Chapter 31: Apprentice

Morning Vale, Kilburn, Derbyshire, England

October 21, 1986

Severus Snape never thought he would find himself in the position that he was at present. When he had spent all of his time studying and working hard to achieve his Mastery in Potions, he had never expected to one day take on Apprentices of his own. He still was not willing to rule out the possibility that the wily and cunning Witches of House Malfoy had secured his agreement to take on his three apprentices through nefarious means. Narcissa alone he could handle, but Narcissa with the backing of Callista Spinks? The odds had been stacked against him. It didn't help at all that Lucius was all for the schemes of his beloved wife and favorite sister. Still, Severus could have said no and he would have, except that he was then visited by Cassiopeia Black and she wished for him to take Leonis Black, the Heir Black as his apprentice as well.

He could make all the excuses that he wanted, but deep down he knew the truth. He wanted to take Draco Malfoy, Aleksei Spinks, and Leonis Black on as his Apprentices. He wanted to help mold and shape them. All three of the boys had shown a strange affinity for potions. Draco's affinity was similar to his own. Draco intuitively seemed to be able to figure out how to make a potion better, stronger, and more efficient than before. Aleksei was incredibly gifted with experimentation. The boy was the sort that in time with the right guidance would create new potions that would help cure illnesses. Leonis was a different matter. He had watched the boy brewing with Draco and had been troubled by how similar the boy acted to Regulus Black when he sorted his ingredients, prepared them, and then began the process of brewing a potion. It was uncanny how much Sirius Black's son reminded him of his old friend Regulus. Though Regulus had been younger than he was, they had been friends of a sort. Regulus had often assisted him in brewing potions for the infirmary since Slughorn was far too busy brown-nosing the students he thought would be influential someday to do the job himself. Severus had become accustomed to Regulus's way of doing things. Since the other boy's potions were just as perfect as his own, he had never had a cause to correct the other boy. Now he saw those same mannerisms in his nephew.

At this point he was just relieved that Leonis was really nothing like the brash bully his father had been. Leonis was the favorite cousin of his God-son Draco. For that reason alone, Severus had initially resolved himself to tolerating the brat. He had not expected to come to care a little bit for the boy.

That they were being Apprenticed to him so young was unusual, but not uncommon. It was an ancient practice that the more Light-Minded families frowned upon, but it was not actually illegal. It had fallen completely out of favor with the Light-Minded families during the Napoleonic Wars. Then the Light families had decided that sending their child away to Apprentice with a Master was thoroughly wrong. It split up families and in their opinion ruined their chances of survival. The Dark-Minded families had understood that a split family might mean at least one survived to carry on the line and traditions.

In agreeing to make Draco, Aleksei, and Leonis his Apprentices, Severus was agreeing to help raise them and look after them. They would have rooms of their own in his home and he would become their shelter in a storm. He would teach them all that he knew. The boys would not live with him, though that was the ancient practice. This was a more modern age where day to day travel was considered far easier than in the ancient past. The boys would floo to his home five days a week for their lessons with him. They would spend many nights with him though, due to the nature of some of their lessons. He intended to take the children on field trips so that they could identify potions ingredients in their natural habitat and so be able to understand what they looked like in their raw untouched state. The boys needed to understand that they could not get through life ordering potions ingredients from a potions shop. They needed to know that what they were looking at was quality or not. Severus had quite enjoyed some of those early lessons with Master Talietzin. Since Severus had already been harvesting his own potions ingredients for years, those lessons had been few, but Severus would make them lengthy for his own young Apprentices. They didn't know yet what to look for, but they would learn.

Truly, Severus enjoyed the idea of teaching three boys who had talent and legitimately desired to learn more about Potions making. He was also to begin teaching Occlumency to Draco and Aleksei but not to Leonis. This last had irritated him until Cassiopeia Black had rather apologetically explained that he was already taking lessons in Occlumency from Lord Black as he was the Heir. Severus had read that it could be dangerous for more than one master to teach a child Occlumency at once. In truth, learning so young was dangerous and he had at first argued against Lucius about the decree to teach Draco and Aleksei such a dangerous mind art.

"Draco is my heir and Aleksei is the Heir Spinks," Lucius had said. "We have enemies Severus. Alastor Moody is a loose cannon and he still believes that Andreas and I somehow have the Dark Mark. There are others like him who believe we somehow must have bribed our way out of a life sentence in Azkaban Prison. Even Albus Dumbledore has fed the rumors on occasion that we cannot be trusted."

Severus had shivered at that. The thought of Lucius trapped in Azkaban was a nightmare for him. He knew that Lucius had never accepted the Dark Mark. Andreas had not accepted it either. Both had agreed to stay away from Voldemort and his agendas. Severus had been grateful for Lucius's choice. Had Lucius taken the Dark Mark then Severus knew that he would have followed him and done the same. His place was forever with Lucius, guarding his back and protecting him, teaching his child, and whatever else he could do to ease Lucius's burdens. This did not mean that he always agreed with or liked Lucius's choices though. Severus had been relieved that Lucius chose against joining Voldemort. The man's agenda was too extreme for Severus. Thankfully, Lucius did not have the stomach for outright torture. Lucius needed to be appropriately enraged before he could torture anyone. This was not to say that Lucius could not be cruel. He had cruelty mastered to a fine art form. He was beautiful and deadly. No doubt this was why the Light-Minded Wixen feared him.

He had determined that he would teach Draco and Aleksei Occlumency, but he knew he needed to be careful with each of the boys. Aleksei was especially sharp, a prodigy in some regards. His family had yet to find a subject that the boy was not brilliant in. This would make the boy's years at Hogwarts a bit miserable, Severus was sure. The boy would become terribly bored with his school work.

He awaited the arrival of Draco and Aleksei now. Leonis had arrived early that morning with Cassiopeia Black. She had wanted to inspect his home to determine if it were truly a safe place for Leonis. He could not fault her for this, the boy was the Heir to the Black Dynasty and she would be a pitiful guardian for the child if she did not demand to check over his home and the grounds. He had spent the morning catering to her whims, walking the manor and the grounds with her and young Leonis. The boy was truly nothing like Sirius Black, even the boy's eyes were a sharp piercing gray. They were so similar to Draco's and it put him at ease to see gray eyes instead of blue eyes staring at him.

Madam Black, as Severus often referred to Cassiopeia because calling her Miss Black at her age seemed somehow demeaning, had finally deemed his home and lands to be of great quality. She had then over lunch admitted to him that she had once been pursued by one of Severus's relatives.

"Aurelius Prince," she had said, "was acerbic, sarcastic, and not at all charming in the usual way that women desire," she then smiled at him and there was a sparkle in her eyes. "I adored that man. He's the only man that ever tempted me into matrimony."

Leonis had looked at her with wide eyes. "Auntie why didn't you marry him then?" he asked with all the impertinence of youth. It was a question that Severus too wanted to know, but he had known better than to ask it of her.

Cassiopeia smiled at Leonis and it was then that Severus realized that they were treating him like family. He felt immediately humbled and happy to be included in such a way by Madam Black and her ward.

"Because, I realized that Aurelius needed someone different than myself," Cassiopeia admitted. It was clear just from her comment that Leonis wished to ask more about it but then the boy thought better of it. Severus decided it was another point in the child's favor. He could not imagine Sirius Black holding his tongue as a curious child but his son had already learned that sometimes he should not ask questions. This was good. There would be frequent times in his upcoming education where Severus would expect and demand direct obedience from Leonis, Draco, and Aleksei. All three of his Apprentices would have to learn how to hold their tongues. They would have to learn when to ask questions and when silence is best. They would have to learn how to hold secrets, but not until he was sure that they were accomplished Occlumens as their parents had insisted.

Cassiopeia had taken her leave of Mourning Vale just after luncheon. Severus had then taken Leonis to the first of the three Potions Laboratories at Mourning Vale. The Prince family had a long history of Potions Brewers in the family and with more than one Potions Master living at Mourning Vale at one time, more potions labs had been mandatory. Severus had chosen the laboratory near the attached Greenhouse, or Greenhouse 1, as he often thought of it. There were four Greenhouses at Mourning Vale and each was used for the growing of more expensive environment specific plants.

The Laboratory beside Greenhouse 1 was a beautiful sunlit room. It had been built for Amalia Prince in the late seventeen hundreds, or so her painting had informed him. She had seemed delighted to learn that he had taken on young apprentices and she had politely asked if he would ensure one of her portraits was within her laboratory so that she could watch the proceedings. He was considering naming the lab the Amalia Lab in honor of her.

Leonis had liked the laboratory and had admitted to him that he had feared that they would be stuck in a dark underground dungeon of sorts. He had read that the Potions Laboratory at Hogwarts was within the dungeons and he really could not understand why.

"Some potions and their ingredients must be kept away from direct sunlight during the preparation and brewing process," Severus told the younger boy. "However, you will not be dealing with such things for some time yet. This lab will be where you, Draco, and Aleksei shall learn to tell the difference between potions ingredients and how to properly prepare them. Later, once you have advanced in your studies we will move you boys to one of the darker labs where you will learn about making potions that require darker environments to thrive."

Leonis had nodded his head at that. "I see, so because we are beginners we get to start in this lab."

Severus nodded. "The truth is that most potions thrive with sunlight, and so most of the brewing will be done here. Only when you have to deal with the other sorts of potions will you spend time in the darker laboratory," he explained and then added, "I never did like that we were stuck in a dark dingy laboratory at Hogwarts. None of the potions that are on the curriculum to brew there require darkness."

Leonis smiled at that. "I read in Hogwarts: A History, that the Potions Lab was not always located in the Dungeons. It was moved there at some point in the late eighteen hundreds because someone noticed the trend that most of the Potions Masters of the School had been Slytherin's."

Severus smirked at that. "Well, Potions making is a subtle art," he said.

This caused the other boy to giggle. "Who better than a Slytherin then to understand it."

Severus had felt affection for the child in that moment. It was a relief that Leonis Black reminded him more of dear deceased Regulus than of Sirius. He would never really be alright around Sirius Black. Severus knew that, recognized that personal limitation within himself. He knew though that Sirius Black was in the boy's life. It was one of the reasons that Severus had hesitated to agree to taking Leonis as an Apprentice, but he had been reassured that Sirius was not an active part of the boy's life. He would not be the boy's custodian unless most of the senior Blacks were to die. Severus had never much cared for Narcissa's birth family, but now he reminded himself to pray for their longevity.

Noting that it was nearly time for Draco and Aleksei to arrive, Severus had sent Leonis off with Aconite to the Solarium where the boy could sit in the sunlight amongst carefully cultivated plant-life and he could eat the cookies that Aconite wished to ply the boy with. His House-Elves were quite excited that children would be at the Manor once more, even if the boys would not remain as permanent residents.

Severus had retreated to his study. He was intending to glance over his first few days' lesson plans. His agreement with his Apprentice's families was that he would be allowed to keep them for four days to properly induct them and get them used to their environment at Mourning Vale. He wanted the children to be comfortable and to come to view this as their home away from home. It was his duty as their Master to provide them with a safe-harbor.

He had just finished glancing over his plans for the weekend when he heard the soft tones of his favorite House-Elf, Asphodel. She was a kind thing who had immediately taken a liking to him when he gained his inheritance over the Prince estates. She had been the first one to greet him and the first one to swear herself to him, even though she had not been the Head Elf. She was a kind and nurturing sort of creature, as were most of the House Elves at Mourning Vale.

"Master Sev'rus," the gentle voice of Asphodel called to him.

He turned his dark-eyed gaze to her. "Yes, Asphodel, what is it?"

"Sorry to disturb Master Sev'rus, but Master Lucius just flooed in with Young Master Draco and Heir Spinks. Aconite has taken Master Draco and Heir Spinks to join Heir Black in the solarium where they's being served cookies and milk," Asphodel informed him.

Severus chuckled at the thought of the future Lords Black, Malfoy, and Spinks sitting happily in his Solarium munching on chocolate chip cookies and drinking milk. The mental image made him feel warm inside. He could not deny to himself that he did feel a great wealth of affection for these three children. He had been truly honored that Narcissa had wanted him to be a god-parent to Draco. Out of Draco's three god-parents, it was Severus that the boy saw the most often and it was to Severus that Draco ran to whenever he was frightened or worried over something. Severus was proud of this and he was proud of Draco. Severus did not delude himself, he knew that he would never marry and never sire children, despite how much Narcissa might wish it otherwise.

"Very well," Severus said. "I take it that Lucius has been let loose in my library?"

Asphodel nodded. "Yes, Master Sev'rus, Heir Malfoy wanted to look at your pretty books."

'Of course, he does,' Severus thought even as he nodded his thanks to Asphodel and then went in search of Lucius. The Prince library rivaled the Malfoy library in regards to ancient charms and hexes, Lucius's specialty.

The three boys could wait. The House-Elves adored them and would not leave them completely alone to await him. Draco was his acknowledged Heir and thus while in residence at Morning Vale he was always Heir Prince. The other two boys were young Heirs of their own respected Houses. His House-Elves would be giddy to wait upon the three little boys. They would be treated like Princes by his House-Elves. Wasn't that a frightening thought? He would have to have a long talk with his House-Elves about spoiling the three boys. He could not allow them to become over-privileged spoilt brats.

He found his Arden in the Prince Library. Lucius had a book in hand and seemed to be quite concentrated in his reading. Severus took a moment to study him. Though Lucius's pose was relaxed, there was too much tension in his shoulders and arms. There was the stubborn set of his jaw that showed that he was riding a dark mood and had attempted to reign it in. If Severus had to guess he would say that Lucius reigned it in due to being near Draco and Aleksei. Lucius did not enjoy scaring the children.

Severus felt it then, the roiling emotions within Lucius. Rage was paramount but beneath the rage was a deep well of hurt. What had happened to his Arden?

"Luc?" he asked even as he took the step closer to Lucius. He froze just a few feet from him when he felt the anger rolling from his Arden.

"I need you to keep Draco and Aleksei for a few days longer," Lucius spoke then. "Narcissa was invited to go shopping abroad with Callista. She has taken Theodore and Blaise with her since they need new things. Draco would have been taken as well, but he was so looking forward to beginning his Apprenticeship."

"I understand," Severus told him. "You have nothing to fear. I will take care of them," he promised Lucius.

Lucius stared at him for a few moments and then sighed, some of the tension leaving him. "I know you will," he said at last.

Severus studied him for a moment more and then his eyes narrowed in consideration. "You ordered Narcissa and Callista to go. Draco and Aleksei shall be here with me. What are you and Andreas planning?" he asked and hoped he kept the hurt from his voice that Lucius had not included him in his plotting.

Lucius winced, and Severus knew then that he had not been able to keep his hurt from reaching out to Lucius through the bond. "Last night, House Goyle was raided by Auror's. The Auror's were full of questions for Richard Goyle and very little of it was to do with his own involvement with Voldemort."

Severus frowned at that. "They questioned him about you?" he asked to clarify matters but even as he asked he knew it was the truth. "They were trying to get Goyle to implicate you somehow?"

"Yes," Lucius said. "They were attempting to get Goyle to implicate that I was not only a Death Eater, but that I had been high up in their little terror organization. That I had in fact been a right-hand man to that monster."

Severus frowned at that. "Why?" he asked. "Why are they doing this?"

Lucius sighed at that. "They also wanted Goyle to implicate others. It was not me alone, Severus. They wanted a finger pointed at Andreas, at Caius Parkinson, Aldrick Dunbar, and at Alisande Vaisey."

Severus frowned at that. He did not pay much attention to politics. He had little interest in it and so had been permitting for Lucius to vote his Proxy in the Wizengamot. Still he easily recognized the names that Lucius had spoken to him. "The Spinks family, Malfoy family, and Parkinson family have always been dark. Their magical affinity is always dark or at least on the darker side of gray. The Dunbar family and the Vaisey family have always been Gray."

"Yes, and therefore these families will, at least in theory, oppose reforms that Light-minded Wizards like Elphias Doge and Albus Dumbledore wish to push through the Wizengamot," Lucius snarled as he put the book down on the table. He began to pace then.

Severus leaned against a book case in thought. "So, this really has nothing to do with them truly believing you're guilty of anything? It's more or less a witch-hunt," he regretted his choice of words as soon as Lucius flinched. A few of Lucius's ancestors had been subjected to the brutality of the Malleus Maleficarum. He pressed on knowing that was better than apologizing. "They wish to discredit you and the others that they feel might not fall into line."

Lucius nodded and then continued his pacing. "The worst part is that it will work. You know how fickle the public is."

Severus could not help but to agree. The public was quite fickle. "Turn the fickle public to your advantage," Severus said softly, his brain still musing over the dilemma.

Lucius paused at that and turned back to look at Severus. "I," he paused and then a slow smirk curved his lips. "You are right. I have been panicking, and I bet that is exactly what they wanted me to do. I played into their hands for a moment," he said the last with disgust.

He nodded as Lucius began to pace, his clever mind going over the problem with new resolve. He saw the smile that transformed Lucius's handsome features and he wanted to curse. He had helped Lucius yes, but what would Lucius think up now?

"You have always said that we Malfoy's are flamboyant," Lucius said to him as he approached him.

Severus frowned at that. "Yes," he admitted. It was an old argument between himself and Lucius. Severus was far subtler than his Arden. Lucius was pizzazz and dazzle. He shone in the light, he was aptly named. Severus was more withdrawn, the shadows suited him.

"I intend to be bold and flamboyant," Lucius said pointedly as he came to stand before Severus. "I will clear the record once and for all about my non-involvement with that monster and his little terrorists. Thank you, Severus," he said appreciatively in a soft tone of voice. "Please take care of the boys for a few days," Lucius said as he turned away and began to walk out of the Library.

"You need not bid me to take care of them," Severus said to Lucius's parting back. "I am their Master now, it is my duty and honor to protect them. And I am your Arden. I would never allow harm to come to your son or nephew, at least not without swift retribution."

Lucius chuckled at that. "You are a fierce protector, Severus," he acknowledged. "I am, as always, grateful."

And wasn't that strange, Severus mused as he watched Lucius Malfoy walk away. Gratitude from a Malfoy. It was a gift rarer than gold. More impossible to possess than the rarest of potions ingredients and yet it belonged to him, to Severus Snape.

He shook his head to clear it of his musings. There were three little boys that he needed to go see to. He would give his three little Apprentices the rest of the day to become accustomed to their new domain, but tomorrow morning after breakfast those three boys would spend the day going over Potions ingredients in the Amalia Laboratory. With this decision, firmly in mind, Severus strode from the library and to the solarium. He paused in the doorway to enjoy the sight of his three Apprentices laughing together as they ate chocolate chip cookies.

He felt his protective instincts surge at the sight. He refused to allow these boys to be harmed if he could help it. If he could not stop it, then there would be swift retribution just as he had promised Lucius. He would never marry, he would never sire sons. These three boys would become his living legacy.


Though it is outdated, the Old Pure-blood families still sometimes engage in the Ancient Ways of Apprenticeship. This means signing their child over to a Master or Mistress as their Apprentice until they come of age or have mastered the arts they are learning, whichever comes first. In the olden days the child would go and live with their Master but now in the modern day they spend a great deal of time with their Master but they may still return home to their parents.