Chapter Twenty-Five
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters nor the scenery, which you could recognise; the only thing I take credit for is the plot.
Pairings: Severus/Marvolo.
Warnings: Dark Harry, Dumbledore, Hermione, and Weasley bashing (excluding Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George).
Word Count: 5,285
Date Written: 14/07/2021
Aldwyn and his fellow Slytherins settle back down, quiet whispers making their way up and down the table at why the Heir of the Dark Sect would be so pleased with the appointment of two powerful light wizards from a family so close to Dumbledore.
Marcus glances down at the twelve-year-old, eyebrows furrowing as he watches Aldwyn grinning up at the staff table, emerald eyes sparkling merrily. Following his gaze, Marcus is surprised (pleasantly so) to find the Weasley brothers smiling back at Aldwyn, the older looking one going so far as to send a subtle wink while his younger brother settles for sticking his thumbs up drawing quiet chuckles from their newest snake.
He didn't know how his Lord had managed it, but he had somehow managed to convince the two oldest, and by far the most powerful children of the Weasley clan to join his side, and by the looks of it, they were not only firmly with the dark but also on extremely good terms with the Young Lord. The year was starting to look more and more interesting.
Aldwyn turns his attention to the Gryffindor table, eyes crinkling with mirth at the pale, outraged expressions shaping the Weasley children's faces. Percy was glaring up at his brothers in contempt, clearly displeased with their presence at the school, most likely due to their shining reputations both inside the classroom and with their added extra-curricular activities, something which he had never excelled in himself. Fred and George, smirk at their brothers, eyes twinkling with evil delight, and Aldwyn can only imagine the mental list of plans the two are constructing to play against Bill and Charlie. Ginny just looks confused, Aldwyn realising that Bill and Charlie had followed through with their plans to not inform their Mother of their sudden change in career paths.
He covers his mouth, sniggering at how utterly pathetic Ronald looks. His face is pale, mouth working to form words that seem to be stuck in the back of his throat, and Aldwyn can't help but release a sigh of relief at such a turn of events. He was not in the mood to sit and listen to the trifling words of the Weasley's youngest son while he embarrasses himself by calling attention to himself for something he has, nor ever will, have control over.
A small pressure on his arm pulls him out of his observations. Glancing to his side, Blaise gestures to the table which is now groaning under the weight of food. Smiling sheepishly at having been so caught up in his thoughts to notice the arrival of dinner, Aldwyn begins to fill his plate, choosing an array of vegetables to go with his meal. His Papa was always a stickler for getting him to eat healthily, something which he appreciated greatly. No one had ever cared about his eating habit before.
"So, Aldwyn, what is it like having Professor Snape as your Father?" Marcus questions between bites of his own food.
"Yea, is he a strict parent?"
"Professor Prince is a brilliant Papa. He does like to make sure I am eating well and that I follow a daily regime of waking up, eating, and sleeping at the correct time but I wouldn't say he is strict."
"Professor Prince spoils Aldwyn terribly," Draco adds in with a grin.
"No, he doesn't."
"He does, Aldwyn. Both of your parents spoil you rotten. It is quite amusing to see. It is not a bad thing; we all get spoilt by our parents."
"I don't think they spoil me though…"
"Aldwyn. Your Father bought you seven Nimbus 2001 for your birthday this year and I am sure it was Professor Prince who bought you that Magical owl…."
"Your Papa bought you an owl? A magical owl? What kind?"
Aldwyn snickers, eyes lighting up at the thought of his tiny little fledgling owl, his little Phanex.
"Papa bought me a Philippine Blue Owl for my birthday because he 'just had to' and he thought it was the perfect present for me."
"Lo and Behold, the Fledgling Owl turned out to be Aldwyn's destined familiar."
Marcus, Adrien, and Graham stare down at him, eyes wide and mouths almost falling open in their surprise, though Aldwyn isn't overly sure what they are so surprised at. Many wizards and witches, as well as many magical creatures, find their destined familiar at some points, some going so far as to use some of their magical reserves to locate and summon them. It wasn't unheard of for someone to have their destined familiar. Nagini was his Father's.
"You already found your destined familiar?"
"Well, more like my Papa found him for me but yes. Phanex is my destined familiar. I was very confused when he started talking straight into my head." Aldwyn chuckles, finding the baffled and mystified expressions of the sixth-year Slytherins highly amusing.
"It is very rare for one so young to have found their Destined Familiar."
"Let's just be thankful that it is just a familiar and not a destined mate. I am sure his Papa would have a heart attack if someone with a creature inheritance mated with him at such a young age."
"Destined Mate? What's that?" The three sixth years exchange a look, one which he struggles to decipher before they chuckle. Shaking their heads as they turn their gaze down towards him. Aldwyn tilts his head to the side.
"I think that topic of conversation is best saved for your Father or Papa to answer when you are a little older Aldwyn."
"Is having a mate bad?"
"No, it is not a bad thing. Not in the slightest but it is something to consider more when you are a little older. It is nothing for ones so young to contemplate just yet. I am sure Professor Prince or your Father would be all too happy to explain it to you."
Aldwyn nods his head slowly, eyebrows furrowing in confusion as he stares between the three sixth-year students before shaking the thought from his mind. By the grim expressions on their faces, he isn't going to be able to convince them to tell him anything about these destined mates any time soon. Maybe he would find a book in the Library all about it before he wasted his Father and Papa's time with his questions. He could always bring the topic to their attention if there was anything he didn't understand in the reading. Maybe Bill and Charlie could tell him about it as well.
Deciding to leave the matter to rest, for now, Aldwyn focuses back on his food, happily munching down his dinner even as he suppresses the need to yawn. His earlier exhaustion coming back tenfold, attempting to force him into sleep, shaking his head, Aldwyn forces his eyes open, his back to straighten almost painfully so thinking that the uncomfortable position will abate his exhaustion until he can make it to the dorm rooms.
"Come on Aldwyn, time to head back."
A soothing voice whispers in his ear and Aldwyn startles a little, eyes blinking rapidly to rid his vision of the glaze which had covered his eyesight for the past few moments. Glancing blearily to his side, Aldwyn smiles when the blurry visage of Blaise and Draco enter his sight. Taking to offered hand, Aldwyn allows his friends to gently pull him from his seat at the table, allows them to guide him, as subtly as possible, through the Great Hall and down the long winding corridors of the dungeons. Belatedly he realises that Adrien, Graham, and Marcus had stationed themselves around him and his friends, most likely to prevent his weakened state from being seen by students from the other houses. It wouldn't be good for anyone outside his house to see him in such a state.
He doesn't know if it is due to his exhaustion, but it takes a suspiciously short amount of time to travel from the Great Hall to the Slytherin common room which he knows for a fact are further into the dungeons than their potions' classroom.
"This is the entrance to the Common Room, and we ask that you reframe from inviting anyone outside our House from entering. You are not to give out the password which will be chosen by one of the Prefects every month. Please try not to forget it. However, if you do, then it will be written on the notice board with the rest of the information you need to note."
"Calendula."
A girl, a Seventh year, Aldwyn assumes, informs them. Her tone is light and friendly while still holding an edge of warning to inform them of just how serious she is about the Slytherin common room. Aldwyn nods along with the First years. Momentarily wondering why Professor McGonagall or one of the Gryffindor Prefects hadn't given such a speech to them last year. Brushing his thoughts away, Aldwyn allows Blaise to lead him through the wall.
His eyes widen slightly in amazement as he glances around the common room. Breath catching in his throat at the exquisite ensemble of furniture placed meticulously around the area. There were large leather sofas resting around the room, alongside various loveseats and matching armchairs. A gathering of similar armchairs circling around the multiple fireplaces are working to regulate the temperature of the underground lair. He gasps out loud when he turns to face the stretch of the wall facing the lake, the floor-to-ceiling window giving him perfect views of the schools of fish, merpeople, and grindylows swimming around the waters.
He is led, by Draco and Blaise, while his attention still focuses on taking as much of the common room as possible; it was probably about five times larger than the Gryffindor common room and definitely much more reserved and refined in its decor. Unlike the Gryffindor tower, the Slytherin lair at least wasn't throwing green in his face at every turn. One could quite possibly go colour blind with the amount of red, burgundy, and gold that covers every single surface in the tower.
Settling on one of the sofas with Blaise and Draco sandwiching his sides, he relaxes in wait for whatever it is the rest of the house is waiting for. Aldwyn is surprised when his Papa walks into the room, closely followed by Bill and Charlie and it is only Blaise and Draco's grip on his arms preventing him from jumping on the three Professors in greeting.
Severus clears his throat, gesturing for the Weasley brothers to step forward, each standing at his side as they survey the gathering of Slytherin students all seated on the available surfaces around the room, the small first years sitting cross-legged on the floor in the middle of the room. Aldwyn is baffled at this, Professor McGonagall never gave them a speech, which he what he is assuming his Papa is here to do, nor did any of the Gryffindor prefects have as much control over the students at the Slytherin's seemed to have.
"I would like to welcome you all to Slytherin House. I am Professor Severus Prince and I will be your Potion's Professor as well as your Head of House. If you have any problems, then you are welcome to come to me. My office hours will be posted up on the notice board tomorrow morning, but I will be available at all times that I am not teaching. I must warn you now that stigmatism and mistrust will follow you everywhere outside these walls because you are a Snake because our House embodies ambition, cunning, and sly traits. Many people will not trust you, nor will they be friendly towards you and therefore we have some House rules that you all must endeavour to follow."
Severus pauses for a moment, gaze skirting around the room as he receives nods from around the room before he presses on.
"Rule number one, no Slytherin must travel around the castle on their own. For students in years four and below I strongly recommend traveling in no less than groups of three or four and students in years five and above may travel in pairs. Rule number two, you will all try your very best in your classes. If you are finding anything difficult or are having any trouble, then a list of students who are willing to tutor others in particular subjects will be posted on the notice board. If you are caught bothering students who are not on the list, then there will be consequences. Rule number three do not get caught. By all means, you are allowed to bend or even break the school rules if you so chose but do not get caught. Hex students who have wronged you, prank those who deserve it but do not let yourselves be caught in the act, faculty members are not allowed to punish students without tangible proof. If you are caught then deflect the blame, do not admit to anything. You are Slytherins, you are cunning and sneaky."
Aldwyn smirks, exchanging quick glances with Draco and Blaise who return his expression. They were going to take full advantage of this rule and even though the staff was going to know exactly who had committed such acts against students, staff, and the school in general, they were going to leave no evidence behind to prove it. They had plans to drive the professors mad with their pranks, especially seen as they were hoping to get the Weasley twins involved in their schemes as well.
"Rule number four, you will conduct yourselves with the height of pureblood decorum outside of these rooms. You will look presentable at all times, walk with dignity and never let me catch you acting anything less than stellar, many of you are Heirs and Heiresses to prestigious houses and I expect you to act like it. You represent our House and I will not let us be ridiculed. Rule number five, you will not let any disagreements leave this room. All arguments and disagreements will be settled within these walls and you will not let any hostility be shown to the other houses. We are segregated and isolated from the other houses enough already and you are not to show them any weaknesses which could be exploited. You will show a united front at all costs."
And Aldwyn finally understands why he had never seen any of the Slytherin students arguing with each other, insulting one another, or ostracizing one of their own from their group through the halls of Hogwarts. He frowns wondering if he had allowed the Sorting Hat to place him in Slytherin last year then would they have stood by him during the fiasco with the Philosopher's Stone. Would Professor Snape have believed him and helped him when he came to him with information regarding the stone? Would his housemates have backed him and believed him about thinking it had been Quirrell the entire time? Even if it were to have been in public only, it would have been better than facing ridicule almost every day.
"If I hear that any of you have broken any of these rules then detention with Filtch will look like a dream compared to what I will put you through. I may show favouritism to my Slytherins outside these walls because they will be picked on and singled out by the other Professors and students but if you break our House rules then I will punish you. Though I doubt I will have to. Now then, first and second years, your bedtime will be 8 o'clock and I expect every one of you to follow these times. The third and fourth years will be expected to go to bed at 9 o'clock. The fifth and Sixth years have until 10 o'clock and the seventh year have until 11 o'clock. These times will be extended by an hour on Friday and Saturday nights only. There will also be a devised schedule where each year will be required to attend a study session with myself. Make sure you check the times and dates tomorrow morning."
Everyone in the room nods along with their Head of House's words. Though Aldwyn stares up at his Papa in veiled confusion, were the other Heads of houses as invested in their students as Severus, or was it merely Slytherin who cared about each student personally. He couldn't say much about Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, but Gryffindor had definitely left their students to their own devices most of the time.
"Now, before I forget and send you off to bed after a long journey, the professors behind me, as you well heard, are Professor William Weasley and Professor Charles Weasley, if you are in need of any assistance and are unable to find me then feel free to go to them. They will help you are care little about which house you belong to. Now, off to bed with you all, I expect each of you to be in the common room tomorrow morning at 7 to receive your timetables."
A flurry of movement ensues and Aldwyn watches as most of the students, including his new year mates, are quick to disperse to their dorm rooms, the first years being directed by the prefects. So invested in watching his housemates, Aldwyn doesn't notice the approaching figures until he is carefully drawn into a tight embrace. Recognising the potion's scent invading his senses, Aldwyn relaxes against his Papa's chest, wrapping his arms around the man's neck.
"How was your journey here, Snakelet?"
"It was alright, we had a little altercation with Weasley and Granger, but it wasn't anything we couldn't handle. A few home truths and they soon scampered off."
"That is good. I am very proud of how you portrayed yourself throughout your sorting, Aldwyn. Your Father will be immensely pleased with you as well."
"Really? I don't know Professor McGonagall was treating me like some criminal who had personally slighted her."
Severus draws his son tighter against his side, brushing a hand soothingly over the boy's hair before dropping a kiss to his head.
"I am unsure as well, Snakelet, but I will be having a word with her tomorrow at breakfast. There was no reason behind her treatment of you and I will make such things clear myself, no one, be they student or staff will get away with amusing my child in any way."
Aldwyn flushes, warmth settling in his chest at his Papa's declaration, it was nice to know that someone was going to be looking out for him in the future, that he had someone he could count on no matter what when he is faced with Dumbledore and his sycophantic staff members. He pulls away from Severus, not enough to dislodge his arm around his shoulders, but enough to look up at the man. He smiles brightly.
"Thank you, Dad."
"There is nothing to thank me for, Snakelet. Now, off to bed with you before you fall asleep on your feet. You didn't sleep well last night, and I would hate for you to be exhausted for your first full day of classes."
"Okay, Papa. Good night."
"Good night, my little Snakelet. Sleep well."
Aldwyn hugs his Papa once again before running over to Bill and Charlie who gather him up in a tight embrace, dropping kisses to his head as he sighs. He would like to spend more time with the Brothers but knows that he needed to get some much-deserved sleep soon. Settling back to his feet, Aldwyn makes his way towards the dormitories, waving over his shoulder at Severus, Bill, and Charlie.
"Good night Bill. Night Charlie."
"Good night, Aldwyn."
"Sleep well, Parum Anguis."
Aldwyn smiles as his sleep melts away the next morning, the beginnings of sunlight streaming through the windows in his dorm room and he can't help but marvel at the genius of the Slytherin dormitory. He had expected it to be dim, dark, and grimy. The Slytherin students, both past and present all worked hard to create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, including the introduction of artificial windows which mirrored the weather outside the castle at all times.
Stretching the sleep from his tense muscles, Aldwyn hops out of bed, making his way through his morning ablutions while his dormmates still slept away in their beds. Giggling at the disheveled state both Draco and Blaise were in he leans back against his headboard, smoothing down his uniform, making sure his hair looks as presentable as possible. A smirk dances across his lips when he pulls the two-way mirror out of his shirt. Calling for his Father, Aldwyn giggles when a startled yelp reaches his ears.
"Bright blessings, Father. How are you this fine morning?"
"Did you really have to wake me up this early, you little snake?"
"Of course, I did, Father. It is unfair that only Papa and I have to wake up at this ungodly hour."
"Your Papa is a night owl… and a morning person… I will never understand how he is able to go to sleep in the early hours of the morning and still be able to pull himself out of bed at 6 am every morning. That man doesn't sleep."
"I will tell him you said so, Father." Aldwyn grins at his Father, snickering at the sight of the most evil, deranged dark lord sitting in his nightclothes rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He looked like a regular wizard at that moment.
"Cheeky Brat. So, why are you calling me at this unforgiving hour my little Snakelet?"
"Well I did want to tell you all about my sorting in person but if you would rather wait for a letter I could hang up…"
"No, no. How did it go, Aldwyn?"
"Well, Father. Seen as you asked so nicely… Professor McGonagall didn't explain anything to me when I first arrived and merely expected me to already know what was going to happen. So, obviously, I had to teach her a little lesson, nothing too serious."
"Obviously. Getting into trouble already, Snakelet?"
Aldwyn gasps dramatically, slapping a hand to his chest as he stares down at the image of his Father in offense, only to be met with the other man's chuckles. If he was with his Father right now, he can just picture his hair being ruffled. An ache forms in his chest and he suddenly feels the need to curl up with his Father and never let the man go. It was going to be a difficult couple of weeks.
"I am hurt you would even imply such a thing, Father. I think it is Professor McGonagall who is going to be getting into trouble. Papa was not best pleased with how she handled the whole situation and said that he would deal with her this morning over breakfast."
"That is good then. I feel a lot better knowing that your Papa is there with you, Aldwyn."
"And Bill and Charlie. They came with Papa to the Slytherin dorms yesterday for the welcome speech. The Slytherins finally have more than just Papa on their side within the school now."
"Good. That is good. Now, stop stalling and tell me where you were sorted." Marvolo would deny it for centuries that he whined at his son. Dark Lords do not whine.
"Well… I guess I was worried for nothing, Father. The Hat told me that although I technically have traits from all four houses, my bravery isn't the same as 'Gryffindor bravery', my loyalty wasn't the same as 'Hufflepuff loyalty' and even though I would do well in Ravenclaw, the poor Claws wouldn't survive a week with me as their housemate."
"I am so proud of you, my Little Snakelet."
"Thank you, Father."
"You best get going, Aldwyn. I know breakfast is going to be starting soon and you will need to collect your timetable."
Aldwyn sighs, he knows his Father is right but he didn't want to stop talking to him already. It was already going to be weird not eating breakfast with the man but now he couldn't even hold more than a few-minute conversation with his Father without needing to be somewhere else. Noticing his son's forlorn expression, Marvolo smiles.
"I will speak with you again this evening, Snakelet. I wish to hear all about your first day."
His face brightens at that, nodding his head even before his Father had finished speaking much to the man's delight. The manor already felt so lonely without his Partner and Son and he didn't know if he is going to be able to make it to yule without invading the school at least once.
"Alright, Father. I will speak to you later! Have a good day!"
"You as well, Snakelet. Don't cause too much trouble."
"I won't. Love you, Dad."
"Love you as well, Snakelet. Now, go before you are late."
The image slowly fades and Aldwyn lets out a soft sigh, he missed his Father. A noise at his side draws him out of his melancholy thoughts, allowing a small smile to tug at the corners of his lips, Aldwyn tries to reassure Draco that he is alright. Taking the older boy's offered hand he is surprised to note that both he and Blaise had managed to get themselves dressed and ready for the day while he had been talking to his Father.
"Come on, Aldwyn. We need to get our timetables from Uncle Severus."
"At least then we can pack our bags before we go down to breakfast."
Aldwyn giggles, allowing his godbrother to lead him out of their shared dorm room to arrive in the common room where Severus is already handing out timetables to the first years. Allowing them to be led towards the great hall by the prefects who already possessed their schedules. Severus smiles gently when he hands the small pieces of parchment to his son and the other second years, dropping a gentle kiss to Aldwyn's hair.
"How did you sleep last night, Son."
"Very well, Papa. I even spoke to Father this morning!"
"That is good. I am sure he told you just how proud he is of you already, Snakelet. Now, how about you head on down for breakfast while I hand the rest of these out. I will be there shortly."
"Okay, Papa."
The trio wave goodbye to their Head of House before glancing down at their timetables. They groan in unison at the words staring back up at them.
"Potions first thing in the morning with the Gryffindors? Followed by Transfiguration?"
"Today is going to be a trying day…"
"I wonder how McGonagall is going to treat us today. She has already made it clear that she doesn't like me very much." Aldwyn frowns at the parchment, the professor's actions still baffling him, she hadn't shown this much disdain towards the Slytherin students last year, had she? He honestly hadn't been paying much attention.
Shrugging off the thoughts to be pondered on later, Aldwyn follows his friends back up to their room in order to collect their books for the day ahead before making their way back through the common room to the Great Hall for breakfast. Settling down in the seats they had occupied the previous night, Aldwyn offers a bright 'good morning' to his fellow Slytherins before loading his plate with an array of foods. Glancing up at the head table, his eyes lighten when Bill and Charlie wink down at him. He giggles.
"So…"
"So?"
"So, did you get them?" Draco questions, blond eyebrow raised in question as he stares down at his godbrother, Blaise staring at his friends in confusion.
"Get what? What are you talking about, Draco?"
"The potions? Did uncle Sev give you the potions or give you permission to use the potions classroom to make them or do we have to do it ourselves?"
"Oh, you are referring to the nightmare potions?"
"Yes! What else would I be referring to?"
"I don't know, Dray. When it comes to you, you could be going on about anything really." Aldwyn answers with a grin drawing a chuckle from Blaise and a splutter from Draco who turns to glare down at Aldwyn, cheeks lighting up.
"Yes, Papa gave me some nightmare potions he had already brewed, said it saved us the time and trouble, and that it would put his mind at ease because it is a pretty advanced potion and he didn't want us to get injured trying to brew it on our own. I need to hunt down Fred and George and speak to them before we can put our plan into action."
"Why do you need to speak to Fred and George?"
"I wished to suss them out and see how loyal they are to Dumbledore and their family before I think about offering them a place in our little club. When we ran into them in Diagon Alley, as I told you before, some of their actions differed vastly from what I would expect from a prominent light family. They seemed to not only despise their youngest brother but also showed certain levels of disdain towards their Mother and Father. If we can nurture these emotions, then I think I can indite them into the In Dolus Intortis."
"When are you thinking of talking to them?"
"I am not sure yet. Though I want it to be as soon as possible."
"You could always try to track them down during lunch, they should be in the Great Hall for the most part and then we can simply follow them once they leave," Blaise suggests, eyeing the twins with trepidation, the two were devilishly cunning and sly, especially with the fact that they were never caught when pranking someone, despite everyone on the faculty knowing that they were behind such happenings. It had impressed the majority of Slytherin House, not that they would ever admit it.
"I guess so. I will ponder a cause of action through the day. Though I believe a small prank on our resident Gryffindor head will also need to be planned and put into action."
"I thought your Papa was going to talk to her this morning for you?" Draco enquires turning his attention to the staff table where Severus was indeed speaking to Minerva and by the frown on her face, she wasn't pleased with the conversation topic.
"He is but that doesn't mean that I cannot seek my own retribution. If I had been anyone else's child and she treated them the way she had done with me, they would have been humiliated and embarrassed at not knowing what to expect of their welcome and sorting. However, because I have done this before, and my Father and Papa have taught me well. I turned it around to make her look the fool."
Blaise and Draco concede his point. If any other twelve-year-old, who hadn't been raised pureblood, would have been put in such a situation then they wouldn't have been able to live with the embarrassment of being singled out and disregarded in such a manner, especially by such a high-up member of the faculty. They turn their attention away from the staff table, focusing back on their breakfast. Aldwyn glances back across the room at the Weasley twins and smirks when they offer him a jaunty little wave, winking at him. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to befriend the two as he had first anticipated. Raising his goblet of juice, Aldwyn salutes the pair who quickly return the gesture causing his smirk to stretch.
A/N
Three chapters in one morning, I am being generous. I hope you enjoy this next chapter lovelies and I will endeavour to get the next one written and uploaded as soon as I am able! Though I am working on another HP fanfiction at the moment as well which has about 36 chapters written out already (though those ones are about half the length of these ones). Please bear with me lovelies and I will see you all soon!
~Jay-Jay