Author's Note: I've been trying to write this story for a long time. Hopefully this will work and explain a few of the nuances of Snape's wonderfully deep character (at least according to me.) I'm really hoping my readers will enjoy how I do describe Snape's descent or ascent to the height of power and to the depts of remorse.
"Man, remember,
until an hour before the Devil fell
God thought him beautiful in Heaven."
--- The Crucible, Act Two
Morning Star
By Lady Erised
Since Akel Dama had been built centuries ago, it had housed almost as many secrets as it did humans. The legendary home of the powerful and wealthy Snape family, Akel Dama had stood as a tangible symbol of the Snape prestige. But so many secrets and dark truths seemed to cast a pallor over the home. Entering the grounds, the temperature seemed to drop suddenly. The natural light seemed swallowed up by some invisible force and a dull, smoky gray light lighted the grounds instead. A short walk brought visitors to the main gates that lead into the heart of the entire estate, twin iron wrought gates painted flat black that loom over you.
The gates have the family's crest emblazed unto them; a wolf posed to devour a serpent. The wolf's hind leg is injured from a snakebite. Written in Latin over the symbol, is a sinister promise: "No one assails me with impunity."
Akel Dama consists of the manor, the carriage house, servant quarters, a solarium, greenhouses, stables, kennels and a score of other luxuries afforded to such a rich family. Large mazelike gardens that formed a hedge around three fourths of the perimeter and feed into the large, ornate gates protect the heart of the manor.
As always, the bulk of the house was left unoccupied with only the left wing cornered off to allow the family privacy. The top floor consisted of the libraries and a master bedroom. In the Gray Library, a large room filled to the roof with ancient books of curses and counter charms. The room was supported by large columns, carved with intricate glyphs proclaiming even greater secrets if one understood the language. The right corner column pivoted to reveal a narrow, dangerous spiral staircase.
The boy, not yet eleven, peered up the stairs straining to see pass the metal worked stairs. He bit his lip and began to climb the stairs, up to the hidden annex and the secret it held. He pushed away a lock of his black hair pulling a bit of spider web away.
"Oh no young Master!"
The boy closed his eyes and sighed. "Babbitt, I can explain."
"No Master, no explain!" Babbitt rebuked, "You can't go up there, you know that."
The little boy smiled sheepishly. He mumbled a response. Babbitt opened her mouth like a fish and then closed it, looking fierce. "Master tried to go up there didn't you?"
"You won't tell Grandmother will you?" The boy looked downright scared. He smiled gently and ran to the house elf. He towered over Babbitt but that didn't seem to matter, he squatted down and he threw his arms around her. He kissed her cheek and whispered. "Please Madame Babbitt?"
She blushed. "Oh, Master, hurry up: out of here, into Jesse's room. Help me clean."
The boy exploded into a grin. He knew he had won but he kept his head bowed, to really show his penance. Babbitt smiled reluctantly as she shooed him into a large ornate bedroom of silver and blue. She handed him a rag to wipe away smudges on the silverware.
The boy walked over to the bed, to the picture over the bed. A large portrait of a young man stared down at him, unmoving. It was a Muggle painting of a young man with dark brown hair, bright eyes and something that could be described as a smile. The boy was richly dressed, in a shirt, vest and a hand in his trouser pocket. A black robe, cut more like a trench coat, was pulled back behind his arms. A Gryffindor crest was sew on the cloak's front.
The boy in the picture had been named Joachim Esteban Severus Snape but everyone called him Jesse for short. He was tall, handsome and tanned by the sun, with wide shoulders and strong arms. He was the smartest, bravest, gentlest son, parents could ask for.
He had been Head Boy, Prefect, and Quidditch Beater at school. He had been sought after, not just accepted, into Hecate Academy for Aurors. He had been engaged to the daughter of the Minister of Care for Magical Creatures, a belle named Jasmine.
And Jesse had the perfect heir to the proud Snape family.
Then Joachim had been assassinated unceremoniously out of revenge. Suddenly the proud Snape family was heirless. Kaiser James Snape and his wife Sabine Rinaldi were already in their late forties when Joachim had been killed. It was expected for them to leave an heir behind and thus this little boy was born, as a afterthought, and viewed more as reluctant necessity then a child.
His name was Severus Alexander Rinaldi Snape, named for the son he had to replace. He had always taken to heart the importance of his duty to his older brother. He had always known he had to replace the golden boy but there were sometimes, like now, he wondered how on earth he was suppose to do that. Unlike Jesse, Severus was not a golden boy: he was quiet, reserved and timid. He lacked the build of his older brother in lieu of the muscles was a slender, elegant frame and artistic mind.
But that didn't alienate him from his purpose. He was replacing a dead boy.
"Joachim!" The voice traveled down the hallway. The old, angry female voice of Mara Snape, the matriarch of the family. "Joachim!"
"No, Babbitt. Not today…please" He looked at Babbitt, pleadingly. "Please…Babbitt."
"Sorry, milord." Babbitt whispered. "Come down to the kitchen, Alexander."
He walked down the stairs, following the little House Elf down. He liked being called Alexander, especially by Babbitt. She never treated him like he anything but the little charge that liked to get into to trouble. For some reason Babbitt had always insisted on calling him Alexander, reminding him always that one part of him was strictly his. If anything, any part of him was truly his. The only part of his identity that was his was that one name: Alexander.
Babbitt had handed him the dinner tray and shooed him away while she prepared dinner for the rest. Carrying the tray back up the stairs and down the corridors, he set his jaw and pushed open the door. The large bedroom was one of the master bedrooms and was beautifully decorated, in pale whites, blues, and reds. Mara looked sour and frail against the huge bed she was bound too due to age and sickness.
An old, proud Irish woman, Mara had never been considered beautiful. Instead, she had that familiar round face and hard hands that were accustomed to work; exactly the kind of woman gentle Julius Ethan Snape had needed. She had bore three children, strapping children of a famous family. She had done this because it was her duty to her marriage and she had raised her children to be ever mindful of the history that the Snape name entailed.
Now she was nearly a century and a half old and the hard days were finally taking their toll. She seldom left her bed or did anything pass taking her meals and ordering around imaginary subordinates as she relived her glory days. Severus didn't know how long she had been calling Joachim but he never corrected her. One never corrected Mara.
"You'll food is here, Grandmother." He whispered.
Mara stirred just slightly. She opened her eyes and peered at him, incredulously. Severus flinched at the sight of her cataract eyes. She croaked. "Joachim?"
"Yes, Grandmother. I brought you your food." He walked over to her and placed the tray on her lap.
She clapped her hand over his cheek. "Call you father to me, I need to speak with him. Your mother too. She's probably in the parlor, strumming on the piano." Mara lifted her head and smiled, hearing silent music.
"Mother had another of headaches, Grandmother. She retired early." He whispered. "And Father was called away, on business."
"Oh," Mara said softly. "Very well." She looked sullen for a moment. Then after a second she looked up. "Who are you?" She demanded angrily.
"I'm Severus, your grandson."
Mara's eyes narrowed. "Get out of here!"
He didn't need to be told twice. He ran to the door and down the halls, stairs and corners back to the kitchen. He didn't like those daily treks to deliver food to his Grandmother but for some reason Babbitt had always insisted on it. When he walked into the main dining room, Celeste was already sitting at the table.
Celeste was the youngest of Mara's children. She was pushing forty and had never married, instead focusing her attention to her work. She was a Potions Mistress for the Ministry of Magic and very good at what she did. Firm, hard but pretty; Celeste was white haired and blue eyed and as cold as ice. When he entered the room, she sneered disgusted. "You aren't dressed for dinner."
"Sorry Aunt Celeste, but I was helping Babbitt clean the silverware."
The next sound in the room was the clattering of silver on the hardwood floor. Celeste had slapped Babbitt, causing the little Elf to sprawl on the floor. Severus moved to help her but the House Elf looked at him fiercely, shaking her head. Swallowing hard, he forced himself to remain still.
"Never," Celeste hissed in her darkest voice. "Never make my nephew do housework again, do you understand? My nephew, your lord, will not be so debased."
"Yes…yes Mistress."
"Sit down Severus."
Severus obeyed, slipping in the plush chair next to her. Another House Elf, one of nine employed by the Snape family, set down bowls of soup. Severus had to fight to keep his eyes on his broth instead of on Babbitt who was cleaning up the first serving of soup. Celeste's dark voice interrupted his daydreaming.
"Well?" She hissed. "What would happen if I lessen the dosage of asphodel to the Draft of the Living Death?"
Severus thought about it. "The potion would become one of the four most deadly poisons in the world."
"And why is that?"
"Because asphodel has the same chemical makeup as Monkshood, also known as Wolfsbane." He took a drink of his soup. "The poison is known as Aconite."
Celeste looked at him in the same distaste she always did. "Very good."
Dinner continued in the same way, the questions becoming harder and more detailed. Severus answered them all correctly and in a polite, soft voice. He kept stealing glances to the side door, longing for escape. It finally came, an hour and a half later- at ten o clock when Celeste retired back to her haven.
Night had already fallen when Severus finished helping clearing the table and cleaning the plates. As always, he waited in the kitchen chatting with the House Elves till midnight when Renny emerged with a wineskin and cup.
"Please Renny. Let me take it." He pleaded.
Renny, a short, squat Elf looked over to Babbitt nervously. "But they said never let him up there…"
Babbitt glanced at him. "But he already goes up there…" she sighed heavily. "But hurry."
Severus smiled gratefully and kissed Babbitt. He took the wineskin and cup from Renny carefully before sneaking out into the hallway, up the stairs, and into the Gray Library. He pushed away the column and crept up the wrought-iron stairs.
The stairs led to an garret annex. There was a canopy bed in the corner, along with selves of books, a desk littered with more books and parchment, a globe and a chair. There were two large glass doors opened to let in the night. The dark, thick velvet curtains that covered the doors in the daytime were pushed aside.
And staring out, through the open doors into the night, was his uncle Reiner Snape. Severus' fondest memories were of this man. Reiner was a good idea of what Severus would like when he was older. The man was tall, slender and strikingly handsome. A narrow, delicate bone structure, pale skin and dark raven hair made him look imposing. He waited for a moment, like he always did, before speaking in his deep baritone voice. "I didn't expect for you to visit tonight, little Prince." He remarked coolly. He turned to Severus and smiled a thin-lipped smile. "You should be getting your sleep. You go to Hogwarts tomorrow."
Like always, Severus felt a shiver run down his spine when he saw his uncle's face. It was narrow, with special attention to his high cheekbones and deadly pale. Thin varicose blue veins could be seen through his pallor. His eyes had naturally been dark brown but were now a shade of pale, almost white, with hint of blue. His lips were dark crimson and thin, when he smiled his lips peeled back to reveal brilliant white teeth, two slightly pointed and larger then the rest hidden near the corners of his mouth.
"That's why I wanted to come." Severus explained. He bit his lip. He walked over to the desk, mindful to keep his eye on his uncle. He placed the wineskin and cup on the table and then sat down in the chair. "I'm scared."
"Ah," Reiner whispered. He watched the boy before pouncing on the wineskin and drinking hungrily from the skin, ignoring the cup altogether. Small, thick red trails inched down the corners of his mouth as he swallowed down the red life.
Severus watched with interest the grisly display. Reiner had become a vampire the same night his parents had died. Reiner had once been an Auror, just like his brother and sister-in-law. One night, when Severus was four, they had been called away to deal with a vampire nest that was attacking a village in Sussex. Twelve Aurors and Hit Wizards had gone to deal with the vampires.
Reiner had been the one of three survivors. Sabine and Kaiser had been torn apart for sport by the head vampire, an ancient, sinister monster named Daniel. It was Daniel that had turned Reiner, as a trophy of the battle. Mara had used all her clout and family weight to save her last remaining son. Some said the decision; coupled with the lost of her family in such a fell swoop forever broke her mind. She never visited Reiner and Celeste visited only to ensure that the potion she slipped into his nightly meals keep him sedated and passive. Reiner smiled when he finished his meal and put the wineskin away. His wrists glinted in the moonlight, the manacles he wore that kept him chained him to the floor jingled softly. He sat down across the table, keeping an eye on Severus.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, Severus." He said softly. "You've had ever advantage." He winked. "Just be mindful of the pussies."
Severus blinked. "The what?"
"Gryffindor House, Severus. Your father and brother were one of them so naturally you will be too. You have a large place to fill."
"What were you?"
"Ah, I was the black sheep of the family- the only Slytherin in nearly twenty years. Bit of a nasty shock for our name."
"I'm still scared, Uncle."
"Don't be, Severus. You're not allowed to be." He leaned back. "You are Snape. You can't be anything but that. Being scared is not entailed with the title."
Severus felt his heart sink.
"And if you believe that I have a solid gold wand to show you."
The boy laughed happily. His midnight chats had been nightly voyagers for as long as Severus could remember. Reiner had almost always invited him into the annex for these nightly visits. Only a handful of times had Reiner demanded him to go- times when the vampire in him wanted freedom and revenge. Those times, Severus had left him, remotely understanding the need for darkness.
They talked till Severus fell asleep in Reiner's bed. A few hours later a fearful Babbitt shook him awake. The curtains were already pulled close and the room was pitch black. Severus rolled over and stared at the sleeping figure of his uncle. Reiner had propped his arm over him, to protect the boy. Severus smiled and traced the man's cheekbone with his finger. Reiner never stirred. It was eerie to note that his chest wasn't moving like a normal sleeper's would. This was of course due to the fact Reiner wasn't breathing. He didn't need too. He kissed Reiner's cheek and slipped out of bed.
He sighed deeply and followed Babbitt out of the room into his new life.