Like Father, Like Son
Severus was embarrassed. There was no doubt that his little emotional outburst had caused tension between the father and son, and the comment that had been made before his departure would have made Sameth cringe.
They had been avoiding each other as much as possible in the two days that had passed. It was now August the 22nd. Remus was starting Sameth's training today, in the Room of Requirement. The full moon had just passed the night before, and the Wolfsbane potion had curbed the lycanthropic tendency for the werewolf, but he was still a little tired.
The training would be starting relatively easy. Remus would teach basic defense curses and moves, and then Severus would take over with offensive curses and destruction, then move onto dark magic, and finish up with the Unforgivables. The program that they had set up would last until September 24th and would take most of their free time until then. With school starting on the tenth, it would be difficult for the training to continue after then, but all had made a commitment to keep practicing in the Room of Requirement.
All were willing to get into this, though. It was for a good cause. Remus had lost all contact with his former alliances, whom all presumably turned to Voldemort.
So it was on the 22nd.
Sameth was awakened out of a much needed rest by Adai pecking him on his shoulder. The bird had become a familiar to him almost (and if not more) than Hedwig had been.
Getting up, Sameth threw on some old robes of his that were perfect for his training. They were musty, dug up from the bottom of his trunk, and covered in Potions stains. He had used them as a cloth when at the Dursleys when his potions began to over boil.
The potions stains made him remember his father. Things had been awkward between the two, but Sameth was not regretting what he had heard. His parents had loved each other, and him. It was like the perfect family that he had always imagined himself to have.
There was still the mandatory "Getting-to-Know Each Other" sessions required of him and Severus. Tonight, Sameth thought with a feeling of dread, would be the first one since the other night. Hopefully they could do something that required very little talking, and time could heal the embarrassment that both felt.
Grabbing his wand, Sameth left for the kitchens, hoping to get in a few bites to eat before his training began. He made his way to the fruit portrait and tickled the pear. With a little giggle the doorknob was there and Sameth was in the kitchens.
Dobby greeted him warmly.
"What can Dobby get for master, Sir Harry Potter?"
"Just some toast, Dobby. Listen, though, for a minute. School will be starting soon, and you can't call me Harry Potter anymore. It's dangerous if someone hears you."
Dobby's great big eyes opened wide, and he nodded, conspiratorially. Looking around, making sure no one was listening or even in the general area, he whispered.
"Yes, sir. But what can Dobby call sir, then?"
"I'm Sameth. Sameth Snape."
"Well, Sir Sameth, Dobby will go make your toast." With a bound, the strange servile creature was off.
Sameth went to sit down at a table, nearly hitting his shin on a stool in the dark room. It was too early for breakfast, so there would be no need for there to be any lights on.
Still cursing the bloody stool, Sameth sat down, and looked over his shoulder to see if he could make Dobby out in the paltry light.
"He's not coming yet." An unfamiliar voice to the side of him said.
Sameth was so startled he nearly hexed the air where the voice had came from. He whipped out his wand, and illuminated the whole room with a quick charm.
"Calm down, Sameth." There was no mistaking the voice this time. Severus Snape was sitting to the side of his son.
"Sorry, sir. You just frightened me, that's all."
"Are we back to the sir now? And turn off that light. It's much too early." Sameth's eyes didn't leave the floor.
"I am sorry about our last encounter. I shouldn't have been so open. It is a dangerous mistake to make." Severus's voice was heavy, thoughtful.
"It' s okay, Professor, really." Sameth was actually trying to comfort his father. "It was actually kind of nice to hear about my mum from someone who knew her so well."
"But I still shouldn't have. The emotions that brought back…," his voice faded off, then started anew, fresh and in the usual monotone sound. "It was a mistake. You should learn from it, too. Servants of my Lord do not share emotions other than hate with others."
Sameth nodded, but didn't respond. Neither of them spoke again until a few minutes had passed and Dobby brought Harry his food.
"Here Master Sameth's breakfast is, sir! Made for him by Dobby."
"Thank you, Dobby."
The elf left and Sameth began to eat. Severus was nursing a glass of coffee, and enjoying the silence, and the dark.
However, it was he that made the next stab at conversation.
"Are you going to your lessons with Lupin?"
Sameth nodded, swallowed and replied in the affirmative.
"Good. Make sure that he teaches the counter-curses to all major dark spells, excluding the Unforgivables. I want to deal with those myself."
Sameth was rather intrigued by this last bit and questioned it. "The Unforgivables, si.. Severus? Will I get to learn those?"
"Of course you will. It's mandatory knowledge of all my Lord's servants. Also, you will be subject to two out of the three." He didn't need to specify which would be left out.
"I've already been under them, though. The Imperious can be thrown off, and the Cruciatus can be withstood. I thought that there were no counter curses." This was comfortable lore with Sameth. He'd always been interested in the Unforgivables, because they were just that. To imagine the power needed to do any curse that would send the caster to life in Azkaban or worse.
"You've dealt with them, yes, but being told to jump around the room, or do back-flips or any other silly nonsense like that is nothing compared to what they can do. The more dangerous the suggestion, the more powerful the temptation is to do it. If someone is telling you to hold a wand to your head and Avada yourself, well, that is a hell of a lot harder to resist than acrobatics."
He took a sip of some coffee. He enjoyed it strong, unadulterated by sugars and sweeteners. The bitterness seemed too sweet to his taste, anyway.
"And, as for the Cruciatus? Yes it can be withstood, and its common Auror practice to know how. But still, time changes that. Once you've been under for over seven minutes, its nearly impossible to ever come back the same. You get weaker. The responses are slower. You can't fight it off.
Why else do you think that two of the Ministry's top Aurors are now sitting in St. Mungo's, unable to recognize old loved ones?
It's a powerful curse. Don't ever underestimate it."
Sameth took in a deep breath of air. Neville's parents. The power. He wondered how long that they had been under for, but didn't want to ask. Severus, almost sensing the question lingering in the shadowy air, answered.
"Over fifteen minutes."
Sameth had more questions. How did Severus know all this? Obviously, he'd been trained in the Dark Arts since before Sameth was born, but still. The accounts seemed to be too personal, not just textbook answers.
"Erm… Severus? Have you ever been under it?"
"Yes. As will you, Sameth. Which is why I'm going to try to teach you how to deal with the pain. Make it a part of you, embrace it. That's what the Ministry officials don't teach, can't teach. They don't know."
"How long have you been under?"
"Almost a half hour."
Standing, Severus sat down his mug, and with a nod at Sameth, left the kitchens. He had work to do. Sameth would figure out the lessons when they were taught. Now he had to go work with Lupin.
Sameth left the kitchens, and the eerie, detached mood that had set on him since his discussions with Severus left. He was eager to get into the training now. He wanted to prove himself to Remeus. After all, he still had the same powers, didn't he?
He made his way back up to the Room of Requirement. He was a few minutes early, but the room was already set up when he entered.
It was similar to the DA Headquarters, but different. There were bookshelves and a desk on the side of the room, and also a large cleared wooden dueling platform in the middle The walls were covered in charts with different dueling stances and potions ingredients and charms. On the opposite side of the classroom was a miniature potions lab complete with shelves of ingredients.
Harry settled down on the desk, looking around and reading the book titles. He was engrossed in the first chapter of An Animagus Transformation: Step by Step to Release the Inner Animal when Remus entered.
"Ah, everything looks set up nicely. Sameth, how are you?"
"I'm fine, Professor."
"Are you ready to begin?" Clapping his hands together, Remus looked about as eager to start this as Sameth felt.
"Yes, sir."
"Call me Remeus, or Moony. I'm not your professor yet, and sir is too formal."
"Okay, Remeus. You can call me Sam, if you want to."
"Nice to meet you, Sam." Offering his hand, the werewolf introduced himself.
"Now, what say we begin, eh?" The twinkle was back in his eyes, and there was a springing in his step that made him look much like a young schoolboy.
"Okay. Also, Severus wanted me to tell you that we should learn counter-curses to all major dark spells, except the Unforgivables. He wants to teach me those himself."
Remeus just smiled and nodded.
"That sounds fine, Sam. Now, lets start with some Charms work. I've been told that you have some good defenses, but what of your own offensive curses? For dueling, it cannot always work just to defend yourself. You must also bring your opponent down."
Sameth nodded, remembering his experiences in duels. They had all been against the Dark Lord. Well, there was that one against Malfoy, but that didn't really count. His best luck in fighting had always been to defend then flee.
"So, lets start with a basic Pain-Transferring charm. It combines the ease of a Switching spell with a healing spell, taking whatever pain you or any other chosen person is physically suffering from, and transfers it to the recipient. Now, the wand movement is the same as for a Switching Spell, but recite the words "dolore trasferimento" at the same time."
Sameth practiced this charm for a few minutes, until he was quite sure of his abilities to use it in an open battle.
"Ready?" Lupin asked. He had been watching the teen quickly grasp both the concept and the spell itself. The boy had a natural talent for these sort of things. It was a trait of his mothers that was not usually seen in the boy.
Sameth nodded, and stepped onto the wooden platform. He chose a friendly duel stance, usually used to settle spats and arguments betweens good pals. Remeus chose the same one, and began to hex.
He first chose a simple squeezing spell that if not dealt with properly choked the recipient until they passed out, then it would stop. However, as soon as Sameth became too uncomfortable in the tight hug of the curse, he flicked his wand and muttered the words.
Instantaneously, he felt better, and Remeus could feel the advancing effects of the curse. The good thing about this particular pain transferring spell was that it didn't just remove the spell and transfer that, but it duplicated the pain spells effects and sent those along, removing the spell altogether. In this way, only two simultaneous cast blocking spells could remove it.
So, Remeus quickly broke the spell on him, and switched positions on Sameth. First to see if the boy could avoid the spell altogether, and then to see if he could remove the pain spell he had originally cast.
Sameth chose a heat torture spell. It was rather advanced for him, but he performed it admirably, better than Remeus could himself.
Remeus successfully threw it onto Sameth, who used an ice shield charm around himself along with a blocking spell. The two combined were able to destroy the spell, so Sam was never under it.
Remeus was surprised that the boy had managed to do it, but quickly returned another volley of pain. Both continued going back and forth dueling, and both managed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. However, Sameth always managed to keep that new charm in the back of his head, and finally, when Remeus had sent a particularly nasty festering skin hex at him, he had the particularly good opportunity.
He sent it back at him with his new charm. Remeus had forgotten all about the lesson and was expecting Sam to block it. Just when he thought he'd beaten his opponent, the charm came back at him, and his epidermis felt as if it were on fire.
He fell backwards with the unexpected pain. Sam walked over, confiscated his wand, and removed the curse.
"Congratulations" the werewolf said as he was being pulled up.
"For what? All I did was use the charm." Sameth questioned.
"Yes, but you let my defenses fall first. You do know how to duel. It's another trait from your father."
Sameth's face remained stoic, but his mood and attitude changed greatly. He felt wonderful, the same feeling of confused uncertainty and joy that had overcome him when, in a torrent of emotion, Severus had called him son.
He was like his father.
Severus, meanwhile, was going through his plans on how to teach Sameth the blocking abilities for the Unforgivables. In less than a week, his lessons with the boy would start, and it was imperative that Sam knew what to expect with the Dark Lord before other students arrived at Hogwarts. Particularly Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini, whose identities were already known as future Death Eaters.
All of these students of his were joining. Despite the fact that he was a spy for Dumbledore, Severus felt some connection to his young Slytherins. After all, he was their head of house.
Not for the first time since the announcement about Sameth's sorting did Severus wonder what house his son would be in. Of course, the hat might stick by its original decision, and Gryffindor would receive their first Death Eater in the generation. Or, Ravenclaw. Many ancestors of Severus's had been Ravenclaw's and the intelligence of his family had undoubtedly passed on to his son.
Hufflepuff was out of the question. No one took a Hufflepuff seriously, even if they were a Death Eater. Despite their loyalty traits, they were too bloody stupid to ever be truly great. Also, the house was plagued by being friends and all good to one another. No traitors in their midst, or if there were, they were few and far between.
Which left Slytherin. It was, of course, a fairly obvious choice. Severus had been a Slytherin, he was even Head of Slytherin. Sameth would be a Death Eater, and would be considered "dark" enough to join in. Plus, there would be the bonus of being able to cozy up to Malfoy and his group, become one of the regulars. That would help in the long run.
Severus sighed. This morning he had seen some of the curiosity and yearning for knowledge in his son's eyes that reflected upon his own youth. Sam had wanted to know about the Unforgivables. Soon, he would be able to do them, and would eventually be practicing on humans.
Severus remembered his own first kill. It had been many, many years ago. It was before he had even started Hogwarts. Yet, the image had stayed with him.
A muggle boy, no older than Severus, locked up in the family dungeon. Severus spent so much of his youth down there. No wonder he was so comfortable in the Slytherin rooms, with the stony décor and cold interior.
Severus's father had called him down one day, torn him away from his reading. He gave Severus the practice wand that was unblockable by the Ministry. Then, he had told Severus to torture the muggle.
Severus, young and full of the new taught hate for all things non-magical, had leapt at the chance. He couldn't remember what hexes and curses he used, but they were strong and painful. The muggle hadn't lasted even a minute before crying. The image had shocked Severus, who hadn't cried since he was a baby.
"See, my son. The muggles are all weak, stupid, useless. Kill him now!" Sameth, Severus's father had yelled at him.
Severus hoped to god that his son wouldn't be like his namesake.
Severus took the wand in his hand like he had practiced, calmly spoken the words he had learnt, and imagined all his hate and desires for the muggle to die. The green light, flowing out. Such a powerful day! He felt as though he was the king of the world. Killing always gave him a power rush.
The boy, for one second, knowing what was to come, but too late to do anything. He just stood there and took the light. Took the death that Severus and fate alike had dealt him.
The power rush was far from his last.
Severus wondered who Sameth's first kill would be. Would he enjoy it as much has he had?
But, Sameth wasn't dark. He was doing this for the light, and the good, and all the things that he could help. He wouldn't be seduced by the power.
But, even as he was planning, Severus made sure to save the Killing Curse for last, using first the Imperious, and then the Cruciatus. Small, baby steps. One a day. Learn in the morning, practice in the afternoon. Essays at night.
It was time for a lunch break. Sameth and Remeus had called for a house-elf to bring them up some sandwiches and pumpkin juice. Both were exhausted. Other than the pain transferal spell, Sam had learned nearly an entire months worth of NEWT level work. All he had conquered.
"What book were you looking at when I came in this morning?" Remeus asked, wonderingly.
"Some Animagus instruction book. I thought it looked interesting." Sameth kept his tone normal. He had wanted to be an Animagus ever since he learnt such an animal existed.
"Would you like to know what animal you'd turn into?" Remeus asked?
"Can I?" Sameth couldn't wait.
"Sure. It's a fairly simple spell. Wizards who want to learn to become an Animagus use it to determine if they think they should be."
"Why wouldn't they want to?"
"Well," Remeus began "Imagine that you were a spy, or a person with a lot of secrets. Perhaps you'd like to become an Animagus to be able to sneak around better. But then, you perform the spell, and realize you would be turning into a polar bear! It wouldn't work easily at all."
Sameth nodded. It made sense.
"So everyone has just one animal that they turn into?" He asked.
"Yes. It's similar to a reflection of your true personality."
"Like Peter was a rat?"
Remeus nodded. "Yes. There is a reason why rats are associated with being dirty and disliked."
"Will you perform the spell on me?" Sameth asked.
"Yes. But would you want to become an Animagus?"
"That depends on the animal."
"Very well."
Remeus pulled out his wand and tapped Sam's shoulder twice.
"verities esposizione" He whispered.
There as a glowing in the air, as a great burst of silver cloud formed together and turned into different body parts. Sameth looked up above his head where the creature was forming.
A silky, middle-sized green and golden snake was hanging in midair, and all traces of the cloud had disappeared.
"Finite Incantatum!" The animal flew back into a cloud and then disappeared.
"No! I can't be a snake! What about all the bloody Slytherin's? They're nothing but Death Eaters and traitors? I can't be like them!" Sameth was furious with himself. How could his own personality be that of a snakes.
Even Remeus was shocked. But then again, why should he be? Severus was a Slytherin, and Sameth was very similar to the Dark Lord, who was also a Slytherin/ half snake. It did make sense in an twisted way.
But still. The Golden-Boy! Harry Potter! The epitome of good itself! He couldn't be a snake.
"It's okay, Sameth." He tried to reassure the panicking boy.
"Sameth the Snake! I wonder what precious Harry Potter's animal form would be? Probably a lion, or a stag, or something heroic and majestic."
But you aren't Harry Potter anymore, are you? A voice in Sameth's head rang out.
Sameth could deal with being a snake. It might even come in handy.
Sam was brought back to the present.
"Sorry Remeus," he said to the quiet man standing beside him, hand on his shoulder. "I guess I just freaked out a bit there."
"It's okay." then
"Do you want to be an Animagus?"
Sameth thought a bit. It would come in handy, and besides, he could already speak Parseltongue.
"Yes."
"Good! I helped all the Marauders become Animagus's, and if Peter could learn how to, you can too. But there is simply not enough time in your training. We'd have to wait until later in the year."
Sameth nodded. "That's fine."
They finished their sandwiches and then started working on advanced transfiguration. Sameth had almost been able to turn a book into a clock at the end of the last year, but he seemed to be having difficulties grasping it. He wished he could just go brew some potions that was nice and easy.
Remeus noticed the boys struggle, too. Thinking over it, he realized it was probably because he had lost James Potter's talent for the subject.
The days continued on like that. Harry would work in both the morning and afternoon with Remeus, dueling, learning, and applying. The only things he did not cover were Potions and the Unforgivables. Those would be covered much more in depth in only a few days time.
By the first of September, Hermione Granger was ready to leave the Muggle world for the Magical one. She was leaving today to go stay with Ron and Ginny, both of whom were her good friends. She had owled Ron about Harry's letter, and they had both agreed it was quite mysterious.
Ron couldn't help but feeling jealous. Of course Harry got to go train, to do something special for the war. He was the one who would save the whole world, after all. Ron just wished that he could have gone along and learnt some new things. He wasn't completely worthless, after all.
But such things compared to seeing Hermione. He had missed her this summer, and the Burrow seemed quiet now that the twins were gone, and most of his family were staying at Grimmauld Place. Ron wasn't old enough to go and so he and Ginny were left alone at the Burrow with their parents.
Besides, he'd always had a bit of a thing for his bushy-haired friend, and couldn't wait to see how she'd changed over the summer. He'd gotten even taller, and was eager to show off his newly found Quidditch playing abilities.
Ginny, too was anxious to get some flying in. If Harry wouldn't be there at school this year, that meant that Gryffindor was down a Seeker. After how she'd done last year, maybe if she worked hard enough she'd be put in.
Hermione stepped out of the car in front of the Burrow. Her parents had dropped her off, but felt rather unwilling to go inside. Not that they didn't like the Weasleys, but Arthur had always succeed at making them feel uncomfortable, and they didn't want to explain some of the more recent Muggle technology to him.
So with a happy heart Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had a reunion. They spent their days flying in the clearing, and just having a fun time with each other. Harry's presence was missed, but Ron almost found that he enjoyed being the main attention for once. Not that Harry always looked for the spotlight, of course.
Then, one day, the trio (Ron, Hermione, and Ginny) had decided to go to Diagon Alley to buy their school supplies. Hermione had some Muggle money that needed to be changed, so they headed towards Gringotts. Ron and Ginny had been given their money by their father, who could afford to give them a little more a piece now that the twins were self sufficient.
So the three hit all major stores, getting robes, parchment and quills, and, of course, books. Hermione spent nearly all her money in Flourish and Blotts, oohing and ahhing over the new course books. It was obvious that she'd have read and memorized them in less than twenty-four hours, but she was too thrilled to notice Ron and Ginny making fun of her love of the written word behind her back.
They enjoyed an ice-cream cone, and just sat in the sun watching all the passerby's. They didn't see anyone from school that they knew, although Ron did see an ugly old lady he thought reminded him of Goyle.
Meanwhile, that day at Hogwarts had been Sameth's first with Severus. They had started in the morning by brewing some advanced potions that Severus had assured him would be in the years coursework. After all, getting such an excellent grade in Potions would naturally mean that he would be in the advanced classes. And, from the way that he was working with the potions, it wouldn't be too hard for him to handle.
The afternoon began with a quick testing of the potion. Then, onto the Imperious.
Severus gave Sameth a waiver to sign. Although not legal (due to the fact that the signer might already be under the Imperious), if the courts found out that a person was placed under an Unforgivable, they were more lenient if the person did it willingly.
So, for the purposes of education, Sameth signed. He stood alone on the platform, Severus watching him from the desk.
He didn't even see the Potion's master take his wand out before he felt the clearing of the head, the wonderful oblivion. Then, the voice.
Spin in a circle.
"I will not!"
Hit yourself.
There was some hesitation. Then-
No!
Strangle yourself.
Sameth felt his hands and arms move to his throat. Obey the voice, stay in the oblivious, wonderful world around him.
He regained control of his body movements. This time, he didn't even say anything, just forced his arms downwards.
He came out of the void. Opening eyes he didn't realize were closed, he looked up and saw Severus stand in front of him.
"Pretty good. You did follow some instructions, though."
"Like what?" Sam cried out indignantly. He didn't follow any instructions.
"Your eyes were shut."
"So? I probably did that myself."
"You couldn't have. Not under the Imperious. Don't you understand, boy? Under the curse every movement you make is controlled by me. I told you to close the eyes at the same time I told you to strange yourself. Good for you, you chose to stop the greater of the two. Once you get good enough at resisting, you will be able to stop all of them."
"But- I didn't even hear the command!"
"You blocked it out. Try again."
So the afternoon pressed on, with Sameth alternating being placed under the Imperious, then awaking to find something changed about him.
Sometimes it was subtle, like the angle of a foot. Other times, it was obvious that Sameth had done magic to himself, on account of he was pretty sure that his skin hadn't been tinged blue and green before he was under the curse.
As the day went on, he got better. Soon he could at least hear, if not disobey, every command.
Severus wanted to add another slot to Sameth's day, and begin Animagus training. As soon as he had found out what animal his son would transfer into, he was sure that he had a Slytherin son. He was rather proud, actually. His own Animagus form had ended up being a poisonous frog.
He wasn't sure what that said about his personality.
The days went on.
Sameth learned more about the dark sides of things than he ever wanted to know. It had gotten to be so much that he had just ended up spending the "getting-to-know-you" times with Severus studying.
His ability to withstand the Cruciatus was improving. His last clocking had been at over five minutes. The white-hot pain. He had come to enjoy it, find it as a way to escape the conformity of it all. Sameth liked the pain.
Learning the history behind it was also fascinating. Such a malice there was in the world that created spells and hexes for torture and pain. How many ways were there to turn good into evil. To corrupt, to destroy.
He was still working on the Killing Curse. Sameth just couldn't seem to summon enough hate to actually kill something. He managed spiders alright, those were easy. But he hadn't even been able to kill a cat, even after hours of practice.
Severus was getting exasperated. If the boy couldn't kill a cat, how could he be expected to kill a human being? Much less some poor innocent muggle or mudblood standing before him. It would take a lot of time before he could be expected to do it.
Unfortunately, there was not much time left. Severus and Sameth were studying the dark curses and counter spells, potions and several charms. Sameth had gotten to be excellent at dueling, and could even defeat Severus if he tried hard enough. Which was quite some compliment, considering that Severus had known more dark magic before entering Hogwarts than most fully initiated Death Eaters.
Severus also studied the pureblooded history with Sameth. It was something every pureblood who took pride in their history (unlike the Weasleys) learned at a very young age, and there was a lot of it. Sameth was expected to know how many generations back he had been a pureblood. Fortunately, the Snape's kept excellent records, and Sameth found out that he himself was a twenty-sixth generation pureblood. That was three past the Malfoy's. The most the Ministry required as a definition to be pureblooded was three.
Voldemort himself only wanted there to be at least a ten generation pureblooded line in every family. It reminded Sameth, however, as ironic that the great Dark Lord didn't even meet the requirements needed to be classified by the Ministry as a pureblood.
But other than the family history, there was also a lot of other things to learn. There were traditions and practices that were very medieval, kept alive only by the certain sect of purebloods. Sameth would recited the list of these every night, to make sure they would not be forgotten.
Before too long, it was the morning of the tenth of September. Harry had one last morning training session with Severus, then he was to stay in his room the rest of the day.
It didn't want to seem to obvious if Sameth arrived at the same time the majority of the Wizarding world found out about Harry Potter's disappearance.
He would stay quiet, only traveling out around with the Invisibility cloak on. He was welcome to sit in on any classes of his, but would not turn in any work or cause any harm. All these rules were laid down by the Headmaster, in order to prove safe.
Then, after a week or so, then Sameth would officially arrive, be welcomed, sorted, and begin classes. It was unusual, but it would raise less eyebrows. Fake papers had been made, transferring him from Durmstrang, and Sameth had read some histories of his former school, just in case anyone had any questions.
As for Quidditch, he was welcome to try out for his new houses' (whatever that would be) team. His broom had been traded in for a newer one, with the Firebolt bringing in such a good price that Sameth only had to pay a surplus of 100 galleons for his new broom. It was silver, sleek, a wonder to fly with.
Sameth regularly practiced his Quidditch skills at night, under the supervision of Madame Hooch, who loved watching the beautiful broom in action. She was so fond of the broom, she nearly had a heart attack when Sameth let her ride it. After all, a Snape being nice?
So, finally, it was the day the students arrived.
Sameth was under his cloak, waiting in the entrance hall. He couldn't wait to see his friends, although he was rather depressed that they couldn't see him, or that when they did, they wouldn't recognize him.
He had fully transformed into Sameth Snape. His nose was the same as his fathers, his eyes a dark brown, his hair black. It was only greasy, however, when he was making Potions for too long, leaning his hair over the boiling substances.
Although he was the son of Severus, he was actually decent looking. Without the scar, he didn't mind not being Harry Potter anymore. He did enjoy being a new person. A chance to start fresh, if you like.
He watched under the cloaks as the second through seventh years were brought in and sat at their tables. The sorting began, next, with a somewhat smaller class than normal. Sameth guessed everyone was afraid of the war, and loathe to send their children away.
However, there were no recognizable faces among the first years. Some names were the same, as younger siblings joined the school. There was a new Parkinson, as well as a younger Finnigan. Seamus's brother was sorted into Hufflepuff, and the Parkinson went into Slytherin.
Harry watched Ron, Hermione, and Ginny joke and talk amongst themselves at the feast. He didn't seem to even be missed. He was jealous, wishing he could be sitting in his regular spot that Ginny had so graciously taken over in his absence.
Before too long, the sorting was over, and Dumbledore had made the traditional announcements. Welcoming Remeus back as the Defense
Against Dark Art Professor met with the most enthusiastic applause any of the Professors had gotten. Well, excluding the news of Lockharts decision to leave, that is. Dumbledore then stood up with an extra announcement.
"It is my regret to inform you that a student of ours will no longer be attending the school. Harry Potter, who would be a sixth year Gryffindor, has left, due to some… ah, business. We kindly await his return, although at this time we are not quite sure when it will be."
He sat down, and the food appeared. For a minute, most of the school couldn't speak. A year without Harry Potter?
Sameth, who was standing closer to the tables, could hear snatches of conversations.
"I wonder if that means You-Know-Who got him?"
"I bet he's off fighting against Death Eaters!"
"Who'll be our Seeker now?"
The last one was from the collected Gryffindor table. It made Sameth a little angry. Good to know that they would miss him, anyways.
He wandered around for awhile, then went up to his room. Sitting there stroking Adai's feathers, he felt lonely. Deciding that he'd better study if he was going to make a Intoxication Potion during Severus's free period tomorrow, he hit the books.
Sam spent the rest of the week in isolation except from Severus, Remeus and Dumbledore. He threw himself into his work with an unmatched vigor and zealousness that startled the professors.
If he worked hard enough, soon his week of exile would be over.
It was on a Saturday night that he would make his return. The days were being counted down, until, finally, the night of the feast had arrived.
Instead of wearing his cloak as normal, Sameth sat with Dumbledore at the Head table. Sitting next to him was the Sorting Hat and stool. Sameth felt more nervous than he had been at his original sorting.
Once the students were seated, Dumbledore stood up.
"I have a announcement to make. Don't worry, those of you who wish to eat and then hurry back to your common rooms to study, it won't take long.
We have a new student. He's a late arrival from Durmstrang, and will be sorted into his house tonight, and then will join the sixth years in their studies."
The audience all gaped at Sameth. Several girls could be heard giggling, and it took a few moments from Dumbledore to keep things straightened out.
"Those of you who have been here before may recognize his face. Sameth here," he said, gesturing to the boy, "is the son of our Potions Master, Professor Snape."
If the audience was loud before, then now they were chaos. Snape had actually had sex with a woman? The revelation was shattering. Severus, of course, just watched the events unfold. He didn't really care.
"So, Sameth Snape, please be sorted."
Sameth stood up, and placed the hat on his head. Similar to the first time he had been in this situation, the crowd was all craning their heads, trying to get a peek at him.
"Ah, Mr. Snape. Good to see you again."
"You knew the first time, didn't you? That's why you said I should be in Slytherin."
"I said you should be in Slytherin because you could be great in there. I still stand by it. I judge you, Mr. Snape, not your family."
"So, anything changed?"
"Yes, Mr. Snape. You are more trusting, eager to be where you will benefit the most. Intelligence is incredibly strong, Ravenclaw has always been a definite option. However, you would not be happy there. Too quiet, too studious. You are brave and have plenty of courage, also. Good, good. That's not changed. You could still make an excellent Gryffindor."
"Which one, then?" Sameth was impatient.
"What's your hurry? I believe you already know where you should go. At least you aren't against it this time."
"So, I'm going to be a" Sameth thought, just as the hat yelled out
"SLYTHERIN"
There was some cheers and applause from the Slytherin table, but the rest of the hall stood silent. Not that any of them were really surprised. They were just still bowed over by the fact that Snape had had sex. With a partner.
Sameth walked over to the table, after replacing the hat back on the stool. Severus smiled a bit at him, not noticeably enough to be detected by the crowd.
He sat down in an empty seat between Blaise Zabini and Goyle. On the other side of Goyle was Draco Malfoy. Neither of the boys noticed, but Severus was closely watching the events that transpired between the two.
"Goyle, switch seats with Snape." Malfoy ordered. "I want to talk with the newest Slytherin."
Goyle obliged, as did Sameth. He didn't want to start out on any Malfoy's bad side. He'd heard how close Lucius was to Voldemort, and if Sameth wanted to get on the good side of his future Dark Lord, then he'd make friends with Malfoy.
"So, Sameth, was it?"
"Sameth Snape." Sameth offered a hand, which Malfoy shook.
"I'm Draco Malfoy."
"I've heard about you." Sameth said. "From my father."
"And? What has he said?"
"You're probably one of the best Potions students he has. He knows your father, too. Says he has the 'right' kind of ideas."
"Oh, does he?" Malfoy got a look in his eye.
"Yes."
"And, you, Sameth. What do you think of my father's ideas?"
"I'd have to agree with him. They are the right sort of ideas. And, from the looks of it, I'm not the only one. I guess we'll find out in eight."
Sameth was being fairly obvious about letting Malfoy know where his loyalties lay. The "eight" comment would be easily figured out by anyone who knew what would happen in eight days, and that, of course, would be the beginning initiation of the new Death Eaters.
Malfoy just smirked. "I think we will be getting along this year, Sameth. You do seem to have the right ideas."
All around the table, the Slytherins nodded, or the ones who knew what would happen anyway. Zabini, Goyle, and Crabbe all shook his hand and introduced themselves as well. Malfoy also introduced Pansy Parkinson, who had changed so much (for the better) over the summer that Sam didn't even recognize her.
Sameth settled into the table, and hoped to God he could play this one right. This was what he'd been training for, and what he would still continue training for.
Meanwhile, the Gryffindor table was talking about the newest member at Hogwarts, too.
"Of course he'd be a Slytherin, after his father and everything." Ron was grumbling. He didn't like the idea of having two Snapes with him now.
"I don't know, he's over there acting all buddy-buddy with Malfoy," Hermione observed. "He probably already knew what house he'd be in."
"I just wish Harry were here, to help us deal with them." Ron pointed out.
Agreement was echoed around the table. Somehow, Gryffindor wasn't the same without their star.
"Although," Ginny entered the conversation, "Snape is kinda hot."
At the horrified glances around her, she specified "Sameth, you twits." This comment was meet with a disgusted look by Ron, and agreement by many of the girls at the table.
The Head table was abuzz, too. Several of the professors who hadn't been at school over the summer congratulated Severus on his son's arrival and placement. They were all thinking the same thing, though.
"What kind of trouble will this mean for this year?"
Severus was proud of Sam. He would make a good Slytherin, and not just to fool the Death Eaters. He was cunning, sly, and ambitious. It might work out, after all.
Right. Well, another chapter. This one's a bit longer than the others, that's to make up for the delay.
I know making Sam a Slytherin is something that's been done and done again. But, it really is necessary in order to make all these connections. I won't have things be easy for one of our favorite Snapes, though, don't worry. Next chapter will include classes beginning, and may have some Quidditch in it.
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