Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I do not have any rights to Harry Potter and I do not make any money from writing these fics.
A/N: Written for the One Million Words Added Challenge, the Pairing Diversity Boot Camp Challenge, the 335 Pairing Bonanza Challenge, the If You Dare...Continued Challenge, the Disney-A-Thon Challenge, the Pick a card, Any card challenge, the Pokémon Journey Challenge, the Quidditch League Challenge and the chocolate frog challenge, As Much As You Can Challenge, New Years Resolution 2015 Challenge.
Prompts: Alphard Black/Severus Snape, Tacky, Diverse, Write about a Slytherin (Oogie Boogie), Write about a skilled wizard (Jack of Spades), Write a story to determine who your rival is (Pokémon Journey), (Word) Fireworks, (Word) Begone, (Colour) aquamarine. Marauders Era.
Finding A Parental Figure
Never.
That was the one thought that floated in Alphard Black's head as a bright aquamarine coloured firework exploded into the sky. As Alphard stared into Severus' black eyes the world around them shrunk, the nearby fireworks going off sounded as if they was happening a world away.
"It is the truth sir, I know that you would of expected someone such as myself, a fellow Slytherin, to have more diverse ideas on this problem but I keep ending up at a dead end," Severus said honestly as he allowed the powerful wizard to see the fear in his eyes. "The man who sired me is not worthy the title of father, he killed my mother not very long ago."
Alphard simply nodded his head and let out a silent sigh. Without paying much attention to his actions he raised a hand and ran it though his tacky feeling, thanks to the horrid hair gel his evil wife had brought for him, shoulder length hair. As he stared into the young and lost eyes of his nephew's most hated people Alphard suddenly felt every single bit his age and more.
Slowly as not to spook the young wizard Alphard knelt down on the wet summer grass and placed a strong comforting hand on Severus' left shoulder. Neither of them spoke as Alphard and Severus silently stared at each other, weighing the other up and waiting for the other to make the first move.
"Your father truly told you to begone?" Alphard asked seriously, his expression left no room for lies to spill from Severus' lips. "I am no stranger to men and woman killing their spouses sadly, but to act like this towards a powerful heir like yourself?"
"I am not a powerful wizard, I am not a suitable heir. The man who has helped to create me has made sure that I was told that and worse often enough," Severus answered, unable to hide the look of emotional pain from such a strong and skilled man. "I look too much like a girl, I do not excel at the correct subjects. I take after my mother too much, I should stop my studies in potions as it is just a girly subject and concentrate on subject that is manly. Those are just a few things to name sir."
Alphard gave Severus a soft look, his eyes were drawn to a dark purple and yellow coloured bruises around Severus' neck which was practically covered thanks to the young man's cloak. Just as Alphard opened his mouth to speak he found himself cut off by Severus' worried and fearful words.
"I am sorry sir, I do not know what came over me. I should of never of asked for help, let alone from a man like you," Severus said suddenly as he tried to take a step backwards only to find that Alphard's hand kept him in place. "You have most likely heard all about me from your nephew, Sirius Black, and his younger brother. It is a wonder that you have not turned your nose up at me at the mere sight of me and allowed everything I have told you to fall on deaf ears."
"My nephew is young and still has a lot of growing up to do, he cannot and will not make my mind up about someone for me," Alphard said seriously as he gently squeezed Severus' shoulder. "I will not allow a fifteen year old boy to control how I think and feel."
"Thank you," Severus replied as he offered Alphard a nervous yet thankful look. "So far everyone has taken his side, he has spread so many rumours and lies about me that now that I am..."
"Now that you are looking for a way out of the hell hole no one is believing you," Alphard said feeling angry at his nephew. "It seems that Sirius and I will be having a very long talk about several things."
Severus stared at Alphard in shock and surprise. His mind wheeled in a mixture of thoughts while his heart echoed his emotions. As another colourful firework went up into the night sky and exploded hope swelled up inside of Severus and copied the firework.
"Do...Do you mean that you believe me?" Severus asked, his eyes betraying his true emotions. "Are you really willing to help me?"
"Yes, I am young one. You have taken the first step by yourself and I am not about to allow you to try and continue this journey by yourself," Alphard answered honestly, then without warning he pulled Severus into a tight parental hug.
"S-Sir?" Severus asked nervously as his mind tried but failed to work out just what the high class, high level wizard was doing hugging him of all people. "Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong young one," Alphard said softly as he pulled back slightly and carefully pushed a stray piece of black hair out of Severus' face. "You looked as if you needed a hug is all. "
"...Thank you."
"It is nothing...you know...I always wanted a child of my own," Alphard said with a small smile, the sort that allowed Severus to know that he was one of the very few privileged people to see Alphard Black truly smile. "Would you accept my help in escaping your father?"
"Would I be able to do what I wanted? Study, become a Potions Master, find a family?" Severus asked as he trailed off nervously, with a hint of fear in his voice. "I know that you are nothing like him but..."
"It is alright Severus, I understand," Alphard said kindly causing Severus to let out a small sigh of relief. "I would want you to do whatever you wanted to do, within reason of course. All that I request is that you think about becoming a member of my family."
"I...I will, I promise," Severus said, shocked at the man's request. "But how am I going to get away from that monster? I do...I do not think that I will be able to do it, I have spoken to a lot of people before you but no one besides you has paid me any attention."
"Do not worry, you are not alone."
End.
