to keep all the handy spells he used often in, so he could have them wherever he went.
From his parents, a necklace. Not just any necklace, but the necklace, passed from his great grandmother to his grandfather (not the one present at the gathering) to his Mother and now to him. It was the family symbol: A Snake entwined with a Raven. The charm was black in color on a silver chain. He knew many protection spells had been placed on it over the years.
Raven and Snake, family symbols. Everyone on his fathers side and his mother's side had been in the houses Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Granted, they were concidered equal in greatness throughout the family.
He fastened it around his neck and put it under his robes. One by one he thanked everyone, as was customary. His Father then declaired it was time to get him to the train station. He orderd the house elf Dibber, to loar the trunk in the coach.
His Father climbed into the carrage with Severus for a moment, to speak to him, a large package in his hands.
"Severus, I know this is to be a happy day for you, but you know my standards, you know i expect tests and grades sent home monthly, and that i shall check up on you myself, i have sorces inside Hogwarts, i'll know any move you make." he paused to let this sink in, but Severus already knew it.
"This", he gestured to the package, "Is to keep you informed and...prepared. They won't teach you this in the classes, they refuse to, but damn it, you have to know it. Just because no one wants to accept the form of rule the wizarding world is under does not make it untrue. Never close your eyes to the truth, Severus." He added.
He nodded to his father.
"I expect you to be prepared for...whatever you may come against or need to know. This year, you needen't worry about getting caught up in it, no one will bother with you, you're too young. But if someone brotches the subject of supporting or joining the Dark Lord with you, or even asks your oppinion on such matters, you remain impassive, and you write to me immeditly. We must not seem supporters, and yet we must not oppose, stay in the background, don't take sides."
"Yes Father, i understand." He said calmly.
His father moved to speak but his owl hooted and brought him back to reality.
"off with you then" he said gruffly and stepped out of the carrage, leaving Severus alone with the package. The coach began to move and they were on their way.
Severus opened the brown paper around what he discovered were books. Three books. Common curses and hexes, Dark makrs, signs, and symbols, and the Dark Arts: An Education.
Severus knew what this meant; he had to be prepared for anything, his family was strong, and so he must be too.