"Wait!" Nikolas called and the Gryffindor paused. "I need to talk to you." He said as he lead the other away, only stopping when he was sure they were far from the Great Hall. "I'm going to tell you something…everything, but you must swear not to tell a soul."
"Alright…" Came a shaky reply. "I swear."
Chapter 10"I'm sorry, I know this must be confusing Hermione. I just had to talk to you." He started, and as he stared at his friend he tried to imagine how she was feeling. Surely she must be confused, of course, considering she was just dragged off by a Slytherin – even if they had met before.
"It is a bit confusing. What do you want to tell me though?" She questioned. She had calmed quickly and looked at him with curiosity. Nikolas looked up though, ignoring her for a moment. He had an unusual feeling, though he recognized the feeling he could quite place what it was. Then Dumbledore appeared from around the corner and it hit him, but he said nothing.
"Ah, there you are Nikolas. Hello Miss Granger, I believe young Ronald was looking for you." The elderly man said with a smile. Hermione nodded. "And Nikolas, could you come with me?" Nikolas did all he could to mask the scowl that began to creep onto his face as the headmaster spoke. He was beginning to like the old man less and less; especially after the realization of what he had been doing since he arrived at this school 6 years ago. Nikolas followed Dumbledore nonetheless; walking to the office he had visited many a time while here at Hogwarts.
"Harry, I know I've told you this already. You mustn't tell them the truth. You shouldn't even talk to them. We don't need anyone getting suspicious about you. It's bad enough as it is with you having attacked members of your own house." Albus scolded as he took a seat at his desk.
"So I should have gone along with Draco and the others, and cursed Ginny then? Is that what your telling me to do?" Nikolas asked, throwing himself into a chair with a dark look. "Because if you want me to do things like that I'll drop the charade right now. I will not do that to my friends."
"Of course I'm not saying that. I simply mean that you can't draw attention to yourself. This is for your own safety." Dumbledore said, staring intently at Nikolas. "If you need to talk to someone, I'm always here. Is there anything you need to talk to me about?" Nikolas shook his head, throwing up another shield to hide his thoughts from the prying headmaster. Now that he was skilled in occlumency he could tell when someone was trying to search through his thoughts, no matter how discrete they were. Nikolas remembered the familiar sensation of Dumbledore picking through his thoughts or memories as he pleased, though until this year he didn't pay any mind to the feeling. Now he blocked his feelings successfully.
"No, headmaster. I'm fine, even if I dislike this entire plan of yours. Now I have homework to do. So if you don't mind I'm going to go now, but I do have one request first and I assure you it is reasonable." Nikolas stated, walking to the door and casting a sidelong glance at the headmaster who nodded. " Stay out of my head. My thoughts are private and not for you to read as if it were a book." Nikolas scowled and left, leaving quickly should the headmaster decide to call him back.
The dark teenager walked to the Slytherin dorms and quickly slid into bed. Nyx's movement around his neck slightly comforting, knowing that he was at least safe while he slept.
Nikolas awoke early the next day. He offered a quiet good morning to Nyx as he stood, the serpent just hissing softly in return. Nikolas wasted no time in getting dressed; he pulled on a simple pair of black pants and shirt before grabbing his broom and going outside. Seeing as it was the weekend he didn't have to wear the school robes for which he was thankful because they could get in the way while he was flying. He made his way to the Quidditch pitch quickly and found that he was just in time for the Slytherin try-outs. He stepped forward and signed a small sheet then waited to be called.
"Nikolas Snape!"
Nikolas stepped forward as a few others flew into the sky. As soon as he lifted into the air all his troubles seemed to melt away with the breeze. Flying made him feel free. Nothing mattered except for the hoop at the far end of the field and the small red ball he had just captured from another player. He soared around the field wildly; throwing the ball past the keeper a few times, chasing after someone who had taken the quaffle, demonstrating some of his flying skills for the line of Slytherins below who were to decide if he should be on the team. Finally he finished and dropped to the ground again. An announcement was made and Nikolas smiled to himself when he heard his name.
"Nikolas Snape – Chaser!"
"I'm surprised. I expected you to go out for seeker." Nikolas looked up at the potions master and shook his head.
"I need to play Quidditch, it's the only time I actually feel free…. But I won't betray my true house and friends like that." The younger Snape stated as he started to walk off.
"The headmaster told me what you said to him. How you recognized when he was searching through your mind… Good job." Severus followed beside him. " Also I wanted to tell you something."
"What?" Nikolas stopped as he caught sight of the headmaster leaving his office and going towards the school. He then turned and walked towards the forest with Severus still beside him.
"That when I said I couldn't have you as a son…. You took it all wrong." He said, the younger looking up at him curiously. " Look at me. I am far from the ideal father figure. I think almost every student in this school despises me. I said you couldn't be my son because I don't know how to be a father." Nikolas looked up at the other man in surprise.
"Well, I'll let you in on something. I'm not sure how to be a son either." Nikolas replied. He stared at the potions master and noticed the subtle differences. Though Nikolas wouldn't venture so far as to say he was nice, the potions master was at least kinder then he had been. He hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I'm willing to give it a try if you are." Nikolas said quietly. Severus nodded and smiled ever so slightly.
"Alright… But don't expect any leniency from me. You still have to do your work, and this doesn't mean you may break the rules as you see fit." The professor said sternly. Nikolas couldn't help but laugh a little as he nodded.
"Well, don't expect a close father-son bond anytime soon either. I still dislike you for everything you've put me through since first year." Nikolas said.
"You deserved most of it." Snape commented as he walked away, a smirk playing on his lips. Nikolas rolled his eyes and left as well, lying in the grass by the lake. Thoughts of Dumbledore pushed aside as he wanted to remain in his currently good mood.
Nikolas was still in a good mood as he entered the great hall for supper. He saw the headmaster watch him but didn't care. He sat beside Blaise and laughed with the boy, he was even surprised to find one of the Slytherin girls flirting with him as they waited for their food.
"As you all know," Dumbledore started as he stood. "We are going to have a Halloween ball in a matter of days. I would like you to all dress in costume, but the professors and myself thought it would be fun as well as help with the relationship between houses if you all came with a date from a house other then your own. With that said; tuck in!" The food appeared, as magnificent and tasty as always. Nikolas looked to Draco with a slight smirk.
"Hey Draco! I bet you I can find a date before you." He challenged. The blond stared at him for a moment with a look to say 'as if.'
"Not likely. I could have any girl here." The young Malfoy retorted with a smug grin.
"Care to prove it?" By now most of the students around them were listening in. Nikolas spun around in his seat.
"Anytime." Came Draco's reply.
"Right here, right now. First one to come back to the table with their date wins." Nikolas grinned as Draco stood and nodded. It wasn't surprising to find him heading over to the Ravenclaw table, but some looked a bit surprised when Nikolas crossed the Great Hall and stopped at the Gryffindor table. Ron looked up at Nikolas curiously but the Slytherin paid him no mind.
"Ginny." He said and the startled redhead turned around and looked at him. 'Yes?' was her quiet reply. He smiled and with a flick of his wand held out a flower to her. "Join me as my date to the Halloween Ball?" She looked shocked, as did every other Gryffindor around, and her face quickly grew as red as her hair but she nodded nonetheless even if she did seem unsure about it.
"A-alright." She smiled slightly and took the flower."Thank you. Come with me for a minute please?" He held out an arm and Ginny cast a glance to Hermione before hesitantly sliding her arm in his and walking to the Slytherin table with him. "Blaise, this is Ginny Weasley. She is going to be my date for the Halloween Ball." Nikolas told the brown haired boy. The staff seemed to be watching the strange scene. Blaise shook her hand and nodded as Draco stepped forward with a girl from Ravenclaw. He cursed quietly.
"Seems you were wrong." Nikolas said with a smirk.
"Only because you picked the easiest girl here. The youngest weasel would be lucky if anyone asked her to the ball." Draco scowled, obviously a sore loser. "The only plus she has going for her is that she is pure blood."
"I don't think so…She is pretty, brave, smart, and she isn't afraid of your two goons. I saw she has a lot going for her." Nikolas said, casting a sidelong glance to Crabbe and Goyle who hadn't heard him. "Thank you Ginny. I'll see you at the ball." He kissed the top of her hand and she smiled and went back to her seat, her face a shade of red he had never seen before. He chuckled and looked to Draco. "You're just a sore loser. " He commented as he began eating. He looked up to the staff table and saw his father eyeing him suspiciously.
Sorry it took so long!! Writers block. ;;
I hope you liked this chapter.
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