My Father's Shadow

Chapter Thirteen

Two is Company

Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, and Severus Snape made themselves comfortable in the Headmaster's office in an uncomfortable silence. Neither boy had uttered a word all throughout breakfast or in fact all morning. And Severus, not one for small talk, hadn't broken the quiet. The only break in the stillness had been when Severus had informed them of this meeting with Dumbledore.

Now the Headmaster cleared his throat. Regarding the three men in front of him with some degree of trepidation. "I have made arrangements in regards to your apprenticeship. I have filed it with the ministry and received approval."

Draco shifted in his seat tat this but Harry didn't move a muscle. Severus merely nodded his head and motioned for Dumbledore to continue.

"I have found capable masters for both of you. Draco I believe Severus would be the most capable to handle your apprenticeship. He is a Potions Mater after all and has undergone apprenticeship himself."

Severus snotred. "I can speak for myself you know Albus." Then he addressed Draco. "I am willing to train you but it will be quite difficult. You must obey me without question and you must be willing to learn."

Draco looked deep into his godfather's eyes. "I am," he answered solemnly. Sevrus nodded his consent and Dumbledore clapped his hands.

"Good, good. Now Mr. Snape I have found a master for you as well. They too have completed apprenticeship and though you have never met I believe you will find yourselves compatible."

Harry waited for more information but none seemed forthcoming. "And this person's name would be..."

"Akasha," a voice answered as the headmaster's door swung open. "Akasha Snape-Black."

Harry started at the surnames and looked at the woman carefully. She had the raven black hair that seemed to be a trait of the Snape family. However hers was devoid of grease and fell instead in tight curls to her waist. She was thin and tall and her skin was pearly white. And just as Snape was oddly foreign in appearance so was she, causing Harry to ponder his origins. Hard black pupils stared out of crescent shaped eyes, giving her an almost Asian appearance, save for her height.

It was Severus who spoke first surprisingly. "Always had to make an entrance Akasha, didn't you?"

"But of course Severus, couldn't have anyone show me up. Of course, I have to hand it to you. Procuring a son after fifteen years of celibacy is certainly not a feat that I could accomplish."

Harry was stung, but his father shook the jibe off quickly. "But of course not. Your husband escaped into the peace of death without ever having had to produce a child with the likes of you."

"Ah, but you forget little puppy that your master was the one to kill Regulus in the first place," Akasha's eyes were burning with hatred.

Harry had lost the trail of conversation but started at the sound of Sirius' brother's name. "You were married to Regulus?"

His question caused the adult's conversation-or rather quarrel- to halt abruptly. Akasha turned to him.

"Why yes, yes I was. And before you ask, yes, Severus is most unfortunately my brother."

Harry blinked at that. But before he could say anything moreDumbledore took advantage of the lull in conversation.

"Harry, Akasha here has accepted the position of your master for the duration of your apprenticeship. She is a fully qualified Auror- though unfortunately an unpracticing one- as well as an unspeakable..."

Akasha cut him off. "I'm capable of speaking for myself Albus." Harry snorted inwardly at hering the repetition of his father's earlier statement. The siblings were more alike then they knew.

Akasha turned and talked to Harry directly. "I will be your master on the terms that you are obedient to me-and if you are not there will be punishment- and that you have the capacity for what I will teach you. I warn you now that I have a fiery temper and small amounts of patience. I have been informed that you would not like to be an apprentice and I can tell you right now that I do not care. You will be one and you will accept the terms and rules I set before you. Is that understood?"

"I will not participate in this program," Harry said. "It is my life and I have a choice. And I say absolutely not."

"I did not ask whether or not you were willing. I asked you if you understood my terms. I'm afraid you have no choice in the regards to your participation."

Dumbledore broke in. "Well I'm sure you can discuss terms some other time. As it is I need you all to sign these papers. Draco, Severus if you would sign first?" He pushed a paper towards them.

Akasha started at the sound of Draco's name, as if realizing for the first time he was there. "Draco! I couldn't believe it when I heard the news.!"

Draco blushed. "Hello Aunt Akasha."

"I paid your father a visit you know. Miserable bastard, disowning you for no apparent reason."

"I'm surprised he's still breathing."

"Only because those two goons Crabbe and Goyle would have been present as witnesses."

Harry's jaw was hanging open in surprise at the easy conversation that passed from his nemesis to his aunt. "Do you know each other?" he asked stupidly.

Draco rolled his eyes. "She's my godmother Potter."

"Oh," Harry replied and wondered about his own godmother whom he had never heard the name of.

There was silence as Severus and Fraco leaned over the parchment and then only the scratch of their quills as they signed their names. Then with a flick of the wrist, Dumbledore banished the parchment and another appeared in its place. He gestured to Harry and Akasha.

Unhappily Harry looked it over and found his mouth open in abject horror. It was a binding contract. He stepped back.

"I won't sign this. I can't believe you thought I would."

"Harry," Dumbledore said. "We want you to do this yourself, but if you refuse, the signature of your guardian will be sufficient."

Harry's eyes grew cold. "Do as you wish. You've demonstrated that I have no option regardless. I'm leaving now."

With a speed that would have made any seeker proud, Harry fled the room. With a great sigh Dumbledore handed the quill to Severus and Severus signed in his son's place.

When Harry fled the Headmaster's office he ran until he found himself in the First Corridor girls bathroom. A recent run in between Moaning Myrtle and Filch had left the bathroom in a state of disarray, leaving multiple mirrors broken or otherwise demolished. Harry picked up a piece of glass and tore it across his skin, savoring the self-induced pain.

Diablo hissed discontented but Harry didn't notice as the snake left the room seeking assistance.

'What do you want snake?' Akasha hissed at the snake as ssoon as he entered the room. She was unpacking her belongings in the rooms she had been given and didn't turn around as the snake answered her.

'I've something you should see.'

'And why should anything you would like to show be of interest to me? I have little patience with you snake.'

'Speak no harsh words Akasha. I offred you my dark presence and you refused me. As for your parseltongue speaking abilities? I have told no one.'

'I am assuming it is with the boy that you make your presence now known?' Akasha snapped.

'He has the same potential as you. The same gifts. The silver blood of Slazar Slytherin runs as strongly in his veins as yours.'

Akasha sighed in what seemed to be regret. 'Then he too has the same dark curse.'

'You simply misunderstand the heirlooms of your lineage. You and the boy are the strongest of Slytherin's remaining descendents. You have the gifts-the parseltongue, the telepathy-same as he.'

'No one of Salazar Slytherin's bloodline has ever found love or contentment. These so called gifts are but a dark curse.'

Diablo hissed angrily. 'You pity yourself your own shortcomings. You blame your lack of success, of peace on something else in order to protect yourself from the truth. That it is yourself which prevents you from finding love and contentment.'

'I simply pity the boy. Living in a world that loves him, yet only seeks to use him. A boy 'born with the powers to vanquish the dark lord' who will find his powers are not what they seem. And part of a family who's members show no love, who have forgotten how to love.'

'This boy is different. He feels, he breathes he loves, he hates, he has the ability to soften even your hardened heart.'

Akasha snorted. 'That was because he grew up a pampered prince by muggles who worshipped the ground he walked on. Soon he will find the same discontent and cold apathy as the rest of those with Slytherin blood.'

Diablo hissed. 'No, this boy is not what he seems. This boy is different. Come I have something to show you.'

Akasha looked at him. 'Very well. But it had best be quick. I have not yet had time to shout at Severus.'

Striding in whit Diablo upon her shoulder, Akasha fixed her hard black eyes on her nephew's face, catching his look of stricken surprise her eyes slid down to the arm soaking with blood.

"Shit," she breathed. And Harry flinched.

Alright, please review. We got 33 reviews last time, losing six reviews from this story's record. Lol. I'm not really upset. The reviews I do get are always quality reviews from quality reviewers. TigerLily Padfoot and Scarlet Snow just to name a few. Thanks and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Ps. Sorry about the Ginny's full name thing, just try to ignore that and at some point I'll try to go back and fix it.