Hello again!

Disclosure

I do not own the work of Harry Potter or any of the subsequent work related to Harry Potter or any woks by the author called JK Rowling, the characters used in this story are borrowed for the sake of enjoyment and not meant to portray any offense to the original work.

The only characters whole owned by me is the OC

Story information

This chapter will switch perspectives and follow our mystery man. You smart people have already figured out who it is by now, if not then here's a hint it's everyone's favorite batty professor! If you feel like I haven't truly got Snape's character down don't be afraid to leave a comment. Just try to get me some idea of what you are looking for.

That's all for important information, let's jump on in!

1991 May 23, Scotland Hogwarts

Severus Snape woke up in his dreary bed like any other day. Six o'clock Am on the dot. Severus robotically went through his daily routine, combined his hair manually, pressed his robes with a simple spell, with another wave of his wand tucked his bed into pristine condition to the point a coin would bounce perfect off of it. He continued this process with his routine with perfect discipline.

Finished with his ritual he moved to his desk and with a swoosh of his robes he now donned, sat as his desk to go over his notes and lesson plans for the upcoming school year. Most might think he reused his lesson plans but they would be wrong. Severus made sure each year would be different different enough that no dunderheads could cheat by simply buying older students notes and homework. That and the additional knowledge that potions was a ever evolving subject and without constantly updating would fall to pathetic mediocrity. He himself proved that things could always be improved upon, when in his school years constantly changed and improved upon the standard practices.

Upon the slightest thought about his school years, he immediately used Occlumency to banish that train of thought and focus on his work.

Once Severus progress enough to satisfy himself he got up and proceeded to walk outside of his quarters. With one quick glance and flick of his wand back at his door and spoke the necessary spell, "Colloportus" not bothering to check the effects Severus walked off towards the headmaster's office for his scheduled meeting about possible students.

Once he had arrived at the stone gargoyle signifying the entrance to the office, he paused in front of the statue.

"Password" asked the statue in a gravelly voice.

"Twizzlers" responded Severus not a moment latter. With the same speed as his response the wall started to shift revealing the entrance. Walking briskly forward, letting his robes flowing behind him as he moved. Once inside he noticed his was the second to have arrived. Minerva McGonagall was already in the office speaking to headmaster Dumbledore. Both noticed his arrival and greeted him.

"Good morning Severus" accompanied by a short but pleasant nod from Minerva.

"Ahh Severus perfectly on time as always my friend, Minerva and I were just discussing how to divvy up the names of children whom we will have to visit" Dumbledore spoke with a smile in both his eyes as well as mouth.

With a nod of his own to colleagues. Severus prodded as how far they had gotten in the task. Finding out not very far as it turn out Minerva had gotten there only a couple of minutes earlier. Dumbledore picking back up the task started to go through some names on the list before arriving at one and taking a short pause that caused both Minerva and Severus himself to look up from their list they were creating them selfs.

"Mm what is it Albus? I can't imagine we have finished already" Minerva questioned about the pregnant pause.

"Ahh well it seems we have come across an oddity of sorts... the list here has marked this student with a requirement to be meet in person... mmm truly interesting" answered Dumbledore with smile brimming with curiosity about this mystery.

"And this type event new or has this happened with another child over the years?" Questioned Severus. Think about two possibilities in his mind that could be very well linked.

Albus spoke with a gentler tone as if he was trying to be careful around the very words he spoke, " well...yes and also no, something similar has happened before..." letting his voice trail off, not fully answering the question he undoubtedly brought up.

"And that would be?" Minerva prodded Albus for more information.

The headmaster took a moment, as if gathering the specific words in utmost care. Upon find the words Albus finally spoke, "ahh there was actually a couple of instances that oddities have come up in the list" taking another moment to pause as if he loved bringing up even more question before answering a single one. He continued,"well the one that stood out the most was of a child who came from a magical family but was orphaned in the non-magical world before he knew about the magical...I actually visited the child myself...his name was Tom"

"And I assume it's the very Tom we are thinking of?" Severus asked, barely holding back a sigh seeing where this was likely to end up.

"Ahh yes I would assume you are thinking of young Tom Marvolo Riddle? In which case yes. you would be correct Severus, astute as always" Dumbledore reciprocated. Before anyone else could speak up at this reveal Albus continued, "But that is just one instance, I remember that our own groundskeeper also had a oddity on his name as well seeing as he was a young half-giant who was living with his wizard father, we needed to make sure we could accommodate all of his needs so we had to meet him in person" revealing one Rubis Hagrid's introduction to Hogwarts. Which upon further thought made sense as someone only part human would need to be informed in person to understand their particular needs.

"So we have limited down to a reintroduction to the magical world or half-breed that will require accommodations?" Minerva attempted to clarify.

"Well yes but there could be another reason entirely, fascinating isn't it?" Albus chuckled.

"So are you going to doing this visit yourself headmaster?" Severus attempted to get this problem done and over with. He thought that enough time had been spent of this issue and it was time to move on. 'No matter how important a person is the world will continue, not even for the boy-who-lived. NO Severus this is not the time to think about that' quickly banishing the thoughts that started to appear. That was not a line of thought Severus was willing to go down, not now, not ever. He was quickly brought away from any more thoughts as the headmaster spoke.

"Mmm... I don't think I will there are many things I still need to prepare and think it would be best for me to focus my curiosity in other places. Lest I have the chance to repeat events unfavorably"

"Albus you can't blame yourself forev-" Minerva attempted to console the headmaster, but was cut off by the very same person.

"Please don't worry. Was simply a passing thought, I seem to have more of them coming out at my age. No I need to stay so that I can go visit an old friend I require a favor from"

Both professors nod in understanding at what the headmaster was talking about. It's subject was most definitely more important than satisfying curiosity of this potential student.

"Ahh but this student will still require a staff member to meet them...hmm... Severus you have already completed you work today I assume?" Albus moving the conversation back to the matter at hand.

"You would be correct, I am now ahead of schedule, *sigh* so whom is the child and where will I find him?" Reluctantly replied Severus. He didn't have a real reason to refuse and had the feeling that Albus wanted him to go specifically as to check for potential problems.

Happy to answer Headmaster Dumbledore responded with a happy smile, "wonderful it appears the young man in question is named Aris Ruamont. As for where you will find him let us see" with a short pause to touch his wand to the list in front of him, to get that very information "Ahh it says here...mmm...adding more mystery it says he is the sole occupant of the abandoned shack of the Wayward Refuge Orphanage, which seems to be between Inverness and the Great Glens of Scotland"

The mention of occupant of an abandoned place seemed like a cruel joke to Severus. Confirming Severus's idea he needed to pay close attention to this child and look for potential problems. 'Just great a already particularly problematic brat' Snape groaned internally as this year was looking to be especially grating.

After some more deliberation on other names on the list both Minerva and Severus had their names that they would need to go and greet. Saying goodbye to the headmaster both professors continued to walk through the halls in comfortable silence with only the occasional interruption from a ghost or a painting saying a greeting. Finally they had arrived to the exit of Hogwarts and turned to each other. Severus offered a nod before turning away only to turn back as Minerva spoke a final time.

"I truly hope everything goes smoothly Severus, and if not then I hope you can guide the child on the correct path" determination matched in both her voice and look.

Severus nodded and turned before glancing over his shoulder and replied, "I hope so as well" after he disappeared with a snap the defining characteristic of apparition.

O-O-O-O

After going through a couple of children on the list, explaining to the parents what Hogwarts was and the reason for why they should go. Most of the families were amiable with only one or two calling him crazy or a follower of satan. Which he huffed at the close irony of his dark past.

Finally arrived at the name Aris Ruamont. With one more crack of space Severus finally arrived a little in Inverness. With a quick cast of the locating charm he started on his way to Wayward Refuge Orphanage.

After continuing to walk in the country side for an hour or so Severus finally came upon the orphanage. The building was large single building that appeared to be made of cinder blocks and wood. A long fence stretched around the property with what Severus though would be ample room for roaming bovine, or children in this case. Walking up to the front door he used the provided door knocker and waited. Then he waited some more, as each second pasted by it built up his displeasure linearly. After waiting for another five minutes he finally heard the door click and open. Standing in front of Severus was a elderly woman who was dressed in formal religious wear, signifying her as a nun. The most notable thing about her was large cross she was wearing around her neck and holding in both hands. She looked Severus up and down then smiled and spoke in a voice Severus could only describe as patronizing.

"Ah good father, I'm glad you finally arrived I was beginning to lose faith. Seeing you here my faith is renewed, please come in"

Severus followed her inside and then into a larger room where he saw many children being cared to by four younger nuns that seemed to be somewhere between the ages of eighteen to twenty-two. Upon entering many of the children and caretakers looked up at him in surprise. Then he saw the caretakers quickly change there looks to solemn resignation. Before he could think further on the matter the head caretaker who seemed to be the nun who brought him inside spoke again to him in renewed vigor, "thank you for coming as you can see the rest of the children are being taken care of properly, I can show you to the back we can talk about why I asked you here"

That way the point Severus realize that she was expecting someone else and could guess that it had something to do with the boy Severus was here for. He decided this was reason enough to use Legilimency. His chance was given to him not a second later. As she was muggle he didn't need to worry about Occlumency, so he only needed to look into her eyes. He quickly got the information he was after as it was on the forefront of her thoughts. Although Severus rarely used Legilimency on muggles it was exceptionally easy and if he wanted to he could have dived deeper but he had already gotten what he needed. The location of the boy he was looking for. He did also get the information on whom the nun was expecting, merely because the woman was so focused on that topic. She called an exorcist to come and practice on the boy and if he was unsuccessful to get rid of the boy once and for all. Exiting her mind he acted quickly knowing that the woman wanted to watch, he let her show him to the back of the orphanage before he spoke to her.

"Merely point me in the direction of it and I will have this done quickly. I will require nothing more from you" his voice spoke with purpose and was more of a demand than a request.

The elderly woman saw that she would not be allowed to join him and frowned at this. Nonetheless she nodded and pointed further back towards the green hills in the distance. After the directions she gave her last warning, "follow strait back still you reach the shack, it will be the only thing around. Sir if I may be careful the demon is tricky and has survived many before yourself"

That was of some surprise to Severus that the woman had hired other to try and eliminate a child. 'Fffm muggles so many of there kind is similar, not all of course but so many of them are so quick to fear' he said nothing more and started on the path to the shack.

After about thirty minutes of walking he spotted the shack. The sun way high in the air by now he guessed around noon. He walked up to the door of this terrible run down shack the looked to be barely held together. Severus would prefer that the child didn't match the home, merely because he didn't want to have to deal with a dirty wild child. He approached the door and knocked. Hearing no reply for a minute he decided he spent enough time already on this, and decide to enter. Open the door he looked inside to see it empty of people. He started to prowl around the room looking for any sign of unsavory tendencies, such as dead animals or anything else that would lead him to think he was dealing with a disturbed child. Finding nothing of the sort, Snape did see a set of clothes drawn up on a line above a fireplace with dimming embers, a bed nearby that looked to be ready to break from a breeze. The most interesting thing Severus found was the stacks of books against a wall. The books included a number of topics from muggle sciences to fables from various places, not the whole world but enough to surprise him. What truly suck out was the fact the books were very clearly organized by topic. Pleasantly surprised Severus thought, 'well at least the child as an iota of intelligence, nothing impressive but-' his thoughts were cut off shortly as he heard a yell in the distance he couldn't make anything out. Not entertaining anymore thoughts about the disturbance, he finished looking around finding no other personal affects after a few more minutes. Hearing water sloshing out side he decided the owner finally decided to return.

Severus stepped out of the threshold he was surprised to hear a slight hiss. But came upon a lightly tan skinned boy with stark white wavy hair that was slightly longer than his own. The boy had bright yellow eyes, a hue Severus had only seen on creatures prior. The answer to the sound of water was supplied by the fact he had a yoke on his shoulder. Out of place from the rest of him was a book in hands of the child, the spine said Greek myths and monsters. The boy held a look of surprise before it turned into a scowl. The boy spoke in a tight tone that screamed suspicion.

"Who the hell are you?"

End of chapter

Severus Snape- unhappy for many reasons- problems just keep occurring

Aris Ruamont- doesn't know what to think- guy looks like a bat, is everyone this unfashionable?

Snakes- watchful- keeping and eye on 'Batman'

O-O-O-O

Leave a comment, thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it. Get ready to head on back to our man snake man Aris in the next chapter. Till next time!