Chapter Twenty-Six
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or scenery you could recognise; the only thing I credit is the plot.
Pairings: Severus/Marvolo.
Warnings: Dark Harry, Dumbledore, Hermione, and Weasley bashing (excluding Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George).
Word Count: 5,178
Date Written: 05/08/2021
Severus sighs as he enters the Great Hall through the staff entrance, rubbing a hand down his face at the prospect of engaging in such serious conversations this early in the morning. Still, he was not about to allow his colleague to get away with treating one of his Snakes, his own Son, in such a deplorable manner. Settling down in his designated seat, Severus inclines his head to the two Weasley Professor's suppressing a smile. It wouldn't do the students any good to see such an out-of-character expression on his face anyhow.
"Good morning, Severus. How was your evening?" The overly cheerful voice of Headmaster Dumbledore calls from his seat beside Minerva. Eyes twinkling with merriment, so much so that Severus feels his usual sneer upturning his lips.
"Besides having to explain to my son that certain members of the faculty do not hate him for his parentage, it was as it usually is at the beginning of term."
Minerva has the nerve to frown over at Severus, wrinkles deepening on her forehead as she glances down at the Slytherin table, watching the group of second year Slytherins. Severus snarls at the woman. She didn't feel the least repentant for her behaviour towards an innocent twelve-year-old.
"Now, now Severus, there is no need for such hostilities on this pleasant morning."
"There is every need, Headmaster. Or are you possibly condoning the negligence Minerva showed to her role last night? Does she not explain the sorting ceremony to every new group of students every year? Did she not give the same speech to the group of First Year students who were sorted after Aldwyn last night? Why, might I ask then, did she shirk her duties and refuse to explain anything to my Son."
Dumbledore frowns, stroking his beard as he delves deep in thought, Severus may have a point there, but it doesn't change the fact that this child, the young boy that Severus is claiming as his own, is, apparently, the child of Lord Marvolo Slytherin. Who just so happens to be the only living descendent to Salazar Slytherin and, therefore, the reincarnated Lord Voldemort? If the information he had received is correct, this child is the child of the Dark Lord. Somehow, Voldemort had managed to not only sire a child but also raise and hide him away from the Order of the Phoenix for the past twelve years.
"Did you nor the boy's father not explain the sorting to him prior?"
"Why would we? Is it not tradition for the First Years to receive the Welcome speech given by their deputy Headmistress? Is it not Tradition for them to face the sorting ceremony unaware of how it is to take place? Despite sending generations to Hogwarts, Pureblood families still neglect to tell their youngest members of the ceremony, and yet I am expected to? Why is that Headmaster?"
"You are, of course, correct, Severus. It was negligence on our part, and I apologise for any discomfort Minerva's actions may have caused your Son."
"Albus…!" Minerva cries, face ashen, expression portraying her disbelief.
"No, Minerva, Severus is right. It is tradition for the children to remain unaware of the sorting ceremony until they arrive within these walls. You neglected in your duties as deputy Headmistress to inform young Aldwyn as to what was expected of him." Minerva splutters for a moment.
"You saw how that child spoke to me…."
"Not only did you deliberately not inform Aldwyn of the castle rules, the houses, and house point system. You also neglected to inform him of the sorting ceremony, and to top all of that off; you deliberately used the wrong name when calling him forward. He is a nervous and shy young boy who doesn't do well in difficult situations. He dealt with it, how he has been raised to. He pointed out the mistake in his name."
"He deliberately refused to come up to the stool so I could sort him," Minerva argues, eyes narrowing at Severus, who scowls in return, raising an eyebrow at her weak defences. He will not allow her to disrespect and belittle his Son, no matter what her unfair biases may be.
"You never informed him that that is what he was expected to do. You merely called his name, and he answered you. If you had told him that he was to approach the Hat when you read out his name, then he would have done so. Do not blame my child for your despicable behaviour; otherwise, I will be forced to report you to the board of governors for bullying and singling out a defenceless child, despite our being colleagues." Severus hisses, though he knows Aldwyn isn't as defenceless as he is making out, he and his father had ensured that he could at least defend himself against unjust attacks on his person. They had tutored him in the first-year curriculum and the majority of the second as well. His Son could hold his own pretty well.
Minerva pauses, mouth working to form words that neglect to make it past her throat as if she is physically trying to restrain herself from uttering words meant to offend himself severely or to insult his child again. Severus narrows his eyes; he would make good on his threat if Minerva's unfair and unjust treatment of Aldwyn didn't cease, and he would know about it because Aldwyn would tell him if his Professors were singling him out. He hoped he would in any case.
"I… apologise, Severus. My actions against your Son last night were unjustified, and I apologise if I made it seem to Aldwyn that I was trying to make his time here at Hogwarts uncomfortable or difficult. I am sorry."
"I don't think it is I who you need to apologise to, Minerva. Aldwyn is a sensitive child, he takes many things to heart and last night's events affected him greatly. It took me a while to calm him down enough to get him to sleep."
Severus turns to glance down at his Son, a small smile over-taking his features as he watches him talking enthusiastically with Draco and Blaise, the other second years joining in at intervals as well. He is pleased that Aldwyn has such a close-knit group to surround himself with now, and by the contemplative look on his face, Severus knows that his little troublemaker is thinking up a way to cause mischief.
Turning his attention back to Minerva, Severus withholds a smirk at the look of disdain shaping her features at the prospect of apologising to a student, a Slytherin student no less. He knows she, along with Dumbledore, assumes Aldwyn is the child of the Dark Lord. Knows that they had discovered the absence of the real Philosopher's Stone down in the chamber under the third-floor corridor, and their silence highly amuses him. Marvolo and himself had assumed that Dumbledore would at least try to get the word out to the public that the Dark Lord has returned. That the Dark Lord is back and has a child; that he is mind-controlling himself into a courtship.
"I promise you, Severus, that I will apologise to young Aldwyn at the first convenience."
"Thank you, Minerva."
Aldwyn, Blaise, and Draco traipse down to the Dungeons once they had all finished their breakfast, Theo following closely behind with his nose buried deep in his latest book. Aldwyn had to guide him out of the way on oncoming students once or twice, much to the older boy's embarrassment. However, he did offer Aldwyn a small smile in thanks. Crabbe and Goyle bought up the rear of their little group; the girls have headed back to the dorms in order to pick up their school supplies, promising to meet back up with them outside Severus's classroom.
Walking through the cold corridors, Aldwyn is pleased that his father had the foresight to teach himself the warming charm, something the others had all been taught before arriving at the school in preparation for the cooler temperatures of the Slytherin Dormitories and the Dungeons in general. He had always wondered how the Slytherin students never seemed that bothered by the cold as he had been last year.
He leans against the wall, school back hanging off his shoulder as he scans the corridors for either, his fellow housemates of the Gryffindor students.
"I wonder what potions we are going to be learning this year?" Blaise questions, taking up his place by Aldwyn's side, raising his eyebrow at the boy.
"We will be spending the first few lessons going over what we learnt last year before moving on to any of the new potions. Papa is going to introduce some new ingredients to us as well."
"I wish I could have Professor Prince as a parent; I bet he taught you loads about potions during the holidays…." Daphne whines as she walks up behind the boys, smirking when Theo and Draco squeak in surprise at their sudden appearance. Aldwyn grins.
"He did. We practiced all of the First-year potions. He said he wanted to make sure that I was 'up to par' with the rest of my year mates. When I got them right, he taught me all of the second-year potions and even let me help him with some of his own when we had some free time. Father joined us some of the time as well."
"That sounds amazing. Do you think Professor Prince would mind tutoring me during the holidays? I am tragic at potions." Pansy asks, tilting her head to the side.
"Oh, me too. That would be brilliant." Tracy agrees, nodding her head so vigorously that her twin plaits swing over her shoulders.
"Can you ask him, Aldwyn?"
"I will see what he says when I go for dinner on Saturday. I am sure he won't mind helping you all out."
"Yea, Uncle Severus gave Blaise and me some help as well when we went over to see Aldwyn during the summer. It was enjoyable."
"Yes, he was even more lenient during the break and even let us experiment with a few potion ingredients while he was in the room, of course."
Their conversation is halted when the sounds of raucous laughter ricocheting through the dungeon corridors. Brushing their hands down their uniforms to smooth out any creases, the Slytherin students don their 'Pureblood masks' just as the group of Gryffindor students come around the corner pushing and shoving each other. It makes Aldwyn inwardly cringe; indeed, he hadn't acted with such little disregard to social etiquette as that last year. He shudders, just thinking of how disappointed and embarrassed his parents would be if he even thought about acting in such an uncouth manner.
"Oh, look, if it isn't the daddy's boy."
Ronald snarls, face already turning red at the sight of the Slytherin students standing calmly outside the Potion's classroom, their uniforms pristine and faces as blank as ever. It had always unnerved him how children his age and younger could stand to stay as emotionless as the Slytherin students; even some of the pureblood children from other houses practices such things as well. The only real emotion he had seen from any Slytherin student was during Quidditch matches and whenever he and Harry would get into an argument with Draco before Harry had gone awol.
"And to whom are you referring to, Weasel? Because the last I recall is you attempting to imitate Daddy dearest in Flourish and Blotts." Draco returns without missing a beat, lip curling in disdain as if smelling something foul.
"You know what, though, Draco. I think I would rather be a daddy's boy than an uncouth embarrassment. At least my Papa and Father are respectable members of the wizarding community."
The Slytherin students snicker at Aldwyn, Theo going so far as to pat him on the back for such a roundabout insult. Ronald's face reddens further, eyes narrowing as he exhales deeply through his nose, reminding Aldwyn of a raging Bull he once saw.
"What did you call me?"
"I didn't call you anything, Weasel. I merely stated that your words are not as harmful as you believe them to be. So, what if you think I am a daddy's boy? Doesn't that just mean I respect and love my parents as I should? Are you referring to the fact that I imitate certain characteristics of their behaviour? Of the people who raised me. Or do you refer to the fact that I resemble my Papa and Father, my biological parents?"
The Gryffindors stare at Aldwyn in bafflement, not understanding much of what he is saying, not for lack of trying, however. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan, two half-blooded wizards raised in the muggle world, nod slightly to his statement, having been to muggle primary school, so they have a little understanding of its DNA and genetic resemblance between family relations.
"You can't do anything without going crying to your dad!" Ronald shouts in retaliation, forgoing responding to Aldwyn's questions.
"I never once went 'crying to my dad,' as you put it. Not when you ambushed me after I had already been physically assaulted and manhandled by a fully-grown wizard in a crowded bookstore. Neither when you, once again, barged your way into the compartment I was sharing with my friends and demanded I go with you. It was your father who stepped into an altercation; he had no business nor no idea of what was happening."
"Yea, well, Malfoy can't do anything without telling his Father about everything."
"Really, Weasel? If your father was in a position of power as Draco's Father is, then I guarantee you would be much worse than Draco is. Besides, not once have I heard Draco inform anyone that he will tell his father about anything. Your accusations are baseless and therefore worthless. Now, if I were you, I would learn to shut up before you insult the wrong person." Aldwyn withholds from rolling his eyes when Ronald opens his mouth to respond, hand clenching into fists as his sides as if to keep himself from going for his wand or attempting to swing for him as he had done during the summer.
A shadow falls on the group. The Gryffindor students stiffen, eyes widening as they turn around to see Professor Severus Prince standing behind them, arms crossed over his chest as he stares down at the congregation of students. Aldwyn smirks; he loved seeing his Papa in his intimidating persona; it greatly amused him to watch how other people shied away from the same man who offered him cuddles, who ruffles his hair and helps him whenever he needs it.
"I do hope none of you are thinking of causing a ruckus outside my classroom?"
"No, sir." The Slytherin's answer is immediate startling belated responses from the Gryffindor students.
"Good. Now in you go, we haven't got all day."
The Gryffindors are quick to scamper into the darkened classroom before they incur Severus's famous wrath. At the same time, Aldwyn and his friend casually walk into the classroom, placing their bags on the floor under their desks before seating themselves on the fair side. Their rival house sits at the desks closest to Severus's door shut as he stalks across the room. Coming to stand in the middle of the classroom; arms still crossed over his chest as he sweeps his gaze around the students. Professor Prince smirks when he sees his house sitting with their quills out, parchment at the ready.
"Mister Weasley, what would you get if you added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Professor Prince questions, his voice snapping his students into attention.
"I don't know."
"I don't know, Sir." Hermione throws her arm up, waving her hand around, not realising that she almost smacks Neville around the back of the head in her enthusiasm. Severus ignores the girl, glancing to the Slytherin side of the classroom.
"Seen as Mister Weasley deemed himself above learning the information, which was presented to you last year, Mister Zabini perhaps you could enlighten us?"
"Yes, Sir. Powdered asphodel and an infusion of wormwood are the main ingredients in a sleeping draught so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death."
"Correct. Five points to Slytherin. Now, let us try again. Mister Thomas, where would you look if I told you to find me a Bezoar?"
"The supply cabinet, Sir?" Dean responded, earning himself some stifled laughter from his housemates.
"Incorrect, Mister Thomas. Bezoars are ingredients that are best fresh from the source. Mister Malfoy, perhaps you could aid Mister Thomas?"
"Yes, Sir. A bezoar can be found in the stomach of a goat. It is known for curing wizards and witches of most poisons."
"Correct, Mister Malfoy. 5 points to Slytherin. Mister Longbottom, what is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"
Neville flinches when Professor Prince calls on him, his hands quivering, sweating as he wipes them on his trousers. Licking his lips, he glances at his professor before staring down at the splintered desk surface.
"Ummm. It's a trick question, Sir. Monkshood and Wolfsbane are the same plants. It is also known as Aconite and is used as the main ingredient in the Wolfsbane Potion. Though it's leaves, on their own are highly toxic…."
Severus pauses for a moment, staring down at the nervous Gryffindor. He raises an eyebrow at the in-depth answer wondering how the boy who managed to melt a cauldron almost every week managed to answer such a question correctly.
"A very in-depth answer, Mister Longbottom. 3 points to Gryffindor. Mister Prince-Slytherin, which Potion would you make if I asked for a healing potion to cure minor injuries and as an antidote against sleeping Draughts?"
"The Wiggenweld potion, Professor. A healthy wizard or witch can also use it to boost their stamina temporarily."
"A perfect answer, Mister Prince-Slytherin."
Aldwyn allows the corner of his lips to curl when he sees the proud glint in his Papa's eyes as he nods his head at him. He feels himself relaxing into his seat to get the answer correct and make his Papa proud that he had managed to remember what he had revised during his extra potion lessons.
"Now, here is the Potion you will be working on this session. As many of you will recall, you made this last year, so I expect all of you to brew a near-perfect concoction. You will be working with the person sitting next to you."
Aldwyn shoots a smirk at Draco, who had fought Blaise for the chance to sit next to him at the beginning of the lesson. However, Blaise had finally allowed Draco to sit next to Aldwyn with the promise that he would be the one to partner up with Aldwyn in their next Potion lesson.
"Do you want to gather the ingredients or set up the Cauldron?" Draco questions, pulling out his textbook to read the instructions of their Potion; Severus' handwriting was never the easiest to read when written on a blackboard.
"We can just use my ingredient…." Aldwyn offers, pulling a small case from his bookbag and tapping the top right-hand corner of the lid, causing it to grow to three times the size. Draco stares at the case, recognising a Potion master brewing kit when he saw one. His father had one in their family potion laboratory, and he knew Severus owned multiple.
"You have a master's brewing kit?"
"Papa and Father thought it would be good for me to have my ingredients; at least this way, I can ensure that no one tampers with my potions. I have a stirring rod, crystal vials, and knives." Aldwyn explains, moving the case so Draco could see the shrunken equipment and ingredients.
"That is brilliant. Do you think I may be able to convince Father to buy me one?"
"Maybe? You are thinking of taking your Mastery in Potions once you have graduated, aren't you?" Draco nods, eyes still taking in the case.
"Yes, I am going to try and beat Uncle Severus's record. What about you, Aldwyn? I know Blaise wishes to do his Potion's mastery as well."
"I want to do a master in Potions, Spell creation, and Duelling, at least."
"Wow, you are going to be busy once we graduate." Draco comments, pulling his cauldron out of his bag. He unshrinks it before placing it on the bench before walking over to gather the water.
"Yes, I know, but Father and Papa have agreed to help me with them. I am going to train hard for my duelling mastery and the potions one. Bill said he would help me with the Spell creation one as well. It is going to be fun." Aldwyn responds as soon as Draco returns, pulling out his ingredients and places them on the chopping board alongside his knives and stirring rod.
"I was thinking of doing a Mastery in Transfiguration as well, but I don't think Professor McGonagall would be much use if I were to ask her about it…."
Draco takes the dried nettles from Aldwyn's pile, measuring them out when his friend passes over his master's scales while he turns to spell the flames onto a low heat. They would need to simmer the water slightly before adding the nettles.
"Hasn't your Father completed his Transfiguration Mastery?" Aldwyn questions, crushing the Snake fangs into a fine powder using his mortar and pestle, sliding them across the table to Draco.
"Oh, you are right. I had forgotten about that. Maybe I could ask him for some help or even for a quick rundown of what it would entail."
"I am sure he would be all too willing to help you. At least with the practical aspects."
"Yea, you are probably right."
"I know I am right. You could always try to achieve your animagus transformation and use that as part of your practice."
"I guess, maybe we could come up with a potion which bypasses the entire meditation period and holding a mandrake leaf in our mouths for a month. It would be so much more convenient if you could swallow a potion and transform it straight into your animagus form. There would be a decreased risk in becoming stuck as a hybrid during the transformation."
Aldwyn pauses in his preparations, eyes widening as he glances up at Draco, mouth working to form some words. However, they seem to be stuck in his throat, his mind whirling with various ingredients which would assist in a quicker and easier transformation. Maybe if he were to look up the original Animagus potion, it would make tweaking it that much simpler.
"Draco, you are a genius. Maybe we could work on that later. If we go through with it and form our club, we could use it for our club activities."
"I am sure Blaise would be willing to help us out with that as well," Draco adds, throwing the crushed snake fangs into the Potion while Aldwyn slowly stirs them in. As soon as he was sure they had dissolved fully, Aldwyn levitates the cauldron off the flames allowing Draco to drop the Porcupine quills into the bubbling concoction.
"We can ask him after the lesson. I am sure we will be able to find a book somewhere on the making of the Animagus Potion."
"It should be in the Hogwarts Library."
"We will have a look."
The pair continues to mutter back and forth, coming up with random ingredients that may help with the transformation, though it was tricky with their minimal knowledge. Aldwyn made a note to research more Potion's elements which magical properties included changing matter or even in growth and shrinking. He knew most animagus forms were smaller than the wizard or witch's human form.
"Alright, for those who have finished their potions, place your potion vials on the desk with your names written in clear, legible handwriting. If I am unable to make out your names, you will receive your first zero of the Semester."
Aldwyn smirks at Draco, holding up one of his crystal vials.
"Papa helped me put an anti-tampering and anti-breakable charm on the vial. No matter what happens, no one but me will be able to add anything to it, and if someone were to knock it off the desk accidentally, it wouldn't break." He explains to Draco's raised eyebrow. The blond nods, handing the cauldron to Aldwyn so the younger boy can ladle their finished Potion into the vial.
Aldwyn pushes the cork into his vial, smiling down at the almost perfect consistency of their Potion before he makes his way to the front of the classroom. Just as he is about to place his work on the desk, a foot cuts across his path; much too late does he notice it causing him to trip over. His hands slam across the cold, stone floor scrapping the skin of his palms and biting his lip to prevent a cry of surprise from escaping. He feels hands on his arms, gently guiding him back to his feet as a pale hand grabs his potions sample from off the floor when it had landed.
"Mister Weasley! 10 points from Gryffindor for your disregard for another student's safety and the attempted sabotage of another's work."
At least he now knew who it had been to trip him up, not that he wouldn't have been able to guess on his own. Aldwyn smiles at Draco, hands shaking with pain as he grimaces down at the small spots of blood gathering from the scraps.
"Thank you, Draco."
"No worries, Aldwyn. Are you alright? That was quite the fall."
"I am okay; just a little banged up is all. A little shaky."
Draco nods his head, a frown marring his features. He turns to glare at the Weasel, finger tapping his chin, and Aldwyn knows that the Youngest Weasley male is not going to remain unscathed for much longer. He would need to speak to Fred and George as soon as he is able.
"Mister Prince-Slytherin, up here if you will."
Aldwyn, with the help of Draco, quickly makes his way over to his Papa, smiling up at the man when he reaches his side. Settling down in the chair behind the desk when Severus indicates, he grins when his Papa pulls a healing paste from the pocket of his robes. The man never left his chambers without it, especially not since adopting Aldwyn.
"Hands."
Thrusting his hands out, Aldwyn winces at the slight sting when the balm is applied to his open wounds though he refuses to make any noise nor show his discomfort in front of the opening gaping Gryffindor students. Severus smirks, placing a quick kiss to the back of Aldwyn's hands, inwardly rolling his eyes when one of the Gryffindor's chokes in surprise.
"Does anywhere else hurt, Aldwyn?" He questions softly, eyes warming when he glances up at his Son. He needed to make sure his child was otherwise unharmed from his little tumble; the noise had almost made his heart stop.
"My knees hurt a little; I think they are going to bruise."
"Alright, would you like me to apply a bruise salve to them now or later?"
"Can you do it later? I don't think it will do much good until the bruises come out properly."
Severus smiles at Aldwyn, placing a kiss on his head when he pushes himself up from the floor; his Son made an excellent point; the bruise salve would do nothing until the bruising was fully formed and showing.
"Of course, Snakelet. How about you come to my chambers after your classes, and we will have dinner together."
"Really?"
"Really, Snakelet."
Aldwyn jumps to his feet, hesitating for a moment before he is drawn into a tight embrace, long fingers carding through his hair to reassure him that his Papa would never reject any form of affection from his Son so long as he was willing to give it.
"Thank you, Papa."
"You are most welcome, Aldwyn. Now, how about you head off to your next class, and I will see you this evening?"
"Okay, Professor. Come on, Draco, Blaise."
"I don't know why you are so chipper; we have Transfiguration next… with the Gryffindors again."
Aldwyn's mood drops a little. He didn't like Professor McGonagall, not after how she had treated him the previous evening; it had made him feel as if he wasn't wanted at Hogwarts, which he knows is silly because Bill, Charlie, and his Papa wanted him there as did all of his friends.
"I wonder if Professor McGonagall is going to pick on me again."
He mutters, slipping his hand into Blaise's as they make their way out of the Potion's classroom, the Gryffindor students having left at some point during the altercation at the end.
"I don't think she will, at least not as bad as last night in any case. We saw Uncle Severus talking to her at breakfast."
"Yea, but she didn't look all too happy with the conversation; what if she decides to take it out on me just to spite Papa?"
"Then we will go straight back to Professor Prince and tell him exactly what she says to you. He will either deal with it personally, or he will get the School Governors involved."
"Yea, my father would gladly persuade the governors to side with you and your Papa, especially if it is such an obvious case of bullying and singling out one student. Besides, Professor McGonagall wouldn't have a leg to stand on as she wouldn't have a legitimate excuse for her behaviour."
"I don't want it to have to go to the Governors, though." Aldwyn would refuse that his tone slips into a whine; he didn't want to bother the school representatives with something so trivial.
"Aldwyn is right. If Professor McGonagall continues to bother Aldwyn and single him out of the year group and Severus does take it up with the Governors, then it will turn into a long-winded process. They would need to collect evidence, speak to other staff and students along with Severus and Aldwyn. Once that story hits the news, it will be widespread around the wizarding world, especially seen as Aldwyn is, not only the Son of Severus Prince but the Heir to two prominent houses."
The trio walks in silence for a moment, catching up with their friends just outside the Transfigurations classroom, where they stand in wait for Professor McGonagall to call them in. The Gryffindor students stand a short distance away, faces sullen as a few take to glaring at the Weasel every so often, making Aldwyn smirk. It seems the Gryffindor house loyalties were being tested early with the loss of points; it is not surprising when their house is now most likely in the negatives. It is the first day of term and everything.
A/N
Finally got this chapter edited and upload for you lovelies. Hopefully I will be able to get the next one up by the end of this week or next week at the latest, it is about halfway done being written. I would like to thank those who have reviewed this story and have stuck with it since the beginning, as well as give my thanks to everyone who has sent me some brilliant prank ideas which I am going to be employing throughout the story so keep you eyes out for them all!