TITLE: With Darkness Comes Anew
AUTHOR: Alia
STATUS/PART: 9
RATING: PG-13
PAIRING: Severus Snape / (What have the betting polls said?)
SPOILERS: not including OotP
WARNINGS: angst, language
DISCLAIMER: I do not in anyway or fashion own HP, etc. It belongs to JKR.
SUMMARY: Leaving the Wizarding World after a devastating betrayal, Severus starts a road in life that will eventually rock his world.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Sorry it took so long. I just didn't have the inspiration to write at the moment and that can be pure hell. I thank the people who sent a few hints to get off my ass and write so thank you guys. These updates won't always be on track but I'll try to keep it to at least no more than two weeks. Please remember that I am working on Second Chances: The Raven's Gift Sequel and that will occupy my time too. And lets not forget school just started again. Also, I've been told that I should add more thought to the characters and try more different points of view. Thank you my dear beta: Aikidobrat. Thanks to all those that reviewed, too.
/are thoughts/
With Darkness Comes Anew
Dumbledore watched as students put aside their meals to watch Severus Snape sit with a few of his former Slytherins. The young man, who looked a lot younger than he should, could be seen nodding here and there as his Slytherins talked to him, probably dictating what went on with their lives and with Hogwarts since he left. /Or since the poor boy was jailed and unfairly at that./ After putting off furious questions from his staff for another time, Albus contemplated.
Although Albus gave his usually cheerful smile and demeanor, he was mentally suffering from guilt. A few days after they'd discovered not only Severus's innocence but his escape from prison, Dumbledore had battled the pain of throwing such a dear friend into a prison wrongly. He had questioned almost day and night whether or not Severus was dead and no locating charm that had been tried could find the man. He had gone on believing that Severus was dead and guilt had ridden the Headmaster's shoulders for two years. He managed to ignore it except on the anniversary of the discovery. /And to think it wasn't very long ago that the second anniversary has past./
Shaking his head slightly and taking a drink from his goblet, Albus thought on what would be said and questioned during Severus's visit to his office. /This will not be easy at all. Severus will not doubt be angry with us as he has already demonstrated. And the others, Arthur, Molly, their children, and the Order...how will they respond to Severus in the enclosed space? My goodness. The tension will be terrible. Especially since we must know about this new power that Severus has. It could be very dangerous./
Seeing that the Great Hall was emptying of people, Dumbledore got Minerva's attention as well as Julius, Remus and Sirius's and the small group headed toward the doors. Albus stopped on the way though, motioning the other Professors to continue. He came up behind Severus. "Excuse me?" He didn't know if he should call him Severus as he obviously didn't go by that name any longer. Snape sounded a bit cold and he certainly could say Professor Snape.
Severus turned around to face Dumbledore. "Is there something I can help you with, Headmaster?"
Albus smiled, only to receive a raised eyebrow in return. He tried not to let it bother him. "We are all heading toward my office to meet. I thought that you would like to join us."
Severus gave him a rather long look before nodding and standing himself. The Slytherins began to protest. Hines said, "Oh not yet, Professor! You've only just told us a little about you!"
A small first year, who'd ambled over to listen in with his older brother said, "And I want to hear about your twins! And the - OW!" His older brother glared at him then glanced at the Headmaster, then back to him. The small boy blushed. "Oops?"
His brother groaned. "You should have been a Hufflepuff."
Severus chuckled. He wasn't happy that that bit of information had been let out but he could ignore it just this once. "Perhaps later, Miss Hines." He turned to Albus. "After you, Headmaster."
As the two wizards walked toward the Headmaster's office, Albus wondered if he should approach the subject of what the small Slytherin had said. /Perhaps once we're inside my office. I just hope it doesn't feel like an inquisition./
Severus found himself thankful for the silence. /That is the last thing I need from the old man. Him bothering about my life. Like he hasn't helped enough in my life./ Severus looked at Albus's contemplative face. /Or the old coot is waiting until we go in his office. Shit./ Severus was thankful that Julius would be there.
After the password was given, both took the stairs and quickly found themselves before Albus's office door. The Headmaster entered first with Severus right behind him. Severus saw the frown on Julius's face before he even saw the chair formation. With him smack in the thick of it. Suddenly a Monty Python scene flew into his head about the Spanish Inquisition. He smirked. /Damn it Ash! I blame you for that./ His brother had a nasty habit of letting the slightest thing mess him up mentally. He'd never forget that time at the grocery.
Raising an eyebrow at the stares he was getting, Severus walked smooth to the chair before sitting down. He looked every one of them in the eye, causing quite a few -Lupin, Tonks, Shacklebolt, Fletcher, and all of the Weasleys- either looked away or dropped their eyes. /Good./ Dumbledore smiled at him as if trying to provide comfort. /Not bloody likely./ Black and Moody glared at him as if he was evil incarnate. /Very close gentlemen. Very close./ Julius grinned at him and Severus found it a bit hard not to smirk back.
He turned to Dumbledore. "I believe you wanted to speak to me, Headmaster?"
Albus sighed a bit seeing that this wasn't going to be easy. Severus noticed and thought/Hell no, old man. I'm not making anything easy for you./
"We just wanted to talk to you for a bit, Severus."
"I would really prefer if you called me Alex, Headmaster." Severus was off limits, even to family most times, except when the situation was really serious. Lex was better though, but only with family and friends. Alexander...it was probably best not to call him that under the circumstances. He was finally settling on a name for what he was. Like Chiara had claimed to be called Lady of the Light, Severus was simply settling on Alexander. It was easier that way, but he was still thinking about it.
Clearing his throat, Dumbledore nodded. "Of course, Alex, please forgive me." He continued. "Alex, first of all I think that we all owe you an apology. We should not have judged you so quickly in what happened that day, and should have kept our faith in you, especially since you stood by us all so steadfastly during the war. I am sorry that we didn't trust you." Heads nodded came from around the room, even from Black and Moody though hesitantly. Molly looked to be a wreck, but she nodded her apology as well with tears shining in her eyes.
Severus remained silent. Because of this, unfortunately, Dumbledore continued. "We hope that you do understand what kind of position we were placed in at the time."
Severus blinked and continued to look calmly at the Headmaster while mentally he was thinking/You BASTARD! The position YOU were put in/
"Not only were we all grieving for poor Ginny and worrying about young Harry, but the evidence against you was completely overwhelming and we weren't in the right frame of mind about checking everything."
"Especially with that idiot Fudge around," muttered Tonks.
Albus glanced at her then continued with his 'apology'. "Yes, the falsifying of the evidence was also not checked. My boy," Severus cringed slightly/I'm older than he is, "I also want to apologize for not having faith in you or your well being."
Severus glowered and felt slight pleased when some flinched, looking away. "I understand Headmaster. I understand completely that after risking my life for over twenty years for the 'cause', that not one of you had doubts of my raping and killing one of my students. Oh I see. So being jailed for life and maybe even given the kiss sooner or later shouldn't make me any less understanding of being betrayed. Being beaten by the aurors most of the day before and after my trial shouldn't make me bitter or keep me from understanding the delicate position that you all were put in.
Don't worry. I've dealt with betrayal plenty of times." He shot a sour look at Dumbledore. " So I want you to know that I am very understanding."
Dumbledore's eyes widened at the angry but cool tone. He sighed. "Severus," a cough, "Alex, please listen to me. You have children don't you? Twins?" Severus practically growled at him. "Think of how you would feel if one of them was killed? You wouldn't be very clear headed would you?"
"Don't you dare, bring my children into this Dumbledore? They have nothing to do with this!"
"I'm sorry!" sobbed Molly from the side. Arthur had pulled her into his arms. "I just needed someone to blame and you were just there!" she cried.
Severus sighed. "Molly, I can't say that I am at what happened, but Dumbledore is right that I understand, from YOUR point of view. I have lost a person dear to me and I know what that type of grief does to you. However I also know that no matter what I wanted the truth!" He turned away from her.
Shacklebolt decided to get a word in. "Snape, listen, we are sorry. We had no idea what was going on at the ministry at that time."
"And that makes it all better doesn't it. Tell me Shacklebolt, even before Fudge completely fucked up everything at the ministry, before you even saw the evidence...did you believe that I did it? That I raped and murdered Miss Weasley? That I knocked out Mr. Potter and planned to kill him as well? A person I've been protecting since the idiot boy got to this cursed school? Tell me." His voice had practically dropped to a low menacing purr. "Did you believe that I did it? Did you really have any type of faith in me?"
The entire room was filled with shouts, shouts of denial that came just a few seconds too quickly. Severus raised an eyebrow and all of them went quiet. "Don't lie to yourselves. It was there. You believed it."
"Se-Alex!" cried Albus.
"No. Even if you didn't want to believe, you did. Didn't you? And an honest answer would be appreciated this time." The room was quiet. Severus looked at Dumbledore, whose eyes were lowered in shame. "Yes, I thought so." He leaned back into his chair while glancing at a somber looking Julius.
The werewolf nodded his head toward Lex then said, "Perhaps we should concentrate on Mr. Potter and his condition? That is what Lex is here for."
Dumbledore nodded. "You are correct Julius, thank you. Alex, is there anything that you can tell us about Harry."
"Since some of you weren't there at the time, I'll speak of what is happening with Potter. Right now, he's healed physically. I will have to do a scan on his magical signature because that's what the curse affects most. Because of the curse being placed into potion, I'll have to do research. There is really no telling what it could do. At the moment however, Potter will be fine. He should wake tomorrow and I'll begin the scan then. Do you have any questions?"
"What is the amulet suppose to do be scanning for exactly Lex?" asked Julius.
"Have you ever heard of DNA?" At the blank looks, he rolled his eyes. /I can not complain too much. I didn't even know about it before./ "According to the muggles, DNA is the blueprint of all life. It's a sequence of codes that build on to each other to create larger structures." At the still blank looks, he growled. "Think of it as a string of colored building blocks tied together in patterns. The pattern is blue, green, red and white. You could say that a person's magical signature is something like that. In this case something has been injected that has interfered with the original structure. Using the example it would be another color. I have to find and detect that injected structure than remove it. Hopefully, nothing bad will be affected because of what form the curse was in."
Everyone nodded as most understood what Snape, or rather Evanson, was talking about. "I'll begin the scan tomorrow after Potter has awaken."
"So you will be staying the night?" asked Albus.
Severus sighed and shook his head. "Unfortunately, yes. Do you mind sharing Julius?"
The werewolf blushed and glared at Lex, not liking the tone of his voice. "Ha ha. Funny. As long as you keep your hands to yourself I'm fine."
"I take offense to that. I never lay a hand on someone else's property." He left off the 'unless permission is given'. Julius knew Brea well enough that she might say yes to him.
Albus cleared his throat. "The two of you seem to be very good friends. How did you meet, Julius?" He directed the question at Fryer because he had a feeling that Severus wouldn't answer.
"Through a mutual friend." He didn't say anything else. He doubted that Lex wanted him to do so.
Dumbledore sighed mentally seeing that Julius wouldn't give in. "Are you and your friend close Alex?"
"I don't see how that's your business, Headmaster."
"I am just curious my boy. I wish to know about your life. Your friends, your family, and-,"
"I do not believe that is any of your business, excuse me, Headmaster."
"My boy," he ignored Severus's grimace, "I only wish to get to know the person who you are now."
"Headmaster, you didn't know the person I once was."
"I wish only to look out for you Severus, for your best interests!" Dumbledore regretted it as soon as he said it.
"Like always, eh Headmaster?"
The Headmaster became silent seeing that he would not get anywhere with Severus.
Nodding Severus stood. "If that is all, you will excuse me. I believe I should check on Mr. Potter." Julius stood to follow his friend.
However, it was Moody who also stood. "Just a minute Snape!"
Severus glowered at him and smirked as a small shiver went down Alastor's spine. /Yes, you old bastard, you had better be afraid./ "How can I help you Moody?" He was being coldly polite in a way that only a Malfoy could be.
Moody glared at him, though it didn't affect Severus in the least bit. "What happened in that hospital room today!"
Severus straightened and raised an eyebrow. "I'm quite sure that you were informed of it."
"Alastor..." Dumbledore said with a bit of censure in his voice.
The habitually paranoid auror continued to stare at Snape, ignoring Dumbledore. "I always told Dumbledore that we should have tossed you into Azkaban long ago." He missed the flash that appeared in Severus's eyes for a moment. "Dark magic, Snape! And wandless as well, eh!" He gave a rather harsh laugh. "Oh you are definitely innocent aren't you, Death Eater! Maybe not of Weasley and Potter, but you ARE guilty of evil! Aren't you!"
Severus snorted. "Moody, haven't we played this song and dance a million times before?" Severus was not in the mood for this crackpot's mad ravings.
Sirius Black stood with a fierce look upon his face. /Why am I not surprised that it would be this fool/ thought Severus.
Black stomped over to get into Snape's face. An amused look overcame Severus even as Black started spouting that he'd always been an evil bastard. Of course it never made any sense.
Lupin came over and yanked Black backwards by his collar. "Severus," at the glare, he quickly corrected himself, "Alex. I want to apologize for Moody and Sirius." He paused to give both men a displeased look. "We were only concerned about the wandless magic. How is it possible that you could do such powerful magic without a wand? Not even Harry and Albus can do such a thing and they are the strongest."
"That Lupin is a secret that will have to be kept."
Black got angrier than before. "You and your 'friend' keep a lot of secrets don't you, Snape? First the Wolfsbane and now this!"
Severus frowned, then a slow smirk grew over his face as he looked at Black and Lupin. He turned to Julius, who was suddenly nervous at the look on his face. "Caesar, I thought I told you not to say anything about the cure I gave you?" He said it rather casually, but it got the shock factor that he wanted.
Julius groaned at the looks that everyone wore. It was shock that was slowly slipping into despair. He suddenly felt for Lupin. Because as they were all realizing, it was very unlikely that Lex would give Remus a cure.
Remus's mouth had fallen open as he heard the words from Snape's mouth. /No. Oh god. Severus found a cure. But I know I'll be damned forever now./
To be honest, Severus didn't care about Lupin. The werewolf could drop dead and he would probably be curious to know how but nothing else. However, he would have given Lupin the cure if the werewolf had asked. At least until Black opened that mouth of his.
Sirius suddenly knew that had it ever come between killing Voldemort or Snape, he'd pick Snape. The bastard had a cure for Remmy and he wasn't going to give it to him. All because of a mistake! It wasn't their fault that Snape was such a good little Death Eater that they believed he would kill Ginny and maybe even Harry. /Let's not forget how they thought the same about me./ Deciding to ignore the thought and just follow his instincts, he muttered, "You are really proud of yourself, aren't you, Snivellus." All Sirius would remember later was Snape's eyes turning totally black.
Remus cried out as a loud roar filled the room and Sirius was tossed across the room. Julius sat down a bit shaken. Lex hadn't moved. Not one muscle but Julius supposed that he had been the only one besides the now incapacitated Sirius Black to see the man's eyes go totally black.
Everyone, Dumbledore, McGonagal, the Weasleys, and the rest of the Order, stood with their wands in hand. Severus snarled at them and suddenly each was found a new home. All of them were planted deeply into the ceiling, all lying vertically. They stared at their wands, then turned their stunned expressions to Severus, who said, "If you can't behave with them, then you can't have them."
Had the situation not been so frightful, Julius would have laughed at the parental voice Lex used to purposely be condescending.
Minerva gasped, "What are you?" This couldn't possibly be Severus Snape. He was too young, too powerful, too different to be Snape.
Severus snorted. "I'm a vampire, Minerva. I thought you knew," he said rudely but jokingly. Moody, being the 'Constant Vigilance' kind of guy, stood with his wand arm out...only to realize that his wand was stuck in the ceiling. His eyes widened and he missed the small smile that graced Severus's face just before his eye fell out and rolled across the floor.
/A little push of magic does wonders./ thought Severus.
"My eye!" Crunch.
Albus, who had just taken a step, gasped and raised his foot. "Oh dear!"
"Lose something, Alastor?" asked Severus. He glanced at Julius who almost lost it. The werewolf had his hand over his mouth and was trying not to catch anyone's attention.
Sirius, who had unfortunately woken from his flight and collision, stood and stumbled toward Snape. "Fuck you, Snivellus! You should have rotted in that prison!" Calls of Sirius's name were ignored. "You should be dead. No one wants a worthless bastard like you and I don't care what anyone says. I know you're just some heartless murdering bastard! S-,"
Severus had had enough.
Before he'd known it, he'd snapped. Black found himself suspended in air and Severus found himself fighting to keep control. No one had the right to judge him, especially these people. "You know nothing Black. You know shit about me or my life and it is going to stay that way. I am going to help Potter then get the bloody hell out of this fucking castle. I never want to see any of you fools again if I can help it." He turned to leave then paused. "By the way Black. Don't call me what you are. And be careful from now on. It's amazing how much memories a single word can contain."
Sirius turned horizontal then hit the ground with a sickening thud.
Severus didn't notice that everyone had rushed over to see to Sirius nor that Julius was walking toward Severus. The enraged Symbol was too busy storming from the room.
TBC
Alia: Sorry it took so long but here it is. I'll get to work on the explanations now. And I gave you just a hint at that last line. You still won't get it though. But maybe you will. Review, okay? Give me encouragement!
