Chapter 17 - 15th of November

The dungeons almost had a pleasant smell after the library, at least to Sage. Many others would disagree. Conveniently, he used his sessions with his uncle as a way to escape the two girls. Sage finally began to realize that being outnumbered by the girls was more than annoying. He could not stand the giggling or the joking.

Mandy on her own was an oddly relaxing companion for him most of the time. She gave him a quiet kind of reassurance.

Hermione, he had to admit, was also enjoyable when she was not trying to delve into him too much. He could handle helping her with her work or talking about Ron and Harry, but he did not want to talk about himself and she did not seem to understand. The more he told her to let him be, the more certain she was that he should talk to her and that he needed her help.

He pulled his pocket watch out of his loose steel grey pants and nodded to himself, he was still early. The date on the watch made him cringe slightly, 15 November, and he quickly shoved the watch back down into his pocket. The date always made him feel rather empty and this feeling was only heightened because of the changes in his life since this day last passed. He was so lost in trying to push away thoughts that he did not notice an odd shadow cast on the floor.

Pushing the door open with cool confidence, he walked into the classroom and set down his black leather shoulder bag. Severus looked up from his desk and nodded in acknowledgement. Sage leaned his tall frame against a tabletop and crossed his arms, burying his hands in the warmth of the long sleeves of his black shirt.

"Did you bring your wand with as I asked?" The black clad man asked without looking up.

"Yes sir."

The professor stood and walked out from behind his desk, his lips pursed. "I am aware that I told you we were not going to be doing any practicals to train your powers, but I have decided that there is not a thing you should not be able to do with your wand. The small level of focus you are able to muster should be more than sufficient."

Sage nodded and pulled his wand out, flinching slightly at the strong tingling feeling that shot through his body. He could feel the power channeling through the wand. He shivered. Then he put his head down, he felt like a child holding his wand. He should not need it and he was rather ashamed of his own ineptitude.

Severus caught the boy's sullen look and interrupted Sage's thoughts before they could go any further, "I thought we might begin with some rather potent spells used by Death Eaters, since it is likely will shall have to deal with them when Voldemort returns. To be prepared, you must know them. Wand or wandless."

"All right, Uncle."

The Professor's black robes floated through the air behind him as he walked up to Sage. His face was steely, as it often got when he was dealing with such matters.

"Now, before we begin, you are not to tell anyone of this. Not even the Headmaster. Do I make myself clear."

Sage nodded, "Yes sir, no one," he repeated.

Severus put up one long, pale finger, "And…And, you will never use any of these unless you have permission, understood?"

"Yes."

"I expect no less and no excuses."

The serious atmosphere that blanketed itself around the two Snapes facilitated the session very well. Severus had opted to use rats so that Sage could actually practice casting the spells and seeing what they did.

However, they did not notice the presence of someone outside of the classroom, nor the eyes that were narrowing at the door, while peering in. After a couple of minutes, it left with the same stealth that it had came.

Severus scowled loudly after he glanced at Sage. The boy looked absolutely crestfallen.

Sage didn't even notice Severus looking at him, he was too busy running his hands over his face and through his hair, hoping to massage the disillusionment away. It was not working.

Working with the curses had been successful, other than the fact that it made Sage feel like a failure. He was a Magi that could not manage to use his wandless magic. It only made him less happy with himself. He sighed loudly and cursed under his breath.

Severus scowled again and shook his head. His eyelids pressed closer together as Sage slumped down further into the couch cushions.

"I would advise you not to entertain any harsh thoughts about having to use your wand tonight, Sage."

"Thank you, sir, I'll take that under advisement then," he returned, his voice laced with sarcasm.

"Don't be impertinent."

Sage grumbled and pushed his hair away from his eyes. "Anything else, Uncle, I think I'd like to go now."

"You'll bloody well sit there." He spat, pointing a long finger at Sage. "And drop that tone as well."

Sage crossed his arms irritably.

The Professor stared at him, half way in between wanting to slap him a few times and wanting to make an attempt at distracting him away from thinking about his inadequacies. After all, Sage was doing a good job of making himself feel horrible, he did not really need the help of his grouchy, domineering uncle.

Snape stalked up to Sage and grabbed his face forcefully, "I will not stand by and allow you to do this to yourself."

Sage glared at him, "Why not?"

Severus turned his back to him to help hold his anger down and crossed his arms indignantly, "Must you always persist?" He growled.

After a few moments the Professor sighed and then turned back around, "Because it's your birthday, aren't boys turning sixteen usually pleased?"

"What reason do I have to be pleased? Because I have survived this long, perhaps I will survive a bit longer!"

"Don't be brash, Sage."

"My father was murdered, my mother committed suicide, and I'm supposed to be a martyr before I turn 20. I'm not pleased! I am not pleased that I am one year closer to an inevitable end!"

Severus screwed up his face like he was about to inflict death and put up his hand. Sage barely cringed, before the tall man balled his hand up into a fist and dropped it back down at his side. He hissed and put his hands on the back of the chair next to the couch. His eyes were fixed upon Sage with the same deadly ferocity. He growled deeply.

Sage continued to stare back at him, silently grumbling with his blue eyes.

"Whether you like it or not, there are some of us who would chose to celebrate when you were born."

Sage snorted, "Who, you?"

"You father and mother, my mother…and yes I was pleased when you were born. Proud that your brother chose to name you after me."

This time Sage didn't snort, he just looked at him blankly. Finally, he blinked.

Severus pulled something out of his pocket and threw it down on Sage's lap.

"Now you can leave," he boomed.

Sage wrapped his hand around the thick envelope and frowned at it. He stood up and made a move to protest his dismissal, suddenly feeling remorse, but he closed his mouth quickly when his uncle's glare turned even more severe.

Pushing his black hair away from his face, Sage walked towards the door, his stomach resting guiltily in his chest. There was no backpedaling now. At least he thought not. The doorhandle was rather cold in Sage's grasp and he turned it slowly to open the door. As he closed the door again, he heard the Professor growl from inside of the room.

Rather than follow his bad decision and hasty words to their full conclusion, the elder Snape had thought or perhaps hoped the boy would have turned back and given the hard apology.

The thick envelope rested in his hands as he scrutinized it. Sage pursed his lips and broke the seal on it. He pulled out many pieces of folded paper and laid them out on the bed. His eyebrow raised curiously, he picked up the letter on the top.

Sage,

I thought that you might like to have these. Hopefully they will fill in the gaps about your father that I cannot fill by telling you about him. You should have been able to know him, perhaps you still can through these letters.

Happy Birthday

Guilt rose up in him even more. Why did he resent the fact that his uncle was making an effort to help him? Probably because it was much easier to deal with his criticisms and retain the denial that was inside of him. He resented the fact that he needed the help in the first place.

His hand quivering slightly, he picked up the next letter.

Hey Sev,

I know you are turning up your eyebrow at me right now because I am sending you a letter and we live in the same manor, but I had something to tell you and you'll just have to deal with it. Sybein and I decided what to name the baby. We are naming him after you, but we can't have two Sevs running around at the same time, so we are naming him Sage Severus. I know this is going to not sound much like me, but being a father is making me a bit odd. I would like it if Sage grew up to like books like you do. I know I had top marks in school too, but I really didn't like studying seriously like you did. I'd like him to know as much about magic as you do, because you and I both know how important that is. Of course, he'll have to be good at Quidditch like you and I as well. Gods, I sound like a blithering idiot. Oh well, you can sock me one when you get home. Ack and he screams like a banshee as well, might want to put a silencing spell on your rooms when you get in, unless maybe Uncle Severus wants to help me change him in the middle of the night? Right, didn't think so.

-Jace

It was a letter his father had written to his uncle, he smiled. His father didn't sound stuffy like Severus, he sounded young. Then Sage remembered that he was young. If he was just born, his father would have had to only be twenty-one years old. He smiled, that meant that his uncle had to have been around eighteen, just out of school. He dropped the letter onto the bed and then picked up the next one.

Jace-

You sound like you got hit by a very bad cheering charm, however, I am quite honored that my older brother would name his baby after me. And don't lie, you just couldn't imagine your child having such a horrid first name as Severus. Sage is much nicer. Just don't look my way for help with any nappies, but maybe we can think up some good charms and spells to take care of things easier, eh? I'm feeling rather smug already. I can't wait to see you getting pissed or shit on by your screaming progeny.

-Severus

Sage snorted and shook his head at the letter. It sounded sarcastic like Severus but also had an amount of levity surrounding it that was very rare in the present Severus Snape. Snorting again at the idea of his uncle as an eighteen or nineteen year old, he picked up the next letter.

Severus,

Do you think that you could watch Sage tomorrow night? I have a Quidditch match and Sybein is supposed to go visit her mother who has fallen ill, Lucius wrote in today. He's turned into a rather large prat and all. He talks to her like she is some minion, you know. He writes, 'Syb, dear, your presence is requested at home tomorrow, mother has fallen ill. You'll have to do something about the baby, however, as he cannot be screaming around mother to upset her. Father wouldn't stand for it.' Ack, it's enough to make me sick. He best not talk to you that way, Sev, don't think that I don't know how he became possessed of such an ill attitude. Malfoys, rich, but incomparably blinded by their narcissism. He is turning into such a perfect Death Eater, I am sure. Pity he could have no real power of his own, as you could. I can feel his magical mediocrity from a mile away, rather lackluster for a pureblood, eh?

Now that I am done ranting about Malfoy, some friend he turned out not to be, I apologize. I just cannot imagine that I ever tolerated the git in school. It would really be a great favor for you to watch him. I suppose I could ask your mom, but I don't think she is up to it. My only other recourse would be to ask James, and I know how you feel about my other, more immature and impertinent, half-brother. Surely you would not want to sentence your nephew to such untrustworthy hands?

-Jace

Shaking his head, Sage picked up what had to have been his uncle's response. He could not believe how his father had baited his uncle. Severus wouldn't leave a rat to James's care, much less a baby.

Dearest Brother-

I would be oh so honored to watch my little nephew, ahem. Ack, I can't pretend to want to, I just cannot allow Prince Potter to watch him! James is lucky he can take care of himself. You know exactly what buttons to push, don't you? How very Slytherin. I do believe that most of your classmates underestimated your deviousness, Jace, because you are quite the proverbial snake in the grass.

And, just so you know, if that damn baby of yours screams his head off all night long or pisses on me, I will shove your broomstick you know where. Quidditch indeed!

-Sev

Sage's eyebrow went up, I wonder if I pissed on him or not? Ha! He picked up the next letter.

Dearest Brother My Ass!

The baby won't piss on you unless you deserve it. Knowing you, he just might. And where do you think you are going to put my broomstick? You forget who the older brother is here. Besides, Sage is taken with you, he likes you. Better than his own mum, much to her chagrin. He only reaches out to you or me. You'll do fine and you are the kid's uncle, you need to spend time with him.

And if anything happens to Sage, the last thing you will need to worry about is whether or not the baby pissed on you.

-Jace

By the time he had gone through half of the letters, Sage was feeling strange. He found a smile playing on his lips while reading the letters, but the pit in his stomach kept growing until it threatened to completely engulf him.

He pushed himself off his bed and grabbed his cloak as he made his way out of his room. While walking towards the portrait hole, he pulled the cloak over his black, velour shirt to keep himself warm in the colder corridors.

As of that moment, he did not yet fully appreciate the intimacy of the present. There was not a person left alive who truly knew that version of Severus Snape.

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