The day passed far too quickly and he soon found himself walking back up to Hogwarts. He found himself wondering idly whether the news would have already spread of him being Voldemort's heir in the form of hastily written letters sent by parents and older siblings informing them of last night's revelations.
He didn't have to wait long as no sooner was he back in the common room the one place where he could openly show his mark without repercussions. He was immediately surrounded by eager young faces asking what it was like, clamoring to see where he'd been marked. His dorm mates Mulciber, Avery, Rosier and Wilkes soon shoved them aside to get the best seats while the older students who had already been marked lounged nearby watching the proceedings with feigned indifference. He was bombarded with a million questions before his friends got tired of waiting.
"Come on Snape, are you going to show it us or what?" one asked impatiently.
"Alright, Mulciber patience, patience" he said enjoying it more than he expected and reveling in the suspense, he glance around the assembled faces before slowly rolling up his sleeve, revealing the ugly mark that impressed them so. There were gasps of shock, awe and envy, people whistled in approval, and voices clamoring, asking a million and one questions "what was he like?" "did it hurt?" "were you scared?"
His friends exchanged cunning looks knowing that they'd soon be able to boast their own marks, even the older students surreptitiously leaned in for a glance. He patiently answered them all before turning in claiming that he was tired.
The next morning was even more interesting. He got up, ready early as usual to avoid the crowds, and was already eating in the great hall as the post owls started arriving. Today he noted there were a particularly large number flying over the Slytherin table, he smiled imagining the news they would be conveying, and kept his eyes focused on his bowl and his book as numerous students opened the letters that had just been delivered.
Stunned silence started across the table as people read through their letters in shock and conversation tailed off as the parchment was shared across the table. He ignored them as hushed whispers and excited murmurs started flitting back and forth, and the appraising glances he was getting from the older student. He wondered how long it would take before someone was brave enough to start the questioning.
Eventually, someone was brave enough to break the silence "so Snape is it true? Are you really you know" he looked around before continuing in a hushed whisper, "his son?" a flurry of voices joined in a similar vein, all keen to know.
He sat back stretching leisurely enjoying the attention "that appeared to be the gist of it or so I was informed at least" he said smoothly smirking and stretching out his hand so they could see a flash of the ring with the snake and skull on it.
Everyone leaned forward with gasps of awe at the sight of the truly unique and impressive ring and people murmuring to each other. The older students were looking at him appraisingly as though seeing him in a new light as were his dorm mates who appeared to be recovering from the shock and after glaring at him were now whispering between themselves and grinning evilly, while the younger Black was giving him a thoughtful and calculating look as though reassessing him.
This would change things he thought as they all bombarded him with a million questions such as how long he'd known and what the Dark Lord was like. There was a distinct pecking order in Slytherin house a mixture of blood status and those who were cunning and ruthless enough to climb and push their way to the top.
Being the son of the Dark Lord certainly changed things in that regard and he was well aware that the majority of Slytherin house would no longer be seeing him as the poor penniless half-blood but as a future leader with power and influence, he anticipated that there would be a lot of people kissing up to him and trying to get in his good graces.
Whilst their groveling and over the top displays disgusted him, as did the reasons for it he would gladly accept his change in fortune if it meant that he wasn't being treated like something they scraped off their shoes.
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