Suicide Solution.

Notes: this is a Severitus Challenge, go to www.geocities.com\challengefics\thechallenge.htm To find out the 'rules' for a Severitus Challenge piece.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that is recognisably harry potter-ish, and the Severitus challenge-ness belongs to the writer Severitus, userid=123967

Summary: A Severitus challenge, [Snape is Harry's father] Story begins at 11.59pm on July 30th. It's the summer before Harry's 6th year, and Harry's changing . . . (A Dark Harry fic)

Chapter 22

"Good morning class" Remus greeted the 6th years happily

"Good morning professor" most replied

Tanathos had got back to his bed at about 3 am and fell asleep immediately. He was then woken up at 6 am feeling really hungry, so he had headed down to breakfast early, ate, and then promptly fell asleep at the table. Only to be woken again by Hedwig pecking his ear to because she had delivered a letter to him.

It was from Hermione.

Dear Harry,
I'm sorry that I used Hedwig without permission but I couldn't find you
last night after the feast. I just wanted to tell you that I miss you, and I'm sorry for running off like I did at that place in august. But Harry you scared me, so yeah, I'm
really sorry.
I admit that I did not like what you did to Kretcher, even if he did deserve it, but what upset's me most is not the fact that you killed him, or the fact that you entered Diagon alley on your own. But the fact that
you were laughing at the pain you were putting Kretcher through.
That was why I ran. Harry please can we be friends again? I miss you so much. If not can we at least talk face to face? Just us, your attitude's completely changed, you're acting so Slytherin-y, and I know that you've been using Dark Arts. I can tell by your aura, and your eyes. Did you know that the Dark Arts open up your soul and your mind to attacks? They do, the
Dark Arts are an addictive drug, and once you start you can't stop. So
please try and stop using them! I don't want to lose you!
Please go back to being the Old-Harry. Go back to yourself. Please.

Love Hermione. Xxx.

Her letter was still in his pocket. Waiting to read again, or to be burnt, Tanathos didn't know. But it was there, waiting.

"Today we will be going over the effects of different types of arts."

'Merlin I'm tired, why did I agree to go to that party?' Tanathos yawned loudly and a few of the class members laughed. Remus looked enquiringly at him, with an eyebrow raised.

"Sorry Re-Professor, I didn't get much sleep last night" He said spotting the look Remus was sending to him.

Remus frowned slightly

"Okay then, but try to reframe from distracting the rest of the class and do try to stay awake, this is an important lesson."

"Yes s-s-s [yawn] sir" he replied

"Right, yes can any one tell me any different types of art?" he asked the class, as usual Hermione's hand shot into the air, as did both of the two Ravenclaws and Draco's hand.

"Hermione?" Remus said giving her permission to speak

"There are many different types of Art within the Magic Spectra."

She began, sounding once again like she had swallowed the textbook.

'Shit I'm so bloody tired! I want to go to bed!' he whined to himself resting his chin on his folded arms on top of his desk.

'Not used to the late night, aye?' Blaise asked him, laughing lightly, teasingly 'I thought you Gryffindor's were party people'

'Fuck you. I need sleep!' he shot back mentally, clearly annoyed

"There's the Light arts, which is used mostly, and what we learn here at Hogwarts."

'No shit' Tanathos said to himself

"Then there's the Dark arts, which is used by Vol - you-know-who and his Death Eaters"

Most of the classed had flinched slightly as Hermione almost said Voldemort's name

'Stupid scared twats' Tanathos thought bitterly.

"When used they open both your soul and your mind and are very addictive. There's also the Silver arts,"

Tanathos sat up 'Silver arts?'

"Which was used by Merlin and other people of the same amount of power. The Silver arts can only be used by incredibly strong witches or wizards. And finally the Earth arts, which is the type of magic used to construct Hogwarts when it was first founded." Remus smiled at her

"Correct. 20 points to Gryffindor."

'Yay for us.' Tanathos said sarcastically, once again resting his head on his arms, with his eyes half closed from sleep.

"Hermione however has missed an art, it is not very well known. Does anyone know it?" hermione was looking crestfallen at not knowing all the arts. Draco's hand was still in the air.

"Draco?" Remus acknowledged him

"Miss Granger, correctly described three of the arts that she mentioned, but she missed the Ancient art. Which has not been used in over 500 years. The Ancient art uses not only the victim's - sorry 'caster's' - magic but also their life force. This of course makes the magic more powerful, but like the Dark arts, is very addictive, and if used to much and with out limitation's it can drain the life force out of caster. The caster however does not die."

"What happens to them?" a Hufflepuff who had been in the DA the year before asked Draco breathlessly. He smirked at her before answering

"They become Dementor's."

He replied simply. The Hufflepuff gasped

'Susan Bones! That's her name! Haha go me!' Tanathos chanted to himself after remembering the girl's name.

"Correct. 15 points to Slytherin" Remus said from behind his desk. Draco raised his hand again,

"Is there something you wish to add to your previous statement Draco?" he asked him

"No, it's something I wish to add to Miss Granger's statement."

"Go ahead"

"Granger is right in saying that the Dark arts are addictive and that they open your mind and soul to attack but that is not all."

The entire classes attention was no focused on Draco, Tanathos was still leaning on his desk, but he was listening intently to every word that was being said.

"By using the Dark arts you absorb a part of them into yourself. They also mark your aura and your eyes, by checking them is a quick way to decipher if someone has been using Dark arts, but it is not always reliable. Nonetheless for someone like he-who-must-not-be-named who has used them so much that he has become morphed by them. No longer looking like he did 52 years ago, when he graduated from Hogwarts." Those that did not know that Voldemort had attended Hogwarts gasped again, ignoring them Draco continued

"If one uses the Dark arts on a day to day basis over a very long period of time they too will be changed by them. However if one does not use them in great amounts then they will only affect the way your think and that of course affects the way you act. For instance"

He turned to face Tanathos, who met his gaze and stared back

'Does he know?' he thought to himself curiously

"Mr Potter, has not been acting himself lately. He has not been seen at any time with Weasley or Granger since the start of the year, but he has been instead with Blaise. Now I'm not saying that he has been using Dark arts, as Potter never would, but it is a perfect example of what could happen if someone was. They would have disagreements with their long-time friends and in turn, turn to new ones. But like I said, it is highly unlikely the Potter would even consider using the Dark arts. His friendship split was just an example."

Draco finished speaking and Tanathos continued to stare into Draco's cold steel eyes.

"Yes well thank you Draco for that rather insightful into the affects of the Dark arts. 10 points to Slytherin."

Tanathos looked away from Draco and faced the front of the class again. No longer tired, but awake with fear of what Draco had said.

'If he noticed, then surely others may too. Even Dumbledore, wait Dumbledore knows anyway Ron and Ginny would have told him. Speaking of which I need to talk to Ginny, ask her about what she was doing at that party. No wait I can't then she'll know that I was there!' he growled to himself in annoyance, hitting the side of his head with his left fist

'This is all so confusing; perhaps Tanathos could talk to her? No that wouldn't work, she wouldn't tell someone she didn't know. Unless I tell Ginny what's happened?' He began to drum his fingers on the desk

'No Sn-father would never agree to that, and she might tell Ron or Hermione. Ah for Merlin's sake this is once bloody confusing year! And it's only November! God I hate my life.' He stopped drumming his fingers and propped his arm on the table and leant his chin on his palm

'Maybe Harry can just die in some horrible accident and then Tanathos can join the year instead!?' he grinned to himself, then that grin faded

'No that won't work; I'll look to much like father to be able to pull that off. What if oh I don't know, what if he tell' s the Dark lord that his long lost son has just transferred to Hogwarts from somewhere?' his eyes lit up and he smiled again

'Yeah that might work. I'll ask him after class, I've got to talk to him anyway.'

"HARRY!" Tanathos jumped

"Huh what?" he looked up as he heard his name. The classroom was empting; he looked towards the door and saw that most of the class was still leaving.

"What?" he asked again

Remus scowled at him, "You weren't even listening to me! Or the class! Harry something's up." He walked over to the door and shut it after the last student had left. He pointed his wand at the door and muttered "Locoom. Secretus"

Tanathos nodded, "locked and warded, what ever you're 'bout to say to me you don't want over heard" he was wide-awake again now.

"What's going on Harry? Draco was right when he mentioned how what's happened to you so far this year leans towards exactly how a person acts when using the Dark arts."

Tanathos raised an eyebrow "What are you suggesting Remus?" he asked coldly

Remus sat down in front of Tanathos

"Have you?" he asked quietly

"Have I what?" Tanathos asked sharply

"Been using the Dark arts?"

Tanathos stood and walked over to the window, where the cream curtains hung loosely, blowing in a non-existent breeze. He looked out over the grounds and answered Remus slowly

"I have been having private tutoring, yes"

"In the Dark arts?" Remus asked quickly

Still looking out of the window he replied, "In what the purebloods learn growing up."

"Why?" Remus asked his favourite student

Tanathos turned to him and moved away from the window and stood half in the shadow

"Because I was gonna use it to defeat the Dark lord"

"Was?" Remus questioned "You're not going to use it against him anymore?"

Tanathos stayed silent

"And since when do you say 'Dark lord'?" Remus asked him as he stood up from the desk

Tanathos shrugged "dunno, just have been, must be something to do with hanging out with Blaise"

"Why are you with him now? What about Ron and hermione?" his tone was concerned and curious

Tanathos' anger was beginning to flare

"Because they both left me!" he almost shouted

"They had good reason too!" Remus shot back "You scared them! And you scared me!"

Tanathos turned to face Remus, and moved towards him slowly

"Scared them! Scared them? I gave them a small taste of what they will be seeing in this war! They will have to get used to it!" he hissed, now standing only a few feet away from Remus

"You didn't have to show them then! They could have seen it later! And in some other way!"

"Listen, we don't know when the Dark lord is going to attack Hogwarts, if he ever does." Tanathos was speaking dangerously quietly now "It could be tomorrow, it could be in a few months it could be never! But if they saw torture from a Death Eater the first time they would be so scared that they would be useless in battle, now they know a little of what to expect"

"So you did it to help them then? You killed Kretcher to help them learn?" Remus enquired

"I killed Kretcher because he deserved to die!" Tanathos hissed back before dismantling the wards and unlocking the door. As he passed his desk he picked up his bag and made for the door. At the doorframe he heard Remus' voice speak to him

"We'll continue this another time Harry."

Tanathos turned to his once friend and teacher before replying coldly

"No we wont. Good day professor." And he left the classroom and stalked down to the dungeons, to talk with his father.

~S~

"I don't care if you don't understand the process of de-liquidfication of the four main types of Mandragora sap! Hogwarts does have a library, so go use it!"

Tanathos could hear his fathers voice before he had even reached the corridor with his classroom and office in. Just as he stepped into it a very scared looking 4th year Hufflepuff ran passed him and bolted up the stairs. Smirking slightly Tanathos moved towards the door and knocked

"Findus, didn't I just say go to the library!" he shouted as he opened the door "Ah, hello Tanathos come in." he stepped aside and allowed Tanathos to enter his office. He shut, locked and warded the door again, before turning to his father, who was now sitting behind his desk.

Tanathos glanced around; it hadn't changed much since his last visit in his third year. The walls were still lined with various potions, jars and cauldrons, though there were once again a few more. The stone floor had acquired some new patches of colour on them from fallen potions or blood, or both and the five candles were the only light. One in each corner of the room and one on the stone desk. Where Severus sat.

"Admiring the scenery?" he asked lightly, Tanathos turned to face him and scowled before he dropped into the chair in front of his desk.

"No, just seeing if it had changed much since '93" he replied

Snape raised an eyebrow "Has it?"

Tanathos nodded "There are a few more stains on the floor and more 'things' in the jars, but that's about it." He shrugged, "I didn't come here to inspect your office I came here for answers father and I intend to get them."

He glared at his father, who scowled back

"Fine, what do you want to know?"

"Everything. But we have to start somewhere so how about; if you knew I was yours when I was born what would you have called me?"

Severus looked somewhat shocked at the question, though he answered almost immediately

"Cercis Malus Snape"

Tanathos nodded and whispered the name to himself to get the feel of it, "Cercis Malus Snape. I like it."

"Yes, " Snape began "It is a lovely name, to bad you'll never use it"

Tanathos locked eyes with his father and answered with an evil grin on his face

"Oh no, you see in DADA I had an idea about how I could become Cercis"

Severus raised an eyebrow "Oh? And what of Harry Potter, he can't just die can he?"

"Oh but he can." Severus looked inquiringly at his son, who continued to tell his 'plan-to-rid-the-world-of-harry-potter-and-become-the-man-he- really-is'

"Harry Potter can be attacked by some Death eaters, namely you and a few others, and he dies in the fight, his body is never found seeing as he was attacked with Aboleo and his body is obliterated. A few days later you tell the Dark Lord that your son, that you didn't know you had, has transferred from somewhere to Hogwarts."

Snape was thinking the plan over "You will have to go through a lot of pain in that plan you know" he pointed out

"I know, but pain is pain. It can be dealt with. So what do you think about my PTRT-WHO-PAB-TMHRI?"

"Your what?" Severus asked confused

"My Plan-to-rid-the-world-of-harry-potter-and-become-the-man-he-really-is"

Severus looked at his son

"Isn't that a bit long?" he asked, astonished

Tanathos thought then smiled brightly "Hey I'll shorten it to 'Plan-to- become-me'"

Severus smirked "that's better. Now is there anything else you want to know? We can go back over the plan later."

"Why didn't you tell me my mum was in Slytherin?"

"I thought you knew?"

Tanathos shook his head

"Well how did you find out then?"

"Blaise" he replied simply "Okay next question; why didn't anyone tell me that aunt petunia was a witch?"

Severus blinked

"Because that would of told you that your whole life was a lie"

"My whole life has been a lie anyway, and so has most of my time here!"

"It was Dumbledore's idea"

Tanathos rolled his eyes "Oh of course, I should have guessed that the wonderful Dumbledore would be the reason why. Why did he vouch for you?"

"To try and get me to act as a spy for him"

"But you didn't"

Severus looked into his son's eyes

"No I didn't. I assume you know where my true loyalties lie?"

"Of course I do"

"And?" Severus challenged

"And what?" Tanathos snarled back

"And what are you going to do about it?"

"If you think that I'm going to grass you in to Dumbledore or Remus or anyone then you're clearly wrong" he replied slyly.

"Why not?"

"Because, I don't work for Dumbledore anymore"

"You don't?" Severus asked curiously "Why not?"

"Because" he began leaning forward on his chair "He has tried to run my life since I was only a year old. He has lied to me, fooled me, played me as a pawn in his battle and basically not let me be myself in fear of what I could become, in fear in what I have become."

"And what is that?"

Tanathos smirked at his father "Your son." Severus stayed silent, in shock. "Now, why don't you tell me your reasons for joining the Dark lord?"

Severus linked his hands together and leant them on the desk.

"Why do you want to know?"

Tanathos shrugged and replied off handily "Because depending on what they are, I may re-think my decision on my out-look on him"

Severus was staring at his son "You want to join the Dark lord?"

Tanathos shrugged again "I don't know about join, but if you convince me then I may rethink my ideals about opposing him." He relaxed back into his chair "So tell me father, why did you join the big-bad Dark lord?"

"I agree with his ideals"

"Which are?"

"To make the wizarding world belong to the wizards again."

"So you mean, like Salazar wanted. Only allowing purebloods to come to Hogwarts, and no muggle-borns?"

"No, he's fine with that. He just wants the wizarding world not to socialise with the muggles at all."

Tanathos raised his eyebrows "That's it? But what about the whole 'him- hating-mudbloods-and-muggles' business?"

"I think he hates the muggles because of how they treated him."

"And the muggle borns?"

"I think, for the same reason"

"So why do you agree with him? Weren't you raised by a wizarding family?"

Severus shook his head "No, I was muggle-raised, just like yourself."

Tanathos leaned forward "Really? Why?"

"My parents were killed when I was 5"

"Ouch. Who by?"

"Dumbledore"

"What!" Tanathos shouted "When?! Why?!"

"They were followers of Grindelwald" he replied simply

"And Dumbledore is famous for defeating him . . ." Tanathos began

" . . . And most of his followers." Severus finished "Though it did take him about 15 years to catch them." He said smugly. Tanathos smiled briefly at his father, who returned it. Then silence fell between the two remaining Snape's, as both were lost in their thoughts.

~S~

AN: Ack! Over 3,000 words! Hope you like it! Sorry it's taken me so long to get up, but my pathetic brother has been on the pc ALL week! Stupid idiot, grr I'd like to use Crucio on him!

Oh the spell 'Locoom' is mine and means 'lock' for those who didn't figure it out. 'Secretus' is from Blood magic, though the incantation is same the meaning is slightly different, I hope gateway girl doesn't mind me using it but it is hers [sorry but it's such a good spell!] so go read her story!

If there were any more question s you [the readers] wanted asked leave a review and I'll try and get them answered either in the story or in an AN.

Now to review replies!

Savage Damsel: Cool, a Gryff. Slytherin's are the best tho [soz but we are :P] yeah I agree with you, there is a difference between dark harry and evil harry fics. Hope this chapter kept you on your toes too!!

Xikum: I hope Severus didn't hide anything back, because if he did Tanathos will attack him and that wont be very pretty. But yeah, I decided on talking too, it makes it easy to get points across.

Shattered Diamond: Yay you updated too! I managed to get over my snag, I hope you found this chapter interesting and not boring!

Terra4: you were right I didn't get to the point of wanting to slap my characters [or at least I hope I didn't!] Apparently Slyths are not the only ones reading this! There's a gryff too! Yeah, I was re-considering a kind of challenge thing, but wasn't sure what on. Maybe about JKR's books, or bout my own story or both. *shrugs* I don't know.

SiriusWolf: Inter-house is where there's like a competition between the different houses of the readers. Eg, I am in Slytherin as is Terra4 and a lot of my other readers,

So yeah . . . um cant think of anything else to say

Oh I know!

Thanks to everyone else who reviewed! I love you all!!!

Keep reading and reviewing!

LS