Chapter 8: The History of the Magi

Chapter 8

The History of the Magi

Sage looked uncomfortably at the gargoyle outside of the headmaster's office on Tuesday morning. During breakfast he had found a letter waiting for him. He opened it and reread the password quite amazed that Professor Dumbledore would have such a password.

"Sour gummi worms," he mumbled not knowing what sour gummi worms were. He had a good idea that they were some sort of candy and not of the wizard variety.

The gargoyle moved over to reveal the moving stairs. He stepped onto them and then knocked on the door in front of him. A voice from inside invited him in and as he stepped inside. He was met by the smiling face of Albus Dumbledore.

"Good morning, sir."

"Indeed, good morning Sage. Come, sit down."

Sage reluctantly sat himself down in front of the huge desk, not having the first idea of why he was there.

"Lemon drop," the headmaster asked him with twinkling eyes.

Sage wondered what the headmaster was about, because the man was just too odd sometimes. He raised an eyebrow slightly at the candies held out to him.

"No thank you, sir."

The headmaster stared at him with a smile budding on his face. The man always seemed to have a happy glow.

"How are you feeling, Sage?"

The boy leaned back into the chair, "I'm fine, sir. Really, everybody needn't ask me that."

"I was not talking about just the vision. I've noticed that you do not look too happy here. Professor McGonagall tells me that you rarely talk to anyone. That is not a good way to start your school career here."

"I am doing well in my classes, sir," Sage furrowed his brow deeply as he said this. Surely the headmaster did not think that he was not well enough prepared.

"I have no doubt that you are doing excellently in your classes, Sage. Your uncle values academics very highly. It is your adjustment that I am more worried about."

Sage just stared blankly, blinking his eyes once and awhile. His adjustment? He was not even sure he knew what that was.

Dumbledore smiled, Sage was fast becoming just as impenetrable as his uncle had been as a student. The boy's father had always been rather secretive as well. The headmaster continued to stare at him pleasantly.

"What is on your mind, Sage?" The headmaster stared more, smiling, waiting.

Sage stared some more before finally sighing and running his hand through his hair. Not even Severus could win a staring contest with the headmaster. Dumbledore smiled and was secretly chuckling on the inside Oh yes, oh yes he is a Snape after all he thought.

"I just don't really think that I belong here, sir. I'm so different, and I don't know what I'm doing half of the time with all these people. I don't want anyone to get hurt. I'm just not… I'm just not like them."

"Why ever would you say that?"

"Well, I'm a… and they're not… and I'm the only one… and no one knows anything about me, it, what I am. And no one can, well…give me any answers… because no one knows, really… since there haven't been many like me…There's, so much I can't say…" he stammered everything out in a jumbled mess. Suddenly he just stopped and flushed as much as his pale skin would let him.

Dumbledore smiled in encouragement. It's like pulling teeth to get anything resembling an emotion from a Snape! He thought.

"Go on, I'm listening."

"And… I want to just be left alone sometimes, sir. I keep getting so frustrated, and sometimes it is very difficult not to, well, let my temper get the better of me. I hate it when everyone talks about me and everyone keeps…asking me questions…because I'm Professor Snape's nephew and everyone hates him. And he's so…bitter here…and sometimes it makes me angry when he is like that…and that nobody…respects him…even though they don't know about anything…or know me…or Uncle Severus.…And there's so many of them. It's never quiet…I…can't focus…and if I don't….you know…focus…it'll…kill me."

"Well, that's quite a bit on your mind. No wonder you can't focus young man. Who could with all that on their mind?"

Sage stared, trying to rein in his breathing and racing heart.

"And what exactly do you think is going to kill you?"

"Well, the visions, sir. They're getting worse and Professor Snape said that if I don't get more control they could kill me."

"I think that your uncle should also have reminded you that none of your kind has ever been killed by the sheer magnitude of their powers. While, I am sure, you will have a great many trials, perhaps even with death, I do not believe that your sight will kill you dear boy. So I would not think too much on that and forget that we must live one day at a time. The future is nothing to worry about now. And what is it that you cannot say that you wish to say?"

"Well, so far no one has asked me about my mother and father really. But, I wouldn't know what to say, sir… if they ask me."

"Ahh, that is easy. The truth, I believe, always works in such situations."

Sage squirmed around a bit in his seat, "But I can't talk about what happened to me…after my father…died…when Voldemort…because it's..."

The headmaster cut in before he could continue. "Do not forget to breathe Sage, we can't do without it."

Sage suddenly looked embarrassed and quickly gathered his composure.

The headmaster continued, "I don't see any need for you to get into any of that. But, what happened, you can still talk about what happened to your father, without talking about that."

"I suppose so, sir."

"As for your uncle…it is unfortunate that he must portray so much constant hate, but it is regrettably necessary for his position. I know that he is generally rather private and stoic and short-tempered, but even for me, it is difficult for me to see him like that too. I can see how you would be disturbed by the way he acts here. I myself much prefer him over the summer."

"He's been acting so differently. Irritable I suppose. I can't blame him either, sir. I'm feeling it too."

Professor Dumbledore smiled warmly again. "I suspect that having you around is having an effect on him, Sage. After all, he has never been around you or anyone else so much. Having you in this part of his life now must be difficult for him. You may not know this or believe it, but you are perhaps the only one, or one of few, that he cares about anymore. Being reminded of that so much everyday, must be unusual for him."

Sage nodded, knowing that the headmaster was right. Sage had been feeling a similar way himself. He had become acutely aware of the fact that he was very dependent upon his uncle and that the man was very important to him, and Sage wasn't used to being confronted with those feelings either. He usually just tried to bury them.

"As for all of the other students and feeling so different. If you got to know some of them maybe you would feel more comfortable here. Even your uncle had friends at school, Sage. Perhaps if you were to show some of the things that you can do, it would break the ice for you a little bit. I have no doubt that many of the Gryffindor's would be thrilled to see some of your powers. That might lessen the blow that you are Professor Snape's nephew."

Sage shifted and leaned to the left side of the chair. "I guess, but, what do I do? I really haven't shown many people anything, ever. Just my uncle and the other professors."

"At situation will present itself, I'm sure."

Somehow, Sage just knew that there was something behind what the headmaster had said. It was as if Dumbledore knew a little secret that Sage didn't know.

The old wizard got up saying, "As for your other concerns, I've been meaning to give you something."

Sage watched him like a hawk as he walked to a table to his right and opened a cabinet. When the headmaster turned around he was carrying a large leather case with worn leather straps. A small cloud of dust followed from the case.

"I cannot tell you what it is that I give to you, Sage, only that it was left here for the day when the next would come. It was left here for the next of your kind 250 years ago when the last died. As nobody can read this or even open it, who is not like you, I cannot tell you what is inside. I only hope that it may help."

Dumbledore stared into those blue eyes and tried to read them. He knew that he had helped the young man, but could tell no more. Snapes were very hard to read. Sage stood up and accepted the package from the headmaster. He looked down at it and noticed the message written or rather stamped onto the case. It confirmed the fact that no one in existence, other than Sage, could read its contents.

"Thank you, sir."

Sage settled down into a cushy lounge chair in his room and stared at the case the headmaster had given to him. The moment he had touched it, he had felt something. He felt its power all throughout his body. As if whatever was contained within was the product of such a strong magical force that even though it was inanimate, it still retained a mark of the power of those who had compiled it. The case even seemed to have its own warmth in Sage's grasp and its own radiance.

He leaned over the case, which was on the table in front of him, and put his hands on the latches. It snapped open with ease. He opened the top. Immediately the smell of aged parchment met his nose. He pulled out a very old ancient looking scroll and opened it. The writing was nearly pictographic and Sage couldn't read it. He stared at it in aggravation. Suddenly, the writing turned into English. Sage's eyebrows jumped up in surprise.

It read The First Fall into Darkness and detailed the reign of Amun Ra. An Egyptian God! Sage thought. What does this have to do with me. He read on. Apparently Ra had brought on suffering to the people, plagues and sickness and death. The sky had rained sulfur and all those not loyal had burned to their deaths. This scroll was telling him that Ra was some kind of evil wizard, not a God, but like a Voldemort from thousands of years prior…only much much worse. He put the scroll down and picked out another old looking scroll from the box.

Latin. Hmm. I should be able to figure this out…. It too suddenly turned into English and the words popped out at Sage.

The Prophecies of the Great Sage and Magi, Merlin

Sage had an acute feeling of isolation except for a select few people who would talk to him, or try to talk to him. It had not gotten much better since his visit to the headmaster. Everyone seemed to still be in shock that he was Professor Snape's nephew. Sage didn't think they should really be that surprised; he would have thought some people would have already been suspicious of it. After all, he had a distinct resemblance to the Potions professor.

Classes were okay. Except for potions on Monday when his uncle had reminded him of some seven days of detention he still had, while also managing to go on a barage about Sage being his nephew. Hermione was sure to give him all the homework assignments he had missed near the exact moment that he set foot into the common room on Sunday night. One thing he was glad for was that none of the professors were asking him to have anything done by a certain date. He still had a headache he couldn't shake.

After breakfast on Wednesday, his third day back, he headed towards his Transfiguration class. Hermione had hustled after him with Ron and Harry in tow. Sage rolled his eyes when he heard them coming up behind him.

"I wonder what we are doing in class today," she said, "Professor McGonagall said that we were going to learn something more advanced today and maybe get to try it. What do you think it could be?"

Ron shrugged, "I'm just glad I have a new wand this year."

"Maybe it'll be something more practical, that we'll actually use."

Hermione looked at Harry, "Everything we learn is practical, Harry."

Sage was glad when they finally entered the classroom. He lagged behind a little bit so that he could sit in the back, by himself. Hermione sat with a red-haired Hufflepuff girl near him, and Ron and Harry were in front of them. Sage sat back in his chair, relaxing. Even with a headache 3rd year Transfiguration was more than easy for him. He'd been doing a lot of the stuff since he was barely four feet tall. His uncle had started him with a lot of that because wizards like him were supposedly exceptionally good at transfiguration. Sage could do some transfiguration he didn't care to tell anyone about. His uncle had only figured out that Sage could apparate when he had snuck off to London for the first time.

Professor McGonagall came in looking extraordinarily chipper. It was not really like her. She seemed to be up to something and quite pleased with herself.

"Okay class, today we are going to do something that is not in your books, so you can please put those away."

Everyone looked surprised, especially Hermione. They all put their books away, and only wands were on their desks now. Sage fished in his pocket for his and pulled it out. He set it on his desk and proceeded to fade out into his own thoughts. His thoughts about what his vision had been about. What the hell was a green rat about anyway. He hadn't really had a chance to think about it yet and it was still in the back of his mind. Sage was also wrestling with what he had been given in that old leather case.

"Mr. Snape."

He shook his head and looked up. Professor McGonagall was standing in front of him. That was the first time anyone had blatantly called on him in class, and he just wasn't used to anyone saying Mr. Snape to him yet.

"Yes, Professor?" he asked, trying to pretend like there had not just been a ridiculously long pause and he had not just been caught out daydreaming.

"I was wondering if you would show the class how to do what you did with your hair after the welcoming feast?"

Sage looked at her with wide blue eyes. Everyone else in the room was staring at him. The professor stared back at him and smiled expectantly. Why do all these people stare and smile. Smile of all things…he thought "Umm, all right, I guess. What do you want me to do, Professor?"

Her smile got broader. What is she on about. Why am I showing them the hair thing. I don't even know what it is called. His brain was working overtime.

"Just show them what you did first, dear, then you can explain it."

"With my wand?"

She smiled at him again and shook her head. "Just like you did the other night."

"Ohh," he said. Sage should have known what was coming after the headmaster had said that an opportunity would present itself for him to show the other students what he was capable of. The old wizard had sold him out to McGonagall.

He looked around. All eyes were on him. He gulped. He'd never done anything like this around so many people. He wasn't sure he could focus enough to do it. He closed his eyes so that he could relax for a second. His heart was pounding through his chest. Some of the students started whispering.

"Class…quiet now."

He opened his eyes, took a deep breath, put his hand up to his head, and swished it back and forth twice like he had the other night. Suddenly the blond tips on his hair came back. Many students gasped. Fourteen year old wizards couldn't do wandless magic! Hermione's mouth was open until she suddenly exclaimed, half jumping up out of her seat.

"Gods, he's a Manus-Inanis!" she said in surprise, using the proper Latin term for exactly what Sage was called. "That's why all the professors have been treating him differently."

Ron looked at her, "A what? Hermione, speak english so the rest of us will understand."

Despite the fact that nobody really used the Latin to refer to what Sage was, Hermione looked at Ron like he was an ignoramus, "A true Magi, a hand wizard, Ron. You know, can do wandless magic, really powerful, like Merlin. You do know who Merlin was don't you?" Ron's eyebrows went up in surprise and then he gave Hermione a dirty look. How could anyone not know who Merlin was.

This produced many speculative whispers.

"But, but there hasn't been one for like hundreds of years!"

"Wicked," Harry said, glad that the attention was off of him for once. He had no idea what a Magi was and nor did he care.

"Why didn't I see it before," Hermione said in a whisper to herself.

"Settle down, settle down," McGonagall finally said, cutting off the whispers.

Sage was blushing as much as his pale skin could. He had kind of slumped down in his chair, more than a little embarrassed. Professor McGonagall was smiling at him again. It didn't make him feel any better. Now people would be whispering about him even more.

"Very good, now make it go back," she said to him.

He let out a deep breath and blocked out all the staring faces. Again, he brought his hand up and swished it back and forth. From root to tip it changed back to black again.

"That's so cool," Seamus said.

Everyone was smiling at him now. He was a little intimidated by it. He'd never had this much attention on him before.

"Now, Mr. Snape, can you do it without the movement?"

Sage looked at her, she smiled at him. It was a mini battle of wills. He didn't want to try because he didn't want to be a spectacle, she wanted him to try because she was sure he could do it. The professor finally won.

"I don't know, Professor. I've never tried to do this before without the gesture."

"Well, it's my job to challenge you and I don't believe you've been challenged yet in this class."

Sage shifted in his seat, looking kind of annoyed, but then gave up. He sighed, "Yes, ma'am, I'll try."

The whole class had turned their seats around and was looking at him intently. They had never looked at McGonagall with such excitement, well, maybe Hermione had.

Sage sat up better and closed his eyes for a minute. He kept seeing his hair changing into the blond tips, so that he could focus on what he was doing. He opened his eyes and focused harder. The students, the surroundings, the professor floated to the back of his mind for the moment. Then he did the same thing he usually did only without using his hand.

Instantaneously, Hermione started clapping. A lot of the other students joined as well. Professor McGonagall had a very pleased look on her face and gave him a pat on the shoulder. He figured his hair had changed, but he couldn't see it. He much preferred Professor Snape's teaching demeanor. A bit more serious, a bit more structured, and not so much smiling and clapping. It made him uncomfortable.

Transfiguration thankfully ended and Sage was quite content to get away from the limelight. He slung his black leather bag over his shoulder and walked out as quickly as long legs would take him.

"Sage, wait up," Hermione called. She ran up to him and grabbed his arm to stop him.

He turned around and glared at her hand on his arm.

She didn't seem to be too bothered by it. "You forgot your wand on the desk. Not that you, erm, need it. Here." She held it out to him.

His glare softened. She wasn't going to ask him a million and one questions after all. He felt bad for misplacing his glare onto her. That was strange for him. Normally, he never felt bad about glaring at someone even if they didn't deserve it.

"Thanks," he answered, taking the long, black wand back. He started to walk away again, but she kept stride with him.

"Why didn't you say anything before?"

"Nothing to say," he answered. "I'm a freak. Happy? Now that you know that I'm an abnormality and all?"

"You don't have to be so rude and sarcastic you know."

"Must run in the family then," he said curtly.

"And you're not a freak. Your gifts are wonderful."

"Mmhmm, thanks," he nodded saccharinely.

She was beginning to wonder if the sarcasm really did run in the family. Ron and Harry finally caught up to them breathing hard. Sage rolled his eyes. Now everyone was going to bother him. Couldn't he just be left alone like an obscure academic Ravenclaw?

"Wow, that was wicked. Makes up for you being a Snape and all," Ron said.

Hermione hit him in the shoulder.

"What was that for Hermione?"

"For being such a rude prat, Ron. Professor Snape is his uncle, stupid, and I'm sure Sage care about him." She said before turning back to Sage. "Don't listen to him, Sage."

"I'm not," Sage answered monotonously, his blue eyes staring straight forward.

Harry stepped up next to him. "We've all kind of been rude, but I'm Harry Potter," he put his hand out to Sage while they walked. Sage looked at it.

"Well, my cousin finally decides to introduce himself. Now that I am a Magi, I am worth knowing? Didn't matter that I could have been, and am, related to you, I was related to Professor Snape, and everyone knows how Gryffindors feel about him." Sage looked knives into his eyes.

"I deserve that," Harry answered putting his hand down. "I just, well, you are right I did not come and talk to you because of what everyone said. I didn't think you would want to talk to me, whether we were related or not. I know how the Professor feels about me. He hates me."

Sage put his hand out finally and Harry shook it with a smile on his face. "I've been taught manners," Sage said flatly. "And he doesn't hate you, Potter."

Ron jumped at the opportunity too. "Ron, Ron Weasley."

Sage looked at the big-mouthed red-haired boy and decided it was only proper to shake his hand as well.