Chapter 6: Cyrus
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters; they all belong to J.K Rowling.
"All I know
Time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day
The clock ticks life away
It's so unreal
Didn't look out below
Watch the time go right out the window"
-" In the End", Linkin Park
Sev sat in Dumbledore's office with his hands folded on his lap. It was a few nights after Dumbledore had told him the news about the death of his parents and they had finally received word from his uncle. The funeral would be held today once Se's uncle came for him. Dumbledore had told him to wait in his office while he made arrangements with Sev's teachers. He had also given Sev a small parcel. Sev had opened it and his thin lips tightened as he reached in and took out its contents.
"A pensive?" Sev asked as he held up the small ball.
"Yes, Severus. I believe in the hard times ahead every student ought to have one, you all need a place to keep your memories whether they be happy or sad." Dumbledore said in a soft voice. For a moment he looked very old and very tired to Sev. This thought only made Sev's lips tighten more. He sat there unsure of what to say as the older man stared off at the wall as if her where seeing some vision playing itself out on the wall.
"Thank you sir, but what hard times do you mean?" Sev asked after the silence had become more then unnerving.
"Hmm?" Dumbledore had fixed his blue, sad-looking eyes on the boy who sat across from him. Then he seemed to realize what he had said and smiled. "Nothing for you to worry about Severus. Now I want you to wait here till your uncle comes, do you mind waiting alone?" Dumbledore asked as he stood up.
"No sir. I'll be fine." Sev watched as Dumbledore nodded, stood up and then left the room. Sev sighed and looked at the Pensive.
~Wonder what he meant by hard times. ~ Sev thought and then took out his wand. He read about Pensives and was fairly sure that he could put his memories in it without having an adult teach him. He focused in on the memory of a few nights ago, put his wand to his temple. The he tried to imagine that night right down to the smell of old stone as he had landed on it and yet have it all stretch till it was like thread. Sev took a deep breath, his eyes shut in concentration. Perhaps this was a little bit more difficult then he had imagined but there was no turning back now. When he felt the memory was stretched adequately he imagined pulling it out of his mind. Slowly he pulled the wand away from his head. He opened his eyes to find that he had indeed pulled a small silver thread and it was attached to his wand. He then lowered the memory into his Pensive. Sev smirked a bit at the ball.
"Pretty proud of yourself hmm?" Sev almost dropped the Pensive when he heard the voice. He turned quickly to see a tall, think man leaning in the shadows by the fireplace. The man straightened to his full height, which seemed quite daunting, and stepped into the light. Sev then saw a hooked noise, and a thin face with chilling dark eyes staring at him. He smirked again.
"Perhaps." Sev said. The man now smirked.
"Well you should be. Not many wizards can do that they're first try, let alone if they taught themselves from a book. You did teach yourself didn't you?" The man asked. Sev nodded. "Good." The man then sat down and they studied each other in silence till Dumbledore came back in. He looked between the two of them and wondered what he'd missed.
"Cyrus Snape. It's been too long." He said finally. Cyrus took his eyes off the boy and gave a thin-lipped smile. He then rose gracefully to shake Dumbledore's hand.
"My work is very demanding sir." Cyrus said softly. Dumbledore nodded with a smile.
"It's important work, Cyrus and only a certain type of wizard can do it. Now how long do you think Severus will be staying with you after the funeral?" Dumbledore asked. Cyrus looked at Sev, who simply shrugged.
"He'll be back by tomorrow evening." Cyrus said simply.
"Tomorrow evening? Don't you two want to talk about your sister, his mother? Besides you have to make plans for holidays." Dumbledore asked.
"The dead don't need to be talked about all the time. They need the peace of mind to move on. As for knowing what to during vacations I think we already have a plan, Right Severus?" Cyrus said as he turned his dark eyes to Severus. Sev simply shrugged again.
"Ah the ambiguous shrug. Well I suppose you two do know each other well enough by now. Allright Severus, I'll see you tomorrow. Cyrus I am so sorry-" Dumbledore started but was cut off by Cyrus raising his hand for quiet. He then motioned for Sev to follow him and threw some powder in the fire.
"Call for the Snape mansion boy." Cyrus said as he pushed Sev into the fire.
"The Snape mansion." Sev cried and he was whirled into a tunnel of dust and light.
The "Snape mansion" was a drafty, large house that looked as though it had never really been lived in. Sure they're where family pictures and chairs but everything was so old and formal that Snape could never believe that children had grown up there. The chairs where stiff and hard, and the house was full of little surprises. Severed hands, different enchanted items and haughty pictures filled every room and hallway of the house. Sev was contemplating about all of this after the funeral. He had been sitting across from his uncle who was staring at the fire. Cyrus' black eyes were troubled but Sev couldn't quite figure out why. The funeral had gone perfectly. There where just enough mourners, though no one really cried, people talked in hushed tones and the food afterward was wonderful. It was a proper funeral and everyone had said so. Then again people had said a lot of things, none was that it was a shame that his mother was dead or anything like that of course. Sev sighed. His uncle had no reason to look so worried. Then again, Dumbledore seemed worried as well. Sev wondered what could make both of them worried. Dumbledore was one of the greatest wizards every and his uncles' job, for the very little Sev knew about it, seemed very dangerous at times. So why where they both worried?
"Severus, did your mother ever tell you who your real father was?" Cyrus asked suddenly. Sev looked surprised for a moment but then Cyrus saw him look almost defensive.
"What do you mean?" Sev asked.
"Oh pleas Severus. Everyone knows that man wasn't your real father so I want to know if your mother told you who was." Cyrus asked. Sev frowned a bit at his uncle as he studied him. For how thin his face was it almost seemed strong, as if it had once been but then to many hard years had tried to steal that away. His dark eyes wheren't exactly empty but they weren't full of emotion like Dumbledore's. There where lines from laughing around his mouth but they wheren't very deep, almost as if he had only laughed a little but when he had it had been enough to trace the thin lines. His hands where long and thin, almost like piano players but not nearly so fine. Sev had known this man his whole life and yet still didn't understand him. Understanding however was not the problem at hand. The problem was whether or not Sev trusted him. His uncle sat very still and calm before him, letting him think. Sev always liked when people let him think. Logic and reason are wonderful gifts, if they wheren't then they would not be so highly prized by the Greeks. That was one of Sev's mottos. Sev then looked at the fire in the fireplace.
"No she didn't." He said finally. His uncle nodded. While most people would have been angry at Sev for taking so long to give such a simple answer Cyrus was not. He understood Severus and how his brain worked and he knew the boy would never answer a question like that hastily. He could see the gears in Sev's head working. He was thinking hard on something.
"What are you thinking about, Severus?" Cyrus asked.
"Nothing." Sev said softly. Cyrus frowned at him.
"Don't you dare lie to me. I know your mulling over something and I want to know what it is. Who knows, maybe I can even help you." Cyrus said. Sev snorted but then sighed when he saw his uncle serious. He looked at the fire closely.
"Dumbledore said that there was going to be hard times in the future and then you wanted to know about my father. I'm wondering why you two are so worried." Sev said finally. Cyrus nodded. The older man stood and began to pace. He stopped and started again three times before he finally stopped and looked at Sev.
"There are fears about a wizard who is trying to gain power. People are worried about what he'll do, to everyone. We don't know much about him yet. We just know that he's starting to gain support and he could be very dangerous if he gets that support he needs." Cyrus said finally. Sev frowned a bit.
"Your worried about some crazy zealot?" Sev asked.
"To be quite honest yes." Cyrus said matter-of-factly. The two stared at each other for a few minuets till Sev dropped his gaze.
"What does he want to do with his power?" Sev asked.
"I'm not sure, all I know is that he wants it and that those who stand in his way will be in great danger." Cyrus looked around the room. He frowned suddenly. "I've told you too much now, you're just a child-"
"I am not just a child. I understand things. I learn things." Sev cried.
"Yes but do you really understand them, Severus? You had to grow up too quickly, it happens to some of us. However, now you have a chance to get a semblance of childhood fun at Hogwarts. I want you to take advantage of that Severus. You can't just try to be grown up and take on grown up problems all the time, if you do you'll be dead before your forty. Life's already too short, trust me when I say that one day you'll wake up and wonder where all the time went. Don't waste your time at Hogwarts, Severus." With that Cyrus walked out of the room leaving Sev with his own thoughts. Sev shook his head, wondering how he could possibly go to sleep with the new information he had and how he could possibly get more. Perhaps Malfoy could help him. Sev smiled a bit to himself, after all the boys needed a hobby and Sev had just found the perfect topic to research.
AN: Yes I am alive. I'm so sorry this took so long for me to write. Who ever said that Senior is your easiest year in high school needs to be drug out into the street and beaten. I've been really busy with Research paper, choir, band, auditions and homework. Also I hit a wall. Yep I had writers block and had to write a different story for a while. However Sev has been bashing my head in with a beaters club so I have had to update. I hope it isn't too terrible. Again though I am sorry for taking so long. Now some I need to say thank you to some people.
Me: I'm glad you like my story so much. Yes you're right about the caliber, or lack there of, of some of the stories that seem to be taking over the site. I'm glad you like mine.
,: Whee I updated, look. LOL.
Ray: Wow, thanks. I hope I can help get you through the school year. I know it's been tough for me so far. Hang in there and I'll keep writing when I can.
Thanks for reading and reviewing guys. Your comments mean a lot. I promise to try to get the next chapter out sooner.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters; they all belong to J.K Rowling.
"All I know
Time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day
The clock ticks life away
It's so unreal
Didn't look out below
Watch the time go right out the window"
-" In the End", Linkin Park
Sev sat in Dumbledore's office with his hands folded on his lap. It was a few nights after Dumbledore had told him the news about the death of his parents and they had finally received word from his uncle. The funeral would be held today once Se's uncle came for him. Dumbledore had told him to wait in his office while he made arrangements with Sev's teachers. He had also given Sev a small parcel. Sev had opened it and his thin lips tightened as he reached in and took out its contents.
"A pensive?" Sev asked as he held up the small ball.
"Yes, Severus. I believe in the hard times ahead every student ought to have one, you all need a place to keep your memories whether they be happy or sad." Dumbledore said in a soft voice. For a moment he looked very old and very tired to Sev. This thought only made Sev's lips tighten more. He sat there unsure of what to say as the older man stared off at the wall as if her where seeing some vision playing itself out on the wall.
"Thank you sir, but what hard times do you mean?" Sev asked after the silence had become more then unnerving.
"Hmm?" Dumbledore had fixed his blue, sad-looking eyes on the boy who sat across from him. Then he seemed to realize what he had said and smiled. "Nothing for you to worry about Severus. Now I want you to wait here till your uncle comes, do you mind waiting alone?" Dumbledore asked as he stood up.
"No sir. I'll be fine." Sev watched as Dumbledore nodded, stood up and then left the room. Sev sighed and looked at the Pensive.
~Wonder what he meant by hard times. ~ Sev thought and then took out his wand. He read about Pensives and was fairly sure that he could put his memories in it without having an adult teach him. He focused in on the memory of a few nights ago, put his wand to his temple. The he tried to imagine that night right down to the smell of old stone as he had landed on it and yet have it all stretch till it was like thread. Sev took a deep breath, his eyes shut in concentration. Perhaps this was a little bit more difficult then he had imagined but there was no turning back now. When he felt the memory was stretched adequately he imagined pulling it out of his mind. Slowly he pulled the wand away from his head. He opened his eyes to find that he had indeed pulled a small silver thread and it was attached to his wand. He then lowered the memory into his Pensive. Sev smirked a bit at the ball.
"Pretty proud of yourself hmm?" Sev almost dropped the Pensive when he heard the voice. He turned quickly to see a tall, think man leaning in the shadows by the fireplace. The man straightened to his full height, which seemed quite daunting, and stepped into the light. Sev then saw a hooked noise, and a thin face with chilling dark eyes staring at him. He smirked again.
"Perhaps." Sev said. The man now smirked.
"Well you should be. Not many wizards can do that they're first try, let alone if they taught themselves from a book. You did teach yourself didn't you?" The man asked. Sev nodded. "Good." The man then sat down and they studied each other in silence till Dumbledore came back in. He looked between the two of them and wondered what he'd missed.
"Cyrus Snape. It's been too long." He said finally. Cyrus took his eyes off the boy and gave a thin-lipped smile. He then rose gracefully to shake Dumbledore's hand.
"My work is very demanding sir." Cyrus said softly. Dumbledore nodded with a smile.
"It's important work, Cyrus and only a certain type of wizard can do it. Now how long do you think Severus will be staying with you after the funeral?" Dumbledore asked. Cyrus looked at Sev, who simply shrugged.
"He'll be back by tomorrow evening." Cyrus said simply.
"Tomorrow evening? Don't you two want to talk about your sister, his mother? Besides you have to make plans for holidays." Dumbledore asked.
"The dead don't need to be talked about all the time. They need the peace of mind to move on. As for knowing what to during vacations I think we already have a plan, Right Severus?" Cyrus said as he turned his dark eyes to Severus. Sev simply shrugged again.
"Ah the ambiguous shrug. Well I suppose you two do know each other well enough by now. Allright Severus, I'll see you tomorrow. Cyrus I am so sorry-" Dumbledore started but was cut off by Cyrus raising his hand for quiet. He then motioned for Sev to follow him and threw some powder in the fire.
"Call for the Snape mansion boy." Cyrus said as he pushed Sev into the fire.
"The Snape mansion." Sev cried and he was whirled into a tunnel of dust and light.
The "Snape mansion" was a drafty, large house that looked as though it had never really been lived in. Sure they're where family pictures and chairs but everything was so old and formal that Snape could never believe that children had grown up there. The chairs where stiff and hard, and the house was full of little surprises. Severed hands, different enchanted items and haughty pictures filled every room and hallway of the house. Sev was contemplating about all of this after the funeral. He had been sitting across from his uncle who was staring at the fire. Cyrus' black eyes were troubled but Sev couldn't quite figure out why. The funeral had gone perfectly. There where just enough mourners, though no one really cried, people talked in hushed tones and the food afterward was wonderful. It was a proper funeral and everyone had said so. Then again people had said a lot of things, none was that it was a shame that his mother was dead or anything like that of course. Sev sighed. His uncle had no reason to look so worried. Then again, Dumbledore seemed worried as well. Sev wondered what could make both of them worried. Dumbledore was one of the greatest wizards every and his uncles' job, for the very little Sev knew about it, seemed very dangerous at times. So why where they both worried?
"Severus, did your mother ever tell you who your real father was?" Cyrus asked suddenly. Sev looked surprised for a moment but then Cyrus saw him look almost defensive.
"What do you mean?" Sev asked.
"Oh pleas Severus. Everyone knows that man wasn't your real father so I want to know if your mother told you who was." Cyrus asked. Sev frowned a bit at his uncle as he studied him. For how thin his face was it almost seemed strong, as if it had once been but then to many hard years had tried to steal that away. His dark eyes wheren't exactly empty but they weren't full of emotion like Dumbledore's. There where lines from laughing around his mouth but they wheren't very deep, almost as if he had only laughed a little but when he had it had been enough to trace the thin lines. His hands where long and thin, almost like piano players but not nearly so fine. Sev had known this man his whole life and yet still didn't understand him. Understanding however was not the problem at hand. The problem was whether or not Sev trusted him. His uncle sat very still and calm before him, letting him think. Sev always liked when people let him think. Logic and reason are wonderful gifts, if they wheren't then they would not be so highly prized by the Greeks. That was one of Sev's mottos. Sev then looked at the fire in the fireplace.
"No she didn't." He said finally. His uncle nodded. While most people would have been angry at Sev for taking so long to give such a simple answer Cyrus was not. He understood Severus and how his brain worked and he knew the boy would never answer a question like that hastily. He could see the gears in Sev's head working. He was thinking hard on something.
"What are you thinking about, Severus?" Cyrus asked.
"Nothing." Sev said softly. Cyrus frowned at him.
"Don't you dare lie to me. I know your mulling over something and I want to know what it is. Who knows, maybe I can even help you." Cyrus said. Sev snorted but then sighed when he saw his uncle serious. He looked at the fire closely.
"Dumbledore said that there was going to be hard times in the future and then you wanted to know about my father. I'm wondering why you two are so worried." Sev said finally. Cyrus nodded. The older man stood and began to pace. He stopped and started again three times before he finally stopped and looked at Sev.
"There are fears about a wizard who is trying to gain power. People are worried about what he'll do, to everyone. We don't know much about him yet. We just know that he's starting to gain support and he could be very dangerous if he gets that support he needs." Cyrus said finally. Sev frowned a bit.
"Your worried about some crazy zealot?" Sev asked.
"To be quite honest yes." Cyrus said matter-of-factly. The two stared at each other for a few minuets till Sev dropped his gaze.
"What does he want to do with his power?" Sev asked.
"I'm not sure, all I know is that he wants it and that those who stand in his way will be in great danger." Cyrus looked around the room. He frowned suddenly. "I've told you too much now, you're just a child-"
"I am not just a child. I understand things. I learn things." Sev cried.
"Yes but do you really understand them, Severus? You had to grow up too quickly, it happens to some of us. However, now you have a chance to get a semblance of childhood fun at Hogwarts. I want you to take advantage of that Severus. You can't just try to be grown up and take on grown up problems all the time, if you do you'll be dead before your forty. Life's already too short, trust me when I say that one day you'll wake up and wonder where all the time went. Don't waste your time at Hogwarts, Severus." With that Cyrus walked out of the room leaving Sev with his own thoughts. Sev shook his head, wondering how he could possibly go to sleep with the new information he had and how he could possibly get more. Perhaps Malfoy could help him. Sev smiled a bit to himself, after all the boys needed a hobby and Sev had just found the perfect topic to research.
AN: Yes I am alive. I'm so sorry this took so long for me to write. Who ever said that Senior is your easiest year in high school needs to be drug out into the street and beaten. I've been really busy with Research paper, choir, band, auditions and homework. Also I hit a wall. Yep I had writers block and had to write a different story for a while. However Sev has been bashing my head in with a beaters club so I have had to update. I hope it isn't too terrible. Again though I am sorry for taking so long. Now some I need to say thank you to some people.
Me: I'm glad you like my story so much. Yes you're right about the caliber, or lack there of, of some of the stories that seem to be taking over the site. I'm glad you like mine.
,: Whee I updated, look. LOL.
Ray: Wow, thanks. I hope I can help get you through the school year. I know it's been tough for me so far. Hang in there and I'll keep writing when I can.
Thanks for reading and reviewing guys. Your comments mean a lot. I promise to try to get the next chapter out sooner.