A/N: I realize I posted a chapter twice. It's rather hard to post properly when your mouse chooses when to work and when not to work. Anyway, apologies for that. Hope you all had/ are having safe and happy holidays! This is a pretty long chapter.. so get comfy. :)

They say freak
When you're singled out
The Red
Well it filters through
So lay down, the threat is real
When his sight goes red again
Seeing red again
Seeing red again

The Red- Chevelle

Come along, My beauty..

He saw tiny bones everywhere.

I know you are hungry, but you will feed sssoon.. sshe'ss coming..

"Snape.. Snape.. wake up.." Groaning. Loud people.. who the hell are they talking to anyhow? "Damon Snape, wake up, you will be late!" OH SHIT! That is me! Gotta get used to that name..

Damon had stayed up severely late. He had wandered around until dawn, thinking of what the day could and would bring. The morning was passing slowly, that he had decided to finally just try to sleep. Now it was.. well.. late.. and he still had to eat and get ready.

Damon changed in a hurry and sprinted down the halls with ease. Finally in the Great Hall's view, he walked. Everyone had become extremely silent when he entered. Staring at him. Damon was used to being stared at for being Harry Potter, but now it was not because he was famous, it was because he was the infamous Potions Master's son. To Damon, it was almost the same thing. It was not that he chose to become the one they turn their attention to. His parents did.

Walking through the Great Hall, he forced himself to not even bear a glance at the Gryffindor table. He walked up to the Slytherin table, and with grace, let himself sit down near who knows the hell they were. He took some toast, buttered it and glanced up at the Head Table. Seeing them all stare, except for Snape. He seemed in his own world, holding a goblet near his lips.

Damon looked down. It was one thing to become a different person to keep him alive. It was another to be that person for life. It was strange to feel that this is what life would have been like if he had grown up a Snape his whole life. Stared down, ignored, whispered about. It was enough to crack if you listened to it.

"Did you see his eyes last night?" I think everyone did.. Damon thought with anger. Expecting something to explode, he just continued to listen to the conversations.

"I bet he is possessed!" Would not doubt it..

"Wouldn't doubt it.. Snape? Everyone knows he's evil!" Damon just gave a snort picking up his goblet, placing it to his lips much like his father had.

"Whata freak!" He flinched, not taking a drink, and placed it down on the table.

It was not that he was not used to being called names. He was. It was that he was being judged without having done a single deed to be judged on. This bothered him. It bothered him because it reminded him of his childhood, all the kids who had called him a freak for surviving a car crash as a baby when his parents had not. It dawned onto him that his life at local schools would be mirrored at Hogwarts under his new name.

However, five years of being deemed a "freak" by his Aunt Petunia gave him some sort of balance. As a child, he would ignore the names; nothing could be done as Harry Potter, the boy with broken glasses, no parents.. Now he could do something. He could do something because he was a "freak" as his aunt had called him. He could do something because now.. he was Damon Snape.

He looked over the tables for the source, seeing Hufflepuffs minding their own business; heads down, avoiding any possible contact with other houses; Ravenclaws hurriedly eating; with reviewing whispers were heard softly; and the Gryffindors staring down at the Slytherin table. There, he heard on his own, the source speak.

"Look the freak is staring at us.. probably trying to make his eyes go red as we speak.." A loud whisper from Ron Weasley rang though his ears.

It hurt. It hurt to be judged by his so-called best friend. It hurt because after so many years of trials and tribulation, their friendship was gone because of who he was. If Harry had told Ron before he left who he truly was, this is what it'd be like. As Harry was gone, so was the close bond with Ron and the rest of the Weasleys.

Casting the worst glare he could master, he shot it at his old best friend.

Ron was snidely staring back at the boy, he then said shadily, "Look he's doing it! His eyes!"

Hermione half-defended Damon, "Oh Ron, just shut up! You've been in a bad mood ever since Harry left." With that, she stood up in a mood herself, and stomped out.

Of course, Hermione would give Damon some sort of chance for friendship. She understood people should not be judged on their families and their background because she was a muggle-born. She was judged to be inferior to any other witch or wizard; and because of that she was in danger. This reminded Damon that he could not become friends with Hermione, despite her willingness to try. He would danger himself and her.

Damon felt his anger over boiling. Still curious to why he had not exploded anything, he shot another glare at Weasley. It was like Ron to pick a fight with the son of the Potions Master, the one person Ron despised beyond anyone else. He clenched his fist on the table, and then heard, "Calm down, Damon.. anger can cause strokes."

Damon looked up to see Draco Malfoy. The blonde boy sat next to him. "Draco Malfoy.. your father may have mentioned me.."

Damon said, "Vaguely, yes."

Draco gave a glance to the Gryffindor table, "Weasley's having a hard time- what with being poor, ugly, and not getting laid. I feel sorry for the kid."

That comment just made Damon laugh. Surprisingly, the spontaneousness of the critisism had a good edge to the new Slytherin. Draco just smiled that the boy was laughing.

"Cool eyes, by the way." Draco said. "Freaked a hell of a lot of people out last night. You really made an impression here."

"Yea, well.."

"Top it off, your father has a reputation here, so you have got it made. You could be King of the Castle. If, of course, you meet the right people. I can show you the way, Damon.."

Damon remembered his first year. How Draco asked for friendship and Harry turned him down. Inside, Harry was screaming inside of Damon. 'Traitor. Rat. Liar. Evil'. But, none of it stopped Damon to take the extended hand the blonde boy gave.

Draco asked, "So, what courses are you taking then?"

"Seems your son has all ready found his place." Lupin said, leaning over at breakfast, as Severus stared at the two boys talking over things.

"He is no fool." Severus commented. "He knew he could not deny Draco without giving him a fair chance."

"Does he know that Draco is your Godson?" Lupin asked curiously.

"No, I do not believe he does..." Severus trailed thoughtfully. How ironic. The one person the boy rivaled has now become his friend because of who he is, when his old friends despise who he is now. Really, was there any difference in his personality? Severus then remembered, the boy had not come to get the other potion to get his traits back.

When the boys rose to get up, Severus got up and said, "Damon, a word?" Even the name felt awkward..

The boy walked over, as Draco stood idly, waiting. "Yes...?"

Severus lowered his voice, "The trait potion.. when will you be taking it? You have until tonight.."

The boy replied, "I am not."

This surprised him. Deciding not to question the boy's motive, he commented, "Your sorting was rather strange, wouldn't you say?" The boy met his gaze; he was trying to make conversation easier. "Almost a Gryffindor.. I would have been disappointed." He said slyly. He was secretly proud his son had become a Slytherin.

The boy then said, "I will come by tonight to take the potion." It was almost to spite what Severus had just said to the boy. He felt a strange feeling of hopelessness in the pit of his stomach. This meant time with his son, but it also meant he was going back to his old traits. Severus just did not want the boy to risk himself getting into old habits like stupid bravery. Before Severus could say anything more, the boy had left with his blonde house mate.

"What did your father want?" Draco asked curiously.

Damon shrugged, "Just wants to check in after dinner.. see how I am.. adjusting."

Draco nodded, "Just wait until Potions! It is great!" He then added, "Too bad Potter left, you would have loved the way that arrogant prat is placed in that class." Instead of commenting to defend himself, Damon forced a smile.

Draco and Damon had many of the same courses, except Draco had Divination after lunch, Damon had Care of Magical Creatures. "I don't know why you're taking Divination.. all a bunch of guess work I'd say." Damon said as they came from lunch.

Draco shrugged, "That what your father thinks? Or you?"

Damon replied, "Me."

Draco commented, "You wouldn't understand having never taken it."

Damon replied without thinking, "But I have!" Damon realized the mistake. He had been attending Durmstang. They did not teach Divination..

"Durmstang does not have Divination as a course selection." Draco said suspiciously.

Damon covered, "I know.. I took it homeschooled."

Draco rose his eyebrows and asked, "So, why do you think it's guess work?"

Damon replied with a smirk, "I do not have the 'inner eye, my child'."

Draco gave a chuckle, "That is what the old professor here would have said! She was a coot, but the new teacher here is pretty good- for a half breed.. but, then again.. Oh, never mind."

Damon inquired, "No, what? What is it?"

Draco shrugged, "I forgot where I was going with that." Then, headed off to his class.

Damon headed through halls after dinner, leaving Draco back in the common room to bully students to do his homework. It was strange to be around someone with so much power.

Now.. where should I go? His office or his rooms? Where would he be? Should have stuck around to make a time or set a place, but you were too occupied with your awkward feeling and to start the day..

Damon decided on his office. Harry usually would find Snape in his office before. Marking or doing something to do with work.

Damon was in front of the door and gave a knock. Waiting a moment, the door opened. He saw Snape, his dark emotionless eyes staring down his hooked nose, waiting. Their wasn't much a height difference anymore, but Damon still felt intimidated by the man, and slouched.

He said nothing, but let Damon in, closing the door behind them. Damon knew the drill. Sit down, be quiet, wait for instructions..

Snape pointed to the drought on the desk. "That will restore all your happy little Gryffindor traits."

Damon took it, holding it in his hands, looking at it as he asked, "The sorting last night.. that was not normal, was it?"

"No, it was not." Snape said firmly. "Nothing to be worried about. I did say there would be after-affects."

Damon took a sip of the potion. It was disgusting. It tasted like a cross between peppermint, week old socks and perhaps bacon. Snape noticed the disgust, but said nothing.

He then asked out of curiosity, "What did the hat say?"

Damon swallowed a mouthful and winced, "Well.. I think it got confused. It was saying that I was a Gryffindor... but then it said I should be a Slytherin because that is what it wanted to put me in before."

"That is proposterous! The potion would not fail!" Snape snapped. It wasn't as if Damon had insulted his potion making skills..

Damon shrugged, "Well, whatever, it did not put me in Gryffindor. That's what the potion was supposed to do." He swallowed the rest of the dosage.

Thankfully, Lupin came to Snape's and Damon's rescue when he came in. "Sorry to barge in, but Har-Damon. I just found out something very interesting."

Damon looked up at Remus Lupin with innocent eyes, "What is it, Professor?"

Lupin said, "You planned for your coach to crash so that I would be left with all of Sirius's belongings!"

Snape looked a little shocked. Damon replied, defending himself. "Hey, Professor Dumbledore planned that first part!"

"I do not care! You still planned! What about you, Harry- er Damon? How are you to support yourself after all this?"

Damon said, "Well, I still have the Potter family vault." He added, "And I am planning to be an Auror."

"Yes, but Auror training is expensive." Lupin replied. "And as long as Harry Potter is missing to the world, you have no access to the vault."

Snape intervened, "Perhaps after all this, Harry Potter will indeed be alive and well, and all the problems will be solved then." He was in a mood. Damon tried to read his mind, but as always, he was unreadable.

Lupin asked looking at the two and the potion, "What are you two doing?"

Snape answered, "He wanted some extra help on the potion we did today."

Damon reassured Lupin with a forced smile. Lupin asked, "Do you all ready have plenty of homework, Damon?"

Damon replied, "Not too much. Got some essay to do for Charms. No biggy."

Lupin then questioned, "And Quidditch?"

Damon's eyes lightened with excitement. He had not heard that word in a long time. It was music to his ears.

Snape replied, "The team is missing a keeper.." He leaned back in his chair.

Lupin replied, "Keeper? Harry's a seeker!"

Snape narrowed his eyes, "And Damon is a Keeper. If in that case, he chooses to try out."

Lupin opened his mouth to speak and contradict the Potions Master, as Damon mused, Lupin stopped himself from saying something stupid. Damon filled in the void, looking to the Potions Master. "I'll try out for Keeper."

Snape leaned back in his chair. "In that case.. we will have to be able to make room for practices and for Occumency."

God damnit.. I do not want him reading my mind, especially not now..

Lupin added, "And the space for meetings."

Snape gave a nod, staring at Damon. Damon felt uneasy with his eyes on him constantly, he looked away and asked to the room, "When will the first be?"

Silence. Damon looked up at his professor after a moment. The dark man hesitated then said, "He was expecting you after sorting.. yesterday." Damon did not need to know any more. He knew that his professor had been punished for his absence, but if he had known, he would have spared the pain because that was what his new role was. "I figured I would give you a day or two to adjust." He said with a shrug. How unlike him.. What is he up to? "The next meeting ought to be Friday. Give or take a day."

Lupin gave Severus a sympathetic look, and commented, "Well, I ought to do some marking! Perhaps you both should work on some Occumency if there is a meeting upcoming." He left with that. Damon secretly was glad. Being with Lupin and Snape after finding out this.. it was just.. weird. Hard to handle.

Snape asked, "Before we start, I have a few questions.."

Damon answered leaning back, looking in his eyes, not trying to show fear. "Fine." Deep down, Damon was terrified of what he would ask.

"Was there any more of your 'red eye'?"

"Nope." Damon lied quickly.

"Those dreams?"

"A few here and there, when I forget to clear my mind."

"So, you have been practising.." His voice trailed. "When was the last?"

Damon shrugged, "Last night."

Snape shifted, almost curious if Damon had saw him be punished for his disobedience. He then rose and got up. He touched the boy's shoulder and asked, "And do you get pain from this?" He remembered being around someone connected to the Dark Lord had gave him pain...

Damon looked at the hand on his shoulder, and it was pulled away. Damon just shook his head.

"All right.. let's begin, then."

Severus Snape thought back to the time in the office, and mused. Damon had shown much more improvement in occumency then he had expected. Particially, Severus figured, was due to the fact that Damon wanted to keep him from discovering his true thoughts about the whole situation. Severus was hoping he could access these, but he was unsuccessful.

It was Friday evening, and as he expected, he felt himself being called. He muttered the password to enter the Slytherin common room to find Draco and Damon. There they were, Pansy Parkinson playing with Damon's hair, cooing him. It was sickening. Before Damon was a Slytherin, this is what the site would be if it was just Draco. Draco himself looked pleased to not be in that situation anymore.

Draco noticed first that Severus was inside the common room, and told Pansy to bugger off. She pouted but did as told. Good girl. Severus thought, as if she was merely a pet. Draco then gave a nod into Severus's direction and the two boys rose.

As they walked down the hall to his office, he heard Draco ask Damon, "Nervous?"

Damon replied, "Not at all." You're not a Gryffindor anymore.. Severus tried to send to his mind. Quit the brave act.

Draco lounged in a chair as Damon stood. Severus tried to get into his head. And to his surprise, got in.

..At least you'll get it over with, keep Snape alive.. it's what they all want. Why the hell would he allow himself to get punished anyway? It's Snape for Merlin's sake! He enjoys putting me through tough times. Why wouldn't he want to pressure me to save himself pain? It is so out of character of him.. It'd be so much easier if he'd just act as he always did. At least I'd know what to expect.. why is he looking at me like that? It's like he's trying to read my.. shit.

Damon pushed him out and turned away.

Draco said cheerfully, "I haven't seen my father in quite some time!"

Severus pulled out the portkey and they left with that.

The room was dark, lit with only a few torches by the throne, which no one dared to look to in fear of being accused of disrespecting the Dark Lord. He kept a close eye on Damon, who was looking around at the Death Eaters. Severus noticed Damon's eyes fall onto Draco and Lucius.

They stood a meter apart, and talked as if they were business partners, not family. It was how it always was. The two were near identical except for Draco did not have the thin Malfoy lips.

Lucius came over, "Severus. Good to see you. And this must be the boy?" Severus just nodded, and received an odd look from Lucius. Lucius looked the boy down, with judging eyes. "Not what I expected."

"What did you expect?" Damon commented dryly.

"Ahh! He is exactly what I expected!" He gave a smirk to Severus. "Has your mouth." Severus noted the boy shift under the comment, he too felt awkward to be compared to him.

Draco was silent. He had been usually good for boasting about what he had accomplished, but now he was not the only child prodigy. And unfortunately, Damon soon would figure that out.

The Dark Lord, whom gathered himself together from the shadows, made his appearance apparent by pushing the energy forces in the room to the torches, making them go brighter. "Severus, come hither."

Severus did not think twice. Damon remain with the Malfoy men, rigid, listening intently.

"Any word about the Order?"

Severus bowed low, "Yes, my Lord, Dumbledore is recruiting the Salem forces."

"The Salem forces? So weak.." The Dark Lord commented to himself. The thought then bounced into his head, "Lucius! Is the District of Belgium ready to move?"

Lucius commented, "Almost, my Lord, they are ridding themselves of the low expectations."

"Excellent." He purred. "How many from Salem?" He asked, staring down Severus.

"Near one thousand." He said.

"Lucius, see if Germany is ready to stabilize."

"Yes, my Lord."

Severus was still on his knees, loathing his position. Wishing it would just be over. He knew Damon would ask one thousand questions. He knew that the Dark Lord was staring at the boy. Just call him over.

"Young Snape." He said finally. "Approach."

Severus did not move, he did not look back to see if the boy was coming, he knew he would. He heard the boy walk with light steps. He stood beside Severus.

"Damon Snape.. at last we meet." He hissed. "Bow. Has your Father taught you nothing?" The boy hesitated, wanting to comment, but instead fell to his knees. "Where have you been hiding, Damon Snape?"

Damon spoke clearly, "I have attended Durmstang until my Mother died."

"And how are you enjoying Hogwarts?"

"I loathe it." Damon said.

He then asked, "And what has your father told you about your.. gifts?"

Severus cursed himself mentally. He had not even mentioned the 'gifts'. He knew Damon was trying to think of something. Damon said, "Nothing."

"Severusss, I am disappointed. I would have thought a man of such loyalty, would be proud to tell his son he would extend normal magic range, and one day take your place in the circle." He hissed. "Tell him, Severus. Tell him what he isss.."

Severus was not proud of the whole idea of it, yet he spoke. "The most loyal of us were given the chance to give something to our master. A prodigy child. Our genetics were charmed for our first born child- heir- to have their 'power' multiply increasingly after birth. Once of age, the children would replace their parents in the circle, as a weapon, if you will." He said, "As time wears on, the child would in fact gain skills wizards alone could not possess."

Damon was taking this all in as the Dark Lord commanded, "Damon, you do know what the cruticus curse is, do you not?" Damon gave a nod. "Excellent. Now, I would like to see how far your magic has come.." His voice trailed. "Curse your Father." He ordered.

Severus wondered secretly if the boy could even do the curse. He had seen the boy use it before on a house elf, but a small body was easier to curse than a large one. As well, he had gave Damon a restraining energy drought. Then, he wondered if the boy would do it. He was taking rather a long time to decide. He heard the boy say finally, loudly, "Crucio."

He felt pain, sure enough, but not near as dreadful and pain filled as the ones he had endured from his master. The boy's curse was getting faint fast, then the boy screamed out in pain himself. He was cursing himself. That, was Severus was thinking with worry. He, then, felt the curse get heavy on him, biting down on his tongue. It was not as bad as the Dark Lord's, but it was up there. The boy had not only cursed himself, he hit the minimal energy the potion dimmed it to, and broke it through.

"Enough." The boy's curse stopped. "Your son has a high energy, Severus. Dare I say, he cannot even control it himself. He must start animagus right away." He looked to his followers. "You each know your tasks." The followers began to leave. "Lucius, Draco, you may stay. I believe we all must speak." The two Malfoy's lowered before him.

"I have news for you.." He said. "These two, they are not my only prodigies. You both are aware that the third of you is now deceased?"

"Yes, My Lord." Severus and Lucius said in unison.

"Before my.. downfall.. if you will.. I gave this gift tothree others. One..a spy for Dumbledore's precious order.. another, a runawayanimagi.. and one, Cornelius Fudge." The words ringing through his ears. "Dare I say, once I was rid of my body, he killed his pregnant wife." Severus remembered back to when he was sitting in the Great Hall, his first year starting, the whole uproar of the Dark Lord's downfall to an infant, a Harry Potter, and that Dumbledore only had just got back into a comfort when an 'attack' was made on the Fudge manor, and Fudge was at the Ministry at the time. He came home to discover his house ransacked. He blamed Death Eaters. Severus did not even know he was a Death Eater. He was always off on tasks for the Dark Lord or for Dumbledore.

"My other prodigy shall arrive next meeting. If all goes well, your sons will lead the attack on the Ministry."

---

Once Draco was sent off, Damon slumped down onto the chair exhausted. Severus handed him a potion. "That should help a bit." Severus sat in his chair, watching the boy. Waiting for all the questions.

The boy finally asked, "Does Dumbledore know about the attack?"

"Yes."

The boy asked, "Professor..?" Severus looked at the boy. "Why had you minimize my powers, when you knew he'd test me?"

"If he knew of your full strength, he would find more use for you. If you were of poor strength, he would choose to leave you out." He added, "As well, he could sense Harry Potter's skills. Thankfully he did not. You were too exhausted from trying to curse me."

Damon asked, "And what sort of gifts will I end up getting?"

"Well, I would think parseltongue could be considered one. Draco has seer abilities. I would believe there is an elemental gift- a dominant element such as fire, ice.. however, I am not sure."

Damon spoke his last question, "Were you a good flyer?"

Snape was shocked by the question. "What are you on about now?"

"Were you a good flyer, Professor? My fath- James was. I have Quidditch try outs tomorrow, and I am assuming that I was only good at it because James was." So the boy was worried...

"I was a good flyer, yes." Snape said simply. I was on the Quidditch team too.. until I got booted off because James Potter and Sirius Black jumped me after a game in which Slytherin won. They too were booted off, but were reinstated the next year. I had took more interest in studying by then, being a prefect.

The boy sat there a moment longer, almost like contemplating what else to say. Severus hoped he would try to get to the point where he would tell him how he was thinking of the whole situation, but it never came. Secretly, Severus was always terrified of being a father. The charms on him being a reason but also because his father was never around so he was never taught how to be one.

The boy finally got up, and left without saying a word. Severus was disappointed, but he rose himself and headed towards the Headmaster's office.

"So, Damon.. what did you think of your first meeting?" Draco asked quietly in the Slytherin common room.

"I do not think." Damon said.

"I am shocked to find out there are more of us out there.. aren't you? I mean- I always thought I was the only one, then you come along, and now..?"

"I wonder if Snape knows who the spy is.." Damon murmured to himself.

"What was that?" Draco asked.

Damon said, "Oh.. I said, I wonder when I'll be starting animagi."

"Oh!" Draco gave a small grin. "I started last year after Christmas. Almost done too! It's hard work.. painful but Father thought it would be helpful."

Damon gave a nod. "I knew someone who was an animagi. It kept him out of trouble."

Draco gave a weak smile. "So, what did your father say about you cursing him?"

"Nothing." Damon said honestly. "Surprised he didn't give me detention."

"He's your father, Damon. He won't do any of the sort." Draco rose, and went to his dorm room. Damon shortly followed and collapsed onto his bed exhausted.

Sweet angel.. you have arrived.. A pleased voice swarmed his mind. ..We have to finish what we started..

"Finish what?" He heard a voice question.

Do not be a fool.. you know exactly.. He began to feel anger surround him, a feeling of acidic gnawing stirred into his body. His arm grew numb. He heard the voice.. Don't play games with me, my Angel! Someone screamed out...

"Professor.. he just started flailing out, I don't understand-" An almost worried voice rang through him.

He heard, "Clear the area!" From a commanding strict voice.

Damon felt his body be levitated. He did not understand what was going on. He did not want to leave. Where were they taking him? Panic ensued. He felt the charm fall through, and he was on the ground. His arm felt immobile. He tried to heave himself up, he saw blood, lots of blood, from his arm that wasn't working. Eyes wide, he saw the gushing of his own blood, pumping out of him.

"He's going into shock!" The strict voice said, holding an already bloody cloth to the cut. Damon was watching the cut. "Don't die on me, boy!" He heard, demanding.

Damon finally passed out.