Like Father, Like Son
The new day dawned. Harry was up early. He had an idea that the Headmaster would be, too. He went to the Great Hall for breakfast, and was the only one there.
Like at Christmas break, all tables but one had been removed. There was food on it, though, and Harry began to eat. He was rather glad that he was alone. So far, he hadn't had to talk to anyone about himself yet. He had stayed clear of his Professors, all except Lupin and Snape. It would be too uncomfortable, and, he didn't really know what he'd say about his past if he was asked. He would have to talk to his father about that, so they could both have the same story.
After a filling breakfast of toast and orange juice, Harry returned to his room for a short bit, to get his wand and Hermione's letter. He also grabbed a sheet of the parchment that he used to normally write his letters.
Knocking on Dumbledore's door, he didn't have to wait very long for it to be answered. Dumbledore stood in front of him, looking bright and chipper as always.
"Ah, Sameth," he said with a wink "come in!" He moved aside so Harry could enter the door. The "Sameth" unnerved him, but he figured he'd get used to it eventually.
"Professor Dumbledore." He said, curtly.
"Have you come to a decision, regarding the situation between you and your father?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. He knew the answer.
"Yes, I have, actually. I will become a Death Eater… and a spy." Harry said, stoically. It was what he had to do, to protect his father's life.
He was convinced.
Dumbledore seemed to notice this, and remembered a similar conversation he'd had almost twenty years ago.
"Professor Dumbledore?" A young, black haired man stood in front of Dumbledore's desk. A younger, still very old Headmaster looked up at him, from the piece of paper he had been reading.
"Yes, Severus? What can I do for you?"
The man paused, not sure where to begin. He was young, just graduated Hogwarts, in fact. He was unsure of himself. Dumbledore ran through his knowledge of the boy.
A Slytherin, had been prefect, in fact, but had just barely lost the Head Boy position to James Potter. He was intelligent, very much so, in fact, he had the best Potions grades the school had ever seen.
But he was also dark, and troubled. Dumbledore knew of his family. The Snape's had been a prominent figure in the wizarding world until their death less than two years ago. Young Severus stayed with some friends over the holidays.
While they had been alive, the Snape's had been very dark. Severus' s own grandfather had died during the final battle against Grindalwald, rather facing death than surrender.
Severus, in fact, was known amongst the higher authority figures, to have been involved in the new Dark Lord's group. He always stayed just ahead of leaving enough evidence to be taken in to custody for questioning. The Ministry was getting upset at it's lack of progress.
The man started to speak. He had decided that he would say this, and it was now or never. He began his confession.
"I… I want you to put me in Azkaban. I'll go willingly! I just… can't take the guilt anymore. God damn it, Dumbledore, I'm a Death Eater."
It was liberating, admitting it. He knew now that he could submit himself to the punishment he deserved. Last night had been the final straw. The poor muggle, at the meeting. Severus began to tell Dumbledore his story, first adding a "For Lily."
She was scared, terrified in fact. Looking at her, watching her see magic performed, you could tell she thought it was a dream, a hallucination, that it was anything but real. She didn't want it to be real.
She looked around the room, looked at all the hooded men, looking at them, but seeing none of them.
She was very beautiful. Her jet black hair hung down over her, past her shoulders and back. It covered her, like a shield. Her face was angelic, and her pale skin was striking with her complexion. She had bright emerald eyes, that shone like the light of stars themselves twinkled out.
Many of the Death Eaters, Severus could tell, were looking forward to having her join the collection of women Voldemort kept for the Death Eaters to rape.
She was also, Severus noticed, pregnant. Not very far along, but for his sharp eyes, it was a matter of fact. She was terrified, trembling for her and her child's fate.
She stood in the midst of the circle. Then, the circle broke, and reformed again, closing around the latest arrival.
It was the Dark Lord Voldemort.
He moved closer to the woman, stroked her cheek with his hands. He looked very similar to Tom Riddle had, during his Hogwarts days. His eyes had changed. Now they were a red colour, unnatural.
These odd, fearsome eyes looked over the woman, watching her greedily. He then began to speak.
"This woman," he spat the word, obviously not considering her worthy to share it with even the lowest and most destitute purebloods, "standing before you, carries with her the seed of a wizard, who once was a faithful subject of mine. Antone Crosx, now deceased, dated her, married her. He thought that he could trick us all, but he could not."
He pointed an outreached finger at the crowd, swinging it ceremoniously.
"Severus Snape."
Severus could feel his heart pound. His master called him? He would answer. The Snape stepped forward, bowing before his master.
"What, my Lord? I will serve you, whatever you ask."
The Dark Lord grabbed Snape by the arm, his ice cold fingers almost burning into him, the way water does when it is so hot, it feels frozen.
"You are experienced in the ways of death, Severus. I know you have no qualms about causing such a fate to another, as you have before, thousands of times. Now, I want you to kill this woman and child. Imagine them to be all the scum of the earth that has been feeding upon the flesh of the purebloods for so long!
Kill the animal who stands in front of you, take off your mask, and let her see your eyes. Show her, once and for all, that we shall always conquer."
Severus was relieved. It was easy. A few seconds task, with no other consequences.
He removed his hood, letting his always greasy hair free. Then, the mask. He stood before her, his vision unadulterated by the confines of a hidden identity.
He looked at her, eye to eye. Then, his vision morphed. The raven beauty who stood before him morphed into his precious Lily, the only thing that had made him have second thoughts about joining Voldemort.
The dark black hair became red, and the nose and mouth changed shapes. Only the eyes, watching him with infinite sadness, yet compassion, stayed the same. His flowers eyes, so knowledgeable yet innocent.
He was aware he was taking too much time. His reverie was snapped by the crowd pushing around him, jostling him to hurry up. No word came from Voldemort.
Severus then realized that it was a test, to prove his innocence to the Dark Lord. He put a steely glint in his eye, and a smirk on his face. He turned to Voldemort, and bowed. Then, he faced the woman yet again.
He prepared himself. "Avada Kedavra." He spoke with an air of nonchalance, and one of normalcy. The woman didn't even comprehend what he was saying, only the cutting of her string by those trickster fates, spinning their webs around lives so methodically.
And her body lay on the ground. Severus checked it. And then, once more, the image of Lily floated in front of her eyes. Not a muggle woman dead, Lily. His Lily.
He stood up, replacing his hood and mask. The mob of Death Eaters were going crazy at the sight of a new death, blood lust setting in. He felt distant, unconnected to them. He gave the Dark Lord his respects, and left.
He had passed Lord Voldemort's tests, but somehow, deep inside, he felt like he had failed it.
He went straight to Dumbledore, who had, instead of taking him to the Dementors and the cold, unforgiving eternal memory of Azkaban, adopted his as his spy.
It was all so similar, in a twisted way. Severus remains a Death Eater, for Lily, and now, her son, Harry is becoming one for Severus.
Harry's quizzical expression brought Dumbledore back to the present time. He hadn't noticed how long he'd been staring off into space, not really thinking at all about the situation in front of him. He would have to be more careful. The headmaster got his thoughts in order, and began to tell Harry what would happen to and become of him. But first, he had to make sure.
"Are you positive about this, Harry?" There was always a chance that the boy would pull back. But that would not be like him, and so Dumbledore was not surprised at his words.
"Its what I have to do. If I can master Occlemency, then I can protect my true thoughts from Voldemort, all the while gathering information to stop him. Plus, I'd probably get a better training from the Death Eaters than I would anywhere else, for my situation, anyways. Besides, the closer I am to danger, the farther from harm, right?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, that is true. I fear for your safety, and your fathers, but it is always an issue, and such an extreme case will be hard to figure out on Voldemort's part. You will begin to study again with your father on the two nights a week that have not already been reserved."
"What?!" Another two nights? Despite the fact that they had been getting along somewhat better that was still too much time to be spending with Snape.
"You do need the practice. The sixth years who are going to become Death Eaters will start their initiation training at the end of this summer. You will need to be proficient enough by then to protect yourself.:
Harry held back further protest. If it was only until the end of the summer, then it would be okay, if not pleasant, bearable.
"So… the training starts that early?" He only had a few weeks left of being himself.
"Yes. All the future Death Eaters in your year will be reported, and trained once a week, until winter holidays. Then, you will become a full member, and have the mark placed upon your skin, where it will be until Voldemort is finally destroyed." Dumbledore's eyes rested upon Harry's hand, which was subconsciously rubbing his shoulder, where the mark may, within half a year, lay.
"So soon?" Harry murmured to himself. Dumbledore did not reply. He was not expected to.
Then, Harry pulled himself together, under the close scrutiny of the Headmaster. He straightened up, set a grim expression on his face, and became more professional.
"Okay. Next, Professor Dumbledore, what should I tell my friends?" He showed the letter from Hermione to Dumbledore, who read it quickly.
"Hmmm.. What owl delivered this?"
"A hired one, like Hermione always uses."
That worked out rather nicely, actually, fitting perfectly into Dumbledore's plans.
"I suggest, then, Harry, that you write a letter to Ms. Granger, telling her that you have been pulled from school for some training. Explain that you cannot write details, or any more letters, as your full concentration is required. Then, tell her that you hopefully expect to see her soon, and, while your gone, have her take care of Hedwig, as you know that she doesn't have an owl." Dumbledore finished.
Harry had already began to scribble a note to his friend. Finishing it, he read it aloud to the Headmaster, who nodded. It sounded just like Harry.
Then, Harry reread it, and exclaimed "Oh!"
"What, Harry?"
"I've forgotten, Professor! What about my handwriting. My appearance, eyes, and scar are all taken care of, but what about my handwriting, and things like that? Surely, if Ron or Hermione, or just about any Gryffindor sees my handwriting, it will look familiar? I can't write neater without it being too obvious."
"Ah. I had forgotten that. Well, perhaps you should work on a new style of writing, perhaps something more elegant? Take up calligraphy, as it would have been a lesson learned years ago by such an old pureblooded pupil."
Harry nodded. That was taken care of, at least.
He had one more question.
"What about my house? I know that you said that Sameth Snape would be sorted, but what if the hat chooses Gryffindor? Wouldn't the future Death Eaters become suspicious?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "I wouldn't be too worried about that, Harry. Yes, Lily was a true Gryffindor, but the line of Snapes all the way back have been Slytherin and Ravenclaw. I believe you've seen the Snape seal?"
"Actually, no. What is it?"
Dumbledore drew out his wand and muttered something under his breath. Then, appearing to float in midair were two snakes, intertwined, with a drop of blood (yes, from this angle, it was clearly blood) between their heads.
Harry looked at it. It seemed familiar, but he could not quite put his finger on where he'd seen it. Nowhere around Snape, he was sure of that, and he'd never actually had direct correspondence with the man. Then, like a ton of brick smashing him in the face, it hit him.
The letter on his birthday! The one that released the gases. Of course, it would have been sent privately, and there wouldn't have been any need to take precautions over the seal.
Harry looked at it, more closely. It was, now that he thought about it, very Slytherin.
He now understood Dumbledore's mirth, and the smiling Headmaster began to further explain things.
"Even if you are a re-sorted into Gryffindor, you would not be that suspected. No one, after all, knows who your mother was. And, there have been several Death Eaters from the house, although you are only aware of one, I believe.
Harry swallowed. Wormtail. He'd have to face that slimy, fucking rat again, if he had to go through with this. He didn't know if he could contain his anger, and keep from killing him. How he'd enjoy watching the pain slit across his face, keeping it turned and twisted with agony. He'd deserve it, if anyone did. He was the one responsible for ruining the majority of Harry's life. The pain, the sheer hatred Harry would release. He'd torture…
Harry stopped himself. He was actually doing this. Those thoughts, those images in his mind, couldn't have been better conjured up by a Death Eater.
He didn't want to become like that, but here he was already, getting a sick pleasure from another's pain.
"God, don't let me be like that" he thought/prayed, to whomever was listening.
Dumbledore, of course oblivious to the inner workings of Harry's head, was still mumbling on about how Harry's great-great grandfather's cousin twice removed on his fathers side had been the first Slytherin Head Boy, or some genealogical nonsense like that.
He mailed the letter, after talking a bit and petting Hedwig.
"Girl, you're a great owl, but it's too obvious. Please go, and stay with Hermione. She'll take good care of you. Just don't come to me if you see me here, okay?"
He was getting emotional over a bloody owl. His rational part of the brain was getting horribly annoyed at him, and he felt rather silly talking to her, especially in front of Dumbledore. But, she had been his only friend during some of the roughest times of his life, and he owed it to her.
He watched her fly away through a window, until she disappeared into the sun.
So he was alone.
Dumbledore, once noticing that he was being ignored, shut up, and pretended not to be watching Harry say goodbye to the owl.
"Well, Harry, you will be needing another owl. It would seem unlikely that one from your background would arrive at school with nothing to carry his mail. Perhaps, if you had nothing planned for today, you could go and pick out another one, if Severus will agree to take you."
Harry was so distraught about replacing his owl that he almost didn't hear that last part. When he did, though, he responded.
"What? Headmaster, I thought that I could go out now, because Voldemort already knows about me. Surely he won't try and get me to join at the Owl Emporium, will he?"
"I know that you dislike this, Harry, but its necessary. If some Death Eater, remembering the previous meeting, saw you, he could easily bring you to his master, and you would not be able to protect your mind. Be sensible. Severus will be okay. You two need to spend more time together, anyway."
Harry groaned. Not only was yesterday spent with Snape, but today, and, because of their Potion's appointment, the next day as well.
He was too worn down to care, though. His defenses for arguing were shot. All that had happened to him had sort of taken its emotional toll on him, and he was not up to refusing.
"Okay."
Dumbledore went to the fireplace and called Severus up to his office.
A few long minutes of silence later, he was there.
He seemed to be calmer, more relaxed than Harry had ever seen him. He came in, and swept his hair out of his face.
"Yes, Headmaster?"
"Severus. Sameth and I just sent the boy's owl away to go stay with Ms. Granger, who apparently doesn't have one, along with an owl of his disappearance. Now, Harry seems to need another bird to carry his mail, and I was hoping you could accompany him to get one? He would like to go alone, but, as I told him, it is much too dangerous."
Harry scowled a bit at this part, but didn't say anything.
Severus nodded. "Of course, Headmaster. But, Sameth, we'd need to stop by my rooms first so I can add another ingredient to Lupin's potion."
"By all means, go ahead. The full moon is in another five days, is it not?"
"Yes, Headmaster."
"That sounds fine, then, Severus. But when you return, if you could come to my office," he looked at Harry "privately, there are some issues I need to speak to you about."
Snape nodded. He wondered what, other than his spying, did Dumbledore have to talk to him about. Unless it was… Sameth. It was still odd, thinking of that name. But then, the sixteen year old in front of him no longer looked like James or Harry Potter, so Sameth it was.
The two left, making their ways down into the dungeons, where Harry noticed, that, despite the fact it was summer, it was still freezing. It must always be like that, here. He wondered if he would be down here, as a Slytherin, when school started again.
For some reason, he sincerely hoped not.
Reaching the door, they entered Snape's private workroom. There were two large cauldrons bubbling, glowing a bright white colour. It was almost silver.
Snape pointed to the brews. "Wolfsbane Potion. Incredibly difficult to make. Most people don't ever learn the skills unless they become Masters at the subject. I believe that currently, myself and three other people are known to be able to brew it."
Harry was astounded. His newfound appreciation of Potions showed him that this particular potion must be quite complex, indeed. He almost felt… proud of, well, his father, that he was able to make it.
He didn't say all this aloud, but Severus could read his eyes, a bit, and felt newfound affection for the boy.
"Perhaps you can learn, sometime?"
"Me, sir?"
"Yes, Sameth, you. I expect that you should be quite good at Potions now, all Snapes are. Once you have progressed even farther, I expect that you will be able to quickly master such complicated brews."
Harry felt flattered. "Thank you, sir."
"Please, don't call me that. It feels so uncomfortable, and strained. Besides, school has not yet started, and, while I do expect you to refer to me as 'Professor Snape' when term starts, Severus for now would be fine."
'or father' he thought, but did not say.
Harry nodded.
Snape began to add the next ingredient, a coppery liquid which he explained to be treated dog blood.
While stirring the potions, he asked several questions that had been nibbling at the back of his mind, but had never gotten the chance to get out.
"I assume you've accepted the spying offer Dumbledore gave you?"
"Yes."
Snape sighed. He wished there was some way around this. He hated the thought of all the horrible things that his son would have to see. The things that he had had to live through, and that still haunted him.
He didn't want his son to end up like him.
It was a strangely protective thought for him.
"If you ever need to talk about anything in your training, I am here, Sameth. I went through it, granted, many years ago, and in much different circumstances, but still, I know what it was like."
"Thank you, Severus."
When Dumbledore spoke the name, it was normally soft, and filled with so much emotion. Remorse, and regret, pride, loyalty, all the things that made up the man himself. Yet, as it rolled off Sameth's tongue, it felt heavy, clumsy with misunderstanding. It would be hard to get used to.
Snape noticed, yet said nothing. He didn't want to get into a fight about something so trivial, yet monumental, as his name. It would come, in time.
He finished the potion, then they left. Once again, Severus offered to port-key, but Sameth refused.
"You will have to get used to it, eventually, you know. The Dark Lord uses Portkeys during the training of those who cannot yet apparate."
Sameth responded. "Then teach me how to apparate. Wouldn't I, given my background already know how? He stressed the word background, remembering that most of what Dumbledore had told him had been regarding his background, both as a pureblood, and a Snape.
"Perhaps you should learn how. It is true that this is a skill that people like the Malfoy's and Parkinson's would have learned early in life."
Sameth made a face. "Draco and Pansy? I had almost forgot about them."
"Well, don't. Draco is very intelligent, and just as cold-blooded about muggles as his father is. He will be watching you this year, and, it would be best to make friends with him, before enemies. I'd put money on the fact that already he knows of you, and has been told to record your every move. Lucius is a very suspicious man, especially since he broke free from Azkaban."
Sameth was shocked. He'd forgotten all about that, hearing only bits and pieces of the story since he'd been trapped at his muggle relations all summer long.
"Besides, out of the two," the elder Snape continued, "Draco presents the most danger to you."
The younger boy nodded. "Well, then, what should I know about him, to protect me from his watchful eyes?"
"For one thing, do not insult his pride. He is very old-fashioned in his beliefs, and his faiths root strongly in his family's blood.
Do not insult his family, either. He has grown up nearly worshipping his father, let alone Voldemort, and his mother has been there for him during some particularly bad experiences, and he has always been close to her.
One more thing, although do not tell anyone you know, especially Malfoy, is that Draco and Pasny are engaged. Both families have prided themselves on their pureblood, and now, the pureblooded families have dwindled. They have been betrothed since before Pansy, the younger of the two, was born."
Sameth made a careful note of this information. Then, he followed his father into the fireplace, and into the Owl Emporium.
Inside, he immediately almost gagged, from the smell of so many owls in cramped corners, and the heat.
There were, as he remembered, flocks of owls, all caged up, some were looking around, some flapping their wings, but most were asleep.
He followed Severus down the isles, examining all the birds.
He would mutter as he passed ones, "too small, too common, too lazy".
They reached the front of the store, where an attendant asked them if he could help them.
"We are looking for a very reliable, smart bird." Severus hissed at him. "Only the best."
He was menacing, really. Sameth had spent so much time around the new, nicer version of his Professor lately, that now, hearing him in his regular voice, was eerie.
"Well, we have some golden owls, very nice, and a good deal, too." The clerk steered them towards one end of the store.
"No, those are too untrustworthy. Do you have any ravens, perhaps?
"Ravens? Those are very rare, sir, and expensive. But, if you'd like, we might have one."
Sameth remembered the bird that had flown into his window, bearing the letter that carried the Snape seal. Must be another "family" thing, he thought. Actually, he'd never seen Snape's bird. He wondered if it had been the raven, or if that had been just a delivery bird.
The attendant led them into the back, where there were even more owls. The ones back here were different, though. There was a different selection, and some of them looked very rare.
In the corner, in a gold cage, stood a raven. The stately bird immediately looked at Sameth, when he approached, and he could feel a connection with the animal.
"I'll take it." he answered, before the clerk could even open his mouth.
Less than five minutes later, he was carrying the bird in its gold cage, along with some treats. He had ended up paying two galleons for it, a high price for a mail bird.
Snape wasn't exactly talkative as they made their way to the fireplace in the front of the store. In fact, he didn't say anything.
They Floo-ed back to Hogwarts, and immediately left each other's company, with a short good-bye. Harry went back to his room, deciding to study some more books, trying to find a name for the male raven.
Severus headed up to Dumbledore's office.
He entered, knocking on the door. Dumbledore waved him in, and they both sat down.
"Did everything go okay, Severus?"
"Yes, he accomplished the very stressful task of picking out a bird, Headmaster." the sarcasm was obvious, though not really directed towards anyone.
"Did you talk to Harry at all about his decision?"
"Yes, Sameth and I had a discussion."
"And he still thinks it is for the best?" Dumbledore pointedly ignored the changing of the boy's name.
"Yes, although it pains me to see him make the same mistake I made, although for many different reasons."
"I know, Severus. But, this is the only way where he can get the necessary tools to defeat Voldemort while still protecting himself."
The conversation continued thus, Severus finally conceding to the Headmaster's point of view, but still regretting that this turn of events was inevitable.
Remus, meanwhile, had spent the morning in the castle, writing letters and such. He had received a disturbing piece of new last night from some of the werewolves he had been trying to persuade to join Dumbledore's side.
Apparently, the Death Eaters were claiming that they had a cure for the lycanthropic, and hoards of Remus's associates were begging to join Voldemort.
The damage that they could deal to the other side was astounding. Remus had hurriedly tried to gather as much information as he could, but it was not working very well.
He would have to go to Dumbledore with this news.
He, himself, was tempted. The cure! No more Wolfsbane potion, no more pain and suffering, and loneliness. But, he just couldn't abandon everyone like that. Not while he could still help on this side.
And around the time Remus was heading to Dumbledore's office, which contained an angry Snape, and a triumphant Headmaster, Hermione Granger had received an owl.
Hedwig, instead of flying off as normal, had perched on her windowsill. Hermione hadn't really given this much thought, but rushed straight to Harry's letter. She was shocked, but not terribly so.
She, being the intelligent person that she was, expected something like this to happen. Of course Harry would need to be trained more thoroughly than Hogwarts could ever imagine. She expected him to be somewhere with Aurors, learning new curses and defense spells. She, however, hadn't expected there to be a loss of contact, and it made her sad.
This was the last letter she'd get from Harry, maybe until the war was over. She quickly gave Hedwig some water, and petted her. She wasn't one to talk to owls, but Hedwig didn't seem to mind.
Then, after the owl was rested, she sent a letter off to Ron, enclosing portions of the original letter. She also asked him if he wanted to meet her in Diagon Alley in a weeks time.
She sat down, after doing this, thinking. She really would miss one of her best friends this year.
Well, another chapter done. Sorry it took so long to get out. I just couldn't think of anything there, and this chapter might reflect that a little bit. Sorry if it's not very good.
But expect some more chapters soon, because I have a break for a little bit, so I'm hoping to get a chapter in on Wednesday, Friday, and maybe another one on Saturday or Sunday. But realize, that's 20,000 words in a week, and my muse may be running dry. If it doesn't die from dehydration completely, that is.
Let me know what you think. Or, if you don't want to review, you can always get me at Leuca_2007@hotmail.com. And, if you have a fic of your own that you'd want to be read and reviewed, let me know. I really enjoy reading stories written by people who I've had some form of contact from. I figure that I'd probably never otherwise get a chance to read these, because there are what, over 100,000 HP fanfic on this site, and I usually stick to Severitus Responses, or some Draco/ Ginny. But there are some really excellent stories out there, and I'd recommend this one to everyone-
My Name is Luna and I don't care, by BaYer04rulz. Plus, happy early birthday to her!
Thanks to-
Notorious-lisa
HecateDeMort
BaYer04rulz
Lillinfields
Jedi Buttercup
Badassgothicgirl
Kateril
Starange12106
The Vampire Story Hunter
Chompekitas
Lady shinigami2
Eriee
Maxx77
Kneh13
Xyverz
Hermionegreen
Andromeda Snape-Malfoy
Sarit halivana
Athenakitty
